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Monday November 22, 2021
US working with civil society, media to expose, prosecute corruption in C’bean
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo The United States Government said that it is working with partners in government and civil society to expose and prosecute corruption, which reduces
global economic output up to 5% each year. The United States is also strengthening civilian tools, such as investigative journalism. This is according to Secretary of State Antony Blinken. In a major speech on October 20, 2021 in Quito, Ecuador, Blinken defended democracy as the best means of empowering people to tackle pressing problems. He said United States is working to ensure that democratic governments deliver for all the people of the Americas. Excerpts from Blinken’s
speech were re-posted by the US Embassy in Georgetown on Sunday. The speech comes amid mounting complaints about alleged government corruption in the oil and gas sector as well as the distribution of billions of dollars in cash grants by the Irfaan Ali Government. Both civil society organisations and sections of the local media have frequently reported on corruption in government in the awarding of mega contracts. Only last week Opposition Leader,
Joseph Harmon raised the issue, pointing to government giving out major contracts without the bipartisan watchdog body- Public Procurement Commission in place. In his speech, Blinken said democratic governments h a v e d e l i v e r e d unprecedented peace and prosperity to Latin America, increasing the middle class and cutting poverty in half. Yet he acknowledged that many people feel their governments are not doing enough. “The ability of our
democracies to close the gap between what we promise and what we deliver depends in no small part on what we do together, to make it better,” Blinken said. That’s why the United States is working with democratic partners in Latin America to combat corruption, keep people safe, and tackle persistent economic and social challenges, such as inequality and discrimination, he said. PARTNERING AGAINST CORRUPTION In the area of corruption, Blinken said preventing corruption is central to preserving faith in government. To this end he said the United States is working with partners in government and civil society to expose and prosecute corruption, which reduces global economic output up to 5% each year. The United States is also strengthening civilian tools, such as investigative journalism. “These tools will help us raise the cost of corruption far beyond our borders,” Blinken said. “No country can effectively fight corruption alone, or even just with the help of other governments. We n e e d s t r o n g a n t i corruption partners everywhere — and in every field.” Blinken also said the United States is seeking to address the root causes of criminal activity in the hemisphere by investing in communities, rather than simply funding security forces. Past U.S. efforts focused too much on “the symptoms of organized crime, like homicides and drug trafficking, and too little on the root causes,” he said. “We’re working to correct
US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken that imbalance.” The United States is supporting violenceprevention programs in communities, while also training prosecutors and judges to strengthen the rule of law. Harmon, during a Press Conference last Wednesday explained that the PPP Administration has decided that they would take a grip on the Public Procurement Process, to ensure that only those persons and companies that support them get any form of contract from the Government. He added, “What they have done, they have dismantled the Public Procurement Commission, they have dismantled the National Procurement and Tender Board Administration and replaced it with a system which leads directly to Bharrat Jagdeo”. The former Minister of State says that the absence of the PPC is in violation of the Constitution, which states, under the Public Procurement Commission Tribunal Act, that “There shall be a Public Procurement Commission. The purpose of which is to monitor public procurements, the procedures there for, in order to ensure that the procurement of goods, services, and execution of works are conducted in a fair, equitable, transparent, competitive and cost effective Continued on page 3
Monday November 22, 2021
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Govt.’s local content demands still unrealistic; will set Guyanese companies up for failure Following his perusal of the PPP/C Government’s second attempt at local c o n t e n t t a rg e t s t o b e included in its draft legislation, Co-Director of Energy at Americas Market Intelligence (AMI), Arthur Deakin is of the firm belief that Guyana has still fallen short of outlining realistic procurement, training and employment goals for oil companies. In one of his most recent columns, Deakin highlighted that the government, for example, expects that within 10 years, Guyanese firms should be used to cover 95 percent of the energy sector’s insurance risks. Deakin was keen to note that this alone is just not practical. Except for Brazil, which has managed oil and gas projects for half a century and has the 12th largest economy in the
– Int’l Consultant
International Analyst, Arthur Deakin world, the analyst said no other Latin American country has the local insurance capacity to provide this type or level of coverage. Using this reasoning, he concluded that such an expectation or target shows a mismatch between the government’s expectations and the current
reality on-the-ground. The Co-Director at AMI also indicated that the PPP/C Government seems aware of the issues such a high target for insurance would cause, since it indicated in the draft bill that it encourages joint ventures between local c o m p a n i e s a n d “ I n t e r n a t i o n a l Ti e r 1 Contractors” for this purpose. Deakin acknowledged that joint ventures (JVs) are a fundamental part of any liberalized, growing economy and can be highly effective at curtailing local shortages. He was keen to note however, that if too much control is given to either the local or foreign players, this can negatively impact collaboration.
Expounding on the foregoing viewpoint, Deakin said one should note that until April 2020, China had 51percent local equity requirements that prevented foreign financial firms from owning a majority stake in Chinese JVs. Soon after, he said China removed foreign ownership limits in certain s e c t o r s , a n d i t instantaneously attracted an influx of foreign funds. Given China’s size with a labour force of 811 million people, and its technological maturity, he was keen to note that the country still grew despite those strict regulations. With this in mind, Deakin said Guyana’s 600,000 labour pool does not give it the same leeway. He recalled that it was
‘Take your waste back to Texas’ - environmentalist rails against Exxon dumping radioactive toxic waste at Houston dumpsite By Davina Bagot Environmentalist Vanda Radzik has told oil giant, ExxonMobil to take its radioactive, toxic waste back to Texas, rather than utilising the Houston, East Bank Demerara facility to dump same. The Environmentalist made this appeal to the oil giant during the consultative session recently hosted on Exxon’s fourth project, the Yellowtail development. “If all of your planning at ExxonMobil, EEPGL (Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited), etcetera is so wonderful, then may I ask personally that you bypass Houston, East Bank Demerara Guyana and take all your waste and all of your radioactivity and all of the toxicity back to Houston, Texas,” she requested. Her appeal came following several questions, with regard to the impacts of the project on global warming and the standards by which the project is being guided, among others. “We all know in the world that related to the goings on of the Oil and Gas industry that we need 1.5 (degrees) Celsius to stay alive… we are asking if you could please explain how you will manage each risk.” She listed the risks as the impact of sea level rise
on a receding shore line; receding river banks; impact on fish nurseries and the livelihoods of fishers and the impacts of ExxonMobil’s related shore base hazardous waste facilities, such as the one…at Houston East Bank Demerara and the impacts on the general health and wellbeing of humans. Additionally, she asked whether ExxonMobil in its EIA quantified the emissions, including Yellowtail Exploration, drilling, transportation, flaring, oil lifts, oil barrel discharges. She pointed out that hundreds of Scientists across the world in their 2021 report projected Global Warming to reach 1.7 to two percent. This she said is likely to happen if ExxonMobil’s expansion of new fossil fuel drilling such as Yellowtail et al and all of the other oil blocks it has lined up to take place. “Have you therefore, specifically in your EIA, addressed the cumulative effects and impacts of ExxonMobil’s drilling, contributing to Guyana’s sea warming? Have you specifically addressed the cumulative risks and impacts of these fossil fuels, especially [of] the Yellowtail, including flaring in contravention of our Climate (change) agreement that Guyana and all of the
Caribbean signed in 2015 in Paris and is ratified by Guyana and the Global targets set and agreed g l o b a l l y, ” R a d z i k questioned. In addition, she also asked Exxon to name the independent auditors that verified the various aspects of their operations and a possible site where the audit reports were published. While the oil company ignored her request for the audit information for the Liza One and Two projects, it explained through their Consultant, the Environmental Risk Management (ERM) that the global impacts of Yellowtail is difficult to calculate. ERM representative, Jason Wiley explained, “There are three volumes to the EIA. And the third volume contains all of the management plans and one of the management plan is called the Environmental and Social Management Plan. And that particular document has tables that list the standards that the consultancy has recommended be applied to the project, as well as the monitoring procedures.” M e a n w h i l e , E R M ’s Todd Hall pointed Radzik to the EIA document which he says includes an emissions inventory for “criteria pollutants”.
only in October last that, T i m o t h y T u c k e r, t h e President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) cautioned against local companies being caught in “rent a citizen[s],” scenarios; a case where foreign companies are given full control of decisions despite being in a local partnership. To avoid this, Deakin argued that voting powers could be split proportionally by the size of investment made by each party, allowing for an equal representation based on capital commitments. As seen in other emerging economies, Deakin warned that unrealistically high local content requirements would set up local companies for f a i l u r e , w h i l e simultaneously fining foreign companies for their inability to comply with the necessary thresholds. In Ghana, a country producing 100,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd), Deakin noted that the development of the energy sector suffered because of the low capacity of its local firms. He said the west-African country, which is producing a fraction of the 1.4 million bpd expected in
Guyana by 2040, is an example of a country that does not have enough local skilled employees to fulfill the energy sector. The analyst believes Guyana is faced with a similar scenario while noted that Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, recently admitted that the country could soon hit full employment although there is only one FPSO currently in operation with six more expected by 2027. He said Guyana must therefore loosen its immigration laws, lower its local content requirements, and train local employees to meet the exponential growth ahead. As the government finalizes the draft of its local content legislation, Deakin urged the authorities to “consider the reasonable capacity of the country’s current local labour force.” Deakin said it is crucial that the government create a local content law that reduces highly technical thresholds and strikes the right balance between local participation and a friendly foreign investor framework. “As it stands, the bill falls short” of this, the analyst concluded.
US working with civil... Environmentalist, Vanda Radzik “The EIA includes an emissions inventory for what are called criteria pollutants as well as green house gases. So there’s a year by year inventory for the entire project life cycle f o r Ye l l o w t a i l , o f greenhouse gases emissions eliminate from the project,” he said. Todd added: “In addition to quantifying the emissions of greenhouse gases from the Yellowtail project, a similar inventory was prepared for all of the offshore projects that are in what we call the accumulative impact assessment basis”. The Consultant pointed out that because the nature of impact to climate change is of a global scale, global climate models are used. “The nature of impacts to climate are of a global scale so the global climate models that are used to run all of the Continued on page 19
From page 2 manner, according to law and such Policy guidelines as may be determined by the National Assembly. The Commission shall be independent, impartial and discharge its functions fairly”. Harmon said that due to the Commission not being in place, the Government has been awarding contracts to their friends and family, who will in return keep them in power. “So there is no Public Procurement Commission and so what is happening, these miscreants are awarding these contracts to their friends at will, without any oversight. Companies with no known profiles are being awarded contracts…the PPP are using their cronies to control different sectors, as they pilfer state resources and they are putting them in critical positions, so they can help them stay in power, but I am putting all of these people on notice that it will not work. Not under my watch,” he warned. The Opposition Leader made reference to the recent award of a $346 million contract, for the construction of a school, to St8ment Construction, a newly registered company with no records, but “are known affiliates of the PPP”. He also pointed to another contract where a close friend of the ruling administration, and a fierce opponent of the Opposition, was granted a telecommunications licence. In this regard, Harmon promised to continue to apply the pressure for the establishment of the Public Procurement Commission and expose the “corrupt nature of the PPP regime”. He said that we can expect Guyana to regress on the International Transparency Index, due to the awards of projects taking place. The former Minister was keen to note that in the absence of a PPC, all contracts being awarded will be subject to a review once the Public Procurement Commission is reestablished. “(They) must be subject to review, and so all of the kickbacks and all of these overpriced projects that are going on, people will have to account for them,” he noted. “And I am serving notice to all of the companies that are now the beneficiaries of this largish from the PPP that you will have to account for these monies,” he signaled.
