Kaieteur News

K

Linden Mayor says...

Pilfering of Friday Edition NEWS funds suspected at Linden toll booth AIETEUR

May 07, 2021 - Vol. 23 No. 19

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

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

Price $80

- As revenues move from $92M in 2017 to $32M in 2020

Online readership yesterday, 99,004

Exxon contract permits blank cheque spending …says if Minister disagrees company can still go ahead “I was being chased by two men” says captured Windsor Estates fence jumper

Wake Up Guyana Would you allow a man to come in your house and blatantly rob you and your family? Hell no! Well that is what ExxonMobil and oil companies are doing to every one of us when it comes to our wealth.

Please wake up Guyanese, your future is at stake!

Strathspey man’s No legal action if decomposed farmers don’t use body found in GRDB rice varieties Former Pres.

Buxton trench - Agriculture Minister clarifies Granger sues ExxonMobil submits application for Nascimento, Yellowtail Development Project media houses for - EPA says citizens have 28 days to submit concerns $2.6B for libel

Guyana set to be cash engine for Stabroek Block partners …as Yellowtail is confirmed as fourth oilfield - Hess Listen how our leaders running 50/50 profit sharing with Exxon @11:00hrs on Kaieteur Radio 99.1/99.5FM

PAGE 02

Kaieteur News

Friday May 07, 2021

Kaieteur News

Friday May 07, 2021

PAGE 03

Guyana set to be cash engine

for Stabroek Block -partners Hess ld ie lf oi th ur fo as ed m ir nf co is il ta w llo …as Ye

G

uyana is poised to be a “cash engine” for USbased oil exploration and production company, Hess Corporation, as the Yellowtail discovery in the Stabroek Block has been confirmed as the fourth oil field for development in the prolific contract area, the first three being Liza Phase I, Lisa Phase II, and Payara.

The position was made r e c e n t l y, w h e n t h e ExxonMobil Stabroek Block partner, Hess, in its first quarter report for the year, announced that startup for the new producing field is pegged for 2025.

With advanced plans underway for three developments and another slated for startup in 2025, Hess Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

John Hess told investors, “Guyana is positioned to become a significant cash engine as multiple phases of low cost oil development come online.”

Hess added, “we’re nearing work for Yellowtail and a fourth development on the Stabroek Block is underway with startup in 2025.” This, he cautioned however, would be pending government approvals and sanctions.

With the Liza I oilfield already in production, the oil executive noted that the Liza Phase II development is on track to achieve first oil in early 2022 with a capacity of 220,000 gross barrels of oil per day.

According to Hess, “our third oil development on the Stabroek Block at the Payara Field is expected to achieve

first oil in 2024, also with the capacity of 220,000 gross barrels of oil per day.

He projected too that, “we continue to see the potential for at least six FPSOs (Floating Production Storage and Offloading Vessels) on the block by 2027.”

According to Hess, in longer term, this would mean the partners are projecting up to 10 FPSOs to develop the discovered resources on the Block. Guyana, he said, is such that “the payouts are very quick and returns are very high so we are going to be bringing value forward.”

Speaking about the most recent discovery in the Stabroek Block at the Urau2, it was noted that the appraisal is showing very encouraging results.

According to Hess, the

discovery has “excellent reservoir characteristics, you have high quality oil.”

He noted too that given the proximity of the Urau 1 well and the Urau 2 well, 6.8 miles apart, “it shows the potential for large aerial extent of a highly prolific quality reservoir.”

Speaking about the returns being had from the operations, Hess noted that those from the Stabroek Block are expected to “drive our portfolio breakeven Brent oil price below $40 by the middle of the decade.”

A c c o r d i n g l y, H e s s reported that, “as our portfolio generates increasing free cash flow, we will first prioritise debt reduction and then cash returns to shareholders.”

Given the prospects and planned activities in the

Hess Corporation CEO, John Hess.

Stabroek Block, he noted that more than 80 percent of “this year’s capital spend is allocated to Guyana where our three sanctioned oil developments have a breakeven oil price of between $25 and $35 per barrel.”

According to Hess, “to date with gross discovered recoverable resources of approximately nine billion barrels of oil equivalent, and we continue to see multimillion barrels of huge exploration potential remaining.”

Exxon contract permits blank cheque …says if Minister disagrees spending company can still go ahead The EEPGL contracted drillship, Stena Carron, currently in the Stabroek Block.

G

uyana inked a Production S h a r i n g Agreement (PSA), commonly referred to as a contract with Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) and its partners, for the exploration and development of the Stabroek Block in June 2016 and the provisions of the arrangement permits carte blanche spending for exploration.This, if the

Minister with responsibility for the sector or his delegateidentified in this case to be the Guyana Geology and Mines C o m m i s s i o n (GGMC)disagrees with a proposed work programme and budget, it would still be deemed as adopted.

Article Six of the PSA for the Stabroek Block provides for delegation [by the Minister] and co-operation between the Contractor and GGMC. The article provides

that the Minister authorises GGMC to provide support in relation to monitoring the petroleum operations carried out by EEPGL and its partners.

This would include the reviewing of a number of reports submitted by the Stabroek Block Contractor, such as, exploration work programmes and budgets.

With respect to the submitted work programmes and budgets, the PSA stipulates that should the Minister or

delegate wish to make any proposals with regard to

The section of the PSA that provides for reaching an agreement on proposals submitted by the Minister, failing which the contractors report is deemed adopted.

what is submitted, then these are to be provided to the Contractor within a reasonable timeframe.

Additionally, the PSA stipulates that they would meet and endeavour to come to an agreement and that the Contractor should take into account the Ministers proposal and attempt in good faith to reach such agreement.

According to the PSA however, if the two fail to find an agreement within two months, the proposed work programme and budget “shall [still] be deemed adopted.”Exploration costs are recoverable by the Contractor under the

Stabroek Block PSA, as long as there is a commercial discovery. The contract also provides that expenses can be recovered from any oil field that is in production in the Block. As such, Guyana has already been presented with a bill in excess of US$460M in pre-contract costs for exploration activities prior to 2015.

EEPGL is also currently moving ahead with plans to spud another well during the course of this monththe Whiptail.

The intention to go ahead with the planned drilling activity for the new well was confirmed this past (Continued on page 24)

PAGE 4

Friday May 07, 2021

Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL

President Ali’s Arrival Day message and mea culpa

I

n February, the month of our Republic Anniversary celebrations, President Irfaan Ali announced the formation of what he referred to as a One Guyana Commission. Ironically enough, a recent statement by the President himself – by virtue of what appeared to be a glaring omission – would have been a likely issue for consideration before such a Commission, had it already been established. As noted by several persons on social media and in letters to the editor, the President made the claim in his Arrival Day message that: “…every group that came did so for improvement, did so to have improved living conditions, did so that successive generations will be better off.”

Despite the overall conciliatory tone of the message, it was pointed out that when it comes to the question of free will of the people who came, the enslaved Africans who were abducted from their homelands and brought here to engage in backbreaking labour under brutal conditions, their lot could not have been considered betterment by any measure.

Last night, the President did what has been nonexistent coming from that office, particularly in the years prior to his occupation of it, which is that he addressed the issue frontally and offered his apologies.

His clarification reads in part: “In that message, I stated that every group that came here did so for a better life for themselves and their descendants.

I was not and could not ever have been referring to our African ancestors, who did not come here of their own volition but were captured, brought to our country in chains, and brutally enslaved. Indeed, it is their sacrifice and struggle for freedom and against oppression that should inspire us to continuously secure our freedoms and democracy for a better Guyana.

To my fellow Guyanese who felt offended by the way in which the language was structured, you have my unreserved regret and assurance that the struggles of our enslaved African ancestors would never be understated and unappreciated.

They gave their lives for our freedom and as a nation, we must be forever grateful.”

Such mea culpas are at best rare in Guyanese politics and the President’s message last night was a refreshing change in itself, but also when it comes to direct intervention of the country’s First Citizen into the necessary conversation – one too often cacophonic – about race in Guyana.

As the fallout from the error in President Ali’s otherwise well-intended message makes clear, Guyana remains a society smouldering with racial anxiety and animus, where there is a significant gray area between legitimate existential dread and engineered division for political purposes. As warranted as cynicism in relation to political leadership in Guyana has been, the President appears to be genuinely interested in the reaching across racial divisions.

The American author, Robert Heinlein however had this to say about genuine goodness: “But goodness alone is never enough.

A hard, cold wisdom is required for goodness to accomplish good. Goodness without wisdom always accomplishes evil.”

Three months after his announcement of his One Guyana Commission, we have heard little to nothing about progress on its development, except the passing reference to it in his Arrival Day message. Going forward, President Ali needs to not only set a higher standard for his speechwriters vis a vis accuracy of communication, historical awareness and racial sensitivity, but also see the wisdom in getting the One Guyana Commission off the ground and actively engaged in creating the space for a sustained and comprehensive conversation on race.

Dangerous Guyanese leadership DEAR EDITOR, I think that the government has done poorly with the COVID-19 pandemic, given current local circumstances.

Some positives have been recorded in vaccine distribution schemes and Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, is applauded. Now I differ seriously - with the Hon. Minister, which I register unambiguously.

Our numbers increase relentlessly. Months ago, 60 or 70 new confirmed cases were considered high.

Recently, the numbers have increased significantly and almost daily: 60 and 70 new cases touch the low side.

It is more like 120 or 130, with the alarming happening at over 200 new confirmed positives on occasion.

Additionally, the deaths from the virus has been in the low single digits, in a daily creeping dirge of fallen.

I would have thought that our health authorities led by

Health Minister Anthony would have reacted with more urgency to what ordinary laymen perceive as a problem.

I say this, because our Brazilian and Venezuelan borders are nearly as accessible as before.

Who is coming, how many and what they are carrying are not known. Since this is reportedly a viral airborne assault, this makes us terribly vulnerable.

Further, places of public entertainment and routine congregating are conspicuous for ignoring existing protocols intended to protect and minimise.

Wit h these foundations, I expected Minister Anthony would have been leading the c h a r g e f or some limited escalations in our thinking and tactics, to keep this virus beyond arm’s length.

Instead, there has been this numbing lack of responsiveness, almost to the point of nonchalance and

negligence. I point fingers solely at the Health Minister.

Given intensifying local coronavirus conditions, I say that Dr. Anthony has not helped us, but hurt us, meaning, our prospects of escaping unscathed. To the surviving family members of those struck down by the virus, the departed is not a statistic, but hard and heavy loss.

This is regardless of health condition, age, or individual carelessness.

Hence, it would have been gratifying to observe Health Minister Anthony (government) manifest the degree of seriousness that places a premium on implementing every reasonable step to safeguard us better. I regret that Dr. Anthony did not go anywhere near to where he should have a concerted response for the wellbeing of Guyanese.

A few simple, concrete, steps are necessary. First,

expand the curfew hours from 7pm to 5am; even 8pm to 5am. But Minister Anthony (government, Task Force) has not done so. Second, close all public drinking places indefinitely.

Minister Anthony stares in his glass.

Third, implement a no-holds barred approach with violations of protocols, as set by the Task Force.

Public transportation, pubs and public gambling dens breach such rules. In fact, I am appalled that casinos and betting shops are open. I cannot understand government’s reticence in tightening.

