Kaieteur News

Exxonandpartnersprofitsfrom2020to2022 threetimesmorethanGuyana'soilrevenues

While the Stabroek Block partners' 2022 profits added up to a hefty $1.23 trillion(US$5.9B)in2022,if one were to add their earnings in 2020 and 2021, those three years of production returned $1.49 trillion (US$7.2B) in profits to those oil companies. On the other hand, Guyana's oil moneyinthefirstthreeyears of oil production was US$2B. Counting deposits madethisyear,thefigurefor Guyana is approximately US$2.4B.

The companies' financials show that Hess and CNOOC both made profits in 2020 but Exxon madealoss.Theircombined

profit was $5.6 billion, and Guyanareceived$41billion in royalties and profit oil sales. In 2021, Guyana got $85B, but the companies' profits overtook this at a combined $255B. In 2022, theymade$1.23trillion,and Guyanagot$294B. With the fifth project recently approved, ExxonMobil is well on its way to placing 10 floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels offshoreGuyana.Hence,the exploitation of Guyana's resourcesunderthelopsided Stabroek Block production sharing agreement (PSA) is set to continue. So far, the deal has allowed the local

Mahdia Secondary dorm fire raises questions about the future of Indigenous communities – GHRA

The Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA)onSaturdaysaid itstandsinsolidaritywith t h e i n d i g e n o u s communitiesandfamilies ofthosewhoselovedones perished or were injured by the Madhia Secondary School female dormitory firelastSunday

However, the human rights group said pledges to avoid future tragedies willbemeaningfulonlyif theyfocusonfundamental rather than circumstantial causes.

The GHRAnoted that before 2017, Madhia existedasalegalvacuum.

The group explained that, “It was neither a landing, a village nor a township, Madhia was explicable only as a goldmining site. Its original inhabitants from over a century ago were immigrant St Lucian families and Patamona porknockerswiththearea now dominated by Brazilian miners. While the school, hospital and churches reflect the b e g i n n i n g s o f a transitional community, life is subjugated to mining.”

According to the GHRA, miners live and invest on the coast or in t h e P a t a m o n a communities.

The Human Rights Association said that tragedy in Madhia cannot betreatedasexceptional.

“Thetoxicimpactofmining on indigenous communities is pervasive, long-standing, predictable and widespread acrossRegions1,7,8andSouth Region 9, creating upheavals with numbing regularity The epidemic of suicides in Baramita, the mayhem in Echerak where lawlessness claimed even the deaths of policemen and recently the appeals for help of the Toshao of Chinese Landing which fell ondeafjudicialears.

While cell phones being usedtogroomyounggirlsisnot restricted to young indigenous, thetragedyisanotherreminder that Guyana as a whole is as complacentaboutpotentialbad outcomes from cell phones as theUSaboutgunsinthehands of teenagers,” the Association saidaddingthateffortsbyboth national and indigenous leadership to combat rampant mining have been ambivalent andinadequate.

Asaresult,theGHRAnoted that vigorous action on the effects of mining on communities from the South Rupununi leadership has not beenmatchedinotherRegions.

The Association expressed hope that the Madhia tragedy wouldservetoencouragemore vigorousleadership.

“Moreover, the complete official silence around the connection of the tragedy to mining is ominous. This is not to question the genuineness of the grief expressed by the various national authorities or

subsidiaries of the Stabroek Block partners to amass more than US$18B in combinedassets.

With calls to renegotiate the contract falling on deaf ears, the Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has said that instead of getting a better

deal, the government will claw back value using the Local Content Act However, former advisor to the government on Petroleum, Dr Jan Mangal has said that local content is importantandnecessary;the Irfaan Ali administration

cannot expect it to be a substituteforafairdealwith ExxonMobil.

Mangal has said that localcontentisaredherring for the government's refusal to get a better deal. He had explained that while local contentmakesmoneyforthe private sector, it is paltry compared to what Guyana cangetwithabetterdeal.

In commenting on the companies' magnificent profits during his most recent press conference, J a g d e o s a i d t h e g o v e r n m e n t ' s disappointmentlieswiththe lack of ring-fencing in the contract.Hesaidiftherewas ring-fencing, some earlier

investments would have already been amortized, and Guyana could have gotten a bigger share He also repeated a claim he had made before, that Exxon's sharefromprofitoilismore thanGuyana'stake.

The Stabroek Block is estimated to contain resources of approximately 11 billion oil-equivalent barrels and is operated by ExxonMobil affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited. They hold a 45% interest in the block, Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd holds 30% interest while CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited holds the remaining25%.

Charlestown,Georgetown,Guyana.

Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456

Editor:NIGELWILLIAMS

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

The ExxonMobil Guyana oil partnership

This is a peculiar 50:50 partnership between ExxonMobilandGuyana. Inoneyearalone,theAmerican oilsupergiant,ExxonMobil,rakesinUS$5.9billion,while poverty stricken, complacent Guyana collects US$2.4 billion as its share of profit and royalties from 2020 to the endofthefirstquarterofthisyear. Foremphasis,onesideto thisoilpartnershipis that(ExxonMobil)gobblesupUS$5.9 billioninasingleyear,whiletheotherside(Guyana)getsa totalofUS$2.4billionasitstakeforthreeplusyears.

The numbers are in ExxonMobil’s records, and they speakathighvolumes. Thisissupposedtobethe‘fairness’ ofahalfandhalfpartnership. Ifthisisthatkindpartnership, thentheGuyanasidelanguishesinthedungeonsoftheworst financial jail, while the other equal partner soars to the heights in an economic jumbo jet. This is what ExxonMobil’sViceroyinGuyana,Mr AlistairRoutledge,is proud to tell Guyanese is the best deal ever We think that Mr Routledge could be possibly excused, given that his mindisoverloadedfromcountingthecashthatExxonMobil gougesfromGuyana.

ThisisthemanthatVicePresident,BharatJagdeo,hails asGuyana’sbestfriend. Thisisthesameoilcontractthatthe same Jagdeo used to curse without fail. This is the same obscene, contract that Bharat Jagdeo distances himself as muchashecan. ExxonMobilisswimmingatolympicspeed in the billions reaped, ripped off, from Guyana, while Guyana is drowning in the weakness, ineptitude, and cowardiceofthosethecitizenselectedtoleadthem.

Dr Jagdeo is all but helpless to do anything about this lopsided,vulgarswindlingcontract. Butheisnotalonein histimidityandhesitancy,hisleadershipfearandtrembling before the foreign exploiters and enslavers of which America’sExxonMobilstandsfirstinline. Thereisalsothe OppositionLeader,Mr AubreyNorton,whoisbutatwinof Vice President Jagdeo, where this 2016 oil contract is concerned, and whenever renegotiation of it becomes the centralnationalconversation. LiketheVicePresident,the Opposition Leader is also shrinking and shirking his primary duty to do better for Guyana, to get more for Guyanese.ThepoorofGuyanaarestrappedandstruggling; theyhavetheirbackstothewall,andtheirnosesrubbedinthe ground, when they cannot afford to purchase the basics for a decentliving,adignifiedexistence Itisattimeslikethesethat thesharpest,thestrongest,andthewisestareallbroughtoutof realleaders. Theystandupandfightfortheirpeople,thesocalledrichestintheworld,butwhocannotputthreesimple mealsonthetable,whenthedaycomes.

How can an oil deal that is so blatantly in favor of one sideofapartnershipeverbeconsideredtobefairandrichand acceptabletothepeoplestrugglingforsurvivalonthepoorand exploited part of it? How can any leader with any testicular fortitudestandidlyby,actuallymakeexcusesfortheleading rip-off artist, even defend it, could ever be considered anything but a sellout, and number among the rankest of betrayers of a nation and its peoples? But this is what the suffering citizens of Guyana are forced to cope with, to managetosurvivealongsidesomehow

Any contract for any precious commodity that is so heavilytitledtowardsonepartnercanneverbesaidtobea contractofequals. Itisadealmadeinhellwiththedevilas thebeneficiary,andwiththepeopleofGuyanaasthehuman sacrifices,whoarenothingbuttheropedaroundandhanded overvictims. ThisistherealityofGuyanesewiththeirown politicalleaderstradingtheiraspirationsaway,spikingtheir dreams, through their self-serving schemes, who still bizarrelyclaimtohavetheinterestsofthepeopleatheart.

ExxonMobil can delight its workers, shareholders, and other stakeholders with the numbers from Guyana’s oil. Meanwhile, the Guyanese shareholders in this national patrimony are left holding a bag that has pennies for their wealth, and a hole at the bottom that drains into ExxonMobil’sgreedyvacuumofamouth.

Mahdia fire victims should be honoured through a creative process that elevates hinterland education systems

DEAREDITOR

I am writing as a concerned citizen to express mydeepestcondolencesand heartfelt sympathies to all those affected by the tragic school dormitory fire that claimed the lives of 19 childrenintheMahdia.

Thisdevastatingincident has left our entire nation in mourning, and the pain and grief being experienced by thefamilies,theinjured,and the communities affected is immeasurable Guyanese everywhere are collectively traumatized.

A m i d s t t h i s overwhelming sorrow, I would like to highlight a

touching gesture that truly embodied the complex emotions that words alone couldnotexpress.

The initiative taken by the teachers and students at BathPrimarySchooltoform a heart on the playground, with students arranged in a pattern forming an “M” in the middle, was a profound display of mourning, solidarity,andempathy This simple yet powerful act not only symbolized the unity and unwavering support for those who suffered this tragedy but also provided comfort. I attach a copy, whichIhopeyouwillprint.

Inatimewhenwordsfall

short, this heartfelt gesture served as a reminder that compassion knows no bounds.

It conveyed the shared pain and the collective grief thatweallfeelasanation.It is in these moments of darkness that the light of unityshinesbrightest.

The students and teachers at Bath Primary School have shown us the way I am grateful to them and persons who shared the image via social media, and toallorganisations,localand foreign, and persons who have rallied to assist I understand that school children at other schools

have since made similar tributes and am gladdened that they have a means to express the complex emotionstheymustfeel.

The families of victims, membersofthecommunities affected, and concerned citizens are understandably angryandeagerforchanges. Thetimewillcometodissect t h i s t r a g e d y f o r accountability and lessons. However, I do not believe thatnowisthetime.

IcommendPresidentAli for leading from the front respectfully, adjusting our national Independence celebrations,andurgingall

(Continuedonpage06)

Stop disrespecting symbols of nationhood

DEAREDITOR, The May 26, 2023 editionoftheKaieteurNews carried the Address of His Excellency Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Co - operative Republic of Guyana on the occasion of the country’s Independence anniversary The Guyana Chronicle and the Guyana Times posted the identical article. I was shocked. I discovered to my chagrin thatthenationalcolourswas displayed in an upsidedown manner Also the

Golden Arrowhead was placed on the left of the President when its rightful place is on the right I wonder when we will stop disrespectingoursymbolsof nationhood. I wrote about the disrespect before. The long established protocol is that whenever the national coloursisdisplayedasitwas the red must be on the top and not at the bottom as i observed in all the news outletsialludedtoabove. Is it an indication that things in Guyana at the

highest level and elsewhere areupside- down?

Let us at all times show absolute respect for our Symbols of NationhoodThe flag - The Golden Arrowhead, The coat of arms, The anthem and The pledge as enshrined in the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

MayGodhelpGuyana.

ClintonConway Assistant Commissioner ofPolice.

(Retired)

Give Jack his Jacket

DEAREDITOR,

ItistimeforJacktowear his Jacket. Our Ministers must not assume the role of building inspectors when conveniently looking to score political points and then run away when the buildings are not properly built.Yes,thereisalottobe improved, but most importantly we need to ensure that when an inspection occurs and a violationisfoundwhichputs the lives of the occupants at risk that immediate corrective action is taken. If not, then the facility should be closed. The press has reported that the dormitory had failed a fire inspection twice yet it was allowed to stillbeusedasis.

Only the Ministry of Home Affairs can explain why this was allowed. New

bids have been put forward for teachers’ quarters in the same region and the government knows that changes are still pending in the packet to ensure improvedfiresafetyandfire suppression in the construction of the quarters. The expectation of all citizens is that our government will react quickly to what we have learned from this recent tragedy ACOIishelpful,but the obvious dangers and there corresponding risks have immediate solutions which can and must be implemented.

What prevents an inconsistent standard at the local level is the establishment of national standardsandregulationsby the Ministries which are respected and effectively

enforced Effective implementation is in the hands of the local government, but gaps / problemareascanbequickly identifiedwiththeuseofthe inspection, compliance and r e v i e w p r o c e s s Unfortunately, there was a failure of ensuring compliance in this case. We must as a nation put safety first and make it the top priority in all of our undertakings The governmentmustactquickly to prevent this from reoccurring and must raise the level of public safety across sectors and improve the effectiveness of the MinistryofHomeAffairs.

Sincerely,

Mr JamilChanglee Chairman

T h e C o o p e r a t i v e RepublicansofGuyana

DEAREDITOR, The GuyanaAssociation of Professional Engineers (GAPE) expresses deep sorrowoverthetragiclossof nineteen young lives in the devastating fire at the Mahdia Secondary School dormitoryonMay21,2023. GAPE extends its deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones to this catastrophic fire Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, students, staff, and the entire community of Mahdia and Region8.

Westandwiththepeople of Guyana in mourning the departed souls. This horrific incident further emphasizes the need for the urgent establishment and rigorous enforcement of building codes, safety standards, and firepreventionmeasures.

As an organization committed to promoting engineering excellence, GAPE stresses the vital role that proper design, construction,inspection,and maintenance play in

safeguarding buildings, particularly those housing institutions with vulnerable occupants such as schools andhealthcarefacilities.

GAPE is deeply

concerned about the devastatingconsequencesof this fire and calls for a comprehensive inquiry to determine the precipitating factors and, more so, measurestobeimplemented urgently to prevent similar incidents in the future GAPE stands ready to offer its support to the relevant authorities in conducting a c o m p r e h e n s i v e investigation We urge a t r a n s p a r e n t a n d collaborative approach, involving all stakeholders supported by suitably qualifiedexperts,touncover the truth, learn from this incident, and implement necessary measures to preventsuchtragediesinthe future.

It is our firm belief that all stakeholders must work together urgently to ensure that all public facilities,

particularly educational and health care facilities, meet the highest safety standards. This includes rigorous inspections to identify potential hazards, maintenance protocols, and continuous training of personnelresponsibleforthe safety of these premises. GAPEremainscommittedto promoting the highest standards of engineering practiceandwillcontinueto a d v o c a t e f o r t h e implementation of building codes and safety standards and their diligent enforcement.

We strongly urge engineers and other professionalsresponsiblefor designing, constructing, and managing infrastructure projects to prioritize the public’s safety and wellbeing in all infrastructure development.

Stuart E B Hughes, BEng (Hons), MSc (Eng.), DIC,MCIHT,MGAPE Guyana Association of Professional Engineers (GAPE)

Stakeholdersmustworktogetherurgently toensurethatallpublicfacilities,particularly educationalandhealthcarefacilities, meetthehighestsafetystandards

Mahdia fire deaths show PNC/PPP Governments’ incompetence in full display

The shock, trauma, devastation, and horror of the Mahdia fire has awakenedinallstudentsand citizens of Guyana a new consciousness that what Government does or fail to docancauseustoliveordie.

A “root-cause” analysis clearly shows that adults have failed our children at Mahdia, that there were many sins of commission andsinsofomission.Parents trusted the school and the Ministry of Education and sent their children there to getagoodeducationingood safe, secure facilities, with good adult supervision and support, under the oversight oftheMinistryofEducation and regional/local authorities.

Instead, 19 students end up burnt to death, including 14 so charred beyond recognition that it required DNAtestingnotavailablein our new crime lab in the richest country in Caricom and the fastest growing oil rich economy in the world, but available in teeny, tiny Barbados.

Those who were in the legal position of “loco parentis” (substitute parents), where underage c h i l d r e n m u s t b e accompaniedandsupervised byadults,wereindereliction

of duty As if it absolves

Government of all responsibility and culpability, apologists for the Government say you can’t blame the Minister of Education, the Ministry or theGovernment,thatitwasa fellow student who became anarsonistthatsetthefire. Was it the arsonist or the Government employees that wereresponsibleforthesafety andsecurityofstudents?Does thebuckforsafetyandsecurity stop with the alleged arsonist or the governmental authorities and functionaries? Willitbethearsonistthatwill be subject to criminal neglect or criminal negligence charges? The Government is shell-shocked and embarrassed this tragedy happenedundertheirwatch.

The Mahdia Dorm Tragedy is a no-confidence in Government moment, Guyana’s own “9/11” event thatwillbeetchedinhistory. But the President and Cabinet’s support to the surviving students, the parents and grieving communities is exemplary andverycommendable.

I believe the President is a compassionate man who leads with the heart and wantstodowell.Thenation ralliedtothePresident’scall to come together in

MAHDIA’S INFERNO

Who should provide the a n s w e r s ? P r i y a Manickchand or Nigel Dharamlall?

I have noticed that

mourning.

However, imagine if such caring and support for the Mahdia children came proactively before the tragedy,notafter Imagineif wehadcaredtofollowupon complaints from concerned citizens and Fire Inspectors’ reports and put systems, equipment, and adequate personnel in place, our children would not have been trapped and their lives snuffed out in the twinkling ofaneye.

Nation, they never had a chancetosaygoodbye!

What this Mahdia fire has done is to mobilise the whole country to understand that poor governance, poor supervision, poor follow up, poor implementation can be detrimental to our current existence and our future It highlights a country rooted in inequities and lack of equal access to education and Government services, which both the PNC and PPPhave failed to solve in 60 years. This tragedy is also a wakeup call to all cabinet members to do their jobs properly Ifyoucannotfulfill youroathofofficeandrunan efficient, responsive Ministry, get out and let smarter people take over Slackers make our good President look bad Mr President,firethemuporfire them!

T h a n k y o u , Government! We are now united as “One Guyana” opposedto

(Continuedonpage58)

numerous individuals launched scathing attacks against Priya Manickchand, aiming to hold her responsibleforthedisastrous Mahdia Dormitory inferno. As a politician, there is no greater satisfaction than witnessing your opponent being lambasted for their incompetence.

However, let me unequivocally state that the dire situation in Mahdia and the tragic fire have absolutely no connection to Priya.

Instead, they are entirely attributable to the Regional Executive Officer of Region 8, and by extension, the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development.

Across our nation, the management of the EducationProgrammeliesin the hands of Regional Education Officers, who act

as the Program Managers and are accountable to the REOsofeachregion.

It is the region that gets the money through the budget and the REOs that managethatanddecideshow itisspentandonwhat.These REOs serve as the accounting officers and are answerabletotheMinisterof Local Government and Regional Development Priya can’t instruct them. Thedecisiontoconstructthe dormitory was made by the region, and likewise, the determinationofitscapacity to accommodate students wastheirresponsibility

The responsibility for overseeing the maintenance of the dorms, feeding the children, employing staff, supervising staff, ensuring security, and even providing emergency exits rests solely withtheregion.

Every single aspect of failure in this regrettable incident must be squarely placed at the feet of the Ministry of Local Government and Regional

Development.

It is this ministry that appointedapoliticalcronyof the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) as the Regional Executive Officer of the Region.

Therefore, the Ministry of Local Government and RegionalDevelopmentmust bear the burden of accountability for their actionsinthismatter

They must provide answers and face the consequences of their choices regarding Local Government and Regional Development. Where is the Minister?

What deserves our constructive criticism regarding Priya is the evaluation of the academic and non-academic curricula and their suitability for the needsoftoday’schildren.

Regards

Hon. Ganesh Mahipaul, M.P. Shadow Minister of Local Government and RegionalDevelopment.

Mahdia fire victims should be...

Frompage04

Guyanesetohonourourloss and injured children and their families in this great momentofgrief.

Iurgeallcitizenstoshow respect and patience until every child has been laid to rest. I do hope that the President will then embrace an open process to examine what went wrong and could beimproved.Icommendand urge him to uphold the high standardofleadershiphehas displayed in this matter to

date by considering all viewpoints, including those he and members of the government might not agree with. This will improve the quality and impact of decisionsthathopefullywill not merely fix underlying problems but also improve how education is structured in the hinterland, perhaps creatively building on the v i r t u a l c l a s s r o o m opportunities opened by the Low Carbon Development Strategy’s rural solar electrificationprogramme.

Iamawarefromyearsof field work among Indigenous communities of thegreatburdentheybearin sending their academically brightest youngsters away fromtheirvillageforformal schooling. These youths are unable to continue their cultural schooling through their way of live with their families, a socialization process through which critical traditional

knowledge,includingprized ecological knowledge, is passed from generation to generation. Asourinherited British school term system does not coincide with ecological wet and dry seasons and farming cycles, these children are also often away and cannot fully participate in critical farming and hunting activities.

Ihavegreathopethatthe victims of the Mahdia tragedy will be honoured through a creative process that elevates hinterland education systems, catering to both formal and Indigenous schooling requirements. Let us move forward with respect, embracing the task of identifying and formulating solutions to the numerous challenges that lie ahead. Together, we have the capability to overcome and makemeaningfulprogress.

SimoneMangal-Joly

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Rippingoff

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Guyanese getting rip-off all around.

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Bandits rip-off a school child pants for his cell phone.

Exxon ripping off Guyanese of their oil.

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The PPP Govt. partnering with Exxon to rip off Guyana.

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And the Opposition ripping off itself.

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Countries within pathway of potential oil spill from Guyana have US$140B of economic activity at risk

of

Financial Analyst

While it is w i d e l y reported, that an oil spill from the Liza Phase One Project, currently producing over 150,000 barrelsofoil,couldaffect12 Caribbean states, Financial Analyst, Tom Sanzillo

recently alluded that the impactsofsuchariskshould notbetakenlightly

According to the Liza Phase One Environmental ImpactAssessment (EIA), it states that a spill “would likely impact marine resources found near the

well, such as sea turtles and certainmarinemammalsthat maytransitorinhabitthearea impactedbyaspill.”Itwould also have trans boundary impacts on portions of Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago,Grenada,St.Vincent and the Grenadines, and St.

Lucia. In a recent column publishedbytheInstitutefor Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, Sanzillo said the islands located withinthepathofapotential oil spill from the Guyana project produce more than

US$140 billion of economic activity annually, largely based on the maritime and tourism sectors. He alluded that these countries such as Trinidad and Tobago, by virtue of the source of such revenuescited,facefinancial risks from an oil spill in Guyana.

Taking this into account, along with the economic decimation that would occur for Guyana, Sanzillo finds it troubling that ExxonMobil Corporation is pushing for Guyana to only accept a US$2B parent guarantee for oil spills when the company isworthoverUS$430B.

He also finds it odd that the company is refusing to comply with a court order which calls for an unlimited parentguaranteefortheLiza PhaseOneProject.

That guarantee has to be provided by Exxon for its subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) which operatestheStabroek Block. Justice Sandil Kissoon in a May3,2023rulinghasgiven ExxonuptoJune10,2023to comply with his ruling or face the suspension of the LizaPhaseOnePermitwhich he says unequivocally calls forunlimitedcoverage.

EEPGL as well as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have since appealed to stay the order

The company's recent defence is that it already has several layers of insurance that more than cover any

credible costs. According to published reports, the coverage amounts to more thanUS$20billion.

Exxon claims local affiliates have US$19Bin assets, insurance totalling US$$600M and the recently finalized US$2B parent guarantee.

Inthewakeofthejudge's decision, Sanzillo said the eyes of the world are now focused on the Guyanese government's enforcement actions He said, “The government faces an institutionalconflictbetween the revenue it receives from oil extraction and the health and safety of its people. In thisinstance,thegovernment has no choice.Acourt order hastobeobeyed.”

Sanzillo added, “But it is disturbing that the country's officials are taking Esso's sideagainstthejudiciaryand the people of Guyana. A government that is prepared tobendtherulesinfavourof one company is a weak and unstablegovernment.”

Theanalystfurthernoted that the economic risks to Guyanaareclear

He said, “ExxonMobil has the resources to clean up a spill. Guyana does not.” Without a parent company guarantee, Sanzillo believes Guyana risks economic decimation if left to pick up the bill for an oil spill from EEEPGL'soperations.

Trying to dismiss this as “environmental”litigationhe said,willnolongerwork.

- A Govt. that is prepared to bend the rules in favour

one company is weak, unstable - Int’l

International FinancialAnalyst, Tom Sanzillo

Jagdeo is breathing new life into the PNCR

The PNCR has a newsavior Andit i s f r o m a n unexpected quarter: the PPPC. The PNCR is getting a little help. And it is not from a friend but from BharratJagdeo.

ThePNCRowesmuchto BharratJagdeo.

It should publicly thank him for what he has been doing in granting the PNCR apoliticalrevival.

The PNCR is the major and only substantive force withintheAPNU.

It attempted to benefit from rigged elections and then shamefacedly tried to pretend that it has won the 2020 general and regional elections When that attempt failed, it claimed that the dead and migrant votedandlaterclaimthatthe Americans installed the PPPC regime. In previous elections, the PNCR was abletoescapesanctionforits politicalgymnastics.

Butinthe2020elections, the world was present in the form of observers and exposed the barefaced attempt to benefit from riggedelections.

As is evident from the recent defections, it has suffered to the PPPC, the PNCRdidsufferthatfallout isnowbeingmitigatedbyof all persons the General Secretary of the PPPC, BharratJagdeo.

Since the elections, the PNCR has been wracked by internal divisions The subsequent exposure of massive wrongdoing while in government has further weakened the PNCR to the point where it appeared that it maynot havebeenableto field candidates for next month’s local government elections.Butguesswhohas come to the rescue of the PNCR? None other than Bharrat Jagdeo! Over the past few weeks, the PNCR hasbeengivenanewleaseof lifebecauseoftheobsession that Jagdeo has with the PNCR’s leader, Aubrey Norton ThePNCRwasan utterly discredited party as local government elections approached.Itdidnotappear to be keen on contesting the local government polls and infacthasdonethingswhich suggest it would rather these elections were not held The party’s credibility further nosedived following its role in a raucous within the National Assembly

ThePPPCappearedtobe cruisingtoanoverwhelming victory But the PPPC was alsocomingunderfireforits mismanagement of the oil and gas sector and its return to the methods and schemes which had been responsible for its electoral demise in 2015. Unable to keep its critics under wraps, the

PPPC launched a massive public relations (PR) counter-offensive It has wooed and recruited a numberofpersonstobepart ofthisPRblitz.Butthetruth has proven to the PPPC greatest nemesis and it has been unsuccessful in its counteroffensive

ThePPPCsince1997has always been thin-skinned to criticism.

And when the APNU opted to host weekly press conferences, the PPPC’s General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, opted to host a weekly press conference to respond to everything said by the APNU at its press conference.

The local media is being obsequious to these weekly shenanigans They allow themselvestohavetositfora few hours every Thursday from2PMtolistentoJagdeo rant and rave at everything and anything said at the APNU’s earlier press conference. Jagdeo is so politicallyineptthathedoes not realize that by holding a presser, in response to one hostedafewhoursearlierby theAubreyNortonthatheis unwittingly giving more attentionandpublicitytothe PNCRthanisdeserving.

Jagdeobyhisobsession with Norton is granting a new lease of life to the PNCR He attacks everything and anything

Mahdia Secondary dorm fire raises questions...

Frompage3 whichhavebeentoleratedfordecades. The authenticity of any Commission of Inquiry will be measured by whether it focuses on stop-gap measures or addresses the devastating social, environmental and intergenerational consequences of mining,” theAssociationadded.

Additionally, the GHRA said that “the suffocating national obsession with wealth currentlypromotedinGuyanaasthesolution toallillsisalienatingtomanyGuyanese,asis

using the occasion to rehearse all the Government has allegedly done for Amerindiancommunities”.

“Reducinganyinquiryintodiscussionof locksandgrillswithouttakingintoaccount the larger issue of mining is not acceptable Just as it is not possible to face the climate crisis without moving away from fossil fuels, it is not possible to save the Amazon and its peoples without a transition away from mining,” the GHRA saidinastatement.

Dem boys seh...

De beach is ours!

Dem boys does like go pun de Seawall behind de hotel.Itgatnuffbeachfront space and dem cars now able to drive up and park pun de beach, never mind dem destroying the sea defenceindeprocess.

De jetty now gat rails and benches. Dem boys want de public fuh know datdejettyishollowinside and it nat built to support heavy weight and movement. And yuh eye couldgetjukoutfromdem people wah throwing out linefuhketchfish.

