Kaieteur News

K

VP Jagdeo NEWS silent on Kaieteur, Canje oil Blocks probe AIETEUR

18 months later… p. 2

Tuesday Edition May 17, 2022 - Vol. 15 No. 19

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $80 readership yesterday, 62,695

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

Wales Gas-to-Energy project…

p. 3

ExxonMobil now promises gas leak management plan before startup of operations ...acknowledges document is a global requirement

Caribbean media body slams Guyanese leaders p. 17

…raises concerns about access, respect for media

Exxon started work th on 5 project since last year page 8

Jail time, hefty fines for abusing or abandoning persons with mental illness page 8

More cash grants, free fertilizer, help with home ownership …as Pres. Ali announces p. additional measures to 12 cushion increased cost of living How low will our leaders go, to what length and depth will they sink to continue selling us Ponzi Schemes, who else The Glenn Lall Show @11:00hrs will they use, what next to be expected from them in the Chronicle, when will they stop? ListenontoKaieteur Radio 99.1/99.5FM

PAGE 02

Tuesday May 17, 2022

Kaieteur News

18 months later… VP

Jagdeo silent on Kaieteur, Canje oil Blocks probe W

h i l e i n Opposition, Guyana's Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had stated that an international investigation into the award of the Kaieteur and Canje oil blocks – both of which were signed away days before the March 2015 elections – would get his support.

S i m i l a r l y, d u r i n g a November 2020 press conference, Jagdeo reiterated his position and disclosed that he had asked for internal documents to be prepared and that he does not have any objection to any probe.

But it has already been 18 months since the November 2020 press conference and there has been no word on the probe into the two oil blocks.

In a series entitled 'The Fleecing of Guyana', Kaieteur News had exposed some of the red flags in the Canje and Kaieteur oil Blocks agreements.

The Canje Block for instance was awarded by the Donald Ramotar

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo administration on March 4, 2015, days before that year's General and Regional Elections, to a local company, Mid-Atlantic Oil and Gas. Similarly, the Kaieteur Block was awarded on April 28, 2015, just two weeks before the elections, and like the Canje Block, it was done

based on the advice of former Minister of Natural Resources, Robert Persaud.

Two companies received the block with 50-50 stakes Ratio Energy Limited (now Cataleya Energy Limited) and Ratio Guyana Limited.

The award of the oil blocks to the companies was especially concerning since the ultra-deep drilling is required for those blocks, a technique which only a handful of companies in the world have the technology, track record, and capability to execute.

The red flags which have manifested in both situations include that the awards were given to unqualified companies, that the initial owners quickly flipped the blocks without doing any work, that they are incorporated in 'secrecy' jurisdictions, and that Guyana likely lost revenue due to the avoidance of an open, competitive bidding process.

That matter was marred

Former President, Donald Ramotar with controversy and the former president faced public scrutiny due to the fact that the blocks were given out so close to Election Day. Ramotar was also criticised since it was alleged that the People's Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) knew oil was discovered when it awarded the blocks to the companies.

When Kaieteur News first raised the issue of red flags surrounding the awards, in 2019, the then O p p o s i t i o n Leader—Jagdeo—had said that an independent probe would receive his support.

It was during a June 2019 press conference, he told reporters that he would prefer if an independent, international firm investigated the award of the Kaieteur and Canje oil Blocks. He had said that the State Asset Recovery Agency is too political, in his view, to carry out such an investigation.

In a subsequent press conference the following week, when asked if he would support an investigation into the award of the Stabroek oil block as well, Jagdeo said that an independent investigation would have to deal with all of those issues.

In fact, he had said that he would prefer it if an international firm conducts such an investigation.

The following year, the PPP/C administration assumed office and during a press conference, the Vice President stated that the government intends to peruse briefing reports on the handling of the awards of the Kaieteur and Canje oil blocks, to find any possible evidence of corruption.

He had posited, he does not believe any laws were broken, nor was there any evidence of corruption.

It was during his November 2020 press conference, when Jagdeo was reminded of what he said while in opposition that he would support an investigation into the award of the oil blocks, and questioned if he would stand by his words now that he is in office.

To that he responded, “…even before that I had asked for internal documents to be prepared to give us a great understanding of how the process of approval from within that is the petroleum department. So they are working on these giving me specific timelines as to when companies were incorporated, the names of the individuals, when the

Former Minister of Natural Resources, Robert Persaud

licences were approved.”

He further reminded reporters that like he said before, “I don't personally have an objection to any review, because I believe then and now, that no corruption was involved because I know the individuals.”

Jagdeo went on by saying that at the time the licences were given, it was during at era where the PPP administration was very liberal.

“We were very liberal in that entire era, which we would not do today, because we found oil now,” the Vice President said.

Notably, Jagdeo tried to justify the awards of the blocks when he stated that former Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, signed an agreement which have the same terms like the agreement Ramotar signed – and added that Trotman had (Continued on page 9)

Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 17, 2022

PAGE 03

Wales Gas-to-Energy project… ExxonMobil now

promises gas leak management

plan before startup of operations ...acknowledges document is a global requirement Residents at the Leonora Gas-to-Energy Consultation.

Gas to Energy Project Manager, Friedrich Krispin.

By Davina Bagot

A

gas leak management plan is a critical document that is most times included in a developer's Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), a study that lays the foundation for a permit to be granted by regulators for such a venture.

In Guyana, ExxonMobil through its subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), is pursuing in part, a Gas-toEnergy project, which will see the natural resource being transported to Wales, West Bank Demerara (WBD) via a pipeline from the Liza One and Two fields in the Stabroek Block.

An EIA for the project has

already been submitted, however, the document does not state how gas leaks, a likely event listed, will be responded to, even though t h e P r o j e c t M a n a g e r, Friedrich Krispin, has acknowledged that the company is required to present such a document around the world.

During a consultation hosted by ExxonMobil on Friday last at the Leonora Technical Institute, Jainarine Narine, Chairman of the Stewartville/Cornelia Ida Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) asked the oil company's representative to specifically state what its management plan is in the event of a gas leak.

Krispin told the Chairman that the company

rules its operations through a model referred to as 'Operations Integrity Management System' which requires the firm to establish and outline such response mechanisms.

In this regard, he said, “so for a facility like this one we are required to do this everywhere, all over the world, to set up an oil spill management plan (and a) gas leak management plan. That is (the) bread and butter of our operations because you cannot run an operation like this one without being unprepared to handle an unforeseen effect.”

Even though he acknowledged the importance of the document, the Project Manager addressed the news of the

Heaven Hill man to spend 5 years, 6 months for stabbing miner to death After spending more than six years on remand for the murder of Peter James, a gold miner of Matthews Ridge, Region One, Leonard Fredricks of Heaven Hill, Matthews Ridge, was on Monday sentenced to five years, six months for the fatal stabbing.

In April 2022, Fredricks opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter. He pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that on December 30, 2015, at Hell Hill, Mathews Ridge, he unlawfully killed James.

Fredricks was arraigned in the Demerara High Court before Justice Jo Ann Barlow. He was represented by attorney-at-law Teriq Mohamed while the State was represented by Prosecutor Latifah Elliot.

Justice Barlow started Fredricks' sentence at 18 years but made a one-third deduction [six years] for his early guilty plea and deducted the time spent on remand, six years, four months. As such, Fredricks will only serve five years, six months for the offence.

It was around 01:30hrs on December 30, 2015 when James was drinking in a shop at Hell Hill, when an argument ensued between him and Fredricks, who later stabbed him 10

Jailed, Leonard Fredricks times about his body.

Notably, two weeks prior to the fatal stabbing Fredricks and James were involved in an argument.

absent management plan by informing the handful of residents present that the Stabroek Block partners, which will also be involved in the project, have not only been investing time into the venture to ensure such events are avoided but are also financially stable to respond.

Krispin boasted, “the one thing I will say is that the Stabroek (Block) coventurers have spent a lot of time making sure that these things don't happen and therefore we will do all the best we possibly can; we buy

all the best pipes, we install this facility in the best way we can etcetera. If something were to happen, the Stabroek (Block) co-venturers will firstly make sure that the

source of the leak is stopped, so we have leak detection systems…we make sure that we take every precaution and have emergency response (Continued on page 18)

Notice Dear Readers, please be advised that, effective June 1, 2022, the price of our Monday to Saturday editions will be $100 and our Sunday edition will be $150.

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Tuesday May 17, 2022

Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL

A National Oil Company

G

uyanas own National Oil Company (NOC) has a compelling ring. An NOC of our own would be a source of pride, and all that is represented in such an entity of the people. But only when we are ready to have one, when we have the kind of leaders to oversee it, the quality of people to operate it. Currently, we at this paper could assert with authority that we have neither the leaders needed nor the people demanded to manage such a national undertaking involving the trillion-dollar promise of this countrys oil sector.

Lets face the facts on the ground straight off the bat.

Guyana has been presented with billions in US dollars for oil-related expenses, and leaders are struggling to locate (or so they say) auditors with the required skills. If this country is so severely limited in an area so costly, so safeguarding, then it does not call for much of either vision or imagination, as to how handicapped we would be to start from the ground, actually be able to run, and succeed with an NOC. Next, Guyana has sizable oil operations occurring offshore, but it does not have a complement of specialist engineers onsite to watch out for this countrys interests, regarding whether things are as the oil companies report they are, or if the facts are far different. Then, we labour with antiquated laws to stand in oversight and control this natural resource bonanza, but are missing the necessary expertise to modernise those laws comprehensively and quickly. Whether auditing or skills or laws, and these are simply the tip of the iceberg, this country is in a Dark Age where its oil is concerned.

It makes no sense, therefore, for this emphasis, this undue rush, towards an NOC. The time is not ripe for that yet, far from it. The vital components that are prerequisites, such as the cohort of people, the technological architecture, the ethical underpinning, are just not around at this time. All those compulsory building blocks are absent, or in short supply. This just doesnt make for much sense, and comes across as one more pie-in-the-sky concoction from the calculating minds of leaders that serves their interests, and not those of the nation.

To support our position relative to an NOC, we have NICIL, and look at what a vipers nest that has been, under one government after the other. The giveaways and coverups, the sellouts and buyouts arranged between friends and cronies that have all worked to the disadvantage of the citizens of this society. It is highly likely that the same calibre of people that stood over the many skullduggeries of NICIL are the ones that are in mind for an NOC that would come, in time, to represent the same kind of prearrangements and outcomes.

On another note, we encourage our fellow citizens to look at the history of other oil producing countries of longstanding, to gain an appreciation of how they went about establishing an NOC, and thereafter what resulted.

To give a glimpse, we point to Saudi Arabia and Aramco, Mexico and PEMEX, Venezuela and PDVSA, and even Brazil and Petrobras. There are two features that are common to all of those countries and the NOC that they setup.

First, it took them a long time before they found their footing, decades to be exact, and they decided that the time was ripe for an NOC worthy of the name.

Though it is still up in the air, as to what an NOC in Guyana would turn out to be, and the full scope of its existence, it could be said with conviction that there are numerous other priorities, some identified earlier, on which we should devote our energies and scarce human resources.

The second feature of NOCs in almost every country has been the graft and corruption that characterise their draining presence. They become feeding troughs for connected elites and political hacks to gorge themselves. It transforms into the mechanism to plunder the oil wealth, and all under a legal umbrella. Corruption is killing us at every level, thus this extension into an NOC is a feeding ground that could become the nation s burial ground.

Freedom of the Press – Free from the Pressure DEAR EDITOR, Who was it that said: “I cannot hear what you are saying, for what you are deafens me”? – probably in anticipation of the current (pandemic) environment which accommodates free speech – to the point of recklessness! A Caribbean version of the foregoing goes like this: “You talk a lot, but you don’t mek no speech”.

Intricated in both these versions is the evaluation of the audience being addressed; and in turn who that audience interprets the speaker to be. So that more than the simplicity of the (right) words used, is the credibility of the messenger’s character, as well as the reputation of the group to which the latter is connected.

But the foregoing portrayal of ‘communication’ is now overcome by the confusion defined as ‘social’ media, which incites negative, even

hostile, interactions amongst speakers, listeners, players and witnesses – perhaps the only, though unhappy, platform of ‘equality’.

