Kaieteur News

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AIETEUR

Selling Natural

Sunday Edition September 19, 2021

Gas requires further technical studies …premature supply estimates can lead to inefficient investment planning

NEWS

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

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

- Exxon Confidential Report

Price $140

Online readership yesterday, 79,823

President Irfaan Ali’s transparency deficit in oil sector widens - Exxon’s production, local content and audit reports remain hidden from public scrutiny

Daughter who scolds father for drinking stabs brother for intervening

One captured, two escape after shooting at cops The protest continues for change to the Exxon contract.

GRA officers bulldoze ‘Jinga Harry’s’ gate with pick-up - Watchman runs away again

Govt. retenders single project four times for item supplied by only one company

…practice clearly points to “stage being set for favoured contractor” - Insider

Listen to The Glenn Lall Show @11am, 4&7pm on Kaieteur Radio 99.1/99.5FM

Kaieteur News

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Sunday September 19, 2021

Pres. Irfaan Ali's transparency deficit in oil sector widens - ExxonMobil's production, local content and audit reports remain hidden from public scrutiny

By Kiana Wilburg

A

fter one year in office, the Irfaan A l i administration has still done little to set itself apart from its predecessor on the disclosure of information, all the while maintaining a tight political grip on the sector.

Despite his claim that his government has been transparent, a deficit still persists and widens.

Just recently, ExxonMobil disclosed that it has submitted its local content report for the first half of 2021 to the Ministry of Natural Resources. Why hasn't this report been released so that the public can conduct its own verification process and hold the oil giant to account?

Also hidden from public scrutiny are ExxonMobil's production reports in the Stabroek Block, the results of the audit for the US$460M Exxon said was spent pre-2015 in search of oil as well as the US$1B in expenses that was spent to develop the Liza Phase One operations.

The report that was done on the Payara Field Development plan by controversial Canadian politician, Alison Redford, also remains hidden from the public eye.

Below are other key tasks In the oil sector which auger well for transparency but have not been completed by the Ali administration.

1) Complete the Local Content Policy.

2) Putting in place

appropriate and independent technology offshore to monitor the measurement of oil remotely.

3) Outline benchmarks for Corporate Social Responsibility.

4) Establish a Depletion Policy in consultation with the citizenry.

5) Establish a Decommissioning Policy.

6) Outline a structure for what is to be expected in Field Development Plans.

7) Strengthen key auditing agencies, specifically the Office of the Auditor General.

8) Strengthen institutions that will be responsible for the expenditure of the oil money-including the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and the

Ministry of Health.

9) Improve Guyana's capacity to monitor and record emissions offshore, particularly in the case of the Environmental Protection Agency.

10) Provide resources to the EPA so that it can make unannounced visits to the FPSOs while following safety standards.

11 ) H i r e t e c h n i c a l experts needed within the Ministries of Natural Resources, EPA, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), etc.

12) Review massive tax concessions/tax holidays.

Example: provisions in oil contracts that allow tax exemptions on capital gains tax, personal income tax and

President Irfaan Ali withholding tax.

1 3 ) U p d a t e policies/laws/regulations regarding direct and indirect transfers of interests in

offshore blocks.

14) Establish a Petroleum Commission.

15) Implement software solutions for compliance monitoring and for operating requisite controls for expenditure of oil money.

16) Update laws and regulations to address issues of ring fencing, transfer pricing (and other financial loopholes/issues), health and safety of workers, monitoring of the environment (regarding issues such as flaring and stiffer penalties for such infractions), prequalification criteria for oil blocks, etc.

17) Strengthen and increase systems for reporting on decisions in the oil and gas industry.

18) Oil Sale Agreements.

CANU destroys over two tonnes of cocaine, other drugs - Seized planes to be used by army, police

The two Cessna planes seized by the Guyanese lawmen during recent drug bust operations

The illegal substances being consumed by flames

T

he Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) along with the Guyana Police Force (GPF) yesterday destroyed two tonnes of illicit drugs that were seized over the last two years.

Among the illegal drugs burnt at a location in the vicinity of Homestretch Avenue were cocaine, m a r i j u a n a a n d methamphetamine.

Overseeing the destruction of the illegal

substances were Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson B e n n , D e p u t y Commissioner of Police in charge of operations, Clifton Hicken, Head of CANU, James Singh, Head of the Narcotics Branch of GPF, Karl Wilson, and Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Administration, Calvin Brutus.

According to a release from the Force's Corporate Communications Unit (CCU), Benn had highlighted that in recent times, successful drug busts were made at the Nine Miles Airstrip located at Issano in the Region Seven district, Potaro Region Eight, Orealla, Region Six, and Kwakwani, Region 10.

As a result of these busts, Benn reportedly noted that ranks were able to make significant seizures of drugs, planes and even captured the suspects transporting the illegal substances.

The minister had related too, that the seized planes would be put to use by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and GPF during

future operations.

On September 13, 2020, joint services ranks had discovered two planes at Nine Miles, Issano. One was a 206 Cessna found at the Nine Miles Airstrip with three foreigners on board who had told the ranks that they had encountered mechanical difficulties and (continued on page 16)

Sunday September 19, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 03

Selling Natural Gas requires further Exxon Confidential Report technical studies …premature supply estimates can lead to inefficient investment planning

T

he Guyana Government has conceded that it is not fully aware of the specific amounts of associated Natural Gas, or its make-up, to be had from the Liza I Oil Field in the Stabroek Block being produced by the Liza Destiny Floating Production and Offloading (FPSO) vessel.

The administration is however pushing ahead with the gas-to-shore project as a transitional energy source but according to the Stabroek Block Operator, “Identification of excess Associated Gas volumes for utilisation/commercialisatio n requires substantial technical due diligence.”

The warning was given to the administration by the ExxonMobil Guyana in a confidential 2018 document in which the company outlined that Associated Gas is a critical component of oil field management to ensure efficient oil recovery (gas injection) and to fuel the FPSO; understanding oil production requirements is

the priority.

To this end, the oil major cautioned that Gas supply estimates could prove highly misleading if provided prematurely and lead to i n e ff i c i e n t i n v e s t m e n t planning.

According to the company, the FPSO alone will require 0.1 trillion cubic feet of gas at an amount of 20 million cubic feet per day.

Additionally, maintaining adequate pressure in the gas reservoir in the Liza I oilfield would require some 0.5 trillion cubic feet of Natural Gas to be re-injected.

The company cautioned in its confidential report that gas cycles in and out of reservoir over time will significantly decrease as a result of gas being exported to shore.

As such, the company determined based on the available data at the time that, 0.2 trillion cubic feet would be left available for sales at 30 million cubic feet per day.

ExxonMobil did note in its confidential report that as it relates to the available gas for sales, “Reservoir and facilities

modelling for evaluation of feasibility for up to 50 Mcf/D export on-going.”

The administration in it's a briefing earlier this year had intimated that while ExxonMobil had been willing to supply some 35 million cubic feet of gas per day, it had managed to secure a commitment for the supply of 50 million cubic feet of gas daily.

ExxonMobil in its confidential document did seek to point out that it will conduct feasibility studies to assess the commercialisation potential for additional excess Associated Gas, if any. The information comes to light as the public debate over the proposed gas-toshore energy project intensifies with more questions now than answers.

This publication on Thursday reported that while Government is actively pursuing private investors for joint participation in gas related projects to accompany a Natural Gas fired power plant to primarily power an industrial park at the Wales

Development Zone (WDZ), the related gas ventures such as the production of urea/fertiliser and other associate products are expected to be financially challenging.

As such, their viability will be dependent on significant incentives on the part of the government such as tax breaks and waivers in order for any such venture to be deemed feasible.

This much was disclosed to the administration following a site assessment that was conducted by Stabroek Block Operator, ExxonMobil Guyana.

In a summary of the findings that were presented to Cabinet in 2018, it was documented that ExxonMobil had progressed feasibility studies for the potential commercialisation of gas volumes in the event future discoveries identify suitable gas supplies above gas-topower requirements.

It was found that “analysis has highlighted that while economics are challenged, requiring incentives, methanol

and urea (fertiliser) producing l a rg e - s c a l e i n d u s t r i a l facilities appear to be the more likely viable foundation industries for investors.”

As it relates to Methanol, ExxonMobil had recommended that export vessels would require deepwater draft and as such, pursuit of such a venture sees an export pipeline connected to offshore loading buoy in deeper water appearing to provide a viable Guyana coastline export solution.

As it relates to Urea, it was noted that granular product with viable road-based sales domestically and potentially to immediate neighbouring countries is likely viable but screening assessment revealed the need for the construction of extended jetty and loading berths for direct regional exports via 5000 DWT vessels requiring 3-6M water depth.

The Ministry of Natural Resources had earlier this year invited private investors to provide an Expression of Interest (EoI) to partake in

Joint participation in the proposed gas-to-shore project with the government and Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL)—ExxonMobil Guyana.

According to the advertised EoI, the government and EEPGL are looking for partners “in designing or utilising the outputs from an NGL (Natural Gas Liquids)/LPG (Liquified Petroleum Gas) facility and related facilities.”

This includes, according to t h e M i n i s t r y, d e s i g n , construction, and financing of a power plant fuelled by Natural Gas, where the power will be delivered into the Guyana Power and Light's (GPL) distribution grid.

This is in addition to industries that can utilise Natural Gas for, “Natural Gas driven developments and growth.”

The WDZ encompasses over 14,000 plus acres of land of which approximately 1,300 acres will be set aside for heavy Industry/gas-related investments.

UG's Centre of Excellence 2nd Biennial Conference commences tomorrow

T

he University of Guyana's Centre of Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CoETaL) will be hosting its Second Biennial Conference from tomorrow, September 20 to Wednesday September 22, 2021. This event aims to provide a space for academics, researchers, and other key stakeholders to deliberate on issues, and find solutions to the challenges confronting the delivery of tertiary education due to the impact of COVID-19.

According to a UG release, this year, the forum will be hosted virtually as professionals in the educational system grapple with and learn to navigate amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The conference is being held under the theme “Emergency Remote

Teaching, Leading and Learning” and will also be free to the public. However, registration is required in advance for the event using the following link https://coetal.uog.edu.gy/bi ennial-conference2021/registration.

The opening session is on Monday September 20, 2021, at 9:00hrs. and will feature presentations from the University of Guyana's Chancellor, Prof. Edward G r e e n e , U G ' s Vi c e Chancellor, Prof. Paloma Mohamed-Martin, Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, Principal of the Cyril Potter College of Education, Dr. Viola Rowe, Guyana's Chief Education Officer, Dr. Marcel Hutson, and Director of UG's Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CoETaL), Dr.

Charmaine Bissessar. The opening ceremony will also include an edutainment session by Mr. Michael Khan of UG's Faculty of Education and Humanities, Department of Visual and Performing Arts.

The conference brings together a cadre of distinguished researchers, educators, and key stakeholders as a community involved in tertiary education to share their expertise, knowledge, and skills with each other. Several high profile speakers will be featured including, a worldrenowned expert in distance education and instructional technology, Dr. Dimitrios Vlachopoulos.

Other well-known educators in their fields will be conducting six plenary sessions on the various sub-

themes; these include: Dr. Katija Khan who will be addressing the issue of care and well-being during the pandemic; Dr. Ramesh Sharma who will be discussing techniques to enhance student engagement online; Dr. Gordon Harewood who will be providing some online assessment techniques; Dr. Wayne Wesley who will discuss the challenges and opportunities inherent in the digital divide; Dr. Carole Basile who will discuss the issues of leading, teaching and learning post-COVID19; Dr. Lidon Lashley will be discussing inclusivity during the pandemic; Dr. Mairette Newman and Dr. Leory Hill will be part of a panel discussion on emergency remote learning, teaching, and leading and

Mrs. Zaida Khan-Ventour will facilitate an e-quality workshop.

A special panel comprising of five lecturers from the University of Guyana – Ms. Kara Lord, Ms. Lisa Edwards, Ms. Shanomae Rose, Ms. Angelina Autar, and Ms. Monique Sarius who are all pursuing their Doctor of Education degrees under a special UG - Arizona State University (ASU) programme will complete t h e c o n f e r e n c e presentations.

All of the presenters will deliver an enriching and eclectic array of empirical, anecdotal, and literature reviews on the conference's sub-themes. The Conference's presentations, plenary sessions, panels, and workshops are expected to be inspiring and innovative at

the individual and community levels. They will provide compelling fodder for future research and, more importantly, empower and motivate academics to delve deeper into various areas of research.

The University of Guyana acknowledges the support of its main partners; the Ministry of Education and the Cyril Potter College of Education for collaborating to host this event. UG also thanks Elton B. Stephens Company (EBSCO) for its sponsorship.

U G C o E Ta L ' s “Emergency Remote Teaching, Leading and Learning” Conference is the 6th international conference hosted by the University of Guyana this year. There are two more such conferences to be hosted by UG by the end of the year.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday September 19, 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

Guyana - the latest example of grievous predations There is a certain unchanging timelessness about history: no matter how it appears to change, it is identical to what went before. At first glance, the words and postures and players may seem to be different, but there is that remarkable similarity that is not accidental, but premeditated and well-executed. Guyana lives with that today and as was experienced before, it is the devastating death knell of a weak and divided people.

In 1795, the Treaty of Greenville resulted in illiterate Indian tribes in the Ohio Valley surrendering much of what are now the modern States of Indiana and Ohio, a total in square miles that is almost the equivalent of the area of Guyana. They were forced to relinquish their ancestral lands, rich farming, mining, and hunting grounds all because they came on the losing of what was claimed to be a “just and lawful war.” In return, for being parties to these treaties, the Indians were rewarded with the sum of $10,000 annually.

They had to give up land almost the size of Guyana to greedy invaders, and $10,000 was considered fair and reasonable. As additional incentives, they were to be the beneficiaries, willingly or otherwise, of civility and Christianity.

This sounds eerily like what is the fate of Guyana today.

The treaty (contract) is the same, with all the rapacious terms there as evidence. Of course, we got freedom of choice and democracy as our bonuses. Just like the Native Americans got civilisation and modernisation back then.

And just as how there is the iron-clad convention of ‘the sacred nature of contracts, there was provision, more of a concoction, at the time, by those who cast covetous eyes on the riches of the poor, divided red race. It was under the Articles of Confederation, specifically the Northwest Ordinance of 1787.

Article 3 of the Northwest Ordinance states in part: “The utmost good faith shall always be observed towards the Indians; their lands and property shall never be taken from them without their consent; and, in their property, rights, and liberty, they shall never be invaded or disturbed…” There is nothing on earth that can be more reassuring than “utmost good faith” and “lands and property never be taken” and “without their consent.” Yet that was precisely what happened, and under the cover of an ordinance that gave a gift to the Indians and then yanked it back from them.

For the same Article 3 provided this justification: “unless in just and lawful wars authorised by Congress.” The pivotal question is: who determines what is ‘just and lawful?

What was supposedly ‘just and lawful wars’ were not decided by the losing Indians, but by the victorious invaders and dispossessors. The advanced armaments employed, the sophisticated machinery of war brought to bear, the racist drives of the incoming settlers, and the unequalled land lusts of the pioneers and homesteaders and warmongers extinguished the land rights of the Indians and snuffed out their way of life. They are presumably better for all of this, while they reflect on their fate on the reservations to which they have been cast out and are corralled.

Today, Guyanese are staring at the same fate as the Native Americans, the red race that now claws for a meager existence in the dust of out of sight reservations. We have been blessed with the doubtful gift of democracy, which is a cheap exchange for our land and oil, our forests and fishing grounds. We have been promised prosperity, just like the Indians, and no interference, yet we have neither say nor control of our own destinies. By the signed and sealed standards of today, it is all ‘just and lawful.’

Guyanese are being hemmed in by more and more outsiders, who flock here to get a share of our natural resources bonanza. A former minister spoke of 42,000 Haitians, he left out the tens of thousands of Venezuelans and Brazilians, and likely Africans and Asians and Cubans and other regionals.

And, like some treacherous Native American tribal leaders, Guyana has its leaders who fall for the deceptions of the exploiters and ravishers and sell their own people out. Guyanese now live under the yoke of history.

Sad stories of unvaccinated people who died must jolt us to become vaccinated Dear Editor, While the Pope urges COVID-19 inoculations, saying “vaccines are humanity’s friends,” Minister Manickchand revealed that 17 schools closed in one week as teachers test positive, Minister Anthony revealed a one-day record of 313 new COVID-19 cases, and the High Court (as expected) denying injunctions against Government’s COVID-19 measures, it is so sad to read all the sorrowful headlines of unvaccinated people gone too soon. Right here in Guyana, there was a story from Bella Dam, Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara “Mother, daughter die from Covid seven days apart; family urges vaccination to save lives.”

In California, USA, “Five children are now orphans after both father and mother die of COVID.” Daniel Macias, 38, taught middle school math. His wife, Davy Macias, 37, a labour and delivery nurse, died days after giving birth while on a ventilator. Neither had been vaccinated against the

coronavirus. The baby and other children, ages 7, 5, 3 and 2, are being cared for by their grandparents. The children are still asking for “mommy and daddy.” “In Alabama, a man dies after 43 ICUs full of COVID patients turned him away.” The family of an Alabama man who died of heart issues is urging people to get vaccinated after they say he was turned away from 43 hospitals in three different states, because COVID cases were taking up all the ICU beds. This could happen in Guyana, too. The letter below is from a family friend, Heidi Judd; a US school employee giving some perspective on this vaccination issue: “I’m vaccinated!! And no, I don’t know what’s in it neither this vaccine, the ones I had as a child, nor all that’s in my Starbucks coffee, or in the skin care products I love, or in other treatments…whether it’s for cancer, AIDS, the medicine I take for menopause hormonal regulation, or the current, routine vaccines for infants or children. I trust my

doctors when they say it is needed. I don’t have the education and knowledge they have. That’s their wheelhouse. I also don’t know what’s in Ibuprofen, Tylenol, or other meds; it just cures my headaches and my pains...

I don’t know every ingredient in my soap or shampoo or even my deodorant. I don’t know the long-term effect of cell phone use or whether or not that restaurant I just ate at REALLY used clean foods and washed their hands. In short ...There’s a lot of things I don’t know and never will …I just know one thing: life is short, very short, and I still want to do something other than just going to work every day or hanging out in my home. I still want to travel and hug people without fear and find a little feeling of life “before.”

As a child and as an adult I’ve been vaccinated for mumps, measles, rubella, polio, chicken pox, and quite a few others; my parents and I trusted the science and never had to suffer through or transmit any of said

diseases ... Just saying, I’m vaccinated, not to please the government but: * To NOT die from Covid19. * To NOT clutter a hospital bed if I get sick. * To hug my loved ones. * To NOT have to do PCR or antigenic tests, to go out to the movies, go to a restaurant, go on holidays and many more things to come ... * To live my life. * To help my collegeaged daughter have a typical student life. * For COVID-19 to be an old memory. * To protect us - my family, you, yours and me.

This is not a political argument. This is not a conspiracy. This is a virus that we can overcome.”

Folks, sometimes we have to cajole people to do the things we know would make them better, such as children who don’t like taking medicine, or eating their vegetables. Vaccines save lives.

Sincerely, Dr. Jerry Jailall

Sunday September 19, 2021

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Kaieteur News

We rightly condemn then sit back contentedly until the next ugly incident Dear Editor, What was ‘dished out’ to Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, was abominable, unacceptable. I condemn it harshly: unpardonable.

In any civilised society, there can be no allowance for what took place. In addition, in a society as deeply polarised as ours, such recklessness by Opposition hands fuels greater animosities, adds more tensions to an edgy society already edgy. I regret what happened.

But something else came from this. I detect that we are a reactive people. This is what the post-Priya Manickchand matter reactions confirm.

Many were/are the words and

postures, some of them passionate, to condemn opposition ranks for attacking the Minister.

That is a given, and it is easy for all (including me) to rail in righteous wrath. It was wrong, never right. We like raging rightly and righteously at the demeaning and dangerous, yet we never seem to be ready to spend as much energy, devote the same interest, to get in front of what resides deep inside and devastates all of us. Do we really believe that some mending occurs when we call out offenders, which we must?

When we slip back into routines, and do nothing?

Talk about a society of law and not men, and feel good about ourselves, while knowing full well that we lie

Should leaders meet during pandemic?

Dear Editor, It was observed that the President would attend the UN General Assembly in New York next week (News Room, Sept 17). Does this

mean this meeting of world leaders will be held face-toface amidst the growing pandemic?

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

to ourselves? That we play games with the safety and uplift of this society? Let’s get real, will we?

I say this because what was hurled at Minister Manickchand was more than repugnant descent into barbarity, more than an attack on a woman (women, in general), more than dirty weapons unleashed at a stubborn political enemy.

It is what bombards all of us: men, women, young, old, wise, and unwise. For this is what our politics deteriorates to, the national leprosy and ugliness cavorted to in gyrations relished. We are a n a s t y, d i r t y, s i c k l y people, and our political people - most of them - are the essences of this. I am concerned, perhaps overly so, that our deteriorations eventually could compile to points of detonations. I am labouring to warn all in this ruptured society: be aware, be sensitive, be careful. It is not politics, as usual.

The foolishness and follies of rising frustrations are what some in the opposition have limited themselves to be, drive

them. There are some places not visited. I denounce those who dare to go there, whether MP, or peon.

Shame has abandoned us; and so, too, has class, self-respect, any residual dignity. This is what we have become, even though I think the worst lurks ahead.

There are no grounds, no rationalisation; no defending of something like what was aimed at Minister Manickchand. I have small regard for some of her efforts, but that is irrelevant, should never cloud my judgment to lose self-control and standards.

The hard discipline of great self-control has been abandoned. I disagree with what occurred; dismiss those who claim to represent something, whatever that is. But there is something else I wish to say today, and it relates to us being reactive.

It is no secret how precariously this society is perched, which this

Manickchand disgrace confirmed. We pretend at civility at every level, a product of barely restrained correctness, watchful environment. But there are seething resentments and boiling antagonisms right below the surface. We all know that, but we all do nothing, other than occasional selfsatisfying lip service.

Deep down, this society is grievously wounded, yet we reject summoning the same vitality and grand determination, like we do in deploring whatever was said and posted about Minister Manickchand, to stave off what could exceed even such excesses. It is always after the fact, which lends some psychic value. Always reactive, always passing; of dubious value, too. For then, it happens again.

It would be more helpful to a terribly pierced and limping society, if only we could join ranks, and manifest the same energised bounce to get to a place that heals us.

Few listen. Fewer care enough to push for reconciling, so as to avoid our tumbling into the unsafe. We are hurting.

I will say it: it’s only a matter of time, before we go beyond hateful words. Do we (me and you) still prefer to sit on our hands, make pretty speeches after the fact, when there is so much that we can, and should, do right now? To help ease our pain, cool furies.

To heal us.

Maybe, even bind us. Of those, we don’t. From those, we distance. That is, until the next damaging flare up. Then, we will all muster the courage to come out and condemn, and feel good about ourselves.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

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Kaieteur News

Why no bodycams at Dartmouth? Why SWAT team?

Dear Editor, What is the point of bodycams for police, when 11 highly trained SWAT team officers, led by a gazetted rank, goes on a potentially deadly assignment to arrest 2 murderers without bodycams?

I think the residents of Dartmouth have every right to feel sorely aggrieved and wracked by anguish following the recent early morning killing in his bedroom of 29year-old businessman Orin Boston. Why was the SWAT team at the address where Mr Boston lived with his family anyway? The police claim to be searching there rather than at his place of business for “prohibited items” has an air of unreality about it – particularly when not even a broad class of such items, be it contraband, guns or drugs is hinted at. The Crime Chief has acknowledged that Mr. Boston has never been prosecuted by the police before. Nothing of interest to the police was found at the victim’s home.

So why did a SWAT team

armed to the teeth attend at Mr. Boston’s home last Wednesday around 04:40hrs. in the first place, when most folks would be fast asleep in their beds? It is reported that the officers had already arrested two murder suspects at separate addresses. Was it the officers’ assignment to first go after two suspected murderers, then go to yet another address in search of “prohibited items”? Did the officers have a warrant to enter Mr. Boston’s home?

The really troubling aspect of this story is about the SWAT team, at a time when the GPF has the equipment, going out with intent to arrest murder suspects, but not wearing bodycams.

Isn’t the rationale for sending SWAT officers rather than regular police that of the escalated possibility of a violent confrontation? Isn’t that escalated possibility a primary reason for officers to wear bodycam? In the event, the SWAT team claims that there was a confrontation, not with either of the murder

suspects, but with Mr. Boston – and have only the officers’ reports to substantiate their version of events!

There’s a video currently doing the rounds that I saw only today. It features a man cussin’ loudly: “you tek 20 f***kin gram from me bai now you wan come lock me up!”

Meanwhile, there is a parked police pickup and police officers in full view – none of the officers doing anything to contain the man as he crosses the road and back again cussin’ loudly throughout.

Bystanders also have their own running commentary recorded on the video. It is a well-known fact that our police officers have a tendency to be opportunistic.

It is a malady that can well do with a special vaccine.

The Boston family, the people of Dartmouth and indeed all the people of Guyana deserve a thorough and fair investigation of this case followed by justice manifestly seen to be done.

Yours truly, Ronald Bostwick

Some teachers are afraid to speak out for themselves Dear Editor, As someone with many friends in the teaching fraternity, I feel compelled to echo some of the concerns raised by teachers with whom I am close. Many of these very teachers are afraid to speak out themselves because they fear being targeted by some in the GTU’s leadership.

It is, for this reason, I feel compelled to bring these matters to the attention of the public and those in authority so that they can be addressed.

During the course of the week, I met up with about 10 of my friends in the teaching profession and we had conversations about the ongoing issues with the GTU. One of the things that they

all related was that they want the automatic deduction of union dues from their salaries to be stopped.

However, they expressed concerns over the fact that if they were to make this known to the GTU, their names might end up “In The Ring” and they might suffer attacks similar to those meted out to the Minister of Education.

My friends in the teaching profession are of the view that the GTU in its current configuration is not working in the interests of teachers and this is in spite of them collecting millions of dollars in union dues, which are deducted out of their salaries.

They related the absence of support from the union on issues related to their welfare

and their ability to cope with the economic and other challenges brought on by the pandemic.

They contrasted this against the sup p o r t received from the government and said that there is a great disparity between the two even though the union collects millions of dollars in union dues.

Many of the views expressed I agree with as I believe that the GTU has become political and is operating as an extension of the APNU+AFC. I can clearly see where many teachers are coming from when they say they want the automatic deduction of union dues to be stopped.

Thank You, Thomas Cole

Hope springs eternal…

Dear Editor, A very long time ago, many people believed that the Earth was flat. Maybe some still do today. I was reminded of this absurdity by portrayals in the print media in

commentaries and letters about ethnic violence in Guyana, which led me to wonder whether the writers (and perhaps others) believe that a coin has only one side.

However, there is no need for

despair. One can take comfort from the words of the wise person who said, “Hope springs eternal in the human breast.”

Yours faithfully, Rashleigh E Jackson

Sunday September 19, 2021

To the President, take the high road with Opposition Leaders: END THE FEUD and handout strip of dignity Dear Editor, “Begin With the End in Mind.” This is the title of Habit 2 of Dr. Stephen Covey’s No. 1 International Best Seller: “7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” Dr. Covey wants you to imagine that you are at your own funeral – what would you want the people who are paying you tribute to say about you? Let that become your legacy! Stephen Covey’s advice to us is that we should live our lives in the way we would like to be remembered.

Maybe his suggestion should be put to everyone who aspires to hold public office.

In addition, if I might be bold, I would like to invite the President and the Leader of the Opposition to take up the challenge, if they have not done so yet. Sirs, what tribute would you like to be paid to you when that final day comes, which, by the way, none of us can escape.

In August 2020, when Dr. I r f a a n A l i b e c a m e President, his mother told News Room that being President was his childhood dream.

Congratulations, M r.

President, you are now living that dream! I believe that the principal reason you wanted to be President was to satisfy a burning desire to make your country realise its full potentials and become the Pride of the Caribbean.

His reason for wanting to attain the highest office in the land could not be because of an obsession

with power, but rather to do everything in his power to make Guyana shine and surpass our neighbours in the Caribbean. That’s what a little patriotic boy growing up in the countryside would certainly dream of! Just consider the field of study, w h i c h D r. A l i c h o s e t o pursue for his doctorate – it was Urban and Regional Planning, to equip himself with the academic wherewithal Well, Sir, if I am right, then you must know that bringing your burning desire to fruition is no ordinary feat. It would require all hands on deck.