Sodemboysdoesenjoy de see breeze and de relaxation away from de noise and red tents by de Bandstand. On afternoons demboysdoesheadfuhde beach behind de Marriott Hotel. It does gat nuff actionoutdehtoo…ifyuh knowwhatahmean. But now dem boys worried.Demheardehotel up fuh sale.And dem boys wouldnotbesurprisedifit come with a package deal. No, not de package deal which we does hear fuh $2000.

that the PNCR leader says and in so doing he is making the PNCR leader appear more important than is necessary In the meantime, while Jagdeo is fixated on Norton, the latter has outfoxed him Jagdeo was hoping to humiliate the PNCR at the local government elections In 2018, the PPPC secured more than 60% of the total votes cast at the local government polls Jagdeo may have been hoping to increase this to 70% this year Butthatisnotgoingto happen because the PNCR has decided to not compete in almost 300 unwinnable

constituencies This decision hands these seats to the PPPC but at the same it will decrease the total votes for the PPPC since there will be no voting in these PPPC strongholds ThePPPCwillhavetolook at another metric to showcase its dominance on the 12th It can no longer expect to win 60 plus percentage of the total votescast Norton outfoxed Jagdeo again last Thursday The PPPCGeneralSecretarywas readying himself to throw another tantrum at whatever Norton said at the APNU’s press conference But

Norton went to Mahdia and left Jagdeo scrambling for material at his press conference.

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

Dem boys hope that de rights to be beachfront are not part of de sale of de hotel. Nah rule nuttin’ out whenitcomestodePeePee Pee. Dem would even sell de ocean. It enough fuh dem dem boys fuh want to hum de song, “Jack, the Beach is Mine”, wah de MightyGabbydidsing: Look! That beach is mine, Icanbatheanytime.

DespitewhattheysayI gothereanyway, (Igwinebatheanyway) Talkhalf.Leffhalf

GHK LALL

One head for each of the 19 gone

Astart has been made to the heavy duty of buryingouryoungdead. For each of the 19 dead, 1 head should roll. Ministers must take responsibility, let there be some start in this country towards accountability

Moreheadsmustfall,sothat elected and selected officials taketheirdutyseriously,doit honestly

Thefallencryforjustice, some peace, for the official massacreinMahdia.

It is a brutal, unsparing, term'officialmassacre',butit istheonlychoiceleft. What else is there to describe accurately and frankly what took place in Mahdia? I dismisstheplatitudes,rancid politicking, and pungent theater that accompanied the poignancyof19ofouryoung andvulnerable,nownomore. We have already succeeded (political carnivals surrounding their passing) in transforming a tragedy into long, great individual, communaltorment.

There was the grotesque showcasethatwasthegaudy Umana Yana circus from classless officials,

individuals lacking standards, and a group profoundly ignorant of the decorumthatvisitsdeath. In a time commanding space andgrace,therewasleaking, reeking, profaning political displays. Iaskagain:isthere no standard left in this country?

Will there ever be any u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f thoughtfulness,sincerity,and decency to let simple, rural peoplewhohavelostaworld grieve in their own little world? In their own time, andownmanner?

Deaths are not a time for displays of spiritual depravity, rank political jockeying. Sometimes,there is too much political and leadershipclevernesslocally Itsmells.

This was part of the spectacleof'caring'and'look howmuchisbeingdone'and 'rallyingaroundduringgrave trouble.'

It was crude, rude, and lacking food for the soul. I discernedtheoverdone,what is too much for even the toughest digestive constitutions. Pukingresults from the pathetic displays of

clamoringaboutcaring. Were these to distract from the underlying failures, the frequent fires that rear their monstrous heads too oftenforcomfort? Wasallof theleadershipandministerial ceremoniousness and sanctimoniousness a concerted attempt to make those iron bars that lock childreninsurfacedungeons disappear?

They are seared irremovably into the foreheads of those who have presidedoverthishorror,this revulsion,thiscrime.

It is standard for the minister on duty at such a horrific time to do the principledthing:resign.

The Hon. Minister of Educationshoulddotheright thing for what unfolded on her watch. Resign. Too many fires too often (after a singlejailfire,Ihadpublicly calledforMinisterRamjattan toresign,orbefired).

Whoever came up with this idea to house in steel cages young children should be fired immediately No amounts of official ceremonials and partisan testimonials are adequate to

compensate for this horrendous loss of life in the worst of desperate c i r c u m s t a n c e s Circumstances that compelled children to claw with their fingernails into unyielding concrete walls, while a chorus of doomed screamstoldtheiragonizing, devastating fate It just should not have been. Not even for an unowned dog of nostanding!

Heads must tumble, they must clatter loudly, so that those responsible for this tragedy-ministers, regional administrators, public servants-are harshly awakened and sent unceremoniously packing We talk too much in this country, have fallen in love with ourselves, and are impressed by our selfcongratulatory speeches Somebody has to pay today forthefallen19beforesome ofthemhadeventouched16. If ministers, (and they know who they are, so does the President) are so barbaric as not to tender their resignations, then President Alimustdemandsuch. And

forthcoming, then there should be a publicfiring. Isthe President up to this task,orisitgoingtobe the usual rancid, rotted p o l i t i c s , a s camouflaged by a CoI? We donotneedaCoItoidentify theperps?

Our children were hung out to dry, strangled on a string, left gasping futilely for oxygen in that hellacious inferno that was resting and sleeping quarters in a place named Mahdia, now imprintedininfamy

For this official felony, many of them, there must be anaccounting.

The scorched souls of thoseincineratedbeforetheir prime year shad even begun must be given that small satisfaction; offered that balmfortheirfearsomepain, their formidable fears, their livesebbingawayfromflesh set afire, from tissue baked, blasted, beyond what is humanlytolerable.

The least, the most dignified, the definitely honorablethingtotakeplace nowisforthoseclosesttothis alltoopreventabletragedyto

resign. Resign quietly or be publiclyterminated.

Just as how the young lives of those 19 were terminated with incendiary finality, so it must be with those who stand officially ensnared, who stand nationally condemned Nothingelsewilldo;nothing but such should be the first business of the past days. It iswhatshouldhaveoccurred before.

It starts with two ministers, extends to some seniorpublicservants. Only in this way will some iota, some tendril, of justice, of what is just, grace the hard, bitter passing of those 19 Amerindian children now foreverlost,gone. Itcan'tbe businessasusual.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the a u t h o r a n d d o n o t necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this newspaperanditsaffiliates.

Independent consultant relied on Exxon’s data to determine US$2 billion parent guarantee - EPA Head tells High Court

The independent consultant that determined a US$2B parent guarantee was sufficient enough for ExxonMobil CorporationtoprovideGuyanafor oil spill costs not satisfied by its subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL),didnotutilizedatafrom the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)toarriveatsaidsum.

That consultant relied on information provided to it by its paymaster—EEPGL.

This much was revealed by EPA's Head, Kemraj Parsram in responsetoacourtcasefiledbytwo GuyaneselastyearSeptember The two men, Frederick Collins and GodfreyWhytehadapproachedthe courtforadeclarationthatEEPGL wasinbreachofitsLizaPhaseOne Permitwhichrequirestheprovision ofanunlimitedparentguarantee.

InaMay3,2023ruling,Justice Sandil Kissoon ruled that EEPGL was in breach of its permit as it failedtofurnishthecountrywithan unlimited parent and/or affiliate guaranteeforapotentialoilspillin theStabroekBlock.Thecourtruled that in the absence of this guarantee, should there be a catastrophic oil spill, then the

burden of those liabilities

would rest on Guyanese The court gaveEEPGLup to June 10, 2023 to comply or face the suspension of its permit. In the submissions made to the court by Parsram, the EPA Head said he disagreed with the contention that the permit calls for an unlimited parent guarantee. The EPAofficial highlighted that Condition 14.3 providesthattheformsoffinancial assurance to be provided by EEPGL shall be guided by an estimate of the sum of the reasonablycrediblecosts,expenses and liabilities that may arise from anybreachesofthepermit.Parsram saidtoothattheEPAissatisfiedthat EEPGL has been and is in compliance with its permit for the LizaPhaseOneProject.

Following the issuance of the renewedLizaPhaseOnepermiton May 31, 2022, Parsram said EEPGL on August 15, 2022 declared and submitted its insurance policy totalling US$600M and a summary of the sametotheEPA.Hesaiditprovides through AON, a British-American

multinational financial provider of risk mitigation products including environmental risk, commercial risk,healthriskandothersolutions.

Regarding the parent and or affiliate agreements, Parsram said EEPGLhaddeclaredandsubmitted adraftparentoraffiliateagreement which is being negotiated with involvementfromtheOfficeofthe AttorneyGeneral.

In explaining the efforts that went into the crafting of the document, Parsram said the consultant who provided this negotiated US$2B sum was retained between AugustSeptember 2022 Importantly, Pararam said the data required to calculate the estimate is complex and more refined than the data which was readily available by the EPA.

“It requires inter alia, metaocean data, oil spill modeling and an in-depth analysis of anticipated costs (including socioeconomic costs EEPGL was therefore required to develop the necessary data set in order to calculate the most credible

estimate ” Kaieteur News understands that data was also required from an Ecosystem ServicesandDependenciesStudy

Parsram further explained that thedataforthiswasbeingcollected by EEPGL over a period of nine monthsbeginningJanuary2022.It gathered data on ecosystem services in Guyana including the benefitsthatpeopleobtainfromthe natural environment, including natural resources that underpin basic human health and survival needs, support economic activities

andprovideculturalfulfillment.

The study was completed and submitted for EPA's review on January 4, 2023. Parsram said a draft report of the consultant's findings was required by January 31, 2023. This is just about three monthsbeforeJusticeKissoonhad issued his landmark ruling on the case. Parsram also argued that the draftparentoraffiliateagreementis subject to confidentiality but was preparedtomakeadraftagreement availabletothejudgeforreview

Healsocategoricallystatedthat at all times; EEPGL was in compliancewiththepermit.

Applicants to the case, Collins and Whyte, disagreed wholeheartedly with Parsram's conclusion. They contended that the permit requires unlimited parentguaranteeandnothingless.

“If that is the mindset of the Executive Director of the Agency then heaven help Guyana, the peopleofGuyana,theGovernment of Guyana, the environment of Guyana and the peoples and environments of the Caribbean,” theysaidintheircourtsubmissions.

The fate of EEPGL and the EPA's appeals to Justice Kissoon's will be announced on May 29. 2023.

EPAHead, Kemraj Parsram

Sunday – May 21, 2023

He has since given Routledge also boasted moved from a production of c o n t r a c t , c e r t a i n

ruling that the Liza Phase investment on the basis of in international arbitration of contracts. We don’t want One Environmental Permit thecontractasitstands.That and in the meantime, no Guyana to be seen as that, US$2B parent guarantee calls unequivocally for an continued question really further investment, you can thisisabouthowpeoplelook only to cover oil spill unlimited parent guarantee misses the point which is: see what happened to the atusasapeople.” damage to Guyana agreement, adding that How does the country country, it has a huge Even though this has -12 other Caribbean anything less leaves EEPGL maximize the value from the endowmentofresources,but been the strong point by the countries that could be and its partners in breach of contractsthatithasandfrom sadly has lacked investment government in refusing to affected not catered thepermit. futurecontracts.” for many years and has amend aspects of the for in estimate

– Exxon Guyana Head EEPGLaswellastheEPAto thatthisisthe“mostvaluable 3 million barrels to less than stakeholders are adamant comply with the provisions contract the country has”, 600,000 barrels of oil per thiscouldnotbefurtherfrom

The US$2B parent of the permit by June 10 or therefore, the country ought day.” factual. guarantee Guyana is poised see its suspension Both to focus on how to make it Last year during a Local Meanwhile, in an invited to receive from ExxonMobil parties have since appealed work. In fact, he explained, Content Forum, Minister of comment, Dr Yog Mahadeo, Corporation for the Stabroek the case, the judgment for “The moment we try to Natural Resources, Vickram an advocate for a better deal Block only covers expenses which is expected on May change the contract, the Bharrat noted that if the told Kaieteur News on associated with an oil spill 29. investment will stop, the government interferes with Saturday, “The fact is that within these borders. The Internationally, the local content development the two percent royalty or Exxon will never walk away determination of that sum ruling has had a significant willstop.” any other fiscal provision in from Guyana Everyone did not consider ensuing impact on Exxon’s stock K a i e t e u r N e w s the 2016 PSA, signed with knows that, even the liabilities of potential credible case [one must price It plunged by 12 immediately sought clarity ExxonMobilanditspartners, governing cheerleaders of impacts on 12 Caribbean consider], given the percent in recent weeks to from Routledge on whether itcouldnotonlyriskchasing Exxon. We must be the only territories Though that investments made [by the US$105. he believes ExxonMobil away investors but even hurt country on earth that allows worst-case scenario is partners in the block] on E x x o n M o b i l Corporation would walk the country’s reputation as a Exxon to be superior to our o u t l i n e d i n t h e prevention and mitigation. It shareholders have also taken away if the administration safe haven for companies’ constitution and our Environmental Impact is important that you reflect note of the ruling and are asks for a 10 percent royalty investments. National Assembly and Assessment (EIA) for the that in that decision- poised to challenge the oil forinstance. Bharrat said over the refuse to do anything about Liza Phase One Project, making.” gianttocomecleanaboutthe Tothisend,heexplained, years, the company would it!” Alistair Routledge President He also noted that the potential risks and liabilities “History will tell you that have faced criticisms for the Mahadeo was keen to of ExxonMobil affiliate, consultant arrived at the ofitsoperationswhichcould when disputes start about PSAsignedin2016.“Butwe note also, “We know that Esso Exploration and figuretakingintoaccountthe affect not only Guyana but contracts, investments stop, have made a commitment Guyana is their cash haven! Production Guyana Limited financial assurance 12 other Caribbean nations. investors hate uncertainty.” and our position is clear that That is the reality We (EEPGL) said it is not standards used in Australia, Thatchallengeisexpectedto Hewashowevertoldthatthe we will not renegotiate this represent cash flows that considered as a “credible” adding that another study is manifest by way of two question was directly about contract because we want Exxon will never walk away case, especially when one inthepipelineforthismatter proposals come May 31at Exxon and if it is prepared to Guyanatobeseenasastable from, but we also represent considers the extensive That study he said will E x x o n ’ s A n n u a l pack up and leave Guyana country where investments opportunities for corrupt mitigative and preventative incorporate the UK ShareholdersMeeting. over such a dispute, are secured and there is politicians so they will measures in place for the standards on parent especially since it has predictability in companies forever kneel and bow to StabroekBlock. guarantee coverage

Exxon will not walk already made over 30 investing in our country; Exxon. We the people have

D u r i n g a p r e s s Routledge said, “We agreed away easily if Govt discoveriessince2015. otherwise, we would be to now take matters in our conference last week, that we would revisit the demand changes to In response, Routledge doing an injustice to our own hands and stop the Routledge said the US$2B value of that assurance if the contract - Routledge explained, “No company country,”theministerstated. steal.” guarantee to be supplied by studysupportsit.” walks away easily I have He also pointed out, As such, he told Kaieteur

EEPGL’s parent was Notably, Routledge did The conversation about lived through Venezuela in “This is not about the PPPor News, “As Guyanese, we d e t e r m i n e d b y a n not respond to Kaieteur changes to the “sanctified” 2004, 5, 6, 7 when the the Coalition, this is about must realize that we hold the independent consultant. The News’ question on whether ExxonMobil oil contract government imposed a new our country Because if we real power, not Exxon, not bill for that service was the company is willing to took a U-turn on Friday, contract on our operations dothat,believeme,investors the Government in cahoots handled by EEPGL make public, the data and when the company’s and we worked extremely will no longer line up in withtheopposition.Itisusas Routledge said too that the information used by the President committed that it hard to avoid that but the Guyana because there would Guyanese that must stop the sum was arrived at taking independent consultant who would not walk away if government created an be this fear that every time steal.Letusrealiseourvalue into consideration all found that US$2B is a government demands more environment where we the government changes, toExxon.” “credible and reasonable sufficient parent guarantee from its sweet light crude, couldn’t stay and it ended up there would be renegotiation Leader of the Alliance costs” that are likely to arise fortheStabroekBlock. discovered in the lucrative ForChange(AFC),Khemraj during an unmitigated oil Routledgealsonotedthat StabroekBlock. Ramjattan also explained in spill scenario at the Liza the documents pertaining to President of Esso a previous interview that he Phase One Project which is the US$2B insurance Exploration and Production is of the firm view that producing about 155,000 guaranteearebeingfinalized Guyana Limited (EEPGL) - Exxon will not leave barrelsofoilperday. withtheotherpartnersonthe ExxonMobil Guyana- Guyana’s shores if the

While the Liza Phase block, namely Hess AlistairRoutledgewasatthe GovernmentofGuyanawere One EIA includes examples Corporation and CNOOC, time being pressed by this tochangethelopsideddeal. showing that oil can flow and will soon be provided to newspaper on returning to “ExxonMobil will never into the Caribbean, affecting t h e E n v i r o n m e n t a l the table with the country’s leave Guyana anymore. You a dozen of Guyana’s ProtectionAgency(EPA). leaderstodiscussmorefiscal can argue that you need a counterparts such as He also contended that benefits for the nation, in betterdealandtheywillgive Trinidad and Tobago, US$2Bparentguaranteeisin light of the continued youabetterdeal,”hesaid. Routledge said, “That is a line with the demands of the success of the oil block-

Ramjattan is adamant worst-casescenarioandnota L i z a P h a s e O n e which happens to be the that “No investor would credible case.” He said it is Environmental Permit, country’s largest - when he want to leave Guyana when true the company is required though a court ruling has initially started off by over 11 billion barrels of oil to examine all scenarios. He foundotherwise. describing the contract as have been found”. He said saidhoweverthatthisisdone That ruling was handed “competitive”. that Guyanese ought not to with the aim of informing all down on May 3, 2023 by The oil company’s accept the suggestion by the the protective and mitigative Justice Sandil Kissoon in representative also sought to People’s Progressive Party measures that ought to be relation to a case filed last shift this newspapers (PPP) Administration that a adopted. Routledge stressed S e p t e m b e r b y t w o attention to the future changetotheStabroekBlock that the basis of the parent Guyanese. Justice Kissoon benefits of the arrangement. PSA would drive investors guarantee estimate has to had disregarded copies of He explained, “This away reflect what is reasonably unsigned documents that agreement was competitive

The AFC leader said his credible. were presented to him on the at the time that we signed it party believes that due to the Expounding further he US$2B parent guarantee. He and we still believe it to be changedcircumstancesin said, “So it is the worst categorically stated in his the case, and we have made

(Continued on page 13)

From page 12 ourcorporatestructure,whenwedo received, the government may the prolific Stabroek Block, which that, we have been through a revise the draft, before taking it to ExxonMobilholds,thereisneedfor process where we have gone to the Parliament for review by its the country to secure better terms. openmarkettoestablishwhatisthe members. A debate is expected in This, he said, will not chase market price for that insurance and the lead-up to a vote The investors. whatarethemarketterms.” government did not say when it

Routledge continued, “In wouldpublishthedraft.Butitplans Monday – May 22, 2023 situations where we award that to do this before it concludes the insurance to our captive it is on offshore bid round which is in the

Exxon cannot say those market rates and terms, we thirdquarteroftheyear which industry standards don’t change the terms, so it is like The government is also it used to give Guyana ifyougotothemarket.” expected to ask the Parliament to

US$600M insurance Researchbythisnewspaperhas approve an amendment to the revealed that a ‘captive insurer’ is It further notes that the partners (GRA) that instructed it to do so, in CorporateTaxActtoincludea10% Esso Exploration and defined as an insurance company in the block are expected to carry an effort to ensure there were no income tax for companies Production Guyana Limited- that is wholly owned by a business insurance coverage for their financial irregularities taking place operating under the agreements to ExxonMobil Guyana- have or person seeking coverage- in this respective interest. Though this is betweenrelatedparties. be issued in the bid round. The claimed adherence to ‘industry case, ExxonMobil Corporation supposed to be obtained, IHS said The aforementioned deficiency government had launched the standards’ as it regards the Notably, the primary purpose of copies of insurance certificates was as follows: “It is important to offshore licencing round since provision of insurance services this type of insurance is to insure were not provided by any partner, note that during discussions with December2020.Sixmonthslater,it fromabusinessitwhollyowns.The the risks of its owners. Importantly, contrarytothePSArequirement. the operator (Exxon) on is also yet to finalise the model company however had a difficult this arrangement allows Exxon to The report said, “No evidence WednesdayApril1,2020at10a.m. production sharing agreement time pinpointing which industry benefit from the profits of the has been provided that either Hess concerning this expense; it was (PSA). standards tolerate such a condition insurancepolicy or CNOOC are maintaining revealed that insurance payments After the Ministry of Natural inthepetroleumsector Kaieteur News reported on insurance cover and are therefore were made to a related party of Resources first published the draft

During a press conference on April 9 that an audit report c o n t r a v e n i n g t h e P S A EEPGL, called ANCON model agreements for the Friday, EEPGL President, Alistair produced by IHS Markit of the requirements Not having this Therefore, there are possible deepwater and shallow water Routledge said, “We then have the United Kingdom found that insurance could leave GoG transfer pricing implications and contracts in March, and it had insurance, US$600 million of ExxonMobil fully owns the exposed to risks and costs that verifications that would be initially opened up a two-week insurance, which is as required company that provided the should be covered by the Co- absolutely necessary to ensure comments period. However, after under the Permit. We have had that insurance for its offshore Venturepartners.” transactions were done at arm’s criticism about the short deadline, inplaceforyearssincethatoriginal operationsinGuyana. The document states that length; surprisingly, no mention Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo obligation was required, in line The report seen by this EEPGL has maintained its 45% was made by IHSM in their report said the government would withindustrystandards.” publication notes that Article 20.2 share of Control of Wells (CoW), ofthisissue.” continue to accept comments past

Hewasatthetimeattemptingto of the 2016 Stabroek Block Operators Extra Expense (OEE) theinitialcommentperiod. cushion the legitimate fear of the Production Sharing Agreement and Third Party Liability (TPL) World’s fastest growing Government was actually company not being able to [PSA] states that the contractor insurance coverage through a economy managing its trillion initially supposed to finalise and financially satisfy its responsibility which consists of EEPGL, Hess wholly owned subsidiary of dollar oil sector with 37-year-old publish the model contracts by tocleanuptheenvironmentafteran Corporation CNOOC Petroleum ExxonMobil, Ancon Insurance laws - Still to finalize oil March8,butrevisedthescheduleto oil spill, and compensate Guyana Limited, shall effect at all Although wholly owned, IHS said contracts before bid round indicate that it would publish the stakeholdersforlosses. times during the term of the it is satisfied that Ancon Insurance final models inApril. Today makes While fielding questions from Agreement, insurance as required acts as a separate company at Would you believe that one of three weeks into the month of May the press however, this publication by applicable laws, rules, and “sufficient” arm’s length from the most important oil producing No investor can make an informed asked Routledge to identify the regulations and of such type and in ExxonMobil. countries of this decade is decision about whether to tender a standardwhichallowsthecompany such amount as is customary in the IHS also said that EEPGL managing its petroleum sector with bid if it does not have all the to provide its own insurance. In international petroleum industry in provided evidence of Ancon laws that are 37 years old? That information about the final terms it response, he sought to explain that accordance with good oil field Insurance consulting with an country is Guyana. Its Petroleum willhavetooperatewith,aswellas it is normal for companies such as practice appropriate for Petroleum external insurance consultant, (Exploration&Production)Acthas the legal regime. This means the Exxon to do this, while failing to Operations. Jardine Lloyd Thompson, to set been around since 1986, and has updateofthePetroleumlawandthe name the specific standard it has It goes on to state that such premiumratesforGuyana. only been subject to minor contractsarecritical. beenadheringtointhisregard. insurance should provide coverage

While the amount of the amendments. The government had

He said, “On the insurance for third Party Liability insurance was not provided in the said, when it released the draft Tuesday – May 23, 2023 standards, there are some loss/damage exposure from report, IHS said the total amounts model petroleum agreements that companies, like our self, which operations, coverage for drilling paid by EEPGL falls within the an amendment of theAct is needed 18 girls, 1 boy die in dorm fire have what is called captive activities and operators extra expectedindustrynorms. toensurethebidroundislawful. at Mahdia - ‘upset’student insurance. So we will take some of expense including exposure

It should be noted that initially, The government is expected to allegedly set building ablaze that insurance exposure within our associated with controlling the IHS did not place the insurance publish a draft of its proposed after cellphone was seized corporation and we have a captive well, re-drilling, pollution and coverage under a microscope. It amendment of the law, for insurer Itisaseparateentitywithin clean-up. wastheGuyanaRevenueAuthority consultation. Based on comments Nineteen children - 18 of them school girls and one 5-year-old boy died Sunday night when fire swept throughaheavily-grilleddormitory which housed students of the Mahdia Secondary School, Region Eight(PotaroSiparuni)

The fire resulted in the largest numberoffatalitiesinthehistoryof this country. Back in 2016, 17 prisoners were burnt death during a riot at the Camp Street Prison. The fire erupted around 23:00hrs on Sunday at the Mahdia Secondary School’s female dormitory According to reports from the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), ranks received a call around 23:15hrs alerting them of the fire. The department said upon arrival at the scene, the entire dormitory was alreadycompletelyengulfedin

(Continued on page 14)

The school dormitory on fire

From page 15 thebuilding. officials are in Region Eight, thedoors?

this matter and, if found to be a flames, resulting in the 19 children In its report, the Guyana Police assisting family members and Where was the fire truck?; matter of malicious intent, that the losingtheirlivesbythetimethefire Force (GPF) briefly stated that residentsonawayforward. Where were the closest fire perpetrator(s) be brought to justice was extinguished. Information according to one of the female Sadness extinguishers?” in the swiftest of manners. We also reaching this publication revealed students, who managed to escape, Meanwhile, scores of He said the tragedy warrants a call on the government to take the that of the 19 children, 14 children she was awakened by screams and organizations and sister countries Commission of Inquiry, which immediateactiontoensurethatthis died at the scene, while five died at uponchecking,shesawafireinthe dispatched messages of could provide answers in the n e v e r o c c u r s a g a i n b y the Mahdia District Hospital. bathroom area, which quickly condolences on the passing of the shortestpossibletimetotheparents expeditiously implementing their Among the casualties were twin spreadtootherpartsofthebuilding. children. The Alliance For Change and members of the public. “We plans to inspect all dormitories sisters. In a press briefing on Monday said it is deeply saddened and must be confident that this tragedy across the country and upgrading

The names of the children who afternoon, Deputy Fire Chief (ag) mourns the passing of the school will not happen at another school them with the utmost urgency. We diedonSundayareasfollow: Dwayne Scotland confirmed that girls. “The Leader and the entire dormitory in Guyana. We must would like to commend His

1. AdonijahJerome the fire which took approximately Executiveandmembershipexpress ensure that investment is made in Excellency in mandating that the

2. TracilThomas three and a half hours to be condolences and offer heartfelt our Indigenous communities to Golden Arrowhead be flown at

3. LisaRoberts extinguished, was suspected to be support to the parents, relatives, adequately respond to disasters. half-mast in recognition of this

4. DeleciaEdwards that of arson “The initial and colleagues of those who Our health care facilities must be tragic loss to the First Peoples and

5. LoritaWilliams investigation by the fire service passed. The nation’s immediate developed equitably to give our the Nation and extend our gratitude

6. NatalieBellarmine identified that the fire was focus has to be on addressing the indigenous citizens comparable for the support the government has

7. ArrianaEdwards maliciously set, also the point of pain and suffering brought on by medical treatment We must committed to helping the bereaved

8. CleomaSimon origin was identified to the south this tragedy This is a national provide safe and secure families and those affected by this

9. SubrinaJohn western end of the building,” he tragedy, and all of Guyana must accommodation for our Indigenous tragedy We ask that the public

10. MarthaD’Andrade explained. join hearts and hands in national studentstofacilitatetheireducation respectthefamilies’righttoprivacy

11 (and twin) Mary KaieteurNewsunderstandsthat mourning and commiserations,” and full contribution to the andgivethemroomtogrieve.”

