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Environmental p.

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ExxonMobil NEWS distracting population with Wales gas project consultations AIETEUR

Sunday Edition May 08, 2022

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Exxon's recovery of US$1.3B plus investment in Wales gas-to-power project violates int'l best practices p. 20

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Arakaka man's $100M to repair disappearance 43 health facilities 8 months ago in Region One - Health worries relatives this yearMinister p.

62

p.

13

Political environment biggest threat to workers' solidarity p. 16

...union leaders should be demonstrating unity and strength to politicians - Chris Ram

Exxon must conduct study of gas in all Stabroek Block projects, discoveries Yellowtail Production p.

Licence reveals…17

Guyana must improve citizens' spending and productive p.

14 abilities for real oil development

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Sunday May 08, 2022

Kaieteur News

Sunday May 08, 2022

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ExxonMobil distracting population with l – Environmenta Wales gas project consultations Activist

By Davina Bagot ExxonMobil plans to commence a series of consultations with the public, commencing Monday (tomorrow), on the planned Gas-to-Energy project to be built at Wales, West Bank Demerara but one activist has called for the consultations to be postponed until after the 60day comments period, as she believes the process is nothing but a distraction.

The activist, Elizabeth Hughes, on Thursday penned a letter to E x x o n M o b i l ’s G u y a n a President, Alistair Routledge, as well as the Head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EOA), Kemraj Parsram, where she presented her arguments.

In the letter seen by Kaieteur News, Hughes asked that the public consultations “…be postponed until after the 60 days period of the EPA ignited by your EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) and EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) submissions in or around 20 April 2022.”

Hughes acknowledged the importance of stakeholder consultations, especially for such a massive venture, but outlined that it is equally important for the public review period be honoured as citizens have just a limited time to read through the ‘voluminous document’ to share their concerns.

The EIA submitted by E x x o n ’s c o n s u l t a n t ,

Environmental Resources Management (ERM), is more than 1400 pages.

As such, she noted that the public must be afforded “noise free” time from the oil company to gain a full understanding of the gas-toenergy project to be able to meaningfully engage at the appropriate time.

More importantly, she flagged the company for failing to consult with residents of Canal Number One in Region Three where the project will be constructed.

Hughes argued, “Kindly note that none of the stakeholders in the immediate vicinity of the proposed pipeline route through Canal #1 were ever consulted. How could the EIS document make it thus far when its preparation is lacking in the engagement needed to assess the impacts landowners and residents in the direct vicinity will suffer referred to as ‘primary stakeholders’ in the ‘Stakeholder Engagement Strategy’? This is a failure in the implementation of your own self-created ‘Stakeholder Engagement Plan for Guyana’.”

But even as Hughes lauded the company for it educational campaigns, she noted it was unnecessary at this point of the process. She reasoned, “As this is not a competitive process, postponing the time would neither add nor take away from your position of attainment. Further, this round of proposed meetings and consultations does not

affect the outcome of the EPA’s decision only causes needless distractions. We w o u ld ap p r eciate th is quietude from you on public consultation about the ‘gasto-energy project, the EPA’s authorisation process and assessment findings” until after the expiration of the 60day period.

This, she noted, would create the environment to “help us ensure that we are setting the stage for the future generations of Guyanese with clarity and mutual respect.”

Kaieteur News had reported that some land owners at Crane, Canal Number One and Canal Number Two, in Region Three may not be allowed to grow crops or develop new structures that may interfere with the pipeline to be laid by Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL).

The document said that one residential property within the planned onshore pipeline route about 175 metres south of the shore crossing may have to relocate, along with four other dwellings located within 500 metres of the heavy haul road and temporary materials offloading facility (MOF).

EEPGL was keen to note that the government is responsible for projectrelated land acquisition but the company will support the administration in developing and implementing a ‘Resettlement and Livelihood Restoration Strategy’ aligned with

“international standards”.

When it comes to land use, the oil company explained that the project may result in a change of land ownership or tenure for all or part of a property, parcel, or land use area. It explained that a 12.2 metre wide permanent right of way (ROW) will be established to aid in operation and maintenance of the onshore pipeline.

As such, any land that falls within the permanent ROW will be frozen. The document did not say how many homes will be affected by this ROW. According to the document, “Land use in the permanent ROW will be restricted and growing crops or construction of any structures will not be permitted in the permanent ROW. The legal formation of the ROW may result in changes to existing private property boundaries and/or the details of licences, leases, permits, or other tenures related to the use of affected public lands.”

The company said too that the ROW will be “minimal in width and largely aligned with the existing canals and drainage channels” and concluded that the impact on land ownership and/or tenure will be of minor significance during the construction and operations stages, even in the absence of specific information about private

properties or other land tenures.

The ROW, according to the EIA,crosses populated areas in the vicinities of Crane, Canal One, and Canal Two. EEPGL pointed out that populated areas within these communities will be cr o s s ed b y h o r izo n tal directional drilling (HDD) to avoid or reduce disturbances to properties but the restrictions with the ROW will still be in effect.

The EIA goes on to explain that agricultural activity in other areas may also be impacted, as some farmers may be denied access to carry out their agricultural activities.

According to the EIA, “Agricultural activities (crops and livestock) are the most significant land uses in the Primary Study Area. The Project’s use of land during the Construction and Operations stages will reduce access to affected land for agricultural or other purposes. This loss of access

could result in temporary and/or permanent economic displacement for people who may depend on these lands for their livelihoods, employment, and/or income-generating activities.”

The displacement of agricultural land use is expected to occur along the onshore pipeline route near Crane, and west of West Minister/Lust-en-Rust and between Canal Number One a n d Tw o w h e r e r i c e , pineapple and mixed crops are planted, respectively.

THE PROJECT T h e G a s - t o - E n e rg y project is being pursued by EEPGL, on behalf of itself and its coventurers (Hess Guyana Exploration Limited and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited). It proposes to bring the associated natural gas, produced from the Liza field in the Stabroek Block, to shore for use.

The Government of Continued on page 71

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Kaieteur M@ilbox

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

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

EDITORIAL

Mother’s Day - a time of moaning

I

Sunday May 08, 2022

Kaieteur News

t should be a day of rejoicing for the mothers of Guyana, on this Mothers Day. The reality is that it is not for many mothers across the length and breadth of this land blessed with rich gifts. In an era when the hope of prosperity should be an early visitor at the doorstep of Guyanese mothers, that visit has been all but cancelled. What many of our mothers live with is the daily worry, the lengthy tragedy, of how to cope when there is so much meagerness of hope; what to do when there is so much paltriness that they know not what to do.

It would the easiest thing to do in this place of plentiful oil to curse national leaders who have fooled our mothers, then failed them, and do almost nothing for them. But cursing them would insult their mothers, so decency comes to let that pass today. Too many thousands of our women and mothers in Guyana have been hurt before, are hurting now, so it is better, wiser, more dignified to leave leaders alone, the sons of mothers; and let the work of their own hands curse them for their endless callousness. The fact is that this should not be, not when the circumstances of Guyana are so brimming with milk and cream, the honey and jam of what lies beneath our feet, below our waters.

The grand, mouthwatering reality of this matchless country is that abundant oil has been found by the billions of barrels, with more billions likely out there waiting to be discovered. Yet many of our mothers in this country are pulling their hair out of their heads. Our mothers wring their hands at the cruelties of political leaders, who rule with a savage heart, a mind made cruel by selfish, crooked agendas. It is heinous when our suffering mothers are forced to beat their breasts, due to the emptiness that weighs them down. Theirs is the plight of having nothing to give to their children, not enough to feed their toiling partners.

On this Mothers Day of 2022 in Guyana, our mothers are weeping streams of tears. Our mothers quietly bear their pain, while our leaders and their cabals of criminally minded chosen ones flaunt the richness of their fancy attire, their expensive toys, their lavish lifestyles. There is the glaring irony of these swaggering men in high places, and powerful offices, surrounding themselves with women of near identical selfishness.

There are many on the fairer side, who see no wrong in how their political brothers dash the hopes of weak and neglected mothers outside the favoured circles, how they abuse the trust placed in them. It is now an accepted element of the anguish of Guyana that the women who are on the inside tend to forget their less fortunate, less equipped, sisters left behind. They are falling still farther behind.

The reports are of climbing, punishing prices, of the rising cost of living. Both represent the fate that mothers have to face, deal with, and somehow survive in an endless roundtrip that repeats itself day after day. Which leaders care? Which leader can do the things that are urgently necessary, that are meaningful, but does nothing? And who are the leaders who look the other way, ignores the cries coming from countless parts of this country? They are the ones in Government, who can make a difference embodying significance, but they dont.

They are only powerfully consumed by their own sense of self-importance, their first commitments, which is to their own self-serving interests. Like the tribal chiefs of ancient Africa, and the Maharajahs of British India, Guyanese leaders frolic and have fun with outsiders, while selling out their own. Foreigners come here and prey upon our oil prospects, rob our people. Our leaders in different governments have helped them every way that they can by making their pathways easy.

Meanwhile, our women, our mothers, wonder how they will make ends meet, what will become of them, and their families. Though it sounds like a pittance, we still say Happy Mothers Day. Something of substance from leaders could provide some succor in this time of creeping intensifying distress.

Send your letters to Kaieteur News, 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown or email us kaieteurnews@yahoo.com

Lessons for Guyana from Tengiz and Kashagan DEAR EDITOR, Oil is on the lips of Guyanese, its riches on their minds, maybe their sleep, too.

There have been ceaseless arguments, positions, and counter-positions about contracts, the inviolable nature of them, and the grave in which the one we live with has dumped us. So, we are stuck in this political and national tangle, which automatically means racial one also, about what we should do, how we should go about, and who is doing something, or nothing, to improve Guyanas fortunes from its oil wealth. Amidst the endless clamour, I share something that could serve as a lesson, several of them, due to the precedent it established

over a decade ago with a man and place that caused shudders in the oil world.

The leaders name is Nursultan Nazarbayev, and the place is Kazakhstan.

There were two fabulous oil fields, Tengiz and Kashagan, in the middle of the opposing sides fighting for supremacy of their production fruits. On one side was the host country and its indomitable and sagacious leader, Nazarbayev; on the other were several of the old Seven Sisters and a couple of the Big Four oil majors. The names resonate: ENI, Total, Shell and, of course, our own dear Exxon. The Japanese were on the side of the big boys too, through the presence of

Inpex. BP and Statoil jumped ship by trying to sell their share in the vast Kashagan field to the Chinese (CNOOC), but President Nazarbayev said that Kazakhstan would have none of that, and substituted itself as the taker.

What followed next was remarkable for leadership wisdom, courage, will, and a lot of some anatomical parts, which I leave to the understanding of mature audiences.

Before going to what happened between Kazakhstan and the oil companies over Kashagan, I must go first to Tengiz, and that story.

Tengiz was a great big discovery, with Chevron and ExxonMobil leading the oil pack. Nazarbayev was un-

happy with his countrys 1993 2% oil contract, which is a number familiar to all Guyanese by now. He wanted a big low-cost loan and more income for his nation from its mammoth oil wealth; what he got instead were delays in production and huge costs passed on to his country.

Nazarbayev retaliated, when his EPA dropped a US$73 million fine on the oil consortium for hydrogen sulphide violations. Chevrons boss, David OReilly, rose up in rejection, against what he saw as leadership experimentation, if not blackmail; production ceased.

Exxon long notorious for resisting such heavy-handedness, was only too (Continued on page 5)

Sunday May 08, 2022

Kaieteur M@ilbox Letter to ExxonMobil President, Alistair Routledge Dear Mr. Routledge, RE: Upcoming Public Consultations on Gas-to-Energy Project Greetings. Trust this finds you and your circle well.

I write to respectfully ask the above-captioned be postponed until after the 60 days period of the EPA ignited by your EIA& EIS submissions in or around 20 April 2022.

It is fully comprehended the need for stakeholders consultations. However, is it necessary to do it now and within the period for us, the citizens, to read the voluminous documents. It is our “human right” to do so peacefully without the noise of a campaign that contributes neither to the procedure nor the process of: · The spirit of the law, EPA,

in mandating 60 days for concerns to be filed · Implementing your own self-governance as stated in the companys CSR to manage responsibly, impact on communities. Sometimes the type of management requires the allowance by your company of noise-free and quiet time in order for us citizens to gain full, free and prior information from the EIA inter alia to more meaningfully engage in the local content & stakeholder arenas of & in this project. · Implementation flaws in your stakeholders consultations plans. Kindly note that none of the stakeholders in the immediate vicinity of the proposed pipeline route through Canal #1 were ever consulted.

How could the EIS (Continued on page 6)

Understanding, which resulted in them paying US$5 billion for costly production delays. In addition to those, the share of the Kazakhstan national oil company doubled to 16.8%, with each of the consortium members giving up a precious 2% of their stake. I mention that this included ExxonMobil.

For sheer guts and other physical attributes, I think that what President Nursultan Nazarbayev ranks right up there for consummate audacity, unblinking doggedness, and powerful patriotism.

I say this, despite knowing fully of his two sons and their high-profile presences and roles in Kazakhstan, as well as Comrade Nazarbayev (alleged) love for jewellery and the finer things in life. It is my belief that if our oil lead-

Kaieteur M@ilbox

A Guyanese Mother’s Day in USA DEAR EDITOR, Mother’s Day is Sunday May 8 in Guyana, the US, and other parts of the Guyanese diaspora. Different countries have different date for Mother’s Day as I observed in the UAE, a few weeks ago.

Guyanese Americans have been known to honour their mother (and their father as well as their grandparents and great grands) on this day at home and in the diaspora.

They would do so at places of worship, restaurants, and the home in America and Canada. It is an occasion for family to get together to pay tribute to the ‘old lady’ and other females. It has been a tradition that every one of the more than a hundred Guyanese or West Indian mandir in America hosts a special mother’s day function organised by youths who pay tribute with a spiritual concert, flowers, and a sumptuous

Lessons for Guyana from Tengiz...

From page 4 glad to lend its muscle and go along. Nazarbayev had to retreat and lick his wounds. But he came back at his tormentors, and it was how he did so. In this, there is a lesson, several of them, for Guyanese leaders.

Comrade Nazarbayev bided his time until August 2007 when all work in Kashagan was suspended for environmental violations.

Next, in September, the laws of Kazakhstan were amended in favour of the national interests, if and when the actions of foreign oil companies jeopardised those interests. If this necessitated the changing of oil contracts, then that was what was going to be.

Then, in January 2008, the oil companies were compelled to agree to a Memorandum of

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Kaieteur News

ers and oilman in Guyana could probe for openings, seize opportunities, and sum from somewhere some of the sturdier prowess manifested

by President Nazarbayev, this country would be in a better place.

Guyana could shave off some of its contract burdens, chip away at the needs and vulnerabilities (both are present) of Exxon, and get a large handful of much needed and much due benefits for this country and its peoples.

Leaders would still be able to continue to steal also. They must be bold, bad, and brazen. A little leadership soundness, and the ingeniousness and resourcefulness that flow from such would help in the crunch.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

meal.

In America, children (and even husbands or their brothers) give females (their mom) “a time of their life” – a day off from domestic chores, shower them with petals and flowers, breakfasts in bed, brunch, lunch, dinner, gifts, etc. The mom is well decked out in her best clothes on this day. Children’s gratitude and affection for their mothers is concentrated on this special day to alleviate a feeling of guilt for neglecting her for the other days of the year. It is better than no time at all when one considers that some children abuse their parents and elders. But moms are forgiving; they don’t ill-treat their children or loved ones. Lavish praises are showered on mothers for their sacrifices, hard work, dedication and love to raise their children and for helping to feed, clothe, educate and make us what (who) we are today. Women (our moms) are worthy of more than honours. They are our goddesses. They give birth to us and raise to make us who or what we are today. They deserve all the accolades, tributes, gifts, and meals and deserving of more than is showered on them on ‘Mother’s Day’.

Being a mother is a difficult task, but mothers persevere and do a fantastic job in raising a family. Mothers consider it an unending obligation to tend to their children’s needs and they do not fail to meet expectations. They do what they must to provide for their children and other kinship. They think about children and their own mom perennially, not just for one day.

Only mothers know the pain of bringing forth children, of providing food and shelter.

They nurse their children and exercise patience and caution in raising them.

In growing up in Guyana, my mother and my sisters were the first to wake up in the morning to prepare meals for breakfast, for my father to go to work, and for us to take lunch to school. Mom and other females are the last to go to bed. It was no different among my neighbours. In between getting up and going to bed, they make every effort to meet the needs of children.

Today, mothers are called upon to meet greater needs – giving children cell phone or some other gadget (that was absent when most of us grew up during the 1960s thru the first decade of the 2000s. Mom sends children to school with lunch box and money even when they can’t afford it.

They feed their kids before they eat. Their work is never finished. Yet they are not always appreciated for their sacrifices and responsibilities.

Worse, the endearment children have for parents is short lived. Some abuse their mom and dad and other elders.

I note that in New York and other parts of America, Guyanese families face many challenges of raising children in an alien cultural environment. As an educator of 40 years, I notice how children are not imbibed with the cultural values inculcated in me as a youth of the 1960s in Port Mourant. The youths tend to lose aspects of their cultural upbringing and of respect for elders, copying values in conflict with their heritage that tend to destroy the foundation of a tight knit family life.

The strong endearment and kinship respect (aunty, uncle, mousie, mousa, dada, didi, aja, aji, nanna, nanni, poowa, pupa, etc.) that children have had in Guyana for relatives and elders tend to disappear in America. Youngsters must be encouraged to reject the negative aspects of life (espe-

cially in NYC) and strive for family togetherness and respect for elders and cultural retention of their forebearers.

I must also note that in my studies of the Guyanese diaspora in America, some females are not ideal role models – their public behaviour at bars or rum shops, social clubs, and the streets are much to be desired. Women must present themselves as role models and make their children and kin proud of their behaviour. They must conduct themselves properly because children take their cues from them. The children often emulate adults modelling their lives after their parents or elder folks. Thus, it is imperative that mothers, wherever, live a moral, reputable life serving as ideal role models. They must live like goddesses worthy of deification.

Regardless of their life, mothers must always be respected by children. Every day should be Mother’s Day – respect and honour your mom and all females in America and everywhere.

Happy Mother’s Day! Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

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Kaieteur News

Kaieteur M@ilbox Is there a will to return Georgetown to the Garden City status?

DEAR EDITOR, I remember the days when Georgetown was proudly referred to as the GARDEN CITY. Regretfully, sadly and unfortunately, today and for the past 30 or so years, it has descended into the GARBAGE CITY, and referred to as such by locals, visitors and foreigners.

I recently had to go to someone at 322 New Market Street, North Cummingsburg, incidentally immediately opposite the GEORGETOWN PUBLIC HOSPITAL and was appalled at the garbage and stench emanating from the vacant lot adjacent to the building I had to visit. It is obviously a dumping ground for garbage from the various stands that now form part of the landscape of not only this part of Georgetown, but most of the areas where there are opportunities to make a “quick dollar”, regardless and with absolutely no consideration for the health and safety of persons who HAVE to frequent those areas. There is a proliferation of what I consider to be both permanent and “make shift” structures selling from food to items needed by patients in the hospital, and I dare say anything in between. I saw, a few weeks ago, very high level publicity of a “clean up campaign” led by no one else than His Excellency the President, in the City of Georgetown, which was followed up by other high level functionaries in the government, in other areas of Guyana.

Unfortunately, the “other side” of the political scenario felt it convenient to boycott

that commendable effort, and what some considered, out of shame, did their own semi clean up soon after.

Both campaigns, according to popular opinion went “to waste”, absolutely no pun intended.

Is the City Council and the Pandit Mayor (and their predecessors, including the ELDER, Hamilton Green, under whose Mayorship this deterioration started) unaware of what Georgetown has become?

Are these persons not ashamed to know that they are presiding over a City that is STINK and can be a prime participant for an epidemic waiting to happen?

As Ive said and written on before, I am of the opinion that the City Council as presently constituted has proven themselves to be incapable of solving not only this problem but other equally important matters of the City, and call upon the Government to seriously consider the appointment of an Interim Management Council, as was done in the past, to manage the City properly. In the interim, I hope that this letter “catches the eye” of someone in authority to immediately change the location of the garbage dump opposite the Georgetown Public hospital and relocate it to its proper place, in the interest of those who live and frequent that area.

It would be extremely easy to find and prosecute the violators of the dumping in this and other areas, but ONLY if there is the will to do so.

Regards, Harry N. Nawbatt

Don’t cancel the Prom Night DEAR EDITOR, Minister Priya Manickchand wants to encourage self-esteem in schools with cool trends then why not bring back the Prom to certain schools. The schools that performs the best in the CSEC exams should have that Ultimate Prom .

Children are working really hard for their CSEC exams since many hours were missed out. My nieces stay up very late just not to go to the adult school they have launched in Sophia because no one wants failure.

It’s not a” Pretty in pink movie” where you ask a girl to the prom or didn’t find a date and gotten all worked up

about it. It’s about a decent prom with adult supervision to encourage students happiness and building memories with their friends.

Back in the days, as soon as 8:00 pm reached, dem boys a lime by the fountain on prom night at the Ramadan Princess Hotel. The students need to have fun activities so the ultimate night is not wasted with super cool backgrounds for photo-taking, photo booths, music and the dine-in style. Let school life be the talk. Unforgettable moments are the most treasured ones.

Yours sincerely, Luanna Harris

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Recognise both Michael Parris and Rohan Kanhai in a meaningful way DEAR EDITOR, I am writing in support of Mr. Freddie Kissoons call (KN/ 6/5/2022) for both Michael Parris and Rohan Kanhai to be recognised in a meaningful way. In Freddies words, “name something after these men”. In Parris case, he has been our lone medallist at the Olympics, something that we have not repeated in 40 years. There may be more than a few indictments to go around if an analysis were to be done for our less than spectacular showing at the Olympics. Many small islands have done much better than us. However, that is a story for another day. In this letter, I wish to deal with Rohan Kanhai if only because of two conversations I had this week. During this week, I came across an article from the Warwickshire County Cricket Club which I reproduce below.

“It is the opinion of no less a judge than the great MJK Smith that Rohan Kanhai is up there with Brian Lara as the greatest batter ever to play for

Warwickshire. Both were touched by genius and one factor with which Lara did not have to deal, which Kanhai did throughout his Bears career (1968-77) was uncovered pitches. Wet wickets made batting significantly more difficult, offering bowlers all sorts of help and requiring the greatest skill from batters.

These were conditions that brought the best out of Kanhai, some of whose greatest innings were played when batting was at its most testing.

The Bears championship visit to Old Trafford to face Lancashire in 1972 was a classic example. There had been, unusually for Manchester, rain around and the pitch was damp and green. Batting was tricky, as the Red Rose discovered when they went in first and scored 181. Kanhai then made 199 one of the finest individual innings ever played for Warwickshire. A strong Lancashire batting side, including Clive Lloyd. David Lloyd, Barry Wood and

Farokh Engineer, was bowled out in 62.1 overs as Steve Rouse took five for 47 (his maiden five-for) and Norman McVicker three for 48. The ball was doing plenty, as John Whitehouse soon discovered when Ken Shuttleworth sent it on to his stumps. That brought Kanhai to the crease and the master class began.

Shuttleworth, Peter Lever and Peter Lee were a strong pace trio, backed up by the mediumpaced bananas of Wood and the wily spin of Jack Simmons and David Hughes. All came alike to the great West Indian.

The Bears were 50 for three when Kanhai was joined at the crease by his countryman Alvin Kallicharran. They added 152 and, after Kalli fell lbw to Simmons for 50, Kanhai climbed into even more spectacular attack.

The ball was swinging and seaming but he defended with impeccable judgment and drove, cut and pulled with brutal power. Kanhai was just a single short of a scintillating double century when he

edged Leapy Lee to wicketkeeper Engineer. He was on 199 out of his teams 347 for six. His genius lifted the Bears to 371 for seven declared, after which the Red Rose were bowled out for 149 (David Brown (five for 49, McVicker three for 35), leaving the Bears victorious by an innings and 41 runs.”

I sent this article to two friends, one a former diplomat who represented this country at the under 19 level and the other a highly accomplished medical doctor in Florida, who has also set up practice here.

I share their responses. “MJK Smith should have put it the other way around: Brian Lara is up there with the greatest batter to ever play for Warwickshire, Rohan Kanhai” “He should be honoured in an impressive way before he dies”. Kanhai has been our forgotten genius. Time is not on our side.

He really should be honoured in an impressive way.

Regards, Bish Panday

Head of “apolitical” GPSU did not attend President Ali’s Labour Day Breakfast DEAR EDITOR, I read with interest a letter

by Tacuma Ogunseye published on May 6, 2022 in the Kaieteur News under the caption “May Day 2022 march and rally will take a “special” place in the countrys history” and in Stabroek News entitled “Presence and their unions leadership on the streets augurs well for their future

struggles”. After reading this letter, I was stunned by two things, viz. · The writers willingness to excuse the absence of the non-governmental organisation “Red Thread”, because of probable COVID19 considerations, without accrediting this possibility to the absent Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) and

Letter to ExxonMobil President...

From page 5 document make it thus far when its preparation is lacking in the engagement needed to assess the impacts landowners and residents in the direct vicinity will suffer referred to as “primary stakeholders” in the “Stakeholder Engagement Strategy”? This is a failure in the implementation of your own self-created “Stakeholder Engagement Plan for Guyana”.

The need for the proposed PR and educational campaign is appreciated but at this point in time, it unnecessarily muddies the waters of good intent and the background context.

As this is not a competitive process, postponing the time would neither add nor

take away from your position of attainment. Further, this round of proposed meetings and consultations does not affect the outcome of the EPAs decision only causes needless distractions. We would appreciate this quietude from you on public consultation about gas-to-energy project, the EPAs authorisation process and assessment findings until after the expiration of the 60 days period.

This would create the environment to help us ensure that we are setting the stage for the future generations of Guyanese with clarity and mutual respect.

Thank you for your kind consideration.

Kind regards, Elizabeth Deane-Hughes

Guyana Agriculture and General Workers Union. · According to the writer, he “was shown a press release, on a friends phone. It stated that President Irfaan Ali invited union leaders to an early morning breakfast and among the attendees was Patrick Yarde, President of GPSU.” The writer went on to add, as though casting aspersions, “I pondered on the GPSUs failure to participate in the march. Since these are workers matters, I refrain from offering my opinion on the GPSU actions, leaving that to the workers and their leadership.”

Editor, for the benefit of Mr. Ogunseye and readers, the COVID-19 Pandemic has not been declared over and as a responsible trade union, the GPSU took the decision that it would not march, but undertake other controlled trade union activities on that day.

This was a success and has kept the GPSU membership safe. In relation to the second astounding declaration by the writer, there are two observations. Firstly, the press release did not say that Patrick Yarde attended the Presidents Labour Day Breakfast, the language was clear, “representatives of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU)…” attended. For the removal of all doubt, Mr. Patrick Yarde was not in attendance at the Presidents Labour Day

Breakfast.

This and other glaring inaccuracies have resulted in the view expressed in the GPSUs message for World Press Freedom Day that laws should be enacted to ensure accurate, professional and balanced reporting by the media and hopefully to dissuade media operatives from deliberate fabrications and misrepresentations of facts, which would most likely affect the credibility of media houses and also the confidence of the subscribing public in what is being published. In this regard, the Kaieteur News on Monday May 2, 2022 made a simple but costly error, when the GPSUs May Day Message was carried, wherein it was clarified that “... the GPSU is an apolitical organization that respects its members constitutional rights and freedoms …”. The message carried substituted the word “political” for “apolitical”. This glaring inaccuracy must be corrected, because by no account is the GPSU a political organization.

