Kaieteur News

School Principal dead after

over

Inwhoseinterest?

When it comes to the regulation of the oil and gas sector, we can no longer assume that BharratJagdeoisactingin the best interest of the people.

As the government’s point man in the oil and gas sector, he has dishonored his party’s promisetorenegotiatethe Production Sharing Agreement.

Hehasfailedtoextract greaterroyaltiesandtaxes from the oil companies operating in the Stabroek Block. He has failed to secure ring fencing. He has failed to ensure unlimited liability protection in the event of anoilspillfromtheLiza1 project.

The rapidness of the a p p r o v a l o f environmental permits and field development plans, raises questions as

to whether expediency is trumpingprudency

But most shameful of all are his comments followingacourtdecision compelling the EPA to take action to secure unlimited liability protection, and the decision to appeal that decision.

Jagdeo’s tenure over the regulation of the oil and gas operations in the Stabroek block has not elicited any major concessions for the people.Thepublic can no longer have confidencein hisoversightanddirection ofthissector

Neither he nor his government is acting in the nation’s best interest when it comes to the oil andgassector.

In whose interests are they really acting? And why?

Principal of St. Mary's Secondary School, Kirwyn Mars

Historic ruling against Exxon, EPA means Guyana taxpayers currently exposed

…SAYS POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES FOR COUNTRY “CATASTROPHIC”

The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis(IEEFA)inarecent statementcommentedonthe historic judgment handed down against ExxonMobil G u y a n a a n d t h e Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), citing the dangeritspellsforGuyana.

Two citizens, President oftheTransparencyInstitute of Guyana Inc (TIGI) Frederick Collins and Godfrey Whyte, through their lawyers, Mr Seenath Jairam,SC,andMs.Melinda Janki, had approached the court to get the EPA to enforce a critical clause, Condition 14 in the Liza Phase 1 Environmental Permit(Renewed)issuedon May 31, 2022 to EEPGL. That provision says ExxonMobil Corporation, the parent company for EEPGL,mustcovercostsfor all environmental loss and damage that might result fromawellblowout,oilspill or other failure in the Liza Phase One Development

Project in Guyana’s StabroekBlock.

The IEEFA pointed out that the May 3 ruling by Guyana’s High Court Judge Justice Sandil Kissoon, has found that ExxonMobil Guyanahasfailedtoprovide adequate insurance for the costs of recovering from a potentially catastrophic oil spill from a massive drilling project off the coast of Guyana.

The agency added that the court found too that ExxonMobil “engaged in a disingenuous attempt” to dodge full responsibility for any damage that might be caused at its Liza One field, part of an offshore project that produces 380,000 barrelsofoildaily.”

“Since the judge found

Tom Sanzillo, Director of Financial Analysis for the IEEFA

that ExxonMobil hasn’t provided sufficient insurance,Guyanataxpayers are currently exposed. The potential consequences for Guyana are catastrophic,” said Tom Sanzillo, director of financial analysis for the IEEFA. He continued: “The judge found that the unlimited parent guarantee wasclearandwellknownto the company and Guyana EPA The parties had time since before December 2019, when productionstarted—tosettle the final terms of the insurance.”

The court’s decision means ExxonMobil has 30 days to provide adequate insurancefortheproject.

Importantly, Sanzillo explained that the unlimited guarantee has specific meaning in light of past oil spills.BPhasreportedthatit provided $69 billion in payments to meet its obligations due to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico, includingresponse,cleanup, e c o n o m i c c l a i m s , government payments, settlements and restoration.

He noted that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Guyanaprojectidentified12 islands with a gross state product of US$147 billion that could be affected by an oilspill.

Tom Sanzillo has produced influential studies o n t h e o i l , g a s , petrochemical and coal sectors in the U S and internationally, including company and credit analyses, facility development, oil and gas reserves, stock and commodity market analysis, and public and private financial structures. He also examines such areas as community and shareholder activism, institutional investment, public subsidies and Puerto Rico’s energy economics.

Additionally, Sanzillo highlighted that the ruling marks the second time that the deal with ExxonMobil has been found to violate local rules. He highlighted that a separate lawsuit resultedina2020rulingthat cut the length of the consortium’s production permits in Guyana from 23 years to five years Litigation is also pending overflaringfromtheproject. Although a 2016 agreement between the consortium and Guyana prohibits flaring, morethan15.1billioncubic feetofgashadbeenflaredby July 2021. The oil giant, which recorded US$56 billion in profits last year, paid an $8.4 million penalty t o t h e G u y a n a Environmental Protection Agencyin2022.

Thejudge’sdecisionand order comes shortly before ExxonMobil’s May 31 annual shareholder meeting, wheretworesolutionsareon

Coconutbrancheskillfarmer whilecuttingdowntree

A farmer was at around 11:30hrs on Sunday killed by branches while he and his brother were cutting a coconut tree at Beterverwagting Housing Scheme, East CoastDemerara(ECD).

The dead man was identified as George Edwards. His brother, Steve Edwards was hiredtocutthetreeandhewentalongashis helper George stayed on the ground holding a rope around the tree to angle in a particular directionwhenitwasaboutfall,whileSteve climbedupthetreetostartcuttingitfromthe topwithachainsaw

Stevetoldpolicethathecutthetop–apart ofthetrunkandthebranches-andnotifiedhis brother,Edwardsthatitwas“comingdown”.

Stevesaidhewaiteduntilheheardtheimpact of of the tree top hitting the ground before climbingdown.

When he came down he saw Edwards lying on the ground, bleeding through his mouth with coconut branches on top his chest.

Edwards was immediately rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for treatment but was pronounced deadonarrival.

the docket that would improve reporting on oil spills and the company’s risks due to environmental litigation.

EPAINBREACH

“The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hasrelegateditselftoastate oflaxityofenforcementand condonation compounded by a lack of vigilance

thereby putting this nation and its people in grave potential danger of calamitous disaster,” those were the words of High Court Judge, Justice Sandil Kissoon, when he handed downhisruling.

Justice Kissoon pointed out that the antecedent circumstances that were raised in the proceedings

have exposed the existence of an egregious state of affairs that has engulfed the EPA, “in a quagmire of its ownmaking.”

Thejudgeaddedthatthe EPA has abandoned its exclusive statutory responsibilities entrusted to it by the NationalAssembly toensureduecomplianceby

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Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456

Editor:NIGELWILLIAMS

Tel:225-8465,225-8491. Fax:225-8473,226-8210

EDITORIAL

The Ray Daggers Walk

The Ray Daggers Walk is a product of Mr. Daggers’s heart. ThisWalkbyaGuyaneseisofloveforcountry,adeep and abiding patriotism, and what is terribly wrong in this country. It has to do with oil, this vile oil contract of 2016 signedbytheAPNU+AFCCoalitionGovernment,andgiven greaterstrengthandextendedlifebythePPPCGovernment. ThisExxonMobilcontractisimmoral,anditisassickening asadeadbodylefttodecayinfullpublicview

RayDaggersisrepulsedtohisstomachbythepresentand future slavery inflicted by this despicable document that ExxonMobil uses to chain Guyanese like dogs. Like other Guyanese,RayDaggersistorntohissoulthatExxonMobilis sohappytowhipandstripthemoftheirdignity,theirhopes, and their aspirations. This contract is what ExxonMobil employstogetGuyaneseleaderstodancetotheirmusic,to jumptotheircommands.JudgeSandilKissoonhandeddown a judgement, and before ExxonMobil could react publicly, the PPPC Government was on the attack. ExxonMobil’s Guyanese political weapons are quickly unleashed against theinterestsoftheGuyanesepeoplethemselves.

To please their ExxonMobil masters, the PPPC Government is appealing Judge Kissoon’s ruling. Vice President Jagdeo has made clear where he stands, and AttorneyGeneralAnilNandlallreadiestodobattle;bothare forwhatcontributestoExxonMobil’sprosperity,bothhave scant interest in what benefits this country, safeguards its interests. On behalf of the PPPC Government, both very seniorGuyaneseleadershavedeclaredwaragainsttheirown Guyanese brothers and sisters, they are fighting for ExxonMobil. This is why there is something like the Ray DaggersWalk.

ThisiswhythoughtfulandworriedGuyanesearejoyful overwhatthisheroicsonofGuyanaisdoing. Itiswhythey cheerRayDaggers,whytheyextendahandwithwaterand cashtohim,ashewalksonestepatatimeforwhatisright, for shattering this contract yoke. What is revealing is that thoughtful,anxiousGuyanesealongtheBerbiceroads,who formasmallmotorcadearoundhimandhiscompanions,are from traditional strongholds of the government. Guyanese are waking up, and that is why some are braving the sun to supporthim,andmanymorearelendingmoralandspiritual support from their roadside homes, their phones, their computers, and any other way that they can. From such small beginnings, great developments of historical, even revolutionaryproportionshavebeenborn.

Ray Dagger walks because he hates this barbarous oil contract, because his anger is rising against what is the concoction of a degenerate set of schemers. Guyanese in increasingnumbersarewrathfulatthemanyimpoverishing features of a contract from hell, from the workbench of exploiters. In every area that Guyana can be robbed of its wealth, and given a pittance, this contract ensures that it is done to the despair of Guyanese. What comes from the contracttothemisnothingcomparedtowhatthemakersof thecontractextract,whattheexploitershaveschemedtoget forthemselvesattheexpenseoftheGuyanesepeople. The Ray Daggers Walk is of voice raised, and one determined footstep after another made, against every aspect of a toxic oilcontractthatsickenseveryGuyanesewithaconscience, andwhichcouldbefataltotheirfuture.

Thefutureisnow,andsothereistheRayDaggersWalk Guyanesedon’tlikewheretheyare NoGuyanesecanhavea speckofregardforwhatthepeoplethattheyelectedtooffice arenowdoingagainsttheirownwellbeing,theirsafety,their rightful prosperity The PPPC Government has made its positioncrystalclear:itisonthesideofExxonMobil Clearly, theGovernmentofGuyanafulfillsthewishesofExxonMobil, and when Guyanese are grievously hurt, then they are only collateraldamage ThisiswhytheRayDaggersWalkisinfull swing, with more developments like this trailblazing coming. This ExxonMobil contract must go, so that all Guyanese can go forward and upward. Every Guyanese mustgetupandwalkalloverthisevilcontract. Theremust bemoreRayDaggersinGuyana.

Why is ourAG, Government, appealing Judge Kissoon’s ruling when it favours Guyana?

DEAREDITOR

Judge Sandil Kissoon delivered a landmark “Environmental Protection” decision in Guyana’s favor that Exxon/EEPGL must have unlimited insurance andfulfillallrequirementsof its permits when drilling for oil. The Government should beecstaticthattheCourthas ruledinfavorofourcountry anditspeopleagainstalarge, rapacious corporate giant, whom the PPP Government says we should fear or else they will hire expensive lawyers and tie us up in court.Insteadofbeinghappy with the Judge’s decision, the AG (probably a future presidential hopeful and the smartest man in Guyana) rushed like Usain Bolt to issue a press release announcingtheGuyanaPPP government will appeal While Exxon said it is reviewing the court ruling, our Government done say it is appealing (“Exxon ‘reviewing’ court ruling on insurance,SN,May6,2023). NowondertheVPcouldnot answerwhenGlennLallhad asked him, “Do you want Glenn Lall to win the tax case.”

But Exxon don’t have to do anything because our VP hastheirbacks(notourpoor people’s backs), acting as their loyal golden retriever on a leash. The VP held a press conference the next daysaying“TheJudiciaryis treading on murky waters when you start directing a

regulatoryagencyhowtodo its own job,” and that “our economic nationalism will not hold water in the new dispensation.” Nation, can you believe that? It was not Exxon/EEPGLthatcameout swingingagainsttheJudge’s well-reasoned, fair decision. ItwasourownGovernment, behaving like Exxon’s puppetsandlapdogscussing outtheJudgeforrulinginthe People of Guyana’s favour! Whose side is the VP on? Why is it the VP always sounding like the Lead DefenceCounselandPRman for Exxon If ourVPandAG are standing up for Exxon’s interests, then who is left to stand up for Guyana? That’s why Glenn Lall, Melinda, Fred, Simone, OGGN, OWOC, Transparency, Red Thread,SNandothershaveto doit Guyanaseemsunluckyto haveleaderswhoseemwilling tobetrayournation

Does the Government not want us to have the strongest environmental protectioninGuyanaandthe CARICOM region? Does thisborderontreasonagainst the nation? This is so sad. Thisisthekindofleadership we have in oil and gas. (“Govt.toappealHighCourt decision ordering Exxon to provide unlimited insurance to Guyana,” KN, May 4, 2023).