D’Andrade the fire was allegedly set by one of the AFC said. According to the development of our nation,” the

12. BelnisaEvans the female students at the party, immediately afterward, “our CityMayorsaid. Mahdia fire…

13. LoreenEvans dormitory, who was reportedly attention has to be put into finding Leader of the Liberty and Dorm mother loses 5-yr-old

14. OmerfiaEdwin upset after her cellphone was taken outwhyatragedyofthismagnitude Justice Party, Lenox Shuman also son while trying to rescue

15. NickleenRobinson away prior to the incident by an could have occurred and finding extended its “sincere condolences students … angry residents

16. SherenaDaniels administrator The findings from answers to the many questions that to the families and friends of the stage protest, President

17. EulanderCarter the Fire Service have since been must be answered – why was there deceased. declared three days of mourning

18. AndreaRoberts handedovertothepoliceforfurther no means of escape?; why was the “There is no greater tragedy

19. RitaJeffrey investigation. At the briefing too, response of the Guyana Fire than to have your child leave this The Mahdia Secondary School KaieteurNewsunderstandsthat Commissioner of Police (ag), Service once again below the worldbeforeyou.Suchatragicloss female dormitory fire which the dormitory- a flat concrete Clifton Hicken assured that the minimum standards expected?; hitstheheartofthenationandmost claimedthelivesof18girlsanda5structure accommodated investigationwillbeconcludedina where were the adult Supervisors notably, the Indigenous year-old boy is possibly the largest approximately 59 students who swift manner He said that while and Dorm Mothers?; why was the community Indigenous peoples massfatalityresultingfromafirein hailed from villages such as: post mortem examinations have fire bowser removed from Mahdia work tirelessly and against great thehistoryofGuyana. Karisparu, El Paso, Micobie and been conducted on six persons, to Lethem?” The AFC said it oddstosendtheirchildrentoobtain Following news of the tragedy, Chenapou. At the time of the fire, Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) expects and demands a full adifferenteducationandsuchaloss Guyanese flooded social media 56 students were present while testing will be done on 13 bodies Commission of Inquiry into this is inexplicable. Education and platforms expressing their three girls had gone home for the thatwereburnt. tragedy, and for the inquiry to be Health as the most important issues condolences to the bereaved weekend. Reports are, that apart In addition to the six patients extended, and recommendations in Indigenous communities were relativesofthevictims. from the 19 who perished, two that were medevaced to the city made, for all places where students discussed extensively through our During an interview with this children were initially admitted at hospital, on Monday afternoon, are accommodated nationwide stint in Parliament with the publication, Mayor of Mahdia, Mr the Mahdia District Hospital in Kaieteur News learned that three Our prayers and support go out to Government, and many of those David Adams shared, “My critical conditions while four were more injured students were thegrievingparentsandrelativesof have found very receptive ears in information is that the fire started admitted nursing severe injuries as transportedto the GPHC. In a press thebereaved. His Excellency and his team,” 10 minutes to 11p.m. and the fire a result of the incident. The Fire briefing earlier yesterday, the Mayor of Georgetown, Ubraj Shumansaid. tender arrived 25 minutes after Service reported that these six GPHCofficialshadreportedthatof Narine said as he reflected on the He added: “We are aware that 11pm. By the time they got there, persons were later medevaced to the initial six patients that arrived, tragedy,hecannothelpbutraisethe prior to this tragedy, there was the fire reached a stage where it the Georgetown Public Hospital one child immediately went for a questionofdevelopmentandequity significant planning in process to became difficult for them to Corporation (GPHC) for further limb-saving surgery for her leg due in our country “While we boast of inspect and upgrade all facilities to extinguish it.” He continued: “It medical attention While those to the severity of her burns. They the biggest budgets, we have failed bringthemallinlinewiththedorms was compounded by the fact that were medevaced, five children are all being monitored closely As to protect our children These located in Georgetown inclusive of we only have one fire tender in the were admitted at the Mahdia investigation into the devastating unfortunate events in Mahdia equipment, fire drills, evacuation town ship and what made it also District Hospital, and another ten fire continues, President IrfaanAli; grieve me as a parent and as a plansandemergencycontingencies difficult is the fact that they had no were placed in observation. The Prime Minister, Mark Phillips; leader.” The Mayor asked: “Why anditismostunfortunatethatthose fire hydrant in the area where the Fire Service also reported that Minister of Education, Priya was there only one dorm mother to planscouldnothaverolledoutsoon fire took place. So the firefighters firefighters managed to rescue Manickchand; Minister of somanystudents? enough to prevent this heart had to shuttle water from the creek some twenty students by breaking Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Where was the security guard?; wrenching tragedy We call on the totheschool,wherethefirewas. holes in the north-eastern wall of Sukhai and other government Where were the keys to the grill of Government to swiftly investigate (Continued on page 54)

The aftermath of the fire at the Mahdia Secondary School female dormitory

Guyana should not have to go to Court for Exxon to pay for damages when Permit demands parent guarantee -DavidPatterson

Shadow Natural Resources Minister, David Patterson does not believe Guyanese should be subjected to the Court system in seeking compensation from ExxonMobil after an oil spill.

Patterson in an invited comment on Saturday was responding to the statement made by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, during his recentpressconference,that GuyanawouldgotoCourtto seek compensation from the oilgiantintheeventofsuch anunfortunateincident.

According to the former minister,theUnitedStatesof America (USA)- the home country of ExxonMobil- as well as other Western countries abide by the ‘polluter pays principle’and areself-insured.

He explained, “In those countries,theyhavetopayin

fullforalltheclean-upcosts, without limits. Court cases areonlynecessaryforclaims outside of the clean-up, for example, villages can make a claim years later for reducedfishingcatches(but) they have to prove that claim.”

To this end, Patterson urged that the situation in

Guyana should be no different In fact, the Parliamentarian pointed out thatExxonisrequiredunder theLizaPhaseOnePermitto supply the nation with a Parent Company Guarantee tocoverthecostsassociated with a spill that is not covered by the limited insurancepolicy

“Themainreason,inmy o p i n i o n , t h a t t h e Government is fighting to protect Exxon, is because they knowingly approved Exxon’s request to pump higher volumes than the FPSOs(FloatingProduction Storage and Offloading vessels)areratedfor Exxon may have explained the financial benefits, but may have requested that Guyana

takes the risk for this increased production above the name plated levels,” he reasoned.

TheformerMinistertold Kaieteur News that ExxonMobil should honour itsobligationsandpayinfull foranycostsassociatedwith cleaning up an oil spill. At the same time, he noted that Guyanese should still reservetherighttocarrythe companytocourtformatters otherthantheclean-upcosts.

E x x o n M o b i l Corporation’s subsidiary,

Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), is the operator of the Stabroek block which has an estimated 11 billion barrelsofoil.

EEPGLalongwithitscoventures Hess Corporation andChinaNationalOffshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) has been operating in the Stabroek Block with a mere US$600 million insurance package given to the country To complement this,Guyana’s Continuedonpage58

Shadow Minister of Natural Resources, David Patterson

If a contract is parasitic,

it must be nullified

Renowned Kenyan law professor and anticorruption crusader, Patrick LochOtienoLumumba,isof the view that if a contract is parasitic, the people have a responsibility to mobilise andensurethatitisnullified.

He recently shared his views on the refusal by government to renegotiate Guyana’s Stabroek Block production sharing agreement (PSA) during a special airing of the Glenn LallShowonSaturday,April 27.

Lumumba, who served astheDirectoroftheKenya A n t i - C o r r u p t i o n Commission, is widely r e s p e c t e d f o r h i s commitment to exposing corruption and advocating forjustice.

When told that sanctity of contracts is a principle being used to reject

renegotiation of the Stabroek Block PSA, Lumumbasaidonemustnot relyonlegaltechnicalitiesto l e g i t i m i z e u n j u s t agreements.

He stated, “We must not use black letter law to legitimise the illegitimate”. Drawing on historical examples, he reminded listeners that even atrocities like apartheid in South Africa, and Nazi Germany, were once legally sanctioned. Therefore, the mere legality of a contract doesnotautomaticallymake itjustorfair.

In the case of Guyana’s Stabroek Block PSA, Lumumba suggested that if the contract is found to be parasitic, it is incumbent upon the people of Guyana toseekredressthroughtheir courts or other international tribunals. He called for the

nullificationofunfavourable agreements that legitimize theft, specifically referring to the contract between the government of Guyana and ExxonMobil.

Lumumba argued that suchacontractwouldnotbe acceptable in the United States,whereExxonMobilis headquartered, and advised the people of Guyana to make their voices heard and seek legal remedies both d o m e s t i c a l l y a n d internationally L u m u m b a c i t e d examples of African countries such as Nigeria, Gabon, Congo, andAngola, which have faced grievous detriment from partnering with multinational oil companies.

“There are many stories, and remember, these companies, particularly in the oil sector because they

monopolise technology. They don’t care. They don’t have a conscience.They are there to reap and rape. And they must be stopped by clear and unequivocal voices,”theexpertsaid.

Hefurthersuggestedthat politicianswhooftenengage with these companies may beinfluencedbybriberyand corruption, pointing out that theyare“boughtforasong” and lured with luxury propertiesabroad.

Thus,theanti-corruption expert underscored the need for civic organizations and the general public to counteract the manipulative tacticsofthesemultinational corporations.

Lumumba’s comments echo the sentiments of Guyanese who argue for a fairer and more equitable distributionofbenefitsfrom Guyana’s petroleum

endowment.

The fiscal terms of the Stabroek Block Production SharingAgreement(PSA)in Guyana have been a subject of scrutiny and controversy Under the current terms, Guyana initially receives approximatelya14.5%stake in revenues during the early days of production, with the expectationthatitssharewill increase as the Stabroek Block consortium recovers itsinvestments.

Vice President, Dr BharratJagdeohascriticized the fiscal terms, describing themasoneoftheworstand

a “shitty” deal He has however refused to push for a renegotiation of the lopsidedterms.

Lumumba’s background as a law professor and formerDirectoroftheKenya A n t i - C o r r u p t i o n Commission has positioned him as an influential figure in the fight against corruptioninAfrica.

Known for his PanAfricanist views and commitment to speaking truth to power, Lumumba has gained recognition for his fearless advocacy for justiceandtheruleoflaw.

- Kenyan anti-corruption expert, PLO Lumumba on Stabroek Block deal

Kenyan law professor and anti-corruption crusader, Patrick Loch Otieno Lumumba

Aruna Sukhdeo

Meetthemesmerizing,ArunaSukhdeo

ThereigningMissIndiaGuyanaWorldwide.Athirdyear businesseconomicsstudentattheUniversityofGuyana,Aruna’s lifelongdreamistobecomeaneconomistandasinger.Sheenjoyssinging, songwriting,contentcreation,andreading.Herfavouritequoteis:“True courageispursuingyourdreamsevenwheneveryonesaysit’simpossible.”

ThisWeek’s Music Guide: new Music from Taylor Swift & Ice Spice, Dua Lipa, Lil Durk and More

Check out the must-hear releases of the week

(Billboard) This week’s Music Guide from new talent to commercial question mark to Billboard serves as a handy guide to last Friday’s late-blooming superstar over the course of most essential releases — the key music that hiscareer,theChicagorapperhasremained everyonewillbetalkingabouttoday,andthatwill introspective as both a solo artist and bedominatingplayliststhisweekendandbeyond. collaborator: put him in any context, over

This week, Taylor Swift and Ice Spice both any beat, and he’ll likely share personal big-up “Karma,” Dua Lipa shimmies into the stories of past brutalities that help explain summer and Lil Durk continues to unspool his his present-day hardened exterior Almost story Healed, which opens with a literal therapy

Checkoutallofthisweek’spicksbelow: sessionwithAliciaKeysandendswithDurk Taylor Swift feat. begging someone not to lie to him over a Ice Spice, “Karma (Remix)” squealing electric guitar, also boasts guests Taylor Swift and Ice Spice may be at like J. Cole, Future and 21 Savage, but different phases in their respective once again defined by his experienceswithfame—Swift confessional,affectingtone. biggest name in musi Peso Pluma, “Bye” headlining stadiums on the For as singular a voice hottest tour of the year; Ice asPesoPlumapossesses, Spice a fresh-faced star in and how quickly his mainstream hip-hop, profile has expanded collecting her first top 10 from the popular hits after going viral last fall

Mexicanmusicsceneto — but on the remix to the entire world, the 23“Karma,” from Swift’s year-old has often done Midnights album, the two so while joined by other artists share a musica rtists, from Eslabon sensibility marked by Armado on “Ella Baila Sola” effortless confidence in their Yng Lvcas on the “La Bebe” The highlight of Swift’s Midnights (The remix to Becky G on “Chanel.” Til Dawn Edition), which also includes a “More “Bye,” his first solo single since 2021’s “Por Lana Del Rey” version of “Snow OnThe Beach” Las Noches,” capitalizes on both Pluma’s and the debut of “Hits Different” on streaming individual momentum and the rapidly (among other goodies), the “Karma” remix finds shifting boundaries of regional Mexican: as Ice co-signing Swift’s philosophy that what goes horns and guitars mournfully careen off one around will come back around, in her favor: “It’s another, Pluma proves unafraid of baring his okay, baby, you ain’t gotta worry, karma never soul and extending his syllables for gets lazy / So, I keep my head up, my bread up, I maximumlistenerengagement. won’tletup,”sheraps.

d4vd, Petals to Thorns

Dua Lipa, “Dance The Night” Over the course of his short career, as Rejoice:wehaveanewdisco-popsinglefrom songs like “Romantic Homicide” and “Here DuaLipaintimeforsummer “DanceTheNight,” With Me” graduated from TikTok flare-ups which leads the upcoming soundtrack to the to streaming smashes with nine-figure Barbie movie, functions as an uptempo stopgap plays, d4vd has revealed himself to be a betweenLipaalbumsinthesamewaythatsingles canny, cross-genre multi-hyphenate, an 18like “One Kiss” and “Electricity” helped soothe year-old whose songs evoke strong impatient fans in between Lipa’s 2017 self-titled reactions from older rhythmic-pop fans and debutand2020’s Future Nostalgia:workingwith screen-scrolling teens alike. All of the new Mark Ronson,Andrew Wyatt and CarolineAilin nine-song EP Petals to Thorns, and on the track, Lipa sends “Dance The Night” into particularly stormy new single “The the same hustle-ready stratosphere as Bridge,” demonstrate his quick-grade “Levitating,” her forceful voice turbo-charging evolution: even though “Romantic the hooks in the first half of the song and then Homicide” is a highlight of the project, the delivering one of the sleekest bridges in newly unveiled songs sound more mainstreampopthisyear carefully considered than d4vd’s Lil Durk,Almost Healed breakthrough hit, as if his songwriting has As Lil Durk has transformed from promising alreadyadjustedtothebrighterlights.

Taylor Swift and Ice Spice

d4vd, Petals to Thorns

Dua Lipa

Lil Durk

Peso Pluma

5MistakesPeopleMakeWith Wine(andWhattoDoInstead)

Whethershe’spresenting wine bucket first cork and twist it in at an Don’t order the good bottles to guests at her Idon’tthinkanyonetruly angle toward the edge of the stuff on an airplane HoustonrestaurantMarchor loves any kind of wine at bottle. If you go through the Generally speaking, leading tastings onstage at actual room temperature, center, the broken part is when you’re at a high the Food & Wine Classic in which is about 72°F. If a more likely to go down into altitude, your senses are a Aspen, Master Sommelier bottle of wine is that warm, I the bottle. But honestly, little bit more closed off. On June Rodil wows people popitinanicebathforafew when in doubt, just push the planes, this is more with her wealth of wine minutes. Two minutes in an broken half down into the noticeable because your ears knowledge. What better ice bath works great for a bottle, get a sieve or some getcloggedup,whichaffects person to turn to for help Cabernet, five minutes is cheesecloth, and pour the your sinuses, making it common in the air because Master Sommelier tasting with the most basic of wine good for a chilledred or full- wine into another container harder to smell or taste. it’s highly aromatic — even exams in Aspen. And by the dilemmas? Even a certified bodied white, and a few — a clean pitcher, whatever That’s why a lot of people if you’re stuffed up, you’ll way, the really great thing wine professional like Rodil more than that for light you have Poof, you’ve who choose the wine knowwhatyou’retasting.)It about tasting wines at admits that it’s easy to make whites and bubbles My decanted your bottle. And, selections for airlines go doesn’t really bother me altitude is that once you go simple mistakes when biggest pet peeve, though, is yes, you can decant white with bold-flavored wines. because you get used to it back down to sea level, storing, presenting, or when people want to chill wines,too. (Sauvignon Blanc is really quickly; I even took my everything tastesbetter serving wine. Maybe you wine down and put the ice in opened too many bottles of the bucket first. Like, oh my Champagne and want to god, what in the physics? keep them for tomorrow, or The bottles will just lie on you accidentally broke a top of the ice, and nothing cork while opening a special will happen. Put the bottle in bottle. Don’t stress, says first,topitwithiceandwater

Rodil: These simple so it’s more or less mistakes can be fixed submerged, and you’re good quickly and are easily togo. avoided moving forward Don’t splurge

Here, she shares her expert on a fancy corkscrew solutions for everyday wine You really don’t need problems. one.IloveanAh-So.It’sless

Don’t use a spoon to than$10onAmazon,andifI keep Champagne bubbly had to choose only one wine

Skipputtingthestemofa openerfortherestofmylife, spoon into an open bottle of it would be an Ah-So. It’s a bubbles;tokeepChampagne combinationofaDurandand bubbly longer, it’s actually a traditional corkscrew. It’s best to just leave the bottle my favorite because wine alone What dissipates has sugar in it, and bubbles is movement, and a sometimes it gets sticky and spoon clinking against the the cork gets attached to the sides of the bottle can pop side of the bottle. The long more bubbles than it metal tines of the Ah-So preserves. b r e a k t h r o u g h t h a t

Instead, keep that stickiness.

Champagne cold, which will Plus, it’s gentle enough slow down the loss of to deal with the issues old bubbles. If you have a cork corks pose. You can use an thatfitsinthebottle,recorkit Ah-Sowithanykindofcork, — Champagne that’s been evenplastic. open for a while isn’t going Don’t give up if to explode — and the seal the cork breaks actually maintains bubbles. Corks break all the time. Give it a try Stick a cork in And realizing that this one bottle and not the other, happens all the time — yes, put them both in the fridge e v e n f o r M a s t e r overnight, and you’ll see the Sommeliers! — helps take difference. But who has two the pressure off. If a cork open bottles of Champagne breaks, I just continue to use sittingaround,anyway? my wine key I move the Don’t put ice in the screw to the very side of the

The best way to fix a broken cork, chill a bottle down fast, and more, according to Master Sommelier June Rodil

Court Journal THE Age of criminal responsibility

and doli incapax

In Guyana, there is the provides a humane alternative to Juvenile Justice Act, which the tense formal court setting, outlines how juvenile offenders remands and incarceration for and other issues related to younglawbreakers. juvenilesmustbehandled.

The Children’s Court was

Ajuvenileisconsideredachild designed to assist in helping under the age of 18. The act youths and to prevent them from consolidates the law in relation to falling deeper into the life of criminal justice for juveniles. The crime.Oneoftheaimsofthecourt act not only makes provisions for is to divert juveniles from the proceedings against juvenile formal court procedure, which offenders, but also the

will be an asset when it comes to establishment of facilities for the dealingwithdelinquents. custody, educational training and The two Magistrates who rehabilitation for juvenile underwent extensive training to offenders in order for them to be hear matters in the Children’s Corps (NOC) and who have re-integratedintosociety Courts are Dylon Bess and completed the period of their

By Renay Sambach

Notably, when handling AnnetteSingh. s e n t e n c e a n d a w a i t i n g criminal matters that involve The Children’s Court was in rehabilitation and reintegration childrenbelowtheageof18,there the pipeline since 2004, after the into their families or the arerulesthatmustbeobserved. then People’s Progressive community

According to the Juvenile Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government There is also the NOC, which Justice Act on Criminal capacity, tabled its first report to the was established as a correctional states, “It shall be presumed that Committee on the Rights of the facility for the young. NOC is no child under the age of fourteen Child.Thecommitteethenmadea located at Onderneeming, shall be capable of or guilty of number of recommendations Essequibo Coast, Region Two, committinganoffence.” urging that they be implemented and houses juveniles who were

Subsection 2 states that where asearlyaspossible. sanctionedbythecourtsystem. a child is charged the Director of S o m e o f t h o s e SENTENCING

Public Prosecutions, the implementations, include raising Someproceduresthatwereput Prosecutor or the attorney-at-law the age of criminal responsibility in place to restore and deal with representingthechildshallrequest from 10 years; and ensuring that juveniles, who commit offences, of the court that an evaluation of those below the age of majority can range from apology to

Director of the Childcare and Some jurisdictions have set no the child be done and the court not be tried as adults, but be given compulsory attendance to some ProtectionAgencytobedealtwith statutory age of criminal shall order that the evaluation be adequatespecialprotection. vocabulary educational centre; or under the Protection of Children responsibility, such as Trinidad conducted by a suitably qualified DETENTION FACILITIES compensation to the victim in an Act and the Director of Public and Tobago, Grenada and the personattheexpenseoftheState. Whenachildisbroughtbefore amount to which the juveniles’

Prosecutions shall withdraw the Bahamas; it remains at the Also, where an order has been the court, if he/she is remanded, familycanafford. charge. common law age of 8 years, a made by the court under that child will not be remanded to Instead of sentencing a

Moreover, Doli incapax positionEnglandabandonedasfar subsection 2, the person identified prison,buttotheJuvenileHolding juvenile to imprisonment, it is describes the inability of backas1933. to conduct an evaluation of the Centre. advised to ensure rehabilitation, children under the minimum CHILDREN’S COURT child shall furnish the court with a

The $37.6M Juvenile Holding eradication and reintegration into age of criminal responsibility to In a previous edition of ‘The written report of the evaluation Centre which is located at Lot 2 society formcriminalintent Court Journal,’ it was reported withinthirtydaysofthedateofthe Dennis Street, Sophia, Greater Before ordering a custodial OUR CHILDREN, OUR that, after the Juvenile Justice Act order Theevaluationshallinclude Georgetown, officially opened its sentence, the court must review MEDIA: A Guide for Caribbean was passed, Guyana opened the an assessment of the cognitive, doorsonApril8,2011,bythethen pre-sentencing reports that must Practitioners outlines, that the doors of the first Children’s Court emotional, psychological and Home Affairs Minister, Clement bepreparedbytheChiefProbation concept of criminal responsibility on October 31, 2018, in the social development of the child. Rohee. Officer originates in the common law rule Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts The person who conducts the

It was decided that juveniles REHABILITATION ofdoliincapax–aformofdefense compound. evaluation may be called to attend

from age 10 and over, but under UndertheJuvenileJusticeAct, that renders a child incapable of The establishment of the the court proceedings and to give theageof17,whohavecommitted there are laws that provide for criminalintentonthebasisoftheir Children’s Court is essential to evidence and, if called, shall be any crime, should not be detained juvenilestoberehabilitatedsothat age-iftheyhadnotreachedanage ensuring that the objectives of the remuneratedbytheState. in the same manner like adult they could be re-integrated in the of criminal responsibility at the Juvenile Justice Act are achieved

”Ifthepresumptionisrebutted offenders. society time of the offence. Increasing and to ensure that a more the child shall be treated as a

The Juvenile Holding Centre Juvenileswhoarebeingkeptat levels of responsibility are rehabilitative and restorative juvenile and dealt with in provides custody for children and theHoldingCentreorNOCarenot thereafter set down by age and the system was implemented for accordance with the provisions of young persons; awaiting their only being educated but are also typeofoffencecommitted. juvenilejustice. thisAct,” the law outlines, adding court appearance, who have been involved in curriculum activities

It states too that there is no

It should be noted that the law if the presumption is not rebutted committed by the courts but not to build and develop their uniformity in the age of criminal provideschildrenbelowtheageof thecourtshallreferthechildtothe escorted to the New Opportunity characters. responsibility in the Caribbean. 18 with free legal advice. It also

This Day in History - May 28

Volkswagen is formed

May28,1937

However, soon after the KdF (Kraft-durch-

On May 28, 1937, the government of Freude)-Wagen (“Strength-Through-Joy” Germany—then under the control of Adolf car) was displayed for the first time at the Hitler of the National Socialist (Nazi) Berlin Motor Show in 1939, World War II Party forms a new state-owned began, and Volkswagen halted production. automobile company, then known as After the war ended, with the factory in Gesellschaft zur Vorbereitung des ruins, the Allies would make Volkswagen Deutschen Volkswagens mbH. Later that the focus of their attempts to resuscitate the year, it was renamed simply Germanautoindustry Volkswagenwerk, or “The People’s Car Volkswagen sales in the United States Company.” were initially slower than in other parts of

Originally operated by the German the world, due to the car’s historic Nazi connections as well as its small sizeandunusualroundedshape.In 1959, the advertising agency Doyle Dane Bernbach launched a landmark campaign, dubbing the car the “Beetle” and spinning its diminutive size as a distinct advantage to consumers. Over the nextseveralyears,VWbecamethe top-selling auto import in the United States In 1960, the German government sold 60 percent of Volkswagen’s stock to Labor Front, a Nazi organization, the public, effectively denationalizing it. Volkswagen was headquartered in Twelve years later, the Beetle surpassed the Wolfsburg, Germany In addition to his longstanding worldwide production record ambitious campaign to build a network of of 15 million vehicles, set by Ford Motor autobahns and limited access highways Company’s legendary Model T between acrossGermany,Hitler’spetprojectwasthe 1908and1927. development and mass production of an With the Beetle’s design relatively affordableyetstillspeedyvehiclethatcould unchanged since 1935, sales grew sluggish sell for less than 1,000 Reich marks (about in the early 1970s. VW bounced back with $140 at the time). To provide the design for the introduction of sportier models such as this “people’s car,” Hitler called in the the Rabbit and later, the Golf. In 1998, the Austrian and German automotive engineer company began selling the highly touted Ferdinand Porsche. In 1938, at a Nazi rally, “New Beetle” while still continuing the Fuhrer declared: “It is for the broad production of its predecessor After nearly masses that this car has been built. Its 70 years and more than 21 million units purpose is to answer their transportation produced, the last original Beetle rolled off needs, and it is intended to give them joy.” thelineinPuebla,Mexico,onJuly30,2003.

Palestine Liberation Organization is founded

Compiled by Richard Francois. (From history.com)

May28,1964

Irene Cara has a #1 pop hit with the “Flashdance” theme

May28,1983

Irene Cara’s song “Flashdance (What a Feeling)”, from the Flashdance movie soundtrack, goes to the top of the U.S. pop chartsonMay28,1983.

“Flashdance (What a Feeling)” was not the first hit song from a movie soundtrack for Irene Cara, whose star was launched by the 1980 film Fame Cara not only played the starring role of Coco in the movie Fame, but she also recorded not one but two Oscarnominated songs for it: the title song “Fame” (atop-10hitinthesummerof1980)and“Out Here On My Own” (a top-20 hit that same fall). By far her biggest impact as a musician, however, would come with her work on the movie Flashdance Flashdance was the first collaboration between producers Don Flashdance did for blast furnaces, barefoot Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, and it made lobster dinners and Irene Cara When extensive use of what would become a “Flashdance (What a Feeling),” went to #1, it signature element of their films: montage gave Cara the biggest hit of her career and sequences set to the tune of original helped propel the relatively low-budget film soundtrack music and cut in the style of the from which it came to the #3 spot on the total then-infantmediumofmusicvideos. box-officerevenuelistfor1983.

This incredibly lucrative formula, which Unfortunately for Cara, her next wasnewtotheworldoffeaturefilmsin1983, soundtrack hit—”The Dream (Hold Onto would later reach its apotheosis with the Your Dream)” from the Mr T vehicle D.C. Simpson-Bruckheimer classic Top Gun Cab—would not have nearly the same (1986).Andwhat Top Gun didforfighterjets, cultural impact as the song that reached the beach volleyball and Kenny Loggins, topofthechartsonthisdayin1983.

respectability for the PLO’s campaign for a

On May 28, 1964, the Palestine Palestinianhomeland. Liberation Organization was founded. In Butgaininglegitimacyhingedoncooling Februaryof1969,YasirArafatwaselectedas down terrorism, and Arafat found it its leader By 1974, when he addressed the increasingly difficult to reconcile the United Nations, Arafat had made significant moderate and extremist segments of strides towards establishing new Palestinianpolitics.

Ethiopian

capital falls to rebels, ending 17 years of Marxist rule

May28,1991 withtheSovietUnion.WarwithSomaliaand Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, severe droughts during the 1980s brought falls to forces of the Ethiopian People’s famine to the Ethiopian people, leading to Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), considerable internal strife and formally ending 17 years of Marxist rule in independence movements in the regions of theEastAfricancountry EritreaandTigre.