Elsewhere, face-to-face, masked decision-makers speak to: a) communities whose residents take care not to cover their ears, while ensuring they say nothing; for they realise that no conversation is intended between the speaker standing above and them sitting below – an arrangement hardly intended to solicit views, on the presumption that the latter do not know, and certainly not better. b) But when it comes to the ‘media’, it is not as if all types and persuasions are invited to listen and then inquire as ‘equals’. The interaction has become more of an obeisant exchange, or else that ‘medium’ would be

deemed ‘off-line’, and forced into an ‘on-line’ retreat from which he/she can be anonymously assertive.

Where then is the ‘socialisation’? How do we engage one another more than just ‘pro’ and ‘con’?

When will we extend invitations to share one another’s thoughts, feelings, fears, anticipations, and finally arrive at agreement (if only to disagree)?

In other words, when will we reconcile to the reality that neither one nor the other can insist on winning every round, but that even champions have to settle for a draw?

Journalists of any kind must stand up to be counted, more so as representatives of their colleagues, and of those citizens who have little opportunity to listen directly, and/ or to respond as our constitution allows.

In the alleged construct of ‘One Guyana’ the marriage

should not be between the ‘better’ and ‘lesser’ halves, but that of spirited, and spiritual, human beings – one of whom may well be president of the Guyana Press Association.

Where is manhood found in the ‘better half’? When therefore will we commit to listening to one another – in the spirit of ‘give and take’?

When will we set the right (social) examples for future generations to emulate?

At this precarious point in time, should we not consider committing to a signed pact for ‘equal’ communication – unmasked and ‘in-line’, albeit too localised- with minimal reference to any other language, culture, or history of better performers?

Regards, E.B. John Information Officer Government Information Services 1957 - 58

Truth-telling would make a positive contribution to national discourse, not character assassination DEAR EDITOR, The rantings of the youthful political Nkosei Williams in his letter entitled “The descent of the trade union movement in Guyana” published in the Kaieteur News on May 9, 2022 is another sordid attempt to undermine veteran trade unionist Mr. Patrick Yarde, through character assassination, and negatively impact developments and progress of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU).

Ever since the landmark 1999 Armstrong Tribunal award, elements within the PPP/C have tried relentlessly to malign Mr. Yarde, whose experience in the trade unionism is the backbone of GPSU. This young man, who has neither knowledge nor experience within the Trade Union Movement, is being somehow used to sow seeds of discord within the rank-and-file GPSU and its prospective membership by making brash unfounded and unenlightened statements.

Only most recently, the sitting Minister of Labour uttered certain baseless statements about the movement and the GPSU was forced to upbraid him for his uninformed positions and callous remarks. Insensitive to his role as Government’s Head of Labour, this Minister made history in Guyana by failing to attend the wreath laying ceremony to mark the beginning of Critchlow Week 2022, an unforgivable blooper and the first of its kind in Guyana.

Now if the Mr. Nkosi Williams was seriously concerned about trade unionism in Guyana, his attention would/ should have gone in the di-

rection of the errant Minister of Government and not GPSU. GPSU did not march on Workers Day 2022, because of COVID-19 related concerns, but successfully held other controlled Workers Day activities.

If Mr. Williams wanted to know of these, he could have visited the GPSU Headquarters on May 1, 2022. Nevertheless, the GPSU is unapologetic of its action.

This Mr. Nkosi Williams is either a propagandist in training or a luckless time traveler, to determine that there was a signed agreement “made with the Granger-led Government in 2015 for salary increases in 2016, 2017 and 2018” for wages and salaries. This never occurred and is probably a figment of his imagination.

The trainee propagandist then ventures into the unknown, artlessly stating that “The representation provided

by GPSU is woefully incompetent to say the least.” As self-appointed judge of trade union matters, he needs to stop messing with the intelligence of the public and put practical evidence on the table.

The misguided youth again ventures into the unknown, indicating that the GPSU among other unions have “lost the confidence of its members and non-members alike.”

Again, he seems to be regurgitating hogwash spewed into him, without any empirical evidence. This comment is unworthy of any serious response. The GPSU, nonetheless, takes umbrage to the unfounded conjecture of Mr.

Nkosi Williams that GPSU is among unions that are “political arms of the People’s National Congress Reform.”

As much as there exist in Guyana trade unions that have close relationships with political parties, with even their leadership being members of Parliament, as is the case with the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union, it is their democratic right to do so. GPSU, however, prefers to be an independent apolitical organisation that respects its members’ constitutional rights and freedoms to participate in any organisation of their choice and is prepared to defend those rights.

GPSU has nevertheless, commented on and given its voice to political issues that affect good governance, a characteristic that any Trade Union within the movement should seek to achieve. Mr. Williams and other political activists like him should recognise the difference, rather than slavishly attacking persons or organisations that do not align themselves with Government or other political parties.

It would be interesting to hear Mr. Williams’ views on the fact that the PPP/C administration when in opposition questioned the failure by the APNU/AFC Government to engage in collective bargaining with the GPSU, but after its return to Government has chosen to impose salary increases like its predecessor without consultations, claiming that it did not have time to so do.

Mr. Williams should also comment on the preponder-

ance of evidence that indicates the GPSU made timely calls for negotiations that were often ignored by Government, which clearly refutes the claim of insufficient time.

The views should also include comments on the fact that both President Mohamed Irfaan Ali and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, while in Parliament in 2016 supported the GPSU call for a minimum salary of $100,000 or a fifty percent increase for Public Servants and later acted contrary to the Parliamentary proclamation. Truth telling would make a positive contribution to the discourse, not character assassinations and politically driven imaginings.

Lastly, who appointed Mr. Nkosi Williams the “Overlord” of GPSU to determine how long a democratically elected President of the Union shall lead and when he should step down? It leaves one to wonder whether he has the right to question the GPSU Rules and the membership that approved these rules.

There are other trade unions that had, or have long serving stalwarts, with current Trade Unionists, Messrs.

Carvil Duncan and Norris Witter serving at the helm of their Unions longer than Mr. Patrick Yarde.

Why then single out Mr. Patrick Yarde of GPSU? What is the ulterior motive for so doing? Would Mr. Williams please answer?

Yours sincerely, Owen John Principal Industrial Relations/OSH Officer Guyana Public Service Union

Tuesday May 17, 2022

I think of Buffalo, and I struggle to understand the inhumanity DEAR EDITOR, He was not even a man, a mere stripling of 18 years old; a schooler readying to be a citizen. He did become a globally known one on Saturday afternoon, but not of the kind that comforts. One so young, yet he seethed with a lifetime of hatreds that multiplied in his mind until he was driven to a cruel, calculated madness.

The youngster now charged with 10 counts of murder in way out Buffalo, New York drove “hours” from the border of Pennsylvania accompanied by his lethal cargo of virulence and sheer unmitigated evil. Jews and Blacks triggered the worse premeditated malice in him, the Blacks got the brunt of both when he got to them in Buffalo first.

My God, this world in which we live, this pain that we inflict so callously on one another, and sometimes with such aplomb.

I think of Buffalo, and I struggle to understand the inhumanity that unleashes such pathological hates, such a self-fulfilling personal Armageddon. Not only for the shooter, but those targeted because of their color held as dreadful, their quiet, working presence, the space on this vale of tears that some say doesn’t belong to them, in which they must have no place. As I ponder this culti-

vated madness in a young man, I recall our own frenzies and ecstasies of madness.

They have a name just like Buffalo -Lusignan and Bartica are the first ones that come to mind, with another like Cotton Tree and the three that were felled there in the grisliest of circumstances. Yes, we have had our own mass killings, and they had their own shades of the racial, and all those other mysteries that stalk this society.

I try to come to grips with these unparalleled savageries, these animalistic (and also part satanic) orgies, and I confess to not having a clue, as to how man can descend to this unrecognizably monstrous and heinous state.

We have somehow managed to keep in check up to this point our own worst impulses through harrowing situations, a rigidly polarized country.

Regarding how enduring that would be is another riddle that no one even tries to dabble in, or answer, anymore. We have always had race and politics as our bosom companions to galvanize us into fevered positions on the opposite sides of the divide, with nothing in the middle to cushion any dangerous future head-on collision. In this respect, we are almost identical, in those two toxic elements, to what is now predominant in America now la-

Few changes in our diplomatic postings to major capitals DEAR EDITOR, The present administration in Guyana has been in power for over two years, but they are still to make diplomatic changes to many of the major capitals of the world.

A case in point: the previous APNU administration’s appointee in Havana is still in the position. As I recall, this individual was a chief architect of the Slo-Fyah, Mo-Fyah directed at Mrs. Janet Jagan and the PPP in 1997. Does anyone expect this individual to be loyal to the PPP? A leopard cannot change its spots! Why diplomatic posting changes are still not a priority for this government?

What is the “Foreign Secre-

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

tary” waiting for? He should either lead or get out of the way.

With Thanks, Rahman Mohammed

boring to cope with its own wrenching ruptures. For our part, we have not done well with, or addressed at all, what is required to reconcile and heal us if anything at all.

But we now have another poison to add to the already poisoned (race and politics) chalice of Guyana. We now have the third rail, and it is called oil. With this third strike now well integrated into our roiling environment and outlook, we might as well write our national obituary. Oil does that, lends its incendiary fuel to what was already at a low, slow burn. This is what I weigh, when I think of a Buffalo, when I detect the turbulent undercurrents beneath our glassy exteriors. I take my hand and connect dots; will other Guyanese hold my hand? I use my mind to point to our national bind, and all I plead for is that likeminded brethren use theirs also.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

Freddie couldn’t be more right in his analysis DEAR EDITOR, Freddie is correct not to accept the WPA activism of some individuals who dropped by the wayside as soon as Rodney was assassinated. Yet these individuals were in the forefront to demand that Dr. Cheddi Jagan relinquish the PPP Presidential candidacy in favour of one of their comrades. Their reasoning was African people will not vote for an Indian leader. How wrong they were as the results of the 1992 elections proved.

More importantly Freddie wrote that ”Rodney was involved in the violent attempt to overthrow President Burnham. Rodney loyalists, family members and relatives may not be comfortable with that fact but that fact is reality and must be part of the historical record.”

Freddie is most correct in this assertion. During the Rodney Commission of Inquiry (RCOI) Dr. Roopnarine publicly revealed that the

WPA was accumulating weapons. Dr. Roopnarine should know what he was talking about as he, Rodney and others were on the WPA’s committee charged with accumulating weapons. Rodney being dead cannot corroborate this fact but there is at least one individual who can but prefers to remain silent even when this fact in the past was revealed. It was common knowledge that Rodney did not trust every member of the WPA, particularly one of his comrades. Rodney was realistic enough to know that that individual would have opposed this tactic. The individual would have had to reconcile with himself why he was supporting the accumulation of arms to shoot people of his own race. In fact Hubert Rodney, younger brother of Rodney told me in 1995 that Rodney’s long term objective was to merge the WPA into

the PPP. Would that individual have been happy with this move? Very important is Freddie’s point that “One of the pitfalls of Rodney was that he never organised among the rural Indian peasantry.” “... independent Indian scholars believed that Rodney was motivated by Black nationalism, a point that needs researching.” This is particularly correct as Rodney did not have a grounding with Indians; his emphasis was on Africa and Africans.

Freddie wrote: “It is an accepted position in academia that we learn more of the good and the faults of an historic figure as the ages pass and secrets and previously unannounced action and deeds are revealed. Freddie couldn’t be more right in his analysis.

Yours sincerely, Sultan Mohamed

PAGE 6

Police Gymkhana and cruelty to animals DEAR EDITOR, It with great shock, sadness and disappointment I came across a video circulating on the internet of an event at the Guyana Police Force Gymkhana May 08 2022 at the Eve Leary Sports Ground.

In the video a young man was seen holding a pig in a vice on the ground using his body weight to prevent it from moving. Another man slapped the pig on its rump to make it move.

All the while the terrified animal squealed. Over the last three years law-abiding citizens fed up with the alarming

rate of abuse and cruelty formed groups to advocate for better animal welfare through rescue and awareness campaigns and even hosted kindness and care talks for school children.

The collective efforts of these groups whose vision is for a healthier environment free of strays and abused animals have grown from strength to strength.

However, while animal welfare advocates achieved some degree of success in influencing the value and empathy for living creatures to reduce cruelty, abuse and dis-

Look what competition can do DEAR EDITOR, While the competitor was recognised for ‘best mobile network, best mobile coverage and fastest mobile network’ (KN May 15), the main player

Tuesday May 17, 2022

Kaieteur News

is still pledging together we rise.

