Kaieteur News

Both Govt.’s misused 'sanctity of contract' doctrine to avoid acting in nation's best interest

ByKianaWilburg

Though the 2016 Stabroek Block P r o d u c t i o n

Sharing Agreement (PSA) has been heavily criticized forhavingagrossnumberof fiscalweaknesses,thePPP/C administration has maintained that no renegotiationwilltakeplace.

The party's top officials such as Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo have categoricallystatedthatthey abide by the sanctity of contract doctrine. This principle states that the companies involved as well astheStatewillupholdtheir obligationsunderthedeal.

A New York based lawyer, Dr Vivian Williams has since challenged this standingbytheGovernment, ashebelievesthereareclear grounds for which that

- NY Lawyer

principle can be set aside or overruled.

In an invited comment, Dr Williamssaidsuccessive administrationshave,fortoo long, invoked the common law doctrine of sanctity of contract to evade calls for renegotiationoftheStabroek BlockPSA.

Hesaid,“Whatisplaying outisthemisapplicationofa legaldoctrinetoavoidacting in the nation's best interest. Because the sanctity of contract doctrine does not apply to the consensual process of contract renegotiation, common senseshouldhaveshutdown that argument before it was evenmade.”

The lawyer added, “Simply put, sanctity of contract means, an

a

greement made freely, knowingly, and fairly by competent parties, must be kept. It operates as a fundamental principle of contract law, reflected in principlessuchaspactasunt servanda, well unknown to state actors Therefore, despitesovereignty,astateis liable if it unilaterally breachesanagreement.”

However, Dr Williams contended that the renegotiationofacontractis acommonpracticethatdoes not collide with the sanctity ofcontractdoctrine.Hesaid it involves the revisiting of problematic terms of an agreement by parties who may or may not reach agreement on a revision. Therefore, Dr Williams

NewYork based lawyer, Dr. Vivian Williams

argued that sanctity of contractandrenegotiationof contract are parallel processes that compliment ratherthanoffendeachother Furthermore, the lawyer stated that there has been an escalationofgraveerrorsby

the current and previous governments when it comes to the 2016 deal Dr Williams said this takes the form of escalating a commitment to bad decisions because one is already vested. “…In this case, Guyana's escalation of error involves vesting itself in the defense of what it acknowledgesisabaddeal,” thelawyerstated.

Expounding further, the lawyer outlined how key errors have escalated over the years. The first he said occurred in June 1999 when the government signed a clumsy exploration agreement. That agreement granted a petroleum exploration licence to Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) that violated the country's Natural Resources Law on thenumberofblocksthatcan

be awarded to a company Thecompanywasgiven600 blocks when only 60 are allowedbylaw

When that error came to lightafteroilwasdiscovered in commercial quantities in 2015,Dr Williamssaidthe

“Simply put, sanctity of contract means, an agreement made freely, knowingly, and fairly by competentparties, must be kept”

Don’t do business with crooked companies

Whatnonsenseisthis? Whatisstirringintheheadsof those controlling Chinese companies that they could harbourtheideathattheycouldcomeupwithanycock-andbullcover(‘Chinesefirmsbiddingforgas-to-energyproject seek to distance themselves from shady past of affiliated companies’-KNSeptember30)togetanotherfastoneover Guyanese and their leaders? The Guyana Government shouldnotgiveanysuchdefenses(‘seekingtodistance’)a hearing, and be rid of these people. Companies that cheat are bad for Guyana, and we already have enough of them. Forthebiggestprojecttodate,onlythosecorporateentities with a clean track record of doing the right things should show their faces here, and be given consideration for their bids. ThosethreeChineseshouldbetoldtogetlost,theirbid documentsshoveledintothegarbagebin.

TheWalesgas-to-energyprojectisalreadyriddledwith disputesandquarrels,sothereisneithertimenorplace,for matterstobemadeworsebythepresenceofcompanieslike these,betheyChineseorfromanyothercountry

We take note that it was not the parent companies that weretarredwiththedreadedmarkofblacklisted. Thatsaid, westillputforwardwhatreasonablepeoplewouldsupport. Itisthatthefailuresofsubsidiariespointahardfingeralsoat those that own them or exercise significant control over them. In the simplest wording, shifting blacklisting to be neatly limited to any one of the subsidiaries only is an exercise in dodging and disowning. The result in this instanceisthatitdoesnothelp,doesnotmakethecaseofthe parent companies any more wholesome. In fact, we make the point that the distancing of the parent companies from thefraudsoftheirsubsidiariesonlyservestomakematters worse. Itwouldhavebeenbettertoownuptoseriouserror, andtakeitonthechin. LikeformerUnitedStatesPresident, HarryTruman,oncefamouslysaid:“thebuckstopshere.”

Some things cannot be compartmentalised, which is what these Chinese parent companies are struggling to do with their subsidiaries. The freedom to offer bribes to officials is not assumed by company underlings on their own, but by corporate chiefs with great decision-making power Theyknowthatthisisthewaytomovehumanand proceduralobjectsoutoftheway,andgetthemtoseebidsa certain way That is, move them along and make things happen,likeprojectawards. Further,falsifyingdocuments and fraudulent practices do not spring up overnight in the minds of company officers, but are a product of the clever, likelycriminal,fashioninwhichbusinessisconducted,and succeeds.

Some other things also must be said most frankly. Companiesfromsomecountriesarewellknownforpushing the envelope all the way into the deep, dark side of wrongdoing,bywayoftricksanddeceits. Inaddition,some countrieshavenotpaidmuchattentionor,tobemorecandid, have given short thrift, to cultivating a culture of clean practices. Cleanfunds,cleanbooks,cleanvisions,andthe clean practices that flow almost reflexively from such foundationsarenotahighpriority

Orassomemayinsist,notapriorityatall. Thisiswhere therecordcancomebacktohauntandundermine,withpast actions(onlytheonesfoundout)acompany’sworstwitness andanightmarishenemy

WeatthispaperthinkthatonlyChinesecompanieswith historiesthatarespotlessshouldbeallowedtoparticipatein thebiddingforanypartoftheWalesGTEproject,meaning, the Natural Gas Liquids Plant. Though Guyana has had a worrying linkage with Chinese companies, and unsavoury ones from elsewhere, we still would not paint all of them withthesamebrush. Thisisonlyfairandproper,andthatis what we, as Guyanese, insist upon with this costly and controversyshroudedWalesGTEproject. Itisthatwe,too, mustgetwhatisfairandproperinourprojects. Itbeginsand ends with companies that are clean and aboveboard, from theiruppermosttier(parentcompany)tothoseloweronthe organisationalchart(subsidiaries).

A gas pipeline in the ocean is a tempting invitation for mischief from rogue states

DEAREDITOR,

This critical box is installed your house to be easily the majority of electricity to in your house, not on your tampered with. Building a Guyanese homes and

The circuit breaker box street. You wouldn’t want gaspipelineinthevicinityof businesses However, acontrolstheelectricalenergy criminals to easily disable contested waters with rogue state can puncture thein your house. Electronic thelightsandalarmsinyour Venezuela is creating a gas pipeline in the oceandevices in your house housebydestroyingacircuit single point of failure that which would bring Guyanarangingfrommicrowavesto breakerboxinstalledonyour weakens the energy security toitsknees. Energysecuritytelevisionswouldbereduced street. Ingeneral,youwould of Guyana The main is like oxygen, you realiseto ornaments if the circuit notwantanyequipmentthat purpose given for building t h e m a g n i t u d e o fbreaker box malfunctions. isasinglepointoffailurefor thisgaspipelineistosupply (Continuedonpage5)

Kaieteur M@ilbox Kaieteur M@ilbox

A gas pipeline in the ocean is a tempting invitation for...

Frompage4 shore project, estimated to A gas pipeline in the its importance when you cost us at least US$900 ocean is a tempting don’thaveit.Gaspipelines million, is being touted invitationformischieffrom running in the ocean to over cheaper and longer r

I

g

Europe are now being lasting renewable irresponsible to create a sabotaged by rogue states. alternatives as the primary new single point of failure These punctured gas sourceofelectricity that makes it easier for pipelines are releasing If the gas pipeline is Venezuela to exploit the methane, at least 80 times punctured in the first few energy security of Guyana. more potent than carbon years of operation, how Itisevenmoreabsurdwhen dioxide, into the longwillittaketofixitand one considers the atmosphere. howlongwillGuyanesebe economically viable Many Europeans are in the dark? Whom would renewable alternatives that worried about freezing in we hold accountable? It willoutlastagaspipeline. the winter without gas to will be hard to prove who Darshanand Khusial keep them warm We did it in the middle of the on behalf of OGGN, should learn from the ocean. What about if it www.oggn.org mistakesofothersnotmake keeps getting punctured themourselves. every time it is fixed?

We have reasonable Would it make economic energy alternatives sensetokeeppayingforthe compared to a single point repairs? offailuregaspipeline.One Europeisworriedabout ofthebestalternativesisto possible sabotage of the use solar power Unlike newlymintedBalticPipe,a Europe and NorthAmerica gas pipeline running in the which have large solar ocean from Norway to deployments, we sit near Central Europe. This gas the equator — the sweet pipeline was supposed to spotforsolar signal Europe’s march

Solar power can be t o w a r d s e n e r g y deployedinadecentralised independencefromRussia. fashion where there is no Now, after the recent singlepointoffailure. punctures of the Nord

This ensures better Stream pipelines, the energy security because it Europeans are worried that will be hard to take down theBalticPipemaybecome the entire system quickly an ornament sitting on the Whereas building a gas oceanfloor pipeline in the vicinity of Thenumberonegoalof disputed waters with the Government is to Venezuela is promoting protectitspeople.Building temptationformischief. an offshore gas pipeline to

The Government has supply the bulk of stated we need to pump as electricity seems more in much oil as quickly as the interest of lining the possible because the fossil pockets of executives at fueleraiscomingtoanend foreign companies instead soon. Hence, it seems of focusing on what is best illogical that the gas-to- fortheGuyanesepeople.

Where Are Your Heroes Caribbean?

DEAREDITOR, us walk with our heads held name, anthem and flag, the Thetalentedandbrilliant high, however I cannot extraction of the wealth and Tradewinds Band made blame the Tradewinds for ownership of wealth songs so melodious and mentioning heroes other generating entities is still meaningful I could listen to than cricketers as a song is controlled by the old and them all day, the one aboutfourminslong. new foreign colonizers and however that stands out for Whatishappeninginthe mostofthelocalsstilllivein me is “Where Are Your Caribbean, particularly squalor poverty There are Heroes Caribbean?”, asking Guyana clearly shows people of Caribbean decent why the great cricketers of independence was just whosaytheywerebetteroff the WI were not given the changing the countries (Continuedonpage6) heroic respect they so deserve. Withallduerespect totheTradewindsmyheroes diddifferentstrugglesforthe Caribbean to uplift the people, I also commend the great cricketers for making

Kaieteur M@ilbox Kaieteur M@ilbox

Where Are Your Heroes Caribbean...Pipeline considerations

DEAREDITOR, tohelpsetthecurrentmarket Caribbeanontheotherhand to the aging of the pipeline

The land purchase offer price The additional hasawidepricerangedueto and the increasing need for bythecurrentadministration improvements that have the favorable climate and maintenance.Wemustnever is competitive and shows a been mentioned should also location. I have seen prices losesightofthefactthatour significant improvement be considered in the net listed from $5000 US per landisvaluableandwemust from the past if the land present value of the acre to $155,000 US per p r o t e c t i t f r o m beingpurchasedislandused unproductive base price of acre. environmental damage. An for farming Given the theland. Thismakesitdifficultto alternative to the sale of the prevailing local market This appears to be what naildownanumber Another land may be a mix of prices and pricing in other has been considered in the consideration is that there is purchase, replacement and markets, the Government’s calculation For example, a blast / incineration zone lease. Some land owners offer should not be easily the average cost of thatalsomustbeconsidered have also pushed for a dismissed However, the agriculturallandintheUSis when determining the royalty payment based on recentconcernsexpressedin around $13,000 US per acre amount of land that must be the value of the product thenewsiswithsomemerit. attheupperendoftherange. secured for the pipeline. In being moved via the Thevalueofthelandshould Thislandisnotasproductive the US some land owners pipeline This is usually also be based on the net andasversatileaslandinthe receive payment for each above the fair market value present value of the cash Caribbean, but the

foot of pipe going through ofthelandandtheargument flows. The discounted cash infrastr

ct

e and their land and in one for this also considers the flow model is not new and surrounding factors make it examplethatrangehasbeen resulting unattractiveness of shouldbeutilisedinthiscase an attractive price The from $5 US to $50 US per t h e a r e a d u e t o foot. environmental degradation

There are also health that comes from having a hazards and safety risks to pipeline. consider, which will restrict When considering all of the use of the land in the thesefactors,thebottomline surrounding area These isthatthegas risks increase over time due (Continuedonpage9)

Frompage5 musicians but these are heroes of the Caribbean andduring colonial rule, this songs plus any othermentalityissupportedbythe memorabiliashouldbemadelocal incompetent and honouringthem.corrupt Parliamentarians across the Caribbean who Today the heroes took over good systems and depicted in the media of infrastructure and ran them Caribbean decent are those d o w n d u e t o who have ascended to high mismanagement,corruption, offices abroad, medal and incompetence Some winning athletes, billboard peoplewerebetteroffduring makingmusicians,cricketers colonial rule since the a n d e l e c t e d colonists made investments parliamentarians, all who in them to make them more proudly with their hand productive as the colonists across their chests stand made more profits from this under banners showing “ investment in their workers, Stand Against Injustice” the local leaders didn’t do amongothers,yetnoneofthis investment as they them use their position of pocketed the money influence to speak out onresultinginadecline. the decimation of

The people who believe f a r m l a n d a n d they were better off under displacement of farmers colonization have a right to by foreign bauxitetheir belief but they should companiesinJamaica,theknow the betterment they plundering of gold fields inenjoyed is not because the Haiti by foreign countriescolonists were nice people, who then turn around andbutbecauseofthestruggleof call Haiti an s/hole country,the slave rebels, the unions, the takeover of prime beachthe civil rights activists and properties all across theall who protested for region by foreigners and thebetterment for the locals, foreign exploitation ofsome lost their lives, were anything valuable inimprisoned, were beaten Guyana.among the great penalties they paid, no disrespect for The afore mentioned the Tradewinds and other people are excellent achievers who are talented, made the investment and sacrifice, overcame adversity and hurdles to be where they are, I cannot achieve as them so I will gladly pay to see them perform, however at the end ofthedaytheyarenotheroes but great achievers, heroes would speak out for true justiceevenifitcausesthem their positions and careers like Mohammed Ali, the elected parliamentarians who attend international events don’t even bring up troubling issues in the Caribbeancausedbyforeign exploitation, they just allow themselves to be lectured by superior event speakers and clock watch for when it’s timeforthebuffet,Guyana’s current VP while in Opposition made a fiery accusation of the Govt selling out Guyana’s patrimony on the oil contract, now he’s in charge andapparentlysingingLong LiveExxonMobil.

So the Tradewinds were right all along with the song “Where Are Your Heroes Caribbean?”,asIcan’tthink ofanyalivetoday.

R.David

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Don’t sit back in silence!

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If we take some time out of our busy schedule to observe what is happening around us - in our homes, communities, country and even the world at large - the list of wrongs could far outnumber the few things that may be going right.

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While we might be tempted to get frustrated, it is important to remember that each day we have the power to make choices that can correct many situations.

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It’s about time that each of us endeavour to be the change we wish to see, rather than sit back in silence, essentially consenting to the undesirable.

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Govt. slashes gasoline, diesel prices at GUYOIL fuel pumps

CustomersoftheGuyana Excise Tax rate on both Oil Company Limited gasoline and diesel from 10 (GUYOIL) willbenefitfrom percentto0percentinMarch a reduction in gasoline and ofthisyear diesel prices, a development It would be recalled that, that was announced on previously, during the Saturday, via a Press Budget 2022 presentation, Release, by Senior Minister the Government lowered the with Responsibility for Excise Tax on both gasoline Finance,Dr AshniSingh. anddieselfrom20percentto According to the release, 10 percent so as to minimise at GUYOIL the gasoline theimpactofrisingglobaloil pricehasbeenreducedby20 prices,thereleaseadded. percentfrom$269perlitreto “The Government has $215 per litre and diesel been progressive(ly) pricehasbeenreducedby15 lowering the Excise Tax rate percentfrom$265perlitreto on both gasoline and diesel, $225perlitre.Thesechanges from50percentto35percent will take effect from today, inFebruary2021,35percent October2,2022. to 20 percent in October

During the first half of 2021, in keeping with 2022, global oil prices government policy to adjust surgedmorethan50percent, the taxes on fuel, to mitigate increasing from US$77 per the impact of rising fuel barrel at the end of prices on the world market,” December 2021 to US$120 itadded.

in June of this year; having Since resuming office in risen as high as US$137 per August 2020, the PPP/C barrel, primarily as a result G o v e r n m e n t h a s of the Russian invasion of implemented a suite of Ukraine. The impact of the measures to ease cost of dramatic increases in oil living pressures and to prices, according to the improve disposable release, were significant and incomes, in an ongoing given the interconnected effort to address these issues nature of the global head-on and to mitigate the economy, translated into effects of rising prices higher cost of landing fuel in globally on all Guyanese Guyana. citizens. The reduction in

In order to mitigate the excise taxes, the release impact of rising global fuel underscored, is one such p

productive sectors to which i

within the wide

fuel is a key input, the Government since assuming Government lowered the office.

An injunction should be sought to stop the auction of the oil blocks

There should be a Assemblyandbesubjecttoa aremet.Thesepreconditions usually have extensive But there is also a need meetingofallthegroupsand debate. It would amount to must include national responsibilities relating to for an alliance to come individuals opposed to the trampling on national consensus on a model PSA, the exploration production together for the long-term however small, and have aoil deal. An alliance should sovereignty if on such an renegotiation of the existing

objective which is the stake in the process. But

importantissue,theNational PSAandthestrengtheningof petroleum resources in renegotiation of the existing there also needs to be non-objectives, one long term Assembly is not allowed to the institutional framework Guyana To not have a PSA. There are individuals partisanmassmobilisation.andoneshort-term. debatethemodelPSA. formanagingthesector Commission in place would and groups who have been

The recent IMF Staff

Many years ago, thereThe short-term objective No auction should take

condemnationoftheoildeal co

was a food crisis in theshould be to prevent the place without intensive, AppraisalReportonGuyana

R

impending auctions of oil widespread and extended is silent on the need for arbitrarily and with caprice. andcallingforrenegotiation. Roopnarine did a walk fromblocks. Legal advice should consultations on the model s

e

Theplannedauctionsshould But individuals and groups Corriverton to Charity tobe sought and legal action PSA. Only a certain kind of institutional framework for not be permitted to take bythemselvesarenothaving highlighttheproblem.Sometaken to prevent the investor is likely to want to the management of the oil place in the absence of a the desired effect of personsjoinedthewalkasitgovernment from moving be part of an auction in a and gas sector The report PetroleumCommission. p r e s s u r i n g i n t o passedthroughtheirvillage.forwardwiththeauction. country where there is no had a stronger focus on Guyanese are yet renegotiation. That is the sort of peacefulThe Government should national consensus on the developing capacity for the unawareofthefulldetailsof These individuals and act which is needed tonot be moving forward with model PSA. Guyana does spendingoftheoilrevenues. theallocationoftheKaieteur groups are not politicians galvanize public supportany auction. It has not made not need these kinds of All, however, is not well and Canje Blocks. There and political parties; their againsttheoildeal.publicthemodelProduction investors. with the institutional have been calls in this capacity for mobilising Unless the PPP/CSharing Agreement (PSA) The developer of the frameworkintheoilandgas columnforaCommissionof public support is limited. realises that the public,whichitsaysitwasworking Amaila Falls Hydroelectric sector There should be a Inquiryintotheallocationof They are enfeebled and including its supporters, areontoguidefuturedealswith Projectwalkedbecausethey modern Petroleum Bill that these blocks but these calls limitedintermsofwhatthey opposed to the oil deal andoil companies Whenever concerned that there was no is tabled and a proper have been ignored on candobythemselves. demandrenegotiation,itwillthis model contract is made political consensus on the Petroleum Commission account of the PPP/C not They need to forge a continuetodoitsownthing.public,ithastobesubjectto project Given the slim mustbeinplace. wishing to open itself to national non partisan And it will do so to theintense, widespread and majority which the PPP/C The role of the latter is scrutiny alliancedevotedexclusively detrimentofthecountryandextendedconsultations.This Governmentthenheld,there important in the context of The short-term goal, of to oil and gas. A legal fund thepeople.meansthereshouldbestrong was high political risk the impending plans of the anallianceofallindividuals needs to be established to

(The views expressed indiscussions on the issue. involvedinundertakingsuch Government to move ahead andgroupsopposedtotheoil finance legal challenges to this article are those of theThese consultations should aprojectwithoutthesupport with an auction It is deal,shouldbetopreventthe the oil agreement and the author and do nottake place right across the oftheOpposition. inconceivablethatthePPP/C auction.TheCourtshouldbe plans of the government. necessarily reflect thecountry and the public must TheOppositionpartiesin Government would be approached for an Thiswouldgivethepublica opinionsofthisnewspaper.)be given the latitude of time Guyana need to signal very moving ahead with an injunction. chance to contribute, tolistentoallsides. earlythattheywillnotabide auction without a proper

The model PSAmust be by the terms of any auction Petroleum Commission in laid before the National unless certain preconditions place. Such Commissions

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Pipeline considerations...

Frompage6

TheMinistryofFinanceshouldincludethese pipelineprojectisaveryexpensiveandrisky considerations in the financial modelling of undertaking. the project and select the approach that Asafer alternative would be to transport the provides the best long term net earnings gasviaaseavessel,whichwillalsoincrease potential. The LNG export market is very theflexibilityofthegasprojectespeciallyif attractiveandtheLNGmarketgrowthwhich more gas is discovered at another well not iscurrentlycloseto5%wasat13%beforethe closetothecurrentsource. pandemic.

Inaddition,itwillgiveusthecapability Bestregards, to ship liquefied natural gas (LNG) to high Mr JamilChanglee demand markets in Europe and Asia as is Chairman currently being done by top LNG export TheCooperative countriessuchasQatar,AustraliaandtheUS. RepublicansofGuyana

Dem boys seh...

Deh gat to gat fish before yuh go fishing

Dem shoulda had a fishing expedition somebodyallegedatdesystemfail? fuh de CPL Carnival. Guyana gat a lot ah Beforeyuhgetanyreview,acasegotfuh peoplewholikefishing. mek out about de need fuh de review. Suh

De Opposition good at fishing. De waydecasedeh?Anyallegationmekabout Caricomteamwahcomeinfuhoverlookde de system? Wat is de grounds fuh elections talk how de Opposition was on complaint? fishing expedition looking fuh see wah Or is another fishing expedition fuh try gravelling dem gan dig up fuh use in wan fuh see wat small catch can support certain election petition. Now it look as if a fishing narratives? If yuh want fish things gat to be expedition tekkin place in GECOM fishy If yuh can’t establish fishiness, dem Somebodywantwaninternalreviewintode yuhnahgatgroundsfuhfish. systems wah use during de elections. But Wan investigation also gat to have wan demboysknowdatanyreviewgattohavea objective. Suh wat is de objective? Fuh basisandwanobjective. improve de system or is it about ketching

Yuh don’t jump up and call fuh review somesmallfishfuhbiggamepetition?Dem unlessyuhgatsomereasonorcause.Suhwat Boysjustasking! is de reason and wat is de cause? Did Talkhalf,leffhalf.

None-White fools who vote for non-White politicians

I have voted for

fBarackObamahad Amerindian presidential That world is dead. It contestants vying to be supporters is the run against Bernie candidate–LenoxShuman. died at the beginning of the PrimeMinisterwereIndians former Governor of Sanders, I would The connection with 21st century There is no andAfricans. South Carolina who is

BlackandIndianpoliticians longeraconnectionbetween Rishi Sunak in the East Indian and who Sanders. If Kamala Harris and conservatism is non White British

different stages of the may run for the

White establishment areseeks the Democrats’ something Blacks and politicians and the Labour contest always came out on presidency in the next secret self haters andnomination for the

Indians around the world Party and Black politicians top winning the votes of election. Her name is betrayers and not willing topresidential candidacy and grew up with the past 80 and the Republican Party in White parliamentarians and Nimrata Randhawa Halley. identify with their race andshe is opposed by Elizabeth years and see as a the US. In other words, brought a close second to When one thinks of nonculture.Warren. I would vote for contradiction. To see a non- colour and conservative Ms. Truss in the final round White politicians being

Although I prefer Ms.Warren. White British politician in politics lost their non where the members of the moreradicalandliberalthan Huq by millions of miles toThereisnoBlacksenator theConservativePartywasa existent relationship a long ConservativePartywhichis theirWhitecounterpartsone Mr Kwarteng and though IintheUSSenatethatIthink t h o u g h t t h a t w a s timeago. 95percentWhitevoted. is fooling one’s self in the support the Labour Partyisclosertomyideologythan unimaginable. To see a When Boris Johnson PrimeMinisterTrusshas 21st century In the UK, over the Conservative PartySandersandWarren.Iwould Black American politician became Prime Minister given some of the most there are non White by trillions of miles, I thinkalways vote based on embracing the Republican some of the most important importantCabinetportfolios politicianswhoarefarmore Ms.Huqislivinginthepastconceptualisations and not Party in the 1970s we Cabinet portfolios went to tonon-WhiteConservatives. conservative, and less withherFreudianmind.race. In the Guyana 2020 thoughtwassomethingfrom Indians When Johnson In the United States, one of progressivethanmostofthe Skin colour andelections, I voted for an amovie. agreed to step down, five the die hard Trump White leaders in the Labour conservative politics noPartyandtheLiberal-Social longer are strangers thatDemocratic Party would never meet face tocommonly known as LIBface. People can choose anDEMS. ideologythathasnobearingRishi Sunak was to their pigmentation. It isaccused of being an elitist we,thenon-Whitepeopleofwith aristocratic leanings the world, who are foolswhen a video surfaced when we give our votes toduring his battle to succeed non White politiciansBoris Johnson. He said in becausetheyareofthesamethevideothathehasfriends ethnicity Black Americansfrom the rich classes, the are going to stay home ifaristocracy, the middle Kamala Harris is not theclass but not the workingpresidentialcandidate.Theyclass. want a Black woman to beWhy would any idiot president not a candidateleave White working-class thatwouldservetheneedsofpoliticians in the Labour Blackpeople.Party to vote for Sunak? If

Our thinking is outdatedyouarenon-Whiteandfrom inthisrespect.Westillhavethe working-class and in the same idiotic, backwardyour constituency Sunak is thinkingaboutWhitepeoplebeing opposed by a White beingracist.Give meWhiteliberal from the Labour Europeans, WhiteParty, who would you vote Canadians and Whitefor? If the determinant is Americansanydaytobemyrace, then your mind is colleagues, be my boss, bedefinitelyunwholesome. the police chief, over anySolastweek,theBritish Arab or South Korean orLabour Party suspended Japanese.oneofitsIndianMemberof Fareed Zakaria, a dark-Parliamentbecauseofwhat skinned Indian, said theshe said about the Minister mostviciousformsofracismof Finance (known in the toward him that he hasUK as Chancellor of the experienced in the US cameExchequer).RupaHuqsaid fromnon-Whitepeople.Itisthat Minister Kwasi time for humans to judgeKwartengwassuperficially peoplebyideasratherrace.Black.

