Kaieteur News

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AIETEUR

Happy 56th Independence Anniversary to all

Thursday Edition

Guyanese NEWS skipping meals to beat high food prices

May 26, 2022 - Vol. 15 No. 21 Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $80 readership yesterday, 69,090

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

…FAO report says local food insecurity surpasses regional average

‘Do not renew Liza 1 permit without fixing flaws’, get a better deal - Int’l experts call for fresh EIA, strengthened protection mechanisms

ExxonMobil plans to Independence: At what price?

T abandon subsea junk on seabed for each oil field developed - claims removing equipment could do more harm than good

oday, we celebrate G u y a n a ’s 5 6 t h Independence anniversary!

Independence restored our birthright – the right to develop our country’s resources for the benefit of all of our people.

However, today that birthright is being snatched from us.

Some of you have expressed your gratitude for the role of this newspaper in trying to protect what rightly belongs to all of our people. There is hardly a day, which goes by with us not reporting on the country’s oil and gas sector.

The threats to which we have alluded are evident. The

fears we have are coming to pass. But there is still time to salvage the situation. Next week, Guyana has another opportunity to force a better deal without renegotiating the contract.

The Liza 1 permit will expire on Tuesday, and has to be renewed before the oil companies can continue developing this oil field. Before this permit is renewed, Guyana must insist on a better deal.

What has been stolen from our people’s inheritance must be restored through a fairer arrangement.

The production of oil must result in a boom not further

Govt. to roll out fish cage initiative at Mainstay/Whyaka - Pres. Ali talks up $10M profits per year

US$260M contract signed for new Dem. River Bridge Come May 31, our politicians have a golden opportunity to change the lives of all Guyanese for the better, not to renegotiate the oil contract but to put a hold on the Liza 1 Permit that will expire in a week’s time, and make all the changes that will ensure that we get our fair share. Are they ready for it? Let’s wait and see. Their next move will tell all Guyana whether they love us or they love Exxon to Int’l experts on The Glenn Lall Show and their shareholders; whether they will save us or sink us further. Listen @11:00hrs on Kaieteur Radio 99.1/99.5FM

indebtedness. Yet, with every new discovery, Guyana is sinking deeper into a bottomless pit of debts. One int’l expert has calculated that each man, woman and child in this country owes ExxonMobil and its partners G$9M presently.

Is this what Independence means – that we should forfeit our birthright and become servants in our own house?

Let’s wait and see if President Ali, Opposition Leader Norton will do the right thing to secure its citizens’ future or will they renew the permit to further enrich Exxon and its shareholders.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 02

Thursday May 26, 2022

ExxonMobil plans to abandon subsea junk on - claims removing equipment seabed for each oil field developed could do more harm than good

By Gary Eleazar Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL)—ExxonMobil Guyana says while it is yet to develop a decommissioning programme for its fifth project-Uaru to be submitted for approval by the government, in accordance with the Petroleum Agreement, it plans to abandon a significant amount of junk on Guyana’s seabed at the end of that project.

This much can be gleaned from the Project Summary for the planned fifth Exxon Project in Guyana that was submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency as part of the approval process. The abandonment of the equipment was also confirmed by In Country Projects Manager Anthony Jackson during a public scoping exercise held at the Umana Yana on Tuesday.

Jackson in response to enquiries on the decommissioning aspect of the project in fact doubled down abandoning the equipment and leaving it in place.

He sought to justify this position by pointing to the fact that in some countries, it has been found that marine life by the end of these projects would assimilate into the environment and such removing the equipment could do more harm than good.

An example of the Subsea Facilities—SURF —to be abandoned by ExxonMobil Guyana

EEPGL In Country Projects Manager, Anthony Jackson addressing the small gathering He told those in attendance that what has been observed over the years is that by the time a project comes to the end of its life, marine life such as barnacles and corals would have already attached themselves to the equipment and as such ripping them off the seafloor could cause more damage to the environment.

Decommissioning is a normal and planned petroleum activity and generally involves the plugging and permanently closing off wells, the safe removal of equipment, infrastructure and property and importantly restoration of the environment at the end of the life of a project, in this case 25 years.

It would be poignant to note that in each of the

project summaries provided to the EPA thus far for the five projects, the plan is to abandon the equipment on the seafloor as part of the decommissioning exercise.

According to the EEPGL document, the final decommissioning strategy is expected to include a comparative assessment, which is designed to evaluate the potential safety, environmental, technical, and economic impacts and associated mitigation measures in order to finalize the decommissioning program.

It was outlined in this aspect of the document that subject to future comparative assessment, the expectation is that the subsea umbilicals, risers, and flowlines are commonly

referred to as SURF components “will be detached from the FPSO and abandoned-in-place on the sea floor.”

A c c o r d i n g t o ExxonMobil, this will be done in consistence with “industry best practices at t h e t i m e o f decommissioning.”

The FPSO, EEPGL said, “is expected to be towed away, and the FPSO mooring system will be disconnected and abandoned on the sea floor—consistent with standard industry practice.”

Pressed on the vague language being used in the documents that leaves a vacuum of information for public consumption, Jackson noted that this was done in a deliberate fashion.

According to Jackson, this is the case since, at present there are numerous uncertainties and unknown factors in order to present details with more specificity.

He reminded too that the decommissioning plans are yet to be developed. When asked to provide what informs what amount is

being deducted from Cost Oil for Decommissioning, Jackson was unable to provide a definitive answer.

He further contended that he was unable to, at the time, provide an equation that determines the amount of money to be deducted for t h e p u r p o s e o f decommissioning.

Under the Production Sharing Agreement that has been guiding the operations of ExxonMobil since 2016, the company would have already begun deducting (Continued on page 8)

Kaieteur News

Thursday May 26, 2022

PAGE 03

‘Do not renew Liza 1 permit without fixing flaws’, get a better deal - Int’l experts call for fresh EIA, strengthened protection mechanisms

By Gary Eleazar

E

sso Exploration and Production Guyana L i m i t e d ’ s (EEPGL)—Exxon Mobil Guyana—Environmental Permit for its Liza I operations, comes up for review next week and as such, stakeholders are calling on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to not just act as a rubber stamp and renew the permit without major reforms to the deal between the partners involved.

The Liza I Oil field in the Stabroek Block first began pumping oil in December 2019 having found the hydrocarbons in commercial quantities in 2015.

The field is being produced by a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) Vessel—the Liza Destiny—with an installed capacity of 120,000 barrels per day. Janki gave her views on Tuesday during a public discussion held online where she used the occasion to call on the EPA not to renew the permit unless there is major overhaul.

Alternatively, “there should be a new EIA of the Liza I operations going forward; whether that will happen, I don’t know.”

According to Janki, her recommendation for a new EIA going forward is based in part on the fact that Guyana does have very

International lawyer, Melinda Janki strong laws in relation to EIA’s. She lamented however, “those laws are not being implemented or enforced.”

With this in mind, she recalled as example, that under the first permit issued to EEPGL for the Liza I Field, the EIA submitted was dated June 1, 2017 and the permit for that operation was issued on the said June 1, 2017, “for an EIA that is about 1,500 pages.”

During the discussion Janki also, in a bid to explain her position further, pointed to impacts on the environment as a result of the ExxonMobil Guyana operations and said that at present, the vessel over the course of its life would have dumped one gallon of sewage for each barrel of oil produced from that 17 (producing/re-injection)

Body of Corentyne fisherman found at koker

T

he body of a 61-yearold fisherman was on Tuesday found floating in the vicinity of the No.65 Village koker (East Berbice Corentyne).

Dead is Baldeo Balram of Lot 112 No. 65 Village, East Berbice Corentyne. Regional Commander Boodnarine Persaud said that the body bore no visible marks of violence and relatives reported that the man would experience seizures sometimes.

Amrita Hemraj, the niece of the man, said that they got a call around 14:30hrs on Tuesday from someone they knew, informing them that Balram’s body was just taken out from the koker.

Hemraj said that he had left h o m e t h e d a y p r i o r, a t approximately 08:00 hrs with a bag pack and a pillow.

He was headed to the koker area where fishing boats are moored to head out to sea. Balram was expected to venture out with other fishing colleagues but he never did.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing

well field.

The International Lawyer told attendees at the specially organized webinar that, “the permit which expires on the 31st May which is next week does not protect Guyana; the so called protection that is in this permit is very weak and we are already seeing there is destruction of Guyana’s natural resource base as a result.” She cited as example the fact that “fisheries have been disappearing, fishing catches have disappeared, (and) fishermen livelihoods are gone.”

Janki also used the occasion to remind that EEPGL “is flaring billions of tons of Green House Gas (GHG) and that of course has an impact on the climate, it also has an impact on the migration of birds from north to south” and reminded that Guyana is on the flight path for migrant birds.

Additionally, the International Lawyer lamented, “there is a grave risk for a well blowout” and observed that the permit simply says that the company must install blowout preventers and quipped, “Obviously, they have to use one.”

She noted however, that permit’s “provisions are very weak and Guyana has none whatsoever to deal with a well blowout.”

The lawyer was adamant that there is grave risk of a well blow out or an oil spill in the Stabroek Block “which could send oil into the Caribbean, devastating the Caribbean Sea as far as Jamaica leaving Guyana massive liability if this happens.”

According to Janki, the Permit coupled with the Environmental

The Liza Destiny FPSO which is located at the Liza I field in the Stabroek Block

Impact Assessment (EIA) has provided for the company to dump some 4,000 barrels of sewage into the ocean every day.” This, she said, once taken cumulatively would mean “over the life of this project, that’s roughly a gallon of sewage for every barrel of oil that comes out of Liza I. A gallon of sewage for every barrel of oil and that to my mind just about sums up the deal that Exxon has with Guyana.”

Conceding, “I don’t exactly

know what the EPA is proposing to do but I can tell you what should happen” when asked to speculate, Janki reminded that it has been five years now since the original permit was issued to develop the field “and in those five years, there have been massive changes.”

To this end, Janki suggested that there should be no renewal of the Permit until EEPGL undertakes a new EIA before going ahead, taking into account new developments over the years.

Guyanese skipping meals to beat high food prices …FAO report says local food insecurity surpasses regional average

Deceased: Baldeo Balram him sitting on the fishing boat sometime around 11:00 hrs on Tuesday, mere hours before he was discovered dead.

His body was discovered by the sluice operator with his upper body exposed. He was not wearing a shirt and he appeared to be stuck in soft mud and surrounded by water near the bottom of the koker.

The police were eventually summoned after his body was pulled out. It is presently at the Anthony’s Funeral Home.

The Caribbean COVID-19 Food Security and Livelihoods Impact Survey which was launched by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to rapidly gather data on impacts to livelihoods, food security and access to markets has shown that Guyanese are adopting negative measures to cope with the ongoing difficulties associated with accessing food.

The survey was implemented by the World Food Programme with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and four rounds of the survey have been completed since the beginning of the pandemic. It was reported that findings during the February 2022 survey highlighted that citizens are adopting negative

coping strategies to make ends meet. “More people are skipping meals and eating less preferred foods compared to April 2020.”

Lowest income households, it was said, were most likely to resort to negative coping strategies, with 94

percent reporting to have depleted savings, 64 percent reduced spending on other essential needs, and 52 percent sold their productive assets.

“Food insecurity has further (Continued on page 38)

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Thursday May 26, 2022

Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL

“Give me liberty, or give me death.”

Which Guyana got?

It was the much-hailed American Founding Father, Patrick Henry, who is credited with those ringing, soaring words dedicated at the altar of freedom. “Give me liberty, or give me death,” certainly still retain most of its mystical, majestic grandeur, and all that those seven demanding, commanding words inspire.

On this, the 56th Anniversary of this countrys Independence from the bondage of colonialism, the grasping claims of surrogate motherhood, it is clear that Guyana got more than it can swallow. We choked with what we got when Independence came because when we tasted liberty, we began a slow death march, too.

On May 26, 1966, Guyana separated from the yoke of imperial monarchy, the tyranny of the distant parliamentary, and we were delirious in celebrating something called Independence. It was supposed to have represented those elements that strike at the heart of the human spirit: the freedom to govern self, determine for self the national destiny.

And attached to that, the timeless liberties, that have separated man into a special category of mammal.

Fifty-six years on from that fateful May, we must have come somewhere as a place. Of that, there is some uncertainty in significant segments of Guyana, which gives the first clues of how we are as a people. For, it is as a people that we are still trying, struggling, gasping, to find our footing. To some degree (greater according to some, lesser as per others), the strange new lease on national life given to us by the arrival of the much hoped for Independence has contributed in no small way to the beginning of the death of us. We got liberty and we got death also.

It has been a shaky, questionable liberty, and a slow, lingering death. Politics and leaders gone off the deep end, and the wrong way, have roasted Guyanese repeatedly over an open pit. Many escaped the tentacles of crippling leaders, evaded their self-destructions waged, by fleeing from this newfound freedom to other shores and starting over from scratch. The liberties enjoyed afforded us the luxury to engage in devastating, divisive frenzies that have never ceased. In fact, the case could be made that the passage of time has so scarred us that we are now worse than ever before. The Independence of 1966 has since driven us into a state of madness. It is where national pride and individual dignity and group wisdom have all willingly rushed for the exits. There was not a pause, second thought, or first reflection that there could be some other way. We didnt want to hear it before, and now with the potential perpetual financial freedom promised by the discovery of oil, we have totally lost our sense of hearing.

We claim to have independence of thought, freedom of conscience, but the products of both are still a mystery.

Now that this black gold is here, the hope that some degree of sanity could take hold is all but abandoned. What used to be a dogfight before about power and the right to govern has now transformed into a blood feud over who is benefitting, and who is being marginalised, as in enslaved and cheated. Below the towering new structures, around the jam of endless machines, and all the glass and steel exteriors, this is the deathlike reality of a free Guyana, an oil rich land that just does not know what to do with itself. It is a society that doesnt have the will (or wisdom) to wrap its arms around the promise and ideals embedded in Independence from a draining Mother Country. This is a country with a diverse group of people who are yet to come to grips with the magnitude of their oil blessing and their many natural resource gifts. When all of this is weighed, there is this great imbalance detected. The incomprehensible mathematical mystery that such a small number of people with such a great rich endowment doesnt know what to do with themselves. That they could divide and divide again and there still would be much left over. Now, Independence looks like the worst gift we received, that is, until oil came, which could be the death of this free Guyana.

Has flooding affected fish catch?

DEAR EDITOR, GHK Lall has called for the release of the FAOs report on oil production and fishing.

It relates to the effects of oil operations on fish catch. I am a committed supporter of the fisherfolk (not just fishermen but also those whose lives are tied to fishing — managers, vendors, stalls, fish shops, fish cleaners, etc.) that number in the thousands. It has not been scientifically demonstrated (proven) that oil drilling affect fishing.

I am of the view that fisherfolk must (should or ought to) be compensated if it is proven that oil operations have impacted on fish catch and by extension their livelihoods. I wrote several articles on this subject.

As someone with a degree in the natural science, I am of the informed position that claims (especially related to the environment, ocean habitat, fish, etc.) must be scientifically proven. It was not established that oil drilling and other operations scare

away fish and other sea life. I had called for an independent government study on the issue. I applaud the Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, for responding positively. I believe the Minister is sympathetic with fisherfolk and the working class in general and would do the right and needful thing to assist them.

The Minister is reported to have said that a FAO study was conducted.

I have not seen the report.

But I am sure the Minister in due course will address the media on the issue and release the report.

As a scientist in my university studies, without fear of being contradicted, fishing would be severely impacted in the vicinity of oil drilling and other operations. When affected, fish move to different breeding ground. Oil operations are some 150 miles off coast from Guyana and would affect breeding ground in that area. I do not think too many of our fishing boats trek out that far for their catch;

nevertheless only a scientific study can provide a professional and facts based explanation for declining catch over the last several years.

What I do know, that is a fact, is that Guyana was (has been) inundated with unusually heavy unprecedented rainfall and floodwaters in recent years. I was caught in several of those floods in Guyana and in Trinidad covered in deep water. Fresh water (from floods and run-off waterways) would affect sea life. Most sea life (sea bob shrimp and popular fish normally found close to the coast of Guyana) cannot survive in fresh water or sea water mixed with fresh water.

