Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 22-12-2022

One month tax-free bonus for joint service members

- on-the-spot home loan approvals at special joint services housing assistance event, President Ali announces

PRESIDENT, Dr. Irfaan Ali, on Wednesday, officially confirmed that members of the joint services will be receiving their one month tax-free bonus this year, and also informed the ranks that they could also access onthe-spot home loan approv-

als at a special joint services housing assistance event that will be held at Camp Ayanganna on December 28.

During the housing assistance event, ranks who already own lands, will be able to get free assistance with their house plan designs,

sign up for the ongoing government cement and steel assistance programme, and meet with various lending institutions including the New Building Society, where their loan applications will be processed on spot. FULL STORY ON PAGE 3

Construction of the Eccles Access Road is moving apace. This road, when completed, will

East Bank Highway and the new Mandela to Diamond Four-lane road. It also forms part of the government’s plan

ease traffic congestion along the East Bank of Demerara (Sourced from President, Dr. Irfaan Ali’s official Facebook page)

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips handed over dozens of leases through the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC), in conjunction with the Office of the President on Wednesday, at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre. The Prime Minister told the recipients that the distribution exercise is a promise being delivered by the government through its Manifesto. He said: “The current government has been issuing regular approval for applications in keeping with the law. The latest batch has not seen a single refusal and leaseholders can remain confident that their leases are legitimate.”Prime Minister Phillips also praised the GLSC for its efforts to provide leases to a number of females, noting that this provides opportunities for empowerment. (Office of the Prime Minister)

Volume of exported goods could increase 50% from 2022-2026

- Guyana moves from being net importer of agricultural products, mineral fuels to being net exporter of those commodities

- country’s oil sector expected to expand by 113% this year, non-oil economic growth to reach 9.6%, IDB says

GUYANA continues to stand strong against the mounting global economic challenges, and this is evidenced by the InterAmerican Development’s (IDB)’s latest projection that the country’s volume of exported goods could increase by 50 per cent over the next four years, 2022 to 2026.

In its latest report titled: “Caribbean Economics: Headwinds facing the postpandemic recovery,” the IDB said the current global context of high commod -

US$71 by 2027. Similarly, aluminum prices were 50 per cent higher in 2020 relative to pre-pandemic levels and are expected to remain around 40 per cent higher through 2027.

Soybean prices are also expected to remain around 40 per cent higher than the pre-pandemic level in the medium term, international prices have remained relatively stable (IMF 2022a). Gold prices are currently about 30 per cent higher than in 2019.

“These price trends, and,

ity prices affects countries differently, depending on whether they are mainly commodity importers or exporters, and directly affecting their terms of trade.

“Countries that mainly export products that attract price increases benefit from improved terms of trade, which means imports become relatively cheaper, supporting a country’s purchasing power. For Guyana, this development is twofold, since the country is not only benefitting from higher energy prices but also from higher levels of oil production,” the IDB report stated.

Specific commodities such as oil and aluminum are projected to have relatively high prices through 2024. The average price of the main oil benchmarks (Brent, WTI, and Dubai) reached a high of US$98 per barrel in 2022, up from US$61 before the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the IDB, the price is expected to remain over US$80 through 2024, before dropping to

more importantly, Guyana’s higher levels of oil production, have significantly affected the profile of the country’s net trade in agricultural products and mineral fuels with the rest of the world.

“Guyana rapidly moved from being a net importer of agricultural products and mineral fuels, representing eight per cent of GDP in 2018 and 2019, to being a net exporter of the same commodities, with a trade surplus of 16 per cent of GDP [Gross Domestic Product] in 2020 and 31 per cent in 2021 with the rest of the world. Prior to oil production, Guyana’s main suppliers driving the trade deficit 31 in these products were the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries,” the IDB said.

The international financial institution said, for Guyana, after the start of oil production, the main destinations of trade surplus were North America and other

One month tax-free bonus for joint service members

- on-the-spot home loan approvals at special joint services housing assistance event, President Ali announces

PRESIDENT, Dr. Irfaan Ali, on Wednesday, officially confirmed that members of the joint services will be receiving their one month tax-free bonus this year, and also informed the ranks that they could also access on-the-spot home loan approvals at a special joint services housing assistance event that will be held at Camp Ayanganna on December 28.

During the housing assistance event, ranks who already own lands, will be able to get free assistance with their house plan designs, sign up for the ongoing government cement and steel assistance programme, and meet with various lending institutions including the New Building Society, where their loan applications will be processed on spot.

The President made those announcements during the Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) Annual Christmas Luncheon at Camp Ayanganna. The President lauded the ranks for their commitment and love for their country and people.

“We had some diffi -

cult years when your one month annual bonus was taken away. You remember that? So, in keeping with our commitment to our men and women in uniform again I wish to announce your one month bonus for this year,” the President said to resounding applause from the ranks.

The one month tax-free bonus for the joint services will be in addition to the eight per cent increase that ranks benefitted from along with other public servants. This is also an added benefit to the adjusted salary scales that will take effect from January, 2023.

“We are not building a divided Guyana, we are building a singular Guyana in which the aspirations of every Guyanese must be realised with personal and collective commitment to our country and our communities,” Dr. Ali said.

The President reassured persons that prosperity is coming to all of Guyana, and the members of the Joint Services in particular, will not be left out.

“You are committed to giving your all, living your

life in sacrifice for this great country we call Guyana, and we all collectively salute you and your family. You and your family will enjoy a better life in this country of ours. This I assure you,” the President pledged.

Assisting the ranks with getting much closer to home ownership is one way the government believes will greatly contribute to the benefit and upliftment of persons in uniform.

“In the New Year, you can move to owning your own homes and developing your own homes for your family. This is how we’re committing ourselves to your development. This is not only for you, this will be across the board for all your men and women in uniform… all our men and women across the joint services,” the President said.

The President noted that he was particularly proud of the GDF, and the performance of many of the ranks when participating in overseas training and learning programmes.

MORE TRAINING

According to the Head

of State, over the past year, Guyana has sent more than 500 men and women in uniform for international exposure in countries such as the US, India and Brazil. He noted that due to the high performance of the ranks, the countries have increased the number of training spots that they give out to Guyana.

“Training in the US and Brazil has more than doubled, in the case of India it’s more than tripled. This is a tremendous accomplishment,” the President said.

He went on to relate: “These are new opportunities that come because of our commitment to working with our international partners in creating opportunities for you. But more importantly building our international image and international partnership so that our men and women in uniform can benefit from the experience of the international stage.”

The President highlighted that over 45 per cent of the GDF officers have attained an undergraduate degree, while more than 82 per cent of the majors have some level of postgraduate

Dr. Ali affirmed that the government is making moves to continue to enhance the structure of the military, in all of the various departments

education.

The GDF, the President said, had been undergoing much rebranding over the past two years, and he is pleased to see how the Force has evolved.

“These are things you don’t find in any other military and this is because we believe strongly in giv-

ing you an opportunity to educate yourself. An opportunity to build a career outside of the military. To give you an opportunity to enhance your personal capabilities and competence. This is important in your own lives,” the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces said.

PRESIDENT of ExxonMobil Guyana, Alistair Routledge, believes that early capacity building investments are paying dividends as seen in the growth of local content numbers in the local oil and gas industry.

According to a press release from ExxonMobil, more than 4,400 Guyanese

are currently supporting the company’s operations, representing some 64 per cent of the industry’s workforce.

“It speaks to the early commitments that we made around things like the Centre for Local Business Development starting in 2017, working with other organisations like the TVET schools, and the ministries to ensure that people are well-trained and available and able to contribute and play an important part in developing the nation’s resource,” Routledge said.

The company is also collaborating with the government to develop the Guyana Technical Training College Inc. The institution is intended to deliver world-class training and certification to Guyanese workers in five main skills areas: electrical, mechanical, instrumentation, process operations to support the oil and gas industry, as well as civil and building

construction to support the broader economy.

