Kaieteur News

Children lay flowers at a ceremony in honour of the 19 children who perished in the fire at Mahdia on Sunday. (Office of the President)

US$2B parent guarantee for oil spills

Financial Analyst, TomSanzillofinds it quite troubling that American oil giant, ExxonMobil Corporation, is pushingforGuyanatoaccept a meager US$2B parent guarantee for oil spill coverage when the company itselfisworthajaw-dropping US$429B.

His comment is in wake of a ruling issued on May 3, 2023 by Justice Sandil Kissoon. The High Court Judge ordered the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to secure an unlimited parent company guarantee agreement from Exxon Such a document would ensure that Exxon coversallcostsforanoilspill causedbyitssubsidiary,Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) which operates in the

StabroekBlock.

Exxon worth US$429B but only offering Guyana – Int'l Financial Analyst

Importantly,theEPAand EEPGL have up to June 10, 2023 to provide this unlimited parent company guarantee from Exxon or face the suspension of the LizaPhaseOnePermitwhere over 150,000 barrels of oil arebeingproduceddaily

Following his review of thejudgment,Sanzillosaidit is“unclearwhyExxonMobil, theworld'sleadingprivateoil company with a market capitalization of US$429 billion,wouldhavehesitated to provide full insurance against any potential catastrophe.”

Hesaidtoothatitremains unclear “why the Guyanese government is not enforcing the environmental permit to obtain the guarantee, especially given that it is signed by the consortium's

president in return for permission to operate. It is part of the terms of the permit, an acknowledged cost of doing business and cannot be viewed as a new, unforeseen cost to ExxonMobil.”

Head of ExxonMobil Guyana, Alistair Routledge recently reasoned that the US$2B parent guarantee is an adequate sum that was produced by an independent consultant paid for by EEPGL. Routledge said the sum was arrived at considering “credible scenarios” as well as Australia's standards on parent guarantees. He said a study is imminent on the matter using the UK standards.

If that study suggests the need for an increase then the US$2B allotment would be

reconsidered In the meantime,Routledgeandhis company want Guyana to acceptUS$2Basasufficient parentguarantee.

Routledgehadalsonoted that the US$2B parent guarantee only caters for oil spillliabilitiesinGuyanaand not the potential damage to 12 other Caribbean nations, a s w a r n e d i n t h e Environmental Impact Assessment for the Liza PhaseOneProject.

TheEPAhassinceagreed to accept the US$2B parent guarantee and is poised to receive supporting documentsonthisfrontsoon.

600M insurance

package Routledge also argued that EEPGL's financialassetsareashighas US$19B, all of which could be accessed to cover oil spill costs.

Significantly, Justice Kissoon had ruled that even the US$2B parent guarantee still leaves EEPGL and its partners in breach of the permit which requires an unlimitedprotection.

Thispartofhisjudgment was elucidated after unsigned documents pertaining to the guarantee were placed before him for consideration.

JusticeKissoonsaidsuch documents are irrelevant since the amount of US$2B does not bring EEPGL into compliance with the requirementsofthepermit.

Justice Kissoon categorically stated that the Liza Phase One Permit carries a confluence of measures at Condition 14 which stipulate and impose full, complete and unlimited liability upon the Permit Holder for any discharge of any contaminant into the environmentandforallcosts of clean up, restoration and any damages all of which constitute legitimate liabilities under the Permit. The Judge said the norm or standard in relation to activities of this nature has beenandcontinuestobethat the Permit Holder is exclusively and solely

responsible for all such liabilities arising from its operationswithoutlimitation orexception.

Internationally,theruling has had a significant impact onExxon'sstockprice.Ithad plunged by 12 percent in recent weeks to US$105. Yesterday,itbarelymovedto US$107.

E x x o n M o b i l shareholders have also taken note of the ruling and are poised to challenge the oil gianttocomecleanaboutthe potential risks and liabilities ofitsoperationswhichcould affectnotonlyGuyanabut12 other Caribbean nations Thatchallengeisexpectedto manifest by way of two proposals come May 31 at E x x o n ' s A n n u a l ShareholdersMeeting.

EEPGLandtheEPAhave since appealed Justice Kissoon's ruling in an effort to stay the consequences of his order That case will be heardonMay29.

Miner shot at Sussex Street

Police are currently looking for two men who shot a 27year-old miner on Tuesday at Sussex Street Albouystown, Georgetown.

Hospitalised with a gunshot wound to the left thigh is Kerol Atthon of Vigilance South, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Atthon told police that the shooting took place around 16:40hrs. He had taken his wife and young son to a photo studioonSussexStreet.Itwashisyoungson'sbirthdayandhe hadgonetheretodoaphotoshootforthecelebrations.Afew minutesaftertheirarrivalatthestudio,Atthonreportedlyleft to purchase some beverages for his family and while returning, he was shot. Police learnt that Atthon was approachedbytwomenwhilewalkinginasoutherlydirection alongSussexStreet.Oneofthemenarmedwithagunshotat Atthon before they both escaped in the Albouystown community

Persons who witnessed the shooting assisted Atthon by rushinghimtotheWoodlandsHospital.Hewastreatedthere and later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation(GPHC)whereheremainshospitalised. Investigationsareongoing.

Financial Analyst, Tom Sanzillo

Exxon awards Houston firm multi-million dollar contract for gas-to-energy project

Trendsetter Engineering Inc., a firmbasedinHouston,UnitedStates has been awarded a multi-million dollar contract to provide Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (“ExxonMobil Guyana”) with an order of TC11 Connection Systems.

Kaieteur News understands that ExxonMobil Guyana plans to use Trendsetter's innovative clamp connectors on the Gas-to-Energy project The contract includes Trendsetter'sTCSsubseaconnectors, hubs, and an assortment of pressure caps and tooling. The contract also includessubseavalves,sourcedfrom Advanced Technology Valve (ATV) in Colico, Italy The equipment is slatedfordeliveryinmid-2023.

Trendsetter Engineering, Inc. is a privately owned oil and gas service company based in Houston, Texas which provides specialized subsea hardware and offshore service solutions globally, from exploration drilling through abandonment. The Trendsetter Connection System (TCS)isafamilyofsubseaconnector solutions developed to meet industry needs for reliable, innovative connector products. The heart of the TCSisTrendsetter'sproprietaryTEX

metal-to-metal (MTM) gasket system.

Trendsetter first introduced its subsea connector and TEX gasket technology to the industry in 2013. These include options from 2” through20”nominalsizes,aswellas multi-bore, 400°F and 20,000 psi capabilities.“Gas-to-Energyisatruly transformational project for the country and people of Guyana and we're proud to be a part of it,” said Tony Matson, Vice President of TrendsetterEngineering.

Construction for the project is scheduled to begin this year, with CH4-Lindsayca handling the natural gas-firedpowerplantandnaturalgas liquidsplant,whileEssoExploration and Production Guyana Limited will constructthepipeline.

Thepipelinewillbeconnectedto theLizaPhaseOneandTwoProjects, allowing for the transfer of gas to onshore facilities at the Wales DevelopmentSite.

The pipeline alone is expected to costoverUS$1.3B,whiletheonshore facilities will cost US$759M. The project is expected to increase the competitiveness of other industries while reducing the nation's reliance onheavyfossilfuels.

G$1.23 trillion in profits from Stabroek

ExxonMobil and partners raked in Block in 2022, more than double what Guyana received in profits and royalties from 2019 to April 2023

By Kiana Wilburg

ExxonMobil Corporation and its partners made a handsome profit from the Stabroek Block last year totalling GYD$1 23 trillion (US$5.9B). This is more than double what Guyana has receivedsincethecreationofits Natural Resource Fund in 2020. AsofApril,Guyanahasreceived some US$2.4B in profit oil and royaltyfromtheStabroekBlock operations.

According to the 2022 financialsforExxon'ssubsidiary and operator for the block, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), it earned $577.7B in profits, a substantialincreaseoverits2021 earnings totalling $132B. Hess Corporation's 2022 profit was listedas$322.7BwhileCNOOC was$329.8B.

The partners' profits are expected to soar beyond GY$1 trillion dollars again in 2023 as

the Payara Development Project will hit first oil this year It will work alongside the Liza Phase One and Liza Phase Two Projects, all of which are expected to produce approximately 600,000 barrels ofoilequivalentresources.

Exxon and partners already have five sanctioned projects in Guyana and are eyeing a sixth development in the oil- rich StabroekBlock.

Exploration and appraisal works are also moving at an unprecedentedpacewithsixdrill ships from the Noble Corporation fleet in use by Exxon.Infact,Exxonintendsto drill10wellsthisyear,inabidto unlockmoreoilbeforeitslicence isupin2026.

Notably,theUS$5.9Binjaw-

dropping profits is more than double the parent guarantee poised to be provided to Guyanese authorities from EEPGL's parent, ExxonMobil Corporation. EEPGL as well as the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)areatthecentreof a n a t i o n a l discussion on the need for adequatefinancialprotectionsto cover all oil spill costs. EEPGL believesUS$2Binparentand/or affiliate guarantees is sufficient, but stakeholders disagree. They want Exxon to provide an unlimited parent guarantee agreement as per the orders of a ruling issued by Justice Sandil KissoononMay3,2023. EEPGL and EPA have filed appealswhichwillberuledupon onMay29,2023.

Georgetown,Guyana.

Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456

Editor:NIGELWILLIAMS

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

Fair comment

“Fairisfoul,andfoulisfair”,sochantedthewitchesin theopeningsceneofWilliamShakespeare’sMacbeth. Itis wherethestandingorderofthingsistamperedwith,thrown intodisarray,wheretruthhasfled,anddarknessreigns. This is the ground that PPP/C Government now claims as its exclusive zone, and is apparently so pleased itself with its effortsthatitexpandsitsbeatingdownandbanishingaway ofalldissentingvoices,everyunfavourableposition. Now, thisincludeseventhoseinthejudiciarywhenthingsareheld up.

Anythingandanyonethatinterfereswiththefairnarrativeof agovernmentreflectingtheravagesofsteroidsisfairgameforits specialattention,andforatasteofitsbitterpoliticalmischief Not even the hallowed judiciary is exempted from the verbal missiles of an irate PPP/C Government, and its chief spokespeople Mischief is afoot in this land and along with political darkness “hover through the fog and filthy air” The Government,withVicePresidentJagdeoandAttorneyGeneral Nandlall in the forefront, is only too eager to rush across forbiddenbridgesandtofracturestandingtraditionsofdecency, to trample upon existing norms, and to plunder whatever goodwillisleftinthiscountry Fromtheperspectiveofanoverly deranged government everything boils down to an existential crisisof“usagainstthem”,ofgoodversusevil Evenwhenno such thing exists, no evidence supports any such contention, thereisthishueandcryofwoundedsensibilities,ofrighteous indignation, of great harms being done to the fair brow of a longsufferingPPPCGovernment BothVicePresidentJagdeo andAGNandlallhavegottengood,throughself-trainingand long practice, at throwing these divisive verbal tantrums, and then resorting to oldest of cheap political tricks. It is undertheumbrellaof“faircomment.” Whichgroupcould comment more frequently, more fully, and more foully in this country, if not the PPP/C and its leading mouthpieces? When the government and its people should be setting a quiet and convincing example of supreme self-confidence, and of unruffled calm, both are more comfortable descending in the bowels of the gutter to brawl and upend thosewhostandintheirway Buttheycalltheiruglyverbal brawling fair comment. They are proud to give the noble heading of fair comment to their mudslinging and mudwrestling.

InsteadofaPPP/CGovernmentrollingupitssleevesand workingassiduouslytoknitandhealthebrokenpiecesofthis society,itismoreinterestedin,definitelybenton,fragmenting what holds tentatively in place, what is fighting a rearguard actiontostaveoffamaraudinggovernment,whichwilltakeno prisoners Onewhichmakessureitleavesnowitnessestoits vicious barbarisms, its oral carnages The PPP/C Governmentisinthedriver’sseat,andthereisnotawhiffof political competition on the horizon, not a single political leadership presence of substance, capable of compelling a stop-in-the-tracks pausing to its rampages Yet, the government and its leadership are not content unless they canunleashanotherroundofcrudebullying,whiledoingso fromwithinthesanctuaryofostensible“faircomment.”Itis a crying shame that this has become a characteristic of a government dedicated to the boorish, the churlish, and buffoonish. Thisisanewerainthehistoryofthiscountry, anditisthesameoldPPP/CGovernment,nowthatitishost to a visiting world, and men and women of immaculate credentials.