Of necessity, you must “go high” (that’s what winners are expected to do) and reach across to your counterpart, the Leader of the Opposition, to hammer out the way forward, in partnership. While it is recognised that this is a very unpalatable proposition because of the age-old toxic relationship, which exists between your two parties, you must know that you have to cross that bridge if you want to reach your destination. A good place to start the journey is to agree on a national strategy to combat the COVID-19 pandemic – SICK AND DEAD PEOPLE CAN’T BUILD A NATION! Sirs, what has your country gained from the over six decades of rivalry and hostility between your two parties? Absolutely nothing! Hostilities are

destructive, not constructive. You must know that our oil and other resources will mean nothing, if the people we rely on to manage the exploitation and utilisation of those resources are stuck in a never-ending game of tug-o-war! IT IS TIME TO END THE FEUD!!!

Sirs, the divisiveness of your politics impedes development and fosters political and racial discrimination. You must be told, in case you didn’t know, that depending on handouts for one’s livelihood is demeaning and strips the ordinary man and woman in the street of their pride and dignity. Are you not concerned about this?

Doesn’t it disturb your sleep at night? Alternatively, is it a deliberate ploy to make the people feel obligated for your “generosity” in order to garner support in future elections?

Sirs, at the end of your tenure, how would you like to be remembered? I wish to put it to you that working together to make Guyana the Pride of the Caribbean would be a legacy carved in diamond.

And you, sirs, have a golden opportunity to make it happen. So why don’t you take up the challenge and “begin with the end in mind.” Fellow Guyanese, GET VACCINATED IF YOU ARE NOT, WE’VE GOT A COUNTRY TO DEVELOP! Yours faithfully, Winston Richards

A call for nonviolence on International Day of Peace Dear Editor, On September 21, the world celebrates The International Day of Peace by observing 24 hours of nonviolence.

Our beautiful homeland deserves at least 24 hours rest from violent crime and all acts of violence on that day.

May it also provide an opportunity for all those in conflict to take the time to

reflect on what is most important in life while enjoying the gift of breath.

The pandemic has surrounded us all by death, and has reminded many of how quickly death can become a part of daily life.

Peace should not be only for those laid to rest, but also a part of the life of the living. Giving us all the space and calm to enjoy the

gift of life that we have been given.

From our families to yours we wish you a peaceful International Day of Peace.

May it be the beginning of many such peaceful occasions?

Warm regards, Mr. Jamil Changlee Chairman The Cooperative Republicans of Guyana

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BL TLUNT.. UNT...B BL Sunday September 19, 2021

Kaieteur News

When will this nation have a government that is prepared to truly serve the people?

When will citizens of this nation really be able to take elected leaders at their word?

Are our leaders really about the business of developing this nation or developing themselves, families and cronies?

Guyanese, the answers are simple...Just pay attention to the actions of our leaders!

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Sunday September 19, 2021

President of the GCCI, Timothy Tucker (center), with stakeholders and partners of the Guyana Energy Conference 2022 .

Local Oil & Gas stakeholders throw weight behind GCCI's 2022 Energy Conference and Expo I

n a show of overwhelming support, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), on September 16, 2021, signed several M e m o r a n d a o f Understanding (MoU) with the Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chamber (GOGEC), Wo m e n ' s C h a m b e r o f Commerce and Industry Guyana (WCCIG), Region Three Chamber of Commerce, Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) and Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), signalling their backing for the inaugural Guyana Energy Conference and Exhibition (GEC-X), slated for February 14-15, 2022.

GOGEC has signed on as the co-host for the event alongside the GCCI. The Pegasus Hotel Guyana is an Organising Partner while the other groups have joined as Partnering Stakeholders.

According to a release, this will be the first such conference fully organised and managed by Guyanese, and aims to promote local content and create a platform for strategic partnerships.

President of GCCI, Mr. Timothy Tucker, welcomed the support as he noted that the signing ceremony is one of the biggest demonstrations of collaboration at the local level.

“Next year February is an important moment in the history of Guyana, especially with the united private sector that we are seeing today. You can see almost every business

President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Timothy Tucker, signs a Memorandum of Understanding with Kerensa Gravesande-Bart, co-founder of the Women's Chamber of Commerce and Industry Guyana organisation signing MoUs with us; they want to be a part of it. This is what local content is, and this is what local content is expected to be. This is how the GCCI envisions an event that is supported by locals for locals. We are showcasing our capabilities, what we are able to do as Guyanese, as a business community, and the hospitality that Guyanese have,” he noted.

Tucker said that the support has been overwhelming thus far, and the GCCI looks forward to pulling off an exciting and successful event.

President of GOGEC, Mr. Maniram Prashad, said the Chamber had its own plans to host a conference, but decided to partner with the GCCI since the end goal is the same: promotion and achieving local content and opportunities for local businesses.

“I am very happy to cohost this conference with GCCI. We want to ensure that the patrimony comes down to

the small and vulnerable and that is what we aim to do with this conference. There is broad-based support but more importantly, it is local content. We want to educate, we want to promote this industry, we want to ensure that there is benefit to the operator, the sub-contractor, the service providers, the business community, the poor people,” Prashad, a former Government Minister said.

Ms. Latoya Jack, Board Director of the WCCIG, said that the organisation is happy to throw its support behind the Conference, since it represents a significant avenue to market Guyanese businesses, including those led by women.

“This is an excellent opportunity for the Guyanese business community to be able to express and showcase what we are capable of. So, any opportunity where not just women, but business owners and entrepreneurs in Guyana have the ability to showcase our skills is an

opportunity that the WCCIG will be a part of and support wholeheartedly.

Not just do we want women to be involved in the conferences, we want women to have the opportunity to see that not only are Guyanese capable of these things, but other women in business, whether oil and gas or

otherwise, can be able to support these ventures and do so in a manner that showcases our skills and local content,” she said.

President of the GMSA, Mr. Rafeek Khan, said that the entity is happy to be on board with the event, since it believes that it can create opportunities for players in other sectors apart from the oil and gas industry.

“This is an exciting opportunity for our country. I look forward to this conference.

I look at this conference not just as an energy conference.

It is a business conference. The energy sector is going to draw potential investors; it is going to bring an energy there that we want to collaborate. Many of the energy conferences are overseas and international.

What we are seeing here is that this is going to be at

home, it is local.

The investors are going to come here. The players are going to be here. So, I want to encourage our members to engage, participate, don't limit yourself to just your industry,” he posited.

Chairman of the Region Three Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Premendra Parsons, said that the Chamber was pleased to partner with the GCCI, since the conference represents an opportunity for inclusion and participation for Guyanese businesses.

“We are excited to be a part of this conference and the decision is really part of our values and the first one is inclusion. We want to be able to have a community where we are all inclusive as Guyanese and able to support each other.

There are other companies coming into our (Continued on page 55)

President of the Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chamber (GOGEC), Maniram Prashad, displaying the signed Memorandum of Understanding alongside President of the GCCI, Timothy Tucker

Kaieteur News

Sunday September 19, 2021

President Ali to meet with several Heads of Govt., int'l organisations in New York

P

resident, Irfaan Ali, will be meeting with several Heads of Government and high-level o ff i c i a l s f r o m distinguished International Organisations while in New York next week for the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Although the Head of State has addressed the UNGA before, this will be his inaugural physical presentation, according to a government release.

President Ali will also be meeting with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres.

Over the week, the Guyanese President and other Heads of State will be delivering statements on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Energy, and the UN Food System Summit, while he is also expected to speak at the

President Irfaan Ali

Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) meeting.

On Thursday morning (September 23), President Ali is scheduled to address the United Nations.

The President, who left Guyana on Friday, is currently on a three-day visit to Mexico City, where he is attending the VI (Sixth) Summit of Heads of State and Governments of the Community of Latin

American and Caribbean States (CELAC).

Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo; Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, H u g h To d d ; F o r e i g n Secretary, Mr. Robert Persaud; and Press Secretary a t t h e O ff i c e o f t h e President, Mrs. Suelle Findlay-Williams; are also expected to travel for the UN General Assembly.

Motorcycle bandits rob elderly women on their way home

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otorcyclist bandits on Thursday robbed two elderly women while they were heading home. According to a report by the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the women ages, 63 and 58 were walking north along Austin Street, Campbellville, Georgetown, heading towards their home, around 20:05hrs. when two

Dem

boys seh...

unidentifiable men on a Trip motorcycle attacked them.

The men had reportedly ridden up in front of the women blocking their path.

The pillion rider who was armed with a handgun dismounted the motorcycle, pointed his weapon at the victims and said "don't say a word, give me de bags.”

He then relieved the victims of two handbags, one

blue in colour and valued at $1,500 while the other was valued at $1,000.

The suspect also stole cash from the women, $30,000 and $15,000, respectively before rejoining the motorcycle and escaping along with his accomplice.

Investigators reported that the bandits sped off north, then east along the Railway Embankment.

Wuk nah mek fuh everybady

Some of dem guvament workers glad dem getting lockout ah dem wuk place.

Dem doing more outside de gate dan dem does do inside de office.

One time dem boys notice dat even now nuff guvament workers does sit down near de window, and dem does don't look outside during de marning. So one day dem boys ask one ah dem worker “Why none ah dem workers don't look through de window during de marning?”

He tun to dem and say, “Watching through de window is fuh de afternoon session. In de morning we does read de newspaper and talk name.”

Dem police ears hard. Just de other day de President tell dem he nah want dem go pun no joyride with dem police car. But just dis week, dem boys spot one ah dem outside a department store with three police trying fuh put a television in de back seat.

De Prezzie did decide fuh give a test to de Special Squad, de CID and de SWAT team. He loose a rabbit in de jungle and he ask each of de squad to find it.

De Special Squad go fuss and dem send out drones, look over maps, and check fuh footprints and droppings. When dem done, dem file dem report.

It seh how de rabbit was never in de jungle.De CID go in next. Dem scour de whole place, clear away part ah de forest dem think de rabbit was in and den light a bush fire.

When dem done dem nah find no corpse. So dem conclude dat de rabbit dead but if it alive it escape to Suriname.De SWAT team go in and 10 hours after dem come out with a wild hog which was all beaten-up and bloodied and screaming, "Ok, I am a rabbit! I am a rabbit.”Talk half and do yuh wuk in peace!

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Sunday September 19, 2021

Suspects wanted for pastry vendor's murder arrested during SWAT team's E'bo operation Two suspects wanted in connection with the murder of Shawn Albert better known as 'pastry man,' were arrested during the recent operation conducted by ranks of the Special We a p o n s a n d Ta c t i c s (SWAT) Unit and Essequibo police.

Albert, 39, said to be a resident of East Bank Demerara (EBD), was shot to his chest around 18:45hrs. on August 19 last while attempting to flee from armed bandits at

Onderneeming Sand Pit located on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two. On Wednesday last around 02:00hrs. the Force's SWAT team commenced an anti-crime operation in the Region. Based on intel received from an informant, the ranks learnt that the bandits who shot Albert were hiding out at a location in Onderneeming.

The lawmen headed to the area where they conducted raids, and eventually apprehended the

men they were looking for.

Police said that both men who are still in custody have since denied their involvement in the crime, and have since given separate accounts as to where they were at the time of the murder. Investigators related that they are currently examining the alibis provided by the suspects to see if they will check out.

The men are accused of shooting Albert while he was selling pastries within the Onderneeming Community

on August 29. Reports are that two armed men approached the pastry van, and demanded cash. When the salesman identified as Decklon Lees, resisted. The gunmen reportedly began discharging several rounds at the men.

Lees reportedly took cover in the bus and ordered Albert to drive. Albert obeyed but crashed into a fence, and as the bus came to

a halt the gunmen ran towards it and relived the salesman of approximately $60,000 to $70,000 in cash.

An unresponsive Albert was rushed to the Suddie Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

A post-mortem examination later conducted on the body revealed that Albert died as a result of gunshot injuries to the chest.

Shot dead, Shawn Albert

7 more unvaccinated persons succumb to COVID-19 -273 new cases recorded yesterday

T

he Ministry of Health (MoH) has reported an additional seven COVID19 related deaths.

According to the Ministry, all seven persons were unvaccinated.

The new deaths are three women 83, 44, and 48, and a 58-year-old man – all from Region Four along with a 79-year-old man and two women, 90 and 83, from Region Seven.

They all died within the past week taking the country's death toll to 713.

Additionally, the MoH revealed that 273 new COVID-19 infections were recorded yesterday from a total of 2,078 tests, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 29,345.

The new cases of infection were reported in Region One which has four cases, Region Two - 11 cases, Region Three - 28

cases, Region Four - 141 cases, Region Five - 32 cases, Region Six - 17 cases, Region Seven - 16 cases, Region Eight - six cases, Region Nine - nine cases and Region 10 with a total of nine cases.

Added to this, there are 32 patients in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit, 170 in institutional isolation, and 3,452 in home isolation. To date, 24,978 persons have recovered.

Sunday September 19, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Sunday September 19, 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 Government officials, the likes of Minister Vindhya Persaud, have been implementing a number of measures that citizens need to make life easier for them. But there are others doing the opposite.

By allowing foreign entities to continue to rape Guyana of its natural resources, leaving behind no gains for citizens, is an indictment on those leaders who sign off on such uncaring agreements.

Hope for the day when all of our leaders will exhibit traits that are ingrained in leaders who truly care.

TUESDAY If the increased cost for the Wales site of the gas-toshore project, as warned by Exxon, isn't a problem for the PPP Government and its oil leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, then billions in other inflated costs submitted by Exxon do not matter, either. Guyanese just pay, it is not VP Jagdeo who is paying.

This explains why Exxon has been aggressive with submitting expenses in any slapdash manner that doesn't meet international standards, and gets away with such rapacious practices here.

It is because the PPP

Government and its oil leaders do not care.

After all, it is the Guyanese taxpayers who have to pay, not them.

WEDNESDAY Canje Block campaign to emit hundreds of tons of poisonous gases (KN September 12).

This oil has made us into monsters. We are killing our seas. We are destroying our environment.

We are poisoning our atmosphere.

The PPP/C Government is business as usual. Guyana's EPA is going about its own business: clueless, spineless, useless. A real farce of an organisation.

What is this oil doing to us, but making monsters of us? What will become of us, when the oil is gone and Guyanese (other than the super-elites) have nothing to show for it?

THURSDAY The foreign oil companies are so insulting, so reckless in violating the rights of Guyanese workers that even a union affiliated with the PPP Government is speaking out.

Workers' constitutional rights, as enshrined in our labour laws, are being trampled upon, such as the

right to unionise.

That means, Guyanese workers should accept whatever charity the oil companies give to them, and not be able to stand up for themselves.

If even GAWU can stand up and speak out, why can't PPP leaders?

Why are they so much in bed with whatever the oil companies do to local workers?

Where is Vice President Jagdeo now, when our laws and rights are violated?

Where is President Ali, besides mouthing empty platitudes?

FRIDAY Guyanese companies and hopefuls can't even make a little money, from supporting goods and services to foreign companies drilling offshore.

The foreigners occupy jobs.

The foreigners carry the oil.

The foreigners take the cream from our milk and the milk also.

The latest is captured in a KN article headlined, 'Surinamese to supply all food and beverages to offshore oil rigs.'

We can't even supply our own food and drink and make something. We soon could be supplied with food and drink from Suriname and elsewhere, since we don't

have enough of these things here. This is local content for Guyanese.

This is how they operate, the PPP Government and its predecessor; they allow everybody, but Guyanese, to profit from our oil wealth.

SATURDAY

Another set of outside people lying to Guyanese.

But they are using local operators to do the deceiving.

There is GTT dressing up its Blaze service and trying to mislead us dumb Guyanese that it is a new product, when it is the same sometimes good, sometimes bad, package of products.

Why is it that everyone

think that we are suckers?

Even our own people are joining with outsiders to cheat us, lie to us, and bring us down.

They learn well from our crooked and devious politicians.

It is this kind of 'anything goes' mentality that reigns supreme in this country.

God, please help Guyana!

Sunday September 19, 2021

Kaieteur News

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Sunday September 19, 2021

Govt. retenders single project four times for item supplied by only one company …practice clearly points to “stage being set for favoured contractor”- Insider

T

he procurement practices being employed at the Ministry of Agriculture's National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), is coming under increasing scrutiny with evidence surfacing to suggest that the budget agency is in fact turning down what appears to be competitive bids and opting to retender for a project that can be sole sourced.

Additionally, each new round of retendering by the NDIA sees the proposed prices being quoted by contractors skyrocketing.

Compounding the situation is the fact that the materials being requested by NDIA are for a specific type of Steel Sheet Piles, namely 327 pieces of AZ 13-700 (D) ASTM A690 Steel Sheet Piles.

Kaieteur News has since been reliably informed by an i n s i d e r, w i t h i n t i m a t e knowledge of the supply chain and process for the identified materials, that there is only one company that provides Steel Sheet

Pilings at that specification.

The identified quality specification for the sheet piles to be provided, according to a quote seen by this publication from the sole supplier globally, Arcelor Mittal Projects, is listed as ASTM A690.

Arcelor Mittal is headquartered in Luxembourg, with the sales rep., for Latin America, which encompasses Guyana sales, being Julian Guitierrez who works out of Torres Global Bank.

The quote provided by the company for the 10-metre long lengths of steel sheets, was provided at €751,285 or $184.7M, minus commission.

That quote was sourced by a 'bidder' participating in one such round in bidding that were had in August last, for the supply of the materials.

The request had also included a separate single sheet pile and a lighter weight than the substantial 327 pieces being called for by the NDIA. It was explained to this

publication that government could sole source the material for as little as US$1M when the related ancillary charges are added on.

Instead, the option to repeatedly retender for a specific type of material that can only be sourced from one supplier is raising eyebrows among some in the industry.

O n e s u c h i n s i d e r, speaking to this publication on the condition of anonymity, said it must be publicly questioned why it is that the Engineer preparing the projects document for NDIA insists on that specification for the steel sheet pilings since there are several other grades of similar steel sheet pilings that can be used for the same purposes indicated by the NDIA. This coupled with the repeated retendering, according to the insider, “has to be questioned publicly since it can only point to the government setting the stage to have some favoured contractor to get the contract—a contractor that would eventually have to

A recent quotation provided by the sole supplier of the specified grade of Steel Sheets Piling at a cost of €751,285 or $184.7M minus commission

purchase the steel from the same company.”

The bidder cited as example, “if government was looking to purchase a Tesla vehicle why would it go out to public tender when there is only one company in the world that makes Tesla vehicles.”

The August 10 round of bid openings, for which the international company supplied a quote at $184.7M, saw bids coming in from Platinum at $463.9M, Roopan Ramotar at $544.5M, STP Investments at $632M while Samaroo Investments' bid came in at $654.7M. Additionally, H. Nauth and Sons had submitted a bid for the supply of the steel sheet pilings at $465.3M while Aria Civil Works bid was $464.6M. A previous round of bidding in July saw bids from Yunas Civil Building and Construction Services, which submitted a proposal at $183.7M, while Dax Contracting Services' bid w a s $ 2 8 0 . 3 M .

Samaroo Investments bid which was in that earlier round of bidding had also submitted a bid for $281.2M, while Fix It Depot submitted an offer of $277.5M, S. Jagmohan Construction and General Supplies Inc. at that time proposed supplying the materials for $254.1M, while Colin Talbot Contracting proposed an offer of $253.5M. At the time, David Persaud Investments had proposed supplying the Steel Sheets to NDIA at a cost of $27.9M, some $253M less than the highest offer at the time.

As it relates to the September round of bids submitted, Toolsie Persaud Limited provided a proposal for $294.6M, General Marine Company's bid was $306.2M, Gafsons Industry Limited submitted a bid for $292.8M while Dax Contracting Services gave a proposal to supply the steel sheets for some $259.3M. Other bidders in that round of the tender opening, saw proposals from Brinco S h i p p i n g a n d Tr a d i n g Company Limited for $245.3M, David Persaud Investments Limited for $210.8M, Silica Sand Post Inc. at $272.3M, Fix It Depot's $275.3M, GSK

Excavation Service Inc. came in at $208M, Samaroo Investments' bid was $251.6M, S. Jagmohan Construction and General Supplies Inc.'s bid was $219.6M and Yunas Civil Building and Construction Services' was $259.3M. Additionally, another contractor had lamented that the practice of retendering by the Ministry's NDIA amounts to blatant collusion on the part of the Ministry, since it is not only unethical but also tantamount to corruption and should be considered illegal.

It was explained that each time the Ministry puts out a tender for a contract—many of which runs into the hundreds of millions or billions—it would cost every person or company submitting a bid, hundreds of thousands of dollars for each bid submitted.When the contract is opened at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) and retendered, at least one contractor who

spoke to this publication on the condition of anonymity explained that it is tantamount to the state agencies providing insider information to their preferred bidders.

This obtains since after repeated retendering, the preferred bidders would be able to know the rates being charged by competitors and eventually be allowed to outbid the others.

It was noted too that when complaints are lodged requesting the rationale behind the refusal of a bid, these are often times brushed aside or met with vague answers.

This publication understands that the NDIA under the Ministry has already retendered this project on at least four occasions including in August last.

Another of the projects highlighted to this publication that have in recent months been (Continued on page 55)

Sunday September 19, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 15

Guyana commits to providing strong leadership on climate change and food security - President Ali - Tells Sixth Summit of CELAC that Latin America and Caribbean must enhance collaboration

H

is Excellency, Dr. Irfaan Ali, yesterday told the VI (Sixth) Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) that Guyana is committed to providing strong leadership on issues such as climate change and food security.

According to a government release, the Head of State also emphasised that the two Regions must collaborate closely to address the pandemic and improved access to COVID-19 vaccines.

“Guyana commits to the provision of strong leadership, especially on issues of climate change and food security. We will continue to pursue the development of our resources and people through an expanded version of the Low Carbon

Development Strategy. We further commit to support every effort that seeks to promote peace, democracy, respect for the rule of law and deepening of regional integration. Our strength must be grounded in principles and value, not circumstances and events.”

The Head of State highlighted that this year's gathering of the Summit takes place as the continuous battle against the COVID-19 pandemic wages on and that both Latin America and the Caribbean have been victims of vaccine hesitancy and vaccine nationalism.

He stressed that Guyana will continue to call for governments and multilateral organisations to accelerate research, development, production and global distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments based on the principle of international solidarity.

“The struggle for

President Ali pictured here with other leaders and representatives of nations at the CELAC Summit equitable access to vaccines must continue on all fronts with the paramount aim of preserving life and the right to health above all.”

REDUCE DEPENDENCE The President stressed that Latin America and the Caribbean “must never again become victims of vaccine nationalism.”

“We must combine our scientific resources – intellectual and material – so as to reduce our dependence on the developed world in the event of future health crises, and to chart a common strategy to exit this pandemic and bolster economic recovery.”

The Head of State added that an integrated institutional mechanism must be developed to better

respond to and coordinate resources to combat future pandemics.

“We must invest in the capacity within the Region to self-sustain our efforts.

So far, this pandemic has taught us how insulated the world can become.

Secondly, we must lead efforts for a fairer global system not only in resource allocations but also in regulation and approval. We

must think about this carefully.”

The President also noted that the socio-economic impact of the pandemic would have lasting and lingering effects. This, he said, was reinforced by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), which warned that the health crisis has worsened the structural (continued on page 57)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 16

Sunday September 19, 2021

…

Our Frontline Worker of the Week is

Nurse Holder is proud to be fully vaccinated

r, e g a n a M t n e m e v ro p Im ty li GPHC's Qua

Nurse Leslyn Holder

By Sharmain Grainger

D

espite daily global reportage of daunting COVID-19 news, some people are still not convinced that the novel coronavirus disease is a real threat to human existence.

Some have even graduated to thinking that it's all a political ploy and have essentially thrown caution to the wind while others, though convinced that there is a threat, refuse to accept that a mere vaccine can save them from certain death.

However, Nurse Leslyn Holder, the Manager of Quality Improvement and Assistant Director (Ag) of Nursing Services at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), is not propagating any of these theories.

Although she has never been infected, she certainly has been affected on a personal level by the scourge of the disease. “I have goose bumps thinking about it. I have a brother who is a diabetic, he is very ill with diabetes and I had warned the entire family about how

to stay safe. I had even laid down some strict rules.

However, much to my prediction, my brother had COVID-19 recently,” she shared.

Her brother's diagnosis was in fact not straightforward as, according to Nurse Holder, “we thought it was the diabetes because his first COVID test was negative.

Low and behold within a week we had a call informing us that his test (PCR) was now positive.”

As expected, the next stage of this interesting development was that Nurse

receiving treatment. The process, she admitted, was not an easy one for the family. In fact, she confided that “when he was admitted we didn't think we would see him alive again but we did. It was like a real miracle. I was trying to be hopeful because at that time he had the first dose of his COVID vaccine and I still believe he survived because of that one dose.”

Reflecting on that worrisome period, Nurse Holder said that her brother's blood glucose level had gone through the roof and hope, at that point, was understandably dwindling.

It is in our nature to have questions “ and doubts but we have to trust the science. I know there are so many controversies surrounding the vaccines and I'm not going to get into any argument or religious debate.

Do your own research and get to know the facts not the myths.

”

Holder's brother was admitted to the COVID-19 Hospital at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, where he spent two weeks

“We thank God every day for his safe and healthy return home and we were very grateful to the nurses and doctors of the facility. My brother continues to speak highly of the team and the care he received,” she added.

QUALITY IMPROVEMENT

A photo she'd taken with her children when they were younger

But Nurse Holder hasn't only been dealing with COVID-19 from the sidelines. In fact, she has had an active role in the fight against the disease. Turning attention to the Quality Improvement (QI) side of her profession, she explained that it isn't only

CANU destroys over two tonnes of cocaine...

From page 2 were forced to crash land.

They had told the ranks too, that another plane was travelling along with them but had crashed in the nearby jungle. The ranks found that plane later, A Beechcraft, with a dead human body on board and 390 kilos of cocaine.

Ranks had moved to seize the drugs and detain the three men as suspected narco-traffickers. As it turned out one of them was a

Brazilian National, Rafael Silveira Dias, who is wanted in Brazil for similar offences and money laundering.

He was convicted later by a magistrate at the Vreeden-Hoop Magistrate's Court and jailed for trafficking cocaine. His accomplices were slapped with illegal entry charges. Months later, on May, 20, 2021, another Cessna aircraft bearing registration PT-SRR crash landed with half tonne of cocaine at Orealla located in

Region Six. The pilot and another individual onboard- both Brazilian Nationals - are currently on remand for drug trafficking.

Less than a month later, on June 15, 2021, a burnt out aircraft was found at a deserted area in Kwakwani, Region 10. No illegal cargo or persons were found, but CANU ranks believed that it was another plane that was being used to transport drugs from Brazil to Suriname.

focused on one aspect of healthcare but rather it impacts everything healthcare, including hospital standards.

Even as the threat of COVID-19 was closing in on our shore last year, the GPHC, she recalled, decided to form a task force and “I became a member of the task force…I am still very much a part of the team.”

The task force, according t o N u r s e H o l d e r, i s responsible for joint decision-making, policy and procedure formation and implementation. However, apart from that, she noted that QI entails teaching and capacity building responsibilities. The Quality Assurance component of QI, she explained, ensures that the standards set are maintained.

However, as head of the QI team, she intimated, “I had to decide on halting some of our usual programmes to be a part of this needed preparation for COVID-19.”

“Infection Control and Prevention (IPC) is a critical component of quality care.

Therefore, the department along with the medicine team (doctors) embarked on extended sensitisation and capacity building training sessions for GPHC and its external facilities and these are still maintained,” Nurse Holder noted with pride.

FORMATIVE YEARS

Nurse Holder, who is mother to two adult children - Lisa Holder and Kevin Mohan – both of whom reside overseas, is happily married to Stephen Thisby.

But many years earlier, on February 13, 1969 to be exact, she became the first child born to her parents – Grace and Jewan Parmanand.

Since her parents' union did not last, by the time she was two years old her homemaker mother decided to remarry to a man, Walrick Vanlewin, who would help to raise the young Leslyn in their Third Avenue, Bartica, Region Seven home. “I grew up with my step-dad, h e w a s a s i g n artist…unfortunately he passed away more than 30 (continued on page 49

Nurse Holder then and now With her loving husband, Stephen Thisby

Sunday September 19, 2021

Kaieteur News

Miss Racheal Balack Fully embracing the Myles Munroe maxim that: “The greatest tragedy in life is not death, but a life without purpose" is our featured beauty, Racheal Balack. With this in mind this indigenous diva with ancestral ties to Kamwatta, Moruca, is well on her way to realising a life full of purpose. In this regard she is currently in pursuit of a BSc. Degree in Science (Geography). Her career goal is to become a GIS Analyst and she is already on track since she is currently a GIS/Research Officer. Photo credits: JPK Productions

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PAGE 18

Sunday September 19, 2021

Championing the cause of Guyana's first peoples...

