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AIETEUR UAE accused NEWS
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May 29, 2022 Online: www.kaieteurnews.com
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Canada increases royalty rates to between 5% and 40% on oil companies - US increases theirs to higher than the 18.75% it was receiving Will our leaders to betray - Guyana maintains sanctity of contract for meagre 2% royalty continue this nation?
'Hulk' joins Guyana’s protest against Exxon's oil deal
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US Actor, Mark Alan Ruffalo who plays the role of the Hulk. (Photo Credit: www.piratesandprincesses.net)
Court cases key Gun shots and robbery to changes in spree abruptly Chris Ram oil contract ends HJ’s
Guyana must be mindful of “unsustainable reliance” …analyst notes rapidly on oil funds changing market
‘Baderation’ Concert - Top Cop summons promoters to meeting over security concerns
y midwee k, the nation should be aware of what our leaders did with the Liza-1 Permit Renewal: whether they used it as a bargaining chip to get a better deal or if they surrendered and further betrayed the country. This is a gamechanging moment for Guyana. It sets the stage for all future negotiations with the oil companies. T h e Environmental Protection Agency ( E PA ) m u s t b e given clear instructions by President Irfaan Ali. Nobody can afford to blink in this groundbreaking moment. Our leaders (including the Opposition Leader) are being provided
with an opportunity to establish their p a t r i o t i c credentials, demonstrate their grit, and display their readiness to put it all on the line for the sake of Guyana. We have been raped and robbed. It must stop! G u y a n a i s haemorrhaging and hurting. The economic piracy must cease. The Liza-1 Permit must NOT be renewed until we get what we deserve. Renew Liza-1 Permit, but only on fair terms. Leaders must correct for the m i s s e d opportunities of the Payara and Yellowtail projects. The ball is in the hands of the nation's leaders. They must charge forward courageously.
Current crop of leaders cannot be trusted to renegotiate oil …has already shown incapable of deal with Exxon standing up to oil giant - Int'l Experts p. 3
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Sunday May 29, 2022
Canada increases royalty rates to between 5% & 40% on oil companies - US increases theirs to higher than the 18.75% it was receiving - Guyana maintains sanctity of contract for meagre 2% royalty By Kiana Wilburg British Columbia (B.C.), C a n a d a ’s w e s t e r n m o s t province, appears to be following in the footsteps of the United States of America (USA) as it has announced that it will be increasing royalty rates to raise additional money annually for its people. The revelation was made by Premier John Horgan. The official recently said that for too long, “a broken system of fossil-fuel subsidies” has failed to ensure citizens “fully benefit” from their resources. The Premier said the new and improved measure will not only make his province more competitive but “will give British Columbians a fair return and allow us to invest in their priorities — like improving services,
bringing down costs and tackling carbon pollution.” Under the royalty system, Horgan explained that companies will have to pay top dollar to get access to British Columbia’s natural gas resource and share their revenue with the provincial owner. The amount that companies pay has been determined by a complex calculation that provides credits for infrastructure such as access roads and allows for some costs to be deducted. Horgan said the changes to a system in place for nearly three decades will be phased out in the next two years. Kaieteur News understands that the changes came after it was found that the royalty system was failing the people of British Columbia. This newspaper learned from the Vancouver
Sun—a daily newspaper which dates back to 1912— that royalties had topped a billion Canadian dollars a year for almost a decade starting in 2000, largely from natural gas. Gas royalties then peaked in 2005/06 at CAD$1.92 billion, but by 2010 royalties had plummeted to sometimes less than CAD$150M, even though gas production was rising. In light of the deep losses, the government said a new minimum royalty rate of five percent will replace the old rate of three percent. The new rate will be in effect while companies pay off costs of newly drilled wells. Once that point has been reached, the royalty rates will slide between five to 40 percent, depending on the price of natural gas. One of the authors of a
r o y a l t y r e v i e w commissioned last year by the B.C. government — which found the royalty system was “broken” — lauded the changes. “The new system is a good start to simplify, modernise, and eliminate outdated programmes,” said Nancy Olewiler, Director and Professor at the School of Public Policy at (the) Simon Fraser University. The move by British Columbia also follows those made by the Joe Biden Administration in December 2021. Kaieteur News had reported that a report by the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) on Federal oil and gas leasing and permitting practices, had found that the modernisation of the Federal oil and gas programme was delayed for decades to the detriment of
British Columbia Premier, John Horgan the American public, their public lands and waters, the environment, wildlife, and more. In its current form, the report said the programme falls short of serving the public interest in a number of important respects. It was found that royalty rates had not been increased in over 100 years. It was also found that the system provides insufficient opportunities for public
input, shortchanges taxpayers and States, and tilts toward opening up low potential lands without adequately considering competing multiple-use opportunities. Furthermore, the review found that the Federal oil and gas programme which fails to provide a fair return to taxpayers, even before factoring in the resulting Continued on page 3
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Sunday May 29, 2022
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Current crop of leaders cannot be trusted to renegotiate oil deal with Exxon …has already shown incapable of standing up to oil giant — Int’l Experts
IEEFA Director of Financial Analysis, Tom Sanzillo By Gary Eleazar Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL)—ExxonMobil Guyana—five years ago secured an environmental permit to develop and produce hydrocarbons, namely crude oil and Natural Gas from the Liza I field in the Stabroek Block, offshore Guyana. That permit was said, at the time, to be valid for 25 years but this was challenged in the local courts by I n t e r n a t i o n a l L a w y e r, Melinda Janki, who successfully argued that the law only permitted the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue a permit for five years. As such, on Tuesday, that permit expired and would have to be renewed before any further production can be continued. It is with this in mind that a global none profit
International Lawyer, Melinda Janki
Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo
organisation, Avaaz, put together a press engagement this past week to call on the EPA and other Guyanese leaders to put a halt on the project and not renew the project unless and until, the l
Analysis (IEEFA), Tom Sanzillo. When asked, however, about the renegotiation of the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) inked between ExxonMobil
“When you look at the government’s record; changing the environmental permit, granting the Payara permit against the wishes of people in the county, rushing through with Yellow tail, rushing to do a Gas-to-Shore project when the World Bank says here is little or no domestic market for gas in Guyana , when you look at all of these factors where the government does have a choice and they have been so pro-oil, do you really think that Guyana can renegotiate any sort of improvement to the situation at the moment.” - Melinda Janki o psided deal is remedied. Janki was joined in her calls by the Director of Financial Analysis for the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial
G uyana and their partners and government – since as a developing country Guyana needs the revenue stream – Janki said, despite this being “a really bad deal for Guyana
Canada increases royalty rates to... From page 2 climate-related costs that must be borne by taxpayers; inadequately accounts for environmental harms to lands, waters, and other resources; fosters speculation by oil and gas companies to the detriment of competition and American consumers; extends leasing into low potential lands that may have competing higher value uses, and leaves communities out of important conversations about how they want their public lands and waters managed. The document also notes that the fiscal components of the onshore Federal oil and gas programme are particularly outdated, with royalty rates that have not been raised for 100 years. Companies typically have
been charged 12.5 percent the value of oil and gas extracted from onshore leases, under a rate dating to the 1920s. For offshore leases, royalty rates have ranged recently from 12.5 percent to 18.75 percent. But the Biden administration has ordered that these rates be increased. In Guyana, current and future generations are shackled to a two percent royalty and a host of other debilitating provisions in the
Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), which the government insists it has shown no interest in amending. It has affirmed that sanctity of contract must be maintained, lest Guyana scares away valuable investors like ExxonMobil, Hess Corporation and CNOOC, the partners currently running rapid oil development projects in the Stabroek Block.
NOTICE Dear Readers, please be advised that, effective June 1, 2022, the price of our Monday to Saturday editions will be $100 and our Sunday edition will be $150.
Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat
Minister with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh
GGMC Commissioner, Newell Dennison
and it puts Guyana at risk,” such a course of action with the current crop of leaders could prove to be riskier. She qualified her position saying the government has so far shown that it is incapable of
standing up to ExxonMobil. According to Janki, “I think one would have to ask the question do you trust this government to negotiate with ExxonMobil?” The international lawyer told media operatives “when
you look at the government’s record,” such as “changing the environmental permit, granting the Payara permit against the wishes of people in the county, rushing through with Yellowtail, rushing to do a gas-to-shore
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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
Liza renewal No! Not unless Exxon agrees to our terms The Liza-1 permit is up for renewal next week. THE LIZA-1 PERMIT MUST NOT BE RENEWED. It must not be renewed until ExxonMobil agrees to every condition that Guyana lays out to protect itself and to get more than the paltry benefits that it is currently receiving. Guyana gets charity, while ExxonMobil rakes in billions from our oil bonanza. The Liza-1 Permit falls under the authority of Guyanas Environmental and Protection Agency (EPA), which is overseen by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo. The EPA must hold fast to powerful and immovable demands to get more from this oil before any renewal of the permit is even considered, much less granted. The EPA must stand up for Guyana, and while we have come down hard on Guyanas EPA, it is still a local agency and its people are our own, so we will support any effort on its part to do better for us. Vice President Jagdeo must see to it that every concession is extracted, wrung, and squeezed from ExxonMobil. He must ensure that the EPA is backed by the full power of the Government of Guyana. There must be no flinching before ExxonMobil; the company must be the one wondering what we are going to present, how much we will demand. There can be no give and take because ExxonMobil has taken advantage of this country and cheated us and robbed us. Now we must turn the tables, and get what is due to us. Guyanas Bharrat Jagdeo must see to this. There must be no more games, no more playing around with ExxonMobil. This is the time for Guyana to level the scales and get something for itself from its oil wealth. So far, this country has gotten nothing but pennies, nothing but the equivalent of corporate handouts. ExxonMobil needs the incredible profits generated by Liza-1 more than we need the pittances that we get for our oil wealth. It is our time and our turn to capsize this horrendous deal, piece by piece, and layer by layer, by reversing the trickeries that Americas ExxonMobil has wreaked upon Guyana. If it comes to the point where the Government of Guyana, through the agile mind and guiding hand of Bharrat Jagdeo, must throw down the gauntlet before ExxonMobil and ready to wage war with the company, then let it be. This is where Vice President Jagdeo gets to prove how much he is a man for Guyanese, a leader worth his election to be a spearhead of this nation. We appreciate the role of the EPA, but its courage and its strength have to come from Mr. Jagdeo, and none other. Mr. Jagdeo has shown that he has the smarts to make rings around locals, now he must employ all of his cunning, all of his native intelligence, and all of his accumulated wisdoms to twist ExxonMobils arm (neck, if needed) and bend the company to our will. Guyana holds the cards, Guyana is in the drivers seat, and of those we must make the best use possible, given the opportunity that now stands before us next week involving the renewal of this permit. If ExxonMobil decides to dig in its heels and play hardball, then let us Guyanese be ready to walk away in refusal, if we dont get what we want. We want a bigger share from our oil deal. We want ExxonMobil to pay its fair share of taxes. We want ExxonMobil to carry its weight where expenses are concerned. We want the kind of insurance protection that instills the confidence in us that we are secure, and not exposed, in the event of a catastrophic oil spill. Last, we suggest that every Guyanese visit the EPA website and make it their duty to read and familiarise themselves with the Liza Phase 1 project summary that is posted there. All the aspects of the Liza 1 project, especially the sophistication of ExxonMobils operations, and the delicate nature of its components, the dangers, our exposures. Guyanese must read for themselves of the wealth that ExxonMobil is carrying away daily, and the daily robbery of this country. The Liza 1 PERMIT MUST NOT BE RENEWED UNLESS EXXONMOBILAGREES TO GUYANAS TERMS.
Send your letters to Kaieteur News, 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown or email us kaieteurnews@yahoo.com
Why is the PPP/C Government not using all leverage points to renegotiate the oil contracts? DEAR EDITOR, Its not that the PPP/C Government cant ask for a renegotiation of the oil contracts. It simply would not. The PPP/C acts as if Exxon and friends own our oil and their job is to ask for a few crumbs from the oil masters table. The contracts have a clause that the contract can be reviewed as long as both parties agree. The government has not said whether they requested a review and the oil companies refused. The Government has said it
will not renegotiate the oil contracts an election promise broken, that may come to bite them in 2025, as they hang by a one-seat majority in Parliament. We will not forget the PPPs betrayal on oil renegotiation. And the momentum for renegotiation is resonating with poor fisherman struggling to make ends meet, sugar estate workers being stringed along, market vendors, security guards, and other destitute, vulnerable groups asking “weh the oil money deh?” The work of Mr.
Glenn Lall, Kaieteur News, Stabroek News, and Civil Society groups such as “Our Wealth, Our Country,” Oil and Gas Governance Network (www.OGGN.org), TIGI, Article 21 and other independent writers, is having a cumulative effect in helping Guyanese understand we have a rotten oil deal and both the PNC and PPP are OK with us being screwed by the oil imperialists. Now with the “Liza 1”environmental permit expiring in a few days, people are asking
whether the Government will use this leverage opportunity by putting a hold on the renewal of the Liza 1 permit and negotiate for a better oil deal. Now, this is a legitimate right of Guyana and its Government to choose to use its power of leverage. Will the Government use this leverage point? Will the PNC call on the Government to use its leverage points, in a “One Guyana” rare show of unity, so our “rich nation of poor people” will have a (Continued on page 5)
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Why is the PPP/C Government... Life could not be more confusing From page 4 Society groups had advised loss?). What kind of monkey as the spiderman adventures fighting chance to emerge out that the Government use the business is that? Is that busiof their persistent poverty? Guyanas needs are enormous, and it will take much more money than we are getting now to improve all of our infrastructure and provide “living wages,” cost-of-living increases, pensions for all including housewives and the self-employed, and more income enhancing measures. The oil companies are also asking to extend the relinquishment period of some oil blocks. The relinquishment clause requires the oil companies to give back a certain percentage of oil blocks, at specified time intervals. The relinquished blocks can be auctioned off to other oil companies and Guyana can earn more income. Since the oil companies are not playing nice, why would the Government extend the time for them to keep holding on to these blocks that are up for relinquishment? If we do that for them, what will they do for us? So, this is another leverage point that the Government can utilise to secure a better deal. Will the Government use this leverage point in the interest of our nation? Its one thing to blame and cuss the PNC for signing a bad contract that gave away the national patrimony. Its equally bad for the PPP Government to not use its legitimate leverage power to get a better deal from the oil companies. The Government gets credit for yielding to pressure from Civil Society groups to conduct the audit of US$9 billion of expenses submitted by the oil barons. We trust that will not be a sham, token exercise. Civil
approval of the Payara project as a leverage point. Instead, the Government ended the contract of the EPA head, replaced him with a substitute and did a speedy approval of the Payara project. Was this in the best interest of Guyana or was this in the interest of the oil barons? The Government has consistently demonstrated that it is on the same side with the oil companies and the PNC versus the people of Guyana. It looks out for the best interests of their oil companies rather than the Guyanese people. Nation, for every dollar Guyana gets, the oil companies get 6 dollars. While oil companies got roughly US$3.6 billion -TAX FREE- so far, Guyana got about US$ 600+ million, but we paid US$725 million of their taxes. (Did we, in effect, make a
ness or a giveaway? We urge the Government to use its leveraging power and not do any speedy renewal of Liza 1 without environmental reforms or reforms that will give us a better income. The oil companies indecent liberties with the environment - daily dumping of sewage into the ocean, ongoing flaring, environmental risks to fishing when dozens of wells are operating at the same time; inadequate insurance, etc., must be resolved now. We are watching to see if the PPP Government will stand with the people of Guyana or stand with the oil companies and the PNCs sellout contract. Oil companies dont vote, its the working stiff who do! Sincerely, Dr. Jerry Jailall
DEAR EDITOR, I’m confused as if spiderman liked Mary Jane or Gwen on to now just as confused of the promised improved water supply by GWI to all East Bank residents in a month time since the recent installation of the new well. Eccles residents still remain using their personal pumps to get their daily consumption of water. It’s being going for years
now! According to news, seven thousand households are supposed to benefit since there have been many installations of transmission and distribution lines installed along the East Bank. Many residents for years now have made their complaints at the Peters Hall GWI branch for years now but no one ever looked in this significant query. I do hope Minister Susan
Rodrigues is on board with this new project as well because I feel making that change will impact us big in the future and many communities. “De h n e i g h b o u r a h come over different neighbour fuh when water tank empty each time on to this age on the developing East Bank.” Shame! Your’s sincerely, Classic Roxy
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Leaders must be honest, trustworthy, have integrity and be responsible for with an update. ures in the budget for regions project code 1400500, the sum working mothers, yet to be their words and actions provided Clearly, Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo 2, 5, 6 and 10. So to refresh of $90M approved for the pro- realized, the renegotiating of DEAR EDITOR, I have analysed the recent utterances by Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo during several public outreaches held by the PPP/ C regime in Regions 2, 5, 6 and 10, highly funded by taxpayers dollars. Editor, I believe that Leaders, whether at the National or Local levels, must be honest, trustworthy, have integrity and be responsible for their words and actions, to the electorate. I listened to the speeches made by Mr. Jagdeo at all the meetings and I have observed many inconsistencies as he attempted to address issues of “temporary jobs, infrastructural development, etc.” At the first outreach held in March 2022 at Anna Regina Multilateral School, Region 2, the residents were mesmerized with promises of “temporary jobs”, infrastructural development, modernized hospital, to name a few, where I know many will not be delivered. Why? The PPP/C regime has a track record of making promises and not delivering. We recall the rice farmer and paddy issue, where pre-May 2015, rice farmers were promised better price for paddy and fertilizer, etc., whether in 2022 or just before this PPP/C regime demits office in 2025. Mr. Jagdeo stated, “before I leave here you will see an ad come about for about 800 new jobs for the people to get part-time work to supplement their family income.” Editor, I found this statement preposterous. During the lead up of the March 2020
General and Regional Elections, the PPP/C promised 50,000 jobs in their first term of office. However, instead of seeing jobs created, we saw persons fired from their jobs. The PPP/C is approaching two years since they were installed into office in August 2020, However, they only realized they had FAILED to deliver the first 10,000 jobs promised and decided to host these outreaches to give Guyanese more promises without a plan to make those promises a reality. Instead, the residents were told by Mr. Jagdeo, “hoping to generate about 1,000 jobs,”(Department of Public Information, March 22, 2022).To date, the PPP/C is yet to provide the statistics to the people of Guyana where jobs have been created, types created, and the number of persons employed. Instead, Guyanese are being introduced to a new sound bite of “temporary jobs”. But again, they failed to provide what category of temporary jobs will be created. The people of Region 2 were promised 800 jobs in two weeks when the outreach was hosted in the region in March 2022; residents of Linden, Region 10 were promised 800 jobs, and residents of regions 5 and 6 were also promised 1000 and 3000 temporary jobs respectively during the outreaches in those regions in April 2022, at a monthly salary of $40,000.00. Nevertheless, when I penned this letter on May 21, 2022, residents in those regions are yet to be
and the PPP/C regime do not have a plan to move Guyana and its people to their full potential strategically. Most concerning, Editor, was the insult to the people that the salary for the temporary jobs” will attract a sum of $40,000.00. Mr. Jagdeo and the PPP/C must be reminded that pre-May 2015, the minimum wage under them was $39,570.00. An increase was given to the people by the APNU+AFC Coalition Government after they were grossly underpaid a mere $39,570.00 under the PPP/C for 23 years. The Coalition Government, in its first budget in 2015 took the minimum wage from $39,570.00 to $60,000.00. With the increase in the cost of living, it is an absurdity to pay $40,000.00 monthly for “temporary jobs”. Mr. Jagdeo and the PPP/C should let the Guyanese know what mechanism or strategy is used to determine that $40,000.00 is adequate. Mr. Jagdeo further iterated that budget 2022 has provisions for these “temporary jobs”. I have participated in Budget 2022, and there are no provisions listed for the creation of temporary jobs across the regions. Perhaps, Mr. Jagdeo and the PPP/C can inform me where in the budget estimates this can be found, including the page or pages and the full sum for salaries to be paid. Apart from the “promised temporary jobs”, residents were told that billions have been set aside in the 2022 budget for community roads. But, again, I cannot recall such fig-
my memory, I decided to consult with the current and capital revenue and expenditure for 2022. Quoting from Mr. Jagdeo, this is what the residents of region two were told, “This region alone we are going to put $1 billion alone on community roads in this years budget”, (Department of Public Information, March 22, 2022). From the language spoken, Mr. Jagdeo referred to the future rather than addressing the current issues; perhaps he is oblivious to Budget 2022 provisions for this region. For the edification of your readers, Editor, I wish to let them know and remind them of the provisions made in and approved by the National Assembly on February 25, 2022, when the budget was passed without adjustments. The disaggregated sums for “maintenance of Infrastructure” under Public Works for Region 2: Pomeroon/Supenaam under Agency 72, for current expenditure, of Volume 1 of the estimates for 2022. (page 474) are: 1) maintenance of roads ($30M); 2) maintenance of bridges ($10,000.00); 3) maintenance of drainage and irrigation works ($5M)); 4) maintenance of Sea and River Defences ($3.8M) and 5) maintenance of other Infrastructure ($8M). For Capital Expenditure in the same volume 1 on (page 679), under Public Works, project code 1100300, the sum of $28M was approved for the construction of bridges in Region 2, while
vision of roads. Similarly, the residents of Region 6 were told, “a sum of US $100 million will be invested to widen and pave the main access road from New Amsterdam to Moleson Creek, Corentyne. The project will see the thoroughfare being widened by four feet on each side. Tender for the project will be out shortly. They were also told that “another $4 billion is set aside for community roads…” Editor, to address Region 6, the same reference used to acquire data for Region 2 was utilised for Region 6 to highlight to your readers the estimates for Region 6 maintenance of Infrastructure under Public Works: 1) maintenance of roads ($200M); 2) maintenance of bridges ($68M); 3) maintenance of drainage and irrigation works ($0)); 4) maintenance of Sea and River Defences ($0) and 5) maintenance of other Infrastructure ($25M). For Capital Expenditure in the same volume 1 on (page 685), under Publ i c Wo r ks, project code 1100700, the sum of $54M was approved for the construction of bridges in Region 6, while project code 1401000, the sum of $275M approved for the provision of roads. Therefore, Editor, it was disingenuous of Mr. Jagdeo to promulgate and cause the people in those regions and by extension, the general population that great things are in stored for their regions in budget 2022 when this is far from the truth. Since their ascension to office in August 2020, albeit, under questionable votes, many of the promises made have not been delivered. To identify a few, the re-opening of the Sugar estates, is yet to be realized; 50% increase for Public Servants, yet to be realized, day care services for
the Oil contract, yet to be realized. The governance of this country under the PPP/C regime is not new to many, if not all Guyanese. During their twenty-three years pre-May 2015 of which twelve of those years have been attributed to Mr. Jagdeo, Guyanese witnessed the wastage of taxpayers money through failed and incomplete projects. A typical example is the Skeldon Sugar Factory, the Fiber Optic Cable, the Amaila Falls hydro project. The discrimination of Guyanese, breakdown of the rule of Law, noncompliance of the tenets in the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, police brutality, where hundreds of predominately AfroGuyanese were killed, rampant corruption, and unfair treatment of Public Servants. Today, Guyanese are gradually seeing these actions creeping up since August 2, 2022, including “political persecution of innocent Guyanese and the Wild, Wild West in my beloved Nation. As I conclude Editor, I appeal to Guyanese to be wary of propaganda and the peddling of untruths by the PPP/C regime, through their spokesperson, Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo. I therefore challenge Mr. Jagdeo to publicly state where in budget 2022, is the one billion ($1B) allocated for Region 2 and four billion ($4B) for Region 6, regarding infrastructural works, exclusively to “community roads”. I also want to encourage Mr. Jagdeo on what the Holy Bible (KJV) scripture says concerning TRUTH, Proverbs 12:22, “the Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.” For your information. Annette Ferguson Member of Parliament
GWI Customer App DEAR EDITOR, Please note the advertisement in your paper about GWI technological service. How is it planned to deal with all (older) customers who
have no technology, and in any case could not afford it? Look forward to an appropriate notification. Old and Offline Customer
T N U L B . . . T B N U T L N B T . U . L . L T B . . N . U N U T L N B . U T . . L N N U T B . U . N L U BL BLUNGuyana T. deserves B . . T . T T N N U . U L . . L B a better oil deal! . T B . . . . N . T U T N N T U N U L L U B . L B . . . . B . T . . T . N N T U N L LU U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . . U . N L T U B . N L . . U B . T L . . N B T . . U . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B . T . U . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . B . UN .BLUNT. L . . B T . . . N T U N L . . U B T . L . B . UN .BLUNT. L . . B T . . . N T U N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L B T . U . . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . . . LU ...BLUN B T . . . N T U N L U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L T . U B . . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . U . . N L T BB T...BLU U N L U B . L . . B . T . T . N N T T L U U N L L U B U T...BLU B L . N . N . B . T . . N T U N N N U L U U B L . BL TLUNT.. UNT...B BBL Sunday May 29, 2022
Kaieteur News
The Environmental Permit for the Liza Phase 1 project will expire on Tuesday, May 31, 2022, giving the EPA, the regulatory body, an opportunity to correct the wrongs in the oil deal signed in 2016.
This renewal is a glimmering chance to reel in the 'big fish' rather than sit all day, or in this case years, waiting for revenue that might never materialise as some experts have already warned. The EPA and the Government of Guyana must work hand-in-hand to correct the lopsided Exxon deal. But should they betray us, each citizen can join the fight for a better deal for Guyana.
You can do so by way of court action or by taking to the streets in protest. Whatever you do, do not remain silent. Your action today will determine your future.
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Gunshots and robbery spree abruptly ends HJs Baderation Concert - Top Cop summons promoters to meeting over security concerns
The illegal gun that was found in a vendor’s possession (Photo Credit: Guyana Police Force)
Fans recording Skeng’s performance moments before the chaos started (Photo by Zena Henry)
By Shervin Belgrave It was chaos during the wee hours of Saturday at the National Park after gunshots, a “rain of bottles” and an alleged robbery spree abruptly ended the ‘Baderation’ Concert hosted by Hits and Jams (HJ) Entertainment. The “Baderation” event featured Jamaican Dancehall artiste “Skeng”, whose real name is Kevaun Douglas, and was one in a series of shows organised by HJ Entertainment for the Independence week of celebrations to kick start the road to Cricket Carnival in September. The entertainment company also used the week of activities, which ends tonight, to launch its Genesis and Utopia Band for the September Carnival event. The first two shows it hosted at the Marriott Beach Front and Parking Lot, “Touchdown” and “Stinging
Nettles” featuring Trinidadian Soca artists, Partrice Roberts and Kes the Band, were major successes but “Baderation” raised some serious security concerns for the country and, as a result, the promoters were called in for a meeting with Guyana’s Acting Top, Clifton Hicken. The show on Friday evening started off well and the massive crowd was clearly enjoying the performances. But things got out-of-hand when Skeng, the featured artist, stepped onto the stage. Kaieteur News reporters were on stage too snapping some photographs of the crowd and the artist but it was when he was performing his fourth song called “Protocol” that things got out-of hand. The crowd became hyper as Skeng began singing – “Protocol we have 100 strap (guns) Mally (molly - a laboratory-made drug said to pro-
duce a “high” similar to the stimulants called amphetamines) get pap whole place get hot rinse out everything outta de Glock (a 9MM pistol) hallow-point (bullet) dat a lodge up in a bwoy head back,” – that gunshots were fired into the air from among the hundreds of patrons. At first the shots did not grasp much attention but when it started to rain bottles from the skies everyone realised that something was very wrong. The crowd started to scatter in chaotic fashion. Some screamed in panic and others ran for cover. The DJs were forced to end the music abruptly and Skeng and his entourage had to leave the stage. Later that morning, Facebook was flooded with videos of patrons armed with handguns, some (Continued on page 60)
Dem boys seh...
De price of gasoline is high enough fuh kill yuh Death is nat something dem boys like joke bout. But a man drive in a petrol station and had wan attack dem boys nah know whether it was seizure or a heart attack. But sadly de man dead. Dem boys also had wan attack last week. Dem drive in a petrol station and when dem see de price of gasoline, dem boys almost fall dead. It mek dem boys wonder is whether is de price of de petrol dat mek de man heart give out. Anyway dem boys extend condolences to de
family. Imagine Guyana is wan oil producing country and we cant subsidise de gasoline wah selling. Yuh know why we cant do dat? Is because if we do dat all de oil revenue gan done. Dat shows how bad a deal we getting. De money we earning cant afford to subsidise de prices at de pump. De guvament bin remove all de excise taxes pun petrol. Dah means de guvament give up billions of dollars in taxes. And still de price of petrol
gone through de roof. Some people now claiming dat it cheaper fuh stay home dan drive to wuk. Even rum now cheaper dan gasoline. De odder day a wife turn to she husband and say, “Yuh don t take me anywhere expensive anymore.” De husband tell she, “Go and get dress, I am taking you out to an expensive place.” De excited wife ask, “Where are we going?” De husband reply, “To de petrol station.” Talk half. Leff half.