Look what competition can do.

Regards, Shamshun Mohamed

posal of abused animals in the environment the goals ultimately will only be possible with law enforcement as a primary ally.

The activity seen in the video is an audacious public display of vulgar betrayal to the invaluable work of animal welfare groups; critical where there are no adequate provisions and resources to mitigate the large-scale scourge of animal abuse and cruelty.

The primitive and inhumane nature of the event videoed signals approval and justification for illtreatment and misuse of animals for fun and games and categorically contradicts an element of the Vision of the Guyana Police Force which states, “A more professional and accountable Police Force driven by increased public expectations”. On this note a call is made for the Guyana Police Force to reinforce its mission statement and con-

demn the activity which is not in keeping with their mission statement: MISSION STATEMENT The Mission of the Guyana Police Force and its Auxiliaries is to serve all citizens and communities of Guyana in a professional, pro-active and accountable manner.

To achieve this we will work in partnership with communities, public agencies and private bodies to enhance and support an environment where all people are preventing crime and building a safer and secure Guyana.

I believe that our police in this modern era are capable of brainstorming exciting and inspiring events which exhibit physical fitness and endurance along with activities showcasing the beautiful well-trained animals and their talents that serve in law enforcement.

Regards, Tricia Azaire

We will just have to wait and see whether they are loyal DEAR EDITOR, The Caption “Oil Spill Insurance Motion Will Test PPP/C’s Loyalty to Guyana” should be very interesting to all Guyanese.

The reluctance of the present PPP/C administration, in particular Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, to stand up to ExxonMobil for the atrocious deeds of our oil wealth

meted out to Guyana leaves us all with only one question - why?

Could it be that our Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, a man who has previously shown himself to be nobody’s fool, fall prey to the wily ExxonMobil - we will just have to wait and see.

Regards, Gloria Holder

Small number inconsequential?

DEAR EDITOR, From the account it seems the union is comfortable being kept in the dark or not totally in the loop concerning the transfer of employees to the new customer service company (SN May 16).

On the other hand good relations practices would dic-

tate the parent company has a moral, if not legal, obligation to engage the union on the decision.

Could it possibly be because of the small number of union members, five, affected it was deemed inconsequential to engage the union?

Regards, Shamshun Mohamed

3 patients in COVID-19 ICU - 12 new cases recorded

A

s the Health Min istry deals with a notab l e increase in COVID-19 cases, it revealed on Monday that three persons are now patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit, receiving treatment.

It revealed via is dashboard too that within the last assessed 24-hour period, 12 new infections were recorded across the country, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 63,861.

The dashboard states that 10 persons are in institutional isolation, 305 are in home isolation and three are quarantined institutionally.

To d a t e , a t o t a l o f 62,315 persons have recovered from the virus.

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T U T N N T U N U L Time to lift up your voices L U B .

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BL TLUNT.. UNT...B BL Tuesday May 17, 2022

Kaieteur News

Every day you open the newspapers, or turn on the radio or even browse social media, the collective theme is one of a nation angry at its leaders.

And it bothers us that despite the loud crescendo of complaints and feelings of disgust, the people we voted for to govern us seem to care less.

Go around the country and you will witness the malaise; the countless potholes that citizens have to navigate on a daily basis. Look around and you will see our streets, littered with garbage; look at our Parliament and you will see the moronic display of MPs - hardly serving our interest.

And so we ask of you today dear citizens, how long will you stand aside and look?

We say it is time to correct the mistakes; put a check on government excesses, lift up your voices against corruption and squandermania.

PAGE 07

PAGE 08

Tuesday May 17, 2022

Kaieteur News

Jail time, hefty fines for abusing or abandoning persons with mental illness Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony

The government of Guyana is proposing to repeal its Mental Hospital Ordinance in order to replace it with a Mental Health Protection and Promotion legislation which will include jail time and hefty fines for persons who are found guilty of abusing or abandoning a person with mental illness in their care.

The Bill was first presented last month and will be debated and is expected to be passed today when the National Assembly meets.

It was explained that the legislation being proposed is “to provide mental health care and treatment for persons with mental illness and to protect, promote and fulfill the human rights of those persons during the delivery of mental health

care; to provide for the establishment of the Mental Health Board; to repeal the Mental Hospital Ordinance and for related matters.”

According to the offences created in the new legislation being promulgated by Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony, any person who commits any act of cruelty to, abuse or willful neglect of any person with a mental illness commits an offence.

In such a case, the offending individual would be liable to summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $1M or to imprisonment not exceeding six months.

As it relates to the abandonment of a person with mental illness in an individual's custody, the new legislation proposes “any

person who intentionally abandons a person with mental illness that is in their custody, care or protection commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $1M or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months.”

Additionally the proposed law stipulates that it shall be an offence for any person who interferes with or obstructs any person in the execution of their duties under the legislation.

N o t a b l y, i g n o r a n c e cannot be used as defence under the proposed law.

According to section 65 of the proposed law it shall not be a defence for a person charged under any of the provisions “that the person did not know or had any

reason to believe or to suspect that the victim was suffering from a mental illness.”

It was noted too that despite the intention to repeal the Mental Hospital Ordinance, any act done under that legislation prior to the commencement of the proposed replacement would remain applicable.

With the coming into effect of the new law, it would also see the setting up of an 11-member Mental Health Board.

That body will consist of a psychiatrist, an attorney-atlaw, a person nominated by the Attorney General, a person nominated by the Minister of Human Services and Social Security, another nominated by the medical profession, a social worker or

counsellor, a person with clinical psychology and a human rights specialist.

The others to make up the board would be ex officio members, namely the Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Nursing Officer.

Additionally, there would be a place on the board for a

user of mental health services and family member or caregiver of a person with mental illness.

I m p o r t a n t l y, t h e legislation dictates that the Minister of Health “shall appoint one of the members of the board to be the Chairperson.”

th

Exxon started works on 5 project since last year Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL)—ExxonMobil Guyana— on Monday commenced public consultations having submitted an application for environmental authorisation for its fifth development in the Stabroek Block its Urau-1 field development.

This much is documented in the Project Summary submitted to Guyana's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

This, even as the company was awaiting approval for its fourth project—Yellowtail—which was only recently approved.

In the timelines outlined for the project, as stated by ExxonMobil Guyana, works related to the pre-Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) aspect for the project's Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel commenced since September last year.

This aspect of the development of the fifth project for ExxonMobil Guyana in the Stabroek Block is expected to be completed at the end of September this year after which, it will move into the Engineering Phase.

According to the timelines released by ExxonMobil Guyana that aspect of the project should be completed by the end of October next year.

Meanwhile, as it relates to the SURF—subsea installations, the pre-FEED for that aspect of the project,

th

A map depicting the location of ExxonMobil Guyana's 5 Project at least according to the proposed project document, commenced in January this year and is also slated to be completed by the end of September this year.

Following completion of the pre-FEED, it will then move into the Engineering phase scheduled to begin after that in October and is

expected to be completed by the end of November next year.

As it relates to the FPSO slated to be named 'ONE GUYANA', fabrication of that vessel, according to EEPGL's Project Document, will commence at the beginning of November and is expected to be completed

and ready for tow to Guyana

by May 2026.

By that time the manufacturing and transportation of the subsea equipment and installations are also expected to be completed, in time for installation by March 2025.

The development drilling wells are expected to

commence in March 2025.

Start up of production is expected by the end of 2026 with the operations reaching peak production levels by May the following year.

Formally titled the Uaru Development Project (Uaru), EEPGL is proposing to develop its fifth of 10 planned oil production

facilities offshore Guyana in the Stabroek Block alone.

The company also holds controlling interests in a number of other offshore blocks for which exploration wells are planned this year including on the Canje and Kaieteur Blocks.

This fifth development is to be located in the eastern portion of the Stabroek Block, approximately 200km from Georgetown with production from Uaru Project expected to last approximately 20 to 30 years.

It is envisaged that EEPGL will drill between 40 to 76 wells offshore to support extraction of the oil from below the sea floor.

Each well will be drilled using a drillship and EEPGL will install some of the oil production facilities on the sea floor at approximately 1,450 to 1,950 m water depth.

The FPSO will be moored on location in approximately 1,690m of water depth and will remain on location throughout the production stage, according to EEPGL, which will have the peak capacity to produce up to approximately 220,000 barrels to 275,000 barrels of oil per day. Processed oil will be stored in cargo tanks inside the FPSO hull which have the capacity to hold approximately two million barrels of oil.

It was noted that during peak production, approximately every four days, the oil will be pumped from the FPSO to a (Continued on page 8)

Tuesday May 17, 2022

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

The numbers do not add up Jagdeo!

On April 27, 2022, a Demerara Waves report quoted Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo as saying that an estimated 3,500 persons who were not supposed to receive the flood relief cash grants ended up cashing in on the scheme. The Vice President is reported to have said that some 70,000 farmers received the flood relief cash grant.

So far no one has questioned how it is that the government was able to determine that 5 percent of those who received the cash grant were ineligible to do so. Nor has anyone yet been brought before the courts for fraud – it is an act of fraud to claim a benefit to which one is not entitled.

But even more appalling is the silence surrounding the total number of cash grant recipients. There is no way that there are 70,000 farmers in Guyana.

It is implausible for one in every seven residents to be farmers especially considering that there are more than 200,000 school children in the country. And, of course, not all farmers can claim to be affected by the floods.

The floods occurred in May 2021. According to the government’s own estimates, at that time the country had a total of 247,804 employed persons. Of this, 174,337 were rural based. Of the total employed persons, 12.6 percent were employed in the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors. This would mean that about 31,000 persons were employed in the forestry, fisheries and agricultural sectors.

Even if we assume that 75 percent of these persons were employed in the agricultural sector, this would mean less than 25,000 persons were so employed doing farming. Since not all the persons employed in the agricultural sector are farm owners, it can be extrapolated that Guyana has no more than 15,000 farmers, if that much. Yet, we have heard that 70,000 persons received the financial cash grant paid to farmers.

A criminal investigation into the distribution of the flood relief cash grant should be immediately launched. The number of

ineligible persons receiving the flood relief cash grant has to exceed the estimated 3,500 that the Vice President contends was fraudulent.

There were grave concerns over the distribution of the flood relief grant. There have been allegations that persons who were not farmers received grants, and persons who did not suffer losses also cashed in. Some persons were said to have bought motor cars with their cash grants.

Outside of a criminal investigation, a Commission of Inquiry should be immediately launched into the distribution of the flood relief grant.

Those responsible for the exercise should be summoned to determine the criteria for deciding who got relief and the quantum.

Alternatively, an audit should be conducted to verify how many persons received grants when they were not eligible to do so. This would include both those who were ineligible because they were not farmers and those who fraudulently claimed losses which they did not incur.

But we know that the government will not commission

Dem boys seh...

Guyanese barefaced One day it had a line of vehicles waiting fuh get served at a fast food outlet.

You would not believe it but a car come and bore de line.

Only in Guyana it does gat people suh barefaced to pope a fast food line.

Deh gat motorists does see traffic policemen pun de road and dem does drive through de red light at dem junction.

Deh gat motorcyclists who don’t be wearing helmet and does ride right in front dem traffic cops. Only in

Guyana people does be suh barefaced.

But leh a traffic cop see you commit de slightest infraction and you would get pull in fuh fitness. Only in Guyana deh gat dem barefacedness does happen.

But de best of all is dem wah borrow money from yuh and nah want pay back. And when yuh ask dem bout it, dem does gat de temerity fuh ask yuh fuh a loan fuh allow dem fuh pay yuh back. Dem borrowing

pun dem own debt.

But everybody looking at we politicians. We had people who bin trying fuh steal wan entire election in front de face of dem foreign observers. Only in Guyana yuh does gat dem barefacedness.

And when dem fail dem want talk bout sharing de power. Is like a thief man come in yuh house and when he get ketch, he want share de loot between you and he.

Dat is wat yuh called barefaced stealing.

Talk half. Leff half.

VP Jagdeo silent on Kaieteur, Canje oil...

From page 2 signed the agreement after oil was found, while the contract Ramotar signed was before oil was found.

Moreover, Jagdeo had stated that he wanted to make sure that the media also gets accurate information on the

issue.

In fact he said, “I want to make sure that the media also gets proper information… I want to say how long they have been engaged with these companies…because there were long term engage-

ments with them and they were not new engagement that happened suddenly.”

