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Guyana wants Sunday Edition NEWS OAS restructured to better respond to global challenges-Todd AIETEUR
November 14, 2021
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With 100 oil spills annually T&T stakeholders threaten legal
action if demands are not met for Yellowtail EIA …says it's not a matter of if, history proves accidents happen
Van West Charles wins $10M judgment in libel case against - KN publisher moves to K/News stay judgment, file appeal Govt.'s electoral reform… High court rules Former AG says
tax exemptions
sub-division to Chancellor, CJ of Region 4 is unconstitutional a “backdoor” - awards Justice William Ramlall $2.5M compensation to steal seats
Sea defence structures from Regions 2 to 6 in critical condition- LCDS 2030 …with 90% of Guyana's population residing on coastline
The protest continues for change to ExxonMobil’s contract.
Civil Society watchdog exposes Pres. Ali's duplicity at COP26 …calls for immediate ban on log exports, consultations on mega projects Trinidad is paying 4 cents, Suriname 2 cents but our leaders are going to pay a Chinese Co. 7.7 cents per kWh for electricity; another Ponzi Scheme in the making. @ 11am, 4&7pm on Kaieteur Radio 99.1/99.5FM Guyana already importing fish and shrimp from Jamaica, while our leaders in denial that the fishing industry is shrinking. Check the supermarkets and their prices. Good going Guyana! Cheers! A shopowner on Durban Street say people coming in asking for $40 salt and $50 onion, ½ pint of rice and so on, the shopowner said he doesn’t know how to sell $40 salt. This is your Guyana, this is the transformation, this is the development the leaders promised, this is the Dubai Guyana will become overnight. Go Guyana go!
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Kaieteur News
Sunday November 14, 2021
Guyana wants OAS restructured to better respond to global challenges Held under the theme, “Towards Renewal in the Americas,” the 51st Regular Session of the General Assembly of the Organisation of American States (OAS), concluded on Friday last, where Guyana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd,
- Todd
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd during his virtual address to the OAS General Assembly. called for a restructuring of the international institution. Minister Todd in his address to the plenary proffered “Guyana recognises the need for the organisation to be fit-forpurpose and for necessary restructuring of the Organisation to better respond to challenges of the present and the future.” M i n i s t e r To d d i n delivering remarks to the grouping also alluded to the effects of COVID-19 in the Americas and stated that the hemisphere experienced a disproportionate share of global cases and deaths. Further, he added that the health impacts of the pandemic have contributed to and has been compounded by reversals on the economic and social fronts. Regarding hemispheric priorities, Minister Todd highlighted the areas such as increased inequality, higher levels of p o v e r t y, h e a v i e r d e b t burdens, setbacks in the education of children and greater food insecurity as a sequel of impacts exacerbated by COVID-19. As such, Minister Todd posited that fostering a sustainable, equitable and resilient recovery is critical for the future of the Americas. He used the occasion to also further emphasise that vaccine equity and solidarity are imperative in this undertaking, while emphasising “that the hemisphere will not flourish or be renewed if vaccination o f t h e h e m i s p h e r e ’s population is not treated in a sustained manner.” The Guyanese Foreign A ff a i r s M i n i s t e r a l s o addressed the urgent need to
avert a climate crisis. He stated that for Small Island and low-lying coastal states, failure to limit global warming within 1.5 degrees Celsius would be intolerable. In this regard, he called on developed and industrialised partners to demonstrate responsible leadership in the global effort to save and repair the planet. Minister Todd added that the Government of Guyana envisages an enhanced role for the OAS in advancing disaster resilience in the hemisphere and supported the adoption of the related resolution tabled by the delegation of Trinidad and Tobago. He used the occasion to recall President Irfaan Ali’s sentiments, during the 26th session of the Conference of Parties (COP26), calling on world leaders to ensure that the coming decade will be one of decisive actions that will tackle the current climate crisis to change the world’s present trajectory. To achieve such goals, the Foreign Minister informed the General Assembly of the OAS that Guyana will be guided by the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) as the c o u n t r y ’s v e h i c l e f o r mitigating and adapting to climate change and contributing to global climate action. He also reiterated that G u y a n a v a l u e s multilateralism and the role of the OAS as the premiere regional organisation for constructive dialogue and cooperation. He further r e a f f i r m e d t h e Government’s commitment Continued on page 3
Kaieteur News
Sunday November 14, 2021
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With 100 oil spills annually T&T stakeholders threaten legal action if demands are not met for Yellowtail EIA
E
sso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL)—ExxonMobil Guyana—on Thursday last held its final public scoping exercise online, to inform the preparation of the company’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EPA) Study—an exercise that glaringly exposed its inability to provide specific answers to queries and concerns raised. The exercise saw participation from s t a k e h o l d e r s l o c a l l y, r e g i o n a l l y a n d internationally, including Gary Aboud, founding member of the Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS). He told the panelists including the facilitators—the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)—that they are prepared to litigate against ExxonMobil Guyana, if their demands are not met in writing, in the EIA to be prepared. Accusing the panelists of attempting to hoodwink the stakeholders as it relates to the emergency preparedness in the event of an emergency, Aboud, in raising his concerns with the EEPGL panel, iterated that the scoping exercise being conducted is for “a Caribbean audience who are concerned when we speak about oil spills.” Hoodwink He said, the concerns are credible as it relates to what obtains when a spill occurs and lambasted the EEPGL official that contended, “we have great facilities and capacities to prevent it (oil spill) from even occurring.” According to the FFOS founding member, “I want to state on record strong objection to hoodwinking the question about preparedness for when they occur, because I am not aware of a single oil company on the planet which have not had accidents and spills.” Adamant in his assertions, Aboud told the E x x o n M o b i l a n d E PA panelists, “when the professionals on the panel chats to us—and no disrespect—real nonsense, to say that no, no, no we won’t have any (oil spills), I wish I could put his
…says it’s not a matter of if, history proves accidents happen
FFOS founding member and environmentalist, Gary Aboud
daughter’s life on the line with that promise because he wouldn’t, because accidents occur.” According to Aboud, the preparatory planning and the EIA, “cannot hoodwink the concerns that we are raising,” and pointed to the fact that in neighbouring T&T “we probably have the world record for an island, with not many installations, but quite a few, we have reported in excess of 100 spills per year.” To this end, Aboud used his opportunity to address the panel, to articulate, “my questions are based on the fact that accidents occur, and I don’t want no professional with a wonderful accent and a long list of professional accreditations to tell me no, we are prepared it won’t occur, because history proves otherwise.” Reflecting on the likely impacts on the region in the likelihood of an accident, Aboud stressed “these are very real and will occur and are occurring already.” Fishery and Insurance Addressing the fishing industry directly, he related that at present on the east
coast of T&T, “we have a crisis where our government” agreed to conduct tests on the fishing population. The tests he referred to, relate to obligations under the Minamata Convention on the use of Mercury. As such, he pointed out that the convention requires the testing of fish for heavy
an isolated case. “What we could not understand and what we were disturbed about, is why would the government deliberately smother the report that exposed the risk to public health of contamination that may have occurred in T&T or maybe partially responsible was the waters that come from the Orinoco and other areas where Guyana and Guyanese are using mercury in gold extraction.” According to Aboud, “there is a history of cover ups in the Caribbean; we have instances of 12 such.” Manipulated and Bullied To this end, the FFOS founding member told the panelists “what we are saying in T&T is that for us to accept and endorse and welcome you into our territory of the Caribbean
EIA, the list and cost and the arrivals of the emergency response preparedness equipment.” This, he said is, “recognising that this equipment, as we saw with the (Deepwater) Horizon spill, was woefully inadequate.” The T&T stakeholder, as such, told the panelists, “I am requiring and requesting that before any approval is granted in our waters, in our fishery, in our tourism sector of which we depend on, that we need to know exactly what is the emergency response training preparedness and equipment preparedness available” Qualifying his position further, Aboud noted that while in Trinidad and Tobago “we do in fact have, next to Belize, the most evolved environmental legislation which is very
“…accidents occur and I don’t want no professional, with a wonderful accent and a long list of professional accreditations to tell me no, we are prepared, it won’t occur because history proves otherwise.” - T&T Fisher folk metals and other contaminants pointing to the fact that fish migrate, are exported and also sold commercially. To this end, he pointed out that on the east coast of Trinidad where tests were conducted specifically for mercury, “we found that five of the six fish commercially sold in T&T contained mercury five times higher than the world health limit for the consumption of fish.” This, information, he said, was covered up by the T&T government and is not
Guyana wants OAS... From page 2 to the pillars of the OAS - Democracy, Human Rights, Integral Development and Multidimensional Security. In this vein, Minister Todd indicated that “Guyana recognises the need for the organisation to be fit-forpurpose and for necessary restructuring of the Organisation to better respond to challenges of the present and the future.” It was noted, too, that in light of the 20th anniversary year of the adoption of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, Minister Todd reaffirmed Guyana’s abiding commitment to democracy and the rule of law, to safeguarding human rights and fundamental freedoms and to respecting the will of the people.
region, you need to respond to our questions and don’t hoodwink us and tell us, no we are prepared.” As such, Aboud demanded of ExxonMobil, “I would like the EIA to include a listing of the emergency response preparedness training for Guyanese professionals working in that industry and with this company.” Additionally, “we would like to see included in the
s tringent it still fails.” According to Aboud, this obtains, since while stringent legislation exists on paper, the implementing regulatory agencies are manipulated and bullied, and, “in Guyana it’s a lot worse.” He used the occasion to also point out that with an operation some 200 miles offshore, “we have to depend on the regulatory
agencies and the Ministers of Guyana, which I don’t have any confidence i n — w i t h n o disrespect—because of our experiences of manipulation in T&T.” Aboud was adamant however, that the EIA must include the commitments in writing by the company itself. This, he said, is since “I know everybody (oil players) loves their family and their wives but they don’t love us …so we are willing to litigate if the promises are not written and fair.” Expanding on the likely litigation if the demands are not met, Aboud noted that it would seek in the first instance, to stop the capacity of this approval because of the endangerment of the Caribbean. Well Blowout Additionally he noted that litigation could also be filed “to claim for damages if they fail to commit to their promises in the EIA.” He was adamant, “if you don’t then some of us are willing to go the distance to ensure that this project does not continue and that if it continues it must only continue with the direction and discretion as approved by the court.” On the matter of
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Kaieteur News
Sunday November 14, 2021
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
COP26 – much talk, more was expected Time to take stock now that Glasgow’s COP26 is over. We hate to throw a wet blanket on celebrations, but this Climate Change summit could have done better. Already, hawk-like environmentalists say what was achieved is not enough, and poor countries battered by decades of climate change effects are demanding “compensation from the big polluters” (New York Times, November 12). Echoing this was the Wall Street Journal: “As talks dragged on, Friday night in Glasgow, one of the main sticking issues was a demand from developing countries to be compensated for…loss and damage.” It didn’t look to be the degree (amounts) desired.The contentiousness ran deep, with many voices lifted up. There was definite anger at the inequities created (for Third World societies), games that still persist (global oil powers, governments), and the solutions that fall short (too little taking too long). Poorer countries have long lived with the excesses of American and European multinationals operating globally. Still, they are asked to be patient, while financial gradualism takes hold, with crumbs being the substance. Powerful countries benefiting abundantly from the reach and profits of their oil companies are not aggressive with them; or listen to poorer countries’ woes.Guyana a new oil club member has vocalised its priority to maximise oil benefits, contribute to the vital global oil supply chain, and double down on the carbon absorbing power of its massive forests. At COP26, Guyanese leaders indicated lukewarm support for any drilling/production restraint by this country. It sails forth briskly. Leaders of the advanced countries (United States, UK, and others) were sensitive to the change in political and institutional temperature on Climate Change, and the victim(s) of its devastating impacts, but danced around their obligations to give up more.Separately, oil powers manoeuvered around the rising tide. They massaged their public language, did not use harsh words like ‘fake science’ or ‘hoax’ anymore, when trying to protect their rich turf. Guyana meanwhile, in partnership with Exxon, is racing ahead with exploration and production, since even then it has its vast carbon sink forests to hold up as both its fallback option and justification for actions. It is in the driver’s seat, from which astute political and business management could yield mouthwatering returns to the local treasury and population. If we make the right moves in the right direction, the right results will follow. Our leaders must cut through the thicket of chatter, hold their head, and skillfully navigate an environment that still demands oil, but now prioritise climate change fears (and associated actions). Unlike many producers, we have virgin forests which is a carbon sponge.On another note, there was pushback against naming fossil fuels as a huge contributor to Climate Change destructions but this can no longer be denied. Citizens here were eyewitnesses to what Guyana’s own President declared to be a national disaster. We are hoping that we are on the right track in thinking that the flooding of 2021 was a one-off event, and that leaders of this society can focus on doing right with this oil wealth of ours. The reality is that Guyana itself is caught in a world of fast developing realities. On the one hand, it is the new owner of enormous amounts of oil, and the prosperities that that can bring to these shores, once overseen ethically by political stewards. And, on the other, there is having to deal with this clashing reality that says go more slowly with production, leave new fossil fuel projects alone, and align smartly with the strengthening of global oil programme. It is one in which oil is no longer the darling that it was, but still a commanding energy presence, despite taking hard blows from powerful places and people. The UN leader keeps speaking with sharp urgency. Advanced countries (and lesser ones, like China and India), and the oil majors have their own priorities, with Guyana caught in the middle. Such were the hard differences at COP26, with some limited compromises finalised. For Guyana, there should be learning: work for the right balance with projects, products, and related production. Our leaders have the world at their feet, and strong cards in their hands. They play them well, Guyana does very well.
Look what plight the PPP/C has caused to befall Guyana DEAR EDITOR, When the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/ C) was in Opposition they shouted for all and sundry to hear that the oil contracts signed by the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change coalition government were deficient and Guyana got the wrong side of the deal. They made renegotiating the ExxonMobil contract a major plank in the 2020 Election campaign. The PPP/C led the nation to believe that should they be given the opportunity to govern, these contracts would be renegotiated and they could get a better deal for Guyana but when they got into office their interest shifted. Not only did they default on renegotiating the contracts, but they also allowed Guyana to default on its obligation to audit Exxon’s spending, and for our failure
to do so we are now saddled with paying this company US$9.5 billion. Look what plight the PPP/C has caused to befall Guyana. The US$9.5 billion Guyana must pay Exxon and with the regime borrowing US$1.5 billion from China for the construction of Amaila Falls generating electricity plant is a demonstration they don’t care how they are managing our money. It is we, the taxpayers, who will have to honour these debts. This is economic recklessness at its worst. We the people must not support such conduct whether we voted for this group or not. The PPP/C knew before they entered office Guyana has an obligation to meet every two years, or we will be saddled with paying the humongous sum without any question being asked. Were the Ali regime committed to
Guyana and not hustling to use the resources of Guyana to honour pre-election promises to friends and cohorts, they would have addressed the nation’s obligations to audit expenses incurred by Exxon. The time, resources, and energy the regime have expended to hound Guyanese down for one or two acres of land acquired during the tenure of the coalition, they could have used the time, energy, and resources to address how Guyana can protect its resources from foreign capital. Clearly, this regime is not working in the interest of Guyana and Guyanese. Whereas they are quick to dispossess some sections of the Guyanese society, they act slothfully or ignore foreign interest to the detriment of all. There is consensus in society to review every aspect
of the oil contracts. Were the PPP/C serious about keeping the campaign promise on oil, and with a society united to get the best from Exxon exploiting our resources, there would have been unanimity in reviewing the timeframe to do the audit as stipulated in those contracts. Could you imagine the situation in the next two years if Guyana fails to do this audit? Guyana will be owing Exxon an additional US$9.5 billion every two years. The present US$9.5 billion could have done much for Guyana and the working poor. Not only could the money offset PAYE (taxes), but it could also have paid decent (better) wages and salaries and realised improved working conditions. For instance, PAYE could have been suspended for at least (Continued on page 5)
Sunday November 14, 2021
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Kaieteur News
In its current form the Representation of Mr. Granger too should have the People Act have some weaknesses conceded the elections in nine days? DEAR EDITOR, The proposed amendment to the Representation of the People Act (RoPA), if passed in its present form, would be a missed opportunity for needed reform. Its weaknesses stem partly from its very motivation. The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and the Attorney General have stated that the aim of the reform is to avoid a recurrence of the post-election crisis events of 2020. This line has also been repeated by the media. We all want to prevent last year’s events from happening again, but the draft reforms do not go far enough to avoid political crisis and improve the political environment. To behave as if our political problems started in March 2020 is woefully shortsighted and ill-conceived. To address the weaknesses inherent in the current RoPA, you would have to go back at least to the deadlock over the appointment of the GECOM Chairman in 2017. That process broke down completely with the then President making a unilateral choice. The Caribbean Court of Appeal later found that appointment unconstitutional and Justice Patterson was removed. For the most part, what the draft amendment does is essentially entrench a bad electoral system. Its passing at this time, instead of creat-
ing stability and progress, would set us back years. It does not even attempt to address the issues that concern the average Guyanese ‘man in the street’. People want a system that makes members of parliament accountable to citizens rather than party executives. People want less of the political polarization that divides a diverse nation into two camps and pits brother against brother and neighbour against neighbour. One intention behind the adoption of proportional representation fifty-seven years ago was to foster a vibrant, multiparty political climate. The present RoPA frustrates that vision, and the proposed amendments do not even attempt to address this issue. People want an electoral commission with credibility and that promotes national consensus. This means that the issue of how GECOM’s commissioners is selected, and function must be addressed. It is not enough to focus on the operations of the GECOM secretariat staff. People want a GECOM that is not subject to the dictates of any party and that can exercise effective and independent authority to keep parties in line on electoral matters. People want an electoral system with clear rules about campaign finance to guard against our democracy being bought or stolen. People want
a system where politicians and social elites are not above the law. These ideas about what Guyanese people want for an electoral system are not just a matter of my opinion; they are based on media commentaries and recommendations that have been discussed in this country for decades. The proposed amendment has overlooked these factors and more. In the end, all it does is to raise the penalties on malfeasance by GECOM officials. It also singles out Region Four as the misbehaving Region of the nation, which is not likely to go down well. One would expect that amendments should apply uniformly across the country. It proposes splitting Region Four up into four sections for administrative purposes but misses the opportunity to make real progress by increasing the number of constituencies and improving the accountability connection between representatives and citizens. The Government says the proposed amendment aims to prevent the recurrence of last year’s electoral crisis, but it is doubtful that it will achieve that aim because it leaves so many critical issues unaddressed. Yours sincerely, Desmond Thomas
PAY FOR COVID-19 TREATMENT IF VACCINES REFUSED When I visit simple places call upon the Government to DEAR EDITOR,
COVID-19 is a travesty to Guyana and the world! I would think that every human being on the earth has had some relative, friend or associate who has suffered prolonged pains, injuries and death.COVID-19 has been one of the worst harbingers of death and destruction in families, nations and national economies. It has even caused the pauperization of families by deaths of breadwinners. Even if recovered those would never be normal again. The psychological trauma that is left on families: the pains, the depression and other psychological and mental illnesses that result due to sufferings and death cannot be measured. In Guyana and the world, we owe a special salute, appreciation and prayers for the medical doctors, nurses and staff that keep looking out for the infected. Many of whom contracted the dreadful disease and eventually died. I have seen families wiped out, I have seen several cases of my own relatives who contracted the disease and died.
in Guyana like the Mon Repos market, I speak to people about wearing their masks. Usually the venders, especially the fish venders! They make all kinds of ludicrous excuses including saying it is a manmade thing. Then I would tell them if it is a manmade thing or not, it still kills! Therefore, you need to protect yourself! Many are proudly proclaiming that they will not take the vaccine or wear masks. In the early days of the coronavirus, I appealed to people to be careful. Then, as the vaccine came around, I begged people in Guyana and around the world to get the vaccines. Many refused! I know of cases where many contracted the coronavirus aka COVID-19 and wished that they had taken the vaccine or wear a mask. They wished that they had been more proactive in protecting themselves by following the COVID-19 precautionary protocols. Being too late many suffered! Many have died! I call upon the Guyanese people to get vaccinated! I
create small infomercials showing the pains and sufferings of those infected. And of families who lost loved ones particularly the breadwinner. Small infomercials with heavy drama! I Hajji Dr. Roshan Khan am willing to act for free. I appeal to fellow citizens to use free Facebook posts and expressions on Instagram and others to highlight the pain and sufferings of people. It is my opinion that if you refuse to take the vaccine, the taxpayers’ dollars should not be used to finance their treatment if they become infected. I know that budgeted medical allocations set by parliament have been increased to accommodate this disastrous disease that is creating havoc in our country. We are nearing the one thousand mark. A thousand people with our population give us one of the highest in deaths and infections when compared internationally. Thank God for a good government that is truly conscientious, and working with all stakeholders to bring (Continued on page 6)
DEAR EDITOR, This story was reported in NYT on Nov. 11th: “Jack Ciattarelli, a Republican vying to unseat Gov. Philip D. Murphy of New Jersey, will concede defeat on Friday (Nov 12th) acknowledging that there is no chance he can overcome the 74,000-vote gap now separating the candidates, according to two people close to his campaign.” It took nine days. Reading this story made me think of David Granger and Guyana’s election of March 2020. That election drama dragged on for 5-months. It felt like the country was going to hell in a hand basket. Here is the crucial question: If a presidential candidate can recognize that all the facts and data point to him losing the election, shouldn’t he do the honourable thing and concede the elections? Some countries have inherent divisions - social, cultural, racial – which grow deeper, become more tense and implode into riots and violence. A reasonable candidate will always do the right thing to preserve the peace and basic unity of his nation. A reasonable candidate would not push his
nation to the brink. What was Mr. Granger thinking? He continues to maintain to this day that he had nothing to do with the undeclared result which took 5-months to resolve. (Reportedly, the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo forced GECOM and Mr. Granger, himself, to bring the impasse to an end – or else it might have dragged on much longer). Mr. Granger’s argument was that he stood ready to concede whenever GECOM declared the result. But GECOM had been taken over by corrupt officials loyal to Mr. Granger’s party. GECOM had been in a state of paralysis and dysfunction. GECOM’s chairperson was either handicapped from acting or failing to perform her constitutional duties to the State. The litigants on both sides were looking to the Courts for a resolution – but the Courts too were of little or no help. Where did that leave Mr. Granger? Did the dysfunction at GECOM give Mr. Granger an excuse? I believe a good candidate must always be in charge of his campaign – and should act wisely to uphold the constitution, as well as preserve the social fabric of
the society over which he ruled or wants to rule. Allowing the Constitution to fall by the wayside, allowing the social fabric to unravel – you give democracy no chance to take hold and thrive. In Guyana, I believe election results, by law, should at all times be declared by midnight on the day of the elections. In the event of compelling circumstances that cause a delay, that matter must be resolved within a few days. Not five paralyzing months. The candidate himself must take the initiative to resolve the problem. That is what makes him an honorable statesman. In the year 2,000, Al Gore conceded the election after a few weeks (“And tonight, for the sake of our unity as a people and the strength of our democracy, I offer my concession”). Candidate Ciattarelli in New Jersey conceded because he cannot overcome the 74,000 vote gap. It took him nine days. Mr. Granger too should have done the honourable thing and conceded the election within nine days – or less. Yours truly, Mike Persaud
Look what plight the PPP/C has caused to... From page 4 10-years giving workers a greater take home pay. The money could have been invested in training and educating a new labour force to meet the demands of the oil and gas industry. The University of Guyana could have benefitted tremendously in its delivery of education under improved physical conditions and modernised research and library facilities. The health services could have had a boost. Some of this money could have benefitted the cash-strapped National Insurance Scheme (NIS), activate the Unemployment
Benefit through regulations because the resource is there
to offset such social responsibility. The possibilities are endless for what US9.5 billion dollars could do were those placed in charge of the nation’s business committed to serving the nation, protecting and advancing the
nation and people’s interest. At the rate the Irfaan Ali regime is going when all the oil has been drained, Guyana could well end up owing Exxon.Never before has this nation witnessed such travesty, for never before did
we have such a debt to pay to one company. This debt would stymie Guyana’s development and set us back significantly. There seems to be no interest in good governance. If Guyanese don’t come together and hold this regime accountable for honouring their campaign promise on the oil contracts, come the next two years Guyana will not only
have to pay another US$9.5 billion but cat will eat our dinner. Lincoln Lewis
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Kaieteur News
CCJ moving in other areas DEAR EDITOR, Although only four countries accepted the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as the final court in its appellate jurisdiction, the Port of Spain based court is nevertheless busy because it determines a large number of issues in its original jurisdiction. Now it seems as if the regional court is moving into other areas in its quest to ensure that justice is served.The Court on Thursday decided to seek a modification of section 72 of the Criminal Law (Procedure) Act of Guyana which allows the DPP to ask a High Court Judge to review the depositions from a Preliminary Inquiry and exercise his/her independent discretion on whether to direct a committal or not. The CCJ was, at the time, dealing with an appeal by Marcus Bisram, a U.S. based Guyanese, who is charged with murder allegedly committed in Corentyne a few years ago. The DPP had committed Bisram to trial before a judge and jury, although a Magistrate found that there was not sufficient
evidence to warrant a trial and freed the accused.The DPP then directed the Magistrate to commit Bisram to a trial. An appeal followed and a first instant judge overruled both the Magistrate and the DPP, but the Guyana Court of Appeal set side the Judge’s decision. Bisram’s lawyer moved to the CCJ, the final court of the land, which was puzzled at the wording of section 72 (1) and (2) since it is inconsistent with Articles 122 A and 144 of the Constitution. The DPP itself, and Bisram’s lawyer, Darshan Ramdhani, QC, are to file written submissions for a ruling by the CCJ. The CCJ through its former President, Sir Denis Byron, and the current Head, Justice Adrian Saunders, also tried to urge the President and Opposition Leader in Guyana to arrive at a compromise and confirmed the Chancellor of 15 years. Both Carl Singh and Ian Chang acted in their positions for more than 12 years. They both retired without being confirmed. As a matter of fact, Chang has since passed. Now both the Chan-
cellor Yonette CummingsEdwards and Chief Justice Roxanne George are acting, and they have been “actresses” for several years. Guyanese are very pleased with the CCJ because it played a very important role in the election process cases: the appointment of the Chairman of the Elections Commission, determining that 33 is the majority of 65, and the insertion of the word “valid” into the Constitution, and the recounting of the votes. The CCJ ruling was lauded in the freedom of movement case in which Jamaican Shanique Myrie was harassed as she sought entry in Barbados. So far only four countries have abolished appeals to the Privy Council: Guyana, Barbados, Belize and Dominica; it is disappointing that Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, the two countries which were in the forefront in advocating the establishment of the regional court, have not yet abolished appeals to the Privy Council. Oscar Ramjeet
The PPP/C Govt. must not attempt to subvert an established constitutional electoral system DEAR EDITOR, The realignment of polling districts within a single geographical constituency out of ten (10) reeks of political discrimination and a blatant act of gerrymandering.The PPPC government’s proposal to subdivide the Region 4 Polling District into four (4) Polling sub districts is both whimsical and capricious, designed to create confusion in a geographical constituency they have been unable to win from time immemorial.There are ten (10) geographical constituencies created by Section 11(A) of the Representation of the People Act Chapter 1:03 Laws of Guyana (ROPA). Each of the ten (10) Regions of Guyana being a registration District and a Polling District under the Local Democratic Organs, (Regional Democratic Councils) Order 1980, is deemed to be a geographical constituency under Section 11 A (3) of the ROPA. The ten (10) geographical constituencies
Pay for COVID-19 treatment if vaccines refused From page 5 relief financially and every means possible to the people of this country.When I expressed to people that they need to pay for their own medical treatment if they refuse to take the vaccine, I got some good ‘Cuss Down’. Strange enough those people who are refusing blatantly are the same people who do not pay their fair sums to the GRA.With that in mind I was quite elated to learn that in Singapore, which has one of the highest rates of vaccination compared to the world, their vaccination exceeds 80%, foreign workers have to contribute to a special savings account, which will look out to help the migrant workers in the event of COVID19, or serious illnesses and also COVID-19 treatment and deaths. However, the Singaporean Government has now also established laws by which citizens, who refuse to take the vaccine will have to finance their own medical attention; this is something I, as a citizen of Guyana, believe in.It is unfair for the tax dollars, especially of a poor country like ours, to be used to treat the recalcitrant. The Government is doing the right thing by providing the best of service and vaccines to its citizens. So, it is wrong for taxpayers’ dollars to pay for those who blatantly refuse to take the vaccines, except for those who might be medically ill otherwise, and should not take the vaccines. The argument is that people still die.
