Repsol targets 200 K NEWS million barrels of oil resources in Kanuku Block next year AIETEUR
Sunday Edition November 21, 2021
Online: www.kaieteurnews.com
Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly
Price $140
Online readership yesterday, 76,117
Exxon's partner boasts of receiving US$4B annually starting from next year - calls Stabroek Block “the mother-load”
Audit Lizath1, 2 & 3 before ...says Exxon spending approving 4 project- OGGN bill inflated by billions 7% is no increase in face of rising cost of living …as civil society body slams unconstitutional, unilateral imposition
Fire razes OPR, DPP offices US$9.5B Exxon spending…
Liza 1 & Liza 2 audit findings should be
Change the contracts. made public
Guyanese who was awarded Kaieteur Block jumps into insurance industry with T&T partner Local and Regional experts decry EM's shambolic EIA during online consultation and expose their inability to answer hundreds of questions and concerns posed to them on this forced project, Yellowtail, and all the leaders quiet. Listen how the Intl. experts take EPA, Exxon and ERM to task on the dangers the region faces with this 4th Oil Project, during the consultation process. @ 11am, 4&7pm on Kaieteur Radio 99.1/99.5FM Suriname just got US$50M environmental bonus in advance on one lil oil block, Trinidad got US$15M signing bonus also in advance on a gas deal from a piece of a gas field. What did our leaders get for us from all our massive wealth? NOTHING!
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Sunday November 21, 2021
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Sunday November 21, 2021
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US$9.5 Billion Exxon spending…
Repsol targets 200m barrels of oil Liza 1 and Liza 2 audit findings resources in Kanuku Block next year should be made public – Ram EUROPE, SOUTH AMERICA & ASIA
GUYANA North Atlantic Ocean
Orinduik
Kanuku Georgetown
GUYANA SURINAME VENEZUELA 100km LICENCE / BLOCK
FIELD / DISCOVERY
Tullow operated
Gas
Tullow non-operated
Oil & Gas
Oil
Map showing the location of the Kanuku Block. Next year, the joint venture partners on the Kanuku Block which includes Spanish oil operator Repsol and the UK’s Tullow Oil, will be targeting 200 million barrels of oil equivalent resources across the BeebeiPotaro well. This was recently disclosed by Tullow in its 2021 financial performance update to the market. The UK-based company said the well will be drilled in mid-2022 and will target the prolific Cretaceous light oil play of the Guyana-Suriname Basin. Kaieteur News previously reported that Repsol Exploración Guyana is the operator of the Kanuku Block, with a 37.5 percent stake while Tullow Guyana holds a 37.5 percent stake and Total E&P Guyana owns the remaining 25 percent interest. In 2019, Tullow had pursued a three-well programme across the Kanuku and Orinduik Blocks to test three different play types – the Lower Tertiary, the Upper Tertiary and the Cretaceous. In August 2019, Tullow had announced its
first oil discovery in Guyana, with the Jethro1 well on the Orinduik Block. The well encountered 55m of net oil pay in high quality oil bearing sandstone reservoir in the Lower Tertiary play. This discovery was followed in September by the Joe-1 well in the Upper Tertiary play. The quality of the oil is heavy, however, and has high sulphur content. Tullow and its partners are yet to make a decision on the way forward with these discoveries. The Cretaceous Carapa prospect in the Kanaku licence was the final well in the 2019 progamme for Tullow. In January 2020, the British explorer announced that the well encountered approximately four metres of net oil pay, extending the Cretaceous oil play into the Group’s Guyana acreage. Tullow is now working with its Joint Venture Partners on the overall prospect inventory and developing plans to unlock value from this acreage which is located 150 kilometres offshore Guyana in 70-100 metres of water.
While the government has committed to auditing the US$9.5B Exxon spending, Chartered Accountant and attorney-at-Law, Christopher Ram is asking that the administration takes its efforts a step further and make the findings of the audit into the Liza 1 and Liza 2 oil projects public. In an invited comment to this newspaper, Ram noted that it would be in the best interest of Guyana to have the details of the expenditure in the open. He noted that US$9.5B is too huge a bill for the country to foot without even knowing what it is paying for. Further, the Chartered Accountant said that when the details of the audit are exposed then Guyana will be better able to track the spending for future projects. “It’s all in the interest of good governance. At this point I think the President and the Vice President should be taken at their word that the audits will be done. Hopefully, it gets done as soon as possible so if there are adjustments to the spending, for instance, if any incorrect costs are allocated we can make the appropriate adjustments,” Ram said. His comments come days after President Irfaan Ali and Vice President (VP), Bharrat Jagdeo made a public commitment to have the huge bill produced by the oil giant for expenditure for the Liza 1 and 2 projects audited. The commitment by the President and VP came after government was criticised for failing to meet the two-year deadline by which the expenses should have been audited. While it is unclear how the government intends to get
Chartered Accountant and Attorney-at-Law, Christopher Ram the oil giant to agree to such an audit beyond the deadline, Ram noted that the commitment made by the leaders is a good place to start. “The previous APNU+AFC administration had set the bar low by allowing the oil companies to basically do what they want. But, it would be an act of good faith if this government can get the oil company to agree to audit the expenditure past the deadline. It would also be commendable if the oil companies allow that to happen.” Earlier this week, VP Jagdeo said that the government will complete the audits of costs claimed by ExxonMobil for its operations, and assured that Guyana’s interests will be protected. His comment was made in response to concerns that the accounting Continued on page 9
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Sunday October 17, 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
Guyanese - rise up, speak up Guyanese take a look at what has happened and come quickly to an understanding of what usually follows when enough angry voices are raised, and many furious fists are shaken in the face of a mulish, twisted Government. Guyanese take notice of how haughty leaders are forced to run for cover, come up with new tricks and strategies in the face of determined pushbacks by citizens. THE $9.5 BILLION AMERICAN DOLLARS IN UNAUDITED BILLS FROM EXXON IS THE PRECEDENT. THE TEST CASE. AN INDICATION OF WHAT IS POSSIBLE. But only, if as many citizens as possible are involved in a righteous cause. Resisting the assaults and calumnies of Exxon, as enabled by the Coalition before, and empowered by the PPP Government today, is a righteous cause. We at this paper say it loud so that it can ring clear to all of the corners of this country: we must stand up, rise up, and speak up against the countless curses and injustices of Exxon, directed against the Guyanese people, and as conspired with, and facilitated by, leaders in the PPP Government and their cronies. This eye-pass must stop. This enslavement of the coloured people of Guyana must cease. This passive acceptance of the crookedness and barbarisms of PPP leaders must not continue, but be a thing of the past. Guyanese, this is the future that we speak of. Most importantly, it is the future of the children that are involved, and their children, all the way up and down the line. The endless noises rose against unaudited bills, that criminal vandalism from Exxon, and the still worse collaboration by leaders in the PPP Government is the equivalent of financial treason. This must instill in us, reinforce in us, and inspire us to greater intensity of efforts to apply to the task at hand, to higher volume of raised voices, and to stronger determination to stand up, and be willing to battle for what belongs to us, against attempts to cheat us. Exxon did this by the cheap lowdown percentage in royalties, and it is so low that it takes our oil patrimony then turns around and bills us for everything under the sun, some of which it is suspected of having been concocted to rob us some more. Exxon does this through every blind cent seized, and its people study how to do much more, this time in the billions. To this day, no Guyanese of skill or stature, not a single citizen of integrity and conscience has any idea of what is involved. Behind, could be the sum and whole story of those billions in bills bulked up by people devious enough and greedy enough to plunder us some more. For when the convenience of billions in bills are bulked up, like Exxon did, then there is vast room and massive opportunity to camouflage and rip-off those who don’t know better; those who are placid and slavish to any garbage that the dirty and tricky foreigners go to great efforts to stuff down our throats.Indeed, oil majors like Exxon (and Exxon is a leader in the hungry, predatory pack) criminalise further national leaders and national elites, so that they, the oil companies, can have their way. In the instance of Guyana, it is the lameness, the dumbness, and the sheer stupidity of something that sounds like: we don’t have the skills; the local content. We don’t have the kind of auditors and audit expertise needed.There is no self-respecting leader, even of a rich and advanced nation, that will quickly and readily part with almost US$10 billion in unaudited bills like that, or on the basis of the shameless defense put forward by our own leaders in the PPP Government. Even American Joseph Biden would not let go so easily, without some scrutiny of those billions. We don’t know what we will get from audited bills. And we don’t know if the President himself is now presenting something tricky, and possibly sleazy, with his promise of an audit. But we do know that there is fire in our eyes, and our people will be watching for any suspicious developments going forward relative to this promised audit. But Guyanese cherish this: where there is a will, there is a way. And if all the fibers in our bodies have to be summoned and employed to bend our leaders to our will regarding our lopsided and unfair relationship with Exxon, then so be it.
No respect for the Tobacco laws at popular hotel Dear Editor, As Guyana gallops to becoming a global powerhouse in the production of oil and gas, the focus of our people has to be on strengthening our regulations and growing our capacity to police. Developing countries continue to face the leakages of revenues from corruption and non-enforcement and shortages of skills, with consecutive governments lacking the will or simply run out of time before the next elections cycle, to start the ball rolling when it comes to modernising our systems. Take for example the tobacco legislation –Tobacco Control Act 2 0 1 7 – p as s ed in 2 0 1 7 . Enforced by government, it strictly stipulates how cigarettes should be packaged along with mandatory labelling warnings. It forbids advertising. The passage of the Act is a clear recognition of the dangers of tobacco and Guyana would have joined a host of other countries to
tackle a source of major health problems. The Act bans the advertisement of tobacco products and guides the conditions of sale of cigarettes and forbids purchases and sales by minors. Perhaps the biggest changes we saw were changes to how citizens could use tobacco in public spaces. Casinos, bars and enclosed buildings where the public gather, are forbidden to allow smoking with stiff penalties for breaches. For ease of reference, Part V of the Act says that no person can smoke in any indoor workplace; any indoor public place, on board of a public transport, whether or not a member of the public is on board. Persons are forbidden to smoke five metres from a window of ventilation of a public place or indoor workplace. The ban extends to any park, playground or amusement park, stadium, arena, sport or any space that commercially sells food or
drinks. The smoker, if caught, can face a $10,000 fine for first offence, and $20,000 for the second. The Act speaks also to managers or those responsible for public spaces, workplaces or vehicles–they have to ensure that persons do not smoke. The public spaces, for ease of reference, include health care institutions and facilities; educational and child care facilities, retail establishments including stalls, stores, shops and malls; hotels and other lodgings, restaurants, bars, pubs, cafes and other drinking and eating establishments. The regulators are also targeting gaming machines venues and casinos, clubs, cinemas, game arcades and pool halls. Editor, I took the liberty of reminding our people of these laws, as the bad news is that our people and managers who should be regulating can be accused of turning a blind eye. I was recently with a family member at the
Ramada Hotel, Providence. I have been going there since it was opened. I am well aware of the passage of the new Tobacco laws. This has not been the first time that I have seen persons smoking around the popular pool side. The area cannot be considered outside as numerous dining tables dot the pool area. It would therefore be impossible to smoke without affecting a non-smoker. One guest was smoking and refused to desist. I brought it to the attention of management and initially while the overseas guest was adamant that he has been smoking there without anyone stopping him before, the heated situation was brought under control eventually. It was shocking to learn that nobody has stopped him before, for about the two months he was there, from smoking near the pool area. It is clear that the management was either unaware or deliberately turned a blind eye. Editor, (Continued on page 6)
Sunday November 21, 2021
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More than ever before, we have to minimise corruption DEAR EDITOR, Many governments throughout the world experience an increase in corruption as they enter the second year of their 5-year mandate because, by then, those politicians and officials who are intent on wrongdoing have, “learnt the ropes,” and have become bold and shameless in carrying out illegal activities. This happened from the second year of the APNU/ AFC government. The Kaieteur News and the Stabroek News published many articles and letters about real or possible corruption between 2015 and 2020 such as: [1]the scam at the government-owned asphalt plant at Garden of Eden, where some private contractors got huge discounted prices, and a nonexistent company from Trinidad and Tobago was paid $9.8 million; [2] at the Ministry of Public Health, 300 truckloads of expired medicine worth GUY $10 billion had to be dumped; [3] at the Guyana Revenue Authority, some of the major oil importers abused tax exemption letters with the alleged support of some officials; [4] at the Environmental Protection
Agency, a 20-year environmental permit was granted illegally to Exxon and the High Court had to rule that the law only allowed a 5-year permit; [5] large contracts were granted to local and foreign construction companies that had track records of not completing Government-awarded projects on time and within costs. The new PPP/C government is now entering its second year and there is great concern that Guyana is continuing on the same track. Here are a few examples. [1] very senior officials expressed memory loss about the awarding of the huge contracts for the Canje and Kaieteur oil and gas blocks. [2] The beneficial owners of those blocks have not been
revealed and the review of the Payara oil project has not been published. [3] A new company, whose owner is related to a very senior official, has been given infrastructure contracts.[4] Some procurement bids were withdrawn and re-submitted a number of times. [5] Some contracts have been awarded to unqualified persons with political connections. [6] Some political appointees have been hired based mainly on party loyalty and not on merit, that is, their integrity, ability, talent, effort and achievements. It is challenging to detect and prove corruption. Drawing on international experiences, here are some ‘red flags’ that will help us to detect corruption. [1] A purchase order or contract is
awarded to a particular supplier or contractor who does not have the experience, the required facilities and resources. [2] Some legal requirements and regulations are bypassed. [3] Goods and services are purchased that are not necessary or appropriate for the institution to function successfully. [4] Goods or services are not delivered or they are substandard. [5] There are no documents to support unusually high fees, commissions and other expenses. [6] The supplier or contractor is urgently
requesting advanced cash payments. [7] A supplier or contractor wants payments to be made to a person or company other than his or her company. [8] There are close connections or links (through family members, relatives, friends and associates) between a particular official / employee and a supplier or contractor who insists that other staff should not be present in meetings to discuss the contract or purchase order. [9] Some qualified suppliers and contractors are not chosen because of their race
/ ethnicity, gender, age or class. [10] Expenditures for travel expenses and hospitality are not backed up with receipts and other supporting documents. All the staff in a public institution, regardless of their responsibilities, must be trained to detect and resist any kind of wrongdoing in the awarding of contracts and purchase orders. Today, anyone can go on the internet and access free e-learning courses that outline how to resist and minimise (Continued on page 6)
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Sunday November 21, 2021
More than ever before... From page 5 corrupt behaviour by ensuring that the following procedures are implemented. [1] Before a purchase order or contract is signed, ask questions and check out the supplier or contractor to verify that he/she has a proven track record and also the necessary resources and experience that are required to deliver the goods and services. [2] No single person should have control over which supplier or contractor is chosen. More than one person must be involved in making a decision and in the signing-off of purchase orders and contracts. [3] Regular audits must be done to verify that the appropriate goods and services were received and that they are not sub-standard.[4] All members of a public institution (Board of Directors, Commissions, senior management, supervisors and employees) must report a potential conflict of interest (family, relative, friend or associate) so that they would not participate in the decisionmaking process. [5] Establish an official register to track any travel, hospitality, gifts, donations and sponsorship received by employees from suppliers and contractors. [6] Create a system to continuously monitor, evaluate, learn from and adjust measures to end bribery and other kinds of corrupt behaviour. Why should we do this? It is in the self-interest of each one of us and our families. Corruption is one of the most blatant expressions of inequality. Less corruption means that more financial and physical resources would be available for higher wages and other benefits. Secondly, all Guyanese, especially the poor and vulnerable, would benefit from expanded and improved programmes in health, education and other services. Thirdly, in the Christian Bible, the Hindu Bhagavad Gita and the Islamic Quran, corrupt practices are strongly condemned. Corruption is a national problem practised by some politicians and officials, regardless of political party,
ethnicity, gender, age or class. No less than the USA Embassy in Georgetown, has publicly observed that two of the five major national shortcomings in Guyana are corruption and the weak enforcement of the laws on corruption. Therefore, how come our political leaders are only willing to talk about and act against the corrupt practices of their political competitors but not against their own political associates, friends and their families? How come many political parties and public institutions do not have “living” anti-corruption culture, with clear guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures, so that everyone will know what behaviour is acceptable and what is not acceptable? Leaders at the national, regional and local levels, starting from Ministers, Board of Directors, Commissioners, Managers, Supervisors, to those at the grassroots, have to avoid hypocrisy and prove that they truly believe in the existing anti-corruption laws by “practising what they preach” and impose penalties, without fear or favour, when any member of their party or institution, including at the senior levels, practices corruption. Talking and reporting (whistle blowing) on corruption is acceptable and should become a normal way of doing things. The priority for Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee should be to promote the passage of the existing draft legislation to reward whistleblowers and protect them from unjustified retaliation. The perception of hypocrisy on fighting corruption is a powerful instrument that could make or break a government. It happened in the 2020 elections. In the 2025 national elections, many citizens may not go out and vote. Why? They do not want their votes to be wasted on any political party that would not sanction all corrupt politicians and officials, regardless of their political party allegiance or ethnicity. Yours truly, Geoffrey Da Silva
No respect for the Tobacco... From page 4 we are facing serious times, not only from the pandemic and shipping crisis but from the unprecedented level of migration and opening of businesses on our shores. We cannot send the wrong signals. We have to prove, that as an oil country that we are serious about our people. Locals, foreigners and expatriates alike have to all ensure
that the laws are respected. Our regulators have their jobs cut out for them and there must be visible attempts to improve our quality of life. Places like Ramada can and should find places for smokers that are away from families. It is not being petty. It is about our laws and how serious we are. Cobeer Persaud
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 . . We have to be .the most U B T . L . N B T . U . . N L shameless people on earth. T U B . N L . . U B T . L . . N B T . . U . N L T U B . N L . The Chinese contractor . U B . T L . . N B T . . U . N responsible for the CJIA L T U B . N L . . U B T . L . expansion project fails . N B . T . U . N L T U B . N repeatedly, made rings L . . U B T . L . . N B T . U . around the Coalition, and . N L T U B . N L . . U B T . makes fools of today's L . B . UN .BLUNT.PPP Government. L . . B T . . . N T U N L . . U B T . L . B . UN .BLUNButT.we are soUlacking L . . B T . . in . N T N L . . U B T . self-respect that a L . . N B T . U . . N L B T . U . Government Minister . N L T U B . N L . . B T . publicly praises China. .BLU . . N 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 21, 2021
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Sunday November 21, 2021
A conversation with local artiste, Simeon Browne
Popular artiste, producer and owner of the Wondamang Productions record label. By Tassia Dickenson Simeon Browne is a very accomplished and admirable young man. He attended the St. Mary's High School in Georgetown and is currently a student at the University of Guyana and Cave Western University in Ohio, United States where he is pursuing studies in Public Management and Criminal law, respectively. He is also the owner of the record label, Wondamang Productions which caters to many successful artistes including: Tenecia DeFreitas, Adrian Dutchin, Jomo, and many others. The artiste's impeccable work can be reviewed on his social platforms: www.instagram.com/iamsi m e o n b r o w n e , https://www.youtube.com/ user/LilJgy and https://www.facebook.com /WondamangProductions/. During a recent conversation with Kaieteur News (KN), Simeon Browne (SB) willingly responded to several questions including his view on the absence of modern copyright laws to protect the local music industry. KN: What keeps you motivated? SB: Purpose keeps me motivated. Knowing that whatever the task or challenge is, the purpose is greater and that's why I've been given the opportunity in the first place. KN: At what age did you start singing? SB: I started singing as a child, perhaps about three years old. KN: Where did you first start singing? SB: I remember singing at nursery school concerts and other events.
KN: What do you love about singing? SB: My music is based on my life and personal experiences. I'll write fiction but even so, it is usually stemmed from something very real, be it thoughts, aspirations, visions or simply something I saw or heard somewhere that caught my attention. KN: What was your first song? What was the story behind it? SB: My first song, it was about love, and not the religious kind. But equally so, many of my first writings focused on spiritual beliefs and outcries for peace, or a better life. KN: Do you have any upcoming projects? SB: I've got several upcoming projects, but because I also produce music for other artists, many of the releases from my label are not performed by me. My next release will be an Electronic Dance Music song focused on aspirations of love. KN: What or who is your muse or which artistes do you get your inspiration from? SB: I've always loved Usher, JahCure, Cher, Micheal Jackson and Stevie Wonder. KN: When did you release your first song and on what platform? SB: My first song was released on radio. It was called Janie Gal, and was released for Carifesta 10. Since then, I've released many singles and EP (extended play record) on Spotify and iTunes to name a few. Some of those singles can be found on YouTube. Others have been pulled for Film and Game use. I do (Continued on page 53)
Sunday November 21, 2021
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Libel case brought against K/News dismissed for want of prosecution A 2019 libel case which was filed against this publication was dismissed on Wednesday for want of prosecution. The case was filed by Ronita Griffith, former treasurer of the Corriverton Town Council, was thrown out of the Berbice High Court by Justice Fidela Corbin-Lincoln after the claimant failed to show up for trial. Griffith had sued the newspaper and its principals, the Publisher, Glenn Lall, then Editor-in-Chief, Adam Harris and the Mayor of Corriverton, Winston Roberts for over $50 million for alleged defamatory statements which were published under an article captioned “Corriverton Treasurer suspended, cannot account for $$millions.” In her claim, the former treasurer, who has since been dismissed from the post, alleged that the defendants (Kaieteur News, et al) had defamed her by unlawfully publishing false, malicious and defamatory statements which when read could mean or could be understood to mean that she was dishonest,
a thief; had committed a criminal offence and had misappropriated funds from the municipality. Among other things, Griffith contended that the libel has far reaching effects given that the Kaieteur News is a widely publicised daily newspaper in Guyana, which is also circulated on the worldwide web and a New York edition. Griffith’s matter was scheduled to go to trial since September but the matter was cancelled after she failed to make an appearance. Kaieteur News understands that the commencement of the trial was postponed previously on three occasions because the claimant who is overseas failed to show up in court in person or virtually. The trial was scheduled to start again on Wednesday but Griffith failed to show up again for the proceeding. As a result, presiding Justice Corbin-Lincoln dismissed the case for lack of prosecution. During the hearing, attorney Arud Gossai represented
Kaieteur News while attorney Mursalin Bacchus, SC, appeared on record for Griffith, attorney Adrian Anamayah appeared for Mayor Roberts. Following the dismissal of the matter, Kaieteur News’ attorney (Gossai) did not ask for costs as enforcement. He explained that it would have been futile and costly given that the whereabouts of Griffith is unknown. In her claim, Griffith had alluded to several sections of the article which was published on May 30, 2019. The article had explained that the Corriverton Town Council had sent its treasurer on administrative leave after the council discovered that she kept inaccurate records. The article, in quoting Mayor Roberts, stated that “As a direct result of the municipal Treasurer’s actions, the Council spent money that it never had in 2017/2018, and now finds itself with a deficit of $3.2 million for the year 2019.” Roberts claimed that “The expenditure would adversely affect the execution of a num-
Liza 1 and Liza 2 audit findings should be made public – Ram From page 3 provisions in ExxonMobil’s Stabroek Block contract stipulate a two-year deadline, and would prevent the government from recovering inflated or unreasonable costs. The VP had also dismissed criticisms from the political opposition on this matter as self-serving, given that government has been transparent about why it has not yet contracted an auditor. “We have made it clear what our intention is, to have local people involved,” the VP told DPI on Wednesday. He said that the government is seeking to assemble a group of Guyanese in the sector who demonstrate strong auditing capabilities in this area, and would be able to
collaborate with a reputable international firm for the audit of ExxonMobil’s post-2017 costs. Government has noted that it is important for a local firm to participate in this audit, in its public calls for expressions of interest. The government recognises that strong local content achievement is important to the Guyanese people, and its efforts to gather capable local auditors would give effect to that in a practical way. It will also allow them access to considerable revenues from audit fees. When the PPP/C Government assumed office in 2020, it took over the shepherding of an audit of ExxonMobil’s pre-contract and other pre2017 costs. The audit was
being conducted by the UK firm, IHS Markit, which was hired by the previous administration four years after oil was first discovered offshore. The VP reminded that cost recovery audits were left outstanding for years. He expressed disappointment that Guyana, under the previous administration, did not develop its capacity to conduct cost recovery audits, nor did it make haste to contract a firm to conduct those audits. In addition to setting the stage for local audit firms to benefit from involvement in cost recovery audits, the government will also build the capacity of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to conduct its own cost audits for the oil sector.