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Kaieteur News
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL-TEL: 624-6456 Editor: Sharmain Grainger Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
Sordid Yellowtail public consultation revelations It is worrying to learn of a supposedly ‘independent’ Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Yellowtail Project carried the signature of a PPP candidate from the 2020 elections. That shouldn’t be, but there it was, and people got caught with their pants around their ankles. It was a terrible sight, one which conveys the extent of the deceptions attempted through public consultations, the works that are held out to be ‘independent’ studies, but are not. Faces got red, tongues tangled, and stupidities came gushing from the mouths of those bent on deceiving Guyanese, including foreigners. They claim it was a mistake, part of the frantic damage control attempts, but then insulted us by insisting that the EIA is still credible. It cannot be so, not when a rank political insider is so close to it. This instance of slippage is only the tip of the iceberg that deliberately kept in-the-dark Guyanese get a glimpse of occasionally. It only happens when somebody is sloppy, wasn’t careful enough. It is confirmation of how collaborating Guyanese, who consent to be involved in such hoaxes, through sheer unmitigated greed, allow themselves to be part of the dirty games played by the PPP Government and Exxon. Our own Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which is mandated to watch out for Guyanese, tries to pull the wool over the eyes of Guyanese citizens. Instead of being there for this country, the handiwork of the local EPA makes it eligible for treason charges, when one considers its failures, its grievous mistakes, and coverups. Worse still, when the sum of its lamebrain defenses is analysed, it is clear that the record of the dismal EPA is not a failing of its public officers, but of those political leaders who handcuff them, muzzle them, and use them in nonstop efforts to make total fools of Guyanese. Which principled Guyanese can ever trust anyone of these troubled local operators – politicians, public service professionals, and those craven partisans who run to the rescue – pretend to represent us, do good for us? Now, Exxon, the PPP, and Guyana’s EPA must be sorry that their public consultation farce is blowing up in their faces. This arrangement that they came up with, where softball questions were expected, and vague and meaningless answers were given in turn has turned out to be a boomerang, which has peeled the skin from their scarred faces. The more recent public consultations are not going the way that Exxon and the local EPA, the front people, had planned. We say this, and the record is clear: the people that Exxon put to represent it cannot answer the simplest, most innocent of questions. It is not that they don’t know, only that they have been instructed to stick to pure corporate speak, which is full of fluff, and empty of anything revealing. Well, that is not working, because Guyanese (and concerned neighbours in the region) are asking the hard questions that pierce the layers of slickness. Exxon’s people are not prepared to go where straight answers would lead, for then more than one dangerous truths would come to light, and there is no telling where those could end, what may be the result. What was enlightening is how Guyana’s EPA seemed to be more on the side of the outsiders, as if it was working for them, and a tool of theirs. One cannot shake the feeling that in the minds of Guyanese at our own EPA, its first duty belonged not to this country, but to Exxon. It was so obvious that it was nauseating. Still, we feel sorry for the people at the EPA, because they have a dirty job to do. They do it right (for Guyanese) and they incur the personally destructive wrath of vengeful political leaders; they do it wrong, and vigilant and angry Guyanese do not let them off the hook. Since Guyanese cannot fire them, or disgrace them and sabotage their careers, like political leaders are capable of doing, then officials at the EPA take the lesser risk, which is to come out against citizens, thereby affording them staying power before PPP powers. Hence, we live with sham EIAs and public consultations lacking substance.
Monday November 22, 2021
Silence is golden, it reigns supreme Dear Editor, In a distant, dusty place, the quiet of the night was shattered by a sound, then more sounds. Then nothing. Not then, not now. What is happening in places faraway and near that men and women tremble for fear of speaking? Where faces are a study in public blandness, but privately one of wretched anguish? In this tale of two countries-where the spaces are so vast, with one overflowing with gleefulness, with the next wrenched with every kind of grave misgiving, with many thoughts of untold horrorswhy is this so? What could be the problem, the source of it, or them, if many more than one? Sweet comforting reassurances cascade: everything is alright, there is no need to worry, to be doubtful. Look at all that is happening, with a flourish, and in the swiftest surest rush. All are included, none will be left out. Let there be
trust, understanding, acceptance. There is, and it overwhelms everything else. Well, almost everything, but not everyone. There are those who are troubled in the spirit and agitated to their souls. In too many, there is still that gnawing something that we must not forget, that will not make us forget. Remember that solitary sound that pierced the still of the night apart? Well, it is not going away. It is going somewhere in the ether of blankness where some desire it to take up eternal residence. Except that it won’t. It nags and gnaws stirs and troubles. Oh, but only those who care about these things, have the honesty to look at God in the eye and say: what is going on here? Why is this so, Master? Now it takes a lot of courage to do something like that, but some actually do. I do. It may sound strange, but I urge others to try it sometime, it is catharsis for the soul, it flushes the intellect with
truth, rinses the conscience towards wisdom. The results are hearty and worth more than a lot of money. It is called simple decency and human dignity, those silly little things that don’t matter anymore in this great society called Guyana. In sum, that troublesome thorn in the flesh that plague some special few. They put a name on it: integrity. Do we still have that around here anymore? There is the Office of the President. It makes one wonder…. The same tearing and invading and tingling searching covers the whole body: the Guyana Police Force, the Director of Public Prosecutions’ Office, the Integrity Commission (bless the name and stone the crows), the independent media? What about integrity and honour in civil society? So why are our individual and collective consciences not screaming in tortured agony? That sound in the now rapidly fading night will not let go, but shake like a wet,
ragged dog. Misery results. Remember that sound? It reaches with a ghostly finger and touches us. For the true democracy minded in Guyana a chill bringing shivering is left in its wake. The red dawn comes. The echoes recede, save for one tiny sliver of sound. It is of a new widow. The first sound, the one that rent the night apart was that of a man dying, then dead. Gone just like that, in a flash. Now there are only the sounds of silence reigning supremely. It’s a lovely, truly unholy democracy, isn’t it? By the way, that single nocturnal rupture and rapture, was the sound of a gun firing. And the place goes by the Moors of Dartmouth. Breathe, Guyana, breathe. And then think. Oh, just in case some Guyanese are interested, the man had a name when he was alive. It was Orin Boston. And the place goes by the Moors of Dartmouth. Sincerely, GHK Lall
The intervention of the Chinese Embassy is needed Dear Editor, I write to highlight the story, if not plight of Princess, a small business owner from Guyana who participated in the just concluded Florida International Trade Conference and Expo (FITCE). Her business, Essence of Herbs was one of the few businesses from Guyana to exhibit at the event. Participation/exhibition in the event this year by companies from Guyana was severely restricted due to what I consider the flawed US policy which excludes the Sputnik V
vaccine from the list required for entry into America. This policy did not only affect the participation of Guyana but several other countries as reflected in the almost 30 of the 240 booths not being occupied. This flawed policy was the focus of critical analysis of US policy toward Latin America and the Caribbean at a presidential forum of leaders from Latin America at the conference. However, Princess, who participated in FITCE in 2019 and whose herbal teas “passed muster” for entry
into the US market, has found herself in a dilemma, a dilemma being a problem the solution to which is a problem. Having determined in 2019 that her very attractively packaged herbal teas would enjoy a healthy market in the US and other places, Princess ordered equipment from a company in China to enhance her production capacity. She was able to attract assistance for the purchase from a Guyanese American who admired her drive and the potential for the development and expansion of her
business which is located on the East Bank. She also, according to her, was the beneficiary of assistance from IPED which she has fully repaid. The dilemma she says is that the equipment which she ordered from China is defective and one piece, which she has never been able to use, is the wrong equipment. She told a team from the Guyanese American Chamber of Commerce (GACC) that she is now unable to meet the demand for her product (Continued on page 5)
Developing where? Dear Editor, I must say that I’m extremely happy to see the international community recognising Guyana being one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. However, whilst that’s welcoming news, we must pause to see who’s going to be benefiting and how are we developing. No doubt, with the discoveries of oil and the magnitude, we have everyone’s attention and interest. The way things are going presently, it seems as though foreigners will be inheriting the majority of our wealth and most are investing here, leaving crumbs for Guyanese. Incredibly, amidst all this praise, the majority of Guyanese continue to beg for economic relief, and most living conditions and various advantages are continuously being taken against the average working class. Editor, During the
pandemic, many businesses were forced to downsize and as a result, staff workload was increased along with their working hours. Added to that, because the place practically stood still, many cite that as a reason to drastically cut staff salaries. As conditions return to normalcy, some unscrupulous management continues to take advantage and many workers’ condition remains the same. This is not only hurtful and embarrassing, but it also paves the way for foreign investors to also take advantage of the Guyanese. It’s already happening, but because of fear of victimisation, they stay quiet. Visit any Chinese store and find out from workers what’s happening to them and their working hours. They don’t get paid overtime or double, but are required to work every day.
I’ve known of places where great advantage is being taken on workers. I see the Ministry of Labour visiting workers, making a big scene in the media, but working conditions remain the same. Their PR stunt works for them as being effective whilst the people are still suffering. So on what basis have, they made their assessment? Finally, Editor, also during the pandemic, schools were closed and many children were left without any opportunity of continuing their education. Few parents could have chosen the expensive method of further education with the use of technology. Recognising how vital it is for children, the government fails to properly address this issue. We have the telephone company that controls the monopoly of telephone and internet access in Guyana and fails
miserably to render any assistance. They continue to selectively provide service to certain areas, and continue to provide miserable service to some. Traversing around Guyana, even though GTT is in Guyana, their services are not in many areas, whilst Digicel has been setting up services in many. Because of the lack of technology, many children were affected. When I saw recently that GTT was introducing landline to Bartica, I started laughing. Is that the sense they have for business? Everyone uses cellphones and apps on the cellphones to call worldwide, which is free. Is that development? It’s safe to please the international community because their citizens stand to benefit greatly, whilst your own is still living like stoneage people. Sahadeo Bates
Monday November 22, 2021
The intervention of the Chinese... From page 4 because the China made equipment is faulty and efforts to have the manufacturer/supplier address the issue has met with no meaningful help. The equipment was purchased for just over 25 thousand US dollars, plus shipping and duty. “When I contact them in China all they keep telling me is read the manual. I spend money engaging an engineer to help fix the problem but the equipment still don’t work. I am not a big company so they don’t pay me any mind,” she said, surprisingly with a smile on her face. For all of us who listened to her plight, we are saddened by this experience which she has described. If her story is accurate, and I have no reason so far to doubt her, we are all convinced that the drive and entrepreneurial spirit of this woman should not be dampened nor shattered. We each have committed in various ways to help ensure this does not happen. My initial contribution to help ensure that her business does not fail is to bring to the attention of the public, the Chinese Embassy in Guyana and the Government of Guyana the plight of Princess, which may well be the plight of others who have not been able to bring their dilemma to the attention of the relevant authorities. Whether equipment is purchased from China, Japan, India, the United States or any other part of the world, manufacturers and suppliers have a responsibility to deliver after sales service beyond referring purchasers to the manual. In the case of the purchases from the US, the Guyanese American Chamber of
Commerce (GACC) stands ready to work with any business in Guyana which has a legitimate complaint about any issue affecting their relationship with businesses in the US. We have successfully addressed such issues before and will continue to do so. Through this letter I hope the Chinese Embassy in Guyana would seek out Princess and spare no effort in having the supplier of the equipment give more meaningful attention to having her problem resolved. Small business owners who are seeking to expand their businesses honestly, and especially in this era of the pandemic, must not be shortchanged by suppliers, and when they are, no stone must be left unturned to call out such suppliers. There are at times similar problems for people who export agricultural produce from Guyana who have on occasions been told of spoilage which they are unable to verify. In the case of such exports being shipped by air via the Miami International Airport, any alleged spoilage can be verified by the US authorities quite easily. I am also surprised that she was required to pay duty on the equipment. She told us that the process for duty free concessions in 2019 when the equipment arrived was taking long and she was being assessed storage charges, so she paid the duty. Regards, Wesley Kirton
