Issuu

WEDNESDAY 27th July, 2022

More oil

No.106796

–– with ExxonMobil’s latest double strike at the Stabroek Block

–– company commits to continue its acceleration of exploration, development and production activities

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$100

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US$140M ‘Houston Towers’ to enhance President Ali: Key 15 landscape of EBD corridor 02 safeguards PAGE

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in place for management of Guyana’s oil revenues

VP Jagdeo sues Su 10 for $50M PAGE

President’s visit to US Approximately 5,000 geared at advancing 15 house lots allocated 14 shared strategic interest during Building Expo 2022 PAGE

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–– Dr Singh says

–– Min. Croal says event was a ‘big success’

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, July 27, 2022

US$140M ‘Houston Towers’ to enhance landscape of EBD corridor By Jared Liddell

WITH Guyana on track to becoming a major investment magnet, local company Pritipaul Singh Investment Inc., is set to undertake the construction of a massive US$140 million condominium building at Houston, on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD). According to the company’s Managing Director, Pritipaul Singh Jr., this multimillion-dollar investment, “Houston Towers,” which is set to transform the aesthetics of the East Bank corridor, will have over 300 rooms that are offered at rates affordable to both foreigners and locals. He told the Guyana Chronicle that this project was conceptualised after the company recognised the growing demand for accommodation in Guyana. The 340-room facility will be established just min-

utes away from the Guyana Shore Base Inc. and Schlumberger facilities, positioning it to be a perfect spot to facilitate the influx of oil and gas workers and other stakeholders who will need accommodation while in Guyana. “The vision for this development is to cater to the demand of increased room capacity… at the moment, we are aware of the need for hotel rooms, but they are not many condominium style buildings that are available, so we decided to go in this direction. We thought it would be impactful to make a sizeable investment in the two acres of land that we have to provide a different level of amenities and a different level of lifestyle that comes with condominiums-style community living,” Singh said. The government in April 2022 passed the Condominium Bill 2022 in the National

The architect’s rendering of an aerial view of the condo once completed Assembly, which paved the way for such developments within Guyana. With six parts and 65 clauses, the Bill makes provisions for the horizontal and vertical subdivision of land and buildings into units for individual ownership, and for the use and management of condominiums. Among other things, the Bill paved the way for commercial banks to accept titles for the properties, and insurance companies to issue policies to owners of condominiums. Clause 19 of the Bill states that units in a condominium constitute immovable property, while Clause 20 provides for the title of ownership of a condominium unit. Clause 44 empowers unit owners to insure their respective units. The Bill also requires that proposed declarations and descriptions of units be approved by the subject minister before a condominium is constructed or before an existing building is converted into a condominium. It also empowers the minister to approve, reject or direct the amendment of a proposed declaration and description. Singh told the Guyana Chronicle that the massive project is currently in the pre-construction phase and has a completion deadline of 2024. He noted that the investment is set to be a massive job creator and will

provide employment for 5080 persons once completed. The company’s Managing Director said that the condo will feature first-class services, noting: “We will have a commercial space that will be available and other amenities such as an indoor pool and gym, because we want the residents to be comfortable and have access to services that would cater to their needs. Added to that, we have the concierge service that we want to introduce and several other amenities like the terrace that could be utilised by guests to overlook the ocean.” In addition to giving occupants an amazing view of the Demerara River, the building’s intricate design is expected to be enough to capture the eyes of even passersby. “The idea is to construct a facility that would complement the changing infrastructure and landscape of Guyana, something that is appealing. So, this design is not just the regular four-squared edges, it’s an innovative design that has fluid edges and creates an appealing result, a place that investors, foreign and local, would be proud to spend their time in while here. That design, with the access to the scenic views of the Demerara River, is set to allow this condo to stand out,” Singh said.

MORE OIL

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday July 27, 2022

— with ExxonMobil’s latest double strike at the Stabroek Block — company commits to continue its acceleration of exploration, development and production activities EXXONMOBIL has announced that it has made two new discoveries to the southeast of the Liza and Payara developments in the Stabroek block, offshore Guyana. The discoveries at Seabob-1 and Kiru-Kiru are ExxonMobil’s sixth and seventh in Guyana this year, with the total number of discoveries now moving to 33 in the Stabroek Block. The Seabob-1 well encountered approximately

celerate exploration, development and production activities for the benefit of all stakeholders, including the people of Guyana,” President of ExxonMobil’s Upstream Company, Liam Mallon said. He added: “The resources we are investing in and discovering offshore Guyana will provide safe, secure energy for global markets for decades to come.” The company’s 2022 investment plans include

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat

per day, using the Liza Unity FPSO vessel. The third project, Pa-

The Stena DrillMAX

131 feet (40 meters) of high-quality hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone and was drilled in 4,660 feet (1,421 meters) of water by the Stena Carron drill ship. Further, according to ExxonMobil, the Kiru-Kiru-1 well encountered approximately 98 feet (30 meters) of high-quality hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone and was drilled by the Stena DrillMAX in 5,760 feet (1,756 meters) of water. Drilling operations at Kiru-Kiru are ongoing. “ExxonMobil and its partners continue to ac-

250,000 barrels of oil per day. In a statement on

of world-class healthcare, infrastructure and other social services to enhance the lives of all Guyanese. “These projects will bring huge benefits to Guyana,” President of ExxonMobil Guyana, Alistair Routledge, said during a brief interview released by ExxonMobil. It was reported that returns from the sector are expected to catapult Guyana to the ranks of wealthiest countries in the Western Hemisphere, thereby

Bharrat Jagdeo, had said that the intention of the incumbent is to craft a framework for the future which will see more proceeds from the petroleum industry going toward Guyanese. “… we have to spend the money to build the future, that is why we have made it clear in our manifesto, when we campaigned between 2015 and 2020, that money will be spent on education, healthcare, infrastructure

increasing the government’s fiscal space to invest in initiatives geared at expanding the economy, and improving the overall welfare of citizens. In order to solidify the foundation of Guyana’s economy and enhance the overall well-being and welfare of every Guyanese, the government is crafting a framework for development that will be sustained through prudent and effective investment of oil funds into education, health, infrastructure and the non-oil sectors. Vice-President, Dr.

and assistance to non-oil industries,” the Vice-President told residents of Region Six during a recent Cabinet outreach. Although much is expected to be achieved with returns from the oil and gas sector, Minister Bharrat, in his statement on Tuesday, said the government will continue to work with local stakeholders and international partners to ensure all petroleum activities are conducted in keeping with the best environmental and sustainable practices.

The Liza Destiny FPSO

further exploration drilling and resource development in Guyana, where it is already increasing production at an accelerated, industry-leading pace. As it is now, the company has four sanctioned projects offshore Guyana. Of those, Liza Phase One is producing approximately 130,000 barrels per day, using the Liza Destiny floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, while the Liza Phase Two, which started production in February, is steadily ramping up to its capacity of 220,000 barrels

yara, is expected to produce 220,000 barrels per day; construction of its production vessel, the Prosperity FPSO, is running approximately five months ahead of schedule, with start-up likely before year-end 2023. The fourth project, Yellowtail, is expected to produce 250,000 barrels per day when the One Guyana FPSO comes on stream in 2025. ExxonMobil is also moving ahead with plans for its fifth development project in the Stabroek Block, Uaru, which is expected to produce up to

Tuesday, following the announcement of the new discoveries by ExxonMobil, Minister of Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat, said that the new finds will further position Guyana as an oil-producing and exporting nation with the much internationally sought after ‘medium sweet crude.’ DIVERSIFICATION He added that those discoveries and subsequent returns would enhance the government’s efforts to diversify away from oil and focus on provision

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday July 27, 2022

Auction of remaining oil blocks to commence soon

—President Ali says, expresses hope that Guyana will attract new explorers (Reuters) - THE government of Guyana expects that an upcoming auction for oil and gas blocks will attract new companies to its energy industry, President Irfaan Ali said on Monday, following years of domination by U.S. giant, Exxon Mobil (XOM.N), and its partners. As part of his first official trip to Washington, Ali expects to hold talks with U.S. officials about food security, climate change, investment opportunities and financing, including a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Export and Import Bank. The small crude-producing country, where an Exxon-led consortium has confirmed more than 11 billion barrels of recoverable oil and gas, is also in talks with investment funds from Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar to secure financing for its nascent oil industry, Ali added. Though oil was not the focus of the visit, the President said he was taking advantage

on the sidelines of an event by the Atlantic Council. “There is no blockage against any company.” Exxon and partners Hess (HES.N) and China’s CNOOC (0883.HK) began crude production in Guyana in late 2019. Three years later, the government’s annual oil revenue is on track to break the $1 billion mark, a turning point for Georgetown to start capitalising on the nation’s vast reserves. The South American country’s revenue is expected to accelerate to $7.5 billion annually in 2030, according to consultancy Rystad Energy, helping fund a myriad of much-needed projects, from gas-to-power plants to houses and education.

Guyana’s President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, meets with U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, at the State Department in Washington, U.S. (REUTERS/ Sarah Silbiger/Pool)

of being in the United States to call on energy companies to participate in the bidding round, scheduled for the third quarter. “We are hoping that the participants in the auction... will add diversification,” Ali told Reuters in an interview

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“We have been clear to the United States that we are going to continue an aggressive bid to ... capitalise on our hydrocarbon sector,” he said. Guyana is also studying projects to cut energy costs by almost 50 per cent in the near term, Ali said, which would help consumers, manufacturers and farmers. The country, which is expected to reach 1.2 million barrels per day of crude production by 2027 - surpassing Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador - is not currently considering joining the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). “We are a new player in the oil and gas sector... That conversation will have its time,” Ali said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday July 27, 2022

World’s fastest-growing economy seeks to diversify away from oil — Guyana President Irfaan Ali lays out plan during US visit — nation’s economy to grow 47 per cent this year, according to IMF

(Bloomberg) GUYANA, the world’s fastest-growing economy, plans to use its newfound oil and gas wealth to fund investments in other sectors that will reduce its dependence on hydrocarbons, its President said. The government wants to use the revenues from its massive offshore oil deposits to finance investments in mining, tourism, agriculture and other sectors, President Mohamed Irfaan Ali said during a trip to the US. “While Guyana is an emerging hydrocarbon market, our economy will not be hydrocarbon-based,” Ali told the Atlantic Council in Washington, D.C., on Monday. The International

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali

Monetary Fund forecasts Guyana’s economy will grow 47 per cent this year on the back of oil exploration, and the government forecasts output of about 800,000 barrels per day by 2025. The offshore oil deposits, which Exxon Mobil Corp. first successfully drilled in 2015, are so large relative

to Guyana’s population of 780,000 that some projections show the country on track to overtake Kuwait to become the world’s largest per-capita crude producer. The remote South American nation, which borders Venezuela and Brazil, plans to use the influx of funds to build roads and infrastructure to open up other areas of the

economy, including its gold, diamond, bauxite and copper mines, Ali said. The country also wants to protect its Amazonian rainforest, Ali said. The thick jungles which cover most of its territory, have the potential to generate more than $100 million per year in carbon credits, he said.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Guyana-US Relations