(The views expressed inThe problem with Ms. this article are those of theHuq was with her Freudian author and do notmind She believes that necessarily reflect theBlack and Indians

politicians that join the

opinionsofthisnewspaper.)

FrederickKissoon

BothGovt.’smisused‘sanctityof...

From page 3

Williams said a troubling trend has therefore political actors now in power, used emerged. At each stage of the country’s justification to defend the error “The journeyintopetroleumproduction,hesaidan justification offered is that oil was not yet oil giant upon whom it relies, dupes it into a discovered. Of course, if you are engaging in lopsided agreement. This he said is followed exploration, you have no assurance that the by the aggrieved country defending what it exploration would lead to any discovery acceptsasabaddealandmarchesforward. However, predictive analytics and other Dr Williams said this cycle of error has factors should lead to better bargaining.” repeated itself for almost a quarter of a After the 2015 discovery of oil, he noted that century, spanning several administrations He the APNU+AFC Government at the time saiditisacyclethatmirrorstheexploitationthe signedaPSAwhichdidnotcorrecttheaward country experienced in other natural resource of the blocks. He recalled that the amended sectors,forallitslife Thelawyerisoftheview contractwaslatercondemnedaslopsidedand that the history of successive failures in unfair to the country by the political party negotiations with multinational companies is nowingovernmentandglobalexperts. not a confidence booster to the people the

The next error he said was that the PPP Government is asking to have faith in the Government inappropriately invoked the future. To the contrary, he said it undermines sanctity of contract doctrine in defense of confidence and creates disquiet. He has since what it has accepted as a lopsided contract. said it is an economic mistake if the country He said it then kicks the can down the road, continues along this line; adding that it tells promisingtodobetterinfuturecontracts. investors the authorities are willing to roll

Taking the foregoing into account, Dr overandacceptunscrupulousconduct.

Very interesting and meaningful message of the 26 letters in the alphabet

THEN,

H+A+R+D+W+O+R+K 8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98% K+N+O+W+L+E+D+G+E 11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96% L+O+V+E 12+15+22+5 = 54% L+U+C+K 12+21+3+11 = 47%

None of them makes 100%. Then what makes 100%? Is it Money? NO!

M+O+N+E+Y 13+15+14+5+25 = 72%

E+D+U+C+A+T+I+O+N 5+4+21+3+1+20+9+15+14 = 92%

Leadership? NO!

L+E+A+D+E+R+S+H+I+P 12+5+1+4+5+18+19+8+9+16 = 97%

Every problem has a solution, only if we perhaps change our ATTITUDE A+T+T+I+T+U+D+E = 1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%

= 24

= 25

= 26

It is therefore OURATTITUDE towards Life and Work that makes OUR Life 100% Successful. Amazing Mathematics Let’s change ourAttitude of doing things in life.

BLUNTNESS ON INDECENCY!

In case you haven’t heard, please be informed that as part of our continued effort to channel positive changes in our country, our publisher, Mr. Glenn Lall, has dedicated our Page Seven to be “BLUNT” about on-going indecency in our land that should matter, not only to us at this publication, but the entire nation.

expressing alarms about events to provide the much amongthedistractions. American interests being neededrelease. But again, keep your given a hard time in the local But in all the fanfare and eyes on the prize; we are still oil arena? But our Vice excitement,wemustnotlose being shortchanged by our President continues in merry sightofburningissues. government and oil old ways, signing off project Do not be carried away companieswhowantustobe SUNDAY activities.

The world would be a after project, while Guyana bytheplethoraofeventsthat satisfied with a contract for

Our moral obligation! much better place if more feedsonthecrumbsfromour seek to take us away from 1.1 billion barrels of oil

Many Politicians around TUESDAY people opt to be themselves ownoilresources. our daily struggles, but does when they have found 10 the world feast lavishly as Shadiness, corruption and rather than flood the world not remove or address the billionmore. the masses remain ignorant fraud w i t h f a r t o o m a n y

After the cricket and even tripled if they

SATURDAY hardships that we are bound The Government will of business happening in Today, we lead with a pretenders. Keep your eyes on the toreturnto. give what could be doubled theirownbackyards. shocking story that all three prize Guyanese!

Here in Guyana, the of the Chinese companies

THURSDAY No doubt we need the carnival, look forward to the renegotiate and put situation is no different. Our that submitted bids to build Foreign Cricket break. After the Covid-19 handouts of the Christmas meaningful measures in leaders refuse to publicise Guyana’s Natural Gas Fired commentators should pandemic and being season They will be place. critical information as it Power Plant at Wales, West stick to what they know lockdown for long periods, plentiful.

Accept what they offer relates to the management of Bank Demerara (WBD) best of course Guyanese are The customary arbitrary but call for more because our abundant natural have a well documented If they are going to happy to be outside and with increase in wages will be theyCANdobetter! resources. This publication, history of fraudulent venture into hard news, such on the other hand, has been activities. as the economy, oil and gas, unrelenting in its efforts to The companies which and what these mean for ‘wake up’ the citizenry on arebiddingagainsttwoother Guyanese, they owe it to such issues, particularly on entities are: China Energy their audience to equip matters related to our oil Int’l Gr Co Ltd., China themselves with the full wealth. MachineryEngineeringInc., facts.

While the Politicians andPowerChinaInt’lGroup One commentator at the remain hell-bent on keeping Ltd. CPLgameonTuesdaynight, the people in the dark, we In the case of China between the St. Lucia Kings will continue to keep people Energy Engineering Group and Jamaica Tallawahs, ‘in the know’ about these (a company that is 62.58%- decided to dabble in oil and issues. This is our moral owned by China Energy gas and came across as obligation, our God-given Engineering Group Co , pathetic, someone tied hand right! Ltd.) was blacklisted by the and foot to Exxon’s World Bank on September narratives.

MONDAY 11,2019.

The commentator spoke What PresidentAli not The financial institution of Guyana getting US$1.2B telling you had imposed a 20-month fromExxon’soiloperations.

The President says that debarment of the Chinese What this cricket

Guyanese are benefiting state owned enterprise, commentator should know, from this oil wealth, but he known at the time as China point to, and emphasize, are neglects to mention those Energy Engineering Group the tens of billions of who are making out like Bill Hunan Electric Power AmericandollarsthatExxon Gates and Mukesh Ambani, Design Institute Co., Ltd is robbing Guyana of, and and those left choking on the (CEEC-HEPDI). the many other ways in dust and the noise of all this We have warned here which the country is being oilrelatedactivity time and again about the robbed.

While the President hits secretive nature of this Stick to sports and leave high notes on the building of project and the financial and the hard news to those more hotels (almost all over), he other dangers that lie ahead. knowledgeable. overlooks that some money This revelation of the laundering is part of the mix, bidders is just a tip of the FRIDAY and dangerous for this iceberg.

ExxonMobil’s country As the President Guyanese need to open defender-in-chief p r o p a g a n d i s e s , h e their eyes and stop this

Vice President, Bharrat conveniently forgets to p r o j e c t b e f o r e t h e Jagdeo is Guyana’s best mention that the jobs he Government pulls off pitchmancoveringup,orred speaksoffromthosesectors, another scam on the herring distracting from, and others, are of the bottom Guyanesepeople. Exxon’soilpredations. feeding level, and represent Lookatwhathasbecome the new servant class in WEDNESDAY of the Environmental Guyana. Too many Pretenders! Protection Agency (EPA)

Moreover, the building Each human being is and one has to go no farther. crazeinthehospitalitysector uniquely designed- thumb Guyana’s Vice President has isnothingbutthebeginnings print,eyesandall. transformed into a walking, of separating the hordes of To complement our b r e a t h i n g , 2 4 h o u r incoming foreigners from respective personalities, we commercial for Exxon’s the dirty, smelly, sickly mass have talent – talent which draining Guyana’s riches ofnatives. once mastered can help us to andinterests.

The only Guyanese to be reachthepinnacleofwhowe H i s p o s i t i o n i s seen around outsiders would aremeanttobe. compressed into a phrase be those shining their shoes However, this is near that he favours heavily: andpolishingtheircardoors, impossible for some since investors must get a return among similar menial there are those who that compensates for their offerings. complain about having risk.Agreed,butwedisagree

Our brothers and sisters mediocre talent, others who that the returns must be so in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are convinced they have no many multiples for the risks have foreigners waiting on talent and thus prefer to they are taking, and what them hand and foot because masterotherpeople’stalent. theycartaway of their oil, but here we are Insteadofstrivingtoown Any Guyanese hear any doing those waiting duties whattheCreatorgiftedthem, shareholder of Exxon forthosecomingintoexploit fartoomanypeoplearesadly ‘cussing’ out Guyana? Any our riches in a variety of endeavoring to rewrite the citizen can remember the upstream and downstream scriptfortheirlives. United States Ambassador

Issues affecting Indigenous Communities being ignored - PNC/R

While the curtains have but reports to this end have theauthoritiesare“numb”to the Transport and Harbours been drawn on this year’s fallenondeafears. these realities even as Police Department (T&HD) wharf Amerindian Heritage month On the other hand, the officers in the district seem at Kumaka ”They cited celebrations,issuesaffecting PNC/R official explained to forget that prostitution is flimsy excuses which many Indigenouscommunitiesand that “the levels of anoffense. business persons at Kumaka Hinterlandvillagesareyetto prostitution, primarily

In the Mabaruma Sub- have rejected. The move is beaddressed. among the Venezuelan R e g i o n , W i l l i a m s intended to and will kill the

This is according to immigrant population complained that migrant economy of Kumaka which People’s National Congress presentbothhealthandother Indigenous Warrau people from the inception of its Reform (PNC/R) member, societalchallenges.Families were not being treated fairly, existence has been the Mervyn Williams who said are shattered, young teenage while foreigners who accept business capital of the subonFridaythatcorruptionand boys leave school to work in “less than fair rates” of pay region The move will other social ills are still the ‘backdams’ to raise arehiredoverGuyanesewho relocate the business centre plaguing communities with moneytoenjoythepleasures demandafairwage. to Hosororo The voting urged. April 2022, the sum of twonothing being done to of life made available by the He also said that pattern at national and

Over at Moruca, the million,twohundredaddressthese. ‘service providers’. There is Government, reportedly regional election informs Opposition activist thousand dollars was

In Region One for need for vigilance and w i t h o u t a d e q u a t e that Kumaka voted almost contended there is much withdrawn. At a recentlyexample, he said in the awareness in the area of consultation, decided to exclusively APNU+AFC concern about the Santa convened Village GeneralMatarkai Sub-Region, there health and counselling for construct a wharf at while Hosororo voted Rosa Village Council Meeting (VGM) the Toshao,are major allegations of brokenfamiliesandsexually Independence Road in mostly PPP Readers can

inequalities regarding the exploited youths, both male Mabaruma, a few miles up-

accountability According to Treasurer Phillip Bess weredistribution of cash grants and female.” Williams said river from the current site of conclusions,” Williams him, “Information received called upon to account for suggeststhattherecouldbea thecoffeeprojectfund.” major shady operation Williams added that taking place at that Village information suggests all of and residents are peeved. the Santa RosaVillage funds They contend that the were withdrawn from the Minister of Amerindian account While villagers Affairs (Pauline Sukhai) is were alarmed, he reported aware of the situation but that no consultation was refusestoact.” hosted with the coffee

He continued, “The

Santa Rosa Robusta Coffee withdrawaloruseoffunds. Project was established and He pointed out that financed by the Coalition farmers have not benefitted while in government from the funds while there Reports say that, the sum of are allegations that a 9 5 million dollars was particular village official, deposited in the Village since elected, has purchased Council’s account with a motor vehicle along with Republic Bank (Essequibo otherassets. Coast Branch) It was Williams argued that reported that, the Santa Rosa residents want a thorough Village Council was given criminal investigation total control of the funds. however they fear that given The Village Council is the political affiliation of charged under the law, to those allegedly involved in manage the assets of the this suspected financial Village in the best interest of impropriety, this may never its residents. In the month of happen.

Eight new COVID-19 cases

There are eight new COVID-19 cases, according to the MinistryofHealth,andthesehavebroughtthetotalnumberof confirmedcasesto71,348.

The news cases, according to the Ministry’s dashboard, wererecordedacrossthreeregions–Region3–one,Region4 – six and Region 7 – one. Four persons are currently in institutional isolation, 63 are in home isolation and two are quarantinedinstitutionally

Todate,atotalof70,000peoplehaverecoveredandwhile thedeathtollstandsat1281.

PNC/R Activist, Mervyn Williams

Pres. Ali mum on request for tax particulars for oil companies to be made public

President Irfaan Ali and its partners. Those taxes Tax Act and payable at the Contractor as provided Commissioner General, days following the end of isyettorespondto are to be paid from revenues date hereof, or from time to under Article 15.4 (a). On Guyana Revenue Authority, each year of assessment, the a letter addressed earned for the sale of timethereafter,andanyother such returns, the Minister can properly prepare the Minister shall furnish to

tohimbytheCivil Guyana’s share of profit oil. levy or charge on income or shall note that he is paying receipts required under this Contractor proper tax Society body ‘Article 13’ Thosedepositsaremadeinto profits which may become theincometaxesonbehalfof Article 15 5 Within one certificatesinContractor’s that requested particulars of the NRF account. The group payable from time to time the Contractor, so that the hundred and eighty (180) (Continued on page 16) the tax payments made by noted that these taxes which under any laws, acts, Guyana on behalf of the oil ought to be paid over were statutes, regulations or companies, be made not, yet the Auditor General ordersbytheGovernment...” availabletothepublic. in his review, gave it a clean

More importantly,

Thatletterwassenttothe billofhealth. ‘Article 13’ explained that Head of State on September The civil society body 19, last – almost two weeks said,“…Itwasinappropriate ago – but, to date, there has and incorrect for theAuditor been no acknowledgement Generaltoissueacleanaudit ofthecorrespondence. opinion on the financial

A member of the group statements of the Fund for explained that while the either or both years (2020 President is yet to state his and2021).” position on the release of the In its letter to theAuditor tax payment particulars, General, ‘Article 13’ ‘Article 13’ will not allow explained,“Wenotethatyou the matter to be swept under issued an unqualified theproverbialrug. opinion on the 2021

To this end, it was financials and that there was explained that the group had no reference to any modified decided to pen some opinion in respect of 2020. concerns to the Auditor The principal finding arising General, Deodat Sharma out of that review is that whoitcalledoutforissuinga thesefinancialstatementsdo “misleading report” on the not reflect the transactions oilaccount. relatingtotherequirementof

‘Article 13’ had carried Article 15.4 of the 2016 out a review of the financial Petroleum Agreement statements of the Natural between the Government of Resource Fund (NRF) for Guyana and the three oil theyearendedDecember31, companies.” 2021 and comparative They went on to point to informationfor2020.Partof specific sections of the oil this exercise, carried out by contract where the Minister Professional Accountants agreed to pay the taxes owed here and abroad, included a by the oil companies to the determinationofwhetherthe Commissioner General of NRF’s financial statements, the Guyana Revenue which were audited by the Authority (GRA). Not only Audit Office of Guyana, that, but the civil group also complied with the law pointed out to the AG that Section 15.5 of the contract However, ‘Article 13’ noted according to Section 15.4 (i) states the “Contractor shall that the exercise found that o f t h e P S A , “ t h e providetheMinisterwiththe the AG did not conduct his Contractor’s share of the Contractor’s income tax auditinthisfashion. incometaxesimposedbythe returns to be submitted by It was explained that laws of Guyana, including, the Minister to the

Guyana agreed via the 2016 butnotlimitedto,incometax

Commissioner General, Stabroek Block Production imposed by the Income Tax Guyana Revenue Authority SharingAgreement(PSA)to Act and corporation tax so the Minister can pay pay income taxes for Exxon imposed by the Corporation income tax on behalf of the

German’s Restaurant opening at Giftland Mall on October 6

The popular German’s Restaurant is Owner. slated to open a new location at the Giftland The stylish concession will be located at MallatPlantationPattensen,Turkeyen,East the Mall’s food court area and will serve its Coast Demerara on October 06, 2022 at signature soups and other popular Guyanese 11am. cuisine.

According to a Press Release from the German’s Restaurant is a second food establishment, “Giftland Mall has generation family-owned business that has transformed the Turkeyen, East Coast beeninoperationsince1960.

Demeraraareaintoaconvenientcommercial “We serve fresh, authentic Guyanese hub that attracts customers from all walks of foods,” the release added, pointing out that life. German’s expansion into Giftland is a the expansion represents the company’s natural fit for our brand and an appropriate third location, with additional branches at 8 vehicle to reach our customers outside of New Market Street, Georgetown and 410 Georgetown,” says Clinton Urling, the Co- UticaAvenue,Brooklyn,NewYork.

President Irfaan Ali

Auditor General, Deodat Sharma

Pres. Ali mum on request...

section 183 (2) provides that shareholders of the error or theauditreport,etc. “Wheretheauditororformer misstatement.”

The nature and range of auditor of a company is Further, ‘Article 13’said instances may vary from one notifiedorbecomesawareof guidance is also available enterprise to another

Thegroupalsonotedthat anerrorormisstatementsina f r o m v a r i o u s depending upon facts and n a m e f r o m t h e and other particulars “Vital decisions of national financial statement upon pronouncements by the circumstances.

From page 15 comprising the Contractor

Commissioner General, customary for such importance are made on the which he has reported to the Institute of Chartered As it encompasses (a) Guyana Revenue Authority, certificates.” balance in this Fund, companyand,inhisopinion, Accountants of India variety of conditions which evidencing the payment of To this end, the civil including transfers to the the error or misstatement is including‘GuidanceNoteon might be encountered, these the Contractor’s income tax societybodytoldtheAGthat Consolidated Fund, material, he shall inform Revision of the Audit proceduresaresetoutonlyin under the Income Tax Act it is advised that the 2021 d e v e l o p m e n t a l a n d eachdirectorofthecompany Report’ and SA 560 general terms for guidance and corporation tax under financial statements and infrastructural expenditure, accordingly.” SubsequentEvents. of members and for having the Corporation Tax Act. comparativefiguresfor2020 and inter generational Section 183 (3) goes on In fact, the group said uniform approach in such Such certificates shall state are “materially misstated”, savings.” to state, “When under paragraph 2 of the Guidance cases. the amount of tax paid adding that his opinion no As a consequence, the subsection 2 the auditor or Note on Revision of the Members are advised to individually on behalf of l o n g e r “ a p p e a r s group explained that former auditor of a company Audit Report states “A exercise professional Contractor or parties appropriate”.

Guyana’s Companies Act at inform the directors of an revision of the audit report judgment depending upon error or misstatement in a may be warranted in several the actual facts and financial statement of the instances involving reasons circumstancesofthecase.” company, the directors shall such as apparent mistakes, The group has asked the — (a) Prepare and issue wrong information about AG to take immediate steps revised financial statements; facts, subsequent discovery to address the concerns or (b) otherwise inform the offactsexistingatthedateof raisedinitsmissive.

Govt. yet to grasp extent of potential danger associated with gas plant project -Patterson …says more needed than two fire trucks and new fire station

ByDavinaBagot

Ev e n a s t h e

Government continueswithits preparations for the construction of the Gas-toEnergy (GTE) project, it seemstobeunderestimating the dangers that can be associated with the US$2 billionventure.

This is evident as response plans known at the moment only include two newfiretrucksandanewfire station at Wales, West Bank DemerarawheretheNatural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility andpowerplantareexpected tobeconstructed.

This is so according to Shadow Oil and Gas Minister, David Patterson, who in a recent interview with this newspaper explained that there are several other mechanisms thatshouldbeputinplaceto respond and prepare for emergencies.

When Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn was asked whether the ministry has any specific plans in placetodevelopthecapacity of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) to respond to emergenciesattheWalessite he said, “We have already acquired land and there is a design and a tender or a contract has already been signed in respect of a new fireserviceatWales.”

In addition, Benn insisted that the required infrastructurewasalreadyin place, while two additional water bowsers were expected to arrive. A water bowserisatrailerfittedwith atankthatcancarrywater

To this end, Patterson said, “The Minister's response is simplistic and obviously he hasn't grasped the extent of what happens when you have fire in the petroleumindustrysoIthink he responded only thinking about a normal house fire whichburnsitselfoutandin ourcaseinGuyanawhenwe dofirefightingwetrytostop itfromspreadingasopposed to extinguishing so it was a very disingenuous response.”

The former Minister of Public Infrastructure added, “That's totally inadequate. Fire trucks and those things like that, when you have a gas fire it takes special fire equipment to combat that. Fire trucks work really well

if a house is burning the water is sprayed, but it's not thebestideaifyouhaveagas plantorthosethingslikethat tobesprayingwater.”

He explained that there are special types of equipment that are required to extinguish a gas fires whichworkbydeprivingthe flamesofoxygen.

To this end, Patterson notedthathelicoptersmaybe neededtodropfireretardants into the fire as mere fire trucks would be unable to reachapotentialblaze.

He said there is also a special type of foam that is used as well as explosive thatwhendroppedintothe flames suppress its strength Butinadditionto the need for special fire equipment, Patterson said firefighters should also receive specific training as gas-relatedfirescanbemore dangerous.

According to him, “this

going to respond then obviously he is not competentenoughtodiscuss oradministerthatsector.”

Patterson went on to argue that the subject of gas related fires is not a “typical issue” but warrants a full responseplan.

Part of the plan he outlined, should include evacuation procedures for not only employees at the Wales site, but also for the residentswhomaybewithin close proximity to the facility

On the other hand, the former Minister pointed out that Government must also consider how it intends to mobilise equipment for responding to a potential emergencyatthesite.

He explained that the bulk of firefighting equipment is currently located in Region Four, which means that fire trucks would have to cross the

RegionThreetothenloadup with water since the bridge would only allow vehicles weighing no more than 18 tonnestocross.

“Therearesomanyother factors, like what is the fallout if gas burns? It's supposed to be clean but what are the environmental impactsfromthatfire?

These are all the things that should be studied in a holisticway

We need to know what can happen, how you would prevent it and how you can treatit.

Allofthisissupposedto bedonebeforeyouaregiven apermit.

If there is an explosion, whatistheradiusthatwould beaffected?

These are the things we wanttoknow

Are the residents of Wales outside of the explosion blast? If not what precautions do we have to

electricity

Theprojecthasaplanned lifecycleofatleast25years.

The Government of Guyana has been assured by American oil major, ExxonMobil that it will not walk away from any accidents that arise at the US$1.3 billion gas pipeline

Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)tobeginthese works.Inthemeantime,this newspaper understands that g

submitted its plans to the regulator body which will determine whether an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) will be required.

iswhyweneedmorestudies tobedonetounderlinewhat isneeded.

We are bringing a very dangerous toxic product onshore and if you don't see the need to protect the citizensandtheenvironment in the case of a peril by developing a professional master plan of how you are

Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) to be of assistance. That, however, is not the problem, Patterson said, as he pointed to the existing weight restrictions on the DHB.

He explained that the trucks would have to skillfully maneuver the traffic before arriving in

take?Whatinsurancesdowe havetohaveinplacetocover these people,” Patterson enquired.

The GTE project will entail three components inclusive of the pipeline, a Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility to treat and separate the gas and a power plant to generate 300 megawatts of

a

scheme, geared at slashing electricity costs by 50 percent.

The developer is yet to

Management Plan for the pipelinewhichisexpectedto startconstructionthismonth.

Exxon is still awaiting a

The GTE project will involvecapturingassociated gas produced from crude oil productionoperationsonthe Liza Phase 1 (Destiny) and Liza Phase 2 (Unity)

Storage, and Offloading (FPSO)vessels,transporting approximately 50 million standardcubicfeetperday

Shadow Oil and Gas Minister, David Patterson

Scenes from a fuel depot explosion in Cuba that occurred inAugust [Photo Ccredit:Yamil Lage/AFP, Ismael Francisco/APand Ramon Espinosa/AP]

Still no public consensus or release of new PSA as oil block auction approaches

ByZenaHenry

Given the raging d e b a t e s regarding the lopsidedProductionSharing Agreement (PSA) that Guyana currently has with ExxonMobil's subsidiary Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) and partners, it was thought that the Government would have by n o w c o m m e n c e d consultations, or made public, information on the new agreement to ensure stakeholders' input for a more satisfactory share of theoilresources.

This has not been the case, and the parliamentary Opposition says it is concerned about what could behiddeninthenewcontract thattheGovernmentisyetto engage the opposition, despite their request to be involved Economist and Advisor to the Opposition

Leader, Elson Low has expressed worry over the Government'sposturetonot involve the Parliamentary Opposition in major decisions that directly impact constituents supporting both sides of the political divide. Low has called out the Government forsideliningtheOpposition highlighting that their refusaltoengagehasbeenat the centre of many of the disputesfacingthetwosides of the House. With the bid round for the oil blocks expected before year end, LowsaidthattheOpposition is keen on seeing the provisions of the Government given that they also have ideas on what the new agreement should look like.

Low said that “the fact that the new model PSAhas not been released for public consultations, when we are only days away from the expectedbeginningoftheoil

block auction should fill Guyanese with suspicion and alarm.” He said that the Parliamentary Opposition would have demanded the release of the new PSA documentoveramonthago, but still there has been no information in this regard. He said that “similar to the passage of the Natural Resources Fund Act amendments, where there was no meaningful consultation, we are again seeing no effort by the government to engage with stakeholders during this process. Guyanese must ask why the secrecy,” the opposition advisor said. He questioned, “What is the Government hiding in this newPSA?”