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Glasgow and Guyana Dear Editor, A week after the conclusion of the Glasgow summit where an agreement was reached on carbon emission reduction, will nations honour the agreement? Glasgow has set climate action goals annually, every five years, by 2030, 2050, and 2070. Countries must respond now to those goals to take action and reduce emission. Was it all talk or will countries walk the talk? Governments must take immediate steps on carbon emissions – reduce use of fossil fuels and burning coal and wood, while preserving forests – to protect the planet. Strong domestic pressure by environmental groups in every country and by citizen activists will be required to push government to take action. We are all imperiled by global warming – rising ocean levels that threaten flooding of our coastland. Our very own existence is at stake. Thus, we must all act together to reduce carbon emission – reduce driving, encourage recycling, among other basic actions. As President Ali said, we are all in this together and all must act in concert. Carbon emission is primarily responsible for global warming. The developed countries have been the main culprit behind carbon emissions and global warming. Will they do their
part as promised? President Ali implored upon them to take effective actions to reduce emissions. The President noted that while Guyana is a newly emerging oil producing nation, fossil fuel production is not getting subsidies and he urged other nations to end their subsidies. There is an agreement for phasing down of unabated coal power and phasing out of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies. The poorer or developing countries are now pursuing development that will only add to carbon emissions as they can’t afford green energy as yet. They need financial assistance to go green (wind, solar, hydro, thermal) so as not to wrought further destruction to the environment by depending almost exclusively on fossil fuels (oil, gas) and wood and coal. Will the rich countries assist the less developed countries? In the past, they have not been very generous resulting in the developing countries relying almost exclusively on fossil fuels for their energy. President Ali has committed Guyana will do its part to honour the Glasgow agreements. He pledges to cut emissions by 70 percent by 2030. The Glasgow plan is to reduce emissions to zero by 2050. Guyana would get there because Guyana is not a larger user of energy and
the forests absorb a lot of carbon produced in Guyana. But the President rightly cautioned that the developed nations have not been doing their part to cut emissions or honour pledges of assistance to the developing countries. The President commits to low carbon development strategy and to create green jobs and urges the world to follow suit. The President noted that although Guyana recently became an oil-producing nation, the country supports the removal of subsidies from fossil fuel production and advocates for a strong global carbon price. And the President also discussed the importance of forests in reducing or controlling carbon emissions. Forests trap carbon. The rich countries must give assistance to or pay the developing countries to protect their forests rather than chop down trees for firewood. As the President implored “we must finalise the
rules for carbon markets and REDD+ so as to properly value tropical forests and the climate services which they provide” and assist the developing countries accordingly”. Guyana’s forests are huge, almost the size of Scotland and England combined. And it is largely preserved. Were Guyana to engage in deforestation, it would add enormously to carbon increase in the environment. Guyana should receive fair compensation from the wealthy countries for forest preservation. Norway is currently offering assistance of some US$50M annually for the preservation of the forest but Guyana deserves greater financial reward not just from Norway but other countries also. And Guyana’s Latin American and Caribbean partners deserve similar assistance to reduce their dependence on fossil fuel and to preserve forests. Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram
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Monday November 22, 2021
Kaieteur News
Widespread condemnation of Police concerned about repeat 7% pay hike for public servants offenders being granted bail
Citizens, trade unions and political parties continue to condemn the meagre seven percent increase in salary for public servants, with the lead union in the public sector Guyana Public Service Union - deeming the imposition a violation of the constitution. Last week government announced its seven percent across-the-board increase for public servants, this even after they did not award any increase to them in 2020. In a statement, the GPSU said On 19 November 2021, it convened an emergency meeting of its negotiating team, chaired by the President of the Union, Mr. Patrick M. Yarde, to further ventilate and plan a course of action on the recent announcement of the illegally imposed salary increases by the Government of Guyana. “This display of executive lawlessness by Government of Guyana through its representative Minister of finance, Dr. Ashni Singh was defended by Ms Sonia Parag, Minister of Public Service.” “Their actions constitute a violation of Article 147(3) of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Section 23 (1) of the Trade Union Recognition Act 1997 and the International Labour Organization Convention 151 which was unanimously ratified by the Parliament of Guyana and currently in force, and is the legally binding Agreement between the GPSU and Government of Guyana for the Avoidance and Settlement of Disputes,” GPSU said. The GPSU said at their emergency meeting, it was decided that President Ali should be written to, in order to remedy “this blatant disregard for the Constitution, ratified and in force International Labour Organization Conventions and Laws of Guyana, he had sworn to uphold. A letter was dispatched to the Office of the President. see copy attached.” The team further decided to write the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, who is responsible for ensuring that the Government of Guyana conducts the affairs of state and all other responsibilities in conformity with the Constitution and Laws of Guyana and their Oath of Office, to publicly express his opinion on the legality of the Union’s representations on behalf of Public Service workers, with the realistic expectation of the cessation of executive lawlessness that is being displayed by the Government of Guyana. The GPSU will be expecting early responses to its correspondence and urgent action to address this
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo
Minister of Finance, Dr Ashni Singh imminent humanitarian crisis that is confronting Public Sector workers. Meanwhile, the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), also condemned what it described as the continuous assault of Rights and the Rule of Laws by the Irfaan Ali/Bharrat Jagdeo government. “It comes as no surprise, the recent eyes pass committed against public servants and teachers with the imposition of a seven-percent increase. This increase is not only miniscule given the escalation of cost of living in the last year but the arrival at the sum violates the tenets of good industrial relations practices, and a stable industrial climate,” the GTUC said. “Teachers and public servants are represented by unions, viz, the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) and Guyana Teachers Union (GTU). Consistent with International Labour Organisation Conventions Nos. 87, 98 and 151; Article 147 of the Constitution of Guyana; and Section 23(1) of the Trade Union Recognition Act, the employer, who is the Government of Guyana, is duty bound to engage in collective bargaining with the respective unions.” According to the GTUC the paltry seven percent confirms the opinion of many that the Ali/Jagdeo regime will take the taxes paid by teachers, public servants and others and lopsidedly distribute to friends and cronies which clearly shows biases that will not augur well for the solidarity of the
President Irfaan Ali working class and ethnic relations. The GTUC said, last year the government refused to consider engaging the GPSU and GTU to address the welfare of workers within the sectors. “In fact, in 2020 the government had the temerity to say workers will not receive a salary increase without even speaking with their unions. They also continue to refuse to resolve the 11-year grievances between the Guyana Bauxite Workers Union and General Workers Union (GBWU&GWU) and Bauxite Company Guyana Incorporated (BCGI).” “As officials of government trot around the world on the workers’ taxes proclaiming democracy in Guyana, lest it be forgotten, democracy is grounded in respecting human and civil rights and the application of just laws. These tenets are being trampled on daily in Guyana,” the GTUC stated. For its part, the Working Peoples’ Alliance also condemned the government for having the temerity to offer public servants a meagre 7% increase on their already unlivable wages. “Only a government that is contemptuous of the workers could offer such a scandalous package to a section of the labour force that is charged with managing government institutions, protecting the nation, providing healthcare and educating our children among other critical tasks,” the WPA said. It added, “In the first place, the government continues the illegal practice of ignoring its collective bargaining responsibilities and imposing a wage package without agreement with the workers’ unions. The continued refusal to meet with the unions to discuss their proposed demands has further tarnished Guyana’s image as a country committed to the primacy of labour as a factor in national development. Further, it is a betrayal of the PPP’s own historical commitment to the working class. Given the fact that workers’ wages have not been increased since 2019 and (Continued on page 21)
Repeat offenders, being granted bail when they appear in court, is a major challenge, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has said. This was highlighted by the force during the recent launch of its Christmas security plan. Bail is a cash bond for a person to be temporarily released from custody pending trial. It should be noted that not all criminal offences are bailable and not everyone that appears in court for bailable offences is placed on bail. However, while repeat offenders being granted bail when they appear in court is a challenge to the GPF – it should be noted that bail is often granted at the magistrate’s discretion and it is sometimes granted with conditions attached to it based on the request of the prosecutor. Some conditions that come with bail are for the defendant to report to an identified police station and/ or lodge their passport. Some magistrates also take into consideration the fact that the offence the defendant is charged with is a bailable offence. Some bailable offences are: larceny charges such as ‘simple larceny,’ ‘larceny from the person,’ ‘break and enter and larceny;’ assault charges; threatening and abusive language. In some instances, bail is granted for serious offences like sexual assault charges, rape, carnal knowledge, and even causing death by dangerous driving. According to section 82 of the Criminal Law (Procedures) Act, “Where the offence with which the accused person is charged is a misdemeanour punishable with fine or with imprisonment for any term not exceeding two years, the accused person shall be entitled to be admitted to bail as hereinafter mentioned.” “Where the offence with which the accused person is charged is a misdemeanour punishable otherwise than as in this section beforementioned, or, subject to the exceptions hereafter in this section mentioned, is a felony, the magistrate may, in his discretion, admit the accused person to bail as hereinafter mentioned.” Kaieteur News has reported frequently in the past on repeat offenders appearing at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Last week, repeat offender, 20year-old Daniel McArthur, a security officer of Lot 22 South Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara, was jailed for robbery under arms, and for the illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. McArthur appeared in the
Jailed, Daniel McArthur.
Alleged fraudster, Micah Sonaram.
Sparendaam Magistrate’s Courts before Magistrate Dylon Bess. He was charged with robbery under arms, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, and two counts of unlawful possession of ammunition. In May last, then 19-yearold McArthur was placed on $150,000 bail for allegedly snatching two gold chains from a woman which valued $224,000. On October 25, 2019, McArthur made his first court appearance before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. He was jointly charged for allegedly robbing Ethan Muckoo on October 17, 2019, at Camp Street, Georgetown, of a Samsung Galaxy cellphone valued at $280,000, and an $80,000 iPhone. McArthur, and his alleged coaccused, Shawn Inniss and Harcarlaus Harris, all teenagers at the time, denied the charge after it was read to them. At that same hearing, McArthur was also charged separately for robbing Juliet Wills of a brown handbag valued $5,000, a cell phone valued $65,000 and $2,000 cash on October 11, 2019. They were all remanded to prison. For another court appearance, the defendants’ guardians had appeared in court and had pleaded for leniency from the Magistrate. The teens had promised the magistrate that they will not get involved in any other matter and that they will change their lives around, if granted bail – this led to bail being granted. However, in May 2020, Senior Magistrate Daly revoked McArthur’s bail and remanded him to prison after the court was informed that he is wanted for questioning at the Sparendaam Police Station in relation to another robbery matter. In another matter, 24-yearold businessman, Micah Sonaram of Lot 2273 Flying Fish Street, North Ruimveldt,
Georgetown, had faced the court on several occasions for fraud related charges. The alleged serial fraudster, managed to secure bail on all his previous matters except when he appeared before the Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in July last, when she remanded him to prison. During all his court appearances he denied the charges that were read to him. The first charge alleges that on November 3, 2020, at North Road, Georgetown, while being solely entrusted with $1 million by Yohance Smith to purchase and deliver one Bobcat, he fraudulently converted the money to his own use and benefit. The remaining charges allege that on November 13, 2020 and November 20, 2020 at North Road, Georgetown, while being solely entrusted by Smith with $35,000 and $1 million to purchase an electric control joystick and 210model excavator respectively, he fraudulently converted the money to his own use and benefit. On a previous appearance, he had pleaded not guilty to the charge, which alleges that on November 4, 2020 at North Road, Georgetown, while being solely entrusted with $7 million by Steve DeCosta to purchase and deliver one excavator, he fraudulently converted the money to his own use and benefit. Prior to that, Sonaram faced three similar charges, after he reportedly defrauded several persons using his social media business page, P a r t s Z o n e G y, w h i c h advertises that he ships parts and machinery. It was also reported that he faced two fraud charges which alleged that he defrauded persons of over $11 million. During December 2020 he was charged for defrauding a businessman of $4.5 million and in 2017 he was charged for defrauding another man of over $5.8 million.