A DELEGATION led by President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali is currently in the United States of America at the invitation of the United States Government. Also in the delegation are Vice-President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo; Foreign Minister, Hugh Todd and Foreign Secretary, Robert Persaud. Relations between the Guyana Government and that of the United States of America have never been better. This is reflected in several ways, not least of which has been the role played by the United States in the restoration of democracy to Guyana on October 5, 1992 after nearly three decades of PNC dictatorial rule and, more recently, against attempts by the APNU+AFC to rig the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections. The United States’ assistance to Guyana has had a long history dating back to the pre-1992 period when former President Jimmy Carter through his Carter Center applied pressure on the Desmond Hoyte administration to agree on electoral reforms, which resulted in the holding of democratic elections, won by the PPP/C under the leadership of Dr Cheddi Jagan. It was also instrumental in the country’s reconstruction process by way of technical and financial assistance, which resulted

in a significant turnaround of the Guyana economy. Indeed, Guyana during the early years of the new PPP/C administration was seen as an economic model of a highly-indebted poor country that successfully managed to navigate its way out of poverty to sustainable economic and social development. Much of that credit is attributable to Vice-President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, who was the then Minister of Finance under the Cheddi Jagan presidency. With the discovery of oil in commercial quantities by the US-based Exxon Mobil, relations between the two countries became further enhanced at the economic and technical levels. The current engagement between representatives of the two governments, according to President Ali, focuses on areas of mutual interest, areas of strength and an expansion of the bilateral relationship between the two countries. Meetings were held with senior State Department officials including Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and US Deputy Secretary of Commerce, Don Greaves. According to President Ali, the engagements were fruitful and highlighted the importance of closer collaboration. During an interview hosted by the Atlantic Council on the way forward

on Guyana-US relations, President Ali emphasised the need to harmonise the plans and programmes of Guyana with the aspirations of the United States, both at the governmental level and that of the private sector. “We cannot have a partnership unless the two countries have a fulsome understanding of the development priorities, the challenges and opportunities and how those challenges can be mitigated and how those opportunities can be advanced,” the President said. With Guyana’s economy now on the upward trajectory, thanks to the impact of oil, the importance of stronger economic ties becomes all the more necessary and relevant. This point was emphasised by President Ali, who noted that even though Guyana is an emerging hydrocarbon market, a very important part of the country’s development trajectory is to ensure that the economy does not remain hydrocarbon based. The economy must continue along the path of economic diversification with emphasis on agriculture and food security, along the lines envisaged by CARICOM aimed at a 25 per cent reduction of the region’s food-import bill by 2025. The realisation of such an outcome will require a considerable outlay of capital and

technology. That is why the relationship with the US is so critical, because we share common values on democracy and on freedom, which President Ali said were brought to the forefront at the meeting with the US Secretary of State. According to President Ali: “The US has always been very supportive of the growth and development of our country, and more recently, the US has been very instrumental and supportive in ensuring that democracy prevailed in our country and that came about because of the fundamental value system of the US. The way the United States values democracy and the political party I come from, we share those values.” The fact is that Guyana and the United States share much in common, both at the political, economic and cultural levels. The United States is home to the largest segment of the Guyanese diaspora, many of whom have been making significant contributions to the economic and cultural landscape of the United States. The visit by President Ali and his delegation will no doubt deepen and cement the bonds of friendship between the two countries, based on the principles of mutual respect and non-interference.

Macedonia-Joppa Volunteer Committee plans spectacular Emancipation Day celebrations

Dear Editor,

GUYANESE spent almost two years indoors or rather housed-up, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as children had to trade physical classes, libraries and recreational activities for virtual sessions, and adults could not have even entered their place of worship. Every holiday, including two of the most prominent in the country, Easter and Christmas were spent mostly indoors during this period, with a small family circle. This has taken a mental and physical toll on our society with the restrictions imposed by the government to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. But it is finally over, and the Macedonia-Joppa Volunteer Committee (MJVC) is gearing up to add to the plethora of activities that encourage persons to return to physical settings. The group is sponsoring the largest Emancipation Day celebrations ever on the Corentyne, Region Six. Members of the MJVC have invited all the residents of the villages in Macedonia-Joppa District to grab at this glorious opportunity

and celebrate Emancipation in the most extravagant way possible. They have chosen the theme “UPLIFTMENT” for this year’s celebrations to commemorate the abolition of slavery in Guyana in 1834 and to mark 188 years of Emancipation. In Guyana, August 1, 1994, Emancipation Day was declared a national holiday for the first time and has since grown into a major national festival, where thousands of people participate in various activities. Emancipation Day celebrations in the Macedonia-Joppa District will be an all-day-long event at the Eversham Community Pavilion. The day of activities will kick off at 6:30 hours with a mile-long road race comprised of two categories--male and female. The male category race will start from Macedonia (No. 35 Village) and end at the Eversham Community Pavilion and the female category will begin from the No. 43 Village and end at the pavilion as well. Monetary prizes will be awarded to the participants in the following order for both categories: The winners of each race will receive $20,000, the second place runners will

each receive $15,000, and the third and fourth place runners will each receive $10,000 and $5,000 respectively. There are approximately two dozen individuals who have already registered for both categories of the race. It is expected to be a very competitive event. At 10:00 hours, there will be a road march with African drums and traditional calypso music for the villagers including children to revel in. The road march will commence from the No. 35 Village and wind its way to No. 43 Village and then to the Eversham Community Pavilion. After which there will be a flag raising ceremony, followed by the singing of the “National Anthem” and “Arise Guyana.” (See ballad below). At 12:30 hours, lunch will be served to the attendees. This will be followed by a cultural programme which will inform the people, especially youths about the birth of Emancipation Day, a brief account of slavery and its abolishment, and the history of the various villages in the community and their progress thus far. After, there will be a cultural display of African attire by children, men, and women of the community.

There will also be a display of delicious African dishes (metemgee, foo-foo) and drinks (mauby). For the activities, villagers will be decked out in African attire, traditional folk and African songs played, various exhibits of African cultural customs, folk games to take part in, African crafts and artwork on display, singing, dancing (masquerade), and drumming (African Drums), to enjoy the activities. All members of the community will participate, regardless of age, race, creed, gender, or political affiliation. It is expected to be the largest event in Corentyne. So, being in the Macedonia-Joppa district for Emancipation Day will expose one to a diverse culture that is not quite like any other found in the country. It will be a major turning point in the district’s history as the Macedonia-Joppa Volunteer Committee plan to make Emancipation Day celebrations an annual event. Respectfully, Nickel Ross-Albert MJVC-Public Relations Director

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Marble, Grass and Glass is a seminal work on indentureship history Dear Editor,

MARBLE, Grass and Glass by Sham Moteelall (XLibris, 2021) is an investigation of Indian indentureship (girmit labour system) through the author’s family roots. The writer, a Berbician who migrated and settled in Minnesota since 1970, narrates and describes his ancestors’ journey and their experiences and also that of their immediate descendants in Guyana. It is a family story from India, Guyana, and America, with the latter being addressed briefly towards the end. It investigates the relatively little-studied experiences of the indentured labourers and their early descendants who were born and raised in British Guiana – recruitment (including kidnapping) of labourers, their experiences during the journey on board the ship, on the plantations, and after indentureship. Although it is an account of his family travails in India, on board the ship, in the estate plantation, and life in post indentureship in Guyana, the narrative and description of indentureship are applicable to all societies where Indian indentured labourers were taken. Marble, Grass, and Glass is a brilliant written piece of work with significant portion on recruitment of labourers. Commencement of indentureship in 1838 (British Guiana), (Indian Indentureship began in Reunion Island in 1828 and Mauritius in 1834, which was preceded by slavery of Indians in Reunion decades earlier. Recruitment of Indian indentured labourers ended in March 1917 and indentured Indians were freed by the British government on January 1, 1920). Besides the indentureship experience, it addresses the social and cultural life of indentured labourers on the plantations and post

indentureship. The book is a historical re-telling of events relating to all aspects of indenture and its aftermath. The work departs from the usual historical approach of dates and events. It is presented in a literary narrative prose describing scenes, events, episodes, conditions, the environment that make the readers imagine what was taking place. The writing flows nicely from sentence to sentence and paragraph to paragraph. There is an occasional grammatical error, but overall, it is well written. It tells how and why indentured Indians came to Guyana; who were the people brought here? What adversities and challenges they faced? How did they cope and overcome their difficulties through the 1970s. The book is not a scholarly account with citations, but Moteelall brings forth evidence in constructing careful accounts of all aspects of indentureship. He exposes the horrors of indentureship — with the girmityas suffering from similar experiences and fates of slaves. Few accounts have so thoroughly related the broad history of Indian indentureship with facts and experiences. The methodology used in the writing is the oral accounts of ancestors who came from India that were obtained from family members who themselves received the accounts from their parents, grandparents, and other kins. Most of it is anecdotal and empirical. The work will be of particular interest to historians (of India’s history, Guyanese history, Indian Guyanese history, labour exploitation, and oral history – methods of gathering accounts), anthropologists (cultural studies, of Indian Guyanese culture and dialects, Indian cultural continuity and change, patriarchy, Hin-

duism, Hindu-Muslim relations, family life and marriage, rituals of birth and death, festivals, and religious texts, and traditions), sociologists (social and ethnic relations between Indians and Africans in the segregated villages, migration, ethnicity, gender studies, patrilinealism, women contributions to development, role of Indian women in indentured labour and their resistance to sexual exploitation and domination, Indian gender relations within the family, power relations within the plantations), political scientists (India and Guyana’s freedom or liberation movements and resistance against British rule), and economists (the primitive economies of India and Guyana, the economic lives of the poor and labourers in both in India and Guyana, and how the contributions of indentured labour and the Indian peasantry transform the colony and brought about socio-economy change) recollection of life back home for most girmityas, except perhaps for several of the author’s ancestors, made it not so difficult to opt to settle down in Guyana making it their new home. The girmityas had aspirations for their lives – to obtain quick wealth from hard work and savings and to return to their motherland to purchase land for agriculture and cattle rearing and provide a decent home for their kinship. Few returned to the motherland to achieve their dreams. But many of them were able to make progress in the colony. A large number of them died as paupers and their descendants are still struggling today, although they would have been better off than their kins at that time in rural India. In spite of distance, their lives in Guyana were connected with their custodian socio-cultural life in the villages from whence they came in India. The conditions for the labourers are no

doubt an improvement to their lives in then British India. The labourers and their descendants worked hard, managed to save money, bought land, and established a better life than if they were free in India. The book consists of 19 chapters inclusive of conclusion, plus an introduction, prologue, and epilogue, totalling 331 pages plus another 10 in roman numerals. There is no central theme and no hero -- just an account of all aspects of indentureship from life in India, recruitment process, conditions aboard the ship and in the colonies, sexual exploitation and abuse of females, and survival. Although they were victims of sexual exploitation by white overseers and plantation agents, including Indian and Black men who overpowered them, they persevered to overcome their difficulties. Their labour and exploitation would serve as a powerful mobilising force against British rule and the indenture system. This book is, arguably, one of the most profound contributions to indentureship history published in recent years. It is brilliantly written by someone who is not an English or History major, but an agronomist. It is written in simple, down-to-earth language, making it readable by the schooled and unschooled. It is written for general readership. It is recommended for secondary schools and colleges on Guyana’s history and Indian indentureship. The book is worthy for entry into recognition and honours like the Guyana Prize for Literature, The Booker Prize, and the Commonwealth Prize. Yours truly, Dr Vishnu Bisram