At this rate, Minister Anthony’s sloth risks his being lumped with the taints heaped on some global leaders: Modi (India), Bolsonaro (Brazil) and Netanyahu (Israel); they failed their societies. Dr. Anthony knows better, he must do so.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

African Indentured Labour a neglected area of national life DEAR EDITOR, One of the anomalies of the commemoration of Indentureship in Guyana has been the refusal to acknowledge the role of Africans in the labour system that had been introduced after the Abolition Act of Slavery in 1934. People of African Descent (PAD), however, were also recruited as indentured servants: first, from the West Indies and secondly, directly from Africa. While the system was launched with the arrival of 40 Portuguese labourers from the island of Madeira starting on May 3, 1835 on the Louisa Baille followed later in the year by another 389, freed PAD’s from the West Indies had also been recruited in that same year when 137 of them arrived. Wages in Guyana (and Trinidad) were much higher than in the islands and the immigrants came voluntarily.

While there were no further Portuguese brought in until 1841, indentured African West Indians continued to pour in: 1,427 in 1836 and 2,150 in 1837. In 1838 when 396 Indian Indentured labourers arrived on the Hesperus and Whitby on May 5 as an “experiment,” another 1,266 African West Indians arrived.

Most pertinently, however, they were joined by 91 Africans brought directly from West Africa. Research needs to be done in our National Archives to discover when and the name of the ships on which the first of these indentured Africans

and PAD West Indians arrived.

African indentureship arose after Britain’s 1807 abolition of its trans-Atlantic slave trade when its navy sometimes intercepted slave ships from other nations that continued the trade to destinations like Cuba and Brazil.

They would seize the “Liberated” human cargo and land them in St. Helena or more frequently Sierra Leone or when closer from Brazil, to colonies like Guyana, where they would be indentured.

Indian indentureship would be halted until 1845 because the “Gladstone Experiment” was shown to have violated the original agreement.

But Indentured labourers from Africa and the West Indies continued to be brought in. In 1841 when Portuguese indentureship resumed with 4,297 Maderians, a further 5,645 African West Indians and 1,192 Africans arrived as Indentured labourers.

As the Sugar Planters bemoaned the cessation of Indian Indentureship after 1838 and worked assiduously for it to resume, they simultaneously pursued immigration from Africa. In 1843 a local ordinance was passed to recompense expenses incurred by ships hired by the British Government to transport Africans to Guyana. This ordinance was modified on order from the British Government which insisted that these African immigrants

would be entitled to a return passage after five years of service. These conditions were then extended to any importation of labour from India and China. The return passage was first instituted for immigrants from Africa.

The first African return ship, the HMS Growler left Guyana on August 21, 1847 with 121 persons to Sierra Leone. They were from the 2,931 who had been “rescued” between 1841-42.

This means that most of the indentured Africans remained in Guyana, like the other immigrant groups - including the PAD West Indians.

The Africans and PAD West Indians, however, would have moved from barracks directly into the newly formed villages and settlements of the freed enslaved Guyanese, among whom no new slaves had arrived since 1807. By 1874 when the last 388 “liberated” Africans were liberated into indentureship in Guyana, 13,355 of them had arrived here. These Africans would have never been enslaved.

We can hypothesise therefore, that those who chose not to return to Africa brought and practiced their West African cultures. And not facing the same kind of violence from the authorities as had the original enslaved PAD’s prior to 1838, would have been living exemplars of African culture. From the records, some of them ended up in the villages across the coast where we see a higher African cultural retention.

Indentured labour from the West Indies continued with stops and starts as late 1892 by which time an astounding 40,783 had arrived. Even after the abolition of Indian Indentureship in 1917, a new arrangement of “contracted” labour from the West Indies was instituted and a further 1,729 PAD West Indians arrived by 1928 when the system was abolished. These individuals lived in the “Bajan Quarters” on several sugar estates.

Six hundred and seven (607) Indians were also brought in on this “contracted” arrangement.

Analogous to the Indian indentured labourers, the West Indian PAD Indentured labourers were immigrants with that cohort’s drive for economic success and it would make an interesting study to test this hypothesis.

Anecdotally, the persons from the “Bajan Quarters” in my village of Cashbah, Uitvlugt, were noticeably upwardly mobile.

There is a record of some conflict between these indentured PAD’s and the exslaves because of complaints that they were lowering the wages. When the Police Force was launched in 1839, there was a preference to recruit Bajans, who the authorities felt, would have less compunction in arresting local PAD’s.

We must explore this facet of our history.

Sincerely, Ravi Dev

Friday May 07, 2021

The Face of Humanity?

DEAR EDITOR, As the COVID-19 virus unleashes its virulence at the world, not more so than in India right now, the big Pharma in developed countries are hiding behind the greed of intellectual property rights and patents.

Perhaps the biggest shock for many is the revelations of Bill Gates justification for not sharing the much needed COVID-19 vaccine with third world countries such as India. You’d ask why would he, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the name and face synonymous with humanity and claims to operate on the ethos of “We are a nonprofit fighting poverty, disease, and inequity around the world” would possess objections to such a dire humanitarian need? The answer, as with most self-professed “humanitarian NGOs/ Foundations” lies under the thinly-veiled god-like greed complexes of these individuals.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has committed $300 million to fight COVID-19 and developed a vaccine.

According to reports, the foundation’s $40 millionworth stake in CureVac alone

has delivered profits in tens of millions of dollars. I guess the elites have changed the meaning of non-profit and/or think most ethical and morale vices simply don’t apply to them.

The actions of big Pharma and the elites must be examined especially at this time.

Pharmaceutical companies get the majority of their materials from third world nations, also known as provider countries.

They go to these countries, interact with the local and indigenous peoples, gaining knowledge of traditional medicines which largely includes plants. They then leave with this knowledge, synthesis the active ingredients of such plants in order to file patents.

The provider countries along with its local and indigenous peoples are often left with their native knowledge stripped from them without any benefits.

In an attempt to combat this, the failing or failed organisation known as the United Nations has designed a framework called the Nagoya Protocol on Access and benefit-sharing or ABS. This framework which Guyana is a party to aims to provide access to individuals

and companies (big Pharma) to our plants and knowledge (genetic resources) with an agreement in that in an event the genetic materials becomes commercialised, (vaccines, medications) benefits are obtained and shared equitably. Sounds good right? Except written into the protocol itself in Article 8 - Special Considerations which parties, like Guyana shall: Pay due regard to cases of present or imminent emergencies that threaten or damage human, animal or plant health, as determined nationally or internationally.

The reality of this clause is that third world or provider countries are compelled to take into consideration health emergencies and to waive access requirements for such individuals and companies.

Hopefully you are able to recognise the lopsided nature of this framework developed by the UN. Is the UN compelling big Pharma to share vaccines in a pandemic?

Where is the WHO in all of this, my guess is busy protecting the status of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). All hail the wolf in the face of humanity.

Sincerely Vidyanand Mohabir

Open letter to Mr. Lincoln Lewis Dear Mr. Lewis, It seems to me your anger towards the President for an unconscious Faux Pas in the Arrival Day Speech he made yesterday is unwarranted and misdirected. President Ali so far in his Presidency has shown to be equally caring to all Guyanese regardless of race and mindful of their history.

Many of us have been taught History in school and are well aware that the African Slaves were taken against their will and forced to labour under the most horrific conditions one can imagine so as to enrich their enslavers.

You have every right to be angry about the treatment meted out to your ancestors and should anyone try to whitewash that horror, the millions of descendants of those African slaves scattered all over this universe as well as nonAfricans will never allow that to happen.

I am sure President Ali’s mistake in his Arrival Day Speech was not deliberate nor did he intend to change history or even sanitise it. It was a simple error made during his speech which even the greatest leader of this world tend to do from time to time. They are also humans, after all.

Your anger should be

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

directed towards the people (descendants) who actually perpetrated the evil deed on Africans, starting with the ones who encouraged and permitted Slavery, those who helped by capturing and selling Slaves and those who benefitted from the trade and labour of Slaves on their plantations and in their colonies.

It is only fitting that you seek reparation from the beneficiaries of Slavery for the evil they perpetrated on the African people.

You and everyone else know the Indo Guyanese were not responsible in any way, shape for enslaving your ancestors nor did we have

anything to do with it.

We did not profit in any way from the wealth generated by Slave Labour but only served as replacement labour when slavery was finally abolished.

My ancestors may have unwittingly chosen to serve as Indentured Labourers on the Plantations where your ancestors were enslaved but we also were not treated much better as a replacement labour force. So stoking the fire of rancour and division should never be considered or encouraged over President Ali’s Faux Pas. We are not deserving of your anger.

Sincerely, Dennis Balgobin

No guarantee that economic growth will deliver development DEAR EDITOR, The World Bank in a 2020 report repeatedly bemoans the fact that years of economic growth in Guyana have had little impact on poverty reduction, social inclusion and quality of life.

As such, despite GDP rates hovering around three to four percent over the years, measures of income, maternal mortality, nutrition, health care, job creation and other such indicators have disappointed. For instance, poverty rates in Guyana in 2017 ranged from 57percent in the interior to 35 percent in urban centres. And many of our children continue to be malnourished to the extent that their mental and physical growth is stunted. I recently advocated that Guyanese must now voice outrage over these and other unacceptable failings in the governing of our country (see https:// www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/ 2021/05/02/are-ourpoliticians-out-of-theirdepth-on-how-to-use-oilrevenues-to-transform-thesociety/).

With oil wealth now in hand and much more to come, we can see why the World Bank would title its 2020 report as “A Pivotal Moment for Guyana: Realising the Opportunities.” And the pivotal question is how to convert oil-driven, highflying growth in GDP into development in which all citizens enjoy a high quality of life. Or, in less rousing language, how to ensure resource-rich Guyana does not forever stagnate as a

development-poor country.

There is much agreement on the building blocks that should shape our development strategy. As such, we often hear about the need for a good business climate, infrastructure, human capital enhancement (through health and education provision), an efficient public service, sober fiscal policy and so on. The World Bank report gives these and other components due attention.

But to translate growth into development, these will not be enough. What will make the difference are factors such as the visionary zeal, competence, creativity and people-centredness of the government of the day, and the pressures and demands of the people on it.

Visionary zeal speaks to

how fast, how far and how big the government sees development goals (Elimination of child poverty by 2025? Reduction of maternal mortality, one of the highest in the region, to one of the world’s lowest in five years? Full employment?).

Competence includes the ingraining of an outcomeoriented culture, one that recognises, for instance, that much deficiency exists in our education system where 12 years of schooling is equivalent to 6.7 years of schooling in world-class education systems as measured by what a child learns.

Creativity requires us to produce different or novel ideas where what we have tried for decades is clearly not delivering for the people.

(Continued on page 6)

Freedom of the Press DEAR EDITOR, It was announced on Monday May 03, that the International Press Institute (IPI) had recorded some 635 ‘attacks’ on journalists over ‘the past year’ by what were described as mainly ‘authoritarian governments’ across the world.

The IPI bemoaned the fact that as many as 48 Journalists were killed during the period in question.

The Institute went on to observe that the highest number of ‘attacks’ in any one country was carried out in India, against as many as 84 journalists.

The Report was issued in the overall context of Press Freedom becoming the target of varying degrees of apprehension and indeed contention, even in so called ‘democratic’ countries.

