Kaieteur News

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AIETEUR Engineer forced to Thursday Edition NEWS sign off unchecked works for fear of losing job - PAC hears

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

November 18, 2021 - Vol. 14 No.43

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

Price $80

Online readership yesterday, 88,811

Exxon gives contractor advance to build 4th FPSO without approval The protest continues for change to ExxonMobil’s contract.

Harmon demands audit of Exxon's US$9.5B spending

GRA outlines criteria governing shore-base facilities

'Return and face justice' ...Crime Chief tells murder suspects who fled jurisdiction

'We didn't bid for the $44M hospital project' - GDF states

PPP/C not interested in ‘good governance’ for oil sector - Ram … Govt. comfortable with Ali, Bharrat & Jagdeo in charge 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.

@11:00hrs on Kaieteur Radio 99.1/99.5FM

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Kaieteur News

Thursday November 18, 2021

Thursday November 18, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Exxon gives contractor advance th to build 4 FPSO without approval W

i t h negotiations n o w completed, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) has awarded Netherlands-based, SBM Offshore, “contracts to perform Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) for a Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel (FPSO), f o r t h e Ye l l o w t a i l 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 Ye l l o w t a i l o i l f i e l d 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.”

A c c o r d i n g t o TechnipFMC, “a large contract is between US$500 million and US$1 billion” This publication last

SMB Offshore's CEO, Bruno Chabas 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

GRA outlines criteria governing shore-base facilities

T

he Guyana R e v e n u e Authority (GRA) on Wednesday outlined the criteria to be followed by interested applicants for the establishment and functioning of shore base facilities to support the needs of the oil sector.

The tax body recalled that it had published a notice in the Official Gazette of October 09, 2021, advising of the Liza Unity Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facility being deemed a “Private Warehouse and Sufferance Wharf”, for customs purposes. GRA said this was necessary to enable a conducive framework for customs facilitation and monitoring of transactions related to the movement of goods, services, and vessels c o a s t w i s e a n d internationally in conformity with the legislation.

Acutely aware of the fact that shore base facilities will be established to support the services needed by the Liza

Unity and the Liza Destiny that is currently in operation, GRA said the existing Customs Procedures for warehousing shall be applicable for shore bases. In this regard Kaieteur News understands that interested stakeholders must submit to GRA Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia, the following information: A written Application requesting the establishment of a private warehouse and for consideration for it to be deemed a Sufferance Wharf; an approved plan of the mapped premises, inclusive of customs area showing washrooms, storage space for dutiable/non-dutiable goods and office areas; a Building Certificate or approval issued by Central Housing and Planning A u t h o r i t y ( C H PA ) ; Certification from the Guyana Fire Service; proof of ownership of premises; copy of transport; copy of title; copy of lease or tenancy agreement; and a copy of business registration.

GRA Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia In addition to the foregoing, GRA said a statement of the estimated customs value and general description of goods proposed to be warehoused in the location monthly and over a 12 Month Period must be submitted for perusal. In this regard it said the detailed list of all types of goods (brand, type, size, and packaging) is required for the (Continued on page 16)

confirming the Kaieteur News report yesterday, 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 yesterday 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,

McDermott's Executive Vice President and CEO, Mukherjee Samik 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 O ff i c e r ( C E O ) , B r u n o

Chabas, in making the announcement yesterday 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 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 yesterday—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 f o r t h e Ye l l o w t a i l development.”

A c c o r d i n g t o 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 c o m p a n y, “ s u b j e c t t o government approvals and final project sanction, TechnipFMC, will provide (Continued on page 16)

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

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

EDITORIAL

When watchdogs stumble, what protection is left?

Too often for our liking, we are treated to news reports of senior officials hauled in by the authorities for questioning about some alleged white-collar crime. There is now a prevailing sequence of events, which looks like this. There is the announcement of interest by law enforcement, then a few days silence, then the person of interest turns up with an attorney, with bail following, while an investigation unfolds.

We are concerned about these instances that snare senior public servants. We make clear that this is general, and has no specific individual or situation in mind. We speak up for the Guyanese people, and show how they are betrayed by those put in charge of their affairs, especially those concerning money. When investigations result in senior public servants being charged and brought before the courts, then a sliver of the dirty story of white-collar criminals in Guyana becomes public. The little that comes to light causes a shudder, as to the way professional people are, and things are, in this country.

What is ventilated publicly relays to any thinking Guyanese that what is touched upon is a small flake off the iceberg, with so much more concealed and secret from years of wrongdoing and public service criminality.

We learn of millions, sometimes hundreds of millions of dollars lost to crooked contractors. Yet not a single culprit is made to face the full force of the law. There is national suspicion, in some circles hard conclusions, that our politicians are serial thieves and pathological liars who will steal anything and do anything to cover up their actions.

They are so slick currently, that they ensure they are insulated through layers of trusted handpicked cronies in crucial public service positions, all too willing to be the front men and front women, and execute whatever has to be done. Through this human resource arrangement, political leaders get to plead innocence and, better yet, no evidentiary trail leads to their doorstep.

They have taken care of such irritations and inconveniences.

All in all, and whether this involves senior public service professionals, or ranking political leaders and their comrades, it is how at every tier the public trust is taken advantage of and eroded callously.

When the senior ones are among those fingered, who is there to watch the juniors, and guard them from corrupting influences, and keep them in check against their own weaknesses, and the temptations that are so routine in Guyanese life?

Worse still, are those circumstances that occur where those placed in positions of oversight turn rogue, allegedly or actually? We reserve a special anger and contempt for those who are recruited for state agencies that are a vital component of a system of checks and balances, to detect fraud, to serve as a deterrent for it, and to set the right standard on how related obligations should be fulfilled at a personal and organisational level. For when our watchdogs fail us, by not being honest and untainted, by not doing their duty as they should, it becomes apparent that there is not much that we have left by way of a credible defense.

In fact, it could be said without fear of overstatement that the more we have of such watchdogs selling out while on the job, the more we are exposed to the white-collar corruptions and crimes that infest this country, across its length and breadth, and at every rung of the ladder.

Who is there left to trust, is truly deserving of our trust shattered time and again?

Leaders betray our trust, and they laugh at citizens, while coming up with the stupidest, most brazen, excuses imaginable. Officers of the law, (to be interpreted at its widest expanse) let us down, and most of the time with many wrongdoings still undetected. Men who have committed crimes have become so arrogant that they taunt about producing the evidence, knowing very well that they have taken out that, or had others do that for them. When the professional sentinels fall, they take us down with them.

The result is more wholesale thievery, more cunning camouflages, and with no one to arrest the tide.

WE MUST CONSIDER RAIL TRANSPORT IN INFRASTRUCTURE VISIONS AND PLANS DEAR EDITOR, There was an exciting feeling in the air at the beginning of this year. There was a lot of talk about oil revenues and the idea that it might be possible for Guyana to build out gamec h a n g i n g infrastructure throughout its lands, and to do it within reasonable time. I believe most citizens would agree that we have an urgent need for more and better built spaces. Our nervous systems are under siege by having to share minimal carriageways among trucks, bicycles, cars, people, animals and the idiosyncrasies that come with complex metropolises like ours. We are under a lot of pressure. Poor infrastructure makes life harder. Further, if space is not created for people to connect with each other across distances, the task of scaling up the economy becomes impossible.

Recently the Rice Producer’s Association floated the idea of importing foreign workers to meet the needs of the rice industry, given observed low birth-

rates. Several questions come to mind here. When faced with a problem like possible future worker shortages in a given region, why does such a polarising idea takes centre stage? Do we really have to look outside for agricultural labour? Why is inter-regional migration not seen as a possibility? Could our labour force not optimise itself, if given the option to do so by expanded transport infrastructure? Do the regions not envision themselves as densebecoming, sustainable population centers? In that case, what would it take to make our regions more attractive to inward migration? These questions may awaken all kinds of interesting depths, though I would like to use them to make a point about the power of infrastructure and the need to think at scale.

Editor, it is sometimes said on the streets of Georgetown, that the Arthur Chung C o n v e n t i o n Centre was built ‘back-tofront’. Though it represents an interesting design choice,

it is not that the building stands testimony to such a bemusing kerfuffle. The site can be entered from both sides, North and South.

Perhaps the Chinese builders had envisioned that the Railway Embankment would one day reclaim its rightful place as a zone for rail transport and decided to eagerly accommodate for this in the building’s design.

Whatever the case, the Railway Embankment is perfect for rail, as it evenly bisects the populated coastline and runs from Demerara to Berbice, with eagerness to cross the two rivers. This was extremely forward thinking and optimal on the part of those who initially designed and utilised this railway.

Editor, we have heard recently that a new housing development (the triangularshaped one) is about to be constructed along a segment of this old train line zone near the Mahaica River. Are we to take from this that rail along the optimal Railway Embankment pathway is outright scrapped

as a concept from our longterm vision for infrastructure?

Would we be missing a great opportunity by neglecting this already proven possibility? Imagine getting to Georgetown from Berbice, or Parika, or beyond, in a matter of minutes. Imagine living in Berbice and working on the West side in Region Two or Three.

Would we need to bother with importing foreign workers then? Could major industries exchange workers with a rail such as this one?

Could a rail such as this one become a boon to train-ride tourism, as it did in Panama?

Do we see the benefits of electric rail in the context of high fuel bills and high transmission costs for electricity? Could a raised rail also provide us with a massive transmission interconnect for a modern multi-source energy grid?

Editor, should we really give up on the Railway Embankment Zone cold turkey?

Sincerely, Emille Giddings

WHAT IS THIS NATIONAL UNITY OF WHICH WE SPEAK? DEAR EDITOR, A recently aired GlobeSpan24X7 programme discussed ‘Leadership and Politics in Guyana Past & Present’.

The presenters were Ralph Ramkarran, SC, former Speaker of the National Assembly and Hamilton Green, former Mayor of Georgetown.

The discussion evolved around a mix of race and politics with national unity taking centre stage.

Guyanese are not unfamiliar with the narratives on each issue. We are bombarded with information and misinformation about them on a daily basis.

The GlobeSpan discussants kept circling back to the same issues over and over but with stark differences in opinion. In the circumstances, a keen listener would be tempted to ponder whether humans should enjoy or regret having differences in opinion.

Regrettably, the narratives did not build on what was already written or spoken about on the three issues historically or contemporarily.

On the contrary, the discussion was characterised by a regurgitation of the old, hackneyed shibboleths.

For the umpteenth time, the question of national unity came across as the favourite perceptual illusion with an

ambiguous image.

To listeners, national unity appeared to be an abstract notion with no connection to uplifting the lives of Guyanese. It was as if water was being poured on a duck’s back.

But the irony of this situation is that the records of both the PPP and PNC on the question of national unity speak for themselves.

What is this national unity we speak about? Is it the surreal ‘coming together’ of the PPP and PNC in some imaginary structural form and/or shape? Or will it be based on uncannily prescient policies and values?

In considering either of the two scenarios hypothetically, would that ‘coming together’ signify the consummation of national unity?

Thus far, the call for national unity appears to be a romanticised appeal to rouse national sentiments amongst the populace.

It certainly does not put bread on the table nor money in anyone’s pocket.

What is the pathway to the national unity we speak of and write about? Is there more than one pathway, if so, which pathway is the preferred one?

In any event, how convinced are we that national unity is the solution to Guyana’s problems? Are

there inherent dangers, real or imagined, on the road to national unity? If so, what are they? Why national unity and to what end? Is it because it is politically correct and attractive to call for it? Would Guyanese be better off or worst under conditions of national unity? Will national unity result in a win-win, a win-lose or lose-lose outcome for any of the protagonists?

What happens in the absence of national unity? Will Guyana be considered a failed state? Or will Guyanese nevertheless achieve their goals, knowing that goals are politically inspired depending on what class or social strata holds the reigns of political power?

At any rate, the call for national unity has become hollow and meaningless to ordinary Guyanese, since at the political, much less, social levels, there are no coincidences in policies, beliefs, thoughts nor opinions amongst those who engage in its advocacy.

This begs the question whether any logical space exists in Guyana’s extant body politic to accommodate national unity in form and content? Thus far, there are no footprints indicating that we are headed in the direction towards national unity.

And if there were footprints, they have long faded.

Suffice it to say that there were two bright spots in two separate and distinct periods in our country’s political history when relative national unity prevailed.

That was sixty-eight years ago in the 1950-1953 periods and forty-five years ago in 1974-1976 periods.

