Kaieteur News

ExxonMobil owns company providing limited insurance coverage for Guyana

...subsidiarieshavetoapprovepaymentsforanydisaster-Exxoncontractsays

An audit report produced by IHS Markit of the United Kingdom has revealed that ExxonMobil Corporation’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited [EEPGL] was allowed to start up the Liza Phase One Project with limited insurance coverage in place Ofequalsignificance is the fact that ExxonMobil fullyownsthecompanythat provided the insurance for theoperations

In the report seen by Kaieteur News, it notes that Article 20.2 of the 2016 Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement [PSA] states that the contractor which consists of EEPGL, Hess Corporation CNOOC PetroleumGuyanaLimited, shall effect at all times during the term of the Agreement, insurance as requiredbyapplicablelaws, rules,andregulationsandof such type and in such amount as is customary in the international petroleum industryinaccordancewith good oil field practice appropriate for Petroleum Operations

It goes on to state that such insurance should provide coverage for third Party Liability loss/damage exposure from operations, coverage for drilling activities and operators extra

expense including exposure associated with controlling the well, re-drilling, pollutionandclean-up.

It further notes that the partners in the block are expected to carry insurance cover for their respective interest Though this is supposedtobeobtained,IHS said copies of insurance certificates were not provided by any partner, contrary to the PSA requirement.

The report said, “No evidence has been provided that either Hess or CNOOC are maintaining insurance cover and are therefore contravening the PSA requirements Nothavingthis

insurance could leave GoG exposed to risks and costs thatshouldbecoveredbythe Co-Venturepartners.”

The document states that EEPGL has maintained its 45%shareofControlofWells (CoW), Operators Extra Expense (OEE) and Third Party Liability (TPL) insurancecoveragethrougha wholly owned subsidiary of ExxonMobil, Ancon Insurance. Although wholly owned, IHS said it is satisfied that Ancon Insurance acts as a separate company at “sufficient” arm’s length from ExxonMobil.

IHSalsosaidthatEEPGL provided evidence of Ancon

Insurance consulting with an external insurance consultant, Jardine Lloyd Thompson, to set premium ratesforGuyana

While the amount of the insurancewasnotprovidedin the report, IHS said the total amountspaidbyEEPGLfalls within the expected industry norms

It should be noted that initially,IHSdidnotplacethe insurance coverage under a microscope It was the Guyana Revenue Authority [GRA]thatinstructedittodo so,inanefforttoensurethere were no financial irregularities taking place betweenrelatedparties.

The aforementioned

deficiency was as follows:

“It is important to note that during discussions with the operator [Exxon] on WednesdayApril 1, 2020 at 10 a m concerning this expense;itwasrevealedthat insurance payments were made to a related party of EEPGL, called ANCON

Therefore, there are possible transfer pricing i m p l i c a t i o n s a n d verifications that would be absolutely necessary to ensure transactions were done at arm’s length; surprisingly, no mention was made by IHSM in their reportofthisissue ”

Since assuming office, the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Government has been successful in securing a

US$600M insurance coverage from the ExxonMobil-ledconsortium S p e c i f i c a l l y, t h e Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] is on record stating that the said sum is what the country would accessperoilspillevent.

Additionally, discussions had started last year for “full indemnification” for the Stabroek Block Central to this agreement are negotiationsforaninsurance policy in the vicinity of US$2B. That matter is still ongoing.

In the meantime, calls have remained at heightened levelsforthecountrytohave every possible measure in placetoensuretheStateisnot exposed to any financial risk fromamishap

Map showing the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana

Kaieteur News

Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana.

Publisher: DR. GLENN LALL - TEL: 624-6456

Editor-In-Chief: NIGEL WILLIAMS

Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

29 IS A GOLDEN NUMBER

It has been a grand journey, laced with many positives,gracedwithcountlessblessings. At29,we are in our prime, determined to give of our strength and energies, focused on sharing our honest insights in a fearlessmanner,anddevotedtogivingtoallcitizensthekind ofinformationanddetailaboutwhatholdssomuchmeaning for them. It has been delightful, at times; the painful also came. But through it all, the vision has always been about dutytocountry,anddoingsocourageously

The beginnings of Kaieteur News were small and humble, but always with genuineness towards what serves theinterestsofGuyanese,comewhatmay Othershavetheir interests, including business, politics, or making money by anymeanspossible.

OurinterestistoreporttotheGuyanesepeoplewhatthey needtoknow,sothattheyarebetterpositionedtodecidefor themselveswhatistruthandwhatisdeception. Or,whatis devious and damaging versus what is clean, and clearly incorruptible. We remain humble, but there has been growth,throughstormandcalm. Anyman,localorforeign, from top to bottom, can be looked in the eye, and with one phraseasourmantra,ourmission,ourmandate:thisistruth.

Dedicationtotruthandpowerinreportingthenewshas earnedusfriends,andtheusualenemiesofwhatrepresents truth.

Politicianswheninopposition,andtheirpeople,loveus; thesharpcontrastishowtheyhaveneitherusenorplacefor theworksofthispaperwhentheyholdthereinsofpower It isasadfactofGuyaneselife,onewithwhichwemustlive. On this our 29th birthday, we remember those departed colleagues of ours whose lives were snatched away in the worst way We recall them with fondness. Their fall energizeusevenmoretocontinuethestruggletogiveofour bestinhonorofourresponsibilityasrecognizedmembersof theFourthEstate.

Over the years people have come and gone. Some did stayfordecades,andusuallyleftwithahandshake,asmile, andaroundofreciprocalgoodwishes. Toourregret,ithas notalwaysbeenthisway

Nevertheless, the journey extends into the distant horizon,sowebandourwaistsinreadinessforwhateverlies ahead. Whatever it is, we will be ready, for the gifts will comefromabove(theyalwayshave),sothatwecanseeour way, and overcome every obstacle, every challenge, and everysubterfugeplacedonthepath.

In Guyana’s path, there is a prize and a challenge like never before. It is oil, and by the billions of barrels, with possibly many billions more in rewards, whether measured incash,orbythecubicfeetofgas. Thisisthekeytothispoor nation’sprosperity

This oil and its courageous stewardship, its principled management, and its safe operations, we have made our calling. It is a calling beyond compare, like none we have had before, and we gear up to keep going to deal with whateverisinstore.

TheprosperityofeveryGuyanesedependsonauthentic handling of this great wealth given to this nation. National andindividualprosperityiswhatisworthfightingfor,even when it means laying it all on the line, with nothing held back.

To that we commit and recommit, in all of its many demands, through all required substances, and with all the wisdom to embrace what is ordained to be our part. The futureoftheGuyanesepeoplehingesonthis,thedestinyof Guyanaasanationrevolvesaroundthis.

Howthisoilisdealtwith,whatwegetoutofit,andthe kind of people that it makes of us, embody some of the driving forces in the next few years of our existence. We celebrateour29thanniversary,andwededicateoureffortsto the Guyanese people rising, succeeding, and flourishing withthisoilasthegloriousfoundation.

Thiswouldbemorethanadreamcomethrough,itwould beaprayeranswered,awishfulfilled.HereistoGuyanese standingupfortheirown,gatheringstrength,andultimately prospering.

PPPWILLMAKEHUGE INROADSINPNCSTRONGHOLDS

DEAREDITOR, Self-destruction as defined by The Oxford and Cambridge Press reads thus, “it is the behaviour of a person - in this case an organization-thatislikelyto makethemfail.”

It is tantamount to suicide and the PNC has done it all by themselves. They were already on the verge of collapse when the coalition of sorts tore apart with Charandass’ noconfidence motion, as other members in that grouping

began soul searching as to theirroleinapartythatnever reallycaredforthemasses.

Instead of turning the searchlightinwardsandlook into the core issues that Charrandassraisedinhisnoconfidence appeal, the PNC becamemorelockedintheir ways to vindictively ostracize all dissenters from theirmidst.

It was a brutal move, subtle at first, but then became openly obvious thereafter, when the mouthforemost educated, David

Hinds,camelashingout.

He repeatedly affirmed that the new political union of PNC/WPA will continue to hold strongly to their Black Supremacist views irrespective of Indians and those of moderate Blacks in theparty Hinds and Ogunseye wererelentlessonthistheme never letting up since. They were adamant that they are going forward with that set upinGuyana.

In this regard, they set about in that passive-

aggressive mode of theirs, playing victim at times, when they would claim that every Black person who died,mettheirdemisedueto some ghastly deed of the PPP/C.

On other occasions, they would preach race and glorify criminals These guysneverstoptothinkthat thesestatementswouldhave a deleterious effect on their party Norton,asLeaderofThe Oppositionneverchidednor (Continuedonpage5)

Leguan Hospital enhanced, other projects in motion

DEAREDITOR, LeguanHospitalisbeing transformed, rehabilitated, modernized thanks to the efforts of the New York basedDiaspora.Leguanwill have a spanking new Maternity Ward located within the hospital compound from next

Wednesday

That is the day when the new ward is slated to be inaugurated and opened to thepublicforpatients.

The re-construction, rehabilitation, and re-fitting ofthewardislargelyfunded by the Indo-Caribbean FederationofNewYork.

The public is invited for the opening ceremonies on Wednesday morning at 11:00AM courtesy of the ICF NY and the Leguan Cottage Hospital Refreshmentswillbeserved.

The Indo-Caribbean Federation started the rehabilitation of the Maternity Ward and the Patients Waiting Area in October last year with funds raised among the Indian Guyanese Diaspora in New YorkCity

In an invited comment, theICFPresident,Mr Ralph Tamesh, said: “We do charitable work throughout Guyana and USA We commit to helping uplift lives of neglected communities.

We were approached to assist with the rehabilitation of the Leguan maternity ward.Weagreed!

Wedidfundraisingevent inNYandworkwasdonein recordtime.

We have finally completedthismuchneeded project and scheduled its

PPPWILLMAKEHUGE...

Frompage4 disassociated himself from theutterancesofthepolitical pests around him; rather, he supported, cheerleading them on that morbid path of division and destruction

Thiswasthefinalnailinthe PNC’s coffin as races from all across Guyanese society beginwalkingawayfromthe party Peoplebegantoseetheparty for who they really are, and didnotwanttobementioned withthatpoliticalunion.So, come the next Local Government Election, there

would be great surprises for the party, I predict that there willbehugeinroadsmadein the PNC strongholds. Many areas that were considered impregnable would fall. I would again return to this topicwhenthetimeisright.

