Kaieteur News

Guyana’s oil find now K NEWS represents more than 10% of global discoveries AIETEUR

Saturday Edition May 07, 2022 - Vol. 16 No. 17 Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $80 readership yesterday, 66,629

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

Exxon to determine fate of Guyana’s Gas - VP Jagdeo Master Plan GECOM to hold internal The protest continues for change to all Foreign contracts

discussion on elections …opposition says submission law reform must represent views of all parties ‘Abusive’ Man arms self with cutlass businessman struggles to to fend off find legal bicycle bandits representation Police Commander targeting youths at community level to reduce crime - to provide environment to foster skills training

Local non-profit celebrates 6 years of helping nation’s Businessman dies in athletes, less fortunate

Corentyne accident

- Helping mom with a disability finish home before May eviction

No supply of electricity from Giftland - management to GPL for almost a year confirms Exxon to deduct US$1.3B and counting from Liza 1&2 for the Wales Gas Plant pipe lines alone - VP Jagdeo says.

Listen @11:00hrs on Kaieteur Radio 99.1/99.5FM

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Exxon to determine fate of Guyana’s Gas Master Plan - VP Jagdeo

V

ice President, D r. B h a r r a t Jagdeo recently disclosed that G u y a n a ’s g a s r e s e r v e currently totals 16 trillion cubic feet (Tcf). In light of this, he believes there is merit to the advice offered by industry experts that the country would be wise to develop a gas master plan.

The government’s oil boss was keen to note, however, that such a plan hinges on how much of the gas reserve ExxonMobil Guyana can make available for use. During a recent e n g a g e m e n t , t h e Vi c e President said, “We are working on a draft master plan for the country and a lot hinges on getting Exxon to make more gas available to monetize more of its 16 trillion cubic feet of reserve.

So that is the first objective of the government.”

The economist and former Head of State continued, “…Now as you know, Exxon now re-injects most of this gas back into the reservoir and they are saying it is important for reservioir

quality and for them to do that in all the developments then we don’t have much gas to utilize so we are working with them to get some studies done to see how we can liberate more of the gas.”

The Vice President indicated that the government is of the firm conviction that the gas resource can be as lucrative as the oil component of Exxon’s operations. He stressed however that a lot hinges on the availability of the gas and not being carried away by the size of the reserve.”

In the meantime, Jagdeo said the government intends to advance its gas-to-power project which will utilize a 12 inch pipeline and bring in at maximum, 130 million cubic feet of gas per day. He said a commitment has been received from Exxon for 50 million standard cubic feet per day but work is ongoing to increase this to 80 million cubic feet.

Dr. Jagdeo said, “We have to secure the supplies to bring in the 80 million remaining and we believe we

can do that…at this stage we will have to get a significant part of that gas to generate 250 to 300 megawatt of power.”

As for the excess gas that will be available after the government utilizes a portion for power generation, Jagdeo said the administration is in receipt of 15 to 20 proposals on what would be the best course of action. Even with their being no feasibility study and a gas master plan in place, he assured that Guyana will not be left paying for gas it cannot absorb or use.

Kaieteur News has reported over the years, the advice of several experts and industry analysts, all of whom urged the new oil producing State to get a gas master plan in place before expending billions of dollars in a trial and error exercise.

Energy Consultant and Co-Director at Americans Market Intelligence (AMI), Arthur Deakin, is one such person who had advised Guyana in this regard. In one of his appearances on Kaieteur Radio’s

$320M contract inked for rehabilitation of pontoons for Demerara Harbour Bridge The Ministry of Public Works on Tuesday inked a $320 million contract for the rehabilitation of 28 pontoons on the Demerara Harbour Bridge.

The contract which was signed at the Ministry’s office was awarded to S.Jagmohan Construction and General Supplies Inc. to the tune of $320,383,632.

S.Jagmohan Construction was among five contractors who had submitted bids to the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) office last month for the project.

The project details the rehabilitation of 24 regular pontoons and four large pontoons.

General Manager of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC), Mr.

The Demerara Harbour Bridge.

Wayne Watson told this publication yesterday that rehabilitative works on these pontoons have been long overdue.

He noted that because of their budget last year not all the pontoons could have been rehabilitated. For 2022 and 2023, he said repairs

would be done to a number of pontoons.

Watson added that next week they would be engaging with the contractor on the project and when the works do start, he assured that there would not be any closure at the bridge. The (Continued on page 19)

Programme– Guyana’s Oil and You, Deakin had explained that as more discoveries are made in the Stabroek Block, the country will unlock more gas.

To ensure the country maximizes the value of both resources, he urged the authorities to put a plan in place. Deakin had also warned of the debilitating effects of being left with surplus gas with no plan in place for its use.

Deakin had also encouraged authorities to conduct an independent assessment of its resources.

Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo

Businessman dies in Corentyne accident A motorcycle enthusiast is now dead following a head-on collision with an intoxicated female driver. Dead is Rajendra Khadaroo called ‘Andy’, 41, of lot 4(B) Albion, Corentyne, Berbice.

The driver of the car bearing licence plate number HB 9593 has been identified as Khamwattie Mangar Karpen called ‘Pamela’, The 35-year-old is a vendor of Lot 52 4th Street South Public Road, Williamsburgh Squatting Area, Corentyne, Berbice.

Kaieteur News was informed that the incident occurred at approximately 05:00 hrs on May 6, 2022 on the Nigg Public Road (opposite the Nigg Post Office).

Karpen was heading east along the northern side of the public road allegedly in an intoxicated state when she turned in a southeastern direction and into the path of Khadaroo who was heading west along the

southern side of the road. The motorcyclist who was not wearing a helmet at the time and who was reportedly proceeding at a fast rate, crashed into the left side front bumper of the car, ripping it apart.

Khadaroo pitched off the bike and landed on the windscreen of the car before falling to the road’s surface. He received multiple injuries about his head and body and was picked up by public spirited citizens and taken to the Port Mourant Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The driver of the car was subsequently taken into custody at the Albion Police Station and breathalyzer tests were conducted. Those tests read 94 and 98 micrograms respectively, which is way above the legal limit.

Meanwhile, a post mortem examination conducted on the body of Khadaroo, revealed that he died from multiple injuries.

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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

Cabinet media briefings

P

resident Irfaan Ali has said that his government is accessible at all times. This national leader can not be on the same planet as us. He needs to come down to earth, face the truth, and cease with this embarrassing defense of government media accessibility, its openness. He and his government must be of complete frankness about things that all Guyanese need to know.

This hiding and hedging by the PPPC Government must halt. It has been 641 days and there have been no cabinet media briefings (KN May 5). We think that the President can count as well as most Guyanese, so there should be no place for these tricky games that he plays. It is not whatever he says it is, but what the facts of the record point to, what shreds his rather futile claim, his weak defense.

What we speak of are post-cabinet media briefings.

There has been none for almost two years now. Surely, the President must know that, and is familiar with a situation that does not speak well of either his leadership or his government. What is the PPPC Government afraid of, and what is its leaders going to great lengths to conceal? Oil is the talk of the town; and, indeed, it can be said that Guyana is the fascination of the world, and features highly inconversations of the entire investment community.

Oil has to be among the biggest things, if not the biggest one by far, on every agenda of the cabinet. Yet, the PPPC Government has not held any post-cabinet briefing for the lengthy period of 641 days. We have no interest in calling out the President and making him look bad; or why the reluctance to face independent, mainstream media. He and his senior comrades scurrying over to the friendly arms of the helpless state media agencies does not qualify as full-fledged post cabinet briefings. The same applies in the even more nauseating circumstances when top leaders and ministers seek the safe harbour of fawning, worshiping agents planted in private media.

The President should be aware that those pretenders for professional media practitioners dont count for anything in thoughtful, constructive, and respectable circles.

The President should know that those fly-by-night presences insult both him and his government in that they register in a certain discreditable way to him. Guyanese need to know the essences of what goes on in cabinet meetings since there is so much happening at this time. It cannot come in drips and drabs, and then through these side doors and backdoors, which make all Guyanese look foolish, without exception.

For his part, the President offered this platter of icing, “I would…say…that this government that I lead and this President that sits here, has been the most accessible government and President to the media any time of the day…”

The first thing that we at this publication would say is that when anyone starts referring to himself in the third person (“this President”) then it is time to worry.

It is not a good sign, which has been observed from the antics and shambles of rock stars and sport stars who later fall apart. More sharply, the President has become a oneman cottage industry, a dictionary all by himself, in how he has remade the English Language to suit the narrow ends of his still narrower leadership outlook.

The President clearly doesnt know when to stop, but charged ahead with “On the ground, that is where I am at home, that is where I feel comfortable…” It pains us to tell the President that salesmanship, propagandizing, and fluttering about among friendlies is not governing. They are not even about leading, or what makes officeholders “comfortable.” The President may not care, but an essential aspect of leadership and the presidency is being made uncomfortable, when things are suspect, when colleagues engage in slickness, when government dodges and ducks.

Post cabinet briefings would benefit Guyanese with a wealth of information. The PPPC Government has failed Guyanese in this regard. It is time for President Ali to get real and get started with post cabinet media briefings. They are not a favor given, but a duty to be done.

Counselling the M&CC DEAR EDITOR, Pat Dial’s Column “Consumer Concerns” in Guyana Chronicle Sunday April 24 raises the important issue of the restructuring of the management of the Mayor & City Council. Most citizens will heartily agree. The current organisational structure belonged to a more cultivated era when well respected citizens like Rahman Gajraj, C.V. Wight were the Mayors. Later followed the politicians like Forbes Burnham, and even more currently Hamilton Green.

Possibly it was around the time of the latter’s regime that the very comprehensive Keith Burrowes Report was submitted for examination and action, following a Commission’s extensive discourse involving a wide range of citizens and agencies.

The Report contained some very pertinent and constructive recommendations for restructuring the manage-

ment of the Council. A copy was given by the writer to the current Deputy Mayor some time ago.

Further, extracts of the Report were included in a submission to the more recent investigation into the Council’s operations by the late Cecil Kennard. The latter’s Report seems also to have been ignored, even by the administration who sponsored it.

But it is not enough to let ‘bygones be bygones’. The Capital is now caught in the midst of a range and variety of developmental projects by new and creative agencies that now outweigh the span of authority and capabilities of a discouragingly outdated political management structure.

Interestingly, the Council operates within the authority of the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Administration, who oversees a combination of ten administrations managed by ap-

pointed Regional Executive Officers whose portfolios are more wide-ranging than some (elevated) Ministries – spanning Agriculture, Health, Works, Education, Administration and Finance.

While the qualifications/ experience of these political appointees are never published, there are at the same time, no available commentaries on performance, nor indeed news of terminations, contracted as all the incumbents are.

Intricated in the above processes is the possibility of exploring a new management construct for the Mayor & City Council of Georgetown (Incidentally one hears nothing about counterpart New Amsterdam presumably still of a comparable management structure – in Region 6).

It has become urgently necessary to coordinate a team of interested parties – business, legal, health, works, management professionals, other related technically

qualified personnel, and of course civic representations, to review the relevance of the current city management structure.

One recognises that such a structural upheaval would have to be preceded by a very sensitive investigation into how such a fundamental transitional arrangement could be effected, for obviously such a change would not be acceptable to egos who continually refuse to acknowledge performance deficiencies that could be of little benefit to the future management of a capital of substantively demanding management and operational needs.

From this perspective what is to be agreed is the establishment of a City Manager, supported by relevantly technically qualified professionals – a structure that assures more easily verifiable accountability relationships.

Regards, E.B. John

The media must understand and embrace its role in Guyana’s New Order DEAR EDITOR, Foreigners have sophisticated ways of operating, which go over Guyanese heads.

They observe Guyana, and hustle to give us a hand, so that we can be aware of where we are, and prepare us for the future now poised atop the national stairway. In their kindness the foreigners hold our hands, take us to school. It involves Guyana’s media.

Two recent instances highlight this clever care of foreigners pitying us. It is that the media must understand and embrace its role in Guyana’s New Order. The first foreign tutoring class for local media pinpointed how Guyana has existed, still operates. It came from VICE News. The group did our work for us. It is called following leads, developing sources, gathering intelligence (without Spyware facilities); in two words-investigate journalism. Expose who must be, including group favored, whatever the biases and prejudices. VICE News did our heavy lifting for us, and though one grand figure was shown in a less than honourable light, media ranks were given a seminar on how it is done, how the trail must be pursued, and followed to whomever it leads.

The old Guyana that VICE News exposed is as new as today’s dawn, old as national political leadership. More importantly, I think the foreigner(s) didn’t come here

randomly or innocently, but purposely. They knew what they knew, and they wanted Guyanese to know. Our eternal way of doing business, our disreputable manner of conducting ourselves, our endless betrayals at the highest levels of the people’s trusts. Such has to stop. It just cannot continue, so there was what I interpreted to be that warning shot.

The foreigners were warning that they see through the murk of leadership mysteries.

They must stop. Because we know more. Because we don’t want anything and anyone to jeopardize the New Guyana Order. Meaning, its Oil Order. This New Guyana Oil Age, which demands that the old Guyana goes away. It is this unsolvable puzzle: where oil is, corruption rules. How to combat? Who to confront?

Where to begin? Hard work and more hard work for local media presences largely lacking the unbiasedness, the character, that energizes oil positives for the people, not political parties.

What I concluded from the VICE exercise was that national leaders who persist with their troubled ways will be addressed smartly. Should any Guyanese get the idea that that foreign media agency came here unaided or unloaded with details, I urge serious rethinking. It is how the real-world works, the subtle ways in which rough messages are smoothly transmitted outside diplomatic

corps. They may not be sweet, but they are smooth.

It is precisely what I saw in this little candle that the foreigners put before Guyanese recently. Again, it involved the media, and this time, under the lovely standard of World Press Freedom Day. It is the best cover, provides room to maneuver insightfully. First, to convey a call; second, to wave warnings; last, to light fires under the locals long settled in their tribal and political partisanships. Embedded in those foreign guiding hands and voices are the ideals of the noble Fourth Estate, the ethics of journalism. It is the way of what used to be, but not anymore. It took two forms primarily, with secondary matters sidelined.

The first was this creature out of the abyss with the frightening ID card of Spyware. Like VICE News exposé of local capers, this development was also not accidental. The mere mention of it spoke to invisible helping hands (foreign ones) planting that in the local media fields for expression. To emphasize my position, it was not a case of loose lips sinking ships. NO! it is of foreigners alerting Guyanese of what is going on, while advising leaders to desist.

Guyana’s President decided it was best to take an aggressive-defensive posture. Never! Not here! Nowhere near me! I thank the President for his stentorian

assertions, which makes me look at him almost worshipfully. Almost, not quite, since I remain an infidel searching for real leadership truths.

Guyanese had better be, when there are such insecure, easily agitated, highly vindictive comrades in the fold.

Spyware is the new phantom asset, the electronic Black Clothes operating from the air to check on what is happening on the ground, especially who is involved.