Again, the media is entreated to ensure professionalism, accuracy and balance in its reporting.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely, Indira Thakurdin Guyana Public Service Union

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UN .BLUNT. B UNT...B L B . . .

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B B TLUNT . . .

T UN Sunday May 08, 2022

Kaieteur News

Many Guyanese have become numb and dumb when it comes to their own affairs, muchless that of each other.

They have lost touch with reality and don't even care whether their neighbours live or die.

Gone are the days when the neighbour was the first to lend a helping hand.

But as the saying goes: Once there is life, there is hope.

As such, we call on Guyanese – from the leaders sitting in their mansions to the lowly in their shacks: end the disgusting trend of self-centeredness; selfishness is neither attractive nor progressive.

No matter what you may possess, none of us, no not one, is better than the other, so get over yourselves and lend a helping hand wherever possible.

The act of giving generously to those in need opens the doors to tremendous blessings.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday May 08, 2022

Kaieteur News

Sunday May 08, 2022

Dem Boys Seh…

Florida is now part of de West Indies Dem boys just read it in de news. De itinerary get announce. India coming tuh de West Indies fuh play 3 one-day internationals and 5 T20's.

De action starting on July 22 in Trinidad. De last match playing in de USA. Guyana gat de second largest Indian diaspora in de Caribbean and we nah getting a single match. Deh had a time when dem Indian cricket team use tuh feel at home when dem playing in Guyana and Trinidad. Dem use tuh get strong support. Not anymore. Dem traditional ties nah suh strong

anymore.

Dem matches gan play in Trinidad and Tobago and St. Kitts. And guess where de last 2 T20s playing? In Uncle Sam. Since when Uncle Sam is part ah de Caribbean?

Dem boys know dat people use tuh call de Caribbean part ah Uncle Sam backyard. But now, it getting considered part ah de West Indies because matches on de tour playing in de West Indies. Dem should rename it de Tour of de West Indies and de USA. De USA get two matches. Dem nah deh in de Caribbean. But dem gat

plenty West Indians deh wah want see cricket.

Why dem matches couldn't come Guyana? All de oil in de world can't even bring a match hay. We gat a new cricket Board and dem nat even able get any match fuh come Guyana.

Yet, Guyanese people celebrating how we hosting CPL finals fuh de next 3 years. Dem nah telling de people wah dem pay fuh get fuh host dem matches. And dem certainly nah gan tell we why we nah hosting none ah dem matches pon de Indian tour of de West Indies.

Talk half and leff half.

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Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Sunday May 08, 2022

'Freak storm' rips through several homes in Region 5

By Malisa Playter-Harry Several homes were partially destroyed while at least one collapsed after a 'freak storm' ripped off roofs and caused other damage to several homes in the villages of Plantation Hope and Experiment, West Coast Berbice.

During the mayhem, electrical poles were uprooted, leaving several homes without electricity until it was fixed by the Guyana Power and Light Inc. Vanita Pariag, an affected resident, told Kaieteur News that she was in her bed when she felt a “trembling” sometime after 22:00hrs on Friday, May 6, 2022. She said she and her husband got up and when they looked through their windows, they saw what

looked like the smaller version of a tornado coming from the seaside, which is behind her home.

Pariag said that her children, who were also aroused by storm, started to scream and she too was scared. "I thought the windows would have popped," she said.

According to the woman, she noticed several zinc sheets from other houses as they were being blown off and a house opposite her home, where an old man lives, also collapsed. The man, fortunately, escaped unhurt and managed to seek refuge at a neighbour's house.

Zinc sheets from someone's roof from three houses away blew into Pariag's yard while another neighbour, whose roof was also ripped off, his

entire yard was flooded.

Residents complained that furniture, appliances and other items were also soaked from the heavy rains after the roofs blew off and sections of their houses got damage. Pariag said that when she and others began to assess the damage, she realised that a storeroom which was attached to her house was in someone else's yard. She is however grateful that no one was hurt during the ordeal.

According to her, the Regional Chairman of Region Five and other officials have since visited the area and assessed the damage as well. They have since offered to help with materials to fix the damage.

Over 20 houses were affected during the freak storm.

The aftermath of the storm.

Sunday May 08, 2022

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Sunday May 08, 2022

Man stabbed to death, attacker hospitalised A

man was on Friday, May 6, 2022, stabbed to death during an argument reportedly over a female.

The incident occurred at Maycock Street, Rose Hall Town, Berbice.

Reports are that the v i c t i m , o n l y i d e n t i f i e d a s 'Fineman', was stabbed by a 41y e a r - o l d unemployed man, i d e n t i f i e d a s Anthony Cameron called 'Anto' of Rose Hall Town.

Based on information reaching this publication,

the victim was imbibing with others at Maycock Street when an argument erupted.

Cameron, who reportedly had knife, used the weapon to stab the victim to the chest.

He then grabbed his bicycle and said he was going to make a report at the Rose Hall Town Police Outpost.

In a matter of minutes, a police patrol arrived and rushed the victim to the Port Mourant Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Shortly after, Cameron showed up with his sister

and police noticed that he had wounds to his neck and abdomen.

Sources disclosed that when Cameron left for the police station he was not injured.

He was then admitted to the institution and it was there that he told police that 'Fineman' inflicted the wounds.

Cameron was subsequently transferred to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital where he remains under police guard.

Investigations are ongoing in an effort to properly identify the victim in the incident.

Kaieteur News

Sunday May 08, 2022

PAGE 13

BLUNTNESS ON INDECENCY! In case you haven’t heard, please be informed that as part of our continued effort to channel positive changes in our country, our publisher, Mr. Glenn Lall, has dedicated our Page Seven to be “BLUNT” about on-going indecency in our land that should matter, not only to us at this publication, but the entire nation.

SUNDAY Let's Make Guyana Great Again For too long evil has been allowed to run amok in this land.

It is time that we as Guyanese take stock of ourselves, our homes, our communities and recognise that the time has come for us to change course.

We cannot sit idly by and let our land be controlled by those who have no respect for God or man.

We cannot remain silent when our very existence is under threat.

Time is of the essence!

We need God-fearing leaders to stand in the gap for the slumbering people of this nation.

We need those who can fearlessly stand up to the Goliaths of our day who are intent on preventing this nation from reaping the benefits of this promise land – a land flowing with milk and honey meant for ALL and not just a FEW. Heed the clarion call visionary leaders; stand up and help make Guyana great again!

MONDAY Reverse The Curse Guyanese are not fools!

We all, over time, come to realise those who are for us and those who are pretending to have our backs.

Guyanese see and Guyanese know who these people are.

As the maxim goes, fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.

Sadly, some Guyanese

have surrendered to being fooled but we at this publication are on a mission to reverse the curse of foolishness in this land. For too long, we have seen Guyanese accept this despicable fate, but not anymore.

We at this publication will show our people the way.

We will enlighten them about exactly what's wrong with this country and inform them of what must be done to ensure that they can attain a better life for themselves and generations to come.

No more will the liars (you know yourselves) convince our people that a life of poverty is their fate.

TUESDAY Let the media rise!

It was heartening to see some of our leading journalists being bold enough to speak truth to power, while condemning the lack of transparency and accountability in the oil and gas sector in Guyana.

The fact that their comments preceded World Press Freedom Day, which is being celebrated today, made it even more special. Our media workers have done their best over the years in holding the leaders of this land accountable: we mean the real media and not those that pander to the authorities out of fear and also for favours.

And so amid the oppression, depression and suppression by successive governments, our local media have weathered the storm; our journalists have

d one well and yes there is room for improvements.

We still have in our midst a number of pretenders and quacks - we who are serious must resolve to root them out.

On World Press Freedom Day – Let the Media rise!

WEDNESDAY NOT ANOTHER ATROCITY! We call on all rightthinking Guyanese to renounce individuals and socalled movements that are seemingly in the interest of this nation, but are not.

Words are simply not enough to prove their worth anymore; action has always spoken louder than words.

Why must the people of this nation embrace one atrocity after another?

We at this publication encourage the decent people of this country to condemn any movement that is not morally right, that damns this nation for eternity.

We will not be rendered a hopeless nation because of the actions of a few.

We will use our free-will at this publication, not to support abominations, but rather to bring to naught ANYTHING that threatens a better life for Guyanese.

THURSDAY MEDIA CONFERENCE JOKE!!

So the farce, dubbed media conference has concluded. We call it a farce, because that is exactly what it was. Two days of splurging of taxpayers' money. What did it accomplish other than

Pensioner found dead in home

Police suspect that there is no foul play involved in the death of a 60-year-old man whose remains were found on Friday lying face up inside his home at Bachelor's Adventure, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

The dead man, who has been identified as Royston Lam, was discovered around 17:45hrs by his cousin.

Police visited the scene around 18:10hrs and conducted the necessary investigations.

The man's cousin told the investigators that he had decided to pay him a visit on Friday.

When the cousin arrived, he called out for Lam several times but got no answer.

He then became suspicious that something was amiss after he was hit with a foul stench emanating from Lam's house.

The relative called police and Lam's body was discovered.

Investigators said that they saw no marks of violence on his body neither was his house ransacked, leading them to believe that no foul play was involved in his death.

They also learnt that he suffered from high blood pressure.

The body was removed and taken to Merriman's Funeral home where it awaits a post mortem examination to confirm police's suspicions.

giving the minister in charge Kwame MCoy and his sycophants a stage to palaver?

We noticed that the organisers went to the highways and the byways a n d s i m p l y say…”whosoever will may come.”

So we saw in the audience receptionists from the state media entities; drivers; accounts clerks, school children, cooks and all and sundry- some with no interest in media work, but they were all there.

What shocked us most was a panel on the final day with the Guyanese Critic, who can hardly string together a sentence and a woman who goes around saying she promoting Guyana, lecturing people about media.

What a big joke. Our credible media colleagues who managed to stay through that farce, we tip our hats to you.

We await better next year.

FRIDAY Technology is boss!

Indeed technology is one of mankind's greatest inventions.

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

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

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

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

SATURDAY Govt. fears independent press

the

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Sunday May 08, 2022

Guyana must improve citizens' spending and - Economic productive abilities for real oil development Expert

By Zena Henry

A

part from the strides being m a d e b y government in updating laws, improving planning systems and strengthening oversight, Guyana must proactively increase the productivity of its people, and encourage improved incomes to ensure true economic transformation from its newfound oil wealth.

This is the advice of Dr. Zainab Usman, who believes that primary focus should be placed on human capital development as a means of ensuring the successful economic development of the country through its oil endowments.

Usman, a Senior Fellow and Director of the Africa Programme at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, D.C., is another international expert

lending a voice to positively guide Guyana within its oil and gas fortunes.

In a discussion paper, Dr. Usman identified Guyana's challenge in transforming its economy as a “political project” that should involve all members of society. She submitted that in addressing transformational challenges, Guyana must immediately outline urgent policy priorities which, she said would bring Guyana closer to

achieving its aspiration.

A stable distribution of power with a shared vision for Guyana's economy should allow for a policy orientation that is not only focused on narrow revenue maximisation and management objectives but a bigger vision of supporting economic transformation.

She noted that “Policy orientation supporting structural economic transformation, therefore,

Dr. Zainab Usman is an expert in economic diversification should entail proactively tackling market failures of economic transformation.

These market failures include the supply-side constraints on the productivity of firms and workers and the demand-side constraints on people's incomes and their capacity to consume goods and services.”

As a result, pro-poor policies can also help to address market failures on the demand side, Usman pointed out. She said that social protection instruments can help individuals and households to increase incomes and consumption, strengthen their resilience to shocks and prevent destitution.

She added, “Guyana must prioritise sustained investments in social protection to increase resilience of informal enterprises to shocks that disrupt their incomes and wipe off their assets.”

As an example, Usman pointed to the Bolsa Familia social welfare programme in Brazil which gained global acclaim for helping to pull millions of people out of poverty by providing direct cash transfers to poor households. This programme was a form of state assistance where families who had to ensure their children attended school and had regular health checks, among other stipulations that allowed them to access the government contribution.

Guyana has a huge advantage here, Usman said, “By virtue of its small population and large volumes of oil revenues, it should be able to afford direct transfers of a portion of oil revenues to all citizens – a

form of universal basic income.” Offering possible models, Usman pointed Guyana in the direction of Alberta in Canada and Norway, all of which have elaborate and generous social protection schemes.

On the supply-side, Usman said policies are needed that increase productivity of workers and firms. These include the provision of physical infrastructure such as electricity, transportation, and digital infrastructure; access to finance, closing the knowledge and technological gap among firms and workers, and institutional reform, all help to increase the output of workers and firms.

To tackle these market f a i l u r e s s u c c e s s f u l l y, Guyana's economy requires a capable government, Usman added. “Such a capable government supports and facilitates economic activity without being overbearing, designs and implements effective regulation and is responsive and dynamic to the changing global economy.”

These are the tasks undertaken by the civil service or the bureaucracy she continued. An illequipped and understaffed bureaucracy cannot take on the daunting tasks of addressing market failures in an era of a fourth industrial revolution [technology] and climate change. As such, “comprehensive civil service strengthening must be on the policy agenda including the prospect of tapping into Guyana's large Diaspora.”

Dr. Usman highlighted that Guyana could draw from the experiences of peer (Continued on page 15)

Kaieteur News

Sunday May 08, 2022

PAGE 15

Taxi driver allegedly fakes own kidnapping to pay off 'ganja debt' R

a n k s a r e currently pursuing a taxi driver who is believed to be faking his own kidnapping to pay off a $1 million ganja debt.

According to police, the taxi driver was reportedly busted by Region Five ranks on April 22, last with marijuana in his car.

There was also a passenger identified as 'Buck Boy” with him in the car at the time. Ranks had managed to apprehend the passenger but the taxi driver had sprinted away from the lawmen, leaving his car behind.

H o w e v e r , o n Wednesday, an alleged kidnapping report made by his fiancée, a 21-year-old woman of Essex, New Amsterdam Berbice, Region Six, aroused the suspicions of police ranks.

The woman in her report to police claimed that the man had left their home on May 5, last around 19:50hrs – some 13 days after he fled from police, abandoning his car in the process.

According to the woman, she had called him at 21:45hrs and he allegedly told her that he was at We l d a a d , We s t C o a s t Berbice because he had to make a pick-up at Bath

Settlement.

According to her, that was the last thing she heard from him until her land line phone rang around 01:30hrs on Friday.

T h e w o m a n claimed that a man's voice on the other end of the line told her that her fiancé, the taxi d r i v e r , had his 'stuff' (ganja) in his car and that he wants $1 million for it.

The pe r s o n t o l d her that if she failed to come up with the money, then she will find his (the taxi driver) b ody on the side of the road.

The woman said that she told the caller that she did not have the money and wanted to speak with her fiancé.

At that point, she revealed, the call ended.

She told police that she checked her cell phone on Saturday around 10:00hrs and was greeted with photographs sent to her with her fiancé's phone, via WhatsApp, of him on a bed with his hands and feet bound with a yellow rope.

The photos were accompanied with text messages demanding $500,000 and warning her not to make contact with the police or the

Guyana must improve citizens' spending....

From page 14 countries in CARICOM, in South Asia and Africa – for instance, countries like Ghana and Nigeria, where they have implemented good policies regarding local content development and gas master plans.

Guyana has much to benefit given its small population size of some 800,000 people and Dr. Usman highlighted the great benefits Guyana will earn due to oil profit per capita.

“In other words, Guyana is positioned to produce a lot of oil and earn a lot of revenues for each of its citizens,” she said, adding that currently, Guyana produces the equivalent of roughly 24 barrels per citizen every year.

When output gets to 750,000 barrel per day by 2025, this could be the

equivalent of 238 barrels per citizen for the year, higher than all of the current top 10 oil producers.

Ballpark estimates, she said, suggest that Guyana's oil earnings per capita by 2025 could exceed those of the wealthy Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries such as Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE); Norway in Europe; as well as Gabon and Equatorial Guinea in Africa. Whether revenues remain hidden and aggravate sociopolitical problems depend on Guyana's mechanisms for checks and balances.

“Taking all these factors into consideration, Guyana's large revenue windfall will have a decisive impact on its economy, institutions, and s o c i e t y, ” D r . U s m a n predicted.

outcome will be “worse”.

But ranks have noted some flaws in the woman's story.

They were also able to ascertain that on the day the taxi driver abandoned his car, he was transporting drugs for an individual.

That individual, according to reports, has since demanded that the taxi driver pay him back for the

drugs and police believe that the suspect made-up the kidnapping story to get the cash in order to settle the debt.

In the meantime, 'Buck Boy' remains in custody and police are grilling him for more information to crack the case and possibly arrest the taxi driver. Investigations are ongoing.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 16

Sunday May 08, 2022

Calls are being made for Guyana's labour unions to be the embodiment of unity and strength.

Political environment biggest threat to workers' solidarity ...union leaders should be demonstrating unity and strength to politicians – Chris Ram

By Zena Henry

A

fter a two-year break, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, local labour unions still could not put their differences aside for the sake of Guyana's working class.

Instead, the regular division of workers was still a disappointing feature when umbrella unions; the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) and the Guyana Trade Union Congress (GTUC) hosted May Day events at different locations, last Sunday.

Senior members from both unions addressed the issue of disunity during their Labour Day speeches even as it was recognised that not only did the umbrella unions have separate events, but even some affiliate unions broke away and held their own activities after the customary solidarity march through the streets. Notably, the GPSU, the largest representative of public service workers, did not take part in that event.

At the rally organised by the GTUC, its General Secretary, Coretta McDonald questioned the government's 'One Guyana' mantra. She accused them of “encouraging” different trade union rallies. President of the General Workers Union (GWU), Norris Witter said the struggles of workers cannot be won with the disunity among unions.

He even encouraged those claiming to be union leaders but do not want to struggle with workers to find a different line of business. At t h e F I T U G r a l l y, i t s President, Carvil Duncan blamed the leadership of the GTUC for encouraging workers to break away.

He said that he did not believe the workers were separating by choice, but by the will of their leaders.

The unions under the FITUG umbrella include the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union ( G AW U ) , N a t i o n a l Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) and the Guyana Labour Union

(GLU), while GTUC includes the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), General Workers Union (GWU), and the Guyana Teachers Union, among others.

The elephant in the room is that these factions are believed to have their affiliations with political parties; understandably so since it is no secret that the trade union movement was born out of political struggles for workers and citizens' rights, particularly during the colonial era.

What is observed today is that workers may be a member of a particular union, but that union may be affiliated with a political party that the member does not support.

That then results in the member marching with its umbrella body, but attending the meeting of the other union believed to be sympathetic to the political party the member supports.

Accountant and public commentator, Christopher Ram sees a stark reality for workers if this posture by

labour unions continues. He believes that at this point, with all that Guyana has to gain, “it should be union leaders showing the politicians what solidarity and strength is and calling for unity among the political sides.” He told the Kaieteur News that given this behaviour, union leaders are showing that they are no better than the politicians.

Given that both the People's Progressive Party/ Civic government and the former A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) government have both failed to honour the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) convention on collective bargaining, Ram questioned why, to date, the umbrella unions have not found it necessary to make public a joint statement condemning the behaviour of both political parties.

This mechanism which allows unions to bargain with employers for workers' benefits, including wages, was frozen since 1999 under the PPP. The APNU+AFC

government came to power, and they too ignored the ILO Convention. Additionally, unions should be unified against the non-payment of the $60,000 minimum wage increase that was promised two years ago.

Ram highlighted that there is hardly any evidence where political association is not present in Guyanese society; whether it be the private sector, the media or public sector, “and if persons at the top level are compromised, there is little chance for those at the lower level,” he highlighted.

“My fear is that money, with much more money, people will become unconcerned about the abstract issues like good governance.” They may very well say that once they get some money, they are ok, Ram opined.

Economist Ramon Gaskin sees no change in the posture of labour unions any time too soon. He said that the real split in labour unions came in 1999, some 23 years ago after the more than 50day strike by the GPSU

members. He said that even now, some members are even more politicised with senior union leaders even having a seat in Parliament representing a political party.

He said that governments treat their affiliated unions better than others and this continues to contribute to the disunity.

For example, he said, the current government cannot find a way to rescue the National Insurance Scheme which benefits an entire nation but found more than a billion dollars to pay sugar workers who had already received their severance pay after the closing of the sugar estates.

Gaskin reiterated that Guyanese workers are in for a rough time as this behaviour by unions is not likely to change.

He said there are too many characters with agendas, such as political and ethnic ones involved.

“The wider concern is not for the workers,” Gaskin opined. And that, he said, is a huge threat to workers' solidarity.

Sunday May 08, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 17

Exxon must conduct study of gas in all Stabroek Block projects, discoveries Yellowtail Production Licence reveals…

A

ccording to the Petroleum Production Licence (PPL) for the US$10B Yellowtail Project, ExxonMobil's affiliate, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) will be required to conduct a Gas Utilisation Study to examine the associated gas and non-associated gas available from all approved oil projects and discoveries in the Stabroek Block.

It therefore means that the government is seeking to ascertain how much gas is in the Liza Phase One, Liza Phase Two, Payara and the Yellowtail Projects.

The administration also wants Exxon's help in understanding the oil to gas ratio of all its discoveries in the Stabroek Block.

The 69-page PPL as seen by this newspaper, outlines that this study shall consider several issues over the short, medium and long term.

They include a forecast of the potential gas production for export from the Ye l l o w t a i l f l o a t i n g , production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel and the expected use that gas will be put to.

The study is also expected to consider scenarios for the demand for gas sales locally, regionally (the countries bordering Guyana), South America wide and internationally; and consider the cost and feasibility of gas export as Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).

Furthermore, EEPGL is

required to examine the feasibility of utilising the existing and planned wells, flowlines, risers and production facilities for the export of gas both during and after the currently planned oil production phase. The licence also states that EEPGL must determine the feasibility and cost of adding gas export equipment, wells, well workovers, flowlines, metres, risers and pipelines for export gas not included in the original Field Development Plan (FDP) submission costs.

Government also wants the potential gas export rates and profiles to be determined at minimum and maximum feasible rates verified by reservoir modelling.

Kaieteur News understands that within 60 days of the date of the licence being issued (April 1, 2022), the EEPGL is required to propose for approval by the Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, terms of reference, methodology and workplan (including the schedule of activities), for each study.

Within 270 days of the approval of the terms of reference, methodology and workplan (including the schedule of activities) or such later timeline as directed by the Minister so as to ensure EEPGL's full compliance with this condition and support a diligent and transparent exercise, the company is expected to complete the study's final report.

Furthermore, the PPL states that the Gas Utilisation

Exxon is required to conduct study of gas in Stabroek Block.

Study is in addition to the requirement under the Petroleum Agreement Article 12 (b) which states that for each FDP that does not utilise all available associated gas for operations or to enhance oil production, to include an Excess Gas Feasibility study within five years of a Development Plan Submission.

The Licensee is therefore required if the Gas Utilisation Study determines that gas is available at Liza Phase 1 Liza Phase 2, Payara, Yellowtail or any other developments, to submit the individual gas feasibility studies as per the Petroleum Agreement Article 12 (b).

Importantly, that same Petroleum Agreement notes that all studies regarding the use of gas are part of recoverable costs. It therefore means that the citizenry ultimately pays for the studies being conducted by EEPGL.

PAGE 18

Kaieteur News

Sunday May 08, 2022

>>>Young Entrepreneur on the Move<<<

MAYBE AN ITEM FROM

By Allyiah Allicock

T

oday is the day that we celebrate mothers but it certainly isn’t a crime to keep these special human beings smiling all year long with special gifts. The place to turn to, today and just about any day of the week, for that sentimental gift for mom is Cami’s Craft.

Cami’s Craft is a local accessories business where you can find jewellery, key rings and even home decors, all made out of coconut shells. Yes, coconut shells.

It is a business that was introduced by Calissa Camilla Bradford, a 25 year-old craft enthusiast, who loves to work with natural materials.

The University of the Southern Caribbean (USC) alumnus, who graduated with a degree in Business Administration, is also the co-founder of another business called Nature Works Gy. This business focuses on bamboo straws and other items made from the coconut shell including: cocktail cups, bowls, wine glasses, soap dishes, candles and cacti arrangements.

In a recent interview with Kaieteur News, Bradford said that she got the idea for her craft business back in 2017 but its introduction was not until July 2019.

‘Cami’ s Craft’ COULD MAKE YOUR mother’s day “During 2017, I was in college and doing online classes and this allowed me some free time. I started to create simple home décor using recyclable materials found right at home; paper rolls, plastic bottles, etc. However, I wanted to create an item that I can monetise. At the time, I was making coconut oil for my hair and I realised I had a lot of coconut shells lying around. The idea sparked in me to use these shells to create earrings,” she added.

“I then went on Pint erest where I was inspired further to create my own unique pieces,” Bradford shared.

According to the young woman, people have grown to love the numerous designs she carves out of the coconut shells. She revealed

“I believe young entrepreneurs bring a new dynamic to the business sector in Guyana. Most of us are now trendsetters bringing modern ideas to the local scene.”

Some of Calissa Bradford’s coconut shell handiwork.

t oo, that from the inception, she got support from family members and friends who encouraged her to post her products on Facebook.

“There, the support and interest took me by surprise, especially when I created my Marvel and DC Universe themed necklaces.

Young Entrepreneur Calissa Bradford, owner of ‘Cami’s Craft and co-founder of ‘Nature Works Gy’

From there, a lot of persons started to send me their custom orders and the business started to grow from there,” a grateful Bradford highlighted.

Our featured young entrepreneur said that although she is now getting “amazing” support, when she initially started, there was no designated shelf-spaces for small businesses such as hers to operate.

This, she said, presented some difficulty Continued on page 64

Kaieteur News

Sunday May 08, 2022

PAGE 19

Son’s brutal murder leaves mom grief-stricken, unable to celebrate Mother’s Day His sister, Maylene Fredricks, said he had gone there to work with a relative, Michael Gomes, on a dredge owned by Gomes’ daughter.

Noel had told his mother and siblings that he was going to return in time for the Easter holidays. His family heard from him last in February.

“He call us and he say, ‘we cutting one MURDERED: more pit and then ah Noel Anthony Fredricks coming home fuh the Easter ’,” Maylene recounted.

By Shervin Belgrave His mother was not so Many mothers are being much focused on the Easter celebrated today for their holidays since we was more nurturing role but 58-year- excited about the plans he old Yvonne Fredricks wants was making to celebrate no part of the festivities as Mother’s Day. “He tell me ‘mammy, she is grieving the loss of her loving son, 27-year-old Noel you gon see me fuh Mother’s Fredricks, whose life was Day’,” the woman said of her taken brutally by his ‘friend’. son as she reminisced on the But ahead of the tragic last day she spoke with him.

“He never left my home, news, she was prepared to celebrate this special day he always lived with me and with her son. He had planned since my husband took ill to host a “fancy barbeque with a stroke and got blind, and party” for her to he took up the role as the celebrate Mother’s Day but breadwinner of the family the plans came to a halt after and never left my side,” his decomposing body was Yvonne recalled.

In a somber tone she said, found on Wednesday, April 27, last buried in an “He is the only one who used excavator hole in a Region to mine me. Every Mother’s Day, he does give me a Seven backdam.

What is even more heart $100,000 and seh ‘mammy, breaking for Yvonne is that this is fuh you, buy what you the man who confessed to w a n t ’ . H e d o e s b u y killing her son was believed everything we need in this house. He was even building to be a “trusted friend”.