Low charged that, “Given the debate that has surrounded the existing PSA, one would think that theGovernmentwouldwant togivestakeholdersachance to participate in the process

of crafting a new one.” He noted, however, that “rest assured we will use various strategiestopursuethis.”He added that the Opposition willbetakingfurtheractions inthenearfuturetoensureits

necessarycontributiontothe new oil resource sharing agreement.

It is expected that relinquishedportionsoffive oil blocks will be part of the auctionthatwillnowbeheld

in the fourth quarter of this year Still accepting advice, and examining their approach to the auction, PresidentIrfaanAlihadsaid thatthebiddingeventwas (Continuedonpage62)

GUYOIL officials breached procurement protocol, overpaid fuel companies $680M- Auditor General

A special audit by the Auditor General of

Guyana has revealed that fourofficialsofstate-owned Guyana Oil Company (GUYOIL) had breached procurement protocol and negotiated a deal that resulted in the excess payment of US$3.4 million totwofuelcompanies.

AccordingtotheAuditor General report dated May 28, 2021, the officials are, former Director, Akanni Blair, former General Secretary (GS), Trevor Bassoo, Company Secretary (CS), Shawn Persaud and Inventory and Procurement Manager (IPM), Leonard Khan.

GUYOIL had won a bid tosupplytheGuyanaPower andLight(GPL)withHeavy Fuel Oil (HFO) and on March 16, 2021, a contract was signed between the two companies for the supply and delivery of 900,000 barrelsoffuelatthetotalcost ofUS$9,945,000(US$11.05 perbarrel).

However, it was stated

that IPM Khan related that due to the timeline of the delivery schedule and failed

GUYOILand their new fuel suppliers, the company resorted to engage its fuel s

p

two shipments of HFO to GPLbetweenApril9and20, 2021.

(Pa

a a

Staatsolie) to deliver the HFOthatwastobesupplied toGPL.

c

D o c

receiving the fuel from their supplier,GUYOILdelivered

Eventhoughthecontract was signed for the supply and delivery of 900,000 barrels of HFO valued at US$9.9 million, GUYOIL ended up paying excess moneytoitssuppliers.

It was revealed in the auditdocumentthatatotalof 62,266barrelsofHFO,atthe cost of US$4.1 million, was deliveredtoGPL,whichwas

not in accordance with the contractprice.

In fact, the contract that was signed between GUYOIL and GPL was for the supply of the 900,000 barrels at US$11 05 per barrel.

However, the two shipmentsthatGPLreceived from GUYOIL were at the cost of US$64 93 and US$68 28 per barrel revealingthatGUYOILpaid inexcessofUS$3,462,311to

theirfuelsuppliers.

Ifthisdealhadcontinued GUYOIL would have paid theirsuppliersStaatsolieand Paria approximately US$55 million, which is six times higher than the contract cost which was signed for US$9 9 million for the same 900,000barrelsofHFO.

On April 22, 2021, GUYOIL formally requested that GPL rescind thecontractandonApril23,

2021, the contract was mutuallyterminated.

TheAG pointed out that itwastheGM,CS,andIPM who negotiated the deal to supplytheHFOthatresulted in an excess payment of US$3,462,311 to fuel companies, Staatsolie and Paria. As such he stated the trio should be held accountable.

However, the Auditor General recommended that the Director, GM, CS and I P M , w h o a c t e d inappropriately and not in the best interest of the company,berelievedoftheir duties.

T h e A G h a d recommended too that the the Guyana Police Force (GPF)becalledintoconduct anin-depthinvestigationand instit

t

a

c

es if necessary Bassoo had tendered h

GUYOIL in April 2021, and in the same month President Irfaan Ali had ordered that Blair and Persaud be removed from thecompany

- Opposition says it will use all avenues to access new document

Some of the blocks that will be up for auction.

Ranger

SAPOTE

KANUKU BLOCK

Former General Secretary, Trevor Bassoo

Former Director, Akanni Blair

Company Secretary (CS), Shawn Persaud

Inventory and Procurement Manager (IPM), Leonard Khan

Jamaican Reggae Star, Beres Hammond performing at the Providence National Stadium on Thursday night

ByShervinBelgrave

The first Cricket Carnival Super Concert held on Thursday at the Providence National Stadium, EastBankofDemerara(EBD)wasdubbeda 'big people event', and indeed it was.

Hundredsoffansturnedouttogroovetothe mega hits of Beres Hammond and the 67year-old Jamaican reggae star made them “remember the days when they used to rock away” with his youthful and energetic performance.

The reggae icon, who began his music career in the 1970's,reachedhispeakofstardom in the 1990's and is popularly knownforhislover'srockmusic.

As part of Guyana's first cricket carnival celebration, he was invited to headline it first super concert. Many called it a 'big people show' because of the eraofhismusicbuthistunesare still relevant as even young people came out to groove as well.

Although there was a late startandBeresHammondtook the stage a little after midnight, fans soon realised thatitwasallworththewait.

His band made an electrifying intro by entertaining the crowd to some smooth instrumentals and when the reggae icon made his entrance fans flockedthestagefrontwith theircellphonesinabidto capturethemoment.

Theysangalongtohis mega hits and danced while some chanted “Oh Beres”.

He made the crowd dance for nearly two

hours before finally leaving the stage. But the fanswantedmore.

Beres Hammond sang one more hit on his way off as he made way for Ravi B, the Trinidadian chutney sensation. Local artistes Timeka Marshall, Samuel Medas, Calvin BurnetteandTenniciaDeFreitasakaNikitaalso keptthecrowdentertainedastheywaitedforthe finalartistetoperform.

It was all about, “Drink wata and mind my business”toendtheshowasPatriceRoberts,the SocaQueenfromTrinidadtookthestage.

Her performance was indeed one that energised the crowd to party until 05:00hrs, with some forgetting that they had to work the next day.

CricketCarnivalcontinuestodaywitharoad parade.Persons are encouraged to bring out their family to vibe in the streets of Georgetown to some Soca music as the 'Genesis Utopia'bandandothersshowcasetheircostumes.

...fans 'rock away' to Beres Hammond at Providence Stadium

Jamaican Reggae Star, Beres Hammond performing at the Providence National Stadium on Thursday night

Some 'big people' feeling the music

Asection of the crowd grooving to some lovers rock

Trinidadian T Chutney sensation, Ravi B Our very own, Timeka Marshall

Trinidadian Soca Queen, Patrice Roberts

Tennicia DeFreitas aka Nikita

Samuel Medas

IMF issues favourable Economic Report Card for Guyana

urges authorities to do public expenditure review to assess efficiency of spending says weaknesses in procurement must be unaddressed

Following the conclusion of its In light of the foregoing, the 2022 ‘Article IV’ Mission with Fund said it is clear that further oil Guyana, the International discoveries and production could Monetary Fund (IMF) released a significantly improve Guyana’s detailed report last week which long-term economic prospects. In captures its findings on the fact, it went further to state that economic health of the nation as “medium-term growth prospects well as the Government’s response arebetterthaneverbefore.” tokeymatters. As regards the Natural Inthisweekend’sinstallmentof ResourceFund(NRF)law,theIMF The Social Edge, we highlight the said it was pleased to see that this main points raised by the financial was strengthened by the institution and its advice to the administration. It said the recent administration. amendments set clear and simple

Setting the stage with the ceilings on withdrawals from the outlook for the hydrocarbon accountforbudgetaryspending. industry, the Fund highlighted that Even with those positives in oil production has increased place, the IMF said its central significantly and has the potential criticism was that amendments to to transform profoundly, Guyana’s the NRF Act do not provide an economy It noted that oil effective fiscal anchor In other production increased by 57 percent words, it does not outline how in2021to110,000barrelsofoilper exactly the oil revenues would be day (bpd). With the coming on used to strengthen the resilience of stream of three additional the economy against external fields—Liza-2 (February 2022), shocks. The IMF said too that Payara (end-2023) and Yellowtail Guyana still lacks a medium-term (2025)—it said oil production is fiscalframework. projected to reach at the very least, The financial institution said 720,000bpdby2026. the experience of other oil

By Kiana Wilburg

Furthermore, as ExxonMobil producing countries shows that the and partners continue their absence of such a framework, in Additionally, the IMF said it is Commissions and the National Government agreed that there is a aggressive exploration campaigns which annual budgets are critical that Guyana ensures Procurement and Tender need to monitor how sums of offshore, the IMF said Guyana’s developed within a medium-term prudent spending of its oil AdministrationBoard.

money are transferred and spent commercially recoverable framework, anchored in clear revenues. Towards this end, it It said too that audit reports of from the NRF The authorities petroleum reserves might reach targets, has resulted in major stated that capacity weaknesses in public expenditures, including for contended however, that the new over 11 billion barrels, thereby macroeconomicimbalances. the management of public COVID 19, are published, and framework strengthens the fiscal making it the third largest in Latin estment must be tackled their recommendations are prudencethatoughttobeexecuted. AmericaandtheCaribbeanandone simultaneously with the strategy to followed up on. Further, the IMF Moreover, it said the new of the highest levels per capita e infrastructure gaps and highlighted that asset declarations legislation will ensure that scaling theworld. development needs. Further, the ofalargenumberofpublicofficials up public investment to address

As for Guyana’s medium- MF said the 2017 Public are submitted annually, and public Guyana’s infrastructureand human term outlook, the Fund said this Investment Management procurement tenders are streamed development needs is rapid and is very favorable, with Assessment(PIMA)reporton live. feasible, without generating increasing oil production Guyana had highlighted

Italsothoughtitprudenttonote macroeconomicimbalances. having the potential to weaknesses in the planning, that the authorities made progress Consistent with the amended t

NRFAct, the administration said it Guyana’seconomy selection, procurement, and recommendations of the 2019 and is committed to conducting

With respect to the non-oil implementation of capital 2021 Extractive Industries periodic reviews of the oil transfer Gross Domestic Product projects The financial Transparency Initiative (EITI) rule, which would be helpful in (GDP), the Fund said growth is institution said, these ought to

expected to rebound strongly be rectified soonest as spending reconciliation with the fiscal sustainability of the NRF and 2022 due to the recovery of sugar productionrampup. regime. intergenerationalequity andriceproductionfromthefloods Staff at the organisation also Also, it was noted that some Furthermore, Government was and positive spillovers from the ged the authorities to undertake a progress has also been made on keen to note that Guyana is in the sector publicexpenditurereviewtoassess

midst of an energy boom after the

Over the medium term, it said Importantly,thelendingagency the efficiency and effectiveness of publicationofextractiveindustries’ discoveryandproductionofoiland non-oil GDP growth is expected to saidthetransferrulesgoverningthe publicspending. financial statements, and the natural gas. It said the rapid growth average 5 percent per year and oil account need to ensure that ANTI-CORRUPTION authorities are strengthening intheenergysectorisimpactingthe inflation is expected to reach transfers to the budget are FRAMEWORK capacitytoaddressremaininggaps, rest of the economy and propelling around 3.5 percent owing to more

IMF Staff was keen to including in moving towards amajoreconomictransformation. stable projected international food intergenerational equity and long- commend the authorities’ progress electronic disclosure and adequate They said too that foreign oil and andfuelprices.

in strengthening Guyana’s anti- follow-up.

gascompaniesoperatinginGuyana

GOVT.’S RESPONSE have raised their long term it said this is expected to grow over states said this would also allow a transparency They said several Guyanese authorities in production forecasts, which will 100 percent in 2022, with the sufficientbuild-upofsavingsinthe pillars of the anticorruption response to the IMF have said they help to attract new capital coming on stream of Liza-2, and to NRF for Guyana to be able to reap framework have been recently are strongly committed to fiscal investment and lift the growth grow by about 30 percent on the full benefits of its natural strengthened, including the prudence, while meeting critical outlooktoadouble-digitexpansion averageperyearduring2023–26. resourcewealth.

TurningitsattentiontooilGDP, organisation with 190 member corruption framework and fiscal

Integrity and Public Procurement developmental needs The (Continued on page 27)

Map showing the four major projects which have been sanctioned in the Stabroek Block

IMFissuesfavourableEconomicReportCard...

From page 25 for unfair competitive and then presents them for

lessons of international Press Releases and are

summary of the global community and the discussions are released in for at least the next five advantage, and to provide discussion to the Executive

subsequently transmitted to experience are brought to posted on the IMF’s website, Government promised that it economy. of the IMF’s member the country’s Government. bear on national policies. as are most of the country will continue to leverage on The IMF’s regular countries.

the IMF with data about its Board, which represents all

reportspreparedbythestaff. the experiences of other monitoring of economies resource-richcountries. and associated provision of

The authorities said they policy advice is intended to are well aware of the unique identify weaknesses that are challenges associated to oil, causing or could lead to mining and gas extraction, financial or economic and are fully committed to instability This process is make policy decisions that knownassurveillance. help avoid some of the Country surveillance is mishaps while maximising an ongoing process that thebenefits. culminates in regular

authorities said they plan to

education, health, and i

infrastructure to help ensure countries, with discussions the general population profit inbetweenasneeded. from the country’s expected The consultations are economicgrowth. known as ‘Article IV

In addition, they said consultations’ because they they have put in place local- are required byArticle IV of content policies to facilitate the IMF’s Articles of that local businesses are able Agreement. to benefit from the energy During an ‘Article IV sectordevelopment. consultation’anIMFteamof ABOUT THEARTICLE economists visits a country IV MISSION to assess economic and When a country joins the financial developments and IMF, it agrees to subject its discuss the country’s economic and financial economic and financial policies to the scrutiny of the policies with Government internationalcommunity and Central Bank officials.

I t a l s o m a k e s a IMFstaffmissionsalsooften commitment to pursue meet with Parliamentarians policiesthatareconduciveto and representatives of orderly economic growth business, labour unions, and and reasonable price civilsociety s t a b i l i t y, t o a v o i d The team reports its manipulating exchange rates findingstoIMFmanagement

In this way, the views of the S

Aim to leave a righteous legacy

his son, Jesus. And so, I remind

youthatJesusmadeitpellucidat

John chapter 14, verse 6: “I am

thewayandthetruthandthelife.

No one comes to the Father brilliant and innovative minds exceptthroughme.” have been born into this world,

anatomy is? Although many

By Sharmain Grainger

Let me tell you the truth person is around. He simply can’tnot one has been able to fully about living for Jesus. It isn’t leaveyouorforsakeyouonceyouunderstand, muchless replicate, easy! In fact, He never promised commit your life to Him. Jesusthehumananatomy–acreationof that it would be easy You will will guide every aspect of yoursuch high calibre Indeed, have to give up some friends, life, in the best possible way, ifwhatever the mind can conceive some prized possessions; you you just let Him. There ishuman beings have been known will literally have to deny absolutely no better way to liveto try; there is no doubt that some yourself in order to have a close than to be completely dependenthaveattemptedtheimpossible. walkwithHim.Butitissoworth onTheTrueandLivingGod.Without even reading the it! At Luke chapter 9, verse 23, You don’t have to botherbible – the manual for life – I am Jesus said, “Whoever wants to yourself about what people willwell aware that there is a force; be my disciple must deny say about you – and people willsomeone, much greater who themselves and take up their utter snide remarks about youcreated not just human beings but crossdailyandfollowme.” every now and then, believe me Itheentirebreathtakinguniverse.

Moreover, I assure you, it knowGiven this awareness, which I wouldn’t be possible for you to

Once you put your trust andamprettysurenooneintheirright choose Jesus and something or confidence in Jesus and give Himmind can deny, how can anyone someone else; a balancing act yourlifefully,thereisNOTHINGbelieveforevenasecondthatthey or NO ONE who can hinder yourhavecontroloftheirownlife? As walk with Him. At Proverbssuch there is not a doctor or chapter 3, verses 5 – 6, we arescientist who can offer you reminded:“[5]TrustintheLORDimmortality; so please don’t with all your heart; do not dependbelieve that acquiring all the on your own understanding. [6]money in the world could afford SeekHiswillinallyoudo,andHeyousuchafeat. will show you which path to

So since you have no control take.”over you, why not aim to leave a

I said earlier, living for Jesusrighteouslegacy? can be hard sometimes. But JesusFor instance, if God has did not hide this fact from usblessedyoutoearnmorethanyou stating at John chapter 16, verseneed,whynotsharesomewiththe 33: “I have told you these things,poor – those who can barely

Nomatterhowprudentweare produced fine crops. [17] He said justwon’tdo.Untilyouareableto sothatinmeyoumayhavepeace.scrape a few morsels together to with our finances, by now we all to himself, ‘What should I do? I surrenderALL,youreallyhaven’t In this world you will havefeedtheirfamilybeforeretiringto know that we can’t carry a single don’thaveroomforallmycrops.’ committed fully to Him. But the trouble. But take heart! I havebed with still unsatisfied dime with us when our time is up [18] Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll secret to getting there, is literally overcometheworld.”stomachs?You don’t have to look in this world, and our days are tear down my barns and build asking Him to help you to choose Today, I can attest to the factvery far to find vulnerable people mostdefinitelynumbered. bigger ones. Then I’ll have room Himaboveeverythingelse;above that even through hardships – andtolendahelpinghand.

My aim is not to be cryptic, enough to store all my wheat and material things and most they will come in diverse forms –However,Idounderstandthat ratherIamfranklysayingthatitis other goods. [19]And I’ll sit back importantly above life itself He is still working out the bestwithout God, it is simply a tough importantthatwe makeourselves and say to myself, “My friend, According to Mark chapter 8, possible solution for your life.decision to be genuinely kind and available entirely to God so that you have enough stored away for verse 36: “And what do you This is owing to the fact “…thatwilling to share. It wasn’t until we can become the best versions years to come. Now take it easy! benefit if you gain the whole all things work together for goodGod literally transformed my life of ourselves, and this includes Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ [20] worldbutloseyourownsoul?” to them that love God, to themthat I realised that being selfish in showing kindness where it is But God said to him, ‘You fool! It is the most peaceful and who are the called according tothis world makes no sense. I needed Selfishness, I repeat, You will die this very night. Then comforting to know that you are his purpose,” Romans chapter 8,wanted to hoard everything for makesnosense! who will get everything you never alone, even if no other verse28.myself; everything was about me Inthebible,ChristJesustolda worked for?’[21]Yes, a person isand my needs. But not anymore! story of a rich man which is very a fool to store up earthly wealthYou see God has put in my heart applicable to drive home my but not have a rich relationshipspecificpeoplewhoImustensure point. According to Luke chapter withGod.”are taken care of, and once you 12, verses 16 – 21: “[16] …Arich We can only have that richavail yourself to Him too, He will man had a fertile farm that relationship with God, throughguideyoutodothesame.

What you should and should not do if you get burned

B to a source of or jewellery from the burned towel. Loose heat. This causes damage to area, if possible, because of fibres c skin, tissues and organs and the risk of swelling and stick to the can cause death if severe or tightening. burns. not properly treated. Prompt

urns occur when

gel may be used if water is w r a p someone gets not available. Remove any Don’tusea exposed directly tightclothing,watches,rings blanket o

By Dr. Zulfikar Bux Emergency Medicine Specialist

3. Cover the burn Chemical burns and correct interventions are After cooling the injured A chemical burn is a (non-alcoholic).key in helping to save lives area for up to 20 minutes, burn to internal or external Common mistakes whenitcomestoburns. apply a sterile dressing. Use organsofthebodycausedby to avoid when

One can cause more a dressing that doesn’t stick a corrosive or caustic someone is burned harm when trying to help if totheskin. chemical substance that is a You should avoid doingthey do not know what they Clean plastic kitchen strong acid or alkali. the following when treating aredoing. wrap can be used as a Chemical burns are usually someonewhoisburned:

Today, I will share some temporary dressing. Cover the result of an accident and Don’t apply ice to theheatedobjectsorliquid,such from the heat source,tips on what to do and what the burn but don’t wrap the can occur in the home, at burn. as boiling water, steam, hot whichever is easiest andyou should avoid to help dressingaroundthearea. school or, more commonly, Don’t try to removecooking oil, fire and hot safest. If any clothing is wetsave the life of someone that Electrical burns at work, particularly in fabric that is stuck toobjects. with hot liquid or a chemicalisburned. An electrical burn is the manufacturing plants that aburn.

Whenaburniscausedby splash,removeitquicklyand

What are the result of electricity passing use large quantities of Don’t break blisterscontact with hot liquid, it is carefully as part of stoppingmain causes of burns? through the body It may be chemicals. or remove peeledcalled a scald. Hot water the burn. Do not removeMany things can cause a caused by a number of If someone has a skinscalds are the most common clothes that are stuck to theburn but below are the most sourcesofelectricity,suchas chemicalburnyoushould: Don’t apply creams,type of thermal burn burn.

commoncauses: household current, power Quickly remove any ointments, lotions,affectingchildren.

2. Cool the burnThermal sources are lines and lightning. The type c o n t a m i n a t e d toothpasteorbutterto

In adults, thermal burns Immediately cool thethe most common of burn or damage depends clothing.

a burn.This will have are most commonly caused affected area for up to 20causesofburns. on the amount, type and Avoid touching to be removed laterbyfire. minutes using cool running

Chemicals, such as strength of the electrical yourselfortheperson and may cause anWhat do I do if someone waterfromataporshower Ifcement,acidsordrain current.Anelectricburnmay with the chemical as infection and delayhas a thermal burn? there is no water, use anycleaners. appear minor or not show on youdothat. healing.

There are 3 key steps to cool clean fluid that will notRadiation. the skin at all but may have If the chemical is a Don’t put smallfollowifsomeonehasaburn irritatetheskin.

Electricity caused more extensive powder, brush it off childrenorbabiesinainjury:

The burned part can beSun (ultraviolet or internalinjury without touching it cold bath or shower

Stoptheburn. put in a bowl or bucket ofUVlight). If someone is suffering yourself and before for a full 20 minutes.Cooltheburn. cold water if this is easierThermal burns from electrical burns you flushing the burned This can cause

A thermal burn is a type should: areawithwater hypothermia.

Covertheburn. than pouring water over the

1. Stop the burn burn.of burn resulting from

Look first Don’t Floodtheburnedarea Don’t use adhesiveRemove the heat source Remember to keep thecoming into contact with touch The person with lots of water and tape on the skinfromthepersonortheperson personwarm.Afirstaidburn maystillbeincontact continue for at least around the burn with the electrical 20 minutes. First aid because this may source. Touching the for alkali burns can cause further tissue person may pass the take up to an hour to damage.currentthroughyou. return skin pH to What are signs that oneTurn off the source of normal. may be at imminent risk?electricityif possible. Ifachemicalsolution

The following signs areIf not, move the has splashed into indications that one may be source away from their eyes, hold the at risk of organ damage orboth you and the eyelids open so that deathfromaburn: injured person using w a t e r w a s h e s Burns that cover the a non conducting thoroughly under the hands, feet, face, object made of lids to remove any groin, buttocks, acardboard, plastic or trappedchemical. major joint or a largewood.

Get the person to a areaofthebodyCheck for signs of hospitalimmediately Deep burns, which lifesuchastheperson Sunburn

m e a n s b u r n sbreathing, coughing Sunburn is a burn to the affecting all layers of or making any skin caused by excess the skin or even movement.Iftheyare exposure to ultraviolet (UV) deepertissues not there, begin radiation in the sun. It can Burns that cause the cardiopulmonary also be caused by other skintolookleatheryresuscitation (CPR) sources of UV, such as sun

Burns that appearimmediately Keep beds. Usually the skin is red charred or have doing CPR until andpainfulandmayblistera patches of black, m e d i c a l littlefromsunburn. brownorwhite professionals can If someone has severe Burns caused bytakeover sunburn:

c h e m i c a l s o r

Run a cool shower or electricityrequired, prevent cool running water

If CPR is not

Difficulty breathingshock by lying the over the burn area for orburnstotheairway person down with the 20minutes. (nose,mouthorface)head slightly lower Don’t burst large Now that you have athan the trunk and the blisters. better idea of what to do, the legselevated.

U s e s u n b u r n next time you encounter Cover any burned ointment for minor someone with burns, be sure areas with sterile burns that are not to act fast and avoid pitfallsd r e s s i n g s o r severelyblisteredand that may cause harm to youtemporarily with havenobrokenskin. orthepatient.clean plastic kitchen Drink plenty of fluid

Political consensus, investing money in other areas

his Sunday there up costing much more than opportunities by being apart other countries blessed with such wise and will be no talk of wasoriginallysetaside. The for so long We fool the stuff that comes from the d i v e r s i f i e d oil. The Hon. end result is that the PPPand ourselves in thinking that ground or beneath the seas, thinking.

By GHK Lall

T O p p o s i t i o n PNChavebothmadealiving any one group can carry on Guyana has agriculture, Guyana does Leader, Mr Aubrey Norton, at pointing fingers and successfullyandsustainedly, forestry, and an abundance not have to back recently shared with an laying blame on the heads of especially now that we are of what I will label mineral itself into a overseas audience that each other Meanwhile, the faced with new natural resources traditional to this corner, one that Guyana needs political nationliveswithhugepublic resource dynamics and the country Additionally, we is prone to consensus on large projects works projects that have challenges that flow from have vast forests and a volatile market (KNSeptember28). Iagree. either collapsed, or those. diversity of wildlife that forces, but lay Mr Norton also expressed a rundown, or go on forever Political consensus in could transform this country the groundwork willingness to work with the In terms of the latter, the Guyanawillneverbeaneasy into a prime ecotourist to buildup from PPP Government in this international airport sell, or find ready embrace. destination Money and where we are, regard. Again, I agree, and expansion stands as a case Nevertheless,thisshouldnot investment are needed to and set the stage support any such movement study of outsiders driving be a showstopper, but develop the supporting for an exciting toward local political through our governmental something that spurs us to infrastructure for all the future, from our onlyanobrainer,butthereistogetherness This is gaps, and ripping us off greater effort to get to this areas that I have pinpointed, a r r a y o f nootherwayforward.encouraging, and I wish to joyfully state. It is either that we get plus the others not economic sources. Again,

(The views expressed inhearmoreofthat,andforthe Surely, we can’t be this some kind of political mentioned. we need a nation fully this article are those of thePPP Government to respond stupid; at least, we ought not consensus, to some degree; This is putting our eggs committed heart and soul to a u t h o r a n d d o n o t

timely and agreeably For to be this negligent. That is, or that we punish (most of in more than one basket, and get the most out of the many necessarily reflect thewhen we don’t hold one where we allow our lack of us) together, and crumble wehavetheavenuesthrough gifts that are ours. Thus, opinions of this newspaper.)head, then we are taken political consensus to together which we can capitalize on political consensus is not advantage of, our wealth overpower us, and leave us Also, the Hon. Minister drains away, with nothing to exposed to any type of with responsibility for showforit. exploitation, with foreigners Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, Large projects have been (orlocals)makingutterfools spoke to an overseas a big black hole in this out of us Political audience,butwithadifferent country There has been an consensus is urgently message. Minister Singh endless number of them, yet needed, and if any political insisted that his PPP we seem to in the same participant is serious about Government was putting woeful place Roads, doing their best for this measuresinplacetofocuson schools, clinics (and other country, then there is no other areas of the economy, massive things in the choice. To think or do beside what is deafening the making) have all been otherwise would be the ears of Guyanese currently announced over the years, equivalentofthetreasonous; Though the Senior Minister and they either don’t last as in my book, it would be. We did not identify specific long as they should, or offer have lost much time, and a r e a s , i t w a s s t i l l thebenefitspromised,orend wasted many priceless encouraging to hear Unlike

By Zena Henry

Each of us has a journey tofulfill.Sometimeswe recogniseit,orwedon't. Sometimes we are even aware of what must be done and yet we fail toachieveitforvariousreasons.