Routledge related that the money Guyana earns from oil sales and royalty payments is important for the government to be able to execute its works, but added that the company’s near-term impact would be felt more in its investments.

Since the first discovery in 2015, ExxonMobil Guyana and its contractors have spent more than G$140 billion with Guyanese suppliers.

“We will have a much bigger impact as we invest in the projects, as we build the business, through the development of local content and we’re able to give local businesses and people jobs and opportunities to grow, to develop skills and to be able to become competitive internationally,” Routledge said.

With nine discoveries announced in 2022 and a second project starting up in

the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, he acknowledged that it has been a rewarding year for ExxonMobil Guyana

“It’s all about the people; it starts with the ExxonMobil team but of course we count on the whole team of teams, many contractors and other organisations including many government regulatory agencies,” the ExxonMobil Guyana President said.

He added: “It’s truly transformational. We’re very fortunate to have made a true success here in Guyana. But now that we are on that path, putting it all together, continuing that success, momentum, from exploration into the development and the projects is fundamental to setting up this business for the future.”

Routledge added that the company is fortunate to have a series of projects which allows it to take lessons learnt and improve on them for

subsequent developments.

In addition to its expenditures on production, ExxonMobil Guyana has been a consistent contributor to community initiatives with a focus on STEM education, community building, women empowerment and protecting the environment. The company has, to date, spent more than G$2 billion on initiatives in these areas.

“We really want to play our part in the community and so we take our corporate social responsibility as seriously as we do our commitments to growing the business and delivering job opportunities for people.

“And so, both as ExxonMobil ourselves and through our contribution budgets and the projects that we’ve embraced and of course the Greater Guyana Initiative, we are making some significant contributions to the community and to the development

of the society and country,” Routledge highlighted.

The Greater Guyana Initiative is a 10-year, G$20 billion programme under which ExxonMobil Guyana and its Stabroek Block co-venturers will fund capacity-building projects in keeping with the country’s overall development objectives.

The Payara project, the third in the Stabroek block, is expected to start up next year. Routledge said it was one of several undertakings that could provide more opportunities for success and development in Guyana.

“We’re drilling a number of exciting exploration wells and I look forward to the results of those, we have another major project start up with the Payara project coming before the end of the year, and of course many other projects and activities that continue to grow,” he said.

President of

ExxonMobil Guyana, Alistair Routledge

Oil prices rise over $2 on drawdown in U.S. crude stocks

OIL prices rose by more than $2 a barrel on Wednesday after data showed a larger-than-expected draw in U.S. crude stockpiles, but gains were capped by a snowstorm that is expected to hit U.S. travel.

Brent crude futures for February delivery were up by $2.21, or 2.76%, at $82.20 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures gained $2.06, or 2.7%, to $78.29.

U.S. crude inventories fell by 5.89 million barrels, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), compared with estimates for a drop of

1.66 million barrels. Data from the American Petroleum Institute on Tuesday showed a 3.1 million barrel draw in the week to Dec. 16, market sources said.

“This report is very bullish, especially with the fact that there’s a draw from the crude oil equation, and distillate inventories stopped their streak of builds ahead of the cold blast,” said Phil Flynn, analyst at Price Futures group.

Distillate inventories fell by 242,000 barrels, according to EIA data, compared with analyst estimates for a build of 336,000 barrels.

Markets also awaited

clarity on when the Keystone pipeline, a major artery ferrying Canadian crude to the United States, would restart after TC Energy (TRP. TO) said it had removed the ruptured segment of the pipeline that caused an oil spill earlier this month, and sent it for metallurgical testing as directed by U.S. regulators.

Prices were also boosted by hopes that China would relax some COVID-19 curbs after no new COVID-19 deaths were reported.

China’s crude oil imports from Russia in November rose 17% year-on-year as Chinese refiners rushed to

secure more cargoes ahead of a price cap imposed by the Group of Seven nations, and an EU embargo from Dec. 5.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s energy minister said on Tuesday that the heavily criticised move by OPEC+ to cut oil output turned out to be the right decision. The comments suggest that OPEC+ may continue to keep supply tight, said CMC Markets analyst Tina Teng.

Potentially curtailing oil demand, huge parts of the United States are forecast to face heavy snow that is likely to cause flight delays and impassable roads dur-

ing one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

Overall, Russian oil exports fell by 11% monthon-month for Dec. 1-20

after the European Union’s embargo on Russian oil came into force, the Kommersant daily reported. (Reuters)

The sun sets behind a crude oil pump jack on a drill pad in the Permian Basin in Loving County, Texas, U.S. November 24, 2019 (REUTERS/ Angus Mordant)

Exxon partners do not need separate licences to ply their trade here

THE Court of Appeal on Wednesday ruled that Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd (Hess) and China National Offshore Oil Cooperation Guyana (CNOOC) did not need separate licences to engage in oil development and production, given the licence obtained by their partner, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (Esso).

According to a release from the Attorney- General Chambers, the Court of Appeal effectively dismissed Transparency Advocate, Ramon Gaskin’s appeal, and upheld the February 2020 decision of Chief Justice Roxane George.

“The effect of the CoA’s decision is that the companies’ activities, including oil production, may continue undisturbed.

Volume of exported goods could...

FROM PAGE 2

countries outside of North and South America. The share of net exports to these countries increased through 2021, reaching 17 per cent of GDP for net exports to North America and 14 per cent of GDP to other countries.

As oil production continues ramping up , these trade surpluses are likely to continue growing. The oil sector is expected to expand by 113 per cent in 2022, accounting for approximately 90 per cent of GDP growth this year.

The non-oil economy is also projected to have a better-than-expected turnout of 9.6 per cent for 2022 compared to 7.7 per cent projected in the country’s 2022 budget.

The main drivers of

growth in the non-oil economy, according to the IDB, include agriculture, services, and construction, which are projected to grow by 11.9 per cent, 6.3 per cent, and 19 per cent, respectively, all higher than originally estimated in the budget.

“Led by President [Dr. Irfaan] Ali, and fuelled by the rapid economic growth, we have embarked on a period of rapid transformation, and our government has laid out a masterplan for the rapid development and transformation of Guyana. More importantly, we have demonstrated the capacity and commitment to working assiduously to make this vision a reality, so that benefits can redound to citizens in the shortest possible time,” Senior Finance

Minister Dr. Ashni Singh had said.

He related that upon the assumption of office by the President Ali-led government, the administration recognised the importance of a strong, diversified economic base, and, as such, even in the early days of oil production, placed the highest level of importance on a resilient non-oil economy.

The aim, therefore, was to modernise the economy’s traditional pillars, and catalyse “a rapidly growing and highly competitive non-oil economy.”

“Mr. Gaskin had argued before the Learned Chief Justice, and again on appeal, that Hess and CNOOC could not engage in oil exploration or production in Guyana because they had not obtained the requisite permissions. Both the High Court and the Court of Appeal, however, dismissed these arguments, finding instead that since Esso Guyana, Hess and CNOOC were involved in a joint venture, they were covered under the permissions obtained by Esso,” the statement from the AG’s Chambers said.

The parties in the case have been ordered to bear their own costs.

The Minister of Natural Resources was represented by Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Mohabir Nandlall, SC, MP; Edward Luckhoo, SC; Solicitor-General Nigel Hawke; Depu-

ty

Attorney-at-Law Andrew Pollard, SC, represented Esso Guyana and CNOOC, while Hess was repre-

sented by Attorney-atLaw Nigel Hughes.

Gaskin was represented by Attorneys-at-Law Seenath Jairam, SC; Melinda Janki, and Ron Motilall.

Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, S.C.

