Kaieteur News

K

AIETEUR Despite talk of improved climate ambitions…

Sunday Edition

Fossil fuel production will double to endangering levels by 2030 - Int'l Report

NEWS

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

October 24, 2021 Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

Price $140

Online readership yesterday, 71,644

Exxon's 4th oil project to cost over US$9 billion Renewable energy is cheaper than previously thought, new report reveals - could be a gamechanger in the climate change battle

After robbery, bandit drowns while escaping from cops worker Abducted teen RDC accused of - Medical was raped Report raping girl, 14 Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon, has joined the protest

GWI institutes legal proceedings against contractor for failing to change aged transmission lines

Suriname gets US$30.88M signing bonus for block with no discoveries - Guyana gives away Stabroek Block, 13x larger with massive oil find for US$18M VP Jagdeo says it is foolish for Guyana to scale back its oil and gas exploration and production. We would be shooting ourselves in the foot, it is such a stupid thing to do…to keep Saudi Arabia, Norway and the US just pumping all the oil that is needed in the world and Guyanese need money: yes, that 2%.

All our leaders are allowing ExxonMobil to gangster our children and our future with no shame whatsoever. Where is Guyana's Production Report, Messrs. Ali, Jagdeo and Harmon? @ 11am, 4&7pm on Kaieteur Radio 99.1/99.5FM Suriname received last week US$30.88M Signing Bonus, 40% business shares, no payments for exploration, collects full taxes on a 552,000 acres oil block. Guyana uninterested to recover 3 times the size of that Suriname Oil Block from our Kaieteur Oil Block legally due to us.

PAGE 02

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 24, 2021

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 24, 2021

PAGE 03

Suriname gets US$30.88M signing bonus for block with no discoveries Suriname’s national oil c o m p a n y, S t a a t s o l i e , announced on October 13, 2021, that it is poised to sign a Production Sharing Contract (PSC) with Chevron for the rights to explore, develop and produce in the shallow waters offshore the Dutchs p e a k i n g c o u n t r y. B y utilising a bidding round as opposed to a one-on-one negotiation and award of the block, Suriname was able to garner several benefits for its offshore concession, which has no discoveries.

One of the major achievements is that it was able to secure US$30.8M for a block that spans 2,235km2.

Also of significance is the fact that Staatsolie, for the first time in its history, will participate as a partner in offshore activities since it retained a 40 percent participation right from the moment the PSC is signed.

The cooperation was confirmed by the signing of the Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) in which the conditions are specified.

The agreements enable Staatsolie to have more influence in the decisionmaking process and mean that Staatsolie will cofinance as a partner in the possible development and production phase.

Kaieteur News understands that Chevron showed interest in Block 5 at the Suriname Shallow Offshore Bid Round 2020/2021. In this tendering round, interested companies bid for blocks in the socalled shallow offshore, the sea area up to 120 kilometres from the coast and with a water depth of up to 100 metres. Chevron made the most favourable offer for Block 5.

In stark contrast, Suriname’s CARICOM s i s t e r, b e i n g G u y a n a ,

- Guyana gives away Stabroek Block ,13x larger with massive oil find for US$18M

The 30-year contract was signed by Staatsolie’s General Manager, Annand Jagesar, Upstream Director, Rekha Bissumbhar and Chris Steele, Chevron’s Head Emerging Countries.

secured only US$18M as a signing bonus after ExxonMobil made a significant discovery in the Stabroek Block. It is important to note that the Stabroek Block is 12 times the size of Block 5. More importantly, when the signing bonus was received, at a time when ExxonMobil should have relinquished more than 20 percent of the oil rich block and was able to hold onto it.

As for the Kaieteur and Canje Blocks, which are combined, almost nine times the size of Block 5, they were awarded back in 2015 by the Donald Ramotar Administration to industry unknowns without any signing bonus being required.

ExxonMobil has since farmed into both blocks and is now the operator.

In a previous interview, Oil Consultant and former advisor to President Granger, Dr. Jan Mangal, had said Guyana likely forfeited US$100’s millions or even a billion dollars in

signing bonuses for the foregoing blocks. He noted that these blocks, being Kaieteur and Canje, are adjacent to the Stabroek Block, which is operated by ExxonMobil and is now known to hold over 5.5B of oil equivalent resources.

ExxonMobil has since submitted applications to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to pursue 12 wells in each block.

CANJE BLOCK OPERATORS The company to which Ramotar signed away the Canje Block was MidAtlantic Oil and Gas. JHI Associates Inc. subsequently farmed in (or bought in) right after. The block was awarded on March 4, 2015 to MidAtlantic.

JHI was only registered in Guyana on May 4 and it bought into the block on May 15. It seems JHI was created from nothing as its archived website only started working and listing managers, including John Cullen, on June 10, 2015.

The general election was on May 11, 2015.

According to documents held by the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Secretariat, JHI was only incorporated on June 17, 2015, in the British Virgin Islands. This nation is under no obligation to provide countries like Guyana with tax information of companies registered there.

And even though MidAtlantic Oil and Gas was incorporated here on April 8, 2013, both companies were in one-on-one negotiations with the PPP government for the oil block one month before, that is, March 2013.

This means that the individuals behind the companies were asking for oil blocks without having a company being formed as yet. What is also significant to note is that the Canje Block is the only asset that these two companies have to

date. Additionally, JHI and Mid-Atlantic, which participated in Guyana’s EITI reporting process, failed to submit their audited financial statements for review.

THE KAIETEUR BLOCK Ramotar awarded the Kaieteur Block to Ratio Energy Limited and Ratio Guyana on April 28, 2015.

Both companies are registered at the same offices in Prashad Nagar and Gibraltar, Israel.

Ratio Guyana does not have a website but on the Kaieteur Block’s Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), a Ryan Pereira is signed on as the Company Secretary, Director and General Partner of the company.

It also should be noted that Mr. Pereira is a longtime miner in Guyana with no track record in oil. Yet, the last government awarded him (Cataleya Energy) 50

p ercent of the block.

The Ratio duo’s only asset remains the Kaieteur Block.

Not a trace of evidence can be found to prove that it has years of experience in the exploration of oil and gas (SEE LINK FOR PSA: https://resourcecontracts.org/ contract/ocds-591adf2701587320/view#/pdf).

Ratio Energy, which also calls itself Ratio Petroleum is chaired by Ligad Rotlevy.

With the Kaieteur Block in hand in 2015, this Israeli company was able to capture three other blocks. In 2017, it was able to acquire rights in Suriname’s basin, specifically for Block 47. In June 2016, Ratio Petroleum was granted a licence to operate in the Exclusive Economic Zone of Ireland.

In October 2018, the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and Ratio entered into a Production Sharing Agreement, for oil exploration in an offshore section of Philippines continental shelf, known as SC 76. But Ratio does not have a track record of producing any oil in deepwater or anywhere, nor does it have the required assets to do so.

Of its four assets, Guyana’s Kaieteur Block is its largest (SEE WEBSITE LINK FOR MORE I N F O R M AT I O N : https://www.ratiopetroleum. com/en/about/ratiopetroleum/).

Kaieteur News

PAGE 04

Sunday October 24, 2021

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

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

EDITORIAL

Dubai Expo Aladdin had his magic carpet ride. Guyana’s President Ali went to Dubai and took a whole lot of people along for a ride. And what a ride it was in the buffeting sands of a place carved out of the desert.

World Expo 2020 was the stage and President Ali took to the stage, like one of those old-time door-to-door salesman.

He is getting better as a salesman, like a duck taking to water, all sales pitch in a torrent of gushing words that delight listening ears and captivate hearts. Come to Guyana and invest, we have everything to give, and we don’t demand much of those who come to take more than they give. Those are heavenly hymns, and there was no better, no more thrillingly competing, commercial than Guyana in Dubai at the Expo.

We question is, why President Ali thinks, he and his people, that Guyana needs to be sold to anyone. We have oil and in the billions of barrels, with more to come, and that alone sells itself. Look at all those American and European and Chinese companies and investors falling over themselves to rush to Guyana. Those that hurry here to latch on to as big a piece of this country’s rich, sweet action as they can get, compliments of weak, unwise political leaders, who have also earned a reputation for doing dirty business, and under a thick blanket of secrecy.

That is Guyana’s own Expo, now well known to the world, and President Ali didn’t have to travel all the way to Dubai to deliver that slick sales job. The President spoke of Guyana as a hub, just like the CJIA has been identified by Guyanese politicians as a hub. Each time, Guyanese leaders mention hub, Guyanese always end up getting shafted.

It is a record of how governments conduct the business of this country. He could have spared himself the trip and devoted himself to being truly transparent on how this nation’s oil wealth is being managed. He could have spared Guyanese taxpayers the heavy expense of his bloated entourage on a junket to sell what does not need to be sold, because it sells itself.

This country has opportunities all over: upstream, downstream, midstream and, sometimes, where there is no stream at all. Talk of technology and we need it. Speak of expertise and we are desperately short of it. Mention money, and banks line up to lend us since we have prime collateral: oil wealth, other natural resources wealth, agricultural wealth to be tapped, and infrastructure wealth to be built.

We need healthcare, daycare, and elder care. We need a brand-new capital city, ports and a real airport. Regarding the latter, we have not a white elephant, but a dinosaur that is already a museum piece. We have to get above the floodwaters and out of our shoes, which means projects and business waiting for the taking.

When putting a kind face on the visit, Guyana’s President could be regarded as an open-ended invitation: Come and do business with us, as we have red carpets ready to make the process smooth; there are these rich upsides to investing and having a footprint in Guyana. When looked at critically, it is as if the President is begging for people to come here and set up shop, as though we are some charity case looking for a handout. Nothing could be more remote from the facts that are of today’s Guyana.

Those who don’t know about Guyana need not bother to come, for they haven’t done their homework and will lose out. Those that have to be enticed to come here and invest are going to look upon it as making unwanted solicitations best left alone. We must not look this desperate, not when we are overflowing with wealth.

For sure, we are open to reciprocally beneficial partnerships, and if there are those from the investing world who have to trek to the glittering metropolis of Dubai to learn about Guyana’s prospects, then they may not be the best partners. The go-getters are already here: Trinidad, China, America, Europe, and elsewhere. A Guyana does not go to Dubai. Those going to Dubai come to us.

Public Communication Simone Mangal-Joly Friday October 22, 2021 Mr. Lochan C h a i r E n v i ro n m e n t a l Assessment Board c/o The Environmental Protection Agency Dear Sir: RE: Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Ltd. – 12-Well Exploration Campaign, Kaieteur Block Offshore Guyana I object to the EPA’s decision to not require an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the above proposed activities on grounds that the Agency’s conclusion that the impacts would not be significant is unsound and irrational.

On September 24, 2021, the EPA posted a public summary of the proposed activities on its website and provided the following two reasons for its decision: “1- Review of existing environmental baseline information of the Kaieteur Block.

Environmental baseline

information on the Kaieteur Block has been collected via two separate assessments in 2019 and 2020, respectively.

2- Conduct of similar campaigns in the Stabroek, Canje, and Kaieteur Blocks.”

It is unclear as to whether reason No. 2 – “similar campaigns” is referring to gathering of environmental baseline information, or well drilling campaigns conducted elsewhere. In any case, the presence of baseline data is not sufficient reason to exempt activities with potentially significant risks from an Environmental Impact Assessment.

As the EAB considers objections and contemplates scheduling a hearing on this matter, please note significant omissions exist in the Project Description.

These include but are not limited to: • The location of the proposed activities. As you are aware, Section 36 as well as Section 11(1)(i) of the Environmental Protection

Act, requires an applicant to disclose the location of the activities for which it is seeking an environmental permit.

The Applicant proposes to drill and perforate the seabed, emit toxic pollution to the waters and air, create centres of oil spill risks, and surely would require an exclusion radius prohibiting other users at 12 unidentified sites in Kaieteur Block.

This block is some 13,500 km2, an area larger than the country of Jamaica. The locations of the actual drill sites (GPS coordinates) are missing. These locations are material to determining the significance of likely impacts on the natural environment as well as other users, and whether an EIA should be required.

• The durations of each seabed perforation activity, season of the year when each will be conducted, and how the noise of drilling and supply vessel activities as well as toxic water and air

emissions could affect the migration and feeding habits of marine mammals as well as commercially and ecologically important fish species. Given, that baseline surveys have been completed, these must have characterised: the migratory and feeding behaviour of marine mammals such as whales and dolphins; commercial fish migratory routes for spawning and feeding at juvenile and adult stages; specific dependence of near shore and offshore fisheries sector on these patterns and marine life; sensitive seabed locations with yet unstudied biodiversity associations, including those with coral and non-coral reef habitats that can potentially be impacted given seabed topography and currents affecting the perforated areas, that could transport discharges to sensitive reef communities, etc. The Applicant must (Continued on page 6)

Sunday October 24, 2021

Oil companies’ leaders have always misled; local leaders prove they are no different Dear Editor, The oil/gas sector is notorious for peddling lies.

Next week Darren Woods, ExxonMobil’s Chief Executive Officer, must appear before the US Congress Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on Environment, to answer questions about Exxon and its disinformation about fossil fuels and global warming. In 1982, Exxon scientists privately predicted that burning fossil fuels would raise the temperature of the earth. In public, Exxon denied it. Exxon’s lobbyist Keith McCoy recently admitted that Exxon relied on “shadow groups” to fight government efforts to address climate change.

Mr. Woods will be joined by other oil industry executives. Given the blatant documented dishonesty in the oil sector, Guyanese people are increasingly skeptical of pro-oil statements.

Since ‘first oil’, the cost of living has gone up. The majority of people in Guyana are poor. Oil is making them poorer, not richer. GAWU has complained that the oil sector is ill-treating Guyanese workers and hiring foreigners for jobs that Guyanese can do.

More than six years after the discovery of oil and the promises of vast wealth, people are still hoping for a decent job. In contrast, Darren Woods, the CEO of ExxonMobil earned US$15.6M (roughly G$3.2bn) last year.

A letter under the name of Arjoon Singh was recently published in Stabroek News.

It set out the standard oil industry line about the world needing oil. The letter did not

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

put forward any evidence to rebut the economic and financial analyses of the IMF, the World Bank, the IADB, the International Energy Agency, economists Nick Stern and Joseph Stieglitz, Black Rock, the World Economic Forum and other staunch capitalists, investors and oil industry experts who say that renewable energy is replacing fossil fuels, and who warn that stranded fossil fuel assets threaten a country’s economy.

The letter had several mistakes. A Fair Deal for Guyana – A Fair Deal for the Planet is not my group. The website clearly states that it is, ‘A People’s Movement to make Gov’t of Guyana & Big Oil obey the law and protect the environment for present and future generations.’

Guyanese people are not fools. Everybody knows that the government and the oil companies are subject to the rule of law. People also know that the Constitution (Article 149J) requires the State to protect the environment for present and future generations.

Fair Deal does not say leave the oil in the ground. Its website says, “We believe that the current oil deal is bad for Guyana.” If there is anybody in Guyana who thinks that Guyana got a good deal, let them say so loud and clear. In December 2018, the then Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo said of the APNU+AFC Coalition, “Our incompetent Government trudged in there unprepared and stuck us with a contract that would harm us for decades into the future.

They sold our patrimony…” A deal that

sold our patrimony and would harm Guyana for decades, does not magically become a good deal because there is a different government.

Even with ‘our patrimony’, Exxon is in financial trouble. It owes a lot of money. The Coalition United for a Responsible Exxon (CURE) consists of 145 institutional investors representing about US$2.4 trillion in assets. CURE says that, “Exxon’s current direction is premised on outdated assumptions about high oil prices, demand, and margins that are incompatible with the reality of climate change and the inevitable transition to renewable energy sources.” CURE says that Exxon’s failure to transition “puts at risk shareholders’ dividend, as well as the company and the planet’s survival.”

If the Guyana government continues its desperate out of date attempts to do oil and gas, the Guyanese people and future generations will be left with oil and gas that nobody wants to buy, oil and gas wells that cost billions of American dollars to shut down safely, and a gas plant without gas.

Yours truly, Melinda Janki

Tribute to Colin Smith

By William Cox, Frederick Kissoon and Sheik Isaacs (David) Colin Smith, the editor of the Catholic Standard, was laid to rest on Friday last.

Colin was an extraordinary human being. We, three of his closest friends, would like to extend the tribute, which we paid to him at the Church, to a much wider Guyanese audience.

Colin Smith did not own even a tiny quantity of assets but he was rich beyond one’s wildest imagination – because he was of the finest of values, virtue and purpose.

Colin left this life without any serious quantity of material possessions. He took his Jesuit vow of poverty in ways you will find hard to see a replication elsewhere in this world. To describe how Colin eschewed material things would take dozens of letters to the press. He armed himself in life with his goodness and nothing else. Colin was one of the most decent, generous, mild-mannered, humble and sincere persons you can find.

His amazing humanity and simplicity were qualities of an upright upbringing and the fact that he was deeply anchored to his Catholic faith.

Here are episodes of the man that tell you who he was.

Once there was a massacre on the East Coast of Demerara and he, along with Freddie Kissoon and William Cox went to the scene. The trio

was quickly swarmed by a hostile, menacing crowd.

William sensed danger and looked desperately for an escape route but when he glanced at Colin, he was his usual self – untroubled and unbothered by the looming threat.

It was with this same collected and nonchalant manner that one day Colin waltzed through the entrance of the Pegasus Hotel to cover a CARICOM Heads of Government Conference and was almost mobbed by the foreign press. He’d been mistaken for the then President of Haiti, Jean Bertrand Aristide, to whom he held a striking resemblance!

On some Sundays, years ago, the four of us would often go on a lime. We would drive to some location, share a meal and have a good chat.

But no matter where we went, after a few hours, Colin would always want to return home, always. He never fussed or fretted but he always said it was time to go home even though the lime was just warming-up.

So, one day we drove to Parika, hired a speedboat and told Colin that a conservancy had collapsed and we were going to investigate. We then headed to Bartica and upon arrival, told the speedboat operator to return in the afternoon. True to form, after a few hours Colin wanted to go home. The only thing was

that there was no speedboat around to get him home, and so that time, we got him to spend the entire day liming and “gaffing”.

As editor of the Catholic Standard, he was given information about an arrangement a Cabinet Minister had unilaterally made in Trinidad. Colin was shown the proof so he went to interview the Minister. The Minister flatly denied the story. Colin said he cannot run the story and we insisted. We asked him why, Colin said, “You think a Minister would lie?” That was the nature of the gentleman. He loved and trusted people.

Colin gave his entire life to the local diocese. He had many roles in the Church including as a Catechist and producer of the Catholic Broadcast. But he is best known for his work with the Catholic Standard.

Colin was the workhorse of the Catholic Standard. He was the longest-serving editor and staff member, his involvement dating back to the days when the newspaper was printed on a Gestetner machine.

Thursdays were long (Continued on page 6)

PAGE 6

Sunday October 24, 2021

Kaieteur News

Possibly inadvertent disparaging remarks The law is the law and must some 40,000 years from that about Indigenous people knowledge crucible. be respected at all times The Indigenous peoples Dear Editor, the world, and not benefitting In your 19th September 2021 Editorial captioned: “Guyana - the latest example of grievous predations”, possibly inadvertent disparaging remarks were made against the Indigenous peoples of the Americas. In particular, I refer to the statement, “…the Native Americans got civilisation and modernisation back then [from the European colonialists]”.

To the contrary, the Indigenous peoples of the Americas developed their own civilisations, despite being apart from the rest of

from the exchange of ideas that was able to happen freely in the so called “Old World”.

The pyramids of the Aztecs, and the Incan edifices of Machu Picchu, with all the mathematical and geometric knowledge required, to say nothing about their written languages, were all developed literally, indigenously in the Americas. There was no ready exchange of ideas as was happening between Asia, Europe, and Africa to develop jointly mathematics, geometry, and writing. The Indigenous peoples of the Americas were separated for

of the Americas learnt howto live-in harmony with nature; they did not destroy the buffalos of the North American Plains, rather they lived sustainably. The Amazon was safe in their hands. Due to the lack of sustainable lifestyles, there are no more buffalos roaming the North American Plains, and the Amazon is rapidly turning into another Sahara Desert. Today’s focus is on short-term benefits, as we pillage and destroy tomorrow.

Yours sincerely, Lalu Hanuman Attorney, Barbados

COVID 19 deaths - more information needed, would be helpful Dear Editor, With great respect, we keep seeing daily a simplistic tabular presentation of deaths by COVID-19, irrespective of whether the victims have been vaccinated or not.

What is not indicated are the following: - Location of death – whether in or out of a health institution, and for how long in the case of the latter - The record of a containing vaccination programme, particularly in the communities of identified victims.

Simply, how and when are the related families tested and treated? Surely, such information of positive containment should encourage demand for more

vaccinations to be delivered?

And again, how many survive the ICU at Liliendaal?

A Nonagenarian Editor’s Note: The Ministry usually informs in its COVID-19 update if persons died while receiving treatment at its medical institutions.

...Tribute to Colin Smith From page 5 days for Colin. Fr. Andrew Morrison would come in at around 4pm with a few stories already written, ready to be typed and prepared for the ‘flats’. Fr. Andy would then sit for hours and work on his editorial. But the rest of the newspaper had to be prepared and it was Colin who spearheaded that task, which began as early as Monday. Without Colin, the newspaper would never have been ready for Friday morning distribution.

When the “Standard” moved to the corner of South Road and Wellington Street, William would often go there to visit Colin. On one such occasion, one of the persons connected to the Board saw William and made an uncomplimentary remark about him going there to “help” Colin. William never went back because he did not wish Colin to be embarrassed on his account. He, however, kept in touch and maintained his long-standing friendship with Colin.

We will miss Colin. He was our dear and trusted friend and someone who we respected and who embodied the finest of human qualities. There was not a bad bone in Colin’s body.

Rest in Peace, Colin!

Dear Editor, I watched with great amusement the theatrical display of former Assistant Commissioner of Police, Paul Slowe, when confronted by the members of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) on the issue of a warrant for his arrest. They were there to carry out an order for his arrest on certain serious charges for which Slowe should have been in the jurisdiction, but he chose to do otherwise. Paul Slowe was in contempt of the laws of Guyana, which stipulates that he present himself in a court of law within a specific time, not in a time that he decides.

And this is the problem that the law has with such persons. Paul Slowe has to realise that our country is governed by laws, something that he has to respect. He has to have it all cleared up in his

mind that the law is not at his convenience, he cannot, and I repeat, he cannot turn up whenever he pleases. So, in my book, SOCU officers had every right to arrest him.

And if Slowe is not aware of this fact, I shall refresh his memory. The GPF and, by extension, SOCU officers, were under no obligation to shy away from arresting him, those officers were well within their rights.

So, quoting some nonsense that he was not aware of the charges against him, or let the officers speak to his lawyers, the point is the officers were not there to speak to a lawyer, but there to arrest him. The law is the law and must be respected at all times. Feigning ignorance of the officers who were there to arrest him was another ludicrous tactic of his, because soon after Paul

Slowe was seen on a political programme recounting the events and the names of all the officers who were there.

Then, I would again refresh Slowe’s recollection, that Dr. Ashni Singh who was the former Finance Minister in the Ramotar Government, was also charged and shackled, because he too was outside the jurisdiction when the arrest warrant was issued.

So, I do not know what Slowe was complaining about, maybe he was fantasizing with the thought that being a former Assistant Police Commissioner somehow gave him immunity from prosecution, well he is ever so wrong! What he needs to understand is that under a reformed GPF, everyone is equal under the law, until otherwise stated.

Respectfully submitted, Neil Adams

...Public Communication From page 4 surely be in a position to state the potential effects of its proposed activities in these areas.

• The purpose, scale, duration, specification, and possible effects of the seismic activities mentioned on marine life.

• The essential shorebased activities that would support each seabed perforation exercise.

There is no information on shore-based service locations, types of activities, wastes generated or that would be handled on shore, how they will be disposed, frequency of movement of material to and from drill sites etc. The EAB would appreciate that the drilling proposed offshore cannot occur without shore-based components. The complete set of activities must be considered when determining the likely significance of impacts.

• Mention of other marine users that could be affected such as those involved in shipping, fishing or stakeholders that could be impacted by land-based activities, including increased frequency of helicopter traffic noise over residential areas, etc.

• Indication of potential types of risks, affected parties, measures in place for avoidance, mitigation, compensation, and restoration for negative impacts specific to the identified locations and durations of activities.

Indeed, one could not make the case better than the Applicant itself has done that (1) An impact assessment is in fact needed; and (2) The EPA has been in no position to conclude that the likely impacts would not be significant enough to warrant an EIA. In its Project Description (p.g. 13 Section 5.2.2. Risk Assessment and Hazards

Recognition), the Applicant states clearly that Kaieteur Block drilling activities will have to be assessed “to identify potential hazards to personnel, facilities, the public, and environment.” Isn’t the purpose of an EIA to identify the hazards of an activity and whether and how they could be mitigated? Exhibit A is an excerpt of the Applicant’s full statement on this matter in its Project Document.

I trust that the EAB is committed to having a fair and equitable public engagement on this matter and will endeavour to ensure that the EPA meets all statutory requirements for information provision prior to scheduling a public hearing.

Thank you for your kind attention.

Yours truly, Simone Mangal-Joly cc. Executive Director, Environmental Protection Agency

T N U L B . . .

T B N U T L N B T .

U .

L .

L T B . .

N .

U N U T L N B .

U T . .

L N N U T B .

U .

N .

L U BL BLUNT B . .

T .

T T N N U .

U L . .

L B .

T B . . . .

N .

T U T N N T U N U L L U B .

L B . . . .

B .

T . .

T .

N N T U N L LU U B .

N L . .

U B T .

L . .

N B T .

U . .

N L T U B .

N T.. UNT...BL T...BLU N U L B .

N L . .

U B .

T L . .

N U NT LUNT...B L U B .

L . .

B T . . .

N B .

T .

U .

N L T U B .

N L . .

U B T .

L . .

N B T .

U . .

N L T U B .

N L . .

U B T .

L .

B .

UN .BLUNT. L . .

B T . . .

N T U N L . .

U B T .

UN .BLUNT.. UNT...BL T...BL N L . .

U B T .

L . .

N B T .

U . .

N L B T .

U . .

N L T U B .

N L . .

U B T .

L . .

N B T .

U . .

N L B T .

U . .

N L T U B .

N L . .

U B T .

L . .

N B T .

U . .

N L T .

U B . .

N L T U B .

N L . .

U B T .

L . .

N B T .

U .

BBL T...BLUN .BLUNT. T...BLU . .

N N T T L U U N L L U B U T...BLU B L . .

N .

B .

T . .

N T U N N N U L U U B L .

BL TLUNT.. UNT...B BL Sunday October 24, 2021

Kaieteur News

Unless there is dramatic reduction in fossil fuel use, untold destruction is promised (KN October 17). It is not KN that said so, but the IMF Chief.