The still grieving woman a new house for us before he recalled that her son had left died.”

According to his sister, h e r h o m e a t Mainstay/Whyaka Village, Maylene, Noel’s plan to Essequibo, Region Two, in finish the house was one of the first week of December the reasons that he had gone 2021, and journeyed into the to the backdam for work.

Toroparu Backdam, Lower The family, she noted, certainly did not expect that Puruni River, Region Seven.

friend, Quacy Shepherd also known as Dougla, a mechanic of Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara.

Shepherd was employed with another dredge but was camping near Fredrick’s camp in the Toroparu Backdam.

He had managed to gain both Noel and his relative, Gomes’ trust and would normally Quacy Shepherd, the friend offer them drops to and from the backdam’s who confessed to l anding on his murdering Noel Fredricks. motorcycle.

On the eve of Good he would never be able to Friday (April 14, last), fulfill that goal.

Reports suggest that h o w e v e r , S h e p h e r d when Fredrick’s arrived in reportedly revealed who he the backdam, he met a new really was, and it wasn’t a

friendly revelation.

Noel and Gomes were preparing to leave the backdam two days later to head home for the Easter holidays but before finalising their travel plans, Shepherd had dropped them to the To r o p a r u B a c k d a m landing.

There, according to Gomes, they had all been drinking. They reportedly ended their drinking session and Noel Fredricks’ grieving Shepherd had dropped mother, Yvonne Fredricks. them back to their camp close to 22:00hrs.

Gomes said that Noel did not stay at the camp drinking. A shopkeeper but rather returned to the landing with Shepherd, remembered seeing Continued on page 63 presumably to continue

Kaieteur News

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Sunday May 08, 2022

Industry Expert says...

Exxon’s recovery of US$1.3B plus investment in Wales gas-to-power project violates int’l best practices

By Kiana Wilburg Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has said that ExxonMobil Guyana will be able to recover its US$1.3B plus investment in the imminent gas-to-power project from Cost Oil; in other words, Exxon would be recouping its investment in the gas project from the country’s oil earnings.

Industry stakeholders are however concerned about this arrangement and worry that the government has not

thought through the economic impacts.

S p e c i f i c a l l y, o n e industry expert told Kaieteur News that the arrangement leaves Guyana with an even smaller piece of the pie since cost oil should only be associated with expenses incurred for the extraction, development, production and sale of the oil in a specific oil field.

The analyst posited too that the Government of Guyana should not allow Exxon to make a case for

recovering its investments in the gas project via cost oil.

“So can you imagine what Guyana is doing to itself? It already has a small share of the oil pie with the provisions of the contract.

But now it is saying, ‘Come and take more of it.’ You are allowing them to recover the cost of the pipeline, then they will charge you to transport your own gas, and then they will be one of the third parties to buy the gas when the Government sets up the Natural Gas Plant at its own

expense.”

The analyst said Guyana is, once again, asleep at the wheel especially when it comes to international best practices on cost oil and on what should be allowed as recoverable costs. “Industry best practices do not allow a company to get away with such blatant advantage on a country. It should not be allowed!”

Kaieteur News also reached out to Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram who has had a

Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo

Chartered Accountant and Lawyer, Christopher Ram

dedicated column on the oil and gas sector in the Stabroek News which is also published on his blog. This newspaper sought Ram’s comments on what some are calling a breach of contract and violation of international standards. He pointed out that if one examines the provisions of the Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), particularly at Article 12 (F), it states, all costs and expenses incurred by the Contractor in the production, use, and or disposal of the associated gas of an oil field and those incurred in carrying out any feasibility study on the utilisation of the excess associated gas shall be charged to the development cost of the oil field and shall be Recoverable Contract Costs.

Ram said while the Annex to the infamous Petroleum Agreement does not explicitly deal with costs associated with the production of gas, the Agreement is so loosely worded as to allow most costs to be deducted, including those related to gas.

Ram also drew attention to the Agreement which gives first call on the gas arising from the petroleum operations to the oil companies. Ram said this is “the moral and economic equivalent of giving up our independence.”

The Government he says, “has the opportunity, duty and responsibility to redeem our patrimony not by any renegotiation or some hostile action but simply by using the Petroleum Act to set conditions to the granting of licences, including matching revenue with expenses and introducing some measure of ring-fencing.”

Ram lamented that it is for the Government to explain to the nation why its strategy for the exploitation of our non-renewable resources seems so similar

not only to those of the Coalition but to Exxon as well.

US$1.3B INVESTMENT Kaieteur News had previously reported in April t h a t E x x o n M o b i l ’s subsidiary- Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), is responsible for the installation of the offshore and onshore pipelines associated with bringing gas to shore from the Stabroek Block. To do this, the company said it would cost a whopping US$1.3B. Specifically, EEPGL said in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the project, that its investment is expected to be more than the foregoing sum since it is still in the process of evaluating certain costs. It warned, “A higher certainty cost estimate will be developed after receiving and negotiating all major contracts.”

Additionally, the project summary notes that Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, on behalf of itself and its coventurers (Hess Guyana Exploration Limited and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited), is awaiting an environmental authorisation from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the gas-topower project.

It was explained that the project will use natural gas produced from the Liza One and Two projects in the Stabroek Block, and transport that resource via o ff s h o r e a n d o n s h o r e pipeline networks to a natural gas power plant.

EEPGL was keen to note that the Government of Guyana will be handling the construction of the power plant. It is therefore subjected to a separate E n v i r o n m e n t a l Authorisation process. Thus, the plant is not included in the EIA (with the exception Continued on page 63

Kaieteur News

Samantha Persaud

Sunday May 08, 2022

This week’s beauty is Samantha Persaud, a Guyanese makeup artiste and the proprietor of the Sam Glam Boutique located in the City Mall. Persaud is a single mother of three amazing children - her life goal is to work and provide for them, giving them the best life and opportunities she possibly can. Her favourite quote is: “Live life with no regrets, live every moment.”

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Kaieteur News

Sunday May 08, 2022

The Guyana delegation at the BIZX 2022 conference in Las Vegas was led by Founder of ActionCOACH Guyana, Dr. Vishnu Doerga (front row fifth from left.)

Kaieteur News

Sunday May 08, 2022

PAGE 23

The GPA should get with the programme!

S

ocial media has now become a threat to the traditional media. This is clearly evident from the recent press release issued by the Guyana Press Association (GPA).

In that release, the association again harped on an assertion which one of its senior officials had previously made.

The GPA said that one of the problems with the just concluded conference hosted to commemorate World Press Freedom Day was the conflation of journalism with other aspects of communication including public relations practice and social media influencing.

The GPA noted that social media influencers (note the description) cannot be regarded as journalists and should not consider themselves as such.

Previously, one leading light of the GPA had said that those social media operatives are not trained as journalists.

Ironically, many of our trained and experienced journalists have established social media and information outfits.

They report on issues with the same and as equal competence as those who have remained in the traditional media.

The emergence of the

internet and social media platforms such as Facebook and Tik Tok have challenged the traditional media which comprises newspapers, radio and television. The new digital technologies are now posing challenges to the traditional. Some social media operatives are now outclassing some of the established names in the media.

Technology has always presented challenges for the media. When television came to Guyana, it reduced radio listenership. Now, the emergence of social media has brought about change in the way people receive information. It is now more immediate and live.

By the time the radio and TV news programmes air their newscast, the majority of the population would have already known about the event. In the past, the majority of the population would have only learnt of certain news items by listening to or watching the newscast on radio and television respectively.

Most of the news reported in the daily newspapers have already been reported prior on social media. These news stories on social media are then shared extensively on social platforms There is a difference, however, between the traditional media and social

media. The reach of social media can never compare to that of the traditional media.

Radio still enjoys the greatest reach of all.

When one newspaper is sold as many as five persons read that one edition. So, in terms of reach, the traditional media, though suffering a decline in readership and listenership, still holds sway.

Social media also has its limitations. It is a network rather than mass-based. Only those on the network have access. And a person on the network can decide what they want to see appear on their page and what they do not want to appear. The reader of a newspaper and those who turn on the radio do not have that option. You can't block advertisements for example from the newspaper or when you have on the radio.

Advertisers know that there is a vast difference between advertising in a newspaper than on social media. When it comes to advertising products and services, social media simply does not make the grade. Social media cannot do for advertisers what newspapers, radio and television do.

Many traditional media h o u s e s , h o w e v e r, d o capitalise on the additional reach provided by social media. Kaieteur Radio airs a

programme called The Glenn Lall Show on both radio and on Facebook. On the latter alone, it averages more than 20,000 viewers per night. On radio, however, the reach is about five times that number.

The traditional media also exercises greater responsibility. Social media operatives do not carry the same obligation as newspapers to fact-check stories, and because of the nature of the stories carried, which is mainly to provide instant news, other dimensions of an issue are often absent.

Social media reporting is like fast food.

It is popular, already prepared and can be picked up easily. But it is not a credible source of

information. It is neither thorough nor comprehensive as, for example, a newspaper report. Bloggers can never take the place of expert columnists.

N o n e t h e le s s , s o c i a l media is presenting challenges to the traditional media. And this is what I believe is responsible for the Guyana Press Association seeking to make a distinction between traditional journalists and what it calls social media influencers.

Social media, however, is part of the ongoing process of technological change.

And the traditional media has to adapt if it is to survive.

It is not going to get by, by simply seeking to put-down social media, especially when many of those on social media were or are still

in the traditional newspaper, radio and television business.

The traditional media has to adapt. Journalists in the traditional media have to be far less concerned now with simply supplying information and more concerned with in-depth investigative reporting and analyses.

Instead of trying to put down social media operatives, the Guyana Press Association should stop “thinging and thinging”. It should “get with the programme”.

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

Kaieteur News

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Sunday May 08, 2022

Abortion is a woman's right - legalise it

By Sir Ronald Sanders

T

he right of women in the United States to have an abortion, which has existed for 49 years, has now become a matter of contention.

This right, which was accorded by the U.S. Supreme Court on January 22, 1973 and essentially upheld again in 1992 and 2016, has come to be known as Roe v. Wade.

The short-hand name is derived from the original case before the Court in which “Jane Roe”—a fictional name used to protect the identity of Norma McCorvey— brought the federal action against Henry Wade, the district attorney of Dallas county, Texas.

It is important to understand the background to the action by McCorvey.

Abortions were legal in Texas at the time, but only for the purpose of saving a woman's life.

Therefore, women who wanted an abortion for any reason other than saving their lives, including rape and economic circumstances, were compelled to have the child. However, women with the financial means could obtain abortions by travelling to other countries where the procedure was safe and legal or pay a large fee to a doctor willing to secretly perform an abortion.

These options were beyond the means of poorer women such as McCorvey.

Consequently, many women resorted to illegal, dangerous, “back-alley” abortions or self-induced abortions.

In the 1950s and 1960s, the estimated number of

illegal abortions in the U.S. ranged from 200,000 to 1.2 million per year.

It was only after trying unsuccessfully to get an illegal abortion that, with the help of willing lawyers, McCorvey challenged the Texas law in the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court by a 7-2 decision, struck down the Texas law banning abortion, effectively legalising the procedure across the U.S. The Court also declared that a woman's right to an abortion was implicit in the right to privacy protected by the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

This right is now threatened by an opinion, allegedly drafted by Supreme Court Judge, Justice Samuel Alito, who is said to be one of the most conservative members of the court. The

opinion was leaked on May 2, and he has not denied authorship.

As President Joe Biden has pointed out, “we do not know whether this draft is genuine, or whether it reflects the final decision of the Court”, but there is strong anecdotal evidence that the draft is genuine.

Therefore, it has ignited protests across the major cities in the U.S. It has also brought a sharp response from President Biden and his Vice President Kamala Harris, both of whom, within 24 hours, issued statements defending “a woman's right to choose to have an abortion”, and declaring that “basic fairness and the stability of our law demand that it not be overturned”.

The Black Caucus of the U.S. Congress also reacted strongly, pointing out that, overturning the existing law “will have disproportionately devastating impacts on communities of colour, marginalised groups already facing discriminatory obstacles to health care and,

will resonate globally”. Maxine Waters, the Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, summed up the view of the black members of the U.S. Congress when she declared, “women must fight with every breath of life, to resist, resist, resist”.

The fear that now permeates the U.S. is that the Supreme Court, which comprises a majority of right-wing judges appointed

by Republican Presidents, including Donald Trump, will overturn the 1973 abortion law, making it impossible for poorer women, especially black and low-income women, to get safe and legal abortions.

Fundamentally, women would also lose the right to govern their bodies.

This matter is now a raging political issue in the U.S. It will escalate as the nation proceeds to mid-term elections for the U.S. Congress in November.

President Biden has appealed

Sir Ronald Sanders to voters to protect abortion rights by backing candidates who support them in November's mid-term elections.

The discussion will inevitably migrate to the Caribbean where women are today far better educated than in the past and where they have climbed the ladder of decision-making in government and in the private sector.

Caribbean women, too, rightly want the right to make a choice about abortions.

They do not accept that any Court or legislature should make that choice for them. Anti-abortion laws have also worsened the economic condition for poorer women whose circumstances force them to become single mothers, (Continued on page 58)

Kaieteur News

Sunday May 08, 2022

PAGE 25

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Chancellor of the Judiciary and the syndrome: Maybe, maybe not

I

was having breakfast with my wife on our upper verandah, one day in 2010, when I saw the workers from the Ministry of Public Works clearing the trench outside my home.

They started with my immediate neighbour to the west, then skipped my home and went to my immediate neighbour to the east. I murmured to my wife that something strange was going on. Why would they skip my home? My wife is a gentle soul who chided me for always having a wacky imagination.

I kept telling her what we were seeing was strange but she told me the people know what they are doing. It turned out they knew exactly what they were doing. They deliberately bypassed my house. It was the Freddie Kissoon syndrome on display. One day in 2017, I ran into the kitchen and told my wife the garbage truck drove away without picking up our waste.

I told her this had to be intentional because our bin was alongside my neighbour's. My wife said it was perhaps a mistake. I was once introduced to the owner o f C e v o n ' s Wa s t e Management by Hamilton Green so I called him. I told him that I think it was not a mistake. It was the Freddie Kissoon thing. He did not

agree so I asked that he send an official to see that it was impossible for them to have missed my bin. They were instructed to return. When they did, the driver ranted about my columns attacking Mr. Granger and he carried on and on. So it was indeed the Freddie Kissoon syndrome.

Mr. Chris Ram interviewed Khemraj Ramjattan. They looked back at when the AFC was in power and my name was part of a long discussion. I couldn't see the relevance. A man I don't know named Charles Sugrim interviewed PNC leader, Aubrey Norton and Sharma Solomon on Globe-Span and I became the subject of a long discussion.

Why me?

Last Sunday, I wrote about the possible Freddie Kissoon syndrome being a factor in the way my request at the GRA was turned down in 2019. Now here is a situation with the Chancellor of the Judiciary.

I would like to see a response from the Chancellor herself, the President, Attorney-General, Judicial Service Commission, Bar Association, the media and civil society.

Here is a factual account of an action by the Chancellor involving me. Dr. Walter Ramsahoye sued me and Kaieteur News for libel

based on a column in which I did not name him.

Dr. Ramsahoye, after suing, then went on a programme with C.N. Sharma on channel 6 named “Voice of the People.” Dr. Ramsahoye spent an hour with Mr. Sharma saying the nastiest things about me including that I am not qualified to teach at UG because I have no character. I am a fake academic. Dr. Ramsahoye exceeded the limits of libelous output. He even called me an ugly Blackman. And Mr. Sharma joined in.

I never sued anyone before. I don't think I ever will but Ramsahoye was morally corrupt to sue me for an innocent column then, turned around and said scandalous things about me on television. I countersued Ramsahoye naming Sharma as the second defendant.

Both cases were heard at the same time. In Ramsahoye's writ, the judge was Justice Dawn GregoryBarnes. Across the High Court in another building, in my writ, the judge was Chief Justice, Madam Yonette Cummings-Edwards. As I reported three times in these columns, the newspaper's policy is not to provide counsel for me. I had to get my own lawyer. Attorney Shaunella Glen offered free services in both cases.

Both cases concluded around the same time. Justice Gregory-Barnes ruled for Ramsahoye and fined me and the paper $2 million. Six years have gone by and I never got a decision in my court case with Justice Cummings-Edwards.

I don't know if I won or lost. I don't know what points in my case could be used in Guyana's jurisprudence.

I guess after six years, the decision is dead. I asked myself several times over the six years that I have contacted Ms. Glen about the decision if it was the Freddie

K i s s o o n syndrome. Two citizens were in court at the same Frederick Kissoon time fighting a legal battle over a with wealth, power and particular publication in the newspaper. status? Am I a lesser human?

B o t h c a s e s w e r e I am being singled out? Was completed. One person was t h e n o n - d e c i s i o n a n unfortunate mistake? Was it heard and awarded.

The other never got a t h e F r e d d i e K i s s o o n decision. Mr. Sharma did not syndrome? Maybe, maybe contest my writ so I should not.

(The views expressed in have had judgment against this article are those of the him.

I would have given the a u t h o r a n d d o n o t money to charity. Would this necessarily reflect the have happened to citizens opinions of this newspaper.)

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Kaieteur News

Sunday May 08, 2022

Kaieteur News

Sunday May 08, 2022

PAGE 27

The Real Facts about Cholesterol

By Dr. Zulfikar Bux Emergency Medicine Specialist

C

holesterol is a substance that is found in the blood. Everyone has some.

It is needed for good health. The problem is, people sometimes have too much cholesterol.

Compared with people with normal cholesterol, people with high cholesterol have a higher risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other health problems.

Cholesterol blocks our blood vessels over time and slowly increases our risks of getting one of these conditions.

I had written about cholesterol before, but persons still think that high cholesterol is the cause of some of their symptoms.

I must emphasise again that high cholesterol is not known to cause symptoms; it causes medical conditions over time that may cause symptoms, but not the high cholesterol by itself.

ARE THERE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CHOLESTEROL? Yes, there are a few different types.

If you get a cholesterol test, you might hear your doctor talk about: Total cholesterol – Your total cholesterol level is the overall amount of cholesterol found in your blood. It consists of: low-density lipoproteins (LDL), highdensity lipoproteins (HDL) and triglycerides

– LDL cholesterol – Some people call this the “bad” cholesterol.

That's because having high LDL levels raises your risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other health problems.

– HDL cholesterol – Some people call this the “good” cholesterol.

That's because people with high HDL levels tend to have a lower risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other health problems.

– Triglycerides – Tr i g l y c e r i d e s a r e n o t cholesterol.

They are another type of fat. But they often get measured when cholesterol is measured.

Having high triglycerides also seems to increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

WHAT SHOULD MY NUMBERS BE? Ask your doctor what your numbers should be.

D i ff e r e n t p e o p l e n e e d different goals. In general, people who do not already have heart disease should a i m f o r : – Total cholesterol below 200 – LDL cholesterol below 130 – or much lower, if they are at risk of heart attacks or strokes – HDL cholesterol above 60 – Triglycerides below 150 Keep in mind, though, that many people who cannot meet these goals still have a low risk of heart attacks and strokes.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY DOCTOR TELLS

ME I HAVE HIGH CHOLESTEROL? Ask your doctor what your overall risk of heart attacks and strokes is.

High cholesterol, by itself, is not always a reason to worry.

Having high cholesterol is just one of many things that can increase your risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Other factors that increase your risk include: – Cigarette smoking – High blood pressure – Having a parent, sister, or brother who got heart disease at a young age – Young, in this case, means younger than 55 for men and younger than 65 for women.

– A diet that is not heart healthy – A “heart-healthy” diet includes lots of fruits and vegetables, fibre, and healthy fats (like those found in fish and certain oils).

It also means limiting sugar and unhealthy fats.

– O l d e r a g e

If you are at high risk of heart attacks and strokes, having high cholesterol is a problem.

On the other hand, if you are at low risk, having high cholesterol might not lead to treatment.

SHOULD I TAKE MEDICINE TO LOWER CHOLESTEROL? Not everyone who has high cholesterol needs medicines.

Your doctor will decide if you need them depending on your age, family history, and other health concerns.

You should probably take a cholesterol-lowering medicine called a statin if you: – Already had a heart attack or stroke – Have known heart disease – Have diabetes – Have a condition called peripheral artery disease, which makes it painful to walk, and happens when the arteries in your legs get

clogged with fatty deposits – Have an abdominal aortic aneurysm, which is a widening of the main artery in t h e b e l l y Most people with any of the

By Dr. Zulfikar Bux conditions listed Emergency above should take Medicine Specialist a statin no matter what their cholesterol level is. If your – Losing weight (if you are doctor puts you on a statin, o v e r w e i g h t ) – Being more active stay on it.

The medicine might not Even if these steps do little to make you feel any different, change your cholesterol, they but it can help prevent heart can improve your health in many ways. attacks, strokes, and death.

Now that you are more aware about cholesterol, the CAN I LOWER MY next time you or someone get CHOLESTEROL a headache, feel dizzy, feel WITHOUT MEDICINES? weak or have any other Yes, you can lower your symptom, please do not say c h o l e s t e r o l s o m e b y : it's your high cholesterol.

It is definitely not your – Avoiding red meat, butter, fried foods, cheese, and other cholesterol, get checked out foods that have a lot of to find the real cause of your s a t u r a t e d f a t complaint.

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Sunday May 08, 2022

Kaieteur News

WEEK IN REVIEW SUNDAY ‘THE BLACKOUT NIGHTMARE’ GOVT. DELIBERATELYKEEPING NATION IN “DARK AGES” - WASTEFUL SPENDING WITH NO RESULTS TO SHOW – GLENN LALL Amid an increase in power outages across the country, businessman and publisher of the Kaieteur News, Glenn Lall has called for a radical shake-up of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and he said it is not a coincidence that since the PPP/C has returned to government the electricity sector here has drastically declined. He questioned the huge amounts of money that has been pumped into the sector over the years with little to show for it.

For the past week, there were several hours of blackout across the country – with Friday being one of the worst. Also on Thursday, there was hours of blackout starting approximately 07:52hrs. This was blamed on a fault at the company’s Garden of Eden Power Plant resulting in the loss of approximately 37 Megawatt (MW) of generation. The sudden loss of generation caused a cascading effect on the gird which resulted in a shutdown of the DemeraraBerbice Interconnected System (DBIS).

Speaking on his Friday night radio programme, ‘The Glenn Lall Show’, Lall said Guyanese are living in blackouts on a daily basis. He said one of the most important things on earth today, other than food and clean drinking water, is electricity. “Without electricity, this world will go way, way back in time, moving at a snail’s pace. Electricity is what have this world spinning, electricity makes, gives and does everything. One billion people on earth do not have access to it and two billion is living with limited access to it. Electricity is almost like breathing, when it stops, then everything stops, is like you living in a coma, a constant state of midnight, without even a candle, yet 75 percent of Guyanese, three out of four, are living with blackouts daily…”

He said electricity should be the number one priority of every government, noting that without electricity today you cannot educate a nation.

“Electricity powers the manufacturing sectors across this globe that got this world spinning, that brings about competition and real money.”

Lall said the electricity

situation has gotten so bad in this country that every business and even some households have generators and some have even turned to solar. “Do you know any business in Guyana without a generator? You know of any home that can afford a generator and doesn’t have one? Or solar power and didn’t go to the expense of getting it, once it can be afforded? Guyana has been this way for the last 30 years, you know why; it is because of these third world leaders you have who do not understand their country’s priorities. Every day you can hear them telling you to compete with the world, set up manufacturing capacity and capability to compete with the outside world. With what? With blackouts? And that cost we paying for electricity?”

Lall drew reference to the global situation, alluding to Russia - under pressure from the West cutting off gas supplies to Poland with a population of 44M people and Bulgaria. “Russia is also supplying Germany and other parts of Europe with gas. The EU Head said what Russia has done to those two countries has fast tracked the phasing out of gas electric to much greener electric supply meaning solar, water and wind generation, because Russia can cut off their gas supply too. These are thinkers for leaders. They are calculating the risks from everywhere, and preparing already on how to be in the best position not to be harmed by Russia, but to be ready as best as they can. You think they want to wake up without heat in their homes or their manufacturing sector is down because of Putin, no, no, these people are setting their priorities right and their number one priority is power generation,” Lall said.

Jagdeo’s presidency Harking back to the Bharrat Jagdeo presidency, Lall said the country was never out of blackout and GPL was always losing

money. “The money being pumped into GPL for stable electricity in this country could have given one billion people around the world, without electric(ity), power in their homes, and by now no one would have had an electricity bill when the month come – that is the kind of money they swindled over the years from the treasury into GPL all in the name of taking care of blackouts.” Lall asked whether with all that money being pumped into GPL the situation has changed. “The Coalition went in, blackout stopped and GPL was running and making money. As soon as the PPP come back, the nightmare returns and GPL gone back being a milking cow.” He added, “Every year the amount of tax dollars being spent by the government through the budget, a new generation plant could have been built supplying the entire Caribbean with enough nonstop electricity 20 years now. Instead, they pumping money, giving you more and more nightmares.”

Lall said Jagdeo announced at a bottom house meeting two days ago in Berbice that his government will be spending $32B on flooding, “not on fixing the lifetime sore Guyana is living with called electricity, that is not important to him, his priority is on digging a few trenches here and there, clean some canals and gutters in which 32 billion dollars will vanish in thin air leading into the Atlantic Ocean…”

Lall explained that $32B is equal to US$160M. “US$160M can give every home in the three counties electricity and dump GPL. US$160M can give us 160MW without ever going into blackouts, that’s all Guyana needs at present, that’s all Guyana is using right now. But that US$160M they will never spend it to stop the blackouts, they want you to continue living in the dark ages, stuck in stagnation, never moving forward, in misery. That US$160M must

have already disappeared from the treasury by the time he spoke at the bottom house meeting.” ( h t t p s : / / www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/ 2022/05/01/the-blackoutnightmare-glenn-lallaccuses-govt-ofdeliberately-keepingnation-in-dark-ages/) PAYARA PROJECT TO BEGIN PRODUCTION ONE YEAR EARLIER - HESS SAYS GOVT. INSTRUCTED OIL COMPANIES TO SPEED UP PRODUCTION Hess Corporation, which holds a 30 percent working interest in the Stabroek Block, recently disclosed that Payara, the third project being developed in the offshore concession, is expected to start production in 2023, one year ahead of schedule.

During its earnings call for the first quarter of 2022, Hess said the pulling forward of production start-up reflects strong execution by the operator being ExxonMobil’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) while adding that it significantly enhances the net present value of the project. The company reminded that the Payara development will utilise the Prosperity floating, production, storage and offloading vessel (FPSO) with a gross capacity of 220,000 barrels of oil per day.

Kaieteur News previously reported that Payara is located 200 kilometres offshore Guyana in 1,800 metres water depth. Ten drill centres are planned along with up to 41 wells, including 20 production and 21 injection wells. The project will utilise

onshore infrastructure which includes shore bases, warehouses, storage and pipe yards, fabrication facilities, fuel supply facilities, and waste management facilities in Guyana. The US$9 billion development will focus on an estimated resource base of about 600 million oilequivalent barrels.

With the new timeline, Hess said too that it obviously accelerates their cash flow growth from its previous profile.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO), John Hess was keen to note that the accelerated production is in keeping with the government’s instructions to have oil development accelerated on the block.

The CEO said, “…The government has been very clear with us that they would like us as a joint venture to accelerate the development of their oil resources to basically improve the prosperity and have shared prosperity for all Guyanese citizens.”