The mixing of water along the coast would drive away fish, similar to the noise of oil drilling operations. There has been declining catch in most parts of the globe. Areas that experienced flooding also experienced lower catch than usual. Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico, US South coast, etc. that experienced massive

floodwaters that ran off into the ocean also experienced lower catch. I do not know if Trinidad and Tobago was also affected by lower catch from floodwaters although there were complaints there also.

Trinidad fishermen are also involved in deep sea fishing. The mentioned countries have had oil operations for decades. There were no reported impacts on fish catch except in recent years when flooding seemed to be perennial.

Guyana has not been affected by national flooding this year and fishing companies have reported increased catch over last year.

Some pertinent questions to ask as related to Guyana are: Have fresh water affected fish life in the Atlantic off Guyana coast? Is it a factor on the low catch? Have oil operations also impacted on fishing? The report of the study is early awaited.

Yours sincerely, Vishnu Bisram (PhD)

What is Independence without harmony?

DEAR EDITOR, What do I say to my sisters and brothers on a day celebrating freedom? What is there to say that would not taint on the truths about us, not play on our disillusionments, not callous joke on our aspirations? This much I say without fear of principled contradiction.

Independence came 56 years ago, and we are not a day, an hour, out of the crib.

Politically and racially, we are stuck in the treetops. Fiftysix years on, we are trapped by the unhealing past, this unyielding present, and I daresay the irreversible, unattainable, unwelcoming future.

It is the reality of the richest nation on earth. Be it per capita, or according to some expert calculation and projection, or some sixth sense that it just is so. However our luscious richness is measured, something is missing. It is

that the whole world is gained, but many have nothing to show for it. We have the world at our feet, but along the way, we lost our soul. We shed our individual and collective soul; you did, and I did too.

It was so before this oil.

It is so more than ever before with the arrival of this femme fatale of an irresistible tempter-temptress. Thus, we are drained of the imperatives of neighbourliness; conscience, perhaps; I would contend even the required consciousness.

At this time when we should be at our most rapt, we are content to be trapped by tricks, the courtship of moral failures, the stunts of those ethically stunted. I agree that we have had governments from below the gutter; I accept, too, that we have had both governments and leaders from the sewer. But it is the first time that Guyana

has both gutter and sewer for government at the same time.

Democracy may partially dress up, but reality unravels that costume stitch by stitch.

It is why I peer more than ever for an elusive nucleus of men and women with the requisite ethical arsenal, the moral stamina, a certain profoundness of judgment. I ease away, for it is vain searching for what is not there. The freedom to think, and the greater personal, internal liberty, to speak freely of what can only be constructive and progressive for this society, has not been ours to have and to hold.

So, I will be bolder today on this Independence Day of 56 years vintage: we need harmony. The melody of it would eradicate our national sickness, but only if we hear it. The reality of national harmony could be our biggest patrimony. But only if desired…

It is timely that I remember the words of that sage Fra Giovanni Giocondo: “The gloom of the world is but a shadow. Behind it, yet within reach, is joy. There is a radiance and glory in the darkness, could we but see, and to see we only have to look. I beseech you to look.” I am looking, but I see only myself. Where is everybody else on this day of freedom? Who is there to clasp my reaching hand, brace my tottering steps? There has to be somebody. Any Guyanese…

We can go on, but not like this. To my fellow citizens, I leave this parting gift from American poet Walt Whitman: “The sum of all reverences I add up in you...I say they have all grown out of you… it is not they who give the life, it is you who give the life.” We can make it happen.

Together only. We must try.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

It appears someone’s slip is showing DEAR EDITOR, I have read with intrigue the recent interaction between Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and workers of the Uitvlugt Estate. As usual, the VP comes across like a knight in shining armour as he seeks to placate the situation which beset the estate. From what I read, the VP actively encouraged workers of the estate to take up training opportunities to be transitioned to other areas.

From what I read, the VP committed himself to linking the workers with job

opportunities. Additionally, the VP encouraged workers to set up businesses to become more self-reliant. On the surface, what the VP is advocating sounds very promising and sincere.

Working in the estate, particularly in the fields, takes a heavy physical toll.

Certainly, anyone would want to have an easier job while earning more. Its almost like heaven on earth.

I have however learnt that what is too good to be true is ultimately is not. By

encouraging, prodding, and, in some instances, pulling the workers out of the estate I must wonder aloud whether it is not a poorly disguised plan to shutter Uitvlugt Estate. Undoubtedly, all the seeds have been planted and will be nurtured to the cry that the estate is without labour and cannot continue to operate. The question that must be asked who or whom are lined up to take over the estate and the large areas of land. Will it be the usual suspects or is a new

plantation owner in the making?

It causes me to ponder whether the breakage of the factory had a hidden intent.

Did it serve to bring about the knight riding in to save day?

If it is that there are plans to close the estate, then why not say so and be frank. I have heard that this is not the first time in this century the estate was earmarked for closure.

Clearly, it appears someone s slip is showing.

Yours sincerely, Sonya Barakat

Thursday May 26, 2022

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

The country is currently experiencing monumental transformation DEAR EDITOR, As Guyanese observe yet another Independence anniversary, it is perhaps necessary to look back at some of the highlights of that moment 56 years ago when the Union Jack was replaced by the Golden Arrowhead on May 26, 1966.

Many Guyanese living today were not around during that eventful moment when Guyanese became, as it were, ‘masters’ of their own destiny.

What most Guyanese may not be aware of, however, are the intrigues and political machinations that took place prior to, and during the course of the conferral of independence status to the then colony of British Guiana.

Guyana was promised independence by Britain much earlier but political and ideological considerations stood in the way. The records will show that the colony was promised independence since the early 1960’s but the British Government, under pressure from the United States, reneged on that promise. As pointed out by Arthur Schlesinger (Jnr.) then Advisor to US President Kennedy, the US administration was under the impression that ‘an independent British Guiana under Cheddi Jagan would pose fewer problems to the United States than an independent Guiana under Forbes Burnham.

To say that Kennedy erred in his assessment of the situation in Guyana would be an understatement. This acknowledgement was made

by Schlesinger himself when he later apologised to Dr. Jagan for an injustice done to him. It is a fact that the very opposite took place in Guyana after Burnham was catapulted to office in 1964 following the introduction of Proportional Representation (PR) which replaced the FirstPast-the Post electoral model which, it must be said was common to the entire British

Commonwealth. The move to amend the electoral formula was described by former British Prime Minister Harold Wilson as a ‘fiddled constitutional arrangement designed to remove Dr. Jagan from power, a move unknown in the history of Commonwealth politics.’

What followed during the post-independence period was a history of rigged elections which lasted for nearly three decades until the United States, through the Carter Centre, intervened which allowed for some sweeping

electoral reforms, including a more balanced Elections Commission, a new voters list and the counting of votes at the place of poll.

This latter demand by the political opposition was vehemently resisted by then President Hoyte who described it as a ‘logistical’ nightmare. After much ‘arm twisting’ on the part of President Carter and the International donor community, Hoyte finally conceded and Guyana recorded its first free and fair elections in nearly three decades.

The above, notwithstanding, Guyana has come a long way since independence and despite the ‘lost years’ under PNC dictatorial and incompetent rule, it is my belief that our moment has now arrived as the country is currently experiencing monumental transformation never before experienced in our history.

As we celebrate 56 years of political independence, let us spare a thought to our independence heroes, in particular former President Dr. Cheddi Jagan who is widely regarded as the architect of our independence struggle.

Hydar Ally

Sugar in a category of its own, or so it seems DEAR EDITOR, Sugar benefits again!

This time, it is the workers at the Uitvlugt Estate as a menu of measures were rolled out, including business grants, up to quarter million dollars, it is alleged.

The workers it was explained have been out of work since March due to the mal-

functioning of the factory.

But wasn’t the $40,000: five days a week jobs allocated to the region through an initiative of the VP, plus, a promise made for the estate to find work six days a week for the affected workers? So what is the justification for these additional measures at the expense of other sections of the populace?

It is worth repeating: public servants got seven per-

cent increase, old age pension was given three thousand dollars, and NIS, facing stark realities, cannot give an increase. However, sugar is in a category of its own and will get the last dollar from the Treasury, or so it seems.

Shamshun Mohamed

Ms. Sita Ramlal should be conferred with SILK DEAR EDITOR, I am compelled to revisit and reignite my passion for fairness, justice and fair play.

My missive was and its injustice meted out to one of Guyanas female luminary by the name of Sita Ramlal, a female Legal Luminary who has lectured at the University of Guyana, Department of Law. To deny Ms. Ramlal the honour of being the recipient of this prestigious award is both unconscionable and ungrateful on the part of the recommender as well as such Luminaries as Rex McKay, Keith Massiah and Sase Narain. What a travesty!

My research informs me that in the entire Caribbean every Solicitor General is conferred with SILK or Senior Counsel or Queens Counsel.

Ms. Ramlal is the only Solicitor General not that fortunate.

This is ridiculous!

Ms. Ramlal should have

been without doubt be among the early women at the recent awardees of SILK. Mr. Anil Nandalall and Mr. Timothy Jonas: The former being her student in the department of law at the University of Guyana.

Ms. Ramlal is Human and must be depressed to experience this unconscionable happening and being the victim of an unjust society and denied by both APNU+AFC coalition and PPP/C. I do hope the powers that be would bring closure to this unfortunate and unpleasant state of affairs by making right this wrong and bring some much needed mental relief to someone who is deserving of respect and honour for her 30 years sterling contribution as a Public Servant including her moulding of numerous students in the Department of Law at the University of Guyana.

Yours faithfully, Umar Saied

PAGE 6

Human Development The Next Step DEAR EDITOR, Back in April, the Minister of Health was reported as bemoaning the rate of migration of nurses from the Public Health Sector. There was no specific indication of how this critical human resources deficit would be addressed.

However, since then the indications are that colleague Attorney General paid no heed, for he is reported to be very emphatic about the delicensing Nurses and Midwives affected by the (illegal) Nurses and Midwives Act 2019 an action compatible with the planned termination of untrained teachers by the Minister of Education.

Both of these actions would appear to be components of the referenced strategic five-year Human Development Plan.

For information, the 2022 Budget shows the following: Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation Amongst the fourteen Job Grades are the following with numbers shown: a) Other Technical & Craft Skilled Staff Nurse; Midwife - 1026 b) Semi-skilled Operatives & Unskilled Nursing Assistant; Nurse Aide 1428 Ministry of Health (Not enumerated) a) Other Technical &

Thursday May 26, 2022

Kaieteur News

Craft Skilled Staff Nurse Midwife; Staff Nurse; Midwife b) Semi-skilled Operatives & Unskilled Nursing Assistant; Health Care Attendant; Nurse Aide; Patient Care Assistant The reason both a) and b) above are shown is to indicate to what positions those to be de-licensed will have to be demoted, with consequential decrease in pay. The pay grades are as follows: - Other Technical & Craft Skilled Grades 12-8 - Semi-skilled Operatives& Unskilled Grades 4-2 This is a circumstance that does not appear to have been anticipated in the budget presentation of the Minister responsible for Finance and which promised more health facilities across the country.

What is the use of this piece of negative legislation which achieves once again the diminution of the humanity of another group of public employees and their families.

Once more his Ministerial colleagues have managed to actualise the Presidents conceptualisation of Human Development effectively ensuring savings on Budget 2022. Surely commonsense suggests the framing of appropriately remedial legislation.

A ward patient

No Early Elections! Governor, Premier to share CoI recommendations, implementation (BVI PLATINUM) - In the face of public calls for early general elections in the Virgin Islands given the publication of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) report and the arrest of former Premier Andrew Fahie, Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr. Natalio Wheatley has confirmed that there is no such plan to send the electorate back to the polls before the constitutionally due date for elections early next year.

“To be clear, there would be no calling of early elections and our work would primarily be dedicated to reform for the remainder of this term,” Dr. Wheately stated.

The reforms are primarily being driven by the recommendations contained in the CoI report that emerged from a United Kingdom-backed probe into allegations of Government and public sector corruption.

The release of the CoI report followed Fahie’s arrest in the United States on cocaine trafficking and money laundering charges. The arrest triggered his removal as Premier as his House of Assembly (HoA) colleagues passed a No Confidence Motion against the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) administration.

“First, reform itself remains the top priority of my Administration.

We are committed to implementing the Commission of Inquiry (COI) Report recommendations and making other needed reforms. However, to do so, we must proceed in a structured and organised way,” said Dr. Wheatley, who has emerged as Premier following the formation of the multi-party National Unity Government.

(Photo Credit: Esther Durand/BVI Platinum News)

Three weeks into its tenure, the new shared Government of the VIP, National Democratic Party (NDP) and Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM), is hoping to fend off direct rule by the UK in which the Governor would sit as the sole authority as recommended by the CoI report.

Instead, the alternative Government, Dr. Wheatley said, has conceptualised how implementation would work under democratic governance in which the Governor, Premier, Cabinet, Ministries and the HoA work together to implement the recommendations of the CoI. Governor’s Shared Responsibility The Government has submitted a proposal to the United Kingdom outlining a framework for implementation of the CoI Recommendations The Governor, according

to Dr. Wheatley, would be responsible for overall implementation of the CoI report recommendations, in partnership with the Premier, and monitoring the Government’s work programme and implementation timetable.

Dr. Wheatley explained that the Premier would support implementation of the recommendations of the CoI report through engagement with the Governor and coordination of the Ministers of Government.

“As the Leader of Government business in the House of Assembly, I would also drive the legislative reform agenda; the Cabinet would be responsible for agreeing and passing policies necessary to implement reforms,” Dr. Wheatley stated.

He also shared that ministries would be responsible for implementing the reform policies agreed by Cabinet while the HoA would be re-

sponsible for passing all relevant legislation necessary for delivering reforms.

“The Government of National Unity believes that this approach would allow for the successful implementation of the CoI Report recommendations under continued democratic governance.

We are fully prepared to do this and will continue our ongoing and constructive engagement with the Governor and United Kingdom on reform as the UK Government considers its course of action regarding the implementation of the CoI Report recommendations.

I do hope an official response will be communicated as soon as possible,’ Dr. Wheatley stated.

He said that the Government will engage the public further on reform in the coming days to provide as much clarity as possible.

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L B T LUNT.. UNT...B BL B Thursday May 26, 2022

Kaieteur News

Last week, the Finance man, Dr. Ashni Singh, informed the nation that three mega gold companies coming here. He was proud to share that they will all be bigger than OMAI.

Right here, we have our little people, the pork-knockers, begging for a piece of land in the hope that they will find a few pennyweights of gold, and even that, they can’t get.

But the foreigners are welcomed with the red carpet rolled out, while our fellow Guyanese are rolled around like garbage drums and treated in any disdainful way that pleases our leaders.

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Thursday May 26, 2022

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Kaieteur News

The DPP had no other option It would amount to a dereliction of duty and a miscarriage of justice for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to permit a charge to proceed when that charge has no basis in fact and/or law.

A group of persons has joined ranks in criticising the decision of the DPP to withdraw private charges, which were filed against a lawyer.

The charges were that he excited hostility and ill-will, against a security guard, on the grounds of race, and that he willfully spat on the alleged victim.

In justifying the DPPs decision, the Office of the DPP had indicated that there were inconsistencies with the alleged victims statement on the spitting issue. On the charge of exciting racial hostility and ill-will, the DPP rightly pointed out that the elements of the charge could not be established.

This column had previously dealt with the charge of exciting racial hostility and illwill. A reading of the relevant law would leave little doubt that this charge relates to acts, which take place in a public place to which, at the time of the incident, the public had access or are allowed access. A reading of the law would also suggest that for the alleged offending words to be illegal, it would have had to have the possibility of causing others to show ill-will or hostility to the victim. In effect, an offence of exciting racial hostility and ill-will occurs when it can be established that words were used in a public place or were trans-

mitted by electronic means, and would arouse others to act in a certain way towards the alleged victim.

The alleged racial abuse was said to have occurred at a private residence which in the circumstances alleged, does not constitute a public place within the meaning of the Racial Hostility Act. Also, the Office of the DPP would have to satisfy itself that these statements were not communicated to the public in a manner to have caused ill-will and hostility on the grounds of race.