Fortunately, there is hardly such experience obtaining in Guyana and the Caricom Region.

Sincerely E. B. John

PAGE 6

Politicians are strange, irrational creatures DEAR EDITOR, Politicians are very strange, irrational creatures.

They don’t accept responsibility for their errors or failures on any endeavour even when overwhelming evidence is arrayed against them. How else would one explain the behaviour of one Amanza Walton-Desir in her uncalled for attack on Indians and the subsequent attempt to justify what she stated? Her explanation of Indian mental laziness only worsened the firestorm she initiated.

Politicians, except in White developed countries, are hardly prone to listen to, much less to accept, sound, time-tested workable, logical advice. AWD has not accepted that what she uttered about Indians can be construed as racist and is totally wrong.

In addition, as a MP, she ought to know that her remark would be considered as politically incorrect regardless of how much she tries to explain it. So far, she has refused to own up to her faux pas and accept political responsibility.

If a Portuguese or an Indian or a Chinese were to make a similar remark about her race, she would probably be up in arms and roasted them over burning coals.

AWD shows no remorse.

And she continues to defend her view or mindset about Indians.

Regrettably, she gets unconditional support from her PNC colleagues including those who know better.

I watched the second video of Amanza WaltonDesir in which she excoriated the PPP for what she claims is an attack on her for her antiIndian remark.

If I had not seen the first video in which she called Indians “mentally lazy,” I would have thought the PPP did a grave injustice to the woman by attacking her unprovoked. It turns out; the PPP has not put forth a

Friday May 07, 2021

Kaieteur News

statement on her anti-Indian comment.

Anil Nandlall rebuked AWD, but he did so in a private capacity not on behalf of the government or the PPP. AWD described those who criticised her as “acolytes of the PPP.” All of her critics, except one, including me are known to issue statements condemning acts or policies of the PPP and the PNC. Thus, they (we) can’t be ‘acolytes’ of any party. AWD is acting ‘wrang and strang’ to use Guyanese parlance.

Then AWD, supported by PNC MPs, went to the police to file a complaint against Haji Roshan Khan who wrote on social media that she should be “marked.” By ‘mark,’ Haji simply meant picket her peacefully wherever she makes her presence. That is not a crime; picketing is a legal exercise in Guyana except during the Burnham/ Hoyte era.

In White man country, one can picket anywhere without a police permit.

Thank God for the White man who gives and protects our freedom.

Instead of going to the police and attacking critics a n d P P P, AW D s h o u l d express regrets and bring closure to the controversy.

It is not too late to tender an apology including to Haji Roshan!

I read a social media post sent to me in which AWD was paid some $1.5 million monthly (salary, perks, gratuity, etc.) as a Project Manager at Civil Aviation during the coalition term in office. Can she verify that figure? I am told she is a lawyer; why was she in aviation and just what were her responsibilities for that kind of salary when aviation workers were not even earning $100K monthly?

David Hinds is among AWD’s avid supporters. He penned that he gives her unconditional support

against those (PPP and acolytes) who ‘are lynching her’ (KN May 5). He is irritated by a caption (“… stand by Amanza’s … words”) of his missive (May 4). This supposed ‘lynching’ of Amanza is for her words not for the person. No one is criticising AWD, the person.

They are going after her words. So how can David defend the person and separate her from her comment? Does he think the public are fools? He is an academic and ought to know better.

One cannot defend the indefensible. Haji Roshan can act like David and say he is not marking AWD only her words.

At any rate, the use of ‘lynching’ is inapplicable to describe the critiques of AWD’s behaviour. Lynching was conceived in America to describe the killing (hanging or other brutal attack) of Blacks by White racists in the South for demanding equality or for looking or whistling at a White female or for some other innocuous, frivolous incident.

Black Americans were unjustly murdered or ‘lynched.’ No White, no Indian, no one in Guyana is lynching AWD. She has lynched herself. She has committed ‘harikari.’ She brought the critiques unto herself by her racist rant.

David Hinds, Vincent Alexander and others in the PNC are circling the wagon around AWD. That won’t improve race relations.

Myself and other rights activists had felt we could have a workable relationship and constructive civil discussion with those two esteemed African gentlemen and others on how to better race relations.

Their defence of AWD has presented a serious setback to any move towards reconciliation.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Guyana’s antiquated building codes should be updated DEAR EDITOR, The huge fire at Sharon’s Mall on Charlotte and King Streets could have been avoided if action was taken to modernise the more than five decades-old building codes. The burning down of the building has evoked the urgent need for adequate and updated building codes, especially electrical circuit designs. With mega shopping centres being constructed, the country still relies on outdated systems in workmanship, architecture and sloppy enforcement of building codes. New building regulations are needed in every area of both commercial and residential buildings.

It is noteworthy that the Home Affairs Minister, Mr. Robeson Benn, who was on the scene of the fire declared ‘the need for fire fighters to better understand the types of building construction and the challenges they are likely to face when engaging conflagrations.’ He added that in the future, buildings that are constructed higher than two floors must have effective fire alarm and sprinkler systems. It is the first time that a minister has publicly pronounced on the need to end the poor construction of buildings.

More than five years ago I indicated in several letters the very deficiencies highlighted by the Minister. I also underscored the fact that our fire fighters are not professionally trained to perform their tasks efficiently, not to mention the poor state of their equipment and the wretched state of the country’s water supply system.

Guyana needs a complete overhaul of its antiquated

building codes and outmoded safety standards. Here are some solutions: 1. Generally speaking, buildings in Guyana do not confirm to designate classification. For example, some single-family homes are converted into tenant occupied portions so that homeowners can accommodate family members and obtain some extra income.

However, the same original plumbing and electric systems are used to support additional lighting and appliances. A microwave oven, an air conditioner unit and a refrigerator can utilise as much wattage to induce overloading and precipitate sparks in the electrical system that could result in fire. Also, extension cords, most times hidden under carpet, with multiple connections can overheat and become a fire hazard. And in some cases, individuals tend to break off earth safety prong in three way plugs to accommodate plug-ins. Discarding the earth safety prong is also a fire hazard that could result from overloading of the electrical system.

2. Single Room Occupancy buildings, which are prevalent in Guyana, should be inspected regularly to make sure that all their safety designs are intact.

3. A minimum space of at least 10 feet between buildings should be incorporated into building codes and zoning regulations. This will allow for the safe evacuation of persons as well as allow easy access to fire fighters, police and ambulance attendants.

4. All commercial buildings in the country should be equipped with

sprinkler systems and a series of road-side water connections on fire hydrants are needed to connect fire hoses to put out the flames quickly in the event of a fire.

Smoke alarms should be installed along corridors which are the principal pathways for smoke.

5. Automated oxygen retardant systems need to be installed indoors to prevent the triggering of chemical spray in high temperatures.

Storage of cooking gas containers must be stored outdoors and not inside closed buildings. The reason is they are highly flammable and any leakage/explosion will dissipate harmlessly into the atmosphere.

6. Bonds, regardless of what is stored in them must be sectionalised with walls comprised of concrete and steel (fire-proof) connecting doors like the compartments in ships such as oil tankers.

In the final analysis, the Bureau of Standards and the Housing Authority in Guyana must enforce the safety features and occupancy of commercial buildings.

Qualified engineers and safety inspectors must be mandated by law to conduct annual inspections to make sure that the building codes and safety standards are complied with to prevent tragedies in future. Huge fines and in some cases, imprisonment must be imposed on all forms of noncompliance if the powers that be are truly serious about preventing fires. Will this happen? Time will tell!

Leyland ChitlallRoopnaraine, Real Estate Builder (New York)

A misguided person DEAR EDITOR, Ms. Amanza WaltonDesir needs to apologise for her wicked and scurrilous attack on Indo Guyanese. Failing which, she must resign from parliament as a PNC MP. What is most obvious is the new breed of upcoming black leaders who are rabidly

anti-Indian and have found harbour in the WPA and PNC camps. One is reminded of national poet’s Martin Carter, “I come from the nigger yard” poem. I come from the nigger yard of yesterday, / leaping from the oppressors hate, / and the scorn of myself / from the agony of the dark hut in the shadow and the hurt of

things / from the long days of cruelty and the long nights of pain / down to the wide streets of tomorrow, of the next day / leaping I come, who cannot see will hear.

Ms. Walton-Desir is just a misguided person and needs to come to her senses.

Yours truly, Sultan Mohamed

...No guarantee that economic growth will deliver development From page 5 People-centredness should speak for itself; our political leaders after all claim they seek office to serve us. We should measure this factor by how responsive the government of the day is towards our needs, rights and aspirations. Under this

heading, I would place the philosophy and generosity of social welfare and equality programmes (do we, for instance, see targeted cash transfers as an urgent and moral imperative?).

Because much can thwart growth from delivering human and other development, it is

very possible that by middecade, Guyana could find itself super-rich (resource curse not considering) but with many citizens not seeing the benefits for themselves, their families and their communities.

Yours faithfully, Sherwood Lowe

Friday May 07, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 07

PAGE 08

US to assist with electoral and constitutional reform process

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall SC.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall SC has started a discussion with Resident Programme Director of the US-based International Republican Institute (IRI), Dorota Ryzy and Local Programme Coordinator, Sara Bharrat on electoral and constitutional reform.

The IRI expressed its commitment to work with

Friday May 07, 2021

Kaieteur News

the Government of Guyana in the two key areas which the Attorney General (AG) spearheads for the Government of Guyana. Ms. Ryzy reiterated that this support is coming from the Government of the United States of America, represented by the US Embassy in Georgetown and IRI will be coordinating and implementing the

programme. According to a release issued by the AG Chambers, the assistance will come mainly in the form of expertise, which will be attached to the Constitutional Reform process at the level of the Parliament, at the level of the Attorney General Chambers to aid in the electoral reforms, as well as at the (Continued on page 23)

Pres. Ali clarifies Arrival Day message President Irfaan Ali last night sent out a clarification of his Arrival Day message, in the wake of criticisms expressed in the press. His clarification is below.

Dear Guyanese, In my statement on Arrival Day, I sought to put forward a message of common values, of common struggles, and ultimately what I hope would lead to reconciliation among our people. In that message, I stated that every group that came here did so for a better life for themselves and their descendants.

I was not and could not ever have been referring to our African ancestors, who did not come here of their own volition but were captured, brought to our country in chains, and brutally enslaved. Indeed, it is their sacrifice and struggle for freedom and against oppression that should inspire us to continuously secure our freedoms and democracy for a better Guyana.

President Irfaan Ali. To my fellow Guyanese who felt offended by the way in which the language was structured, you have my unreserved regret and assurance that the struggles of our enslaved African ancestors would never be understated and unappreciated. They gave their lives for our freedom

and as a nation, we must be forever grateful.

I affirm and repeat the thrust of my personal and public mission in reconciling this country after a very divisive period in our history. As I expressed in my Arrival Day message, we must find deeper, more meaningful ways of celebrating our collective diversity, of pooling our collective wisdom; moreover, we need to begin and sustain the practice of speaking openly and honestly with each other.

This year as we celebrate Arrival Day, we do so with a greater sense of purpose that as a collective we stood together for a free and democratic Guyana.

With respect to our ancestors, our National Anthem reminds us that we are “born of their sacrifice, heirs of their pains”. I invite you once again to join together, to forge the unity of voice, of purpose, and of our people that would make them proud.