The two protagonists of national unity at that time were Forbes Burnham who died thirty-six years ago, and Cheddi Jagan who died twenty-four years ago.

Any discussion on national unity in today’s context would require a meeting of minds by the political parties and non-state actors.

But their respective track records on the subject should be scrutinised, and a commitment given to deepen the discussion in order to provide Guyanese with a more enlightened understanding of the true nature of the national unity we seek, and that it is not a utopia.In the circumstances, no one narrative should take precedence over another.

We need to find ways to openly discuss the issues and balance different values in our plural society.

A more integrated, inclusive thinking on all sides could prove helpful.

Yours faithfully, Clement J. Rohee

Thursday November 18, 2021

GTT not delivering in North Rupununi despite numerous complaints DEAR EDITOR, I have written multiple times on the issue of GTT’s poor cellphone service in the North Rupununi, but my complaints seem to fall repeatedly on deaf ears. But I will continue to write and hope that eventually some sort of corrective action will be taken.

First, I would have seen in the print media that the CEO of GTT, a few weeks back, paid a visit to Bartica where the residents there made it clear, in no uncertain terms, that the company’s service leaves a lot to be desired. I hope the CEO can visit the North Rupununi as well, so he can also get an earful of what the residents here think of his company’s service. For the benefit of the CEO in case he didn’t know, or needs reminding, I will list briefly the two major problems that consumers face in the

North Rupununi.

1. The cell service goes off completely at times and this may be for a period of minutes in some cases, and in others for hours. This has been happening with increasing regularity. I am not sure if it is an issue of aging infrastructure, or poor power supply, but whatever the case these frequent disruptions in service need to be addressed urgently.

2. Rates for data services are equivalent to those in Georgetown. However, while consumers in Georgetown do get value for their money most of the time, consumers in the North Rupununi are being robbed blind. First, the data service is slow, way too slow for the rates being charged. Second, the data service is unreliable and goes on and off repeatedly. This may happen multiple times during the day and these data

“blackouts” may vary in duration. This is obviously very inconveniencing and frustrating in this fast-paced, information-driven, modern world.

From the problems highlighted above, it can be clearly seen that GTT, a company which I must reiterate makes hundreds of millions in profit annually and is duty bound to provide equality of service to every single consumer wherever its services are being offered, has some tidying up to do.

For too long consumers in the North Rupununi have been suffering from GTT’s poor service. We need some corrective action, and we need it urgently.

Over to you Mr. CEO of GTT for your prompt response and action!

Sincerely, S. Fredericks

A unified Guyana is the only way to counter the divisions and exploitations of those from afar DEAR EDITOR, The letter published in Kaieteur News of November 16, 2021, titled “Gross incompetence by the PPP/C Government has robbed Guyanese of billions” written by Leyland Chitlall Roopnarine is instructive.Coupled with today’s Kaieteur News Editorial, I am of the firm view that the wisdom and information contained therein ought to constitute a clarion call to every sane, sensible and concerned Guyanese for immediate action of varying types to arrest this dangerous destructive drift. For one who has been in the hustings for almost seven decades, I agree with the comments of Mr. Roopnarine with the exception of his identifying National Service as a waste.

The one exception is National Service. National Service, if continued with appropriate adjustments, would have been taken to a high plateau to fulfil the hopes of our

slave and indentured forbearers and the expectations of the present generation. G.N.S (Guyana National Service) was moving towards the fulfillment of our statement to become One Nation with One people with One Destiny.

National Service as designed catered for all levels of our society. Those who missed educational and other opportunities, and those who reached the tertiary level. It was designed so that each of those groups shared the same space learning from each other. I have seen National Service help youngsters from the North-West to the Corentyne, from the coastlands to the hinterlands and border communities to play, eat and work together, thus erasing the prejudices and misconceptions that have, until now, divided and weakened our society.

I have spoken to people of every race and religious group, and they have all ad-

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mitted that National Service helped them to see the ‘other person’ in a kind and illuminating light. Had National Service not been stopped, we would have produced more astute and truly nationalistic leaders among the membership of all of our political parties.

With reference to the burning current concern, about how little we are obtaining from the bounty of oil given to us by the Creator, I have urged and continue to urge, that until and unless the leadership of this Government and the Opposition learn more of our history and understand the awesome power of a tried and successful imperialist divide to rule policy, we will continue to receive the crumbs falling from the Master’s table.

I plead with Guyanese, particularly the younger generation, to apply pressure on their political parties and (Continued on page 6)

Opposition MP needs to get to the 21st century in a hurry DEAR EDITOR, The Opposition MP who has a problem with male handing menstrual packages to female students (INews Nov. 16) has a misplaced view in this 21st century.

So, should the male cashier at the supermarket checkout not cash/handle the packet of sanitary napkins but call for a female to so do?

Or the male should not go to the pharmacy to get some

pain relievers for his wife, mother, girlfriend, sister when in this condition?

Perhaps the MP has lived a sheltered life where if a male were to get involved in a woman’s domain it would be seen as unmanly and might be a cultural and religious convention, where lines are not crossed.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with a male handing out, purchasing or assist-

ing in this regard. It is called understanding and appreciating the complexities of womanhood. This episode tells how much work is yet to be done to rid our people of false notions, fallacies and beliefs.

It is noted that the Opposition has not responded nor has any other female groups besides the Women and Gender Equality Commission.

Shamshun Mohamed

Current pronouncements on $$ amounts forfeited; an uneducated guess at best and hasty and reckless at worst DEAR EDITOR, A series of letters has been written in the papers recently concerning Guyana’s cost recovery audit. Many of these articles assert that Guyana is losing or forfeiting billions of dollars by not performing these audits on time.

These statements are premature and demonstrate a gross misunderstanding of the purpose of a Cost Recovery audit. To be clear, a cost recovery audit is required under the Production Sharing Agreement, and it should be completed in a timely manner.

Guyana is past due. To date,

we have had a little more than six years to perform these audits, five years under the previous administration and a little over a year under the current administration.

Note however, a Cost Recovery audit is not a promise of a refund or reimbursement to the Government. Instead, it is done to establish the veracity of claimed costs. It seeks to determine whether those costs are legal, valid, and allowable under the terms of the agreement. If after the audit certain costs are disallowed, then those costs become part of profit oil which

is then split 50/50 according to the agreement between Exxon and the Government of Guyana.As of now, no one knows or can know how much monies are recoverable by an audit until after the audit is completed. In fact, this is precisely why an audit is required. Based on the results of the audit, there could be significant cost savings or not, accordingly; current pronouncements on dollar amounts forfeited or lost is at best an uneducated guess and at worst hasty and reckless.

Floyd N. Haynes

Pleased over ‘Taser’ movement in the GPF DEAR EDITOR, I am happy to know that the Guyana Police Force would be equipped with Tasers as they go about their daily duties. It is a very vital tool when making arrests of violent criminals. Non-lethal force is required in this exercise, as it protects the criminal from irreparable harm, as well as it protects the police from injury. This is a longawaited crime fighting tool and I say kudos to Minister Benn.In the meantime, we seek approval of the executive arm of the legislature, and I anxiously await the discussions that would emanate therefrom. Should I say I await those silly, if not asinine excuses that would emanate from those quarters the likes

of, “Taser use is inhumane treatment of the criminal by the police, or it is an attempt to criminalise a certain racial group,” the usual nonsense that we are fed with from time to time by forces opposed to law and order. This brings me to an experience I had in another jurisdiction when the issue of the use of the “cat o’ nine tail” came up for review in parliament.

Opposition forces at that time were in total disagreement in its use, they contended that the use of this

method of punishment is reminiscent of slavery. Well, I am sure our friends here in Guyana would readily jump on that platform, as they are known to harp on that ‘ethnic/racial premise.’ However, my response to that line of argument is a very curt Contienued on page 6)

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Thursday November 18, 2021

Kaieteur News

Eliminating Gender-based Violence: Any Progress?

DEAR EDITOR, As another anniversary of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence and the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (November 25) approaches. I cannot help but reflect on the past 26 years since the adoption of the Beijing Platform for Action in 1995 – a document negotiated through unprecedented consensus among stakeholders across territorial borders, institutions, class, ethnicity, culture, occupation and profession. Over 5,000 representatives of governments and non-governmental bodies deliberated without fear or favour to arrive at a concrete plan to, inter alia, overcome violence against women.

As I sat down to write this letter, I decided to do some research on the subject to see how far we have come. Has the battle against violence against women been yielding results? What do the statistics say? Soon after, in 1996, the United Nations established a Trust Fund “to end violence against women” (UNGA Resolution 50/166).

Administered by UNWomen.

The Fund provides grants to NGOs/CSOs that work towards preventing violence against women and girls, improving access by victims to a variety of services and support systems, and strengthening related policies and institutions. Since its inception, the Trust Fund “has awarded USD 198 million to 609 initiatives in 140 countries and territories. In 2020, it managed a grants portfolio of 150 projects aimed at preventing and addressing violence against women and girls in 71 countries and territories.”

In 1997, the WHO initiated a Multi-country Study on Women’s Health and Domestic Violence. The findings (2005) of each of the 10 countries covered varied significantly but were informative.

However, the following excerpt caught my attention: “A review of studies from 35 countries carried out prior to 1999 indicated that between 10% and 52% of women reported being physically abused by an intimate partner at some point in their lives, and between 10% and 30% reported they had experienced sexual violence by an intimate

partner. Between 10% and 27% of women and girls reported having been sexually abused, either as children or adults (2, 3). Data from developing countries was, however, generally lacking.”In 2018, the UN Inter-Agency Working Group on Violence against Women reported that, “As many as 852 million women and girls over the age of 14 in 2018 (almost one in three) experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, or nonpartner sexual violence in their lifetime”. This figure varies from country to country.

Data revealed that in some countries, up to 70% of women and girls have experienced intimate partner and/or sexual violence. The Report further states that “intimate partner violence and sexual violence” are more pervasive worldwide. The following was extracted from the said InterAgency Working Group Report by another UN agency: “Globally, an estimated 736 million women—almost one in three—have been subjected to intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both at least once in their

AMERICANS OUTSMART THEMSELVES AGAIN DEAR EDITOR, Closing in on a year and a half later, the Americans have to be surveying their local elections handiwork, and lament how they always lose with Guyana. They look at the PPP – its proxy President and unimaginable Vice President – and ask themselves how they do so miserably with local leaders.Decades ago, they tied bundle with L.F.S Burnham, and the 28year results need no recounting, both for the Yankees and Guyanese. Similarly, 28 years ago, they resurrected C.B Jagan, and got a successor they themselves (not I) called a monstrosity. He is back today, compliments of America’s sturdy devotion to democracy, and free and fair, only for a more hideous leadership monstrosity being their ghastly nightmare. A small snapshot of what falls squarely into the classification of governance as its grimmest should clear the air. During the elections’ frenzies, a man named Pompeo came and the PPP rolled out the red carpet. Lots of conversations occurred, and expectations spiraled, about relations with

American companies (infrastructure construction and so forth). Yet today, it is the Chinese invasion, and everywhere. There is even spirited talk of ‘One China’ while America’s position on Taiwan is clear. Then, there were some rumblings about Russian vaccines from the UAE, only for them to be absent from the list approved for entry into the U.S. Considering these two situations alone, confirmation comes that PPP leadership is over its head, and has lost where the bigger picture is concerned, inclusive of the potential obstacles down the road. Naturally, when the big picture involves big money, PPP leadership is flawless in operating in darkness and devilishness; not a step missed, when their own crooked interests are intertwined.The Americans came and showed Guyana how to talk right and walk upright, and all PPP leaders can do is crawl around like snakes in swamps. Its ambassador must be looking on, and saying to her team here and superiors in Foggy Bottom, how the hell do we keep missing the boat with leaders like

these? For there is a President and a Vice President who were gifted free and fair, and how quickly they resort to the undemocratic, as in fear and foul. Elections are about politics, admittedly dirty; but governance is about statesmanship, and that requires integrity. ABC (&E) live with their wounds. Among them, is the stain of that school contract, the stench of which is labelled genuine electoral reform.There is one leader who gets into verbal entanglements and another who is slipperier than a greased eel.

Yes, he is that oily and snaky.

The consensus in Duke Street and Washington has to be that with laws and rules and regulations good for papering over only, and propaganda a national art form, that Guyana is not serious; not ready for nationhood, brotherhood, even manhood. The conclusion must be that Guyana’s ruling leaders are only ready for the social and financial ghetto that is of a criminal political hood.