Dem boys seh ...
De good life showing Y’all notice how some ah dem Ministas face looking round and dem cheeks getting chubby. Tell me is nat dem boys alone notice dah. It gat to be de good living! Like dem eating plenty restaurant food. If dem cook shops know wah good fuh business, dem would go and sell outside dem Ministry. Dem gan get plenty sale because it look like dem big ones eating restaurant food galore. Yesterday was International Men’s Day. De men dem in de country so
marginalise dat dem nah even know was International Men’s Day. Anyway, dem had wan event at de Conference Centre fuh honour de men. And dem boys know dat de second best way fuh honour a man is fuh full he belly. And dem man dem nah get disappoint at de event. Dem had food from fivestar restaurant. Was de highlight ah de event and de highlight of International Men’s Day. Ask nuff ah dem wah de speaker tell dem and dem can’t remem-
ber. But dem can remember de fancy meal wah share out. It remind dem boys dat de stricter de guvament be, de wiser de population does become. Burnham and Hoyte use to pressure people fuh march and go to dem rally wah dem talking at. Dem use to entice dem with a box ah food and free drinks. But de people use to collect de food and free drinks and march out ah de venue as soon as dem can. Talk half and leff half fuh later!
ber of projects and the delivery of services by the Council. Needless to say, the Council has been placed in an embarrassing position.” Roberts had explained that the glaring deficit was discovered back in February upon examination of the Council’s records and financial statements prepared by the Treasurer. According to
the Mayor, the Council has been requesting a proper explanation from the Treasurer on the matter but she had given several different explanations. “One explanation given by the municipal Treasurer is that the sum of $3.2 million was utilised to purchase a skid steer in 2016. However, the records of the Council
that were prepared by the Treasurer show no expenditure in 2016,” Roberts stated. The treasurer was later sent on administrative leave and the issues were reported via a letter to the Local Government Commission (LGC); the body responsible for hiring and dismissing municipal staffers. Griffith was later dismissed from the post.
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Sunday November 21, 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 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? MONDAY The WHO says that climate change will reverse any gains in Guyana's Health and Agricultural sectors. We have news for our fellow Guyanese: continue to be
complacent and uncaring, and PPP leaders and those in the Opposition will reverse one sand truck after the other upon citizens.They do not care, since most of them are crooked and don't have the interests of Guyanese at heart. For those Guyanese who let them do that, count us out. We will stand up and speak out. TUESDAY VP Jagdeo is now saying he wants transparency with City Hall land sales. He and the President should be ashamed to talk about transparency on anything. It is like the pot calling the kettle black. In case the VP need a reminder, let's help him:
Payara report, audit report, local content report, gas-toshore report (if there ever was one). How about some transparency with those Dr. VP? WEDNESDAY The VP is now saying that the gas-to-shore project could cost more than US$900M. Ha, ha! We saw that coming and told readers that before. Just like we had warned and said that Exxon's US$10B UNCHECKED bills will be paid in full. Anything some people touch always suck the life out of everybody else, especially their money. Guyanese know people like that; they should look at their leaders. THURSDAY
“No excuse can absolve Govt. of this grave sin” was what one patriotic Guyanese said. We say that failure to audit the US$9.5 BILLION in bills from Exxon is a profanity, a rank obscenity. It is Govt. leadership vulgarity at its ugliest. In any other country, the Vice President would not be allowed to live this down. Guyanese: where are you? What is happening to all of you when these leadership failures multiply? FRIDAYAn Opposition figure jump into the US$9.5
BILLION audit failure and say that the income taxes of all Guyanese would be covered for 56 years by that sum. We are glad that the Opposition has something to say on this. It has to do more. Its senior members have to stop collecting duty free concessions and start earning their pay. The Opposition must be in the face of the Govt. It must be loud and demanding and angry. We are waiting. Guyana i s w a t c h i n g . Wi l l t h e Opposition keep on being a
failure? The butt of countless jokes? SATURDAY The Police had an 'Integrity Symposium' recently. They should have one every day. There should be a mandatory integrity fair for all political leaders, so much in need of it are they. And that, too, should be daily, so far they have fallen short of integrity and anything related to principles. They are so dishonest, our politicians, that they need to bathe in blue water.
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Sunday November 21, 2021
Our Frontline Worker of this Week is…
Worse outcomes for chronic disease patients infected with COVID-19-Internal Medicine Specialist
Grace Waldron-White confirms By Sharmain Grainger
L
ong before the COVID-19 pandemic, the world was dealing with chronic diseases which account for over 70 percent of global deaths, with more people dying from these each year than all other health conditions combined. This is the observation of Internal Medicine Specialist at the Georgetown Public H ospital Corporation Dr. Grace Waldron-White ( G P H C ) , D r. G r a c e donning a face mask properly. Wa l d r o n - W h i t e , w h o
intimated during a recent interview that “sadly, 80 percent of these deaths occur in developing countries like ours.” With the onset of SARSCoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, the role of chronic care health personnel such as Dr. Waldron-White became that much harder. According to the Internal Medicine Specialist, “the COVID-19 pandemic has added to the distress since persons with hypertension, diabetes and other non-communicable
diseases (chronic diseases) have worse outcomes should they become infected with COVID-19.” Dr. Waldron-White has been working in the Internal Medicine Clinic at the GPHC for the past three years. Internal Medicine, she explained, is the field of Medicine that deals with the application of scientific data to the prevention, treatment and follow-up care of a wide variety of adult diseases and health concerns, both acute and chronic, especially those that are complex and involve
In the company of her loving husband, Kenneth and darling daughter, Monita. multi-organ defects. PURSUING A DREAM Convinced that she was always destined to work in the medical field, Dr. Waldron-White recalled that “I dreamt of being a doctor since childhood.” Her upbringing was at Blygezight, Greater Georgetown. She is the youngest of five children born to Derrick Waldron (a retired Assistant Post Master
G u y a n a ’s S c h o o l o f Medicine. “My Residency training in Internal Medicine w a s d o n e h e r e (Guyana)…my fellowship training in Internal Medicine was at the McMaster University in Canada,” she shared. A c c o r d i n g t o D r. Waldron-White, who was inspired to pursue this area of specialty because of the knowledge and empathy
“The COVID-19 pandemic has added to the distress since persons with hypertension, diabetes and other non-communicable diseases (chronic diseases) have worse outcomes should they become infected with COVID-19.” General who passed away in July of this year, three months shy of his 95th birthday), and his wife, Avis Wa l d r o n ( a r e t i r e d headmistress who now resides in Canada). She attended the St. Gabriel’s Primary School, the Bishops’ High School and Queen’s College after which she decided to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor at the University of
demonstrated by her professors and mentors, “my area of greatest focus is chronic non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and their complications.” In the Internal Medicine Clinic at the GPHC, Dr. Waldron-White disclosed that “we see an average of about 80 patients per day and almost the entire clinic Continued on page 58
In the company of some of her colleagues at the GPHC.
Sunday November 21, 2021
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Sunday November 21, 2021
Exxon’s partner boasts of receiving US$4B annually starting from next year - calls Stabroek Block “the mother-load”
While it may have stakes in other blocks in the GuyanaSuriname basin, Hess Corporation says its top priority will remain the oil rich Stabroek Block since it is “the motherload” of its portfolio. Specifically making this comment was Hess’ Chief Operating Officer (COO), Greg Hill. He was at the time participating in Bank of America’s Global Energy Conference. Participating in the virtual conference as well was Chief Executive Officer (CEO), John Hess, who boasted about the revenue making potential of the Stabroek Block projects. He said, “The Bakken, Deepwater Gulf of Mexico and Malaysia serve as our cash engine, while Guyana serves as our growth engine. With the start-up of Liza Phase Two early next year, Guyana also becomes a cash engine and at that time, all of our major assets will be free cash flow positive.” With a line of sight of up to 10 Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSOs) in Guyana to develop approximately 10 billion barrels of
30% interest; (Operator:
Water Depth: - 5,500 - 11,000 ft Drilling TD: - 17,000 - 23,000 ft
Stabroek
6.6 million acres (equal to 1,150 GoM blocks) and low entry cost
ExxonMobile 45% (Op) Hess 30% Nexen 25%
Pacora
Payara
21 major discoveries to date:
Canje Block
Liza
Pacora
Yellowtail
Whiptail
Liza Deep
Longtail
Tripletail
Pinktail
Payara
Hammerhead
Mako
Cataback
Snoek
Pluma
Uaru
Turbot
Haimara
Yellowtail 2
Ranger
Tilapia
Redtail
Fangtooth
Liza Uaru Whiptail Yellowtail Pinktail Longtail
Liza Deep HH
Snoek
Mako
Exceptional reservoir quality and low development costs Sanctioned projects have a breakeven Brent oil price of $25-$35/bbl
Deliver Liza Phase 2 and Payara developments
Redtail
Tripletail Turbot
YT-2 Tilapia Cataback Discoveries Prospects Hess Block
Pluma
Haimara
Sanction Yellowtail as fourth development
Continue active Exploration and Appraisal program
oil equivalent resources as well as its robust inventory of high return drilling locations in the Bakken,
USA, the CEO said the company’s ability to deliver high return resource growth is, therefore
30 km
“unparalleled.” Expounding further he said, “When Liza Two comes on, we will
steadily move down the cost curve. Our Guyana developments have a Brent breakeven price between US$25 and US$35 per barrel. And as our Bakken production in the USA goes up to 200,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in the next several years we will be able to go down the cost curve.” The Hess boss added, “By 2026, we predict that our cash unit cost will go down by 25 percent versus this year to approximately US$9 per barrel of oil equivalent resources and that our portfolio will achieve a Brent breakeven price of approximately US$45 per barrel.” Further to this, Hess said his company is clearly positioned to deliver industry leading cash flow growth. In this regard, he said between 2021 and 2026, the company’s cash flow is forecast to increase by 25 percent annually. He said this is more than two times as fast as its production growth. At a price of US$65 per barrel Brent, Hess said this should result in annual free cash flow growth increasing to approximately US$3B per year by 2026. “And if you add a US$10 higher price it is actually US$4B per year,” the Hess boss stated.
Sunday November 21, 2021
Kaieteur News
Audit Liza 1, 2 & 3 before approving 4th project - OGGN ...says Exxon spending bill inflated by billions The Oil and Gas Governance Network (OGGN), a diaspora group, is accusing the ExxonMobilled consortium operating in the Stabroek Block of inflating its Field Development costs for the Liza 1 and 2 developments by some 25 percent or some US$2.4 billion. Additionally, the group charges that before the government approves anymore projects such as Yellowtail, the fourth project, it should ensure the auditing and verification of the first three oil projects in the Stabroek Block are completed.” To this end, the OGGN in alluding to the government’s announced promise to audit the US$9.5 billion in capital costs—outside the audit window that is now closed—noted that “it (Government) hasn’t explained how it will enforce any discrepancies found given the timeframe to audit Liza 1 and Liza 2, the first 2 projects in the Stabroek Block, have expired.” According to OGGN, if “we consider the history of the US$460 million precontract costs audit, then the outlook for the audit of the US$9.5 billion in capital costs appears bleak. Chris Ram (local chartered accountant) in May 2018 raised serious concerns about the pre-contract costs for the Stabroek Block. He used the oil companies’ own financial statements to show the pre-contract costs were overstated by at least 25 percent or US$92 million.” It was pointed out that it then took about 19 months for the government to hire a UK firm, IHS Markit, in December 2019 to start the audit. As such, OGGN observed, “it is now November 2021, and the results of the pre-contract costs audit have still not been released. It has been 3.5 years from when legitimate concerns were raised about pre-contracts cost and we still don’t have any answers.” According to OGGN, the capital cost of Liza 1 is US$3.5 billion, and Liza 2 is US$6 billion for a total of US$9.5 billion. Notably, it was observed that the Liza 1 capital cost was originally stated at US$4.4 billion and after concerns were raised in the
media by Dr. Jan Mangal and others it dropped to US$3.7 billion before settling at US$3.5 billion. According to OGGN, that “is an initial overstatement of about 26 percent.” Additionally, it was observed that the breakeven cost for the Liza 2 oilfield is US$25 per barrel but Liza 1 breakeven cost is US$35 barrel. To this end, it was noted that on a per barrel basis, Liza 2 capital cost is US$10 per barrel and Liza 1 per barrel capital cost is US$7.78. OGGN has since noted that “given these different breakeven costs, one would have expected Liza 2 capital cost to be lower than Liza 1…Not to mention that on the second project, Liza 2, one would expect the oil companies to be more efficient given the lessons they would have learnt from the first project.” According to the local oil and gas stakeholder, “if we apply the per barrel capital cost of Liza 1 to Liza 2, we see Liza 2 is about 29 percent more expensive.” The group noted therefore, that this is a red flag that should have triggered an urgent response to initiate an audit. Additionally, OGGN iterated that from its outlined scenarios, it appears that the oil companies may be padding their costs by at least 25 percent. The grouping has since posited, “…if we apply a 25 percent padding to the US$6 billion capital cost of Liza 2, then was it padded by US$1.2 billion.” Similarly, “if we also apply the 25 percent to US$9 billion capital cost for Payara, was it padded it by US$1.8 billion; that would be total padding of US$3 billion which is about 2 times the cost of Guyana’s annual budget.” As such, OGGN is calling on the government to release the audit of the US$460 million precontract costs immediately. Additionally, OGGN said the government should state publicly when it plans to begin the audit of the US$9.5 billion in capital costs of Liza 1 and 2 and when this process is expected to be concluded. The group has also requested of government to provide additional information, such as who will conduct the audit.
The Liza Unity, the second Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel.
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Sunday November 21, 2021
Bria Renee Lawrence
Sunday November 21, 2021
Kaieteur News
Bria Renee Lawrence is a British/Guyanese beauty and model who represented Guyana at the annual Miss Globe Beauty Pageant in Albania. This 21year-old diva works as a fashion model and brand ambassador in London and holds a degree in Marketing from a prestigious university in the United Kingdom. (Credit: Missosology
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Sunday November 21, 2021
MAKING A CASE FOR ONLINE TOURISM IN GUYANA… DIGITAL MARKETING SPECIALIST AND SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER,
Stacey Dos n a m a h a R s o t San n’ is a ‘Special Perso
Stacey Dos Santos-Rahaman during a visit to the majestic Kaieteur Falls.
By Rehanna Ramsay
H
eralded as the world’s top ecotourism destination, Guyana is home to some of the most pristine rainforests which are surrounded by rugged terrains, enchanting rivers, and waterfalls, as well as some of the most exotic plant and animal species. Internationally, Guyana is regarded as “a birder paradise” given that it boasts over 820 species of exotic feathered creatures and holds the potential to engage tourists from across the world, who revel in bird watching activities. In addition to that, the country hosts some of the largest land and sea creatures earning it the name, ‘Land of the Giants’. The majestic Kaieteur Falls, Kanuku Mountains, and the glorious Blue Lakes of Linden are just some of the more commonly known attractions, but the rich history, cultural
heritage, and citizen hospitality should be enough to boost the country as a hot spot for international visitors coming to the Caribbean. Yet, Guyana remains vastly undiscovered as a tourist destination. For, this reason, this week’s ‘Special Person’ has dedicated her life’s work to raising the profile of ‘Destination Guyana’ and promoting its beauty to the world. Stacey Dos Santos-Rahaman, known to many on social media as the ‘Visit Guyana girl’, has been using her digital expertise and marketing skills to sell Guyana to potential visitors as well as those interested in travelling around their country. Dos Santos-Rahaman created the Visit Guyana website and social media accounts less than a decade ago. Today, both the Facebook and Instagram handle for Visit Guyana collectively have over 300,000 followers and 30,000 on its rapidly growing TikTok account. For last year alone, those
three outlets attracted at least 16 million visitors. On the occasion of Tourism Awareness onth, observed in November annually, Dos SantosRahaman sat down with Kaieteur News to share the story of how she became what most would refer to as a social media influencer. During the interview with Kaieteur News, Dos SantosRahaman appeared quite coy about her accomplishment, in this regard. “I guess you can call me that (influencer), but for me, the work that I do is for my country, I want people to know about Guyana, how beautiful and culturally rich it is, especially those in the diaspora. I like giving them something to show their children or something to look forward to when they come home,” Dos Santos-Rahaman said. But before she could have embarked on her social media journey, Dos SantosRahaman was able to earn herself credentials in the field of tourism and digital marketing. She told Kaieteur News
Tourism advocate and digital marketing specialist, Stacey Dos Santos-Rahaman
Dos Santos-Rahaman goes horseback riding at Waikin ranch in Lethem, Region Nine.
Visiting the canopy walkway at Iwokrama Nature Conservation site.
Sharing a moment with her lovely daughters Anya and Emma.
that her decision to conduct studies in tourism development came as a result of what seemed at the time, like a missed opportunity but in hindsight, she is most grateful for how everything turned out. She explained, “I had just come out of high school and I wanted to enter the Computer Science programme at UG [University of Guyana] but the programme was closed. So, I figured, instead of doing nothing, let me do something else until the course opened up again. At that time, UG was offering a course in Tourism Studies and I enrolled for it.” As a result of academic pursuits, Dos Santos-Rahaman earned herself certificates from the University in both courses, Tourism and Computer Science. Those qualifications, she said, landed her a second job as the Information Administrator (IT Admin) at the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA). “And that’s where I fell in love with the tourism industry,” Dos Santos-Rahaman said, adding, “I got to experience firsthand what I had only learned about in theory at UG.” This was quite an exhilarating and interesting time for the young graduate who had just entered the world of work. “There is where I began to gather knowledge about my country…and saw the beauty of Guyana that you sometimes hear foreigners talking about. I got to experience it for the first time and learned so much about our biodiversity,” she Continued on page 52
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The usual suspects must not be allowed to get their claws on the oil revenues The people of Guyana are behaving as if the country is drowning in oil wealth. The fact is that since production started we got less than US$200M in the first year and it is expected to reach about US$500M by the end of this year. In the meanwhile we failed to undertake an audit of US$9.5 B or about 20 times of total oil take. Guyana is therefore not dripping in oil wealth, not with the pitiful two percent royalties, a US$18M as a signing bonus and the other 12.5 percent which we are supposed to earn after expenses. Thus far, the government has not touched any of the deposits from the petroleum revenues. All the billions which are being doled out for relief measures, for infrastructure projects and for paying public servants have been derived from taxes.