Transparency Advocate

Ramon Gaskin

Solicitor-General Deborah Kumar; and Eleanor Luckhoo.

Consistent Growth

NOT only in the Caribbean but also around the world, Guyana is creating a stir. It is only natural that there is increased interest in the nation, which was just a few decades ago one of the poorest in the western hemisphere, given its growth rate, which now is by far the greatest in the Caribbean and among the highest in the world.

The majority of the post-independence years saw the economy of the nation oscillate between negative and, at best, sluggish development, partly as a result of the PNC’s authoritarian and anti-democratic administration.

Now that everything has changed, the nation is firmly on the

road to steady economic growth. Now that the story has changed, a new growth dynamic is forming that few could have predicted only 10 years ago.

And while it is true that oil has changed the game in terms of our shifting economic fortunes, this development is only a small part of a larger dynamic that began in October 1992, when the PPP/C was elected to office following nearly three decades of dictatorial rule, marking the return of democracy.

Rebuilding the decades-long path of devastation left by the PNC regime was a protracted and challenging process, but thanks to the PPP/C administration’s good leadership and sig-

nificant international assistance, the nation was able to regain its status as a nation moving toward sustained economic growth and development. Under the PNC government, the nation had a “pariah” status; today, it is an important development partner on the regional and global scene.

Reiterating that Guyana’s growth is intimately connected to that of the region as a whole, President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali pledged Guyana’s support to the regional integration movement. Guyana once put a strain on the rest of the CARICOM area, but that is all in the past today. Currently in a position to influence the growth trajectory of the entire area, Guyana

may take the lead.

Even if Guyana’s oil and gas resources continue to grab attention, President Ali affirmed that his administration is still dedicated to creating a diverse economy that would lead to sustainable growth.

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), in its most recent report on the Caribbean, said Guyana’s export volume of exported goods could increase by 50 per cent over the next four years, 2022 to 2026.

The IDB stated that the current global context of high commodity prices affects countries differently, depending on whether they are primarily commodity importers or exporters, and directly affects their

terms of trade, in its most recent report titled: “Caribbean Economics: Headwinds facing the post-pandemic recovery.”

“Countries that mainly export products that attract price increases benefit from improved terms of trade, which means imports become relatively cheaper, supporting a country’s purchasing power. For Guyana, this development is two-fold, since the country is not only benefitting from higher energy prices but also from higher levels of oil production,” the IDB report stated.

As oil production continues ramping up, these trade surpluses are likely to continue growing. The oil sector is expected to expand

by 113 per cent in 2022, accounting for approximately 90 per cent of GDP growth this year.

The non-oil economy is also projected to have a better-than-expected turnout of 9.6 per cent for 2022 compared to 7.7 per cent projected in the country’s 2022 budget.

The main drivers of growth in the non-oil economy, according to the IDB, include agriculture, services, and construction, which are projected to grow by 11.9 per cent, 6.3 per cent, and 19 per cent, respectively, all higher than originally estimated in the budget. At this rate, one could only assume that there is nothing but consistent growth in store for Guyana.

Reparatory justice movement moves into new phase with Netherlands’ apology for Slavery

THE following statement was issued by Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice-Chancellor of The University of the West Indies and Chairman of the CARICOM Reparations Commission in response to an apology for African enslavement issued by Prime Minister Mark Rutte on behalf of The Kingdom of the Netherlands on 19 December 2022.

“It has been nearly a decade since the Governments of CARICOM established a Reparations Commission to promote regional and global understanding of the enslavement of African people and native genocide with the objective of securing reparatory justice and development

for the still suffering people of the Caribbean.

“With the formal apology from the Dutch Prime Minister acknowledging that the transatlantic slave trade in enchained African bodies and chattel enslavement were crimes against humanity, the reparatory justice movement has moved into a new phase.

“Prime Minister Mark Rutte must be commended for this enlightened development that establishes The Netherlands as the European country best poised to bring global leadership to this long and sustained call for justice. His statement moves us closer to closure in respect of the crippling, criminal chapter in human history.

“We recognise, however, that this development is best understood as an internal conversation within the Dutch State. The Prime Minister did not bring to the table those who are the survivors of the crimes. The victim communities in the Caribbean and African are not stakeholders to this statement.

“Historic though it is, the statement is flawed, on the basis that the Prime Minister did not seek the organised input and support of the Caribbean. The unilateralism of the apology and acknowledgments must now move to a multilateral basis. The marginalisation of these victim communities will undoubt-

edly be experienced as an ongoing approach steeped in the imperial culture we are seeking to replace with a deeper democratic sensibility.

“The Dutch State was Europe’s pioneer of the global

slavery enterprise. For most of the 17th Century, it monopolised the transatlantic slave trade, and provided the finance and technology that enabled the English, French, Spanish and Portuguese to establish their own slavebased empires. As a result, Amsterdam became the financial centre of Europe, and the leading supplier, globally, of capital for colonisation.

“The national enrichment from African enslavement was large and unprecedented. The Dutch community, with the slavery wealth derived from human enslavement, and crimes against humanity, became a sustained developed nation. It continues to be an imperial nation holding

Caribbean people impoverished in colonial bondage.

“Critically, nonetheless, we acknowledge that the honourable Prime Minister described his statement as ending with a ‘comma’ rather than a ‘full stop’. This metaphor is encouraging, and offers hope for the future.

“The CARICOM Reparations Commission is keen to enable the Prime Minister to complete the Dutch sentence. It looks forward to the next step which must be a dialogue with nations and communities that continue to suffer and expect to be treated with the dignity of participation in the dialogue.” (CARICOM Today)

-

Professor Sir Hilary Beckles says

Professor Sir Hilary Beckles

Ex-GDF Coast Guards get death sentences commuted to life behind bars

THREE former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guards, who are currently on death row for the 2009

DEAD: Dwieve Kant Ramdass

murder of Bartica gold dealer Dwieve Kant Ramdass, had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment by the Guyana Court of Appeal on Wednesday.

In 2013, the former sol-

diers, Sherwin Hart, Deon Greenidge, and Devon Gordon were found guilty of the capital offence of murder, and were sentenced to death by hanging by Justice Franklyn Holder at the Demerara High Court.

Dissatisfied, the trio moved to the Appeal Court seeking to have their conviction and sentence overturned.

The case was being heard, virtually, before Chancellor of the Judiciary Yonette Cummings-Edwards, and Justices of Appeal Dawn Gregory and Rishi Persaud.

Hart and Greenidge are being represented by Trinidad-based attorney, Douglas Mendes, SC, and prominent local attorney Nigel Hughes and his associates. Attorneyat-law Latchmie Rahamat is on record for Gordon.

The Defence Counsels had argued that the imposition of the death sentence on their client was severe, and sought the commutation of the sentence to a term of imprisonment.

They argued, too, that the

imposition of the mandatory death penalty was unconstitutional, since it violates the constitutional right to protection from cruel, inhumane and degrading punishment as provided for in Article 141.

In handing down the ruling of the Court, Justice Gregory noted that the convicted killers were charged in 2009 after the amendments to the Criminal Law (Offences) Act Chapter 8:01 was made in 2010, which stipulates the offences which attract the death penalty.

However, with the amendments, she said that judges now have a discretion to impose jail terms, since the death sentence is now reserved for death resulting from specific circumstances.

The Appellate Court noted in its findings that the instant case does not fall within those exceptional circumstances captured under the Act, and as a result allowed the trio’s appeal on the ground of their sentence being too severe.

The judge made it clear, however, that while the death

KN needs to learn the difference between revenue and profit

Dear Editor, A DECEMBER 20 article in the Kaieteur News, under the headline “PNCR agrees ExxonMobil misleading Guyanese with billboards… says 52% is calculated from a fraction of total revenue,” seeks to misrepresent the information being presented on Guyana’s earnings from the sector.