Meaning, the same old dirty ways.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

life (30 per cent of women aged 15 and older).A World Bank Brief of 2019 declared, violence against women a “global pandemic”, stating that 35% of all women globally have experience physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime; 7% experienced sexual assault by a non-partner; of all murdered women, 38% are committed by intimate partners; and 200 million women have been subjected to genital mutilation.

Against this backdrop, the World Bank “supports over $300 million in development projects aimed at addressing GBV [gender-based violence]” The European Union and the UN are collaborating on the novel “Spotlight Initiative” - “a new, global, multi-year initiative focused on eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls (VAWG).

This goal is to be achieved by 2030 according to the new SDGs.There are numerous other initiatives globally, regionally, nationally and locally (at community levels) that probably incurred billions of dollars. I have no doubt that they have yielded

many positive results and have contributed significantly to the battle to end violence against women. The World Bank, for example, reported that “at least 155 countries have passed laws on domestic violence, and 140 have legislation on sexual harassment in the workplace (World Bank 2020)”.Editor, I am back to my original question? Have we advanced in our fight against violence against women? I submitted the information above to show that there does not seem to be any consistency in research and reporting in order to be able to identify a trend or compare findings over time. What baseline data do we use to measure progress if any has been made? After all, it is not about how many laws were passed, or how many institutions were strengthened, but about how many women and girls are battered, raped, and/or killed on a daily basis.

I take this opportunity to urge the authorities, both global and national, to rapidly scale up and strengthen their data systems such that we may have a clear picture about

the state of GBV globally and in every country. The data collection and reporting system should be simple and standard for all.

With information collected, we can better target our allocation of resources for meaningful and results-oriented interventions. We need to be clear on what is, so that we can be sure that we are not just pandering superficial statements; so that we can have evidence to show for our efforts. Otherwise, we risk leaving the vulnerable further behind, as the economic transformation widens societal inequities.

GBV data collection, analysis and reporting should be an annual feature and accompanied by thorough public discussion and consultation.

Failure to have done so in the immediate years after 1995 is an indictment on us as a human society; failure to correct our shortcomings going forward would be downright inhumane. So, how far have we come? Help me understand…anyone?

Sincerely, MU

A unified Guyana is the only way...

From page 5 social organisations to set aside this pettiness and puerile behaviour. To sit down like the proverbial Knights at the Round Table and workout a common approach to deal with the oil giants and those who are exploiting our other natural resources. To let those from faroff know that on the issue of the exploitation of our natural resources, that whichever Government or President forms the Guyana Government, that on this question, as a result of the discussions above, that Government will speak on behalf of the ninetynine percent of Guyanese and not thirty-nine, forty-nine or fifty-nine percent. This will be a telling blow to divide and rule.Divide and Rule has been the curse for this country for too long. I urge leaders of my own Party and others to sit and talk, so that the giants

would recognise that Guyana is not for sale because our political leaders showed unity of purpose, when it comes to the people of Guyana benefiting in a big way from our natural resources.Sometime ago, I suggested that Ministers should have on the front office door and conference room, a large sign saying, “not for sale.”To the Guyanese public, at home and abroad, and particular our youngsters, I urge you in your groups to protest this rape of our patrimony. May I remind all and sundry that the 16th President of the great United States of America, Abraham Lincoln, who agonised about the split between the North and South over slavery, stated “To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men.” Let not history judge Guyanese, who now have access to Facebook,

WhatsApp, Messenger, the Media, and modern communication technology, as cowards.Much later, during my lifetime, I heard Martin Luther King (Jnr) remind the world, and this applies to Guyana today, that “we live in the culture of cowardly silence - avoiding society where “getting along by going along” is the way of life.

In this culture of silence, we tend to be mute on critical issues or conditions, until our personal self-interests are threatened, or until it is too late.” Those words fit easily into our situation in Guyana today.Guyanese, I urge you to let those who wish to exploit us, that on this issue, irrespective of who you are, we will be one, so that our children and our children’s children will not be ashamed of us in our graves.

Hamilton Green Elder

Pleased over ‘Taser’ move...

From page 5 one, “you behave as a slave, then you should be treated as a slave.”

The point is, when individuals are slaves to crime there should be an appropriate response, swift and condign.

The point is, there are too

many out there who are of a slavish mentality to crime, wreaking havoc in society, then, something has to be done about them.

Something has to be done about this ‘disease’ call crime, and one of the ways is to have the police force equipped

with Tasers.

I am happy to know that the GPF would be so equipped, because it marks a step in the right direction in bringing the crime rate down.

Respectfully Submitted Neil Adams

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BL TLUNT.. UNT...B BL Thursday November 18, 2021

Kaieteur News

“No excuse can absolve Govt. ofthis 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 keep his job.

Guyanese: where are you?

What is happening to all of you when these leadership failures multiply?

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Kaieteur News

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Thursday November 18, 2021

Coalition had ignored experts on border affairs in assembling ICJ team ...Foreign Ministry says in answering Greenidge's leaked email

T

he Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has responded to recent reportage stemming from a leaked letter that was sent to Head of State, President Irfaan Ali, complaining, among other things, about the inclusion of key individuals on the Ministerial Advisory Committee on the Border case with Venezuela, being adjudicated by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

According to the Ministry, “none of those persons joined the local team at their own bidding.”

The Ministry said, “…they were each identified and invited by Minister Hugh Todd, to lend their support to this preeminent national effort and their involvement has the full support of His Excellency President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali.” Advisor on Border Affairs, Carl Greenidge in his formal complaint to the Head of State, had given Ali an ultimatum, namely to remove Minister Todd, from the management of the case, among other demands. The information documented in a letter by Greenidge to the President outlined grievances

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd

and infighting, involving To d d a n d G o v e r n a n c e Minister, Gail Teixeira in addition to Guyana's Ambassador to Suriname, Keith George.

The Ministry however, is adamant that Minister Todd, “recognised that the local team previously assembled under the APNU/AFC administration did not include some key persons who have years of professional knowledge on t h e G u y a n a / Ve n e z u e l a controversy.”

W i t h r e g a r d s Ambassador George, the

Ministry in justifying his role and involvement in the preparation of the case, said, George served as Head of the Frontiers Department for 12 years prior to being appointed Guyana's Ambassador to Suriname and spent the past 21 years on matters related to Guyana's land and maritime boundaries, but was excluded.

Additionally, the ministry in its defense of Ambassador George said, he is “well recognised for the integral role he played in the years leading up to and ending with

the arbitration that delimited the maritime boundary with the Republic of Suriname.”

With regards to Ambassador George, Greenidge had told President Ali in his missive that “whilst Ambassador George is not without skills, he is clearly not a Lawyer and in combination with Ms. (Donna) Skeete, he cannot replace…our external Lawyers and the Maritime Expert, that however seems to be the Ministers' unstated intention.”

According to Greenidge, “no one ever suggested to me t h a t Ve n e z u e l a i s Ambassador George area of expertise, but it seems his views about his preferred role, as apparently, does the Minister.”

He was adamant, “whether he should play a more prominent role—as head of the Frontiers Department, Co-Agent or as Agent to the ICJ,” is a matter for Government to decide on.

Greenidge, “while the decision is not for me, it would affect my assignment.”He further contended that Ambassador George is already Head of Mission to a strategic neighbour—Suriname—and further contended that the plenipotentiary representative to that country - “would certainly not be able to adequately conduct any of the ICJ related task(s) from Suriname, let alone be considered the expert on Venezuela.”

Meanwhile the Ministry in its defense of Skeet—who has 14 years of experience in the Frontiers Department of the Ministry of Foreign

Guyana's Ambassador to Suriname, Keith George Affairs and International Cooperation and is the Department's current Director—said, she was not fully involved in the matter.

It said too that Trishala Persaud, who served as Head of the Legal and Treaties Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation before being posted to Guyana's Permanent Mission to the United Nations, was also not fully involved in the matter.

According to the Ministry in a public missive, “several other persons with great knowledge of the boundaries of Guyana, because of their background in the security services of Guyana were not invited to provide their input.

The singular objective of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation is to ensure that all available local expertise, specialist and technical support and assistance are made available to Guyana's international legal team, in order for them to access, with ease, the best possible sources of information, experience and ideas on the

Advisor on Borders, Carl Greenidge matter before the International Court of Justice.”

Greenidge, the former Foreign Affairs Minister who served under the previous administration, but was retained as an advisor on the border case, told President Ali, “my position as Agent and Advisor to the Minister is now untenable in light not only of the questioning and misrepresentations of my judgments and decisions” but in addition to other factors.

To this end, Greenidge in handing his ultimatum to the President called for video recording of the tenuous meeting to be destroyed and that his assignment be confirmed “and the reporting mechanism modified to report to yourself or the VP.” To this end, the Ministry responded saying the portfolio of Agent requires no special expertise in law since the advocates and counsels contracted are responsible for the preparation of the written and oral pleadings of Guyana.

The Agent's role is to ensure that there are (Continued on page 16)

Thursday November 18, 2021

Kaieteur News

WHAT IS EARNED SHOULD NOT HAVE CONDITIONS ATTACHED There is an age-old adage which states that impediments should not be placed in the way of a man receiving what is rightly due to him. Thus, if someone has worked, he should be allowed to receive his earnings and benefits without extraneous considerations.

There is also however, a responsibility on the part of the government to ensure that persons satisfy their tax obligations and thus, over the years a great many administrative encumbrances have been erected to ensure that this happens.

Today, for example, if you wish to tender for a government contract, you are required to obtain tax liability and national insurance compliances from the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) respectively.A person who does not obtain these statements, would not normally be considered for the award of a government contract.In many respects, these policies are understandable. A person who is not up to date in his tax and NIS contributions ought not to benefit from projects funded or guaranteed by taxpayers.

It may be suggested that there should be no such imposition and that tenders should be awarded strictly on technical and financial merit leaving out the demand for tax and NIS compliances.

This argument goes that having one’s tax and NIS contributions in order should not be considerations for public tendering, but these should be left to the GRA and the NIS. In the same way as a traffic cop in the United States is not concerned with the immigrant status of someone who may have breached the law, leaving the question of a

suspect’s residency to the immigration department.

There is some merit in that argument but the payment of taxes is important for the operations of any Government and State and the State has an ethical responsibility in ensuring that tax dodgers or those whose taxes are not in order should not benefit from public funds.

Also, the Government and the State have obligations to ensure that they support the collection of taxes.

Thus, the condition that a person’s taxes should be in order before that person can be awarded a government contract and thus benefit from such an award is, from an ethical point of view, meritorious.There was a time in this country, if you wanted to pop over to one of the islands of the Caribbean you needed to obtain a tax clearance to do so. This requirement was in place up to the early nineties, until it was removed by the Desmond Hoyte’s administration.

It all started under Burnham who was concerned that persons were migrating without settling their tax indebtedness.

In those days, droves of Guyanese were leaving for permanent residence overseas and Burnham was concerned that these persons were leaving without paying their full taxes.

As such, a tax certificate was required, before permission was granted, for someone to board the flight out of Guyana.It was also in those days that the requirement was that when a public officer was retiring from public service that officer had to obtain a tax compliance certificate before being allowed to receive his or her pension and gratuity.

It would seem as if this

requirement is still in place.

The lawfulness of this requirement should be questioned. But aside from the legality of the imposition, there is also the question of whether it is morally right for conditions to be imposed before someone obtains what he has earned.

It is one thing to demand that a person obtains a tax compliance certificate before seeking to benefit from the Government, through for example, the award of a contract. It is quite another thing for such a demand to be made in respect of a benefit that someone has earned.

It is tantamount to asking a man to show that he has satisfied his tax indebtedness before receiving his salary.

The pension and gratuity of someone is a benefit that was earned. It is not something that is to be pleaded for.Therefore, there should be no conditions attached to the payment of these benefits.

On the other hand, the Government is on the moral high ground in insisting that those who are tendering for government contracts should first demonstrate that they are not indebted to the GRA or the NIS. However, in making such a demand, the Government must ensure that the requirement is part of the law and not just an administrative rule, which does not have the force or status of a lawful demand.

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

Dem boys seh ...

Burnham bin con America over Jonestown Today is de anniversary of de Jonestown disaster. As one man say yesterday, it tek a special man fuh brainwash more dan a thousand people and to get dem to drink Kool Aid lace with cyanide.