As to the nature of the relationship between the Stabroek Block partners and the oil companies, Hess categorically stated that it is a very constructive working relationship.

Hess said, “…in terms of the Guyana government, our company and our joint venture have an excellent working relationship, a very constructive one with the government. Testament is the early April approval of the Yellowtail Project. We also want to help the government in social responsibility as well, trying to make a better future for all Guyanese.”

He added, “So it’s an excellent relationship and we continue to work with them.

And as I said before, ExxonMobil has done an outstanding job on project management and execution, bringing a lot of value forward for our joint venture, for the people of Guyana and for our shareholders in the excellent achievements they’ve had in terms of being really ahead of schedule now on Liza Phase 1, ahead of schedule on Liza Phase 2, and ahead of schedule on Payara.”

He posited that this track record is expected to benefit the Guyanese people as well as its shareholders.

EEPGL, an affiliate of Exxon MobilCorporation holds a 45 percent interest in the Stabroek Block, Hess Guyana Exploration Limited holds a 30 percent interest and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited holds a 25 percent interest. ( h t t p s : / / www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/ 2022/05/01/payara-projectto-begin-production-oneyear-earlier/) MONDAY VP JAGDEO SAYS… PRES. ALI AND VICKRAM BHARRAT SHOULD HONOUR PROMISE TO RELEASE ALISON REDFORD REPORTS ON OIL PROJECTS If President Irfaan Ali and Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat made commitments to release the reports of Canadian lawyer, Alison Redford on ExxonMobil’s projects then they should do so. This statement was made by Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo during an engagement with members of the media last Friday. Kaieteur News asked (Continued on page 29)

Sunday May 08, 2022

From page 28 the former President to explain why the reports by the Canadian lawyer have not been made public despite the government’s promise to do so.

This newspaper had previously reported that Redford authored two reports. The first review report was done in August 2020 on the Field Development Plan (FDP) for the Payara project. During the David Granger administration, the contract to review the Payara FDP was awarded to Bayphase Consultancy headquartered in the UK but electoral disruptions and the COVID-19 pandemic stymied the completion process. Redford was subsequently hired by the PPP administration to review what was done by Bayphase and complete the review of the Payara FDP. Bayphase was also awarded the contract to review the Yellowtail FDP worth US$10B. On the same day it awarded the licence to ExxonMobil for the project, Government disclosed that Redford was also part of the review process. Importantly, the review of Payara and Yellowtail were completed in 42 and 52 days respectively. The government came in for harsh criticism from several industry experts who noted that no proper review can be done in such a short space of time while adding, that Redford has no known track record in this highly technical field.

While Jagdeo did acknowledge the need for the government officials to honour their statement commitments, he also noted that the reports following a review process is not where the public’s focus should be. He said it is the production licences that represent the final word of the government.

Expounding further, the Vice President said, “There are lots of issues in the review report that are subsequently clarified so if they write up a report, often it is based on what the submission is (in the Field Development Plan) and when they make the engagement (with the company) that is when you end up with the final stuff so the report of a review does not mean everything is c o r r e c t . ” ( h t t p s : / / www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/ 2022/05/02/release-the-redfordreports/) ‘GLARING CONFLICT OF INTEREST’ - EXXON’S PREFERRED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSOR, ERM STACKED WITH MEMBERS WHO WORKED WITH THE OIL COMPANY BEFORE Environmental Resources Management (ERM), a London based Consultancy firm that has been conducting all of the Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) required by ExxonMobil for their Guyana based operations to date, have hired experts to conduct those studies who have worked with the oil company for years.

This much can be found in the most recent EIA completed by ERM for Exxon’s Gas-to-Energy project to be constructed at Wales, West Bank

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Demerara.

One of the experts at ERM, the Guyana Program Lead, Partner-inCharge, Mr. Todd Hall has over 25 years of broad experience in environmental consulting, focusing on environmental, social and health impact assessment, management plan development, multimedia permitting, site planning and licencing, remediation, and risk assessment.

His biography included in the EIA states that “Todd has worked with ExxonMobil for his entire career, from his first project involving a remedial investigation of a legacy ExxonMobil property, and he has led ERM’s programs for ExxonMobil at multiple downstream facilities, legacy sites, LNG (Liquified natural gas) regasification facilities, and upstream exploration and development projects worldwide.”

Hall has prepared environmental, social, and health impact assessments and management plans for dozens of exploration and development projects in North and South America, Asia/Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East, according to the document. In Guyana, he has been part of ERM’s support to Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) since 2017 and has functioned in the capacity as Program Lead for ERM’s support to EEPGL since early 2018.

ERM said he directed the EIAs, inclusive of socioeconomic and community health resources, and associated data collection and stakeholder engagement process for ExxonMobil’s second and third projects, the Liza Phase 2 development and the Payara development Project, both offshore Guyana. Data collection included completion of onshore and marine traffic studies, onshore and offshore ambient air quality monitoring, and surveys of marine fish, marine benthos, coastal birds, seabirds, marine turtles, and ecosystem services in the projects’ Area of Influence. (https:// www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/ 2022/03/31/glaring-conflict-ofinterest/)

TUESDAY SOLAR POWER CAN COST US$200M LESS THAN AMAILAHYDRO PROJECT - ECONOMIST Citing an overall reduction in the cost to develop solar power generation across the globe today, Economist Elson Low estimates that Guyana can save at least US$200 million if it pursues this renewable option, rather than the hydropower project at Amaila, Region Eight. He presented this argument during a weekly commentary aired on the social media platform, Facebook. Low, who holds a Bachelor’s Degree in political Science and Economics from a United States College, Amherst, explained that government will be pursuing 38 megawatts (MW) of electricity through a solar power project that is estimated to cost US$83.5 million.

Using these figures, the Economist calculated that a 165MW solar power facility could cost around US$500 million, saving Guyana US$200 million when compared to the US$700 million Amaila hydro project. This US$500 million, according to him, would be the overall expenditure factoring in the land and cost to distribute the electricity.

He said that not only could Guyana save on cost, but also avoid some of the financial risks involved in the proposed hydropower project.

A prefeasibility study for the Amaila Falls project was conducted between 1974 and 1976. The Economist argued, therefore, that solar costs have reduced by over 80 percent in some cases since Amaila was conceived.

The Economist reasoned, “The cost of hydro versus solar, Amaila is supposed to be at seven cents per kilowatt hour that the government will purchase power from the Amaila at, however solar should be at two cents per kilowatt hour, maybe three cents, but around there, so even in that

situation, solar is twice as cheap, twice as cheap, in some cases, three times cheaper rather than having hydro.” He explained that the advancement of technological development has resulted in the massive reduction in costs to generate solar power.

Low referenced a statement by the Head of the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), Dr. Mahender Sharma, who told the International Energy Conference back in February that two hours of sunshine in Guyana can power the country for an entire y e a r . ( h t t p s : / / www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/ 2022/05/03/solar-power-can-costus200m-less-than-amaila-hydroproject-economist/) ONE YEAR LATER, VP JAGDEO FAILS TO DISCLOSE MONTHLY OILREPORTS PUBLICLY - NO EXCUSE WILL ABSOLVE THE GOVT. OF THIS GRAVE SIN AGAINST THE NATION - PATTERSON It has been 14 months since Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has failed to honour his promise to have monthly oil production reports publicly disclosed. This newspaper had reported Dr. Jagdeo giving members of the media this commitment on Monday, February 8, 2021 during a press conference at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC).

The official had said on that occasion, “So there is a daily report from ExxonMobil – the producers – to the Ministry and I think it’s shared with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)… I don’t see anything secret about this. It’s no big deal. It’s just that maybe they have not done this.”

He added, “I’m gonna talk to them to ensure that you get it, the monthly statements because this is not secret information.”

Following the Vice President’s commitment, not a single report has been made public. Upon noting this, Opposition Member, David

Patterson said the government cannot offer any excuse which can absolve it from this grave sin against the nation.

The Shadow Minister for the Oil and Gas sector in an invited comment to Kaieteur News said, “No one buys a bottle of water that is not full, because you can see through the container. No one buys fruits from our local vendors if the product is visibly damaged.

However, if you buy a bottle of cooking gas, you cannot see if you are getting value unless the bottle is weighed on a standard scale, or unless you believe the seal has been properly set and has not been tampered with. This is what the government is asking our nation to accept, a product from a supplier without verification.”

Patterson added, “There have been repeated public requests for the Ministry of Natural Resources to provide the daily production information for the oil we are paying Exxon to explore for, to drill for, to store and mostly to sell for us. To date, there is still no information.

There are no figures to perform analysis on, no production data which can be tabulated with the corresponding oil prices to ensure that we are receiving value for our o i l . ” ( h t t p s : / / www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/ 2022/05/03/one-year-later-vpjagdeo-fails-to-disclose-monthlyoil-reports-publicly/) WEDNESDAY GUYANA SCORES “FAIRLY LOW” ON EITI STANDARD BOARD FLAGS COUNTRY’S FAILURE TO MAKE CONTRACTS, RECEIPTS ACCESSIBLE & UNDERSTANDABLE - FACING SUSPENSION IF NO CORRECTIVEACTION TAKEN The Board of the Norway-based Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) said on Tuesday that Guyana has achieved a “fairly low” (Continued on page 30)

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From page 29 overall score in implementing its 2019 EITI Standard.

The EITI’s 2019 Standard requires that open data on natural resource income and contracts be a routine part of government and corporate reporting, while providing information to stakeholders in a timeframe and format that support widespread use in analysis and decision making.

The Board which manages 55 member countries said the overall score of 52 points for Guyana reflects an average of the three component scores.

These scores were given the in areas of: Outcomes and Impact, Transparency and Stakeholder engagement.

The Board expressed concern over Guyana’s low score on Outcomes and Impact (42 points). It said this score reflects the ad hoc approach to outreach and dissemination, weaknesses in follow-up on EITI recommendations to deliver reforms and insufficient attention to the annual review of outcomes and impact, with a view to informing the annual EITI work plan. While the Board commended Guyana for its innovative efforts to undertake outreach during the pandemic, it said ensuring that a broad range of government, industry and civil society constituencies are consulted in developing the annual work plan would help ensure that the EITI is supporting national reform objectives. The Board also flagged the country’s failure to make contracts, industry receipts accessible and understandable. It called for action towards this end.

On Transparency, the Board said Guyana reached a fairly low score of 53.5 points.

Expounding further, the Board said Guyana has made commendable efforts to use EITI implementation to ensure disclosures on areas of public interest, including contract transparency, commodity sales and environmental aspects of the extractive industries, reflecting priorities of civil society in particular.

It said too that Guyana’s EITI reporting has shed some light on the government’s revenues from the extractive industries for the first time, although weaknesses in company reporting and taxpayer confidentiality constraints mean that only a minority of the government’s revenues have been disclosed through EITI to date to the levels of disaggregation and reliability required under the EITI. The Board, therefore, urged Guyana to ensure complete and reliable revenue disclosures as a basis to

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support the government’s public finance management reforms. ( h t t p s : / / www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/ 2022/05/04/guyana-scoresfairly-low-on-eiti-standard/) SYSTEMS OVERHAUL AT GPL CAN HELP REDUCE ‘BLACKOUT’ WOES – PATTERSON An overhaul of the systems at the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) is being recommended as part of the solution to bring an end to Guyana’s electricity woes.

This is according to former Minister of Public Infrastructure and current Shadow Minister of Public Works, David Patterson.

In an invited comment on the recent spate of ‘blackouts’ across various part of the coastland, Patterson shared his experience in relation to what is needed in terms of adequately tackling power outages under GPL. The former Minister noted that while the power company under the former A Partnership for National Unity+ Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) administration had its fair share of issues, blackouts were significantly reduced.

He explained that this came as a result of analysis of GPL’s systems which were conducted by the new management team that was in place to deal with the daily operations shortly after the government took office.

Patterson noted that, “In 2016, the board, under the Chairmanship of Robert Badal, launched an international ad for a new CEO for GPL…The new CEO - Albert Gordan from Jamaica was hired. He immediately commenced an analysis of the system, we determined three major issues: a) poor infrastructure, b) poor maintenance and c) lack of generating capacity.”

According to the former Minister, it was then discovered that there were at least 17 ways in which there could be a major power outage— the most common issue was more safeguard was needed.

“This is exactly what is happening now - whereby something as simple as a falling tree branch or pole can bring down the entire [system]… We immediately started a programme to eliminate as many of these issues as possible - that way, the entire system stop failing on a single event - they add much more redundancy and protection to the main lines,” Patterson said.

He noted further that,

“There was a major issue with things like the submarine cable linking Vreed-en-Hoop and Kingston, when that was damaged, the entire system collapsed...” ( h t t p s : / / www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/ 2022/05/04/systemsoverhaul-at-gpl-can-helpreduce-blackout-woespatterson/) THURSDAY GOVT. URGED TO DO MORE TO EDUCATE CITIZENS ON RESOURCE GOVERNANCE - EITI SECRETARIAT TOLD TO DEMAND HIGHER STANDARDS OF TRANSPARENCYAND ACCOUNTABILITY If Guyana is to steer clear of a temporary suspension from the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Board when it comes up for a second review on April 1, 2024, it must implement a suite of corrective actions, one of which includes doing more to educate citizens about resource governance. The Board said too, that Guyana’s EITI Secretariat must also do its part to demand high standards of transparency and accountability in government operations and in business.

The Board’s recommendation follows its recent announcement that Guyana achieved a “fairly low” overall score in implementing its 2019 EITI Standard.

The EITI’s 2019 Standard requires that open data on natural resource income and contracts be a routine part of government and corporate reporting, while providing information to stakeholders in a timeframe and format that support widespread use in analysis and decision making.

The Board which manages 55 member countries said, the overall score of 52 points for Guyana reflects an average of the three component scores. These scores were given in the areas of: Outcomes and Impact, Transparency and Stakeholder engagement.

To ensure that progress is made before the country comes up for review again in two years, the Board said Guyana is encouraged to explore innovative approaches to using the EITI platform and reports to inform public debate about natural resource governance and encourage high standards of transparency and accountability in public life, government operations and in business.

Significantly, the Board said Guyana should ensure that EITI information is widely accessible, distributed and comprehensible, including by ensuring that it is written in a clear, accessible style and in appropriate languages and consider access challenges and information needs of different genders and subgroups of citizens.

Expounding on this front, it urged Guyana to ensure that outreach events, whether organised by government, civil society or companies, are undertaken to spread awareness of and facilitate dialogue about governance of extractive resources, building on EITI disclosures across the country in a socially i n c l u s i v e m a n n e r. T h e Board categorically stated that the communications strategy should include activities to encourage the analysis and use of EITI data disclosures.

Furthermore, the Board said Guyana should agree on a clear open data policy on the access, release, and re-use of EITI data. The Board said Guyana’s EITI Chapter should make EITI data available in an open data format online and publicise its availability. ( h t t p s : / / www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/ 2022/05/05/govt-urged-todo-more-to-educate-citizenson-resource-governance/)

JAGDEO FLIP-FLOPS ON HIS OWN WARNING AGAINST OILAND GAS CONSULTANCY FIRMS - SELECTS EXXON’S CLIENTS TO REVIEW US$10B PROJECT While he was Opposition Leader, Guyana’s Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo had warned that it is wise to beware of foreign oil and gas consultancy firms and their motives especially in Guyana.

His exact words during a 2018 press conference was “Not because a foreign company puts out a favorable report, a consultancy company, that we must all latch onto it, we have to question the motivation of these companies particularly consultancies for the oil and gas sector.”

He had advised that most of these consultancy firms are clients of oil companies and would always put out reports that are favourable to them and not the country.

However, two years later it appears as though Jagdeo had ignored his own warning and back peddled on his 2018 statement because when his party, the Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) took office in August 2020, it hired Allison Redford, a former Canadian politician with ties to ExxonMobil, to review US$9B Payara project – the Field Development Plan (FDP) – which was completed in 42 days.

Kaieteur News had reported that ExxonMobil via its subsidiary, Imperial Oil had donated thousands of dollars to Redford’s political party.

Redford’s political career was also one plagued by a corruption scandal. As Premier of the Canadian province of Alberta, she drew widespread public controversy in Canada when it was discovered that during her attendance of the funeral of Nelson Mandela, the State footed the CAD$45,000 cost of her trip, including about CAD$10,000 for a privately chartered return flight from South Africa.

Redford reportedly refused several calls to repay the money spent for the South Africa trip, but eventually bowed to pressure in 2014 and delivered the funds back to the public purse, with an apology. She later resigned in March 2014 as Alberta Premier, and as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in August of that year, a day before an Attorney General (AG) report on her spending practices was scheduled for release.

Despite local media reports had shed some light on her shady career, Alison Redford ended up being hired a second time by the government to be part of the team that reviewed the Yellowtail US$10B project or FDP in 52 days. However, it should be noted that the (Continued on page 31)

Sunday May 08, 2022

From page 30 nation only learned that she was hired again after the review process was completed. It is believed that the government waited until the process was over to reveal that she is a part of it because there were questions raised after the media reported about her controversial past.

The government had initially announced on January 21, 2022, that Bayphase, a consultancy firm that is also a client of ExxonMobil was selected to review the Yellowtail FDP for a total of US$423,360.

However, when the review was finished and the government decided to announce on April 1, that it approved the Yellowtail project, Guyana’s Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, stated that Redford was part of the team. ( h t t p s : / / www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/ 2022/05/05/jagdeo-flipflops-on-his-own-warningagainst-oil-and-gasconsultancy-firms/) FRIDAY IDB WARNS GUYANA AGAINST WILD SPENDING’ - SAYS GOVT MUST PAY HEED TO THE COUNTRY’S ABSORPTIVE CAPACITY REGARDINGMEGA PROJECTS - CAUTIONS SIGNIFICANT OIL REVENUES LEAVE GUYANAVULNERABLE TO DETRIMENTAL IMPACTS OF DUTCH DISEASE The current proven reserves in the Stabroek Block, which total almost 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent resources, along with the string of recent discoveries for 2022, will no doubt, produce rapid changes in Guyana’s overall economic structure. One of the most immediate effects will be the increase in the country’s

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Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

However, an increase in GDP does not translate to higher standards of living for citizens, who are the true owners of the oil wealth. In light of this irrefutable fact, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is once again urging Guyana to place greater focus on ensuring the oil wealth leads to economic transformation and not the mere doubling of GDP. The financial institution said the impact of the additional revenue on a country with a GDP of US$3.5 billion and a population of 773,000 needs to be carefully managed so as to promote inclusive, sustainable growth that benefits the Guyanese people. The IDB asserted in one of its latest loan briefs that ensuring true economic transformation is not going to be a walk in the park for local authorities, while adding that there are already concerns about the challenges that lie ahead for the new oil producing State.

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

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

If, as expected, the Guyana dollar becomes stronger, the IDB said it makes

non-oil and gas exports more expensive, and therefore less competitive. “Thus, the discovery of oil and gas, while a very positive development, could cause the contraction of the other parts of the economy,” expressed the IDB via its loan brief. ( h t t p s : / / www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/ 2022/05/06/idb-warnsguyana-against-wildspending/) GLENN LALL EXPOSES JAGDEO DOUBLE STANDARDS - YET TO RELEASE OIL PRODUCTION REPORTS, BUT WHILE IN OPPOSITION ACCUSED COALITION OF BEING SECRETIVE While serving as Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo had much to say at his weekly press conferences, where he accused the former coalition government of being secretive when it comes to the management of the oil and gas sector. Now two years later, as the Vice President with responsibility for oil and gas in the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government, he is yet to prove himself different.

This is particularly evident as key information pertaining to the management of the sector remains hidden from the public. This is the case with monthly oil production reports for

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

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

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

However, being in command of the oil sector today, Jagdeo has failed to honour the very demands that he had made in the interest of keeping the nation informed. To this end, Lall reasoned: “Now what is he doing? How is he any different from what the Coalition was doing? Every day, the Kaieteur News is asking him and his government 89 and 99 things about the oil industry, not 8 or 9 and he ducking and diving like a duck, running around avoiding the press, telling the reporters they are here to answer the citizens questions not the reporters.”

Lall went on to enquire, “Where are the review reports, Mr. Jagdeo? Where are the local content reports that you just ‘cuss’ Trotman about, Mr. Jagdeo? Where is the daily or monthly oil production report, Jagdeo?”

Lall told listeners and viewers of the programme, which is also aired live on Facebook and YouTube that the Vice President is doing worse than the former government as they released the local content reports to give the nation a hint as to how much the oil companies were spending in Guyana, as well as the different sectors benefitting and who were receiving contracts.

( h t t p s : / / www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/ 2022/05/06/glenn-lallexposes-jagdeo-doublestandards/) SATURDAY EXXONMOBIL TO DETERMINE FATE OF GUYANA’S GAS MASTER PLAN - VP JAGDEO Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo recently disclosed that Guyana’s gas reserve 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 engagement, the Vice 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 reservoir 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.”

T h e Vi c e P r e s i d e n t indicated that the government is of the firm conviction that the gas resource can be as lucrative as the oil c o m p o n e n t o f E x x o n ’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 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 (Continued on page 32)

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conduct an independent assessment of its resources. ( h t t p s : / / www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/ 2022/05/07/exxonmobil-todetermine-fate-of-guyanasgas-master-plan-vp-jagdeo/) NO SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY FROM GIFTLAND TO GPL FOR ALMOSTAYEAR MANAGEMENT CONFIRMS For almost a year now, Giftland has been unable to provide electricity to the Guyana Power and Light’ Inc.

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Kaieteur News

(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 successfully of similar scope within the last 10 years and, have the ability to finance the project. ( h t t p s : / / www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/ 2022/05/07/no-supply-ofelectricity-from-giftland-togpl-for-almost-a-yearmanagement-confirms/)

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Sunday May 08, 2022

>>> ENCOURAGING EVENTS, DISTURBING DEVELOPMENTS <<<

Mother's Day, media and men making majestic promises

By GHK Lall

O

n this Mother's Day, I grapple with how to encourage our mothers. From working mothers to burdened mothers to mothers who also substitute as fathers, I struggle with what to offer them on their special day, also a time of desperation. Happy Mother's Day sounds light in substance, but it is all I have, this sincere wish from my heart to their dear hearts. It is what I give them.

Another part of me is tempted: Give a holiday in their name, ease them off their tired aching feet, give some serenity to their worried hearts. Deliver some hope, some relief of substance. To

the men who are leaders (H.E, VP, PM), I say have a heart; remember your own mothers, but not them alone.

Because these leaders have been so unhearing, I sometimes wonder whether they have mothers, for anyone born of woman can't be this heartless, this deaf, to the wails of our women who are mothers worried sick.

Real relief would inspire.

Next, it encourages that the media knows what is going on with Guyana's oil.

It is even better to hear some media professionals state clearly how they evaluate the government's handling of oil issues.

It was on the negative side: the population is in a state of profound ignorance

about oil. The information and education needed to have an enlightened, engaged citizenry are just not there; the government's prefers propaganda, those clever distortions of devious leaders.

I would not trust Guyana's top leaders with a $20 bill; hence, I wouldn't trust them around a sector with billions of oil dollars, American ones.

Guyanese need to know what is happening with this oil endowment. It is not a favour from government when the President or Vice President releases some carefully filtered details about oil projects and other developments.

Guyanese have every right to know,

which is made even more crucial by the dirty history of our political leaders and their insiders in both the PPP/C and PNC. Thus, when information is not forthcoming freely, c o n t i n u a l l y, t h e w o r s t suspicions surface. Because oil is in the mix, men chosen as leaders lose their minds, become monstrous stewards.

This is now obvious in the sound and sight of the Vice President on the straightforward issue of project reports that were promised to be made public.

Ranking men in the PPP Government (let's drop this stupidity about 'C' please) publicly promised to share the Payara report compiled under the leadership of a Canadian with a record blotted by claims of the crooked. It was the first clue that things were going to go downhill from that dirty beginning. They have. For

here it is the V i c e President waffles with weak words on the issue; the President w a l t z e s around in a c l u m s y imitation of an ice hockey p l a y e r without skates; and the Minister of Natural Resources works at wizardries that would make an obeah practitioner green (almost PNC green) with envy.

T h i s i s m o s t discouraging, because if national leaders can't be trusted to keep public promises made, then there is great difficulty in trusting them with every other thing.

Our word is our truth, our alpha and omega, our light that dazzles. It is neither

By GHK Lall spotted nor striped.

In addition, our leaders stand as monuments of the madness that oil makes out of them. In my book, once a promise is made, it must be honoured, come hell or high-water, and this is for big things as well as little things. If not, then we are nothing.

As should be obvious from my oft-presented public contributions, our leaders in today's PPP Government are nothing; nothing but bubblefilled balloons floating on a (Continued on page 57 )

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Sunday May 08, 2022

GTT helping to treat mothers with gifts and prizes

G

TT is helping its customers to give back to their mother or mother figure with a slew of sales, promotions and activities geared to make

them happy.

From May 2 to May 14, 2022, customers can participate in handset sales and win exciting prizes, including spa dates and

hampers.

These promotions, according to release from the company “are one way, we at GTT are working to strengthen the community

and reliably connect our customers. GTT customers can also benefit from affordable handset deals, credit and data prizes to keep mom connected on Mother's Day and beyond.”

To win these, person would have had to top up a $1,000 or more on May 7 and this continues today, May 8, in order to get double the credit for GTT calls and texts.

Additionally, persons can buy Mom a TCL 20E smartphone for $33,999 or the Samsung Galaxy S20FE device for $89,999 and topup with $2,000 to get 5GB Data for free instantly. You can also activate any data plan for a chance to win!

“Our winning mothers will receive either a Spa Day at Healing Waters Spa, hampers with some of their favourite items, hair makeovers at Miguel Beauty Creations and gift cards to go shopping at The Fashion Box,” the release outlined.

GTT Marketing Coordinator Diangelly Singh explained that GTT is elated to be celebrating mothers this season with practical gifts and prizes for every type of mother.

“We want to be able to

Diangelly Singh, GTT Marketing Coordinator

celebrate these women who contribute so much to our operations at GTT, to our homes and to society at large.

We believe that giving back to the people who always give to us is an opportunity that cannot be missed,” she said.

Prizes were handed over May 6 at the company's Giftland Store and this will continue on May 13 at its Fogarty's location.

GTT has also sponsored the “Mother and Daughter

Pageant 2022” which was held yesterday and proceeds from tickets purchased at its Giftland store will be donated to an orphanage.

Additionally, as GTT continues to impact the lives of its trusted employees, “we are giving our teammates who are mothers the opportunity to win a voucher to shop at The Fashion Box.” These mothers were also eligible to win three tickets for the Mother and Daughter Pageant.

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Lessons from a Lashpreneur!!!

10 Celebrities with Eyelash Extensions

By Latoya Zephyr Hey lash babes,This week we’re gonna look at some of our favorite celebrities that wear lash extensions.

It’s a little unnerving when you realize that superstars are just like the rest of us. They have favorite cuisines, snacks, and accessories just as much as any other lady does, and they are all different. Even when it comes to their beauty regimens, celebrities seem to be almost impenetrable in the media since they always look immaculate in newspapers and publications.

Many entertainment industry celebs have eyelash extensions. It has quickly risen to become one of Hollywood’s most popular beauty trends over the last several years.

Many actors and singers report that long and thick lashes make them feel more attractive and gorgeous. This list will show you the top ten celebs that use eyelash extensions.

1. Katy Perry Katy Perry always maintains a professional appearance, whether she’s performing or on her way to the supermarket.

And her lashes are always in pristine condition. What exactly is her secret?