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Sunday May 29, 2022
Pres. Ali warns Regional Leaders of looming food catastrophe
…calls for collective approach to meeting supply challenges
L
amenting what has over the years been all talk, thinking and pondering but with no action, Head of State, President Irfaan Ali, is of the view that there is a looming food catastrophe on the horizon and as such the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) must come together as a collective to meet the challenge not only as it relates to food supply, but the security of its people. Security, not in the “narrow” sense of the word, but security, in terms of militating against the impacts of climate change and environmental challenges, “we are talking about security in the wider context.” These were among key points raised by President Ali, when he delivered the keynote address at the
address and pointed to the empty shelves in supermarkets across the world coupled with the rising cost of living and more importantly the shortage of food supply. To this end, he proffered this is why CARICOM countries such as Guyana and Barbados have been expending significant energy towards the objective of putting agricultural and increased food production at the centre of the regions development. Seeking to qualify his position further, the President noted that none other than the world renowned Economist has already began warning of a looming food catastrophe and observed for reference recent military missions aimed at securing baby formula. In addition to the escalating
Barbados' Prime Minister Mia Mottley (at centre) looks on as President Irfaan Ali inspects one of the items on display (Photo Credit: Office of the President).
opening ceremony of Barbados' AGROFEST 2022 venued at Queen's Park Oval. The festival saw a number of regional leaders and representatives from Guyana, Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, among others, and is being hosted under the theme, “Greening Together, Ah Caribbean Thing.” President Ali in delivering his remarks told those in attendance that “The issue of food security for this region cannot be looked at from a border perspective because each one of us in this region, each country, comes with different challenges but each one of us bring a unique opportunity in creating a solution.” “We are meeting under very difficult circumstances, circumstances that have created havoc in many economies,” the President said as he began his
food prices, President Ali drew reference to the fact that critical raw materials such as wheat, corn and soya and predicted that their prices on the world market would skyrocket by as much as 40 percent. With this in mind, the President also sought to impress that the experience in the region and other developing countries are not a priority for the demands when these global phenomenon occur as he adumbrated the need to remedy the situation through increased production regionally. In addition to the need for increased food production in the Region, President Ali was adamant there is need for the challenges to be approached as a collective. “We have to fix this and we, have to fix this as a collective, he said, as he reiterated the need to meet the challenges not through the eyes of a body divided by borders but as a singular entity; we have to
do a few things not only must we produce more we must also change our consumption pattern, we must look more towards what we produce; all of us must be a part of this process, we cannot safeguard the people of our countries' unless each of us give a bit.” In this regard, the President in his address sought to advance the notion of developing a new business model for the Caribbean and with this in mind, Guyana and Barbados have already begun work on building out a Master Plan for the region “to enhance our food production systems,” in addition to providing more support system for the farmers. President Ali noted too, that in order to secure the supply chain that would be able to meet regional
Head of State, President Irfaan Ali delivers the keynote address at the opening of Barbados' AGROFEST 2022 (Photo Credit: Office of the President).
demands as well as international markers, there is the dire need to build production capacity in addition to upgraded transportation and logistics systems; there is a major food catastrophe coming.” Elaborating on the need for a new business model for the region with regards agriculture and intraregional trade, President Ali told those in attendance that the pilot that Guyana and Barbados are pursuing is meant to be replicated across the region and is meant to create a win-win situation for all. As such, “we cannot see ourselves as opposition sides of the wicket, we have to see ourselves as a singular collective, one partner
working together to bring prosperity” to the peoples' of the regions. This, he said, meant putting food on the tables of the region's people at a lesser cost and in a much healthier fashion. Having outlined the need for working together, President Ali noted that it is for this reason that for AGROFEST 2022 there are some 150 Guyanese participating, including 55 companies. According to President Ali, “…this is just the beginning; this position will get stronger and will create a win-win for Barbados and Guyana.”It is against this backdrop (Continued on page 55)
Guyana's Private Sector Commission Chairman, Paul Cheung along Prime Minister Mottley (centre) and President Irfaan Ali (right) as they tour the venue (Photo Credit: Office of the President).
Sunday May 29, 2022
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Sunday May 29, 2022
Guyana must be mindful of “unsustainable reliance” on oil funds …analyst notes rapidly changing market By Zena Henry
G
iven the meagre funds Guyana is receiving from its oil endowments, the country must not only seek more revenue from its expansive offshore oil reserves and improve commitments to protect its environment from operators, but this must be done before the pending collapse of the transitioning energy sector. International analyst, Tom Sanzillo, who made the foregoing pronouncement, was speaking directly to the fact that Guyana is set to expend oil revenues received so far by the end of the 2022 budget. Sanzillo is among the experienced p r o f e s s i o n a l s o ff e r i n g guidance to Guyana with its newfound oil wealth. One of his main concerns is that Guyana receives more money for its oil and puts up
some of its earnings for rainy days. Sanzillo noted that the oil market is a volatile one that usually persists based on certain factors. For now, with increased oil prices the market appears pleasant for distributors of the resource. “But the markets don't look like they will be that strong for very long,” Sanzillo submitted. He told a n Av a a z - o r c h e s t r a t e d webinar on Guyana's oil sector Tuesday last, that before the Ukraine crisis, the oil and gas industry was already on a 10-year decline. He said that the only thing that increases oil prices and company profits is a war, and one of a ghastly nature. “And when the war is over, we are going to return to a market that is at best volatile and not very profitable…” As such, Sanzillo said, the only way right now that ExxonMobil is making a sizeable profit is
by maintaining the one-sided contract it currently has with Guyana, “that probably won't stand up against market forces.” “There is a real issue that in the long-term Guyana may never see the robust profits,” Sanzillo opined. He said while there is talk about having more money, he does not believe that would be the case since the projected, “amount coming now is not enough to meet objectives.” Sanzillo pointed out also that in 2019, Guyana received International Monetary Fund (IMF) advice where it was agreed that oil funds would, among other important things, be used in decreasing the country's debt, while saving a portion of the oil profits for the future. None of these have been done. Instead, quite contrary to the IMF's advice, Guyana has slated the oil money so far to
International Analyst, Tom Sanzillo support capital projects outlined in the 2022 budget. In the IMF's 2019 report, Guyana was warned to look at the actions of Trinidad and Tobago when it rapidly scaled up public expenditure and risked fuelling
macroeconomic distortions, inflationary pressures and t h e e r o d i n g o f competitiveness. Currently, Guyana's budget is more than 44 percent larger than it was last year, a clear representation of the significant contribution oil money made to the financial estimates. Sanzillo has noted, however, that should Guyana seek evidence of the changing oil market, it need not look any further than Norway, an oil and gas powerhouse that managed to grow significantly from its oil endowments. Sanzillo said that Norway is a country that has been receiving revenue since the 1970s after running a very public process and was able to create a Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) that is 25 percent of its economy. “They have also issued a clear message to its people
and to the market, that the revenues that came in the past from oil and gas can no longer be relied upon because the market has changed.” Here it is, he said, an economy with 25 percent of its economy based on oil announcing that it needs to shift gears away from oil and gas and form a more diverse economic base because the market has changed substantially, “and they do not see a turnaround of the markets any time into the future.” A l r e a d y, S a n z i l l o reiterated, it will take a long time for Guyana to pay the amounts owed to Exxon Mobil based on the oil agreements that were made between the country and the oil giant. He insists that changes must be made for Guyana to increase its financial take (Continued on page 55)
Woman, 66, is country's latest COVID-19 fatality
- 44 new cases recorded
F
ollowing the death of a six-month old baby last week, the Ministry of Health on Saturday reported that the country's latest COVID-19 fatality is that of a 66-yearold unvaccinated woman from Region Four. The woman died on Friday while receiving medical treatment and as a result of this, the country's COVID-19 death toll has moved to 1,233. The Ministry via its dashboard reported that within the last assessed 24hour period, health authorities recorded 44 new COVID-19 cases across the country. The new cases were detected in Region Four –28, Region Two – eight, Region Three – six and Region 10 – two. Over the past two weeks, COVID-19 cases in the country have been increasing with an increasing number being hospitalised. Minister o f H e a l t h , D r. F r a n k Anthony, during his daily COVID-19 update on Friday, said that the spike in cases been seeing could be linked to that of the BA.2 variant. This variant, which is being recorded as a dominant strain globally, is a sub-variant of Omicron.
The Minister stated that samples will be taken and sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) for testing to determine which variant is in circulation in the country. Meanwhile, the dashboard also shows that
two persons are admitted into the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 21 persons are in institutional isolation, 576 are in home isolation and two are quarantined institutionally. To date, a total of 62,733 persons have recovered.
Sunday May 29, 2022
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Sunday May 29, 2022
Court cases key to changes in oil contract - Chris Ram By Davina Bagot
A
s Guyanese across the miles sit in suspense to hopefully rejoice over the news of better terms and financial arrangements, through a possible renegotiation of the present lopsided Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with US oil major, ExxonMobil, Attorney-at-Law and Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram has said that challenges to the document is a key option, rather than depend on results that may never yield from holding the Liza One Permit as an opportunity to haul the oil company to the table to secure better terms for the people of Guyana. Ram, in an invited comment, on Friday told
Kaieteur News that the best shot the country has at renegotiating the contract is by successfully challenging the 2016 PSA. He explained, “The contract is already signed, unless it is renegotiated or some changes are made as a result of court action, the fiscal terms and conditions remain the same…unless this thing is successfully challenged, for the next 40 years we are stuck with the same terms and conditions so it is misleading the public to suggest that we will get better terms and conditions. You can get better terms and conditions either if the government renegotiates for such terms and conditions or if the court rules some of the conditions unlawful and they force a renegotiation.” To this end, the attorney
said he does not believe in using the renewal of the environmental permit to secure better financial gains from the contract. “No. That would be unreasonable. You can't tie one to the other. You are bound by the agreement. You are bound by the fiscal terms of the agreement. You can't use an environmental permit as an excuse for trying to get better terms and conditions.” “Renegotiation requires mutual consent…Esso (Exxon's subsidiary) has to agree to it and why would you agree to give away what you have? …It's not going to work. It might be a good try but it's not going to work,” Ram opined. In this regard, he said that Guyanese should focus on not only filing legal challenges to the agreement,
but channel their energies into succeeding. “The Minister may grant such permit or some extension and it might apply to the particular circumstances in the particular well, but it is subject to the same tax concessions. Don't let anyone fool you and that is why the case (filed by Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall) is so important.” Ram holds the view that Guyana can undoubtedly bring ExxonMobil to the b a rg a i n i n g t a b l e a f t e r successful litigations, rather than use a method that may not be the best. The Liza One Permit, which was the first to be approved, will expire on May 31, 2022. Several international experts have already advised Guyana to use the renewal of the licences as a means to secure a fairer arrangement for its people. In fact, more than 5000 people from across the world have given this call their support by signing on to a petition that seeks more for Guyana. During an important Avaaz-hosted webinar on Tuesday last, representative, Martyna Dominiak said that organisation had launched a campaign 48 hours earlier asking its members globally to send in messages directly addressed to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA')s Executive Director, Kemraj Parsram, to ensure more benefits for Guyana through the bargaining of the Lisa 1 permit's renewal. “We decided at Avaaz to launch it because it is very difficult for the people in Guyana to stand against Exxon alone. People are afraid of that and that's why we want to support them with the power of our global movements.” In the meantime,
Guyana-born International Lawyer, Melinda Janki has reiterated that in the prevailing situation it is really important that people go to court to see that the laws of the country are enforced. According to Janki, Guyanese must challenge the actions that they don't like and it is only by publicly challenging Exxon in the courts and publicly coupled with political pressure, then the country can likely see a change. The Liza 1 is the first field to be developed by EEPGL in the Stabroek Block and saw first oil in December 2019. The Floating Production Storage and Offloading Vessel (FPSO)—the Liza Destiny—is fed by a 17 well field. So far, Kaieteur New Publisher, Mr. Glenn Lall, who has been outspoken against the lopsided deal with the oil company, has filed a legal proceeding to reverse the “discriminatory tax concessions” being granted to the oil company and its partners Hess Corporation and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited. The case, which was prepared and filed by his attorney-at-law, Mohamed R. Ali, outlines that many of the provisions listed under Article 15.1 of the Petroleum Agreement, dated June 27, 2016 between the Guyana Government and the oil companies, grant exemptions to persons other than the licensees, which violate the
Attorney-at-Law, Christopher Ram
Petroleum Exploration and Production Act, the Financial Administration (and Audit) Act, the Prevention of Discrimination Act, and the Constitution. The Auditor General, Deodat Sharma, in his 2020 report highlighted that Guyana lost a whopping $137 million in tax exemptions from the oil sector alone. Also, the Guyana Revenue Authority boss, Godfrey Statia, has already warned that these deductions will continue to increase, unless policy changes are made. T h e m a t t e r, w h i c h ExxonMobil subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) joined as a respondent, is set for continuation before Justice Nareshwar Harnanan at the High Court in Georgetown on August 12, 2022. As such, Lall's Attorney is expected to file submissions in response to the defence brought by the Government and EEPGL on or before June 3 while the respondents, Government of Guyana and EEPGL are expected to file their answers b y J u l y 1 . All final written arguments are scheduled to be filed by July 29 and August 12, 2022 is set for oral arguments. On August 12, attorneys from all sides will be given at least 20 minutes to present their case before the court, after which the court is expected to rule on September 9, 2022.
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Sunday May 29, 2022
PAGE 15
BLUNTNESS ON INDECENCY! In case you haven’t heard, please be informed that as part of our continued effort to channel positive changes in our country, our publisher, Mr. Glenn Lall, has dedicated our Page Seven to be “BLUNT” about on-going indecency in our land that should matter, not only to us at this publication, but the entire nation. SUNDAY Guyana Will Rise Again! The parliamentary opposition, APNU+AFC, is gearing for yet another court battle. This time its focus is on the acting appointment of Clifton Hicken as Police Commissioner. While this is all well and good, the opposition's passionate attention should be equally directed to issues such as the continuous pillage of our resources and the ongoing squandermania in the name of development. When precious little is done to prevent this nation from continuing down a path of doom and gloom it becomes clear that Guyanese must stand up and fight for themselves. Clearly, the politicians have their own interests at heart. But be assured, we at publication will not sit idly by and watch this nation be sentenced to a lifetime of hopelessness simply because those elected to serve are ill-
prepared or simply unwilling to see the big picture. Guyana Will Rise Again! MONDAY This fish story need not g e t f i s h y Our fish catch is increasing, not declining, so said Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha. The Minister also said that the Food and Agriculture Organization said that the operations of the oil companies have nothing to do with the meagre haul of our fishermen. Meanwhile, our fisherfolk have said that there are their empty nets and unladen boats and that is the story with which they have been living with ever since oil production commenced. Whatever the Hon. Minister has said, and whatever the FAO has reported (climate change and fresh water are the culprits), the bottom line is that the local fishing sector is hurting badly. The basis of the Minister statement that fish catch has
i ncreased would help, and the full contents of the completed FAO report identify what holds water, and what is eliminated, as being responsible for the fate of our fisherfolk. We must be able to get to the source of what is haunting our fishermen. This fish story need not deteriorate into a fishy one. Give Guyanese the facts, as written, and let them go from there. TUESDAY History repeating itself In Africa, tribal leaders sold their brothers and sisters to foreigners and into slavery for trinkets. In India, the native Princes joined with the British to exploit their own people. In Mexico and Peru, it was the same way that locals betrayed their own to foreigners for ornaments and toys. In Guyana, this is what PPP/C Government leaders
do to Guyanese when they join hands in partnership with foreigners (oil, gold, timber, and bauxite) and empower them to rape and rob the riches of this country for pittances. Guyanese, when are you going to stand up? Guyanese when will you resist your own impoverishment? WEDNESDAY GUYANA, what's going on? The Chairman of Golden Shield Resources is boasting loudly about how rich his company 'strike it' in Guyana. A Canadian company chair could boast on a United Kingdom media outlet about a 350,000 oz gold jackpot in Guyana. Why don't we know? How is it that our leaders have not said one word about Golden Shield Resources? What is it we have? It is not a Government with leaders, but a Mafia organisation with godfathers running this country. THURSDAY Mega gold firms coming up, 'maagah' small miners going down 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 porkknockers, 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. Is this a nation or is Guyana a cruel joke from sick leaders? FRIDAY No to Liza 1 Permit RENEWAL Guyana has an opening next week to set things right with Liza 1. The Liza1 Permit is up for renewal. It must only be renewed under one condition: Guyana gets increased share, Guyana pays less in expenses and Exxon pays its taxes. It must be this way and no other way. No concessions from Exxon, No renewal of Liza 1
from Guyana. SATURDAY Liza-1 Permit Renewal is a Godsend We have waited and we have borne our chafe with an oil contract that enslaved us for years.Now there is this first glimmer of opportunity to escape from the bondage in which Exxon's devastating oil contract has trapped Guyana. President Ali and Vice President Jagdeo must not miss the moment. This opportunity must not be wasted. The permit renewal must be jumped upon to extract from Exxon what is rightly due to every Guyanese. It is more benefits, as in more money coming to us and more protection for us. The President and Vice President must flex their muscles, show that they mean business, and stand eyeball to eyeball with Exxon and force it to treat Guyana in a fair manner, a way that is acceptable to us. No more chickenfeed money, no more 'fine change', no more playing at nice guys with sweet talk. This is serious business. President Ali and VP Jagdeo must deliver or forever hang their heads in
Current crop of leaders cannot be trusted... From page 3 says here is little or no domestic market for gas in Guyana , when you look at all of these factors where the government does have a choice and they have been so pro oil do you really think that Guyana can renegotiate any sort of improvement to the situation at the moment.” She posited, “We may have a situation where renegotiation is a risk to the Guyanese people not a benefit.” The lawyer—who has already been successful against ExxonMobil in court and had caused the permit's validity period to be reduced from 25 years to five years in keeping with the law—noted that renegotiation would only come about if the oil company was looking to extract more gains from the country through its PSA. She noted that the existing PSA dictates that renegotiation is only possible when all of the partners a g r e e , n a m e l y EEPGL—ExxonMobil Guyana—Hess Guyana Corp,
China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC). With this in mind, she noted that the purpose of an oil company is to make money “it's not to act in the best interest of the people of Guyana; it's the government's job to act in the best interest of the people.” To this end, Janki observed “…if there is any renegotiation it would only be because Esso (EEPGL), Hess and CNOOC want a better deal for themselves and their shareholders , it will not be because Guyana can negotiate a better deal for Guyana.” It would be poignant to note that the key people that would be involved in such a renegotiation process would include subject Minister, Vickram Bharrat, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, Minister with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh and Guyana Geology and Mines Commission(GGMC) Head, Newell Dennison, at the very least. According to Janki, “from the start I have said that the important issue is to ensure that the
government and oil companies obey the laws of Guyana; those laws are there to protect the country and the people. If that means that the operations have to stop then they have to stop.” Sanzillo in his contribution, as reported earlier by this publication, had highlighted that given the formula for the division of revenues had from the field, it is very likely that Guyana under the PSA would not see any significant earnings. He noted that at present, the current monies said to be spent by ExxonMobil for projects developed and are under development would not be completely repaid until 2070, repaying some $75B in investments in addition to interests accrued. Sanzillo had also highlighted that under the existing PSA, for every US dollar that Guyana earns per barrel of oil produced in the Stabroek Block, the oil companies walk away with six dollars. Compounding the situation is the fact that at present, given the
developments already undertaken and underway, each citizen of this country owes the oil company some US$44,000 (G$9M). This situation is likely to change, since the rapid pace of discoveries would also lead to the rapid increase in debt. It is with this in mind that Sanzillo called on the Guyana Government to use the situation as leverage to address the numerous shortcomings in the contract. He told attendees at the webinar, unless this is done, then the renewal of a permit with no additional restrictions and financial reforms would simply see the renewal process as a rubber stamp arrangement. The lopsided arrangement alluded to by Sanzillo is another in the long list of abuses of Guyana. He was adamant, if the government fails to change the deal it would have failed the people of Guyana. As such, he was of the view that Guyana may never see its fair share of earnings from its oil blocks and as such pressed for government to
open up its books in order for the people to be able to determine the state of affairs. T h e I E E FA F i n a n c i a l Analyst said, “We are not the only ones saying that this is a bad deal for Guyana” even as he reminded that stakeholders from around the world have been saying the same thing. With this in mind, he noted that in recent days there are regular announcements made of new discoveries and it is being seen as a positive thing. According to Sanzillo, however, under the present arrangement every time he sees an announcement of a new discovery, to him, that just means the mountain of debt will pile up before Guyana can get more earnings from its oil fields. He reiterated that with US$75B to develop what is already planned, that would take until 2070 to pay back. With this in mind, Sanzillo said, “Our concern is that Guyana will never see the revenues it was promised.”
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C The
REATORS’ OVEN
By Zena Henry
S
eventeen year old Tamia Kala Lashley is an aspiring writer with a flair for delving into issues that affect young people like herself. The Mahaica resident is bravely addressing issues of abuse, fear, rejection and other scourges that young people face in her upcoming book ‘A Child’s Opinion’. Having experienced some of these negatives herself, Tamia seeks to give a child’s perspective through questions and commentary, as she makes sense of the world and the experiences she faces. “I’ve had to experience things no child should, no person should, but I would never change those experiences. They’ve made me question life and the factors that influence it. It has made me aware and has actively helped in the inspiration of my book,” Tamia highlighted. She spoke to The Coven on her observation where society seems scared to publicly open up with discussions on sensitive topics. “No one wants to discuss real life problems and real life dilemmas. That very fact is the reason I’ve had to struggle to find my own footing in life, and this is the same reason many people
Sunday May 29, 2022
Using creativity to tackle social issues …the Tamia Kala Lashley perspective
have yet to find theirs.” She added, “I’m not looking to change the world that seems overly ambitious. What I’m hoping to do instead, is change minds, to leave people questioning their views on the topics discussed in my book. To make a lasting impact on people, to bring to light things that have always existed but continue to be hidden.” Below is an extract from the book: ‘A Child’s Opinion’ FOR YOUR PLEASURE Why does my gender upset you? Why does it matter if I wear a suit or a dress? Why does it matter if I like cars or dolls? Why do you care so much about the size of my chest and what resides between my legs? Telling me to be more feminine, to accentuate my figure to be what you view as attractive, but not too much because then I would be vulgar, and it would make it difficult for tempted hands and stares to keep to themselves. So then I cover my body to serve my own comfort, and then you say I look too masculine. What I wear isn’t to appease you. Clothing has no gender. The size or shape of my body means nothing. What I choose to wear or identify as is simply meant for me. TO LOVE Finding your other half and being in a fairytale relationship
Seventeen-year-old Tamia Lashley takes aim as social issues in her first book. isn’t everyone’s goal. Many of us, since the ripeness of our youth yearned for romance. Teens wanting boyfriends or girlfriends, adults wanting husbands or wives; but many could do without romantic involvement. Whether it is for the maintenance of one’s freedom, or just their disinterest in romance, not everyone wants and not everyone needs to be in a romantic relationship. We all want
love, but love doesn’t necessarily have to come from romance. That love could come from family, friends, and even pets. Romance isn’t and never was, the only source for love. ANTI-SADNESS I remember being a child watching anti-suicide programs, trying to make sense of it with my 8-year-old brain. I never understood. I was always confused as to why someone would be willing to take their own life. I thought it stupid, selfish even, to turn tail and give up. Yet as I grew older and was hit with real world problems that piled heavily on my shoulders, that made me dread opening my eyes in the morning, I found myself thinking back to those programs. Finally, I u n d e r s t o o d . Wi t h f a m i l i a r experiences, I often wondered whether I someday would become an example on someone else’s television screen. PERFECT Wanting to fly away from my own skin has become the norm. I’ve come to a point in my short life where I’ve began to blossom and discover new parts of myself. This isn’t my body looking back, it never was. And no amount of makeup or subtle changes in clothing can suddenly fix what I now classify as broken. But it is normal to hate my body, to hate the unfamiliar face that stares back at me from the depths of my mirror. Isn’t that what the media says? New diet pills, exercise apps, picturesque body types of actresses and models. It is what I have to achieve if I want to be accepted into society. GOOD BOY Boys aren’t allowed to cry. They have to remain strong because that is what they are meant to be, strong and without weakness. Maybe I’m simply dense, or maybe
my young mind cannot comprehend, but I wonder, when did crying become taboo for men? Maybe when the media came into play? Maybe when fathers and grandfathers forced their views onto the impressionable male youth? Or was it when toxic masculinity became mainstream, that it crept its way into normality. All of the above perhaps, but I see it in movies when boys portrayed as ‘sensitive’ are played for jokes or running gags. I see it every day when boys who healthily express their emotions are ridiculed and ostracized. Honestly, it has gotten better, but from what I’m still seeing, I wonder how long it will last. THE VOICE OF A CHILD “I’m older than you. You do what I say or leave.” Then what if I leave? I understand that most parents want the best for their children. I understand that they deserve respect, but is it necessary to project your insecurities or failure, and your need to control on us? Is it necessary for you to lose your already fickle temper around us? Blame us for every bad day, belittle or insult us when we differ on opinions, ignore us in our times of need for your comfort? Then you have the boldness to pretend that you can do no wrong. Call us children as an insult? We are children. We still require your love and support no matter how much you may not want to give it. It’s ironic how you constantly remind us that we are children, yet you always seem to forget that very fact. ATTENTION No matter how old you are, no matter how young you are, everyone yearns for attention. As childish as it may sound the feeling of gaining that craved attention; of being recognised and seen is simply euphoric. Whether it is to get that promotion you always wanted, or to simply be accepted by your peers at school. Everyone wants to feel like they matter, to ease the never-ending need for validation. And if that attention isn’t directly given to us, we find other means. The internet now proves it. The billions of videos begging you to like them, to view them, to validate them, prove it. BIG PERSONALITY Does showing a bit of cleavage suddenly make females that much more interesting? What is her personality outside of that body? Is she simply there as a love interest, an enchanting seductress, a main character who is nothing outside of her male counterpart? What are some distinguishable features she possesses that sets her apart from her cardboard cutouts? Is she a blonde, curvaceous and busty, ditzy and clumsy? Or is she just the walking representation of the male gaze? Continued on page 17
Sunday May 29, 2022
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Kaieteur News
Using creativity to tackle social issues From page 16 CANCELLING A LIFE Cancel culture is such a strange dilemma to me. Yet we see how the internet lends power to people who don't deserve it. When it is actually used correctly to expose the toxicity of large creators and online personalities, the internet provides a great service and spreads awareness to fellow users. However, as unrestricted access to power often does, cancel culture can get out of control rather quickly. People can ruin lives and careers, simply because they want to. Anyone can be cancelled when persons get others to drag a person online and they do not necessarily having to commit any heinous act. It's all because the internet has quite literally put the world in the palms of our hands. ABOVE US Isn't it funny how being a part of mainstream media brings with it such entitlement and immunity to individuals who commit otherwise disgusting acts? We as a society have become desensitized to the wrong doings of celebrities, seeing as we hold them to such high esteem. Celebrities have been called out for their misconduct. Doing or saying things that a 'normal' person, would've been arrested for. Yet, their acts were either quickly forgiven or quickly
forgotten. One creator was accused of grooming and luring his young male fans to meet him with the promise of cupcakes. His predatory behaviour was called out, but no legal action was taken. After quite a long hiatus, he unsurprisingly returned to the internet and almost immediately grew a large following of old and new fans alike. However, by no means is this special treatment towards celebrities new. Elvis Presley, a musician from the 1950's, was very open with his prejudice towards people of colour. Yet he is still considered a legend and an icon, in the eyes of the black community. SEX ISN'T A NECESSITY Many individuals do not crave sexual contact, nor do they have to. To take part in sexual activity is a choice, and like every choice, people can choose to, or not to do it. There is nothing wrong with them. They aren't peculiar, they aren't defective, and they aren't broken. It is not up to you to take it unto yourself to 'fix' them by forcing what you may think as a 'pleasant experience' onto them. Their lack of sex drive does not make them any less intimate than other individuals. They could choose to love, choose to be in romantic relationships if they pleased. It does not
make them any less normal, and it does not make them less of a person. I LOVE YOUR SMILE AND NOT YOUR IDENTITY Your heart flatters me, your personality so utterly attractive. You are charming, so charming that I look pass your identity. For what I love about you is not defined by what resides between your legs. The world tells me to love based on their views; such biased words fall on my deaf ears. I could care less about their societal norms, their generations of beliefs and false teachings. Who I choose to love is my business, just as much as who they choose to love is theirs. My attractions are valid, private and personal; and I will not apologize for it being such. PINK AND BLUE Women have often been associated with the colour pink, either complimenting or forcing their femininity; a clear brand to let the world know how 'fragile' and 'dainty' they are. A bright sign begging for a quote on quote 'strong' man to swoop in and protect them from the big, scary world. To keep them safe from other men who may try to corrupt their purity. In the very same way, blue acts as a badge of 'pride' for men. Blue represents s e c u r i t y, s t a b i l i t y, a supposed representation of a
man's strength and masculinity; and most importantly their ability to protect and defend those weaker than them. But what if I told you that once upon a time, the roles of the colours were reversed? Pink was once proudly worn by men so as to make them eyecatching, because it was a man's job to stand out above the rest while blue was meant for women, because it showcased them demurely. However, at the end of the day those are just colours; and nothing so miniscule should hold such importance in society. Others People tend to blame their misfortunes on nonexistent beings and delusional beliefs. Seeing as it is much easier to place the blame on something that cannot defend itself than taking account for one's actions. No one wants to experience failure, especially when they
themselves are the reason for it. It's similar to a child blaming their wrong doings on an imaginary figure. You spent all of your money and forgot to pay rent? It's ok, blame it on Mr. Nobody. Surely, it's not as though you have complete control over your own life, right? Help We all need help, crave for a helping hand to pull us out of our anguish; a friend, a stranger or a saviour. We want someone to swoop in; our personal hero, someone who comes to our rescue
without being called; because the simple fact is that the majority of us never want to, and choose not to ask for help. Whether it is for the protection of one's pride, or the fear of rejection and therefore humiliation, many of us hope for someone to notice our pain and struggle and act with their own free will instead of us having to ask them. Whether you choose to believe it or not, no one person can do everything on their own. We all need help, and there is no shame in asking for it.