Ethiopia

In early 1991, the EPRDF, a Tigrean-led coalition of rebel organizations under the leadership of Meles Zenawi, began to achieve real successes and defeated the Ethiopian army, forcing military dictator Haile Mariam Mengistu to flee the country. On May 28, 1991, in the midst of cease-fire talks, EPRDF tanks entered Addis Ababa virtually unopposed. Soon after, a

In 1974, Haile Selassie, the leader of transition government was formed, with Ethiopia since 1930, was deposed in a MelesZenawiasitspresident.InJuly,anew military coup. Ethiopia’s new rulers set up a democratic constitution was drafted, and Marxist regime, executed thousands of their Eritrean independence was acknowledged political opponents, and aligned themselves withoutincident.

Comic Phil Hartman killed by wife

May28,1998

OnMay28,1998,thecomedianandactorPhil Hartman, famous for his work on Saturday Night Live and NewsRadio, is shot to death by his wife, Brynn,inamurder-suicide.Hewas49.

In 1986, Hartman earned a spot on the longrunning NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live Inhiseightyearsontheshow, (Continued on page 29)

Volkswagen

Irene Cara

Phil Hartman

Everything You Need to Know About Apple’s Personal Voice Feature

(Reader’sDigest)Apple year

Live Speech allows users to to customize Live Speech Voice is that it requires a recently previewed some What is Personal Voice type something and have the withasynthesizedversionof vocal sample of the user to new accessibility features, and how does it work? iPhone, iPad or MacBook your voice. Personal Voice recreate the person’s voice. one of which can replicate Personal Voice is part of read it aloud. It can be used uses machine learning to Unfortunately,thiscannotbe your own voice. Here’s what t h e n e w o n - d e v i c e during FaceTime calls and recreate the sound of a done with a pre-recorded you need to know about accessibility technologies in-person communications, person’svoiceforuseduring voice sample; it requires the text-to-voicefunction. Personal Voice and when Appleisrollingoutthisyear makingitausefultoolforthe Live Speech, allowing device owner to read along We don’t yet have youcanexpecttoseeit. It’s designed to work with speech-impaired. speech-impaired users to with a prompt for 15 detailed information on how Apple devices are well- Live Speech, another of the The new Personal Voice connect with friends and minutes. This means that to enable Live Speech and known for being very user- new accessibility features feature enhances this familyinapersonalizedway those unable to speak cannot Personal Voice, but Apple friendly, which certainly Apple recently previewed. experience by allowing you How to enable Personal set up Personal Voice gave us a preview of how lends to the enduring mass Voice However, they will still be userscansetitup.Once appeal of iPhones, iPads and The catch with Personal able to use the Live Speech (Continued on page 35) MacBooks This goes beyond simple and intuitive controls and slick software, however Gadgets like the iPhone also feature many accessibility settings that make these devices easier to use These accessibility features range from conveniences like keyboard shortcuts and other handy iPhone tricks to functions aimed at assisting people with disabilities or other impairments.

A p p l e r e c e n t l y announced some new and more advanced accessibility features, including one whichusesmachinelearning to replicate your voice. The feature is called Personal Voice and will help people with limited speaking abilities use a synthesized voice for communication. Here’s everything we know about Personal Voice, including when you can expect to see it, and some details about the other new accessibility features Apple is bringing to its devices this

Health Facts

Lupus: An autoimmune disease

May has been labeled

achingorfatigue. you may Lupus Awareness Month. In As an autoimmune experience honourofthis,theWaterfalls disease, lupus occurs when headaches, is doing its bit to highlight your immune system attacks dizziness, thedisease healthy tissue in your body b e h a v i o r

A c c o r d i n g t o It’s likely that lupus results changes, vision information posted online from a combination of your problems, and even

By Rehanna Ramsay

Having lupus also Lupusisadiseasethatoccurs g e n e t i c s a n d y o u r strokes or seizures. Many increasesyourriskof: when your body’s immune environment. It appears that p e o p l e w i t h l u p u s

Infection: People with system attacks your own people with an inherited experience memory lupus are more vulnerable to t i s s u e s a n d o rg a n s predisposition for lupus may problems and may have infection because both the (autoimmune disease). develop the disease when difficulty expressing their disease and its treatments

Inflammation caused by they come into contact with thoughts. can weaken the immune lupus can affect many s o m e t h i n g i n t h e Blood and blood vessels system. different body systems — environment that can trigger - Lupus may lead to blood

Cancer: Having lupus including your joints, skin, lupus. The cause of lupus in problems, including a appears to increase your risk kidneys, blood cells, brain, most cases, however, is reduced number of healthy of cancer; however, the risk heartandlungs. unknown. red blood cells (anemia) and issmall.

Lupus can be difficult to Potential triggers include: an increased risk of bleeding

Bone tissue death: This diagnose because its signs

Sunlight:Exposuretothe or blood clotting. It can also occurs when the blood and symptoms often mimic sun may bring on lupus skin cause inflammation of the supply to a bone declines, those of other ailments. The lesions or trigger an internal bloodvessels. often leading to tiny breaks most distinctive sign of response in susceptible Lungs - Having lupus in the bone and eventually to lupus — a facial rash that people. Infections: Having increases your chances of thebone’scollapse. resembles the wings of a an infection can initiate developing an inflammation

P r e g n a n c y butterfly unfolding across lupus or cause a relapse in of the chest cavity lining, complications: Women with both cheeks — occurs in somepeople. which can make breathing lupus have an increased risk many but not all cases of Medications: Lupus can painful. Bleeding into lungs of miscarriage Lupus lupus. be triggered by certain types and pneumonia also are increases the risk of high

Some people are born o f b l o o d p r e s s u r e possible. Heart - Lupus can blood pressure during with a tendency toward medications, anti-seizure cause inflammation of your pregnancyandpretermbirth. developing lupus, which medicationsandantibiotics. heartmuscle,yourarteriesor To reduce the risk of these may be triggered by People who have drug- heart membrane. The risk of complications, doctors often i n f e c t i o n s , c e r t a i n versions of the disease fatigue, fever, joint pain, induced lupus usually get cardiovascular disease and recommend delaying medications or even characterizedbyepisodes— stiffness and swelling better when they stop taking heart attacks increases pregnancy until your disease sunlight. While there’s no called flares — when signs butterfly-shaped rash on the the medication Rarely, greatlyaswell. has been under control for at cure for lupus, treatments and symptoms get worse for face that covers the cheeks symptoms may persist even Other types of leastsixmonths. canhelpcontrolsymptoms. a while, then improve or and bridge of the nose or afterthedrugisstopped. complications Notwocasesoflupusare even disappear completely rashes elsewhere on the Complications exactly alike Signs and foratime. body, skin lesions that Inflammation caused by symptoms may come on The signs and symptoms appear or worsen with sun lupus can affect many areas suddenly or develop slowly, of lupus that you experience exposure, fingers and toes ofyourbody,including: may be mild or severe, and will depend on which body that turn white or blue when Kidneys - Lupus can may be temporary or systems are affected by the exposed to cold or during cause serious kidney permanent Most people disease. The most common stressful periods, shortness damage, and kidney failure with lupus have mild signsandsymptomsinclude: of breath, chest pain, dry is one of the leading causes eyes and headaches, of death among people with confusion and memory loss. lupus.

Comic Phil Hartman killed...

From page 27

Hartman became known for his spot-on impersonations of a variety of celebrities, notably President Bill Clinton. He also made frequent guest appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno In 1989, Hartman shared an Emmy Award for his writingcontributionsto Saturday Night Live Hewentontoset a record for the most appearances (153) as one of the show’s regulars.

Hartman joined the cast of the TV sitcom NewsRadio in 1995. He played the egotistical anchorman of an AM radio news station in New York City through four seasons of the show’s five-year run. The ensemble cast also included Dave Foley, Maura Tierney and Andy Dick. Hartman also notably provided the voices for a number of characters, including the has-been actor Troy McClure and the incompetent lawyer Lionel Hutz, on the acclaimed animated series The Simpsons.InadditiontohisTVworkasanactorandpitchman (for MCI, McDonald’s and Cheetos, among others), Hartman appearedonthebigscreenin Blind Date (1987), Jingle All the Way (1996)and Small Soldiers,releasedafterhisdeath.

Off-screen, Hartman was popular among his Hollywood colleagues and known for being completely different from some of the more unlikable characters he had portrayed. The murder-suicide, which shocked fans and friends alike, occurredearlyonthemorningofMay28,1998,atthecouple’s homeintheLosAngelessuburbofEncino.Accordingtonews reports, Brynn, Hartman’s third wife (two previous marriages ended in divorce) had a history of drug and alcohol problems. Thecouplehadtwochildren.

See your doctor if you Brain and central developanunexplainedrash, nervous system - If your ongoing fever, persistent brain is affected by lupus,

Manifestation of Lupus on a young female patient.

Red-lipped batfish The -

A sea creature that walks

The red-lipped batfish

If you travel to the Galapagos Islands in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, you will find the red-lipped batfish, a very unusual sea creature that walks. It’s a species of fish that is endemic to Galapagos and can be found at depths of about 30 to 60 feet but can be found in deeper

watersupto400feet.

This creature is not a good swimmer and spends most of its time walking on the sea floor blending in with sandy rocky bottom of the ocean. Red-lipped batfish do not have actual legs but modified pectoral and pelvic fins thatresemblelegs.Toswimthefish

tucks its pectoral fins underneath itsbodyusesitstailandpelvicfinto propelthroughthewater

Apart from walking capabilities, the fish’s lips are bright lipstick red and scientists believe that this feature is for attractingmates.

Onthetopofthebatfish’shead,

thereisalsoaspecialbodypartthat extendsoutwardcalledanillicium. After the red-lipped batfish fully matures, its dorsal fin becomes a single spine-like projection that comesoutofthetopofthehead.

Thebatfishusestheilliciumas awaytolurepreynearthem.Atthe top of its illicium is an esca. The esca emits a bright light and since thesefishdwellindeepwaters,the light lures other fish to where the

batfishispositioned.Theescalures the prey to the batfish which then allowsittoeatthosesmallcreatures whichfallintoitstrap.

Red-lipped batfish mainly feedsonothersmallfishandsmall invertebrates including shrimp, crabs,wormsandmollusks.

Source of information: (https://oceanconservancy.org/bl og/2019/12/16/red-lippedbatfish/)

The Bayou Resort:

avisionofrelaxation

During the early COVID-19 were few aces that environment that e intimate familiesoutside homes. desireforasafe, relaxing atmosphere,gavebirth BayouResort. nessman, equain Vieira saw p e r f e c t tunity to nch his iness and ficially

River, more than 15 years ago. After touringsomeofthebeautifulsitesaround the country with his friends, Vieira was certain that he would one day launch his owntouristattraction.

Hisvisionwastocreateasafe,private and secure environment, where friends andfamiliescangathertoenjoyarelaxing day,awayfromlargecrowdsandthehustle andbustleofGeorgetown.

In an interview with The Waterfalls earlier this week, the businessman shared someoftheexcitingfeaturesofferedbythe resort, which is located in Bamia, Linden Highway

Along with a natural, free flowing creek, the resort is complimented by a kissing bridge, a beautifully designed arch- perfect for those instagram photos-

Vieira enjoys a light moment at the resort

Ifyouwouldliketovisit,youcanfind this beautiful haven just off of the

passion for the first trip to

experience of visitors even more memorable.

“Inthecomingmonths,wearehoping to construct cabins which will aid in making an overnight experience much more comfortable and relaxing. Also, we are currently assessing an area on the grounds that can be utilized for activities such as volleyball, football etcetera,” he said.

PersonscancontactMr Vieiraviacell on 592-695-8938 or make bookings via Facebookat'TheBayou'.

Businessman, Tequain

The relaxing atmosphere at The Bayou Resort

Everything You Need to Know About...

Frompage28 these features arrive on Appledeviceslaterthisyear, they will most likely be found in the Settings app under “Accessibility ” There,youshouldbeableto enable and set up Live Speech and Personal Voice for use on your iPhone or iPad.

Othernewaccessibility featuresfromApple Apple announced other new accessibility features comingtotheirdevicesalong withLiveSpeechandPersonal Voice sometime this year

Here are two new tools users canlookforwardto,aswellas some changes to existing accessibilityfeatures:

1.AssistiveAccess:This feature simplifies popular appsandcombinesthemintoa

single, intuitive, easy-to-use interface

Assistive Access allows theusertosynchronizePhone, Messages,FaceTime,Camera, PhotosandMusicintoasingle Calls app This combined interface also utilizes highcontrasticonsandlarge,easyto-readtext,offeringaheavily streamlined user experience

forindividualswhomayprefer a less complicated communicationinterface

2 Point and Speak: This is a new function built into the Magnifier app. It makesiteasierforthosewith impaired vision to use certain objects with text, such as buttons. Point and Speak can use input from the

cameraandLiDARscanneron aniPhoneoriPadto“read”text labelsaloudastheuserinteracts with an object (for example, the keypad con trols on a kitchen appliance) Point and Speak will also be used with other Magnifier functions, such as Door Detection and Image Descriptions,allowingthose with vision disabilities to

interface more easily with their environment using audio cues. 3. Made for iPhone hearing devices: Hearingaiddevicescompatible withiPhonesandiPadswillsoon be compatible with Mac computers.

4. Voice Control: Users who use voice-to-text will be automatically presented with phonetic suggestions for words

that sound alike, such as “there” and “their,” so it’s easier to choose the correct termwhencommunicating.

5 Pause moving images: Users can set their devices to automatically pause moving images, such as GIFs, in Messages and Safari. This is useful for those who may be sensitive torapidanimations.

Ways Alcohol Can Sabotage Your Weight

Loss Goals, According to an Obesity Doctor

Alcohol can increase alcoholic drinks are energy- fast. Alcohol consumption your risk of weight gain, dense (meaning high in Here’s why that matters stimulates a cascade of and not just from the calories) and provide little to when you’re trying to lose inflammatoryresponses,one calories. Here’s the science, nonutrition,whichmayputa weight Since your body of which is the release of according to an MD who damper on your weight loss prioritizes alcohol digestion, cortisol, the stress hormone. s p e c i a l i z e s i n efforts. Here are five major it puts digestion of other And research has shown that understanding weight. reasons alcohol can impede nutrients (like fat, carbs, and persistently high levels of (The Healthy) “Hey youweightlossefforts. protein) on the back burner cortisol are associated with contain added calories and it comes to food and Siri,canIstillloseweightifI 1. Your body views alcohol In other words, your body obesity That’s why it’s best sugar on top of the naturally research suggests it may drink alcohol?” Goodness, as a toxin might put off metabolizing for people with obesity, who occurring sugars and even stimulate the appetite. weonlywishtheanswerwas Your body metabolizes fat and carbs when it’s busy are already at an increased caloriesinalcohol. Those who drink alcohol that simple Research is and eliminates alcohol from breakingdownalcohol.Over riskofinflammation,tolimit Even a so-called “lower- with a meal also tend to eat mixed (no pun intended) on thebodywiththehelpoftwo time and repeated patterns, oravoidalcohol. calorie” option, like a vodka m o r e 3 0 % m o r e , whether alcohol can lead to e n z y m e s : A l c o h o l this could lead to increased

3.Alcohol affects tonic, can have as many accordingtoonestudy weight gain. That’s because dehydrogenase (ADH) and fatstorageandweightgain. sleep—and sleep caloriesandgramsofsugaras While alcohol won’t weight is complex and aldehyde dehydrogenase 2.Alcohol can impacts weight aservingoficecream Before impact everyone’s weight somepeoplenoticeashifton (ALDH). When you imbibe, cause inflammation It may seem like that you know it, your 1 5-ounce the same way, it’s best to be thescalewhentheyconsume these two work together to Alcohol can impair the nightcap helps you fall serving of vodka just jumped mindful of how much you alcohol,whileothersdon’t. break apart the alcohol functions of the gut, liver, asleep, but alcohol can from 98 calories to 176 when drink when trying to lose

As a doctor who molecules,producingatoxic a n d o t h e r actually disrupt how well youaddeightouncesoftonic weight. Consider skipping it specializes in the science of substance, acetaldehyde, organs—interfering with the you snooze. One study, Have a few of those, and altogether or aim for weight, I can say what we do then acetate, so that your immune system and causing w h i c h l o o k e d a t you’re looking at upwards of moderation. Just know that know is that many of these body can get rid of it—and systemic inflammation participants’ heart rates 500ormorecaloriesonliquid even if you follow the limit and ability to relax during alone—calories that don’t for moderate drinking as sleep, showed that even provide your body with the recommended in the Dietary small amounts (0.25 grams bestnutrition Guidelines for Americans per kilogram or less) of Let’s compare these 500 issued by the U S alcohol decreased those calories in a few vodka D e p a r t m e n t o f markers of quality of sleep tonics to a 500-calorie meal Agriculture—one drink or by9.3%. of salmon, brown rice, and less per day for women, two

And the more you drink, steamed veggies. The drinks or less for men—it still adds the worse you sleep—the are empty calories, whereas up over time. Several studies same study linked moderate the meal has fat, fiber, and have shown that the risk of drinking to a 24% decrease proteintokeepyoufullerand obesity is roughly two times in sleep quality, and heavy satisfied for longer—a win- higher in adults who drinkingtoa39.2%decrease win while trying to lose consume alcohol than in insleepquality w e i g h t w h i l e a l s o thosewhodon’t.

You may think a few providing high-quality Considering mocktails nights of low-quality shut- nourishment. (non-alcoholic beverages) eye is harmless, but research

5. Drinking impacts are popping up on more and has shown that just one to food choices more bar menus these days, threenightsofpoorsleepcan Have you ever noticed rest assured your after-work lead to insulin resistance. after drinking alcohol, you social hour will still be filled Overtime,thatcouldputyou get a sudden hankering for with cheers. Just be sure to atriskofobesity a fast food run or pizza opt for a lower-calorie

4.Alcohol is often full of delivery? That’s because option, such as club soda sneaky calories and sugar alcohol can impair with a squeeze of fresh lime

Many mixed drinks, decision-making and lead or a craft mocktail with half tasty as they might be, to impulse decisions when theamountofsimplesyrup.

VERIFICATION OF NET

CONTENTS ON PREPACKAGED GOODS

The Guyana National Legal Metrology Services aims to ensure consumers manufacturers or retailers 23 of the Weights & stakeholders including the Bureau of Standards Department starting with the receive value for money and who pre-package products MeasuresAct. verification of measuring (GNBS) as the National verification of net contents equity in trade. Through the for retail purposes to ensure · The pre-packaging of instrumentsusedintradeand Measurement Institute of pre-packaged products s e r v i c e , o u r l o c a l that: products must be done in instruments used within the (NMI) on May 19, 2023, sold by Mass. This will be manufacturers will be · The pre-packaging is metric quantities i.e., 250g, health, transportation, launched its newest service, done at the manufacturers’ further supported as they done by trained employees 500g, 1kg & 2kg since the manufacturing, and the verification of net premises to facilitate trade their products in a (Metric System + Use of metric system is the only agriculture sectors of contents of pre-packaged corrective actions where highly competitive business measuringinstrument), legalsystemofmeasurement Guyana. products sold by Volume, necessary in the form of environment Additionally, · Approved measuring inGuyana. F o r f u r t h e r Count, Frozen, Aerosol, repackaging or relabeling of from a legal standpoint, instruments are used Finally, the Verification information, kindly length, product in Brine & the product’s correct net products produced locally (ElectronicScales), of Net Content Service contact the GNBS on Mass. weight. will increasingly become · Measuring instruments comes as an addition to the telephone numbers: 219-

Net Content is defined as The first visit to the compliant with the Weights must be verified by the measurement services the 0065, 219-0066 or 219the amount of product manufacturers’ premises and Measures Act and GNBS according to Section Bureau already provides to 0069. contained in a package, as willbefreewhilesubsequent Regulations which are under declared on labels in the visits to ensure appropriate development. form of mass, volume, or corrections are made will be According to the 1981 other units of measurement. at a cost per hour plus the Weights and Measures Act, It is one of the most cost of transportation for pre-packaged products important pieces of destinations out of offered for sale must be information on the label Georgetown. marked with their net weight which tells consumers how To build capacity for the or capacity measurements much of the product they are roll out of the new service, (Section 18).TheAct further going to get. Verification of Legal Metrology Inspectors states that only metric units those numbers will ensure were recently trained by an of measurements should be consumer protection as it overseas expert to conduct used in trade (Section 19), will also help them to make net content checks In while providing “short an educated decision about addition, the GNBS has weight, measure or number” thevalueofproducts. acquired the necessary to consumers, is an offence

The new measurement equipment and a fully fitted (Section34). service will be rolled out mobileunit(vehicle). Further, it is the immediatelybytheBureau’s The verification service r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f

Friendship(AndAb)Goals:

Lori Harvey And Teyana Taylor Were Fit And Fine At The amfAR Gala In Cannes

THE FRIENDS ATTENDED Taylor, 32, stunned in a black clearly rub off on each other in the THE CHARITY GALA IN gownbyMonotwiththestomachcut bestway Bothladiesarededicatedto CANNES AND STUNNED IN out and Harvey wore a similar dress staying fit and fine despite their busy GOWNS REVEALING THEIR by LaQuan Smith in red. An image schedules. RIPPED ABS. FIND OUT was posted on The Shade Room and In 2019, Taylor told Us Weekly WHAT’S BEHIND THEIR people didn’t waste time running up that she doesn’t follow a strict diet or TONEDTORSOS. the comments. Fans admired the even eat vegetables. Her abs are (Essence) Teyana Taylor and ladies ripped abs and joked about maintained by staying active, which Lori Harvey are reminding us to put eating muffins and Doritos as they likely isn’t hard to do as a dancer and the cookies down with their most liked the picture, something many of performer recent pictures. The close friends us non-ab having people can relate “On my own, I have a dance attended the amfAR Gala in Cannes with. fitness program called fade2fit.com, thisweek,aneventtoraisemoneyfor The A-list celebs have been sothat’stheonlyworkoutIdo,”she AIDSresearch. friends for some time now and (Continued on page 43)

Teyana Taylor and Lori Harvey

AND ENVIRONMENT PROTECTS THE WELLBEING OF HUMANITY

It appears as though toll?’ Ittollsforthee”. ago,Guyanaisnowupdating surface as an area of biodiversity considerations criteria for forest sector Guyanese people These ancient truths of itsNationalBiodiversityand Environmental Protection within its planning and operators who have to have become more the importance of the Action Plan (NBSAP) and this includes the activity d e m o n s t r a t e t h e i r

interested today in e n v i r o n m e n t a n d UNDP is assisting in this Iwokrama Rainforest The LCDS has been able commitment to maintaining, protecting the environment biodiversity to human task by providing technical Reserve; Kaieteur National to earn a generous income conserving and enhancing a n d m a i n t a i n i n g survival is only now being andfinancialsupport. Park; Shell Beach Protected from which Amerindian Biodiversity at landscape, biodiversity,thanatanytime understood by modern man

The NBSAP will mirror Area; Kanuku Mountains communitieshavebenefited. ecosystems, species and intheirhistory Thisinterest who now realises that the the goals of the major Protected Area; and The Guyana LCDS has geneticlevels. has been stimulated by the polluted and unclean water international organizations Konashen Amerindian pioneered a model which It is underscored that discoveryofsizabledeposits andair,deterioratingfertility such as GBF and place ProtectedArea. other countries are now operators have to protect of oil, the growing of soils, food shortages and Guyana in the loop of the Then, there is the Low using. threatened and endangered production of crude and the famines, unpredictable and most modern and advanced Carbon Development The Guyana Forestry species and cooperate in the threats to the environment disastrous climate change activity for environmental Strategy (LCDS) which is Commission is responsible p r o h i b i t i o n o f t h e which oil production poses. have been the result of andbiodiversityprotection. concerned with Climate for the Sustainable Forestry exploitation of threatened Accordingly, when the human activities such as Guyana has already Change and anti-pollution. and Biodiversity Programe. speciesforcommercial International Day for deforestation, overfishing, declared 17% of its land

B i o d i v e r s i t y w a s pollution of air and water by commemorated in the last industrial and agricultural week of May, many began to andminingactivity seriously focus on the theme Consciousness of the of the commemoration: danger to human survival

“FromAgreement toAction: and the quality of life caused Build Back Biodiversity”. byindiscriminateharmingof This theme has been a the environment and wakeup call for those biodiversity has led to the countries which have been emergence of several dilatory in environmental international organizations protection. To Guyana, it which try to mobilize the hasbeenmuchmoreofacall nations of the world to act toinspiregreatereffortinthe togethertotryandprotectthe protection of biodiversity e n v i r o n m e n t a n d and trying to repair those biodiversity areas of biodiversity which This is done by various havebeenimpaired. methods including training, What is Biodiversity? financial assistance, Most Guyanese have a assisting countries to partial or rough idea of what establish or upgrade it means, but they need to environmental departments, have a slightly more precise cooperatinginunifiedaction understandingofwhatitisto a n d s o o n S u c h really grasp its full organizations would include importance. Convention on Biological

Biodiversity is the D i v e r s i t y ( C B D ) ; extraordinary diversity of Conference of Parties lifeonearthandeventhesoil ( C O P ) ; a n d G l o b a l itself. It ranges from genes Biodiversity Framework to species and ecosystems (GBF). Most countries in which sustain all living theworldarenowsupportive things, whether microbes, of these institutions and plants, or animals or Guyana stands out among humans Ecosystems them. provide life sustaining Most of the destruction services to the species, of the environmental and including the humans that biological diversity of the inhabitthem. world was caused by the

This leads to the long developed countries, when accepted philosophical two or three centuries ago, position that all life is they embarked on their interdependent since all industrial and agricultural living beings share the one revolutions. life. In all ancient cultures When these countries this truth of the environment required further natural was fully understood. In resources they began to Hinduism, for example, the exploit the underdeveloped earth - the soil which is a world, resulting in living organism and all life environmentalharmtothem. which it sustains - is deified Guyana is among the as Mother Earth or Dharti countries working to reverse Mataandhericonisfoundin and repair these negative allHindutemples. trends in both individual

The Elizabethan poet countriesandworldwide. John Donne expresses the I n a d d i t i o n t o same truth regarding Human e s t a b l i s h i n g a n beings: “Don’t ask ‘For Environmental Protection whom the (church) bells Agency (EPA) several years

The Strategy has integrated The Commission sets the (Continued on page 40)

PROTECTING BIODIVERSITY...

Frompage39 purpose.

y of Queen Charlotte

Thisdovetailswiththe responsibilitiesofthe Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission (GWCM), which workstostampoutillegalwildlifetrafficking andhelptopreserveBiodiversity

Finally, there are two important projects in which Guyana is involved to which it is committed: Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Mining (MBIM) which enhances the managementofsmall-scalegoldminingwith responsible mining techniques such as

reducing mercury contamination; and the PreventionofMarineLitterintheCaribbean Sea (PROMAR), which aims to reduce the flow of plastic waste into the marine environmentfromlandorcoastalareas.

ThoughGuyanahasanAtlanticandnota Caribbean Sea littoral, Guyana’s participation as a “Caribbean territory” is wellunderstood.

Such plastic waste derived mostly from packaging material, sicken and kill seabirds, whales,fishandturtleswhichunsuspectingly eatthem.