Monday November 22, 2021
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Monday November 22, 2021
Monday November 22, 2021
The 18th November, 1978 is a date no Guyanese should forget. The greatest mass murder-suicide in the world, up to that time, took place right here in Guyana at a place called Jonestown. The United States of America should observe this event by declassifying all its records in relation to that tragedy. One of the main players behind the establishment of Jonestown and someone who Jim Jones boasted would help to overturn a custody decision by the local courts has died. The then second in command of the PNC government, Deputy Prime Minister, Dr. Ptolemy Reid, has passed to the great beyond and unable to account in his lifetime for the role he allegedly played in creating a state within a state in Guyana. But others who were part of this conspiracy may still be around and kicking. The PNC/R has historically peddled the line that Jonestown was part of the government’s policies to open the hinterland of our country to agricultural development. Guyanese did not need Jonestown to open our interior. The interior could have been opened without resorting to creating a state within a state. The government could have done this by giving more land and concessions to Guyanese. Jonestown enjoyed special privileges not available to ordinary Guyanese. At the time when Jonestown was established, a number of basic imported food items were banned. Once you were caught with these items, they were seized. While Guyanese of all races had to punish over the prohibitions of basic consumer items, while they
had to put up with the ban on certain products, the Peoples Temple virtually operated a state within a state. The Temple was allowed to import their own supplies, which would have included banned items and would have no doubt paid no taxes on these items. The Government of Guyana must share blame for what happened on November 18, 1978 in Jonestown. Here was Burnham preaching about being in charge of our own destiny; here was a leader who did not want Christmas songs which spoke about a “White Christmas” and “Silver Bells”; here was a man who encouraged Guyanese to eat what was produced locally; here was a man preaching about nationhood, yet a virtual state within a state was operating in Guyana where the members were eating edibles which were banned from the local population. Among the materials released, under the Freedom of Information Act of the United States, are taped conversations between Jones and his followers, which establish an intimacy between the then ruling party and the mad man who ordered the mass murder-suicide of more than 900 of his followers. Jim Jones, the leader of the Peoples Temple, was confident that the then government would intervene to ensure the failure of a custody case brought against him. In the tapes, Jones speaks about assurances apparently given to him by the former Deputy Prime Minister of Guyana, Dr. Ptolemy Reid. When Congressman Leo Ryan and the others were being gunned down at the Port Kaituma airstrip. The big
question was why did the soldiers who, according to one eyewitness, were not far away, not intervene? The version given by one journalist was that the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) may have been uncertain as to whom to fire at. That is a strange explanation. The person with the guns who was attacking a defenseless group of people could not have been difficult to identify. One possible explanation may have had to do with the relationship that had been cultivated between the commune and the GDF. In one tape, Jones warned his followers about what could happen should they attempt to run away. He told them that from the moment it was discovered that someone had run away the commune would call the GDF and he related what the army would do. He also openly boasted about a senior official of the army who dined at the commune. Jones also spoke about his contacts with the Young Socialist Movement, the then youth arm of the PNC. Jones made no bones about his support for the PNC and instructed his members as to what they should say when in the presence of certain specially invited guests. One pilot revealed that after the mass murder-suicide, he brought out a package of raw gold from the commune which was handed over to the authorities. The United States Congress had launched an investigation into the Jonestown tragedy. The report of the Staff Investigative Group that conducted the investigation, found that there was strong evidence of a working relationship between the Peoples Temple and some officials of the Guyana
Dem Boys Seh…
Do yuh Christmas shopping early De place getting busy! Dem wah get pay early dis month, done start line-up outside dem ATM, dem done start spend dem money and de month nah done yet. And den dem gan cuss de guvament fuh only paying seven pacent. But even if dem bin get 70 pacent, dem would ah done gone pun dem spending spree. All de seven pacent gan end up in dem businessmen hand. And nuttin wrong with dat. Is de circulation ah money does boost de
economy. But don’t tell dat to dem ministas. Dem wan hold on to dem lil three cents and still complain how things hard in de economy. Yuh must spend but yuh must not spend all. Dem boys does always tell dem young people, dat no matter how small is yuh money, yuh must always save something fuh invest later. Dat is de law of success. Yuh might think yuh lil three cents nah gan guh far but lil, lil dutty does build dam. But savings must not become wan excuse fuh
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cheapness. Like de man who refuse to buy wan washing machine because he say dat every time he wash de clothes he does save $500. To which he wife say, “Well guh wash dem again, yuh gan get enough fuh buy a cigarette.” Is like de man in de hospital wah boasting dat he save enough money in life not fuh ever wuk again. De nurses look at he and say, “and yuh deh in hay dying.” Talk half and nah save everything!
government that allowed the Peoples Temple to bring items into the country outside of the usual procedures. The report concluded it was likely that the commune brought large sums of money and guns into Guyana in suitcases and false bottom suitcases. The report also found that immigration procedures were compromised in respect to the
Peoples Temple. It is time for the full story of Jonestown to be uncovered because some who were deeply involved in establishing a state within a state in Guyana may still be alive and kicking and should be made to answer for their actions. (The views expressed in this article are those of the
author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
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Monday November 22, 2021
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
The Al Gore syndrome:
Harmon may lose the PNC’s leadership race It was a committed supporter of the PNC, UG lecturer, Sherwood Lowe, who noted that PNC supporters over a period of time have come around to the acceptance that the PNC properly (his word) lost the March 2020 elections (see my column of Tuesday, September 28, 2021, “Amanza Walton-Desir versus Sherwood Lowe). Mr. Harmon has been the consistent voice and fixed face of the claim that the PPP stole the election. Other PNC executives have echoed that sentiment but not with the consistency as Harmon. The two competitors – Aubrey Norton and Dr. Richard Van
West-Charles (RVWC) have not banged away at that theme with the same vehemence. If PNC supporters have come around to the reality that their party lost, then Harmon will be automatically invoked by them to be the one who preached victory to them. They will not blame Norton and RVWC as much as they will dump on Harmon. Such an invocation is bound to hurt Harmon at the December voting. Harmon’s chances will be further weakened by his current status. He is in the opposition. He lost the 2020 election. “He” means him
and David Granger. They were the two dominant faces in the 2020 campaign. Delegates normally show frustration at their party’s losers. Delegates feel they must be punished for losing the government. The brunt of this frustration will fall on Harmon. He has to be an unhappy man at the moment because he should know that leaders who lose elections are generally at a disadvantage when they want to remain as leaders. The current leader of the PNC, Mr. Granger, has e m e rg e d a s t h e m o s t unpopular leader in any major Guyanese political
CXC to host ministerial summit on Tuesday - education transformation, curriculum review to be discussed
The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC®) will host its Inaugural Ministerial Summit on Educational Assessment, virtually, on Tuesday. The event will be live streamed from 9:00 AM AST, via CXC® TV, www.cxc.org/cxctv and UWI TV www.uwitv.org. According to a CXC press release, the event will be held under the theme “Facilitating Transformation Through Assessment” and will engage education policymakers, from across the region, in a high-level dialogue. The agenda includes keynote addresses and Roundtable discussions where participants will explore the curriculum policy in various territories, with particular emphasis on new topical areas for learning, approaches in teaching and strategies for assessment. Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, will discuss “The Importance of History to Regional Integration and Development” in his Opening Keynote Address, and remarks will be delivered on behalf of Dr. Carla Barnett, Secretary General, CARICOM Secretariat, on CXC’s Role in the Broader Development Framework for the Region. Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Chairman of CXC® and Dr. Wayne Wesley, Registrar and CEO, CXC® are both slated to address the Summit on behalf of CXC®, while Professor Paloma Mohamed Martin, Vice Chancellor XI, the University of Guyana, will act as Master of Ceremonies for the Opening Ceremony. Professor Alan Cobley of The University of the West Indies and Chair of CXC’s History Taskforce will deliver a special presentation on the topic of The philosophy, intent and structure of the proposed History Syllabuses. Regional Ministers of Education and Ministry officials will share their perspectives and national experiences during the three Roundtable discussions scheduled
for the Ministerial Summit. In the first Roundtable discussion, High Commissioner His Excellency Dr. Lovell Francis, Trinidad and Tobago High Commissioner to South Africa and The Honourable Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education, Culture, Science and Technology, Belize, will explore the question of: “What are the implications of making History compulsory in secondary schools”? Mrs Mercedes Mateo-Berganza, Division Chief, Education Division, IADB will deliver a special presentation on Learning Losses and Skills for the Future. In Roundtable 2, the Honourable Fayval Williams, Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Jamaica, His Excellency Dr. Didacus Jules, Director General of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), and Dr. The Honourable Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, Minister of Education, Trinidad and Tobago will share their views on the topic: “What have we learned about our education systems during the COVID-19 pandemic”? “What have been our responses nationally and why”? The third Roundtable asks the question: ‘What can CXC® do to enhance curriculum delivery and assessment practices in the region’s education systems during and after the COVID-19 pandemic and how will this impact CXC’s strategy’? This topic will be addressed by The Honourable Santia B r a d s h a w, M i n i s t e r o f E d u c a t i o n , Technological and Vocational Training, Barbados, Priya Manickchand, Minister of Education, Guyana, Dee-Ann KentishRogers, Minister of Education and Social Development, Anguilla and Rachel Marshall Taylor, Minister of Education, Labour, Employment and Customer Services, Turks and Caicos Islands. These discussions around critical education transformation issues which affect the region’s education system, will play a critical role in the development of CXC® and the region.
party. All the frustrations, dislikes and irascibilities PNC supporters have about Granger are transferred to Harmon. Two things about Harmon are stuck like scotch tape on the sleeve of PNC members. One is that he is seen as Granger’s deep, trusted lieutenant. The other one is that most Guyanese feel he has been identified by Granger to succeed him. Is it too late for Harmon to pursue the Al Gore pathway? After Bill Clinton was shamed with the Monica Lewinsky sex scandal, Gore in his presidential campaign began to distance himself from Clinton, even though he served as Clinton’s vice president. Harmon has several opportunities to dissolve the “Granger replica” perception people have of him. One is that he could c o n c e d e t h a t Va n e s s a Kissoon’s long suspension was wrong. Secondly, he could concede that Granger was nowhere near being a t y p i c a l We s t I n d i a n politician. He can start with those two. It makes no sense in practical politics for him to see his detachment from Granger as a betrayal. If he thinks so, then he should not want to be leader of the PNC because Granger is
unpopular and delegates do not want a Granger protégé as leader of the PNC. Harmon is certainly at a disadvantage. Frederick Kissoon Norton had no high-profile position in the policy-making never done. It has to pierce room in the APNU-AFC the soul of African Guyanese government. RVWC had one profoundly. In the 21st portfolio – CEO of GWI. century to have a talented Harmon is bound to come in public servant – a wellfor harsh criticism because trained police officer or a top the majority of Guyanese saw accountant – retire at 55 is him as number two in one of the unfair things in the government, and at times was world. It would be interesting to almost number one. Delegates from working see how Harmon reacts to class areas are not going to criticism by Norton and be kind to him. They are not RVWC on this issue. In a nice to their leaders, who forthcoming column, I will after being in government, return to the retirement age come asking them to stay at in an appeal to delegates to the helm after they have lost. examine Harmon’s balanceThey will look at the sheet when he was both performance when in office. number two and number one. Finally, delegates should Harmon failed to approve of ask RVWC if he has dual the passage in the House of citizenship. This is natural the amendment to the since he lived a long time in marijuana penalties. Harmon failed to give the US. It is not an irrelevant African Guyanese a gift that issue if he becomes leader s u b s e q u e n t g e n e r a t i o n since at some point, he will would benefit from – upping have to enter parliament. (The views expressed in the retirement age for the this article are those of the public service. NIS pension a u t hor and do not starts at 60. Public servants necessarily reflect the retire at 55. From Burnham to Hoyte to Harmon, this was opinions of this newspaper.)