First, it was the UN Secretary General sounding the alarm about fossil fuels. The latest is the IMF bigwig.

There are more to come.

Is Dr. Bharrat 'drilling machine' Jagdeo listening? Does he understand what these people are saying? Or is he going to get his police to shut them up and lock them up, too?

PAGE 07

PAGE 08

Sunday October 24, 2021

Kaieteur News

37 house lots allocated to low-income families in Berbice House lot recipients receiving their titles from Minister Susan Rodrigues.

Life for 37 low-income families in the MahaicaBerbice region (Region Five) has changed for the better, as they are now land owners in the Balthyock Housing Scheme.

According to the Central Housing and Authority, this is in keeping with a commitment of Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, just two weeks ago. The lots were allocated during a simple ceremony on Friday at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) office, at Fort Wellington, Region Five, where residents were also presented their offer letters by the Minister.

Minister Rodrigues during her charge noted that providing housing solutions for low-income and vulnerable groups is a major priority for the government. “We know how much it means to the ordinary Guyanese to be able to own a plot of land and to own a home,” the Minister stated.

She explained that the Balthyock Scheme was initially developed to relocate informal settlers

from the sea defense reserve nearby.

Relocation began in 2012 with seven families relocated and households within the block were regularised. However, another portion of the area comprising of 37 lots was not allocated due to the incompletion of infrastructure works.

During an outreach at Blairmont in May, the residents bemoaned the situation to the Minister, who returned two weeks ago, to announce the awarding of a $20 million contract for infrastructure works to develop the area and the resumption of allocations.

Fifteen families who are still residing on the reserve will be allocated, while the remaining 22 lots will be distributed to residents within the neighbourhood who have house lot applications outstanding.

The allocation is expected to improve the lives of the allottees, as they will now have access to Certificates of Titles and basic utilities such as electricity and water, as well as roads and other infrastructure.

On Friday the Minister further announced the development of another area close by, which will yield (Continued on page 53)

Kaieteur Radio launches 'Maha Lakshmi Competition' for Diwali 2021 Kaieteur Radio has announced the launch of its first ever 'Maha Lakshmi Competition' for Diwali 2021.

The competition will target females in Guyana between the ages of 3 and 12 years old.

Entry to the competition entails sending photographs of a child dressed as the Hindu Goddess 'Maha Lakshmi' to Whatsapp account - 622-2222. The photo will then be uploaded to Kaieteur Radio's Facebook page.

The photograph with the most shares will be selected the winner.

The winner will be the recipient of GYD$50,000, compliments of Hibiscus Restaurant and Lounge.

The 2nd place prize is an electronic tablet, compliments of Digicel Guyana and the 3rd place prize is a trip to the rainforest, compliments of Wanderlust Adventures GY. All are welcome to participate and best of luck!

Also, thank you to our sponsors!

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 24, 2021

PAGE 09

Fourth from right: Attorney-at-law, Abhimanyu 'Abhi' Dev flanked by the Chief Justice, Roxane George-Wiltshire, Attorney-at-law, Devindra Kissoon and members of his family.

21-year-old is youngest lawyer to be admitted to the Bar A

t the age of 21, Abhimanyu “Abhi” Dev, is said to be the youngest persons to be admitted to the Bar of Guyana.

Dev's petition was presented by attorneyat-law Devindra Kissoon before Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire at the High Court on Wednesday. Dev who is known as an academic overachiever for all his life started his primary education from the tender age of five.

He wrote the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination when he was just 14 years old and secured passes in 17 subjects.

The top achiever then aced the Caribbean Advance Proficiency Examination (CAPE) at 16 years old before moving on to the University of Guyana's Law Programme where he passed his LLB with distinction at age 19.

Given his excellent academic performance, he was accepted into the Hugh Wooding Law School where he received his Legal Education Certificate (LEC).

Dev's academic performance should come as no surprise as he comes from a line of scholars. His father is Ravi Dev, who is a former Member of Parliament, and his sister is Dr. Anuradha Dev, who is now a Resident at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) and one of the country's top academic performers at CSEC. The new lawyer counts his family as the

Dem

boys seh...

Dem boys seh yuh can't rest in peace. If dem bury yuh in La Repentir is jungle tek over de place and snake crawling all over yuh body.

At some ah dem countryside cemetery, cow grazing and pooping pun yuh head. And dog peeing pun yuh tomb.

We gat suh much land in dis country and still de dead can't sleep in peace. We does talk how Guyana is 83,000 square miles in area. But awe fuhget how much of de land done get tek over by de sea. Dat is why when dem

Attorney-at-law, Abhimanyu 'Abhi' Dev.

driving force, inspiration and motivation for his success. Since returning from law school, Dev has joined the law firm London House Chambers headed by Attorney Kissoon. He will soon be practising in the courtroom.

While we watching Venezuela de sea invade we! find all dem coffins and skeletons at No. 71 village foreshore, dem ole people had to remind we dat de same area used to be a cemetery fuh indentured immigrants.

Is nat like dem nah bin know nat fuh bury de dead near foreshore. Nuff burial ground deh near foreshore.

But is because de sea coming in and claiming de land, dat de cemetery become part ah de new foreshore and now all dem dead bodies get wash up.

Nowadays people

frighten fuh pass through burial ground. One day a girl bin afraid fuh walk along de road wah pass through de cemetery. Den she see an old man walking coming and she tell he, “Ah need to walk through this cemetery but ah frighten to walk alone. Yuh gan follow meh?"

De ole man seh, "Oh yeah of course. Nah worry, ah used to be super scared of cemeteries when I was alive too."

Talk half and remember and tell yuh family fuh cremate yuh when yuh dead!

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Sunday October 24, 2021

Exxon's 4th oil project to cost over US$9 billion A

ccording to ExxonMobil's Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for its fourth project called Yellowtail, development costs are poised to exceed US$9B or GY$1.8 trillion.

Exxon said the costs are expected to be higher since there would be a greater number of development wells and associated drilling costs when compared to its Payara project which will also cost Guyana $1.8 trillion.

Despite the astronomical costs, Exxon believes that the project should be supported as it would generate benefits for the citizens of Guyana in

several ways, which would otherwise not be there in the absence of the project.

It said these benefits include revenue sharing with the Government of Guyana.

The oil giant stressed however, that the type and extent of the benefits associated with revenue sharing will d e p e n d o n h o w decision-makers in government decide to p r i o r i t i s e a n d allocate funding for future programmes, which is unknown to the company and outside the scope of the EIA. Apart from the revenue sharing, Exxon said

Guyanese stand to benefit from the procurement process that will follow for goods and services from local businesses in alignment with the Petroleum Agreement and the EEPGL Local Content Plan approved by the Ministry of Natural Resources in June 2021.

Apart from revenue sharing, expenditures, and employment, Exxon said the project will also likely generate induced economic benefits.

According to project documents, Yellowtail will consist of the drilling of approximately 41 to 67 development wells

(including production, water injection, and gas reinjection wells); installation and operation of Subsea, Umbilicals, Risers, and Flowlines equipment; installation and the operation of a Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) vessel in the eastern

half of the Stabroek Block; and— ultimately—project decommissioning.

The FPSO will be designed to produce up to 250,000.

The initial production is expected to begin by the end of 2025–early 2026, with operations continuing for at

least 20 years.

The project is expected to employ up to 540 persons during development well drilling, approximately 600 persons at the peak of the installation stage, and 100 to 140 persons during production operations.

1 death, 100 new cases from COVID-19 The Ministry of Health (MOH) has recorded one more COVID-19- related death. This has taken the total number of deaths from the pandemic to 894.

The death is that of a 56year-old partiallyvaccinated man from Demerara-Mahaica who died on October 22, 2021.

The patient was admitted with COVID-19 like symptoms but died while receiving care at a medical institution. Samples were taken at the time of

admission which subsequently returned positive tests.

Meanwhile, the Ministry noted that 100 new infections were recorded from 1,323 PCR tests, increasing Guyana's total infection rate to 34,977.

These new cases were recorded in Region One which has four cases, Region Two which has 15 cases, Region Three which has seven cases, Region Four which has 44 cases, Region Five which has 11

cases, Region Six which has five cases, Region Seven which has three cases, Region Eight which has four cases, Region Nine which has one and Region 10 which has three cases.

There are also 18 patients receiving care in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit, 106 are in institutional isolation, 3,370 are in home isolation and six are in institutional quarantine.

Meanwhile, a total of 30,589 people have, to date, recovered.

Sunday October 24, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

SUNDAY It is not Kaieteur News making the statement, or taking the position.

'Foreign companies get preference in Guyana's oil sector, while Guyanese lose out'.

That was the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI). The GCCI is not Kaieteur News.

Thank you GCCI for confirming what we have been publishing for the longest while.

Dr. Ali, Dr. Jagdeo: are you listening? Do both of you understand? Will you leaders do something that benefits the true owners of this oil?

MONDAY In last Saturday's edition of this paper, there were three serious crimes: robbery and beating of driver, businessman robbed and beaten, and a sibling released on bail for beating to death of his brother.

That is only one day, and it may not capture every incident of what any reasonable citizen would consider serious crime.

Yet, the official statistics tell us that we are safer, and we should feel so. Do you, fellow Guyanese, feel safe from random or planned banditry?

PPP/C Government leaders tell us how well they are doing with the oil sector; how honestly, they are dealing on our behalf. Do you, fellow citizens, feel secure in the confidence that leadership banditry is not at work with oil and gas?

We provide. Guyanese must decide.

TUESDAY Amaila Falls Hydro is back, and its aim is to break Guyana's back.

All the same old vultures are gathering. They come back to put their names in the hat for what promises to be a corruption feast, involving local cronies and criminal foreigners.

Wherever rich blood, bone and flesh are, the predators are sure to come calling. They are not of the four-legged species. They are human.

Guyanese: we are dartboards and the garbage dump: everybody is making a fool of us, from leaders to outsiders.

WEDNESDAY Chartered Accountant and attorney at law, Chris Ram, noted that there is no independent oil regulator. This means goodbye to transparency.

Now, we tell Guyanese why there is no independent regulator. The PPP Government likes it so, wants it to be so.

When there is no independent oil regulator, President Ali and Vice President Jagdeo get to come up with all kinds of sleights of hand about transparency that lack credibility.

Quite frankly, what Guyana has been hearing about transparency is nothing but utter stupidity.

THURSDAY Guyanese read and understand for yourselves.

GY$50M is NOT chicken feed money.

Though it was for a seed paddy facility it is not bird seed money for a poor country like Guyana.

The present regime cannot blame the last one for this, since it is from 13 years ago.

But now, another GY$25M must be spent to get the seed facility going.

Which poor society can rise up with leaders like these? Lots of 'spending and borrowing' and 'talking and thieving'.

FRIDAY Guyanese better take note of that California oil spill.

After decades of experience in oil production in America, billions in technology development, and all manner of protections, oil spills are still happening and devastating the sea and

Kaieteur News

PAGE 12

Sunday October 24, 2021

BLUNTNESS ON INDECENCY! I

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

SUNDAY The young is killing the young in robberies.

The have-nots are grabbing and beating the haves.

This is the law of the madness and dangerousness at work in Guyana.

In this rich land, powerful leaders protect themselves, while neglecting ordinary Guyanese and leaving them to face every manner of peril.

MONDAY The Government is proposing in its draft Local Content Act that Guyanese participate in 152 services for the oil sector.

While we at Kaieteur News commend the PPP/C for being proactive in identifying all opportunities for locals to have access to, we ask that they put mechanisms in place to protect the people's interest.

There must be stiff penalties

for those who wish to defraud the system; for those who wish to escape their local content obligations.

If we are not wary that local content can easily become a playfield for fraudsters who seek to only use Guyanese as window dressing, then we are already starting off on the wrong foot.

TUESDAY T h e P u b l i c Wo r k s Ministers just signed $1.5 billion in road contracts.

If the nation could only get ONE BILLION of that $1.5B in solid, honest work done, it will be better.

Yes, things are so corrupt here, that half a billion must be left on the table for the boys and their leaders to have fun at the expense of Guyanese taxpayers.

No wonder Exxon has joined with its own song and dance billing, which the leaders will ensure Guyanese

pay. What kind of society is this with such misfits for leaders?

WEDNESDAY Now the toothless EPA busies itself with noise nuisance workshops with the Police.

The EPA should be honest with itself and have a psychiatric examination conducted on itself at every level.

But even a psychiatric evaluation is too late for Guyana's EPA. Better to do a post mortem on the local EPA, so obviously dead it is.

THURSDAY In Essequibo, residents joined forces to seize some bandits.

This is what more Guyanese have to do.

More Guyanese must summon the courage to do, for their own benefit.

Guyanese must stand up to bandit leaders.

Guyanese must corner PPP/C, PNC and AFC over o i l b a n d i t r y, c o n t r a c t b a n d i t r y, a n d n a t u r a l resources banditry, and general governance banditry.

FRIDAY GTT's CEO told the residents of Bartica that poor service will be a thing of the past.

We will see and we will know. We will hold him to that commitment.

Now, we wonder what the

same CEO will tell Georgetown (and other) residents about unstable service outside of Bartica.

Tell us that will be a thing of the past, too, and we will hold him accountable.

We h o p e t h a t t h i s foreigner is not learning from Government leaders, who make promises, knowing that they won't keep them.

SATURDAY Now, even the bandits are learning from some of our leaders.

They learn how to 'fancy up' and smooth over their stories.

One killed a 19-year-old at an East Coast store and said he can't remember how he got the murder weapon.

Another bandit who was given a lift by a kindhearted teacher in the interior robbed the man of his motorcycle. Then he had the brazenness to tell the police that the teacher pulled a knife on him.

Like politicians, like criminals.

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 24, 2021

PAGE 13

Despite talk of improved climate ambitions…

Fossil fuel production will double to endangering levels by 2030 - INT’L REPORT While governments across the world have outlined plans to improve their climate ambitions, a damning report has revealed the disingenuousness of these intentions. Instead of decreasing, the document has exposed that fossil fuel production is poised to double to endangering levels by 2030.

This is noted in the 2021 Production Gap Report which was prepared and released last week by leading research institutes in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The document’s major finding is that despite increased climate ambitions and net-zero commitments, governments still plan to

produce more than double the current amount of fossil fuels in 2030 which would not be consistent with limiting global warming to 1.5°C and averting an environmental catastrophe.

The report, first launched in 2019, measures the gap between governments’ planned production of coal, oil and gas and the global production levels consistent with meeting the Paris Agreement temperature limits. Two years later, researchers found that the production gap is largely unchanged. In fact, the gap between government action and the Paris goals is projected to get wider.

Over the next two decades, it was noted that governments are

collectively planning an increase in global oil and gas production, and only a

modest decrease in coal production. Taken together, the report says their plans

and projections see global, total fossil fuel production increasing until to at least

2040, creating an everwidening production gap.

“The devastating impacts of climate change are here for all to see. There is still time to limit long-term warming to 1.5°C, but this window of opportunity is rapidly closing,” says Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP. “At COP26 and beyond, the world’s governments must step up, taking rapid and immediate steps to close the fossil fuel production gap and ensure a just and equitable transition. This is what climate ambition looks like.”

The 2021 Production Gap Report provides country profiles for major producer countries which Continued on page 56

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Sunday October 24, 2021

ABDUCTED TEEN WAS RAPED – Medical Report

Several bruises can be seen about the girl’s body.

A

medical examination has reportedly confirmed that the 14year-old girl who was allegedly abducted after dropping her brother to school was also raped.

It was reported that the teen had gone missing on Wednesday, October 13, last around 11:30hrs.

She was found a week later at a location in Belle West, Canal Number Two Polder, West Bank Demerara (WBD) after someone had notified her relatives that she was there in the company of a man and a woman.

The man, who was identified as a 23year-old, was arrested by police ranks. The girl had alleged that the man had abducted her by forcing her into a taxi and taking her to Belle West.

She told investigators that upon their arrival at a house, she saw two women and a man – persons she was not acquainted with – and had told them that she wanted to go home. They reportedly gave her “something in a cup to drink” which made her feel dizzy and she fell asleep soon after.

Kaieteur News learnt that a medical

examination was conducted on the girl and the results showed that she was not only abducted but raped as well. Her mother had told Kaieteur News that she had noted a number of bruises on her daughter’s skin.

She later shared some photos with this publication of the teen’s bruises, which appear to be bite marks.

Kaieteur News was told that a case file was created and is in the process of being sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.

Investigators, however, were forced to

release the suspect on station because he had already spent 72 hours in police custody.

The girl and her family are said to be acquainted with the suspect. In fact, her mother had told this newspaper that the girl had complained to her about the man prior to the incident.

She had told her mother and stepfather that the man would frequently molest her on the roadways and that she “does like the way he would approach her”.

The girl’s stepfather had reportedly found the man and had complained to his parents.

Sunday October 24, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 15

PAGE 16

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 24, 2021

Sunday October 24, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 17

PAGE 18

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 24, 2021

Daniela Araujo This stunning indigenous daughter of the soil, Daniela Araujo, recently did Guyana proud at the recent World Expo in Dubai where she in spoken word fashion told her audience all about the beauty of our dear land.

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 24, 2021

PAGE 19

OLD IS COLD! R

eactions have been raining about the various candidates who are expected to contest for the post of Leader of the People’ National Congress/ Reform (PNC/R). But none of those comments has questioned the commitment of any of the prospective candidates to democracy.

It is truly amazing that all manner of assessments are being made about the various prospective candidates but none concerns the involvement (or lack of involvement) in defending or opposing the attempts which were made to rig the 2020 General and Regional Elections. It is almost as if this issue was a footnote in the country’s politics.

In order to justify its actions during the fivemonth period from March to August 2020, the party created a narrative about

dead and migrated people voting. During the Recount exercise, it engaged in attempting to frustrate the process by raising all manner of fanciful objections. The Caricom Team, which observed this process, described this attempt as a “fishing expedition”.

The PNC/R must not assume that the party’s attempt to install itself in government through fraudulent means is going to be forgotten even by its own supporters. It is not going to be because those actions brought shame and disgrace to the country, to the party and to its supporters.

There are many supporters of the PNC/R who do not support dishonesty. While they may have wanted to win the 2020 general and regional elections, they did not wish for this victory to be achieved through rigging.

Not everyone wants a

victory by any means. This was evident in the reaction of some persons to the Esther Pereira case. In that matter, the PNC/R had filed an election petition against the results of the 1997 General and Regional Elections.

When the 1997 elections were vitiated in 2000, there was, initially a mood of euphoria but this soon dissipated when the party’s supporters realised the grounds upon which the results were vitiated.

In her decision, the judge annulled the elections results on the basis that the use of the voter ID card was unconstitutional. The PNC/R supporters had to have been led to believe that the elections would have been overturned on the basis on discredited results.

But the court found that while there were irregularities, it could not pronounce on whether these would have altered the

overall results.

Many of the supporters of the PNC/R were disappointed rather than pleased because as much as they wanted to be declared the winner – which they were not – they did not wish any victory to be based on technicalities. They wanted to win and win fairly and squarely.

So far, no one had insisted that the future Leader of the PNC/R should be someone who is untainted by the attempts to support or benefit from the rigging of the elections.

But there is bound to be a significant segment of the party’s support base that would not have been pleased by the actions of some persons who were bent on benefitting from rigged elections.

The PNC/R must not confuse renewed support for the party with the restoration of political credibility. The

party at present lacks political credibility. The PNC/R was exposed in front of the Caribbean and the international community. It was shamed and disgraced.

The fallout continues.

Guyana’s Court of Appeal is now coming under scrutiny and its decisions during the elections’ impasse are now the subject of an academic study undertaken at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus.

Guyana was long respected for the quality of its jurisprudence but now that quality is being placed under the microscope.

Unfortunate indeed!

The future of the PNC/R must involve restoring credibility to the party. There is a big difference between enjoying support and enjoying credibility. The PNC/R lacks political credibility because of what happened between 2nd March 2020 and 2nd August

2020.

The future leader of the PNC/R must be a person who will stand untainted by that process. Otherwise, the party will find that despite maintaining its core support, it lacks the credibility needed to have any chance of doing well after 2025.

In this regard, age will be an important factor in the choice of the new leader of the PNC/R. The PNC/R has no chance of winning the 2025 elections. It has to look to 2030, nine years from now and therefore has to groom a young leader during that period.

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

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

Sunday October 24, 2021

Small states must rage at COP26 – it’s the last chance saloon

By Sir Ronald Sanders It is nothing short of shocking to learn that, despite the fact that the world is teetering dangerously on the precipice of a climate catastrophe with fatal consequences for Small Island States, some rich nations are lobbying against paying to help developing countries mitigate the effects of Climate Change.

The UN agency, The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), has produced a report, which will be an important tool in the negotiations between nations at the COP26 meeting in Glasgow, starting in a few days’ time.

H o w e v e r, d o c u m e n t s obtained by Greenpeace UK that was shown to the BBC, reveal that Switzerland and Australia particularly, are doubting parts of the IPCC

report, which state that developing countries will require financial support from rich countries in order for them to achieve emission reduction targets.

The danger in the doubts expressed by Switzerland and Australia that seek to amend the IPCC report is that other richer and greater polluting countries may try to hide behind them to reduce their own pledge to provide climate finance.

These countries have already failed to meet their promise to contribute $100 billion per year by 2020. The later subject is not on the formal agenda of the Glasgow meeting, but small developing countries should raise it at every opportunity and under any pretext.

Plans, to stop global temperatures rising more than 1.5ºC by the end of the century, must be presented at

the Glasgow meeting by every country. But the plans are unlikely to be delivered.

Authoritative Studies by Greenpeace and other bodies show that to keep temperatures below the 1.5ºC limit, every country needs to stop all new fossil fuel projects immediately and stop burning coal altogether.

Rich nations need to give extra financial support to poorer countries to do the same, and to help deal with the existing impacts of climate change.

But the attitude shown by Switzerland and Australia, together with positions taken

by Japan and the member states of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Nations (OPEC) especially Saudi Arabia, to amend language pointing to the n e e d f o r “ u rg e n t a n d accelerated” action to reduce fossil fuels, pose real and

deadly threats to Small Island States and countries with low-lying coastlands.

So, too, do attempts by representatives of Australia and India to water-down references in the IPCC report to the urgency of considerably reducing the production of coal, one of the biggest contributors to CO2 emissions. Australia is a big exporter of coal, and India’s representatives have made it clear that India will not reduce its coal production and use “for the next few decades” because India needs coal to provide cheap electricity for domestic and industrial use.

All of this makes COP26 in Glasgow a truly decisive moment for small islands and countries with low-lying coastlands. This is the last decade the world has to avoid the worst impacts of global warming: unimaginable natural disasters, sea level rise, decimation of human habitats and drowning of small countries with ancient civilisations as in parts of the Pacific. Small states must speak up, and they should not be cajoled into accepting words as deeds or promises as fulfillment.

There is a big hole in the COP26 agenda. It is a hole that will never be filled by the industrialised nations that are the biggest contributors to the adverse effects of Climate Change – it is the crucial matter of compensation for loss and damage.

Over the last four decades, Climate Change and global warming have wreaked massive destruction

on small islands in the Caribbean and the Pacific.

The repeated disasters, especially more frequent and more powerful storms, and extended periods of drought followed by huge flooding, have retarded growth and development in the Caribbean and Pacific countries while burdening them with debt to rebuild and to install expensive and resilient infrastructure against future damage. The polluting countries that cause this grave injury are paying nothing in compensation.

In June this year, a group of legal experts, co-chaired

by British Professor, Phillipe Sands QC, and Dior Fall Sow, a UN jurist and former prosecutor from Senegal, unveiled an initiative for a new criminal law, called ‘Ecocide’.

Ecocide is defined as ‘unlawful or wanton acts committed with knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood of severe and widespread longterm damage to the environment caused by those acts”.

While the law would open the door for compensation from entities that cause ecological damage, Climate Change is not specifically mentioned in the draft law, and, in any event, while it is good and right that it has been drafted and is being promoted, its acceptance and enactment by the International Criminal Court would take years. In any event, several polluting nations including the United States, are not members of

Sir Ronald Sanders the Court.

Therefore, Small Island States and other countries that are the perpetual victims of Climate Change must devise new strategies for putting compensation for loss and damage on the global agenda and fighting for it.

And, at COP26, representatives of small states should include compensation for loss and damage in every statement they make. The evidence of the damage over the last four decades is clear for all to see.

So, too, is the refusal of polluting countries to address it.

Small Island States must use their advocacy to shame those who repeatedly damage with no effort to compensate and little effort to stop. Small states cannot go quietly into the dark night; they must rage against the dying of the light.

(The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States and the Organization of American States. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and Massey College in the University of Toronto. The views expressed are entirely his own) Responses and previous c o m m e n t a r i e s : www.sirronaldsanders.com

Sunday October 24, 2021

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

Dear Reader, in light of the economic impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, our publisher, with you in mind, has taken the decision to extend our weekly review of some of our major stories in their entirety.

SUNDAY WITHOUT DRAMATIC REDUCTIONS IN FOSSIL FUEL USE, WE WILL SEE UNTOLD DESTRUCTION – IMF CHIEF TELLS MEMBER COUNTRIES With the science clear to all and sundry that climate change is worsening, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, recently sounded the alarm bells for member states such as Guyana on the need for urgent action to be taken.

During her address at a High-Level Dialogue on Energy under the auspices of the United Nations General Assembly, the Managing Director said, “Without dramatic reductions in the use of fossil fuels, we will see untold destruction to our environment and continuing damage to people’s health and livelihoods. And the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement will fall quickly out of reach.”

Equally clear, said Georgieva, is the need to get fossil fuel prices right. In this regard, she said the right prices must fully reflect both supply costs and environmental costs – especially carbon emissions and local air pollution.

Towards this end, she disclosed that IMF staff has proposed an international carbon price floor among large emitters, set according to development levels. The Managing Director is of the firm conviction that it would help to get the right price on fuel and accelerate global climate action. “And now is the time to do it,” the IMF official intimated.

Georgieva was keen to note that putting a robust price on carbon will no doubt provide a critical signal for redirecting private investment and innovation to clean technologies, and incentivise energy efficiency.

She said, “Our research is clear—without it we simply cannot reach the goals of the Paris Agreement. And this price signal needs to get predictably stronger—by 2030, we need an average global price of US$75 per tonne of Carbon Dioxide, way up from today’s US$3 per tonne.”

The IMF Head said a minimum first step on carbon

pricing is a regular stock taking of measures by the G20 countries such as China and the USA to assess progress toward mitigation commitments while adding that a higher level of ambition to have is an International Carbon Price Floor Agreement among major emitters.