Racial abuse by one person against another does not, in itself, constitute the exciting of racial hostility and illwill. The statements or act must have the effect of or likely to result in others being hostile to or showing illwill towards the victim.

It is an established principle in law that even though words spoken may have been insulting or abusive does not necessarily mean that they are likely to excite racial hostility or ill-will. It is also understood that it is not the words itself which make them unlawful but their potential to cause others to react in a certain way towards the victim.

Thus, it is not sufficient to merely establish that certain words were spoken in a public place or reproduced electronically. It is necessary to establish that those words would have had the effect of exciting others towards racial hostility and ill-will to the victim.

In Wall v Fairfax New Zealand Ltd [2017]

NZHRRT, the tribunal referenced Professor Hushcroft in an essay entitled, Defamation, Racial Disharmony, and Freedom of Expression wherein the point was made that : “Not all written matter or words likely to cause hostility or contempt are unlawful, only those that are threatening, abusive or insulting that may lead to hostility.”

Guyanas Racial Hostility Act makes only unlawful those words, which are intended to excite racial hostility or ill-will.

Professor Hushcroft went on to observe that the purpose of the law is to render words unlawful when they have a negative effect on others not those who are the subject of the words. ”The provision is directed at those who may read or hear the words and subsequently form racist opinions as a result. In other words, the harm at which the legislation is directed is not the expression itself, but the presumed effect of that expression on the mind of third parties.”

“As to the requirement that the written material or words be considered “likely” to excite hostility or cause contempt, determination of this issue would seem to depend on the extent to which others are racist, or are considered capable of being influenced by racist expression.”

It is respectfully submitted that in the local case which the DPP withdrew the charges, the public is unaware of the exact words which were allegedly spoken. It is there-

Dem boys seh...

De bridge use up all de money One day a man decide fuh build a bridge. He tek one whole year of he salary and build de bridge. He nah study wah he gan eat and how he gan give he family money fuh de rest of de year. He tek all de money and he build de bridge. He watch when dem workers bin building de bridge. It was a riveting affair.

Guyana building a bridge too. And dem using all de money dem mek in de fuss year of oil production. So all

alyuh wah bin hoping fuh get a freck from de oil revenues, gan be told dat de money gone fuh build de bridge.

It mek dem boys remember when Burnham did promise de TUC dat de minimum wage gan increase to G$14 per day. When de time come, Burnham realise dat he cant afford to pay. Suh at de May Day Rally, he tun to de workers and ask dem whether dem want G$14 per day or hydroelectricity. Dem seh dem want

hydroelectricity. In de end, dem never get hydroelectricity and dem had to wait lang before dem get pay de $14 per day. Suh careful when yuh give politician licence to spend yuh money. De oil money gan done and yuh can still be waiting fuh de hydro.

Leh we hope yuh gan get de bridge and it nah gan be like de renovated airport wah had more delays dan BeeWee back in de day.

Talk half. Leff half.

fore inconceivable that words which third parties did not and are yet to hear or read about, cannot by any stretch of the imagination excite racial hostility and ill-will.

The DPP was within her rights to withdraw the charge.

The Office of the DPP is legally bound to withdraw a charge if it is of the opinion that there is little prospect of securing a conviction, either because the elements of the

case could not be proven or because the evidence would not stand up. To not withdraw in such circumstances would amount to a dereliction of duty.

None of the individuals that is contending that the DPP should not have withdrawn the charge would enjoy being at the end of private charges that are bad in law and/or unsubstantiated by the evidence. However,

don’t tell that to the usual suspects!

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

Kaieteur News

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Thursday May 26, 2022

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Dresden and Charles Aznavour on Independence Day 2022 It is Independence anniversary once more. In my 34 years in column-writing, I have examined Guyana’s journey many, many times on this day (can’t remember if I did one each year). Each analysis has not been positive. I have lamented our social and developmental journey on every occasion that I have written about this day.

I would be dishonest in saying that since the first analysis (whenever that was so many decades ago), Guyana has not seen progress. It has. I don’t line up any longer on Middle Street with hundreds of persons to pay electricity bill. But the incremental progress can be a mirage. In October 2019, I imported a car from Japan and on the wharf to clear it, I saw the impossibility of life in Guyana. I will never forget that moment. Please see my column of Sunday, October 27, 2019, titled, “Always follow your instincts or you will lose your life.”

One of the flaws of postcolonial theory, still perpetuated by radical, anti-western scholars is that the state of underdevelopment in former colonies is directly caused by colonial subjugation and

such oppression has left permanent psychological scars.

I don’t accept the continuing state of political economy in the Third World (TW) is due to colonialism. That was so for a long period of time but it does not explain the current situation in the T W. S i n g a p o r e , M a l a y s i a , Mauritius, India, China contradict that theory.

The absolute devastation of Western Europe after WW2 left many European countries in a far more terrible economic mess than European colonies at the time.

Dresden in Germany is an example, which I continue to point to when analysing Guyana on Independence Day. The city was completely demolished by WW2 bombing. Today, it is one of the world’s most post-modern cities.

Where Guyana goes into the future is anyone’s guess. But on this day, I would advise the countless number of young people not to waste their lives over Guyana as I did. I get innumerable emails from these young people on my work and I will advise them not to follow in my footstep. My regrets are tsunamic. I have wasted my entire life on this country. TV host Naim

Chan asked if I have any requests. I told him millions.

I leave these young people with the words of a song that they should embrace. I didn’t know who Charles Aznavour was until I holidayed with my wife in 1981 in Quebec, Canada. Quebec loved Aznavour. And it was there, I got to know about his songs. On my return to Toronto, I went to Sam’s, the Record Man looking for Aznavour.

My eyes lighted on an album with his visage, his shirt unbuttoned a long way down and a rose alongside with raindrops on the petals. I bought the album (titled, We Were Happy Then) and discovered an engrossing philosophical song, “The Happy Days” that I will always listen because as the French President, Emmanuel Macron said, Anzavour sings about our secret fragilities.

Two more of his philosophical songs are about our secret fragilities – “Yesterday When I was Young” and “I didn’t see the time go by.” If you go to YouTube to listen to The Happy Days, press on the image of the album, “We were happy then.” That version of the song is the original one with

smoothing orchestration. Once more, I suggest to the young people of Guyana, listen to The Happy Days and forget about the nature of Guyana.

The Happy Days As the world is ever spinning Time and troubles have no end, no beginning Happy days sing of a sadness Dreams we build our lives upon, soon are gone Everyone can taste the soul So we run into the past, or tomorrow Never knowing that the answer to this futile game we play Is today The happy days are here and now Now is the time to laugh and live, drink all the wine Sing all the songs that live can give Our yesterdays are dead and gone Tomorrow is so far away So be alive and think of now as the happy days Have you seen the children playing?

Frederick Kissoon Have you taken time to hear, what they’re saying?

Do you know the names of flowers?

Do you know what love can bring? Do you sing?

Every day is what you make it Either you have love for life, or you fake it Make the most of every minute Take each moment in your hand, while you can The happy days are here and now Now is the time to love and live Drink all the wine, sing all the songs that life can give Our yesterdays are dead and gone Tomorrow is so far away So be alive and think of now as the happy days (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

Brazil: at least 21 people killed during police raid in Rio favela (The Guardian) - At least 21 people have been shot dead and seven wounded during a police raid on a Rio de Janeiro favela to capture the leaders of a drugtrafficking organization.

The deaths included a woman who was hit by a stray bullet in the exchange of gunfire between gang members and police in the Vila Cruzeiro favela.

The death toll puts the i n c i d e n t a m o n g R i o ’s deadliest police operations in recent history. It comes one year after a raid of the Jacarezinho favela that left 28 people dead, prompting claims of abuse and summary executions. The episode sparked protests and also reignited debate over the proper use of police force in Rio, where a common local saying is, “A good criminal is a dead criminal.”

Just weeks after the Jacarezinho raid, a stray bullet hit a young pregnant

woman during a police raid in another favela, and her death prompted further outrage.

Residents said on social media that heavy shooting began in darkness at 4am in a wooded area next to Vila Cruzeiro, sparking fear and panic in the slum. Gunfire began again in the afternoon, a Reuters photographer near the scene said.

Seven wounded people were taken to a hospital, including a policeman.

The police operation, backed by a helicopter, targeted leaders of Rio’s largest organized crime gang, the Comando Vermelho (Red Command), who, according to police intelligence, were hiding in Vila Cruzeiro.

“It was a very intense confrontation,” Colonel Ivan Blaz, spokesman for the militarized police force that led the operation, told reporters.

Outside a local hospital

where victims were taken, residents of Vila Cruzeiro mourned the loss of family and friends and protested.

Rio state public prosecutors said in a statement they had opened a criminal investigation. They gave the military police 10 days to provide details about the operation, indicating which officials were

responsible for each death and the justification for use of lethal force, the statement said.

The operation was conducted jointly by the military police and federal highway police. Police seized 16 vehicles, 13 automatic rifles as well as pistols and grenades, the police statement said.

The dead woman was identified as 41-year-old Gabriele Cunha, hit by a stray bullet even though she lived in a neighboring slum called Chatuba. Schools did not open for classes.

Earlier this year, Brazil’s supreme court established a series of conditions for police to conduct raids in Rio’s favelas as a means to

reduce police killings and violations of human rights.

The court ruled that lethal force should be used only in situations in which all other means have been exhausted and when necessary to protect life, and gave police 180 days to install devices to record audio and video on their uniforms and vehicles.

Thursday May 26, 2022

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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Thursday May 26, 2022

Govt. to roll out fish cage initiative at Mainstay/Whyaka - Pres Ali talks up $10M profits per year In a bid to revive a dying fishing industry in Guyana, President Mohammed Irfaan Ali is moving ahead to ‘try out’ the reportedly “unproven fish cage initiative” at a Region Two Village on the Essequibo C o a s t c a l l e d Mainstay/Whyaka.

Ali made this announcement on Wednesday at the village’s community ground and touted that project “could have a profitability of $10M per year”. “You would have heard me speaking about marine cage, new found technology in aquaculture.

Very recently, I give the statistics of the shortage of fish and fish products both globally and regionally, so what we want to do is to start the first pilot phase (fish cage project) in Mainstay,” Ali said.

The President added that

he is targeting the young people of the village with the project and assured that it will be owned by them. He explained that the marine cage that the government is spending millions to set up at Mainstay will be a commercial one with the aim of producing some 11 metric tons of fish every nine months. Ali related that government will begin works on the project from as “early as next week”.

“Mr. Geer (Mr. Tejnarine Geer, the Chief Fisheries Officer at the Ministry of Agriculture), and his technical team will come with you (the villagers) and they will be working with you in establishing this project. They will be ongoing testing and looking at the best possible location,” Ali told the schoolchildren, teachers and few residents who attended his outreach at

the village.

He even went on to give some measurements of the cages that will be set up there: “I think we need three metre depth and 30 metre circumference and it has to be in the flowing water and we will be feeding the fish”.

Ali then added, “Once we do this right, based on the numbers we have established the annual probability could be as much as $10M”.

When the government first spoke about its intention of setting Marine Cages in Guyana, Kaieteur News did some preliminary research and had found out that this form of aquaculture is a still in its trial stage even though some countries have had some degree of success with a limited number of fish species.

However, government is confident that the

experiment will work in Guyana and had went ahead to set aside some $200M for the project in this year’s budget. Kaieteur News had then asked the Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha on sidelines of a

A model of the Marine Cage that government will be setting up next week at Mainstay Whyaka (Region 2).

parliament sitting, why his government was so confident in a project that is still in its trial stage.

Mustapha had rejected that the idea that Marine Cage culture is still in its experimental cage around

the world and told Kaieteur News, “No, no, there are some large scale cage culture going for example if you look at China, you must go and Google it and you gon see, Thailand and those areas (Continued on page 41)

Thursday May 26, 2022

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Thursday May 26, 2022

Kaieteur News

Thursday May 26, 2022

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Opposition frets over absent Govt. MPs at PAC Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton is of the view that the Government has started what he believes is a deliberate move to thwart the work of the Parliamentary Public Account Committee (PAC).

His statement comes days after the representatives of the People’s Progressive

Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton.

Party / Civic (PPP/C) were a b s e n t f r o m t h e PA C meeting purportedly due to community engagements.

During a press conference on Wednesday, Norton explained that the Government side was a noshow at PAC’s statutory meeting of Monday, May 23, 2022 stalled the work of the committee. He said that this is just the beginning.

According to Norton, on Monday, the Clerk of PAC informed the Opposition Members who were all present that the Government side has asked to be excused due to the flood situation in Region Nine.

“Also present for the meeting were the Finance

CARICOM looking...

From page 17 regional and global expertise during the dialogue.

Next week, June 1, representatives of the International Trade Centre (ITC), the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ), the private and public sector will convene to identify opportunities for unlocking regional markets for agri-food MSMEs. Guyana and Trinidad are just two nations that have already cemented intent to improve its transport capabilities in trade. The neighbouring nations, just days ago, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to experiment with cargo, plus ferry facilities that will make moving people, goods and services easier.

S e c r e t a r y, A c c o u n t a n t General and the Auditor General’s representative and the agencies to be examined (Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development and Region

Nine). The meeting could not have been held because of the new PPP-imposed definition of a quorum.

We anticipate that this will be the first of such government manoeuvres to

thwart the work of the PAC so that the PAC will not be able to examine the accounts of 2020 and 2021. Guyanese should not be surprised that the PPP has no interest in advancing transparency and

accountability. Its disdain for the people is palpable,” he said noting that this is reason why the PPP/C pushed for a change in the quorum of PAC. On Wednesday, April 13,

2022, a motion was passed in the National Assembly of Guyana changing the quorum of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

Before the passage of this (Continued on page 40)

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Kaieteur News

Thursday May 26, 2022

Thursday May 26, 2022

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Kaieteur News

Regional food security…

CARICOM looking for feedback on regional transportation in two months The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is looking for feedback regarding regional transportation for the movement of people and goods in two months as the bloc hurriedly moves to improve its food security abilities and reduce its food importation bill by 25 percent by 2025.

Recognizing that the lack of adequate regional transportation by sea and air is an obstacle to the transportation of food within the region, and determined that the matter should be overcome within the shortest possible time frame, Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley, together with the Heads of Government in the quasi-Cabinet responsible for Transport and Agriculture, have been requested to complete a proposal for establishing adequate and sustainable regional transportation.

An outcome document following the three day AgriInvestment forum and Expo said that after consultations with the Caribbean private sector, the international donor community and multilateral development agencies, the proposal will be brought to Heads of Government in July for consideration.

“In making this recommendation, the Group was heartened by the advice of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) that it is willing to use its best efforts to mobilise resources in this effort.” The matter of improved transportation and connectivity had been one of grave concern during the Expo. The CARICOM Heads of Government called on investors to allocate funding to transport goods throughout the Community.

Premier of Montserrat, Joseph Farrell had rallied investors to support the acquisition of “at least two ships, one going north and one going south, so that we can move our products from one country to the next.”

Prime Minister Keith Rowley had also referred to the multipurpose vessels that were donated in the era of the West Indies Federation by the Government of Canada to the Region, and told investors: “If you really want to help CARICOM …, one of the best things that you could do is to help the team of governments to fund and have operating, within the CARICOM Region, vessels of that nature so as to bring our people together by seas…It has been done; it

needs to be done. Goods and services by sea after by rail is always the cheapest,’’ Dr. Rowley asserted.

For Prime Minster Gaston Browne, he said it is imperative to find the means to “move our goods”, as he pointed out that it was easier to ship goods from Miami than within the Region. “If we don’t have transportation then all our efforts would be in vain... In this regard, reliable transportation by sea and by air is imperative and urgently requires attention. It is imperative and urgently demands attention,” he said.

Deputy Prime Minister of the Bahamas, Chester Cooper also threw out the challenge for the Caribbean to develop a strategic plan that targets logistical transport and connectivity issues.