Contrary to what the Judge ruled, the AG’s statement said, “The EPA and the Government of Guyanaareoftheconsidered

view that the Environmental Permit imposes no obligation on the Permit Holder to provide an unlimited Parent Company GuaranteeAgreementand/or

Affiliate Company Guarantee Agreement In this regard, we hold the respectful opinion that the LearnedJudgefellintoerror in his findings. This ruling can have profound ramifications and grave economic and other impacts on the public interest and national development. As a result, the decision of the Learned Judge will be appealed and orders will be soughttostayitseffectuntil t h e h e a r i n g a n d determinationoftheappeal.”

Yet again, the PPP G o v e r n m e n t i s demonstrating it is on the same side with Exxon and the PNC against the People of Guyana The Judge’s decision is a leverage point for Guyana to get more concessions from Exxon PapaCheddimustbeturning in his grave to see what the party of Jagan has become today – pro-capitalist, proimperialist, pro-big business, anti-nationalist, anti-economic nationalism, and anti-working class. But this is the Party that cussed outthePNC/AFCforselling us out in signing a bad oil contract that gives us only a 2% royalty.This is the same party that said during the electionsthat“everything”is up for review and

renegotiation. Now, safely ensconced in power, and handling mega billions of dollars in contracts, the PPP Government says it will not renegotiate. It sets out to demonize all those who are pressing for renegotiation, calling them madmen and other derogatory names, mocking at them, with their surrogates pouncing on people on social media who support renegotiation. Now, the Judge’s decision has vindicatedtheworkofallthe r enegotiation and environmental protection advocates

The“usualsuspects”have had the last laugh This is a major victory, going forward One blogger said, “so Glenn Lallwasrightallthetime”All the people of Guyana must nowjointhiscauseandcallfor the Government to renegotiate It’s not about shutting down oil, as the Government propaganda will have it It’s about Guyana gettingabetterdealfromour oil, gold, bauxite, stone, sand, and all our natural resources. Guyanese must getthebulkofouroilwealth while investors get a fair return.Ourpeoplehavebeen toodestitutefortoolong,and we cannot wait anymore to enjoythegoodlife,nowthat wehaveoil.

Our Guyanese lawyers are scared to take cases againstExxon.Manyhopeto get in on the oil gravy train, andwouldnotgonearthose

(Continuedonpage06)

Decisiontoappealcourtrulingraises concernsaboutGovttransparency

DEAREDITOR

On May 3, 2023, the courts in Guyana ruled that ExxonMobil must provide an unlimited oil spill guarantee to the country This ruling was seen as a significant victory for the Guyanese people who have been demanding greater protection for the country’s environment and natural resources.

H o w e v e r , t h e Government’s decision to appeal the ruling has raised concerns about their commitmenttotransparency andaccountability

The matter in question hasbroughtintoquestionthe interest of the Government

and whether they are interested in maintaining a lop-sided engagement with thepeopleofGuyana.Many have criticized the government’s actions, arguing that they are not acting in the best interest of the people but rather protecting the interests of multinational corporations likeExxonMobil.

Furthermore, the Attorney General’s decision to appeal the ruling has also been met with widespread criticism.Sectionsofsociety have expressed concern abouthisfailuretorepresent the interests of Guyanese people, and his actions have beenviewedasanattemptto

undermine the court’s decision. These signs are troubling, and it is essential for the government to act in thebestinterestofthepeople to avoid long-term consequences for Guyana’s future.Failuretodosocould lead to a situation where Guyana ends up worse than Venezuelainyearstocome.

The recent court ruling on ExxonMobil’s oil spill guarantee is an important step towards ensuring the protection of Guyana’s environment and natural resources.

H o w e v e r , t h e Government’s decision to appeal the ruling raises questions about their

commitmenttotransparency andaccountability

It is crucial for the government to prioritize the interests of the Guyanese people and act in their best interest to avoid long-term consequences for the country’sfuture.

I join in expressing strong sentiments that the rulingofthecourtrulingisa victory for the people of Guyana and must be seen as reminding the Government of its role to protect our national patrimony to the benefitofallGuyanese.

Sincerely

Pt.UbrajNarine MayoroftheCity ofGeorgetown

Guyana’sAGistakingthingswaytoofar

, I am not in the least surprised that the Guyana Government will appeal the High Court’s decision, ordering Exxon to provide unlimited insurance to Guyana. Attorney General, AnilNandlallexplainedthat “theGovernmentofGuyana, asamajorstakeholder,notes the ruling by Justice Sandil Kissoon and the several declarations granted therein that the Environmental Protection Agency of Guyana (EPA) breached its statutory duty by failing to enforce compliance by Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), of its Financial Assurance obligations to provide an unlimited Parent Company Guarantee Agreement and/or Affiliate Company Guarantee Agreement to indemnify and keep indemnifiedtheEPAandthe Government of Guyana against all environmental obligations of the Permit Holder and Co-Venturers within the Stabroek Block, OffshoreGuyana.”Insimple language, it is that “Exxon Mobil must ensure a provision of unlimited insurance coverage to safeguard Guyana against the devastating effects of an oil spill, and this must be done within the next thirty days.”

Readers,asexpected,the AGhasrisentotheoccasion, and on behalf of the Government,willappealthis High Court’s ruling. This is vintageandtypicalNandlall,

We must craft a national narrative

whose legal acumen, has reached epic proportions. His lucidity is spontaneous and as typified in the many victorious court battles over the March 2020 Guyana Elections, he may likely upendtherulingandbreathe vigour yet again into the Government, which in all likelihoodhemaybeleading oneday However,Idohave a few vital things to point out.

First, criticisms of ExxonMobil globally have reached gargantuan proportions. I vividly recall that in the 1970s, it could have effectively prevented climate change, as its own internal memos showed that thecompanyprovedthelink betweenburningfossilfuels and global warming, but what?

Itburiedtheresearchand instead funded climate change sceptics to spread doubts about man-made climate change, and cynically invested in areas such as the arctic which it thought global warming wouldopenupforfurtheroil extraction. According to a Guardian article, William Ernest McKibben, the American environmentalist, posited that”… if only Exxon had been honest, we couldhavetakenmuchearly steps to avert global

warming.”

If readers want more informationontheevilways of Exxon, then just browse http://wwwcracked com/art icle 24303 5-leakedmemos-that-prove-famouscompanies-are-evil-ashell.html.

I further elaborate by invoking the tragedy of the Prince William Sound, Alaska, on March 24, 1989, whohadtofightforsurvival, after the Exxon Valdez Oil spill dumped 11 million gallons of oil into the ocean and nearly wiped out its fishing industry The record istheretoperuse.

Thespill’sinitialimpacts devastated wildlife, killing hundreds of thousands of marine animals and billions offisheggs.Pleasenotethat inthethreedecadessincethe spill, Herring fishermen have had to turn to other breeds,locationstofish,and entirely different lines and formsofwork.

For a third-generation fisherman, John Platt, the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill remains a financial and psychological nightmare thatwon’tend,asyearsafter the 11 million-gallon spill, some 1,500 miles ofAlaska coastline, where the herring on which he and other Cordovafishermenheavily

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DEAREDITOR, Intherun-uptoMay5th, the debate over whether the holiday now called “Arrival Day” ought to be officially acknowledged as “Indian Arrival Day” again rose to the fore. Ironically, unlike other instantiations of historical references in Guyana that invariably have a political nexus; the Opposition supported the position of the majority of Indian Guyanese, who are outside their base, while the PPP government adamantly ignored them. This is quite anomalous in a society in which the Opposition is chockfullofindividualswho deploy “history” as one of their main armaments in the mobilization of their base and their quest for a guaranteed “share” of government.

While one wished this signaledawelcomeincrease of magnanimity towards the “other”, sadly it appears more prosaically an acceptanceofthe“facticity” of Indians first arriving on that day, while insisting against the historical evidence that “Indian arrival” undercut the bargaining power of the newlyfreedslavesafter1838 and drove them off the plantations.”

As we have repeatedly demonstrated: “It was not

Indian labour that broke the back of African attempts to wresthigherwagesfromthe planters.

While Portuguese and fellow Africans from both the WI and Africa were broughtinasearlyas1835,a strikebyex-slaves1842was successful and encouraged the planters to expand their indentureshipprogramme.

The ex-slaves called another strike of 1847 at a point of financial crisis for the planters as their sugar lost its preferential English tariffs in 1846. Encouraged at that point by the indentureship of 15,747 Portuguese, 12,897Africans from the WI and 6957 “liberated” Africans from Africa – a total of 35,601 –compared with only 8692 Indians, they held off the demands for higher wages. After 1848, when more than halfofthefreedAfricanshad moved into villages and towns,byandlarge,theyhad decided to make their living offtheplantations.”

This, unfortunately, is merely one example of the one-sided narrative we witness in countries with ethnicconflict.

In fact, the phenomenon has been described as “memorywars”.

A distinction is made between “history” and “collective memory” in that

while the former’s authors may be selective in their recordings and silencing of historical facts, the latter is even more distorted being what is “memorised” and “memorialised” by groups andtheirideologues.

As one author suggests, “itmightbeusefultothinkin terms of different ‘memory communities’withinagiven society Itisimportanttoask the question, who wants whomtorememberwhatand why?” We have spoken about our Ethnic Security Dilemmas as structural factors that have to be actuated by an ideology that impel individuals to act as theydo.

And this is where the memorywarriorscomein,to “explain” the lived experiencesofthepeople In societies such as ours, leaders of some groups will argueforagreaterlegitimacy to the national patrimonyincluding or especially political power - because of prior arrival, greater acculturation to European values and practicesespecially religion- etc And thisiswherethememorywar is fought – here by the PNC and now WPA - through a “politics of entitlement” by memory warriors so that the group “winning the war” become“entitled”tohaveall

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IwishmoreGuyanesewould standwithMr.GlennLall

DearEditor,

I am an avid fan of current affairs, the news in particular and more so news emanatingoutofGuyana.

I am a proud Guyanese and will remain patriotic no matter where I choose to work and live. Like I have said before, I continue to follow the news and while the vicious maltreatment of ourwomenremainsaserious problem we need to deal with it now because from what I am seeing I really don’t want to pronounce on theworst.Editor,Iadmirethe braveryofGlenLallandthe othermenwhoareonawalk from Crabrook Creek to the EssequiboCoast.

Editor, I was raised in Essequibo and it is a peacefulcounty Iwishmany moreGuyanesewouldstand in solidarity with these men especially Mr Lall who

remains unwavering in his conviction for every Guyanese Editor I worked for Kaieteur news paper operating as the Essequibo correspondent but I would from time to time visit the office where I would see Mr. Lallandothercolleagueswho were receptive to me He is alwayswellattired Ihowever wouldlearnofMr Lall’sfirm stanceoncertainissuesaswell ashisbravery AllthatIknew of Mr Lall and still knows is fromconventions Editor even though he is my former boss and I know he is brave and unshaken, I am not surprised at his firm stance in him standing up to ExxonMobilandtheJagdeo government for all Guyana. ItipmyhattoyouMr Lall.It is Saturday, the 6th of May andIamviewingtheMarch from work in New Jersey I must say how proud I am of

you Mr Lall and even prouder of you and the girls fromtheRadioshowwhichI sometimes would view on Facebook. Mr.Lall,Iknow you would not be daunted b u t i n f a c t m o r e revolutionized to represent Guyaneseevenmore.Thank you for standing up for the weak Rememberthescripture says “Let the strong bare the infirmity of the weak” Keep upthegoodworkandcontinue tofightforall YouandGuyana would be rewarded But Mr Lall one more thing before I get back to work, where is Adam? If he is hiding in the garden he needs to get out. Editor,Iwillbewatchingfor newdevelopments.