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Sunday May 29, 2022
Kaieteur News
>>>Young Entrepreneur on the Move<<<
Exquisite Arts and Craft from
‘DOLNI with love’ By AllyiahAllicock
I
n recent times, there have been a number of innovative small businesses being introduced across the country. Today we shine the spotlight on a business that has been taking the local arts and craft industry by storm with just the use of polymer clay. Founded by a creative 24-year-old, Amanda Singh, the business is dubbed ‘Dolni with love’, a local polymer clay jewellery business that was launched in April 2021. Singh is a former student of Queen’s College and a graduate of the Universi
ty of Guyana. She, during a recent interview with Kaieteur News said that the idea that sparked her business venture came from a simple post that grabbed her attention on her Instagram page some time ago. “I randomly came across clay earrings on my Instagram explore page and I was amazed at how pretty the earrings were,” she recalled. Singh related that before getting into the polymer clay business, she was looking to open a clay studio to teach pottery to others but that all shifted when she came across the i n t r i g u i n g Instagram post about the earrings. She wanted to learn more. “It was peak of Covid and my mental health was not in the best place so I looked up what polymer clay is and the necessaries things I needed to make jewellery from it. I bought the supplies and made it into a hobby,” she recounted. Soon after getting familiar with polymer clay and how to go about making earrings, she then decided in April of last year to open a business to showcase and sell her work. After all, this was an amazing business idea to be a part. Over the past year, many women have gravitated to her exquisite pieces which they have been
wearing with pride. Singh stated that having been in business for over a year, the support she has been receiving from her loved ones and friends has been
n othing less than “incredible.” “On days I do not feel as creative or unmotivated, I can always count on them to cheer me up and get me back into my groove,” she related. As it relates to her customers, the support and feedback have been amazing along the way and this has not been limited to sales, she shared. She added that the outstanding relationship she has been able to forge with her customers has been the driving force to continue what she does. “I am immensely grateful to have that,” she expressed. With such incredible support, there was not much Singh had to say in terms of challenges she has encountered with her business during the pandemic. She shared though that she had a very traumatic life experience amidst it all but she was able
“Young entrepreneurs also contribute to the growth and development of the country’s economy by creating new products and services, they invigorate employment opportunities which results in economic growth.” t o get past that through the motivation and encouragement she kept getting from her family and friends. “If anything, the pandemic has had a positive effect on my business, it gave me more time to work on my business and be more present,” she noted. In moving forward with her business, Singh said that her long-term goal is for her business to continue making women feel and look as beautiful as they are. She also has intentions to open up a storefront that can be both her workshop and a place where customers can have the opportunity to browse her work in person and interact with her. “I do plan on venturing into more innovative ways to expand my business and building the brand,” she highlighted. Singh like, many others, is of the belief that young entrepreneurs, especially women, play a vital role in s o c i e t y . According to her, they are encouraging young girls and women to do and be the best that they can be. “ Y o u n g
Some of the beautiful pieces made by Amanda Singh.
Young entrepreneur, Amanda Singh
entrepreneurs also contribute to the growth and development of the country’s economy by creating new products and services, they invigorate employment opportunities which results in economic growth,” she contended. When asked what can be done to boost small businesses locally, our featured entrepreneur suggested that funds be made accessible from financial institutions, through a hassle-free process, for young persons who are now venturing into the world of business. She suggested too that the prices of electricity, internet and construction materials be
reduced to help small businesses that are involved in manufacturing. Anyone interested in purchasing from Singh’s business can reach out to her on Instagram @dolni.handmade, Facebook @ ‘Dolniwith love’ or contact her via Whatsapp on telephone number (592) 655-9628.
Kaieteur News
Sunday May 29, 2022
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‘Hulk’ joins Guyana’s protest against Exxon’s oil deal As an online petition, to secure a better deal for Guyana continues to pick up global traction, a wellknown actor from the United States has joined the protest. Mark Alan Ruffalo, who starred in the popular 2012 film Avengers, played the ‘Hulk’ and in more recent times, he appeared in the Netflix movie ‘The Adam Project’ along with several others. Ruffalo wrote on his Twitter account on Friday night that “Exxon is at it again! This time, they’re robbing the people of Guyana with an oil deal that could destroy their country and cook the planet.” To this end, the star called on the Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Mr. Kemraj Parsram to stop this from happening. Guyana’s Office of the President was tagged in the Tweet. Given that the operating permit for Exxon’s first oil field, Liza 1, expires next week, May 31, 2022, international advocates and environmental activists have increased momentum to support Guyana in its call for a better financial deal from its oil endowments, as well as adequate
protection for the environment. During an important Avaazhosted webinar on Tuesday last, representative, Martyna Dominiak said that the organisation had launched a campaign 48 hours earlier asking its members globally to send in messages directly addressed to the EPA Head, to ensure more benefits for Guyana through the bargaining of the Lisa 1 permit’s renewal. Dominiak said on Tuesday that since the campaign was launched (the Sunday prior), Guyana had received support with some 4,600 signatures coming in from countries as far as Uganda, Qatar and Guyanese in the Diaspora. The signatures have since increased. Av a a z i s a U . S - b a s e d organisation launched in 2007 that promotes global activism on issues such as climate change, human rights, animal rights, corruption, poverty, and conflict. Avaaz has been referred to as “the globe’s largest and most powerful online activist-network with more than 70 million members. The petition, which takes direct aim at the EPA head, says, “You can stop Exxon’s oil bomb. Mr.
“Exxon is at it again! This time, they’re robbing the people of Guyana with an oil deal that could destroy their country and cook the planet.” Mark Alan Ruffalo Parsram, thousands of people around the world ask you not to grant Exxon a new environmental permit. Don’t sacrifice the future of the people of Guyana and all of us for the profits of a billion dollar company.” The campaign also notes to its signatories that, “Kemraj Parsram, head of the Guyanese environmental body, will decide soon whether to grant Exxon a new
US Actor, Mark Alan Ruffalo who plays the role of the Hulk. (Photo Credit: www.piratesandprincesses.net) permit to continue this devastating operation. With thousands of messages from all around the world, we can encourage him to stand up for our planet. Write your encouraging, personal message to Kemraj Parsram now and Avaaz will deliver it directly to his office and social media he’s using.” Avaaz is also calling for a pause of oil operations until ExxonMobil guarantees that they will pay for all
environmental, social and economic damage across Guyana and the Caribbean as a result of any well blow-out or oil spill from their operations. They are also advocating for a pause in local operation until the Government of Guyana provides independent evidence that the benefits to the Guyanese people outweigh the costs and until the Continued on page 20
PAGE 20 An artist’s impression of a Natural Gas Plant (Photo credit: EEPGL)
Kaieteur News
Sunday May 29, 2022
Prequalified bidders to submit proposals within two months – Pres. Ali
Gas-to-energy project…
President, Irfaan Ali
By Renay Sambach Within the next two weeks the Government of Guyana (GoG) will be issuing the Request For Proposals (RFP) for the Natural Gas fired power plant and the Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) plant, which is an aspect of the Gas-toEnergy (GTE) project. This was announced by President Irfaan Ali, during his Independence Day speech on Wednesday night. The President in that address said, “…we have embarked on our plan to bring 500 megawatts of new generating capacity; within two weeks, the Request For Proposals will be issued to the pre-qualified bidders, within two months, t h e r e a f t e r, w e e x p e c t specific proposals to be submitted and to initiate the process to award the contract. By the end of this term, we’ll be generating 250 to 300 megawatts of power, powered by natural gas.” It was Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo who had disclosed that nine companies had been prequalified for the construction of the gas-fired power plant and the NGL plant components of the project.
“A public process has been gone through. They have now pre-qualified, I think, nine companies to bid for the NGL facility and the gas power plant. We are working now, since the two have been combined because we believe that the synergy will save us, and therefore, it required a bit more work at preparing the Request For Proposal. We’re hoping by the end of May that Request For Proposal will go out to the nine pre-qualified companies,” Jagdeo had stated. ExxonMobil’s subsidiary—Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) – has recently submitted for approval its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the GTE project to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for approval. As such, the public will now be provided with a 60day period to register any concerns it may have with any of the provisions contained in the threevolume EIA submitted to the EPA. Among the glaring admissions in that document is the fact that in addition to the onshore and offshore Continued on page 62
‘Hulk’ joins Guyana’s protest... From page 19 Government invests in solar energy jobs in Guyana in light of its conditional undertaking under the Paris Agreement to go 100 percent renewable by 2025. Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited’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 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.
Kenita Kristyann Mahaica
Sunday May 29, 2022
Kaieteur News
Introducing the gorgeous and enchanting Kenita Kristyann Mahaica. This week’s beauty is a 21- year- old primary school teacher, swim coach, and model who just happens to be the new face of the Randy Madray brand. Miss Mahaica is also a former national swimmer for Guyana. Her favourite quote is: “Be Patient and Trust Your Journey.”
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Kaieteur News
Sunday May 29, 2022
Moonlight Stories...
An evening of elegance where fashion met G uyanese folklore Guyanese By Rehanna Ramsay “Moonlight Stories: Guyana’s First Gala and Runway Show” put on by Guyanese designer and owner of Shasha Designs, Keisha Edwards, held on Saturday, May 21, 2022, was nothing short of spectacular. Edwards explained that the event
Guyanese designer and owner of Shasha Designs, Keisha Edwards received a standing ovation after she wowed the crowd with her moonlight collection.
was inspired by her love for fashion and culture. The show’s theme Moonlight Stories was an ode to Guyanese folklore which are make-belief childhood stories usually told after dark.
As such, 12 local designers collaborated to create culturally infused pieces that lit up the runway at the Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre in Kingston. The elegant pieces on display were designed by talented Guyanese designers including: Randy Madray, Wanza’s Designs, Francois Designs, Ghodess Continued on page 54
Some of the showpieces from the Moonlight Stories Gala and Runway show held on Saturday, May 21, 2022. The clothing paid tribute to Guyanese folklore characters such as Wata Mama, Mokonaima and Pia, Old Higue, Ananci, Moongazer and the Baccoo.
Kaieteur News
Sunday May 29, 2022
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The PNC/R is predictable The PNC/R is afraid of its own “jumbie’. It has suddenly discovered that the Corentyne communities of Zambia and Little Africa are being neglected. But what did the PNC/R do for these communities during its five years in office? The PPP/C has only been returned to office for less than two years and therefore the neglect which the PNC/R is railing against is essentially that which was left behind by the APNU+AFC government. It was the APNU+AFC – of which the PNC/R is the chief cook and bottle washer – which had doubled land rates and taxes in farming communities. Those increases were intended to allow it to provide better services. So where did the money go? No one complained when in 2016, the then APNU+AFC government, distributed community grants to 10 community groups drawn from Kildonan, Light Town, Zambia-Black Bush Polder, No. 53 Village, Fyrish, Nurney, Sisters Village and L i v e r p o o l - M a n c h e s t e rLancaster. No one said anything also when the APNU+AFC rolled out its Rural Agricultural Infrastructural Development (RAID) project in Ithaca, Buxton, Beterverwagting and Mocha. No one complained then about neglect. When in Opposition, the P N C / R ’s p l a y b o o k i s predictable. It starts with the claim of ethnic economic marginalisation and neglect. In so doing it appeals to the notion of ethnic victimhood. And so it goes around pointing to neglect in certain communities. This has been a long-standing and traditional tactic which is echoed by its sidekicks in the labour movement. The theory of ethnic economic marginalisation, however, has long been debunked. For more than a decade, under PPP/C governments, the faltering bauxite industry was sustained by subventions provided by the State. In fact, on a per capita basis, Region 10 enjoys a far higher degree of support from PPP/C governments than many other Regions. The last income and expenditure survey also debunks the claim of ethnic economic marginalisation. In a study undertaken by Dr. Ramesh Gampat and entitled “Guyana: Population,
Poverty and Ethnicity”, it was found that in terms of headcount more Indians lived in poverty than Africans. The second tactic of the PNC/R’s playbook is the claim of ethnic discrimination by the state in relation to employment. Over the next five years, you can hear sustained claims about how many persons have been dismissed from the public service by the government and the hint that these dismissals were, in the main, driven by ethnicity. What is not said is that the PPP/C government does not have the power to dismiss public servants. Public servants enjoy security of tenure and can only be dismissed by the Public Service Commission. Those whose services have been terminated were contract employees, just as those who were terminated under the APNU+AFC were contract employees. But the Opposition is going to raise a hue and storm about the thousands who were dismissed. They, however, have failed to provide a list of those who were dismissed by the PPP/C as well as by those who were sent home when the APNU+AFC assumed office in 2015. The APNU+AFC is predictable. It plays from the same playbook all the time. But even though the APNU+AFC tactics are predictable, the PPP/C has been ineffectual in
countering the Opposition’s propaganda. And this is because despite having highpaid political operatives in the government, the PPP’s public relations is grossly incompetent. The third tactic is to use an incident to create disturbances in the country. Hoyte did that with the protests by some farmers on the West Coast of Demerara and the APNU did the same when two youngsters were brutally murdered in West Coast Berbice. The fourth tactic is the mushrooming of extremist talk show (and now social media) activists. They spew their almost daily poison of division and animosity, reverting to sweeping and unsubstantiated generalisations. These extremist elements have a large following who tune-in for their daily fix of vitriol. The APNU+AFC is therefore predictable. Whatever tactics they employ should not surprise the PPP/C. You can bet that in the years ahead, they will continue to lament what they call neglect of certain communities and discrimination in public sector employment. They will point, for example, to the PPP/C’s support for the sugar workers and ignore the massive per capita electricity subsidy to Linden. But the APNU+AFC will not assume any responsibility for the dismissal of almost 7,000 sugar workers and the
fact that some of them had to wait an inordinate time for their benefits. The neglect of community is not confined to African villages. It is therefore hoped that the PNC/R will also be visiting areas populated by other ethnic groups, including our indigenous peoples who are
living in poor conditions. The PNC/R therefore needs to change its tune. By adopting a more class-based analysis, it would be doing a greater service to its constituents and to the people of Guyana because right now it is the poor people who are being marginalised and neglected.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
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Kaieteur News
Sunday May 29, 2022
At last, faith in regionalism reignited By Sir Ronald Sanders The “Agri-Investment Forum”, held in Guyana from 19 to 21 May, was arguably the most successful engagement by CARICOM leaders in the last 15 years. The Forum was held amidst an enlarging global calamity that combines high prices for oil with shortages and record high prices for food and agricultural inputs such as fertilisers. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, one
of the world’s six breadbasket regions, has pushed the world’s food system, already damaged by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, into global crisis. In the weeks, leading up to the Forum, evidence of the predicament engulfing the Caribbean, had begun to focus the attention of governments. High prices of food products are threatening poorer and vulnerable communities at a time when the economies of the majority of CARICOM
countries are struggling to recover from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. On the eve of the Forum, a joint survey by the CARICOM Secretariat and World Food Programme estimated that severe food insecurity in the Caribbean had increased by 72 percent, since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. And the World Bank reported that the price of fertilisers has increased by as much as 178 percent between March 2021 and March 2022. The cost of transporting goods, including agricultural products and inputs, has increased astronomically over the past year. The logistics industry is currently experiencing the highest constant peak in increased cost as shipping is disrupted. International transport prices look set to rise even more by 8 to 12 percent in the coming months. No one is escaping the effects. All of this undoubtedly sends a shiver down the spines of governments. Many of them simply do not have the financial resources to support poor and vulnerable communities anymore. They depleted those resources through the pandemic when many economies shut down and unemployment soared. CARICOM governments and the private sector, particularly those companies that make profits on the importation of goods from outside the region, and who have acted to stifle competition from the products of CARICOM countries, bear more than a little responsibility for the region’s current food insecurity. For much of the last 15 years, CARICOM governments had “paused” efforts to establish a Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME). Among the important things that suffered was a 2005 agreement to operationalise a “Framework for the repositioning of Caribbean agriculture” which came to be known as the “Jagdeo Initiative” after Bharrat Jagdeo, then President of Guyana, who spearheaded it. When the “Jagdeo Initiative” was agreed, but not implemented, in 2005, CARICOM’s food import Bill was US$1.8 billion. At the end of 2021, the bill was more than US$5 billion. As Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister, Gaston Browne, said at the formal opening of the Forum, “Our region failed to implement the 2005 “Jagdeo Initiative”, and, over the last 17 years, we have suffered for our inaction”. The problem now is not only the high cost of imported food, but also that certain foodstuff, vital to Caribbean people, are in short supply. Very soon, food reserves in many developed countries will be severely diminished. This will undoubtedly lead to developed countries restricting exports to protect their own populations, resulting in more food shortages and higher prices in CARICOM countries. At the Forum, Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister, Keith Rowley recalled that when vaccines were needed by every nation to save lives and control COVID-19, a few rich nations bought and hoarded more than 70 percent of the vaccine production. He warned, “Nobody is going to give us food when it is in short supply. We have to act now so that next time we would be in a better position.” This crisis cries out for urgent attention that goes beyond words to practical measures. Therefore, it set the stage for the CARICOM leaders at the Forum in Guyana to take action that would upset the status quo and forge a pathway to meaningful
Sir Ronald Sanders integration of CARICOM’s resources. There were two further ingredients that led to the Forum’s action. The first was that a plan existed to tackle food insecurity. That plan was introduced at the March 2022 CARICOM Heads of Government meeting by Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali. In the last two months with food shortages increasing and prices rising, the plan and its implementation assumed great relevance and urgency. The leaders at the Forum seized the moment and agreed on priority areas. In the Outcome Statement, the leaders committed to tackling food insecurity, removing tariffs on CARICOM goods, and establishing regional transportation to get regionally produced food to every country in the region. On food insecurity, President Ali will organise an existing Ministerial Task Force to produce an implementation schedule for the plan he presented to his colleagues last March. The preparation of the plan will involve all the stakeholders in agricultural production. Regarding tariffs and non-tariff barriers that are imposed on CARICOM products, a Special Committee, headed by Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Mottley, will immediately prepare proposals, with time-bound deadlines, for eliminating such trade barriers. Should this happen, the “pause” on creating a Single Market might, at last, be released. The Outcome Statement said that the leaders recognised that the lack of adequate regional transportation by sea and air is an obstacle to the transportation of food within the region, and they are determined that it should be overcome within the shortest possible time. Again, the energetic and persuasive Ms. Mottley, has been charged with completing a proposal for establishing adequate and sustainable regional transportation by July. The help of the international donor community and multilateral development agencies will be sought to support this effort, with the Caribbean Development Bank playing a role in mobilising international resources. There was another reason for the Forum’s motivation and success - the passion of Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali. Not only did he have a food plan ready, but he was also fervent in his determination to deliver it. His enthusiasm infected his colleagues and influenced the Forum’s result to produce actionable proposals with firm deadlines for implementation. For those who were around in the late 1960s and 1970s when CARIFTA was created and CARICOM emerged, the atmosphere and results of the Guyana Forum rekindled a new faith in regionalism – and the hope that fidelity to it will prevail. (The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States of America and the Organization of American States. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London and Massey College in the University of Toronto) Responses and previous commentaries: www.sirronaldsanders.com
Kaieteur News
Sunday May 29, 2022
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THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
The two most ironic moments in world history took place in Guyana in 2022
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he first moment was the fight against the oil company to have it accept local content. The legislation was passed after insane pursuits by the business community and the society in general. The second moment was the agricultural and investment forum held last week. Both the local content demand and the agricultural forum constitute the two most ironic moments in any country since the world began. Please see my two previous columns on the psychological attitude against buying local products by this psychologically illshaped nationality named Guyanese - Friday 25, 2021, “Do Guyanese buy locally produced items?” and Friday, February 6, 2021, “Café Pele: The incredible return of colonial mentality in Guyana.” So will the recent legislation that introduces the
requirement of local content in the oil industry and the hugely successful agricultural exhibition see an attitudinal metamorphosis (that term was first used by president Forbes Burnham four decades ago) among Guyanese? I doubt it. I go into Massy Supermarket and Giftland Supermarket and when I see what are in shoppers' trolleys, the penetration of angst is deep. Lower middle folks, middle class people, upper middle class citizens and the petty bourgeois do not buy local items. You have to see what are in those trolleys to believe how far gone is the psychic demise of this nation. It is one of the saddest things to see in this country. It is a manifestation of a wasteland in the 21st century. For the politicians who rule t h i s c o u n t r y, f o r t h e politicians who want to have power in the future, for the
local manufacturers who stay here and hope to survive then go into the supermarkets and see what Guyanese buy. Do you know that guava is one of the healthiest fruits in food science? Do you know guava is a fruit that makes the best jams and jellies? Can you compare other fruits? Let's see: pine, apple, grape, strawberry, blackberry, etc. They don't come close to the fragrance of guava. Only low income folks buy guava jams and jellies. Guyanese love the imported ones. I stood next to a man in a dapper shirtjac. After living so long in the world, you tend to know when a person is a security rank. He took a two pound packet of imported salmon to the pharmacy in Massy Supermarket to get the price. The pharmacy is located next to the seafood section. Both are located at the back part of the supermarket. The price scanner at the pharmacy
is not working so if you want to know the price of an item, you have to walk all the way to the front cashier. He greeted me with an intestinal smile and said he always wanted to talk to me. He was friendly and I reciprocated the humbleness. With an oceanic smile on my face I asked why he was buying foreign fish when healthier ones and more delicious ones like gilbakka are from Guyana. Imported seafood and meats carry preservatives that are not healthy. He said it was his boss that sent him for the stuff. So I was right. He was a security person. But I know my country. I thought for a moment he was in the service of the oil company so my curiosity persisted. I asked if his employer was Guyanese and indeed he was. The salmon cost $22,000 and one of civilisations misfits bought
it. T h e agricultural forum where some Frederick Kissoon fantastic local items were on display will not make an where local products were and now in ounce of difference because more appreciated st the local content legislation the 21 century get on friendly terms with the did not. supermarket cashiers. What How long did we have they tell you will create a the Act? Months now, and from what I see in those d e l u g e o f t o r m e n t i n g supermarkets, there was no pessimism into your soul. Those cashiers on a daily attitudinal metamorphosis. basis see the mental horizon I am saying boldly and of thousands of Guyanese unapologetically, I don't believe the tiers of e a c h m o n t h a n d h o w middle class society and the corrugated those horizons petty bourgeoisie in this are. You can ask my wife and c o u n t r y t h a t a r e n o w daughter when you see them benefitting from local – I only buy and eat chocolate content patronage from the that is made in a sister oil company will change their CARICOM country, Jamaica ways and support Guyanese that is good as any elsewhere. manufacturers. It is a mental Please Guyanese – take your mind out of the gutter! thing. (The views expressed in Here is a piece of advice this article are those of the for researchers. If you want to see the a u t h o r a n d d o n o t mental transformation of this necessarily reflect the country from the seventies opinions of this newspaper.)
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Monkeypox: Here is what you need to know By Dr. Zulfikar Bux Emergency Medicine Specialist
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here is currently an outbreak of more than 200 Monkeypox in parts of Europe, Australia, Canada, USA, and the United Arab Emirates. There are concerns that this can spread more widely and possibly, lead to another pandemic. Currently, there are no detected cases of Monkeypox in Guyana, but the risk is sufficient enough for us to be on the alert. We all have to play our part in being vigilant and taking preventative measures so that we keep this disease out of our country. Today, I will share with you the basic facts about Monkeypox so that you can be able to detect it, and take measures to prevent its spread in the event of it reaching our shores. What is Monkeypox?
Monkeypox is a viral infection by the Monkeypox virus that looks similar to chickenpox and cowpox, and comes from the Orthopoxvirus family. It was first discovered in 1958 in colonies of monkeys in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Africa. Since then, it has mostly been endemic to Africa, but has recently escaped through international travel and is currently causing the rise in infections that we are seeing. It has a death rate of 2 – 5 percent and is more life threatening to children. However, it is not as infectious as the coronavirus (Sars-Cov2 virus). It is for this reason that experts believe that it may not cause a pandemic since preventative measures curtails its spread sufficiently to prevent systems from becoming overwhelmed by it. How can you become infected with Monkeypox? Transmission of monkeypox virus occurs
when a person comes into contact with the virus from an animal, human, or materials contaminated with the virus. It can enter into our body from the following mechanisms: · L a rg e r e s p i r a t o r y droplets · Close contact with an infected animal or human · Direct skin to skin contact (especially if there is broken skin) · Body fluids (saliva, sexual intercourse) · Contaminated materials (linens, clothing, towels, etc.) The respiratory droplets can only travel a few feet so there needs to be close, prolonged exposure for it to be transmitted. How does it present? The incubation period after exposure to Monkeypox is usually 6 –13 days. The disease is usually preceded with swelling of the lymph glands especially those under the neck and armpits. This is usually followed by: · A high grade fever
· Chills · Intense headache · Back pain and muscle aches and weakness This is then followed by a rash which occurs about 1-3 days later. The rash is initially filled with pus like fluid and can be itchy and painful. It can start at the face but occurs all over the body and slowly dries and flake off within a week or so. The disease usually resolves by itself in most persons within 2 to 4 weeks but can become complicated in children, the immunocompromised, the e l d e r l y, a n d p r e g n a n t persons. Complicated cases can cause pneumonia, damage to the eyes, sepsis, brain and nervous system damage and death.
Can Monkeypox be treated? Like most viral infections, there is no specific treatment for monkeypox. Treatment for symptomatic relief is usually
prescribed. Most patients will do well at home as the disease progresses through its course. By Dr. Zulfikar Bux There are nonspecific anti-viral Emergency treatments that are Medicine Specialist used for the high· Practicing good hygiene risk population to decrease their risk of having a ( e s p e c i a l l y h a n d severe infection when they washing/sanitising) · Avoiding close contact are infected. The smallpox vaccine has w i t h p e r s o n s t h a t a r e shown extremely good s u s p e c t e d t o h a v e e f f e c t i v e n e s s a g a i n s t Monkeypox · Reporting cases of monkeypox and experts are currently evaluating the Monkeypox to authorities so option of it being formally that they can contain its offered as a vaccine for spread · Practicing safe sex and monkeypox. How can you decrease a v o i d i n g r i s k y s e x u a l y o u r r i s k o f g e t t i n g behaviour ·Using a facemask if you Monkeypox? Currently, your risk of have to be in close contact getting Monkeypox is close with an infected individual As it stands currently, to zero because there are no c o n f i r m e d c a s e s o f there is no reason to panic; Monkeypox in Guyana. Monkeypox is less of a threat However, if this were to than COVID-19. Once we c h a n g e , t h e f o l l o w i n g remain vigilant and practice measures will decrease your what we learnt from COVIDrisk of getting infected by the 19, Monkeypox will be a far lesser threat to us. disease:
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WEEK IN REVIEW SUNDAY Govt. wants audit of Exxon’s 2018, 2019 and 2020 bills completed in four months
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he Government of Guyana has a af fixed a four-month completion timeline for the company or group it selects to audit the 2018, 2019 and 2020 cost recovery bills for ExxonMobil’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL). This was revealed by Business Professor and Accountant, Floyd Haynes, during his appearance on Kaieteur Radio’s Programme, Guyana’s Oil and You. While there, Haynes was asked to provide an update on the auditing contract
which government had expressed interest in awarding since last year. He recalled that Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo and President, Irfaan Ali had decided that a consortium of local accounting firms should be part of the auditing process for ExxonMobil’s bills. Haynes said, “I agree with that approach. Guyanese should be given an opportunity to protect their country’s interest. As a result, I was approached to put together a consortium and it initially included: Ram and McRae, Haynes and Ramdihal, Vitality Consulting, and Eclisar Financial and Professional Services. When we submitted the proposal, we came up with a cost and Christopher Ram felt it was too high, he said it was unconscionable.” The accountant added, “I explained it is just to open the door. It is also a good negotiating tactic to start high and then go back. But I was the
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team lead and I was sad to see him go. He would have been a good part of it but he is unquestionably one of the best accountants in this country.” Following Ram’s departure, Haynes said the consortium then evolved to Ramdihal and Haynes, Vitality Consulting, and Eclisar Financial and Professional Services. Kaieteur News understands that government subsequently asked for some clarifications from the group and those were provided. Haynes said the team is now awaiting word on if they won the bid to audit the 2018, 2019 and 2020 expenses for EEPGL. He said too that they will have four months to get this job done. “We have a dozen experts. And I have access to more in country. It is possible to get it done once all of the documentation is streamlined but Exxon is an organised firm,” Haynes said. It should be noted that Haynes and team submitted a $340.7M bid to audit approximately US$9B in costs incurred in the Stabroek Block for the period 2018 to 2020. Importantly, the public is unaware of the outcome of the audit of the US$460 million pre-contract costs, which was done by IHS Markit. The contract to the UK firm had cost US$300,000. Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat had said earlier this year during a parliamentary sitting that the said audit was still ongoing. Kaieteur News has reported on several occasions that the country has a limited two-year window within which it can audit EEPGL’s expenses or it would have to be accepted as correct. ( h t t p s : / / www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/ 2022/05/22/govt-wants-audit-of-exxons-2018-2019and-2020-bills-completedin-four-months/) ExxonMobil evading liability for oil mishaps by not signing Environmental Impact Studies – Former EPA Head An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) forms the foundation for a Permit to be granted to a developer by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for specific projects to be pursued. The document is intended to clearly outline the risks a project can cause and state measures that will be taken to mitigate or respond to such events. Given the important nature of the document, project developers are required to affix their signature/ s to guarantee that they not only accept the environmen-
Attorney-atlaw, Elizabeth Hughes
tal study, but more importantly, its findings and assurances for response activities. By attaching their signatures, it legally ties the company to accept liabilities caused as a result of the listed impacts, likely to be caused. However, by refusing to sign these studies, liabilities are transferred to the Consultant that prepared the project, whose signatures are attached to the document. This is according to Former Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Vincent Adams. Adams in an invited comment explained to this publication that while he was heading the EPA, ExxonMobil was mandated to attach its signatures to the EIA, as this is the global practice. He explained that as Head of the regulator body, Exxon had submitted an EIA which he refused to accept, as it was not signed. “I packed up the stuff and I said I am not accepting it without your signature, and what he (Former Country Manager, Rod Henson) told me, he said well you know that’s the way that the EPA does it, which is for Liza One, because I wasn’t there for Liza One. So I said I really don’t care how the EPA has been doing it and I said you know that you can’t do this in the United States for example, and he said yes Vince I know that, but this is the way that they want it, and I said this is not the way that I want it so you better change it. I packed up the volumes in a box, sent it back to him and immediately he signed it for Exxon and sent it back,” Dr. Adams shared. This newspaper was unable to verify that the signature of the oil company was attached to the Liza Two EIA, however, the impact study for its third project, Payara, was signed by Exxon’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEGPL) Country Manager, Alistair Routledge in July 2020. Explaining the significance of ExxonMobil not attaching its
company signature to the EIA, Dr. Adams said, “What you are doing here, you are just transferring liabilities. You can always blame the Consultants but it’s your project.” He argued that this regulation was one of several that was reversed after he was removed from the agency. ”This is another example where they have reverted to what they used to do before. This is a typical example and obviously if I was there, it wouldn’t happen and the thing is that Exxon knows fully well that they shouldn’t be doing this. This is an absolute breach of the best practices and they admitted that this here is only what Guyana wants,” the former EPA Head added. The issue of the developer’s signature being absent on this critical document was first highlighted by an attorney, Elizabeth Hughes, who had made her views public at a consultation hosted by EEPGL on the proposed Gas-to-Energy project. ( h t t p s : / / www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/ 2022/05/22/exxonmobilevading-liability-for-oil-mishaps-by-not-signing-environmental-impact-studiesformer-epa-head/) MONDAY Guyana, TT strengthen trade ties– new MoU to address investment, agriculture, energy – leaders say new pact lays
Former EPA Head, Dr. Vincent Adams
groundwork for CARICOM Agri/food response Endless possibilities exist for Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) to partner in a number of developmental areas following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries on Sunday. Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Hugh Todd and his Trinidadian counterpart, Dr. Amery Browne signed the document on behalf of their respective countries at a State House ceremony yesterday. The MoU which was signed before Heads of State, President Irfaan Ali and Prime Minister Keith Rowley, is an agreement for the two nations to work together in areas trade investment, removal of nontariff barriers, energy, education, security, tourism and any other determined by the two leaders. While Guyana and Trinidad will work to address their own trade barriers, President Ali who leads the Agriculture Sub-committee of CARICOM, said that special focus was also placed on the issue from the regional level where, “a comprehensive document” was drawn up for the entire region, itemizing every issue and every product; “saying where we are on those issues and the action that is required by the member state.” Guyana’s discussion with Trinidad on this matter brought preclearance conditions such as phytosanitary From left: President Irfaan Ali and Trinidad and Tobago’s PM Keith Rowley.
