Kaieteur News

GWI calls in cops, K NEWS says close to $30M stolen from bank account

Saturday Edition

AIETEUR

May 22, 2021 - Vol. 14 No. 19

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

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Price $80

Online readership yesterday, 94,386

Guyanese file case against ExxonMobil’s Stabroek Block projects p.

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- Calls on court to determine if polluting operations consistent with right to healthy environment

Flaring on the Liza Destiny International Lawyer, Melinda Janki

Lawyer, Ronald Burch-Smith

Secret Aurora Gold Contract

Fmr. Pres. Sam Hinds and Chinese Co. say $1,000 per acre rental for gold lands “standard” p.

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Listen @11:00hrs Aurora decides what Royalty to pay Guyana, while on Kaieteur Radio VP Bharrat Jagdeo brush aside US$20B interest rate 99.1/99.5FM

Saturday May 22, 2021

Kaieteur News

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India may become Guyana's most important oil client

By Gerald Jansen https://oilprice.com/: Nowadays one of the main buzz stories of the crude market has been focusing on Indian oil demand slumping as a consequence of the COVID-19 surge.

As painful as India's travails might be, the past weeks also seem to be giving traction to a new partnership, one that perhaps, would aid the country in its quest of decreasing its massive oil imports bill.

Considering its geographic remoteness from India, Guyana could be seen as one of the least viable alternatives to supply crude.

Below the surface, however,

there are many reasons indicating that India's Guyana deal indeed would come to fruition. India needs new sources of supply, whilst the Guyanese Government needs a reliable and long-term partner for its own equity, having so far failed to find a marketer for its crude.

India has reached out to Guyana, lured by the opportunity of marketing the crude entitlement of the Guyanese Government. Liza started producing in January 2020 and the first 3 entitlement cargoes were allotted to Shell. When the Shell tender ran out, newly elected President, Irfaan Ali, has directly contacted other

Stabroek stakeholders and then opted for Hess, committing 2 Suezmax cargoes in January-February 2021. Simultaneously, the new Guyanese authorities have launched a longer-term tender that would finally satisfy the new political elite – unfortunately for Georgetown only the Russian oil firm, Lukoil, presented a qualified bid of the more than two dozen interested companies, so the Ali Administration has relaunched the process once again, saying that it would seek direct negotiations instead of the tendering process.

Thus, the prizes at stake are 5-6 Liza cargoes per year, of which at least two have already been taken and moved out. Of course, should an Indian company land the deal, it would most probably go beyond the year 2021.

Moreover, once ExxonMobil launches the 2nd phase of Liza (assumed to take place in 2022-2023) the number of cargoes would almost triple. Interestingly, the above-mentioned Liza cargo going to India was purchased and eventually refined by private refiner Hindustan Petroleum Mittal Energy; however, the talks on India potentially becoming Guyana's

marketer were conducted on a governmental level, implying that there might be a place for one of India's state-owned refiners in the suggested scheme.

According to India's High Commissioner to Guyana, it would be the national NOC, the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) that would be involved in the purchase scheme.

To back its claim, India has bought its first-ever Guyanese cargo in March 2021 the Suezmax-sized cargo arrived on April 08.

There have been no new India-bound purchases of Liza since. Thus, India's overall share in Guyanese exports remains rather slim – most of cargoes have been split between Panama, the United States and China. As we will see below, Panama only acts a transshipment site and does not refine Guyanese crude, meaning that Liza's most likely market outlets are located on the US East Coast and in southern China.

When checking various data providers on the final destination of respective Liza cargoes, Panama would come up as the most frequent one (averaged 78kbpd so far this year). In reality, none of the Liza cargoes actually end up in Panama, most of them

is getting transshipped for further deliveries in the Pacific region. Thus, both Panama-bound Liza cargoes of April 2021 have eventually ended up in California – one in Benicia (San Francisco) and the other in Long Beach (Los Angeles). In March 2021, two nominally Panamanian cargoes went to California and the other landed in Quanzhou, China.

There are two main tenets in India's interest in Guyanese crude. The first economic stems from India's willingness to diversify its crude imports away from the Middle East. Despite its current COVID-triggered difficulties, India's appetite for crude will continue to increase in the upcoming years. India has been voicing its discontent with OPEC pricing and production policies and securing a new stream would come in very handy for Indian refiners.

The second link between Guyana and India might be less evident however still deserves to be noted – the Indo-Guyanese represent the largest ethnic group in Guyana, making up almost half of the population.

As opposed to the previous President David Granger (who was AfroGuyanese and sought no

overtures vis-à-vis India), Guyana's new head of state Irfaan Ali is Indo-Guyanese and this cultural affinity seems to be drawing the two nations together.

Even if New Delhi and Georgetown manage to iron out all differences in the upcoming weeks and the Guyanese government is not hindered by political obstructionism, increasing the government's take to more than 1 cargo every two months would require substantially increasing overall output levels, at least to stabilize it.

Liza production has been hindered by recurring problems with the Liza Destiny FPSO, as recently as this April ExxonMobil was forced to cut down on production rates because of a discharge silencer, an element of the recently reinstalled gas compressor.

Unfazed by the upstream helter-skelter, the GuyaneseIndian negotiations are poised to continue, primarily in an effort to find a mutually acceptable pricing formula.

How to gauge the progress on the Indo-Guyanese talks?

The next Liza cargo that should go to Guyana's government is due this June – check out where it goes.

By Gerald Jansen for Oilprice.com

Kaieteur News

Saturday May 22, 2021

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Secret Aurora Gold Contract!!

Former Pres. Sam Hinds and Chinese Co. say $1,000 per acre rental for gold lands “standard” …says same offer given to all investors for large scale mining

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he Management of Guyana Goldfields says that the rent of US$5 or G$1,000 is a standard rental arrangement that is offered to all investors desirous of making significant investment in the development of large scale mining properties in Guyana.

This was the position espoused publicly by Director of Corporate Office, Compliance, and Government Relations for the company, Peter Benny, who was at the time responding to reportage by this publication on Tuesday, that the Chinese Company,

Zinjin Mining Group which acquired Guyana's largest goldmines from Canadian based Guyana Goldfields , pays US$5 annually in rental.

To this end, Benny in response said this publication sought to misrepresent the transaction to appear illicit and as such would like to reiterate that all contracts and transactions relative to the Mineral Agreement, the attendant Mineral Licences, and every associated matter of the company is available in the public domain and not secret.

This publication had captioned the article under

Former Prime Minister, Sam Hinds

AGM Zijin's, Peter Benny

the rubric, 'Secret contract exposed…' but according to Benny, in keeping with the

Mineral Agreement, there are set reporting obligations which must be adhered to

Guyanese file case against ExxonMobil's Stabroek Block projects - Calls on court to determine if polluting operations consistent with right to healthy environment

T

wo Guyanese, through their lawyers, have filed a case in the High Court against ExxonMobil's Stabroek Block projects.

According to the case, which lists Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, SC, as a representative for the State, the High Court is being asked to determine whether ExxonMobil's operations violate the Constitutional right of current and future generations to a healthy environment.

The first applicant, Dr. Troy Thomas, is a Scientist and a University of Guyana l e c t u r e r. T h e s e c o n d applicant, Quadad de Freitas, is a young man from the South Rupununi Region of Guyana, an area rich in biodiversity, now threatened by climate change.

A c c o r d i n g t o D r.

Thomas: “Guyana is a carbon sink. The Guyanese people are not responsible for climate change, but we are already suffering the effects. Climate change, ocean acidification and rising sea level pose existential threats to the

people and State of Guyana.

As a scientist, I urge people to look at the evidence and to face reality.”

The case Kaieteur News understands refers to the overwhelming scientific evidence of the devastating effect of greenhouse gas emissions, pointing out that oil and gas production are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions.

Guyana is particularly vulnerable to climate change and rising sea levels while ocean acidification threatens the Guyanese livelihoods that depend on healthy marine ecosystems.

The case cites Guyana's international obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement in support of its claim for declarations that emissions from oil and gas production make the environment more harmful to health and wellbeing in violation of Article 149J of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to a healthy environment and requires the State to protect the environment for present

and future generations.

Article 149J specifically states that: (1) Everyone has the right to an environment that is not harmful to his or her health or well-being. (2) The State shall protect the environment, for the benefit of present and future generations, through reasonable legislative and other measures designed to – (a) prevent pollution and ecological degradation; (b) promote conservation; and (c) secure sustainable development and use of natural resources while promoting justifiable economic and social development.

The case also seeks to protect children, young people and future generations who bear a disproportionate burden in having to live with the effects of climate change.

The legal team consists of Ms. Melinda Janki and Mr. Ronald Burch-Smith, with support from Richard Lord QC at Brick Court and Joshua Jackson of Cloisters in the UK. (A more detailed report on this case will be published in tomorrow's newspaper.)

Monthly, Quarterly, and Yearly.

As such, regulatory and compliance agencies are given all reports, both Operational and Financial.

Benny was joined by Guyana's former Prime Minister, Sam Hinds, who held the portfolio for the Mining Sector up to 2011.

He, in a public missive in the media yesterday, also defended the rental rate to say that the reportage is “much ado about nothing” for while rental rate reported is “absolutely true,” it is “still absolutely true for each and every large scale gold mine, whether owned by a Chinese, a Canadian, an

American, an Australian, a European, a Ghanaian, an Indian, a Pakistani, a Saudi, a Guyanese, or any Nationality.”

Meanwhile, the company in defending its operation also responded to claims that it had terminated the employment of several hundred employees.

In its defence, the company blamed the Canadian owners to say, “more than 800 Local employees were terminated by the previous management team before it went into Care and Maintenance.”

According to Benny, with the takeover of the (continued on page 11)

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Saturday May 22, 2021

Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL

What is going on with the Police Force?