Yes, I agree people still die, though a few people have died despite having both vaccines! This in part is due to the variant caused by the recalcitrant, or those who plainly refuse to take the vaccine. Thus, increasing the numbers of unvaccinated in Guyana and around the world, in which these bodies become hosts for the disease. Many may have the disease but do not show symptoms, yet spreading it like wildfire, thinking that they are not infected.I understand that some people are seeking treatment at a private medical centre, and are being bled to death financially by the medical centre which promises a magical cure. They mix a cocktail of pain killing drugs, put some coloring to create drama as a placebo. Or some mere pain killer injections and charge between $200,000 to $400,000 per day. Not being a hospital, the people have to return the follow day for treatment only to be charged the same $200,000$400,000 per day. This suspected money laundering outfit is bleeding people, who believe that they could get better treatment out of the COVID-19 hospital. Many have died and many became bankrupt. I have heard of another case where a person left the COVID-19 hospital thinking that he/she was not getting good treatment and went to a private hospital in Central Georgetown.
He/she was there for about a week, after initially having the best treatment at the Government COVID-19 hospital.After a week’s stay at this private hospital, he/she had to pay about 7 million dollars. Well, I always believe that the fool and his money must part. Coming back to the point that I am raising here, I wish to call on the Government of Guyana to send out releases and warnings, by giving a one-month moratorium to all those have not taken the vaccines, that Government cannot afford to finance them any longer, even though they might be admitted to the Government or COVID-19 hospital. They, along with their families, will be billed and action can be taken to recover the payments if they do not pay. As a matter of fact, private hospitals function in such a manner that if one is released and cannot pay the bill, he/ she cannot leave the hospital. This is the system needed from Government.
Further, relatives should sign guarantees for those who are affected after having been warned that infected patients will have to pay for any and all COVID-19 treatment. I know people will want to cuss me down for this and more, but I am willing to say as a public personality I do not care. I care about people complying with policies and procedures that are better and best for themselves and for our country. So, if I raise a matter that is controversial then fine, cuss me all you want. All I want is safety for those, who are refusing the vaccine and for our country and the Government to be in a good financial state. It is unfair for those who do not have their personal medical insurance even wealth to refuse to take the vaccine, then putting the country in economic situation that could break us. So, Government of Guyana I have stated my piece, do what has to be done! Sincerely, Hajji Dr. Roshan Khan
Possible collusion in S/Ruimveldt supermarket robbery DEAR EDITOR, The robbery at a prominent supermarket in South Ruimveldt brings into sharp focus whether the cashier, as alleged, who left his post at the money transfer location, unwittingly breached standard operating procedures, which laid the path for the
Sunday November 14, 2021
robbers to follow? (KN Nov. 12). It has to be seen as gross negligence on the part of the errant cashier to leave his post unauthorised and unsecured.It is wondered, though, was an element of collusion a part? Shamshun Mohamed
elect twenty five (25) of the sixty-five (65) members of the National Assembly, and the number to be elected from each geographical constituency is reflected in a table under Section 11 A (4) of the ROPA.The Region 4 geographical constituency is to elect seven (7) members to the National Assembly. There is no physical boundary demarcated in the Region 4 geographical constituency to which any of the seven (7) prospective candidates/ members attaches. (Nor indeed in any of the other nine (9) Regional geographical constituencies).I have always criticized this as failing to achieve the objective of having genuine or real constituencies, since they are hovering in orbit unable to land on defined physical pieces of land. The result is that the seven (7) candidates/ members are elected en bloc and after the elections given notional constituencies.The PPPC government must explain why they are not doing the same in Regions 3 and 6 for example. The fact of the matter is that the creation of geographical constituencies is the product of an intricate constitutional reform process (CRP) culminating in inter alia, this attempt at a hybrid electoral system for elections to the National Assembly, which was inserted into our 1980 Constitution in 2000, by Act No. 14 of 2000, in Article 160 (2) of the Constitution. Pursuant to Article 160 (2) of the Constitution, Parliament inserted into the ROPA,
Section 11 A which operationalises the concept of geographical constituencies, in our reformed electoral system. The framers in the CRP contemplated ten (10) geographical constituencies deemed for purposes of registration and elections, registration districts, and polling districts respectively. There was no provision for sub-districting of a polling district as the PPPC government proposes to do.All political parties represented in the National Assembly were involved in the process when the PPPC was the government of the day, and their and then Attorney General and other leading members of Parliament (MPs) participated and chaired important committees.This petty tinkering with the system produced by the CRP by the Executive will be in breach of the doctrine of the Separation of Powers and the Constitution.I am afraid that the PPPC will have to return to the CRP which they have been avoiding for many years now to effect meaningful and holistic constitutional change.The PPPC Government must not attempt to subvert an established constitutional electoral system arrived at after long and mature deliberations by the representatives of the people of this nation, by a backdoor maneuver. Basil Williams, SC Former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs
President Ali should create an office that ensures timely and satisfactory public service DEAR EDITOR, After reading Freddie Kissoon’s November 12th column titled: “Guyana cannot be like this, Mr. President”; please allow me to add my comments. I would suggest that President Ali, or his delegate, visit any Government entity, including the hospitals, and he would see the long lines of people waiting to be serviced. Kissoon said that the “system” is to be blamed for staff inaction to public concerns and frustrations. While I am a firm believer that people are the cause of most compromised, inefficient and ineffective systems, I would suggest that President Ali create an Office; or an Initiative, the mission of which is to cut through red tape so that the public can be properly served in a timely manner; one role of that office
would be to receive citizens/ public complaints and to generate solutions to such complaints. That office/initiative must be led by a professional with international experience and of the highest integrity, but I do not think that a lawyer or judge should hold that position. This office/initiative must not be a replication of the Ombudsman Office. The office/initiative can be called “Office for Quality Public Service”. Guyana must not be a country noted for lines, links and possible corruption relating to public service. The time is now for President Ali to take note of Kissoon’s comments and certainly to take bold action. Thank you, Fizul Rahim
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 BLUNT. B . . T . T T N N U . U L . . L B . 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 . . N N T T L U U N L L U B U T...BLU B L . . N . B . T . . N T U N N N U L U U B L . BL TLUNT.. UNT...B BL Sunday November 14, 2021
Kaieteur News
Apparently, Guyana has gained a reputation as a safe haven for corrupt foreign contractors. Those who were blacklisted for fraud are bidding for the Amaila Fall Project.
With our own corrupt politicians, in and out of office, as well as corrupt bureaucrats, the corrupt foreign contractors know they are at home, and would be welcomed. So much so that all of them are in bed. Guyanese: how much stomach do you have for such people?
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Sunday November 14, 2021
Van West Charles wins $10 million judgment in libel case against K/News - K/N publisher moves to stay judgment, file appeal Dr. Richard Van West Charles, the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of t h e G u y a n a Wa t e r Incorporated (GWI) and Head of Atlantic Fuels Inc, has secured judgment to the tune of $10 million in a defamation claim against Kaieteur News (KN). The former GWI boss had sued the publication in 2019 for an article headlined “Van West Charles' fuel company under the spotlight for underinvoicing - tenders fake documents to GRA.” KN's publisher, Glenn Lall, has already indicated that he will be taking steps to ask for a stay of the judgment and file an appeal. Dr. Van West Charles'
judgment follows a list of decisions in libel suits granted against KN and its publisher, Glenn Lall. The newspapers is currently involved in a similar dispute with former Chief Executive O ff i c e r ( C E O ) o f t h e National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited (NICIL), Winston Brassington, where he sued the newspaper 19 times in one day for contents of the satirical Dem Boys Seh article and was awarded close to $40 million by two judges. Last year, Justice Fidela Corbin tried five of the cases and awarded $3.5M each, with a four percent interest after she found that the
newspaper could not adequately defend the case. She later tried another one and awarded him $2M with interest. Brassington won his case before Justice Navindra Singh, who tried one of the libel matters. Brassington was awarded $10M with interest by Justice Singh who also tried another case with ex-President Donald Ramotar, to whom he awarded him $20M with interest for libel. Last week, Justice Singh tried another libel case, in which Dr. Van West Charles was awarded 10M with interest in addition to $1.6 million court costs. In the case against KN,
Dr. Van-West-Charles had claimed that the newspaper published content against him which meant or were understood to mean that he was unfit to hold public office. That he and his company were involved in criminal conduct, including under-invoicing of fuel purchases for the purposes of evading taxes and smuggling of fuel, which are crimes against the State of Guyana. Dr. Van West Charles said that among other things, the article insinuated that he had corruptly secured a fuel import licence. He contended however in the court case that the claims of the publications were false and caused significant harm
Dr. Richard Van West Charles, the former CEO of GWI. and injury to his reputation and lowered his standing in Guyana and the international community and has brought him into public odium. In his ruling delivered on November 5, 2021, Justice Navindra Singh awarded the plaintiff $10M against KN. In his written judgment which was disseminated shortly after the case concluded last Friday, Justice Singh took a number of issues into consideration. Among them, were the contents of the article and the defense of the newspaper and its publisher. As it relates to the publication, Justice Singh noted that the first quarter of the article was dedicated to a discourse on fuel smuggling in Guyana, after which the article then purports to report that Atlantic Fuels Inc. which is owned by Dr. Van West Charles is the subject of an investigation by the GRA. Ta k i n g t h e i s s u e s mentioned above into context, the judge noted that the article clearly leaves it open for the inference to be drawn that the plaintiffs are fuel smugglers and are being investigated for participating in such activity. As it regards, the defense provided by the newspaper and its publisher, the court found that it did not satisfy the grounds of fair comment. Fair comment is defined as a "common law defense that guarantees the freedom of the press to express statements on matters of public interest, as long as the statements are not made with ill will, spite, or with the intent to harm the plaintiff. Expounding on the issue of fair comment in his decision, Justice Singh reasoned that the method of defense is not available to the newspaper in this case, since the articles purport to be
Kaieteur News' Publisher, Glenn Lall.
reporting facts, to wit, unlawful and/or improper acts done by the Claimants. The judge said too: “The Defendants [Lall and Kaieteur News] did not present any evidence to the Court to show that the Claimants were involved in fuel smuggling. In fact, the testimony of Lall suggests that they did not even harbour the belief that the claimants [Dr. Van West Charles and Atlantic Fuel Inc] were involved in fuel smuggling. “In any event, the particular of justification with respect to linking the claimants to fuel smuggling pleaded… the Defense is nonsensical and does not even pretend to justify the article.” The judge added in his consideration. As such, in assessing the appropriate quantum of damages in this case, the court took into consideration that the libel attacked the personal integrity and professional reputation of Dr. Van West Charles who was and is a very public figure. Also that the claimant served in very high public office of the land and was at the time serving as a senior public official; and as a result, the nature of the libel was bound to cause distress, hurt and humiliation to Dr. Van West Charles and damage the Atlantic Fuels Inc reputation in the business world.Additionally, the court took into consideration that information published by KN is being disseminated via the World Wide Web and would have had the widest distribution possible. “And of course it is a wellestablished and accepted fact that material published on the World Wide Web is available for public consumption for eternity,” the court said. Taking all of these (Continued on page 52)
Kaieteur News
Sunday November 14, 2021
2 more unvaccinated persons succumb to COVID-19 The Ministry of Health yesterday recorded two more deaths as a result of COVID-19 complications. The latest casualties are two unvaccinated men - a 49 man from East Berbice-Corentyne who died on November 9 and a 39-year-old man from Essequibo Islands-West Demerara who died on November 13. The country's death toll has now moved to 957.
According to the Ministry too, there are 89 new cases which have taken the total number of infections to 36,741. Also there are currently 2,302 active cases in Guyana including 15 patients in the COVID-19 ICU and the remaining 2,287 persons in either home or institutional isolation. Another 17 persons are also in institutional quarantine. To date, some 33,482 persons have recovered.
Supply chain problem boys and de Christmas raise seh... Dem
Deh gat some Guyanese who does depend pun de lil raise from overseas fuh mek dem Christmas nice. Without dat lil freck, nuff people would be bruk fuh Christmas. Dem does gat fuh wait however, until dem overseas family get bonus and dat is nat till December 15. Dat is why dem does gat so much shopping from de second week of December. Is den dem money transfer does come in. Some ah dem overseas family done start mek excuse. Some ah dem done tell dem family hay not fuh expect de usual amount
since things tight in Uncle Sam and Canada. But Guyanese nah tek leff. One man from Guyana ring he relative overseas last week and seh, “Don't fuhget yuh boy with de lil freck dis year. Things hard in Guyana now and ah looking fuh yuh put yuh best foot forward dis year.” De overseas relative answer, “Boy ah get de money already fuh yuh but de problem is de supply chain problem.” De Guyanese man ask, “Wat supply chain problem gat fuh do with de lil freck yuh does send fuh me from yuh annual bonus?”
“De money-transfer agency gat supply chain problems. Dem seh de money can't reach pon time,” de overseas relative say. But Guyanese gat plaster fuh every sore. De Guyanese man tell he overseas relative, “Ah gan borrow from one ah meh friend and when it reach ah gan pay he back.” Suh supply chain problem nah look like it gan cause nuff Guyanese nat fuh get dem Christmas freck dis year. Talk half and start organising yuh Christmas freck.
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Sunday November 14, 2021
BLUNTNESS ON INDECENCY!
I
n case you haven’t heard, please be informed that as part Page Seven to be “BLUNT” about on-going indecency in our of our continued effort to channel positive changes in our land that should matter, not only to us at this publication, but the country, our publisher, Mr. Glenn Lall, has dedicated our entire nation.
SUNDAY The UN Secretary General says that climate change is like digging our own graves. Guyana's Vice President asserts that Guyana must produce quickly to be part of the supply chain. He was behind push for sanctions on the PNC during last year's elections.The VP had better be careful that he doesn't call down sanctions on his own head. MONDAY Barbados' PM, Mia Motley told the world that failing to act on climate change is a death sentence for all.Guyana's Bharrat Jagdeo is telling everybody that oil is a lifeline for us.He is telling everyone
that Guyana must drill and produce, and if atmospheric pollution occurs, then it is collateral damage. The VP is already dangerously overextending himself. We warn him: be careful. Mr. VP, Please don't take Guyanese down with you like some reckless minibus driver. TUESDAY Guyana is doing so well that a Govt. Ministry can import a vehicle and leave it on the wharf. Guyana has that many billions to burn, as the facts confirm. Guyana has borrowed 10 times more in the first half of this year than it did in the same period in 2020.
No wonder a Govt. Ministry can leave a multi-million-dollar vehicle to rot and unclaimed at the wharf. WEDNESDAY Friends killing friends in rum shops, robberies, and many other rogueries.Some Guyanese political leaders are pretending to be friends of Guyanese to take advantage of them, rob them, and are roguish towards citizens.Oil, gas, natural resources, spending, billing, checking, and always it is the same leadership banditries.They win, Guyanese lose. THURSDAY Daily we carry frontpage photos of ordinary Guyanese demanding renegotiating the oil
contract.Recently, 150 Guyanese lent their voices to the global energy fight. Frequently, more and more Guyanese are calling on Govt. leaders: to do something. Do over the contract.Do things the right way; do what is right for all citizens.But it seems that President Ali ignores and the Vice President dismisses. FRIDAY No Government should be so irresponsible.The PPP Govt. is so irresponsible, it is not just endangering, but criminal. COVID-19 deaths are increasing, yet the Govt. reduces curfew hours.A curfew of midnight
to 4 a.m. is no curfew at all. Once again, PPP leaders show how they are indebted to the private sector, and care little about ordinary Guyanese. SATURDAY Friends killing friends in rum shops, robberies, and many other rogueries. Some Guyanese political leaders are pretending to be friends of Guyanese to take advantage of them, rob them, and are roguish towards citizens. Oil, gas, natural resources, spending, billing, checking, and always, it is the same leadership banditries.They win, Guyanese lose.
Sunday November 14, 2021
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Sunday November 14, 2021
Civil Society watchdog exposes Pres. Ali's duplicity at COP26 …calls for immediate ban on log exports, consultations on mega projects
C
ivil Society Group—Article 1 3 — h a s lambasted Head of State, President Irfaan Ali's, unambiguous calls to world leaders at the recently concluded 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP26) and in exposing his duplicity has called for the immediate ban on the export of logs. This is in addition to holding of extensive consultations for the
administration's two flag ship energy projects, namely the Gas-to-Shore initiative and the development of the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project (AFHEP)—given the potential economic pitfalls and future financial burdens. The group, which identified its current spokespersons as Ramon Gaskin, Dr. Yog Mahadeo and Jonathan Yearwood, in a public missive yesterday drew reference to “the President's unambiguous call (at COP26) for immediate
action to avoid a global disaster” and observed that it “contrasted with the platitudes that have emerged from these conferences for the past 26 years, including promises not kept and longterm commitments with no measurable intermediate markers.” President Ali, Article 13 observed, “repeated the absolute and urgent need to reduce emissions and reminded world leaders of the numerous broken pledges by developed countries to
assist developing countries.” Specifically referring to deforestation, President Ali spoke of the need for developing countries “to be provided with incentives necessary to keep the forest intact.” As such, “Article 13 lauds the President's position on the impact of and focus on climate change and its effects, including the everpresent and increasing threat from rising sea levels, hurricanes, droughts, forest fires, and in some areas of the world, famine as well.” The civil society watchdog body noted, however, that the President's assertions would “have resonated across both the developed and developing countries, and particularly among low-lying countries such as Guyana, in which huge swathes of their territory face an existential threat” and that “ u n f o r t u n a t e l y, t h e President's lofty ideals on the crisis of Climate Change and the Environment have not translated into policies and practices.” To this end, Article 13 cited recent media reports which indicate that the administration has reopened the door for the return of Asian logging companies and Canadian interests in gold mining. The group noted too that “Guyana is opening up more territory for gold mining which, outside of a strictly enforced regime, can do grave harm to the environment, as a result of uncontrolled land clearing and the use of mercury.” Clarifying that, “we are
Logs piled up for export from Guyana.
aware of the distinctions between commercial logging for export, for local use and for clearing to facilitate infrastructure and other developmental purposes,” Article 13 said, it therefore, “demands full information on all activities, including planned activities, of foreign deforesters operating in Guyana.” As such, “in this connection, we make a clear distinction between commercial deforesters and local operators who satisfy the local demand for housing and construction.” To this end, the Article 13 spokespersons in their joint missive were adamant, “the people of Guyana deserve to know the present rate and quantity of forest degradation, including a breakdown delineating foreign versus domestic usage….In this regard, Article 13 holds that Guyana must immediately ban all exports of logs.” It was noted too that, “the greatest contradiction by President Ali, however, is his simultaneous declaration abroad of support for the removal of subsidies from fossil fuel production while in Guyana his administration stoutly defends granting to oil companies concessions of all types imaginable, including the payment of their taxes, reimbursement of their expenses and limitations on the audit of their books and records.” The members noted that while boasting that Guyana's forests are “almost the size of England and Scotland”, President Ali failed to inform the gathering that in the case
Head of State, President Irfaan Ali of one or more than a dozen petroleum agreements entered into with oil companies, a group of two American and one Chinese companies has been granted exploration and production rights over an acreage of territorial waters. This exceeds the entire 83,000 sq. miles of the land territory of Guyana. “This inconsistency with the laws of Guyana, common sense, and sanity is aggravated by its permission of flaring and weak regard for responsible environmental laws and management.” The Civil Society group noted too that the President announced in Scotland his government's plan for a 70 percent reduction of carbon emissions by 2030, “presumably as a result of the US $750 million Amaila Falls Hydro Project and the US$900 million Gas-toShore Project.” To this end, it was pointed out that “of direct interest to Article 13 is that these projects are shrouded in secrecy and announced even before any consultation with (Continued on page 53)
Sunday November 14, 2021
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Sunday November 14, 2021
Court orders GRA to pay Chinese importer it blocked from filing declarations The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has been ordered by High Court Judge Fidela Corbin-Lincoln to pay costs to a Chinese importer it had blocked from electronically filing declarations after the company failed to pay additional duties, last year. Shanglin Lin, an importer of diapers and sanitary products from China, explained in an affidavit filed by prominent attorney, Manoj Narayan that adult and children diapers marketed under the name of “Prime Diapers” manufactured by Quangzou Hengyi Sanitary Products Co. Ltd. [QHSP] in China. According to the court
documents which were seen by this newspaper, the importer said QHSP operates in an Economic Development Zone in China and received tax free exemptions from the Chinese State. Consequently, many of the products manufactured by QHSP costs less to manufacture and are often of a cheaper quality than similar products manufactured in other parts of the world. Additionally, he noted, among other things, that QHSP is the only importer of Prime Diapers from China for resale in Guyana as far as he is aware. However, in January 2020, the importer noted in the court papers that
GRA in a letter signed by its Deputy Commissioner of Customs, Excise and Trade Operations, Patrick Hyman demanded that Lin pay an additional $5.7 million in duties for several containers of diapers he imported between January and June 2019. The letter dated January 3, 2020 from GRA asked that the monies be paid within less than two weeks, but when Shanglin Lin failed to make the payment, he was blocked months later from electronically filing declarations. As a result, Shanglin Lin moved to the Court asking that the court declare GRA's decision to block him from
uploading documents to the electronic processing system as unlawful. He argued that being the only importer for the Prime Diapers which are of cheaper quality; he subscribed to all GRA's processes and paid the duty which was assessed based on invoices he submitted. He said at no time did the GRA raise concerns regarding the invoices or declared value of the products; not even before the January 3 letter. He claimed that because of a mistake and anomalies, a reassessment showed that he needed to pay the additional $5.7 million in duties. In her decision, Justice Corbin-
Prominent Attorney, Manoj Narayan Lincoln quashed GRA's demand and said it was in breach of the Customs Act Cap. 82:01 and subsidiary legislation. The judge declared that the GRA's purported reassessment and demand for additional duties was
unlawful and unfair and said the decision to block Shanglin Lin from uploading documents to its electronic processing system was also unlawful. The Judge noted that Shanglin Lin should be (Continued on page 53)
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Sunday November 14, 2021
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Sister makes supportive siblings proud with Bar admission leading up to this day. I recall the day I found out I got accepted to read for my Bachelor of Law and how excited I was to share the news with you. I even remember the tough days.” Growing up, Persaud said she wanted to be a pediatrician but as she got older her career choice Continued on page 16
Persaud posing for a photo with her supportive brothers on the day of her Bar admission.
Leonora Hindu Temple gets donation, PA system
Attorney-at-law, Paneeta Persaud
One of Guyana’s newest lawyers, Paneeta Persaud, 24, on Friday, November 5, last made her two supportive younger brothers extremely proud after she was admitted to the bar by Justice Navindra Singh. According to the young l a w y e r, h e r s i b l i n g s , Omindra and Janesh Persaud, ages 22 and 21 respectively, sacrificed most of their time to keep her company during the long hours of virtual exams, classes and late night studies. There were times, she said, when she felt that that she would not have been successful in completing her three-year-study at the Hugh Wooding Law School but with her brothers’ support she was among the top 25 graduating law student for 2021. Persaud received her Legal Education certificate on September 17 and on November 5, at 13:00hrs her brothers were “dressed up” in their suits to witness her Bar admission. Presenting the petition on her behalf was Attorney
General (AG), Anil Nandlall who had predicted that one day she would be a lawyer. The AG had promised a 16year-old Persaud that when that day comes he will be the one to put forward the petition for her to be accepted to the Bar. In her brief speech, Persaud said, “Mr. Nandlall, thank you for believing in me and for fulfilling your promise in spite of your busy schedule”. She also took the opportunity to acknowledge the ones who had helped her along her academic journey which was filled with some challenges. “I am also grateful for all my lecturers including Mr. Teni Housty (Vice-President of the Bar Association), who has been a great professor and an even better mentor and friend throughout this journey,” the young lawyer told those who witnessed her admission. Persaud then paused for a bit and then continued, “Mom and Dad, as I was preparing this address, I reflected on every moment
Kaieteur News’s Publisher, Glenn Lall and Danny Ramnarine of New York, USA, yesterday donated a Public Address (PA) system consisting of an amplifier and microphones to the Leonora Hindu Temple located on the West Coast of Demerara (WCD).