No surprise here: eyelash extensions are involved. The pop artist has her thick russian volume lashes curled in a C shape, with the longest lashes attached to the middle of her eyes.

2.Beyonce There are numerous attractive aspects about Beyonce, one of them is her luscious and beautiful eyelashes.

As she demonstrates, there’s more to her signature 3d lashes than simply mascara. Queen Bey wears fur lashes that have been carefully created to draw attention to her eyes.

She has been using these eyelash extensions for many years, and because of the lashes, she looks lovely from the moment she wakes up; thus, she wakes up like that!

3. Kim Kardashian Kim Kardashian is a reality television star with a net worth of $1 billion.

It should be no surprise that the glamorous Kim Kardashian is on this list.

She achieves natural eyelashes by increasing the volume of her lashes.

They are added separately to every eyelash to avoid the appearance of being excessive.

Let’s face it: we’re in a bind!

Everyone in the world would be overjoyed if we had 2d lashes as thick and gorgeous as Kim K’s.

Now you can make this dream a reality, thanks to this opportunity! Her secret to long, lush 3d lashes is, as you would expect, eyelash extensions! If you’re seeking cosmetic inspiration, she is generally your first stop.

She’s known as the “queen of

Jennifer Lopez

Lady Gaga

Nicki Minaj

Ariana Grande

Kylie Jenner

Kim Kardashian

Katy Perry

contouring.”

4. Jennifer Lopez Celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez are among the first to indulge in the delights of extension treatments.

The singer concentrates her attention on her top lash line.

The singer prefers fur lashes as she claims they feel identical to her natural lashes in terms of feel.

As always, she stepped out of the MET Gala 2018 in a dazzling gown and matching furry shoes, looking as stunning as ever. Her beautiful lashes added the finishing touch to this whole ensemble.

5. Gwen Stefani Gwen Stefani is another celebrity who can’t seem to get by without her lash extensions.

The trendy vocalist must have a glamorous appearance at all times. When she wears lash extensions, she prefers to match them with red lipstick, matte complexion, and a sultry cat-eye.

6. Kylie Jenner Kylie Jenner isn’t only famous for her pouty lips; she’s also famed for her long and lush lashes.

The reality television actress has her lash extensions done, and she puts them on wherever she goes as a fashion statement. Jenner’s eyelash extensions are pretty striking, and they truly bring out her dark eyes and her features.

She already has her own cosmetics line, and it’s always intriguing to see her fame rise.

It doesn’t matter if she’s attending the Met Gala, sitting by the pool, or hanging out with her A-list pals; her lashes can serve her a look for every occasion.

7. Kate Middleton While the Kardashians are known for their flashy performance, Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, is known for her refined and polished mannerisms.

With her hectic schedule and significant position, this lady chooses a conventional, classic, and elegant style comprised of beautiful dresses, blouses, and bodysuits.

Because she wants to maintain this look while also saving time in front of the mirror, Duchess Middleton uses eyelash extensions, as you may have suspected.

Kate’s eyelash extensions are a little less vast and voluminous, keeping with her style.

They add plump to her natural lashes and give her eyes a defined shape and Russian volume without making her eyelids seem excessively puffy or heavy.

8. Ariana Grande Ariana Grande is amongst the most fashionable people today, and a majority of her pictures and looks feature her stunning eyelash extensions.

She doesn’t shy away from go-

Gwen Stefani

Beyonce

ing all out with her lash extensions like the Kardashians. Ariana chooses eyelash extensions that are very long, dense, and thick to draw attention to her large and attractive eyes.

With her gorgeous extensions and flawlessly formed eyebrows, she creates a style that is both sophisticated and endearing at the same time.

9. Lady Gaga Lady Gaga doesn’t have naturally long eyelashes; therefore, she uses the most excellent eyelash extensions to flair her eyes.

Thanks to her fantastic music lyrics and appearance, her celebrity has risen from “starstruck” to “Ve-

nus.”

With lash extensions, Lady Gaga avoids the awful appearance of unhealthy fake eyelashes.

10. Nicki Minaj You can’t help but fall in love with Nicki Minaj’s bold style.

Because she’s a fearless leader, it’s no surprise that this trendsetter is well-known for her stunning eyelashes.

When it comes to achieving Nicki’s looks, she uses only the highest quality eyelash glue and lashes extensions.

Her lash extensions have been trendy since she became an Idol judge, and it’s safe to say they’ve helped her come into the limelight.

Kate Middleton

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Health Benefits of Grapefruit

rapefruit can seem like an acquired taste.

Their bulbous size, bitter pith (the white stuff that surrounds the fruit), and tart taste can be off-putting to those who are more accustomed to their sweeter citrus cousins.

But it might do your health some good if you consider adding this superfood to your regular rotation of healthy foods. It’s among the 20 best foods to eat for breakfast.

And you don’t have to limit your intake to the early morning hours: Grapefruit are supremely portable and make a great snack (with very few calories) that fills you up while also relieving thirst due to its high water content.

Here, experts weigh in on why you should start buying more of the tangy citrus fruit, due to its health benefits.

At about 92% water,

grapefruit has one of the highest water contents of any fruit. That makes it good for overall health.

“All of our body systems and process . . . require water,” Wesley Delbridge, RD, a Phoenix-based dietitian, tells Health. “Proper hydration makes your body more efficient in everything you’re doing.”

About 20% of your daily fluid intake actually comes from food. So add some grapefruit to get closer to your daily H2O goal and choose the heavier of two fruits of equal size: It has more juice.

Several studies have shown that people who eat half a fresh grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice before each meal lose more weight than people who do not.

Not all studies have shown the same weight-loss benefit and scientists don’t know if the effect seen in the

studies was specifically due to grapefruit—or filling up on a low-calorie food in general—but fruits and vegetables should always be part of your strategy to lose or maintain weight.

What is 100% ironclad fact: Grapefruit delivers a lot of nutrition and water for very few calories: there are just 39 calories in one half of a grapefruit. So it’s a great choice if you want to boost your intake of high nutrient, low calorie foods.

When you peel away the outer layer of a grapefruit, you may be tempted to pick off the white flesh that is between you and the juicy fruit, and throw it away.

This stuff is called pith.

Don’t do it.

“That [pith] is very rich in antioxidants and nutrients and also soluble fiber which is going to help you feel fuller and impact your glucose re-

actions,” says Delbridge.

While the pith of grapefruit can have more of a bitter taste than say, oranges, it’s worth eating along with the fruit (if you can).

Fiber is a good thing, and can help lower blood sugar, cholesterol, and possibly even colon cancer risk.

A grapefruit a day may help lower “bad” LDL cholesterol levels by as much as 15.5%, according to a 2006 study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

In the study, researchers looked at 57 patients ages 39 to 72 who had high cholesterol and had undergone bypass surgery for heart trouble.

For one month, some ate a grapefruit daily (either red or white) while others, the control group, did not. Grapefruit eaters, particularly those eating red, had a drop in bad cholesterol, while the control group did not.

This is great news for your heart.

LDL cholesterol is a type of fat that can build up in your arteries and raise the risk for heart attack and stroke.

But if you are taking a cholesterol-lowering drug, don’t add a grapefruit for extra effect—the FDA issued a warning in 2012 about interactions with such medications.

That’s because of the hefty dose of vitamins A and C in each serving. “Vitamin C and A are huge as far as immune boosting,” says Delbridge.

Some research indicates that not having enough vitamin C (and other micronutrients) may actually hurt your immune system, especially if you’re elderly.

Grapefruit may not prevent a cold but the vitamins inside may reduce your suffering or possibly the duration of a cold.

“There’s nothing else you can do for a cold so why not?” says Ann Marie Chiasson, MD, assistant director of the Fellowship in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson.

There’s another reason grapefruit can be good for your heart: It reduces levels of triglycerides, another type of fat—like “bad” LDL cholesterol—which can quickly clog up your arteries.

The same study that found that adding one grapefruit a day lowered cholesterol levels also found that this simple daily regimen lowered triglycerides—by as much as 27%.

This was in patients who

already had coronary artery disease and so were at high risk for heart attacks and other complications.

Red grapefruit, in particular, surpassed its “blond” cousins in lowering triglycerides.

Grapefruit has got some data that it decreases systolic blood pressure, not by a lot— it’s usually about five points—but there’s definitely good data,” says Chiasson.

And for the 70 million Americans who have hypertension, any drop in blood pressure is a good drop.

The effect on blood pressure may be due to grapefruit’s high potassium levels.

Potassium neutralizes the negative effects of sodium.

(Here are 15 foods that are high in potassium.)

But again, don’t eat grapefruit if you are already taking a blood-pressure lowering drug.

Certain ones, such as Procardia and Adalat CC (both are from the generic nifedipine), can be dangerous when combined with grapefruit, according to the FDA. Antioxidants in general may play a key role in preventing cancer.

Grapefruit also has a low glycemic index (GI), around 25, which means it doesn’t raise blood sugar as quickly or as much as high-GI foods like white bagel (72) or even a banana (48) or watermelon (72).

(The highest GI score is 100.)

A 2006 study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food, found that people who ate grapefruit (juice or half a fruit) before a meal had a lower spike in insulin two hours later than those taking a placebo, and fresh grapefruit was associated with less insulin resistance.

All 91 patients in the 12-week study were obese, but they did not necessarily have type 2 diabetes.

While the results are promising in those without diabetes, blood-sugar reactions to food can vary widely, so if you have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, test your blood sugar after eating grapefruit to make sure it can be part of your healthy eating plan.

Grapefruit juice has plenty of benefits, but the traditional fruit itself is going to give you more bang for your buck when it comes to nutrition and health benefits.

“When you take juice, you’re getting some of the nutrients but you’re losing a l l t h e f i b e r, ” s a y s

Delbridge.

“Grapefruit juice is great but at the end of the day, the entire fruit has pectin and rind and all the parts of it.”

Grapefruit juice can also spike your blood sugar more than the fruit itself.

If you opt for juice of any kind, Delbridge recommends not drinking more than 6 ounces a day and going only for 100% juice products that don’t have added sugar.

Vitamin C helps form healthy scar tissue and new blood vessels, both of which help return your body to a healthy state.

A grapefruit contains about 72 mg of vitamin C, which is 120% of the daily value.

“Vitamin C speeds up wound healing post surgically,” says Chiasson.

“I tell people to take 500 milligrams of vitamin C before they go into surgery.”

Always ask your doctor before adding vitamins, minerals, or any herbal supplements to your daily regimen, especially if you’re about to have surgery.

In this case, that goes for grapefruit too, given its ability to affect the metabolism of certain drugs.

A large study conducted in Japan found that people who ate citrus (including grapefruit) throughout the week had a lower risk of developing cancer, especially prostate and pancreatic, compared with the total group of participants.

The effect was amplified among those who also drank a lot green tea.

The authors speculate that compounds in citrus fruits reduce inflammation and stop cancer cells from multiplying.

They may also help repair damaged DNA, which contributes to the development of tumors.

The fiber in grapefruit may also help prevent colorectal cancer while fruits high in vitamin C and beta-carotene, which is in pink and red grapefruit, may lower the risk of esophageal cancer.

Grapefruit can be stored in your fridge for as long as three weeks but they release their best flavor when kept at room temperature. If you plan to eat them within a week, leave them on a counter or table.

There’s an added advantage to keeping them in plain view.

“The increased visibility helps you remind yourself that you need to eat them,” says Delbridge.

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== GNBS IN FOCUS ==

GUYANA STANDARD PROVIDES GUIDELINES FOR NOISE EMISSION

T

he Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) has developed a Guyana Standard Guidelines for noise emission into the environment (GYS 263:2010).

This National Standard is very useful for those who cause noise or are affected by noise and need guidelines to manage or determine emission levels.

This noise standard provides guidance to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that is responsible for regulating noise in Guyana.

The Environmental Protection (Noise Management) Regulation 2000 requires permissible limits to be set for noise emanating from commercial, residential, i n s t i t u t i o n a l , educational, industrial, c o n s t r u c t i o n , transportation and recreational activities.

The standard specifies permissible/allowable noise l e v e l s f o r t h e aforementioned categories of operations in Guyana and offers definition for each of them.

For example, it defines industrial as any activity pertaining to manufacture, processing, handling, transport, importation, storage or disposal of materials (including the extraction and conversion of mineral resources, raw materials, minerals in the process of manufacture, manufactured materials, byproducts, etc.).

In addition, it defines noise as unwanted sound, which may cause or tend to cause an adverse psychological effect on human beings and includes vibration.

Guideline values are specified in the standard for noise in each of the defined

environments for which those operating within shall comply.

Limits are specified for daytime and night-time in decibels (Db), with night–time limits always being lower than daytime.

For residential, daytime limits are 75 decibels and night-time being 60 decibels.

Meanwhile, industrial limits are set at 100 decibels in the day and 80 in the night.

Methods of taking samples for noise in the environment are stipulated in the standard.

For the determination of noise levels specified in t h e s t a n d a r d , measurements shall be taken by noise receptors located at the property boundary and 15 metres from the source.

All authorities including the EPA, the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Home Affairs shall employ the sampling method.

According to one study, worldwide, noise-induced hearing impairment is the most prevalent irreversible occupational hazard.

In the developing countries, not only occupational noise, but also environmental noise is an increasing risk factor for hearing impairment.

Given both the increasing number of noisy activities and the increasing exposure duration, such as loud music in cars, open-air parties and entertainment bars, regulatory activities should be undertaken.

Finally, another study of the effects of noise found that it is known to cause p r o b l e m s w i t h concentration, fatigue, uncertainty and lack of self-confidence, i r r i t a t i o n , misunderstandings, decreased working

capacity, problems in human relations, and several stress reactions.

The GNBS encourages

all categories of operations that emit noise to conform to the guidelines stipulated in the noise standard.

This will reduce its adversity on others as ensure adherence to the law.

For further information,

please contact the GNBS on Tel: 219-0066 or visit our website: www.gnbsgy.org or like us on Facebook: gnbsgy

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Black-headed parrot The black-headed parrot (Pionites melanocephalus; sometimes incorrectly Pionites melanocephala), also known as the black-headed caique, black-capped parrot or pallid parrot (for P. m. pallidus), is one of the four species in the genus Pionites of the family Psittacidae; the other species being Pionites leucogaster (greenthighed parrot), Pionites xanthomerius (black-legged parrot), and Pionites xanthurus (yellowtailed parrot).

It is found in forest (especially, but not exclusively, humid) and nearby wooded habitats in the Amazon north of the Amazon River and west of the Ucayali River in Brazil, northern Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. It is generally fairly common and occurs in many protected areas throughout its range.

It is most often found in pairs or

small noisy flocks of up to 10 individuals, but sometimes up to 30.

In the wild, they eat mostly flowers, pulp, and seeds and possibly insects.

Description The black-headed parrot is a medium-small, short-tailed parrot with a black crown, yellow to orange head, whitish belly, yellow thighs and crissum (the area around the cloaca), green back, wings and upper tail, blue primaries (blackish from below), and greyish-black bill and feet. The white breast feathers of wild caiques are often stained a chestnut brown (or ‘isobel’) colour.

This may be tannin staining, as result of their particular affinity for bathing by rubbing their bodies against wet leaves and other plant matter.

Male and female birds have identical plumage.

Subspecies There are two subspecies of the black-headed parrot. They hybridize

freely and individuals showing some level of intermediacy in colour are common: · P. m. melanocephalus: Eastern part of its range. Orange thighs and crissum, nape deep orange, and belly white. · P. m. pallidus: Western part of its range. Yellow thighs and crissum, nape relatively pale, and belly tinged yellowish (often barely visible; belly normally appears “dirty white” in the wild).

Juveniles of both subspecies are strongly tinged yellow below.

Aviculture Black-headed parrots are popular in aviculture. The only ways to determine gender of an individual black-headed parrot are surgical sexing and DNA sexing. DNA sexing is safer for the bird than surgical sexing.

Black-headed parrots are playful and energetic pets. They need a large cage with many toys and

perches (they tend to hop more than fly). Cage minimum should be 24" L X 24" W X 36" H, though the larger the better. Maximum bar spacing is 1". The black-headed parrot can have a tendency to bite, so owners may need to set boundaries early on.

However, potential owners should prepare for a bird that uses its beak more often than other parrot species.

Some of these parrots will poorly mimic human speech. However, they more commonly mimic other surrounding sounds, such as alarm clocks, smoke detectors, microwaveoven beeps, laughs, car alarms, and whistles. In addition, caiques will combine sounds they have picked up to make new ones. (Source: Wikipedia)

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Queen Margaret and the Robbers

by Albert F. Blaisdell

O

ne day when roses were in bloom, two noblemen came to angry w o r d s i n t h e Te m p l e Gardens, by the side of the river Thames. In the midst of their quarrel one of them plucked a white rose from a bush, and, turning to those who were near him, said, "He who will stand by me in this quarrel, let him pluck a white rose with me, and wear it in his hat."

Then the other gentleman tore a red rose from another bush, and said, "Let him who will stand by me pluck a red rose, and wear it as his badge."

Now this quarrel led to a great civil war, which was called "The War of the Roses," for every soldier wore a white or red rose in his helmet to show to which side he belonged.

The leaders of the "Red Rose" sided with King Henry the Sixth and his wife, Queen Margaret, who were fighting for the English throne. Many great battles were fought, and wicked deeds were done in those dreadful times.

In a battle at a place called Hexham, the king's party was beaten, and Queen Margaret and her little son, the Prince of Wales, had to

flee for their lives.

They had not gone far before they met a band of robbers, who stopped the queen and stole all her rich jewels, and, holding a drawn sword over her head, threatened to take her life and that of her child.

The poor queen, overcome by terror, fell upon her knees and begged them to spare her only son, the little prince. But the robbers, turning from her, began to fight among themselves as to how they should divide the plunder, and, drawing their weapons, they attacked one another.

When the queen saw what was happening she sprang to her feet, and, taking the prince by the hand, made haste to escape.

There was a thick wood close by, and the queen plunged into it, but she was sorely afraid and trembled in every limb, for she knew that this wood was the hiding place of robbers and outlaws.

Every tree seemed to her excited fancy to be an armed man waiting to kill her and her little son.

On and on she went through the dark wood, this way and that, seeking some place of shelter, but not knowing where she was going. At last she saw by the light of the moon a tall, fierce looking man step out from

behind a tree. He came directly toward her, and she knew by his dress that he was an outlaw. But thinking that he might have children of his own, she determined to throw herself and her son upon his mercy.

When he came near she addressed him in a calm voice and with a stately manner.

"Friend," said she, "I am the queen. Kill me if thou wilt, but spare my son, thy prince. Take him, I will trust him to thee. Keep him safe from those that seek his life, and God will have pity on thee for all thy sins."

The words of the queen moved the heart of the outlaw. He told her that he had once fought on her side, and was now hiding from the soldiers of the "White Rose."

He then lifted the little prince in his arms, and, bidding the queen follow, led the way to a cave in the rocks.

There he gave them food and shelter, and kept them safe for two days, when the queen's friends and attendants, discovering their hiding place, came and took them far away.

If you ever go to Hexham Forest, you may see this robber's cave. It is on the bank of a little stream that flows at the foot of a hill, and to this day the people call it "Queen Margaret's Cave."

Sunday May 08, 2022

Junior page

Simple Mother's Day Crafts Heart leaves tree To make this pretty heart paper centerpiece, first fill a vase with backyard branches, and then hang individual paper ornaments made from cardstock and thread from each branch.

You can even add sweet reasons you love Mom on the hearts.

Conversation Marble Magnets Supplies Clear flat glass marbles Pastel card stock Black fine point Sharpie Mod Podge Pencil Small magnets

White craft glue Craft tools ScissorsPaintbrush Instructions Write conversation heart sayings on pastel paper, such as hug me, kiss me, be mine, bff, etc. or simply print off the conversation template provided above.

Place marble over the top and trace marble lightly with pencil.

Cut out circles, cutting the circle a little smaller than the tracing.

Use Mod Podge and paintbrush to attach the paper to the back of the marble. Let dry.

Attach magnets to the back of the marbles using hot glue.

ETRY O P H T N WI

FU

M-O-T-H-E-R “M" is for the million things she gave me, "O" means only that she's growing old, "T" is for the tears she shed to save me, "H" is for her heart of purest gold; "E" is for her eyes, with love-light shining, "R" means right, and right she'll always be, Put them all together, they spell "MOTHER," A word that means the world to me.

Have fun!

PAGE 54

6 Things You Should Be Doing to Take Care of Your Tongue 1. Brush your tongue regularly.

Each time you brush your teeth, it is important to remember to brush your tongue as well. Start by applying a small dab of toothpaste to your toothbrush. Then, brush from the back of the mouth toward the opening with a downward motion. This will allow you to expel the odor-causing bacteria from your mouth.

Make sure to only use gentle pressure during this process so as not to damage your tongue. Then, simply rinse with water!

2. Try a tongue scraper.

You can even more thoroughly clean your tongue by using a tongue scraper. This tool is made from a flexible, soft plastic that allows you to lightly scrape away the mucus layer that resides on your tongue, particularly in the center of the tongue. After each swipe of your tongue, simply wash the scraper under warm water to remove the bacteria. If you find that this causes your tongue to feel sore, you could be scraping it too hard. Make sure you're cleaning slowly with light pressure.

3. Rinse well.

Each time you clean your tongue, make sure you thoroughly rinse out your mouth with water. This will help you to be rid of the bacteria that reside there. You might also consider using a warm saline solution—made by simply mixing water and a teaspoon of salt—to keep your tongue relatively clear of harmful bacteria.

4. Drink green tea.

Drinking green tea is a great way to help keep your tongue clean. Doing so greatly reduces the bacteria in your mouth.

Therefore, drinking green tea helps to kill off odor-causing bacteria that can linger on the tongue.

5. Monitor the color of your tongue.

It is important to check in on the color of your tongue from time to time, as this can be used to examine the state of your health. A healthy tongue is meant to be light pink and can have a slight white coating. However, a definitively white tongue can be indicative of dehydration and even a fungal infection. If your tongue is pale, it could mean that you have a vitamin deficiency.

If your tongue is bright red, on the other hand, it could be a warning sign for an infection or even a heart or blood disorder.

Therefore, if you notice any abnormal coloring to your tongue, be sure to have a medical professional take a look.

6. Drink plenty of water.

Staying hydrated is important to the overall health and functionality of your entire body. Drinking water also helps to wash away the bacteria and food debris from your tongue and teeth. Therefore, make sure you're drinking plenty of water to stay in good health.

Wondering if your tongue is in good health? Why not schedule a dentist appointment to be sure! Call Carillon Family Dental in Romeoville today to book your visit.

Kaieteur News

Sunday May 08, 2022

Kaieteur News

Sunday May 08, 2022

THE

PAGE 55

Women charged for allegedly killing their significant other

Court Journal

By Renay Sambach

W

hile I had promised to highlight matters in which women were charged for assaulting their partners, during my research, I found far more matters in which women were charged for allegedly killing their spouse and so I have resorted to highlighting these instead today.

It should be noted that in some of these matters, the women alleged that it was in self-defence that they ended up killing their significant other.

Eva Pearson In April 2021, a woman, who allegedly knifed her ex-boyfriend to death, was remanded to the New Amsterdam Prison. The defendant, Eva Pearson, 27, had appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrates' Court before Magistrate, Alisha George.

It is alleged that on April 1, 2021, she stabbed her ex-boyfriend, Darren Harris, 46, to death at School Street, Cummings Park, 'E' Field, Sophia, Greater Georgetown. Pearson was not required to plea to the indictable charge.

According to reports, Pearson stabbed Harris around 21:30 hours during a scuffle.

The woman admitted to police that she'd killed her ex-boyfriend in self-defence.

On the day in question, Harris had reportedly approached the woman while she was heading home from work and the two had started arguing on the road.

The argument intensified and they ended up in a scuffle. Pearson stated that it was during the scuffle that Harris allegedly chopped her to her hands with a knife.

She alleged that she somehow managed to take away the weapon from Harris and stabbed him with it, before getting rid of the weapon and running away.

Pearson was reportedly chased to her home by a “bunch of people” who presumably wanted to apprehend her for the stabbing. Her father, Ivan Nedd had recalled seeing her jump over the fence and running inside his home. He reportedly secured his premises, as the angry mob pelted bottles into his yard and vandalised his canter truck.

The police arrived shortly after and arrested Pearson, who was bleeding from a chop wound to her right hand. They had taken her to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where she was treated before being taken to the East La Penitence Police Station lock-ups.

Moreover, the woman had filed an official complaint against a policeman who she said had wanted to touch her breasts instead of taking a domestic violence report just five days prior to the stabbing.

Dead: Nathan Persaud

Melissa Playter received a scar on her cheek from an abusive encounter.

Darren Harris was stabbed to death during a confrontation with Eva Pearson.

She alleged that on Saturday, March 27, last, Harris had broken a bottle and threatened to stab both her and Nedd (her father) for putting him out. She later headed down to the Turkeyen Police Station that same day to lodge a report.

Instead of taking her report, a policeman there had asked to touch

Eva Pearson

Melissa Playter

threatened to push her head into a fire.

An argument ensued between the two and Williams allegedly choked the woman.

Reports are that the woman became “annoyed” that she was being choked and used the knife to stab Williams twice in the region of his groin. He was later found motionless in his bed.

Melissa Playter There was also the case of Melissa Playter, a mother of three, who made her first court appearance in December of 2018.

According to reports, the tragic incident, in which she was involved, was the culmination of

Beverly Persaud

Sandra Brescenio Photo Credit: Big Smith) her breasts to see if they were real.

Pearson had reportedly become annoyed and left without making that report.

Sandra Brescenio In April 2020, a pregnant Sandra Brescenio appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts for the death of her reputed husband.

Brescenio, now a mother of five, had appeared before Magistrate Dylon Best.

She was not required to enter a plea to the indictable offence, which alleges that on April 12, 2020, at Canabali, Barima/Waini River, North West District, Brescenio stabbed and killed her reputed husband, Clarence Williams.

Kaieteur News had reported that on the day in question, the couple was involved in an argument that later turned bloody.

It was said that the victim, 35year-old Williams, a miner, was stabbed to death, reportedly by his reputed wife, whom police said choked and threatened to push her head into a fire.

It was reported that Williams

Acquitted: Alexis Turpin

was under the influence of alcohol when he made the threats.

Prior to the stabbing, it was reported that the victim had dragged his pregnant wife out of church to prepare a meal for him.

It was while preparing his meal that things turned sour.

According to a police report, the suspect was cleaning fish with a knife and Williams reportedly

years of abuse and fear in a relationship, which she had with Victor Roberts, the 38-year-old father of her youngest child.

Playter was not required to plea to the indictable offence, which stated that on December 2, 2018, at 4 1 P r i n c e Wi l l i a m S t r e e t , Plaisance, East Coast Demerara, she murdered Roberts, who was (Continued on page 57 )

PAGE 56

Kaieteur News

Sunday May 08, 2022

Sunday May 08, 2022

PAGE 57

Kaieteur News

Women charged for allegedly killing their significant other...

From page 55 her reputed husband. According to information, on the day in question, Playter and Roberts had an argument at their residence when she became annoyed and stabbed Roberts once to the region of the heart with a knife.

Roberts fell to the ground and was rushed to the GPHC where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

While the women in the three preceding matters claimed self-defence, the following matters saw killings committed under much different circumstances.

Beverly Persaud A mixed 12-member jury was empanelled earlier this year before Justice Navindra Singh for the trial of Beverly Persaud and the man she allegedly hired to kill her husband, Nathan Persaud, on September 10, 2015.