Indigenous Artist and Regional Development Officer, is a 'Special Person'

Anil Roberts,

By Rehanna Ramsay

A

t any successful entity or corporation, it is common knowledge that hiring the right people for the job produces better results for achieving the desired end.

For this week's 'Special Person,' this certainly proves true. As someone who is always championing the cause of the indigenous peoples as an artist and Principal Regional Development Officer (PRDO) attached to the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, Anil Roberts is constantly striving towards preserving and advocating for their rights, culture and heritage.

In his capacity as PRDO, Mr. Roberts has, throughout the years, worked to help promote projects aimed towards the development of the Indigenous peoples.

Being Indigenous himself, “seeing Indigenous peoples prosper” only comes naturally.

Born to the Makushi nation (tribe) of the North Rupununi District in Region

Nine, Roberts uses his art to make a positive impact on behalf of his culture. His work is a testament to the ever so often overlooked and forgotten contribution of the nation's first people. His creative niche is to ensure that the efforts of the nine indigenous tribes of Guyana are not easily erased.

development of the Guyanese people.

Outside of his artwork and Amerindian Affairs Ministry portfolio, Roberts holds quite an impressive resume.

Never one to shy away from an opportunity to pass on knowledge, Roberts spent a few of his years as a fine

“

To experience the culture there [in the Rupununi] and the position I am in today at the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, which is to be able to help my fellow Amerindian brothers and sisters within the villages on governance, project development, and support is what I view as great.

”

As an artist, he is constantly looking for opportunities to tell stories “from an Indigenous point of view.” Roberts' ultimate goal is to ensure that the Indigenous peoples are known for not just pepperpot, farine, and the other delicious cuisines but for their contribution to the arts, language, culture, and

Cozy Family: Mr. Roberts and his Awarak wife along with their four-year-old son.

arts and visual arts tutor for Caribbean Secondary Examination Council (CSEC) students as well as Distance Education Programme teachers of the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE).

And as a result of this commitment to promoting his heritage, Roberts has represented Guyana at several international forums including the technical

mission on Amazon Cooperative Treaty Organisation (ACTO) on Indigenous peoples in Voluntary Isolation in Peru in 2013; and the ACTO technical mission on Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation in Colombia in 2014; and at the World Social Forum in Belem, Brazil in 2008 as a participant of the delegation of Indigenous Guyanese where he prepared a presentation on the Indigenous people of Guyana.

Reflecting on his accomplishments, Roberts noted, “To experience the culture there [in the Rupununi] and the position I am in today at the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, which is to be able to help my fellow Amerindian brothers and sisters within the villages on governance, project development, and support is what I view as great.”

MENTORSHIP He noted nevertheless that none of the above would have been possible had he not taken a leap of faith and journeyed from the serenity and comfort of his village in

Artist and Regional Development Officer, Anil Roberts

the North Rupununi to the city in an effort to further his academic and artistic pursuits.

For him, coming from Rupertee Village, North Rupununi, to Georgetown to live and study accompanied its own challenges.

“It was a completely new environment, to study, and often with financial constraint,” he recalled of his voyage.

However, the talent of the Amerindian youth superseded those challenges.

Roberts' skills as an artist developed quickly and he was soon taken under the wings of famed Indigenous anthropologist/archaeologist and artist, the late George Simon. From that time, he said, Mr. Simon became his mentor.

“He guided me through

most of my life at the university. He basically highlighted the importance of my culture and to use that in art. He taught me not only technique but also the ability to paint thematically. We painted a lot of murals – Umana Yana, Cheddi Jagan International Airport, National Museum, National Stadium, and the University of Guyana (called the Palace of the Peacock,” Roberts said.

To this end, this week's 'Special Person' was keen to mention another person who supported his artistic studies and career. “Ms. Vanda Radzik supported me in whatever way throughout my career. From my entry into the ER Burrowes School of Art and the University of (continued on page 47)

Paining a mural at the University of Guyana alongside his mentor the late Mr. George Simon.

Sunday September 19, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 19

A Presidential mistake T

he establishment of a Rapid R e s p o n s e Taskforce by President Ali was misconceived. Such units are usually intended to provide immediate action in the event of natural disasters; they are not intended as a means of resolving day-today problems.

Short-term and ad hoc arrangements do not provide sustainable solutions. They are therefore ill-suited to resolving problems which members of the public may experience when dealing with the public bureaucracy.

The President's intentions were honourable.

He wants people's problems to be resolved quickly.

However, he went about it the wrong way because he underestimated the scale and gravity of the problems citizens face.

The public service does not work efficiently. The public service is woefully inefficient and unproductive. Instead of providing public services, it provides a disservice to the people.

Very few Ministries and government departments function properly. They are not geared to provide efficient service to the public and a culture has developed where the bureaucrats feel that they are the masters and the people are the servants.

This has not changed in 50 years and cannot be changed by any Rapid Response

Taskforce.

The frustrations and problems of citizens are overwhelming. They are too many because the system does not work, is not geared to work and there has been little attempt to make it work.

Government after government has hinted at public sector reform but all the reforms have failed to ensure a smaller, more e ff i c i e n t a n d p e o p l e friendlier public service.

Even the APNU+AFC failed.

They instituted a Commission of Inquiry into the public service, but the issue of operation efficiency and the quality of public services provided were peripheral to the Commission's report. The COI was a complete waste of time since it did not recommend anything which would transform the public service.

The Irfaan Aliadministration has appointed a young lawyer as the Minister of Public Service.

The public is still waiting with bated breaths for her to outline her reforms, instead of “scholarships, scholarships, scholarships.”

If the problems of citizens are going to be resolved the public service has to be fixed. It is overbloated, overstaffed and unproductive. The politicians know this but they refuse to take action

because they assume that to do so would be political suicidal.

As such, they employ band aid solutions such as Ali's Rapid Response Taskforce, an idea so absurd that no one took it seriously, except, it would appear the person appointed to head it.

The Rapid Response Taskforce was bound to face resistance.

The public service is segregated into Ministries and departments with each having their own independent responsibilities.

Problems with some of these Ministries or Departments and with the services they provide have to be resolved within that system not through the appointment of some political commissar, who has no statutory authority and therefore cannot compel anyone to do anything.

It matters not that he reports to the President. That is liability rather than an asset because people resent such interference from outside their Ministries or Departments. Worst of all they resent political appointees.

If the services provided by a government are problematic, the bureaucrats want any complaints to be directed to them rather than to someone outside of their organisation.

Political appointees will face resistance because of the nature of the bureaucracy

not because of spite.

Bureaucracies have an established chain of command. Persons within the system know where decisions are made and things are approved. A political appointee, especially one working outside of the organisation, will not be allowed to intrude on that chain of command.

Second, the bureaucracy is specialised and there is a division of labour. Different p e r s o n s a n d d i ff e r e n t sections do different work.

So solving a problem may involve having to deal with more than one person or department and this makes the task of an outsider more

difficult.

Third, there are formal rules or standard operating procedures.

Workers have to report to their superiors and these superiors have superiors too, including, at the regional level, the Regional Administration system. You can't bypass these formal rules and this is what any quick-fix may do.

The President therefore made a mistake in setting up a quasi-body to report directly to him and yet to have to address problems of residents. What authority would the head of the Rapid Response Taskforce have in order to request information

from a public official? The Head of that Taskforce has no locus standi.

The solution is to fix the public service. Reduce the bloat, re-organise the public service along customeroriented lines by introducing private sector methods.

Dismiss the square pegs and put the right persons in the right positions, including at the Ministerial level.

(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 September 19, 2021

On the heels of COVID, Climate Change swings a wrecking ball

By Sir Ronald Sanders

T

he public health and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has rightly focused the attention and resources of governments around the world on suppressing and containing it.

The cause has been made more costly and more prolonged by those who resist inoculating themselves against a disease that has officially infected 227 million people worldwide, killing 4.7 million of them.

Estimates of underreporting

in many Regions put the death rate, more realistically, at 7 million.

While governments – particularly those in small countries with scarce human and financial resources have been concentrating on getting out of the trap of the COVID-19 pandemic, the persistent and pervasive threat of Climate Change has been growing alarmingly.

The entire world is now faced with the troubling prospects of long periods of extreme heat; prolonged periods of drought followed by devastating floods and overflowing rivers; severely

reduced agricultural production, leading to food shortages; increase in vector-borne diseases such as dengue fever; grave water shortages; and hugely increased costs of energy.

All this will impact businesses of all kinds, causing closures, unemployment, poverty expansion and greater hordes of refugees and migration than we have seen so far.

A new study, conducted by the prestigious, Royal Institute of International Affairs (RIIA) in London, paints a grim picture of the

prospects for the next 30 years, unless greenhouse gas (CO2) emissions are significantly reduced by the world's biggest polluters.

These include the United States, China, India, the European Union and Canada.

The figures, produced by authoritative research, reveal that global efforts to reduce CO2 emissions are dangerously off track.

One of the troubling observations is that, while in 2019, a potential 300 billion working hours were lost due to temperature increases globally, 52 percent more than in 2000, COVID-19 resulted in around 580 billion lost working hours in 2020.

Therefore, “temperature increases are already resulting in the equivalent of over 50 percent of COVID-19-induced lost working hours.”

Worryingly, the report concludes that if emissions follow the trajectory set by the reduction commitments made by countries, there is

less than 1 percent chance of reaching the 1.5°C Paris Agreement target.

Caribbean islands and continental countries, such as Belize and Guyana, with low-lying coasts would feel the full brunt of this pending disaster. Here are some of the findings in the report.

DEATH BY HEAT WAVES Globally, heat-related mortality has increased by nearly 54 percent in persons over-65 in the past two decades, reaching 296,000 deaths in 2018. If emissions do not come down drastically before 2030, then by 2040, 3.9 billion people are likely to experience major heat waves.

INSECURITY BY FOOD DEPLETION In recent years, regional drought and heat waves have caused 20 to 50 percent crop

Sir Ronald Sanders harvest losses. The global food crisis of 2007–08, led to a doubling of global food prices, export bans, food insecurity for importers, social unrest, and mass protests in many countries.

DEATH AND DESTRUCTION

BY FLOODS By 2040, almost 700 million people each year will likely be exposed to prolonged severe droughts of at least six months' duration. One billion people now occupy land less than 10 metres above current high tide lines. In 2020 there were 23 percent more floods than the annual average of 163 events in 2000–19, and 18 percent more flood deaths than the annual average of (continued on page 35)

Sunday September 19, 2021

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

SUNDAY INT’L STUDY EXPOSES WORRYING LEVELS OF MERCURY POISONING IN SOUTH RUPUNINI REGION In recognition of the oftentimes irreversible effects of methylmercury, the Government of Guyana, almost eight years ago, signed onto and ratified the Minamata Convention. That international treaty is designed to protect human life as well as the environment from the release of methylmercury and its compounds during gold mining activities.

In fact, the PPP/C and APNU+AFC had made pledges and implemented several initiatives since 2013 to phase out the use of methylmercury, one of the most toxic forms of mercury that is used in the gold sector particularly by artisanal and small miners. In spite of their best efforts to mitigate the effects or impacts of this chemical on human life and the environment, studies over the years have uncovered alarming levels of mercury poisoning/ contamination in Indigenous people and their environs which are in proximity to mining camps that make use of the harmful chemical.

For those who may not be aware, methylmercury is so detrimental to human life that elevated levels can cause irreversible damage by reducing intellectual and motor skill capacity, especially in a developing foetus and breastfed children.

Methylmercury poisoning presents a range of other symptoms, but the main effects are concentrated in the nervous, digestive, renal, respiratory, and cardiovascular systems.

In Guyana, studies dating back to the late 1990s have reported high levels of mercury in both people and fish, with carnivorous fishes showing higher levels than non-carnivorous fishes.

But the most recent study on its presence in Indigenous communities was conducted in 2017 by the World Wildlife Fund. The international nongovernmental organisation was able to capture through its studies, the extent of mercury poisoning in the South Rupununi. Kaieteur

News understands that the exercise was done on the request of the South Central People’s Development Association. Following this, the WWF team developed a study to measure mercury levels and identify risk factors associated with methylmercury levels in hair samples in four communities in the South Rupununi.

The study was conducted from March to May 2017 and saw 99 participants (58 females and 41 males). Participants’ age ranged from 15 to 78 years.

From each participant, four cm long hair strands were cut close to the scalp in the occipital region and collected. WWF officers noted that the first two cm closest to the scalp (0–2 cm) was used to determine total mercury content since hair closest to the scalp can identify if participants were recently exposed to elevated levels of mercury as well as confirm that it is present in the blood stream.

The analysis was performed by a certified laboratory (ALS Inc., Burlington, Ontario, Canada Branch). The findings of the study indicated that indigenous populations in

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Kaieteur News

Guyana which live close to artisanal and small-scale gold mining activities and depend on local fish to supply most of their protein needs are likely to harbour high levels of mercury in their bodies. The situation is especially dire for community members in Parabara. It was found that 100 percent of adult participants from Parabara had high levels of mercury in their body.

The study said this result is comparable only to the levels of total mercury found in the Guyanese Indigenous people of Masakenari as reported in a previous study.

It was also found to be well above other previously studied communities.

Further to this, the study said that the people of Parabara showed higher levels of total mercury contamination than any other Indigenous communities previously studied in neighbouring countries Venezuela, Suriname and French Guiana.

In light of the foregoing, the WWF study said it is therefore crucial that Parabara residents be evaluated for clinical symptoms related to mercury toxicity by the relevant health agencies in

Guyana. In addition, the document said it is necessary to develop a plan so that community members can be continuously informed of the adverse effects of methylmercury and how to balance fish intake without compromising their health.

In contrast to Parabara, it was noted that the communities of Karaudarnau, Aishalton, and Shulinab, which are further from ASGM activities, showed low levels of mercury contamination.

The low levels of mercury found in people from these communities may be explained by the fact that these communities have access to alternative sources of protein (i.e. poultry and beef), the study stated.

Taking into consideration that Guyana has ratified the Minamata Convention on Mercury, the international study said it is important to recognise that high levels of mercury may compromise the health of residents.

It said too that further rigorous studies are needed to develop reference limits in Guyana’s hinterland while adding that continued biomonitoring for methylmercury exposure is recommended, including

follow-up studies to monitor trends, which are especially important in riverine communities close to mining activities. More importantly, in order to safeguard future generations, the WWF study said there is a need to implement short and longterm studies to assess mercury exposure in children less than six years of age, particularly for Indigenous infants and children, given that no data exist for Guyana.

As regards regulation, it was noted that permit granting and regulatory agencies (such as the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and Environmental Protection Agency) should employ better land-use planning and consult with local communities when granting permits for gold mining activities to ensure that such activities do not negatively impact critical freshwater resources and other areas used by indigenous populations. The study said this would go a far way in helping to develop measures for safer artisanal and small gold mining practices including mercury phase-out in the South Rupununi region and other mining areas across Guyana.

Additionally, the study said it is important for the relevant agencies to start taking into account the potential effects of deforestation and other extractive activities that contribute to the removal of forest cover which facilitates the release of mercury into water bodies and the atmosphere.

As a final note, the study said that the overall results were presented to community leaders and members in their respective communities. A technical report was also provided to community leaders and relevant government agencies.

It is estimated that gold mining activities have caused damage to over 5840 km of rivers and streams and potentially impacted an additional 28,771 km of downstream habitat with turbidity and mercury.

SURINAMESE TO SUPPLY ALL FOOD, BEVERAGES FOR OFFSHORE DRILLING RIGS - GUYANA STILLOPERATING AT DISADVANTAGE IN ABSENCE OF LOCAL CONTENT POLICY & LAW Staatsolie, the national oil company of Suriname, recently announced that the food and beverages required by offshore drilling rigs in Block 58 will be supplied

entirely by Surinameseowned companies.

“Staatsolie is committed to the development of local content to allow Suriname to benefit as much as possible from the offshore oil and gas industry. To this end, we work closely with companies that are active in the Surinamese offshore,” said Staatsolie, as the Surinamese government is maximising local content in its country.

Block 58 operator, TotalEnergies, through its main contractor Maersk Drilling, has taken a significant step by purchasing food and beverages for its offshore drilling rigs in this Block entirely from Suriname as of this month. This result came about after consultation between Staatsolie, TotalEnergies and Maersk Drilling.

“Purchasing food and beverages entirely from Suriname will be subject to the availability of provisions and the ability of the supply boat to enter the harbour on a biweekly basis. Approximately 350 people work on the drilling platforms, of which around fifty are Surinamese,” the Dutch company said.

Deliveries are made with special supply vessels, three of which are dedicated to the Suriname operations.

Shipments take place from Kuldipsingh Port Facilities on the Suriname River in Dijkveld. The supply vessels bring drilling waste from the rigs ashore for treatment and carry food and beverage supplies to the drilling rigs.

Diesel for the rigs and supply ships is also purchased in Suriname. Notably, the revenues from the diesel deliveries can reach US$30 million per year.

Staatsolie went on to state that it is putting maximum effort into having the storage area for pipe and drilling material, the so-called laydown area also set up in Suriname.

TotalEnergies is preparing a tender for this.

Once the Suriname River has been dredged and the fairway is deeper, it will be possible to deploy supply vessels with a greater draft. The fairway is expected to have a sufficient draft by the end of 2021. This will offer more opportunities for local producers and suppliers of goods.

In Suriname’s production sharing agreements (PSAs), companies are required to provide a report demonstrating the evolution of local content involvement in its Petroleum Operations and a plan of action to increase the level of local (Continued on page 22)

PAGE 22

From page 21 content. They also have to submit a list of local purchases on a quarterly basis.

Further to this, a list of the number of contractors’ and sub-contractors local hires and associated titles must be submitted in quarterly reports. Companies are also required to use their best efforts to train locals with respect to their petroleum operations, including technical, administrative, executive and management positions.

These rigid rules are not only absent from Guyana’s Production Sharing Agreement with ExxonMobil, but even the draft Local Content policy that was finalised by United Kingdom Consultant, Dr. Michael Warner.

The former APNU+AFC administration had promised the nation that this document would be in place for first oil which officially started on December 20, 2019. Manifestly, that was not accomplished.

Earlier this year, the current administration had finalised public consultations for the local content legislation. However, the public is still in the dark about the status of the policy and its legislation, which Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, stated would be laid in parliament before yearend.

Until then, there will be no law to compel oil and gas companies to adhere to the guidelines that secure Guyanese jobs and services.

MONDAY WATCHDOGS WARN OF DECEPTIVE ‘GREENWASHING’PR PRACTICE OF FOSSIL FUELCOMPANIES Shell, Equinor, Total, Chevron and ExxonMobil are among the bunch of fossil fuel companies in the spotlight, as anti-corruption and environmental watchdogs sound the alarm on a public relations practice by fossil fuel companies called ‘greenwashing’.

The strategy is meant to deceive the public into thinking that the companies’ operations are ‘green’ or climate friendly.

European Environmental Charity, ClientEarth, said “It’s never been more urgent for companies everywhere to be more sustainable. Yet the ‘green’ advertising of those companies most responsible for climate change and environmental damage is misleading the public about their sustainability.”

ClientEarth said many

Sunday September 19, 2021

Kaieteur News

companies are responding to the climate crisis with ‘green’ marketing, while their core business remains fossil fuels.

It said this distracts from the harm, their products cause to the people and the planet.

ClientEarth investigated some of the largest fossil fuel companies and placed all the files online, exposing the means used by companies like ExxonMobil, to try to convince the public that their operations are ‘green’. All of those files can be accessed at https:// www.clientearth.org/thegreenwashing-files Globally recognised anticorruption watchdog, Global Witness, is also concerned about the greenwashing practice. It pointed to a recent live conversation on the Washington Post with Chevron Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Michael Wirth, as an example.

Wirth was asked for a message to young people who are passionate about climate change and who might have a problem with a traditional energy company like Chevron.

“There’s never been a better time to join an industry like ours and to help create the energy future that we all desire,” Wirth responded. “I implore young people to join us and bring their ambition, their aspiration, their creativity and skills to help us deal with these big challenges and create a better future.”

Global Witness said Chevron is trying to use greenwashing and gaslighting to position itself as a leader in the energy transition to stave off the climate crisis.

“But in reality, it is the second most polluting company in the world, is forecast to increase its total oil production over the next decade (instead of phasing fossil fuels out like the recent IPCC [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change] report showed the need for), and has an abhorrent human rights record, including a pattern of funding racism in the US,” the watchdog said.

“The appeal to young people from Chevron’s CEO is one such example. Wirth implores young people to join in helping to create a better future, but fails to mention that the company is doubling down on its climate-wrecking products. This would be a catastrophe for the planet – particularly for younger generations.”

Earlier this year, Global Witness, along with Greenpeace USA and Earthworks, filed a legal complaint against Chevron with the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC), a

powerful independent agency responsible for enforcing the country’s antitrust laws and protecting consumers.

The complaint claims Chevron misrepresents its image across social media, television and other marketing avenues to appear climate friendly and racial justice oriented, while its business operations overwhelmingly rely on climate-polluting fossil fuels, which disproportionately harm communities of color.

The group is calling on the FTC to make Chevron remove misleading ads, refrain from publishing misleading ads in the future, and face penalties.

“While the complaint remains under review, we are still watching Chevron’s ads, marketing, and PR materials – and the gross misrepresentations continue,” Global Witness said.

GTT REPACKAGES BLAZE SERVICE; LAUNCHES IT AS A NEW PRODUCT - CLAIMS OF “DELIVERING ANOTHER FIRST FOR GUYANA” FALSE On September 2nd, foreign-owned company GTT(Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company) hosted media and special invitees at the Pegasus Hotel to launch what it described as “delivering another first for Guyana”, its new GTT Fibre Product. The event purported to launch the latest cuttingedge technology in Fibre replacing its Blaze product which was already a Fibre Network using GPON Fibre Technology.

A Quick Fact check would reveal however that Guyana has had Fibre services using GPON Technology since August, 2013, with GTT themselves being the second company to launch Fibre to the homes of Guyanese called “Blaze”. Blaze was the brainchild and the most significant project of former Guyanese GTT, CEO Justin Nedd.

It was since July 16, 2017 that Nedd launched the new internet service under the name “Blaze”. The new service was offered in three packages, ‘Ignite’, ‘Flaming’ and ‘Inferno’, with each having its own cost and advantages. This is the very Fibre Network that is being used for the new “GTT Fibre” product, which is essentially blaze configured for higher speeds; speeds Guyanese could have enjoyed since 2017.

The Blaze service was

launched at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, and speaking then with the media, GTT’s Chief Executive Officer, Justin Nedd, had said that the new initiative is an investment in Guyana with the cost for the new Fibre Network within the vicinity of US$20M to US$25M. “Many times I hear people talk about one million and two million US dollars; this is real money. This is GTT investing in Guyana” were his comments.

GTT’s renaming of Blaze is seen as the company accepting that the blaze product has been a disappointment since over the years, customers have experienced many technical and billing issues with the Fibre optic internet service. In what was seen as a positive move, the new CEO Damian Blackburn had publicly recognized that the services were plagued with issues, and he was in the process of listening to customers and formalizing a plan. Mr. Blackburn over recent months has constantly used the term “I promise”. But the famous promise turned out to be the repacking of Mr. Nedd’s Blaze under the new banner “GTT Fibre”.

Local company ENetworks had also on August, 13th, 2013 launched its E-Networks On Fiber product at an event commemorating its 10th anniversary. A quick check on google would show that this was in fact the first Fibre Network offered to homes using GPON Technology. ENetworks with the recent liberalization of the sector, has been seen as pushing the industry to increase their capacity and services offered to the Market. The company currently claims to offer the fastest internet in Guyana. A quick comparison taken from both companies’ websites will show that where GTT now offers 150Mbs to homes, ENetworks offers 250Mbs, and where GTT now offers 500Mbs to Businesses, E-

Networks offers 675Mbs. This indicates that even with the claimed upgrades, GTT has not stepped up to match the speeds of its main competitor. This begs the question: what exactly does GTT mean by “First in Fibre”?

With the newfound oil fortunes in Guyana, many foreign companies have been rushing to these shores with grand promises of investments, and the modernization of the country.

Against this backdrop Guyanese need to remain ever vigilant as like GTT, many of these companies with their savvy marketing create an impression of grand investments where there are little benefits to Guyanese or the country as a whole.

Furthermore, GTT over the years has been known to have significantly stalled the development of the country through its predatory pricing and limited development in a sector in which it held a monopoly.

The liberalization by the PPP Government in October, 2020, has shown that in less than a year, GTT has been able to use the same Blaze Network to improve its speeds and reduced its pricing with the introduction of competition in the marketplace, something they could have done many years ago.

TUESDAY EXXONMOBIL EXTRACTS US$1.3B IN FIRST HALF OF 2021 …AS GUYANA GETS US$200M IN ROYALTY AND ENTITLEMENT DURING SAME PERIOD The ExxonMobil led consortium operating in the Stabroek Block has already extracted some US$1.3B in crude oil from the Liza I oilfield being produced by the Liza Destiny, Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel.

In contrast, Guyana has for the first half of the year

collected a total of three one million barrels entitlements amounting to some US$200M at the average world market prices for the year.

The country in August last received payment for its seventh oil lift, to the tune of US$79,617,561.87, the largest single oil payment that the country has received to date.

That payment was for 1,047,820 barrels of oil, which was extracted from the Liza Destiny FPSO vessel on July 3, 2021.

Guyana sold its first one million barrels of crude on February 19, 2020, raking in nearly US$55 million.

In its second millionbarrel sale, the country received US$35 million, and another US$46 million as proceeds from the sale of its third million-barrel of crude, and US$49.3 million from its fourth oil lift.

In early March, Guyana also benefitted directly from its petroleum sector, receiving US$61,090,968 from the sale of the nation’s fifth oil lift.

Further, it earned in excess of US$60 million from the sale of its sixth oil lift, and received US$13.9 million in royalties during the first quarter of this year.

Meanwhile, ExxonMobil is also boasting that for the first half of the year, it spent some US$93.8M directly with Guyanese companies for services ranging from the provision of foodstuff to engineering.

The earnings we have had from the Stabroek Block since, according to ExxonMobil Guyana, for the first half of this year it produced some 20 million barrels of oil and is in fact closing in on the 50 million barrel mark, since the start of production in December 2019.

This, according to the company in a centre spread publication over the weekend captioned ‘ExxonMobil Guyana Energy Update’.

With oil prices averaging US$66 per barrel during the (Continued on page 23)

Sunday September 19, 2021

From page 22 first half of the year, it would mean that for the first half of 2021, the Stabroek Block would have yielded some US$1,320,000,000.

According to international reports, the preliminary 2021 annual average OPEC oil price stands at US$65.74 U.S. per barrel.

This is up from US$41.47 the previous year, which was only slightly higher than the average annual price during the 2016 oil crisis.

The price has since rebounded to US$70 as of Monday. As such, it would mean that during last year, the company would have earned some US$1,260,000,000 at an average of US$42 for the remaining 30 million barrels.

It would mean that since the start of production, the Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL)—ExxonMobil Guyana—led consortium would have extracted some US$2,580,000,000 in crude.

During that time, Guyana would have earned just over US$436M in royalties and entitlements under the profit sharing agreement. Under the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) signed in 2016, the company is allowed to recover up to 75 percent of gross production monthly for operational expenses and recoverable expenditure to be repaid.

The company in its Energy Update over the weekend outlined that in the first half of 2021, over 20 million barrels of oil were produced from the Liza Destiny and production is “quickly” approaching 50 million barrels since first oil in December 2019.

As it relates to domestic spending, ExxonMobil Guyana in providing a local content update boasted that for the first half of the year, its total workforce was documented at 5,421 of which 2,860 are Guyanese including some 550 females.

This, the company said, represents some 53 percent of its workforce. As it relates to direct spending locally, the company said it had expended some US$93.8M, which generated an economic impact of some US$115.5M. Additionally, it was noted that to support broader capacity building, the Stabroek Block Co-venturers are also investing US$100M through the Greater Guyana Initiative.

According to the company, “…over a decade, this (initiative) will develop the local workforce, advance education and improve healthcare to support sustainable economic

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diversification.”

Meanwhile, as it relates to future developments, with the Liza Unity FPSO en route to Guyana, the company said, “once delivered and safely moored to the seafloor, Unity will steadily ramp up to a production target of 220,000 bpd.”