According to this article, the billboards suggest that “Guyana is getting some 52 per cent from the Stabroek Block oil deal.” It further quotes the PNC/R’s spokesperson on petroleum matters, Elson Low, who correctly states that Guyana is getting 52 per cent of the profits and not

52 per cent of revenues. That is exactly what the billboard says.

The billboard reads: “More than GY$280 billion for Guyana since 2019. Guyana receives 52 per cent of all PROFITS from Stabroek Block – 50 per cent profit share plus two per cent royalty.” It is, therefore, clear that the misunderstanding, willful or otherwise, lies in the knowledge of what is revenue and what is profit.

Revenue is everything you get from the sale of a good or provision of a service. This includes the cost or investment to provide that good or service. Profit is everything earned above that production cost.

The first two projects, Liza One and Two, cost over US$10 billion, and according to media reports, the next one, Payara, is going to be another US$9 billion. Guyana has not spent any money to find the oil in the first two projects and won’t be doing so in the third, yet it is getting 52 per cent of the profits.

We can argue whether that figure is a large enough percentage of the profit or not. But what is critical to keep in mind is that the oil companies are also entitled to recoup the tens of billions of US dollars that they invest.

Yours sincerely, Romel Khan

sentence was being set aside, the conviction itself for the capital offence is being upheld. However, the Court recommended that the question of the constitutionality of capital punishment itself be argued at the High Court.

The death sentence was set aside, and life imprisonment was imposed on the trio. The

- for heinous murder of Bartica businessman

Corporal who were manning the Coast Guard RC 12 motorboat on the Essequibo River, made off with $17M in cash which Ramdass was carrying in a box to Bartica for his employer who is based in the city and operates a gold and diamond business.

The three soldiers allegedly told investigators shortly

to solicit help by using his cellular phone. He was, however, prevented from doing so by the killers.

The GDF members took away Ramdass in their boat, relieved him of the cash and murdered him, before returning to the Parika Stelling.

According to reports, a portion of the money was re-

court ordered Harte, who was the senior officer in command at the time, be eligible for parole after serving 25 years, while his subordinates, Gordon and Greenidge, be eligible for parole after 18 years.

On August 20, 2009, the two Privates and a Lance

after their arrest that they’d strangled Ramdass, took the money he was carrying, and threw his body overboard in the vicinity of Caiman Hole on the Essequibo River.

Ramdass, 24, of Third Avenue, Bartica, realised he was in danger and attempted

covered by the police during a roadblock exercise.

The three soldiers reportedly split the money into three portions after they killed Ramdass. On August 22, 2009, Ramdass’ lifeless body was fished out of the Essequibo River.

Modern systems lead to improved efficiency, security in cargo importation

- Dr. Singh says

By Cassandra Khan

INVESTMENTS in modern equipment have resulted in greater efficiency, security and integrity in the pro-

cess of cargo importation, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh said, following an inspection of the systems

at John Fernandes Ltd and Guyana National Shipping Corporation (GNIC), on Wednesday.

Dr. Singh said there are modern scanners that are at both wharves, and those could scan barrels and small packages.

That, he related, was the result of the investments the government had been making to ensure that all major ports of entry could scan cargo.

“We have also been introducing risk management and risk profiling systems and methodologies within the GRA

ments, he said the government was also supporting private investments in any way so that the port facilities could be upgraded.

Minister Singh reminded persons that he participated a few months ago, in a public signing ceremony between IDB invest and Muneshwers Ltd, during which the IDB invest signed a loan agreement with Muneshwers Ltd to finance the acquisition of a crane to be located at the company’s wharf.

“John Fernandes is planning to make a similar investment in a crane that is going to be on the waterfront, which will facilitate much more rapid offloading of vessels,” he said.

makes it easier for everyone.

With the prepaid systems, there are a lot of door-to-door activities, whereby the packages or barrels are delivered to a person’s home.

“What normally happens is that the agent or the wharf owner would give a deposit to GRA and as they clear their goods that deposit is reduced and replenished,” Statia said.

CLEARED BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Meanwhile, Minister Singh said that the government wants people to get their cargo cleared before Christmas.

(Guyana Revenue Authority), all with the objective of deploying technology and data in a more efficient way to facilitate more efficient customs operations and more efficient trade transactions,” Minister Singh said.

He related that the scanner allows the customs team to have an immediate initial insight into the contents of the packages.

“The customs teams have been trained to read the results of the scanning machines to be able to determine immediately which cargo, packages can be cleared for immediate release and which should be flagged, perhaps for detailed inspection,” Dr. Singh said.

Approximately 80 per cent of the barrels are flagged green, which means when they come through the scanner, the GRA team could determine which are low-risk barrels, boxes or small crates, so officers could attach a green label, indicating that GRA does not have to interact with the importers thereafter.

The system is especially important during the Christmas season, when persons would import more items or receive items from abroad.

Dr. Singh recalled that the first investment in scanners was made in 2014, and the government has since been adding to the existing complement at various ports to increase efficiency.

Aside from those invest-

Dr. Singh added: “If we now have two cranes on the waterfront, what we have is a situation where we are going to have two modern cranes helping to offload the vessels and it is also going to mean a wider range of vessels coming to port with containers. Right now, vessels that are coming with containers have to have their own cranes on them, otherwise they are not able to offload the cargo.”

Minister Singh related that vessels will be able to bring more cargo because they would not have to facilitate the weight of the crane.

PREPAID SYSTEMS

“So, I want all of us, both the John Fernandes team and the customs team to do all that is necessary to ensure that people get their barrels, focusing particularly on household traffic so people get their barrels in time for Christmas. That’s very important,” he said.

As for the prepaid system, there is an ongoing conversation on how authorities could better streamline the processes to make them more efficient going forward.

“Things like a prepayment option that is under discussion, ways in which we can reduce the customer’s interaction or the importers’ interaction… and I want that conversation to continue with not only John Fernandes but with all of the other port facilities to make

Godfrey Statia, Commissioner General of GRA, said that prepaid systems, which have already been implemented at GNIC, allow for the merging of both systems of the port authority or the owner of the port with the GRA systems.

“The port owners would collect on behalf of the GRA, thereby, minimising the importers’ contact with the GRA,” Statia said.

He related that after they scan the barrels or packages, they would label them green, yellow, or red. If it is labelled green and prepaid, they do not need to see the importer; this

sure that we simplify the process, so that people can come in,” Dr. Singh related.

He added: “People really shouldn’t have to be sitting around waiting for hours or waiting in a long line or waiting in the rain.”

Approval has been granted for the custom staff to work overtime and they will be working until midnight.

“Remember, a lot of these people are looking forward to getting their barrels before Christmas and ensuring that they are able to realise that objective is largely in our hands,” Minister Singh said.

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh and Commissioner General of GRA, Godfrey Statia, inspect one of the wharf facilities along with other senior officials (Elvin Croker photo)

A barrel goes through one of the modern scanners (Elvin Croker photo)

Serious crimes down by 47 per cent in Region Two

OWING to improved intelligence gathering and information sharing, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) has experienced a 47 per cent reduction in serious crimes for 2022.

This include decreases in crimes such as robbery under arms, robbery with violence, break and enter, and larceny and burglary.

Those statistics were shared by Regional Divisional Commander, Khemraj Shivbaran, on Wednesday, during his remarks at the Regional Christmas Luncheon and Award Ceremony held at Jaigobin Hotel in Henrietta, Region Two.

“The residents in Region Two can testify that they are now seeing more police presence in their community, and this will continue to happen,” Shivbaran said.

According to Shivbaran, in 2021 the division had 50

reports of serious crimes, but in 2022 the division only received 30 reports.

Shivbaran said that the region also saw an increased crack down on persons in the region involved in narcotics trade. However, notwithstanding this accomplishment, Shivbaran called on the officers to remain vigilant.