Respectfullysubmitted,

NeilAdams

opening so as to make womenfeelcomfortableand at ease when they visit the hospital for a checkup or deliveryofbaby Theproject will help the entire island of Leguan.

This is not our only public health project in Guyana. We are doing our part from the diaspora to assist and rehabilitate hospitals.

WerecentlyassistedPort Mourant Hospital and now LeguanCottageHospitaland we plan to do same elsewhere”.

Mr Tamesh said: “Some of the items that we donate include two 42 inches TV’s, a water cooler, four ceiling fans for the delivery room and the maternity ward, two new beds for the maternity ward, two new cabinets for the patients in the maternity ward, two baby cradles, installationofanewasinkin

the maternity ward, new cabinets in the delivery room, a trolley for the deliveryroom”.

TameshsaidthattheICF purchased five new benches for the Waiting Area where patients waiting to see the doctor and clinic day “And we will also equip the administrative office with a laptopandprinterandanew sign at the entrance of the Hospital.

This project was fully financed by the IndoCaribbeanFederationandits supporters in New York; we are looking forward for the public’s attendance as we commissionedtheMaternity Ward”.

H e e x p r e s s e d appreciation to donors and everyone else who assisted in making this project a reality

Yourstruly,

VishnuBisram

DEAREDITOR,

Second Vice President Jagdeo’s recent remarks that attempt to paint the Opposition as having no commentsonthenewmodel PSAareaperfectexampleof the difference between the current PPP and Coalition leadership.

WhereasthePPPintends to rush every meaningful piece of legislation or important agreement through, we believe that Guyanese have a right to be consultedwithandgivendue time to assess important documents.

We believe that a rushed documentisjustthesameas abadone,andgiventhehuge sumsinquestion(perhapsas much as a $100 billion USD in revenue will be governed bythenewPSA),ampletime isneededtoassess.

It seems to us that this is obvious.

W h e n w e h a v e completed this assessment,

we will make our comments tothepress.

Further, we have called not only for this PSA to be laid in the National Assembly, but for a law which governs the length of time provided for consultations, so that this is not at the discretion of any government, much less the PPP with its “two weeks” mantra.

We reiterate: Guyana is not Georgetown, and all Guyanese deserve the opportunitytospeak.

This,again,weholdtobe obvious.

Onlypoliticalpartiesthat serve their own corrupt interests would play games when$100billionUSDison theline.

Unfortunately, that perfectlydescribesthePPP Yourstruly, ElsonLow, Economic and Youth PolicyAdvisor to the Leader oftheOpposition

PPPplayinggames withdraftPSA -onlya corruptgroupwoulddoso

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Did Prime Minister MarkAnthony Phillips, MSS, commit perjury?

DEAREDITOR,

Section 324 of the Criminal Law Offences Act ofGuyanastates:“Everyone who commits willful and corrupt perjury, or subordination of perjury, in order to procure the convictionofanypersonfor an indictable offence punishable with death, or imprisonment, shall be guiltyoffelonyandliableto imprisonmentforlife”.

Section 325: “Everyone who commits willful and corrupt perjury or subordination of perjury, in any case other than that mentioned in the last preceding section, shall be guiltyofamisdemeanorand liable to imprisonment for sevenyears”.

Black’s Law Dictionary defines perjury “as the willful assertion as to a matter of fact, opinion, belief, or knowledge, made by a witness in a judicial proceeding as part of his evidence,eitheruponoathor

in any form allowed by law tobesubstitutedforanoath, whether such evidence is given in open court or in an affidavit,orotherwise”.

During the afternoon of September 16, 2020, I had a meeting with President MohammedIrfaanAliatthe OfficeofthePresident,Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Georgetown,Guyana.

I went to that meeting in my capacity as Chairman of the Police Service Commission.

The only persons in that meeting were the President and I. During the course of the meeting, the President made certain inappropriate request in relation to the promotion of specific individuals in the Guyana PoliceForce.

I informed the President of the criteria for promotions, which included theprovisionthatrankswith pending disciplinary matters, cannot be consideredforpromotion.

He was also told that promotions are made by the Police Service Commission andnotonlytheChairman.

On December 23, 2020, the Police Service Commission met and shortlisted ranks to be further considered for promotion.

That shortlist did not include ranks that had pending disciplinary matters, including some that the President indicated he wantedpromoted.

During the very night of December 23, 2020, I had a telephone conversation with the President in relation to thepromotionshortlist.

The President was very upset over the fact that specific ranks, which he preferred, were not on the shortlist.

I was alarmed that the President seemed to know who the shortlisted ranks were, as that document was confidential and was for further consideration by the

Confirm the appointment of Chancellor and Chief Justice

DEAREDITOR,

On 1st March 2017, JusticesYonetteCummingsEdwards and Roxane George-Wiltshire SC were appointed to act as Chancellor and Chief Justice, respectively, by President David Granger

Six years later, the two ladies,evenastheycontinue to provide uninterrupted services in the positions, are yet to be appointed as substantive holders of the offices The nonappointmentofthesejustices is discriminatory It is a universally accepted labour practice if someone is employed and acting in a vacant position and has never been told his/her p e r f o r m a n c e i s unsatisfactory, then that person’s performance is satisfactory,andhe/shemust beappointed. Therearealso economic implications to their non-appointment

Personsnotappointedtothe substantive posts upon retirement lose benefit prescribed by calculation were they so appointed. It is discriminatory when those

responsible for determining the appointment of others receive their full benefits at the end of their tenure but find reasons to deny others similartreatment.

Public mention was made before that both GovernmentandOpposition must seek to remedy the situation, going back to the acting appointments of Carl Singh as Chancellor and Ian Chang as Chief Justice

Yours truly stated, and still believe, their appointments should be substantive and retroactive. Thepeoplewho are responsible for the appointments of Chancellor and Chief Justice, and have failed to act, are discriminating against those who acted and are acting in positionsandnotconfirmed.

The Leader of the OppositionandPresident,as required by the Constitution of Guyana, must have agreement on these positions The spirit and intent of this requirement is toensurethatnoworkerwho aspirestosuchpositionswill be discriminated against for any reason That these

Commission.

Itwaslaterrevealedinan affidavit by Senior Superintendent Calvin Brutus that the promotion shortlist was “leaked to him by a confidential source at the Police Service Commission”.

Whatfollowedthereafter was a well-orchestrated and corrupt attempt by the government, aided by some self-serving police ranks, to dismantlethePoliceService Commission:

a. On December 24, 2020, the Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, instructed the acting commissioner of Police to institute criminal charges against several ranks, some ofwhomwereshortlistedfor promotion. It was evident that that was done to influence the Police Service Commission to not promote thoseranks.

The reason given this time was that the Commissionhadjoinedwith Member of Parliament Ganesh Mahipaul in the challenge to the Fiscal M a n a g e m e n t a n d AccountabilityAct.

It is apposite to note that other Service Commissions alsojoinedinthechallenge.

However, the members of the Police Service Commission were singled outandaskedtoshowcause why they should not be removedfromoffice.

f. On June 16, 2021, each member of the Police Service Commission received a letter from the President informing us that weweresuspendedfromthe Police Service Commission withimmediateeffect.

g. The suspension was deemed unlawful and was challenged in the High Court.

me and the others. The very night, May 31, 2021, President Mohamed Irfaan Ali issued a statement to the media in which he stated, among other things, that “Mr. Slowe, like other independentcommissioners, the judiciary, and I had a meeting.

At that meeting, I raised various concerns with him that was brought to my attentionwithoutprejudice”.

“It is therefore not only opportunistic but a total lie that my meeting with Mr Slowe was to exercise any influence”.

“My meeting with Mr Slowe was within the first few months of my presidency”.

Themeetingtowhichthe President referred was the meeting on September 16, 2020, at the Office of the President.

discriminatory acts continue is not a function of the Constitution but inability of politicalleaderstorecognise that such matters are not about them and their egos, but the interest of workers and citizens to be protected ateverylevel.

Last June, Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton, communicated to President IrfaanAli,andthenation,his agreementtothesubstantive appointmentsofCummingsEdwards and GeorgeWiltshire. For Ali to find reason for not appointing these justices speaks to a violation of universally acceptable labour practices.

Itisdiscriminatory

Our judiciary, an independent and co-equal branch of government, must no longer be held hostage to thosewhocannotappreciate the soundness of respecting rightsandtheruleoflaw

Time to stop the pussyfooting and attempt to explain away or justify the unjustifiable.

Time to confirm the appointment of these two justices for their nonconfirmation continues to threatenworkers’tenure.Let me reiterate, these substantive appointments must go back to Carl Singh andIanChang.

LincolnLewis.

b. On December 30, 2020,SeniorSuperintendent C a l v i n B r u t u s , Superintendent Shivpersaud B a c c h u s , D e p u t y Superintendent Rabindra Stanley, Woman Assistant Superintendent Shavon Jupiter and Inspector Prem Narine filed a Fixed Date Application in the High Courttostopthepromotion, which, incidentally, had not beenmade.

All of those ranks had pendingdisciplinarymatters before the Commission at thattime,andthereforewere noteligibletobeconsidered forpromotion.

c. On May 19, 2021, Mr Clinton Conway, a member of the Police Service Commission, along with other retired and serving police officers were arrested on a trumped up charged of conspiracy to commit fraud. I was also chargedjointlywiththesaid persons with the same offence.

d. The very day, May 19, 2021, Prime Minister Mark Anthony Phillips, MSS, sent letters to Mr Conway and I, demanding that we show cause why he should not advise the President that we should be removed from the Police Service Commission as a result of the charge that was instituted.

e. On June 1, 2021, the Prime Minister sent letters to all members of the Police Service Commission forustoshowcausewhyhe should not advise the President to have us removedfromoffice.