to the fore. This is an issue CARICOM leaders had indicated was being used by regional private sectors to keep out non-local products. This important matter is now being placed under CARICOM’s Single Market and Economy (CSME) committee chaired by Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley for special attention. Guyana and Trinidad will experiment with cargo, plus ferry facilities that will make moving people, goods and services between the two nations easier. Additionally, partnerships in energy will be explored. President Ali said that T& T has already been participating deeply in the local energy sector, but collaboration will be looked at on a broader sense as it evolves. It was noted that a number of possibilities was touched on regarding energy and they are all on the table. However, “some of these discussions we would like to have them go further behind closed doors because we have other parties involved and we do not want to blindside anybody,” PM Rowley noted. In the immediate, near and long term future, PM Rowley said that there will be efforts between Guyana and Trinidad to have the nations’ young people cooperating on various issues, including agriculture which is a main concern at this time. “We intend to have them mix and train and share the responsibility,” and understand that the Caribbean is not hopeless. They will have to continue the work when those involved are retired to continue the mission of regional food security. On local content, PM Rowley explained that everything will be done to address matters that hinder access to markets. Given Guyana’s local content legislation and the push back from the T&T private sector, Rowley said that from a government level, the matter is “not to be viewed through a (Continued on page 29)
Sunday May 29, 2022
From page 28 negative lens but to understand what Guyana is trying to do. And from that stand point we have not aggressively taken any position”. Rowley pointed out also his reliance on what embodies the MoU and whatever intensions are codified in the Treaty of Chaguaramas. “So there is no need to get at each other’s throats, and start misrepresenting intensions and creating a negative environment. We believe the Treaty of Chaguaramas is sufficiently robust to deal with any of those matters.” However, a court of law interpretation regarding the local content legislation against the regional treaty is “normal” if required, Rowley submitted. He posited that “What we hope not to have is individuals going off on a frolic on their own and seek to control the narrative into a nothingness cause.” ( h t t p s : / / www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/ 2022/05/23/guyana-tt-renew-trade-ties/) ‘Leaders lack of focus hurting Guyana’ – Glenn Lall slams ‘cuss-down politics, indifference to strengthening of oil governance Amid mounting crises here and abroad, Guyanese leaders seem more concerned about insulting each other with their focus on minor issues, Businessman and Kaieteur News Publisher, Glenn Lall has said. He said critical issues such as strengthening the governance architecture of the oil and gas industry and pursuing greater social cohesion were not being advanced. ”Every programme I have done I have been exposing to you very simply what both the PPP and the Coalition governments have done and still continuing to do to this land and its people,” Lall said on his radio programme: The Glenn Lall Show’ aired last Friday evening on Kaieteur Radio. It is not the first time Mr. Lall has called out Guyanese leaders for what he deemed as their lack of vision for this country. “All they have been doing is focusing on frivolous things, cussing out each other, pulling down each other, doing their very best to cause racial division among us,” Lall told his audience tuned in both on radio and social media. “They are not focusing on ways that they can work together in unity to bring about major changes to the way our wealth is managed to uplift the nation and so make
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Radio Host, Mr. Glenn Lall the lives of the people of this country way, way better than it is now,” the businessman s t a t e d . Back in April also on his radio show Mr. Lall had urged the current crop of leaders to develop a bold and progressive vision for this country. At the time he bemoaned the lack of a commonsense approach to this nation’s development, saying: “Every day these guys open their mouths, I feel like cry and scream for this country with the kind of bicycle and jackass cart vision they have for this country and its people. Many days when I glance at the newspapers or listen to them as they speak on TV or the radio, I shudder to think what will become of future generations.” The newspaper publisher and businessman said, many days he would ask himself whether President Irfaan Ali and Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton were living in this 20th century in a country with these massive oil finds. Meanwhile, Lall drew reference to the recent formal talks between Norton and President Ali. “For the first time the newly elected Opposition Leader meeting with the newly elected President, what did they talk about? Appointing people to their substantive constitutional offices, this episode has been an ongoing mantra with both political parties for decades and they get nowhere, they have the people in an acting position – many have died acting and they will continue to die acting because they will not agree on anything and anybody.” Mr. Lall then asked: “did they talk about your wealth and your resources? That is not a matter of urgency or importance to both of them. Taking loans, paying fat, fat interest rates, indebting this country year after year, is an emergency for one government after ano t h e r … ” ( h t t p s : / / www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/ 2022/05/23/leaders-lack-offocus-hurting-guyanaglenn-lall-slams-cuss-downpolitics-indifference-tostrengthening-of-oil-gover-
nance/) TUESDAY Govt. gives Exxon leeway in licence to change costs, development plan for US$10B Yellowtail Project It appears that the Government of Guyana has given ExxonMobil’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL),
which the licence may be subject, as may be amended, enacted or modified from time to time. The foregoing is listed under “Duties of the Licensee” in the PPL. Kaieteur News previously reported that the project will develop approximately 925 million barrels offshore by drilling approximately 45 to 67
water from the FPSO to the injection wells. It should be noted that the exact locations of the Yellowtail development wells have not yet been finalised; however, the wells will be drilled from six drill centres. Additionally, natural gas will be produced in association with the produced oil. EEPGL will use some of the recovered gas as fuel on the FPSO and proposes to re-inject the remaining gas back into the reservoir, which will assist in optimising management of the reservoir. Alternative uses of gas for future phases are being studied and any such uses would be addressed in an environmental impact assessment. ( h t t p s : / / www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/ 2022/05/24/govt-givesexxon-leeway-in-licence-tochange-costs-developmentplan-for-us10b-yellowtailproject/) T&T’s Petrotrin can be made available to refine Guyana’s oil …if country is interested then the conversation should take place — PM Rowley
enough leeway to change as it deems necessary, costs as well as the already approved development plan for the US$10B Yellowtail Project in the Stabroek Block. According to the provisions of the Petroleum Production Licence (PPL) that was awarded on April 1, 2022, “The Licensee may, with the written approval of the Minister, amend the Development Plan with respect to work and expenditure contained in the Development Plan, but the amendment shall not have effect so as to reduce any minimum requirements.” It noted further that, “Unless the Minister has approved any such amendment, expenditures made to carry out operations to implement the amendment will not be cost recoverable.” The PPL states as well that EEPGL shall carry out all activities under this Licence in keeping with good international oilfield practice and in compliance with the nation’s outdated oil laws, the lopsided Stabroek Block Petroleum Agreement, the Development Plan, and any other law or instrument or agreement with the Government to
development wells (including production, water injection, and gas re-injection wells) and using a Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) vessel to process, store, and offload the recovered oil. The FPSO will be connected to the wells via associated equipment, collectively referred to as Subsea, Umbilicals, Risers, and Flowlines (SURF) to transmit produced and associated fluids (i.e., oil, gas, and produced water) from production wells to the FPSO, as well as treated gas and
Dr. Keith Rowley, Prime Minister of Guyana’s closest Caribbean Community (CARICOM) oil producing nation, Trinidad and Tobago (T&T), has publicly confirmed that once the lease or sale arrangement currently taking place with regard it’s Petroleum Refinery (Petrotrin) then the facility can be made available to process Guyana’s oil if the country is interested. The confirmation was made by Dr. Rowley on his return to T&T on Sunday last during a press briefing for that country’s media corps. He was asked to clarify his country’s position given that earlier in the day during a presser in Guyana he did not give a definitive response when asked about the possibility of the country using Petrotrin to process its entitlements.
According to Dr. Rowley, “I didn’t want to get into too much of a discussion in that environment because we have here in T&T a process underway and that process is that we have gone out publicly and we had I think three or four interested parties.” With this in mind, he reminded that in his latest report to that country’s parliament on the issue he had outlined that Petrotrin was currently in its evaluation process and has since identified one company to move forward with. He was adamant it was for this reason he did not want to go in depth into the issue while in Guyana. Recalling the reasons for the closure of Petrotrin, Dr. Rowley pointed to the inadequate supply of oil to be sourced locally, which led to that country resorting to importing as much as 120,000 barrels of oil daily in order to keep the refinery open. This, he said, came at a loss to the country since under that arrangement T&T was in fact losing as much as US$15 on each barrel imported. ”So in that situation, we closed the refining operations of our involvement in the oil business and we always said, as we had just done, if there is anybody who has a supply of oil or who can access a supply of oil and such person or entity would like to use the refinery, we can make an a r r a n g e m e n t . ” It was in this vein the Prime Minister confirmed that, “if Guyana has oil and Guyana is interested with someone who we have selected here or are selecting, then those conversations should take place.” He did express confidence that the conversations regarding the refining of Guyana’s oil will evolve. According to Dr. Rowley, it all has to do with a refinery which exists and which can with some not so insignificant effort be brought back into operation if an entity with a supply of oil were to be found. The T&T Prime Minister was (Continued on page 30)
The now shuttered Petrotrin Oil Refinery in T&T
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from page 29 adamant, if any can source the oil in order to re-open the refinery, “we would be h a p p y . ”
He told his press corps, “we always would be happy if the refinery is operating…It doesn’t have to be a government refinery to be a contributor to our economy but it all turns on an availability of oil which will not cost the people of T&T significant losses.” Guyana has since collected its first entitlement of oil from the Liza II field in the Stabroek Block and has been selling crude on the world market. ( h t t p s : / / www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/ 2022/05/24/tts-petrotrincan-be-made-available-torefine-guyanas-oil/) WEDNESDAY Every citizen at present owes ExxonMobil $9M – IEEFA Financial Analyst -each new discovery, is more debt for the nation For every US dollar that Guyana earns per barrel of oil produced in the Stabroek Block, the Oil companies walk away with six dollars. Compounding the situation is the fact that at present, given the developments already undertaken and underway, each citizen of this country owes the oil company some US$44,000. Additionally, at the rate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL)— ExxonMobil Guyana—has envisaged the developments, the ones already identified would see the country repaying ExxonMobil at least US$75B to develop which would mean that the country would be repaying debts on that amount until 2070. This situation is likely to change, since the rapid pace of discoveries would also lead to the rapid increase in debt. These are among the conclusions of Tom Sanzillo, Director of Financial Analysis for the Institute for Energy
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Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), who during a public webinar yesterday delved into the financial burdens Guyana has been left
in as a result of the lopsided arrangement with EEPGL and the Government of Guyana under the Production Sharing Agreement. The webinar was hosted in view of the fact that the Environmental Permit for the Liza 1 Development expires next week on May 31. According to Sanzillo, the Guyana government through the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)–which is the state entity responsible for renewing the permit or not— should use the situation as leverage to address the numerous shortcomings in the contract. He told attendees at the webinar, unless this is done, then the renewal of a permit with no additional restrictions and financial reforms would simply see the renewal process as a rubber stamp arr a n g e m e n t . The lopsided arrangement alluded to by Sanzillo is another in the long list of abuses of
Guyana. Elaborating further, Sanzillo reminded that this year Guyana has for the first time used its oil revenue in its budget and while the leaders are touting new revenues they have not addressed the increased cost of production and the fact that each Guyanese is currently on the hook for some US$44,000, “this is what is owed now.” He used the occasion to posit that what each resident must pay is bad enough and that using all of the oil resources in the budget in order to fund a 37 percent increase in spending adds insult to injury. According to Sanzillo, the Guyana government is currently spending more than it is earning and reminded that the country has had to borrow billions, each year.The Financial Analysts used the occasion to remind that while Guyana had agreed with the International Monetary Fund to use its oil resources to achieve certain specific results such as closing the deficit and saving for the future none of this is being achieved. Instead, what the government is doing is spending more than it earns in what is already a bad deal, made worse by the poor management of the resource. ( h t t p s : / / www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/ 2022/05/25/every-citizen-atpresent-owes-exxonmobil9m-ieefa-financial-analyst/) Liza 1 Permit expires next week -put this renewal on hold and extract a better deal -more Guyanese should challenge Exxon’s abuses in court Touting the importance of Guyanese to challenge in the courts, the flagrant violations allegedly being perpetrated by Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL)—ExxonMobil Guyana against the people of Guyana, International Lawyer Melinda Janki is of the view that this is necessary in order to send the clear messages that the abuse would not be tolerated any further. This was among the damning conclusions by Janki who during a webinar yesterday pronounced that the much vaunted oil bonanza in Guyana was only for the oil companies and not Guyana and that the country is presently on a path to disaster. This, she said, was not just economically but environmentally and socially. “The deal between government of Guyana and Exxon is one that is bad on every level,” she posited as she pointed out that under the present circum-
stances the oil operations represent, economically a disaster in the making. Environmentally it’s already a disaster for Guyana, she posited and cited as example that already citizens are witnessing the disappearance of the fishing industry which has since also affected the livelihoods of the fisherfolk. Compounding the situation are the Climate Change impacts, she said adding that Guyana as a country is dependent on the Atlantic Ocean in a significant way. Apart from the legal problems, she was adamant that oil has been a disaster for Guyana and is on track for being even more disastrous for Guyana pointing to the oil curse. To this end, she noted that with the oil curse comes greater inequality and that Guyanese only have to look at the happenings to their neighbour in the west, Venezuela, a country with the largest reserves in the world. She noted that things have reached a stage in that country where Guyana has now stared to give refuge to some Venezuelans. The International Lawyer, who has already been successful in litigation filed against EEPGL told attendees that they have to be more proactive in filing action against the oil companies where infractions and wrong doings are seen. Asked to respond to the event that the EPA did in fact refuse to renew the permit what obtains to the thousands of jobs that would be at stake, Janki was quick to remind that there are only a few hundred persons employed on the FPSO and furthermore should the permit not be renewed, “that’s a commercial problem.” According to the Attorney at Law, “if your permit not renewed is part of any business plan…my concern is the people of Guyana not the commercial risk for any company…what I am talking about is protecting Guyana from an abusive and exploitative situation.” She was adamant; the EPA has every right to refuse the permit, if the company cannot show that it is meeting requirements that are already encoded in Guyana’s legislation. The Guyanese born lawyer used the occasion to also address the spending of the resources which she called worrying. “It’s extremely worrying to see the way the money is being spent on vanity projects” at a time when the citizenry are in need of better health, education serv i c e s . ( h t t p s : / / www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/ 2022/05/25/liza-1-permit-
expires-next-week/) THURSDAY ‘Do not renew Liza 1 permit without fixing flaws’, get a better deal – International experts call for fresh EIA, strengthened protections mechanisms Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited’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 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) 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. ( h t t p s : / / www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/ 2022/05/26/do-not-renewliza-1-permit-without-fixingflaws/) ExxonMobil plans to abandon subsea junk on seabed for each oil field developed – claims removing equipment could do more harm than good 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 (Continued on page 31)
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From page 30 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. He told those in attendance that what has been observed over the years is that by the time a project comes to the
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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 as-
pect 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.”
According to ExxonMobil, this will be done in consistence with “industry best
practices at the time of 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 the purpose of decommissioning. Under the Production Sharing Agreement that has been guiding the operations of ExxonMobil since 2016, the company would have already begun deducting money from its operations for the decommissioning activities from the oil being produced. Environmentalist and International Attorney at Law, Melinda Janki in December last, had lamented the arrangement. She had noted in a public missive that at the end of production, the oil wells must be decommissioned i.e. permanently shut down and securely capped so they do not leak and pollute the Atlantic Ocean.She had noted that a financial report by the global think tank IEEFA shows that by 2024, Esso will have de-
ducted US$227M for decommissioning in Liza 1 alone. ”Obviously, Esso will keep on taking out decommissioning money for as long as it can.” She had also noted that there is no guarantee that Esso will produce this decommissioning money when the wells have to be shut down. ”There isn’t even any guarantee that Esso will exist at decommissioning. The oil industry is known for leaving host countries to clean up its mess. ExxonMobil could wind up Esso and walk away, leaving Guyana to pay for decommissioning.” The wells are ultra-deep and very dangerous and decommissioning is expensive, she reminded. Those concerns had been raised at a time when Exxon was producing from the Liza I project. ExxonMobil Guyana recently commenced public consultations having submitted an application for environmental authorisation for its fifth development in the Stabroek Block its Urau-1 field development. In the timelines outlined for the project, as stated by ExxonMobil Guyana, works related to the pre-Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) aspect for the project’s FPSO vessel commenced since September last year. Jackson conceded that this is “technically true” but all of the works being undertaken at present in relation to the fifth project are preliminary.This (pre-FEED) aspect of the development of the fifth project for ExxonMobil Guyana in the Stabroek Block is expected to be completed at the end of September this year after which, it will move into the Engineering Phase. According to the timelines released by ExxonMobil Guyana, that aspect of the project should be completed by the end of October next year. ( h t t p s : / / www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/ 2022/05/26/exxonmobilplans-to-abandon-subseajunk-on-seabed-for-each-oilfield-developed/) FRIDAY “Join us now and stand for A Fair Deal for Guyana, A Fair Deal for the Planet” ... Int’l activists launch global campaign ahead of Liza 1 permit renewal With about 5000 signatures within a matter of hours, global non-profit organisation, Avaaz has joined the fight for a better oil deal between Guyana and petroleum giant ExxonMobil. Given that the operating
permit for Exxon’s first oil field Liza 1 expires next week, May 31, 2022, international advocates and environmental activists have increased momentum to support Guyana in its call for a better financial deal from its oil endowments, as well as adequate protection from environmental and other negatives arriving from the country’s offshore operations. During an important Avaaz hosted webinar on Tuesday last, representative, Martyna Dominiak said that organisation had launched a campaign 48 hours earlier asking its members globally to send in messages directly addressed to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA’)s Executive Director, Kemraj Parsram, to ensure more benefits for Guyana through the bargaining of the Lisa 1 permit’s renewal. Dominiak said on Tuesday that since the campaign was launched (on Sunday), Guyana had received support with some 4,600 signatures coming in from countries as far as Uganda, Qatar and Guyanese in the Diaspora. The signatures have since increased. These messages will be delivered directly to Parsram’s office. Dominiak said that the campaign supporting Guyana is a global one. “We decided at Avaaz to launch it because it is very difficult for the people in Guyana to stand against Exxon alone. People are afraid of that and that’s why we want to support them with the power of our global movements.” Avaaz is a U.S-based organisation launched in 2007 that promotes global activism on issues such as climate change, human rights, animal rights, corruption, poverty, and conflict. Avaaz has been referred to as “the globe’s largest and most powerful online activist-network with more than 70 million members. The petition, which takes direct aim at the EPA head, says, “You can stop Exxon’s oil bomb. Mr. Parsram, thousands of people around the world ask you not to grant Exxon a new environmental permit. Don’t sacrifice the future of the people of Guyana and all of us for the profits of a billion dollar company.” The campaign also notes to its signatories that, “Kemraj Parsram, head of the Guyanese environmental body, will decide soon whether to grant Exxon a new permit to continue this devastating operation. With thousands of messages from all around the world, we can encourage him to stand up for (Continued on page 32)
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From page 31 our planet. Write your encouraging, personal message to Kemraj Parsram now and Avaaz will deliver it directly to his office and social media he’s using.” Among the messages from signatories, Hart Feuer an associate Professor and researcher in Kyoto University, Japan urged Guyana to “reject any unnecessary and overly optimistic claims by Exxon.” He said fossil fuel projects are no longer necessary at the global level. Margaret D. from the United Kingdom said she was born and raised in Guyana, “…and I am proud of my country. Please don’t endanger Guyanese and the world by granting Exxon this permit. Don’t sacrifice the future of the people of Guyana and all of us for the profits of a billion dollar company.” ( h t t p s : / / www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/ 2022/05/27/join-us-nowand-stand-for-a-fair-dealfor-guyana-a-fair-deal-forthe-planet/) Guyana now spending excessively more than it earns ...Financial Analyst says Govt., ExxonMobil must open up their books to the public The Government of Guyana and Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL)—ExxonMobil Guyana— must open up their books to the people of the country in order for them to obtain a better understanding of what is transpiring with its wealth. This was the clarion call made by Tom Sanzillo, Director of Financial Analysis for the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) during an online media engagement to appeal to the local authorities, ahead of the expiry of the Liza I Environmental Permit on May 31, to produce oil from that field in the Stabroek Block. Sanzillo was adamant that given the track record of the administration and the oil company since it first began operations should the Environmental Protection Agency
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renew that permit without financial and other reforms, then it was merely rubberstamping the demands of the oil operators. According to Sanzillo, “the government of Guyana and Exxon (Mobil) must also open up their books so the public can better understand what is going on, if Guyana simply approves the environmental permit without real changes to this deal it would have failed to protect the people of Guyana.” Addressing the renewal of the permit directly, Sanzillo was adamant that should this be done with “no additional restrictions on environmental and climate related matters and no financial reforms will mean it’s just another rubberstamp of oil industry demands on the country.” He subsequently quipped “…it’s one addition to a long list of contract abuses that are short changing Guyana.” Qualifying his calls for greater transparency, additional restrictions and fiscal changes, he pointed to the fact that Guyana this year used up all of its earnings from the oil sector representing profit and royalty being used in the 2022 Budget. “The new revenues touted by government officials and corporate officials cannot erase the fact that the cost of production is high and mounting…as we see it, every Guyanese resident is on
the hook for about US$34B or US$44,000 (G$9M) per person.”According to the Financial Analyst, the figures cited represent “the amount we know is already owed and there will be a lot more if the production plans go forward as they seem to be.” With this in mind, he noted that what each resident must pay “is bad enough and what we see in this year’s Guyana budget adds insult to injury.” Elaborating further, he told media operatives, “the government has been touting growing revenues from the oil field but the revenue had done not in fact help the country to achieve any of the goals it had agreed to with the International Monetary Fund.” ( h t t p s : / / www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/ 2022/05/27/guyana-nowspending-excessively-morethan-it-earns/) SATURDAY Guyana must ensure ‘clean up money’ available before oil projects end – Analyst …country could foot bill if Exxon walks away According to the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) signed between the country and an ExxonMobil Guyana-led consortium—the joint venture is required to clean up and safely
remove subsea infrastructure after it has emptied all the oil and gas from the respective fields. This clean up exercise is done approximately two decades after operations begin at certain fields in the Stabroek Block. Interestingly, Guyana’s authorities have allowed Exxon and its partners to start recovering the clean up money even before a cent is spent. But of even more concern, is that while Guyana has afforded Exxon and its partners this unusual privilege, the country seems to have no plan in place to ensure the companies actually have money set aside for the cleanup activities. Director of the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) Tom Sanzillo, is adamant that this is not the way things are done in the oil industry. Sanzillo said, “ExxonMobil is going against industry standards in Guyana by receiving US$3.2 billion for decommissioning costs that is required to be set aside for decommissioning and cleanup in the country.” The IEEFA analyst said that ExxonMobil continues to benefit from the system, which requires Guyana to pay for costs of decommissioning wells in advance with no oversight of the company. At this point, ExxonMobil and its oil partners have a real opportunity to pocket millions—if not billions—with no accountability, the IEEFA noted in a report. “If they take the money, sell the project before the wells are decommissioned and pass the liability onto a weaker company, Guyana’s taxpayers could be left footing the bill,” Sanzillo highlighted. “With no provision to ensure the money paid upfront will be available in 20 years, there is a real chance that the
Hess, and the Chinese National Offshore Oil Company.” Sanzillo noted that ExxonMobil and its partners benefit from a system that requires the country to pay for decommissioning in advance installments, which starts from the beginning of the contract. “Guyana then relies on the companies to pay for the decommissioning 20 years later. Industry practice establishes that a trust account should be set up for such a fossil fuel drilling and extraction project. The trust account can only be used to pay for the abandonment costs when they occur. However, Guyana’s agreement does not require that a trust account be established.”
taxpayers of Guyana could be left footing the bill.” Sanzillo reiterated that, ExxonMobil stands to earn big from this arrangement. He said it would do the country well to have additional disclosures regarding decommissioning which would benefit the people of Guyana. Furthermore, Sanzillo pointed out that the decommissioning loophole, “…is yet another example of Guyana being shortchanged under its existing petroleum agreement with ExxonMobil,
hosted webinar where they urged the Guyanese government to put certain measures in place before it renews Exxon’s Liza Phase One Environmental Permit.
Last year, International Lawyer, Melinda Janki called out the government for not ensuring measures to protect the advanced decommissioning payments. In a letter to the press, she said that, Guyana’s wells are ultra-deep and very dangerous. Decommissioning is expensive, she said, pointing to the IHS Markit Report 2021, which also estimated that some US$3.1 billion would be needed for the decommissioning of the Liza and Payara wells. “Clearly, the government, as servants of the people of Guyana, have a duty to ensure that the Guyanese are not left to pay this US$3.1billion (roughly G$651 billion) or more for decommissioning. The government must therefore ensure that Esso puts this decommissioning money into an escrow account to pay for decommissioning and nothing else.” Janki and Sanzillo, were recent panelists on a webinar hosted by international nonprofit organisation, Avaaz
( h t t p s : / / www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/ 2022/05/28/guyana-mustensure-clean-up-moneyavailable-before-oilprojects-end-analyst/) Gas-to-Energy project… ExxonMobil in breach of our right to prior consulta-
tion – Canal residents More than a dozen residents of Canal Number One, West Bank Demerara have attached their signatures in a letter addressed to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), citing a breach to their right of prior consultation for the proposed Gas-to-Energy pipeline, to be constructed by ExxonMobil in partnership with the Guyana Government. In the letter dated May 26, 2022 to the Executive Director of the regulatory agency, Mr. Kemraj Parsram, the citizens said they were never consulted, and called for the suspension of the 60-days period, which was opened to allow persons with concerns to register same with the EPA. “We the residents of Canal Number One, an area through which the proposed pipeline runs, were not consulted at any time before the submissions of the EIA and EIS for the Gas-to-Energy project. This is a fundamental breach of our rights and those under (the) Environmental Protections Act s.11 (9) along with a breach of the principles of internationally recognized consultation practices,” the letter detailed. About 18 signatures were attached to the correspondence. The law states at Section 11(9) “During the course of the environmental impact assessment, the developer and the person carrying out the environmental impact assessment shall (a) consult members of the public, interested bodies and organizations; (b) provide to members of the public on request, and at no more than the reasonable cost of photocopying, copies of information obtained for the purpose of the environmental impact assessment”. The EIA submitted by the Environmental Resources Management (ERM) for the Wales Gas-to-Energy project, has signaled that some land
owners in Crane, Canal Number One and Canal Number Two, in Region Three may not be allowed to grow crops or develop new structures that may interfere with the pipeline to be laid by Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL). The document said that one residential property within the planned onshore pipeline route about 175 meters south of the shore crossing may have to relocate, along with four other (Continued on page 33)
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A farmer in his rice field at Canal Number One.