Guyanese are overtaxed. It is hoped that when the government does decide to dip into the oil revenues that it will consider using a portion for budget support so as to reduce the heavy taxation burden on the citizenry. But as much as the government is yet to dip into the Natural Resources Fund, the PP/PC has to be looked at with eagle’s eyes so as to ensure that they do not use their legislative majority in the National Assembly to make withdrawals from the Fund that are fiscally, and economically unsustainable. The PPP/C is signalling that it is likely to make a deep gouge into the oil revenues to finance some of its ambitious infrastructure projects. Despite claiming that the Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Project and the new Demerara River Bridge will be financed by private
investors, the experience with the flawed models of the Berbice River Bridge and the Marriott Hotel are cause for concern when it comes to the PPP/C and mega projects. The oil revenues are low. Guyana is not going to become a rich oil producing state unless the Production Sharing Agreement is renegotiated. And the PPP/C has no intention of renegotiating the sordid deal which the APNU+AFC signed. Guyanese therefore must counterbalance the expectations which they might have been led to believe. The revenues from oil will come in drizzles not in any great gush. And it is important that Guyanese demand that this money be invested wisely and any investment project, using oil revenues, is done with full
transparency. The usual suspects must not be allowed to get their claws on the oil revenues. If they do, then the future of Guyana will go further down the drain. Unfortunately, time is not on our side. The oil companies want to plunder the oil revenues as fast as they can. And the PPP/C supports the position that it should maximise oil production in the shortest possible time. The PPP/C does not see the oil industry as a long term investment and it is for this reason that Guyanese should be most concerned, because right now there are limited safeguards to protect Guyana from the tentacles of the oil companies. Guyana needs a depletion policy which does not accord with the philosophy that oil production should be maximised in the shortest
possible time. If that happens, under the lopsided deal which was signed, then within 10 years, Guyana’s future would have been expropriated by the oil companies and before Guyana realises the danger, the oil companies would h a v e a l r e a d y decommissioned their operations and bailed out with the hog’s share of our oil reserves. The government must immediately be pressured to activate the Natural Resources Fund (NRF). It has had enough time to amend the law which it said was going to amend to ensure greater transparency. It has not done so and it is hoped that greater transparency is not replaced by the freedom of the PPP/C to dip into the Fund as it pleases. Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo has said that the government, of which he is
the third in command, should be “managed in a professional manner; in an arm’s length way from political interference.” But the changes are yet to be implemented to ensure this arm’s length and independent management of the NRF. In the meantime, Guyanese must disabuse themselves of the idea that riches are coming their way. It is not – not with the deal which was signed and which is not being renegotiated. And not with the usual suspects eyeing-up the NRF. (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 21, 2021
World Bank recommendations not enough for C’bean countries to prepare for new climate shocks By Sir Ronald Sanders
A
new analysis by the World Bank provides a troubling analysis of the new shocks that Caribbean countries can expect from the worsening effects of Climate Change, particularly as there is no slowing down in its magnitude. But, the recommendations place the entire burden of preparation for these new shocks entirely on the governments that are already faced with beleaguered economies. Nowhere in the analysis entitled, “360° Resilience: A Guide to Prepare the Caribbean for a New Generation of Shocks”, is there any recommendation that the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) or the major polluting countries should do more to help these countries, which are victims of the conditions of climate change and global warming to which they are the least contributors. In its introduction, the analysis states quite clearly that, “Caribbean countries are not prepared for the new challenges posed by climate change, compounded by uncertainty on future tourism markets and a lack
of fiscal space. The strategies that have worked in the past will not be enough in the future. Climate change threatens to intensify natural hazards and brings new sources of volatility through impacts on health, agriculture yields, and coastal landscapes”. Investigating each country toward 2050 – less than 30 years away – the analysis suggests that, even with moderate CO2 emissions, 13 percent of near shore hotels will experience beach loss resulting in a 17 percent decrease in tourism revenue for the region by 2050. Specifically, the analysis projects that, in the absence of adaptation, by 2050, countries like Trinidad and To b a g o , A n t i g u a a n d Barbuda, St. Lucia, and The Bahamas will see a large proportion of hotels unable to profit from proximity to a sandy beach. The scenario is equally troubling with regard to flooding, loss of land mass from sea level rise, the impact of hurricanes, financial instability, and other socio-economic effects, such as the loss of skilled workers through migration. The report makes three broad recommendations for
governments to build resilience to the new generation of shocks that it anticipates is coming. These are increase government efficiency, empower households and the private sector, and reduce future physical risk. Each of these recommendations is high cost and requires funding that Caribbean governments do not have, particularly in the current COVID-19 crisis whose effects will last for years to come. The analysis admits that the 2008 global financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic have had devastating effects, with debt-to-GDP ratios increasing by approximately 15 percent between 2008 and 2010. It also records that the pandemic’s impact on debtto-GDP ratio has also been adverse: apart from Guyana, which started producing oil in 2020, all countries saw an increase in debt-to-GDP ratio between 2019 and 2020. Against this background, it is nearly impossible to figure how governments could pay to implement the recommendations in the report, particularly as the Paris Club (a group of powerful countries) is
refusing to write-off or reschedule burdensome debt. Additionally, the IMF, World Bank and other European-based agencies continue to impose the criterion of per capita income, rather than evident vulnerability, for access to concessionary financing. Further, the lending policies of the international financial institutions are not sufficiently aligned to development needs. For instance, the report states that, “In the absence of appropriate funding and asset management systems for adequately maintaining coastal protection infrastructure, governments should consider alternative strategies, including natural barriers and managed relocation”. The latter two suggestions are not free of cost. Managed relocation of populations should not continue to be deferred in places such as Belize, Guyana and Suriname, but significant costs are involved, and, therefore, will not be easily achieved. The report also rightly recommends that governments should invest in digital infrastructure and build digital skills to strengthen businesses and
build human capital. It points out that many sectors of the society would benefit, including tourism, education, and provision of financial services. Indeed, many Caribbean countries started down this path prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Several sectors, especially education and financial services benefitted during the pandemic. But the decline in revenues and significant GDP loss caused governments to slow investment in favour of building public health facilities and supporting the vulnerable, including the poor and unemployed. Unlike the governments of rich countries, they did not have the option to print money their economies did not generate. The report is valuable for the data it provides showing that a large proportion of the region’s assets is exposed to hurricanes and landslides, and that a significant portion is also exposed to floods and earthquakes – all of which are set to worsen. The analysis solidly substantiates that the region is vulnerable. However, it falls short by
Sir Ronald Sanders missing the essential point that, given the battering these economies have had over the last 40 years, plus the significant socioeconomic and financial blows that they have endured from COVID-19, international assistance is urgently required. The resilience that Caribbean governments are being told to build is not the result of their abuse of the global environment. Those who are responsible for the damage should compensate. (The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States and the Organization of American States. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and Massey College in the University of Toronto. The views expressed are entirely his own.) Responses and previous c o m m e n t a r i e s : www.sirronaldsanders.com
Sunday November 21, 2021
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 WITH 100 OIL SPILLS ANNUALLY T&T STAKEHOLDERS THREATENLEGAL ACTION IF DEMANDS NOT MET FOR YELLOWTAILEIA …SAYS IT’S NOT A MATTER OF IF, HISTORY PROVES ACCIDENTS HAPPENS
Esso 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 stakeholders locally, regionally and 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 ExxonMobil and EPA 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 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 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 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
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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 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 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 stringent 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 in—with no 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 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. MONDAY FAILURE TOAUDIT EXXON’S US10B BILL…PUBLIC SERVANTS LOSE 66 YEARS OF DOUBLE PAY …STAKEHOLDERS RAMP UP CRITICISMS OF GOVERNMENT’S DERELICTION OF DUTY Amid mounting criticisms of the Government’s failure to audit the US$10B expenses by ExxonMobil for the Liza I & II projects, Kaieteur News Publisher, Glenn Lall has estimated that the money forfeited could have doubled public servants’ salaries at its current rate for the next 66 years. This likely lost income is linked to a provision in the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) which gives the government a chance, through periodic audits, to reclaim excessive spending by Exxon and its partners. This provision was to ensure that Guyana could get the maximum benefits out of its contract with Exxon. In other words, it was a safety valve for the financial protection of the people of Guyana. Government had a duty to use the safety valve
when needed. Lall, a businessman of several decades and who has been at the forefront of a campaign admonishing more robust monitoring of the oil and gas sector so that Guyana can get its fair share of the oil profits, was the first person to have flagged the issue regarding the unaudited spending, after Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo at a recent news conference admitted that his government dropped the ball. “We received almost 10BUSD in costs for the Liza I & II projects, this money should have been checked, double-checked and rechecked a million times within the two year time frame set out in the contract, and if it was not checked within that time frame Guyana will have to accept and pay every single cent, as is,” Lall said in a recent radio commentary on Kaieteur Radio. Who will (Continued on page 22)
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From page 21 miss such a deadline? “Now we are being told by the man himself, our VP, that the deadline has passed and we missed the boat so Guyana will have to foot that bill, that 10BUSD bill.” The newspaper published asked: “ Who on earth would miss a two year deadline to check a bill coming from people you know you can’t trust with one dollar, much less 10BUSD? You know of anyone…?” Opining that at least half of the US$10B bill presented by Exxon was overstated, Lall said that US$5B is equivalent to two and a half years of Guyana’s Budget. “Let me break it down more simple for you, with that 5BUSD Guyana didn’t have to go prostituting itself to any bank to get $100B for the next 50 years, that’s the kinda money we get [cheated] on because we didn’t check, these clowns let the time run out.” 0 He mentioned that Guyana was spending $15B to pay public servants this year. “…had these clowns checked and managed to save half of that US$10B, public servants salaries could have been doubled now, to the next 66 years with that money alone, and if you lessen the years you can increase the salary more as the years go by, and that is also factual what I am saying here.” Lall noted that every year the nurses, the teachers, the police, the soldiers, and public servants in general could have been benefiting from a double and triple increase in their salaries. “That’s the kinda money we lose out by not checking that US$10B and Jagdeo, Ashni Singh, Winston Jordan or any accountant can do the math to prove me wrong, Lall asserted. “Not checking those bills is what has left us in this situation where we would have to continue to borrow every year to give public servants a salary increase…” During his latest press engagement Jagdeo told the nation that government is disappointed that it has not been able to push through with these critical post-2017 audits. Expounding further, the Vice President said, “We have been very disappointed that we have not been able to select a group to do the audit of the post-2017 expenditure by Exxon. The reason is that we didn’t have strong local content. We had two groups, two local groups that came in but they were not strong enough. We want to build the capacity in Guyana to do this audit. We think that our people have enormous skills, forensic skills and auditing
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capacity.” The former President added, “…we’re looking to see if we can’t have an arrangement where we have a consortium of our local people to come together to do part of this work while working alongside an international group…” Jagdeo said he has since asked the Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat to examine the possibilities of getting together, all of the groups from Guyana which have an expressed interest in working with a foreign company on this front. He said this is the preferred option as the country desperately needs to increase its auditing capacity and competencies. Casual and callous Reacting to Jagdeo’s comments Lall said the VP was very casual and callous in addressing the issue. “Hear what he told the nation…listen to his excuses and how he presented it to us, as if this is candy money or snow cone money we give away.” He continued: “Not even a joker would allow a clown to spend money which has to come out of his pocket and that is what the VP Jagdeo telling us. This man run this country 12 years as President, now he is heading this trillion USD oil sector and telling this nation that he disappointed for not checking 10BUSD spending, knowing there is a time limit to do so.” Mocking Jagdeo, Lall said: “But hear what this financial guru Bharrat Jagdeo telling us, he is disappointed that the time lapsed and he didn’t have people to verify 10BUSD, like I said if you were cheated US$5B , that money is 2 ½ years Budget gone down the drain, it means everything we are doing in Guyana could have been doubled for the next 2 ½ years, if you had to patch one road you could have patched two; if you had to fix one bridge, you could have fixed two… man everybody salaries could have been doubled too, with just that US$5B.” Criminal dereliction In addition, to Lall several other stakeholders have criticised the government’s handling of the matter. Canadian-based Guyanese, Dr Jerry Jailall in weighing on the matter said 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. 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.” 56 years of personal income tax For his part, Opposition Member of Parliament and Shadow Minister for Legal Affairs and Attorney General, Roysdale Forde described the situation as a massive financial failure that reflects a dereliction of duty. He said the money forfeited could have paid the personal income tax of all Guyanese for the next 56 years. Moreover, he is calling for “an independent investigation into this colossal act of incompetence.” Commenting further, Forde said that the incumbent People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/ C) administration, “opted to let US$9.5 billion or G$1.8 trillion go, than to entrust a high-valued job to ‘not so strong’ local auditors.” Forde added, “not only is this disclosure pathetic but it shows Jagdeo’s lack of confidence in the skilled persons of this country and the contempt that he and the PPP/C have for Guyanese as a whole.” As such, he posited, “local auditors must feel like peons (unimportant) knowing what Jagdeo and the installed PPP/C administration think of them.” According to Forde, “it is stunning to see that it was better for him, who has no auditing skills, to let such a potentially large sum of money be forfeited with the added loss of an opportunity for local auditors to learn on
the job.” The situation, he observed, comes “in a time when the cost-of-living is rising and families are hurting” and lamented, “it is amazing that the country is willing to accept a reckless decision.” A decision he said, that would potentially let “G$1.8 trillion go down the drain; with such wanton disregard for the financial needs of the people, this installed government is showing its true colours of having no real interest in working in the best interest of this country.” Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram commenting on the issue in the Stabroek News flayed what he described as government’s “nonchalant attitude.” He said the administration could have asked Canada for help, if indeed there was a problem sourcing competent local auditors. “And if the Government was so interested in auditing those costs, it could have called on the Audit Office, which has easy access to Canada and its wealth of experience in petroleum audits, to provide assistance, even as a short-term measure,” Ram was quoted as saying in the Stabroek News. TUESDAY EXXON REPORT REVEALS… US$900M GAS-TOSHORE, OIL PROJECTS WILLSIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT MARINE RESOURCES While
the
Peoples’
Progressive Party Civic (PPP/ C) Government appears preoccupied with the revenues to be had from various ExxonMobil-led projects, a key report from the American multinational has warned that there will be significant impact on the nation’s marine resources, due to the cumulative impact of those oil related activities. This disclosure was made in the project documents for the Yellowtail development in the Stabroek Block, operated by ExxonMobil’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL). The report which formed the premise for the recently concluded countrywide consultations on the Yellowtail development, noted that there are several exploration and development activities planned or are already in operation by EEPGL. These include the US$3.5B Liza Phase I Development, the US$6B Liza Phase II Development, and the US$9B Payara Development projects. EEPGL said, it is continuing with a rapid exploration drilling programme in the Stabroek Block alongside works on its fiber optic cable installation project, an onshore Guyana Office Campus, and the US$900M Gas to Energy Project. It is also poised to drill 24 wells across the Kaieteur and Canje blocks which border the Stabroek concession. Additionally, EEPGL said
there are three other oil and gas operators that are planning exploration programmes in blocks adjacent to the Stabroek Block. With this in mind, EEPGL said its planned together with the other operators could cumulatively, have a significant impact on some resources. It said, these impacts include but are not limited to, air quality and climate via increased emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants, marine water quality via the discharge of drill cuttings and associated increases in other water borne articles, special status fish via changes in distribution due to altered water quality, special status seabirds via attraction to offshore facilities or disturbance from project activities, marine mammals via vessel strikes, special status marine turtles, “marine fish via degraded water quality”, riverine mammals via behavioral changes or displacement as a result of increased vessel traffic within Georgetown Harbour, and ecological balance and ecosystems via introduction of invasive species via ballast water discharges. It said too that the oil related activities will result in changes in marine nutrient cycle, resulting in localized and temporary changes in phytoplankton (a type of microalgae) species distribution, and impacts on gene flow. In spite of the foregoing, (Continued on page 23)
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From page 22 EEPGL said citizens and local authorities ought to be assured that the project will adopt a number of embedded controls, mitigation measures, and management plans. The ExxonMobil subsidiary said, these are considered sufficient to address the contributions of the project to cumulative impacts. According to project documents, the Yellowtail Project is expected to cost Guyana over G$1.8T. It is expected to 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 or 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. Over the last two weeks, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has held several meetings with stakeholders to explain the workings of the project. These discussions were started after the nation had a mere 10 days to digest over 7000 pages of technical data on the project. Today is the last day for persons to submit any commentary on the project to the EPA. GOVT. COURTING MIDDLE EASTERN GROUP FOR AGRICULTURAL INVESTMENT
The Ministry of Finance disclosed Monday that it hosted a meeting with senior officials attached to Elite Agro LLC, one of the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) leading companies in the growing, sourcing, importing and marketing of agricultural products. The meeting was held with Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh and Chandra Pratap Singh, Business Development Director and Emil Moukarzel, Chief Operating Officer (CEO) of
Elite Agro LLC. The engagement served as a follow-up to earlier meetings held between President, Irfaan Ali, and officials of Elite Agro LLC. It also forms part of the President’s implementation strategy for the diversification of Guyana’s non-oil sector. Duri n g t h e m e e t i n g , Minister Singh explained to the officials of Elite Agro L L C t h a t t r a d i t i o n a l l y, agriculture has been an extremely important anchor in Guyana’s economy while adding, that it is the government’s intention to ensure it remains an important anchor in the non-oil economy. He also indicated that with Guyana looking to expand its agricultural sector there are currently, two big streams of opportunities available to Elite Agro LLC, either to be a direct investor or to facilitate trade in agricultural commodities to other export destinations. “Guyana has vast expanses of very rich and fertile land for agriculture. We have been for a long time a large-scale producer for specific agricultural crops such as sugar and rice, but we are now exporting a number of other commodities which are ready for large-scale cultivation, and other crops that are poised for rapid expansion as well. We also produce a wide selection of livestock and meat for consumption,” Dr. Singh pointed out. Wr a p p i n g u p t h e meeting, Minister Singh indicated that his Government alongside the private sector is aggressively pursuing investment as quickly as possible, as this will aid in e x p a n s i o n o f G u y a n a ’s economy as well as facilitate job-creation. “We are a very stable environment, both politically and economically. Guyana is now a place where we are having conversations with all of the big companies of the world (and not just in agriculture) and this is a signal of how attractive we are for investment,” the Finance Minister concluded. Accompanying the Finance Minister at the meeting were Ministers of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, Tourism Industry and Commerce Minister, Oneidge Walrond and Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Paul Cheong. Other private sector representatives included David Fernandes—head of a
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consortium dealing with the expansion of corn and soyabean production in Guyana. WEDNESDAY EXXON SIGNS ‘LARGE’ CONTRACT FOR 4TH PROJECT DESPITE NO APPROVAL Despite the fact that the Guyana Government is yet to sign off on any of the required approvals or licenses required for the development of the Yellowtail oil field development in the Stabroek Block, ExxonMobil Guyana has inked a “large contract” for the subsea installations for that project. The news was disclosed on Monday by TechnipFMC, which said it has been awarded a “large” contract by Exxon Mobil Corporation, affiliate, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), to supply the subsea production system for the Yellowtail development.” According to TechnipFMC, “a large contract is between US$500 million and US$1 billion” It was noted, however that “the full contract award will not be included in inbound orders, until the project receives final investment decision and government approvals.” According to the company, “subject to government approvals and final project sanction, TechnipFMC, will provide project management, engineering, manufacturing and testing capabilities to deliver the overall subsea production system.” It said, “…the scope of the project includes 51 enhanced vertical deepwater trees (EVDT) and associated tooling, as well as 12 manifolds and associated controls and tie-in
equipment.” To this end, Jonathan Landes, President, Subsea at TechnipFMC said, “We are very excited to continue our relationship with ExxonMobil through this award, which is our fourth within the Stabroek Block. We are proud of our dedicated Guyanese employees and are committed to the continued development and expansion of local capabilities.” The news of the ‘large contract’ comes on the heels of recent reports that ExxonMobil Guyana was already in talks with SBM Offshore, the Dutch floater specialists that constructed the first two Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels— Liza Destiny and Unity, in addition to the Prosperity currently being fabricated— for the company to construct the Yellowtail FPSO. Those negotiations were being had even before the public scoping exercise had been completed. 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. According to international reports, the talks include the potential for some future platform assembly in Guyana. This publication understands the discussions include potential made-inGuyana requirements to build part(s) of future production units. This according to a Reuter’s 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.
It was noted that the deal for the fabrication of the latest FPSO could be had within six months. Netherlands-based SBM Offshore had been awarded Exxon contracts to build Guyana’s first three FPSOs, 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 from oil revenues, and for which Guyanese authorities have little to no input. Outside of its inability to audit the expenses for the Liza I&II, Guyanese authorities have also been coming under increased scrutiny concerning their dealings with ExxonMobil Guyana, as highlighted during the final scoping exercise to inform the crafting of the Environmental Impact Assessment for the Yellowtail Development. To this end, the exercise saw participation from stakeholders locally, regionally and internationally, including Gary Aboud, founding member of the Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) group. He told the panelists including the facilitator—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, stressed that the scoping exercise being conducted is for “a Caribbean audience who are concerned when we speak about oil spills.” 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 region, you need to respond to our questions and don’t hoodwink us and tell us, no we are prepared.” He said, the concerns are credible as they relate 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 ExxonMobil and EPA 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 daughter’s life on the line with that promise because he wouldn’t, because accidents (Continued on page 24)
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From page 23 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.” further still, 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.” 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. THURSDAY EXXON GIVES CONTRACTOR ADVANCE TO BUILD 4TH FPSO WITHOUTAPPROVAL With negotiations now completed, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) has awarded Netherlands-based, SBM Offshore, “contracts to perform Front End Engineering and Design
Kaieteur News
(FEED) for a Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel (FPSO), for the Yellowtail development project,” in the Stabroek Block Offshore Guyana. EEPGL—ExxonMobil Guyana—in fact, pursuant to the awarding of the contract has since agreed to pay over an undisclosed advance to SBM Offshore to begin works. SBM Offshore is the company that built and is currently leasing to Guyana, the first two FPSO’s—Liza Destiny and Liza Unity—and is in the process of constructing a third FPSO for the Payara oilfield in the Stabroek Block—Prosperity. No Approvals The contract handed to SBM Offshore is the second such large one out by ExxonMobil Guyana in recent days despite the fact it is yet to receive any government approvals and permits, environmental or otherwise. The Kaieteur News reported on Wednesday that despite the fact that the Guyana Government is yet to sign off on any of the required approvals for the development of the Yellowtail oil field development in the Stabroek Block, ExxonMobil Guyana had inked a “large contract” for the subsea installations for that project. The news was disclosed on Monday by TechnipFMC, which said it was awarded a “large” contract by Exxon Mobil Corporation, affiliate, EEPGL, to supply the subsea production system for the Yellowtail development.” According to TechnipFMC, “a large contract is between US$500 million and US$1 billion” This publication last Friday reported too that the ExxonMobil Guyana was in talks with SBM Offshore with regards building the fourth vessel even before the public scoping exercise to inform the oil major’s Environmental Impact Assessment Study had been completed. SBM Confirms SBM Offshore, in confirming the Kaieteur News report Wednesday, said it was “pleased to announce it has been awarded contracts to perform” the FEED contract for the FPSO. Notably, the company said, “the FEED contract award triggers the initial release of funds by ExxonMobil’s subsidiary Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) to begin FEED activities and secure a Fast4Ward® hull.” Meaning, EEPGL would pay over to SBM Offshore, monies to begin works including activities related to engineer designs and
securing a hull that would be, presumably taken to the Keppel Shipyard in Singapore, for topside installations before being installed in the Yellow tail oilfield. SBM Offshore in making its announcement Wednesday said, “following FEED and subject to government approvals in Guyana of the development plan, project sanction including final investment decision by ExxonMobil, and EEPGL’s release of the second phase of work, SBM Offshore will construct, install and then lease the FPSO and operate it for a period of up to 2 years.” First oil is expected in 2025. The FPSO will be designed to produce 250,000 barrels of oil per day; will have associated gas treatment capacity of 450 million cubic feet per day and water injection capacity of 300,000 barrels per day. The FPSO will be spread moored in water depth of about 1,800 meters and will be able to store around 2 million barrels of crude oil. Third Party Equity Importantly too in the company’s announcement, SBM Offshore said that in order to strengthen its execution model, “given the current challenging market environment.” SBM Offshore established a special purpose company (SPC) with McDermott for the execution of the turnkey phase of the project. To this end, “this SPC will benefit from the combined engineering and fabrication capacity as well as the experience of both companies in delivering EPC solutions to the energy industry. SBM Offshore will hold 70 percent and McDermott will hold 30 percent equity ownership in this SPC. The FPSO will be fully owned by SBM Offshore.” McDermott, according to its website, is an international company that offers services in Engineering, Fabrication, Onshore Construction, Marine Construction Vessels, Procurement, Supply Chain Management, Startups, Commissioning & Operations and Consulting among other areas. SBM Offshore’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Bruno Chabas, in making the announcement Wednesday said, “When finished, the FPSO will be the largest producing unit ever built by the Company.” According to the CEO, “we are also pleased to announce our partnership with McDermott and look forward to working together through the execution phase and deliver this world class project.” To this end, Samik
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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 stage, approximately 600 persons at the peak of the installation stage, and 100 to 140 persons during production operations.