Single-seat constituency and GECOM must be the focus of electoral reform - GHRA says Govt. proposed amendments calculated to stoke tension The Guyana Human Rights Association said that reforming the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and the implementation of single-seat constituencies should be the priorities if government is really serious about amending the Representation of the Peoples Act (RoPA). Two weeks ago government released draft amendments to RoPA, which is laced with draconian penalties for electoral malpractice and also a most controversial proposal to break up Region Four into four sub-districts. Since unveiling the proposals, political parties and civil society grouping have hammered the proposed amendments, calling on the administration to withdraw them. In a statement on Saturday the GHRA said the proposed consultation to amend the RoPA is calculated to further, rather than reduce,
political tensions in Guyana by keeping attention focused on the post-elections fiasco of 2020 and to sustain political polarization. To this extent, it constitutes a piece of monumental hypocrisy, the human rights body stated. According to the GHRA, priority action on electoral reform should be implementation of single-seat constituencies and reform of GECOM. “These reforms were unanimously approved both by the Constitutional Reform Commission and in Parliament by the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Electoral Reform in 2000. However, subsequent efforts over the next decade by civic and religious bodies, the diplomatic community and business sector to implement the reforms were successfully frustrated by the combined resistance of the leadership of Continued on page 19
Monday November 22, 2021
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Monday November 22, 2021
Declining fish catch triggers worry among local fishermen - many blame Exxon offshore operations; predict death of industry in five years By Davina Bagot Fishermen in Guyana are reporting a rapid decline in catch, and predicting that they may very well be out of jobs in the next five years even as they attributed this to ExxonMobil’s operations offshore. A key report from the American multinational has warned that there will be significant impact on the nation’s marine resources, due to the cumulative impact of those oil related activities. This disclosure was made in the project documents for the Yellowtail development in the Stabroek Block, operated by ExxonMobil’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL). The report, which formed the premise for the recently concluded countrywide consultations on the Yellowtail development, noted that there are several exploration and development activities planned or are already in operation by EEPGL. These include the US$3.5B Liza Phase I Development, the US$6B Liza Phase II Development, and the US$9B Payara Development projects. EEPGL said, it is continuing with a rapid exploration and drilling programme in the Stabroek Block alongside works on its fiber optic cable installation project, an onshore Guyana Office Campus, and the US$900M Gas to Energy Project. It is also poised to drill 24 wells across the Kaieteur and Canje blocks, which border the Stabroek concession. It said too that the oil related activities will result in changes in marine nutrient cycle, resulting in localized and temporary changes in
A vendor retails his fish to a customer outside the Stabroek Market. phytoplankton (a type of microalgae) species distribution, and impacts on gene flow. In spite of the foregoing, EEPGL said citizens and local authorities ought to be assured that the project will adopt a number of embedded controls, mitigation measures, and management plans. The ExxonMobil subsidiary said, these are considered sufficient to address the contributions of the project to cumulative impacts. FISHERMEN WORRIED Local fishermen however are not comforted by the oil company’s assurances. “Ever since them man start drill we seabed out deh we catch gone very low. I in this business like since I was a child. In the earlies, from like 2007 when I start catch fish to like 2016. We used to get an exciting catch. But you see from like 2016 to now; presently, we catch is like going and strain water cause when we go out there we would just catch back lil gas money and something to feed the family. You can’t presently do
nothing for yourself with this fish,” said Stayon Frank, a fisherman who retails fish in the Stabroek Market. He opined that the only way to keep the sector alive may be to create nurseries at home, as he sees the business slowly becoming extinct. “Next five years we won’t get this type of fish here in Guyana anymore. Right now, the fish getting smaller and smaller. Is bare small fish. We might have to start mining fish in we back yard to keep this hustle alive,” the frustrated vendor told this newspaper. Another vendor, who gave his name as ‘Dexter’ explained that his catch has reduced drastically and the quality of fish is also daunting. He explained that his catch was somewhere between 1,100 pounds in the earlier years. However, it has now reduced to about 700 pounds per catch. “Within a day the fish spoiling too and if you watch you would see some of the fish done get (slender) and this catch this morning we got to try and sell
it out cause what we seeing here is a different quality of fish. And it ain’t coming like nuff fish like before. It seems like they just going down and down and down,” he complained. “We don’t know within the next four to five years what will happen. We getting more pressure cause some people don’t even want buy the fish cause they seeing the quality but we got to try and sell what we can to get a money,” the man explained. Leroy Williams, who retails fish in Georgetown, attributed the decline in catch to Exxon’s operations. The fisherman who said he has been in the business for over 22 years now also said he is fearful of what is to come. “Right now in the fisheries industry what I can say is that since this oil company is out there, the amount of fish we used to get in this market, we are not getting it anymore. Most of them fisherman when they go out, they are not getting no kind of catch
Fisherman, Stayon Frank displays his disappointing catch. because they throw the line and they go back next day to pull it up, but when they go back they can’t get nothing much. Since this oil thing come about the fisherman them suffering in this country here right now. By we aint getting fish in here, people hardly coming in to do any business. You see the size? We used to get bigger Cuirass than this. I think like all the fish moving out by the noise that does be in the water cause especially like how they drilling and so, the fish them like they moving away,” he explained. Williams told Kaieteur News that he learnt Guyana is now importing fish. This he
Fisherman, Jaden Dickinson complains of a reduced product quality.
said could put him out of business and take food from his children. “We daily catch just decreasing and right now saying they want to import fish, but if you want to import fish what is going to happen to us? It would have a lot of impact on my business cause right now they would put us out of business, cause I depend on this for my daily living,” the fish vendor noted. According to him, Gail baker fish used to be wholesaled at $1,000 per pound but it has increased to $1,500. Trout he said was once at $800 per pound but has gone up to about $1,200 a pound. “Poor people feeling Continued on page 24
Monday November 22, 2021
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Monday November 22, 2021
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Monday November 22, 2021
Elderly woman robbed over $6M by Nigerian fraudster Uche Raymond Okoye, also known as ‘Uche Parker,’ of Lot 9 Delph Street, Campbellville, Georgetown, who was charged for fleecing over $6 million from a female pensioner, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for the offence last Friday. On November 3, Magistrate Annette Singh in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts found the Nigerian national guilty on 10 counts of obtaining money under false pretense. He was then remanded to prison pending his sentencing. Last Friday, at the sentencing hearing, the defendant was sentenced to one year imprisonment on each of the 10 charges. During a
plea in mitigation Uche agreed to repay the victim some of the money he defrauded her. There are other matters still being prosecuted against the defendant by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU). On February 25, 2021, Okoye made his first court appearance for the matter and he was slapped with the charges. He was not required to plead to the 10 indictable charges read to him. The charges alleged that between October 15, 2020 and November 16, 2020, at Georgetown, with intent to defraud, he obtained $6,060,000 from Suruj Dei Balkaran by falsely claiming that he was in possession of a package for Suruj Dei Balkaran.
Okoye preyed on the elderly woman via WhatsApp and Facebook by falsely claiming that he had a package intended for her. He lied to the woman that the package included money and other valuables, which led to her transferring monies from her bank account to other accounts ten times, under the directions of Okoye, since she believed that he, indeed, was in possession of such a package for her. During the trial before Magistrate Singh, the elderly woman testified that, during the period of October to November 2020, she transferred her life savings totaling $6,060,000 to the accounts of several persons
unknown to her on Okoye’s instructions. She testified that she has been a vendor all her life, and that she believed that the person she met on Facebook did send a package with money for her. Other persons also testified that monies were sent to their accounts, and that they received a percentage after withdrawing the said deposits. According to the police, Okoye is suspected to be part of a criminal network involving Nigerian nationals, who collaborate with associates to solicit cash from their victims by promising high valued merchandise to be delivered following the payment of a charge or fee.
Jailed, Uche Raymond Okoye, also known as ‘Uche Parker’
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Amerindians condemn violations of their rights - as govt. signs agreement with Canadian company to resume mining at Maurudi Mountain The South Rupununi District Council (SRDC), the representative institution of the indigenous communities of the South Rupununi, has condemned the agreement concluded between the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Romanex, Canadian-owned mining company Aurous, and the Rupununi Miners Association on November 17 for the resumption of mining activities in the disputed Marudi area. According to a Ministry of Natural Resources release last week the agreement would allow the resumption of small-scale mining operations and mining exploration activities at Marudi Mountain. However, in a statement SRDC said although the GGMC is well aware that Marutu Taawa (Marudi Mountain) is a sacred place to the Wapichan people and that the area is subject to a pending application for extension of title by Aishalton Village, the agency made no attempt to ensure that the Aishalton Village Council, surrounding villages and SRDC were involved in decision-making around mining activities on the mountain. “The Wapichan people are the traditional owners of the lands in question and those who will be forced to live with the consequences of these decisions long after these miners have departed. Government would have been officially informed about the extent of territorial lands as early as 1965 and this would have been followed up ever since with both collective and individual request for recognition by our communities,” SRDC said in its statement. It added that learning of this agreement through the Ministry’s Facebook post, has set a new low standard for meaningful participation in activities that affect Indigenous communities at a time when ardent efforts are being made to fully account for indigenous peoples rights and apply full Free, Prior and
Informed Consent (FPIC) principles by all when engaging our communities. “Villages of the South Rupununi have witnessed the destruction already wrought by mining in the area and village elders have previously expressed their desire to prevent further environmental and cultural damage. “They [the miners] are making the mountains and forest disappear down there and the rivers are all dirty. It is not good. I am worried about the situation and I am thinking about it all the time. It has to stop…” Caroline Winter, Aishalton Village. “Our grandparents did not punish the land, and they respected the mountains. Now those miners are damaging it all and contaminating the waters. They just think about money. If this continues without any control we will all pay the price for the destruction.” Luisa Laita, Aishalton Village.” According to the release, Toshao Michael of Aishalton, who is also the SRDC Chairperson, in disappointment stated: “how can mining agreements be made without involving people of the South Rupununi, who will be directly affected by mining and its related activities?” This latest action taken by GGMC is just one of many flagrant instances where Amerindian rights and wellbeing is tossed aside in the name of so-called development. It is time that a new approach be adopted by government where indigenous communities’ input be fully incorporated and our rights respected in any development in and around our villages. “ The SRDC said the Constitution of Guyana, and international human rights law incorporated therein protects indigenous peoples’ cultural heritage and way of life, as well as every person’s right to a healthy environment. “The Marudi
Homeless man stabbed to death A homeless man was on Saturday stabbed to death at Longden and Commerce Streets Georgetown, police have reported. So far investigators have not been able to identify the man but according to police the man was reportedly killed around 19:30Hrs. Based on information police received, the man was stabbed to death by another man he had an argument with.
It is alleged that a man stabbed him multiple times to his abdomen before escaping from the scene. An ambulance was summoned to take him to hospital but when the paramedics checked him he was already dead. A hearse was then summoned and his remains were taken to Memorial Gardens Funeral Home as police continue to hunt the suspect.
Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat along with officials of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and Romanex, Canadian-owned mining company Aurous, and the Rupununi Miners Association following the signing of the agreement to resume mining at Marudi Mountain area is not only an important component of Wapichan cultural heritage, it is also critically important for other ecosystems and communities in the country, as four major river systems originate there. The SRDC notes that the Environmental Protection Agency has not yet issued an environmental permit for mining at Marudi, having previously rejected a draft environmental impact assessment report, in part due to the failure to ensure the effective participation of indigenous peoples in that assessment. The SRDC also questions
the legality of large-scale mining companies contracting for small-scale mining within their mining licence.” “The SRDC therefore calls upon the Minister to disavow the agreement and the GGMC to withdraw from the agreement unless and until our rights have been respected and we have consented to such agreement. Most importantly, we implore with the government to once and for all to expeditiously process our claim to our traditional lands,” the statement added.
The release stated that Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat had indicated in a meeting with Aishalton village residents in September and December 2020 that the government would “respect the rights of indigenous peoples.” However, the Ministry has since ignored requests, including two in the past month alone, from the SRDC to engage in further consultations relating to mining at Marudi, the organization stated. . “The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has
on two separate occasions in 2018 (May and December) called on the Guyanese government to revoke projects on Marudi Mountain to which indigenous peoples did not give their free, prior and informed consent. The Government has yet to comply with these recommendations. The SRDC demands that the Government uphold its Constitutional obligations and immediately cease this flagrant and continued disrespect for the SRDC’s and its constituent indigenous communities’ rights,” the statement concluded.
