Black Immigrant Daily News

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Dale C. S. Destin |

The prediction for rainfall remains unpromising. My latest updated forecast continues to call for most likely below normal rainfall for Antigua. The most likely total for the year is 1089 (42.9 in), up 9 mm (0.4 in) from the previous forecast. There is also a 70 percent or high confidence of the rainfall total falling in the range of 827 to 1405 mm (32.6 to 55.3 in).

The main reason for the below normal rainfall forecast is the cooler than average sea surface temperatures (SSTs) across the tropical North Atlantic (TNA), during the first half of the year, which led to a drier than normal dry season – January to June. Cooler than normal TNA SSTs favour suppressed rainfall conditions while the opposite enhances rainfall.

There is a La Niña underway, and this historically favours above normal rainfall for our area.

Thus, the latter half of the year will most likely see near normal rainfall. However, because we are so deep in drought, normal rainfall is not going to cut it.

Notwithstanding, below normal rainfall being most likely, there are relatively healthy probabilities for near or above normal totals – there is hope, think rain.

A typical year, based on the new standard climate period 1991-2020, averages 1156.7 mm (45.54 in).

The dry season averages 410 mm (16.14 in) and the wet season, July to December, averages 746.8 mm (29.40 in). Fall/autumn, September-November, accounts for 58 percent of the wet season total and 38 percent of the year’s total.

Regardless of the forecast, we all need to conserve water and be as efficient with its use as much as possible.

Reducing our personal water footprint will literally redound to our individual and collective socio-economic benefit.

Minimising your water footprint is also good for the climate, good for our environment and good for rainfall.

This forecast will be updated during the first week of August.

Please share this blog, if you found it useful, and follow me for more on the evolving drought and for all things weather and climate – Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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The Guyana Government has decided to retender the contract for the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP) as the current agreement with China Railway First Group Limited (CRFG), has come to an end.

This is according to Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo who spoke with reporters on the sidelines of an event at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre today.

The Vice President explained that government is looking to significantly cut carbon emissions locally by 2030 and the AFHP would have been a critical project in achieving this target.

“Amaila was part of the energy mix to allow us to cut our emissions by 70 per cent and still triple in capacity. So we’re moving forward in the solar component, the gas component, we had the setback on Amaila, we’d expected it to go through but we’ll have to go out back [to tender],” Jagdeo said.

He added, “70 per cent by 2030 because we hope to get it in by 2030 so we still can achieve. It’s still on the card, but currently the project is not moving forward.”

In May of this year, Jagdeo had disclosed that the AFHP is at risk of being delayed and possibly retendered, as CRFG had difficulties in meeting the contract obligations and wants the financing model changed.

CRFG had indicated to the government that it is unable to execute the project in keeping with the Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) model and instead wanted to enter into an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract with the government for the project’s development.

Today, Jagdeo explained that the agreement with CRFG has ended and that the government is yet to decide when the project will be retendered and what model will be used in the new contract.

“That’s ended because, as I said a couple months ago, they want to change the model and we can’t change the model.”

“So, we have to go back to the drawing board and then possibly retender at some point in time in the future. So, right now we’re still deciding whether we’ll go out to tender and in what forms but most likely it will be BOOT again…we’re going to try for another BOOT arrangement,” he added.

Nevertheless, he indicated that the government will direct its focus now on the gas-to-energy project.

“We’ve been busy trying to move forward the gas-to-energy project as you could see…the President made some announcements recently so now that we have gone out to tender, we’re expecting bids to come in by September and also by the end of August to get bids in for a project management crew that will oversee that project.”

President Dr Irfaan Ali had recently made it clear that the government will continue to pursue the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP), even if it means it has to keep retendering “again and again”.

“Let me be very clear: we are not going to abandon this project,” the Guyanese Head of State told a gathering of Private Sector officials and diplomats during an event at State House. “If we have to go out again and again, we are going to, because we know the studies and everything, including the independent review by Norway, has point to this project as being good for Guyana, being good for the environment, and bringing greater prosperity,” he reasoned. “So, this project will get underway,” President Ali had affirmed.

The revival of the 165-megawatt AFHP was one of the promises made by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic in its manifesto. The project was initiated under the previous PPP/C Administration, but was scrapped by the Coalition Administration which had controlled the National Assembly by a one-seat Opposition majority.

AFHP is expected to deliver a steady source of clean, renewable energy that is affordable and reliable, and is envisioned to meet approximately 90 per cent of Guyana’s domestic energy needs, while removing dependency on fossil fuels.

It is expected that the AFHP will be based on a BOOT model, wherein the company would supply electricity to the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc. at a cost not exceeding US$0.07737 per kWh, and wherein the company would provide the entire equity required by the project and undertake all the risks associated with the project.

The AFHP was first identified in 1976 by the Canadian company Monenco during an extensive survey of hydroelectric power potential in Guyana. Various studies have since justified and strongly supported the construction of the AFHP.