The CDB has noted that on the heels of a regional discussion in Guyana on food security and CARICOM’s commitment to reduce Member States’ food import bill by 25 percent by 2025, the institution has assembled a team of experts and stakeholders to examine strategies for transforming the agri-food sector, with an emphasis on improving cross border trade. CDB Vice President of Operations

Isaac Solomon who will be speaking at a Food security seminar that will kick start the bank’s 52nd Annual Meeting said that, “The flow of goods in the Caribbean remains hamstrung by an inadequate logistics ecosystem while coun-

tries continue to encounter challenges related to infrastructure and activities along the value chain. The region’s private sector, which is comprised primarily of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), is faced with

constrained access and limited penetration of markets within and beyond CARICOM”, he stated. It was said that the bank will influence, shape and formulate solutions with the input of (Continued on page 15)

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Thursday May 26, 2022

Kaieteur News

A moral sense that helps to differentiate between right and wrong is important DEAR EDITOR, On this day May 26, 2022, we celebrate or more accurately observe our 56th year of Independence and I wish all Guyanese in particular our few media operatives, young people and true patriots a Happy and Reflective Day. After years of struggle, the final Constitutional Independence Conference which settled the date for Independence was held early November at Lancaster House, London.

For the records, those who represented British Guiana were Sir Richard Luyt, K.C.M.G, D.C.M, Governor, Hon. Shridath (Sony) Ramphal, Q.C., Attorney General, Sir Lionel A. Luckhoo, C.B.E, Q.C, Commissioner for British Guiana in the UK, Hon. David Gardner Rose, M.B.E., Defence Advisor, Lt. Col. P.H. Hislop, Mr. A. J. Breeze, Hon. Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, Q.C., Premier, Hon. Clifton Mortimer Llewelyn John, Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Deoroop Mahraj, Minister without Portfolio, Mr. Hugh Maybrick E. Cholmondeley, Advisor, Mr. Hamilton Green, General Secretary, PNC., Mr. John Gabriel Joaquin, O.B.E., Hon. Peter Stanilaus. D’Aguiar, Minister of Finance, Hon. Randolph E. Cheeks, Mini s t e r, M r.

St e p h e n Campbell, PS to the Ministry of Home Affairs (later 1st Amerindian to enter P a r l i a m e n t ) , M r. J . E .

D e F r e i t a s , C . B . E . , M r.

Marcellus Fielden Singh, and Hon. Mohamed Kassim, Minister of Works and Hydraulics.

From the above list, you’ll note that only two persons are still alive.

On arriving in London, we learnt that for the second time in British history a colony had dared to stick a finger in the Royal eye of the British Empire and Ian Smith, the Rhodesian Premier unilaterally declared themselves independent resisting the call for majority rule in a country where black Africans constituted an overwhelming majority.

On being greeted at L a n c a s t e r H o u s e , M r.

Burnham asked the Colonial Secretary when would they dispatch troops to put down the white-led rebellion in Rhodesia as they did in Guiana in 1953?

The British Official responded ‘Oh Mr. Burnham, you are a naughty chap.’

As I ponder the efforts made then to ensure that our Constitution allows for certain things such as the enhancement of what we understood as democracy, which of course includes free speech, decency, justice, respect for human beings and of course to en-

sure that the bounty of our God-given natural resources redound to the b e n e f i t of the ordinary people as an independent Guyana.

Those who came as bondsmen, free men and our Amerindian brothers and sisters are all entitled to share the wealth.

On this occasion, I mention only four things, initiated

by Mr. Burnham, which would have contributed to a genuine oneness in an independent State.

These were 1). National Service, 2). the National Insurance Scheme 3). an aggressive FCH ( Feed, Clothe and House) Programme and 4). a highly respected Foreign Service, staffed by Guyanese of competence and integrity. A foreign service respected internationally.

The President has undertaken many International visits and met world leaders from just about everywhere. We have no difficulty with this but unless we can have a foreign service staffed with people of stature and competence, the cost of these visits and time spent would be wasted.

I make apologies to no one but the present crop of Ambassadors, Senior Foreign Service Officers, with very few exceptions lack capacity to translate statements made into cogent policy and performances.

If the post-Independence Opposition had not vigorously opposed these four initiatives, with the bounty from our natural resources, every Guyanese, and I repeat every Guyanese would be happy living in comfort and be pr o u d t o b e a Guyanese at home and abroad. For some inexplicable reason, we seem unable to learn from the lessons history has to offer.

That is wherever and whenever local leaders lose focus on the vital, social and economic issues, citizens are ill-served and we open the gates for powerful foreign forces and their companies to gobble us u p , l i k e t h e r apacious camoudi snake.

As we observe Independence, it is instructive for us to recall the International environment clouded by that all consuming Cold War. The US landed fourteen thousand troops in the Dominican Republic after a stubborn leader could not agree on what was best for their country.

In late June, the US Administration authorised US Troops to enter the domestic tussle in Vietnam.

This manifested itself in a

war, which the US should have known they could not win but one which caused the lives of fifty eight thousand (58,000) of young American soldiers.

So Great America betrayed herself in Vietnam.

Race riots in Watts, the result of racial intolerance.

This was the global environment as we met and settled the modalities for our Independence.

Even as we prepared to celebrate our Independence in 1966, the man we planned to be our special guest, Kwame Nkrumah was deposed in a coup on the 24th of February, 1966.

Nkrumah was bronze Tito of Yugoslavia, Gama Nassau of Egypt and Pandit Nehru of India and established the NonAligned Movement intended to ensure that the human and material resources of the so-called third world were exploited by neither superpowers of east nor west.

As we observe our 56th year of Independence, it is painful to note just three things, first, how we are willing to compromise our environment at the behest of a big brother with big bucks, so we dismissed Mr. Vincent Adams, as Head of the Environmental Protection Agency, so today we have an EPA that is a toothless and clawless tiger, seemingly dancing to the tune of the Government and their darlings..

The Forbes Burnham Foundation sought and obtained permission in writing to mount an Independence Commemorative Exhibition at the Foyer of the National Library intended to educate and inform in particular young Guyanese about the road and challenges that allowed the successful quest for Independence in 1966.

Even before the exhibits were to be mounted, Chairman of the Burnham Foundation, Mr. Vincent Alexander received a telephone call saying that permission was being withdrawn since the Library needed the facility for its own use.

Overtime faced with the validity of these concepts, certain governments pay lip service, so as we approach this Independence, disregarding the warnings of the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, According to him, renewable energy policies are fundamental to reduce market risk and drive investment into the sector.

Further, he used the opportunities to again reiterate that governments must shift subsidies away from fossil fuels to protect the poor and most vulnerable people and communities.

Every minute of every day, coal, oil and gas receive roughly $11 million dollars in subsidies. Each year, governments around the world pour around half a trillion dollars into artificially lowering the price of fossil fuels — more than triple what renewables receive,” he observed.

Of course, the mystery surrounding foreign companies being given permission willingly to exploit our gold is a serious matter.

Over time, we have been subordinated and suffocated by the efforts of the descendants of those who first exploited us centuries ago.

Our leaders should not be allowed to disregard our noble ancestors on the pretext we were told once that we don’t have technology and equipment to mine gold these days.

We s e e m u n c o n cerned at the destruction of our waterways, our flora and fauna.

Our early fighters for freedom, Cheddi Jagan and Forbes Burnham must be shedding tears that are now perhaps responsible for the incessant rainfall we are now experiencing.

Beyond this, I continue to plead with both sides of our political divid e t h a t they must sit like sensible men and work out a common strategy that will allow us to speak with one voice, as we deal with the mighty conglomerates.

The giants of industry are delighted when our leaders seem comfortable or satisfied with pennies instead of demanding available pounds.

Is it because the system allows an emerging oligarchy to behave as though they speak for 99.9% of the people.

The technique of divide and rule is a wellknown practice of the old imperial masters and their descendants.

Another grievous matter is that last week we heard the DPP exercising the powers given her under the Constitution, withdrawing the charges made against Attorney-at-Law Nirvan Singh in response to allegations by Special Constable Ms. Shawnette Bollers, that he called her a ‘black monkey.’

Ms. Bollers earlier expressed a willingness to take a lie detector test.

In a polarised society, this is a matter of serious concern to all and sundry.

This matter ought not to be swept under the carpet.

The DPP Office in response to concerns expressed said that they will not

be intermediated because the DPP acted within the confines of the law. Are we serious?

Here I recall the literature “Oliver Twist,’ written by Charles Dickens, when the character Mr. Bumble said, “The law is an ass.” Guyana seems to be controlled by another ass, arrogance, stupidity and stubbornness.

The tragedy of this is, there are many Guyanese of the same ethnicity as Mr. Singh who I consider decent and forthright and would not countenance such behaviour.

When an Official takes the role of Judge and Jury, then we are in deep trouble.

One can ask, do we really desire peace in this country or is it that Constable Bollers represents a group that can be ignored and trampled upon with impunity?

These are questions that the President must answer in his Independence Address.

The third worrisome matter, is that we are hearing all sorts of nice things from the President, while all that is necessary to cushion the burden of a daily increase in the cost of living is to double the salaries of all the public sector employees, Policemen, Soldiers, Firemen, Teachers, Doctors, Nurses, the Army, Clerks, etc.

This will force their friends in the Private Sector with a few exceptions to give their workers a better deal.

The old folks say ‘Wha Mouth nah load’ meaning not what you say but what you do and deliver that matters.

After 56 years of Independence, we still do not have the capacity and good sense to avoid a slow march to neo-colonialism.

After 56 years of Independence there is still ambivalence and in some cases deception about local content and food security.

The philosophical underpinnings were articulated and set in motion more than four decades ago.

Today as we expect our leaders to celebrate, certain local companies who deliver goods and services must still act as Sub-Contractors to the big foreign companies.

Finally, as we observe our 56th year of Independence, I ask, and I ask all of our leaders, political, religious, judiciary and the executive, to go beyond the niceties of the law and petty differences and be directed and behave like true Statesmen should.

In spite of the gloom and hubris above, we must still believe that true patriots will lead us to the glorious and not damned, and that we sing this day lustily and meaningfully, the third stanza of our National Anthem, words by A. L. Luker and lyrics by E. C. G. Potter: “Great Land of Guyana, diverse though our strains, We are born of their sacrifice, heirs of their pains. And ours is the glory their eyes did not see, One land of six peoples, united and free.”

All of our teachings direct us that what is important is that all of us have what I term, a moral sense helping us to differentiate between right and wrong, good and bad, what is desirable and undesirable.

This is the task ahead that will help us to be glorious and not damned and beyond all this I pose this to this generation: are we truly independent in our actions and thinking or is it a phrase of convenience.

Happy Independence!

Hamilton Green Elder

Flooding and our priorities DEAR EDITOR, The recent flooding is a stark reminder that we must revisit our priorities and ensure this remains at the top of the to do list. Reduction of food costs, new roads, and other items being discussed as a high priority, will never be sustainably achieved if flooding continues to displace citizens, shut down the economy and expose our citizens to the health hazards that dirty water brings. Such a record breaking budget in quantity, yet the quality of living of our citizens are thrown aside quite quickly when the rains and high tide cause flooding. It is time we restructure the budget to ensure that the mitigation of flooding is funded appropriately and acted upon quickly by the

ministry responsible for infrastructure. It is nice to have a new road to alleviate traffic, but it is a must to have good sea defence and drainage to prevent flooding. After all, the roads will be useless when flooded, unless we use the fishing boats as transportation. His Excellency Dr. Jagan who is our founding leader, was clear when he said, “We cannot have a Cadillac-style living with donkey cart economies”. The constant flooding has made it obvious to all that the donkey cart economy is still in place.

It is time to be practical with a strong dose of reality.

With concern, Mr. Jamil Changlee Chairman The Cooperative Republicans of Guyana

Thursday May 26, 2022

Kaieteur News

93 new COVID-19 cases in Guyana The Ministry of Health on Wednesday reported that within the last 24-hour period, 93 new COVID-19 cases have been recorded across the country.

The new infections which now bring the total number of confirmed cases to 64,435 were detected in Region Four which recorded 45 cases, Region Two which recorded 13 cases, Region Six, which recorded 12 cases, Region Three which recorded nine cases, Region Five, which recorded six cases,

Regions 10 and Seven which recorded three cases each and Region One which recorded one case.

The Ministry’s dashboard data shows that four patients are in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit, 25 persons are in institutional isolation, 557 are in home isolation and one is in institutional quarantine. Additionally, 48 persons have recovered from the virus within the last 24hours taking the total number of recovery to 62,617.

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Thursday May 26, 2022

Banks DIH profits soar despite COVID setbacks …announces $340M in dividends to shareholders

By Gary Eleazar

D

espite the numerous setbacks, particularly trade and commodity costs attributed to the COVID-19 Pandemic, local beverage giant Ban’s DIH Limited continues to see its profit soar year after year.

This much is evident from the Chairman of the Board of Director’s, Clifford Reis’ report to shareholders when the company yesterday made public its interim financial statements for the half year ended March 31, 2022. Reis in his report noted that the group’s third part revenue for the six-month period amounted to some $21.9B compared to the $19.8B that was realised for the corresponding period in 2021. According to the company chairman that amount reflects a 10.7 percent increase in revenue some $2.1B more than the previous year.

As it relates to the unaudited profit before taxation for the group, it was reported that this amounted to some $4.8B as compared to the $4B realized for the same period in the preceding year representing an increase of some 19.6 percent.

Revenue generated by the company, according to Reis was $19.6B when compared with the $17.8B had for the same period last year an increase of some 9.5 percent. Reporting on the unaudited operating profit before taxation for the company was pegged at $3.6B which works out to a more than 11 percent increase.

Profit after tax, according to the company’s chairman, is $2.5B compared to the $2.2B in the corresponding period for the previous year representing a more than 11 percent increase in profit. According to Reis, it was the mitigation of the effects of the COVID19 pandemic which assisted the group of companies to cope with the “many challenges” that had arisen.

He did however state that the “supply chain will continue to be disrupted as a result of the geopolitical crisis in Europe.”

According to Reis, the

prices of key raw material and supplies will continue to rise which “will affect our profitability” but expressed confidence nonetheless saying “we are confident that we will rise above the challenges ahead and will report improved results in the second half of 2022.”

Elaborating on the company’s operations and performance thus far for the year, Reis highlighted that they managed to deliver enhanced results in the first half of the year due to revenue growth derived from the increase in physical sales of its beverages and food products.

He said too that revenue from the restaurant operations as well as efficiency “from our production capabilities and management of our operational expenses” also contributed to the company’s financial performance this year.

Seeking to provide a clearer breakdown, the Banks DIH Chairman reported increased performances by subsidiaries and companies for which the company holds a controlling interest.

To this end, he pointed to Banks Automotive and Services Inc., a 100 percent owned subsidiary, which generated a 31 percent increase in its revenue to the tune of $25.8M compared to the corresponding period in the preceding fiscal year, which saw $19.5M in revenue being realized.

As it relates to Citizen’s Bank, a 51 percent owned company, Reis reported that the financial institution ended the fiscal period recording an unaudited profit after taxation of $722M compared to the $478.4M achieved in 2021, representing a 51 percent increase over the corresponding period. He did note the remaining six months of the group of companies’ fiscal year, will not be without its challenges for the Bank but “we are however optimistic that our strategies will result in increased shareholder Value.” To this end, the Chairman reported that the Directors have since approved an interim dividend of $0.40 per share

unit to all shareholders whose name appears on the share register as at 17th May 2022.

As such, the cost of the dividend payment, according to Reis, will cost some $340M. Providing further updates on the entity’s

operations, Reis reported that a Distribution Agreement was signed between Diageo Brands BV, R&A Bailey and Banks DIH Limited giving “our company the sole right to distribute “Johnny Walker Scotch Whiskey, Ciroc (Continued on page 24)

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Banks DIH Chairman, Clifford Reis

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Thursday May 26, 2022

Exxon hires Texan firm to conduct environmental studies for fifth project …previous company backs out due to controversy

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Texas-based company, which is where United States oil giant, ExxonMobil is also headquartered, has been hired to conduct the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the company’s fifth oil project Uaru Plus.

Acorn International is the new firm that will be carrying out the impact assessment for Exxon, through its subsidiary, Esso

Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL).

On its website, the company said, “Acorn International delivers the expertise, solutions and assurance that global businesses need to thrive in high-risk environments amidst community opposition, environmental liabilities, and shareholder activism.

We aim to promote more sustainable relationships between business, affected

stakeholders and the affected environment, to help all three thrive.”