Ensuring First People Are Not Last Citizens

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Part 3: Why Original Citizens Cannot Be Second-Class People By Earl Bousquet

IT’S clear from all he wrote and said in his groundbreaking book, ‘Views of the Interior of Guiana’ that, never mind his deep affinity with its First People, Robert H. Schomburgk also deeply-held the prevailing British view that their salvation lay heavily with conversion to European Civilisation and Christianity. He admitted they would not easily dump their traditional ways of life to adopt new forms of living, but he never ruled out ‘Civilising’ and ‘Christianising’ the ‘natives’. Schomburgk ended his book actually longing-for the full return (to Guiana’s interior) of “the worship of the true God in the interior of Guiana” complete with “hymns in praise of Him who is Almighty.” But, 182 years after he’d argued that it was ‘heartless’, especially in what he described as “our enlightened age”, for the “Indians” to be considered “incapable of elevation”, original peo-

ple everywhere continue to struggle, at different levels and phases, for atonement for past cruelty and indiscretions, including Native Genocide. Schomburgk argued: “It is unreasonable to expect that men, accustomed to roaming and unfettered life, and unacquainted with our artificial wants, should at once abandon their wandering habits, and adopt a mode of living diametrically opposite to their long-established customs, and who but too frequently, where they have been brought into contact with civilisation, have not partaken of its blessings, but merely felt its curse.” And he went on to say, “The obligations of moral duty, and for obvious reasons, sound policy, ought to direct those who profit by the soil to which the Indians have an undisputable right, to contribute in some degree to their religious and moral instruction. But if it is to be attempted to palliate the neglect which they have received, by the assertion that the capacities and capabilities of the Aborigines render them insensible to

improvement, I at once, as a contradiction to this error, adduce to the example of the three natives who accompanied me in 1839 to England…” The German explorer, backed by Britain, had actually brought three ‘Indians’, from different Guiana tribes, to England for nine months, where -- he also admitted -- they remained true to their ways most times, never mind their demonstrated ability to adapt to anything they chose to – except living

in Europe. Original people in Guiana and neighboring Amazonian states coexisted with the environment and built levels of sustainability that guaranteed survival over centuries, until the Europeans arrived. But their surviving descendants are still resisting sometimes irresistible temptations to culturally adapt by adopting the invasive and imposed cultures that came with and after Columbus. Arriving Europeans, Africans, Indians, Chinese and Portuguese, for example, all met descendants of Guiana’s original inhabitants, who kept their distance over decades and centuries and preserved their basic ways of life. Today’s Caribbean people of indigenous descent have ensured survival of some ways of life in the face of centuries of treatment as lesser people by those taught that original people have smaller brains and therefore need civilising, educating and gradually assimilating into the dominant European societal ways of life. Assimilation schemes in Australia and Canada included (respectively, but disrespectfully) ‘giving’ Aboriginal (or ‘Native’) children to European settler families and ‘integrating’ them through ‘residential schools’ where many suffered long lives of abuse leading to death and burial in unmarked graves. First People’s historical refusal to bow to or willfully accept the imposed or colonially-introduced assimilation practices lent to their

long historical ‘isolation’ in interior or specified coastal regions, where their lands had been taken and converted to ‘reservations’ under control of those out to erase their civilisations, seriously endangering the continent’s Maya, Aztec and Inca civilisations that were brought close to extinction. Caribbean First People put up fierce and stiff resistance -- even though overwhelmed by deadlier weapons and through use of deliberately diseased blankets -- to efforts to drive them away from their lands to create ‘Latin America’. Same in the ‘West Indian’ island-chain north of Guiana, where the original people also resisted after their friendship was responded to with use of force and bribery to wipethem-out and takeover their islands. The colonially-implanted concept of ‘wild Caribs’ and ‘peaceful Arawaks’ taught in colonial West Indian schools over centuries that also included distasteful tinges of ‘cannibalism’, have been gradually done-away with, as Caribbean historians rewrite and better present more truthful accounts of the region’s history and the roles played by its First People before becoming victims of the Native Genocide that cleared the way for introduction of Slavery and Indentureship. The region’s original people and their civilisations were ruined and routed by the European invaders in the shortest relative period, their numbers reduced from

millions to hundreds in just a few decades, their stories only now emerging in smaller Caribbean islands, mainly through accidental excavation of native Amerindian burial grounds. But the causes and plights of indigenous people worldwide have, in the past two decades, received more essential international support, including at the United Nations (UN) and regionally through activist and representative entities like the Caribbean Organisation of Indigenous People (COIP). The COIP emerged from the first Caribbean Conference of Indigenous people hosted in St. Vincent & The Grenadines, attended by Maya and Garifuna delegations from Belize, as well as delegations from Dominica, Guyana and host county St. Vincent & The Grenadines – and recently it met virtually in 2020 and 2021, with annual plans also in place for 2022. But, more than respect for their land and human rights, the first inhabitants of The Americas and the Caribbean’s long island chain deserve, most of all, their born-rights as equal human beings wherever they are, all the time. Indeed, there should have been no need to have to legislate and provide for constitutional protection for First People, but insatiable colonial greed caused the embedded imperfections that governments worldwide are today being called-upon to tackle and redress, more quickly.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Milestone ‘HepC treatment programme’ to reduce financial burden on patients

THE Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), will, on Thursday, launch a programme geared at providing medication and other services to persons living with Hepatitis C. The viral infection which causes liver inflammation, sometimes leading to serious liver damage, spreads through contaminated blood, according to Mayo Clinic. Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, said that though the price for treatment has reduced significantly over the years, a great challenge still exists for persons in accessing the necessary medication. He said treatment is now estimated at US$2,000 per person. “If we want to prevent

cancers in persons infected with HepC, it is better that you treat them early… We have partnered with PAHO to access these medications and we will be launching that programme on Thursday,” Dr Anthony said on Tuesday. The minister said this will be the first time Guyana will see a programme of this nature, adding that it will even be one of the

leading Hepatitis C treatment initiatives in the Caribbean. According to the World Health Organisation, more than 350 million people are living with this disease globally. The virus could begin with an acute phase and go undetected, but could result in symptoms like jaundice, fatigue, fever, muscle aches, or nausea.

Accused ‘walks free’ after acquitted of bread vendor’s murder NEVILLE Forde, who was on trial for the murder of Sophia bread vendor, Andre Melroy Alexander, in 2017, was, on Tuesday, acquitted of the crime by a jury. Forde was on trial before Justice Jo-Ann Barlow at the Demerara High Court for the capital offence which read that, on May 5, 2017, in the County of Demerara, he murdered Alexander in the course or furtherance of a robbery. After deliberating for almost two hours, the 12-member jury found Forde not guilty. He was represented by attorney-at-law Ronald Daniels, while prosecutor Lisa Cave presented the State’s case. In 2019, Forde was

ACQUITTED: Neville Forde tried before Justice Navindra Singh for the capital offence, alongside former co-accused Shaquelle Grant called ‘Soldier Man’. Grant was, however, freed after the judge upheld a no-case submission in his favour. The jury was unable to arrive at a verdict against Forde. According to reports, on the said date, Alexan-

der was at his bread stand at Dennis Street, Sophia, Georgetown, when two men rode up on a motorcycle. The pillion rider requested three loaves of bread and paid with a $5,000 note. While Alexander was in the process of making the change, the same pillion rider whipped out a gun and demanded cash. When the man put up a fight, the robber discharged two rounds, one of which struck Alexander in the stomach. The robbers relieved Alexander of his cash and also escaped with the three loaves of bread. Alexander died the very night during surgery at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Jagdeo sues Su for $50M

VICE PRESIDENT, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has filed a $50 million lawsuit against Chinese businessman Su Zhi Rong for what he said are defamatory statements made against him by Su in a report published by United Statesbased VICE Media. The Guyana Chronicle has seen the document. In it, Dr. Jagdeo, through his attorneys, moved to the Demerara High Court and filed a Statement of Claim against Su for damages in excess of $50 million for “slanderous and defamatory” statements. The Vice President is also asking the court to grant an injunction to restrain Su, whether by himself, his servants, his agents or employees, from further speaking or publishing the same or any similar defamatory statements. According to the Court document, Jagdeo claimed that Su expressed and uttered a series of recorded conversations during the month of January to VICE Media reporter, Isobel Yeung, and a person referred to as “Mr. Chan”. The referenced utterances were aired on VICE Media’s current affairs arm, VICE News, under the title “Guyana For Sale”. An additional publication, called

Chinese businessman Su Zhi Rong “Undercover in Guyana: Exposing Chinese Business in South America”, was later released. In previous media reports, it was noted that Su visited the Vice President’s residence in the company of a person identified as a potential investor, and another person who was later revealed to be an undercover VICE News reporter. Additionally, when the VICE News’ reports were published, it was evident

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, July 27, 2022

that one of the visitors was wearing a surveillance camera. Dr. Jagdeo, in previous reports, had said that while only a short clip from an interview with him was used in the documentary, the actual sit down lasted approximately 15-20 minutes. The Vice President had also noted that during the sit down, several attempts were made to implicate him in cases of corruption, but nothing could be found since none existed. Instead, VP Jagdeo consistently maintained that as a member of government, he was not involved in these processes. According to Dr. Jagdeo in his Court submission, the statements are not only false, but are also aimed at tarnishing his reputation. He believes those statements have caused him to suffer considerable hurt, distress and embarrassment. He is arguing that the statements were also published with the intention to lower his character, morality and honesty in the eyes of right-thinking members of the public. The contentious content referenced are in electronic circulation on social media. “The defendant [Su] at the time of making the slanderous and defamatory

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo statements of the Claimant [Jagdeo] acted in a reckless and indifferent manner as regards the possibility of the statements being recorded and/or repeated and/or published to others. “As a consequence of the slanderous and defamatory statements made, expressed and uttered by the Defendant, the Claimant’s reputation and character as a respected public figure have been seriously injured, and his political reputation and standing, both locally and internationally, has been tarnished and immeasurably damaged,” the Court action read. Among other things, Dr. Jagdeo is claiming that during February, Su, in aggravation of the damages, released a statement and falsely denied uttering any false and defamatory statements about him. Due to what he said are false statements, the Vice President is claiming that there have been numerous public statements from members of the parliamentary opposition, and other prominent personalities and civil society groups calling for him to be investigated and dismissed from public office.