During the court battle whichensuedanattemptwas made to portray the Police Commissionas“rogue”,and I as being untruthful in my accurate recount of events leadinguptothesuspension, including the meeting with the President on September, 16, 2020 Towards this portrayal, Prime Minister Mark Anthony Phillips, MSS, swore to an affidavit and said, that “I deny the averments contained in paragraph 22 of the Applicant’s Affidavit in Supportandcontendthatthe allegations made therein are scandalous, contain inadmissiblehearsayandare unsubstantiated and oppressive.TheApplicantis puttostrictproofthereof.In particular, I am advised by the Honourable Attorney General Mr Mohabir Anil Nandlall SC, MP, and do verilybelievethat:

(I) No meeting was requested, arranged or took place with Mr Paul Slowe, whether through an intermediary and/or otherwise, as alleged at paragraph22(2)and(3)and/ oratall”.

Thatwasonlyoneofthe glaringfalsehoodscontained intheaffidavit.

The meeting referred to in paragraph 22 of my affidavit was my meeting with the President on the afternoon of September 16, 2020. On May 31, 2021, I held a virtual press conference in which I outlined all that took place fromthedateofthemeeting, andthereasonsIbelievedthe chargewasinstitutedagainst

From the above, it is pellucid that the affidavit sworn to by Prime Minister Mark Anthony Phillips, MSS,inwhichhestatedthat no meeting took place between the president and I, isdemonstrablyfalse.

The President admitted on three occasions in the statement released on May 31, 2021, that the meeting didtakeplace.

Having regards to the definition of perjury stated above, it is my considered opinion that in swearing to the affidavit and saying that no meeting took place as statedinmyaffidavit,among other easily provable falsehoods, Prime Minister AnthonyMarkPhillip,MSS, committed the criminal offence of perjury.The Rule of Law is “a principle under which all persons, institutions, and entities are accountabletolawsthatare: Publicly promulgated Equally enforced Independently adjudicated”. If the Rule of Law exists in Guyana Prime Minister Mark Anthony Phillips, MSS,willbemadetoanswer forallegedlycommittingthe criminaloffenceofperjury

This case will reveal whether George Orwell’s allegorical novel, Animal Farm, in which it is stated that “all animals are equal, butsomearemoreequalthan others”, is what obtains in Guyana.

Timewilltell!

Paul Slowe CCH, DSM, Assistant Commissioner of Police(Retired). Former Chairman of

Commission.

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

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96 HOURS OF BACKOUT IN 2022

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The GPLitself said so, we didn’t!

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96 hours of blackout is almost 2 hours per week.

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It’s too much, whether daily for a time, or weekly for hours.

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

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96 hours of blackout after all the billions put into GPL.

Which self-respecting utility could deliver something like this?

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

What are Guyanese getting from the GPL, besides high power surges, high estimated bills…AND BLACKOUTS?

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BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

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Five firms bid to provide engineering service for US$192M East Coast Road Project

Five firms submitted bids to provide engineering services for the Ministry of Public Works' US$192M East Coast road project on Thursday when tenders opened at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB)office.

The five bidders and their international counterparts are: CB & Associates Inc. in partnership with a Peruvian firm; Beston Consulting Inc.; EGIS Engenharia e Consultoria (Brazil) in association with SRKN'gineering Associates Limited; RITES Limited (India) in association with E&A Consultants Inc ; and Concremat Engenharia e

Tecnologia (Brazil) in association withGREngineeringCompany

Kaieteur News had reported thattheinvitationforbidsfollowed the signing of a US$192M Framework Concessional Loan Agreement with China to finance Phase II of the East Coast Road Project.

Phase two of the project will include extension of the Railway Embankment Road into four lanes from Sheriff Street to Orange Nassau, extension of the main East Coast Roadway from Orange Nassau to Mahaica, as well as rehabilitation of the existing East CoastDemerararoadfromBelfield toOrangeNassau,whichwillallow

foradditionallanes.

Atthesigningceremonyforthe loan, it was revealed that this phase will also see the construction of 48 bridgesand22culvertsandanother bridge across the Hope Canal. The loan for the project is being provided by the Exim Bank of China.

Thispublicationhadreportedin October 2022 that China Railway First Group was awarded a US$184M contract to complete Phase Two of the project which is currentlyinitsmobilizationstage.

The widening of the East Coast highway started under the previous government in 2017 after securing a US$45,318,337 or RMB Yuan

313,838,800 concessional loan for the widening and improvement of the highway from the ExportImport Bank of China. The works on Phase One of the project was completedin2020. Thiswasachievedlessthantwo months after the inking of the Framework Agreement between the Governments of Guyana and the People's Republic of China that tookplaceonNovember23,2016.

Though China Railway commenced works on the road in 2017, according to reports, the contract was awarded back in 2014 underthethenPeople'sProgressive Party Civic (PPP/C) government to the tune of US$42.7 million. But

before this contract was awarded, initial works on the project had started sometime in 2012 when the government had received a US$688,950 grant from the Kuwaiti Government to carry out a feasibilitystudyontheBetterHope toAnnandaleroad.

Meanwhile,thesecondphaseof the project is expected to effectively improve the level of local transportation infrastructure, stimulate local investment, employmentandlogistics,andhelp to achieve the local economic and socialdevelopmentobjectives.

The East Coast road works was scheduled for completion in 28 months.

ART IS MUCH MORE THAN A REFLECTION OF REALITY

Itisnowonderthatart,in all its forms, in Guyana is mired in mediocrity If there can be such scant understanding of what art is about,thenitshouldsurprise no one that this country has failed to develop its cultural industry

The purpose of art, be it sculpture, paintings, drama or books, yes books, is not merelytoreflectsociety Art is not just a mirror of what exists in its raw state. If that was the case, everyone would be an artist, because everyone’s reality would becometheirart.Artisaway of looking at society and treatingwiththatreality

The problem in Guyana isthatforfartoolong,theart of social reflection has been allowed to simply become a mirror Ithasbeenallowedto merely reflect, without any attempt at treating this reflection, and/or in so doing, condition a response tothistreatment.

Artisnotjustaboutbeing amirrorofourculture.When art – in all its forms – is reducedtothisbasefunction, thenitlosesitspotency And inGuyana,everythinginthe arts now seems to be destinedforthislesserfate.

A painting simply becomesavisualdrawing.It simply reproduces a scene, neglecting effect or projection of some idea or ideal Anything can be

painted and everything has been painted. It is but mere photography on canvas, not art.

Most of the local stage productions have been reduced to this level of mediocrity Local playwriting is, in the main, now aimed at entertaining rather than engaging or provoking. No wonder the arts in Guyana are in such disarray Plays have become a mere reflection of our society, and sometimes a merelampooningofreality

Thenewlabelispopular theatre, where the audience goes to and does laugh at even at tragedy Popular theatre has become so ingrainedthateveniftodaya serious production, treating withsocialthemesandwitha strongunderlyingmoralwas tobeproduced,theaudience wouldlaughatalmostevery line.The problem is that the jokeisonthem.

Art is supposed to say something, not simply replicate a scene of a development.Thisappliesto paintingsandplaysasitdoes too to writing. The writer may see something, but not justwhatheseesandthelens through which he sees is important, but how he treats withit.

Edgar Mittleholtzer wrote a classic called “Corentyne Thunder.” But he was doing more than

Dem Boys Seh...

simply telling a story He was digging deeper beneath the surface of relationships betweenamiserlyfatherand his children or between the bizarre relationship between theweatherandthefortunes ofafamily Itwasalsoabout thewayonesocialclasssaw another This was not storytelling, but social commentary using storytelling. This is what art is about. It is not a mere mirror,butanattempttotreat withrealityinacertainway The artist who cannot and does not do this is not engagedinartform.

The good writer goes beyondmeredescriptionand reflection.Hescoursbeneath the surface of things, goes deeper than outward appearances to expose what is often discomforting and troubling.

V S.Naipaulinhispostcolonial prose exposes the pretenseandfalsenessofour existence.Heisruthlessand controversial in the way he treatswithreality Andthisis whatmakeshimsodespised, becauseheshowsusapartof usthatmanyofusdonotlike orwishtoacknowledge.

We prefer the superficial – that which is often described as brutally frank and real, except that it is really not. It is what we prefer to settle for because delving beneath the surface willunearththedebrisofour

Shoplifting is an old crime!

Shoplifting is one of the oldest professions in Guyana. But is only over de past 20 years since we gat so many more supermarkets and stores fuh browse in dat people realizing how prevalent is de practiceofshoplifting.

Langagowhenyuhhaddemdepartment store,demhadpeopleusedtogoindereand pushthingsindembags.Datishowyuhhad to establish bag bays Even dem government stores used to have to step up bagbays.

But dem bag bays never stop people from stealing. In fact, some people used to befraidofleavingdembagsindebagbay Dem was afraid somebody gan go and shoplift dem bag from de bag bay It happen!

Shoplifting nah gat nottin to do with a person’s economic circumstances. Some peoplejustwickedandliketosteal.

Dehhadpeopleusedtogoindemstore likeamaggadagandcomeoutlikeabarrel. Yuh did want know how dem put on so much weight in so short a time. Dis is no joke. But at one time, dem find a woman withaladderhiddenunderherskirt.

Itreminddemboysofdemanwahget caught shoplifting in a supermarket. Dem carry he in front of de court because he shopliftacanofpeaches.

De judge asked him, “How many peacheswereinthecanyoustole?”

Deemanreplied,“Five”.

The judge gave him his sentence, “You willhavefiveweeksinprison,oneforeach peachinthecan”.

Thewifeoftheman,whowaspresentin the court room, raised her hand and said, “Your Honour, he also stole a gallon of rice!”

Talkhalf.Leffhalf!

existence.

The writer aims to also sendamessage.Wemaynot always agree with this message. But it is important enoughforittoengageus.

Take that short story written many years ago about the cat and the milk:

the cat who was an interloper, came like a thief in the night to steal the milk that had been so carefully prepared.

The writer is free to deludehimselfthattherewas milk at all, but what matters isnotwhetheranyoneagrees with that message, but the

fact that it exists There may be different realities to what the author addresses. Those different perspectives or ways of representing this reality are today often referred to as narratives.

Everyone and every group has/have their own narrative. For some, their perspective may be occasionedbythebruisesof the loss of political power

Butthewriteralwayshasthe liberty of treating reality the way he or she wishes.After all, is this not what art is about – exceptif the writing

is reduced to a mere base reflection of things; but a meremirrorofsociety

That is not art. Art goes beyondsuchreflection.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s affiliates.)