The President himself has been known to relish what comesacrossasthethuggish. TheVicePresidentcouldhold clinics on what ranges from the loutish to the viperish, and the storied place of both in government. And theAttorney Generalhasproventobebothswordfishandwaspishwhenit suitshispurposes. Butinthemindsofthesepristineleaders of a twisted government, this is all good and well, and fits seamlessly under the tent of “fair comment.” This is the roiling mental, psychological cosmos of the PPP/C Government and its top verbal actors. There is this remarkable devaluing of what should be untouchable, and whatshouldbeleftasitis.

DEAREDITOR,

We are mothers, grandmothers, aunts, nieces and cousins, who are deeply saddened and perturbed by thedeathofsomanychildren who lost their lives in the Mahdia Secondary School Dormitoryfire.

We know the pain that these mothers and families arefeelingatthistimeforthe tragic loss of their loved ones, who were in that

location to get an education, onlyforthistohappenandto watch their labour and love and hopes for their children to be gone in the blink of an eye. Only a few years ago, we also lost children hosted atthegovernmentrunDropinCentertofire.Noamount of remorse or sympathy can bring back the lives of these children.As care givers, we must ask and answer hard and important questions

about how we are safely caring for our children in dormitoriesandotherplaces thathousethem. There are reports in the media of arson, with some news outfits saying the fire was caused by one of the schoolgirls Red Thread says, insteadoffocusingonthechild as a cause, we must focus on caring for and loving all of our children, which means providingspaceswherethey

can learn meaningfully and safely,wheretheyfeelcared for, where healthy relations witheachotherandwithteachers andcommunitiesarebuilt. Our sympathy and condolences to the families and communities who have lostchildren.

Yourstruly,

JoyMarcus

HalimaKhan

SusanCollymore

WintressWhite

Damning accusations against GPL

DEAREDITOR,

A l l o w m e t h e opportunity to address a response to a letter that was written by Ms Nathalie Pinder, Public Relations OfficeroftheGuyanaPower and Light Inc refuting claims to a letter that was written and published in the Stabroek News on May 22 ,2023 under the caption “ Corrupt and Unethical Conduct at GPL” There seems to be a trend by Ms. Pinder as well as GPL to debunkanddiscreditanyand everything exposing corruption within the company

Ms Pinder mentioned thatemployeesarepromoted based on HR policies along withseveralothercriteria.

Editor,whentheposition was advertised for a supervisor within the customer services d e p a r t m e n t , t h e requirements were as follows:

1.Diploma in Business Management or Public

M a n a g e m e n t o r

A c c o u n t a n c y / Communication from the UniversityofGuyanawithat least three (3) years relevant experience at a supervisory level,OR

2.C.C.ALevel11,withat least three (3) years relevant experience at a supervisory level. The staff who was the subject of the letter did not and does not have a universitydegreeordiploma nor at that time he did not havetheexperienceof3-5in asupervisoryposition.

Can Ms. Pinder explain whythispersonwasselected over the other applicants who were more qualified thanhim.

Does this suggest a transparent system of shortlisting and vetting applicants by GPLs HR Department?

On the subject of the security deposits, it was mentioned that staff are

manipulating the formula used for calculating the security deposits for some customers Ms Pinder refuted this and stated that this is the responsibility of senior officers of the company and is in keeping with the ESRA. What Ms. Pinderfailedtomentionand failed to understand is that the formula can be manipulated for high consumption consumers by adjusting the date and hours of operation for those consumers. Calculating the security deposit was the responsibility of supervisors approximately4monthsago when it was discovered that the supervisors were manipulating the formula which was causing the companytolosehundredsof thousands of dollars as well as putting monies in the pockets of those that are guilty of this. This responsibility was then transferred to the Commercial Officer and guess what? No form of disciplinaryactionwastaken againstthesupervisors.

IchallengeMs.Pinderto provideprooftosubstantiate herclaimsinceIhaveinmy possession several copies of security deposits that were signed by the supervisors of the customer services department prior to their being taken away as mentioned above Ms Pinder is too naive and is workingforherkeeps,soshe has to debunk everything that is written exposing the company of fraud and corruption, but the staff and public at large knows what thecultureatGPLandmany other government agencies is.

Onanotherissuethatwas not mentioned in the letter, staffofthecustomerservices department have been printing tenancy agreements fromtheirworkcomputerfor customers who cannot satisfy the requirements of

showing legal occupancy of a property

A staff spoke about how they saw the female customer service supervisor allowing a contractor to forge signatures on a tenancy agreement and application, which she submitted for processing and later approved Why are contractors allowed entry to anareathatshouldonlyhave authorized personnel? Why hasn’t management banned

contractors from entering Customer Services? We know that the contractors and staff will find other means to do illegal t r a n s a c t i o n s b u t management should at least try That supervisor is a crook, and he seems to have everyonedownlikehimself. Because yet again he is saying‘letthemkeepwriting and I will continue to do whatI’mdoingbecauseI

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GovernmentandOpposition benchwarmershavefailedthe nation,allshouldvacateparliament

DEAREDITOR, It is 2 a.m. and one cannotsleep.Myheartisfull ofgriefandragebecause19 youngsoulswerenotgivena chance to experience life as itistheirrighttodo.

In case all of the seat warmers in Parliament do notknow—youarethehired help of the people of Guyana, who placed you theretorunthiscountry You are not there because you own Guyana, or your family/Comrade leader owned it either You are the hired help. You have not done your job properly because 19 young lives are gone because of your inept leadership Every single citizen of Guyana who is incensed at this terrible cutting shortof19innocent young lives should demand that both the Government andOppositionimmediately vacate their seats in the People’s house These mountebanks have failed these19youngsouls.

When they were deciding to spend millions on another white elephant project, could they not have spared a thought for the childrenofourFirstCitizens who wanted betterment and sought to invest in their future via education? Is a stadium more of a necessity thanproperdormsforyoung

kids?Dothebenchwarmers in Parliament know that smoke detectors and sprinklers are a necessity in schools and hospitals, especially? That money spent on the stadium could be used to equip the schools and hospitals with the detectorsandsprinklers?

Take a walk in the shoes of every parent and sibling who are now mourning the wanton cutting short of the life of their dear child and sibling, if you have not yet experienced the death of a beloved. The time is now Guyana Let the bench warmersinParliamentknow whotheRealBossesareand whoarethehiredhelp.Find yourselves new and competent people to do the job. Justice Sandil Kissoon has demonstrated that there are eminent person as who arecompetentforthejoband alsohavetheinterestsofthe citizens. The present-day charlatans that are warming the benches of Parliament have failed our Nation in general and those 19 young soulsinparticular Ipraythat thesesoulsfindsolaceinthe afterlife. They died because of negligence on the part of the hired help parading as G o v e r n m e n t a n d Opposition.

Yourstruly, N.Sahadeo

We must ask the tough questions about how our children are cared for, protected

Building codes and firefighting - huge amounts of work to be done

DEAREDITOR, According to our country’s fire safety regulations GCP 9-3 Fire Safety, code of practice for buildings part 3: Fire safety use and occupancy (from 2005) 5.1.1.5, a school is considered an Occupancy Group A-4 structure. Upon reviewing the building code foragroupA-4structureone will see where the current gapsexist.Itisnecessaryfor two things to occur in the immediatefuture:

1. The fire inspectors andbuildinginspectorsmust reviewallSchoolfacilitiesto ensure that they meet the current fire safety and building regulations 2 The 2005 regulations must be updated to ensure that current gaps in the regulations are corrected, and the requirements are in accordancewiththechanges thatwillallowforadaptation of the 2021 International Building Code, the International Fire Code and the safety requirements as outlined in the International Code Council’s fire safety related building standards forschools.

These codes will also

provide additional insight and opportunities for adaptation of standards that can be used across the various structures that are undergoing renovation and construction within the country. It also will help guide the government, in particular the Ministry of Public Works to retrofit current government buildings to ensure they meet the new international standards.

An initial inspection of critical infrastructure must be undertaken, with priority being given to schools, hospitals, banks and major structures where a large loss of life may occur The risk rating of the country’s infrastructure should be quicklyassessed.

As inspection problems arehighlighted,theMinistry must ensure that corrective measures are taken in a timely manner to bring the buildings up to the current standards required by the regulations.

An increase in the number of trained and qualified inspectors will be necessary, and the pace of u n d e r t a k i n g n e w

construction projects must be adjusted based on the capacity of the inspectors. Concurrently, the update of the regulations to meet the new international requirements must be completed, followed by its implementation in the identified critical and highriskstructures.

As a stop gap measure, fire extinguishers and additional firefighting equipment and capabilities, such as hydrants and fire engines, must be purchased and made easily accessible for the quick suppression of fires if they occur at these high risk and critical locations (schools, hospital, banks,gasstationsandlarge gathering areas such as stadiums) It is critically important that the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Housing & Water, and the Ministry of Public Works team up and lay out an effective plan to quickly move this initiative forward.

Sincerely, Mr

JamilChanglee

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

Mahdia School Fire, Part of a Pattern of Failure

DEAREDITOR, Permit me to express profoundcondolencesfirstly to the grieving parents and families of all the children who perished in the fire at Madhia Secondary School, and then to the nation for such a severe blow to their future.Onhearingthenews, I desperately struggled to grasp the magnitude of the tragedy, amidst inquietude and visibly failing mental fortitude.Notwithstanding,I have inwardly resolved that my say in this matter would markedly deviate from previously displayed patterns, where responses are usually sought to a plethoraof—Whys?Hows? Whats? and Wherefores?.

The lyrics of Whitney Houston’s 1985 song “GreatestLoveofAll‘’now acts as a mournful dirge, for this tragedy although new is hauntingly “deja vu”, with the past juxtaposed to the present burning linked withlearning.

Manickchand described the fire as an “unspeakable loss”,andreassuredstudents that the Education Ministry alreadyhadofficersworking to put systems in place immediately to ensure that their education was not interrupted.

DEAREDITOR, I am appalled at the tragedy that took place in Mahdia. The sadness that engulfedthecountryandthe grief felt was immense. The President declared three days of national mourning forthelossof19younglives in a fire. The nation mourns andallofGuyanahaslost.

Asamotheroftwogirls; aged15and13;Ifeltthepain of those parents who have losttheiryoungchildren.My heartfelt sympathies go out to the parents, relatives and friends of those lost in the fire.Ihadlostachildbefore and can say words cannot express that feeling of despairandsadnessatsucha permanent loss. Editor, the

unfortunate loss of those young lives has awakened theempathyofthepeopleof Guyana Unfortunately, I haveseensomerecklessand senseless statements from many individuals that are worthy of condemnation Therecanbenoprofitfroma tragedy Disasters can occur atanytime.

It cannot be understated that in the face of this tragedy, politicians need to demonstrate some sense of responsibility and empathy and consideration for the grief of others. It cannot be okay for elected officials to makethisintoanythingother than a national loss As parentsandcitizensalike,we oughttoresisttheseeffortsto

politicizethegriefofothers. There is nothing that can be gained from this tragedy I urge that political personalities display compassion and respect for the lives that were lost and the survivors This is a momentofnationalsadness. IcallonmyfellowGuyanese to support the parents and people of Mahdia and the surrounding communities in this unfortunate chapter of our history I pray for a speedy recovery for the survivors, as I express my profound sympathy and prayer as we all experience profoundlossandpain.