Then the foreigners got to gushing about Guyana’s oil revenues and the pivotal place of local media. It involves heavy lifting and hard work. What I believe most media minstrels would term ‘dutty wuk.’ But there it was on press freedom day from voices strangely accented.

This means that the media must stop fawning over and regurgitating what political con artists concoct for their consumption first, and for them to pass to the nation.

What the foreigners said was: 1) get vision; 2) get tools; 3) get backbone; and 4) get to truth. It is stop being the National Enquirer and Playboy for political bunnies.

Become some limited edition of the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Bloomberg, and the like. Do the digging, know the territory (suspect), arm self about finances (swaps, futures, spot, depletion, volatility, traders), oil history and practices(Rockefeller, (Continued on page 5)

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Declining production at GuySuCo DEAR EDITOR, GuySuCo’s new revised target sugar production is nothing to celebrate or be proud of (March 20 and Jan 23, 2022 reports). The media reported that GuySuCo slashed production target for 2022 to 66K tons, a reduction of the projected 70K, and marginally over the 58K tons of 2021 (Dec 25, 2021). Of the targeted 97,420 tons for 2021, the company managed just above half — only 58K tons as your paper reported.

Last March, as reported in the media, the company announced that it is on course to reach the revised target of 66K tons for 2022. This is just 8K tons more than the flood affected 2020 crops. Will it reach the target? Is that an achievement for GuySuCo, or something to cheer about and celebrate? There are some queer concepts of sugar production that defy logical intelligence and makes fools of the public if not the political directorate. How long more does the government feel sugar workers and the public can be fooled?

Even if the production targets are reached this year, is the company producing cost effectively enough to ‘Capture World Markets’ or reduce price of sugar for local consumers? Isn’t the company still dependent on charitable subsidies from the state which so far has handed it some $15 billion since October 2020 and settled with sugar workers for a bonus as well as wage increment. Had the subsidies been used efficiently, it would have been enough to re-open the four closed estates to full production by now and the creation

of some 10K jobs. It is now 20 months since the change in administration, enough time for harvesting if the four estates had gone into cultivation with a spurt in the economy.

To measure real success in sugar production, one has to examine the PRIMARY PRODUCTIVITY INDECES: TONNES CANE PER ACRE/ HECTARE as well as Tonnes Cane/Tonne Sugar. Both indexes have declined from three years ago. It takes more than double the amount of hectares to produce a ton of cane and ditto the amount of cane to produce a ton of sugar from what it was just a few years ago when the coalition had neglected the industry. It is much worse from under the previous PPP government.

Productivity is extremely low, the worst in the history of the industry and has been declining steadily from preceding periods of coalition rule as well as under the previous PPP administrations. When the company was under management of Raj Singh, Nanda Gopaul, Vishnu Panday, Donald Ramotar and others, production was more efficient.

Productivity was much higher.

While production level has been revised from January followed by cheers of achievement in March, there has not been a corresponding reduction in cost of production. Worse, the quality of work at several levels remain substandard and there also appears inadequate knowledge of cultivation and harvesting by leadership: land preparation, planting materials, planting itself, timely applications of herbicides, fer-

The media must understand...

From page 4 Raymond, Gaddafi, Gomez, Abdullah and now Ali). Stop the bull. Stop fiddling around chasing ambulances. Get to the meat and potatoes of oil.

Spill the stories.

It was cut to the chase, colleagues in the media. This

has nothing to do with Guyana’s interests.

It is simply what keeps locals honest and untroubled Exxon pursuing its business in a stable and sound environment.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

tilizers, samplings for nutritional status, remedial status corrections, limestone applications in land prep, irrigation in dry periods, cane replanting, maturity samplings, ripener applications, harvesting schedules and standards, delivery time of harvests to factory, burning and grinding intervals, factory operations, cane preparations shredding, mill extraction, juice clarification, juice to syrup, vacuum pan seeding, crystal growing, crystallization, centrifugation. There seems to be sugar losses at every stage of production from planting to milling.

There have been other issues impacting on production and that would have led to revised targets: flooding at Albion for several months, pumps were inoperable over one year; purchases from overseas that are not suited to cultivation and harvesting, timely payment to suppliers, high cost of fertilizers than usual, institutional memory gone with termination of good people, poor IT support of field and factory operations.

The Sugar Industry is a complex organism that has a 12 month gestation from planting to harvesting. Continuous grinding depends on full manual harvester turnout, not 60% as is the case now. Mechanical harvesting requires rapid delivery to the factory because cane is cut in pieces and the juice dry up quickly.

There are also issues with packaging that requires uniform crystal size & colour. And the Enmore packaging plant has been sold or leased to a company (as your paper re-

ported) that would transition to oil and gas, putting sugar workers out of a job. What we have had in Guyana over the last year is packaging of sugar and higher prices to consumers. Production costs are transferred to poor consumers; sugar is being sold at the highest prices ever in the history of the country. The wealthy hardly consume Guysuco sugar. It is sold to the poor and working class.

The ruling party’s working class and by extension support for the party is severely affected by the problems confronting Guysuco. The President also announced that Skeldon and Enmore will not be producing sugar. Wales will be an energy related industrial complex. The ruling party’s supporters in the industry are suffering. And the country has wasted several billions over the last 18 months. Clearly, sugar and by extension sugar workers are no longer a priority of the administration. Who in the government or Ministry of Agriculture are paying attention to Guysuco and management as well as productivity issues? Politics has impacted on GuySuCo. Political loyalty should not be a criterion Guysuco hiring or management especially if the latter lacks skills in or knowledge of the industry. Those ignorant of sugar cultivation (science) and harvesting should not be associated with the industry or else they will make a total mess of the industry lessening the chance of recovery.

Yours truly, Mukesh Narine

Still waiting on GTT DEAR EDITOR, I am forced to once again publicly voice my utter dissatisfaction with the Customer Service of Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT).

Over a year ago I made an application by email at the Head Office at Brickdam, for a landline telephone service.

I received a response from Ms. HABINA BOURNE a Customer Service Representative (CSR) of the company who acknowledged my application for the service and apologised for the delay since I was waiting for over a year ago.

Following that I was contacted by Ms. Stacy Leslie who informed me that a technician will visit and inspect the area before I could get the telephone service to my home. The technician visited and informed me that my property is located in an unengineered area which means GTT will be unable to provide me with landline telephone

service.

I could not understand why it is so, because my property is situated at Foulis which is approximately 14 miles from Georgetown, and lies between Paradise and Enmore on the East Coast of Demerara, and residence living in the proximity of the area are with Telephone service except for those living in the same street with me.

It seems as though GTT has a discriminate policy when it comes to providing its service to the great nation of ours, because how only one street in Foulis can be deemed as an un-engineered area when other section/ street of Foulis and nearby communities as well like Annandale, Buxton, Paradise, Enmore and Haslington are not.

A year ago I also applied to GPL for electricity and the street was without lantern post and GPL put down the lantern post in the street (Continued on page 6)

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Media houses should be purged of political influences and equipped with moral backbones and testicular fortitudes DEAR EDITOR, According to the United Nations, every year on May 3 World Press Freedom Day is observed “to remind Governments of the need to respect their commitments to press freedom”. World Press Freedom Day 2022 was observed under theme “Journalism Under Digital Siege” to highlight the ways in which the digital age can endanger journalism and its conse-

quences for public trust.

Along with the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary, Journalism has been hailed as the fourth pillar of democracy, because of the need to report truthfully, accurately and in a timely manner on issues that significantly affect the major elements of democracy, viz. ·Rule of Law. The rules apply to EVERYBODY, Laws should be known, predict-

able, and impartial. ·Political Equality. Every citizen can vote, speak on public issues, and run for office. ·Common Good. Citizens work towards the common good (what will make people safe and happy). · P e r s o n a l Freedoms. People enjoy freedom of religion and freedom of expressions. ·Human Dignity. Citizens

Still waiting on GTT...

From page 5 and within one month they run the cable and my property got electricity, so why this could not be the same with GTT? All it required is a telephone line to be connected from Foulis Public Road to my house which about five minutes walking distance from the Public Road in the street.

I have seen over the past years many areas developed into housing schemes such as La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank of Demerara (WBD), Diamond Housing Scheme (EBD) and Pradoville

Two housing schemes at Sparendaam on the East Coast of Demerara ( ECD) were without basic amenities, such as water, electricity and telephone service, and residences of those communities were provided with those services, why some sections and residents of Foulis should be treated differently.

I don’t think it is fair.

In frustration and hoping for some result, I have written Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, MP, the Buxton/Foulis

Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) chairperson, Roger Evelyn and Mr. Damian Blackburn, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT), more than seven days ago. I have received no response. I hope that by the publication of this letter someone will take note and bring an end to the discrimination policy that seemly exit at GTT so that I could get the telephone service like others.

Yours sincerely, Rayvonne P Bourne

should protect and uphold the dignity of all people. · P o l i t i c a l Freedoms. People can speak freely and vote without intimidation. ·Being Involved and Informed. Citizens should participate individually and collectively in issues that shape their community, nation and world. ·Respect. Citizens should respect the rights of others.

The media is a necessary medium to keep citizens informed on all aspects of societys operations, clearly and truthfully representing the gains and losses made within the various elements, mentioned above. It sets the tone for the populace to determine whether the requirements for good governance have been fulfilled, and if not, what timely adjustments could be made to better the lot of citizens. It therefore means that the media must be independent, professional and accurate, delivering on its commitment without bias or slave-like allegiances. Media houses should be purged of political influences and equipped with moral backbones and testicular fortitudes needed to meet the demands of the citizenry.

The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) endorses free press and media facilities.

As a union, it believes that laws should be enacted that not only guarantees the press its freedoms, but also chastises it for deliberate acts of misinformation.

Legislation should compel the press to be accurate and there should be penalties for misleading the public. It is worrisome when instances of misrepresentation remain uncorrected in the media, even though letters are sent pointing out glaring inaccuracies in reporting.

The press must also convey the views of all and not seen as a medium that acts to the whims and fancies of a selected few. This is the heart and soul of press freedom and should be a major consideration of all media houses.

Governments have a responsibility to ensure that the media houses in the countries they serve are free from political interference, but this in some cases have been observed in the breach.

Some Governments see media houses as bases of political mischief and provoke them to do their bidding. This must be put to an end. The press must be independent

and free. Pondering on the importance of press freedom, one cannot forget an importance utterance of the third United States President Thomas Jefferson in 1787, and I quote: “… were it left to me to decide whether we should have a Government without newspapers, or newspapers without a Government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.”

The GPSU therefore calls on the Government of Guyana to put in place enabling legislation to guarantee the freedoms of the press and to allow it to operate with the independence and integrity needed to produce fair and balanced reporting, a necessary requirement for every democratic society.

The GPSU wishes all journalists and media practitioners that operate with media houses in Guyana, a happy World Press Freedom Day, while advising them that they should never sacrifice professionalism, truth and accuracy on the altars of expediency or shy away from balanced reporting on the demands of a selected few.

Best regards, Mr. Patrick M. Yarde President/CEO

Barbershop at Golden Grove stealing electricity: GPL failing to act DEAR EDITOR, I am forced to pen this mail to your newspaper letters column due to what I regard, as a reputable company as the Guyana Power and Light failing to act appropriately on several complaints I have made to the entity as it relates to a Barbershop that is illegally operating at Lot 2, Section A Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara, on my land that they weren’t given permission by me to operate.

They are stealing electricity.

I have evidence to prove that this illegally operated Barbershop owes the Guyana Power and Light over $1M dollars in electricity bills and has been stealing power from wires attached to the post that is directly In front of the shop.

As an overseas-based Guyanese and with the Government calling on us to return to assist in the country’s development, how can we do so when people are trying to

steal our property and is being aided by public entities that encourage wrong doings.

I therefore call on the relevant authorities to investigate this matter urgently, and take the necessary action against these defaulters as I have already taken mine against an illegal structure been placed on my property and operating without proper authorization.

Yours Truly, Property Owner

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L B T LUNT.. UNT...B BL B Saturday May 07, 2022

Kaieteur News

It has been more than a year since Kaieteur News has requested an interview with Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo to face serious and pertinent questions about Guyana’s oil and gas sector but he remains evasive.

Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat who is responsible for some aspects of oil and gas industry also avoids the media like a slippery eel.

He has not held a press conference with the independent press since his appointment.

As for President, Irfaan Ali, he himself has failed to meet regularly with the press by way of Cabinet briefings and has not uttered a word about this deteriorating level of engagement.

The only thing that is apparent here is the government’s fear of interrogation; a fear that stinks to the high heavens as it allows Exxon to fleece us of our oil resources in broad day light.

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Kaieteur News

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Saturday May 07, 2022

Local non-profit celebrates 6 years of helping nation’s athletes, less fortunate - Working to help mom of 3 with a disability finish home before May eviction

By Renay Sambach “The purpose of life is not only to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honourable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” This quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson, a famous American philosopher and abolitionist, perfectly characterizes the work and passion of the Guyana Committee of Services (GCOS).

The non-profit since coming into existence in 2016 and led by a group of unselfish and hardworking friends has hosted numerous fund raising events to lightening the burden faced by many citizens today.

This month, GCOS celebrates six years of being utterly devoted to helping others. To commemorate the occasion, the organization will be hosting several events this month.

In fact, GCOS recently kicked off its sixthanniversary celebration with a church service with one of its founding members and former professional boxer, Mr. Clive Atwell. The service was held at the Agricola Methodist Church where gears, weights, rackets and other sports equipment were subsequently distributed to the youths and children of the Agricola community.

During an interview with Kaieteur News, Mr. Linden ‘Jumbie’ Jones, a founding member of GCOS and celebrated Guyanese entertainer shared that he feels a deep sense of honour to be part of the organization that was born out of the need to give ordinary folks solutions and hope in times

of distress. He shared that the committee is a not-for-profit, apolitical organization that engages in humanitarian gestures, particularly in situations in which persons in sports and culture are adversely affected by the vicissitudes of life.

The founding member and well known comedian said the entity offers timely material assistance to alleviate and in some cases, eliminate anxieties associated with sudden misfortune in the lives of individuals who are often overwhelmed by circumstances beyond their control.

He disclosed as well some of the ways the organisation receives donations. He said this is done through the hosting of raffles, bingo, concerts and other activities.

As such, he stated that for this year’s anniversary the organisation will be hosting a softball cricket competition, a table tennis tournament, a 5k run, and an all-day event that will feature a stage show, a game show and dance.

“So for this year ’s anniversary we have a softball cricket competition and that competition started in Berbice, but we are still looking for other teams in Linden, Georgetown and Essequibo to participate,” Jones shared.

The 11-a-side competition is set to attract the leading softball teams in the country vying for some attractive cash prizes and accompanying trophies. The entrance fee per team is $10,000 and the champion’s side is guaranteed $100,000, while the runner-up will

The house that was built for Ms. Anesa Clementson, and her three children at Mora Camp Bartica.