Beverly Persaud, formerly of Lot 56 Diamond New Scheme, East Bank Demerara and Oswald Junior Yaw, also known as Leow, of East Ruimveldt, Georgetown are accused of killing Nathan Persaud, a block maker.

The killing allegedly stemmed from an agreement between Beverly Persaud and Yaw. Beverly reportedly promised Yaw money as an inducement for killing her husband.

The two were committed to stand trial at the Georgetown High Court in 2017. Back then, City Magistrate Judy Latchman had noted that through the caution statements and oral statement, the two murder accused implicated themselves in the commission of the crime.

According to reports, Nathan Persaud was found lying face down in the living room of his Lot 66 Herstelling,

East Bank Demerara home.

His body bore a stab wound to his chest and the back of his head was bashed in.

Police recovered a hammer, two knives and a piece of rock, all of which had bloodstains from the crime scene. Beverly Persaud was arrested and interrogated by police hours after her husband was killed. She reportedly confessed to orchestrating the plot to end the life of her estranged spouse and allegedly hired Yaw and promised him $1.7M. After the father of four was killed, a strange man, now believed to be Yaw, was reportedly seen leaving his yard.

Alexis Turpin Last month, after spending six years on remand, Alexis Turpin was acquitted for the second time for the murder of her reputed husband, Sherwin Johnson.

According to reports, Turpin shared a child with the man who she'd lived with at Chapel Street, Lodge, Georgetown.

According to reports, on July 2, 2016, when Johnson arrived home, he found his wife in bed with another man, 39-year-old Sterfon Barlow.

An argument ensued and it escalated into a fight, during which Turpin and Barlow reportedly dealt Johnson several stabs about his body with a knife and also reportedly lashed him with pieces of wood and a crowbar.

Following the incident, Johnson was hospitalised for several weeks at the GPHC before he succumbed to his injuries. The charge against Turpin and Barlow, as a result, was upgraded to murder.

In 2021, Turpin had her first trial. She was charged

Mother's Day, media...

From page 38 sea of the questionable, the disagreeable, and the execrable.

They have condemned themselves into such by their own words that fail them, and in which they fail the Guyanese people, again and again. Once there is nothing to conceal, there is everything to reveal; mandatory state secrets aside - not leadership ones. And even then, there must be the leadership courage, the leadership ethics, to honour one's word given, put things in the public domain, and roll with the punches as they come. This being Guyana, whatever comes will be powder puffs.

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

jointly with Barlow for the murder of her husband. However, after deliberation, the jury was unable to arrive at a verdict and as such, Turpin and Barlow were remanded pending another trial.

In March 2021, Barlow pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter when he appeared before Justice Brassington Reynolds at the Demerara High Court. He was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment for the crime. Accord-

ing to reports, Barlow told a probation officer, that Turpin would invite him to her home at nights. He revealed that one day, he visited her during the daytime, but her reputed husband Johnson was at home.

According to Barlow, an argument broke out between Turpin and Johnson during which he, Johnson, hit her.

Barlow told the probation officer that as a result of Johnson hitting Turpin, he hollered at him. He said that

the now dead man ran out of the house, tripped, and hit his head on the concrete stairway. He said that when Johnson got up, he armed himself with pieces of wood and attacked him, which resulted in a fight between them. The probation officer said that residents in Barlow's neighbourhood described him as being very helpful and caring and were shocked at his involvement in this crime.

Added to this, prison of-

ficials described him as a very quiet inmate who attended anger management classes.

While Barlow is serving his sentence for the death of Johnson, Turpin had a retrial before Justice Jo Ann Barlow and a jury in the Demerara High Court.

She was acquitted of the charge after Justice Barlow upheld a no-case submission made on her behalf by her Attorney-at-Law, Damien DaSilva.

PAGE 58

Sunday May 08, 2022

Kaieteur News

Abortion is a woman's right - legalise it...

From page 24 trapping them in a life of struggle and deprivation.

In many CARICOM countries, abortion is not an option available to women, except to “save a woman's life”

as in Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica, or to “preserve health” which applies in the Bahamas, Grenada, St Kitts-Nevis, St Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago. Haiti, Jamaica and Suriname pro-

hibit abortion altogether.

Only three countries have a more progressive stance on this issue: Guyana allows abortions on request up to a gestational limit of eight weeks, and Barbados and St

Vincent and the Grenadines allow abortions for “broad social or economic grounds, rape, incest and foetal impairment”.

But it is an open secret that abortions are performed, as a matter of practice, throughout the Caribbean.

By maintaining the existing laws, women are being

criminalised, and so, too, are the doctors who perform abortions.

Undoubtedly, apart from women deeply inculcated with religious dogma that oppose abortions, the time cannot be far off when women, throughout the Caribbean, like the women of the U.S., will use their voting power to demand their right to choose whether or not to have an abortion.

Men who share the responsibility for unwanted pregnancies, in and out of wedlock, should also join the fight to safeguard women's right to choose.

Caribbean governments and legislators should open their ears to the position of women on this issue. It is their bodies, their health and their future that are at stake.

They should be heard.

(The writer is Antigua and Barbuda's Ambassador to the United States of America and the Organization of American States. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London and Massey College in the University of Toronto) Responses and previous c o m m e n t a r i e s : www.sirronaldsanders.com

Kaieteur News

Sunday May 08, 2022

PAGE 59

==Creators’ Coven== Unleashing the World Class Potential of Guyanese Youth…

STEM Guyana continues its mission to nurture innovative and creative minds their lack of confidence. Coming f r o m d ep r e s s ed backgrounds, some did not possess the ability to speak publicly and confidently. Part of the STEM services is to bring out innate skills and talents through a culture of encouragement and independence, while building on qualities that promote selfdiscipline and determination.

Often, young people are not

By Zena Henry

As a child, our inquisitive and creative minds are allowed to run free. It begins in the home with parents usually encouraging their children to be anything they choose to be. It is under their watchful eyes that many of our young people turn out to be s u c c e s s f u l contributors to society. On the other hand, there are those young people who do not have this same fortune.

Many are without a mother and even The woman behind father to support and STEM Guyana, encourage them to Mrs. Karen Abrams follow their dreams and provide the n e c e s s a r y opportunities that STEM Guyana, would allow them to do just according to its founder, that.

Karen Abrams, works to But then there is STEM instill certain skills in its G u y a n a , a n o n - p r o f i t young members to prepare organisation, which helps to them for the technological fill the void. It seeks to world of the 21st century, educate, inspire and prepare and that of an expanding young people for the Guyana that is increasingly technological world ahead. in need of innovative and But more than that, STEM t a l e n t e d i n d i v i d u a l s .

Guyana seeks to link passion Surprisingly, these skills that with opportunity, while STEM Guyana promotes imparting other important and feels so strongly about, skills to its young members. do not rest solely with Focally, the organisation academics, but is rather an exposes young people of ability to handle problems school age to technology efficiently, work with others, while strengthening their lead and build constructive academic areas such as Math relationships. and Science. STEM itself, is It is expected that in less an acronym for Science, than five years, Guyana’s Technology, English and economic and physical Mathematics; fundamental environment will change so areas of study to ensure a drastically as a result of oil well-rounded, knowledge- production, that the country based student. would not have the in-house

skills and talents required.

But Guyana can develop this talent and creativity within its own people over time.

Guyana must do this now, and with its young people, in p a r t i c u l a r. T h e r e a r e fundamental areas that must be addressed. Guyana’s upcoming workforce cannot be like those before, not when technology and information have changed. What is needed is a new culture, a new attitude toward teaching and l e a r n i n g , c r e a t i v i t y, innovation and above all, the nurturing of talent and confidence.

To date, STEM Guyana would have touched the lives of some 10,000 students across the country. Providing its services for some five years now, one of the noticeable disadvantages observed among youths is

allowed to express their feelings and understandings based on their experiences.

But these are all doors STEM Guyana wants opened. “We want our young people to be innovators and

STEM Guyana’s learning pods reach children in some far flung and depressed communities. provided with opportunities to be themselves and chase after that which drives and excites them. They are not

STEM clubs bring young people together to innovate and solve problems.

Team Guyana 2017 at the Global robotics competition.

STEM Guyana promoting tech education with Robin the Robot TV show.

problem solvers, but you can’t innovate if you don’t have that encouragement and that support.”

Within a short time, there are immediate changes that are seen with student’s self confidence, and communication skills after joining STEM. “They express themselves fearlessly,” Abrams said. She highlighted that STEM Guyana is designed to reinforce the culture of encouragement, the culture of asking questions and to research and seek answers for oneself.

This method of teaching also promotes problemsolving skills. A culture of curiosity and creativity adds to the important learning period, which will ultimately see students involved in areas that are interesting to them, and actively partake in those conversations and projects.

This culture of encouragement is practised with STEM members as young as seven and eight years old as they are taught from an early age to gather information and think constructively and making plausible decisions.

STEM Guyana places focus on academics, but it is not the concentration point of the organisation. While Abrams believes that reading and writing are Continued on page 64

Kaieteur News

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Sunday May 08, 2022

LESSONS FROM MY MOTHER…

Mrs. Gem Eytle

A 91-year-old matriarch passes the torch to the next generation

Four Generations: From right: Mrs. Gem Eytle, her granddaughter - Tamaisha Eytle-Harvey, her son Raymond Eytle, her daughter - Kathryn Eytle-McLean, her great- granddaughter - Santi (baby)

By Rehanna Ramsay As a businesswoman and matriarch of the Eytle clan, Mrs. Gem Eytle has the distinguished honour of passing on some of the customs, beliefs, and traditions which her mother gave her to the next generation.

The 91-year-old mother, grandmother and greatgrandmother recently reflected on her childhood and shared fragments of what she called lessons from her mother – Mrs. Jane A. Morgan.

At 91, Mrs. Eytle is full of vigour and refuses to just sit and let life pass her by.

She is very active – something that she most likely inherited from her mother, along with her charm, refined nature, courage, and indomitable will.

Her work ethic and capacity to manage home and business, she said, are traits her mother had

instilled in her.

To this day, Mrs. Eytle is still very involved in the management of Frandec Travel Services, a business, which the family has been involved in for many years.

“I was the eldest of six children; I had four sisters and a younger brother. We all grew up in Georgetown,

in the British Guiana era. My father worked with the government and my mother managed everything else in the home. She basically took charge and made sure we were brought up right and that we were well-rounded,” she explained.

“As the eldest, I had to look out for my younger siblings though we had hired help. It was my duty to assist because my family was always entertaining; there were always people stopping by our house here in New Market Street [Georgetown] for tea or something,” she said.

That aptitude for hospitality is still evident today. “I think that she (mother) left an indelible mark on me, when it comes to etiquette and entertaining others and I have taught that to my children as well.”

ETIQUETTE Mrs. Eytle said that she grew up in an era where women were taught that having proper etiquette was equal to having class. Back then, she said, “we wore hats and gloves and learned intricacies of manners as soon as we could be taught.”

She recalled fondly that women wore hats to a number of functions and places such as weddings, church, garden parties, and outdoor events as well as ceremonial functions.

Though those days are long gone, Mrs. Eytle laments that the value and importance of etiquette seem to have gone missing in the younger generation.

She noted, however, that decorum is sadly lacking.

“Everybody wants to grow up before their time. I Continued on page 64

Mrs. Gem Eytle and her husband during the hat-and-glove era of British Guiana.

Kaieteur News

Sunday May 08, 2022

PAGE 61

Pregnant, abused and neglected…

A teen mom shares how she overcame her challenges

By Davina Bagot

T

oday, mothers around the world a r e b e i n g honoured and recognised for their dedication and unconditional love towards their children. But while they are celebrated for the good they have done, the struggles, which mothers go through are often unrecognised.

It was Napoleon Hill that said, “Strength and growth come only through c o n t i n u o u s e ff o r t a n d struggle.” While professionals use this famous quote to guide them along their career paths, this saying is also relevant to mothers, many of whom face numerous struggles but manage to keep a smile on their face.

Emotionally and verbally abused, pregnant and neglected, aptly describes our featured mother’s past reality. But like many mothers, she was able to take the lemons of life and transformed them into sweet lemonade. This she was able to do by pressing through the hurts to the point that she is today empowered enough to share her tale with us.

Anna (not her real name) was 18 years old when she got pregnant with her first child. “His (her son’s) father and I were what I thought to be in love. The pregnancy journey was and still remains the worst memories I have.

H e w a s n ’t p h y s i c a l l y abusive but the emotional and verbal abuses were the horrors that I endured, leaving me scared for my life sometimes,” the woman shared.

“I remember very, very vividly one afternoon, I was around five months pregnant, I decided to go home early from work; it was a Saturday and the rain was pouring. When I got home, the door was locked. At first.

I thought maybe he didn’t reach home yet from work but then I heard voices inside. I called for him but he took a while to answer me and open the door. Mind you, I was standing in the rain with a big belly. When the door finally opened, I was drenched from head to toe.

When I got inside, I was heading to the bedroom to change and he was blocking the entrance trying to stop

Ann with her charming little boys. [Photo deliberately blurred to protect identity]

“It may seem impossible or you may have it in mind that you can’t do anything or make it on your own without that individual but I assure you that you 100 percent can! The same strength that it takes you to stay in the relationship, you can take it to walk out and leave, not just for your sake but for the sake of your child/children.” me from entering. To my surprise, there was another female in the room of course, that sent me into a rage and I reacted with anger.”

“Trying to protect the other female, he put me out of my own home into the rain. I did what was best for myself and my unborn baby – swallowed my pride and went back home to my mother who welcomed me back home,” the young lady recalled.

She said she was forced to leave her job, and was now about two weeks closer to giving birth when her ex and his family were anxious to be part of her baby boy’s life.

“His family wanted to keep a relationship with my son and I’m not a cruel or spiteful mother so I allowed it. He signed for my son and did his part for the one

month, which he was in my son’s life. He left the country and went to live abroad with this mom. At the time, I was living with his grandmother, who was helping me take care of the baby, with the promise of him coming back and providing for us. Me, being a fool, took his words for it and after three months went by and nothing, I was even using washcloth as sanitary napkins, that’s how low, I had sunk. If my baby had to get pampers or anything else, the grandmother would get it for him. Whenever I tried to contact him, he would curse me out and insult me just so that he won’t have to send any money to help us,” Anna recalled.

The young woman said she swallowed her pride for a second time and went back to

live with her mother, who helped her to take care of her son. She managed to get a job at a call centre and worked in the evening as a bartender to provide for her newborn.

“As a young and single mother, I decided to further my education which unfortunately didn’t work out because working two jobs, being a young, single mother didn’t leave me much time to stay in school. It took quite some time but I eventually got myself out of that toxic situation. It was so bad, I attempted suicide twice…but I found someone and I’m now very happily married with my second born son,” Anna said.

Today, the young woman is 23 years old and her first born son is five years old.

She said, “I share my story to encourage other young mothers who may be in the same situation, to let them know, it’s never too late to put yourself and your child first. Leave the situation before it gets worse or too late.”

Anna shared that being a first time mother came with its challenges. However, the young woman said she prefers not to think about those, but to instead blur them out with the sweet memories of motherhood.

“I remember seeing his first smile, hearing his first laugh and taking his first

Anna lives a happy life today. [Photo deliberately blurred to protect identity]

steps. When I would come home from a hard and long shift, seeing his peaceful smile reminded me that regardless of all the unfortunate events in my life, he was definitely worth every bit of it, and I continued to push myself so

that he knows how unconditional a mother’s love is,” she related.

Anna has some advice for women, especially mothers, who may be in an abusive relationship. “It may seem impossible or you may Continued on page 62

Kaieteur News

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Sunday May 08, 2022

Arakaka man’s disappearance 8 months ago worries relatives Relatives of Roscoe McIntyre, a 31-year-old resident of Central Arakaka, North West District (NWD), Region One, now fear the worst after he disappeared some eight months ago.

The man’s sister (name provided) told Kaieteur News that he was last seen in late August 2021, heading to the Transport and Harbour Department’s Kingston Wharf to board a ferry to Port

Kaituma, Region One. He was reportedly travelling back to his home in Arakaka after recently being released from prison, but he never made it.

McIntyre was accused of

setting the Arakaka Police Station on fire, back in December 2020. He was charged and remanded to prison that same month for setting fire to a public building.

His sister said that after being released from prison, he spent a few days with relatives in Meadow Bank, G e o rg e t o w n a n d t h e n decided to return home.

However, months past

Missing Arakaka man, Roscoe McIntyre and McIntyre never made it to Arakaka.

Relatives began searching for him but when they could not locate him anywhere, they decided to report the matter to the police.

Investigators have been working on the case but to date, they are yet to source any positive information on the missing Arakaka man.

Relatives fear the worst too because, according to them, he is not someone who would “ghost” them.

“If he was in Georgetown, he would be seen cleaning fish at the Meadow Bank Wharf but he just vanished,” his sister told Kaieteur News.

His relatives have been printing flyers and handing out some to citizens and posting some in public spaces in hopes of receiving word about of his whereabouts. Photos of the flyers have also been posted on the various social media platforms.

If anyone knows where McIntyre might be, they are asked to make contact with relatives on cellphone number 642-2475 or the nearest police station.

A teen mom shares...

From page 61 have it in mind that you can’t do anything or make it on your own without that individual but I assure you that you 100 percent can!

The same strength that it takes you to stay in the relationship, you can take it to walk out and leave, not just for your sake but for the sake of your child/children,” she urged.

Anna added, “Many times, I’ve opened Facebook only to see a mother’s life was taken by someone that had no right to, leaving her kids behind to bare that scar and suffering and it breaks my heart. If you’re in an abusive relationship in one way or the other, please leave before it’s too late.”

Kaieteur News

Sunday May 08, 2022

PAGE 63

Son's brutal murder leaves mom... Exxon's recovery of US$1.3B plus....

From page 19 Shepherd and Noel entering his shop. He, however, told them that he was about to lockup and recalled that Shepherd had bought a 'drink' for Noel and said, 'I gah guh and drop this man back'.

The two left around 23:00hrs but Noel never made it back to camp that evening. After he failed to show up the following morning, Gomes and his coworkers started to look for Noel and when they could not find him, they confronted Shepherd but he told them that he had dropped him at a junction leading to his camp around 03:00hrs on April 15 (Good Friday).

The search party had found this suspicious since the journey from the landing to the camp was a mere 15 minutes on motorcycle.

Nevertheless, they eventually brushed their suspicions aside and continued searching.

The search was fruitless and Gomes was forced to travel out of the backdam without Noel.

However, when he got home, he was afraid to relate to Noel's mother and siblings that he was missing, so he lied and reportedly said, he had “broken crew and left.”

Maylene had told Kaieteur News that the family found Gomes' story to be quite strange as it was unlike Noel to move to another location without informing them first.

Gomes reportedly could not keep his secret anymore and confided in the Mainstay/Whyaka Village Toshao that Noel had in fact gone missing since Good Friday.

Maylene said that after they learnt of this, she and another sibling travelled to Toroparu to look for Noel.

“We gone in there and we spoke to his boss lady. She tell we that he work for over $2 million and that she still owed him four pennyweight of gold. She gave that to us and we went to his camp and we found that his things were still there,” recounted Maylene.

After they could not find him, the sister said that she decided to meet Shepherd, the man he was last seen alive with, and when she asked him about her brother's whereabouts, he did not respond.

“From the time I see him, I knew that he had done something with my brother, his eyes were wild and evil,” she said.

At that point, she decided

to call her family back in Mainstay/Whyaka to share her suspicion that Noel was probably killed and buried.

She and her sibling left the backdam and Region Seven police started an investigation.

Gomes and Shepherd were later taken into custody and during an intense interrogation, police got a chilling confession.

Shepherd told them that he had killed Noel and buried his body.

He alleged that after l e a v i n g t h e To r o p a r u Landing, Noel had asked him for sex and he'd agreed but when they were finished they got into a fight.

Shepherd further alleged that he had choked and covered Noel's mouth simultaneously until he was motionless. After realising that he was dead, he said that he tied his hands behind his back and buried him in an excavator hole.

He led police to Noel's body, which indeed was in the condition he described – hands tied behind the back.

An autopsy later revealed that Noel was struck to his head with a heavy object. Police then decided to release Gomes and Shepherd was charged and remanded.

From page 20 that it is considered as part of the cumulative impact assessment).

Expounding further, EEPGL said the project will involve capturing associated gas produced from crude oil production operations on the Liza Phase 1 (Destiny) and Liza Phase 2 (Unity) Floating, Pro d u c t i o n , Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) vessels, t r a n s p o r t i n g approximately 50 million standard cubic feet per day of rich gas via a subsea pipeline and then

to an onshore pipeline to a natural gas liquids (NGL) processing plant (NGL Plant), treating the gas to remove NGLs (i.e., propane, butane, and pentanes+) for sale to third parties, and ultimately delivering dry gas meeting government specifications for use at the power plant.

Construction is expected to begin as soon as possible after the oil company receives all necessary authorisations with a target date of August 2022 for start of NGL Plant site preparation, and will take

approximately three years.

The combined offshore and onshore pipeline system is targeted to be ready to deliver rich gas by the end of 2024, and the NGL Plant is targeted to be operational by mid-2025.

The project has a planned life cycle of at least 25 years and is expected to employ up to 800 workers at peak during the construction stage, approximately 40 fulltime equivalent workers during the operations stage, and approximately 50 workers during the decommissioning stage.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 64

Sunday May 08, 2022

A 91-year-old matriarch passes the...

From page 60 say to them, take your time to grow up, do the right things with your youth because you will have more time being old,” she explained.

Besides having proper etiquette, Mrs. Eytle noted that her parents, particularly her mother, ensured that she and her siblings were academically sound and good homemakers.

“I learned cooking skills and how to sew so I could teach my sisters. Along with my mother, I taught my sisters to cook and sew. We had to be well-rounded; we would make our own clothing and knit our socks for Sunday school,” she recalled.

As such, as soon as she completed her Cambridge examinations as a young

woman, she recalled that she became a student at Ms. Rockliffe's Commercial School and then Carnegie School of Home Economics.

At commercial school, she was taught everything and not just tangible skills such as typing and shorthand but office etiquette and general manners as they relate to the working environment.

In 1949, she first joined the British Guiana Civil Service as a clerical assistant at the Poor Law Commissioner's Office.

She later worked with the Geological and Survey Department, and then the Supreme Court Registry as a Secretary to the Chief Justice and the puisne judges.

She recalled that in that position, she often spent long

hours working into the night on the eve of some sentencing hearing or the other, since the judges usually did not come to their decisions until late in the evening.

She worked with the judges until 1954 when she was forced to resign from the job after she got married.

In pre-Independence Guyana, a married woman was not allowed to work in the public service. She resigned gracefully and married the love of her life, Mr. Frederick 'Freddie' Eytle, with whom she shared almost 40 years of marriage until he passed away.

MOTHERING Soon after marriage, Mrs. Eytle took on the role of mothering her two children, Raymond and Kathryn. To

them, she passed on the lessons her mother taught her, in hopes of them passing them on to the next generation.

She is a matriarch who has been active in the lives of five generations of her family line.

Mrs. Eytle's son, Raymond Eytle, works as Senior Assistant Registrar at the University of the West Indies campus in Mona, Jamaica. He is married to a Guyanese Veterinarian, Sarah, with whom he has two children, Kaiel and Tamaisha and a granddaughter, Santi – Santi is Mrs. Eytle only great-grandchild.

Her daughter, Kathryn Eytle-McLean resides in the US and is also married to a Veterinarian, Dr. Nicholas McLean, and they have one

son, Kani. The family manages Frandec Travel Services and its affiliates.

Given her role in the family business, Mrs. Eytle goes into the office at least once per week despite of her age.

“I can't sit around here just doing nothing.

I would rather wear out than rust out,” she said, explaining that, “in sitting down, you can only gather rust and dust, but wearing out means you are using up all your material until it can no longer be used.”

“I think I learned this also from my mother who was always an active person,” she added.

Mrs. Eytle is also very involved in her children's welfare; she took great care to be very active in their

lives. Her daughter, Kathyrn told Kaieteur News that she learned the most about hospitality and etiquette from her mother. “She is the hostess with the 'mostest'!” she said.

A true statement, as Mrs. Eytle still spends her time cooking, sewing her own clothing and gardening, even as she remains very much involved in numerous charitable causes.

She also loves baking goodies and staying in touch with all of her friends via telephone, Facebook and WhatsApp, Facetime and Zoom.

Mrs. Eytle has so far led a full personal and professional life, but has applied herself with vigour to every activity she has engaged.

STEM Guyana continues its mission to...

From page 59 extremely important as base knowledge, for a world of work, she said that mastering personal skills allows for better communication, teamwork and problem solving.

These are among the key possessions one must have for success.

Traditionally, these skills have been called soft skills.

Today, Abrams said, they are called essential skills, because no matter what industry one goes into, those are the underlying skills that make you successful.

“We try to strengthen those skills in our young people while we focus also on strengthening their Math and Science, Technology and Engineering skills.”

“We want to build whole young people. We want to build young people who can walk into a room,

smile…who can engage with other people and who can identify problems in their communities and say to others, let's get together and work on this problem we will use technology to fix this.”

“Every corner of Guyana is loaded with talent,” Abrams pointed out, “the problem is that there isn't much opportunity.

And what is noticed, is that the traditional educational system, places significant focus on some students while many, who lack opportunity, are not provided for.

But the quickest way for young people to get out of poverty, is ensuring basic academics and partaking in specific areas of interest that promote self-confidence and self-development in any way.”

She continued, “We know that artificial

intelligence is a growing field, robotics is a growing field.

We k n o w t h a t technology and health care will be a growing field.

Across the board we know that technology will play a role in almost every single industry.” It is for this reason, Abrams believes, that parents too must adopt t h e c u l t u r e o f encouragement and curiosity. It is fundamental to confidence and growth as bold individuals who can draw upon their experiences and knowledge to answer problems within their environment.

Often, y o u n g peo p le dwell within their vibrant imaginations, ch as in g af ter the ar eas that in tr ig u e th em th e mos t, b u t as th ey g r o w o l d e r, t h e y a r e s h u t dow n . They s ay th ey

w ant to s ing, pain t and d ance, b ut are told to get realistic careers.

Such attitudes do not lend to creativity, rather it discourages.

“What we are trying to prepare our young people for is to help them develop the skills in any eventuality,” she said.

Every sector has to be developed, and Guyana's young must be ready to work in all areas to provide the services that the country will need. As such, STEM Guyana allows for the preparation of students to take any academic or skillbased path.

That means that for a country in need of road networks, increase in health care services, cheaper electricity, mining and agriculture development, among others, Guyanese must have the skills to

provide the services in demand.

One of the most awarding experiences with STEM Guyana is when students start to believe that they can actually do anything they put their minds to, Abrams asserted.

STEM Guyana's first global robotics challenge against 180 countries saw Guyana in first place for the first and 10th by the second: a remarkable feat for first timers coming from a fairly low-tech nation.

The STEM Guyana team created a robot that sucked up and separate coloured balls on a field.

Provided with just a robot kit, steel parts, some screws and bolts and instructions, the team had to work together and come up with a way to make the robot not only pick up the balls, but pull itself up as well.

Since a team member's father is a rice famer, the robot was designed in the same way the front of a combine would suck up the crop, while sensors were programmed to separate the balls.

To pull up itself, the robotics team drew inspiration from the gear system used on koker doors.

That year, Guyana had one of the best robots of the tournament.

In October, the STEM team will head to Geneva, Switzerland to take part in the another robotics competition. STEM Guyana has 800 members.