Men wanted after East Coast Demerara ‘ganja’ bust

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday July 27, 2022

THE Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) has issued a wanted bulletin for the whereabouts of two men following the discovery of $10 million worth of cannabis in a vehicle at Dutchfour village, East Coast Demerara (ECD). The two men are Akeen ‘Chicken’ Daniels of Lot 489 Trafalgar, West Coast Berbice (WCB) and Shawn Sears called ‘Shawn Storm’ also of Trafalgar. According to a release from CANU, their officers intercepted a motor vehicle on Sunday near Hope Canal. The antidrug officials were conducting an operation in Dutchfour village. “The driver of the aforementioned vehicle abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot along the mud dam. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed several

abouts of the two men to call the CANU Department on telephone number 227-3507.

Shawn Sears called ‘Shawn Storm’

Akeen Daniels called ‘Chicken’

parcels of cannabis in two bags in the trunk,” the release said. The motor vehicle, along with the suspected cannabis, was escorted to CANU headquarters, where narcotics testing was done. The substances tested positive for cannabis. A total of 15 parcels were

weighed which amounted to 33.4 kilograms. The street value of the narcotics, according to authorities, is approximately $10 million. This is an active investigation. CANU authorities, in the statement, urged persons with any knowledge of the where-

The seized narcotics

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Women Judges Association to host discussion on trafficking in persons

IN observance of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons (TIP), the Guyana Association of Women Judges (GAWJ) is hosting two activities to engage the public, via virtual platforms, on the scourge of TIP. This year’s World Day Against TIP is held under the theme “Use and abuse of technology” which focuses on the role of technology as a tool that can both enable and impede human trafficking. As part of its activities, the GAWJ is hosting a live panel discussion on radio station 104.1FM at 07:30 hrs this Thursday. The discussion will include GAWJ members, and representatives of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Unit of the Human Services and Social Security Ministry, and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) – the United Nations’ migration organisation. Guyana’s Chief Magistrate and GAWJ President, Ann McLennan, during an interview on 94.1 FM with Gordon Moseley, on Tuesday, gave a brief overview of the upcoming events. The Chief Magistrate said the events will focus on the role of technology as a tool that can both enable and impede human trafficking. According to the United Nations, with the global expansion in the use of technology - intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic and the shift of our everyday life to online platforms - the crime of human trafficking has conquered cyberspace. “The internet and digital platforms offer traffickers numerous tools to recruit, exploit, and control victims; organise their transport and accommodation; advertise victims and reach out to potential clients; communicate among perpetrators, and hide criminal proceeds – and all that with greater speed,

Chief Magistrate and President of GAWJ, Ann McLennan cost-effectiveness and anonymity,” the UN said in a statement to mark the international observance. As such, in keeping with the theme, the GAWJ will be using the online medium to help create more public discussion aimed at understanding the judicial system. “Although you may not see any cases coming through, we want to maintain that public confidence in the judicial system by bringing awareness to the general public about the protective measures that are in place for victims of trafficking in persons,” the Chief Magistrate said. As part of their second event, the president of the GAWJ disclosed that the body will be distributing 150 TIP posters in all of the administrative regions, especially in areas where the crime is prevalent. She added that the posters are intended to raise awareness and offer guidance to the public on how to recognise the crime and how to report it. The posters are available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. During the interview, the Chief Magistrate urged listeners to be on the alert for TIP crimes in their communities. “It’s better to be safe than sorry,” she said, adding: “Some of the signs are persons who are forced [into] begging; we see that a lot around Georgetown. Frequent injuries or signs of abuse, appearing malnourished, working very long hours See page 13

Women Judges Association to host ...

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, July 27, 2022

From page 12

with very little rest and, sometimes, no pay or very little pay,” she said. During last year’s observance, Sergeant Ranatha McBean of the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Unit at the Guyana Police Force (GPF) disclosed that for the first five months of 2021, 42 females were trafficked for sexual exploitation. According to McBean, between January and May 2021, the Force’s

TIP Unit dealt with 14 reported cases involving 49 victims, which included three males. Seven of the eight victims, who are under the age of 18, are Venezuelans, McBean’s data revealed. A total of 13 suspects were held by the police, resulting in 11 charges being laid. Of those charged, one conviction has been recorded thus far. Some of the cases involved sexual or labour

exploitation. Guyana was recognised by the United States Government for fully meeting the minimum standards for the elimination of TIP. As a result, Guyana has remained on Tier 1 of the TIP index. Guyana has also been recognised for its completion of a draft amendment of the Combating Trafficking of Persons Act, increased identification and investigation of trafficking-related matters,

the launch of the first-ever bilingual anti-trafficking hotline, and the opening of shelters for trafficking survivors which are located outside of the capital city. Due to the economic and political crisis, large numbers of migrants from Venezuela, Cuba, and Haiti continue to cross over the border into Guyana, seeking greener pastures, which has caused a large increase in the number of trafficking victims.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday July 27, 2022

Approximately 5,000 house lots allocated during Building Expo 2022 — Min. Croal says event was a ‘big success’ By Shamar Meusa AROUND 5,000 persons were recipients of house lots over the last four days, as part of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA)’s “Dream Realised” programme conducted during the International Building Expo 2022. This is according to Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal

on Tuesday during the closing press conference for the International Building Expo which was held from July 22 to July 26 at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara. The “Dream Realised” activity was hailed a resounding success, as the CH&PA was able to achieve its primary goals of allocating land and titles where necessary.

According to Minister Croal, this process involved a lot of work and effort by staff of the CH&PA. “They had to work, ensuring that they can push ahead so that we can make dreams come true; that’s why we came up with the name “Dream Realised” to make the aspirations and dreams of persons one that they can look forward to,” Minister Croal said, adding that persons can rest assured that once they have an application in the system, they will be called. CH&PA Chief Executive Offi-

cer (CEO) Sherwin Greaves said that based on the testimonials of those persons who would have been allocated house lots and received their titles many aspiring homeowners would have left the ‘Expo’ over the past three days very happy. He declared that the ministry was able to achieve its target in terms of house lot allocations, and to get close to 5,000 done. Allocations, he said, even continued on the final day of the ‘expo’, and was expected to surpass the target. Giving further details, Greaves said that allocations were done in Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and Four (Demerara-Mahaica), and, as it relates to titles, some 750 were given out. In this category, he added that they were hoping to do more, however, that activity will continue

CH&PA CEO Sherwin Greaves (Adrian Narine photos) at their offices. “But, all in all, the Dream Realised activity was a great success. Kudos must be given to the staff who worked into the wee hours of the morning every day to get this activity completed. I’m sure that everyone left happy,” the CEO said.

Additionally, Minister Croal advised persons who applied for housing solutions or lots to begin putting aside funds in order to be able to pay their small fee once they are called by CH&PA. Meanwhile, the International Building Expo was also hailed as a success by Minister Croal, who said that there was a large turnout from the public on all days that the expo was hosted. He said too that there was participation at the expo from international and regional companies along with local companies, noting that all of the 356 exhibitor spaces that were set were sold out. This, Croal said, now shows that the International Building Expo is back on track and will be hosted again in the future.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday July 27, 2022

President’s visit to US geared at advancing shared strategic interest — Minister Dr Ashni Singh

PRESIDENT, Dr Irfaan Ali and a high-level delegation including Vice-President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo are currently in Washington D.C. meeting with several high-level US officials to advance the strategic shared interest between the two countries. This is according to Senior Minister within the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, who stated that based on the composition of the delegation currently overseas, one can judge the importance that has been attached to the visit. The President has thus far fielded meetings with the US Secretary of State, representatives of the US Department of Commerce and other senior members of

the US administration. This visit, he said, is of significant importance for both countries. “This visit is of tremendous strategic importance; we see it as an opportunity to reaffirm both sides to reaffirm our commitment to the highly valued partnership that we share with the United States of America and also to advance our shared strategic interests,” the Finance Minister said. The visit comes on the heels of the recently held Summit of the Americas, where President Ali had engagements with US President Joe Biden and other leaders, including US Vice-President, Kamala Harris and even engagements with other leaders within the hemisphere. There were a number of

important outcomes from the Summit of the Americas, especially in specific areas, including agriculture and food security. In these areas, Guyana was also selected to co-chair the special select committee between the United States and CARICOM to advance the food-security agenda, even as Guyana is also participating in committees on finance and energy. Dr Singh revealed that there are a number of initiatives on which Guyana has been collaborating closely with the US Administration, and as such, there will be a number of follow-up discussions in Washington during the course of the week. “We anticipate coming out of the visit, very significant and substantial tangible outcomes. I don’t want to

Senior Minister within the Office of The President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh

preempt the meetings that are yet to happen, but I can assure you that there are going to be very significant demonstrable and tangible outcomes coming out of this visit,” he said. Dr Singh noted that there has been some commentaries from the usual naysayers attempting to understate the importance of the visit. As such, he said he is

amused by the attempts to trivialise the visit by these “traditional naysayers” and contended that people should watch and see how the visit evolves and the outcomes that will emerge. “It’s a visit from which we anticipate very significant demonstrable and tangible outcomes in advancing our shared interest with the United States of America,” he

said. President Ali is accompanied by Vice-President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo; Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd and Foreign Secretary, Robert Persaud. During their meeting with US Deputy Secretary of Commerce, Don Greaves, a commitment was made to support Guyana’s banking, finance, and tourism sectors as well as US private-sector investment into Guyana. The President has also reaffirmed the strong relationship between Guyana and the US and reiterated that the US is a valued partner in development. President Ali noted that the goal for the week’s visit is to bring harmonisation between the plans and programmes of Guyana and the aspirations of the US, both at the governmental level and private-sector levels.