As it relates to the oil majors’ third development— Payara—ExxonMobil Guyana in its update said its first development well was spudded in June last, and the offshore Subsea, Umbilicals, Risers and Flowlines installation began in the third quarter of this year.

The FPSO’s— Prosperity—topside module fabrication is currently underway in the Keppel Shipyard in Singapore. That vessel has a production target of 220,000 bpd with a projected start up in 2024.

Meanwhile, as it relates to the consortium’s fourth development in the Stabroek Block—Yellowtail—it was noted that this project is currently being designed with a production target of up to 250,000 barrels of oil per day, “possibly the largest volume yet for a single development offshore Guyana.” According to ExxonMobil Guyana, “production is anticipated to begin in 2025, pending regulatory and government approvals.”

WEDNESDAY GOVT. SEEKS INT’L CONSULTANTS TO REVIEW EXXON’S STUDIES FOR PAYARA PROJECT The PPP/C Government is seeking three international consultants to review submissions by ExxonMobil for studies related to the Payara Project.

According to the Ministry of Natural Resources’ (MNR) invitation for individual consultancies, which was published Tuesday, an international consultant is being sought to review and assess a Block Seismic and Well Injection Study.

In this regard, the Payara Petroleum Production Licence, signed on September 30, 2020, states that ExxonMobil should complete an analysis of natural seismic activity and magnitude from events such as earthquakes, volcanoes etc. The analysis is expected to consider the potential impact of the injection of fluids on such activities.

The successful applicant is expected to provide support to the government in executing an assessment of the submissions the Operator

has made, with respect to the Block Seismic Activity Study and its alignment with the approved Terms of Reference and international best practices.

The consultant is also expected to review the Operator’s evaluation of the Liza, Payara and neighbouring future development areas in terms of the location, tectonic setting, and regional seismicity; review the Operator’s evaluation on additional induced seismicity risks and considerations based on subsurface conditions for the Payara development area; examine the Operator’s findings for the potential of injection of fluids triggering seismic events; and examine the recommendations the Operator would have made in regards to the findings.

The government expects that following the review, the consultant will identify areas of shortcomings in the study, with respect to the TOR of the study; provide written recommendations to improve the study; support the team in their interactions with the Operator, including but not limited to assisting the MNR in formulating responses and communications to the Operator aimed at lodging objections, resolving differences in technical judgment, requesting modifications, etc; support the MNR towards the review and closing of the Operator’s draft report; and provide a final report on the completed and appropriate recommendations.

Furthermore, the consultant is expected to produce a final report with the findings and recommendations to be made.

The second consultant being sought by the government will review ExxonMobil’s submissions on a Permissible Flaring and Production Profile

Maintenance Study.

According to the Payara Petroleum Production Licence, this study aims to construct a reliability, availability and maintainability (RAM) model.

It is expected to include a report of key metrics, including an estimate of the oil vessel’s (Floating Production Storage and Offloading –FPSO) overall production system for achieving flaring permissible under the Production License and Environmental Permit.

During the consulting period, the consultant is expected to review all submissions made by the Operator, and all other supporting documentation, as well as verify whether the submissions made by the Operator addressed the items outlined in the Terms of Reference (TOR) of the study and if it meets the intent of the Conditions within the Payara Petroleum Production Licence.

The review will include, but not be limited to a review of the information provided by the Operator with respect to constructing a RAM model and the subsequent report of key metrics; review the Operator’s prioritised list of opportunities to improve the FPSO’s overall production system based on cost-benefit analyses; and examine the recommendations the Operator would have made in regards to the findings.

As with the first consultant, the government will expect the successful applicant to identify areas of shortcomings of the study with respect to the TORs and provide written recommendations to improve same.

As for the third international consultant, this person will be required to assess and review submissions related to ExxonMobil’s Produced

Water and Re-Injection Study for the Payara Project. This study focuses on the cost, benefits and feasibility of the treatment and reinjection of produced water.

The review will include but not be limited to the cost, benefits, and feasibility of implementing a system for the reinjection of produced water, save and except in defined unavoidable situations, as the primary disposal method; and the minimization of the effects of the discharging produced water into the ocean in keeping with accepted international standards.

Kaieteur News previously reported that Payara is the third project in the Stabroek Block and is expected to produce up to 220,000 barrels of oil per day after startup in 2024, using the Prosperity Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel. Ten drill centers are planned along with up to 41 wells, including 20 production and 21 injection wells. The gross recoverable resources of Payara are estimated to be 600 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe) resources and the project is expected to cost US$9B. THURSDAY EXXON TELLS GOVT. PRIVATE INVESTORS IN GAS PROJECT WILL REQUIRE INCENTIVES TO SURVIVE The Government of Guyana is currently actively pursuing private investors for joint participation in gas related projects to accompany a Natural gas fired power plant to primarily power an industrial park at the Wales Development Zone (WDZ), West Bank Demerara (WBD), in addition to the national grid.

The related gas ventures such as the production of

urea/fertiliser and other associate products are expected to be financially challenging and will require significant incentives on the part of the government such as tax breaks and waivers in order for any such venture to be deemed feasible.

This much was disclosed to the administration following a site assessment that was conducted by Stabroek Block Operator, ExxonMobil Guyana.

In a summary of the findings that were presented to Cabinet in 2018, it was documented that ExxonMobil had progressed feasibility studies for the potential commercialisation of gas volumes in the event future discoveries identify suitable gas supplies above gas-topower requirements.

It was found that “analysis has highlighted that while economics are challenged, requiring incentives, methanol and urea (fertiliser) producing largescale industrial facilities appear to be the more likely viable foundation industries for investors.”

As it relates to Methanol, ExxonMobil had recommended that export vessels would require deep water draft and as such pursuit of such a venture sees an export pipeline connected to offshore loading buoy in deeper water appearing to provide a viable Guyana coastline export solution.

As it relates to Urea, it was noted that granular product with viable roadbased sales domestically and potentially to immediate neighbouring countries is likely viable but screening assessment revealed the need for the construction of extended jetty and loading berths for direct regional exports via 5000 DWT vessels requiring 3-6M water depth. The Ministry of (Continued on page 24)

PAGE 24

From page 23 Natural Resources had earlier this year invited private investors to provide an Expression of Interest (EoI) to partake in Joint participation in the proposed gas-to-shore project with the government and Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL)—ExxonMobil Guyana.

According to the advertised EoI, the government and EEPGL are looking for partners “in designing or utilising the outputs from an NGL (Natural Gas Liquids)/LPG (Liquified Petroleum Gas) facility and related facilities.”

This includes, according to the Ministry, design, construction, and financing of a power plant fuelled by Natural gas, where the power will be delivered into the Guyana Power and Light’s (GPL) distribution grid.

This is in addition to industries that can utilise Natural gas for, “Natural gas driven developments and growth.”

According to that invitation, the decision on Wales was taken after extensive evaluation of multiple sites with ExxonMobil Guyana Limited.

The Wales Development Zone (WDZ), it said, has been identified as the termination point for the pipeline from the Liza Area in the Stabroek Block, offshore Guyana.

The WDZ encompasses over 14,000 plus acres of land of which approximately 1,300 acres will be set aside for heavy Industry/gas-related investments. The project, according to stakeholders, is expected to see some 27 kilometres of pipeline being buried from the Crane, West Coast Demerara (WCD) location to Wales, in addition to some 200 plus kilometres of pipeline from the Stabroek Block where the Liza Destiny Floating Production Storage and Offloading Vessel is located.

According to the administration, WDZ will be the location for the termination of the gaspipeline measuring over 225 km from the Liza Area.

Additionally, it will involve the establishment of a gas-processing plant (GPP) and a Natural gas liquids facility (NGL) capable of producing at least 4,000 bbl./ day, including the fractionation of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

With regards to the use of additional gases, the invitation detailed that responses dealing with NGLs should provide details of expectations on markets (local and regional), expected input prices, expected sale

Sunday September 19, 2021

Kaieteur News

prices, level of investment on required infrastructure, proposed changes to the current configuration of the existing market, and ability to work with local partners and Government.

SWAT TEAM INVADES HOME, SHOOTS ESSEQUIBO BUSINESSMAN DEAD IN BED - COP UNDER CLOSE ARREST Major unrest erupted Thursday at Dartmouth, Essequibo, Region Two, after ranks from the Special Weapons and Tactical Service Unit (SWAT) invaded the home of an Essequibo businessman and shot him dead in his bed.

The dead man was identified as Orin Boston, 29, the proprietor of ‘Ease Meh Stress’ Bar. Boston, according to investigators, was shot dead around 04:40hrs.

Thursday, Commissioner of Police, Nigel Hoppie, said an investigation into the shooting death of Boston by one of his ranks is in progress. He related too that the cop who fired the bullet that killed the businessman is under close arrest.

Speaking on the matter, the Top Cop detailed that the Boston was shot and killed during a joint operation between the SWAT Unit and members of the Anti-Crime Patrol on the Essequibo Coast. The Commissioner added that the operation was geared at unearthing ‘prohibited’ items.

When asked by members of the press if anything illicit was found at Boston’s Dartmouth home, the Commissioner said no.

Adding a bit more clarity on the issue, Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of police operations, Clifton Hicken, said that the SWAT team was dispatched from the GPF’s headquarters located at Eve Leary in Georgetown and had arrived in Essequibo on Tuesday.

They reportedly began their operation around 02:00hrs Thursday.

According to Hicken, they were sent to the area based on intel the Force had received. However with regards to what led them to invade Boston’s home and a few other homes along the Essequibo Coast, Hicken said that he, the Top Cop and the Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum, were not briefed on those details.

Blanhum noted, however, that he has learnt that during the SWAT team’s operations Wednesday morning, two murder suspects were arrested at Onderneeming and two others were detained for

another offence.

These suspects were reportedly picked up before they invaded Boston’s home at Dartmouth.

In a statement, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) stated that during the invasion, the ranks had a confrontation with Boston which led to him being shot.

His family members however are adamant that there was no confrontation between Boston and the ranks. They claimed that ranks had barged into Boston’s room and shot him to his arm while he was lying on his bed.

Moreover, the relatives had called for the Force to retract its statement.

Boston’s wife had told reporters too that there was no confrontation and posited that it might just be an allegation made by the ranks to cover-up their wrongdoing.

According to her version of the events, her husband came home around 04:00hrs. that morning, took a shower and headed straight for his room to sleep. A few moments later, the ranks invaded their home without any explanation and went straight to her husband’s room and shot him.

They reportedly tried to revive him after shooting him, but, according to the grieving woman, it appeared as though her husband was already dead. At the Suddie Public Hospital, where ranks rushed Boston, a doctor pronounced him dead on arrival.

After learning of his death, residents staged a protest by blocking roads with burning tyres and other debris during which they demanded justice for what they described as the wrongful killing of the businessman by the police ranks.

Following the unrest, Commissioner Hoppie and Crime Chief Blanhum visited the scene and met with the dead man’s relatives. They also spoke with the protestors in hope of restoring peace.

In one of the videos

released by the GPF’s Corporate Communications Unit (CCU), Hoppie was seen trying to comfort the dead man’s relatives and appease the angry residents of Dartmouth.

He was heard saying “I know that this community ought to be a friend of the police, because I know that we are a friend of the community. So when these things happen (the shooting) it tends to separate us and we don’t want that.”

As he along with Blanhum approached the road blocks, protestors could be heard shouting “you gon kill a man jussa” while another could be heard wailing “why dem kill we nephew?”

Commissioner Hoppie has since vowed that a thorough investigation into the shooting incident will be conducted by the Force’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR).

Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon, and opposition Members of Parliament have since issued statements calling for an independent investigation in order to bring satisfaction to Boston’s family members.

The Top Cop has assured that an independent probe will be done. During the press conference Wednesday, Hoppie expounded that the investigations into the matter will be completed within the shortest possible time, and ranks found accountable for the shooting will be answerable.

Up to press time Wednesday Essequibo police along with the Fire Service were working to bring an end to the protest action and have the Dartmouth Public Road cleared.

FRIDAY B$$$ BID SECURITY FOR ECCLES/MANDELA FOUR-LANE ROAD SIDELINES SMALL CONTRACTORS The Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA)

of the Ministry of Housing and Water, headed by Minister, Colin Croal, is looking for contractors to execute the construction of a brand new four-lane highway connecting Eccles and Great Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD), but according to some in the industry, the invitation in itself, sidelines small contractors from the beginning.

This is since to even obtain a bid document to get the specifications required by the Ministry to prepare a bid, attracts a non-refundable fee of some $50,000.

Additionally, interested bidders are being made to provide bid security at the minimum of $500M, or at least 1.5 percent of their bid price.

In some instances, bid security could be as much as $1B or above, or at least one percent of the bid price.

Cumulatively, the effects of the requirements, according to several contractors that have spoken with this publication on the condition of anonymity, “essentially sidelines small contractors from being a part of the process from the beginning.” At least one source told this publication that the requirements, as outlined by the ministry, makes a mockery of the Procurement Laws that guarantee that 20 percent of government contracts be handed to small contractors.

The requirements that have been set out from the beginning, according to one such contractor, effectively sideline all of the smaller operators in the industry, clearly paving the way for a preferred bidder.

The bids are to be opened on November 4, this year.

According to the Ministry, contracts will be awarded to the lowest evaluated qualified bidder and that “only one lot will be awarded to any bidder in a project area.”

It was noted nonetheless that a bidder might be considered for the award of

more than one lot, “provided that the bidder has shown sufficient equipment capacity, financial capacity, and human resource capacity, in order to execute simultaneous projects.”

According to the advertisement inviting potential contractors, the Ministry noted that it would be facilitating pre-bid meetings that would allow for site visits and presentations by the Ministry.

According to the Ministry, the construction period for the project is 15 months per lot.

The new road will serve to complement the additional four-lane infrastructure in train, namely, the Eccles to Mandela Avenue bypass road connecting to the Sheriff Street four-lane roadway and, ultimately, the East Coast Demerara Highway.

EXXONMOBIL SLAPPED WITHANOTHER CLIMATE CHANGE LAWSUIT …US PROSECUTORALLEGES DECADES OF MISLEADING FOSSIL FUELINFORMATION Vermont’s Attorney General, T.J. Donovan, has filed court litigation against Exxon Mobil Corporation and the Shell Oil Company in the U.S. State of Vermont’s Court on Tuesday last, alleging the companies misled the citizens there for decades with marketing that conceals the contributions to climate change and the harmful effects of burning their fuels.

The lawsuit in Vermont Superior Court, Chittenden Civil Division, is the latest of about two dozen similar ones

by States and Local Governments, from Rhode Island to Honolulu, that are seeking monetary relief over claims that oil majors harmed them, as they downplayed or misrepresented how the fuels they sold exacerbated the environmental risks tied to climate change.

According to (Continued on page 25)

Sunday September 19, 2021

From page 24 international reports, Vermont’s lawsuit seeks the disgorgement of all profits the companies made as a result of any unlawful practice in the State, and makes the claim that Exxon, Shell, and a handful of fuel distributors violated Vermont’s Consumer Protection Act, with their advertising and statements at gas stations, on their websites, and on social media.

An Exxon Mobil spokesperson, Casey Norton, has since dismissed the claims as “baseless and without merit.”

According to Norton, “legal proceedings like this waste millions of dollars of taxpayer money and do nothing to advance meaningful actions that reduce the risks of climate change.”

AG Donovan in a statement said: “Vermonters have a right to accurate information, in order to make informed decisions about the products they purchase.”

The State of Vermont alleges that the companies have known for years, through their internal research, about “the central role of their fossil fuel products” on climate change, but obscured their connection to climate change in marketing materials, in order to avoid losing their Vermont consumers.

Citing Exxon’s website, the complaint says, for example, that the Irving, Texas-based company claims its Synergy-branded fuel will help “‘reduce CO2 emissions,’” but it fails to mention that the fuel remains a significant contributor to climate change.

CO2 or carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that is released when fuel is burned.

The harmful effects of climate change, to which the companies’ products have contributed, range from rising sea levels to extreme precipitations and droughts, the complaint says.

Vermont is also asking the court to impose fines on the defendants.

According to reports, over the past two years, attorneys general from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, the District of Columbia, and Delaware have all sued members of the fossil fuel industry in State courts, accusing them of violating State laws by deceiving consumers about harms caused by their products.

Earlier climate lawsuits by cities, including Baltimore and California’s Imperial Beach have accused oil and gas majors of causing a public nuisance by selling their

products.

A United Nations climate panel said last month in a landmark report that the world is already certain to face further climate disruptions for decades.

Exxon is facing similar climate change related legal action domestically when two Guyanese, through their lawyers, in May last filed a case in the High Court against ExxonMobil’s Stabroek Block projects.

The legal team consists of Attorneys-at-Law, Melinda Janki and Mr. Ronald BurchSmith, with support from Richard Lord, QC, at Brick Court and Joshua Jackson of Cloisters in the UK. According to the case, which lists Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, SC, as a representative for the State, the High Court is being asked to determine whether ExxonMobil’s operations violate the Constitutional right of current and future generations to a healthy environment.

The first applicant, Dr. Troy Thomas, is a scientist and a University of Guyana lecturer. The second applicant, Quadad DeFreitas, is a young man from the South Rupununi Region of Guyana, an area rich in biodiversity, now threatened by climate change.

According to Dr. Thomas: ”Guyana is a carbon sink. The Guyanese people are not responsible for climate change, but we are already suffering the effects.

Climate change, ocean acidification and rising sea levels pose existential threats to the people and State of Guyana. As a scientist, I urge people to look at the evidence and to face reality.”

The case cites Guyana’s international obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement, in support of its claim for declarations that emissions from oil and gas production make the environment more harmful to health and wellbeing in violation of Article 149J of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to a healthy environment, and requires the State to protect the environment for present and future generations.

Article 149J specifically states that: (1) everyone has the right to an environment that is not harmful to his or her health or well-being. (2) The State shall protect the environment, for the benefit of present and future generations, through reasonable legislative and other measures designed to – (a) prevent pollution and ecological degradation; (b)

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promote conservation; and (c) secure sustainable development and use of natural resources, while promoting justifiable economic and social development.

SATURDAY COLLUSION WITH AGRICULTURE MINISTRY BIDS LEADS TO UNFAIR COMPETITION …REPEATED RETENDERING GIVES EDGE TO PREFERRED BIDDERS, PROVES COSTLY FOR OTHERS The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture, has in recent months repeatedly put out tenders inviting suppliers to provide a quantity of Steel Sheets for the budget agency under the Ministry.

The practice however, is being frowned upon by several local contractors who are now alleging collusion on the part of the Ministry, since the practice is not only unethical but tantamount to corruption and should be considered illegal.

It was explained that each time the Ministry puts out a tender for a contract—many of which runs into the hundreds of millions or billions—it would cost every person or company submitting a bid, hundreds of thousands of dollars for each bid submitted.

When the contract is

opened at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) and retendered, at least one contractor who spoke to this publication on the condition of anonymity explained that it is tantamount to the state agencies providing insider information to their preferred bidders.

This obtains since after repeated retendering, the preferred bidders would be able to know the rates being charged by competitors and eventually be allowed to outbid the others.

It was noted too that when complaints are lodged requesting the rationale behind the refusal of a bid, these are often times brushed aside or met with vague answers.

One such recent “glaring” example, according to another contractor that this publication spoke with, relates to the supply of steel sheets for the NDIA. The most recent opening for that retendered project was on September 14, last, when 12 companies and persons submitted bids for the supply of the steel sheets.

That round of bid opening saw variance in the bids submitted by in excess of $98M between the highest and lowest bids submitted.

An earlier round of bidding that was opened by the NPTAB in July 22, last for the supply of the tender saw a variation of some $253.2M between the highest and lowest bids submitted.

As it relates to the September round of bids

submitted, Toolsie Persaud Limited provided a proposal for some $294.6M, General Marine Company’s bid was $306.2M, Gafsons Industry Limited submitted a bid for $292.8M while Dax Contracting Services gave a proposal to supply the steel sheets for some $259.3M. Other bidders in that round of the tender opening, saw proposals from Brinco Shipping and Trading Company Limited for $245.3M, David Persaud Investments Limited for $210.8M, Silica Sand Post Inc., at $272.3M, Fix It Depot’s $275.3M, GSK Excavation Service Inc., came in at $208M, Samaroo Investments’ bid was $251.6M, S. Jagmohan Construction and General Supplies Inc. $219.6M and Yunas Civil Building and Construction Services $259.3M. In the earlier round of bidding for the supply of the same steel sheets in July for the NDIA, Yunas Civil Building and Construction Services had submitted a bid of $183.7M, while Dax Contracting Services’ bid was $280.3M. Samaroo Investments bid which was in that earlier round of bidding had submitted a bid for $281.2M, while Fix It Depot submitted an offer of $277.5M, S. Jagmohan Construction and General Supplies Inc. at that time proposed supplying the materials for $254.1M, while Colin Talbot Contracting proposed an offer of $253.5M. At the time, David Persaud Investments had

proposed supplying the Steel Sheets to NDIA at a cost of $27.9M, some $253M less than the highest offer at the time.

NDIA under the Ministry of Agriculture subsequently retendered the project since none of the bidders had been selected leading to another round of bidding this past week.

This publication understands that the NDIA under the Ministry has already retendered this project on at least four occasions including in August last.

Another of the projects highlighted to this publication that has in recent months been repeatedly retendered includes the construction of two pump stations, a farm to market road and some drainage infrastructure in Georgetown.

Additionally, another of the projects under the auspices of the Ministry that has been the subject of retenders is for the rehabilitation of 18 kilometres of road at Ituni/Tacama.

The Agriculture Ministry is headed by Substantive Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, while the NDIA is headed by Lionel Wordsworth.

US OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE HAULS IN EXXON, OTHER OIL COMPANIES TO TESTIFY ON CLIMATE MISINFORMATION Congressional Democrats are calling top executives at ExxonMobil and other oil giants to testify at a House hearing as lawmakers investigate what they say is a long-running, industrywide campaign to spread disinformation about the role of fossil fuels in causing global warming.

The House Oversight Committee on Thursday requested that executives at ExxonMobil, BP, Chevron and Shell testify at a hearing next month, along with leaders of the American Petroleum Institute, the oil industry’s top lobbying group, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

“We are deeply concerned that the fossil fuel industry has reaped massive profits for decades while contributing to climate change that is devastating American communities, costing taxpayers billions of dollars and ravaging the natural world,” Oversight Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., wrote in a letter to oil executives.

“We are also concerned that to protect those profits, the industry has reportedly (Continued on page 26)

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From page 25 led a coordinated effort to spread disinformation to mislead the public and prevent crucial action to address climate change,” they wrote. Khanna, chairman of Oversight’s environment subcommittee, has been pressing the oil industry for months for documents and other information on its role in stopping climate action.

Khanna has been focusing on Exxon after a

Kaieteur News

senior lobbyist for the company was caught in a secret video bragging that Exxon had fought climate science through “shadow groups” and had targeted influential senators in an effort to weaken President Joe Biden’s climate agenda, including a bipartisan infrastructure bill and a massive $3.5 trillion spending bill currently moving through Congress.

Wa s h i n g t o n - b a s e d lobbyist Keith McCoy also dismissed Exxon’s public expressions of support for a proposed carbon tax on fossil fuel emissions as a “talking point.”

McCoy’s comments were made public in June by the environmental group

Greenpeace UK, which secretly recorded McCoy and another lobbyist in Zoom interviews.

Darren Woods, Exxon’s chairman and chief executive, condemned McCoy’s statements and said the company stands by its commitment to work on finding solutions to climate change.

Woods is among the executives, which the House panel hopes to question at an October 28 hearing, along with BP America CEO, David Lawler, Chevron CEO, Michael Wirth, and Shell’s president, Gretchen Watkins.

The committee also has said it will formally question McCoy about his comments, although timi n g o f t h a t

interview has not been set.

Maloney and Khanna said in a statement that ExxonMobil and other oil companies “have worked to prevent serious action on global warming by generating doubt about the documented dangers of fossil fuels and misrepresenting the scale of their efforts to develop alternative energy t e c h n o l o g i e s . ’’ They compared the tactics to those deployed by the tobacco industry to resist regulation “while selling products that kill hundreds of thousands of Americans.’’

T h e o i l i n d u s t r y ’s “strategies of obfuscation and distraction span

Sunday September 19, 2021

decades and still continue t o d a y, ’’ K h a n n a a n d Maloney said. The five largest publicly traded oil and gas companies reportedly spent at least $1 billion from 2015 to 2018 “to promote climate disinformation through ‘branding and lobbying’,” the lawmakers wrote.

The committee gave oil executives until September 23 to respond and said additional steps, including issuing subpoenas, are possible.

A spokesman for Exxon said the company had received the letter and would respond to the committee. He declined further comment.

Bethany Aronhalt, a spokeswoman for API, said the group “welcomes the

opportunity to testify again before the House Oversight Committee and advance our priorities of pricing carbon, regulating methane and reliably producing American energy.” API President Mike Sommers was among those invited to testify next month.

Exxon and other oil companies frequently boast about efforts that they say they are making to produce clean energy in social media posts accompanied by sleek videos or pictures of wind turbines.

“We power progress together by providing more and cleaner energy solutions for the world,” says Shell’s Facebook profile, which is followed by more than nine million people. (AP)

Kaieteur News

Sunday September 19, 2021

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THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Cultural contempt in Guyana: The evolution and climax of class structure

W

hat follows below is almost an unforgivable truncation of a class analysis of pre-colonial and post-Independence class structure of this country.

The analysis cannot be compressed in a newspaper column though I am not restricted by editorial edict on number of words.

The March 2020 election in Guyana proved the critics of Karl Marx right.

No detractor of Marx has been more relentless than British philosopher, Sir Karl Popper, in his two-volume magnum opus – “The Open Society and its Enemies.”

Popper contradicted Marx on the issue of the dialectical struggle among opposing classes.

He argued people's consciousness inculcate other values than class loyalties.

One of those values is ethnic loyalty. If Popper was alive and saw how classes reacted to the March 2020 election rigging, he would have said, “I'm not surprised.”

In the struggle for Independence, the middle class in the less developed Third World countries, like

the CARICOM area and the bourgeois class in the developed Third World like Indonesia, India, etc., were the protagonists.

The bourgeoisie had status, resources and intellectual acumen to lead the struggle. The workers provided the numbers and the trade unions strategic support.

In the British West Indies, Guyana became a more complex polity than even Trinidad because of the largeness of the East Indian population and the fact that this population had overt mass-based leadership.

The struggle against colonialism in British Guiana was essentially a Mullato/Creole middle class movement.

Those elites felt that they were the logical inheritors of power when the British were ready to leave because they were the descendants of the house slave stratum (a 1971 book on the West Indies, “Consequences of Class and Colour” remains seminal reading on this era).

A complication arose because the leadership of the Mullato middle class needed the physical presence of a large workforce. Indians

occupied a strategic place in the economy – the sugar industry.

The solution was a covenant between the Mullato middle class and the political party organising for the rural peasantry and rural working class under Dr. and Mrs. Jagan. This took the form of the Jagan/Burnham covenant.

The British removal of the Jagan/Burnham government in 1953 led to a formidable contest for power separately by the Mullato middle class and the majority Indian masses.

The Portuguese petty bourgeoisie under the leadership of entrepreneur, Peter D'Aguair, aligned with the White dominated Catholic Church sought the extirpation of any attempt of Indians to assume State power.

The Indian masses then had four penetrating class enemies – the Creole middle class, the urban African proletariat, the Portuguese petty bourgeois and the British colonial office. In 1964 through systematic destruction of lives and property, the PPP and the majority rule of Indians were guillotined.

More complication arose, this time in the 1970s.

The leadership of the urban proletariat, the PNC, gravitated towards state capitalism and began to encroach on the cultural hegemony the Creole class enjoyed in British Guiana.

This resilient class then founded a middle class movement to topple President Burnham – the Working People Alliance (WPA).

The Mullato/Creole class has serious cultural and class contempt for Indians.

An alliance with an Indian party to remove the PNC was out of the question since the urban elites fear Indians could secure state power.

The better bet was an African led party whose leadership consisted of majority of middle class people.

More complications came. The dialectics of world politics catapulted Indians in power in 1992 under the PPP. As a reaction

to this, the Creole middle class planned a two-prong attack on Indian state power.

Frederick Kissoon It birthed another middle class movement – the a Alliance For change (AFC) - nd AFC as was inside the as it did in the 1970s with the PNC but for different reason.

The PNC, an essentially WPA. The AFC and the WPA working class-oriented merged with the Black outfit, wanted state power traditional party the PNC in for the sake of power.

The AFC and WPA the 21st century and eventually claimed state wanted the removal of the Indian party for reasons of power in 2015.