I am pleased with the effortsofthegovernment

(Continuedonpage06)

September 14, 2011 found early morning classes being suspended after an earlymorningfireravageda section of the four-story Wismar Christianburg Secondary School gutting the top flat, while there was severe water and other damagetoclassroomsonthe secondandthirdstoryandat leastoneteacher’sapartment in the bottom flat. Three men, armed with cutlasses, set fire to the One Mile Primary School at Wismar, Linden, onAugust13,2012 after breaking into the building and stealing computers.Thebuildingwas completely destroyed A mysterious fire on June 20, 2021 destroyed a section of the North Ruimveldt Multilateral School in Georgetown, which housed theschool’sGradesSevento Elevenclassrooms,Science, Home-Economics and Information Technology laboratories, as well as the school’s $3 million ‘smart’ classroom, the first to be launchedinGuyanain2015. MinisterofEducation,Priya

T h e M a b a r u m a Secondary School, a twostory wooden and concrete building was completely destroyed by fire on September24,2021. Itwas reportedthattheblazelasted o v e r f o u r h o u r s Investigationscarriedoutby the Guyana Fire Service have revealed that the fire whichseverelydamagedthe Secondary School, resulted fromanactofarson.July21, 2022 is yet another date embedded in the annals of Guyana’sschoolfirehistory A fire of unknown origin ravaged the St. George’s High School, leaving hundreds of students displaced. The cause of the fire was found to be electrical in origin. On January 13, 2023, fire gutted Christ Church Secondary School. The fire was the second to occur at the school, which is located at Camp and Middle Streets in Georgetown, in a week. Days after the fire, the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) determined that the fire was maliciously set by unknown persons.

Enshrined in Article 26 oftheUniversalDeclaration of Human Rights, the right to an education included a call for free and compulsory elementary education.Advancing a step further, the Convention on

the Rights of the Child stipulates that countries make higher education accessibletoall.Thisiswhat Guyana undertook to provide education to the young Indigenous students aged12through18. Thefire which broke out around 10 50 p m at Mahdia Secondary School, a governmentboardingschool serving remote, mostly Indigenous villages, raced through the dormitory killing at least 19 students mostly girls and injuring severalothers.

The school was of interest to the Guyanese government, having been built to “bridge the gaps between the hinterland and coastal areas.” As such, the school was at the center of Guyanese efforts to better education in less developed partsofthecountry

Whenminorchildrenare entrusted by parents to a school, the parents delegate to the school certain responsibilities for their children, and the school has certain liabilities. In “loco parentis” means that the schoolhasalegalobligation to act in the best interests of the students while the student is enrolled there. Traditionally, the “in loco parentis” doctrine clothed the government with the same responsibility as a parent and exposed them to the same liability for the child’s wellbeing By extension, Boards of Education i e the government, are required to act in the same manner a reasonableandprudent

(Continuedonpage06)

When tragedy strikes, politicians must be responsible, empathetic, and considerate

Treat grief with dignity, give people space

DEAREDITOR:

Where is God in all our tragedies as a multi-cultural society? What keeps us apart as ethnicities and as political parties? Why are wegrievingapartandnotas a ‘nation’? Have we failed ourselves and our youth? Were they children or were they teenagers and young adults? The longer I look andliveinGuyana,themore

I see how enslavement, indentureship and colonization continues to affect the very DNA of ourselves Take for example the scenario of the President andhisteaminapproachinga grieving and impoverished community Did he think about paying homage to the eldersofthecommunityfirst? Did he think about meeting with spiritual leaders to get

their input and guidance? Didhethinkaboutgivingthe communityachance(i.e.,48 hours) to mourn/grieve in theirownway? Theanswer to all these questions is no. This is reminiscent of the days of the colonial masters who imposed themselves into people’s lives whether theyaskedforhelpornot. I call this a theology of disruption and imposition.

Doweevencaretoknowthat the Amerindian culture of grieving is personal, private andcommunal?

Frompage04

knowpeopleinhighplaces’.

Editor, they all are fully aware of the lengththeygotodoillegaltransactions.

Theyareprotectedbecausetheytoohave evidence of their superiors who conduct corrupt activities. Some customers have genuine issues and because they have no money to probe these issues they are misdirectedbytheclerks.Seniorofficialsare fullyawareoftherackets.

In the past Customer Service had integrity CustomerServicehadleaderswho were driven by passion and not money People are fully aware of the rackets, but don’tfeelprotectedenoughtocomeforward. Seniors feel that if they should investigate,

thentheirjobsandsafetywillbeatrisk.The senior officials do not want to hear from the regularstaffandarefullywellawareofwhat goesondaily,butrefusetodoanythingabout it since this will reflect negatively on their leadership.

The nation needs answersandcomfort. Could we try something different? Could the Government, the Opposition, all religious bodies, and other entities hostaneventattheNational Parktostandtogetherforour children, teens, youths, and young adults? Can all interested parties build a remembrancegardenaround theschooltohonourthelives of the nation’s children? Could the Church take the

lead in having a real day of f o r g i v e n e s s a n d reconciliation? Iapplaudthe youthmenwhorisktheirlives tosavemanylives,whobroke the walls of death to pull out the living and the dying from an inferno They need counseling as well and recognition I applaud the community members who in anactofdefiancehelduptheir placards before the grillers, lockers and positioners descended in the community The community made their demands very clear I’m angry – you are angry – we areangry;however,wehave

got to move to action. This actionmeansnotgoingback towhatisconsiderednormal in your home, community, placeofwork,religiousplace or anywhere A solid and practical education is a must for Amerindians, Africans, Indians, Guyanese Chinese, Portuguese and people of mixedancestry Thisunusual inferno tragedy is beckoning us to change the way we are serving God, treating each other and handling God’s children in the nation – are youlistening?

Regards

DeniseMurray

Damning accusations against GPL... Mahdia School Fire, Part of a Pattern...

GPL is in the habit of victimizing staff who they feel are responsible for writing lettersinthenewspapers.

Editor one staff was victimized and forced to resign because he was accused of writingseveralletterstothepressaboutwhat goesonatGPL.Thecompanyisalwaysmore concerned about the author rather than what waswritten.

Sincerelyyours Anonymous

When tragedy strikes, politicians...

Frompage5 whichhasbeenactivesincethetragedy They havepledgedassistancetoallthoseaffected invariousforms.

The efforts of the private sector and other agencies must be lauded The many Guyanese that expressed sentiments of regret, disbelief and grief, let’s pray for our

countryduringthisperiodofsadness.Every effort should be made to ensure such incidents never recur The 22nd May annually should be commemorated in memory of those young girls whose lives werelost.

Sincerelyyours,

AttiyaBaksh

Frompage5 parent would. The children attended school during the day , but were treated like prisoners during the night, with their egress being hindered and hampered by grilleddoorsandwindows

Now the fire has ebbed out, thanks to the work of the Mahdia Brigade and public-spirited citizens, the grills that covered the windowsanddoorsremainas charredtestimoniesandproof that passing through them wasimpossible. Had private parents locked up their children in the same manner as these schoolchildren were, what would have been their

punishment? Would the terms “child abuse” and/or parental neglect” not be tossed into the ensuing affray?

Captain Gerald Goveia, Guyana’s National Security Adviser,aswellasopposition lawmaker Natasha Lewis openly announced that the government would try to find out exactly what happened Evenintheabsenceofschool, and the requirement of no special tool, it is clear to see that the government should bear the blame for this national infamy, as a preliminary investigation of theroot cause reveals it was no sabotage. Police Chief Clifton Hicken said “initial

investigationssuggestthatit was maliciously set and whilethegirls’dormhadfive doors, iron grill work trappedthestudentsinside.

Additionally, this national tragedy further forbodes that the Government of Guyana has beengrosslynegligentonthe issue of building codes and safety regulations Over the years, school fires have been accepted as the norm, but my sincerewishisthataneffective changewouldfollowthislatest tragedyinthedormorhasour nationdecidedthatthefuture of Guyana lies with its oil andnotwithitsyouth?

Sincerely,

Y.Sam

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A time for mourning

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It is a time of mourning across Guyana…

All are touched, all shivering!

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What should have been will come later…

Today is a time of national soul-searching!

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We must still our feet and honour with our silence…

We must mourn, we must cry our pain!

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EPA submitted unsigned US$600 million Exxon insurance to High Court one week before expiry

The Environmental

P r o t e c t i o n Agency (EPA) in arguing against the need for anunlimitedparentcompany guarantee submitted an unsigned insurance policy to the High Court on January 23,2023,thatwouldexpirea weeklater

The EPAwas required to make submissions as a respondent in a matter that was brought by two citizens, for the parent company guarantee requirement outlined in the Liza One Permittobeenforced.

Inanattempttoconvince the Court that there is adequate protection, the regulator submitted the

US$600 million insurance policyprovidedbyExxon.In the document seen by this newspaper, it is understood that the policy covers both the Liza One and Liza Two projects.

IttookeffectonFebruary 1, 2022 and expired on January31,2023.

It is so far unclear whether the policy has been renewedsinceitexpiredover three months ago. Efforts made by Kaieteur News to clarify were unsuccessful up topresstime.

Nevertheless, the policy covers three Sections including 'Physical Damage and/ or Physical Loss; Liabilities and; Operator

ExtraExpense'.

Not only was the policy almost expired when it was submitted, but it was also unsignedbytheinsurer,Aon UK Limited- a company

w

ExxonMobil Corporation

Instead of attaching the signature of a senior official attached to the insurance company,asiscustomary,the

insurance firm used a businessstamp.

This raises questions regarding the legality of the document, since there is no official signature attached. It also creates a fear that the policy, already seen as inadequate, could now also be unavailable should an unfortunate event occur offshore in the Stabroek Block.

Anoilspill,accordingto the environmental impact assessments (EIAs) conducted by Exxon can potentially impact 12 Caribbeanislands.

It was reported that the EPAlosttheCourtcasetothe Guyanese men, who told High Court Judge, Justice Sandil Kissoon that the burdens of a spill, not covered by the limited insurance would be on the backs of Guyanese, should the parent company of EEPGL not sign the parent companyguarantee,required under the Liza One EnvironmentalPermit.

Justice Kissoon in his May 3, 2023 ruling on the unlimited parent company guarantee also ruled that the insurance provided by EEPGL was not in keeping withindustrystandards.

The Judge noted, “I do find and hold that the insurance obtained by the Permit Holder from its AffiliateCompany,AONUK Ltd, captioned “ Energy

Package Policy”, and purporting to indemnify the Permit Holder and its CoVenturers, both for the Liza Phase1andPhase2Projects, which benefit from separate environmental permits, does notsatisfythestipulationand obligation set out at Condition 14:5 of the Environmental Permit ( Renewed)whichimposedan express and specific obligation on Esso to obtain environmental liability insuranceinaccordancewith the prerequisites identified thereunder which threshold thispolicydoesnotsatisfy.”

He said the policy provided does not constitute what is considered environmental liability insurance“asiscustomaryin the international petroleum industry” and for the petroleum production operationsunderthePermit.

Further, Justice Kissoon said the insurance has not been obtained by the Permit Holder from an insurance company of standing that equatestoGradeAPlus.

“TheRespondentAgency has failed and/or omitted to take any step to hire an independent insurance consultanttoguideitsactions andconductasitrelatestothe quality,typeandnatureofthe insurance demanded by Condition14:5.

The Agency has further abrogated its function by simplyissuingalettertoEsso and to acknowledge receipt ofthecopyoftheinsurance,” he said while noted that the businessoftheAgencyisnot a“clericalone”.

The EPA has since filed an appeal of the ruling. EEPGL has applied to join thecase.

The stamp used by Exxon's subsidiary on the insurance policy submitted by the EPA

We live like prisoners in our own homes

Wh e n a Guyanese is surprised that afriendorcolleaguehasonly now discovered a fact, they usually say, “Boy, you are l i k e C h r i s t o p h e r Columbus!”This is our way of expressing surprise at another person’s surprise discoveryofsomefact.

The Portuguese sailor who it is said “discovered” the New World sailed to these parts more than five centuriesago.

But it seems as if today wehavealotofsailorswho, like him, have made earthshaking“discoveries”.

People are still in shock at the recent disaster in our country And all manner of questionsarebeingaskedas to why the school’s female dormitory was so heavily grilled and why the doors werelocked.