H@RD TRUTHS

GHK LALL

AMERICA, THE BEAUTIFUL AND NAKED

Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light…

Ifonlyweknow!Ifonly Guyanesehadthewisdomto discern the terribly ugly harlotry behind the pretty smile Individualism Freedom Democracy. Human rights. And, of course, the Great American

Way What a charade! What a set of greedy, grasping, deceivers in missionary clothing my adopted brothers and sisters are!

The overwhelming majority of Guyanese don’t know this. The few who know, don’t care because they are busy guzzling from thenationaltroughtosatisfy

theirgluttony

I start with Spain’s Columbus and Cortez, America’s James Monroe later; those few names are enough.

Theycastcovetouseyes on some precious commodity that the poor, backward, dependent colored man (like me) have in their ground, their seas.

They come for it, take it. Richesseized;aidextended. We have black gold, many other treasures. Already local tribes tear at each other’s guts to please interlopers, usurpers, conquerors.

History is full of them, and when Guyana’s truths are written, they will be our story,too. Wehaveourown Queen Isabella, with statues recommended to honor her place in the passage of Guyana from Jonestown to Johannesburg For a Viceroy, we have not a Mountbatten, but a Routledge brainwashing the naïve and gullible with his company’s contract atrocities. Mr Routledge is one happyAmerican, for he also has Guyanese jumping to his commands, with influentiallocalsconcealing his company’s chicaneries, othersfurnishingsupporting spreadsheetstojustifythem.

Clearly,IdidtheChinese aninjustice;theirobjectives areontheirsleeves. Money first,moneyalways.

None of these patented hypocrisies about free and fair, people’s rights, human dignity Thepuke-inducing, nauseating horror, of the cons and schemes of Washington and Texas rises in a rush. The early MalcolmXhaditrightwith his sweeping consignment todeviltry. Itistemptingto f o l l o w s u i t , b u t temperatenesswins.

Look at us. The PPP Government imitates Iran’s Shah: shoutout and shutdown conscientious objectors. TheShahwasan American creature, just like Chile’s Pinochet; look what both did to their people.

Guyana’s journey has just begun, with institutions failing, media suppressing, lawyers covering up, politicians terrorizing, and citizenscowering.

This is how the Guyanese patrimony is swallowed whole, consumed one barrel, one tanker,atatime. Americans have left a trail of devastation wherever they went. Theyalwayshadtheir pimps, thugs, political hustlers and opportunists, who-no matter how welleducated or well-dressed or well-poised-were simply thoseatthecore,andalways readytodotheirdirtywork.

I ask myself which is worst: American covert operations, or American commercial ones The Pentagon has its wargames, the Exxon(s) of Texas have their money games; socalledstrategicvisions,dirty tricks President, Vice President, and Opposition Leadermayharborideasthat they form Guyana’s governance apparatus They fool themselves; are left with one option: get in linetopleasethefolksinDC andTexas. Insubstance,this is Guyana’s democracy, Guyana’s sovereignty. The crabbasketandratracestart at the top, with our elected ones working most diligently (knocking over, o u t h u s t l i n g , outmaneuvering others) to come across as who is best forAmericaninterests. This is what the imperatives of sovereigntyamountto,what the essence of selfdeterminationinspirestobe.

Theironyofitall,isthat Guyanesewhowerethebest

studentsofpoliticalscience, law,andlifecan’tevenbegin to bring themselves to be honest about this. Rather, they seek to confuse, distract, and mislead about history, ethnology, democracy, and the usual herrings. Man! Are we a despicable race of rogues and rascals! My first epiphanies were from the books of thieves; Francis Drake and Sam Houston transformed into finely chiseled demigods for the consumption of lowly natives. Mylastonesareto live with the new king and queenofGuyana,whowere both identified earlier, are traitorouslyworshipped. Separately, economics and statistics reveal the mysteries of GDP, growth, andatunimaginablerates. I wonder if the diplomatic cables and corporate communications ever stoop to address the low singledigit population percentage that monopolizes 90+ percent of all those fantastical economic numbers.

The result is that the entire population (minus a few) is doomed to scramble for residual dregs and scraps. Democracy may mean equality at the ballot box,butitnevertranslatesto equality at the cashbox Equality in sharing the money is not up for discussion. We progressed fromthemythanddreamof El Dorado to this global gusherofanOilDorado. All that it will translate into for Guyana’s pariahs and outcasts, the dismissed and despised, is debt burden, despair, resentment, animosity We can thank America for that, and suddenly, the Chinese look lessdiabolical. Nopretense. No nonsense. None of the heady incenses of human rights, democratic rights, and economic rights America has used bigger countries than Guyana to mop floors, or doormats. ThisistherealAmerica;this is what is happening in today’sGuyana.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)

HARDTRUTHS BYGHKLALL

BLUNTNESS ON INDECENCY!

In case you haven’t heard, please be informed that as part of our continued effort to channel positive changes in our country, our publisher, Mr. Glenn Lall, has dedicated our Page Seven to be “BLUNT” about on-going indecency in our land that should matter, not only to us at this publication, but the entire nation.

Guyana President

'Politicians are experts at hypocrisy'

...as Head of State calls citizens hypocrites for demanding better management of oil sector

President Irfaan Ali during an event last month said “hypocrites” is the ideal term to describe those attempting to poison and stopthebloomingpetroleum sectorinthecountry

He was particularly referring to those citizens who wrote to Regional bodies to warn them of the dangers associated with the local activities as well as the citizens that have so far filed l e g a l p r o c e e d i n g s , challenging ExxonMobil's operations in the Stabroek Block.

P r e s i d e n t o f t h e Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc (TIGI), Frederick Collins however believes that it is the politicianswhoareexpertsat “hypocrisy” During a protest outside the Office of the President onWednesday, head of the transparency

body told this publication, “Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo should know what is hypocrisy He said when he was in Opposition that he was going to renegotiate the (Exxon)contractandthenhe switcheditaround.Ithinkhe should be an expert at hypocrisy.”

Collins explained that he did not bother to delve into the provisions of the new Deep Water and Shallow Water Production Sharing

Agreements (PSAs), however TIGI believes that the existing agreement has “fundamental” wrongs whichoughttobecorrected.

“Government's actions speak for themselves in terms of what is required. Mr Jagdeoandallthepeople who criticize civil society should (know) that the people who have sense in this country can see through

alltheirantics.”

The President of the transparency institute said it is now evident that the politiciansarenotinclinedto answer questions relating to the management of the sector and has therefore developed a new posture to evade questions through insults. As such he said, “Those antics can fool the idiots, they cannot fool the rest of us. There is a critical mass of intelligence in Guyana, they cannot fool us; theythinktheyarefoolingus (but) they are fooling themselves and they are foolingtheoneswhowantto befooled.”

It was during the sod turning in Berbice for the new Palymra Stadium that the President addressed members of civil society, who he is convinced have “ulteriormotives.”

He said: “It's not easy dealing with those who want to sap our energy in negativity It is not easy trying to deliver them from their ignorance especially when they are deliberately ignorant because they have an ulterior motive. If you have a political ambition, announce it, and come in the political arena. Don't hide under different faces. You

Man kills labourer for stealing his haversack

Police have arrested a 44-year-old man accused of killing a 24-year-old labourer on Friday Night at Water Front, Port Kaituma,NorthWestDistrict,RegionOne.

The victim was identified as Joel Ramitt of Red Hill, Port Kaituma and he was reportedly killed for stealing the suspect's haversack, at an apartment complexatWaterFront.

Ramitt, according to information received, died after reporting his killer, a pork knocker of Ann's Grove, East Coast Demerara (ECD), to police at Port Kaituma.

Police said that the suspect reportedly stayed in a rented room at the apartment complex,andhadsecureditandleftaround 21:00hrs.

Investigators learnt that at around

23:00hrs, Ramitt was spotted by another man jumping out of the suspect's apartment window with a haversack on his back. The man reportedly stopped Ramitt and detained him with the haversack before taking him to the suspect.

After learning that Ramitt was caught jumping out of his window, the suspect checked thehaversackandsawthatitwashis.

Policesaidthatthesuspectthenreachedfora knife from his waist and stabbed Ramitt to the abdomen.Ramitt managed to run all the way to the Port Kaituma Police Station, with his intestinesprotrudingandreportedthematter

The ranks on duty rushed him to the Port Kaituma Hospital where he succumbed to his injuriesaround08:00hrsonSaturday

Police have since arrested the suspect and recoveredthemurderweapon.

must be honest to tell the people what your true intentionsare.”

The President said the People's Progressive Party (PPP) and his government believe in this principle and have outlined its intentions clearly in its Manifesto. “We stated how we are gonna bring back agriculture, how we gonna save the farmers and every single one of our

Colins

commitments, we have stayed true to every single one of our commitments we have delivered to you. We arenotconartists,”henoted.

He went on to tell thousands gathered at the event, “Make no mistake, this is not a government of con artists but I know many of them out there who disguisethemselvesinall

(Continued on page 72)

The Port Kaituma Water Front

President of the Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc. Frederick

Sunday –April 2 ensuring policies are implemented to support the Media should report on investments made in the how oil developed country countries rather than He said, “We have a focus on likely damages responsibility to ensure the from oil spill in Guyana – s u c c e s s o f t h e s e

PresidentAli investments; we have a urged the Shore Base to policies the policies must be production of oil can expose EPA to provide a US$2 responsibility to ensure that arrange for study tours to balanced to attract the country to a greater risk billion parent company