Whatever was going on at the Guyana Police Force (GPF) before, and is going on currently, it is becoming obvious that the roof is caving in and the bottom is dropping out at the same time. The reports coming out of recent developments and prior charges involving a not so small group of very senior officers, if they prove to be of substance, and hold up, do not speak well for the GPF in the least.

Much worse, the charges levelled against several ranking officers, if they stand the tests of judicial scrutiny, do not add to the confidence and comfort of most Guyanese, including those who support the GPF, and wish it the best.

This is not good at all, and if the charges stand, then some real damage would have been inflicted.

We have something to say in no uncertain terms, we at this publication will unequivocally support any Guyana Police Force that is working diligently and tirelessly to protect the citizens of this country professionally and in the most principled manner. We are desirous of a vibrant and ethically functioning GPF, since this is for the better of all of us. We want to cover and report accurately and fairly that the membership of the GPF, from senior to junior officers, are doing right by us, and are recognised for doing so. There is nothing better that we would like to do, to report and to share with the Guyanese public.

It was, therefore, with a sense of regret and some shame that we had to report “Paul Slowe, others implicated in Police Force’s $10M fraud - Slowe also accused of sexual assault” (KN May 20); and that they were subsequently charged “Retired officers, others charged in $10M police fraud” (KN May 21).

This is bewildering and damning. It is both bewildering and damning, because the accusations, now charges are laid against: a) the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, b) three retired Assistant Commissioners, c) one current Assistant Commissioner, d) two retired Senior Superintendents, and e) one retired Superintendent.

This was, at one time, a significant segment of the cream of the senior crop of the GPF. Even though the bulk of the accused are now retired, there is still shock (and it takes a lot to do that to us) that these charges have arisen.

In addition, when one considers the shocks of just a few weeks ago, where other current senior police officers in the Force’s Finance Office were charged with a huge fraud, then there must be deep concern throughout this country, as to what we really have here in the GPF. These officers will all have their day in court, but what has allegedly occurred is not confidence building at all. It is shattering and we must wonder, we think that the rest of Guyana is in the same state and place, as to what else is going on in the GPF. That is, what is it that is still to come to light? What more, hopefully nothing else and no one else, could be going wrong. We would hope not. Whatever is going on let the chip fall, and justice prevail.

On another note, one of the newest aspects embroiling the GPF is the development involving the arrival of a recently minted outside Public Relations team. As we have had cause to caution in our weekday Page 7 “Blunt” coverage on May 20, last, “we… condemn any plan by the Force to deny us access to information that will promote transparency and accountability.” We are surprised that what was working well for the GPF, namely, the handling of PR for the Force, was suddenly handed over to an outside group of media practitioners.

The citizens of this country do not need smoothened messages about the doings of and goings-on at the GPF. What all of us need are the facts and circumstances, as they are, and nothing else. All Guyanese are entitled to the fullness of the whole truth, and not some carefully filtered and canned stories that do more to conceal than reveal.

We are troubled by the continued rocking within the GPF, now involving a slew of former and current high-ranking people. We are watching this positioning of outside PR people inside the Force to screen and (possibly) sweeten stories. The GPF is under siege and we are unhappy about where things stand today on several worrying counts.

Is the former President/PM Hinds telling us how good we have it?

DEAR EDITOR, I refer to the letter from Mr. Samuel A. A. Hinds titled, “Work to create partnerships not sensational headlines” (SN and KN May 21). I once held former President and Prime Minister Hinds in high regard; that has faded a shade. Regardless, when a Guyanese of the calibre of Elder Hinds take the time to wear his heart on his sleeve, and share his thinking, I read and listen first (something I rarely do for his other comrades); then I parse through for any precious gems embedded. I think there were some from Elder Hinds.

I agree that a lengthy annuity of energy and money has been expended in searching for Guyana’s oil. If I interpret Comrade Hinds properly, the high risks and heavy expenditures justify the sky-high returns. I have always said that the contract was the best that Guyana could have had, given the Venezuelan juggernaut, and our Gulliverian puniness; and the need for partnering with an American power to assure a sturdy American interest on our behalf. That is, we had to pay a premium in blood for the insurance protection. I assure Elder Hinds that none of that has changed.

But what should enlighten Comrade Hinds (and his brainy leader) is where I think the boat has been deliberately missed frequently, and opportunities were foregone rather docilely,

to utilise the openings that came our way. I use a plantation and slave analogy, which I trust would not offend the venerable Sam Hinds. Having been exposed to the Western riches of sustenance and housing and civilisation (Christianity, too), we ought to be complacent and not yearn for the greater prosperity that expanded freedom brings. To put differently, the reality of long delayed saccharine and cerebrally encouraging oil discoveries, and costly investments made, justifies us wanting to remain fully shackled to a state of contentment and doleful acceptance of what is in place.

I beg to differ.

To Elder Hinds I say: though others may disagree, I respect the sanctity of contracts and their ironclad protections; and that deal is done.

But it can be undone, in astute revisions here and there, that return something more favourable to us, aids our self-enhancement; the Japanese call it kaizen. As examples: we have a problem with flaring, so we have to slowdown, if not stop totally.

There is no other way.

Incentives may help us see some light (for the sovereign fund, not leaders’ fun); change that thorny term over there; let us talk like real partners, and not the paternalistic to peons. We have a fear for our health, and our people are agitated, and

they can be ferociously so (as elections attest), thus there is a price to political stability, social tranquility. Exxon may think that the solution is Blackwater; or another wellarmed Yankee outfit incorporated in CARICOM’s Barbados. But then, they would have had to aim and fire at all of us. But that also would have meant the unified front that I have been calling for: partnering with the dreadful opposition, which is anathema to the self-dumbing down Vice President. Just as how Exxon ordered him to get rid of Dr. Vincent Adams, it is similarly against that such political maneuvering. The VP surrenders, since he likes selling so much.

Editor, to Elder Hinds, I tender that there are soft underbellies in our relationship with Exxon, which we loathe to explore and extract our pounds of flesh, our pints of blood - ounce by ounce, and one drop at a time.

They add up, which Payara could have been.

The VP had to play dead, not to see what kind of funeral he would get, but how much he would make Exxon’s leaders hold their noses and leave the table of c o n v e r s a t i o n discombobulated. These blasted Guyanese people mean business, they play dirty; a little negotiation could follow. And because Exxon is vulnerable in its rickety balance sheet, its rebellious directorate room, and its

suspect investor climate, (there is a dirty word climate), then some low blows were in order. That is the norm, where I come from, as there is no honour among thieves. Today, they are called investment bankers, chambers of commerce, and so on. Instead of Mr. Hinds’ PPP fellows recruiting Madison Avenue-type public relations (another vaunted American blessing) to soften and sweeten the sinister, they should have been saying to Exxon: this is where we are with the Guyanese people, and they don’t like it. We can’t hold them in line. We must test, now that the pompous one is gone, how much Blinken will blink, what Uncle Joe (Biden) is all about.

I am sure I am understood.

I close with returning to slavery. One part of America went to war to perpetuate that odious institution; another section ostensibly confronted in the name of emancipation. I think that, as good and wholesome as they made out slavery to be, there is nothing like breathing and moving on one’s own freely.

In sum: we have to confront Exxon.

We must be resourceful and versatile and sagacious enough to find ways to do so then carve out the tiny spaces to expand our Guyanese footprint. We must never settle for accepting the fullness of the status quo.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

Road horror has long been culturally endemic DEAR EDITOR, The horror of animals on our roadways has long been a cultural feature of this land.

An article by Francis Quamina Farrier, as far back as 1986, was headlined “Council launches campaign against stray animals.”

Accompanying the article, was a photograph of the then First Citizen of the country’s capital city, Georgetown, Mayor Robroy Whyte.

The article’s opening paragraph captured this eternal problem: “That perennial problem of stray animals roaming the streets of Georgetown has been with Guyanese for a very long time, and it seems to be a problem which is just not going away anytime soon.” How prophetically right was Farrier?

I recall, as far back as 2009, the then Traffic Chief, Senior Superintendent Neil Semple, emphatically commented on the subject, saying that “Animals have no right to be on the road anywhere in the

country and should be grazed in pastures; (and that) amendments of legislation have made allowance for fines to owners to be increased.”

He explained at the time that “… cattle owners must show respect for the law or face the consequences of amended legislation, as stray animals on the roadways remain a major source of danger to motorists nationwide.” I fast forward to November 2015 and the dailies reported that then Traffic Chief, Dion Moore, was worried about the “The issue of animals roaming the streets…” saying that it is a source of concern for both road users and the Police Traffic Department. He noted that “… while stray animals are directly and indirectly responsible for accidents, most don’t carry brands and as such the owners can’t be found.”

What was revealing to me at the time was that Moore detailed that “while police are

often blamed for animals being on the roadways…

Police do not deal with animals; it’s up to the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils who are the governing body to ensure enforcement.”

So let me reiterate that this horror of animals on Guyana’s roadways seems interminable. It has always been with us, and its normalising has long been achieved.

It is common knowledge that it is illegal and dangerous to have animals, especially of the larger species, like horses, cows and donkeys, to be roaming on the thoroughfare, whether by day or night. To me, the culture is set.

Vehicles and stray animals must continue to coexist. Laws and common sense have no say in this laweroding Guyana.

I ask that the authorities be moved by the following headlines in our dailies: “Construction worker dies after crashing into cow”

https://guyanachronicle.com › News-21 Dec 2020; “Man dead, driver critical after crashing into cow on Lusignan” https:// newsroom.gy › 14 Apr 2020; “Motorcyclist dies after crashing into cow on Corentyne road” // www.kaieteurnewsonline.com › 10 Nov 2018; “Man dies at Mocha after crashing into horse” https:// www.stabroeknews.com › 13 Apr 2016; “Goedverwagting man dies after car crashes into horse” https:// www.inewsguyana.com > 6 Jul 2015.