“There is still a lot of work that needs to be done so that we can continue to have a reduction of crime in the region,” Shivbaran said.

During the award ceremony, the hardworking policemen and women, and others responsible for the safer region were honoured. Some 85 persons including police officers, members of the private sector, neighbourhood police, among others were honoured at the event. Region Two has some 205 policemen and women.

Lance Corporal Shamar Marcus, 23, was named as the Regional “Best Cop” of 2022, while Sergeant Hilton Benjamin was awarded the runner-up.

The two policemen were commended for having shown outstanding performances and diligence in their work throughout the year.

Marcus received $50,000 along with a trophy and a certificate while Sergeant Benjamin received $25,000 along with a trophy and a certificate.

Noting his pleasure at being awarded, Lance Corporal Marcus pledged to continue his efforts to represent citizens and protect their rights. Sergeant Benjamin also vowed to continue to dedicate his efforts to improving security and safety in the division.

Also present at Wednes-

day’s ceremony was Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence and Head of Special Branch (HSB), Senior Superintendent Errol Watts, who offered congratulations and greetings to the police officers on behalf of the Acting Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken, who could not attend.

Delivering the feature address, Watts said that the 47 per cent decrease in serious crimes made Region Two the best division in the country for reduction in serious crimes.

Deputy Commissioner Watts credited the region’s improvements to the enhanced resources that is has received over the past year. According to Watts, for 2022 over $3 million in awards was given out to

the policemen and women in the region, while an additional $300,000 has been approved by Commissioner Hicken for the officers of the region.

Describing Region Two as “the most outstanding division,” Watts called on the officers of the region to continue to excel in their fields.

“I want to congratulate the Commander and his team. I call Region Two a quiet zone, but do not take that quiet zone as a means to sit back, continue to work hard, continue to engage your community, and practice team policing. That is what efficient policing is, we must act smarter in the Guyana Police Force,” Watts said.

He urged them to also

become heedful of cybercrimes, and improve capacity to deal with this rising crime by getting enrolled in information technology classes. Aside from this, he urged the police ranks to continue to pursue studies of all kinds in order to make themselves more marketable.

Also making remarks at the event, Regional Chairperson, Vilma De Silva, called on the police to continue to work to protect the region. She told them to maintain their image so that the business community can continue to have confidence in them.

She said the regional administration will continue to work with the GPF to ensure that all persons are protected in the region.

-

Lance Corporal Shamar Marcus named ‘Best Cop’, Sergeant Hilton Benjamin is runner-up

Region Two 2022 ‘Best Cop’ Runner Up, Hilton Benjamin (right) receiving his trophy from Regional Chairperson, Vilma De Silva

Region Two 2022 ‘Best Cop’ Shamar Marcus (centre) flanked by Regional Chairperson, Vilma De Silva (right) and Senior Superintendent, Errol Watts

Teen stabbed to death, another person injured as NA man goes berserk

A 15-year- old boy was brutally stabbed and subsequently submerged in a trench in a horrific incident that has left his family and community in a state of shock and despair.

A 26-year-old man identified as Carl Singh was also stabbed several times by the suspect in a separate attack.

Dead is Carlos Jun-

Needs School.

Reports are that Leung, of Lot 834 Timmers Dam, Angoy’s Avenue, was on his was to braid his hair to attend his school party later in the day, when he was attacked in front of his yard at around 06:10 hours on Wednesday.

His mother Michelle Bess, recalled seeing her son leaving the

noticed the suspect coming towards her son with an object in his shirt.

“This morning I send he out. The headmistress call and say they get a party in school and I send he out to go by my niece in Islington to braid his hair, and when he come out and park the bicycle, I see the man coming this side with

chest and he [my son] start holler for me,” Bess told the Guyana Chronicle.

In tears, the woman said she ran out to her son but had to retreat into the yard after the suspect ran at her with a knife.

Even after inflicting the wound to the young man’s chest, the suspect purportedly continued his attack by throwing the youth into the trench and continuing to stab him while suffocating him under the water.

“He throw Carlos in the trench and he stab him till he dead,” a distraught Bess said.

Eventually, neighbours managed to pull Leung out of the trench, and attempted to pump his chest but was unsuccessful in reviving him.

ly taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

His mother said when her son was nine years old, he was struck in his head with a bat by another student at his primary school, and has since been suffering with a disability.

Meanwhile, prior to attacking Leung, the suspect went to the home of Singh, a labourer of Lot 88 Timmers Dam, Angoys Avenue, where he called out to purchase chicken. However, as Singh approached the suspect, he pulled out a knife and stabbed him several times to his back and left side abdomen.

Carlos Junior Leung-A-Weh

escorted to the New Amsterdam Hospital for medical attention.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that 41-year-old suspect has been living in the community for close to one year and is said to be mentally ill.

ior Leung-A-Weh, a student of the New Amsterdam Special

yard with his bicycle and whilst he was in front of the gate, she

something under the shirt and he run and bore he [Leung] in his

He was stabbed around five times in the area of his left side abdomen, arm, shoulder, and behind his ear.

He was subsequent-

Singh managed to run to safety, where he was picked up and taken to New Amsterdam Hospital and admitted in a serious condition.

Meanwhile, the suspect was arrested and

According to the Police, a knife was retrieved in the trench and the Leung’s is at the hospital’s mortuary awaiting a postmortem examination, as investigations continue.

The area where the brutal attack occurred

Prime Minister’s wife distributes toys, food hampers in East Ruimveldt

HIGHLIGHTING that Christmas is an apt time for giving and bringing smiles to the faces of those in our community, Mignon Bowen-Phillips, wife of Prime Minister Mark Phillips, on Wednesday, held a toy and food-hamper distribution event at Trench Road, East Ruimveldt.

Over 100 children were given toys, while over 100 families were given food hampers as Mrs. BowenPhillips offered them all encouraging and cheerful words for the Christmas season.

“Christmas is a time of giving and sharing, so for this is just another opportunity for the Office of the Prime Minister to spread some Christmas cheer. So, we decided to offer some assistance for the season, and spread some cheer.

“It was nice to see all the children that came out for the toys, so I took the chance to encourage them to continue to stay focused on their education so that they can be able to be part of all of the opportunities that the government of Guyana is presenting. And we gave some small

Christmas hampers to the families so that they too can enjoy the season,” Mrs. Bowen-Phillips said

Prime Minister’s wife, Mignon Bowen-Phillips (left) shares a food hamper to a smiling resident (Elvin Croker photo)

PNCR’s Carol Smith-Joseph charged with fraud, granted bail

POLITICAL activist Carol Smith-Joseph was on Wednesday granted $10,000 bail on each of the 14 counts of fraud with which she was charged for the alleged theft of

$6.1 million from the Mahaica Abary Rice Development Scheme (MARDS) while a member of its Board of Directors.

Smith-Joseph, a member of the Peo -

ple’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), the major political party in the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition, appeared before Magistrate Marisa Mittelholzer at the Mahaicony Magistrate’s

Court to answer to the 14 charges, but was not required to plead, since they were all laid indictable.

She was represented by Attorneys-at-Law Roysdale Forde, SC, and Nigel Hughes, who made an application for reasonable bail.

The matter was adjourned until January 11, 2023, for statement and reports, after which the preliminary inquiry will commence on June 7.

According to a release from the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), during the month of March 2022, MARDS, a private ricemilling company, reported a series of fraudulent appropriations of the company’s funds by Smith-Joseph while she was a director.

As a result of that report, SOCU said, it commenced an investigation into the matter, during the course of which it was revealed that Smith-Joseph, without authority, solely approved 14 transactions amounting to G$6,121,108 without the Board’s knowledge and approval between June and August 2016.

“These amounts were used for her personal benefits and other

purposes other than that of the Mahaica Abary Rice Development Scheme (MARDS)’s business,” the agency said in its release.