Jim Jones was a special man. He bin brainwash wan entire community and mek dem believe dat de CIA gan come and crush dem after de Congressman get kill at de Port Kaituma Airstrip.

De Congressman bin come fuh investigate complaints dat Americans bin getting bad treatment at de People’s Temple Commune.

And he did get a few ah dem fuh leave with he. Jones’ henchmen bin panick thinking dat dis was de end of de commune because dem feel dat de Congressman would ah recommend dat it close.

And suh dem apply de law of dead men tell no tales. And dem riddle de Congress man, Leo Ryan, with bullets pun Guyanese soil.

And dem had one big investigation into de mass suicide in America.

It was a Congressional Report and it didn’t have anything too nice to say bout de Guyana guvament. But den

Dem boys seh ...

again not many people does have anything nice to say.

De Guyana guvament con de Americans. Dem bin promise a judicial investigation. But dem didn’t have none because Burnham bin fraid of de implications fuh he and he guvament.

Burnham nah even allow guvament officials to talk with local officials.

And de Americans nah press de issue like dem does usually do. Nuff people wonder why and now is good time to ask why.

Talk half and nah hold yuh breath.

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Thursday November 18, 2021

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

I have no interest in the PNC contest but Aubrey Norton did this My studies of Guyanese politics have led me to the conclusion that the PNC needs someone from outside the circle of the past, someone not part of all the things that the PNC were up to for the past 65 years.

Having said that, I have no interest in who becomes the leader of the PNC. In the flames of the leadership contest that has engulfed the PNC, political analysts in any country will make in-depth assessments of all the competitors. This is what political analysts do. But I'm afraid I will pass on this one.

For me the PNC has misused its most golden opportunities to reconfigure and purify the flawed landscape of Guyana. In 1964, it threw it away by the insane intoxication of power under Burnham. Guyana was saved from social extinction when Burnham died.

The next occasion was 2015 when it took its place among civilised parties in the democratic world. It won the election. Here was the second

occasion in which power could have been used to serve humanity in Guyana. The PPP lost two elections and we have to give Jack his jacket; it did not try to burn down Guyana. It endured its losses.

After 2015, the PPP rallied its troops and waited for March 2020.

If the PNC had financially compensated laid off sugar workers, giving them vast acres of lands to earn a living, accepted one of the 18 names Mr. Jagdeo offered for the chairmanship of GECOM, and held elections three months after the no-confidence vote, it would have been a tight race in March 2020.

The PNC was not prepared to take its place among civilised political parties of the world. It tried to rig the 2020 election – the only thing about politics it understands. Against this backdrop I have no interest in analysing the contestants any further than the few columns I recently did. I don't think I can count on none of the three

contenders to concede an election defeat in the future.

Volda Lawrence is not contesting but she is of the same cloth.

Here is a piece of memoir that if I should write my memoir, I would include it.

The only person who spoke to me after the 2015 victory of APNU+AFC about serving in the post-2015 dispensation was Aubrey Norton.

He told me the leaders of both APNU+AFC should engage me. He offered to set up a meeting.

The next year, I received a call from Norton in which he said, “I would like you to be at my 60th birthday party.”

I was hesitant in going. I was a virulent critic of the APNU+AFC government. I know all the PNC bigwigs would have been there. It turned out I had a big argument with David Patterson and left.

I mention this because from 2015 onwards, no other leader from any party in the APNU conglomeration or the

AFC ever had even a five minutes talk with me as to how I could contribute to the future shape of Guyana.

The paragraphs below are what I would include if I was to write my memoir. In 2016, I was waiting at the security hut for clearance to enter the Ministry of Public Security to see my friend, Leonard Craig. The Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan, as he was about to walk up the steps, saw me and said quite formally without any expression on his face, “You g e t t i n g t h r o u g h ? ” M r.

Ramjattan's expression that morning made it clear to me he was not interested in chatting with me.

In 2017, I had dinner at New Thriving with one of the biggest names in the AFC who is from the diaspora, Ronald Alert. What Alert told me cannot be repeated unless he gives me permission and gi

ves the public his word that he will stand by the quote. From that conversation on t h e APNU+AFC's perception of me, I knew their leaders would betray the Guyanese people.

Frederick Kissoon From that night at New Thriving, I knew the APNU+AFC were the wrong o ne exceptional episode – Minister Ronald Bulkan. I leaders for Guyana.

The reader will obviously knew him long before 2015. I ask, why write about this and went to him for three house n o t o n t h e p l e a s a n t lots for people I promised to e n c o u n t e r s w i t h help when I was on the APNU+AFC leaders. There campaign trail in 2015. I did were no such encounters, not go to the then Minister of Communities, Keith Scott. I except one.

Joseph Harmon never went to Ronald and he was returned my calls after 2015. the perfect gentleman.

(The views expressed in I did not receive a response for two texts I had sent to this article are those of the Finance Minister, Winston a u t h o r a n d d o n o t Jordan on my complaints necessarily reflect the against the GRA. There was opinions of this newspaper.)

Businessman denies claims of forcing farmers off lands in Essequibo …says farmers refusing to pay rent, sub-letting lands for hefty sums

Businessman Tamesh Jagmohan has debunked claims that he was forcing rice farmers off lands which they are currently cultivating on the Essequibo Coast.

In a statement Jagmohan said that his attention was drawn to a series of slanderous and erroneous claims being made in some sections of the media and on Facebook by a small group of farmers at the instigation of a close relative, claiming they are being forced off lands where they currently cultivate rice. “ We h a v e b e e n castigated and vilified as the all-consuming, big establishment which is unfairly pressuring small farmers eking out a livelihood. The group has portrayed themselves as the victims and our company and its principals as the villains,” Jagmohan said in the statement.

He clarified that his company's intention is not to remove the farmers from “our lands for which we are the lawful holders of Title and Lease, following acquisition from Kayman Sankar and Company Limited. That has never been

our intention.”

He said the reality of the situation however, is that the farmers occupying the lands have not been fulfilling their lawful obligations of paying rent. “Our Company had requested from the Rice Assessment Committee an increase in rent per acre of only $7,500, per crop in keeping with the relationship between 'Owners and Tenants of Rice Lands' as is outlined in the laws of our country. The Committee instead granted an amount of $4650, meaning our budget and financial obligations has been affected. Yet the farmers continue to refuse to pay their rent some of whom are sub-letting our lands for in excess of $30,000 per acre, making a hefty profit and are refusing to fulfill their obligations to us. How can this be considered fair?”

Jagmohan queried.

He said his company has over the past few years been bending over backwards to reach out to these individuals with the hope that they will correct this injustice but to no avail. “As if that was not enough, these farmers harvesting from our lands, refusing to pay our company

rent for using our lands, are also refusing to sell the paddy to our mills. We are heavily indebted to the local banking institutions for acquiring these lands from the previous owner and the continued refusal by the farmers to honour their financial obligations is putting serious strain on the finances of our company,” the businessman reasoned.

“We have constantly encouraged the farmers for them to come into our company so we can update our register of who is occupying which portion of lands. There are instances where original tenants would have passed away, and their relatives have taken over working our lands. As indicated above, in some instances they have sub-let our lands and are receiving rent. Our company simply wishes to regularise and have an updated register of our operations. That has been our position from the inception.

Hence, we are perplexed at both the attacks and innuendos hurled at the government and officials by this small group forcing (Continued on page 16)

Thursday November 18, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Thursday November 18, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 12

Harmon demands audit of Exxon's US$9.5B spending L

eader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon on Wednesday said he is now prepared to stand up to the 'International bullies' to reclaim the rights of the Guyanese citizens, specifically with regards to the oil and gas sector.

Harmon during a virtual Press conference on Wednesday told reporters that the Vice-President, Bharrat Jagdeo's statements, on the failure to audit the spending of ExxonMobil has to be one of the worst he has ever heard.

“This is one of the worst statements I have ever heard.

You cannot, not be in a position to audit these accounts.

The fact of the matter is that Jagdeo, (President) Irfaan Ali and all of them are under the hammer of Exxon,” he pointed out. “ We a l l s a w w h a t happened just shortly after the 2nd August when the US Secretary of State and all of these high officials from the United States were here, and the meetings were kept, decisions were made, contracts were signed, we asked for those things to be made public and they never did because they are under pressure.

They had to deliver.

Pompeo came for them to deliver on their part. He had done his part by getting us out of Office. It was now Jagdeo's turn to deliver and so it wasn't much choice which he had. And so for you to now come and say that you couldn't audit it, go and get it

done!” the Opposition Leader demanded.

He noted that it is never too late to conduct such audits, even as he called for the Government to come clean. “It's never too late to audit. (US)$9.5 billion you are saying that you cannot audit it?...Jagdeo, Irfaan Ali and the PPP regime, along with their enablers in the private sector, those foreign

to Guyanese people, because it is demolishing, it is disaggregating this aura that they have thrown over oil and gas that it is something so technical that ordinary people can't understand,” he pointed out.

Harmon shared that he was recently entertained on a United States television programme, where a senior representative from

people just because they wanted to get into office, and now they can't stand up to these International bullies.

We are prepared to do that.

We have nothing to worry about. We are prepared to stand up to them,” he asserted.

Rape of resources Harmon in response to a question told reporters that the citizens of Guyana must

“I have seen Glenn Lall carrying out on a daily basis, a lot of these information; most of what he says makes a lot of sense to Guyanese people, because it is demolishing, it is disaggregating this aura that they have thrown over oil and gas that it is something so technical that ordinary people can't understand,” said Harmon c ompanies that come here and believe they can disrespect Constitutional office holders simply because they are in bed with the Government that that is going to be accepted by the Guyanese people,” he said.

Harmon explained that he has been taking note of the locals, specifically Kaieteur News' Publisher, Mr. Glenn Lall who has not been sparing the Government.

“I have seen Glenn Lall carrying out on a daily basis, a l o t o f t h e s e information…most of what he says makes a lot of sense

ExxonMobil told viewers that the company has cleared off all of their loans and all they had borrowed in a short space of time, “because they had an excellent contract”.

Notably, the Leader of the Opposition said that at no point did Exxon make reference to Guyana, a country he said is the only one they are profitably benefitting from.

He said, this is premised on the fact that the rights of Guyanese citizens were sold out to 'International bullies.”

“We have enablers in government that have sold out the rights of the Guyanese

b e prepared to stand-up against the rape of resources, even as the Opposition remains poised to approach the Courts on such issues. “ We h a v e b e e n approaching the Courts on several Constitutional issues.

We've approached the court on issues where there were persons who were sitting in the National Assembly that was in violation of the Constitution.

We've approached the Courts on issues where the Constitution provided for lump sums to be paid to certain constitutional

agencies and the government violated that.

We've approached the court and several other constitutional matters for the national good…but I think what we are looking at now is a wider network of skills that will be prepared to take this matter in our Courts and be prepared to take it outside of Guyana in the Courts,” he said.

“There are some people who've actually been carrying a tireless battle outside of Guyana, fighting for the rights of the Guyanese people, as it relates to this oil and gas sector.

But I think as we move forward we're definitely going to need more hands on deck, because what is happening is that before our very eyes, we are seeing the rape and pillage of our Resources, by an uncaring Administration that just believes that the wealth of Guyana belongs to them.

It is their personal right and it is to be distributed in a manner that only they will determine. Certainly some of these matters will have to continue going to Court,” Harmon explained.

The Opposition Leader further noted that locals are now more educated and have a better understanding of the sector.

Hence “the Guyanese people outside of the courts, outside of the parliament will have to start to take certain steps to make it very clear to this Administration that we are not going to allow you to rape and pillage our resources without serious

'Consult the people first' ...Region Four chairman insists residents must be consulted first before no-objection for new DHB Chairman of Region Four, Daniel Seeram has turned down a Ministry of Public Works' (MPWs) request to grant a no-objection for the construction of the new Demerara River Bridge, insisting that the necessary consultations must be done first with nearby communities that could be impacted by the works.

In an interview with the Kaieteur News on Wednesday, Seeram said that while the project is indeed poised to be transformative and beneficial in the reduction of traffic, “We are not satisfied that the residents have not

been consulted.”