With a pragmatic design, the IMF Head said this type of arrangement would allow different minimum prices based on different development levels and different national policy approaches. “And the carbon price floor does not have to be a tax. Some countries may prefer other measures that achieve the same outcome, such as emission trading or combinations of feebates/ regulations at the sectoral level,” expressed Georgieva.

While the foregoing would be very effective, the IMF official was keen to note that carbon pricing alone is not enough. The IMF head said radically decarbonising economies will require a substantial scaling-up of investment over the next two decades. She stressed that the shift to renewables, new electricity networks, energy efficiency and low carbon mobility offer a huge investment opportunity.

Georgieva said too that international public finance can help reduce both costs and perceived risks. In this regard, she said governments can help provide the infrastructure to support the deployment of low-carbon technologies in response to carbon pricing while adding that financial sector policies can steer private investment toward sustainable projects.

Closing her position on this matter, the IMF Managing Director referenced the words of the great Italian painter and theorist, Leonardo da Vinci.

Georgieva said, “I have been

impressed with the urgency of doing but knowing is not enough; we must apply…We must do.”

On this note, the IMF Chief stressed that climate change is a global challenge where all leaders know what must be done but are required to act now. She said action is what is expected when heads of government converge at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference between October 31, and November 12, 2021, under the presidency of the United Kingdom to address this frightening global phenomenon.

OIL PRODUCTION TO DROP TO 109,000 BARRELS IN DECEMBER - REPORT With downtime planned for the Liza Destiny FPSO in December, the Ministry of Finance has disclosed in its Half Year Report that oil production is expected to average around 109,000 barrels of oil per day instead of being at its nameplate capacity of 120,000 barrels of oil.

As previously reported

by ExxonMobil and its partner, Hess Corporation, the Liza Destiny is expected to see a new gas compressor being installed in November, following which, adjustments would see production being ramped up by next year to approximately 140,000 to 150,000 barrels of oil per day.

Speaking to the oil sector’s performance over the last six months, the Ministry of Finance said it was anticipated that the average production rate for the first half of the year would be approximately 114,100 barrels per day. But due to technical challenges experienced with the flash gas compressor on the Liza Destiny, the achieved rate of production was approximately 111,767 barrels

of oil per day, as efforts were made to limit the flaring of excess gas. Though below the targeted rate of production, the Finance Ministry said this rate compared favourably against approximately 67,205 barrels of oil during the first half of last year.

Expounding further, the Ministry disclosed that the total output from the petroleum sector increased by 65.4 percent when compared with the same period in 2020. As a result, the Ministry said the subsector grew by 32.3 percent in the first half of 2021 while adding that it is now projected to grow by 47 percent in 2021.

Kaieteur News had previously reported that Head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Mr. Kemraj Parsram, increased the flaring penalty for ExxonMobil from US$30—per tonne of Carbon Dioxide equivalent released—to US$45. As a result, Parsram disclosed that the EPA has already received $400M penalties from ExxonMobil.

He was keen to note that the fine was increased as of July since ExxonMobil is still flaring, though at significantly reduced levels.

In fact, Parsram noted that ExxonMobil was flaring 15 million standard cubic feet of gas per day but this is now down to six million standard cubic feet of gas per day.

Based on the information provided thus far to the EPA, Parsram said ExxonMobil is expected to reach pilot level flaring by year end, which is one million standard cubic feet of gas per day or less.

This would occur once the new flash gas compressor is installed. The EPA Head said he finds this to be a reasonable timeline while adding that there have been noticeable improvements and also the willingness of the operator to make every effort to comply. He had said, “The

important thing is not so much how much money or how many applications have been made but rather that there is real effort at achieving compliance and a clear plan to solving the issue.”

It was in May when Kaieteur News reported that the EPA amended the Liza Phase One Environmental Permit to have ExxonMobil’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) pay US$30 for every tonne of Carbon Dioxide equivalent (CO2e) – a term for describing different greenhouse gases in a common unit – burnt after May 13, 2021.It is significant to note that ExxonMobil was projected to exceed flaring 14 billion standard cubic feet of gas by May 13, 2021 in its Liza Phase One Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). In light of this, the EPA said it had engaged EEPGL to amend the Liza Phase One Permit.

Kaieteur News understands that EEPGL had agreed to the changes which include: revised terms and conditions relating to emissions reporting requirements, technical considerations for flaring, timelines for flaring events and an obligation on the company to pay for the emission of Carbon Dioxide equivalent (CO2e) as a result of flaring in excess of these timelines. The modified Permit was signed subsequently between the two parties.

MONDAY WITH LOCAL CONTENT POLICY, LAW IN THE PIPELINE… GUYANESE SHIPPING COMPANY EXPANDING SERVICES TO TAP OIL SECTOR OPPORTUNITIES Recognising the government’s interest to have oil companies and their subcontractors source 100

percent of their shipping and logistical services from Guyana, Guywillship has initiated a number of efforts to increase its efficiency and expand its services.

During an exclusive interview with Kaieteur News over the weekend, representatives of the Guyanese company said they are eager to tap the opportunities that will come with the development of Guyana’s oil sector which will be underpinned by 10 Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels in this decade.

The local company which has been in the business for more than 30 years was built on the backs of Mr. Donald and Ingrid Bristol. This newspaper understands that Mrs. Bristol had the vision since the 1980s to become a leader in the local shipping industry and did everything within her power to see it through.

The blooming business of the Afro-Guyanese native is now overseen by her two children: Syreeta Welcome who is the Operations Director for Guyana and Gavin Welcome who is the Operations Manager for the company’s New York branch.

From a young age, Gavin and Syreeta were taught all aspects of the shipping business and continue to play their part in keeping their mother’s legacy alive and well. Also part of the hardworking team is Maurice John, the Director of Operations and Alicia Welcome, the Director of Social Media Management.

They have all served the business alongside Syreeta and Gavin for more than 20 years.

Speaking with Kaieteur News, the company’s Director of Operations, Maurice John disclosed the company’s expectations about the country’s future and where he sees Guywillship in this respect. John said, “…We ultimately want to become the leading freight forwarding company in the country. And with the government pushing shipping to be supplied 100 percent by locals in the oil industry, it is our hope that Guywillship would be able to participate in the sector and serve the country as it grows.

We are a firm believer in local content, and we believe that businesses which are fuelled by the energies of young people should be given the opportunity to take Guyana forward.”

As for Alicia Welcome, the Director of Social Media Management, she was keen to note that while the COVID-19 pandemic has inflicted (Continued on page 22)

PAGE 22

From page 21 considerable damage on the shipping industry globally, the 2020 and 2021 budgets along with the government’s aggressive COVID-19 vaccination programme have provided the stimulus needed to ensure the economy stays afloat while keeping the citizenry safe.

The Guywillship official said, “Around March 2020, several countries went into lockdown and instituted curfews to contain the rapid spread of the COVID-19 infection. As the movement of people was restricted and there was a temporary suspension of production and consumption activities in major regions of the world, various sectors of life and business were greatly affected.

Maritime transportation, a key element of the global supply chain, was no exception.”

“But now that the vaccination programmes for various countries are rolling out, we are seeing that the shipping industry is going into recovery mode. In Guyana, which has been blessed with 10 billion barrels of oil equivalent resources and the government pushing exploration and development, investment is coming and that has had a ripple effect on the economy. Also, when you take into consideration how the 2020 and 2021 budgets have provided several COVID-19 relief measures and pumped more money into the economy, it will undoubtedly have a positive effect across the board.”

As for Gavin Welcome, he was pleased to report as well that Guywillship is already seeing increased activity while adding that the company is already pushing to be more innovative with additional services to be launched soon. He said they will ultimately increase the company’s growth potential and have it better positioned to be a leader in freight forwarding.

The Guywillship official noted, “It would be remiss of me not to note that the vision of Guywillship is to uphold the standards of excellence and professionalism. We are committed to having every customer satisfied with our service. To achieve this, we would always have trained, courteous, and honest staff members equipped with the capabilities of having every customer completely satisfied with our service.”

He added, “We have been doing this for decades and I have every confidence that so long as we continue on this trajectory, we will continue to take our success to new heights.”

Sunday October 24, 2021

Kaieteur News

Kaieteur News had previously reported that Guywillship has been a licensed Customs House Brokerage Service and Freight Forwarder since 1988.

Initially, the company provided custom brokerage services for DHL Express and expanded into cargo logistics under the trading name Williams Shipping. The company has now expanded its services to other Caribbean and international markets.

It should be noted that Guywillship also provides agency services for Tradespan Cargo and Sydney Reliable out of Canada, Caribbean International Shipping of Atlanta, Caribtrans out of Miami, and Alphonso Shipping out of BVI. Some of its services include cargo clearance inclusive of deconsolidation, custom brokerage, distribution, inland transportation logistics, customer services and representation, facilitating door-to-door and door-toport deliveries. This service also covers air and sea freight.

The company also does freight estimates, packing and crating, inland transportation, arranging international transportation, and securing destination services for clearance and delivery covering air and sea freight.

AGASKS HIGH COURT TO STRIKE OUT APPLICATION OF NOW DEFUNCT POLICE SERVICE COMMISSION Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall SC has asked the High Court to discontinue or strike out the case filed against the State by the now defunct Police Service Commission (PSC).

The PSC had moved to the court to challenge President Irfaan Ali’s suspension of its members after allegations of fraud and sexual assault surfaced against some of its members. Ali suspended the members of the Commission by way of letters dated June 15, 2021. By July 21, last, the PSC filed a court case challenging the President’s suspension, which it argued was done unlawfully.

The case has been ongoing with the AG petitioning the Court to have the name of the President removed from the list of respondents in the matter.

The Court recently granted Nandlall’s request. The AG is now seeking to have the PSC‘s application struck out on the grounds that the life of the PSC expired on the 8th August last. In a newly

wanted the suspension order revoked.

Apart from this, Slowe and Conway were also asking the court to declare that the Prime Minister’s recommendation to the President for them to be removed is unlawful.

TUESDAY COMMERCIAL BANKS GRANTED OVER $22B IN COVID-19 RELIEF FOR 2021- REPORT

written submission before the Court, the Attorney General outlined his contention that since there is no Commission, there can be no lawful subsistence of any legal proceedings on its behalf.

The AG noted inter alia, since the entire Police Service Commission became vacant, it cannot lawfully continue to maintain the legal proceedings.

To buttress his argument, Nandlall explained that the Police Service Commission, like the other Service Commissions, can only act through and by virtue of their constituent members.

“This much is made excruciatingly plain when one examines the powers and procedures of Commissions as are outlined in Article 226 of the Constitution,” he adding that . In light of the foregoing, the continuance of these proceedings in the absence of authority would be so fundamental a flaw as to make the proceedings a nullity. “…We respectfully submit that these proceedings cannot be maintained. The expiration of the life of the Commission naturally terminated the agency relationship, which previously existed between the Commission and [their lawyers]….

In the circumstances, we respectfully pray that this Honourable Court would grant an Order striking out Fixed Date Application…”

Nandlall added.

Last July, Chairman of the now inoperable PSC, Paul

Slowe, along with other members of the Commission, opted to challenge their suspension order in the High Court, by seeking to have it revoked.

The PSC had been suspended since June 16 by President Irfaan Ali. Ali’s move to suspend the PSC was made after two “show cause” notices were sent to Slowe and one other Commissioner, Clinton Conway, by Prime Minister, Mark Phillips.

The men, both Retired Assistant Commissioners of the Guyana Police Force were asked to ‘show cause’ to the PM as to why he should not follow the advice of the President to remove them from the PSC. Phillips had done this after, Slowe, Conway and others were charged for defrauding the Guyana Police Force (GPF) of $10M. Slowe was also accused of sexually assaulting a female cop on three occasions.

Based on the court documents, which were seen

by Kaieteur News, the PSC was, inter alia, seeking a declaration from the court that the purported suspension of Chairman Slowe and its members from performing their functions in their respective offices by Ali is contrary, or in violation to the Constitution of Guyana.

According to the document, the sections of the Constitution that the PSC was referring to are Articles 226(6) and 223(10).

Should the court find that it is indeed contrary to the law then Slowe and his colleagues

In light of the economic pains unleashed by the COVID-19 pandemic, commercial banks on the advice of the country’s regulator, the Bank of Guyana, have provided more than $22B in COVID-19 relief to cushion the blow to the economy.

According to the Bank of Guyana’s 2021 Half Year Report, Citizens Bank Guyana Inc. granted $12 billion in relief to sections of the economy while Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) granted $6 billion and Bank of Nova Scotia granted $4.2 billion.

Collectively, they account for $22.2 billion of total relief measures granted at the end of June 2021 by the banking sector.

Expounding further, Central Bank said the services sub-sector continues to receive the largest portion of relief, with 60.2 percent (G$16.5 billion) of total relief granted at the end of June 2021. The report by Central Bank also notes that the real estate mortgages sector received 19.9 percent (G$5.5 billion) of total relief followed by the manufacturing subsector with 11.6 percent (G$3.2 billion).

As for relief granted to the households sector, this represented 3.1 percent (G$846 million) of total relief granted and 2.5 percent of total loans to the households sector.

As at the end of June 2021, relief granted by Citizens Bank was concentrated in the services sub-sector (74.5 percent or G$9.0 billion). GBTI also granted a significant portion of its relief to the services sub-sector (41 percent or G$2.5 billion) while Scotia Bank granted 51.3 percent (G$2.2 billion) of its relief to the Real Estate Mortgages sector.

The Bank of Guyana was keen to note that it will continue to monitor the developments in light of COVID-19 relief and take all necessary steps to protect the safety, soundness and stability of the banking system.

Towards this end, the

Bank reminded that it has committed to and implemented a series of measures designed to minimise the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the entire financial system.

The measures implemented were agreed to by the Guyana Association of Bankers (GAB) and include: an initial three-month moratorium granted to classify affected accounts as non-performing, which was followed by an additional three-month period, bringing the total moratorium time to sixmonths; continuing with an accommodative monetary stance to promote growth; deferment of loan payments to assist customers in good standing; deferment of loan payments by companies to assist with their liquidity requirements; waiver or reduced fees/penalties for transactions with ATMs, debit cards, loan processing, late payments on loans, etc. and; encouraging customers to reduce in-person transactions by using ebanking, ATMs, telephone, etc.

PAC HIGHLIGHTS TREND OF EVALUATORS BYPASSING LOWEST BIDDERS ON PROJECTS The Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has highlighted the trend of evaluators bypassing the lowest bidders on projects.

The issue came up during a discussion of the committee Monday about contracts awarded by the regional administration of Region 10 (Upper Demerara–Berbice) in 2016.

According to the finding outlined in the Auditor General’s 2016 report, the regional Tender Board had awarded 14 projects totalling $38.5 million, but none were to the lowest or most responsive bidder.

In some instances in the report, the contracts were awarded to the highest of three bidders but there was no explanation as to why the lowest bidders were sidestepped. Although he was not the accounting officer in 2016, Regional Executive Officer (REO), Dwight John, was made to answer to a series of instances where the lowest bidders for contracts were sidestepped.

Minister of Public Works, and PAC member, Bishop Juan Edghill, raised his concerns over the issue.

Edghill referenced sections of the Procurement Act which outline how contracts are awarded to the lowest or the most competitive bid. “The (Continued on page 23)

Sunday October 24, 2021

From page 22 Auditor General is saying it did not happen and in order for us to be able to verify justification of why it did not happen, the justification is not found in the minutes and the minutes did not state it and the fact that the minutes did not state it, it is left open…to still be judged,” he contended.

Region 10 Regional Executive Officer (REO), Orrin Gordon, was in the company of the regional staff and his predecessor, but they were unable to explain why the lowest bidders for contracts were bypassed and were clearly unprepared to answer questions leading to their expulsion from a previous PAC meeting.

Other committee members, Gail Teixeira and Ganesh Mahipaul, also raised similar contentions over the contract awards. While Teixeira called for an end to the tendency of evaluators to bypass the lowest bidders in the awarding of contracts, Mahipaul noted that the issue should be thoroughly investigated.

In the 2016 Auditor General report, instances of the lowest bidders being rejected by the Region 10 administration were put under the microscope by the Committee. It is understood that the Regional Tender Board allegedly refused to award millions of dollars in contracts to neither the lowest nor competitive bidders.

During a previous hearing before the PAC, former Region 10 REO, Gavin Clarke, had claimed that the other companies were bypassed because they performed poorly on their evaluations.

However this did not bring much clarity to the issue, as the then committee member, Volda Lawrence, was trying to ascertain exactly on what grounds the other companies were marked down. But despite repeated requests for specifics, Clarke continued to give general responses.

“The fifth lowest bidder obtained 74 percent,” Clarke had related, but was promptly stopped by Lawrence who informed him that “percentages do not help us!”

“The reasoning, what were the factors in the evaluation score? What were the criteria?” she had queried.

The committee member even went as far as to outline examples of criteria to Clarke, such as National Insurance Scheme (NIS) compliance and experience, but to little avail.

This prompted the questions as to whether attempts were being made to mislead the Committee.

PAGE 23

Kaieteur News

WEDNESDAY EXXONMOBIL EIGHT MONTHS LATE ON RELINQUISHING 45% OF KAIETEUR BLOCK - BUT RACINGAHEAD WITH 12WELLCAMPAIGN When one considers amendments which were made to the Petroleum Agreement for the Kaieteur Block, it is clear that ExxonMobil is now eight months late on the relinquishment of 45 percent of the highly prospective offshore concession.

The Kaieteur Block, which spans 13,500 km2 and holds a gross, estimated prospective resource of 2.1 billion barrels of crude. To grasp a better understanding of the size of the block, it is bigger than the size of three of the founding members of CARICOM: Jamaica (10,991 km²), Trinidad and Tobago (5,131 km²), and Barbados (431 km²).

The massive offshore concession was awarded in April 2015 to Cataleya Energy Corporation (CEC) which was formerly Ratio Energy Limited and Ratio Guyana Limited, a subsidiary of Ratio Petroleum Energy Limited Partnership headquartered in Israel (Ratio Petroleum).

Subsequent to the Upper Cretaceous play-opening at the Liza-One discovery in May 2015, a farm-in agreement executed with ExxonMobil, along with various other arrangements, saw the effective date of the Kaieteur Petroleum Agreement being amended from April 2015 to February 2017.

With this in mind, it should be noted that a prospecting licence in the oil sector is up for renewal after four years. During that period, the company has to adhere to a work programme, and at the conclusion of same, it can elect to relinquish all or a portion of the block.

The PSA, when perused

by Kaieteur News, notes at Article Four, which deals with Exploration Programme and Expenditure Obligation that the Contractor shall carry out minimum work commitments, during the periods into which Prospecting Operations are divided. The agreement notes that the initial period of four (4) years shall be divided into two (2) phases, each, having a duration of 24 months.

In the first phase, the contractor shall acquire all available 2D seismic data from previous surveys conducted over the Contract Area, process and/or reprocess as necessary, and interpret same.

At the end of phase one of the initial period, the Contractor

shall either elect to relinquish the entire Contract Area, except for any Discovery Area in respect of which the Minister is informed under section 30 of the Act and the area contained in any Petroleum Production Licence; or subject to Article Five, relinquish twenty five (25) percent of the Contract Area and commit to the Work Programme in phase two (2).

During phase two (2) of the initial period, the Contractor shall conduct a survey to acquire a minimum one thousand (1,000) line kilometers of new marine 2D seismic and/or five hundred square kilometers (500 sq.

1cm) of new 3D seismic over the Contract Area, process, and interpret same.

At the end of the initial period of four years, the Contractor shall elect either to relinquish the entire Contract Area or, subject to Article Five, relinquish twenty percent (20%) of the Contract Area except for any Discovery Area in respect of which the Minister is informed under section 30 of the Act and the area contained in any Petroleum Production Licence and renew the Petroleum Prospecting Licence for a further period of three (3) years.

It therefore means that at the end of the first four years, ExxonMobil should have handed over to the State, 45% of the Stabroek Block.

This should have been done by the PPP/C Government since February.

In a brief note, Kaieteur News had asked ExxonMobil Guyana’s new Head of Media and Communication, Janelle Persaud, to provide the dates when the first relinquishment for the Stabroek and Kaieteur Blocks will be triggered. The Exxon official only said, “…we

will make all relinquishments required under our Petroleum Agreements in a timely manner in accordance with applicable law.”

In the meantime, ExxonMobil has applied to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to be authorized to drill 12 wells in the Kaieteur Block which is located in deep water over 200 kilometers northeast of the coastline of Georgetown, Guyana, and adjacent to the northern boundaries of the Stabroek and Canje blocks.

Approval from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Guyana Geology and Mines Commission will also be obtained.

The Kaieteur Block is currently operated by ExxonMobil’s subsidiary, Esso Production & Exploration Guyana Limited, in partnership with CEL, Ratio Guyana Limited and a subsidiary of Hess Corporation.

LOCAL CONTENT BOOST … GUYANA, UAE TO PARTNER ON US$5M CONCRETE MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY Smart City Clearing Company Ltd was pleased to announce Tuesday that it has facilitated the first Manufacturing International Joint Venture partnership and Investment between Guyana and the United Arab Emirates.

Guyanese-based Engineering, Procurement, and Construction firm Global Infrastructure Solutions Guyana Inc and Undiome Global DWC LLC, an Emirati owned company, have agreed to partner to develop a 20,000 square foot manufacturing facility to bring Unidome’s state of the art voided slab manufacturing technology to Guyana.

At a signing ceremony held Tuesday at Unidome Global’s MENA headquarters, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was executed between Khalid AlQaqa, CEO Unidome Global DWC LLC and Troy Phillips, CEO of Global Infrastructure Guyana Inc. This activity was facilitated by Steven Jasmin and Major Gavin Singh, Managing Directors of the Guyana focused Merchant Bank, Smart City Clearing Company Ltd. and its Guyana Affiliate Sc3 Guyana Inc. The ceremony was attended by representatives from both the Government of Guyana and The Emirati Government. The Guyana delegation was led by Dr. Peter Ramsaroop, Chief Investment Officer of the Guyana Office for Foreign Investment (Go-Invest), and representatives from the Guyana Private Sector, including Mr. Paul Cheong, Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, and Captain Gerald “Gerry” Gouveia Jr., Senior Vice President of the Georgetown Chamber of Industry and Commerce (GCCI). Appearing on behalf of the Dubai South Logistics District was CEO, Mohsen Ahmad, and Director of Business Development, Logistics Dubai South, Mr. Tari Badri.

Kaieteur News understands that the US$5M investment will allow for the ability to create Unidome’s state of the art biaxial voided slab technology in Guyana, which will be used to help build and develop key infrastructure needed for the development of Guyana’s burgeoning oil and gas industry. It was noted that this technology will become a critical building block, as Guyana pursues an aggressive plan of building a

deep-water harbour and a 100mile deep water natural gas pipeline, as well as numerous shore bases and industrial zones throughout the world’s fastest growing oil producing nations.

Guyana Office for Foreign Investment CEO, Dr. Peter Ramsaroop, stated, “With many shore bases coming on line and over 2,000 hotel rooms in development, technologies like Unidome, and partnerships with local Guyanese companies like Global Infrastructure Solutions Guyana Inc., are critical to Guyana’s long-term success”.

Global Infrastructure Solutions CEO, Troy Phillips, added, “Global Infrastructure Solutions is honored to take part in this historic event, as we work together to bring best practices and unique technologies to Guyana”.

As a part of the Government of Guyana’s goal to help offset and develop a “Green Guyana” and in conjunction with President, Dr. Irfaan Ali’s, commitment to supporting investments centered around the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Steven Jasmin, Managing Director of Smart City Clearing Company Ltd. and its affiliate Sc3 Guyana Inc. added, “Unidome’s cost effective and environmentally friendly technology will both help reduce the cost of infrastructure development, while simultaneously helping to foster Guyana’s net zero emission goals”.

This newspaper understands that the Unidome technology helps to limit one of the largest contributors to carbon dioxide (C02) emissions in the construction industry by decreasing the total amount of concrete needed in projects where it is incorporated. It does this by creating biaxial voided slabs that are lighter and allow for greater distance between a building’s structural columns. In fact, this newspaper understands that one container of Unidome eliminates 30 truckloads of concrete, which helps to reduce construction costs by almost 30%, while greatly reducing the amount of C02 emissions that each new project generates.

Sherwin Sandy from Guyanese based Sandcorp Development Inc., who was in attendance, and will be helping develop the Guyanese-based manufacturing facility as part of a large industrial park being developed in conjunction with Acarai Properties Guyana Inc. stated, “Historically Guyana (Continued on page 24)

PAGE 24

From page 23 couldn’t afford to attract light manufacturing, I am excited to be working with both Global Infrastructure Solutions Guyana Inc. and Unidome Global DWC LLC as one of the founding tenants of a new industrial park that we are in the process of conceptualizing and developing to help support Guyana’s growth.”

Because of global supply chain issues and to help lessen Unidome’s carbon footprint, the choice was made to establish operations in Guyana to service not only Guyana, but the Caribbean region. “Unidome is quickly growing its global footprint, and as it finalizes the development of its 4th plant in Egypt, we saw the opportunity to establish a facility in the world’s fastest growing economy – Guyana, South America,” says Unidome Global DWC’s CEO, Khalid Al-Qaqa, in a statement during today’s signing ceremony.

As leader of one of the fastest growing trade zones in the world, Mohsen Ahmad, CEO of Dubai South Logistics District, where Unidome headquarters and manufacturing facility is based, said “As part of our efforts to develop bilateral relations with countries from around the world that would benefit from our respective economies and establish new trade routes, we are pleased to be sharing our expertise and best practices with Guyana.” He further expressed his gratitude and excitement for this partnership as the Dubai South Free Zone continues its journey to be the center of commerce and trade both regionally and globally.

This investment is just one of the many links being built between Guyana and the Middle East. Smart City Clearing Co m p a n y Managing Director, Gavin Singh, reiterated the importance of the ceremony stating, “I choose to measure the success of today’s ceremony by the impact we will be able to make on Guyana over the coming decade, not just for the people but also the environment”.

The announcement and signing ceremony are part of the Government of Guyana’s State visit to the Emirates, which is taking place this week as the countries seek to work together and evaluate numerous mutually beneficial investment opportunities that will enable the sharing of knowledge, experience, and resources and best practices between the two oil producing nations.

Sunday October 24, 2021

Kaieteur News

THURSDAY EXXONMOBIL WARNS IN EIAREPORT…GUYANA DOES NOT HAVE MARKET TO UTILISE GAS FROM FOURTH PROJECT - SAYS EXPORTALTERNATIVES MAYBE NEEDED

By Kiana Wilburg American oil giant ExxonMobil and the PPP/C Government have already initiated plans to handle the excess gas from the Liza Phase One, Liza Phase Two, and Payara projects. The solution is to have the resource utilised via a US$900M gasto-shore venture. But with ExxonMobil intent on bringing a fourth oil project onboard by 2026, another dilemma lies ahead—what would be done with the associated gas?