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Sunday November 14, 2021
Sister makes supportive siblings proud with... From page 15 started to change until she was not sure anymore of what she wanted to become. “At first I wanted to be a pediatrician then an accountant and suddenly law,” she recounted. Persaud completed her high school education at School of the Nations and it was while completing her A levels that she found something that she was really interested in and that was law. She completed prelaw programme and then entered the Hugh Wooding Law School in 2019. Her journey started off
smoothly but then soon after hurdles started appearing in her path and there were moments when she became frustrated and felt that the career path might be too tough a challenge for her. One of the setbacks she faced was the death of her grandfather. “When my grandfather died it was a major blow because we were very close,” Persaud said. That however, was not the only hurdle that the young lawyer had to jump. In 2021 the COVID-19 pandemic struck and the physical classroom that she was accustomed to was
forcefully changed into a virtual one. Adapting to the transition proved to be a challenge for Persaud. The young lawyer explained, “A virtual classroom is very different. If you need help with something from your lecturer, or ask a question, you have to wait until he is online or on ZOOM. You cannot walk up to a lecturer and say I have this problem like in a normal classroom.” Apart from this, there were the times she had to prepare for virtual exams in 24hrs and it was very
challenging. Persaud recalled that it was during these moments that she felt discouraged and thought that she was not going to be successful. However, her brothers were always present to wait up with her during long hours of study. This, she said gave her motivation to push on and give it her all. That extra effort to fight through the challenges gained her a spot in the top
25 graduating lawyers in 2021 but it was not over yet. She prepared her suit for her bar admission and had tried it on several times before the actual date. When Friday arrived, Persaud, dressed in her outfit, looked at herself in the mirror and recalled saying to herself, “it’s actually happening!” In her speech to those who attended her Bar admission, Persaud said,
“Becoming a lawyer seemed impossible at first. If I’m being honest, when I started UG (University of Guyana), I didn’t think I’d be in the top 25 to attend the HWLS ( H u g h Wo o d i n g L a w School), but I worked hard, and prayed for it to happen every day. Today, I feel so proud of who I’ve become because I learnt to be resilient and I persevered through all the challenges that came in my way.”
ALL THE
Best! K/News Publisher, Glenn Lall, is flanked by two of his senior employees – Mr. Michael Baptiste who called it a day yesterday after 21 years and Ms. Joyce Bobb who celebrated her birthday yesterday. The team at KN wishes them all the best.
Kaieteur News
Arielle Ming
Sunday November 14, 2021
Our featured beauty this week is the attractive Guyanese Nutrition Consultant, Arielle Ming, who immerses herself in her work by supporting her clients in their respective health journey. Ms. Ming also enjoys reading, going to the gym, Latin music and dancing. Her words to live by are “our greatness is not what you have but what you give.” Ms. Ming can be followed via her Facebook - Evolve You Fitness.
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Sunday November 14, 2021
Pretty Lil Thang… BLENDING A ‘PASSION FOR FASHION’ WITH TECH TO THRIVE IN THE FACE OF COVID WOES “…you just have to keep believing in what you want and you can get it, you have to keep fighting; when it feels like it’s not working, that’s the time you get up and you keep fighting the most.” - Nicki
Keeping it classy, always with attire that can be sourced from ‘Pretty Lil Thang’ Philosophers have for centuries debated the theories of survival and its causation, as to whether this
is determined by who is stronger and fitter or who is better able to adapt to the evolving environment
within which one find themselves. Last year saw the world experiencing what could only be seen as the 1918 Spanish Flu, the Great Depression of the 1930s, the more recent global financial and housing market meltdowns, droughts, floods, civil wars and the list continues; all unimaginable extremities and all around catastrophes, rolled into one. Thrive or Survive? T h e n o v e l Coronavirus—COVID10—first detected in Wuhan, China—quickly spread across the globe killing millions and infecting even
more—brought with it an instantaneously changed environment, within which to survive or thrive. Despite the lockdowns, and inherent detrimental socio-economic woes that have plagued the planet since—seemingly worsening though with light at the end of an ever extending tunnel—there are some that have managed to find ways to survive, and even thrive, despite the pandemic woes. Woes, the likes of which previous generations have never experienced all at once, much less for such an extended period.
‘Nicki’ modelling one of her pieces.
Jeff Bezos, perhaps best known as principal owner of the now household brand—Amazon—during the COVID-19 spike, managed to propel himself to becoming, in light of and despite the pandemic, the richest man in the world—however short lived, since he was surpassed by Elon Musk, who is now the first Trillionaire on earth. Both men proved that technology in the 21st Century can be a most useful tool, to not only eke out a living in the digital age using tools such as the internet but thrive, even in a time of despair and looming global disasters. Passion for Fashion D e s p i t e G u y a n a ’s shortcomings with its access to state of the art technology, and its internet woes experienced by all and sundry, there are some Guyanese however, that have recognised the need to adapt, in order to not just s u r v i v e b u t thrive—especially with a COVID-19 pandemic and its ghastly effects on their lives and livelihood. N i c o l e t t e L a s h l e y, popularly known to her friends and mass of social media followers as ‘Nicki,’ is one such person. This ambitious and largely self-motivated 23year-old, has used her ‘passion for fashion,’ combined with a recognition of the need to adapt and using the internet as her principal tool, to not only build what is quickly becoming a local household
name, as the place to source the latest, trendy fashion couture, but to also thrive and continue to grow, despite the despairs of a global pandemic. Born and raised in Georgetown, this industrious young lady, in 2019 decided to establish ‘Pretty Lil Thang’ with the prime objective of ‘keeping it classy,’ with the attire she supplies and of course earn meaningfully, while doing something she loves. Social Media This is since she had recognised that there could be value in her massive social media reach, not just locally but internationally. Convinced by the seemingly now cliché phrase, “if you do what you love, you will never work a day in your life,” ‘Nicki’ told this publication that her love for fashion has been with her from her youth. But it was not until later in life, she realised that she had a unique talent for putting together aesthetically fashionable arrangements to wear that would mesmerize her friends. Having attended the Morgan Learning Centre and pursuing studies in the business stream, Nicki decided to hone her academic business proficiencies coupled with her unearthed talent to establish a formal business back in October 2019—more than two months before the first reported case of the COVID19 virus. Continued on page 53
Sunday November 14, 2021
Kaieteur News
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Put money in workers' hands not the businessmen's pockets T
he President's warning to consumers to brace for more price increases is pre-emptive. The announcement by President Ali signals that inflation is not going to be reduced anytime soon–in fact, the President projected that the situation is not likely to be restored to normalcy before the end of the first quarter of next year. Earlier this year, the government granted extremely generous concessions to the private sector in order to help cushion the impact of increased freight charges on consumers. That measure failed because the tax savings, earned by the private sector, were not reflected in a decrease in prices. The private sector has therefore failed and ought now to be surcharged for the taxes which were originally foregone. But we know that the government will not do so. The government, however, is unlikely to extend the concessions to the business class since these would have already cost the Treasury billions of dollars. Instead of paying taxes on the full cost of an imported item plus the actual freight, the freight charges were reduced to pre-pandemic levels. This reduced the overall taxes which ought to have been paid. The idea was that these savings would have been passed on to consumers saddled with increased costs as a result of the massive rise in freight charges. The private sector however, did not pass on the savings as anticipated. As a result consumers were burdened with increased prices. The government most likely will not be renewing this conces s ion w hich expires in December. And it should not. The private sector has not delivered and the global supply chain problems will not end anytime soon. The International Monetary Fund has already slashed its projections of global growth by one-tenth of one percentage, citing the effects of supply chain problems. Inflation increased in July in the United States by more than five percent, a shocking development for a country known for low to negligible inflation. And in Europe, the
situation was more bleak with inflation highest in more than 10 years. All of this is being attributed to the supply chain problems. President Ali has explained that the pandemic led to an increase in the costof-living due to the closure of factories, terminals, and port facilities and a logjam in shipping. The resulting delays he noted were then translated into increased costs for production, shipping and logistics and consumer items. Guyana, he noted, was not excluded from this phenomenon. In Guyana, supply chain problems have extended beyond the kitchen table. Price increases and delays have affected the construction sector. Large infrastructural projects are likely to have cost overruns and delays. The increase in domestic food prices continue to bite. Consumers are finding it difficult to make ends meet with the same level of income. The government should be mindful also of the impact of the increase in food prices caused by the supply chain problems and the loss of production resulting from the floods of May/June this year. The increase in food prices alone was estimated at half year at more than 12.5 percent and was occasioned by both imported and domestic-generated inflation. Instead of offering any
concessions to the private sector, the government should offer to public servants a monthly cost-ofliving allowance of G$10,000 per month. This should cover the increased food inflation and put consumers back in the same position they were prior to the supply-chain problems and the effects of the flooding. The government should also encourage the private sector to pay their employees this tax-free cost-of-living allowance. While workers will clamour for a higher allowance, the government should not set the figure too high lest it becomes unsustainable or fuels higher inflation. The intention should be to pay a sum to cover food inflation and not overall inflation. This should be separate and distinct from what will be offered as part of the annual salary increase to public servants. No concessions should be offered to the private sector which should be encouraged to pay, out of their own resources, the same tax free cost-of-living allowance to their staff. The government also needs to address the high cost of domestic-induced inflation caused by the decline in the agricultural sector. Small scale farmers who cultivate cash crops should be offered a tax
holiday for the next six months – many of them hardly pay any taxes in any event. Rice and poultry farmers – small- and large-scale –
should not be offered any similar concessions because they enjoy most of their inputs free. The poultry sector is also tax free, according to the government.
(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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Sunday November 14, 2021
Kaieteur News
Govt.'s electoral reform… Former AG says sub-division
of Region Four is a “backdoor” to steal seats Former Attorney General, Basil Williams has flagged the PPP/C Government's attempt to sub-divide the Region Four Polling District into four polling sub districts as a “backdoor manoeuver” to steal party seats. In a strongly worded missive to the media issued o n F r i d a y, W i l l i a m s criticised the proposition by Government saying it “is whimsical and capricious, designed to create confusion in a Geographical Constituency they have been unable to win from time immemorial”. In Guyana, there are 10 G e o g r a p h i c a l Constituencies created by S e c t i o n 11 ( A ) o f t h e Representation of the People Act Chapter 1:03 Laws of
Guyana (ROPA). Each of the 10 Regions of Guyana being a registration District and a Polling District under the Local Democratic Organs, (Regional Democratic Councils) Order 1980, is deemed to be a geographical constituency under Section 11 A (3) of the ROPA. The 10 geographical constituencies elect 25 of the 65 members of the National Assembly, and the number to be elected from each geographical constituency is reflected in a table under Section 11 A (4) of the ROPA.According to the former Attorney General, “The Region Four geographical constituency is to elect seven members to the National Assembly. There is no physical boundary demarcated in the
Former Attorney General, Basil Williams
Attorney General, Anil Nandlall
Region Four geographical constituency to which any of the seven prospective candidates/members attaches, nor indeed in any of the other nine Regional g e o g r a p h i c a l constituencies.” He added, “I have always criticised this as failing to achieve the objective of
having genuine or real constituencies since they are hovering in orbit unable to land on defined physical pieces of land. The result is t h a t t h e s e v e n candidates/members are elected en bloc and after the elections given notional constituencies.”In this regard, Williams said that the
Government must explain why this proposition is not being extended to Regions Three and Six in particular. He nevertheless noted that the creation of geographical constituencies is the product of an intricate constitutional reform process (CRP) culminating in inter alia this attempt at a hybrid electoral system for elections to the National A s s e m b l y, w h i c h w a s inserted into our 1980 Constitution in 2000, by Act No. 14 of 2000, in Article 160 (2) of the Constitution. He cited that pursuant to Article 160 (2) of the Constitution, Parliament inserted into the ROPA, S e c t i o n 11 A , w h i c h operationalises the concept of geographical constituencies, in our reformed electoral system. “The framers in the CRP contemplated 10 geographical constituencies deemed for purposes of registration and elections, registration districts, and polling districts respectively. There was no provision for sub-districting of a polling district as the PPP/C government proposes to do,” he explained. Furthermore, he noted that the 'petty tinkering” with the system produced by the CRP will be a breach of the doctrine of the Separation of Powers and the Constitution. “The PPP/C Government must not attempt to subvert an established constitutional electoral system arrived at after long and mature deliberations by the representatives of the people of this nation, by a backdoor maneuver,” he concluded. No sinister motive ahead Meanwhile, the serving AG, Anil Nandlall, in an interview with online news entity, Demerara Waves, on Friday evening defended the draft Electoral Reform. He said that laws must be dynamic even as he reminded that the ROPA was enacted in Guyana since 1964 and was largely
inherited from the British. In further explaining the need for a reform of the laws, Nandlall said the mass irregularities at the March 2020 Elections constitute the need for modification of the constitution. “We promised to address those issues where we would examine the laws and attempt to rectify whatever loopholes there may be. We witnessed firsthand how the system was abused, how the machinery was manipulated and how the law was perverted,” the AG explained. In fact, he is of the firm view that the Opposition is against the Electoral Reform as they are the perpetrators the amendments are seeking to address. With regards to the specific controversy in Region Four, the AG pointed out that the decision was made to sub-divide district four, as it is the largest in the country and was also the main centre of attention in the previous elections. “It's counting of the votes, just a few thousands threw the entire country into chaos and we know what happened. It's Region Four and if we are going to address the issues that arose and we are going to reform the laws in relation to addressing the problems that arose, then we have to look closely at District Four,” he pointed out. Against this backdrop, he assured that the proposal of sub-dividing Region Four into districts is not intended to give any political party an advantage. According to him, “We didn't create more than one district, we kept it as one and we simply subdivided. The seats that are allocable, based on votes cast, remain the same for that one district.” Additionally, he noted that the government is now engaged in a consultative exercise where recommendations are welcome.
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Kaieteur News
Dear Reader, in light of the economic impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, our publisher, with you in mind, has taken the decision to extend our weekly review of some of our major stories in their entirety. SUNDAY DESPITE GUYANA’S RUSH TO APPROVE YELLOWTAIL PROJECT… EXXON MAKES NO COMMITMENT TO FULL COVERAGE INSURANCE Even though American oil explorer, ExxonMobil has faced five years of unrelenting criticism for refusing to provide Guyana with full coverage insurance on its Liza Phase One, Liza Phase Two and Payara Projects, the company appears hell-bent on continuing this trend for its fourth development—the $1.8 trillion Yellowtail Project. Currently, Guyana only has insurance from the subsidiaries of the ExxonMobil, Hess Corporation, and China National Offshore Oil Corporation, or CNOOC Group on the Stabroek Block. Given that these companies hardly have any assets or cash, the insurance coverage in the event of an oil spill would be miniscule, to say the least. As a result of this, local stakeholders have urged the government to not only correct this state of affairs by tying the parent companies to full coverage insurance for the first three sanctioned projects, but they have also demanded better arrangements for Exxon’s Yellowtail Project, which the government is now racing to approve by the end of this year. In its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) on Yellowtail, ExxonMobil categorically stated that the insurance for the project would be provided for in the name of its subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL). The document which was lodged with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says, “Joint insurance coverage is obtained in the name of EEPGL and the other Stabroek block coventurers for the appropriate lines of coverage, depending on the project and scope of work. Specifically, for the Yellowtail Project, the co-venturers have insurance coverage including Third Party Liability and the cost of regaining control of a well.” Just recently, Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo noted that the government is working on securing as much as US$2B for insurance from ExxonMobil instead of full coverage. He said this move
follows criticisms over the last few years, to the effect that the country has no formal guarantee from the parent company that it would cover the shortfall of expenditure for environmental disasters, which are not handled by its subsidiary. He said it was an “implicit” understanding that this would be done. He is now working to get the parent company to acknowledge this obligation to protect the nation from any and all environmental dangers associated with its operations. ABOUTYELLOWTAIL EEPGL, the operator of the Stabroek Block, had explained via the Environmental Impact Assessment for the Yellowtail Project that the costs for development are expected to be above US$9B, since there would be a greater number of development wells and associated drilling costs when compared to its Payara project, which will also cost Guyana $1.8 trillion. Despite the astronomical costs, Exxon believes that the project should be supported as it would generate benefits for the citizens of Guyana in several ways, which would otherwise not be there in the absence of the project. According to project documents, Yellowtail will consist of drilling approximately 41 to 67 development wells (including production, water injection, and gas re-injection wells); installation and operation of Subsea, Umbilicals, Risers, and Flowlines equipment; installation and the operation of a Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel in the eastern half of the Stabroek Block; and— ultimately—project decommissioning. Initial production is expected to begin by the end of 2025–early 2026, with operations continuing for at least 20 years. The project is expected to employ up to 540 persons during development well drilling, approximately
600 persons at the peak of the installation stage, and 100 to 140 persons during production operations. CIVIL SOCIETY GROUP EXPRESSES CONCERNS ABOUT ABSENCE OF KEY CONSTITUTIONAL, STATUTORY BODIES – SAYS LEGALACTION WILL FOLLOW IF CHANGES ARE NOT MADE Article 13, a local civil society group formed with the intention to achieve the noble goals and aspirations set out in the constitution of Guyana, has expressed deep concern over the failure by the Irfaan Ali administration to constitute a long list of constitutional and statutory bodies as well as offices required for the proper functioning of the country. In a release to the press, Article 13 noted the negative impact the absence of these constitutional and statutory bodies has on the overall governance of the country. The group therefore called on the government to address the issue and reconstitute the bodies or face legal action. “Without assigning a tier of importance to constitutional and statutory bodies, the failure by President Ali to establish the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) and the Public Procurement Commission Tribunal (PPCT), even as his Government expends or announces the expending of billions of dollars of public funds, can no longer be tolerated,” the group said in its statement. Expounding on its position, the group went on to note that Article 212W of the Guyana Constitution provides for the establishment of a fiveperson PPC with duties as set out in the Procurement Act include “the regulation of the procurement of goods and services ….to promote
fairness and transparency in the procurement process”. To buttress the work of the PPC, Article 13 notes that the Public Procurement Commission Tribunal Act requires the appointment of a three-person Tribunal to hear appeals on any decision made by the Public Procurement Commission. At present, Article 13 is seeking confirmation from Ms. Gail Teixeira, the Minister responsible for Governance, on the full list of these bodies and offices and the dates on which they expired. According to the group, the announcement by Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, SC, that the President would be addressing the issue of the constitutional commissions on his return from the Global Climate Change Conference is welcomed but far from satisfactory. Further, the group noted that the President is conferred with the duty and responsibility for the appointment of the members of the Commission after their nomination by the Public Accounts Committee and approval by two-thirds of the National Assembly. “[The President] is required to appoint the Chairman of the Tribunal in accordance with the advice of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), and the two members in accordance with the advice of the Public Service Commission.As Mr. Nandlall has admitted, the Government has failed to constitute the Judicial Service Commission while it is a public fact that there is no Public Service Commission either,” Article 13 continued in the statement. To add insult to injury, the group claims that the Ali Administration, in violation of the Constitution and the PPC Act, gets its Cabinet to issue a “ farcical and fictitious ‘no objection’” to a Build-OwnOperate-Transfer (BOOT) agreement for the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP), secretly negotiated by its own
Government. To this end, Article 13 said, “That the Ali Administration does not know, or pretends not to know, that the Procurement Act permits an objection by the Cabinet only if it determines that a procuring entity has failed to comply with applicable procurement procedures is frightening for the country’s governance and for the public purse, and poses a real and grave threat to the rule of law.” The organisation believes that these glaring constitutional and statutory breaches indicate a reckless disregard for the Constitution and the laws of the country which were painstakingly put together to prevent corruption and autocratic actions by the Government and to promote transparency and accountability in matters of public finance. In this regard, Article 13 made it “abundantly clear,” that they hold the President, his Government, the Opposition, the speaker as well as the National Assembly responsible for the egregious state of affairs, 15 months into the new Administration and the Eleventh Parliament. “We hereby put the Government on notice that unless the issue of the Public Procurement Commission and the Tribunal is resolved promptly, Article 13 will take the necessary action, legal and otherwise, to restore constitutionality and the rule of law,” the group added in its statement. MONDAY RUSH TO APPROVE 4TH OIL PROJECT – YELLOWTAIL… TOXIC WASTE WILL INCREASE PRESSURE ON LIMITED CAPACITY OF LOCALTREATMENT FACILITIES – EXXON REPORT ExxonMobil’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and
Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) has issued an early warning to industry stakeholders that its fourth project, being the US$9B Yellowtail development, will generate a significant volume of hazardous waste that will increase pressure on local treatment facilities that are already stretched thin. This was noted in the company’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) that is undergoing a consultative process in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In that document, EEPGL noted that Yellowtail’s planned activities have the potential to impact waste management infrastructure capacity for current users of the Georgetown-based hazardous waste treatment facilities (primarily other oil and gas operators) and nonhazardous waste landfills (primarily the general community) due to increased burden of Project wastes on the capacity of these facilities. The subsidiary was keen to note however that since 2019, there has been a substantial expansion of third-party commercial hazardous waste handling, storage, and treatment facilities in Georgetown. In addition, it noted the construction of a second cell at the Haags Bosch Landfill (HBL) was completed during summer 2021. EEPGL said, continued upgrades and improvements at the HBL are ongoing while adding that there remain two additional cells at the landfill available for future development. EEPGL said each cell could extend the landfill capacity by five to six years, indicating that the landfill capacity appears reasonable for the next 10 years. It said subsequent decisions as to further expansion of existing or new (Continued on page 22)
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From page 21 municipal waste landfills will be undertaken by the Government of Guyana with the input and support of the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development and the EPA and participation of the public and other stakeholders. With respect to the projected waste generation from Yellowtail, EEPGL said this represents a significant portion of the total demand for Georgetown-based hazardous waste treatment facilities. However, EEPGL said its contributions of nonhazardous solid waste volumes sent to the HBL have been averaging approximately 6 to 7 percent of the total annual volume received by the facility. With the foregoing in mind, the company warned that the viability of its operations depends on reliable access to waste management infrastructure of a sufficient quality and with sufficient capacity. In view of this need to ensure project viability, and in recognition of the potential future capacity constraints and potential impacts on nonproject users of Georgetownbased waste management infrastructure, EEPGL said it will implement several measures as it deems necessary. TRILLION DOLLAR PROJECT Two weeks ago, Kaieteur News reported that development costs for the Yellowtail project are poised to exceed US$9B or GY$1.8 trillion. Exxon said the costs are expected to be higher since there would be a greater number of development wells and associated drilling costs when compared to its Payara project which will also cost Guyana $1.8 trillion. Despite the astronomical costs, Exxon believes that the project should be supported as it would generate benefits for the citizens of Guyana in several ways, which would otherwise not be there in the absence of the project. It said these benefits include revenue sharing with the Government of Guyana. The oil giant stressed however, that the type and extent of the benefits associated with revenue sharing will depend on how decision-makers in government decide to prioritise and allocate funding for future programmes, which is unknown to the company and outside the scope of the EIA. Apart from the revenue sharing, Exxon said Guyanese stand to benefit from the
Sunday November 14, 2021
Kaieteur News
procurement process that will follow for goods and services from local businesses in alignment with the Petroleum Agreement and the EEPGL Local Content Plan approved by the Ministry of Natural Resources in June 2021. According to project documents, Yellowtail will consist of drilling approximately 41 to 67 development wells (including production, water injection, and gas re-injection wells); installation and operation of Subsea, Umbilicals, Risers, and Flowlines equipment; installation and the operation of a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel in the eastern half of the Stabroek Block; and— ultimately—project decommissioning. The FPSO will be designed to produce up to 250,000 barrels of oil per day. The initial production is expected to begin by the end of 2025–early 2026, with operations continuing for at least 20 years. The project is expected to employ up to 540 persons during development well drilling, approximately 600 persons at the peak of the installation stage, and 100 to 140 persons during production operations. DPP RETURNS FILE ON PS IN KICKBACK SCANDAL TO POLICE FOR SECOND TIME It has been more than one month since Permanent Secretary (PS) attached to the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs was allegedly caught in a sting operation collecting a bribe from a contractor. The last update this publication received on the matter is that the case file was once again returned to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) for corrections to be made. Sharon Hicks, 42, of 811 Onderneeming, West Bank Demerara (WBD) was arrested at her Quamina and Thomas Streets, South Cummingsburg office on Thursday October 7, 2021 during the police operation. Following the sting operation she was immediately sent on leave pending the investigation. The case file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, S.C, during last month for legal advice. The file was sent back to the police for the investigators to make correction and resend to the DPP chambers. However, according to the DPP Public Relations Officer (PRO), Liz Rahaman, the police did return the file to the DPP’s chambers but the file was once again returned to
the GPF for further corrections. Kaieteur News had reported that the sting operation was setup after a businessman who usually provides security services to the Ministry reported to the police that the PS was demanding money from him before she signed off on his invoices. Hicks and the businessman’s father had a deal in which she would help him secure a contract with the Ministry and in return, he pays her $200,000 a month. After the businessman’s father died, he took over his father’s business and that is when Hicks approached him to strike the same deal with him, to which he first agreed. However, after reportedly paying Hicks for three months, he became tired and reported the matter to the police. As such, the sting operation was setup and marked notes were handed over to the PS by the contractor while in her office. After Hicks collected the money, a plainclothes police rank walked into her office, identified himself and cautioned her. She was then told of the allegation and
arrested. TUESDAY FAILURE TOAUDIT EXXON’S US$9.5B BILL SPENDING IS CRIMINAL …NO EXCUSE CAN ABSOLVE GOVT. OF THIS GRAVE SIN – DR. JAILALL Guyana’s failure to audit Exxon’s US$9.5B spending is tantamount to the Government aiding and abetting the fleecing of Guyana’s resources. This is according to Canadian based Guyanese, Dr. Jerry Jailall, who in a public statement to this publication said the recent revelations by Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, who oversees the oil and gas sector, “that the US$9.5 billion Liza 1 and Liza 2 expenses have not been audited is tantamount to the Government aiding and abetting the fleecing of Guyana’s resources.” As such, he was adamant, “the sin of omission of failure to do audits is as bad as the sin of commission of wrongdoing,” and that “no excuse can absolve the Government of this grave sin against the nation.”