I'd like to believe, however, thatthemajorityofushavedreams and aspirations; and for the most part,westriveourbesttoattainthat which we feel will fulfill us most, whileatthesametime,givingback to the societies that would have nurturedus.

More than anything, as I understand it, fulfillment of our journey here is truly blessed when we are enjoying what it is that we aredoing;thatis,whateverpathwe are taking is bringing the satisfactionthatwedesire.

But as some of us would have already found out, satisfaction doesn't always come easy, or free. Owning one's business takes work and time, achieving that career didn't come easy, all those long nights of studying, or intense training; owning your own home didn't come easy, buying that car was not cheap nor were those two vacations you so desperately needed;butyetyoumadeithappen.

Puttingourbestfootforwardis not always a walk in the park, but luckily some of us have found the remedy

We have been able to apply ourselves,againthroughhardwork anddiscipline.

Ittakesalotoutofustodowhat we must with so many challenges, distractions,hurdlesandnegativity around.

We are demanded to be more than our issues and more than the externals that prevent movingforward.Asmentioned, some of us have found remedy and continue work on ourselves. The fact is that all we need to be successful is alreadywithinus-we just need to apply ourselves.

It is a pleasure t h e r e f o r e t o highlight some of the progressive young people within our society who continue to apply values in their lives, and work ethics that al them to keep pushing success.

This week, w Journalist Kiana Wilburg, a senior functionary within the Kaieteur News Editorial Department with a mainfocusontheoilandgassector Ms. Wilburg would have entered

the media field several years ago, and today is one of the most prominentmedianames,especially whentalkingabouttheoilsector

Ofcourse,itwasn'talwaysthat wayforthe30-year-old.

Earning her reputation didn't just come overnight, but with earnesteffort.

The Coven asked Ms. Wilburg toletusin.

We asked basic, but key questions pertaining to her acceptance of discipline and responsibilitywhichweknowplay important roles in fulfilling our achievements.Wealsoaskedofher application of these qualities as well as how she keeps motivated andreleasesstresswhenshehasto.

For the Journalist, being disciplined and taking

responsibility for herself are key

Preparing for Success, Young Professionals Series:

Journalist, Kiana Wilburg

q

ualit iestoa long-lasting and enriching career She said they are qualities at the core of any young person desirous

ofbeingtheirbestself.

“Fromanearlyage,my father, among other key role models, instilled in me the importance of being responsible.

He has described it, r as long as I can member, as being the festation of self tability and candid introspection. Discipline on the otherhandisthepracticeofputting obedience to principle above the gratification of our innermost wantsanddesires.”

“To b

disciplined professional young womanisapinnaclethatIstriveto achieve.Itisaworkinprogressand Ienjoyit,”shesaid.

To consciously incorporate suchqualities,

“There are two key ways that I applythisinmylife.Oneisbeinga responsible manager of my time, especiallywithmywork.

Most recently, I have tried earnestly each week to make it to workearlierthanusual.

Thisallowsmetoplanmywork with ease and to ensure when I leave the office at the end of the day- the work does not follow me home.

Senior Journalist, Kiana Wilburg

Keeping that separation between my work time and my home time is challenging but also one of the ways I practice being disciplinedandresponsible.”

Another key way that I apply these principles is in setting boundaries with people who are intent on injecting negative energiesintomyspace.“Itisinmy view, that it is irresponsible to not protectyourmentalspaceandyour energies, ” the Journalist highlighted.

She noted that one thing learnt throughouther10-plusyearsinthe mediaisthatmotivationisafeeling thatcomesandgoes.

“There are days when I simply havenointerestintypingasyllable much less completing my daily production. What gets me to complete the task at hand is my reverencefordiscipline.

I also believe that every young professional should have something that defines them; that theyshouldbeknownfor Forme,it has always been my work ethic. Keeping this intact as my trademark is what keeps me going whenthemotivationalsparkeludes me.

I am also a very competitive person.Icompetewithmyselftobe better than I did the month before, and again, this returns to the point ofbeingresponsible.”

“As to my rewards, I have honestly never taken a conscious decision to reward myself for my efforts I have however taken extendedperiodstoengageinlong hours of rest on the weekends, binge-watch my favourite shows withabottleofwineandsnacks,or takingadrivearoundthecity Iama lover of the simple pleasures of life,”shesaid.

If you are a progressive young person, self-made or just forging ahead in your endeavours and would like to be featured in the Creators'Coven,pleaseemailmeat

This Day in History - OCT. 02

Compiled by Zena Henry DR dictator orders execution of thousands of Haitians in Parsley Massacre

The Beltway sniper attacks begin in Washington, D.C., 10 people killed

On October 2, 2002, a shooting in Washington metropolitan area. Investigators Maryland began a 23-day spree of terror determined that bullets from several of the (Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI], firstsevenshootingswerefiredfromthesame 2007a). weapon—a high-powered .223-calibre rifle.

BeltwaysniperattacksintheWashington, On the morning of October 7, a 13-year-old D.C., area killed 10 people and injured three boywasshotandinjuredinfrontofhismiddle over a three-week period in October 2002. schoolinBowie,Maryland.

, J

Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo, chose targets seemingly at random and broughtdailylifeintheareato avirtualstandstill.

The border between Haiti and the lives. Historians estimate that anywhere DominicanRepublicwasthesceneofamass between 9,000 and 20,000 Haitians were slaughter that has long burned in Haitians’ killed in the Dominican Republic on the collective memory but was either unknown orders of the Dominican dictator Rafael or forgotten in the wider world. It earned the Trujillo Bodies were dumped in the name the Parsley Massacre because Massacre River, ominously named after an Dominicansoldierscarriedasprigofparsley earliercolonialstrugglebetweentheSpanish and would ask people suspected of being and French. The killings of October 3,1937 HaitiantopronouncetheSpanishwordforit: changed the relationship between the two “perejil”. Those whose first language was countries on the island of Hispaniola and its Haitian Creole found it difficult to say it effects can still be felt today (Source: correctly,amistakethatcouldcostthemtheir BBC.com)

Military police storm the Carandiru Penitentiary in Brazil, over 100 prisoners died

T h e C a r a n d i r u

massacre occurred on Friday, October 2, 1992, in Carandiru Penitentiary inSãoPaulo,Brazil,when military police stormed the penitentiary following a prison riot The massacre, which left 111 prisoners dead, is considered by many people to be a major humanrightsviolation.

The attacks began when a bulletshatteredthewindowof a craft store in Aspen Hill, Maryland,narrowlymissinga cashier Less than an hour after that incident, a 55-year old man was shot and killed while walking across a parking lot in Wheaton, Maryland.

Although the shootings were not initially recognized as being Muhammad and Malvo left a tarot card connected, law enforcement authorities with a note to law enforcement written on it, soon realized that those two acts of violence butitcontainednospecificdemands. were just the first of what would be more More than 30 different law-enforcement than a dozen linked shootings over the next agencies at the local, state, and federal levels 23days would ultimately work together to track,

By the end of the day on October 3, five identify, and capture the parties responsible more victims had been shot and killed in the fortheattacks.(Source:Britannia)

Washington Post Journalist Jamal

Khashoggi is assassinated in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul

OnOctober2,2018,JamalKhashoggi, a Saudi dissident journalist, was assassinated by agents of the Saudi Government at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey Lured to the consulate building on the pretext of providing him papers for his upcoming wedding, Khashoggi was ambushed and strangled bya15-membersquadofSaudiassassins.

crushed him. The prisoners were stripped,

The incident was started by a prisoner locked in their cells and shot. Other prisonersrevolt.Around 1:30 P.M., two groups got into were killed by police dogs. The policea fight after a game of football; the fight released their dogs in the barber shop, wherequickly escalated into a prison riot that lasted the wounded prisoners were taken. Thethreehours.Prisonerswerereportedattacking facility was a detention center, not aeachotherwithknivesandpipes.Theconflict penitentiary,meaningthattheinmateshadnotconsisted of 2,069 prisoners against 15 yet been tried or convicted. By the end of theguards, resulting in the guards quickly losing day, 111 prisoners were dead; and 37 morecontrol of the prisoners. Around 2:15 P.M., wereinjured.the prison director, Dr José Ismael Pedrosa, Ballistic evidence indicated that 515informed the local military police Polícia bullets were found in the prisonersMilitar do Estado de São Paulo about the Furthermore, gunshot wounds were mainlyuprising. found in the face, head, throat and chest.

The military was given full command of Hands among the dead were found in front ofthe prison upon arrival about 2:30 P.M. the face or behind the head suggestingThough the director wanted to negotiate with defensive positions No policeman wasthe prisoners by a megaphone, he was held injured.(Wikipedia)back by his staff since the police almost

His body was dismembered and disposed of. Khashoggi’s final moments were captured in audio recordings, transcripts of which were subsequently madepublic.

The Saudi Government engaged in an extensive effort to cover up the killing, includingdestroyingevidence.

By October 16 separate investigations by Turkish officials and The New York Times had concluded that the murder was premeditated and that some members of the Saudi hit team were closely connected to Prince Mohammed bin Salman. After repeatedly shifting its account of what happened to Khashoggi in the days following the killing, the Saudi PrinceofSaudiArabia. Government admitted on October 25 that he Prince bin Salman said he accepted had beenkilledin a premeditatedmurderbut responsibility for the killing “because it denied that the killing took place on the happened under my watch” but asserted that ordersofMohammedbinSalman,theCrown hedidnotorderit.

The border Haiti shares with the Dominican Republic

Crosses in front of the School of Law of the University of Sao Paulo (USP) in homage to the inmates killed in the Carandiru Penitentiary massacre

The rifle used by the DC snipers

Murdered Journalist: Jamal Khashoggi

Lessons from a Lashpreneur !!!

Tips for protecting your extensions from heat and the hot weather

By Latoya Zephyr

OCEAN RULES whenoutsideissohot fullsetoflashextensions.

Just like the pool we anyway!)

CARRY TISSUES

Hey lash babes….we all recommendgoggleswhenin SPRAY TANNING OR A HANDHELD FANknow lash extensions and the ocean as salty water will If you plan on spray- Whatever you can do toanythingheatrelatedisabig also affect your retention. tanning for that perfect keepyourlashesdryandfreeno no,so let’s look at some After your swim be sure to summer glow avoid spray of sweat will extend thetips for making your lashes gentlypatdryyourlashes. tan on your face or use lengthofyourextensions.last longer in this hot GYM RULES googles to protect your AVOID INTENSE HEATweather

Don’t let your lash lashes

Whether it’s a bonfire or

Try to avoid the extensions become an BEAWARE OF just your hair dryer in theOutdoorsintheFirst2Days excuse not to stay healthy INCREASED LASH morning, be extra vigilant

Inthefirst48hoursintense Use a towel or sweatband GROWTH Yourhairand aboutkeepingyoulashesoutheatcanaffectretention. when working out to keep lashesbothgrowmore of direct and intenseTheglueisstillbondingfor your lashes dry as much as quicklyduringthesummer heat they’ll be gettingupto2days. When possible.

Don’tbealarmedby plentyofitanywaypossiblestayindoorsand

Ifyogaispartofyour additionalshedding. You Following these tip willoutoftheheatwhilethe exerciseplan,avoidhot maywanttoconsider help keep those lashes fullglueisstillsetting. yoga. Avoidthesaunaafter cominginforfillsmore and beautiful and they will

When you’re laying by thepooltakingafewsimple steps can help your lashes last. Firstbesurenottouse anoilbasedsunscreenasthis is the fastest way to destroy the bond between your eyes. We always suggest consider wearing goggles. natural lashes and the wearing sunglasses not only The friction from the extensions. If that is all to protect your lashes but movement of the water as that’s available be extra your eyes from the direct well as the chlorine can carefultokeepitoutofyour sunlight. When swimming loosenthelashglue.

POOL RULES yourworkout(whoneedsit frequentlytomaintainyour lastlonger

E-Networks reveals week of must-watch shows this week

If you are one of those individuals who enjoys watching a mix of heartwarming yet exciting shows, then the Enetworks team has just the list of must-watch items for the week. On the Dream TV be sure to catch Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings, FBI: MOSTWANTED, Escape fromKabu,LawandOrder:SVUandsomuchmore. Grabyourfavouritesnack,sitback,relaxandenjoytoyourheart'scontent.

Spinach Juice:Uses, Benefits, Side Effects

herbal remedies for diabetes otherherbalsupplementsas without talking to a doctor medical treatment for any first. health condition. Likewise, 5.Potentialusesof you should not discontinue Spinachjuice or replace an ongoing forcholesterol treatment of modern Increased blood m e d i c i n e w i t h a n

cholesterol is a significant a y u r v e d i c / h e r b a l risk factor for liver disease, preparation without pancreatitis, and heart consulting a qualified disease. Thylakoids present doctor in spinach may help reduce SideEffectsof the levels of lipids, as SpinachJuice:

Introduction: inflammatory properties of observed during a trial Spinach juice shows noYoumighthavewatched spinach juice may help conducted on men and side effects when taken inPopeye the sailor man, manage chronic disease w o m e n S i m i l a r prescribeddoses.gulping down spinach and conditions. observations have been H o w e v e r ,saving Olive! Well, that Spinach extract showed madeinanimalstudiestoo.2 overconsumption of spinachshowdidgetsomefactsright good antioxidant activity in However,donotusespinach juicemayposehealthrisks.aboutspinachevenifitwasa lab and animal trials. As juice to control blood Before using spinach juicecartoon! Spinach juice is observed during a clinical cholesterol without foranyhealthcondition,talkpacked with vitamins, trial conducted on elderly consulting your healthcare to your healthcare providermineralsandmacronutrients women, consuming spinach provider about the possible sideessential for your health. juice in a diet could show

Though some studies effects of spinach use. ThisSpinach (Spinacia antioxidant properties in showthebenefitsoftheherb will help you make well-oleraceae) is a nutritious humans.

weight. Avoid making any more research is needed to in various conditions, these informedchoices.

vegetable that is consumed In another clinical study, changes to your diet before support the consumption of arenotsufficientandthereis PrecautionstoTakeby boiling the fresh leaves. it was observed that the talkingtoyourdietician. spinach juice in cancer in a necessity for further withSpinachJuice:You can consume spinach consumption of spinach in 3.Potentialusesof humans. studies to establish the true Herearesomegeneralraw as well as in cooked healthy men and women spinachjuiceforcancer 4.Potentialusesof extentofthebenefitsofherb precautionsyoushouldtakeform.Spinachleavescontain couldreduceoxidativestress

Cancerisaseverehealth spinachjuicefordiabetes onhumanhealth.  whileusingspinachjuice.plenty of antioxidant inthebody issue and one of the leading Several animal and HowtoUse

·Precautionsforcompounds that can Inflammation is the causes of death worldwide. humantrialshaveshownthe SpinachJuice: pregnantandwomenpotentially really save you body's natural response to Diets rich in dark green glucose lowering property

You may consume raw P r e g n a n t a n dfromalotofhealthtrouble. stress and injury vegetables such as spinach ofspinachinhyperglycemia spinach juice to enjoy the breastfeedingwomenshould

Many believe spinach Inflammation for prolong may help reduce the risk of (high blood sugar) or type 2 numerous health benefits consult a qualified doctor ororiginatedinPersiaandthen periods can lead to diseases cancers Many studies diabetes. that this leafy vegetable healthcare provider beforespread across Europe and likecancer,heartdiseaseand demonstrate spinach's During a trial, a spinach offers To make spinach drinking spinach juiceAsia. type2diabetes. protectiveroleagainstcolon, diet could improve insulin juice, blend some fresh Likewise, pregnant women

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As per a case study, the consumingwholespinachor yourchoice. their healthcare providernutritious foods are spinach can be a safe and consumptionofspinachwas intheformofjuicemayhelp Onceitisblended,strain first.spreading rapidly to effective way to manage associated with a decreased reduce the levels of glucose the mixture into a glass. ·Precautionsforcountrieswheretheyarenot inflammation. Spinach has risk of breast cancer in in the diet 2 However, Voila! Your spinach juice is elderlyandchildrennative. Spinach juice can be shown anti inflammatory women Though the spinach or other natural ready

Children should avoidan excellent choice in this propertiesinseverallabsand protective effects of spinach remediesshouldnotbeused You must consult a taking spinach juice unlessregard because of the animalstudies. have been observed in as an alternative treatment qualified physician before recommended by apresence of its high

Animals receiving clinical and animal trials, for diabetes. Do not use taking spinach juice or healthcareprovidernutritional value. Continue spinach showed a decrease reading to find out what's in in the levels of chemical itforyou! markersofinflammation.

Propertiesof Moreresearchisneededto SpinachJuice: supporttheconsumptionof Spinach juice may spinachjuiceinmanaging demonstratetheseproperties andpreventingchronic as observed in various diseaseconditions. research. Therefore,youmusttalkto

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· It may help reduce whowanttomanageweight.

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Potential Uses of and thereby reduce calorie Spinach Juice for Overall intake as per studies Health: conducted on humans and Spinachisarichsourceof animals. Evidence suggests manyphytochemicalsand thespinachdietreducesfood nutrients.Therefore,itmay intake, controls hunger, and havepotentialuseinmany reduces weight gain in healthconditions. people.

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Theantioxidantandanti- people looking to lose

Banana Flower:Uses, Benefits, Side Effects

Introduction: yellow or pink in colour Protein–19.60%

One of the most

Precisely, the colour of the Fibre–70% consumedfruitintheworld flower can range from Carbohydrates is bananas and bananas orange to purple and it 53.78% (Musa paradisiaca) are contains pale yellow or Sheng et al , and grown in almost every white florets inside it Elaveniya et al., found in

Also Read: Red Chilli:country, especially in the Banana flowers have many their study that the

Uses,Benefits,SideEffectssubtropical and tropical bioactive compounds and following minerals are

ByDr SmitaBaroderegions. are nutty, crunchy and present in the banana

Properties of Banana

It is produced mostly in starchytotaste. flower: Flower:India, followed by China, It might also have the Sodium

The banana flowerwhich is the second largest potential to help with Phosphorous mightpossessthefollowingproducer of bananas. The certain health conditions Potassium properties:banana plant is the largest likediabetes,diarrhoea,and Calcium

It might be anflowering herbaceous plant cancer Magnesium antioxidant.and a lot of banana flowers Let us discuss the Iron

It might possess a are produced in a single importance and health Zinc1 cytotoxic effect (Killscollectionofbananas. benefits of the banana Other research showed damaged cells) It might

These flowers are f l o w e r i n d e t a i l thatthefollowingbioactive possessanti-inflammatoryusually considered a waste NutritionalValueofBanana compounds like alkaloids, Itmightprotectthelivermaterial while producing Flower: saponins, superoxide (hepatoprotective).bananas, but it has high A study conducted by dismutase, cardiac

It might be antinutritional value The Ramu et al., found in their glycosides, steroids, and microbial.flowers of bananas are studythatthebananaflower phenolic compounds might It might help lower thehuge, red, pointed flowers, contains the following be present in the banana bloodsugarlevels. some of the flowers are nutrients: flower

GWI testing laboratory certified by GNBS

- to ensure safe water is provided to citizens countrywide

T h e G u y a n a Wa t e r

General Requirements for the madeusareliablesourcefortesting Incorporated (GWI), the nation’s operation of a laboratory The andwhenweputoutresults,wecan largest supplier of water, is Standard provides guidance on the guarantee that it’s valid and we can responsible for the delivery of development and maintenance of a stand by it, because we follow the water to the suburban, rural and thorough management system NationalStandard,”heexplained. the hinterland regions, excluding which allows for the provision of The GWI Testing Laboratory Linden and some areas supplied accurate and reliable test results was established over two decades by the sugar industry Under the thatinfluenceothermeasures. ago and conducts water quality tagline“Waterislife…saveit!”– The GWI Laboratory maintains testingnotonlyforthecompanybut o t h e r c l i e n t s Currently, the facility offers 20 chemistry and two microbiology tests to a growing numberofclients.

According to Mr Veerasammy, these tests are conducted to ensure that the quality ofwatersuppliedtothe citizens meets the W o r l d H e a l t h Organisation’s (WHO) d r i n k i n g w a t e

delines “We monitor all these parameters according to the WHO’s drinking waterguidelines,sowe know that we are supplying water of a the company recognises the it place amongst the 24 testing and Parsram disclosed that the laboratoryisencouragingotherstandard and specific quality,” he importance of water to life and clinical laboratories currently company is looking to increase its c

certified to the national standard.

g

noted. In explaining the operation

scope of certification in the coming

of the laboratory, the GWI commodity However, what is T h e G N B S L a b o r a t o r y year laboratories under the GNBSTechnical Lead pointed out that even more important is the Certification Programme is a

“…one of the things that we Laboratory Certificationtestsareconductedatthelaboratorydelivery of treated water voluntary programme that allows would like to work on is expanding Programme, noting that thisbut once an issue is detected, w h i c h i s f r e e f r o m the laboratories’ management our scope because we find willnotonlyhelpthecompanyfurther tests are done on samplescontaminants and undesirable teams to demonstrate conformance ourselves in a position where many improve performance but alsoacquired from persons’ homes and components for human to standard through certification. requests from external agencies, boost their recognition in theirat the various treatment plants to consumptionoruse.

OnAugust 31, 2022, the laboratory boats that are working along in the fieldofwork.determinenextsteps.

To guarantee accurate test was recertified for maintaining the oil industry and so forth, are asking To access information on

M

requirementsoftheStandard.

Ve

a

forwaterqualityanalysesandbeing G N B S C

mentioned that while the initial Guyanese from waterborne The Technical Lead at the the premier water quality programmes, companies can processes to attain certification diseases and illnesses, the GWI’s Water Quality Department, laboratoryinthecountry,wehavea visit the GNBS website: were challenging, maintaining the nation’s main water supplier Mr Mark Verasammy noted that mandate to fulfill the need to www.gnbsgy.org, or contactrequirements was not as difficult. achieved certification of its the laboratory sought certification properly assess any water sample the GNBS on telephone“Allofthestaffaretrainednow,and Testing Laboratory from the toimproveconfidenceintheresults that we are presented with. In light numbers: 219-0064-66. Theythey know what they need to do,Guyana National Bureau of emanatingfromthefacility of that, I’d like for us (GWI Lab) to can also visit the GNBSmaking it easier to achieve Standards (GNBS) in 2018. “We wanted to improve our expand the scope and those Facebook and Instagram pagesrecertification to the national The GWI Laboratory is marketability and boost our measures will be put in place,” Mr

standard,”henoted.

certified to the Guyana reputation as a testing lab in

Parsramexpounded.

WhatsApp the Bureau on 692-Meanwhile, Head, Water Standard GYS170:2009 Guyana. For the certification, it The management of the 4627. (A GNBS feature)Quality (Ag.) at GWI, Mr Avinash

Plaque presented to GWI during recertification (Photo Credit: GNBS)

GWI Lab Technician Conducting Testing of water (Photo Credit: GNBS)

GWI Staff pose with Renewal Certificate and Plaque (Photo Credit: GNBS)

St. Joseph Lab is first in updated national standard certification

he Guyana National stated that implementing Bureau of Standards standards requires teamwork (GNBS) Certification andgoodleadership.

T Services Department on He added, “I am happy that Thursday, September 29, 2022, the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital recertified the St. Joseph Mercy Laboratorywasabletostepover Hospital Laboratory after it to the revised standard which demonstrated conformance to the includespiecesoftheISO9001, requirementsoftherevisedGuyana ISO 15198 and the ISO 17025 Standard (GYS 170:2021) internationalstandards.”

General requirements for the The Quality Manager operationofalaboratory encouraged other labs to not be

This certification, according to timid about adopting the a Press Release from the GNBS, requirements of the revised marks the first of the Laboratories standard because it will help to in Guyana to conform to the improve the overall national requirements of this updated healthcaresystem. standard.

On behalf of the GNBS, The certificate, which is valid Technical Officer, Ms. Liliah for two years, along with a plaque congratulated the Lab for being

laboratories involved are provided with formal was handed over to the laboratory the first to be certified to the covers, hematology, serology, in testing, measurement and/or recognition to attest that they haveby Ms. Rosmarie Liliah, Technical revised National standard She biochemistry and microbiology, calibration activities to ensure that

O

GNBS advised that impromptu audits will immunology, parasitology/urology

they are satisfying the criteria for laboratory management system,Certification Services Department, be conducted by the Bureau to andElisa/PCR.

certification and the requirements which aids their provision ofduring a brief ceremony at the ensure that conformance to the Through its Laboratory outlinedintheNationalStandard. accurate and reliable results toLab’s Parade Street, Georgetown requirementsismaintained. Certification Programme, the Laboratories,whichconformto patients, medical practitioners, andlocation. Receiving the certificate The scope of the certification GNBS monitors the operations of the requirements of this standard, otherrequiringmedicalresults. on behalf of the establishment was Ms Deborah Ramsay, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Hospital.

In addressing those at the ceremony, Ms Ramsay firstly expressedgratitudeonbehalfofthe medicalinstitutiontotheGNBSfor recertification to the new edition of the Laboratory standard The Deputy CEO stated that the certification comes at a time when the hospital is celebrating its 77th anniversary

She acknowledged the efforts of the LaboratoryTeam in ensuring standardsaremaintainedandadded that the certification along with the overall ISO 15189 certification the Hospital received in 2021 will be able to address crucial aspects in thelab,includingrisks.