According to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the Yellowtail Project, there is significant gas for which Guyana simply does not have enough market to offtake.

With this in mind, ExxonMobil’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), said three primary alternatives were considered.

They include gas re-injection, continuous flaring, and gas export.

The company was keen to note that gas re-injection was determined to be feasible for the project, while adding that it also provides benefits in terms of reservoir management by helping to maintain pressure in the reservoir (thereby increasing the amount of crude oil that can be recovered over time) and reduced air emissions (as compared to continuous flaring).

Under this alternative, EEPGL said associated gas not used as fuel gas on the FPSO will be re-injected under normal operations.

With respect to continuous flaring of the associated gas on a routine basis, it said this is not preferred, primarily due to the associated air emissions.

Taking this into consideration, the company said gas export alternatives for future development continue to be evaluated, with due consideration of the challenges related to commercialisation of associated gas.

EEPGL recalled at this point that there is currently a separate project being proposed to transport a portion of the gas from the Liza Development Projects to shore, where it would be used

to generate power in a gasfired power plant. Since this would satisfy the currently identified gas demand in Guyana, ExxonMobil warned, “There is not enough additional demand in Guyana to consume the quantities of associated gas that will be produced from the Yellowtail Development Project.”

With this in mind, the subsidiary said any proposal for implementation of gas export would be addressed under a separate environmental authorisation process, and is therefore outside the scope of this EIA. ABOUT THE YELLOWTAILPROJECT EEPGL, on behalf of itself and its co-venturers, Hess Corporation and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, is seeking an environmental authorisation from the Environmental Protection Agency for a fourth project development in the eastern half of the Stabroek Block.

The area that will be developed as part of the Project is located approximately 203 kilometres (approximately 126 miles) northeast of the coastline of Georgetown, Guyana.

As part of its regulatory role, the EPA, considering recommendations from the Environmental Advisory Board and other government entities, is responsible for deciding whether and under what conditions to grant EEPGL’s application for environmental authorisation which was filed with the EPA on April 1, 2021.

Based on an initial assessment of the application, the EPA determined that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was required in support of the Application. The purpose of the EIA is to provide the factual and technical basis required by the EPA to make an informed decision on EEPGL’s application for environmental authorisation.

According to project documents, Yellowtail will consist of the drilling of approximately 41 to 67 development wells (including

production, water injection, and gas re-injection wells); installation and operation of Subsea umbilicals, Risers, and Flowlines equipment; installation and operation of a Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) vessel in the eastern half of the Stabroek Block and— ultimately—Project decommissioning.

EEPGL has said the FPSO will be designed to produce up to 250,000 barrels of oil per day.

Onshore logistical support facilities and marine/ aviation services will be used to support each stage of the Project. EEPGL is expected to use proven and good international oilfield practices. The company said it has incorporated many embedded controls into the overall Project design to reduce environmental and socioeconomic impacts.

The initial production is expected to begin by the end of 2025–early 2026, with operations continuing for at least 20 years. The project is expected to employ up to 540 persons during development well drilling, approximately 600 persons at the peak of the installation stage, and 100 to 140 persons during production operations.

2 WEEKS LATER...

POLICE STILLAWAITING LEGALADVICE IN PERMANENT SECRETARY’S COLLECTING BRIBE MATTER Two weeks after the Permanent Secretary (PS) attached to the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs was caught in a sting operation collecting a bribe from a contractor, the police are still awaiting legal advice on the matter.

Sharon Hicks, 42, of 811 Onderneeming, West Bank Demerara (WBD) was arrested at her Quamina and Thomas Streets, South Cummingsburg office on Thursday October 7, 2021 during the police operation.

According to Crime Chief,

Wendell Blanhum the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is awaiting legal advice on the matter.

Kaieteur News had reported that the sting operation was setup after a businessman who usually provides security services to the Ministry reported to the police that the PS was demanding money from him before she signed off on his invoices.

Hicks and the businessman’s father had a deal in which she would help him secure a contract with the Ministry and in return he pays her $200,000 a month. After the businessman’s father died, he took over his father’s business and that is when Hicks approached him to strike the same deal with him, to which he first agreed.

However, after reportedly paying Hicks for three months, he became tired and reported the matter to the police. As such, the sting operation was setup and marked notes were handed over to the PS by the contractor while in her office.

After Hicks collected the money, a plainclothes police rank walked into her office, identified himself and cautioned her. She was then told of the allegation and arrested.

Hicks was later sent on leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

FRIDAY REGION’S FUTURE HINGES ON SUSTAINABLE ENERGY TRANSITION CDB PRES. TELLS BORROWING STATES President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Dr Gene Leon, is of the firm conviction that the future of the region can no longer rest with continued dependence on fossil fuels.

He insists that it can only be secured for current and future generations, through the sustainable transition to cleaner sources of energy. Dr. Leon believes this is imperative for regional

development.

During his remarks at the Turks and Caicos Energy Forum Thursday, the official said, “Our development in the region must be seen from a holistic perspective and, perhaps more than anywhere else in the world, a sustainable energy transition is one of our most important trans-generational obligations.”

Although alternative forms of energy, especially solar, wind, and ocean resources are in unlimited supply in the region, Dr. Leon posited that the Caribbean is one of the most energy import-dependent regions in the world, with CDB’s 19 Borrowing Member States deriving more than 90% of their commercial energy supply from imported petroleum. At the same time, he highlighted that the price of electricity in the region is among the highest in the world, averaging US$0.28 per kilowatt hour in 2019.

The CDB President was keen to highlight that the high cost for electricity generation has a negative impact on the region’s economic and social development, as it increases import bills, worsens terms of trade, erodes competitiveness, and stymies investment by the business community. He pointed out, too, that high electricity costs also affect economically disadvantaged people, who spend a greater share of their disposable income on energy.

In order to change this state of affairs, he asserted that clean energy transition is critical. But to make the transition to sustainable energy a reality, the CDB President laid out five priorities for the way forward, which are: improving energy efficiency, diversifying energy sources, incentivising the private sector, investing in strategic partnerships, and using innovative, flexible, and affordable financing instruments.

For most countries, Dr Leon highlighted that a (Continued on page 25)

Sunday October 24, 2021

From page 24 priority is to eliminate waste and losses in energy usage, even with petroleum as the current fuel source. He, therefore, noted that proven technology needs to be upgraded and adapted, while implementing relevant performance standards, regulatory instruments, and appropriate incentives and disincentives which would entrench and bolster the much-needed shift change towards more energy efficient approaches.

Citing a study by CDB and the Inter-American Development Bank, which established that renewable energy could generate 50 to 100 times of peak domestic electricity demand, the CDB President emphasised that the region needs to diversify its energy sources. In the Eastern Caribbean, he noted that the geothermal energy resource potential far exceeds domestic demand, while adding that there are also emerging opportunities for using renewable energy to produce ammonia and green hydrogen, which could be a key fuel of the future.

Furthermore, Dr. Leon called for governments to encourage and incentivize the private sector to support the transition to sustainable energy. “With limited fiscal space available to governments, the private sector must play a leading role in driving this transition.

There is more than enough room for households, small private investors, private utility companies, and large private independent power producers to invest in various sustainable energy transition projects, with an expectation of reasonable returns, while simultaneously supporting common sustainability goals,” CDB’s head said.

The CDB President also urged governments to facilitate the participation of the private sector through appropriate enabling frameworks that are inclusive, supportive, and consultative.

Noting that strategic partnerships and financing instruments are essential for the transition, Dr. Leon said, “Financing this transition will require resources and we have to devise innovative and flexible financing arrangements, while adopting appropriate regulatory frameworks to crowd in investments from our private sector, and leverage relevant technical and financial resources from our strategic partnerships”.

Such financing options, he posited, could include public-private partnerships, feed-in-tariffs, as well as renewable energy auctions.

PAGE 25

Kaieteur News

He was keen to note that there is also a role for private equity capital for larger investments, innovative instruments, such as the energy service companies’ model, and on-bill instruments that target micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and households.

In conclusion, Dr. Leon underscored that CDB is well placed to leverage partnerships to access relevant technical and financial resources to support energy transition. He said, too, that the Bank also stands ready to provide technical assistance in the form of advisory support for the establishment of publicprivate partnership policy and regulatory frameworks, as well as relevant capacity strengthening.

The Caribbean Development Bank is a regional financial institution established in 1970 for the purpose of contributing to the harmonious economic growth and development of its Borrowing Member Countries (BMCs). In addition to the 19 BMCs, CDB’s membership includes four regional, non-borrowing members (Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuela) and five non-regional, nonborrowing members (Canada, China, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom).

CDB’s total assets as at December 31, 2020 stood at US$3.64 billion.

CGX TO START UP PORTION OF DEEPWATER PORT

BY NEXT YEAR Canadian exploration company, CGX Energy Inc. disclosed this week that works are ongoing to get at least the Offshore Supply Base of its US$130M Berbice

Deep Water Port up and running by the third quarter of 2022. In its latest operational update, the company said the port’s Multi-Purpose Terminal servicing agricultural, general, and containerized cargos will be fully operational before the end of 2023.

Overall, CGX said the project continues to be on schedule with construction ongoing on the access road, which is 55% completed; the bridge from Corentyne Highway being 68% completed; rip rap flood protection being 93% completed; and extension of electricity infrastructure to the port site reaching 85% completion. It said, too, that the quayside laydown yard is 26% completed.

The Canadian firm further noted that work has commenced on infrastructure to deliver potable water to the port, with all permits and permissions in place. It said that requests for proposals have been advertised for the wharf platform and access trestle, capital dredging programme, design and construction of all gates, buildings and fences, design and construction of firefighting, and first aid structures and covered storage areas.

This newspaper understands that evaluations of submitted proposals for the capital dredging and construction of the wharf platform and access trestle are underway.

With the recent consecutive commercial discoveries on Block 58 in Suriname and the exponential increase in drilling offshore Suriname, coupled with the ongoing exploration and production activities on the Stabroek Block offshore

Guyana, and exploration wells to be drilled by CGX and others in 2021, the demand for ports servicing these operations have grown almost exponentially.

Currently, more than 75% of the port business servicing offshore oil and gas operations in Guyana and Suriname are provided by Trinidadian ports. However there are cost, fuel and carbon footprint concerns for companies operating in Guyana and Suriname, as the sailing time from Trinidad ports to the fields offshore Guyana and Suriname require approximately 48 hours of sailing one way, as opposed to between 12 and 14 hours from the Berbice river location for the CGX Port.

This means that significantly more fuel is consumed for services from Trinidad based ports, leading to increased carbon emissions and escalation of costs related to fuel consumption, equipment rental, wear and tear and complicated logistics.

Importantly, this presents an opportunity not only for CGX, but also for Guyanese seeking to capitalize on the emerging jobs in the oil and gas industry.

For Berbice, CGX has said that the port would be a game changer, and one of the more elegant solutions to the acute employment crisis created when the sugar estates were closed. Even as the sugar estates are in the process of being re-configured, unemployment in the Ancient County is still very high.

Given that CGX has indicated that the port will also service the agricultural sector, it is expected that the Port will also boost the competitiveness of sugar and rice grown in Regions Five and Six, as these

commodities incur approximately 20% additional in costs to be transported to Port Georgetown for shipping.

This, in turn, should see an upswing in the amount of Berbicians engaged in agriculture and agroprocessing. With the expected increase in personnel servicing the offshore operations coming through the port, hospitality services and other businesses in New Amsterdam, which have been depressed for some time, are expected to see a significant boost in demand.

A few months ago, officials attached to Suriname’s national oil company, Staatsolie, highlighted the need for a deepwater port facility to service both countries’ offshore exploration and production activities. Given the position of CGX’s facility, it would be well placed to offer services to companies in the oil and gas sector from both countries.

CGX officials have also indicated in the past that the Company was very excited about the potential increase in commodity goods coming through Guyana to the Port from Brazil, and also Suriname, as linkages to those countries being worked on are realized in the next few years. This includes the proposed bridge over the Corentyne River, and the proposed road to the State of Roraima in Brazil.

With the CGX Grand Canal Industrial Estates Berbice Deep Water Port back on track, Berbicians are set to take advantage of what is likely to place Berbice at the focal point of a GuyanaSuriname Energy and Commerce Corridor.

SATURDAY EXXONMOBIL’S REPORT SAYS…4TH OIL PROJECT WILL INCREASE COUNTRY’S OVERALL CARBON EMISSIONS The Yellowtail Project, the fourth to be pursued by ExxonMobil’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) in the eastern portion of the Stabroek Block is poised to emit significant amounts of greenhouse gases (GHGs) throughout its predicted 20-year life cycle.

According to the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) which is being reviewed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EIA), the project’s average annual emissions during production operations is estimated to be between approximately 1.11 and 1.40 million tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalents (CO2e) per year. EEPGL was keen to note that there are no applicable regulatory criteria against which these GHG emissions can be compared.

It noted that in the absence of such standards, it will still endeavour to ensure emissions will be disclosed in accordance with “good international oilfield practice to aid in managing GHG emissions at a national and international level.”

While it did not elaborate on the international practice or guidelines it intends to follow, EEPGL did note that it plans to re-inject recovered natural gas not used as fuel on the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, into the targeted Project reservoirs for reservoir pressure (Continued on page 26)

PAGE 26

From page 25 management. It pointed out that this is crucial since it contributes to a significant reduction in potential GHG emissions versus that which would result from continuous gas flaring.

“Accordingly, although the overall emissions at a country level would be increased measurably by Project GHG emissions, net removals would decrease only slightly (i.e., between approximately 2 and 3 percent),” expressed ExxonMobil’s subsidiary in its EIA. According to the project documents, the Yellowtail Project will consist of drilling approximately 41 to 67 development wells (including production, water injection, and gas re-injection wells); installation and operation of Subsea, Umbilicals, Risers, and Flowlines equipment; installation and operation of a Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) vessel in the eastern half of the Stabroek Block; and— ultimately—project decommissioning.

Kaieteur News

EEPGL said the FPSO will be designed to produce up to 250,000 barrels of oil per day.

Onshore logistical support facilities and marine/ aviation services will be used to support each stage of the Project. EEPGL is expected to use proven and good international oilfield practices. The company said it has incorporated many embedded controls into the overall Project design to reduce environmental and socioeconomic impacts.

The initial production is expected to begin by the end of 2025–early 2026, with operations continuing for at least 20 years. The project is expected to employ up to 540 persons during development well drilling stage, approximately 600 persons at the peak of the installation stage, and 100 to 140 persons during actual production operations.

PAC MEETINGS STALLED DUE TO STRESSED OUT CLERKS The National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was unable to hold its scheduled meeting Friday, and will also be unable to meet next Monday since Clerks for the constitutional body are “stressed out”.

This is according to a letter that was written to the Chairman of the committee,

Opposition Member of Parliament, Jermaine Figueira on Thursday, by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs.

Isaacs related to Figueira, that due to frequent challenges being encountered at the PAC meetings, the current Clerk of the committee has developed health issues because of “high-stress levels” and cannot continue to work with the committee. He noted too, that all clerks from other committees within the Assembly are unwilling to fill the slot because of the “unprofessional conduct” of some PAC members which is not “conducive to a healthy working environment”.

As a result, Isaacs could not find a Clerk for Friday’s meet and he is unable to find one for Monday.

Figueira has since stated that the letter to him has left him in shock, and he hopes that the issue can be resolved as soon as possible, because there is a backlog of work before the PAC. The PAC’ s responsibilities include examining the nation’s audited accounts as presented in the Auditor General’s (AG) report, and exercise general supervision over the functioning of the AG in accordance with the rules, policies and procedures manual and any other law.

Sunday October 24, 2021

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 24, 2021

PAGE 27

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

The PPP may regret its lack of energy on this front We a r e a c u l t u r a l neighbour of the United States which leads the world in “big tech technology.”

And this neighbour has pioneered the influence of social media. Guyanese copy from the US all the time.

Guyanese are influenced by the way social media operates in the US. I, myself while recognising how gigantic the role of social media is, am not on social media. That is an eccentric choice of mine that maybe could change though I doubt it at my age.

The ruling party cannot be that naïve not to understand that social media has dangerous propagandists in Guyana. The government should counter them with its outputs and it should start doing it ASAP. Someone like Bryan McIntosh who during the election rigging was part of the Guardians For Democracy grouping, could host a lively Facebook programme. He is a host that could match the outpourings of the propagandists. There are many like him and the PPP should start talking to them. The person who does his Facebook programme under the name, “Critic” is one of them.

The reply to this viewpoint here from actors within the PPP circles is that people like Sherod Duncan, Kidackie Amsterdam, David Hinds, Mark Benschop and

others of their ilk preach to the converted so they are unable to reach beyond their controlled boundaries. I do not agree.The leading light of the Russian Revolution, Vladimir Lenin, said it is easier to acquire power than to maintain it. This is a good starting point for those within the PPP circles to start thinking of countering the Facebook programmes of some dangerous people out there on the internet.

I will never, I repeat never, agree with antigovernment critics not being allowed space. There must always be pens and voices to highlight the mistakes of decision-makers. I believe Burnham was stopped from horrible levels of barbarism because the PPP, WPA and civil society did not cease confronting him. There must be available space for dissenters to operate.

I see nothing wrong with anti-government critics criticising the budget, the administration's policies, the level of health delivery, the level of crime response, the amount of old age pension, poor state service, etc. What I see as egregious, frightening and lifethreatening is the poisonous amounts of deceit and fictions on anti-government Facebook platforms that cry out for rejectionist arguments.

I am not satisfied that there were astute

devastations of Amanza Walton-Desir's theory of PPP brain-washing of African minds. Not every African Guyanese believe what she, Hinds and company sprout. There are countless African Guyanese who can put logical interpretations to logical points raised by supporters of democracy. I met four like those at Colin Smith's funeral last Friday.

There were too many intellectual latitudes that could have been used to torpedo Walton-Desir's credibility among decent African minds.

If the PPP brainwashes Indians, there are millions of examples to show how the PNC of which Walton-Desir is a leading figure has been brainwashing African Guyanese from the 1950s and still doing it. It was Wa l t e r R o d n e y t h a t effectively stopped that process only to be assassinated for his exposure.There is huge scope for countering the Facebook propagandists and the earlier the PPP starts its fight back, it will pose problems for these haters.

Some subjects will destroy them. I alerted the world through released US classified documents shared

by Walter Rodney's daughter that a certain anti-PPP big wig of the WPA that constantly “cusses” down the PPP government was

considered to be a spy for the Burnham government.

People should know that a current Facebook host that hates the PPP was an agent for the American government right here in Guyana about 10 years ago and was handsomely bankrolled.

I have information on a certain Facebook host who did something so terrible that if Black people in Guyana know, they would banish him to a place named Hades where in Greek mythology you suffer permanent mental torture. I would probably release that information to two African Guyanese

whom I firmly believe would not endanger my life through its release – Nigel Hughes and Norman Frederick Kissoon Brown.

Decent African Guyanese should know that bought since 1989. I didn't t h e s e F a c e b o o k go to Ashley's Furniture to propagandists are no friends buy a bed worth half a of Black people. I end with million dollars just for my the importance of the PPP office with taxpayers' h a v i n g a c o u n t e r money. That money could programme. I don't have a have been put to better use in s m a r t - p h o n e t o b e African villages.

(The views expressed in interviewed but I would this article are those of the borrow one so I can be the a u t hor and do not guest to tell the nation that the cheap bed my wife and I necessarily reflect the have been sleeping on was opinions of this newspaper.)

PAGE 28

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 24, 2021

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 24, 2021

PAGE 29

Breast Cancer Guyana :Get the help you

need, it's easier than you think!

By Dr. Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Vanderbilt Medical Center

Since the pandemic started, my primary focus has been COVID-19 because of the need to keep abreast with this rapidly evolving disease.

I am taking a break from it today to help disseminate vital information on breast cancer that can help to save lives, especially those who are not aware of the positive changes that have been occurring locally.

Today's article was done by Dr. Angelita Sue who is a Radiologist at GPHC and was one of the first graduates of the RAD-AID sponsored programme to train Radiologists in Guyana. RAD-AID is the largest non-profit radiology organisation in the world.

I had reached out to them many years ago and they have achieved far beyond what I had envisioned when I decided to ask them to come help us in Guyana.

One of their many contributions was to help improve screening and detection for breast cancer locally.

It is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and it was only fitting that I shifted focus to help my colleagues build awareness on this deadly disease.

Why breast cancer?

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women worldwide, affecting one in eight women. It is the leading cause of death among women, specifically in low- and middle- income countries, due to the lack of preventative measures and education available to women in these areas.

Guyana is no exception to breast cancer. A recent study conducted at the Medical Imaging Department at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) by Dr. Sue and Dr. Samantha Singh, revealed that out of 59 diagnostic mammograms, eight cancers were detected, and out of 599 screening mammography, five cancers were detected. This means that at the GPHC, 5 out of 1000 asymptomatic women presenting for mammograms had cancer and 135 out of 1000 symptomatic women had cancer.

Many of these cases presented in its late stage.

What signs and symptoms are concerning for breast cancer?

Most frequent breast complains are : 1. Breast pain 2. Nipple discharge (secretion) 3. Palpable lump 4.Skin changes Breast Pain Breast pain is a common

complaint for which women seek medical attention.

However, all women at some point in their lives have experienced breast pain.

Non-cancerous causes of breast pain can be numerous and include the following: ● Hormonal changes (associated with menstrual cycle) ● Large breast size ● Unsupportive bra ● Lower levels of fitness or activity ● Duct ectasia (dilated breast ducts) ● Cysts (noncancerous lump) ● Referred nerve root pain from degenerative spinal changes

Squeezing the nipple daily to clean the area, STOP! This is not necessary and can increase nipple discharge.

What type of nipple discharge should you be concerned about?

Nipple discharge that stains your shirt or bra (spontaneous), arising from one breast, from a single opening in the nipple with a clear or bloodstained colour.

Palpable Lump What to do if you find a lump in your breast.

First: don't panic! Many lumps in the breast are not cancerous. To determine it's not cancer, a visit to a doctor for a thorough clinical breast examination along

in the breast out of fear, visit a healthcare provider to discuss further workup and investigation.

If you are 40 years old or older, and you feel a lump, a diagnostic mammogram and further breast ultrasound is usually recommended.

If you are in your 30's or younger, and feel a lump, an ultrasound should be done to evaluate the lump. If any suspicion of cancer is seen on ultrasound, a mammogram may be recommended.

Skin changes - Changes in skin texture - Dimpling of the skin - Scaly skin around the nipple and areola - Skin thickening in any

swollen and tender. If you are no longer having periods, choose a day monthly.

Screening Mammography What is mammography?

It is a type of imaging exam using low dose x-rays of the breast.

It is used to detect early signs of breast cancer even before you can feel it.

When should screening mammography start?

It is recommended to start the screening exam at the age of 40. Earlier for women with a history of first line family members (mother or sister) with breast cancer or history of radiation therapy. Screening mammography is done for

● Peptic ulcer ● Heart disease ●Herpes zoster (shingles) When should you be worried about breast pain?

Breast pain that tends to be in one breast that is well localised and persistent in one area of the breast and not associated with your menstrual cycle. If you experience this type of breast pain, visit a doctor to discuss investigation options.

Nipple discharge (secretion) Nipple discharge is common, and at least 80 percent of women will experience at least one episode of nipple discharge during their reproductive years.

There are two types of nipple discharge: 1. Physiologic (normal) 2. Pathologic (abnormal and associated with disease) Normal nipple discharge usually arises from both breasts, from multiple openings from the nipple, and varies in colour such as white, green or yellow.

with imaging work up (ultrasound and mammography). A biopsy (tissue sample) may be necessary. Remember to examine under the arm when surveying for lumps.

What you should NOT do if you find a lump in your breast Do not dismiss any lump in the breast as just a boil, insect bite or abscess.

Do not apply any form of poultice or antibiotic cream to breast lumps.

Do not squeeze or irritate a lump in the breast.

Do not ignore any lump

part of the breast - Red, purple or have a bluish tint of the skin.

-Orange peel appearance of the breast.

Early detection Self-breast examination Get to know your breasts.The more you examine your breast it will become easier to pick up on changes and alert attention to your doctor.

MAKE IT ROUTINE, ONCE A MONTH Examine yourself several days after your period ends, when your breasts are least likely to be

women with no breast symptoms or complaints.

Diagnostic mammography T h i s t y p e o f mammography is performed on symptomatic patients or to work-up an abnormality found on screening mammography. A complementary targeted ultrasound is also done in some cases.

Targeted Breast Ultrasound For patients in their 30's or younger presenting with breast symptoms, always start with a targeted breast

Misconception

ultrasound as initial work up. In some cases, a mammogram may also be recommended by the reading radiologist.

Where can you access mammography and breast ultrasound services in Guyana?

At the GPHC, mammography and breast ultrasound are offered FREE of cost all year round.

Take advantage of this service and book an appointment to have annual screening mammography done and diagnostic workup if presenting with breast symptoms.

This article is dedicated to Dr. Gillian Battino who started the mammography programme at the GPHC and championed the many RAD-AID initiatives in Guyana. Thank you and RAD-AID for the many lives that you've saved!

PAGE 30

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 24, 2021

Sunday October 24, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 31

Kaieteur News

PAGE 34

Sunday October 24, 2021

>>> ENCOURAGING EVENTS, DISTURBING DEVELOPMENTS <<<

More CAPE schools, PAC and gas demand

I

encourage the unvaccinated to get vaccinated right away; don’t put self on trial with what is viral. It is a losing proposition; give everyone a fighting chance get vaccinated.

The Hon. Minister of

Education announced that seven more schools will be permitted to offer subjects at the CAPE level. This is encouraging for a couple of reasons. CAPE credentials are almost universally accepted, they have standing all over. Unlike the CSEC

level examinations, which I think are seriously watered down, the curricula and demands of the various subjects are quite rigorous.

They embody a two-year period of deep and comprehensive study, and are worth both effort put into

them, and the recognition that comes along with success. CAPE students are presented with a foretaste of what post-secondary school education is about, and serves as training ground for intense university study.

The more facilities we

h a v e available for interested ( a n d qualified) students, the more we will be ready in years that are rushing by, to have the kind of quality Guyanese worker that we need for occupations in demand in one sector after another. I laud this development about more CAPE schools.

Then, there was this storm over made ‘misrepresentations’ involving the business of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). Misrepresentation is a word favoured by attorneys to convey that someone is lying through their teeth. Instead of my emphasis being on who misrepresented what (falsified), or didn’t, I prefer focusing on the vital work of the PAC. The PAC is akin to a last line of defense in getting to the bottom of how cleanly the monies of the people are being spent, and involving various projects scattered across Guyana. The PAC is now reviewing what happened in 2016, which qualifies to be ancient history.