Smith-Joseph, who once served as Petroleum Adviser at the Natural Resources Ministry, is also currently before the court, along with former District Four (Demerara-Mahaica) Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo; former PNCR Chairperson Volda Lawrence; and four others for alleged electoral fraud.

The trio, along with Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) employees Sherfern February, Enrique Livan, Denise Bobb-Cummings and Michelle Miller, are before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for allegedly defrauding the electors of Guyana by declaring a false account of votes for the 2020 elections.

Carol Smith-Joseph

IDB lauds Guyana for protecting population from globally-influenced ‘historic’ high inflation

ment absorbing higher operating costs.

“In addition, US$4.8 million was allocated for the purchase and distribution of fertilizer for

farmers to reduce operating costs, and US$ 3.8 million was distributed in the form of one-time cash grants for households in the rural interior and riv-

erain communities,” the report stated.

The increase in public assistance which benefits approximately 18,000 persons and

the increase in old age pension, which benefits approximately 65,000 senior citizens were also commended in the IDB report.

THE Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has released a new quarterly report titled ‘Headwinds Facing PostPandemic Recovery in the Caribbean.’

IN this report, the IDB said that Guyana’s inflation rate has been above historical levels since midJune 2021 due to a challenging global context driven by high energy prices and disrupted supply chains.

However, the government’s policy responses such as the creation of and, higher inflows into the Natural Resources Fund; its efforts at strengthening food security, and promotion of the Vision 2025

by 25 policy initiative, which seeks to reduce extra CARICOM food imports by 25 per cent by 2025, and its organising of investment forums to promote technological improvements in agriculture and foreign direct investment were commended.

“At the micro level, to support productive sectors and vulnerable populations, the government introduced several policies. The excise tax on petroleum was reduced from 20 to 10 per cent in January, then reduced further to zero in March. Tariffs on public utility services such as water and electricity have remained fixed, with the govern -

could get my business up and running’

MORE than 80 small business owners from Region 10, on Wednesday, received grants of $150,000 from the Small Business Bureau (SBB) to help boost their

businesses.

They are the latest to benefit from a series of distribution exercises conducted by the agency.

The event was held at

the Regional Democratic Council (RDC)’s Boardroom in Linden.

“I’m very excited. I’ve waited quite a while for this, I can’t wait to get this cheque

cashed and get my business up and running, it’s been long overdue, I’m very grateful for the grant, this initiative it’s such a great one and I hope that everybody that benefitted can put this to good use,” said Rashauna Sue, one of the beneficiaries.

Another beneficiary, Cindy Sheckle related: “I’m elated…it’s long overdue I’ve been waiting a while, so I’m elated to cash the cheque and actually invest back into my business.”

Carl Joseph is also one of the persons who has been waiting for a while to uplift

his grant.

“In [G]ranger [previous] government you had to borrow and you had to pay back and this here is freeco, I accept and I thank father for the lil blessings and father must bless the people them who prepare this,” he told the Department of Public Information.

Poultry farmer, Premwantie Dindyal, another beneficiary, said that the grant will help boost her production.

She said: “I feel very happy because we wait a very long time for it and I

feel very happy, at least it gon help boost the business.”

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the SBB, Mohamed Ibrahim said that this is just one of several ways that the agency helps small businesses across Guyana.

“We had people in poultry rearing, in agri, lots of small vendors and people who just are willing to develop and grow their businesses,” he said.

Several distributions are planned for Region Five on Thursday and Region Three on Friday. (DPI)

Chief Executive Officer of SBB, Mohamed Ibrahim hands over a cheque to one of the beneficiaries of the small business grant in Linden, Region 10

Cindy Sheckle with her cheque Carl Joseph with his cheque

beneficiary of $150,000 small business grant says, as programme benefits 80 persons in Region

Comply with proper garbage disposal methods

- GCCI urges businesses, calls for harsher penalties against delinquents

AS part of its commitment to ensuring that all businesses adhere to proper garbage disposal methods, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) is calling for harsher penalties against businesses and residents who dispose of their garbage indiscriminately on a regular basis.

“The Chamber is extremely concerned about garbage build-up along Regent, Robb, and Charlotte Streets and believes that it is a

hazardous practice with severe environmental consequences. GCCI encourages citizens and business owners to refrain from dumping garbage in the roadways and drains. There must be zero tolerance for individuals and businesses who contribute to littering,” the Commerce Chambers stated on Wednesday.

The GCCI called on the Mayor and City Council to impose harsher penalties on businesses and residents who dispose of their gar-

bage haphazardly.

Concurrently, the Chamber requests that the Mayor and City Council acknowledge their responsibility for ensuring timely garbage collection in order to avoid citizens and businesses using non-collection as an excuse for littering and improper disposal.

“Littering not only negatively impacts the environment, but poses serious health risks that a population of our size cannot afford,” the GCCI noted.

One of the many scenes on Regent Street, Georgetown on Tuesday (Walter Narine photo)

$157B for investments in low-carbon development across Guyana

WITH the signing of the historic carbon credits sale agreement between the Government of Guyana and Hess Corporation on December 2, Guyana anticipates issuing about 7.5 million credits per year, on average from 2021 to 2030 – so the Hess deal is for the purchase of about one-third of all Guyana’s credits (issued and anticipated) up to 2030.

The agreement will generate a minimum of US$750 million for Guyana over the coming decade and represents a major milestone on the journey towards a vision first set out in 2007. On its own, the agreement will see approximately GY$157 billion invested in low-carbon development across the country, with GY$31.5 billion of this allocated to village-led development.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)

A Request for Proposals (RFP) for potential buyers of Guyana’s credits was issued in March 2022.

Following the RFP, December 2 saw the announcement of the world’s first sale

each year from 2021 to 2030

They will pay a minimum of:

?US$15 per credit for 2016-2020

?US$20 per credit for 2021 – 2025

?US$25 per credit for 2026-2030

Each credit represents 1 tonne of Co2e [carbon dioxide equivalent], which is the standard metric used for carbon credits – while the agreed prices represent a significant increase above the US$5/t Co2e under the Guyana-Norway Agreement.

As determined during the national consultation:

?85 per cent of revenues will be allocated to multicommunity and national programmes, ?15 per cent of revenues will be dedicated to villageled plans for indigenous villages and communities.

Internationally recognised high-integrity carbon credits

From mid-2021 to the end of June 2022, the Government assessed potential voluntary carbon markets standards, comparing them against Guyana’s objectives, as well as current and fu -

addressed the high integrity of ART-TREES credits:

“HFLD-labelled credits issued under ART-TREES 2.0 [the specific type of credits issued for Guyana] have high environmental integrity because credits fully address legitimate additionality, conservativeness and permanence, and counteract international leakage, reward forest stewardship by Indigenous Peoples, and incentivize action at scale while avoiding perverse incentives.”

These core elements of the credits’ high integrity are: Jurisdictional scale

to retain large, highly intact forests, including through monitoring, law enforcement, conservation, and regulation, among other measures.

Permanent- The insurance mechanisms required by the standard (e.g., buffer pools) ensure that the overall atmospheric benefit of these credits will be maintained, even if reversals occur in some locations.

Avoid perverse incentives. ART HFLD credits

help to alleviate concerns that REDD+ can create perverse incentives by disproportionately rewarding jurisdictions that have experienced the highest rates of deforestation.

Issuance of credits

The Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) led and managed the application to the ART Secretariat for Phase II of the LCDS vision.

The ART Secretariat is an independent Secretariat that reports to a separate inde -

pendent Board, which makes the final decisions relating to the issuance of ART-TREES credits.