It has since been 21 months since the PPP administration assumed office and there has been no update on the probe into the controversial award of the oil blocks.

Exxon started works on 5th project since last...

From page 9 conventional oil tanker, which is owned/operated by third parties.

According to the company, EEPGL will utilise onshore support facilities to support drilling the wells, installing the offshore production facilities, and operating the offshore production facilities.

The Project Document suggests “this will include but is not limited to shorebases, warehouses, storage and pipe yards, fabrication facilities, fuel supply facilities, and waste management facilities in Guyana. Helicopters and supply boats will also be needed to support the Project.”

It said that at peak, EEPGL will utilise approximately 1,200 personnel offshore during the stage where the wells are being drilled and the offshore oil production facilities are being installed. This number will decrease to less than 200 personnel during the production phase and a smaller number of personnel will be utilised at the onshore support facilities.

such an inquiry or an audit.

And even though the National Assembly cannot instruct political officials, the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Economic Services can summon them to provide explanations.

This matter is of timely importance because the government is once again set to distribute another tranche of relief, this time to hinterland households. Each hinterland household is expected to receive a cash grant of $25,000.

But G$1B in fertilizers is also expected to be distributed to farmers. But how many farmers will benefit?

Would it be all farmers or would it be only those who are confirmed as using fertilizers and how will it be determined how much a farmer with less than 40 acres will

receive as against a farmer with 400 or more acres?

The government is throwing goodies at the people in the hope of appeasing them in the face of the staggering increase in the cost of living.

There is no strategic approach to the relief efforts, including cost of living relief.

The government all along wanted to dole out relief to farmers. Now, in order to appease citizens that it is not throwing money at its supporters, it is also offering relief to the hinterland households.

While it is accepted that poverty is most deep and pervasive in the hinterland, the majority of the population do not live in the hinterland.

They live on the coastland and also need relief from the cost of living.

And if there is a need to cushion the effects of cost of living in the hinterland, then there has to be a clear plan as to who this relief will benefit since it is known that there are gold miners also living in the hinterland. Why instead of both the rich and poor receiving the hinterland grant, is it not confined only to lowincome hinterland households?

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Monday May Tuesday May 02, 17, 2022 2022

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

A creeping dictatorship since August 2020:

The political nouveau lumpen

I

think ethnic forces and class strata have crystallized since the end of the election rigging in 2020. It is imperative that academics use class analysis to explain to the world what societal and sociological shape Guyana has taken since the election victory of the PPP. In this column, I will leave out any mention of the PNC because the PNC choreographically has no presence in the class crystallization mentioned above.

The PNC's deportment after 2020 was traditional and routine. The PNC, contrary to what those who do not like it think, has an overall working class orientation and does not have a historical hatred of the PPP and Indian people.

In 2020, the PNC acted the way it has always done – confront the PPP with violence to acquire state power. Raw, Machiavellian determinism drives the PNC not class hatred or ethnic

passion, though in both major parties you have individuals who display ethnic emotions. The shape of post-2020 Guyana has not created new class forces. It simply removed opaqueness that confused both the citizenry and scholars since the 1950s.

However, the post-2020 period has introduced a new stratum.

The name I give to this new school of anti-PPP players is “political nouveau lumpen” (PNL), a combination of the French appellation, “nouveau riche” and Marx's description of the lumpen proletariat.

The PPP leadership is going to waste psychological energy on the PNC which has the usual repertoire of antics and actions. The PPP government has far more dangerous detractors to contend with. Even the lunatic fringe (TLF) is not as dangerous for the simple reason TLF comes across as comically wild, is not

persuasive and does not have the contacts and resources as the usual suspects (TUS), the Creole middle class (CMC) and PNL. I have done several pieces of the consistent antiPPP frenetic outpourings of the CMC and TUS. I will now look at the evolution of PNL. The Ralph Ramkarran admission of getting cuss down by PNL because he penned a few paragraphs of mild criticism of PNL (Ramkarran did not name names or identify organisations but his abusers make up the PNL) is a new dangerous turn.

What has happened is that the five months of election rigging has allowed some individuals and organisations to lay claim to having the PPP government adopt their agenda. PNL has seen the PPP in less respectful ways since August 2020. PNL has two anatomies. One section feels the PPP is a weakened body because of the election

attrition.

This section of PNL feels the saga was so tsunamic that the PPP should bring in nonPPP actors in policy formulation as a partnership.

The other section has made up its mind.

It cannot accept more years of PPP power. By PPP, take that to mean, Indians.

This anatomical section of PNL is part of CMC and is very distraught and continues to be distraught at the loss of power by Mr. Granger himself and the AFC. PNL consist of pompous, arrogant people who arrogate to themselves the right to demand things from the government.

They want to see confidential papers and confidential contracts from government. When turn down, they painted the government as authoritarian.

No recognition is given to the jurisdiction of elected power.

They have shown dictatorial tendencies since Dr. Ali was sworn in and are

an intolerant bunch of people who do not take lightly to criticism.

This creeping Frederick Kissoon dictatorship has crept adverb, extremely. Thirdly, up on us and is now fully grown with the attack previous to the column, Mr. on Mr. Ramkarran. I think the Ramkarran and PNL did not Ralph Ramkarran statement have an adverse relation. On is an important guide to the contrary, people who assess the current nature of make up PNL were on Guyanese society and the friendly terms with him. Here headaches the PPP leadership now is the frightening will face from PNL, TUS and indication of what is to come.

Dr. Clive Thomas' take on CMC (not so much TLF) Here now is the crucial the oil industry is dismissed meaning in the context of as nonsense. Think of how Guyanese politics of the dictatorial these people are to Ramkarran admission that he target two persons who are got a good cussing out from not their enemy.

Imagine the wrath PNL. First, the gentleman is governmental leaders will not a government supporter, receive. I was a victim of this on the contrary, he is a critic creeping dictatorship two of the present government months ago. More on that and he heads an opposition later.

(The views expressed in party, ANUG. Secondly, Mr. Ramkarran's few lines of this article are those of the criticism in his column about a u t h o r a n d d o n o t civil society were extremely necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.) mild.

We must emphasise the

PAC queries over-budgeting in Region 2 - as REO unable to explain payment to 123 additional staffers

T

h e R e g i o n a l Administration of Region Two was faced with several questions as it relates to over budgeting on Monday as the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) examined its expenditure on employment costs in 2018.

According to the Auditor General report, the Region's annual estimates totalling $1.835 billion was budgeted for employment costs for a staff complement of 1,373. However, as at 31 December 2018, amounts totalling $1.835 billion were expended for a staff complement of 1,496.

The figure represented 123 staff members more than was budgeted for. When asked for an explanation on Monday, Regional Executive Officer for Region Two Susanah Saywack could not say how the payments were done.

It was noted, however, that the funds did not come from the Ministry of Finance to pay the

additional staffers.

Finance Secretary, Sukrishnalall Pasha in seeking to explain how the region was able to pay these additional staff, without additional funding and possibly without approval from the Ministry of Finance, said it seems to be savings incurred from moving contract employees to the pensionable establishment.

Pasha said that, “It seems persons moved from contract to permanent establishment had a lot of savings. For this reason, more persons were recruited and they still had money.

That is based on my assessment on the regions.

It appears they hired more persons and were spending less because they moved people to the permanent establishment,” Pasha reasoned.

Several members of the PAC agreed that moving persons to the pensionable establishment would free up monies for other uses.

A hearing of the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee.

A Partnership For National Unity +Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Member of Parliament David Patterson said it was a logical and practical explanation, but the Regional Administration had no data to show how many persons were moved from contract to pensionable establishment in 2018, and how much of the savings was accumulated from such a move.

Nevertheless, Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill noted that while the incidence could have been an over budgeting for employment costs, there is a possibility of a plain breach of the Procurement Act, since the funds

for unbudgeted employment costs should have come directly from the Ministry of Finance.

In its 2018 report, the AG's Office had recommended that the Regional Administration ensure that its budget submission is in keeping with circularised instructions and the amount budgeted for employment costs are for staff positions that are filled.

The Public Service Commission (PSC) in a Circular dated February 7, 2017 stated Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Government and Regional Executive Officers are required to submit a list of all officers on contract/gratuity to be appointed on the pensionable establishment.

However, it was noted that the Regional Administration in Region Two only employed three persons on contracts who were all below the age of 45 and should have been employed on the fixed establishment.

The report indicated that one officer was not qualified to be appointed substantively while the other two officers were subsequently recommended to the department of the Public Service so they can be appointed through the Public Service Commission.

The Audit Office had therefore recommended that the Regional Administration take immediate steps to move these employees over to the permanent establishment.

Tuesday May 17, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

PAGE 12

Tuesday May 17, 2022

Kaieteur News

More cash grants, free fertilizer, help with …as President announces additional home ownership measures to cushion increased cost of living W

By Gary Eleazar

ith the global inflation and cost of living at record highs, Head of State, President Irfaan Ali, on Monday announced another raft of measures aimed at assisting Guyanese to cushion the impacts of the global phenomenon.

The President in a 'Live' address to the nation prefaced his announcements

by pointing to the key factors behind the status quo and pointed to the global pandemic which has led to supply chain hiccups.

He cited as example the fact that the freight charges has escalated seven times over what it was pre pandemic and this has in large part led to an increase imported commodities.

President Ali noted too that key among the reasons for the more recent

escalation in commodity prices is the war with Ukraine and Russia.

Those two countries he said, are significant global suppliers when it comes to items such as wheat, corn and natural gas used to produce urea (fertilizer).

He noted too that the countries also supply a large chunk of oil and noted that with the war in progress, oil prices are now US$114 per barrel on the world market.

As such, the President said, as a result of numerous consultations with Guyanese across the country, he would be accessing some $1.8B of the $5B that was allocated in the 2022 Budget for additional relief.

He pointed to the sweeping measures already meted out to Guyanese to assist with the increase cost of living such as the COVID cash grants, the school children grants, the money

Head of State, President Irfaan Ali paid out to sugar workers and flood affected farmers, the increase in pension and public assistance, among others.

As such, according to P r e s i d e n t A l i , “notwithstanding the sweeping range of measures we already implemented, I wish to announce further measures.”

Measures, he assured, benefited from widespread consultations that government has had and will continue to have in order to determine future interventions.

Among the measures announced by President Ali is another set of one-off cash grant payments.

This time, the target group, according to the President would be the riverain and hinterland communities.

To this end, the President said that each household in those communities will be benefitting from a one-off cash grant of $25,000 per household. This, he said, is expected to cost the coffers some $800M. The President said too that among the high cost of fertilizer has translated into increase prices on the markets and as such another of the measures would be to assist farmers with this.

He noted that fertilizer accounts for as much as 30 to 40 percent of the overhead costs for farmers and that this is being passed on to consumers as the price for fertilizers on the world market has skyrocketed.

To this end, he said government will be purchasing $1B in fertilizer (urea) and that this will be distributed free to farmers.

This, he said, is expected to reduce the cost of production while at the same time allowing the farmers to scale up their production levels.

As it relates to construction as a result of government's extensive

housing drive, President Ali said it was found that even though some 20,000 house lots have already been given out, during the consultations it was found that many persons were having difficulties either accessing financing or managing construction.

To this end, he said, government would be putting a host of systems in place as part of a government home construction assistance facility.

According to President Ali, under this initiative, there will be a unit established for persons who would like assistance to register.

Assistance, he said, would be had through a number of ways including government helping to construct the homes on behalf of applicants.

He said too that there will be different categories of assistance and as such government was looking to take some of the burden off of the home owners most of whom would have never constructed before and are unable to manage the complex challenges.

According to the President, government will in future be working more closely with the applicants, commercial banks and contractors with a view to having a comprehensive solution to the problem being brought under one umbrella.

Additionally, he said, government would also be removing the Value Added Ta x f r o m a d d i t i o n a l construction material namely sheet rock and concrete boards. This, until there is some sense of return to stability with regards the price.

With some $3B still remaining in the special allocation in the Budget, the President said there will be continued consultations with a view to determining further interventions in the future.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 17, 2022

PAGE 13

Police ranks' firefighting training helps contain blaze at CID headquarters

By Allyiah Allicock Basic firefighting training that members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) received from the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) helped them to contain a blaze which erupted at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Eve Leary, Georgetown on Monday.

The fire, which is still being investigated, occurred just after 10:00hrs at the Narcotics Branch building located in the northwestern side of the CID compound.