According to Dr. Jailall, “this is not Exxon doing it to us. This is our own Government doing it to us.” He suggested that Guyana, at the beginning of its oil journey is already manifesting the “resource curse” syndrome. Dr. Jailall qualified his position by drawing reference to the fact that the ongoing Public Accounts Committee’s hearings “are all about how the country’s monies are being misspent and there is poor accountability, poor record keeping, missing receipts of transactions and payments running into hundreds of millions of dollars, and at the end of the hearings, nobody is going to jail for the unaccounted millions.” He pointed also to “poorly equipped hospitals that kill our loved ones, dialysis treatment is unavailable in most of Guyana, most of our village roads are mud roads still, our schools are primitive, internet services are unavailable or poor in most of Guyana, and we have a long list of urgent needs.” Referencing President’s Irfaan Ali’s assertion, “we are a rich nation of poor people,” Dr. Jailall questioned, “what sins have we committed that
in our politics, we vote for one set of dullards to replace the previous set? When is this vicious cycle going to stop?” According to Dr. Jailall, this publication in addition to its publisher, Glenn Lall, other private newspapers, the Oil and Gas Governance Network (OGGN), Transparency International Guyana Inc (TIGI), environmental groups, and nationalists such as Christopher Ram and others, have been harping on the need to complete audits since the agreement has only a twoyear window to do so. “We gave ongoing warnings to the Government. The Government had a chance to use Payara as leverage to secure changes in audit timelines but chose not to.” To this end, he observed that the Yellowtail well approval is coming up and that can be used as leverage to secure an increase in time to complete audits. “Will the Government ask for more time to complete audits?” questioned Dr. Jailall, who suggests “in my view, the failure to complete audits is criminal and failure to do due diligence,” and that “there might be a cause of action for private criminal action to be filed against those responsible for ensuring the oil accounts are audited.” Government, he said, cannot say, “we lack capacity to do audits or whatever else and think that’s a good excuse, and then adopt a drill baby drill stance.” He again questioned rhetorically, “If you are unprepared to manage oil, do you go faster or slow down?” Dr. Jailall used the opportunity to query also how many of the proposed 20,000 scholarships are aligned to building capacity for oil governance, oil accounting and auditing, environmental and general monitoring needs. According to Dr. Jailall, Guyana has sent all the wrong signals to the Oil operators “that, we are ill prepared to manage, monitor, and govern oil efficiently and effectively, that we lack the political skill and political will to do so, and that it will be a free ride for the oil companies to do whatever they want in Guyana, and nobody (Government nor Opposition) will stop them.” As such, the “oil companies can continue to flare gas and take indecent liberties with the environment, local content can wait, they can use shell companies and operate without proper insurance for (Continued on page 23)
Sunday November 14, 2021
From page 22 oil spills, and our Government and Opposition will not be bothered by that.” Referencing the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) that allows for low royalty, low profit sharing, inadequate insurance for oil spills and accidents, paying the oil companies’ taxes, “and oil barons making extra money because our current leaders do not know how to audit the US$9 billion bills the oil companies gave us to pay.” He queried, “how can a country do business like that?” Moreover, he questioned in whose interest the administration is working, pointing out that “it’s the oil companies and our Government on one side, versus we, the people, on the other side…Our Government should not be the facilitators of the fleecing of Guyana, while our people struggle to make ends meet.” SAVINGS FROM AUDIT OF EXXON’S US$9.5B BILL COULD HAVE PAID EVERY CITIZEN’S INCOME TAX FOR 56 YRS – FORDE
Had the PPP/C Government conducted a rigorous audit of ExxonMobil’s US$9.5B Stabroek Block bill, Opposition Member, Roysdale Forde believes that at the very least, the country could have secured enough savings to cover citizens’ personal income taxes at the 2020 level for nearly 56 years. By his calculations, Guyana could have recouped approximately US$1.1B (GYD235.2B) from the audit of the oil giant’s expenses in the prolific oil concession. With the foregoing in mind, Forde asserted that the citizenry has a clear picture of the magnitude of the government’s failure to audit Exxon’s costs within the twoyear limit prescribed in the Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement (PSA). Expounding further, the lawyer said he is of the firm conviction that the potential savings from the audits could have prevented Guyana from having to beg nations such as China for loans to fund critical infrastructure and energy related projects. He noted as well that the millions of dollars in savings could have been directed towards building a first class highway from Georgetown to Lethem without having to borrow money from China; higher pay for nurses, teachers, and the disciplined services; the building of the Upper Mazaruni Hydro, which
would yield eight times more electricity than Amaila; a greater opportunity to build industrial and agricultural base; cheaper internet access; better healthcare and education facilities; and substantial social and financial assistance to citizens. In light of the potential loss, Forde opined that chances for a better quality of life for Guyanese continue to diminish. In conclusion, Forde noted that the PPP/C Government has wasted a golden opportunity to demonstrate that it is capable of managing the oil sector in the interest of all. He has since called for an independent investigation “into this colossal act of incompetence” by the administration. Due to the nation’s failure to conduct cost audits within the two-year deadline prescribed in the Stabroek Block Agreement, Guyana has no choice but to allow ExxonMobil’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), to recover all stated costs for its Liza Phase One and Two Projects. Both initiatives total approximately US$9.5B. In addition to being able to recover the costs for Liza Phase One and Two, Exxon will also be able to recover without any challenges, the US$460M, which the oil company claimed was expended prior to the signing of the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) governing the Stabroek Block. It had said this money was spent on all the exploratory work that was needed for the massive 2015 Liza discovery. During his latest press engagement last week, Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo said the government is disappointed that it has not been able to push through with these critical audits. He said the absence of strong local groups to do the audits is what stymied the process. The only costs Guyana stands a chance of auditing and refuting if unreasonable charges are found are those occurring from 2019 onwards. It therefore means that the PPP/C administration still has ample opportunity to review costs expended for ExxonMobil’s Payara Development Project in the Stabroek Block. This project is expected to cost US$9B. INSUFFICIENT TIME I n t e r n a t i o n a l transparency bodies have strongly contended that the two-year deadline the government has accepted, along with the fact that it can only do one audit per year on
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Exxon, is not sufficient. They have stressed that the timeline should be extended. Specifically making this point over the years is Oxfam America. It has made this perspective known since 2015 alongside the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Oxfam America, a confederation of 20 charitable organisations which seeks to fight poor governance of extractive wealth, has said that the expiration periods for audit rights are set out in petroleum contracts and tax laws. It stressed, however, that these deadlines differ from one country to the next. It noted that in Ghana and Kenya for example, the authorities there retain the right to complete auditing companies within seven years. In Peru, the time limit for audits is a minimum of four years. Even in the USA, the transparency body highlighted that audits are allowed to be completed within a minimum of three years. Oxfam warned however that even a three-year deadline is not advisable for developing countries such as Guyana given the limited financial and human resources that are likely to delay the audit process. Further, the organisation noted that it is equally important to keep an eye on record-keeping provisions in the petroleum contracts and tax laws. It said, “Oil companies should be required to keep all their records in-country for easy access by the auditors during the audit period. But once that period expires, it becomes very costly to access records and therefore practically impossible to audit them…” Oxfam warned that Guyana needs to take the auditing timeline for these costs as a matter of grave concern as it could cost the nation billions more. WEDNESDAY LOCAL CONTENT POLICY, LEGISLATION MUST GUARD AGAINST “RENT-A-CITIZEN” SCENARIOS – GCCI PRESIDENT If Guyana is to succeed with its imminent Local Content Policy and Legislation, then it is paramount that it gets the definition of a local company right. This point was recently iterated by President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Mr. Timothy Tucker, during an appearance on Kaieteur Radio’s programme, Guyana’s Oil and You.
“Essentially, there are fields where Guyanese do not have the experience or exposure within an international business arena. Therefore, it would be more beneficial for a Guyanese company to be able to partner with someone who brings that skill set to the table… “We may not have in Guyana, the ability to do complex subsea engineering processes, for example, but we will have Guyanese persons who are skilled, Guyanese who understand logistics…and how to navigate the landscape,” expressed Rambarran. The GCCI Executive added, “…this is the reason why the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in particular, has always encouraged joint venture-ships and partnerships that are mutually beneficial.”
Tucker was keen to note that the definition is paramount, as it will ultimately determine the extent of the socio-economic progression Guyanese would be able to achieve in its oil sector. Expounding further he said, “…Local content is generally what we are going to get as a nation from this (oil) find…It is the guaranteed way for Guyanese to benefit from the natural resources that we have found offshore that will be developed.” At the same time, Tucker said efforts to achieve high degrees of local content should not be interpreted to mean that there must a blockade or a dome placed over Guyana and the opportunities to flow from its oil wealth. The GCCI President said, “What we want is that when various aspects of the oil and gas industry require certain services that Guyanese can qualify for, or are certified for, or they have the capacity to do, then they should be given to Guyanese. We are asking for local content to mean first consideration of locals for the opportunities that are there. So advertise it locally, see what capacity is there locally, and then give us the opportunity to do the work.” If it is found that Guyanese do not have the capacity or required technical skill for a particular service that is needed, the GCCI President said companies can then seek to tap overseas resources or expertise. In so doing however, Tucker alluded to the need for joint venture partnerships to
ensure the transfer of knowledge and technology. He also stressed that the beneficiary ownership of such arrangements remain local. The GCCI President categorically stated that joint ventures or partnerships should not allow for a case where the local on paper owns 51 percent of the company but his foreign partner holds the voting rights and gains 95 percent of the profits. He categorically stated that this is not local content. “That’s rent a citizen basically. You’re just leasing a citizen to use his name. No! We don’t want that. We want beneficial partnerships…,” the GCCI President expressed. Sharing similar sentiments was his colleague, GCCI’s Executive Member, Richard Rambarran. He was quick to note that local content, irrespective of what instrument, tool or policy measures is used, must lead to significant value retention in the country.”So it’s about what percentage or what quantum of the value which is generated from the particular sector is retained in the country, whether it be through earnings, the size of the procurement, through a majority share,” expressed Rambarran. He reminded that the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, since the beginning of the ongoing local content debate, has held the position that it is supportive of partnerships in the oil and gas sector, as well as the peripheral sectors which support the industry’s development.
ESSEQUIBO COUNTY, LINDEN, KWAKWANI, HINTERLAND RESIDENTS WILL NOT GET POWER FROM NATURAL GAS PLANT OR HYDRO The Guyana Government is currently pursuing some hundreds of millions of dollars in electricity projects, but the power generated will not be reaching almost half of the country’s population. This, since electricity generated from the proposed initiatives would only be supplied to the Demerara Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS) at the Sophia Sub-Station. As such, the entire Essequibo County including its inhabited islands, and communities such as Linden, Kwakwani, Mabaruma and scores of other hinterland communities, would not benefit, since the proposed increased generation capacity would not be connected to any of the isolated grids. Based on plans being actively pursued by the administration, it will install additional generation capacity in the coming years incrementally, in order to triple the national demand— national demand forecast to double in five years. This, according to key a d m i n i s t r a t i o n s p o k e s p e r s o n s — Vi c e President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo and Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh—who in recent weeks and months have alluded to pursuing an energy mix of solar, hydro, wind, gas and Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO). To this end, its most recently announced venture is the now resuscitated Amaila Falls Hydro Electric (Continued on page 24)
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From page 23 Project (AFHEP). That venture was last estimated to cost some US$1B inclusive of a road, transmission line, dam, reservoir and a 165 MW hydropower facility on the Kuribrong River. The electricity generated would be transmitted to the Sophia Substation, which is owned and operated by the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc. after which it will be distributed to, and paid for by the consumers on that DBIS grid.GPL would then pay the Chinese owner and contractor, China Railway First Group—recently confirmed as the most ‘capable partner’ – to proceed with the project, according to Dr. Jagdeo, who recently expressed public satisfaction of the bid submitted by the Chinese bidder. The Vice President was adamant that, under the Build Own Operate Transfer (BOOT) arrangement, the Chinese contractor would be financing the project 100 percent, standing all of the risks, and that Guyana would not be putting in any equity, as was the case in its previous iteration. According to Jagdeo, the electricity would not cost more than 7.7 cents per kilo watt per hour generated, which would work out to in excess of US$2B being paid over to the contractor before it hands over the project to government. Speaking with reporters at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) last week Monday, Dr. Jagdeo told members of the local media corps that when factoring in prevailing global conditions, the prices for key commodities needed for the project have increased. He specifically pointed to the fact that the price of steel, for example, has been escalating on the world market. Conceding, “…it’s a bad time to bid anything,” Dr. Jagdeo was nevertheless adamant, “we can’t slow down the development” and that “we have to proceed,” with the Gas to Shore initiative. This project will also require the construction of a transmission line from the Wales Plant to the Sophia substation for distribution to consumers on the DBIS. According to a study conducted by the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), the least costly alternative amounts to just over US$80M to install a combination of 69KV and 230KV power lines to take the electricity from the power plant to the GPL Sophia substation.
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Notably, this electricity supplied from the natural gas plants will not be benefitting communities such as Linden, Kwakwani, Mabaruma and a range of other communities, including the entire Essequibo county and its islands. According to Vice President Dr. Jagdeo, isolated grids across the country would be powered through various means, such as large scale solar farms to be installed using some US$80M that had been earned from Norway by selling carbon credits, in addition to smaller hydro power ventures to be installed at Moco Moco and Kumu, among other interior locations. The Vice President had alluded also to complementing the electricity supply for those not to benefit from the AFHEP or the Natural Gas Power Plant, through the provision of some 30,000 solar units primarily for hinterland homes. None of the electricity generated however, would be reaching any of the communities not on the DBIS, largely in part to Guyana’s topography and demographic layout. Additionally, the government is pursuing a proposed US$900M Gas to Shore Energy grid which, in addition to providing gas for sale, will partially power a dual cycle electricity plant. Dual cycle, means that some of the electricity to be generated would be had using Natural Gas as its energy source, while some of the power would be generated at the 250MW plant, that would still be coming from HFO. Vice President, Dr. Jagdeo last Monday had signaled, however, that the cost of this venture could likely increase, taking into account increased prices on the world market across the spectrum. Speaking with reporters at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) last week Monday, Dr. Jagdeo told members of the local media corps that when factoring in prevailing global conditions, the prices for key commodities needed for the project have increased. He specifically pointed to the fact that the price of steel, for example, has been escalating on the world market. Conceding, “…it’s a bad time to bid anything,” Dr. Jagdeo was nevertheless adamant, “we can’t slow down the development” and that “we have to proceed,” with the Gas to Shore initiative. This project will also
require the construction of a transmission line from the Wales Plant to the Sophia substation for distribution to consumers on the DBIS. According to a study conducted by the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), the least costly alternative amounts to just over US$80M to install a combination of 69KV and 230KV power lines to take the electricity from the power plant to the GPL Sophia substation. Notably, this electricity supplied from the natural gas plants will not be benefitting communities such as Linden, Kwakwani, Mabaruma and a range of other communities, including the entire Essequibo county and its islands. According to Vice President Dr. Jagdeo, isolated grids across the country would be powered through various means, such as large scale solar farms to be installed using some US$80M that had been earned from Norway by selling carbon credits, in addition to smaller hydro power ventures to be installed at Moco Moco and Kumu, among other interior locations. The Vice President had alluded also to complementing the electricity supply for those not to benefit from the AFHEP or the Natural Gas Power Plant, through the provision of some 30,000 solar units primarily for hinterland homes. ‘FRIEND’,ACCOMPLICE REMANDED FOR DOCTOR’S MURDER Two young men were Tuesday remanded for the brutal murder of Dr. Colin Roach at his Duke Street, Kingston, Georgetown Office on Tuesday November, 3. The defendants, Hilton Oliver Junior Franklin, 19, a close friend of the doctor, and his accomplice, Lenrick Byass, 18, appeared at the
Georgetown Magistrate Courts jointly charged with murder in the course of a robbery before Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan.They were not required to plea to the indictable charge and will remain behind bars until their next court appearance on November, 30, 2021. Both men had reportedly admitted to their involvement in the heinous killing of the doctor. Franklin had reportedly told detectives that he had killed Roach by lashing him to his head with a metal object. He claimed that the doctor had become intoxicated during a drinking session they had, and made advances towards him, and he was forced to defend himself. His accomplice, Byass, however, confessed that it was a planned robbery intended to raise money so that Franklin could buy a car. He recounted being picked up by Franklin on Tuesday to rob the doctor at his office. When they arrived, Roach greeted them at the entrance of his building and they left together in his SUV to purchase alcoholic beverages at a location on Regent Street and returned to his office. yass said they continued the drinking session there for a while until Roach sent him with cash to buy Guinness at a nearby shop. After returning from the errand, he saw that Roach was dead and asked Franklin what happened. Franklin, he said, told him a story. They stole the dead man’s gold jewelry and US$600, before cleaning up the scene and removing evidence that would link them to the crime before escaping in his SUV. Detectives, during their investigation, were able to obtain CCTV footage
corroborating Byass’ version of events. THURSDAY IN THREE MONTHS, 4TH PROJECT WILL FLARE TWO-THIRDS OF GAS LIZA DESTINY BURNT IN TWO YEARS -EXXON’S REPORT REVEALS Stabroek Block operator, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), has informed local authorities that it intends to burn 120 million standard cubic feet of gas per day for three months (90 days) during the start up of the Yellowtail Project. The ExxonMobil subsidiary made this disclosure in the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). The document for the fourth Stabroek Block development project specifically states, “…start-up flaring for the Project will be temporary and may require flaring for 90 cumulative days at the rate of 120 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscfd).” It was keen to note that this is just a “conservative assumption.” The company also thought it prudent to advise local authorities that in its home country, the United States, flaring offshore may occur for up to one year with regulatory approval. Should the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approve this, it would mean that ExxonMobil will burn 10.8 billion standard cubic feet of gas in three months. This would be more than half of the gas that was flared via the Liza Destiny vessel from December 2019 to September 2021, which totals approximately 17B standard cubic feet of gas. Even as it disclosed that a significant volume of gas would be flared during start up of the project, the oil company was keen to note that the oil vessel (a Floating,
Production, Storage and Offloading –FPSO vessel) for Yellowtail has been designed to re-inject associated gas under routine conditions, except that which will be used as fuel gas, flare pilot gas, and background flare gas. It said, too, that a flare system will be provided for the collection and safe disposition of hydrocarbon gases resulting from non-routine relief, blowdown, and maintenance events. In addition to this, EEPGL said temporary, nonroutine flaring will occur during equipment maintenance, process upsets and during commissioning and start-up while adding that estimated flaring is higher in 2026 due to start-up. In this regard, it said start-up operations on the FPSO include temporary flaring, which is standard within the industry until the gas compression and reinjection system are fully commissioned. Following the initial startup period, EEPGL shared that flaring (beyond flaring of pilot gas, purge gas, and other de minimis streams described in this chapter) will take place when necessitated by shutdowns, upsets and emergency conditions, planned or unplanned maintenance, production restarts following shutdowns, and potentially commissioning and startup of new units or renovation of existing units. Furthermore, EEPGL said flaring volumes associated with start-up will be further refined based on schedule optimizations to achieve pilot flare (the burning of one million standard cubic feet of gas or less) as early as feasibly possible. It said too that its facility will be monitored on a 24-hour per day basis to manage operational events that may cause flaring. EEPGL said this monitoring will provide the capability to intercept and deflect events that may result (Continued on page 25)
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From page 24 in flaring to the extent possible. Finally, the Exxon subsidiary said lessons learned from commissioning, start-up, and operation of other FPSOs in Guyana will be reviewed and appropriate mitigations put in place to avoid recurrence of issues found in the past. DANGERS OF FLARING Extensive research conducted by Kaieteur News shows that gas flaring contributes to climate change, which has serious implications for the world. The Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, was keen to note in one of its studies that gas flaring is actually a major source of greenhouse gases (GHG) contributing to global warming which could accelerate the problem of climatic change and harsh living conditions on earth, if not checked. It was noted that flaring releases carbon dioxide and methane, the two major greenhouse gases. Of these two, methane is actually more harmful than carbon dioxide. It is also more prevalent in flares that burn at lower efficiency. Those less efficient flares tend to have more moisture and particles in them that reflect heat and are said to have similar effect on the ozone layer like aerosols do. Of the greenhouse gases researched so far, Kaieteur News understands that the global warming potential of a kilogram of methane is estimated to be 21 times that of a kilogram of carbon dioxide when the effects are considered. The Department of Mechanical Engineering has also noted that flaring contributes to local and regional environmental problems, such as acid rain with attendant impact on agriculture, forests and other physical infrastructure. The acid rain results in environmental degradation, which includes soil and water contamination, and roof erosion. Furthermore, there have been over 250 identified toxins released from flaring including carcinogens such as benzopyrene, benzene, carbon disulphide (CS2), carbonyl sulphide (COS) and toluene; metals such as mercury, arsenic and chromium; sour gas with Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) and Sulfur Dioxide (SO2); Nitrogen oxides (NOx); Carbon dioxide (CO2); and methane (CH4) which contributes to the greenhouse gases . I m p o r t a n t l y ,
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ExxonMobil’s EIA for the Yellowtail Project makes no mention of the foregoing. FRIDAY EXXONMOBIL IN TALKS WITH SBM TO BUILD 4TH FPSO DESPITE NO GOVT. APPROVAL Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL)—ExxonMobil Guyana—is currently in talks with Dutch Floater Specialists, SBM Offshore for the construction of another multibillion-dollar Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) Vessel. That vessel is for ExxonMobil Guyana’s fourth and largest oil field development which is to operate in the Stabroek Block at the Yellowtail site to comprise up to 67 wells— production and reinjection. Notably the company only on Thursday wrapped up its public scoping exercise via a zoom session, to inform its Environmental Impact Assessment studies after which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would, after an assessment, decide on whether to provide environmental authorisation. According to international reports, the talks include the potential for some future platform assembly in Guyana. This publication understands discussions include potential made-inGuyana requirements to build part of future production units. This according to a Reuters report, which attributed the sentiments to Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo. “We are hoping that more and more of the components could be fabricated in Guyana,” Jagdeo said this week It was noted that the deal for the fabrication of the latest FPSO could be had within six months. Netherlands-based SBM Offshore has been awarded Exxon contracts to build Guyana’s first three FPSO, namely the Liza Destiny for the Liza I Oil Field, the Liza Unity currently being hooked up to the subsea installations while the third development, Payara is well underway. That oilfield will be produced using the FPSO— Prosperity—another of the production vessels that ExxonMobil had proceeded with constructing, even before receiving government’s approvals. The company has in recent years been coming under increasing public scrutiny and receiving criticism over its high handed approach towards projects in
Guyana with negotiations being done for project costs to be recovered through cost oil and for which the Guyanese authorities have little to no input. This much is illustrated in the current situation where the company is already in talks with the Dutch Ship Builder even before it completes the public scoping exercises locally. Exxon has said it sees potential for installing 10 FPSOs in its massive Stabroek oil block, which encompasses 6.6 million acres (27,000 square km) off Guyana’s coast. The first six vessels are expected to bring the country’s daily production rate to some 1 million barrels of oil and gas per day (bpd) by 2027, consortium member Hess Corp, said last month. Hess in its recent earnings call with shareholders had indicated that the first FPSO produced 124,000 bpd in the third quarter while the second floating platform that can produce 220,000 bpd arrived in October, with initial output due early next year. SBM has already started building the third vessel for the Payara Field in the Keppel Shipyard, Singapore, with output from it expected in 2024. The fourth vessel is aimed at producing 250,000 bpd starting in 2025, pending government approval and project sanctioning, Hess
said. According to reports, with the fifth FPSO, Exxon is expected to organize bids and open competition for contractors, welcoming new builders to one of the world’s largest offshore markets, one of the people familiar with the talks said. Kaieteur News had reported that EEPGL, on behalf of itself and its coventurers, Hess Corporation and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, is seeking an environmental authorisation from the EPA for its fourth project development in the eastern half of the Stabroek Block. The area that will be developed as part of the project is located approximately 203 kilometres (approximately 126 miles) northeast of the coastline of Georgetown, Guyana. As part of its regulatory role, the EPA, considering recommendations from the Environmental Advisory Board and other government entities, is responsible for deciding whether and under what conditions to grant EEPGL’s application for environmental authorisation which was filed with the EPA on April 1, 2021. Based on an initial assessment of the application, the EPA determined that an EIA was required in support of the Application. The purpose of the EIA is
to provide the factual and technical basis required by the EPA to make an informed decision on EEPGL’s application for environmental authorisation. According to project documents, Yellowtail will consist of the drilling of approximately 41 to 67 development wells (including production, water injection, and gas re-injection wells); installation and operation of Subsea, Umbilicals, Risers, and Flowlines equipment; installation and operation of a Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) vessel in the eastern half of the Stabroek Block; and— ultimately—project decommissioning. EEPGL has said the FPSO will be designed to produce up to 250,000 barrels of oil per day. Onshore logistical support facilities and marine/ aviation services will be used to support each stage of the Project. EEPGL is expected to use proven and good international oilfield practices. The company said it has incorporated many embedded controls into the overall Project design to reduce environmental and socioeconomic impacts. The initial production is expected to begin by the end of 2025–early 2026, with operations continuing for at least 20 years. The project is expected to employ up to 540 persons during development well drilling, approximately 600 persons at the peak of the installation stage, and 100 to 140 persons during production operations. FLY-BY-NIGHT COMPANY WINS $346M CONTRACT TO BUILD PRIMARY SCHOOL - OWNERS KNOWN FOR PROMOTING FOOTBALL, DISC JOCKEYING Popular Disc Jockey, Entertainer turned radio and television station owner, Kerwin Bollers has now ventured into the construction industry along with famed local football promoter, Shanghai Major. Under the auspices of
Statement Investment Inc., DJ Rawl Ferguson on Tuesday signed the contract for the construction of a $346M school at Bamia, Region 10. Football promoter, Shanghai Major also listed as one of the company’s principals for that new construction company. That contract was signed at the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development. Minister Dharamlall at the time of the signing said that the project is expected to be completed within 20 months. Dharamlall had also indicated that an engineering firm would be contracted during the course of the construction. Regional Executive Officer, Dwight John, who inked the contract on behalf of the Region pointed to the need for a school in the locale considering the expanded housing drive. According to Reports, Substantive Minister, Nigel Dharamlall, during the signing ceremony said such initiatives are critical within the region, as it paves the way for development. “This area is very important in the development scope of our country because of its magnitude and because of its potential,” he noted. The school is expected to be ready for opening in 2024. Minister Dharamlall urged the contractor to utilise labour from within the community as it will create employment for persons there. “Part of the vision of His Excellency is to ensure that whatever resources we place into different regions, that employment creation is one of those outcomes, as well as wealth generation. So, this is not an investment in a school alone, but it is also an investment in the wider economy of Region 10.” The bids were opened by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) in July of this year, at which four companies made submissions. This publication understands that the company that has secured the contract was incorporated just over a (Continued on page 26)
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From page 25 month ago. Meanwhile, on Thursday this newspaper reported a statement by Region 10 Chairman Deron Adams criticising the award of the contract, to the unknown builders, which was done at the level of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board. It was reported that four companies submitted bids for the contract. Adams said the Regional Democratic Council’s Public Works Committee will be closely monitoring the project, given it was awarded to a new contractor. “The Council pledges to continue to monitor these projects and hold these new contractors, the various Ministries and the Regional Executive Officer, Dwight John, accountable for the efficient and effective delivery of quality work on this and all other development projects funded by the taxes paid by its constituents and all Guyanese.” Adams also expressed his disappointed that the contract was signed without his notification, as an elected official of the region. In his statement, he also pointed out that the project was conceptualised in 2017 but because of logistical issues, an award was never made. Instead, the funds budgeted were used to construct the Christianburg Primary School. “The Regional Democratic Council again takes note of the manner in which these
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developmental projects are being addressed, with scant regard being paid to the elected representatives of the people of Region 10,” the statement said. SATURDAY GUYANESE STILL TO FEEL POSITIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT FROM OIL …AS EXXONMOBIL’S OPERATIONS ENDANGER COUNTRY’S KEY INDUSTRIES REPORT FINDS The capital of Guyana, Georgetown, has yet to reflect its burgeoning fortunes. Deep puddles of water pool on pot-marked roads. Key heritage buildings are in sore need of fresh paint, and minimum wage workers toil for just over $1 an hour. This was the assessment as reported by Al Jazeera News—the most widely circulated news agency in the Middle East including, Dubai—which in its most recent report on Guyana observed that the country saw some of the planet’s fastest economic growth last year: more than 43 percent, according to the World Bank, as new offshore fields started production. According to the Al Jazeera News report, Guyana’s drive to develop its oil wealth is colliding with the threat climate change is posing to its future.