Key safeguards in place for management of Guyana’s oil revenues — President Ali tells US stakeholders during Wilson Centre engagement

By Jared Liddell

PRESIDENT, Dr. Irfaan Ali, has assured US stakeholders that the government has put in place systems to allow for the transparent management of Guyana’s revenues from its oil and gas sector. This and other matters related to Guyana’s policy director were outlined by the President during an engagement hosted by the Wilson Centre in Washington DC. There, he said that his government is committed to ensuring the country’s oil and gas resources are used in a way that does not allow for any misuse or abuse of the funds. Dr. Ali related that the government, in its commitment to transparency, has employed several systems to ensure that there is trust in the process that governs the oil resources. The President, in January 2021, signed into law the Natural Resource Fund (Amendments) Bill 2021, which replaces the Natural Resource Fund bill that was passed under the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (AP-

NU+AFC) administration, that was already toppled by the successful passage of a no-confidence motion in 2018. The President noted that the new law dramatically reduced the powers of the minister; added a board of directors; made it compulsory for Parliament to approve spending; added a provision that every receipt must be published in the Official Gazette, and be reported to the National Assembly, among other measures to add extra layers of security. A cap will take effect at 75 per cent of the second US$500 million deposited into the NRF during the preceding fiscal year, followed by 50 per cent, then 25 per cent, five per cent, and finally, three per cent of any amounts above $2.5 billion. Those caps are being instituted as a means of ensuring that all Guyanese are better equipped to calculate how their country’s oil earnings are being spent. It follows an observation made by one of Guyana’s leading financial partners, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB); this institution had said that the

coming, the revenue that is coming to be invested in the country and the transformation of the country, passes through that parliamentary process, passes through the approval system and process in Parliament because the national budget has to be approved. So, the parliamentary oversight is adding to the transparency process,” President Ali said.

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, during an engagement hosted by the Wilson Centre in Washington DC

design of the 2019 NRF Act “departs from good practices” and that its complexity may “conspire against fiscal transparency and public understanding.” President Ali said in keeping with proper financial regulations, all withdrawals of oil revenues must first be deposited into the Consolidated Fund, from which the government could then begin to spend. Requests for withdrawals would also have to be made as part of the country’s annual budget. In May 2021, the government made its first withdrawal from the Natural Resource Fund (NRF), transferring

US$200 million equivalent to G$41.7 billion to the Consolidated Fund to finance national development priorities. It would be recalled, that as part of the Budget 2022 process, parliamentary approval was granted for a total of US$607.6 million to be transferred during the fiscal year 2022. “Every cent spent from the revenue will go through the parliamentary process because it has to come through the national budget. Now that is the greatest level of scrutiny. The national budget is subject to parliamentary debate and approval. “So, the resources that is

BOARD OF DIRECTORS The Head of State said that the law further limits the powers of the finance minister, by allowing the fund to be governed by a Board of Directors, comprising no less than three and no more than five members, including the chairperson, who shall be appointed by the President. These would essentially have to be persons with “wide experience and ability” in legal, financial, business, or administrative matters, one of whom shall be nominated by the National Assembly and one of whom shall be a representative of the local private sector. The Act requires that all appointments and changes to the NRF Board of Directors be published in the Official

Gazette, on the website of the Ministry of Finance, and in at least two of the local daily newspapers. The board itself is proposed to have a lifespan of two years, after which it shall be “eligible for reappointment.” “There is an independent Board of Directors that is arm’s length from the government… on that board, we have international people… for example we have David Lammy from the UK, Shadow Foreign Secretary. No, no political reach in terms of the Board of Directors,” President Ali said. Currently, the board is being chaired by Major General (ret’d), Joe Singh. Aside from Major General (ret’d) Singh, the other members of the board are United Kingdom parliamentarian, Lammy; Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett; former People’s National Congress (PNC) parliamentarian, Dunstan Barrow and Private Sector Executive, Ramesh Dookhoo.

Can Guyana partially substitute Russian gas?

By Arthur Deakin

(News Americas) IN June of 2022, gas supply from Russia to the European Union (EU) fell by nearly two-thirds compared to the previous year. Nord Stream 1, which is responsible for nearly 40 per cent of Russian gas exports to Europe, is currently shut down for a 10day annual maintenance

procedure. Questions are now arising whether Russia will extend that delay to further exert pressure on Western Europe, a potential tactic by Russia’s President Vladimir Putin to ratchet up inflation and strain the public’s support for Russian sanctions. Oil accounted for 10 per cent of Russian GDP in the past five years, while gas represented a mere two per cent. That

makes a complete shutdown of Russian gas more likely, as indicated by Gazprom’s recent force majeure on the delivery of gas to some European suppliers. Even if the EU’s gas-storage levels reach 90 per cent by October 1, and Russian gas supplies are cut off, that stored capacity will only last until April 2023. Hence, a prolonged and cold 2023 winter will

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, July 27, 2022

cause enormous economic and social consequences for the region, causing a massive rush towards the development of renewable energy and LNG export terminals across the world. A big beneficiary of this “oil and gas rush” has been Latin America. Americas Market Intelligence (AMI) analysis shows that Peru has increased LNG exports to Europe by over 70 per cent

in the first half of 2022. In Mexico, after years of contentious policies aimed at hindering the private sector, AMLO has green-lit several public-private partnerships to develop offshore LNG hubs and export terminals. And perhaps most surprising of all, the US is now allowing Venezuelan oil to arrive in European markets. Nearby in the Americas, Guyana has just unravelled 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent, the largest offshore oil discovery in the past decade. Although the final resource amount will likely be much larger, 20 per cent of the proven reserves are estimated to be associated gas, equal to 13.2 trillion cubic feet (tcf). By those calculations, Guyana now has the third largest gas reserves in the region, behind Venezuela and Argentina. It is still unclear how this newfound resource will be used. Most of it will be re-injected into the underground reservoir to optimise the extraction of oil. A small portion of it will be flared, and another small piece, equivalent to 50 million cubic feet per day, will flow through a 135-mile pipeline to the West Bank of the Demerara River. Upon arrival, a Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) plant will create dry gas—used mostly to power a 300MW power plant—as well as other useful liquids such as ethane and propane. Using Brazil’s most recent gas-production data as a relative benchmark (given that they have similar gas reserves and associated gas), AMI estimates that Guyana would have a 51 per cent surplus in gas production after accounting for gas re-injection, flaring, losses, and the gas-to-shore supply. That would mean that Guyana would be able to market 26.2 billion cubic feet (bcf) of gas per year, enough to replace 17 per cent of Russia’s gas supply to Europe. For this gas to reach Europe, there are several different alternatives that

Guyana could pursue. Given Europe’s urgency and the relatively small size of these exports, an attractive option is New Fortress Energy’s “Fast LNG” solution, an offshore liquefaction and export facility that is developed in 18 to 20 months. In fact, the company has already signed several deals to develop these types of facilities in the Gulf of Mexico. Micro-LNG, or an onshore liquefication and export terminal, are also attractive options—but less so. Although the current mindset is to “liquify, baby, liquify,” LNG export infrastructure and gas pipelines need to be built transition ready. Massive LNG supply projects, ranging from Qatar to Australia, will come online in the next few years. This means that these LNG projects, which have 30-to-40year life spans, must also be equipped to transport low-carbon fuels such as hydrogen, synthetic methane, and renewable natural gas. The EU, recognising this need, has allowed gas projects to have a temporary “green taxonomy” if they have plans to switch to low-carbon fuels by 2035. This indicates that the gas infrastructure being developed now needs to match the future needs of the energy transition. Climate activists are right to point out that gas projects are not the solution for a net-zero economy. Yet, in places such as Guyana, where heavy fuel and diesel make up nearly 90 per cent of the generation mix, gas can serve as a “transition” fuel and cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 50 per cent. This gas-to-shore plant will also reduce electricity costs by roughly 50 per cent, fuelling a manufacturing and economic boom that will benefit the local community. It is time for Guyana and its neighbours to capitalise on its abundance of resources, while simultaneously complying with climate targets.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday July 27, 2022

Colonel Nazrul Hussain appointed DirectorGeneral of CDC PRIME Minister, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips, on Tuesday announced the appointment of Colonel (ret’d) Nazrul Hussain as Director-General of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC). The announcement was made during an officiating ceremony at the CDC headquarters in Thomas Lands. Colonel Hussain, who retired in 2019, has 35 years of service in the Guyana Defence Force. He is trained and has both local and overseas experience in disaster management. The experienced Hussain also functions as Director of the COVID-19 Task Force Secretariat. During Tuesday’s ceremony, Colonel Hussain pledged to do his best as the Director-General. Prime Minister Phillips, who has oversight of the CDC, said that Guyana’s development drive will bring new challenges to the commission and that the CDC will continue to play an important role in navigating the country through those challenges. He noted that Colonel Hussain brings a wealth of knowledge and experience

to his new portfolio, and is committed to strengthening disaster risk management and the functions of the commission. The occasion was also used by the Prime Minister to underscore the importance of the commission, the scope of its work and the teamwork needed to execute its objectives. The Prime Minister, who is currently performing the duties of President, also expressed the government’s appreciation to the outgoing Director-General, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, who retired earlier this year. “As the Prime Minister with the responsibility for disaster risk management in Guyana, I would personally like to thank Colonel Craig for his service, not only to the Guyana Defence Force, but also to the Civil Defence Commission. “We are thankful for his service, particularly as Director-General before he chose to retire,” he said. The Prime Minister also announced that Major Loring Benons would continue to serve as the commission’s Deputy Director-General.

Prime Minister, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips (centre); the newly-appointed CDC Director-General, Colonel (ret’d) Nazrul Hussain (left of PM Phillips) and other officials of the CDC following a simple ceremony at the CDC’s headquarters, on Tuesday (Office of the Prime Minister photo)

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday July 27, 2022

FBI, US State Department to enhance relationship with Guyana ATTORNEY-GENERAL (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, met with representatives of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and US State Department to render mutual assistance in criminal matters. On Monday, at the AG’s Chambers, Carmichael Street, Georgetown, discussions were held with James Markley, FBI’s Legal Attache`, Derek Kreitensteid, FBI’s Assistant Legal Attache`, and Mayan L. Shih of the US State Department According to a release from the Attorney General’s Chambers, Mr. Markley is the lead officer of the FBI for the Caribbean region, including 27 countries stretching from Bermuda to Guyana, and is based in Bridgetown, Barbados. Further, Mr. Kreitensteid is the Assistant Legal Attache` and is based in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, and Mr. Shih is the Regional Security Officer representing the US State Department in the Caribbean. The group raised several areas in which they have been cooperating with the Government of Guyana over the years, such as, rendering mutual assistance in criminal matters, extradition, anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism, trafficking of narcotics and firearms, tracing proceeds of organised crime and forfeiture of assets, trafficking in persons and cyber-related criminal activities. “The team wishes to intensify its relationship with the Government of Guyana in the investigation, prosecution, and in

securing convictions in these types of offence,” the Attorney-General Chambers noted. The Attorney-General signalled the government’s continued commitment to upholding the rule of law in all its facets, including the pursuit of all forms of criminality, particularly organised crimes. Further, the Legal Affairs Minister discussed the various policies and training programmes being pursued by the various law enforcement agencies intending to augment the State’s capabilities to investigate, prosecute and convict for criminal conduct, as well as the government’s robust legislative agenda. In particular, the Attorney-General emphasised that cyberspace was the new emerging platform for committing serious criminal offences in Guyana and globally. He pointed to many persons who use social media platforms, in particular in the United States of America, to spew racial hostilities and create ethnic strife among segments of the Guyana population, inciting and aiding and abetting riotous conduct and even domestic terrorism in Guyana. He informed the team that the State of Guyana has already lodged formal complaints with various important offices and agencies in the United States on this matter, including the FBI, and he used the opportunity to reiterate those reports requesting actions from US authorities against the perpetrators who operate with impunity from the United States.