Meanwhile, at a scoping exercise, held to inform the EIA, Grace Russel, a biologist and environmental consultant attached to the US firm explained that she was hired by ExxonMobil, and received a no-objection from the EPA to carry out the assessments.

The decision to select another Consultant was forced after Exxon was

p r e s s u r e d b y environmentalists, who questioned the independence of the lone firm that has been conducting such studies to date, Environmental Resources Management (ERM).

ERM completed environmental impact studies for the four oil projects approved to date by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as well as the EIA for Exxon’s part of the Gas-to-Energy

Acorn International Consultant, Grace Russel project.

A g r o u p o f Environmentalists wrote to the EPA back in December, requesting that it disclose the list of other qualified consultants, from which the Environmental Resources Management was selected to conduct EIAs. In the document seen by this publication, the experts Simone Mangal-Joly, Alfred Buhlai, Vanda Radzik, Janette Bulkan, Denuta Radzik, Jerry Jailall, Alissa Trotz and Maya Trotz questioned the independence of ERM since records show that the ExxonMobil subsidiary has only ever selected the ERM to conduct all its Environmental Impact Assessments and management plans to date.

It was not until in April of this year that the EPA came out saying that it is now compiling a list of competent Consultants to conduct EIAs in Guyana. The agency explained it is currently developing a “fair and robust system for compiling this list of approved persons with appropriate qualifications and experience to conduct EIAs.” In the interim, the EPA noted that it currently approves Consultants on a case by case basis, informed by the respective agency’s qualifications and experience in conducting environmental studies, similar to what is required.

“Many of the consultants approved are members of international Professional Environmental Impact

Assessment Associations, which lends credibility regarding their qualifications and experience to conduct EIAs. F u r t h e r, t h e t e a m o f approved consultants in this case covered several areas of expertise and were both international and local consultants with requisite qualifications and e x p e r i e n c e , ” t h e E PA pointed out.

In response to the EPA’s s t a t e m e n t , o n e Environmentalist, Simone Mangal-Joly stated that the agency seems to have allowed itself the right to cheat the process, by ignoring Section 3 (a) of the EP Act. “There is nothing in the Act that speaks to an alternative means through which the EPA may select qualified persons to conduct EIAs. Whether one does it on a case-by-case basis or from a pool, or whether it is a local or foreign individual or company, Section 3(a) of the Act is clear that the Agency cannot select the consultants by itself; the selection must be done “with the assistance of internationally recognised environmental groups.” This is specifically to avoid bias and underhandedness,” she pointed out.

The environmentalist argued that the EPA was aware of this requirement before selecting ERM, as complaints on the subject were raised during the Yellowtail public comment period. (Davina Bagot)

Thursday May 26, 2022

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Thursday May 26, 2022

GTT signs new two-year wage pact with union From Left: President of the GPTWU Harold Shepherd, Chief Labour Officer attached to the Ministry of Labour and Damian Blackburn, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GTT sign MoU.

Workers attached to the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) Company are expected to receive a pay hike based on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the Guyana P o s t a l a n d Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n Workers’ Union (GPTWU) and the Ministry of Labour.

The MoU was signed at M i n i s t r y o f L a b o u r, Brickdam on Wednesday.

The MoU states, that all union members will receive

an immediate 2 percent pay increase effective February 2022, this on top of the six percent awarded in October 2021. In January 2023, the members are set to receive a further six percent subject to an additional review depending on inflation levels.

The company made further commitments to reward additional increases based on company and individual performance levels.

Damian Blackburn, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GTT, indicated that major investments in comprehensive fibre skills training for technicians would lead to the overall development of individuals and the company, and promotions for persons who successfully complete the programme.

He sees this as a key foundation building block in the delivery of the 2025 vision to improve life experiences to every home and business. Mr. Blackburn said that GTT will continue to fulfil its promise to positively impact the lives of its team, this time through an unprecedented two-year agreement with the GPTWU. On Wednesday, the G T T ’s C E O s i g n e d a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the union with the Minister of Labour. Blackburn also lauded the relationship that exists with the union and looks forward to continued engagement.

He said, “As a company, we are thrilled to share a good relationship with the union and I have made it a top priority to ensure this comprehensive review of earnings, up skilling, and incentive-based promotion schemes for these employees with a clear and transparent progression pathway for apprentices through to senior technician.”

President of the GPTWU Harold Shepherd described the event as the culmination of “successful negotiations” with the CEO, adding that over the last year, for the first time in recent history, the union has been able to address the backlog of issues, which they have brought to the attention of the GTT management.

Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton praised the relationship between the union and GTT, explaining that agreements as comprehensive as the one between the two parties is representative of 21st century changes in the workforce.

“What this shows is that just a change in style and leadership can improve working [conditions],” the Minister noted. “GTT recognises the importance of training and retraining in the changing labour landscape.”

Following the signing, the telephone company released a statement noting that GTT remains committed to positively impact the lives of its team and will continue to work with key stakeholders to ensure that this is realised.

GTT is the largest p r o v i d e r o f telecommunication and technology services in Guyana providing a suite of 21st-century products and services to its home, business and mobile subscribers for over three decades.

Since 1991, GTT has been a subsidiary of ATN International, a NASDAQ listed company.

AT N i s a l e a d i n g provider of communication infrastructure and services earning over 750 million USD in annual revenue. ATN has over 500 thousand subscribers, 8000 fibre miles and 400 wireless towers and has a presence in Caribbean countries such as Bermuda, (Continued on page 40)

Banks DIH profits soar despite...

From page 21 Vodkas, Zacapa Centenario Rums and Baileys Liqueur.”

Accounting for some of the capital expenditure undertaken by the company for the period under review, Reis pointed to the acquisition of new trucks, display coolers, freezers and draught beer cylinders among other acquisitions.

He noted too that there was also the replacement of equipment across the company, which included power generation, refrigeration, security cameras and computer equipment.

According to Reis, during the second half of the fiscal year, work will continue on the Syrup Room upgrade, the new water bottling plant, the new malt and rice mill as well as a new centrifuge system for the brewery.

Thursday May 26, 2022

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Guyana’s capital market value surpasses one trillion dollars - union says local workforce not reaping benefits of growing sectors Guyana’s oil –fuelled economic boom is evident in a wide range of local

businesses that have been recording positive growth within the country. This is

despite the more than a two–year running Covid -19 pandemic that significantly

impacted, among other important areas, the world’s fiscal operations.

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) General Secretary,

GAWU’s General Secretary Aslim Singh Aslim Singh has attributed the successes of local businesses to the dedication and efforts put in by the country’s work force.

However, Singh said, the workers’ union is convinced that Guyana’s working class is not reaping the benefits of their contributions to the growth of the private sector.

He said that just recently, it was revealed that Guyana’s market capitalisation had passed the trillion dollar mark.

“So it tells you that the economy and businesses are growing in many instances if you use what is happening in the publicly traded companies.” On the other hand, whether these gains are reaching the workers, Singh said, “it is the view of the union that benefits are not.” He pointed specifically to the minimum wage of $44,200. After calculating the $44,200 sum and taking inflation into consideration, the union found that the minimum wage really works out to $39,000. He told this newspaper that many workers within the private sector do not enjoy increased sums.

The Guyana Association of Securities Companies and Intermediaries Inc (GASCI) reported earlier this month that the market capitalisation of the Guyana Stock Exchange crossed the $1 trillion mark at the end of trading on April 25, 2022. In an advertisement published in the Stabroek Business, it was stated that the Market capitalisation now stands at $1.014 trillion or US$4.8B having moved from $18.3 billion at the end of 2003, and experiencing significant increases in value between 2017 and 2022.

“This achievement is a testament to the strong performance of the companies listed on the exchange and the confidence that investors have in the financial future of these companies and the economy as a whole.” The GASCI said (Continued on page 40)

Thursday May 26, 2022

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GPF’s Mountain Branch still key in crime fighting

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n the 1960s, a troop commonly known as the Mountain Branch was created in the Guyana Police Force, (GPF), for the purpose of conducting patrol in the city with horses.

The Mountain Branch was formed back then to maintain order in the streets and crowd control during protests, strikes, shows etc. Fast forward some 60 years later, one would think that the Mountain Branch is no longer needed by the Force to fight crime but according to the officer-in-charge of the unit, Superintendent Rockwell Delph, horses still play a major role in crime fighting.

Delph made this known during on recent Podcast aired by the Force on its Facebook page. He related that apart from performances at Gymkhana and participa-

Officer-in-charge of the Force’s Mountain Branch, Rockwell Delph. tions in parades, horses are still being used for patrols at Guyana’s borders and in its backlands.

“So let’s face the facts horses can go where vehicles can’t. ‘Cause I mean right now on the Corentyne (Berbice,

Region Six) in the Black Bush Polder area, we have horses and a lot of the days when the guys patrol the savannah areas, you have to swim across a creek. You got to cross a creek to get to where you going and you sit on your horse and move on your horse and you get across the creek comfortably and you have no issue and you continue on your patrol”, Delph said.

The Superintendent related that over the years, the Mountain Branch section in some police districts have been closed but the Force have started to reopen them and listed some of the locations as Lethem, Region Nine and Mibucuri Black Bush Polder in Berbice.

Delph noted that since Mountain Branch was re-activated in those two areas,

Two ranks conducting patrol in the city on horses there has been some success in fighting crime. In Lethem, he said, ranks were able to arrest a wanted fugitive and

at Mibucuri, they were able to foil several attempts of “cattle rustling (cattle theft)”.

In fact, some 50 heads of sto-

len cattle were recovered by the Mountain Branch at Mibucuri since the Mountain Branch there was re-opened.

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US$260M contract signed for new Demerara River Bridge F

By Alliyah Allicock

ollowing some five months of negotiations with China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) and its partners, the Government of Guyana through the Ministry o f P u b l i c Wo r k s o n Wednesday signed the contract for the construction of a new US$260 million Demerara River Bridge (DRB).

The project which was awarded to CRCC and its partners China Railway Caribbean Company Limited and China Railway Engineering Bureau Group Company Limited will see the construction of a modern four-lane structure linking Region Three and Four.

The new bridge which is slated to be completed in two years is said to have a life span of 100 years. This was announced by Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar who joined Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, Senior Minister within the Office of the President, Dr. Ashni Singh, Ambassador of The People’s Republic of China, Guo Haiyan, and Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand among other officials at the signing ceremony held at Providence East Bank Demerara yesterday.

In his brief remarks, Indar stated that the length of the bridge is 2.65km and the width of the driving surface is 23.6 meters which is around 77.8 ft. He noted that the bridge is a hybrid design at the navigation span which is also called the high span.

The vertical height at this span he noted is around 50 meters from the main highest watermark. “That means that a vessel maybe a handymax size vessel can pass freely under the bridge. So that is the kind of traffic that we are accommodating. There are cycle lanes on the bridge and the width of the high span is about 210 meters,” he explained.

Delivering his feature address, Minister Edghill said that the project is a historic one and that the road leading up to it has been a long and challenging one.

“Today is the culmination of almost ten years of planning dating back to March 2013 when the then Minister of Public Works , Robeson Benn commissioned a prefeasibility study to examine the pertinence of the construction of a new fixed bridge across the Demerara River. We also know that later in 2017, the Ministry commissioned what is now famously known as the Lievense CSO feasibility study which examined eight possible locations which include this Nandy Park to La Grange alignment for the construction of the new bridge,” Edghill disclosed.

The Minister expressed that they are satisfied to have a contract signed to build the new bridge and thanked the technical and legal teams who played a crucial part in having a contractor assigned to do the works. “After months of careful scrutiny by technical and legal experts, both local and overseas-based, we are satisfied today that we have a contract with a joint venture

A 3D model of the new Demerara Harbour Bridge which was released earlier this year.

Ministry of Public Works, Permanent Secretary Vladim Persaud yesterday signing the contract with a representative of China Railway Construction Corporation International for the new Demerara River Bridge. (DPI Photo) lead by China Railway Construction Corporation International that will deliver the Government’s requirement for a new four lane bridge,” Edghill affirmed.

Lastly, the Minister noted that this contract is the largest transport infrastructure project to ever be financed by the Government of Guyana and that they are happy to have this project delivered to the

citizens.

The New River Bridge aims to replace the aging Demerara Harbour Bridge.

Kaieteur News had reported that the contract for the new DHB was first given to China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited last year to the tune of US$256.6 million.

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo announced earlier in F e b r u a r y, d u r i n g a n interview with a foreign

media house that the contract was pulled from that firm as the cost of financing was too high.

During the interview, the Vice President said, “we have just terminated the negotiations with them (CSCEC) because the cost of financing is too high.”

The Chinese firm had secured the contract to build the new bridge under a Design-Build-Finance (DBF) model. However,

according to information provided in the National Estimates of 2022, the financing of the bridge is not external but rather is being funded by central government.

During the reading of the Budget 2022, Senior Minister with responsibility with Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh had announced that this year, some $21.1B has been allocated for the project.

GNBS seized poorly labeled cigarettes, unapproved scales Inspectors of the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) Product Compliance and Legal Metrology Departments conducted surveillance exercises during the month of April and May 2022, which have resulted in the seizure of large quantities of non-complying products and unapproved dial scales from retail trade.

In a press release the GNBS said, impromptu surveillance visits to several retailers in the Port Mourant Corentyne, Berbice area resulted in the seizure of more than 107 cartons (1071 packets) of cigarettes which do not meet the requirements

Some of the unapproved dial scales seized by GNBS

Poorly labeled cigarettes seized during GNBS surveillance exercise of the National Standard “GYS 9-3:2014 Labelling of Tobacco Products” and the Tobacco Control Regulation of 2018.

During the exercises,

GNBS Inspectors confiscated several brands of cigarettes, which were not labelled in English, while other packages did not include a pictorial warning

as specified by the Tobacco Control Regulation. The seized brands include Atlanta, Elegance Premium, Oris, Pine Sky 7, Djarum Black and Record.

Additionally, more than 1200 boxes of ‘King’ safety matches were also seized and removed for failure to meet the requirements of the National Standard.

Collectively, the matches and cigarettes will be destroyed as the GNBS targets other retail outlets during its ongoing (Continued on page 41)

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Guyanese skipping meals to beat high food...

Thursday May 26, 2022

Govt. says process to get permits at EPA, other state agencies easier now

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CARICOM study says Guyanese employing negative measure to deal with food insecurity From page 3 increased since April 2020. It is estimated that 58 percent of respondents from Guyana are moderately or severely food insecure which is higher than the regional average,” the survey found.

The lowest income households have the highest severe food insecurity rates.

While 58 percent of respondents continue to be worried about getting COVID-19, another 35 percent of citizens are also increasingly worried about meeting their food and other essential needs.

As the pandemic continues to impact people’s livelihoods, two-thirds of the respondents faced a disruption to their incomes, which is lower than in the April 2020 survey, but higher than the Caribbean average.

Negative impacts on income remain widespread, with 56 percent of respondents reporting that their household has experienced job loss or reduced income since the start of the pandemic, which is a higher share compared to April 2020, of 38 percent.

The survey noted that respondents reported the inability to afford livelihood inputs as the main factor for

disruption to their livelihood activities, followed by concerns about leaving the house.

Over two-thirds of respondents predict at least moderate impacts to their livelihoods related to the pandemic in the future.

Food prices are also increasing, with almost all respondents, some 98 percent, reporting higher than usual food prices, an observation that is more widespread compared to June 2020, and higher than the regional average. “This is further compounded by the majority of respondents, 82 percent, who reported difficulty in accessing markets primarily due to lack of financial means.

This is influencing a shift in shopping behaviour, particularly among lowincome households who are increasingly buying in smaller quantities and cheaper and less preferred foods than usual.”

The Ukraine crisis, which began after the survey, was anticipated, at the time to further drive prices up.So far, international reports have stated that food prices rose its highest last month.

Basic commodities such as cereals and cooking oil have reached an all time high,

costing a third more of what is was last year.

The CARICOM/WFP report showed that women are most often responsible for unpaid care work and that the level of unpaid care undertaken by households continues to increase when compared with June of 2020.

“The results show that more women are responsible for domestic work and childcare when compared to men. Caregivers are therefore challenged with the balance of these duties and the pursuit of livelihoods.”

Differences in impacts are most pronounced when comparing income groups.

Households classifying their incomes as below and well below average show the poorest results on all key metrics of well-being.