Single-seat constituency and GECOM must be the... From page 10 the PPP and the PNC,” the GHRA stated. The human rights body said, revival of the quest to implement those reforms, not the distraction of amending RoPA, should be the current focus of civic action. “Both PPP Governments between 2000 - 2015 and the APNU between 2015 - 2020 had ample opportunity to address these reforms but chose not to do so, preferring to monopolize GECOM to keep MPs accountable to the party leader rather than to the people who elected them. Pressure for implementation in 2004, for example, provided a
glimpse of the contortions both parties constantly adopted to wriggle out of the Constitutionally-mandated commitment to electoral reform. At the time, PPP General Secretary, Donald Ramotar MP, proposed a Motion that Parliament establishes a Special Select Committee focused expressly on the number of seats to be contested in geographic constituencies in the 2006 elections. The final three paragraphs of the four-page document read as follows: However, recognising that the reforms have not resulted in the maximization of opportunities for the development of geographical representation be-
...‘Take your waste back to From page 3 analyses around the 1.5 and 2 degrees scenarios, those are on the scale of where the impact from any one project wouldn’t show up on that. It really just doesn’t. It’s a relatively small scale model. You can’t predict where those particular emissions would go, because of the nature of climate impacts, you simply can’t model that within a level of accuracy…the focus of EIA is on assessing the degree to which the project is doing the appropriate things to mitigate the emissions of greenhouse gases, from a project of this nature,” Todd pointed out.
Radzik however argued that Exxon cannot run away from the fact that they are destroying the planet. “We can’t escape from the fact that what fossil fuels are doing, what ExxonMobil supported by ERM is doing is contributing to the bad things of our planet and contributing to the warming above the 1.5 to stay alive and this can’t be swept under the rug. Sorry to say but that is the truth and it is happening and ExxonMobil is going to be damaging and destroying not only Guyana and so on but the planet,” she argued.
cause of the lack of time to agree to the demarcation of constituencies, the PPP will agree to the demarcation of constituencies within the regional boundaries, where there is more than one seat allocated to a region. Even though the creation of 25 geographical seats satisfied the recommendation of the Constitutional Reform Commission (CRC), that an ‘element of geographic representation’ be implemented there has been no suggestion that they be increased. Nevertheless, the PPP/C is prepared to consider an increase in the number of seats in the National Assembly to be elected on the basis of geographical representation. The PPP/C believes that these proposals are reasonable and adequate to conclude the reforms to the electoral system mandated by the CRC and the Oversight Committee. They also will demonstrate that the PPP/C is flexible and willing to address the concerns of the Opposition to make meaningful proposals to advance the political process. The PPP/C hopes that this example will encourage the opposition to demonstrate similar flexibility in relation to other issues.” (PPP/C Position On Electoral Reform, November 1, 2004 p.4) “To this day, the younger generation, even those interested in electoral matters, have no idea that a new electoral system was unanimously approved
in Parliament, implemented in interim form in terms of the current Geographic Constituencies for the 2001 election, with only the details of single-seat constituencies left to be worked out. Rather than civil society misleading citizens by encouraging the socalled RoPA ‘consultation’, the GHRA is proposing a consultation to address the substance of electoral reform. Namely, the electoral system and the institution for delivering it – GECOM,” GHRA said. GHRA said without such a framework for the consultation, bizarre episodes such as the recent public announcements by partisan Commissioners of their favoured candidates seeking the post of CEO of GECOM, will continue to distract from the substantive issues. In line with the new orientation, the GHRA is proposing that the consultation should focus on Composition, Structure and Powers of GECOM; and Completion of the approved reforms for expansion of single-seat constituency. The body said ample documentation exists to enable the current generation to understand why our indefensible electoral system has survived. It has nothing to do with RoPA technicalities but everything to do with a persistent, mutual leadership cover-up to resist real changes.
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Monday November 22, 2021
Canadian company hits jackpot in Guyana with high quality gold find A Canadian company, Goldsource Mines Inc. has reportedly hit the jackpot with a high-quality gold find in its 100% owned Eagle Mountain concession located in Region Eight, Potaro-Siparuni. Not only did the company find high quality gold but it also was able to locate the gold deposit near to the surface. This was disclosed in a recent statement the company made on its website disclosing its latest results from infill and expansion drilling it conducted at the location encompassing 1,360-acre concession. Infill drilling is basically drilling new holes between previously drilled holes to map out exactly where the
gold might be located and how much of it. Expansion drilling on the other hand is mapping out fixed starting points from which a company intends to expand its gold deposit. According to the company, the newly reported results are for 29 core holes that were drilled at 4 areas on its Eagle Mountain C o n c e s s i o n , n a m e l y, Bacchus, Bottle Bank, No. 1 Hill and Bucket Shaft. Core holes are holes that are drilled using a special drilling equipment with diamond bits to extract core samples from the earth to test for gold and its quality. At the No.1 hill, Goldsource Mines Inc., drilled 10 core holes and managed to find high quality gold near the
surface. In one of the core holes, the company struck nearsurface high-grade mineralization (material in which higher grades of gold are found) of 16.5 metres with an estimated true width (ETW) of 14.2 metres grading 20.04 grams per tonne (“gpt”) in saprolite. Saprolite are weathered rocks and what locals would call soft rock and most time considered ‘easy’ material for mining. Goldsource Inc. even boasted that the hole it drilled produced significantly higher grades of gold than previously estimated. Starting at 93 metres down that same hole, the company struck mineralization of 21.0
Eagle Mountain Gold project located in Region 8, Guyana. metres with an ETW of 18.2 metres grading 1.32 gpt gold. These show that material that contains the high grade gold can also be found much
New lawyer on a mission to improve Guyana Driven by her passion and love for humanity, young lawyer- Simran Gajraj on Tuesday last, took one step closer towards achieving her dream of making a difference in the world by getting admitted to the local bar. Presenting the petition to the Guyana’s Supreme Court for the 24year-old was Attorney-at-law, Kamal Ramkarran and accepting the request was Justice Nareshwar Harnanan. In her speech, Gajraj thanked both the judge and Ramkarran for giving her the opportunity to accomplish her dream. The young lawyer also took the time to acknowledge the sacrifice and support of her parents throughout her academic journey of becoming a lawyer. “My presence here today is as a result of many sacrifices and I am forever grateful to my parents, Donald and Edith Gajraj who did absolutely everything necessary to ensure that I could follow my chosen career path. Mom and dad, my gratitude to you is immeasurable,” the young attorney told those at the ceremony. Her parents’ sacrifice did not go in vain because Gajraj had made them very proud during her days at University of Guyana (UG) and the Hugh Wooding Law School. She was described by those who knew her, as “a very intelligent young lady”. Gajraj was the best graduating law student of her year winning the pro-chancellor’s medal. Gajraj was also decorated with a number of awards which included the Guyana Women’s Lawyer Association Prize. The young scholar was even granted a Scholarship by the Ministry of Public Service to complete her legal education at Hugh Wooding Law School. Gajraj began her studies there in 2019 and two years later, in September 2021 she received her Legal Education Certificate and had also engraved her name on the Hugh Wooding’s Principal’s honour roll. Learning of her excellent academic achievements in law, Kaieteur News asked the young lawyer to share the secret behind her success. Gajraj said
Attorney-at-law, Simran Gajraj that it was the passion of making a difference in the world that motivated her to do the best she can to achieve that desire. She recalled that at a tender age she fell in love with human interest stories and it sparked a passion inside her to one day become an advocate, fighting for the rights of her fellow human beings. “At first I wanted to become a journalist - and I still love journalismbecause I wanted to be the voice for others”, Gajraj told Kaieteur News. As a young child back then, Gajraj’s attention would be drawn to the travels around the globe that journalists made just to tell the story of mankind. However, as she grew older that passion grew bigger and she realized that she could do much more to make a difference by becoming a lawyer. “I decided to change my career because I said to myself, a journalist can only do much as expose and report a story but as a lawyer I can actually advocate and fight for justice or even have a shot of proposing amendments that can make the life of my countrymen better”, recounted the young lawyer. Fueled by her passion Gajraj dedicated her time to do well at her studies and achieve her goal of becoming a lawyer who would someday make that difference. She completed her secondary education at the Queen’s College Secondary School
then went to prepare for A-levels Exams at School of the Nations before entering the University of Guyana. Everything was going according to plan for Gajraj but there was one fear that she had to conquer in order to become that advocate and eloquent lawyer. According to the young lawyer, it was the fear of public speaking but with her determination of jumping every hurdle in her path, Gajraj was able to command that fear when she decided to be part of a team that represented Guyana at Caribbean Court of Justice Mooting Competition in 2018. Gajraj recounted that she was so nervous on competition day but she was not going to let down her teammates and assisted them in tying with Barbados for the top spot. With that success, Gajraj knew that she could take on any challenge that may present itself in her academic journey. Reflecting on the sacrifices that she made so well, Gajraj at her bar admission told the audience, “I am proud to be here today, I am proud of the work that I did to get here” She continued, “Studying law taught me patience and discipline. Law changed the way I look at life and the way I approached problems. The most exciting part of learning law for me is realizing that I would be part of a profession that can change the course of human behaviour in society for years after I am gone. The law is a living thing capable of change and improvement and I am honoured to be part of that”. Currently Gajraj is practicing her profession at the Director of Public Prosecution Chambers (DPP), and is already finding ways to make a difference in the criminal justice system. The young lawyer hopes that one day she will be able to propose amendments that could potentially make lives better especially in the area of restorative justice and local content. It is her belief that Guyanese workers must be treated fairly and that her countrymen must receive maximum benefits from their country’s resources.
deeper. For the Bacchus and Bucket Shaft Areas the company obtained drill results from 19 core holes. In one of them called the company intersected mineralization of 7.5metres with an ETW of 6.5 metres, grading 1.32gpt gold starting at a depth of 25.5 metres. Another hole named drilled approximately 80 metres to the south of the previous drill hole, found mineralization of 10.5 metres with an ETW of 6.7 metres grading 1.12 gpt gold starting 81 metres down. A third hole named, intersected mineralization of 1.5 metres with an ETW of 1.2 metres grading 10.90 gpt gold starting 15 metres down. Goldsource Mines Inc. had also drilled seven more core holes totaling 803 metres at the Salbora deposit on its Eagle Mountain Gold Project. Results from this area showed that one hole intersected mineralization of 1.5 metres with an ETW of 1.4 metres grading 18.98 gpt gold starting at a depth of 34.5 metres. Two other holes also showed good results for the company. One of them struck mineralization 4.5 metres with an ETW of 3.5 metres, grading 7.70 gpt gold starting at 112.5 metres down while the other core hole intersected mineralization of 1.5 metres with an ETW of 1.2 metres grading 37.86 gpt gold at a depth of 124.5 metres. These higher-grade intersections, according to the company, were found approximately 80-100 metres below the Inferred Mineral Resource (estimated amount of mineral/gold in the earth’s crust with limited or no evidence). Goldsource Inc’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Steve Parsons, said that the latest drilling results has provided key insights for his c o m p a n y ’s o n g o i n g
operation”. Goldsource Inc was first heard of in Guyana back in 2014 when its subsidiary, Stronghold Inc, teamed up with a local mining firm, Kilroy Inc to operate a 250hectare concession at Eagle Mountain. The Canadian company had said back then that a medium-scale mining permit is required under Guyana’s law to be held by a Guyanese national. As a result it was forced to partner with a Guyanese owned company. Not much was heard of the foreign mining company’s operation in Guyana until 2016 when it announced that “it had reached commercial production on Phase I at its 100%-owned Eagle Mountain Gold Project, in Region Eight”. That same year Goldsource Mines Inc promised that it would produce some 3,600 ounces of gold. News of the company’s operation went off the radar again then resurfaced in 2018. Kaieteur News reported in April that year that Goldsource Mines Inc. increased its stakes in Guyana by buying a concession in Region Seven from a local. Those gold lands were known as the Bishop Growler mines and was at the time owned by a Guyanese conducting artisanal mining on the property which measured about 2.5Km2. Nothing more was heard of their operations in Guyana s i n c e t h e n . H o w e v e r, according to the company it had initiated an exploration program to expand the Eagle Mountain resource base back in March 2017. In 2018, it discovered the Salbora area and began drilling there that same year. In 2020, it commenced the expansion of the other area called the friendly area within the Eagle mountain concession and had also Continued on page 24
Monday November 22, 2021
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Kaieteur News
Demerara Bank’s Pre-Tax Profit surges to $4.9B record high in spite of COVID-19 pandemic FOR SALE
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Demerara Bank Limited has disclosed that its pre-tax profits grew by 40 percent to $4.9 billion for the financial year ended September 30, 2021, while its profit after taxes increased by 31 percent to $3 billion. This reflects an improvement from the $2.3 billion it recorded last year. Commenting on the published results, Chairman of the Bank, Dr. Yesu Persaud attributed the Bank’s impressive performance to its staunch focus on operational excellence and the execution of solid business strategies that created sustainable value for all stakeholders. Furthermore, Demerara Bank Limited, which is the youngest among all commercial Banks in Guyana, observed its 27th anniversary yesterday. In this short period, Kaieteur News understands, the financial institution has grown into one of the soundest financial institutions and currently ranks the second highest in pre-tax profits amongst its competitors. This newspaper also understands from the financial institution that the challenges of the pandemic continue to result in considerable volatility throughout the global business environment. Nevertheless, the Bank’s record-setting performance, through prudent management, planning and efficient deployment of resources, underpins its resilience and capability of steering through the everchanging operating landscape. In addition to increase profitability, the financial statements as at September 30, 2021 revealed the following:· The Bank’s Deposit
· Demerara Bank’s listing of its assets grew by 21 percent to $114.5 billion as at the close of financial year 2021 when compared with $94.7 billion. Moreover, the Bank’s Return on Average Assets as at September 30, 2021 was 2.8 percent. · Return on Shareholders’ Funds has been substantial over the year and recorded a return of 16.2 percent for the year ended September 30, 2021, while shareholders’ earnings per share has increased to 6.56 percent over the said period. · The Book Value of the shares has gone up from $34.33 per share in 2020 to $40.46 per share in 2021; showing a rise of 18 percent
over the previous year. · The share price of the Bank increased from $91.00 to $199.00 as at the financial year end, an increase of 119%. Further, the Bank maintains a strong Capital Adequacy Ratio that is well above the prudential 8.0 benchmark set by the Central Bank. Kaieteur News also conducted an analysis of the profitability trend of the six commercial banks in Guyana and the following graphs give an understanding reading of their performance in comparison to other banks. A comparison of the PreTax Profit and After-Tax Profits among the commercial Banks are as follows:-
Source: Published Financial Statements (KEY FOR TABLES: RBGL : Republic Bank Guyana Limited; DBL : Demerara Bank Limited; BNS: Bank of Nova Scotia; CBGI: Citizens Bank Guyana Inc.; BOB: Bank of Baroda; and GBTI : Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry.)