Meeting once weekly, with a bow to other duties, will extend this backlog situation way into the future.

We must clear those away without rushing, while recognising that money is being spent hand over fist on huge new projects, which increase future piles.

The Audit Office is trying to catch up and so, too, must the PAC. The PPP/C and PNC and AFC may not be too keen on members of the public knowing how their business is conducted, but there are many who want to know. Things like the integrity and fairness of the bidding process, the accounting and record keeping for monies spent, and which State agencies (its officers) do a commendable job, and which ones do not.

If Guyanese are not given the kind of insights that they need to know on what goes on, then all the crookedness and corruptions that have long plagued ruling political parties,

By GHK Lall governance, and state bureaucracies will be given free rein to continue unchecked. I understand that PACs operate like a type of political fraternal society, even in the most hostile of times, such as now.

F u r t h e r, t h e y a r e backward looking and slothful, but they are what we have, and there is the occasional honesty, and resulting fireworks, when a PAC chair or member gets a bit exercised. Otherwise, it is pedestrian and largely humdrum, which means that the financial shenanigans go on without letup. If only we could get a group that is devoted to cleaning house, and laying people out on the carpet….

It looks like that excess gas from the Yellowtail Project does not have a ready home. Up the road in 2026, when the project is scheduled to be completed, looks like a long way off from today.

It seems longer and unpromising, when one considers the concerted push to start serious delinking from fossil fuels before then. Barring some catastrophic energy demand scenario, prompted by force majeure combinations, there could be a massive oversupply of gas by that time.

This is what Guyana could possibly be staring at, and with boatloads of excess gas having nowhere to go.

The only buyers would be those looking for dirt cheap prices.

Presently, the options are not encouraging, which begs the question: why proceed with such zeal with this project?

KN termed it a dilemma; I recognise trouble.

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

Sunday October 24, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 35

PAGE 36

Sunday October 24, 2021

Kaieteur News

Lessons from a Lashpreneur!!!

Enetworks Team to host live chat on ICC Men’s World T20 today How to grow your lashes

with lash extensions

Super 12 action in the ICC Men’s World T20 has begun in the United Arab Emirates, with the Kieron Pollard-led West Indies looking for a historic third title.

Be sure to join the News

Room Sport team live on E1 and News Room FB page on West Indies match days, the semi-finals and final.

Shows will be at 09:00h (for games starting at 10:00h) and 09:30h (for games starting

at 06:00h).

The World Cup schedule is available here: https:// www. e s p n c r i c i n f o . c o m / series/icc-men-s-t20-worldcup-2021-22-1267897/matchschedule-fixtures.

MovieTowne Guyana to transform into spooky, haunted maze for Halloween MovieTowne Guyana will be transforming its entire Fiesta Plaza into a Haunted Maze surrounding the kids releases Addams Family 2 and Hotel Transylvania 4 for Halloween set for October 31, 2021.

One compartment of the Haunted Maze is designed based on the New Trending Series Squid Games, where

a life-sized cutout of the Doll will be present with gunfire sounds for an ultimate scare.

An advantage of this haunted house is the mist, which not only adds to the ambiance of the spookiness, but its cleanliness as it is a sanitizing mist.

Adding to the décor, this mist will sanitize not just the

area but everyone wishing to walk-through this space.

On the day of Halloween, the management of the company will continue to have its traditional trick or treating at all of its stores and customers visiting the Mall and Cinemas dressed in costumes get chances to win great prizes and movie tickets.

By Latoya Zephyr It’s All About The Growth!

Lash Extensions are an easy and beautiful way to get longer, fuller natural looking lashes. But what about if you could have a look without the false lash?

You can! Lash extensions, or any extensions, should be an option and a means of enhancing or growing what is already there.

While many think ‘that’s it I just have thin, stubby lashes,’ this is not the case; do not confine yourself to a life of thin or false lashes.

Lashes can grow through natural methods while using lash extensions.

Why Lashes Are Important Besides the fabulous look lashes provide, lashes are essential to positive eye health. Eyelashes help keep dust, sand and dirt particles out of the eyes.

These little hairs lining your eyelids also help retain moisture like water and rain out of your eyes.

Eyelashes help send alerts to your eyelids for potential dangers like insects or particles that can be harmful to your eye health. Risking your lashes is ultimately exposing your eye to a world of trouble.

Avoid Lash Loss Lashes naturally fall out whether real or extensions.

Natural lashes shed every sixty to ninety days. The shedding of the natural lash is often, and natural lashes replenish quickly.

The growth and shedding cycle of lashes happens rapidly so that we usually do not notice the change in our lashes.

To enhance the look of our lashes or ones that are nonexistent, this is where lash extensions come into play.

Lash extensions should help your natural lashes grow longer.

However, many find their lash growth dwindling after getting extensions several times or consistently wearing strip lashes. The key to avoiding losing lashes while getting lash extensions is to brush your lashes, clean your lashes properly, keep up with refills and know when to give lashes a break.

Brushing After your lash extension application your lash technician should give you a small lash brush. The brush will resemble a mascara applicator; lashes should be brushed daily to rid the lashes of clumping of the false

lashes. The clumping of the lashes causes the lashes to fall out faster, and to look lash naturally. I know first hand that skipping the brushing of lashes will make the false lashes hardened and twist together.

Cleaning Using the lash brush and a mild soap or water, brush your lashes in a curved upward direction to rid the lashes of dirt and weak lashes. Your technician may also have a cleansing option available.

Fills Just like nails, lashes have ‘fills,’ which means that the lashes that have fallen out. Fills occur after about 50 percent of the lashes have shed. Typically, should take place every two to three weeks to ensure the best lash look and style.

Proper Lash Application/Removal To Avoid Loss of Lashes For lash extensions to be beneficial instead of detrimental to the growth and retention of your lashes, it is imperative to get your lashes done regularly and heed the advice of your lash technician.

Removal of lashes at home or professionally is not mandatory to maintain a lash style or healthy lashes. They will fall out on their own with time. However, if your lash extensions are irritating your eyes because of clumping, burning or otherwise, one can

return to their lash technician for removal.

If lashes aren’t taken care of properly, they will fall out or be roughly pulled out and can snatch the natural lash out with it. Lash extensions, when done correctly, will never affect the growth rate or future growth of lashes.

Following these steps to keep your lash extensions looking fresh and from ripping out your natural hairs will ensure lash growth and health.

Vitamins Supplements like Vitamin A, E, and C help promote hair growth. These can be Biotin vitamins, fish oil vitamins or lysine tablets.

These vitamins will work on lash growth from the inside out and can also have positive effects on eyebrow and hair growth. All vitamins should be FDA approved and taken with water. Vitamins are essential to lash growth, putting the rid nutrients in your body will ensure that future lashes grow in longer and stronger.

Growing Your Lashes Is Easy!

As long as you wash your natural lashes and take care of your lash extensions, you are sure to see lash growth.

Lashes grow and shed naturally; but promoting lash retention and growth can be done by brushing regularly, taking vitamins and adding natural oils into your lash care regimen.

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 24, 2021

PAGE 37

==GNBS IN FOCUS== Standards and quality should be foremost

for manufacturers and service providers – GNBS ready to support Unlike a decade ago, many local manufacturers and service providers in Guyana are no longer trying to circumvent the implementation of standards in their businesses.

Using standards to consistently provide quality goods and services has become the strategy for many to ensure their businesses remain competitive.

More often than not, in the past, quality and standards were largely sacrificed for low costs production.

However, the widened access which came with online shopping and other means of purchasing desired products and services have firmly put consumers in control when it comes to their preference for quality.

No longer will they accept whatever is produced solely based on low prices.

Hence, manufacturers and service providers must take steps to add standards and quality to the mix to ensure that their offerings are desirable.

Gradually, a wide crosssection of our farmers, exporters and businessmen are also becoming appreciative of the usefulness of standards; streamlining their operations to ensure production efficiency and consistency.

The new oil and gas driven economy, which demands conformance to standards, is pushing many, including budding entrepreneurs to engage the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) for guidance and support for the implementation of standards; which is key for business success.

No doubt, over the years, the GNBS has been playing its part in ensure that standards needed by businesses are developed and made available.

Many of these national standards originate from recognised regional and international standards and guidelines developed by the CARICOM Regional

Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ), ASTM International, the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), among others.

Hence, their application by local businesses is broadly recognised and the quality of products and services derived from their use can be benchmarked with others in overseas markets.

To ensure more local manufacturers and service providers get onboard and utilise available standards, the GNBS will continue to aggressively promote the benefits through educational campaigns and other m a r k e t i n g a n d communication initiatives.

For businesses, the benefits of implementing standards include streamlining internal company processes, risk reduction, waste reduction, increased customer confidence, enabling international expansion, and access to new markets.

These benefits are crucial for competitiveness.

Meanwhile, earlier this year the Bureau restructured and reoriented its Business Development Department to be responsive to the needs of businesses. This department now has a more tailor-made technical assistance programme for those businesses needing guidance to implement standards for improved processes, products and services, and towards becoming internationally certified.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e Bureau's scope of training for individuals and companies on standards has significantly expanded and now include customised training based on the specific needs of clients.

In closing, CEOs and Senior Managers must start to recognise what standards can do to enhance their companies' products and services.

To survive in business, urgent changes guided by standards have to be made to remain competitive in our rapidly evolving economy.

To help make those changes and to meet customer demands for quality and

consistency, the GNBS is most ready to help.

F o r f u r t h e r

information, please contact the GNBS on telephone numbers: 219-0066 or visit

t h e G N B S We b s i t e : www.gnbsgy.org or WhatsApp 6924627.

PAGE 38

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 24, 2021

Plant-Based Diet - What Effects Does It Have On Diabetes?

If you are battling diabetes and wish to know about the best diet for diabetes, we have news for you. A vegetarian diet is healthier for diabetes.

Research shows that there is a 35% lower risk of developing diabetes if you stick to a vegetarian diet. And those who adopt a vegetarian diet after being a nonvegetarian show a 53% lower risk of developing diabetes than their fellow nonvegetarians.

Food plays a significant role in managing diabetes mellitus. By opting for a vegetarian diabetic diet, you can lead a healthy life and gain maximum health benefits.

What is the Best Diet for Diabetes?

A plant-based diet for diabetes is the best. A plantbased diet includes fruits, vegetables, pulses, nuts and seeds. A plant-based diet helps lower the risk of developing chronic diseases like diabetes mellitus, hypertension and cancer.

Plant-based foods are rich in fibre, folate, antioxidants and phytochemicals that boost your health.

What Comprises a Vegetarian Diabetic Diet?

Dietary management of diabetes mellitus is the best way to manage diabetes. You can eat all plant-based foods but in moderation. Eating healthy for maintaining your blood sugar levels involves controlling your portion size and fulfilling your nutritional requirements.

The followings foods are to be included in your vegetarian diet for diabetes: 1. Nuts like cashew, peanut, almonds and tahini.

2. S e e d s like pumpkin, sunf lower, chia and flax.

3. Beans and pulses like chickpeas, lentils, kidney beans and butter beans.

4. Vegetable milk like almond, cashew, oats, soy, hempseed, etc.

5. High-fibre grains like quinoa and millets.

6. Soy products like tofu, soy cheese and soya milk.

7. Vegetables like spinach, broccoli, bok choy, cauliflower, lettuce, celery, peppers, eggplants, green beans and tomatoes.

8. Fruits like oranges, apples, papaya, watermelon and berries.

What are the Health Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet for Diabetes?

There are countless health benefits of a vegetarian diabetic diet. It is good for your heart as it helps lower cholesterol and LDL levels. A plant-based diet lowers your blood pressure levels and

reduces the risk of a stroke and a heart attack.

Here’s a list of health benefits of a vegetarian diet for diabetes: · Blood sugar control Plant-based foods or whole foods are rich in fibre content. This helps in the slow absorption of sugars into the blood and helps regulate your blood sugar levels. · Weight control Plant-based foods are lower in calories and higher in fibre. This increases their satiety value, thereby making you feel full for a longer time.

Your daily intake of calories reduces, which helps you lose weight. · Saturated fat intake control Most animal-based foods contain saturated fat. When you consume a vegetarian diet for diabetes, you consume less saturated fats, thereby reducing your risk of heart diseases and diabetes.

What are the Vegetarian Diet Tips for Diabetics?

Dietary management of diabetes revolves around plant-based foods for regulating blood sugar levels.

A healthy balanced diet is the best diet for diabetes. If you are planning to get on the vegetarian diet for diabetes, you need to be mindful of the following aspects: a. Consume a limited a m o u n t of carbohydrates with each meal. Distribute your carb intake evenly throughout the day. b. Include a wide variety of plant-based foods in your diet to meet your daily nutritional needs. c. Your daily diet should consist of a limited amount of carbohydrates, a portion of lean protein and healthy fat in every meal. d. Monitor your blood sugar levels daily while you are on the vegetarian diabetic diet. e. Include plenty of vegetables in your diet to improve your fibre intake.

Here are three tips for newbies who wish to start their vegetarian diabetic diet: 1. Portion control for carbs Most diabetics replace meat with extra carbohydraterich foods. This can lead to weight gain and high blood sugar levels.

Try to include carbs rich

in fibre to stabilise your blood sugar levels and feel full for a longer time.

Carbohydrates rich in fibre content are: · Whole-grain bread · Whole wheat/chickpea pasta · Brown rice · Oatmeal

· Baked beans and whole pulse (Rajma) · Whole Wheat flour with wheat bran (Jowar, Bajra) 2. Plant-based proteins It’s a myth that you can get your proteins only from animal sources. Your dietary protein requirements can be met through a vegetarian diet as well.

Include the following foods for a protein-rich vegetarian diet for diabetes: · Legumes – Black beans, chickpeas, lentils, split peas, kidney beans and pinto beans. · Soy – Soy milk, soybeans, soy-based yoghurt, soy cheese, tofu and soy nut butter. · Nuts – Almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, pistachios and peanuts.

3. Healthy fats By swapping to the vegetarian diet for diabetes, you ensure a huge shift in the dietary management of diabetes mellitus. Avoiding

animal products helps keep saturated fats out of your diet. Plant-based foods are rich in heart-healthy fats like omega 3 and omega 6, which help maintain heart health.

Include these healthy fats in your diet: · Avocado · Olives or olive oil · Nuts · Canola oil Take away Focus on eating a healthy, balanced, nutritious meal that contains plant-based foods.

This is the crux of your vegetarian diet for diabetes. Incorporate nuts and seeds as a part of your mid-day snack or snack on some veggie sticks with hummus.

This helps maintain your blood sugar levels and is essential in the dietary management of diabetes mellitus. (https:// pharmeasy.in/blog/plantbased-diet-what-effectsdoes-it-have-on-diabetes/)

Understanding The Signs And Risk Factors For Breast Cancer The world over, several governments, international institutions as well as women who have survived breast cancer recognise October as the month of Breast Cancer Awareness. In the spirit of awareness, today we too shall go over breast cancer symptoms and also risk factors for the same.

As with all cancers, catching this condition early improves the survivability rate. That is why you should check yourself regularly for breast cancer symptoms and inform your doctor if you notice anything unusual or new.

What is Breast Cancer?

Cancer is a type of disease in which some cells mutate and begin multiplying rapidly. These cells form lesions, lumps, tumours and can obstruct normal bodily functions.

Some cancer can metastasize, meaning it spreads and affects other parts of the body. This spread is referred to as ‘metastasis’.

Breast cancer follows a similar path. It is cancer (out of a total of 100 types) that begins in the tissue of the breast but with time it can spread to other areas.

Ductal Carcinoma is a common type of breast cancer, it accounts for approximately 70% to 80% of breast cancer cases.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Breast Cancer?

Due to many years of

awareness and research, it has become easier to treat breast cancer through various means.

But identifying the warning signs and symptoms of breast cancer in the early stages is what makes or breaks the success rate of the treatment.

After self-examination of your breasts and underarm areas during shower or when you are changing your clothes, here are a few additional signs which are equally important and you can check for: · A lump in your breasts or armpits that was previously not there · Thickening or swelling of the skin in a particular part of the breasts · Dimples, irritation or redness in some part(s) of the breast · Flaky skin on the breast or nipple area · Changes in the nipple shape (such as pulling in or changes in shape) or changes to the breast · Nipple or breast pain · Blood or other unusuallooking liquid (excluding milk) leaking from the nipples Note that, if you have any of the above conditions singularly it is not a clear indication that you have breast cancer for sure.

Similar signs are associated with other medical issues as well. If y o u discover a few of the mentioned signs and symptoms of breast cancer together, be sure to see

your doctor about it.

What are some Risk Factors for Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer risk is a combination of multiple factors, some of which can be altered and others are part of your genetic makeup. If you are at high risk, it does not necessarily mean you will get breast cancer. Conversely, even if you do not have any of the below breast cancer risks, you can still develop cancer. · Age– Most breast cancer diagnoses happen after the age of 50, so the older you get the greater the breast cancer risk. · Genetics– Genetic mutations can be inherited; certain gene mutations carry a higher risk of breast cancer (such as BRCA1, BRCA2). · Menstrual Cycle– If your menstrual periods started at or before 12, or you started menopause after the age of 55, your risk may be higher. · Dense Breast Tissue– Dense tissue in the breasts makes it harder to spot tumours and cancer lesions through mammograms. · Family History– If your sister, mother or close relative on either side of the family has had breast or ovarian cancer, your own risk may also be higher. · Radiation Therapy– If you were earlier treated with radiation on the chest or breasts (for example during cancer treatment) before the age of 30, you may have an increased breast cancer risk. · Personal History– If you had breast cancer or similar

conditions (like atypical hyperplasia which is a noncancerous breast disease), you are more likely to develop breast cancer once again.

What Can You Change?

Unlike the previous section the following factors can be managed and controlled to help reduce your risk of developing breast cancer: · Not getting regular exercise · U n a d d r e s s e d obesity problems, especially after menopause · Having your first pregnancy after 30 and not breastfeeding · Hormone replacement therapies (such as progesterone or estrogen used during menopause) if taken for five years or more · Taking oral contraceptive pills at a stretch · Alcohol, smoking and exposure to other carcinogenic chemicals Conclusion While developing breast cancer may be a scary thought, breast cancer treatments have progressed a lot over the past few decades. The main purpose of this article is to raise awareness of the potential breast cancer symptoms.

If you notice any of the signs covered here, or you think you may be at a higher risk then speak to a doctor at the earliest.

Pass this short article on to your friends as well, and let’s help to raise awareness all through this month!

Sunday October 24, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 39

==CONSUMER CONCERNS== Guyana looks forward to advent of a brave new world with liberated telecoms industry

By Pat Dial October 5th last, marked the first anniversary that the Telecommunications Act #18 of 2016 was effectuated ending the monopoly of the Telephone Industry which Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) had enjoyed since 1990.

The process of ending the GTT monopoly began a decade earlier than 2020 but there was a great deal of footdragging and nothing resulted. Indeed, the Guyana Consumers Association (GCA) had long been pointing out to various Governments from year to year that the ATN/GTT/GoG monopoly Contract was nugatory, if not void, since GTT had breached it substantially by failing to carry out substantive areas of the Agreement including establishing universal landline service along the entire Coast and "telephonising" six Interior locations.

Liberalisation is a process that would take about two years to complete and is not achieved with immediacy on the passing of the legislation.

In the year which has just passed, the three companies operating in the industry did take some action relative to liberalisation but the State's activity was only modest. In our view, more could have been achieved if the State had engaged an experienced, able, creative and proactive person to further the process.

Competition is one of the great benefits of liberalisation and the Ministry has been successfully educating the public in this regard. But there are a plethora of other iniquities which liberalisation would have extinguished and we remind our readers of some of them.

With the GTT monopoly, the cost of making overseas calls was exploitative and oppressive and this bore heavily on the poor who had to make overseas calls to be in contact with their relatives in the Diaspora. Indeed, almost all Guyanese families suffered this exploitation. It was believed that the GTT charges were the highest in the world. GTT, to maintain its monopoly of high costs, fiercely opposed the adoption of modern technologies such as Skype or Whatsapp which would have made costs affordable and threatened to bring lawsuits against anyone found using such. GTT even tried to invoke the help of the State in prosecuting any users of the modern technologies.

Liberalisation has been able

to remove this abuse. It is probably this GTT mindset that made the Guyana Industry one of the most expensive and inefficient in the world, a situation which liberalisation would rectify.

G T T, a s a f o r e i g n monopoly, cares far more about harvesting profits than for Guyana's national interest. One example of this was when they established a Sex Call scheme which they sold over the world. The Government and people of Guyana cried out against this immoral and illegal sex call scheme and telephone jurisdictions worldwide treated Guyana with contempt.

In fact the Scandinavian countries took a step never done before in the world of suspending telephonic contact with Guyana. It was believed that the company reaped hundreds of millions before they discontinued the practice. The greatest irony of this episode of monopoly behaviour is when GTT refused to pay any taxes on these earnings with a variety of excuses!

GTT enjoyed duty-free status for most of their imports but the Government could not exercise any effective surveillance and this opened the door to corrupt practices. And any expenditure the company made was placed against their profits.

One example of GTT trying to make a kill in this regard was when they imported twenty-nine new motor vehicles which would have meant tens of millions of dollars placed against their profits.

Owing to the brilliant detective work done

by Joseph Tyndall, the head of the PUC, it was found that the alleged new vehicles were derelicts picked up from the junkyards of Miami and repainted and had little or no value.

The newspapers carried kaleidoscopes of this story over several days.

One of the fundamental causes of the monopoly being tempted to indulge in such corrupt behaviour was that its accounts were never disaggregated and this opened the door to the possibilities of fraud, corruption and concealment of profits.

Indeed, the company resisted the disaggregation of their accounts over the years.

Now that the monopoly has ended, Guyanese would never ever again wish to go through the exploitations of a monopoly.

The only debris left over from the monopoly is the

debt of US44 million in unpaid taxes which GTT owes the Government and which they could now comfortably pay since they are a very profitable company.

Liberalisation does not merely result in competition and its benefits it prevents the advent of exploitative abuses. Prime Minister Mark Phillips' words encapsulates the new spirit of optimism:

"Our Government's interest is to provide for an open, liberalised and competitive sector that is attractive to new entrants with the expectation that this will result in greater choices, a better quality of

service and lower prices for consumers".

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

Sunday October 24, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 40

Junior page Halloween Kids Craft: Spiderweb Window Clings What You'll Need: · Elmer's School Glue · Assorted Glitter

U

se the glue to draw a large spiderweb on top of the plastic page protector, and sprinkle it with glitter.

Allow to dry for approximately 16-20 hours before carefully removing the spiderweb from the plastic sheet.

The center will likely still be wet, so flip the spiderweb over, and allow the remaining glue to dry for around 4-6 hours Once they're dry, the glittery spiderwebs are finished and ready to decorate your h o m e f o r Halloween.They'r e the perfect combination of spooky and glam!

FUN WITH POETRY

Keeping things in order There were many times at my home When I felt lazy and careless, Although I knew this was so wrong, I kept my things is a mess.

My parents often had to tell me To put all my stuff in order, And only then did I take the time, And tried a little harder.

When I arranged my clothes in the closet, And fixed my books on the shelf, And put my toys in the proper place, I felt so good about myself.

by Uncle Roy Now I realise how nice it is To keep everything neat and clean; Not only are my parents pleased with me, But I myself feel so keen.

· Plastic Page Protector Sheets (or large plastic baggies)

Sunday October 24, 2021

Kaieteur News

TEEN TIME Building confidence and faith in your ability will help you in your search for your unique purpose History is full of examples of people who faced obstacles and handicaps and eventually came out victorious, mainly because they had confidence in their own ability to succeed in fulfilling the special purpose for which they were born. Read of Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Abraham Lincoln, and our own Dr. Cheddi Jagan and Forbes Burnham, and discover how they achieved great things by this confidence in their life mission.

Every human being has been born with a number of qualities which enables him to achieve whatever he sets his mind to. When you fully realise this fact, and develop faith in yourself and the confidence that you can fulfil your ambitions, then you will be better able to use these qualities to the fullest.

This very selfconfidence that you will achieve your special goal

PAGE 41

A Place for Me There is a special place in life, that needs my humble skill, A certain job I'm meant to do, which no one else can fulfill The time will be demanding, and the pay is not too good And yet I wouldn't change it for a moment -- even if I could There is a special place in life, a goal I must attain, A dream that I must follow, because I won't be back again.

will add to the ability to succeed, and will give you the energy and the enthusiasm to go forward. A positive attitude will always increase your capacity to do things, whereas the opposite, negativity, will reduce the flow of this energy and lessen the chances of winning through.

Focus your thoughts on what you are doing at any one time, and you will be better able to use your abilities to succeed. Look for the good in any situation and you will see how this helps you to overcome

problems and awkward situations.

It will also be helpful to a great degree if you take care to use your conscience in all your actions. When you know that you have tried to do the right thing in any situation, then you will be more confident in yourself and in what you do.

When you strive to act in such a way as to benefit others rather than only yourself, then you will go forward assured of success.

The people who have followed some religious faith are convinced that this

has helped them to achieve peace and contentment in their lives while moving towards the unique purpose for which they have been created.

They also realise that this belief in an Almighty Creator who has infinite power will answer the prayers of those who sincerely believe in Him. This means that when you ask for His help in achieving your goals, you can be sure that His power will be at your disposal to help you to in your efforts towards their attainment.

Samurai Sudoku

Within each of the five 9x9 squares, each digit from 1-9 occurs once within each row, column and 3x3

block. There is only one solution, and you can find it w i t h o u t g u e s s i n g .

There is a mark that I must leave, however small it seems to be, A legacy of love for those who follow after me There is a special place in life, that only I may share, A little path that bears my name, awaiting me somewhere.

There is a hand that I must hold, a word that I must say, A smile that I must give for there are tears to blow away There is a special place in life that I was meant to fill A sunny spot where flowers grow, upon a windy hill There's always a tomorrow and the best is yet to be, And somewhere in this world, I know there is a place for me.

Place your utmost trust in God , and you will find it natural to gain the self-confidence to achieve your special goals.

TELL IT TO UNCLE ROY I am again appealing to all youths who have some personal problem to contact me so that we can work on a solution. Please know that I am an experienced e d u c a t o r, a q u a l i f i e d

counsellor, and a person whose main purpose in life is to ensure that others live their lives safely and effectively. Please get in touch through my email – uncleroy1992@yahoo.com

Solutions to last week’s

Spooky maths Spooky maths 9,0,4 4,.4,2 Suguru

PAGE 42

Halloween Makeup Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Application HalooweenMakeupTipsandTricks Safety Recommendations This special time of the year should be a blast but before application of any new products, you should: Perform a skin test of new products and wait 24 hours for any reactions. This is important for those with sensitive skin or a history of allergies. If a rash develops, clean the area and apply a hydrocortisone cream. If it persists, see your physician.