While moving at a break policies are crafted to allowthemediaaccesstothe investment but at the same ofanoilspill. guarantee to cover costs neck pace, approving support these investments. facility to be aware of the time ensure consumer rights In fact, former head of abovetheinsurance. projects in half the normal You see we don’t have the scale of investment are protected the local t h e E n v i r o n m e n t a l This means that the total i n d u s t r y t i m e , a n d luxury of writing headlines. supportingtheindustry environment is protected, Protection Agency (EPA), coverage would amount to permitting the operator of We don’t have the luxury of The President therefore creatingbalance.” Dr Vincent Adams had US$2.6 billion. Dr Adams the Stabroek Block to managing for headlines. We argued, “The very people Oilproduction equated the increased oil has however cautioned that produce oil above the safe have to manage for the who speak about oil and gas Oil production in production and the nation’s this meager sum could very operating limits, Guyana’s country and in the interest of andwhatitcandoandcannot February peaked at 402,000 lackoffullliabilitycoverage well prove insufficient to leaders have taken an thecountry.” do for us...a lot of people barrels in one day at the two to“doubletrouble”. respond to a massive spill in approach to focus on the When the President was who talk about what we do operational Floating He explained, “You are Guyana as oil spill incidents positives, rather than the however asked to say what here,theywillcometomein Production Storage and not complying with the in the past have cost more likely dangers associated policies are being put in the same breath and say look Offloading (FPSO) Vessels, required full liability US$70billion. with the sector and are now place by his administration at the transformation in intheLizaOneandLizaTwo coverage; thus putting the encouraging the media to do to respond to spill which can Dubai,inKuwait,inUAE,in projects,offshoreGuyana. nation in double jeopardy of PPPsupporters intimidate thesame. havetransboundaryimpacts, the United States major According to the increasing the risk of an journalists at President’s President Irfaan Ali at a he urged that the newspaper supplier of natural gas now, Ministry of Natural accident by recklessly Press Conference press conference at the focus on the positive they will use all of these Resources Oil Production exceeding the safe operating ...GPA President Leonora Track and Field outcomes of petroleum examples in Kazakhstan, in Data Centre, Liza Destiny limit,andalsonothavingfull says Govt. opening Centre on Friday while productioninstead. Norway, there are hundreds produced 156,000 barrels on liability coverage to cleanup doors to attack on press responding to a question According toAli, “In life of positive examples out February24,2023;whilethe aspill.” from this publication said 99 you could be negative or there that you can use to Liza Unity produced Even more insulting President Irfaan Ali on percent of the times, reports positive. For over 100 years showwhatoilandgascando 246,000barrelsonthatday however, according to the Friday called an urgent press from this organization are Trinidad and Tobago for the transformation of a It must be noted that the specialist is the fact that the conference at the Leonora negative. produced oil; 108 years country.” EIAs done for the two ExxonMobil Guyana TrackandFieldCentre,West

Ali said it is important to Trinidad and Tobago

“There are also a lot of projects cite 120,000 barrels President,AlistairRoutledge Coast Demerara (WCD) recognize the benefits to be produced oil. Trinidad and negativeexamplesandIread and 220,000 barrels has made it clear that the where the government hadfromtheindustryandthe Tobago grew with oil. I have your news all the time and respectively for Liza One company intends to hostedatwo-dayoutreach. media should in fact report never seen the people of most times,99 percentof the andLizaTwo. challenge the payment of The invitation to the more on these “positive Trinidad and Tobago timesyougoforthenegative Both projects are now costs associated with a spill, press was issued 13:30hrs examples”. advance argument that is example. You go for the operating above the unless it finds those costs to (1:30 pm) for the 15:00hrs

The President was asked negative to the development failure. You can choose the prescribed safety levels but be “legitimate” and (3:00 pm) engagement. Due to explain what policies or of that sector over the years. failure or the success. There ExxonMobil maintains that “reasonable”. to the late notice, there were mechanisms are being put in We could build on are many success stories that the necessary infrastructural ExxonMobil has assured only five reporters at the place to address a possible assumption, positive or we can use as example, why work was done to ensure the that for each event in the event including one from the spill that can occur in the negative, what if is the big don’twegrabontothem,”he activities are carried out Stabroek Block, a US$600 Guyana Chronicle, two from 26,800 square kilometers question.” added. safely millioninsurancepolicyisin Kaieteur News, one from (6.6 million acres) Stabroek T h e P r e s i d e n t Ali said he supports the At the same time, place. In the meantime, it Stabroek News and another Block, since Environmental acknowledged that a critical idea that the country must Guyanese have voiced their was reported that the oil from the Department of Impact Assessments (EIAs) component of the oil and gas plan for any eventuality, concerns that the ramped up company is in talks with the PublicInformation(DPI). conducted by ExxonMobil sector is to ensure “in the however Guyana is still in There were several tents have so far warned that such infrastructure landscape, the development phase setupatthevenuetoaddress an incident that can affect as care is taken in ensuring the unlike more mature theconcernsofcitizensfrom many as 14 Caribbean relativecapabilitytorespond jurisdictions that are yet to the respective government islands. See link below to the multidimensional implementsuchsafeguards. agencies, including the https://www.kaieteurnewso challenges of oil and gas is He said, “We are Central Housing and nline.com/2023/03/08/14- there.”

shortening the learning PlanningAuthority,Ministry caribbean-islands-could-be- He explained that he curvebylookingattheworst of Public Works and the impacted-by-oil-spill-from- recently toured a local shore practices and the best Guyana Power and Light 35-well-drilling-campaign- base where he saw firsthand practices and ensuring that Inc. exxonmobil-study/ a specialized warehouse we put into system a Notably,thepersonswho

The question came as a stocked with equipment functional policy that would were at the outreach joined follow up to the Head of designed to specifically allowthegrowthbutalsothe the tent in which the State’s statement that “deal with issues like safeguard.” President decided to host his government is tasked with a these...”

The Head of State urged, media.Thisatmospherewas heavy responsibility of Aliwentontosaythathe “When you are making (Continued on page 15)

The tent under which the President hosted his press conference, amidst his party supporters

Monday –April 3 unwelcoming to members of thepresswhoweresubjected

From page 14

No evidence govt. to heckling from the advertised contracts supporters of the ruling for review of People’s Progressive Party amendments to Liza (PPP) particularly when field development plan challenging questions were -Yet, ExxonMobil’s client askedoftheHeadofState. was selected for the job

For instance, the first question asked by Kaieteur

As with many aspects of News relating to the oil and the problematic Gas-togas sector was greeted by a Energyproject,thereviewof loud “Oh lord” from one of legal and regulatory the Party’s supporters. This documents appears to be can even be heard in the live shrouded in secrecy A Facebookbroadcast. foreign firm, Bayphase,

The question was indicated recently that it regarding the audit of oil conducted in-depth reviews major, ExxonMobil’s forthegovernmentrelatedto expenses. theLizafieldandtheGas-to-

The President in Energy project. However, response explained that he thereisnoinformationonthe would address the subject at regular government anappropriatetime. channels to indicate that it

”And let me tell you sought bids, through something because I know advertisements, for the the next three questions you contract(s) it awarded to will ask; the gas to shore Bayphase. project is going to be done, In January 2023, the gas to shore project is Minister of Finance Ashni goingtobecompletedinthis Singh stated during his Region and the cost of reading of the 2023 budget electricity will come down that the Liza Field by 50 percent for all the Development Plan (FDP) is people of this country,” the being reviewed to ensure President told a Kaieteur that the Gas-to-Energy Newsreporter project is supported by all

The President’s response among his supporters he calling for the Guyana Press which is basic respect for the same thing that I have necessary legal and was welcomed with a round could have made the Association Elections, the thepress maintained with these regulatory documents. The of applause by the crowd. statement and invited the same Guyana Press The GPA President politicians over and over construction of the project is Nevertheless, the Journalist media to (cover) the Association has not held explained said that between They want to single out expected to begin this year, askedanotherquestionofthe statement. elections in 2020 for the 2015 and 2020 a similar media people and media with a cost estimated at President, amidst laughter I don’t think that was the same reasons the PPP have situation unfolded under the houses and if anything aroundUS$2billion. from the gathering of PPP place for a press conference. not held Congress- it was former administration and happens to those media The development of the supporters. Then again the powers that COVID...I know that the the Press Association duly workers at any one of their Gas-to-Energyisaprojectof Similarly, a question be would come out and say GPA is accountable. At the condemnedit. rallies, none of them are unrivaled importance. from another Kaieteur News it’s their right to hold a press end of the day, if the She said reporters were going to want to take Therefore, its permits have reporter was heckled by the conference and what not and President is open to at Congress Place in the responsibility,”sheargued. to be conducted in crowd, prompting the we have been saying that t r a n s p a r e n c y a n d presence of the former Raghubir pointed out accordancewithnolegaland President to close off the they are not holding press a c c o u n t a b i l i t y, t h e President, David Granger that the Opposition Leader regulatory hiccups pressengagement. conferences.” relationship with the media and his supporters who Aubrey Norton clearly has However,recentinformation

In an invited comment, Raghubir noted that if hastoimprove.” heckled the media “We an issue with the Guyana suggeststhatthegovernment the Publisher of Kaieteur the government and Addressing the mere condemned it then and we Chronicle, while Vice may not have followed News, Glenn Lall said it was President in particular wish hour and a half notice for the are condemning it now No President (VP) Bharrat proper procedures in utterly disrespectful for the to engage the media it must media to attend the press reporter should be heckled Jagdeo is uncomfortable awarding contracts for the President to invite the media be in an environment that is conference in Region Three, for asking questions and with Kaieteur News and amendment of the Liza field to a press conference at a both conducive and the Press Association somebody sitting as high as more recently the Stabroek development plan. The Gasvenue flocked by his professional Contrary to President said it was “a slap the President who claims to News,asduringhislastpress to-Energy project is supporters in his home that, she said what occurred intheface”. have respect for members of conference the VP spent supposed to utilise gas from village. a t L e o n o r a w a s a She said the Attorney the media should not have most of his time addressing theLizafield.

Lall believes the Head of demonstration of no regard General, Anil Nandlall, SC encouraged that. It opens an editorial published in the The Ministry of Natural State had little intent on forthemedia has been engaging in a reporters to a whole lot of newspaper during his live Resourcesusuallyadvertises addressing the critical “There is just a push to similar practice where he disrespect,”shestated. broadcast. requests for bids to review issues, but called an urgent h a v e t h i s o n e - w a y hosts his weekly ‘Issues in Meanwhile, Raghubir Raghubir explained, field development plans press conference to promote conversation and it is the News’ show, and sends also deemed the President’s “When you do that, you are However, there is no theworkofhisgovernment. embarrassing because the notices to the press to share response to a question from rilingupyoursupportersand evidence that such requests

The GPAresponds President started off his questions for him to respond this newspaper as hostile In somebodyisgoingtopickup were advertised on the President of the Guyana campaign in 2020 talking toontelevision. fact, the GPAPresident said and single out the reporters websites of the Ministry of Press Association (GPA), about accountability and “That is a slap in the face these attitudes from on the road. This cannot Natural Resources and the Nazima Raghubir in an transparency and to this date ofthesametransparencyand politicians can open the continuetohappen.” Petroleum Management invited comment on he is yet to have a Cabinet accountability they [the door to possible attacks on The GPA President said Programme. While contract Saturday strongly criticised Secretary to host Post government] claim to be the media by party both political parties prefer awards for the review of the circumstances under CabinetPressBriefingstobe flying high on,” Raghubir supporters not to answer the tough other projects have been which the President hosted held to that accountability contended.