There is the learning pods programme, which is academically centred, but surrounded by technology studies, while the STEM clubs are technological in base with academics as the surrounding subjects.

Maybe an item from 'Cami's Craft' could make your Mother's...

From page 18 for customers to pick up items.

Additionally, there were customers who would order custom-made items and not pick them up.

This, of course, was a bit discouraging and even demotivated her to some extent.

Another challenge was the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic coupled with the

election's period.

This, she said, had caused a tremendous decline in sales.

But the challenges have been decreasing, as according to Bradford, during the pandemic too, there was an upsurge in the number of shelf-spaces located in central Georgetown which made it easier for customers to uplift their orders.

She revealed too that, “A conversation with one of my friends gave birth to another business venture, a partnership – Nature Works Gy. The success of Nature Works Gy gave me the motivation to relaunch Cami's Craft.”

When asked about her long-term goal, Bradford spoke of re-launching Cami's Craft since it was on pause for the past two years.

She also plans to focus on making her products available to various parts of the country and to even go regional to reach different Caribbean counterparts.

Bradford is of the belief that young people in business have a pivotal role in society.

She said, “I believe young entrepreneurs bring a new dynamic to the business sector in Guyana.

Most of us are now trendsetters bringing modern ideas to the local scene.”

In order to boost small businesses and build young entrepreneurs in Guyana, she believes that relevant authorities should provide more business workshops on customer service and ethics across the country.

She also highlighted the

need for “our people to show support to our own local businesses even if it is just a share, like or feedback on social media.

This would boost the creator's confidence as well as provide a means for improvement on their services.”

Persons interested in Bradford's craft can contact her on telephone number (592) 621-7291.

Sunday May 08, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 65

Hong Kong's John Lee: Ex-security chief set to become new leader

(BBC) -John Lee is set to be named Hong Kong's new leader on Sunday, once a closed voting process in which he is the sole candidate concludes.

His appointment is being widely seen as a move by the Chinese government to tighten its grip on the city.

Known as a staunch Beijing supporter, Mr Lee oversaw the sometimes violent crackdowns on pro-

democracy protestors in 2019.Mr Lee replaces outgoing chief executive Carrie Lam. Hong Kong's leaders are selected by a closed-circle committee of around 1,500 members, who are nearly all pro-Beijing loyalists although this time there was only one contender for them to elect.Mr Lee, who was the former Chief Secretary and the city's second-highest

ranking official, was always tipped to be the favoured replacement But although Mr Lee has Beijing's backing, he is deeply unpopular for his role in overseeing the crackdown on protestors during demonstrations over a controversial extradition bill in 2019.Mr Lee continued to back the bill despite the unrest, and came under intense criticism for

Ministry records 31 new COVID-19 cases T

he Ministry of Health yesterday announced that there are 31 new COVID-19 infections which were recorded during the last assessed 24-hour period. Additional, the Ministry revealed that one who is now hospitalised.

The new infections, which have taken the total number of confirmed cases to 63,570, were detected in Region Six which

recorded 14, Region Four which recorded 11, Region Two which recorded two and Regions One, Three, Five and 10 which recorded one each.

The Ministry's dashboard shows that 124 persons are in home isolation while two are in institutional quarantine.

Additionally, seven persons have recovered within the last 24-hour period, bringing the total number of recoveries to 62,217.

sanctioning the police's use of water cannons, rubber bullets, tear gas and occasionally live ammunition to disperse protestors.In 2020, he also backed the imposition of a controversial national security law which criminalised most forms of political protest and dissent, and reduced the city's autonomy.

Mr Lee maintained that the law would help restore "stability from chaos".

He was elevated to the leadership ranks last year, in a sign, analysts said, of Beijing's intention to focus

on security in Hong Kong.

His role in the implementation of the law led to US sanctions against him and a dozen other officials, and a YouTube block on his 2022 election campaign.

Hong Kong was handed back to China from Britain in 1997 under the agreement that rights such as freedom of assembly and freedom of speech would be guaranteed in the territory.

However, critics say those rights have been increasingly eroded as Hong Kong authorities crack down on dissent in the city. Mr

John Lee is set to be named as Hong Kong's new leader after running uncontested.

Lee's staunch support of Beijing's policies has stoked fears that his leadership will usher in an era of tighter Chinese oversight of the semi-autonomous region.

PAGE 66

Kaieteur News

Sunday May 08, 2022

Sunday May 08, 2022

==

Kaieteur News

PAGE 67

S N R E C N O C R E M U S N ==CO

Oil revenue spending on social and economic transformation has started

By Pat Dial It has often been said that the discovery of oil in any country brings with it both blessings and curses.

One such curse which has descended upon Guyana is the plethora of advice and fearsome threats from both local and foreign sources foretelling of the frightening dangers which lie in wait to envelop the country.

Such threats range from the Dutch Disease whereby a country becomes dependent on the oil economy and all other economic activity is sacrificed and when oil prices fall or deposits run out, under development and poverty reemerge or the country would be overwhelmed with corruption with the political class and others in authority massively stealing public funds leaving the country in economic disarray and ruin or others are advocating handing over the revenues to the population so that they could be involved in a happy spending splurge until the wealth is exhausted or others are advocating discontinuing the Oil and Gas industry and leaving the deposits in the earth and this will end all troubles including Environmental ones. If these and other such views are given the free rein and monopoly of space, which they all demand, the country would be overwhelmed with this chaos of competing advices, come to a standstill and then sink deeper into poverty and un-development.

Fortunately, there is a group among the leadership of the country who are determined to break out of this Sargasso Sea of chaotic opinions and advices and chart a positive course of action. They knew that for centuries, from the time of Raleigh, Guyanese people knew that their land was rich in varied resources, which, if exploited, would transform Guyana into a paradise on earth. It was this dream, which sustained the morale of the Guyanese people in poverty, in facing the travails of life, in the socio-political imbroglio generated by politics and even when they were in exile in foreign lands.

The key for opening this treasure house of resources was a vast amount of investment capital, which never seemed to be forthcoming. Then suddenly, Oil and Gas were discovered and almost magically, the developmental capital dreamt of for centuries

- Political Opposition, concerned NGOs and public have heavy responsibility of monitoring, analysing for transparency became available and it was the shock of this, which has led to the explosion of the chaotic advice and views which now threaten to submerge reality.

The challenge now facing Guyanese and their leadership is how best to deploy the resources to achieve the long dreamt of social and economic transformation.

Fortunately, a group, in the Guyanese leadership, has had a wide international exposure and has assured that they would be able to avoid the pitfalls, which had been faced by other Oil and Gas countries.

Vi c e P r e s i d e n t D r.

Bharrat Jagdeo, who is one of the spokespersons for this leadership, has reiterated that “the money would be spent on Education, Health Care, Infrastructure and Assistance to non-Oil Industries…

These four areas will attract the bulk of the resources and are part of a broader plan to ensure that Guyana's economy would continue to thrive long after oil resources would have been exhausted.”

President Dr. Irfaan Ali, in his recent address at the Harvard Business School, reinforced the programme

Dr. Jagdeo had adumbrated: “Guyana is now poised to be one of the wealthiest countries in the hemisphere; we intend to employ the gains from exploiting these deposits into initiatives geared at expanding the e c o n o m y, i m p r o v i n g competitiveness, giving people the best social services, increasing productivity, enhancing food production and building new sectors.”

These plans have already begun to fructify: In Education, cash grants and uniform grants have begun to be made to every child in both the private and public schools. A total of 20,000 online scholarships in various disciplines at several international schools and universities have been on offer and 6000 have already been awarded in the first year.

These disciplines qualify the student for employment in various fields including the Oil and Gas Industry.

To ensure that no one is left behind, a three-month course has been mounted to help students qualify themselves to satisfy the entry requirements of both tertiary and specialised

technical programmes.

Local educational institutions are being methodically upgraded as for example, the Port Mourant Training Centre, which is now being transformed into a National Oil and Gas Institute and new schools have begun to be built in some areas which had long needed them.

In the Health Sector, the hospitals and health centres are methodically being upgraded and plans to build new hospitals are being materialised.

Drug supplies are never allowed to run out and modern equipment and stateof-the-art procedures are being introduced in the Georgetown Public Hospital, the main referral hospital.

For example, the X-ray system no longer requires the use of film and there are many more dialysis machines available and the dialysis procedure has become highly subsidised and more accessible. There are a number of brilliant surgeons who are doing operations locally, which patients who could afford it, once went abroad to have done.

The National Eye Clinic

in Berbice is again functional.

Infrastructure Development has been equally progressing with the award of contracts to build or refurbish key roads and bridges and the main river ferry has been renewed with assistance from India.

Quick, easy and safe connectivity with all parts of Guyana has commenced.

The non-Oil and Gas Sector has begun to enjoy constructive assistance.

Small businesses and industries have been accorded grants and loans, especially in the case of startups. When the prescriptions offered in the Local Content Act are used, local companies and workers, especially blue-collar workers, will enter a new phase of prosperity and expansion and the cheapening of electrical power with the gas-to- power project, the hydropower, solar and wind projects will ensure a strong and growing industrial sector. Agriculture, in its many-faceted developments, has taken off and has started to supply the US$6 billion Caribbean food market.

With this drive to create a

strong, self sustaining nonoil economy, the concomitant of a continual build-up of the future generations Inheritance Fund within the Natural Resources Fund (NRF) remains a priority.

The Political Opposition, concerned NGOs and the public at large have a heavy responsibility of monitoring, dissecting and analysing these various fast moving projects to ensure t r a n s p a r e n c y, n o n corruption, and the upholding of the public interest and in some cases they may have to engage professional, including foreign, expertise to assist them.

They must also take advantage of the many opportunities within the Parliamentary System of airing their concerns and pressuring the authorities.

Above all, all criticisms must be factual and constructive since empty abuse and untruths would, in the long run, make no impact and give the various executing agencies a free pass.

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

PAGE 68

Kaieteur News

Sunday May 08, 2022

Sunday May 08, 2022

PAGE 69

Kaieteur News

Infrastructural works in Region 4 to cost $873M - Engineer estimates During the recent opening of tenders at the National Procurement and Te n d e r A d m i n i s t r a t i o n Board (NPTAB) office, a total of $873,506,078 in engineers estimates were

opened for infrastructural development works for communities in Region Four.

The procuring entity for these projects is the Central Housing and Planning

Ministry of Public Works Miscellaneous roads (Phase 5) for Lots 193 to 199

Authority (CH&PA). Following the recent allocation of house lots in various parts of the country the Ministry of Housing and Wa t e r, through the CH&PA, has been embark-

ing on a number of infrastructural works to develop those new housing areas.

From this years budget, Senior Minister within the Office of the President

GUYSUCO Construction of 3091m Light Duty Revetment at Albion Estate Lot 1- 454m Jubilee 2, Lot 2- 1177m (773 Tain winward to Clifton 23 on Calicharan Cross and 404m Anchor Empolder East to Anchor Empolder West) Lot 3- 1460m (415m west Field 29 to PME 65,574m P,E 65 to Outside Dam and 471 Rose Hal 3 Cross to PME- Williamburgh.)

with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh had announced that the sum of $12.4 billion has been allocated for the Ministry to continue infrastructure works in the housing areas.

Meanwhile, bids were opened on Friday for more miscellaneous roads projects being undertaken by the Ministry of Public Works. Below are the companies and their bids:

Central Housing and Planning Authority Infrastructural development works at Foulis, Enmore Commercial and Industrial Area

Ministry of Finance Pre-qualification for extermination and sanitation services.

Rehabilitation of #1 and 2 boilers chimney at Uitvlugt Sugar Factory.

Supply and delivery of six 195 HP 4-WD articulated agricultural tractors Prequalification of security services.

Supply and delivery of mobile lighting tower and arc welding generator

Prequalification for the repairs/ servicing to vehicle and equipment.

Supply and delivery of eight trailing harrow (16-32) heavy-duty trailed offset.

(Continued on page 72)

PAGE 70

Sunday May 08, 2022

Kaieteur News

Mottley expresses solidarity with gov’t and people of Cuba

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

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

Call 679-2497.

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

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

PENPAL Male seek non racial female.

Must be single.Whatsapp 698-6391.

WANTED

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.

Cases of Hand Sanitizer For Sale: 250ml at $250 While Supplies Last. Call 650-5626.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

1 Assistant Cook.Call:6777011.

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.

(BARBADOS TODAY) Prime Minister Mia Mottley has expressed solidarity with the Government and people of Cuba, and offered any assistance Barbados can render, following a horrific explosion in downtown Havana on Friday.

Reports from the Cuban capital indicate that about two dozen individuals were killed and scores injured in the gas explosion at the historic Hotel Saratoga.

In a letter dispatched yesterday to Cuban president Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, Prime MInister Mottley said: “Let me first express my sincere regret, great sadness and solidarity with you regarding the unfortunate gasrelated explosion which took place in the centre of your lovely city Havana earlier today. I have heard the media reports, with accompanying frightening images, that con-

WANTED 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.

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

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

VACANCY Female Cleaner for office.

Call:642-9823.

One Housekeeper.Tel:6082444/503-0359.

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

firm loss of life and great damage done.

“I understand the pain you must feel when unplanned and unwelcomed events, like this one today, occur. We often ask – why?

Yet, these tragic events also build resilience and determination in us that help to both give strength to move forward beyond them and to take the necessary action to avoid them happening again.

“Let me assure you that Barbados stands ready to give any assistance you may need as you attend to this matter and I wish you every success in your response actions.”

Barbados has maintained an excellent friendship with Cuba, having established diplomatic relations 50 years ago.

Barbados PM, Mia Mottle

Kaieteur M@ilbox Let us first rightfully place our demands in the house before demanding justice in the streets DEAR EDITOR, Aubrey C Norton has just entered Parliament and assumed the important and challenging office of Leader of the Opposition. I must say that his very early days in Parliament gives me and should give our supporters a huge measure of confidence. Yet, the few naysayers are at their wicked and conniving best as they were when they executed their plot to see him not become Leader and Chairman of the PNCR and also Leader of the Opposition. They now sit on their opinion shaping benches trying to create doubt in our supporters and the Guyanese people minds.

One of the foremost haters of the new PNCR is now saying that we have had one statement and press confer-

ence opposition leader and now we have the same in Norton. Though, I fully understand the place where such bile is coming from in relation to that utterance, I look further to see how scheming and conniving some can be, though I am not surprised.

The Leader of the Opposition is moving in the right direction and with the right speed. He is a politician with gumption. He is a shrewd leader. What he is doing today is solidifying his place in the House as a national leader to be reckoned with; he is ensuring that the nations problems and concerns are brought before the National Assembly with a view of arriving at solutions favourable to the people of Guyana and all parties involved. This is the cor-

rect thing to do at this juncture for when the Government of Guyana acts against the best interest of the Guyanese people at the highest level of decision making in the country, only then the leader is required to use other options strategically available to the Guyanese people to see justice and fair play and an equal society that benefits all.

The few naysayers must understand that Norton has the full backing of our opposition supporters. They will continue to repose confidence in him and he will not fail them. Lets rightfully place our demands in the House before demanding justice in the streets.

Norman Browne Social and Political Activist

Nothing being done to address overcrowding at East Ruimveldt Secondary School

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

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

Must be vaccinated photo & DEAR EDITOR, recommendation. Keyfood I have a son, 13 years old, McDoom Village. attending East Ruimveldt SecServicemen for Interior locaondary School. I attended a tion. Applicants must be exmeeting on Friday summoned perienced. Call:231-2250. by the Parent Teachers AssoReceptionist,Washer,Pressor ciation (PTA) to discuss the & Hotel Attendant.Call:231- absurdity of our children at0951,227-7714,223-3448 tending school two days a info@vgiworld.com. week, in spite of the general open up announced by the Fitter Machinist,Welder fabMinistry of Education rericator & mechanic. 3 yrs cently. For some time now, the experience.Call:642-9823 Government is aware of the email:techserigy @yahoo. serious overcrowding at the com. school. In some cases, classes

consist of over 40 children.

The results are cramped conditions and a shortage of school furniture.

Parents are horrified with this boast of expanding infrastructure and lots of money from oil and gas, that this community in this part of the city should be ignored and we believe we are being treated as second-class citizens.

Dear Editor, something is wrong when in certain areas, there is adequate space and furniture and I ask you to as-

certain why citizens in this part of the Republic are being treated with such disregard and disdain, and we wait from the Government since members of the PTA dispatched a petition drawing this unacceptable situation to the attention of the Hon. Minister, a situation that the Minister and Ministry were well aware of but seem to be quite callous about the plight of this community.

Sgd: Gwennete CaesarSquires

Kaieteur News

Sunday May 08, 2022

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$100M to repair 43 health facilities in Region 1 this year - Health Minister Government has announced plans to improve on patients' experience at healthcare facilities across the country and in this regard, this year, it will be upgrading some 43 health centres and health posts in Region One. The disclosure was made

by Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, who noted during his COVID-19 update on Friday that $100 million

has been put aside to upgrade these facilities in that region.

“So in Region One, we have been able to do an assessment of the health facilities there. We have about 51 health centres and health posts in Region One a n d t h i s y e a r, h a v i n g consulted with the region, we recognised that many of these facilities require minor upgrading,” he said.

ExxonMobil distracting population with ...

From page 3 Guyana is pursuing a separate project to construct a power plant that would use a portion of this associated natural gas as a fuel source. Accordingly, EEPGL, at the request of the Government, is proposing the project to provide fuel for the power plant.

The project will involve capturing associated gas produced from crude oil production operations on the Liza Phase 1 (Destiny) and Liza Phase 2 (Unity) Floating, Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) vessels, transporting approximately 50 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscfd; 1.4 million standard cubic metres per day [MMsm3/d]) of rich gas via a subsea pipeline and then an onshore pipeline to a NGL processing plant, treating the

gas to remove NGLs for sale to third parties, and ultimately delivering dry gas meeting government specifications for use at the power plant.

Construction will begin after the company receives all necessary authorisations, with a target date of August 2022 for start of NGL Plant site preparation, and will take approximately three years.

The combined offshore and onshore pipeline system is targeted to be ready to deliver rich gas by end of 2024, and the NGL Plant is targeted to be operational by mid-2025.

The project has a planned life cycle of at least 25 years.

The aspect of the project for which the oil company is responsible, that is to say, the installation of the offshore and onshore pipelines, is set to cost a whopping US$1.3B.

According to the Minister, the upgrades will look mainly at developing waiting areas for patients as well as adding washrooms to these facilities. “So we have set aside $100 million to do these types of upgrades to the health centres and we will be upgrading 43 health centres with the 100 million that we have provided,” he related.

Works, the Minister said,

have already started in the region and he noted that in the next three months' times, the projects are scheduled to be completed.

As was reported in this year's budget, the health sector was allocated just over $73 billion. Out of that, the sum of $1 billion was allocated for the upgrading of health centres across all regions in order to address

critical interventions needed to improve patients' experience.

Similar to what has been happening in Region One, the Minister had mentioned in a previous interview that 16 health centres in Region Seven will be upgraded too.

Kaieteur News understands that another $100 million will be spent on works at those facilities.

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony

PAGE 72

Infrastructural works in....

From page 69 Provision of electrical/air conditioner repair services

Kaieteur News

Sunday May 08, 2022

Sunday May 08, 2022

Madrid Open: Alcaraz shocks Djokovic to reach final (BBC Sport) - Teenage rising star Carlos Alcaraz shocked world number one Novak Djokovic in a three-set thriller to reach the Madrid Open final.

The 19-year-old Spaniard followed up his quarter-final win over Rafael Nadal with a 6-7 (5-7) 7-5 7-6 (7-5) success.

Alcaraz coped with everything Djokovic threw at him and delighted the home crowd with some brilliant drop shots.

He will face German defending champion Alexander Zverev or Greek fourth seed Stefanos

PAGE 73

Kaieteur News

Tsitsipas in Sunday’s final.

Alcaraz becomes the first player to beat 21-time Grand Slam champion Nadal and 20time major winner Djokovic on consecutive days on a clay court.

He is enjoying a superb season, winning a first Masters 1000 title in Miami last month which has helped him into the top 10 of the world rankings for the first time.

“This gives me a lot of confidence to play the final tomorrow,” said Alcaraz.

“I know that I played a really good game, and for the rest of the season I think I am able to play against the best players in the world and beat

Carlos Alcaraz is enjoying the best week of his career (Getty Images) them as well, so it gives me a lot of confidence.”

Sunday May 08, 2022 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) The outlook for today is excellent. The somewhat oppressive atmosphere of the past few days inspires you to change your surroundings and visit new places.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) This will be a great day to meditate. You may be dissatisfied because your various projects have yet to take form. You're impatient, but who wouldn't be?

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) This will be a day rich in reflection. You're able to observe what's going around you while still retaining some distance. Other people's ambitions will amuse you as they play their parts more like caricatures than real people.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Today promises to be excellent, but don't go overboard. You might be tempted to think that your minor financial difficulties are already behind you.

Alas, they are not.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Here's a day when some longawaited attention or recognition comes your way. You're finished with the hassles you experienced during the past month and have entered a calmer period.

CANCER(June21–July22) This will be a day of reflection. While you may be tempted to look back and think about how far you've come, your time would be better spent thinking about what the future has in store.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) This would be an ideal day to take extra care of your body. Don't kid yourself that those back problems will go away. Make an appointment with a doctor or physical therapist.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You may have recently modified the material aspects of your life. Was it sufficient to stop there? More profound changes might be in order.

Take a look at what motivated you to create the life you're living now.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You're in the home stretch now. Kiss your worries goodbye. Your efforts pay off as people listen to your advice and try to please you.

Although certain details in your love life still need to be worked out, it's safe to coast for a while.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Your life seems to revolve around human contact.

You're an outgoing, cheerful, engaging conversationalist who enjoys bringing people together, but lately you've been yearning to be alone.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Sometimes friends become your real family. Your friendships are deeper and more enduring than you realize.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You've made it over the hump. You've moved beyond the problems of the recent past and you're entering a more peaceful phase. You'll soon complete your projects at work. Your domestic life will be the picture of bliss and harmony.

The teenager started strongly, breaking Djokovic in the opening game, but the Serb found his way into the match and broke back in the eighth game to make it 4-4.

Alcaraz gave his opponent a couple of breakpoint chances late in the set but Djokovic was unable to capitalise. He went 6-2 up in the first-set tie-break and although the Spaniard brought it back to 6-5, Djokovic took it.

The second set was equally tight but Djokovic’s energy seemed to slip late on and he put in a tired-looking service game that the teenager made the most of to level the match.

Djokovic found his rhythm again in the deciding set but he was put under pressure on his serve when Alcaraz earned a match point in the 10th game.

But the Serb responded brilliantly with an ace and went on to level the match at 5-5. Both players held their next service game and the match would be decided on another tie-break.

Alcaraz seized the early advantage, going 2-0 ahead and he maintained his lead, sealing victory on his third match point with a forehand winner to become the youngest-ever Madrid finalist.

Alba volley seals Barcelona Champions League spot (BBC Sport) - Barcelona booked their place in next season’s Champions League thanks to Jordi Alba’s stunning volley deep into injury time against Real Betis.

Xavi’s side led when Ansu Fati, just off the bench, shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box his first La Liga goal since 6 November after injury struggles.

Former Barca defender Marc Bartra headed Betis level moments later.

But four minutes into stoppage time Alba volleyed in Dani Alves’ cross.

Barcelona players gave their Real Betis counterparts a guard of honour before kick-off following the hosts’ recent Copa del Rey win over Valencia.

It was an entertaining game with Ronald Araujo’s header tipped onto the bar

by Betis keeper Rui Silva, and Betis’ Guido Rodriguez striking the post.

Second-placed Barca are now 11 points clear of Betis, who are fifth, with three games to go. They were ninth when Xavi replaced Ronald Koeman in November.

PAGE 74

Kaieteur News

Sunday May 08, 2022

Kaieteur News

Sunday May 08, 2022

Watford relegated as they lose at Crystal Palace (BBC Sport) - Watford have been relegated from the Premier League after Wilfried Zaha’s first-half penalty secured a deserved victory for Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Defeat by Burnley last week had left the Hornets 12 points adrift of safety with four games remaining and Palace sent their former manager Roy Hodgson’s side straight back down to the Championship with a dominant display.

The Eagles controlled the contest from the outset and went ahead when Zaha confidently swept his 31stminute spot-kick past Ben Foster after Hassane Kamara had used his arm to block Michael Olise’s back-post header.

Watford never looked like scoring and their misery was compounded when Kamara, already booked for that handball, was dismissed when his push on Olise produced a second yellow

card.

It is the second time Watford have dropped out of the top flight in the past three seasons.

The manager-less Hornets also went went down on the final day of the 2019-20 campaign before securing an immediate return under Xisco Munoz.

The identity of the coach who will be tasked with e m u l a t i n g M u n o z ’s achievement is still unknown, however, with Hodgson set to retire from top-level management when his contract at Vicarage Road expires at the end of the season.

Relegation represents a bitter final chapter in 74year-old Hodgson’s time as a manager, which has included spells at 17 clubs - including Palace - in eight countries, plus four international sides, during a 46-year career.

Palace’s win - which takes them to within five points of their highest-ever

tally in a Premier League season - confirmed what many Watford fans had already accepted after last week’s loss to fellow strugglers Burnley.

While they briefly boosted their survival hopes with victory at Southampton in March, a fourth Premier League relegation was effectively sealed with a run of five straight defeats before the trip to Selhurst.

PAGE 75

Watford’s misery was compounded when Kamara was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Olise.

Watford’s misery was compounded when Kamara was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Olise Watford never really got going as Palace took control early on. France Under-21 winger Olise, one of five players recalled by Eagles boss Patrick Vieira, created the home side’s first chance after five minutes when Marc Guehi headed his teasing cross over the bar.

Olise was also involved

in the first-half ’s key moment when his header from Eberechi Eze’s leftwing cross struck Watford f u l l - b a c k K a m a r a ’s outstretched arm.

Graham Scott pointed to the spot, and while Kamara claimed Olise had pushed him in the back, a VAR review upheld the referee’s decision, allowing Zaha to add to the double he netted in Palace’s 4-1 win over Watford in February.

While Watford needed to score twice, it was Palace who looked like grabbing the game’s second goal with Odsonne Edouard almost netting a superb solo goal just after the hour, dancing his way through the visitors’ defence before hitting the post from a tight angle.

With Kamara sent off on 68 minutes, Palace cruised to victory as the game - and Watford’s stay in the division - ended with a whimper.

Diaz earns draw but Liverpool drop points to Spurs (BBC Sport) iverpool manager J u rg e n K l o p p cannot see Manchester City slipping up in the Premier League title race after his side dropped precious points at Anfield for the first time since October in a draw with Tottenham.

The result takes Liverpool top on goal difference but Pep Guardiola’s side can move three points clear with three games remaining if they defeat Newcastle United on Sunday.

Son Heung-min swept the counter-attacking visitors in front after 56 minutes following a link-up between Harry Kane and Ryan Sessegnon and with the Liverpool defence disorganised.

Liverpool naturally flooded forward for an equaliser but it took a heavily deflected shot from Luis Diaz 16 minutes from time to pierce Spurs’ packed defence and draw the home side level.

Spurs continued to defend with resolution after the equaliser and were also a threat on the break as they battled to take something

L

Son Heung-min is the first player to score more than 20 league goals in a season for Spurs without any being penalties since Gareth Bale in 2012-13. (Getty Images) from the game and enhance their top-four challenge.

“I can’t see it,” said Klopp when asked if City might drop points. “I wish I could think differently but I can’t see it.