Scene from the church service that was held at Agricola Methodist Church.

GOCS executives making presentations of cash to each of the CARIFTA Games athletes before their departure for Jamaica.

receive $50,000 and third to be awarded $25,000. All teams will be provided with 12 red supreme balls, which is the ball of preference for this tournament.

Jones added that if there is a team in the different counties that are interested in participating in the softball cricket competition, they can contact Mr. Rajan Tiwari on 652 – 9570.

Jones further shared that on May 15, there will be a 5k run at the National Park. The health and fitness run and walk is scheduled to commence at 16:00hrs in the National Park then go into Thomas Road, onto Vlissengen Road into Clive Lloyd Drive, then into Camp Street, and back to Thomas

Road, Thomas Lands to finish at the National Park.

The categorizes of this event are: Open Athlete, Masters, Juniors, and Children who will do one lap in the National Park, while President Dr. Irfan Ali is expected to start the race.

Anyone desirous of participating in this activity can contact Mr. Leslie Black on 650-5868. “We also plan on having a table tennis competition in Berbice; however we are having difficulties with getting a venue.” Jones added that due to the fact that there is the G u y a n a Ta b l e Te n n i s Association in Georgetown they opted to keep the competition out of town.

“To wrap up things by month end and to continue our year round activities, on May 28, we will be hosting a show and dance, what we

call a game show, stage show and dance,” Jones said.

He disclosed that the event will be held at Poolside, Angoy’s Avenue, Berbice. “There will be prizes to be won. A smart TV, several electronic tablets and smart phones, so I’m encouraging people to come out and be a part of our event,” he said too.

According to him, there will also be a wide variety of local artists performing.

Jones further said, “We would like members of the public to listen up because some of the dates are subject to change and we are looking forward to their support because they will be supporting a worthy cause and the funds will also be going towards our sportsmen and women in Guyana.”

ROCKELL MARTIN Jones shared that to also

commemorate its sixth anniversary, GCOS is hoping to raise enough funds to complete a house for a 34-year-old mom with a disability and her three children before they get evicted May month end.

Thirty-four-year-old Rockell Martin is a single mother of a 16, seven and three-year-old who are in dire need of assistance.

Rockell got married in August 2010 but later developed health issues which caused her to not only lose her ability to walk properly but her husband also parted ways.

Rockell and her children along with her mother, aunt and cousins were all living together at Fort Ordinance, Berbice. Due to the fact that she is disabled, Rockell’s mother and aunt was the (Continued on page 21)

Rockell Martin and one of her three children posing for a picture with some of the founding members of GCOS.

Saturday May 07, 2022

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

Priya Manickchand should qualify her statement There is a Facebook page in the name of Priya Manickchand. That page contains a number of posts containing images which suggest that the page is either administered by or on behalf of the Honourable Minister of Education.

Yesterday, a post appeared in response to another post about the possibility of the US Supreme Court overturning the constitutional ban on abortion. The response was the effect “Not in Guyana. We will not reverse the gains we made in this area. Women have rights and they will be respected.”

It is not clear whether the Minister was speaking in her personal or professional capacity. But the use of we opens to conjecture that the Minister was referencing a government position. Unless of course, the ‘we referred to women in which case she should not presume that her views represent that of all women or even the majority of women in Guyana.

It is hoped that she would indicate whether her position reflects that of the governments, the presumed position of women or her own personal views. It would be extremely premature for such a position to be taken by the government and especially since there is no decision yet from the US Supreme Court Even if Roe v. Wade is overturned by the US Supreme Court, all this would do is allow the respective

states to determine whether they would permit abortions, outlaw them or regulate them.

The impending decision of the US Supreme Court does not alter the calculus in Guyana where abortions are allowed up to certain stages of pregnancy and for specified reasons. The decision to legalise certain abortions in Guyana had nothing to do with Roe v.

Wade which essentially prohibits states from banning most abortions.

Neither did Guyanas decision to legalise abortions emanate from any decision of Guyanas constitutional court.

It was eventuated by the passage of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Bill in 1995. As such, it was due to legislation and not a ruling by the courts.

The overturning of Roe v.

Wade will not have any implications for the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act (MTPA), unless of course someone finds a provision in our Constitution which defends the right to life from conception, and then moves to challenge the constitutionality of the MTPA. There appears nothing in Guyanas Constitution which can be used to challenge the legislation. As such, it is hard to imagine why a report about the possibility of Roe v. Wade being overturned should trigger a reaction from the Minister that such a development will not happen here in Guyana.

Roe v. Wade is likely to be overturned. In the draft opinion which was leaked to the public, the precedent was criticised on three grounds.

The first was that there is no mention in the Constitution of a right to an abortion nor does the US Constitution implicitly protect such a right.

Second, while Courts tends to be predisposed towards precedents (previous decided decisions), the opinion which was leaked argued that Roe vs. Wade was egregiously wrong from the inception and its reasoning was exceptionally weak.

Third, it was said that it had disastrous consequences, the latter referring no doubt to the divisions it triggered in society.

The opinion said, “It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives. The permissibility of abortion, and the limitations, upon it are to be resolved like most important questions in our democracy: y citizens trying to persuade one another and then voting.”

What the overturning of Roe v. Wade will do is to revive and energise the prolife movement in Guyana. The government can come under intense pressure to rescind the 1995 MTPA. The possibility, however, is remote that the government can be forced to reexamine the MTPA. The PPP/C is set in its ways. It tends to treat its legislation as unalterable

Dem boys seh...

Name de factory after de Vee Pee Is wah wrang with Freddie? He talking how de PPP must name something after Kanhai.

And dem boys agree. De man was a great man. In fact even today, people does compare de man even with Sobers and how, unlike de batsman of today, nuff time he use tuh play cricket pon uncovered pitches.

De man deserve to be honoured. But dont tell dat to dem PPP leaders. Dem believe dem is heavens gift to Guyana. Is dem and dem alone, dem believe, bin fight fuh freedom and democracy

in Guyana.

Dem weak-kneed. Dem frighten fuh rename Arrival Day, Indian Arrival Day. Dem believe if yuh honour one, yuh gat fuh do de odder. And suh dem does do neither.

Sure yuh gat to honour Kanhai and Lloyd and Hooper and Sarwan.

But how yuh gan leff out de stalwarts of de PPP. Nah fuhget Nokta. Nah fuhget Reepu. Nah fuhget Collymore.

Nah fuhget Rohee. Nah fughet Janet. Nah fuhget Feroze. Nah fuhget Roger.

And nah fuhget Indra and Navin. In de eyes of de old

PPP, dem is de real heroes.

And even dem nah gan get something name after dem yet.

But dem gat de new PPP and dem conceited. Dem believe dat dem gat one champion and one champion alone.

Dat is de Vee Pee. Dem talk how de man is de champion of de Earth. Is dah man wah dem does call de bass.

And nutting nah named after de Vee Pee yet. Dem boys wan named de Skeldon Sugar Factory, de new one, after he.

Talk half. Leff half!

regardless of the ensuing legal or social developments. It is therefore highly unlikely that the PPP/C would allow parliament to revisit, even after 27 years, the MTPA. If, however, by some extra ordinary means the matter does meet the National Assembly, this would be a question which will have to be decided by a conscience vote, just as the MTPA was

decided by a conscience vote which turned out generally to be a partisan vote.

It is against this background that moral questions are the subject of conscience votes, that it was ill-advised for a Minister to speak about “we” without qualifying whether that we means the government or women or simply her personal opinion.

(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

Saturday May 07, 2022

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Applying Marxist methodology to Guyana One of the problems young PPP leaders had during the anti-dictatorship years from 1970 onwards, was their too rigid application of Karl Marx’s categories to the Third World. Marx lived in the 19th century where he studied industrial Europe.

He did not apply his concepts to the underdeveloped Third World (TW).

The major contribution of Vladimir Lenin, the main actor in the 1917 Russian revolution was his brilliant application of Marx to parts of Europe that were less industrialised. Perhaps the seminal re-designation of Marx’s philosophy was the great Italian thinker, Antonio Gramsci.

After the USA became a post-modern capitalist juggernaut after 1945, Gramsci’s methodology with his concept of cultural hegemony became more applicable in understanding class domination. The colonial TW did not resemble Europe. The major difference was the TW

classes were weak, and so were the relations of production.

To understand the class structure of the TW, the works of Franz Fanon, CLR James and the school of Dependency Theorists, including our own Clive Thomas, the Pakistani scholar, Hamza Alavi, Palestinian thinker, Edward Said, among others, will prove more efficacious than M a r x ’s , t h o u g h M a r x remains the unmatched icon for introducing dialectical class struggle to understand the nature of capitalism.

This column here is a correction to a whole page letter in the Kaieteur News of April 27, 2022 titled, “The class struggle between Guyanese and Trinidadians” by one of the longstanding hierarchical leaders of the P P P, C l e m e n t R o h e e .

Rohee’s piece needs to be corrected because there are too many misunderstandings of the nature of class structure in Guyana and young scholars need to be offered a countervailing

analysis.

I cannot elaborate on all of the flaws of Rohee’s analysis so I will select what I consider as important. (1) – Rohee confuses, in the Guyanese context, the middle class (MC) and the petty bourgeoisie (PB).

There are two distinct classes that have almost nothing in common except at the beginning of the 1960s when the PB entered politics through the United Force, the MC embraced it for antiJagan reasons. The MC is more of a cultural (not cultured), intellectual class.

The PB is a moneyed, propertied class.

Since the demise of the United Force, that section of the PB which consisted of local Portuguese and foreign Whites are gone forever from local politics. The old petty bourgeoisie that consisted of Indians and the new petty bourgeoisie that is mostly Indians that emerged from the Economic Recovery Programme of President Desmond Hoyte are not interested in formal

politics.

They are supportive of the PPP for four survivalist reasons. One, is the riots in the sixties made them antiPNC and sympathetic to the P P P. S e c o n d l y , t h e totalitarian nature of the PNC administration from 1968 to 1988 completely alienated the Indian PB so by the time President Hoyte began to court them, their Freudianism had become absolute.

Thirdly, they felt the period 1992 to 2015 was the justified rise of the PPP that Cheddi Jagan was long denied. The various PPP presidents did accommodate them thus, they felt comfortable with PPP leaders. Fourthly, the PNC’s return to power was viewed with massive suspicion by the PB. The final nail was the five months of rigging.

Space is running out but before I go to the huge political mistake of Rohee, it needs to be noted that his discussion left out the birth of an Indian nouveau riche class during the Hoyte

residency which does not overlap w i t h t h e traditional PB and the emergent PB under Hoyte that took roots under the different PPP Frederick Kissoon presidents. This class has characteristics Stabroek News in 1986. that cannot be explained In an emotional outburst using Marxist analysis. in Linden, President Hoyte So we come to (2) - used the term to refer to Hoyte and the “Putagee DeCaires and Fitzpatrick Mafia.” Rohee said that Mr. a n d F a t h e r A n d r e w H o y t e ’ s u s e o f t h a t Morrison, the Editor of the derogatory term was an Catholic Standard. Please attack on the Portuguese see my column, entitled, business community. This is “The Fall of the Robb Street simply untrue and is an Empire” of January 17, alternative fact. There is 2007. Both papers were a b s o l u t e l y n o f a c t u a l critical of Mr. Hoyte’s foundation in Rohee’s refusal to call the general statement. election in 1990 when it was By the time Hoyte made due. There is no statement or his outburst in 1991, he was policy from Mr. Hoyte on very good terms with the during his presidency that few Portuguese businessmen was directed against the who since 1970 had stayed P o r t u g u e s e b u s i n e s s out of politics. It was Mr. community.

Hoyte who permitted two (The views expressed in eminent members of the this article are those of the Portuguese community a u t h o r a n d d o n o t –David DeCaires and Miles necessarily reflect the Fitzpatrick – to start the opinions of this newspaper.)

Saturday May 07, 2022

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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Saturday May 07, 2022

Electricity shutdown caused by operation - refutes Patterson’s claims of heavy equipment - GPL of poor maintenance T

he Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) has blamed the recent spate of black outs on operation of heavy duty equipment by contractors. In fact, GPL said the operation of heavy equipment causes 60 percent of the electricity shutdown.

In a release issued on Thursday, the electricity company explained that it is a reality that since last year, heavy equipment operated by contractors has caused almost 60% of all shutdowns.

“Since the last shutdown, occasioned by heavy equipment less than two weeks ago, we have had two more incidents, one where we intervened and prevented a trip and another which caused the shutdown of the Edingburgh Substation, interrupting power to thousands of customers,” the power company stated.

Meanwhile, in the same statement, GPL is refuting the claims made by former Minister David Patterson as it relates to the management

of the power company.

Patterson had claimed that the recent outages were due to lack of proper maintenance and failure by GPL to procure adequate parts to service the system.

In the release, GPL noted that contrary to what former Minister Patterson asserts, the use of alternate spares came after Power Producer Distributers Incorporated (PPDI) was given a contract in 2016. That contract, the company claimed continued until 2021 when GPL discovered a breach of the agreement.

The electricity company explained that “The use of cheaper off the market spares allowed PPDI to realize healthy profits while GPL had to pay for the early replacement of the major components.”

GPL went on to note that “Earlier this year, PPDI had to cut invoices submitted for replacement parts used since 2018. It turned out that these are some of the off-market spares that failed prematurely that GPL was being asked to pay to

replace.”

According to the power company, Patterson seems to have bought the Salesman pitch that you can buy superior spares cheaper directly from the Manufacturers.

“This is an old strategy used by folks walking around with suits and briefcases. It is known that Wartsila utilizes many Suppliers of components for its power plants. The Quality Assurance/Quality Control regime Wartsila employs is world class, and very often, the components/ parts supplied directly to users do not meet the same rigid standards,” GPL said in the release.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e company noted the new cable across the Demerara R i v e r, T h e 1 3 . 8 k V submarine cable that was installed from Vreed-enHoop to Princess Street has only approximately 15% of the capacity of the 69 kV cable between Kingston and Vreed-en-Hoop and cannot be considered a redundant cable, nor does it improve

PAC grills Region three officials over purchase of drug supplies - Finds $4.1M in vouchers could not be traced to goods received

A

lthough $60.4 million was expended to purchase drugs and medical supplies by the Regional Administration of Region Three in 2017, it could not account for $4.1 million of the expenditure.

This issue was highlighted at the Public Accounts Committee’s ( PA C ) m e e t i n g o n Wednesday when PAC m e m b e r D r. Vi s h w a Mahadeo questioned Regional Administration members on the Auditor General’s 2017 findings.

Dr. Mahadeo pointed out that $60.4 million was spent on drugs and medical supplies by the regional administration. He noted nonetheless that the voucher examinations revealed that $4.1 million worth in drugs and medical supplies purchased that year could not be traced to the goods received.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e

auditors discovered that nine payment vouchers totalling $10.4 million to purchase drugs and medical supplies could not be located. Dr. Mahadeo question whether the missing vouchers were ever recovered.