From page 32 dwellings located within 500 meters of the heavy haul road and temporary materials offloading facility (MOF). EEPGL was keen to note that the government is responsible for Project-related land acquisition but the company will support the administration in developing and implementing a ‘Resettlement and Livelihood Restoration Strategy’ aligned with “international standards”. When it comes to land use, the oil company explained that the project may result in a change of land ownership or tenure for all or part of a property, parcel, or land use area. It explained that a 12.2 meter wide permanent right of way (ROW) will be established to aid in operation and maintenance of the onshore pipeline. As such, any land that falls within the permanent ROW will be frozen. The document did not say how many homes will be affected by this ROW. According to the document, “Land use in the permanent RoW will be restricted and growing crops or construction of any structures will not be permitted in the permanent RoW. The legal
formation of the RoW may result in changes to existing private property boundaries and/or the details of licences, leases, permits, or other tenures related to the use of affected public lands.” Moreover, the EIA cautions that the project to be built at Wales can result in long-term hardships for farmers within close proximity to the plant and pipeline, as impacts to their agricultural products could extend beyond the construction phase to the operations stage of the facility. This impact will be relevant to rice fields, north and south of Crane, West Minister/ Lust-en-Rust rice fields and pineapple and mixed crops in the northern part of Canal Number Two and the south and northern half of Canal Number One. In this regard, one resident and Attorney-at-Law Elizabeth Hughes told the EPA that the entire EIA process should be scrapped and redone. She gave her comments on the matter at a consultation hosted on May 11, l a s t . ( h t t p s : / / www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/ 2022/05/28/exxonmobil-inbreach-of-our-right-to-priorconsultation-canal-residents/)
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>>> ENCOURAGING EVENTS, DISCOURAGING DEVELOPMENTS <<<
Rain, Rowley, row over DPP’s Office action Exxon held Guyana hostage with oil deal, now it’s our turn to hold it to ransom with Liza-1 renewal. Don’t renew if Exxon doesn’t give satisfactory concessions to Guyana. The rains came in torrents on Monday, brought climbing floodwaters. Pictures from faraway Regions prompted leaning away, as if there. I was close enough in Georgetown where I observed citizens wading through waters reaching the knees. I can only imagine the state of ground level homes. This discourages terribly. For we are spending billions upon billions on massive new projects with mounting leadership excitements, but we are comfortable turning our faces away from the soggy reality of what is taking place in our front yard and before doorstep, be such work, school, shop, or residence. The Rupununi and other places are bad enough, but the watery agony of our capital city is beyond belief. It is plastered on our noses, and cannot be hidden, or justified in any way by anyone from top to bottom. Rather than allocate responsibility, I believe that we can do better, and it starts with having the self-respect to say at the highest leadership levels that this waterlogged embarrassment is both a national disgrace
and humiliation and a reflection on me. It must be stopped. It is why I encourage leaders in the PPP Government not to view Georgetown as a PNC city, but a viable segment of this country’s energy, inclusive of its commerce, administration, services, and nerve centres. Toying with, or paying short thrift to, such circumstances, or punishing the city deliberately and unadvisedly, is a music sheet that will haunt in numerous for a while to come. We have too many big people coming here, and before they get to offshore rigs and downstream business riggings, they have to have some interaction with the big city. The capital is our red carpet, as ragged and rusted, even rotted, as it is. Drainage networks, financing options, and flood management decisions must come together to ease this state of discreditable appearance, this sickly situation that taints all Guyanese. It does that to me. This conversion to Lake Georgetown on every rainy occasion must be a thing of the past, and we must find the will to make it so. Surely, the President as airy as he can be, is not so sluggish as not to appreciate the putrid ambience of a continually flooded capital that houses, surrounds, and embarrasses him. He must do something, and
it must be different. If not, we will continue to be a comic book country, and nothing else, notwithstanding all our wealth. Almost like a rich man living in a fleabag motel. Next, Dr. Keith Rowley came and saw, which forced him to his own conclusions: he is not the most well-received visitor to Guyana, he did not conquer. He had to be gratified with that MOU, a nice gesture, a solid step in the right direction. At least, he had something to show for his trip to his people. But he is aiming for the bigger engagement of Guyana refining its oil at the soon-to-be-available Petrotrin. It would be an encouraging sign of neighbourliness and sound business sense if that were to happen. It is only a couple of hours away by ship, versus a couple of weeks to the eastern ends of the earth. We could use the cost savings, and the also likely refining cost concessions from hard bargaining with a strapped Trinidad. I encourage the President of Oil to go for it. Build an oil bridge, cement a firm national bond. Last, the DPP’s office got itself into a heavy row over its wisdom in the matter of racial incitement between the policewoman and the lawman. Yes, interactions can degrade to such alleged stinking states. My thinking is that the better course would have
By GHK Lall been for the DPP’s office to let the contentious confrontation run its course in the courts on its own. Its intervention necessitated its explanation of the interpretation that the DPP’s office came up with in this battle of bruising words and battered spirits. It didn’t do well, it doesn’t look good. Biased is the appearance. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
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Nurses in Guyana worried about potential Monkeypox outbreak
Visible symptoms of the Monkeypox virus include a fluid or pus-filled rash that often develops on the face and spreads to other parts of the body (Photo credit: CDC)
A close-up image of the rash caused by Monkeypox (Photo credit: CDC)
…as COVID-19 cases sees steep increase By Davina Bagot Amidst an already struggling health sector, care givers – nurses and patient care assistants in particular – are worried about a possible outbreak of the very contagious disease, Monkeypox. Monkeypox, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), is a viral zoonosis caused by the monkeypox virus, which belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus, which includes variola virus (which causes smallpox). There are two genetically distinct strains of the monkeypox virus: the Congo Basin (Central African) strain and the West African strain. Human infections with the West African strain appear to cause less severe disease compared to the Congo Basin strain. It can spread from someone who is carrying the virus mainly through direct or indirect contact with the rash, bodily fluids (such as fluid, pus, or blood from skin lesions), and scabs. However, the virus can also be transmitted if clothing, bedspread, towels, or objects become contaminated from an infected person. PAHO has also said that Monkeypox can spread from someone who is pregnant to the fetus from the placenta, or from an infected parent to child during or after birth through skin-to-skin contact. It is not clear whether people who do not have symptoms can spread the disease. Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on its website that Monkeypox was first discovered in 1958 when two outbreaks of a pox-like disease occurred in colonies of monkeys kept for
research, hence the name ‘Monkeypox’. The first human case of monkeypox was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo during a period of intensified effort to eliminate smallpox. Since then, Monkeypox has been reported in humans in other central and western African countries. As recent as May 25, PAHO said over the past two weeks, cases of the virus have been reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) from several nonendemic countries with no direct travel links to an endemic area. In humans, the symptoms of Monkeypox are said to be similar to, but milder than the symptoms of smallpox. CDC explained that it begins with fever, headache, muscle aches, and exhaustion. The main difference between symptoms of smallpox and Monkeypox is that Monkeypox causes lymph n o d e s t o s w e l l (lymphadenopathy) while smallpox does not. The incubation period (time from infection to symptoms) for Monkeypox is usually seven to14 days but can range from five to 21 days. A person who has been infected can experience fever, headache, muscles aches, back aches, swollen nymph nodes, chills and exhaustion, as Monkeypox develops. The rash usually develops about one to three days, sometimes longer, after the symptoms listed above. The rash, according to CDC, often begins on the face before spreading to other parts of the body. In Guyana, no cases have been reported to date, but health care professionals fear Continued on page 49
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Lessons from a lashpreneur !!!
Why Your Clients Should Use Lash Shampoos/ lash cleansers. Cleansing your lash extensions is an important part of any extension wearer’s daily routine, keeping them healthy and firmly bonded to
natural lashes. Foam lash cleansers are one of the best ways to do so! More and more lash artists have begun incorporating them into their after-
care advice reels and as a result are seeing happier clients (and stylists) alike! What are the benefits of foam lash cleansers over
Enetworks to broadcast to spectacular sports shows today Be sure to look out for for the Indian Premier League and the Monaco Grand Prix today on the E1 and E2 channels respectively. You don’t want to miss this riveting plays today. Be sure to enjoy with family and friends.
other cleaning methods? Well-formulated lash cleansers rinse completely and do not leave a residual film on your eyelashes. Be careful of regular makeup removers masquerading as lash-friendly! A great lash shampoo will be be low on sulfate content, meaning it will not remove moisture from your extensions or loosen the bond. Good lash shampoos are specifically crafted to gently remove dirt, residue and makeup from eyelashes. Using one at least once a day also significantly boosts lash health. Think of the process as similar to washing your scalp and hair to get rid of invisible oil, dandruff and dirt buildup. Baby shampoo has historically been popular for lash artists to mix with water to give to clients as a homemade remedy. Unfortunately, itcan leave a filmy residue, eventually affecting the strength of the lash bond. Johnson & Johnson has explicitly said these shampoos are not designed for extensions. We recommend only looking at products that have the lash extension life and eye health in mind. Who uses lash cleansers? All lash extension wearers should use lash cleansers as part of their aftercare routine. Many clients have dirtier lashes than normal for several potential reasons. Perhaps they wear a lot of makeup, exercise or work out frequently, or even simply have oilier skin. These conditions can lead to a lot more residue and dirt caking up on lash exten-
sions than for clients who do not wear heavier makeup or work out regularly. How to talk to clients about lash cleansing? Telling clients they need to “clean more” can be a delicate topic. Rather than straight-up commanding your clients to use a lash cleanser, ask about their usual end-of-day and morning routines. Do they use a particular face wash? If they wear makeup, do they have a favorite remover? Check out whether their products are oil-free, as oils break down adhesive bonds very quickly. However, even if the client’s products are oil-free, a cleanser formulated particularly for extension-wearers remains the best way to keep lashes healthy, fluffy and attached. Remind them that the best aftercare method is to use that lash shampoo! Make
sure they are aware that lashes should be cleaned daily. Emphasize that they will be helping to extend their lash retention and health with a product specifically formulated to do so. Inform them that lash shampoos leave less residue and film on their lashes than other products that might be in their established routine. Emphasize that they will be helping to extend their lash retention and health with a product specifically formulated to do so. Inform them that lash shampoos leave less residue and film on their lashes than other products that might be in their established routine. And lastly, some of you might ask where you can find lash shampoo? Well look no further cause we do have them in stock at lift and lashes.
Jaxx International Grill invites you to Brunch Let this and every Saturday and Sunday be a weekend of a difference. Break out of the monotony and introduce your
tastebuds to some of the most delectable cuisines of the world at Jaxx International Grill’s brunch event. Enjoy the island vibes, unforgettable
Guyanese hospitality and create new memories with family and friends today. Jaxx International Is the place to be today. See you there!
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Top 10 Food Sources Rich in Vitamin K V
itamins are essen tial nutrients be cause they perform various roles in our bodies. Each vitamin performs a special role in our body to build it stronger. Vitamin K is one of them. Vitamin K is a fatsoluble vitamin known for its blood clotting property. What vitamin K does? Vitamin K is a nutrient that helps in the synthesis of various proteins. Prothrombin is one of the proteins which is prepared by vitamin K. Prothrombin helps in blood clotting and healthy bone metabolism. This vitamin activates another protein named – osteocalcin which is responsible for bone strengthening and regulates the blood calcium levels. Daily requirement – According to The National Institutes of Health (NIH), 122 mcg of vitamin K is required for women and 138 mcg for men per day. Types of vitamin K There are a total of three types of vitamin K but only two are essential for the human body. 1. Vitamin K1 – It is also known as phylloquinone. It is primarily found in plants. It aids the blood clotting process in the liver. 2. Vitamin K2 – It is also known as menaquinone which is generally found in
animal and fermented products. It is found in fewer food sources. It is also produced by gut bacteria and it goes in blood vessels, bones. 3. Vitamin K3 – It is also known as menadione. It is a synthetic vitamin and not recommended. Food rich in vitamin K Vitamin K is available in many foods which we regularly add in our diet. Various green, leafy vegetables are the best source of this vitamin while it is also found in other vegetables, fruits, meat, and fermented food. Here is the list of best sources of vitamin K – 1: Spinach Dark, green spinach is considered as the healthiest source of vitamins, minerals, and iron. Spinach is rich in vitamin K. 100 grams of raw spinach gives you 483 mcg of vitamin K1. Try to eat spinach in raw form or you can boil them strictly for 1 minute to prevent the loss of nutrients. 2: Cooked kale Cooked kale is the best source of plant-based vitamins. A cup of cooked kale can give you 817 mcg of vitamin K. For better flavor and nutrition, cook the kale for 5 minutes before consumption. 3: Broccoli Broccoli is packed with vitamins and antioxidants. It
strengthens your immunity and destroys dangerous free radicles. The vitamin K content in one cup of cooked broccoli is 110 mcg. Be sure that it shouldn’t be overcooked otherwise it will lose its flavor and nutrition. 4: Collard greens Collard greens are an excellent source of vitamin K, fiber, iron, calcium, and magnesium. It has an anti-inflammatory property and also helps to reduce cholesterol levels. One cup of steamed collard green contains around 836 mcg. 5: Mustard greens
It is one of the best sources of vitamin K. For best results sauté this vegetable rather than steaming or boiling to prevent the leaves and stems from getting watery and soft. One cup of cooked mustard greens containing 419 mcg vitamin K. 6: Turnip greens Turnip greens are loaded with vitamin K. it contains disease-fighting phytonutrients that lower the inflammation and reduce your risk for cancer. Also, vitamin K in this vegetable helps to reduce anemia, skin problems and lowers the blood sugar level.
426 mcg is present in a cup of cooked turnip greens. 7: Natto It is a sticky, fermented breakfast food contains 1000 mcg of vitamin K2 per 100 grams. This Japanese food is made from fermented soybeans. As it is fermented it is full of probiotics that help to produce vitamin K2 in your gut. Natto is also a good source of fibers and proteins which keeps your digestion as well as bones healthy. 8: Lamb Lamb contains high-quality proteins, essential oils, and vitamin K2. A 100 of lamb
contains 5.3 mcg of vitamin K2. It strengthens your bones and improves bone metabolism. 9: Mayonnaise Egg-white based mayonnaise contains 197 mcg of vitamin K2. This is a healthy, cholesterol-free source that also contains vitamin E that is good for your hair and skin. 10: Miso Another Japanese food which is made from fermented beans. It enhances the probiotic growth in the gut which boosts the nutrient absorption. Deficiency of vitamin K Despite several natural sources, vitamin K deficiency may occur in some cases. When it is not corrected it may lead to some serious issues such as – · Excessive
bleeding
· Bruising on skin · Dark blood in stool or urine Sometimes it may present in the newborn which can be fatal if not corrected immediately. Toxicity of vitamin K Supplements when taken in excess can lead to toxicity. Vitamin K interacts with many medications so beware while using vitamin K. It particularly affects blood thinners (e.g. Warfarin) and cholesterol-lowering medications activity.
1 Incredible Health Benefits Of Coconut Water
Coconut water is never out of trend despite various attractive aromatic and nutritious drinks in the market. It is a miraculous drink beneficial for our body in multiple ways. Coconut water has been consumed for centuries in tropical regions around the world. In Ayurveda, Coconut water is believed to help in activities of the body such as digestion and urination. It helps to provide an instant boost of energy. Coconut water nutrition facts Coconut water is a clear liquid present inside of green Coconuts. Over 95% of Coconut water is water. An average green Coconut provides about 0.5– 1 cups of Coconut water. Coconut water is rich in various minerals and electrolytes like potassium,
calcium, manganese, antioxidants, amino acids and cytokinins. Coconut water is the best source of potassium and contains almost 470 mg of potassium. It is low in calories, carbohydrates, sugar, unlike other juices. Benefits of Coconut water 1: Energy booster: Coconut water is a great beverage to drink during and after a workout. It is rich in minerals, electrolytes and antioxidants that help to boost your energy level instantly. It may help athletes to refuel their energy stores and recover a little faster. If you drink this water during exercise, it may prevent fatigue and dehydration. 2: Best alternatives for sugary juices: Coconut water is mildly sweet and nutty in flavour. It is low in calories, sugar and carbs, unlike other sugary
juices and sodas. It makes it a better choice for diabetics or individuals looking to reduce their consumption of added sugar. 3: Helps to lose weight: Fresh Coconut water is beneficial in weight loss management programs. It is lower in calories than other beverages, like soda or juices that help to lose weight. One cup of Coconut water contains only 48 calories. 4: May benefit to manage diabetes: Research shows that Coconut water may help to manage blood sugar levels and improve diabetes symptoms. It is a good source of manganese, which may increase insulin sensitivity and reduce blood sugar levels. 5: May be beneficial for heart health: Drinking Coconut water may be beneficial to prevent heart diseases. It may help manage cholesterol levels in
the blood and maintain good heart health because it is high in potassium. 6: May help to reduce high blood pressure: Being high in potassium, Coconut water may help to manage blood pressure. Research suggests that potassium-rich diets can help support heart health by managing blood pressure and even protecting against stroke. 7: Help in good digestion: Coconut water is rich in manganese that helps to regulate your bowel movements. It may prevent gaseous distension of the abdomen, constipation and acidity. 8: May help to detox the body: Coconut water is versatile due to the presence of minerals, electrolytes and antioxidants. Coconut water helps detoxify your body by providing hydration and antioxi-
dants. 9: May help to prevent kidney stones: When you have a kidney stone, your doctor will advise you to drink a lot of water. Although plain water works wonderfully, don’t miss adding Coconut water to your diet. Coconut water may help to prevent kidney stone formation when taken in moderate amounts. 10: May prevent urinary tract infection: Coconut water is known to be a diuretic (increase urine output). Hence, it may help to flush out toxins by way of urine. It makes you pee frequently but that’s the way your urinary infection may void out. 11: May reduce fatigue and stress: There are instances such as fatigue, stress where you feel lethargic and don’t want to eat or do anything. Sipping
on a cup of Coconut water may help you feel relaxed and it calms your mind. The disadvantage of Coconut water Coconut water is all over beneficial for our health due to the presence of various nutrients. You may still be wondering whether it is good to drink Coconut water every day. For general people, it is considered a good drink to consume. However, there is an exception to it. People who suffer from kidney (renal) failure should not drink Coconut water as it is rich in potassium. In kidney failure, your kidney may not remove extra potassium, which leads to stagnation of potassium in the body. Hence, be cautious with Coconut water consumption in renal failure patients.
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THE
Sunday May 29, 2022
Charges that were discontinued by the DPP
Court Journal By Renay Sambach
I
n light of the recent discontinuation of the charge against attorney-atlaw Nirvan Singh, son of former Chancellor of the Judiciary, Carl Singh, who was charged for using racial slurs towards an AfroGuyanese policewoman who was tasked with guarding his residence, today I will highlight other instances that the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Shalimar AliHack, SC, discontinued charges. In all of these matters the DPP exercised the powers conferred on her by Article 187 (1) (c) of the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana. According to Article 187:1: “The Director of Public Prosecutions (referred to in this article as 'the Director') shall have power in any case in which he or she considers it desirable to do so – (a) to institute and undertake criminal proceedings against any person before any court, other than a court martial, in respect of any offence against the law of Guyana; (b) to take over and continue any such criminal proceedings that may have been instituted by any other person or authority; and (c) to discontinue at any stage before judgment is delivered any such criminal proceedings instituted or undertaken by him or her or any other person or authority.” Nirvan Singh On Wednesday May 18, 2022, the charge was formally discontinued against Nirvan Singh. In April, he made his first court appearance in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan. It was alleged that Singh unlawfully excited and or attempted to excite racial hostility or ill-will against police constable Shawnette Bollers. Singh had pleaded not guilty to the charge, which stated that on March 20, 2022 at the corner of Middle and Cummings Streets, Georgetown, by means of words spoken by him in a public place, he willfully excited and or attempted to excite hostility and ill-will against Bollers on the ground of her race as an Afro-Guyanese by using words directed to her and published by him, to wit: “black monkey”, “monkey”, “black people have no purpose in life”, contrary to the provisions of Section 2 (1) Racial Hostility Act Cap 23:0). Chief Magistrate McLennan had granted bail in the sum of $100,000 and ordered the lawyer not to make contact or cause anyone to make contact with Bollers. The matter was then adjourned. On the following hearing, the matter was called before Acting Chief Magistrate, Sherdel IsaacsMarcus in the Georgetown
Attorney-at-law, Nirvan Singh
Director of Public Prosecution, Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC Magistrates' Courts. However, instead of the matter continuing, the magistrate received a letter from the DPP which stated that in exercise of the powers conferred on her by Article 187 (1) (c), “I hereby discontinue the charge in the above matter.” As such, the matter against attorney-at-law Singh was dismissed. Retired Justice Claudette Singh In 2020, just five days after three private criminal charges were filed against the Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Retired Justice Claudette Singh, alleging misconduct in public office, the DPP discontinued the charges. A letter, which the Director sent to the Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, stated, “In exercise of the powers conferred on me by Article 187 (1) (c) of the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, I hereby discontinue the charge in the above matter.” The complainants that filed the charges against the GECOM Chair were Lorraine Joseph of 16 Melanie Damishana, East Coast Demerara, Onita Walcott of 25 Section B, Victoria Village, East
Former Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton
Coast Demerara and Keith Ondaan of 2987 Central Amelia's Ward , MacKenzie Linden. The three charges were filed under the Common Law Act, alleging that the GECOM Chair in the State of Guyana acted recklessly and unlawfully when she refused to accept the CEO's report, disregarded the advice of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel, and breached the Recount Order in the Official Gazette. The first charge, filed by Walcott, states that Claudette Singh, being appointed and performing duties of Chairman of GECOM, at Lot 41 High and Cowan Streets, Kingston, Georgetown, between March 14, 2020, and June 23, 2020, acted recklessly and unlawfully when she refused to accept the CEO's report on the March 2, 2020 Regional and General Elections. The second charge, filed by Ondaan, states that Claudette Singh, being appointed and performing duties of Chairman of GECOM, acted recklessly and unlawfully when she disregarded the advice of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel Mr. Charles Fung-A-Fat, SC, on May 17, 2020 and knowingly caused the Gazetting of Recount Order in the Official Gazette on May 4, 2020, and an Amended Recount Order on May 29, 2020. Fung-A-Fat had advised the AG earlier in the year that a recount of the votes of the March 2, 2020 Regional and General Elections would be unlawful and unconstitutional. The final charge, filed by Joseph, is that Claudette Singh, being appointed and performing duties of Chairman of GECOM, acted recklessly and unlawfully between May 29, 2020 and June 23, 2020, when she breached the Recount Order gazetted in the Official Gazette on May 4, 2020, and amended Recount Order on May 29, 2020. The charges, however, were never served on the GECOM Chair, thanks to the DPP.
Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney
GECOM Chairperson, Retired Justice Claudette Singh Anil Nandlall, SC Meanwhile, in October 2020, the charges against Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, SC, that alleged the theft of law books was discontinued. The charges were discontinued following a letter from the DPP to Magistrate Fabayo Azore in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts. Nandlall had denied the charges which alleged that between May 18, 2015 and May 29, 2015 while being a bailee, in his then capacity as Attorney General, he fraudulently converted 14 Commonwealth Law Reports valued at $2,313,853, property of the Ministry of Legal Affairs, to his own use and benefit. The charges were instituted against Nandlall in 2017 by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), an arm of the Guyana Police Force. Magistrate Azore in 2019 ruled that there is sufficient evidence against Nandlall for him to answer to the charges. Nandlall then approached the Court of Appeal, to request a judicial review of a decision by Magistrate Azore to overrule a no-case submission in his trial for the alleged theft of Law Reports.
Former Minister of Health, Volda Lawrence The Appeal Court in its ruling had said that it will not intervene in the matter as the trial is already underway. However, earlier in 2020, Nandlall moved to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) to overturn the Court of Appeal's ruling. Nandlall was previously reported as saying that when he took up the post as Attorney General, he did so at a loss and it was for that reason he agitated for the State to pay for the Law Reports. He had said that the arrangement received the blessings of then Head of State, Donald R a m o t a r. H o w e v e r, S O C U investigators had contended that because the books were bought with State funds, they cannot be the property of Nandlall, and in fact, the State should not have entered into such an arrangement in the first place. There were also reports that suggest that there was no evidence of an agreement between Nandlall and Ramotar, and even assuming that there was such an agreement, the use of public funds in this manner is a flagrant violation of the Financial Management and Accountability Act. Volda Lawrence and George Norton Moreover, in April 2018, the DPP discontinued the charges against then Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence, and then Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton. Using her authority under Article 187 (1) (c) of Guyana's Constitution, the DPP noted that the charges concerned a grave issue under the criminal law in relation to two serving Ministers. A week prior to the charges being discontinued, PPP/C Parliamentarians Juan Edghill and Vi c k r a m B h a r r a t , t h r o u g h Nandlall, had moved to file private criminal charges against the two ministers for “misconduct in public (Continued on page 50)
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==GNBS IN FOCUS==
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GNBS - Facilitating local measurement traceability for acceptance worldwide
H
ave you ever wondered how the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) knows that its scales, masses and other measuring instruments used in verification and calibration are accurate? Well, in this week's article you will find out. The GNBS as the National Measurement Institute (NMI) employs the principle of 'Traceability' to ensure that all measurements used in Guyana are internationally accepted. Traceability is defined by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as “the result of a measurement whereby it can be related to appropriate standards, generally national or international standards, through an unbroken chain of comparisons.”