It was noted that earlier this year, devastating floods wrecked crops and destroyed thousands of homes. This publication also recently reported rising sea levels that threaten Georgetown as one of nine major world cities forecast to be under water by 2030 if greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise at their current rate, according to the research group Climate Central. As world leaders wrap up United Nations climate negotiations in Glasgow, Scotland, this week, it was observed that Guyana is attempting to strike a delicate balance between extracting oil to lift people out of poverty and combatting the climate crisis. “We are a poor country; we’re developing. We have a resource; we have to capitalize on it,” said Kemraj Parsram, Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the government body responsible for safeguarding ecosystems. “At the same time, we can maintain and achieve international [climate] obligations and maintain netzero [carbon emissions],” he told Al Jazeera during an interview at his office in the capital. INVESTING FOR THE FUTURE With more than 40 percent of its population living on less than US$5.50 per day,
according to the World Bank, Guyana has played a minimal role in causing climate change and its officials say Guyana can extract billions of barrels of oil, while maintaining netzero carbon emissions due to its vast rainforests, which suck carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Regardless of whether that accounting proves to be accurate, environmentalists worry that Guyana is joining the black gold business, in the waning days of the petroleum era, with dangerous consequences for its climate and long-term economic prospects. Others proffer that the demand for oil will continue for an extended period into the future. O n l y r e c e n t l y, Vi c e President, Bharrat Jagdeo noted that even at 2050 when the world is aiming to reach its net zero emissions, there will still be a demand for some 24 million barrels of oil daily, and that Guyana must not be left out of the supply chain. “It’s like going into the telegraph business now when we are talking about 5 G c e l l u l a r, ” M a r t i n Dietrich Brauch, a senior economics researcher with C o l u m b i a U n i v e r s i t y ’s Center on Sustainable Investment, told Al Jazeera of Guyana’s move into offshore oil drilling. “It’s a technology we know will need to be phased out. This is the key issue for Guyana: is it worth entering this n o w with huge investments that will be impossible to maintain after 2050?” Under current emissions reduction pledges from countries at the Glasgow summit, the planet is expected to warm by 2.4 degrees Celsius by 2100, the Climate Action Tracker research group reported this week. That’s far above the 1.5degree limit scientists say
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the world must meet to avert the most devastating impacts of climate change. Tapping vast new oil deposits simply isn’t viable, according to the scientific consensus, if the world is to avoid climate catastrophe. Guyana has every right to develop its economy and infrastructure, Brauch said, but even putting the climate crisis aside, going hard on renewable energy now makes more long-term economic sense than pouring billions of dollars into oil infrastructure. ExxonMobil, the biggest player in Guyana’s new offshore fields, started production in December 2019. “The production of resources will continue to generate billions of dollars of revenue, significant economic development and job creation for Guyana,” an ExxonMobil spokeswoman told Al Jazeera. The company expects to reduce absolute greenhouse gas emissions from its production business by 30 percent by 2025, the spokesperson added. On the frontline of global warming On the streets of Georgetown, some residents are keenly aware of the impacts of climate change. And many say the benefits of oil money have yet to arrive in their pockets. “With the oil, the cost of living is way up,” Rawle White, the owner of a vegetable stall at a local market, told Al Jazeera. He spent 20 years working as a farmer, but gave up due to frustration over environmental shifts. “Because of climate change, you can’t do much farming now,” White said. “The tractor [often] can’t go onto the land with all the sinking because of rainfall.”
Businesspeople at the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) say it will take some time and planning for oil wealth to improve life for the average Guyanese, and growth is compatible with sustainable development. “Local content legislation is what’s going to bring everyone into this … and make sure every Guyanese is benefiting from their resources, not just the oil companies sucking it out.” Guyana could become a high-income country in the next three decades, GCCI executive member Richard Rambarran said, and a “leader of the global south for sustainable development” if the industry is managed properly. On the docks of Georgetown’s main fish market, many workers don’t see it that way. Catches have dropped by about half in the past two years, said Melvin Hussein, as he removed scales from a fish with a sharp silver knife. “The fishing economy is getting low and we can’t do a damn thing about it … so far it [the oil] ain’t doing no good for us.” Parsram, from the government’s EPA, said climate change, pollution from other sources, and overfishing are almost certainly impacting fish stocks, but there isn’t hard scientific evidence linking the oil industry to reduced catches. Standing on a rickety wooden wharf poking into the Atlantic Ocean, boat captain Chris Singh said he expects grim times ahead. “The fishermen are going to be the biggest losers at the end of this oil industry,” Singh, who has worked these waters for 40 years, told Al Jazeera and asked “What will we do when Exxon leaves?”
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THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
Is the beauty of the Georgetown seawall gone forever? There is no philosopher from ancient time right up to the present 21st century who has argued that the action of humans can be accepted if they infringe the rights of others. Rights sit on an absolute foundation. The three controversial philosophers in this context were Plato from ancient Greece, the Englishman, Thomas Hobbes from the 17th century and the German Karl Marx from the 19th century. German thinker, Sir Karl Popper in his philosophical magnum opus, “The Open Society and Its Enemies, “took Plato and Marx to task for advocating the entitlement of rights for rulers that are superior to the citizenry. Since Popper wrote his masterpiece in 1945, there have been formidable criticisms of his treatment of Marx and Plato. Here is where one must understand context. Popper wrote his treatise in 1945 after the
second most terrible episode in history after slavery – the Second World War - where closed societies like Germany caused the war. Popper was eager to show that leaders of closed society saw values in the way Plato and Marx arranged a society of higher and lower humans. After reading Plato and Marx deeply and extensively and the critics of Popper, I think Popper did not interpret the Greek philosopher and German thinker properly. Hobbes is often criticised for placing all the rights with the absolute leader. This is misleading. A careful reading of Hobbes showed that he advocated the removal of the Leviathan if the absolute leader violated the social contract. I use this philosophical outlay to describe and analyze what is taking place on the Georgetown sea wall from Camp Road at Eve
Leary to the Kitty roundabout. This is a special place inside the heart of Guyana and it is dying. If dedicated Guyanese do not stop it, it will be gone sooner than later. The late founder of the Stabroek News, David DeCaires once noted that the Georgetown seawall is the only place in the world where an ocean runs through the capital city of a country. I don't know if he is right. I haven't gotten the travel experience of Mr. DeCaires. I remember telling a former manager of GuySuCo, Kirk Douglas who lives close to my home, about what DeCaires observed. He told me from his extensive travels, DeCaires may be right. The Georgetown seawall from Camp Road to the Kitty roundabout the past three years is completely overrun by people drinking and sporting. It is impossible to use the
seawall road going east or west. The vehicles park in the middle of the roadway. What goes on each afternoon on the seawall can be likened to Easter fun on the beaches. The Easter fun is once a year. The seawall thing is daily. The music is load and vulgar, the alcohol flows like the incoming waves. Don't dare ask a driver blocking your pathway to move. You may be insulted senselessly. Why you would want children to be walking there? All of this takes place in a unique part of Guyana where the aesthetics should be cherished by every citizen and all incoming generations. Gone are the days when young lovers can sit on the wall from Camp Road to the pump station; when families can spend time on the wall with their dog roaming nearby; when older couples could relax there and take in
the Atlantic freshness. Let me be pellucid – the Frederick Kissoon Atlantic between Camp Road and the Kitty pump station has been lost not only where people can go for to nature-lovers but to mental relaxation and people who want to use that aesthetic experience is now a site for mental comfort, d r i n k i n g s p o t . T h e governmental leaders of any exercise and jogging. country would not allow Years ago, I would come from work at UG, around 9 that. I roamed that seawall as PM, and park there and listen a young lad of 10 years until to my car stereo before going this very day. But gone are the home. One night, at around the same time, I saw a evenings when you could go pensive Raphael Trotman there and contemplate the leisurely walking going mighty Atlantic. I know this is a young west. Maybe he had a lot on his country and I fervently mind. He, you and I cannot believe people should be do that any longer. The allowed to enjoy themselves Georgetown seawall is lost after work and on weekends to Guyanese who do not on the beaches. But not at the party every afternoon. The Georgetown seawall G e o r g e t o w n s e a w a l l . should not be converted into (The views expressed in this a daily Bacchanalian park. It article are those of the is a vulgar contradiction a u t h o r a n d d o n o t when you think of it – a necessarily reflect the lovely part of a country opinions of this newspaper.)
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Coronavirus: This is how you prevent yourself from dying from COVID-19 By Dr. Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Vanderbilt Medical Center
E
ver so often, as the data changes, I would do updates on options that decrease one's risk of dying from COVID-19. While some factors were obvious from the initial stages of the pandemic, others have become evident as the virus evolves. Deaths in Guyana are at its highest, and many could have been avoided if we had practiced the measures I will mention today. Minimise the “dose” of the virus you're exposed to It is obvious that if we avoid the virus altogether then we wouldn't have to worry about getting sick or dying from it. However, this virus has evolved and is making it more difficult for us to avoid it while carrying out daily activities. Data has shown a correlation between severe disease or death and the
amount of virus (viral load) an infected person was exposed to. We should therefore practice the following measures to ensure that we avoid the virus or decrease the load that we are exposed to in the event of us coming into contact with it: ● Proper mask wearing: Ensure you and those that you are interacting with, all wear your mask. Also, using two masks (cloth or surgical) or an N95 mask when you are in high r i s k y s e t t i n g s . ● Avoid high risk settings: Choose spaces that are large and open, have good air circulation and are not crowded to carry out daily interactions. The best environment to carry out interactions is therefore the outdoors. ● Time spent around others: Limit the time you spend close to others, especially those that you do not have certainty of their status. Get Vaccinated If you look at the data in
Guyana, more than 95 percent of the COVID-19 deaths are persons that were unvaccinated. As a doctor that works on the frontline, I can also tell you that the vaccinated persons are faring very well with the disease when compared with the unvaccinated who undergo long bouts of intense suffering. The evidence is in front of our eyes to see, vaccines are doing what they were designed to do; save lives and decrease hospitalisation. Do not let a post on social media drive fear in you and prevent you from being vaccinated. Following a post from a disreputable site can cost you your life like it has for so many others. Begin early treatment While the treatment options I will mention below may be controversial in some parts, I am sticking by it because of my personal experience with close to 100 patients that have fared well with it, and because of the data in many
countries that have shown its effectiveness. We are in a world where profitability often determines which treatments get more attention. I v e r m e c t i n a n d Azithromycin are drugs that have been around for decades and are no longer patented. They are therefore cheap and are likely not to get the attention that the more expensive, patented drugs get. However, when used within the first three days of COVID-19 infection, the disease did not progress to the severe form but rather regressed. I will therefore continue to advocate for their use EARLY in the disease along with vitamins C and D and zinc supplementation.
Ensure your immune system is primed The virus thrives on the weak and data has shown that it is more likely to kill those that have weakened immune systems than those that do not. We should therefore ensure that our body is ready for battle and ensure we practice the following to ensure that our immune system is primed in the event that we come into contact with the coronavirus: ● Eat healthy and ensure we meet our daily vitamin r e q u i r e m e n t s ' ● Minimise stress and ensure we get enough sleep ● Exercise and try to keep our weight in check ● Use food rich in a n t i o x i d a n t s ● Avoid social activities that weaken our bodies
(smoking, alcohol consumption, etc.) I am optimistic that if we practice these measures, we can beat COVID-19 and be able to finally, turn the tide against this dreaded disease.
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>>> ENCOURAGING EVENTS, DISTURBING DEVELOPMENTS <<<
Rent-a-citizen, rent-a-group, rent-a-govt., rent-an-opposition, rent-a-leader Instead of presenting what is encouraging or disturbing, I leave that to citizens today. Two business leaders publicly shared their thoughts about being watchful for “rent-a-citizen” scenarios. It is where
foreigners use Guyanese by making a show of them to gain a commercial foothold in this resource rich country, oil being the thickest icing. There are many ways to do this, as the Chamber man made clear. There are
Guyanese working for foreign companies, so there should be no complaints. It is proof of local content involvement. The same could be said for Guyanese individuals and companies engaged for the provision of
supporting services. And, of course, there are those partnerships with Guyanese forming a significant percentage, even a 51 percent majority, of business partnerships, and similar arrangements.
Nobody could a rg u e w i t h what has all the hallmarks of material Guyanese presence. There is local content in neon lights a n d a l l capitalised. Definitely, the numbers may speak for themselves, whether measured in bodies, dollars, or venture percentages. Nonetheless, the depth, substance, and reach of those same numbers and faces may leave a lot to be desired. Consider whether Guyanese are being used through convenient ‘set asides’ that fulfill the letter of whatever is required, and no more. In other words, the jobs could be sweepers and drivers and security officers, and those are all; the management ranks are otherwise, as with those from the outside. We could have a majority ownership stake, as registered and documented on every line, but there is neither power nor influence nor decisionmaking ability. To put matters in the sharpest light: Guyanese function as figureheads, cosmetics, show horses to trot out, and to make a performance for critical (or admiring) local audiences. To bolster what I place in the public domain, the United States, as part of its Affirmative Action programmes, made specific allowances for minority hiring and minority partaking in the commercial prizes. The numbers were mostly observed, and that was it. The quantitative made for good official reporting, but it masked the lack of qualitative elements that made a mockery of the broader objectives of such affirmative action provisions. It is said, and with great accuracy, that the stricter the government, the wiser the population. That was in the mighty United States, with its think tanks and ACLU chapters and vigilant watchdogs. All I ask is for fellow citizens to think of what the man from the Chamber warned about, and what is written here today. My position, though nuanced, is not unclear. I let peers come to their own conclusions about what we have, and could have here, notwithstanding any robust
By GHK Lall Local Content Policy and Legislation finalised. We can be passive and accepting in our own country (content with how local content occurs, what it means for us); or, we can say to hell with this, because we are being used, and we are mad about it, and we will not take it anymore. It is appropriate that I leverage that same “rent-acitizen” reality and apply it in the areas of groups, and politicians, all Guyanese. Guyanese grow increasingly familiar with something called GuyAmCham (GACC), and its deepening hold on this society. It is of the established and budding local commercial sector being on the inside and a part of the lucrative action, largely oil-related, in association with American counterparts. This is all I will present: the few Guyanese within that network, are only too glad to be part of an expanding rent-a-group (a domestic one) strategy by foreigners to be here. We need them, but beware: it most likely is primarily on their terms. Last, there is our political machinery. I urge citizens to look closely and settle for themselves if it is not a situation of rent-agovernment, rent-anopposition, and rent-a leader. The fingerprints and lip smears (and perfumes) of Exxon are all over our constitutional political apparatus. It is of who has been bought, how many have sold (rent) themselves out by the issue and position taken for a cheap dollar, in the manner of a cheaper prostitute. Guyanese can encourage or disturb themselves as to why most matters are secret, why billions are paid so freely. (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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New Zealand vs Australia in T20 World Cup airs today on E2
The E2 channel will be broadcasting today, the coveted match between New Zealand and Australia in the T20 World Cup. The 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup is the seventh ICC Men's T20 World Cup tournament, with the matches taking place in the United Arab Emirates and Oman from 17 October to 14 November 2021. The West Indies were the defending champions, but were eventually eliminated in the Super 12 stage Originally the event was scheduled to be held in Australia from 18 October to 15 November 2020, but in July 2020, the International Cricket
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Council (ICC) confirmed that this tournament had been postponed, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In August 2020, the ICC confirmed that India would host the 2021 tournament as planned, with Australia being named as the host for the succeeding 2022 tournament. However, in June 2021, the ICC announced that the tournament had been moved to the United Arab Emirates due to growing concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic situation in India, and a possible third wave of the pandemic in the country.The tournament began on 17 October 2021, with the tournament's
final scheduled to be played on 14 November 2021.The preliminary rounds of the tournament were played in the UAE and Oman. New Zealand became the first team to reach the final, after they beat England by five wickets in the semi-finals. It was the first time that New Zealand had qualified for a T20 World Cup final. They were joined in the final by Australia, who beat Pakistan by five wickets in the second semi-final. It was the second time that Australia had qualified for the final of the T20 World Cup, after reaching the final of the 2010 tournament.
Lessons from a Lashpreneur!!!
Lash Retention and Pregnancy By Latoya Zephyr Women are amazing. PERIOD. They are able to grow life all up in those belly's and still conquer the world! But sometimes we come across a couple of bumps along the road, and those bumps happen to affect the 2nd most important thing after your baby... YOUR LASHES. Here are a few things you should know about your lashes if you are in the baby boat: One of the best parts about pregnancy is that your hair actually starts to get with the program! during pregnancy you will have and increased level of estrogen hormones, which causes those luscious goldilocks to remain in a growing phase and live their best life becoming fuller and thicker. Here comes the sad part... most commonly 3-4 months after delivery your hormones return to their normal levels which causes the hair to fall out. Don't be alarmed , this is temporary- but sad nonetheless. So hormonal changes in our body have an effect on how our hair grows, which means it will directly effect how our lash retention behaves, so don't go harassing your lash tech just yet. lol Remember, the main reason is hormonal changes, so this could still affect you even if you are NOT pregnant. Some of those changes could be due to, birth control or menopause for example. NO ONE IS SAFE.
Another reason why you could be suffering could be due to your Thyroid. Your thyroid changes during pregnancy because of your estrogen levels and hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin). This unfortunately can sometimes lead to hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism causes hair to be thin and brittle, which means you'll be saying bye bye to those cute lashes of yours. Now I know I've just hit you with some sad sad reality, but here are a few things you can do to help out! It's really important to be taking your vitamins! You are
growing another life, which means that baby needs all the help it can get ... and it will be taking that from YOU. To avoid mineral deficiency, make sure you are taking those prenatal vitamins and getting your B12, iron, Vit D, Biotin and so much more. Consult your doctor! At the end of the day as much as we love lashes, we know our baby is #1. If that means its time to take a break from extensions, just know your baby will still think you're cute. I hope I was able to shed some light onto that topic for you.
Ansa Mcal launches Apothic wine quiz Apothic has been a true original with a daring legacy. Inspired by Apotheca, a mysterious place where wine was blended and stored in the 13th century, the wines of Apothic are truly unique in style and taste. Apothic Red defies traditional blend conventions by delivering the unexpected
in every sip, redefining the red blend category with a distinct and bold twist. This wine has dark fruit aromas and dark chocolate flavors with blueberry, blackberry and black cherry flavors. Fruitiness is complemented by coffee and mocha notes that conclude this full-
bodied, long-lasting wine. Time for an Apothic Quiz What are the tasting notes of Apothic Dark? Who is the maker of this unique blend of wine? Submit answers to ANSAMCAL GUYANA WINES Facebook Page to win great prizes.
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Plant-Based Diet - What Effects Does It Have On Diabetes? If you are battling diabetes and wish to know about the best diet for diabetes, we have news for you. A vegetarian diet is healthier for diabetes. Research shows that there is a 35% lower risk of developing diabetes if you stick to a vegetarian diet. And those who adopt a vegetarian diet after being a nonvegetarian show a 53% lower risk of developing diabetes than their fellow nonvegetarians. Food plays a significant role in managing diabetes mellitus. By opting for a vegetarian diabetic diet, you can lead a healthy life and gain maximum health benefits. What is the Best Diet for Diabetes? A plant-based diet for diabetes is the best. A plantbased diet includes fruits, vegetables, pulses, nuts and seeds. A plant-based diet helps lower the risk of developing chronic diseases like diabetes mellitus, hypertension and cancer. Plant-based foods are rich in fibre, folate, antioxidants and phytochemicals that boost your health. What Comprises a Vegetarian Diabetic Diet? Dietary management of diabetes mellitus is the best way to manage diabetes. You can eat all plant-based foods but in moderation. Eating healthy for maintaining your blood sugar levels involves controlling your portion size and fulfilling your nutritional requirements. The followings foods are to be included in your vegetarian diet for diabetes: 1. Nuts like cashew, peanut, almonds and tahini. 2. S e e d s like pumpkin, sunf lower, chia and flax. 3. Beans and pulses like chickpeas, lentils, kidney beans and butter beans. 4. Vegetable milk like almond, cashew, oats, soy, hempseed, etc. 5. High-fibre grains like quinoa and millets. 6. Soy products like tofu, soy cheese and soya milk. 7. Vegetables like spinach, broccoli, bok choy, cauliflower, lettuce, celery, peppers, eggplants, green beans and tomatoes. 8. Fruits like oranges, apples, papaya, watermelon and berries. What are the Health Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet for Diabetes? There are countless health benefits of a vegetarian diabetic diet. It is good for your heart as it helps lower cholesterol and LDL levels. A plant-based diet lowers your blood pressure levels and
reduces the risk of a stroke and a heart attack. Here’s a list of health benefits of a vegetarian diet for diabetes: · Blood sugar control Plant-based foods or whole foods are rich in fibre content. This helps in the slow absorption of sugars into the blood and helps regulate your blood sugar levels. · Weight control Plant-based foods are lower in calories and higher in fibre. This increases their satiety value, thereby making you feel full for a longer time. Your daily intake of calories reduces, which helps you lose weight. · Saturated fat intake control Most animal-based foods contain saturated fat. When you consume a vegetarian diet for diabetes, you consume less saturated fats, thereby reducing your risk of heart diseases and diabetes. What are the Vegetarian Diet Tips for Diabetics? Dietary management of diabetes revolves around plant-based foods for regulating blood sugar levels. A healthy balanced diet is the best diet for diabetes. If you are planning to get on the vegetarian diet for diabetes, you need to be mindful of the following aspects: a. Consume a limited a m o u n t of carbohydrates with each meal. Distribute your carb intake evenly throughout the day. b. Include a wide variety of plant-based foods in your diet to meet your daily nutritional needs. c. Your daily diet should consist of a limited amount of carbohydrates, a portion of lean protein and healthy fat in every meal. d. Monitor your blood sugar levels daily while you are on the vegetarian diabetic diet. e. Include plenty of vegetables in your diet to improve your fibre intake.
Here are three tips for newbies who wish to start their vegetarian diabetic diet: 1. Portion control for carbs Most diabetics replace meat with extra carbohydraterich foods. This can lead to weight gain and high blood sugar levels. Try to include carbs rich
in fibre to stabilise your blood sugar levels and feel full for a longer time. Carbohydrates rich in fibre content are: · Whole-grain bread · Whole wheat/chickpea pasta · Brown rice · Oatmeal
· Baked beans and whole pulse (Rajma) · Whole Wheat flour with wheat bran (Jowar, Bajra) 2. Plant-based proteins It’s a myth that you can get your proteins only from animal sources. Your dietary protein requirements can be met through a vegetarian diet as well. Include the following foods for a protein-rich vegetarian diet for diabetes: · Legumes – Black beans, chickpeas, lentils, split peas, kidney beans and pinto beans. · Soy – Soy milk, soybeans, soy-based yoghurt, soy cheese, tofu and soy nut butter. · Nuts – Almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, pistachios and peanuts. 3. Healthy fats By swapping to the vegetarian diet for diabetes, you ensure a huge shift in the dietary management of diabetes mellitus. Avoiding
animal products helps keep saturated fats out of your diet. Plant-based foods are rich in heart-healthy fats like omega 3 and omega 6, which help maintain heart health. Include these healthy fats in your diet: · Avocado · Olives or olive oil · Nuts · Canola oil Take away Focus on eating a healthy, balanced, nutritious meal that contains plant-based foods. This is the crux of your vegetarian diet for diabetes. Incorporate nuts and seeds as a part of your mid-day snack or snack on some veggie sticks with hummus. This helps maintain your blood sugar levels and is essential in the dietary management of diabetes mellitus. (https:// pharmeasy.in/blog/plantbased-diet-what-effectsdoes-it-have-on-diabetes/)
Understanding The Signs And Risk Factors For Breast Cancer The world over, several governments, international institutions as well as women who have survived breast cancer recognise October as the month of Breast Cancer Awareness. In the spirit of awareness, today we too shall go over breast cancer symptoms and also risk factors for the same. As with all cancers, catching this condition early improves the survivability rate. That is why you should check yourself regularly for breast cancer symptoms and inform your doctor if you notice anything unusual or new. What is Breast Cancer? Cancer is a type of disease in which some cells mutate and begin multiplying rapidly. These cells form lesions, lumps, tumours and can obstruct normal bodily functions. Some cancer can metastasize, meaning it spreads and affects other parts of the body. This spread is referred to as ‘metastasis’. Breast cancer follows a similar path. It is cancer (out of a total of 100 types) that begins in the tissue of the breast but with time it can spread to other areas. Ductal Carcinoma is a common type of breast cancer, it accounts for approximately 70% to 80% of breast cancer cases. What are the Signs and Symptoms of Breast Cancer? Due to many years of
awareness and research, it has become easier to treat breast cancer through various means. But identifying the warning signs and symptoms of breast cancer in the early stages is what makes or breaks the success rate of the treatment. After self-examination of your breasts and underarm areas during shower or when you are changing your clothes, here are a few additional signs which are equally important and you can check for: · A lump in your breasts or armpits that was previously not there · Thickening or swelling of the skin in a particular part of the breasts · Dimples, irritation or redness in some part(s) of the breast · Flaky skin on the breast or nipple area · Changes in the nipple shape (such as pulling in or changes in shape) or changes to the breast · Nipple or breast pain · Blood or other unusuallooking liquid (excluding milk) leaking from the nipples Note that, if you have any of the above conditions singularly it is not a clear indication that you have breast cancer for sure. Similar signs are associated with other medical issues as well. If y o u discover a few of the mentioned signs and symptoms of breast cancer together, be sure to see
your doctor about it. What are some Risk Factors for Breast Cancer? Breast cancer risk is a combination of multiple factors, some of which can be altered and others are part of your genetic makeup. If you are at high risk, it does not necessarily mean you will get breast cancer. Conversely, even if you do not have any of the below breast cancer risks, you can still develop cancer. · Age– Most breast cancer diagnoses happen after the age of 50, so the older you get the greater the breast cancer risk. · Genetics– Genetic mutations can be inherited; certain gene mutations carry a higher risk of breast cancer (such as BRCA1, BRCA2). · Menstrual Cycle– If your menstrual periods started at or before 12, or you started menopause after the age of 55, your risk may be higher. · Dense Breast Tissue– Dense tissue in the breasts makes it harder to spot tumours and cancer lesions through mammograms. · Family History– If your sister, mother or close relative on either side of the family has had breast or ovarian cancer, your own risk may also be higher. · Radiation Therapy– If you were earlier treated with radiation on the chest or breasts (for example during cancer treatment) before the age of 30, you may have an increased breast cancer risk. · Personal History– If you had breast cancer or similar
conditions (like atypical hyperplasia which is a noncancerous breast disease), you are more likely to develop breast cancer once again. What Can You Change? Unlike the previous section the following factors can be managed and controlled to help reduce your risk of developing breast cancer: · Not getting regular exercise · U n a d d r e s s e d obesity problems, especially after menopause · Having your first pregnancy after 30 and not breastfeeding · Hormone replacement therapies (such as progesterone or estrogen used during menopause) if taken for five years or more · Taking oral contraceptive pills at a stretch · Alcohol, smoking and exposure to other carcinogenic chemicals Conclusion While developing breast cancer may be a scary thought, breast cancer treatments have progressed a lot over the past few decades. The main purpose of this article is to raise awareness of the potential breast cancer symptoms. If you notice any of the signs covered here, or you think you may be at a higher risk then speak to a doctor at the earliest. Pass this short article on to your friends as well, and let’s help to raise awareness all through this month!