(At left) Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, in discussion with representatives of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and US State Department, on rendering mutual assistance in criminal matters (AG Chambers photo)

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday July 27, 2022

Ramjattan ordered to pay Charrandass Persaud $7M in court judgement

CHARRANDASS Persaud was on Monday awarded $7 million in damages after he won a libel suit against A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) parliamentarian Khemraj Ramjattan. The lawsuit relates to libellous statements made after passage of the no-confidence motion in December 2018. The damages, in the claim filed by Persaud in 2019, were awarded this week by Justice Jo-Ann Barlow at the Demerara High Court. Charrandass’ attorneys were Christopher Ram and Christopher Thompson. Persaud had made a claim for $30 million in damages against

Charrandass Persaud

Khemraj Ramjattan

Ramjattan, a former Public Security Minister under the then-coalition government, whom, Persaud said, accused him of collusion with the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) which was then the par-

liamentary opposition. Making history in December 2018, Persaud, while a government-aligned MP voted in favour of a no-confidence motion against his colleagues in government. The

motion was tabled in the National Assembly by the PPP/C. Persaud had immediately fled Guyana after the successful passage of the motion and was living in Canada. According to the court document, Persaud, the claimant, contended that these published statements were intended to and had the effect of “lowering his reputation, character, morality and honesty as an attorney at law in the eyes of right-thinking members of the public.” Among other things, Persaud further said that he was humiliated by verbal abuse on social media and in public. He said the comments have

also caused him to suffer what he referred to as drastic psychological effects. He indicated that the comments made by Ramjattan caused his family to be taunted, insulted, and caused them to suffer anxiety. Persaud further contended that all of the publications were blatantly false assertions. He claimed that both in their natural and ordinary meaning and by innuendo and implication, the statements are understood to mean that he was dishonest and accepted monetary or other inducements or benefits for his vote in the National Assembly. Ramjattan, in his defence, used “justification and fair comment”

to support his actions. He also pleaded that the statements were all of a political nature and made in a political context. Justice Barlow, having examined the evidence, found that Ramjattan’s statements were defamatory and was intended to lower Persaud’s image among “right-thinking members of society and expose him to hatred, contempt or ridicule and cause other persons to shun or avoid him.” Taking all of the foregoing matters into account, the judge awarded damages in the sum of $7 million. Ramjattan was ordered to pay $150,000 as costs, payable on or before August 25, 2022.

Guyana accumulates US$10M in gas-flaring fees from ExxonMobil GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday July 27, 2022

—says Liza Destiny FPSO now well equipped with new flash-gas compressor By Tamica Garnett

THE new flash-gas compressor for the Liza Destiny Floating, Production and Offloading (FPSO) vessel has been installed, and the vessel is now operating with minimum background flaring, according to ExxonMobil Guyana’s Production Manager Mike Ryan, during a press conference held at the company’s Duke Street Office, on Tuesday. The Liza Destiny’s flashgas compressor was damaged in January, 2021, and resulted in the company having to temporarily increase gas-flaring above pilot levels, in order to maintain safe operations. Flaring is the practice of burning natural gas to ensure safe operations on board the FPSO vessel, which, in this case, is servicing the Liza Phase One project. Owing to this exercise, however, the company has had to pay millions of dollars in fees to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the period that it was flaring. Ryan said the company, up to June this year, paid over US$10 million in gas-flaring fees. This, he clarified, covers the period from when the fee was implemented. The fees were paid as a result of an amendment to the Liza Phase One environmental permit, which saw a fee being instituted for increased flaring at the Liza Destiny operations. The amendment was instituted in May, 2021, and initially stipulated that the operator pay US$30 per tonne of carbon emitted. The company has faced much backlash over gas-flaring, particularly because of its contribution to greenhouse gases and climate change. Prior to the installation of the flash-gas compressor, the company had applied to the EPA and received approval to flare up to 15 million standard cubic feet per day (mscfd), but Ryan said the company was able to achieve levels below seven mscfd, and maintained compliance within those limits at all times. “Those expectations were set and closely monitored by the EPA, while the flash-gas compressor was either being installed or operating in its previous mode. We’ve maintained full compliance. “So, while we weren’t at the background [flaring level] we worked extremely hard to minimise the amount of flaring. So, we’re really happy to be back to where we planned and that is where we are in the

ExxonMobil Guyana’s Production Manager, Mike Ryan

unity [as well], less than one mscfd and within the expectations that we work with EPA,” Ryan said. He credited SBM offshore and MAN Energy Solutions for its contribution to fixing the problem aboard the Liza Destiny FPSO. He said those companies stood the cost of replacing the compressor, since they were the contractors who fabricated the FPSO and procured and installed the gas compressor. The old compressor for the Liza Destiny is now expected to be sent to Germany for repairs and upgrading and will then be returned to Guyana and be kept as a spare. “That’s part of the reliability and operations excellence… you want to make sure you have robust spare parts so that in the event that something does happen, you’re ready. So, we’ll upgrade that machine and have it back in Guyana and have it as a spare,” Ryan said Also, regarding reliability and operational excellence, he related that the flash-gas compressor aboard the Liza Destiny FPSO will be monitored over the next few months. “We’re in what you call endurance run. What we will do is monitor every aspect of that machine to make sure that it’s acting as we expect. It’s actually performing better than we had planned. So, that will inform us to finalise all of our documentation, close out this chapter and then run it for the next 20 years,” Ryan said. While on the topic of flaring, he also said that the Liza Unity FPSO servicing the Liza Phase Two project, is also operating with minimal flaring which was achieved within 60 days after the vessel started production in February.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday, July 27, 2022

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday July 27, 2022

'We want him back as soon as possible'

Windies skipper Pooran delighted after Hetmyer passes fitness test WEST INDIES batter Shimron Hetmyer is expected to return to the regional team in short order, having recently passed a fitness test. The player has been practising with the Windies team during their ongoing One Day International series against India, despite not being named as a member of the ODI squad. The way will now be clear for Hetmyer to return to active duty having passed a fitness test

yesterday. The talented batter's struggle with his fitness has been well documented over the last few years. Hetmyer missed out on two series against Sri Lanka in the span of a year, and again in January of this year against Ireland and England. He could now be on course to be selected for the upcoming five-match T20 series, which will get underway on Friday. West Indies captain Nicholas Pooran is

Lord's to host next... Bowl due to the COVID-19 restrictions imposed by the UK government. ICC chairman Greg Barclay had recently indicated in a chat with BBC's Test Match Special that Lord's was favoured mainly because

delighted with the player’s impending return to the fold. “We hope to have him back soon, I think he passed the fitness test this morning, which is wonderful news, so we expect to have him back as soon as possible,” Pooran told members of the media yesterday. Hetmyer has not represented the regional team since November of last year, against Australia (Sportsmax)

(From back page)

the WTC final is scheduled in June - both in 2023 and 2025 - which falls in the English season. "It's June so that rules out a number of other venues and we've got to get certainty around where it's hosted," Barclay said. "We're out of COVID-19 now so subject to arrangements being made and being able to be hosted out of Lord's I think that's the intention." The top nine Test teams are part of the WTC race which runs over a two-year cycle with each country playing six series - three home and three away. Apart from the context and relevance that

the WTC has added to Test cricket - a view held by many including Barclay - it has also produced competitive cricket, with several teams still in the race for the 2023 final. Meanwhile, former India batter VVS Laxman and former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori have been added to the ICC Men's Cricket Committee which is headed by Ganguly. Both Laxman and Vettori were added as current player representatives while former West Indies all-rounder Roger Harper was appointed to the committee as past player representative. (Cricinfo) 12:20 hrs The Attorney

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GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday July 27, 2022

Sri Lanka strong after lead creeps up to 323 in Galle SRI Lanka marched on to extend their lead to 323 at the end of the third day's play of the second Test, at the Galle International Stadium. The hosts stuttered their way in the second innings, after bundling out Pakistan earlier yesterday for 231, and went to stumps on 176 for 5 in a bad-light shortened day's play. Resuming the day on 191 for 7, Yasir Shah and Hasan Ali kept the Sri Lankan bowlers at bay for an hour with a defiant 30run stand for the eighth wicket. Barring the odd occasions when Hasan Ali took to wild swipes against the spinners, they largely resorted to a dead bat approach. While one of the swipes helped Hasan Ali get a six off Prabath Jayasuriya, another one ended his innings as he inside-edged the ball on to his stumps. Brief scores: Sri Lanka 378 (Dinesh Chandimal 80, Niroshan Dickwella 51; Naseem Shah 3-58, Yasir Shah 3-83) & 176-5 (Angelo Mathews 35, Dhananjaya de Silva 30*; Naseem Shah 2-29) lead Pakistan 231 (Agha Salman 62, Imam ul Haq 32; Ramesh Mendis 5-47, Prabath Jayasuriya 3-80) by 323 runs. Yasir, however, continued to keep the Sri Lankan bowlers on the field for more than 30 minutes thereafter, in the company of No 10 and 11, but could add only 10 before becoming Ramesh Mendis's fifth victim of the innings. The off-spinner, who earlier had Nauman Ali caught behind, ended Yasir's 97-ball stay with an off-break that hit his pads and had him adjudged leg-before. W i t h D i m u t h Karunaratne out of the field for most of Pakistan's innings, Sri Lanka had to promote Niroshan Dickwella

Ramesh Mendis' five-for gave Sri Lanka a substantial lead (AFP/Getty Images)

to open alongside Oshada Fernando. The duo were on the offensive right from the start and Dickwella's breezy innings was cut short when he slashed at a delivery from Naseem Shah angling away, only to get an edge to the keeper. Despite his early dismissal Sri Lanka's approach didn't change, and as a result, the hosts kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Oshada was trapped leg-before by a Yasir slider on 19 and Kusal Mendis fell similarly to Mohammad Nawaz while attempting to sweep a

full pitched delivery. Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal brought in a sense of calm with their more assured approach, tackling the Pakistani bowlers expertly on a turning but predictable surface. Mathews did take on the spinners briefly - cutting and pulling Yasir for fours and then going down the track to Nawaz and tonking him for a six. The duo was looking good to take Sri Lanka safely to tea when a flattish delivery from Agha Salman caught the outside edge of

