Monthly Archives: July, 2024

National Schools Basketball Festival (NSBF) 2024 off to a blazing start Jul 02, 2024 Sports – BHS, QC, Saints among winners on opening day Kaieteur Sports – The National Schools Basketball Festival (NSBF) 2024 commenced with electrifying action on Sunday at the National Gymnasium. Bishops’ High and Saint Stanislaus secured semifinal victories in the Boys U14 category, while Queen’s College narrowly defeated Marian Academy in the Girls U14 division. The 2024 Festival bounced off with two Boys U14 matches, The Bishops’ High School from Georgetown dominated Berbice’s Skeldon Line Path (SLP) with a resounding 46-point victory. Kemol Pickering was the standout performer, scoring 18 points and grabbing 8 rebounds. Aman Daniels and Malik Williams contributed 12 and 8 points, respectively, leading Bishops’ to a commanding 51-7 win over SLP. In another Boys U14 matchup, Saint Stanislaus edged pass School of the Nations in a tightly contested game, winning 17-15. Josiah Lee and Joel Cutting were pivotal for Saints, scoring 9 and 3 points respectively. The Girls U14 category featured a close contest between Queen’s College and Marian Academy, with QC securing a 12-10 victory. Ricelle Fowler played a crucial role, scoring 8 points to help QC squeeze pass Marian by 2 points. The action continued with two gripping Boy’s U18 matches. Marian Academy’s U18 Boys team came strong against West Demerara, after a painful loss in the previous U14 encounter. Marian however delivered a strong performance against a weaker West Demerara side. Marian Academy out played their opponents, emerging victors with a 34-23 win, thanks to Marion Fiedtkou’s impressive 21 points and 6 steals. The final game of the day saw Skeldon Line Path’s U18 boy’s team triumph over St. Rose’s High with a score of 33-27. Key contributors included Davon Davis with 10 points and 7 steals, Keeshan Gajraj with 9 points and 7 rebounds, and Isaac Rogers with 8 points and 8 rebounds. The 2024 NSBF is sponsored by Edward B. Beharry Limited and G-Boats Guyana. The festival continues daily from 2:00 PM at the National Gymnasium. Related Similar Articles

Windies Masters in the running to host O40s & O60s World Cups Jul 02, 2024 Sports Kaieteur Sports – The Cricket West Indies Masters Association (CWIMA) has been selected as a potential host for the O40s and O60s World Cups by the International Masters Council (IMC). Once successful, the tournaments are scheduled to take place in the West Indies in 2025 and 2026. In recent years, various age-group World Cups have been held in different countries across the globe, serving as a platform to promote the masters’ game and enhance the economic prospects of the host nations through sports tourism. Recognizing the potential benefits, CWIMA is considering hosting the tournaments in Guyana, Trinidad, or Barbados, or a combination of these locations for different zones. With the submission deadline set for July 14th, 2024, CWIMA has reached out to the Heads of State, Sports, and Tourism Ministers in these countries to express their interest in hosting the prestigious events. While Barbados has shown significant interest, responses are still pending from the other potential host nations. Having successfully organized two mini-World Cups in Barbados, including the BIG MAN CRICKET O50s CARIBBEAN CUP in November 2022 (8 countries)and the O60s BMC CARIBBEAN CUP in January/February 2023(6 countries), CWIMA has demonstrated its ability to host multi-nation tournaments with the support of local tourism authorities. There is a sense of optimism that the West Indies will be awarded the hosting rights for both World Cups, as CWIMA continues to champion the expansion of the game within the region. Related Similar Articles

Edward B Beharry supports Tennis team Jul 02, 2024 Sports Christian Singh (eight) of Edward B Beharry & Company Ltd hands over the packages to Linden Johnson. (ASTP) Kaieteur Sports – Hours before the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) mini and cadet team departed Guyana for the CRTTF championships scheduled for Dominica Republic, GTTA Secretary / National Coach Linden Johnson and Sports Officer A. Munroe acquired support for the players. The donation came in the form of school supplies complements of Edward B Beharry & Company Ltd. At the National Gymnasium, Coach Johnson thanked the Sponsors and said the donation was a timely one for the students who will be using the back packs to travel to the championship. The championships serve off from July 1-7. Related Similar Articles