Additionally, the survey pointed out that people are receiving support in response to the pandemic.

Nearly half, 44 percent, of respondents have received some form of government support, which is considerably higher compared to the regional average of 22 percent.

The Caribbean Community has conducted the necessary impact surveys in other regional nations.

s the integrity of G u y a n a ’s environmental regulator remains under question, the Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat has made it clear that the government had to take steps to make the granting of permits easier, to allow the free flow of business and revenue in the country.

Bharrat specifically pointed out that this was the case at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) as well as the regional authorities, such as City Hall.

“We had to ensure that the permitting process was not as cumbersome or not as tedious as it used to be in the past without jeopardizing the integrity or without compromising anything to ensure we fast track the approval of development coming to our country,” the Minister said at a Local Content workshop on Tuesday.

He explained that it is important that the permitting process does not serve as a hindrance to development, adding that when the People’s Progressive Party / Civic (PPP/C) took office in August 2020, hundreds of millions were tied up by the agencies, which he alluded to earlier.

Moreover, he said the decision to fast track permits was particularly important

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat

since foreign investors always check on the length of time a permit takes to be approved. According to him, “…anywhere in the world that you go, anywhere you go to an investment forum that is the first question that is asked by investors; how is the permitting process in the country? Is it difficult to startup in the country?”

Further, as the government seeks to speed up the permitting process to invite investment from foreign companies, Bharrat said the Single Window System would be soon introduced to aid businesses in getting registered and accessing approvals in a simple and timely manner.

Even as the government is proud to announce the fasttracking of the permit process to allow development to take place in the country, the chain effect has been devastating to some sectors, particularly the fishing industry so far. This

is so as fishermen in Guyana have been complaining of their daily struggle to keep their heads above the water, as the cost for their operations versus their catch, continues to create worry.

Although the administration has often said the oil and gas business did not cause the decline in fish catches, some analysts have already called out the EPA for allowing fundamental breaches to Guyana’s laws when it comes to the permits, most of which have fallen on deaf ears. For instance, environmentalist Simone Mangal-Joly has specifically pointed to the lack of baseline studies to inform oil giant ExxonMobil’s offshore operations. This study would highlight the breeding grounds for the various species of fish and include other scientific data to simply guide the company, rather than stop it from operating. In the absence of (Continued on page 40)

Duo remanded to prison for allegedly murdering ex-convict

Deceased: Akash Pechia

Radesh Thaman called ‘Bangalee

Two men were on Tuesday charged with the murder of an ex-convict when they made they appeared at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court.

Derick Sugrim, 21, a labourer and Radesh Thaman called ‘Bangalee, 20, also a labourer of No.55 Village, Corentyne, appeared before Magistrate Alex Moore to answer to the joint charge of murder committed on Akash Pechia of No.50 Village, Corentyne, Berbice.

Derick Sugrim

They were not required to plea and were remanded to prison until September 2 2022 for report.

The body of Akash Pechia was discovered by residents with chop wounds about his body in an empty lot a week ago. Police immediately launched a probe and arrested Thaman and Sugrim a day later. While in custody, they both allegedly confessed to the crime.

Thursday May 26, 2022

PAGE 39

Kaieteur News

Independence Day Messages GAWU: Let us chart a future of inclusivity and prosperity for our people The attainment of political independence represented the culmination of years of struggles of our people to extract themselves from the yoke of colonialism.

Indeed, it was widely felt that the chains of the colonial master served as a major restraint eroding fundamental freedoms and our ability to chart our own destiny. In the fiftysix (56) years of independence, we believe we have come a long way and scored several impressive gains.

Those years though have not been without challenge. In the period, we faced up and overcame natural disasters, economic turmoil, divisiveness, and undemocratic rule. It is a testimony to our people and nation that we have come so far despite the adversities in our way. It also is a fitting tribute to those who led and participated in the independence struggle that gave way to independent Guyana.

It is against that background that the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) extends to all Guyanese best wishes on the occasion of Independence Day 2022. As we observe yet another anniversary of the milestone achievement,

we of the GAWU, as a patriotic organisation, take pride in our successes as we urge that our setbacks serve as abiding lessons in charting the future. As we look towards the horizon on this Independence Day, we recognize that the country, like no other period in its history, is on the cusp of massive advancement. Today, our natural wealth, which belongs to us all is yielding significant sums which is being channelled into all-round development which is intended improve the lives of all Guyanese.

Today, as we celebrate our freedom to chart our course, we cannot ignore lingering concerns. Currently, we recognize challenges to our people’s well-being and welfare remain ever present.

Rising living costs remain a foremost concern of our working-people and their families. We recognize the effort of the Government to offer relief. This is laudable and welcomed though concerns are harboured about whether such reliefs are reaching our peoples. The need for sustained direct interventions should be considered and in this vein, we reiterate our call for the long-outstanding improvement in the National Minimum Wage.

The occasion of Independence also allows us the opportunity to examine our economic trajectory. Though we have recorded substantial growth in recent times, and this is expected to be sustained in the coming years, we remain concerned about whether these developments are reaching our peoples equally. These issues can well grow sharper in the coming times and there is a need to ensure that proper mechanisms are in place to safeguard against such real concerns. We also should not lose focus on the necessity to maximize our national wealth whether natural or human towards ensuring that our people remain foremost beneficiaries. Indeed, our independence anniversary affords us the opportunity to reflect on our journey. It gives us the opportunity to chart a future where we seek to obtain our objectives of One Guyana and where we can build a stronger Guyana together. On this Independence Day, our desire is to see a future of inclusivity and prosperity for our people. In this regard, as we draw closer to our objectives of building a modern, prosperous country, the GAWU, again, extends best wishes on this 56th anniversary of Independence.

Norton: Guyana and its riches belong to all Guyanese My fellow Guyanese, Happy Independence Day On the occasion of this the 56th anniversary of our Independence, I wish, on behalf of the Opposition and on my own behalf, to congratulate the people of Guyana for achieving another milestone.

As we contemplate where we are today as a nation, I find it appropriate to recall one of the solemn pledges we, the Guyanese people, have enshrined in the Preamble of our constitution. We have pledged to “forge a system of governance that promotes concerted effort and broadbased participation in national decision-making in order to develop a viable economy and a harmonious community based on democratic values, social justice, fundamental human rights, and the rule of law.”

Unfortunately, all of these elements (from “concerted effort” to “the rule of law”) have come under severe assault in recent times.

Our 56th Independence anniversary therefore finds a nation scarred by badgovernance and devoid of national self-confidence and optimism.

Instead of concerted effort and broad-based participation in national decision-making, we find a government increasingly hellbent on instituting political dominance and autocratic rule. Instead of a viable economy, we find an economy that privileges the political elite, friends and family, but shortchanges the elderly, single parents, unemployed, the working poor, the young and upcoming, small business owners, small farmers and families with babies and small children.

Instead of a harmonious community based on democratic values, social justice, fundamental human rights, and the rule of law, we find that the lack of good governance in our country has reached crisis

proportions. Our nation has simply not lived up to the aspirations in our constitution. We can and must do better. We owe that much to the generation who fought for our Independence.

Even more, we owe it to ourselves, to our children, and to the generations to come. What do I mean when I say, “We can and must do better! How does our nation get there?” First, as a people, we must believe in ourselves.

We must believe in our creativity to envision a great nation. We must believe in our abilities to reach those great heights, in our strengths to overcome inevitable obstacles. And we must believe in our resolve and resilience to forge ahead relentlessly.

Second, we must build an unshakeable and shared understanding that Guyana and its riches belong to all Guyanese. No ethnicity, no group, no class, no citizen is superior to any other.

(Continued on page 40)

PPP: Our nation is moving forward with an agenda for transformation The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) extends to all Guyanese, at home and abroad, greetings on Guyana’s 56th independence anniversary.

On June 5, 1958, founder of the PPP and former president, the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan, posed an important question to the Legislative Council – What do the people of this country want in this phase of our history? Today, 56 years following independence, this question has contemporary applicability, particularly, given the current global challenges that impact on our nation, from the global COVID-19 pandemic to climate change.

The people of the country answered this question at the March 2020 polls by endorsing the PPP/C’s ‘Plan for Prosperity’. Under successive PPP/C administrations, the foundation for transformative change was laid and, in 2020, this agenda was broadened to include more ambitious targets in all sectors, specifically in education, healthcare and agriculture.

Our nation is moving forward with an agenda for transformation, bolstered by the success of our burgeoning oil and gas sector, which will benefit all our people by: increasing their ability to create wealth, improving their standard of living and wellbeing, and ad-

vancing their ability to pursue self-development through education among a plethora of other interventions. From direct support to farmers and schoolchildren, to building the infrastructure for future advances, the PPP/ C developmental agenda creates space for all of our people to benefit, participate and lead.

The PPP uses this occasion, to not only celebrate our gains, but recommit itself to the service of all Guyanese in a transparent and accountable manner. As we reflect on the struggles of the pre-independence era, Guyanese are encouraged to reflect on the gains we have made, bearing in mind that our collective will and effort is demanded to move our great nation forward and sustain the our progress. Looking ahead, in light of the prevailing challenges, our immediate task is to ensure that our democracy is bolstered.

A democratic nation where the will of our people can be expressed freely is quintessential to ensuring our continued development, peace and progress.

Democracy has been, and remains, a pillar of our development. As our people demonstrated during the March 2020 period, the fight to protect our democratic gains is a perpetual effort. This phase of Guyana’s history promises

to be an exciting time for positive change and progress, even as our nation, under the PPP/C administration, reclaims its place as a regional and global leader on issues of food, security, climate change and more.

In 1958, freedom was the answer to the question– What do the people of this country want in this phase of our history? –and this notion remains a poignant reminder of how far we have come and how far we have, yet, to go as a people.

More recently, PPP General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, during countrywide outreaches, reiterated the importance of democracy to our freedoms and development and to the implementation of the PPP/C transformative agenda.

We are also reminded that the freedom that independence brings is not merely parochial; it comes with a responsibility for all patrioticminded Guyanese to reject ploys that seek to divide our people for selfish gain; it comes with a responsibility for our people to hold all leaders accountable; and it comes with a responsibility for each of us to play our part in the prosperity of Guyana that we share as ‘One People, One Nation, with One Destiny’. The PPP, again, extends best wishes to all our people on this momentous occasion.

ERC: Let’s agree with our national motto The Ethnic Relations Commission, (ERC), extends warmest greetings to all Guyanese on Independence Day. Political independence was granted after bitter struggle, but all ethnic groups now share one independent homeland, in freedom for more than half a century.

Cultural and religious freedoms continue to flourish; the ERC congratulates all Guyanese for continuing, in any small way, to cement the ties of diversity that bind everyone together as One People.

Independence spurred intensified efforts to promote the growth of toler-

ance and respect. It blossomed with multi-ethnic national holidays and sharing in each other’s cultural festivities.

The breakaway from the grip of colonial rule, spearheaded by the selfless efforts of heroes of yore, climaxed 56 years ago in May 1966. The lowering of the Union Jack for the last time and hoisting of the Golden Arrowhead for the first, ushered in the birth of One Nation– represented by diverse peoples including our own Indigenous citizens. The mammoth undertaking of nation building rests on the shoulders of every citizen,

traversing a common path together to attain One Destiny in peace and prosperity. Let’s continue to remember that our ancestors travelled from different lands across the Atlantic and laid the foundations of independence in struggle.

With commitment to country and recognition of our aspirations, the stage is set for adding more building blocks to achieve a more harmonious multi-ethnic society, which we all desire.

Our National Motto reminds us of that! Happy Independence to all Guyanese from the Management and Staff of the ERC!

PAGE 40

Thursday May 26, 2022

Kaieteur News

Govt. says process to get permits at EPA, other state...

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the fisheries; we never really examined what really are the underlying causes for the decline in the fisheries sector and you cannot have a massive oil industry that’s sitting offshore and assume that it‘s not culpable.

I mean, you would have to

have sufficient data to look at the causes but it is well documented in the scientific literature that seismic surveys are damaging marine life. So you can’t discount this.”

She referenced the fact that she objected to a series of EIAs that the regu-

lator has waived to date, before concluding, “This agency is a mess; it is like an asylum that is being run by its inmates.” In this regard, the environmentalist said there is need for the EPA to up the ante and ensure public and environmental safety of Guyana is safeguarded.

Norton: Guyana and its riches belong to...

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From page 38 these and other credible data, to lay the basis for the environmental permits to the oil company, she said she is convinced that the EPA was like an asylum.

Mangal was adamant in a former interview that, “we have not really done right by

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management of the nations resources.

Fourth, to do better, the social and economic rights enshrined in our constitution and in the international conventions to which Guyana is a signatory must be seen not as merely aspirational, but as rights to be actually fulfilled and enjoyed by citizens.

Our constitutional rights, for example, to be free from want, hunger, and ignorance; and our right to work, to leisure, to good health, and to a safe environment must no longer exist only in words.

They must be actually guaranteed fullyand urgently.

Fifth, we must move beyond lip service and give substance to building racial harmony in Guyana. We can

and must take tangible steps to eliminate racial discrimination, to guarantee equality of opportunity for all, and to establish healthy interethnic understandings and interactions. Sixth, we can and must do better as a people to entrench our shared values, strengthen our sense of “One Destiny”, and rejuvenate our national pride.

We need to end the existence of Two Guyanas.

My fellow Guyanese, despite the decades of challenges, the fact that we, as a nation, have travelled this far together is an achievement in itself. Fifty-six years is not a short journey.

Our survival speaks not only to our strong spirit and will power, it also speaks to our capacity to keep travelling forward.

Nevertheless, we have arrived at a critical crossroad in our history where we are required not only to travel forward but also to travel upward.

Upward towards a society and an economy in which we can end poverty, lift and expand the middle class, and ensure all citizens can live decently and comfortably.

Upward where being classified as one of the worlds richest countries could translate into a better quality of life for the people of Guyana.

Let us together climb to a better Guyana. These are the thoughts that we need to ponder on this the 56th anniversary of that historic day in May 1966.

Once again, Happy Independence Day!

Opposition frets over absent Govt...

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the Government, two representing the Opposition and the Chairperson.

During the debates, the Opposition argued that the motion is an attempt by Government to undermine transpar-

ency and accountability to the people.

The Government denied this and mouthed that they will never seek to stymie the work of the Public Accounts Committee.

Guyana’s capital market value...

From page 26 that, the trend is most likely influenced by the projections of increased future national economic gains emanating from the oil and gas industry, its supporting industries and other fast-growing sectors of the economy.

Singh noted however that it is widely known that the private sector is the engine of growth. “But any engine requires fuel to work and in this case, the engine requires workers.”

The union executive noted that much emphasis is being placed on companies getting the best machines and services, “But nobody seems to value the workers in the same way to have and

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encourage good competent and committed workers.”

As it relates to the local oil sector which has positioned Guyana to be the fastest growing nation in the world, Singh said there is a lot of talk about worker’s rights and local content, but all of these must be centred on the concept or respect for workers. “We don’t believe that many workers enjoy the respect that they deserve although they are contributing in different ways to the success that companies are recording.”

Labour unions have called for the increase of minimum wage for particularly private sector workers. President for the Federation of Indepen-

dent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG), Carvil Duncan had said that private companies had declared their willingness to increase workers pay, but had claimed that they were waiting on the government to officially make the announcement.

The FITUG President had urged the private sector during Labour Day events to make the pay increases if they could have afforded. His call came among issues such as the global increase in cost of living.

The wage increase which was approved for workers since 2019 is said to be with the Government cabinet for the President’s approval.

(Zena Henry)

GTT signs new two-year wage pact...

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In addition to its core services, GTT owns and operates a transformational mobile money service, mmg+, which provides inclusive digital financial service solutions.

Thursday May 26, 2022

PAGE 41

Kaieteur News

Cramped ship carrying more than 800 Haitians lands in Cuba - Group includes children and pregnant women as exodus from crisis-hit Haiti grows (THE GUARDIAN) - A ship carrying more than 800 Haitians who were apparently trying to reach the US has landed instead in central Cuba, in what is thought to be the largest group yet in a swelling exodus of people from the crisis-stricken Caribbean country.

The Communist party newspaper Granma quoted Red Cross officials in the province of Villa Clara as saying the 842 people crammed on to the vessel had been given medical attention and were being housed at a tourist campground.