Now in power, the deep, cultural contempt.

This explains why Mullato/Creole class could middle class Guyanese not manage the state.

The only instinct they society in Guyana and in the had was stopping a “cultural diaspora over five months i n f e r i o r ” r a c e f r o m supported the rigging or controlling state power – stayed silent.

We have reached the end Indians.

They attempted to rig the of history in Guyana as 2020 election for five Francis Fukuyama puts it. consecutive months. Here is The Creole class and their two parties are dead. the predictable part.

(The views expressed in The tempestuous, i r r a t i o n a l , e m o t i o n a l this article are those of the embrace for rigging was just a u t h o r a n d d o n o t as graphic inside the two necessarily reflect the middle class parties –WPA opinions of this newspaper.)

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Sunday September 19, 2021

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Coronavirus: This virus has exposed weaknesses that threatens our existence

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

W

hile this pandemic has taken many lives and left a trail of devastation in its path, it is teaching us a lesson that may be more important for our survival when all of this is over.

It has been a disappointing time for humanity as we have shown how difficult it is for us to come together to achieve the common goal of defeating the enemy in the war against COVID-19.

Today I wish to focus on the obvious weaknesses in us that have become so obvious during this pandemic.

It thrives on the weak While we have modernised, our world has become one filled with processed foods, chemicalised diets, more stressed and one with little time for rest.

All of these are pro-

inflammatory factors that cause excess inflammation in our body and weaken our immune system and general health.

Many of us, who have followed the modern trend of fast food diets and the fast life, are the ones that have weakened our health and immune system due to the excess inflammation that comes with such a lifestyle.

What we now know is that the coronavirus overwhelms our body by causing a hyperinflammatory state, which many cannot overcome.

T h i s h y p e r inflammatory state occurs more efficiently in someone whose body is already inflamed due to poor lifestyle choices. They are therefore at a higher risk of having a poor outcome if infected with COVID-19.

It has shown how divided we are At the beginning of the pandemic, we were all scared and many came together to support health workers who were at the frontlines fighting the fight.

As time went by, we figured

out that responsible behaviour and unity in actions were key factors in overcoming this pandemic.

It meant that for us to win the war against COVID-19, we all had to speak the same language and take similar actions.

The resistance to unity and responsible behaviour has been our biggest downfall and is the reason why we are losing this war so far.

This virus has shown us that we cannot work together over time and give a little for the better good of humanity.

It is showing how culpable we are to misinformation We can't hide from the fact that we are in the era of the social media driven world. Unfortunately, social media has played a big part in peddling myths about COVID-19 and its treatment to the point where we are believing what was previously thought as unbelievable.

Vaccines made with microchips to track us to the virus being spread via 5G t e c h n o l o g y a r e

misinformation being peddled on social media that are capturing the imagination of too many.

Unfortunately, these and many other unbelievable fairytales have become so believable for many causing them to make illogical choices. Vaccines, which have saved us from many diseases and were an accepted norm, have now become the villain because it's not “trending” as it should be in the social media world.

Are we really the superior species?

While science has shone through and discovered many treatments and measures that could have

helped us exit this pandemic, bureaucracy, corruption, and misinformation have prevented us from winning this war.

The simplest of actions and treatments to help save us have been riddled with many obscurities by those with selfish agendas and has resulted in many avoidable deaths.

While we need to win the war and overcome this pandemic, how we survive as a species is the bigger worry.

Our desire to pursue short-term wants is clouding us from seeing the importance of protecting our long-term needs.

COVID-19 is more than

an infectious disease, it's a lesson and a wakeup call for humanity. What we learn from it will determine if we survive as a species.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday September 19, 2021

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>>> ENCOURAGING EVENTS, DISTURBING DEVELOPMENTS <<<

Assault on Minister of Education, Dartmouth SWAT operation and CJIA expansion project

By GHK Lall

I

encourage all my fellow Guyanese to get vaccinated. Too many in our small population are falling daily. In the circumstances, there is only one sensible position: no more hesitation, time for vaccination!

I am reading of the developments involving attacks on Minister of Education, Ms. Priya Manickchand. Revolting. How easily we get to this point, with common courtesy and civility abandoned swiftly.

It disturbs that our politics inspire us to degrade each other like this that confrontational matters deteriorate so reflexively to these

monstrous places.

We pretend at political correctness, individual honesty and decency, then the bottom fall out.

I remember one of the high points of that rabid political witch hunter's Sen. Joe McCarthy's inquisitions, being when the Chief Counsel for the U.S. Army, Joseph Welch, said this to the demagogic McCarthy: “Have you no sense of decency, sir?” I say to those who engaged in that ugly attack on the Minister of Education: things should never go this far. Never!

I don't agree with how the Minister handles her portfolio - the decisions made, the positions taken, the way she conducts her official responsibilities - and I have expressed caustic words to such; but there are lines that must not be crossed. Those who did must do the right thing, show some remorse, regroup, and start over.

I am disturbed by what unfolded at Dartmouth, Essequibo,

in the residence of now deceased citizen, Orin Boston. A storm blew through the Boston family home, and fatally blew away Mr. Boston with it. For “prohibited items?” I wonder if we are talking of contraband firearms here.

The Guyana Police Force had better come up with a persuasive account - a truthful one - about the overwhelming nature of intelligence gathered, the control in place, the tactics employed.

Presently, I will not second guess the GPF, but something troubles here. It troubles, because a home can be invaded with overpowering force under the cover of dark, a man killed, a cover story ('confrontation'), a convenient secondary supporting narrative 'two murder suspects snared,' and with the most senior officers in the dark, especially the Crime Chief.

With senior officers out of the loop, it may be for management of leaks purposes, but it doesn't give much confidence, if there are such fears at such heights. Who is

trusted? And if the underlying story is not on the up and up, then which homes if secure? The whole truth of what occurred at Dartmouth must come out. We wait.

B y n o w, w a i t i n g a n d disappointing have become the national culture with big-name, big-ticket projects in Guyana. The Airport Expansion project stands as an embarrassing poster child. The nakedness of not one, but three governments (involving the same two old political parties, though) disturbs.

The time is always extending, the costs keep rising, but the project is never ending. The latest creature from outer space, a Bishop of a government minister, no less, promised months ago that he had no patience, would take no prisoners, and that the contractor had to deliver.

Either the Chinese are making a fool of Minister Edghill; or he is making a fool of Guyanese, with the blustery sermonising that has become his pious public clothing.

The Chinese have not delivered, and Minister Edghill has not delivered on that CJIA expansion nightmare.

Minister Edghill is all hot air and cold feet where the airport expansion is concerned. All noise, no product. No substance, too. But he is not a Bishop for nothing; such a smart one is he (or thinks he is).

He has bought time and opportunity, with that, the news that the project is going to be done by the end of this year, and below US$200M. Minister Edghill has opened the door for more thievery by pious comrades, who like him talk a good game. He gets an exemption (for now). The Minister also thinks he is one slick cookie: he gets to say, what the PNC couldn't do, his government did. That is, deliver a completed airport project. These are the disturbing developments and people we have here.

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

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Sunday September 19, 2021

Kaieteur News

Sunday September 19, 2021

>>> Young Entrepreneur on the Move

PAGE 33

<<<

' s n o i t a e r C 's a ‘Nol

By Allyiah Allicock

M

any young people h a v e b e e n unleashing their creative side and have even been defying the odds, amid the pandemic, to show the world just how productive they can be.

Many of them in recent months launched businesses that provide services within the various sectors.

Natascia Ownola Paul, our featured entrepreneur today, is a sterling example.

The young woman, who hails from Stewartville on the West Coast of Demerara, revealed that it was her art and craft skills that led her to delve into the business arena.

The 26-year-old is the founder and sole proprietor of 'Nola's Creations,' a local arts and crafts business that produces creative handcrafted cards, infinity boxes, explosion boxes, scrapbooks, magic photo cubes, rotating scrapbooks to suit just about any occasion.

In an interview with Kaieteur News, the mother of two revealed that although her business was officially launched last year October, before that she was dabbling in things art and craft.

“I would normally make birthday or anniversary cards for my mom, my aunt, and grandmother. A few years back I made cards for some nursery school students to give to their mothers and fathers for Mother's Day and Father's Day,” she related.

From there she started to share

…meeting all your creative handcrafted cards and gift needs pieces of her work on social media.

These unique pieces, she noted, were posted in a Facebook group for persons to see. Eventually, she disclosed, persons interested in her creation started to place orders and sales took off. But that's not where

“

added that during this journey there were not many challenges encountered even with the prevailing global pandemic.

As time progresses, one of her goals is to have a remote location so that persons can visit and see what

The role young entrepreneurs play in society is that they contribute to society by leading the way and finding innovative solutions to financial and social issues. Also, they inspire other young people to invest in their skills and use it to provide an income.”

the idea of joining the business arena came from. Paul explained that it was in October when delivering some infinity boxes for a workmate, two men had approached her at the time, and was amazed at her creativeness and asked if she could supply them with some orders. “Since then I got a lot of orders and I decided to become committed and use my skills,” she related.

Business, since it started, has been prospering she revealed. Her support base, she noted, has been amazing so far due to the many orders she has been receiving. She

Some of the handcrafted gift cards, infinity boxes, and photo cubes, created by Natascia

”

is it she has in store from them.

Although she is skillful at handcrafting boxes and cards, Paul still believes there is more she can develop on, and as such, she added, “I plan on shaping myself during this initial time so that I'm prepared to deliver on bigger targets later.”

Another goal for her too is that when she becomes even more successful, she plans on assisting upcoming entrepreneurs with their business plans and ideas and making sure they accomplish their goals.

On the topic of young entrepreneurs, Paul mentioned that

Young Entrepreneur, Natascia Ownola Paul

they are contributing to society greatly by being leaders and role models to others and showing them that they too can invest in their skills.

“The role young entrepreneurs play in society is that they contribute to society by leading the way and finding innovative solutions to financial and social issues. Also, they inspire other young people to invest in their skills and use it to provide an

income,” she stated.

When asked what more can be done to help boost small businesses in our society today, our featured entrepreneur said that there should be more advertising platforms that can give them that full recognition and exposure.

If you would like to experience 'Nola's Creations' for yourself, check reach out to Paul on Facebook or place your orders at telephone number (592) 626-4075.

Kaieteur News

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Sunday September 19, 2021

e a d i l e Cam

g ts in s... re ture e t In rea C

C

amelids are members of the biological family Camelidae, the only currently living family in the suborder Tylopoda. The extant members of this group are: dromedary camels, Bactrian camels, wild Bactrian camels, llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, and guanacos. Camelids are even-toed ungulates classified in the order Cetartiodactyla, along with

species like whales, pigs, deer, cattle, and antelopes.

Camelid feet lack functional hooves, the toe bones being embedded in a broad, cutaneous pad.

Camelids are large, strictly herbivorous animals with slender necks and long legs.

They differ from ruminants in a number of ways.

Their dentition show traces of vestigial central incisors in the incisive bone and the third incisors have

developed into canine-like tusks. Camelids also have true canine teeth and tusklike premolars, which are separated from the molars by a gap.

The musculature of the hind limbs differs from those of other ungulates in that the legs are attached to the body only at the top of the thigh, rather than attached by skin and muscle from the knee upwards.

Because of this, camelids have to lie down by resting on their knees with their legs tucked underneath their bodies. They have threechambered stomachs, rather than four-chambered ones; their upper lips are split in two, with each part separately mobile; and, uniquely among mammals, their red blood cells are

elliptical.

They also have a unique type of antibodies, which lack the light chain, in addition to the normal antibodies found in other mammals.

These so-called heavychain antibodies are being used to develop singledomain antibodies with potential pharmaceutical applications.

Camelids do not have hooves; rather, they have two-toed feet with toenails and soft foot pads (Tylopoda is Greek for "padded foot").

Most of the weight of the animal rests on these tough, leathery sole pads. The South American camelids have adapted to the steep and rocky terrain by adjusting the pads on their toes to maintain grip.

The surface area of Camels foot pads can increase with increasing velocity in order to reduce pressure on the feet and larger members of the camelid species will usually have larger pad area to help distribute weight across the foot. Many fossil camelids were unguligrade and probably hooved, in contrast to all living species.

C a m e l i d s a r e behaviourally similar in many ways, including their walking gait, in which both legs on the same side are moved simultaneously.

While running, camelids engage a unique "running pace gait" in which limbs on the same side move in the same pattern they walk, with both left legs moving and then both right, this ensures that the fore and hind limb will not collide while in fast motion.

During this motion there is a moment where all four limbs are off the ground at t h e s a m e t i m e .

Consequently, camelids large enough for human beings to ride have a typical swaying motion.

Dromedary camels, Bactrian camels, llamas, and alpacas are all induced ovulators.

The three Afro-Asian camel species have developed extensive adaptations to their lives in harsh, near-waterless environments. Wild populations of the Bactrian camel are even able to drink brackish water, and some herds live in nuclear test areas.

Sunday September 19, 2021

Kaieteur News

On the heels of COVID, Climate Change swings a wrecking ball From page 20 5,233 deaths.

VECTOR DISEASES INCREASE Experts are concerned that climate change is likely to increase the prevalence of emerging infectious diseases and vector-borne diseases.

They argue that Climate Change disrupts ecosystems and increases the risk of diseases jumping to new hosts. Scientists have been warning for many years of the probability of pandemics increasing as a result of climate change.

In 2008, a study published in the journal, Nature, found that over the previous decade nearly onethird of emerging infectious diseases were vector-borne, with the jumps to humans corresponding to changes in the climate. For instance, insects such as infectionbearing mosquitoes follow changing geographic temperature patterns. Nine of the 10 most suitable years for the transmission of dengue fever have occurred since 2000.

INTERCONNECTED CRISES According to the RIIA

report, interconnections between shifting weather patterns, resulting in changes to ecosystems, and the rise of pests and diseases, combined with heat waves and drought, will likely drive unprecedented crop failure, food insecurity and migration of people.

All this, the report argues, could result in the potential breakdown of governance and political systems as societies become increasingly unstable due to lack of income as well as competition over limited food supplies.

The report says that Experts are concerned that such situations could lead to a rise of extremist groups, paramilitary intervention, organised violence, and conflict between people and states.

VULNERABLE STATES MUST STAND UNITED Caribbean governments have to remain focused on the clear and present danger of the COVID-19 pandemic that is strangling their countries, but no resident of the region should take their eye off the pendulum that is swinging the dangerous Climate Change wrecking ball.

At the COP 26 UN Climate Change Conference, in Glasgow at t h e e n d o f O c t o b e r, representatives of vulnerable countries – in Africa, Asia, the Pacific and Latin America and the Caribbean must make it clear to the governments of highly emitting countries that their profligacy must not continue. If – and only if – these vulnerable countries have the courage to stand t o g e t h e r, u s i n g t h e i r collective leverage, do they have a chance of causing the urgent change necessary to the policies and practices of the big polluters.

The alarm bell has been rung in the RIIA's expert report, and it sounds a death knell for small states. It should be heeded.

(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

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Kaieteur News

Mindful Eating and why you need to know about it Our eating habits are directly related to how healthy our body stays.

Celebrities and yoga experts have incorporated mindful eating into their dietary routine for an improvement in overall wellbeing.

Creating healthy habits is the key to a healthy body and mind, according to Shilpa Shetty. Mindful eating is one of the best ways to accomplish your health goals, ward off many illnesses and achieve tranquillity of the mind. We often think a lot about what to eat. But miss an important aspect i.e how to eat? A simple change in the way you eat your food can do wonders for your mind, body and soul.

What is Mindful Eating?

Eating mindfully is not a health fad nor is it a new diet to follow. Mindful eating is a rather simple practice that requires the full focus of our mind and nothing else.

Mindful eating means paying attention to the food you are eating and actively engaging all your senses to feel, smell, taste and touch your food.

Sounds very simple right? We have strayed away from this practice because today we turn our focus to a variety of other things during our meals.

The most common practice includes watching television or staying glued to our phones and scrolling through social media while eating which is not at all a healthy practice.

Mindful eating is not a practice that will magically help you lose weight or become healthy. It is a process-oriented habit that will ultimately lead you towards better health. If you practice mindful eating you will slowly notice that you enjoy eating more than before and the quantity of food that you consume also becomes restricted along with many other benefits.

What are the Benefits of Mindful Eating?

Eating mindfully has a number of benefits that impact our overall health. Here are some of the health benefits you will experience when you practice mindful eating: 1.Weight loss Practicing mindful eating aids in weight loss since you are aware of your body’s needs. Mindful eating minimizes the need of eating in excess and makes you achieve satiety with an adequate amount of diet. If you accompany mindful eating with a healthy diet, then you can start reaching your weight loss goals more easily.

2.Understand body cues in a better manner

We often do not understand whether we are actually hungry or we are craving food due to other reasons like stress or anxiety.

If you start to focus on the food you eat, you will slowly start to understand how full you are and when your body is actually craving food.

Mindful eating can help you understand the signals of your body better and you can correctly assess whether you are craving food due to hunger or other reasons. This can help you minimize binge eating or stress eating.

3.Better digestive health Focusing on your food also includes eating it at a steady pace while chewing it properly. If you focus properly while eating, the food is digested much more easily than if you keep on eating without taking too much care. Proper chewing and eating slowly go a long way in aiding our digestive system.

4.Balanced snacking Mindful eating helps you make healthier choices about the food you eat. If you understand the need for healthy eating and pay close attention to what you are putting in your body, you will skip deep-fried snacks and choose light and healthier options such as nuts, seeds, slices of fruit, yoghurt, etc.

These healthy snacks will

provide your body with the necessary nutrients in between meals.

How to Eat Mindfully? Top 9 Tips from Shilpa Shetty 1.Avoid watching TV while eating Skip watching TV or using your mobile phone while eating. To be mindful of your food, you need to start allotting your complete attention towards it. Taste your food and feel every bite of it. Focus on the different textures and tastes and savour your meal.

2.Enjoy food with a feeling of gratitude Be thankful that you are getting to eat a proper meal.

A nutritious meal is something which we are lucky to eat every day and being thankful for it is a great way to start being mindful about food.

3.Control your portions Take small amounts of food at a time instead of taking a lot to eat at once.

When your stomach feels full, stop eating. Taking smaller portions at a time will help you watch the amount you need to eat to get full.

4. Staying hydrated is vital Staying hydrated is crucial to maintain good health. There are times when you might feel hungry but it is actually dehydration causing the hunger. Skip unhealthy snacking and try having a glass of water instead. You might actually

stop being hungry.

5. Chew your food properly Chew every bite at least 28/30 times so that it breaks down properly. This helps you eat slower and also aids the digestive system.

6. Carry healthy snacks while travelling Carry snacks like nuts or raisins while travelling. If you feel hungry, snacking on these healthy options can help you avoid foods that are harmful to the body or even unhealthy portions of food.

7. Eat only when

you feel hungry Eat only when you are actually feeling hung r y.

Learn to be brutally honest with yourself – are you really hungry or do you want to eat because you are bored or stressed? Try following a strict eating routine that will help you avoid feeling hungry at random moments.

8. Concentrate on breathing for at least 10 minutes a day Practice simple breathing exercises for at least 10 minutes a day. This can help

you put your mind at ease and focus on everything including the act of eating without feeling distracted.

9. Shop with a mindful list Make a list of things you need to purchase before going grocery shopping.

This can help you avoid picking up unhealthy food while shopping and stick to the necessary food items. (https://pharmeasy.in/blog/ mindful-eating-why-youshould-start-practicing-thiscelebrity-recommendedhabit/)

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Sunday September 19, 2021

==CONSUMER CONCERNS==

Corruption could be eliminated with committed will

By Pat Dial One of the major ailments in today's world is corruption and one encounters daily reports of it from all parts of

the world. There are many dimensions of it and it operates both nationally and internationally. Nationally, it is well known and

i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y, i t i s associated with such crimes as money laundering and trafficking in persons.

Corruption has often been defined as "Misuse of public power and assets for private gain."

This definition, though, captures the major and most important area of corruption, does not encompass the day to day corruption which ordinary folk must face such as having to pay bribes to access public services, or paying bribes to obtain employment or promotions or having to suffer exploitation from the State Machinery itself.

The enormity of the ailment is so all-pervasive that the efforts of private persons and NonGovernmental Organisations (NGO's) to deal with it, though useful and necessary, are eventually overwhelmed.

It is only the State that has the necessary resources and staying power that can successfully confront it and eliminate it.

The main reason why it has become one of the imperatives for the State to fight corruption is that it

undermines Democracy and the Meritocracy ushered in with the Industrial Revolution, it militates against economic and social development and ultimately oppresses the citizenry.

The Government of Guyana, over the years, has been making efforts to grapple with corruption and a most recent effort was made at the beginning of September when an anticorruption workshop spearheaded by the Hon. Gail Te i x e i r a , M i n i s t e r o f Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, took place.

This workshop was supported by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Minister Teixeira emphasised the need for Guyana to build its institutional capacity to eliminate instances of bribery, under-hand deals, fraud and exploitation in the Public Sector while Mr. Jason Reicheit of UNODC stressed that the COVID-19 pandemic has opened new areas of corruption in procurement of medical supplies and equipment, distribution, treatment and

manufacture of vaccines.

Minister Teixeira is well aware of the pervasive and multifaceted nature of corruption and realises that it could touch every aspect of Government activity and so invited all the main Government agencies to participate. At the risk of being superfluous we name those agencies: Public Service Commission, Police Service Commission, Ombudsman, Integrity Commission, Special Organised Crime Unit, Public Procurement Commission, departments under the Police Force, Auditor General, Financial Intelligence Unit, Judicial Service Commission, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Ministry of Legal Affairs, the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board and Bankers Association of Guyana.

Various formulas have been put forward worldwide to fight corruption such as keeping the Law abreast with the kaleidoscopic changes in corruption, protecting whistleblowers, steeply

increasing salaries of the Police and Public Servants, and so on.

Whatever methods have been tried worldwide, none of them have been able to eliminate corruption.

It would seem to us that corruption could only be reduced to its pre-World War II modest levels by cultural change brought about by making anti-corruption an item of the educational system from the nursery levels upwards.

In this effort, the print and electronic media will have to be enlisted.

The Guyana Consumers Association are convinced that many of the instances of corruption which occur at the Ministerial and Public Service levels are the result of ignorance of the Financial Regulations and General Orders governing the Public Service and have sent on to the relevant Authorities some ideas of how training could be delivered to these groups.

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

Sunday September 19, 2021

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Kaieteur News

Lessons from a Lashpreneur!!!

All you need to know about the lash shedding season

By Latoya Zephyr Our bodies go through natural shedding each change of season Unfortunately it usually is worse in the fall as our bodies prepare for the coming warmth and lack of humidity.

This increased hair loss doesn’t just happen to our lashes, but the hairs on our head as well.

The body also will increase its oil production to prepare for the seasonal change to keep the hair and skin hydrated.

If you start noticing your lash retention suffering more than usual or natural lashes on your extensions falling out aswell this might be due to the seasonal shedding season.

There isn’t a much you can do other than wait it out and if you want fuller lashes schedule more frequent fills If you recently just got a fill or fullset and you notice more shedding on one side then the other, this is normal to have uneven shedding.

This is just simply because you have more lashes in the telogen phase on one eye then the other. on average we have 90150 lashes per eye with am average of 300 lashes a set.

On average we lose 2-6 lashes a day in a week that equals up to 42 lashes that’s about 20% of your set this is why 1 week infills are needed. In 2 weeks 72 lashes and 3 week 144 lashes at this point most of your lashes would be out grown and may need a fullset.

These lashes that you lose are not lost forever but are just going through their growth cycle. Here are some reasons why lashes shed as the seasons change and some ways we can slow the process.

Sun Protection As the seasons change, our bodies start to shed all hair, not just eyelashes. Hair on our head, body hair, etc.

This is because the biological purpose of hair is to protect our skin from the sun. As the sun lowers in fall months, our bodies begin to shed the hair.

If you have a furry little friend, you may notice that their hair

is shedding during this time as well, for the same reason.

Vitamin D The sun provides our bodies with Vitamin D. As the days get cooler (and this happens more quickly in some areas of the world earlier than others) the sun isn’t as strong.

Our bodies don’t absorb as much Vitamin D, which is necessary to hair growth.

Energy Loss Because of that lack of Vitamin D, our bodies lack energy which makes the hair growth process slower. Our bodies have to work extra hard to grow hair when lacking Vitamin D. They are also working hard to protect other parts of our bodies from colds, infections and other illnesses that come with the change of the seasons.

The good news is that season changing lash shed only lasts 3-4 weeks. Here’s some ways to stop or slow this shedding: 1. Take Vitamin D Supplements 2. Don’t go longer than 2 weeks between fills during shedding time 3. Have lighter lashes applied during shedding time 4. Have shorter lashes applied during shedding time.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday September 19, 2021

Kaieteur News

Sunday September 19, 2021

The Court Journal

By Renay Sambach

I

n this edition of the 'The Court Journal,' I will highlight matters in which members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) were charged and placed before the court for allegedly committing a crime.

On March 17, 2021, a Lance Corporal of the GDF was charged with causing the death of a Providence, East Bank Demerara woman by dangerous driving.

The defendant, 23-yearold Jason Butters, of Onderneeming, West Bank Demerara, and his lawyer, Stanley Moore, S.C., appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts before Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan.

The rank had denied the charge, which alleges that on December 15, 2020, on the McDoom Public Road, East Bank Demerara, he drove motor vehicle, PTT 4166, in a manner dangerous to the public and thereby causing the death of Ameena Sooklall.

The police prosecutor told the court that on the day in question around 23:45hrs, Butters was heading to Georgetown and while in the vicinity of the Shell Gas Station, he fell asleep at the wheel thus crashing into the median.

As a result of the crash, Sooklall who was in the passenger seat was pinned and received multiple injuries about her body. She was taken out of the wreckage and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

It was reported that Butters was also hospitalised. After he was discharged, he was arrested and subsequently charged with causing the death of Sooklall by dangerous driving.

The rank is presently out

PAGE 41

Matters before the court that involve GDF ranks

on $150,000 bail as the matter continues in court.

I n a n o t h e r m a t t e r, another Lance Corporal of the GDF is facing multiple charges after he was caught on camera brutally assaulting a police officer.

Lance Corporal, Kester Bowen, had appeared in the Wales Magistrate's Court where he was slapped with several traffic charges.

The charges were read to him by Principal Magistrate, Faith McGusty.

Bowen pleaded guilty to the offences, which stated that on October 9, 2020, he was driving an uninsured and uncertified motor vehicle.

The GDF rank also committed the offence of driving a vehicle with prohibited tinted glass. He

This move reportedly caused a traffic congestion and Wilson who was on patrol duties approached Bowen's car and instructed him to pull over to the side of the road.

Eyewitnesses said that Bowen became annoyed, exited his vehicle and “chucked Wilson.”

Bowen was warned of his action by Wilson, but Bowen ignored him and he suffered a brutal assault.

Based on a video seen, Bowen was seen choking Wilson and punching him repeatedly to the face and body.

Persons were heard advising Wilson to call for backup and called Bowen's actions “disrespectful.”

The video ended with

Dead, Ameena Sooklall

was fined $25,000, $10,000 and $7,500 respectively for the three offences.

He was later charged with assaulting the police officer and resisting arrest.

On that court appearance, he was placed on bail pending the outcome of the matter.

According to reports, Bowen was seen by Constable Wilson, switching lanes with his motor car along the Meer-Zorgen Public Road located on the western end of the Demerara Harbour Bridge.

Bowen throwing Wilson to the ground and re-entering his car.

Bowen was subsequently apprehended by Wilson with the help of other ranks and taken to the La Grange Police Station. Wilson later received medical attention at the West Demerara Regional Hospital.

Moreover, the GDF had sent out a press release condemning Bowen's misconduct and gave all assurance that it will cooperate with the police in

Injured, Constable Wilson

e nsuring that he faces the full brunt of the law.

In addition, just last month a Sergeant of the GDF was among three persons remanded for a multimillion-dollar gold heist.

Sergeant, Keyon King, 32, had appeared before Magistrate, Sherdel IsaacsMarcus, alongside his alleged accomplices – two security guards, Delroy Jackson aka 'Bug', 36, and Peon Lee, 36, better known as “Nino Brown.”

The trio was charged with robbery under arms.

After the charge was read to them, Jackson and Lee pleaded not guilty but King, t

he GDF Sergeant, pleaded guilty.

As such, the Magistrate remanded the two security guards to prison and deferred King's sentencing to later that day.

However, when the matter was called for sentencing for the Sergeant, the defendant moved to change an initial guilty plea after “clearing his head.”