WhatsApp to allow users to edit messages, but only for 15 minutes

Messaging app’s new feature will enable altering of messages after sending

(The Guardian) WhatsApp selecting “edit” from the pop-up

tweetstoselectuserslastyear Meta is embroiled in a dispute hasannouncedaneditingfeatureto menu that appears. Previously, the Twitter offers an editing feature with the UK government about its allow users to alter messages up to only way to correct a message sent to subscribers to its Twitter Blue best-known feature: end-to-end 15 minutes after they have been in haste or containing an error was service, giving them a 30-minute encryption, which ensures only the sent. The Meta-owned messaging to delete it and send a fresh one, window to edit a tweet after it has receiver and sender can view service has started rolling out the with recipients alerted to the fact beensent Meta’s founder and chief messages. editing function globally and it by the removed post being executive, Mark Zuckerberg, Last month, WhatsApp and should become available to all replaced with the phrase: “This flagged the WhatsApp change on Signal signed an open letter users in the coming weeks, the messagewasdeleted.” his Facebook page, showing a warningtheonlinesafetybillcould platformsaidinablogpost. “From correcting a simple message that had been changed undermine the UK’s privacy and Messages that have been edited misspelling to adding extra context from “Beast of luck!” to “Best of safety, saying the legislation will have an “edited” notification toamessage,we’reexcitedtobring luck!” Facebook, also owned by “provides no explicit protection for displayedalongsidethem,although you more control over your chats. Meta, started to roll out the ability encryption” because it could theedithistorywillnotbeshownso Allyouneedtodoislong-presson to edit posts and comments about a empower the communications a user cannot view what the post a sent message and choose ‘Edit’ decadeago. regulator to demand tech firms saidbeforeitwasaltered. from the menu for up to 15 Its fellow Meta social media weaken encryption systems in Telegram and Signal already allow

The feature can be activated by minutesafter,”saidWhatsApp. platform Instagram allows users to order to tackle terrorism or child users to edit messages, while pressing down on a message and Competing apps such as editpostsbutnotcomments. sexualabusecontent. Twitter rolled out the ability to edit

Guyanese Artist to participate in Atlantic World Art Fair 2023

Guyanese-born, Turks dynamic, under-represented identityanditsconnectionto and Caicos based artist, art territory with complex, memory. Interweaving flora HezronH is listed among intertwined histories, found in the Turks and several artists from the relations, and cultures Caicos, he begins to explore region slated to appear in the informed by peoples of what is lost and what can be 3rd Annual Atlantic World Africa, Asia, the Americas, gained in the symbiosis ArtFair,runningfromJune1 andEurope. between the land and its – 15, 2023, in collaboration H e z r o n w i l l b e inhabitants, its mortality and with global art platform presenting 4 large-scale its immortality, its deArtsy works as part of the fair with evolution, and its fight to This third annual online each piece being roughly 4 survive. experiencefeaturesacurated feet square. In this precursor The Atlantic Ocean has group of knowledgeable of paintings for his newest long been viewed as a galleries focused on talented and most ambitious series connecting bridge between contemporary art makers in since his ‘Tears of the the “old” and “new” worlds, the Caribbean, the Atlantic Trouvadore’ collection, the facilitating cultural, Islands, and the region’s artist delves deeper into economic, and social wider Diasporas. This is a themes associated with interactions The faster

travel made possible by experience people can enjoy humanprogressturneditinto and connect with on an a pathway for transit. Along ethereal level. Hezron has thisroute,manyislandswere exhibited in cities across subjected to the beginnings Australia, New Zealand, the of oppressive empires. This UK, Trinidad & Tobago for region, with its diverse CARIFESTA, Portland cultures and histories, (USA), and at Art Takes reveals that the Atlantic is 2021 (NYC); a juried notjustaspacefortraveland competition hosted by tourism alone, but a place SeeMe. Hezron has also had wherepeopleresideandface the pleasure of being the consequences of featured in several historical oppression. The publications: Beautiful Atlantic World Art Fair on Bizarre Magazine, Wacom’s Artsy seeks to redefine the “The Next Level” and Turks C a r i b b e a n a n d i t s andCaicosMagazine. neighboring regions from an O t h e r a r t i s t s internal perspective, giving participating are nationals of them agency on their own or reside in, Aruba, Azores, terms (The Galleries The Bahamas, Barbados, Championing Artists from Bermuda, Cayman Islands, the Caribbean Region, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Artsy). HezronH explores DominicanRepublic,French this concept via fine art and Guiana, Guadeloupe, Haiti, illustration His body of Jamaica, Martinique, St work consists of acrylic on Maarten,Suriname,Trinidad paper, canvas, and digital & Tobago, US Virgin painting,adaptingtraditional Islands, and their diasporas. painting mediums to his F r o m e m e r g i n g t o signature style. His artwork established artists, the is characteristically laden Atlantic World Art Fair with vibrant colours which offers a catalogue of serve to highlight the provocativeartwork. emotivepowerofcolour The Atlantic World Art Hebelievesthatitismost Fair on Artsy goes live June important that artists make 1 , 2 0 2 3 , o n no apologies for their work; https://www artsy net/fairhis passion is honest artistic organizer/atlantic-world-artexpression, creating an fair.

AWAF Promo 2

Lori Harvey And Teyana Taylor Were Fit And Fine...

Frompage38 said. Fade2Fit is a dance fitness program Taylor created, but it's currently under construction. She also thanks genetics for her toned body

“People used to call me a ninja turtlebecauseevenwhenIwas six yearsold,IhadalittleBuddhabelly buttherewasstillasix-packontop ofit,”shetoldUsin2018.

Harvey hasn't given credit to genetics for her abs, but she does give insight into her workout routineeverysooften.Shespoketo

ESSENCE in 2022 and shared the secret to her losing 15 pounds and gettingchiseled.

“It'spilates.

Itchangedmylife,” the entrepreneur and model shared.

She also shared more detail in a TikTokvideo,inresponsetopeople asking how she achieved weight lossandmuscledefinition.

“Everybody'sbeenaskinglikewhat itisIspecificallydidtogetmybody

tothispoint. SowhenMikeandIgottogether,I gained like 15 pounds of relationship weight and it was horrible,” she said. “None of my clothesfit,itwasjustnotOK,”she shared.

At the time, Harvey, 26, was dating actor Michael B Jordan.

“ I ' v e b e e n consistently doing pilates for thepastyear

I'vedoneitforafewyearsbutI've beenreallyconsistentthelastyear,” shesaid,addingthatwhenshewas workingtoloseweight,heraverage timespentinthegymwasbetween “five,sixtimesaweek,”sometimes

doing “two-a-day” workouts, and oftenincorporatingcardioafterher pilatesclasses.

That cardio consisted of sprint interval workouts, going on hikes, running the stairs, or doing “just sometypeofcardio.”

She also stuck to meat and vegetables, minimizing her carb intake and helping her achieve a calorie deficit–when you eat fewer caloriesthanyouburn. The SKN founder said her calorie intake was no more than 1,200 a day Themoreyouknow!

The Circus School

Agroupofchildrenareinspiredto

create their own circus, the Circus Pepperoni! Circus Tortellini isn't an ordinary circus. Circus Tortellini travels from town to town with a Clever Circus School CircusTortellinivisits schools and puts up its right Bright Big Top next to a school, and then the fun begins. Franco Tortellini is the ringmaster, and he knowsthatallchildrenloveacircusandcan learn lots and lots. “Children learn special things at our Circus School…” Franco laughs.WhenCircusTortelliniisready,they begin with the show full of excitement.The children,teachers,parents,grandparentsand friends are all invited. Franco Tortellini booms– 'Welcome to the Amazing Circus Tortellini' There are clowns, jugglers, acrobats, tight rope walkers, ponies, trapeze artists, strongmen, a magic show, unicycles, trampolinesandpopcorn.Leon,Mia,Emma and Noah just can't stop clapping as they watchtheshow

“I'm going to be the ringmaster, I'll be amazing!”Leonlaughs“Iwanttobalanceon theponiesinapinktutu.”Miabeams.“Ishall juggle10flashingballs.”Noahwhoops“And I shall walk a tightrope high above your heads.”Emmapointsuphightothetrapeze. At the end of the show, with the wonderful costumes, fun and plenty of scares– Franco Tortellini and his family take a bow and Franco booms “Goodbye children, see you on Monday morning, bright and ready for CircusSchool!”Andthat'swhathappens,for thenextweek,thereisnoclassroom,justthe Big Top and the children Learn Project Circus! For the four friends – Leon, Mia, Noah and Emma things turn out different to whattheyexpect.

Franco Tortellini and his family – Gina,

FUNWITHPOETRY

(by Uncle Roy)

Clothespin Butterfly Craft

Materials Clothespins, Wooden Spring-Style Acrylic Craft Paint –White, Two Shades of Pink, TwoShadesofYellow,Blue, Purple Chenille Stem(Blue), Glue Gun and Glue Sticks, Paintbrush,Scissors

Instructions

Francesca,PepittoandAngelowiththeother circus artists divide the children into groups in the school yard-and they throw balls, do skipping,rolloutthematsandjumparound–

“Let'sseewhatyouaregoodat!”Francoand Angelojustwalk,talk,playandmessaround. Thechildrendolotsofdifferentthings–they balance on wobbly planks, they climb up ropes, they bounce on trampolines laughing andtheendoftheday,theyrubtheiraching legsandarms.Thenextday,allthechildren are put into their Circus School groups. Franco laughs his very loud laughs and tells them.“Wewatchedyouallyesterday,andwe think we've found the very best groups for youall.”

“I'm a clown, I always knew it!” Leon shakeshishead.“I'minthejugglingandhula hoop team.” Mia is happy “But I've got ponies and popcorn.” Emma smiles. Noah scratcheshishead“Unicycles,whateverthat is,andsellingprogramsandshowingpeople totheirseats.”

They all laugh, not sure what to expect.

“Don't let anybody ever tell you circus is easy…”Atbreaktimetheyfallontoabench rubbing their aching legs. “Well, how many balls can you juggle?” Leon turns to Mia.

“Well, we didn't start with balls at all. We startedoffwithbrightfloatyscarves.Westart onballsthisafternoon.”“Ah….”Theothers shrug. “Unicycles are wobbly.” Noah joins in. “We spent the morning learning how to getonandoffandwobblearound.”

“Well, clowns are the most important circus acts.” Leon tells his friends. “They makepeoplelaugh.Buttheyhelpin-between to put things up or take them down. This afternoon we are going to learn to trampoline.”Mialaughed.“Trampolineis

(ContinueonnextSundayedition)

Help others and you help yourself y

IknowIfeelnicewhensomeonegivesmesomething, Andwhenothershelpmeinsomeway; Iknowitfeelsgoodwhenpeoplesmileatme, Andtellmewordsthatmakemefeelgay

ThismeansthatIshouldalsotry

TodothesameforotherswhatIcan, Ishouldnotonlyseektogetformyself, Butdomybesttohelpeveryone.

FirstImustobeymyparentsathome, Andtrytokeepbrothersandsistershappy, NextdowhatIcanformyfriends, Andthenseekwaystohelpanybody

ThegreatthingisthatwhenItry

Tohelpothersandmakethemfeelthebest, IfindthatImyselfgainsomuch Thatitmakesmefeelthegreatest.

STEP ONE: Gather all supplies. Remove the metal spring from 11 full size wooden clothespins for each Butterfly Mum needs to do this bit! For each Butterfly, attach five clothespins together flat side to flat side with a glue gun and glue sticks. Leave the other six clothespins as two separate pieces.

TIP: You can use liquid craftglueforthisproject,but youwillhavetowaitforitto dry.Youngerkidswhowanta morehandsonapproachwith this craft and less help from adults may prefer using liquidglue.

STEPTWO: Use one of the full clothespins for the Butterfly body Line up each wingasfollowsonyourwork surface: half, half, full, half, half,full,half,half.

Attachthewingstogether evenlyatthebasewithaglue gun and glue sticks. Using thephotoasyourguide.Glue

thewingstotherightandleft side of the Butterfly body, using the photo as your guide. Hold the first wing in place until the glue completely sets, and then attach the second wing Repeat the above steps to complete the second

Butterfly

STEPTHREE:Paintthe front and all sides of both clothespin Butterflies with white acrylic craft paint. Set aside to dry and apply a second coat, if necessary Kids of all ages can do the painting.

STEP FOUR: Paint the Butterfly bodies with purple acrylic craft paint with a paintbrush. Set aside to dry Apply the lightest shade of pink and yellow acrylic craft paint to the Butterfly wings with a paintbrush. Set aside todry.Painttheinsideofthe

Sun maze

Butterflywingsclosesttothe bodywiththedarkershadeof pink and yellow acrylic craft paint,featheringtheedgesin toblendthecolors.Setaside todry

STEP FIVE: Embellish theButterflybodywithpolka dots in blue, and the darker shade of pink and yellow acryliccraftpaintbydipping the end of a paint brush in paint and dotting on the surface.

Repeat this polka dot accentontheButterflywings inblue,purple,andthedarker shade of pink and yellow acryliccraftpaint.

STEP SIX: Cut a 12” bluepipecleanersteminhalf with scissors, and then bend eachpieceinhalf.

Attach to the top back of each Butterfly with a glue gun and glue sticks as the antennae.

Find your way through the maze. Here's a load of sunshine to start your SUNDAY!

These are some clear steps which one needs to take to foster this allimportantfeeling:-

1. Set clear rules and provide a structure for the way in which the home, school, work-place or communityfunctions. When people are b r o u g h t u p i n a n environment where they are well aware of the limits and behave under these terms, they feel better about themselves. Stress is also reduced when their rights and responsibilities are made clear We must also remember that people are more likely to follow rules when they have a say in making them. Think of the rules which can be adopted in your own home to make everyonefeelmoresecurein any environment in which youliveandparticipate,and

makeanefforttohaveasay inmakingthem.

2. Enforce rules fairly andconsistently Whenthereisnobias or wrong judgement in enforcing the rules, then thereisorder. Itwouldbea goodthing,thenifyoupoint this out to your parents, teachers, and any other in authority, to give you this opportunity the next time

UNCLEROY Tellitto

Hello,readers, UncleRoyisagainaskingallofyoutotryinsome way to make a contribution to this page, and thus to the welfare of you and your fellow readers.This contribution can take any form that you feel would be valuable – an account of what is going on in your community and country, any advice you would like to pass on to your fellowteenreadersand,onabroaderlevel,anycommentor recommendation you would like to make to your fellow Guyanese. Please remit same to my email –roypaul2002@yahoo.com, and be assured that your worthwhilecontributionwillhaveaprominentplaceonour

Bridges

Connect these islands with bridges unti eachislandcanbereached fromanyotherisland,and each island has as many outgoing bridges as its number You may only connect islands vertically or horizontally and bridgesmaynotcross.

There may be one or two bridges connecting pairs of islands. but no more than two. Each puzzle has a unique solution that can de round wilout making guesses

All puzzles

© 2 0 1 6 KrazyDad.com

isrightandfair

5. Persons must accept social responsibility in playing their part in organising a productive and orderlycommunity

It would be useful if youwouldtakesometimeto think of the ways in which you could contribute to the welfare of those in your community, by yourself and together with parents, teachers and community leaders.

rules are to be made. Of course,youhavetodosoina respectful manner, and not makeanyharshdemandson those who are ultimately responsible for your security

3. Preserve self-respect and build personal responsibility.

Themannerinwhich rules are enforced also affects people's sense of security They should be treated as responsible persons, and they will react in like manner Correction must be effected in such a way that people are not put to shame, and will be respectedjustthesame.

4.Actinwaysthatfoster trustinthoseinauthority

Try to maintain a sense of trust in your parents,teachers,andothers onwhomyoudepend. This feeling enables you to behave without fear or anxiety Relyonthemtoact in a consistent manner, and tobasetheiractionsonwhat

6. Try to get rid of the fears which you may be secretly harbouring, and whichtendtokeepyoufrom acting in a socially responsiblemanner

Some of these fears would be real, but many times people develop fears of things which may not exist, or which may be exaggerated. Youwillneed to search your mind and examine these fears and make efforts to get rid of them The things that frighten us may exist at school, at home, with other people,involvingplacesand tasks,andevensomeevents in which you have to play a part. Thewaytodealwithall fears is to consciously examinethemwithaviewto dealing with them either by yourself, if you feel confident to do so, or by invoking the help of qualified persons to help in thisprocess.

by Uncle Roy (from his book “Shape Up Your Personality”) Whileeachpersonlivingonthisearth Owessomecommitmenttoallhumanity, Itremainsanindividual'sforemostobligation Togiveprioritytohisownfamily

Sothatallmembersfulfillthissacredduty, Eachneedhaverespect,trustandpatience, Beingalsoopen-minded,lovingandkind, Willingtoappreciatewhatothersexperience.

Theymusttogetherstrivetocreateacommunityofsupport, Inallaspectsoftheirdevelopment, Eachbeingsensitivetowhattheothersfeelandneed, Providingfortheirspecialflawsaswellastalents.

Theyshouldhavefun,eatandpraytogether, Loveoneanotherandexpressthisregularly, Celebratethesignificantoccasionseachholddear, Buildingmemoriestosustainthemthroughdifficulty

Togiveprioritytohisownfamily building

Theywillneedtosharetheresponsibilities Inbuildingahomeofsolaceandhappiness, Neverhesitatingtogotheextramile, Inmakingupforanymember'sweakness.

Relationshipsmusttakealeadingplace Inallaspectsofourfamilyaffairs, Ensuringwenurtureandmaintainourbonds, Creatingaharmonioushavenagainstallfears.

Mostimperativeistheneedforformationofgoals, Bothforeachandthewhole, Planningtogetherfortheshortandlongterm, Workingtogethertoachievetheseforall.

FirstMake a sincere effort to follow this week's rules, and you will benefit tremendously.

Remember that we all need to develop a Sense of Belonging to feel a part of the various areas in which we live and interact

Tips for Stronger Nails

1.Takeabiotinsupplement

Biotin,alsoknownasvitaminHandvitaminB7,isoneofthe Bvitamins.Becauseit'swater-soluble,itisn'tstoredbythebody, soyouhavetoensurethatyouconsumeitdaily

Biotin can help strengthen hair and nails. It also helps the body'snervoussystemtofunctionproperly

It can be found in foods like sardines, cooked eggs, and legumes,oryoucantakeaBvitaminsupplement.

Check with your healthcare professional before taking a biotinsupplementtoensurethatit'ssafeforyou.

2.Minimizeexposuretowater

Too much soaking in water can cause your nails to become weak and brittle.Wear gloves when washing dishes, and try to keepyourhandsoutofthewaterwhiletakingabath.

It's impossible to always avoid submerging your hands, of course,butthisissomethingtobemindfulof.

3.Stayhydrated

Drinkingenoughwaterisessentialforhealth,andnailhealth is no exception. Without adequate moisture, nails can become brittle and break and peel easily Drinking enough water helps themtoretainmoistureandstaystrong.

4.Payattentiontoyourdiet

Makesureyou'reeatinganutrient-denseandvarieddiet,as well as taking a multivitamin with minerals. A diet that's deficientincrucialvitaminsandmineralscanaffectyourentire body—includingyournails.

Speakwithyourhealthcareprofessionalbeforestartingnew supplements.Theyinterferewithanyprescriptiondrugsyou're takingandposeotherrisks.

5.Becarefulabouttheproductsyouuse

Nailpolishandremover

Many nail polishes or treatments contain harsh chemicals thatcanactuallyweakennails.Nailpolishremoverthatcontains acetoneshouldbeavoidedsinceitcandamagenails.

Look for nontoxic nail polishes and soaks as well as an acetone-freepolishremover

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Trusted Source warns against other potentially harmful chemicals found in everydaynailcareproducts.

Handsanitizerandcleaningproducts

Ifyouusehandsanitizer,trynottogetitonyournails,and useitinmoderation.Thealcohol-basedsanitizerdriesoutnails (andhands),leadingtobrittlenails.

7.Giveyournailsabreakfrompolish

Alongthosesamelines,althoughnailpolishlooksnice,your nails need to breathe. Constant use of polish, even nontoxic polish,canweakenthenail.

After wearing nail polish for a week or so, remove the nail polish with an acetone-free polish remover, and then let your nailsbepolish-freeforaweek.

8.Keepyournailsontheshorterside

Longnailsaremorelikelytobreakandbecaughtonthings, whileshorternailsarelesslikelytobechipped,cracked,orsplit, helpingtokeepthemstrong.

9.Don'tuseyournailsasatool

Instead,usethepadsofyourfingerstoopenupasodacanor useapapercliptoreachsomethinginasmallspace.Usingyour nails as tools can lead to breakage and chipping, which can in turnweakenthenail.

10.Uselotiononyournails

After removing polish, or if you think you're not hydrated enough, use hand cream on your hands, making sure to moisturizeyournails.Youcandothiseverytimeyouwashyour hands.

11.Changehowyoufileyournails

Filing your nails in a back-and-forth motion like a saw can actuallyweakenyournails.Instead,filetheminonedirection. Also,goeasyonthesidesofthenailssincefilingtoomuch therecanweakenthenail.

12.Talkwithyourdoctor

Ifyou'vetriedmultiplethingsforseveralweeksandhaven't noticedanychangeinyournails,seeadermatologistoranother skincareprofessional.Theycantakealookatyournailsandask youquestionsaboutyourroutineandoverallhealth.

Thebottomline

Ifyou'vetriedvariousremediesandnothinghelps,seeyour doctor Theremightbeanunderlyingconditioncausingthinor brittlenails,andonlybytreatingtherootcausewillyournailsbe abletobecomestrongagain.

https://www.healthline com/health/how-to-strengthennails#talk-with-a-doctor

Hinterland students face unique challenges to accessing education - APA

Access to formal education at the secondary level has always been a challenge for hinterland students. And while there have been improvements in some regards, access to simple necessities such as electricityandpotablewater remainachallenge.

This is according to the Amerindian People Association (APA) an independent indigenous group which represent the interests and issues of Amerindian people, especially as these were not being addressed by the government.

TheAPAsharedwiththe Waterfalls several of the challenges faced by a majority of the hinterland students, who hail from indigenouscommunitiesand remote locations following the horrific fire that claimed the lives of 19 students, at a High School dormitory in MahdiaRegionEight.

In a detailed report, the Association shared in many areas, access to certain services such as electricity and potable water are challenging.Many students take long walks and boat rides to get access to schooling.As such, where a student population is considered insufficient to merit the building of a secondary school in any given location, students would quite often have to leave their homes to attend schools in a central location o r s o m e t i m e s i n Georgetown.

The APA said also said manyparentsusuallyengage in subsistence economic activities such as farming,

meaning that they are formally unemployed and havelimitedmeanstoaccess the finance required to buy necessitiesfortheirchildren whogotoliveinadormitory This, the Association noted presents several challenges that impact indigenous and hinterland parents in unique ways Some of these challenges include - according to the APA - the psychosocial burden of parent-child separation cannot be overstated as it is heartwrenching for parents to knowthattheirchildrenwill nolongerbeclosetoprovide them with the love and care that they need for healthy mental development, to disciplineandguidethem,to impart the generations of community and cultural knowledge, or, to help them

in whatever way parents usuallydo.

“Lots of children have difficulties coping with behavioral changes: the impact of the boarding school system can be difficult for children to processwhenseparatedfrom their families over long distances and for prolonged periods.Manyparentsreport of their children developing different personalities when they return home, including treating their parents with disrespect, or feel ashamed to be living their cultural way of life which they were somuchapartof,”

Added to this, travel across perilously long distances that are costly, means that parents in the hinterland regions must incur additional expenses to visit or transport their

childrentoandfromschool, where there is limited social welfaresupport.

“Although the state

sponsors home visits once peryearforstudents,parents also try to raise their money so that they can bring their

childrenhomefortheEaster and Christmas holidays but thisisnotalwayspossible.

Continuedonpage58

Subrina John Lorita Williams Lisa Roberts

Arriana Edwards Natalie Bellarmine

Andrea Roberts Belnisa Evans

Sherena Daniels Eulanda Carter

Mary D’Andrade

Martha D’Andrade

Adonijah Jerome

Rita Jeffrey Delecia Edwards

Loreen Evans

NickleenRobinson

The students that perished in the fire at the High School Dormitory in Mahdia

BLUNTNESS ON INDECENCY!

SUNDAY–May21,2023

WHATDOES GUYANAHAVE?

The President Ali is scarcerthangold…

TheVPJagdeoisnowan investorconfidenceman!

The PPP Govt. is busy attackingGuyanese!

The judiciary (parts) seekingtoprotectGuyana…

The Parliament is still searchingforpatriots.

T h e P N C , A F C , Opposition is woefully nonexistent…!

The media is in a mostly dilapidatedstate!

The houses of prayer are notforthegoodofGuyanese.

The bigger segments of civil society look out for itself.

Attorneys are in a hurry andlookingforahustle!

So, what do Guyanese havewiththeiroil?

TheyhaveExxon.

WhodoGuyanesehave? They have Alistair Routledge.

MONDAY–May22,2023

Exxonstockfall

Exxonstockfelloffacliff recently

ExxonandthePPPGovt. pushing Guyanese off the cliff

This oil that has so much promise.

Thisoilnowsomuchofa curse.

Dream ruined, prospects diminished.

Exxon crying about its stockprice.

Guyanese crying for justice,fairplay,truth.

TUESDAY–May23,2023

Opposition'lazy'-PartI Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeohadthatoneright!

TheOppositionislazy!

It is so lazy that it still cannotspeakaboutoil…

With authority, with conviction!

IsthisanOpposition,oris it part of Guyana's imagination?

WEDNEDAY –May24,2023

Letuspause….

Howwedignifyourdead, emphasizesourhumanity

How we respect them, reflects how we respect ourselves.

We pause for a poignant momentforthesechildren.

We hurt for their hurting parents.

We reach to support family, community, and people.

THURSDAY–May25, 2023

Atimeformourning

It is a time of mourning acrossGuyana… All are touched, all shivering!

What should have been willcomelater…

Today is a time of nationalsoul-searching!

Wemuststillourfeetand honourwithoursilence…

Wemustmourn,wemust cryourpain!

FRIDAY–May26,2023

Lifeandliberty

Thisfleshcanclothewith frailty

Thisspiritcaninspirethe loftylibertyofeagles.

This Guyana must break fromitsshackles.

This time of dying must befollowedbyreborning.

This time of falling must begracedwithstartingtolive again.

It is a different kind of IndependenceDaytoday

One of great community travail, one of profound nationalsadness.

Let us honour our lost ones.

Let us love them by how weobservethisday

SATURDAY–May27, 2023

Frequentblackouts

The IDB says that frequent blackouts killing Guyana.

Guyanese already know thatforthemselves!

Perhaps, the PPP Govt. will'cussdownandbuseout' the IDB Blackout, brownout, whiteout is the samethingunderthePPP! More millions ending, more covering up, and more 'cussingdown'.

Welcome to Guyana, the nextDubai!

Exxon at risk of massive financial loss if permit is suspended

ExxonMobil's subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) has filed an appeal againsttheHighCourtruling, inanattempttohavethecourt set aside an order which stipulates that the company provides insurance and unlimited parent company guarantee to cover all environmental loss and damage that might result fromawellblowout,oilspill during its drilling activity in theStabroekBlock.

Earlier this month, High Court Judge, Sandil Kissoon ruled that the EPA had breached the Environmental Protection Act by failing to enforcetheliabilityclausein the permit issued to the Exxonsubsidiary

The judge noted that failure to provide this document puts this nation and its people in grave disasterintheeventofanoil spill.

The judge had ordered Exxon'ssubsidiarytoprovide the parent company guaranteebyJune10,2023or have its permit to operate in the Stabroek block suspended.

Whiletheappealisbeing heard,EEPGLishopingtobe granted a stay of Justice Kissoon's suspension order In the appeal which was drafted by Senior Counsel,

d the

company, much like Guyana's EPA argues, that the order is among other things,“coercive.”

In its attempt to have the decision overturned and the suspension stayed, EEPGL's country manager Alistair Routledge in a document to support the appeal, carefully chronicled the grave financial loss in which the company will suffer as a result of having the permit suspended According to the document, EEPGL is set to “suffer substantial loss and damage.”

Itnotedthatthecompany hasproduced151,000barrels of crude petroleum per day fortheyear2023onaverage, throughMarch2023.

It explained that “This is approximately4.5Mnbarrels per month…the most recent month'saveragesellingprice fortheLiza1petroleumwas morethan$US75perbarrel.”

“Thismeansthemonthly revenue loss for the

Appellant Esso, the Coventurers, and the State's projected to be US$337.5m. This would amount to $US337.5m. per month or $USUS4b. per annum that wouldbeforfeitforeachyear whiletheappealispending,” thecompanystated.

recover lost production implicatedbyasuspensionof thepermit.

As a result, EEPGL is therefore petitioning the Guyana Court of Appeal to reverse and/or set aside the whole of Justice Kissoon's decision and to dismiss the case brought by litigants, Frederick Collins and GodfreyWhyte.

Thecompanyarguesthat Justice Kissoon, inter alia, erred in law when he determined that Esso was required by the permit to provide an unlimited parent company guarantee and indemnityagreement.

According to the oil company, the judge erred when he failed to appreciate that Condition 14:03 of the permitspecificallystatedthat the forms of financial assurance were to be guided by an estimate of the sum of thereasonablycrediblecosts, expenses and liabilities that may include cost associated with an incident, clean up, remediationandmonitoring.

intendedtobeunlimited.

The company is of the view that the judge “confused and conflated,” liability of the permit holder under the permit, with the requirements of the form of financialassurance.

Further in the appeal document,EEPGLadvanced that the judge erred when he found that the guarantees of US$2 billion was an unlawfulattempttodilutethe conditionsofthepermit,and instead ruled that it required unlimitedguarantees.