Well, I can go on and on, but my point is well made and with substantial proof. The bottom line is that the ‘people using vehicles must learn to maneuver among animals on the road, since law enforcement in this area is obsolete and law enforcement officers have become emasculated, or at least, inured.

Yours truly, Matthew Hendrix

Saturday May 22, 2021

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

GOAL is probably Guyana’s biggest post-Independence happening DEAR EDITOR, I do not want to be too anecdotal, but I feel constrained to rehash a little incident that still has me ruminating. It has to do with a call from an erstwhile Headmaster, who dared me to find an event that can match the GOAL initiative. Guess what? I think I cannot.

First, let me say that I am one of the average Guyanese who really value education.

To this end, I completed a fine

undergraduate stint at the University of Guyana, and I am now engaged, concurrently, in two post Graduate programmes, one at the University of the West Indies and the other with York University in Canada. Both programmes are via the online mode and both are quite expensive. Now I am saying this because I want as many as possible to cash in on the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) initiative,

compliments of our Government. This GOAL initiative, introduced by the Government, aims to grant 20,000 online scholarships to Guyanese in the next five years. We are talking here, at least 100 million USD, to the education sector, over the period of the scholarship granting. The Ministries of Public Service and Education have been tasked with the implementation of this unprecedented venture. I

think this will ensure more efficiency in the rollout. The next good thing to note is that Nigerian-born professor, Jacob Opadeyi, is now in charge of GOAL. He is no stranger to things academic in Guyana, as he is a former Vice-Chancellor of UG. Although Nigerian by birth, he is a naturalised citizen of Trinidad and Tobago and so he is ‘regional.’ His academic history is a strong one, too, being at one time Professor

I agree with Glenn Lall on Mangrove but disagree on Trini investors DEAR EDITOR, I agree with Mr. Glenn Lall’s position on mangrove removal (radio show May 17).

He feels mangrove must not be an obstacle to development by Guyanese or else the foreigners (mentioned Trinis) will practically dominate businesses in Guyana. Of course, Glenn is not suggesting complete destruction of natural habitat or that there is no role for foreigners. There must be a balance of protecting the environment and industrial development. If one thinks only of protecting the environment, societies will remain in the natural, cavelike world that it was hundreds of years ago. Nevertheless, manmade replacements must

offer some protection of the coast, as the mangrove has done for thousands of years.

Of course, an investor would want to protect his investment and will not remove mangrove if not replaced by artificial barriers against flooding of his project. TriStar has replaced mangrove with artificial barriers and we must support the project.

Glenn’s position, similar to mine, is that Guyanese should be given preference in investment and contracts. He is unequivocal.

He says it does not matter if Jagdeo, Irfaan, Granger, Brassington, Harmon, etc. is the local owner or investor in a project, as long as they are Guyanese; he is supportive of it over foreigners owning

it. I can’t disagree. Guyanese ought to be the real developers of Guyana. We cannot depend on foreigners, who are in Guyana to exploit us whereas Guyanese can develop the land. Where we have limited funding individually, we must pool our limited resources and invest in projects.

We must encourage local investment. And where the local investors lack funds and skills, they can team up with foreign investors (including the diaspora).

In fact, we should encourage the Guyanese diaspora to engage in joint projects and to purchase shares of industries like shore base.

As I travelled around

Guyana, concerns have been raised about Trinidadians coming to Guyana, getting state contracts ahead of Guyanese, purchasing property, pursuing various investments including housing, presence at UG, etc.

Like most Guyanese, I have had a very warm reception in Trinidad since my first trip in 1981 and over two hundred trips since then as researcher and pollster.

Thousands of Guyanese are employed in T&T and hundreds own businesses.

Some of the wealthiest business people in Trinidad are Guyanese. Trinis have helped Guyanese. We must welcome them.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

of Geomatics Engineering and Land Management at UWI. Jacob Opadeyi, in fact, did obtain his Executive MBA qualifications at the UWI, one of the universities involved in GOAL. This, of course, brings a feeling of optimism in terms of the credibility of the institutions and what is being offered, namely UWI (University of Southern Caribbean (USC) -Trinidad), Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) India, JAIN University India and University of Applied Sciences (IUBH) Germany.

Another big plus about this initiative is that many Guyanese, who are from farflung hinterland areas, will now get the opportunity to earn high-level qualifications

without the duress of travel and finance, and when all is said and done, there is no contract to honour. Opadeyi himself explained that the scholarship awardees would not be bonded. “They would (only) be required to do community service stints of varying lengths, based on the respective programmes, before they graduate.” Time is just about up and I hope that Guyanese will ‘cash in’ on this life changing initiative.

Yours truly, Kamdeo Mohamed

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Saturday May 22, 2021

Kaieteur News

Unity is needed as Guyana celebrates 55th Independence anniversary DEAR EDITOR, The Co-operative Republic of Guyana celebrates its 55th Anniversary of Independence on Wednesday May 26. It will also be five and a half decades since my voice was first heard on national radio because I made by maiden report on the flag raising activities. A lot has transpired during this period. We saw nine Presidents being sworn in: Forbes Burnham,

Desmond Hoyte, Cheddi Jagan, Sam Hinds, Janet Jagan, Bharrat Jagdeo, Donald Ramotar, David Granger and the current Irfaan Ali, being the youngest. The PNC was in government a little longer than the PPP ...

1966 to 1992 (two years 196466 pre independence period) and then the coalition APNU+AFC under the PNC’s Granger for four years before a no-confidence motion was passed, which booted Granger out of office. The PPP

How about some decorations for Independence?

DEAR EDITOR, Activities to mark our 55th Independence Anniversary have begun, but it seems, no evidence of this achievement is visible in the city or elsewhere. No decorated

buildings or lighting up or other forms of decorations giving recognition usually associated with this observance. Why is this?

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

also had a long stretch of 23 years under Jagdeo and Ramotar. Now the PPP is back under a young President at a time when all Guyanese at home and abroad are hoping for a complete turnaround of the economy, more jobs and a comfortable living for the poor and unfortunate ones.

But this can only be possible if the powers to be are vigilant and prevent exploitation by the filthy rich oil barons.

We have to forget the past —too many horrors - Jim Jones and the People’s Temple tragedy where 918 Americans followers of the so called Evangelist Jim Jones committed suicide in November 1978, and the terror, which another American David Hill who renamed himself Rabbi Washington and set up the House of Israel and its members harassed anti Burnham supporters. It was only after the death of Forbes that the Rabbi lost his stripes under Hoyte and was

deported. He eventually died in New Jersey. I must also mention that the Burnham administration removed all the vestiges of colonialism and moved into left wing socialism ... went so far to make the government an arm of the PNC and the party’s flag flown over the Court of Appeal Building in Kingston, Georgetown. Removing British honours like “Sir,” “Dame,” OBE, MBE, Queens Counsel and replacing them with local honours, Order of Excellence (OE), Order of Roraima (OR), Cacique Crown of Honour (CCH), etc., and Senior Counsel replacing Queens’ Counsel. I cannot omit the assassination of Walter Rodney in March 1980 because he was a threat to the Burnham dictatorial regime.

Space does not permit me to say much more but I have to mention the difficulties the authorities endured to remove the coalition from office following the no confidence motion.

It took five long months after the ruling of the highest court of the land, the Caribbean Court of Justice,

before the new President was sworn in, because senior officials of the Guyana Election Commission submitted false reports of the true vote count. Now David Granger does not want the CCJ to determine election issues, he is advocating that the Guyana Court of Appeal should be the final court in this regard. He, however, welcomed the CCJ’s ruling that Jagdeo cannot have a third term as President. This is ridiculous. Remember the Guyana Court of Appeal ruled that 33 is not the majority of 65, but the CCJ ruled otherwise. I should remind readers that the Guyana Court of Appeal was the final Court in Guyana for 35 long years, from when it gained republican status in 1970 to April 2005 when the CCJ was inaugurated.

Burnham abolished appeals to the Privy Council in February 1970, making Guyana the only country in the Commonwealth to have only one Court of Appeal.

Reports state that 10 million barrels of oil will be pumped from the Stabroek

block every month, which is five times more than oil rich Trinidad and Tobago, but it is extremely crucial that it is properly monitored, and Guyana gets its rightful share.

Too many African countries have been fleeced by the filthy rich oil companies. Guyana encountered numerous setbacks in the past. Now that oil is on the horizon, Guyanese have to work in harmony to rebuild the country. We have rice, sugar, gold; bauxite, agriculture products and now oil, a sound educational system the 10 top students in the region are Guyanese. This is extremely good, and the youngsters are following the footsteps of those of yesteryear: hundreds of brilliant Guyanese are scattered all over the planet holding top posts in technology, business, medicine, education, law and other fields. Overall, the future looks extremely good.

What is needed and it is of paramount importance is unity. Unity is strength.

Sincerely, Oscar Ramjeet

Applause for Dr. Yog Mahadeo DEAR EDITOR, It appears that Dr. Yog Mahadeo has had enough of this administration from his letters in KN. I applaud his courage to stand up for

principles though it will cost him his appointment by Jagdeo. Another talent will be politically victimised for freedom of speech! That is how this country is

governed. He has justifiably written several critical pieces assailing this and the previous government over Exxon and other matters.

When will other Indian rights activists develop the courage to speak out against the poor state of governance and the lack of internal democracy in the PPP? Yours truly, Hema Lokenauth

Saturday May 22, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 07

PAGE 08

Kaieteur News

Saturday May 22, 2021

Kaieteur News

Saturday May 22, 2021

PAGE 09

The PNC/R is breaking its own heart T

he leadership of the PNC/R is fooling no one other than itself that the PPP/C rigged the 2020 elections.