President Ali – help on the way Jul 02, 2024 Features / Columnists, The GHK Lall Column Hard Truths by GHK Lall Kaieteur News – It is my difficult duty to bring His Excellency, President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali back to earth.  He has gotten comfortable, even more than a shade haughty, riding astride Guyanese, as though he is Julius Caesar and some colossus.  Colossi crumble, often in their own lifetimes.  It is a product of their own arrogance, with an assist from their own cavalier putdown of others, and that tone deaf streak that trips their feet.  Stretching to my full height, and with every confidence that right is on my side, a humble word of counsel is placed at the president’s feet.  My counsel is built on a truth held sacred by countless millions down through the years. Here it is, Dr. President, compliments of the English: If a cat could look at a king… GHK Lall I acknowledge that it is a strange one to put before a president, especially one who now thinks of himself in kinglike proportions.  A young reporter asks a question of an almost as young head of state, and the latter loses his head.  He trips over his feet through verbal excess and lands facedown.  In dog turd, of all offensive things.  How President Ali responded to that question spoke so much about what is rank and offensive anywhere, is indefensible.  It stands at the heights and is impregnable, no matter whatever raucous representations either His Excellency or his platoons of panting sycophants care to submit.  President Ali must find it in himself to humble himself and submit.  Remember: even a cat could look at a king.  Or a self-styled emperor given to preening pomposity.  Or a president made of putty. Like putty combined with the environment and elements, there is a hard edge to Guyana’s head of state.  Uneasy lies the crown on his head.  Why is that so, Mr. President?  What dark secrets are harboured, must be contained there as a matter of life and death.  Even with lashing out at the tender, vulnerable.  President Ali should know that parents are hauled into ignominy for going overboard with young offspring when they are found unpredictable, unnerving, and uncontrollable.  In the times that we live, spare the rod and spoil the child went out the window from 40 storeys up.  President Ali is guilty of treating himself, after first having spoiled himself.  If a cat could look at king… After this third rendition, it is time that sublime English saying involving a feline be revealed.  It has its own native wisdom, its unchallengeable standing.  For the edification of Guyana’s bristling, bustling, and brawling man at the helm.  Oh, and also for the peace of mind of Guyanese going about their business in rustic faraway paths, in humble hamlets and chic capitals.   When a cat could look at a king that right is inviolable, and if it clashes with the divine rights of the man who would make himself a king (Irfaan Ali) and actually believes that he is God come down to Guyana (President Ali), then the right of that cat to ask a question takes precedence.  In human terms, and since Excellency loves to serenade the world that Guyana is a democracy [and not a monarchy], a peasant can ask a question of the president, regardless of who the headman is.  A pauper can dare to table a question of a president, no matter how the commander-in-chief may be full of himself.  President Ali may have difficulty with this, but the right to ask questions of an elected Chief Executive is also due to citizens he may consider to be pushovers, parasites, and even punks.  On further consideration, I withdraw punks.  But once an inquiry is raised respectfully, then it is imperative that the national leader responds with identical respect, if not more.  Why more?  Because a president is held to that highest of standards: he governs for the people, at the behest and pleasure of the people.  Notwithstanding how whimsical appearing in the eyes of the president.  Or discomfiting, according to the calculations of that leader. President Ali may consider his elevation to his high office as ranking him alongside supreme deities.  Such would be the level of the piteous state to which he has condemned himself.  I take the pain of sharing with President Ali that the presidency is not, and should not degrade, to the pugilistic, as beautiful as that sweet science is.  And even that savage sport does have the constraints of its rules.  Self-discipline must rule the day even when goaded into frenzied fury.  I think that President Ali’s recent royal tumble indicated that that vital self-discipline fostered by self-control is the farthest consideration in his runaway mind.  Please, sir, do not let the trappings of office obscure the demands of impeccable oversight.  To the dignity of citizens.  To the dereliction of self-regard.  To the present tranquility and uncontroversial posterity.  If President Ali is consumed by only listening to his own voice, and probably other ones crawling about in noisy competition in his overcrowded head, then the help that I extend to him is never going to be enough.  Professionals are more apropos. For the last time: if a cat could look at king, then it is the insanity of unwisdom to kick it without cause, without thinking. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.) Related Similar Articles