Adherence to the standards by a jurisdiction – such as Guyana – is validated and verified by an independent firm. In the case of credits for Guyana for the period 2016-2020, Guyana underwent a 12-month verification and validation process before the credits were approved for issuance.

of jurisdiction-scale carbon credits for Guyana’s forest climate services – with Hess Corporation committing to purchase 37.5 million ARTTREES [Architecture for REDD+ Transactions-The REDD+ Environmental Excellence Standard] credits consisting of:

? 12.5 million of the 33.47 million carbon credits issued for the period 20162020

? 2.5 million per annum from the credits to be issued

ture UNFCCC requirements. Small-scale project-based standards were not appropriate, while ART-TREES was assessed as the best standard available for Guyana.

ART-TREES credits are recognised as some of the highest-integrity credits in the market.

A statement from WRI, Rainforest Foundation Norway (RFN), Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and Re:wild, as members of the Forests for Life Partnership

– They represent the value of carbon stored at a country level rather than at a project level, avoiding issues of leakage and promoting outcomes that protect the ecosystem rather than just carbon storage or removal functions.

Additional – Exclusive reliance on historical baselines does not adequately represent current and future pressures that HFLD jurisdictions face. ART HFLD credits reward countries and subnational jurisdictions for acting

Signing of the historic carbon credits sale agreement with Hess Corporation on December 2, 2022 at State House

Pristine Forest Landscape of Guyana with 18 million hectares of forests kept intact at over 99 per cent coverage

Raja’s

(ESPNCRICINFO) - The removal of Ramiz Raja as PCB chairman and the current board has been formally initiated by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, who is also patron of the cricket board. That ends a couple of days of growing and fevered speculation of an imminent regime change and though it has to go through formalities, Ramiz's chairmanship is effectively over.

A 14-member management committee, headed by former board head and prominent media analyst Najam Sethi, and including former Pakistan captains Shahid Afridi and Sana Mir will take interim charge of affairs. The committee will have 120 days in which they are expected to change the PCB's constitu-

tion, bringing back the 2014 version to replace the current one (put in place in 2019).

A notification issued from the Prime Minister's office and and a summary from the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) confirmed speculation that had built over the last couple of days, prompted by Pakistan's defeat in Karachi to England. That loss completed an unprecedented 0-3 home whitewash.

"Constitution of a management committee to manage the affairs of PCB with full executive powers with the aim of effecting the restoration of Departmental Cricket Structure and other allied matters, including the nomination of a Board of Governors and election of chairman, as stipulated in the

2014 constitution, within a timeframe of 120 days," the notification said. "The management committee of PCB shall comprise the Chairman/ Chief Executive & required members."

The notification has to be sent to the Law and Justice Division to be legally vetted, before being put in front

of the cabinet for approval. That is expected to be a mere formality. It is not clear at the moment what implications - if any - this has on the senior executive in the board, though ESPNcricinfo believes there will be a cull.

The 2014 constitution did not have scope for a CEO, for instance, with the chairman

doubling up in that role. At the moment, the CEO is Faisal Hasnain and the COO - for whom there is a role - Salman Naseer.

Yesterday, Pakistan also announced a squad for the Test series against New Zealand which begins from December 26 in Karachi. New Zealand's squad were due to arrive yesterday evening for their first series of any kind in Pakistan since 2003 - to a board in flux.

Both the Pakistan captain Babar Azam and coach Saqlain Mushtaq have come under scrutiny after the loss to England but it is unlikely either of those positions change so soon - in any case Saqlain's tenure ends in February 2023.

Though Ramiz's expected departure will be the

headline consequence, the main order of business for the new committee is the repeal of the current board constitution to reinstate the 2014 version. In fact, the summary sent by the IPC to the prime minister's office is not specifically about a board change. Its main concern is the constitutional revamp whereby department teams can return to domestic cricket.

It is in this roundabout way that the current administration, led by Ramiz, is being removed - because the 2019 constitution does not recognise departmental cricket, the old constitution that does is being brought back and an interim management committee will be tasked to carry that out.

Impact Player in IPL 2023 - all you need to know about the new rule

(ESPNCRICINFO) - IPL 2023 will be the first season to feature an Impact Playerone substitute who can come in to bat and bowl - but the league has stipulated that the Impact Player can only be an Indian unless there are fewer than four overseas players in

a team's starting XI.

"This will add a new tactical, strategic dimension to the game," the IPL said in a release two days ahead of the player auction on December 23. "A number of team sports allow teams to make tactical substitutes i.e., football, rugby, basketball, baseball. The substitute is allowed to perform or participate like any other regular player."

Here's all you need to know about the newest innovation in the IPL:

So how is the Impact Player going to work in IPL 2023?

It's fairly straightforward. In addition to the playing XI, a team will have to list four sub-

stitutes at the toss. They can use any one of the four subs as their Impact Player.

Can the Impact Player be brought in at any time?

There are a few options. A captain can nominate the team's Impact Player and bring them in before the start of an innings; at the end of an over; and at the fall of a wicket or when a batter retires. However, if the bowling side brings in an Impact Player during an over - at the fall of a wicket or if a batter retires - they will not be allowed to bowl the remaining balls of the over.

What happens to the player who is replaced by the Im-

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(Thursday December 22, 2022)

CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD -83 Garnett Street, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)

Answers to yesterday’s quiz:

(1) Nicholas Pooran-582 runs (23 T20 Int’l matches) (2) Jason Holder-28 wickets (19 T20 Int’l matches)

Today’s Quiz:

(1) How many players made their Test debut for the WI in 2022?

(2) How many players made their ODI debut for the WI in 2022?

Answers in tomorrow’s issue

pact Player?

They - the replaced players - will play no further part in the game. Not even as substitute fielders

When can't the Impact Player be an overseas player? And why is that restriction in place?

If a team names four overseas players in their starting XI, then they can only bring in an Indian as the Impact Player. This is to limit the number of overseas players per game to four per team - something the IPL has adhered to since its inception. However, if a team starts with only three or fewer overseas players in their XI, then they can bring in an overseas player as the Impact Player. But they will have had to have nominated the overseas player as part of their four sub-

stitutes at the toss.

So does this change the number of players who can bat in an IPL game?

No, it doesn't. Only 11 players can bat. So if the batting team's Impact Player is a batter who replaces a batter who has been dismissed/retired, then one of the players yet to come in - presumably a bowler - will not bat.

How does it work for the bowling team?

When the bowling team brings in their Impact Player, they will be allowed to bowl their full quota of four overs irrespective of the number of overs bowled by the player they are replacing.

For example, say a team has a powerplay specialist and bowls them out at the start of

the innings. In theory, they could then replace the powerplay specialist with a deathovers specialist - their Impact Player - who can still bowl four overs. But remember, if the bowling team brings in their Impact Player in the middle of an over, they will have to wait until the end of the over before they are allowed to bowl.

Does a delayed start

impact

the Impact Player rule?

The IPL said that there will be no change to the implementation of the Impact Player rule if "a delayed start reduces the total amount of overs available to both sides to less than 20 overs per innings prior to the commencement of the match.

The Impact Player can be utilised at any time during the match."

09:10 hrs Inedit

09:40 hrs Bowtogreatness 10:10 hrs Fable

10:40 hrs Time Flies By 11:10 hrs Follow That 11:40 hrs Colonial Empire

A change in PM means a change in board patron (PCB)

West Indies tour of Zimbabwe to kick off 2023

THE West Indies Men’s team will start their 2023 international year with two Test matches against Zimbabwe. The visitors will play both matches at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.

Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) confirmed the schedule yesterday, with the first Test scheduled for February 4-8, and the second Test match for February 12-16. Ahead of the two-Test rubber West Indies will have a four-day warm-up match against a local side set for January 28-31 at Bulawayo Athletic Club.

All matches start at 10:00hrs local time (04:00hrs Eastern Caribbean/03:00hrs Jamaica).