“My problem is not whether City smash Newcastle [on Sunday]. It’s Aston Villa on Tuesday.

“We have a point more than before so that’s good and it’s massively better than when we were 1-0 down.

That goal really counts. But it’s not what we wanted, we have to deal with it and we will.”

Liverpool fall

short for once Liverpool at least maintained their unbeaten Premier League record which now stretches to 16 games, including 13 wins and three draws - but time will tell how damaging this failure to beat Spurs will be as the title race reaches its climax.

Klopp’s team has set magnificently high standards but it was inevitable they would not be able to find a way to win every time and they were up against a side brilliantly organised by visiting coach Antonio Conte.

Liverpool swarmed over Spurs from the start but once the early storm blew over they could not carve out many clear openings against a resolute defence, in which Cristian Romero was absolutely outstanding.

Virgil van Dijk struck the woodwork before the break as did Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg - as Liverpool frequently threatened from set-pieces but Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane were kept largely quiet, and were after the break too.

Diaz was the main threat, as he arguably has since he arrived in January, and the

Colombia winger deserved his goal even if it was helped by a big deflection off Rodrigo Bentancur.

Liverpool were roared forward by a Kop desperate for another piece of late Anfield drama but too many crosses went astray and too many moves foundered on the rock of the Spurs defence.

K l o p p ’s s i d e h a v e relentlessly pursued City in the past two months knowing any slip-up would be damaging and after these dropped two points must now hope Guardiola’s side lose rather than merely draw one of their remaining games in order to reel them in.

Spurs show their steel Conte once again showed his nous as a coach as he organised his players to execute a gameplan that frustrated Liverpool and which almost brought a memorable win.

Spurs had a rough ride early on as Liverpool, lifted by reaching the Champions League final and boosted by a buoyant Anfield, tore into the visitors but came through that and showed qualities that have been witnessed in patches since the Italian’s

arrival.

They were fiercely welldisciplined and their ability to rise to the occasion is proved by the fact they have now come through their four league meetings with Liverpool and Manchester City undefeated this season.

Spurs showed two sides to their game as they were outstanding in defence but also carried a serious threat on the break, creating enough chances to perhaps regret not getting three points.

S o n ’s g o a l s h o w e d exactly what Spurs were all about as Kane controlled the ball brilliantly, passing up the chance to shoot and instead playing in Sessegnon, whose cut-back was finished off by the South Korea forward.

In the context of the chase for a place in the Champions League, Conte will curse how Hojbjerg passed up a golden opportunity in the dying seconds.

Nevertheless the performance will give them heart going into Thursday’s potentially decisive north London derby at home to Arsenal.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 76

Sunday May 08, 2022

TATA IPL 2022: LSG surge to top of the table (IPL) - The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) moved to the top of the points table in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 after defeating Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by 75 runs on Saturday at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune.

A half-century from Quinton de Kock along with Avesh Khan’s three-wicket haul powered LSG to a comprehensive victory by 75 runs as they successfully defended their total of 176.

Chasing 177, KKR lost the wicket of Baba Indrajith in the first over. Mohsin Khan scalped the wicket of the opener and bowled a wicket—maiden to kick off the innings.

Dushmantha Chameera scalped the second wicket of the innings after KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer was caught at square-leg in the 4th over.

Troubles increased further for KKR as Jason Holder dismissed Aaron Finch, who was caught by Quinton de Kock in the 6th over. KKR were 25-3 at the end of the powerplay.

Nitish Rana was the next batter to depart after the left-

Lucknow Super Giants were clinical in the field against Kolkata Knight Riders handed batter was castled by Avesh Khan in the 7thover.

Andre Russell announced his arrival to the crease by going all guns blazing against the LSG bowling attack. The KKR all-rounder hammered two fours and 4 massive sixes as LSG were 64-4 at the halfway mark.

Ravi Bishnoi brought an end to Rinku Singh’s stay at the crease after the batter was

Yates wins Giro time trial to move up to second (BBC Sport) - Britain’s Simon Yates took stage two in the Giro d’Italia after storming to a surprise victory in the time trial.

The 29-year-old completed the 9.2km course in 11 minutes 50 seconds, three seconds ahead of Mathieu van der Poel.

Te a m J u m b o - Vi s m a rider Tom Dumoulin came third, finishing five seconds behind Yates, with 20-yearold Briton Ben Tulett an impressive fifth.

Van der Poel, who won the opening stage on Friday, retains the overall lead, 11 seconds clear of Yates.

caught at deep mid-wicket.

Sunil Narine and Andre Russell collectively added two sixes and a four.

However, Avesh Khan brought LSG back into the game by scalping two wickets in an over including the all-important breakthrough of Russell.

Jason Holder then scalped two wickets on consecutive deliveries to dismiss Narine and Tim

Yates of Team BikeExchange trails Mathieu Van der Poel by 11 seconds as the race heads into its third stage on Sunday

Yates is not known for his time trialling, but said he had been working “hard on the time trial bike”.

“For sure this is my best time trial victory. I’m of course very happy. It’s a little bit unexpected,” he added after the fifth Giro d’Italia stage victory of his career.

Yates led the Giro for almost two weeks in 2018 before his challenge collapsed late on, and finished third in the race last year.

“We have worked hard on the time-trial bike and wanted to go as fast as possible here,” added Yates,

who handled the cobbled section well when others appeared to have struggled.

“I rode the fastest I could, also on the flat. I was never confident to win until Mathieu van der Poel crossed the line. Today was just a 10-minute effort.

There are still many more to come.”

This was the second of three stages in Hungary before the race moves to Sicily next week.

Sunday’s stage is over a flat 201km course from Kaposvar to Balatonfured which is likely to end in a bunch sprint.

Southee while Harshit Rana was run-out in the same over.

KKR were all out for 101 and LSG won by 75 runs.

Earlier, LSG, who were put in to bat first, made one change – Avesh Khan

replaced K Gowtham in the eleven. Skipper KL Rahul was run-out without facing a delivery, thanks to a brilliant direct-hit from opposition skipper Shreyas Iyer.

The pressure of an early wicket didn’t affect LSG as Quinton de Kock and Deepak Hooda stitched a quick fifty-run partnership. de Kock hammered the first six of the innings in the third over, bowled by Southee.

Hooda smashed his first maximum off Narine’s bowling.

17 runs came off the 6th over and LSG were 66-1 at the end of powerplay after de Kock smacked consecutive sixes.

The opener notched his half-century in the 7th over before he was caught at longoff by Shivam Mavi, off Narine’s bowling.

Krunal Pandya joined Hooda at the crease. Pandya and Hooda added a four each against Harshit Rana and LSG were 90-2 at the

halfway stage. The 100 was up for LSG after Hooda cleared the ropes against Anukul Roy. Andre Russell put an end to the 34-run partnership after KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer grabbed Hooda’s catch.

Russell then dismissed Krunal Pandya after the batter was caught at deeppoint.

Marcus Stoinis whacked three sixes in a row before the all-rounder holed out to the deep in the penultimate over, which produced 30 runs.

Jason Holder clubbed two sixes before he was caught by Rinku Singh in the final over as LSG posted 176-7 in the first innings.

Brief Scores: Lucknow Super Giants 176/7 (Quinton de Kock 50, Deepak Hooda 41; Andre Russell 2-22) beat Kolkata Knight Riders 101 all out (Andre Russell 45, Sunil Narine 22; Avesh Khan 319) by 75 runs.

Fraser-Pryce runs fastest 100m of 2022 in Nairobi

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, centre, won the 100m at the Kip Keino Classic as Christine Mboma, right, pulled up (Getty Images) (BBC Sport) - Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has run the fastest women’s 100m so far this year with victory in 10.67 seconds in Nairobi. Only four other women have ever run faster at the distance.

Eight-time Olympic medallist FraserPryce won comfortably on Saturday after Namibia’s Christine Mboma, the 200m Olympic silver medallist, pulled up.

“I have been doing this for 13 years. Even time I run I set new records, it’s incredible,” the 35-year-old said.

Fraser-Pryce’s time at the Kip Keino Classic in the Kenyan capital was just short of her personal best of 10.60, which she set in Lausanne, Switzerland, last August.

Americans Marion Jones (10.65) and Carmelita Jeter (10.64), fellow Jamaican Elaine Thompson-Herah (10.54) and the controversial world record holder American Florence Griffith-Joyner (10.49) are the only women to have ever run faster.

Later this month, Olympic champion Thompson-Herah will take on Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith in the 100m at the at the Birmingham Diamond League.

Thompson-Herah recorded her 10.54 time in August 2021 and has said she is aiming to beat Griffith-Joyner’s world record, set in 1988.

Fraser-Pryce will then face ThompsonHerah at this year’s World Championships, which start in Eugene, Oregon, on 15 July.

There was also a world-leading time in the men’s 100m on Saturday when Kenyan Ferdinand Omanyala secured victory in 9.85 to beat American Kerley (9.92).

Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs withdrew at the last minute with intestinal problems.

The Italian, a surprise winner at last year’s Olympics, was due to run the distance for the first time since Tokyo, with silver medallist Fred Kerley also in action.

Sunday May 08, 2022

Kaieteur News

‘I wasn’t getting the respect I deserved’ - Gayle’s decision to stay out of IPL draft (SportsMax) - West Indies T20 star Chris Gayle has revealed that he skipped this season’s India Premier League (IPL) draft because he did feel like he was getting the respect he deserved. The 42-year-old has been one of the tournament’s most successful and recognisable players since first appearing at the tournament in 2009. The batsman, however, struggled to find his way last season while representing the Punjab Kings, managing just 193 runs from 10 games.

In addition, the batsman also made the headline after being surprisingly dropped on his birthday and eventually left the tournament early.

In the previous season, Gayle eventually scored an impressive 288 in 7 games but was left out of the team for the first 6 matches. “For the last couple of years, the way the IPL went about, I felt like I wasn’t treated properly. So I thought ‘okay, you (Gayle) didn’t get the respect you deserved after you did so much for the sport and IPL,” Gayle told The Mirror UK. “So, I said ‘okay, that’s it, I’m not going to bother to enter the draft,’ so I left it as it is.

There is always going to be life after cricket so I’m just trying to adapt to normality,” he added.

A

Much like his international career, however, Gayle does not believe his tenure in the IPL is over and claims he could return next season.

“Next year I’m coming back, they need me! I’ve represented three teams in the IPL, Kolkata, RCB, and Punjab. Between RCB and Punjab, I would love to get a title, with one of those two teams. I had a great stint with RCB where I was more successful within the IPL and Punjab, they’ve been good. I love to explore and I love challenges so let’s see what happens,” the 42-year-old said.

However, since the tournament began play it has been badly affected by the inclement weather.

As such, the UCCA has decided that is unfair to let the competition continue with some teams playing and others having their games washed out.

The decision to put the competition on hold was expedited with the heavy rains over the past few days.

The UCCA will meet shortly to make a decision on the continuation of the competition. (Samuel Whyte)

Essequibo/Pomeroon FA teams geared for battle as Senior League launched

S

even clubs affiliated to the Essequibo/Pomeroon Football Association (EPFA) are set and ready to battle for supremacy in their senior League which was unveiled on Thursday last.

President of the EPFA, Magzene Stewart, at the launch challenged the clubs to bring their best to the playing field as the top two clubs would be rewarded by being involved in a National playoff amongst their peers from the other RA’s “I first of all would like to commend each of you for answering the call to compete in this league that will create history as it would

TATA IPL 2022: Ruthless Rajasthan ease past PBKS Rajasthan Royals’ Shimron Hetmyer (left) and Riyan Parag celebrate getting their team over the line against Punjab Kings

Chris Gayle has crafted 6 memorable IPL centuries

UCCA 40-Over Competition suspended due to inclement weather fter three completed rounds of the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (UCCA) organised Vishnu Super Store Second Division 40-over Cricket Competition has been put on hold due to the inclement weather.

The competition which is for teams in the Upper Corentyne area which takes in the Crabwood Creek to 43 areas including Black Bush Polder has some 30 teams participating.

The teams have been divided into four zones with the top two teams in each zones advancing to the next round.

PAGE 77

be the first time that all nine Regional Associations would be kicking off their senior leagues at the same time.

The Guyana Football Federation I can assure you have been fully supportive of all that happening in the continued development of the game on and off the field of play and as a member, we would not be left out. So come out, do your best and let the games begin.”

The competing clubs are Queenstown, Mainstay Gold Star, Hood Hope, Henrietta, Dartmouth, Wakapoa, and Tapakuma.

Each of the clubs was presented with balls, bibs, and cones compliments of the GFF and the EPFA.

(IPL) - The Rajasthan Royals (RR) were back to winning ways in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 after defeating Punjab Kings (PBKS) by 6 wickets on Saturday at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Yu z v e n d r a C h a h a l scalped an impressive threewicket haul before Yashasvi Jaiswal announced his comeback with a superb half-century and powered RR to a 6-wicket victory.

Chasing 190 to win, RR scored 14 off the first over after Yashasvi Jaiswal struck two fours and a six against Sandeep Sharma.

Jos Buttler announced his entry with a giant six followed by three fours but the RR opener was dismissed on the final delivery by Kagiso Rabada and was caught at short third man. RR skipper Sanju Samson hit three fours and RR were 67-1 after 6 overs.

Rishi Dhawan managed to break the 39-run partnership after Samson was caught by Dhawan in the 8th over. RR were 95-2 at the halfway stage. Jaiswal reached his half-century after creaming two fours. 14 runs came off the 13th over as Jaiswal smacked three fours against Rishi Dhawan.

The fifty partnership was

up between Jaiswal and Devdutt Padikkal. Arshdeep Singh put an end to the partnership by scalping the vital wicket of Yashasvi Jaiswal. With 39 required off 24 deliveries, Hetmyer smacked two consecutive fours to bring RR closer. 16 runs came from the 18th over bowled by Rabada after Hetmyer dispatched a fulltoss and Padikkal added two fours.

Arshdeep Singh conceded only 3 runs in the penultimate over as RR required 8 off the final over.

Hetmyer clubbed a six in the final over and RR chased down the total with 4 balls to spare.

Earlier, PBKS, who opted to bat first, remained unchanged from their previous victory. Openers – Jonny Bairstow and Shikhar Dhawan started steadily with the bat. Bairstow was up and running with five fours and a six.

However, Dhawan was dismissed by Ashwin after Buttler grabbed an excellent one-hand catch at mid-on.

PBKS were 48-1 at the end of 6 overs before Rajapaksa struck his first maximum of the innings. The left-handed batter formed a crucial partnership with Bairstow, who was leading the charge

with the bat for PBKS. At the halfway stage, PBKS were 88-1 before Rajapaksa was cleaned up by Yuzvendra Chahal. Skipper Mayank Agarwal, who was the new batter at the crease, creamed two fours against Ashwin. Bairstow reached his half-century before Chahal took two wickets in quick succession to dismiss both Agarwal and Bairstow.

While Agarwal holed out to the deep, Bairstow was trapped LBW by the spinner.

New batter Liam Livingstone launched his first maximum and PBKS were 132-4 with four overs to go. Jitesh Sharma crunched two consecutive fours and a six and PBKS were 158-4 with two overs to go.

Livingstone added a four and a six but Prasidh Krishna rattled the stumps to dismiss the all-round. Jitesh Sharma provided an excellent finishing touch with a six and two fours as PBKS posted 189-5 in the first innings.

Brief Scores: Rajasthan Royals 190/4 (Yashasvi Jaiswal 68, Shimron Hetmyer 30*; Arshdeep Singh 2-29) beat Punjab Kings 189/5 (Jonny Bairstow 56, Jitesh Sharma 38*; Yuzvendra Chahal 328) by 6 wickets.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 78

Sunday May 08, 2022

GCB presents over $800,000 in cricket gear to UDCA

By Samuel Whyte The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) is moving full speed ahead to implement a number of programmes they have in the pipeline. Some will be dome simultaneously to make up for lost time.

Those were the sentiments of President of the GCB, Bissondyal Singh.

Singh was speaking at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Upper Demerara Cricket Association (UDCA) held recently at the Watooka Guest House in Linden, Region 10.

During the meeting over $800,000 worth of cricket gears were handed over to the UDCA for use by the organization for the development of the game in the Region.

The UDCA is the body responsible for the conduct of cricket and all cricket related activities in Region 10. The region encompasses a wide area that includes Linden, the Mining and Riverain areas of Berbice and Demerara and Essequibo.

Speaking at the

ceremony Singh first congratulated the President of the UDCA and the Executive body on behalf of the GCB and DCB and wished them all the best in their term in office. Singh in a passionate address stated that Region 10 is close to his heart and he and his team of executives are happy to be among the gathering.

He mentioned the sacrifices the UDCA made along with the Cricket Stakeholders during the turbulent times of the p r e v i o u s G C B administration.

Stating that, “The UDCA stood the test of time they were treated badly, were ostracized, and must be applauded. Many efforts were made to destroyed and disband the body, but the UDCA prevailed.” He also mentioned the contribution made by the legendry Sir Clive Lloyd along with the gathering of some 7000 signatures to help get the Cricket Administration act to pass. That entire process took years to conclude include a number of court battles.”

The GCB he said is the parent body of cricket in Guyana and deals specifically with the County boards in Demerara, Berbice and Essequibo. The UDCA is simply an Association that is affiliated to the DCB. However, due to their resilience and the fact that they are now getting off the ground in comparison to the other Associations that have been around for years, they must be singled out for special assistance.

“You were stifled for over 11 years by the previous administrators and must be given some attention and the GCB is willing to assist”.

The President alluded to the hard work and enthusiasm of the members of the UDCA. Giving an example, Singh mentioned the recently concluded U-15 Inter Association Cricket competition in Demerara.

For the first time an Under-15 team was selected from the Region to participate in a cricket competition.

What was exemplary about that was the team was selected in two weeks. The

Windies, India series scheduled to get underway in July

Nicholas Pooran’s first assignment since being appointed captain will be against the India (SportsMax) - The India tour of the West Indies is expected to bowl off on July 22, with matches scheduled to take place in Trinidad, St Kitts, and the United States.

According to reports, the tour is expected to consist of three ODIs and five T20Is and should be the first major test for new West Indies skipper Nicholas Pooran. Pooran took charge of the team last week, following the retirement of all-rounder Kieron Pollard.

The first of the five-match T20I matches

will be played at the Brian Charles Lara Stadium on July 29, and that should be followed by two encounters at Warner Park in St Kitts and Nevis between August 1 and 2.

The last two matches will also be held on back-to-back days, but that venue will be in Florida on August 6 and 7.

Things will get underway with the 50over matches, which will be conducted at Trinidad’s Queen Park Oval on July 22, 24, and 27.

players never played hardball Cricket but were eager to play. What is more commendable is that one of the members of the team was selected to participate in the ongoing Inter-County Competition.

To u c h i n g o n t h e donation he said that it is being done to help the Association with gear and equipment needed for training sessions and to play matches. He urged the recipients to make full use of the items donated and look forward to seeing talented players coming from the Region.

He assured the UDCA that it will not be the last. The items donated include bats, pads, gloves, stumps, balls.

The GCB will be moving to implement several activities including training and playing matches across the country. So, it will be

prudent for the UDCA to have an adequate quantity of cricket gear and equipment to support the player development plans.

The President mentioned the rolling out of a massive school’s programme to be undertaken shortly with the training of 150 teachers from 75 primary schools, country wide. Region 10 he intoned, will be an integral part of that programme. Competition will commence at the end of the training sessions.

The GCB President commended the UDCA for having a number of females on board as a part of the executives. Such a move is a good sign, especially for youth and female cricket.

Females are passionate in whatever they do, and they will help to stimulate the work of the Association. He challenged the Association to have teams ready for all

other competitions including Under-17, Under-19, and females among others.

President of UDCA, Bradley Federicks, was a very elated man. He stated that the UDCA is extremely grateful for such an enormous contribution.

Pointing out that the worth and value of the gear goes beyond its $800,000 price tag.

The UDCA president said that with the donation of the gear it will be easier for them to help administer the game across the Region. He promised that he and his executives will make full use of the items donated. The UDCA President stressed that his board would continue to create the environment for players to grow and took up GCB challenge to have teams prepared in time for all upcoming competitions.

Guyana Harpy Eagles to contest final practice match on Monday Amidst overcast conditions and hopes of a rain-free encounter, the practice match between Johnson’s XI and Keemo Paul’s XI got underway at the Everest Cricket Club Ground on May 2.

The match was geared to enhance preparations of the local team for the resumption of the West Indies Championship Tournament scheduled from May 18 in Trinidad and Tobago.

The latter team won the toss, elected to take first strike and only managed 177. In response, Johnson’s XI had compiled a score of 13-3, trailing by 164 runs when the rain disrupted play. The match was eventually abandoned.

Organizers of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) have planned a second practice match, starting Monday May 9, at the National Stadium, Providence where the players will hope for better playing conditions.

The 2019-20 edition of t h e We s t I n d i e s Championship had to be aborted after eight of the ten-round fixture when it became clear that it would not be possible to complete the season.

Barbados, then in the

Keemo Paul (AFP) lead, were crowned champions. As the COVID19 pandemic raged, administrators deemed the 2 0 2 0 / 2 1 To u r n a m e n t logistically impossible. In the 2022 edition, Guyana played in the Twin Island Republic against Windwards and Leewards in the first 2 rounds, respectively.

After winning 5 consecutive titles Guyana had lost championship honours. The local team will now hope to better their performance in the remaining three matches.

Chairman of the senior national selectors Ravindranauth Seeram and his panelist Albert Clement (Smith), Peter Persaud and Elroy Stephney called-up the following players to participate in the match from Monday.

Johnson’s X1:Leon

Leon Johnson Johnson (Capt), Chandrapaul Hemraj, Vishaul Singh, Tevin Imlack Akshaya Persaud, Anthony Bramble, Keemo Paul, Junior Sinclair, Demeter Cameron, Antony Adams, Clinton Pestano, Richie Looknauth, Joshua Jones, and Cylus Tyndall.

Chanderpaul X1: TagenarineChanderpaul, Trevon Griffith, Matthew Nandu,Kevlon Anderson, Mavindra Dindyal, Kevin Sinclair, Gudakesh Motie, Nial Smith,Ronsford B e a t o n , K e m o l S a v o r y, S a c h i n S i n g h , S t e v e n S a n k a r, K e o n Joseph, Shamar Joseph.

The Guyana Harpy Eagles Manager is Albert Clements (Smith), Head Coach - Esuan Crandon, Assistant Coach - Ryan Hercules and the Physiotherapist is Angelica Holder.

Kaieteur News

Sunday May 08, 2022

PAGE 79

Bartica Men’s Senior League officially launched

- Kicks off May 15

“

It’s time for Bartica to have football on the go, bigger and better and here is where we start that journey.

The Bartica Football Association is officially launching the Bartica Football Association Men’s Senior League and we’re looking forward to a great and exciting league of football.”

Those were the words of President of the Bartica Football Association (BFA), Alden Marslowe, in his opening remarks at the launching of the BFA Senior Men’s League 2022.

The launching of the league was held at the Bartica town council board room on Friday in the presence of The Regional Chairman, Mayor Gifford

Marshall, other members of the Association’s executive body, Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) Lyndon France and the Referee in charge of Bartica Referee Council, Leon Stewart.

M e m b e r s a n d representatives of the nine clubs that will be a part of the league were also present at the launch.

During the launching of the League the co-ordinator and the GFF technical support officer to the BFA outlined the rules and regulations and also handed over the fixtures of the league.

The representative of the Guyana Football Federation and technical support officer to the BFA mentioned that he was pleased to see the turnout of representatives

Bartica FA Executive Members and the General Council Members following the Senior League launch on Friday evening. from clubs that will be participating in the league.

He further went on state that the GFF is on a path to making Guyana’s Football first class with some of the responsibilities to be placed on clubs locally to get the early start. He reinforced that statement by adding that punctuality is the key so he is expecting all clubs to be on time, organized and ready for the start of the league.

Mayor Marshall added that he’s very grateful and it’s pleasing to know Bartica has an event as such.

At the end of the launching, the BFA members handed out balls, bibs and cones to each member who will be playing in the league.

Teams participating in the league included Rivers View FC, Ballers FC, Rising

Stars FC, Lazio Untied FC, Agatash United FC, AK Galaxy FC, Beacon United FC, Potaro Strikers FC and Wolves United FC.

The league is set to start on May 15, 2022 and will be played at three venues; Bartica Community Centre Ground, Rivers View Sports

Group and Dogg Point Playfield. At total of 36 matches are scheduled to be played during the period of May 15 and July 2.

GCF/ Youth and Culture three-stage road race set for upcoming weekend

GT Club 45 wins Linden Town Week Red Stripe Masters Tournament The Georgetown Club 45 Under-45 side have emerged winners of the Red Stripe sponsored Linden Masters Town Week football competition with a 1-0 victory Friday night at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground.

In the deciding final played on a wet pitch, the GT side’s Under 45 delivered the vital blow in the 64th minute to earn them a win after the scores remained 0-0 up to that stage of the game.

It was a goal that came off the boot of Dellon Layne which did the trick from a spot kick outside the 18-yard box that soared past the Linden Masters Over 45 goalkeeper. That decided the final.

In the third place game, the Linden Under-45s were able to save face when they scored a 5-4 penalty win over the GT Club 45 Over-45 team to break a 1-1 deadlock that unfolded at the end play.

For that win the Club 45 players hugged all the individual prizes on offer also with their central defender Dwayne Alli coming out as the Most Valuable Player following his two goals in the previous game and excellent defensive work in the two-match series.

The Youth and Culture three-stage road race is expected to be keenly contested

T

Dellon Layne Other awards were the Most Goals prize won by Alli, Best Defender - Mark Glasgow, Best Midfield - Kwesi Pryce, Best Goalkeeper - Lance Liedfe, Best Manager Kurt Davis and best supporter - Mr. Dallas.

he nation’s top cyclists will face off in what is expected to be a keenly contested event as the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) will be hosting the annual Youth and Culture three- stage Road Race on May 14th and 15th, 2022.

This colorful prestigious event is in its 39th edition and will commence 7:30am on Saturday in the Town of Corriverton and proceeds to New Amsterdam for the finish, covering a distance of 40 miles.

At 14:00 hours on the same day, the second Stage will commence at New Amsterdam and proceeds to Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown, for the finish, spanning a distance of 60m.

On Sunday at 07:30hrs the 3rd Stage will pedal off in the mining Town of Linden and

proceeds to Georgetown for the finish for a distance of 65 miles. The presentation of prizes will be done at the conclusion of this stage.

This event encompasses the Elite, Open Veterans, Juniors and Ladies categories. A Suriname Team is also expected to be competing in this event.

Cyclists are asked to register at Singh’s Accounting and Tax Office, on camp Street with Eybo Orford. Contact can be with Orford on 6250364 to complete registration.

Registration can also be done at Sunday’s circuit race.

Please note that transportation leaves the Youth and Culture Office on Homestretch Avenue at 11:30am on Friday 13th for transportation to Corriverton and 5:15am on Sunday for transportation to Linden.

Essequibo/Pomeroon FA teams geared for battle as Senior League launched

EPFA President Magzene Stewart takes a photo op with fellow EPFA Executives and club representatives following the Launch of their Senior League.

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GCB’s President Singh flanked by representatives of UDCA

GCB presents over $800,000 in cricket gear to UDCA Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, centre, won the 100m at the Kip Keino Classic as Christine Mboma, right, pulled up (Getty Images)

Fraser-Pryce runs fastest Windies, India series 100m of 2022 in Nairobi scheduled to get underway in July Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.