If the PPP/C had done so, there was no way that the PNC/R and its supporters would have condoned that.

No amount of international support of conspiracy would have prevented the PNC/R from undoing the rigging.

If the PPP/C had rigged the elections, the supporters of the PNC/R would have taken to the streets and would not have relented until justice was served.

That this did not happen meant that the supporters of the PNC/R did not fall victim to the narrative of their party being cheated out of office.

On the day after the election, the APNU+AFC realised that it had lost the elections. It had to have known this, because its leaders were at the Campaign Headquarters all night on Election Day and would have been tabulating the results from Statements of Poll, as transmitted by the party polling agents. They had to have known by daybreak the following day that their grip on power had slipped.

In fact, word had filtered out that the PPP/C had won the elections. One emotional and highly irate supporter of the APNU took to social media. She began by saying, “Right now, they are claiming that the PPP… that the PPP won the election.”

Then she got allemotional and broke down

Dem

boys seh...

A

unty Priya deh in she own world.

S h e n a h understand dat people nah want equality. Dem in love with inequality.

Is only governments does talk about equality. And dat is because dem want get people support but nuff ah dem leaders nah living like de ordinary man.

De average man always looking at he mattee and wah dem gat.

Dem looking at dem neighbour blinds and laughing. Dem looking at who getting barrel and dem looking at wah dem

into tears while exclaiming, “Like seriously, that is so unbelievable right now.”

She then threw a tantrum, berating the Leader of the PNC/R, David Granger, telling him “if yuh gat to rig it, rig it.”

Word therefore was already circulating among the supporters of the PNC/R and the AFC, that the PPP/C had won the elections.

The APNU+AFC however opted to peddle a different narrative. It began with a pseudo-celebration outside of the Campaign Headquarters even though the leaders of the Coalition merely thanked their supporters without announcing victory.

In the drama, which followed at the GECOM Centre on Hadfield Street and High Street, the narrative changed.

The Coalition claimed that its Statements of Poll confirmed the numbers, which were being announced by Mingo. It said that it had won the elections.

Then, after the decision to undertake the Recount, the narrative took a sudden twist. We heard about Russian involvement in the elections.

In addition, when the Recount began, the Coalition changed its tune; it was no longer claiming victory but instead began to contend that the very elections, which it had previously said it had won, were tainted with irregularities. One leader went on television and explained how the dead

came out of their tombs, voted and then went back in.

Others claimed how overseas Guyanese voted.

None of these narratives gained much traction within the society. People were not fooled. The supporters of the Coalition understood the need for an excuse for their party's defeat but people were not being fooled into believing the 'jumbie' tales of dead people voting. This is why the supporters of the APNU+AFC did not take to the streets to protest the swearing in of Irfaan Ali as President.

No amount of foreign pressure or legal decisions would have prevented such actions had the supporters of the APNU+AFC genuinely believed that the Coalition was cheated out of office.

Once there was a hint that the elections were rigged, the supporters of the Coalition would not have entertained that.

The Coalition was determined to retain political office by hook or crook. But it could not muster public support for this cause, because its supporters knew in their hearts that the Coalition had lost the elections. And so, they did not take to the streets.

The APNU+AFC is therefore only deceiving itself when it continues to peddle the narrative that the PPP/C was engaged in mischief and that it was installed with the support of foreign governments.

The supporters of the Coalition know the truth about what happened, and

In love with inequality neighbour wearing. Is sheer comparison causing all dis.

Dem boys seh people want deh better-off dan dem neighbour and even dem friend. So dem nah want equality.

Is de same thing with education. Everybody does want dem children do good in de Common Entrance examination so dat dem could get dem top schools.

Dem nah want equality. Dem love de fact dat some schools better dan others.

Dem who can afford does spend thousands of dollars fuh send dem children to private school. Dem nah

want a situation where de schools so equal dat it nah gat incentive for a private school. Dem parents gan can't boast about how much money dem spending fuh send dem children to private school.

Everybody seh how dem glad fuh equality between men and women. But put a woman fuh drive a minibus and see how passengers waiting fuh de next bus.

COVID is de only thing promoting equality. It gat everybody fed up.

Talk half and tell Aunty Priya to fuhget about equal schools.

who were the agent provocateurs engaged in attempting to rig the elections and who would have benefited from such actions.

The actions of the Coalition after the 2nd March have been a great embarrassment to the supporters of the Coalition.

They may not come out and say so but most of them are

ashamed of what took place.

The APNU+AFC can pretend that it was the victim of the 2020 elections. But if it continues with this charade, it will only alienate l a rg e s e c t i o n s o f t h e electorate who are not convinced by its false narratives.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not

necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Saturday May 22, 2021

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Something Aubrey Norton told me at the Thomas Street lime I

have always regarded Aubrey Norton as a PNC person who has a sound analytical mind. I have had countless political conversations with Aubrey and he has the competence to analyse the Guyanese society.

He has announced that he will be contesting the position of leader of the PNC. In doing so, he said he hopes to revive the APNU+AFC covenant.

Despite his sound analytical mind, Aubrey shows signs of

intellectual decline with that statement. I would like to see him explain the value of the AFC to the PNC in the 2025 poll.

I don't know if Aubrey knows but even the leadership of the AFC may quit. I quoted one of its executives, Amar Chinkan, as telling me that he tried to persuade three top AFC leaders – Cathy Hughes, David Patterson and Raphael Trotman – to return to Parliament last September because they had told the AFC leadership they were

not interested. See my column, of Wednesday, April 21, 2021, “More potent truths in recent times.”

There are stories going around that at the scheduled congress of the AFC next month, many of the leaders at the top of the pyramid will decline leadership position with several of them giving up their parliamentary seats in 2022. In such a situation, what value the AFC will bring to a PNC under Norton as leader?

M o r e i m p o r t a n t l y,

Norton should answer the question that even with the big wigs of the AFC at the moment, what capital the PNC gets from their presence in the coalition?

Norton in the interview spoke of being around politics since he was 15 (if true, he pip me by one year).

Then he should know how African Guyanese felt about some high-ranking PNC comrades defecting to the PPP. Even Indians from the PPP could have gone into African villages and speak to them but not those former Africans from the PNC's leadership they felt were betrayers. It was the identical situation with the PPP. Once a PPP Indian went over to the PNC, hatred met him in Indian villages.

A Black leader from the PNC would have received a better welcome than the former PPP comrades who were perceived as betrayers.

Against this background, Norton must answer what value, even if symbolic, AFC will bring to his party if he wins at the next PNC congress.

Moses Nagamootoo is all but done with politics. Indian people detest Ramjattan. Which Indian votes is AFC bringing to the APNU+AFC in 2025?

Which Black politician in the AFC will help the

electoral ambition of the PNC? Is Aubrey saying that he Frederick Kissoon needs Cathy Hughes, David Patterson and Alexander's rivals. Norton Raphael Trotman to help his leadership in the was deadly accurate. Do you PNC? If yes, then is he know that over a long period conceding that these three of time, a certain man (no names will split African longer in the PPP leadership) votes in 2025 so he, as leader was head of the credential committee at PPP congresses of the PNC needs them?

If Norton takes this and guess what? He always position publicly, then he is came in third place after committing political suicide. Cheddi and Janet Jagan.

Who controls the He will lose votes at the congress because over 99 c r e d e n t i a l c o m m i t t e e percent of the delegates hate controls the selection of the the AFC. Secondly, his main delegates. Norton is up rival, Volda Lawrence, is not a g a i n s t t h e i d e n t i c a l a big fan of the AFC. Before s i t u a t i o n t h a t c a u s e d I move on to the headline of Alexander to lose. David this column, I repeat – Granger and Joe Harmon are Norton should tell the not going to allow Norton to Guyanese public what is the lead the PNC. But more value of the AFC to the PNC importantly, an old enemy of Norton is waiting to go for under him as leader.

With reference to the Norton's jugular.

His name is Robert caption of this article, one night, Aubrey and I were Corbin. Corbin is going to discussing the defeat of campaign against Norton. I Vincent Alexander for the would like to think that leader of the PNC by Robert whoever enters the race, Corbin at the traditional Corbin would offer logistical “watering hole” on Thomas support to them just to S t r e e t , N o r t h weaken Norton's chances.

Cummingsburg, opposite At the congress, it will be Norton versus Corbin. Any the Georgetown Hospital.

He told me the key to any bets?

(The views expressed in election victory at the party's congress is the credential this article are those of the committee and the credential a u t h o r a n d d o n o t committee at that congress necessarily reflect the w a s c o n t r o l l e d b y opinions of this newspaper.)

Saturday May 22, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Saturday May 22, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 12

'Uncle Vic' was a humble man and an exceptional - Says long-serving Chief of Protocol professional - President Ali leaves lasting impact on public service

D

uring the homegoing Service of the late Eshwar

Vevakanand Persaud, CCH, that was held yesterday morning at the Cathedral of

the Immaculate Conception on Brickdam, President, Irfaan Ali, was keen to describe the man who was fondly called, “Uncle Vic,” as a “humble man” and an “exceptional professional with great integrity.”

The Head of State said, “He was an exceptional professional with great integrity. So today, as a people, as a country, we have lost a great soul. But I'm comforted by the fact that he did not just leave; he took time to share of his knowledge; he took time to share of his experience; he took time to mold others who would function as he did.”

The President added, that Uncle Vic leaves with many Guyanese, great examples of how to be a good public servant and a consummate professional. He said that he was also a good husband, father, brother and friend in his personal life. These characteristics the President noted will not die but will forever live on.

President Ali said too, that he was humbled and honoured to have known Mr. Persaud for over two decades while

adding, that he has always been passionate about his job and in his most recent welcome, he made it clear that it was his honour to serve the presidents of the country.