ThisisGuyanaandthisis howwehavebeenlivingfor thepast50years.Thisishow the majority of the populationlives;welivelike prisonersinourownhomes,

our windows heavily grilled and our doors grilled and shuttered.Sowhyshouldwe be surprised that the windows of the school’s dormitoryweregrilled?

Don’t most of us on the coast live under similar conditions?

Do most of us not face the same risk every night whenwegotosleep?Sowhy are we behaving like ChristopherColumbus?

The ones who should be surprised that their children were forced to sleep behind heavily fortified windows and doors should be the parents of the children who perished in the blaze at Mahdia The country’s Indigenous communities are not accustomed to grills on theirwindowsanddoors.

But urban residents and even persons residing in rural Guyana should not be surprised at all On the Essequibo Coast, most homes now have either wooden bars or grill work reinforcing the security of their windows. In the urban

areas, anyone building withoutsteelgrilled-workor reinforced doors is at risk of burglaries. This is how we have been forced to live since the 1970s. It was not always this way Every community, every village, everytown,everywardused tohavewickedpersons.

They used to have personswhowouldraidyour farmandyourlivestock.But your home used to be considered off-limits. Home invasions were extremely rare. In fact, it was so rare that before the 1970s, persons could retire for the night and leave their doors open. You could leave your bicycleunlockedunderyour house and be sure to find it therethenextmorning.

Don’t risk that today! Not only would the thieves cart off your belongings, theymightevencartyouoff in the process. This is how weliveinthiscountry

When the economic hardships struck in the 1980s, things got worse and home invasions increased

Thief nabbed with bag of stolen tools

A man on Wednesday reportedly admitted to stealing a bag of stolen electrical tools when police capturedhimatBushyPark, Parika, East Bank Essequibo.

According to police, the man was tracked down after they received reports that some time after 21:00hrs on Tuesday he had broken into thetwo-storeyhomeofa24year-oldwomanatHydronie Public Road, Parika and stole her clothes, an outboard engine and a quantityofelectricaltools.

The woman told police that she might have been asleep when the man broke intoherhome. Sherecalled

securingherhouseandwent to bed. When she woke up the following morning, the items were missing and one of her windows was left open.

After learning that the suspect might be a 28-yearoldmanfromFaçade,Parika investigators tracked him

Dem boys seh...

down to Bushy Park and found him with a salt bag filled with the stolen items.

Ranks arrested him immediatelyandtookhimto the Parika Police Station where he admitted to stealing the items from the woman The suspect remainsinpolicecustody

For old time sake!

“Hi love, good to see youagain.”

How come yuh visiting menow? Yuhusedtopass me straight pon de road. What happen now? Yuh wantsomethingme?”

“Nah, I just checking fuh see how yuh doing? And I look forward to us beingfriendsagain.”

“Looking forward to us being friends again?”

“Whenyuhdidenjoyingde sweet, yuh did not have time fuh me?Yuh never do nothingfuhme.”

“I do nuff things fuh you. How you could say

somethinglikeduh?.Idoso much fuh you that I can’t even remember what I did fuhyou.”

“Well let me jolt yuh memory: Yuh never do nothingfuhme.Butyoudo a lot for yourself.Yuh look after yuhself good.Yuh fix up yuhself. But how come yuh looking so discarded now?”

“Oh is just de make up nah deh on. But I nah want to quarrel with you. I just want to let you know that I am still here for you. I am alwayshereforyou.

“Thanks for de kind

exponentially

Then the terror was unleashed. The ‘kick-downthe-door’ (KDTD) banditry erupted.

Heavily armed bandits would invade your home, rob you and the rape your female family members Persons were even killed in the process. It was an era of unprecedentedterror

This triggered massive outward migration. Tens of thousands of Guyanese sought and acquired asylum in foreign countries on the grounds of being victims of or being afraid of criminal attacks. Just read some of theimmigrationcasesonthe Canadian Citizenship and Immigration website and youwillappreciatehowthis crime wave led to droves of Guyaneseleavingtheshores and successfully petitioning forforeignresidency

Prior to KDTD, poor households used to place drinks bottles behind their windows at nights so that if anyone came through them,

the bottles would fall to the floor and the sound would alerttheowners.

People started to lock their bedroom doors and those with outdoor toilets used to have posies under theirbedstourinateinsothat they would not have to go duringthecoverofdarkness totheoutdoortoilet.

The KDTD banditry made all of those security measures redundant. Armed bandits would come and using their feet kick your door open. Wooden bars of drinks bottles could not protect you from the KDTD bandits.And this is how the useofironandsteelbarsand grillsincreased.

This is how the metallurgical revolution originated.

Artisans made a ton of money in Guyana by constructing grills for windowsanddoors.

People have died before in Guyana, unable to escape when their homes were on fire.

We hear about the famouscaseofculturalicon, Laksmi Kalicharran, who was roasted alive in her home because she could not get her grilled doors and windows open in time to escape. But many others havesufferedsuchafate.

This is how it has been for the last 50 years. We are all potentially in the same position which those childrenfoundthemselvesin lastSundaynight.Atnights, we become prisoners in our ownhomes.

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

thought. But I gat another friend. De person sitting overdeh.”

“Who dah person in de red jersey?” “Yes, de same person.”“You know what troubling yuh playing with?”

“I prefer dat kind of trouble because since dah person giving me nuff things.”

“Oh boy, but I thought wecouldstillbefriendsfor oldtime’ssake.”

“For ‘old time’s sake’ gone out of tune, just like you.Bye!”

Talkhalf.Leffhalf.

The stolen items found in the suspect’s possession

Another great escape

We have some characters here, who are blessed with more flair and fortitude than Steve McQueen in his cinematic 'Great Escape ' For Guyanese,theproblemisthat this is not Hollywood, but real life, withal countless anxieties and fears swirling. With yet another spectacular prison caper, the inevitable

comparisonsmustbemadeto the Mash Jailbreak of 2002, whichisoneaspectonly

The other was the harrowing aftermath. Here are others: authorship, sponsorship, relationship, fellowship, and who in high places in this country is amidship.

I focus not on the mechanics or results of this stunning Mazaruni escape.

My preference is to concentrateontheweaponry, the facilities, and the skill with which this human heist wasexecuted.

Daring and planning first come to mind, then singular craftsmanship in closing out the deal, which has receded into the mists and forests to some extent already We could be jarred into remembrance with the

reappearanceofMr Williams and his band in the worst ways possible. Shades of post-2002? Ihopenot.

What I do now is cut through the thickets, and drive to the heart of the implications of this newest escape, and the strategy and methodology with which it was managed. We would have a government or parliament like that, and we

would be in good hands (save for the guns and whatever else). Relative to guns, do we appreciate how much, what kind, we live with, and their potential uses for purposes purely criminal, maybe possibly social? Think about our presentdifferences.

If an escape of this magnitude for a prisoner of this supreme value could have been successfully accomplished without so muchasahiccup,Iassertthat other more imperiling exploits could be managed efficiently and disastrously (forGuyanese).Itismybelief that there are more pocketsbands, gangs, clusters-of similarly equipped and similarlyversatilefellowson the sidelines, with plenty of time on their hands, and lots ofideasintheirheads.There is no shortage of manpower ofthosewhohaveideasabout justice and parity; others aboutwhoisandwhoshould be at this particular time in Guyana. They are not big into spreadsheets and economic calculations, for those are abstractions to them,nomatterhowrelevant. They deal in the here and now, and with a clear head and strong eye relative to imbalances. As to who they answer to, that's another story Suffice it to say, the reality is that we have been vacuumed clean of any convincing answers when these episodic affairs unfold. That is, when any official answers have been forthcomingatall.

Now, it is one escape involving one man. But we have lived with the experiencesofhowoneman, orasmallbandofbrothers,at different times have waged a reign of bloody mayhem and terror that carved wide swathes across this tortured land.

Thosewereinpoortimes. Yes, I head in this direction, forwhoknowswhohasideas, whoisunhappywiththeway mattersarehusbandedinthis town. Ihavesaidrepeatedly to the powers in control to stop wasting resources targetinglawabidingcitizens (ornery and objectionable, undoubtedly; even provocative mostly), and appreciate what could be percolating in the nether depths,andtheimportofthat for wider Guyanese society

Then again, one has a

struggletoseparatetheprison criminals from the political ones. Ido,andbeyondthatI will not proceed What should be of most interest to Guyanese is that there are those whose thoughts stray, then settle on officialdom as behind this unscheduled prisondeparture.No,theyare not prison officer public servants, but elected ones. Go back to the other big facilityfailureofMash2002, and the fingers point high, and they point straight at somewithgreatpower;those whoneverseemtobeableto come clean and stand in the light. Some would say tell the truth about anything. I offer this despite the solemn and severe pronouncements of those in charge. I read what they say, and I think of Popes and Bishops, and all the secrets they hide, and all thehorrorsthatfollow

What is astonishing in thissituation,isthisonetruth: we have all of this official firepower There is hardware.

There is software. There is a human network (paying attentiontothewrongpeople [I know, I see them all the time]).

There are electronic systems, and regarding whose interests prioritized thatisbetterleftunsaid.

And these are only what have been officially identified, either to comfort ortointimidatecitizens. Yet, one of the highest profiles, if not the highest, institutional inhabitant has taken an unapprovedleaveofabsence. I have to say it in the most unambiguous manner: something is not adding up here.

Something smells, and it isnotperfumed. Itisjustlike that business from Republic Day, two decades and a year ago.

My conclusion is that in this murky democracy, there are more clouds than credibility Now put arms around this: there are more criminalsthancitizens. AndI don'tmeanthoseinjail.

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

Mahdia dorm had 26 heavily-grilled windows, 5 padlocked doors – Fire Service Report

-Indigenousgroupcallsforthoroughprobeofalldormitories

The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) said that that the ill-fated Mahdia Secondary Schoolfemaledormitoryhad '26 heavily grilled windows and five doors that were padlocked.'

The information is contained in the agency's official report on the fire the broke out in the facility Sunday night claiming the lives of 19 children. The Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Tuesday alleged that Sunday night's fire was reportedlymaliciouslysetby a female student, who was aggrieved over her phone being confiscated by the dorm mother, Carletta Williams and a teacher The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack,SCissettoreceive thefileonthefire.

The GFS said a physical e x a m i n a t i o n a n d investigation indicated that the point of origin of the fire was in the south-western interiorofthebuilding,inthe lavatory area. It was around 23:00hoursonSundaynight, whenthefiretorethroughthe femaledormitory Atthetime of the fire, there were 57 female students in the dormitorywhichisaone-flat concrete building measuring about 100 feet by 40 feet, with several windows, all grilled,andfivedoors.

TheFireServicereported that around 22:15 hours a civilian ran into the Mahdia Fire Station and alerted the ranks of a building on fire at the secondary school. It was stated that an all-terrain vehicle#1andcrewunderthe command of Sub-Officer Scottimmediatelyresponded tothe111MilesPotaroRoad Mahdia,Region8location.

According to the GFS, when firefighters arrived on the scene, it was observed

that the one-flat wooden and concrete building was engulfed in flames.Afemale student related to the police that they were asleep and were awakened by screams. Upon checking, they saw fire/smoke in the bathroom area,whichquicklyspreadin the building, causing several students to receive burns to their bodies and smoke inhalation, whilst several managed to escape This publication had reported that the fire fighters and publicspirited persons had to break the walls of the dorm to free the girls that were trapped in theinferno.

Theinjuredstudentswere taken to the Mahdia District Hospital and were seen, examined and admitted by doctors.At the hospital, five

asinvestigationscontinue.