“Thatwasareallyhostile questions, adding that this is reported, such as the themedia. and transparency standard,” She pointed out that the response and in an now evident through their Yellowtail and Uaru She said, “It boggles my the GPA President pointed PPP signed the Media environment where people “ h i d i n g b e h i n d T V projects, there is no public mind that we are back to this out. Freedom Coalition and were already heckling, it programmesandthefriendly record of contracts being type of environment where I She added, “I am saying there are certain principles could have possibly put media programmes and their awardedforthereviewofthe feel like if the President allofthisbecauselastweeka which the government Kaieteur News staff in social media commentators’ LizaFDPand wanted to make a statement letter appeared in Chronicle ought to uphold; one of danger and at risk and this is interviews.”

(Continued on page 16)

From page 15

and a Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) Environmental and Social Impact facility that will treat and separate Assessment (ESIA) amendments. theelements.

The proposed amendments were

TheGovernmentofGuyanahas submitted to the government by said the project will cut the cost of ExxonMobil subsidiary, Esso electricity by 50 percent but in the Exploration and Production absence of updated feasibility GuyanaLimited(EEPGL). studies, activists fear that the

Furthermore, there is no public project may end up a white information available to indicate elephant. how much was paid to Bayphase

Importantly, given the dangers for its services The National associated with gas, citizens have Procurement and Tender publicly stated their disapproval of Administration Board (NPTAB) is the project being exempted from a supposed to have this information detailedEIA. about contracts awarded on its

Two citizens, Attorney-at-Law website. Elizabeth Deane-Hughes and

The lack of transparency in the environmental activist, Vanda awarding of contracts for this Radzik in their letter of appeal to review raises concerns about the the EAB, dated February 5, 2023 fairness and impartiality of the said the project can cause serious review process. That the review impacts to lives and livelihoods, process should be conducted in a insisted that a sound EIA must transparentandunbiasedmanner,is unresolved issues, or areas of inform the decision of the EPA to a no-brainer This also goes for the additional technical analysis that grant a Permit for the power plant. procurement of the consultant that government should request from Fourteen other Guyanese also assisted with the review The the Contractor before making a attached their signatures to the government has said it will be determinationontheESIA. objection letter addressed to the transparent about the Gas-to- In conclusion, the lack of EAB. Energyproject. transparency in the awarding of “Gas fired plants and NGL

The Government of Guyana contracts for the review of the Liza facilitiesandthepipelinesthatfeed hired CH4-Lindsayca to handle the amendment is a cause for concern, them are notoriously dangerous. natural gas-fired power plant and as it relates to a project that is People’s lives, livelihoods and natural gas liquids plant. EEPGLis expected to help end blackouts and lands are at risk. Toxic gases, responsible for the pipeline, which make Guyana’s energy secure. The chemicals and hazardous wastes will cost more than US$1 billion. government not making are generated along with

The company is waiting on the information about contracts substantial emissions, flarings etc. reviews to be completed before awarded public, as well as the that pollute the environment and movingfullspeedahead. amount paid to contractors, is also affect the health of humans,” the

While the government did not not consistent with its promise to citizenspointedout. make information about the keep the Gas-to-Energy project contracts public, Bayphase has accountabletothepublic.

Tuesday –April 4 confirmed on its website that it An uncaring betrayal- Dr. recentlyassistedthegovernmentof Vincent Adams says as EPA

Guyana surpasses 400,000 Guyana with the ‘Liza Field exempts hazardous gas plant from barrel per day production Integration of Gas-to-Energy impactstudy mark for two oil ships (GTE) Project field development F o r m e r H e a d o f t h e plan (FDP) Amendment Review, Environmental Protection Agency Guyana’s two oil producing Guyana’. (EPA), Dr. Vincent Adams during vessels, the Liza Destiny and Liza

According to Bayphase, it an Alliance For Change (AFC) Unity, continue to exceed their an EIA or every single aircraft that only determine whether you need conductedanin-depthreviewofthe press conference on Friday told combinednameplatecapacity,with comesintoGuyanaoreverycarthat an EIA or not but implement FDP Amendment and supporting reporters that the regulator has over 400,000 barrels produced on we drive because they all emit air provisions, you cannot have documents submitted by the ‘uncaringly’ betrayed the people February24,2023. pollutants So we have to be provisions in these major projects operator to gain government whose lives it should be protecting, According to statistics sensible and that is what the EPAis withoutanEIA.” approval for this development as it has moved to exempt a produced by the Ministry of doing, (acting) sensible based on According to Dr Adams, the Bayphase prepared a report hazardous gas plant to generate Natural Resources, the Liza scientific information and statements from the EPAboss were summarizing the opinions formed electricity from a detailed impact Destiny produced 156,080 barrels practical.” “disrespectful, dismissive, in the evaluation of the FDP, study whileLizaUnityproduced246,000 Dr Adams on the other hand arrogant, flippant and it’s an highlighting any deficiencies, Dr Adams, a Petroleum barrels, bringing the total said he has never heard a statement uncaring betrayal in the interests of unresolved issues, or areas of Engineer with over 40 years of productionlevelto402,080.Onthe more “dumbfounding”. He argued thepeoplewhotheEPAissupposed additional technical analysis that experience in the sector was at the last day of February, production that an EIA must be conducted for tobeprotecting.” government should request from time offering comments on the hovered around 384,000 barrels of the possible hazards to be The Specialist said this the Contractor before making a statements made by the Executive oilperday identified, which can then be reasoning from the Executive determination on the FDP It also Director of the EPA, Kemraj Production figures for March regulatedbytheAgencythroughan D i r e c t o r e x p o s e s t h e vetted all costs presented in the Parsram that the regulator’s role is were not available up to the time of EnvironmentalPermit. “incompetence to which the people plan. not merely to decide whether publication Given the current

TheformerheadoftheEPAtold ofGuyanaaresubjected.” Bayphase also assisted the impact studies are required, but to performanceofthetwoships,when reporters, “Now how in heaven’s Two appeals were made to the government with the ‘Liza Field implement provisions into permits the third vessel, Prosperity, comes namecouldyou evencomeup with EAB regarding the decision to I n t e g r a t i o n o f G T E - to form part of regulating the on stream this year, the country’s the provisions without an EIA? exempt the gas-fired power plant Environmental and Social Impact project. overall production could easily Again, I’ve said it over and over from an EIA. The citizens already Assessment (EISA) Review, Parsram while defending the reach the 600,000 barrel per day andmanyhavesaidit,theEIAisthe had an opportunity to cite their Guyana’. According to Bayphase, EPA’s decision to waive the study mark.TheProsperity,aspreviously bible of these types of major concerns to the Board which is it conducted an in-depth review of during a Public Hearing hosted by reported, will have an initial projects. It identifies hazards by expected to hand down its decision the ESIA and supporting the Environmental Assessment production target of 220,000 applying scientific data and shortly- to uphold the Agency’s documents submitted by the Board (EAB) on March 22, 2023 barrels of oil per day and an overall information and studies to identify decisionortoorderthestudy Contractor to gain government explained, “The role of the EPA is storage volume of around two hazards.”

The plant is a component of the approval for this development not just to say no EIAis required or millionbarrels.

As such, he argued that without WalesGas-to-Energyprojectthatis

EIAisrequired.Itisafterthefact,it Whiletherehavebeenconcerns an EIA, the EPA has failed to presentlypeggedatUS$2.1billion. summarizing the opinions formed is the permitting, it’s the regulating raised in the public domain about highlightthehazards“so for himto The other aspects include the in the evaluation of the ESIA, of that project that is important; theimplicationsofincreasingthe come and say well our role is not to pipeline to transport the resource highlighting any deficiencies, otherwise the EPA should require (Continued on page 66)

The Liza Destiny

The Liza Unity

Exxontorampupenvironmentalstudiesas operationsscaleuptounprecedentedlevels

ExxonMobil, through its subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), is set to ramp up its environmentalstudiesasitincreases its oil operations to unprecedented levelsinGuyana

The company has faced criticisms from the Guyanese civil society about the potential harm its operationscouldcausetothenatural environment and the livelihoods of local communities Exxon is now placingmorefocusontheimpactsof its operations, including the cumulativeimpacts.

To this end, EEPGL, the operator of the Stabroek, Kaieteur and Canje blocks, is hosting a request for information (RFI) clarification forum for suppliers interested in providing environmental impact studies and plans The forum is scheduled for April 17 at the Marriott Hotel in Guyana.

The first RFI relates to biodiversity assessments and environmental monitoring. EEPGL has already conducted environmental studies and monitoring activities to understand thecurrentstateoftheenvironment and the social and economic needs of communities in Guyana However, it plans to conduct

onshoreandnearshorebiodiversity assessments and environmental monitoring in Guyana to continue theseprogrammes.

The second RFI relates to the development of environmental and socioeconomic assessments, including environmental and social impact assessments (ESIA), Environmental and Social

Management Plans (ESMP), Cumulative Impact Assessments (CIA), and Stakeholder Engagement Plans (SEP). EEPGL is looking for commercial and technical information from consultants interested in providing theseservices.

Exxonwillbedrillingdozensof wellsintheStabroek,Kaieteur,and

Canje blocks, marking the most concentrated offshore exploration drilling period expected in the history of Guyana’s petroleum sector

This will be happening simultaneously with Exxon’s drilling of production wells for its multipledevelopmentoperationsin the Stabroek Block. With the

addition of projects like Payara, Yellowtail,Uaru,andWhiptailinthe next several years, the cumulative impact of these operations is a g r o w i n g c o n c e r n f o r environmentalists.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been requesting EIAs for many of the proposed campaigns and developments However,nowthatthereisarampup,morefocusisbeingplacedonthe cumulative impacts of those operations Thiswasreflectedwhen the EPA ordered a cumulative impactassessment(CIA)aspartof the authorisation process for the 35-wellStabroekBlockcampaign. Exxonplanstobeginthiscampaign later this year and continue it through2028.