He detailed that the Permanent Secretary of the MPW, Vladim Persaud on November 2, 2021 issued a request for the Region to grant a noobjection to the project, citing that it is a national one that has already reached an advanced stage. In light of this letter of request, the Regional Chairman said he asked for a site visit, where the Ministry was asked whether it consulted residents, but it could not answer. But since the site Chairman of Region visit, Seeram said that his office has Four, Daniel Seeram (Continued on page 18)

Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon

consequences.

Government's failure to audit Due to the nation's failure to conduct cost audits within the two-year deadline prescribed in the Stabroek Block Agreement, Guyana has no choice but to allow ExxonMobil's subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), to recover all stated costs for its Liza Phase One and Two Projects. Both initiatives total approximately US$9.5B. Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has said the 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

Thursday November 18, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 13

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Thursday November 18, 2021

Engineer forced to sign off unchecked works for fear of losing job - PAC hears

R

egional engineer for Region Eight ( P o t a r o Siparuni), Latchman Singh found himself in a middle of a quarrel between members of the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) o n M o n d a y, w h e n h e claimed that he was forced to sign off on documents for payments of projects which were unchecked and in some cases, incomplete under the A Partnership For National Unity +Alliance For Change

( A P N U + A F C ) administration.

Singh claimed he was being victimised and feared losing his job for failing to comply with the directives of the regional administration when he was instructed to sign off on various projects.

The projects were all flagged in the 2016 Auditor General Report for overpayments, unverified incomplete work and in some cases; no works were done at all. For that period, a budget of $248.2

'Return and face justice' ...Crime Chief tells murder suspects who fled jurisdiction

Allegedly murdered by boyfriend, Shonette Dover

Wanted: Shaquan Alleyne also known as “ISWE”.

By Shervin Belgrave In seeking to further improve Guyana's “clear up rate for murder”, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is hopeful that wanted murder suspects who have fled the jurisdiction can return home to face justice.

Making the call was Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum during the virtual launch of the force's Christmas security plan on Monday. Blanhum began by saying, that President Mohamed Irfaan Ali had alluded to the fact Guyana has the highest “clear-up rate for murder' in the Caribbean.

Ali had boasted about this in a recent statement he made on live television.

The President had stated, “… you will be surprised to know that we have one of highest clear up rate for murder in the region (Caribbean). For example, this year we have seen a 6.5% improvement in the clear-up rate for murder that

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum means that 68.1% of murders have been solved for the year so far”.

While this is true, Blanhum noted earlier in the year clear up rate for murder was much higher. “This year we have recorded 68 % clear up rate for murder so far and early in the year we were at 75%”, the Crime Chief said.

He reasoned that the clear-up –rate has reduced slightly (Continued on page 18)

million had been allocated to the region for maintenance of buildings and infrastructure.

According to the report, questions surrounded the work that was done at the Kato Guest House, the administration building for Kato playfield, and the repairs to a revetment at Kawa creek, in Region Eight, Potaro-Siparuni.

In the instance of repairs to the revetment of the Kawa Creek, the sum of $1.4

million was doled out to a contractor but despite being paid in full, the contractor had not even started the work at the time of the report.

Additionally, the audit report said that the payments were not recovered. On Monday, regional officers from Region Eight were made to answer queries surrounding the expenditure for unverified projects.

During the engagement, Singh admitted that he signed off on documents

falsely certifying works as complete, in fear of losing his job under the previous administration. He claimed that this was done even though he did not verify the works himself.

The Regional engineer claimed that he was instructed by the Regional Executive Officer (REO) at the time, Rafael Downes.

Downes was eventually fired from his post in 2017.

Singh's response to the PAC sparked different reactions

Regional Contractor, Latchman Singh. from members of the committee.

For one, APNU+AFC Ganesh Mahipaul said that (Continued on page 16)

Kaieteur News

Thursday November 18, 2021

PAGE 15

PPP/C not interested in ‘good

governance’ for oil sector - Ram … Govt. comfortable with Ali, Bharrat & Jagdeo in charge T

he incumbent P e o p l e s Progressive Party C i v i c ( P P P / 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.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, h e recommended that the government immediately set about a Commission of

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo

Inquiry with a view to seeking recommendations on having the contract with ExxonMobil Guyana renegotiated. A 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

Chartered Account, Attorney-at-Law and civil rights activist, Christopher Ram 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.”

Seven in the race to become PNCR leader

P

rominent Lindener Sharma Solomon, former Attorney General, Basil Williams, and Peoples National Congress Reform founder member (PNC/R) Volda Lawrence, are among those that have been nominated to contest for leadership of the Party when it hosts its Biennial Congress next month.

The official list of nominees to contest the leadership post was disseminated yesterday by the party in a public missive, which also confirmed that nominations were received for the three other candidates who had already publicly announced their intentions.

These include, former Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, under the coalition administration, Joseph Harmon, Aubrey Norton and Dr. Richard Van West Charles.

As it relates to the post of part Chairman, those nominated include i n c u m b e n t , Vo l d a Lawrence, Gary Best, Shurwayne Holder, A m a n z a Wa l t o n - D e s i r, Roysdale Ford, Annette Ferguson; Aubrey Norton, Sharma Solomon, Ronald Bulkan, Christopher Jones, R i c h a r d Va n - We s t Charles, Simona Broomes, Geeta C h a n d a n , D a w n Hastings, Joseph Harmon and Mervyn Williams.

According to the party, arrangements are well

...Solomon, Greenidge, Lawrence, Williams pick up nominations

Prominent Linden PNC/R Member, Sharma Solomon

Former President and incumbent PNC/R Leader, David Granger

underway in preparation for its 21st Biennial Delegates Congress, scheduled for December 11, 2021.

The Congress will be for delegates only, decentralised, and hybrid and will be conducted over one day at Party Congress Houses and approved venues in the respective regions.

In making the announcement, it was noted that party groups have already submitted their nomi nations for Party Officers and members of the Central Executive Committee, as well as the names of their delegates.

The Congress is expected to begin with an address by incumbent Party Leader, David Granger, who has failed to sec ure any

nominations to lead the party.

According to the PNC/R, the var i o u s C o n g r e s s Sub-Committees have been meeting and advancing their preparations for the C o n g r e s s , “ h o w e v e r, s ince the A ccred itation Co mmittee is th e o ne w h ich p lays a central r o le in p reparin g the Lis t o f D eleg ates for the Congress, the Party considers it necessary to brief the Press on the work it has done so far.”

The party said, since its establishment, the Accreditation Committee has been functioning effectively and has met routinely and regularly to verify Delegates based on submissions by Party Groups.

PNC/R Chairman, Volda Lawrence

Former APNU+AFC Minister, Carl Greenidge

Former Attorney General, Basil Williams

GECOM short lists candidates to fill vacant posts The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has begun short listing candidates to fill key vacancies within the organisation.

The commission met once again this week as part of the process of short listing those candidates that will fill key position including that of the Chief Elections Officer (CEO). Kaieteur News understands that at least three foreigners are among the list of 17 applicants under consideration by GECOM. The foreigner include Leslie

Oliver Harrow from Jamaica; Eugene Godfrey Petty from St. Kitts; and Dr. Kurt G. Clarke from Texas, United States.

Also on the short list are GECOM's Information Technology Manager, Aneal Azhar Giddings, along with former Commissioner of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), Pandit Deodat Persaud, and former Public Relations Officer of t h e G E C O M , Vi s h n u Persaud were also shortlisted by the PPP. Persaud's name is reportedly at the top of the

Chairman of GECOM, Justice (Ret'd) Claudette Singh. shortlisted candidates by the P P P - n o m i n a t e d commissioners. He left GECOM in 2014 after his (Continued on page 18)

PAGE 16

Thursday November 18, 2021

Kaieteur News

Exxon gives contractor advance...

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From page 3 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 to-

wards 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.

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.

GRA outlines criteria governing...

From page 3 determination of the Warehousing Product Specification Codes (PSC).Further to this, the tax authority now requires the name and acceptance of a proposed Guarantor and evidence of Sufficient Security, in the form of a bond

in Form C61 of the Customs Regulations, to guarantee the payment of duties applicable to the Warehoused goods. It also expects applicants to submit a proposal outlining the specific nature of the operations, access to electronic inventory and security ar-

rangements, and any other condition(s) deemed necessary by the CommissionerGeneral upon the examination of the facility. GRA warned that it would apply the full measures in the Laws of Guyana for those found to be non-compliant.

Businessman denies claims of forcing...

From page 10 them to intervene in what is a private arrangement between the lawful owner of these lands and those who are tenants. We use this opportu-

nity to implore the government officials who have now been drawn into this issue, to explain to the group about their legal obligations to our company as outlined in the

laws of Guyana. We do hope that good sense prevails and our company reaffirms our commitment to engage these farmers as time is of the essence.”

Coalition had ignored experts...

From page 8 administrative linkages between Guyana, its international lawyers and the International Court of Justice and to be the liaison between the Government and the international legal team on the policy and substantive issues being ad-

dressed by that team.

“The Agent does not act independently of the Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation or the other members of the local team. ”To this end, the Ministry said the Agent, reports to the

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and is supported by two Co-Agents representing Guyana, namely Sir Shridath Ramphal and Ambassador Elisabeth Harper, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

Engineer forced to sign off unchecked works...

From page 14 he found the claims made by the engineer hard to believe.

But Government Chief Whip and PAC member, Gail Teixeira reminded the Chair that the officers are legally bound to speak the truth. “…

I think, Mr. Chair, that the officer should be given the benefit of the doubt and given time to provide the committee with proof,” Teixeira stated.With regard to this, Singh told the PAC: “I don't have any documentation. But Mr. Chairman, I have a documented letter that I wrote to the REO to say that I am signing these documents under duress, because I was not having an opportunity to travel to check the work for myself.”He explained further that he initially refused to sign off on the work.Singh said:

“The first time I refused to sign a voucher without visiting and verifying because it was not truthful and factual. I was sent on 52 days of leave. After returning from lunch one day, I was called to the admin office and handed a letter saying I have to proceed on 52 days annual leave.” PAC member Juretha Fernandes was still not satisfied with the explanation given by the officer.She told the committee: “I have a difficulty with the way in which this discussion is progressing. When someone is employed, they have a job description. It is unacceptable for someone to come before this committee and say they signed a document because they were forced to sign a document.

Fernandes asserted “Nobody could force you to do some-

thing illegal and you go ahead and do it.” Her response prompted uproar from members of the PAC present at the session as well as those joining virtually. As a result, Mahipaul had to call the session to order by threatening to mute the microphones for those joining the session virtually. This is not the first time that the regional engineer made claims against the previous administration before the PAC. Back in 2019, Singh said that this was a grave injustice and discrimination against him, while noting that he has a family to support.He expressed the conviction that he was being victimised because he had disclosed malpractice and misappropriation of Government funds by the REO at a Parliamentary PAC meeting in 2018.

Thursday November 18, 2021

Kaieteur News

Health Ministry recorded 4 more COVID-19 fatalities The Ministry of Health yesterday reported that four more persons who tested positive for the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease have died. As a result of this, the country’s COVID-19 death toll has moved to 965.

According to the Ministry, the latest fatalities are that of three unvaccinated persons and a fully vaccinated person who died between November 12 and November

17, while receiving treatment at medical facility.

The fatalities are that of two men, a 50-year-old from Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) and a, 67-year-old from Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) and that of two women a, 30-year-old from Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) and a 67-year-old from Region Four.

Further, in its daily COVID-19 dashboard, the

Ministry recorded 83 new cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 36,999.

The dashboard also shows that there are 20 patients admitted into the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 56 persons in institutional isolation, 1,988 in home isolation and 9 in institutional quarantine. To date, a total of 33,970 persons have recovered from the virus.

-

Employees using quarantine system to deliberately stay away from work - Minister Anthony The Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony said that his ministry has received reports that there are some persons who are using the COVID-19 quarantine system to deliberately stay away from work.

The minister who addressed the concern during his daily COVID-19 update yesterday, noted that businesses should put requisite polices in place to check these reports from their employees.

If a person’s status is undetermined then they are place in quarantine until their status is verified.

Even though persons are in quarantine, the Minister said there are some who are faking their exposure to the virus as an excuse to abscond

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony. from work. “If there is a pattern like that then it is obvious that, that employee or that person might just want days off than being genuinely sick with COVID,” he related.

He added that persons doing this are exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Some persons are exploiting the situation of claiming

that they have been exposed to someone who has been positive with COVID and that then can become very problematic,” he pointed out.

To this end, the Minister suggests that work places should get policies in place where they can verify such reports. According to Dr. Anthony if a person thinks they have been exposed to someone infected with the virus, then they should be in quarantine.