EEPGL also said the judge erred when it found that the insurance provided wasnotindependentandthat the company had the financial strength, resources or capacity to cover its liabilities or equate to a Grade A + guarantee in keeping with international standards.

Guyana Limited (EEPGL) and its parent company, Exxon Mobil to ensure it provides parent company guarantee to safeguard

Guyana against the devastating disaster within 30days.

Therulingstipulatedthat failure to comply with the court order will result in the suspension of the environmentalpermit.

Justice Kissoon had also outlinedanumberofwaysin which the EPA had shelved its statutory responsibilities inexchangeofaderelictand submissive deposition, leaving “Guyana and its people in grave potential danger of calamitous disaster.”

a lack of vigilance,” leaving the nation at the mercy of a potentialoilspilldisaster

According to the judge, thecircumstancesofthecase exposed the existence of an egregiousstateofaffairsthat engulfed the EPA in a quagmireofitsownmaking.

Asaresult,thejudgeheld that in the course of these proceedings,theCourtfound EEPGL engaged in a course of action “made permissible only by the omissions of a derelict, pliant and submissive Environmental ProtectionAgency.”

Further,EEPGLsaidthat the

iza Petroleum

unable

EEPGL said the trial judge also erred when he failed to consider Section 31 of the Act which created a discretion on the part of the EPA to require financial assurance; and in particular subsection (2) which contemplates a specific amount of financial assurances which it argues reaffirms the policy that the assurances were never

According to the company, the judge also erred when he found that if they were no uncapped parent company guarantee. the state would be liable for all that occurs without finding that it is the permit holder who is responsible. Thecompanysaiditbelieves that its appeal has a good prospectofsuccess.

In his decision, Justice Kissoon had ordered the Environmental Protection Agency, (EPA) to issue an Enforcement Notice to Esso Exploration and Production

Justice Kissoon emphasised thatwhiletheEPAwasgiven the exclusive statutory responsibilitiesentrustedtoit by Parliament under the Environmental Protection

A c t 1 9 9 6 a n d t h e Environmental Protection Regulations 2000, to ensure due compliance by EEPGL with Condition 14 of the renewed environmental permit issued on the 31/05/22, it has relegated itself “to a state of laxity of e n f o r c e m e n t a n d condonationcompoundedby

Additionally, Justice Kissoon noted that the EPA made attempts to cover for the oil subsidiary in that before and subsequent to the filing of the proceedings, it refused to disclose any informationastothestatusof compliancebyESSOwithits financial assurance obligations for pollution damage set out at Condition 14oftherenewedpermit.

“The Agency sought refuge in silence, avoidance, concealment and secrecy…” hesaid.

...Oil operator says in appeal over parent company guarantee

EEPGL's country manager,Alistair Routledge

Critical Mahdia fire victim medevacked to NewYork Hospital

Oneofthevictims of last Sunday’s fire at the MahdiaSecondarySchool’s female dormitory who is listed as critical, was on Saturday medevacked to a hospital in New York, United States of America (USA) for further treatment, the Ministry of Health announced on Saturday

“At around 12 30hrs today, one of the two critically ill girls from the Mahdia fire who was a patient at the Georgetown P u b l i c H o s p i t a l Corporation’s (GPHC) Intensive Care Unit (ICU),

was medically evacuated to theNorthwellHealth,Burns Centre, Staten Island University Hospital,” the ministry said in a press release.

Accompanied by her mother, the child departed t h e C h e d d i J a g a n InternationalAirport (CJIA) at around 14:25 hrs onboard the Global Rescue Air Ambulance (plane) The flightisexpectedtoarrivein New York around 23:30hrs onSaturday According to the Ministry of Health, the girl underwent two surgeries at GPHC and though her condition improved steadily

itwasdeemednecessarythat she be transferred to the Americanhospital.

“This transfer was deemed necessary out of an abundanceofprecautionand made in the best interest of the patient,” stated the ministry

The Northwell Hospital has waived all costs for the child’s treatment and Guyana’s United Nations (UN) representative in New York, Carolyn Rodrigues will provide all necessary support needed for both the childandhermother

NM Trucking Auto Sales signs multi-billion dollar dealership agreement with popular Chinese firm

Subsidiary of the Jumbo Jet Group,NMTruckingAutoSales& AgriMachinery,hasrecentlyinked the final binding agreement with Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group (XCMG). Rated as the third largest supplier of heavy-duty equipment,XCMGiseagertoenter thevastlygrowingGuyanaMarket.

NM Trucking and by extension Jumbo Jet has been responsible for importation of over 80 percent of the heavy-duty machinery and trucks for the past twenty-eight years.Thecompanyhasestablished asolidfoundationintheminingand construction sector with their sales andefficientafterservice.

Mr Nasrudeen ‘Juniour’ Mohamedandotherrepresentatives of the NM Trucking journeyed to

Brazil and signed the initial MOU onFebruary9,2023attheofficeof XCMG Brazil Industria LTDA, the SouthAmericanheadquarters.After all the necessary preparations were madelocallytoaccommodateafirst shipmentofmachinesformXCMG, Mr Mohamed then travelled to China to close the deal and take a tour of the factory located at No. 1 Industry Area, Xuzhou Economic Development Zone Jiangsu, MainlandChina.

Withthevalueofthethree-year term contract set at $90,000,000 USD, NM Trucking has assured Guyana construction of a state-ofthe-art facility and showroom has commenced. Special attention and emphasiswillbeplacedon

Continued on page 52

The fire at the Mahdia female dormitory fire took place last Sunday and claimed the lives of 19 children- 18 girls and a 5year-oldboy

Among the casualties weretwinsisters.Thenames of the children who died on Sunday are as follow: Adonijah Jerome, Tracil Thomas, Lisa Roberts, Delecia Edwards, Lorita Williams, Natalie Bellarmine, Arriana Edwards, Cleoma Simon, Subrina John, Martha D’Andrade,(andtwin)Mary

D’Andrade, Belnisa Evans, Loreen Evans, Omerfia Edwin, Nickleen Robinson, Sherena Daniel, Eulander Carter,Andrea Roberts, and RitaJeffrey

As investigation into the fire continues, PresidentAli on Thursday signalled the government’s intention to establish a Commission of Inquiry (COI) to investigate thetragicincident.

DuringhisIndependence Day speech President Ali said,“Wearealsocommitted t o e s t a b l i s h i n g a Commission of Inquiry to

investigate the causes and circumstances of the fire which destroyed the dormitoryandtoinquireinto related issues. This will be done soonest. The findings of that inquiry will inform thewayforward.”

Following the fire, residents and families from the victims’ villages made calls for compensation, something President Ali committedtoaddressing. The Head of State said his government will support thefamiliesofthoseaffected ineverywayneeded.

Medical personnel placing the victim in an ambulance at GPHC.

Minister of Health, Dr. FrankAnthony comforting the victim’s mother

Nasrudeen ‘Juniour’Mohamed (left) and Commercial Director of XCMG SouthAmerican Group, Mr. Wu Shuxin signing the agreement while flanked by other company officials.

HJhostssuccessful

…with minimal chaos as Police maintained the peace

Hundreds of revelers stormed the National Park on Friday night in anticipationofHitsandJams Entertainment's (HJ) 'Stink andDutty'Jouvert.

Theeventwasthesecond of four parties organized by HJinobservanceofGuyana's

h 57 Independence anniversary Gates at the National Park were opened around 20:00hrs on Friday and hundreds of Guyanese crammed themselves on the tarmac to fete to soca music and live performances by Guyaneseartistes'Jomo'and 'Vintage' as well as

Trinidadian artiste, 'Young Bredda.'

As patrons partied way into the wee hours of Saturday,fewfightsoccurred causing the crowd to scatter as glass bottles were hurled but on duty policemen prevented them from misbehaving and allowing the fete to descend into chaos.

Led by Senior Officer

Fredericks, the ranks approached the promoters and DJs on stage and instructed them to “shut downthemusic”.

At that time, the headliner artiste, 'Young Bredda' was yet to perform. The ranks threatened to shut the party down should the patronsfailtomaintainorder This resulted in silent noise. The police's prompt also

resulted in the party's promoters and DJs cautioning patrons about fights, lest the party is stopped.

Eager to continue feting, the patrons committed to having clean fun and that prompted 'Young Bredda' to grace the stage with his presence After his performance, the finished 'StinkandDutty'fetecameto

anend.

Last year, at a similar event held at the National Park, there was chaos and confusion while a Jamaican dancehall artiste was performing on stage Gunshots were fired in the crowd causing patrons to scamper for cover Delinquents also took the opportunity to rob scores of individualsattheevent.

Police officers on stage speaking with the promoters as they instructed to shut down the music.

Trinidadian artist, ‘Young Bredda'

Local soca artiste, Jomo

Friday night scenes at “Stink and Dutty” Jouvert

Ray Daggers intensifies protest with 12-hour per day fast against Exxon contract

Convinced that he must doeverythinginhispowerto ensure that Guyanese are given their fair share of the nation's resources, Ray Daggers, the iconic 65-yearold man who recently walked from Crabwood Creek (Region Six) to Charity (Region Two) will from Monday, embark on a 12-hourdailyfasttodemand a change to the “lopsided ExxonMobilContract”.

Daggers told Kaieteur News on Saturday that the fastwillbedonefor12-hours daily Monday to Friday, in front of the Office of the President He intends to continueuntilthecontractis changed in favour of Guyana.

“The vision and expectation of what my leaders should do is not yet realized This is not only about the oil contract I believe that all the contracts in the extractive sector should be reviewed and changed for Guyana to have her fair share. Not only oil and gas but all minerals that arebeingextractedfromour soil,” Daggerssaid.

Daggers shared the perspective that Guyanese politicians have failed in the roleasleaders.

“They should be there to look after the interest of the peoplebuttheyarebasically looking into their own interests. Somebody has to do something to bring about

PresidentAli calls for unity as country heals from Mahdia dorm fire

Daggers walked a total of 202 miles from Moleson Creek, East Corentyne Berbice, Region Six to Charity on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two and completed the walk within twelvedays.

Themanwalkednotonly for a change of the ExxonMobil Contract but alsotoeducatethemassesof how the oil company has been “robbing” the country ofitsfairshareofrevenue.

a change and in this case, I amtheonetogoinfrontthe President's Office every week Monday to Friday for 12 hours without food or water,”Daggersexplained.

Daggers said that going without food and water and picketing the President's Office is a sacrifice, he's willing to make for all Guyana.

“Iaminvitingthose,who wish to join me to come and let the President and the people of this country know weareseriousaboutgettinga change,” Daggers added while noting that no empire was built without the blood. It's all about sacrifice and a sacrifice worth making,” Daggerscontinued.

Earlier this month,

“Theyhavebeenshafting us, inflating costs and the more educated people are, the less they will be able to come after us and shut us up,” Daggers said as he urgedGuyanesetojoininthe fight for a renegotiation of theoilcontract.

Born in Mahaicony, Daggerslivedforquitesome time overseas but paid attention to key occurrences in Guyana. The man said he wasinspiredtoundertakethe walk against the Exxon contract by the unrelenting efforts by Kaieteur News Publisher, Glenn Lall, who has been fighting for a change to the Exxon contract.

“Mr. Lall has been puttingforththefactsandhe hasdonesowithoutanyhelp from government agencies, butwiththehelpofhisstaff, and he has been providing a great service to this nation,” Daggers had said before settingoutonhiswalk.

PresidentIrfaanAli

has issued a call on citizens to unite in support of the familiesofthevictimsofthe Mahdia Secondary School dormitory fire which claimed the lives of 19 childrenlastSunday

DuringhisIndependence Day address to the nation, the Head of State said, “All across our country people are coming together to be pillars of strength, solace and support rather than spears of division, disruption and disunity Together, we can transform tragedy into an opportunity for unity, compassion, and positive change. Together, we can heal the wounds inflicted upon our nation's soul.”

President Ali submitted thatunityisanantidotefora crisis.Itisthebalmthatwill bring comfort and healing, henoted.

“Let us, therefore, stand together, supporting each other, and particularly those affected by this tragedy Let us also draw on our humanity and particularly our willingness to show empathy, to help those in distressandtolendahelping hand and supporting shoulder This is the best way in which we can bring healing,” the President calls for

Notwithstanding, the President's call for nationwidesupport,hemade it clear that his government is committed to doing all in its power to assist those

affected. In this light, the President committed to establishing a Commission ofInquiry(CoI)intothefire, thefindingsofwhichhesaid willinformthewayforward.

Kaieteur News had reported that the President committedtosupportingthe affected families affected. His commitment followed protests and calls for compensation by the victims'familieswhoallhail fromdifferentcommunities.

This publication had reported that nineteen children–18ofthemschool girlsandone5-year-oldboy diedlastSundaynightwhen firesweptthroughaheavilygrilled dormitory which housed students of the MahdiaSecondarySchool, (Continuedonpage58)

Political parties, independent candidates contesting LGE sign ERC's Code of Conduct

DPI - With the June 12, 2023, Local Government E l e c t i o n s q u i c k l y approaching, political parties, independent groups, and individuals contesting the much-anticipated elections signed the Ethnic Relations Commission's (ERC) Code of Conduct on SaturdayattheArthurChung ConferenceCentre(ACCC).

Executive Secretary of the People's Progressive Party/Civic(PPPC),Zulfikar Mustapha, Shazam Ally of The Citizen Initiative, and Mark France of Guyana United, among other party representatives signed the code, the Department of PublicInformationreported.

Thissigningisintegralas it ensures contestants promote ethnic harmony and

abstain from hate speech before, during, and after the elections, in an attempt to preserve the harmonious relationship which exists between the Guyanese people.

ERC'SChairman,Shaikh MoeenulHackdescribeditas significant while noting that this is the first time the commissionwillbeinitiating this for the Local GovernmentElections.

“We at the ERC believe thataCodeofConduct,inthe context for which we are gathered here today as the casein2020,iscrucialtoand helps to advance the best interest of our country and ourpeople.

“As a Commission, we firmly believe that as a constitutional body birthed

out of political discord and onethatisentrustedwiththe promotion of harmony and good relations, among other responsibilities, such an endeavor as this signing, becomes absolutely necessary,” the Chairman expressed.

He reiterated the call for responsible approaches to ensure the remaining period for campaigning is free of e t h n i c d i v i s i o n , discrimination, hate speech, incitement, and provocation while reminding that achieving harmony takes a collective approach with the involvement of those who hold and who aspire to hold publicoffices.

“We are optimistic that with sustained and genuine efforts from all, the task of

promoting harmony would becomelesschallenging.The Code of Conduct therefore becomesanimportantstepin that journey; an ongoing journey that must never be allowedtocease.

“As we traverse this sensitive period, there is that need for a multipronged

approach to help lessen tension as historical lessons would remind The Commission, therefore, reiterates an earlier call for peaceful and free and fair elections,”headded.

Another signing will be held during the new week to facilitatecontestantswhodid

notsignthecodeonSaturday

Several political parties, independent groups, and individuals have indicated that they will not be signing thecodeofconduct.

“We're extending that period, with the hope that they'll change their mind,” theChairmanexpressed.

Ray Daggers

President IrfaanAli during his address during the th country's 57 Independence Anniversary observance in Lethem, Region Nine

Executive Secretary of the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Zulfikar Mustapha, signing the ERC's 'Code of Conduct'. (DPI photo)

Medical outreach for the homeless hosted at Naeem’s Kitchen

A total of 150 personsamong them homeless individuals on Saturday received free medical services, haircuts, meals, and clothing during a medical outreach held at the Naeem’s Soup Kitchen on Brickdam,Georgetown.

The medical outreach was made possible via collaborative effort by The Guyana Cancer Society, the Guyana Medical Relief, United States Embassy, Humanitarian Assistance Program,andtheMinistryof Health.

Some of the health services offered were blood pressure and blood sugar testing,dentalcheckups,and HIV tests as well as consultationsbyDoctors.

The Guyana Cancer Society in a statement thanked Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony and the Deputy Chief of Mission at the US embassy, Adrienne Galanek for attending the outreach and lending support.

Volunteers giving free dental check-ups on Saturday

Caricom appoints Eminent Persons Group on Haiti

Jamaica’s Bruce Golding among appointees

CMC Caribbean Community (Caricom)

leadershaveappointedthree former prime ministers as members of an Eminent Persons Group (EPG) as the regional integration grouping seeks to extend its Good Offices to the Government of Haiti and otherHaitianstakeholders.

Astatementissuedbythe Guyana-based Caricom Secretariat named the EPG membersasformerBahamas

Prime Minister Perry Christie,theformerJamaica

Prime Minister Bruce Golding;andtheirStLucian

counterpart, Dr Kenny D Anthony.

“The group will initiate a n d o v e r s e e t h e community’s provision of Good Offices support in designated priority areas, including security, governance, the electoral process, and long-term development planning and advocacy They will also liaise with key international partners and agencies,” the secretariatsaid.

It said that a technical team, comprised of experts from Caricom member states, the Caricom

Secretariat and regional specialised agencies, will supportthegroup.

At their summit in The Bahamas in February, the regional leaders reiterated that Caricom must play a leadershiproleinaddressing the deteriorating situation in Haiti, “towards which there are moral and political obligations”.

In a statement issued at the end of their summit, the leaders “affirmed that decisive action is needed at the earliest opportunity by Caricom in view of the mounting insecurity and its

NM Trucking Auto Sales signs multi-billion...

Frompage49 heavy-duty construction, asphalt paving, mining and lifting equipment and machinery

Representing XCMG Group at the signing were General Manager and Head of XCMG South American countries Mr LiHanguang, Commercial Director of XCMG South American Group Mr Wu Shuxin, and Manager of International Business Department and NM Trucking Director

Caimraj and associate

NishantSudhakar

Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group was founded in 1943 and has sincestoodattheforefrontof construction machinery and has grown significantly into oneoftheworld’slargestand most influential enterprise groupswithitsglobalannual sales exceeding US$14B for threeconsecutiveyears.

When contacted via mobilephoneMr Mohamed indicated, “NM Trucking and Jumbo Jet have been in this business for quite some

time and continue to stay current. We understand the needs of the Guyana market and is willing to make the investment to boast the standard and quality of projects in Guyana. After singing the final documents NM Trucking can focus heavilyonthecompletionof their new showroom. The first three shipments are expectedtoarriveinGuyana in the month of June, July and August with forty-one, thirtyandfifty-fourpiecesof equipment respectively per shipment.”

widespread impact on all facetsofHaitianlife”.

Theirstatementfollowed talks with Canada’s Prime MinisterJustinTrudeau.

They acknowledged the adoption of the December 21, 2022 political agreement, the National Consensus for an Inclusive Transition and Transparent Elections, launched by interim Haitian Prime Minister Dr Ariel Henry, “but were of the view that it needed to be more inclusive”.

The leaders also a g r e e d “ t o b u i l d internationalpartnershipsin support of efforts to return Haititopeaceandstabilityas a necessary precursor for free, fair and credible election”.

Earlier this month, United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, described Haiti as a “tragic situation” and appealed to theinternationalcommunity to do more to help the French-speaking Caricom

countryovercomeitspresent political and socioeconomicconditions.

Guterres said that Haiti f a c e s d r a m a t i c humanitarian needs, a political system that is paralysed and levels of violence by gangs “that are absolutelyappalling.

The UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) said in the month of April alone,morethan600people were killed in violence in thecountry’scapital

This follows the killing of at least 846 people in the firstthreemonthsof2023.

BINUH said that overall, the number of victims of killings, injuries and kidnappings increased by 28 per cent in the first quarter of the year, with a total of 1,634 cases reported.

Guterres told reporters there is also a political problem in Haiti and that there is need to bring the different stakeholders together “to find a political way for a legitimate government to be recognised…andweneedto address the violence of the gangs”

Former Prime Minister Bruce Golding

Aman gets his blood pressure tested

Minister of Health Dr. FrankAnthony and the Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy,Adrienne Galanek pose for a photo with the head of the Guyana Cancer Society, Sharir Chan (extreme left) and Sasha Hatim (extreme right).

Biden, McCarthy have tentative US debt ceiling deal - sources

Reuters-U.S.President

Joe Biden and top congressional Republican Kevin McCarthy have reached a tentative deal to r a i s e t h e f e d e r a l government’s $31.4 trillion debt ceiling, ending a months-long stalemate, two sources familiar with the negotiations said on Saturday

The White House and negotiators for House Republicans have reached an agreement in principle to avert a debt default, two sources familiar with the situationsaid.

“But, I’m not sure it’s completelysettled.Mightbe oneortwosmallthingsthey needtofinish.

But close enough to move forward,” the second sourcesaid.

Biden and McCarthy held a 90-minute phone call earlier on Saturday evening todiscussthedeal.

The deal would avert an economically destabilizing default, so long as they succeedinpassingitthrough the narrowly divided Congress before the Treasury Department runs short of money to cover all its obligations, which it warned Friday will occur if thedebtceilingisnotraised byJune5.

Republicanswhocontrol t h e H o u s e o f Representatives have pushed for steep cuts to spending and other conditions, including new work requirements on some benefit programs for lowincome Americans and for fundstobestrippedfromthe Internal Revenue Service, theU.S.taxagency

They said they want to slow the growth of the U S debt, which is now roughly equal to the annual output of the country’s economy Exact details of the final d e a l w e r e n o t immediately available, but negotiators have agreed to cap nondefense discretionary spending at 2023 levels for two years, in exchange foradebtceiling increase over a similar period, sources told Reuters earlier

The two sides have to carefullythreadtheneedlein

finding a compromise that can clear the House, with a 222-213 Republican majority, and Senate, with a 51-49Democraticmajority

The long standoff spooked financial markets, weighing on stocks and forcing the United States topayrecord-highinterest ratesinsomebondsales

A default would take a far heavier toll, economists say, likely pushing the nation into recession, shaking the world economy and leading to a spikeinunemployment

Biden for months refused to negotiate with McCarthy over future spending cuts, demanding thatlawmakersfirstpassa “clean” debt-ceiling increase free of other conditions, and present a 2024 budget proposal to counterhisissuedinMarch. Two-way negotiations

between Biden and McCarthy began in earnest onMay16.

Democrats accused Republicans of playing a dangerous game of brinkmanship with the economy.

Republicans say recent increased government spending is fueling the growth of the U.S. debt, which is now roughly equal to the annual output of the economy

The last time the nation got this close to default was in 2011, when Washington also had a Democratic president and Senate and a RepublicanledHouse Congress eventually averted default, but the economy endured heavy shocks, including the first-ever downgrade of the United States’top-tier credit rating and a major stocksell-off

This time around, H o u s e S p e a k e r M c C a r t h y h a d strengthened his hand by overseeing passage of an April bill that paired $4 8 trillion in spending cuts with a $1 5 trillion debt-ceiling hike

Thebillhadnochanceof passing the Democratcontrolled Senate, but showed that McCarthy had the ability to hold together his thin majority just four

months into his top leadershiprole.

Their work is far from done. McCarthy has vowed to give House members 72 hours to read the legislation beforebringingittothefloor foravote.

That will test whether enough moderate members support the compromises in the bill to overcome opposition from both hardright Republicans and progressiveDemocrats.

U.S. President Joe Biden hosts debt limit talks with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., May 22, 2023. REUTERS/Leah Millis

From page 14 said.

They really tried their best, given

MayorAdamsalsosaid,“Itwas the circumstances and what they compounded by the fact that we hadtoworkwith.” only have one fire tender in the

Sharing how Carletta Williams, town ship and what made it also thedormmotherlosther5-year-old difficult is the fact that they had no son Adonijah Jerome, the mayor fire hydrant in the area where the explained that Williams has her fire took place. So the fire fighters own apartment that is attached to had to shuttle water from the creek the female dormitory building, that to the school, where the fire was. she shares with her son “I They really tried their best, given understand when she was alerted to the circumstances and what they the fire, she rushed out of her hadtoworkwith.” apartment and ran to save them,

TheMayortoldthispublication leaving her son behind. It was that the students did not have any during the chaos that her son ended training on fire prevention upperishinginthefire,”Mr Adams measures. He also confirmed that said. the dormitory was not equipped

Tothis,themayoraddedthathe with any fire extinguisher at the believes the reason so many timeofthefire. children died in the fire is because

“Going forward, we have to ofthewindowsanddoorsthatwere look at the systems that are in place grilled and padlocked. “Public- for dormitory and schools, and spirited persons had to break the ensuring that the necessary walls of the dorm to help some of precautionsaretaken,”headded. the children to get out,” Mayor

Whiletheofficialsmetwiththe Adamsdisclosed. parents and guardians of the

When questioned Mayor victims, residents of Mahdia Adams shared that he does not protested outside of the Mahdia believe that there was any fire SecondarySchool. extinguisher at the dormitory the DNA analysis so that we can arecallingforjustice.”

dorm to free the girls that were The protesters called for “Going forward, we have to look at support the identification of the trappedintheinferno. “justice” as they hold up their the systems that are in place for students. “We have already sought Wednesday – May 24, 2023 Theinjuredstudentsweretaken placards. One protester called for dormitory and schools, and the assistance of regional to the Mahdia District Hospital and more fire trucks in the mining ensuring that the necessary international partners, we are Mahdia dorm fire… Police were seen, examined and admitted township. “Every mother weeps, precautionsaretaken,”headded. hoping before the end of today, that confirms female student started by doctors. At the hospital, five of every cow cry for their calf…who

He shared that several support will be received,” Ali said. fire, file to be sent to DPP the female students were feels it knows it,” another protester government officials including: He said too that the Ministry of pronounceddead. said. President Irfaan Ali, Prime Education is working on the The Guyana Police Force

A search was carried out in the Moreover, Michael McGarrell Minister Mark Phillips, Minister of reprogramming of all education (GPF) onTuesday confirmed that a building, which was completely shared several protest photos Education, Priya Manickchand, requirements, which include the female student of the Mahdia destroyed by the fire, and fourteen stating, “As they mourn the loss of MinisterofHomeAffairs,Robeson CXCexamination. Secondary School reportedly burnt remains of human beings several students from the village in Benn, Minister of Amerindian Regional Health Officer startedthefirethatclaimedthelives werefound. the fire which occurred last night at Affairs, Pauline Sukhai among (RHO), Ravindra Dudnauth, for of18girlsanda5-year-oldboy Itis According to the Police, the the Mahdia Secondary School’s others, were in Mahdia rendering Region Eight, shared during the unclear if the girl is in Police scene is presently secured and dormitory, residents of Chenapou assistance to the grieving families briefing that the moment he was Custodyatthistime. guarded by ranks as investigations arecallingforjustice.” andthecommunities. informed of the fire, all the doctors Several of the students were continue. On Monday, Government

When asked if the children who and nurses were called into the interviewed in the presence of a The names of the children who Pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh survived were able to write the hospital. “Our first patient was Probation Officer, and statements diedonSundayare: p e r f o r m e d p o s t - m o r t e m Caribbean Secondary Education received around 11:30pm, were taken. The report on the fire

1.AdonijahJerome examinations with dissections on Certificate (CSEC) examination, subsequently more patients started will be sent today to the Director of

2.TracilThomas six of the bodies: Nickleen the mayor explained that they were coming to the hospital. We had a Public Prosecutions (DPP), 3.LisaRoberts Robinson, Natalie Bellarmine, unable to sit their exams and a total of 26 patients coming into the Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC for legal

4.DeleciaEdwards Eulanda Carter, Subrina John, request was made by the parents to hospital. advice. Around 23:00 hours on 5.LoritaWilliams Martha D’Andrade and Adonijah the Minister of Education for the However, we would have Sunday night, fire ravaged through 6.NatalieBellarmine Jerome at the Mahdia District exams to be suspended. However, received a call from the Ministry of the female dormitory of the 7.ArrianaEdwards Hospital’s mortuary and the cause he related that the minister Health asking if help is needed, we secondary school. At the time of 8.CleomaSimon of death was given as smoke informed them that they can re- indeedacceptedthatrequestandwe the fire, there were 57 female 9.SubrinaJohn inhalationandburns,respectively writetheexaminJanuary2024. got a team from the Georgetown studentsinthedormitorywhichisa 10.MarthaD’Andrade The Mahdia Secondary School Headdedthatgiventhetragedy, Public Hospital Corporation,” the one-flat concrete building 11.(andtwin)MaryD’Andrade female dormitory fire is possibly the children will be housed in the RHOdisclosed. measuring about 100 feet by 40 12.BelnisaEvans the largest mass fatality resulting secondary school tonight Protest feet, with several windows, all 13.LoreenEvans fromafireinthehistoryofGuyana. Additionally, he said some parents While the officials met with the grilled,andwithfivedoors. 14.OmerfiaEdwin Following news of the tragedy, have requested that their children parents and guardians of the The Police in their report said 15.NickleenRobinson Guyanese flooded social media be sent back home to be with them, victims, residents of Mahdia investigations so far revealed that a 16.SherenaDaniels platforms expressing their to give them some time before they protested outside of the Mahdia female student is suspected of 17.EulandaCarter condolences to the bereaved return to school. Finally, the mayor SecondarySchool. having set the devastating fire 18.AndreaRoberts relatives of the victims. President shared that the people of Mahdia The protesters called for because her cellular phone was 19.RitaJeffrey Ali on Monday announced three are our in solidarity expressing “justice” as they hold up their taken away by the dorm mother, Kaieteur News had reported days of mourning for the 19 their sympathy to the villagers who placards. One protester called for CarlettaWilliams,andateacher that the 5-year-old Adonijah was childrenthatperishedinthefireand losttheirdaughtersinthefire. more fire trucks in the mining A female student related to the the son of the dorm mother. Mayor pledged government support to the

Threedaysofmourning township. “Every mother weep, police that they were asleep and of Mahdia, Mr David Adams had grievingfamilies.