Kaieteur News

Friday May 07, 2021

PAGE 09

Stepping into another world!

I heard him before I saw him. I was pleased however that he had arrived outside of the bank before I did. He was prompt, not always a virtue that people are proud to display. “What happening partner? Like you still suffering from jet lag. You dont know this is Guyana?” he bellowed loud enough for the taxi operators and the vendors to hear. They all turned in his direction to see who was so boisterous. I approached slowly. The taxi drivers waited in anticipation of the next blast.

The vendors kept looking around, one eye for customers, the other for the pavement constabulary. He smiled as I got nearer and then barked, “This is not Uncle Sam. The later you come here, the longer you stay. The line is long inside.

Lets go.” And with that we strode into the foyer of the bank. Inside, indeed, there was a long line. Memories of the Guylines came flooding back. That was in the day when almost everything was short and you had to either join lines or have lines (connections) to obtain the

basic necessities of life.

Being inside was like stepping into another world.

The place was clean, posh and air-conditioned. I heard something like a whisper and looked around to see whether anyone was behind me. There wasnt anyone.

Then the voice grew to a faint sound. It was my friend.

He said, “I just told you is this line we have to join.

What happen, you have wax in your ears?

I was momentarily stunned. This same loudmouthed brat that I had called a friend had been reduced to a quiet church mouse by the atmosphere in the bank. The same man who was seconds ago screaming to the top of his voice. He had been reduced to feeble squeak.

We stood in line like sentries. Everything was quiet. You could hear the drop of a cotton ball. The staff moved around behind the teller lines with vigour.

No one seemed to be idle.

Even the lady sitting behind a desk was concentrating on the papers in front of her.

And unless you could read

lips, you could not tell what they were saying to each other when they did speak.

Someone coughed in the line. It was like a gunshot.

Everything stopped. Even the tellers behind the counter looked up to see from where the sound emanated. It was a fellow in front of us. I prayed that a sneeze would not follow. Or worse yet a fart. In this environment that would be like sending a bomber into action.

Eventually, our turn came and we went to the head of the queue. The banking operations in Guyana are now computerised but it seems to have made only a marginal impact on the time it takes to complete a transaction. But there is really no main difference between the service time here and overseas where the lines fortunately move much quicker and are usually shorter.

We completed what we went for and began our exit. I noticed my friend was walking on his toes, not wanting his shoes to squeak on the floor and disturb the

Health Ministry records two more COVID-19 fatalities

The Ministry of Health (MoH) yesterday reported that two persons who tested positive for the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) have died.

Their deaths now bring Guyanas COVID-19 death toll to 310.

The latest fatalities are a 57-year-old man and a 62year-old man both from

Dem

boys seh...

Dem Boys grow up in rice field. Dem boys deh bout since de days when yuh use grass knife fuh harvest de rice. Nowadays dem gat machine fuh do dat and dem boys know about dem machines too.

One of de things wah dem boys learn from experience is dat nat every variety of paddy does grow good everywhere. Some ah grow good in some soil and others in other soil. Dem gat some areas where one variety grow good and not far away weh de soil different, it nah grow good.

Dem rice farmers gat fuh

Region Four (DemeraraMahaica). According to the Ministrys Press Release, both persons died on Wednesday while receiving treatment at a medical facility.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry via its daily COVID-19 dashboard recorded 128 new COVID19 cases, taking the total

number of confirmed cases to 13,957.

The dashboard also shows that 16 patients are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 99 persons are in the institutional isolation, 1,745 in home isolation and eight persons are institutional quarantine.

To date 11,787 recoveries have been recorded.

What next! plant de variety wah best suited to dem.

If dem buss, dat is de risk dem tek. But nobody should tell a man what variety of paddy he should plant when he knows what is best for himself.

Dat is why dem boys wan know if we living in a dictatorship. De GEE R DEE BEE send out wan advisory telling dem rice farmer dem gat to only use certain varieties of paddy. Now de GEE R DEE BEE seh how if dem farmers nah use de recommended varieties, dem gan tek legal action against dem.

So dem wan know if when dem farmers plant dem varieties wah de GEE R DEE BEE want dem fuh plant and dem nah get de yield dem expect or worse yet, de paddy nah agree with de soil, what gan happen den?

Will de GEE R DEE BEE compensate dem farmers fuh dem losses? Dat is what dem boys wan know.

And if de government now telling farmers what dem can plant and what dem can’t plant what next dem nah gan tell yuh fuh do?

Talk half and wait fuh dem tell yuh wah rice yuh should eat!

peace.

As we pushed the door open and stepped onto the pavement, my friend came to life. “Whew! He said, that was an experience!”

He hailed a cab. Rather he screamed for one. His voice could have been heard right

to the next corner. He was back to normal.

As I walked away, one of the vendors approached me. He was pedalling framed quotations. I was not interested. But the one on top of the pile caught my eye. It read, “Quiet speech is a mark

of refinement.”

(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 07, 2021

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Mr. Roshan Khan must learn about context. It is everything in life Mrs. Amanza WaltonDesir has complained to the police on the use of the word “mark” by Mr. Roshan Khan to describe how people should react to her statement on East Indian supporters of the PPP. I don’t know Mr. Khan. Never met with, talked to or seen him in person. All I know is what he writes in the newspapers and what others write about him.

I have had complaints from employees about industrial violations at his security firm. That was years ago. I never investigated them so I have no comments one way or the other.

Since I don’t know him I cannot picture the reason why he used the word “mark.” I would like to give him the benefit of the doubt

that he meant no harm to the lady. If the press should ask me pointedly if I think he meant something dangerous, harmful, disturbing, I honestly would say I do not think so.

I would advise Mr. Khan to understand the context in which words are used because words have formal meanings but over evolutionary time acquire contextual connotations different from their grammatical original straightforwardness. Over centuries, certain words leave their roots and take on diverse faces in common parlance. The perfect, impeccable example is, “gay.”

I believe a married man can win libel if a newspaper

wrote, “he had a gay time in Bartica.” I don’t think the judge will ignore context even if the world’s most brilliant lawyer argues that by “gay,” the newspaper meant enjoyable. I think the plaintiff’s lawyer can argue that in the 20th and 21st century, the meaning of the use of the word has crossed over to different linguistic worlds and has taken up a life denoting homosexual choice.

Literally millions of publications could be cited across the globe to show that the common understanding of “gay” means homosexual.

As for me and the use of the word, my burdensome, angst-filled, unfulfilled life has never allowed me to have gay moments and I plan

to have some serious gay times as I grow older, but with Mrs. Janet Kissoon.

Now that is how I use the word “gay.”

In common parlance over the centuries, “mark” means “target.” The usual reaction to the word is that you will be singled out for harm. The global popular action film, “Marked for Death” may have helped to seal the contextual meaning of “mark.” When I was growing up we all know what the use of mark meant when school friends you had a fight with would exclaim, “yuh is a mark maan bhai.”

In primary school, I used to get beat up by a big headed bully named “Wappit.” One day Wappit head-butt me and “black” me out. The next day, I waited until school was over and I dropped a “jumbie lash pon him.” His brother came outside our house on D’Urban Street, shouting, “yuh is a mark

maan Kissoon.”

My sister went to the police, the police Frederick Kissoon went to the school and that was the end of since I am sure he has that. family connections with the I think it would have been less contentious if US that he probably visits.

The Haji should Khan had used some words that are quite banal – apologise to Mrs. Walton“boycott,” “ostracise,” Desir, explaining that he “shun,” etc. Right now in the should have used a less US, a word that was quite controversial word. Mrs. popular in espionage has Wa l t o n - D e s i r s h o u l d crossed over into cultural a p o l o g i s e w i t h a n sociology. “Cancel” is now attachment acknowledging in vogue. In the spy business, that Guyanese must stop when an order comes down being under the spell of their to kill a certain person, the ethnically based parties. I boss would order that the end on a personal note. target be cancelled, meaning When I read that Mrs. Walton-Desir went to the assassinated.

In the US today, they no police I laughed. I laugh all longer say boycott but the time when prominent “cancel.” That means to people go to the police remove the presence of that saying they were threatened. person in the profession that Do you know how many he/she has used to invoke times, I have been threatened thoughts of racism, gender over the past two decades?

Not two or three times insult, etc. Maybe the Haji could have used “cancel” but literally countless occasions. I am dead serious – countless times. And not just a one word or two word threat but some nasty stuff. I have received them in person, over the phone and on the internet. I never thought of visiting a police station.

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

Friday May 07, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

PAGE 12

Friday May 07, 2021

Kaieteur News

GWI acquires $45M truck to boost well maintenance programme The $45M high-tech truck.

T h e G u y a n a Wa t e r Incorporated (GWI) has announced that it has acquired a $45M hydraulic maintenance truck, which will boost the well maintenance programme that the company is currently conducting.

This is according to a Press Release from the company.

The release further stated that the truck, which was imported from Holland, will reduce the time that the company currently spends to maintain wells on the coastland.

The company boasted that the highly sophisticated truck will further boost its

already robust wellmaintenance programme for 145 wells on the coastland.

According to the release, GWIs Chief Executive Officer, Shaik Baksh, recently inspected the truck in the compound of GWIs Head Office in Georgetown.

The release noted that the CEO stated that presently works are apace by GWI in collaboration with the Dutch principals to ensure that the machinery is operational within the shortest possible time.

Additionally, the CEO said that personnel have already been trained in Holland to operate the truck and accompanying

equipment.

Baksh then highlighted a drilling rig, which was acquired two years ago but was never utilised. He stated that within two months, GWI will be mobilising the rig to drill a new well on Wakenaam Island, Region Three the well is will be drilled by an in-house team.

Meanwhile, GWIs Manager of Groundwater and Wells Services, Orin Browne, stated that the truck, in addition to the jetting and plunging trailers, will activate and complete well rehabilitation in a fraction of the time that it normally takes for a conventional water well development and

maintenance machinery will take to complete.

Also, Browne gave an overview of the parts that the truck is equipped with. He stated that the truck is equipped with a lifting crane and a built-in high-powered, high-pressure, water pump, which is needed to clean well

screens that naturally become clogged over time.

He further explained that once the production of a well drops to 70% of its original value that is an indication of the need for rejuvenation.

He added that rejuvenation is what the newly acquired machinery is

designed to do.

According to Browne, the new machinery allows more water to come into the well to match its original production just after well construction. The statement noted that GWI machinery is movable and can access drilling sites across the coast.

Kaieteur News

Friday May 07, 2021

Registered Nurse gets three years for child luring A registered nurse was yesterday sentenced to three years imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to child luring. The defendant, Yohan London, 32, of Section C Christiansburg, Wismar, Linden, appeared via Zoom before Magistrate Wanda Fortune in the Linden Magistrates Court. London pleaded guilty to the charge after it was read to him and he was sentenced to three years imprisonment.

According to the Cybercrime Act 2018, Section 15, “A person commits an offence if the person uses a computer system to - (a) communicate with a child with the intent to induce the child to engage in sexual conversations or sexual activities; or (b) arrange a meeting with a child with the intent of abusing or engaging in sexual activity with the child or producing child pornography, whether or not he takes any steps to effect such a meeting.”