Jimmy Adams, CWI’s Director of Cricket said: “The tour to Zimbabwe early in 2023 will be an important part of our 2023 Test programme, which also includes series against South Africa and India. Having produced some good results early in 2022, the team will be eager to begin the year with strong performances in Zimbabwe.”

Zimbabwe’s last Test match was way back in July 2021 against Bangladesh in

Harare and, according ZC Director of Cricket Hamilton Masakadza, they will be eager to make the most of the upcoming series.

“We are pleased to confirm the West Indies will be visiting us for two Test matches that will be played in Bulawayo,” Masakadza said.

“Although it’s been a while since we last played Test cricket, our boys will be hungry and ready for some red-ball action and I believe an exciting series against one of the game’s top sides is on the cards.”

The last Test series be-

tween Zimbabwe and the West Indies was also played at Queens Sports Club in October 2017. West Indies clinched the two-match series having won the first game by 117 runs while the second match ended in a draw.

MATCH SCHEDULE

January 28-31: four-day warm-up match at Bulawayo Athletic Club

February 4-8: 1st Test at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo

12-16 February: 2nd Test at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo

Renowned Trinidad coach underscores importance of youth cricket

By Sean Devers

THE head coach of the internationally known Kumar Rampat Cricket Academy (KRCA) in Trinidad, Krishan Rampat, believes that youth cricket is important in the development of the region’s cricketers.

Rampat is in Guyana to witness the four-match U-13 cricket series between Guyana and Trinidad being held at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

In an invited comment, Vasu, as he is commonly known said, “It’s not necessarily school cricket but cricket at the youth level. Teachers and coaches tend to play matches to win. Youth cricket is extremely important. However, less value has to go towards winning and more value to the intricacies of the game.”

Coach Rampat is primarily here to witness and assess the performances of the more than half of the Trinidad and Tobago team who are members of his academy.

“I saw an abundance of naturally talented Guyana players who need to bat or bowl more frequently to really hone their skills. At the Kumar Rampat Cricket Academy any youngster who is seven or eight years old would already be batting fifty overs or three hundred

balls in one session” the Trinidadian coach said.

He added, “If I am permitted to use Shivnarine Chanderpaul's claim that batting five hundred balls a day led to his outstanding batting ability, it is therefore fair to say that KRCA has taken a page out of his book. It is normal at the KRCA that inductees vary for age group selections and would do double sessions and bat twice as many balls in those encounters.”

The head coach feels that if Guyana adopts a similar approach to the skill levels of its players, players will

experience a meteoric rise in their competency levels.

“And remember that approach originated right here in your country. The academy is a research-oriented entity and that we explore and test best practices in order to offer a prized product to our clients,” added the coach.

The KRCA is very proud of its contingent of players on the Trinidad and Tobago team and of their performances.

“We consider it sacrilege to name only outstanding players as we consider them as part of a growing team that is now developing. We

believe that cricket is a subset of life and that life being the greater set more emphasis needs to be placed on standards of behaviour, morals, ethics, values etc. After all, a player continues to live long after he has retired,” Rampat added

Rampat’s services are sought by several West Indian international cricketers like Nicholas Pooran, Sunil Narine, Jayden Seales and Mark Deyal to name a few.

Rampat is also the architect of several coaching innovations which will be launched in the New Year.

One

Guyana

President’s Cup Region Three, Seven record latest victories

THE One Guyana President’s Cup football tournament continued Tuesday night at the National Track & Field Centre (NTFC), Leonora, for match night six of the competition that is currently in the Group round-robin stage. Region One held Region Ten to a goalless draw while Region Three thumped Region Two 11-0 before Region Seven needled Region Nine in an entertaining feature match.

The 11-0 win for West Demerara/Essequibo Islands against Pomeroon-Supenaam was the first of the triple header of the night.

In the second match, Region Ten, who were ranked as one of the pre-tournament favourites alongside Region Four & Three, did not impress and were held to a nil-all draw against Region One, who were smacked with a 6-0 defeat against Region Three in their opening match.

In the feature match, coach Vurlon Mills was left dumbfounded as his side; Region Nine, lost their first match in three games after winning the previous two.

The men from Cuyuni-Mazuruni would have been thankful to their striker Andrew Simmons whose free kick blasted into the back of Region Nine’s net in the 21st minute. A timely goal which eased the pressure momentarily since the men from Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo had been dominating proceedings. Although Region Seven led from the 21st minute, Region Nine dominated the game with the bulk of possession and chances created but they failed to produce the final finishing touch.

Matches continue tonight at the Albion Community Centre ground in Berbice with a double-header that will see play kicking off at 18:00hrs with Region Three matching skills with Region Five while Region Six will lock horns with Region Eight in the feature match that gets underway at 20:30hrs.

The One Guyana President’s Cup is a collaboration between the Government of Guyana, the Guyana Football Federation and the Kashif & Shanghai Organisation.

Coach Rampat (left) chats with Guyana U-13 coach Latchman Yadram (Sean Devers photo)

Intense action between Region Three (right) and Region Two at Leonora yesterday (Delano Williams photo)

Coley appointed interim head coach of West Indies

ANDRE Coley has been named as the Interim Head Coach of the West Indies Men’s team for the upcoming tour of southern Africa.

Following a meeting of the Cricket West Indies’ (CWI) Board of Directors on Monday December 19, CWI announced that Coley will oversee the two-Test tour of Zimbabwe from January 28 to February 16, as well as the multi-format tour of South Africa, which includes two Tests, three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and three T20 Internationals (T20Is) from February 21 to March 28.

Coley said: “To be asked to oversee the West Indies team on the upcoming tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa is a special honour. West Indies cricket holds a special place in my heart. The upcoming assignment will be challenging as we will come up against two teams in their home conditions. We will need to ensure that our planning and preparation are appropriate, and demonstrate consistency in the execution of these plans, to give ourselves the best opportunity to achieve positive results.”

He added: “The players, I’m sure, are enthusiastic about the opportunities that both series should offer and are eager to contribute to our team’s success. I look forward to the tours ahead and the opportunity to make a tangible and meaningful contribution to the growth of West Indies cricket.”

Jimmy Adams, CWI Director of Cricket, said: “We welcome Andre back to the West Indies dressing room and with his wealth of knowledge of the game, player-management skills, dedication and hard work, as well as attention to detail; we know he is well equipped. He is a highly experienced coach who has functioned at every level

within the CWI High-Performance Pathway. This has prepared him for the job at hand and we expect he will again approach this new role with the same vigour and zeal which have characterised his time in the CWI coaching system and he has earned the respect of players and everyone with whom he has interacted.”

Coley, a former Jamaica wicketkeeper/batter, is currently head coach of the CWI Academy programme. While Andre Coley fulfils the interim role, CWI’s High-Performance Manager Graeme West will oversee the West Indies Academy programme, supported by the Director of Cricket, Jimmy Adams to ensure there are no disruptions to the Academy programme during the period.

Coley previously served as the Assistant Academy head coach and Interim Academy head coach when the Sagicor Academy was launched in 2010. He was also head coach of the West Indies U19 Team; assistant coach of the West Indies Men’s and Women’s Teams, as well as head coach of Jamaica Scorpions and Windward Islands Volcanoes, who were the 2018 Super50 Cup Champions.

In 2016 he was assistant coach of the West Indies Men’s Team which won the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and earlier this year he was assistant coach of Jamaica Tallawahs when they captured the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) title.

CWI also confirmed that the contracts of assistant coaches Roddy Estwick and Monty Desai had ended.

Adams said: “I’d like to thank Roddy and Monty for their hard work and dedication in supporting the team over the last few years and wish them the very best in the future.”

Region Three, Seven record latest victories

Andre Coley

tour

Chris Macey fires a thunderous shot to register his first and only goal for Region Three in their big 11-0 win over Region 2 on Tuesday. (Delano Williams photo)