The fire, which was contained to that building, was quickly extinguished by some members of the Force who were in the facility at the time. Commending the efforts of his ranks in helping to extinguish the blaze, was Commissioner of Police (ag) Clifton Hicken, who spoke glowingly of the firefighting training they had received from the GFS. Their efforts he recognised helped to avert a major fire from occurring.

The Top Cop told media operatives too that “having collaborated with the Guyana Fire Service, the police would have had some initial training, so if there was a fire drill it will be activated whenever there is a report of a fire. So the alarm was sounded, they activated

the fire drill at the same time we called the Fire Service and other agencies. So initial response by the police in collaboration with the members of the Guyana Fire Service, we quickly deescalated the fire and so you can see normalcy is prevailing.”

Also commending the ranks for their prompt response was Acting Fire Chief Gregory Wickham, who said, “I want to give thanks to members of the Police Force who would have used the training that they would have received from the Guyana Fire Service in basic firefighting, with the use of fire extinguishers, that would have helped to keep the fire under control until the arrival of the Fire Service.”

The Fire Chief stated that after receiving a call alerting fire service of the blaze, five water tenders – two from the Central Fire Station, one from the Campbellville Fire Station, one from the Alberttown Fire Station, and o n e f r o m t h e We s t Ruimveldt Fire Station – responded to the scene.

“On arrival of the first appliance, smoke and fire was seen emanating from a particular room and so the fire service was able to get entrance in that room and find the seat of the fire and

The Narcotics Branch building in the CID compound where the fire erupted

out it,” he explained.

According to the GFS, as a result of the fire a quantity of mattresses, a fan, four desks, four chairs, two duplex switches, a panel door, the entire ceiling and other equipment were damaged.

Up to press time, the cause of the fire was still being investigated. But according to both the Fire Chief and the Top Cop, upon conclusion of the investigation, the findings will be made public.

Deputy Commissioner 'Administration' (ag), Calvin Brutus, and Executive Director of the EPA, Kemraj Parsram, holding up the signed MoA

GPF signs noise management pact with EPA

A

Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was on Monday signed between the Guyana Police Force ( G P F ) a n d t h e Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The agreement is meant to foster collaboration between the EPA and the Police in the field of training and enforcement of

noise management and also t o a s s i s t t h e E PA i n mitigating noise nuisance.

The MOA was signed by Deputy Commissioner Administration (ag), Calvin Brutus, and Executive Director of the EPA, Kemraj Parsram, in the Commissioner's Conference Room at the GPF Headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown.

Also at the signing were: Force Training Officer Superintendent Keithon King; Head of the Strategic Planning Unit - Assistant Superintendent Nicola Kendall; Head of the Community Relations D e p a r t m e n t Superintendent Crystal Robinson and Police Legal Advisor Mandel Moore, among others. MOU

Body of man who fell into Canje Creek recovered Police have recovered the body of the man who fell into the Canje Creek, East Canje, Berbice on Saturday last.

Kaieteur News was informed that at about 10:00 hrs on Monday the body of Kevin France was seen floating in the Canje Creek, in the New Forest area, by Kenton Tyndall of Liverpool Village. He was assisting in the search for France since he fell overboard.

Tyndall, after spotting the body, informed police ranks at the Central Police Station. When the ranks arrived at the creek, they noticed the body floating face up in a south eastern direction and was clad in a black jersey and grey three quarter pants.

The body was subsequently removed from the creek and was positively identified by his brother Keon France.

The body was examined by the ranks and no marks of violence were visible. It was subsequently taken to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital where it was certified as dead.

The body is presently at the Bailey's Funeral Home awaiting a post mortem examination.

According to reports, on Saturday last, Kevin France and four others, including a policeman, were travelling by boat in the Canje Creek on their way to check on some

Dead, Kevin France cattle. It is alleged that as they were making their way up the creek two boats passed and caused huge waves in the water. As a consequence, the boat France was in capsized causing everyone in it to fall overboard.

While the four others were able to swim to shore, France did not make it.

The body of Kevin France being removed by undertakers.

PAGE 14

Tuesday May 17, 2022

Kaieteur News

DEMTOCO records $2B after-tax profits for 2021 …says illegal trade of cigarettes remain major hurdle D e m e r a r a To b a c c o Company (DEMTOCO) has recorded an after-tax profit

totalling $2B for last year even as Chairman of the entity Kathryn Abdulla

lamented that the illicit trade in cigarettes remains a significant challenge.

Abdulla was at the time delivering remarks at the company's Annual General

Meeting (AGM) held at the Pegasus Hotel recently.

“Our company delivered

Kathryn Abdulla, Chairman of the Demerara Tobacco Company earnings per share of G$86.59 versus G$75.24 prior year and total dividend payments totalling G$2.007 billion were distributed for 2021.”

She told shareholders, “we generated profit after tax of G$2.026 billion versus G$1.760 billion (2020) which represented an increase of 15.1 percent.”

According to Abdulla, overall the company saw growth in revenue of 8.4 percent, with a favourable movement in operating profit of 13.9 percent mainly driven by increased revenue and efficiencies in operating costs.

She said for the reporting period, DEMTOCO made considerable progress strategically and financially, noting that clarity around the full impact of the pandemic and for life to return to some semblance of normality continues to take longer than expected.

“However, the determined manner adopted by both the Board and Management in confronting the challenges and impacts of what many argued was a more difficult year than 2020, was admirable,” she stated.

According to the Chairman, the company's 2021 results demonstrate the resilience of not only “our core business but also the wisdom of the acceleration of our business transformation and our commitment to building “A Better Tomorrow”.

Abdulla noted too that as the entity continues to strengthen itself, it will focus on three key priorities: releasing funds to support growth agenda, maximising marketing spend effectiveness and generating cash to continue to deleverage the balance sheet.

Fight against Illicit trade Notably, Abdulla said, cigarettes are among the most commonly traded products on the black market due to high profit margins, relative ease of production (Continued on page 17

Tuesday May 17, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 15

Govt. to rebuild Cane Grove access bridge for an estimated $29M During the opening of ten- Grove access bridge. ders on Friday at the National The project, which reProcurement and Tender Ad- ceived four bids, is pegged at ministration Board (NPTAB) $29 million according to the office it was revealed that the Ministrys engineer estimate.

Ministry of Public Works will Meanwhile during the openbe reconstructing the Cane ing of tenders last week, four Ministry of Public Works Reconstruction of Cane Grove access bridge, Region Four

contractors submitted bids is estimated to cost $1.5 bilfor the contract to construct lion. a packaging plant at the All four bids received for Albion Estate. this project exceeded that of This project is being un- the engineers estimate. dertaken by the Guyana Sugar Speaking of this move by Corporation (GuySuCo) and the government to put a packSupply, delivery, installation and testing of simulators for the Linden Technical Institute.

aging plant there, was Chief higher value and to ensure Executive Officer (CEO) of the the country has enough caGuySuCo, Sasenarine Singh, pacity to produce packaged who noted during an online sugar products for the interinterview earlier in the year national market as it opens up. that this is all part of a design Below are the companies to be able to sell sugar at a and their bids: Provision of sanitact disposal services

Ministry of Education Supply and delivery of dietary supplies for the Essequibo Technical Institute Central Housing and Planning Authority Construction of reinforced concrete drains at Eccles Landfill road

Supply, delivery, installation and testing of tools and equipment at the Guyana Industrial Training Centre

Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation Supply and delivery of ophthalmology supplies

Ministry of Home Affairs Procurement of motion sensor device

GUYSUCO Construction of packaging plant at Albion Estate

Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Construction of concrete drains at Main Auditorium, National Exhibition Centre, Sophia

PAGE 16

Tuesday May 17, 2022

Kaieteur News

Customer Service Provider to open US$4M base in July VEHICLE FOR SALE One Honda CRV,fully loaded immaculate condition, low mileage 3.3M negotiable & 1 new super custom Hiace Bus 2.5M .Contact:649-0956.

2014 Kia Sportage,brand new excellent condition 49,000km $5.7M negotiable. Call:6697644.

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

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

Glasgow's Executive Cleaning Service.We offer residential and commercial cleaning & maid services. Call:6503133/672-6935.

FOR SALE Passion Fruits for sale.

Call:661-2828.

One adult female German Shepherd & German Shepherd pups black & tan.

Tel:665-9140.

Cases of Hand Sanitizer, 500ml for $300,100ml $75, Disinfecting Wipes 300 pcs in bucket for $2,500.Tel:6251514.

FOR RENT

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

Farmer seeking workers to live on Pomeroon farm. Call: 661-2828.

Waitress to work in a bar live in.Must have ID card. Contact:659-1930 or 221-2785.

One experienced female able bodied sales clerk.Tel:2252313,226-1497.

One experienced male able bodied worker. Tel:225-2313, 226-1497.

1 experience housekeeper to work in Providence,age 40.

Tel:697-0157.

Pitman to work in Interior.

Call:223-7165/225-8645.

One live in babysitter needed.Contact Melissa on 693-6617 or 636-2310.

S&S Security Service. Security Officers.Contact:6916081.

Urgently Needed female Bartender and shop attendant.

Must have experience. Serious person can call:689-4461 or 662-6254.

Urgently Needed female cook for cook shop in the interior,38 yrs & over.Call or whatsapp 689-4461 or 6626241.

Male & Female to work in factory. Apply to R.P's Ent.Area K LeRessouvenir E.C.D. Tel:220-2818.

1 cook needed.Tel:623-8654.

Driver 45-55yrs,Live in Cook 30-40yrs, Handyman 18yrs, Waitress 20-25yrs 233-5477/ 634-4281.

Experienced cashier & counter person.Apply @ Shanta's 225 Camp and New Market St.

One year after acquiring a Guyanese contact centre, itel International, an award-winning customer experience provider headquartered in St. Lucia, announced that it has already invested over US$1 million dollars in upgrades to the facility with plans to invest a total of US$4 million to bring the site to a world-class standard by July 2022.

Late last year, itel’s Founding Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Yoni Epstein, sat down with Guyana’s Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, to discuss the increasing potential for investment and job creation in Guyana’s Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector.

With the support of the

VACANCY Accounts Clerk. Quick books knowledge & Accoun ting Experience. Tel: 6092995,email:survival. humanresources@gmail.com.

Inventory/Data Entry Clerks, with passport size picture.

Tel:609-2995,email: survival. humanresources@gmail. com.

PM Shift Cashiers.Math & Eng required.Tel:609-2995, 227-5286 email: survival. human resources @gmail.com.

PM Shift Sale Representatives. Tel:609-2995,227-5286 email:survival.humanresources @gmail. com.

Security Officers.Tel:6092995, 227-5286 email: survival .humanresources@gmail.com.

Pump Attendant/Cashier, shifts (6am-2pm & 2pm-10 pm).Shell Station Providence E.B.D, email: Shell ramsburg @gmai.com.

2 Experienced hairdresser, location E.B.D.Contact:6770040.

Masons & Carpenters, wages $7,000-$10,000 per day.

Call:650-1394,650-1941.

1 salesgirl/pharmacy assistant. Drop application at Patient Needs Pharmacy, stall 16-18 Section A Bourda, Phar patientneeds @ gmail.com.

LAND FOR SALE

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

Teachers for Grade 5,preschool & janitors. Contact: 649-8174.

Experienced Skidsteer (Bobcat)/Mini Excavator Operator.

Tel:623-2728,619-0898,6984321.

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

Cleaner,Time keeping,Tool issuing clerk,2 security (night & day).Contact:621-6969/ 615-7784.

Double lot for lease or sale,Bent St.Call:661-2828.

Female Cleaner for office.

Call:642-9823.

Maid to cook and clean for East Bank area.Call:615-9132

Business place to lease or rent,23 Saffon St G/Town.

For more info contact:6631876.

Apt for rent at La Grange W.B.D $45-50,000.Tel:6347487.

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

Must be vaccinated photo & recommendation. Keyfood McDoom Village.

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

government behind them, upgrades to itel’s Georgetown facility are well underway with the aim to attract world-class talent and brands that will generate a US$20 million infusion into the local economy.

Since itel’s acquisition of Emerge BPO in 2021, the company has added more than 450 new positions and made significant changes to the facility’s structure and operations, notably salary increases, competitive health insurance benefits, and incentive programmes for employees. More importantly, “itel is investing in building a retention culture by nurturing career development through continuous training, mentorships and new job opportunities that allow employees to explore different career paths.”