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by Harris Tobias In the town of Blakeslee, Arkansas, there was a house that everyone knew was haunted. It was an old neglected house on a side street in the oldest part of town. Sometimes, the most wonderful smells issued from the house and filled the street with the heavenly odor of fresh baked bread. Whenever that happened, people would say that the old house must have been a bakery or, at the very least, the former home
of a fabulous baker. Sometimes, the neighbors would hear the sound of music and laughter coming from the empty house as if there was a wonderful party in full swing. Whenever that happened, the neighbors would look at each other and say, “It sounds like a nice party, I wish I was invited.” Whatever ghosts haunted the old house, they were benign and friendly ghosts. But even the friendliest spirits are scary and no one ever actually went inside the house. With the possible exception of a young boy being dared by his playmates, no one ever even stepped foot on the front porch. One day a man moved into town from a distant city. He saw the empty house and asked the neighbors, “who owned it?” He was told the owner was unknown and that the property could be bought for back taxes. No one told the stranger about the house's curious history. The man went to City Hall and purchased the property. Soon after moving in, however, strange things began to
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happen– odd noises in the night, weird lights drifting from room to room, the smells of baking from a cold kitchen and, worst of all, the sound of a party when the new owners were trying to sleep.After a few days, the man's wife declared that she could no longer live in so haunted a place and moved out taking the children with her. Before
long, the man gave up as well. He was forced to find another place to live but he was angry at the neighbors for not warning him about the house's reputation. He was angry at the town board for not telling him that the house was occupied by ghosts. In fact he was angry at everyone in town for treating him so badly. So he went to the mayor to complain and see if he could get his money back. The mayor refused saying he never misrepresented the house as anything it was not. “Just because a house is haunted,” he said, “doesn't mean you can't live there. The trick is making friends with the ghosts, learning to get along with them.” So the man went to the Pastor of the local church and told him his problem. The Pastor said, “You've been in town for a month and only now, when you're having a problem, do you come and see me? Well, sit down and tell me what's on your mind.” So the man sat and told the Pastor about the haunted house he'd bought. Now the Pastor in this village was considered a wise man, set in his ways, conservative in his manner and beliefs. He wasn't open to
FUN WITH POETRY
The Thebest bestfeeling feelingI Iget get I feel so nice when I eat Ice cream, cookies and fruit cake, Chocolate, candy and other sweets, As well as burgers, pizza and milk-shake. I also get very happy When I celebrate my birthday Go to the park, seawall and creek, And enjoy Christmas and other holidays. But the thing that makes me feel the best, And makes me proud indeed, Is when I try to help someone, Or give them something they need. I start by doing more work at home, Then try to make my family feel good; Next I am kinder to all my friends, And help my neighbours in any way I could. by Uncle Roy
new ideas but, reluctantly, he agreed to visit the house and see exactly what the man was talking about. The Pastor accompanied the man to the house. As they approached the block the house was on, the Pastor's smelled a delicious smell. “What's that wonderful smell?” he asked. “It's the ghosts baking bread,” the man replied. When they got closer, the Pastor stopped to listen. He turned to the man and inquired, “I hear music. Is someone having a party?” “It's the ghosts having a party,” replied the man. They went inside and looked around the empty house. The Pastor sat at a table while the man looked for something to serve his guest. He found an old bottle of whiskey and poured a glass for the Pastor and one for himself. They toasted each others health and drank. “So you moved from Little Rock to Blakeslee?” said the Pastor. “My parents live in Little Rock, I know the town well.” The man, it turned out, knew some of the Pastor's relatives. They talked and joked about those things they had in common and felt a
friendship growing. They were having such a pleasant time that before they knew it, three hours had passed. They were gone so long, the man's wife began to get nervous. “He went to the Pastor's house hours ago,” she said to herself. “Maybe the ghosts got him.” So she picked herself up and went to the Pastor's house and introduced herself to the Pastor's wife. Together they pooled their misgivings about ghosts and their worries about their husbands and went to the haunted house together. They peeked in the windows and saw the two men sitting at a table drinking , laughing and having a good time. The wives joined their husbands and found that they had much to talk about. The laughing and talking attracted the neighbors who stopped by and introduced themselves. Pretty soon the kitchen was filled with the smell of cooking. A neighbor brought his fiddle and another brought his guitar. And just like that, there was a party. The old house filled with real smells and real laughter. It was alive again and that, of course, was what it wanted all along. From that day to this, the old house came alive again and its ghosts were laid to rest never to be seen or heard of again.
·
THE END –
Junior page TURKEY TREATS TUTORIAL MATERIALS
* tulle { 9″ round tulle circles works perfectly!} * Reese's Pieces or M&Ms in fall colors * pipe cleaners {yellow, orange, brown, and red} * google eyes * glue {I used Quick Grip} ·small clear hair elastics
INSTRUCTIONS · Place your candies in the middle of the tulle circles and secure closed with the elastic bands. Leave enough excess tulle to form the ÒfeathersÓ in the back. · To form the head, cut the brown pipe cleaner to approximately 6 inches. Roll up the pipe cleaner leaving about 2 inches at the end. · Cut a piece of the orange pipe cleaner to form the beak {just
over 1 inch} and wrap it around the outer coil of the brown pipe cleaner. · Cut a red piece of pipe cleaner for the wattle and glue google eyes on either side of the beak. · For the feet, cut a yellow pipe cleaner to approximately 8 inches and fold the end into three toes. · Now you just have to stick the body parts into your tulle and your turkey is ready to go! Easy peasy!!
Ripple effect The heavy lines indicate areas called cages. Fill each cage with unique digits, counting up from 1. For example, a 1-cell cage must contain the number 1, a 2-cell cage contains 1 and 2, a 5-cell cage contains 1 through 5,and so on. These numbers may appear in any order within
the cage. If two identical numbers appear in the same row or column, at least that many cells must separate them. For example, if two 3s appear in the same column , they must be separated by at least three other cells that do not contain 3.
Kaieteur News
Sunday November 14, 2021
TEEN TIME A Sense of Personal Competence will make you more effective in achieving your life goals As we stated last week, many ambitious people sometimes look at the tasks which they need to complete towards something they have to achieve, and are discouraged because they seem too large and formidable for them. They feel that they would never be able to surmount the various problems which they imagine will face them as they go along. What they need to do is to make a small start at whatever little they are sure that they can do. Having completed this small step, they then tackle the next. In this way they will be breaking up the large job into manageable ones, until the whole is accomplished. This will empower them to develop this sense of being able to personally accomplish things in working towards acquiring the skills that would be needed for the type of jobs you would have to do to meet the goals which you have set yourself. You would already have gone part way towards this when
you have secured some academic qualification, but then you will have to do some specialist training in the particular field in which you are interested. Nothing of value is ever achieved easily, and so the effort which you would have expended and the trouble you would have experienced to gain this type of competence would be well worth it. Take the guess-work about your future by preparing for it by gaining what skills you need to achieve your goals, and you would benefit by the confidence in yourself which would result from this.
In the next articles we shall be discussing the practical steps by which you can develop this important sense of being able to achieve the things which you plan to do so that you can be assured of success. The first of these is:1. FIND OUT THE OPTIONS AND ALTERNATIVES AT YOUR DISPOSAL. When someone is faced with a problem to be solved, or a goal to be achieved, the first thing that needs to be done is to identify what are the options or alternatives available to deal with the problem or to achieve the goal. In many cases a young inexperienced person would not know what resources that can help in this process are available. When this is so, then one must not be too proud or too reserved to ask someone to assist in this respect. Start now to identify what options are available for you to achieve your special goals, and try to deal with these as you move forward.
Hex sudoku
Hexadecimal Sudokus (also known as 16x16 Sudoku) are a larger version of regular Sudoku that feature a 16 x 16 grid, and 16 hexadecimal digits.
Each row, column and 4x4 block contains all the digits 0 thru F (or numbers from 1 to 16, in the decimal versions).
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Develop your Unique Talents God made us all unique, Born in a world of talents, Giving us one each, Helping us all to balance. So let those who haven't found theirs yet, Tackle their way through life, Give them the joy of knowing they can't regret, In using for wrong and right. Even when we're feeling low, Or think there's no way out, We think we have no way to go, Not knowing what we're about. Finally we pull through, Because You're our only hope, We know with You we'll never lose, You give us the strength to cope. So as you made us all unique, Giving us different talents, Help us to find one each, So we can truly balance! So take the time and effort To find your own hidden talents, And work to develop them To give your life true balance.
The time and energy spent in developing the skills needed to achieve your goals will always be well rewarded.
TELL IT TO UNCLE ROY I am again appealing to all youths who have some personal problem to contact me so that we can work on a solution. Please know that I am an experienced e d u c a t o r, a q u a l i f i e d
counsellor, and a person whose main purpose in life is to ensure that others live their lives safely and effectively. Please get in touch through my email – uncleroy1992@yahoo.com
Solutions to last week’s
Killer Sudoku
Slitherlink
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Drink plenty of water throughout the day to avoid dehydration How much water should you drink a day? You probably know that it's important to drink plenty of fluids when the temperatures soar outside. But staying hydrated is a daily necessity, no matter what the thermometer says. Unfortunately, many of us aren't getting enough to drink, especially older adults. "Older people don't sense thirst as much as they did when they were younger. And that could be a problem if they're on a medication that may cause fluid loss, such as a diuretic," says Dr. Julian Seifter, a kidney specialist and associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. Benefits of drinking water Water keeps every system in the body functioning properly. The Harvard Medical School Special Health Report 6-Week Plan for Health Eating notes that water has many important jobs, such as: carrying nutrients and oxygen to your cells flushing bacteria from your bladder aiding digestion preventing constipation normalizing blood pressure stabilizing the heartbeat cushioning joints protecting organs and tissues regulating body temperature maintaining electrolyte (sodium) balance. Giving your body enough fluids to carry out those tasks means that you're staying hydrated. If you don't drink enough water each day, you risk becoming dehydrated. Warning signs of dehydration include weakness, low blood pressure, dizziness, confusion, or urine that's dark in color. So how much water should you drink? Most people need about four to six cups of water each day. How much water should you drink a day? The daily four-to-six cup rule is for generally healthy people. It's possible to take in too much water if you have certain health conditions, such as thyroid disease or kidney, liver, or heart problems; or if you're taking medications that make you retain water, such as non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), opiate pain medications, and some antidepressants. How much water a day should you drink if you fit into that category? There's no one-size-fits-all answer. Dr. Seifter says water intake must be individualized, and you should check with your doctor if you are not sure about the right amount for you. But even a healthy person's water needs will vary, especially if you're losing water through sweat because you're exercising, or because you're outside on a hot day. If you're wondering how much water you should drink on those occasions, speak with your doctor, but a general rule of thumb for healthy people is to drink two to three cups of water per hour, or more if you're sweating heavily. Tips for avoiding dehydration It's not just water that keeps you hydrated. All beverages containing water contribute toward your daily needs. And it's a myth that caffeinated beverages or those containing alcohol are dehydrating because they make you urinate. They do, but over the course of the day, the water from these beverages still leads to a net positive contribution to total fluid consumption. Of course, there are many reasons why water is still the better choice. Remember, sugary drinks can lead to weight gain and inflammation, which can increase your risk for developing diseases such as diabetes. Too much caffeine can give you the jitters or keep you from sleeping. And, alcohol intake should be limited to one drink per day for women, and 1-2 drinks per day for men. To ward off dehydration, drink fluids gradually, throughout the day. An easy way to do this is to have a drink at each meal, as well as socially, or with medicine. And know that you also get fluids from water-rich foods, such as salads, fruit, and applesauce. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-much-water-should-you-drink
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The Court A look at rape, sexual Journal offences and their penalties
By Renay Sambach
In this edition of 'The Court Journal' I will highlight the penalties for rape and sexual offences and those charged. Rape and sexual offences are serious matters and someone found guilty on indictment for rape could face life imprisonment. RAPE Rape is when a person penetrates someone's vagina, anus or mouth with a penis, without their consent. PENALTY Rape is an indictable matter and when the matter is brought before the court, the alleged perpetrator is not required to plead (guilty or not guilty) to the crime. The matter would first go to the Magistrate's Court for a preliminary inquiry (PI) – a PI is done by the Magistrate. The prosecution would produce the evidence to the court and at the end, the Magistrate can either commit the alleged perpetrator to stand trial for rape in the High Court or dismiss the case because of insufficient evidence or other reasons. Someone who is found guilty of rape is liable on conviction to serve life imprisonment. Likewise, someone who is charged with rape of a minor is liable on conviction or indictment to life imprisonment. CASES On Thursday last, 20year-old Mark Fontanelle of Lot 67 First Phase, Kwakwani, Upper Berbice River, was charged with the rape of a child under the age of 16. The defendant appeared via zoom before Magistrate Wanda Fortune in the Linden Magistrate's Court. He was not required to plead to the indictable charge after it was read to him. Magistrate Fortune remanded him to prison and the matter was adjourned to November 19, 2021, for
report. Recently, a 30-year-old man of Paradise Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara, was arraigned before Magistrate, Fabio Azore and was charged with the rape of a child below the age of 16. The defendant, Randell Williams, a former member of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), appeared in the Vigilance Magistrate's Court where he was not allowed to plea to the indictable charge when it was read to him. The charge alleged that on Saturday, October 2, 2021, he engaged in sexual penetration with a child below the age of 16. However, he was charged for rape of a child under 16 years contrary to Section 10(3) of the Sexual Offences Act Chapter 8:03. The accused was placed on $150,000 bail, his passport was lodged and he is required to report to the Cove and John Police Station every Wednesday. The matter was adjourned until December 2, 2021. Two serving members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) were on October 21, 2021, placed on $75,000 bail each after they were charged with rape. The officers, Rellon D'Andrade, 30, of Lot 62 Phoenix Park, West Bank Demerara, and Terrence Hamilton, 22, of 'E' Field Sophia, were arraigned in the Lethem Magistrate's Court before Magistrate Allan Wilson where the charges were read to them. The duo pleaded not guilty to the charge, which states that between August 5 and August 6, last year, they raped a 21-year-old woman at the Industrial Site located a t Ta b a t i n g a , C e n t r a l Lethem. Magistrate Wilson then placed the men on bail and adjourned the matter to Rape accused, Randell Williams
Rape Accused: Thurston Semple
Charged with statutory rape, Mark Fontanelle
December 6, 2021. In another matter, 19year-old Gabrielle Allen called “Gabby,” of Lot 26 Buck Hill, Wismar, Linden, was remanded for allegedly raping a minor. Allen had made her first court appearance before Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan, in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts. She was not required to plea to the indictable charge, which alleges that she raped a child under the age of 16. Allen was charged contrary to Section 10(3) of the Sexual Offences Act Chapter 8:03. Making headlines earlier this year was 37-year-old Thurston Semple, a taxidriver who was accused of raping and battering a Venezuelan woman. Semple of Lot 5A Tucville Terrace, Georgetown, is not a firsttime offender. According to reports, when he appeared in court for raping the Venezuelan woman it was his fourth rape charge. The alleged serial rapist is accused of raping four sex workers during the period 2017 to 2021. In his most recent case, Semple picked up the woman and agreed to pay her to have sex with him. H o w e v e r, w h i l e a t Semple's home, the woman reportedly told Semple she only had one more condom and if he did not ejaculate, she would leave. The woman's caution reportedly caused Semple to become annoyed. He then reportedly armed himself with a knife, proceeded to orally and vaginally rape the woman. He also sodomised her. In April 2021, Semple was committed to stand trial in the High Court for allegedly raping a sex worker. In that matter he was
granted $250,000 High Court bail. However, due to him being on remand for other rape matters he remains in the custody of the Guyana Prison Service (GPS). Thurston was committed to stand trial in the High Court at the next practicable sitting of the Demerara Assizes. SEXUAL ASSAULT Sexual assault is when someone penetrates the vagina, anus or mouth, with any part of the body other than the penis, without the person's consent. Other forms of sexual assault are, someone touching another person in a sexual way without their consent; causing someone to touch the perpetrator in a sexual way; causing someone to touch someone else in a sexual way, all without the person's consent. PENALTY Sexual assault matters are done summarily. This simply means that when the matter is brought before the Magistrate's court, the alleged perpetrator can plead either guilty or not guilty to the charge after it is read to them and the Magistrate will conduct a trial. A person is liable, upon summary conviction, to five years imprisonment. However, sexual assault can also be laid indictably. This means that the perpetrator is tried in the High Court by a Jury and upon conviction, a person is liable to 10 years imprisonment. CASES The trial into the alleged sexual assault of a former Accountant of The Business School (TBS) by the entity's Director commenced in March 2021 in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts.During 2020, James
Charged for sexually assaulting a minor, former MP, Alister Charlie. Bovell, the Director, was c h a rg e d f o r a l l e g e d l y sexually assaulting the employee who has since parted ways with the company. The woman was reportedly sexually assaulted sometime after she had asked Bovell to borrow money to pay her rent. However, the matter had not made its way into the media until March this year. Bovell had denied the charge, which alleged that during February 2020, at TBS, located at Lot 43 Brickdam, Georgetown, he sexually assaulted one of his employees. According to the facts of the charge, on the first occasion, Bovell reportedly grabbed and kissed the woman on her cheeks and on the second and last occasion, he grabbed her buttocks. After that incident, the woman cleared out her desk and reported the matter to the police. Bovell was later arrested, subsequently charged and placed before the court. In another matter of sexual assault, former People's Progressive
Party/Civic (PPP/C), Member of Parliament (MP), Alister Charlie, was hauled before a City Magistrate in January 2020, after he was charged for allegedly being involved in sexual misconduct with an underage child. Charlie had denied the charges which stated that between August 1, 2019 and August 31, 2019, he sexually assaulted a 16-year-old boy. According to reports, he w a s a l s o c h a rg e d f o r allegedly trying to bribe the teen's grandmother with $500,000. According to reports, Charlie met the teenager at a birthday party that was held for one of the MP's young relatives. It was alleged that the MP first made advances towards the teen at the party and later accompanied the teen to a nearby bar where they were imbibing. It was during this time that he allegedly made a second proposal to the teen. Charlie and the teen were reportedly videoed with their pants and underwear down, and Charlie allegedly touching the teen's genitals.
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Kaieteur News
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CARPHA signs agreement with Japan for new cooperation against COVID-19 The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed an agreement on Friday to achieve Caribbean Regional Health Security, through the building of core capacity within CARPHA to prevent, detect, respond to and control infectious disease outbreaks. JICA is the primary Japanese governmental agency responsible for Japan’s bilateral ODA. It is chartered to assist economic and social growth in 150 developing countries, and the promotion of international cooperation. JICA has 96 overseas offices all over the world and about 2,000 permanent staff. Based on the request from CARPHA and the decision of the Government of Japan, JICA, an implementing organisation o f J a p a n ’s O ff i c i a l Development Assistance (ODA), is collaborating on a new technical cooperation project including the provision of testing kits and laboratory equipment worth
US$1 million. On Friday, both parties signed the record of discussions, the official agreement for the cooperation. On the occasion of the signing ceremony, Mr. Hiroyasu Tonokawa, Chief Representative of JICA Saint Lucia Office mentioned that the Caribbean region is not removed from threats of
COVID-19, such as high number of cases, lower vaccination coverage and weak economic recovery. He stated that the project will contribute to strengthening C A R P H A’s d i a g n o s t i c testing capacity, including its ability to adequately report to Member States, thus promoting and enhancing the systems of prevention,
detection and response for public health events and events that significantly threaten health security within CARPHA Member
States. Under the project Advancing Regional Health Security for Prevention and Control of Outbreaks of
Communicable Diseases in the Caribbean, a significant sum will be allocated to the purchase of reagents and Continued on page 57
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Sunday November 14, 2021
Local businesses poised for opportunities partnerships with international investors The ‘Who’s Who in Guyana’ Business Directory is a publication that offers international companies a glimpse of the investment
- as third edition of ‘Who’s Who in Guyana’ Business Directory launched and partnership opportunities available with
firms, businesses, and individuals, locally.
The third edition of the 138-page magazine which
was unveiled on Tuesday at the official residence of the
British High Commissioner in Bel Air Gardens, Georgetown, features over 70 businesses from 14 key sectors. The publication has over 10,000 hard copies which will be distributed as well as an online platform www.whoswho.gy , where featured businesses showcase their products and services. Among those in attendance at the ceremony to mark the launch were British High Commissioner, Jane Miller OBE, Dr. Robert Miller, Her Majesty’s D e p u t y T r a d e Commissioner for Latin America and the Caribbean (HMDTC), Mr. Spencer Mahoney, Minister of Tourism, Industry, and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond, other members of the government, members of the diplomatic corps, as well as heads of the organisations featured in the Who’s Who in Guyana Business Directory, ActionINVEST Caribbean Inc/Who’s Who in Guyana (ACI/WW) team, and other special guests. In her remarks at the launch, Minister Walrond stressed on the significance of the magazine in contributing to creating linkages between local and international businesses. She noted that through, “The visibility afforded to [Guyanese] via the Who’s Who publication, successful partnerships will emerge and persist into the future, providing that foundation on which our private sector can grow and flourish. Given the chance, our local firms will step up to the plate and be up to the task,” The minister also commended the magazine for covering a diverse array of sectors in keeping with the government’s commitment to ensuring that the focus is not solely on the oil and gas sector. “We realise that, at this stage of our development, we require external partners to bring capabilities we are lacking. The importance of Who’s Who cannot be overstated. What this publication does is provide much-needed visibility to our local businesses. It gives valuable information to international and even local partners about what is available right here in Guyana today,” she noted. In his remarks, publisher of the magazine and Continued on page 56
Kaieteur News
Sunday November 14, 2021
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Local Women Chamber of Commerce & Industry appoints new Board of Directors
Rowena Elliot, Community Manager, Regus
T
he annual elections of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Guyana was held on October 16, 2021. The following persons were elected to serve as Directors on the Board for the financial year 2021-2022: 1. Rowena Elliot, Community Manager, Regus, 2. Latoya Jack, Chief Executive Officer, Kronoco Safety Solutions, 3. Aysha Harrop, Finance Director, XL Engineering, 4. Alista Bishop, Managing Director, AX Investment & Consultants, 5. Anna Correia de Sa, Co-owner, ECOPAG, 6. Urica Primus, Co-owner, Stabroek Solutions, 7. Lance Hinds, Chief Executive Officer, The Brainstreet
Latoya Jack, Chief Executive Officer, Kronoco Safety Solutions Group. The five new Directors appointed are: Aysha Harrop - XL Engineering, Alista Bishop - AX Investment & Consultants, Anna Correia de Sa - ECOPAG, Urica Primus - Stabroek Solutions and Lance Hinds - The Brainstreet Group. The new Executive Committee Members are as follows: 1. President - Rowena Elliot, 2. Vice President - Latoya Jack, 3. Secretary - Urica Primus, 4. Treasurer - Lance Hands. In a release, the Chamber thanked the previous Board of Directors for its work and dedication given in the last year and looks forward to their support and guidance “as we move into this new year.” The President WCCIG,
Aysha Harrop, Finance Director, XL Engineering stated “Having worked with the founders of the WCCIG and members from its inaugural board over the past year, I believe I have gained much insight into the purpose and mandate of the Chamber. The strides made so far are most commendable given the constraints we faced. I take pride in having the opportunity to carry this mantle and I relish the continued support from our stakeholders and partners as we move to and through the new year. Vice President WCCIG stated: “The Chamber’s mandate is relevant and increasingly significant today and in the future Guyana we are building. I am excited and grateful to be elected to serve my
Alista Bishop, Managing Director, AX Investment & Consultants
Urica Primus, Co-owner, Stabroek Solutions community and country in such a meaningful way.” The new Board and Executive
Anna Correia de Sa, Co-owner, ECOPAG
Lance Hinds, Chief Executive Officer, The Brainstreet Group team are ready and equipped to fulfill its role and work towards the Continued on page 50
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Sunday November 14, 2021
Sea defence structures from Regions 2 to 6 in critical condition …with 90% of Guyana’s population residing on coastline - LCDS 2030
A picturesque view of the seawalls in Georgetown, Region Four.
G
e o rg e t o w n i s listed among nine major cities across the world that is listed to be underwater by 2030 as a result of the rising sea levels caused by global warming due to persistent and accelerating Climate Change in recent years. In light of the damning prediction, it should be recognised that of Guyana’s 214,970 square kilometres (km2) in land area, approximately 90 percent of the population live on the 15,000 km2 stretch close to the low-lying coastline of approximately 459 km. This much is documented
in the recently launched expanded Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS 2030) which in fact underscores that the majority of the coastal zone is below sea level and not just the city. Guyana’s low lying coastal zone, relies largely on engineered seawalls and rip raps and natural mangroves as sea defence structures to provide protection from the Atlantic Ocean. To this end, it was noted that “In Regions Two, Three, Four, Five and Six, sea defence structures protect approximately 244 km of the coastline; 22.81 km are in either poor or critical
condition.” Additionally, mangroves are highly vulnerable to climate change, in particular sea level rise, which could destroy or damage mangroves and, with it, coastal habitats and fisheries infrastructure such as landing sites. According to the LCDS 2030 document, despite significant investments to rehabilitate sections of Guyana’s sea defence system, the 2014 survey of Guyana’s sea defence structures, which covered 91.2 percent of the total length, showed the urgent need for investment. The document noted too
that closely interlinked to the challenge of sea defences is the drainage and irrigation (D&I) system which is connected to over 150 sluice gates or kokers which are located at the seawalls. “With sea level rise consequentially limiting the number of low tide days, opening of the sluice gates or kokers to expel water out to sea is becoming increasingly restrictive, hence increasing the risk of flooding and further exposing Guyana’s population and assets located in low-lying coastal regions.” Additionally, it was noted that blocked drains
and disabled pumps exacerbate the problem of water expulsion. “Therefore, the functional relationship between the D&I system and the seawall needs to be optimized for both to efficiently perform their critical roles.” This, since a fault in one could compromise the integrity of the other and efforts are underway to address some of the shortcomings of the D&I system. According to the document, it is appreciated that “multiple economic activities, livelihoods and communities are dependent on D&I systems” as such, “these systems are critical not
only for flood control and surface water drainage, but also to provide water for agricultural, domestic and other purposes.” The report noted too that a large proportion of Guyana’s coastal lands lie below sea level and drainage by gravity is possible only during low tides, which makes the systems prone to flooding during extreme rainfall events. The losses and damage from the 2005 floods in Georgetown and the surrounding region, according to the expanded LCDS “exposed the system’s limitations in terms of handling a greater intensity of rainfall combined with tidal inflow.”