Use approved makeup for the face. Make sure that any face paints are FDA certified.

Avoid using makeup or baby powder near open flames.

Avoid mixing different types of makeup.

Avoid using liquid latex near the eyes. The adhesive is ammonia based with strong vapors.

Tips and Tricks There are a number of things to consider as you plan your makeup and costume. A few of these are: Halloween can be a cold evening. Applying makeup and teasing hair prior to adding turtlenecks or other pullover tops can mess up your efforts. Think about when to apply your final touches to makeup and hair.

Start with a clean face. FX artists recommend using an astringent to remove facial oil, followed with a cold water rinse to minimize pores.Make-up tips for Halloween Costumes Apply a very thin coat of Vaseline to make makeup removal easier. Face paints and other applications can be difficult to remove.

Work comfortably near a good light source.

Think about any types of prosthetics that you would like to include, such as scars or scabs. Spirit gum adheres best to a clean face. They should be applied first. Apply spirit gum to the face and the prosthetic device. Wait for the gum to get tacky before attaching the prosthetic.

Latex can be used to create height and different textures.

Begin with a base coat and slowly build the area. For scars, the application of a thin layer is followed with one piece of tissue.

Repeat as needed. After latex application, you can also pull back a piece of the latex for the appearance of rotting skin. Think how you can play with the possibilities.

Apply your foundation after building up areas or application of prosthetics. Apply foundation lightly with light rubbing. Then pat to blend.

Makeup can be used to create texture. Brushing with a makeup brush will offer a smooth look, whereas dappling with the brush can generate a more unusual appearance. Consider using a coarse texturing sponge for adding texture in your makeup application.

Apply thin coats of makeup, using the guideline of a single color at any time to permit the makeup to completely dry. Setting your hair dryer to cold air can shorten the drying process.

Sweat can ruin unset makeup. When you are planning an active evening of devilish fun, it's critical to set your makeup properly. Commercial products are available but baby powder is cheap and effective. Dusting powder over your face will maintain the appearance of the makeup. Powdering hair and clothing adds the effect of age for zombies and ancient Marie Antoinettes.

Step out and become part of the Halloween magic. https://www.msccollege.edu/blogs/msc/halloweenmakeup-tips-and-tricks-for-the-perfect-application/

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 24, 2021

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 24, 2021

PAGE 43

$9.7M water system commissioned at Big Biaboo - 26 households to get first-time access R

esidents in the f a r m i n g community of Big Baiboo are now able to access water for the first time following the commissioning of a $9.7 million water system.

The system, according to information released by the Central Housing and Planning Authority, was commissioned by Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water on Friday afternoon, in the company of Regional Chairman of Region Five, Mr. Vickchand Ramphal, technical officials from the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) and residents.

This signals the fulfilling of yet another promise by the Minister for the provision of potable water in several communities.

In September 2020, the Minister visited the area, which is inhabited by informal settlers for more than three decades. At the time the residents called on the Minister for access to

Water flows from a tap as Minister Rodrigues and others look on. (Photo Credit: Ameer Sattaur, DPI)

potable water and the development of a new housing area.

Earlier this year, Cabinet approved the regularisation of Big Baiboo, paving the way for GWI to begin the water expansion project.

“It's a vast area, so it took a lot of investment and finally we can say that we made that commitment as well and we can have residents living in dignity and have access to the services and the utilities that all Guyanese deserve to have

access to,” the Minister stated.Minister Rodrigues also commended regional representatives for their efforts in bringing issues faced by residents in communities across the region to the forefront. She

stated that this has played a crucial role in the Government's mandate to address issues and improve the lives of citizens.

The project, which is executed under the supervision of the GWI,

includes the installation of 1.9 kilometres of four-inch polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes and is expected to see some 26 households benefitting.

While in the area, the Minister also led a hamper distribution exercise at Little Biaboo. The hampers are being distributed as part of government's response for farmers affected by recent floods. Some 190 livestock and cash crop farmers, who have been affected will benefit at the conclusion of the distribution process. The list of farmers is drawn from the communities of Little Biaboo, Big Biaboo and Hansom Tree.

This also followed a house lot distribution exercise at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) office in Fort Wellington on Friday, in keeping with another promise made by the Minister two weeks ago.

The exercise saw 37 lowincome families, including 15 informal settlers, receiving house lots.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 44

Sunday October 24, 2021

Pensioners' book, cash grant distribution nearing completion in Regions 2 and 10 The distribution of the one-off cash grants and 2022 pension books is nearing completion in Regions Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) and 10 (Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice).

This is according to a release issued yesterday by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security.

Subject Minister, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, and a team from the Ministry visited all of the distribution sites in the two regions in a week-long exercise; touching areas such as Bamia, Amelia's Ward, Bayrock, Wismar, Watooka, Coomaka, and Christianburg.

The Minister commenced her visit to Region Two at Charity Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), and moved on to other locations such as Anna Regina and Hampton Court, among the rest.

“The entire team pitched in to serve people. Whatever it took, they jumped in to help. The rains gave us some challenges but we persevered until it was done,” she commented. So far in the exercise, Regions Five and

Six have already been completed, with Region Four almost done.

As she continues to visit distribution sites, Dr. Persaud is using the opportunity to take the Ministry's services to residents and even provide hampers to communities in need. In fact, during her visit to Region 10 last week, the team distributed over 200 hampers at Silver Hill, Chinese Road in Moblissa and Bamia.

The Ministry also distributed 75 pairs of spectacles at Coomaka. A similar activity was undertaken in Essequibo

Dr. Persaud interacts with persons conducting the exercise at one of the distribution sites.

Minister Vindhya Persaud at a site in Region Two.

recently, which saw the distribution of 140 pairs of spectacles and a total of 200 hampers.

“When I thought about the spectacles initiative, I knew how important it was going to be to help persons perform everyday tasks. Just under 1,500 spectacles later, the joy on people's faces and their eagerness to do activities that they could not for sometime because they were not seeing well, makes it all worthwhile,” Dr. Persaud expressed.

Head of the Ministry's Difficult Circumstances Unit, Mahendra Budhram, explained, “We found in some places that an entire family is using one pair of spectacles so Minister Persaud decided to expand this initiative so that more persons can benefit.”

Several residents have expressed appreciation at this gesture by the Ministry.

“The eyes are a little blurred but since I got my spectacles, I'm seeing well.

I think it's a wonderful venture and it saves us a lot so

I don't have to go to Linden or Georgetown to get my eyes tested,” one resident, Winston David, said.

Verna Wilson-Thom, another resident, said as soon as she put on her new glasses, she saw everything clearly. “I see everything clear and lovely. I wasn't expecting to see so clearly.

I do a lot of reading and studies, so without spectacles, I really can't do anything,” she said.

Meanwhile, an extra week will be provided at the end of this month for those who would have missed the distribution exercise in Georgetown. As for residents on the East Coast and East Bank Demerara who missed collection, they are being urged to visit the regular distribution sites in their respective areas.

While the 2022 pension book will be available throughout the year, the voucher is time bound, as it has to be cashed by November 30 at any post office or any of the other locations, such as Sure Pay.

Minister Persaud and her team helping out at one of the distribution sites in Region 10.

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 24, 2021

PAGE 45

The Court Matters in which persons were Journal jointly charged for murder

By Renay Sambach

On remand Yan Licorish (left) and Tony Waldron.

M

urder is the unlawful premeditated killing of one human being by another. Today, I will highlight some matters where persons were jointly charged for murder.

The Murder of Keron McPherson Back in August, Brenna Nurse and three of her son's friends, Devon Harry, Nicholas Hercules aka “Bucko,” and Peter Lam were jointly charged for murder. They had appeared in the Sparendaam Magistrate's Court before Magistrate, Alisha George.

The defendants were not required to plead to the indictable charge, which alleges that they killed Keron McPherson, 24, of 'D' Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown.

According to reports, McPherson was killed from a gunshot wound to his abdomen sometime between 23:50hrs on Saturday August 14 and 04:00hrs on Sunday August 15, last. Nurse, his mother-in-law, and the three men made their first court appearance on August 23, 2021, and they were all remanded to prison.

According to reports, it is believed that Nurse along with her three co-accused had conspired to murder McPherson.

McPherson was reportedly lured to his death by a phone call. His relatives had told Kaieteur News that McPherson's girlfriend, Nurse's daughter, had called him close to midnight on Saturday August 14. They claimed that he was reluctant to go at first but she kept calling him and McPherson eventually heeded and left home to meet her.

He never returned and around 04:00hrs, the following morning his body

Murdered, Keron McPherson. was discovered lying in a yard at 'C' Field Sophia with gunshot wounds.

It is alleged that McPherson was killed in retaliation to an altercation he had with Nurse and the three men during the early evening hours of Saturday.

According to reports, he had gotten into a heated argument with his girlfriend over money, which she had squandered and this led to an argument between him and Nurse. The argument turned physical between him, his mother-in-law and the three men. This reportedly led to him being killed.

The Henry boys' murder Following the discovery of the mutilated bodies of the Henry cousins, Joel and Isaiah, back in September 2020, protest actions were formed and the grandson of one of the men that was initially arrested in relation to the double murder was killed. Following months of no new development in the murders, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) was able to charge three men for the capital offence earlier this year after they secured a confession.

Anil Sancharra, 34, called “Dan Pole” and

Remanded for the murder of her son-in-law, Brenna Nurse.

“Rasta,” of D'Edward Village, West Coast Berbice, and Vinod Gopaul, 30, called “Magga,” of Yakasari, Black Bush Polder, Corentyne, Berbice, were charged jointly while the third accused was separately charged.

In August of this year, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, S.C, recharged the duo jointly for the murder of both Joel and I s a i a h H e n r y, w h o s e mutilated bodies were discovered in Cotton Tree Village backdam, West Coast Berbice, last year.

This happened about one month after Magistrate, Peter Hugh, discharged Isaiah's murder matter against Sancharra and Gopaul citing that there was no admissible evidence of murder established against the two-named accused.

Attorney-at-law, Dexter Todd, who is representing the two, had argued that the State had not presented evidence of murder against Gopaul and Sancharra.

Magistrate Hugh later ruled i n s u p p o r t o f To d d ' s argument. However, the men had remained on remand pending the outcome of the

(From left) Devon Harry, Nicholas Hercules and Peter Lam, the three men who are jointly charged with Nurse for killing McPherson.

Anil Sancharra.

Vinod Gopaul.

Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the murder of Joel Henry, Isaiah's cousin; the PI into Joel Henry's death was slated to commence on Tuesday, August 10, 2021.

Following Magistrate Hugh's decision to discharge Isaiah's murder against the duo, the DPP had contended that there is sufficient evidence in the case. The DPP then discontinued Joel's murder charge against the duo before re-charging them jointly for the murder of both cousins.

Isaiah and Joel were murdered between September 5, 2020 and September 6, 2020. The bodies of the two teens were found dumped in the Cotton Tree backdam last year, and earlier this year, three men were arrested and charged for their murders.

The third accused, Akash Singh, 20, called “Monkey,” a fisherman of Zeelugt Squatting Area, East Bank Essequibo, was charged separately for the murders.

According to reports, Singh had implicated his

stepbrothers, Gopaul, and Sancharra during his alleged confession to the police. This led to the men being charged.

K/News' security guards charged with murder In another matter, the paper committal process for Kaieteur News' security guards who are charged with murder has commenced in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly.

Jointly charged with murder are Yan Licorish, 49, and Tony Waldron, 39. The security guards are on remand for allegedly killing a homeless man. It was reported that the duo would go through the paper committal process. A paper committal sees the witnesses' statements and documentary evidence being tendered to the court without the witnesses being present in court. These pieces of information are inventoried and marked as exhibits.

Based on the written records, the Magistrate will take approximately 45 days

before giving a ruling on whether there is sufficient evidence for a prima facie case to be made out for the defendants to stand trial in the High Court.

Paper committal is one of two methods that is used by Magistrates for serious offences like murder; the other method is a preliminary inquiry (PI). For most cases, a PI is conducted. For a PI, the witnesses are present in court to give evidence and the documentary evidence is exhibited to the court before being tendered and marked as exhibits.

On their first court appearance in March 2021, Licorish and Waldron were not required to plead to the charge which alleges that between March 15, 2021 and March 16, 2021 at the Kaieteur News' Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown office, they murdered 58-year-old, Mohabir Singh popularly known as 'Emile'.

It was reported that (Continued on page 46)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 46

Sunday October 24, 2021

Matters in which persons were...

Odessa 'Baby' St. Hill (centre)

Duncan Vanvield Dr. Alonso De Santos.

From page 45 around 08:30hrs on March 16, 2021, Singh's lifeless body was found by an employee under a shed on the Kaieteur News' premises.

The employee had gone to remove a truck when he saw Singh's body lying in its tray.

As a result of the discovery, the matter was reported and the police arrested the two security guards. Both men were subsequently charged with murder. A post-mortem examination had revealed that Singh died as a result of brain haemorrhage due to blunt trauma to the head.

The murder Deon 'Mow' Stoll In October 2019, just two weeks after the brazen killing of prominent gold miner, Deon 'Mow' Stoll, eight persons were charged in relation to his murder.

Four were charged with murder while the other four were charged with accessory to murder. The defendants had appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts.

Charged with murder in the course or furtherance of a robbery committed on Deon Stoll, are Shane “Demon”

Keith McKenzie M o rg a n c a l l e d ' D e l o n Morgan', Roberto Sankar, Wayne St. Hill and Steve Rollox.

Odessa St. Hill, called 'Baby', Dr. Alanzo De Santos, Duncan Vanvield called 'Blackboy' and Keith McKenzie were charged with accessory after the fact.

The brazen attack on Stoll occurred on the morning of October 14, 2019, shortly after 10:00 hrs in front of El Dorado Trading, a gold dealing company.

Security videos showed a Toyota 212, later determined to be a vehicle in which Stoll was seated, pulled into the driveway of El Dorado.

Another car which was following closely behind had pulled up and two masked men ran out. They converged on Stoll's car; one to the passenger side where the businessman was seated and the other to the driver's side.

The driver was seen getting out the car and wrestling with one of the masked men. On the other side, Stoll and the other bandit started to shoot at each other. The gunman was seen falling twice while retreating to the getaway car.

Both he and the other

Dead Delon 'Mow' Stoll. bandit abandoned their attempts. The video later showed the wounded Stoll clutching his side. Police later impounded the alleged getaway car at Peter's Hall, East Bank Demerara.

The alleged getaway driver, Steve Rollox, was reportedly arrested while gambling at the Princess Casino at Providence, East Bank Demerara. The police had issued wanted bulletins for Lennox Estwick, 23, from Linden and Morgan.

Morgan was captured at a roadblock at Cove and John, East Coast of Demerara. He was believed to have been making a dash for neighbouring Suriname.

Wayne St Hill

Shane 'Demon' Morgan

Steve Rollox

Sunday October 24, 2021

g ts in s... e e er tur t In rea C

Kaieteur News

Chestnut-capped

PUFFBIRD

T

he chestnutcapped puffbird ( B u c c o macrodactylus) is a species of bird in the family Bucconidae, the puffbirds.

Description It is a small, roundish dark brown bird with a short narrow tail and a dull whitish breast. It is a bright multicoloured bird, named for its cap, which is a deep chestnut. A medium orange, narrow collar on the upper back borders the chestnut cap and ends at the side of the neck in a spot.

A second collar, similar to that of the collared puffbird, is on the upper breast, wider on the sides, narrow under the throat, and deep black. The black collar is parallel to a second deep black stripe, an eye-stripe across the lower eye from the side to the bill.

The deep chestnut cap and two black stripes enclose two parallel bright white stripes. The bill is stout, short and medium black,

with a decurved tip. The bird has black eyes, black legs, and also short light-buff whiskered-feathers surrounding the base of its bill (moustachial). These bright head colours contrast with a duller coloured body and breast.

Distribution and habitat It is found in northwestern South America in the western Amazon Basin of Brazil, in Amazonian Ve n e z u e l a , C o l o m b i a , Ecuador, Peru, northern Bolivia, and in the eastern Orinoco River Basin of Venezuela. Its natural habitats are subtropical and tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical swamps.

Range: western Amazon Basin The chestnut-capped puffbird is found in the western Amazon Basin, and in the north in Venezuela, the upper and eastern reaches of the Orinoco River Basin and eastwards into Brazil’s

Roraima state, in the west. It is not found east of Roraima’s south-flowing Branco River.

On the Amazon River its range starts upstream of the Madeira River confluence, but the entire Madeira is its eastern limit in the Basin’s southwest quadrant, extending upstream into its tributaries in northern Bolivia. Likewise it is at the confluence of the Amazon River and the Rio Negro, but

its range skips 400 kilometres (250 mi) to above the Branco River–Rio Negro confluence.

This contiguous range in the northeast goes northwards into southerncentral Venezuela bordering Roraima state in Brazil, then southwards through Amazonian southeast Colombia, eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, and extreme northern Bolivia.

(Source: Wikipedia)

PAGE 47

PAGE 48

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 24, 2021

Sunday October 24, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 49

Kaieteur News

PAGE 50

Sunday October 24, 2021

Coordinating efforts to help young people lead meaningful lives into adulthood…

Adolescent Health and Wellness advocate,

Cilandell Glen is a ‘Special Person’

Adolescent Health Coordinator, Cilandell Glen

Ms. Glen during a mental health awareness session for Desert Flower at her Church.

By Rehanna Ramsay

A

dolescent health and wellness is an indispensable area of focus within the health sector. This region of healthcare places emphasis on the distinct set of health and wellness issues that adolescents face with a view of helping them navigate these challenges to ultimately lead healthy lives as adults.

It is no secret that young people between the age of 10 to 19 years old experience rapid physical, cognitive, and psychosocial growth that affects how they feel, think, make decisions, and interact with the world around them.

During this phase, adolescents need to establish patterns of behaviour – for instance, related to diet, physical activity, substance use, and sexual activity – that can protect their health or put their health at risk now and in the future.

To grow and develop in good health, adolescents need

information, including ageappropriate comprehensive sexuality education, opportunities to develop life skills, health services that are acceptable, equitable, appropriate, safe, and effective. And this is where healthcare professionals like this week's 'Special Person' come in.

Cilandell Glen is the Coordinator of the Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health at the Ministry of Health's Adolescent Health Unit. She told Kaieteur News that the platform allows her to travel across the country interacting with young people, offering them the tools they need to overcome the challenges they face.

Ms. Glen, a member of the Rotary Club of Georgetown Central and a graduate of the United Kingdom's University of Northampton is quite passionate about her field of work. Over the years, she has worked with various government and international agencies including the United Nations Children's Fund

Seated at centre: Ms. Glen during the launch of the Adolescent Health Unit’s Agro- Initiative for International Youth Day.

University of Northampton postgraduates Cilandell Glen of Guyana and Nothando Mtungwa of Zimbabwe, Vice Chancellor, Professor Nick Petford, during their Chevening Scholarship programme.

(UNICEF) – Guyana, Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and Peace Corp – Guyana to implement programmes to address various social and health needs of adolescents and young adult's countrywide.

Outside of her portfolio, this week's 'Special Person' is also the founder of the Desert Flower Guyana, a grass-root NonGovernmental Organisation (NGO) that seeks to improve the mental health and wellbeing of children and adolescents, create awareness and reduce the stigma of mental health and mental healthrelated illnesses in youth.

Glen said that the organisation

is a realisation of a dream that she had “for quite some time now.”

The ambitious 33-year-old, who started her education attending the La Venture Nursery School in Bagotville, West Bank Demerara, and concluded her secondary education at the Academy of Precious Ones (a private school), attended the University of Guyana and is a 2018 awardee of the prestigious UK-based Chevening scholarship.

Glen said that her work to develop Desert Flower Guyana began after she completed her studies at the University of Guyana and her Master's Degree in Child and Adolescent Mental Health at the University of Northampton in the United Kingdom.

The organisation was officially

launched in August of 2020.

She is hoping that her work with Desert Flower Guyana will help children, young people, and families struggling with issues associated with mental health.

Besides her training and experience in this regard, Glen who describes herself “as a student of life,” also holds a Diploma in Public Management, a Diploma in Social Work and a Degree in Social Work.

She is currently pursuing a Master's in Social Work at the University of Guyana.

Glen says that her studies are towards being able to effectively provide a plethora of services and opportunities for improved psychosocial development of young people in Guyana.

She told Kaieteur News, “My passion for creating change, I know that I might not be able to change the world, but knowing that I can impact one individual brings me great joy. I believe that by impacting one individual, we can have a ripple effect that will, in turn, create the change we all want to see. One of my greatest desires is to leave the world a better place than I found it…”

WORKING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE In her current post at the Ministry of Health, Ms. Glen leads a team of professionals as they Continued on page 57

At left: Ms. Glen poses with some members of her Rotaract Family

Sunday October 24, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 51

Our Frontline Worker of this Week is…

Oncologist, Latoya Gooding

By Sharmain Grainger

With her lovely family

Although COVID-19 has been taking centrestage in health sectors across the globe, it certainly hasn’t taken attention away from the myriad other health issues that healthcare professionals are faced with on a daily basis.

Among these is cancer, a dreaded chronic disease, which continues to wreak havoc in far too many lives.

Moreover, even in dealing with conditions such as cancer, healthcare professionals are well aware that they must guard against COVID-19 as well.

Dr. Latoya Gooding, an Oncologist at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, understands this all too well, as she has been in the forefront treating cancer patients while simultaneously taking the necessary precautions to help safeguard them from COVID-19. “My role is to ensure that all patients

“The greatest lesson learnt from dealing with the pandemic is that life is short, one day you are here and the next you’re gone.”

With some of her colleagues

She is the Founder of the Giving Hope Foundation

accessing care and treatment at the Oncology Department follow all COVID-19 guidelines, hence ensuring the safety of both patients and staff,” she related recently.

But despite their continued valiant efforts, adapting to this COVID-19 epoch has certainly not been the easiest of task for those within the health care system. In fact, according to Dr. Gooding, “the greatest lesson learnt from dealing with the pandemic is that life is short, one day you are here and the next, you’re gone.”

Added to this, she revealed that, “it has highlighted our human lacking in simple hygiene practices, such as washing our hands regularly or after contact, sanitising hands and surfaces frequently, etc.”

GPHC Oncologist, Dr. Latoya Gooding But she is certainly not deterred by the daunting impact of COVID-19 which has thus far claimed the lives of more than 890 individuals in our homeland. She revealed that remaining dedicated to the profession in the midst of COVID-19 is mainly due to “my love and passion for what I do…also, despite COVID, patients are still being diagnosed with

cancer and require treatment.”

A CAREER IN MEDICINE Born on November 17, 1988 to Mr. Franklyn Gooding, a gold miner, and his wife, Mrs. Audrey McKenzie-Gooding (now deceased), a former teacher, Dr. Gooding is the fourth of seven children. Although Continued on page 56

Kaieteur News

PAGE 52

Sunday October 24, 2021

Renewable energy is cheaper than previously thought, new report reveals - could be a gamechanger in the climate change battle · Renewable energy prices have fallen far more quickly than the industry anticipated, says a new report. · And they are fast becoming cheaper than fossil fuels. · A rapid transition to emissions-free ‘green’ energy could save many trillions of dollars in energy costs - and help combat climate change.

Wind turbines, which act as a renewable source of energy, used to produce electricity. Image: Thomas Richter/Unsplash

(weforum.org) - The global energy sector has an impressive record of scaling-up renewables like wind and solar – but it is not so good at predicting future price changes of the clean energy these renewables produce, according to a new report.

Researchers at the University of Oxford’s Institute of New Economic Thinking suggest early pricing prediction models have consistently underestimated both how low the costs of renewable energy sources might fall, and the benefits of an accelerated switch to clean

energy.

Solar power is a good example of renewable energy. Price forecasts in the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) World Energy Outlook reports consistently underestimate the real-world fall in solar energy prices.

Early renewable energy price forecasts failed to account for the substantial infrastructure cost improvements of technologies like solar photovoltaic installations and wind turbines, the report notes. Annual solar energy prices were forecast to fall 2.6% on average in the

decade following 2010, for example, with all forecasts predicting a less than 6% price reduction.

But solar prices fell 15% – more than five times the predicted annual rate – during this period, which could have serious implications for investment and policy decisions based on these misleading predictions.

FORECASTING A RENEWABLE FUTURE The study analyzed past and present data from industry bodies like the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the IEA, together with

Costs and projection of costs of renewable energy from 1980-2040.

current technological developments in renewables, to predict the future price trends of more than 50 clean energy technologies.

The findings show that compared to continuing with today’s carbon-intensive, fossil-fuel-based systems, a rapid transition to emissions-free ‘green’

energy could produce overall net savings of many trillions of dollars. And that’s without considering the impact of climate damage or the positive cobenefits of climate policy.

Technological innovation has continued to help bring down the cost of some renewables; a fact which earlier price prediction models overlooked, according to Matthew Ives, a senior researcher at the Oxford Martin Post-Carbon Transition Programme, and co-author of the report.

“They’ve been getting these forecasts wrong for quite some time,” he told Ars Technica. “You can see we’ve consistently broken through those forecasts again and again.”

THE COST OF SUSTAINABILITY Solar energy was first used to supply electricity to satellites in space. Since coming down to Earth, design and manufacturing innovation, supply chain advances and mass adoption of sustainable energy have seen the costs of this and many other renewable technologies tumble.

The energy transition has increased both demand and application of sustainable energy sources like solar, offshore and onshore wind.

Scaled up, these

Image: INET

technologies can create a cycle where greater deployment leads to even lower prices, prompting increased demand.

Innovations that reduce the price of manufacturing solar panels and wind turbines also reduce the cost of the electricity they produce when these technologies operate at scale – but this hasn’t happened to the same extent with fossil fuels like coal.

In 2010, the price of one megawatt hour (MWh) – a weighted average cost of electricity – of s olar electricity was $378, which fell to $68/MWh in 2019 – a more than five-fold decrease in the cost of solar energy.

Offshore and onshore wind also saw dramatic price reductions.

Despite being the world’s largest source of electricity, over the same period, the global price of power from new coal fell from $111 to just $109.

While the price of solar fell 89% and wind power fell 70%, the cost of electricity from coal saw a comparatively slight 2% reduction.

So will the price of renewable energy continue to fall?

While nobody can accurately predict the future, the cost of many renewable Continued on page 56

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 24, 2021

PAGE 53

GWI institutes legal proceedings against contractor for failing to change aged transmission lines T h e G u y a n a Wa t e r Incorporated Inc. (GWI) has instituted legal proceedings against LGS Barns General Building Construction and Civil Engineering for failing to execute a multi-million dollars contract for replacing aged transmission lines in the Bel Air Park area.

According to the Department of Public Information, this was revealed by Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, during the commissioning of Republic Street, Bel Air on Friday.