Meanwhile, Mr Nolan Hawke, Quality Manager of the Laboratory

Deputy CEO, Ms. Deborah Ramsey signs the Terms and Conditions of the certification

The St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Laboratory staff pose with the certificate and plaque

The St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Laboratory has been recertified by the GNBS

Continue with this effort of develop your Sense of Belonging

As we mentioned last week, we will discuss the three steps needed to inculcate this vitalsenseofbelonging.

In this issue, we expand on the first step, andhopethatallouryouthswillfollowclosely and take this opportunity to educate themselvesontheproceduresinvolved.

To develop this vital sense of belonging within an environment which is safe and leading them in the right direction, teenagers will first need to involve themselves in this firststep:-

The creation of an accepting environment in which they are supported by their peers. This can be achieved by getting involved in organisations which are geared toward

Social and emotional support is essential to the providingsomeservicetothemselvesandtoothers. development of self-confidence in every human being. For

Asmembersofanorganisation,allhavetheobligationto those adolescents in whose homes this support is lacking, contribute towards achieving mutual understanding, because parents/relatives are emotionally distant, harshly acceptance and inclusion of all others. It must be critical,abusiveorneglectful,thenitisimportantthattheyget remembered always that other persons have the same this support from their peers in a healthy manner Again, if emotional needs as we have and, as we must help them to youexperienceanyfeelingsofshame,lonelinessorsadness,it satisfy these, we will be able to benefit in the same way maybenecessarytolookforpleasantandrespectablefriends, Everyone must be treated as equals, even though some especially who have similar experiences and whom you can would be in positions of authority Membership of a trust, and discuss your mutual problems. This effort at worthwhile organisation gives a sense of group pride and cooperation will go a long way towards developing this increasesthisfeelingofbelonging. Anytimeonefeelsapart feelingofconfidenceinoneselfandothers. of something larger than oneself, especially if one is doing We continue with the next steps towards this effort in the his bit to keep it running, it enhances this sense and our forthcoming issues, so please ensure that you get access to personalworth. theseandfollowtheadvicegivenineachstep.

Build A Box Of Friendship

To build a box of friendship, To ensure that it is strong, First place a layer of respect On the bottom where it belongs.

Then to the sides attach, In the corners where they meet, Several anchors full of trust, Devoid of all deceit.

by Chuck Pool

The height of friendship can be measured By the sides of four, So make them all a larger cut, And the box will hold much more.

Now fill it up with courtesy, Honour and esteem, Understanding, empathy, And passion for a dream.

Add to that your honesty, Emotions of joy and love, And since these are so important, Place them up above.

But leave the box wide open So that all can see inside, To learn what makes a friendship work From the box you built with pride.

Solutions to last week’s

InterestingCreatures... Brown marmorated stink bug

The brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) is an insect in the family Pentatomidae, native to China, Japan, Korea and other Asian regions In September 1998 it was collected in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where it is believed to have been accidentallyintroduced.

Thenymphsandadultsof the brown marmorated stink bugfeedonover100species of plants, including many agricultural crops, and by 2010 11 had become a season-long pest in orchards in the Eastern United States. In 2010, in the Mid-Atlantic United States, $37 million in apple crops were lost, and somestonefruitgrowerslost morethan90percentoftheir crops.Itisnowestablishedin manypartsofNorthAmerica, and has recently become established in Europe and SouthAmerica.

Description

Adultbrownmarmorated

stinkbugsareapproximately 1.7 cm (0.67 in) long and about as wide, forming the heraldic shield shape characteristic of bugs in the superfamily Pentatomoidea. They are generally a dark brown when viewed from above, with a creamy whitebrownunderside.

Individual colouration may vary, with some bugs being various shades of red, grey, light brown, copper, or b l a c k T h e t e r m "marmorated" means variegated or veined, like marble, which refers to the markings unique to this species,includingalternating light-coloured bands on the antennaeandalternatingdark bands on the thin outer edge oftheabdomen.

The legs are brown with faint white mottling or banding.

The nymph stages are black or very dark brown, withredintegumentbetween the sclerites First instar nymphs have no white

markings, but second through fifth instar nymphs have black antennae with a singlewhiteband.Thelegsof nymphs are black with varying amounts of white banding.

F r e s h l y m o l t e d individuals of all stages are palewhitewithredmarkings. Eggsarenormallylaidonthe undersideofleavesinmasses of28eggs,andarelightgreen when laid, gradually turning white.

Like all stink bugs, the glands that produce the defensive chemicals (the smell) are located on the underside of the thorax, between the first and second pairoflegs.

Behaviour

The odour from the stink bugisduetotrans-2-decenal and trans-2-octenal. The smell has been characterized as a 'pungent odour that smells like coriander.' The stink bug's ability to emit an odour through holes in its abdomen is a defense

mechanismmeanttoprevent it from being eaten by birds andlizards.

However, simply handling the bug, injuring it, or attempting to move it can triggerittoreleasetheodour

Reports on human cases are rare, but the stink bug's body fluids are toxic and irritating to the human skin and eyes One case of keratitishasbeenreportedin Taiwan.

Mating

During courtship, the male emits pheromones and vibrational signals to communicate with a female, which replies with her own vibrational signals, as in all stinkbugs.

The insects use the signals to recognise and locateeachother.Vibrational signals of this species are notedfortheirlowfrequency, and one male signal type is much longer than any other previously described signals in stink bugs, although the significanceofthisisnotyet

clear Diet

The brown marmorated stink bug is a sucking insect (like all Hemiptera or "true bugs")thatusesitsproboscis to pierce the host plant to feed.

This feeding results, in part, in the formation of dimpled or necrotic areas on the outer surface of fruits, leaf stippling, seed loss, and possible transmission of plantpathogens.

It is an agricultural pest that can cause widespread damagetofruitandvegetable crops.InJapan,itisapestto soybeanandfruitcrops.

In the U.S., the brown marmorated stink bug feeds, beginning in late May or earlyJune,onawiderangeof fruits, vegetables, and other host plants including peaches,apples,greenbeans,

raspberries, and pears (Source:Wikipedia)

Extra care for 100-year-olds and beyond

…as Human Service Ministry launches 'The Century Club'

In commemoration of the Month of the Elderly, celebrated in October each year, the MinistryofHumanServices andSocialSecurityiscaring for its senior citizens in a specialwaywiththelaunch of The 'Century Club' –Extracareforthosewhoare 100yearsandbeyond.'This is a club which honours those citizens in Guyana who have made it to 100 yearsandevenexceededit.

A c

information release by the Ministry, this programme aims to bring ease and comforttoGuyana'slongest

providing care packages, groceries,healthcheck-ups, vitamins, glucose testing

services. These items will be procured directly through the Ministry and through collaboration with va

organisationsandentities.

The Minister of Human

S

Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud emphasised, “our

contributed in diverse spheresinourcountryand,I believeitisincumbentonus to ensure that in their later years they're able to enjoy all amenities, facilities, and opportunitiestohaveagood qualityoflife.”

A

constantly working to find waystoimprovethelivesof its

Moreover,MinisterPersaud reiterated in her remarks, “we have moved a great distance with regard to pension in terms of our increase in pension, the early delivery of pension books, the introduction of thebankingsystemandalso alternatevenuesandweare w

improvements that will c

pensioners can really, not havetosufferfrustration

Some seniors already in the 'Century Club' being catered to by Minister Vindhya Persaud.

ALISA McK enzie

Meet the alluring Alisa McKenzie, a 23-year old Survey Technician who is a lover of the outdoors and all things art. This week's beauty enjoys modelling, dancing, poetry, painting and singing in her spare time She is also a student of the University of Guyana studying Mining Engineering

The young lady, who resides on the East Bank of Demerara, said it is her dream to leave a great impact in the communities she is part of and the country at large, hence her pursuit of engineering studies. McKenzie said she is a strong advocate for self love and care which attracted her to modelling where she uses the platform to teach young girls to love themselves irrespective of their colour, hair, religion, ethnicity, etc. Her favourite quote, by Maya Angelou, is, “Develop enough courage to stand up for yourself and then stand up for somebody else ”

ByAllyiahAllicock

For as long as she can

Yo

Parbhu had a deep passion for all things arts and crafts.

Having fully embraced this passion, she is today the proud owner of a jewellery and home décorhandcraftingbusinesscalled 'Handcrafted by Yogini' which featuresitemsmadefrompolymer clay

Parbhu in a recent interview withthismagazinesaidthatbefore getting into the polymer clay business, she was very much into cakedecoratingandsewing,areas that allowed her to showcase her creativeskills.

But one day, while browsing Pinterest, she came across polymer clay jewellery and personalised home décor “The

p

Entrepreneur On The Mo

‘Handcrafted by Yogini' into

“Recently there has been a number of local craft markets and pop-up shops for businesses to exhibit their products which is commendable. However, I would like to encourage the local people to go out and support. Your support meansmorethanyouknowtoasmallbusinessowner.”

an

impressive. It sparked my interest and after much research on YouTube, I decided to invest in a few materials to start,” she explained.

Itwasn'tlongafterfindingand embracing this new interest that Handcrafted by Yogini was launched.

Since May of this year, when she introduced her business, she has been receiving quite the attention.

The young mother of one said since being in the business industry,thefeedbackandsupport has been nothing less than tremendous.

Her family and friends she shared, “help to push me forward andkeepmeoptimistic.

Also, the feedback from my

Adeeppassionthatmorphedint‘Handcrafted by Yogini'

customers has been wonderful it keepsmegoing.

My gratitude to all those who continuetosupportandencourage me,noneofitgoesunnoticed.”

According to Parbhu, the biggest challenge she has faced since her start-up was finding her targetaudience. “Aswithanynew business venture finding your niche takes patience and persistence.

Withthehelpofsocialmedia,I am slowly getting there,” she added.Although still in the initial phase of her business, one of her long-term goals is to one day be able to sell her products internationally.

In the meantime, Parbhu will continue to fulfill her local customers' needs and introduce new items to them as often as she

can.

According to the young woman, with Diwali and the Christmas season approaching, she plans to launch new collections.

So, if you are interested in seeingwhatmore'Handcraftedby Yogini' has to offer, continue to followthesocialmediapages(see below)forupdates.

Parbhu believes that young entrepreneurslikeherselfhavethe ability to stimulate innovation, creativity and economic growth. They are the ones, she is convinced, who are going to take thingstothenextlevel.

She noted too that the small businessconceptcanbeboostedto the point of success if “our own

businessesthatareoutthere.”

“Recently there has been a number of local craft markets and pop-up shops for businesses to exhibit their products which is commendable.

However, I would like to encourage the local people to go outandsupport.

Yoursupportmeansmorethan you know to a small business owner,”sheencouraged.

Persons interested in purchasing or ordering from Handcrafted by Yogini can find thematCollagewhichislocatedat L

Campbellville, Georgetown (next doortoRamchand'sAutoSpares). You can also visit the

==Young @handcraftedbyyogini pages or reach out via WhatsApp (592) 656-1282.

Some of the beautiful pieces created byYogini Parbhu

The talentedYogini Parbhu, the proud owner of 'Handcrafted byYogini'

La Grange woman found dead after 'drinking session'

ByShervinBelgrave

While police are still trying to ascertain the circumstances that led to the murder of the woman whose body was found in her La Grange, West Bank Demerara (WBD) home on Friday,reportshavesurfaced that she might have been raped then killed after a 'drinkingsession'.

The woman, who has been identified as 33-year old Nirmala Sukhai of Lot 35,FactoryDam,LaGrange, WBD, was found dead around16:00hrs.Hermother, who had gone to pay her a visit, was the one who made thegruesomediscovery

Police revealed that Sukhai was found lying face down on her bed with blood oozing from her mouth. Her bodywascladinnothingbut a pink top. A pair of short pantswasfoundclosebyand it appeared as though it was cut off from the rear, accordingtoapolicereport.

A brown handled knife was also found under her body Aftertheirassessment of the scene, detectives took her body to the West Demerara Regional Hospital for further observation before it was sent to the Ezekiel Funeral Home. Police are awaiting a post mortem examination to determine what caused her death.

So far they have learnt that she was last seen alive close to midnight on Thursday Kaieteur News was informed that she had been drinking with some individuals at a location before heading home. One man recalled that he had dropped in at the 'drinking session' and had bought her two beers and left but had promisedtoreturn.However, hesaidwhenhereturnedshe wasnowherearound.

Murdered: Nirmala Sukhai

In fact, he said that the next time he would hear of her was when media reports surfaced about her being murdered. Whilepolicehave confirmed that the woman lived alone, they are still trying to determine whether she made the journey home alone.

As police attempt to unravel the mystery, it is suspected that Sukhai was raped. However, those who knew her believe that multiple persons might have been involved since she was described as a “strong woman”whowouldhaveput up a valiant fight if someone hadattackedher

Sukhaiwasdescribedasa jovial individual who was fulloflifeand“workedlikea man”. She was a labourer who worked as hard as her male counterparts in the constructionsector

One individual recalled being shocked when he saw her work for the first. He remembered Sukhai picking up some sand paper and doing a good job of sanding some furniture to be polished.

2 more lives lost in separate road accidents

ByShervinBelgrave

Two more persons were killed on Friday in separate road accidents –one claiming the life of a 43 year old man at Harlem, West Coast Demerara (WCD) and anotheratCentralLethem, Region Nine that snuffed outthelifeofa10-year-old schoolgirl.

The 43-year-old man was reportedly struck down around 19:30hrs on Fridaybyacardrivenbya man who was speeding to the West Demerara Regional Hospital to save hisson'slife.

Thedeadmanhasbeen identified as Umesh Ramkinshun of Lot 38

The car that killed the Lethem school girl.

FirstStreetofGrove,EastBank Demerara and he was killed on the Harlem Public Road Ramkinshunwasstruckdownas he was crossing the road from northtosouthinthecompanyof anotherman.

Video footage showed the men crossing the road and as they were almost across, a speeding car heading east collidedwithoneofthemwhile the other was left in a state of shock.

T h e i m p a c t f l u n g Ramkishunintotheairbeforehe fell onto the bonnet and windscreen of the car and then tumbled onto the roadway Police visited the scene shortly after and noted that the pedestrian suffered severe injuriesincludingasevered (Continued page62)

Drunk driver: Navindra Narine

Ascreengrab of the two men crossing the Harlem West Coast Demerara public road, just seconds before one of them was killed by the speeding car.

Dead: Ruth Ann Glasgow

WEEKINREVIEW

are working on the removal less, the middlemen are ofnon-tariffbarrierstoallow SUNDAY drivingupthisprice.” for the free movement of goods between CARICOM

price,itisalmost300percent

Cognisant of this, the

GUYANESE TAKE EPATO member states. Not onlyMinistersaidheisexploringCOURT TO ENSURE EXXON that, but Mustapha said,ways to get the GuyanaCOVERS ALL COSTS FOR

Manufacturing CorporationOIL SPILL DISASTER AT Caribbeanisnowlookingto(GMC) involved to helpLIZA PHASE 1PROJECT

Guyana for importation ofregulatetheprices. freshfruitsandvegetablesso

“Iamlookingatawayin

Guyanese citizens, the demands are higher now whichwecangetGMCnowFrederick Collins and forus. tocomeupwithaplansothatGodfrey Whyte, have taken

That means we have to we can also buy theset

E

a

increase production and ifproduce and take it aroundProtection Agency (EPA) to wearelookingtoreducethethemarketatacheaperpricecourt to enforce a critical food import bill by 25totheretailers.clauseintheLizaPhaseOne percent in the next threeenvironmental permit, They have these trucks years then we fall right in

recently issued to Esso representing the litigants, when asked for a comment, andso,”henoted.Mustapha

linewiththatprogramme.”streamlined, Mustapha isExploration and Production this state of affairs is stated: “Any right thinking iscertainthatthemiddlemen

In the Ministry ofalsoconfidentthatGuyana’sGuyanaLimited(EEPGL). absolutely reprehensible. and objective person would are responsible for the FinanceHalf-YearReport,itprices will be competitiveThat provision says Janki said, “If there is any andmustbeconcernedabout increased fresh food prices, was explained that someenough to supply the foodExxonMobil Corporation, mistakeinEsso’soperations thepossibilityofapetroleum adding pressure on the $651.9 million was investedbaskets across the region.the parent company for and oil ends up in the disaster on the high seas, consumer,sincethepriceper

into the ‘other crops’ sub-TheMinisterpointedoutthatEEPGL,mustcovercostsfor Ca

b

Project in Guyana’s billions of dollars and that coverage from reputable

, which will cause untold pound of plantain for sector In this year’s budget,since the necessaryall environmental loss and Guyana could be liable for damage,destructionandloss example is merely $100 at a total of $1.3 billion wasinvestments were made todamage that might result the damage as a result of to an entire region and its thefarmgate,whereasatthe allocatedtothisstream.Firstincrease the production offromawellblowout,oilspill international law Liability peoples, so that it is market some vendors are half spending went towardsfruits and vegetables, localor other failure in the Liza from a well blowout or oil absolutely crucial to have retailingat$200or$210per thecompletionof109shadefarmers will have morePhase One Development spill could cost Guyana full and adequate insurance pound. houses,andtheconstructionopportunities to retail their

of four green houses as part

Stabroek Block Any cost to Guyana could be insurers, which are capable ofGuyana’simplementationthat this not only drives up‘accident’ in its operations more than the money that of honouring billion dollar

As such, he explained goods.

In underlining some of of climate-smart agriculturethe costs but creates thewill affect not only Guyana Guyana supposedly gets claims, in the event of an and Guyanese but most of under the deal. This is a suchaccidentoraccidents.” the Caribbean countries and massivefinancialriskandin Jairam categorically possiblybeyondtheregion. my view, the permit clearly statedthatthisisnotatrifling

K a i e t e u r N e w s puts that financial risk on matter “It is a matter of understandsthatMr Collins Esso and its parent immense concern to me and and Mr Whyte are ExxonMobil, and not on the all persons who are represented by Mr Seenath Guyanesepeople.” e n v i r o n m e n t a l l y Jairam, SC, Ms. Melinda Janki further stated that conscious.”Todate,thereare JankiandMrs.AbiolaWong- communities in Guyana are six cases in court regarding Inniss. taking lessons from major the operations of

Mr Collins, a former disasters like the BP Deep ExxonMobil’s affiliate Esso insurance professional, said, Water Horizon in 2010, inGuyana. “I can’t even drive my car whichcostthecompanyover without insurance. So it is US$65billionanddestroyed

AGRI.MINISTRY incomprehensible that the the environment and

PROMISES TO CLAMP Government would allow livelihoods. DOWN ON HIGH ‘FRESH Esso to operate without any Unlike the United States FOOD’PRICES form of insurance/guarantee ofAmerica,Jankipositsthat …SAYS NO SHORTAGE, fromitsparentcompany An Guyanahasnoexperienceof MIDDLEMEN DRIVING UP oil spill would be oil and no oil/gas experts, COSTS devastating for our country engineers and other

…GUYANA READY TO

illusion of a shortage. the steps taken to boost practices.and region as many necessary technical staff to SUPPLY NEEDS OF

According to him, “We are Guyana’s production in thisGuyanese and Caribbean run an oil sector She said CARIBBEAN lookingto bringthis backin regard,Mustaphashared,“In MONDAYpeoplesdependontheOcean too that Guyana also lacks lineonceagain.IamhopingThe Ministry of crops, we start diversifying.for their livelihoods. That is the infrastructure to swiftly thatthisisatemporarythingAgriculture, headed by

Westartedplantingcornand GOVT. SAYS NO SLOWINGwhywehavedecidedthatthe cap a well and mitigate the but we will continue theMinister Zulfikar Mustapha soya – we gone into high DOWN OF GAS TO SHOREtime has come to take damage caused by a farmers market around theis adamant that there is no valuecropsforyoungpeople PROJECTmatters to the court for potentialoildisaster country.”shortage of fresh fruits and too in broccoli, cauliflower -MINISTER VICKRAMrelief.”

Scores of other

Janki also noted that a vegetables on the local andcarrot.

World Bank project to build market as claimed by

M e a n w h i l e , t h e

BHARRAT SAYS

LANDOWNERS CONCERNS

Guyanese citizens are also

Agriculture Minister said he

We are looking at thecapacity has been vendors,seekinghighprices WILL BE ADDRESSEDbelieves Guyana is on trackdeeply concerned with the

possibility now to start thedowngraded to moderately forthesaleofthesegoods. to supply the needs of thesafety of Esso’s operations.

Many have said they are

trial for wheat it’s allunsatisfactory Even as landowners inCaribbean He explained,

Inarecentinterviewwith

roundinagriculturebecause

Whatfurthercompounds RegionThree fume over the“Well we are expandingshocked to learn that Esso Kaieteur News, the subject we are consolidating andthe madness, in her eyes, is presence of a natural gasproduction and more andhas been using a faulty gas Ministersaidthatheisaware expanding like the freshthe fact that Esso is pipeline on their properties-more lands are beingcompressor and flaring of the prevailing high costs fruitsandvegetables.”registered offshore and its causing disruption and fear-cultivated.Whenyoulookatbillions of cubic feet of gas for fresh food items, whilefinancial position is unclear

Already, he said that the the Minister of Naturalthe Half-Year Report, youinstead of re-injecting it. assuring that the Ministryas it has been filing what it local demand for produce Resources, Vickram Bharratwould see how muchCitizens have also gone to will be taking steps tocalls ‘branch’ accounts in hasincreasedsincePresident i s c o n f i d e n t t h a tincrease in fresh fruits andcourttochallengetheflaring addressthis.Guyana. Irfaan Ali met with the Government’s plans to v

ab

s

havein a separate court case. In a separate litigation, a He explained, “I know Caribbean leaders earlier develop the Gas-to-Energyincreased over the last sixFurthermore, Esso has also Guyanese citizen has asked that local consumers have this year at the Agri (GTE) project will not bemonthssowearecontinuallyadmitted to operating above the court to order Esso to been complaining about the InvestmentForumandExpo deterred by concernedincreasing production tothe safety level of its comply with Guyana’s prices and you know one of hosted in Guyana between citizens.satisfy the demand locallyproductionvessel.

company law and file full the things we have startedis May19and21. At the sidelines of aandalsoregionally.”

In the meantime, theInternationalLawyer,whois Mr Seenath Jairam, SC,

According to Janki, an accounts. the farmer’s market. When meeting,hostedonFriday

Evenwiththisambitiousyou look at the farm gate (Continuedonpage58)Minister said the countries

Attorneys-at-Law, Mr. Seenath Jairam, SC, and Ms. Melinda Janki

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha

Frompage57

ensuresafetyandsecurityof at the West Demerara the pipeline so it will be Secondary School where secured in that not just landowners that will be anybody can run in and do affectedbythepipelinewere anything to it, so they engaged, Minister Bharrat understand that and that it told this publication that he will be underground and not doesnotforeseeanyhiccups on land so I think they are along the land acquisition pretty much comfortable process. “I don’t see any withthatpositionit’sjustthe hiccupsbutofcoursepeople process of the land expressed their concerns, acquisitionnow.” which is expected and rightly so. If I was a land

GUYANA TO FINALLY ownerIwouldbeconcerned GET LAW SCHOOL toobutwewillengagethem, -CLE APPROVES this is just the first GOVT. PROPOSAL TO engagement. There will be PROVIDE LAND, BUILDING many other engagements fromhisgrandfatherandsoIwherewewillspeaktothem

Guyana will finally get amcurrently29yearsold.Itdirectly and to try to its own law school now that will affect me a lot. I amnegotiate to come to a the Council of Legallooking forward to a call common position on a Education (CLE) has from whichever lawyer theyconsensualbasis.” accepted a proposal by say they are gonna proposeAbout 25 landowners Guyana for the school to be to us but this offer I can’tbetween Nouvelle Flanders managedbytheCouncil,but workwithit.”and Canal Number One in thiscountrywillprovidethe Region Three received a buildingandtheland. document outlining the Attorney General (AG) measurementofthelandthat and Minister of Legal will be required for the Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC pipeline, along with the cost made the announcement on Government is willing to Sunday.Hesaidthedecision pay, based on the valuation togiveGuyanatheclearance process already completed. wastakenlastweekduringa This publication spoke with m e e t i n g o f l o c a l anumberoflandownerswho representatives and said they are not satisfied members of the Council in with the offer made by Barbados The Attorney Government for their lands. General was accompanied One farmer for example by Chancellor of the explainedthattheoffermade Judiciary (ag ), Yonnette did not take into Cummings Edwards who consideration the earnings represented the Judiciary made from the property that and Attorneys-at-Law, Mr promote Guyana as an AG had argued also against Ltd.) was blacklisted by thewouldbeaffected. Teni Housty and Kamal attractiveoffshoreeducation the hardship faced by local World Bank on September

Attorney General (AG) and Minister of LegalAffairs Anil Nandlall, SC

Also,theyoungmansaidMeanwhile, another Ramkarran who represented destination. The proposed law students and had called 11, 2019 The financialhe is fearful that a gas leaklandownerinCanalNumber theGuyanaBarAssociation, law school is expected to out the Government for not institutionhadimposeda20-may occur and start a chainOne explained that even whenhemetwithofficialsof attract students from across moving quickly given the month debarment of thereaction; hence he may bethough Government will the CLE in Bridgetown theRegionandfartherafield issues Guyanese students Chinese state ownedforced to discontinue hisonlyrequirepartofhisland, Barbados, last week and andwilleasetheoverloading face. enterprise,knownatthetimegreatgrandparents’legacyhis farming activity will be presented a case for the which currently obtains, in a s C h i n a E n e r g yAfemalelandownerwhocompletely disrupted hence establishmentofaCouncil’s particular,atHughWooding TUESDAY Engineering Group Hunandid not state her namehe does not believe he lawschoolinGuyana. and Norman Manley Law Electric Power Designshared,“webeenlivingherereceived a fair offer for In his presentation, the Schools.

WORLD BANK Institute Co., Ltd (CEEC-we whole life now they justcompensation The man, Attorney General informed Guyana‘s previous

BLACKLISTED ALL THREE HEPDI). It had providedwant come and disrupt yourwho is employed at a the Council that unlike a attempt to establish a law COMPANIES THAT BID FOR e n g i n e e r i n g a n dwholesystem.NottheentireGovernmentOffice,askedto proposal made by his school proved unsuccessful.