Local Women Chamber... From page 49 vision and mission of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry Guyana. For more information regarding the profile of the current Directors and to join as members, persons can visit or call www.wcciguyana.com|592 -6320091. The WCCIG, founded by Mrs. Lyndell Danzie-Black and Mrs. Kerensa Gravesande-Bart in June 2019, is a nonprofit charitable organisation dedicated to creating a collective voice for women and assisting women to achieve success and economic independence through business ownership and self-employment. WCCG advocates for and actively works to create equal and fair business opportunities by fostering an environment that nurtures the growth of women-owned businesses in Guyana. “We propel and support business success for our members through network building, collaboration, sensitization, educational resources, and advocacy in various areas. The Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Guyana assists its members (women business owners) meet international standards and become certified so as to benefit equitably from procurement opportunities, from major purchasing entities and certified minority and women suppliers. The Women’s Chamber membership includes women that reflect diversity in both ethnicity, industry and business stages,” the release added.
Sunday November 14, 2021
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Our Frontline Worker of this Week is… COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER,
Ravindra Thokoordeen
By Malisa Playter-Harry
As COVID-19 continues to take an unprecedented toll on the world, we are reminded daily of the efforts of medical frontline workers who work around the clock, sacrificing family time, exposing themselves to the risks, et al, just to play their part in the fight against the virus. Whether it was the job of testing and monitoring when the pandemic first hit Guyana, or the hard-work and dedication put in to ensure that persons are vaccinated, frontline workers in the health care system have persevered and gone beyond the call of duty. For 26-year-old Ravindra Thakoordeen of No.66 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, a Community Health Worker on the vaccination team in Region Six, his job is as important as one can expect it to be. According to Thakoordeen, he drew inspiration from his family which has been supportive during the years. Fresh off of writing the Caribbean Secondary School Entrance Examination (CSEC) at the Tagore Memorial Secondary School in 2012 and gaining a number of subjects, Tharkoordeen revealed that “I always wanted to go into the health sector because I
Always ready to help persons take their jab.
was inspired by my family. My sister was an administrator at the Skeldon Hospital and my brother is a surgeon at the New Amsterdam Hospital.” He mentioned that upon his completion of secondary school, he ventured off into training at the Skeldon Hospital and then moved onto the No. 64 Health Centre. In October 2012 he also did training at the West Demerara Hospital for a period of eight months. During his training, he
Health Worker (CHW) since then. Given that the health care worker grew up just two villages away from where he works, he said he has always felt pleased with the fact that he is able to serve his community and that he has done so without complaints. “Serving my community has been a joy for me,” said Thakoordeen who has developed a relationship with residents of the communities who access the No.64 Health Centre. He mentioned too that he does regular home visits for persons who cannot make it to the health centre and those home visits would see him vaccinating children and others. However, since the pandemic hit, his job as a
CHW Ravindra Thakoordeen
three-day training exercise that saw CHWs and other medical staff being trained for the successful roll out of the vaccination campaign. As a vaccinator, Thakoordeen said he has been administering vaccines to not only his catchment
“Any vaccination that is needed to be done around the region like at Orealla/Siparuta and all the riverain areas we cover, so I am always open minded and free to go anywhere because we work as a team.” gained extensive knowledge in the vaccination process, anatomy, physiology and more. Following that training stint, he was placed at the No. 64 Health Centre in 2013 and has served in the capacity as a Community
CHW now entails him ensuring that the COVID-19 vaccine is administered as he plays his part in helping the nation to achieve herd immunity in the future. He added that his work is done in conjunction with other team members. This he said makes the work less stressful and easier to execute. “Any vaccination that is needed to be done around the r e g i o n l i k e a t Orealla/Siparuta and all the riverain areas, we cover, so I am always open minded and free to go anywhere because we work as a team,” Thakoordeen added. He noted that when Guyana, and Berbice particular, recorded its first COVID-19 case, his immediate thought was about the need to help. Thakoordeen said “I wanted to be there for my region and help to combat this virus.” For him, he knew that his skills attained through the past trainings and his years of experience would have been a necessity during this period, and indeed it was. He officially started with the COVID-19 vaccination team upon the arrival of the first set of vaccines procured by the Ministry of Health, and he also participated in a
area but “anywhere in the region they call us to go we will go.” He noted that during the execution of his duties, some concerns did
fill his thoughts at some point about being exposed and eventually exposing his family to the virus but because he made sure that he was well equipped with the necessary PPE, those moments of worry flew by. He noted that despite the long hours and extended period of being away from his family, “we work because we are trying to get over this pandemic.” Thakoordeen is advising persons who have not been vaccinated, to do so since vaccines are readily available to them. He added that getting vaccinated saves lives and as such, he is encouraging persons to make the sound decision to get vaccinated.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday November 14, 2021
With 100 oil spills annually T&T stakeholders.... Blending a 'passion for fashion' with... From page 3 insurance, Aboud said, “I would like to see whether there is trans-regional insurance to cover for the tourism sector.” According to Aboud, “I think that it is critically important, for the fisheries sector of which in T&T we have 50,000 dependents. I am thinking for bio-diversity loss. I have never heard of insurance for bio-diversity loss, and particularly and additionally I would like to see in the EIA what policy is specifically in place for transnational waste when it crosses borders.”Speaking to the need for commitments such as adequate insurance and emergency response, Aboud posited, “100 years from now you and your
shareholders will be long gone. Happily enjoying the benefits of the extraction but we will be left with the responsibility, so I would like to see in the EIA what is the long term emergency response capacity and who bears the cost for accidents that occur long after the well is decommissioned. ”He had cited a recent incident in T&T where there was a well blowout—a blow that occurred some 42 years after the well had been capped. That incident he said, left T&T with the cost to bear in an operation that eventually cost a life in addition to the cash expended, since there was no documentation for the decommissioned wells.
From page 18 Recalling the genesis of 'Pretty Lil Thang' Ms. Lashley said, “I had a large following and I always wanted to get into fashion, so what I did was use my personal social media to build my business social media platform and then I went into an online business fully.” 'Nicki' told this publication that she has forever been a lover of 'nice and classy' clothing and “I was always popular on social media.” She noted too that people would often times, in their remarks to her social media postings, “say things like, oh my God, I love this outfit, where did you get it from; you know how to dress.” According to Nicki, very many times, even when her friends were preparing for a social outing, “they would come to me and say you need to put together this outfit for me.” Speaking to her groundings that she eventually realised would be her personal foundation in pursuing her passion, 'Nicki' said as a lass, “I was always very, very outspoken, very brave, always the light in the room, everyone loved me.” Wi t h a s m i l e , s h e reminisced on inquires whenever she was not around persons saying, “oh god, where is Nicki, where is Nicki, that was me I was the little chatter box, never scared to go and talk to anyone.” According to 'Nicki' that confidence growing up helped her to maintain her motivation and drive, “to push for whatever I wanted and that made me just keep going with my business.” Business Prowess Born and raised in Georgetown, Nicki said she was always one to take a special pride in the way she dressed. “I was always a lover of mixing and matching to put together a good outfit; everybody would comment and say I love how you put it together,” something she did until realising it was an actual talent that can be capitalised on—bolstered by
her business prowess. Pointing to this unique talent of having an 'eye and imagination' to mix and match different pieces of attire into an alluring blend, 'Nicki' said this is her niche, that will propel her business into a household brand not just domestically but regionally and one day internationally. Clients, she said, “ would come to me for advise to put together their outfits” and explained as example as, persons soliciting her advice on what would best match with a piece of garment they propose to flaunt at some special occasion or informal gathering. “So they trust in my work, so that made me say no, fashion is the right business to go into.” Recounting that her business started prior to the advent of COVID-19 being declared a pandemic, 'Nicki' noted in its onset, “when the pandemic came it really did slow my business down; sometimes once a week I would have like one or two customers or probably none.” Not daunted however, 'Nicki' pressed ahead saying “I just kept pushing because when you love something, when you invest in a brand, when you believe in your brand, you have to keep pushing.” She did concede however, that because her business was primarily based online, save for deliveries, she managed to recover largely in part through the use of technology, the internet and her mass of social media followers. This contrasted against those that would have operated a physical boutique and did not fare as well, many since shuttered as a result of the pandemic and its economic impacts. 'Nicki' told Kaieteur News, “it actually ended up working out in my favour,” and pointed specifically to the restrictions imposed in relation to physical contact and social distancing and such like. “Now everybody is at home and they are using the
Van West Charles wins... From page 08 matters into account, the judge awarded Dr. Van West Charles damages in the sum of $10 million, which includes an assessment of aggravated damages and damages for defamation. The judgment also stipulates the award of interest at the rate of six
percent per annum from August 5th, 2019 to November 5th, 2021 and four percent per annum thereafter until fully paid in addition to the sum of $1,650,000.00 as prescribed costs to Dr. VanWest-Charles against the newspaper and its publisher.
internet to look for clothes,” Nicki said and noted, despite the 'shallow period' at the onset of the pandemic, business has managed to bounce back “and I am here still.” Perfect Blend Describing her venture as the next “Fashionova by God's Grace”, Nicki said her ambition include plans to expand internationally, since “I believe in my brand, and I know that it will go global,” and pointed to already having customers from overseas turning to her in search of her special skills. “If my business is just a little local business right now and its pulling people from America, Barbados, Trinidad, all these different countries, imagine when I move up in the next two to four, even five years, however long it takes, what it's going to be like.” Explaining what sets her apart from the average online retail outlet where anybody with internet access and disposable income can make a purchase, Nicki said; it is her eye for mixing and matching various pieces to blend it into 'class' that is what sets her apart. According to Nicki, it is not a case of simply ordering in bulk a number of dresses, or bags, shoes or some sort of garment and retailing it. Rather it's about scouring through the legion of options internationally and bringing it together for the perfect blend, “this is what sets me a n d P r e t t y L i l Thang—@prettylilthangz59 2\1__nicki—apart from the others.” Work Smart, Not Hard Speaking directly to the current generation of youths now entering the workforce in an unprecedented global environment, Nicki's advice, “do something that you love, because you don't have to work hard, you can work smart, the internet is there you can use it to your advantage.” According to Nicki, “you just have to keep believing in what you want and you can get it, you have to keep fighting; when it feels like it's not working out for these few months, that's the time you get up and you keep fighting the most.” Adamant that, whenever “life is fighting you down, that's when you need to stand up more,” Nicki said it was these principles that she applied to her life “and that's why, I am where I am today, and I keep those words in my head all the time. You fight for what you want, believe in what you want and your business can become a success.”
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Bed and breakfast facilities: a home away from home ==GNBS IN FOCUS==
Bed and Breakfast (B & B) accommodations are becoming more popular in Guyana as remote villages work to promote their tourism product. These facilities provide overnight lodging and breakfast, in a home-like setting, to guests with the hosts either living there or in a separate building nearby. This type of accommodation is now a preferred lodging choice for many people due to the social interaction with the hosts and with fellow guests. For persons interested in setting up such a facility or improving a similar facility, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) has developed a National Standard – Bed and breakfast facilities (GYS 514:2016) –which includes the basic requirements to run a successful B & B business. According to the Standard, a Bed and Breakfast facility is one which is approved to provide breakfast as part of the room rate to visitors. This National Standard was formulated to improve the quality of services offered by local providers of Bed and Breakfast facilities. Providers and potential investors, in this category of accommodation, can use it to ensure that guests are satisfied. This contributes to a successful business. The standard provides minimum requirements for three categories of facilities, A, B and C category. One of the first things
highlighted in the document is the standard space for what is described as a 'habitable room' and this is 10M2 per person. In addition, it states that while the hosts or caretakers reside at these facilities, the rooms set aside for guests must not be used by the family members. The rooms and surroundings must be consistently clean and well maintained, and accompanied by adequate bathrooms dependent on if the facility is classified as category A, B or C. The Standard specifies that a category A facility offers self-contained double or single bedrooms with ceiling fans or AC and a hot and cold shower. It also offers access to WiFi, television, telephone, a mini refrigerator and other amenities. Meanwhile, a category B facility offers a room which does not necessarily contain AC Units and other facilities. In addition, these rooms are accompanied by shared toilet and bath facilities. While the document does not stipulate the requirements for a Category C accommodation, it states that running water and other amenities, which ensure a comfortable stay are essential. General requirements in the National Standard include adequate security for guests and their possession, prohibition of any form of discrimination and convenient parking or
Court orders GRA to pay... From page 12 the Guyanese people has taken place.”According to Article 13, “successive administrations have had difficulty in comprehending the need for inclusion, consultation, and transparency on large projects; Article 13 is deeply concerned that in the absence of such consultations, Guyana can suffer the fate of the Skeldon Project, the economic, financial and social consequences of which are still being felt.” The group was adamant, “the only difference this time around is that if these projects were ever to
materialise, the costs to the country will be unmanageable and will have to be borne by future generations.” According to Article 13, President Ali's speech was a demonstration of the wide gap among countries between their spoken word and reality and his clear attempt to avoid the whole truth. And the absence of full disclosure and prior consultation with the people of Guyana on critical, existential issues “are not only unacceptable but amount to a violation of Article 13 of the Constitution of Guyana for which our group stands.”
Civil Society watchdog.... From page 12 compensated for the dispute. “If costs are not agreed the applicant shall file and serve a bill of costs by 26 th November 2021. The Respondent shall file and serve an affidavit to which
shall be exhibited the points of dispute by 17th December, 2021,” the judge said in her decision. The matter is adjourned to February 1, 2022 at 3:00 pm for the assessment of costs.
adequate advertisement of lack thereof. As stakeholders c e l e b r a t e To u r i s m Awareness Month 2021
under the theme “Preparing for a new frontier – stimulating innovation within the tourism sector,” the GNBS is encouraging the
implementation of Standards. The Bureau, this year, launched its Standards Portal which is accessible on our website at gnbsgy.org,
or interested persons can contact our office on 2190064-66 or message us on Whatsapp at 692-4697 (GNBS).
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Pesticides contribute greatly to quality and standard of human life but also pose dangers ==CONSUMER CONCERNS==
By Pat Dial In the last week of October, Guyana commemorated Pesticide Awareness Week with the theme "Choose! Use! Alternative to toxic household, agricultural and public health pesticides for a
better life and environment. Our Actions are our Future". The Guyana Consumers Association (GCA) enthusiastically supports the goals of Pesticide Awareness Week and has had an abiding interest in educating consumers of the use as well
as of the deleterious effects of pesticides. Pesticides, and particularly chemical pesticides, have greatly increased in number and strength in the 20th century. They are used in homes, in industrial undertakings such
as factories and in mining and in Agriculture. There are many types of pesticides and the main ones used in Guyana are Insecticides; Rodenticides; Herbicides; Fungicides; and Nematocides. Their use has greatly helped to increase human comfort and safety and has helped to increase the production of goods and food. In homes or places like mining and other camps, insecticides keep away mosquitos, roaches, and flying insects in general and ants are controlled. Spraying eliminates mosquito and cockroaches and other flying insects and protects householders from diseases such as malaria and filaria spread by these insects. Mosquito coils are also widely used against these insects and insect repellants protect the person. In factories and industrial buildings and complexes, pesticides are widely used to protect workers, to control wood ants and dangerous insects like Africanized bees. In factories which produce food, for example bakeries, rats and insects like cockroaches which destroy or contaminate foods are eliminated. Agriculture uses the greatest variety of pesticides and the most toxic ones. In the sugar industry aerial spraying of the fields is practised and rodenticides to control rats and herbicides to control bush and grass are
used. In fruit and vegetable cultivation spraying is done to control caterpillars, borer beetles and other such destructive insects. The great value of pesticides is unquestionable but pesticides pose dangers to human life and health if not properly employed. In spraying or mixing pesticides, it is necessary to wear protective clothing which involves the wearing of suitable gloves and covering the body fully and using respirators or otherwise covering the nostrils. All pesticides are poisons and if a pesticide goes on the skin it will be absorbed into the body and if inhaled, it gets into the lungs. These poisons in the body are known to cause cancers and work to destroy various organs of the body. The effects of these poisons are both immediate and long term and could cause one to be unwell for most of one's life. The spraying of crops could cause dangers to human health if not carefully done. Aerial spraying of sugar fields is successful but spraying of market crop cultivations becomes dangerous when pesticides are over used since the poisons remain in the vegetables and are ingested into the body on consumption. This is particularly true of leafy vegetables (bhajis). Other precautions that could be taken as for example
with mosquito coils and home insecticides - Many of these products, produced in East Asia and smuggled into Guyana via Suriname, are highly perfumed and very toxic, and should never be bought or used. Clothes used when spraying should be washed separately and pesticide containers should never be reused for any purpose but should be disposed of immediately after use. Though ordinary citizens must protect themselves from the danger pesticides pose, governments do recognise their responsibility of protecting their populations. In Guyana, the Ministry of Agriculture over the years, has kept abreast with the modern trends in the use and control of pesticides and, for example, has reduced the registration and importation of highly hazardous pesticides by 75 percent. It's Pesticide and Chemicals Control Board is regarded as a leader in the Region and it has had the honour of piloting the model pesticides legislation for the Caribbean Region through CARICOM. F u r t h e r, importers are encouraged to import safer biopesticides and sellers are trained to give guidance to purchasers as to how to safely use pesticides. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
Kaieteur News
Sunday November 14, 2021
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>>>Young Entrepreneur on the Move<<<
Choose ‘Royal Lucy’s Grill & Juice’ for a fusion of scrumptious goodness By Allyiah Allicock
B
eing the owner of a business was not something that 22y e a r- o l d S h e n e e z a Ti ff a n y McCurdy had envisioned for her life. In fact, what she had envisioned over a year ago was nothing close to what it is today. She is currently the owner of a popular fast-food joint called ‘Royal Lucy’s Grill & Juice’, a business she co-owns w i t h h e r m o t h e r, Shonette Paul-Hussain, and fiancé, Christopher Ogleton. This business venture, which has been catching the attention of many food lovers, was officially opened in April 2020, but was registered in March this year. In an interview with Kaieteur News, McCurdy said that if it was not for the m a n y words of encouragement from her fiancé and mother, the nation would not have heard about ‘Royal Lucy’s Grill & Juice’ or known what this cuisinetalented woman was capable of. To sum it up, the two, mother and fiancé, is the inspiration behind the establishment. “I remember vividly back in April 2020, he (Ogleton) asked me what I have a passion for and I told him cooking and making juice. He told me then alright, I’m giving you a week to come up with a name for a business,” she rec alled. Within a day she was able to formulate a name which caught her fiancé’s attention. “I pitched Royal Lucy’s Juice to him and he was like that’s catchy and we went with it not thinking it would have gotten so big, so fast,” she shared. Her passion for cooking and making local beverages all started way back when she once pursued home economics in school. McCurdy related that back in 2018, her mother would prepare food and sell at the Tucville Secondary School, and she would make the local beverages to go along with her mother’s cuisine. Selling the beverages at that time was her way of paying for needed classes. For McCurdy, delving into the
cooking arena turned out to be not just a business venture but rather a kind of “therapy” for her. “It’s where I get to express my art and love for food. I’m the type of person that loves to see a colourful plate and taste the herbs and spices to give my taste buds a grand fusion of tastes,” the young woman added. It is with this passio n and talent
that she has been gaining the attention of many persons recently. But one challenge she highlighted during her interview is, when customers call at the very last minute to cancel their orders. At times it can be frustrating, she noted. Regarding the global pandemic, she said that it has had a positive impact given the nature of the business.
our featured young entrepreneur said, “we are planning to open a restaurant where food lovers can come and dine. There is still a lot more we can do, and this, what we are doing, is just the beginning.” McCurdy is of the firm belief that young businessmen and women are important toward the development of the country because with whatever field of business they c h
Some of the tasty meals you can order.
ess my art and “It’s where I get to expr pe of person that love for food. I’m the ty plate and taste loves to see a colourful give my taste the herbs and spices to tastes.” buds a grand fusion of L ocal fast food and catering services have been taking the food industry by storm since the onset of the pandemic, as many persons are now relying on them. When the pandemic first started, many establishments such as restaurants, indoor and outdoor dining, were forced to close their doors for months, and because of this, many catering and delivery services came on stream. When asked what the ultimate goal is moving forward,
Young entrepreneur, Sheneeza Tiffany McCurdy
Co-owner of ‘Royal Lucy’s Grill & Juice’, Shonette Paul- Hussain
o ose to get into, t hey are in some way inspiring others. “I think young entrepreneurs play a major role in our society by creating jobs for others as well as inspiring other young entrepreneurs,” she commented. She suggested that in order to boost small businesses locally, the relevant authorities should help pave the way for persons so they can access grants and loans which would be of great assistance in h e l p i n g t h e m g e t t h e i r Co-owner of ‘Royal Lucy’s Grill undiscovered business ideas off & Juice’, Christopher Ogleton the ground. Persons who wish to try any of the scrumptious meals prepared can call telephone numbers: (592) by ‘Royal Lucy’s Grill & Juice’ 651-0012, (592) 655-9916 or (592)
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Sunday November 14, 2021
Kaieteur News VACANCY
WANTED FOR RENT Office space for rent,air conditioned,water & wifi, East North Cummingsburg $100,000 per month.Tel:2236218,226-5546. CAR RENTAL Aidan's Car Rental.Cal:6281183,225-3234.
3 bedrooms bottom flat, Located Peter Rose St Queenstown $150,000 per month.Tel:223-6218,2265546. Bond Space,900 sq ft,2 office space,spacious parking Eccles.Tel:223-6218,2265546.
SERVICES Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisements, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040 Business opportunity of a lifetime, earn extra cash, part time/fulltime. Tel:656-2682.
Unfurnished 2 bedrooms apt, Mon Repos $100,000 per month.Tel:223-6218,2265546. 4 bedrooms self-contained house,Farm EBD $4,000 USD per month.Tel:223-6218,2265546. 4 bedrooms self-contained house,Atlantic Garden $4,000 USD per month. Tel:2236218,226-5546. Commercial building ground floor 32x41 ft,Carmichael St $300,000 per month.Tel:2236218,226-5546.
FOR RENT Fully furnished self-contained bedrooms house, Bougainvillea EBD $3,000 USD.Tel:223-6218,226-5546.
1 bedroom apartment, topflat situated in La Penitence preferably single or working couple.Call:225-5796.
Fully furnished house 3 bedrooms.Price $5,000 USD, Located Atlantic Gaden. Tel:223-6218,226-5546. Semi furnished 2 bedrooms upper apartment.Price $1,200 USD,LocatedPrashad Nagar.Tel:223-6218,2265546. Fully furnished 3 bedrooms house.Price $4,000 USD, Located Richmond Hill, P r o v i d e n c e . Te l : 2 2 3 6218,226-5546. Fully furnished 3 bedrooms house.Spacious parking Windsor Estate $4,500 USD.Tel:223-6218,226-5546. Fully furnished 6 bedrooms house AC, hot & cold bath ,backup generator, Eccles NewScheme$3,500 USD. Tel:223-6218,226-5546. Fully furnished 3 bedrooms house,Republic Gardens $3,000 USD.Tel:223-6218,2265546. 3bedroomshouse, Queenstown $170,000 per month.Tel:223-6218,2265546.
Live in shop attendant (female) 18-25 yrs,$25,000 wkly. Call:610-3974. One experienced domestic to work Georgetown 2 to 3 days per wk,vaccination required. Tel:226-2322. 1 able bodied driver, ages 25+. Must have truck license. Ice Factory Mon Repos, Call: 220-3459, between 8-4. One male able bodied clerk. Call: 225-2313/226-1497. Waitress for bar.Call:6576547. 1 Mechanic with the knowledge of welding,driving would be an asset.Call:6189186/225-9304. Live stock experience person with small family to live in Ya r o k a b r a , m o n t h l y $100,000.Call:675-0587/2259304. One handyman age 20-45 yrs.To work at Old Road Land of Canaan,salary per month $65000.Tel:6248591,655-7405. One housekeeper to work 3 days per week age 40-55 yrs.Must be able to speak spanish and english,6248591. 1 domestic maid.Call between 9AM-5PM.Tel:226-5793. Heavy machinery,truck drivers and housekeeper needed. Call:680-9125.
3 bedroom homes for sale,H aslington, Onderneeming, Tuschen.Call:223-6035, whatsapp 673-6210. Flat 1 bedroom house.18 Av Diamond E.B.D,available the 3rd wk in November.Call:6572951,612-9697.
Motor lorry drivers and porters needed tel :6271835
FOR SALE
Cashier and operator to work at ice house.Call:223-7165.
Household used: Dining tables,Mirrors,Side & Center tables,Floor lamps, Carpets. Call:655-3070,662-2652.
One landscaper to maintain playfield,operator John Deere.Tel:609-9310.
1 43 ft boat with 500lb 2 3/4 bangamary seine + 600lb ice box $3.1 neg.Call:698-3206. Pure breed Rottweiler (male) fully vaccinated.Call:6983206.
Taxi & Minibus drivers. Call:628-1183,225-3234. Skilled carpenters, masons, welder and labourers to work long term in Georgetown & Linden.Call:602-9469,6157526.