Traceability allows us to recognise and appreciate that a kilogram of potatoes or a litre of gasoline is the same in Guyana, India, and South Africa. The unbroken link of traceable measurements exists from retail in Guyana to the highest level internationally. Put simply, the measurements from the weighing instruments used at markets and shops are traceable to the Working or Field Standards used by GNBS Inspectors to verify them. T h e s e Wo r k i n g Standards are traceable to the National Reference Standards held in the GNBS Laboratory, and these Reference Standards are traceable to others kept at more advanced NMI's in other countries. Finally, the Standards kept by advanced
NMIs are traceable to the International System of Units, with the highest measurement accuracy. Three major facts are mutually agreed to in order to maintain traceability. The worldwide adoption of the International System of Units (SI) of measurements, the establishment of national laboratories which are responsible for the maintenance of the use of the SI units, and the implementation of methods and procedures that allow individual calibration laboratories to compare their local standards with those of the national laboratories. M e a s u r e m e n t traceability is important to provide assurance of accuracy to both customers and manufacturers for a given process or transaction,
whether in Guyana or elsewhere. It is relevant to many other measurement applications including those environmental testing, medical testing, and scientific research. Meanwhile, measurement traceability and accuracy continue to be critical as Guyana seeks to increase exports to other countries; and as more foreign companies enter the local economy to serve the Oil and Gas and other key sectors. The GNBS Industrial Metrology and Testing (IMT) Department provides calibration to stakeholders in
the areas of Mass, D i m e n s i o n , Vo l u m e , Pressure, Temperature and Torque. To increase stakeholder confidence in measurement results provided, the Department was accredited to the International Standard ISO/IEC 17025:2017 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. The Standard specifies the general requirements for the competence, impartiality, and consistent operation of laboratories. Compliance with the requirements of the standard guarantees international acceptance of
measurement results. F i n a l l y, t o e n s u r e measurement traceability, local companies and laboratories can submit their measuring instruments for calibration by the GNBS. Instruments calibrated by the GNBS include weight sets, digital multimetres, provers, pressure gauges, callipers, torque, wrenches, gauge blocks, balances, measuring cylinders, thermometers, micrometres and micropipettes. For further information, please contact the GNBS on Tel: 219- 0066 or visit our website: www.gnbsgy.org or like us on Facebook: gnbsgy
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Sunday May 29, 2022
==CONSUMER CONCERNS== RESUSCITATION OF CULTURE OF 'GARDEN CITY' WILL ENRICHEN QUALITY OF LIFE OF CITIZENS By Pat Dial
I
n early May, the International Day of Plant Protection was marked in Guyana with the Ministry of Agriculture recommitting itself to its aims. The message of the Day was concerned with food crops and insecticides but it reminded us of the aesthetic value of plants and trees as manifested when Georgetown was the "Garden City of the West Indies". With the will and modest effort, the City Hall and the Local Government Ministry could fairly quickly regain that happy accolade for the C i t y. Indeed, the Government has already embarked upon an element of that process with the recent attractive development of the
Railway Embankment. Georgetown, until the 1960's, was deservedly given the worldwide accolade of the "Garden City". All of its main streets were lined with trees of various kinds. For example, Broad Street was lined with cabbage palms, Main Street had Samaan trees, High Street/Avenue of the Republic and Camp Street sported red flamboyants which were immortalised in Sharples' memorable water colours. Brickdam, the first street of Georgetown dating from the period of Dutch rule, had a variety of rare trees such as golden flamboyants, Ceylon blue berry palms and cannon balls. Birds of various colours and song would always be flitting among the trees. The trees provided a
beauteous milieu and cool shade and absorbed carbon and did their part for the health and wellbeing of the citizens. In addition, the trees acted as fire-breaks in a largely wooden city and absorbed an enormous amount of water in a terrain which was below sea level. In the 1960's, Guyana became Independent and the City Hall and its Council and personnel became working class with less ability to manage as had been the preIndependence Mayors and councillors who were often important businessmen and professionals. The City fell into a precipitous decline and the 'Garden City' aspect of it suffered with the trees being neglected, dying without being replaced or a few even
growing to forest trees. In several streets, a few stragglers of the past have survived as for example the Samaans of Main Street, the few flamboyants of Avenue of the Republic and Camp Street, a few of the mora trees of Hadfield Street and a number of various species in Brickdam such as the Cannon Balls. Georgetown could still recapture some of its glories of the past and again become the 'Garden City'. The first thing that has to be done is for the City Council to revive the "Friends of Georgetown Committee" which consisted of professionals and business people who would volunteer to help in advising about the management of the City. Such persons may be able to inspire the initiative of trimming the remaining trees, planting new ones, extending tree-planting to the newer areas taken into the City and sometimes even to replant some streets with completely new trees as in the case of Irving Street where the cyclamen pouis have grown into forest trees and could all be replaced with gold pouis. Others like Broad Street where the cabbage palms have all died could be replanted. Aluminum plates with botanical and commonly used names should be
attached to the trees. As in the past, school children could be brought out to these avenues to do their biology and Nature Study classes. The yards of Georgetown with their front flower gardens and backyard kitchen gardens were an integral part of the Garden City. The gardens always had local red and white roses and oleanders and night jasmines and mimosas with their attractive perfumes. Sun flowers were usually planted at the fences and there were runners like coralitas, Queen of the Night and perfumed Steponotis. Queen of flowers with their various colours were a favourite as were smaller shrubs like bachelor buttons, jump-and-kiss me, African daisies and marigolds. The Lanciana orchid was ubiquitous. Buttercups and mostly scarlet bougainvilleas were grown at one corner of the fence. Today, the flower gardens have disappeared and at most some yards may have some buttercups and bougainvilleas mostly on the front fence. Regrettably, local red and white roses are never seen. Kitchen gardens had the usual vegetables such as ochroes, squash, carillas, boras and same vines running on the fence, lettuce, eggplant and packchoi in beds and very often some herbs such as thyme, tulsi,
ginger and pepper. Some enterprising owners may try carrots and radishes and passion fruit in spite of the uncontrollable way in which its vines run. Every yard had a few fruit trees such as mangoes, sapodillas, coconut, avocado, peach, soursop, papaw, bananas, star apple, custard apple, sugar apple, pear, guavas, pomme rose, pomme granate and soursop and others. The existence of this plethora of fruit trees in the City encouraged birds to live and nest there and one always woke up in the mornings with birdsong. The culture of gardens could again be revived if the Botanic Gardens, NARI and other agencies were to distribute flower and vegetable seeds at a nominal price and the extension services of the Ministry of Agriculture be made available to small gardeners as was done in the past. Also, the Ministries of Local Government and Housing should encourage new land and house lot owners to grow fruit trees and to have gardens. The quality of life of citizens would accordingly be greatly enriched. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
Kaieteur News
Sunday May 29, 2022
Nurses in Guyana worried about... From page 38 the worst. “We already saw what happened with COVID19. They (government) left the country opened and the virus came and spread throughout the country. I believe that they should close down the country for a bit until we get a full understanding of this thing and it could give us some time to prepare too,” a Patient-care Assistant from Region Five told Kaieteur News earlier this week. In Region Four, a nurse attached to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation said that while the disease remains fairly new to her, she understands that it can be transmitted through contact with an infected person. “It is new to me. I haven't heard of it until recent but what I do know is that it shares similar signs and symptoms as of chicken pox. Because it can be transmitted through contact, the respiratory track (droplets) mucus membranes such as the eyes, nose, mouth. I think it's safe to say that the government needs to insist on persons wearing their mask, sanitizing and maintain social distancing. Also it's important to know that even before persons who are infected by this virus develop rashes, they are infectious. Honestly I think everyone should go in a body bag or cover themselves up, to prevent physical contact because the majority of persons are travelling in public transportation,” the nurse explained. Another nurse, who works at an East Bank of Demerara health centre, said the new outbreak is worrying as Guyana is currently still struggling with strains from the global COVID-19 pandemic. According to the nurse, “Monkeypox come now but we in Guyana aren't ready for that because you should know that we barely even have nurses. …Hardly any nurses left in the country. Everyday more and more of them either leaving the country or leaving the profession because they (government) don't treat we nice here at all.” In Region Three, one nurse said she was particularly worried about the government's silence on the disease as many persons are still clueless as to what Monkeypox is. In Region 10, a nurse said government should increase the salary for all health care workers, as they remain on the frontline to respond and treat infected persons. “We have our families to go home to and it's frightening to think of what can happen if we infect our children and other
relatives,” she said. Health care professionals, she noted though, could not complain about the provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as these have been readily available to the Health Department. This she hopes would continue to be accessible. A few other nurses who this newspaper spoke with said they do not know much about the virus and declined to comment. PAHO has said that there are no specific treatments for Monkeypox as symptoms often resolve on their own without the need for treatment. “It is important to take care of the rash by letting it dry if possible or covering it with a moist dressing to protect the area if needed. Avoid touching any sores in the mouth or eyes. Mouth rinses and eye drops can be used as long as cortisonecontaining products are avoided. An antiviral that was developed to treat smallpox ( t e c o v i r i m a t , commercialised as TPOXX) was also approved for the treatment of Monkeypox in J a n u a r y 2 0 2 2 , ” PA H O explained on a dedicated Monkeypox page. Importantly, it was also noted that vaccination against smallpox was demonstrated through several observational studies to be about 85 percent effective in preventing Monkeypox. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that as of May 21, last, 92 laboratory confirmed cases, and 28 suspected cases of Monkeypox were diagnosed in 12 Member States, including Canada, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Portugal and Spain, with the three former states having the highest recorded cases so far of, 21 to 30 each. “The situation is evolving and WHO expects there will be more cases of monkeypox identified as surveillance expands in non-endemic countries. Immediate actions focus on informing those who may be most at risk for Monkeypox infection with accurate information, in order to stop further spread. Current available evidence suggests that those who are most at risk are those who have had close physical contact with someone with Monkeypox, while they are symptomatic. WHO is also working to provide guidance to protect frontline health care providers and other health workers who may be at risk such as cleaners. WHO will be providing more technical recommendations in the coming days,” the health institution said.
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Charges that were discontinued by... From page 44 office contrary to the common law”. According to court filings, Norton, in June 2016, while serving as Minister of Public Health, authorised the rental of a Sussex Street, Albouystown property for the purposes of a drug bond, from Linden Holdings Incorporated for $12.5M per month. Norton had come under immense public pressure. He was part of a Cabinet reshuffle that saw him being reassigned to the post of Minister of Social C o h e s i o n . H e subsequently received the additional appointment as Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport. Lawrence, who was
appointed Public Health Minister, was accused of the unapproved singlesourcing of $605.9M in drugs and medical supplies from Ansa McAl Trading Ltd. for the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) between January and February, 2017. The charges against the two former ministers came exactly one week after identical charges were filed by SOCU against D r. A s h n i S i n g h , a former PPP/C Minister of Finance, and Mr. Winston Brassington, then the former head of the National Industrial and Commercial I n v estments Limited (NICIL) under the PPP/C regime.
Sunday May 29, 2022
Sunday May 29, 2022
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g tin s... s re re te atu n I re C
Sunday May 29, 2022
Bronze corydoras
The bronze corydoras (Corydoras aeneus), green corydoras, bronze catfish, lightspot corydoras or wavy catfish is a tropical
freshwater fish in the “armoured catfish” family, Callichthyidae, often kept in captivity by fish keepers. It is widely distributed in South
America on the eastern side of the Andes, from Colombia and Trinidad to the Río de la Plata basin. It was originally described as Hoplosoma
aeneum by Theodore Gill in 1858 and has also been referred to as Callichthys aeneus. Appearance and anatomy The adult size is 6½ cm for males and a slightly larger 7 cm for females (2½ to 2¾ inches). Females have a slightly higher body frame than males in accordance with their larger abdominal region. Their average life span is 10 years. It has a yellow or pink body, white belly, and is blue-grey over its head and back. Its fins are yellow or pink and immaculate. In common with most Corydoras the dorsal, pectoral and adipose fins have an additional sharp barb and have a mild poison which causes fish which try to attack them to get stung. A brownish-orange patch is usually present on the head, just before the dorsal fin, and is its most distinctive feature when viewed from above in the stream. Their upper sides are often a greenish colour, which is the reason another common name for this fish is the green corydoras. Like many other catfishes, females are larger than males in this species. Ecology They are found in quiet, shallow waters with soft bottoms that can sometimes be heavily polluted by clouds of disturbed mud from the bottom, but it also inhabits running waters. In its native habitat, it inhabits waters with a temperature range of 25 °C to 28 °C (77 °F to 82 °F), pH 6.0–8.0, and hardness 5 to 19 DGH. Like most members of the genus Corydoras, these catfish have a unique method of coping with the low oxygen content that prevails in such environments. In addition to utilising their gills like any other fish, they rapidly come to the surface of the water and draw air in through their mouth. This air is then absorbed through the wall of the intestine and any surplus air is expelled through the vent. It typically stays in schools of 20 to 30 individuals. It feeds on worms, benthic crustaceans, insects, and plant matter. Reproduction Reproduction occurs with the onset of the rainy season, which changes the water chemistry. Females spawn 10–20 egg-clutches with multiple males at a time, but an entire egg clutch is inseminated by the sperm of a single male. In laboratory Continued on page 62
Sunday May 29, 2022
Kaieteur News
Homeless but not hopeless …two vagrants talk about life on the streets
PAGE 53 Edward Gittens before and after his haircut at the outreach.
By Shervin Belgrave Despite their many shortcomings and day-to-day struggle with substance abuse, two vagrants on Independence Day told Kaieteur News that they are still hopeful of turning their lives around so that they can be reintegrated into society. I caught up with the two – 29-year-old Edward Gittens and 45-year-old Omadella Greene – at an Independence Day medical outreach hosted for the homeless at Naeem’s Kitchen on Brickdam. The outreach was organised by the United States Embassy’s Civil Affairs Team and its local partners – Guyana Medical Relief, the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana, the Guyana Cancer Society, the Cheddi Jagan Dental School, the National AIDS Programme Secretariat, SEWA International, the International Organisation for Migration and Roberto’s Barber Shop. While taking some photographs of the outreach, my attention was drawn to a young man who was getting his teeth cleaned by a dentist. He was neatly dressed, looked intelligent but was badly in need of a haircut. After the dentist was finished with the young man, I decided to approach him for a brief chat. He introduced himself as Edward Gittens and was very mannerly and surprisingly eloquent. When he found out that he was speaking with a reporter that wanted to hear his story, Gittens said, “First of all I must tell you I am
Edward Gittens getting his teeth cleaned. not an important person but a homeless man due to a long, long story”. Gittens related that he is a father of a nine year-old girl and has been living in the streets since June of last year after a house he was renting at Norton Street, Georgetown got destroyed by fire. However, according to him, that is not the main reason he ended up on the streets. “My troubles started way before then, I used to live with my child-mother and
daughter in Linden but we were not getting along well because of my bad ways,” he related. Gittens explained that “I used to drink a lot of alcohol” and this bad habit, he said, led to him being separated from his family. It was after he and his daughter’s mother parted ways that he decided to rent a house in Georgetown. But things did not get any better. In fact, he said that his “bad ways got
worse” and his life went further downhill. The fire that took away his home and everything he had in his possession was just the final nail in the coffin to make him completely homeless. These days, Gittens sleeps on stands at the various bus parks. He said that he has no skills and as such works as a labourer. “I would go down to Orange Walk and Continued on page 60
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Sunday May 29, 2022
An evening of elegance where... From page 22 Wear, Maxi Williams, House of Pearson by Quinton Pearson, Buckbead by Isaiah Luther, Seduction by CIM, Olympia da brand by Olympia Sonaram, Rio De Roberto, and Shasha Designs by Edwards herself. Edwards explained that the show was one where the fantasy of Guyanese folklore was reimagined through modern lenses. She noted “As Guyanese, we all have childhood memories of hearing about Guyanese folklore under a moonlit sky, especially during
blackout…These stories connect us. These stories, if used to create a collection, are a way of uniting us as a people, reminding us of the past and introducing it to this generation.” For Edwards, the show was an opportunity to promote Guyanese fashion and culture. The runway show which attracted hundreds of attendees and received rave
reviews was made possible through a number of sponsors including Team Mohamed’s of Mohamed’s Enterprise, M and P investments, BROMELIAD.rnc, and Supreme Laundromat. Edwards also received support from the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport as she was one of the recipients of its “Cultural Creative Industries Grant”.
Kaieteur News
Sunday May 29, 2022
Pres. Ali warns Regional... From page 10 that President Ali reiterated that the relationship between Barbados and Guyana is meant to bring economic prosperity to both countries and that the leaders of the two nations were not looking aiming to look to win in one area or another, or one area for one and another area for the other. To this end, he reminded that the new relationships in the region must also advance security, not in the narrow
sense of physical security. He did note that one of the keys to the initiatives remaining sustainable is the need to establish institutional mechanism to secure the gains had and to cement the advances had in an institutional way. “This new environment requires a new approach,” according to President Ali, as he quipped it “requires openness and frankness in our conversations.” After the opening ceremony, President Ali and
Prime Minister of the Republic of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley, toured the exhibition and interacted with exhibitors. Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha; Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Wa l r o n d a n d o t h e r government officials also joined the Head of State at the event. Several high-level representatives from other Caribbean nations were also present.
Guyana must be mindful of ... From page 12 from its oil resources, while securing protection for its environment. Norway recently unveiled plans for a major expansion of its offshore wind energy production by 2040 as it, “aims to turn a country that has built its wealth on oil and gas into an
exporter of renewable electricity.” It was noted that oil and gas firms, including Equinor, Shell, British Petroleum (BP), Denmark's Orsted and Italy's Eni, have lined up to develop renewables in the European state. The country's Prime
Minister said that the move would nearly double the country's power output. In the meantime, Guyana has received just over US$700M in oil payments. US$200M was recently withdrawn as part of the sum to be added to the Consolidated Fund to aid with budget projects.
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UAE accused of exploiting poor... From page 13 of Dubai. Travellers flock Dubai every year as it is admired for the world's tallest skyscraper, vast shopping malls, gold souks and so forth. On the local front, earlier this year, during a visit to the UAE, President Irfaan Ali discussed critical opportunities for food security investments with Emirates Future Group. The Emirati Group is one of the largest Emirati companies working to achieve food security globally. In light of the company's inherent drive and purpose, the engagement was therefore seen by the Head of State
as being in line with the vision of Guyana and in keeping with the need for building a strategic relationship with the UAE. At the meeting, the investment opportunities available in the Republic of Guyana were discussed, and many promising opportunities were reviewed, which in turn would achieve the vision of the Republic of Guyana and the UAE in the field of joint food security for the two countries. It should be noted that the Emirates Future Group is seeking to increase its presence in Caribbean countries. In fact, Kaieteur News had reported that they have
expressed interest and optimism in investing in Guyana in the fields of red meat and trade of livestock and related fields, starting with raising livestock on farms, building and managing slaughterhouses and logistics services, all the way to the stage of red meat reaching consumers. T h e O ff i c e o f t h e President had stated that the Emirates Future Group has decades of experience in the field of food security, in addition to its vast capabilities in supplying the countries of the world with basic food stuffs. This is the first installment in a series of articles. Next week we detail what the UAE did in some poor countries.
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Birds By Karena Christen “Tera, hurry up. I didn't bring you all this way just to sit there doing nothing.” Tera's mother frowned. “But, Mommy, are you sure it's safe?” Tera asked again. “Yes.” “Absolutely certain?” “Yes.” “Okay, okay, I guess I can try.” Tera wheeled her small, pink bike up to the middle of the steep hill, took a deep breath, and got on, “I'm gonna do it.” “Just hurry up.” Tera's mother sat down next to some pigeons on the park bench. It was going to be a long wait. “Here I go,” Tera said, “3…2…1…WHEE!” Her little feet left the ground and, with one push, the tiny bike shot down the hill, upsetting the pigeons, seagulls, and ducks that were waiting at the bottom. “Keep your feet on the pedals,” Tera's mother barked. The girl did not, to her mother's annoyance, but she did turn her wheel back and forth, resulting in the only other person on this path shaking his old head and grumbling about when children used to respect their elders.Tera came to the bottom of the hill, breathless with dark hair that flew back in her face when she squeezed her squeaky brakes.“I wanna go again.” Tera ran over to her mother, cheeks pink with exhilaration and eyes starry with excitement followed by a flock of birds.“Fine, you can go a few more times.” Tera's mother wasn't looking forward to walking home, so she readjusted her seat on the bench. A busy woman like her deserved a chance to rest. “What are you doing?” Tera asked her follower, a black-faced seagull with a white body and wings. “Caw,” said the seagull.
“What?” Tera asked. “Will you take me for a ride?” the seagull said, “It's been so long since I've ridden.” “Oh, um, sure,” said Tera, gesturing to the basket of her bike, “come sit up here.” “Thank you very much,” the seagull said, “but I know my friend Don would love a ride too.”“Okay,” Tera said, picking up the pigeon. “Anyone else?” “That's Bill, Jo, and Margret,” said Don, pointing with his beak at a duck and two seagulls, “They love going down hills.” “Oh, so do I!” Tera exclaimed, putting the birds in her basket, “Let's ride down that big one.” So the little girl brought her bike (and the five birds sitting in it) to the top of the hill. “Let's go.” “3…” The seagull squawked. “2…” Don cooed. “1…” Jo and Margret said together, their black beaks opening a bit as if to smile.“GO!!” Bill quacked, and Tera pushed off, her legs flying wildly in the air. Tera's mother looked at her daughter and shook her head, deciding that she would tie those feet to the pedals if it came to it. The bike rocketed along the path, slanting down towards the canal.“I don't think my bike can swim,” Tera screamed. The birds just sat on the wooden slats of the basket, their beady eyes trained on the water in front of them. Tera tried to spin the wheel away from the river, but to no avail. Her bike rolled off the path, only a few meters from the water. Now just one. Only a few centimetres… The seagull let out a loud, strong caw, and ten or so birds flew towards the bike, grabbing everything around Tera that t h e y
FUN WITH POETRY
I must Pass the Test by Uncle Roy As this term in school comes to an end, I know I will have to do tests, And I must make a good effort To really bring out my best. I am aware there are a few lessons, That I did not well retain, So I will have to take the time To make sure I study them again. The holidays will soon be here, When I will be free to play, So I should now spend more time To study harder each day. I know I will feel bright and good, When I do well at my tests, And my parents also will be so pleased, That our holidays will have more happiness.
Sunday May 29, 2022
Junior page Crafty Sundays: c o u l d . Tw o p i g e o n s swooped down and grabbed her T-shirt, pulling her up by the armpits. The birds squawked, flapping their wings and saying, “Wow, she's heavy,” as they slowly navigated her towards the grass on the bank, as instructed by the seagull, who had adopted an authoritative tone. “Don't put her too close to the big blind one,” the seagull squawked, flapping his wide wings in an effort to keep the bike from being unbalanced.Tera looked down at the wide river, a large smile creeping across her face.The pigeons set Tera down lightly on the half-dead grass, landing on her shoulders. A troupe of seagulls and ducks set down her bike beside her, then looked towards the seagull. “On behalf of all my fellow avians,” he said, “I'd like to make sure you're okay and thank you for the ride.” “I'm fine,” Tera said, smiling broadly, “Can we go again?” “Oh, no,” said the seagull, “We must be off.” As one, the birds flew into the darkening sky. “Tera!” “Yes, Mommy?” Tera asked. “Keep your feet on the pedals!” “Yes, Mommy.”
Engage in these simple but cute home décor ideas. DIY Air Fresheners ring a little fresh scent on a gloomy day with a DIY tree-shaped air freshener. Added bonus—they are made with essential oils, so no nasty chemicals involved. Fun for all ages (with an adult to supervise with the essential oils).
B
To make: Trace the shape of a wooden Christmas tree ornament on a scrap of fabric twice. Cut out and glue to the front and back of the ornament. Once dry, soak the fabric with Dad's favorite essential oil (we used cedar). Thread twine through the ornament loop for hanging. Papier-Mâché Vases These papier-mâché vases are ideal for serving candy or holding a beautiful bouquet. Fun for older ages. To make: Blow up a large and a medium balloon. Cover each with white papier-mâché craft paper, leaving bottom quarter to third uncovered and edges rough. Let dry. Pop balloons, and remove. Set a glass vase inside each, and fill with water and flowers.
Suguru T
he heavy lines indicate areas, called cages, from one to five squares in size. Fill each cage with unique digits,
counting up from 1. So for example a 2-square cage contains the numbers 1 and 2; and a 5square cage contains the numbers from
1 to 5. Adjacent (touching) squares, even ones that touch diagonally, may never c o n t a i n t h e s a m e n u m b e r.
Kaieteur News
Sunday May 29, 2022
TEEN TIME Make the most of your Study Time while preparing for your Examinations As the time for our annual or final examinations draws closer, we should realise that we need to step up our efforts to prepare for these. Many times we find that, no matter how hard we study, we do not see much improvement in our work. This may be because we do not concentrate enough because of the many distractions and discomforts we may be experiencing when we do study, especially at home. Most of us would benefit from having a quiet place set aside for studying. If you share a room, or if space is limited in your home, then you need to improvise to get the most from our efforts. Perhaps the kitchen, which would most likely not be used in the evening, or a part of the living room which is away from others, can be set aside as your study area for an hour or two every evening. If possible, use a desk or table with plenty of space on which to spread your work. Keep supplies such as
pencils, pens and paper handy so you do not have to get up constantly and disturb your trend of thought. Also, it should be understood that having the television or radio on generally works against concentration. This is just as true for the cell phone, so you may need to tell your friends to desist from calling you during your study periods. Make sure that you have adequate lighting that does not throw a glare. Good lighting would reduce study fatigue and protect your eyes as
well. Try to keep the place well ventilated as a cool room provides a better environment for studying. Opening a window may provide this, as long as it does not in any way provide a distraction from what happens outside. What about the times when you find that you are not in the mood for studying? Remember that your studies are leading up to achieving your ambitions, and you should view homework as an exercise in selfdiscipline as well as helping you to take in even more than at school where you can be distracted by others. Be businesslike about your studies and you will benefit more from this approach. If you make regular studying a habit, then you will grow to enjoy it and learn more as you do so.
Bridges Connect these islands with bridges until each island can be reached from any other island, and each island has as many outgoing bridges as its
number. You may only connect islands vertically or horizontally and bridges may not cross. There may be one or two bridges
connecting pairs of islands, but no more than two. Each puzzle has a unique solution that can be found without making guesses.
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Waste not the Precious Hours (by Edgar Guest) I am rich, I have twenty-four hours to spend, Like golden coins they shine for me; Let me not waste them, Neither let me spend them in hectic activity. I would take time to think before using them: Let me spend a good portion of them for my daily work, And some form of creative activity; Let me save some for friendliness and helpfulness to others; Let me spend at least one in looking up for guidance, With moments for quiet enjoyment Of the wonderful worlds of nature, books, art and music. A little I must save for having fun, And then a number of the coins for a well-earned rest; And if, at the day's close, I find that some have been spent Other than the way I had planned, Let me not despair for, when I wake up tomorrow, My purse will again be filled With twenty-four more coins, shining and new! And I shall be twenty-four hours richer, And older and wiser than I was today.
Making yourself well prepared for study, as in all activities, will ensure that you obtain the maximum benefit for it.
l Tel o tt i Hello, readers, Uncle Roy is again asking all of you to try in some way to make a contribution to this page, and thus to the welfare of you and your fellow readers. This contribution can take any form that you feel would be valuable – an account of what is going on in your community and country, any advice you would like to pass on to your fellow teen readers and, on a broader level, any comment or recommendation you would like to make to your fellow Guyanese. Please remit same to my email – roypaul2002@yahoo.com, and be assured that your worthwhile contribution will have a prominent place on our page.
Solutions to last week’s Inkies
Line segments
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8
steps to mindful eating
What is mindful eating? Mindfulness means focusing on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting your feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations.” The tenets of mindfulness apply to mindful eating as well, but the concept of mindful eating goes beyond the individual. It also encompasses how what you eat affects the world. We eat for total health," Dr. Cheung says. That's essentially the same concept that drove the development of the 2015 pro-posed U.S. Dietary Guidelines, which, for the first time, considered sustainability of food crops as well as the health benefits of the foods. Although the ideal mindful-eating food choices are similar to the Mediterranean diet — centered on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, seeds, nuts, and vegetable oils — the technique can be applied to a cheeseburger and fries. By truly paying attention to the food you eat, you may indulge in these types of foods less often. In essence, mindful eating means being fully attentive to your food — as you buy, prepare, serve, and consume it. However, adopting the practice may take more than a few adjustments in the way you approach meals and snacks. In the book Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life and companion website, www.savorthebook.com, Dr. Cheung and her co-author, Buddhist spiritual leader Thich Nhat Hanh, suggest several practices that can help you get there, including those listed below. View Protect yourself from the damage of chronic inflammation. 1. Begin with your shopping list. Consider the health value of every item you add to your list and stick to it to avoid impulse buying when you're shopping. Fill most of your cart in the produce section and avoid the center aisles—which are heavy with processed foods — and the chips and candy at the check-out counter. 2. Come to the table with an appetite — but not when ravenously hungry. If you skip meals, you may be so eager to get anything in your stomach that your first priority is filling the void instead of enjoying your food. 3. Start with a small portion. It may be helpful to limit the size of your plate to nine inches or less. 4. Appreciate your food. Pause for a minute or two before you begin eating to contemplate everything and everyone it took to bring the meal to your table. Silently express your gratitude for the opportunity to enjoy delicious food and the companions you're enjoying it with. 5. Bring all your senses to the meal. When you're cooking, serving, and eating your food, be attentive to color, texture, aroma, and even the sounds different foods make as you prepare them. As you chew your food, try identifying all the ingredients, especially seasonings. 6. Take small bites. It's easier to taste food completely when your mouth isn't full. Put down your utensil between bites. 7. Chew thoroughly. Chew well until you can taste the essence of the food. (You may have to chew each mouthful 20 to 40 times, depending on the food.) You may be surprised at all the flavors that are released. 8. Eat slowly. If you follow the advice above, you won't bolt your food down. Devote at least five minutes to mindful eating before you chat with your tablemates.
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Sunday May 29, 2022
Sunday May 29, 2022
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Kaieteur News
Kaieteur M@ilbox
Kaieteur M@ilbox
No country really wants to conclude that it is a Failed State DEAR EDITOR, Guyana is 56 years old. At the end of the day, we have survived as a Nation State. But have we made the transition from Plantation to Nation? Have we turned the aspiration of “One People, One Nation, One Destiny” to much more than an emotional slogan? Any serious analysis of where Guyana has been these last 56 years must grapple with those questions. The problem is that as a people we seem unwilling to engage in conversations of this nature. We prefer to avoid them and instead cover ourselves with the mask of patriotism. So, independence observances are transformed into a big Jam Session among the people and Political Dances by the leaders. Can we honestly consider ourselves to be an independent nation whereby our people feel a sense of collective accomplishment? Of course, we hear a lot of what Burnham and Jagan did for our country, but very little about what the country has done to turn the formerly Wild
Coast into a Freedom Space. Maybe we have been too guilty of willful neglect. We are afraid to face our failures. No country really wants to conclude that it is a Failed State. So, Guyana lives in this make-believe bubblea bubble that has been exacerbated by the coming of the Oil Economy. We have to admit that that development has turned global spotlight on our little Guyana. But what about our own domestic frailties? Those cannot be washed away with Oil and Gasthey are too profound. To the contrary, Oil and Gas have already begun to expose our frailties and consequent failures. Yet we proceed in this weird dance of masking what we really have become over these last fifty-six years. We have become a brutal place where our politics reflect our lack of a common nationalism. Our pretense makes it even more painful. A nation is not built on slogans bereft of common ownership of the national experiment. Some in our midst cor-
rectly or incorrectly question the very date of Independencethey remind us that May 26 was a day of ethnic cleansing in Wismar, now renamed Linden. So, we cannot even agree on the date of our Independence. African Guyanese leaders silence “Wismar” and their Indian Guyanese counterparts silence “Son Chapman,” I watched Dr. Baytoram Ramharack, Dr. Vishnu Bisram and Mr. Ravi Dev on an Globespan24 programme strongly charge African Guyanese scholars, political leaders of silencing the Wismar “genocide”, “massacre” and “ethnic cleansing” of East Indians while they celebrate the killing of Africans in the Son Chapman bombing. The three gentlemen seemed genuinely surprised at this silencing of the Indian Guyanese suffering. Yet in their protest against silencing, they were engaged in their own counter-silencing. There was not even an attempt to grapple with the two incidents as related outcomes
Freddie and Karan Chand commended for interview DEAR EDITOR, I commend Freddie Kissoon for his interview with Karan Chand (May 21) and I applaud Mr. Chand for his frankness in revealing his experience with the AFC party leadership and governance of the coalition. The public needs to know about how AFC members feel about the party. I penned opinion polls and commentaries on the AFC about its shrinking support. Freddies analyses and his interview with Karan Chand buttress the findings of the polls. I visited Region 2 several times during the coalitions tenure. The then coalition administration was blamed for being obstructionist in the delivery of services by the PPP controlled RDC in Region 2. It was seen as victimization of PPP supporters. This cost the coalition a lot of support in the 2020 elections even among those who voted coalition in 2015. I met Karan Chand for the first time in 2016 and a few times after that in visits to Essequibo to conduct opinion polls. I also met him and some of his Essequibo friends at the partys convention at West Bank Dem where I visited as a reporter; I was put out of the place. Karan Chand and his allies were very warm towards me and complimented my writings
and polling work. I conducted similar interviews as Freddie did with him though not for publication. I also interviewed other AFC figures as I did PPP and PNC officials for my research. Karan Chand and other AFC stalwarts expressed similar remarks about the AFC to me as he did to Freddie very early in the coalition administration. Karan Chand and other AFC stalwarts, who were formerly ROAR stalwarts, expressed their disappointment with the governance of the coalition and AFCs silence at being belittled and marginalized by the PNC leadership. They stated that they communicated their frustration with the party leadership and about declining support on the coast as a result of neglect and marginalization of the region by the government. They told me they could not get regular interactions with their superiors. They did say that the only person interacting with them was the Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo but that Moses was not delivering. Their requests and complaints went unanswered. Those who supported (voted) for AFC complained about the arrogance of the leadership, telling me way back in 2016 that “dey done with the party”. Supporters of the coalition were upset that the central
government was undermining Region 2 RDC because it was under the control of the PPP. The AFC representatives in the region said they didnt like it but were helpless to do anything about it. The AFC reps were blamed for stymieing the delivery of services by the PPP controlled RDC to the people of Region 2. It cannot be explained or understood why the coalition governed so badly that even several of its own supporters shunned it and went back PPP; the trend was there since 2016 and supported by election results in 2016 and 2018. It cannot be understood PNC leadership ill-treated the AFC and why the AFC bigwigs accepted it. Worse, AFC loyalists could not understand why the party leadership snubbed loyal cadres. Was it a thing about power? It is commendable that Karan Chand published his experience and analysis of coalition rule on March 1 and agreed to the interview with Freddie to let it all out. He cleared his conscience and has earned accolades for his courage to speak out against the snubbing, marginalization, and abuses that he and his comrades suffered during the coalition tenure in office. It is a learning experience. Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram
of our fractured Pre-Nation. For the past two years we have been fed a constant diet of elections-related violence against Indian Guyanese at the hands of African Guyanese by Indian Guyanese columnists and activists. But all of themevery single one of them-have omitted the election-related violence against African Guyanese at the hands of Indian Guyanese on March 6, 2020. I heard Ravi Dev speak feelingly about Indian Guyanese being beaten while African Guyanese police watch on. But he omitted from his testimony the fact that Indian Guyanese terrorized African Guyanese police officers on March 6, when even children were the victims of violence. I do not for one moment attribute maliciousness to Ravi and company. They like their African Guyanese counterparts, including this writer, are victims of our deeply fractured Independence. There is no common sustained national consciousness. Silencing is countered by Silencing because Silencing is an inevitable outcome of Ethno-Racial competition. There was a time when at the urging of Ravi Dev, I and a few other African Guyanese activists engaged him and other Indian Guyanese leaders in an open dialogue on Race on Channel 28 TV. I embraced that dialogue partly because it allowed us to en-
gage the victimhood of both groups in the open space. I felt that was one way of confronting the Silencing. For some strange reason, the series was discontinued. Another dialogue was initiated by the owner of Globespan 24x7, but that too was discontinued, I think at the urging of Ravi. We Guyanese have to be honest with ourselvesthe only thing we share in a profound way as ethno-cultural groups is the Nation-State called Guyana. In other words, we share a Civic Identity. Nothing more. Attempts at political unity have been unsustainable. Africans and Indians closed ranks from time to time during the period of colonialism, but once colonialism came to an end and the question of who governs arose, that solidarity was replaced with competition and hostility that turned deadly in the early 1960s. Walter Rodney and the WPA managed to inspire a movement against Authoritarian rule in the 1970s-80s, but once the authoritarian regime fell, both groups returned to their ethnic ranks. Ever since, the broad ethnic masses have been willing to embrace Ethnocracy within the context of a Winner Take All system. Some of my Indian Guyanese counterparts have since signed on to the notion of Crossover voting as the answer to our deep fracture.