Focused on enhancing the employee experience at its Georgetown location, itel envisages upgrades and internal infrastructure improvements that will prepare the team for massive business expansion. Throughout the summer of 2022, the company expects to hire an additional

Founding Chairman and CEO, Yoni Epstein 500 people.

“We are investing in our people and investing in creating an inspiring workplace where they can thrive,” said itel’s Founding Chairman and CEO, Yoni Epstein. “We want to dispel the myth that con-

tact centres offer only one path. Our business provides opportunity for career growth with a gateway to many possibilities.”

The company’s upgraded facility will feature (Continued on page 17)

Tuesday May 17, 2022

PAGE 17

Kaieteur News

Caribbean Media report slams Guyanese leaders …raises concerns about access, respect for media

The Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM) recently published its 2022 Report in which Guyanese political leaders have been criticised for dodging reporters and hosting “government friendly” interviews, rather than press briefings.

The State of the Caribbean Media Report titled ‘Through the Pandemic’ is the second document compiled

by ACM to capture the concerns of regional journalists and media enterprises.

The report, released on May 12, last, gives detailed information regarding specific challenges faced by 14 Caribbean countries, including Guyana.

It said that the media is often reflective of the political division in the country as media houses often show a political bias through onesided reports.

On the other hand, the report highlighted, “While there are exceptions to this, media workers continue to face challenges in accessing information from government and officials.”

Importantly, it was noted too that since the People’s Progressive Party was elected

in 2020, there has been no post Cabinet press engagements despite promises by the Head of State, Irfaan Ali. Instead, the document said that the President has held a few press conferences and has resorted to issuing briefings or press releases in the state media.

Meanwhile, “Interviews with key national issues are often granted to social media commentators and media houses that are government friendly. These include interviews done by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo. While Leader of the Opposition, Jagdeo held weekly press engagements.

Press engagements are now less frequent and in many cases are granted to government friendly media houses,” the Regional report added.

Similarly, it said that the main Parliamentary Opposition members are also known for providing interviews to opposition friendly media houses. “They are also known to provide recorded statements leaving little room for clarification. In early 2022 Leader of the PNC Aubrey Norton sought to

chastise media workers for not asking questions based on the party’s statement,” the document said.

It was also noted under Guyana’s performance that “there is a clear attempt to divide the media using state resources”. The report explained that is particularly the case as some media houses and journalists are afforded unprecedented access to state resources to provide coverage favourable to the government.

The issue of government bypassing locally accredited journalists was recently flagged by the President of the Guyana Press Associat i o n ( G PA ) , N a z i m a Raghubir. She used the opening of a two-day conference on May 3, last to commemorate World Press Freedom Day, to remind the President that no post cabinet media briefings have been held but in response, the President said his government has been the most accessible.

In a subsequent statement, the GPA called on government to stop using social media influencers to do the

work of journalists. “If politicians across the divide claim to have any modicum of interest in improving the standard of journalism, then they ought to immediately cease utilising social media influencers in the place of journalists.”

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

Since then, the Vice President has not only ignored this call, but has also made it clear that he has a right to speak with who he chooses to.

The Caribbean Media Report comes 17 years since landmark publication of The Looming Storm in 2005 – an early milestone in the development and growth of the Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM) as the premier, umbrella body for regional media and journalism associations.

‘Through the Pandemic – State of the Caribbean Media Report 2022’ was completed with support from IFEX and was introduced to a virtual event co-hosted by the Media Institute of the Caribbean (MIC) on the occasion of

Word Press Freedom Day 2 0 2 2 .

The publication follows months of research by a team led by ACM President, Nazima Raghubir, and including researchers/writers Rachael Espinet, Soyini Grey and Raghubir.

Countries/territories covered by the Report include Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao (the ABC islands of the Netherlands Antilles), The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic,

Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.

Wesley Gibbings, who was tasked with the overall editorial management of the report, said at the launch, “The objective of this exercise was to produce a durable record of the challenges of Caribbean media, and efforts to address them and to provide a reliable source of information on the nature of the media industry in the region.”

DEMTOCO records $2B after-tax profits for 2021...

From page 14 and movement and low detection rates and penalties.

She said, illegal traders do not pay tax and provide the cheapest available cigarettes, often at less than half the legal price.

“Unlike legal tobacco, illegal tobacco is not required to meet manufacturing standards or quality controls and is not subject to excise; the illicit product may be sold without health warnings or age verification.”

She said that as a responsible company, however, DEMTOCO adheres to all local laws and regulations regarding the distribution, marketing and sale of our products and “fully supports all initiatives which seek to eliminate the illicit tobacco trade.”

DEMTOCO, she said, remains committed to improving the legal tobacco landscape and will continue to drive awareness through active engagement with our regulators, government and the private sector.

Increased sustainability and responsibility Increasingly, business is moving beyond seeking only to deliver

'shareholder value' and is embracing a wider purpose that serves the interests of all stakeholders.”

According to Abdulla, the expectation for a broader society is that businesses should play a more active role in addressing and finding solutions to crucial social, economic and environmental issues. Evidence of these expectations, she said, can be found in the increasing focus being channelled towards environmental, social and governance (ESG) targets.

“We at DEMTOCO welcome this shift. It is aligned to our company's purpose, our sustainability agenda and the decision-making approach that the Board encourages,” Abdulla said.

Also commenting on the issue of illicit trade in cigarette was the company's Managing Director, Vijay Singh, who in his report said the unprecedented crisis which came with COVID-19 has undoubtedly contributed to the rise in smuggling worldwide, affecting all aspects of society.

“Criminal networks that smuggle for profit continued to thrive as they re-organised

themselves amidst restrictions in order to sustain their operations.” Singh said in his report.

He added that illicit trade continues to be a threat to the company and for this reason it remains one of our main priorities.

“We are aware of the dynamic environment in which we operate and the continuing fight against this trade is critical. We see it as a significant and growing problem for governments, law enforcement agencies, our business, our partners and those who operate legally.”

Singh said DEMTOCO has been committed to fighting the trade in illicit tobacco and as part of their efforts, the company continued in 2021 to dialogue with both local and regional law enforcement agencies to support efforts to combat this criminal trade, with the aim of countering the detrimental effects which it

has on the overall society.

“Though there are laws which govern the packaging and labelling of tobacco products along with associated penalties, we continue to see non-compliant brands being sold across the country.”

He did note that “it is encouraging to see the Guyana National Bureau of Standards, the Guyana Revenue Authority and the Customs Anti Narcotic Unit taking a stance against this illegal trade. We do believe there are opportunities for further collaboration to ensure the right type of enforcement is applied throughout the supply chain.” Singh lamented that consequences of the illicit trade range from national security, economic loss from tax evasions, trademark infringements, undermining of brand investments, and detrimental quality issues associated with poor manufacturing conditions.

Customer Service...

From page 16 comfortable furnishings, modern workspaces and vibrant décor that reflect the company’s four core values of quality, integrity, reliability, and family.

“We serve some of the world’s biggest brands and by bringing the facilities up to the itel standard, we hope to attract the attention

of top North American companies eager to keep their business nearshore,” explains Epstein.

“We want to put a spotlight on the immense potential of Guyana’s talented labour pool and the investments in infrastructure that make it an attractive destination for the outsourcing industry.”

PAGE 18

Tuesday May 17, 2022

Kaieteur News

ExxonMobil now promises gas leak...

From page 3 is a gas emergency response type process and procedure which is not part of an EIA. In the EIA we might say we are going to have one. It is part of operations and it will be developed before the operations get started…my guess would be about a year and a half before startup because you usually need about a year or a year and a half to train your employees and your operators…,” he explained.

However, Attorney-atLaw, Elizabeth Hughes, who was present during Friday's meeting, questioned the logic behind the oil company's reasoning, as she pointed out that the EIA includes an oil response plan in the event or an emergency, while the same diligence is not extended to a gas leak and other associated effects.

To this end, the representative of the Consultant firm, Environmental Resources Management (ERM), which conducted the study for the oil company, said that the oil spill response plan was merely included as it already exists, while adding, that such an event is also likely to occur as a result of the project.

Todd Hall, the Guyana Programme Lead for ERM explained, “…there is an oil spill response plan in the document because that oil spill response plan already exists. It was prepared to cover a range of spill scenarios, including ones that are only relevant to the offshore development projects and not rel-

evant to this one at all, but it also covers smaller releases like the ones we talk about in this document from a marine vessel.”

It was also noted that a gas leak management plan is developed as part of the detailed design of a project, which is yet to be submitted hence it was not included in the EIA. However, the attorney, not convinced, argued that there must be a gas response plan in the EIA document before the project gets an EPA approval.

In the EIA document, EEPGL explained that a loss of integrity of the offshore pipeline, resulting in a natural gas release can be caused due to corrosion, objects striking the pipeline, and a buildup of stress in the pipe wall, causing buckling. The EIA goes on to say that if an unplanned release of gas from damaged subsea pipelines occurs, the released gas will generate a gas plume that rises from the seafloor to the sea surface. Therefore, “Fire or explosion accidents can occur when the released gas disperses into the atmosphere and encounters ignition sources, which could have an adverse impact on human life and environment in the immediate vicinity of the fire.”

ERM added that the consequences of a release would likely be less severe offshore as it “is extremely unlikely that there will be an ignition source to cause a fire, and the gas will passively disperse

without affecting any resources” rather than an onshore occurrence.

However, a release close to the Floating, Production, Sharing and Offloading (FPSO) vessel could result in a fire onboard the FPSO. EEPGL said that to reduce the likelihood of a gas release, the offshore pipeline design and installation will vary depending on the pipeline depth.

Construction works for the project is expected to start as early as August 2022 for the project being pursued

by EEPGL and its partners Hess Guyana Exploration Limited and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited.

The project will involve capturing associated gases produced from crude oil production operations on the Liza Phase 1 (Destiny) and Liza Phase 2 (Unity) Floating, Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) vessels, transporting approximately 50 million standard cubic feet per day of rich gas via a subsea pipeline and then an onshore pipeline to a Natural Gas processing plant.

At this point the gas would be treating the gas to remove Natural Gas Liquids for sale to third parties, and ultimately delivering dry gas meeting government specifications for use at the power plant.

The aspect of the project for which the oil company is responsible, that is to say, the installation of the offshore and onshore pipelines, is set to cost a whopping US$1.3B.

Tuesday May 17, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 19

PAGE 20

Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 17, 2022

Tuesday May 17, 2022

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

UDFA kicks off senior league, Coomacka whip Kwakwani 4-0, Eagles United top Hi Stars 4-2 Wins were registered as the Upper Demerara Football Association’s (UDFA) ‘Return To Play’ Senior League began with the league champions Eagles United recovering from an early set back to stop Hi Stars 4-2, while the opening game ended with victory for Coomacka FC, blotting out Kwakwani Strikers 40 last Sunday at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground.

On a heavy outfield following the march past of the competing clubs and witnessed by Mayor of Linden Ms. Waneka Arrendel, Guyana Football Federation

representatives Technical Director (Ag.) Bryan Joseph and Communications Officer Keiron Williams, and UDFA President Wainwright Bethune, visiting teams Coomacka FC and Kwakwani Strikers after a long absence returned to competitive football started things off.

H o w e v e r, C o o m a c k a quickly asserted themselves on the wet outfield and took control in the 19th minute through a Cassius Campbell header.

Then Shaquille Frank showed his form with his goal coming in the 30th

minute as Coomacka had Kwakwani Strikers pegged back 2-0 when the first half ended.

There was no respite for the Upper Berbice area of Region Ten and in the 47th minute Wheatland Thom got his first goal to give his team a 3-0 lead and would get his second in the 56th minute when he shot from outside to rock the net for a Coomacka 4-0 advantage which remained to the end.

The other game opened with Hi Stars taking the lead after two minutes of play with Osapho Ross collecting a ball which was blocked and find-

Tuesday May 17, 2022 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You may have felt somewhat frustrated in your initiatives over the past few days, Aries. Either outside obstacles, such as events that caused delays, or inner restraints, such as your own apathy.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Sometimes people might reproach you for being less than tactful in relationships, Libra. However, today's planetary energies are going to help you be more sensitive.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) It will be a stimulating day for you, Taurus! You'll feel great and have no trouble channeling all your energy into your activities. But don't be surprised if you encounter some resistance.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You have an unusual gift for making a situation seem less dramatic, Scorpio. Today, you'll witness crises of all kinds. You will be the one who reassures people. .