Minister Croal said that the company was contracted in November 2017 to replace 2,000 metres of GWI's transmission lines in Bel Air Park at a cost of $108 million. The sum of the fourmonth contract was subsequently revised to $123 million.

However, three years later in 2020, the company failed to complete the work but was paid handsomely in eight tranches. Minister Croal confirmed that the contractor received $ 11 4 , 1 2 8 , 7 2 7 , w h i c h represents 93 percent of the total contract sum.

However, the company only laid 225 metres of new transmission lines, completing a mere 11.25 percent of the work by June 2020. The value of the 11.25 per cent of works is pegged at $39,406,000. Some

hiring a private contractor.

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, noted that despite there was gross mismanagement, negligence and corruption in the initial contract to replace the GWI

Minister of Housing and Water, Colin Croal.

$87,921,215 has been overpaid to the company by the GWI. As such, GWI is seeking to reclaim the cash.

“So, GWI has therefore instituted legal proceedings to recover the overpayment of the $87 million and for the contractor to also hand over the additional materials that were procured. That is now engaging the court,” Minister Croal explained, adding that the government has to take action now to recover the monies paid for incomplete works.

Kaieteur News understands that to begin the replacement of the transmission lines, LGS Barns had to excavate parts of Republic Street.

In December 2020, GWI handed out a $91 million contract for the transmission lines to be replaced. The eight-month contract that

ended in August saw only 710 metres of 22 inches HDP transmission lines being earthed.

Even so, after entering office, the PPP/C Government did not wait to recover the monies from the company. However as persons were suffering from the deplorable road, the water company also took part in beginning the process of repairing the street.

“Another contract had to be awarded and that was done to the sum of $28,628,000 for the road works to bring it up to a level…” the Minister added.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Works, through the s p e c i a l Wo r k s G r o u p , completed Republic Street and repaired several other streets in the area at a cost of $19.5 million, 30 percent cheaper than the cost of

RDC worker accused of raping girl, 14 A worker attached to Region Nine Regional Democratic Council (RDC) has come under the radar for the alleged rape of a 14-year-old girl.

Region Nine police investigators told Kaieteur News that the incident took place last week. The worker has been released on bail as they continue to investigate the allegation.

It is being alleged that the individual had seen the teen walking along a road and had offered her a drop.

She had reportedly agreed. The

suspect allegedly stopped on the way at a deserted area and requested to have sexual intercourse with the teen.

The teen reportedly refused and the man allegedly forced himself on her in some nearby bushes.

The teen was reportedly rescued by someone who had followed her screams but by the time that person arrived the man had reportedly run away.

Kaieteur News understands that the victim had given police some details and the worker was subsequently arrested.

37 house lots allocated to low-income...

From page 8 another 300 house lots for residents.

“There are over 3,500 outstanding applications in our backlog, so we have to work assiduously to make house lots available for this region,” the Minister said,

citing an ongoing land acquisition process in Region Five.

Also present at the allocation exercise was Member of Parliament and Regional Representative, M r. F a i z a l J a ff e r a l l y, Regional Chairman, Mr.

Vi c k c h a n d R a m p h a l , Regional Housing Officer, Mr. Krisendat Balkaran, Director of Community Development at the Central Housing and Planning Authority, Mr. Gladwin Charles and other officials.

transmission lines, his government must bring relief to suffering Guyanese.

“In every NDC, in every township, in every region, we are improving the lives of people, we are improving the

roads,” he said.

During the engagement, the Minister also urged businessmen with heavyduty machinery to desist from driving on neighbourhood roads.

Sunday October 24, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 54

“Let not your destiny and your promise be stolen from you by any small or great thing” - UG's VC tells students at ceremonial opening

T

he University of Guyana (UG) on Friday, October 22, 2021, extended a warm welcome to over 9,000 new and continuing students who are scheduled to commence classes tomorrow, Monday, October 25, 2021, with various speakers urging them to work diligently and remain focussed as they continue in their quest to achieve academic success.

According to information r e l e a s e b y U G , approximately 65 percent of the university's classes will remain online for the first semester from October 2021 to January 2022 due to prevailing COVID-19 conditions as well as major building works arising from recent extreme weather conditions. The remaining 35 percent, mostly consisting of laboratory and field

exercises, are expected to be blended and face-to-face delivered at the various campuses for specific courses or parts of courses only in the first semester.

Students will be notified directly of the schedule as well as safety measures, which they are expected to comply with if any of their courses are to be held face-toface. Schedules will also be posted on Faculty websites.

During the University's Commencement Ceremony which was held virtually, Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Prof. Edward Greene, expounded that despite the unique circumstances, UG is thrilled to be welcoming the students and expressed confidence that the university's management team, led by Prof. Paloma Mohamed Martin, will do all that is necessary to ensure students are successful.

According to Prof.

Greene, during these unprecedented times where learning is blended, that is; face-to-face and online, UG has not diminished in its commitment to educating its future entrepreneurs, scientists, historians, engineers, doctors, teachers, writers, poets, artists, and leaders and citizens as a whole.

"We look forward to the day when full on-campus and classroom interactions can be restored. This is important because paramount to academic achievement and excellence is experiencing and contributing to the d i v e r s i t y, e q u i t y, a n d inclusion of your academic community,” Prof. Greene expressed.

“I am also pleased that the Vice-Chancellor and her staff aspire to foster an environment where we learn from each other; where we encourage one another; where we foster a community free of intolerance and discrimination; and where we promote a climate in which ideas and ideologies compete as we push frontiers of knowledge and learning in an environment that is respectful, civil, supportive, and safe,” Prof. Greene added.

In delivering the keynote address, Vice-Chancellor XI, Prof. Paloma Mohamed

University of Guyana Chancellor, Prof. Edward Greene Martin, told the students that this is a continuation and/or beginning of one of the most significant journeys of their adult life. “It is life-changing because a university education distinguishes you in several ways and gives you a better outcome for earning and mobility,” the VC said.

“It has long been proven that a university education is one of the best indicators of future economic and social mobility not only for the graduate but also for their families and the communities in which they find themselves. It is therefore a highly competitive process and further intended to test and elicit your true mettle, talents, and abilities. It is undoubtedly your privilege to be amongst the top 10 percent of this year's graduates from feeder institutions across Guyana who have made it into university. Therefore, take full advantage of this singular o p p o r t u n i t y, ” P r o f .

Mohamed Martin encouraged.

Further, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Mohamed Martin took the opportunity to remind the students that they are a part of a proud and powerful community of around 10,000 present students and 1,000 staff of the University.

“This means you have special access to a

Vice-Chancellor XI, Prof. Paloma Mohamed Martin

community with more than 40,000 alumni all over this planet. Despite the ongoing disruption of COVID and its effects, you are entering the University at a very exciting time. You are continuing at a time when UG is now 58 years and is fast approaching its 60th year in 2023,” the VC added.

Prof. Mohamed Martin noted that UG is currently in the early stages of rolling out its Blueprint 2040. She explained that UG's Blueprint 2040 has four important aspirational goals and they are all centered around students who are the bearers, leaders, and architects of the future.”

UG Registrar, Dr. Nigel Gravesande, also shared words of encouragement with the students. "The moment you are enrolled, the University of Guyana regards you as a young adult as 80 percent of you are under the age of 23, we hope that you will learn to be independent and take responsibility for your decisions and may you tap into your interest to grow with UG's community and environment."

University of Guyana Students' Society (UGSS) representative, Mr. Delroy Marks, urged the students to “take this new journey one (Continued on page 55)

Drumming Medley performed by (L – R) Mr. Al Creighton and Mr. Aditya Persaud

Sunday October 24, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 55

World Polio Day 2021… Eradication remains on the

horizon despite setback posed by COVID-19 F or more than 35 years, Rotary has been working with its partners and communities in countries across the globe to eradicate polio. Also known as poliomyelitis, polio is a disabling and lifethreatening disease caused by the poliovirus.

The virus spreads from person to person and can infect a person's spinal cord, causing paralysis (inability to move parts of the body).

Although the goal of ridding the world of polio is closer than ever, with a sparse prevalence of the disease in just a few c o u n t r i e s t o d a y, t h e prevailing COVID-19 pandemic, in some ways, has threatened the efforts to fight the polio disease.

COVID-19 has affected the delivery of the polio vaccination to many of our world's children in affected

areas.

As of 2020, wild poliovirus type 1 continues to affect only two countries: Pakistan and Afghanistan.

vaccination of affected individuals and communities must continue to prevent a resurgence of the disease.

Meanwhile, it is

Despite the challenges, Rotary and its partners can in no way relax their efforts at this time. As we join in celebrating World Polio Day t o d a y, O c t o b e r 2 4 ,

important to underscore the efforts of Rotary; Rotarians have over the years raised and donated millions of dollars towards polio eradication.

“Let not your destiny and your promise...

From page 54’ step at a time and you will see the true version of yourself after you would have finished UG.” “You are on a journey to greatness and you are on a journey to change our country for the better and UGSS is here to support you on that journey,” he added.

Announcements were

delivered by the Deputy Registrar of the UG, Dr. Theodosius Velloza. There were cultural renditions performed by Mr. Hanani Lewi, Ms. Moudy Zhu, Mr. Al Creighton, Mr. Aditya Persaud, and Mr. Keon Heywood.

The ceremonial opening was eloquently chaired by the Assistant Registrar-

Students' Welfare, Ms. Daniella King.The full ceremonial opening proceedings can be viewed by clicking the link here: https://zoom.us/rec/share/a 1SKBL1SpYE9miERGPe Y P t q _ 6 2 Z N tx6OhIeTDkPJo_G2MiQQ T x M M 5 nHO2PK35a.ufgp7EoaGvB MLyEY

Collectively, they have dedicated billions of hours towards fighting the disease and more.

Since the establishment of the Polio Plus Programme in 1985, Rotary has been doing more for communities.

The Plus component of the eradication efforts, since then, has created access to clean water, additional medical treatment, bed nets and other items.

Rotary continues to

realise these opportunities in communities across the globe including those here in Guyana where local clubs, like the Rotary Club of Georgetown Central, are making an impact.

Today, as the world takes the fight to COVID-19, countries can draw from the k n o w l e d g e a n d infrastructure built up over the years in the fight to eradicate polio. Certainly, this can play an invaluable

role in addressing the pandemic and helping to provide good healthcare for all of the world's people.

The Rotary Club of Georgetown Central joins other Rotary Clubs locally and across the globe to commemorate World Polio Day on October 24.

May the selfless service of Rotary and its partners continue with the fight to totally eradicate Polio from our world.

PAGE 56

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 24, 2021

Oncologist, Latoya Gooding FOR RENT Three bedrooms, two toilets & baths. Water included, $75,000 monthly. Available Nov 1st 2021.Tel: 667-4570.

VEHICLES FOR SALE Allion, Primo, Spacio, Blue Bird, Field Wagon, 212, Carina, RZ, Pit Bull and Canter.

Tel#650-7501.

Toyota, Allion, excellent condition - like new. PMM series.Contact: 624-5650 Toyota Ax10 - like new.

PYY261. Contact: 624-5650

Furnished house to rent, Republic Park Phase-1. Contact: 610-0910.

Vreed-En-Hoop junction, place to rent for Office, Bond, Hair Salon other.

Call: 603-6400.

21 Leonora Housing Scheme W.B.D. Apply in person, 8am-5pm. Call Ramroop: 6753982.

SERVICES Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisements, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040

FOR SALE Used household furniture & wares. Good condition. Tel: 669-6623.

Transported house lots for sale.Gated community,4Mil per lot.Call:671-9015/6221957.

WANTED

Charlotte street, Louisa Row, Better Hope, Enterprise, Diamond. Contact: Ray's Realty 627-9685

FOR RENT 2 & 3 bedroom house in Vreed-en-Hoop. Apartment furnished in Providence & Diamond. Call: 604-6664/ 216-2299 3 bedroom, recently reconditioned. Excellent condition. Enmore/Haslington Access Road. Call: 667-3799 Shop for rent opposite StewartvilleSecondary School.Contact: 649-2179.

1 Graphic Designer (IC) & 1 IT Network Engineer.To apply, visit facebook.com/ bbwisp.internet.guyana or call: 647-7875.

Skilled Carpenter, Mason and Labourers to work long term in Georgetown and Linden. Contact: 602-9469, 6575800, 666-2887.

Cook/baker, Kitchen Assistant, Servicemen & pitmen for interior location. Applicants must be experienced.

Call: 618-2020 or 231-2250.

Upholster to work on chairs, car and bus seats Contact: 680-1967

One general domestic.Must be able to prepare vegetarian meal. Apply at Alabama Trading,65 Robb Street Bourda.

One male able bodied clerk and one female sales representative. Call:225-2313 / 226-1497 One cook and one kitchen assistant for interior locations. Call: 698-6200 1 full time Industrial mechanic to manage workshop at JFWW Network Outlet.

Call:622-1957, 671-9015, 2336997.

PROPERTY FOR SALE

From page 51 becoming a doctor for her was a childhood dream turned reality, Dr. Gooding revealed VACANCY that her decision to specialise Porters,TM log Truck in oncology was “due to my drivers,Chainsaw & Mill grandfather’s diagnosis of operator.Call:609-7675/674- prostate cancer.” The work of an Oncologist, she ex1705. plained, is very important Maid to cook and clean for since “we screen, diagnose East Bank area.Call:615-9132. and treat cancer.”

To achieve this goal, she Driver must be able to assist completed her undergraduate in workshop at Eccles,age studies in Cuba and then her 25-50, Car/ Van licence. Call postgraduate studies in Bra642-9823. zil. But years before all that, Auto Electrical apprentice she attained her primary eduage 19-25 yrs. Apply in per- cation at the St. John The son, Lot 120 Forth Street Baptist Primary School in Albertown G/Town or call Bartica after which she attended the Central High 610-0340.

School in the capital city.

Exist for cashiers & superBut as a practising Onmarket helpers at Nirva Su- cologist, Dr. Gooding, like her per Store. 49 Sheriff & Craig colleagues in the healthcare Street. Must be vaccinated. system, never anticipated having to deal with a dreadful Exist for Security Officers, health challenge such as Male & Female. 18yrs & COVID-19. Among those above. Contact: 223-4172/ close to her that she has seen 632-0099. inflicted are her uncle, Cyril

Night watchman, age 50-60.

Work 5pm-5am. Liliendaal Area. Contact:623-4242, between 9am-4pm.

Experienced cashier needed.

Apply with application at American Variety Store, 140 Regent & Light Street.

Senior accounts clerk,Sales clerk & Cashier.Apply at Alabama Trading, 65 Robb Street Bourda.

Trained grade 1 & 2 teachers needed. Payment will commence with experience and will be in 6 digit.

Persons to assemble bicycle.

Apply at Alabama Trading, 65 Robb Street Bourda.

One female cleaner. Apply at Alabama Trading, 65 Robb Street Bourda.

Experienced & Qualified Manager/Supervisor for Food Retailer. Send CV to Alabama Trading, 65-67 Robb St. Bourda.

One cook needed to work in interior. Contact: 680-2032.

TO LET

1 handyman to work 2-3 days per week. Good Salary. Must be vaccinated. Tel: 226-2322.

LAND FOR SALE Middle Road La Penitence, Eccles, La-Grange, Cornelia Ida, Soesdyke Linden Highway. Contact Ray's Realty: 627-9685.

children.

Aside from catering to the needs of her patients during this time of COVID-19, Dr. Gooding, who shares three sons – Tyron, Kyron and Nyron – with her husband Myron Stephens, also engages in voluntary work, which sees her screening individuals for cancer.

Her screening activities are done through her very own non-governmental organisation – The Giving Hope Foundation – which she founded in 2016.

But when she is not busy offering her expertise, Dr. Gooding indulges in her favourite pastimes which include travelling and meeting new people.

But these days, Dr. Gooding is on high alert that because the threat of COVID19 lingers, she must never take a break from ensuring that she and her family are safeguarded at all times – a practice she wishes people everywhere would adhere to.

Fossil fuel production will double to endangering...

From page 13 include: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Norway, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The country profiles show that most of these governments continue to provide significant policy support for fossil fuel production.

Furthermore, the report is produced by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), Overseas Development Institute (ODI), E3G, and UNEP. More than 40 researchers contributed to the analysis and review, spanning numerous universities, think tanks and other research organisations.

Below are some of the key findings of the report: · Governments’ production plans and projections would lead to about 240 percent more coal, 57 percent more oil, and 71 percent more gas in 2030 than would be consistent with limiting global warming to 1.5°C.

One or two bedroom Apt or flat, around Albertown, Queenstown or Bourda.

Tel: 669-6623.

1 experienced domestic, to work in Georgetown, 2-3 days per week. Good Salary.

Must be vaccinated. Call: 682-3300.

Grant, and a few of her patients. Indeed, she is determined, as far as possible, to not fall prey too. As such she revealed, “I wear my mask, wash and or sanitise my hands after contact with persons or surfaces, avoid touching my mouth, nose or eyes while being on the road or in public, and I also avoid social gatherings and the most important one is taking my vaccines.”

VACCINES PROTECT Stressing the importance of being vaccinated against COVID-19, Dr. Gooding, who is the fully vaccinated, noted that, “the vaccine protects you from having the most severe forms of the virus, and gives your body a chance to prepare a response in the event that you come into contact with the virus.” Among the vaccines that the Ministry of Health has offered to date are AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, Sputnik V, Johnson and Johnson and Pfizer – the latter offered to

Enmore mall commercial space for medical facility. Call centre and any other type of business 609-7675/674-1705.

WANTED PENPAL Male seek female Pen Pal worldwide.Whatsapp 6986391.

· Global gas production is projected to increase the most between 2020 and 2040 based on governments’ plans. This continued, long-term global expansion in gas production is inconsistent with the Paris Agreement’s temperature limits. Countries have directed over USD 300 billion in new funds towards fossil fuel activities since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic — more than they have towards clean energy. · In contrast, international public finance for production of fossil fuels from G20 coun-

tries and major multilateral development banks (MDBs) has significantly decreased in recent years; one-third of MDBs and G20 development finance institutions (DFIs) by asset size have adopted policies that exclude fossil fuel production activities from future finance. · Verifiable and comparable information on fossil fuel production and support — from both governments and companies — is essential to addressing the production gap.

Renewable energy is...

From page 52 technologies continues to fall year on year. And while the fall-rate may slow down in the coming years, renewable energy is fast-becoming cheaper than fossil fuels, a recent IRENA report states.

Which is good news for the economy and good news for global efforts to reach net zero emissions by 2050, as we strive to keep temperatures within the Paris Agreement’s

1.5! climate target.

“Today, renewables are the cheapest source of power,” said IRENA’s Director-General Francesco La Camera.

“Renewables present countries tied to coal with an economically attractive phase-out agenda that ensures they meet growing energy demand, while saving costs, adding jobs, boosting growth and meeting climate ambition.”

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 24, 2021

PAGE 57

...Cilandell Glen From page 50 develop strategies on how to adequately address some of the core challenges faced by adolescents.

The opportunity has afforded her a place to work with local and international stakeholders on the implementation of adolescentfriendly services, school health programmes throughout the country, in addition to working on the development of the sexual and reproductive health policy for Guyana, working on the situation analysis of adolescent health in Guyana as well as the situation analysis of adolescent pregnancy in Guyana.

She noted that, “one of the highlights of my career is having the opportunity to lead an amazing core of staff, health care workers, and peer educators attached to the Adolescent Health Unit – Ministry of Health.”

Through her work at the Ministry of Public Health, Glen has

Ms. Glen facilitates an art therapy session for youth in Linden.

and impact the lives of our adolescents and young adults countrywide.

She continued, “What I love most about my work is the opportunity that I'm given to impact the lives of adolescents and

An adventurer: Ms. Glen climbs a waterfall in Lethem, Region Nine.

facilitated various sessions on sexual and reproductive health, family planning, and teenage pregnancy reduction, as well as mental health, substance misuse at the local health facilities, schools and community groups.

She utilises her skills as a social worker to provide counselling and support on family planning, mental health issues, substance misuse to adolescents and young adults at the local health facilities and schools.

Glen explained, “Together the team and I were able to implement programmes to address the health and socials needs of adolescents

young adults countrywide. It was always my desire to contribute to the development of adolescents, young adults, my community, and country, I must say that I'm elated and honoured to be given the opportunity to work in a field where I can not only impact the lives of individuals but make a significant contribution to my country...”

In this regard, she said that her core advice to any young individual would be to “find your purpose; find what you love, and just do it”.

SERVICE AND AWARDS Added to her career in adolescent healthcare, this young

woman is also passionate about community development.

She believes in the mantra, “Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth.” She noted that these are words to live by.

As an advocate, a trained peer educator with Adolescent Health Guyana, Glen has served other entities including Artistes in Direct Support. Further in the area of service, she is a past President, and Secretary, and Community Service Director of the Rotaract Club of Georgetown and is a current Rotarian of Rotary Club of Demerara.

She explained that “to contribute to the development of my community, my country, and the world, I volunteer with the Rotaract Club of Georgetown, Rotary Club of Georgetown Central, and For the Children Sake Foundation.”

During her years as a volunteer, she received Rotaract of the Year and Director of the Year Awards for two consecutive years, as well as For the Children Sake Foundation Aw a r d o f E x c e l l e n c e a n d Humanitarian Award.

Glen currently serves as the Secretary of the Chevening Alumni of Guyana. In Addition to this, she is currently a member of Anointed Ambassadors the youth arm of Fountain of Live Ministries, a member of Fountain of Life Ministries Dance Group, and a member of Royalty Dance Ministries.

She shared, “My greatest achievement and decision thus far is my baptism. My acceptance of Jesus Christ has made my life on this earth an exceptional journey.”

DESERT FLOWER Outside of this, she says that being able to create and start her non-profit has been another of her biggest blessings. The non-profit is an ode to the Founder/Director's personal experience of watching a close family member struggle with anxiety.

“After experiencing firsthand what this individual had to endure, it sparked a desire within me to become empowered with the knowledge, tools, and skills needed to create the change in the area of mental health in Guyana, more

specifically the area of children and adolescent mental health,” she explained.

She continued, “The Desert Flower stands so radiantly regardless of its environment and surroundings... The organisation pays tribute to that because regardless of the chaos happening around a person's life that person can still have some measure of stability and stand tall…”

For the year, since it started operating and in spite of the restriction caused by the COVID19 pandemic, the beaming Director is happy to report that Desert Flower – Guyana has completed mental health promotion activities on the social media platforms, art therapy sessions in Regions 4 and 10 in collaboration with PA H O / M i n i s t r y o f H e a l t h Adolescent Health Unit, and hosted

respectively were successful. The organisation will be collaborating with the entities to host a Mental Health and You exercise and Zumba edition on November 4, 2021 and would be supporting the Rotaract Club of Georgetown Central Rage Park event scheduled for October 31, 2021.

In terms of her personal life, Glen likes to strike a healthy balance between work and play.

She said, “I believe because I enjoy doing what I do, most importantly that is my passion and my purpose, so I'm able to coordinate, work well and balance my time.”

Nonetheless, the Adolescent Health Coordinator noted that there are times when she feels overloaded or overwhelmed. “I indulge in loads of self-care. I would take myself to the movies, or a fancy dinner or lunch date, spend

Ms Glen gets ready to take a plunge at sky diving.

a series of webinars.

She said that Mental Health and You - Yoga, Music and Meditate in observance of World Suicide Prevention Day and World Mental Health Prevention Day 2021, which were celebrated on September 10 and October 10,

time on the seawalls and my alltime favourite is travel. I'm very adventurous and love doing new things and seeing new places; I love spending time with myself and I do it as often as possible. These are the things that keep me grounded,” she said.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 58

Sunday October 24, 2021

>>>Young Entrepreneur on the Move<<<

Tantalise your taste buds with treats from Walker’s Pie

By Allyiah Allicock

H

ow often is it possible for you go to visit a single food outlet and order just about any pie you desire? My guess is not very often since there are not many places that offer many options to choose from.

But luckily that is about to change for us with the help of two talented individuals who saw that there is a need on the market and decided to give us the opportunity to order pies in abundance.

These talented

meal,” Ragnauth explained.

So, with their liking for cooking and baking, they decided to put their skills to good use and get into the pie business convinced that it is something persons may want to have a taste of.

Walker, he revealed, decided to test the waters during the Christmas season last year by baking an apple pie for her family. Indeed, they loved her baking and encouraged her to do even more.

As such, they started discussing their business ideas. It was one of Walker's

their parents and a growing customer-base.

When asked what sets their business apart from other such businesses, he highlighted their customer service. “We pride ourselves on how we interact with our customers and our willingness to go beyond when we have to.”

Another thing to note that set them apart is the amount of work they put into their products when it comes to taste and presentation.

“We aim for pies that don't just look good but you should also love it

rs “Young entrepreneu tal play a much more vi most role in society than people realise.” dine.

Adding to that, they hope to one day have their pies sold at both local and international supermarkets and shops.

Apart from sh aring the success the pie business has realised thus far, the young baker shared that th

The owners of Walker’s Pie Company, Tammy Walker and Xavier Ragnauth.

was a little overwhelming for them due to the number of orders they received on a daily basis. But not willing to back down from a challenge, they persevered.

But the pandemic, according to Ragnuath, has not been a deterren t

Some of the tasty pies that you can order. individuals, 26-year-old Tammy Walker and 27-yearold Xavier Ragnauth, are the founders and owners of a local pie business called 'Walker's Pie Company'.

“We wanted to bring something new to the market and Tammy was always curious about pies from seeing it in movies and always hearing about it…but she didn't know where she could possibly go to get it other than a fast food business where you could get an apple pie with your

cousin, Ragnauth said, who is the Head Chef and owner of The Avenue Café in New York, that guided them in making their business a reality.

With the guidance and motivation, this pie business was launched officially in June this year. Already with the little span of its existence, it has been winning the taste buds of m a n y. A c c o r d i n g t o Ragnauth, already they have been receiving tremendous support, especially from

s o much you'd want more of it again and again,” he pointed out.

According to Ragnauth too, their ultimate goal for the business is to one day own a physical location, a Café or bakery to be exact, where pie lovers can go to

e re were some challe nges faced along the w a y. S o m e o f t h e s e challenges, he revealed had to do with space and equipment.

“When we started our expectations weren't very high, we didn't think it would be really busy or need half the things we do today,” he said. As such, she related, it

t o th eir bus iness since i t they take orders b y calls or through technological means to ensure that there is minimal physical contact with customers. And when engaging with customers, he assures that all of the COVID-19 guidelines are followed.

Ragnauth is of the belief that “young entrepreneurs

play a much more vital role in society than most people realise.”

He said too that a lot of companies were built generations ago and are still managed by the founding families and this is so because “young entrepreneurs have the vision and creativity to take an established business to new and exciting heights.”