And the leaders of the major African Guyanese political parties have bought in to it also. I am not convinced. But as someone who is deeply concerned with African Guyanese marginalization, I have to engage the electoral logic even as I am very conscious of its immense limitations. In conclusion let me say the following. First, we have failed in 56 years to craft a united Guyanese nation out of our ethnic plurality. In fact, we are further away from that outcome than we were in 1953. It was wishful thinking to believe we could craft such a nation while one group or the other managed the government. Two groups do not fight one year and then ask one of those groups to govern the other the next year. Thats what we did in 1964 with the aid of external forces. We did it again in 1992 and 2020. We never were One PeopleWe are several peoples. Given the trajectory of the last 56 years, it is improbable that we will forge One Nation anytime soon. And our common destiny means nothing without a common national consciousness. So, the chant of One Guyana in 2022 is a mask for Ethnic domination, just as it was in 1964. As the calypsonian Brigo warned, “We walking in the dark.” David Hinds
Leadership credentials on the line DEAR EDITOR, The nations political leaders across the board are under the microscope. They are President, Vice President, Opposition Leader all being scrutinized with laser-like intensity. It all has to do with the Liza-1 Permit renewal. This is a test of their abilities, a probe on their patriotism, backbone, and wisdom. And when this is over, the direction they chose, and what they got (or failed to get) would stand as a referendum on their readiness, their right, and their robustness to lead Guyanese. What they did and what they got for Guyana would be a plebiscite on their leadership existence. There is nothing left to be said about the existing contract, other than it functions as the baseline, the starting point, in this Liza-1 Permit renewal. Our leaders in the current PPP Government already should have mentally scrapped what they have publicly shredded over and over again. The Liza-1 Permit renewal represents a new beginning, the launching pad for
Guyana to hold its own, and come into its own. The eyes of the world are focused on them, and our leaders must manifest that they are up to the task at hand, that they have what it takes to deliver. For Guyana and Guyanese. I refuse to sully this moment with one speck of belief that the Liza-1 Permit renewal is an already done deal, and largely along the same lines as have existed from its original construction. No! of that I will have no part. I distance from that today, but we will know soon enough. As is widely known, I have the lowest regard possible for Guyanas national leaders, but even they could not be so traitorous, which is why today I abstain. My belief is that by a gradual process of erosion this contract can be undone, through wise and determined whittling away at its more offensive provisions that favour the oil leviathans. This country has been ridiculed abroad and rendered into countless caricatures due to its leadership prostrations before oil com-
panies, be they American, British, Chinese, or Spanish. It has been sundered, abused, and misused endlessly by outsiders. Our leaders cannot expect much of any kind of assistance from the plenipotentiaries of those countries that are here. They are here for their own, and we are on our own. If that hasnt registered by now, then we had better get to that mindset right away. It is why they must put aside political and historical and present differences and stand with one voice and as one unified body. They know what I mean, and I believe that all Guyana does too. They must not fail. Do I think that our leaders the President, the Vice President, and the Opposition Leader have what it takes to take on this challenge and journey through this crucible? I think that they all can pleasantly surprise us, if not delight us, with what they come back with to Guyana under the auspices of this permit renewal. Once they are (Continued on page 60)
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Gunshots and robbery spree... From page 9 shooting into the air. Videos also surfaced showing that there was also a robbery spree taking place amidst the chaos. One man was seen attacking another who allegedly snatched a woman’s phone. As he pounded away on the suspect, the woman was heard saying, “Ah want meh phone, give me meh phone a want ma f……g phone.” Another woman was recording a live video of herself singing to the lyrics of the song and dancing to the beat when her purse was snatched. The live video recorded her running behind the purse snatcher and demanding that he return it. Countless posts were made about victims being robbed. It was also alleged that bandits had also stormed into the Banks DIH drinks bar and stole all the money. Police had to be called in and, according to a release from the force’s Corporate Communications Unit (CCU), ranks arrested “a vendor from East Ruimveldt, Georgetown with an illegal 9mm firearm with one suspected live 9mm bullet.” The statement further detailed that as the man remains in police custody, investigators are presently reviewing CCTV cameras from
nearby buildings and cell phone recorded videos circulating on various social media platforms to identify the gun-toting patrons. CCU also related in its statement that the force is also appealing to the public to share information or videos with investigators to assist in identifying and arresting the “trigger happy” patrons who were in the “Baderation” crowd. At the meeting the Acting Commissioner of Police held was one HJ Entertainment promoter Mr. Rawle Ferguson. Also present at the meeting, according to CCU, were Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Administration, Calvin Brutus and Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Ravindradat Budhram. The head of the force’s Special Branch, Errol Watts and Georgetown Police Commander, Simon McBean attended too. The discussion, this publication learnt, was centred on how to prevent security breaches at future events. Some of the recommendations made included the prohibition of glass bottles and that the promoters have improved security search at the gate by installing metal detectors and scanners at the gates. There were also talks about heavier police presence in partnership with the private sector.
Kaieteur M@ilbox Leadership credentials on the... From page 59 unfettered, then they must have no fear, and fear no evil manipulations from any quarter. This is another crucial proving ground that will speak one way or another to what they are, who they are beholden to, and where lies
their first priority. They have a grand moment to commit and recommit to pushing for what is best for Guyana and in good faith. I wish them the best. We shall see. Sincerely, GHK Lall
Homeless but not hopeless From page 53 empty garbage bins for people and do any other labour jobs I can find,” he shared. But living on the streets, he confessed, has not been a good one. For this reason, he confided that he desperately wants to turn his life around. “As a homeless person you don’t get treated well, people would pass late at nights in buses and throw bottles at us, taunt us and even want to assault us,” he shared. To stay out of trouble, he said, he would look for “safe” spots to sleep when night falls. At the outreach, Gittens asked doctors for help in getting the appropriate medical help to end his addiction. “I spoke with the doctors and asked them for some help to get into the clinic at the Georgetown Hospital, so on Monday I will make that step to turn my life around,” Gittens said. His hope for a better life, he revealed, is because of his daughter with whom he hopes to rekindle a good relationship with in the near future. According to the man, he misses her a lot and wishes to once again see her regularly. After ending his conversation with this newspaper, Gittens was afforded a haircut – one of the services provided at the outreach. At the outreach too, I was able to speak with Omadella Greene whose brilliant smile
was rather inviting. But Greene too admitted that she has been battling an addiction. She said that she is addicted to “Banko Wine” and has been homeless for nearly 20 years now. The woman revealed that she is a mother of nine children and because of her bad habit some of them currently live in staterun homes and others have been adopted. Greene related that she became a substance abuser after surviving multiple abusive relationships. “I was a good woman; I was a vendor that used to work hard and sell fish and greens (vegetables) at Stabroek Market but when I reach up with these people (men) they always end up abusing me and I does end up running away and then would find myself entrapped in another abusive relationship and I would run again. They always beating me, chopping me and stabbing me,” she shared as she pointed to multiple scars about her body. Feeling insecure and disgusted for making bad decisions over the years, Greene said that alcohol became her companion and before long her addiction to it caused her to end up living on the streets. Greene currently does cleaning jobs at shops and restaurants in the city for $1000 to $2000 for a couple of hours and half of the sum earned, she disclosed, is spent on “Banko Wine”. She admitted that she
lives with regrets and would often hide from her children when they come looking for her. “One time my son come and look for me on his bicycle and I hide but somehow he saw me and he seh ‘mommy is here you living, just bare up I will build a house for you’,” recounted the woman. But according to the woman, she laughed at his remark to hide her shame since she is well aware that she is the one who should be taking care of her children’s wellbeing and not the other way around. Despite continuing to struggle with her addiction, Greene, like Gittens, assured me that she hasn’t lost hope. She said she has hopes of “becoming normal again.” “Me ain’t give up hope yet,” she asserted. But while she tries her best to make that change, Greene said, for now, she still has to “sleep where the night catches me” and fend off the dangerous predators lurking in the dark corners to pounce on female vagrants. “It’s very dangerous to live on the streets; there are men that try to rape you. I was attacked before but I defended myself and called for help. I was rescued, so now I try to group up with other vagrants who will fight together with me if anyone attack,” she shared. At the outreach, Greene, who opted to not be photographed, got new clothes, a pair of eyeglasses and some treatment for a skin condition.
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Repairs to the Palms roof estimated to cost $9M During the recent opening of tenders at the National Procurement and Tender Board (NPTAB) office, it was revealed that repairs are slated for the Palms Geriatric Facility roof. The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security which is the procuring entity for this project, is estimating the repairs to cost $9.7 million. At the opening it was re-
vealed that 15 contractors had submitted bids for the project. Their bids ranged from as low as $4million to $15million to do the job. Also the Ministry is looking to execute some repairs at the Mahaica Hospital. A project was opened for repairs to the hospital s administration building which is estimated to cost nearly $9million. Below are the companies and their bids:
Ministry of Home Affairs Procurement of field materials for the Guyana Police Force
Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation Construction of powered working platform
Supply and delivery of self loader truck
Ministry of Human Services and Social Security Repairs to roof at Palms Geriatric Facility Procurement of janitorial supplies, Guyana Police Force
Supply and delivery of cherry picker truck (articulated/ telescopic)
Supply, delivery and installation of a new bitumen emulsion plant
Procurement of mattresses at the Guyana Prison Service
Repairs to stores at Mahaica Hospital Procurement of HP outboard engine, hand held radios and motorcycles for Lot 1 to 3 for the Community Policing Group
Procurement of horse compartment vehicle stem-bow wooden ballahoo and outboard engine for Lots 1 and 2.
Repairs to Administration Building at Mahaica Hospital
Procurement of office material and supplies for the Guyana Police Force
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Prequalified bidders to submit proposals...
VEHICLE FOR SALE One Honda CRV,fully loaded immaculate condition, low mileage 3.3M negotiable & 1 new super custom Hiace Bus 2.5M .Contact:6490956. 2014 Kia Sportage,brand new excellent condition 49,000km $5.7M negotiable. Call:669-7644.
From page 20 pipeline to be constructed by that company, said to be to the tune of some US$900M, the oil giant will also be takPROPERTY ing on the responsibility of constructing the NGL plant. FOR SALE Included in the 5,906 Princess St,Durban St, Enterprise C.Contact Ray's Realty pages document submitted to 6 2 7 - 9 6 8 5 . the EPA, ExxonMobil is looking to begin construction of a gas plant aspect of the project as early as August this year as long as permission is granted by the State Agency. This publication had re-
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VACANCY Cashiers, must have CXC Math & English. Apply: Survival Complex,173 Sheriff St,CampbelvilleG/ t o w n . Te l : 6 0 9 - 2 9 9 5 . Email:survival.humanresources @ g m a i l . c o m Sales Representatives. Apply: Survival Complex, 173 Sheriff St,CampbelvilleG/ t o w n . Te l : 2 2 7 - 5 2 8 6 - 9 , 6 0 9 - 2 9 9 5 . Email:survival.humanresources @ g m a i l . c o m Bond Clerks/Porters. Apply: Survival Shopping Complex, 173Sheriff St, Campbelville G/town.Tel:227-5286-9, 6 0 9 - 2 9 9 5 . Email:survival.humanresources @ g m a i l . c o m Lash,Nail Technician & Mani-Pedicurist.Must be English literate. Contact: Reign L.A.B on 643-5855. For Porters.Apply in person at Alabama Trading, 65 Robb Maid to cook and clean for East Bank area.Call:615-9132 For a Receptionist, Hotel Attendant. Tel: 231-0951, 2277714, 640-0673. Water Delivery Driver and Porter for E.C.D.Tel:676-1363/ 692-6768. Female Cleaner for office. Call:642-9823. 1 night guard for Soesdyke Hillfoot & Industry, E.C.D. 1 Male office Assistant 2yrs experience. Tel: 219-2170, 618-9186. AccountsClerks. Quickbook knowledge & accounting experience. Survival Complex,173Sheriff St,CampbelvilleG/ tow.Tel:609-2995.Email: survival.humanresources @gmail.com. One Porter. Apply at: Lens 136 Sheriff Street next to Buddys/Pizzahut. Call: 2272486 or 226-3750 Counter Staff at People’s Choice Mobile.Tel:679-9449. Inventory/Data Clerk. Survival Shopping Complex. Te l : 6 0 9 - 2 9 9 5 , E m a i l : survival.humanresources@ g m a i l . c o m . Cook,Baker & Servicemen for interior location. Applicants must be experienced. Call:2312 2 5 0 .
ported that Exxon, had revealed that the GTE project that will be based at Wales in Region Three on approximately 150 acres of land, will cost way more than the initial US$900M. It was explained in the EIA that the project will use natural gas produced from the Liza One and Two projects in the Stabroek Block, and transport that resource via offshore and onshore pipeline networks to a natural gas power plant. The oil company had noted that the Government of Guyana will be handling the construction of the power plant, which is therefore subjected to a separate environmental authorisation process. Notably, Kaieteur News had reported that the plant is not included in the EIA, with the exception that it is considered as part of the cumulative impact assessment.
Expounding further, EEPGL said the project will involve capturing associated gas produced from crude oil production operations on the Liza Phase 1 (Destiny) and Liza Phase 2 (Unity) Floating, Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) vessels, transporting approximately 50 million standard cubic feet per day of rich gas via a subsea pipeline and then to an onshore pipeline to a natural gas liquids (NGL) processing plant (NGL Plant), treating the gas to remove NGLs (i.e., propane, butane, and pentanes+) for sale to third parties, and ultimately delivering dry gas meeting government specifications for use at the power plant. On Wednesday night, the President also disclosed, “we will be creating the condition to supply to bring gas three times more than our national demand and we will be in a
position to develop a whole range of other derived liquids that it can monetised.” President Ali noted that the design of the pipeline caters for future additional supply of gas which will allow the project to deliver a wide range of value-added activities which may include manufacturing and industrial development. The combined offshore and onshore pipeline system is targeted to be ready to deliver rich gas by end of 2024, and the NGL Plant is targeted to be operational by mid-2025. The GTE project has a planned life cycle of at least 25 years and is expected to employ up to 800 workers at peak during the Construction stage, approximately 40 fulltime equivalents workers during the Operations stage, and approximately 50 workers during the Decommissioning stage.
Interesting Creatures…Bronze corydoras From page 52 observations, it was found that bronze corydoras have a unique method of insemination. When these fish reproduce, the male will present his abdomen to the female. The female will attach her mouth to the male’s genital opening, creating the well-known “Tposition” many Corydoras exhibit during courtship. The female will then drink the sperm. The sperm rapidly moves through her intestines and is discharged together with her eggs into a pouch formed by her pelvic fins. The female can then swim away and deposit the pouch somewhere else alone. Because the T-position is exhibited in other species than just C. aeneus, it is likely that they also exhibit this behaviour. In the wild, eggs are laid on waterweeds. Males do not form territories or compete over females; interference between males might only happen when two males present their abdomens simultaneously. On the other hand, females do not choose between males. Mating is more or less random; therefore, male reproductive success is directly related to courtship frequency. The eggs of C. aeneus exhibit a unique surface pattern with small villi-like protuberances which resemble attaching-filaments of teleost eggs. These structures allow the eggs to be adhesive and stick to a specific place or to each other. The presence of these structures may be related to the turbid habitat in which
this species lives. In the aquarium Bronze corydoras are probably the most popular Corydoras species. It is annually bred and shipped in large quantities all over the world. It is easily bred and is produced in commercial quantities in the United States, Europe, and Singapore. Most of the available fish are therefore domestic strains. Wild imports are reported to be less easy to breed. They are a hardy and useful aquarium fish despite having a colouration that is by no means striking or unusual. Many aquarists are fascinated by the habits of these fish. They ceaselessly comb the bottom of the aquarium for food and therefore disturb it slightly, sending up detritus and waste material that has settled loosely on the bottom. They prefer being kept in groups of 5 or more, being sociable fish and are ideal fish for a community tank. Other Corydoras species can be placed in the same aquarium, and despite the strong resemblance many species bear to one another, the species will tend to separate out and only move about among their own kind. Corydoras aeneus is not particular about the composition of the water. Adequate conditions are a temperature range of 20 to 28 °C (68 to 82 °F), pH of 6.0–8.0, and hardness of 2–30 DGH. The water should have no salt added to it. A fairly dense growth of plants with a number of possible hiding places is greatly appreciated. Corys are easy
to feed, they are omnivores eating all flake and pelleted food and also live and frozen foods. When it comes to sperm, then the female glues the eggs, only a few in number, to the chosen substrate and then (sometimes) quickly touches them with her mouth. After several acts of spawning, which span a total of two to three hours, one female will have produced up to 200 eggs. Frequently, two males are used for each female, as one male has difficulty fertilising all the eggs. The eggs gradually grow darker in colour, and just prior to hatching (ranging from three days at 28 °C to a week at 20 °C) they turn dark brown. The fry keep to the bottom of the tank, feeding on detritus and any fine foods available. The parents may spawn again within two to three weeks. Albino corydoras The albino corydoras is an albino variety of the bronze corydoras that has been developed for the aquarium trade, with a pale pink or orange body and red eyes. It is physically similar to normallycoloured individuals, although some breeders report that the fry are a little slower to develop. Others say that the albinos are practically blind and that the males are somewhat sterile, although this may be due to extensive inbreeding. Albino bronze corydoras are frequently injected with bright dye (via a needle) and sold in aquariums. This controversial practice is known as “painting” or “juicing” fish. [Source: Wikipedia]
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Tottenham head coach to stay on next season (BBC Sport) - There had been doubt over the Italian staying on, despite Spurs qualifying for the Champions League. However, the news in midweek that owners ENIC were injecting £150m into the club has allayed fears about whether Tottenham would meet Conte’s demands for improvement. Conte met director of football Fabio Paratici in Italy on Friday and re-affirmed his commitment to the club. It remains to be seen whether Conte will be willing
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to extend his contract. The 52-year-old’s current deal ends in 2023, although the contract does contain an option to extend for a further 12 months. Conte was named Tottenham boss in November last year and guided the club to a fourth-place finish in the Premier League. However, he appeared to suggest he was not happy at the club as recently as February, seemingly unhappy with the situation he had inherited. After losing to Burnley on 22nd February - their fourth
loss in five Premier League games - Conte said he was frustrated and that “if the problem is the coach I am ready to go”. He had also appeared to question Spurs’ transfer strategy in an interview with Sky Italia but later said that his comments had been mistranslated. However, Tottenham finished the season strongly and, after a 3-0 north London derby win against Arsenal on 12 May, he said he was “very happy”. Forster to join
Sunday May 29, 2022 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) The moment has come to affirm your individuality and life choices, Aries. The planetary energy will make you work hard to rethink the number of obligations you undertake.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You must have felt the pressure rising in the past week. Intense, isn't it? Do you have a job to finish at the last minute? Is there some ill humor or misunderstanding among your relations.
TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Why not go directly to the heart of the problem, Taurus? This could be the question you've been asking yourself concerning a commitment to a cause that's important to you.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) There's some likelihood that your heart will flutter as certain plans begin to be realized. If you have your heart set on someone who seems impossibly remote. . SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Although the forecast is stormy, the day ahead may give you an opportunity to free yourself from your family, literally or figuratively. Be wary even if the course seems clear to you.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Don't let your fear or anger get the better of you today, Gemini. You're going to be pushed to the forefront and you may even be forced to make some big decisions. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Your ideas about life are going through some radical changes. None of the givens that you've always taken for granted apply any more, Cancer.
CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Today you could feel a little more vulnerable than usual, Capricorn. Perhaps you feel hemmed in by decisions you can't put off any longer.
LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Today's aspects will clarify any team situations of which you're a part, Leo. This could concern teams in your private or professional life.
AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) The day ahead will be as busy as can be. Matters that had been left unsettled are now becoming urgent. Today brings an opportunity to release some steam, Aquarius.
VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22) Your stroll through the universe of possibilities that you so love has come to an end, Virgo. It's time for you to come back to Earth and join the rest of us.
PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You can expect today to be tense, Pisces, as the people close to you are likely to be especially irritable. Adults and children alike may throw tantrums for no reason.
Tottenham… Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster is set to sign for Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur on a free transfer. The England international’s contract expires at the end of next month, which allows him to move clubs as a free agent. BBC Sport understand that the 34-year-old has already undergone a medical and the deal will be announced soon. Forster will provide backup to Spurs captain Hugo Lloris. Lloris’ current deputy Pierluigi Gollini is on loan from Serie A side Atalanta, but his future is unclear. Spurs have the option to buy him, but in recent days he revealed he would be happy to return to Italy. Former Newcastle and Celtic keeper Forster joined Southampton in 2014 and made 156 appearances for the south coast club. He has been capped six times by his country.
Monaco Grand Prix... From page 67 2021, Leclerc also took pole - a position that was secured when he himself crashed, this time at the exit of the Swimming Pool section. In the end, it ruined his weekend. Putting the car back together, Ferrari did not notice that the left-hand driveshaft his was cracked and the car broke down as he tried to make his way to the grid before the start of the race. Leclerc has always been blisteringly fast at Monaco, but has never finished a race on his home track. With Sainz alongside him at the start, he has a golden opportunity to make amends for that - a result he badly needs having seen a 46-point lead turned into a six-point deficit to Verstappen in the last three races. Perez had looked the man
most likely to threaten Leclerc before the final part of qualifying but his first lap in the last session did not go as well as he had hoped and Sainz snuck ahead. Trying to make amends, Perez pushed too hard at Portier, the right-hander before the straight into the tunnel, and crashed into the barriers, where he was collected by Sainz, who was on his own final lap and trying to improve behind him. Although Leclerc was improving further ahead around the lap, the driver most badly affected by Perez’s error was Verstappen. Out of sorts throughout qualifying, he had just put in his best first sector. It was not a match for Leclerc, but the world champion looked as if he might have a chance to jump onto the front row, only to be thwarted by the session being stopped.
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Champions League agony for Liverpool as Real Madrid win (BBC Sport) - Liverpool’s bid to claim the Champions League trophy for the seventh time ended in bitter disappointment as Vinicius Jr’s second-half winner gave Real Madrid victory in Paris. Jurgen Klopp’s side ran into a one-man wall of defiance as Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois produced one of the great individual performances to thwart Liverpool time and again. Mohamed Salah, seeking revenge for his early departure through injury in the 2018 final against Real, was denied three times by Courtois who was simply unbeatable. The victory also sees Carlo Ancelotti make history by becoming the first coach
Vinicius Jr’s second-half winner gave Real Madrid victory for a record 14th time
to win a fourth Champions League title. Real were always a threat and the decisive moment came after 59 minutes when
Vinicius stole in unmarked at the far post to score. This was also a final marred by chaotic scenes outside Stade de France with
thousands of Liverpool fans, some targeted with pepper spray by French police, unable to get into the stadium, forcing the kick-off to be delayed by more than 30 minutes. Liverpool fall at final hurdle Liverpool’s magnificent season brought them the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup - both won on penalties against Chelsea - but ended in a double disappointment in the final week of a stellar campaign. The Champions League might have eased the agony of just missing out on the Premier League to Manchester City by one point, only for Liverpool to find themselves on the wrong end of a goalkeeping masterclass from Courtois. The Belgian was simply perfect as he was a constant
thorn in Salah’s side, turned Sadio Mane’s shot on to the post brilliantly and commanded his penalty area with faultless handling. Salah held his head in disbelief on many occasions as Courtois manned the barricade for Real, leaving the Egyptian to nurse the pain of another Champions League final defeat by the Spanish giants. Liverpool were not quite at their best and eventually paid the price for not taking chances as Real pounced in trademark fashion to win this tournament for a record-extending 14th time. Klopp’s side could not have given any more as they pushed to the final whistle but looked jaded towards the end - no surprise given the demands made of them this season. Liverpool will still take huge credit by maintaining a push for an historic quadruple until the final week of the season but the conclusion will sting. The occasion left even more of a sour taste given the events outside Stade de France. Liverpool are demanding a full investigation into how thousands of their fans could not get into the stadium, with dangerous numbers packed into small areas as kick-off approached. Real Madrid kings of Europe again Real Madrid have been
living by the skin of their teeth in the Champions League this season, but any side that beats Paris StGermain, Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool to reach their goal answers every question. This is a side that knows how to get the job done, no matter how late they leave it, no matter how much the odds seem stacked against them. Real are bolstered by years of experience and quality that gives them concreteclad self-belief that has seen them navigate their way out of so many tight situations. And what a moment for their legendary coach Ancelotti, who was brought back to the Bernabeu from Everton a year ago and has won La Liga and the Champions League on his return. Ancelotti can now lay claim to history with that fourth triumph, once again showing his mastery of managing egos and high-class players who respond to the vastly experienced Italian’s promptings. He was the most relaxed man in Paris at his pre-match press conference, oozing confidence, and can now look back at two Champions League wins over Liverpool, here and for AC Milan in 2007, after losing in the so-called miracle of Istanbul in 2005. Ancelotti is one of the greats and has proved it again.
Hindley poised for Giro d’Italia glory after overtaking Carapaz (Reuters) - Jai Hindley is on the verge of his first Giro d’Italia title after taking the pink jersey on the 20th and final mountainous stage, a 167-kilometre ride from Belluno to Marmolada, as local rider Alessandro Covi took the stage win. Colombian Richard Carapaz, looking for his second Giro title, held a slender three-second lead in the general classification over Hindley coming into the penultimate stage, but saw that turn into a one minute 25 second deficit with just the final time trial left today. Spaniard Mikel Landa, third in the general classification, one minute 51 seconds behind Hindley, stayed at the head of the peloton with his Bahrain Victorious team mates as they climbed the Passo Pordoi – the highest point of the Giro. With Covi, of UAE Team Emirates, well clear out in front, Carapaz was looking comfortable going into the gruelling final Passo Fedaia climb, as Ineos Grenadiers
domestique Pavel Sivakov led the peloton with four kilometres to go. Hindley, who finished second in the Giro in 2020, knew he had to make a move if he was to be in with a chance of becoming the first Australian champion, pushing on with two kilometres to go, with Carapaz struggling to keep pace. As Covi won his first grand tour stage, Hindley, of Bora-Hansgrohe, left Carapaz for dead, finishing one minute 28 seconds ahead of the 2019 champion to give him a significant advantage going into the 17.1kilometere time trial in Verona. The 26-year-old wore the
maglia rosa at the same stage two years ago only to lose out to Britain’s Tao Geoghegan Hart but, on that occasion, the pair were level on time heading into the final day. “I knew this would be the crucial stage of the race, with the brutal finish,” Hindley said. “I knew if you had the legs you can make a difference. We stayed patient until today, and it is amazing. We could not have timed it better. When I heard Carapaz was dropping down, I just went all out. We will see how it goes tomorrow, it is always hard to say how a time trial will go.”