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Dare to express your ideas without fear of ridicule. This is what the planetary configuration has to say to you today, Sagittarius.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Be careful not to lose your temper today, Gemini. You're chomping at the bit these days, although your daring nature has been reined in by financial and professional constraints.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Today time will stop and might even seem to go backward, Cancer. Use this pause to reflect on your motivations.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Overall, the climate is tense at work and at home, Leo. You'll sense a feeling of restlessness and a longing for change, but you'll also feel a reluctance to make any real moves in that direction.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22) Your stroll through the universe of possibilities that you so love has come to an end, Virgo. It's time for you to come back to Earth and join the rest of us.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) If you've always felt the desire to write, now is the time to take the plunge, Capricorn. You certainly don't lack the imagination!

Your problem may be that you have difficulty taking your prose seriously.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You might have some strong hesitations during the day, Aquarius. You may have to cover up the truth or, on the contrary, say it out loud. If this is the case, say what's on your mind.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) There are moments when your powers of clear thinking reveal the tremendous amount of maturity that you have, Pisces. You aren't usually a dreamer, so it's rather difficult to lead you into ambiguous situations.

Coomacka Mines challenges for the ball controlled

by Kwakwani during their opening game Sunday. ing the back of the net for a 10 lead. Eagles United did not panic and levelled the score 1-1, through Kendolph Lewis

in the 20th minute.

Ten minutes later Hi Stars would take the lead with a goal

by Jermaine King as the

scores were 2-1.

But Eagles United would level through Deon Charter three minutes before the break in this game. With the scores locked at 2-2, striker Colwyn Drakes pushed Eagles United ahead in the 45th minute to end the first half with Eagles ahead 3-2.

The Christianburg side would increase the lead for good when Colwyn Drakes was fed the ball and he ran on to the ball in the 72nd minute for the 4-2 victory.Two more matches will be played at the same venue on Friday.

FM Drayton...

From page 22 exchange and with a powerful passed pawn, one square away from promotion. The game was converted to a win gracefully, as Callender lost her last piece preventing the passed pawn from promoting.

The game ended in checkmate and as an excellent victory over the tournament champion for Nellisha Johnson. Nationals The Open and Women’s National Championships begin on May 21st at the same venue from 9am sharp. It concludes on May 29th 2022. KFC Guyana is the primary sponsor of this year’s Women’s Championships, while Gaico Construction will be sponsor for the Open National Championship. The Guyana Chess Federation is ecstatic to have the support of KFC Guyana and Gaico Construction and looks forward to a continued partnership. The Guyana Chess Federation would like to congratulate the players and wishes them every success in the upcoming National Tournament where they will vie for the coveted top positions paving the way for team selection for the 44th Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India in July/August of this year.

Women and girls who are interested in learning the game are encouraged to register with the federation on its website guyanachess.org under the Women in Chess Community.

PAGE 22

Tuesday May 17, 2022

Kaieteur News

31 Golden Jaguars shortlisted ahead of Concacaf National League campaign - Montserrat to host Guyana in curtain raiser

The Golden Jaguars have been enjoying uninterrupted training since the introduction of the GFF Training Centre in Providence.

With Concacaf recently closed door friendlies to help promotion and relegation sysconfirming the details for the them to bond better but the tem.

2022/23 Concacaf Nations emphasis generally, will be Guyana is a League B parLeague (CNL) group stage trying to develop an ap- ticipant along with 15 teams matches taking place during proach, an attack and a de- which include Antigua and the FIFA Match Window of fence that suits what we’ve Barbuda, Bahamas (proJune 2022 (June 2-14, 2022), been doing. moted), Barbados (promoted), Guyana’s Golden Jaguars And there are a couple Belize, Bermuda (relegated), Team have begun to intensify boys who I’ve not worked Cuba (relegated), Dominican preparations. with before like Mckenna and Republic, French Guiana, The Guyana Football Fed- a few others that I’m working Guadeloupe (promoted), eration (GFF) released a 31- with for the first time,” G u a t e m a l a ( p r o m o t e d ) , member shortlist for the Se- Shabazz revealed.

Haiti (relegated), nior Men’s National team on The 31-member squad in- M o n t s e r r a t , N i c a r a g u a , Monday with just over two cludes: Goalkeepers; Alex Saint Vincent and the Grenaweeks remaining before the Murray, Quillan Roberts, Sese dines and Trinidad and Tofirst matches kick off the sec- Norville, Akel Clarke, Defend- bago (relegated). ond edition of a competition ers; Marcus Wilson, Quincy The Golden Jaguars were that is transforming men’s Adams, Jaylen Jones, Jeremy drawn in Group B with Haiti, national team football in the Garrett, Kevin Layne, Mat- Bermuda and Montserrat. region. thew Briggs, Leo Lovell, Golden Jaguars’ first match During the press briefing, Shemar Fraser, Sam Cox, will be an away fixture against the Head Coach of the Golden Midfielders; Daniel Wil- Montserrat on Saturday, June Jaguars side, Jamal Shabazz, son, Nathan Moriah Welsh, 4 then they will play at home said, “I can say very strongly Clive Nobrega, Job Caesar, against Bermuda on Tuesday, that the group feeling in the Curtez Kellman, Javier June 7. team is a very, very positive George, Neil Danns, ForOn Saturday, June 11, one. w a r d s ; T r a y o n B o b b , Guyana will host the dangerWe have players commit- Marcel Barrington, Kelsey ous Haitian side then the ted to play for Guyana and Benjamin, Jamal Perriera, away fixture against the same making the necessary sacri- Te r e l l O n d a a n , Ry a n side happens on Tuesday, fices.

Hackett, Pernell Schultz, June 14 which is the final playSo, where we lack in re- Anthony Jeffrey, Omari ing date of the June 2022 winsources, we certainly want to Glasgow, Emery Welshman dow. make up in the right attitude a n d Guyana resumes their Stephen Duke and a sensible and committed McKenna. campaign when March 2023 approach.”

For the 2022/23 CNL window opens.

The Jags have a week- group stage, the region’s 41 The first playing date of long training stint in Trinidad men’s senior national teams March 2023 is Thursday the and Tobago which will in- have been divided into three 23rd but Guyana play their clude 2 practice matches be- Leagues (A, B, and C) accord- first match on March 25 in hind closed doors. ing to the results of the 2019 an away fixture against “We’re going to play two CNL group stage, including a B e r m u d a . A f t e r t h a t , Guyana will then play host to Montserrat on Tuesday, Golden Jaguars March 28, in the final Head Coach Group B fixture.

Jamal Shabazz.

According to the Concacaf website, the times and venues for the matches are yet to be determined.

Following round robin group stage play in June 2022 (68 matches) and March 2023 (34 matches), the four League A group winners will advance to the 2023 Concacaf Nations League Finals (CNLF). The centralized event composed of semifinals, third place match, and final will be played in June 2023.

FM Drayton, Callender win National Qualifiers - 18 players qualify for National Championship FIDE Master Anthony Drayton and Jessica Callender have won the National Open and Women’s Qualifiers respectively after four days of intense rivalry at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

The tournaments ran concurrently with a start on May 7 and the finale on Sunday, May 15.

Open Qualifiers Drayton played undefeated to storm to victory, finishing on 8 points after eight rounds. Drayton, a former National Champion himself, will now go on to challenge Candidate Master Taffin Khan for the 2022 National Championship title.

The other eight players in contention are; Candidate Master Wendell Meusa (7 points), Roberto Neto (5 points), Loris Nathoo (4.5 points), Frankie Farley(4.5 points), Ethan Lee (4 points), Rashad Hussain (4 points), Justino De Silva (4 points) and Rai Sharma (4 points) who finished 2nd to 9th place respectively. These players will now move on to the nineround Round Robin Open National Championship Tournament.

Third place finisher Neto played against sixth place finisher Ethan Lee in round 7 of

the tournament. What began as a solid opening led to a four hour struggle for dominance.

Tiny inaccuracies plagued Lee’s development into the middle game, which Neto capitalized on intensely. Lee held valiantly, in an attempt to convince his opponent that there was nothing more than a draw in the position as things went from bad to worse.

An accurate piece exchange for multiple of Lee’s pawns was made by Neto, promising an enjoyable endgame. Time had dragged on, and both Neto and Lee’s time had elapsed, leaving both of them to play on the 30 second increment.

Inaccuracies from both sides began to flow, but Lee managed to recapture some of his lost pawns, draining Neto’s advantage and allowing Lee’s extra piece to show its strength. The players agreed to a draw in the end, letting Lee escape from a position that was dead loss.

Women’s Qualifier Callender finished in first place to win the Women’s National Qualifiers with 7 points. She finished just ahead of Pooja Lam who also managed to earn 7 points but ranked below Callender due to a direct encounter tie break.

In third place was deaf player, 12 year old Anaya Lall, who successfully defeated players such as Adia Alphonso, Maliha Rajkumar and Nellisha Johnson to gain 6 points in the competition.

Nellisha Johnson and Adia Alphonso both finished on 5 points to place them 4th and 5th, respectively.

Rajkumar, Waveney Johnson and Angel Rahim placed 6th to 8th on 4 points each. Elizabeth McRae took the final qualifying spot with 3 points. These girls will challenge reigning Women’s Champion 18 year old Sasha Shariff as she fights to retain her title. The Women’s National Championship Tournament will also consist of a nine-round round robin stage.

In round 5, fourth place finisher Nellisha Johnson had the white pieces against the Tournament Champion. Both players began and almost immediately lead into an interesting position. Tiny inaccuracies by Callender led to an excellent position for Johnson right out of the opening with a devastating attack.

Callender defended well and avoided checkmate, but the damage was already done. Johnson was left up the (Continued on page 21)

GCB’s Women’s inter-County T20 tourney

Champions B’ce destroy Select XI in truncated game Millington tournament’s MVP…Mentore player of the match

By Sean Devers A player of the Match 44 from Kanata Mentore and a player of the Tournament performance by Guyana off-spinner Plaffiana Millington spearheaded Berbice to an emphatic win at Everest yesterday to win the GCB’s Senior Inter-County Women’s T20 tournament.

In a game which was reduced to 15 overs due to a late start caused by overnight rain which washed out the opening encounter between Demerara and Essequibo, it was a destruction of the select XI as they were restricted to 19-8 replying to a revised target of 88 in eight overs.

Five of their batters made ducks, two made one, while Tricia Hardat and Lakshmie Mahadeo each scored two runs with extras top-scoring with 13.

Millington had 3-1 from her two overs to take her tally in the tournament to eight wickets, passing Demerara’s off-spinner Lustra Jordon’s five. She was supported by Oma Matadin who had 2-3 for the dominant Berbice side who made 131-3 when rain stopped play with 13.3 of the 15 overs completed.

After Mariam Samaroo was removed by left arm spinner Karishma Ramnauth for 11 at 32-1, Mentore and West Indies batter Shabika Gajnabi took the score to 64 before Gajnabi (13) got an edge off of a big drive and was caught at short third man as Hardat struck.

A 67-run third wicket stand between Shanetta Grimmond and Mentore carried the score 131 after the 50 was posted in the sixth over.

Mentore, who reached the

boundary four times in her 37ball 44 and Grimmond, whose unbeaten 36 lasted just 26 balls and included five boundaries, played an array of shots before Ramnauth removed Mentore as rain forced the players off the field.

Ramnauth ended with 217 for the Select X1 who suffered losses to Berbice, Demerara and Essequibo.

Berbice played unbeaten and was the best prepared side and looked way above the level of the other three teams in a low scoring tournament where Demerara and West Indies bowling Allrounder Cherry Ann Fraser, Essequibo’s Kumarie Persaud and Mentore were the only batters to reach 40.

The 50-over tournament is set to start tomorrow, Wednesday.

Tuesday May 17, 2022

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

GCC dominate Bounty/Antonio’s Grill hockey opener Among moments of brilliant sunshine and scattered drizzles over the immaculate Providence stadium field, the GCC ladies and men opened the 2022 local hockey season with a dominant showing.

The GBTI GCC Tigers won in a penalty shootout after needing to make up a two goal deficit against their club counterparts the GCC Spartans, while the GCC Junior Vets were victorious over the Pepsi Hikers in similar fashion after a 0-0 draw at full time. The finals followed a full day of hockey which started at 8:00AM until dark. Eight men’s teams and six women’s teams competed in the two divisions. This competition marked a late start to the

Guyana Hockley Board season and their first return in a couple of years due to suspension of activities resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic.