Mukherjee, McDermott’s Executive Vice President (EVP) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) iterated, “Our people and resources bring the proven project execution, integrated engineering and modularization capabilities essential for delivery, assurance and success. We will align these strengths with those of SBM Offshore to drive a cohesive, efficient execution strategy together.” Large Contract ExxonMobil has already handed out the contract—as reported Wednesday—that TechnipFMC said it has been awarded “a large” contract by Exxon Mobil Corporation, affiliate, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), to supply the subsea production system for the Yellowtail development.” According to TechnipFMC, “a large contract is between US$500 million and US$1 billion” It was noted, however that “the full contract award will not be included in inbound orders, until the project receives final investment decision and government approvals.” According to the company, “subject to government approvals and final project sanction, TechnipFMC, will provide project management, engineering, manufacturing and testing capabilities to deliver the overall subsea production system.” It said, “…the scope of the project includes 51 enhanced vertical deepwater trees (EVDT) and associated tooling, as well as 12 manifolds and associated controls and tie-in equipment.” To this end, Jonathan Landes, President, Subsea at
TechnipFMC said, “We are very excited to continue our relationship with ExxonMobil through this award, which is our fourth within the Stabroek Block. We are proud of our dedicated Guyanese employees and are committed to the continued development and expansion of local capabilities.” Scrutiny/Criticism EEPGL—ExxonMobil Guyana—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 from oil revenues, and for which Guyanese authorities have little to no input. Outside of its inability to audit the expenses for the Liza I&II, Guyanese authorities have also been coming under increased scrutiny concerning their dealings with ExxonMobil Guyana, as highlighted during the final scoping exercise to inform the crafting of the Environmental Impact Assessment for the Yellowtail Development. 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 said the FPSO will be designed to produce up to 250,000 barrels of oil per day.
‘PPP/C NOT INTERESTED IN ‘GOOD GOVERNANCE OIL SECTOR’- RAM … GOVT. COMFORTABLE WITH ALI, BHARRAT & JAGDEO IN CHARGE The incumbent Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/ C) administration is not interested in any form of good governance with regards the management and administration of the country’s still nascent oil and gas sector. In fact, the ruling party is comfortable with the status quo, where there are basically three persons in charge of the sector namely, Head of State, President Irfaan Ali, since the Natural Resources Ministry falls under Office of the President, Substantive Minister, Vickram Bharrat and Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo. These were among some of the sentiments expressed by Chartered Account, Attorney-at-Law and civil rights activist, Christopher Ram, who was at the time a Guest of David Hinds’ Politics 101. Qualifying his position, Ram stated that: “if it was (interested in good governance) it would have reactivated the Bill of the Petroleum Commission.” Adamant that the oil sector is being controlled by a few persons, Ram insists it is clear that the, “boss in all of this is Jagdeo.” Ram noted too in his observations with regards the shortcomings of the administration, the fact that it has reneged on its commitment from doing an audit as well.Additionally, he recommended that the government immediately set about a Commission of Inquiry with a view to seeking recommendations on having the contract with ExxonMobil Guyana renegotiated. A (Continued on page 25)
Sunday November 21, 2021
From page 24 contract, he recalled was described as the best in the world by ExxonMobil’s Consortium partners, Hess Corporation Chief Executive Officer (CEO), John Hess. To this end, he posited however, the “PPP is not interested in good governance in the oil sector.” With regards the monies being lost annually, as a result of the lopsided contract, Ram hesitated to come up with a specific figure, since according to the accountant, Guyana is at present unaware of the production costs— paid for using 75 percent of oil produced—and that this inherently impacts returns for Guyana. He posited however, it is “totally clear, we losing millions.” This in part is due to the fact that the first take on any earnings from the Stabroek Block, “is to give back to the Oil Company.” Ram noted too that in an economic sense they, the oil majors, don’t risk a penny because they are guaranteed their returns and pointed out that under the 1999 agreement signed by then President Janet Jagan, “all the money they spent they have to get back, and they get first claim” Speaking to the US$9B figure being bandied about, representing development costs for the Liza I & II oilfields, Ram was adamant these should have been audited before moving on, but this was not done. He used the occasion to also lament “we are already borrowing heavily on future oil income and that’s dangerous.” FRIDAY GUYANAWORSE OFF WITH CHINESE THAN UNDER COLONIAL RULE – RAM …SAYS THIS FORM OF COLONIALISM IS MORE RUTHLESS; WITHOUT CONSCIENCE
Amid concerns about Chinese’s growing influence in Guyana, Chartered Accountant and Attorney-atLaw Christopher Ram said, based on interactions in his circle, it was suggested that “if one were to do an economic analysis we are worse off now with the Chinese than when we were under colonial rule.” This newspaper has reported heavily on Guyana’s relationship with China which was established decades ago and the exploitation of this country’s resources by Chinese companies operating here. Ram made the comments while being a guest on Dr David Hinds’ online
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programme Politics 101 Tuesday night. He opined that at present in Guyana, “the Chinese control just about everything” and have in fact managed to infiltrate every village across the country. Lamenting, another aspect of the state of affairs with regards the Chinese and their operations in Guyana, Ram told Hinds, “I know of one area where they are almost a law onto themselves.” The Chartered Accountant was at the time responding to a question posed to him by a member of the public inquiring into his views. During the interactive session, he spoke about the need for a complete rewrite of the constitution in a fashion that addresses governance, outdated laws, and eliminates any remnants of colonialism. Ram said Guyana is worse off with the Chinese operating here and posited, “…we are getting a different form of colonialism and it’s probably more ruthless and without any conscience.” Among the more recent reportage involving Chinese’s relations with Guyana’s includes the award of two contracts for the construction of two of the country’s largest ever projects namely the construction of a New Bridge across the Demerara River and the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project (AFHEP)— estimated to cost in excess of US$1B. Government at the beginning of the month had announced that it retained controversial Chinese contractor, China Railway First Group (CRFG). That same company had previously signed a contract to build the said project several years ago and to be paid for by power purchased from the project. Under that arrangement the Chinese would Build Own Operate [and then] Transfer (BOOT), the hydroelectric plant. As regards the new bridge across the Demerara River, the administration announced that a Chinese company which was accused of fraud by the World Bank secured the contract for US$257M. This, in addition to reports since confirmed by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, who told reporters during a recent press engagement that Guyana was exploring a line of access to credit to the tune of some US$1.5B. Outside of China National Offshore Oil Company’s involvement in the oil sector operating as an ExxonMobil partner in the Stabroek Block, there are a number of Chinese owned companies operating
in the other extractive industries, namely mining and forestry. Among some of the companies that would have made headlines in recent times with regard to their practices in Guyana is Zijin Mining which operates the Aurora Gold Mines. The numerous lamentations with regard this company and its operations are rooted not only in its perceived ‘lucrative’ mining licence and concessions bonanza but its mistreatment of workers. This company, having mined out the ore from its original mining pits, has since announced plans to begin underground mining. Another Chinese’s company operating in Guyana that found their performance locally wanting/lacking and coming under scrutiny, is the China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) and relates to the renovation of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA). Lamentations over this project include the manner in which the contract was inked secretly in Jamaica, the number of years ongoing, the cost overruns and numerous extensions among other complaints. That contract, which was initially inked at S$150M, has since exceed that sum but according to Public Works Minister, Bishop Juan Edghill, would not run past US$200M. Another one of the companies that had come in for flack in recent months is the one working on the
rehabilitation of and expansion of the Sheriff Street/Mandela road—a $1B project. This publication reported last month that the Chinese Company working on the project, Sinohydro Corporation would not be able to meet the October 31 deadline for completion because of shipping delays. Sinohydro was awarded the contract in 2017 and works began in 2018. It was supposed to be completed already but was plagued by constant delays. One of the excuses it had given regarding its failure to meet the project deadline was that it had to halt works during the five-month gridlock over the March 2, 2020 General and Regional elections. Works recommenced after it ended in August 2020 and a new deadline was set for August 4, 2021. Sinohydro was unable to meet that deadline and a new one was set for August 31, 2021. It did not meet that deadline either. They were granted until October, 31, 2021 but will be unable to meet this deadline also, due to the rain. Last month too, this publication reported that despite bidding higher than local contractors, a Chinese company, Shandong Degian International, was still awarded a contract to rebuild the St. Rose’s High School located at Church and Camp Streets, Georgetown. Included in the litany of complaints that were raised
publicly, about the practices employed by Chinese companies in Guyana in recent years, is the US$200M botched by the Chinese contractor, China National Technical Import and Export Corporation (CNTIC). The state of affairs with regards the practices employed by Chinese companies in Guyana had even seen the Guyana Revenue Authority back in 2017 launching a probe into an alleged racket in which the Chinese embassy was used to bring in containers of goods for its nationals who are operating businesses here. GRA had in 2017 reportedly stumbled on what seemed like an abnormally large number of containers brought in by the Chinese embassy. As a matter of fact, when GRA officials checked, they found that the Chinese embassy brought in more containers than all the other embassies combined. Investigators initially believed that maybe there was a mistake with the number of containers. However, further checks confirmed that the embassy allegedly used its diplomatic channels to pass the containers through the wharves. Under the diplomatic arrangements, shipments and packages for embassies are not too closely scrutinized. It is the belief that the containers were filled with all sorts of items – from hardware and other accessories –
which eventually ended up in a number of Chinese-owned stores. It meant very little or no taxes were paid on the items. Kaieteur News was not told exactly how many containers, but officials insisted that they were enough to be equivalent to tens of millions of dollars in lost taxes. Contacted this week, Commissioner-General of GRA, Godfrey Statia, was reluctant at the time to delve into details. The Chinese ‘takeover’ as was lamented in a feature some years ago published by the Kaieteur News had delved into the plethora of Chinese owned businesses that had begun popping up in Georgetown, the country’s capital city and central business hub, especially Regent Street. Amidst the challenges, many local businesses have closed their doors but there are a few local Regent Street businesses which have found a way to reinvent themselves to keep offering their services to the Guyanese populace. “Chiney selling everything now; from rope to soap.” one commuter commented. “With the number of Chinese’s stores they got in here, I think the Government should rename Regent Street, Chinatown,” he added. It is no secret that the Chinese are offering everything that the local businesses have but at a (Continued on page 26)
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From page 25 cheaper price, and the visitors seem to take full advantage of it. It was even observed, that some Chinese operated stores even have Portuguese and Spanish names targeting the ever increasing migrant population. Guyana Manganese Inc. (GMI), a subsidiary of the Bosai Minerals Group is another of the Chinese companies operating in the Mathews Ridge area involved in mining for manganese. In addition to the numerous complaints against the company in relation to its environmental dangers, the company has also been accused of inhumane working conditions for local employees. Another company to have featured prominently about its operations in the Forestry Sector is Bai Shan Lin. EXXONMOBILWANTS TO EXTEND HOLD ON STABROEK BLOCK DUE TO COVID - 19 – SENDS APPLICATION TO GOVT. FOR CONSIDERATION –HESS CHIEFOPERATING OFFICER REVEALS Given that the life of the Stabroek Block’s exploration licence comes to an end in 2026, ExxonMobil’s affiliate, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), has sent the PPP/C Government an application to extend its hold on the block for more than 10 years. This request for extended time is based on operational hindrances that resulted from the effects COVID-19 pandemic. Making this revelation to the international market was Exxon’s partner on the Stabroek block, Hess Corporation. Specifically, Hess’ Chief Operating Officer (COO), Greg Hill made the disclosure during his participation at Bank of America’s recently held Global Energy Conference. There, Hill spoke of the company’s exploration plans for the block and whether he believes the four and a half years left on the licence is enough time to fully explore the prospective resources of the Stabroek Block. Hill said he is of the view that the Stabroek Block partners will have enough
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time to figure out what they have in other parts of the deep water concession given the drilling programme the partners have in the pipeline. The COO said, “…we feel confident that with the active programme of 12 exploration wells planned for next year and 12 (done) this year and (if we) continue this pace, then we can definitely prosecute most of what we want to on the block.” The Chief Operating Officer also alluded that the company is not worried about the activation of relinquishment provisions come 2026 since an application is before the Guyana government for an extension. He said, “Basically, how relinquishment works is you have to lock down all the acreage you expect to develop with a licence and when the time comes, that is 2026, you relinquish (or return to the State) what you don’t want out of that…The operator has applied for an extension due to the effects COVID-19 on that 2026 (timeline) and we will see if we actually get that but there could be an extension to the exploration licence.” ABUSIVE Industry stakeholders such as Chartered Accountant and Attorney-atLaw, Christopher Ram have been extremely critical over the years about the arrangements for relinquishment in the Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement (PSC). Just recently, Ram told Kaieteur News that when it comes to relinquishment, both the Coalition and the PPP/C Governments have utilized a loophole in the nation’s Petroleum Act to the benefit of ExxonMobil and its partners, Hess Corporation and CNOOC. Ram explained that the initial period of a prospecting licence is four years. Such licence is subject to two renewals of three years each. Expounding further, the lawyer said, “The standard provision in the Petroleum Act is that on an application for first renewal at the end of the four years, the company is required to give up 50 percent of the blocks granted and on an application for the second renewal, which is at the end of seven years, it is required to give up 25 percent of the remaining concession.”
He added, “At the end of the 10 years, which brings you to the end of the third renewal period, the company has to give up all portions of the block not subject to a production licence…” He noted that under normal circumstances, ExxonMobil would have been expected to follow the foregoing process. Instead, through the reckless abuse of the loophole in the law which obliges that the subject Minister can vary the relinquishment arrangements, no relinquishment was required after four years and only 20 percent after the end of seven years, compared with 75 percent in normal situations. But based on the recent revelations made by Hess’ COO, the relinquishment provision is more generous than Ram predicted. Instead of 20 percent being given up at seven years, none will be required. Instead, Exxon and its partners will only be required to return a small portion of the block at the end of 10 years. Ram has also expressed the fear that with little oversight and undisclosed arrangements between ExxonMobil and the Government, the portion to be given up can be subject to any form of machination via production licenses. He said, “ExxonMobil and its friends are pushing for more and more explorations licenses so that by the time the first relinquishment is due…, the 20% would be of a considerably reduced portion of the Stabroek Block.” To
date, ExxonMobil has made over 20 significant discoveries in the Stabroek Block. It is also rushing to find more oil discoveries before the end of the year and no doubt before 2026. SATURDAY EXXON BEGINS TALKS WITH GOVT. ON 4TH FIELD DEVELOPMENT PLAN …DESPITE INCOMPLETE CONSULTATIONS Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) is pressing ahead with its fourth planned project in the Stabroek Block and has commenced talks with government regarding the company’s Field Development Plan. The company is yet to complete its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and obtain Environmental Authorization for the project.Notwithstanding this, the company met with Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat and a delegation from his ministry on Thursday, for “the first engagement” with EEPGL on the Yellowtail Field Development Plan. According to the ministry, during the interactive session, the EEPGL team responded to queries by the Technical Team from the Petroleum Management Unit of the Ministry of Natural Resources, and provided clarification and updates relating to submissions on the Yellowtail Field Development Plan. Also participating in this engagement are senior representatives from the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ministry of Finance, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), and the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA. According to the project summary, submitted to the EPA for environmental authorization, 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 stage, with approximately 600 persons at the peak of the installation stage, and 100 to 140 persons during production operations. Additionally, it was noted that even though the Yellowtail Project, the fourth to be developed in the Stabroek Block, is poised to see its costs going beyond US$9B, it is still regarded by EEPGL’s Stabroek Block Partner, Hess Corporation as having “outstanding economics” that will work in the company’s favour. Specifically, the company’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), Greg Hill, recently disclosed that the final numbers have not been decided for the project, as this would only follow approval by the government. Be that as it may, it has predicted that inflationary pressures on the market will push the cost beyond the preliminary estimate of
US$9B. Hill was keen to note, however, that the “superefficient” provisions of the Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) will allow for all expenditure to be recouped. Hill noted, too, that the economics of the project work in the company’s favour, as it has a breakeven of US$25 to US$32 a barrel. Taking these factors into consideration, the COO said that the Yellowtail Project is, “One of the best projects on the planet…” Chief Executive Officer, John Hess agreed with Hill’s perspective as he said, “This development has simply outstanding financial returns, some of the best in the industry…So, it’s outstanding economics. Yes, the costs are higher, but the resource we’re recovering is much higher, and these are some of the best economics in the industry.” As regards the production capacity of the project, Hill said it is poised to be at 250,000 barrels of oil per day, but noted that it is not unusual to see a 10 to 20 percent increase after the relevant data has been gathered. The operator of the Stabroek Block explained via the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) that the costs for developing Yellowtail 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.
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THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
Pele, Jagan, Burnham, skin colour, imported foods and me I
ran into an old friend, Jacob Rambarran, in the supermarket recently who I seldom see. Jacob is the former owner of “Hotel California” the description the boys on the street gave to the COVID-19 Hospital at Liliendaal. I once hosted a weekly interview programme - the Freddie Kissoon Notebook - on Jacob's television station, Channel 13, as part of establishing the station. Jacob bemoaned the continued lack of progress in Guyana, things we would talk about in his office more than 25 years ago. Jacob said it still takes endless time to get things done in Guyana. I was mostly in agreement with his general pessimism but I told him when I look back at my praxis in Guyana after 50 years, I have no regrets at what I did and what I became. Then I said to Jacob, “I am going to tell you the one regret I have that I never told anyone before.” It was my mistake of having my talented wife return to Guyana with me. She won the Chemical Institute of Canada award for the best graduating university student and if she had stayed in Canada, she would have landed a lucrative job in chemical
engineering. I deeply regret I brought that woman back to Guyana. It is the most disastrous mistake I made in my life and the angst will never go away. As I get older and as Guyana continues to disappoint me, I am beginning to question the decision I made to become a human rights activist. I believe the time is fast approaching when I am going to regret the decisions I made about my activism when I was just 16 years old. It began when I was a PPP polling agent at 16 years of age. I look at the faces in the advertisements in newspapers and on television in Guyana. I look at what people have in their trolleys in the supermarkets and I know and feel it deep down in my heart that this country has failed me. It has failed Cheddi Jagan, Forbes Burnham and Walter Rodney all of whom tried to inspire a love for country and to be proud of being Third World people. It has failed the countless numbers whose sacrifice paved the way for Independence. I was a freshman at UG at a time when the slogan, “Proud to be Black” was ubiquitous in Guyana. Today most commercial
placements in the newspapers and on television advertising from a screw-driver to school bag to ice-cream to television sets to motor vehicles carry a white face or a highly light complexioned person. Today in Guyana, there is an atavistic reversion to colonial days where dark skin was tantamount to evil. If Kaieteur News ever folds up and I am out of an income, I will survive by selling skinlightening lotion. I published two columns on this page in which I pointed out that international icon, Pele, gets a percentage from every bottle of Café Pele that sells. It is truly horrible to see Guyanese buying coffee made from the same Brazilian beans by one of the richest companies in the world – Switzerland, a European country that is shamelessly racist. Pele is in his eighties and is in and out of hospital. Pele comes from our neighbour – Brazil. There is every philosophical reason to support Pele. I look at what Guyanese shoppers have in their trolleys and I know Guyana failed me (I can only speak for me) and thus the emotions are piling up. I look at the contempt for local products and I wonder what Burnham, Jagan and Rodney must be saying from
their graves. I watch at the White folks shopping and the things they put in their trolleys. If they had a choice, they would buy foreign eggs. Nothing is wrong with that. They are foreigners. It is the lost Guyanese souls that buy the foreign eggs. I subscribe to the free online Harvard Medical School bulletin. Last week they sent me a list of highly nutritious fruits. They are cranberries, blueberries, blackberries, apples and grapes. Those are their fruits.
Their scientists do not do lab work on mangoes, papaws, bananas, guavas, Frederick Kissoon golden-apples, etc. These fruits are tropical flops, he is on the breadline. delights much healthier than What is insane in Guyana is that local producers also the Harvard list. But do we buy them. No! crave foreign products. I end with my favourite An importing firm in C a m p b e l l v i l l e b e c a m e French saying – “God is w e a l t h y t h r o u g h t h e dead. Marx is dead. And I'm marketing of grapes and not feeling too well myself.” (The views expressed in apples. I have a working-class this article are those of the friend that is employed at a a u t h o r a n d d o n o t local ice-cream company. He necessarily reflect the has a family. If that company opinions of this newspaper.)
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Pneumonia: It's the main cause of death for many COVID-19 patients By Dr. Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Vanderbilt Medical Center
O
ne of the cruellest ways to die is to slowly suffocate from lung damage from COVID-19. Often, this lung damage is because of the pneumonia caused by this dreaded disease. Almost half of COVID19 deaths are because of respiratory failure with many often being because of pneumonia. Pneumonia is not specific to COVID-19 and can be caused by many other infections. Understanding what pneumonia is can be helpful given that early treatment can sometimes mean the difference between life and death. What is pneumonia? Pneumonia is often caused by an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs. The air sacs may fill with fluid or pus (purulent material), causing cough with phlegm or pus, fever, chills, and difficulty breathing. This leads to blocked air sacs where oxygen cannot pass through, causing the affected person to struggle to breathe. A variety of organisms, including bacteria, viruses and fungi,
can cause pneumonia. In Guyana, it becomes more prevalent during the rainy season and therefore we should try to have a better understanding of it given that the rains have just started. What causes pneumonia? Many germs can cause pneumonia. The most common are bacteria and viruses in the air we breathe. Your body usually prevents these germs from infecting your lungs. But sometimes these germs can overpower your immune system, even if your health is generally good. In the case of COVID-19, the coronavirus (Sars-Cov-2) is the germ that's responsible for overpowering the immune system and causing pneumonia. What are symptoms of pneumonia? The signs and symptoms of pneumonia vary from mild to severe, depending on factors such as the type of germ causing the infection, and your age and overall health. Mild signs and symptoms often are similar to those of a cold or flu, but they last longer. Signs and symptoms of pneumonia may include: ● Fever, sweating and shaking chills ●Cough, which may produce phlegm
● Chest pain when you breathe or cough ● Shortness of breath ● Fatigue ● Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea Newborns and infants may not show any sign of the infection. They may vomit, have a fever and cough, appear restless or tired and without energy, or have difficulty breathing and eating. Who's more at risk? Those with any of the following conditions are more at risk for acquiring pneumonia: ● a weakened immune system, either due to disease such as HIV/AIDS or cancer, or to medications that suppress immune function ● infants and children 2 years of age or younger ● age 65 and older ● having a chronic disease such as cystic fibrosis, COPD, sickle cell anemia , asthma , heart disease, or diabetes ● swallowing or coughing problems, as may occur following stroke or other brain injury ● Persons that are malnourished ● Cigarette smokingespecially chronic smokers How is pneumonia treated?