The names of the children who died on Sunday are:

1. Adonijah Jerome

2. Tracil Thomas

3. Lisa Roberts

4. Delecia Edwards

5. Lorita Williams

6. Natalie Bellarmine

7. Arriana Edwards

8. Cleoma Simon

9. Subrina John

10. Martha D'Andrade

11. (and twin) Mary D'Andrade

12. Belnisa Evans

13. Loreen Evans

14. Omerfia Edwin

15. Nickleen Robinson

16. Sherena Daniels

17. Eulanda Carter

18. Andrea Roberts

19. Rita Jeffrey Five-year-old Adonijah,

of the female students were pronounced dead. A search was carried out in the building, which was completely destroyed by the fire, and fourteen burnt remains of human beings werefound.Accordingtothe police, the scene is presently securedandguardedbyranks

who died in the fire, was the son of the dorm mother MayorofMahdia,Mr David Adams had explained that Williams has her own apartment that is attached to the female dormitory building.“Iunderstandwhen shewasalertedtothefire;she (Continuedonpage16)

Adonijah Jerome

Rita Jeffrey

Delecia Edwards

Loreen Evans

Nickleen Robinson

Subrina John

Mary D’Andrade

Martha D’Andrade

Lorita Williams

Lisa Roberts

Arriana Edwards

Natalie Bellarmine

Andrea Roberts

Belnisa Evans

Sherena Daniels Eulanda Carter

14,000 oil wells left unplugged in Gulf of Mexico

Pluggingandabandoningwells is a policy priority because unplugged wells present potential financialandenvironmentalriskto thepublic.

That process is called decommissioning, which is a complex and costly process at the end of the economic life of an individual oil and gas project. It involves the safe plugging and abandoningofoilwells,removalof structures and restoration of the surroundingareas.

Offshore wells, compared with land wells, generally produce more, cost more to plug and abandon and present different environmental risks – a new study byNatureEnergyrevealed.

Nature Energy estimated that the cost for the plugging and abandoning all 14,000 unplugged, non-producing wells in the United States Gulf of Mexico offshore waters,inlandwatersandwetlands wouldcostaboutUS$30billion.

Oil and gas companies are legally required to plug wells once

...couldcostUS-billionstosafelyseal

they are taken out of production, which usually involves a cement capcoveredwithsediment.

It was also stated that wells in theshallowerwatersclosertoshore makeup90%ofinactivewellsbut only25%oftotaldecommissioning costs. However, it was noted that those wells present larger environmentalrisks.

Notably, prior owners of wells in federal waters (deeper and farther from shore) can be held liableforpluggingandabandoning costsifthecurrentownerdoesnot.

“We find that 88% of outstanding P&A liability in federal waters is associated with wells currently or formerlyownedbyoneofthelarge, financially stable 'supermajor' companies,”itwasfurtherstated.

In Guyana,American oil giant, ExxonMobil's affiliate, Esso Exploration and Production GuyanaLimited(EEPGL)hasbeen taking out money from Guyana's o i l p r o d u c t i o n f o r decommissioning.

Exxon'saffiliateistheoperator

of Guyana's lucrative Stabroek Block which has over 11 billion provenbarrelsofoil.

Under a signed deal – the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) – the oil giant has been takingoutmoneyfromthefirstday ofproduction(2019)tosetasideas a decommissioning fee. It should benotedthattherevenuehastobe set aside in a special account, held by the Government to cover these costswhenthetimecomes.

However, the Stabroek PSA jumps off the precipice of internationalbestpractice,andinto a bottomless pit of abnormality on this front. ExxonMobil and its Partners which include Hess

Corporation and CNOOC PetroleumGuyanaLimitedareable to benefit from a lopsided system that allows them to keep decommissioning funds in their pockets.

Based on its 2021 financial statements, for 2020 and 2021, ExxonMobil and its partners, Hess Corporation and CNOOC Group,

have recovered a whopping US$355.7 million for decommissioning costs which would be incurred in another 18 years for the Liza Phase One Project.Duringanengagementwith the media last June, ExxonMobil Guyana acknowledged that decommissioning funds are not needed until 20 to 30 years down the line. Be that as it may, the company noted that the provisions of the 2016 Stabroek Block deal allowforearlyrecovery

However, the oil giant assured nonetheless, that when Guyana

needs that money for clean-up, the moneywillbehandedover.

, CommonwealthSecretariatwarned itsmembercountriesintheoiland gas industry of the uncertainty of decommissioningcosts, whichcan resultinthepricetagtorestorethe ocean floor, easily moving from US-millionstoUS-billions.

The Secretariat urged Governments to ensure they implementpoliciesandregulations that would require oil and gas companies giving regular estimate ondecommissioningcosts.

An offshore oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico (Shutterstock/nektofadeev)

Two students still in critical condition, one laid to rest Mahdiadormfire…

Two of the eleven girls who are admitted at the GeorgetownPublicHospital Corporation (GPHC) following the devastating fireattheMahdiaSecondary School's female dormitory on Sunday, are still in the IntensiveCareUnit(ICU)in acriticalcondition.

A c c o r d i n g t o information received from the hospital on Wednesday, 11girlsarecurrentlypatients atthehospital.Outofthe11, two are in the ICU, while eightgirlsareadmittedinthe High-Dependency Unit (HDU)inastablecondition.

Kaieteur News was told that one girl is admitted in the Burns Care Unit and is set to undergo another surgery shortly She was among the first set of children who were admitted at the hospital and had to undergo a limb-saving surgery On Tuesday night, another seven girls were dischargedfromthehospital after given clearance from doctors.

Following a national vigil ceremony on Tuesday nightforthe19childrenwho died in the fire, President Irfaan Ali was joined on Wednesday by several Cabinet members and the members of the Diplomatic community for a flowerlaying ceremony in Mahdia. On Wednesday too, one of the young girls who perished, Subrina John was laid to rest at her village, Karisparu in Region Eight. Kaieteur News understands that she too lost other relativesinthefire.

CARICOM Heads of

Government in a statement pledged to support Guyana intheaftermathofthefire.In a release, the CARICOM Secretariat said that it has noted of the horrific reports of the deaths of 19 young people in a fire in a dormitory of the Mahdia Secondary School in Mahdia, Guyana “We extend our heartfelt condolences to all who have been affected, both directly and indirectly, by this horrific event. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Mahdia community and all ofGuyanaasyoumournthe deaths of beloved relatives andfriends. Wealsoprayfor the recovery of those children who are now under medical care,” CARICOM expressed.

The regional grouping also stated that Member States have mobilised humanandotherresourcesto support the recovery process. “We stand ready to offer additional support as needed,”thereleaseadded.

Responsiblesocialmedia

Meanwhile, President Irfaan Ali on Wednesday urged Guyanese to desist from posting harmful theories and speculation on social media regarding the fire.

“There is a time and placeforeverything.Letus focus our use of social media on motivational q u o t e s , p r a y e r s , inspirational songs, and upliftingmessages,andnot an opportunity to come up with our own theories on these beautiful children's lives,”PresidentAlisaidina Facebook live statement on Wednesdaymorning.

Hestressedthatthefocus at present should be supporting the grieving families and children, who are going through unimaginable pain The Presidentcalledfor (Continuedonpage18)

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

Student, Subrina John

President Irfaan Ali and Cabinet members and members of the Diplomatic community joined residents of Mahdia at a flowering-laying ceremony in memory of the 19 children who were killed in the fire.

EU calls for robust campaign financing regulations

Wi t h i t s newfound oil w e a l t h , Guyana must adopt international conventions to guard against corruption particularlyasitrelatestothe managementofitselections.

This is the view expressed by European Union Chief of Mission Javier Nart during a press conference on the EU Electionfollowupmissionto Guyana on the progress towards achieving electoral reform. The EU Election Follow-up Mission has been meetingwithawiderangeof stakeholders, including the Government,Oppositionand CivilSociety Nartnotedthat “The convention on corruption is [essential] because your country has beenblessedwithoilandalot of resources… It is very much important that the administration is not overwhelmed by this influx ofmoneythattherecouldbea blessingorchallenge.”

TheEUChiefofMission

…says Guyana must guard against corruption, adopt int'l conventions for elections

throughprovisionscontained in the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act.

“We suggested that clear tabulation procedures, written procedures are implemented, and this has been taken care of by one of the provisions in the RepresentationofthePeople (Amendment) Act…and the

Chief of the EU Election Observer follow-up mission Javier Nart flanked by Anne Marlborough, Legal expert for the EU Election Follow-up Mission and Alexander Matus, Team Leader-Electoral Expert

saidtoothatthereneedstobe specific anti-corruption guidelines when it comes to sourceofelectionscampaign financing in an oil economy Nart stressed in its recommendations the need forelectoralframeworktobe put in place to regulate campaign financing to allow for transparency and accountability, and even equality in the financing of politicalparties.

Mr Nart also pointed to the possibility of incumbent governments using public

assets for campaign financingandabusingpublic media, as was the case in Guyanainthe2020elections. Assuch,theChiefofMission saidtherewasurgentneedfor Guyana to adopt the United Nations Convention against Corruption.

“Financing is critical because controlling of financing,accountability…is very, very important who is giving this money When a party goes to an election and hasnolimitofitsspending,it is like running with a Ferrari

$13.7Mhealthpostcommissioned inBarabina,RegionOne

Hundreds of residents of Barabina, located in the Mabaruma sub-district of Region One, are now benefitting from enhanced healthcare services with the construction of a new health post in the community

The newly constructed facility, valued at $13 7 million, was officially commissionedbyMinisterofHousingand Water, Collin Croal last Saturday Regional Chairman Brentnol Ashley, Regional Vice-Chairperson Annansha Peters, Regional Executive Officer Tika Bisesar, and Mabaruma District Medical Officer Mitchel Pierre also attended the commissioningceremony

During brief remarks, Minister Croal said the construction of this modern facility serves as a testament to the government's unwavering commitment to

enhancingmedicalservicesinthehinterlandand riverineareas.

“When you elect leaders, you elect those persons to work on your behalf to make your livesbetter Andso,itdoesnotmatterwhereyou live…you are going to be getting the very best healthcare and other services for you, your children, and even for the elderly,” Minister Croalaffirmed.

In his remarks, the regional chairman highlightedthatthecommissioningofthehealth post fulfills a commitment made by the PPP/C Government during its time in opposition. He notedthatsoonafterassumingofficeinAugust 2022, one of the government's initial initiatives was to provide training for a group of 52 Community Health Workers (CHWs), supplementing the existing pool of trained CHWsintheregion.Ashleysaidtwoindividuals

(Continuedonpage17)

against someone who is on feet.Whoisgoingtowin?Of course, the Ferrari wins. So, we have to have an equal playing field and so, the spendinghastohavealimit,” theEUChiefreasoned.

EU Electoral Analyst, Alexander Matus explained that two of the priority recommendations that have been implemented in full

s e c o n d p r i o r i t y recommendation called for increasedtransparencyinthe robust publication of the Statement of Poll,” Mr Matusexplained.

The EU representative noted that eight priority recommendations form part o f a t o t a l o f 2 6 recommendations made by theEUElectoralObservation Mission – the majority of whichrequirechangesinthe country's legislative frameworkandConstitution.

However, with the

country now midway through the electoral cycle, the Follow-up Mission believesthatthereisstilltime for the electoral reform to take place, though constitutionalreformmaybe muchslower Meanwhile,Mr Nartsaid the recommendations if implemented in full will undoubtedly enhance the efficacy, transparency and integrity of the electoral process in Guyana “Electoralreformiscritically important to rebuild confidenceintheintegrityof theadministrationofgeneral elections.

The EU Delegation supports continued democracy, and good governance in Guyana and wishes to support stakeholders in their efforts topromotesuchreform,”Mr Nartsaid.

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal and Regional Chairman Brentnol Ashley during the commissioning of the Health Post

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Release of video interview with suspect in ‘Sir Mars’s’ murder improper

- defence lawyer writes “Top Cop” to explain how it was leaked

Attorney Bernard Da Silva has written the Acting Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken to explain why a video interview with the suspect in the murder of Kirwyn Mars was leaked to the media.

the video recorded interview is improper and violated his client’s right to a fair trial.

One Clerk needed for TSI Eccles office. Must have English & Mathematics. Email application:techserigy@ yahoo.com or call 615-9132.

Experienced Hair Colorist, Receptionist/ Massuese, Nail Techs, Barber and Domestic needed. Call/ WhatsApp: 649-5005/ 226-6705.

One male Porter/ Warehouse Assistant needed. Experience will be an asset. Apply at Mike's Pharmacy, Lot 1 Bel Air or Email: mikeswholesaledepot@ yahoo.com

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Garment factory Worker needed. Attractive benefits offered and no experience needed. For more information Call: 226-2621.