State broadcaster Telecubanacan showed images of a single large gray ship crowded with Haitians lining the decks from bow to stern, and even on the rooftop, as it swayed in rough, windswept seas.

The new group that arrived on Tuesday at Villa Blanca, about 180 miles east

US Coast Guard crews have stopped boats carrying about 4,500 Haitians since October. Photograph: Raúl Arboleda/AFP/Getty Images of Havana, included 70 children and 97 women, two of them pregnant, the Telecubanacán broadcaster reported on Facebook.

The boat was found near Caibarien, not far from Cayo

Govt. to roll out fish cage...

From page 12 have a lot of fish cage culture.”

The Minister continued that China, Thailand and other Asian countries had their fair share of declining fish catch and the Marine cage initiative have helped them to replenish the stock.

He believes that it can work in Guyana too.

In fact, Mustapha related that Guyana had actually asked China for advice and technical help in setting up

the project in Guyana. He did admit, however, that although the Fish Cage Culture has proven to be successful in the Asia; it is fairly new in the southern part of the world where Guyana is located.

His exact words were “Only in this part of the world the technology might be new, for us the Caribbean and South America but we have to try it before to see how it comes (to see if it can make money or not).”

Santa Maria, a popular vacation destination home to a strip of all-inclusive resort hotels. Several days of stormy weather and thunderstorms reportedly forced the boat towards Cuba.

While the numbers on a single ship seemed unprec-

edented, it is not unusual for currents and winds to carry Haitians to Cuba, which borders most of the sea path between Haiti and the US. Cuba returns most of the arriving migrants to Haiti.

A crumbling economy and

GNBS seized poorly...

From page 37 surveillance exercises. Meanwhile, more than 150 unapproved Blue Dial scales were seized during weights and measures surveillance visits conducted by GNBS Inspectors to just over 1000 premises (shops, markets and other retail outlets) on the East Bank and East Coast of Demerara, and areas in Regions 2 and 6.Inspectors continued to encounter the widespread

use of the Blue Dial scales despite numerous warnings by the GNBS to vendors and shopkeepers to desist from using the domestic scales in commercial trade.

The GNBS Inspectors will continue surveillance exercises across the country to remove substandard products and unapproved and unverified measuring instruments from retail trade to protect consumers.

Independence Day Messages...

Indian High Commissioner: India cherishes strong partnership, historical ties with Guyana c On behalf of the people and Government of India, the High Commission of India in Georgetown and my own behalf, I extend my felicitations and heartfelt greetings to the friendly people and the Government of Cooperative Republic of Guyana on the joyous occasion of 56th anniversary of independence.

India cherishes its strong partnership and historical ties with Guyana, which are buttressed by our commitment

towards more people-topeople ties, and convergence of views on important issues at bilateral, multilateral and international fora including the CARICOM and the UN. The fast paced Guyanese development and progress will have India joining as its valuable partner in various sectors including education, agriculture, MSME, healthcare, infrastructure, oil and gas, etc. The Government of India will support Guyana

in all possible ways to assist in its requirements and continued growth. We continue to encourage Indian companies to invest in Guyana and work actively with Guyanese companies, especially in technology support and knowledge sharing. India is very proud to offer training and capacity building in civilian, defence, security, media and other sectors for nation building.

I would like to reiterate

that the Government of India led by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is working to ensure special partnership with countries like Guyana.

Friends, I take this opportunity to once again wish all the dear brothers and sisters of Guyana continued success, prosperity and progress in the coming years. Long live Guyana. Long live IndiaGuyana friendship.

(Dr. K.J. Srinivasa)

a spike in gang-related violence and kidnappings in Haiti have prompted thousands of people to flee the country in the past year, with US authorities saying the number detained in and around US jurisdictions in the Caribbean has doubled.

Vast numbers of Haitian migrants have taken to sea, hoping to reach the United S t a t e s .

Many stray off course, poorly equipped for the voyage or overwhelmed by weather, and end up landing in the Bahamas, Cuba or elsewhere in the Caribbean Sea. The US Coast Guard and other nations have reported intercepting boats carrying well over 100 Haitians in recent months.

On Tuesday, the US Coast Guard said it had stopped a

cargo sailing ship carrying 153 Haitian people near the Florida Keys.

Earlier this month, the Coast Guard rescued 36 Haitian people and found another 11 dead all women after a boat capsized in waters northwest of Puerto Rico.

The rescue came just days after another 68 people were rescued in treacherous waters between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti.

In April, the US Coast Guard spotted more than 130 Haitian people onboard a boat near the Bahamas.

A month prior, another 140 people landed in the Florida Keys. US Coast Guard crews have interdicted about 4,500 Haitians since October last year. +++Many were try-

$275M estimated to...

From page 8 Ministry of Agriculture- National Drainage and Irrigation Authority Provision of consultancy for the construction of pump station at Capoey, Essequibo, Region Two.

Supply and delivery of agro-processing equipment for Mabaruma Packaging Facility Region One.

Supply and delivery of Lot1: 4x4 double cab pickup type vehicle (new) Lot2: new all terrain vehicle (ATV), Lot3: outboard boats and engine, Lot4: off-road motorcycles.

PAGE 42

Kaieteur News

Thursday May 26, 2022

Thursday May 26, 2022

PAGE 43

Kaieteur News

MotoGP: 2022 Finnish Grand Prix cancelled because of ‘ongoing geopolitical situation’ BBC Sport - MotoGP’s Finnish Grand Prix has been cancelled because of delays to ongoing track work and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The KymiRing, near the southern city of Kouvola, was due to host Finland’s first MotoGP race since 1982 in July.

Finland has applied to join NATO - a decision that has angered Russia.

The International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) said the race will be cancelled, with this year’s calendar reduced to 20 rounds.

“Homologation works at the KymiRing, together with the risks caused by the on-

The KymiRing circuit in Finland was officially opened in 2019. (Getty Images)

going geopolitical situation in the region, have sadly obliged the cancellation of the Finnish Grand Prix in 2022,” the FIM said in a statement.

“The current circumstances have created delays and put the ongoing work at the new circuit at risk.

“All parties have therefore

Thursday May 26, 2022 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You might be planning to host a social event in your home tonight or perhaps in a few days. It could have you doing a lot of cleaning, rearranging, and beautifying around the house.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) An exciting new project or opportunity could be presented to you today, Libra.

It could involve a new love or at least a new friend.

Something you've been working on for a long time.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Today you might want to spend time visiting friends in your neighborhood, Taurus.

Small purchases might be necessary, perhaps new clothes.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) A chance to earn a small amount of money, perhaps by doing a little extra work at home, could come your way today, Gemini. You could hear about it through a friend or colleague.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Contact with friends who live or work far away could bring a string of new opportunities your way. You might also be thinking of taking a trip, perhaps to another country or by boat. .

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) New investment possibilities could present themselves to you today, Sagittarius. This could involve an investment of time, money, or other resources.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Expect a lot of intellectual stimulation to come your way today, Cancer. Important news could come on the phone, necessitating action on your part in order to bring about a desired end.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) An opportunity to travel with a partner or colleague could come your way, perhaps for business. Any travel planned or begun today is likely to go well and bring you whatever results you hope for.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Your creative talents should be operating at an all-time high today, Leo. You might be offered an opportunity to earn some money putting them to use.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) News of a possible raise could come your way today, Aquarius, possibly through some enterprise that you've been working on.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22) Getting out and working with groups could seem especially appealing today, particularly groups involving athletics or other physical activities.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) A group might invite you to participate in a creative project of some kind today, Pisces. Whatever you do is likely to be stimulating and exciting.

agreed that the track’s debut must be postponed to 2023, when MotoGP looks forward to returning to Finland for the first time in four decades.”

Sri Lanka reaches 282-5 on Day 3, trails...

From page 44 operator. He changes his pace really subtly. He showed again, chipped away,” Bangladesh pace bowling coach Alan Donald said.

“Hopefully he walks away with a five-wicket haul tomorrow. It is awesome to have him in the team.

His experience and leadership is priceless.”

Mathews and de Silva steadied the innings as Bangladesh sensed a chance to put them on top.

De Silva cut paceman Khaled Ahmed past point

for a boundary to raise his 10th fifty off 90 balls.

But Shakib reviewed a decision successfully soon after to dismiss him for 58, brining an end to the 102run partnership.

Mathews, who played defensively throughout the day, raised his 38th half-century from 125 balls.

Stumps Sri Lanka 282 for 5 (Karunaratne 80, de Silva 58, Mathews 58*, Shakib 3-59, Ebadot 2-78) trail Bangladesh 365 (Mushfiqur 175*, Litton 141, Rajitha 5-64, Asitha 4-93) by 83 runs.

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Thursday May 26, 2022

Kaieteur News

School’s coaching programme high on GCA agenda The Georgetown Cricket Association recently held a press conference to update the media on issues that are pertinent to the sustainability and development of Cricket in Georgetown.High on their agenda is soliciting approval from the ministry to conduct a cricket coaching programme for boys and girls in grades 3 to 5 in primary schools across Georgetown.

This programme, which will be trialed in eight selected primary schools, will commence shortly. The GCA and a corporate entity are currently finalising sponsorship details.

Developing relations with community groups in NonTraditional areas across the city and its environs with the aim of establishing and conducting cricket training and development sessions for youth of both genders, so as to identify talents that can then be channelled to existing clubs or combined into new clubs, is another objective shortlisted by The GCA. The collaboration between the GCA and Positive Foundation of Agricola (PFA) has led to under15 and under19 male cricketers participating in GCA camps and competitions and three females are currently enrolled in the GCA Female Youth Camp.

Further, through the fos-

tering collaboration by the GCA between PFA, Corporate Guyana and Guyanese in the diaspora, a batting Cage with a concrete pitch was built on the community play field, cricket gear were sourced and a coach employed all in an effort to enhance the development process of the youth in that community.

The GCA is currently engaging existing member clubs in Sophia, East Ruimveldt and the Lodge community to garner support for similar programmes in those areas.

Recognising the huge gap that existed in the area of female cricket development, the GCA in partnership with Guyana Breweries Inc. through its Smalta Brand recently launched phased 1 of its Female Youth Cricket development programme which has thus far attracted 14 females from various schools in Georgetown including Queen’s College.

Registration is still ongoing and this number is expected to increase constantly as invitational letters are still being dispatched to schools across the city.

Covid19 had devastated and disrupted all aspects of life globally and had major effects on GCA member clubs resulting in their inability to attract and develop club

Members of the GCA executive teams especially at the junior level. In response to this situation, the GCA held an under15 youth camp that replaced its customary under15 club 100 overs tournament.

This allowed the GCA technical team to work directly with the young cricketers over a three week period to adequately prepare them for participation in the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) InterAssociation tournament in which the team played unbeaten to win the tournament and further resulting in the majority of GCA players being selected to represent Demerara and a special select team in the Guyana Cricket

Board (GCB) under 15 InterCounty tournament.

Currently, The GCA has ongoing competitions at both the senior club and youth levels and just recently hosted the New York Tri-State Academy youth team in a closely contested series in which the GCA won.

In an effort to improve its Data Management and Information sharing processes along with aligning the organisation with modern best practices, the GCA launched its live match scoring platform on the Global Live Cricket Scoring App Cricclubs (https:// c r i c c l u b s . c o m /

NBA play-offs: Luka Doncic helps Dallas Mavericks beat Golden State Warriors BBC Sport - Luka Doncic scored 30 points as the Dallas Mavericks kept their hopes alive in the Western Conference play-offs by beating the Golden State Warriors.

The Mavs had trailed 3-0 but this 119-109 win means the best-of-seven series goes to a fifth game today.

No team in the NBA’s 75year history has come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a bestof-seven play-off series.

“We’re going to stick together. It’s going to be tough, we know that, but we have to stay together,” Doncic said.

“Our defence was amazing today. That’s how we’ve got to play, when we play like this we’re a dangerous team,” added the 23-year-old Slovenian, who finished with 14 rebounds and nine assists.

The fourth game in the series was delayed by 20 minutes at half-time because of a

Doncic (left) put up 30 points while Golden State superstar Stephen Curry (right) scored 20. (Getty Images)

leaking roof that led to puddles gathering at one end of the Mavs’ court.

The team were more efficient than their home court, their success built on a 19-2 scoring run during the second quarter. Six Dallas players finished in double figures, with Dorian Finney-Smith adding

23 points, Reggie Bullock 18, Jalen Brunson 15, Maxi Kleber 13 and Spencer Dinwiddie 10.

“We believe it’s just one game at a time, we did our part tonight and found a way to win,” Dallas coach Jason Kidd said.

“The next part is to find a way to win on the road. We

can’t get ahead of ourselves.

“It’s still 3-1 and Golden State is a tough place to play.

But we’ve won there before.

We just have to take care of the ball and make shots.”

Golden State are seeking a seventh NBA Finals win while Dallas have had just once success, in 2011.

GeorgetownCricketAssociation) in collaboration with a diaspora group of ex-cricketers from Georgetown who represented Demerara, Guyana and the West Indies.

This platform has improved administrative efficiency, allow for online scoring, data collection and analytics, along with offering opportunities to live-stream cricket matches. This initiative will enhance our selection process and offer greater visibility of GCA clubs and cricketers globally along with providing a unique opportunity for GCA clubs to re-establish contact with former members and even attract new member-

ship. From an administrative perspective, a comprehensive review of the GCA constitution has been launched with the aim of aligning the constitution with modern practices and synchronising it with the Guyana Cricket Act which is in full effect.

Financial support from corporate Guyana has been and continues to be a critical component for the successful implementation of the above initiatives and to other cricket programs. However, gaining access to this support requires organisations such as the GCA to have a legal status through the acquisition of a TIN certificate.

Sri Lanka reaches 282-5 on Day 3, trails Bangladesh by 83 DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Resolute batting at the top of the order helped put Sri Lanka in a comfortable position on the raininterrupted third day of the second cricket test against Bangladesh yesterday.

Sri Lanka reached 2825, lowering the first innings deficit to 83 before the bad light brought a premature end to the day.

Bangladesh was bowled out for 365 with Mushfiqur Rahim unbeaten on 175 and Liton Das scoring 141.

Showers, however, washed out the post-lunch session.

Angelo Mathews, who scored 199 in the first test, was batting on 58 with Dinesh Chandimal on 10.

“The target is to take a lead first and then make it bigger,” Sri Lanka coach

Navid Nawaz said. “We’ve got two experienced batters in the wicket at this moment and hopefully they will be successful to execute the plan. I think still it is possible to win the game from this situation.” Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne hit 80 from 155 balls with nine fours. Dhananjaya de Silva made 58.

Sri Lanka resumed on 143-2 but lost nightwatchman Kasun Rajitha with the second delivery of the day when paceman Ebadot Hossain (2-78) bowled him with an express delivery. Left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan, who returned figures of 3-59, rattled the stump of Karunaratne, spinning a delivery sharply past his bat as Sri Lanka slipped to 1645.“He (Shakib) is a smart (Continued on page 43)

Thursday May 26, 2022

Tiger Rentals sponsors nationwide GFF Boys’ U-13 Development League - Injects over GYD$10M for inaugural run

Tiger Rentals Regional Manager – Dennis Latiff (left) makes a point during the launch of the tournament. To his left is Country Manager of the entity, Shane Singh.

Tiger Rentals Guyana Inc. has made a major impact with their latest move to support grassroots football in the Country.

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) received a cheque to the tune of G$10.6 million from the entity that is the stand alone sponsor of the inaugural nationwide Boys Under-13 Development League.

Present at the simple and significant launch were Tiger Rentals Regional Manager, Dennis Latiff, Country Manager - Shane Singh, GFF President - Wayne Forde and GFF Assistant Technical Director – Brian Joseph.

Forde, who described the two-year the partnership between the two organizations as a warm friendship coupled with corporate generosity, disclosed that since he has known Latiff and Singh, they have demonstrated a keen interest in developing young people of this nation.

“The GFF mandate reaches well beyond the boundaries of our statutory duties, which is simply to grow football and to make it more accessible to all in Guyana. Beyond this, we play an equally critical role in building the nation and we do this

by ensuring that every child that engages football, remains safe throughout their playing career, develop good life skills and habits and prepares for a life after football by focusing on their academics,” Forde stated.