The treatment of pneumonia depends on the cause, the severity of the disease and the doctors' findings. Symptomatic treatment along with appropriate antibiotic therapy is the mainstay of pneumonia treatment. This should only be decided by a doctor and you should not attempt to take antibiotics on your own. Sometimes - like in the case of COVID-19 - your body cannot fight off the pneumonia and you may need hospitalisation for oxygen and if it gets worse, you may have to be placed on a ventilator that helps you to breathe. When should you
visit a doctor? See your doctor if you have difficulty breathing, chest pain, persistent fever of 102 F (39 C) or higher or persistent cough, especially if you're coughing up yellow sputum. Individuals with any of the previously listed risk factors should visit a doctor if they begin to present with any of the symptoms of pneumonia.Pneumonia has a death rate that ranges from 510 percent and should not be taken lightly. Now that you have a better idea of what pneumonia is, you should not hesitate to visit your doctor if you suspect you are having symptoms of the disease.
Accessing early care will allow for timely treatment which will decrease your chances of having severe lifethreatening forms of pneumonia.
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Sunday November 21, 2021
>>> ENCOURAGING EVENTS, DISTURBING DEVELOPMENTS <<<
Opposition and US$9.5B oil audit, Exxon’s confidence with Yellowtail, increasing foreign debt and Carl Greenidge I am guardedly encouraged that Guyana’s Opposition is showing signs of life. For when Guyana’s apology for an Opposition finally found its voice to say
something, even if it was only a croak, it is still something. It might be only for the record about PPP assaults on the conscience of this nation, the latest of
which is the Government’s miserable failure to conduct an audit of that US$9.5 billion in bills from Exxon. It must be the start, and not the end, of Opposition
pushback and go for broke mindset. Any kind of articulation that speaks to the power of the hold that Exxon has on the PPP leadership (Opposition is in
the same boat) is better than nothing, and this is regardless of the source. Because only then light is shone on what is really going on with this oil, which some spirited Guyanese uncovered during the Yellowtail consultations. To this end, I am disturbed that Exxon pushes ahead with a large contract for subsea installations for its 4th oil project here. A case may be made for forward planning and preparedness, but I see it differently. It disturbs because of how demeaning this comes across for Guyana’s Government, that whatever it does it doesn’t matter, since Exxon is guaranteed approval for the 4th oil project. It is a sign also of Exxon’s supreme confidence of how it has PPP leaders down on their knees before it, doing its bidding, which consultation charades are confirming. I will be frank: Exxon is not a trustworthy partner. Exxon is a scheming, deceiving partner in the exploration and production of this oil wealth. Just look at what is coming out with those recent public consultations on Yellowtail. They must be sorry that their brilliant idea makes them look devious now. Neither the company nor functionaries in the PPP Government can hide that anymore. It disturbs still more that it will all be wasted, because Exxon will get its way, since whatever Guyanese uncover will not count in the long run, for as far as I am concerned Yellowtail is a done deal. And that was before it left the drawing board and became public. It is all about the dollars, and there are no bigger grabbers around than those in Government. The dollars that are flashing before the dancing childlike-eyes of PPP leaders are so irresistible, that they are not even waiting for the lenders to come knocking on our door. The people who have to lend, want to lend us more than we desire to borrow.
By GHK Lall But we make it easier for them: the President is sending out signals all over – IDB, UAE, the wider Middle East – and his message is a bugle blast: bring on the billions, we are borrowing. He is so transparent that he has given away his hand. Rather than let the lenders come here and bring their financial wares for us to play our cards right, he is barrelling about, like some rampaging bull on a borrowing binge. Our official debt leaves out the many other big ticket deals that President and Vice President live for, and are about to close out, including Amaila Falls, Wales gas-toshore, and that new bridge, likely two big ones. It encouraged that this increasing debt was what another PNC stalwart, the former Finance Minister, found his feet (and head) to make some noise about recently. He has that right, but nobody’s listening. PPP leaders only listen to themselves, and that is part of what disturbs more and more here, including their own. I was disturbed when former PNC power, Carl Greenidge dug a hole for himself by agreeing to deal with PPP leaders, now he must dig himself out of their c l u t c h e s . M y recommendation to him is simple: resign, sir. It is the only honourable thing left to do; go thy way gracefully. T h e l e s s o n i s straightforward: mix with certain company and automatically one transforms into a person of interest, to put this along police lines. PPP leaders don’t play straight. Last, listen to this please: get vaccinated. Do what is right. Do what is best. (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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Ansa Mcal launches Apothicwine 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
Sunday November 21, 2021
Kaieteur News
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 1. What are the tasting notes of Apothic Dark? 2. Who is the maker of this unique blend of wine? Submit answers to ANSAMCAL GUYANA WINES Facebook Page to win great prizes.
Lessons from a Lashpreneur!!!
How to clean lash extensions at home and why it’s important Hey lash babes, let’s talk about how to clean our extensions and why it’s super important. We pay so much attention to washing our hair, cleansing our face and moisturising our body – but one thing that often gets forgotten is eyelashes. If you think about it, your eyelashes do a lot of heavy lifting! They protect your eyes from airborne dust, lint and other debris. They act like a filter for your eyes and like most filters, they only work properly when they’re clean and maintained. It’s important that everyone maintains their lash health but if you also have beautiful lash extensions – cleansing will prolong the life of your lashes as well. It truly is a win-win! Follow the tips below when cleansing your eyelash extensions. 1.Avoid oil-based products Oil-based products can break down the glue bond underneath your lash extensions. This causes your extensions to fall from your natural lash earlier than the lash is ready to shed. If you’re wearing lash extensions, avoid oil-based products around your eye area when cleansing your face or lashes. 1.Use a gentle lash cleanser At Lift and lashes , we are passionate about lash health. Our lash technician will never apply lashes that are too heavy or that will cause damage to your natural lashes. We are also incredibly passionate about lash aftercare which is why every new customer is given a very detailed explanation on how to care for your new extensions. We also advise that you use a foaming cleanser to wash your lashes. One that is water basedso there are no oils that will break down the lash glue prematurely. 1.Gently cleanse every other day There are a few important aftercare instructions to pro-
long the life of your lashes. This includes keeping them free from moisture for 48 hours post-application, avoiding tugging at the extensions and combing your lashes every morning with a lash brush. However, arguably one of the most important steps is gently cleansing your lashes every other day.This will ensure you clean the lashes from any debris or bacteria build-up that may cause the glue to break down or worse yet, an eye infection. You’ll also notice how much better your extensions look when they are regularly cleaned properly. 1.Use gentle, circular motions and pat dry You know the method you use when applying sunscreen? That’s the kind of vigorous application we want to avoid at all costs when it comes to cleaning lashes. Gently wash in a circular motion downwards over the eyelashes. Afterwards, rinse with fresh water until all product is removed. Never rub back and forth as this will be too harsh for
the lashes and cause them to fall earlier than they naturally would. Once they’re clean, use a lint-free towel or paper towel to gently pat the lashes dry and then let them air dry. After they’re completely dry, you can then take your lash spool and brush them through. 1.Ensure makeup is removed from around lashes daily. This isn’t a full lash cleanse however if you wear makeup regularly – it’s important you clean the makeup from around your lash line every day. A handy way to do this is to dip a cotton bud into our foaming lash cleanser or another water-based cleanser – and clean as close to the lash line as possible. You should always avoid going to bed with foundation or eyeshadow still on around your lashes. Now that you know how to properly cleanse your eyelash extensions at home, you’ll notice your lashes last longer and look fuller between your infill appointments.
Enetworks to broadcast Formula One this weekend Enetworks will be broadcasting today, the Formula One inaugural Qatar Grand Prix. For those who may not be aware, Formula One (also known as Formula 1 or F1) is the highest class of international auto racing for singleseater formula racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération
Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA). The World Drivers’ Championship, which became the FIA Formula One World Championship in 1981, has been one of the premier forms of racing around the world since its inaugural season in 1950.
The word formula in the name refers to the set of rules to which all participants’ cars must conform. A Formula One season consists of a series of races, known as Grands Prix, which take place worldwide on both purpose-built circuits and closed public roads.
Sunday November 21, 2021
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Kingston Seawall renewal offers improved amenities to citizens and attraction to tourists ==CONSUMER CONCERNS==
By Pat Dial It was recently announced that the Kingston Seawall would be undergoing a major transformative facelift, which would convert it into the tourist hub of Georgetown. This project is being done under the National Beautification Project spearheaded by First Lady, Arya Ali. The Beautification Project aims to enhance the scenic qualities of Guyana's roadways and rural and urban spaces while at the same time striving for a more environmentally friendly country. Earlier in the year, Mrs. Ali had inspired and managed a cleanup campaign when the seawall from Camp Street to the Pegasus Hotel was thoroughly cleaned of all rubbish. Her present project is far more ambitious and aims at restoring the area around the bandstand and the tarmac to their pristine glory by again transforming it into one of the city's cultural and commercial centres. The commercial activity envisaged is the providing of refreshments for the hundreds who would visit the seawall every day and the thousands who would flock there on holidays. To accommodate this activity, 25 architecturally
designed kiosks will be built, 12 by the Ministry of Public Works and 13 by a corporate sponsor. These kiosks would eliminate willy nilly and disordered vending. The renewal project is being undertaken by the Ministry of Public Works and several corporate sponsors and will cost tens of millions of dollars. First Lady Arya Ali said that in addition to improving the environment and improving amenities for the citizens of Georgetown, the project will have economic spinoffs. "As we continue to welcome visitors and tourists to our beautiful Guyana," Mrs. Ali said, "it is very important for the physical appearance of the country to complement the investment climate." The bandstand, which had suffered the depredations of neglect, vandalism and theft of its beautiful ornamental cast iron rails and other fittings, will now be renewed and regular concerts by the Police and Militia bands will again be presented. Such concerts in the past offered Strauss' waltzes, marches like the Radetsky, Delibes' Pizzicato and folk songs and even Indian melodies like Sohani Raat as memorable mainstays which
entertained the public and bandmasters like Henwood and Carol were national figures. The tarmac would be asphalted and a ramp to accommodate wheelchairs would be built. Also, 30 new garbage bins would be strategically placed in the area and a modern toilet and restroom block would be constructed and the risk of flooding would be eliminated with the new concrete and subsurface drains. Within the vicinity of the tarmac and bandstand, one of the leading telecoms companies would be providing free WiFi. Most importantly, the security of the area would be strengthened by improved and by a police outpost and patrol officers. Knowledge of the historic past of Kingston would enrich visits to the seawall. When the Dutch ceded the colony to the British in 1815, the capital of Demerara was Stabroek. The British, however, did not settle in Stabroek but decided to build their settlement in the Kingston area largely impelled by military considerations. It should be remembered that at that time the land between Stabroek and Kingston was not occupied
and was covered with bush. Among the first British buildings in the Kingston area was the Lighthouse to guide vessels entering the Demerara River harbour. Then the barracks and parade ground and later houses for civilian officials and business folk were built. British businessmen were determined to maintain the sugar industry after Emancipation and the colonial government saw it as the economic salvation of the colony. Accommodation was therefore constructed in the Kingston area to house the indentured immigrants at Battery Road and Seawall Road when they arrived in the colony until they were
dispatched to the various sugar estates to provide the necessary labour. The immigration office was also established there. The early British encampment is memorialised in the Kingston street names Parade Street where the Parade Ground is situated, Fort Street leading to the fort, Barrack Street where the first barracks were, Battery Road where the cannon were once placed, High Street, the King's highway, Duke Street commemorating the Duke of Wellington who defeated Napoleon Bonaparte at the battle of Waterloo, and Camp Street, the street leading to the Camp. Other British survivals are the military cemetery at Rabbit Walk and
a number of 19th century wooden buildings. The Kingston area and the Immigration Depot site are also of historic interest to those Guyanese whose forefathers were indentured immigrants. The historic milieu of Kingston is reminiscent of old 18th century Boston, which was involved with the A m e r i c a n Wa r o f Independence. Historic Kingston would heighten the attractiveness of the renewed Kingston Seawall to both Guyanese tourists and other visitors. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
Sunday November 21, 2021
Kaieteur News
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The Thanksgiving Story
Junior page
PILGRIM HAT CRAYON CUP
A
long time ago in the year 1620, a whole bunch of people embarked on a journey to find a place where they could live in peace and harmony and worship whoever they wished to. These people were known as pilgrims. As they sailed on the boat called Mayflower for days, they finally landed in America at Plymouth. They soon started settling down by building homes and also began searching food sources. As winter set in, many pilgrims died because of harsh weather conditions. Squanto, an Indian came to their rescue and taught them how to sow corn plants and other such kinds of crops. The harvest was bountiful and they not only had enough to eat but they stocked up for the coming winters. The people were elated and decided to celebrate. A day was declared for offering prayers and thanksgiving by Governor Bradford. Indians were also invited in the merrymaking as everyone indulged in a threeday long festival of fun and frolic. Cold Turkey One fine morning, a few
days before Thanksgiving, Bobby went to a nearby supermarket store. As he was venturing between the aisles and browsing different products, he suddenly collapsed. The fellow shoppers quickly gathered around him
boy was trying to steal the frozen turkey under his hat, which numbed and chilled his brains and caused this condition. The manager was present at the scene too. Looking at the innocent and scared face of the boy, the
to help him as he was lying there unconscious. His condition started deteriorating when the blood started oozing from his ears and his face started turning white. The medical team arrived soon at the scene and examined the young boy. The team removed his hat, and to everyone's surprise, there was a frozen turkey hidden inside his hat. It didn't take much time for everyone to guess that the
manager decided not to take any action and he also handed over the thawed turkey to the boy. After a couple of days, the manager received a letter from Bobby that contained his apology, and he also expressed his gratitude towards the manager's generosity. The manager had a grin on his face as he also found 15 dollars in envelop, which was the cost of the turkey that Bobby tried to steal.
FUN WITH POETRY
Play Fair
The games we play are so much fun, When my friends and I all meet, Cricket, football, hopscotch and skipping, They make our lives so sweet. But there are times when I find Some children don't play so fair, They push and hit you when they lose, And sometimes even pull your hair. Games are one way we get to learn To be friendly, honest and kind; Play hard to win, but always play fair, And you will enjoy them all the time.
by Uncle Roy
SUPPLIES: ·Black Paper Cups (found mine at Hobby Lobby) ·Black Card Stock ·Ric Rac ·Scrapbook Paper ·Buttons ·Hot Glue Gun and Hot Glue ·X-acto Knife DIRECTIONS: 1. Gather all your supplies. 2. Using an X-acto knife, carve out the bottom of the cup. 3. Begin by hot gluing ric rac to the rim of your cup. Wrap it around and hot glue again to secure.
Connect these islands with bridges until each island can be reached from any other island, and each island has as many outgoing bridges as its number. You may only connect islands vertically or horizontally and bridges may not
4. From there, hot glue a square piece of scrapbook paper where the ric rac ended. On top of that, hot glue a button. 5. Fill with crayons. NOTE: The crayons were about the same height of the cup, so I added some shredded paper inside the cups so the crayons stuck out.
cross. There may be one or two bridges connecting pairs of islands, but no more than two. Each puzzle has a unique solution that can be found without making guesses.
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Kaieteur News
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TEEN TIME Persistence with this effort at developing your Sense of Personal Competence will reap immense rewards
T
he next step in building this important quality of Confidence in your abilities towards achieving the best in your life is: D E V E L O P P R O B L E M - S O LV I N G AND COPING SKILLS. In every instance of someone working towards achieving a goal, problems would arise. These would involve those that have to do with the way the goal has to be reached, as well as those which relate to the abilities of the person himself who is working towards the goal. The circumstances existing at the time will also play a part. Identify the skills you would need in whatever you are working on, and then submit yourself to the training to gain them and
apply them to the problems at hand. This would need some thought to make decisions, as you need to ensure that the training obtained will work well towards developing answers to your special problems. One important thing to bear in mind is that you would need to form positive attitudes while tackling problems, so that you are not easily discouraged when things seem to be going wrong. Many people react to the pressures which they experience while attempting to gain success at any undertaking by taking to drugs, withdrawing, or denying or avoiding the problem by giving up. If at school, they would cut classes or drop out entirely. Others may get
by Uncle Roy The game of life, as in every sport, Is filled with losses and wins, And just as we cherish the victories we gain, We must welcome the opportunities for improving. Life is full of ups and downs, Before we can score a goal; We try to find ways to beat the opposition, And keep control of the ball. Each inning we play is a test of our skills, As to whether we give up or play on; The tougher the bowling, the more we learn, So as to score better in the next one.
disturbed emotionally, or even move to violence. Any of t h e s e m e a s u res would make the problems larger and unsolvable, so you need to keep being positive that your efforts will bear fruit as you go along, and try not to entertain too many doubts about the outcome of these. Here a g a i n , a
y oung person should seek the support of competent persons to help to build selfconfidence. Encouragement during a period of frustration will keep them focused on their goals and acting positively towards their achievement. We continue next week with the other steps in this essential quality that you need to achieve your goals.
Kakuro puzzles Kakuro puzzles are like a cross between a crossword and a Sudoku puzzle. Instead of letters, each block contains the digits 1 through 9. The same digit will never repeat within a word.
Keep on Playing
If you add the digits in a word, the sum will be the number shown in the clue. Clues are shown on the left and right sides of “across” words, and on the top and bottom sides of “down” words.
So hold your chin up, whatever the odds, And keep moving towards success and fame; Yours is to decide to continue towards your goals, And not give up in the middle of the game.
Helping others in improving their abilities will give your confidence in your own.
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
Hex sudoku
Ripple effect
PAGE 42
BEST TIPS FOR FLAWLESS SKIN 1. Cleanse your Skin Our skin collects impurities, dirt, and oil throughout the day. Hence, it is important to properly wash your face at least two times a day to get rid of dirt and impurities. Also, sleeping with makeup on is a big 'No' if you want to have flawless skin. That is because your skin needs to breathe overnight and having makeup on the skin prevents that, as it can clog the pores, leading to blemishes and blackheads. Before going to bed, remove your makeup and apply a moisturizer before you sleep. 2. Exfoliate to Avoid Blackheads It is essential to exfoliate the skin to get rid of dead skin cells and avoid blackheads. Use the right facial scrub that suits your skin type two to three times a week to prevent blackheads, whiteheads, and get clear, flawless skin. People with sensitive skin or dry skin should apply a soft, nonabrasive, creamy exfoliator two times a week. 3. Get Your Beauty Sleep IRaise your hands if you binge-watch Netflix or play video games till late night- I know most of you must be raising their hands now. It is perfectly fine to enjoy your 'Me-time' after a hectic day, but that should not be at the cost of your health. Not getting adequate sleep has been linked to dull skin. 4. Invest in Professional Skin Care Products When it comes to skincare, you should choose the best products. Select the right product that is of premium quality and has advanced ingredients. 5. Eat a Healthy & Nutritious Diet Your skin is what you eat. Keep a tab on what you eat because that will show on your skin too. Eat fruits, green vegetables, and vitamin-rich diet to keep your skin healthy. a. Vitamin C rich foods Eating foods loaded with vitamin C is one of the best tips for flawless skin. Vitamin C keeps the skin healthy by boosting collagen production in the body and preventing collagen damage. b. Antioxidants Also, add antioxidants to your diet because they fight inflammation that is the cause of wrinkle formation. Some of the best foods with antioxidants are blueberries, spinach, pomegranates, nuts, seeds, grapes, dark chocolate, and green tea. c. Healthy Fats Not all fats are bad and unhealthy. Nuts and seeds contain fat, but they are healthy for your body. Nuts are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids that keep the skin healthy. Healthy fats are good for your overall health. Hence, add healthy fats like walnuts, almonds, fish, and flaxseed to your diet. d. Iron and Zinc Zinc boosts cell production and also gives a fresh look to your skin. Iron, on the other hand, is required to carry oxygen through the body and gives a blushy and rosy glow to your face. Nuts, seeds, eggs, milk, legumes, spinach, red meat, and pumpkin seeds are the best sources of iron and zinc. e. Fibre If you get acne breakouts frequently, it is time for you to think of adding fibre-rich foods to your diet. That is because acne breakouts often occur due to digestion problems, and one of the best ways to improve digestion is to eat food rich in fibre. Eat brown rice, banana, apples, whole-grain bread, and oatmeal to reduce acne. 5. Give some Rest to Stress We all deal with stressful situations in our life, but taking too much stress is not good for your health and skin. Studies have shown that stress can aggravate skin problems like acne breakouts, and rashes. Stress causes your body to release a hormone called cortisol, which may increase the skin's oil production, leading to more pimples and acne. 6. Stay Hydrated Drinking water is one of the simplest tips for flawless skin. Staying hydrated will eliminate toxins from your body and keep your skin healthy. For soft, flawless skin, take healthy fluids and drink at least eight glasses of water every day. 8. Protect your Skin from Sunlight Sunlight can be harmful to your skin as it is one of the major causes of the signs of visible ageing, such as wrinkles, facial lines, skin thinning, freckling, and in severe cases, can also contribute to the development of skin cancer. 9. Workout Every Day Doing exercise every day will boost your blood circulation and also accelerate the cleaning process of your body. https://skeyndor.in/top-11-beauty-tips-for-flawless-skin/
Kaieteur News
Sunday November 21, 2021
Sunday November 21, 2021
Kaieteur News
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==GNBS IN FOCUS== Meeting customers'
needs in the restaurant industry Guyana is known for its diverse cuisines which resulted from the blends of six ethnicities: their culture and traditions. Over the years, these culinary skills have been transformed into business opportunities with the opening of restaurants across the country, which also contributes significantly to the thriving tourism industry. As 21 restaurants join in the celebration of Guyana Restaurant Week this year, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) would like to highlight the importance of quality and customer satisfaction in this line of business. In 2003, the GNBS adapted the 'Code of Practice for Quality Management in the Restaurant Services', a National Standard aimed at upgrading the restaurant services offered in Guyana. According to the standard, a restaurant establishment is any commercial food service in which food is handled, prepared and served to customers, such that it is either consumed inside or outside of the facility. The document specifies managerial requirements necessary to ensure the efficient running of such
facilities, along with measures to achieve high p r o d u c t i v i t y, c u s t o m e r satisfaction, and competitive service on the local and international markets. Notably, the standard does not apply to institutional food services, such as school feeding programmes, food vans or vendors, or any situation where food is sold from carts or vehicles on the roadside. Some of the requirements of the standard include material resources such as culinary equipment and stores, computerised systems, operational and technical documentation. The document also outlines operational needs for example bars, seating accommodations, transportation for goods and information systems. One of the key points noted in the document is the requirement for “constant, open and honest” communication. It noted that service delivery personnel shall be skilled in effective communication so that they can successfully serve their customers. These persons include waiters, bartenders, busboys, hosts and hostesses and cashiers, among others. Further, there shall be no h i n d r a n c e s t o
communication between or among team members. The document covers advertising where honesty is encouraged as it states, “all advertisements shall be truthful.” It also addresses contract r e v i e w, d e s i g n a n d development of new products and many other areas, which are key to the efficient management of a business. In addition, as citizens visit various restaurants, many have complained of standards dropping in some of the establishments they previously frequented. However, the document pointed out that consistency in services rendered to customers is of vital importance throughout the organisation. It requires implementing restaurants to formulate a Quality Policy with the company's commitment to quality, consideration of customers' needs, assurance of an efficient service and the i n t e g r a t i o n o f environmentally friendly practices, among others. The GNBS is urging restaurateurs to purchase a copy of the 'Code of Practice for Quality Management in the Restaurant Services' and implement the National
Standard to increase customer satisfaction to benefit your business. The scope and price of the Standard can be accessed on the GNBS' Standards Portal (https://gnbsguy.com/). In addition, persons who require technical assistance or training to implement the
Standard, can contact our Business Development Department at email bs s @ g n bs g y. o rg w h e r e assistance can be provided to ensure the smooth implementation of the document. The department also offers training relating to Food Safety and other
Standards which can be used to improve the overall success of the restaurant industry. For further information, contact the GNBS on telephone numbers: 2190065 or 219-0064 or WhatsApp +592-692-GNBS (4627).