WALES GAS PLANT construction services, inlandwillbeaffectedbutstillremainanonymous. predecessor,BasilWilliams, Theproposalthenwasmade PROJECT connectionwithfraudaspartyou are being disruptedHe explained, “I am one SC, which the Council by former Attorney General - ACCUSED OF BRIBING of a Lusaka TransmissionExxonhadsentayoungladyof the landowners that will rejected, the Government of and Minister of Legal OFFICIALS, FALSIFYING a n d D

b

and I asked what wouldbe extremely affected Guyanaisproposingthatthe Affairs, under the A DOCUMENTS AND Rehabilitation Project in thehappenifitexplodeandtheyAccording to what they are law school be a Council’s Partnership For National FRAUDULENT PRACTICES Republic of Zambia. Thesaiditwouldbeundergroundsaying it will be about six institution to be managed Unity +Alliance for Change debarment made CEECnine feet but I don’t knowacrestheyneed.Myconcern andadministeredbytheCLE adm

B

n

Three Chinese firms HEPDI in

b

how much land they reallyis, if you taking half of the but that the Government of Williams. Williams had competingtobuildGuyana’s participate in World Bank-taking but I am waiting onlandIcan’tdoanythingelse Guyanawillprovidetheland claimed,whileinoffice,that Natural Gas Fired Power financedprojects.Itwaspartnext week to hear what theyon the other half so it’s kind and buildings based upon Guyana had received Plant at Wales, West Bank of a settlement agreementwouldsay.”ofpointlessbecausetheyare criteriaandspecificationsset approval for a local law Demerara (WBD) have a under which the company

g

Even amid thesesaying there will be a fence bytheCouncil.Accordingto school since the early 2000s well documented history of a c k n o w l e d g e dconcerns, the Naturaloneithersideofthepipeand Nandlall, the request was under the PPP Government. fraudulent activities The responsibilityforunderlyingResources Minister said hethey will have some sort of favourably considered, and In a statement back in 2018 companies which are sanctionable practices andbelievestheaffectedpersonssecurity or something so I theCouncilmadeadecision Williamshadannouncedthat bidding against two other agreed to meet specifiedare comfortable knowingwould have to move off of to write the Government of hisGovernmentwasseeking entities are: China Energy corporate compliancethatthegaspipelinetobesetthelandbecauseIcan’tfarm Guyanashortly,informingof to establish the law school Int’l Gr Co Ltd., China conditionsasaconditionforup by US oil major,onit,Ican’tlivethere,Ican’t the decision and setting out after the PPP Government MachineryEngineeringInc., releasefromdebarment.

ExxonMobil will be buriedburn anything on the land the criteria and other had failed to do so. “…the andPowerChinaInt’lGroup Theprojectwasdesignedunderground.Hesaid,“Theybecause of the pipeline. I requirements which the APNU+AFCGovernmentis Ltd. In the case of China to increase the capacity andunderstandthattherewillbeplantpineapples,tangerines, Government will have to just doing what the PPP Energy Engineering Group improve the reliability ofa buffer zone, theyplantains and other cash satisfy.Hesaidtheinitiative failed to do; following (a company that is 62.58%- provide evidence that they,understand that the pipelinecrops.Ibornandgrowthere mergesintotheGovernment through with a decision owned by China Energy aswellastheirwillbesecuredanditwillbeand my father got the land of Guyana’s commitment to madelongnow.”Theformer Engineering Group Co., (Continuedonpage59)managed or policed to

Map showing the pipeline location for government’s gas-to-energy project

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat

Frompage58 and another company for

The debarment period

approvedtheLizaPhaseOne the electricity transmission fraudulentpractices. was significantly reduced in Permit until the provisions and distribution system in The World Bank Group light of what the bank said were fully complied with in theAfricanState.According had said that the two-year was Zhejiang First Hydro’s theirentirety to the facts of the case, the debarment of Shanghai “extraordinary cooperation

The litigants who have World Bank said, “CEEC- based China Nuclear and voluntary remedial

filed the case are Frederick HEPDI knowingly and Industry Fifth Construction actions”. Collins and GodfreyWhyte. fraudulently falsified Co , Ltd (CNF), an

Asaconditionforrelease

Their legal team consists of documentation describing infrastructure construction from sanction under the SeenathJairam,SC,Melinda past contract experience, company that provides terms of the settlement Janki, Abiola Wong-Inniss. litigation history, and power and electrical agreement, Zhejiang First

The case was filed on business credentials to engineeringservices,andthe Hydro committed to September13,2022. meet the requirements of four year debarment of undertake integrity

The court is being asked the bidding documents.” It China Machinery Industry complianceprogrammesand toordertheprovisionoftrue had won the contract due to Construction Group, Inc tocontinuetocooperatewith copies of the following: thedeceptivedocuments. (China Machinery), a the World Bank Group Evidence that the insurer is

In a separate case, the construction company, was IntegrityVicePresidency authorised to provide the A n t i C o r r u p t i o n basedondeceptivepractices insurance in Guyana, CommissionofZambialater pertaining to the Shandong

LACK OF TAXES, RING

evidenceoftheauthorisation oil spills, the cost related toarresteditsformerSecretary EnergyEfficiencyProjectin FENCING SHORTEN of the institution or parent no ring-fencing provision,to the Treasury Fredson China.

GUYANA’S PROFITS FROM (insurer) to provide deal before the end of the taxes due for fake receipts,Yamba for corrupt practices That project was

OIL SECTOR insurance, evidence of the period outlined in the thelossoffishermenincomeinvolving another project. designed to improve energy - FORMERAMBASSADOR insurer’s financial strength, contract(2036),Guyanawill due to smaller landedHisarresttookplaceinMay efficiency in selected andevidencethattheinsurer essentially have “nothing to catches, and the loss of thethisyear enterprises, particularly in As the Government of has a grade A+ rating get”. He explained, “Given price differential between a

Itwasfoundthatin2018, the industrial sector of the Guyana (GoG) maintains its assigned to it by the Better this non interference by medium to light sweet oilYamba did not follow the Shandong Province, and p o s i t i o n o f n o n BusinessBureau. Guyana; and in light of the called Liza and an evenprocedure when he increase the use of biomass renegotiation of the 2016

They are also asking for fact that (Esso Exploration lighter grade called Unityauthorized an advance for power and heat Production Sharing an order to compel the EPA and Production Guyana Gold. Tothisend,Dr.Huntep a y m e n t o f generation. Agreement (PSA) with US to file a financial L i m i t e d E x x o n ’s argues that the total cost forUS$33,750,000.00 to China Accordingtothefactsof oil major ExxonMobil, undertaking by ExxonMobil subsidiary) EEPGL will be these additional expensesEnergyEngineeringGroup– thecase,CNFanditssub- formerGuyanaAmbassador, Corporation, the parent acceleratingtheextractionof that Guyana must pay willHunan Electric Power contractors,hopingto Dr. Kenrick Hunte said the companyofEsso,toprovide Guyana’s oil by introducing reduce its already minisculeDesign Institute Co. Ltd for receiveadvancepayments, country would be worse off adequate financial resources several new floating share. Not only that, but hethe construction of FTJ falsifieddocumentsthat when the resource is to pay or satisfy its production storage and believes these costs “furtherChilubaUniversityinMansa certifiedaspectsofthe exhausted. subsidiary’s environmental offloading(FPSO)ships,itis penalizeGuyana.”and Kasama under the projectwerecompletedand In one of his recent obligations regarding the conceivablethatcome2036,Ministry of Higher hadmetqualitystandards. writings, Dr. Hunte, a Stabroek Block. This EEPGLwillbereadytoshut- WEDNESDAYEducation. The said money ChinaMachineryalso Professor of Economics at includes liabilities shop and leave, as all thewas paid to the contractor soughttoreceiveadvance Howard University, associated with all costs for commercially viable oil EPARENEWED EXXON’Sbuttodatenouniversityhas paymentbymisrepresenting Washington, D C , and clean up, restoration, and would have been extracted LIZA 1PERMIT DESPITEbeenconstructed. infalsifieddocumentsthat former Adjunct Professor at damages caused by the and Guyana will have NON COMPLIANCE WITHIn the same matter, the workhadbeencompleted. Johns Hopkins University, d i s c h a r g e o f a n y nothingtoget.Wehaveseen INSURANCE PROVISIONS –ACC also arrested Joseph Thisisafraudulentpractice Bowie State University who contaminant as well as an similar behaviour in the GUYANESE TELL COURTPhiri, an architect at the underWorldBankGroup holds a PhD in Economics obligation to compensate all extraction of other nonMinistry of Higher procurementguidelines.As from the Ohio State personsaffected. renewable resources when The EnvironmentalEducation, for attempting to such,bothCNFandChina University,USApointedtoa K a i e t e u r N e w s the impending tax payment Permit for the Liza Phasefraudulently facilitate a Machineryweresanctioned. number of gaps in the previously reported that the dateisimminent.”

One Project explicitly statespayment amounting to US$ POWERCHINA contract which he believes Liza Phase One Permit was More importantly, the that Stabroek Block29,186,169 09 to China INT’LGROUPLTD. currently leaves none but ‘a amended and awarded to Scholar said that Guyana’s operator, Esso ExplorationEnergy Engineering Not to be left out, the hole in the ground and EEPGLonMay31,2022. currentshareofprofitsfrom and Production GuyanaGroup Hunan Electric World Bank Group in June crumbsinthebank.’

ItstatesatSection14that the oil and gas resource Limited (EEPGL) alongPower Design Institute Co. 2021 had also announced a Dr Hunteisalsoaformer the permit holder must, as shows how the country is with its partners, HessLtd. two year debarment of High Commissioner of the soon as reasonably being robbed Dr Hunte GuyanaExplorationLimitedK a i e t e u r N e w s China-based Zhejiang First Cooperative Republic of practicable,providefromthe pointedoutthatthisyearthe and CNOOC PetroleumunderstandsthatPhiri,being H y d r o a n d P o w e r Guyana to the Republic of ParentCompanyorAffiliate country is poised to receive GuyanaLimitedmustparentan Architect at the Ministry Construction Group Co. in SouthAfrica and is also the companies of the Permit 12liftsofprofitoil,however companies, would cover allof General Education and connection with fraudulent Non Resident High

Holder and its co-venturers “This distribution of the oil costs associated with theProject Manager for the and corrupt practices under Comm

ne

construction of FTJ Chiluba the Guangxi Laibin Water Republic of Namibia, High

to the one or more legally binding between Guyana and clean up of an oil spill

agreements to the agency in EEPGL is a constant offshore.University in Mansa and Environment Project in Commissioner of the which they undertake to reminderoftheinequitythat Based on the disclosuresKasama, in 2018, did China. That project is worth Republic of Zambia, and provide adequate financial Guyana is experiencing of the Environmentalattempt to fraudulently US$127Mandisdesignedto Non Resident Ambassador resources to cover any These twelve lifts at one Protection Agency (EPA),facilitate payment to China reduce flood risks and t

improvedrainageinselected Z

environmental disaster they million barrels each will Guyana has only received

cause, and to keep yield 12 million barrels for insurancecoveragefromtheGroup Hunan

indemnified,theagencyand the year, with the largest subsidiaries which stands atPower Design Institute Co. The World Bank said

in peer the government against all sharecollectedbyEEPGLof US$600Mperoilspillevent.Ltdbysigningandissuingan Zhejiang First Hydro’s

Interim

reviewed journals, book costs. 81.6 million barrels of oil; Discussions are st

chapters, and letters to the Collins,thecurrentHead and being captured at a rate underway regarding theNo 2 valued at US$ subcontractor offered and editors on various issues; as o f T r a n s p a r e n c y ofapproximately7barrelsof guaranteetobehadfromthe29,186,169 09 with an

well as participated in radio International Guyana Inc. oil for EEPGL tonne barrel parentcompanies.i

f government officials in and television discussion (TIGI), told the court that in ofoilforGuyana”. In light of not beingUS$7,578,772.41 for goods exchangeforacontract. programmes; and conducted August,2022,hereadinthe

The Professor was keen furnished with the evidencepurportedly supplied when The company also consultancies in India and Kaieteur newspaper, a letter to note that the approximate that the companies are ininfactnot. misrepresented its intent to the Caribbean for the World from former EPA Head, Dr seven to one ratio that compliance with the

CHINAMACHINERY mobilise the resources Bank and the Food and VincentAdamsthatEssohad Guyana suffers is not the insuranceprovisionsoftheirENGINEERING required to implement the AgricultureOrganization.In not provided the insurance final distribution of oil permit, two concernedCORPORATION contract as well as the Guyana, he was the Chief required by the permit between the two parties Guyanese have approached(CMEC) availability of experts Executive Officer/Director Collins said such an since Guyana is forced to thecourtstocompelthemto

In July 2018, the World proposedinitsbid.Thebank of the Guyana Development assertion was too important pay from its 12 million doso.Bank had also blacklisted said these were corrupt and Bank(GAIBANK). to be dismissed hence on barrels of oil, the cost for TheyarealsocontendingChina Machinery Industry

August10,2022,his environmentalinsuranceand thattheEPAshouldnothaveConstruction Group, Inc respectively that by not renegotiating the

TheProfessorisadamant

FormerAmbassador and University of Guyana (UG) Lecturer, Dr. Kenrick Hunte

TIGI Head, Frederick Collins

Frompage59

financial assurance would expose the agency and the country by extension Through his lawyers, the TIGIheadurgedthecourtsto provideanurgenthearingof thematter

This is now the sixth court case challenging Exxon’soperations.

NO STUDY WOULD JUSTIFY US$2B GAS TO ENERGY PROJECT –PATTERSON

“The Government has donenonewstudybecauseif they had done that they would have released it already the reason Government has not done any feasibility study is because obviously I don’t thinktherewillbeanystudy that could justify what they aredoing.”

This is the position of Shadow Oil and Gas Minister, David Patterson who in an interview with Kaieteur News on Monday pointed to some of the critical issues that are yet to be addressed for the US$2 billion gas-to-energy (GTE) project being developed by Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) be transmitted to Region THURSDAYgovernment and its partner, Plant and the power plant to Four – the energy capital.USoilmajor,ExxonMobil. generate some 300 He pointed out, “The last 10 BILLION BARRELS

Back in 2018, the Inter megawatts of electricity for time that they did a INCREASE IN STABROEKAmerican Development the country These two submarine cable you know BLOCK RESERVESBank (IDB) had partnered facilities, he said, can cost whathappenedbutthere’sno VALIDATES CALLS FORwith the State to conduct a Guyana an additional comment there’s nothing at RENEGOTIATION- FORMERfeasibility study of the US$700million. allonthatsoit’sjustaponzi EPAHEADplannednaturalgaspipeline.

Giventhisheftyincrease scheme as I always say toTheprimaryobjectiveofthe in the project cost, enrich people because there In 2016, when thestudy, which was executed stakeholders have been are so many other Coalition Governmentby Energy Narrative for calling for an updated components of it yet to be renegotiated and signed theU S $ 7 0 , 0 0 0 a n feasibilitystudytoprovethe discussed.”

international entity that project’sviability

Production Sharing

On the other hand, he Agreement (PSA) with USprovides strategic market

However, the former reasonedthatplanswerealso oil giant ExxonMobil, theanalyses and advice was Minister of Public announced for the country had only found to determine the overall Infrastructure explained that production of Liquified approximately 1 1 billion to not renegotiatethe Exxon contractyoucanthinkaboutfeasibility of transporting when the People’s Petroleum Gases (LPG) or barrelsofoilintheStabroek contract is valid. In fact, the and changes are expectednatural gas from offshore Progressive Party (PPP) cooking gas but there is no Block. Six years later, over scholar with years of and the one thing that youGuyana, building a Government took office in information available that 10 billion more barrels have experienceintheoilandgas always have a justificationNatural Gas Liquids August 2020, it began suggests how this gas would been discovered in the industry is confident that for changing a contract is streamlining the project for be transported or stored. c

Guyanacangetabetterdeal(NGL) separation plant when there is a major Wales,WestBankDemerara Given the flammable nature Economic Zone, a major nowthatithasdiscovered10andaLiquefiedPetroleum change.” in the absence of any new of these products, Patterson increase that the former billion more barrels of oil in He went on to point out,Gas (LPG) production study is adamant that the Executive Director of the the Stabroek Block, where “Asamatteroffact,ineveryplant to market the liquids

According to him, “they necessary preparations must Environmental Protection Esso Exploration and governmentcontractwehad,from the natural gas stream, released five of the studies be made with detailed Agency (EPA), Dr Vincent Production Guyana Limited we had what was called aas well as building a new

studiesguidingtheprocess. Adams believes, validates

change control board. Everyelectricitygenerationstation commissionedasMinisterof In addition, the Shadow calls for a renegotiation of referred to ExxonMobil changethatcomesin,itgoesto use the remaining dry Public Infrastructure when Oil Minister said, “How are thelopsideddeal. Guyanaisoperating.Hesaid to the board and then wenaturalgas. the energy sector was under they going to store the gas Dr Adams, during an that it is customary for figure out what to do with it

Notably,atablewasused myremitandallwedidwas because you know the online interview with changesinanenvironmentto intermsofthecontractsoallin that report that was pre-feasibility studies to see pipeline has to be down at Globespan24x7onMonday inform modifications to this stuff about sanctitysourcedfromExxonMobilin ifit’spossible.” leasttwoorthreedaysevery evening, told viewers that contractsincountriesaround is…allnonsense.”which the oil company said year just for routine not only has Guyana theworld.

In the absence of new

In addition to this, thethe pipeline would cost maintenancesohowarethey uncovered more riches According to him, “Istudies for the massive formerEPAbosshighlightedUS$478million. going to store the gas subsequenttotheagreement have spent 30 years at the the fact that modificationsundertaking, Patterson

Four years later, Exxon onshore to keep these plants beingsigned,butexploration highest level of the US have already been made toestimates that the structure believestheprojectwould running? activities are still ongoing governmentandInegotiated the 2016 contract, whichcould cost Guyana US$1.3 merely serve as a “ponzi

All of these things come whilegovernmenthasturned (and) I evaluated contracts. further shows the invaliditybillion. scheme”. out in a study but they itsfaceagainstseekingmore Thatwaspartofmylifeand ofgovernment’s“sanctityof

On the other hand, Vice He argued that the haven’t even done that or valueforitsresources. asamatteroffact,thatwasa contracts”argument.President Bharrat Jagdeo Government is yet to said they are going to think

The former EPAHead is mainpartofmylife,andI’m Dr Adamssaid,“Thefull

explain how the electricity about it or whatever it is but not convinced that the talking about the Exxons of liabilitycoveragethatGovernment is currently from the power plant would theyaregoingahead.” political excuse being used the world. I have seen many (Continuedonpage61)doing estimates for the

EPAHead, Kemraj Parsram

Shadow Oil and Gas Minister, David Patterson

Frompage60

HEPDI towards such issue

newcomer like Guyana would quietly accept poorly I put into the Permits that which declares CEEC SATURDAY However, the Lawyer is of negotiateddeals. was a major change to the HEPDIhadneverconducted the firm conviction that While the Guyana contract. The contract has any bribery or fraudulent REFUSAL TO governments are elected to Government has often saidthattheyaregonnaleave acts during the bidding and RENEGOTIATE take up challenges for their invoked the sanctity of all liabilities to EEPGL, but performingprocess.

EXXONMOBIL 2016 DEAL people. “Heroes are born in contract doctrine as its EEPGL does not have any

Asfornow,thecompany AN ECONOMIC MISTAKE such moments,” the Lawyer premisefornotrenegotiating assets so I forced the full said there is no official …SIGNALS TO expressed. the deal, the lawyer liabilitycoveragesothatwas announcement or binding INVESTORS THAT Expounding further, he categorically stated that it is amajorchange.” judicial award that declares COUNTRY WILL ROLL said experts on negotiations not absolute. Dr Williams

Another modification to any illegal behaviours OVER AND ACCEPT have identified specific said it is tamed by “fairness thecontractwasalsomadeto towards such issue. It also UNSCRUPULOUS CONDUCT conditions when negotiation and conscionability ” allowforunfetteredvisitson sought to declare that the –NY BASED LAWYER shouldbeavoided.Theseare Expounding further, he said the Floating Production parentandthesubsidiaryare asfollows:(a)whenthecosts courts commonly go behind Storage and Offloading two independent companies T h e G u y a n a of negotiation exceed the the protective wall of (FPSO) vessels, he said. “In oftwodifferentlegalpersons Government has remained benefits; (b) when sanctity of contract in the the contract, it said, the under China Energy resoluteinitspositiontonot negotiation would send the absence of provisions of Government- believe this or Engineering Corporation. It renego

a

e the 2016 wrong signal; (c) when contracts that are patently not- the Government has to added, “The company’s Stabroek Block Production potential harm to the unconscionable.enterprise,knownatthetime give seven days notice to solemnly promises to you SharingAgreement(PSA).It relationship exceeds “Forexample,thoughthea s C h i n a E n e r g y visit the FPSO. I changed that the business activities hasarguedthatitrespectsthe expected value from U S Federal EnergyEngineering Group Hunan that for unfettered visits at carried out by the company sanctityofcontract.

negotiation; and (d) when Regulatory CommissionElectric Power Design any time, including inGuyanawillstrictlyabide Vice President, Dr the best alternative to a (FERC) recognises theInstitute Co., Ltd (CEECunannounced visits,” Dr by the laws of Guyana and BharratJagdeohas,inrecent negotiated agreement is sanctity of contract as aHEPDI). Adamsnoted. the commercial regulations times, said while the more valuable than the best general policy, (but) the

The World Bank

Morerecently,Guyanese of international engineering governmentagreesthatthere possible offer from Natural GasAct gives it thestatement said it had also learnt that a major projects.” are clear weaknesses within negotiation. authority to modifyprovided engineering and modification was made to

Also responding to the the agreement, it would Dr Williams asserted contracts within it remitconstruction services, in thePSAtomakeitdefinitive KN article was China remain untouched The that the Government of t h a t a r e u n j u s t ,connectionwithfraudaspart that the two percent royalty Machinery Engineering o f f i c i a l w h o h a s Guyana has not adequately unreasonable, undulyof a Lusaka Transmission would not be recovered by Corporation (CMEC) It responsibility for policies shown that any of the discriminatory, ora n d D i s t r i b u t i o n ExxonMobil as an expense. soughttoclarifythatitisnot within the oil sector said foregoing conditions preferential In the case of

Rehabilitation Project in the To this end, Dr Adams the same as China government would instead informed its decision not to t h e P S A b e t w e e nRepublic of Zambia. The believes that the sanctity of Machinery Industry seek to claw back value seek renegotiation of the ExxonMobil and Guyana,debarment made CEEC contract explanation is Construction Group, Inc., through the improvement of contract. there is a head-on collisionHEPDI ineligible to “merenonsense”. whichwasblacklistedbythe provisions within permits At best, he said the between the sanctity ofparticipate in World Bank-

The former EPA head World Bank for fraudulent andproductionlicences,and administration’s position is contract doctrine and thefinancedprojects.Itwaspart argued, “Major changes practices. It said these are ensure enforcement of other premised in condition (b) in p r i n c i p l e o fof a settlement agreement a l w a y s j u s t i f y two separate and distinct mechanisms such as the that, renegotiation would unconscionability if oneunder which the company renegotiations Remember send the wrong signal to accepts the position whenwesignedthiscontract investors as regards the articulated by the ruling a lot us didn’t even have a stabilityofcontracts. party when in opposition,” clue we were going to find

The Guyana born notedDr Williams. (so much) oil. So we found Lawyer sought to shed light Further, he said the this vast amount of oil, are on a different side of the consensus from global you telling me that’s not a Government’sargument.Dr expertsisthatthecontractis major change? Are you Williams said the refusal to lopsided and grossly unfair kiddingme?” pursue renegotiation sends to Guyana Dr Williams the wrong signal, to the recalledthatthe FRIDAY extent that the government (Continuedonpage64)

CHINESE FIRMS BIDDING FOR GAS TO ENERGY

PROJECT SEEK TO DISTANCE SELVES FROM SHADY PAST OF AFFILIATED COMPANIES

C h i n a E n

International Group Co a c k n o w l e d g e d companies Importantly, LocalContentLegislation. Ltd., and the other Chinese responsibilityforunderlying CHEC is the subsidiary of Though the government companies that submitted sanctionable practices and China Machinery Industry holds this view, several bids for the Guyana agreed to meet specified Construction Group, Inc

Integrated Natural Gas corporate compliance (Sinomach).

Liquids Plant and 300MW conditionsasaconditionfor PowerChinaInt’lGroup renegotiation is not possible Power Plant Project have releasefromdebarment. also issued a statement orplausible. sought to distance

The company in a Thursday saying that Infact,New-Yorkbased themselves from the shady statement was keen to note contrary to what was stated Attorney-at-Law Dr Vivian pastoftheirsubsidiaries. Thursdaythatwhileitistrue in the article, it was not Williams believes the

The clarification comes that its subsidiary was blacklisted by the World Government is making an on the heels of a report by blacklisted, the parent Bank. It also said that it has economic mistake by not Kaieteur News which stated company was not. After the no links to Zhejiang First renegotiating the 2016 deal that China Energy integrity and compliance H y d r o & P o w e r that was signed with Engineering Group (a management system has Construction Group co., ltd. ExxonMobil affiliate, Esso company that is 62.58%- been established, the (1stHydro)whichwaslisted Exploration and Production owned by China Energy company said the ban had as being debarred by the GuyanaLimited(EEPGL). Engineering Group Co , beenliftedonMay10,2021. financial institution

In an invited comment, Ltd.) was blacklisted by the Regarding allegations of Kaieteur News also spoke Dr Williams said reaching World Bank on September payment of bribery for the with a representative of the consensus to modify a 11, 2019. The financial University of Zambia company who said contract with a powerful institutionhadimposeda20- project, the company management denies any global player like month debarment of the clarified that it received links to the company ExxonMobil could be a Chinese state owned relevantreportsfromCEEC- mentionedinthearticle. daunting endeavour for a

Former EPAHead, Dr. VincentAdams

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From page 56 foot. Police took the badly injured man to the West Demerara Hospital where he was pronounced dead and then taken to the Ezekiel Funeral Home. The driver was arrested and a breathalyser revealed that he had no trace of alcohol in his system.

He admitted to detectives that he was speeding in order to save his son’s life. His son had reportedly ingested poison. According police, the man’s son was hospitalised in an unconscious state.

Meanwhile in Lethem, a school girl did not get a chance to finish her snack while standing on a road corner in the Region Nine district as a drunk driver lost control of his vehicle and killed her.

The child has been identified as 10-year-old Ruth

Glasgow, a student of the Arapaima Primary School in Lethem. She was reportedly struck down around 16:40hrs by 23-year-old Navindra Narine of Tabatinga, Lethem.