Exxon’s operations are not the onlyconcernforenvironmentalists, however The government plans to issue up to 14 blocks in the current bid round, and many high-profile international oil companies have signalledtheirintenttoparticipate.

Once these blocks are issued, exploration operations could see an even sharper increase, further increasing the need for environmental studies and monitoring to ensure the sustainability of Guyana’s natural environmentandcommunities

The three oil blocks which are operated by ExxonMobil Guyana

Kaieteur

Stabroek Block

Canje

Humanerrorlikelycauseofgauzebeingleftinwoman’sstomach afterC-Sectionat

SuddieHospital-RHO

Human error may have been the cause of at least onewomansufferingserious internaldamageasaresultof gauze being left in her stomach following a Caesarean‘C’sectionwhich took place at the Suddie HospitalinRegionTwo.

Regional Health Officer (RHO) told Kaieteur News that the incident is being investigated by the Ministry ofHealth,theChiefMedical Officer and the Guyana MedicalCouncil.

Hesaidthethreeentities will make a determination on the whether the doctor is culpable of negligible behaviour

“It is truly unfortunate that the patient had to suffer what she did but I can’t say that the hospital policy is to be blamed for the operation goinginthewrongdirection, it is not a technical issue, it maybemoreasaresultofa humanerror,”theRHOsaid.

In meantime, Dr Singh said that the patient is being given as much care and attention, the Region can possiblyoffer

“We await the results of theinvestigationstoknowof the fate of the medical staff responsible,”headded.

Minister of Health, Dr. FrankAnthonytoldKaieteur Newsrecentlythatthematter is being investigated. He promised that a thorough investigation will be conducted into the unfortunateincident.

The RHO’s statements follow weeks after Sarah Campbell, a 24-year-old woman from Devonshire Castle; Essequibo Coast revealed that a bundle of gauze was left in her for six months after an emergency C-Sectiondone.Thewoman told Kaieteur News that the gauze was eventually removed, but it left her with a hole in her intestines that leaksfaeces.

Campbell said the incident happened after she was admitted to the maternitywardattheSuddie Public Hospital on June 24, 2022, due to high blood pressure. On June 25, 2022, she said that she was supposed to go into labour but was experiencing difficulty

She told Kaieteur News thatthemedicalstafftriedto induce labour but after a failed attempt, they recommendedaC-Section.

Notthinkingtoomuchof it,theyoungmothersaidshe signed the consent form for the operation She explained,“Adoctortoldme they don’t want to risk baby lifeanymoresoIwouldhave to do an emergency CSectionwhichIconsentedto becauseIwantmybabytobe ok”.

However, after the operation, the mother continued to experience severe pain and discomfort in her lower abdomen. She saidthatasafirst-timemom, “I believed that it was because of the C-Section”. But the pain worsened and herstomachstartedtoswell. This prompted the young mother to visit the Windsor CastleHealthCentretoseek answers.

“I tell the doctor what’s happening to me and she examine the abdomen and shesayit’snotnormalandit shouldn’tbeswollenandshe t e l l m e t o d o a n ultrasound…I went at the Suddie Public Hospital where I did an ultrasound andthedoctorsayit’samass there Still they weren’t surewhatitwas.

They give me pain tablets and I was sent home , ” Campbell said adding that it was after her condition continued to worsenafterseveralvisitsto hospital that she was transferred to Georgetown PublicHospitalwhereitwas discovered that gauze from the C-Section she had monthspriorwasstillinher stomach.

As a result, the woman becamethesubjectofatleast six emergency operations to removethegauzeandfixthe damage done to her intestines However, the remedial surgeries were not successfulandshecontinues toleakfromherintestines.

Region Two’s Regional Health Officer (RHO), Dr. Rajeev Singh

ContractorforGuyana’s5thFPSOlinkedtooilspillsinBrazil

ExxonMobil’sdecisionto contract Mitsui Ocean

Development & Engineering Company (Modec) to deliver Guyana’s fifth floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO)vesselfortheUaruproject hasraisedeyebrows.

Modec has been linked to two oil spills that occurred in Brazil, whichledtoadisciplinarymeasure instituted by Petrobras, Brazil’s nationaloilcompany

In August 2019, Modec informed Petrobras that cracks wereidentifiedatthehullofFPSO Cidade do Rio de Janeiro at the Espadarte field, 130 km off the coastofBrazil.

During the weekend, 1.2 cubic meters of residual oil leaked from the unit, which was identified and recovered. In a new overflight on August26,2019,thepresenceofoil atseawasperceivedinanestimated amountof6.6cubicmeters.

Atthetime,Modechadalready mobilized seven vessels at the site of the spill for recovery and suspension,asidefromfoursupport vessels and one chopper for overflights.

Modec explained that FPSO CidadedoRiodeJaneirohadbeen out of production since July 2018 andwasinthedepartureprocedure fromtheEspadartefield.Itsaidthat all crew members were disembarked over the period

…wasdebarredfrombiddingforcontracts

FPSO Cidade de Río de Janeiro

between August 24 and 26, 2019, andarrivedsafelyatshore.

However, this was not the first time an oil spill had occurred in relationtoFPSOCidadedoRiode Janeiro.InJanuary2019,oilspilled from a cargo tank on the FPSO, amounting to approximately 4.9 cubicmeterstothesea.Modecsaid effectivecontrolmeasureswereput in place resulting in full control of

theleakasofJanuary3,2019.

Later, in April 2021, Modec received a notification from Petrobras that its eligibility to participate in new competitive bidding by Petrobras had been suspended for 13 months from March31,2021.

According to the notification, the main basis for this administrativesanctionwaslosses

to Petrobras presumably caused bytheperformanceofthreeFPSO vesselsundercharterservicesthat Modec had provided in the past and/or was providing to Petrobras atthetime TheseFPSOsincluded FPSO Cidade do Rio de Janeiro, from which the two spills occurred Brazil has been Modec’s main and most promising market for a

number of years

Hence, the sanction represented a major concernforthecompany

Despite these incidents, ExxonMobil has hired Modec to deliverthefifthFPSOfortheUaru projectinGuyana.

This move comes after ExxonMobil utilized the services of SBM Offshore for the first four FPSOs and decided on Modec for thefifth.Thedecisionwasbasedon considerationsincludingthedesire forcompetitioninGuyana’sFPSO market. So far, Modec has been hired to perform front-end engineeringanddesign(FEED)for theFPSO.

Modecsaiditwoulddesignand construct the FPSO for Exxon’s Uaru project based on its M350 new-builddesign.

The FPSO will be designed to produce 250,000 barrels of oil per day, with associated gas treatment capacity of 540 million cubic feet per day and water injection capacityof350,000barrelsperday

The decision to hire Modec despiteitslinkstothespillsmeans right-thinking Guyanese will now havetokeepkeeneyesonModecto ensure such accidents are not repeatedoffshoreGuyana.

It is crucial that ExxonMobil conductsthoroughduediligenceon all contractors it engages to ensure thattheirtrackrecordsdonotpose anyriskstotheenvironment.

Pres. Ali wants Guyanese families to benefit from “business” in oil sector

President IrfaanAli

The Government of Guyana (GoG) has refused tobudgeonrenegotiatingthe terms of the lopsided

agreement signed with oil major, ExxonMobil to secure more benefits for Guyanese, even though

severalindependentanalysts haveadvisedthenationtodo soinitsbestinterest.

Outside of touching the

Stabroek Block agreement, the administration can also use its powers, if it so desires,toimplementcertain

provisions that would increase the country’s profits. These include installing a ring-fencing provision, to ensure each oil producing field pays for itself, and by capping the interest rates on loans taken by the developer to extract the resources The government can also decide to stamp its authority by subjecting ExxonMobil to the tax laws of the nation.

Already hundreds of millions of US-dollars have been waived in tax exemptions by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) fortheoilgiant.Thetaxbody has already indicated that this annual figure will balloon as more projects comeonstream.

Instead of tackling these initiatives in the Stabroek Block, where over 400,000 barrels of oil per day- on

average- is currently being produced, the government hasannouncedthatitisnow crafting a new strategy to ensure Guyanese families benefit from “business” in theoilsector.

It was President Irfaan Aliwhomadetherevelation on Thursday while delivering a live statement that Cabinet has been dedicating hours of its time towards finalizing a model that ensure families across the country get involved in thepetroleumsector

AccordingtotheHeadof State, “Every night, we spend hours debating, discussing ideas, trying to figure out a model through which we can have every Guyanesefamilyinvolvedin some aspect of the business of oil and gas; creating and workingonamodelthat

Continuedonpage70

…butrefusestoimplementtaxes,ring-fencing, capinterestrates,etc.onStabroekBlockprojects

A Group photo of some of the participants of ICO’ s inaugural Easter Camp.

Keri Duncan

Thisweek’s beautyKeriDuncanis23-year-oldyear-old GeneralClerkintheGuyanaPoliceForceandastudentofthe UniversityofGuyana,whoispassionateaboutdance,animalsandphysiotherapy Guyanacanexpectawholelotofconfidence,assertivenessandflairfromKerithroughoutthe MissGuyanaCultureQueenjourney!(PhotoCredit-MissGuyanaCultureQueenFacebookpage)

MATURE RESPONSE FROM GUYANA AT ICJ VICTORY OVER VENEZUELA

BySirRonaldSanders

(The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States and the Organization of American States. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London and Massey College in the University of Toronto. The views expressed are entirely hisown)

Guyana has won a second judgement in an ongoing case against Venezuela, at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at the Hague, “toconfirmthelegalvalidity and binding effect” of an 1899 arbitration that determined the boundary between Guyana and Venezuela as “a full, perfect andfinalsettlement”.

The Court made the latest judgement with 14 Judges in favour and one against. The Judge, casting the single dissenting vote was Mr Phillipe Couvreur who was chosen by the Venezuelan Government to sit as an ad hoc judge in the case.

At stake in the case was theacceptabilityorrejection bytheCourtofapreliminary objection from the Venezuelan government, whicharguedthattheUnited Kingdom (UK) is an indispensable third party without whose consent the Court cannot adjudicate uponthedispute.