Officials from the R e g i o n T h r e e administration, including Regional Executive Officer (REO) Jagnarine Somwar and former REO, Dennis Jaikarran, appeared before the PAC and were made to answer.

In response, the current REO said that some of the vouchers have actually been located. He explained: “We have been able to locate three of those vouchers… (totalling) $9.1 million,” the REO explained adding that “at this point in time, the goods received book is in place and will be examined.”

“Before that, there was no goods received book or if there were, we could not have found it. So, we have

that in place. That would have been able to correct the situation from then,” he said.

T h e r e g i o n a l administrations have been under constant scrutiny when it comes to the purchase of drugs and medical supplies. In total the audit report outlined that, the Ministry of Health received fourteen requests totalling $1.789 billion from the 10 Administrative Regions in 2017.

The requests were intended for the procurement of drugs and medical supplies for the various health facilities in the Regions. However, a list of the drugs to be procured by each Region in support of the amounts requested to the Ministry was not provided for audit examination.

As a result, the sum of $1.747 billion was shown as expended by the Ministry, while the balance of $41.301M was retained in the Consolidated Fund.

the security of the system.

At best, GPL said it allowed approximately 4MW to be transferred to Georgetown. “The Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System had already suffered a major failure before the current Government came into office.”

Further GPL noted, it is important to note that substations do not generate power, and no new substation was constructed between 2015 and 2020.

“The last set of substations was completed

before 2014. During the 20 + years Wartsila had the Operation and Maintenance Contract with GEC/GPL, the various Power Plants maintained an availability above 98%. Their Maintenance Programme was rigid and utilized only Original Equipment.”

According to GPL, generation-related problems contribute to less than 2% of outages, resulting mainly from feeder trips, network switching, planned maintenance, and accidents involving vehicles and equipment.

The power company noted “The investments needed to modernize Transmission and Distribution (T&D) is significant, and GPL is currently finalizing an RFP to automate the entire system while a complete upgrade is being done.”

“It would take approximately 18 months to complete the T&D maintenance that accumulated since 2017 due to the inadequacy of the maintenance programme,” the power company added in the release

Guyana records 6 new COVID-19 cases

T

he Ministry of Health on Friday revealed that within the last 24hour period, six new COVID-19 cases were recorded.

The new infections, which have brought the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 63,539, were detected in Region Four which recorded two, Region Six which

recorded three and Region Three which recorded one.

Also, the Ministry’s dashboard shows that one patient is still in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Additionally, one person is in institutional isolation, 99 are in home isolation and to date, a total of 62,210 persons have recovered from the virus.

Saturday May 07, 2022

Kaieteur News

Police Commander targeting youths at community level to reduce crime - to provide environment to foster skills training Targeting youths for skills training in communities that fall under the purview of Region Four – A Division is a priority for Regional Division Commander, Simon McBean. The Commander is of the firm conviction that such an approach would go a far way in keeping them from being ensnared by a life of crime.

Speaking on this approach to crime fighting recently, McBean said his division is already targeting the youths mainly from ages nine to 24. To realize this skills training goal, he said there are currently seven youth groups that are working along with the police force. The intention, he related, is to create scout groups in order to direct the youths away from criminal activities.

McBean made this disclosure while being interviewed on April 28, 2022 by Deputy Director of the Force’s Communication Unit, Stan Gouveia. According to him, in order to stop the youths from turning to crime, the division is creating a skills database within the communities. With a joint effort from the headquarters, the Commissioner and invested stakeholders, the objective McBean said, is to ascertain what are the skills lacking within the community and provide an environment to foster the inculcation of those skills so that they can make a valuable contribution to society.

In order to ease the high crime rate in the “hot areas” of Region 4A, the Regional Division Commander, highlighted that he is in full support of the crime fighting approach that sees the Guyana Police Force (GPF) working closely with community groups.

The commander made it clear that the goal of M r. C l i f t o n H i c k e n , t h e A c t i n g Ccommissioner to engage citizens to assist with the fight against crime has his full

Commander of Regional Division Four, Simon McBean support. He said, “We cannot afford this as a police force, to work without a partnership with the communities.”

He concurred that such a direction has catered to crime reduction since the 1980s, and it is with this in mind, that the police force is operating in high-risk areas to fight crime.

The Commander also underscored the importance of cooperation with communities as well as with government and the private sector, as, according to him, working with these will be advantageous when analysing and solving the problems in communities that are opposed to having the police force operating in isolation. He mentioned as well that all communities visited thus far have been welcoming to the force’s crime fighting approach.

PAGE 13

Man arms self with cutlass to fend off bicycle bandits Security cameras on Thursday captured a man using a cutlass to fend off four bicycle bandits who ambushed him along a street in Alberttown, Georgetown.

The footage seen by this media house even showed that one of the man’s attackers appeared to be armed with handgun.

He was attacked by the gang of delinquents just after 06:00hrs on Thursday.

CCTV cameras from nearby buildings captured the gang of four men on bicycles patrolling the street.

They made a few circles and then zeroed in on a target; a man dressed in short denim jeans and a black jersey. He was also riding a bicycle.

The men rode up from behind and began to circle him. As they closed in, one of them drew an object from his waist that appeared to be a handgun but the victim

Screen grab showing the man fending off the bandits with a cutlass. quickly jumped of his bike and armed himself with a huge cutlass that was strapped to the bar.

He let go off his bicycle and advanced towards them

with his cutlass ready to defend himself. Upon seeing this, the bandit armed with the gun put it back in his waist and rode off with the others.

Kaieteur News

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Saturday May 07, 2022

No supply of electricity from Giftland to GPL for almost a year - management confirms For almost a year now, Giftland has been unable to provide electricity to the Guyana Power and Light’ Inc. (GPL)’s grid.

Management of Giftland confirmed on Friday that the supply of power to GPL’s grid stopped since June 29, 2021. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Giftland, Devindra Deonarine explained that there was an issue with the alternator which caused the transmission system to go down.

Deonarine explained that the problem with the alternator surfaced a few weeks after the damaged

turbocharger was rectified last year.

According to the CEO, the system went down, for a few months between December 2020 and March 2021 but was up and running again until June 2021. He noted that “since then [Giftland] has been challenged with sourcing tools, spares and services to repair, upgrade mainly due to the pandemic.”

This is despite the company having an active power purchasing agreement in place with GPL to supply electricity to mainly communities located in the lower East Coast of

Demerara. The CEO claimed however while the purchase agreement is still in force, Giftland only gets paid for the power it supplies.

“Payments are done for power supplied. So if no power is supplied there no payments are due…” he stated.

In the interim, Deonarine said Giftland is working on the problem to have the system up and running again.

“It is only at the beginning of this year that progress was made here and we are now looking to get our [generator] sets back online by end of next month,” he said.

With Giftland’s system down, GPL has started moving in the direction of purchasing power to add to the national grid from elsewhere. Last month, GPL announced that it is hunting for Independent Power Producers (IPPs) that can supply 50 Megawatts (MW) of electricity to the National grid, by March next year.

In an Expression of Interest (EOI), published in a state newspaper, GPL said, the 50 MW of power will interconnect with the 69kV (kilovolts) national grid and shall be split into two lots of 25 MW per installation. The earmarked 69 kV substations for interconnection are New Sophia and Canefield.

Although the EOI was published, the company was keen to note that the advertisement does not constitute an invitation to

tender. It added that only power companies deemed qualified by GPL will receive details, guiding the next steps of the process.

GPL said, “the stateowned electric utility company, invites technically and financially sound IPPs to submit an EOI to supply a total of 50 MW HFO-fired Firm Power Generating Capacity (gross) on a 24 hour basis with appropriate substations to interconnect with the 69 kV National Grid (the project) by March 2023 for a period of three years.”

The company said too, that companies must demonstrate the ability to deliver a complete project and be ready to commission within six months of approval. Importantly, a suitable candidate would have to provide details of a project completed

CEO of Giftland, Devindra Deonarine. successfully of similar scope within the last 10 years and, have the ability to finance the project.

GPL’s power supplier shall be responsible for all activities, which include transport to and set up at site, operate and maintain the power generating facility, test and decommission, among others.

Recently, the power company complained of its high operational cost, signaling that there may be a (Continued on page 21)

Saturday May 07, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 15

GECOM to hold internal discussion on elections law reform …opposition says submission must represent views of all parties

Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo

Commissioner Vincent Alexander O p p o s i t i o n Commissioners at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) are looking for full discussions to be held regarding the reform of the Representation of the People’s Act (RPA); the legislation which deals directly with elections in the country.

Despite recent utterances

by Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo that the government had received most of its contributions on a draft RPA from civil society, GECOM Commissioner, Vincent Alexander has made it clear that whatever was presented to the government did not properly reflect the views of all parties.

Alexander told the Kaieteur News that opposition commissioners h a d e x p r e s s e d dissatisfaction, when GECOM Chairwoman, Claudette Singh announced that she had made submissions to the government on behalf of the elections body. “We said we did not know anything about that,” Alexander reported.

The Commissioner, representing the interest of the A Partnership for National Unity+ Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC), said that he as well as affiliate commissioners submitted preliminary contributions on (Continued on page 24)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 16

Saturday May 07, 2022

Jumbo Jet inks deal to be sole distributor of ‘brand new’ Sinotruk trucks - aims to meet growing demands of contractors

W

ith Guyana’s e x p a n d i n g economy which is b e i n g complemented by many construction projects, there is a growing need for reliable equipment to meet the demands of contractors if they are to successfully execute their work.

To this end, Sinotruk Inc., the largest Chinese truck supplier, has partnered with Jumbo Jet Auto Sales to provide over 500 brand new trucks that are expected to be of benefit to the contractors.

Founded by Nasrudeen Mohamed, Jumbo Jet is said to be Guyana’s largest importer of agricultural machinery and trucks.

In a release, Jumbo Jet revealed that Taonaijie, General Manager of the Caribbean Sinotruk International, and Nasrudeen Mohamed recently finalised an agreement of over US$40 million which was signed on Tuesday, May 3, 2022.

This agreement will see the 500 brand new trucks coming from

China to Guyana in the next few years with Jumbo Jet Auto Sales being the sole distributor.

“There will be all types of trucks available for sale to meet any demand. Some options include, but not limited to, dump trucks, tractor unit/hauler, flat bed, all-wheel drive, 8X4, 6X6, 6X4 and much more. The purchase of spare parts will also be available,” the release outlined.

Nasrudeen Junior Mohamed, speaking at the signing said, the demand for better quality trucks is growing in Guyana due to the rapid workload increase.

In fact, a study was done by Jumbo Jet Auto Sales which revealed the depreciation of the trucks to last only one to five years whereas brand-new trucks are able to work efficiently for 10 years.

General Manager of the Caribbean for Sinotruk, Taonaijie, said, the signing was important to his company to work with a reputable distributor such as Jumbo Jet. Further, he stated that Sinotruk

Jumbo Jet Auto Sales has signed a US$40M deal with Chinese company, Sinotruk Inc. is the number one brand of heavyduty truck in China.

Meanwhile, Nasrudeen Mohamed expressed optimism for the partnership since he is of the firm belief that it would help to provide brand new quality trucks to his community “so they can also reap the benefits and expand their business ventures.”

For being able to support the booming economy as the only distributor, Nasrudeen Mohamed said he is grateful.

Jumbo Jet Auto Sales offers a lucrative credit system to each customer, providing the option to pay for items on an instalment basis, regardless of the quantity

purchased.

It was revealed that Nasrudeen Mohamed has always been passionate and proud to help people and businesses succeed.

The partnership with Sinotruk, according to the release, has long been awaited and Nasrudeen Mohamed knows “truck owners will be eager to purchase” the new trucks as they arrive.

According to Taonaijie, his company will try its best to satisfy the Guyanese market and is hoping to make Guyana the centre of the Caribbean market given the expected economic boom from the oil resources.

Jumbo Jet Auto Sales will also

be able to establish more job opportunity across Georgetown due to the influx of brand new trucks being imported; many new showrooms will be created to display the variety of trucks available for sale.

“In the near future, you can expect an assembling factory to be established in Guyana, which in term will lower the cost and create more jobs in various expertises,” the release added.

If you would like further information, please reach out to Jumbo Jet’s Office directly at 92 Smyth Street, Werk-En-Rust, Georgetown or by phone on (+592) 223-9130/ (+592) 223-9132.

Kaieteur News

Saturday May 07, 2022

PAGE 17

Guyana’s oil find now represents more than 10% of global discoveries

G

uyana’s most recent oil discoveries in the lucrative Stabroek Block have significantly increased the country’s recoverable oil equivalent barrels so much so, that its fortunes represent more than 10 percent of all global finds since 2015. This was specifically outlined in E x x o n M o b i l ’s E n e rg y Factor blog which was authored by Exxon’s Head of Upstream Oil and Gas, Liam Mallon.

The article also stated that Guyana’s Barreleye-1, Patwa-1 and Lukanani-1 discoveries took the country’s recoverable oil to nearly 11 billion barrels.

“That’s more than 10 percent of all the new conventional resources discovered anywhere in the world between 2015 and the end of last year,” Mallon stated.

He said too that the company identifies its strengths in scale, advanced technologies, integration, operations excellence and highly skilled people as the enabler of its success in country. These strengths, it was noted, has also positioned the company to lead in the energy transition initiative.

Exxon is looking to increase its energy supply while reducing emissions.

“Our plans include spending more than $15 billion

through 2027 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from company operations, and for investments in lower-emission business opportunities to help others reduce their emissions.”

The company said that some of that US$15 billion will be spent in Guyana, where by 2027 the company’s operations are expected to have about 30 percent lower greenhouse gas intensity than the average of upstream portfolio. “We’re looking at even more ways to reduce emissions in Guyana and in other operations around the world.”

In the Permian Basin in Texas and New Mexico, the company said it expects to produce 25 percent more oil and natural gas this year versus the last. “At the same time [we] are aiming to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from our unconventional operations there by 2030.” This is a key p a r t o f E x x o n M o b i l ’s company-wide ambition to achieve net-zero emissions (Scope 1 and 2) from all operated assets by 2050.

Despite various changes taking place in the global oil industry, Exxon said it is investing billions of dollars into its business regardless of oil prices. It was noted that, “discovery and development of Guyana’s resources is an important p a r t o f E x x o n M o b i l ’s

commitment to responsibly meeting the world’s energy needs – a commitment that requires billions of dollars in sustained investments, regardless of short-term swings in global oil prices. It also reflects our support for G u y a n a ’s e c o n o m i c development, job creation and sustainability objectives.”

The company said too that it stayed focused on disciplined investing during the economic downturn from the pandemic, and retains that focus today. “We expect to invest between US$21 billion and US$24 billion this year, and between US$20 and US$25 billion annually through 2027 to deliver the products and energy resources the world needs and also to advance lower-emission solutions.”

