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Lewis Hamilton: “As a sport we have to continue to work on our inclusivity. Diversity continues to be an issue.”

Hamilton to wear rainbow helmet

Lewis Hamilton will race in Qatar wearing a helmet painted with the rainbow flag in support of LGBTQ+ rights, which are restricted in the Gulf state.

Displays of the rainbow flag were a contentious point early on during the Fifa World Cup in Qatar last year.

F1’s position is that it hopes by racing in countries with human rights records that have been criticised it will raise awareness and lead to long-term change.

Hamilton, who also wore the helmet the last time F1 raced in Qatar in 2021, said:

“It’s always good and well raising awareness for things, but it is more about the work that is done in the background and the conversations you continue to have to have.

“And it’s such a big machine to shift. It is a whole country that is very young. It has taken the West a long, long time to get to where they are.

“All we can do is try to be positive when we come to these places and take the opportunity – that’s why I continue to wear the flag here.

“In 2021 it was nerve-wracking because I didn’t know how the country would react. But it was amazing when I do meet people who are incredibly grateful for utilising the platform for something like that so they feel included.

“As a sport we have to continue to work on our inclusivity. Diversity continues to be an issue.” (BBC Sport)

Guyana Revenue Authority, Guyana’s main tax regulator, recommended that the audit, which identifies US$214 million in questionable spending by ExxonMobil’s local subsidiary from 1999 to 2017, be finalised.

But it recently came to light that staff from the Natural Resources Ministry engaged the company on that spending. The company, according to Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, provided additional documentation that US$214 million was spent and the questionable sum was brought down to about US$11 million and later, US$3 million.

That engagement was not authorised as the government wanted the technical body, the GRA, to deal with the audit.

Bharrat, in his letter, stated that the GRA was indeed the body to finalise the audit and the Natural Resources Ministry’s role included overseeing the process of conducting the audit as per the oil contract and facilitating the exchange of information and documentation among the relevant parties, including the GRA.

“However, based on advice from Mr. Gopnauth Gossai that the initial claim of USD$214,911,994 was reduced to USD$3,414,853.68, I wrote the Guyana Revenue Authority on 28th November, 2022 to confirm this figure by seeking a “No Objection”.

“As recent as July, 2023 Mr. Gossai in a meeting with the Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and I, reported that the initial sum was reduced to USD$11,497,140 then further down to USD$3,414,853.68. Given that I had written the GRA since November, 2022 and it was established that the GRA’s involvement is necessary to finalise the audit, I was under the impression that the reduced figure was done in collaboration with the GRA,” Bharrat said however.

He added that he only learnt subsequently that GRA did not agree with the move to reduce the claims and instead, the figure in question remained at US$214 million.

A probe was subsequently launched and a report on the investigation was presented to Cabinet on Thursday. Bharrat says now that systems are being established to prevent any such recurrence.

“…. systems will be established to ensure no repetition of this lapse in the future.

“Also, staff members will be (advised) to make full disclosure with all contact and sharing of information with stakeholders in the sector,” he wrote.

This audit is the first ever one conducted on cost claims by ExxonMobil Guyana Limited, previously known as Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), for the pre-production period.

GFF President Wayne Forde (right) and Vice-President Rawlston Adams addressing the media on Thursday

“We are providing as much support as we can from the Federation’s standpoint to the contracting team to do everything possible to ensure that they are able to meet the timelines,” President Forde told the media during a brief question and answer session on site.

He added that “our intention with the support of FIFA and Concacaf is to make the National Training Centre suitable for international football. We are hoping in 2024 that all of our home matches can be played here.”

The installation contract, which was signed in May, includes the manufacturing, shipping, installation, and testing of the lighting system.

On completion, the GFF will be able to host and broadcast international matches for all national teams and local leagues including the Elite League, Women’s Development League and Regional Association Leagues on the FIFA+ digital platform.

“With some remedial works we are doing on the pitch right now, FIFA will recertify the pitch so that we will have the green light to host international matches here. So there’s a lot of emphasis being placed on bringing this venue up to a certain level because we want to make sure that our players have the opportunity to play before their fans, and that has been a challenge of recent. A lot of work is being done here and the push will be intense within the next couple of months,” President Forde shared.

Works are currently ongoing at the GFF National Training Centre at Providence, East Bank Demerara 

Additionally, with the assistance of FIFA and Concacaf, the GFF will soon commence the construction of seating on the western and southern sides of the pitch and the conversion of identified rooms to dressing rooms.

The civil works for the lighting installation project are projected to be finished by October, allowing for the commissioning of the project in December.

GFF Second Vice-President Adams stated that “the contractor has made the best of the initial weather that he has. He has put in the temporary access so that will give him access to the actual location where the piles are going to be driven for the lights. All the civil works we are expecting to be completed before the weather changes.”

The GFF National Training Centre was officially commissioned in 2019.

The initial phase of the project involved the installation of the artificial turf, while the second phase focuses on the construction of stands and installation of lights.

On completion, the facility will represent a significant milestone for the football fraternity as the first official home of football.

President Forde and the GFF Council remain resolute in their dedication to ensuring the development of cutting-edge football infrastructure in Guyana.