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Da Silva is representing the suspect, Brian Richards in Court and pointed out to the police chief that the release of

The video in question purported that Richards allegedly admitted to killing Mars and was broadcast by an online media house on May 13, 2023 and shared multiple times across all social media platforms.

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While noting that the custodian of the video interview is the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Da Silva wrote: “The said video is published without due process being observed; and this ill-advised release will inevitably cast a dark shadow of prejudice in having a fair trial for the accused.”

The lawyer added: “while I contemplate judicial remedies; I wish to invite your response/ explanation as to

Attorney-at-Law, Bernard Da Silva Acting Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken the release of the said video interview to the public, before judicial pronouncement on its admissibility.” He informed Hicken that he has since informed the Chancellor of the Judiciary, Yonette CummingsEdwards about his concerns that the release of the video

is in violation of his client’s right to a fair trial, breaching Article 144 (1) of the 1980 constitution of Guyana. Da Silva said that he expects the Police Force to do everything necessary to have the video interview removed from all forms of circulation.

Father of seven found dead after fight

A father of seven was on Tuesday afternoon found dead in his yard at D’ Urban Street, Georgetown hours after he was involved in a fight with three men.

After the fight ended, the men made good their escape jumping back over the fence and running away.

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Dead is Terrance Washington aka “Terry”. He resided at Lot 60 D’Urban Street Lodge, Georgetown. Investigators believe that Washington was killed sometime between 10:00 and 16:15 hrs. Police reported that Washington was seen around 10:00 hrs arguing with a man who did construction work at a building close by.

The argument, according to information received by police, escalated when two

Murdered: Terrence

Washington (Shemar Alleyne photo)

men scaled his fence and attacked him. Washington reportedly fought back for some fifteen minutes with men during which he was repeatedly struck with pieces of wood.

Washington later collapsed in his yard and remained there until someone saw him lying motionless on the ground and summoned the police. Police said that it received the call around 16:15 hrs and when crime scene ranks arrived, they found Washington dead with a gaping two-inch wound to the centre of his head. After processing the scene, his body was removed and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. Investigations are ongoing.

Mahdia dorm had 26 heavily-grilled windows...

From page 12 rushed out of her apartment and ran to save them, leaving her son behind. It was during the chaos that her son ended up perishing in the fire,” Mr. Adams said.

areas, the dormitories. We are deeply concerned with the current situation,” they said.

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Mayor Adams also said, “It was compounded by the fact that we only have one fire tender in the town ship and what made it also difficult is the fact that they had no fire hydrant in the area where the fire took place. So the fire fighters had to shuttle water from the creek to the school, where the fire was. They really tried their best, given the circumstances and what they had to work with.”

The Mayor told this publication that the students did not have any training on fire prevention measures. He also confirmed that the dormitory was not equipped with any fire extinguisher at the time of the fire. “Going forward, we have to look at the systems that are in place for dormitory and schools, and ensuring that the necessary precautions are taken,” he added. South Rupununi District Council

The SRDC urged everyone to support and advocate for dormitories with proper infrastructure and safety procedures for children seeking education. The council continued: “Numerous concerns have been made regarding the dormitories, including the availability of healthy and sufficient food, access to fresh and clean water, electriacity, security, proper utilities and furniture, layout and design of the buildings, and overall living arrangement of the students.”

They also called for a thorough investigation of all dormitories and for prompt remedial actions are taken to improve the situation. The council recommended the following: 1) The occupational, health and safety standards be vastly improved with emergency plans and equipment be in place.

2) Replace all steel grills with less hazardous construction materials.

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Meanwhile, the South Rupununi District Council (SRDC) in a statement expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy. “We mourn the loss of the 19 young, aspiring lives that had left the comfort of their homes to pursue high school education.

We pray that their souls are granted eternal peace. This unfortunate event has brought awareness to one of the many issues affecting the education system in the hinterland

3) Improve sleeping conditions for students. 4) For every dormitory, a welfare officer be stationed to provide the necessary support to the students.

5) Increase the number of caretakers at the dorms and carry out training so that they can adequately carry out their duties.

6) Appropriate and adequate food supply for students. 7) An enhanced team be established to monitor the dormitories across the hinterland.

Social justice requires regional cooperation, policy coherence - ILO DG

Social justice requires greater multi-lateral and regional cooperation as well as policy coherence by Caribbean leaders and organisations, which will help to advance sustainable growthacrosstheregion.

This was emphasised by Director General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Gilbert Houngboatthe12thMeeting of Caribbean Ministers of Labour on Tuesday, at the Marriott Hotel, Kingston Houngbo underscored that the meeting offers an integrated approach and platform for discussion and cooperation in aid of the region’s sustainable transformation.

“You will have the opportunity to engage in discussions towards identifying and articulating solutionstothesechallenges through the social justice

lens.Ourcollectivegoalisto use our tripartite power, position,andsocialjusticeas the keystone of the global economyandtodemonstrate how government workers andemployeeshavearoleto playinmakingsocialjustice a reality at all levels,” the ILO director general explained.Theplatformwill also assist in strengthening regional cooperation to create social justice systems

that uphold decent work to a c h i e v e e c o n o m i c development and social advancementforall.

Barbados’ Minister of Labour, Social Security and Third Sector, Colin Jordan, and CARICOM’s Assistant Secretary-General, Human and Social Development, Alison Drayton shared similar sentiments. Jordan underscored his country’s enduring commitment to sessions like these, and all other efforts to unify the region “Small states, including our states in the Caribbean,canonlydevelop and transform in a sustainable manner where and when there is social justice globally social justice is and must remain the foundation for all we do in nation and region building.Andinallwedofor workers who are a critical partoftheconstructionofthe

nations and regions that we want.”

Meanwhile, Drayton added that the meeting is important since it provides theplatformfordialogueand collaboration in facilitating the region’s transformation across the board. Drayton emphasised that social justice is not at the pinnacle

of sustainable Caribbean transformation,rather,itlies at the foundation “The foundationofanystructureis indeed the most important place on which growth and expansionoccur

Therefore,placingsocial justice at the foundation for sustainable Caribbean transformation ensures that

we have a solid and stable baseline for all of the initiatives and activities, which follow thereafter… meetings such as this allow us to come together, work collaboratively, and achieve as a region, what we could not achieve as individual states,”thesecretarygeneral stated.(DPI)

Geneva, 24 May 2023 (PAHO/WHO) – The Director of the Pan A m e r i c a n H e a l t h Organization (PAHO), Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, has urged Ministers of Health and high-level delegates at the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, to utilize all available knowledgeandresourcesto ensure that people’s health is placed at the very center of the global response to future pandemics and emergencies.

“We, the survivors, have the great responsibility and urgent imperative to implementboldactions”that take stock of the experience ofcountriesinrespondingto COVID-19, Dr Barbosa said Speaking on Wednesday at a session on strengthening the global architecture for health emergency preparedness during the World Health Assembly, Dr Barbosa highlighted that, while preventing a pandemic may be extremely difficult, “we must break the historic pattern of panic and neglect regardingpandemicthreats”

Thiswillrequireaproper analysis of the COVID-19 pandemic response involving all sectors, the international community, and beneficiaries, to review “thechallengeswefaced,the failuresandthestrengths we showed, and identify the actions that we need to

implement immediately and intheshort-andlongterm.”

The PAHO Director highlighted that many countries,includingthosein the Americas, faced challenges in responding to the pandemic, particularly regarding surveillance and access to diagnostics, medicines, vaccines, and qualifiedhealthpersonnel.

Itisthereforecrucial,Dr Barbosa said, that PAHO Member States fully engage in the discussions led by the World Health Organization (WHO)forthedevelopment of an international instrument to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response, aswellasthoseregardingthe update of the International HealthRegulations.

PAHO continues to work with Member States to share information about these negotiation

processes and facilitate dialogue to ensure equitable participation of the region, including small island developing states (SIDS). “Thisisaonce-ina-generation opportunity to make the global health emergencies preparedness and response fit for purpose, and to strengthen their foundation,” Dr Barbosaconcluded

During the session, the WHO’s Global Health for Peace Initiative was also presentedandwillbefurther discussed.

This outlines a plan to better address the drivers of health needs in fragile, conflict-affected and vulnerable settings, and to strengthen the role of WHO and the health sector as contributors to peace outcomes such as social cohesion, dialogue, or resiliencetoviolence.

$13.7M health post commissioned...

President Dr

revealed the government’s

commitment to allocating over $125 billion towards essential improvements at hospitalslocatedinRegions One, Seven, Eight, and Nine within the next three years From the total allocation, approximately $4 1 billion (equivalent to $US20 million) will be dedicated to infrastructure upgrades specifically targeting Moruca,

abaruma, and Port Kaituma.(DPI)

PAHO Director urges “bold actions” to reduce risks, prepare for future health emergencies

Director General of ILO, Gilbert Houngbo

Saudi Arabia and Canada restore diplomatic relations, ending 2018 rift

CNN — Saudi Arabia restoreddiplomaticrelations with Canada onWednesday, the country’s foreign ministry said in a statement, ending a five-year rift over Riyadh’s jailing of activists that damaged trade and relations with both countries.

The decision follows discussions between Saudi

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Canada’s Prime Minister Justin

T r u d e a u l a s t

November on the

sidelines of the Asia-

Pacific Economic

Cooperation (APEC)

Forum in Bangkok, the statement added

“It has been decided to restore the level of

diplomatic relations with SaudiArabia to its previous level,” Canada foreign ministry said in a statement, which also announced the restorationofrelations.

Both countries also announced Canada’s new ambassador in Saudi Arabia as being JeanPhilippe Linteau, and expressed their desire to

restore diplomatic relations on the basis of mutual respect and common interests.

Canada’s relations with Saudi Arabia nosedived in 2018 after officials in Ottawa accused the kingdom of human rights violations and demanded the release of imprisonedactivists.

Frompage11 collective responsibility and asked that respect be shown for the affected children, their families, teachers, and the communities. “Social mediaisapowerfultool. It’s a tool, in situations like these, that must be utilised within some guidelines and somerules.

I am urging all Guyanese to desist from self-analysis, from reviewing timeline stories of all these girls, and fromanalysingthelifestory ofallthesegirlsatthistime,” heurged.

The Head-of-State said while a very opinionated cultureexistsinGuyana,the g o v e r n m e n t i s i n consultation with the affectedfamilies,andwill,as far as possible, respect and fulfill their wishes “Everything that we are doing, we are doing it in consultation with these familiesandchildren.

We are putting their wishes and their desires as far as possible in the front seat. I ask all of us to do the same.

Let us put our opinions and our desires for once, in the backseat, and put these children and these families in the front seat as the priority of our nation at this time.”

PresidentAlipointedout thatonthecoastland,people may not understand the tremendous impact the love theyareexhibitingishaving on those affected by the tragedy

“Whentheyareouthere withusnow,andtheyseeus with them collectively sharing in their pain, collectively working to uplift them in spirit and hope, it gives them strength.”

He said Guyanese must continue to support them at this time, even as government supports the respectivecommunitieswith the necessary psychological help. “This is not a one-day or two-day…or one-week agenda.

This will be months and even years ahead of support that we must give them as a people, that the government has committed itself to s u p p o r t i n g a n d shouldering this great hurt that these families and children are undergoing,” PresidentAliexpressed.