Mathews' bat and lobbed to Babar Azam at slip from the wicketkeeper's gloves. Chandimal didn't help matters much, as soon after tea, as he went for an expansive drive off Naseem, only to edge the ball to the wicketkeeper. Reduced to 117 for 5, Sri Lanka had found themselves in a tricky position despite a sizeable lead. However, Karunaratne, who walked out to bat at No 6, steadied the ship in the company of Dhananjaya de Silva. Despite eliminating the risky shots, they were quick to latch in on the scoring opportunities. For a brief period of four overs, they scored 32 runs, stroking Yasir, Babar and Agha Salman: sometimes too short, sometimes wide down the legside. And if the bowling errors weren't costly enough, Karunaratne even brought out the reverse sweep to add to he boundary tally. The duo stitched an unbeaten 59-run stand before bad light brought a premature end to the third day's play. (Cricbuzz)

SCOREBOARD

SRI LANKA 1st innings 378. PAKISTAN 1st innings o/n 191-7 Abdullah Shafique b Asitha Fernando 0 Imam ul-Haq b Dhananjaya de Silva 32 Babar Azam b Prabath Jayasuriya 16 Mohammad Rizwan lbw Ramesh Mendis 24 Fawad Alam lbw Ramesh Mendis 24 Agha Salman c Dhananjaya de Silva b Prabath Jayasuriya 62 Mohammad Nawaz c Niroshan Dickwella b Ramesh Mendis 12 Yasir Shah lbw Ramesh Mendis 26 Hasan Ali b Prabath Jayasuriya 21 Nauman Ali c Niroshan Dickwella b Ramesh Mendis 1 Naseem Shah not out 4 Extras: (b-8, lb-1) 9 Total: (all out, 88.1 overs) 231 Fall of Wickets: 1-0 Shafique, 2-35 Azam, 3-65 ul-Haq, 4-88 Rizwan, 5-119 Alam, 6-145 Nawaz, 7-191 Salman, 8-223 Ali, 9-226 Ali. Bowling: Asitha Fernando 20-2-62-1, Prabath Jayasuriya 37-10-80-3, Ramesh Mendis 21.1-6-47-5, Dhananjaya de Silva 4-0-15-1.

SRI LANKA 2nd innings Niroshan Dickwella c Mohammad Rizwan b Naseem Shah 15 Oshada Fernando lbw Yasir Shah 19 Kusal Mendis lbw Mohammad Nawaz 15 Angelo Mathews c Babar Azam b Agha Salman 35 Dinesh Chandimal c Mohammad Rizwan b Naseem Shah 21 Dimuth Karunaratne not out 27 Dhananjaya de Silva not out 30 Extras: (b-9, lb-2, nb-2, w-1) 14 Total: (five wkts, 0.0 overs) 176 Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-47, 3-59, 4-100, 5-117. Bowling: Hasan Ali 5-0-24-0 (w-1), Naseem Shah 9-1-29-2 (nb-1), Yasir Shah 12-2-41-1, Mohammad Nawaz 11-2-32- 1, Agha Salman 7-1-18-1 (nb-1)

Formula One teams want a quick decision on 2023 changes

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Red Bull's Max Verstappen at the start of the race at the French Grand Prix - Circuit Paul Ricard, Le Castellet, France (July 24, 2022 (REUTERS/Yara Nardi)

By Alan Baldwin LONDON, England – (Reuters) - Formula One teams say they need a quick decision, preferably before the August break, on proposed 2023 technical changes that aim to end the sport's' porpoising' problem but have divided the paddock. The governing FIA wants to tackle vertical oscillation - a phenomenon where cars bounce at speed like a porpoise through water. The problem is a consequence of this year's major aerodynamic changes. The plan is to raise the floor edges of cars by 25mm and perform more stringent lateral floor deflection tests. Some teams, such as Ferrari and Red Bull, who do not have a problem with porpoising argue that the proposals favour those who got this year wrong and should not be forced through on safety grounds. Either way, all need to know what rules apply for 2023 to avoid wasting precious time and resources under the cost cap, with new car development and design ramping up after August. "It's not yet too late, but we can't afford waiting another four or six weeks," said Alfa Romeo technical director Jan Monchaux "I would prefer those changes will be for '24 but if it comes for '23, I think now just before the (August) shutdown is kind of the latest

that is acceptable." Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin said his team wanted clarity. Are they going to change? If so, let's get on with it and agree it," he said. "We know as a team we need to fix our problems ourselves and we set that as an objective from day one and we're pretty confident that we can achieve that objective. So that's why I said for us, the big thing is we just want clarity on it." McLaren's James Key said, "The sooner we know the final numbers, the better." Red Bull principal Christian Horner earlier pointed the finger at Mercedes, suggesting the changes were "so a certain team can run its car lower and benefit from that concept". Mercedes have particularly suffered from porpoising and are yet to win a race after taking the constructors' title for eight years in a row, but they appear to be getting on top of the problem now. "You can understand the conundrum of teams that don't want the regulations to change. We don't know, as Mercedes, that a regulation change will suit us," said Shovlin. "Our stance would be that if we want to solve some of the fundamental issues, you're not going to do that leaving the rules alone.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday July 27, 2022

Essequibo Cricket Board benefits from Project ‘Cricket Gear’ THE Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB) was recently the recipient of nine thigh pads and one pair of junior wicket-keeping pad, compliments of Project “Cricket Gear for young and promising cricketers in Guyana.’ “The ECB is in a transformation phase and we welcome any assistance to rise above the challenges” the President, Deleep Singh, stated. “It’s a wonderful initiative and I must commend the partners, Anil Beharry of Guyana and Kishan Das of the USA and wish them more success in the future.” According to Beharry, “ever since I played Inter County in Essequibo and became an executive member of Berbice and Guyana Cricket Boards, I advocated for special treatment for Essequibo cricket, taking into consideration it’s geography and related cost” Beharry responded. “Myself and Kishan are happy to be part of the development of Essequibo, Guyana and West Indies cricket.” The gears were recently distributed to the ECB sub committees. Cricket related items, including cash, collected so far: $170,000 in cash, two trophies, eleven pairs cricket boots, eighteen pairs of batting pads, twenty bats, fourteen pairs of batting gloves, nineteen thigh pads,

Anil Beharry (right) hands over part of the gear to ECB president, Deleep Singh

one pair of wicket-keeping pad, one arm guard, six cricket bags and two helmets. In addition to the above, $600,000 worth in gear was donated by Sheik Mohamed -- former National wicket-keeper/batsman. To date, 37 young players from all three counties of Guyana have already benefited from three junior gear bag, two trophies, one arm guard, fourteen bats, one box, two helmets, ten pairs of cricket shoes, ten pairs of batting pads, one bat rubber and twelve pairs of batting gloves. In addition, two clubs in the Pomeroon area received two used bats. The Pomeroon, Leguan and Wakenam Cricket Committees and

Cotton Tree Die Hard each collected one box of red cricket balls while RHCCCC received two boxes of balls, fifteen white cricket shirts, one pair of junior batting pads, one pair of wicket-keeping gloves and a set of stumps and bails. Cricket related items, used or new, will be distributed free of cost to young and promising cricketers in Guyana. Skills, discipline and education are important characteristics of the recipients. Talent spotting is being done across the country while club leaders also assist in identifying talent. Progressive and well managed clubs will also benefit.

WADA signs deal with Commonwealth Games Federation to boost fight against doping (REUTERS) - The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has signed an initial four-year agreement with the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) to collaborate on anti-doping, it announced yesterday. WADA said the deal, which was signed at the CGF General Assembly in Birmingham ahead of the July 28-Aug. 8 Commonwealth Games, was to facilitate joint activities within member nations and to strengthen its

anti-doping programme. "WADA recognises the importance of partnerships in the pursuit of clean sport," WADA chief Witold Banka said. "The global anti-doping system relies on collaboration ... and this MOU between WADA and the Commonwealth Games Federation will boost the anti-doping work already being carried out within the federation's member countries." CGF president Louise Martin said her organisation

had "zero tolerance" when it comes to doping in sport. "The agreement is further affirmation of our commitment to clean sport, which is critical to achieving integrity and fairness in sport," Martin said. "In collaboration with WADA, the CGF seeks to maintain the integrity of the Commonwealth Games by running a comprehensive anti-doping programme that focuses equally on education and prevention as well as testing."

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday July 27, 2022

GHRA remains a legitimate registered entity, says Colin Elcock HORSE-RACING mogul and enthusiast Colin Elcock has rubbished the notion of Guyana Cup promoter Nasrudeen ‘Junior’ Mohamed that the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) is nonfunctional, labelling the statement absurd, as the body remains a legitimate, registered entity. This was stated during an exclusive interview yesterday. Elcock quipped, ‘The president of the GHRA died; this does not mean that the organisation is defunct. The secretary is supposed to call a meeting of club representatives to elect a new president. When (Forbes) Burnham and (Cheddi) Jagan died in office, did the government become defunct? GHRA lives on as a registered organisation. Is Jumbo’s racing authority registered?” Elcock, who officially confirmed his non-partici-

pation in the Guyana Cup, citing a lack of legitimate regulations as the principal reasons for his stable's absence, was responding to a Mohammed article published on July 25 in another section of the media. The Guyana Cup, which is being coordinated by the Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Racing Committee, is scheduled for August 14 at the Rising Sun Turf Club, West Coast Berbice. Mohamed had stated, “There is no functional Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) for more than five years now, because of that we installed an interim committee to avoid such spurious claims, as last GHRA president, Cecil Kennard, died recently.” He further explained, “However, an interim committee, comprising Stuart Gonsalves, Dennis Deroop, Fazal Habibullah, Thirbhu-

Horse-racing owner, mogul and enthusiast Colin Elcock

wan Jagdeo, Nasrudeen Mohamed, and Dr Stephen Chee Foon, is in place. “We, as promoters, decided to form this committee on a temporary basis because there is no operational GHRA. We went further, through Dr Dwight Waldrond, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA).