Vacancy for persons to assemble bicycles.Apply at Alabama Trading,65 Robb St Bourda. Hiring professional certified Chef,Assistant cooks & Counterstaffs.Apply at Veronica's Snacknette,106 Brickdam 652-0451,651-1152. Maintenance workers & labourers to work with P.S.G.C.S. Preferably from E.B.D. Call: 621-6969/6157784. Maid to cook and clean for East Bank.Call: 615-9132. Vacancy exists for 1 certified Auto Mechanic with minimum 10 yrs experience. Call:231-8737. One experience Seamstress to work Mon-Sat and one floor girl.Call:622-4386. One salesman,5 subject cxc.Experience in writing bills,stocktaking & cashing. Keyfood Trading,Mc Doom village. 4 Marketing Personnels. Must have 5 CXC,2 yrs experience, computer literate & Driven.Call:643-1429,6008457, email: mariobraam. jc.coo @gmail.com. 2 Hr Managers.Must have 5 CXC,2 yrs experience, computer literate & Driven. Call:643-1429,600-8457,e mail: mariobraam.jc.coo @gmail.com. 2 web developers/IT Technician. 5 CXC,2 yrs experience, computer literate & Driven. Call:643-1429,600-8457, email:mariobraam.jc.coo @gmail.com. 1 Accountant.Must have 5 CXC,2 yrs experience, computer literate & Driven. Call:643-1429,600-8457, email:mariobraam.jc.coo @gmail.com. 1 maintenance.Must have 5 CXC,2 yrs experience, computer literate & Driven. Call:643-1429,600-8457,e mail:mariobraam.jc.coo @gmail.com.
One general domestic vaccinated for Tuesday & Saturday,preferably between Norterzul & Unity E.C.D.2590953,613-0836,623-3231. PROPERTY FOR SALE PENPAL Complete Sawmill Operation, Yarakabra,Linden Highway. Call:625-4393.
Male seek female Pen Pal worldwide.Whatsapp 6986391.
Parfaite Harmony.Tel:6839146. VACANCY Exist for Security Officers, Male & Female. 18yrs & above. Contact: 223-4172/ 632-0099 TO LET 3 bedroom house in Albertown, 2 bedroom apartment in Eccles New Scheme. Cal:628-1183,225-3234.
Pump Attendant/Cashier, shifts (6AM-2PM & 2PM10PM).ShellStation ProvidenceE.B.D, email: Shellramsburg@gmail.com.
Local businesses poised for opportunities partnerships... From page 48 Chairman of ActionINVEST Caribbean Inc., Dr. Vishnu Doerga, explained that the magazine has seen a 25 percent increase in the number of entities featured when compared to 2020. “In this edition, we are able to feature 25 percent more companies than the second edition, in a format our readers have become familiar with and have grown to trust,’ he said Dr. Doerga said that the magazine has grown in its popularity among businesses and entrepreneurs from various parts of the world. “Our website, www.whoswho.gy, again garnered over 100,000 visits in the past year with the top 10 most visits coming from Guyana, Trinidad, the United States, Suriname, Barbados, Canada, China, the United Kingdom, India, and Brazil in that order,” he said. According to the publisher, all featured organisations have their own page on the website which they can manage fully with features to highlight team members, make announcements, and showcase products and services, and more. Given the accelerated growth of the Guyanese economy, he said the website will also feature ongoing economic research and updates to which users can subscribe for notifications. “We are now experiencing a deep sense of urgency beginning to take hold of our economy and our people. An urgency to be prepared to educate ourselves and raise the standards of our companies. An urgency to invest in the many direct, indirect and induced areas of opportunities created by the developing oil and gas industry. And perhaps an urgency to understand what the future of our dear country will be, given the uncertain nature of the energy markets, global health conditions and some key pending drivers of investment psychology like local content legislation or natural resource fund allocations,” Doerga said. He continued that, “As the key players in our economy, like the government, the major operator and the business support
organisations continue to map and march down a novel path, every single one of us will have the opportunity to direct our energies and investments in an evolving landscape.” The Business Directory Publisher, therefore, encourages investors and potential investors to reach out to their fellow operators who through the publication are demonstrably saying that “they are open for business and ready to serve the growing demand.” Meanwhile, British High Commissioner Miller asserted that the third edition of the magazine is being released during “an exciting time to be in Guyana.” The British High Commissioner underscored that given the massive opportunities for economic growth, both local and foreign businesses are poised for great investment opportunities. “I did have a sneak preview of the ‘Who’s Who’ and what an exciting country to be in. It feels like Guyana is open for business, and the UK is really keen to find ways in which we can bring in British businesses here to Guyana to partner and bring our expertise and bring our talents, to really be part of this economic growth story of Guyana,” Miller said. Over the past week, Miller, along with Britain’s Deputy Trade Commissioner (HMDTC) for Latin America and the Caribbean, Spencer Mahoney, conducted a round of bilateral trade talks with the government and some businesses, as the UK seeks to create business opportunities here in Guyana. As such, Mahoney commended those at the launch for the warm welcome he has been getting as he conducts talks with representatives of various organisations. “I’m here to learn about your wonderful country, to learn about your business [and] to see if we can get more UK companies to come here to partner with you so that together we can prosper. It has been so wonderful and refreshing hearing of the openness to business and a commitment to helping us partner together,” Spencer noted.
Sunday November 14, 2021
CARPHA signs agreement... From page 47 supplies for genome sequencing. Additionally, the grant will support the purchase of reagents for regular testing, purchasing of a centrifuge machine and a purification machine.The grant will also support CARPHA’s Laboratory Information System, and training of laboratory staff to keep abreast of advancements in testing techniques and practices.Dr. Joy St. John, Executive Director of CARPHA, expressed her gratitude to the Government and People of Japan for the continued and considerate support to fight this COVID-19 pandemic.She stated, “All of this goes towards the prevention and control of outbreaks of communicable diseases in the Caribbean. This contribution will enhance the capacity of the CARPHA Medical Microbiology Laboratory and will go a long way towards providing critical and muchneeded support to the Region, especially now that we are seeing the presence of many variants and increases in cases region wide.” Dr. St. John also highlighted that CARPHA is currently executing two projects with funding from the Government of Japan, while another two were recently concluded, and another one is expected to be signed in the near future.In his closing remarks, His Excellency Mr.Tatsuo Hirayama, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago stated that the signing will kick start the project in the fight against the pandemic. “The Government of Japan and CARPHA have been enjoying great cooperation, and we have to continue our joint efforts and collaboration to deal with the prolonging pandemic.”
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Sunday November 14, 2021
'Turbo' campaign underway with CBR up for grabs The pandemic has put a damper on many activities and opportunities with a cap on various operations across the world. With huge job losses and a general contraction of global economies, Guyana is still holding its own, with persons pivoting where possible, others being innovative and stepping outside their comfort zones while companies are still trying to be philanthropic and do what they can to enliven the spirit of their customers. To this end, Guyana Beverages Inc (GBI), a subsidiary of regional beverage manufacturer, SM Jaleel and Company Limited, well known for their continual engagement of consumers has announced a mega campaign giving away a whopping $2M in cash and prizes over the coming weeks. This campaign, dubbed 'Turbo Charge My Ride,' comes at the most opportune time, according to the company, since consumers are preparing for the festive season. The campaign which kicked off in October last and will run right up to December 17, will see a total of seven draws including four grand draws.
Prizes include a Honda CBR 250 Super Bike, Samsung S20 Ultra Phone, Panasonic Audio Sound System and Samsung 55” TV. Samuel Arjoon, General Manager of Guyana Beverages Inc, says that the company understands the restrictions many families are facing now, so this is a way for Turbo to brighten their Christmas. “Believe it or not Christmas is upon us, and we are happy to extend these giveaways to our very loyal customers. With $2M in cash and prizes to be won, we are excited and encouraging our customers to get involved to take full advantage,” Arjoon said. Explaining the promotion, Arjoon noted that “It's quite simple actually. Purchase two bottles of Turbo energy drink, look for the code printed on the bottle (starting with 786), then send us your name, cell number and the eight digit code via Whatsapp (684-8390) or via w e b s i t e l i n k https://woobox.com/otuey9.” According to an optimistic Arjoon, “we are going to be making a lot of people happy for the next nine weeks. We are really ecstatic about this promotion.”
Pensioner found floating in Bushlot Farm trench The relatives of an elderly man discovered him floating in a trench at Bushlot Farm, Corentyne, Berbice on Thursday, November 11, 2021. Dead is Heraganesh Permauloo, a 61-year-old of Bushlot Farm, Corentyne, Berbice.Reports are that the brother of the deceased, who is also his neighbour, revealed that he last saw him alive and w e l l o n We d n e s d a y, November 10, 2021 at 17:00hrs. However, the next day when he went over to Heraganesh's home to carry breakfast as usual, he was not there. The brother told police that he began making checks for Heraganesh and subsequently noticed him floating in a nearby trench, face down and motionless. The police were summoned and fished Heraganesh's body out of the
Dead, Heraganesh Permauloo waterway. His body was examined for marks of violence but none was seen. The body was taken to the Port Mourant Public Hospital where it was pronounced dead. It is presently at the Ramoo's Funeral Home awaiting a post mortem examination.
Sunday November 14, 2021
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Sunday November 14, 2021
Climate justice: small island states push back- Commonwealth Foundation …On the first day of the COP26 climate summit, Tuvalu and Antigua and Barbuda took an important step towards climate justice. By Anne Therese Gallagher
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mall island states are experiencing global warming in ways that most of us can barely imagine. From the Pacific to the Caribbean, these tiny nations, already highly vulnerable, are being battered by hurricanes and rising sea levels; their shorelines are retreating; salinisation is ruining agricultural land and
compromising vital sources of freshwater. Whole villages and communities are physically shifting to higher ground. For countries like Tuvalu in the Pacific, and Antigua and Barbuda in the Caribbean, claims of existential risk are not alarmist. Rather they reflect the very real possibility that, along with some of the world's other 192 nationstates, Tuvalu and Antigua and Barbuda may not exist in
physical form in just a few decades time. And this is not the only path to disaster. Because they lack the capacity to absorb large shocks, a single severe weather event in a small island state can wipe out livelihoods and decimate the economy. 'Some countries will sink while others will swim.' The global diplomatic discourse around climate favours a false equivalence, a mantra that we are all
responsible, that we are in this together. But that is untrue. Some countries will sink while others will swim. Some countries bear much more responsibility for damaging the climate than others. Some continue to enrich themselves in the full knowledge that they are causing real and lasting harm. On the first day of the COP26 climate summit, Tuvalu and Antigua and Barbuda took a modest but important step towards climate justice. Standing shoulder to shoulder, the Prime Ministers of these two small nations announced the establishment of a Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law. This is a momentous development. Until now, international law has not been consistently or effectively used to hold countries to account for the damage they have inflicted on others through what contribute to global warming. This is despite wellestablished principles such as 'polluter pays'; a dense web of rules that assign liability for foreseeable harm and ask that it remediate it; and a network of courts and tribunals that exist to uphold these laws and hold violators to account.
The hope is that all countries in similar positions to Tuvalu and Antigua and Barbuda will sign up to the Commission. The Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), an intergovernmental body that brings together small and low-lying coastal developing States, is key here. The alliance has been instrumental in bringing its members to the big table: amplifying the voices of those who would otherwise be relegated to the sidelines. AOSIS Member States understand, very well, the problem of false equivalence. They are starting to reject handouts, rather demanding debt relief and fair access to vital financing for mitigation and adaptation as a right. They are now going even further: threatening, in very clear terms, to take their claims for loss and damage to international courts and tribunals. 'No longer will they wait patiently while pledges of the rich and powerful go unfulfilled.' The issue of liability and compensation for loss and damage associated with global warming has long been a sticking point in climate diplomacy and a focal point for civil society advocacy. Despite strong lobbying by AOSIS members, the Paris Agreement (UNFCCC) failed to include any
m e a n i n g f u l acknowledgement of loss and damage. Subsequent efforts by States Parties to the UNFCCC to fill this gap have been subdued and largely unsuccessful. The announcement of an International Loss and D a m a g e Commission—established outside the 'formal 'system'—should be taken as a clear sign that the world's small island developing countries have had enough. No longer will they be lectured about needing to reduce their own meagre carbon emissions while archaic development financing rules obstruct their access to vital funds. No longer will they wait patiently while pledges of the rich and powerful go unfulfilled. No longer will they pretend to be satisfied with vague commitments and empty promises. For Prime Minister, Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda and Prime Minister, Kausea Natano of Tuvalu, the time has come to use the sharp tools of international law to hold those who are most responsible for global warming to account. They deserve our respect and support. (Anne T. Gallagher AO is Director-General of the C o m m o n w e a l t h Foundation.)
Sunday November 14, 2021
Valtteri Bottas wins Brazil sprint race from Max Verstappen - Lewis Hamilton charge to FIFTH from last after disqualification Daily Mail - Valtteri Bottas overtook Max Verstappen to win the Sprint race for the Sao Paolo Grand Prix - as Lewis Hamilton made a stunning charge up the field to finish fifth. The Finn got past the championship leader into Turn 1 and held on to do his team a massive favour on a day where Hamilton started in last after he was disqualified from qualifying for a rear-wing infringement. Verstappen’s second place though gives him an extra two points in the title fight meaning he now holds a 21 point advantage over Hamilton going into today’s race. Hamilton was the driver of the day however as he got past 15 drivers to finish fifth - with a last lap lunge down the inside of Lando Norris his best overtake of the 24 lap sprint. The British driver showed stunning pace, flying past his competition like they were racing in a different series to make the most out of what had been a shocking weekend to date.
He had qualified on pole for today’s Sprint race before his disqualification put him towards the back of the grid. The seven-time champion also has a fiveplace grid penalty for today’s race due after Mercedes changed an engine component on his car, meaning he will start today in tenth. From the pace he showed today though, it wouldn’t be crazy to rule him out of competing for a race win in the Grand Prix. Verstappen lost out on the start which also saw him drop a place behind the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz with a move that saw the Dutchman run wide at Turn 3. The Dutchman eventually got past the Spaniard and set fastest laps to chase after Bottas but didn’t have the pace to get past the Finn. Sainz did a brilliant job to hold the quicker Red Bull of Sergio Perez behind and together they will start on the second row. Norris in the McLaren will start on Row 3 alongside the second Ferrari of Charles LeClerc.
Sunday November 14, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Things should come together nicely as long as you've done the necessary prep work to make it successful.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) There's a unique combination of energies in the air urging you to combine your psychic powers with your ability to organize.
TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Your witty, social attitude may not be appreciated, given the emotional and sober mood of the day. You adjust your outfit to reflect current weather patterns.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Everyone around you may be taking the initiative to start something new, and you get the feeling that you want to join the cause.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Your emotions might be raw today, and you may act rashly because of the way you feel. Realize that some people may not appreciate this behavior.
SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Your masculine and feminine sides may be saying completely different things today, but this situation isn't necessarily bad. You can learn a lot from both sides of your being.
CANCER (June 21–July 22) You may feel out of your league today. The good news is that thanks to your flexible, adaptable nature, any league can always become yours after you take the steps to work the crowd.
CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Turn one part of the project over to someone you feel is more qualified to handle it. There's no sense trying to do everything yourself when you know someone out there is better suited to the task.
LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) All of a sudden you may experience a burst of emotional energy that throws a monkey wrench into your plans. Don't be surprised if you suddenly burst into tears over something that normally wouldn't even faze you.
AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You may feel emotionally good but the more you express yourself the more critical others become of your sensitivity. Unfortunately, you may clam up under such circumstances.
VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Sit back and receive instead of trying to make things happen by imposing your will. You're always taking action and directing your energy outward.
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PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Tap into your internal resources. Listen to your deepest, strongest feelings and take things slowly. Plan your actions and consider the emotions of others before you take the first step.
Windies skipper Brathwaite confident pace bowlers can play key role in spin-friendly Sri Lanka SportsMax - West Indies Test captain Kraigg Brathwaite is expecting a strong performance from the team’s pace bowlers in Sri Lanka, despite conditions on the subcontinent tending to favour spin bowlers. The last time the regional team faced Sri Lanka away, in 2015, it was the part-time spin of Brathwaite that stole of as the batsman claimed six wickets in an innings. The frontline pace bowlers Kemar Roach (2), Jason Holder (3), Shannon Gabriel (1) failed to have a huge impact on the series, with the exception of Jerome Taylor who claimed 6 over two games. Although the captain admits the surface is likely to favour spinners, Brathwaite is confident the Windies quicks will have a big role to play. We haven’t been there as yet to see the surface but there’s always a role for the fast bowlers. Shannon
Jonathan van Lange for High... From page 63 participate in these games truly places him in the spotlight of the ITTF for possible selection as an ITTF, “With the Future in Mind Player, based on his talent to age abilities.” The inaugural Junior Pan American Games is a multisport event conceived by Pan Am Sport as a basis for developing and offering the next generation of athletes from the Americas the opportunity for high level performance.
Kraigg Brathwaite is expecting a strong performance from the team’s pace bowlers in Sri Lanka. Gabriel really led the way in Bangladesh in the first Test, bowling with some good pace, then Kemar Roach getting an early wicket in the morning was very crucial. Obviously, Jason wasn’t there but is always crucial. So, I do believe that possibly there being spin-friendly
pitches, I think the pace bowlers will do well. “I can see them getting wickets. It’s really about building pressure but seamers are very important and obviously, Shannon will bring some aggression and I look forward to seeing the guys operating.”
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Sunday November 14, 2021
Rockaway Group of Companies support LBI SC
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ockaway Group of Companies have once again supported the development of sports in Guyana. Chief Executive Officer of the entity, Hafeez Ali has delivered on his promise. Ali had previously donated a quantity of cricket equipment to the club and he had pledged to assist the organization with cricket uniforms. On Thursday last, Ali made good on his promise as he presented 20 uniforms and hats to the club at a simple ceremony held at LBI cricket ground. Ali urged the youths to
CEO of Rockaway Group of Companies Hafeez Ali (C) and chairman of the LBI facility Anil Beharry (L) with members of the Club as they display the newly acquired uniforms. take sports seriously and at the same time focus on their education. He recalled his playing days when cricket gears were hard to obtain and said he is happy to lend support.
Ali, who owns the Rockaway Legends team and also plays for Everest Masters, has further pledged to donate a bat and a pair of cricket boots to two younger members of the club.
Ali’s love for cricket is his main reason for him giving back to the youths and he wants to see more players going on to don the maroon colours. Chairman of the LBI
facility, Anil Beharry, expressed gratitude to Ali for his continued support of sports locally and told the senior members of the club to focus on preparing their youths for the upcoming
season. T h e C l u b Captain/Secretary Richard Dowlatram thanked Ali and said the gesture will serve to motivate the youths who he said are talented.
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GSCL Inc Prime Minister’s T20 Cup 5
Regal and Ariel to clash in open final-Regal Legends, Wellman, Ariel Masters, Fisherman advance By Zaheer Mohamed Regal and Ariel have set up an intriguing final in the open category following hard fought victories in their respective semi finals when the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc Prime Minister ’s T20 Cup 5 continued yesterday. Regal Legends, Wellman, Ariel Masters and Fisherman have also booked their places in the finals in their respective categories. At Eve Leary, Regal defeated Speedboat by 27 runs in their open semi final encounter. Batting first, Regal posted 194-7. Sachin Singh scored 44, Sewchand Budhu 35, Chien Gittens 26, Richard Latif 23 and Patrick Rooplall 20. Greg Singh took 2-27 and Davendra Mohan 2-34. Speedboat replied with 167 all out in 19 overs. Singh made 31, Kishore Smith 26, Safraz Karim 24 and Ameer Khan 20. Sewchand Budhu captured 4-26 and Kelvin Orford 3-33. At DCC, Ariel beat Name Brand by three wickets in the next semi final. Name Brand took first strike and were bowled out for 92 in 17 overs. Balram Samaroo made 24 not out, while Sasenarine Sukhu and Joshua Sampson got 21 each. Quentin Sampson claimed 310 and Dianand Singh 3-14. Ariel replied with 93-7 in 7.3 overs. Shauz Grovesnor scored 25 not out, Fernandes made 24 and David Lukenauth 22.Sampson had 3-27 and Ramnarine Jugister 2-13. In the Masters segment defending champions Fisherman beat New York Doctors by eight wickets at Lilliendaal. NY Doctors made 93 all out in 17 overs, batting first. Asif Ali scored 27 as Stanley Mohabir picked up 3-12, Govanand Hemraj 2-12, Zakie Salim 2-23 and Dubraj Singh 2-25. Fisherman Masters replied with 96-2 in 14.4 overs. Ramo Malone led with 32 not out while Bhim George contributed an unbeaten 27. At GDF, Ariel Masters overcame Regal Masters by
nine wickets. Regal Masters took first strike and were sent packing for 85 in 16.5 overs. Mohendra Arjune scored 28 and Khemchand Dindyal 16. S. Lakhan grabbed 4-9 and Sheldon Perch 3-18. Ariel replied with 90-1 in 10.3 overs. Keith Fraser struck 70 not out with four fours and six sixes. In the Legends category, Wellman beat Orlando by six wickets at GDF. Orlando Legends managed 142-3, batting first. D. Sankar top scored with 35 not out, S. Veerasammy got 34 not out and K. Tribene 25. Wayne Jones took 2-25. Wellman responded with 143-4 in 18 overs. Lloyd Ruplall slammed an unbeaten 58 while Hardat Heeranandan stroked 57. Tom Bacchus took 2-20. Regal Legends got a walk over from Rockaway in the next semi final. In the final preliminary round games in the open division at Eve Leary, Regal beat Airport by 209 runs. Regal batted first and piled up 279-5. Chien Gittens struck 13 fours and five sixes in an unbeaten 109 while Sachin Singh made 71 with three fours and nine sixes and Patrick Rooplall 32. Riaz Esau took 2-58. Airport were bowled out for 70 in 12.1 overs in reply. Richard Latif bagged 5-13. Ariel defeated Name Brand by 132 runs. Ariel took first strike and managed 285-9. Quentin Sampson struck three fours and 16 sixes in a robust 126 while Shauz Grovesnor made 60 with five fours and five sixes. Mahendra Singh claimed 3-44, while Joshua Sampson and Joshua Diaram had 2-50 each. Name Brand made 153-9 in reply. J. Diaram scored 34 and R. Judistir 33. Jonathan Fernandes captured 4-19 and Chandreshekar Arjune 3-32. At DCC, Speedboat beat Success by eight wickets. Success took first knock and made 120 all out. Troy Drakes made 37 and Kumar Bishundial 25. Kishore Smith grabbed 5-12 and Safraz Esau 4-30. Speedboat replied with
121- 2 in 11 overs. Greg Singh made 69 and Navin Singh 24. In the Legends segment at Lilliendaal, Regal beat Floodlights by 10 wickets. Floodlights made 84-8, taking first strike. Regal responded with 87 without loss. Rudolph Baker made 42 and Unnis Yusuf 38. In other matches, Wellman beat NY Hustlers, Orlando defeated NYSCL Legends and Rockaway overcame Carpet Doctors. The competition concludes today at the National Stadium.
Quentin Sampson gathers runs through the off- side.
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Sunday November 14, 2021
Australia’s batting versus New Zealand’s bowling key in contest of evenly matched teams
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SPNcricinfo Big Picture - If anything, this World Cup is a reminder of the number of chances modern cricket offers. Only two years ago James Neesham was wishing he had never been a cricketer, such was the heartbreak his side endured in the 50-over World Cup final. Not long before that he had actually contemplated giving up cricket precisely because he was struggling to come to terms with failing, an essential part of the life of any cricketer or a cricketing team. Only earlier this year, Justin Langer coached Australia to a four-Test home
series defeat against a team that had a net bowler and a T20 specialist. Concerns around his coaching style have been the worst-kept secret in Australian cricket, which plummeted further with thrashings in the West Indies and Bangladesh as the year progressed. And yet, one of them could be a world champion t o d a y. We l l , a c t u a l l y tomorrow in their home countries (the final begins at 1am on Australia’s east coast and at 3am in New Zealand). No matter how crushing a defeat, it is not the end of the world in today’s cricket where World Cups of one format or the other are played practically every
year. Hasan Ali, Chris Jordan, we are looking at you. You dust yourselves up, start to play good cricket again and, with some luck, you get that chance again. Especially in T20 cricket, prone to upsets and chance because of the crunched nature of it. This is New Zealand’s third straight ICC event final, and Australia’s first since they won the World Cup in 2015, but they have made it here in identical fashion. Finishing second in their groups, they got the better of the tournament favourites in the semi-finals through a dash in the final four overs, helped significantly by the toss.
Australia haven’t lost a knockout game to New Zealand in the last 40 years. (Getty Images) This has been the friendliest of all T20 World Cups to sides winning the toss: if the final is also won by the side winning the toss, two out of every three matches will have been won by the toss-winners. Restrict it to evenly matched teams and take out Sharjah, and only one total has been defended out of 14
in the Super 12s. They don’t come more evenly matched than these two. If Australia have the extra batting depth, New Zealand have a more rounded bowling attack, the most economical of the tournament. Usually batting depth trumps rounded attacks in T20 contests, but this has been the slowestscoring T20 World Cup of all, which gives bowlingheavy teams a chance. Then again, the final will be played on a fresh pitch; if it is anything like the semifinal in Dubai, it gives Australia a slight advantage, but if 150-160 is a par score, New Zealand might just be the favourites. In the spotlight Scan the teams for a player worthy of a place in an all-time T20 XI, and your eyes might land on David Warner. Like Langer and a few other Australia players, Warner has had a pretty ordinary year though. He made a premature comeback from injury in the series loss against India, and spent large parts of the IPL coming to terms with the ignominy of not even making his IPL team’s XV leave alone an alltime XI. However as a batter at this World Cup, while others might have scored more runs, in terms of impact-batting Warner has been second only to another all-timer, Jos Buttler, scoring 236 runs at a strike rate of 148.42. A winning hand in a World Cup final could be the final seal on his reputation, though he doesn’t really need it. Tim Southee has taken at least one wicket in each match and has gone at just 5.75 runs an over so far. Fourteen of his 24 overs have been bowled in the
powerplay, and five at the death. Here is a bowler who didn’t even get to play in the first XI in his team’s last World Cup. The turnaround has been remarkable, and just like a well-constructed T20 over, he needs to close it out in the final moments. Team news Australia don’t have a reason to change their XI with Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh and Marcus Stoinis providing them a fifth bowler and Matthew Wade at No. 7 making it a reasonably deep batting lineup. Australia (probable) 1 David Warner, 2 Aaron Finch (capt.), 3 Mitchell Marsh, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Glenn Maxwell, 6 Marcus Stoinis, 7 Matthew Wade (wk), 8 Pat Cummins, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Josh Hazlewood New Zealand will have to make at least one change after Devon Conway broke his hand when striking his bat in frustration at his dismissal. They are unlikely to change the balance of the side, though, with five fulltime bowlers and Neesham at No. 6. Tim Seifert is the likely replacement for Conway. N e w Z e a l a n d (probable) 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Daryll Mitchell, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Tim Seifert (wk), 5 Glenn Phillips, 6 James Neesham, 7 Mitchell Santner, 8 Tim Southee, 9 Adam Milne, 10 Trent Boult, 11 Ish Sodhi Pitch and conditions We should get a fresh pitch, which should be good for batting. Even though there wasn’t much dew during the semi-final in Dubai, chasing remains the preferred option.