ExxonMobil and cost carousels Jul 02, 2024 Editorial Kaieteur News – There is a method to ExxonMobil’s measures relative to project expenses.  It may seem like madness to the unlearned, but the American oil behemoth skills at keeping its Guyana oil pump primed are never more obvious with what is going on in the unbelievable oil treasure storehouse that is the Stabroek Block.  When Guyanese think that they are making headway with tens of US billions in expenses repaid, ExxonMobil keeps the concert going.  It is another oil project put into the bucket for deficient Guyana which is severely incapacitated. The company is not only striking it rich, almost with ludicrous ease, with one underwater reservoir after another pursued.  But it couldn’t ask for a weaker, more cowardly gang of national political leaders to partner with it and remove all local obstacles that stand in the way of its progress. At the end of 2023, ExxonMobil has recovered about US$19B out of US$29B, it has spent/invested so far.  The recovery or repayment of over 65% of ExxonMobil’s investment ordinarily would be good reason for Guyanese to relish the thought of more oil money coming to them.  The 75% cost recovery condition from the top of oil revenues serves as a huge drain on this country’s piece of the half and half profit-sharing arrangement.  Now, instead of a mere US$10B amount due to be recovered by ExxonMobil, a new project is in the works.  ExxonMobil knows how to keep the pot boiling with those multibillion US dollar oil projects rolling in with little spacing between them.  The well-named seventh project, Hammerhead, is sure to drive a nail into the head of whatever thoughts Guyanese entertained about a bigger payday due to a lower amount owed to ExxonMobil.  This is how this slick American oil company keeps its Guyana oil wheels well-greased, so that its profits just climbing to newer heights. Presently, the cost of the Hammerhead project has not been released may even be still to be finalized by the company.  It is strange for a company with the financial smarts of an ExxonMobil not to know with some degree of confidence how much Hammerhead will require it to invest in Guyana.  It could be that ExxonMobil is playing around with the billions, while deciding how much is too much to slap on Guyana.  We at this publication take this position because of this so-called American oil partner that Guyana teamed up with.  Even a cursory glance at the record will show that many of its actions have not been inspiring in terms of how much it is committed to honest and transparent dealings with Guyana.  Project expenses are one such area, audit findings another, the number of new barrels of oil discovered, the number of barrels of oil pumped daily (auditors stonewalled), and the company’s general contract dealings have all been found wanting.  Considering all this, what Guyanese have is not a trusted oil partner, but a dangerous high seas pirate.  In the manner of the pirates of old, and if ExxonMobil has its way, Guyana would be slashed and savaged and totally severed from any profitable participation in its oil patrimony.  ExxonMobil has been that brutal, that depravedly indifferent to the economic damage it has been, and is doing, in Guyana. This Hammerhead oil project simply helps the expense ball to go on rolling, while ExxonMobil has an extended opportunity to kick Guyanese all over the place.  The government of this country is so asinine, so whipped into shape by ExxonMobil that it continues to approve new oil projects while seriously handicapped in managing those that already exist.  Leaders in the PPP/C Government have themselves admitted repeatedly that Guyana is hampered by its capacity voids.  Yet, the same weak-kneed leaders have no problem with going through the motions with a questionable approval process and handing ExxonMobil one project after the other on a platter.  The political gurus play games with themselves as if Guyana is making strides in reducing cost recovery obligations and building capacity, while the opposite is happening. There are too many projects running simultaneously; too few Guyanese eyes are monitoring the projects.  And, while there is this mirage that the billions in cost obligations are reduced, new billions are added leaving Guyanese high and dry. Related Similar Articles