I love my Guyanese people because like I said I am a born breaded Guyanese.

Yoursincerely YannasonDuncan

WhyisourAG,Government,...

Frompage4 lawyersfightingforGuyanaintheoil-related cases. Luckily, our courageous Trinidadian Brother, Senior Counsel, Seenath Jairam is willing to come and fight for us. Shame on ourlocallawyerswithoutbackbones,whose studies were partly supported by our tax dollars;whatwillyoutellyourchildrenwhen they ask you, “Mommy/Daddy, where were you when the oil companies were taking advantage of Guyana?” Wake up Guyana!

It’s our wealth and our country! Guyana First! Please join Ray Daggers, Glenn Lall and others marching from Crabwood Creek to Essequibo calling for renegotiation of the oil contracts. Stand up for Guyana, because the PPP Government will not! The VP said economicnationalismisbadforGuyana.

Sincerely,

Dr JerryJailall Advocate for Transparent and AccountableGovernance

Frompage5 its interests satisfied - especially at the expenseoftheothergroups.

But while all groups will inevitably recuperatetheirhistories-whichreverberate inthevariouscommunitiesasnarrativesthat oftenclashonparticulars-memorywarriors, are insistent that only their narrative is the TRUTH to the exclusion of others. On the otherhandtheymaybe“memorypluralists” who accept there are multiple, valid narratives.Thentherewillbesomewhowill denyorevendenouncethesemultiplevoices andthatinsist“allaweahwan”:thesearethe “memory abnegators”. Finally and rarely, there are “memory prospectives” who

concede the multiple narratives but work towards the crafting of a common narrative thatincludesall.Itisinthistraditionthatwe believeweshouldgoforward.

We have dubbed the politics of memory as a “war” because, even though it does not always lead to physical war, it is always accompanied by a psychic onslaught on the “other”thatdestabilizesthesociety Weonce again call for a national conversation on race/ethnicity in the hope that the memory warriorscanbecomememoryprospectivesto build a Guyana in which all groups are equitablyrepresented.

Sincerely

RaviDev

Guyana’sAGistaking

Frompage5 relied, disappeared from the area. Platt and some others stuck around, fishing for salmon and hoping things would improve. They never did, as the herring never returned to Cordova. Platt’s incomeplummeted,severely straining his marriage and psyche.Hehadtodipintohis sons’ college funds to support his family, and he despairingly iterated that “People’s lives were ruined,”

Editor, I need not go on andfillyournewspaperwith themayhemhappeningsthat are lurking because of the diabolical advent to ExxonMobil So, my questioniseveniftheruling is overturned, and Anil Nandlall buttresses his ‘largerthanlife’legalimage, is it a case of the legal

things...

trumping the moral and the ethical? I note that according to the AG, “The EPAand the Government of Guyanaareoftheconsidered viewthattheEnvironmental Permit imposes no obligation on the Permit Holder to provide an unlimited Parent Company GuaranteeAgreementand/or

Affiliate Company GuaranteeAgreement.

I mean what is the AG using his perspicacity for? What takes precedence and priority? He detailed that “We hold the respectful opinion that the Learned Judge fell into error in his findings. This ruling can have profound ramifications and grave economic and other impacts on the public interest and national development.” I agree, but what and how and whose

side and for whose benefit? Can short-term gains ever c o m p e n s a t e f o r environmentaldegradation?

I therefore ask, what is more vital? What should be Guyana’s stand on environmental issues? And since Exxon is so confident thatthingswillnevergoawry, then why this obstinacy and refusal to ensure a provision of unlimited insurance coverage to safeguard Guyana against the devastating effects of an oil spill.

I remind all that there wasatimewhenslaverywas legalinsomecountries.That didnotmakeit‘right.’There comes a time when the conscience must be quickened and ‘legal’ wrongsmustbestopped.

Yourstruly, GaylordRiley.

AFCdisappointedwithGuyana’s26spot Guyana’ dropontheworldpressfreedomranking

The Alliance For Change (AFC) has noted with grave disappointment thedeclineinpressfreedom in Guyana The 2023 report from Reporters Without Borders (RSF) shows that Guyana has dropped 26 spots moving from 34 in 2022 to the 60th spot in

2023 TheReportranks181 countriessurveyedwithone (1) as the country with the highest level of press freedom

OnMay3rd,WorldPress Freedom Day, AFC reiterated its commitment to freedom of the press and its respect for the role of the

fourth estate in building a democraticsociety

In a statement, the party notedthatitholdsfirmlythat media workers must be allowed to carry out their duties responsibly without fear of intimidation and/or bullying and expressed its solidarity with journalists

working to promote democracy and a better society and urges all journalists to uphold the principles of good journalism.

AFCExecutiveMember, CatherineHughesnotedthat within the past few months especially, Guyana witnessed what can only be described as callous disregard for the role of the media in strengthening democracy and ensuring the basic human rights of all citizensareprotected.

“Under this PPP Administration, journalists have been the victims of cyber-attacks and ridicule and the Administration and State apparatus have done nothing to quell such behavior,” Hughes said in a statement.

Infact, shenotedthaton April28thClaytonWeimers, RFS Director, US Bureau issued a statement condemningwhathetermed, the harassment and intimidationofjournalistsin Guyana through online targeting and disrespect

from the administration

“Whether directly attacking the media or encouraging supporters to do so with a winkandanod,PresidentAli is putting journalists at risk forsimplydoingtheirjobs”, Weimershasstated.

The 2023 RSF Report notes that, “While Guyana protects freedom of speech andtherighttoinformation, journalists who oppose the a u t h o r i t i e s f a c e intimidation.”

This is an accurate and damning assessment of the PPP regime where threats, victimization, intimidation, and oppression are standard operatingprocedures.

W h e n t a k e n i n conjunction to Guyana’s ranking on the Corruption

Perceptions Index, we see a regime that is subverting press freedom to hide its corruption.

Lastyear,Guyanascored 40, the lowest for the English-speaking Caribbean and the second lowest from among the CARICOM countries on the CPI Guyana also ranked 85th among the 180 countries surveyed.

RSF defines press freedom as, “the ability of journalistsasindividualsand collectives to select, produce, and disseminate news in the public interest independent of political, economic, legal, and social interference and in the absence of threats to their physicalandmentalsafety

Over50personsbenefittedfrom medicaloutreachinRegionThree

Over 50 persons, including children, benefitted from a medical outreach hosted by the Region Three Mother’s Union in collaboration with theMinistryofHealth–West DemeraraRegionalHospital on Saturday The outreach was held at Parish Hall, Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara, and is the secondofitskind.

These persons benefitted from a wide array of free services, including blood pressure and blood sugar testing, ear, nose, and throat examination, physiotherapy, andfreemedication.

A blood drive was also conducted simultaneously,

considering the consistent need for blood in the healthcaresystem.

WestDemeraraRegional Hospital’sMedicalOutreach Coordinator, Calvin Roberts applauded Mother’s Union for undertaking such a great initiative that is geared towards providing optimal healthcareservices.

He commended the collaboration and said he looks forward to future partnerships.

Region Three officer of the Mother’s Union, Elaine Montague, expressed her satisfaction at the successful hosting of the medical outreach.

Montague also offered

heartfelt appreciation to Calvin Roberts and his team fortheirinvaluableserviceto theunion.

She added that the organisation has been engaging persons through hospital visits, women empowerment programmes, and care for the elderly, and this agenda saw a recent addition of medical outreaches.

The Mother’s Union is a worldwide organisation of Anglican churches, first launchedinEnglandin1876. The organisation was conceptualisedbythewifeof Reverend Canon Jones, MaudeJones,bothof

AFC Executive Member, Catherine Hughes

Dr. Chung of West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) attends to patient

Local cricket is in the doldrums

Guyana’s success at the recent regional senior championship, and the selectionof4localcricketers fortheWestIndiesATeamto tour Bangladesh is no cause for elation These developments conceal the deep malaise which is afflictingtheorganizationof localcricket.

Historically, the weather hasalwaysbeenthegreatest enemy to cricket in Guyana. Itonceusedtobesaidthatif youwantedrain,allyouhad to do was to organize an international cricket match in Guyana. But with the constructionofwhatusedto be a well-drained national cricket stadium at Providence that superstition diedanaturaldeath.

Since February, the coastland has enjoyed fair weather This present weather–knockonwood-is ideal for hosting cricket matches Yet, little club cricketisbeingplayedinthe two main counties:

Demerara and Berbice

Whyisthisso?

The Guyana Cricket Board recently hosted Intercounty cricket tournaments at the senior Under 19 and Under 15 levels. National teams were selected with minimal practice matches. Fortunately, the investment bythepreviouscricketboard paid off and Guyana was able to cart off the Regional Four Day Championships after a dramatic final day, final round match. But the

national team faltered at the other levels, a development which points to the neglect ofclubcricket.

The nursery for the developmentoflocalcricket has always been at the club level In the past, clubs competed in Georgetown at three levels, Case Cup for first division teams; Northcote for second divisionteamsandtheWhite Cupforthirddivisionteams. Before that, there used to be theParkerCup. Thesewere three-days or more tournaments Those tournaments no longer exist andhavenotbeenreplaced.

Berbice had its own tournament organized under the Davson Cup The Berbicians were able to pit their skills against their nemesis, Demerara in the inter-county Jones Cup and, at the club level, in the 50overBristolCup.

Recently, there has been a drought of one-day club cricket in Guyana. The East Coast Cricket Association did launch a fifty-over tournament this year but not much is being heard from other sporting associations. In the distant past, the Demerara Tobacco Company (DEMTOCO) used to sponsor one-day cricketundertheBristoland Rothmanbrands.

The pandemic obviously affected local cricket since 2020. But most other sports have resumed and club cricketisstillbeingleftinthe doldrums.TheGuyanaTable

Tennis association recently hosted three back-to-back championships Amateur boxing is making a comeback and hockey tournaments are being played.

The various cricket associations need to answer astothisstateofaffairs.One letterwriterrecentlydecried the absence of first division, Under-19 and Under 17 cricket in Berbice for this year, and this despite the Berbice team winning the Inter-county tournaments at the senior and Under-19 levels. Thegovernmenthas done what it never did before. It co-sponsored a recent tournament. It was unknown for government to havehadtosponsoracricket tournament. This shows the decline in sponsorship and organization at all levels of the game, and raises concerns as to what the various cricket associations are doing to ensure that cricketers at the club level a r e b e i n g g i v e n opportunities. Iamnotsure what is happening in EssequibowheretheGuyana Cricket Board recently announcedtheestablishment of three cricket academies. But what is the use of academies when there is limited club cricket for the youngsters to play? Even school cricket is not being hosted. What is the use of establishing academies when the infrastructure for training the young people is not developed? Academies

Over 50 persons benefitted from medical...

Frompage8

England and formed in Guyana, New Amsterdam,atAllSaintsAnglicanin1926.

The organisation aims to strengthen and preserve marriage and Christian life. It encourages persons to uphold Christ’s teaching on the nature of marriage and promotesitswiderunderstanding.

It also focuses on the worldwide fellowship of Christians united in prayer, worship, and service. Mother’s Union in Guyanaisinvolvedinnumerouscommunity outreach initiatives and projects throughout the country, in urban and rural areas. The organisation will celebrate its 97th year of serviceinamatterofdays.(DPI)

Dem boys seh...

Sweetie is now legal tender

Dem boys went in a shop and made a purchase. Debillcomeupto$199.90. Dem boys hand in two hundred dollar bills to de cashier

Demanhanddemboys hebillanda“sweetie.’

Demboyssehthingsgat to be bad dat all de shop man can offer as a gift, is a ‘sweetie’ Nevertheless, dem boys thankful fuh small mercies – in dis case de ‘sweetie’. So dem boys seh thanks and stand up waiting fuh de $10 change. After about 2 minutes, it dawn on dem boys dat de

sweetiewasdechange.