One such study is an independent assessment conducted by Norconsult, a Norwegian engineering and design consultancy firm that was contracted by the Government of Norway. That report had concluded that the only realistic path for Guyana moving towards an emission-free electricity sector is by developing its hydropower potential, and the fastest way forward is through the AFHP.

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Export growth and stronger food security will be the focus of a new project in Saint Lucia supported by the European Union (EU) and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). The project entitled “Enhancing the Capacity of Stakeholders in the Agricultural Sector to Supply Quality Products in new Markets” will ensure inclusive and sustainable development along the agriculture value chain.

CDB’s Vice President of Operations Mr Isaac Solomon stated that, “This exciting new initiative, facilitated through the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) Standby Facility for Capacity Building, is designed to improve the lives and livelihoods of the people of Saint Lucia and the Caribbean through strengthened trade and increased economic opportunities,” adding that the project reflects an investment in the transformation of local agriculture and agro-processing.

Setting the context for the intervention, Mr Anthony Herman, President of Belle Vue Farmers’ Cooperative indicated that there is long term value to be gained from the activities which include training for farmers and agro-processors in good agricultural and other practices through an arrangement with the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, the construction and upgrade of pack houses and provision of a refrigerated truck to minimize food loss.

According to another beneficiary, Ms Naila Mangal of Mangal Trading Inc., “Today, I want all of you to take stock of how this project will benefit me, a young, female, agricultural entrepreneur. I am excited about the possibilities that are ahead, all thanks to the commencement of this project. This project will open new doors not only for me but for other female farmers and exporters.… These are the types of projects that we need to push the sector forward, and I am confident that it will do just that…. The work is only just beginning, but the benefits will last a lifetime.”

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Saint Lucia’s Minister for Commerce, Manufacturing, Business Development, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs, the Honourable Emma Hippolyte, who spoke at the launch event in Saint Lucia expressed pleasure that the project commenced, “The farmers of Saint Lucia, have for a very long time carried the weight of this country, and it has been through their toils that our people have progressed to where they are today.” she said.  “Strengthened by the resilience of the farmers, the government was keen to match that resilience with advancements in processing, technology and standards with continuous diversification beyond bananas in mind. The project which targets fresh produce for export markets, is welcomed and timely.”

The European Union’s Project Officer, Mr Sheldon Jackman, stated that “The results are expected to go a long way in advancing the competitiveness of the private sector; improving the infrastructure and quality standards of the agri-food system, while building the capacity among the agriculture value chain actors in St. Lucia.” Further, it will deepen access to international markets for products emanating from rural farming communities in St Lucia which in turn will lead to economic empowerment through job creation, particularly for women and youth. 

The project valued at EC925,862, is being implemented by Export Saint Lucia as part of its mandate to boost agricultural exports. It concludes in 18 months. Export Saint Lucia’s Chief Executive Officer Ms Sunita

Daniel indicated that “At the heart of all exports, whether goods or services, are the people who make them happen. The team at Export Saint Lucia strongly believes in regular and relevant capacity building. It is in the country’s best interest that we seek out these types of opportunities for our clients. We are especially pleased with the capacity building component of this project which will be delivered virtually, reaching farmers and other stakeholders wherever they are.”  

The Standby Facility which is financing the project is a EUR 8.75 million resource managed by CDB which offers opportunities to 15 Caribbean economies to grow trade, deepen integration and economic involvement, impact competitiveness, market access and exports by implementing targeted projects in thematic areas. There are over 20 Standby Facility projects being implemented across the region.

Source: Export Saint Lucia. Headline photo: Stock image

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La Policía informó el lunes que, agentes de la División Vigilancia Marítima Cabo Rojo y de Aguadilla, ocuparon un cargamento de 335 bloques de cocaína, en 14 fardos, los cuales fueron valorados en 7.3 millones de dólares, a cinco millas náuticas de la costa de Cabo Rojo.

Los agentes del Negociado de Fuerzas Unidas de Rápida Acción realizaban un patrullaje preventivo, en conjunto con la agencia federal United States Border Patrol, para prevenir la entrada de droga ilegales al país cuando divisaron una embarcación navegando sin luces, la cual se dirigía hacia la costa de Joyuda.

Inmediatamente, procedieron a intervenir con la misma, a eso de las 4:40 de la mañana, y se logró la detención de los cuatro individuos.  Los detenidos resultaron ser ciudadanos de República Dominicana y la embarcación en cuestión fue descrita como de fabricación casera de 22 pies de eslora color azul y blanca, con un solo motor en la cual también se ocupó una pistola, color negro, marca Smith and Wesson, calibre 380, cargada.

Los 407 kilos fueron sometidos a la prueba de campo arrojando positivo a cocaína y el personal de la agencia federal United States Border Patrol y DEA se hicieron cargo de continuar con el proceso y la investigación.

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