Chapter two stipulates, “A person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable (a) on summary conviction to a fine of three million dollars and to imprisonment for

Jailed, Yohan London. five years; or (b) on conviction on indictment to a fine of eight million dollars and to imprisonment for five years.”

PAGE 13

PAGE 14

Friday May 07, 2021

Kaieteur News

Pregnant woman claims she Median household income stabbed husband because decreased from $100,000 to he was assaulting her $67,000 during pandemic

D

Photo Photo depicting depicting aa section section of of the the Baramita Baramita Village, Village, Region Region One. One. A pregnant Baramita woman who was arrested on Wednesday for stabbing her husband to death has since claimed that she did so because he was assaulting her.

The husband, Dameon George, 35, a gold miner of Baramita, Region One was found lying motionless with a stab wound to his ear around 07:45hrs that same day. He was picked up and rushed to the Baramita Health Centre where he was pronounced dead around 09:30hrs.

Reliable sources told this newspaper his pregnant wife told investigators that they were drinking alcohol that morning and ended up in an argument with each other.

Things reportedly became physical between the two and she alleged that George began assaulting her. During the alleged assault, the woman stated that she used a Banks Beer bottle, which she had in her hands to stab George.

Kaieteur News learnt too from reliable sources within the community that she is

almost nine months pregnant and is expected to give birth soon.

As a result, Kaieteur News was told, a decision was taken for her to remain at Baramita Health Centre under police guard.

Sources close to the investigation explained that persons are fearful that the woman can lose her baby if forced to travel through the rough Baramita trail to the Port Kaituma Regional Hospital located miles away f r o m h e r c o m m u n i t y.

Investigations are ongoing.

ue to the COVID-19 pandemic and its damaging economic impact in Guyana, the median household income has noticeably decreased from $100,000 to 67,000.

This was indicated in a report titled: “SocioEconomic Impact Assessment of COVID-19 on Households in Guyana,” compiled by the United Nations Development Programme in collaboration with the Civil Defence Commission.

“Such reduction(s) in income were experienced in both households headed by females and other households, in each region without exception,” it noted.

The report went on to say that female-headed households earned less than other households, to begin with, and that continued after the decreases in income due to the pandemic.

“In contrast to income, the median household expenditure remained stable at G$60,000 and at G$55,000 for female headed households but decreased from G$70,000 to G$60,000 in other households,” it further highlighted.

The median household expenditure was also examined on a regional level where it was stated that it remained the same in Regions Six and Ten, but increased in Regions Two, Five, Eight and Nine and decreased in Regions One, Three, Four and Seven, with the difference exceeding $5,000 only in Regions Two, Three and Seven.

- UNDP report M o r e s p e c i f i c a l l y, household expenditure was stable for female-headed households it said but declined in other households.

“Approximately 8.2% of the households receive remittance.

level, there were noticeable increases in Regions Seven and Ten and noticeable decreases in Regions One, Two and Nine.

Moreover, the report outlined that approximately 4.91 percent of all households have members

However, 12.6% of households headed exclusively by females and 6.7% of those with other headship arrangements receive remittance.

The proportion of households that receive remittance varies between 0% in Region 8 and 12.8% in Region 5,” it was stated.

Further to that, it was said that remittance is obtained mainly from the United States of America which accounts for 74.2 percent of remittance collected, but Canada was also listed as an important source, especially for households in Regions One, Two and Three.

At an aggregate level, remittance remained relatively stable during the pandemic with a median of G$20,000 per month.

However, at the regional

that work in other regions and also stay there for extended periods. Money sent “home” by these individuals had a median of $60,000 in January 2020; however, that was slashed in half by the month before the data collection for the report.

“This was due mainly to noticeable and sometimes substantial decreases in the amount sent home to each Region except Regions Four and Five.

More than half of these household members send money home in the form of cash (53.4%) but there is some evidence of the use of transfers to bank accounts (12.1%),” it said.

Cash has been listed as the most used method “by a long way” in each region, whereas bank transfers appear to be used by some in Regions Four, Five and 10.

Friday May 07, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 15

PAGE 16

Kaieteur News

Friday May 07, 2021

Kaieteur News

Friday May 07, 2021

ExxonMobil submits application for Yellowtail Development Project - EPA says citizens have 28 days to submit concerns

E

xxonMobils subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), has submitted an application to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to undertake its fourth oil project, the Yellowtail Development Project, within the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana.

According to the EPA, the proposed project will be implemented in multiple stages including: wells drilling and completions; mobilisation and installation of subsea equipment, umbilicals, risers and flowlines (SURF); installation of a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) facility; production operations,

offloading of crude and decommissioning; and use of support vessels and helicopters throughout the stages.

The proposed project will be undertaken in the marine offshore environment within Guyanas Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and would also utilise land-based support activities such as marine shore bases, fabrication facilities, warehouses, and storage yards. As a result of the intended developmental activities, the EPA said possible effects on the environment may include impacts to marine water quality, air quality, marine fauna, socio-economic (Continued on page 20)

Map showing location of the Yellowtail well on the Stabroek Block

PAGE 17

Kaieteur News

PAGE 18

Friday May 07, 2021

Former Pres. Granger sues Nascimento, media houses for over $2.6B for libel F

ormer President David Granger has filed a libel lawsuit claiming a total of $2,650,000,000 from local communications consultant, Kit Nascimento and list of media houses including the Guyana Times, Stabroek News, and Kaieteur News. In addition, the lawsuit lists Editor-in-Chief of Guyana Times, Tusika Martin, Kaieteur News owner Glenn Lall and Kaieteur News Editor-inChief, Sharmain Grainger and Stabroek News Editor-in-Chief, Anand Persaud as respondents.

According to the Statement of Claim (SoC) filed by attorney Roysdale Forde, SC, the former Head-of-State accused the newspaper of publishing defamatory information about him, which were contained in letters and opinion pieces written by Kit Nascimento last year. As such, he made 53 claims for damages of worth of GYD$50 million for each instance that the information was published, totalling GYD$2,650,000,000.

Granger did not stop there, however; in addition to the damages, he is asking the High Court to grant orders to prevent the defendants from publishing any further

Local Communication Consultant: Kit Nascimento. offensive remarks in relation to the matter. He also seeks an order for each news outlet to issue a retraction and an apology to him for “the false, malicious and defamatory statements impugning the character and representation” of him in those news publications.

Further, the Head of State asked for exemplary and aggravated damages, interests, costs, and such further or other order it deems just.

In grounds to support the claim, Granger outlined that Nascimento had described him as being,

“dishonest and deceitful, habitually hypocritical, a liar, of dubious credibility and of unsound mind.”

According to the lawsuit, Granger notes that Nascimento suggested that he was complicit in an obvious and determined decision of the APNU+AFC to remain in Government regardless of the expressed will of the people in the March 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections.

He contended that the attacks were unyielding and a blatant disregard for the truth. He stressed that during the election period, he made several public statements that: “As President of Guyana and Leader of the Government, it is my policy that any declaration coming from the Chairman of GECOM will be accepted by the Government of Guyana.”

However, Granger claimed, in his writings, Nascimento inferred that he wanted to remain in power without any regard or care of the consequences it would have on the country. To this end, the claimant cited Nascimento’s letter which read, “David Granger, in power as a de facto President, with the full support of the police and army under his command, if not in

Former President: David Granger. absolute control, is most certainly complicit in an obvious and determined decision of APNU+AFC to remain in government regardless of the expressed will of our people in the 2nd March Elections.”

Moreover, Granger said that the publications would cause people to believe that he used invented irregularities to claim a victory for himself as President and the APNU+AFC at the national elections and that he consistently and dishonestly refused to accept

the results of those elections.

In this regard, he cited the opinion by Nascimento titled “Granger should concede defeat before he is ultimately forced to do so by international condemnation”, which was published on the 5th day of June, 2020.

According to the document, Nascimento quoted Granger saying: “But David Granger’s party, on June 3, in an e-mail, declared that APNU+AFC would not accept the result of the ballot recount, a statement which we must presume has the approval of David Granger, even before the Chairman of the Elections Commission can deliver her Commission’s verdict on the ballot recount,” Further, the information outlined that Nascimento and the publications would cause persons to believe that, among other things, Granger was unfit to be the President of Guyana. As a result of the said headlines and articles and their dissemination, Granger said, his personal and professional reputation and standing have been “irreparably and severely damaged, lowered in the estimation of rightthinking members of society” and that he and his family have suffered (Continued on page 20)

Kaieteur News

Friday May 07, 2021

PAGE 19

No legal action if farmers don’t use ister clarifies in M re ltu cu ri Ag GRDB rice varieties

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha has clarified that, in contradiction to a notice published by the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), farmers will not face legal action for cultivating rice sourced outside of the Board.

Late last month, the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) published an advertisement which sought to inform industry stakeholders that they must only engage in the cultivation, manufacturing

and sale of paddy produced and approved by GRDB. The agency further noted that the failure to comply would result in legal action being taken without further notice. Since noting the foregoing, several farmers reached out to Kaieteur News yesterday morning registering deep concern that GRDB would publish such a notice. More than 50 farmers who spoke with this newspaper lamented that they would have already i n v e s t e d , c o l l e c t i v e l y, millions of dollars in moving

ahead with preparations for cultivating non-GRDB varieties that have provided successful yields thus far. To n o w t a k e a d i ff e r e n t approach, the farmers complained that it would break their backs even as they continue to reel from the millions in losses suffered from the first crop for 2021.

This publication was informed that for the first crop, several farmers countrywide were unable to harvest their rice due to dams becoming impassible as a

The GRDB Advisory which sparked much concern among farmers

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha result of the inclement weather. In other cases, farmers lost millions of dollars due to the failure of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) to clear canals in a timely manner, which resulted in rice fields being under water for weeks.

Taking the foregoing and other woes into account, farmers lamented that they find it quite heart-wrenching and insensitive of GRDB to threaten to take legal action against those who have suffered so much and have no choice but to continue with the plans they invested in other varieties. They also called for the Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, to intervene and

hopefully render them some level of comfort and peace of mind. Yesterday afternoon, Kaieteur News made contact Minister Mustapha who said that the farmers need not be worried about GRDB employing any legal maneuverings if they are using other varieties.

The Minister said, “We will continue to assist farmers, but you know for a fact that I have been pushing the use of the GRDB 16 (the latest paddy variety) so that we can increase yields.

Some farmers do not want to change the variety they use and they end up with the same yield.”

Mustapha added, “The national yield amount is 39 bags but with GRDB 16 we can get up to 60 bags. But that does not mean we will not support the farmers who dont use it or are not in a position now to use it. We will support them. But we are doing this to encourage them to increase the yield and use of the variety. I will also ask GRDB to make this clear.”

Further to speaking with the Minister, Kaieteur News also contacted GRDB Head, Kuldip Ragnauth, who said that the Board is acutely aware of the challenges

GRDB Head, Kuldip Ragnauth farmers face while adding that they need not be fearful of any legal hammer of sorts being brought down on them. “Like anything else, when you want to effect changes, you have a grace period and you will have a transition phase or stage. But let them be reassured, all that you mentioned about their concerns about charges or being locked up would not happen,” the GRDB official expressed.

In conclusion he said, “We understand the nature of what they are going through so we wouldnt look to enforce that advisory now but down the road, we do want farmers to start using GRDB 16 and other varieties.”