Mr. Persaud has had the distinction of providing protocol duties to nine Executive Presidents, including President Ali and former Presidents, Mr. Forbes Burnham, Mr. Desmond Hoyte, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, Mr. Samuel Hinds, Mrs. Janet Jagan, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, Mr. Donald Ramotar and Mr. David Granger.

The Head of State added, that the longstanding public servant served his country with dedication, honesty and professionalism, and most importantly, with a sense of duty to the Office and the people of Guyana.

“To his family, his wife, his children, his sister, who I know played a very great role and all of his family; we thank you sincerely for sharing this great soul with us. We thank you for allowing him to give up so much of his time in service to the people of our country and, indeed for his

President, Irfaan Ali at the home-going Service

service to humanity. For his selflessness, I am sure he will be going to the beautiful garden. And may his soul rest in peace.”

Tributes poured in from friends, family members, and former colleagues, including Ambassador Ivan Evelyn, who all recalled Uncle Vic's humour and good nature over the years. They echoed similar sentiments of it being a privilege to have known and worked with him.

Mr. Persaud, who passed away on May 13, at the age of 82, had provided more than 60

unbroken years of exemplary public service as an Accountant, Foreign Service Officer, Chief of Protocol and Advisor on Protocol Affairs.

The funeral service was attended by various current and former Government officials and other prominent members of society, including former President Ramotar and Minister of Home Affairs, the Honourable Robeson Benn.

After the home-going Service, Mr. Persaud's body was taken to his hometown in Rose Hall, Berbice, for burial.

Kaieteur News

Saturday May 22, 2021

PAGE 13

Agri. Minister talks community development, kitchen gardens in East Ruimveldt

A

griculture Minister, Z u l f i k a r Mustapha, on Thursday last was part of a ministerial delegation that met with residents of East Ruimveldt to discuss Government's proposed community development initiatives.

The visit follows one by Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, who had met with residents to discuss their involvement in the proposed works to enhance the community's appearance ahead of Guyana's 55 th Independence Anniversary next Wednesday.

During the meeting, Minister Mustapha told residents that efforts would be made to ensure residents benefit from proper drainage.

The Minister said, “From the Ministry of Agriculture's level, we will try our best to ensure you have proper drainage in this community.

These works will be carried out with machines and

th

- announces 55 Independence seed distribution drive manually. We will engage the residents in the community. Those persons who are involved in the project will be paid and they will also be involved in something to beautify their community. We will do whatever it takes to assist you. If we have to bring in the small machines to clean the interlocking drains we will do it.”

He added, “Climate change continues to affect us all and areas like this are prone to flooding. This is why Government thought it necessary to improve the city's drainage capacity.

Twelve additional pumps were purchased, three of which were installed in Georgetown at strategic p o i n t s . We a r e a l s o developing a program to see how best we can work to have the main canals in the city desilted so that we can avoid instances of flooding.”

Prior to the meeting, residents were engaged and tasked with identifying residents who were willing to be part of the project.

They were also advised to form themselves into Community Development Councils (CDC), so that the intended works could be executed in an organised manner.

Minister Mustapha also took the opportunity to encourage residents to develop kitchen gardens and small garden plots. He informed residents that his Ministry was willing to make available the necessary planting materials along with other basic gardening tools to assist with those activities.

“Those of you who are interested in farming, we will work with you. If you have a small plot or a kitchen garden or you need help in terms of materials or advice

on what to plant, we will work with you and provide the necessary assistance. We have to return to the days where every home had a kitchen garden. As Agriculture Minister, I've been promoting this across the country,” Minister Mustapha said.

Minister of Public Wo r k s , J u a n E d g h i l l , Minister Dharamlall and other Government officials were also part of the visiting team.

Independence seed & seedling distribution drive Minister Mustapha, on Friday in a video posted on the Ministry's Facebook page, announced that as part of Guyana's 55th Independence observances, the Ministry of Agriculture would be hosting an Independence seed and seedlings distribution

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha exercise.

The subject Minister, while extending Independence greetings to all Guyanese, said that due to the pandemic persons would have to celebrate Independence remotely. He also said that this activity was intended to help restore the culture among Guyanese, where every household had a thriving kitchen garden.

“I want to take this opportunity to invite you to come into the Ministry on Tuesday. We'll be having a small seed distribution

exercise to promote some of the crops that we want to push…I am promoting the establishment of kitchen gardens so that each and every household can go back to the culture of having a kitchen garden,” Minister Mustapha said.

The exercise is scheduled for Tuesday May 25, at the Ministry of Agriculture's main office on Regent Street, between 10:00 hrs. and 13:00 hrs.

Seeds and seedlings will be distributed to the general public free of cost while supplies last.

PAGE 14

Saturday May 22, 2021

Kaieteur News

Man hospitalised with severe burns after crashing into utility pole

Royston Gill's damaged Toyota Premio

A

father of two, w h o o n Wednesday lost control of his motorcar and crashed into a utility pole, is currently a patient in the Mabaruma Regional Hospital. He is suffering from severe burns about his body after he was electrocuted by the exposed wires.

The police have since identified the injured man as 24-year-old Royston Gill of Hosororo Hill, Mabaruma, Region One. The accident reportedly occurred around

The damaged electrical pole at the scene of the accident

12:30hrs on the Hosororo Stretch Public Road.

It was reported to the police, that Gill who was the driver of a pink Toyota Premio, was seen driving along the public road reportedly at a fast rate when he lost control and crashed into the electrical pole that was on the southern side of the road.

Due to the impact of the collision, the pole broke, leaving exposed wires hanging around his vehicle.

Eyewitnesses told police that when he opened his car

door to exit the vehicle, he stepped on one of the exposed wires which then electrocuted him.

Persons rushed to his rescue after witnessing what had transpired and transported him to the hospital while he was in an unconscious state.

He was admitted and treated for third degree burns to both legs, and fourth degree burns to his neck.

Kaieteur News understands that he has since regained consciousness and is in a stable state.

Linden hospital now offering dialysis The new Dialysis Centre at the Linden Hospital Complex

R

esidents residing in the Upper DemeraraBerbice Region (Region 10) who have been diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease and are required to undergo hemodialysis for survival, can now access this service at the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC).

Though it was set up in 2020, the centre only became operational a few weeks ago and is already treating patients.

While the service is not yet subsidised, residents are relieved since the transportation cost for travel, two to three times per week to access the service at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), is no longer seen as a major

burden.

One patient who had to make the trip to Georgetown twice per week, said in addition to the $24,000 she had to find to pay for two sessions, she also had to find a minimum of $10,000 in transportation cost to journey to Georgetown.

“I was diagnosed to do the treatment three times per week given my other complications, but I couldn't afford doing it three times, so I had to settle for two and then you had to find the passage. It wasn't easy, so this coming up here is a great ease on me,” the patient said.

She plans to now use the monies formerly expended on transportation, to fund her third session, as prescribed.

Medical Associate, Dr.

Le Andre Hinds, who is in charge of the facility told Kaieteur News that patients could benefit from the services between Mondays to Fridays from 08:00 hrs. to 16:30 hrs. There are approximately 45 patients residing in Region 10 who are registered at the GPHC. Dr. Hinds said that since there is only one Nephrologist in Guyana who is employed at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), patients might still need to travel from time to time for checkups as well as to complete laboratory tests.

Persons desirous of being treated at the centre can visit the Linden Hospital Complex or call 4444572/632- 1186.

Saturday May 22, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 15

PAGE 16

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Saturday May 22, 2021

Kaieteur News

Saturday May 22, 2021

PAGE 17

$19.4M forged cheques matter…

GRA employees, others charged Y

esterday, two employees from the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), and two other men appeared before a City Magistrate to answer to the charge of forging $19.4M in GRA cheques.

Those charged are Randi Gladstone, 38; Leroy Green, 26, an accountant of William Street, Kitty, Georgetown; Ivor Dowridge, 26, of Second Street, Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara, and Tooqwan C l a r k e , 2 5 , o f We s t Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

Green and Dowridge are GRA employees.

The four men appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts before Senior Magistrate, Leron Daly. However, they were not the first persons who

were charged for the offence.

The persons who were first charged are Romeschand Singh, 40, of Back Street, Squatting Area, Grove, East Bank Demerara; Komalram Persaud, 25, of Golden Grove; Devindra Moteeram, 24, of Jackson Dam, East La Penitence, Georgetown; Anush Khan, 29, of Golden Grove, Diamond and Shareesa Tappin, 26, of C l i ff o r d Av e n u e , Georgetown.

Gladstone, Dowridge, Green and Clarke were not required to plead to the indictable charges that were read to them. The charges alleges that Gladstone, between October 28, 2020 and May 11, 2021, conspired with Greene, Dowridge, Clarke, Singh, Persaud, Moteeram, Khan, Tappin and others, to forge two

Charged, Leroy Green Bank of Guyana (BoG) cheques, purporting that they were issued by the GRA's Internal Revenue Department.

The charges further stated that one of the cheques was dated April 9, 2021 and was made out to the value of $9,550,000, while the other was dated April 20, 2021 and

Charged, Ivor Dowridge was made out to the value of $9,875,000.

P o l i c e p r o s e c u t o r, Richard Harris, made objections to bail being granted to Gladstone citing that he has a similar matter before the court, which was committed on the Ministry of Business.

Senior Magistrate Daly placed

Remanded, Randi Gladstone Clarke, Green and Dowridge on $600,000 bail each and remanded Gladstone to prison. The matter was then adjourned to July 2, 2021.

On Tuesday, Singh, Persaud, Moteeram, Khan and Tappin made their court appearance. They were slapped with two joint charges which allege that they conspired with each other and others to forged two BOG cheques. Tappin was charged separately for presenting and cashing one of the cheques that was made out in her name.