18girlsdead Kaieteur News had reported that nineteen children–18ofthemschool girls and one 5-year-old boy diedSundaynightwhenfire swept through a heavilygrilled dormitory which housed students of the Mahdia Secondary School, Region Eight (Potaro-

Siparuni)

Information reaching thispublicationrevealedthat of the 19 children, 14 children died at the scene, whilefivediedattheMahdia DistrictHospital.Amongthe casualties were twin sisters. The names of the children who died on Sunday are as follow: Adonijah Jerome, TracilThomas,LisaRoberts, Delecia Edwards, Lorita Williams, Natalie Bellarmine, Arriana Edwards, Cleoma Simon, Subrina John, Martha D’Andrade,(andtwin)Mary D’Andrade, Belnisa Evans, Loreen Evans, Omerfia Edwin, Nickleen Robinson, Sherena Daniel, Eulander Carter, Andrea Roberts, and RitaJeffrey

In a press briefing on Monday afternoon, Deputy Fire Chief (ag) Dwayne Scotland confirmed that the f i r e w h i c h t o o k approximately three and a h a l f h o u r s t o b e extinguished, was maliciously set It was confirmed by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Tuesday that a female student of the Mahdia Secondary School reportedly started the fire. Thepoliceintheirreportsaid investigations so far revealed that a female student is suspected of having set the devastating fire because her cellular phonewastakenawaybythe dorm mother, Carletta Williams,andateacher

In an Al Jazeera report datedMay23,2023,itstated that Guyana’s National Security Adviser Gerald GouveiatoldTheAssociated Press that the fire started with a teenage student who was upset at having her mobile phone confiscated after she was discovered to be having an affair with an olderman.

Gouveia explained that thestudent,whoisunderthe age of 16, lit the fire in the bathroom area of the dormitory

The article went on to state that Dr Leslie Ramsammy, an adviser to Guyana’s health ministry, confirmed that the suspect wasbeingtreatedforburnsat the hospital and is expected to be released into juvenile detention Gouveia added that the man allegedly involved in a relationship with the student is expected to face charges for statutory rape. As investigation into the deadly fire continues, a specialized team from Barbados is in Guyana c a r r y i n g o u t Deoxyriboncleic Acid (DNA) procedures on some 13 bodies which were burnt beyondrecognition.

Hope Estate receives additional 13,000 high-yielding

Brazilian Green Dwarf coconut seed nuts Dwar

...some 250 to 300 farmers set to benefit; coconut shredder procured to push value-added

Guyana's coconut industryissettobenefitfrom additional inputs as the Ministry of Agriculture's Hope Coconut Industries Limited (HCIL) recently received a shipment of Brazilian Green Dwarf

coconutseednuts.

O n We d n e s d a y,

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha visited Hope Coconut Industries Limited (HCIL), at Hope Estate on the East Coast of Demerara, to witness the

arrivalofanddischargeofthe latest batch of Brazilian Green Dwarf coconut seed nuts, the ministry said in a press release. The shipment, whichcontained13,000seed nuts valued at $12 million forms part of HCIL's 2023

work plan and is in keeping with the government's overall goals of expanding and further developing Guyana'scoconutindustry While offering remarks, Minister Mustapha said that thehigh-yieldingvarietywas first introduced last Decemberandthatsome275 to 300 farmers across the countrywillbenefitfromthe seedlingsproducedfromthis batch. “Last December, we introduced this variety throughfundingfromagrant from the IDB and the EU with the help of CARDI.We received2,000seednutsand I had indicated that we'd be looking at importing some more of this high-yielding variety this year In our budget this year, $12 million was allocated to procure additionalplantingmaterials. With the previous batch we received, we were able to help24farmersandincrease the coconut varieties around the country We'll continue those efforts and engage between 275 to 300 farmers who'llbenefitfromseedlings so that we can further develop the industry and increase our export. When

we look at the agriculture sector, coconut is the third highest revenue earner,” he explained.

Apart from acquiring additionalplantingmaterials, the minister also disclosed that the government has engaged specialists from India who are expected to cometoGuyanatoassistwith further developing the industry “I recently traveled to India and engaged specialists who will be coming to Guyana soon to help us develop the industry When I became Minister of Agriculture,Isaidwe'dputa lot of emphasis on the coconut industry I'd projectedthatwe'dbeableto increase coconut production by 1,000 acres annually However,I'mpleasedthat,to date, in less than three years we've seen that coconut production has increased by over 5,000 acres which demonstrates a tremendous improvement,” he noted Minister Mustapha said with thesupportthegovernmentis giving the industry, it is expected that coconut production will exceed 10,000acres.

HICL also recently procured the first of eight coconut shredders that will be used to shred waste materials such as coconut husk into coconut fiber that willbeusedformulchingand other agriculture-related purposes.

While speaking on the new equipment which was procured for approximately $3 8 million, Minister Mustapha noted that the coconut waste material has a value-added component that will now be utilized in coconutcultivationandother areas within the agriculture sectorwiththeacquisitionof theshredder

“We are now starting value-added in the coconut sector Wehaveprocuredone of eight shredding machines so that we can use the husk. Usually,theshellsarethrown away but there is a demand for it so we are going to be utilizingit.

This will be replicated across the country, in places like the Pomeroon where there is a large coconut cultivation,” the minister said.

Yoruba Singers to host 52 Anniversary Dance at Transport Sports Club

Admissionisonly$1000.Itpromisestobea soul-stirringnightofdancing,buildingonyour unforgettable memories that are guaranteed to lastalifetime.Seeyouthere.

Coconutshredder

The legendaryYoruba Singers will be nd celebrating its 52 Anniversary this Saturday at the Transport Sports Club on ThomasLandsat8pm.

Hope Estate workers test the new coconut shredder

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha and other officials from HCIL with the seed nuts that were recently procured of

Yoruba Singers band members

Space Gym 2.0 powers GAPLF’s Intermediate/Masters Championships

In their continuing efforts to back the uplifting and development of sports in Guyana, the Principals of Space Gym 2.0, located at the Royal Orchid Garden Hotel and Mall, Mandela Avenue, Georgetown, is the latest corporate entity to support this Sunday’s, Guyana Amateur Power lifting Federation (GAPLF) Intermediate/Masters Championships.

Yesterday, Federation President, Franklin Wilson was presented with the sponsorship by the Manager of Space Gym 2.0, Lucas Matos. Matos said, “It’s an absolute pleasure for Space Gym

2.0 to be supporting the efforts of this new executive as you strive to keep the sport of powerlifting going and to take it to another level. We are also cognizant of the challenges faced when it comes to attaining sponsorship for pulling off these competitions, thus our commitment to you.

We are aware that this sport has produced numerous champions locally, regionally, and internationally, and that this is one of the platforms available for more champions to come to the fore.

We wish the athletes the

Thursday May 25, 2023

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19)

Your usual lazy attitude is apt to receive a burst of energy tonight, Aries. It's in your nature not to want to lift a finger, but for some reason you may be compelled to get up and get moving.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

You may find your emotions difficult to deal with, Taurus, especially later in the day. Consider taking an intellectual instead of emotional approach.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

Communication with others could be extremely rewarding, Gemini, especially later in the day. Project more of your energy outward and join others in projects.

CANCER (June 21–July 22)

Make sure you solidify your affairs early in the day, Cancer, because the sparks are going to fly after sunset. People might try to throw you off balance with fast talk and fancy ideas.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)

Things are looking up for you, Leo, especially later in the day. Pieces should be coming together and things flowing into place naturally. You will find that your outward-directed energy is better balanced now.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22)

The energy is apt to pick up in your life today, Virgo. You may be asked to report to duty. Don't make promises you can't keep. Your words will be taken seriously.

GGA calls for “Light Up Guyana” on Sunday in Showing Solidarity for Mahdia

The Guyana Golf Association (GGA) and Nexgen Golf Academy join the nation in expressing heartfelt condolences to the families of all those affected by the senseless tragedy in Mahdia.The feeling of sadness permeates the country and we commend the decision by President Irfaan Ali and the Guyana government to pause for three days of mourning and let the nation reflect on the enormity of the loss of these young lives.

“We will never know what their contributions to the fabric of our nation would have been since their lives have been cut short in the most terrible of circum-

stances,” said GGA President, Aleem Hussain.

It was only in February of this year that golf was introduced to Region 8 and with a large percentage of new players being females; we may have lost some of our future greatest players in this incident.

The GGA executive is asking that every citizen turn on all the lights in their home at 23:00 hours on Sunday May 28th fir 2 minutes to show solidarity and support for those families who lost loved ones in Mahdia and let world will see the light of lost angels in Guyana finding their way home.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

There's extra aggression in your world today, Libra. Realize that this is probably due more to your reaction to a situation than to the situation itself. It could be that you're in conflict.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

There may be a bit of aggravation in a part of your life that's urging you to get up and do something, Capricorn. It could be that you're getting overly emotional about a certain issue.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

Things are going to get better and better for you as the day progresses, Sagittarius. Try to get your grounded, practical, and logical self collected during the day.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19)

There may be a bit of aggravation in a part of your life that's urging you to get up and do something, Capricorn. It could be that you're getting overly emotional about a certain issue,

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18)

You may feel a bit stodgy today, Aquarius, but things are going to pick up tonight. There will be a great deal of air to fuel your fire, and you're ready to burn.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)

Get things taken care of in the morning so you can be carefree and laid back in the evening. It's important for you to square things away in your head.

very best and look forward to a very exciting com petition.”

Wilson expressed gratitude on behalf of the Federation to Lucas and his dad, Sergio Matos for their commitment to the sport not only in this instance but before.

“The GAPLF is appreciative of your support not only for this comp etition but for your continued support to a number of our athletes, which has been ongoing quietly.

I would like to assure you that your commitment is well-documented and valued by this executive committee.

0We look forward to streng thening of the partnership in the coming months for the further advancement, of the sport.”

Jordan’s five, McKenzie...

From page 22 Carty then steadied the innings with a 79-run partnership, taking the team past the 200-run mark and within 19 runs of Bangladesh ‘A’s score. Athanaze’s dismissal for 45 to Saif Hasan, who had earlier dismissed King, interrupted their progress.

Carty and Captain Joshua da Silva continued the recovery, guiding West Indies ‘A’ to 266 before Carty was unfortunately run out for a well-played 68. At stumps, da Silva remained unbeaten on nine, accompanied by Kevin Sinclair on one. West Indies closed the day on 268-6, holding a 31-run lead heading into the third day. The first Test between the two teams ended in a draw due to rain interruptions.

Scores: Bangladesh ‘A’ 237 (Hossain 73, Jordan 5-45); West Indies ‘A’ 268-6 (McKenzie 91, Carty 68, Saif Hasan 2-37). (SportsMax)

Golden Jaguars for encampment...

From page 23 belt… which will be better than just training. We still have to decide on one or two players. There’s still some minor details to work out in terms of selection…we’re going to call together twenty-six players and then out of that twentysix, we’ll choose the final twenty-three.” Guyana’s Senior Men’s National Team qualified for the Concacaf

Gold Cup Prelims following a second-place finish in Group C of League B in the 2022/2023 Concacaf Nations League. The team is looking to build on their previous success and make a strong showing in this year’s tournament and with a mix of experienced and young players, Head Coach Shabazz is confident that they have what it takes to compete at the highest level.

Manager of Space Gym 2.0, Lucas Matos (right), presents the sponsorship cheque to GAPLF President, Franklin Wilson.

CWI Women’s T20 blaze…

Four teams level on eight points with 2 rounds to go

The race for the title in the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Women’s T20 Blaze isheatingupwithfourteams atthetopofthetableoneight points each after three matches After the third roundonTuesday,defending champs Jamaica, Barbados, Windward Islands and Guyanaallhaveeightpoints with two more rounds to be played.

Playing at Warner Park, the Windward Islands sprungabigsurpriseasthey defeated Trinidad and Tobago Red Force Divas by seven wickets. Winning the toss and sending the Red ForceDivasintobatfirst,the WindwardIslandscontinued their consistently accurate bowling as they stifled the

RedForceDivastoascoreof 59 all out in 17.4 overs.The Windward fielders were brilliant as Qiana Joseph alone had four catches BowlingfortheWindwards, Afy Fletcher, Nerissa Crafton and Carena Noel all hadtwowicketsapiece.

Intheirturnatthecrease the Windward batters made easy work of the target. Joseph led the run-chase with 18 not out followed by 13fromskipperFletcher

Speaking with CWI Media at the end of the match, Fletcher said: “It’s really good and exciting feeling beating Trinidad for the first time, we are really happy about it and it’s very good for Windward Islands cricket going forward. The

pitchwasabitontheslower end,andItriedtoutilizemy slower bowlers even though theseamerscamethrough.It was good tactics and techniques by our bowlers, and they made good use of thepitch.”