Guyana investments have nonetheless yielded a growing source of energy for the world. ExxonMobil recently started producing oil from the second offshore development in Guyana, bringing the country’s capacity to more than 340,000 barrels a day, up from zero three years ago.

By the end of the decade, oil production from Guyana, is expected to exceed one million barrels a day; enough to make it one of the world’s top 20 producers, the blog reported.

Furthermore, Exxon

sees Guyana’s oil growth as being important since, “this oil will contribute to Guyana’s economy – and to the global oil market, where supply constraints resulting f r o m i n d u s t r y underinvestment during the pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have led to price volatility.”

The company said that oil still meets more than 30 percent of global energy demand and 90 percent of transportation needs, and remains virtually indispensable for powering larger vehicles like trucks, planes and ships.

“We’re excited about the growth and opportunity we see ahead for Guyana.” The company said that for nearly 140 years, it has supplied products that help people live healthy, prosperous lives and thrive in an everchanging world. “We’re committed to continuing to create sustainable solutions that improve quality of life and meet society’s evolving needs.”

Guyana’s oil find draws the country closer to ranks of top producing nations

PAGE 18

Kaieteur News

Saturday May 07, 2022

Kaieteur News

Saturday May 07, 2022

PAGE 19

‘Abusive’ businessman struggles FDA restricts use of J&J COVID-19 vaccine due to blood clot issues to find legal representation

Currently before the court for physically assaulting a female relative, Kitty Businessman Devenand Singh.

Devanand Singh, the kitty businessman charged on April 1, with the brutal assault of a female relative, is struggling to find a lawyer to represent him in court.

On Thursday, a signed letter from Attorney-at-law Bernard Da Silva to Magistrate Leron Daly surfaced on the various social media platforms and its contents revealed that he no longer wants to be associated with the case.

In the letter Da Silva wrote, “I am on record as defense counsel in the matter at caption (Police vs Devanand Singh) which is schedule to continue on the 6th of May, 2022, for report and disclosure. I respectively request that my name be removed from the record as defense counsel in the said matter. Certain ethical and other considerations have influenced my decision to wholly withdraw and discontinue all further involvement in this matter.”

Da Silva further pointed out in the letter that he had already notified Singh that he will no longer be his lawyer.

Information reaching Kaieteur News is that Da Silva is the second lawyer that refused to defend Singh in a case that went viral on social media.

Attorney-at-Law, Bernard Da Silva’s signed letter to Magistrate Leron Daley informing her that he will no longer represent the abusive’ businessman in court.

Singh was caught on camera cuffing, slapping and stomping a female relative to the ground in the presence of his employees at his clothing store, Brands2Go, located in Kitty, Georgetown.

The assault reportedly took place on March, 25 but it was not until the victim decided to share her story publicly in an interview with Journalist, Leroy Smith, that Singh really came under the spotlight for his wrongful actions.

His relative had told Smith that after being assaulted, she was imprisoned in his house and was only able to free herself by unplugging some security cameras and escaping when he and his wife were not around.

She reported the assault soon after to police and Singh was arrested and later charged on April 1, for assault and threatening to shoot her.

The ranks who took her report and investigated the matter are also under investigation by the police force’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) for allegedly mishandling the case.

Singh had since tried to justify his action by facilitating a public interview with social media personality “Guyanese Critic” (Mikhail Rodrigues) but it did not work in his favour.

Instead he faced even more criticisms for his actions not only from the citizens but also from G u y a n a ’s M i n i s t e r o f Human Services and Social P r o t e c t i o n , Vi n d h y a Persaud.

She had publicly stated on her Facebook page, “The worst thing anyone can do is to justify abuse, violence and just plain cruelty—no one deserves that no matter what.”

$320M contract inked for rehabilitation of pontoons for Demerara Harbour...

From page 3 General Manager explained that when the pontoons go for repairs, temporary ones would be installed in the meantime.

“So we are going to take out the ones that have to be rehabilitated, like two or one based on the demand of the contractor.

We are going to put in the temporary pontoons and when the rehabilitated

pontoons return we are going to put them back,” he said.

It was reported that this year, the government had allocated the sum of $946 million to the Corporation for works slated for the bridge.

With the funding the DHBC received, it is estimated that $75 million would go towards the construction of the

motorised platform, $411 million to rehabilitate the pontoons, $100 million is set aside for the fabrication of deck plates, $60 million for the fabrication of H-beams and $300 million for anchor chains and blocks.

Already, bids have been opened for the fabrication of H-beams, deck plates and for the supply and delivery of anchor chains.

On Thursday, the United States-Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) i s s u e d a n e w recommendation that limits who can use the Johnson and Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine due to a rare but serious risk of blood clots.

The FDA in its release stated that the vaccine should only be given to “individuals 18 years of age and older for whom other authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccines are not accessible or clinically appropriate, and to individuals 18 years of age and older who elect to receive the Janssen COVID19 Vaccine (J&J).”

Speaking about the latest recommendation was Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony who noted in his daily COVID-19 update yesterday that persons in Guyana who took the vaccine should not panic.

The Minister explained that cases of blood clotting in the United States of America was first detected in 2021 and because of that the FDA had put a pause to the use of the J&J vaccine at that time.

“That was subsequently lifted after 10 days and they continue to advised that people can use the J&J vaccine and then they constituted an independent panel which then reported in

December 2021 that people should use more of the mRNA vaccine versus the J&J vaccine,” he shared.

According to him, what has prompted the FDA’s decision now is that in the US at least nine persons have died in the first quarter of this year after receiving the J&J vaccine. He added that those persons had complication of thrombocytopenia, which is a blood clotting disorder.

“Now thrombocytopenia after the vaccine is a very, very rare thing. You have 3.25 cases per every million doses administered, so it’s very rare,” the Minister highlighted.

Since the country started using this vaccine in August last year, the Minister reported yesterday that no cases of blooding clotting have been detected thus far.

“Persons who have received Johnson & Johnson they don’t have to panic

because if you have received the vaccine and you had no complications then you wouldn’t have any complications now,” he said.

The Health Minister disclosed too that generally, thrombocytopenia starts to develop in a person about a week, or two after being vaccinated.

“So if you have had the vaccine and nothing happened then you are not in danger. So I don’t think people who have received the J&J vaccine should panic. This is just a p r e c a u t i o n a r y recommendation that has been made in the United States,” Minister Anthony stated.

The Johnson and Johnson dose is a single-shot COVID-19 vaccine that the government had sourced through a partnership between CARICOM and the African Union last year.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

Saturday May 07, 2022

PAHO establishes high-level Commission on Mental Health and COVID-19 - Commissioners will prepare recommendations to accelerate action

Washington, DC, 6 May, 2022 (PAHO) – Dr. Carissa F. Etienne, Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), on Friday launched the Highlevel Commission on Mental Health and COVID-19. The commission will prepare g u i d e l i n e s a n d recommendations to reduce the impact on mental health caused by the pandemic, and the related suffering in the population of the Region.

The commission’s work

will focus on five key areas: recovering from the pandemic and promoting mental health as a priority; the mental health needs of vulnerable populations; integrating mental health into universal health coverage; financing; and promoting the prevention of mental health conditions. “ We m u s t s e i z e t h e opportunity afforded by the pandemic to address longstanding weaknesses in mental health services and

strengthen them for the future,” said Dr. Etienne, thanking the commissioners for their work and commitment. “Now is the time to build better mental health in the Americas,” she emphasized.

The High-level Commission on Mental Health and COVID-19 is chaired by Epsy Campbell Barr, Vice President of Costa Rica, and co-chaired by Néstor Méndez, Assistant Director General of the

Organization of American States (OAS).

The commission consists of Katija Khan, presidentelect of the Caribbean Alliance of National Psychological Associations; Shekhar Saxena, professor of the practice of global mental health at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health; Paulina del Río, president and co-founder of the José Ignacio Foundation in Chile; Juan Pablo Uribe, global director for health, nutrition and population at the World Bank’s Global Financing Facility; and María Elena Medina-Mora, director of the Faculty of P s y c h o l o g y, N a t i o n a l Autonomous University of Mexico. Also on the Commission are Shirley J. Holloway, president of the Board of Directors of the National Alliance on Mental Illness of the United States;

Sahar Vasquez, co-founder of Mind Health Connect, Belize; Paul Bolton, coordinator of mental health and psychosocial support at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID); Ana Cristina Mendoza, psychologist from Guatemala; Paulo Rossi Menezes, principal investigator at the University of São Paulo; Pamela Collins, director of the Global Mental Health Program at the University of Wa s h i n g t o n ; R u b é n Alvarado Muñoz, associate professor at the School of Public Health, University of Chile; and Mary Bartram, director of mental health and substance use at the Mental Health Commission of Canada.

The Commission Chair said that the mental health and well-being of millions, especially women, have

been “severely affected” by the pandemic, confinements, school closures, telecommuting and care for family members. Campbell Barr called for “urgently addressing mental health” and “taking steps to prevent and respond to domestic violence, including mental health services for survivors.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating effects, and many are expected to be long-term. A scientific dossier published by the WHO reported that the global prevalence of anxiety and depression increased by 25% in the first year of the pandemic. A PAHO analysis also noted that one-third of people who suffered from COVID-19 in the Region were diagnosed with a neurological or mental disorder, while another study (Continued on page 23)

Saturday May 07, 2022

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

Local non-profit celebrates 6 years of...

Rockell’s unfinished house.

From page 8 breadwinner of the home.

However, Rockell’s mother contracted the Coronavirus in 2021 and subsequently succumbed – not long after, Rockell’s aunt also contracted the Coronavirus and succumbed.

Following the death of her mother and aunt, Rockell’s life once again came crashing down.

After learning of Rockell’s story, GCOS embarked on an unselfish project to build a home for the young lady and her children.

“So we are building a house for her. The house is almost completed but we are out of funds. If I am to average, I’ll say we need about $1M more to be able to complete the house,” Jones said before adding, “this month she would be evicted from her house so we are hoping to have the house completed for Rockell by month end.”

The organisation will be hosting a fund raising event in front of Payless Variety Store, located at 42 Wellington Street, Georgetown, today [Saturday]. If you are desirous of assisting the family you can leave a donation in the box that will be in front of the store.

You can also contact Rockell on 612-2817 and you can listen to her tell her story.

(See link: https://fb.watch/ cQb19cXXhc/) GCOS With respect to the genesis of GCOS and its life work thus far, Jones reiterated that it is a non-governmental organisation which came into existence following assistance that was provided to former professional boxer Mr. Clive Atwell when he needed money for a surgery back in 2016.

“He needed monies for an emergency surgery so we came together as a group of friends and we held concerts.

We even went overseas for the Independence Day cricket and we went around and explained the situation and we raised more funds for Mr. Atwell,” Jones explained.

He added that it was a success story so they decided to form a committee with the goal of helping Guyanese sportsmen and women who were in need.

“We support our athletes, whether it is cricket, football, or table tennis we support all Guyanese sportsmen and women who need that extra push.”

During 2016, the committee provided a small financial reward to athletes

No supply of electricity from...

From page 14 need to hike the electricity bills, if customers did not reduce their power consumption.

It was back in October 2020 that Giftland started to supply the GPL grid with electricity.

Giftland has a system that produces 6.7 megawatts of electricity, 5 megawatts of which is HFO [heavy fuel oil] fuelled. However, it only uses 1.6 megawatts during prime operations at the Mall.

As such, Government tapped into the excess power

supply to boost the capacity of the GPL grid, which currently has a generating capacity of 155 megawatts.

According to the agreement between Government and Giftland, an average of US$46,000 will be paid per month for power from Giftland.

This would translate to some $9.9 million per month to Giftland while GPL will additionally be paying for fuel at around $25.6 million per month. In total, this would work out to approximately $35.5 million per month.

and coaches who were successful at the CARIFTA Games, while the mothers of four athletes were each acknowledged with a gift on Mother’s Day. The committee also made a donation to the Linden Track Club.

In 2017, the Committee provided ‘out-of-pocket’ allowances to all athletes who participated in the CARIFTA Games and this was repeated in 2018 for athletes who participated in the Commonwealth Games in Australia. Sponsorship was also provided for the Aliann Pompey 3rd International Meet at Leonora and for a Musical Workshop for aspiring entertainers and DJs in Bartica.

In 2021, GCOS shared that it built a home for Ms. Anesa Clementson, the woman that was living in a tent with her three children at Mora Camp Bartica. With the help of donations the organisation was able to build a comfortable house for the family and also semifurnished the place.

In April 2022, GCOS stepped up to be a benefactor for local sportsmen and women.

They made presentations of cash to each of the CARIFTA Games athletes prior to their departure for Jamaica. The tokens of appreciation were to help offset whatever personal needs may arise in the ‘Land of Wood and Water’ during their sojourn.

The committee also recently concluded its running shoes project where over 700 quality shoes were

distributed to athletes’ country wide.

According to Jones, they created a Facebook page [Guyana Committee of Services] to show citizens what they have been doing with the funds that they receive. “We also have Parmasar accounting firm.

They cover our accounting, since we want to be transparent with all the monies we receive.”

Jones also shared that the committee has had the good fortune to have several reputable businesses as their founding benefactors. They include Payless Variety Stores located in Georgetown, Vreed-en-Hoop and New Amsterdam; Star Party Rentals, Sterling Products, Reggie Baichan of Reggie’s Wholesale Store and Mark Kazim (Chineeman).

Notably, no office bearer of the Guyana Committee of Services derives any fiscal benefit from the proceeds of fund-raising endeavours.

JOIN THE TEAM If you are enthusiastic about helping others, feel free to join the GCOS team as a volunteer. The team currently has 30 active members and is looking for more volunteers.

Contact can be made with Mr. Linden ‘Jumbie’ Jones on 6222485.

Join the team as they continue to be a testimony to their motto: Help Us, Help Others. For updates on the events, you can visit GCOS Facebook page. (See link: https://www.facebook.com/ Guyana-Committee-ofServices-108753544685665)

PAGE 22

PROPERTY FOR SALE

VEHICLE FOR SALE

Saffon St bottom flat (business) or bond.Providence four apts fully furnished.

Contact:Ray's Realty 6279685.

One Honda CRV,fully loaded immaculate condition, low mileage 3.3M negotiable & 1 new super custom Hiace Bus 2.5M .Contact:649-0956.

1 Model M Truck,TM Truck,428 Caterpillar Backhoe,416 Caterpillar,Front end loader,Cement Mixer & Mini Excavator.Contact:650-0402/ 652-0251.

LAND FOR SALE Excellent location. Commercial/Residential Alberttown 185x39 close to everything.

Email: serious offers and enquiries to Alberttownsale @gmail.com.

Furnish house and land for sale on Ferry Street, New Amsterdam, Berbice.Call 679-2497.

WANTED

LEGAL NOTICE

One office person,must know to full tender. Contact:6722863.