He reportedly told the court that at the time when he pleaded guilty his head was not clear and reasoned that it was unclear because he had no knowledge that he would be placed before the court.

As a result, he too was remanded.

The GDF Sergeant who changed his plea after clearing his head, Keyon King

The three are accused of armed robbery committed on a gold trading company called Wallison Enterprise.

Three armed men had entered the business establishment located at G o r d o n S t r e e t , K i t t y, Georgetown, posing as gold dealers.

Unsuspecting employees attended to them but were held at gunpoint and forced to open two metal safes before being handcuffed with plastic zip ties and locked in a room.

After they were rescued, they learnt that the men had carted off $38M in cash and $20M worth of raw gold.

The bandits had also stolen one of the employees' gold jewellery and cellphones.

Cops had moved to arrest one of the security guards of the establishment, Jackson, on the same day the crime was perpetrated.

Investigations led to the arrest of Lee, another security guard who was employed at the company.

Detectives later raided the Sophia home of another suspect and found evidence linking that individual to the crime.

That suspect however, is still to be arrested but as the investigations progressed, detectives were led to the West Coast Demerara home of King, the GDF sergeant.

Buried in his backyard was a total of $18M, part of the cash stolen in the heist.

King was arrested and taken into custody.

Persons of interest were questioned too but were released and, according to sources, detectives were able to obtain a confession from King and the two security guards admitting their involvement in the crime.

Based on what Kaieteur News was told, it was the two security guards who had allegedly set up the heist on

Sunday September 19, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 42

A Short Story : The Bone in Throat

English for students.com This Short Story The Bone in Throat is quite interesting to all the people.

Enjoy reading this story.

Once upon a time, there was a lazy wolf living in a jungle.

Near his house was a pond.

Many animals came to the pond to drink water. The wolf was always in search of food.

One day, he was sitting near the pond hoping to get something to eat. When suddenly he spotted a dead bull. “Aha! What a luck!

Now I can eat all I want," he thought and his mouth started watering.

He began to eat the bull.

A thought struck him, “if another beast comes this way he will ask for a share. I had better eat fast." 'Grub! Grub!

Grub! Grub1' he chewed, faster and faster.

In his haste, a piece of bone got stuck in his throat.

“Ohh! Errk!" cried the wolf.

He tried to bring it out of his mouth. He tried to cough it out but in vain. Next, he tried to swallow it down but he failed.“Ooh, the bone in throat hurts. What shall I do now?" thought the wolf.

Suddenly he remembered that a crane lived on the nearby riverbank.The wolf went to the crane and pleaded, “My dear Crane! I have got a bone stuck in my throat. I will give you a present, if you pull it out of my throat with your long beak.”

The crane took pity on the wolf. He asked the wolf to look up with his mouth open. The crane then put its

head into the wolf's mouth and pulled out the bone.

“Oh! What a relief!" the w o l f s i g h e d .

“Now where is my present?" asked the crane.

“What present?" the wolf replied, pretending not aware of its promise.

“You said that you would give me a present if I remove the bone from your throat," said the crane humbly.

“Hah! Is it not a present that you put your head into my mouth and got out alive?

I could have easily crushed your head while your beak was inside my mouth," said the ungrateful wolf and went away.

The crane felt helpless and decided not to help any ungrateful creature in the future.

Junior page Create a Clock for Easy Education What You'll Need · White foam board · Chalk · Box cutter · Paintbrush · Blackbird paint · Paint marker (white, other colored optional) Learning about time is essential but for many kids it can be tricky to master.

By having them create their own clock from foam board and chalkboard paint, they'll be making an educational tool they can use for years to come.

As they get to know the time well, they can chalk in their daily schedule like playtime, homework time, bed time and more.

Step 1 Trace a circle onto a piece of foam board using a large bowl, the bottom of a bucket… or an old clock.

Step 2 Cut out the circle with a box cutter with help from an adult, carefully following along the line for a nice, smooth edge.

Step 3 Coat the circle in one smooth layer of blackboard paint and allow to dry.

Why go to School?

I sometimes wonder why I have to go to school – You have to do so much work, And follow so many rules.

But then I look at people, With no education you can see, They often seem to be so poor, That they never could be happy.

And then there are those, Who you know are educated – They most times have the best jobs, And by all others are respected.

So now I have made up my mind To work hard for my education; I know it sometimes can be tough, But in the end I will get satisfaction.

by Uncle Roy

Step 4 Use a permanent paint marker or chalk to add clock numbers around the outer

Binox The finished puzzle should be filled with Xs and Os. Horizontally and vertically, there should never be a continuous run of the same symbol longer than 2.

edge.

Step 5 Add hands at different times, make notes and decorate.

There are an equal number of Xs and Os in each row and column. All rows are unique. All columns are u n i q u e , t o o .

Sunday September 19, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 43

TEEN TIME

Develop your Sense of Identity further by building a conscious value system

A

s a young person, at the brink of the period when what you do will affect your entire future, you have to decide in good time the values which will direct how you will conduct yourself, and deal with the persons and things around, so that you are prepared mentally, psychologically, spiritually and even physically, to withstand the pressures that you will meet that will be acting against your own ambitions, in your achieving the things you want to do, and the way you want to be.

Without this direction in your life at the outset of your gaining some sort of independence from your parents and the other guides in your life, you will find yourself as in a boat without a rudder to guide it, and you will find yourself drifting through life subject to all the dangers which the world will undoubtedly thrust in your way.

You have to develop a value system which will be

able to deal with all these pressures through your attitude, through your behaviour, and through the choices you make as you face the various

direction of your entire future, and you can observe all around you many examples of those who did not think it necessary to determine beforehand what

situation will be able to guide you through all the difficulties you are likely to encounter on your way.

Take a sheet of paper and write down all the qualities

AThere Place for Me is a special place in life, that needs my humble skill, A certain job I'm meant to do, which no one else can fulfil.

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.

There is a mark that I must leave, however small it seems to be, A legacy of love for those who will 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.

experiences. You have to realise that you seal your fate with the choices you make on the way.

These choices during your younger days will determine the destiny or

those choices should be, and who as a result drifted through life and fell by the wayside.

Take a positive step NOW to determine this value system which in your

that would make you an ideal person.

We will continue next week on some definite ways by which you can inculcate these necessary values into your personality.

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.

Strive first to know you are, then develop yourself around that identity.

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 educator, a qualified 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 Autumn word Search

PAGE 44

Eye Care Tips Eat a healthy, balanced diet. Your diet should include plenty or fruits and vegetables, especially deep yellow and green leafy vegetables. Eating fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna, and halibut can also help your eyes.

Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or having obesity increases your risk of developing diabetes. Having diabetes puts you at higher risk of getting diabetic retinopathy or glaucoma.

Get regular exercise. Exercise may help to prevent or control diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

These diseases can lead to some eye or vision problems. So if you exercise regularly, you can lower your risk of getting these eye and vision problems.

Wear sunglasses. Sun exposure can damage your eyes and raise your risk of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. Protect your eyes by using sunglasses that block out 99 to 100% of both UV-A and UV-B radiation.

Wear protective eye wear. To prevent eye injuries, you need eye protection when playing certain sports, working in jobs such as factory work and construction, and doing repairs or projects in your home.

Avoid smoking. Smoking increases the risk of developing age-related eye diseases such as macular degeneration and cataracts and can damage the optic nerve.

Know your family medical history. Some eye diseases are inherited, so it is important to find out whether anyone in your family has had them. This can help you determine if you are at higher risk of developing an eye disease.

Know your other risk factors. As you get older, you are at higher risk of developing age-related eye diseases and conditions. It is important to know you risk factors because you may be able to lower your risk by changing some behaviors.

If you wear contacts, take steps to prevent eye infections.

Wash your hands well before you put in or take out your contact lenses. Also follow the instructions on how to properly clean them, and replace them when needed.

Give your eyes a rest. If you spend a lot of time using a computer, you can forget to blink your eyes and your eyes can get tired. To reduce eyestrain, try the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look away about 20 feet in front of you for 20 seconds.

Eye Tests and Exams Everyone needs to have their eyesight tested to check for vision and eye problems. Children usually have vision screening in school or at their health care provider's office during a checkup. Adults may also get vision screenings during their checkups. But many adults need more than a vision screening. They need a comprehensive dilated eye exam.Getting comprehensive dilated eye exams is especially important because some eye diseases may not have warning signs. The exams are the only way to detect these diseases in their early stages, when they are easier to treat.

The exam includes several tests: A visual field test to measure your side (peripheral) vision.

A loss of peripheral vision may be a sign of glaucoma.

A visual acuity test, where you read an eye chart about 20 feet away, to check on how well you see at various distances Tonometry, which measures your eye's interior pressure. It helps to detect glaucoma.

Dilation, which involves getting eye drops that dilate (widen) your pupils. This allows more light to enter the eye.

Your eye care provider examines your eyes using a special magnifying lens. This provides a clear view of important tissues at the back of your eye, including the retina, macula, and optic nerve.

If you have a refractive error and are going to need glasses or contacts, then you will also have a refraction test. When you have this test, you look through a device that has lenses of different strengths to help your eye care professional figure out which lenses will give you the clearest vision.

At what age you should start getting these exams and how often you need them depends on many factors. They include your age, race, and overall health. For example, if you are African American, you are at higher risk of glaucoma and you need to start getting the exams earlier. If you have diabetes, you should get an exam every year. Check with your health care provider about if and when you need these exams. https://medlineplus.gov/eyecare.html

Kaieteur News

Sunday September 19, 2021

Sunday September 19, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 45

FAO ready to follow up on the Pfizer vaccination drive begins Op-Ed: UN Two Food System Summit and in Region

transform Agri-Food Systems together

By QU Dongyu Director-General Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations he Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has entered a new era with a new structure and new dynamics.

The 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are approaching; we have to change our agri-food systems urgently and holistically.

This transformation requires a systemic approach and our collective action Hand in Hand by producers, distributors and consumers, together with governments, private sector, academia and civil society.

That is what the upcoming United Nations Food Systems Summit is about, and what FAO wants to achieve, together with all our partners, through the new FAO Strategic Framework 2022-2031. The action of each and every one of us has an impact on the future of our planet through our agri-food systems.

The Summit is timely.

After decades of decline, the number of hungry people has been growing for the past five years, now amounting to as many as 811 million people.

At the same time, obesity and other non-communicable diseases are ever-growing global problems associated with insufficiently diversified healthy diets and consumption patterns. Many of the current agri-food practices are also exacting a heavy toll on our planet. Our agri-food systems are not functioning properly.

What do we need to do to transform them? How does every individual impact on the process?

As the leading international organisation in this field, FAO has been advocating for and supporting agri-food systems transformation. The “agrifood system” covers the journey of food from tillage to table – from when it is planted, grown, harvested, processed, packaged, transported, distributed, traded, bought, prepared, eaten and disposed of. It encompasses non-food products such as forestry, animal rearing, use of

T

feedstock, biomass to produce biofuels and fibers, and it constitutes all of the activities, investments and choices made, and it impacts on the livelihoods of all the people that play a part in getting us these agri-food products.

With expertise ranging from policy and feasibility, science innovation, land and w a t e r, l i v e s t o c k a n d fisheries, to biodiversity and climate, food safety and normative work, geospatial data and digital technology, FAO has been at the forefront supporting the preparation for this important global Summit, and more importantly, in line with its mandate FAO will be taking the lead to implement followup actions after the Summit.

In July, the United Nations Food Systems PreSummit was held extraordinarily successfully at FAO headquarters in Rome.

Together with FAO's Chief Economist and Chief Scientist, I have been sitting on the Summit advisory bodies, scientific groups and action tracks.

We have been working closely with expert colleagues both inside and outside the UN system. With presence in over 130 countries, our teams on the ground have been supporting “national dialogues” that contribute to the Summit outcomes and national priorities ensuring they are targeted and solutionoriented.

Transforming our global agri-food systems rests ultimately with actions at the country and local levels.

Culture is an important aspect.

One needs only to look at cuisines to see how diverse agri-food systems are across and within countries. More than half of us - around 4.5 billion people - earn our livelihoods directly through

FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu the agri-food production chain, supply chain and value chain.

And we are all consumers of foods, and game-changers.

What does it take to transform? We at FAO have identified four crosscutting/cross-sectional accelerators - technology, innovation, data and “complements” (governance, human capital, and institutions).

FAO has been organising and better preparing itself for the past two years to lead the process.

Our new Strategic Framework endorsed by Members is focused on supporting the achievement of the SDGs through the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems for the “Four Betters”: better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life.

We have reformed our organisational structure and made it more modular and agile in order to make ourselves fit for purpose.

For example, the newly created position of Chief Scientist, along with an Office of Innovation, and the Office of SDGs are concrete steps to strengthen the role of science and innovation to

co mplement the socioeconomic work led by the Chief Economist to underpin the transformation, as well as to track the achievement of the SDGs. Innovation is not just about technology. It is also about approaches and

policies. It is about mindset.

Countries, communities and industries will determine their transformational pathways.

Our goal is pragmatic: build up ownership of Members and support Members by walking the talk and achieving concrete results on the ground.

FAO has the expertise and networks, and a vast array of tools to assist. Our Hand-in-Hand Initiative has established the openaccess geospatial platforms which can calculate forest cover, carbon sequestration potential and water evaporation rates.

Our early-warning network systems can alert of coming droughts or crop pests.

Our applications calculate fodder supply and demand conditions in drought- or conflict-prone areas. Furthermore, our

analytical work, including our new modeling work, recently assessed impacts and tradeoffs of proposed actions and systems which often have detrimental social, economic and environmental effects, as well as determining how to better harness fiscal supports for agri-food systems.

FAO is well placed and ready to take full responsibility after the Summit outcomes are decided, and move forward to catalyse impacts together with all stakeholders and friends.

Agri-food systems are complex and diverse.

We all agree that they are not realising their full potential if we run business as usual. We need to craft solutions to achieve the Four Betters and leave no one behind. FAO has the capacity to lead this process with partners for a better world.

PAGE 46

Kaieteur News

Sunday September 19, 2021

Kaieteur News

Sunday September 19, 2021

PAGE 47

Championing the cause of Guyana's first peoples...

Indigenous Artist and Regional Development Officer, is a 'Special Person'

Anil Roberts,

From page 18 Guyana, she was always there for me,” he said.

ACCOMPLISHED ARTIST The 39-year-old accomplished artist and PRDO emphasised too that his tertiary education could not have been possible if he had not received a sound academic foundation. In this regard, he is thankful for the education he received in the North Rupununi.

He explained that though he enjoyed the perks of traditional indigenous life, his parents Jerome and Benita Roberts made sure that he and his brothers Ryan and Wesley and their only sister Surita Urma Roberts attended school regularly.

Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts. His work portrayed, inter alia, past and contemporary arts of the Indigenous Peoples of Guyana (with special references to the Makushi people of the North Rupununi). Roberts then went on to obtain an MA certificate from the University of Newcastle (England) for similar artistic work; this time his thesis was on the access to traditional lands and its implication on indigenous cultural practices.

Despite his list of academic achievements, Roberts still pursued studies at the Boise State University, USA, (a collaboration with the University of Guyana) where he obtained a certificate in Archaeology:

watering Guyanese cuisines such as pepperpot, indigenous peoples should be known for so much more.

From a personal standpoint, Roberts says that for an artist of indigenous descent “creativity is very important.”

“It's a part of our life.

Traditionally we grow up mainly dependent on our environment, we do subsistence farming, fishing, and hunting, cattle ranching, roping… [Craft] is intrinsic to our traditional livelihood,” said the artist who constantly borrows inspiration for his creations from his heritage background.

“It's therapeutic,” he says adding that for artists “'if you simply cannot see a thought, then you do not know art.'”

Artist Anil Roberts paints a mural at the Iwokrama Field Station. (meaning Harpy Eagle in Makushi).

“Since his mother is from the Arawak nation and I am from the Makushi nation, he is often referred to as the 'Arwakushi',” Roberts added.

The doting husband and father noted that since his work is so demanding when he travels to the hinterland for a number of days for work, he is in contact daily with his family. Roberts says passing on the traditions and language to the next generation of his family is especially important to him.

In this regard, the couple's babysitter, Nelissa, is a great help. She teaches their son a few words in Makushi when they are away at work.

WORK-LIFE

Mr. Roberts' handiwork: a painting depicting an Amerindian or Indigenous family As such, Roberts started his schooling at the Annai Primary School, then after being successful at the Common Entrance Exam (NGSA), he attended the only Secondary School in the Region, the St. Ignatius Secondary School from 1994 – 1999.

At the St. Ignatius Secondary School, he was successful in six subject areas and thereafter he travelled to pursue his dreams as an artist. In 2003, Roberts obtained his Diploma in Art and Design from the Burrowes School of Art. That year, he was dubbed the overall best graduating student for his dissertation: Makushi Art as portrayed through Craft.

His tertiary education began at the University of Guyana, where he obtained a

A painting depicting the Indigenous spirit of Shaman and the other of the Rupununi scenery.

Excavation and Lab Assessment, from the Denis Williams Summer School of Anthropology and the Walter Roth Museum, Guyana.

Reflecting on these accomplishments, Roberts counts being able to come out from a small village and be able to complete his Masters in England among his greatest feats.

NOT JUST PEPPERPOT… In terms of promoting his heritage, Roberts has spent a significant portion of his time showcasing and teaching others about the traditions of the indigenous peoples. He noted while other cultures align Amerindians with their contributions to the mouth-

“People look at my work and say 'I love your work, why don't you paint more.'

My work strongly reflects the traditions and customs of my people – the cultural performances, language, spiritual rituals and the use of symbols and animals to represent a meaning such as strength and wisdom,” he said.

Roberts notes, nevertheless, that his motivation is always high.

He says spending time with his family is a key motivator, something he inculcates into his culture as well.

His wife's name is Analisa Andrews, who is of the Arawak nation from Moriakobai, the only Amerindian Village in Region Five. The couple share a four-year-old son, whose name is Kuwanau

As PRDO for the Department of Community Development and Governance at the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, Roberts has managed 13 Community Development Officers (CDOs) throughout the 10 Administrative Regions of Guyana, coordinated, and submitted a work plan of objectives and activities for community development and governance.

He is responsible for delivering the Ministry's programmes within the Indigenous communities and providing improved communication transfers and deliverance of verified reports and updates to the Ministry.

The PDRO supports indigenous communities in governance training, capacity building, conflict resolution, consultation p r o c e s s e s , a n d accountability and transparency. He submits project proposals annually

for indigenous communities to be included in the national budget.

Roberts also plays an active role in the planning and execution of the annual National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference, which is held annually in Georgetown.

Added to this, he coordinates and executes the celebration of Indigenous Heritage Month, every September.

He is also responsible for the preparation and execution of Toshao/Village Council Elections, coordinates village audits in Indigenous Communities and the collection of all activities taking place in villages through constant coordination with CDOs, village and regional officials.

At present, the PDRO is not involved in any social ventures due to COVID-19.

However, he was previously part of an Amerindian youth group that often participated in disseminating information. He was also

part of a football team dubbed the 'GT Kanaimas' which is part of the Amerindian Heritage Month sport event and the exhibition at the National Gallery of Art, an activity which is now virtually displayed.

In the meantime, Roberts continues to pass his skills on to the next generation.

He revealed that through the Hinterland Scholarship Programme, he is part of a team that supported some young talent, mostly from Region Nine, to study at the ER Burrowes School of Art. Roberts spoke glowingly of the upcoming indigenous artists.

He said, “I visited the exhibition of the final year students and was amazed at the quality of work presented. I did encourage them to keep the focus on the next step after ER Burrowes School of Art. I told them of my experiences as a young artist, the challenges and the opportunities, to never give up and keep painting.”

The artist during his time as a student of New Castle University in England.

PAGE 48

Kaieteur News

Sunday September 19, 2021

Sunday September 19, 2021

Our Frontline Worker of the Week is…

Kaieteur News

ager, GPHC's Quality Improvement Man

Nurse Leslyn Holder From page 16 ears ago,” said Nurse Holder who maintains a relationship with her biological father and adores her mother who is now 80 years old.

Reminiscing on her childhood days, she spoke of attending the St. Anthony's RC Primary School, and the Bartica Government Secondary School, but did not see through to the end.

“As a high school drop-out I left with no qualifications.

After a series of unpleasant experiences in my early life, I decided to study for CXCs through Adult Education. As a start at 18, I passed three subjects, enough to get me started in Nursing School as a Student Nursing Assistant,” said Nurse Holder who is living proof that dedication and desperation can unlock crucial abilities needed to exist and succeed in life.

But delving into the field of nursing was not accidental for her. She confessed, “Since I was around seven years old, I knew I was going to be a nurse by profession.

But in the realm of nursing, I found that I wanted more – a broader perspective.

It was either Nursing Education (teaching) or continue as a Public Health Nurse. And as time moved me through, with the many experiences I gained as a nurse, I decided that should the opportunity presents itself I will pursue at first a Bachelor's degree in Health and Social Care and then, a Master's in Public Health. In doing so I still get to practice in healthcare but with the opportunity to reach the

wider community,” she quipped. Nurse Holder has over the years been making all her nursing goals a reality.

UNWANING COMMITMENT

For our featured Frontline Worker, who has been involved in health care for 30 plus years now, her commitment is nestled in her unwaning desire to care for humanity. But with the advent of COVID-19, she has learnt many lessons that might've eluded her in the past. “One is the value of family, protecting your loved at all times and being there for them.

Although I am not sure that my family can say that I have been there for them; not sure I have been a good mother, daughter, sibling or spouse, but in my mind I have, but it is difficult to be present in two places at the same time.”

To ensure that she remains safe to do right by her family, Nurse Holder who is fully vaccinated follows the necessary guidelines that have been imposed since “I think COVID-19 is going to be around for a while and our survival depends on adherence to the rules, vaccination and maintaining a healthy life style.”

She is nevertheless fully aware that “I can still contract COVID although the risk is low. Therefore, I follow the rules for hand hygiene and wearing a facemask. Social or physical distancing I find most challenging. I try my best to maintain this but it is difficult, especially when it comes to shopping, etc., so I

do not go out apart from work and grocery shopping.”

Given the added protection of the vaccine, Nurse Holder has some advice for persons who are reluctant to be vaccinated. “It is in our nature to have questions and doubts but we have to trust the science. I know there are so many controversies surrounding the vaccines and I'm not going to get into any argument or religious debate.

Do your own research and get to know the facts not the myths.”

As a nurse for over three decades, she is well aware that the COVID vaccination requirement is much like any other in the past decades.

“Vaccination works, just look at the history…we have to trust the science.

As a young nurse in the early 90s, I was on the M e a s l e s Va c c i n a t i o n Campaign. Some of the young people or young nurses have never seen a case of measles, except for the textbook version,” Nurse Holder noted.

And even as she continues to advocate for vaccine uptake, she seeks to

PAGE 49 Nurse Leslyn Holder

remind the public that “COVID-19 variants are here proving that the virus is very intelligent but we are humans

and are far more intelligent.

Get vaccinated and let's create herd immunity so that we can go back to some normalcy.”

Kaieteur News

PAGE 50

Sunday September 19, 2021

“Cash grant should not be seen as compensation but as a form of assistance to return to the land” - Minister Mustapha tells Region Five farmers

O

n Friday, Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, spearheaded the Government's ongoing flood-relief cash grant distribution exercise in Region Five, MahaicaBerbice.

Farmers who suffered losses in rice, cash crop, and livestock during the extended rainy period, which resulted in instances of flooding across the country, are currently benefitting from the government's $7.6 billion relief programme.

Following the flooding, the President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, announced that after an extensive assessment, farmers would benefit from some form of government assistance. The Head of State later disclosed that the government would be rolling out a $7.6 billion flood-relief programme that would see affected farmers and households receiving a direct cash injection.

While speaking with media operatives on the sideline of the distribution exercise at the Bushlot

Community Centre Ground, Minister Mustapha said that over 6,000 farmers in Region Five would've benefitted from the ongoing relief exercise.

“Today, we have seven flood-relief centres set up across the Region where myself and other Ministers of Government are spearheading distribution exercises. Region Five is one of the Regions that were most affected. It had one of the largest payouts with approximately $1.2 billion being given to deserving farmers and households.

This Region is one of the most important Regions in terms of agriculture with over 6,000 farmers benefitting from this initiative,” Minister Mustapha said.

Minister Mustapha also said that the initiative would soon be rolled out in the other Regions that were affected.

“After today's exercise, we only have the complete mapping in this Region.

Farmers, who were not on the list, once our officers can verify their claims, will be given relief. We'll continue

Agri. Ministry staff assisting farmers during the distribution exercise at the MMA-ADA Office the second phase in Region Six in another week from now.

We s t a r t e d i n t h e Pomeroon in Region Two last weekend and this Saturday (yesterday), we'll be going to Region 10 to continue distribution there.

Soon we'll begin the rollout in the other Regions that were affected like Regions One, Three, Four, Seven, Eight, and Nine.

As we move through the process, we are having fewer issues. I want to reiterate the point that I made when I said if there was anyone who should not benefit from the

cash grant, we will investigate once the persons making the allegations provide us with some form of evidence,” Minister Mustapha said.

Farmers who were present and benefitted from the payout said that the grant would assist them with returning to the land.

P a t r i c a F l e t c h e r, a resident of Seafield, said that her kitchen garden was destroyed during the flood and expressed gratitude to the government for the grant she received.

“I am happy that I was able to get help with this

flood relief because I lost a lot during the May-June flood in the rainy season. I have my kitchen garden because I like to have natural foods for me and my family.

I lost some tomatoes, callaloo, bora, and a lot of other things.

I'm very happy with what the government is doing because it will help me to go back to the land and start back my kitchen garden and I'm looking forward to the continuous help because I know that the government and the Minister will continue to help us,” the farmer said.

Minister Mustapha inspecting cheques intended for affected farmers

Virgil Watts, a rice farmer who was present at the Bushlot distribution site, also expressed gratitude to the government for the grant.

“It will assist me greatly with going back to the land and into rice farming again.

Thanks to His Excellency, the President, and his entire team for making this possible,” the farmer said.

In addition to the cash grant, farmers also stand to benefit from seeds, seedlings, seed paddy, and other planting and genetic material for cash crop, livestock, and rice.

(Agriculture Ministry)

Sunday September 19, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 51

Albion/Port Mourant Field Workers urged to return to the fields - GuySuCo The Management of the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo) is appealing to field workers at its Albion/Port Mourant Estate to return to work as Management is committed to advancing their plight to the Corporation's main stakeholder via its Board of Directors.

According to a release, field workers at GuySuCo's largest sugar cultivation and producing Estate – Albion/Port Mourant is calling for financial compensation for the harvested cane weight loss due to the quality of sugar cane available for harvesting this season without having to complete additional work to meet at least the minimum wage as outlined by the Ministry of Labour.

In his appeal to workers, Sasenarine Singh, GuySuCo's Chief Executive Officer urged workers “to let us work together to find an amicable solution to the issues.

We need every hand on board to rebuild the Estate.

We do understand the issue and are committed to finding an amicable solution. We cannot down tools at this critical junction of our Industry's recovery.”

On September 14, 2021, in acknowledging the workers' concerns, the Corporation's Central Executives along with the Estate's Management met with the GAWU Field

Secretary and the cane harvesting Shop Stewards.

At that meeting, workers' representatives voiced their concerns after which Management expressed its inability to meet the workers' demands due to the existing financial status of the Corporation but committed to channelling the workers' concerns to its stakeholders.

Despite Management's pleas for workers to return to work, Cane harvesters attached to 17B gang have not returned to the field after downing tools on Wednesday September 15, 2021.

Currently four out of five cane harvesting gangs are on strike totalling 1,146 employees.

The Estate Management a s r e c e n t a s F r i d a y, September 17, 2021 continues to engage the

Union and Shop with the view of arriving at an amicable solution within its authority so that all the cane harvesters can return to work.

The Albion/Port Mourant Estate, as of week ending September 18, 2021, completed four out of its scheduled 12 weeks of sugar production.

Since the commencement of harvesting operation on August 18, 2021, the Estate is

experiencing several major challenges as a result of the 65 days of flooding of its entire cultivation.

One of the main challenges is development of adventitious roots, side shoots and tillering which all contribute to deterioration of the quality of sugar cane.

In addition, the quality of sugar canes not harvested as a result of high intensity rainfall during the first

harvest season of 2021, has been affected due to the lengthy period under which these canes were under water.

This resulted in further reduction of its sucrose content and requires more cane to produce sugar.