Specious arguments are being made Jul 02, 2024 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom Kaieteur News – A silly debate has emerged about whether the newly-elected Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC) is in a conflict of interest because ExxonMobil is client of his firm. Some persons have sought disingenuously to import the definition of the politician being a politically-exposed person to claim that the new Leader of the AFC is in a conflict of interest. This is an absurd conflation or relationship. A person is not necessarily in a conflict of interest by virtue of being a politically-exposed person. Every Minister of the government is considered as being a politically exposed person but they are not necessarily in a conflict of interest by virtue of being politically-exposed persons. It is the specific situation that dictates whether a person is in a conflict of interest. The Leader of the AFC has pointed out that Exxon is a client of his firm. Thus, when it comes to matters and decisions concerning Exxon, it is clear that the Leader of the AFC will find himself in a conflict of interest. But there is a way out of this: by excusing himself or by not participating in the decision concerning the oil company. Many years ago, it was reported that a matter concerning the friend of a former President had come before Cabinet. The matter concerned the privatization of a state enterprise. It was known that the President and the person to whom the asset was being sold were friend. The then President said that he excused himself from the deliberations. If he did so, it would have been because he recognized that he would have been in a conflict of interest in him participating in a decision that involved the interests of his friend. In other words, it is specific situation that arises that places someone in a conflict of interest. Not by virtue of the person being a politically-exposed person or being known to the person. It does seem however that we are in the season of fig leaf politics in which all manner of specious arguments are being used as ammunition against political rivals. The AFC leader does not hold a government office as yet. As such, at that level he is not in any potential conflict of interest. But if he assumes a position in parliament, he could find himself in a potential conflict of interest if he attempts to speak about or to issues involving ExxonMobil. The same principle applies in relation to his party’s position on issues that involve his client. In order not to be in a conflict of interest, he would be required to recuse himself from any discussion, within his party, that relate to the interests of the oil companies. This does place him at a major handicap. The oil industry is the major economic sector in Guyana and is the main engine of economic growth. For any leader not to be able to be involved in either his party’s or government’s position on this sector, because of an existing business relationship, is a handicap and one which the delegates should have considered when nominating candidates for leadership of the AFC. But the deal is done and what one expects now is ethical conduct in the manner in which potential and actual conflicts of interest are dealt with. There are laid down rules which apply, including as mentioned before, recusing oneself from consideration of matters which involve, both directly and indirectly, a client. The government is no paragon of virtue when it comes to conflicts of interest. There was a glaring instance which surfaced recently and which was publicized in the press. The matter even formed part of arguments in court, except that the argument should have been made after the actual conflict of interest situation arose rather than before. In another case, a person was found to be in a conflict of interest. It was ruled by the Court that the person should have recused himself from the matter. A conflict of interest is inherently situational and occurs at a particular point in time. It is not a static or perpetual state but rather a condition that arises under specific circumstances where personal interests could or do potentially interfere with professional duties or decisions. A potential conflict of interest exists when there is a possibility that an individual’s personal interests could interfere with their professional or political responsibilities in the future. Potential conflicts of interest are based on hypothetical situations where a conflict might arise but has not yet materialized. On the other hand, an actual conflict of interest occurs when an individual’s personal interests directly interfere with their professional or political duties, impacting their objectivity or decision-making. The conflict is present and affects the individual’s professional or political responsibilities at a specific point in time. It is important to separate the arguments which have been speciously made recently. By being elected as a leader of a political party, the elected person becomes a politically-exposed person. But this fact in itself does not automatically place the individual in a conflict of interest. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.) Related Similar Articles

Is Nigel Hughes the ExxonMobil candidate? Jul 02, 2024 Letters Dear Editor, I am compelled to express my profound concern regarding Nigel Hughes’s recent election as leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC) and his refusal to immediately denounce ExxonMobil while clearly prioritizing his personal business interests over the welfare of the Guyanese people. Mr. Hughes’ relationship with Exxon is not just a mere association, but it’s a glaring conflict of interest. His law firm’s office in Houston, Texas, the heart of Exxon’s operations, is a stark reminder of where his loyalties lie. He cannot, in good conscience, position himself as a presidential candidate for the people of Guyana while simultaneously serving Exxon’s interests, even at this stage. These dual roles are fundamentally incompatible and betray the trust of the Guyanese electorate. Being embedded within Exxon might offer Mr. Hughes certain professional advantages, but the demands of national leadership require an unyielding commitment to the people. The national fight against exploitation by powerful foreign entities necessitates his full and undivided attention. Divided loyalty is simply unacceptable. The presidential aspirations of any candidate cannot coexist with the interests of an oil giant that has its own agenda. Mr. Hughes must make a choice. Will he prioritize the welfare of the Guyanese people, or will he continue to serve Exxon’s interests? The people of Guyana deserve a leader whose loyalty is unequivocally to them, free from the influence of powerful oil corporations. Anything less is a betrayal of the public trust and an affront to the principles of good governance. Sincerely, Alvin Hamilton Related Similar Articles