The Magistrate had placed Persaud, Singh, Moteeram, and Khan on $600,000 bail each with reporting conditions attached, while Tappin was remanded to prison since she is currently serving a sentence. They are expected to make their next court appearance on June 21, 2021.

Kaieteur News had (continued on page 17)

DDL Subsidiary, AGT Energy ink MOU with Oil and Gas service provider UPS for Guyana, Suriname Upstream Sector

From the left is Kerry Fisher, Regional Vice President of UPS; Ramesh Persaud, Managing Director of DDL and Danny Balkissoon, Managing Director of AGT Energy Group Inc. signing the MOU.

D

e m e r a r a Contractors and Engineers Limited (DCEL) and AGT Energy Group Inc. (AGT) have announced that they recently inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Universal Plant Services (UPS) to serve the Guyana

and Suriname upstream and energy sector.

The MOU was signed by Kerry Fisher, Regional Vice President of UPS; Ramesh Persaud, Managing Director of Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) and Danny Balkissoon, Managing Director of AGT Energy

Group Inc. at DCEL's Providence, East Bank Demerara office on Thursday last.

UPS, a Jones Industrial Holdings company, provides world-class integrated specialty services designed to maximise the performance of critical energy assets. As one of

North America's largest comprehensive specialty service providers, UPS provides construction and maintenance, repair and installation services for rotating, fixed, reciprocating and electrical equipment to the refining, petrochemical, power generation and offshore industries. The company has the proven skills to guide diverse capital projects to successful completion with extensive experience operating in Greenfield (new) and Brownfield (existing) construction.

UPS will now provide maintenance, repair and installation services for rotating, fixed, reciprocating and electrical equipment to support the energy sector in the two countries.

Furthermore, the

Fmr PM, Chinese Co. call $1,000 per acre...

From page 3 Aurora Gold Mines by Zinjin Mining Group, on resumption of operations more than 800 local employees were hired to restart operations and Mining.

It is crucial to note that this publication had never claimed that the new Chinese company had terminated the services of 800 employees but

rather, that when the company took over the operations it had laid off “a significant number of local businesses, and by extensions, hundreds of Guyanese workers.”

The company now in fact claims, that as a policy decision, it “encouraged and cultivated local entrepreneurship where hundreds of small and medium-sized businesses

were offered opportunities to either be suppliers of services or suppliers of products.”

With regards obligations for the payment of royalty and taxes, the company said it “continues to be a serious adherent to all Governing Laws and Regulations and Policies relative to its operations in Guyana.”

As such, it is pleased “to

state that payment of Royalties, Income Taxes, and National Insurance (NIS) are all current.”

Defending its contract, the company said “the Mineral Agreement was comprehensively scrutinized and the conditions granted were not unusual to those granted to others involved in same and similar mining activities.”

companies are engaged to provide services to multinational companies to support all services associated with the upstream sector in Guyana and Suriname, both offshore and onshore. Kaieteur News understands that the team will work to support

ExxonMobil's offshore refining interests in Guyana.

Kerry Fisher, Regional Vice President of UPS, said, “UPS is honoured to enter into this agreement with DCEL and AGT Energy Group and begin work in Guyana. We understand the (continued on page 17)

GWI says close to $30M stolen from bank account

T

he Board of Directors for the G uyana Water Incorporated informed the media yesterday that a fraud was perpetrated at a Commercial Bank, which led to almost $30M being removed from its account.

GWI said the fraud was discovered by the Finance Department upon reconciling accounts for March 2021. The amounts are $17,489,417 debited on March 16, 2021 and $12,327,515 debited on March 24, 2021.

Upon querying, the bank informed GWI that the amounts represent payments made via wire transfer instructions, payable to persons resident in the USA. The names of the recipients are Troy Robertson, of 1405 Brooklyn Avenue AF2F,

Brooklyn Avenue, New York 11210, and Deyannera Mohamed, of 1998 Pacific Street, Brooklyn, NY 11216.

It has been established that both signatures on the wire transfer instruction letters were forged.

GWI was keen to note that it has never conducted business with these persons, at no time initiated, or instructed the bank to carry out these fictitious transactions.

The agency said too that the Guyana Police Force was promptly called in and is currently conducting investigations.

The police finger print experts have since confirmed that the signatures were forgeries.

Kaieteur News understands that Bank of Guyana has also been notified of this fraud.

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Saturday May 22, 2021

Kaieteur News

Climate change: G7 ministers agree new steps against fossil fuels (BBC) - The world’s major nations have taken further significant steps to help limit climate change.

G7 environment ministers have agreed that they will deliver climate targets in line with limiting the rise in global temperatures to 1.5C. That’s far more ambitious than the previous 2C maximum.

Ministers also agreed to stop direct funding of coalfired power stations in poorer nations by the end of 2021.

There’s wriggle room in the statement, but the decision will send a clear message to development banks that still fund coal power in poor countries.

There’s also an important commitment to safeguarding 30% of land for nature by 2030 to boost wildlife and help soak up carbon emissions.

Environment ministers from the UK, the US, Canada,

Japan, France, Italy and Germany took part in the virtual G7 meeting, which is one of a series leading to the leaders’ gathering in Cornwall in June.

The online meeting was led by the UK, and a government source told BBC News: “We’re pretty encouraged by the outcomes.”

The decisions that have been taken are an important stepping-stone on the road towards the vital global climate summit in Glasgow in November called COP26.

The move to keep their policies in line with 1.5C implies much faster action to cut emissions by 2030, rather than by mid-century.

Nick Mabey from the climate think tank E3G told BBC News: “This is looking good.

“It puts the burden on any fossil fuel development

now to prove that it’s 1.5C compatible.”

The ministers are said to have been heavily influenced by a recent report from the rich nations’ energy think tank, the IEA. The study said that if the world wanted to reach netzero emissions by the middle of the century, then there could be no new coal, oil or gas development from now on.

The G7 ministers agreed much more cash was needed to help fast-growing economies such as India and Indonesia to get clean technology. This decision will be pushed forward at the G7 Finance ministers’ meeting on 4 June.

The communique issued by the ministers at the end of the meeting said: “We will phase out new direct government support for carbon-intensive

Young people in Sydney have taken to the streets again to demand action on climate change. (Anadolu Agency) international fossil fuel energy.” This is expected to mean coal and oil.

But there’s no date for enactment of the policy, with Japan arguing against strong strictures against coal. The UK hopes Japan will bend further on this by the Glasgow conference in November.

Another statement in communique said: “We commit to take concrete steps towards an absolute end to new direct government support for unabated international thermal coal power generation by end of 2021.”

The UK Environment Secretary George Eustice told a news conference that the G7 would work towards ending unregulated fishing - and strive to improve marine biodiversity in international

waters.

The US special climate envoy John Kerry said the meeting showed a unique sense of urgency - and unity.

He said the G7 had understood the need to make sure some groups of people aren’t left behind by the coming low-carbon revolution.

The ministers agreed that the world should move towards zero emission vehicles. The G7 were joined

by India, Australia, South Africa and South Korea who have guest status at the meeting.

The elephant not in the room was China. The UK’s tactic is not to blame the world’s biggest carbon emitter, but to lay down a challenge.

One UK source said: “It’s

a question of us saying ‘this is what we are doing to protect the planet - what are you going to do to protect yourselves and the planet?’”.

UK sources were keen to emphasise that with President Biden as US leader, western democracies had now re-taken charge of the international agenda.

The G7 nations now need to prove they have policies to back their intentions. The UK government told BBC News it supported the IEA report, but wouldn’t be revoking recent North Sea drilling licences.

Ministers have also declined to halt the proposed Cumbria coal mine, and they’re pushing ahead with a £27bn roads programme and the HS2 rail project - both of which will increase emissions.

Children picking “whitee” leads to chopping incident While picking Sijan or “whitee” as it is commonly known, a 12-year-old boy was chopped to his heel by his 10-year-old playmate on Thursday.

According a police report, the two boys, while in the company of other children were picking the fruit from a tree located in Station Street, Matthew’s Ridge, North West District.

The report went on to state that the victim’s friend had a

cutlass in his possession that was used to cut down branches from the tree to gain better access to the fruit.

The boy then reportedly saw a face mask on the ground and attempted to chop it. It was at this moment that the 12-year-old placed his foot in the path of the cutlass.

This unfortunately, led to the boy receiving a gaping wound to his heel. The boy was picked up by a relative

and taken to the Pakera District Hospital, where the doctor on duty admitted him as a patient and later referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for further medical attention. His condition is regarded as stable.

A Welfare Officer was summoned along with the mothers of both minors and the 10-year-old was sent away in the custody of his mother.

Saturday May 22, 2021

Kaieteur News

COVID-19 claims lives of two more Guyanese The Ministry of Health (MoH) yesterday announced that two persons who tested positive for the novel Coronavirus (COVID19) have died. Their deaths now bring Guyana’s COVID-19 death toll to 351.

The latest fatalities are a 52-year-old woman from Region Three (Essequibo Islands- West Demerara) and a 58-year-old male from Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne). According to a press release from the Ministry, both persons died on Thursday while receiving treatment at a medical facility.

Furthermore, the Health Ministry in its

daily COVID-19 dashboard recorded 160 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 15,903. The dashboard also shows that 18 patients are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 113 persons are in the institutional isolation, 1,876 in home isolation and eight persons are quarantined institutionally. To date, 13,545 recoveries have been recorded.

A breakdown of new cases per Region shows that Region Four leads with 63 new cases, Region Three with 27, Region Seven with 19, Region Eight with 16, Region Five with 10, Region 10 with nine, Region Two with eight, Region Six with five, Region Nine with two and Region One with one.