Meanwhile, President Ali every cow cry for their calf…who were awakened by screams. Upon explained that Williams has her yesterday announced three days of feel it knows it,” another protester checking, they saw fire/smoke in own apartment that is attached to Mahdia dorm fire… mourning for the 19 children that said.Moreover,MichaelMcGarrell the bathroom area, which quickly thefemaledormitorybuilding. Survivors to be flown to perished in the fire and pledged shared several protest photos spread in the building, causing “I understand when she was Georgetown for further government support to the grieving stating, “As they mourn the loss of several students to receive burns to alerted to the fire, she rushed out of assessment – President Ali families. During a briefing, the several students from the village in their bodies and smoke inhalation, herapartmentandrantosavethem, President explained that for the the fire which occurred last night at whilstseveralmanagedtoescape. leaving her son behind. It was Inadditiontotheninegirlswho studentswhodieinthefire,Guyana the Mahdia Secondary School’s Fire fighters and public spirited during the chaos that her son ended wereflowntothecityonMonday will need external assistance with dormitory, residents of Chenapou personshadtobreakthewallsofthe upperishinginthefire,”Mr Adams (Continued on page 55)

Guyanese paid tribute to the 19 victims of the Mahdia Secondary School dormitory fire at the Umana Yana where a candle light vigil was held.

flown to the city soon for a following the devastating secondassessment. fireattheMahdiaSecondary

From page 54

While they would be School dormitory, Region examined, the President

Eight,PresidentIrfaanAlion statedthatalreadyafullteam Tuesday announced that in o f p s y c h i a t r i s t , supportofthesefamiliesand Siparuni) trillion (US$5.9B). This is relation to those who psychological counselors children at this time,” he Information reaching more than double what survived, preparation has and social workers have related. thispublicationrevealedthat Guyana has received since been made for them to be been assembled to provide Following the fire, some of the 19 children, 14 the creation of its Natural flown to Georgetown for counseling for all the residentsofthecommunities children died at the scene, Resource Fund in 2020. As furthermedicalassessment. students, their families, where the children came whilefivediedattheMahdia of April, Guyana has

The President made the teachers, members of their from held protests, calling DistrictHospital.Amongthe received some US$2.4B in announcement yesterday communities. for compensation. President casualtiesweretwinsisters. profit oil and royalty from where he gave an update on

“We have four teams Ali said too that the The names of the the Stabroek Block thegirlswhoarehospitalised working everyday out of government will also childrenwhodiedonSunday operations. and the government’s plan Mahdia and we are going to address compensation. He are as follow: Adonijah According to the 2022 movingforward. ensure that these teams added that they have Jerome, Tracil Thomas, Lisa financials for Exxon’s

Opening his briefing, the remain in place at least for assignedcabinetmembersto Roberts, Delecia Edwards, subsidiary and operator for President said that a number the next three months,” he every single family to give Lorita Williams, Natalie the block, Esso Exploration of bodies were burnt beyond said. Also teams are at the The President explained directsupport. Bellarmine, Arriana and Production Guyana recognition Due to this, Kanuku Hotel where family that in relation to the nine

At his briefing, the Edwards, Cleoma Simon, Limited (EEPGL), it earned Guyana has received help members and parents of girls that were initially Presidentannouncedthat16- Subrina John, Martha $577 7B in profits, a from Barbados where a those in hospital and those admitted to the Georgetown year-old Subrina John of D’Andrade,(andtwin)Mary substantial increase over its specialized team arrived on who came out to identify the Public Hospital Corporation Karisparu Village, Region D’Andrade, Belnisa Evans, 2021 earnings totalling Tuesday morning to help bodiesoftheirchildren. (GPHC), three are in the Eight will be buried today Loreen Evans, Omerfia $132B. Hess Corporation’s with Deoxyribonucleic Acid

“We have a high-level Intensive Care Unit (ICU), John is the first of the Edwin, Nickleen Robinson, 2022 profit was listed as (DNA)sampling. team of additional doctors two of whom are deemed studentstobeburied. Sherena Daniel, Eulander $322.7B while CNOOC was

He related that the team thatwillbepostedtoMahdia critical He noted that Further, President Ali Carter, Andrea Roberts, and $329.8B. isintheprocessofcollecting for the next three months, to another two girls are in the saidthatonWednesdaythere RitaJeffrey The partners’ profits are allsamplesfromtheremains provide specialized care and High-Dependency Unit will be a flower laying In a press briefing on expected to soar beyond and of the parents after to support their colleagues (HDU)andareconsideredto ceremony in Mahdia where Monday afternoon, Deputy GY$1 trillion dollars again which those samples will be there in the work that they be in a stable condition and thefiretookplace.Anumber Fire Chief (ag) Dwayne in 2023 as the Payara packaged and transferred aredoing,”heannounced. are improving. In relation to of officials including Scotland confirmed that the DevelopmentProjectwillhit sometime on Wednesday I n p l e d g i n g h i s the other four girls, he said Ambassadors and High f i r e w h i c h t o o k firstoilthisyear Itwillwork (today) to Mount Sinai, in government’s support, the theyareintheopenwardand Commissioners will be in approximately three and a alongside the Liza Phase NewYork. President said that full and arealsoimproving. attendance. h a l f h o u r s t o b e One and Liza Phase Two

“The samples would unconditional support will In relation to those who

As for the country’s e x t i n g u i s h e d , w a s Projects, all of which are have to be flown to Mount be given to every single were admitted to the Mahdia Independenceeventwhichis maliciouslyset. expected to produce Sinai labs in New York, we familyandeverysinglechild District Hospital after the slated to take place in approximately 600,000 had to use the Mount Sinai affected. incident, the President Lethemlaterintheweek,the Thursday – May 25, 2023 barrels of oil equivalent labs in New York because

“This support is not only disclosed, “we have offered

in memory of the children G$1.23 trillion in profits projects in Guyana and are

President said that this will resources. this lab provide the shortest medical, but also includes to bring all the remaining now take the form of a night ExxonMobil and Exxon and partners return time in terms of the immediate financial girls to Georgetown even of remembrance and prayers partners raked in already have five sanctioned result,”heexplained. , t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , those who were discharged

President Ali shared that accommodation, meals, and so that we can have a second whodied. from Stabroek Block last eyeing a sixth development the matching results are it would go far beyond this. r e v i e w a n d e n s u r e

Kaieteur News had year, more than double in the oil- rich Stabroek expectedtoreturntoGuyana While we appreciate and everythingisokay.” reported that nineteen what Guyana received Block. on Friday, May 26. Kaieteur welcome all the offers for The head of state shared children – 18 of them school in profits and royalties E x p l o r a t i o n a n d News had reported that support, I want to assure all that eight additional girls girls and one 5-year-old boy from 2019 toApril 2023 appraisal works are also w h i l e p o s t m o r t e m the families and all were then brought to

died Sunday night when fire moving at an unprecedented examinations have been G u y a n e s e t h a t t h e

Georgetown for a second

swept through a heavily- E x x o n M o b i l pacewithsixdrillshipsfrom conducted on some six government will fully review. For the others grilled dormitory which Corporation and its partners the Noble Corporation fleet bodies, 13 bodies were supportallthesefamiliesand remaining, those that were housed students of the made a handsome profit in use by Exxon. In fact, scheduled to undergo DNA children We would provide discharged, he added that Mahdia Secondary School, from the Stabroek Block last Exxonintendstodrill10 testing. all that is necessary in theyarehopingtohavethem Region Eight (Potaro- year totalling GYD$1 23 (Continued on page 56)

Minister of Education (MoE), Priya Manickchand and Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill attending the burial of Subrina John at Karisparu Village on Wednesday. (Photo Courtesy, MoE, Priya Manickchand)

Student, Subrina John

From page 55 viewedasanew,unforeseencostto

that, you’re asking me a appealedtheruling. wells this year, in a bid to unlock ExxonMobil.” hypotheticalquestion…”However, more oil before its licence is up in Head of ExxonMobil Guyana, he explained that looking at what Local Content Secretariat 2026. Alistair Routledge recently has happened globally with other must explain why

Notably, the US$5.9B in jaw- reasoned that the US$2B parent countries when it comes to oil spill, Exxon’s figures not matching dropping profits is more than guarantee is an adequate sum that most of the US-billions of dollars with theirs – VPJagdeo double the parent guarantee poised was produced by an independent that countries get are from taking to be provided to Guyanese consultant paid for by EEPGL. the oil companies to court and Vice President, Dr Bharrat authorities from EEPGL’s parent, Routledgesaidthesumwasarrived winning the case. He continued: Jagdeo agrees that there is a huge ExxonMobil Corporation. EEPGL at considering “credible scenarios”

“they didn’t come because the discrepancy between the local as well as the Environmental as well as Australia’s standards on companies are voluntary, even in content expenditure figures ProtectionAgency (EPA) are at the parent guarantees. He said a study the US (United States of disclosed by the Local Content centre of a national discussion on is imminent on the matter using the America)…and in the UK (United Secretariat (LCS) and ExxonMobil the need for adequate financial UKstandards.Ifthatstudysuggests Kingdom). So I see figures quoted Guyana. Earlier this year, it was protections to cover all oil spill the need for an increase then the (US) $85B and (US) $50B and if reported by LCS officials that over costs. EEPGL believes US$2B in US$2B allotment would be

you look at it, it wasn’t for the US$700M was trapped in country parent and/or affiliate guarantees is reconsidered. In the meantime, cleaning up of the spill but the for local content for the year 2022. sufficient, but stakeholders Routledge and his company want compensation and a lot of those But ExxonMobil’s subsidiary, Esso disagree. They want Exxon to Guyana to accept US$2B as a didn’t originate because of Exploration and Production provide an unlimited parent sufficientparentguarantee. guarantees they emerge from court Guyana Limited (EEPGL) recently guarantee agreement as per the Routledge had also noted that poised to challenge the oil giant to cases.” reported that its local content orders of a ruling issued by Justice the US$2B parent guarantee only comecleanaboutthepotentialrisks Jagdeo also said: “whatever spend, including that of its SandilKissoononMay3,2023. caters for oil spill liabilities in and liabilities of its operations guaranteeExxongivesattheendof contractors, was in the range of EEPGL and EPA have filed Guyana and not the potential whichcouldaffectnotonlyGuyana thedayitcomesbacktowewillpay US$400M. appealswhichwillberuleduponon damage to 12 other Caribbean but 12 other Caribbean nations. for it ” The Vice President Atapressconferenceyesterday, May29,2023. nations, as warned in the That challenge is expected to explained that he expects there Jagdeo said, “There is indeed a big Environmental Impact Assessment manifest by way of two proposals wouldbelitigationsandthatishow gap on the local content Exxon worth US$429B fortheLizaPhaseOneProject. come May 31at Exxon’s Annual he anticipates it would be dealt spend…The secretariat needs to but only offering Guyana The EPA has since agreed to ShareholdersMeeting. with At his press conference, say how it came up with that US$2B parent guarantee for oil accept the US$2B parent guarantee EEPGLand the EPAhave since Jagdeo admitted that oil and gas (figure).Thatisarealconcern.” spills – Int’l FinancialAnalyst and is poised to receive supporting appealed Justice Kissoon’s ruling companies are not altruistic. “They This US$300M difference in documents on this front soon. That inanefforttostaytheconsequences are not in this for the good of estimates is indeed staggering. One Financial Analyst, Tom is expected to complement of his order Thatcase will be heard mankind they are here to make canarguethatoilsectorspendingis Sanzillofindsitquitetroublingthat EEPGL’s US$600M insurance onMay29. money and it’s as simple as that not limited to ExxonMobil and the American oil giant, ExxonMobil package. Routledge also argued they come to make money from the Stabroek Block However, Corporation,ispushingforGuyana thatEEPGL’sfinancialassetsareas Friday – May 26, 2023 country,”hesaid. operations related to other blocks to accept a meager US$2B parent highasUS$19B,allofwhichcould

Jagdeo highlighted: “On our were minimal compared to that of guarantee for oil spill coverage beaccessedtocoveroilspillcosts. Govt. will take Exxon to own we can’t put together $30, Exxon’s operations, and certainly when the company itself is worth a Significantly, Justice Kissoon court for compensation $40B US dollars.” He explained did not account for more than 40% jaw-droppingUS$429B. had ruled that even the US$2B in event of an oil spill - that US$30 billion which oflocalcontentspendingin2022.

His comment is in wake of a parent guarantee still leaves Jagdeo tells press conference ExxonMobil Guyana has already While Exxon drilled 10 ruling issued on May 3, 2023 by EEPGLanditspartnersinbreachof investted in offshore Guyana is six exploration wells in the Stabroek Justice Sandil Kissoon. The High the permit which requires an Over the years, Kaieteur News more than what is available in block in 2022, the only outside Court Judge ordered the unlimited protection. This part of has highlighted the plight many Guyana’sbankingsystem. exploration well drilled was the Environmental Protection Agency his judgment was elucidated after countries face to get oil and gas The Vice President further BeebeiwellintheKanukublockby (EPA)tosecureanunlimitedparent unsigned documents pertaining to companies to compensate them for explained, “So we needed that to Repsol. CGX Energy had intended company guarantee agreement the guarantee were placed before losses suffered by citizens and explore these big opportunities so to drill Wei in 2022, but had to from Exxon. Such a document himforconsideration. damage to their environments due our job is to get investments in but postpone exploration drilling would ensure that Exxon covers all Justice Kissoon said such tooilspills. togetagrowingshareofthepietoo because the rig was in use in costs for an oil spill caused by its documents are irrelevant since the On the local front, Guyana has and to make sure our people get the Trinidad beyond the contract subsidiary, Esso Exploration and amount of US$2B does not bring been pumping oil since December possibilityofdevelopment….” period. ExxonMobil has also been Production Guyana Limited EEPGL into compliance with the 2019, in the prolific Stabroek Just last year, the Peruvian undertaking development drilling (EEPGL) which operates in the requirementsofthepermit. Block. ExxonMobil Corporation’s GovernmenthadtotakeSpanishoil tosupportmultipleprojects. StabroekBlock. Justice Kissoon categorically subsidiary, Esso Exploration and giant, Repsol – a company that is The Local Content Secretariat

Importantly, the EPA and stated that the Liza Phase One Production Guyana Limited also working offshore Guyana – to would do well to account for this EEPGLhaveuptoJune10,2023to Permit carries a confluence of (EEPGL), is the operator of that court for some US$4.4 billion for massive US$300M difference, lest provide this unlimited parent measures at Condition 14 which block which has an estimated 11 environmental damages and it opens itself to accusations of company guarantee from Exxon or stipulate and impose full, complete billionbarrelsofoil. damages to locals and consumer bloated or overoptimistic face the suspension of the Liza and unlimited liability upon the EEPGL along with its co- over the January 15, 2022 oil spill achievements. Phase One Permit where over Permit Holder for any discharge of ventures Hess Corporation and of 12,000, barrels of spill off the Meanwhile, Attorney General 150,000 barrels of oil are being any contaminant into the China National Offshore Oil court of Peru. African countries, and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil produceddaily. environment and for all costs of Corporation (CNOOC) has been particularly Nigeria have seen their Nandlall said the government has

Following his review of the clean up, restoration and any operating in the Stabroek Block fair share of oil spill litigations commenced a review of the Local judgment, Sanzillo said it is damages all of which constitute with a mere US$600 million which took decades to come to an ContentAct 2021.Announcing this “unclear why ExxonMobil, the legitimate liabilities under the insurance package given to the end and for the citizens to be recently, Nandlall said “We world’s leading private oil Permit. The Judge said the norm or country To complement this, compensated for the cleanup of continue to receive complaints in company with a market standard in relation to activities of Guyana’s Environmental their environment and for the relation to the local content capitalization of US$429 billion, this nature has been and continues ProtectionAgency (EPA) has since disruptiontotheirlivelihood. framework and the local content wouldhavehesitatedtoprovidefull to be that the Permit Holder is agreed to accept a US$2 billion Government recently appealed legislation. Reports indicate that insurance against any potential exclusively and solely responsible parent company guarantee from the May 3, ruling by High Court Guyanese citizens are being denied catastrophe.” for all such liabilities arising from ExxonMobil and is poised to Judge Justice Sandil Kissoon who fair opportunities to participate in He said too that it remains its operations without limitation or receive supporting documents on ruled that Guyana’s EPA should the oil and gas sector and related unclear “why the Guyanese exception. thisfrontsoon. secure unlimited parent guarantee industries.” government is not enforcing the Internationally, the ruling has During his press conference on from ExxonMobil Corporation for The government is also looking environmental permit to obtain the hadasignificantimpactonExxon’s Thursday, Vice President Bharrat a major oil project producing over to add more services to the Act, guarantee,especiallygiventhatitis stock price. It had plunged by 12 Jagdeowasasked,intheeventofan 150,000 barrels of oil daily in the which currently mandates that signed by the consortium’s percentinrecentweekstoUS$105. oil spill offshore Guyana, what will Stabroek Block. Vice President goods and services are procured presidentinreturnforpermissionto Yesterday, it barely moved to the Government of Guyana (GoG) Jagdeo had contended that such a from Guyanese nationals and operate. It is part of the terms of the US$107. do to ensure that Guyanese do not ruling could affect investment in companiesin40areas. permit, an acknowledged cost of ExxonMobil shareholders have have to foot the bill. The Vice Guyana’soilandgassectorandkill Accordingtothelaw,theLocal doing business and cannot be alsotakennoteoftherulingandare President responded, “The thing is the momentum; as such they (Continued on page 57)

Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo

From page 56 Minister meeting and we talk about a scope

Content Secretariat is mandated to The Secretariat has several of work- it takes a number of ensurethattheprovisionsoftheAct other functions which include months, we’ve provided a lot of areimplemented.Itfunctionsasthe conducting market analysis, information, they work through focal point for the monitoring, making recommendations to the that,there’sclarifications,theythen evaluation, coordination, and Minister, developing formats for takethefindingstothegovernment reporting of local content in the local content plans and reporting, here, GRA (Guyana Revenue petroleumoperationsofGuyana. and developing guidelines for local Authority) is involved (so is the)

In so far as the Act mandates contentreporting,procurementand Ministry of Natural Resources and every Contractor, Sub-Contractor, bidevaluation. then they have a draft report that, or Licensee to implement local The Act obligates Contractors, pertherequirements,isthenshared content as an essential component Sub-Contractors, or Licensees to withus.” of their petroleum operations, the submit a local content report to the This stage, he said allows Secretariat, through the issuance of Secretariat,within30daysafterthe Exxon to analyze the information according to the VP He told substation being constructed at industry guidelines, aims to end of each half calendar year, andpointoutanyconcernsthatmay reporters,“Allthebidsareinplace. Eccles, East Bank Demerara to provide detailed and specific which is referred to as the Local exist. This is part of the 60-days The only one that we are working support the initiative It was guidance to Contractors, Sub- ContentHalf-YearlyReport. comments period, which is on now is the bit about evacuating explainedthattheEcclessubstation Contractors, or Licensees with presentlyongoingonthatparticular the power, building the substations would receive power from both the regards to their reporting Saturday – May 25, 2023 review Presently, the company’s and we went out to tender, we had new natural gas facility as well as obligations. pre-contract costs are still being threebidsforthat,wehiredStantec the Amaila Falls Hydro project

The law allows officials Gas-to-Energy project audited as well by a British firm, a Canadian company to help us which is yet to commence attached to that body to have nearing US$3B with new IHSMarkit. evaluate the bids because it’s very https://www kaieteurnewsonline c unrestricted access to a contractor, contract to be awarded soon for In the meantime, Rietema said complex and we are now in the om/2022/04/24/gpl-to-establish- sub-contractor or licensee’s transmission of electricity ExxonMobil Guyana has provided process of awarding that contract control-centre-at-eccles/ facilities, records, reports, its comments to the government on soon.” In addition to those charges, documents, data, and information. The cost for the Gas-to-Energy theUS$7.3billionaudit,whichwill

He said the contractor will be Jagdeo explained that government Such access is allowed for the (GTE) is nearing the US$3B mark, be reviewed and sent back to the responsible for taking some of the has hired a consultant to assist the purposes of monitoring, assessing, even as the feasibility of the company with the aim of power back into West Demerara, nation in evaluating the bids. This evaluating, investigating, auditing, nation’s single largest financial finalization Rietema however but transmitting the bulk to the will attract a separate cost which and verifying compliance with the projectremainsquestionable. noted that it is likely for auditors to other parts of the interconnected hasnotyetbeenannounced. Act.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo find that the company may have system. Jagdeo noted that this Even though concerns have

The law also empowers the during a press conference at spent resources to develop other contract is expected to be executed beenraisedregardingtheescalating Secretariattodevelopandmaintain Freedom House two weeks ago blocksinGuyana,heldbyExxon. in time to facilitate the project cost of the project, the government measures for the effective updated that three bids were “We are talking, as you noted startupby2024. is reluctant to conduct a feasibility implementation of local content by received by government for the about US$7 billion, so there’s an So far, government anticipates study In fact, the VP believes the Contractors, Sub-Contractors and transmission of the electricity The expectation that through the the pipeline aspect of the project to viability of the initiative is a “no- licensees. contract will allow for power audit process, there will be some cost US$1.1B. It is being financed brainer” given his “estimates” on

The Secretariat can also generatedfromthenaturalgastobe areas where maybe they weren’t byAmericanoilgiant,ExxonMobil returnsfromtheproject. develop and implement strategies supplied to the national grid, from solely for Stabroek operations, andwouldbepaidbackbyGuyana, At the end of 2022, the that give preference to, or ensure the generation port at Wales, West they belonged in one of our other over a 20-year period, through country’s total stock of public debt equal treatment of Guyanese BankDemerara. blocks and so we discuss that in a purchasingthegas. stoodatUS$3.6B.Thismeans,with nationals and Guyanese companies The cost of this aspect of the line,” he explained. As such, the Meanwhile, a Natural Gas one project, Guyana could be

as well as conduct market analysis project has not yet been revealed as Exxon official noted that this Liquids (NGL) facility to treat and doublingitstotalpublicdebt. and make recommendations to the the bids are still being evaluated, particular multibillion-dollar audit separate the gas, along with the will continue to progress over the 300-megawatt power plant, are Exxon admits US$7.3B comingmonths. expected to cost just over US$1 audit may uncover spending

So far, he reported that “I think billion,consideringarepayment in other oil blocks …as 60-day the process has gone quite well, of US$51 million annual comments period continues there’s been really good payback, over a 20-year period. collaboration between our https://www.kaieteurnewsonlin Esso Exploration and company, the auditors, the e.com/2023/02/19/guyana- Production Guyana Limited government. A lot of transparency, saddled-with-us106m-yearly- (EEPGL), the subsidiary of we pride ourselves on this, as I said for-20-years/ Government has ExxonMobil Corporation recently we’re audited frequently by a approached the United States said the ongoing US$7.3B audit of number of different organizations ExportImport(EXIM)Bankfor its expenses, for the period 2018 to and so this is a typical natural financingofthosecomponents. 2020, may uncover spending to process and there’s always gonna Additionally, Head of the develop resources in other oil bealittledifferencesofopinionand GTE Taskforce, Winston blocksoperatedbythecompany someofthoseweagreewith.” Brassington had announced Last month, it was reported that during this year’s International Vice President and Business the government received the final Energy Conference, hosted at Service Manager at ExxonMobil report from the audit team. The the Guyana Marriott Hotel, that Guyana, Phillip Rietema was at the process was conducted by VHE $400 million- approximately time responding to a request for an Consulting which is a registered US$2 million had been set aside update on the audit process, during partnership between Ramdihal & to compensate land owners that a press conference last week, when Haynes Inc, Eclisar Financial, and would be affected by the he explained that the process will VitalityAccounting&Consultancy pipeline. This means the project entail some “back and forth” Inc. price stands at US$2.3 billion between the parties, which may The Local Consortium is presently, considering the concludeoverthenextfewmonths. supported by International firms –known costs, shared by Rietema was joined by the SGS and Martindale Consultants government. ExxonMobil Guyana President, for the ‘Cost Recovery Audit and Attempts made by the Alistair Routledge during the Validation of the Government of Opposition in Parliament to engagement at the company’s Guyana’s Profit Oil Share’. To this ascertain the final cost of this Kingston, Georgetown office end, the audit zoomed into projecthasbeenunsuccessful. While detailing the steps involved ExxonMobil’s expenses between The project is likely to cost in the audit, the company’s Vice the years 2018 to 2020, which have US$3 billion when additional President said, “The audit process already been billed to the country expenditure is considered for initsstepsisgonnahavesomeback The contract was awarded by the the transmission of the and forth. So an audit kicks off and current administration back in May electricity and the new the auditors come and there is a 2022.

The Golden Arrowhead stands tall in Lethem, Region 9 as Guyana ushered in its 57 Independence Anniversary (DPI photo)

th

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Guyana should not have to go to Court for Exxon...

From page 15 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has since agreed to accept a US$2 billion parent company guarantee from ExxonMobil and is poised to receive supporting documents on this front soon.

He continued, “they didn’t come because the companies are voluntary, even in the US (United States of America)…and in the UK (United Kingdom).

Jagdeo also said, “whatever guarantee Exxon gives at the end of the day it comes back to we will pay for it.”

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During his press conference on Thursday, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo was asked, in the event of an oil spill offshore Guyana, what will the Government of Guyana (GoG) do to ensure that Guyanese do not have to foot the bill.

The Vice President explained that looking at what has happened globally with other countries when it comes to oil spill, most of the US-billions of dollars that countries get are from taking the oil companies to court and winning the case.

So I see figures quoted (US) $85B and (US) $50B and if you look at it, it wasn’t for the cleaning up of the spill but the compensation and a lot of those didn’t originate because of guarantees they emerge from court cases.”

The Vice President explained that he expects there would be litigations and that is how he anticipates it would be dealt with.

Government recently appealed the May 3, ruling by High Court Judge, Justice Sandil Kissoon, who ruled that Guyana’s EPA should

secure unlimited parent guarantee from ExxonMobil Corporation for a major oil project producing over 150,000 barrels of oil daily in the Stabroek Block.

Vice President, Jagdeo had contended that such a ruling could affect investment in Guyana’s oil and gas sector and kill the momentum; as such they appealed the ruling.

Hinterland students face unique challenges...

From page 47

This, and other travel, creates additional financial burdens,” the association explained.

The APA noted further that indigenous children living in the dormitories have their own troubles

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According to the association, many times adjusting is hard and with strict Dorm rules, coping can be even harder. “Their freedoms are restricted and they are not afforded the adequate psychological and communal support they would receive from their homes and communities.

Peer pressure of wanting to fit in, bullying, and other

challenges do not receive the appropriate nor effective response. In such cases, minimal inv estigations, or social support programmes are done even as these are indications of the stress and mental strain that students experience while at boarding schools.

Additionally, there is often lack of resources, guidance, and counselling for our teenagers on growing up and how to respond to emotional feelings and attachments such as teenage crushes. The association said that in several instances the students’ ratio outweighs the house parents.

The APA explained that

there are too few house parents, for example, for 59 girls, there was only one house mother, in other schools that have over hundreds, there are only about two or three house mothers.

“Being effective guardians and lending guidance is a challenge to meet the needs of teenagers. House parents often times have to try to be counsellors and all forms of providers for the children… Not being appropriately trained or qualified in areas like childcare or social work, to attend to the needs of numerous children at one time in a single space,” the APA outlined.

Mahdia fire deaths show...