1 Managing Director and Carpenters,6000 per day. Contact:600-4927.

Servers needed at Emm anuel's Delight.Located at Diamond, tel:651-6342.

for Divorce was filed against you by BIBI ZAHIRAANISHADE LIMA nee RAMDHANI, the Petitioner in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that as part of an Order on the 22nd day of April,2022, the petitioner was directed to effect service of her Petition on you by publication of this notice of Petition in two (2) consecutive Saturday issues of the Kaieteur News Newspapers, a daily Newspapers printed, published and circulated in and around the Republic of Guyana and on the World Wide Web AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorney-at-Law at the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with related documents. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the petition, you must file an Acknowledgement of service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry), Answer and/or Cross Petition in the registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown,Ddemerara within 50(fifty) days from the date of the second and final publication of this Notice. TAKE NOTICE that the Divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on Tuesday the 5th day of July,2022 at 9:00am before the Honourable Madam Justice Sandra Kurtzious in the Directions Hearing Room via Zoom Meeting ID:648 772 9256 and Password: 5hRiHF of the High Court at Georgetown.

IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/Notice of Intention to Defend,Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce. The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Laws Courts (Georgetown,Demerara).

The office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to

Female to cook for a cook shop in the interior,must be over 40.Call:689-4461,6626254.

Maid.Mon,Wed & Fri.Call: 618-1802 between 14:00hrs & 16:00hrs.

Experienced crew wanted for mining operation. Call:6972533.

Cook,Kitchen Helper & Young man for Bar-B-Que Cook.Tel:629-2044.

SERVICES

VACANCY

Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design,Advertisements, Wedding decorations & Elderly grooming: Hair,Nail etc.Tel:626-7040.

Female Cleaner for office.

Call:642-9823.

One Housekeeper.Tel:6082444/503-0359.

Specialized repairs/service refrigerator,washing machine, pressure pump, stove, treadmill,dryer,filteration system, deepfryer.Call:6949733.

FOR RENT Bobby’s Reality,good for business–4.018 acres of prime land in New Amster dam,Berbice.Reduce Price.

Call 679-2497.

Large supermarket and huge Bond in Cumberland, Canje for sale or rent.Call:679-2497.

FOR SALE 6-4 & 5 bedroom house at Schoonord,1-3 story building at Zeelugt public road,13 bedroom house at Blankenburg.Contact:6500402/652-0251.

Prime business spot (1/2 acre)@ Parika,9 houselots together at Blankenburg & Double lot at Tuschen. Contact:650-0402/652-0251.

PROPERTY FOR SALE Second Field South, West, Cummingslodge.Tel:6031278.

Durban 29x80 2.7M,Norton 30M, Highway57acres, Friend ship E.C.D, Garden of Eden 25M an acre 100x100 12M. Call:231-7805/618-7483.

3 story Herstelling 80M neg,2 story Onderneeming W.B.D 16M neg. Contact: 6093777,641-3893,686-0522,6974557.

Houselot for sale in Culvert City Lethem,2M Neg near Airport & ball field.Tel:6583303.

Saturday May 07, 2022

Kaieteur News

WANTED Experienced Taxi Driver & Minibus Driver at Princess Hotel(Princess Taxi Service).

Contact:616-5419/265-7075/ 265-7076.

1 experience Roti/Puri/Pastry Maker,Cook & Kitchen Assistance,between 5:306pm.Tel:603-1278.

One maid to work in G/ Town.Must be vaccinated.

Tel:226-2322 or 682-3300.

One handyman to maintain yard & do errands,must be vaccinated.Tel:226-2322.

Housekeepers to work at Guest House age 20-45,shift system.Tel:225-6337/6680306/655-7405.

One Housekeeper.Must be able to cook,45-60 yrs old.

Must be living E.B.D. One handyman/store help, 6954785/265-3541.

Female Bar & Shop attendants to work in the Interior, age 20-30yrs.Call:689-4461, 662-6245.

Male & Female cleaner, must be able to work shift at WB Cleaning Janitorial Services.

Call:503-2502/698-3644.

1 Assistant Cook.Call:6777011.

One Office Cleaner.Tel:6082444/503-0359.

Grade 2 Teachers,Secretary & Security Guards. Contact:6 49-8174.

One able body Porter, Handyman,age 20-35yrs.

Must be vaccinated photo & recommendation. Keyfood McDoom Village.

Servicemen for Interior location. Applicants must be experienced. Call:231-2250.

Receptionist,Washer,Pressor & Hotel Attendant.Call:2310951,227-7714,223-3448 info@vgiworld.com.

Fitter Machinist,Welder fabricator & mechanic. 3 yrs experience.Call:642-9823 email:techserigy @yahoo. com.

LEGAL NOTICE 2022-HC-DEM-CIV-FD524 IN THE COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OFJUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCEAND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION PETITION NO.FD-524 BETWEEN: BIBI ZAHIRA ANISHA DE LIMA nee RAMDHANI Petitioner-VFRANCISCO DAS CHAVAS RODRIGUES DE LIMA Respondent. TO: FRANCISCO DAS CHAVAS RODRIGUES DE LIMA (Address Unknown).

Take Notice that on the 20th day of April,2022 a Petition

LEGAL NOTICE Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the Registry is closed. Dated the 26th day of April,2022.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATUREOF GUYANA COMMERCIAL JURIS DICTION2021-HC-DEMCIV-FDA-1468BETWEEN: GUYANA WATER IN CORPORATED, a company incorporated in Guyana under the Companies Act 1991 of the Laws of Guyana and having its principal place of business at Vlissengen Road & Church Street, Bel Air, Georgetown Demerara Applicant -and-COAL POT RESTAURANTRespondent NOTICETO: COAL POT RESTAURANT 130 Carm ichael Street South Cumm ingsburg Georgetown.TAKE NOTICE that a Fixed Date Application, was filed against you on the 28 th day ofOctober, 2021 in the High Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature of Guyana at Georgetown, Demerara by GUYANA WATER IN CORPORATED, a company incorporated in Guyana under the Companies Act 1991 of the Laws of Guyana and having its principal place of business at Vlissengen Road & Church Street, Bel Air,Georgetown Demerara, in which the Applicant claims: The sum of $257,630.00 (two hundred and fifty-seven thousand six hundred and thirty dollars), being the sum due, owing and payable by theRespondent to the Applicant.Interest in the said sum at a rate of 6% per annum and 4% thereafter until the full sum is paid; Costs;Such further or other Order as the Court may deem just.UPON APPLICATION in person to Nigel Niles and/or Anansa Swain, AttorneysatLaw for the Applicant, whose address for service and place of business is at C/o Guyana Water Incorporated, Corporate Complex, Vlissengen Road and Church Street, Bel-Air, Georgetown, Guyana, Tele No. 592-225-0471 ext. 2300/ 2302 Email:- NigelN@gwi.ev and anansas@gwi.gy or the Supreme Court Registry, copies of the Fixed Date Application, filed herein, will be delivered or sent to you.

AND TAKE NOTICE if you desire to defend this action

you must forthwith within twenty-eight (28) days after the final publication of this notice, prepare an

LEGAL NOTICE Affidavit in Defence in Form IOC prescribed in the Civil Procedure Rules 2016, serve it on the applicant’s Attorney-at-Law, Nigel Niles and/or Anansa Swain, Attorneys-at-Law for the Applicant, whose address for service and place of business is C/o Guyana Water Incorporated, Cor porate Complex, Vlissengen Road and Church Street, BelAir,Georgetown, Guyana, Tele No. 592-225-0471 ext.

2300/2302.Email:a n d annnsasáñgvi.gy and file it with proof of service at the Registry of the Supreme Court at Georgetown, Demerara, not later than 4 days before the date fixed for hearing of the application, and you or your Attorneyat-Law must appear at the hearing.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that ifyou Fail to file such affidavit and or ifyou fail to appear at the hearing, final judgment may be given against you notwithstanding your absence.AND FUR THER TAKE NOTICE that this matter stand adjourned the Honourable Mr. Justice Franklin Holder on 14th day of June, 2022 at 9:00 am. Dated this 29th day of April,2022.

Kaieteur News

Saturday May 07, 2022

PAHO establishes high-level Commission on Mental...

From page 20 conducted with the support from PAHO (COVID-19 Health care Workers Study—HEROES) showed that, in 2020, between 14.7% and 22% of health personnel in the Region presented symptoms of depression.

Calling the work of the new Commission “timely, relevant and urgent,” Méndez of the OAS noted that “a comprehensive plan of action for the recovery of COVID-19 must include the prioritization of mental

health with a human rights perspective and taking into account the particular situation of women.” He also indicated that this is “an opportunity to bring about a cultural shift that can move us away from stigmatization and lead us to more inclusive and open conversations to build better mental health systems again.”

The countries of the Americas have made significant efforts to meet growing mental health needs during the pandemic.

However, the historically low priority given to the issue—with insufficient and funding and under-skilled human resources—has hampered the ability to respond adequately. The commissioners will prepare a report with key evidencebased recommendations to improve mental health in the Americas and to transform mental health systems and services following the COVID-19 pandemic. The report is expected to be completed in the last quarter of 2022.

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Saturday May 07, 2022

Kaieteur News

New effort races to rescue civilians from Mariupol plant ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (AP) A new international effort raced Friday to rescue more civilians from the tunnels under a besieged steel plant in Mariupol and the city at large, even as fighters holed up at the sprawling complex made their last stand to prevent Moscow s complete takeover of the strategic port.

The fight in the last Ukrainian stronghold of a city reduced to ruins by the Russian onslaught appeared increasingly desperate amid growing speculation that President Vladimir Putin wants to finish the battle for Mariupol so he can present a triumph to the Russian people in time for Mondays Victory Day, the biggest patriotic holiday on the Russian calendar.

Some 2,000 Ukrainian fighters, by Russias most recent estimate, are holed up in a vast maze of tunnels and bunkers beneath Azovstal steelworks and they have repeatedly refused to surrender.

Ukraine has said a few hundred civilians were also trapped there and as the battle has ramped up in recent days, fears for their safety have only grown.

U.N. officials announced Thursday that it was launch-

ing a third effort to evacuate citizens from the plant and the city. But on Friday, the organization did not divulge any new details of the operation; it has been similarly quiet about previous ones while they were ongoing. And it could takes days to know the results since people escaping Mariupol typically have to pass through contested areas and many checkpoints before reaching the relative safety in the Ukrainian-controlled city of Zaporizhzhia, about 140 miles (230 kilometers) to the northwest, where many have gathered.

“We conducted another stage of a complex operation to evacuate people from Mariupol and Azovstal,” the head of Ukraines presidential office, Andriy Yermak, said Friday on the Telegram messaging app. “I can say that we managed to take out almost 500 civilians.”

Two previous evacuations negotiated by the United Nations and the Red Cross brought roughly 500 people from the steel plant and elsewhere in Mariupol. It was not clear if Yermak was saying more people have since been rescued. Fighters defending the plant said on Telegram that Russian troops

Smoke rises from the Metallurgical Combine Azovstal in Mariupol, in territory under the government of the Donetsk People’s Republic, eastern in Mariupol, Ukraine, Thursday, May 5, 2022.

Heavy fighting is raging at the besieged steel plant in Mariupol as Russian forces attempt to finish off the city’s last-ditch defenders and complete the capture of the strategically vital port. (AP Photo) fired on an evacuation vehicle that was moving through the territory of the plant.

“This car was moving towards civilians in order to evacuate them from the territory of the plant. As a result of the shelling, 1 soldier was killed and 6 wounded,” the message from the Azov Regiment said. Moscow did not immediately acknowledge renewed fighting there Friday.

Ahead of Victory Day which marks the Soviet Unions triumph over Nazi Germany municipal workers and volunteers cleaned up what

remains of Mariupol, a city that is now under Russias control apart from the steel plant. Bulldozers scooped up debris and and people swept streets with a backdrop of buildings hollowed out by shelling. Workers repaired a model of a warship, and Russian flags were hoisted on utility poles. The fall of Mariupol would deprive Ukraine of a vital port, allow Russia to establish a land corridor to the Crimean Peninsula, which it seized from Ukraine in 2014, and free up troops to fight elsewhere in the Donbas, the

GECOM to hold internal discussion on elections ...

From page 15 the matter involving the elections reform law. The commissioners had requested however, for “a more detailed discussion” to be held regarding the contributions of all involved. No further discussion was held, Alexander disclosed.

He noted however that the GECOM chair appears to have submitted the preliminary contributions of the opposition commissioners to the government without the necessary discussions.

People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Commissioner Bibi Shadick also highlighted that she had given her contributions to the government, but reported that she has no interest in partaking in any internal discussion, Alexander said. Additionally, he reported that meetings where discussions about the election reform law are expected were adjourned before they got to the item.

In fact, the commissioner continued that GECOM’s legal officer also requested to submit contributions, but to date the Commission has not

discussed what was presented. On the topical issue of removing the names of dead persons from GECOM’s voter’s list, VP Jagdeo had proposed a method to address the problem. At a press conference last Friday, he suggested that annually, the Chief Election Officer (CEO) would have to prepare a list of all the dead people from the General Register Office. The information would be publicized and also provided to political parties, as part of a transparent process, before those names are removed.

Alexander told the newspaper that firstly, the methodology proposed had been suggested before and that the current process already allows on a monthly basis for the General Registrar Office (GRO) to provide the names of those registered deaths.

Secondly, Alexander said, “not everyone who dies is registered.” He said especially those persons who are registered here in Guyana but die overseas. And there is no mechanism for capturing and addressing this matter, Alexander continued. He

submitted that there may very well be, “…thousands of names of persons who would have died overseas; and their identification cards manipulated,” something Alexander and other commissioners believe to have occurred during the 2020 general elections.

In a public missive, Alexander said that Jagdeo’s proposal does not address the fact that the GRO’s list does not include those whose deaths are not registered.

“Jagdeo, the PPP, the Government and its agents resist and refuse to support any mechanism, which would capture this subset of “ghosts”.

There is therefore presently no mechanism for their removal.”

Alexander claimed that hard evidence was presented to show that votes were cast in the names of persons who are dead and/or were not present at the last elections but, “that evidence languishes at GECOM, and in a Petition, which the PPP is fighting tooth and nail not to be pronounced on in a judicial process.”

“GECOM’s refusal, to

date, to review the conduct of the elections, including validating or invalidating information that statutory bodies brought to its attention about dead and substitute voters, raises serious questions about GECOM’s motive and integrity, in the conduct of its affairs.” In this regard, the commissioner accused the Commission and not it’s Secretariat.

Alexander said that a commitment was given by the GECOM Chair at their last meeting to have the contributions to the draft Representation of the People’s Act discussed after a demand was made for same.

These discussions are expected at the election’s body next meeting.

Alexander said that the upcoming discussions are important so that what is submitted to the government reflects the various views of the Commission; which are the common views and the minority views. In essence a “complete submission” is what must be given to the government, representing the contributions of all sides.

eastern industrial region that the Kremlin says is now its chief objective. Its capture also holds symbolic value since the city has been the scene of some of the worst suffering of the war and a surprisingly fierce resistance.