Since the commencement of harvesting and sugar production for second season 2021, the Albion/Port Mourant Estate's weekly sugar production target has

been reduced from 2100 tonnes sugar to 1815 tonnes to encourage employees' achievement of their projected targets and weekly production incentive.

Further, to compensate the employees for their weight loss due to the quality of sugar cane available for harvesting, Management has implemented a system to allow those employees who are not achieving the minimum punt weight, to make up for their loss earnings by offering alternative work on the Estate.

Under normal circumstances, Albion/Port Mourant Estate's second crop is more than 20 weeks.

However, as a result of the prolong flood, the Estate lost 31 percent of its crop canes curtailing its second crop 2021 to 12 weeks.

F u r t h e r, t h e C h i e f Executive along with other Managers will be meeting the Union Central Executives and the cane harvesting Shop Steward today to further discuss this matter to reach a mutually agreeable solution.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 52

Sunday September 19, 2021

New mobile app launched to help women entrepreneurs grow their businesses A

new mobile app was launched last Tuesday to help women entrepreneurs in Guyana grow their businesses.

The HerVenture app, which is the brainchild of the UK-based Cherie Blair Foundation, is expected to help in excess of 3,000 female entrepreneurs across the length and breadth of Guyana by offering them vital business tips, tools for business growth, support and networking opportunities.

The app is free and easy to download using a QR and scanner and is currently available at the App Store, at HerVenture Guyana, and via the ActionInvest Caribbean website.

Once downloaded, there is no need for internet access to get the information on the app. This makes it easier for women in remote and underserved locations to utilise the services offered.

The Cherie Blair Foundation has successfully brought essential business skills, training to over 41,000 women across Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Vietnam and Indonesia via the award-winning app.

This week, the Foundation teamed up with ActionInvest Caribbean—a local business development company, to introduce the same easy-to-use service to virtually every female entrepreneur in Guyana.

CEO of ActionInvest Caribbean, Mrs. Davitri Doerga During the official launch of the mobile app, which was held at the British High Commission residence at Bel Air Gardens, Georgetown, on Tuesday, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Cherie Blair Foundation, Helen McEachern, who joined via Zoom, spoke of the business development prospects that the app offers.

She noted that the mobile app is fun and flexible and offers business training on the go with sessions between five to seven minutes. It also teaches users to manage business records, access financing and digital marketing and e-commerce.

In fact, McEachern said, “Our evaluations have shown that women do love the app… It has been a vital resource for women in those

countries throughout the pandemic it has allowed them to get access to skills to transform their business.”

She explained that the app exists because of women entrepreneurs.

Research shows that women are more likely to invest in their families and communities and their businesses are also more likely to provide more service and opportunities.

McEachern said the foundation has been working with ExxonMobil since 2015 to raise funds to empower women who were able to sustain and grow their business in several countries with the HerVenture app.

As it relates to Guyana, M c E a c h e r n s a i d , “ We believe this is an environment that is right for

initiatives like the HerVenture app and are thrilled to bring it to Guyana.”

In her remarks, CEO of ActionInvest Caribbean, Davitri Doerga, shared with audience the story of her personal growth as a businesswoman.

Doerga noted that it was through partnership and business education that she is where she is today, one of Guyana's successful businesswomen for over 20 years now.

“Our goal is to provide on the ground implementation for the Foundation's women's mobile learning app and to provide at least 3,000 women entrepreneurs of micro and small businesses with the knowledge and skills to successfully grow their businesses,” Doerga explained.

Meanwhile, Minister of Human Services and Social S e c u r i t y, D r. Vi n d h y a Persaud, lauded the partnership as she noted that it represents a meaningful opportunity for women entrepreneurs across the country.

The initiative, she said, complement several women empowerment and development initiatives that her ministry has, particularly the recently launched Women Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN).

The WIIN launched its own app, and opened a new

The mobile app is expected to benefit at least 3,000 female Guyanese entrepreneurs

business incubator last month. Minister Persaud noted that the app would help to build on certain aspects of the WIIN programme, such as helping the female entrepreneurs complete their business proposals.

“Once they have their business proposal, this app in their hand gives them the

Foundation website, the judges of the award ceremony praised HerVenture as “solving a clear problem with a clever solution – it is a great concept, delivered to those that need it most.”

According to the Foundation, since “COVID19 has drastically changed

CEO of the UK–Based Cherie Blair Foundation, Helen McEachern

power to transform their business proposal into a reality, and ensure that they not only commence their business, but sustain it in the future,” she said.

In addition to launching the service in Guyana this week, the HerVenture app won the Digital Innovation of the Year Award at the UK's Third Sector Awards.

According information posted on the Cherie Blair

t h e w a y w o m e n entrepreneurs everywhere live and work, making them more reliant on the digital world. We are delighted to receive this important recognition for the innovative and incredibly valuable support that HerVenture has offered women entrepreneurs since the pandemic's onslaught.”

“We undertook urgent (Continued on page 55)

Sunday September 19, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 53

==GNBS IN FOCUS==

Preserving the traditional craft industry using Standard

G

u y a n a ' s indigenous peoples are known for their craftsmanship. Using the materials from their surroundings and skills perfected over time, they continue to design unique pieces of traditional and nontraditional items. One of the common materials used is wood; the various species harvested from trees surrounding indigenous settlements in Guyana's hinterland regions. From this, miniatures, utensils, canoes and other handicrafts are made for sale.

Through available National Standards, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards can play an important role in maintaining the viability of artisans' businesses within the traditional craft industry, while at the same time, supporting local tourism.

One of these standards is the “Code of Practice for Manufacture of wooden craft items (GCP 31:2010),” which was adopted from CARICOM. The standard

seeks to promote the quality of wooden craft items.

Focused more on performance than prescriptive requirements for craft items, this Code of Practice establishes the minimum requirements for the manufacture and the production of wooden craft items. However, it does not apply to production techniques used solely for high volume output if such techniques: a) do not add to the overall quality and design; and b) are not performed with the skill and craftsmanship required.

The Standard is voluntary, but artisans are encouraged to acquire a copy of the document and implement its requirements to improve their productivity and capability to access regional markets.

Focused on work made by individual craft persons by hand, the Code of Practice may be applied to the manufacturing stage or at the point of sale to retailers and end consumers. Even though some craft persons and manufacturers may employ

tools, technology and other expertise to improve efficiency and production, the standard is still useful to ensure quality and consistency.

The standard outlines requirements for supplies used in production.

According to the document, wooden materials used in the production of craft items should be carefully selected to ensure they are appropriate. To fulfill the requirements, artisans must consider the maturity of the wood, durability when exposed to normal tropical and equatorial environmental conditions, and signs of decay or insect attack, among others.

In relation to adhesives, it is required that glues and pastes be durable and nontoxic, and where possible, water-based. Additionally, for craft items intended to be used for food preparation or storage, only food-safe glues shall be used. Similar requirements are in place for finishes and finishing materials.

Importantly, the Standard

Daughter who scolds father for drinking stabs brother for intervening A man was on Friday stabbed by his sister for reportedly intervening when she scolded their father for drinking.

Injured and hospitalised is Mahendra Mohabir, 30, called “Baggie” of Lancaster Village, Corentyne, Region Six. His sister who stabbed him has since been arrested by police.

According to the police, the woman had stabbed her brother around 19:50hrs. at her home located in U l v e r s t o n Vi l l a g e , Corentyne.

Her father had been drinking with Mohabir at his home in Lancaster Village along with other relatives that afternoon. After the drinking session ended, he decided to drop his father to

Ulverston Village where the man lived with his sister and mother.

When they arrived, Mohabir's sister met them outside on a bridge and began scolding her father about his drinking. Mohabir intervened and his sister turned her attention to him.

An argument between the two saw the sister reminding him about their father's medical condition.

As the argument intensified, Mohabir accused his sister of frequently “beating up” their father and warned her not to do it again while taking him into the yard.

This move reportedly aggravated his sister even more and led to a heated “cuss out” between the two.

Kaieteur News understands that their mother upon hearing the commotion between her children ran down stairs with a cutlass and allegedly broadsided Mohabir.

While the woman continued to confront Mohabir, his sister reportedly left and returned armed with a knife, which she used to stab one of his arms.

Police reported that neighbours nearby had to rush over to Mohabir's aid.

After being rescued, Mohabir managed to pedal home on a bicycle. He was rushed to the Port Mourant Public Hospital where he was admitted.

His condition is listed as stable.

restricts the use of reclaimed wood for crafting of utensils unless the history of the wood is clearly known. To defend this requirement, the Standard notes that some wood may have been sprayed with poison in its previous use to reduce or eliminate termites.

To conform, craft persons shall be responsible for assurance that craftwork and their operations meet all local or regional regulations for health, safety and the environment. As such, labels on each item shall include the name and address of the manufacturer or trader, type

of dominant material, type of finish and a precautionary note for general use and care.

To purchase a copy of the Code of Practice for Manufacture of wooden craft items, contact the GNBS on telephone numbers: 2190064 or 219-0065 or WhatsApp us on 692-4627.

Sunday September 19, 2021

Kaieteur News

PAGE 55

One captured, two escape after shooting at cops Mobile patrol ranks on Friday were able to apprehend one of three occupants from a car who had opened fire on them at Speightland, Kara-Kara, Mackenzie, Linden, Region 10. According to a police release, a woman was among the two remaining occupants

who had managed to escape.

The incident took place around 01:30hrs. that day.

Ranks who were involved in the patrol operation reported that they were initially patrolling an area in close proximity to Five Corner, Mackenzie, when they heard rapid

gunshots coming from the Speightland area.

They sped off to the area in their pick-up and when they arrived, they spotted a black motor car speeding towards them. The ranks reportedly stopped their pick-up, stepped out and attempted to stop the

Sanasie wins multi-million dollar...

From page 54 Board would usually earn its revenue in US dollars, which it would sell when it requires cash and as such dismissed the assertions of any wrongdoings on his part with regards GCB's money, as alleged by Bess.

The Trinidadian Company subsequently approached the Court when S a n a s i e a n d Ly n w i l International Trading were unable to make good on the promise to pay back the US$500,000.The Trinidadian company won its judgment and according to Bess, this course of action led to Sanasie hurriedly rushing to their offices and advising that Lynwil's assets be transferred to SBF International Inc. U n d e r s u c h circumstances, the Trinidadian Company that was owed US$500,000 would then have no assets to levy against, since by that time the assets would have

been transferred to the newly formed SBF International.

Sanasie's position as a director with 45 percent shares being held as security was maintained as the status quo.

As such, Bess is of the opinion that in light of the circumstances, US$500,000 of Sanasie's initial investments would have been retired as a result of the judgment against the company.

In January last year things began to sour further between the two businessmen, when it was agreed that Sanasie would transfer some US$1.5M to SBF accounts, in order to make a payment for a shipment of fuel from Petrotrin in neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago.

According to Bess, at this point in time, Sanasie did not make any transfers to the SBF account but rather paid Petrotrin directly

from the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) accounts.

The publication is in possession of Scotia Bank Payment Transfer issued by Petrotrin, issued in February 2016, weeks after Sanasie joined Lynwil, confirming payment by the Guyana Cricket Board for fuel for that company.

Bess told this publication that he only learnt of the transfers being made from the Cricket Board account when he attempted to make contact with Petrotrin to reassure that payments would be made for a shipment of fuel that was ordered, only to be told that Sanasie had already paid the bill.

According to Bess, he was advised that the transactions by Sanasie with respect to the use of GCB monies to purchase fuel for the company he had a 45 percent share interest in, should be reported to the Police.

Local Oil & Gas stakeholders...

From page 13 Region. We want to be able to build that capacity within ourselves to be able to serve that small man.

As a Chamber, we also want to be able to participate, and participate in the events and all that is coming to our region and to take advantage of those opportunities,” Parsons said.

President of THAG, Mr. Harrinand Persaud, said that the association decided to participate in the conference

since it is a great initiative to drive and promote local content.

He expects local restaurants, resorts, tour companies and hotels to significantly benefit through THAG's participation.

“THAG is very excited to be part of this Energy [Conference and] Exhibition.

We thought it was a very good initiative and the grouping of all the local

Guyanese components is very key to the decision as to why we wanted to be part of it. THAG represents all the hotels, restaurants, resorts, tours - so while persons are here to have the allimportant oil and gas conversations, they also need to take some time off to explore Guyana and that is where THAG comes in.

They can come through THAG, and we can organise and ensure everything goes smoothly,” Persaud said.

New mobile app launched to help women entrepreneurs grow...

From page 52 research at the start of the pandemic that highlighted two critical learning needs to help women's businesses survive: e-commerce and digital marketing. Due to n a t i o n a l a n d r egional

lockdowns and women's increased domestic burdens, we recognised that t h e s e n e e d s had to be met digitally and quickly.

And so we rapidly developed new and easilydigestible learning tracks on

these t o p i c s t h r o u g h H e r Ve n t u r e , a s well as making the app—previously only available on Android—available over iOS to increase its availability,” the Foundation added in the release.

speeding car.

The car slowed down a short distance away before reaching them and an identifiable man reportedly stepped out from the front passenger side of the vehicle and shot at them before reentering. The car then reportedly sped pass the

ranks who gave chase in their pick-up.

During the high-speed chase, the motor car veered off the road and crashed into the fence of the Mackenzie Club before it turned turtle.

The man who reportedly shot at the cops exited, jumped on top of the fence

and started to run. Police reported that a woman was seen crawling out of the car as well. She reportedly made good her escape along with another male occupant of the car but the shooter was captured by police after he was found hiding in some nearby bushes.

Guyana commits to providing strong....

From page 15 problems of low investment, unemployment, inequality and poverty — issues that, must be addressed by the Summit.

CLIMATE CHANGE President Ali explained that the Regional bloc's problems extend beyond structural issues and include the existential threat of climate change.

He said that the Regions would be given an opportunity to speak with a collective voice and to stress the urgency of increased and readily available financing for mitigation, adaptation and resilient infrastructure at the 26th Session of the Conference of Parties (COP26) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

At COP26, a systemic approach in dealing with issues of the environment and climate change should be agreed on.

“This approach must speak to issues of access to resources, to address adaption and mitigation, establishment of a climate vulnerability fund, and fulfillment of pledges made by the developed world.”

VOLUNTARY FUND

The President also said that Guyana supports the establishment of a voluntary fund to facilitate regional disaster response since some priority issues for Caribbean Small Island Development States are centered around climate change and disaster risk management, access to concessional financing, high levels of indebtedness, natural disaster funds and graduation and transition, among others.

With the combined effect of the pandemic and climate change severely hampering the developing world's progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by 2030, President Ali urged that the Regions “must therefore champion the call to address this through debt rescheduling and access to soft financing.”

FOOD SECURITY The Head of State emphasised that food security is vital to postpandemic recovery.

As a result, Guyana strongly supports regional cooperation in ensuring a more food-secure Latin America and the Caribbean.

In this regard, the President said, he hopes that t h e s e v e r a l

recommendations presented by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and in the CELAC Food Security, Nutrition and Hunger Eradication Plan of 2025 can be translated into necessary actions that will advance “this crucial agenda.”

PEACE AND SECURITY The Guyanese President also told the Summit that peace and security in Latin America and the Caribbean must be founded on political systems in which democracy, the rule of law and human rights are upheld, and in which the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states and the sanctity of treaties are respected.

He noted that focus should be on strengthening efforts in development c a p a c i t y, i m p r o v i n g governance, reducing poverty and removing barriers for trade and economic integration.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd, and the Director of Projects in the Office of the President, Mrs. Marcia Nadir-Sharma, are also in Mexico.

CELAC is a regional bloc of 33 Latin American and Caribbean States.

Govt. retenders single project four...

From page 14 repeatedly retendered, includes the construction of two pump stations, a farm to market road and some

drainage infrastructure in Georgetown.

Additionally, another of the projects under the auspices of the Ministry that

has been the subject of retenders is for the rehabilitation of 18 kilometres of road at Ituni/Tacama.

PAGE 56

Kaieteur News

Sunday September 19, 2021

Tribute to Reverend Fr. Derek H. Goodrich, M.A. (University of Canterbury), A.A. DEAR EDITOR, Derek H. Goodrich, 1927 to 2021. A lifespan of 94

VEHICLES FOR SALE F-350 Diesel,F-150 Pickup.

Mercury Wagon 7 seater, brand new generator 15KV, 12KV,8KV.Price to sell. Call Abdel:653-4287/643-0902.

FOR SALE Inboard Fishing for sale (Complete in good working condition. Contact:615-3237/ 227-0399.

VACANCY

SERVICES Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design, advertisements, Wedding arch rentals. Tel: 626-7040

LAND FOR SALE Versailles 61x123=7503sq ft, 18m not negotiable.No agents please. Tel: 600 6617.

Installation, Repairs and parts for AC,Fridge, Washing machine, Stove etc.Call Nick#656-0110.

Appliance repairs/service for Refrigerator,Washing Machine, Stove, Treadmill, Dryer, Pressure pump, Oven, Deep Fryer.Call:694-9733.

Appliance/equipment repairs and service to Bakery, Restaurant,Hospital equipment, Remote gate, Backwash & filtration system.

Call:694-9733.

Ultraviolet Driving School covid-19,September $8,500 for 5 sessions for beginners course and refreshers course.Whatsapp:602-2583.

Coin Collector.We purchase old coins best price paid.

Call Abdel:653-4287/6430902.

FOR RENT Fabrication workshop.Tel: 690-5427.

One bedroom apartment for working couple/single person,$35,000 & $32,000 monthly,light & water.

Call:623-0076.

2,3 & 1 bedroom for rent @ Vreed-en-hoop, Providence,Diamond & Herstelling.Contact:6826263/643-3170.

One 4 bedroom house at Lot 149 Caneview Avn,South Ruimveldt.$125,000 per month and $125,000 security.

WANTED One male night security guard.Tel:226-0772/225-9304.

One male able bodied clerk.Call:693-8462/231-2029.

Head Cook & Security Guard.Apply Manager Herdmanston, Peter Rose St. Gardener for Subryanville.

Must be able to work with dogs. Contact:225-5818.

Wanted land to buy in Parfaite Harmonie or anywhere on the West Coast.

Tel:673-7087.

One female accounts clerk,knowledge in POS system would be an asset.For more info.Contact:227-3580.

NB:Proof of vaccination card or a negative PCR test will be required before entering premises.

Truck Drivers,tutor for 10 yrs old.Contact:223-5273/74.

Fitter/Machinist,Welder Fabricator,Mechanic,Apprentice.

Apply in person at:Technical Services,Industrial Site Eccles.

Sailor,Cook,Operator,12" dredge.Call:675-0587/0585.

Boys to pluck chicken in GT $3000 per day.Call:675-0587.

1 male off assistant.Computer literate,must know to do NIS payroll,tax.Must know to drive Car/Van.Call:675-0587.

Experience waitress and canter attendant 18-25 yrs(Sec Education) & 1 live in domestic.Tel:610-3974.

Part time handyman to do errand & maintain yard,for2 weeks must be vaccinated.

Tel:226-2322,

Cook/Baker,Pitmen & Porter for interior location. Applicants must be experienced.

Call: 231-2250.

Labourer carpenter & mason.Contact:602-9469/ 657-5800/666-2887.

Cook/Baker,Pitmen & Welder/Serviceman for interior location.Applicants must be experienced. Call: 231-2250.

One live in Nanny to take care of kids and home. Must be fully vaccinated. Contact:682-8251.

One heavy duty diesel mechanic to work in the interio.

Meals and accomodation provided.Contact:680-2702.

For persons to assemble bicycles.Apply at Alabama Trading ,65 Robb St Bourda.

For experience Sales Clerk.

Apply at Alabama Trading, 65 Robb St Bourda.

For Carpenters and Masons.

Apply at Alabama Trading, 65 Robb St Bourda.

For porters.Apply at Alabama Trading, 65 Robb St Bourda.

For a packaging machine operator. Apply at Alabama Trading, 65 Robb St Bourda.

Maid to cook and clean for East Bank.Call:615-9132.

Driver must be able to assist in workshop at Eccles, age 25-50, Car/ Van licence. Call 642-9823.

1 general domestic,Covid-19 vaccinated.Must know to press for Tue,Sat.Cove & John & Unity.Tel:259-0953/ 623-3231.

M e r c h a n d i s e r, F a c t o r y Worker,Porters.Call:2277714/640-0673 or email info@vgiworld.com.

Hotel Attendant & Receptionist. Call:231-0951/6400673oremail: info@ vgiworld .com.

One person to cook and perform general domestic duties in Bel Air. Contact: 227-0373/ 223-9888.

Vacancy for 1 professional and experience hairdresser located on East Bank Demerara Grove Market Street.Call:652-5800.

years, with a remarkable and outstanding career as a parish priest, who in his own words ‘had collected numerous other jobs.’ Those jobs included Canon of St. George’s Cathedral, Examining Chaplin, Rural Dean, Dean of Georgetown and Vicar General. Nestled within those 94 years is the 10-year period of 1957 to 1967; the period when Rev. Fr. Goodrich served as the first resident Vicar of St. Sidwell’s Church, in Lodge, Georgetown. It is that period of Fr. Goodrich’s life, and the fond memories I have of him that I would like to recall as a farewell tribute to this man who described himself as ‘basically a parish priest.’

I met Fr. Goodrich, as he was fondly called by most parishioners, in my formative teenage years. As a young member of the congregation, a few of my friends were servers or altar boys; that fuelled my desire to be a server. Victor Jones, Ulric Lyte, Cargill Alleyne, and Lennox Wharton were outstanding and admired examples. As altar boys, we were trained to participate in a ritual that required precision, order, and punctuality. As we prepared to move to the altar, we would look at Fr. Goodrich, his eyes on his watch and not a second before, but on the dot, he would signal for us to emerge to the strains of the processional hymn. From that training, I developed a lifelong adherence to punctuality.

As a young man, I found Fr. Goodrich to be not only a priest who delivered holy sermons to his congregation, but someone who was caring, a confidant, a counsellor, a good administrator, sports enthusiast/organiser, and teacher.

For example, the continued absence of a church member was noticed and dutifully addressed.

Often times I witnessed Fr. Goodrich on his bicyclevisiting parishioners in the Lodge area to ascertain the reason for their absence. Fr. Goodrich was always approachable.

He was a good listener.

You could share with him any personal problem. He always listened, never judged or criticised. Instead, he sought to resolve any ensuing conflict, particularly marital conflict, with a favourable resolution.

Fr. Goodrich was a sports enthusiast. He encouraged us as young boys in the church to become involved in sports such as cricket, table tennis, and football. I was fortunate enough to become

a member of the St. Sidwell’s Rovers Club: a team of football players comprising choirboys and altar boys.

Open space of the then ‘race course’ was used for football practice and competition.

Some of the original members of that club, namely Barley Jones and Bayard Boyce went on to become national players. Fr. Goodrich himself was a good table tennis player: left handed and difficult to beat. He love cricket and was a member of the Georgetown Cricket Club.

He never missed a test match Fr. Goodrich was a good administrator. While Vicar at St. Sidwell’s, he oversaw the rebuilding of the church which was destroyed by fire in July 1957, just one month after his appointment. The new church building was completed in August 1959.

Simultaneously, he oversaw the relocation of the Holy Redeemer Anglican Church from a site along the Demerara River to its present site in West Ruimveldt. Such accomplishments entailed his working with many collaborators, including church members, contractors, etc. and most importantly raising funds for the completion of these tasks.

This was all done while Fr. Goodrich ministered to two ‘homeless’ congregations. As noted in his Memories of St. Sidwell’s Parish, 1957-1967 ‘…having been appointed in charge of two Church buildings, we now have none.’

His was a major role in the establishment of the Church of the Transfiguration in North East La Penitence and later St. Aloysius Chapel, in Penny Lane, South Ruimveldt.

My observation of Fr. Goodrich’s administrative abilities is supported by his own account of one occasion when he together with four church members visited all 750 homes in East Ruimveldt to gather information about the religious affiliation of the occupants of those residences.

Truly outstanding!!

I also remember Fr. Goodrich as a teacher. He

found time in his busy schedule of ministering to his communicants to address the academic needs of schoolaged church members, particularly those attending secondary schools. He would have them meet in the vestry where he would help them to understand some of the more difficult aspects of their school assignments.

My contact with Fr. Goodrich was not severed by his departure from St. Sidwell’s Church in 1967. I would occasionally update him with happenings in my life. This occasional contact continued even after his return to the United Kingdom. In fact, as recently as August 2021, I received word from him through an intermediary. I was truly saddened by the news of his passing.

On the opening pages of the publication The Words and Works of Alan John Knight, the author is described as ‘…basically a parish priest… he has been a Guyanese citizen for over thirty years and received a National Award, the Golden Arrow of Achievement for long, dedicated and outstanding service in the field of religion.’ The author was Derek Goodrich. I am in total agreement with that description of the priest that I knew as Fr. Goodrich.

I complete this tribute with the words of someone whom I admired, respected and loved from my teenage years to adulthood, Fr. Goodrich’s own words of sentiment: “My ten years at St. Sidwell’s represented the most exciting years of my ministry…I have happy memories of all those, young and old, who supported me by their prayers, friendship, and co-operation... may the present congregation value their heritage and continue to work for the extension of the Kingdom of God.” May we all at this time find comfort and be inspired by his words and his works.

Farewell dear parish priest, friend, teacher. Rest in peace.

Yours truly, Keith Scott

An encouraging word for former President Granger DEAR EDITOR, I would like to take this opportunity to offer David Granger these words of encouragement.

The Guyana Constitution is the Law created by people for governing Guyana. Uphold the Guyana Constitution thereby uphold the Law. The Christian Bible is to do more with faith in Almighty God, through Jesus Christ his Messiah. Follow the Good Book’s teachings.

Yours Faithfully, Sean Ori

Sunday September 19, 2021

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Sunday September 19, 2021

GRA officers bulldoze 'Jinga Harry's' gate with pick-up -Watchman runs away again

T

he watchman guarding the property of Mahaica businessman, Harrylall Motilall better known as 'Jinga Harry,' ran away again on Thursday after officers from the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) broke into his property for the second time this month.

Motilall and his family were not at home when the GRA officers invaded his premises on Thursday.

However, he said that his watchman related to him that they came in four pick-ups around 23:00hrs.

His watchman was reportedly at the back of his property when the officers used a white Toyota Hilux pick-up to bulldoze his metal gate in order to gain entry. As the gate broke, the watchman, as he did on previous

occasions, fled because he was fearful that the officers would shoot him.

Motilall said that the watchman reported the matter to him the following morning and he visited his property. There, he related, his metal gate was broken and wide open with tyre tracks leading into his premises.

The neighbours, he said, corroborated his watchman's story and related to him that the pick-up used to bulldoze his gate had a PYY 899 licence plate.

This is the second time for this month that Motilall's property was invaded by the GRA officers.

The first was on September 3, after two GRA officers were shot and injured while attempting to intercept a boat they suspected were

transporting illegal goods.

Investigators had accused Motilall of being the perpetrator of the shooting incident and Kaieteur News was informed that they had gone to the businessman's property in search of weapons but found none to link him to the crime.

Motilall had accused them of damaging his property by destroying his gate, doors and even some household appliances in one of the rooms.

He had even told Kaieteur News that he is “fed-up and frustrated of the constant break-ins to his property because he has to foot the bill.”

Thursday's break-in, Motilall said, is just another example of how the action of the officers leaves him with expenses after one of their

Jinga Harry's broken metal gate

break-ins.

According to the businessman, he had spent $200,000 to repair his metal gate after they had bulldozed it on September 3.

The repairs were reportedly done on

September 10, and six days later (Thursday last) they bulldozed his gate again.

Kaieteur News has since reached out to Head of the GRA enforcement officers, Jason Moore, for a comment but this proved futile.

Mahaica businessman, Harrylall Motilall better known as 'Jinga Harry'

The tyre tracks that 'Jinga Harry' saw when he visited his property

Sunday September 19, 2021

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GuySuCo commences drone technology evaluation to enhance field productivity GuySuCo introduced e-smart agricultural initiative

The Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo) has commenced the evaluation of the use of drone technology, an e-smart agricultural initiative, as part of its strategy to modernise the operations of the Sugar I n d u s t r y. T h i s m o v e , GuySuCo noted in a release, is aimed at advancing the efficiency and costeffectiveness of its operations in wake of the numerous challenges as a result of the rapid labour force attrition, climate and demographical changes the industry is experiencing currently.

In a recent public discourse, Mr. Sasenarine Singh, Chief Executive Officer of GuySuCo, revealed that the Corporation is steering towards the use of e-smart agriculture as a mechanism to retain and attract young people to the industry. “…half of a percent of the workforce in the fields are not coming back, which means that in 10 years' time about five percent of the workforce in the fields is going to disappear which is of concern and we are moving to address urgently.”