Sweetie now turn legal tender Instead of giving yuhbackyuhsmallchange, some of dem shop man payingyuhin‘sweetie’.

It mek dem boys remember when de $5,000 billdidfuscomeout.Aman went in a shop an call fuh twomintswhichwas$20in total and den hand de shop man a $5,000 bill. De shop man turned to de man and tell he to tek de mints fuh free, and hand he back de ‘Granger’.

Deh gat some people used to tek short drop in

requirenotonlycoachesbut excellentindoorandoutdoor training infrastructure Whereisthisinfrastructure?

Someonebemoanedthepoor state of the indoor facility which was established at LBI.

Thefocushastobeonthe developmentofclubcricket. It is from club cricket that will emerge the players for the Under 19 and senior inter-county and national teams.Ifthereislimitedclub cricketbeingplayed,cricket will end up deeper in the doldrums. No amount of investment in Under 13 and Under 15 and Under 19 cricket will help, because it is from the club system that thetopplayersemerge.

One of the factors hindering club cricket is the poor state of most of the grounds Most of the grounds on which cricket is played are owned and/or

operated by the clubs. As such the state of clubs administrations will impact on the state of local cricket.

Apart from the Everest Cricket Club and the Rosehall Town Youth and Sports Club, there is not much to get excited about when it comes to the health oflocalcricketclubs.

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport has been going around the country and making investments in upgradinggrounds.

But what will happen after all the millions are spentinupgradinggrounds? Who will maintain the grounds? Unless the club structure is addressed, the upgradedgroundswillreturn quickly to their former poor state. Politics has played a major role in the present state of cricket in the country It was the PPPC which launched a vicious

assault on local cricket administration. The PPPC wasbentonreplacingtheold executive of the Guyana Cricket Board and installing a new Board. The PPPC bigwigs have their plans to control and dominate local cricket and, judging from their performance so far, they are doing a good job at destroying the strong foundation which was built overthepast70years.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s affiliates.)

mini bus. In dem days de short drop was $100. And dem flashing a $5,000 pun de conductor De poor conductornowgattouseup allhechange.

Butdissituationwithde ‘sweetie’beatall.

De shop people realize that de only thing a $10 couldbuyisa’sweetie”and by paying yuh with a ‘sweetie,’ dem not only selling dem sweetie but mekking a lil profit pun de side because most of dem buying de sweetie fuh less than$10.

Talkhalf.Leffhalf.

KingAlistairdisappointedovercourtruling

Guyana’s KingAlistair I is ‘disappointed’ about how High Court Judge Sandil Kissoon ruled in the matter offullinsurancecoverage. I feel for this new colonial master standing astride over Guyana, this arrogant, selfserving imperialist rubbing the nose of the PPP Government and its leaders into the dust. King Alistair wantstodothesamewiththe Guyanese people, and the

few institutions of the State thatstandforthem.

Thereigningoilmonarch overGuyanaisdisappointed that the Judge did not take into consideration the financial capabilities of Exxon,andallthatithasput in place to secure Guyana, and all that it is working towards in the form of a guarantee that is above and beyond industry standards. Perhaps, he is expecting

some additional prostration from Guyanese over these marvelous acts of benevolencebeingextended tothem.

As I ponder King Alistair’s pitiful complaint, his useless posturing, I remember how the slave masters from Virginia and Georgia,andthesameTexas in which Exxon now operates,usedtolovesaying how well they were treating

their slaves in chains, how kind and considerate all of them were to their captive humansubjectstoilingaway under that most “odious institution”ofAmerica.

Isn’t this the exact same thing that the ruling sovereign over Guyana is doing today? How he lords it over our parliament, that e v e n t h e e l e c t e d representatives of the Guyanese people have

converted to those who now love serving theirmaster’swishesin the national house? Where they fight against the best interests of theirfellowGuyanese?

The Exxon Country HeadinGuyanaspokeabout the judge giving short thrift t o t h e “ f i n a n c i a l capabilities”ofhiscompany Ifullyagreethatthereissuch deep-pocketed financial capabilities, and without a doubt, it is what could be utilized to comfort Guyanese, because of the cushionthatitoffers.

The problem, and it is oneofcriticalproportions,is that such is not devoted to what protects Guyanese Exxon has not shown the least inclination in the direction of what could secure Guyana, and empower the Guyanese peopletoflourish.

Exxon has done the opposite at every turn and bendintheroadofthisonesided partnership, which contributes to ensuring its spectacular profitability, while many citizens of this countryarestrugglingtoget a complete meal when the daycomes.

The reality is that those near incomparable financial capabilities at Exxon’s fingertips stands ready to be rolled out as a fearsome weapon in the company’s remorseless war against the interests, the safety, and the prosperity of the Guyanese people. Let not a single Guyanesebefooled.

Not for one minute Exxon has a long, conspicuous, and dogged history of using its massive financial muscle, and all of its other capabilities (legal, political, intellectual, and public relations, among others) to beat back and beatdown those who object to its addiction to profiting from their national patrimony by any means available, and whatever the cost.

Like kings in most places, the Exxon one in Guyana has his serfs, those who prostrate themselves to his every wish, sometimes evenbeforetheytakeformin him. I watch with shame, with regret, with loathing how my Guyanese brothers in the PPP Government fall over themselves to disagree with a Guyanese jurist, and grovel in abject surrender to the possibly spoken and unspokenexpectationsofthe

Exxon Country Head here,andthebiggerheadsin Irving, Texas. The PPP Government of Guyana is appealing the judgement of theGuyanaHighCourt.

ThisishowKingAlistair I of the house of Exxon is coronated every day in Guyana. With powerful fanfare by the PPP Government.

This is how the interests of Guyanese are laid waste, andthisishowourhopesare sown with salt. It is what was embodied in the words ofCatotheElder(“carthago delenda est”) with what the Romanconquerorsdidtothe soil of Carthage, and took careoftheCarthaginiansfor good. Exxonisontoagood thing in Guyana, the best anywhere,anditisnotgoing to let go, financial capabilities or not; judicial rulingornot.

Exxonhasweakenedour politicianstoastateoffeeble compromising;ourso-called intellectuals take refuge in evading and dishonesty; withmanyGuyaneseselling themselves for any piece of silvertheycanget.

This is how conquerors succeed; this is how backstabbing governments, appealing governments, keep their place and earn their smiles of approval JohnHesshimselfwasproud to say it: “democratic” government in Guyana. Guyanese struggle to survive under an epileptic contract and the CEO of Hess Corp can speak of a democratic country because there are despotic leaders doinghisdirtywork.

Exxon holds the Guyana Government in its hands. Exxon tightens its grip on Guyanese political leaders. Exxon has commandeered Guyana’s parliament to its stateofpatheticsubmission.

Exxon now moves with energy to overwhelm Guyana’s judiciary A man walksinBerbice. Guyanese mustnotletExxonwalkover them anymore. Stand up to these exploiters, walkover theircontract.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s affiliates.)

Ray Daggers, KN Publisher reach Bath Settlement on day four of protest against ‘barefaced’ Exxon Contract Marchcontinuestoday

Ray Daggers switched uphisplansonthefourthday of his walk against the lopsided contract Guyana signed in 2015 with ExxonMobil for the lucrative Stabroek block but still managed to cover a stretchof17.2miles.

Carjacker dead,accomplice critical after crashing stolen car

Investigators at the scene where the carjackers crashed the stolen car.

Daggers had initially plannedtocontinuehiswalk from Number 19 Village, Corentyne where he ended on day three, into Canje, Berbice and then to New Amsterdam before crossing over the Berbice Bridge and h e a d i n g t o w a r d s Georgetown.

On Sunday however,he changed plans and decided to walk from Number 19 Village, East Corentyne, B e r b i c e t o w a r d s Georgetown He started early and made it to Bath SettlementontheWestCoast ofBerbice(WCB).

KNews publisher, Glenn Lall and a few of his staff accompanied Daggers for the fourth consecutive day and he (Lall) related that they will continue the journey today (Monday) from Bath Settlement towards Georgetown but will return on Tuesday to complete their East Berbice leg of the walk into Canje andtoNewAmsterdam.

complete the entire journey in12to13days. According to Google maps it will be a journey of 186 miles and Daggers has already completed67.2milesinfour days. At his current pace Daggers is averaging 16.8 miles per day and is well on track to completing the journeyinlesstime.

In an interview with Kaieteur News on Saturday, Daggers reminded that his walkisnottobreakarecord, but to ensure that the government of Guyana does not hold the country and Guyanese at ransom by sticking to the Lopsided ExxonMobilContract.

The government has repeatedly said that it will not be renegotiating the contract despite its acknowledgement that the deal does not benefit Guyana.

Daggers along with experts believe that there is room for a renegotiation and that is why he is walkingastrenuousjourney in protest against the government’s position to notrenegotiate

Onemanisdeadandanothercritical after crashing a car they allegedly hijackedatknifepointfromataxidriver around02:45hrsonSundaymorning,at Soesdyke Junction, East Bank Demerara(EBD).

The identity of the suspected bandits are unknown up to press time, but according police reports they crashedthestolencarintoautilitypole at Land of Cannaan, EBD, a short distance away from where it was hijacked.

Investigators learnt that the car, a

burgundy Toyota Premio bearing licenseplateHD5261,belongedtoJoel Williams, 34, a taxi driver of Grove SquattingArea,EBD.

Williams told police that he had stopped at Soesdyke Junction to buy food when the men pounced on him. Themanclaimedthatoneofthemwas armedwithknifeanddemandedthathe handoverhiscarkeys.

Williamssaidthathewasfearfulof being stabbed to death and did not hesitatetogivethemthekey Themen entered the car and reportedly sped off

headingtowardsGeorgetown. A few hours later, police were informed that a hire car HD 5621 had crashed into a utility pole at Land of Canaan.

When ranks arrived at scene they found one of the occupants dead and another critically injured. The injured man was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), whereheremainsinacriticalcondition. Whileconductinginvestigations,police confirmedthatthecarwasthesameone hijackedfromWilliams.

Daggersiswalkingfrom Berbice to Charity on the EssequiboCoastandplansto

He told Kaieteur News that the government’s reluctance to not do so is signaling that it is not working in the best interest oftheGuyanesepeople,and deservestobecalledatraitor toitsowncountry

Daggers posing for a photo with KNews staff after completing day four of his walk

Exxon claiming over US$4M for office and payroll costs without sufficient documents

- Audit report

The expenses of oil major ExxonMobil has remained hidden from the nation, since Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo fears this newspaper may “nitpick” andmisrepresentfacts.

Although the media has been a critical watchdog in alerting the nation and its leaders to numerous egregious factors pertaining to the petroleum sector, the VP is not comfortable releasing the oil company’s cost recovery statements or forecasts for resources to be usedtodevelopthesector

He made his position clear during a press conference earlier this year In the meantime, auditors have been combing through the expenses submitted by Exxon, prior to production activities.Thefindingssofar have been damning to say theleast.

Notably, the preliminary auditreportofcostsclaimed by the American oil giant, ExxonMobil for its work programme in Guyana, betweentheperiod1999and 2017, has revealed that over US$4 million is being claimed by the operator for office and payroll expenses, even though the company lacks sufficient documents to justify and confirm that they are related to the petroleumoperations

In the preliminary report seenbythisnewspaper,IHS Markit- the firm hired to conducttheaudit-explained that a total of US$5,110,999 of Venture Office expense was recorded in the General Ledger between 2004 and 2016 (excluding payroll)

“ T h e A u d i t Te a m recommended that US$185,695 of this total be removedfromtheCostBank as there was insufficient documentation to justify the purpose of these costs and conformthattheyarerelated to Petroleum Operations,” thedocumentoutlines.

Additionally, the report states, “A total of US$5,476,781 of Venture Officeexpensewasrecorded in the General Ledger in 2017 (excluding payroll)

Several of the costs are recorded do not have an adequate level of transparency, restricting the Audit Team’s ability to determine the basis for the cost.AssuchtheAuditTeam recommends US$2,307,910 be removed from the Cost Bank.”