...GRA employees, others charged From page 11 reported that an investigation was launched by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) after threeforged GRA cheques were discovered to be cashed at a commercial bank. The discovery was made after an employee at the bank called GRA to confirm the issuance and the amount of a fourth cheque that was attempted to be cashed. Commissioner General of GRA, Godfrey Statia, had confirmed that the cheques are not authentic GRA cheques. He further highlighted that all cheques issued by the GRA are stamped “not negotiable.” He explained that this means, that commercial banks are not allowed to cash them and that they must be deposited into a payee account.

He had told this newspaper that the forgers have been en-cashing cheques at a commercial bank that purportedly shows that they

were issued by the GRA. He further noted, that the fact that the forged cheques were cashed at a commercial bank, demonstrates some level of collusion between the forgers, the bank's employees and likely some GRA employees who may have provided the forgers with the cheque numbers.

According to Statia, GRA's original cheques are issued by the Bank of Guyana (BoG) and all of the cheques are in their possession. He disclosed that GRA will not be conducting any fraud investigation since the agency has the original cheques, whether blank or cancelled. After the discovery was made, the entity notified the police, and an investigation was launched into the matter.

Statia has noted that the matter points to collusion between the bank employees and the forger or negligence.

...DDL Subsidiary, AGT Energy ink MOU From page 11 importance of Guyana's oil and gas sector to the growth of the country and its people and recognise the significance this particular refining project will have on both.”

Mr. Fisher added, “We've successfully completed projects all over the world and we're excited to bring our expertise and passion to this project, as well as to the people of Guyana.” Darren Debidden, Oil and Gas Consultant for DCEL, speaking on the signing of the MOU said, “We're excited to bring UPS onto the team. They have an extensive track record as a trusted service provider to ExxonMobil, and we're confident that experi-

ence, along with their reputation for training and community involvement, will be beneficial for this project. We're confident UPS is the right partner who will be dedicated not only to the success of the project but to Guyana and its people as well.” Ramesh Persaud, Managing Director of DDL, the parent company of DCEL commenting on the signing of the MOU said, “Demerara Distillers Limited is very pleased to welcome UPS to Guyana and we're happy to be having this agreement with them so that we can advance our business within the area of the oil and gas support sector.

We welcome them and we look forward to developing our partnership into the future.”

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Kaieteur News

Saturday May 22, 2021

Saturday May 22, 2021

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Kaieteur News

...St Kitts & Nevis Patriots

...Domestic-based ‘Lady Jags’ From page 22 matches for the CONCACAF Women’s Championship are scheduled for November 2021 and April 2022, with details to be announced in the coming months.

“We have a very talented and passionate domestic squad that is raring to get back on the pitch,” said Assistant Coach Akilah Castello, who will lead the training sessions in Guyana, under the guidance of Canada-based Head Coach Dr. Ivan Joseph.

“Because of the absence of competition during covid, we are going to focus first on building fitness and conditioning,” Castello said.

“Our aim, over the coming months, will be to develop a larger domestic cohort of players that is ready and able to contribute to the final squad to represent

Guyana on the international stage and to make our nation proud.”

In addition to the senior women’s national team’s activities this year, the U20 women’s team will participate in Concacaf U20 Women’s Championship qualifiers in September, while the U17s compete in the Concacaf U17 Women’s Championship in August.

The GFF will also be sending the U14 squad to the Caribbean Football Union Challenge Series and will host the U15 squad in a camp to prepare for regional competition next year.

“The GFF is committed to investing heav i l y i n women’s football as we look to make up for lost time during the covid-19 pandemic and deliver on our strategic plan to develop football for all in Guyana,” Forde said.

From page 25 Patriots have brought in two players from other franchises.

They have signed Dwayne Bravo from Trinbago Knight Riders in a trade deal that saw Denesh Ramdin go the other way. They have also signed Sherfane Rutherford from Guyana Amazon Warriors.

In addition to these two signings, they have retained Evin Lewis, Fabian Allen, Sheldon Cottrell, Jon Russ Jaggesar and Rayad Emrit.

Exciting young prospects Joshua Da Silva and Dominic Drakes round out the retentions.

The Patriots have eight spots to fill to complete their squad and these will be announced in the coming weeks.

Mahesh Ramani, Patri-

Saturday May 22, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) It's important to take a hard look at yourself and know where you're going, Aries.

A little self-analysis never hurt anyone, especially when you feel like you aren't getting anywhere.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Taurus, you tend to run away from confrontation, but today you might not be able to avoid it. Your partner or a family member may be putting pressure on you.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You may feel a little weary today. It's a good time to take stock of your life. You may have gotten some news about someone that has caused you some pain.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) You have the gift of being able to get your great ideas across to others. In your family, you may be the one who teaches your children about life and its responsibilities.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) There may be tension in the air as you go about your day. The leftover fatigue from the past few days is starting to wear on you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You don't live your life by society's rules. Your freedom is what is most important to you. But despite your independence, there are days when you have the sudden, sinking feeling that you could wind up alone in this world.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Libra, life around you today almost seems like a (bad) dream. It's almost as if people are talking, but nothing intelligible is coming out of their mouths.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You can't spend all your time running from one activity to the next, Scorpio.

You need to take a break from time to time.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Today's planetary configuration has you wondering about an aspect of your life that causes you a good deal of hardship, Sagittarius.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You may have been a little difficult to be around lately.

You like to treat yourself to a little moodiness from time to time, but the people around you might appreciate a little cooperation.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Let your sensual, nurturing instincts shine through.

Rely on your sixth sense. If things start to get rough, remember that you have the ability to keep your cool.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) A solid grounding is apt to be extremely important to you today, Pisces. Hearts may be broken or won, depending on how well you play your cards. Keep in mind that the slow and steady contender is most likely going to win this race.

ots owner, said: “The St Kitts and Nevis Franchise extends a warm welcome to the new players joining us this year as well as to our retained core team for yet an another exciting season of the Hero CPL. This year makes it extra special with us playing at our home – Warner Park. I would like to thank all our team players, support staff and management as well as our global fan base for their continued love and support. I look forward to an amazing season in 2021.”

St Kitts & Nevis Patriots retentions: Dwayne Bravo (from TKR), Evin Lewis, Fabian Allen, Sherfane Rutherford (from GAW), Sheldon Cottrell, Rayad Emrit, Jon Russ Jaggesar, Dominic Drakes and Joshua Da Silva.

...National TT player Chelsea From page 24 represent the pinnacle of all sports, this represents a truly historic achievement.

This is a victory for us as a nation as a region,” he added. “It is significant in that is has shown ITTF and IOC recognition of our player’s talent and country programmes in selecting Chelsea.

This provides the platform for us to enhance the sports profile and market Guyana to the world, lobby for more support for our athletes and truly shows we have players with the talent and ability. The key focus on is working on ensuring that Chelsea gets the requisite financial to support her preparation in being ready physically, technically, tactically and psychologically so that she can face the chal-

Godfrey Munroe GTTA President lenge head on.”

The GTTA would like to express gratitude to all who have contributed and to the members who continue to work hard and play despite the challenges. (Zaheer Mohamed)

...Olympics will go ahead even under a From page 23 been vaccinated. “I’m expecting that as the number of vaccinations increase that there will be better polls and public opinion will improve, but if it doesn’t we just have to make sure that we get on with our job and our job is make sure these Games are safe for all participants and all of the people of Japan.”

The British Olympic Association has confirmed that all British athletes and support staff will be fully vaccinated before they head to Tokyo.

The organisation said in a statement: “The UK Government has confirmed that, through an agreement between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Pfizer BioNtech, Team GB and ParalympicsGB athletes and support staff will be fully vaccinated ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, based on the unique position of having to travel to Japan to go about their work.

“The agreement means the vaccines will be obtained directly from Pfizer, and will not impact current supplies for the British public.”

Analysis - Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, Tokyo correspondent It appears pretty clear from what John Coates said that any cancellation of the Tokyo Olympics is not going to come from the International Olympic Committee. Tokyo is currently under a state of emergency because of a large rise in Covid infections. The Japanese government has begun vaccinating the elderly - but so far only about 5% have received a first dose.

There is now very little time to vaccinate Japan’s 36 million pensioners before the Games open on 23 July.

Tokyo, where the Oympics Games will take place, is currently under a state of emergency

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Kaieteur News

Saturday May 22, 2021

Domestic-based ‘Lady Jags’ kick start training today The long road to Australia and New Zealand begins this weekend, as the domestic-based senior women’s national squad starts its preparations for 2023 FIFA World Cup qualification. Following testing for covid-19 this week, the ‘Lady Jags’ will begin sessions at the GFF National Training Centre at Providence today and tomorrow with training set to run until the final squad is announced ahead of the first round of CONCACAF qualifying fixtures in November.

“We are delighted to

have the Lady Jags commence their important preparations for these crucial games,” said Guyana Football Federation President Wayne Forde. “We all know the record of success that the ‘Lady Jags’ has achieved in recent years.

The GFF is investing in this extended training regime and all other necessary measures to ensure this success continues this year.”

“We are confident that this generation of players can take us to the next level, especially as more young players come through the ranks via GFF’s youth

development programmes,” Forde said.

As in the previous cycle, the CONCACAF Women’s Championship – slated for July 2022 – will serve as the qualification tournament for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which will be held in Australia and New Zealand.

The top four teams from the CONCACAF Women’s Championship will qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, with a further two teams competing in an interconfederation play-off tournament. Qualification (Continued on page 19)

Kaieteur News

Saturday May 22, 2021

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MCY&S/GCF Independence Three-Stage Road Race 2021

Alexander Leung and Aneisha Crandon, the 13 year-old duo with a bright future ahead

By Franklin Wilson Following a hiatus of some four years, this nation’s most prestigious multiple stage race on the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) calendar made a welcome return, thanks to the intervention of Minister of Sport Charles Ramson Jr. who stepped in to ensure that such a historic event is preserved.