PAGE 20

Friday May 07, 2021

Kaieteur News

Arrival Day fire leaves four Venezuelans homeless, arson suspected F o u r Ve n e z u e l a n nationals are now homeless after fire gutted their home at Lot 50-52 Lusignan Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara.

According to the information received from the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), the cause of the fire was determined as malicious setting by person(s) unknown.Kaieteur News was informed by the Fire Service that around 20:40hrs, they received a call and were alerted of a fire at the location. Immediately, water tenders from the Campbellville Fire Station and the Melanie Fire Station were dispatched to the scene.

The building, which according to police housed four Venezuelan men, was a one-flat wooden structure.

Kaieteur News learnt that at the time of the fire, no one was at home. It was reported to the police that the owner of the house is Rukhmin Lamdulop of Area H, Lusignan, who had reportedly abandoned the building. According to police reports, persons in the area at the scene of fire reported that moments before the house was gutted by flames, they heard a loud explosion coming from inside the house then shortly after smoke and fire was seen emanating from the building.

Despite efforts made by the firefighters to extinguish the fire, the building was completely destroyed. Up to press time, there have been no reports of anyone being arrested.

Granger sues Nascimento...

From page 18 and continue to suffer financial injury, constant grave distress, humiliation, embarrassment, indignity, pain, and suffering.

He stressed that the statements have no basis in fact, are malicious, grossly inaccurate and intended to deceive the public and damage his reputation and character. In the circumstances, Granger specified that the injunctions should bar Nascimento and

the news outlets as well as staff or servants from publishing, sharing, recording or otherwise recreating and disseminating the opinion pieces and letters to the editor.

In a brief comment to Kaieteur News last evening, Nascimento stated: “I am astounded by Mr. Granger’s lawsuit. I am satisfied that anything I said that may have given him offence was in defence of democracy and freedom of our country.”

ExxonMobil submits application...

From page 17 resources, among others.

Furthermore, the EPA has determined that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is required to be conducted before any decision to approve or reject the proposed project is taken, since this development may impact the environment significantly.

With this in mind, the regulatory body said members of the public are hereby invited, within 28 days of the notice issued yesterday, to make written submissions to the Agency, setting out those questions and matters, which they require to be answered or considered in the EIA.

A summary of the project can be viewed on the EPAs website or uplifted at its Ganges Street, Sophia, Georgetown office at the reasonable cost of photocopying. Pending government approval and project sanctioning, the Ye l l o w t a i l p r o j e c t i s expected to achieve first oil in 2025. Two other oil projects, Payara and Liza Phase Two, are expected to come on stream in 2024 and 2022 respectively.

The discovered resources to date on the Stabroek Block are expected to underpin up to 10 Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSOs) with the first six ships expected by 2027.

Friday May 07, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 21

PAGE 22

Friday May 07, 2021

Kaieteur News

Pilfering of funds suspected at Linden toll booth - Linden Mayor FOR SALE

SERVICES Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisements, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040 Drawing of Building or house plan (Architectual) and also Estimate Call 2160671, 692-8464, whatsapp 622-0267

FOR RENT 3 and 2 bedroom apartment, newly renovated, at 266 New Market street Contact Prem 651-1630 Office space for rent furnished and unfurnished starting at $120,000 on Croal street Call 691-1564/ 6972167 Business: South Road, Saffon, Halfield, Garden of Eden, Residence: Meadow Bank, North Ruimveldt Ray's Realty 627-9685 Ransom (Concrete mixers), Scaffolding, Power washer, compactors, hire truck service etc, free delivery. Telephone: 610-5360.

Email:dmdscaffolding@yahoo.com PROPERTY FOR SALE Commercial property for sale or rent Providence old road Call 623-3440 / 233-5600 Sheriff, Norton, Pattenson Turkeyen, L.B.I, Enterprise, Diamond, Zeeluyt, & Uitvlugt. Contact Ray's Realty 627--9685 One unfinished house and business at Kaneville E.B.D price $10M. Contact 6997546/ 600-4292 1 Bottom flat two bedroom Herstelling new scheme Tel#265-7435/ 647-1719

FOR SALE 2 year old 52 Banga boat with 452 lb sein 160hp and 140hp Yamaha Contact 649-1512 One canter truck, enclosed 14ft tray. Contact 666-2549 or 690-9961

- As revenues move from $92M in 2017 to $32M in 2020

Linden Mayor 1 male German Shepherd pup WanekaArrindell and her 10 weeks 664-4666 Deputy Wainewright 1 Husky / Labrador pup 11 Bethune, are concerned that weeks 619-3517 monies are being pilfered from the Kara Kara toll booth, as For Sale local made Aluminum financial records show that fence and gate designing and there has been a significant amount free delivery Call 666- decrease in recent years.

2326 What is more troubling to the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and LAND FOR SALE councillors, is that this Carmichael street, Mc Doom, concern has been brought to La Penitence, Queenstown, the attention of the Cornelia Ida, Canal No1 Con- administration of the council since 2017, yet no aggressive tact Ray's Realty 627-9685 measures are being Parfaite Harmonie Call 666- implemented to unearth why 2326 funds continue to decrease.

The head of the administration of the council is Town Clerk, Orleena Obermuller.

The financial records seen by Kaieteur News from 2018 show that at October of the three consecutive years, WANTED $60M was collected in 2018, $52M in 2019 and $39M in Farm workers in Timehri living 2020. Bethune however accommodation provided stated in a recent interview, Tel#661-1585/ 6172032 that the financial records for Experience cashier, counter 2017, showed that the toll server, kitchen assistant, booth raked in $92M. The records seen, also handy boys Apply @ Hacks show that between Halaal 5 Commerce st September to October 2020, Wanted experience taxi driver there was a rapid increase in at princess hotel Providence revenues, even though the E.B.D Contact 616-5419/ 265- country was under COVID-19 lockdown. Bethune reasoned 7075,/690-2242 that this was the case after Wanted Joiners/ Cabinet the councillors began to make Makers very attractive salary noise about what was for futher details, please. Call transpiring –$7M was 640-8969 collected in revenues from Cook/ baker and technical as- September to October 2020. sistant for interior location. This was an increase of more Technical assistant must have than $3M that was being mechanical experience and collected consistently for driver's license. Call 231-2250 previous months. “When they realised something was One family to work and live on happening, the revenue farm on the Linden Highway increased higher, even attractive salary Contact 623- though we were in a 9944 VACANCY Security guard apply at Alabama Trading 65 Robb street Vacancy exist for water delivBourda ery driver East Coast One female sales clerk Con- Demerara. Tel#692-6768/ 6761316 tact 225-2313/ 226-1497 Wanted land in Parfaite Harmonie Eccles , Providence, farm, Zeelugt, Tuchen, Uivlugth, CI and elsewhere Call 666-2326

VACANCY

pandemic year,” Deputy Mayor Bethune said.

In 2016, former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil William, recommissioned the toll booth, after it was disbanded in 2013, by former Minister of Local Government Norman Whittaker.

The recommissioning of the toll booth was meant to increase revenues for the cash-strapped Linden Mayor and Town Council (LMTC) so that it could clear debts and sustain itself. Bethune said the toll booth, since 2016, has only marginally increased the revenue of the Council and it remains cash-strapped.

Currently, revenues garnered can only meet 20 percent of the Council’s expenditure.

In 2017, during the Mayorship of Carwyn Holland, mere months after the toll booth was recommissioned, two staff were fired for pilfering funds.

This prompted the Council to install CCTV cameras, but apparently, the situation remains the same, since records show the continuous decline in revenues. In 2019, a point-of-sale machine was purchased but has not been operational. This machine was purchased to effectively record every transaction made but according to Mayor WanekaArrindell and Deputy Mayor Wainewright Bethune, the administration is not pursuing solutions aggressively to get the equipment operational.

In an invited comment, Town Clerk Obermuller, called on the Mayor and Deputy Mayor to put forward proof of pilfering and collusion, so that those found guilty can be terminated, as was done before. “If there is any proof, then those proof needs to be brought forward so that the necessary actions can be taken because I know prior,

Linden Mayor Waneka Arrindell (right) and Deputy Mayor Wainewright Bethune. once any staff was found guilty, that staff was terminated, so this is just an allegation, until there is proof that same is happening,” Obermuller said.

The Council proposed to the administration to relocate the toll booth to Bamia, where there will be police presence and there are also no other alternative routes to enter the township. This proposal, Mayor Arrindell said, has not been considered by the administration, much less to be executed. With the relocation and a working point-of-sale machine, figures are expected to go up, which will in turn increase revenues for the Council, something that is badly needed at this juncture. Because of its cashstrapped state, the staff continue to be paid below minimum wage and their National Insurance Scheme (NIS) contributions are not being paid.

Arrindell said she continues to question why the administration is not pursuing measures aggressively to fix the system, but continues to adapt a laid-

Female cleaner for office Call 642-9823 Male cleaner for workshop Call 642-9823 Vacancy exists for one experience sales girl between the age of 18-25 years Conatct 6885951 / 225-7579 One clerk for Eccles office English & Mathematics, grade 1 or 2 Email application to techserigy@yahoo.com

Experience labourers to work Maid to cook and clean for the on cash crop farm Salary East Bank area Call 615-9132 $5,000 - $6,000 per day Auto Electrical apprentice Tel#695-6139/ 679-7552/ 639Age 19-25yrs apply in person 7420 Lot 120 forth street Albertown Vacancy for a domestic expeG/Town or Call 610-0340 rienced maid Call 645-5676

Town Clerk,Orleena Obermuller.

back approach to executing policies that will increase revenue.

“There is no position of interest in my opinion from the administration, nobody in this administration has the capacity to manage…So here is it, you have a Council that has been detecting issues and solutions that could make this Council far more effective but it is being ignored and the ignoring of those issues has resulted in mismanagement,” Deputy Mayor Bethune stated.

The elected officials also chided the administration for providing misinformation to the Council, when questions are asked about revenue collection. “When I say they lack the capacity to manage, we have a Council who is in the abyss of debts and the general management of this place could only place it deeper because decisions being made, are not with thoughts of financial control…No one, including the TC, has approached the Council with ideas of curtailing spending and improving revenue collection,” Bethune reiterated.

The TC however claims that it is the Mayor’s responsibility as Chairwoman of the Finance Committee, to ensure the necessary policies to ensure that revenue collection is not only implemented but executed.

The elected officials believe that the relationship between the Council and the administration will continue to be strained if policies continue to be thrown under the table. They argue that constitutional reform is needed to equip local government organs with more power to govern the municipalities in a way that will not only make them policy makers but executors as well.

Kaieteur News

Friday May 07, 2021

“I was chased by two men” says captured Windsor Estates fence jumper The entrance to the Windsor Estates gated community located on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD).

A

suspected thief, Rabindra Azween, 36, who was yesterday caught intruding the gated community of Windsor Estates located on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD), reportedly told his captors that he was chased there by two men.

Police investigators notified Kaieteur News that it was the Windsor Estates security guards who had captured and handed him over to ranks at the Providence Police Station.

This newspaper was told that the perimeter surrounding the community

is equipped with an infrared alarm system which alerted the security guards that there was an intruder present.

The security guards responded immediately to the location where the alarm went off and reportedly saw a man with a knife in his hand.