The audit team also

noted in the report that another US$1,168,607 in costs had limited transparency, while some US$22,249werenotdirectly related to Petroleum OperationsandUS$605,421 have potential to be classified as overhead costs, along with US$10,216 of a n d n o n - i t e m i z e d procurement credit card charges were all reviewed and recommended to be removed from the Cost Bank.

TheAuditfirmwashired toreviewallexplorationand development costs submitted for recovery by Exxon’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), between 1999 to the end of 2017 in the Stabroek Block. The total expenditure that has been amounts to $1,677,774,727.

Following reports on the documentbyanothersection of the media, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) issuedastatementindicating that the said report is not final.

The initial report has however flagged over US$214M in questionable costs being claimed by the oilcompany KaieteurNews had reported that hundreds of US-millions in contracts were singled-sourced by the operator as highlighted by t h e a u d i t t e a m https://wwwkaieteurnewso nline com/2023/04/10/exxo n-single-sourced-hundredsof-us-millions-in-contracts/

Another glaring claim that was caught during the audit is some US$31 4 millionbyExxon’spartners, Hess Corporation and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited for costs they apparently racked up before they signed on to the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement(PSA).

IHS said this sum was relatedtopaymentsmadeby the Co-Venture partners, “many of which were incurred prior to the Coventure partners being signatoriestothePSA.”IHS furthernotedthatthevalidity of these costs for recovery has not been demonstrated by EEPGL and should therefore be contested by Guyaneseauthorities.

https://wwwkaieteurne wsonline com/2023/04/11/e xxon-partners-chargedguyana-us31m-in-expensesbefore-signing-contractaudit-report-reveals/

Table showing costs recommended by the audit firm to be removed (Source: IHS Markit)

Guyana will have new opportunity to do better with Stabroek Block after 2026

Guyana has the opportunity to finally give the Stabroek Block the respect it deserves when ExxonMobil relinquishes it in2026.

Oncethelicenseexpires, Guyanawillbeabletobreak the hold of the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), widely criticized for its lopsided terms, on very valuable offshore acreage. Guyanacanthenauctionoff theacreagetootherqualified explorers and potentially break up the block into several smaller ones, fostering competition offshore.

Guyanawouldbeableto subjectthenewblockstothe model production sharing

agreement which was introduced this year It features a 10% royalty rate andlowersthecostrecovery ceiling from 75% to 65%, which will give the government better terms for thenewblocks.Guyanawill alsobeabletotaxtheprofits ofthenewcontractors.

Furthermore, once the block is broken up and auctioned, Guyana could earnhundredsofmillionsof US dollars in signing bonuses, much more representativeofthevalueof the acreage than the US$18 million the government receivedin2016,whichhad been kept hidden from the public.

This time around, the

government will be able to get better terms for the new blocks and secure larger signingbonuses.

Questionshavepersisted over the years as to why ExxonMobil was awarded a blockthatwassized10times the amount that should be allowed. The former Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, said in 2018 that the award to ExxonMobil’s subsidiary,EssoExploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), was legal.

He has argued that there were national security considerations involved in handling such considerable acreage to the ExxonMobil-

ledconsortium,inthefaceof Venezuela’s claims for Guyana’s Essequibo region. Thefirsttimetheawardwas done was in 1999 under the PPP/C, and then again in 2016, under the David Granger administration. Neither government attempted to claw back the excess acreage that was grantedtoExxonMobil.

However, this time around, Guyana has the opportunity to break the block up into several blocks and foster a new age of

fairnessinthissector,giving Guyanaanequitableshareof revenues from potential projectsinthefuture.

ExxonMobil has been able to lock in five developments with the currentterms,andislikelyto pursue increasing this number to 10 before losing the block. The company’s approved projects will see Guyana producing more than a million barrels of crude per day by 2026. The company plans to drill at least10wellseveryyearsoit

can find as many barrels as possible to add to the 11 billionoil-equivalentbarrels it accumulated over the years.

Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has described the fiscal terms of the Stabroek block PSA as oneoftheworst,andhassaid that it was a ‘shitty’ deal. Even though he holds this v i e w, J a g d e o h a s consistently argued for the protection of sanctity of contracts, in his refusal to renegotiatethedeal.

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Gunmen open fire on police corporal in minibus

Two gunmen in a darkcoloured Toyota Premio motor car on Saturday night open fire on a police Corporal in his minibus along the Rupert Craig Highway.

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The cop who is stationed at the Sparendaam Police Station said the men shot at him around 20:06 hrs in the vicinity of Conversation Tree.

He said that he was on his way to work when the dark –coloured car pulled up alongside him while approaching a traffic light along the highway. The cop alleged that as the car got closer he observed

the driver and the passenger pointing and shouting at him. He could not hear what they were saying and continued to drive. When he arrived at the traffic light and stopped, two loud explosions were heard

and something hit the driver’s door of the minibus, shattering the glass window.

The vehicle then sped off. According to the policeman apart from cuts to his body from the shattered glass, he

escaped unhurt. A warhead was found embedded in the policeman’s bus door and a 9MM spent shell was found lying on the roadway. Investigations are ongoing.

Shopkeeper at charity arrested for gun, drug possession

Police around 10:00hrs on Sunday arrested a 39-year-old shopkeeper at Charity, Essequibo Coast, Region Two, for illegal possession of drugs and an unlicensed firearm.

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The suspect was identified as Troy Fordyce of Charity Housing Scheme, a well known character to police.

According to the Guyana Police Force, ranks saw him standing next to a corner shop along Charity Market Street. When he saw the uniformed men in the area, Fordyce reportedly walked towards the back of the shop and placed a shiny object under a board and walked away but ranks stopped him.

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They took him to where he was seen placing the object under the board and found a 9MM automatic pistol with its

Fordyce denied that it was his gun but cops still arrested him and took him to the Charity Police Station. Later that day as police continued their investigation and they once again took Fordyce back to the corner shop at Market Street to look

for drugs but found none. The ranks then went to his home and searched it.

Police stated that during the search of Fordyce’s home, they found eight small transparent Ziploc plastic bags containing a pink powdery substance, one transparent plastic bag containing five pink rock-like sub-

stances- suspected to be ecstasy in a shoulder bag found in a bedroom. Methamphetamine was also found, along with a quantity of Fronto leaves in a clothes basket. All of the drugs were confiscated and Fordyce remains in custody as the investigation continues.

Historic ruling against Exxon, EPA means Guyana...

From page 3

ExxonMobil Guyana with Condition 14 in the renewed environmental permit.

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Further, it was highlighted that the EPA refused to disclose any information during the court proceedings as to the status of compliance by EEPGL with its financial obligations in accordance with Condition 14 of the renewed permit and whether or not the oil company has complied with the critical clause. On the two substantive issues, the judge said that the agency sought refuge in silence, avoidance, concealment and secrecy, and also turned a blind eye, notwithstanding the grave potential danger and consequences to the country and citizens if an event occurred at the Liza Phase 1 project – especially that the oil company has been ramping up production there.

On the issue of whether the EPA has acted in breach of its statutory duty, unrea-

sonably, and also allowing EEPGL to carry out petroleum operations in the absence of the compliance with Condition 14, Justice Kissoon underscored that at every juncture from the day the renewed permit was issued to EEPGL to date, the EPA engaged in a course of action to undermine and erode the terms and conditions of its own environmental permit.

It was highlighted in the court document that the agency carrying out public law functions, notwithstanding that EEPGL’s activities are of significant impact, failed several aspects of its duties.

The EPA failed and omitted to mandate compliance by EPPGL with its financial assurance obligations of environmental liability insurance together with an unlimited parent company guarantee; the EPA also failed to take any meaningful step or any step whatsoever to assess what was provided to it by

the oil company purportedly as the environmental liability insurance when it was not in fact in keeping with Condition 14 of the renewed permit.

Importantly, it was also stated that despite failing to do the aforementioned, the EPA also failed to suspend/ cancel EEPGL’s renewed environmental permit even though the oil company made public pronouncements, communicating its intention to increase production levels.

To this, Justice Kissoon said, “The Agency has, in the circumstances, by its decision and omission, committed an illegality, acted unlawfully, ultra vires, unreasonably in the Wednesbury context of unreasonableness, in defiance of logic, irrationally and without any jurisdiction.”

The judge granted a declaration that the EPA is in breach of its statutory duty by its failure/ omissions to enforce compliance by the oil company with its financial

assurance obligations as stipulated by clause 14, to provide an unlimited parent company agreement and/ or affiliate company guarantee agreement to indemnify and keep indemnified the agency and the government against all environmental obligations of the EEPGL and its partners in the Stabroek Block.

Another declaration was granted that EPA is in breach of its statutory duty by its failure/ omission to enforce compliance by EEPGL to provide environmental liability insurance of a type and nature stipulated as stipulated by the renewed environmental permit and to have an independent insurance consultant retained by the Agency to review and examine the insurance package to ensure its conformity with said permit. Notably, the Government of Guyana has signalled their intention to appeal the court’s ruling, adding that they do not agree with the court’s judgement.

Rupert Craig Highway

The unlicensed firearm found at the corner shop

Ecstasy found at the suspect’s home.

Guyana’s oil and gas subject of discussion at US congressional hearing for new ambassador

Guyanaoilandgas sector was a major topic of discussion during the US congressional hearing held for the newly nominated ambassador, to Guyana, NicoleD.Theriot.

United States Senator

Tim Kaine has said that President Irfaan Ali was upset that that country had blocked an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)

US$180 million loan to Guyana Shore Base Inc

(GYSBI) because its operationswerededicatedto the oil and gas sector and even cautioned that China could provide financing “withnostringsattached.”

Recallingameetingwith DrAlilastJuly,aftertheUS had vetoed the loan, he said the Guyanese leader did not hide the fact that they were

“incredibly disappointed”

“ThepointthatPresidentAli

madetome,andothershave as well is that ‘ok, you say you are an ally, you should want us to develop our economy just like you develop yours’. Yes, that’s true. ‘You say that you want to help nations wean themselves away from overreliance on petro-dictators like Venezuela or Russia or Iran or Saudi Arabia and have more energy available to back-stop if they move away from petro-dictators’.

Yes,that’sAmericanpolicy ‘You’reblockingus,then from doing those things, developing our own economy and creating a resourcethatcanhelppeople move away from petrodictatorsbutyou’reblocking us in a foolish way because we can go to China and get these investments and without the strings attached’,”hesaid TheGuyanagovernment

has repeatedly stated that Chinaisanimportantpartner in Guyana’s economic development.

M s T h e r i o t acknowledgedatthehearing thattheGuyanagovernment was upset that the US had blocked the loan. “They were quite displeased,” she said.But,shedidnotbelieve thattheGuyanagovernment viewed the US as an unreliablepartnerandwould returntoChina

On the other hand, Senator Pete Ricketts criticised the Joe Biden administration’s decision. “I think that’s shortsighted giventhatChinahasnosuch restrictions in aggressively signing contracts to build infrastructureinGuyanaand around the world and certainly, I think we would allagreethatwewouldwant to do a better job than that,” heremarked.

School Principal dead after vehicle runs over him

“No sir, I don’t think that’sthecaseandtheyhave shown time and time again that we are the preferred partner of the US government and US companies,”shesaid.

Senator Ricketts observed that the Biden administration has contrastinglyliftedsanctions that had been imposed on Venezuela’sNicolasMaduro “authoritarian” regime to boostoilproduction.

Ms. Theriot said at that timetheUShadblockedthe loan because it was not in line with the Biden administration’s position that it would not contribute tothefurtherdevelopmentof oil and gas. “I think because thatisnolongeranissue,we can only move forward and work to ensure that US companies are given a level playingfieldinthecountry,” she added. Scientists say

fossil fuel emission of greenhouse gases contribute to climate change leading to severe floods, droughts, devastating storms and risingsealevels.