Minister Ramson has pledged to ensure that the event receives the needed financial fuel to keep going in the coming years.

While the event showcased the might of the nation’s seniors cyclists battling for over 170 miles, it also brought to the fore a couple of exciting prospects who, once given the opportunity to develop in the correct way, can go on to excel for themselves and Guyana.

Two 13 year-old riders have emerged and did themselves proud, Aneisha Crandon who hails from the Ancient County of Berbice and City based rider, Alexander Francis Leung, son of former national cyclist Englebert Leung and brother of former junior national cyclist Raphael Leung who won back to back junior Independence titles in 2015 and 2016, the last year the event took place before being stooped due no government funding.

Aneisha Crandon like Alexander Leung who is most referred to as Alex by his peers and others, have both expressed delight at being able to compete in last

weekend’s event and will both be on show again in eth Guyana Cycling Federation National Championships which will pedal off with the Time Trials today on the Linden Soesdyke Highway.

Crandon attends the Corentyne Comprehensive High School and is presently a Form 2 student who has been competing for less than a year. Her mother, Charlene who was always alongside her during the race informed that this was also young Crandon’s first road race and she is rearing to go as she loves cycling.

Crandon’s love for the sport developed almost instantaneously after she competed and won her events during her school sports and as her mother said, ‘She fell in love with the sport.”

“Aneisha is very happy to be able to what she loves, riding, and even more happy to have placed third at such a prestigious event in less than a year on the cycle and her first competitive national event.”

Event at age 13, Alex Leung is a seasoned campaigner as he started riding at the BMX level at the tender age of five (5) under the watchful eyes of the indefatigable Mr. Hassan Mohamed in the National Park during the National Sports Commission (NSC) Teach Them Young August programme.

Leung graduated to training on racing cycle and road racing at 11 years-old and would have been encouraged apart from his

parents, Englebert and Maria, by former GCF President and Owner of We Stand United Cycle Club of which he is a member, Horace Burrowes.

Leung attends Christ Church Secondary School and is in Grade 8. Through his mother, Maria, Leung stated that he feels extremely ecstatic at this moment because he is only 13 years old, especially after just concluding and finishing two stages in the MCY&S Independence three-stage Road Race 2021. He would have liked to ride the final stage but that was not possible as the GCF did not allow.

Maria further shared: “Alex will be riding the National Championships Time Trials and Road Race.He is striving to achieve in five years, representing Guyana at the j u n i o r W o r l d Championships and in the future to be able to become a Pro cyclist by Gods grace to ride in Europe.”

The GCF National Championships will kick off today from 07:30hrs on the Linden Soesdyke Highway with the Time Trials (a distance of 10 miles) while tomorrow, the senior road race totaling 100 miles would be contested from Banks DIH Main Office (Rotunda) proceed to the Linden/Soesdyke Highway and return to the starting line for the finish.

The Road Race for juniors, women and veterans will be contested next Sunday at Mahaica.

Olympics will go ahead even under a state of emergency - IOC BBCsport - This summer’s Olympics will go ahead even if Tokyo remains in a state of a emergency, says International Olympic Committee vice-president John Coates. Japan’s capital is one of nine prefectures under a state of emergency until 31 May at the earliest because of the coronavirus pandemic.

It was brought in because of a rise in cases, which has since started to fall. “We’ve successfully seen five sports hold their test events during the state of emergency,” Coates said.

“All of the plans that we

have in place to protect the safety and security of athletes and the people of Japan are based around the w o r s t p o s s i b l e circumstances, so the answer [to whether the Games could take place during a state of emergency] is absolutely yes.

“The advice we have got from the World Health Organisation and all of the scientific advice, is that all the measures we have outlined in the playbook, all those measures are satisfactory to ensure a safe and secure Games in terms of health, and that’s whether

there is a state of emergency or not.”

Recent polls in Japan have shown nearly 70% of the population do not want the Olympics, which starts on 23 July, to go ahead.

Japan has long insisted there was no question the Games, which should have taken place last summer, would be held and will be safe.

Asked about the negative opinion polls, Coates added: “There may well be a correlation between some of these percentages and the low percentages so far of people in Japan who have (Continued on page 21)

Kaieteur News

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Saturday May 22, 2021

National TT player Chelsea Edghill lands historic Olympic berth National Table Tennis Player Chelsea Edghill will represent Guyana at the Tokyo Olympics scheduled to be held from July 23 to August 8. Edghill, Guyana’s highest-ranked female player reached the quarterfinals of the Olympic qualifiers held recently in

Argentina and was granted a ‘Wild Card’ to the games.

In Olympics, countries that fail to produce athletes who meet qualification standards are granted ‘Wild Cards’ which allow them to enter. This system of qualifying is added to a strict qualification system to

encourage greater sports participation worldwide.

For Table Tennis only one (1) men’s singles and one (1) women’s singles Tripartite Commission Invitation Places for the sport are made available at the Olympic Games for which Chelsea secured the

sole selection.

Edghill, a former Caribbean Under-21 Wo m e n ’s c h a m p i o n becomes the first Table Tennis player to represent Guyana at a senior Summer Olympic Games. In the realm of this sport, the University of Lindenwood Missouri graduate in Chemistry performance in international competition attempts at qualification tournament wins; Pan American games qualification ability and potential of the athlete among others played a critical role in her selection of the Universality spots (wild card).

Edghill is a former ITTF

With The Future in Mind Scholarship Awardee and a former Junior Olympian (Nanjing China 2014). This comes on the heels of Guyana’s Women’s team of Edghill, Trenace Lowe, Natalie Cummings, Jody Ann Blake and Priscila Greaves qualification to the Wo r l d T a b l e T e n n i s Championships in Buscan, South Korea which was cancelled due to the covid19 pandemic.

In an invited comment, Edghill said she is ecstatic about the feat. “I didn’t think I would have made it, but I must thank God. Hard work pays off., I want to be able to compete and want to leave a mark for my country and this

will require a lot of hard work,” she added.

Edghill stated that one of her goals is to be ranked in the top 100 or even 50 players and has expressed gratitude to her parents, Sydney Christophe, Coaches including Edi Lewis and Lisa Lewis, friends and the GTTA as well as all those who have supported her.

President of the GTTA Godfrey Munroe said this is a win for Guyana and regional Table Tennis and is a testimony to the talent, hard work and determination of Chelsea, built on the sacrifices of the player’s officials and stakeholders.

“Olympic Games (Continued on page 19)

Kaieteur News

Saturday May 22, 2021

ALL of MCY&S Programmes to undergo change, new initiatives being birthed - Minister Ramson

By Franklin Wilson With a very robust approach already underway as regards infrastructure development and expansion, Minister of Culture Youth and Sport Charles Ramson Jr. has disclosed that it is just the beginning of a total transformation of his ministry in every department.

Ramson made the disclosure during his feature remarks at the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club 31st Anniversary Awards Ceremony held on Sunday last at the St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Youth Club, Rose Hall Town.

Stating that the MCY&S has already categorised sports into core and no-core disciplines, the ministry would be setting up academies (a manifesto promise) which would be tournament based with the first being the nursery, the budget for same is already being worked on, the Minister informed.

He noted that all the associations and federation who are a part of the initiative have already agreed that there would be one coach for each core sport.

“For cricket and football, we are looking at four, this is how we are starting off and then we will advance that, once it’s a success. The tournament’s as I have said before, in fact the place where I made the statement right here in Berbice where tournaments are going to be the key drivers of talent development.”

This would be completed with what Ramson says would be the Elite Training Academy.

Sherfane Rutherford ©CPL T20/ Getty Images

Minister of Culture Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr. “Your elite training academy functions in a very deliberate way, something very similar to a camp. So out of your tournaments you have advanced or above average players who then move into the elite training academy.”

Ramson further noted that athletes from the various core sports who are chosen for the elite training academy would be receiving a stipend.

“That is something new that is something that has never been done before. So it functions where they are there in this academy, almost their entire day is going to be spent towards amplifying their attention towards the details of the development of their talent for that particular sport.”

In the realms of culture, Ramson shared that his Ministry is aiming to create cultural spots or hubs across various regions in Guyana.

“So that young people could get expose to the training of various art forms or connected to culture; so

painting and drawing and dancing and drama, drumming and music etc. All of those are now going to be offered beyond Georgetown so that the people of Region six, the people of Region five and three, two and ten, all of them, young people who never had a chance before, they can now get a chance to experience it but also learn.”

This initiative Minister Ramson noted would complement the talent search which has already commenced and it will form the basis for building a registry of talent.

He explains further: “That registry of artistic talent, whatever the talent is, artistes or dancers, various art forms in dancing or musicians etc. Singers, that registry would be made public so that people the private sector when they have events and there would be lots of events as our country becomes more prosperous there would be lots more events that are not only driven by the ministry.

It’s going to be driven by the

Dwayne Bravo.

(Twitter Photo)

St Kitts & Nevis Patriots announce 2021 retentions The St Kitts & Nevis Patriots have announced their retentions for the 2021 Hero Caribbean Premier League which gets under way on August 28th in St Kitts & Nevis. The (Continued on page 25)

private sector as well.”

Whenever events are being held he shared, persons would not have to search to find the kind of talent they would require for their events, it would be available via the registry that would be available on the Ministry’s website.

All the local artistes who would have been performing at events the Ministry has hosted since 2020 are all being paid, Ramson said.

“So they get a chance to earn some income as a result of the talent and the passion that they have towards that particular craft that they have.” A system of certified Brand Ambassadors as well as an Online Market for Craftsmen are also being worked on by the MCY&S. with regards to the Online Market for Craftsmen, Ramson shared that they are working in collaboration with the Guyana Marketing and Services Association as they have already commenced building a website.

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