After the fifth day in quarantine that person is advised to get a PCR test to determine their status.

If the test returns positive then he or she would now have to isolate themselves so that the infection is not spread further.

PAGE 17

PAGE 18

Region replaces stolen WBD koker winches

The repaired winches that were installed to replace the stolen ones.

The Regional Democratic council (RDC) of Region Three in conjunction with the National Drainage and Irrigation Administration (NDIA) has successfully replaced the stolen Koker Winches from the Bagotsville and Nismes Kokers located on the West Bank of Demerara (WBD).

Updating Kaieteur News on this development yesterday was the Chairman of La Grange/ Nismes Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Anjanie Seebaran. Seebaran said, “I visited the kokers this morning and both winches are installed”. She noted too that “this time they have been ce-

Thursday November 18, 2021

Kaieteur News

mented into the ground which will better secure it from thieves”. Additionally, the NDC chairman related as well that she was pleased to see that respective Koker attendants were present and opening sluice doors “to drain the excess water that had accumulated on the land” over the last two days.

The doors of the Bagotsville and Nismes were forced to remain closed for at least three days because unidentified thieves had stolen their winches over the weekend. Regional Executive Officer (REO) of the Region, Jagnarine Somwar, had told Kaieteur News that, despite

there were used winches available to replace the stolen ones, monies had to be spent to fix and repair them for installation.He related that some of the repairs that were needed was to fix the teeth and gears of the replacement winches and it has proven to be very costly.Kaieteur News had reported previously that replacement of the stolen Kokers was estimated to cosy around $5.1M if new ones had to be purchased.Somwar when he spoke to Kaieteur News had assured that repairs to old Koker winches that the region had in stock did not cost as much as the price for two new ones.

GECOM short lists candidates to fill vacant...

From page 15 contract was not renewed.

Prior to leaving the commission, Persaud had applied to fill the post of Deputy CEO of GECOM, but was overlooked.

Over the past several weeks, Chairman of GECOM, Justice (ret'd) Claudette Singh, has been meeting with members of the commission in a bid to have the vacancies within the secretariat filled. At present, the commission remains without key office holders including a Chief Election Officer (CEO) /Commissioner

of Registration, Deputy Chief Election Officer/Deputy Commission of Registration, Assistant Chief Election Officer/ Assistant Commissioner of Registration, Logistics Manager, Civic and Voter Education Manager, Legal Officer and Chief Accountant.

The commission has so far advertised for suitably qualified persons to fill the posts. As it relates to the CEO, GECOM required that the candidates applying for that post must have a Post Graduate Degree in Public

Administration, Law, Management or relevant discipline from a reputable and recognised institution. Also specific training and verifiable experience in managing election systems, along with at least 10 years experience in a senior management position overseeing and directing diverse operations aimed at achieving targets within specific deadlines. Additionally, candidates would need at least 10 years experience in Management of National Elections and Election Systems.

Return and face Justice...

From page 14 because some murder suspects have fled the country.

“Some would have fled to neighbouring countries and we are hoping that they will return to us so that they can be charged”, Blanhum related.

The Crime Chief related that his detectives “have all the evidence against them” and assured that “as soon as the wanted suspects are arrested, the force is going to ensure that they will face the full brunt of the law.

He added, that the force

will continue to work with its overseas partners in capturing the wanted murder suspects. One such suspect is Shaquan Alleyne also known as “ISWE”.Alleyne is the prime suspect in the murder of his girlfriend Shonette Dover in April this year at his Canvas City, Linden Region Ten home. Dover was reported missing on Sunday April, 4, 2021. Alleyne had put on a show and was even calling on the public to assist him in locating his missing girlfriend. Two weeks later

Dover's 15-year-old sister shocked citizens when she revealed that Alleyne had killed Dover. The juvenile even confessed that she had assisted the murder suspect in burying Dover's remains in his backyard and had led police to dig up the corpse.

Dover's decomposing remains were excavated on April 30 and her sister was charged and remanded while Alleyne is still at large. It is believed that the suspect might have fled to Neighbouring Suriname or French Guiana.

Consult the people...

From page 12 been receiving multiple calls from residents in the area, with complaints and concerns about the project.

“They (MPW) don't know the design or anything as yet for the project. They are putting the cart before the horse, because you can't seek a noobjection without consulting residents who could be affected,” the Chairman noted.

He said that this move by the Government is “very disrespectful” to the residents of the area. “It is not that we won't grant them no-objection, we are awaiting a public consultation,” he clarified.

The Chairman reminded that the bridge is proposed to pass through two 'huge' residential communities and the people must know how they stand to be impacted. “The ball is now in the Ministry's court to ensure the consultations are done. The residents need to know how this construction will affect them, in terms of noise pollution, dust, etcetera,” he added.

Seeram told Kaieteur News that the Region is ready to welcome the project with open arms as it will greatly transform and relieve communities, however, it must do its

part in representing the people. He was keen to note that while the Region is willing to conduct the Consultations, it is the technical officers from the Ministry of Public Works who would have to answer questions with regards to the project. A letter informing the Ministry of the Region's requirement for a public consultation was issued on Tuesday. However the Region is yet to hear from the Government.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had earlier this year said that there was no need for an Environmental Impact Assessment of the project. The decision was taken despite the potential impacts from the construction of the replacement bridge— according to the project summary— which includes deforestation as a result of land clearing for the new project in addition to significant erosion.Additionally, it was noted that potential exists for sedimentation and discolouration of the nearby water sources due to surface runoff, erosion and pile driving activities; and contamination of surrounding water bodies from fuel/oil/lubricants spills.The decision was taken since the EPA, has through its screening process for the project, determined it being categorised as having no significant impacts and minor issues can be addressed through appropriate and practical environmental safeguards informed by an Environmental and Social Assessment and Management Plan.

That decision has since been made public by the EPA and provides for a 30-day window period for persons wishing to lodge formal complaints against the EPA's decision or for any person who may be affected by the proposed project.According to the EPA, it is satisfied that if a decision is taken to approve this project, robust measures can be prescribed to ensure compliance with the Environmental Protection Act.To this end, it was pointed out that the Agency requires that an Environmental and Social Assessment and Management Plan (ESAMP) be prepared for the project to address specific issues identified in the screening process, and detail specific and practical mitigation measures to ensure that the proposed project can be undertaken in an environmentally-sound and sustainable manner.

According to the project summary prepared and submitted to the EPA by the Works Services Unit of the Public Works Ministry, the existing structure has surpassed its technical life.

As such, the proposed replacement structure by the Ministry advances a fixed four-lane bridge with a vertical clearance over the channel of approximately 50 metres above the maximum tide level. “The proposed design allows for the bridge to be connected to the main road network through road approaches connecting it to the West Bank Public Road and the imminent Mandela to Eccles road, respectively.”

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Thursday November 18, 2021

'We didn't bid for the $44M hospital project' - GDF states The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) recently received a contract to upgrade the Paramakatoi Health Center to a 'Smart' facility, but even though the project sum is in excess of $44 million, it did not pass through the state's procuring e n t i t y, t h e N a t i o n a l Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB). This is according to the Guyana Defence Force. In response to a letter by a social activist, Ms. Audreyanna Thomas, who questioned what she dubbed as an 'unfair advantage' the GDF has over other companies, the Defence Force said that it does not participate in public bidding processes. In fact, the GDF said that it is the President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, who wants the Force to play a role in national development.

“President and Commanderin-Chief, Dr. Irfaan Ali, shortly after taking office, articulated his vision for the Guyana Defence Force. As part of that vision, was his desire to see the Force play a greater role in national development,” the GDF said. It added, “It is in this regard, that the Force has partnered with Regional Democratic Councils to execute a number of community projects in several administrative regions. Many of these projects were completed and h a n d e d o v e r t o communities”. The GDF

defence agency has been conducting several projects across the country in collaboration with various Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs).

The NPTAB is stipulated by law to receive, open, evaluate, and decide the award for all procurements above the threshold amounts for the regions, ministries above the value of $15 million. It is then required to send a recommendation to the Minister of Finance, who places the bids before Cabinet for approval. United

Senior members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) including Brigadier (ret)Gary Beaton conducts an inspection at one of their ongoing projects (GDF photo)

noted that construction projects are not new to the organisation, as ranks of the Engineer Corps have “embarked on a number of civil work projects including the drilling of wells in South Rupununi.”

In a letter to this newspaper, Thomas said she was shocked that neither the Private Sector Commission (PSC) nor the Chambers of Commerce questioned the award of the project. She reasoned, “The Guyana Defence Force is a state agency and is funded by the state. The President is the Commander-in-Chief, and the Defence Board is a state entity, therefore the GDF cannot bid for a government contract without the knowledge of the President and the Defence Board.

Additionally, the GDF cannot participate in a public p r o c u r e m e n t

(bidding/tender) process along with private sector entities. Against this backdrop, she called for the contract to be made null and void.While citing unfair competition, Thomas questioned, “Will the salary being paid to those GDF members who will be working on this project come from the government funds or the project?

Will their salaries be stopped for the period when they would be working on this project and recommence after the project is completed? Will their pension and other benefits for the period of the construction of the hospital be stopped also?”

Public Relations Officer of the GDF, Heppilena Ferguson told Kaieteur News that she could not respond to that concern. She would only say that the

Kingdom Department for International Development is facilitating the Smart Healthcare Facilities in the Caribbean project. Some $835 million (US$4.175 million) has been set aside for the project.

The local health facilities that are scheduled to be upgraded under this project include the Diamond Diagnostic Hospital, the Leonora Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, Mabaruma Regional Hospital and the Paramakatoi Health Centre.

Police impose ban on movement of container trucks during the day The line of container trucks waiting on Sussex Street to be processed at the Lombard Street container scanner compound.

Owing to the anticipated traffic congestion in and around Georgetown during the festive season, the Guyana Police Force has imposed a ban on the movement of container trucks during the day.

This was revealed by the Traffic Chief and Senior Superintendent of Police, Ramesh Ashram, on Monday in a media conference hosted by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to disclose its Christmas Policing Plan 2021. Ashram stated that operators of container trucks are asked to traverse between 22:00hrs to 05:00hrs daily and that business owners are advised to offload containers at the terminals then transport their goods using smaller vehicles, such as cars and canters. “This helps in reducing the congestion in and around Georgetown and

Traffic Chief and Senior Superintendent of Police, Ramesh Ashram the East Bank Corridor a great lot,” he told members of the media.

In another bid to reduce the traffic congestion during the Christmas season,

Ashram announced that there will be around-theclock police patrols that will clamp down on drivers obstructing the free flow of traffic in various Regions across Guyana. “Our intention is to ensure a free flow of traffic, to minimise t r a ff i c c o n g e s t i o n , t o minimise accidents and to ensure that citizens obey all traffic laws through diligent enforcement countrywide,” the Traffic Chief declared.

Meanwhile, police will be stationed at several key areas of high traffic and business entities. Among some of the key areas that will see heightened police presences are: Regent Street, Robb Street, Camp Street, Water Street, Bourda Market, Stabroek Market, Lombard Street, Vlissengen Road, Homestretch Avenue, Main Street and Sheriff Street.

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Argentina draw with Brazil, qualifies for 2022 World Cup SAO PAULO (AP) — Argentina secured a place in next year’s World Cup after a 0-0 draw against Brazil on Tuesday, giving Lionel Messi his fifth and possibly final shot at winning the only major trophy missing in his career.

Second-place Argentina qualified after Chile lost 2-0 at home to third-place Ecuador. With 29 points and four qualifiers remaining, Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina squad cannot be overtaken by more than two rivals.

Competition-leading Brazil had already secured the first of South America’s four direct entries to Qatar 2022.

The fifth-place team goes into an intercontinental playoff for

a spot in Qatar.

Brazil has 35 points, six ahead of Argentina. Both teams have completed 13 games, one fewer than scheduled because their encounter in September was suspended after seven minutes when Brazilian officials belatedly enforced COVID-19 restrictions. FIFA is yet to decide what to do with that match.

Ecuador has 23 points and is well established in the third position. And then, except for last-place Venezuela, there’s a crush of candidates to qualify.

Colombia and Peru have 17 points and Chile is sixth with 16 points, narrowly ahead

of Uruguay on goal difference. Bolivia is surprisingly competitive with 15 points in eighth position.

Paraguay can’t be ruled out with 13 points.