According to sources close to the investigation, the intruder ran but was cornered under a water trestle.

They reportedly handcuffed the man and then transported him to the police station.

Kaieteur News understands that when the

ranks saw the intruder, they recognised him immediately as a well-known junkie who is no stranger to the law.

The suspect reportedly jumped a section of the gated communitys fence around 04:20 hrs.

Kaieteur News learnt

that while the man was being questioned, he reportedly responded to his captors that he was being chased by two men and could not find anywhere else to escape so he resorted to j u m p i n g t h e Wi n d s o r Estates fence.

PAGE 23

US to assist with...

From page 8 Guyana Elections Commission.

The IRI had also promised to liaise with the Canadian High Commission as well as the Indian High Commission, both of which have already pledged assistance to Guyana in this endeavour and will coordinate with those offices to avoid duplication and to ensure the best use of the resources are available.

The Attorney General expressed deep gratitude for the assistance offered and stressed the importance of strengthening Guyana’s constitutional framework, electoral laws and indeed the entire electoral machinery, in order to protect democracy in Guyana, from being undermined and penetrated

by fraud, in particular of the type and magnitude which we witnessed post 2nd March, 2020, Regional and General Elections.

“I feel compelled to emphasize that these matters are among the government’s h i g h e s t p r i o r i t y, ” A G Nandlall said.

As they are vital to good governance, public order and national development, therefore, time is of the essence.

“These reforms are intricately tied to Guyana’s electoral cycle and as a result, the assistance offered must manifest itself swiftly,” the Attorney General stressed.

The Attorney General and the IRI representatives agreed to meet at periodic intervals.

PAGE 24

Friday May 07, 2021

Kaieteur News

Strathspey man’s decomposed DBL reports ‘phenomenal’ 51% growth in profit body found in Buxton trench

The trench at Company Road in Buxton where Harry’s body was found.

The partially decomposed body of a 46-year-old man was yesterday fished out of a trench at Company Road, Buxton, East Coast Demerara (ECD). The dead man has since been identified as Shelton Harry also known as ‘Jimmy,’ of Lot 202 Area ‘G,’ Strathspey, ECD. According to the police, Harry was a known alcoholic and was last seen on Tuesday at about 15:00 hrs. by his juvenile relative, lying on Company Road in a drunken state.

However, yesterday the man’s body was found by a close acquaintance, who knows Harry by seeing him daily at an abandoned house next door to his property. The acquaintance related to this publication that he woke up to a stench emanating from in front of his yard and upon investigation he saw Harry’s bloated body in a clump of bushes in the trench.

He immediately raised an alarm and the police were summoned to the location.

After the police showed up,

the 46-year-old man was positively identified by his uncle, Gavin McPherson, no marks of violence were seen on his exposed body.

He was then taken to the Lyken Funeral Home, where a post mortem examination (PME) is expected to be conducted to determine his cause of death. Although he lived in Strathspey, he was known for doing odd jobs for residents within the village of Buxton and was described by villagers as easygoing.

Investigations are ongoing.

Despite tough operating conditions and challenges within the global environment, the financial performance of Demerara Bank Limited as at the interim period ended 31st March, 2021 was record breaking as a result of the Bank’s resilient businessmodel and astute leadership that have propelled the Bank forward for nearly three decades.

The Bank is reporting a Profit Before Taxation of $2.1 billion, an increase of 59% for the first half of the financial year, and a Profit After Taxation of $1.312 billion up from $871 million registered in the corresponding period of 2020.

Demerara Bank also saw an expansion of its balance sheet during its interim period as Loans & Advances rose by 7% from $37.6 billion to $40.3 billion. Total Deposits increased by 18% to $87.9 billion as compared to $74.7 billion in the previous year, while Net Interest Income showed an increase of 9% to

$2.1 billion from $2 billion last year, backed by increased investment activities.

Total assets grew by 17% to $105.6 billion compared to $90 billion during the same period last year, while total operating expenses marginally increased by 2.5% to $606 million, highlighting the cost containment measures by the Bank.

In view of the Bank’s performance, shareholders’ earnings per share increased by 51% from $3.87 to $5.83 per share and the Board of Directors has recommended an Interim Dividend of $0.40 per share, compared to $0.25 per share paid in 2020.

“The Bank’s remarkable performance,” said Dr. Yesu Persaud, Chairman of Demerara Bank Limited, “is a testament of our resilience.

Even though the COVID-19 pandemic continues to increase market volatility resulting in extreme challenges in the business environment, we will continue to reassess our growth

strategies, build resilience and ensure long-term sustainability.”

The Bank remains optimistic in its outlook of the future and plans on focusing its strategies on providing a differentiated customer experience, leveraging on technology to provide uninterrupted banking services and directing its resources to ensure the health and well being of its customers, employees and the communities in which it operates.

Among many other things, the Bank will continue a green and sustainable environment which to date has seen all the buildings owned by the bank retrofitted with solar resulting in substantial savings over the last four years.

It will also be reviewing the strategies to benefit from opportunities that exist in the Oil and Gas industry which could have tremendous advantage for all local businesses. (DBL)

...Exxon contract permits blank cheque From page 3 week, when the US oil major held its earnings call for the second quarter. EEPGLs pare n t companyExxonMobilChief Operating Officer (COO), Greg Hill, in giving the announcement, detailed that the Stena Carron drillship has also commenced exploration drilling at the Koebi 1 well and that the exploration well at Whiptail is planned to be spud in May. He said too, the company plans further exploration and appraisal activities for the second half of 2021 with a total of 12 wells to be drilled. As such, the Noble Tom Madden, the Noble Bob Douglas and the Noble Sam Croftwhich recently joined the fleetwill be primarily focused on development drilling, he

said.

According to the ExxonMobil COO, the Stabroek Block exploration programme for the remainder of the year will focus on both Campainian Liza Type reservoirs and on the deeper Santonian reservoirs. Additionally, he disclosed that key appraisal activities will be targeted in the South-Eastern portion of the Stabroek Block, to inform future developments.

Speaking to the recent successful discovery at the Urau 2 well, he noted that there were also incremental discoveries at that location, at deeper intervals. According to Hill, that well had encountered approximately 120 feet of high quality, oil bearing sandstone reservoir and was

drilled 6.8 miles from the discovery well, implying a potentially large aerial extent.

He noted that too that the Stena Drill Max is currently appraising the Longtail discovery and additional appraisal was planned at Mako and in the Turbot area, “which will help to find our fifth and sixth developments on the block.”

Work is also continuing for the fourth development, on the Stabroek Block at Yellowtail.

ExxonMobil, he said, expects to submit a plan of development to the Government of Guyana in the second half of this year. Pending government approval and project sanctioning, the Yellowtail project is expected to achieve first-oil in 2025.

Friday May 07, 2021

PAGE 25

Kaieteur News

2021 Concacaf Futsal Championship

El Salvador, Guatemala nail down spots in next round

The day wrapped up with host nation Guatemala finishing off a perfect group stage with a 4-3 win versus Trinidad and Tobago

Friday May 07, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You may feel wanderlust and crave something new and different in your life.

You just can't help but be a bit bored by the dullness of the routine. If adventure is what you want, why not plan an exotic trip?

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Keep your eyes and ears open today. You may receive some important information on specific ways to increase your income.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You may be privy to some important knowledge, Gemini. Perhaps an article gives you the impetus you need to invest in a promising stock.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) A visit to a local museum or art gallery may move you to tears, Cancer. Suddenly, you're aware of all the beauty around you and inspired to create some original works of your own.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) There are no half measures today, Leo. You feel every emotion to the nth degree.

This could make for an intense day. Make an effort to calm down.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You're likely feeling a desire to do something different and a little crazy. Today you may fulfill that desire by attending a group event, perhaps a concert. Or you could indulge a childhood fantasy and go to the circus.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You're likely feeling a desire to do something different and a little crazy. Today you may fulfill that desire by attending a group event, perhaps a concert.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You're looking gorgeous today, Scorpio, and have likely noticed the admiring glances you've received.

Your passion is running high, and you may be able to spend this evening with a special someone.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) This could be your lucky day, Sagittarius, especially in matters of the heart. You may feel particularly close to your special someone, as well as others in your immediate circle of friends.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Try not to do everything all at once today, Capricorn.

Your social life is heating up and you may be in a frenzy preparing for all the gatherings you've been invited to.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) It looks like your ship is about to come in, Aquarius.

The planetary configuration indicates that you can expect additional financial resources, perhaps a raise.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Take extra care with your appearance t o d a y, a n d clean the house a bit this morning. You may have some visitors, Pisces. Invite them in and make them comfortable.

Guatemala City, Guatemala - The group stage of the 2021 Concacaf Futsal Championship concluded on Wednesday at the Domo Polideportivo de la CDAG in Guatemala City, Guatemala with eight teams securing their place in Friday’s (today) quarterfinals.

In Group A, El Salvador reached the final eight on the strength of a 5-2 win over Nicaragua, giving them seven points. Rodrigo Contreras bagged a brace while Pedro Gomez, Marvin Diaz and Victor Chavez added goals for the Cuscatlecos. Nicaragua got scores from Lester Kripp and Nelson Salinas.

The United States finished atop the group by scoring one more goal than the Salvadorans after a 4-2 win against Cuba. The hero on the day for the U.S. was Julian Escobar, who notched a hat trick and was joined on the scoresheet by Lucho Gonzalez. Alejandro Marrero and Ricardo Castillo accounted for the Cuban goals.

Group B play ended with Panama taking the top spot after a 5-4 win over Mexico.

Carlos Perez provided a hat trick, while Oscar Hinks and Abdiel Castrellon also found the back of the net for the Canaleros.

Cesar Paniagua, Miguel Limon, Miguel Vences and Abraham Atri scored for El Tricolor. Both Panama and Suriname have advanced to the knockout round from Group B. The two teams to emerge from Group C, Costa Rica and Canada, were in action to decide first place and it went

the way of the Ticos in a 5-1 final. Gilberth Garro scored twice, while Jose Guevara, Pablo Rodriguez and Cesar Vargas also added goals. Ian Bennett found the back of the net for Canada.

The day wrapped up with host nation Guatemala finishing off a perfect group stage with a 4-3 win versus

Trinidad and Tobago. Alan Aguilar had a brace while Jose Mansilla Ramos and Wanderley Ruiz tallied goals for the Chapines. The Soca Warriors got two goals from Che Benny and a score from Jameel Neptune. Guatemala and the Dominican Republic have both advanced to the knockout round.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 26

Friday May 07, 2021

...Man Utd trough to Europa League final

Edinson Cavani has seven goals and two assists in his past six games in all competitions.

From page 27 tier Conference competition.

Arsenal’s Europa League ended by Villarreal Arsenal’s Europa League hopes were dashed as Villarreal sealed a semi-final victory that will almost certainly end the Gunners’ unbroken 25-season run of appearing in European

competition.

Trailing 2-1 from the first leg in Spain and knowing that victory in this tournament represented their only realistic route back into the Champions League, Mikel Arteta’s side could not find a way past the visitors’ stubborn defence.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang struck the post with a volley but it was a rare moment of threat in a display strangely passive for large parts and crucially lacking incision. Nicolas Pepe and Emile Smith Rowe both

fired efforts wide early in the second half and Aubameyang hit the post again with a downward header later in the game but such moments were few and far between.