While they pounded away at the plant, Russian forces struggled to make significant gains elsewhere, 10 weeks into a devastating war that has killed thousands of people, forced millions to flee the country and flattened large swaths of cities. Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelenskyy told a meeting at London s Chatham House think tank that he remains open to negotiations with Russia, but repeated that Moscow must withdraw its forces. The Ukrainian militarys General Staff said Friday that its forces repelled 11 attacks in the Donbas and destroyed tanks and armored vehicles, further frustrating Putins ambitions after his abortive attempt to seize Kyiv. Russia gave no immediate acknowledgement of those losses.

Ukrainian chief of defense, Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi, meanwhile, said Thursday that a counteroffensive could begin to push Russian forces away from Kharkiv and Izyum two cities key to the Russian campaign in the Donbas, where Moscow-backed separatists have been fighting Ukrainian troops for eight years. Already, Ukrainian fighters have driven Russian troops some 40 kilometers (25 miles) east of Kharkiv in recent days. The goal could be to push Russian forces out of artillery range of the city, which has been pummeled by strikes, as well as forcing Moscow to divert troops from other areas of the front

line, according to an assessment from the Washingtonbased Institute for the Study of War on Thursday. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Russian forces are making only “plodding” progress in the Donbas, while the institute said their operations there were “ineffectual” and had not secured any significant territorial gains in the preceding 24 hours. Russia may be struggling to execute its plan in the Donbas, in part, because its bogged down at the plant in Mariupol, the British Defense Ministry said in an assessment on Friday.

The fighting at the plant “has come at personnel, equipment and munitions cost to Russia,” it said. “Whilst Ukrainian resistance continues in Avozstal, Russian losses will continue to build and frustrate their operational plans in southern Donbas.” The Ukrainians say Russian troops have stormed the steelworks and are also striking it from the air, but the wife of one commander at the plant said they would not surrender. “They only hope for a miracle,” Kateryna Prokopenko said Thursday after speaking by phone to her husband, Denys Prokopenko. The Russians have pulverized much of Mariupol, which had a prewar population of over 400,000, and a two-month siege that has trapped perhaps 100,000 civilians with little food, water, electricity or heat. Civilians sheltering inside the plant have perhaps suffered even more hunkering underground without seeing daylight in months. Asked whether Russia would soon take full control of the besieged port city of Mariupol, Zelenskyy said: “Mariupol will never fall.

Saturday May 07, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 25

LCDS 2030 Series Pt 4 With solar, hydro, wind and gas…

Guyana can undergo one of the world’s most ambitious energy transitions It is a well established fact that Guyana has some of the highest electricity rates in the Americas. But if she is to stimulate growth and meet growing power demands, transitioning to cleaner energy sources is an imperative.

By utilizing natural gas, hydropower, solar and wind power, the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030 states that Guyana can undergo one of the world’s most ambitious energy transitions and grow the economy up to five-fold, while keeping greenhouse gas emissions from energy generation at around 2019 levels.

With respect to hydropower, the document notes that Guyana has a potential for 8.5 Gigawatt (GW) of hydropower on 33 plants (including storage capacity and run-of-river). It is anticipated that Guyana will build two hydro plants over the next 20 years: Amaila Falls and another which will be identified soon.

As regards solar power, Guyana Power and Light (GPL) is expected to have its first solar on-grid PV farm in Berbice in 2023 with a total capacity of 10 megawatts-peak (MWp) financed by the Guyana-Norway Partnership. This solar PV farm will generate one percent of the total energy demand in Demerara Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS).

LCDS 2030 states that the Government has already secured US$75 million funding – including US$63 million from the Guyana-Norway partnership - to implement 27.8MWp capacity of solar PV farms in eight different grids to convert those grids in hybrid systems. Those systems will be in operation by 2023 and by then Essequibo coast, Linden, Bartica, Lethem, Mabaruma, Mahdia, Leguan and Wakenaam grids will have an average of 30 percent of their electricity consumed generated by solar PV. In a second phase of the programme for the Hinterland grids, there is a planned increase of the Renewable Energy share to an average of 50 percent.

Solar PV with battery storage will be the main renewable energy resource on the regional grids.

As for wind power, Guyana’s coast is exposed to the steady Northeast trade winds. As such, a private developer has installed a tower with a wind speed data logger to measure the potential to install large wind turbines. The project is expected to provide 25MW of power. Plans are also in place to conduct wind measurements along the coast and at Leguan. The measures taken in the other locations together with the practical experience from the 25MW wind farm installation will inform the design of the future wind programme.

As regards the use of natural gas, the government in collaboration with ExxonMobil is pursing the development of a gas-to-energy project. It is anticipated that the project would produce 250MW of power by 2024.

With the foregoing energy mix, Guyana is poised to unleash its economic potential in the years to come.

ABOUT LCDS 2030 LCDS 2030 outlines how the Government of Guyana will accelerate economic growth and development in a non-polluting, low carbon way. It outlines how Guyana will utilize and monetize its natural resources such as its lush and pristine forests in a sustainable manner so as to combat the impacts of climate change.

The document also ensures the country’s world-class forests, biodiversity, water and marine resources are valued for the vital contribution they make to the health of the planet.

The current draft that was launched by President, Dr. Irfaan Ali in late 2021 is undergoing a period of consultation with citizens on how the nation can re-double its efforts towards achieving the outlined vision, the roots of which can be traced back to 2009.

In 2009, Guyana had launched the first Low-carbon Development Strategy from a developing country, setting out a vision for inclusive, sustainable development, while simultaneously maintaining the country’s forests, about 85% of the country’s territory, to help meet some of the most urgent challenges the world faces.

There is no doubt that Guyana intends to stay true to the vision set out in 2009 which is to create a model low-carbon economy for the world.

Since 2009 however, local authorities have gained a greater understanding of the outsized contribution Guyana’s ecosystems make to the world’s health and economy, as well as its role as one of the world’s most important countries for biodiversity conservation.

Here are some interesting facts about the important role Guyana’s forests play as noted in the LCDS 2030. *

Guyana has the second highest percentage of forest cover on earth and is working with partners to sustain 99.5% of that forest while building the foundation for a new low carbon, ecosystem economy. Government has said it expects to tap opportunities to access a market mechanism for forest climate services and other ecosystem services. This will enable Guyana to store 19.5 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (the measure used for greenhouse gas emissions).

*

Deforestation rates are among the lowest in the world and Guyana is one of only four countries in the world (and one of only two in the Amazon Basin) verified to have sustained a High Forest Low Deforestation (HFLD) state.

*

Guyana is one of four countries which host the Guiana Shield, one of the most pristine rainforest landscapes in the world. The Guiana Shield stores around 18% of the world’s tropical forest carbon and 20% of the world’s fresh water.

*

Guyana has already earned income under a payment for ecosystem services. Over the period 2010 to 2015, the Guyana Norway Agreement on climate and forests saw Guyana earning US$220 million which saw over 2,000 jobs created under the micro and small enterprise project; 180 communities and villages receiving funding to strengthen entrepreneurship in Amerindian village economies; the Amerindian Land Titling Programme advanced with 13 villages issued with Absolute Grants, bringing the total number of Absolute Grants to 109. Furthermore, 21 villages were demarcated, 19 were issued with certificates of title, bringing total Certificates of Title to 96. Additionally, more than 500 villagers trained in Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), mediation and awareness exercises. Additionally the Guyana Norway Agreement provided financing for the rehabilitation of the Cunha Canal, provided finance for the first utility scale solar project in Guyana, and is financing the establishment of 200 ICT hubs in hinterland and rural areas.

LCDS 2030 is currently undergoing a period of national consultation. Once this is completed, the LCDS will be finalised and then tabled in the National Assembly.

Saturday May 07, 2022

PAGE 27

Kaieteur News

Miami Grand Prix: Charles Leclerc top as Mercedes show signs of pace BBC Sport - Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc set the pace in first practice at the Miami Grand Prix as Mercedes showed signs of increasing competitiveness.

Leclerc was fastest by 0.071 seconds, with Mercedes’ George Russell second, an unfamiliar place for the world champions in a difficult start to 2022. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, Leclerc’s title rival, was third, 0.179secs away. Lewis Hamilton was eighth, struggling with traffic on his best laps and apparent understeer in the car.

A number of drivers made errors as they got to grips with the new street track around the Miami Dolphins’

Hard Rock Stadium, but none were bigger than that of Valtteri Bottas, who crashed his Alfa Romeo at Turn Eight.

The accident was bad news for his team, who are short of spare parts after problems at the previous race at Imola in Italy. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz also had a big spin, at Turns Four and Five, wrecking his set of soft tyres and causing a front-right puncture. Leclerc had a lowerspeed spin while learning the track early in the session, and Verstappen brushed the wall coming out of Turn 16, with no damage to his car.

The Ferrari, which has a new rear wing as an upgrade, on balance appeared the

quickest car in the session, although Verstappen was struggling with his car overheating in the Florida heat.

There were two striking elements of the session - the pace of the Mercedes car and Alexander Albon managing to put the Williams seventh.

Mercedes have some significant upgrades for the first time this season, with a new lower-drag rear wing.

They hoped this would help reduce the problems they were having with high-speed ‘porpoising’, where the car bounces because of underbody airflow disruption.

It is early days but the first indications are that the experiment has been a success.

The circuit is partly flanked by palm trees. (Getty Images) Mercedes have never looked so convincingly quick through a session so far this season, at least as far as Russell is concerned.

Quarterfinals...

Saturday May 07, 2022 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) How focused you are, Aries!

You're so calm and collected.

Of course, the mood is especially hospitable to sobriety, reasonableness, and hard work.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Are you getting hit with obstacles, Libra? Could it be that you simply need to allot yourself more time to complete the monumental tasks you take on.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Today, Taurus, you can at last express the secrets that have been troubling you.

You may be seething with anger inside and afraid to let it show for fear it may explode on contact.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Are you having some problems with authority, Scorpio? Are you having a hard time making yourself understood. .

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Yes, Sagittarius, your projects have taken some time to get set up. This is because you haven't been concentrating hard enough.

You are doing several things at once.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Your mind is in great turmoil right now, Gemini, so it isn't surprising that you can't pay much attention to anything.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) The day will be fairly quiet for you, Cancer. You're likely to yoke yourself to a task and continue working on it until evening.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You should use the day to ponder your professional future, Leo. Many forces seem to be working together to clarify your ideas on the subject.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22) Today is no time for dreaming, Virgo! Quite the contrary. You can expect to have to settle a number of minor technical problems involving communications or transmissions.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You don't have to create everything alone, Capricorn.

Life isn't an individual sport.

To live life fully, you must participate. Often this involves interacting with other people.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) When we have found our path, we naturally want to start to walk down it, Aquarius. The reverse isn't true despite what you seem to believe.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) The astral energy is encouraging you to open up more to your world, culture, and ways of thinking, Pisces.

You don't have to go off alone in the desert to reinvent everything.1

From page 29 and 16th minutes, while Pernell Schultz, Cosmos DeSantos, and Daniel Wilson scored in the second, 18th, and 24th minute respectively.

For the loser, Keyron Johnson, and Colin Richmond netted in the ninth and 21st minute respectively.

Melanie defeated East Front Road 3-1. Malachi Granum scored twice in the ninth and 14th minutes, while Teon Stewart was on target in the 17th minute. Meshach Barrat scored for the loser in the 16th minute. The respective quarterfinal winners will advance to the semi-final round on May 14th at the same venue. The winner of the tournament will collect the package of $700,000, and the championship trophy, while the runner-up will receive $400,000 and the corresponding accolade. The third and fourth place finishers will walk away with $200,000 and $100,000 respectively. The other sponsors of the event are MVP Sport, Nigel Hind Financial Services, Andrews Supermarket, Bold Expressions Barbershop, Fireside Grill ‘N’ Chill, Star Party Rentals, and Lucozade.

GCB names...

From page 28 Physiotherapist Angelica Holder.

The squad will be engaged in its final practice match prior to the resumption of the regional tournament at the Guyana National Stadium, from Monday May 9, 2022, to Thursday May 12, 2022. The schedule day’s play is 09:30 to 16:30 hours.

Hamilton appeared to be struggling with his car, though, front-end grip appearing to be a problem.

Red Bull’s Sergio Perez

was fourth quickest, ahead of Alpha Tauri’s Pierre Gasly, and Sainz, whose best time was set on the medium tyres because of his spin.

PAGE 28

GCB names Guyana Harpy Eagles squad for remaining three rounds of West Indies C/ship The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), in an official media release, has announced a 15man squad for the remaining three rounds of the West Indies Championship 2022.

The Guyana Harpy Eagles will play Barbados Pride from May 18-21, 2022, at the Queen’s Park Oval, Jamaica Scorpions from May 25-28, 2022, at Deigo Martin and Trinidad and Tobago Red Force from June 1-4, 2022, at Queen’s Park Oval.

Saturday May 07, 2022

Kaieteur News

The Guyana Harpy Eagles are currently in fourth place in the point standings on 21.4 points behind third placed Leeward Islands Hurricanes on 24.6 points, Trinidad and Tobago Red Force on 38.6 points and Barbados Pride on 42.0 points.

The Guyana Harpy Eagles squad for the remaining rounds is: Leon Johnson (Captain), Keemo Paul (Vice Captain), Chandrapaul Hemraj, Tagenarine

Chanderpaul, Tevin Imlach, Vishaul Singh, Akshaya Persaud, Anthony Bramble, Veerasammy Permaul, Gudakesh Motie, Nial Smith, Demeter Cameron, Antony Adams, Kevin Sinclair and Ronsford Beaton. The Manager is Albert Clements (Smith), Head Coach Esuan Crandon, Assistant Coach Ryan Hercules, Cricket Analyst Keshava Ramphal and (Continied on page 27)

Stokes marks England captaincy call with sixes record in rapid ton AFP - Ben Stokes smashed 34 runs in an over during a record-breaking 161 from 88 balls for Durham yesterday — his first innings since being appointed as England Test captain.

The big-hitting allrounder, who was announced as Joe Root’s successor last week, went to a hundred off just 64 balls to post Durham’s quickest first-class century, while the 17 sixes he hit represented a new record for the English County Championship since it officially started in 1890.

Stokes is making his first appearance in this season’s championship following a knee injury on the tour of the West Indies.

All-rounder Ben Stokes is England’s new Test captain. (AFP/Paul ELLIS) He walked to the crease with Durham on 360 for four on the second morning of their four-day match against Worcestershire and launched

a boundary barrage.

The left-hander took just 47 balls to reach his half-century but then went into overdrive, with his second 50 taking just 17 deliveries.

Teenage slow left-armer Josh Baker took heavy punishment. The first five deliveries of Baker’s 20th over were muscled over the boundary rope by Stokes, who raised his bat after the fifth to celebrate reaching three figures, having clubbed 10 sixes in total.