With opening goals from unlikely juniors, Ameriah Sahadeo and Madison Singh, the gods seemed to favour the Spartans to defeat the favoured GCC Tigers. Aliyah Gordon did a fine job in goal for the Spartans and seeing them to the half without conceding despite the Tigers firepower of national strikers Princessa Wilkie and Samantha Fernandes.

The second half saw Tigers Captain Gabriella Xavier push up from defence into a midfield playmaking role to pile the pressure onto the Spartans. Defender, and

The GCC Junior Vets triumphed in the Men’s Division. eventual MVP, Ulrica Sutherland was all over the field in an effort to tame the Tigers, but Xavier finally was able to make the breakthrough by scoring with four minutes remaining on the clock. Frus-

tration grew as the Tigers surely thought time would rob them of gold but striker Sandy Roopnarine found herself free in the circle to deflect an accurate cross from Xavier with mere seconds remaining

in the match. The 2-2 draw took the final into a penalty shootout. Princessa Wilkie and Samantha Fernandes both scored their penalties but only midfielder Madison Fernandes could match them

with a goal on the Spartans end leaving the Tigers to celebrate their victory. The men’s final also came down to the wire although the match remained scoreless at full time. Both sides displayed good moments of hockey but outstanding defending from GCC’s Dwayne Scott and Hikers Rayon Brandford coupled with good goalkeeping at either end denied all attempts at goal. Goalkeeper Michael Xavier would be GCC’s hero in the resulting shootout as he denied the national duo of Aroydy Branford and Jamarj Assanah during their shootout attempts. Devin Hooper and Alan Fernandes, however, for GCC, converted their penalties in spite of great efforts by custodian David Williams.

PAGE 24

Tuesday May 17, 2022

Kaieteur News

GAPLF Intermediates/Masters C/ships

Hussein and Sanmoogan tumble records in open category; Vyphuis, Phillips and Bridgemohan dominate masters’ segment

By Zaheer Mohamed Wazeer Hussein and Sarah Sanmoogan were crowned overall male and female champions respectively in the open division, while Marley Vyphuis, Nigil Phillips and Lalita Bridgemohan were dominant in the masters’ segment when the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting federation staged its Intermediates/Masters championships Sunday at St. Stanislaus Auditorium.

Cognizant that a lift is either won or lost in their minds long before they chalked their hands and curled their fingers

around a barbell, the athletes responded well to the cheers from the crowd, the type of motivation that is needed in iron sport, as they shattered 22 records on a fierce day.

As competitors displayed the fruits of their labour, hence deciding their own fate, Hussein of Roy’s gym Essequibo Coast broke two records and Sanmoogan shattered four in the open category, while Leroy Trotman earned qualification for the upcoming North American championship which is slated for Panama in August.

Arnold Archer, Richard Fredericks and Nigil Phillips smashed four records each while Keisha Abrigo, another Panama bound competitor shattered three and Marley Vyphius one.

The best lifter in the female Masters classic was Lalita Bridgemohan of Seemangal gym of Essequibo Coast, Nigil Phillips was crowned the best lifter in the male Masters equipped and the most outstanding competitor in the male Masters classic was Marley Vyphuis.

Sarah Goptar, Lydia Rob-

Athletes share a photographic moment following the contest. (Zaheer Mohamed photo) erts, Ashlie Abraham, Alicia Garrett were outstanding in the female division. Toni Ferreira, Randy Oodit, Kadeem Bowen, Kheon Evans, Ramesh Seecharan, Puneshwar Ramjit and Joseph Stoll also turned in sterling performances.

Following is the full results of the day’s proceedings: GAPLF Intermediates/ Masters Championship Results 1st 63kg Women’s Junior Raw - Sarah Goptar, Squat 105.0kg, Benchpress 40.0kg, Deadlift 112.5kg, Total 257.5kg 1st 69kg Women’s Junior Raw - Sarah Sanmoogan, Squat 122.5kg, Benchpress 62.5kg, Deadlift 155.0kg, Total 340.0kg 1st 84+kg Women’s Junior Raw - Lydia Roberts, Squat 115.0kg, Benchpress 52.5kg, Deadlift 137.5kg, Total 305.0kg 1st 63kg Women’s Open Raw - Sarah Goptar, Squat 105.0kg, Benchpress 40.0kg, Deadlift 112.5kg, Total 257.5kg 1st 69kg Women’s Open Raw - Sarah Sanmoogan, Squat 122.5kg, Benchpress 62.5kg, Deadlift 155.0kg, Total 340.0kg 2nd 69kg Women’s Open Raw - Denita Prowell, Squat 102.5kg, Benchpress 47.5kg, Deadlift 117.5kg, Total 267.5kg 1st 76kg Women’s Open Raw - Ashlie Abraham, Squat 122.5kg, Benchpress 60.0kg, Deadlift 147.5kg, Total 330.0kg 2nd 76kg Women’s Open Raw - Lalita Bridgemohan, Squat 120.0kg, Benchpress 57.5kg, Deadlift 132.5kg, Total 310.0kg 1st 84+kg Women’s Open Raw - Talicia Garrett, Squat 127.5kg, Benchpress 60.0kg, Deadlift 120.0kg, Total 307.5kg 2nd 84+kg Women’s Open Raw - Lydia Roberts, Squat 115.0kg, Benchpress 52.5kg, Deadlift 137.5kg, Total 305.0kg 1st 76kg Women’s Master 1 Raw - Lalita

Bridgemohan, Squat 120.0kg, Benchpress 57.5kg, Deadlift 132.5kg, Total 310.0kg Male Winners 1st 66kg Men’s Sb-Jr Raw - Toni Ferreira, Squat 140.0kg, Benchpress 85.0kg, Deadlift 160.0kg, Total 385.0kg 1st 59kg Men’s Junior Raw Shivshankar Bissoonlall, Squat 130.0kg, Benchpress 70.0kg, Deadlift 185.0kg, Total 385.0kg 2nd 59kg Men’s Junior Raw - Amit Naraine, Squat 127.5kg, Benchpress 75.0kg, Deadlift 182.5kg, Total 385.0kg 1st 66kg Men’s Junior Raw - Asaad Abdool, Squat 145.0kg, Benchpress 70.0kg, Deadlift 175.0kg, Total 390.0kg 1st 83kg Men’s Junior Raw - Wazeer Hussein, Squat 197.5kg, Benchpress 132.5kg, Deadlift 240.0kg, Total 570.0kg 1st 120+kg Men’s Junior Raw - Randy Oodit, Squat 142.5kg, Benchpress 67.5kg, Deadlift 170.0kg, Total 380.0kg 2nd 59kg Men’s Open Raw - Shivshankar Bissoonlall, Squat 130.0kg, Benchpress 70.0kg, Deadlift 185.0kg, Total 385.0kg 3rd 59kg Men’s Open Raw - Floyd Mal, Squat 92.5kg, Benchpress 60.0kg, Deadlift 137.5kg, Total 290.0kg 1st 66kg Men’s Open Raw - Kadeem Bowen, Squat 145.0kg, Benchpress 95.0kg, Deadlift 205.0kg, Total 445.0kg 2nd 66kg Men’s Open Raw - Asaad Abdool, Squat 145.0kg, Benchpress 70.0kg, Deadlift 175.0kg, Total 390.0kg 3rd 66kg Men’s Open Raw - Toni Ferreira, Squat 140.0kg, Benchpress 85.0kg, Deadlift 160.0kg, Total 385.0kg 1st 74kg Men’s Open Raw - Kheon Evans, Squat 192.5kg, Benchpress 102.5kg, Deadlift 232.5kg, Total 527.5kg 2nd 74kg Men’s Open Raw - Quain Proctor, Squat 190.0kg, Benchpress 110.0kg, Deadlift 210.0kg, Total 510.0kg 3rd 74kg Men’s Open Raw

- Yusuf Khan, Squat 162.5kg, Benchpress 90.0kg, Deadlift 190.0kg, Total 442.5kg 1st 83kg Men’s Open Raw - Wazeer Hussein, Squat 197.5kg, Benchpress 132.5kg, Deadlift 240.0kg, Total 570.0kg 2nd 83kg Men’s Open Raw Roberto Tewari, Squat 175.0kg, Benchpress 110.0kg, Deadlift 217.5kg, Total 502.5kg 3rd 83kg Men’s Open Raw - Richard Fredericks, Squat 127.5kg, Benchpress 82.5kg, Deadlift 150.0kg, Total 360.0kg 1st 93kg Men’s Open Raw - Ramesh Seecharan, Squat 112.5kg, Benchpress 65.0kg, Deadlift 150.0kg, Total 327.5kg 1st 120kg Men’s Open Raw - Puneshwar Ramjit, Squat 227.5kg, Benchpress 115.0kg, Deadlift 250.0kg, Total 592.5kg 1st 120+kg Men’s Open Raw Randy Oodit, Squat 142.5kg, Benchpress 67.5kg, Deadlift 170.0kg, Total 380.0kg 1st 105kg Men’s Master 1 EQ - Nigil Phillips, Squat 290.0kg, Benchpress 192.5kg, Deadlift 232.5kg, Total 715.0kg 1st 93kg Men’s Master 1 Raw Marlon Wilson, Squat 192.5kg, Benchpress 125.0kg, Deadlift 265.0kg, Total 582.5kg 1st 105kg Men’s Master 1 Raw - Marley Vyphuis, Squat 227.5kg, Benchpress 137.5kg, Deadlift 275.0kg, Total 640.0kg 1st 93kg Men’s Master 2 Raw - Joseph Stoll, Squat 115.0kg, Benchpress 65.0kg, Deadlift 167.5kg, Total 347.5kg 2nd 93kg Men’s Master 2 Raw - Ramesh Seecharan, Squat 112.5kg, Benchpress 65.0kg, Deadlift 150.0kg, Total 327.5kg 1st 83kg Men’s Master 3 Raw - Richard Fredericks, Squat 127.5kg, Benchpress 82.5kg, Deadlift 150.0kg, Total 360.0kg 1st 74kg Men’s Master 4 Raw - Arnold Archer, Squat 50.0kg, Benchpress 32.5kg, Deadlift 60.0kg, Total 142.5kg

Kaieteur News

Tuesday May 17, 2022

PAGE 25

Thomas and Tyrell headlines GCOS Independence 5km race

C

leveland Thomas and Shakelgh Tyrell claimed top honours in the Open division in the National Park on Sunday last when the Guyana Committee of Services staged a 5km Independence Run and Walk race.

Thomas beat Winston Messenger and Royston Fordyce in that order to claim the Male Open race.

Tyrell ran ahead of Alliyah Headley and Adriel Austin to capture the Female Open event.

The Junior department saw Atoya Harvey beating off Adriel Austin and Narrissa McPherson to win the Female race, while among the Males, Jevon Roberts defeated Samuel Booker and Antonie Wright to take the crown.

In the 13-14 division, Marissa Thomas beat Jennifer Byas and Johanna Antquan to win the girls event, while for the boys, Christopher Goddette ran past Jerome King and Rondel Charles.

The Masters race resulted in victory for Larry Josiah over Adrian Thomas and Linden Phillips in the Men's segment, while the ladies produced a battle between Carla Benjamin and June Joseph with Benjamin

Cleveland Thomas wins the men's race.

emerging the winner.

Attractive incentives will

be awarded to the top three performers in each category.

The event received support from corporate

Guyana which included Payless Variety Store,

Guyana Beverages Inc., and E-Networks.

FM Drayton, Callender win National Qualifiers

The GBTI GCC Tigers won the Women's Division.

- 18 players qualify for National Championship

Winners of the National Chess Qualifiers - Antony Drayton (left) and Jessica Callender.

GCC dominate Bounty/Antonio's Grill hockey opener

UDFA kicks off senior league, Coomacka whip Kwakwani 4-0, Eagles United top Hi Stars 4-2

President of the Upper Demerara Football Association, Wainwright Bethune, gives remarks during the opening of their football tournament.

GCB's Women's inter-County T20 tourney

31 Golden Jaguars Champions B'ce destroy shortlisted ahead of Select XI in truncated game Concacaf National Millington tournament's MVP League campaign

…Mentore player of the match

- Montserrat to host Guyana in curtain raiser

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