What is also commendable is the compulsory attendance of any coach involved in the tournament to complete the FIFA Child Safeguarding Course. Added to that, the coaches will be enrolled into the CONCACAF coaching license pathway which will begin with the GFF Introductory Coaching Course followed by the CONCACAF D-License Programme.

The federation believes these are all important steps that I will help meet their short, medium, and long term football development and human development goals.

During Latiff’s brief remarks, he stated: “We are very confident in the future of Guyana, and want to do our part in helping this country realize its true potential. We believe investing in Guyana and its people in particular is huge, as here is where we will experience the greatest and the highest returns.”

“We began our engagements and discussions with

the GFF back in 2020 and I’ve been paying keen attention to how they operate and what are their core values. I am happy to say that we feel very comfortable working with them.

We see the effort being made by President Wayne Forde and his team to grow the game here and we want to be a part of the vision and the future that he and his team are trying to build.”

“We are also confident that that this can only bode well for Guyana and it’s neutering of youth for the future.

We look forward to supporting this tournament while assisting the GRF to fulfill its obligations to grow football throughout all of Guyana,” Singh concluded.

Singh the Country Manager gave a vague run down of Forde’s persistence which also played a major role in solidifying the partnership, but urged the youths to make the best of the opportunities presented to them, since he knows the struggle of not having an avenue to develop.

He believes the aspects that govern the event make the initiative a well-rounded package and further wishes the teams that will be involved the best of luck.

FA not taking action against Vieira for fan altercation at Everton (Reuters) - Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira will not be charged by England’s Football Association (FA) following his altercation with a fan amid a pitch invasion at Goodison Park last week.

Vieira was confronted by

PAGE 45

Kaieteur News

the supporter after his team’s 3-2 defeat by Everton and the Frenchman appeared to kick the fan to the ground before being led away.

Both parties declined t o m a k e a f o r m a l complaint and Merseyside Police declined to file charges

after an investigation.

The comeback win over Palace secured Everton’s Premier League survival, which led to the home team’s fans invading the pitch. The FA and both clubs are still investigating the pitch invasion.

Phenomenal Patidar moves RCB a win away from IPL final SportsMax - Rajat Patidar’s remarkable unbeaten 112 kept Royal Challengers Bangalore’s hopes of Indian Premier League glory alive as Lucknow Super Giants superb debut campaign came to an end.

Having seen fellow newcomers Gujarat Titans progress to the final, the Super Giants were looking to take a step towards joining them in yesterday’s eliminator.

Yet they were undone by an astonishing innings from Patidar, who propelled RCB to a 14-run win.

Patidar raced to a 28-ball half-century and a 49-ball hundred, his innings comprising of 12 fours and seven sixes and lifting RCB to 2074.

Dinesh Karthik provided late support, hitting five fours and a six for his unbeaten 37, ensuring a hugely imposing target that proved to beyond the Super Giants.

Lucknow’s chase was extremely admirable and saw them rack up 14 sixes at Eden Gardens in their 1936.

Captain KL Rahul predictably led the charge with 79 surpassing 600 runs for the season.

However, when he scooped Josh Hazlewood to short fine leg and the same bowler had Krunal Pandya caught and bowled from the next delivery, the Super Giants had a mountain to climb heading into the final over on 1846.

Harshal Patel made sure RCB’s commanding position was not let slip as he delivered at the death to keep Evin Lewis and Dushmantha Chameera from engineering a late turnaround, sending them through to Qualifier 2 against Rajasthan Royals with a place in the final on the line.

Patidar an unlikely hero Patidar was unsold at the 2022 auction, with RCB signing him at the lowest possible price as an injury replacement midway through the competition.

His acquisition now looks extremely astute after Patidar delivered the fastest IPL hundred since Mayank Agarwal’s 45-ball century in September 2020.

Rajat Patidar is all smiles after hammering a hundred in the IPL 2022 Eliminator. (PTI)

KL Rahul walks off having being dismissed for 79 off 58. (BCCI) Hazlewood topples Super Giants Hazlewood had sent down three wides in the 19th over before finding his accuracy to claim the wickets of Rahul and Krunal.

His team-mate Harshal bowled 11 dot balls in his 125 and removed the dangerous Marcus Stoinis prior to

Hazlewood’s key salvo and RCB will need that duo to replicate their performances if they are to progress to the final.

Scores: Royal Challengers Bangalore 207 for 4 (Patidar 112*, Karthik 37*) beat Lucknow Super Giants 193 for 6 (Rahul 79, Hooda 45, Hazlewood 3-43) by 14 runs.

PAGE 46

Thursday May 26, 2022

Kaieteur News

GMR&SC elects Mahendra Blackwood’s ton put Boodhoo as new President CWI Regional First-Class C/Ships

Scorpions in front

Members of the newly elected body of the GMRSC. Mahendra Boodhoo is the new Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) president following the body’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Monday evening (May 24th 2022) at the GT Motorsport Hall.

Boodhoo and his slate were elected unopposed as former President Rameez Mohamed declined to run in the position once again.

Instead, Mohamed is slated as Club Captain.

Boodhoo, a former president of the club begins his newest stint with the aim of reinvigorating the local motorsport fraternity after the COVID-19 pandemic. “Firstly, I want to thank you all for this opportunity. This new executive hopes to ensure that we focus on growing local motorsport in all aspects, be it bikes, cars, karting etc.,” he said in his first address.

Boodhoo continued, “We are looking forward to your support and your voices,”

adding that, “if you have ideas then we are here to listen to them and once they come with possible solutions then we will obviously look at them. Once they are structured and put on the record then we will deal with them.”

Mohamed Shiraz Roshandin, is the new VicePresident of the club while Azim Jaffar returns as Secretary and Chetram Singh takes over as Treasurer. The Assistant Secretary/Treasurer Remains Azaad Hassan with the Technical Advisor being Joel Evans. The new committee members are Mark Vieira, Gavin Guyadin, Roshan Ali and John Chin. The club also adopted the financials of the previous year and retained Seebarran as the auditor.

President: Mahendra Boodhoo Vice-President: Mohamed Shairaz Roshandin Secretary: Azim Jaffar Treasurer: Chetram Singh Assistant Secretary/Treasurer: Azad Hassan Club Captain:

Rameez Mohamed Technical Director: Joel Evans, Committee Members: Mark Vieira, Gavin Guyadin, Roshan Ali, John Chin.

Meanwhile, the new committee plans to hit the ground running, addressing several concerns from members present about the current state of sections of the track.

“During this week, the new executive will take a trip to the track to firstly examine what we are working with and then move forward. I know a lot of you raised complaints with some sections of the track and we will see how best we can sort that,” the head GMR&SC noted.

The question was also asked of the dates for events published earlier this year will remain the same. The new GMR&SC boss opined that while there might be changes, it will be communicated during the remainder of this week to ensure that there are no disenfranchised competitors.

Dominoes action set for May 29 at West Vybz West Vybz and Next Level will be hosting a dominoes competition on May 29 at West Vybz sports bar, Tuschen Public Road, East Bank Essequibo.

Action commences at 13:00hrs and entrance fee is $15,000.

The winning team will take home a trophy and $250,000, runner up a trophy and $150,000, third place a trophy and $50,000 and fourth place $30,000.

The most valuable player will take home $10,000 while the player that share the first love and first D love will receive $5,000 each.

The competition is being sponsored by Two Brothers, Stag Beer and Slingers.

By Sean Devers in Trinidad In association with WD Hotel & Mall Charity & Dave’s West Indies Imports Guyana Harpy Eagles, who replaced the injured Antony Bramble and Nail Smith with Vishaul Singh and Kevin Sinclair, were on the back foot at the end of the opening day of their CWI Regional First-Class Championship game against Jamaica Scorpions at the Diego Martin Sports Complex ground yesterday.

Jamaica batted all day to reach 282-6 off 90 overs with West Indies batter Jermaine Blackwood unbeaten on 110 from 251 balls with 14 fours and a six.

With him was Aldan Thomas not out on 35 from 40 balls with eight fours, while Alwin Williams had earlier scored 51 from 113 balls with eight fours and shared in a 112 fifth wicket stand with Blackwood.

Veersammy Permaul, who had one wicket and Gudakesh Motie (2-39) were the Guyana’s best bowlers, while Keemo Paul also bowled well.

Kevin Sinclair, who was on a hat-trick, was very expensive and finished the day with 2-74 as was pacer Demitri Cameron in his second match at this level.

In ideal conditions for batting, Jamaica Scorpions won the toss and elected to bat on a good track and lush green and lightning fast outfield and by Lunch had reached 93-3 with Jermaine

Blackwood on 37 and Paul Palmer on 12.

In bright sunshine with a bit of Sahara dust blowing above the ground, Leroy Lugg (5) skied a square drive off Cameron, in his second game, and was taken at deep point by Motie running back to point with the score on 17.

Blackwood joined fell o w Te s t b a t s m a n J o h n Campbell who got going with a couple of imperious cover drives which was followed up with a glorious cut past point for four.

The left-handed Campbell favoured the sweep when Sinclair bowled on leg stump and played some attractive drives and the 50 was soon posted in the 16th over.

But with the score on 62 Sinclair struck twice in two balls; with Campbell trapped LBW playing across a straight ball after making 37 from 58 balls with seven boundaries and a double back flick from the off-spinner celebrated the wicket.

Sinclair pushed Orin Williams on the back foot and trapped him plumb in front for a first ball duck to be on a hat-trick as Scorpions had slipped from 62-1 to 62-3.

Paul Palmer and Blackwood took the Scorpions to Lunch with Blackwood on 37 and Palmer on 12.

After the interval, the 100 was brought up in the 33rdover as Blackwood and Palmer continued to build the partnership with sensible batting.

But with the score one

short of 100, Motie had his 12th wicket of the tournament when he removed Palmer for 18, but that was the last success for the Guyanese before Tea as Blackwood reached his 48th FirstClass fifty from 126 balls with his seventh boundary and celebrated with another square driven four.

The pair was kept on a tight rein by the pair of leftarm spinners from Albion (Motie & Permaul) but Sinclair who bowled too fast, released the shackles when Alwin Williams cut him for consecutive boundaries.

At Tea the score was 1664 with Blackwood on 66 and Williams on 33 and the partnership already worth 67.

After the break, Blackwood stroked Sinclair magnificently through the covers for two fours while Williams sweetly cover drove Cameron for four before he was dropped by the Keeper Tevin Imlach to get consecutive boundaries.

Williams reached his maiden fifty from 110 balls with his eighth boundary off Cameron before he was removed by Motie at 211-5.

Derval Green joined Blackwood and reached the boundary twice in his 13 before he was caught by Johnson at slip off Permaul at 236-6.

Blackwood soon reached his eighth century, while Thomas counter-attacked the bowling and by the close had hit eight fours in his innings and to extend the stand to 46.

Today is the second day and play will start at 10:AM.

Independence Domino Competition on today Organiser Lyall Gittens

The Guyana Domino Association has scheduled an Independence Day Domino Competition today at the Mark & Shea Hangout Bar in D-Field Sophia with a double six time of 10:00 am.

The association is inviting teams to play to fill the roster and com-

pete for the top prize of $100,000. According to the organizer, the tournament was originally for Ministry teams but the majority of them expressed their dissatisfaction in the choice of venue, hence, their decision to not participate.

There are also prizes for the second and third placed

teams.

A registration fee of $12,000 is set for a team to be a part of the action.

All cash should be paid to the coordinator, James Lewis.

For further details, Lewis can be contacted on telephone number, 6259007.

Kaieteur News

Thursday May 26, 2022

PAGE 47

Prime Minister Independence GCB selects strong female Domino tourney set for today squad to vie for Regional Crown in Linden

T

he Honourable Prime Minister, Ret’d Brigadier Mark Anthony Phillips Independence Domino Competition will be played today at 2330 Central Amelia’s Ward, L i n d e n ( S h a n g h a i ’s Residence).

The event is open to all Domino teams affiliated to the various bodies in the country and it is the First Independence Cup Tournament being staged in the Mining Town.

Sponsorship has been coming in for the event from various entities, among them are: Ramesh Sunich of the Trophy Stall, who has donated the trophies for the winner, 2nd and 3rd place teams, Office of the Hon. Prime Minister, Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports, Bakewell, Beharry Group of Companies, Ansa McAl and t h e G u y a n a To u r i s m

Prime Minister, Hon. Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips (DPI)

Shemaine Campbelle Authority.

A number of other individual prizes are also to be won. The competition promises to be keen.

The Attractive prizes will see: 1st Place $500,000 2nd Place $300,000 3rd Place $100,000 The winner will also

claim the Hon. Prime Minister Lien Trophy.

Entrance fee is $15,000 per team and details on registration or any last minute information for the tournament can be had by contacting B.L. Aaron on telephone 662-3497 and or Mark ‘Jumbie’ Wiltshire on 659-8672.

Trophy Stall recognizes Guyanese UFC fighter Carlston Harris

T

rophy Stall proprietor Ramesh Sunich had presented Guyana’s first Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter Carlston Harris with a plaque in recognition of his achievement following a visit by the athlete there.

During a visit to Trophy Stall’s Bourda Market location, Harris interacted with Sunich, staff members and customers. Sunich said he was delighted to by the visit and indicated that he has been following his career in the UFC. Sunich added that his son who is a kick boxer in Canada is a big fan of Carlston and he is happy to be able to recognise him.

Sunich said he is a big supporter of sport development in Guyana and it feels good to see Guyanese sportsmen and women excel.

Harris said he is extremely grateful for the love and support from all Guyanese and thanked the businessman for his admiration.

T

he national selectors met on Thursday, May 19, 2022 at the Guyana National Stadium and selected the Guyana Senior Women Cricket Team for the CG Insurance Women’s Super50 and CWI T20 Blaze 2022 Tournament to be held in Guyana from June 5, 2022 to June 26, 2022.

The squad will be led by West Indies Senior Women’s player Shemaine Campbell who recently returned from Dubai where she was playing competitive cricket overseas. Campbell will have as her deputy, talented West Indian player Shabika

Sheneta Grimmond

Shabika Gajnabi

Gajnabi.

They will lead a squad of experienced players that includes Tremayne Smartt, Erva Giddings, Katana Mentore, Cherry-Ann Fraser, Sheneta Grimmond and Kaycia Schultz, who have all represented the West Indies. Julian Moore has been appointed Head Coach of the team while Kavita Yadram will serve as the Manager.

The squad will be encamped at the LBI Cricket Facility from May 30 to June 3, 2022 in preparation for the Regional 50 overs and T20 Tournaments.

The squad reads:

1. Shemaine Campbell (Captain) 2. Shabika Gajnabi (Vice-captain) 3. Cherry-Ann Fraser 4. Katana Mentore 5. Sherica Campbelle 6. Sheneta Grimmond 7. Plaffianna Millington 8. Kaysia Schultz 9. Tremayne Smartt 10. Erva Giddings 11. Mandy Mangru 12. Kumarie Persaud 13. Ashmini Munisar 14. Lashuna Toussaint Stand-bys: 1. Hema Singh 2. Dian Prahalad 3. Latisha Jordan 4. Naffeza Sabar

Left: Carlston Harris

Cherry-Ann Fraser

The UFC fighter stated that he will continue to represent Guyana with pride and joy every time he steps in the Octagon.

Harris started his UFC career with a first round knockdown over Christian Aguilera and Impa Kasanganay, both of the

USA, last year.

He suffered his first UFC defeat in February, losing in the first round to Shavkat Rakhmonov of Kazakhstan.

The UFC signed Harris in January 2021, and at that time he was ranked seventh in the Welterweight division in Brazil.

Kaycia Schultz

Mandy Mangru

rts Spo

The nationwide grassroots tournament has a budget cap of G$10.6M.

Tiger Rentals sponsors nationwide GFF Boys’ U-13 Development League - Injects over GYD$10M for inaugural run

That winning feeling! Virat Kohli brings out a leap and a fist pump. (BCCI)

CWI Regional First-Class C/Ships

Jermaine Blackwood defends during his century. (Brandon Corlette Photo)

Phenomenal Patidar moves RCB a win away from IPL final

Blackwood’s ton put Scorpions in front

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