ARGENTINA 0, BRAZIL 0 Few opportunities were available for Argentina and Brazil in a tense match marked

by Messi’s low key performance and Neymar’s absence due to injury.

Goalkeepers Emiliano Martinez and Alisson were just about spectators most of the match.

Messi, who played the entire match after recovering from a knee injury, said he felt well on the pitch. He played for only 15 minutes in

Thursday November 18, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Today you could intuit powerful feelings of affection from someone you might be romantically attracted to. You could feel a rush of exhilaration from this experience

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Today you might experience a rush of spiritual insights.

Whatever comes to you seems clear and right, and it could inspire music, poetry, or painting.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Your kindness and good manners could pay off today.

Someone who respects you a great deal might offer you an opportunity to advance that increases your income.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Today you could receive some unexpected good news regarding the impending arrival of money that you've anticipated for a long time.

This will be very welcome news and worthy of a celebration, although you still might not believe it.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Love and romance are going marvelously well today. If you're attached, affection continues to grow between you and your partner. A strong sense of unity could lead to a firm commitment.

CANCER(June21–July22) You tend to be intellectually inclined. Today you might put some of your knowledge to work in a creative way.

Your intuition and imagination are working overtime. If you've been thinking about starting a new project, this is the day to do it.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) A loving, supportive letter or call from a close friend could be just what the doctor ordered today. You may feel overworked and a little pessimistic about any plans you've made.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Today you may come up with some attractive new ideas to advance your career and increase your income. The only question is whether or not you can follow through.

Some of them may be workable and some may not.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) A social event today could put you in contact with some old friends who mean a great deal to you. The occasion will be very warm and friendly, though you may feel a little subdued.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Working closely with someone might bring up some strong, warm affection between you. It may be a romantic attraction, but if it is, don't read too much into it now.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Love, affection, and romance seem to be all around you. Strong unity with close friends, family members, and your romantic partner may well up throughout the day.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Strong psychic impressions about absent friends or family members may come to you today. All are apt to be positive, though you might find it disconcerting. You might even think it more so if you learn your intuition was right!

Argentina’s 1-0 win over Uruguay last week so he could recover to face Brazil.

“It is not easy to play with the pace that this match demanded,” Messi said after the match. He had only one opportunity from the edge of the box near the final whistle, but it was easily saved by Brazil goalkeeper Alisson.

Brazil player Fred, who hit the bar with a shot in the 60th minute, said his team’s defense was once more tested and once more succeeded in qualifiers.

“Today we didn’t score, we missed some opportunities, but once again we have a clean sheet,” he said. “We hope to arrive well at the World Cup.” The most controversial moment of the match in San Juan, in Argentina’s Northwest, was in the 35th minute when Raphinha was hit by Nicolas Otemendi’s elbow on his mouth and started bleeding. There was no video review of the move.

The Brazilian needed five stitches during the break.

Brazil coach Tite sounded unusually upset with Uruguayan referee Andres Cunha and his video assistant referees about the incident.

“It is simply impossible not to see Otamendi’s elbow on Raphinha,” he said. “Was that going to decide the match? I don’t know. It was a great match, but there is an element (missing) that should be equal for both teams.”

Argentina’s Scaloni agreed both teams had few opportunities, but focused on his team’s direct entry to Qatar.

“This year was magnificent. We won Copa America, qualified for the World Cup, and we are in an unbeaten streak,” he said, in a reference to his team’s 17 wins and 10 draws since the 2019 Copa America semifinal against Brazil. “To qualify so early, in such tough qualifiers, it is something to be proud of.”

BOLIVIA 3, URUGUAY 0 Uruguay will finish the year in seventh place in the 10-team round-robin competition. It has four matches remaining to push for qualification.

Bolivia opened the scoring on the half-hour when goalkeeper Fernando Muslera failed to hold Juan Carlos Arce’s cross. Marcelo Martins got the second in the altitude of La Paz with a header in the 45th.

Arce finished off in the 79th with another header. It could have been worse for Uruguay had Bolivia not missed a penalty in the second half.

Players of Argentina applaud at the end of a qualifying soccer match against Brazil for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at Bicentenario stadium in San Juan, Argentina, Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021. The game ended in a 0-0 tie. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) Uruguay coach Óscar Tabárez told a post-match news conference he’s not “throwing in the towel.”

“I am a professional, I signed a contract and it says everything I need to do,” the veteran coach said. “I don’t know who can ask me to do that (resign) after this time at work.” During his second spell with Uruguay, Tabárez took the team to the past three World Cups, including a memorable campaign to the semifinals in South Africa in 2010. He has also won the

2011 Copa America.

Peru overtook Uruguay after a 2-1 win at Venezuela, moving Ricardo Gareca’s team to 17 points along with Colombia, which had a 0-0 draw with Paraguay.

Gianluca Lapadula opened the scoring for the visitors in the 18th minute and Venezuela’s Darwin Machis equalized in the 52nd.

Christian Cueva netted the winner in the 65th, and Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese saved a penalty to keep his team in the lead.

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Thursday November 18, 2021

200 NGSA ‘B School’ Graduates to get Golf Scholarships

Chief Executive Officer of the Rockaway group, Hafeez Ali presents the pads to Munesh Outar of LBI Cricket Club.

Rockaway Group of Companies assists young cricketer Outar Rockaway Group of Companies has rendered assistance to young cricketer Muneh Outar of LBI Cricket Club. Chief Executive Officer of the Rockaway group, Hafeez Ali yesterday presented a bat, a pair of batting gloves and a pair of batting pads to the young cricketer. Ali said he was told that Outar is a promising player and as

such he has decided to assist him so that he can achieve maximum success. Ali further encouraged Outar to balance his education with sports since the two complement each other.

Ali recently presented a quantity of cricket uniforms to the LBI club and would have also made similar gestures to various clubs and players across Guyana.

Nexgen Golf announced they will be promoting a number of new programmes aimed at getting more members of the Guyana population playing golf and working in golf-related roles.

In 2020, Nexgen Golf launched an initiative to make golf available and accessible to players from all walks of life. Their latest programme, sponsored in part by Maraiko Bay Golf and Country Club will offer 200 children from the recent NGSA graduating classes in Regions 4 & 5 ‘B Schools’, complimentary membership and lessons to begin playing golf at the Academy.

COO Maraiko Bay Rudy Ramalingum said, “We often overlook the hard work and achievement by those children who did not top their respective schools and this is our way of letting them know that they too are worthy of recognition and respect for their dedication.”

The Nexgen Golf program is centered upon the creation of education, employment and leisure activities, early social agenda programmes and an access programme for disabled people and children at their soon to be constructed golf facilities around the country.

L e a d i n g t h e development of the sport in Guyana is president of the GGA/Nexgen Golf Academy Aleem Hussain who is also the coach/trainer for the hundreds of new players and creator of the ‘Train theTrainer ’ programme which allows for PE Teachers to be certified nationwide.

Hussain said: “I have been playing golf for most of my life and have been lucky enough to represent my country in Suriname and Barbados. From the first moment I picked up a club, I always wanted to be able to give back to new players.

Working as a golf coach in my current role is something I love doing, as it gives me the chance to introduce the game to dozens of Guyanese every day.”

A country-wide mass participation programme, is also being planned to roll out to provide men, women and children the opportunity to learn golf through a number of events in parks and shopping malls around the country with consumers being invited to register their interest in taking part at a later date.

A central component of the Nexgen Golf Academy plan is the continuing rollout of the school programme which will see thousands of children given golf training as part of the physical education curriculum, with over 80 secondary schools being among the early adopters. The current programme has already achieved close to 8,000 participants.

Hussain commented: “We are delighted to turn our attention to the social component of our National Expansion Strategy after our successful launch with the Ministry of Education Allied Arts Unit. With the rollout of the School Program, we have created an educational framework, including the internship programme to accommodate the formulation of a skilled domestic workforce, creating the pathway for Guyanese to embark on a range of careers in and around golf, with the aim to create an abundance of new job opportunities.

According to Ms. BarkerKing of the Allied Arts Unit, “Alongside the introduction of the School programme, we are thrilled to be involved with the plans by Nexgen Golf Academy that will bring us one step closer to launching a full mass participation programme, which will see thousands of men, women and children be introduced to the game across the country. “

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ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2022 match schedule announced The West Indies will host the 14th edition of the ICC Under19 Men’s Cricket World Cup for the first time ever, as the event which showcases the future stars of the game will see 16 teams travelling to the Caribbean to compete in 48 matches from January 14 to February 5 across four host countries.

The sixteen teams competing will see current holders Bangladesh, England, Canada and the United Arab Emirates form Group A, with debutants Uganda placed in Group B alongside India, South Africa and Ireland. Group C comprises Pakistan, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Papua New Guinea and Group D sees host West Indies, Australia and Sri Lanka. Scotland complete the tournament line up in Group D after New Zealand withdrew due to the extensive mandatory quarantine restrictions for minors on their return home.

The four host countries have been confirmed as Antigua and Barbuda, Guyana, St Kitts and Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago with 10 venues hosting matches. The format will see the top two teams from each of the four groups advance to the Super League while the remaining teams feature in the Plate across 23 days of competition.

The 48-match schedule will begin with hosts West

Indies taking on Australia, with Sri Lanka facing Scotland in Guyana on January 14. The group stage will take place across Guyana, St Kitts and Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago between January 14 and 22.

Trinidad and Tobago will host the Plate competition between January 25 and 31, with the Super League taking place in Antigua and Barbuda from January 26.

The semi-finals will be played on February 1 across two venues; the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground and Coolidge Cricket Ground on February 2. The Final on February 5 will also be held at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.

Cricket West Indies President Ricky Skerritt said: “CWI is looking forward to hosting this important global U19 cricket event, which is just around the corner, in January. In partnership with host territorial boards, cricket clubs, and Ministries of Sports, we have been hard at work preparing for this event over the past several months.

However, amid so many Covid-related challenges, it has not been easy to finalise the venues and to work out all the related logistics.

“At the same time, our U19 head coach, Floyd Reifer, and his coaching staff have been busy preparing our team for competition, using innovative methods to

keep them active even while they were restricted from travel. West Indies has a proud under-19 cricket history, with several bright talents blossoming into international stars over the years. We, therefore, expect our current team of under-19 players to do us proud in the 2022 tournament. I am also confident that our visitors will experience the best of our world-famous Caribbean culture and hospitality in Antigua & Barbuda, Guyana, St. Kitts & Nevis, and Trinidad & Tobago.”

ICC Head of Events, Chris Tetley said: “The ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup is such an exciting and special tournament, bringing together the future stars of the game and giving them an unrivalled experience of competing on the global stage.

“So many of the best players have competed at the U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup including Virat Kohli, Babar Azam, Joe Root and Shimron Hetmyer and we are looking forward to the 2022 edition to see who emerges as the future stars.

“We are delighted that the West Indies will be hosting this event and we wish all the teams the very best in their preparations for the tournament and to Cricket West Indies in organising the event.”

The West Indies have won the title once in 2016,

with India being crowned champions four times, Australia three times, Pakistan twice while England, South Africa and Bangladesh have won it once each.

There will be 16 warmup matches taking place between January 9 and 12 in St Kitts and Nevis and Guyana.

ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Groupings: Group A – Bangladesh, England, Canada, United Arab Emirates Group B – India, Ireland, South Africa, Uganda Group C – Afghanistan, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Zimbabwe Group D – Australia, Scotland, Sri Lanka, West Indies ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Venues: St Kitts and Nevis – Wa r n e r P a r k C r i c k e t Stadium, Conaree Cricket Center, (Sandy Point Warm-up match venue only) Guyana – Guyana National Stadium, (Everest Cricket Club - Warm-up match venue only) Trinidad and Tobago – Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Queens Park Oval, Diego Martin Sporting Complex Antigua and Barbuda – Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, Coolidge Cricket Ground ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup match

schedule: January 14 – West Indies v Australia, Guyana National Stadium, Guyana; Sri Lanka v Scotland, Everest Cricket Club, Guyana January 15 – Canada v UAE, Conaree Cricket Center, St Kitts and Nevis; India v South Africa, Guyana National Stadium, Guyana; Ireland v Uganda, Everest Cricket Club, Guyana; Pakistan v PNG, Queens Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago January 16 – Bangladesh v England, Warner Park Cricket Stadium, St Kitts and Nevis; Afghanistan v Zimbabwe, Diego Martin Sporting Complex, Trinidad and Tobago January 17 – West Indies v Scotland, Warner Park Cricket Stadium, St Kitts and Nevis; Australia v Sri Lanka, Conaree Cricket Center, St Kitts and Nevis January 18 – England v C a n a d a , Wa r n e r P a r k Cricket Stadium, St Kitts and Nevis; South Africa v Uganda, Queens Park Oval, Tr i n i d a d a n d To b a g o ; Afghanistan v PNG, Diego Martin Sporting Complex, Trinidad and Tobago January 19 – Australia v Scotland, Conaree Cricket Center, St Kitts and Nevis; India v Ireland, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago January 20 – England v UAE, Warner Park Cricket

Stadium, St Kitts and Nevis; Bangladesh v Canada, Conaree Cricket Center, St Kitts and Nevis; Pakistan v Afghanistan, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago; Zimbabwe v PNG, Diego Martin Sporting Complex, Trinidad and Tobago January 21 – West Indies v Sri Lanka, Conaree Cricket Center, St Kitts and Nevis; South Africa v Ireland, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago January 22 – Bangladesh v UAE, Warner Park Cricket Stadium, St Kitts and Nevis, India v Uganda, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago; Pakistan v Zimbabwe, Queens Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago Plate and Super League fixtures to take place between January 25 and February 4 at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground and Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua and Barbuda and Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Queens Park Oval and Diego Martin Sporting Complex in Trinidad and Tobago.

February 1 – Semi-Final, Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, Antigua and Barbuda February 2 – Semi-Final, Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua and Barbuda February 5 – Final, Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, Antigua and Barbuda

ESCL over-40 final set for Sunday

I

Ramesh Narine in full flow.

nvaders Masters and Caribbean Cricket Club are set to clash in the inaugural Over-40, 20-overs Essequibo Softball Cricket League (ESCL) final on Sunday at Reliance ground, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupernaam).

The six-team competition began two months ago.

Several trophies along with cash prizes are up for grabs.

Chairman of the League Wakeel Layne stated that the stage is set for what is promised to be an exciting contest. “ We [ a r e ] d e f i n i t e l y anticipating a good match on Sunday; both teams played well in the preliminary round and no doubt they are anxious to finish off things nicely,” Layne related.

During the preliminary and semi-final rounds, Layne informed that there were exciting matches and that demonstrated the players’ willingness to do well in this

championship encounter.

A lot of top softball players are expected to be on show and that should entice a great game, according to Layne.

Among them are Ramesh Narine, a softball stalwart, Beehsam Seepersaud, Latchmikant Narine, Patrick Rooplall, Naresh Narine, Eshwar Singh and Ekie Baksh.

Caribbean Cricket Club team reads: Naresh Narine (Captain), Rajesh Gopal, Wakeel Layne, Nazir Rasool, Eshwar Singh, Kumar Boodram, Richard Patterson, Ekie Baksh, Yasir Mohamed, Selwin Green, Gary Ragnauth and Jamuna Persaud.

Invaders Masters team reads: Linden Daniels (Captain), Devo Madho, Roy Rampersaud, Beesham Persaud, Ramesh Narine, Patrick Rooplall, Latchmikant Narine, Ritche Bishop, Mohammed Alli, Raj Rambarack, Manoj Lall, Dharsan Lall and Fazeer Khan.

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Thursday November 18, 2021

Evans contributes to “Cricket gear for young and promising cricketers” A

t the age of 65, Huburn Evans, formerly of No 2 Village, East

Canje, Berbice, now resides in the USA and has played nine First-Class matches, eight for Berbice and one for

Guyana in the 1977 Shell Shield.

In a First-Class career which spanned from 1976-

1988 the former left-hander has scored three fifties with a highest score of 84 not out.

Evans became the latest to donate two cricket bats towards “Cricket gear for young and promising cricketers in Guyana” project.

Evans represented Guyana at the Senior Level as a cricketer and coach. He was also one of the most successful Under 19 Cricket Coaches in Guyana and played first division cricket for several clubs during his career which spanned over four decades.

In the latter half of his career, he was the Coach of the Young Warriors Cricket Club and played a major role in the development of several top cricketers who went on to represent Guyana and West Indies at all levels.

The left-hander also played a major role in the growth and development of current West Indies batsman Shimron Hetmyer. He only recently coached the East Zone USA Under19 team and New England Eagles of Massachusetts in the USA Minor League Tournament in his adopted Country.

Evans also served in several positions as an Executive of the Berbice and

Guyana Cricket Boards including being a selector.

This initiative is a joint effort by Kishan Das of the USA and Anil Beharry of Guyana. At a small but significant presentation, Evans said that he is delighted to give back to the game he loves so much and a game that has fashioned his entire life.

He added that more help will be made available.

Recipients Ariel Tilku and Aaron Beharry thanked Evans for this fine gesture and promised that it will surely help develop our young players.

Their aim is to provide Cricket gear free of cost for young and talented cricketers in Guyana. The project is seeking new and used cricket gear which will then be distributed across the length and breadth of Guyana.

Total cricket related items collected so far: $40,000 cash, two cricket boots, twelve pairs of batting pads, fourteen bats, nine pairs of batting gloves and four cricket bags.

Sixteen young players from Essequibo Coast, Pomeroon and the East Canje area have already benefited from a junior gear

bag, five bats, six pairs of batting pads and four pairs of batting gloves. Two clubs in Pomeroon will also benefit from two used bats.

RHCCCC also benefited.

Talent spotting is being done across Guyana along with guidance from club leaders to identify the players. Players must be in school and disciplined.

Players above school age will also be considered.

Das and Beharry would like to thank Imran and Javed Khan of West Indian Sports Complex, Option Group, Bish Panday of P and P Insurance Brokers, Sean Devers, Travis Simon, Hilbert Foster of RHTY&SC, Ariel Tilku, Aaron Beharry, Devon Ramnauth, Sherman Austin, Teddy Singh, Leana Bachan and Imran Saccoor, Romesh Munna, Ravi Etwaroo, Ravin Harkishun, Surendra Harkishun, Allan Mangru, Vishal Mahabir and Huburn Evans. More distribution will be done as soon as gear arrives from the USA and the Covid 19 pandemic is under control.

Anyone interested to contribute can contact Anil Beharry on 623-6875 or Kishan Das on 1-718-6640896. (Sean Devers)

Left Ariel Tilku, center Huburn Evans and Aaron Beharry.

Kaieteur News

Thursday November 18, 2021

East Bank Essequibo Cricket Committee has new Executive

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Team Guyana at the Jr, SA Championships in Peru.

The new East Bank Essequibo Cricket Committee take a photo following the election.

T

he Members of the East Bank Essequibo Cricket Committee, in keeping with the Guyana Cricket Administration Act 2014, invited the Cricket Ombudsman to verify eligible clubs of the said Committee to facilitate the holding of long-outstanding Elections of Officers of the said Committee.

As a consequence, Mr. Malcolm Peters, who is the Cricket Ombudsman and his officers, attended the activity which commenced at 6:00PM on Friday November 12, 2021 at the Tu s c h e n S p o r t s C l u b ground.

After the registration

process was completed in which seven of the eleven affiliated clubs were present, establishing a quorum, the Ombudsman then carefully explained the process, its legality and emphasized the responsibilities of those seeking election to office.

Immediately afterwards the election of office bearers began and following persons were elected to serve for the next two years: · Chairman – Mr. Vishal Ambedkar · Vice-Chairman – Imtiaz Sadik · Hon. Secretary – Mr. Shazim Nazrudeen · Treasurer – Mr. Keyon Alexander

· Asst/Secretary Treasurer – Mr. Fazlim Bacchus · Marketing Officer – Mr. Gregory George · Public Relations Officer – Mr. Francis Wright · Competitions Chair – Mr. Nazir Alli · Selection Chairman – Mr. Mr. Deoram Rai · Trustees – Shahabudeen Mohamed and Naieem Habib · Auditor – Mr. Abdool Baseer Azeez Ombudsman Peters congratulated the new Executive and wished them every success. Photographs and other congratulations followed until the activity closed at 7:30 PM.

Guyana’s representatives for the Junior Panam Games in Santiago de Cali, Colombia later this month.

Guyana to compete in Junior Pan Am Games in Colombia this month Guyana is set to be represented at the Junior Pan Am Games in Santiago de Cali, Colombia from November 26 to November 29, 2021.

The 2021 Junior Pan American Games is an international multi-sport event for athletes aged 17 to 22 in the Americas.

National players Priyanna Ramdhani 19, Akili Haynes 20, and Tyreese Jeffery 20 will be competing in the games. Narayan Ramdhani will be accompanying the team as their coach in place of the late Gokarn

Ramdhani.

The three athletes will be competing in singles with Priyanna and Akili competing in the mixed doubles tournament.

Over the past two months, the players have been engaged in rigorous training to prepare for the tournament.

The Guyana Badminton Association wishes to express gratitude to the Guyana Olympic Association for affording our players the opportunity to compete in the games.

No medals for Guyana’s swimmers in Jr. SA C/Ships in Peru But Coach Baksh satisfied with overall performance

By Sean Devers The Guyana swimteam returned from the South American Jr. Championships in Peru, which was held from November 8-14, last Tuesday and despite not being able to capture any medals Coach Sean Baksh, one of two Coaches who accompanied the team, said he was satisfied with the performance of the team.

The youngsters had to travel during the Covid-19 Pandemic period and adhere to all Covid protocols while having to deal with the high altitude.

Olympian 15-year-old Aleka Persaud headlined the Guyanese contingent while the others who travelled to Peru were; Leon Seaton Jr., Paul Mahaica Jr., Daniel Claxton, Elliott Gonsalves, Sekhel Tzedeq, Patrice Mahaica and Ariel Rodrigues.

“They are a young bunch and the meet was good exposure for them they needed to be there to see what their peers in South America are capable of so they can be motivated to put more into their swimming,” said Baksh.

Baksh noted that the meet was an eye opener for them.

“The altitude was the biggest factor affecting performance and the experience gained by both the coaches and swimmers bodes well for the future ...for us to have had better performances we needed to be there much earlier…at least 15 days was needed to acclimatize we only had three,” continued Baksh.

Baksh said GASA has to do a lot more resistance work if we want to compete at high altitude meets which is where most of South American meets are kept.

“As I said the coaches gained some much needed experience and we got some guidance from the coaches there ...also Aleka and Elliott were able to make finals so we are not that far behind it’s just a matter of adjusting our training to suit the altitude and being able to be at the meets earlier to acclimatize.

There are a number of regional and international meets next year with Carifta being one of the important ones for the majority of the swimmers who went to Peru.

Also there will be the World Championships for the more seasoned swimmers and a few meets around the Caribbean that they will want to target.

There needs to be sustained assistance for the development plan that GASA has in place so that the coaches and swimmers can focus on what needs to be done and not be worrying about where funding is coming from.... nothing can take the place of constant competition with their peers...that is how both the swimmers and coaches can gauge progress and make adjustments for better performances,” Baksh continued.

The most experienced Guyanese swim Coach, Baksh feels overseas training is not necessarily a factor but periodic high altitude training camps can play a major role in the development of an elite group of swimmers which will give them the tools to be able to compete with the best in the world.

“That is part of the plan that was given to the GOA and NSC the plan was created for Aleka and was adopted for the other swimmers...we would have done much better had the

training camp come off and we would have been at high altitude 22 days in advance of the meet ...our performances would have been better had the camp taken place but funding came way too late, we only got three days of training in Peru before competition started.”

Baksh is the personal Coach of National female 50m freestyle record holder Persaud at her local Swim Club, Orca.

“Aleka did not improve on any of her times but she was just a few hundredths off of her best times and she made a final in the 50 freestyle.

She maintained her entry placements throughout the meet .... overall she was not pleased with her performance but she understands why her performance was not so good and is aware of what she needs to do to have a better performance in Abu Dhabi at the Short Course World Championships ...her next meet is the Junior Panam Games but the altitude in Cali Colombia is twice as high as in Peru,” Baksh concluded.

Meanwhile, according to GASA President, Dwayne Scott, the event formeda part of the Association’s aim is to give exposure since they have Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualification in mind.

Scott said this Junior Championship was part of the youth development plan for 19 athletes the Association has “longlisted” since they want to qualify for the Olympics based on entry standard time and not the Universality spots. It is also part of the process of building a potential relay team, whose aim will also be Olympic qualification.