Sunday May 29, 2022
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Dottin and Ecclestone bring the crown home for Supernovas
The Supernovas players lift the Women’s T20 Challenge 2022 trophy • (BCCI)
(ESPN Cricinfo) - Supernovas laid their hands on the Women’s T20 Challenge trophy for the third time to firmly etch their supremacy in the tournament, which is ostensibly in its last lap before the Women’s IPL takes its place from next year. They eked out a narrow four-run win after Laura Wolvaardt and Simran Bahadur clattered 44 runs in 18 balls to threaten the impossible. The game came down to its last six deliveries. Sophie Ecclestone had 16 to defend and though she gave away a six first ball, she recovered beautifully to seal the game and snatch the title. The win also made Nooshin Al Khadeer’s record as head coach a more envious one, having overseen Railways’ success in the Senior Women’s One Day and T20 tournaments in the last few years. Deandra Dottin was at the thick of it all, first hitting a halfcentury to help Supernovas put 165 on the board, and then picking up a couple of wickets - including bouncing out an in-form Shafali Verma - to peg Velocity back. No dot Dottin Even though she hit the first six of the final, Priya Punia’s stay in the middle
wasn’t a smooth one after Supernovas were put in to bat. While Dottin had managed to get herself going, Punia struggled to rotate strike and conjured up nine dot balls in the powerplay. Dottin’s corresponding figure in the phase was just four. The pair had managed to hit just one four and one six till the final over of the powerplay, which is when Dottin took a liking to Sneh Rana’s offspin. She hit two mighty slog sweeps to signal the start of the change. Punia and Dottin brought up their second fifty-run opening partnership before the former was caught at point off Bahadur. Harmanpreet and the sweep Dottin, meanwhile, continued to motor along and a six over cow corner off Radha Yadav helped her cross fifty. With Harmanpreet Kaur then taking over and peppering the on-side boundary, Supernovas looked poised to breach 200, something they threatened to do against Velocity in the league stage as well. Harmanpreet relied on her go-to shot - the sweep to hit Radha for successive sixes and a four in the 14th
over to bring up the fifty-run stand with Dottin. It took just 28 balls coming as opposed to the 42 balls it took for the first wicket. The slide At 131 for 1 in the 15th over, the base was set for both Dottin and Harmanpreet to launch an assault. But Deepti Sharma’s tight bowling made Dottin attempt an illadvised scoop against a fullish ball and she was bowled for 62 off 44. Pooja Vastrakar, who was pushed up to No. 4, then failed to pick a slower one from Ayabonga Khaka, before Kate Cross got rid of Harmanpreet (43) and Ecclestone in successive deliveries. Bahadur struck twice at the end as Supernovas lost
Monaco Grand Prix: Leclerc on pole after Sergio Perez crash (BBC Sport) - Charles Leclerc took pole position for his home race after a chaotic end to qualifying at the Monaco Grand Prix. The Ferrari driver, dominant throughout, ended 0.225 seconds clear of team-mate, Carlos Sainz. Leclerc was on an even quicker lap at the end before Red Bull’s Sergio Perez crashed at Portier, was collected by Sainz and the session was stopped. Perez took third ahead of team-mate Max Verstappen, Leclerc’s title rival off the pace in fourth. Fernando Alonso also crashed his Alpine at the end of the session, at Mirabeau, and slipped to seventh behind McLaren’s Lando Norris and Mercedes’ George Russell, both of whom the veteran Spaniard had headed after the first runs. And Perez’s crash prevented Hamilton getting a lap on new tyres in the final part of qualifying and he ended up only eighth, ahead of Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel and
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc waves to spectators after earning pole position at Monaco. (AP) Alpine’s Esteban Ocon, both also hindered by the red flag. Chaos denies potential greatness Leclerc started the weekend as favourite and has looked the most likely man to take pole, and he looked like he might be about to do one of the all-time great Monaco qualifying laps before the maelstrom at the end of the session. Already a quarter of a second clear of the field after his first lap, his second one threatened to move him into another dimension but he was unable to complete it.
Leclerc: “It is very special. I am so incredibly happy. It has been a very smooth weekend until now. I knew the pace was in the car and I just had to do the job, it went perfect. “The last lap before the red flag was really really good. It was really on the limit. The rear was loose but it was a good lap. I think I was 0.4secs up before the red flag came. And it is great to have Carlos with me on the front row.” There were ironic parallels with last season in the way the session ended. In (Continued on page 65 )
their last six wickets for 34 runs to post 165, which looked a bit below par even though Dottin said it was “enough”. Boom and bust Shafali and Yastika Bhatia then got off to a flying start, taking 17 off the returning Mansi Joshi’s opening over. Shafali then hit Ecclestone for a couple of fours in the next over before falling to Dottin’s around-the-wicket angle. Ecclestone also got in the act, having Yastika caught and bowled for 13. Kiran Navgire, who hit the fastest fifty of this tournament, on debut, in the last match, was then roughed by Dottin’s back-of-length bowling. It led to the first maiden of the Women’s T20 Challenge 2022, with Navgire then going for a wild swing in the
next over against Ecclestone and getting bowled. After two quiet overs, Wolvaardt hit a couple of fours off Vastrakar before Natthakan Chantham was trapped lbw. Alana King then had Deepti holing out before Wolvaardt and Sneh Rana hit a couple of fours each. However, it all seemed over when King (3-32) struck off consecutive balls to see the back of Rana and Radha. The resurgence feat Wolvaardt and Bahadur But Wolvaardt found an unlikely ally in Bahadur when Velocity needed 48 off the last three overs with two wickets in the bank. Wolvaardt and Bahadur both hit a six each off King in the 18th over that went for 14, with Wolvaardt scoring her second succes-
sive half-century in the competition. Bahadur then came into her own to hit three successive fours off Vastrakar in the penultimate over that went for 17. Wolvaardt brought her finishing prowess to the fore, like she has done in international cricket, beginning the last over with a six with 17 to get. But fittingly, the top ranked bowler in white-ball cricket Ecclestone managed stave off the threat from both Wolvaardt and Bahadur, thereby enabling Supernovas to lay their hands on the silverware yet again. Match details: Supernovas 165 for 7 (Dottin 62, Harmanpreet 43, Deepti 2-20) beat Velocity 161 for 8 (Wolvaardt 65*, Bahadur 20*, King 3-32) by four runs
Lakers decide on Darvin Ham as next head coach
(Reuters) - The Los Angeles Lakers filled their head coaching vacancy Friday, signing former Milwaukee Bucks assistant coach Darvin Ham to a four-year deal, multiple outlets reported. Ham, 48, does not have any head coaching experience but has been an NBA assistant coach the past 11 seasons, including two seasons (2011-13) with the Lakers. He has been with the Bucks since 2018. Ham now takes over a storied franchise that has won 17 NBA titles, 19 conference titles and 33 division titles. The Lakers fired Frank Vogel on April 11 after he spent three seasons with the team, guiding them to the NBA title in 2020. Vogel finished 127-98 over his three seasons in Los Angeles, but the team went 33-49 this past season and missed the playoffs for the seventh time in nine seasons. Ham takes over a talented roster that includes LeBron James and Anthony Davis,
Darvin Ham
but the duo was slowed by multiple injuries for each last season. James played in 56 of the Lakers’ 82 games, while Davis played in 40. The Lakers do not have a pick in next month’s NBA Draft. They moved their first-round pick to the New Orleans Pelicans in the deal to land Davis, while their second-round pick currently belongs to the San Antonio Spurs. Ham played eight seasons in the NBA, making his debut
with the Denver Nuggets in the 1996-97 season after he went undrafted out of Texas Tech. He averaged 2.7 points and 2.3 rebounds in 417 career games (45 starts) for the Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, Washington Wizards, Bucks, Atlanta Hawks and Detroit Pistons. Ham’s best season came in the 1999-2000 with the Bucks when he averaged 5.1 points with 4.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 35 games (21 starts).
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Rajasthan Royals oppose Berbice, Demerara record dominant Gujarat Titans wins over Essequibo for IPL glory today GCB Female U19 T20 Tournament…
A fine all round performance by Naomi Barkoye led Demerara Women to a ninewicket victory over Essequibo when the Guyana Cricket Board Female U19 T20 tournament commenced, yesterday at the Everest Cricket Club Ground. Barkoye made early inroads as she uprooted the stumps of Lavina Ragobeer (00) and Roxanne Hendricks (00) then had Qzel Sampson (01) caught while Fanelia Narine (02) was also bowled by Areah Ally as Essequibo U19 Women were reduced to 16 - 5. Antel Jacobis and Kayla Narine added 45 for the fifth wicket before Narine (04) was removed by Ally. Antel remained unbeaten on 12 while Cyanna Retemiah made seven and Isabella Thomas made six not out as Essequibo reached 98-6. Barkoye claimed 3-6 while Ally had 2-22. In reply, Demerara lost Aneesa Chetram (04) via run out early in the chase, but Barkoye struck three fours in an unbeaten 28 off 54 balls while Melanie Dover made 12 not out as Demerara reached 99-1 in 14.3 overs. Munisar leads Berbice… Ashmini Munisar turned in a sterling all-round performance to hand Berbice Women a 99-run victory over Essequibo, who played two matches on the opening. Qzel Sampson provided Essequibo with the breakthrough when she had opener Tia Henry (04) lbw before Realeanna Grimmond and Munisar put on 83 for the second wicket to steady the innings. Grimmond was removed by Lavina Ragobeer for 29 with three fours off 31 balls while Munisar struck three fours in an unbeaten 42 off 52 balls. Niveena Ramnauth was caught off Ragobeer for 16 as Berbice posted 133-3. Ragobeer was the best bowler with 2-28.
Naomi Barkoye accepts the player of the match award The Gujarat Titans have maintained a rich vein of form this season
Ashmini Munisar receives her player of the match prize from Andre Percival In reply, Essequibo lost openers Dawn Peters (02) Amanda George (01) to Tamara George and Ramnauth, respectively, to be reduced to 2-1. They never recovered as Ramnauth removed Qzel Sampson (00) before Munisar bowled Antel Jacobs (01), had Roxanne Hendricks (00) lbw and up-
rooted the stumps of Reneca Alleyne (00) as Essequibo continued to lose wickets at regular intervals and were bowled out for 34 in 12.2 overs. Munisar claimed 3-3 while Ramnauth and Tia Isaacs each had 2-2. The tournament continues today.
(THD) - Rajasthan Royals will look to the in-form Jos Buttler to inspire the team in its first IPL final since 2008, facing debutants Gujarat Titans, who have impressed by topping the table Indian Premier League debutants Gujarat Titans will take on a Shane Warne-inspired Rajasthan Royals in Sunday’s final, both teams eyeing a fairy tale victory after each enjoyed a dominant season run. Fourteen years ago, Warne led underdogs Rajasthan to glory in the marquee T20 tournament’s inaugural season. This year they face another set of first-timers in the final of a season that began just weeks after the Australian spin legend’s shock death. “Shane Warne... is such an influential figure for the Rajasthan Royals and having led the team to success in that first season,” said star batsman Jos Buttler. “We will miss him dearly, but we know he is looking down on us with a lot of pride.” Buttler on fire In-form Buttler led Rajasthan’s fight-back in the second qualifier to knock out Royal Challengers Bangalore and reach their first IPL final after they won the inaugural
edition in 2008. He equalled Virat Kohli’s record of four tons in an IPL season with 106 not out during Rajasthan’s chase, and leads the season’s batting chart with 824 runs. Gujarat skipper Hardik Pandya has established his side as the team to beat this year after topping the league table and storming into the final when they beat Rajasthan by seven wickets in the first play-off. Tough challenge’: Sangakkara “It’s really going to be a tough challenge,” Rajasthan head coach Kumar Sangakkara said of the looming showdown. “(Pandya) is an exceptional player. He has led his side really well. They are an exceptional team, highly skilled, really well settled, performing at peak consistently through this entire tournament.” Gujarat will be playing at their home ground at the world’s biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad. The franchise, owned by venture fund CVC capital, have been a force to reckon with since their opening win over fellow newcomers Lucknow Super Giants and they were the first to book a play-off spot.
Killer’ Miller South Africa’s David Miller and Indian batsman Rahul Tewatia have been key to their success with the middle-order pair rescuing Gujarat out of tough spots. “Killer” Miller, as the lefthanded hard hitter is known, made an unbeaten 68 to power Gujarat into the final early this week with a seven-wicket win in Kolkata. Tewatia made two sixes in the last two balls to snatch a one-run victory over Punjab Kings last month. Mohammed Shami has meanwhile led the team’s dominating bowling charge with 19 wickets in 15 matches, ably assisted by Afghan spinner Rashid Khan. Rashid not only claimed 18 wickets but also boosted the team’s batting at crucial moments, including two sixes on the final two balls to pull off a sensational chase in the league stage, mirroring Tewatia’s feat. “The more important thing was the balance that we had in the team really helped us to reach this position,” said the champion leg-spinner. Everyone on the team had been certain of what role they were to play, he added. “There was no confusion in the players’ mind.”
Sunday May 29, 2022
Executive wins inaugural Prime Minister Independence Domino Tournament
Executive’s Captain receives the 1st Lien Trophy and the cash prize of $500,000 in the presence of his team. Executive produced a defiant performance to be crowned the Inaugural Champion of the Prime Minister Independence Domino Tournament, which was staged in Central Amelia’s Ward, Linden. The team carted off with the Hon. Prime Minister Lien
Trophy and the top cash incentive of $500,000 ahead of runner-up, Gold is Money, who had to settle for the $300,000 second place prize. Claiming third was Yarrowkara who received $100,000 for their efforts. The Tournament was sup-
ported by various entities, among them are: Ramesh Sunich of the Trophy Stall, Office of the Hon. Prime Minister, Ministry of Cult u r e Yo u t h a n d S p o r t s , Bakewell, Beharry Group of Companies, Ansa McAl and the Guyana Tourism Authority.
Cornwall takes six as Leewards rout Windwards Rahkeem Cornwall
(SportsMax) - A sensational six-wicket haul from spinner Rahkeem Cornwall helped secure a dominant 228 run win for Leeward Islands Hurricanes over Windward Islands Volcanoes in the West Indies Championship at Port of Spain. Resuming the day at 127 for 3, the Windwards were eventually skittled out for 184. Having accounted for the wickets of Devon
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Smith and Alick Athanaze on the previous day, Cornwall returned to rip through the middle order. Ackeem August was the spinner ’s first victim after he was bowled for 18. Keron Cottoy then added just 6 before becoming Cornwall’s next victim and when the spinner returned to account for the set Kavem Hodge, who was just 7 runs short of his half-century. The
writing was on the wall for the Windwards. Overall, the spinner ended with innings figures of 6 for 45. Earlier, Cornwall had taken a f i v e - w i cket haul, which was critical in restricting the Windwards to 173 in their first innings. Match details: Leeward Islands - 333 (95.5) & 252 – 8d (60.5) defeated Windward Islands - 173 (55.0) & 184 (69.3).
Former National Athlete admitted to the Guyana Bar By Samuel Whyte The multitalented United States-based Attorney at Law, Dr. Vivian Mortimer Williams, ESQ, was recently admitted to the Guyana bar as a highly qualified Attorney. Vivian Williams was a household name in Guyana in many ways before migrating. His exploits were many as a former national athlete, teacher, youth activist, journalist, actor, playwright, Disc Jockey or playing rugby, among others. Dr Williams who hails from Vryheid, West Canje, Berbice was a short, dynamic an explosive athlete. Quick out of the starting blocks as he blazed to victory regularly in his favourite 100m, 200m and long Jump events. His petition to be admitted in the Guyana bar was presented by Attorney-atLaw, Lyndon Amsterdam, before Justice Nareshwar Harnanan in the High Court. Making brief remarks at the induction ceremony, he spoke passionately about being able to help his home land and emphasized his interest in cross-border legal issues. He told the court that he brings a skill set that will contribute to the strength and the ability of the Bar in Guyana to deal effectively with many issues that could arise as Guyana expands. He thanked the Court, Justice Harnanan, Attorney Amsterdam, his family many of whom were in attendance and many others for their support and welcome. Dr Williams is the Principal and Managing Attorney of VMW Law in the United States and the Caribbean. Dr Williams was recently inducted in the in the Bar in Trinidad and Tobago. He is a member of the American Bar Association
Dr. Vivian Mortimer Williams (ABA) and the International Bar Association (IBA). He graduated with a Doctorate in business administration from the Baruch College. He is the holder of Master of Laws in Global Antitrust Law and Economics from George Mason Law School; Master of Laws in Intellectual Property Law from Benjamin Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University, Masters in Strategic Public Relation from t h e G e o rg e Wa s h i n gton University School of Political Management. He obtained his eMBA from TRIUM Global Executive EMBA, jointly administered by NYU Stern School of Business, the London School of Economics and Political Science, and HEC Paris. A graduate from the University of Guyana witha Degree in Communication and his LLB and a Graduate of the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) where his exploits were outstanding as President of t h e St u d e n t ’s C o u n c i l , Campus King, Champion athlete among other achievements. To note, at CPCE Dr Williams’ option was Science with Physical Educa-
tion. He attended and taught Science at the New Amsterdam Multilateral Secondary School (NAMS). His secondary education began at the Tutorial Academy Secondary (TASS) in New Amsterdam which was founded by his father. Dr Wi l l i a m s w a s a founding member and President of NA Canje Youth Leaders Council and founded one of the first news cast in Berbice. Worked as a journalist at the Guyana Broadcasting Corporation and was Editor in Chief of the Evening News. He wrote 10 plays many of which were staged at the National Cultural Centre with close to two decades of litigation. His specialties include crossborder mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property, antitrust, corporate reorganization, innovation and entrepreneurship, real estate and appellate advocacy, transactional experience in quantitative analysis, statistical methods, economic models, crises and risk management. His writings include the Many Sides of Social Capital and How Social Capital is related to Entrepreneurship.
Guyana Cup 2022: Suriname arrive early for preparations From page 71 as their parents were imported. After retiring in Suriname we bred them and took great care of the mare (Mother) until birth. It has been a long wait, four years of dedication and hard work to now journey to Guyana to be a part of
the biggest event in the Caribbean, The Guyana Cup. They are not just two horses we purchased they are like our babies.” He continued, “We have done tremendous work with these two particular horses and we are optimistic that we will take home a win come
Guyana Cup. The best supplements and feed on the market have been imported specifically for these two horses. We have an agreement with the Jumbo Jet Stables to utilize their facilities to continue training until Race day.”
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French Open: Medvedev French Open: Iga Swiatek through to beats Kecmanovic to Roland Garros last 16 continue fine form Daniil Medvedev impressed with the level of his display on clay in his latest win
Iga Swiatek has won her past 31 matches, not dropping a set in her past 10, after beating Danka Kovinic (Getty Images) Hot favourite Iga Swiatek came through her toughest test yet to reach the French Open last 16 as the draw continued to open up for her in Paris. The world number one beat Danka Kovinic of Montenegro 6-3 7-5. While not reaching a level as high as her previous two victories, the 20-year-old from Poland still had too much quality for the world number 95. She is now the sole top10 seed left in the women’s draw after exits by Aryna Sabalenka and Paula Badosa on Saturday. Seventh seed Sabalenka was beaten 4-6 6-1 6-0 by Italian Camila Giorgi, while Spanish third seed Badosa retired injured while trailing Russian Veronika Kudermetova 6-3 2-1.Swiatek will face Chinese world number 74 Zheng Qinwen in the fourth round. The 2020 champion, who extended her winning streak to 31 matches, is yet to face a seeded player at Roland Garros this year. After rapid wins against Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko and Alison Riske of the United States, the match against Kovinic required a little more problem solving. The 27-year-old Montenegrin is an aggressive baseliner who managed to push Swiatek deeper on the court than her earlier opponents, forcing the top seed
into making more mistakes than she previously had. That first became evident in a second game where wayward hitting contributed to Swiatek not taking her first four break points. The pressure eventually told on Kovinic as Swiatek did break and then led 3-0, although she did not run away with opening set as those watching on Court Philippe Chatrier would have imagined she might. Four more unforced errors from her usually infallible forehand handed the break back to Kovinic for 4-3, but her ruthlessness returned to regain the lead in the next game and serve out the opening set. There were more difficulties to overcome in the second set. From trailing 4-1, Kovinic fought back with four games on the bounce including two breaks - as she put pressure on Swiatek’s second serve and reaped the rewards. However, she lost serve at 5-5 from 30-0 and Swiatek served out the match to reach the second week of a Grand Slam event for the eighth time in the past nine majors. <<Wildcard Jeanjean’s run ended by Begu>> China’s Zheng - a girls’ semi-finalist in Paris in 2019 set up her fourth-round meeting with Swiatek after her French opponent Alize Cornet
was forced to retire while trailing 6-0 3-0. Elsewhere, wildcard Leolia Jeanjean’s run at Roland Garros came to end in the third round as she was beaten 6-1 6-4 by Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu. Jeanjean, ranked 227th in the world, had stunned eighth seed Karolina Pliskova in the previous round in what she called a win that would “change everything”. In reaching the third round, she had become first wildcard in 34 years to make the last 32 but slipped to 5-0 down in the first set. Despite her dominant performance, Begu did not quite have it all her own way though as, when she led the second set 5-1, Jeanjean mounted a late comeback, winning three successive games and saving three match points before Begu clinched victory. Russian former quarter-finalist Daria Kasatkina - competing under a neutral flag because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - beat American Shelby Rogers 6-3 6-2, while American Jessica Pegula beat Tamara Zidansek 6-1 7-6 (72). Madison Keys came back from a set down to beat Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan following a final set tie-break 36 6-1 7-6 (10-3). The American number 22 seed will face Kudermetova for a place in the last eight.
(BBC Sport) - Daniil Medvedev continued his impressive form as he picked apart Miomir Kecmanovic to reach the fourth round of the French Open without dropping set. The second seed was relentless and inventive throughout a 6-2 6-4 6-2 win over the Serb 28th seed. He found 42 winners on Court Suzanne Lenglen, including a forehand pass while on the move on match point. Fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas thrashed Mikael Ymer 6-2 6-2 6-1 in 92 minutes. Medvedev is targeting a return to the world number one spot, after his previous time at the top ended after just two weeks earlier in 2022. Following his comfortable win over Kecmanovic, the Russian revealed he had Googled the shortest reigns in the men’s game and was surprised by the results. Medvede v ’s q u e s t t o return to the top of the world rankings could be hampered by the fact Russian players have been banned from UK grasscourt tournaments, including Wimbledon, because of R u s s i a ’s i n v a s i o n o f Ukraine. However, the ATP’s decision to strip ranking points from Wimbledon because of the ban could in fact result in Medvedev regaining the top
ranking because Serbia’s Novak Djokovic will be unable to retain the 2,000 ranking points he earned by winning the Wimbledon title last year and so he could be overtaken by the Russian. Medvedev’s best run at Rolan d G a r r o s w a s a quarter-final last year but he looks more at ease on clay - his least favourite surface - than ever before. Medvedev had arrived at the French Open with only one match on clay under his belt after having a procedure to treat a hernia in April. Here - against a highly capable opponent in Kecmanovic - he landed two breaks in the opening set and one in the second to open up a cushion. By the third set he was finding drop shots and eyecatching angles, none more so than when he whipped a low forehand crosscourt at 11 as he set up a comfortable win. Simon says goodbye and Tsitsipas eases through Medvedev’s opponent in the fourth round will be Marin Cilic, after the Croat defeated France’s Gilles Simon in straight sets. Cilic, seeded 20th, won 60 6-3 6-2 to knock out 37-yearold Simon, playing in his final French Open as a wildcard following his announcement that he will retire in 2022. Tsitsipas had few prob-
lems dealing with the world number 95 Ymer, who had beaten Britain’s Dan Evans in the second round. The 23-year-old Greek player’s only moment of concern was when he was a break point down at 3-0 up in the third set, but the Swede failed to take advantage a n d Ts i t s i p a s q u i c k l y wrapped up the match. He will face unseeded Holger Rune of Denmark, who qualified for the fourth round of the French Open at the first attempt when he beat France’s Hugo Gaston 6-3 63 6-3. In the bottom half of the draw, seventh seed Andrey Rublev beat Cristian Garin 6-4 3-6 6-2 7-6 (13-11). The 24-year-old Russian has not gone past the quarter-final stage of a Grand Slam in his career to date. He will get the chance to reach the last eight when he plays Italian 11th seed Jannik Sinner - who beat American Mackenzie McDonald 6-3 7-6 (8-6) 6-3. Norway’s number eight seed Casper Ruud fought back from two-sets-to-one down to beat Italian Lorenzo Sonego 6-2 6-7 (37) 1-6 6-4 6-3 in an entertaining match that lasted just short of three-and-ahalf hours. Ruud will be in the fourth round at RolandGarros for the first time, and will play Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz, who beat David Goffin of Belgium 7-5 6-2 6-1.
Kaieteur News
Sunday May 29, 2022
PAGE 71
CWI Regional First-Class Championships... Campbell, Lugg daunt
Guyana's title hopes with century stand By Sean Devers in Trinidad in association with WD Hotel & Mall Charity & Dave's West Indies Imports
Jamaica Scorpions' skipper, John Campbell, along with Leroy Lugg shared in a century opening stand to dash the Guyana Harpy Eagle's title hopes as their fourth round CWI Regional Frist-Class Championship game ended in tame draw, yesterday at the Diego Martin Sports Complex. In ideal weather conditions on a lightning fast outfield and a track that favoured batting, Jamaica needed to make 191 to avoid an innings defeat and reached 271-6 as Campbell fell two short of his second ton of the season and seventh overall.
He batted for 214 minutes, facing 155 balls and reaching the boundary 11 times; clearing it once. The pugnacious Lugg, who clobbered five fours and six sixes from 72 balls during his 100-minute innings of 67, shared in 105-run stand with Campbell to spoil the Harpy Eagles hopes of an outright win. Jermaine Blackwood was stopped on 28 while Paul Palmer and Alwyn Williams both chipped in with 22 each. L e f t - s p i n n e r Ve e r a s a m m y P e r m a u l grabbed 3-61 to move to 20 wickets, one behind tournament leader Rakeem Cornwall, while fellow leftarm spinner Gudakesh Motie bagged 2-73. Guyana declared overnight on 587-7 but their
slim chance of winning their 13th title withered away as they struggled to make an early breakthrough. The left-handed Campbell started with his innings with a pull shot that raced to the boundary when Keemo Paul bowled short. Lugg slug-swept and hit off spinner Kevin Sinclair straight for sixes while Campbell deposited the Berbician for another six during their highlights session. When Sinclair was replaced by Motie, Lugg went big, although a miss-hit, it went for four over midwicket. The 50-stand was brought up in the 13th over as Lugg took the attack to Motie and clobbered him for four sixes while Campbell played
Guyana Cup 2022: Suriname arrive early for preparations - Two horses added to roster
H
orse Racing has become one of the most popular sports worldwide making Guyana the top destination in this hemisphere with an influx of Horses from USA, Canada, Jamaica & Trinidad. Suriname has now capitalised on the opportunity and has brought in two Suriname-bred 3year-old horses for the signature Guyana Cup racing event. Both horses, Secret Dance and Black Cat, with USA & Trinidadian
bloodlines are poised to compete with immaculate fashion. Club Neutraal Stables based in Paramaribo has begun preparation work with the two horses and has since seen exceptional improvement. Head trainer, Danny Gummels, and assistant trainer, Tariq Abdoelrahman, who are also both the owner of the two horses has contributed countless hours to ensure the training is effective to toggle muscle build and increase stamina. Club Neutraal Stables
has been supporting Guyana Cup since 2016 where horses representing Suriname solidified their place in the event. The journey to Guyana started with the groomers loading the two horses into their newly refurbished mobile stable to prepare for the journey to Nickerie for shipment to Guyana. When our news room met with Abdoelrahman of the Club Neutraal Stables, he indicated, “These two horses are very special to Suriname (Continued on page 69)
Club Neutraal Stables has arrived to represent the Suriname contingent
John Campbell
the supporting role with intelligent batting. But just after the 100 was posted Lugg, who was dropped by Johnson at slip off Sinclair, was bowled by Permaul as he played back to one that kept a bit low. At lunch, Jamaica were 111-1 with Campbell on 36 and first innings centurion Blackwood, who got off the mark with a boundary, on four. After the interval Campbell brought up his 22nd fifty and celebrated with a four off the expensive Sinclairbefore executing an imperious extra cover drive
for four in the same over. Blackwood played a glorious cover drive and followed up with a powerful straight drive which reached the boundary like a bullet before he hit Motie through mid-on at 162-2. Motie struck again when he trapped Oraine Williams (1) six runs later. Palmer (9) and Alwyn Wi l l i a m s ( 8 ) c a r r i e d Scorpions to 126-4 by Tea, leading by 25 runs with six wickets in hand. After Tea, the Scorpions lost Palmer and Williams as Permaul struck twice to leave the score on 256-6 but by
then the task of winning for the Harpy Eagles was as difficult as a turtle trying to climb to peak of Mount Romario. Derval Green (10) and Thomas (4) were together when the game was called off at 4:17 hrs. The final round starts next Wednesday when Guyana face T&T at the Queen's Park Oval, leaders Leeward Islands Hurricanes will meet Jamaica at the Diego Martin Sports Complex and defending champions Barbados tackle t h e Wi n d w a r d I s l a n d s Volcanoes in Tarouba.