Stokes was one blow away from emulating West Indies great Garfield Sobers, the only batsman in Championship history to hit six sixes in an over, having done so for Nottinghamshire in 1968.

But he was ultimately left thumping his pads with his bat in frustration after merely hitting a four, sparing Baker from joining ex-Glamorgan seamer Malcolm Nash in an undesirable club.

Baker was taken out of the attack but Stokes’ freewheeling batting continued as he went to lunch on 147 not out from 82 balls, including 15 sixes.

The first ball after the resumption saw Stokes continue where he had left off by smashing his 16th six.

He then hammered his 17th — breaking the previous county record held jointly by Andrew Symonds, the former Australia all-rounder, and Graham Napier — by lofting Brett D’Oliveira’s leg spin straight down the ground.

Stokes’ fearsome assault eventually finished when he holed out to deep midwicket in D’Oliveira’s next over, ending a 220-run stand with David Bedingham (135) before Durham declared on 580 for six shortly afterwards.

The 30-year-old Stokes is due to start his England reign in the first Test against New Zealand, the land of his birth, at Lord’s from June 2.

Saturday May 07, 2022

PAGE 29

Kaieteur News

Magnum Independence Cup…

Quarter-finals unravel tonight Sparta Boss will oppose Future Stars, while North East La Penitence will engage Back Circle in the marquee matchups this evening in the quarterfinal section of the Magnum Independence Cup at the National Park Tarmac, following Round of 16 wins on Thursday.

Sparta Boss, who will match skills with Future Stars at 21:15hrs, defeated Mocha 4-1 in the previous round.

Jermaine Junior bagged a double in the 7th and 21st minutes, while Ryan Hackett and Gregory Richardson netted in the 18th and 22nd minute respectively. For Mocha, Stephon Ramsay scored in the 10th minute.

For Future Stars, their place in the quarterfinal was sealed following a 4-3 win over Stabroek Ballers. Jamal Cozier recorded a double in the 15th and 22nd minutes, while Raushan Ritch and Keron Solomon netted in the 18th and 21st minute respectively.

For the loser, Mark Jhalu tallied a double in the sixth

and 14th minutes while Trevon Pluck scored in the third minute.

On the other hand, Back Circle defeated Alexander Village 3-0 to seal their matchup against North East La Penitence at 19:00hrs. Stephon McLean recorded a brace in the sixth and 19th minutes while Jermaine Beckles scored in the 17th minute.

For North East La Penitence, a 1-0 win over Beterverwagting (BV) compliments of a Carl Tudor goal in the 14th minute sealed their spot in the final-eight section.

Meanwhile, Gold is Money will oppose Showstoppers at 19:45hrs after they defeated Tiger Bay, and Agricola respectively.

Gold is Money came from 0-3 down to defeat Tiger Bay 4-3. Randolph Wagner scored twice in the 13th, and 25th minutes while Darren Benjamin and Michael Pedro netted in the 18th and 20th minute apiece.

For Tiger Bay, James Meredith, Orin Moore, and Akeem Lewis scored in the

second, eighth, and 10th minute respectively. On the other hand, Showstoppers defeated Agricola 2-0 follow-

Part of the action in the Magnum Independence Cup between North East La Penitence, and BV (yellow) at the National Park Tarmac.

ing goals from Olvis Mitchell and Delroy Fraser in the 15th and 21st minutes apiece.

The final match in the

quarterfinal section will pit defending champion Bent Street against Melanie at 20:30hrs.

Bent St downed Belfield 62. Sheldon Profitt registered a hat-trick in the 13th, 14th, (Continued on page 25)

Jacobs makes 100m return in strong...

From page 31 equally explosive with ShellyAnn Fraser-Pryce, the threetime Olympic gold medallist, taking on rising Namibian star Christine Mboma, the Olympic 200m silver medallist.

Their anticipated clash with Sha’Carri Richardson failed to materialise after the American dropped out of the meeting.

Fraser-Pryce, 35, was full of praise for the rapid progress made by 18-year-old Mboma, who comes to Kenya fresh from her two-race domination at a meeting in Botswana last weekend.

Her 10.97sec in the 100m was an African under-20 record and she also flashed to a world-leading 21.87sec in the 200m. She goes in both sprints in Nairobi too.

Mboma is not allowed to run her preferred distance, the 400m, as women with so-called differences of sex development (DSDs) and naturally higher levels of testosterone are banned from competing internationally between 400m and a mile, unless they have taken medication to lower their testosterone. “I appreciate when you have competitors who are not afraid to rise to the occasion

and set high standards and break records,” Fraser-Pryce said yesterday. “For me I think it’s wonderful that Namibia can have a champion of their own to celebrate, and I think that’s truly wonderful for the continent of Africa because a lot of time we hear about Jamaica and about the United States. “But to have an African athlete mentioned in the sprints,and doing phenomenal is truly wonderful.” FraserPryce said she was looking forward to assessing her form in her second race of the season. “This competition — it’s a new year, a new opportunity to show what

you’re made of and what you’re ready to do and what your training has been doing.”

In other events, Kenya’s former 3000m steeplechase Olympic champion Conseslus Kipruto continues the long road back from an injury absence which deprived him of the chance to defend his title in Tokyo.

The meeting also features a topqualitymen’shammer competition with Poland’s reigning Olympic champion Wojciech Nowicki taking on compatriot Pawel Fajdek and the man who won silver in Tokyo, Eivind Henriksen of Norway.

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Saturday May 07, 2022

Kaieteur News

WDCA/Odyssey Sightseeing Tours 50-over tourney

Savory slams ton, Sookdeo, Gomes grab 5 for An attacking century from Kemol Savory and five-wicket hauls from Anil Sookdeo Jamal Gomes highlighted the latest round of matches in the West Demerara Cricket Association/ Odyssey Sightseeing Tours 50-over tournament last Sunday.

At West Meten-MeerZorg, West Demerara Police beat favorite Cornelia Ida by 67 runs. Batting first, Police made 285 for 7 from the 50 overs. Kemol Savory struck a classy 184 not out which included fourteen fours and nine sixes while extras contributed 51. Bowling for Cornelia Ida, Ushardava

Balgobin took 2 for 52 and Akshaya Persaud had 2 for 66.

Cornelia Ida responded with 218 all out in 38.3 overs.

Vaickesh Dhaniram top scored with 71 which contained two fours and six sixes while Azmudeen Dhaniram made 33 and Akshay Persaud 20. Bowling for Police, Emmanuel Chrisnauth claimed 3 for 40 and Savory 2 for 51.

At Zeeburg, the host trashed Windsor Forest center team by nine wickets. Batting first, Windsor Forest were bowled out for 154 in 32 .4 overs. Rajiv Kadanauth

scored an attractive 84 which includes eight fours and five sixes. Bowling for Zeeburg, pacer Jamal Gomes was impressive with the ball picking up 5 for 21 while Mark Jeffers took 3 for 21. Zeeburg, in reply raced to 157 for 1 in 13.4 overs.

Aggressive left handed opener Ricardo Poloram slammed 96 with three fours and 11 sixes while Ronaldo Renee supported with 34 not out.

At Uitvlugt, Windsor Forest beat Shamrock by five wickets. Batting first, Shamrock struggled to 90 all out.

Alim Khali scored 30 as Raylex Payne bagged 4 for

14, Deendyal Guyadeen took 3 for 23 and Abdallah Wazidali 2 for 18. Windsor Forest replied with 91 for 5 in 26.3 overs. Kenzo Baksh scored 34 not out and Avinash Ganesh 30.

At Meten-Meer-Zorg, Meten-Meer-Zorg ‘B’ beat Meten-Meer-Zorg ‘A’ by one wicket in a low scoring match.

Batting first, MetenMeer-Zorg struggled to 73 all out with Adrian Johnson scoring 19.

The ‘B’ team captain Anil Sookdeo was very economical taking 5 for 14 from six overs, he was well supported

by Vishal Jaigobin 2 for 11 and Vinod Rajkumar 2 for 15. In reply the ‘B’ team recovered from 4-5 to win the encounter. Ellian White and Rajkumar saw the team to victory with 17 and 13 respectively.

Ryan Persaud also supported with 12 not out as Reyaz Khan and Levroy Miggings had 3 wickets each for 11 and 21 runs respectively while Sheldon Alexender took 2 for 21.

Jamal Gomes

Anil Sookdeo

Ricardo Poloram

Kemol Savory

Saturday May 07, 2022

Carlos Alcaraz claims first win over Rafael Nadal to reach Madrid semi-finals PA Media - Heir apparent Carlos Alcaraz claimed his first victory over clay-court king Rafael Nadal to set up a semi-final against Novak Djokovic at the Madrid Open.

A day after his 19th birthday, Alcaraz, who has already broken into the top 10, defied an ankle injury suffered in a second-set fall to defeat his 35-year-old opponent 6-2 1-6 6-3.

It seemed the teenager might not be able to finish the match when he went over on his right ankle in the third game of the second set having pla y e d a b r i l l i a n t opener.

Nadal reeled off five straight gam e s , b u t Alcaraz began to move more freely again at the start of the decider and held on to an early break of serve to beat his idol.

Alcaraz had lost his two previous meetings with

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Kaieteur News

Nadal but, while this will inevitably be hailed as a changing-of-the-guard moment, there were mitigating factors for the 21-time grand slam champion, not least his gruelling clash on Thursday against David Goffin.

This was also Nadal’s first event since sustaining a stress fracture of a rib six weeks ago, while Madrid is his least successful of the big clay-court events.

Nadal will head to Rome to prepare for the Italian Open as he builds up to the French Open, while Alcaraz moves on to an intriguing first career meeting with Djokovic.

The Serbian has looked much more like his normal self this week and he produced a fine display to defeat Pole Hubert Hurkacz 6-3 6-4.

“I was serving really well in the second set, I think that kept me alive,” said the world number one.

“I was pleased with the way I was constructing points. I tried to make him run and miss and overall it was a solid performance. “It’s definitely a positive indication that I am on the right track in terms of getting to the desired level of tennis, being in one of the best tournaments in the world where all the best players are playing. Of course it does give me confidence, and it encourages me to keep going.”

Djok o v i c r e c e i v e d a third-round walkover after Andy Murray went down

Carlos Alcaraz claimed his first victory over clay-court king Rafael Nadal. (ATP/Twitter)

with food poisoning and the Scot has decided not to take his place in qualifying for the Italian Open.

He will decide early next week whether to play in the French Open, which he had previously said he would skip, or turn his attention to the grass-court season.

Meanwhile, world number two Daniil Medvedev, who has not played since the Miami Open in March after undergoing hernia surgery, will make his return at the Geneva Open beginning on May 14 and looks set to be fit for Roland Garros.

Jacobs makes 100m return in strong Nairobi lineup AFP - Olympic champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs said a high-quality 100 metres field at today’s Kip Keino Classic meet in Nairobi persuaded him to make his first appearance at the distance since his shock win at the Tokyo Games last year.

Jacobs and silver medallist Fred Kerley will go headto-head for the first time since the Olympics.

Their clash comes six weeks since Jacobs stormed to victory to take the world indoor 60m gold in Belgrade when the Italian chased down the American world 100m champion Christian Coleman in the final.

Jacobs said he was motivated to come to Nairobi by a rematch with the American Kerley, fellow Italian Fillipo Tortu and the Kenyan and African 100m record holder Ferdinand Omanyala.

“The reason why I came here to Nairobi at this early stage of the season is because of the quality field of the competitors we have in the 100m,” Jacobs said at a press conference on Friday.

“The thought about meeting these guys is the decision that brought me to Kenya.”

Kerley, who holds a worldclass 9.84sec from Tokyo, is looking forward to a meeting on a track where he ran an impressive 19.76sec over 200m last year.

“I’m happy and look forward to running fast at Kasarani where I ran a PB in 200m in September,” the multitalented American, who celebrates his 27th birthday on Saturday, said.

“For me there’s more pressure on my shoulders to perform in the 100m. I came to perform and that’s what I will do,” Kerley said.

Home favourite Omanyala clocked an African record of 9.77sec to finish second to American Trayvon Bromell last year.

“This year is going to be better than last year. I am not looking at any of my opponents but I am prepared to stop the clock at 9.90,” said Omanyala.

- Rising star Mboma The women’s 100m is (Continued on page 29)

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Kaieteur News

Guinness Greatest of the Streets…

Top honours to be decided tonight Action at the Silver City Hard-court in the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Linden edition.

Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Linden Championship will be decided tonight with the staging of the semifinal and grand finale, as defending champion Swag Entertainment battles Silver Bullets, and DC Ballers oppose Amazings at the Christianburg Hardcourt.

Swag Entertainment defeated Darkside 2-0 in their quarterfinal section to move one step closer to retaining

their title. On the other hand, Silver Bullets overcame an emerging Germans outfit 2-1 in their quarterfinal meeting.

While on the other hand, the experienced Amazings unit made light work of High Rollers 3-1 in the previous section, and DC Ballers bested Whap-Whap 1-0 in an unlikely win.

Winners of the semi-final matches will progress to the championship match. The

losers will contest the thirdplace playoff. The eventual tournament victor will pocket $300,000 and the championship trophy.

They will also earn an automatic berth to the national championship. The runner-up will receive $200,000, and the corresponding accolade. The third and the fourth-place finisher will walk away with $100,000, and $70,000 respectively.

Saturday May 07, 2022

GFA to commence 2022 with Snr. Men’s League on May 15 The Georgetown Football Association (GFA) will commence its season on Sunday, May 15th, 2022 with its Senior Men’s League as competitive Football returns to the City.

The 16-team tournament has been divided into two zones of eight teams each and the action will commence on Sunday May 15 at the Police Sports Club ground Eve L e a r y w ith a d o u b l e header.

The action opens with Ordis facing-off with Black Pearl from 4:00pm while from 7:00pm Police and Fruta Conquerors will battle.

On Thursday, May 5 last, there was a launch at the Georgetown Football Club of the League.

First Vice President Dirk Exeter, who is standing in as the acting President, chaired the meeting and declared the commencement of the tournament.

The GFA clubs along with their Elite Clubs attended the launch.

The GFA clubs received equipment from VP Mr. Exceter for their preparation.

The rules were handed out for the club’s perusal.

GFA’s Vice President Mr Dirk Exeter hands over the gear to a member of one the teams.

Georgetown football association fixtures

Saturday May 07, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 33

Guinness Greatest of the Streets… rts o p S

Scenes from the earlier action in the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Linden edition at the Silver City hard-court.

Top honours to be decided tonight Stokes marks England captaincy call with sixes record in rapid ton In Nairobi, Olympic champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs will run his first 100 metres since he shocked the athletics world in Tokyo last year (AFP/ANDREJ ISAKOVIC)

All-rounder Ben Stokes is England’s new Test captain. (AFP/Paul ELLIS)

Lamont Marcell Jacobs makes 100m return in strong Nairobi lineup

Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (L) said Namibian teenage sprint sensation Christine Mboma was making Africa proud (AFP/Tony KARUMBA)

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