At GuySuCo's operating estates in Regions Three, Five, and Six, there is a continuous decline of available manpower for critical field operations, especially in the area of chemical weed control where there is a shortfall manpower requirement by 70 percent.

This affects significantly the control of noxious weeds, which impact negatively sugar cane yield. The other objective for technological advancement is to attract younger individuals who are technological savvy.

Apart from the labour deficit, GuySuCo's CEO, Singh, noted that the ongoing demographical changes in communities surrounding GuySuCo's Estates have expanded the 'no fly' zones resulting in the Corporation's inability to conduct effective aerial reconnaissance and maintenance of its cultivations using the traditional Crop Duster aircraft. It is anticipated that on completion of the current evaluation of the drone application method there can

be a review of the 'no fly' zones by the Pesticide and Toxic Chemical Control Board (PTCCB) giving GuySuCo an improved capability to address weed infestation together with the ability to maximise the use of ripeners.

Added to this, the increasing challenges of climate change inhibit GuySuCo's ability to monitor and evaluate its field operations especially in areas where access is limited as a result of the high cost for the u s e o f a i r c r a f t reconnaissance. This was demonstrated during the recent unprecedented floods in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) which resulted in the Corporation's largest cultivation and sugar producing estate – Albion/Port Mourant being inundated for over 65 days.

During this period, the Corporation was limited in its ability to traverse the cultivation to ascertain the magnitude of the damages incurred and take timely action to mitigate the impact where possible.

Adapting the use of drone technology would enable personnel to reduce the laborious physical assessments and provide frequent and high-resolution data of crops and field conditions, which are vital for the transformation of the Sugar Industry.

Taking into account the challenges, the CEO added “Generation X wants to do drones and high-tech utilisation of technology in agriculture and I want to say that funding for this project was approved by the National Assembly through the support and intervention of the Honourable Zulfikar Mustapha, Minister of Agriculture, GuySuCo is now working along with the experts from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to further develop the use of drones. As mentioned earlier, it is anticipated that on formalising the use of drones, the area over which chemicals can be applied aerially will be increased from the current average of 50 percent, but of course, this has to be done with the approval of PTCCB.”

Anthony Joshua reveals he has been ‘training on the edge’ for title defence against Oleksandr Usyk

Joshua regards Usyk as potentially his second biggest challenge after Wladimir Klitschko

Mailonline - As the world’s predominant heavyweight in the estimation of three of the four main alpha-belt championship bodies Anthony Joshua could be excused at least a hint of irritation as he keeps being compared unfavourably with his next challenger in terms of ringcraft. Far from it.

Instead of bridling at a perceived insult, Joshua has been using next Saturday night’s engagement with Oleksandr Usyk as the driving force for honing his own skills. Instead of assuming that he can rely on his massive physique and mighty punching to

Sunday September 19, 2021 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You might do some writing today, perhaps creative or letters. Whichever it is, you might find that all that comes out are gloomy accounts of whatever's happening now.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) A friend may have some outrageous, unworkable ideas for making money. No matter what they involve, you'll probably start by listening just to be polite and then end up wondering if your friend is still on this planet.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Career matters might be very stressful today, Gemini.

Your generally penetrating mind is clouded by strong feelings about whatever you're doing and confused by differences of opinion among your colleagues.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Some new concepts involving the sciences that you're trying to study may be difficult. You might be a little impatient with yourself, viewing this confusion as a symptom of mental dullness.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Some vivid dreams could shed light on something you've been trying to find.

This could be a lost object or an obscure piece of information.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) A social event could put you in touch with a magnetic woman who has a lot of interesting stories to tell, Virgo

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Kaieteur News

Sunday September 19, 2021

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Today you might be trying to do some in-depth research, but don't be surprised if what you're looking for proves difficult to find.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) A decision may need to be made today that requires logic and practicality. You might find that your feelings get in the way. Don't fight it.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Today a charismatic, artistic woman could visit your home, She could have a lot of ideas to discuss, perhaps proposing that you work on a project together. This might be a good idea, but don't commit to it now.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Stress could have you feeling a little out of sorts by the end of the day. You might have been considering going out for the evening, but it might be better if you put off those plans and stay home and rest.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Have you recently purchased something you wanted that's more of a luxury than a necessity?

Today you might feel guilty about it. It may have temporarily strained your budget.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Attempts to balance emotions with logic may not succeed today, particularly where family is concerned, Pisces. Members of your household may be upset, and you might not be able to cheer them up.

overwhelm the smaller Ukrainian technician in front of a sell-out crowd in the first fight at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Joshua has been applying boxing’s Sweet Science to his physical strength.

Doing so to such extremes as using only his left hand in sparring in hope of diluting the unorthodox southpaw threat which made Usyk the undisputed world cruiser-weight champion, at a time when that division was stacked with outstanding fighters.

‘Deep practice,’ says Joshua while attributing those technical improvements in part to Covid. ‘That’s what I learned during lockdown.

Very deep practice. I’ve been training on the edge.

Exposing myself to being hit by southpaw partners because of only using my left hand. That’s hard. That hurts.

But the basic necessities of living in the pandemic were perfect for me. I like the basics of life. I don’t need a lot to make me happy.

‘More importantly, this has helped me realise that putting yourself in vulnerable situations brings the best out of you.

Not being allowed to impose my size and power in those sessions taught me not only the power of deep practice but also the power of the brain. Our brain is like plastic. It is always changing and you can use that to change and improve yourself.

To find out more about who you are.’

There is a widespread assumption that Usyk, not a natural heavyweight, is not big enough to inconvenience Joshua unduly.

That belief was reinforced as he seemed to struggle physically in his two wins since moving up to boxing’s most enriching marquee division, most noticeably against a still-robust Dereck Chisora.

Our WBA, IBF and WBO champion – not to mention the fringe IBO title - does not subscribe to that opinion.

Rather, Joshua regards the still-undefeated Usyk as potentially his second biggest challenge after the legendary Wladimir Klitschko in that epic v i c t o r y a t We m b l e y, saying: ‘It’s not annoying to me that people look upon U s yk as the superior technical boxer.

He is very good. And I know it’s not just about being big and just going into that ring and knocking him out inside 20 seconds with my first big punch.

...‘Bank Track could open From page 63 families who would have to be accommodated at Hotels, buy meals and most likely use public transpiration,” Dowridge posited.

A Velodrome, where a large crowd is present for the entire race would encourage more sponsorship from Corporate Guyana which would attract more participation and even filter down to road races.

We have a field of about 35-40 Road competitions but If we get a track, the guys who starts riding on the track would come and ride on the Road. Presently most of the Road cyclists know each other, their strengths and weakness so when we get fresh competitors we will start getting new winners” the GCF President noted.

“Another advantage of having a track would be organising a three stage Road race, a week after the International Event and the international Riders would stay for the Road race.

They would make use of local tour packages and this would be a grand moment for Guyana… not

only for the sport but for economic activity and sports tourism.”

Dowridge revealed the GCF’s relationship with Sports Minister Charles Ramson, the Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle and Chairman of NSC Kashif Mohammed is fairly good and that he is getting cooperation from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.

According to Dowridge, pending the approval of the Task Force, several events have been planned for the last quarter of the year. Starting from this weekend with the Flying Stars Victor Macedo Memorial 75-mile race which goes into the Linden Highway, Hassan Mohammed’s Diamond Mineral Water in West Demerara, the Wilbert Benjamin Memorial in Berbice, the Flying Stars Kadir Mohamed Memorial 80-mile ‘Ounce of Gold’ race, the Evolution ‘Ounce of Gold race in Essequibo, the Heavy Machinery Event ending at Parika and the Throson Club’s race in New Amsterdam.

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Sunday September 19, 2021

Brazil legend Pele says he is ‘recovering very well’ after surgery

B

BCsport - Brazil legend Pele says he is “recovering very well” after briefly being readmitted to intensive care following a recent operation. The 80year-old had surgery to remove a tumour from his colon this month and was initially released from intensive care on Wednesday.

Sao Paulo’s Albert Einstein Hospital said he was readmitted “as a preventative measure”. “My friends, I am still recovering very well,” Pele wrote on Instagram. “Today I received visits from family members and I continue to smile every day. Thank you for all the love I get from you.”

Pele had been having treatment at the hospital since 31 August after the tumour was detected in routine tests.

Media outlets in Brazil reported that he was readmitted to intensive care as a precautionary measure because of his age.

The hospital later released a statement confirming this and added: “After stabilisation, the patient was transferred to semi-intensive care. “He is currently stable from a cardiovascular and respiratory point of view.”

Before the hospital statement was released, his daughter posted on Instagram: “I don’t know what is going on with the

rumours out there but my DMs are booming!!!

“There’s already a lot of anxiety roaming the world these days and we don’t want to be the reason for more.

“The normal recovery scenario for a man of his age after an operation like this, is sometimes two steps forward and one step back.

It’s very normal. “Yesterday he was tired and took a little step back. Today he took two forwards!”

Pele’s health has been a concern in recent years. He had prostate surgery in 2015 after he was admitted to hospital for the second time in six months, and he was admitted again for a urinary infection in 2019.

Pele is Brazil’s all-time

Gomez hat trick helps keep Costa Rica alive at FFWC

Benas Spietinis of Lithuania challenges for the ball with Cesar Vargas and Victor Fonseca of Costa Rica during the FIFA Futsal World Cup 2021 group A Match at Kuanas Arena yesterday in Kaunas, Lithuania (Photo by FIFA) Miami, Florida – Costa Rica kept their 2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup hopes alive with a 6-2 win over Lithuania in their Group A finale on Saturday at the Zalgiris Arena in Kaunas. After scoring just one goal in their first two matches, the Ticos attack exploded on Saturday (yesterday), including a stretch in which they scored five unanswered goals.

Staring at a 1-0 deficit in the 19th minute of the first half, 2021 Concacaf Futsal Championship Best Player Award winner Milinton Tijerino scored his first goal of the tournament to make it 1-1. Moments later Juan Cordero scored to give Costa Rica a 2-1 lead at the break.

Tijerino notched his second of the day nine minutes after the re-start, followed by a pair of scores from Daniel Gomez to make it 5-1. After Lithuania pulled a goal back, Gomez completed his hat trick in the final seconds to complete the 6-2 scoreline.

Guatemala are also still in the mix for a knockout round berth despite a 4-1 defeat to the Russian Football Union (RFU) in their final match of Group B at the Zalgiris Arena in Kaunas.

The RFU raced out to a 3-0 lead in the first 14 minutes and carried that advantage into the second half before Guatemala’s Roman Alvarado scored in the 25’ to make it 3-1.

However, in the end the spoils belonged to the RFU, who added on another goal for the 4-1 win.

Panama will conclude their campaign in Group D on Sunday when they meet Brazil at the Svyturys Arena in Klaipeda. Panama are still looking for their first point of the tournament, but a win could catapult the Canaleros into a possible knockout round berth. It will be the second ever meeting between Panama and Brazil at a Futsal World Cup.

His daughter Kely Nascimento (left) posted a photo of them with Pele smiling on a hospital bed leading scorer with 77 goals in 92 games and one of only four players to have scored in four World Cup

tournaments. Lionel Messi recently passed him as the leading South American men’s scorer in international

matches with a hat-trick in Argentina’s World Cup qualifying win against Bolivia.

Rugby Championship: Australia beat South Africa 30-17 in Brisbane BBCsport - Len Ikitau and Marika Koroibete scored two tries apiece as Australia secured a second successive victory over world champions South Africa in the Rugby Championship in Brisbane.

Ikitau touched down twice in the first half, although the Springboks took the lead through centre Lukhanyo Am two minutes into the second half.

Koroibete struck twice in six minutes to seal a bonus-point Australia win. New Zealand reclaimed top spot in the world rankings after beating Argentina. The All Blacks are now 10 points clear in the Rugby Championship table having won all four of their games while Australia move up to third, one point behind South Africa.

New Zealand’s win saw them leapfrog the Springboks into top spot prior to their meeting in Townsville next week.

Soon after South Africa scrum-half Faf de Klerk was shown a yellow card for slowing the ball in a ruck, Ikitau sprinted past two defenders to score the opening try. Ikitau crossed for a second time in the 21st minute following Koroibete’s off-load, before De Klerk’s return rejuvenated the Springboks as they trimmed the deficit to three points by half-time.

With Wallabies flanker Lachie Swinton yellowcarded for a high tackle on Duane Vermeulen, the visitors quickly snatched the lead after the restart when Am touched down.

However, Australia regained the initiative thanks to winger Koroibete, whose first try was created by Taniela Tupou’s audacious no-look pass. Koroibete’s second established a 13point lead and Australia defended it stoutly, repelling waves of South African

attacks in the closing stages to see out a victory - seven days after their dramatic 2826 win in Brisbane.

In addition to leapfrogging South Africa in the rankings, New Zealand closed in on their 18th title with a 36-13 bonus-point success over an improved Argentina in the second of Saturday’s double-header at Suncorp Stadium.

Despite coach Ian Foster having made 11 changes from last week’s 39-0 win over the Pumas, the All Blacks were too strong for the South Americans with tries from Patrick Tuipulotu, TJ Perenara, Tupou Vaa’i (2) and Samisoni Taukei’aho enough to secure another dominant victory.

South Africa must defeat New Zealand twice and pile on the tries in their last two matches to earn bonus points and have any hope of stealing the silverware away from the All Blacks.

Victory took Australia up to third in the world rankings.

Kaieteur News

Sunday September 19, 2021

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2021 USA Cycling Masters Track National C/ships

Guyana & WS United Track specialist James Joseph earns gold and silver USA based Guyanese and We Stand United Cycle Club (WSUCC) member, James Joseph captured respective gold and silver medals at the 2021 USA Cycling Masters Track National Championships held at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center, Breinigsville, PA on September 16 last.

The reigning International Cycling Union (UCI), 200m Flying Start World Record holder (11.42 seconds) set at the 2017 World Masters Championships in California, USA, competing in the 60-64 age group a few days ago captured gold in the Men Sprint Final - 2 Laps and was narrowly edged out in the Men 500m Time Trial Final.

Joseph who finished 9th overall in Match Sprints at the 1980 Summer Olympics and competed in Match Sprints at the 1984 Summer Olympics, defeated Jim Alvord in the Sprint Final but had to settle for the silver in the 500m Time Trial Final to Russell Murphy. Bronze medals went to Ed Kissee, Edwin Slaughter and Dave Geissert; a total of 14 riders contested this event.

The experienced cyclist who recently returned to the USA after coming to Guyana to bury his mother, said that he felt good

Men 500m Time Trial silver medalist James Joseph (left) along with gold medalist Russell Murphy (2nd right) and two bronze medalists.

about the results whilst nothing that it was not easy as he had to also deal with his mom’s passing and subsequent burial.

“I feel good with my performance even though I had to break training and come to Guyana to lay my mother to rest, it was a very hard ordeal but its life and I had to come to do it. I am pleased and happy that I can compete nationally again after all the Covid-19 setbacks. These national track championships in America have strict and stringent guidelines, you have to take the Covid test 72 hours before you compete and if you do not take the test, you cannot compete.”

President, executive and members of the WSUCC extends congratulations to the indefatigable James Joseph for his performances at the 2021 USA Cycling Masters Track National Championships highlighting that he [Joseph] continues to be an inspiration to the young cyclists.

The Track Cycling and Match Sprinting specialist has disclosed that he has intentions of working along with WSUCC to initiate a way of passing on his knowledge to other Guyanese cyclists. More details on this will follow subsequently.

Eagles down Achievers to clinch DVA ‘A’ Division Tournament

WTA roundup: Finals set in Luxembourg, Portoroz Jelena Ostapenko

Young Achievers working hard to defend a spike from Eagles on Friday (Calvin Chapman photo)

The curtains have fell on the Demerara Volleyball Association’s (DVA) ‘A’ Division tournament when Eagles Volleyball Club (EVC) has emerged champions after making l i g h t w o r k o f Yo u n g Achievers Volleyball Club (YAVC) in straight sets of game two of the three-game finals on Friday night last at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH).

The match served off at 19:30hrs at the Homestretch Avenue venue and Young

Achievers which had topped the points tally at the end of the round-robin stage one week ago, were in a must win game but couldn’t keep up with the animated Eagles unit.

Eagles had won game one last Tuesday 3-2 in a much more competitive clash but they didn’t spare any energy on Friday in the presence of a decent sized crowd. Eagles showed why they are one of the best teams in the country as they played as a collective unit to defeat

their opponents 25-18, 2518, 26-24. Young achievers were no match for the dominance of the Eagles attackers.

Leading the scoring for the champions were Trevon McRae with 14 points, Kristoff Shepperd and Quacy Matheson 12 points each.

The best players of the tournament were recognized as follows: Best Setter Carlos de la Toore, Best Libero - Bepaul Bandoo, Best Outside - Quacy

Matheson, Best Opposite J u a n Va l e s q u e z , B e s t Middle Blocker - Trevon McRae, Most Improved Player - Kirby Richards, Finals MVP - Trevon McRae. T h e D VA a n d t h e G u y a n a Vo l l e y b a l l Federation (GVF) have extended gratitude to the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport and the National Sport Commission for their continued support in the development of sport in Guyana.

Defending champion Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia, the third seed, beat seventhseeded Liudmila Samsonova of Russia 6-1, 7-6 (4) to reach the final of the BGL BNP Paribas Luxembourg Open yesterday.

Ostapenko led 6-1, 5-1 before Samsonova mounted a rally that fell short of taking the match to a third set. It’s the 10th career final for Ostapenko, who is bidding for her fifth title. Her foe in Sunday’s final will be unseeded Danish teen Clara Tauson, who stunned No. 5 Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic 6-4, 2-6, 6-4

in the other semifinal.

Zavarovalnica Sava Portoroz - Unseeded Italian Jasmine Paolini rallied after dropping the first set to stun No. 2 seed Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 and reach her first career final in Portoroz, Slovenia.

Paolini, who also beat No. 6 Dayana Yastremska and No. 4 Sorana Cirstea this week, will face No. 3 seed Alison Riske of the U.S. for the title. Riske fended off Kaja Juvan of Slovenia 6-0, 6-4 in the other semifinal.

She is looking for her third career WTA title. (Field Level Media)

Kaieteur News

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Sunday September 19, 2021

BCB to launch historic IPL: All you need to know as the coaching manual dedicated tournament restarts in UAE in memory of Michael Hyles The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) on Wednesday would create history in Guyana when it launches its own Coaching Manual which is set for the BCB Office, New Amsterdam.

Board President, Hilbert Foster who has spearheaded a major revolution of the sport in the Ancient County is expected to give the feature address and then distribute the first set of the manuals to some players.

Plans for the Manual started after the Board was unable to host its countywide Coaching programme due to the ongoing covid-19 pandemic. Foster then suggested to his executive that alternatives had to be found to assist youths to improve their game and it was decided that the Board should invest in a Coaching Manual. Foster was able to galvanise the necessary sponsorship.

A quality and high level team led by Level Three Coaches Winston Smith and Julian Moore was set up to provide the necessary information for the booklet.

Other Coaches involved were Leslie Soloman, Balram Samaroo, Travis Hardcourt, Tremayne Smartt and the late, Michael Hyles.

BCB Public Relations Officer Simon Naidu informed that with the official launching of the manual out of the way, the Board would now forge

Hilbert Foster BCB President

ahead with the hosting of four Mini Cricket Academies across the county. The academies would be hosted for close to two hundred promising Under-19 players in West Coast Berbice, New Amsterdam/Canje, Lower Corentyne and Upper Corentyne. Each of the players attending the academies would receive a copy of the manual while the Board also intends to assist its fellow County Boards with copies if they request same.

Foster stated that with players having their own Coaching Manual , they would be able to work on their personal development at home on a regular basis and that club officials would

also be in a position to assist them.

Most clubs in Berbice are without the services of a coach and the manual should assist them to do their own coaching sessions. The BCB President made it quite clear that the manual would be distributed free of cost.

This has been made possible with the support of overseas based sponsors, Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh. Dr Puran Singh and Brian Ramphal.

The BCB also decided to dedicate the Manual to the memory of long time Coach, Michael Hyles who passed away recently.

Hyles had served as a Coach in the county for over 40 years and had assisted to prepare the document before his sudden passing.

BBCsport - The postponed Indian Premier League restarts on Sunday, and this is everything you need to know ahead of cricket’s biggest franchise tournament crowning its 14th winner...

What happened to the initial tournament? The 2021 tournament started in India on 9 April with Royal Challengers Bangalore, led

by India captain Virat Kohli, getting the better of reigning champions Mumbai Indians.

It was played against a backdrop of rising cases, and deaths, from Covid-19 in India, but the tournament was unaffected until 3 May when two Kolkata Knight Riders’ players, Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier, tested positive, meaning their match against Royal Challengers Bangalore was postponed.

A day later the tournament was suspended amid rising cases within the

team in Group A and qualified for the 2022 CWU20 thanks to their 40 win over Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Jahni Simmons struck in the 24’ and 41’, before goals from Emily Cabral in the 53’ and Katherine Bean in the 75’ completed the clean sheet win for Bermuda.

Delhi Capitals led the eightteam table, with three-time winners Chennai Super King second. RCB, who are yet to win the tournament were third, while five-time winners Mumbai were fourth.

Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders are all in contention, but Sunrisers Hyderabad, who are led by England’s 50-over World Cup-winning coach Trevor Bayliss, were bottom with just one win. A reminder of the knockout format: First meet second in the first qualifier, with the winner automatically reaching the final. Third plays fourth in the second qualifier, with the winner of that game playing the loser of the first for a place in the final.

Teams, and squads, were originally drafted with Indian conditions in mind too, so teams will have to adapt to different conditions.

Bermuda, Cayman Islands advance to 2022 CWU20 Championship

Katelyn Medeiros of Bermuda #9 and Kendra Friday captain of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines battle for possession during the Concacaf Women’s U20 qualifiers Group A Match at Stadion Ergilio Hato.

Miami, Florida – The final day of action in 2022 Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship Qualifying saw Bermuda and the Cayman Islands become the final two teams to punch their tickets to next year ’s CWU20 Championship.

Bermuda emerged as the top

tournament, with a Sunrisers Hyderabad player testing positive before their match.

The organisers said it had “unanimously decided” to postpone the season, with 29 group games played.

What is the state of play and how many games are left? That leaves 31 games left to play - 27 in the group stage, before the three knockout games and final between 10 and 15 October.

The tournament has moved from India to United Arab Emirates, where the entire 2020 edition was played.

Matches will be played in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. They will also host the men’s T20 World Cup that follows from 23 October to 14 November so we may see IPL games played on fewer pitches, meaning they get slower, and scores decrease, as the tournament progresses.

When the tournament was halted, 2020 runners-up

Molly Kehoe proved to be the hero for the Cayman Islands with a hat trick in a 3-0 win against Anguilla, earning the Cayman Islands top spot in Group B and a place in the 2022 CWU20. Kehoe scored all five goals for the Cayman Islands in qualifying.

Group C wrapped up with Saint

Lucia claiming an 8-0 win over Antigua and Barbuda on the strength of five goals from Krysan St. Louis (2’, 53’, 54’, 68’, 76’) and scores from Arnicka Louis (20’), Kylah Solomon (59’) and Faith Regis (80’).

Belize closed out the action in Group D on a high note with a 6-1

triumph over Grenada. Alisha Terry had a brace (22’, 43’), while Khalydia Velasquez (4’), Shendra Casimiro (25’) and Anahie Blanco (80’), along with an Erin Sylvester own goal in the 61’ accounted for Belize’s scoring. Grenada goal came from Shonika Phillip in the 81’.

Kaieteur News

Sunday September 19, 2021

Hannah Joseph

PAGE 65

Sean Johnson

Omar James

David Higgins

National Youth and Junior Championships

Five athletes from Upper Demerara Track Club to compete Just over a week remains before Athletics Guyana (AG) runs off the long overdue National Youth & Junior Championships at the National Track & Field Center (NTFC), Leonora on the West Coast of Demerara and the anticipation couldn’t be higher.

Although AG has managed to be fairly active since Guyana came out of the 12-hour lockdown last August, the youngsters have not had much competition to themselves with the last National Junior Championships contested in May, 2019. The competitive

juices will be flowing even more as this competition will be the last chance for the up-andcoming track stars to qualify for the South America Under-23 championships which is scheduled to be held in Ecuador next month, instead of Guyana as originally planned.

The South America Under-23 championships will also serve as the final qualifying track meet for the inaugural Panam Junior Games, scheduled for November in Cali, Colombia.

Kaieteur Sport had the opportunity to speak briefly with Coach Johnny Gravesande of the

Upper Demerara Track Club and he spoke highly of his team of five athletes who will be representing one of the better clubs in the ‘Mining Town’.

The five athletes include middle distance runner Anna Joseph who just turned 14 to meet the minimum age requirements of competing at this event. Fifteen-year-old Carmelo An-Son-Hing will also be running the 800m-1500m middle distance races.

In the sprint department, 17year-old Sean Johnson will try to finish ahead of the back of the boys’ under-18 100m and 200m

races while 16-year-old Omar James will compete in the 200m, 400m and Long Jump events.

The team list is closed off with 16-year-old David Higgins who will be looking to excel in the under-18 100m, 200m and Long Jump events. Earlier in the week, AG’s Head Aubrey Hutson had shared with this publication that he plans to engage health authorities for permission to host vaccinated fans during the National Youth & Junior Championships which will be welcomed by stakeholders since previous events didn’t allow for any non-competing spectators.

Carmelo An-Son-Hing

‘Bank Track could open several avenues for GCF’ including Sports Tourism - Dowridge

By Sean Devers According to President of the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF), former National Cyclist Linden Dowridge, developing a Velodrome is of utmost importance for the sport and would open up several avenues including sports Tourism.

Speaking on the last ‘Sean Devers Sports Watch’ on Kaiteur Radio, Dowridge, who will serve as GCF Head for a four-year term, said the GCF has submitted a proposal for the construction of a ‘Bank Track’ at the Durban Park behind the 1763 monument at Cuffy square.

A member of Team Evolution Cycle Club, Dowridge, who won unopposed at the last GCF AGM at Olympic House, Liliendaal in August 2019, expressed dissatisfaction with the standard of local cycling, adding that the GCF were off to a bad start due to the pandemic and events leading up to elections.

“ We ( G C F ) h a v e approached the Sports Minister with a drawing and proposal to construct a Velodrome at Durban Park.

The drawing of a design for the 400 meters’ track was done by former cyclist, Vernon Davis.

Right where you have the stand now… it will take up the Eastern section of the paved road that is presently there. This facility, if we get it there, will cut the cost of building a track by at least 40 percent. In addition, it will be in central Georgetown where there is access to public transportation, walking distance from most homes and the basic infrastructure is already there with stands and washrooms and Floodlights facilities. If we were to attempt to put this anywhere else the cost would be doubled,” said Dowridge.

“Road cycling is not a spectator event, you have to be a lover of Cycling and you will just get to see the peloton pass. Most people

Linden Dowridge - GCF President

stand at the finish line but then they just see a sprint but if we get the velodrome cycling will become a more spectator sport and more

people and more ladies will get involved. We will be able to grow our sport a lot with this facility,” explained Dowridge who informed that

there are nine Cycling clubs in Guyana.

Differently Able cyclist Walter Grant-Stuart who attended the Paralympics in To k y o w a s t h e o n l y Guyanese to the Paralympics and Dowridge said that it was almost impossible for Guyana’s riders to qualify for the biggest multi-sport event in the world.

“There is body called UCI, that’s the parent Body for Cycling and have now allowed professional Cyclists to race at the Olympics… persons who make a living from what they do.

Our Road Cyclists will have to attend UCI International Meets like the Tour-de-France and many other ‘stage events’ around the globe to compete with those guys and to get points is almost impossible but …if we have a Velodrome we could attend several Pan American Track Events which could get us the points to get to the Olympics” continued the GCF Boss.

He explained that he wants to focus on the track Events since he feels that is the easiest way to get to the Olympics. Dowridge disclosed if we are riding on grass and the International track standard is 333.33 and imagine if you have never been there and you are still riding on grass.

“All I am asking for is a beginner’s track which is big …400 meters… because we cannot entertain the thought of putting a 333 track since this will be too challenging for a youngster to just pick up a bike and get accustomed to it,” Dowridge added.

“A bank track will popularise and grow the Sport, it is going to grow the clubs since the parents of the young riders will come out and ultimately grow the Federation. A track will provide us the opportunity to invite International riders which could be good for sporting tourism in Guyana.

They would be accompanied by their teams, (Continued on page 59)