If approved, Ms Theriot would replace incumbent Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch who should have returned to Washington last year

Brazil’s Amazon mega projects threaten Lula’s green ambitions

(AP) After his swearing-in ceremony on Jan. 1, Brazil’s Luiz Inácio LuladaSilvawalkedupthe ramp to the presidential palace arm in arm with Indigenous leader Raoni Metuktire, instantly recognizable by his yellow headdress and wooden lip plate.

Butamajorrailwaythat w o u l d a c c e l e r a t e deforestation in Metuktire’s ancestral land risks souring relations between the leftist leader and the chief of the Kayapópeople.

We’re still very worried,” said Alessandra Korap, an Indigenous leader of the Munduruku people who recently won the Goldman Environmental Prize for work that included battling illegalmining.

Sir Kirwyn Mars, the headmaster of the St Mary’s SecondarySchoollocatedon Princess Street, was on Sunday night found dead underneath a vehicle at the Perseverance Housing Scheme, Providence, East BankDemerara,(EBD).

It is suspected that the educator and well-known comedian popularly known as “Sir Mars”, was run over by the car but who ran him over and why, remained a mysteryuptopresstime.

Police confirmed Mars gruesome death but told Kaieteur News that they can’tdefinitivelysayifitisa case of murder or an accident.

Personslivingclosebyto

thescene,however,saidthat they heard loud arguments before vehicle revs and crashing sounds. When they came out, they were greeted withascenefilledwithblood splattersonacrashedvehicle withoneofthedoorsopened andthelightsstillon.

The lower half of Mars lifeless body was found pinned underneath the back wheel of the car with the upper half crushed against a concreteandmetalfenceofa two-storey apartment building. It appears as if someone had reversed the vehicletorunoverMarsbut that individual was nowhere at the scene where the body of Mars was found. When police ranks arrived, they

found a trail of blood droplets leading away from thescene.Thebloodtrailled one to believe that whoever ran over the educator, was injured too and began to follow it with hopes that it will lead to the suspect.

Kaieteur News understands a 21-year-old has been threatening to kill Mars recently Investigationscontinue.

And it’s just one of several mega-projects that activists and experts say would devastate the natural world — and seriously dent Lula’snewfoundimageasa defenderoftheenvironment —iftheyproceed.

Others include an oil drilling project near the mouth of the Amazon River; a highway that would slice through some of the Amazon rainforest’s most protected areas; and renewal of a giant hydroelectricdam’slicense.

“Lula is talking about the environment, showing preoccupation with illegal mining, demarcating Indigenousterritories

He’s already learned a lot,butneedstolearnmore.

U n d e r L u l a ’ s predecessor,JairBolsonaro, deforestationsoaredtoa15y e a r h i g h a n d environmental restrictions were weakened. The farright leader filled key positions in environmental agencies with agribusiness allies and military officers. Indigenous peoples’ rights weretrampled.

A f t e r n a r r o w l y defeating Bolsonaro in last year’s election, Lula has strivedtoputenvironmental protection and respect for Indigenous peoples’ rights attheheartofhisthirdterm.

He resumed successful pursuit of international donations for the Amazon

Fund that combats deforestation, launched a military campaign to eject illegal miners from

Yanomami territory, committed to ending all illegal deforestation by 2030 and restarted the demarcation of Indigenous areas.

But Lula faces difficult tests in the large

infrastructure projects. While opponents regard them as catastrophic, some in Lula’s Workers’ Party continue to view them as essential for providing jobs and promoting growth.And Brazil, a developing nation, has heavy demand for socioeconomicbenefits.

THEOIL-DRILLING PROJECT

Ibama, Brazil’s environmental agency, will decide in coming months whethertolicensedrillingin onesectornearthemouthof theAmazon.

Approval would surely lead to drilling in the whole region, said SuelyAraújo, a former Ibama head now a publicpolicyspecialistwith the Climate Observatory, a networkofnon-profits.

“It’s a matter of coherence Lula’s speeches on environmental protection and the climate crisisarebangonpoint But if oil exploration is intensified, it will mean expandingfossilfuels.

There would be an inconsistency,” Araújo said

During Lula’s first terms, huge offshore discoveries became a means of financing health, education and social welfareprograms

Newly nominated ambassador to Guyana, Nicole D. Theriot

Dead: Kirwyn Mars

The Crime Scene

Govt. must not rely on Exxon’s promise to cleanup oil spill but signed parent company guarantee ...says Guyana will be

While the Government of Guyana (GoG) is gearing up to appealaCourtrulingwhichorders United States oil giant, ExxonMobiltofurnishthecountry withaparentcompanyguaranteeto cover the costs of an oil spill that may occur as a result of its operations in the Stabroek Block, Attorney-at-LawElizabethDeaneHughesbelievestheadministration would be better off enforcing the Judge’sdecision.

HighCourtJudge,JusticeSandil Kissoon on Wednesday handed down a historic ruling, ordering Exxon to supply the nation with a signedparentcompanyguaranteeto safeguard Guyana against the devastating effects of an oil spill withinthenextthirtydays

He said the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had s h e l v e d i t s s t a t u t o r y responsibilities in exchange of a derelictandsubmissivedeposition, leaving “Guyana and its people in grave potential danger of calamitous disaster.” This is so as the renewed Permit issued for the first project to Exxon states at Section14thattheparentcompany

-Attorney

left at the mercy of oil giant without signed document

guaranteeshouldbeinplace.

In an invited comment on the matter, Deane-Hughes an advocate for better management of the petroleum sector explained that without the parent company guarantee(PCG),Guyanawouldbe leftatthemercyoftheoilcompany Shesaid,“Aguaranteeisjustalegal document; there is no payment or policy It’s an enforceable undertaking It would be preferable tohavetheguaranteeasstatedinthe permit/licenceinplaceratherthanto havetoproveincourtwordsuttered by representatives of financially viableandcapablecompanies”

The advocate pointed out that ExxonMobil just recently received an award for the rapid speed its affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) / ExxonMobil Guyana, wasabletodeveloptheLizaPhase OneintheStabroekBlock.

T h i s r a p i d p a c e o f development, coupled with the increasedrateofoilproductioncan also expose the nation to greater human errors and material failures

Deane-Hughes pointed out, as she highlighted the need for

ExxonMobiltoprovidethecountry with a guarantee to cover costs of its limited liability company- that operates the Block- would fail to meet.

Shequestioned,“Whathappens if an unexpected and unprecedentedspillwastooccurin our Stabroek oil field? Will comfortingwordsbeutteredinthe pastpayforthis?”

TheAttorney noted that Ghana andNigeriabothtookanaverageof 15 years to settle oil spill related issues with Shell and Exxon. This shesaidpointstotheimportanceof the guarantee, as Guyana would

have to spend years battling in Courttogettheoilcompanytotake careofthedamages,basedontheir promisestodoso.

The advocate was keen to note that the company representatives whoofferedtheseverbalassurances toGuyanamayverywellnotevenbe here, if an oil spill were to occur manyyearsintothefuture

She argued that signing a PCG would not cost ExxonMobil a pennyandshouldmoreovernotbe an issue for the company if all its safety, international norms and dailypracticesareinorder

OILSPILLDAMAGE

Guyana currently has two operational Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels producing oil in the Liza One and Two fields, operated by ExxonMobil Guyana. The total production, approximately 400,000 barrels per day, often exceeds the safe operating limits outlined in the Environmental ImpactAssessments(EIAs).

The EIAs conducted by Exxon have outlined that an oil spill can have far reaching impacts and basedontheprevailingconditions,

can even impact Guyana’s Caribbeanneighbours.

Despite the potential damages that can be done, Guyana’s EPA havebeenapprovingmoreprojects in the absence of an unlimited parent guarantee. This had stirred fearinthemindsofGuyanese,who argue that the resources earned by thecountrywouldnotbesufficient torespondtoamassivespill.

In the meantime, a third offshoreprojectisexpectedtostart upbeforetheendof2023,whilethe fourth project is likely to come on stream the following year Exxon only last month received approval from the regulator for its fifth projectintheStabroekBlock.

Governmenthassaiditaimsto produceamillionbarrelsofoilper dayby2027.

Citizens in Guyana have been protesting against the lack of full liability coverage from ExxonMobil, since they fear the costs associated with cleaning up a spill will be their burden https://wwwkaieteurnewsonlineco m/2023/03/09/women-take-to-thestreets-to-have-full-liabilitycoverage-from-exxon/

Attorney-at-Law, Elizabeth Deane-Hughes

Verstappen wins in Miami from ninth on the grid

MIAMI, (Reuters) - Max Verstappen won the Miami Grand Prix from ninth on the starting grid, with the fastest lap, yesterday to extend his Formula One championship lead over Red Bull team mate Sergio Perez.

Red Bull’s fourth one-two finish in five races dealt a blow to Mexican Perez’s hopes of wresting the overall lead from the double world champion in Miami after securing pole position on Saturday.

Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso finished a distant third, for the fourth time this season, after starting on the front row.

Verstappen, winner of last year’s inaugural Miami Grand

Prix, suffered a setback in qualifying when Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc crashed and denied the Dutchman a final flying lap that almost certainly would have put him on the front row after he dominated the practice sessions.

But he was immediately on the charge, moving up into fourth after 10 laps Alonso had predicted that Verstappen wo uld be filling his mirrors after 25 laps.

That guess proved wildly wrong as Verstappen blitzed past Alonso’s Aston Martin on the 15th lap to once again leave the fight for top spot on the podium between the two Red Bulls.

Perez was the first to pit,

Monday May 08, 2023

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19)

Sometimes, it's amazing to see how your relationships can spin so easily out of control, Aries. Today you may have to deal with a lot of tension within your group. You'll almost feel as if no one understands the situation.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

You sometimes have difficulty making up your mind. You don't always know exactly what you want. Today, Taurus, you'll be at peace with yourself.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

Sometimes we all feel a little lost, Gemini. We often want to move mountains and use all our energy and enthusiasm to try to do so.

CANCER (June 21–July 22)

You have a natural ability to accomplish a great deal rather easily, Cancer. But today you may feel snowed under with projects. Things around you might be moving quickly.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)

Your day has finally come, Leo. You have your own vision of life and you like sharing it with others. You're far from thinking that you're any sort of new messiah.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22)

Today you'll have the strange feeling that something is floating in the air. The time is right to try to understand the different needs of your family circle.

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen (1) of the Netherlands during the Miami Grand Prix at Miami International Autodrome. (Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports)

leaving Verstappen to put in an extended run at the front before finally stopping for new tyres with just 11 laps to go and handing back the lead briefly to his Mexican team

AAG fine tuning remainder of 2023 calendar

The Executive Coun cil of the Athletics Association of Guyana is working together towards smoothly rolling out the plans for the 2023 athletic calendar.

The scheduled events for the remainder of May include:

1.May 14. Kenrick Smith Relay (Leonora Stadium) and Gladston Hopkinson 5k and 1mile (starting at GoedFortuin and ending at Nismes)

2. May 20. Plaisance One Mile (starting at Plaisance)

bia from the 19th to the 21st of May 2023.

The team comprises Tianna Springer, Ezekiel Newton, Wesley Noble, Kareese Lloyd, Jaheel Corvette, Erin Leitch and Isiah Trim.

The team will be accompanied by Kenisha Headley (Manager), Johnny Greavesande (Coach), and Akeem Stewart (Massage Therapist). The 10-person contingent will leave Guyana on May 16 and return on May 22, 2023.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

As the dawn of another quiet and peaceful day appears, Libra, you will be in the best disposition to observe and appreciate the lightness of things. Life can seem so beautiful on some days.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

You will find a clean page on the agenda today, Scorpio. You should try to think only about yourself. This will allow you to meditate about your life and be at peace with yourself.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

You will wake up today on cloud nine, Sagittarius. Your morale is at a peak. You will feel totally free and be able to clearly perceive the essentials of life.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) The

The astral energy will have you reminiscing all day long over childhood memories, Capricorn. These memories will take you to the houses and places where you were raised.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

You love interacting with people others might consider eccentric. You can't help it. You're simply attracted to them. You will probably encounter one of these people today, Aquarius.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)

You have always tried to build up your health using traditional methods, and you take great care of yourself.

mate.