Widespread condemnation of 7% pay hike for public servants...
From page 6 the fact that prices of food and other essential items have since raised astronomically, a 7 percent increase amounts to little or no real increase in wages. When one adds taxation to the mix, the real value of the proposed increase is further diminished. What is a 7 Vacancy at People's Choice percent increase in wages Kitchen for cooks,kitchen against the backdrop of a a s s i s t a n t , h a n d y m a n & fourteen percent increase in counter staff,Tel:679-9449. food costs? Any head of household will tell you that Maid to cook and clean for that amounts to negative East Bank.Call: 615-9132. growth in earnings. For all intent and One salesman,able bodied porters.Experience in writing purposes this is not a salary bills,stocktaking & cashing. increase—it is yet another Keyfood Trading,Mc Doom cash giveaway. But, when one takes into consideration the village. government’s announced Experienced Accounts & package of $250, 000 to each Bond clerk,tractor & truck sugar worker, this offer to drivers,porters.Apply at Ala- another critical section of the bama Trading.Tel:623-16515. workforce represents a tiny Vacancy exists for 1 certified Auto Mechanic with minimum 10 yrs experience. Call:231-8737. Security officers to work in the interior.Applications to innovationsamericamng@gmail.com or hand deliver to Innovations America.
Base was at its highest of $92.9 billion, registering a rise of 19 percent when compared to 2020. · Total Loans and Advances increased from $40.5 billion to $46.4 billion, showing a rise of 15 percent over the previous year. · Investments of the Bank stood at $33.6 billion. · Interest Income on Investments went up from $1.7 billion to $2 billion; an increase of 13 percent over the previous year whilst Interest Income on Loans and Advances increased from $3.1 billion to $3.5 billion; a rise of 10 percent over the corresponding year, 2020. Total Interest Income rose to $5.4 billion; 11 percent higher than 2020.
fraction of the former. Making the 7 percent retroactive to January 2021 offers little or no comfort. For example, 7percent of an entry-level policewoman’s salary of approximately $65, 000 amounts to a miserly $55, 000 for all of 2021. Further, whereas the price tag for the payout to the sugar workers is $1.7B, the government offers $400M to frontline workers.” The WPA said whether it is the government’s intention or not, the comparison of the two payouts suggests clear discrimination on the part of the government. “WPA has long called on governments to be mindful of the ethnic impact of policies and actions in a country which is sharply divided along ethnic lines. Against that background, WPA characterizes this latest PPP intervention as yet
another political provocation. WPA is not opposed to relief for sugar workers. Rather it is staunchly opposed to the discriminatory and unstructured manner in which government has been distributing resources.” WPA reminded Guyanese of its Cash Transfer proposal that is on the table. “If the government is serious about real relief for working people, it should cease the unstructured, discriminatory and unaccountable manner that it has employed and instead engage stakeholders in a serious Cash Transfer policy. WPA’s proposal is for a transfer to all households regardless of ethnicity. Our party stands ready to engage the government, trade unions, other political parties and related interests in beginning such a process. For now, WPA believes
the government in the shortest term should modify the current proposal. It should call the unions to an emergency meeting and work on a consensus ‘Christmas” package that should among other things increase the offer, remove the taxes and make it retroactive to the last salary increase (2019). But this should not be a substitute for a real wage package. Hence, agreement on this relief package should be tied to immediate talks on a structured wage package with the unions. WPA also proposes doubling the grant to the Frontline Workers as a matter of fairness. Failure to move in this direction would open the door to workers’ action—a move that the WPA strongly supports. The right to a living wage is linked to the right to life—a sacred human right.”
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Kaieteur News
Monday November 22, 2021
Monday November 22, 2021
Kaieteur News
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Monday November 22, 2021
Kaieteur News
2021 SA 10k
Nicholas strikes Gold in debut, Tyrell wins female Station, and after 33 minutes and 27 seconds, Guyana division Defence Force (GDF) Private The 2021 South America 10k Road Race got off yesterday at 15:30hrs as scheduled from GTT Earth
Coach Dias says players have... From page 27 The players will be more experienced since we are a lot younger compared to most of them and they should be a lot better than us, so we have to give of our best and it will be a learning experience for me,” explained Michael. Shomari speaking from Connecticut USA, informed that the courts are nearby his school. “So I would go and play by myself. For the past couple of months, we did not have a Coach so I would go and do work by myself. I would do Court runs, and do volleys and drives whenever I could to improve my game and get better. The courts here are open so anyone could use them despite the Covid restrictions. I am hoping that we can try our best at the PanAm Games since it’s an under-23 Tournament but we are 18, 17 and 15, so it will be a great experience for us playing against better players and seeing what the atmosphere is like and playing at a higher altitude and what comes with that,” said Shomari on his expectations for the PanAm Games. Shomari, who will play in next month’s US Open in order to try and be recruited by scouts for College teams, said he is not harbouring thoughts of playing on the Professional Circuit. He said he has no idea how he will perform in Junior PanAm Games since he does not know the players and is ‘blind sighted’ into the Games. He added that he hopes to do his best. The players were also high in praise for work of Strength and Conditioning Coach, Kezqweyah Yisrael, who has been with them for the six last weeks.
Marlon Nicholson emerged as the champion of the event in not only his first race of season but his first appearance at the heavily subscribed event. The army man who is based at Timehri was followed by 2020 winner Winston Missigher (33min 38s) and Odwin Tudor (33mins 39s). Nicholas explained to Kaieteur Sport that he only trained for sixseven weeks for this race after asking his Sergeant Major for some time off which has surely paid off well for him. Sheama Tyrell won the women’s open division in 41 minutes 16 seconds followed by Aaliyah Headley with a time of 45 minutes 33 seconds and Assata Eastman third in 48 minutes 29 seconds. Gary Harthog won the over 50 race, pipping Adrian Thomas who celebrated prematurely at the line.
Canadian company hits jackpot in... From page 20 discovered other locations such as the Toucan and Powis Targets along the SalboraPowis trend. In February 2021 the Goldsource Mines Inc. reported that the mineral resource update for it Eagle Mountain Gold Project stands at 848,000 ounce of indicated resources (proven gold resources) and 868,000 ounce of inferred resources (estimated gold resources). Currently the company is conducting in-fill drilling of the 2021 Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) to upgrade a significant portion of mineralization classified as inferred to the Measured and Indicated. Classifying mineralization as measured and indicated means that the estimated amount of gold material or gold in the earth has been proven by drilling results. These results will then be used as the basis for a prefeasibility study meaning that ongoing exploration is to determine whether mining at its 100% owned Eagle mountain Gold project is economically viable or not.
Declining fish catch triggers worry among... From page 14 the squeeze right now and you watch next four to five years the poor man will suffer in this country. The oil that they drawing out there, we ain’t getting a cent. All the money is going back to them…something supposed to go back to the poor people. I doing this 22 years now and back then things used to be real good. Now, some day you come out, you barely working for a lil raise, but is just because you want to do something we does come out here but you not getting the courage like before. It just driving we crazy,” Williams detailed. Another vendor, Jaden Dickinson told this newspaper that the fishes are migrating due to the ongoing drilling and exploration of Exxon Mobil. “We not getting enough fish. It used to be in a lump sum about three years back and now is not the same. Like three years ago I used to get about 3000 to four thousand pounds per catch, now I only getting about six or seven hundred pounds,” he said. Due to this, he noted that his customers have been complaining of the prices. Dickinson highlighted: “This thing affecting me and the customers cause when them man that catch it sell back to we, we got to try and make a lil thing. I in this business for over 10 years now and this is the first time I seeing something like this.” Now collecting data Meanwhile, amid the gloom, Exxon has re-
vealed that it is now collecting baseline information to get an understanding of how the fisheries sector here is being impacted by their operations. During a recent virtual Consultation held by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Exxon Mobil’s Yellowtail Project, Environmentalist, Simone MangalJolly said that even though Exxon compiled a fisheries study, the document failed to highlight the migratory patterns of fish, among others. She said: “It has no comprehensive mapping of the fish nurseries in Guyana or neighbouring countries that might be feeding our fisheries sector. There are no indications whatsoever in any baseline studies done, including the Marine Baseline Study of what the migratory patterns are of commercial or non-commercial fish compared to that whole zone”. In response to her concerns, the Consultancy agency, Environmental Resources Management (ERM) representative Jason Wiley said that baseline data is being conducted and is expected to continue for about another year. Mangal-Jolly however argued, “A baseline is something you collect before you attempt to do a project or an action that alters the conditions, such that if you were to come later, you would then be able to know how the conditions have changed… You can’t be continuously collecting a baseline when there are already activities going on offshore that are affecting those conditions.”
Monday November 22, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Doubts about a romantic or business partnership could have an energizing effect on you today. You're determined to resolve any problems or disagreements you may have with your partner. TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Uncertainty about your financial future might have you developing some sort of savings or investment plan to give you more security. You'll probably find the help you need.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Although you occasionally want to spend a whole day alone, this isn't the time. You have a lot of specific goals in mind that you want to take care of today. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Unknown skills or talents that you didn't know you had might set you on a course that leads to increased income, if you're willing to put in some hard work.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) A joint endeavor with a partner could lead to imaginative and creative opportunities. You feel energized and ready to take on just about anything.
SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) An unwitting communication from a friend could set you off on a path that changes your life. This could involve business opportunities, or you could discover a new interest or group you'd like to join.
CANCER (June 21–July 22) Today, you might have an irresistible impulse to put your home in order. You want to give it a thorough cleaning and decorating.
CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Whatever difficulties may have arisen over the past few days, you have the power to overcome them, gain new strength, and move on.
LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) A specific task or goal could have you making a lot of calls, writing a lot of letters, or doing a lot of running around in the car. You're feeling especially determined. You'll succeed at this.
AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Your association with a group could enable your spiritual progress today. Past emotional issues could come up, but don't despair. Look at it as an opportunity to release old traumas that have limited you.
VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) If you've been thinking about working out of your home, this is the time to put your plans into action. Anything regarding money or the home could succeed now.
PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Money or other resources could be made available to you today so you can increase your career prospects or advance in your occupation.
Monday November 22, 2021
Kaieteur News
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Windies’ Solozano taken to hospital as Sri Lanka take upper hand
A
FP - Sri Lanka skipper Dimuth Karunaratne slammed an unbeaten hundred to give his team the upper hand in yesterday’s opening Test against the West Indies, whose debutant Jeremy Solozano was taken to hospital after being hit on the helmet while fielding. Bad light forced an early end to the day’s play in Galle with two overs remaining and the hosts finishing on 267-3. Karunaratne batted through the day after winning the toss on a slow surface, making a 139-run stand for the first wicket with Pathum Nissanka. Part-time spinner Roston Chase dismissed Oshada Fernando and Angelo Mathews for three each in quick succession to bring the West Indies back into the game. But Sri Lanka wrestled back the initiative as Karunaratne shared a 97-run partnership with Dhananjaya de Silva for the fourth wicket.
Dimuth Karunaratne scored hundreds in consecutive Tests. (Associated Press)
This was Karunaratne’s 13th Test century and fourth this year. He has bagged more than 750 runs in 2021, including a career-best 244 against Bangladesh, despite only playing 10 innings. West Indies had a scare when Karunaratne attempted a full-blooded pull shot off the bowling of Chase and the ball crashed onto the helmet grill of Solozano, who was fielding at short leg.
Medical staff attended to him on the ground before he was taken on a stretcher to a waiting ambulance. He underwent scans at a hospital in Colombo, and will be kept overnight for observation, the West Indies said in a media release. Shannon Gabriel provided the breakthrough for the tourists when he had Nissanka — who was chasing a full delivery wide
outside the off-stump — caught by Rahkeem Cornwall at first slip for 56. But they squandered an opportunity to dismiss Karunaratne on 14, when Cornwall found the outside
edge of the bat but Jermaine Blackwood at slip was unable to hold on as he attempted a one-handed grab. W e s t I n d i e s unsuccessfully reviewed after Karunaratne played an uncharacteristic reverse sweep off the left-arm orthodox spin of Jomel Warrican and the ball struck his front pad. Te l e v i s i o n r e p l a y s showed the impact was outside off-stump. The tourists lost their second review over a caughtbehind appeal against Nissanka off the bowling of Chase. They were denied a second wicket in the afternoon session when Warrican failed to take a return catch with Fernando on three. But the reprieve was brief, with Fernando well
caught by Nkrumah Bonner at short leg to give Chase his first wicket. Mathews’ half-an-hour stay at the crease was unconvincing and West Indies kept attacking with tight field settings. In a bid to break the shackles, Mathews took on Chase attempting to clear the boundary but found the lone fielder Jason Holder at midwicket. West Indies took the second new ball soon after 80 overs but could not break the Karunaratne–de Silva partnership. The tourists had surprised fans by leaving out Kemar Roach, their most experienced player and the eighth-highest Test wicket taker. Scores: Sri Lanka 267 for 3 (Karunaratne 132*, de Silva 56*, Nisaanka 56) vs West Indies.
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Monday November 22, 2021
Lewis Hamilton closes on Rockaway Legends assists families on the ECD Max Verstappen in title RACE with Qatar Grand Prix win R
o c k a w a y Legends cricket t e a m h a s rendered assistance to a number of families on the East Coast of Demerara. Owner of the team Hafeez Ali, who is also the CEO of Rockaway Group of Companies, recently presented hampers to the families. Ali said this is one way of giving back to the society and he is happy to be able to undertake this gesture. Ali would have also assisted several cricket clubs and young cricketers in an effort to assist in the growth of the game.
Lewis Hamilton inched closer to the Formula One championship lead with a dominating victory.
CEO of Rockaway Group Hafeez Ali presents hampers to the families.
Peng Shuai: Chinese tennis star tells Olympic officials she is safe BBC Sport - Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai said she was safe and well in a video call yesterday, the International Olympic Committee says. In a statement, the IOC said its President Thomas Bach had spoken to Ms Peng for 30 minutes. “[She] was doing fine, which was our main concern,” the statement read. M s P e n g , 3 5 , disappeared from the public eye for almost three weeks after she made sexual assault allegations against a senior Chinese minister. Her absence triggered widespread concern, with international sports stars and governments calling on China to provide proof that she was safe. “At the beginning of the 30-minute call, Peng Shuai thanked the IOC for its concern about her wellbeing,” the statement from the organisation said. “She explained that she is safe and well, living at her home in Beijing, but would like to have her privacy respected at this time,” it added.
“She prefers to spend her time with friends and family r i g h t n o w, ” i t s a i d . “Nevertheless, she will continue to be involved in tennis.” The IOC statement also included an image of the video call taking place, with Ms Peng seen smiling to the camera. The outcry over the tennis star ’s apparent disappearance from the public eye prompted Chinese state media to release a series of photographs and videos that appeared to show all was well. Earlier on Sunday, a state media journalist posted a video clip on Twitter showing Ms Peng smiling while standing with officials at a tennis tournament in Beijing. Reuters news agency reported that the event organisers also published photos of the player on the event’s official WeChat page. But a spokesperson from t h e Wo m e n ’s Te n n i s Association (WTA) told Reuters the videos were
IOC President Thomas Bach spoke to Ms Peng for 30 minutes yesterday. (IOC/Greg Martin)
“insufficient” evidence of her safety and did not address its concerns about Ms Peng. And later on Sunday, the WTA said in a fresh statement that the recent videos “don’t alleviate or address the WTA’s concern about her wellbeing and ability to communicate without censorship or coercion”. “This video does not change our call for a full, fair and transparent investigation, without censorship, into her allegation of sexual assault, which is the issue that gave rise to our initial concern,” it said. Ms Peng - a former number one-ranked tennis doubles player - posted an allegation about former Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli on Chinese social media site Weibo in early November. She alleged she was forced into sexual relations with Mr Zhang, in a post that was taken down minutes later. It was the first time such a claim has been made against one of China’s senior political leaders.
B
BC Sport - Lewis Hamilton took a comfortable win in the Qatar Grand Prix to close the gap to Max Verstappen in their fight for the drivers’ world championship. Verstappen fought his way to second after a fiveplace grid penalty and took the point for fastest lap. The win cuts the deficit to Verstappen to eight points with two races to go in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi next month. A l p i n e ’s F e r n a n d o Alonso took a superb third, his first podium since the 2014 Hungarian Grand Prix. Spaniard Alonso, 40, had been trying to hold off a late charge from Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, but a late virtual safety car put the place beyond doubt. Earlier, Perez had been poised for a close fight for third with the second Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas until the Finn suffered a puncture just after half distance. And three further punctures created extra
tension in the closing laps. How did Hamilton win? After another weekend of controversy and ill temper between the two titlecontending teams, it was one of Hamilton’s easiest wins of the season, and the seventime champion appeared to have the pace to have triumphed whether Ve r s t a p p e n h a d b e e n penalised or not. The Dutchman was found to have not seen a double waved yellow flag at the end of qualifying, and although Red Bull pleaded mitigating factors - that the cockpit and trackside lightwarning system had been turned off - officials said they had no choice but to punish him. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner was even given an official warning by race stewards for claiming a “rogue marshal” had confused matters. He later apologised. The penalty dropped Verstappen to seventh on the grid, but he was fourth by the end of the first lap and second after five.
Verstappen made up several places on the first lap. (Getty Images)
By that point, the Red Bull was only 3.7 seconds behind Hamilton but the Mercedes driver continued to stretch ahead until his lead was 8.2secs by the time Verstappen made his first pit stop on lap 17. The Briton followed him in the next time around to secure his position and the pattern of the race was set. They stopped a lap apart again on laps 41 and 42 and the only matter still in dispute was the point for fastest lap. Verstappen already had it before making a late pit stop for soft tyres to make absolutely sure. What happens next? A welcome break after three race weekends in a row, before a double-header climax - a new circuit in Saudi Arabia and then a much-changed Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi. Hamilton and Mercedes look strong, but Verstappen has the points gap. A decider at the final race would be the popular outcome and it looks to be heading that way.
Monday November 22, 2021
Kaieteur News
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Coach Dias says players have worked hard in a short time Squash players going to PanAm for experience & exposure By Sean Devers Eighteen-year-old Shomari Wilshire will lead a three-member national junior Boys Squash team to the first ever U-23 Pan American Games in Cali, Colombia from November 25 to December 5. Seventeen-year-old Samuel Ince and baby of the team 15-year-old Micheal Alphonso are the other two members of team Guyana and along with Shomari, who returned from Connecticut, USA on Saturday, are expected to depart Guyana from the GOA headquarters at Lilliendaal for the airport in the wee hours of tomorrow morning. Former Southern Caribbean Squash Champion, Garfield Wilshire, will travel with the team as Coach. Shomari joined the team from the USA where he is attending school and attended yesterday’s final training session at the Georgetown Club, where the emphasis was on the ‘Doubles’ preparations. GSA’s Executive and National Assistant Coach Deje Dias, Shomari, Samuel and Micheal spoke about preparations for the PanAm Games on the last ‘Sean D e v e r s S p o r t s Wa t c h ’ programme on Kaieteur Radio. Dias, who along with National Coach Carl Ince is working with the Boys, informed that the training camp was held at the Georgetown club in the City and on Wednesdays and Saturdays at the Farm on the Linden Highway of Coach Ince. “I had to take my hat off to these boys because Covid happened and everyone was in their house and when the GSA came forward with this is the squad we are trying to go forward with and this the training system we will go with… these boys hit the ground running. We had a schedule made just after this meeting which took place in July and it was not a lot of time but these boys put in the effort from Jump. They have improved a lot being in mind that they have not been playing squash due to the pandemic. Micheal and Samuel are training in town and going up to the Farm on the Highway, while Shomari is training overseas,” informed Dias. According Dias, the
players are engaged in fitness sessions with a physical trainer on Mondays, while on Wednesdays and weekends the Boys travel to the Highway for sessions with coach Ince. “These boys have really improved in a short space of time and have really put in the work, especially in these crazy pandemic times with school going on and getting accustomed to on-line studies and assignments. They have managed to dedicate a good chunk of their time to squash and it’s bearing fruit…as they say the proof is in the pudding. Their improvement in all areas have been fantastic and Coach (Ince) says they are peaking at the right time. And hats off to Coach…he was thrown a weird one this time. He knows all these kids intimately but bringing them back and getting them prepared for not just a Caribbean tournament but a Pan American tournament in such a short time was a tough ask. Personally I am impressed with how much they have improved in the short time,” Dias posited. Samuel is the grandson of Coach Ince and disclosed that the pandemic had an impact on all athletes. “During the Covid I was in Town and went up the Highway on weekends. My grand dad would do solo sessions with me but I wasn’t playing properly since I had not been playing until the squad was selected. Due to it being an under23 Tournament, expectations of Medals are not very high. It will be mostly just exposure for us because of the chances we have missed due to the Pandemic. This is an opportunity to go and play against better players and learn from them,” said Samuel who has acquired sponsorship to play in USA open after PanAm. Samuel, who wants to become a professional Squash player, intends to explore the possibility of playing in England where he was born. Micheal said during Covid only Samuel had the opportunity to train at Coach Ince’s facility on the Highway. “I had to stay indoors because the Courts were not opened due to Covid. So only recently I started back training with the squad in the official training sessions. (Continued on page 20)
Samuel Ince
Michael Alphonso
Deje Dais
Shomari Wilshire