Kaieteur News
PAGE 44 Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha
On Thursday, Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha was elected to serve as the Chairman of the 61st Session of the Caribbean Meteorological Council for the next 12 months. This announcement came via a press release issued by the Agriculture Ministry. The Caribbean Meteorological Council, is the Governing Body of the Caribbean Meteorological Organization (CMO), a specialised agency of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). While delivering the feature address, Minister
Mustapha said given the importance of having access to accurate and up-to-date weather information, the Government, since taking office, has made several investments to improve the public weather service in Guyana. “It is in this context that the development of a National Flood Early Warning System became extremely relevant and, in June of this year, Guyana launched its first National F l o o d E a r l y Wa r n i n g System. While the system is still in its pilot phase, its
Sunday November 21, 2021
Agri. Minister elected Chair of 61st Session of the Caribbean Meteorological Council development is critical to protecting lives, livelihoods, and property. Critical to our mediumterm development agenda, the Government of Guyana recently developed a roadmap for the development of a National Multi-Hazard Early Warning System. Additionally, to further enhance the public weather service, investments have also been made to repair the radar, and to facilitate the maintenance of Automatic Weather Stations,” Minister Mustapha said. The Caribbean Meteorological Council is the supreme organ of the organization and comprises
Ministers responsible for meteorology. While acting as Chair, Minister Mustapha will be tasked with guiding issue directions of a general or special character as to the policy to be pursued by the organization and its many organs. Outlining Guyana's current efforts towards building resilience and attaining sustainable development, Minister Mustapha noted that a major component to achieving those goals would involve the integration of water, weather, and climate services and solutions. This recognition, he said, is underscored in the recently revised National Development Strategy: The Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), which has been expanded to include biodiversity and ecosystem services, the maritime environment, and water resources management. The minister also went on to say that Guyana, through the Hydrometeorological Service and other Governmental and nonGovernmental agencies, is committed to accomplishing the integration of weather, climate, and water agendas through national adaptation
and resilience policies. “In the specific case of the Hydrometeorological Service, and in its role of national regulator, a Strategic Plan was recently developed with support under the Climate Resilience and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) Project and the Caribbean M e t e o r o l o g i c a l Organization. This Strategic Plan has allowed Guyana to align the national priorities on weather, water and climate with the ambitions of the international community as led regionally by the Caribbean Meteorological Organization (CMO) and internationally by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO),” the minister added. Furthermore, Minister Mustapha told the Council that Guyana, with support from its regional and international partners, has been working to strategically improve and expand its observational and monitoring infrastructure with investments in state-ofthe-art technologies. “In the last two years alone, we have been able to upgrade the country's c l i m a t e d a t a management system to i n t e r n a t i o n a l s tandards,
inclusive of the training of local staff, which is currently ongoing. We also invested in the procurement of computing power to facilitate Climate modelling which will, over the next few years, allow our staff to work with international partners to enhance Guyana's climate modelling capacity. There were also investments made to procure a Direct Readout Ground Station (DRGS) which is scheduled to be installed shortly. This will improve the management of national hydrometeorological data, a l l o w i n g t h e Hydrometeorological Service to have complete control over its data flows, and would also improve the efficiency in which we manage and maintain our observational network.” Minister Mustapha succeeds Saint Vincent and the Grenadines' Prime Minister, Ralph Gonsalves, who served as Chair of the 60th CMC. The C M C w a s established by its Member States in 1962, t o f u r t h e r t h e regionalisation of meteorology in the Anglophone Caribbean.
Kaieteur News
Sunday November 21, 2021
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PAHO launches digital health worker to help risky drinkers The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) on Friday launched Pahola, the world's first digital health worker to specialise in alcohol and health, in an effort to help countries in the region to reduce increasing rates of harmful drinking. “Alcohol is the leading risk factor for premature mortality and disability among people aged between 15 and 49 years, so any and every tool that can help people to reduce their risk and lead a healthier life is welcome,” Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), said in a video message at the webinar launch of Pahola. “New technologies, including artificial intelligence, are powerful tools for expanding access to information and care, and we hope Pahola will be very successful in the Americas and around the world.”Designed to be empathetic and free of judgment, Pahola can provide general information
“PAHO's goal with Pahola is to help people better understand the harms caused by alcohol consumption, increase access to reliable information, facilitate self-assessment of alcoholrelated risks and take concrete steps to decrease alcohol use.” - PAHO Assistant Director, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa” a bout the risks of drinking and communicate interactively and confidentially with people. She can help assess users' alcohol-related risks using a series of questions. If people then decide to cut down on drinking, Pahola can help them create a plan that includes identifying triggers and figuring out how to cope with them. Available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, she can also refer people to alcohol treatment services. “PAHO's goal with Pahola is to help people better understand the harms caused by alcohol consumption, increase access to reliable information, facilitate selfassessment of alcoholrelated risks and take
concrete steps to decrease a l c o h o l u s e , ” PA H O Assistant Director, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa said. He added that Pahola is not intended to replace direct contact with health professionals but aims to encourage people to seek help.Alcohol consumption takes a heavy toll in the Americas, leading to about 379,000 deaths annually from related diseases,
injuries, intoxication, and poisoning. Regular alcohol consumption also increases the risk for liver cirrhosis and some major forms of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Between eight percent and 10 percent of the over-18 population in the Americas has an alcohol use disorder (AUD), defined as harmful use of alcohol or alcohol dependence. But about 80 percent of people who need
t reatment for AUD do not get it because services are poorly developed or unavailable. During the COVID-19 pandemic, AUD services have been further disrupted, while alcohol consumption increased in several countries, aided by online sales and home d e l i v e r i e s . Dr. Anselm Hennis, Director of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health a t PA H O e m p h a s i s e d Pahola's capacity to meet health needs in the Americas. “Pahola can simultaneously talk with millions of people who wish to assess the health risks of their drinking. She can increase the delivery of alcohol education significantly, in settings where we simply
don't have enough health professionals to provide free or low-cost information and support. Many people can reduce their drinking with simple yet effective advice.” Pahola complements other PAHO efforts to reduce risky drinking in the region. These include helping countries strengthen public policies such as effective taxation of alcohol, comprehensive restrictions on alcohol sales and marketing, and improving treatment interventions. Last week, PAHO also launched the “Live Better, Drink Less” public education campaign to raise awareness about the harmful effects of alcohol in the Americas. Pahola was created in collaboration with autonomous animation company, Soul Machines and PAHO's creative partner, Rooftop. The second digital person designed to combat preventable health issues, Pahola follows Florence, who was launched in July 2020 by the World Health Organization's (WHO) quit
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Sunday November 21, 2021
Matters in which persons were committed to stand trial in the High Court this year
The Court Journal By Renay Sambach In this article, I will highlight some matters where the defendants were committed to stand trial in the High Court for serious offences, for this year thus far. Earlier this year, I had shared the different methods Magistrates use to dispose of matters. In the Magistrate's Court, there are three different methods in which matters are tried. For the not so serious offences, a trial is conducted, while for the serious offences the Magistrate can either conduct a preliminary inquiry (PI) or a paper committal. For the serious offences, the defendant is not allowed to either plead guilty or not guilty, since the matter was laid indictably. For those offences, the Magistrate does not impose a sentence but rules whether or not sufficient evidence was presented to the court for the matter to either be
discharged or for the defendant to be committed to stand trial in the High Court of the respective districts. On July 23, four years after being charged with the October 2017 killing of Godfrey Scipio known as 'Sagga', former 'Best Cop', Derwin Eastman, was committed to stand trial in the High Court for murder. Also, the matter was discharged against former constable of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Jameson Williams. Eastman and Williams were charged jointly in December 2017. The matter was being heard in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts before Senior Magistrate, Fabayo Azore. On November 27, 2020, Magistrate Azore had stated that sufficient evidence was presented to the court for the duo to be implicated in the murder – a prima facie case was made out against Eastman and Williams.
Alleged serial rapist, Thurston Semple As a result of the ruling, Eastman and Williams opted to lead their own defence. Earlier this year, both men commenced calling witnesses to lead their defence. Following this process, Magistrate Azore committed Eastman to stand trial at the next practicable sitting of the Demerara Assizes before a judge and jury, and the matter was
Dead, David Barclay. discharged against Williams. According to reports, Scipio of Lot 'ZZ' 22 D'Urban Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown, had been selling at the Berbice car park for several years and was known for wearing lots of gold jewellery. According to police, he was shot in the chest as he was leaving a city hotel on October 27, 2017. Ex-con, Aubrey Bobb, 27, of Kitty, Georgetown, was the first to be committed to stand trial in the High Court for the murder of the businessman. After Bobb was arrested for the murder, he implicated Eastman and Williams in the crime. Bobb was committed in 2019 to stand trial in the High Court but is still in jail awaiting the commencement of his trial. Also in July, Michael Kendall, a police officer, was committed to stand trial in the High Court for the alleged rape of a minor. Kendall was committed to the High Court using the paper committal process – this was done by Principal Magistrate, Sherdel IsaacsMarcus in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts. According to reports, Kendall and one, Eon Franklin, was charged jointly in March 2021 for the alleged rape of a minor. They were not required to plead to the indictable charge, which alleges that on December 3, 2020, at Georgetown, they raped a child under the age of 16. Both men were placed on $300,000 bail each on their first court hearing. Principal Magistrate Isaacs-Marcus ruled that based on the evidence that was submitted to the court,
Dead, Godfrey Scipio known as “Sagga”.
Former 'Best Cop', Derwin Eastman.
she found sufficient evidence against Kendall for him to stand trial at the next practicable sitting of the Demerara Assizes. As such, he was committed but remains released on bail. In April, alleged serial rapist, Thurston Semple, was committed to stand trial in the High Court. Thirty-seven-year-old Semple was committed to stand trial in the High Court for allegedly raping a sex worker, but he was placed on $250,000 High Court bail for that offence. However, Semple, a taxidriver of Lot 5A, Tucville Te r r a c e , G e o r g e t o w n , remains in prison since he is still to answer for a similar charge involving another woman. The alleged serial rapist was committed to stand trial by Principal Magistrate, Faith McGusty in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts. The judicial officer committed him to stand trial in the High Court for allegedly raping a Venezuelan woman. Semple's committal was also done in the form of a paper committal. According to reports, on March 5, 2021, Semple was slapped with his fourth rape charge and was remanded to prison for that offence. This publication had reported that he was not required to plead to the indictable charge, which alleges that between February 24, 2021, and February 25, 2021, at Lot 5A, Tucville Terrace, he engaged in sexual penetration with a woman, without her consent. Also committed to stand trial is television producer, Collin Venture, of 'B' Field, Sophia, Georgetown. He was charged in
January of this year for allegedly raping a 13-yearold girl and was yesterday committed to stand trial for the offence before a judge and jury in the High Court. The 30-year-old accused was committed to stand trial for the offence after the conclusion of a paper committal by Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan, in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts. He is expected to stand trial at the next practicable sitting in the Demerara Assizes. On his first court appearance, he was not required to plead to the indictable offence, which alleges that during the month of September 2020, Venture raped a child under the age of 16. He was placed on $150,000 bail. Awaiting trial for the death of 29-year-old David Barclay of Triumph, East Coast Demerara, is 29-yearold Kester Lewis, a taxidriver. Lewis is expected to go on trial in the High Court for murder at the next practicable sitting of the Demerara Assizes. On Thursday December 31, 2020, Lewis made his first court appearance in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts for the offence. The charge alleges that on December 27, 2020 at D'Urban Street, Lodge, Georgetown, Lewis killed Barclay. According to reports, Barclay was struck down and dragged by a motorcar for some distance on D'Urban Street following a row over $700 with Lewis. Police in a statement had said that Barclay had approached Lewis, who was believed to be a mechanic, to fix his vehicle after it encountered problems on D'Urban Street.
Sunday November 21, 2021
Kaieteur News
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Guyanese who was awarded Kaieteur Block jumps into insurance industry with TT partner sector. In this regard, the company was keen to note that the complex nature of Upstream, Midstream, and Downstream operations as
Ryan Pereira, Chairman of Zarc Group of Companies Ryan Pereira, the lone Guyanese investor in charge of Ratio Petroleum, one of the two initial owners of the highly prospective Kaieteur Block, is now expanding his portfolio in the oil sector. J u s t r e c e n t l y, i t w a s announced that the local businessman teamed up with Trinidad’s CIC Insurance Brokers Limited for the establishment of CIC Insurance Brokers (Guyana) Limited to provide the industry with leading risk advisory and risk transfer products. For this partnership, Pereira utilised Zarc Group of Companies, another company he manages. Kaieteur News understands that the latest alliance will allow for the provision of general insurance, employee benefits, and risk management. Commercial insurance in the manufacturing, financial, hospitality and retail industries as well as insurance for casualties and risk management will also be provided too. In an advertisement published in the daily newspapers it was noted that CIC Guyana is determined to be a superlative full-service insurance brokerage company given that it will be premised on the combined expertise of the two companies. Kaieteur News understands that Trinidad’s CIC brings 52 years of insurance brokerage experience to the table while Zarc brings its proven track record, knowledge, and understanding of the local business environment. This newspaper understands that the new partners have already established a multi-million dollar headquarters at Lot A52 Barima Avenue, Bel Air Park. The company also has a website: www.cic.co.gy where it notes that together with its global partners, CIC Guyana can design programmes that cater for protection in the oil and gas
well as Power Generation and Distribution require experienced individuals versed in the wide range of products and solutions
available to facilities. With this noted that the specialists
cover these in mind, it firm’s energy are at the
forefront of advising energy companies worldwide on the wide range of risks they face. “Whether your focus is exploration, construction,
production, or refining and marketing – single-location operations, new projects, or a diverse portfolio of Continued on page 62
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Kaieteur News
Sunday November 21, 2021
Sunday November 21, 2021
Kaieteur News
Fire razes OPR, DPP offices
A fire which started at the Guyana Police Force’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) Eve Leary, Georgetown yesterday completely gutted that building before destroying sections of the facility that accommodates the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The fire which started around 15:00hrs quickly moved through the old wooden structures. Police officers were seen removing massive amounts of files from the DPP’s office, as firefighters, who arrived at the scene about 45 minutes after the blaze started, tried desperately to save the building. They were only successful in putting it out around 17:00hrs. This was after several persons, including Home Continued on page 56
Several persons turned up at the scene of the fire including high-ranking police officials and government ministers.
The aftermath of the fire.
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Kaieteur News
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Sunday November 21, 2021
7% is no increase in face of rising cost of living The unilateral imposition of a seven percent wages and salaries hike for public servants is no real increase taking into account the escalating cost of living and is in fact unconstitutional and in violation of the country’s labour laws. Article 13—the recently formed civil society body, over the weekend weighed in on the announcement by senior Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, of a seven percent salary increase for public servants and government pensioners for the year 2021. According to Article 13, in a joint missive from spokespersons, Dr. Yog Mahadeo, Ramon Gaskin and Jonathan Yearwood, increases in the cost of living of basic items have been running anywhere between 10 percent and 30 percent and that consumer prices at the end of the first half of 2021 grew by 5.6 percent. Accordingly, Article 13 posits, the seven percent does not represent any real increase for public sector employees or their standard of living. As it relates to the legal violations, Article 13 prefaced its position by pointing out that “once again, we witness the spectacle of the imposition of wage increase by unilateral action, as has happened for every year since 1999.”
…as civil society body slams unconstitutional, unilateral imposition
Article 13 Representative, Dr. Yog Mahadeo
the imposition also violates Article 13 of the Constitution which was elevated to a fundamental right under Article 149 C. Additionally, the group said “to make matters worse, the Minister of the Public Service insults the intelligence of the nation with the fatuous excuse for nonconsultation with the union that the government was pressed for time.” As such, the group suggested that as a lawyer by profession, the Minister ought to be aware of section 23 of the Trade Union Recognition Act which imposes on employers a duty to bargain in good
Senior Finance Minister within the Office of the President, Dr. Ashni Singh
“Government, like its predecessor, appears utterly oblivious to the question of the minimum wage in the private sector which stands at $44,500 which is a complete disgrace in an oil economy,” - Article 13 According to the civil society body, this represents a clear breach of the Constitution, the Trade Union Recognition Act, the Agreement for collective bargaining between the Government and the workers’ unions, and ILO Conventions. It was noted too that ‘tellingly’
faith and enter into negotiations with [the trade unions] for the purpose of collective bargaining. According to Article 13, “it seems that no one in this Government understands that collective bargaining extends beyond wages and salaries and includes other terms and conditions
of work as well.” To this end, the group submits that collective bargaining for the year 2021 should have commenced and coincided with the 2021 budget process so that it could be included in the 2021 Appropriations Act. It was observed that “…even if belated negotiations had taken
place as part of the mid-year review, the two sides could have considered the fact that the growth i n t h e G u y a n a ’s e c o n o m y outstripped that of any other country in the world.” Addressing the issue of representation, the group highlighted what it deems, the poor quality of representation of public sector workers by incompetent and even absentee leadership. As such, “our Group’s call for democracy and accountability extends not only to the Government of the day, but to the Opposition and to the trade unions.” Additionally, Article 13 noted that it is surprised that the political opposition is now rejecting the imposition of wage increases in the public sector when it did the same while it was in government between 2015 and 2020. In conclusion, the group was adamant that it is beyond time for review of the minimum wage in the private and the public sectors, particularly with respect to nurses, teachers, police and the army “who are in the frontline protecting our people and our territory.” According to Article 13, “this government, like its predecessor, appears utterly oblivious to the question of the minimum wage in the private sector which stands at $44,500 which is a complete disgrace in an oil economy.”
Sunday November 21, 2021
Kaieteur News
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Top US Judge deplores ‘perceived political interference’ in local Judiciary …after meeting with Govt., Opposition, Judicial Officers, other stakeholders
The visiting US delegation meeting with local stakeholders last week.
SBF Petroleum Inc., CEO and President, Dorwain Bess (left) presents Justice Carlos Moore with a dossier outlining his allegations.
Association, the Attorney General Chambers and the Office of Justice Moore gave his views Johanna Leblanc, raised, among top US Judge and Director of Public Prosecutions, sitting President of the during a meeting with Deputy other concerns, the status of “in order to invest in the United States National Speaker of the National Assembly, numerous appointments that development of Guyana.” Bar Association (US-NBA), Lenox Shuman, along with a inherently affect the functioning of The visiting team, according to Justice Carlos Moore, has deplored member of the private sector, the judiciary, and cited as another a statement from the Legal Affairs as worrying and concerning—once where among the concerns raised example the status of Judicial Ministry, has since indicated, proven true—the numerous were the implications of the acting S e r v i c e , a n d o t h e r “…they are willing to allegations of political interference positions being held by senior Commissions. collaborate in line with the The tit-for-tat over the in the local judiciary, through judicial posts such as the needs of the Guyana acting appointments, and other Chancellor of the Judiciary, in lack of consultations Government and are “I insist on hearing from all sides between Leader of the addition to an Acting Chief Justice. such actions. ready to assist with Political Opposition, Joseph TIT-FOR-TAT Justice Moore gave the of an equation so that I am fully equipping local lawyers Deputy Speaker Shuman, Harmon, and President Ali preliminary assessment just prior to in the area of oil and gas informed of any and all his departure from Guyana this past during the impromptu meeting leading to the stalemate over expertise.” outstanding issues. I look forward week, following an official two- venued at the Marriott Hotel with key appointments and their According to day visit at the invitation of Head of Justice Moore and his Chief concomitant implications to further discussions and visits Attorney General Foreign Policy Advisor, Ms. were also raised with the State, President Irfaan Ali. with all concerned and to lending Nandlall, it was suggested to the US delegation that my expertise in an independent the American Bar and unbiased fashion.” – Association, can facilitate Justice Carlos Moore an expert in law reform, coming to Guyana to assist the recently established Law Reform fra Commission. c t u r e d i n e ff i c i e n t p o l i t i c a l Other areas of partnership opposition in the form of the 31seat A Partnership for National identified by the Ministry “include Unity / Alliance For Change exchange of interns and legal ( A P N U + A F C ) w a s a l s o experts and seminars with local highlighted, among matters, attorneys.” The visiting and local including a lack of inclusivity across the spectrum, particularly on d e l e g a t i o n s a l s o u s e d t h e Head of State, President Irfaan Ali during his meeting with President of the important matters affecting the opportunity to discuss areas of US National Bar Association, Justice Carlos Moore and team at State House. citizenry, leading many to believe e l e c t o r a l r e f o r m a n d t h e that there was little to no recourse importance of the rule of law. INCLUSIVITY? domestically; hence, the appeal for The US delegation also met the Bar Association’s intervention. with Head of State, President Ali COLLABORATION During his visit to Guyana, who treated the visitors to a Justice Moore and Chief Policy luncheon, following discussions Advisor—Ms. Leblanc—were related to areas of mutual accompanied by the Association’s cooperation. Also present for the largely Executive Director, Maurice Foster Esq. and member of the South informal discussions were Prime Carolina House of Representatives, Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d), Mark Phillips, Minister Nandlall, Rosalyn Henderson-Myers. Minister of Foreign Affairs and The legal luminaries during their sojourn also met with International Cooperation, Hugh Guyana’s legal advisor to the Todd and Foreign Secretary, Robert Government, Attorney General and Persaud. They were also joined by Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC, and members of his representatives of the local legal f r a t e r n i t y, n a m e l y A c t i n g delegation. T h e A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l Chancellor of the Judiciary, subsequently related that the US Yonette Cummings-Edwards; From left: Chief Policy Advisory, Johanna LeBlanc, Justice Carlos Moore, National Bar Association’s visit to Acting Chief Justice, Roxane Deputy Speaker, Lenox Shuman and businessman Dorwain Bess. Guyana was aimed at establishing George-Wiltshire, Director of Continued on page 54 partnerships with the local Bar
A
visiting US Judge. Wi d e s p r e a d p e r c e i v e d corruption in Guyana including, collusion involving public officials and general political interference in the state apparatus, were among some of the key concerns raised by Shuman. A
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Sunday November 21, 2021
...Stacey Dos Santos-Rahaman Posing for a photo at the Orinduik Falls, Potaro Siparuni, Region Eight.