On fresher tyres, Verstappen was immediately on the prowl and two laps later he was in front of Perez.

From there it was business as usual, with the two Red Bulls easing through the final laps unchallenged for another one-two result.

Verstappen, six points clear of Perez at the start of the day, is now 14 ahead of him in the championship standings, on 119. Alonso is third on 75.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who on Saturday criticised the outfit’s car as “a nasty piece of work”, was surely better pleased with the cars’ performance on Sunday, with George Russell finishing fourth and seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton coming from 13th to grab sixth.

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz was fifth, between the two Britons, while Leclerc was seventh in the other Ferrari.

Logan Sargeant, the only American on the grid, started last and found himself dropping further back after an early incident brought the Williams rookie into the pits for a new front wing. He finished last.

It was also a disappointing day for Haas, the only U.S.-bankrolled outfit, with Kevin Magnussen finishing 10th and Nico Hulkenberg 15th.

Red Bull now lead the constructors’ championship with 224 points with Aston Martin second on 102 and Mercedes third on 96.

There was just enough action on the 3.36-mile (5.41km) temporary street circuit around Hard Rock Stadium to keep fans happy and quieten some of the criticism that Formula One was getting boring.

But as the circuit heads back to Europe for three grands prix in Imola, Monaco and Spain, the Red Bulls remain in a league of their own and Formula One is sure to face more talk of boring racing.

3. May 21. Burgette Williams 10k Road Race (starting and ending at Eve Leary Ground)

4. May 28. GOBSA Track and Field Classic (Leonora Stadium)

A 7-athlete U20 team will be representing Guyana at the South America Junior Championships in Bogota, Colom-

The AAG intends to have monthly press releases going forward.

The AAG expresses gratitude to the Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sport, the Guyana Olympic Association, the National Sports Commission, and Sponsors for their continued support to the association and the development of Track and Field.

Oblique Seville wins Atlanta City Games 100m in 9.99, 150m victory for Jereem Richards

SportsMax - Oblique

Sevilletoppedaqualityfield in the 100m at the Adidas Atlanta City Games at CentennialOlympicParkon SaturdaywhereTrinidadand Tobago’s Jereem Richards won his 150m dash and Ashanti Moore ran a new personalbestintheWomen’s 100m.Seville, who earlier this year, expressed a desire torunfasterthanhislifetime bestof9.86,clocked9.99to wintheblue-ribbonsprintin a close race with South Africa’s Akani Simbine and Great Britain’s Zharnel Hughes.

Simbini and Hughes were awarded a time of 10.01, but the SouthAfrican crossed the line in 10.005 to Hughes’ 10 010 Ryiem Forde of Jamaica ran a

personal best of 10.07 for fourth. The Women’s race was not also close as Aleia Hobbs ran 10.99, a mere 0.003 ahead of compatriot Mikiah Brisco’s 11 02 Jamaica’s Ashanti Moore replicated her personal best from the preliminary round with another 11.10 clocking forthirdplace.

Itwasthesecondlifetime best for Moore in as many weeks as she ran a personal best22.49over200maweek ago.Richardswonthe150m ‘B’ final in a time of 14.83 over the USA duo of Chris Royster(14.89)andBrandon Carnes (14.97). They were notnearlyasfastasthe14.56 run by 200m World

ChampionNoahLylesinhis 150m race. Teen prodigy Erriyon Knighton was

second in 14 85 while Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala was third in 14 89, just ahead of Jamaica’s Antonio Watson’s 14 93 Meanwhile, Jamaica’s Remona Burchell finished second in the Women’s150m‘B’race.

The three-time NCAA champion clocked 16.73 to finish behind Angie Angus, whocrossedthefinishlinein 16.58.

Lauren Ann Williams wasthirdin16.86.

TamariDaviswonthe‘A’ final in a lifetime best 16.44 with Great Britain’s Daryl Neita finishing a close secondinherlifetimebestof 16.48. Gabby Thomas also achieved a personal best of 16.50tofinishthird.

Veteran middle distance

Seville won the Atlanta City Games 100m in 9.99s

runnerNatoyaGoulelostout on another battle with longtime rival and friend Ajee Wilsoninthe600mrun.The American emerged a

comfortable winner in 1:27.00toGoule’s1:28.18.

SammyWatsonwasthird in 1:28.49. Bryce Hoppel won the men’s event in

1:17 13 over compatriot Kameron Jones (1:17 43) with Jamaica’s Rajay Hamilton clocking 1:17.94 tofinishinthirdplace.

Samad hits last-ball

six

after no ball in IPL thriller

AFP-AbdulSamad smashed a last-ball six asSunrisersHyderabad chased down 215 to stun Rajasthan Royals by four wickets in a dramatic IPL match yesterday.

Needing 17 off the final over, Hyderabad pace bowler Sandeep Sharma witnessed Samad get dropped on the first ball and then got him caught on the sixth delivery which turned out to be a no ball which abruptly cut shortRajasthan’svictory celebrations. With another four needed to winonthefinalball,and three to take the game into the super over, Hyderabad had the last laughasSamadsmashed astraightsixinhissevenball 17 Hyderabad slipped to 174-5 when New Zealand’s Glenn Phillipsturnedthegame on its head with a seven-ball 25 that infused life into the chase. Phillips had c o m e i n t o t h e Hyderabadteamforthe under-performing big England buy Harry

Brook while England’s Joe Root played his firstgameoftheseason forRajasthan.

The victory was set up by key knocks from AbhishekSharma(55), RahulTripathi(47)and Heinrich Klaasen (26) in the team’s highest everchaseinIPL.

Yuzvendra Chahal’s bowling figures of 4-29 went in vain after he picked up key wickets including two in one over Rajasthan posted 214-2afteradestructive second-wicket stand of 138betweenJosButtler, who smashed 95 off 59 deliveries, and skipper Sanju Samson, who hit a 38-ball 66. Buttler started slowly with his first 20 coming at runa-ballbutsoonchanged gears to bring up his fifty Seam bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar denied Buttler his century to get him out lbw, but Samson finishedofftheinnings ina17-runover.

In the first match of theday,HardikPandya gotthebetterofhisbig brother Krunal as

holders Gujarat Titans thrashed Lucknow Super Giants by 56 runs. In the first ever IPL match with two teams captained by brothers, Lucknow’s Krunal won the toss and elected to field at the world’s biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad The brothers joked and hugged at the start but things turned serious when a destructive opening stand of 142 between Wriddhiman Saha (81) and Shubman Gill(94notout)powered Gujarat to their highest everIPLtotal of 227-2. Lucknow put up a spiritedreplywithKyle Mayers (48) and Quinton de Kock (70) leading the charge but they ended on 171-7 to allow Gujarat to consolidate their top spot in the 10-team t a b l e S c o r e s :

Sunrisers Hyderabad 217 for 6 (Abhishek 55, Tripathi 47, Chahal 429) beat Rajasthan Royals 214 for 2 (Buttler95,Samson66) byfourwickets.

Mage wins Kentucky Derby, seven horse deaths being investigated at Churchill Downs

(Reuters) - Mage won the 149th running of the KentuckyDerbyatChurchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, on Saturday to capture the first leg of U.S. thoroughbredracing’sTriple Crown.

Mage, who finished second in the Florida Derby last month, finished the 11/4-mileraceintwominutes and1.57seconds.

The chestnut colt, who went off at 15-1 odds, sped up on the last stretch to take the lead and cross the finish line ahead of Two Phil’s, who was second, andAngel of Empire, one of the favorites, who finished in thirdplace.

The victory was the first Kentucky Derby win for Venezuelan trainer Gustavo Delgado and Venezuelan Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano, who won the Run for the Roses after 16 attempts. “I never give up, I alwaystryhard,tookalotto gethereIfinallygetit,”said Castellano “I’m blessed Thank you for the opportunitytorunthishorse, that has a lot of heart.” An emotional Delgado added:

“When I arrived to the U.S. my first dream was go to Kentucky Iwassurethatthe

horse was very good.” This year’s race was marked by the number of horses

scratched,includingfavorite Forte who became the fifth horsetoberemovedearlyon

Saturday,leavingthefieldat 18 horses, the smallest field since2020.

Saturday’s Derby was also the culmination of a weekstainedbythedeathof seven horses, which led to the suspension of trainer SaffieJosephJr Twohorses, Chloe’sDreamandFreezing Point, had to be euthanized hoursbeforeSaturday’srace.

“It is with the utmost sadness that we report these tragic fatal injuries Churchill Downs is unwavering in our commitment to the health and well-being of equine safety,” Churchill Downs said.

Animal rights group PETA said that, given the number of deaths, they had urged Churchill Downs to close the track in order to implement stronger safety protocols.

“Churchill Downs is a killing field,” PETA’s senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo added in a separatestatement.

The Preakness Stakes, second leg of the Triple Crown, will be run on May 20atPimlicoRaceCoursein Baltimore, followed by the Belmont Stakes three weeks lateronJune10.

Man City climb four points clear of Arsenal in title race

MANCHESTER, England, (Reuters)Manchester City continued their seemingly unstoppable charge towards a third consecutive Premier League title with a 2-1 victory over Leeds United on Saturday that put them four points clearofArsenal.

IlkayGundoganscoreda brace for Man City, but missedalatepenaltythatleft manager Pep Guardiola enraged after the Spaniard had called for Erling Haaland to take it, with Leedsgrabbingagoalbacka minutelater

Liverpool’s faint hopes ofatop-fourfinishcontinued astheybeatBrentford1-0at Anfield thanks to Mohamed Salah’sfirst-halfstrike.

HarryKanescoredtolift Tottenham Hotspur to a much-needed 1-0 win over Crystal Palace, their first victory in five games, while Chelsea claimed their first win under interim manager Frank Lampard with a 3-1 victoryatBournemouth.

M a n C i t y h a d appeared to be cruising after Gundogan’s double strike put them in the box seat at the Etihad Stadium but the German’s missed penaltyinthe84thminute set up a nervy finish as Rodrigo Moreno pulled a goal back for Leeds momentslater

While Gundogan was on a hat-trick, Guardiola was adamant there should be no room for sentiment and Haaland was the designatedtaker

“The performance was excellent We played really, really good, ”

Guardiola said “Who knows if Erling takes the penalty and misses it?

What happens if Gundo takes the penalty and scores? So the question is 2-0, who is the taker? The takerisErling ” City’s victory, coupled with an Arsenal loss on SundaytoNewcastleUnited, would all but clinch the Premier League title for the

treble-chaserswhostretched their winning league run to 10games.

Liverpool notched up a sixth straight Premier Leaguewintomaintaintheir pursuitofatop-fourspot.

Salah bagged the only goal of the game in the 13th minute, starting the move before Fabinho crossed to Virgil van Dijk at the back post, and the big Dutchman headed the ball back for the

Egyptiantobundlehomehis 100thgoalatAnfield.

The win left the Merseysidersinfifthspoton 62points,onebehindfourthplaced United, but the Red Devils have two games in hand.

KANEHEADER

Kane headed Tottenham in front in first-half injury time to move up to second placeintheall-timePremier Leaguegoalscorerslist.

ThewinvaultedSpursto sixth in the table with 57 points from 35 games, six points behind fourth-placed United,whohaveplayedtwo games fewer Palace are 12th.

Chelsea snapped a ninematch winless run in all competitions.

Late goals from Chelsea’s Benoit Badiashile and Joao Felix, after Conor Gallagher’s opener was c a n c e l l e d o u t b y Bournemouth’sMatiasVina, helped the London club move up to 11th with 42 points.

Bournemouth slipped to 14th, three points behind Chelsea having played a gamemore.

“It feels great, we just wanted to put in a performance today,” Lampardsaid.

“We haven’t been good enough recently so this was animportantgameforus.”

Wo l v e r h a m p t o n Wanderers got an early goal from defender Toti and then held on for a gritty 1-0 win over Aston Villa to all but cementaspotinthePremier Leaguenextseason.