According to police, the child had participated involved in school sports activities that day at the Tabatinga Sports Complex.

Friends recalled that she was excited that day and did her best but they did not have a clue that it would be her last ‘school sports’.

After the event ended that afternoon, she picked her bicycle and exited the complex but she probably was feeling hungry since instead of riding home she decided to eat some food she had.

Investigators reported that she was leaning against her bicycle on the parapet

munching on some food when suddenly a speeding car ran off the road and slammed into her while negotiating a turn.

Glasgow and her bicycle were flung a fair distance away. Persons rushed to her assistance and noted that she had suffered severe head injuries. Police were told that she was rushed to the Lethem Regional Hospital in an unconscious state.

Doctors immediately rushed her by ambulance to a Boa Vista hospital in neighbouring Brazil. However, she died while undergoing emergency surgery.

Police arrested the driver and found that he was above the legal alcohol limit.

He is presently in custody assisting with an investigation.

Still no public consensus or release...

From page 19 pushed back to ensure that the administration covers all its bases. While the Government has not yet stated which blocks are up for grabs, it is believed that the Kanuku, Corentyne, Demerara, Canje and the Kaieteur Blocks will be part of the auction, while no part of the prolific Stabroek Block would be included in the nation’s maiden bid round since the provisions of the 2016 contract only allows for 20 percent of the acreage to be relinquished after seven years. It means, therefore, that a portion of the oil-rich block would only be surrendered to the State until 2023.

Calls have gotten louder to have Guyanese involved in the auction despite, utterances that locals will be able to finance such endeavours. Calls have also been made to debar American oil giant, Exxon from the auction given their hold on the massive Stabroek Block and the belief

of some that their involvement could mean the monopolizing of the state resource.

Recently, Exxon said it was not sure whether it would be taking part in the auction, but based their decision to do so on the possibilities that the new PSA may provide.

The Government is actively considering also, the development of a national oil company, but the decision on that too had been delayed.

PAGE 62 Kaieteur News Sunday October 02, 2022 what role it could play in the auction. The President had explained that since the announcement of the specific model of oil company, several expressions of interest have been received by the Government and one of the models he believes will benefit Guyana is one in which some oil blocks can be developed through a state company, “one in which the Government does not have management interest and does not play any part in managing, nor do we put any investment in but where Guyanese people are part of what comes out of the returns.”

President Ali said last month that his administration is still looking at the business model to allow a strategic partner to operate and manage the potential oil company and see

Extra care for 100-year-olds...

From page 51 and hassle.” During the month of October, the Ministry will be planning a number of activities to engage and involve senior citizens that can impact on their mental health well-being and overall wellness.

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Commenting on the impact the ‘Century Club’ will make to the lives of senior citizens, Dr Persaud said, “you will agree with me that when you hit 100 years, that century, you’ve done what not a lot of people, not only in our country but our

world, have been able to do. I believe we should honour, we should salute, we should pay tribute to those who have. This is the Ministry of Human Services way of saying thank you to them and, really acknowledging their years on earth with us, with something that’s impactful, practical and something that I’m sure they will enjoy and appreciate. I’m very proud to launch the ‘Century Club’, and this is in honour of all those Guyanese who hit and surpassed 100 years.”

Exxon wanted PSA signed before Govt. fully understood its Stabroek oil wealth

“Thefactthatsince2016 thevolumeofoilbeingborne out of the same agreement that envisaged a fraction of what is expected production is itself a call for renegotiation. If only the Government cared more about Guyana than its retentionofpower,”‘Article 13’ believes that it would have made earnest efforts to seek more economical benefits for its citizens throughitsoilwealth.

The civil society body has been unrelenting in its supportfortherenegotiation of the lopsided 2016 Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement (PSA). Moreover, it is of the firm beliefthatGovernmentmust renegotiate the oil contract with ExxonMobil and partners for the simple fact that the amount of oil today, is way more than what was

expected at the time of the signing of the production sharing document. Dr Yog Mahadeo, one of the organisation’s founders, recalled that a report by the lastGovernmentfromClyde &Co,highlightedthatitwas a deliberate move by the oil companies to have Guyana committothecontractahead of the Liza 2 results; and before the government actually understood the massivewealththatwasstill being discovered in the prolific offshore Stabroek Block.

Dr Mahadeo reminded that in January of 2020, the Clyde & Co report, section 3 11, noted that the oil companies appeared to have placed a lot of pressure on the Government to sign the oil deal within a short space of time. That report, he continued, noted that “the

reason given was related to commitments for drilling rigs.”

Thereportrevealedthat EEPGL wanted to have the agreementinplace“priorto LIZA 2 well results becoming fully known and understood by the

Government,”Dr Mahadeo related Taking note that a lot has been said about the need for renegotiation, he expressed concern that the Government has taken a position, and refuses to contemplate the necessary changes He said, “Every assessment, every report, and every independent consultant have shared the same opinion that the PPP hadbeforeitgottopower,to renegotiate.

ThePPPevenvoicedits dissatisfaction in the National Assembly in 2016. But the Ali Jagdeo

Government is focused on keeping Exxon in power!” Guyana, the activist added, has good reason to believe that the 2016 contract was signed “under duress and withmisrepresentation.”

He indicated too that the findings of the Clyde & Co report has adequate information to allow the government to understand the manner in which it was shortchanged.

“But,simplyput,thereis an unwilling government that is in a rush to tell every investor that we are a weak nationthatcanbeexploited,” Dr Mahadeoconcluded.

Article 13’s Dr Yog Mahadeo

Despite Government’s hesitation, the anti corruption group has vowed to continue its advocacy for therenegotiationofthe2016 oilcontract. Inmorerecent commentaries on the issue too, experienced oil and gas stakeholders have been underscoring the many reasons why Guyana should be seeking a higher stake fromitsmassivelight,sweet crude But the Guyana Government has been holding strong to the “sanctity” of contract as the main reason for refusing to renegotiate the 2016 contract. Government has maintained that the wrong signal would be sent to foreign investors if Guyana were to turn on its commitment to the agreement.

The administration has also pointed to a stability clausewhichitsaidprevents the changing of the 2016 agreement.

Former Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) CEO Dr Vincent Adams noted, however, that another excellent reason why Guyana should renegotiate its oil deal with Exxon is because the company now has under that 2016 contract, some 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent, when it bargained with only 1 1 billion barrels of oil during the signing of the agreement

said that one of the main things that always justifies changing a contract is when thereisamajorchange,such asthesignificantlyincreased quantityofoilfoundafterthe 2016agreement.

Because change to a contract was nothing new, Dr Adams said that every government had what was called a “change control board”.

He said that with every changethatcomesin,itgoes to the board and then we figure out what to do with it intermsofthecontract ”

New York based

Attorney-at-Law Dr Vivian Williams told the Kaieteur News that the government is making an economic mistakebynotrenegotiating the2016deal

In a recent interview, he told the newspaper that, “A country that has persistently encountered exploitation of its natural resources by foreign actors, should not elevate sanctity of contract above conscionability and fair dealing ”

Hess sees Guyana’s oil wealth as a “truly transformational opportunity

Dr Adams told this publication just days ago, that in his 30 years spent at the highest level of the US Governmentnegotiatingand evaluating oil contracts that alsoinvolvedthe“Exxonsof the world”, he would have seenmanycontracts,“…and changes are expected.” He

He said that at a time when the country is a magnet for foreign investment, he agrees that the government must send therightmessage

He said, however, that message should not be that investors who obtain unconscionable and unfair contract terms, whether throughcorruptionorpower asymmetrywillbeabletoget awaywithit.

From page 61

current government agreed with this characterization while in opposition. He said too that the players in the former APNU+AFC administration initially pushed back on this characterization but now seems to join the call for renegotiation.

Politicians should not negotiate contracts on

Guyanese behalf - Int’l Lawyer

…says leaders look after their own interests

…questions giveaway of bauxite, diamond, gold and oil wealth

International Lawyer, Melinda Janki does not believe that Politicians should negotiate contracts on behalf of Guyanese but should stick

to instituting the correct legislative framework to manage the country’s respective sectors.

She made her position clear on Monday evening while appearing as a panelist on a Globespan 24x7 discussion. Janki argued, “Governments are not the right people to negotiate anything. Governments are not business

people, Governments are not negotiators, Governments should in fact not be trying to do business. Their job is to set the regulatory framework and to ensure that the laws of the country are kept and to ensure that they obey the laws of the country and that they allow the business sector to decide what business they are gonna go into and what business they are not going to go into.”

To explain her position, the Environmental Lawyer said Government officials should not be sent to tie up contracts, especially with regard to our natural resources. In fact, she told listeners that “all you have to do is to look at the history of negotiations in this country and you would see government after government, official after official giving away Guyana’s resources to the lowest bidder.”

She continued, “Where is Guyana’s gold? Where are Guyana’s diamonds? Where is the money from the bauxite? Where is the wealth? This is not a poor country. This is an extremely rich country with a lot of poor people in it because we got a set of politicians who have absolutely no concern to the people of this country and are only there to look after their own interest.”

While there has been a call for a renegotiation of the oil deal, the lawyer pointed out that Guyana must be careful in who is appointed to conduct the renegotiation as there must be an assurance that the Government will not “give away even more” in the petroleum agreement “that is absolutely rotten and dangerous.”

For months, transparency watchdogs have been calling on government to release the contracts inked between Guyana and the various mining companies operating in Guyana.

In the case of the oil contract, this deal with ExxonMobil was released by former President David Granger. It was only after it was made public that Guyana understood the magnitude of

losses and giveaways the oil companies are benefitting from.

In the meantime, this newspaper reported in June last that the country’s third Extractive Industries Transparency (EITI) report made yet another call for the government to release all mining contracts, especially those dealing with large-scale operations.

Since becoming a member of the global body, the report notes that the Government agreed to adhere to several requirements. In this case, EITI requirement 2.4 (a) of the 2019 Standard states that Guyana should publicly disclose all mineral agreements entered into force prior to the reporting period, in this case, 2019.

Importantly, the report highlights that the country’s Mining Act (1989) does not include any expressed restrictions on the public disclosure of mineral agreements and licenses by the government.

It goes further to state that even the mineral agreement signed on November 18, 2011 for Aurora Gold Mine developed by Guyana Goldfields is silent about restrictions on the public disclosure of the mineral agreement.

Be that as it may, that very agreement, along with many others, is not available online for citizens to understand what concessions were granted to these firms versus what the country would get in return. In light of this, Guyana’s third EITI report recommended that a work plan be drafted for the electronic publication of all mineral agreements in the mining sector.

New terms and conditions being finalised to maximise gains in upcoming oil blocks auction - Natural Resources Ministry

The Government of Guyana (GoG) said on Friday that it is preparing to launch its first bidding round for offshore exploration and production of hydrocarbon blocks. It said Cabinet is finalising the new fiscal terms and condi-

tions which will allow for the country to gain the maximum economic benefits as it advances the exploration and development of the Guyana offshore blocks.

The 2022 bidding round, which is expected to be officially launched soon, and will be open for several months, is expected to give interested companies sufficient time to prepare their competitive packages and bid to win the available acreages offshore; which will be done in an open and transparent manner.

Since the discovery o f Liza in 2015, the Guyana offshore basin has seen unprecedented development, with Guyana setting a new paradigm for expeditious development of oil and gas resources. According to S&P Global, “the four-and-a-half-year time frame from discovery to first production places Guyana first among global deepwater jurisdictions in terms of the average time to bring major discoveries on stream.”

With the upcoming bidding round, the Government of Guyana expects to chart a new path as the Guyana offshore areas emerge as a potential super basin with over 11 billion (barrels of oil equivalent) discovered to date. With substantial exploration activities ongoing, this figure is expected to increase significantly.

In light of this, Cabinet said it is concluding a definitive terms of reference for the competitive licensing round which will foster a conducive investment environment while maximising value for the people of Guyana.

In this process, the Government said it will seek to ensure the c ountry gets a fairer share of revenues from oil and gas resources through improved fiscal arrangements to benefit the people of Guyana. Further, Government said it will safeguard the safety of people and the environment by following international best practices in offshore oil and gas development.

It also said that it intends to maintain a competitive position in the region and globally as key to continued success. Additionally, Government said it will be embarking on an intensive promoting campaign with all necessary technical data and requirements which will ensure that the competitive bidding round is successful for the future development of the offshore exploration and production of hydrocarbons for Guyana’s economy.

Further, it said this process will be done in keeping with international best practices for transparency and accountability.

==GNBSINFOCUS==

ENABLING GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT IN GUYANA’SAGRO-SECTOR

Oc t o b e r i s based on colour, size, advantage of the GNBS operational systems and Food Safety Management Bureau continuous offers d e s i g n a t e d freshness, and other Certification services to services.

make produce more Trainings offered to any organisation in the services to farmers, millers

M o n t h i n These grading standards marketable and desirable those in the sector include foodchain. and other agriculture related Guyana, and it is a month set also provide requirements Local producers and agro- the Hazzard Analysis With this training, businesses operating in the aside by the Ministry of and specifications to help processors can now apply to Critical Control Points participants can gain a sector

Agriculture and its regulators, and consumers theGNBStousetheMadein (HACCP) and Good thorough understanding of These services include stakeholders to highlight the respectively identity and Guyana Certification Mark, Agricultural Practices how this international the verification of scales, successes of this very consume quality agriculture which a signature of quality (GAP). standard applies to farming, masses and measures use in importantsector produce. for authentic Guyanese GAPisasetofprinciples processing, storage, transactions.

A s t h e N a t i o n a l Other agriculture products. andstandardsthatgovernthe transportation, cleaning, and F o r f u r t h e r Standards Institution, the standards available at the Already, the Made in safe and sustainable sanitation for safe and health information on this Guyana National Bureau of GNBS include those for Guyana Standards Mark has production of crops and produce from the farm to the subject, contact the GNBS Standards (GNBS) brings to poultry meats and eggs, captured the attention of livestock. fork. on telephone numbers: the focus its standards, coconut water, milk, rice, quite a few agro-processors, It is aimed towards Lastly, as the National 219-0064 or 219-0065 or certification, training and sugar,andfertilisers. with some becoming helping farm owners

MeasurementInstitution,the WhatsAppuson692-4627. measurementserviceswhich For agro processing, certified early to use the optimizebusinessoperations are crucial for the there are standards for jams mark. w h i l e m i n i m i s i n g e n h a n c e m e n t a n d and jellies, coconut oil, The Made in Guyana production costs and advancement of the local salted fish, spices, achar and Programme is voluntary and environmentalimpacts. agriculturesector more, which processors can is opened to applications

Over the years, the utilise. from all producers of local provides training on the ISO GNBS has been working These standards cover products regardless of 22000:2018 Standard: A with stakeholders in this labelling, packaging, operation size or product growing sector, not only to storage, hygiene, and type. develop National Standards sanitation requirements for Reg

GNBS which ensure good practices products, and offer the trainings, many farmers, and conformance to quality, requisite guidelines and agro processors and even but to accelerate its growth specification to ensure regulators have had the anddevelopment. agriculture produce are opportunity to participate in

the various GNBS training agriculture related standards consumption.Theyalsohelp programmestoincreasetheir includes the grading of fresh agro-processors gain value- competence to implement agriculture produce, which addedbenefits. national and internationally can help farmers and Meanwhile,stakeholders recognised standards for the retailers to separate produce in the Agri sector can take enhancement of their

The GNBS list of w h

System–Requirementsfor reliable measurement A g r i c u l t u r e characteristics.

Al Sport and Tour Promotions congratulate West Ruimveldt students

Al Sport and Tour Promot ions has congratulated West Ruimveldt students on their success in the re-

cent National Grade Six Assessment.

The top students of West Ruimveldt Primary received

laptop computers, electronic tablets and monetary assistance from Dominion Enterprise.

SportsMax - Legendary Guyanese World Cup-Winning Captain, Sir Clive Lloyd has praised the level of cricket in the ongoing 2022 Caribbean Premier League.

Lloyd, who led the West Indies to consecutive World Cup triumphs in 1975 and 1979, worked as a mentor for the Guyana Amazon Warriors, who lost to the Jamaica Tallawahs in qualifier 2 on Wednesday, throughout the season.

“It’s a mentoring role and I’m quite happy.

The students and representative of Dominion Enterprise with their prizes.

Sunday October 02, 2022

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19)

People are apt to try to hit you square on the head with their ideas and thoughts today, Aries, so be ready for the onslaught of information that may come your way. There's a distinct advantage.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

Anchor yourself in practical matters before you try to prove your point to others. There's a great deal of primal energy rising within you today and searching for some sort of outlet.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

Don't take no for an answer today, Gemini. Know what you believe in and stick with it. There's a distinct advantage to holding true to your inner nature.

CANCER (June 21–July 22)

Be a pioneer thinker today, Cancer. There's a noble courage in your thoughts, so don't let this quality go to waste. You will be surprised at how cutting edge you can be when you put your mind to it.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)

Be aggressive and forceful when it comes to exerting your will, Leo. Let others know that you won't be a pushover. Your opinions are extremely important,

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22)

Today may be one of those days in which you come to a four-way stop and no one knows whose turn it is. Don't sit and wait for everyone else to go first, Virgo.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

People would be foolish to challenge your thinking now, Libra. The power behind your words is volatile, and you may find yourself going to extremes in order to get your point across.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

Your old ways of thinking have carried you quite far, Scorpio, but you may now find that it's time to seek a new platform for your ideas. Look for more adventurous ways to express yourself.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

One quick phone call to a friend may turn into a long discussion about the meaning of life, Sagittarius. Be conscious of the fact that there's a great deal of momentum building in your mind now.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19)

It could be that you feel a bit of pressure today to start or create something that you aren't quite ready for, Capricorn. There is hesitation on your part that indicates you should take it slowly .

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

Move forward with your plan of attack today, Aquarius. There's an anxious rumble within you that's urging you to get going with a current plan. You have all the facts you need,

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)

Add spark to your life today, Pisces. It could be that things are getting stale and boring. If so, consider the possibility that you simply aren't challenging yourself.

I get to have a lot of chats with the young guys and so on,” said Lloyd on the Mason & Guest radio show on Tuesday.

From an individual perspective, “not many new names” was Lloyd’s response when asked about any standouts from this year’s edition.

“The pe ople that are making runs and taking wickets are established players,” he added before praising the overall level of cricket on display as well as the curators for the quality of the pitches being used.

“I think it has been quite good. We had quite a few good games in Guyana. I must commend the curators for the work they’ve put in on the pitches, they’ve played very well. The wickets have been good for stroke-play and the crowds have enjoyed it as well.”

“It’s been quite exciting and I’m sure that, in the future, it will continue to be that way,” he added.

Finally, when asked about advice he’d give to current West Indies skipper Nicholas Pooran ahead of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup, Lloyd was brief saying “I’m hoping that this captai ncy thing is not restricting his play with the bat because he’s a real talent.

Hopefully, he’ll come good on those harder pitches.”

The CPL is over...

From page 68 mostly was that the national teams are not visible like the local CPL franchise. And they’re right, but they are not mentioning that the National teams do not enjoy the purse of corporate entities like ExxonMobil and more importantly, the Government of Guyana. If President Ali is serious about sports like I assume he is, he will level the playing field by allowing the Government of Guyana to be equitable in its support for sports.

Sunday October 02, 2022 Kaieteur News PAGE 67 Right now, only cricket, more so the CPL, can cheer.

Sir Clive Lloyd

“It has been quite good”- Sir Clive Lloyd praises quality of cricket in CPL

GuyOil/Tradewind Tankers U-18 Schools Football League…

North Ruimveldt stun CWSS in third round

An eventful third round unfolded in the Petra organised GuyOil / Tradewind Tankers Under 18 Schools Football League on Saturday at the Ministry ofEducation(MoE)Ground.

Thefour-matchcardsaw the tournament leader, Christiansburg/Wismar Secondary School (CWSS), concede their first defeat of the League when they met N o r t h R u i m v e l d t Multilateral.

Prior to that match, President’s College squeezed past Friendship Secondary, Golden Grove got the better of West Ruimveldt in the third encounter, while Cummings Lodge defeated Dolphin Secondary in the day’s final match.

In the opening match, President’sCollegeralliedto theirsecondwinwitha3–2 result over Friendship, who lost their third consecutive match.

President’sCollegewere ledbyadoublefromRonoko Vaughn (37’, 67’) with the decidercomingfromWilton

-GoldenGrovealsovictorious

The match that followed between North Ruimveldt and the Linden unit had a goalless first half that was not short of chances for eitherside.

However,itwasnotuntil thesecondhalfthatthescore line was disturbed when Jevon Pluck put his team ahead in the 62nd minute. That goal had no answer from the opposition as the score read 1 – 0 when the regulation time whistle sounded.

Sebastianinthe70thminute. It was an impressive comefrom behind win since Friendship drew first blood in the 30th minute from a successful Kevon Williams strike.

Friendship even doubled the lead five minutes later when Rayon Emmanuel foundthebackofthenet,but in the end, the eventual victor carted off with the threepoints.

UScrushChinatowinwomen’s basketballWorldCupfor11thtime

AFP A’ja Wilson pouredin19pointsastheallconquering United States crushed China 83-61 to win theirfourthstraightwomen’s basketball World Cup and 11th overall in Sydney yesterday

Kelsey Plum added 17 pointsandJewellLoyd11as t h e C h i n e s e w e r e overpowered by a formidable team that stretched their unbeaten streak in the competition to 30games.

TheUSwenttohalf-time with a 43-33 lead and there was no stopping them in front of 15,895 fans at Sydney SuperDome — the biggest-ever crowd for a women’sbasketballmatchin Australia.

In front of the watching Chinese basketball legend Yao Ming, the odds were heavily stacked against China, who were led by Li Yueru with 19 points and took home their first medal

since1994.

On top of being 10-time champions, the USA were coming off a record breaking 83-43 semi-final victory against Canada, the biggest win ever in a World Cup last four, and they had beaten China 77-66 in the groupphase.

TheChinesehadalsolost all seven previous World Cup clashes with the American juggernaut, and byanaverage22points.

Theywereagainwithout star player and leading points scorer Li Meng, who hasafever,butLiYueruand WangSiyubothscoredearly buckets as China started strongly

But the USAsoon found their stride to close out the first quarter with an 18-13 advantage, although it was scrappy with the Americans onlyshootingat44percent.

They began finding the hoopastheyliftedthetempo and pulled out to a 13-point

lead,beforeJinWeinanetted outsidethearconthesirento pull it back to 43-33 at the break.

Refreshed, the relentless USAshiftedupagearinthe third frame with aggressive defenceandbuiltitintoa6847 lead heading into the homestretch,wherearagged Chinahadnothingleftinthe tank.

Earlier, Lauren Jackson produced a vintage performance to end her international career on a high, 25 years after making herdebut,asAustraliaswept past Canada 95-65 to win bronze.

Jackson, 41, turned back the clock with a huge allround effort, ending with a game-high 30 points, seven reboundsandoneassist.

The seven-time WNBA all-starendedherfifthWorld Cup — and first in 12 years —tiedastheall-timeleader in games played, on 43 with Brazil’sJanethArcain.

In a match that lacked intensity until it equalised, Golden Grove secured their secondwinwitha3–1result overWestRuimveldt.Kelon Croal struck as early as the 4thminuteforGoldenGrove then Donovan Welcome broughtthescoresleveledin the40thminute.

After that, Natham Saw (53’) regained the lead for the eventual winner before KelvinRichardsonmadeita two-possession game in the 70thminute.

The final showdown between Dolphin and CummingsLodgeended1–1,sotheteamssharedpoints, but it became the most incidental match with three red cards being shown to Dolphinplayers.

Jequan Cole (8’) was Dolphin’s scorer ,while Elijah Mendonca (68’)

equalised for Cummings Lodge.

The first red card was receivedbyReaquanCorbin (28’) followed by Jude Charles (60’) then it was Jequan Cole (70’) who pickedupthefinalone.

The League continues next weekend with another fourmatches.

LeclerctakespoleinSingapore asVerstappenfumesineighth

AFP Charles Leclerc took pole positionyesterdayfortheSingaporeGrand Prix,butFormulaOneworldchampionship leader Max Verstappen was left fuming after finishing only eighth fastest in damp conditions.

Leclerc clocked 1min 49 412sec in his Ferrari to top the timesheets 0 022sec ahead of Red Bull’s Sergio Perez with the MercedesofLewisHamiltonthird.

Verstappen, who can mathematically retain his world title this weekend, had looked set to challenge Leclerc’s time on his final flying lap before being told to abandon and return to the pits by his Red Bullengineer.

The Dutchman had set the fastest first sector, then let fly an expletive peppered tirade over team radio after being instructed to abort Only the top 10 shootoutforpoletookplaceonslicktyres on the night Marina Bay circuit Most of qualifying took place on intermediate tyres with the track still too damp to risk slicks,withtheunforgivingconcretewalls of the city centre track an ever present dangerforanylossofcontrol

“In Q3 we didn’t really know what to do,”saidLeclerc,aboutwhethertoswitch toslicks

“We went for the soft at the very last minute—anditpaidoff.

“Imean,itwasreally,reallytricky.”

Monaco’s Leclerc can prevent Verstappen from sealing the championship this weekend by finishing higher than eighthinSunday’srace.

Leclerc now has a commanding grid advantage over the Dutchman, who will start from the fourth row on a circuit that offersfewovertakingopportunities.

Verstappen had celebrated his 25th birthday with a cake in the Red Bull team hospitality on Friday but had nothing to cheeradaylater

He needs to win the race, score 22 points more than Leclerc and see teammate Perez finish fourth or lower to retain his world title with five races to spare.

Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate George Russell failed to find any grip on his intermediate tyres and failed to make itintoQ3afterbeingonly11thfastest

“Sorry guys, I couldn’t do anything I really struggled,” said the Englishman overteamradio “Whatashame ”

AlexAlbon did well just to make it to Singapore three weeks after suffering from appendicitis at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza and then having complicationsfromsurgery

However the British born Thai could not find any grip or pace in his Williams andwaseliminatedinthefirstqualifying sessionafterfinishing19th

President’s College’s scorers, Ronoko Vaughn and Wilton Sebastian.

Golden Grove’s scorers, Nathan Daw, Kelon Croal and Kelvin Richardson.

Jamual John, Cleveland Thomas dominate Fireworks/Golden Mile event

ByRawleToney

Jamaul John and

Cleveland Thomas took top honoursyesterday,whenthe Kaieteur Attack Racing and Team United hosted the Fireworks/Golden Mile AthleticsRaceMeet.TheJB Singh Road/Vlissengen Road circuit, with the start andfinishlinebeinginfront of the Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) Camp Ayanganna base, saw some of the country’s top cyclists andathletesbattlingitoutfor cash prizes and bragging rights. And they certainly didn’tdisappoint.