“We ensured that locally bred horses are micro-chipped, registered for proper record-keeping in the establishment of a Stud Book registry, and the welfare of horses are upheld prior and on the day of racing.” Mohammed also added, “All horses eligible to race were properly classified by competent persons, and that ‘Classification list’ was advertised and sent out. It is updated regularly because new horses are imported in the country almost every other week. This is trending; new owners are buying horses because they have confidence that the playing field is level for all, and want to be part of this historic day’s racing.” The above-mentioned remarks were in response to an initial Elcock article published on July 24, which questioned the legitimacy of the race meet, as it was not being conducted under the

ambit of the GHRA. In addition the outspoken Elcock declared, “It's total nonsense; where is the independent body supervising the sport. We have evidence that horses in certain big stables are in excess of four years old, and registered with microchips as three years old. Where the database was stored, and how was it collected? This stuff should have been published twice yearly, and not now. The classifier and the handicapper have to be independent stewards on race day and work with the independent information. Where is the transparency? How could a promoter enact his house rules, and stage the event under his rules? Like deciding distances and class then have his own horse competing in the said races he framed. Isn’t that leverage?” He further avowed, “I don’t have time for child’s

play! How could Fazal Habibullah sign onto the GHRA guidelines, and work with the promotion's private rules? He should do the decent thing and go to court and withdraw his track signature to run under other rules. No attempt was made to have elections by the stakeholders of the GHRA. Instead, most of the members signed onto this private stuff and now claiming the body is defunct.” According to Elcock, his stable requires no assistance to be competitive on the local circuit, expounding, “I repeat. this stable has full and part ownership in four horses currently racing in Jamaica under its colours. There is no need for Jumbo (Stables) to help us. We instead could supply as we did for Jumbo (Stables) and others. Where did they get Zianata from? Elco.

Amusan reignites shoe technology debate after record-breaking display … The Nigerian was wearing Adidas Adizero Avanti shoes designed for runners who compete in 5-10 km races, as she cruised to the 100m hurdles gold in a world record 12.12 seconds at the Hayward Field (REUTERS) - Tobi Amusan’s record-breaking performance in the 100 metres hurdles event at the World

Championships on Sunday dragged the spotlight back on shoe technology but the Nigerian said her display

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Wednesday July 27, 2022) COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to yesterday’s quiz: (1) IND won by 3 runs (2) Shikhar Dhawhan (IND) Today’s Quiz: (1) What was the result of the second ODI match of the current WI/IND series? (2) Who was declared Man of the Match? Answers in tomorrow’s issue

had little to do with her footwear. Amusan, who was wearing Adidas Adizero Avanti shoes designed for runners who compete in 5-10 km races, cruised to the 100m hurdles gold in what was announced as a world record 12.06 seconds but later ruled ineligible due to excessive wind speed. She had already broken the world record earlier in the day by running 12.12 in her semi-final at Hayward Field. “My abilities are not centred on spikes,” Amusan told The Guardian, revealing that she had hit upon the idea to use customised shoes with bouncy foam due to an injury. “I had patella fasciitis at the beginning of the season so

that set me back for a while. I spoke to Adidas and requested if I could get spikes with a softer sole,” Amusan said. “They recommended a lot

of stuff and I feel comfortable in that, so I was using them basically the entire time.” Shoe technology has come into focus since records

Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan celebrates winning the women's 100 metres hurdles final at Hayward Field, Eugene, Oregon, U.S. - July 24 (REUTERS/Mike Segar)

started tumbling last year, with governing body World Athletics trying to draw a line between innovation and giving athletes an unfair advantage. Current regulations allow for shoes to have a maximum thickness of between 20-25mm depending on the event, while they can go up to 40mm for road race. Sprint spikes cannot have soles that are thicker than 20mm, which is the same as the shoes Amusan was wearing on Sunday. Sole thicknesses for all athletic shoes in track and field events will be simplified to a stack height of 20mm from November 1, 2024, World Athletics said in December.

GUYANA CHRONICLE, Wednesday July 27, 2022

National chess team ready for FIDE Chess … Queensway donates $500,000 to Olympiad in India cover expenses THE National Chess team is scheduled to arrive today in Chennai, India for the 2022 FIDE Chess Olympiad which gets underway from tomorrow (July 28) and runs until August 10. The players, who will do battle with about 200 other nations at the 44th edition of the Games, were given a boost to their travels just before they left, by Guyanese-owned Queensway Group of Companies (QGC) to the tune of $500 000. In a release, Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) noted that it was elated with the support.

“The Guyana Chess Federation wishes to express its sincere gratitude to Queensway for the generous contribution towards the team’s travel expenses.” The 10-member team at this year’s Olympiad will comprise an up-and-coming female squad, which includes Guyana’s youngest-ever National Women’s Champion, 14-year-old Pooja Lam as well as former Women’s Champion Sasha Shariff, 2018 Olympiad participant Nellisha Johnson along with Jessica Callender, who competed in the last two FIDE online Olympiads.

The side also includes 12-year-old Anaya Lall, who is the only deaf chess player to ever represent Guyana in an international event. The men’s team features Candidate Master Taffin Khan and FIDE Master Anthony Drayton who are no strangers to this event and will be aiming for higher chess titles this time around. Also in the line-up is seasoned player Loris Nathoo, the ever-improving Roberto Neto and the upand-coming Ethan Lee, who is one of the top junior players in the country.

The national chess team to arrive today in Chennai, India

Britton, Edghill hope to improve performances Mohabir to captain strong Guyana Under-19 team at Commonwealth Games By Rawle Toney in Birmingham want THE two highest-ranked table tennis players from Guyana, Shemar Britton and Chelsea Edghill, are hoping for improved performances at the Commonwealth Games this time around. Guyana's table tennis contingent will head into battle on Friday (July 29) on Day One of competition, where they will compete in the team event. For Britton, the games in Birmingham, England, will be his third following his debut in 2014 (Scotland) and 2018 in Australia. Edghill, on the other hand, is returning to the Commonwealth Games for the second time since turning out in 2014. Both Guyanese are also the highest-ranked players in the English-speaking Caribbean. Currently ranked 265 in the world by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), Britton told Chronicle Sport yesterday that at the start of this year, his target was to finish 2022 in the top 200, adding "I got to 261, so I'm hoping that before the year ends I go to the top 200." Britton, like the rest of Team Guyana at the previous Commonwealth Games, had a good performance before he was edged out by Cana-

learning at the training camps in Germany and Portugal the last few months". All eyes will be on Edghill in Birmingham, since she has racked-up one of the most impressive table tennis resumés in the English-speaking Caribbean, where she became the Region's first-ever female Olympian in the sport. Asked about living up to expectations, Edghill highlighted, "Everyone will have expectations of me, but I think at this point in time what matters are the goals that I've set for myself and the goals that my team would've set for me - my coaches. It's just a matter of managing those expectations and going out there and giving my best."

Shemar Britton (L) and Chelsea Edghill after their first day of training since arriving in Birmingham, England

da's Antoine Bernaden in the preliminary round. "Last time I lost in a pretty hard match in the decider, this time I want to go at least to the round of 16 and I think I have the capabilities to do that," Britton said. As it relates to Guyana's overall performance at the Commonwealth Games, Britton noted, "We have history, since my first Commonwealth Games, in 2014,

we've always finished in the top 10 teams. We want to finish in the top four this time around. We know it's a big goal but we're positive." mull Meanwhile, Chelsea Edghill, who created Caribbean history when she qualified for the Tokyo Olympics, said one of her goals this time around "is to surpass my last games that I attended in 2014 - to execute what I've been

TABLE TENNIS: Men – Shemar Britton (Singles, Doubles, Team, Mixed Doubles), Christopher Franklin (Singles, Doubles, Team, Mixed Doubles), Johnathan Van Lange (Singles, Doubles, Team, Mixed Doubles) and Joel Alleyne (Doubles, Team). Women – Chelsea Edghill (Singles, Doubles, Team, Mixed Doubles), Natalie Cummings (Singles, Doubles, Team, Mixed Doubles), Priscilla Greaves (Singles, Doubles, Team) and Thuraia Thomas (Doubles, Team, Mixed Doubles).

THE Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has named the National Under-19 squad to participate in the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional tournament scheduled for St Vincent from August 7 to 28. According to a release to the media yesterday, GCB indicated the Chairman of the Junior National Selection panel, Andre Percival, selected a strong National Under-19 team which comprises an excellent mix of skilled players capable of adapting to different game situations. Alvin Mohabir, who leads the current Under-17 team, will have the distinct privilege of being captain for two national teams within the same year. He will be supported by vice-captain Jonathan Rampersaud while West Indies Under-19 express fast bowler, Isai Thorne, who missed the ongoing Regional Under-17 tournament because of injury, has been included. The squad also includes Rampertab Ramnauth, Mavendra Dindyal, Zachary Jodha, and Bruce Vincent, who, along with Mohabir, are in Trinidad for the Regional Under-17. Percival will also perform the role of coach while

Guyana Under-19 captain Alvin Mohabir

Budhesh Chatterpaul will serve as manager. Guyana Under-19 squad: Alvin Mohabir (captain), Jonathan Rampersaud (vice-captain), Mavendra Dindyal, Rampertab Ramnauth, Zachary Jodha, Bruce Vincent, Tommani Caesar, Mahendra Gopilall, Sachin Balgobin, Zeynul Ramsammy, Shamar Yearwood (wkp.), Jeremy Sandia, Rivaldo Phillips and Isai Thorne. The standbys are Joash Charles, Jadon Campbell, Sanjay Algoo, Goocharran Chuli, Leon Cecil and Shiv Harripersaud.

Keevin Allicock in battle at the IBA World Championships this year

Aliyah Abrams in action for Guyana at Tokyo Olympics

Keevin Allicock, Aliyah Abrams named Flag-bearers for Commonwealth Games

ALIYAH Abrams and boxer Keevin Allicock, will be Guyana's Flag-bearers at opening of the 22nd Commonwealth Games tomorrow. For Allicock, the 2022 event will mark his second ap-

pearance at the Commonwealth Games following his participation at the 2018 games in Australia. Allicock, 23, in 2017, won silver at the Youth Commonw e a l t h G a m e s i n T h e B a h a-

mas. For Abrams, one of the country’s most consistent track athletes, particularly over the distance of 400 metres, this will be her first outing at the Commonwealth Games.

'We want him back as soon as possible'

Windies skipper Pooran delighted after Hetmyer passes fitness test PAGE

West Indies batter Shimron Hetmyer

The 25-year-old Abrams is heading to the Commonwealth Games after her performance at the World Athletics Championships in the Women's 400m where she had reached the semi-finals.

At the World Indoor Championships this year, Abrams finished 5th in the 400m. The opening ceremony for the games will take place at the Alexander Stadium at 14:00hrs (GT Time).

Lord's to host next two WTC finals

THE ICC Board has finalised Lord's as the venue for the next two World Test Championship finals, scheduled for 2023 and 2025. The inaugural WTC final was held in Southampton in 2021 when New Zealand got the better of India in four days. That match was originally scheduled for Lord's, too, but it had to be shifted to the Ageas TURN TO PAGE 27 ►

Former West Indies allrounder Roger Harper

The 2021 WTC final was shifted from Lord's to Southampton due to the UK government's COVID-19 restrictions (ICC/Getty Images)

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2022