Itwasawelcomewinfor JulenLopetegui’ssideaftera 6-0thumpingbyBrighton& HoveAlbionlastweekend.

“Massive result for us,” said Ruben Neves, whose corner kick led to the goal. “After the Brighton game, it’sallwehavetalkedabout.” Wolves climbed 10 pointsclearoftherelegation zone with 40 points, while Villaremainedineighthafter their second consecutive loss.

Jockey Javier Castellano raises his fist in celebration after he and Mage won the 149th Kentucky Derby on Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. May, 6, 2023. (Matt Stone-USATODAY Sports)

Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundoganin action with Leeds United’s Weston McKennie. (REUTERS/Molly Darlington)

Alcaraz beats Struff to clinch back-to-back Madrid titles

MADRID, (Reuters)

World number two Carlos AlcarazbeatluckyloserJanLennardStruff6-43-66-3in the Madrid Open final yesterday to defend last year’stitleandwinhisfourth ATPTour trophy of the year andhistenthoverall.

Alcaraz, who had an injury-plagued start to the season, came back in top form last month to win the Barcelona Open for the secondconsecutiveyear

The victory was the fourth ATP Masters 1000 trophy for Alcaraz, who became the youngest world number one last September when he won the U.S. Open and held that spot for 20 weeksuntilNovakDjokovic tookitbackinJanuary

He could reclaim the worldnumberonespotfrom Djokovic if he shows up to playinRomelaterthisweek, ashehasnopointstodefend and the Serbian would be defending his crown and 1000pointsinItaly

In Madrid, the 20-yearold Spaniard had to play his best tennis to beat a relentlessStruffinthreesets inapackedCajaMagica.

Lucky loser Struff’s run to the final was part of a remarkable turnaround in fortunefortheGerman,who dropped outside the top 100 last year but is back up to

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Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz reacts during his final match against Germany’s Jan-LennardStruff.

(REUTERS/Juan Medina)

Victory Valley Royals win

LABA U23 3x3 Championship

-Shi-oil,GuyanaBreweriesInchailedforsponsorship

Victory Valley Royals werecrownedchampionsof the inaugural Linden

Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) U23 3x3 tournament following their 14 – 4 win over Kid Rock Blazers on Saturday evening.

Played at the Retrieve Hard Court, Royals, led by Yonnick Tappin, played undefeated in the seventeam tournament to win the first-place trophy, compliments of Guyana BreweriesInc.

teamedupwithStantonRose Jr, Timothy Thompson and KimolGrimmond.

For Kid Rock Blazers, Teishaun Kitt, Jennis

Benjamin and Leslie

Campbell finished top of their group to set up the showdown with the Royals, wheretheywereoutmuscled andoutplayed.

RawleToney, the LABA president, said he was impressed with the level of competition, while also

in the LABA following the conclusion of the Kevin J o s e p h U 2 3 c l u b championship, which was won by Retrieve Raiders following a closelycontested final against RoyalsonFriday

According to Toney, the LABA will start its league, followed by a series of tournaments, to keep the clubs and players in the MiningTownactive.

65th after reaching the quarter-finalsoflastmonth’s MonteCarloMasters.

Alcarazenjoyedadream start to the match, breaking Struff’s serve in the first game. The German fought back to return the favour, m a k i n g t h i n g s uncomfortable for the world number two with his aggressive tactics and relentlessly attacking Alcaraz’sserve.

Struffnailedeveryreturn to break serve in the fourth game but the Spaniard produced another break and closedtheset6-4.

Struff rushed to a 3-0 leadinthesecondset,which he took 6-3, but Alcaraz woke up in the third, breaking to lead 3-1 and taking the set 6-3. “I have suffered more than I have enjoyed today but the finals arelikethat,”Alcarazsaid.

“There are times when your nerves get the better of you,yourlegsareheavyand it’sdifficulteventhoughyou wanttoplaywell.

“Youhavetobethereall the time, Struff is very aggressive. I knew I was goingtogetbombsandIhad tobepreparedforit.”

While for most of the players, the LABA tournament was their first timeplayingthe3x3format, Tappin was critical in helping Guyana win bronze at the Caribbean Games last yearinGuadeloupewhenhe

thanking the Colts basketball club for participating.

Toneythankedlocalfuel importers, and distributors, Shi-Oil, along with Guyana

Breweries Inc, for supportingthetournament.

TheU233x3tournament marks back-to-back events

“ T h e L A B A i s encouraged by the level of support shown by the clubs andplayersinLinden,andas such,weintendtokeepthem active,”Toneysaid.

Toneysaidtheexecutive committeewillmeetwiththe clubsshortlytoascertainthe way forward after the league.

Lakers rout Warriors, Heat rip

Knicks to grab NBA series leads

AFP - Anthony Davis and LeBron James powered the LosAngeles Lakers in a rout of defending champion Golden State on Saturday whileJimmyButlerreturned fromanankleinjurytospark Miami’s romp over New YorkintheNBAplayoffs.

Davis scored 25 points and grabbed 13 rebounds while LeBron James added 21 points to lead the host Lakers over the Warriors 127-97.

Davis made 7-of-10 shots from the floor, 11-of12 from the free throw line, and had four blocks, three assistsandthreestealswhile overwhelming with defensiveplays.

“I just wanted to come out and get back to the dominantperformancethatI dodefensively,”Davissaid.

“We wanted to get back to our roots, and defending andguarding.Thisisatough team to guard but we know thatwecandoitandwedidit welltonight,holdingthemto 97points.”

James,whowentthefirst 13 minutes without shooting,addedeightassists and eight rebounds while D’AngeloRussellposted21 points,allinthefirsthalf.

TheLakersgrabbeda2-1 lead over the defending champion Warriors in their best-of-seven Western

Conference semifinal series with game four on Monday inLosAngeles.

“It’sabattle,”Davissaid of the series. “Two teams thatwantitandcanscoreand can give each other a beat downanygivennight.

“We know they’re going to come out with a lot of firepower Monday trying not to go down 3-1. We’ve got to have the mindset we hadtonight.”

An 18-4 run to end the first quarter gave the Warriors a 30-23 lead, with Jamesnottakingashotinthe firstperiodofaplayoffgame forthefirsttimeinhiscareer

“It’s just a case of allowing the game to come to him, letting a natural rhythm happen and not forcing things,” Lakers coachDarvinHamsaid.

After falling behind 4029, the Lakers answered with a 30-8 run in the final 7:22 of the second quarter fora59-48halftimelead.

“As a group, we wasn’t shooting the ball well. We locked up defensively and got easy ones,” D’Angelo Russell said. The Lakers, who stretched the lead as largeas20pointsinthethird quarter, entered the fourth ahead 86-68 and cruised from there. Ham praised Davisforhisdefending.“He s

defensively,” Ham said “He’s the catalyst. He’s the anchor Hisactivity,whenhe is changing shots, blocking shots, it’s amazing. He’s lockedin.”

Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 23 points while Andrew Wiggins added 16 and Klay Thompsonhad15.

I n t h e E a s t e r n Conference, Butler scored 28 points to lead the Heat over the Knicks 105-86, giving Miami a 2-1 series leadwithgamefourtodayon theirhomecourt.

“Itfeelsgoodtogetadub (W) on our home floor in front of our fans,” Butler said. “We’re going to take thatandrollwithit.”

-ButlerboostsMiamiButler missed Miami’s loss Tuesday after suffering aninjuryintheseriesopener, butreturnedtohelptheHeat leadfromstarttofinish.

“I’m comfortable, I’m confident and I work extremelyhardatmycraft,” Butler said. “My teammates havegotalottodowiththat. They always make sure I’m catching the ball in spots where I’m comfortable and lettingmebeaggressive.”

Max Strus added 19 pointsforMiamiwhileBam Adebayo added 17 points and 12 rebounds and Kyle Lowryhad14points.

East Coast crowned champions of the GFF/Tiger Rental U13 League Cup championship

Final day of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Tiger Rental Under-13 Football League Cup Championship concluded yesterday at the GFF National Training Centre, Providence, seeing the dominant East Coast emanating as champions with a vital 1-0 victory over Barticainthefinal.

Onthethirdandfinalday of the championship, four matches were contested for 5th, 4th, 3rd and 2nd places priortotheepicfinal.

ThedominantEastCoast metwithBarticainthefinal; atthestartofthematchboth teamsshowcasedtheirskills and tactical prowess throughout the contest. The match was high intensity as both sides displayed their attacking intent, seeking to break the deadlock in the first half. They both had resilient defence, making it difficultfortheiropponentto find clear-cut scoring opportunities.

Thegoalkeeperswereon top of their game, making crucial saves to keep the scoreline level.As the game progressed,thetensiongrew

palpable among the players andfans.Themidfieldbattle intensified, with players fighting for possession and trying to create chances for their respective teams. Each sidelaunchedattacks,butthe opposition defences stood strong, denying any real goal-scoringopportunities.

Duringthesecondhalfof play, the unexpected occurred East Coast in desperate need to break the stalemate launched a dangerous cross into the penaltyarea.

In a moment of misfortune, Bartica’s defender, under pressure, unintentionally redirected theballtowardshisownnet. The goalkeeper was caught off guard by the deflection, and could only watch in dismay as the ball nestled intothebackofthenet.

With some time still on theclock,thetrailingBartica pushed forward with renewed determination, desperate to equalize and salvage a result They launched a few shots at goal in searching for a way past the resolute defence of the East Coast side. East Coast

preservedtheirleaduntilthe final whistle blew, as the match ended with a 1-0 scoreline to crown East Coast champions of the GFF/Tiger Rental U13 FootballLeagueCup. Meanwhile early on, the match between Essoquibo and West Demerara went down to penalty kicks to decide the 5th place spot after finishing in a 0-0

scoreline after regulation time. Essequibo later nailed two goals while West Demerarasuccessfulonceto hand Essequibo the fifth place West Berbice then held the East (Berbice) to a 2-1 victorytoclaimfourthplace, led by Dellon Bacchus (2’) and Eshawn Chestly (49’) goal Scoring for East Berbice were Xamier

Andrews (14’). Playing for the third place spot; Rupununi met with Goergetown, an equal contest between the two teamsbutJoaoHamlet’shattrickpropelledtheRupununi Boys to a 3-1 victory over Georgetown. The resilient forward Travis Grogan attemptedtopullthingsback forhissideinthe11thminute but unfortunatley it was

unsuccessful in saving the game as Hamlett completed abrillianthat-trick(1’,3’and 42’).

Thesecondplaceplayoff was a one-sided affair as UpperDemerarademolished East Bank 3-0 Laurelle George sensational hat-trick (10’, 17’ and 21’) solidify Upper Demerara’s win over East Bank to secure the secondplace.

Swag Entertainment ‘three-peat’ Linden Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’

It was an entertaining climax to the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’LindenChampionship,asa mammoth crowd watched Swag Entertainment clinch their third consecutive title by defeating UniversalBallers2–1inthefinal.

After Swag Entertainment edgedSpeightland2–1onpenalty kicks,andUniversalBallersblast-in four unanswered goals against Anybody Got It in the two semifinals, streetball-crazed fans knew they were in for a mouth-watering treatinthefinals.

With $400,000 on the line, five minutes into the contest, Mortimer Giddings sent Universals into the lead, but his side’s celebration was short-lived, as Deon Charter (9’) andColwynDrakes(13’)foundthe back of the ‘small goal’ to secure theirside’sthree-peatoftitles.

For their effort, Universal Ballerssettledfor$200,000.

Speightland, via sudden death penalty kicks defeated Anybody Got It 4-3 to finish third and the accompanying $150,000. Anybody Got It received $80,000 for ending thetournamentinfourthplace.

Ascene from yesterday’s Tiger Rental U13 League.

Sean Grant, Banks DIH Linden Branch Manager, making his company’s presentation to Swag Entertainment.

East Coast crowned champions of the GFF/ Tiger Rental U13 League Cup championship

Victory Valley Royals following their 13-4 win over Kid Rock Blazers in the LABAU23 3x3 tournament.