In the much heated cycling event, Jamaul John faced the likes of Brighton John, Kemuel Moses, DimitriJean-Pierre,Dheeraj Garbarran, Curtis Dey, Andre

D

N

Crawford and Guyana’s Commonwealth Games representative, Christopher Griffith.

However, at the end of the one hour, 15 minutes, plusanadditionalthreelaps, Jamaul John of Team Foundationhadtoworkhard for his first place finish, which saw him finishing ahead of Crawford and Britton John; Alex Mendes and Marcus Keiler rounding offthetopfivefinishers.

The top three cyclists in the senior male division pocketed $50,000, $35,000 and $20,000, in that order, while fourth to sixth place received$10,000each.

Over in the junior category, MarioWashington had the better of Sherwin Samp

Aa

Newton.

Robin Persaud won the veterans under 50, with Segun Hubbard coming in second and Walter GrantStewartthird.

In the Veterans Over-50, Tallim Shaw was first and Lennox Jackman second Cliveca Spencer won the f e m a l e c a t e g

looked back and was ahead of the pack from start, to finish.

He crossed the line first tocollectthe$20,000purse, while Missinger was second ($17,000), Barrington third ($15,000) and Kennard fourth($10,000).

Rebel Junior Tennis C/Ships Paula Kalekyezi is Girls U-14 Champion

Talented 13-year-old Paula Kalekyezi beat Renola Jordan in a highly anticipated final of the Rebel Junior Tennis Championships Girls U 14 division yesterdayattheGBTICourtinDiamondon theEastBankofDemerara.

Ontheroadtoyesterdayfinal,Kalekyezi, whotoppedtheroundrobincompetition,got thebetterofKayeshaHarding,whileJordan gainedawalk-overfromMaliaMaikoointhe othersemi-final.

In a contest which started the day’s proceedings at 9AM the pair engaged in

several rallies before Kalekyezi emerged victorious6/3,6-0.

In the Boys U-18, Roman Scindo beat ShaquilleMurray6/7(3),7/6,(3),10/8inan entertaining battle, while in the Boys U-18 semi finals, Gerald Scotland defeated Cambridge 6/0, 6/0 and face Roman Scindo fortheBoysU-18titletoday

Gerald Scotland and Nathan DeNobrega teamed up to beat Inesh Vijay and Ricky Ramadcindo 6/0, 3/6, 11/9 to advance to the Boys doubles final. (Sean Devers)

Meanwhile,theGoldenMile lived up to all the pre-race expectations,asthedistance athletes showed off their speed and competitiveness in the heated contest However, Cle

ela

d

Jevon Roberts was the first junior athlete to finish the Golden Mile, doing so ahead of Kosi Thomas and Odida Parkinson CARIFTA Games 1500m gold medallist, Attoya Harvey won the junior female category

Narrisa McPherson and Nikita Wilson were second andthirdrespectively

on, Jonathan

Thomas overcame the star studded line up which includedWinstonMissinger, Devaughn Barrington, Odwin Tudor, Marion Nick

Fagundes and Kennard Hartog.

Thomas,fromthesound ofthestarter’swhistle,never

Organisers thanked the athletes, sponsors and the Guyana Police Force for beingpartofanincident-free event,whileaddingthatnext year, it will be bigger and better

Medas King challenges AAG...

Frompage68 whocollectedthemoney It’s time an investigation be launched into the affairs of the AAG. The writing is on thewallformanyyearsnow andnooneseemstocareand they’re allowing this Sports Organization to depress the already depressed athletes whoarejusttrainingandnot getting any opportunities to competeatthehighestlevel.

The Relay team; It’s crazy how he would like to take credit for the Relay team, when if it wasn’t for the Chef de mission who

used an old list to select the athletesnoteamwouldhave represent Guyana at the just concluded Commonwealth Games.

Likewise Guyana never sent anyone to the games in Bahamas the NACAC games where the United States of America sent a largeteam.

Concerning the athletes refusing to attend the South AmericanGamesatthistime oftheyearissimplybecause now is off season or we would say back ground training where we are now

getting in the first phase of ourprogramme.

The AAG don’t have a clue what is happening in trackandfield.

Hutson needs to go immediatelyheisterriblefor thesportandthingswillonly getworse.

Iwouldliketochallenge Hutson anytime on national television for a debate on track and field in Guyana and will set the score straight.Thanks.

AndyMedas-King. Founder of the KMPA Foundation.

Jamaul John (centre), flanked by Romello Crawford (left) and Britton John following their epic ride in the KaieteurAttack Racing and Team United event.

Paula Kalekeyzi (right) beat Renola Jordon to win the Girls U-14 title.

Ricky Ramadcindo (right) beat Shaquille Murray in the Boys U-18 semis.

Gerald Scotland & Nathan DeNobrega beat Inesh Vijay & Ricky Ramadcindo.

Medas King challenges AAG President

DearSportsEditor,

ThanksforlettingmewriteinyourNews Paper Mr EditorIwouldliketohaveasayin theconversationabouttheathletesnotbeing able to compete at the South American Games.Iwouldliketoaddressthenonsense Mr Hutson is claiming. First of all when there’s a track meet you will get a Yearly CalendarabouttheGamesyouwouldliketo compete in. To further address the rubbish thatiscomingoutofHutsonmouthtoblame someone else who’s only obligation is to make sure that the entries are in, says volumes.

To let readers know, my name is Andy MedasKingoftheKMPAFoundationinthe USandwerunaprogrammethatwillrivalthe AAG and most sports organizations in Guyana.Butthisone,Ihavetogiveittothe GOA, so don’t be fooled like I’m taking sides, but principle is principle you have to registerbythedeadlineandifyoudon’tknow thateverytrackmeet,eventheonesIusedto keephasadeadline.

The reason why the names have to be submittedistopreparetheheatsheetsandset upthetimesfortheevents.Puttinginentries latemeansthemeetmanagerorthesoftware engineer will have to redo the entire heat sheetsandresetthetimesfortheevents.For years I have been calling out Hutson for his lame excuses and poor management of the AAGandIhavebeenlabeledasthebadguy OntheotherhandHutsonistalkingaboutthe stateoftrackandfieldinGuyanaandwantto takecreditforthemedalsandsuccessoftrack and field. This is where I am not going to allowhimtotakeanycreditfor

I would like Hutson to tell the entire Guyanawhatsystemorprogrammeheorthe AAGhaveeverputinplaceforourathletesin Guyana If it wasn’t for the KMPA Foundation programme track and field was dead, literally dead in Guyana, so first of all Hutson needs to answer where the money went for the athletes who went to Carifta Games.Lethimshowareceiptforeveryone (Continuedonpage65)

SunrisersMastersbeat

CaribbeanCricketClubin ESCLexhibitionmatch

The victorious Sunrisers Masters team strike a pose after the game.

Region 9’s Archery Guyana’s Competition

Lots of natural talent displayed in 1st ever Recurve Archery shoot

S

defeated Caribbean Cricket Club (CCC) by a thrilling five-run margin last Sunday at Reliance Sports ground, Essequibo Coast, Region Two in a specially-arranged exhibition 15 over match under the auspices of the Essequibo Softball Cricket League(ESCL).

This game was to kick start another 20-over, over 40competitionbytheESCL, accordingtoChairmanofthe LeagueWakeelLayne.

Masters batted first after winningthetossandreached a respectable 150-9 off 15overs while CCC was left hanging at 145-8 when the 15-oversranout.

Former Essequibo inter county opening batsman RaviBeharryhitatop-score

of 55 for Masters while he got a contribution off 26 from Dindyal Bissoon. Lukiram Bridgemohan grabbed 5 24 from his maximum three overs delivering for CCC. When CCC batted, Patrick Rooplallofferedafightwith 32 as Beharry returned to taketwowicketsfor17runs offthreeovers.

Beharry was named player-of-the-match.

The winning team received a trophy while the runners up side also collected one. Beharry was given one for the best batsman as well, while Bridgemohantookhomeone for his outstanding bowling effort.

At the presentation, Laynethankedthetwoteams

for their participation and congratulated Sunrisers Masters. He expressed his profound gratitude to all the sponsors for their continued commitmenttothegrowthof softballcricketontheCoast. Vo Tajeshwar, one of the main sponsors for the ESCL since its formation two years, also took the opportunity to laud the winningside.

L i v e F a c e b o o k commentary was done by veteran Cricket Journalist a n d C o m m e n t a t o r RavendraMadholall

The sponsors are as follows: V and G Auto Repair, Big G Auto Repair, Layne’s Agri Electronics and Marine Shop, Hassim Kitchen, Tom Bacchus and RaviPersaud

Archery Guyana’s Region 9 Competition 2022 sponsored by Oasis Waters/Guyana Beverages Inc and overseas based group: Friends of Old, was completed on the 26th September 2022 with the presentation of the medals done at the opening of the Region 9 Heritage celebrations at St. Ignatius Village. The medals were presented by Honorable Prime Minister Mark Phillips,thePrimeMinister’ s wife Mignon Bowen Phillips, the Regional Executive Officer Karl Singh,theMayorofLethem Mr.John Macedo and the Touchao of St Ignatius, Quarrie and Kumu Villages, Mr.WilsonLaurentino.

The archery competition began on the 24th of September 2022 at St Ignatius Village’s Wilson Laurentino Sports Ground with a ranking of the cadet archers.

The 5 Cadet archers competing were: Chris DaSilva, Kevin DaSilva, Fernando Adrian, Roland GomesandEzraHamilton.

The competition was a 10 metre ranking round consisting of 5 ends of 6 arrows. Resultswere:

1.EzraHamilton-Gold

2.KevinDaSilva-Silver

3 Roland Gomes Bronze

The following day the females competed, but because there were only 2 archers the competition was solely a ranking one of 5 ends of 6 arrows with the resultsbeing:

1.ReaJuan-Gold

2.RositaSimon–Silver

The Men’s competition was a much more expansive affair consisting of another 30 arrows ranking, eliminationandfinals.

There were 6 archers: Ryan Gittens, Octavious

Hendricks, Jad Juan, Ted Juan,JuniorMartinandJohn Yow

T h e r a n k i n g s , eliminations and finals were allkeenlycontested.Outofa possible 300 points, the results for the high scoring and closely contested rankingswere:

1. Jad Juan 203 points-Gold

2. Junior Martin- 203 points-Silver

3. Octavia Hendricks -198-Bronze

The scores for Jad and Junior being tied at 203 had to go to a count of 9s after both had scored the same amount of 10s, after which Jadwasawardedthegoldfor having scored more 9s than Junior.

The ranking produced a matchplaywherebybothJad and Junior got byes to the s e m i f i n a l s , w h i l e elimination match 1 was betweenOctaviousandRyan with Octavious getting aheadofRyan.

The second elimination matchbetweenJohnandTed resulted in John getting aheadofTed.

The first semi final between Jad and Octavious was a nail-biter with both archers achieving 5 set points.

The decider of a one arrow shoot-off resulted in Jad getting ahead of Octavious,placingJadinthe finals.

Junior bulldozed John out of the second semifinal with6setpointstozero.This win placed him in the finals againstJad.

John and Octavious then competed for the bronze medal with John getting the betterofOctavious.

The highly anticipated and closely contested final between Junior and Jad resulted in Junior winning thegoldandJadwinningthe

silver The match see sawed betweenthetwoarcherswith Jad scoring the first 2 set points, after which Junior won4straightsetpoints.Jad came back to even the score at 4 set points each. Junior however, went on to score the next 2 set points, bringing him to the winning totalof6setpoints.

The medals were awarded at the prestigious opening ceremony of the Region 9 Heritage celebrationsof2022.

This event was attended b y h i g h r a n k i n g

Government, Regional and Village officials and administrators. The audience also included cultural representatives and many fans from the surroundingvillages.

National Coach Robert Singh made opening remarks which included pointing out the similarities and differences between Traditional Archery and the Olympic Recurve Archery He noted that the principles arethesamebuttheOlympic Styleallowedforspecialized equipment and the use of skilled biomechanics that allows the archer to shoot at longer distances with more consistency and accuracy He also included a plea for financial support at the Government, Regional, Villages and general public levels to develop archery withintheregiontoproduce championsthatcanrepresent Guyana at a National, International and ultimately at the prestigious Olympic Games levels. In the words ofCoachRobertSingh–‘the residents of Region 9 are bornwitharcheryskills,itis in their blood, it is in their DNA’.

More information on Archery Guyana can be found on its website: wwwArcheryGuyana org

Some of the younger participants in the 1st ever RecurveArchery shoot in Region 9.

BCB preparation intensify for Inter-County tourney

FaceDemerarainGCBopeneronSunday

BySeanDevers

The Berbice Cricket Board’s (BCB) Senior 50 overs Trials was held last week at the historic Albion SportsComplex,Corentyne, Berbice as it intensifies preparations for the Guyana CricketBoard(GCB)Senior Inter-county50-tournament.

d

C

tournament was held as the JonesCupanduntil1990the Inter-County four-day final was afforded First Class status. The 50over format was introduced in the 1970s before both formats were abortedin2015.

Meanwhile, in the

Benjamin making 39 and SeonGlasgow23.

Sylus Tyndall had 3-26 off 7 overs while Suresh DhanaiandEonHooperhad a wicket each for Smith X1 whowerebowledoutfor115 despite23fromEonHooper, 19 from Kevlon Anderson and 17 from Tommani Ceasar as Quesi Mickle captured 3- 20 off 6 overs and Nigel Deodat took 3-29 off6overs.

Due to the recently concluded Hero CPL

Berbicians Veerasammy Permaul, Gudakesh Motie, Romario Shepherd, Jason and Junior Sinclair and Shimron Hetmyer were unavailablefortheTrials.

It is understood that some of the senior players have been given NOCs to miss the first round which willgiveBerbiceadepleted side in the opening game against a powerful

submittedtotheGCB.

No Trails were held in Demerara and efforts by

The Senior Inter-County is set to return after an absence of six years, from Sunday October 9 when Berbice battle Demerara T

scheduled to continue on October11and13,whilethe final will be played on October15.

In 1954, the first four

Berbice Trials played at a venue which hosted the first ever ODI in the West Indies when West Indies beat Pakistan in 1978, Anthony Bramble’s X1 beat Nial Smith’s X1 by 67 runs with B

restricted to 182- 6 off 50 overs with Jason Sinclair

Demerara side which is packed with National players in Sherfane Rutherford who makes his return to local cricket after making his name in several T20LeaguesGlobally

When contacted it was confirmed by the Presidents of the BCB and the

Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB) that Trials were held in their Counties and their t

a

ad

a

Guyanese Foo hits back to back centuries in NY national cricket league

Guyanese Jonathan Foo struck back to back half centurieswhentheNewYork National Cricket League continued recently at the CagedRockaway,Boulevard.

Foo hit an unbeaten 129 and got support from West Demerara batsman Avi Dhanpaul27andZamalKhan 17 posted 193 5 versus Intruders.

Kerry Ramlakhan had 2 for34andSamuelMohabir2 for46.

Intruderswerebowledout for58inreply

Anil Sookdeo claimed 311andHemindraRamdihal2 for24.

In another fixture, Foo Hammered 109 not out as Phoenix beat Whim Boys. Zamal Khan contributed 70 as Phoenix managed 209 for 1.

WhimBoysmade114all outinresponse.AnilSookdeo bagged 5 for 10 and Sharma Sookdeo2for23.

(DCB)provedfutile. The teams are expected tobereleasedtoday.

Kaieteur Sports to contact

Demerara Cricket Board

Jonathan Foo

Sherfane Rutherford who played for the Warriors in 2018 returns to local cricket.

Anthony Bramble could play a key role for Berbice in the absence of key players.

Orinduik Development Inc. sponsors

GSSF’s 5-stage Practical Shooting Competition

Like the multi tiered series of cascades of the Orinduik Falls, Orinduik Development Inc. has been keeping a steady flow in supporting the respective shooting disciplines of the GSSF.This the 4th year in a row is no different as the company once again will be sponsoring an upcoming Practical Shooting Match hosted by the Guyana Sport ShootingFoundation.

The match is slated to bring out handgun Practical Shootersafteralongtimeto the range There their knowledge of firearm safety will be foremost while competitor’s skills of marksmanship and handgun reliability will be put to the testinthefast-pacedrunand gunshootingthatthesportof practical shooting is now

knownfor Orinduik Development Inc , a 100% Guyanese owned company, has recently handed over the sponsorshipmoneyatoneof Guyana’s brand new trainingfacilityservicingthe Oil and Gas sector GSSF representativesweregivena tourofODITCspankingnew training centre by General Manager,Alan Sharp, in the presence of Brian Backer of the developer Orinduik DevelopmentInc.

During the tour at the East Coast Demerara complex, Sharp outlined ODITC’s various training services being offered in Guyana. The likes of which included, Helicopter Underwater Evacuation Training (HUET), life-boat operations, multi level

lifting and rigging, working at height, Mechanical Joint Integrity (MJI), confined space operations and other varioustypesoftrainingthat is mandatory for persons working in the booming oil and gas sector.All of which are offered on the shores of Guyana in keeping with the buildingofcapacityforlocal content GSSF reps also wereimpressedwiththefact that 80 plus persons were alreadytrainedinthefacility in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and it’sGOALplatform.

Like the shooting sports, focusonsafetyisparamount, as in the oil and gas sector, GSSF’s board and members commend the high level of safety standards that Orinduik Development Inc., ODITCandalltheirpartners

ODITC’sAlan Sharp hands over sponsorship cheque to GSSF Vice-President, David Dharry, in the presence of GSSF President, Ryan McKinnon and GSSFAsst. Secretary/Treasurer,Andrew Phang.

arebriningtoGuyana.

Orinduik Development Inc is also building in Guyana a commercial Heliport on the Lusignan complex The primary objective of the proposed heliport is to provide an independent facility for helicopter operations in close proximity to Georgetown,andtofacilitate thegrowingneedforsuchair transport services coming from many sectors, including the extractive

industry The heliport is slated to provide a location for the voluntary basing of helicopter operators providing commercial services(movingpeopleand cargo, mining, tourism, oil industry, construction, agriculture,newsandmedia) from and near Georgetown and is also intended to support the medical, coast guard, security, search and rescue,lawenforcementand otheremergencyservices.

At the recent simple

handover ceremony at the LusignanHeliport,President of the Foundation, Ryan McKinnonextendedGSSF’s sincerest gratitude to Mr Brian Backer and the Board of Directors of Orinduik Development Inc for the kind sponsorship, their continued support to the GSSF

Moreinformationonthe G.S.S.F is available on its w e b s i t e

wwwGuyanaSportShooting .com.

NZ Women defeat WI Women to level series

Another nail biting T20I encountersawNewZealand Women’sCricketTeamlevel thefive-matchSeriesagainst the West Indies with a sixwicket win at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound,Antiguayesterday.

Battingfirst,thehostside posted 107 – 5 from their allotted overs then the opposition responded with 108–4,withoneballleftin theinnings.

West Indies skipper, Hayley Mattews (8) and opening partner Aaliyah Alleyne (13) were removed early but the left-handed Kyshona Knight brought some stability to the innings with a knock of 42 from 48 deliveries.

ChadeanNation(10)was the next to fall as West Indies’ score ticked over to 58-3from12.5overs.

Vice Captain Chinelle Henry joined Knight and took the score to 89 before thelatterwasdismissedwith fiveboundariestohername.

Henry contributed a much-needed 24 from 22 balls as Hayley Jensen

Kyshona Knight top scored for host team.

claimed 3 – 24 and Eden Carson bagged 2 – 12 for New Zealand. In reply, the experienced Suzie Bates propelled her side with a solid half century that included six boundaries Bates’ opening partner and captain, Sophie Devine (8), was the first wicket to fall withthescoreon37from9.1 overs.

Amelia Kerr then joined Bates in a partnership that took the score to 89 from 16.6oversbeforetheformer captainlostherwicketfor54 runs.

Batesfaced61deliveries

in her innings. As the death overs approached, Kerr (21) lost her wicket at 91 – 3, which left Georgia Plimmer and Maddy Green in the middle. Green was run out withoutscorethenextballas NewZealandreached91–4 from18overs.

With 17 runs left for victory, Plimmer (7) and LaurenDown(9)weregood enough to take their team over the line from 19 5 overs.

The series is leveled at onegameeachwiththenext set for today at the same venuefrom1:30pmETC

Hear me out!

By Rawle Toney

The curtains came down on what was, at least from the outside looking in, a successful 2022 edition of the Hero Caribbean Premier League(CPL).

Guyanabyallmeansdid a fantastic job in hosting its first finals at Providence, thanks largely to the overwhelming support from the country’s cricket-crazed fans.

The Government of Guyana should be commended for fusing the a r t s , c u l t u r e a n d entertainment with cricket, underscoring the notion that nothing can unify sectors andpeoplelikesports.

But with the dust now settled, it has opened up the Government of Guyana, particularly the Ministry of Culture,Youth and Sport, to questionsaboutwheredowe gofromhere.

Behind President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, Guyana has been steadily transforming into a state synonymous with its newfoundoilwealth.

However,it’shardtosay that sport is part of the transformation; a statement that the Head-of-State will certainlydisagreewith.

President Ali, appearing during the innings break of the Guyana Amazon WarriorsandStLuciaKings group stage match, highlighted, “Sports are a very important part of the transformation that we’re going through and that transformation necessitate investmentinyoungpeople; investment in communities and one of the strongest component of that investmentisinsports.”But when it comes to sports, it’s more about action, rather than speaking about what you intend to do. It’s also about being transparent aboutthoseinvestments.On theissueoftransparency,the Government of Guyana has yet to disclose what was the costofthedealwiththeCPL to have the finals here until 2024….whereisthemoney comingfrom?

The Government is also yet to disclose how much wasbudgetedforhostingthe firstfinals.

To be fair, I don’t think

these questions have been askedbefore.

The struggles of the country’s athletes are welldocumented Many are looking at the lavish spending behind the hosting of the CPL and are only wishing that their discipline can have just half the attention, let alone investment.

Everything for sports is moving at a snail pace since not a single initiative has been realized over the past two years, again, raising the question about the $3.2B allocation in the 2022 budget.

Infact,comparesportsto the other sectors in Guyana, it’s really night and day –evidently,we’reseeingmore

thetrack.

Thefootballfield,which rightnowistheonlyfacility in Guyana used for international matches, is an embarrassment.

To accentuate my point, the Leonora facility is the only venue available for football in the West Demeraraarea.

Two years after rehabilitation works had commenced, the Tennis CourtatWoolfordAvenueis yettobecompleted.

We cannot speak about sports development and statingitisahugepartofthe transformation of Guyana, but at the same time not providing facilities and fundingtoathletes.

Linden, a place which

Winning CPL is a fantastic achievement as coach - Chanderpaul

ByZaheerMohamed

Legendary West Indies cricketer Shivnarine Chanderpaul stated that in the capacity as the HeadCoach for Jamaica Tallawahs that winning the Caribbean Premier League T20 “was the biggest thing forhim”.

The former Guyana and West Indies captain, Chanderpaul,toldthattothe Media following Tallawahs comprehensive eight-wicket victory over Barbados Royals to be crowned champions in this year’s edition.

The one month long tournament culminated on Friday night at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

doneelsewhere.

In last week’s column, I stated that maybe it’s time for President Ali to have a candid reasoning, privately, with the country’s elite athletes and their coaches to understand why I am of the view that sport is being left behind.

IencouragePresidentAli to take a deeper look into sports, just like he had done withthefolksfromtheartsto ascertaintheirneeds.

Last week I made an open challenge to anyone that can find a ‘proper’ communityground.

Even the National Track andFieldCentreatLeonora, which was commissionedin 2015 by former President Donald Ramotar, remains a ‘shell’of what it should be, giventhedeplorablestateof

per capita, has produced more Olympians and national athletes than any part of Guyana and that community seems to not exist. Kaieteur News had done a series of articles recently about the appalling state of the facilities in Region10.

The ‘Hear Me Out’ column isn’t here to only be critical on things affecting athletes and sports in Guyana,buttoalsohighlight and give kudos where necessary However, right now, we have nothing to cheer about. On my social media platform, Facebook, I asked how many people support actual national teams the way they support the Guyana Amazon Warriors Theresponse (Continuedonpage65)

Traditionally, six teams participated again since the startoftournamentin2013.

“This is fantastic for me winning the championship afterbeingcoachforthefirst time for the Tallawahs,” Chanderpaulrelated.

He also took the opportunity to say that his team was well-balanced and confident they would have comeoutontop.

BarbadosRoyalswonthe tossanddecidedtotakefirst knock. They only managed 161-7 at the completion of the20-overs.

Jamaica Tallawahs, in response, galloped to 162-2 with a whooping 23 balls remaining. Opener Brandon King led the way with a heroic,unbeaten83.

“I believed in my players;thebattingwasgreat andourbowlersdidareally, reallygoodjobtoo,everyone always came in and made a big contribution; King always, (Shamarh) Brooks gotacenturyintheprevious match and our captain (Rovman) Powell was alwaysouttheretodoagood job, so I think we had a balanced team to win the c h a m p i o n s h i p , ” Chanderpaul declared. The 48 year old Chanderpaul

mentioned that even though Tallawahs lost strike bowler and left-arm swing bowler Mohammad Amir for this contestduetoagroininjury, the other bowlers did a fine job.

Left arm orthodox spinner Fabian Allen capturedthreewicketsfor24 runs while fast bowler NicholsonJohnsonalsowith three wickets but conceded 33runsfromhisfourallotted overs.

Chanderpaul thanked Mohammad Nabi, the tidy o f f s p i n n e r f r o m

Afghanistan for his phenomenal contribution He further commented Australian Chris Green played a pivotal role with his off break but attributed the success to total team’s effort

Apart from Chanderpaul, Jamaica Tallawahs had Sir Curtly Ambrose in the Management setup offering his technical bowling services.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul (left) and CurtlyAmbrose (R) acknowledge the fans at Providence following their win, along with another member of the Tallawahs management. (Zaheer Mohamed photo)

The CPL is over…can Pres. Ali please focus on sports?

Rawle Toney

Jamual John, Cleveland Thomas dominate Fireworks/

Mile event

Team Foundation’s Jamaul John (first from left)

Cleveland Thomas had a dominating run to win the ‘Golden Mile’at the KaieteurAttack Racing and Team United event.