“In the next five years, I would love to see Guyana’s tourism sector improve and I would want to grow with Guyana and continue to partner with those engaged in it. Overall, the impact and experience will remain a positive one, for which, I am so thankful and grateful for.”
From page 18 said. “So it’s a full-circle moment to have fallen in love with tourism at the GTA and to now be able to sit on its board as a director.” RURAL LIFE The digital marketing provider and entrepreneur shared briefly on her “countryside upbringing.” “I grew at Vreeden-Hoop on the West Coast of Demerara at a time when there was limited running water. We didn’t have much growing up, but my mother, Ruby, a single parent, ensured that my brother and I were cared for. She was a teacher so education was already a top priority in our household and she instilled those values of work ethic and integrity. Her words were always that we make something useful with our lives,” she said. Dos SantosRahaman said she remains grateful to her mother for those principles. As a result, Dos Santos-Rahaman made her academic pursuits paramount. She attended the St. Gabriel’s Primary School, St. Stanislaus College and by the time she was 17 years old, she had already embarked on a tertiary level education at the University of Guyana. Reminiscent of those years, Dos Santos-Rahaman also credited her high school for helping to mould her into the individual she is today. “At Saints is where I learned a lot about myself. I began to develop and evolve into my own person, know what I liked, explored career options and so on...many of the friends I had then, I still keep in contact with them,” she said, “they continue to be a valued part of my journey.” VENTURING OUT Today, Dos Santos-Rahaman wears many hats. She is a wife to her husband Chris, mother to two adoring daughters, entrepreneur and co-founder of Christa Marketing Solutions, a digital marketing firm; IT specialist, tourism advocate, consultant, content creator and the list goes on. She told Kaieteur News that indeed her work has expanded from when she first ventured out to start promoting Guyana’s tourism on her own terms. She explained that when she first began sharing information on the internet using the heading ‘Visit Guyana’, it was part of her efforts to educate her friends in Grenada about the beauty of her homeland. Having worked in the local tourism sector for three years, she moved to Grenada where she was employed by a Tourism Magazine development company on the island.
According to Dos Santos-Rahaman, “that is when it dawned on me that not much is known about Guyana’s [bountiful] tourism potential outside of the country; not even in the Caribbean.” “There was basically a lot of negatives being said out there, so I created the Facebook page initially to share some positives about us as Guyanese; our culture, our food, and so on. I started by uploading information and images to teach them about simple things that happen in our culture like
A cool walk on the beach: Stacy Dos Santos-Rahaman is pictured at Lake Mainstay in the E’bo River. Diwali and Emancipation. And you would be surprised to know that not many people; even some of our Caribbean neighbours know what those celebrations are about. So it was a means of educating and enlightening them on our vast and diverse culture, biodiversity and way of life,” she said. Dos Santos-Rahaman noted that in time, her “passion project” evolved into something
bigger. “It became my heart on social media because I was literally investing my time and energy in content creation. Sharing locations, scenery, cuisine, freshly grown vegetables, and fruits…and in time, people began liking and sharing our stuff online. We started getting messages from Guyanese and people from all over the world expressing how much they enjoyed the content. Dos Santos-Rahaman said that the page continues to garner popularity on social media. It creates nostalgia for citizens living outside of Guyana. It educates non-Guyanese and presents Guyana as an option for them to visit. “Nothing beats getting a text or message on the Visit Guyana page telling me, ‘Your page has inspired me to return home and bring my entire family for a visit’,” she said with pride. UPS AND DOWNS As it is with any venture, Dos SantosRahaman has seen her share of ups and downs in her quest to advocate for improvements in the local tourism sector and even to promote it. She explained that, “Many stakeholders didn’t quite understand the impact of social media at the time and there was definitely a push back and an unwillingness to initially embrace what we were doing. So, it took a while for them to warm up to the idea that social media is a powerful tool for promotion.” As a board member of the GTA, Dos Santos-Rahaman continues to advocate for training and development in this and many other areas. Apart from the challenges, Dos Santos-Rahaman said that there have been many good experiences. For instance, her work has so far copped three awards for providing supporting services to Destination Guyana – another for her Destination Guyana promotion online and Tourism Entrepreneur of the year for her Visit Guyana Magazine. Added to this, she noted that there are many who continue to support the work Visit Guyana does and she is grateful for that. “Some of our main supporters include, Digicel, Demerara Distillers Limited, Giftland Mall. We also have the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) with whom we partner to promote Guyana Restaurant Week online. We also liaise with a lot of local companies to organise trips for international visitors and persons returning to Guyana from overseas,” she added. While she expresses hope that Guyana’s
Showcasing some handicraft items made in Guyana.
tourism will take on another dimension with adequate resources and expertise to support it, Dos Santos-Rahaman is keeping herself “booked and busy,” as she continues to push Visit Guyana as a means of inspiring people to visit this destination. REWARDING EXPERIENCES During her interview, Dos SantosRahaman shared some of the highlights of her Visit Guyana journey. In this regard, she noted that while she had many, the most rewarding moments have been, the fact that she gets to “show my kids the beauty of their homeland and create beautiful memories with them.” She notes that, “No awards can compare to the precious time spent with family. No experience can compare to being able to stand at the top of Kaieteur Falls with my eldest and listen to her describe it to me through her own eyes. None can compare to watching her awake at 5:00 am to catch a glimpse of a “star bird” or giving her the space to create her own birding life list or develop her own passion and love of nature.” “Nothing can compare to my youngest wanting to step in front of my camera lens at 6am and flawlessly delivering facts about anteaters and manatees…facts I hadn’t even realised she knew but was obviously listening to. I have seen the positive impact exposure to nature, culture, art, music, and wildlife has had on them,” she continued, adding that, “the most rewarding role thus far, is being a mom to these little ladies.” “To watch them start their own journey through life. To be witness to the beauty each age and phase bring and giving them guidance but also the space to blossom into productive humans.” The tourism advocate notes that the impact on her children has the ability to live on for generations, and without even realising it, she may be inspiring the next generation of tourism advocates; one that would realise and elevate Guyana’s tourism sector to the level she always dreamed of. Counting her overall experience with tourism in Guyana as a blessing, Dos SantosRahaman hopes to remain an ally to local and international stakeholders. “In the next five years, I would love to see Guyana’s tourism sector improve and I would want to grow with Guyana and continue to partner with those engaged in it. Overall, the impact and experience will remain a positive one, for which, I am so thankful and grateful for,” she stated.
Sunday November 21, 2021
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Man, 77, is latest COVID-19 fatality G
- 89 new cases recorded
uyana's latest COVID-19 death fatality is that of a 77-year-old man from Region Four (Demerara- Mahaica) who was partially vaccinated.The Ministry of Health (MOH) reported yesterday that the man died on November 19, 2021. His death has brought Guyana's COVID-19 death toll to 972.Meanwhile, the
MOH reported that a total of 89 individuals became infected with the virus over a 24-hour period. These new cases were recorded in Region One which has four new cases, Region Two with six cases, Region Three with five new cases, Region Four with 34 cases, Region Five with two cases, Region Six with 29 cases, Region Seven with two cases, Region Eight with
A conversation with... From page 8 music for games as well so those are extended platforms we propagate our content and through those my network has been expanded. KN: Have you ever performed in front of a large audience, if not do you plan to do so in the future? SB: I've performed locally and abroad in front of several large crowds. I've held the stage with Damian Marley, among others. KN: Which of your songs is your favourite and why it is your favourite? SB: I don't really have a favourite song. I produce what I'm passionate about. I do however adore the Dance Music I've produced because it expresses a side of me only I and those around me would know. And for sure it's a true expression of who I am; the creative behind the content that so many have loved over the years. KN: If given the opportunity would you make music your only career? SB: Music, coupled with journalism, writing and prosecution…music is a career of mine; I'm a professional sound engineer and music producer. I own a record label which is home to many artistes and has contributed to the careers of countless artistes over the years. KN: What advice would you give to persons who are now pursuing their music career? SB: I always encourage authenticity. Understanding the music business as well as all things relative to you, your styles and genres is also critical to your success. So be open-minded, and don't stop. KN: How impacting has been our archaic copyright laws to the local music industry and what is your expectation in this regard?
SB: Creatives cannot survive exclusively from their work if dependent on the laws we currently have, and so it is always a challenge. Protection against infringements and remuneration are the highlights of this system we have here in Guyana, all to the detriment of the creative. For me, I utilise distribution companies outside of Guyana to get the music on platforms. We have also opted to register overseas with rights management organisations like PRS For Music in the UK, and COTT in Trinidad. To get an idea of how effective those are, three years ago I was able to pull one of my songs from a popular music site because someone uploaded it without my permission. Last year as well, I did an interview with an online radio and the entire interview was flagged because my distribution company did not have permission granted for the use. This is the kind of protection our agreements distribution labels give us and we are grateful. Sadly, because of these dynamics we have opted to use overseas platforms for streaming and general airplay, so still in 2021, much of the music doesn't get played locally. Only a few stations would engage and there is still a perception of the level of popularity in Guyana, which in my estimation is measured inaccurately. Because of the lack of updated laws, creatives can't earn from their work, so what is the true value of airplay without this? In relation to expectation, I'm an executive member of the Guyana Music Network. I know it's making efforts to advocate and create better systems for creatives locally and overseas. But it has a lot to do with all of us. Copyright is part of the music business and the music business should be the business of everyone involved.
one case and Region Nine and 10 with three cases each. There are also 11 patients i
n the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit, 65 people in institutional isolation, two in
institutional quarantine and 1 , 8 4 4 i n h o m e isolation.Importantly, a total
of 34,381 people have recovered after they were infected with COVID-19.
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Sunday November 21, 2021
Top US Judge deplores 'perceived political interference' in local... From page 51 Public Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC, and President of the Guyana Bar Association, Pauline Chase at the luncheon. On Tuesday, the visiting delegation also met with the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, and Prime Minister Phillips at his office. The delegation, according to Office of the President, “was informed of the Government's inclusive approach to development and its commitment to the rule of law. The delegation also met
with Opposition members, Roysdale Forde and Amanza Wa l t o n - D e s i r , N i g e l Hughes, among others. Prior to their departure from Guyana however, Justice Moore facilitated an impromptu meeting at the Guyana Marriott Hotel, with Deputy Speaker Shuman, who in making a case for the need for support by the US based legal association, concluded there is little to no recourse in Guyana over perceived malpractices, political interference, lack of representation and inclusivity in the national decision-making process, among other lamentations.
FIRST HAND Also present at that meeting was a member of the l o c a l p r i v a t e s e c t o r, President and CEO of SBF Petroleum, Mr. Dorwain Bess, who was invited to the meeting to brief the visiting US Bar Association President, to relay first-hand his experience and allegations over perceived abuse of the judicial process and provide the US Judge with a dossier in support of his claims. This is in addition to reiterating for the US Judge, many of his publicly aired v i e w s o v e r t h e circumstances concerning
the cancellation of his company's Fuel Import and Wholesale Licence by the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA). To this end, Justice Moore committed to using the resources at the disposal of the US National Bar Association, to lend assistance to domestic c a u s e s o f disenfranchisement and other shortcomings—once proven accurate—and to intervene where possible. According to Justice Moore, as long as the allegations being made can be supported with empirical evidence and data, then the
Association certainly views the charges being made as worrying and concerning. Stressing his commitment to the rule of law and eradicating disenfranchisement, across the spectrum, not just in Guyana, Justice Moore has since pledged to review the concerns raised by all during his meetings in Guyana. Independent & Unbiased To this end, he assured that the Association would be making its 'considered' position on the state of affairs in Guyana public, in due course. Following his departure, Justice Moore in sharing tidbits of his visit to Guyana, expressed in relation to his meeting with Bess, “I was happy to meet with an oil and gas tycoon while in Guyana. He was the only AfroGuyanese person with an oil and gas licence until recently. Thanks for sharing your story. I look forward to learning more from all concerned.” Regarding his meeting with the political opposition, Justice Moore shared that “I insist on hearing from all sides of an equation so that I am fully informed of any and all outstanding issues. I look
forward to further discussions and visits with all concerned and to lending my expertise in an independent and unbiased fashion.” On the meeting, with the President, Justice Moore said he looks “forward to future dialogue and engagement with the people of Guyana” and that “it is our sincere hope that one Guyana can exist as espoused, “since people are always stronger together.” During the official, twoday visit, the US delegation on Monday met with the Prime Minister at his office before holding talks with Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary and Acting Chief Justice. The following day, formal talks were held between the visiting delegation and Head of the Department of Law at the University of Guyana, Kim Kyte-Thomas, Foreign Affairs Minister Todd and AG Nandlall. The team also met with members of the political opposition that afternoon before meeting with Deputy Shuman and businessman Bess, prior to their departure early Thursday morning.
Sunday November 21, 2021
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Kaieteur News
Sunday November 21, 2021
Guyanese who was awarded Kaieteur Block...
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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. House plan drawing & estimates. K.Lakeram Building C o n t r a c t o r. C a l l : 2 1 6 0671,692-8464 or whatsapp 622-0267. Specialized repair/service: A/ C, refrigerator, washing machine,treadmill,stove, deepfryer, pressurepump & backwash,dryer,oven. 6949733. Arbeth Contracting Services. We specialize in landfilling, kerbwall, land clearing ,roads, culverts, bridges,buildingsetc. Call:629-3136.
WANTED One male able bodied clerk. Call:616-5954,231-2029. Skilled carpenters, masons, welder and labourers to work long termin Georgetown & Linden. Call:602-9469,6157526. KitchenAssistant, Babysitter & Sales person, must have secondary education. Call:659-5559. Domestic Worker to work at Peter's Hall E.B.D,must be from the E.B.D age 25 to 45yrs.Cal:231-0363. 1 live in maid,salary $80,000 monthly.Call:665-0679. Kitchen assistant/cleaner (live in-out ogle E.C.D) salary $120,000 monthly. Cal:610-3974. Arbeth Contracting Services. Wanted for bobcat/ skid steer operator. Call:6293136.
FOR RENT Office space.New! Modern! A/C Backup,near giftland mall power. 635 sqft,US $800 per month.Call:600-4343. Beautiful! Clean! Safe! Fully furnished 1 bedroom apt,for December reserve,US $90 per day.Cal:600-4343. 3 bedroom homes for sale, Haslington ,Onderneeming, Tuschen. Call Pacific Development Inc223-6035, whatsapp 673-6210.
LAND FOR SALE 102 GoodHope Mahaica, 500ftx42ft Roadside. Call: 691-8420.
From page 47 integrated assets – our energy experts offer bespoke risk management solutions,” the company stated while adding that some of these solutions include the following policies for the oil and power distribution sector: Material Damage All Risks/Property All Risks; Onshore Property - Offshore Property; Operators Extra Expense; Control Of Wells; General Liability/Excess Liability; Pollution Liability; Environmental Liability; Business Interruption; Boiler Explosion and Machinery Breakdown; and Political Violence, Sabotage and Terrorism. It states too that the company can include services under other policies which include: Risk Engineering, Valuation Surveys, and Training.With respect to the Trinidadian partner, the company’s website: https://www.cic.co.tt/notes that over the years, CIC has developed long-standing relationships with many of the leading Global Insurance Brokers including Alesco, Aon, Lockton, Marsh, THB and Willis just to name a few. It states, “When our clients re-
VACANCY Maintenance workers & labourers to work with P.S.G.C.S. Preferably from E.B.D. Call: 621-6969/6157784. One experience Seamstress to work Mon-Sat and one floor girl.Call:622-4386. Vacancy exists for 1 certified Auto Mechanic with minimum 10 yrs experience. Call:231-8737. Experienced female kitchen staff,valid food handlers certificate.Call:690-4722.
quire insurance programmes or covers not available in the local market, we utilise our global relationships to deliver comprehensive and competitive solutions through reinsurance placements specially designed to cover the needs of their growing businesses.” KAIETEUR BLOCK INTEREST The Kaieteur Block, which spans 13,500 km2, holds a gross, estimated prospective resource of over 2.1 billion barrels of crude. To grasp a better understanding of the size of the block, it is bigger than three of the founding members of CARICOM: Jamaica (10,991 km²), Trinidad and Tobago (5,131 km²), and Barbados (431 km²). The massive offshore concession was awarded in April 2015 to Pereira’s Cataleya Energy Corporation (CEC) which was formerly Ratio Energy Limited and Ratio Guyana Limited, a subsidiary of Ratio Petroleum Energy Limited Partnership headquartered in Israel (Ratio Petroleum). Over the years, the original block owners, Pereira in particular, have
faced several criticisms for being awarded the offshore concession by the Donald Ramotar administration. There were concerns that the block was awarded to Pereira and his partner who had no known track record in the industry as deepwater oil explorers and developers. There were also calls for the award process to be investigated.But since assuming office, Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo who is also considered the local oil czar has categorically stated that the process, in his view, was above board and that it was free of corruption. He had also said that the award of the Kaieteur Block was in keeping with the nation’s oil laws which state: “No licence shall be granted to an individual unless he is a citizen of Guyana or to a body of persons unless it is a company; or a corporation.” The Vice President as well as President Irfaan Ali are also on record as lauding the inclusion of Guyanese investors in the upstream industry as they are of the firm belief that locals ought not to be excluded from
any aspect of the multi-billion dollar sector.Subsequent to the Upper Cretaceous playopening at the Liza-One discovery in May 2015, a farmin agreement executed with ExxonMobil, along with various other arrangements, saw the effective date of the Kaieteur Petroleum Agreement being amended from April 2015 to February 2017. As a result of the farm-in, the Kaieteur Block is operated by ExxonMobil’s subsidiary, Esso Production and Exploration Guyana Limited (EEPGL), in partnership with CEL, Ratio Guyana Limited and a subsidiary of Hess Corporation.EEPGL has since applied to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to be authorised to drill 12 wells in the Kaieteur Block which is located in deep water over 200 kilometres northeast of the coastline of Georgetown, Guyana, and adjacent to the northern boundaries of the Stabroek and Canje blocks. Approval from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Guyana Geology and Mines Commission will also be obtained.
Fire razes OPR, DPP... From page 49 Affairs Minister, Robeson Benn, Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, SC, Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, Minister of Public Service, Sonia Parag, DPP Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC, and staffers of the Chambers turned up at the scene and employed efforts to save the documents. By the time this publication arrived, five fire tenders were already at the scene. This publication was informed that ahead of the fire tenders’ arrival, police ranks were seen throwing files out of the windows of the upper flat of the DPP’s office into VACANCY Security officers to work in the interior.Applications to innovationsamericamng@gmail.com or hand deliver to Innovations America. Experience canter driver and porters. Driver must have valid lorry licence. Call:6904722. One salesman,able bodied porters.Experience in writing bills,stocktaking & cashing. Keyfood Trading,Mc Doom village. Maid to cook and clean for East Bank.Call: 615-9132. Vacancy at People's Choice Kitchen for cooks,kitchen assistant,handyman& counter staff,Tel:679-9449. Experienced Accounts & Bond clerk,tractor & truck drivers,porters.Apply at Alabama Trading.Tel:623-16515.
the compound. The files, this publication understands, contain information on police cases and serious matters, which are before the courts. It is unclear at this point what caused the fire. By the time the flames were quelled, 98 percent of the legal documents were saved. The DPP Communications Officer, Liz Rahaman, said that she was alerted of the fire by members of the media. “When we rushed down here, the fire was raging from the western [end] which houses the police offices in this compound. Luckily, the Fire Department [turned up] and we are so grateful for them that they were able to contain the fire…,” she added. Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, speaking to members of the media, acknowledged that the losses could have been “tremen-
dous” since local law enforcement has a legacy of operating via “a paper based system”. The fire comes one month after the Brickdam Police Station was destroyed identically. That fire had destroyed the majority of the records stored there. When asked about the Fire Service response, Minister Benn said “I am not happy.” Benn believes that the firefighters could have done more to salvage the OPR building. The Minister said, as it stands, alternative measures would be put in place to house those who were residing at the police barracks, which was also destroyed yesterday. “Well, of course, it puts the operations in disarray. Also the operations of the DPP Chambers is in
disarray…the files and documents have to be taken somewhere to be sorted and put in a condition so they can be accessed properly,” said the Minister. Meanwhile, Police Commissioner (ag), Nigel Hoppie said he believes that the Eve Leary fire started in the barracks; the area that houses ranks who stay at the police headquarters. Commissioner Hoppie told reporters that the fire started at the “western-most” part of the building in the compound. He further noted that the documents from the DPP’s office were removed to protect them from the fire or water damage. Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, who was also at the scene, told media operatives that an investigation will be launched into the cause of the fire.