Barbados snapped Jamaica’s unbeaten start to the tournament by defeating them by nine wickets in the second match of the day Stafanie Taylor led the Jamaica batting with a valiant 34 not out from 43 ballstoguideherteamto984 in their 20 overs. Rashada Williamsopeningthebatting was next best with 19 from 23deliveries.

KeilaElliottdidthetrick withtheballforBarbadosas shepickedup3-0-9-2,while

Guyana have two wins and a loss in the three matches they’ve played

debutant Theanny HerbertMayers was one of the most economical with figures of 4-0-12-1.

Aaliyah Alleyne and Kycia Knight shared a 62run opening partnership as theyracedtowardsthetarget beforeKnightwasdismissed for 28 off the bowling of ChedeanNation.

Alleyne powered on and brought up the first halfcenturyofthetournament,as she finished on a run-a-ball 55 not out with Kyshona Knight on 11 not out, as Barbados reached 102-1 in

16.5overs.

Guyana defeated Leewards in exciting encounter

Guyana defeated the Leeward Islands by five wicketsinamatchthatmuch closer than the victory margin suggests Batting first, the Leeward Islands wereliftedbyDivyaSaxena who made 31 from 43 balls, next best was Amanda Edwards with 13 from 18 as the closed their innings on 93-6. Plaffiana Millington was once again the standout bowler for Guyana with

figuresof4-0-21-3.

Sheneta Grimmond smashed three fours on the way to 26 off 29 for a top score, while Shemaine Campbelle added 23 off 24 notouttotakeGuyanahome tovictoryin17.4overs.

The tournament continues with the fourth round of matches on Thursday All matches will be streamed LIVE on the Windies Cricket YouTube channelwithlivescorecards and ball-by-ball scoring on the Windiescricket.com live matchcentre.(CWI)

West Indies ‘A’ tour of Bangladesh… Jordan’s five, McKenzie and

Carty give visitors upper-hand

West Indies ‘A’ took charge of the second unofficial Test against Bangladesh‘A’attheSyhlet International Stadium Wednesday, thanks to Akeem Jordan’s impressive five-wicket haul and strong batting performances from Kirk McKenzie and Keacy Carty

Bangladesh ‘A’resumed their innings from the rainshortened opening day at 175-5 and were eventually bowled out for 237 in 65.3 overs.ShahadatHossain,not out overnight on 28, fought hard to make 73, but Hasan could only add five runs to his overnight score of 12.

Jordan, Anderson Phillip, and Jair McAllister combinedbrilliantlytoclaim the last five Bangladeshi wicketsforjust62runs.

Jordan finished with exceptional figures of 5-45, supported by Phillip with 267andMcAllisterwith1-58.

Kevin Sinclair also made an

impactwith2-44.

In their response, West Indies ‘A’ started strongly despite losing opening partner Tagenarine

Chanderpaul early Kirk

McKenzie, continuing his goodformfromthefirstTest, playedanenterprisingknock of 91, accompanied by R a y m o n R e i f e r ’s contribution of 37. The two builtacrucialpartnershipof 116 for the second wicket. However, a sudden collapse

saw the tourists lose three wicketsforjustsevenrunsin thefollowingtwoovers.

McKenzie’s innings of 91 came to an end after a brief partnership with Alick Athanaze, who took the scoreto139-3beforefalling lbw for 45. Brandon King’s poor form continued as he was dismissed for a duck, marking his second consecutive failure in the series.AthanazeandKeacy (Continuedonpage19)

Keacy Carty

Akeem Jordan

Golden Jaguars for encampment in Jamaica, Miami ahead of Gold Cup prelim

Guyana’s Senior Men’s NationalTeam is gearing up for the upcoming Concacaf GoldCupPrelimsinJune,as Jamaal Shabazz-coached teamsettoparticipateintwo training camps in Jamaica and theUnitedStatesbefore thetournament.

The first training camp will take place in Jamaica, where the local squad will join the overseas-based players for an intensive sessionuntilJune5.

Theteamwillthentravel to Miami for a second camp that will conclude on June 15.

The Golden Jaguars will playtheirfirstmatchagainst Grenada on June 17 at the DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, marking Guyana’s second appearance in the regional competition.

In a recent interview, Head Coach Shabazz acknowledged that Grenada is a formidable team but quickly added that he is making adjustments to strengthen his side for the much-anticipatedmatch.

“This is a tier one team thatwasplayingthebigdogs recently, they have a lot of players coming out of England. We’re trying to bringinoneortwoplayersto strengthen the squad, yet keep the chemistry and the camaraderie and the discipline that we had in the last quarter so yes we’re constantly looking to tweak things to improve,” Shabazz

Ronsford Beaton cleared to resume bowling

Golden Jaguars Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz

ST JOHN’S, Antigua –Cricket West Indies (CWI) today announced that followinganassessmentofa remodeled bowling action, Guyanese fast bowler Ronsford Beaton has been clearedtoresumebowlingin regional and international cricket.

Beaton’s bowling action was assessed by officials at LoughboroughUniversityin England,whereitwasfound to be within acceptable limits. The assessment was required after Beaton’s action was reported back in March by match officials during the West Indies Championship fourth round match between Guyana Harpy Eagles and Jamaica Scorpions at the Guyana

Ronsford Beaton

said. The locally-based players will be chosen from

10 clubs presently participating in the KFC Elite League, which kicked offinearlyMay

A release from the GFF states that the tournament gives the national players a unique training opportunity and the coaching team a chance to see them in a competitive setting before the Concacaf Gold Cup Prelimsmatches.

“This is a unique preparation.Wedidnotwant totaketheplayersawayfrom

the club because this Elite

League edition has promotion and relegation so weoptedtoviewtheplayers train with the club’s full time.Theyplayintheleague and we scout from them playingandtrainingwiththe clubs and then we select a final squad,” Shabazz shared.

The Golden Jaguars Head Coach further added, “the good thing is that players playing for their clubs will get a chance to havesomegamesundertheir

(Continuedonpage19)

NationalStadium.

Following this, an assessment was conducted which found his bowling action to be illegal by officials at Loughborough University

In line with CWI’s approvedprocessfordealing withillegalbowlingactions,

Beaton underwent remedial work to remodel his action andvideofootagewassentto Loughborough University foranalysisusinganOpinion Reportwhichwasconducted earlier this month. The fast bowler has subsequently been cleared to resume bowling.

National Men’s Hockey Team Selected for CAC Games

Th e G u y a n a Hockey Board ( G H B ) h a s selecteda16-membermen’s team to represent Guyana at the Central American & Caribbean Games, scheduledfromJune26thto July6th,2023.

Although El Salvador is the main host of the Games, the hockey aspect of the multi-sport event is being staged in the Dominican Republicsincetheyhavejust constructed a new waterbased artificial turf to host the next CAC Games in 2026.

Theteamwillbelooking tobettertheir4thplacefinish at the last CAC Games in 2018, where they narrowly lost 0-1 to eventual Gold Medalist, Cuba, in the semifinals.

The team will be relying heavilyon theexperienceof the only five surviving playersfromthat2018team, Robert France, Jamarh Assanah, Andrew Stewart, Kareem McKenzie and Meshach Sargeant However, the team will be bolsteredbyfiveoutstanding youngsters fresh from representing Guyana at the Junior Pan American

Championships inApril this year

Shaquon Favorite, Shakeem Fausette, Simeon Moore,OshazaySavoryand Tahrea Garnett will add a youthfulsparkofenergyand pace to balance the experience and composure oftheseniors.

Team Guyana’s first match will be against the Group B top seed Trinidad & Tobago on June 28th, followedbytheDominican Republic on June 30th beforefacingthedefending gold medalist, Cuba on July2nd.

Theywillhavetofinish inthetoptwotoprogressto the semifinal against either the winner or runner-up from Group A, which i n c l u d e s M e x i c o , Barbados, Jamaica and El Salvador

Speaking on his expectations of the team, Head Coach Robert Fernandes said, “It will be a tough task to get out of the group, although we placed above both Barbados and Jamaica at the last CAC Games, we arenowrankedbelowthem because of our inactivity on the international stage since

2018.”

“So that’s how we were placed in group B with two of the top three finishers from the last CAC Games. I think the boys are up for the challenge though. Although we’re missing some key players through injury, I think this group has the ability to better our 2018 performance if we play to ourpotential.”

The team will be managed by former national captain Marisha Fernandes, with Robert Fernandes and John Abrahams fulfilling coaching duties and former national Rugby captain TheodoreHenryfunctioning asPhysicaltrainer/physio. National Men’s Team: Paul D’Andrade, Andrew Stewart, Dominic Alleyne, Edmond Chinian, Jael Gaskin, Jamarh Assanah, Kareem McKenzie, Meshach Sargeant, Orland Semple, Oshazay Savory, Robert France, Shakeem Fausette, Shaquon Favorite, Simeon Moore, Tahrea GarnettandTroyHodge.

Standby Players: David Williams, Jason-Ray Khalil, Shomere Garnett andVladimirWoodroffe

Flashback! The 2018 CAC Games Guyanese Team which placed fourth

CWI announces changes to squads for ODI Series, UAE

-Imlach,Sinclair,MotieamongGuyanese

Cricket West Indies (CWI) Senior Men’s Selection Panel today announced changes to the WestIndies“A”Teamsquad currently Bangladesh and theWestIndiesODIsquadto playtheUAEinSharjah.

For the ongoing “A” Team Series in Bangladesh, l e f t - a r m s p i n n e r Veerasammy Permaul will travel to Sylhet as cover for fellow left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie, who has been ruled out of the remainderofthethree-match series with a lower back injury

Motie will travel to Dubai ahead of the West Indies’ three-match OneDay International (ODI) Series against the United ArabEmiratesattheSharjah CricketStadium.Hewillnot

play but will receive treatment from the medical staff with the aim of being available for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe whichstarton18June.

Off-spinner Kevin Sinclair, who is presently in Bangladesh with the “A” Team,willreplaceMotieinthe 15-memberODIsquadforthe seriesinSharjah Experienced batter Johnson Charles has also been called into the ODI squad as a replacement for Devon Thomas Thomas has been provisionally suspended from playing cricket due to charges brought by the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit under theAnti-Corruptioncodes.

Lead Selector, The Most Hon. Dr Desmond Haynes said: “We were forced to make some changes to the

squads, and this has presented opportunities for players to come in. Sinclair has been in good form all yearandhastakenthattothe ‘A Team’ series in Bangladesh Permaul and Charles are experienced players,andtheywillbeableto quicklyadapttotheconditions andfitintotheenvironmentin Sylhet and Sharjah” Haynes added:“Motieisakeypartof our plans for the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe,sowearehopeful he will make a full recovery for that tournament The decision was taken to have himremainwiththesquadin Sharjahsohewillbeclosely monitored and receive the besttreatmentavailable.”

UPDATEDSQUADS

West Indies: Joshua DaSilva (Captain), Alick

Athanaze, Yannic Cariah, Keacy Carty, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Tevin Imlach, Akeem Jordan, Brandon King, Jair McAllister, Zachary McCaskie, Kirk Mckenzie,AndersonPhillip, Raymon Reifer, Kevin Sinclair, Veersammy

Permaul (cover for GudakeshMotie)

West Indies ODI Squad vs United Arab Emirates: Shai Hope (captain), BrandonKing(vicecaptain), Alick Athanaze, Shamarh Brooks, Yannic Cariah, Keacy Carty, Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Dominic Drakes, Kavem Hodge, Akeem Jordan, Keemo Paul, Raymon Reifer, Kevin Sinclair, OdeanSmith

Matchschedule

23-26May:2nd“Test”at

SylhetInternationalStadium

2–ongoing 30 May to 2 June: 3rd “

InternationalStadium

ODIs vs United Arab Emirates

4 June: 1st ODI at Sharjah Cricket Stadium,

UAE

6 June: 2nd ODI at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE

9 June: 3rd ODI at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE

File & Caption: GudakeshMotie

Gudakesh Motie

Men’s Head Coach, Robert Fernandes, believes this unit can surpass the performances of the 2018 Team.

Tevin Imlach