TOURS

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From page 06 governmental mediocrity and incompetence. Enough is enough! We can now use the Mahdia Tragedy as a poster child and reference point when talking about inefficiency and systems failure. People will understand the analogy. What Mahdia brings to the forefront is that after the cumulative 60 years of the PNC and PPP, and 57 years of Independence, we still operate as a “s…hole” country. Ministers do not respond to citizens’ calls and texts, and customer service and follow-up are awful. Apparently, the Ministry and authorities were given Fire Inspection reports with recommendations for follow up action.

Did anybody care to follow up?

There were many other dorm fires where precious lives were lost and schools fires where several schools were burnt to the ground. Did this jolt the Ministry to implement systems and do anything new, different, and better about safety and

security? Is this criminal neglect, criminal negligence?

We should have learnt our lessons from these fires –all under the PPP’s rule: Bartica Secondary Boys Dorm, 2007; Waramadong Secondary Girls Dorm, 2008;North Ruimveldt Secondary, June 2021; North West Secondary, September 2021; St George’s High School, 2022; Christ Church Secondary, 2023. Now Mahdia.

Mr. President, Guyanese are dumbfounded and angry. Everybody is talking about this unbelievable horror story. One blogger, R. Bobb, wrote: “Get off social media. Your department is responsible for these kids’ safety and you failed at your job, there was no exits, no smoke detectors, no fire extinguishers, no sprinkler that was a death trap.

You’re consoling the parents? You were not coming anywhere near me or my family, those kids were burnt alive and you’re updating us on

the President landing? Who cares? Will that bring these kids back?” Another article from a staunch PPP supporter said, “Government and Opposition benchwarmers have failed the nation, all should vacate parliament,” (KN, May 25, 2023). Another said, they should have put the students at Mazaruni Prison - it’s easier to escape from there, and they should have put “Smallie” at the Mahdia Dorm – he couldn’t escape from there! Heads must roll. Our Mahdia Dorm children must not die in vain! As the Paul Harris cartoon puts it, “Their sacrifice is our eternal vigil.”We must have a Commission of Enquiry sooner than later. Family compensation should be at least $100 million each because “Amerindian Lives Matter.”Wake up Guyana! To Government – remember the Ramkhellawan song, “Dem Ah Watch Meh.” An aroused nation is watching!

Sincerely, Dr.

Jerry Jailall

President Ali calls for unity as country heals from...

From page 51 Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni).Information reaching this publication revealed that of the 19 children, 14 children died at the scene, while five died at the Mahdia District Hospital.

Among the casualties were twin sisters. The names of the children who died on Sunday are as follow: Adonijah Jerome, Tracil Thomas, Lisa Roberts, Delecia Edwards, Lorita Williams, Natalie

Bellarmine, Arriana Edwards, Cleoma Simon, Subrina John, Martha D’Andrade, (and twin) Mary D’Andrade, Belnisa Evans, Loreen Evans, Omerfia Edwin, Nickleen Robinson, Sherena Daniel, Eulander Carter, Andrea Roberts, and Rita Jeffrey.

During a press briefing on Monday afternoon, Deputy Fire Chief (ag) Dwayne Scotland confirmed that the fire which took approximately three and a half hours to be

extinguished, was maliciously set. It was confirmed by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Tuesday that a female student of the Mahdia Secondary School reportedly started the fire.

The police in their report said investigations also revealed so far, that a female student is suspected of having set the devastating fire because her cellular phone was taken away by the dorm mother and a teacher.

Umroa, Legay bowl Apollo to 155-run victory

Tw o l e f t - a r m over one but Umroa proved spinners Kevin Apollo had earlier won effective to to finish off U m r o a a n d the toss and decided to take things in a thrilling and

Dennis Legay first striking tallying up a historicalfashion. spun webs around batsmen competitive 188-9 from the When Apollo batted, last Sunday at Centennial 40-overs. Umroa proved his all-round Park in another round of this No batsman for Toronto capabilities by hitting a topy e a r ’ s C a n a d i a n Invaders was able to reach s c o r e o f 5 1 w h i l e Commonwealth Cricket double-figures as Umroa Kandasammy Surujnarine Association of Toronto 40- grabbed 6-15 from 7.4 overs backedupnicelywith46and overscompetition. while Legay snatched 3-8 in another ex-Guyana youth

The former Guyana hiseight-oversouting. player Farouk Hussain youth cricketers helped their Like in their first match scoring31. team Apollo embarrass against Jaguars the previous Amrit Pal Singh grabbed Toronto Invaders bowling Sunday, Legay captured a fourwicketsfor35runsfrom them out for 33 in the 16th hat-trickandagainhewason seven overs, delivering pace

Kennard Memorial Turf Club release provisional programme for its CARICOM Horserace meet

The Kennard Memorial Turf Club of Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne Berbice has released its provisional programme for its annual CARICOM Horserace meet set for Monday 3rdJuly2023.

Atotalofsixracesarelistedforthedaywithover$4Min cash,trophiesandotherincentivesatstake.

The feature event is for horse’s classified G3 nonwinners and lower, over 7furlongs for a winner’s money of $500,000andtrophy.

The horses classified J1 and lower will see the winner takinghome$300,000andtrophyinthe6furlongevent. Thereisaneventforthreeyearsoldmaidenhorseswhich will see the winner taking home $250,000 and trophy in another6furlongsgallop.

Guyana Bred two years old horses will be running for a winnersmoneyof$250,000andtrophyover5furlongs.

The race for the L class Open animals carries a winning purseof$200,000over6Furlongs.

Sunday May 28, 2023

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)

You feel confident. People can't help but notice as you radiate a loving, peaceful calm.Eyeswillturnyourway, and complete strangers may come up to you and tell you howattractiveyouare.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

You may be running into obstaclesassociatedwithyour goals.You may feel you aren't getting the support and cooperationyoudeserve.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

This is a great day for you. Unexpected reunions are possible, thanks to the lighthearted aura you radiate. You don't need to work very hard to bring everything your way.

CANCER(June21–July22)

You may wonder why all the attention isn't focused on you. Perhaps you feel cheated and irritable. The more annoyed you get, the more you will drive others away instead of drawthemtoyou.

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

This is a climactic time for you. You may feel like many difficultissuesarecomingtoa head. You may lash out and snap at people who don't deserve it. Your actions may make the issue even more difficulttodealwith.

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)

Get into the spotlight where you belong instead of letting someone else take credit for something you did. Don't be shy about strutting your stuff. You may usually turn away from people who act this way because they seem shallow andself-centered.

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

Today can be a wonderfully productive day for you, Libra, if you learn how to compromise. If you insist on doing things your way only, you will run into difficult emotionalconflicts.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov 21)

You will most likely be hungry for attention today, Scorpio. Youwilllookatotherswhoare on center stage and adjust your appearance or attitude in order tobemorelikethem.

SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)

This is a great day to strut your stuff. You're on top of the world, so enjoy it, your family, and the people around you You're at the forefront of the actionandyoudon'tmissabeat, regardless of the conversation buzzingaroundyou.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

You may feel tense, Capricorn, perhaps because someone closetoyoudisregardstheway you feel. You feel as if this person is more concerned with his or her own issues and not concernedaboutyou.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

Take extra time to tend to your appearance and show off a bit today, Aquarius. Keep your shoulders back and head high. Be the proud person you are. Youshouldfeelvalidated.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)

Youmaybecalledupontohost a gathering in your own home, Pisces.Atfirstthiscouldthrow you into a panic because you don't think your house is clean enough Don't worry It's probably impeccable. You're the only one who will notice anydust,sodon'tsweatit.

forthelosingside.

Apollo will be back in action Saturday, June 3rd

a g a i n s t d e f e n d i n g champions Melbourne Sports Club at Keele Top in North York, Toronto. For Invaders, they are set to take Prime Stars the following dayatthesamevenue.

Jamaica’s Britney MacFarlane has...

From page 60 card will also feature a sixround Super Flyweight bout between females Natalya Delgado and Darianis Garcia.

In the amateur section, Trinidad and Tobago’s champion LeeAnn Boodram will face off against local standoutAbiolaJackman,the IBA world 27th ranked Elite Women 81 and over Kg or heavyweight division pugilist in the second marquee encounter of this segment.

The other matches are as follows: Akeelah Vancooten vs Tafina Barker [51-54kg]; Isaiah Joyce (PPBG) vs Jamal Jones (VBG) [5760kg]; Dexter Ray (Police) vs Shaquain James (FYF) [60-67kg].

The May 21st fight night will mark Dharry’s return to the ring in over a year and will serve as a tune-up for his July encounter on local shores with Hugo Hernandez of Mexico for the WBC Silver Belt Dharry, 37, fought for the WBA Super flyweight title in 2019 but suffered a controversial ninth-round stoppage loss to Australian Andrew Maloney inMelbourne.

Tickets can be purchased at the sole location of Hot & Spicy Creole Corner The prizes are: VVIP $10,000, VIP $6000, Ringside $3000, andStands$1000.

ThefinaleventisforJandLnon-earnersover6furlongs forapolepositiontakingof$200,000andtrophy

The Champion and runner up Jockeys, top trainer and stables will all receive accolades compliments of Ramesh SunichoftheTrophyStallandtheorganisers.

The day’s event will be conducted using the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA). Interested persons can make contact with Club Secretary Niketa Ross 662-4668, Ivan Dipnarine 331-0316, Basil Bactowar 6617815,FazalHabibulla657-7010orIsaacDalloo689-0629or any member of the KMTC executives for more information.

(Samuel Whyte)

Kevin Umroa

Jamaica’s Britney MacFarlane has revenge in mind at ‘Return of the Scorpio’ Boxing Extravaganza

Watch out Alesha Guyanese rival ahead of June 3rd, declaring that she previously competed in battle Jackman, the 58th inmygym.” Jackman, Jamaica’s Britney their highly anticipated is a vastly improved fighter Guyanain2018andemerged ranked Elite Women 60-63 Quizzed about what she MacFarlane has revenge in amateur rematch in the from their previous as Best Female Boxer in the Kg or junior welterweight would tell her opponent mind, as she has issued a ‘Return of the Scorpio’ encounter Caribbean School Boys and pugilist at the National g i v e n t h e s t a t e o f stern warning to her Boxing Extravaganza on MacFarlane, 22, who Junior Championship, will Gymnasium, Mandela preparation, the pugilist Avenue, in the headline from the ‘Land of Wood and eventoftheamateursection. Water’said, “Well all I have T h e a b o v e - s a i d to say is that she should look encounter is a rematch from out because I’m coming their titanic 2019 bout in strongerthanbefore.” Trinidad and Tobago, which The ‘Return of the witnessed the Guyanese Scorpio’ Pro/Am Card is emergingvictorious. regarded by many experts as MacFarlane,whoissetto the largest fight card in more arrive here on June 2nd, thanadecadeandisexpected declared, “I am looking for to surpass the overall quality revenge and I’m coming of the critically praised backtoclaimthattitle.” Patrick Forde Memorial Queried if she feels Championships,whichisthe pressured to emerge yardstick for a local boxing victoriousgiventheoutcome event.

of the previous encounter, F i v e e x c i t i n g MacFarlane said, “Yes the professional bouts which pressure is on but I fought will be headlined and coagainst her before so I know headlined by Elton Dharry whattoexpect.” and Dexter ‘De Kid’

A c c o r d i n g t o Marques respectively, as MacFarlane, representing wellasanamateursectionof the Jamaican flag is of equal measure, are significant importance, confirmedforthefightcard. noting, “National pride is Dharry will make his very important to me. To be return to the squared circle someone that is always against Ramos Ronald in an representing my county I eight-round Bantamweight alwaysputthemfirst.” fixture whilst Marques will

P r o b e d i f t h e engage Luis Carrillo in an postponement from the e i g h t - r o u n d S u p e r initial date of May 21 has Bantamweightencounter afforded an improved A Caribbean rivalry will p r e p a r a t o r y p h a s e , also recommence as local MacFarlane said, “Yes it has star Terrence Adams will and it gave me more time to battle Ricardo Blackman of workonmycombinations.” Barbados, while Anthony

She further noted, “I Augustin will face off have been sparring for four a g a i n s t B a r b a d i a n rounds and more and I have EmmanuelAnderson.The been sparring with the guys (Continued on page 59)

Rising Sun Turf

Club Independence

Horse Race meet postponed due to inclement weather

The inclement weather has already started to take its toll on some outdoor activities in Guyana. One such activity affected is the Horse race meet organized by the Rising Sun Turf Club. The one day Independence Horse Race meet was slatedfortoday,SundayMay28attheClub’strackRisingSun ArimaPark,WestCoastBerbice.

Over$6Mincash,trophiesandothermemorabiliawereat stake with Banks DIH Limited headlining the list of sponsors onboard.

The postponement has left owners, other connections and fans disappointed. There were seven races listed for the day and a number of horses had taken entry Most had completed their preparation for what was proposed to be an exciting day ofracing.

A new date will be announced in due course. (Samuel Whyte)

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen after qualifying in pole position.

(REUTERS/ Piroschka Van De Wouw)

Verstappen takes first Monaco pole as Perez crashes

Erling Haaland: Man City striker wins

Premier League player and young player awards

Erling Haaland has been named both Premier League player and young player of the season.

BBC Sport - Manchester City’s Erling He has already been named the Football Haalandhasbecomethefirstplayertowinthe Writers’Association (FWA) men’s footballer Premier League player and young player of oftheyear theyearawardsinthesameseason. “It has been an incredible first season in

The 22-year-old striker’s 36 goals have thePremierLeagueandliftingthetrophylast seenhimbreakthePremierLeaguerecordfor weekendinfrontofourfansattheEtihadwas mostgoalsinaseason. a very special moment for me,” added the Overall,hehasscored52goalsduringthe Norwayinternational. campaign. City are also on course for the Treble as

MONACO, (Reuters) - Red Bull’s “I don’t think that overtaking MaxVerstappen risked all to secure his first opportunities will come at all, as it’s Monaco Grand Prix pole position with a Monaco, but it’s a very demanding race on breathtakingfinalqualifyinglaponthelimit the car, on the gearbox, on the brakes,” he after Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso had said. gonefastest.

French driver Esteban Ocon will start

“Oh my God I hit the wall two times,” third for Renault-owned Alpine, and was gasped Verstappen over the radio after briefly on provisional pole, with Spaniard crossingthelineinthedyingsecondswitha Carlos Sainz fourth for Ferrari and seven best time of one minute 11.365 seconds to timesworldchampionLewisHamiltonfifth beatAlonsobyamere0.084seconds. inarevampedMercedes.

While Verstappen celebrated a lap for TheBritonhadcrashedinfinalpractice, theages,histeammateandclosesttitlerival his Mercedes winched high overhead by a SergioPerezcrashedandwillstartlast. crane to remove it, and he was happy with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who had been whereheendedupaftertwicecomingclose chasing his third home pole in a row, was toanearlyexitfromqualifying. third fastest but dropped to sixth after “The last time I enjoyed the track this stewards found he impeded McLaren’s much was 2007, 2008 and my Formula LandoNorris.

“I am honoured to have become the first they will face Manchester United in the FA playertowinbothawardsinthesameseason- Cup final on 3 June before playing Inter thank you to everyone who voted for me,” Milan in the Champions League final on 10 saidHaaland. June. “These awards would not have been Haaland, who received the most possible without my amazing team-mates, combined votes from the public and a the manager and all of the staff at the club Premier League panel, joined City from who help me perform on the pitch,” said Borussia Dortmund last summer and has Haaland. helped the club win a third successive top- “Now we have two more finals to go and flighttitle. wewanttofinishtheseasonstrong.”

Has sports improved or declined over the decades in Guyana

Asks Samuel Whyte much to be desired and with theiractstogether no proper rules in place Closing dates are rarely

If one is to really take a p e r s o n s c a n n o t b e observed and entries are critical look at sports in sanctioned. sometimes allowed until Guyana and more so Most of those involved race day Crowd control is horseracing a critical in the horseracing business still a problem with persons questiontobeasked,iswhat are putting most of the and animals on the track at has changed over the blame at the feet of the the same time even during decades. Government for refusing to races. Betting should be

AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda ninth and

Three days here, I’ve generally really Alonso, 41, made it a front row of enjoyedit,”hesaid. double Formula One world champions and NIGHTMARE FOR PEREZ declared ‘job done’at a street circuit where Alpine’s Pierre Gasly lines up seventh, overtaking is extremely difficult but the with Mercedes’ George Russell eighth, secondplacedstarterhasoftenprevailed.

The oldest driver on the grid, whose last McLaren’sLandoNorris10th. winwasadecadeagoandwhohadnotbeen Last year’s winner Perez, 14 points on pole since he was at Ferrari in 2012, had behind Verstappen after five races, crashed taken the provisional pole with his own at the Sainte Devote first corner in the blisteringlastlap. openingsession.

His first in the top 10 shootout was The Mexican also crashed in the final already impressive, the Spaniard telling his phase of qualifying last year but started teamhe“drovelikeananimal”toachieveit, third,andaheadofVerstappen. andthesecondwasattimes“overthelimit”. ThistimethedamagedRedBullcarwas

But Verstappen delivered when it craned away, with Perez’s hopes in tatters matteredwithabarnstormingfinalsectorin andthepossibilityofneedinganewchassis. the afternoon sunshine, millimetre perfect Monacowasaracehehadhighhopesof and thrilling the capacity crowd with a final winning again, with most of his previous sector surge after lagging Alonso through victories secured on street circuits, but just thefirsttwo. scoringpointsisthetargetnow

“We needed to pull that out the bag, but “It’sgoingtobeanightmaretomorrow,” very lovely,” he said as team boss Christian hetoldreporters. Hornerhaileda“mighty”effort. BoththeHaascarsofKevinMagnussen

“I think that is one of the best laps he’s (17th)andNicoHulkenberg(18th)failedto ever driven in qualifying,” said Horner of makeitthroughthefirstsessioninwhatwill hischampion’s23rdcareerpole. betheteam’s150thrace.

Alonso said the race was far from a Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll was only foregone conclusion, with reliability a key 14th on the grid and behind the Williams of consideration. AlexAlbonin13th.

Looking back at some cometotheassistanceofthe controlledandthereneedsto articles I did decades ago sport which once brought be a reintroduction of the and looking at the gloryandhonourtoGuyana. bettingbooths. administration and conduct Their main bone of D o p i n g i s s t i l l of sport in Guyana at the c o n t e n t i o n i s t h e widespread in the business. moment,itcanbeconcluded government laxity in laying Thisscenariocouldwellbea thatnotmuchhaschanged. the drafted horseracing case for the Guyana Society

Anyone or most of those legislation in parliament for forthePreventionofCruelty articles can simply be it to be discussed and to Animals. The Guyana regurgitated and get the become law, despite it being Revenue Authority (GRA) same result. If anything it presenteddecadesago. isalsobeingblamed. could spell some steep The sport can however One pertinent question decline despite Guyana now take some credit for being asked is, over the beingawashwithfinances. maintaining its large crowd years the Government has

The conduct of most appeal and upping prize gotten involved in the sports in Guyana leaves moneys. Blame can also be controversies of Cricket and muchtobedesired,butletus thrown to some of those Football and tried to bring lookathorseracingfornow responsible for running the solutions. What happen to

There is still no Guyana sports like organised horseracing?

Horse Racing Authority Gymkhana’s. Again it is being urged (GHRA) in place despite Whilst some clubs and that those responsible get racesbeingheld. owners are pointing that the their act together fast and

Notwithstanding the media is going after them, it help save the “Sport of influx of large sums of isnotso,wearejusttryingto Kings” from further decline money, things still leaves help those responsible to get anddisrepute.

Women’s T20 Blaze…

Bowlers set up crucial 1-run win for Guyana as they finish second

Guyana pulled off a 1-run thriller to 19.3 overs. Shamaine Campbell (13) pick of the bowlers with 2-12, as three maintain their win streak following andSchultz(9)werethemainscorersin other players grabbed a wicket each yesterday’s win over rivals Trinidad thechase. duringtheirspell. and Tobago, when action in the Veteran spinner Anisa Mohammed Windwards beat Women’s T20 Blaze continued to grabbed 4-5 during a brilliant spell, Jamaica by 6 wickets eventually earn the second spot in the with support from Shalini Samaroo and After Jamaica batted first and tournament. SteffiSoogrimwhodidtheirbestwith2 posted102for6from20overs.Kenisha

Barbados managed to follow up wicketseach. Ferron (32) and Stefanie Taylor (22), their 50 over title as they clinched the Barbados beat Leewards led the batting while spinner Afy T20aswell. by 8 wickets, win T20 title Fletchersnatched2for11withawicket Guyana beat Trinidad The Bajans completed an easy win each coming from three of her and Tobago by 1 run after opener Kycia Knight struck 63 teammates.

Mandy Mangru bagged 4 for 11 in from 51 not out with 9 fours. Aaliyah Windwardsthenmadelightworkof an amazing spell of spin whileAshmini Alleyne hit 32 off 26 as they cruised to thetotal,finishingon103-4in20overs. Munisar (2-18) and a wicket each from 122for2in17.3overs.

Fletcher returned to hit 23 alongside Sheneta Grimmond, Kaycia Schultz Amanda Edwards grabbed 2-12 Zaida James (28), Janeilla Glasgow and Plaffianna Millington rattled T&T bowling for Leewards, who were kept (13)andMalikaEdward(12*). for 38 in 18.4 overs; as none of their to 121-5 after 20 overs ended. Divya TheJamaicansbowlingwasdivided batters managed to reach double Saxenahit33notout,RozelLiburd(20) among Celina Whyte, Chedean Nation, figures. andEdwards(15)buttheirsidestilllost Nicole Campbell and Rashada

-Barbados retainT20title

Barbados’ Kycia Knight celebrates her half-century

Guyana then had a few hiccups on toabetterteam.

Williams all returned a wicket in a their way to victory, ending on 39-9 in Theanny Herbert Myers was the collectiveeffort.

PPP/C Beach Football at Linden

Swag men in fine form as female sides Speightland and Dynamo impress also

The battle for quarterfinal slots in the People’s

Progressive Party

/CivicLinden‘OneGuyana’

$1M Beach Football promotion continues with play in both the male and female categories outside their office in Mackenzie, Linden from 6 00pm tonight.

This follows another excitingnightondayfouron Independence Day where Swag displayed fine form in the men’s division and female sides Dynamo FC and Speightland also were equallyimpressive.

In the opening game on Friday night Good Fellas handed Rockstone a 2-0 loss with Kelvin Blake and Akel Plass getting the goals for GoodFellas.

Then in the first female Colwyn Drakes led the with Lakisha Pearson Crandon Samuels were clash Dynamo FC turned charge with all five goals to getting the brace, as responsiblefortheirgoals. back the challenge of his credit. Ezekiel Prince Sheenesa Cornelius, Nikita Ballers Empire men then Milerock Scorpions, shot home the lone goal for Wayne, Prescilla Rose, advanced after Blueberry stingingthem6-0. thesecurityboys. Alliyah Venture, Lavisha Hill did not turn up for their

Both Shanice Johnson In another men’s toss-up Cornelius and Tandi Smith clash. and Glendy Lewis recorded R9’s scored a 4-3 win over gettingoneeach. Matches set for this doubles, while Jalade Trim Young Ballers as Omar Quiet Storm overcame evening are, in the men’s and Sandra Johnson got the Brewley netted thrice as Sandbox 2-0 in another competition, Main Street other two goals for the Tyric McAllister got the men’s clash as Quacy faceAmazing,YMCAtackle victoriousDynamoteam. other for the winners, while Cadogan and Zidane Minerals, Speightland take

The next men’s game Dequan Samuels scored Ramdehol netted for the on Kara Kara United,Young was between tournament twice and Shemiah Samuels winners. Gunners challenge Elite favourites Swag, who onefortheBallersteam. In the final men’s match, Ballers and in the lone showed little respect for Speightland then GoldenStarsBwon2-0over female game Exodus meet Police with a 5-1 victory as swamped River’s View 8-0 Exodus as Kenroy Gills and Nurses.

Roglic poised to win Giro as Thomas cracks in decisive time trial

(Reuters) - Primoz Roglic was poised to win his first Giro d’Italia title after snatching the leader’s maglia rosa from Geraint Thomas with an emphatic victory in the 18.6kilometre individual time trial in the penultimate 20th stage yesterday

Jumbo-Visma’s Roglic overcame a mechanical issue to win the brutal mountain time trial by 40 seconds as Ineos Grenadiers rider Thomas’title challenge evaporated on the steep slopes of Monte Lussari in the penultimate 20th stage oftherace.

“It feels amazing. It’s incredible,” Roglic said. “My chain dropped but I put it back. I could have lost everything butit’spartofracing.

“The crowd gave me some extra watts and I was enjoying the atmosphere and the energy around the event. Onedaytogo.Thecourseisabittechnical.It’snotoveruntil it’sover,butitlooksgood.”

Roglic, 33, led at the first timecheck and extended his lead over Thomas to 16 seconds halfway up the climb, beforehittingapotholeanddroppinghischain.

He lost time and momentum while changing bikes but was able to regain his composure and clock the best time of 44 minutes and 23 seconds, turning his 26-second overall deficitintoa14-secondleadoverThomas.

JoaoAlmeida of UAE Team Emirates finished third, 42 secondsbehindRoglic.

Yesterday’svictorywillfeellikeredemptionforRoglic, who lost the 2020 Tour de France on the final competitive day of racing, a time trial in which he gave up his lead - and theoverallracevictory-tofellowSlovenianTadejPogacar Roglic, who won theVuelta a Espana in 2019, 2020 and 2021, will take a 14-second lead over Thomas into today’s largely processional 135-km flat run through the streets of Rome.

“I could feel my legs going 1.5km from the top of that climb,”Thomassaid.“Idon’twanttosoundlikeI’mmaking excusesbutIjustdidn’tfeellikeIhadthatgrunt.

“I guess it’s nice to lose by that much rather than a second or two, because that would be worse. At least he smashed me. To be honest, Primoz deserves that. He had a mechanical and still put 40 seconds into me, so chapeau to him.”

Buxton & Haslington stay top with wins last Friday Namilco ‘flour power’ under-17 football

(EDFA) National MillingCompany(Namilco)

‘Flour Power’ under-17 football league continued on Friday last (Independence Day) at the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) National Training Center (NTC) at Providence where Buxton & Haslington maintained their lead at the top of the points standings with respective wins.

Dynamics FC continued their purple patch with a triumphoftheirown.

In the first game, which kicked off at 13:00 hrs Haslington made light work ofMahaicaDeterminators20 with Akini Baynes (25th minute) and IsaiahAlphonso (50th minute) accounting for the goals in the relatively easywin.

The second clash saw Shaquan Frank’s 56th minute strike being the commanding 4-0 victory e n c o u n t e r K e l v i n the first game, Victoria decisive moment as Buxton againstAnn’sGrove. Richardson made it 4-0 after Kings will match skills with S t a r s n e e d l e d Bryan Wharton led the this shot found the back of Ann’s Grove followed by Beterverwagting/Triumph in charge with two early goals thenetinthe35thminute.

Haslington versus Melanie thatfixture. intheninthand13thminutes Matches continue today 15:30hrs.

Meanwhile, the feature that came after Joshua at the Buxton Community Thefeatureclashwillsee clash of the day, Dynamics Holder’s opening strike in Center ground with three Buxton Stars pitted against F C o r c h e s t r a t e d a the fifth minute of the matches, from 14:00 hrs. In MahaicaDeterminators.

Master Lloyd Ramnarine and wife represent

GMMAKA at US Hall of Fame event

Master Lloyd Ramnarine, the Founder President and chief instructor of the Guyana Mixed MartialArts Karate Association (GMMAKA), accompanied by his lovely wife, the Organizing Secretary of the above mentioned organization, recently represented them at an event in the UnitedStates.

They attended the North American Federation of MartialArtsHallofFameeventheldintheUSwherethey werenominatedanddulyrewardedatthisceremony

Master Lloyd Ramnarine, a Martial Arts practitioner for 3 decades, has been awarded The Returning Hall of FameInducteeYear2.Meanwhile,ontheotherhand,Mrs. Ramnarine has received the Martial Arts Legacy Award (Black Belt Legacy Award). They both expressed pleasure at their achievements and applauded themselves fortheirhardworkanddedicationtowardstheMartialArts Field.

Mr and Mrs. Ramnarine shared that a journey that has beguncanneverend.

Master Lloyd Ramnarine and wife at the event.

Dynamics FC scorers from left, Joshua Holder, Bryan Wharton and Kelvin Richardson.

Akini Baynes (left) and Isaiah Alphonso

Buxton’s Shaquan Frank