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<< e v o M e h T n O r u e n re p e >>>Young Entr
'Banath Styles' By Allyiah Allicock On the verge of taking the local fashion industry to the next level is mother of one, Janique Gaskin, founder of Banath Styles, a business she co-owns with her husband, Kenny Hussain. According to Gaskin, from a very young age, she had an eye for all things fashion. In fact, it was her fascination with this, coupled with what she saw on fashion tv-shows that led to the realisation of the business venture, which she owns today. “Growing up watching world top model and fashion shows, also the desire to make my own clothes is what inspired me to start sewing,” she related. Back in August 2016, she recalled that was the period, she really took interest and decided it was time to test her skills. But it was not then that she was able to kick start her business venture. Before, Banath Styles came into being, Gaskin said she worked at a call centre where she learned a few customer skills. From there, she worked at other places where she learned about the tricks of owning and operating a business while still perfecting her sewing skills. In June 2019, she joined the teaching profession but that was put on pause when the global pandemic hit our local shores and schools were forced to close their doors. Not only that, but just after the pandemic started, her husband fell ill which made him unable to work. Though faced with some hard
times, the young woman explained that it did not stop her from pursing her sewing venture. It was then, she revealed that she started to take
sewing studio is her vision since this will help their business to grow even more, since “I would be able to hire persons to work with us.”
and effort into promoting her business. The 23-year-
“Young entrepreneurs play a great role in motivating persons who finished school and are not sure as to what job they want to do as yet. We show them that they don't necessarily need to work a nine-to-five job, they can be their own boss.” things more seriously with her craft. “After the pandemic hit, my husband fell ill and that's when I started to focus more on my craft along with him. Not being able to go back to construction work, I decided to teach him how to sew which was difficult because part of his brain is damaged and he is unable to focus. Like he used to but he tries his best and he's my number one supporter,” Gaskin commented. With the support of her husband, the business is already making a name for itself in the local fashion world. This, of course, is evident through the tremendous support that they have been receiving. When asked about their future plans, Gaskin said that being able to own a spacious
Presently, she said, one of the challenges they are dealing with is not having a spacious environment to carry out some of their work. But they are taking it one day at a time, she added. As for the pandemic, it has positively impacted business since, according to Gaskin, it really allowed her to step out of her comfort zone and invest more time
Janique Gaskin and Kenny Hussain, owners of 'Banath Styles'.
old entrepreneur is of the belief that other young businesswomen and men are truly an inspiration to today's generation. “Young entrepreneurs play a great role in motivating persons who finished school and are not sure as to what job they want to do as yet. We show them that they don't necessarily need to work a nine-tofive job; they can be their own
Some pieces the dynamic duo produced over the past few months.
boss,” she mentioned. To this end, she suggested that one way that small businesses and entrepreneurs can impact the public and grow, is through promotional events. Not only could events like these bring about immense exposure but through this, young entrepreneurs could connect with others and inspire them. Anyone, who wishes to indulge
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Sunday November 21, 2021
Interesting Creature…
Gelae donut Gelae donut is a species of beetle in the family Leiodidae. It is found in South America. Adults are 3.03–3.46 mm (0.119–0.136 in) long, and brown and yellow in colour. It likely feeds on slime moulds and fungi. Like other species in the genus Gelae, it has received media attention due to its scientific name, which is a play on jelly donut. Gelae donut was described with its current name in 2004, on the basis of a male holotype collected at an elevation of 2,500 m (8,200 ft) on Cerro Carpish in Huanúco, Peru. The generic name Gelae is from a shortened form of the Latin word gelatus, meaning jellied, and is pronounced like the word “jelly”. The specific epithet is a combination
of letters that is pronounced like the word “donut”. Taken together, the scientific name is pronounced “jelly doughnut”, a play on jelly donut. Gelae donut is one of eight species in the genus Gelae, and is a part of a group of four similar species that also includes G. rol, G. baen and G. cognatum. Description Gelae donut is a large species for its genus, with a total body length of 3.03–3.46 mm (0.119–0.136 in). It has a brown head and yellowishbrown clypeus. The head is moderately broad and dorsally flattened, with large, protruding eyes. The prothorax is yellow with large medial brown macules. The elytra is brown, being darker at the base. The underside, legs,
and antennal club are also brown, while the antenna and palpi are yellow. It is similar in appearance to Gelae rol, G. baen and G. cognatum, all of which have a large labrum and protuberant eyes, but can be told apart by its large size, the robust median lobe in males, the sharp apical reduction of the undersides, and the sharp apical curve of the dorsum. Ecology Like other species in its genus, Gelae donut is likely to feed on slime moulds and fungi. Distribution and habitat Gelae donut is found in the highlands of Peru and Bolivia. It inhabits cloud forest and montane rainforest at elevations of 1,600–2,300 m (5,200–7,500 ft).
Total Energies partners with Suriname to preserve forests as carbon sinks TotalEnergies said Friday last, it has signed an agreement with the Government of Suriname to provide support for its national strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by preserving forests in the country. This public-private partnership illustrates the alignment between the ambition of TotalEnergies and the Government of Suriname to protect forest
ecosystems and biodiversity while benefiting local communities. Suriname’s Amazon forest covers more than 15 millions hectares and absorbs millions of tonnes of CO2 each year. It is home to rich biodiversity and plays a crucial historical and cultural role in local communities. The development of new economic activities and growing demand for natural resources puts pressure on
the forests, making the implementation of sustainable development models more necessary than ever. The agreement signed by the Government of Suriname and TotalEnergies provides for future projects to preserve forest ecosystems. The emissions reductions stemming from these actions shall be certified in accordance with highest international standard.
Worse outcomes for chronic disease... From page 12 population suffers from one or more chronic diseases.” Given the impact of chronic diseases, Dr. Waldron-White noted that “it is important for us therefore, to be very militant in educating and emphasising measures for our patients to protect themselves and their households from COVID-19. It is also important for us to seek ways to make it as easy as possible for patients to access their medications during this pandemic so that they do not have to be unduly exposed to the public.” Added to this, Dr. Waldron-White and her colleagues work towards ensuring that patients’ disease conditions are well controlled “thus reducing the risk of them decompensating and ending up at the emergency room which is already overburdened due to the pandemic.” SHEER SATISFACTION Since it was first detected here in March 2020, more than 37,000 people have tested positive for COVID-19. But while the majority patients have recovered, Dr. WaldronWhite noted that “we also see at our clinic those who were infected and are now living with the long-term effects of the COVID-19 infection.” More than 900 people have succumbed in our home-
land due to COVID-19 complications, including friends and relatives of Dr. WaldronWhite. Nevertheless, she continues to diligently do her part in the delivery of health care. In fact, she shared, “the sheer satisfaction of helping to lighten someone’s load and brighten someone’s day is what makes me show up every day, as well as my passion to make my contribution toward providing a better standard of care for our people living with chronic diseases.” Dr. Waldron-White is fully aware that team effort is especially crucial if the desired results are to be achieved. As such she extended “much kudos to those colleagues who were or are at the front of the frontlines. They are the emblem of dedication.” Hopeful that the efforts of those within the medical fraternity are not in vain, Dr. Waldron-White, who is fully vaccinated, has also been advocating for wider vaccine uptake. According to her, the COVID-19 vaccine is simply “another layer in the armory against the coronavirus.” As such, she noted that “people with chronic diseases should not see their disease as a barrier to receiving the vaccine but rather as a reason for being vaccinated.” Dr. Waldron-White, who
adheres to precautions such as hand-washing and sanitising often and properly, the wearing of facemask and social distancing as much as possible, also encourages those around her to do the same. Because of the contagious nature of COVID-19, she revealed too that, “my family and I have also not been going out as much as before.” “My dear husband, Kenneth White (a pastor and accountant), and my darling daughter, Monita (who just completed CSEC and is now attending the University of Guyana), they are the ones who keep me grounded, laughing, hopeful and believing in myself,” Dr. WaldronWhite shared. According to her, the pandemic has amplified the need to always “be careful, be kind and trust God...it has reminded me of the fragility of life, that God is the only sure foundation and that family and friends are more important than all the other enticements of life.” As such she takes pride in being involved in church activities, especially organising programmes and events aimed at enriching the lives of members of the community. Additionally, she enjoys travelling, and most of all “just spending time with my family.”
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Jamaica confirmed to host the 49th Carifta Games from April 16-18, 2022 SportsMax - The Jamaica Administrative Athletics Association (JAAA) has confirmed that Jamaica will host the 49th Junior Carifta Track and Field Games in Kingston from April 16 – 18, 2022 at a cost of just under US$1 million. The event has also been sanctioned by the Government of Jamaica, through the office of the Minister of Sport. The event is expected to attract close to 650 athletes competing in U17 and U20 categories as well as 150 officials from 27 countries. Jamaica also has the
blessing of the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) which has oversight for track and field in this region. NACAC President Mike Sands is expected to visit the island early next year for a venue inspection. Meanwhile, the Games will be managed by a local organizing committee, already in place and will be chaired by the President of the Pan Am Games Technical Commission and immediate past president of the Jamaica Olympic Association Mike Fennell. JAAA’s Honorary
Secretary Marie Tavares will act as General Manager. A team of expert sports officials in key areas has been assembled to manage the event. That team has already met and plans are well underway. Chairman Fennell is confident that they can successfully host the games despite having many setbacks due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Several milestones are to be celebrated next year. These include The Games 50th year, Jamaica’s 60th year of independence and the host federation, JAAA, 90 years in operation.
Sunday November 21, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Necessary cleaning or repairs in the home could inspire you to go a bit further and do some redecorating. Get rid of old furniture. TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Important new information could come your way, perhaps through classes, books, or conversations with friends. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) New learning and improved communication with friends and family add greatly to your sense of self-esteem. A task into which you've put some effort over the past several weeks has been completed successfully. CANCER (June 21–July 22) An improvement in your relations with a love partner or close friend has you feeling optimistic about the future and even more so about the present. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) An unexpected raise could have you feeling especially generous toward those you love. Your gifts will be appreciated, but take care that you don't wipe out all you've gained. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Falling in love at first sight is something you never thought would happen, but it could happen today. A romantic involvement may follow or not, but the high you get from meeting a new person will make you feel better about yourself and life.
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LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Movies that involve a lot of special effects might be especially appealing to you now. You may decide to learn more about how such effects are produced. You might also want to try your hand at computer graphics. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Life is an adventure. At least, that's the attitude you take today. Flush with past success and basking in the affection of friends, you're feeling especially confident and enthusiastic. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) A new unity and purpose could create a more positive atmosphere regarding your career. Recognition and an increased income are just over the horizon. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Optimism and excitement permeate any get-togethers that you're involved in today. You and those around you tend to see only positive trends for the future success with few obstacles. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Today you might be in the right mood to organize. High-tech equipment may be of help in this project, and so could the help of friends. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You could feel especially amorous today. If you're romantically involved, you could have an overwhelming urge for an intimate dinner with your significant other. If you're uninvolved, expect that status to change.
“The opportunity to host under these kinds of milestones is a tremendous opportunity for Jamaica to host some of the best sporting talents from the region to the world. This event will also offer some insight on what competition from this region could look like at the 18th World Athletics Championships, scheduled for Eugene, Oregon in July 2022,” said JAAA President Garth Gayle. “The number of other international events which will follow allows the Carifta Games to signal that the youth from the region are ready for competition; that sport is ready and open for business and Jamaica will host the 800+ people from all over in a safe and secure environment.” This is the eighth time that Jamaica will host the Carifta Games since its inception in 1972. Of the 48 editions held so far, Jamaica has topped the medal table on 43 occasions.
‘Credible performances expected... From page 62 expected to arrive at 9:25 PM. Coach Mahaica is confident that despite the new age qualification, the young swimmers will produce credible performances. “I am confident that this team will do well, they have been training very hard over the past months, participating at Meets, local and overseas improving on their PB. These Athletes were selected based on the criteria set by the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association,” Coach Mahaica, who hails from the mining Town of Linden, noted. “The training in Peru was good for the Swimmers, although short, three weeks would have been better for them to perform. Going in to Panam a week or more if it was possible would have placed the team at an advantage seeing we are below sea level and although the altitude they were exposed to in Peru was high, in comparison, Colombia is much higher,”
continued Coach Mahaica. Mahaica said the Coaches involved in this preparation are hopeful that they adjust and adapt well as the Athletes continue to train daily working on techniques and endurance. In Peru, Persaud failed to match her 50m free style time she swam at the Olympics in Tokyo. “Aleka didn’t better her time because of a number of factors, one being the altitude and length of time to acclimatize, but she was just hundredths off of her best times so I think she may be able to get back to her original times come Panam. Leon has been training hard and is focused; the time spent on scholarship did him well. The times that he did in Peru were not that good which is along the same lines as Aleka....but he should bounce back for Panam. An overall better performance is expected at Panam,” concluded Coach Mahaica.
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SA 10k runs off today Today, the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) will host the 2021 South American 10K Road Race with more than 40 Guyanese athletes and an unverified number of overseas athletes are expected to be part of the action that is scheduled to run from 16:30hrs.
Kaieteur News
Vice- Chairman of the SA 10K Local Organising Committee (LOC), Orin Thomas, has lamented the small number of foreign athletes coming to participate. He said this is due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but he still anticipates this race being an exciting event. “This 10K that is being hosted by the AAG has been a longstanding event, and it is unfortunate that we do not have as many participants, as many nations, involved because of the COVID issue. But we are here to make this exciting for you guys,” Thomas
shared at a media briefing hosted at the AAG office on Friday morning. The race begins outside of the Earth Station on Carifesta Avenue, then head onto the Rupert Craig Highway and turn back at UG Road on the East Coast of Demerara. The athletes will race down to the Kitty Public Road, then go on to Irving Street, then to Thomas Lands and into the National Park, where they will finish at the Children’s Monument. The cash prizes for the event will see the
Sunday November 21, 2021
winner walking away with US$1000, second place US$600 and third US$400. The sponsors of the event include the National Sports Commission (NSC), Banks DIH through their Powerade brand, Rainforest Waters, Guyana Energy, Benjamin’s Bakery and Starr Party Rentals are among the event’s sponsors. In addition to the 10K event, two other races in the 3000m and 1500m distances will be conducted for the younger athletes. Those races will be confined to the National Park.
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Kaieteur News
Emphatic Liverpool end Arsenal’s unbeaten run BBC Sport - Liverpool ended Arsenal’s 10-game unbeaten run in all competitions with a devastatingly routine victory at Anfield. Sadio Mane grabbed the opener when he headed in Trent Alexander-Arnold’s free-kick in the first half. Diogo Jota took advantage of a Nuno Tavares mistake to roll into an empty net before Mohamed Salah slotted home a Mane cross for the third. Right-back AlexanderArnold was the provider again when he teed up Japanese substitute Takumi Minamino to make it 4-0 with his first touch, just 48 seconds after coming on. Victory for Liverpool sees them jump up to second in the Premier League, while Arsenal remain in fifth. It was a tame affair between the two longstanding rivals for most of the game but Liverpool showed their quality with a ruthless second-half display. Jurgen Klopp’s side controlled possession before the break and had the best chances - Salah, AlexanderArnold and Thiago were all denied by Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale. Ramsdale was kept busy throughout and reacted well to stop Mane scrambling it in off the floor and made a
decent save to prevent a second goal from Jota later on. A r s e n a l ’s P i e r r e Emerick Aubameyang and Bukayo Saka were a threat on the counter-attack but Alisson was comfortable when he was called into action and centre-back pairing Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip were solid for Liverpool. Despite the four goals, it was rarely a contest which burst into life, though a touchline scrap between managers Klopp and Mikel Arteta ignited a reaction from the crowd in the first half. Comfortable evening for Liverpool Liverpool went into the match knowing victory would see them move up to second place after West Ham were beaten at Wolves. Arsenal, who have been in good form and were just two points behind Liverpool prior to kick-off, were limited to few chances at Anfield. On the occasions when Saka and Aubameyang were able to get in behind Liverpool’s defence, it was often in wide areas and Fabinho provided an impressive shield in midfield to hold off further danger. Liverpool lacked intensity in the first half but
got the opener through Mane, making use of the ever-reliable delivery of Alexander-Arnold. That provided them with a platform in the second half and once Jota made it 2-0, the spaces opened up for Liverpool to exploit Arsenal, who had no choice but to push players forward. Recent battles between the two have proven more dramatic but this was as comfortable as Liverpool could have hoped for and reaffirmed their title challenge. In results from Saturday 20th November 2021: Leicester 0 – Chelsea 3 Aston Villa 2 – Brighton 0 Burnley 3 - Crystal Palace 3 Newcastle 3 – Brentford 3 N o r w i c h 2 – Southampton 1 Watford 4 - Man Utd 1 Wolves 1 - West Ham 0 Liverpool 4 – Arsenal 0
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Lewis Hamilton wins pole for inaugural Qatar Grand Prix LOSAIL, Qatar (AP) — Lewis Hamilton and Max Vetstappen qualified 1-2 for the inaugural Qatar Grand Prix, setting up a showdown between the Formula One championship contenders at the very start of today’s race. Hamilton won the 102nd pole of his career, fourth of the season and first since the Hungarian Grand Prix in August. Hamilton trails Verstappen by 14 points in the championship fight with three races remaining. He beat Verstappen by 0.455 seconds yesterday to win the pole at Losail International Circuit. The seven-time champion said his stomach had been bothering him since he arrived in Qatar, but a good night’s sleep helped his recovery. Hamilton said his stomachache made opening day at the new circuit
difficult, and he was fourth in both of Friday’s practice sessions. “I really struggled throughout first practice and I was just really off,” Hamilton said. “I was here ‘til midnight working with the engineers, who also always work so late, and found I lot of areas in which I can improve.” Mercedes made changes in yesterday’s final practice and Hamilton said in qualifying he was aided by smart strategy that sent him on track with little traffic and a strong lap by the driver. It was a dominant showing for Hamilton, who was fastest in all three qualifying groups. He was the first driver to head out for a final qualifying run and was the only driver to log a lap in the 1 minute, 20-second range. He was nearly a half-second faster than Verstappen.
“That last lap was beautiful, it was a really sweet lap,” Hamilton said. “This track is amazing to drive, it is incredibly fast. It felt good.” Verstappen said Red Bull was lacking pace and noted that teammate Sergio Perez failed to advance to the final qualifying group. Perez will start 11th. “It’s been just a bit more tricky for us in qualifying,” Verstappen said. “We are struggling a bit more than normal. We’ve never done a race here, so there’s a lot of unknowns.” The race is the first in a 10-year deal between F1 and Qatar. Hamilton on Friday debuted a helmet that sported a rainbow in the colors of the Progress Pride flag that recognizes the LGBTQ+ community. He shared a photo of it on his
social media feeds with the caption “We stand together” and said after qualifying he expects to wear the helmet at upcoming races in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi. Hamilton on Friday once again spoke out on human rights issues in the region and acknowledged F1 was closing its season in places “deemed as the worst in this part of the world” regarding human rights abuses. Campaign groups have highlighted discriminatory laws against women and LGBTQ+ individuals in the Gulf state, which will also host the World Cup next year. He said after qualifying he’d not received any negative feedback about the helmet. “It’s important for me to represent that community. I know there are several situations that aren’t perfect and need to be highlighted,” Hamilton said. “But I hope that someone reaches out and would love to know what
is happening here and what they’re doing to help support the LBGTQ+ community.” Va l t t e r i B o t t a s , teammate to Hamilton at Mercedes, qualified third and was followed by Pierre Gasly of AlphaTauri. Gasly has been fast all weekend but a tire puncture near the end of qualifying slowed him. Gasly ran wide in the penultimate corner and his front wing shattered when he hit a curb, causing the tire puncture. Fernando Alonso qualified fifth for Alpine and was followed by Lando Norris of McLaren and Carlos Sainz of Ferrari. Yu k i Ts u n o d a w a s eighth, about 0.2 seconds behind teammate Gasly, and followed by Esteban Ocon of Alpine and Sebastian Vettel of Aston Martin. The weekend opened with the Brazil GP still the main topic of discussion as Mercedes contested the FIA decision not to penalize
Verstappen for running Hamilton wide off course last week in Sao Paulo. Mercedes requested a review of the decision, which the FIA denied in the middle of a Friday press briefing between the principals of the two warring teams. Red Bull has complained the rear wing on the Mercedes has been illegal in some races and Verstappen was fined last week in Brazil for touching the wing following a practice session. “It’s difficult to know. Not only moving forward, but what has been already done and raced with in previous races,” Verstappen said. “I mean, we have footage from it, so these things can get highlighted. Let’s just hope that we’re going to have a good battle to the end.” The 24-year-old Dutchman is seeking his first F1 championship. Hamilton, who is 36, has won four consecutive titles.
‘Credible performances expected at PanAm’- Coach Mahaica Swimmers leave on Tuesday for Colombia vie Miami By Sean Devers Guyanese swim quartet, led by 15-yearold Olympian and National record holder Aleka Persaud will aim to make a big splash in the pool at the inaugural U-23 PanAm Games from November 25 to December 5 in Colombia. In addition to Persaud, Leon Seaton and
the Mahaica siblings; (Paul junior and Patrice) will travel as part of the Guyanese contingent to Cali. The swimmers will be accompanied by Coach Paul Mahaica and are scheduled to depart Guyana on Tuesday at 7AM to Miami in transit to Colombia where they are (Continued on page 63)
Kaieteur News
Sunday November 21, 2021
President Bissoondyal Singh meets with East Coast Clubs from Ogle to Abary
President Singh (front row, third from left) with other members of ECCB and ECCA.
P
resident of the East Coast Cricket Board (ECCB), Mr. Bissoondyal Singh, met with member clubs of the ECCB from Ogle to Abary on November 13, 2021 at the LBI Cricket Facility where a number of key issues were discussed. This meeting was the first in a planned series of outreach programmes. President Singh reported that early in 2021 both the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) and Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) held long-overdue elections in accordance with the Guyana Cricket Administration Act 2014. The East Coast Cricket Board is one of the five (5) constituent members of the DCB. Mr. Singh informed the meeting that the National COVID-19 Task Force had instructed that all cricket activities be suspended. Permission from the Task Force to resume cricket was recently received. President Singh explained that cricketers, officials and spectators would have to be fully vaccinated as a prerequisite for involvement in cricket activities. The President noted that there are two ECCB competitions to be completed, after which new competitions will commence and that a number of sponsors are already onboard including Rockaway Group of Companies of New York and Motor Trend. Additionally, the Elizabeth Styles Cricket Competition will be expanded. L e a d i n g t h e competitions listed is the President of Guyana, H.E. Dr. Mohamad Irfan Ali’s ‘Corridor of Unity Trophy’ Competition. This corridor is from Lusignan to Golden Grove and the clubs are Lusignan Cricket Club, Buxton ‘Carl Hopper ’ Cricket Club, Enterprise
‘Busta’ Cricket Club, Paradise Cricket Club, Enmore Community Centre Cricket Club, and Golden Grove Cricket Club.This is expected to be an exciting tournament since these teams comprised of many talented players. President Singh informed members that the ECCB will be staging competitions in the U-15, U17 and U-19 categories as well as first and seconddivision cricket. He urged the clubs to commence preparation for these competitions. The senior clubs were encouraged to field teams at all age levels and to include female cricket in their development plans. Additionally, first-division clubs in the five Associations of the DCB will, for the first time, have the opportunity to play in an all-inclusive cricket competition. As a conciliatory approach to cricket governance on the East Coast, President Singh indicated that the East Coast Cricket Committee (ECCC) will be absorbed into the ECCB and that some of the ECCC committee members will be invited to serve on sub-committees of the ECCB. In this regard, a meeting will be held shortly. President Singh further stated that the ECCB’s Academy will be expanded and urged the clubs to be more aggressive as it relates to getting the youngsters involved. President Singh stated that this will be a challenge but we must prevail. “If we are going to succeed then it is important that we make the ultimate sacrifice as administrators to deliver, Guyana’s children is depending on us and we must deliver”. At the end of the meeting President Singh thanked the members for attending what was a highly successful
meeting. He asked for the continued support and cooperation to ensure the progress and development of cricket on the East Coast of Demerara. ECCB Cricket Events for 2022 U-15 Competition Sponsored President Ali’s‘Corridor of Unity’ Trophy Sponsored U-17 Competition Sponsored U-19 Competition ECCB President’s Cup Competition (Open) Sponsored Elizabeth Styles Competition (Open) Sponsored ECCB Trophy (Open) T20 Competition First-Division Competition ECCB Academy to be expanded $300,000 worth of balls to be distributed
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