He advises young people to push for innovation, be creative and motivate change and development for a better Guyana. In order to boost small businesses and entrepreneurship locally, he noted that there is a need for the private and public sectors to work together on feasible and realistic project for emerging businesses.

With this being executed, he noted that, “maybe lowering the import and export taxes can motivate more people to become entrepreneurs, and in turn, Guyanese people can offer never before seen goods and services in Guyana rather than a foreign entity doing so.”

Persons who wish to savour the tasty pies of Walker's Pie Company can do so by calling telephone number (592) 612-7342 or via their Facebook and

Sunday October 24, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 59

PAGE 60

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 24, 2021

After robbery, bandit drowns while escaping from cops One of three bandits, who were reportedly trying to escape from police yesterday after committing a robbery at La Bonne Intention (LBI), East Coast of Demerara (ECD), has drowned.

The suspect's body was fished out of a canal which separates LBI from Chateau Margot around 10:45hrs.

He was identified by his mother as Shamar Charles, 22, of Plantain Walk, Triumph Village, ECD. Kaieteur News was able to confirm that the now dead bandit and his accomplices had plunged into the canal to

escape the cops. While his accomplices were able to get away, he went under and failed to resurface.

He is yet to be identified and his accomplices, who managed to evade the lawmen, are still being hunted the cops.

According to police, the bandits had reportedly invaded the LBI home of three women and robbed them of jewellery and cell phones at gunpoint.

The three men had entered their home through a door located on the bottom flat.

One of the women was at

the time sitting at the dining table when she saw the men entering. She told investigators that they assaulted her and demanded that she gave them cash.

The woman said that she took off her two gold rings and handed them over to the bandits before screaming loudly.

Her screams had alerted the other women who were in the upper flat of the house and they came downstairs to see what was wrong with her.

The bandits reportedly pounced on them too and relieved one of them of her gold chain. One of the

The bandit who drowned while escaping from police.

bandits also forced one of the women back upstairs at gunpoint where he demanded that she give him more valuable items.

Investigators reported that one of the victims managed to run out of the house and alert her neighbours.

After the alarm was raised, the bandits decided to escape. The victims noted that when the bandits exited, the neighbours gave chase and were able to call 911.

They said that it appeared as if a burgundy getaway car

was waiting on the bandits but the driver drove away leaving them with no other option but to continue running.

A patrol car had responded to the 911 call and had backed up the neighbour's in their chase.

The bandits decided to escape by swimming across the canal but Charles went under and failed to resurface.

Kaieteur News understands that instead of continuing to the chase the accomplices, the neighbour's decided to try and rescue

Charles.

They reportedly searched the canal and retrieved him but he was motionless.

He was rushed to the C.C. Nicholson Hospital where doctors there pronounced him dead on arrival.

Police have since recovered two gold rings from his pocket, $980 and a UG student card. The gold rings and the UG student card belonged to the women he and his accomplices had robbed.

Sunday October 24, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 61

PAGE 62

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 24, 2021

Mason Mount scored a hat-trick as Premier League leaders Chelsea thrashed bottom club Norwich at Stamford Bridge BBCsport - Thomas Tuchel’s side were 20 ahead inside 18 minutes as Mount and Callum Hudson-Odoi scored their first goals of the season, with Mount turning provider to set up Reece James for a third goal before half-time.

Fellow defender Ben Chilwell scored for the fourth successive game to extend Chelsea’s lead shortly after the restart, before Max Aarons’ own goal and Mount’s late double wrapped up the win.

Canaries defender Ben Gibson was sent off for two yellow cards to cap a miserable afternoon for the away side, who remain rooted to the bottom of the table and without a win this season.

With Lukaku and Werner ruled out with injuries suffered against Malmo in midweek, Tuchel played Kai Havertz as a false nine with Mount and Hudson-Odoi either side, and together they formed a mobile front three that regularly outmanoeuvred a labouring Norwich defence.

The Canaries’ lack of pressing afforded the Blues players far too much time on the ball

and they ruthlessly took advantage, with the London club unlikely to have a more comfortable afternoon this season.

Norwich’s failure to close Mount down gave the England midfielder time and space to score the opener from the edge of the box after just seven minutes, while Kovacic and Mount were able to set up Hudson-Odoi and James respectively to effectively end the game as a contest before the break.

Substitute Milot Rashica had an effort saved by goalkeeper Edouard Mendy as Norwich briefly threatened to get back into the game at the start of the second half, but the rest of match turned into a procession.

Their afternoon was summed up by the sight of manager Daniel Farke with his hands outstretched on the touchline in utter bemusement at his side’s defending after Chilwell scored Chelsea’s fourth.

Results from elsewhere: Crystal Palace 1 Newcastle 1, Everton 2 Watford 5, Leeds 1 Wolves 1, Southampton 2 Burnley 2, Brighton 1 Man City 4.

Sunday October 24, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Intense, vivid dreams spark your mental processes.

You could wake up wondering why you dreamed what you did and what it has to do with what's going on in your life.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Today you have a quick intellect and intensified persuasive powers. Acute mental powers are joined with personal power to bring about career and financial success.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) A phone call from a partner could have you suddenly playing the role of salesperson. You might have a project you want to pitch.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Your intellect and way with words have served you well in the past. Now all signs indicate that you'll progress more rapidly toward your goals.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Money and creativity are successfully joined today.

You might make money from a completed project, or you could receive some money to finance a project.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) If you've been considering writing or teaching, today is the day to get started. Your imagination is intense, you're inspired, and your way with words is sharper than usual.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Today you're likely to be especially sharp. Your intellectual powers are operating at a high level. Awealth of new ideas may come to you from all sides, without and within.

PAGE 63

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 24, 2021

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Contact with a lot of friends may take place today. Invitations to social events could come your way.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You may feel inspired to make certain changes in your home. Your imagination is especially acute, so it's easy to visualize how the rooms will look afterwards.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Today's intense celestial energy will help you make progress toward your goals.

Your mind will be quick and receptive and your writing and speaking abilities especially acute.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You may want to take a more judicious approach to your shopping sprees. Try spending the afternoon looking and trying on but not buying.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Your creative impulse should be high today. You might decide to try some writing. You may have a particular subject in mind to write about.

...NBA round-up: Spencer Dinwiddie From page 63 took less than two minutes and resulted in a Cleveland timeout. The Cavaliers committed two turnovers during that stretch.

The momentum continued with Charlotte posting the next nine points. The Cavaliers’ only points in the first 4:25 of the fourth quarter came on an Evan Mobley dunk, allowing the Hornets to build a 109-91 lead.

Collin Sexton’s 33 points led the Cavaliers, who were playing their home opener.

Ricky Rubio had 15 points and 10 assists, and Mobley and Lauri Markkanen each had 13 points.

In other results: New York Knicks 121-96 Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors 115-83 Boston Celtics, New Orleans Pelicans 112-128 Chicago Bulls, Oklahoma City Thunder 91124 Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets 114-109 Philadelphia 76ers, San Antonio Spurs 96102 Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns 115-105 Los Angeles Lakers, Utah Jazz 110-101 Sacramento Kings.

...Assuria Insurance From page 60 will take advantage of some of the insurance offerings such as Assuria’s Dream Realised Package in which first-time property owners who have received land or property through the Central Housing and Planning Authority will be given “50% discount on insurance on 1st year premium.”

The LGC noted that this partnership with Assuria is intended to be long lasting and mutually beneficial. The shared goal is to make golf and insurance accessible to all.

...CONCACAF Female U-17 From page 62 level of training and I’m hoping to do my best and I am confident that I have what it takes to make the final cut.”

Meanwhile, Venezuela born Sandra Johnson, who played up to the Under-15 level with Dymano FC in Magarita (Venezuela) also shared the sentiment of comfort and joy to be going through the journey with the 20-odd young women in the training should. The 16-yearold who was born to Guyanese parents says that she intends to put her best foot forward and make the best of the opportunity given since she intends to make a career out of the sport of football.

...Wiltshire, Alphonso and From page 61 had only been training by myself doing solo work.

Whenever I went up to the highway on weekends my grandfather (National Coach Carl Ince) would help me with my solo work programs and sharpening up my game. It was strange not going to training because it was such a big part of my life before.

I also completed a PanAm High Performance Coaching Certification over the last 9 months. It actually finished last Wednesday.”

Said Samuel.

“The area I would like to work on is starting my matches with more aggression and getting into a groove immediately instead of later in the match.

We definitely needed more preparation but the situation with the covid-19 pandemic put a lot of restrictions on us. We need a lot of ex-

posure, match practice and the time lost which would have made me better equipped for this tournament however, coach/ granddad has had us on an intense programme for the past few months and a lot of progress has been made.

He’s been able to bring us up to a pretty good standard. I may sound biased but he’s such a great coach and he sees what we need. I know he wishes he had longer with us though,” added Samuel.

“This is an Under-23 tournament and I am only 17, I have not set myself high goals. Instead I am confident that I will do my best and try to perform as best I can. I think the experience and exposure will be really good for us because it’s something we don’t always have an opportunity to do.”

Samuel said.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 64

England launch T20 World Cup campaign with rout of West Indies ESPNcricinfo - There was no thriller in the repeat of the 2016 T20 World Cup final, as West Indies played low-percentage cricket on a difficult pitch to be bowled out for 55, a target England had to work reasonably hard to overhaul, losing four wickets and taking 8.2 overs.

Between them, England spinners Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid bowled 6.2 overs for 19 runs and took six wickets.

That it wasn’t extremely easy for England while chasing will make West Indies question their approach - they lost nine of their 10 wickets looking to hit a four or a six, 59 of the 86 balls they faced were dots, and they made no attempt to rebuild after losing early wickets.

On flat pitches, there is nothing wrong with this approach, but will these pitches make West Indies play differently? Whether West Indies aimed too high and fell too short, or they didn’t trust themselves to bat at a run a ball for five or six overs without taking risks is something we will get to know if they are caught batting first on a difficult pitch again in this tournament.

Moeen with the new ball - In a highly tactical first few plays, England opened the bowling with Moeen.

They had two things working for them: West Indies had four left-hand batters in their top six, and Lendl Simmons had gotten out to offspin in the warm-up game.

Evin Lewis ruined a tidy first over by hitting the last ball for a six, but he fell to an exceptional catch by Moeen running back in the next over after he had miscued a welldisguised Chris Woakes slower ball.

I n t h e n e x t o v e r, Simmons repeated his dismissal to Mohammad Nabi as he found deep midwicket to perfection, off Moeen. Chris Gayle and Shimron Hetmyer tried to counterattack, which can’t be faulted much because maximising powerplays has been key to setting good scores on these pitches.

Hetmyer, though, found mid-on as he looked to hit a third boundary in Moeen’s third over.

Bowling for the first time in international cricket since May 2018, Tymal Mills then got rid of Gayle with a sharp short ball, making it 31 for at the end of the powerplay.

Wickets keep falling This is usually a time when many T20 sides start to look to rebuild but West Indies kept coming at England.

This could perhaps be a response to their not being able to score singles or because they felt singles were not going to get them to a fighting score.

Dwayne Bravo, promoted to break the lefthand batters in the middle without sacrificing Kieron Pollard and Andre Russell at the death, failed to keep a cut down a ball after he had hit an upper-cut for four.

Nicholas Pooran fell to a big

drive with an open face. The ball did just enough to take the edge. West Indies were 42 for 6 in the ninth.

Rashid runs through the rest - Rashid was introduced in the 11th over with Pollard and Russell in the middle. Finally, now, it seemed West Indies were eschewing big shots and taking whatever they could get by batting 20 overs.

Russell even provided a forward-defensive to Rashid, but he spun the wrong’un through the gap to make it 44 for 7.

In Rashid’s next over, Pollard was beaten in the flight as he looked for a six, and hit the wrong’un straight to long-on.

Obed McCoy tried to hit a six first ball and holed out.

Ravi Rampaul resisted for a while but was bowled trying to slog-sweep in Rashid’s next. Rashid’s figures at the end read: 2.2-0-2-4.

The chase - It wasn’t all that easy to bat even though England didn’t have a big target to chase. They had the net run-rate on their mind, which is why they kept sending in attacking batters, but nobody could bat at much higher than a run a ball.

When they tried to force the pace, they got out, losing four wickets before they got to the target in 8.2 overs. Jos Buttler played 22 balls for his 24 runs, but it was enough to take the team home.

England 56 for 4 (Buttler 24*) beat West Indies 55 (Rashid 4-2, Moeen 2-17) by six wickets.

Assuria Insurance Company contributes to Caddies at the Lusignan Golf Club Known for its many lines of Insurance packages, including life, Pension, Fire and General Insurance, Assuria is also becoming known for having a positive impact in communities. The Caddies at the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) received uniforms and will have constructed a new caddy lounge all compliments of Assuria.

In a statement, the LGC thanked Assuria for its generous donations to the caddies and by extension to the Lusignan Community, and for its commitment to providing essential services to people of all income levels. “We hope our caddies (Continued on page 59)

Yogindra Arjune, Assuria’s Managing Director (left), LGC President Patanjalie Persaud (c) and club Treasurer Maxim Mangra display the uniforms.

Sunday October 24, 2021

Josh Hazlewood claimed 2 for 19, as Australia tied South Africa down ICC via Getty

Hazlewood leads bowlers’ show as Australia clinch nail-biter in opening Super 12s fixture ESPNcricinfo - A wicket off the third ball of spin.

Their best player playing on in inexplicable fashion. A batter losing his footing and getting run-out. This really wasn’t South Africa’s day but they didn’t care.

They had a job to do.

Defending 118. Temba Bavuma’s men made the first match of the Super 12s in the 2021 T20 World Cup one for the ages. It is a shame they had to settle for second best.

Australia persevered and persevered. This was their game. With the benefit of a few players coming off a good IPL, they knew just what to do on a slow Abu Dhabi pitch.

Josh Hazlewood (4-119-2) and Glenn Maxwell (40-24-1) were particularly devilish to deal with, their tight lines and into-thewicket style completely tying the opposition down. It still came down to their batting, which has not been their strength lately.

But Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Wade came good when it mattered most, their 40-run stand in only 26 balls sealing a profoundly valuable victory. Especially given they are in the group of death.

Power on. Power off Bavuma smacked 11 runs off the first five balls of the game from Mitchell Starc.

His two shots - through point and cover - were a symbol of South Africa’s form heading into this T20 World Cup. They are here having beaten the current world champions and former world champions in back-to-back T20I series. They wouldn’t have wanted to crumble like this. But crumble they did, starting with Bavuma, who

played back to the innings’ third ball of spin and lost his stumps.

If there was a hint of bad luck about that dismissal tiiiiiiiny bit of low bounce there came one that was just a big black omen. The ball was basic. Length. No swing. No seam. No nothing.

Quinton de Kock wanted to boss it. He went for a scoop.

He mis-hit it.

And then everything stopped. The ball hung in the air. Right over the stumps.

Eventually it began moving.

In slow motion. de Kock’s eyes were horror-movie wide. He stood absolutely still. Watching the chaos. As that little white cherry plonked right on top of his stumps.

The slide - Aiden Markram and David Miller tried to pick up the pieces through the middle overs, but a double-wicket over from Adam Zampa put paid to that. The legspinner has always been key to Australia’s limited-overs fortunes in recent years, and he was able to break the partnership with a googly that the batter failed to read.

Miller saw a ball on his pads and went for the big sweep.

It turned the wrong way and pinned him in front. That little bit of magic, combined with excellent discipline from the fast bowlers, forced South Africa from 80 for 4 to 83 for 7 in the space of six balls.

The last wicket of that collapse was rather gruesome. Keshav Maharaj hit the ball to point and wanted a non-existent single.

Markram responded at first, but changed his mind and only just made his ground.

The throw though beat the fielder backing up and that prompted Maharaj to look for the single again, only Markram saw none of it because his back was turned.

By the time Maharaj cottoned on, he was halfway down the pitch and, in his hurry to get back, he slipped and fell and became a punch line.

The finish - No chase in the UAE is done until the last ball is bowled. All day, the batters found it hard to hit out on this slow pitch. South Africa used that to their benefit, toppling Aaron Finch, David Warner and Mitchell Marsh cheaply.

Steven Smith was guiding the chase beautifully, but he too fell before the job was done.

Maxwell followed him three balls later and suddenly Australia were 81 for 5, still needing 38 off the last five overs.

This was what South Africa were waiting for. Two new batters facing the heat in the death. Wade and Stoinis open the innings in the Big Bash League back home. But with the national team filled with top-order players, the only way they fit in the XI is as finishers.

And while this isn’t the first time they are performing that role for A u s t r a l i a , Wo r l d C u p pressure changes everything.

They weathered it at first, the partnership inching along on 9 off 9, and then it blossomed when Wade pulled off an audacious scoop off Kagiso Rabada to end the 17th over. Stoinis joined in later, hitting three fours in the final six balls to seal the game and end the fight.

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 24, 2021

Shomari Wiltshire

PAGE 65

Wiltshire, Puerto Rico complete sweep Alphonso and Lady Jags in friendly series Ince-Carvalhal set for PanAm Games - Confident of giving their best despite age gap

By Sean Devers The Guyana Junior Boys Squash team qualified for the Junior PanAm Games because of their win at CASA in 2019 since the Guyana Squash Association (GSA) were unable to participate in the qualifiers due to covid-19 Pandemic.

The Junior PanAm Games will be held in Colombia from November 25th December 5th 2021.

The GCA was extended an invitation due to being the best Boys team in the Caribbean and after a mini tournament at the Georgetown Club last weekend, Shomari Wiltshire, Samuel InceCarvalhal and Michael Alphonso were selected to represent Guyana in Columbia.

“Usually the youth tournament would be under19’s but it has been altered to under-23’s and so with such a young team going from Guyana we have realistic expectations that this will be a trip where our boys gain valuable exposure rather than looking for big wins,” explained GSA’s Secretary, Lorraine Ince. Wilshire is 18,

Ince-Carvalhal is 17 and Alphonso is 15.

“We are confident that our boys will go and give it their all and represent Guyana well, however, the competition will be of the highest international standards with much older, experienced players,” said Ince.

Michael Alphonso said that during the pandemic, he spent a lot less time on training and more time focused on studies with CXC right around the corner. “My biggest challenge has been finding the motivation to train during the pandemic due to all the risks involved and the protocols put in place while training.

I have to work really hard on my long distance fitness and my psychology in relation to the sport,” Alphonso disclosed. “I feel that for the time that I was given to prepare for this tournament, I have trained extremely hard to do my best and I have positive expectations for how I will be performing.

It feels great and I am very grateful to be getting back out there in the Samuel Ince-Carvalhal (right) and Michael Alphonso training

International world of Squash. I know I will be able to experience new things, meet new people and work hard for my Country,” Alphonso concluded.

S h o m a r i Wi l t s h i r e , Guyana’s best hope for a medal, said the standard of Caribbean junior squash is pretty good adding that he feels he is at a good level right now.

“I need many matches as I can and to experience playing squash in a different environment. Colombia is a country with altitude, and playing in tough conditions and adapting will be a great benefit to my game. Also, my goal is to make it to at least the quarters in the US Open” said the Caribbean Junior Champion when asked is needed for him to be successful.

The U.S. Junior Open Squash Championships is scheduled for December 1821, 2021. Shomari disclosed that he intends to play in College, but he is not interested in playing professional squash.

“My academics are fine right now and I am looking at Colleges to apply to while the pandemic has not affected me as I was doing school in person in the U.S and I have a squash court near me on campus.” posited Shomari.

“I am going there to try my best as it is a U23 tournament and I’m only 18.

Also, my finish in the U.S Open will be determined by what seed I am ranked and the draw I am put in.

For squash to improve locally, the players coming up need to train more and we should have more match play to spark competition.” stated Shomari. Samuel Ince-Carvalhal said the last tournament he played was in November 2019 before the pandemic shut everything down.

“During the pandemic I (Continued on page 59)

Lady Jags starting X1 vs Puerto Rico in yesterday’s 2nd of two friendly international matches.

G

uyana’s Senior N a t i o n a l W o m e n ’ s Football Team; the ‘Lady Jags’, had an improved performance against host Puerto Rico in their second of two friendly international matches last evening but they still couldn’t keep the Spanish-speaking women at bay, going down 1-2.

Nickolette Driesse continued her goal scoring form from the previous game on Wednesday night to open the scoring for Puerto Rico in the second minute of play but despite many raids in the Guyana’s half and final third, the Lady Jags kept their opponents at bay until a terrible back pass was pounced on by Audrey Narine who intercepted and rounded the keeper to slot

home in the 27th minute, leveling the score.

The contest was deadlocked at halftime despite the dominance of Puerto Rico which continued into the second half but better defending by the Guyanese and inadequate finishing by the Puerto Ricans had the game deadlocked up until the 85th minute where poor positioning by Guyana’s Goalie Natalie Nedd, caused her to miss a regulation save giving Sophia Muetterties a goal and Puerto Rico the lead with just five minutes to go.

Guyana didn’t have many chances in the match but on the stroke of halftime, Annalisa Vincent had a decent one on one opportunity with the keeper to give the Lady Jags the lead

but couldn’t connect with the ball after being played through.

The friendlies are part of the ‘Lady Jags’ one week encampment on the island as preparation for the Concacaf Women’s Qualifiers next year are intensified. The C o n c a c a f Wo m e n ’s Championship 2022 will also be qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup in Australia and New Zealand 2023, and for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Guyana’s starting XI Brianna Desa 5, Samantha Banfield 7, Serena Mc Donald 8, Gabriella Salvadore 11, Audrey Narine 9, Natalie Nedd 20, Ghilene Joseph 2, Annalisa Vincent 12, Shamya Daniels 6, Tiandi Smith 15, Hasha Holder 4.

Team Guyana picked for World Swimming C/Ships

F

ifteen-year-old Dorado Speed S w i m C l u b ’s Rekwon Noel, 15-year-old Olympian Orca Speed Swim Club’s Aleka Persaud, Dorado Swim Club’s 25year-old Fowler and 15year-old Dolphin Speed S w i m C l u b ’s P a t r i c e Mahaica were yesterday selected to represent Guyana at the 15th edition of the FINA World Swimming Championships in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Te a m G u y a n a w i l l compete in the 25 meters Short Course event and

match strokes with the best swimmers in the world in a six-day event which runs from December 16 – 22. The United Arab Emirates will play host to the showcase for the second time, after a successful edition in 2010 in Dubai. The quartet was selected after a time trial yesterday at the Aquatic Centre in Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, based on FINA points system which was open to past and current swimmers.

Being an Open event, all of the swimmers showed interest in competing including the likes of 2016

Olympian Hanibal Gaskin, 2020 Olympian Andrew Fowler, young Leon Seaton, who will try to match strokes with the senior competitors and the other young guns that are a part of GASA’s Development Programme.

Meanwhile, when asked about a letter to sports editor published in yesterday’s Kaieteur News written by the Dorado Speed Swim Club, President of GASA Dwayne Scott responded.

“This matter is currently being discussed with the GSA Council and as such I am unable to provide a comment.”

PAGE 66

Kaieteur News

Sunday October 24, 2021

GFF Assistant TD, Bryan Joseph

CONCACAF Female U-17 Championship “We’ll be managing expectation”, Bryan Joseph

By Calvin Chapman G u y a n a ’s U n d e r- 1 7 Female team are upping preparations ahead of their important assignment next week where they will contest the Concacaf Championship at the IMG Academy in Florida, USA. The training squad which was broken down to the final 20 yesterday, will jet off on the 26th for the competition at which they made a huge impact last time around but A s s i s t a n t Te c h n i c a l Director; Bryan Joseph, shared with Kaieteur Sport during last Thursday’s session at the National Training Center, Providence, that the staff will be, “Managing the expectations of the players.”

Joseph reasoned that after playing unbeaten in the group stage; Guyana had managed to make it to the final round which was called off in 2020 following the covid-19 outbreak, but that was a totally different team so there isn’t much pressure on the current players who have been training together for only a couple of months.

He posited that the previous group that performed well were part of a comprehensive programme that lasted for over a year, and the only remaining player from that squad is Kwakwani’s starlet, Jelade Trim.

Like the boy’s youth team, the current ladies’ U17 squad comprises players from all over Guyana inclusive of Regions 1, Orealla (Region 6) along with Waramadong and Kamarang (both Region 7).

Joseph continued, “This is a brand-new group. Many players are at the beginning of their journey and are now being exposed to this level of training and we see this as an opportunity to build the build the girls programme since many of the players will still be eligible for the next competition.”

Kaieteur Sport had the opportunity to chat with a couple of the young ladies.

Sue Edwards, a 14-year-old student from D.C. Caesar Fox Secondary in Kamarang, shared that she was overjoyed to be training with the national team for the first time. “It’s been a really great first experience, although I have played with my school team, this is a whole new (Continued on page 59)

Sunday October 24, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 67

NBA round-up: Spencer Dinwiddie fires for Wizards in OT win; Kevin Durant delivers 29 as Nets beat 76ers Sky Sports - On a busy NBA night, Chris Paul also delivered the 20,000th point of his career and Nikola Jokic had 32 points and 16 rebounds for the Denver Nuggets during their victory over the San Antonio Spurs.

Indiana Pacers 134-135 Washington Wizards (OT) - Spencer Dinwiddie scored eight of his team-high 34 points in the final 2:17 of regulation to force overtime, and the Washington Wizards went on an 11-2 run in the extra frame to power past the Indiana Pacers 135-134.

Washington gave up the first six points in overtime, but whittled away at the deficit to set up what ultimately gave the Wizards the lead for good. Davis Bertans hit a three-pointer off one of Dinwiddie’s nine assists with 35.2 seconds remaining, breaking a 131131 tie.

Bertans was one of three Wizards to score in doublefigures coming off the bench with 17 points. Raul Neto scored 18 points, and Montrezl Harrell added 14 points and seven rebounds.

Two of Harrell’s points came on a two-handed dunk after a powerful post move.

It jump-started Washington, who went almost three minutes into the overtime without a field goal before the basket.

Charlotte Hornets 123112 Cleveland Cavaliers Miles Bridges scored 30 points and the Charlotte Hornets used a dominating stretch at the beginning of the fourth quarter to run away with a 123-112 victory against the host Cleveland Cavaliers.

Kelly Oubre Jr scored 10 of his 25 points in the first quarter off the bench for the Hornets, who have opened the season with consecutive wins. Charlotte’s Gordon Hayward provided 18 points, LaMelo Ball had 17 points and Cody Martin added 10 points.

Guard Terry Rozier, who missed the opener due to an ankle injury, was in the starting line-up for the Hornets and contributed six points and two assists.

Mason Plumlee grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds.

The Hornets began the fourth quarter on a 10-2 surge, with Bridges and Hayward draining threepointers to cap the spree that (Continued on page 59)