That the defeat came at the hands of former boss Unai Emery will be especially galling for the Gunners. Emery was sacked in November 2019 after 18 months in charge, ultimately leading to the appointment of Arteta.

With Manchester United seeing off Roma in the other

semi-final and Chelsea and Manchester City into the Champions League final, Arsenal’s loss ruins a Premier League clean sweep of European competitions this season.

More importantly for the Gunners, though, the result effectively ends their season and their European chances.

It is a big blow to a club who, a little over two weeks ago, were one of 12 prepared to walk away from the Champions League in order to join the proposed European Super League.

Kaieteur News

Friday May 07, 2021

PAGE 27

Man Utd trough to Europa League final despite Roma loss

B

BCsport Manchester United reached their first final of the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer era but lost their seven-match unbeaten record in an entertaining Europa League last-four tie with Roma.

Edinson Cavani scored

both United goals in the second leg of a 13-goal semifinal.

The Uruguayan opened the scoring with a fabulous first-half effort, then found the net with a fine header from Bruno Fernandes’ excellent floated pass in the second half.

In between, Roma briefly threatened a comeback when former Manchester City forward Edin Dzeko scored his ninth goal against United before Bryan Cristante finished smartly with a shot on the turn.

The Italians had the final word when Nicola

Zalewski’s low drive went in through David de Gea’s legs after taking a deflection off Alex Telles.

The 8-5 aggregate victory ends a run of four semi-final defeats for United under Solskjaer and sets up a meeting with Villarreal in Gdansk on 26 May.

United are without a trophy since their last triumph in this competition in 2017, their longest run since the five-year gap between 1985 and 1990, which was ended by an FA Cup success that marked the start of Sir Alex Ferguson’s silverware collection.

Jose Mourinho was manager for that most recent United success and he will be responsible for reviving Roma’s fortunes next season, knowing their only chance of European football next season will come in Uefa’s new third(Continued on page 26)

PAGE 28

Kaieteur News

Friday May 07, 2021

Kaieteur News

Friday May 07, 2021

File photo: Qiana Joseph gets her cap from Ezra Moseley IDI/Getty Images

CWI offers increased number of WI Women’s Retainer contracts for 2021-2022 season - Uncapped Kaysia Schultz among five Guyanese players St. John’s, Antigua Cricket West Indies (CWI) has expanded the number of We s t I n d i e s Wo m e n ’s players offered retainer contracts for the 2021-2022 season to a record number of eighteen (18) players and amongst the players are five Guyanese, Shemaine Campbelle, Sheneta Grimmond, Shabika Gajnabi, Cherry Ann Fraser and first timer, Kaysia Schultz.

This is an increase of three (3) retainer contracts compared to the 2020-21 season with contracts offered for the first time to developing young players Kaysia Schultz and Qiana Joseph. The three players will join the 15 retained players from the 2020-2021 season, including Captain Stafanie Taylor, dynamic allrounder Deandra Dottin and the leading T20 International (T20I) wicket-taker Anisa Mohammed.

T h i s m a r k s a continuation of CWI’s investment into Women’s and Girls cricket which aims to strengthen and widen the talent pool available, as well as encourage greater participation into the women’s game.

CWI’s Lead Selector for Women’s and Girls cricket, Ann Browne-John said, “The last contract period did not see many international matches as we only played five (5) T20I matches against England. Despite this, the contracted players were able to keep themselves fit and match ready. It was therefore the fairest decision to return all fifteen (15) to contract.”

Additionally, it is really a positive that three (3) new development contracts have been awarded for the upcoming year. This will allow the requisite focus to be placed on these young players as they continue to progress their careers.

There has been a lack of left-arm orthodox bowlers in the region, therefore Joseph

and Schultz will hopefully help fill this void; with Joseph also bringing her lefthand batting skills which is also limited in the region.

Hector is one of the bright young fast bowlers who have been bowling with great aggression in the past few training camps.

C W I ’s D i r e c t o r o f Cricket Jimmy Adams said, “I am delighted for all the players who have been awarded central contracts, especially those who are new to the contract list. We saw fit to expand the list of retained players by awarding additional development contracts to three young players who the selectors strongly recommended for inclusion.”

The West Indies Women are currently in Antigua for their second highperformance camp of the year under newly appointed Head Coach Courtney Walsh. The evaluation period for the 2021-22 contracts covered performances and statistics from April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021 (this was also supported by statistics from the previous 2019-2020 evaluation period).

This allows for all players to be appraised immediately after the evaluation period and provides a notice period before new contracts on the July 1, 2021. West Indies Women’s contracted players 2021-2022 Season: Aaliyah Alleyne, Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Cherry Ann Fraser, Shabika Gajnabi, Sheneta Grimmond, Shawnisha Hector, Chinelle Henry, Qiana Joseph*, Hayley Matthews, Anisa Mohammed, Chedean Nation, Karishma Ramharack, Kaysia Schultz*, Shakera Selman, Stafanie Taylor. *denotes players offered contracts for the first time in 2021-2022

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

PAGE 30

Friday May 07, 2021

RHTY&SC Cricket teams honours four outstanding Medical Workers - Port Mourant Hospital also benefit

RHTY&SC Organising Secretary Ravindranauth Kissoonlall hands over donation to the Administrator of the Port Mourant Hospital, Ms Shaneeza Nabi

T

he eleven cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) on Tuesday last honored four outstanding Medical Workers from the Port Mourant Public Hospital.

The workers were selected by the Administration of the Hospital based on their performance and commitment over the last

year.

An executive team from the RHTY&SC including Vi c e P r e s i d e n t M a r k Papannah, Secretary/ CEO Hilbert Foster, Assistant Secretary/CEO Simon Naidu and Organising Secretary Ravindranauth Kissonlall visited the institution for a simple presentation for the 3rd Annual Tribute to Medical Workers Programme.

The awardees pose with Doctor in Charge Dr. Sukhdeo, Hospital Administrator Shaneeza Nabi and RHTY&SC Ravindranauth Kissoonlall following the presentation.

The workers honored were Dr. Rafeek Rahaman.

Medex Sheliza Shultz, Nurse Venisa Persaud and Driver, Nigel Trotz.

Foster informed that in 2019 he was a patient at the Hospital and over the course of his eight-day stay he was very impressed with the high level of professionalism

among the staff and committed the RHTY&SC to assisting as much as possible. He has also hosted an annual award to honor the best of the best.

Over the last three years, a total of 23 staff members have been honored for outstanding performances and Foster pledged that the club would continue to host the award in the future.

The awardees were urged to uphold their high standards and were reminded that the health of the nation is the wealth of the nation.

The long standing club official stated that the professionalism of the Port Mourant Hospital was unmatched across the country along with its general appearance. He made special mention of Dr Rahaman and Nurse Persaud who were among the workers who attended him during his stay there three

years ago.

He noted that the nation was blessed to have such outstanding medical workers during the ongoing pandemic. Each of the awardees received a plaque, Medal of Excellence, framed certificate along with three special gifts.

The eleven cricket teams also handed over a bicycle and a trolley to the management of the Hospital as part of their annual Basil Butcher Trust Fund Project.

The bicycle would be used by the porters at the institution to fulfill their duties while the trolley would be used to move around the EKG machine.

Naidu disclosed that over the past three years, the club and its cricket teams have made numerous donations to the hospital in an effort to assist management in fulfilling its mandate to the general public.

The club would also be

providing some Mothers Day hampers to the hospital for outstanding mothers working there. Medical Doctor in Charge Dr. Sukhdeo expressed gratitude to the club for its assistance over the years and congratulated the awardees on being selected.

Dr. Rahaman speaking on behalf of the awardees pledged to uphold their high standards in the future and also congratulated the RHTY&SC on the outstanding work it was doing across the county of Berbice for youths and the less fortunate.

The eleven cricket teams of the club are Poonai Pharmacy Under-12 and 13, Farfan and Mendes Under15, Bakewell Under-17 and Second Division, Pepsi Under-19 and Intermediate, Metro Females, Vitality Inc. Under-23, NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Under-21 and First Division.

Head of the CCDO, Dawn Primo (left) and GRFU Ryan Dey during the signing of the agreement.

GRFU reach agreement with CCDO to use Camptown ground The Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) and the Campbellville Community Development Organisation (CCDO) on May 5, 2021, signed a long-term agreement, giving Guyana’s Rugby access to the Camptown Ground. President of the Rugby Union, Ryan Dey and Secretary of the CCDO Dawn Primo signed the agreement. The historic ceremony was held at Camptown and witnessed by executives of the GRFU and the CCDO. In a release to the media, the GRFU detailed that, “This agreement gives the GRFU an alternate facility to the National

Park, the home of Guyana Rugby.”

The release further iterated that, “President Dey, who championed the GRFU’s search for another ground to further the development of rugby, says he is satisfied with the huge step the Union made. He is optimistic that with the support of government, rugby will grow exponentially.”

Already, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr., pledged his support for the development of rugby when he met with the GRFU back in January, the release concluded.

Kaieteur News

Friday May 07, 2021

PAGE 31

Region three approves gold facility at Leonora

G

olf continues to make great strides in Guyana but especially in Leonora, West Coast Demerara as the Leonora Secondary School receives approval for establishing an onsite Golf training facility.

This was as a result of strong efforts by the Head Mistress Faye Gittens, along with teachers Ms. Kharlyn Henry and Ms. Usha Banson who were adamant about their school becoming the leader in development of the sport, “golf is part of the CSEC Physical Education syllabus and one of the few sports that is fully covid-19 compliant, so it is of great benefit for all involved.”

As evidenced by the phenomenal growth of the game in the past year, golf has taken a whole new life under the guidance and development of the Guyana Golf Association and Ministry of Education Allied Arts Unit but Region 3 has taken an aggressive approach to the sport and are

Teachers of Region three with Aleem Hussain at Leonora. leading the way forward based on the efforts of the Regional Executive Officer Mr. Jainarine Somwar, Regional Education Officer Mr. Devendre Persaud, Mr. Lindley Langhorne (Allied Arts), and Mr. Ulrich Charles (Region 3 Sports Coordinator).

Ms. June Ann Gonsalves, Assistant Chief Education Officer Secondary Schools and Allied Arts Unit headed

by Ms. Lorraine BarkerKing combined efforts to ensure that Golf is available to all students in Guyana’s Secondary Schools and there are plans to train teachers from an additional 50 schools in August, this will give over 10,000 students access to the sport by end of 2021.

The sport continues to develop rapidly and the GGA is playing its part.

Overseas based Guyanese Danny Ramnarain who hails from Leonora has been extremely proactive in assisting with the development of the game in his hometown and will be on hand for the proposed opening of the facility later this year.

President of the Guyana Golf Association Aleem Hussain says, “We are leveraging all possible

partnerships and relationships to ensure that we can meet our goals to supply training, equipment and activities that will help to make Golf one of the core sports played in Guyana.”

Hussain predicts that Golf will become one of the most popular sports based on the new model developed by the GGA that provides all equipment, smaller but easier to access courses,

lower costs, no membership fees, shorter playing time and many competitions.

There are several facilities being planned in Linden, Berbice, Essequibo and West Coast Demerara that will complement the Nexgen Golf Academy on Woolford Avenue and help to build the skills of new players who will eventually compete on national and international levels.