The UK is the former colonial power in Guyana (formerly British Guiana) w h i c h b e c a m e a n independent,sovereignstate on 26 May 1966. The UK waspartytothe1899arbitral award,butbyanagreement, signed on 17 February 1966 inGeneva(towhichGuyana became a party at its independence) the settlement of the dispute, whichVenezuelaresurrected in 1962, was left to Guyana andVenezuelainaccordance withproceduressetoutinthe agreement.

The Judges of ICJ, having considered the legal arguments made by Guyana and Venezuela, and after examinationofthehistorical facts of the case, decided to reject the Venezuelan preliminary objection, saying that the exercise of the Court’s jurisdiction “is based on the application of the GenevaAgreement” and thattheUKwasnotinvolved in the dispute settlement arrangements between

Guyana and Venezuela, nor did either of them “request the United Kingdom’s participation”.

An important aspect of the1966GenevaAgreement was that, as the Court put it, “Guyana and Venezuela could submit the dispute to one of the means of settlement set out in Article 33 of the Charter of the United Nations, without the involvement of the United Kingdom.”Article33allows forthepartiestoadispute“to seek a solution by negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement,resorttoregional agenciesorarrangements,or otherpeacefulmeansoftheir ownchoice.”

One of the solutions is thatifthepartiesfailtoreach agreement regarding the means of settlement, the Secretary-General of the United Nations shall choose another of the means stipulatedinArticle33ofthe Charter of the United Nations.

Guyana and Venezuela failed to find a settlement after 52 years of direct discussion, mixed commissionsandmediation. Therefore, on 30 January 2018, the UN SecretaryGeneral, António Guterres, chose the ICJ “as the means thatisnowtobeusedforits solution” Subsequently, Guyana instituted proceedings against Venezuela at the ICJ to establish “the legal validity and binding effect” of the 1899 boundary settlement. Atthattime,twogenerations of Guyanese had lived in uncertainty and fear of Venezuela’s aggression and incursions into their territory

Venezuela was unhappy abouttheinvolvementofthe ICJ from the outset, even thoughitistheinstrumentof a legal and peaceful process thattheUNCharterprovides forthesettlementofdisputes andisonethathasbeenused fromitsinceptionbynations across the world

Consequently, on 18 June 2018,Venezuelalaunchedits first objection to the case brought by Guyana, stating that the ICJ had no jurisdictiontohearthecase.

In all fairness to Venezuela, the ICJ decided to postpone hearing the merits of the Guyana case until it had considered the Venezuelan arguments regarding the Court’s jurisdicti

December 2020, the Court found that it did have jurisdictiontohearGuyana’s case on the validity of the 1899 arbitral award. That was the first legal blow to Venezuela.

On 7 June 2022, Venezuela responded by filing the preliminary objection which the Court agreed was admissible for consideration.

However, having examined the argument for the preliminary objection, for five months since 17 November 2022, the Court rejected it on 6 April 2023, confirming that it can adjudicateuponthemeritsof the case brought by Guyana forjudicialsettlement.Butit will be another year before that happens; Venezuela has beengivenayeartorespond toGuyana.

It is clear that, in these judicial proceedings, Venezuela has been given every opportunity to present its objections, and lengthy considerationhasbeengiven by the ICJ to its arguments beforerejectingthem.

Theinternationaljudicial system is working in a fair and objective manner, about which Venezuela can have noreasonforcomplaint.

The more fundamental problem is that since 1962, sixty-three years after its parliament accepted and praised the 1899 arbitration, which gave Venezuela more territory than it had, successive Venezuelan governments have tried to distract attention from their deep internal divisions by tryingtobuildunityarounda false claim to the Essequibo region.

That claim was d e v e l o p e d o n a n unsubstantiated note from a dead man, Severo MalletPrevost, a member of Venezuela’s legal team during the 1899 proceeding, that he knew of a “political deal” in the arbitration’s findings.

Similar unsubstantiated allegations were made in Venezuela’s preliminary objection submitted to the ICJ in 2022. They are a

flimsy basis on which to build an entire national beliefsystem,butithasbeen reinforced in Venezuelan schools and enhanced by false maps of the country

Thisdisinformationhasalso promoted hostility toward Guyana from Venezuelan citizens.

The ICJ process may eventually settle the legal basis for the GuyanaVenezuela boundary It is in both countries’ interest to continue to participate fully

in the Court’s proceedings, and, once finalized, to accept its decision, as many other countrieshavedone since1946.

It is good that Guyana did not take a triumphalist stance toward Venezuelaafteritstwolegal victories at the ICJ. Instead, itsPresident,IrfaanAli,took the mature position of simply stating Guyana’s confidence “that its

longstanding international boundary with Venezuela will be confirmed by the Court.”

Responses and previous c o m m e n t a r i e s : www.sirronaldsaders.com

Sir Ronald Sanders

Thingstoavoidbeforeaworkout

By:DavinaBagot

One of the great ways to make sure your efforts bear fruit, especially when you dedicate so much time to your routine, is by ensuring you don’t make certain common mistakes.

This week, we discuss some of those mistakes and how avoiding thesecanbemorebeneficialtoyou.

Over-eating

To begin with, it’s important to note that when looking at pre-workout habits, it’s important to focus on nutrition. While you neverwanttogointoaworkouthungry,you mayalsowanttoavoidover-eating.

what’snecessary

Be sure to avoid taking pain killers prior toaworkout,evenifyouaresoregoingintoa session,assomespecialistssaythiscanlead tofurtherinjury

Thisisparticularlysoasthe body won’t have the pain signals to know if you’re pushing past your threshold. It is important to giveyourmuscles time to repair; hence protein is important as is rotating your w o r k o u t t o exercise the

partsofyourbody

Don’tnapformore than30minutes!

If you’re preparing for a work-out session, do not nap for more than 30 minutes, even though you may be feeling low on sleep.Nappingforover30 minutes can cause you to feel more tired and unmotivatedforyoursession. Avoidtheuseofalcohol

Somepeopleclaimthattheuseofalcohol worksasanaddedboostofenergy Thetruth is, using alcohol before your session can actually expose you to injury Some experts

w

orking with weights, thisputsyouatgreaterriskforsufferingfrom aninjury

Avoidgranolaorproteinbars

This may seem strange as these are usuallystockedwiththegreatnutrientssuch as such and protein; but in addition to these foodgroups,whatyoumayalsoneedtolook outforistheextrasugarthesebarsareusually packedwith.Iftheydo,yourbodywillburn throughthatfast,andyoumaynotgetmuch else.

Avoidhighfiberfoods

Your body needs fiber, but before a workout may not be best. Vegetables like broccoli,Brusselssprouts,orcauliflower can be hard to digest and could make exercising uncomfortable. Stick with veggies that are easier on your system, likewell-cookedasparagusorpotatoes.

Stayawayfromenergydrinks

Energy drinks may seem like a great pre-workout boost but the truth is that they have lots of ingredients inside that canmakeyoujittery Thiscancauseyour heart rate and blood pressure to rise; hencesomeexpertssuggeststeeringclear from these before going into your workoutsession.

Don’starveyourself

Thiscancauseliteraldisasteratthegym! Eating too heavy or too soon before your workout can cause nausea, cramps, acid reflux, indigestion, and overall decreased performance.

Before your workout, aim for a light mealorsnackandensureit’stakenaboutan hourbeforeyousession.

Stocking-uponpainrelievers

Preparing for a good day’s workout means you know you’ll be sore just after Thisisnormalandthemusclesthataresore will repair themselves as long as you do

believe even using just a littlebeforeexerciseisofflimit. Besides leading to dehydration, alcohol is known to affect your motor skills and coordination. If you are

Earlier on in this article, I explained the importance of not overeating Critically important is the need to have food before your session. I recall one morning trying to weights at home and tummywasrumblingitfeltsoempty Itis important to eat before your routine, simplytoavoidfainting,dizzinessandlightheadedness;justmakesureyouaregoinginto yoursessionwithafullstomach.

Remember,yourbodyneedsfueltokeep youstrong,butitneedstobetakenattheright time.

What Is Easter, and Why Do We Celebrate It?

( R e a d e r ’ Bible, the Romans crucified Jesus, symbols of fertility, growth, birth, resurrectio Digest) Here fortune and light conquering the from the everythingyouneed

Many secular Easter t o m b to know about what traditions are handed down from O t h e r Easter is and how ancient rituals, including traditions the holiday began. Easter baskets, flower crowns and the Chri

There’s a lot to hunts. include li l o v e a b o u t

Even the holiday’s name has a performa Easter, from the connection Historians nces of s p r i n g t i m e believe Easter was named after one Handel’ setting with morepopularfiguresinthese s Messiah y newly bloom ations: the Anglo-Saxon and watc r flowers to the fun goddessEostre. Easter m games and traditions, like dyeing Christian Easter traditions including The Passion of t h e activities, but there’s always room eggs and putting

When early Christians Christ to add more fun. Let the little ones Easter baskets. It’s were creating their Jewish Easter traditions hunker down in front of an Easter by many: According calendar of holy days, it Other religious Easter movieforkidswhiletheadultsprep survey by Stat made sense to combine the traditions come from the dinner Get the whole group respondents celebrated celebration of Jesus’s concurrent Jewish celebration of involved in playing Easter bingo. in2022,andwhile esurrection with the Passover, a commemoration of the Or take part in one of the activities responding to a Harris traditional spring festival. So Jews’escapefromslaveryinEgypt. below Easter as their favorite instead of centering on the pagan The Jewish holiday provides the Dye Easter eggs surprise,mostpicked Eostre, the holiday’s religious basis for Easter feasts and many Wax, glitter, stickers, markers consistently ranks top historyisallaboutJesusChrist. traditional Easter foods, including many holidays and brightly colored dyes add mostpopularholidaysintheUnited The popular Jewish preacher lamb. have fixed dates (Christmas, whimsy and fun to hard-boiled States.ButwhatisEasterallabout? became a target of Jewish

Why do we celebrate Easter for instance, is always on Dec. eggs. Kids and adults alike can Some celebrants might say it’s authorities after he claimed to be with eggs and bunnies? 25), Easter’s date changes from express their creative sides while about Easter candy giving it, the long-awaited messiah and son Marking such a solemn holiday year to year Determining the date making designs worthy of holiday getting it and gobbling it down of God. The Romans also saw him withamascotliketheEasterBunny is a little like working out an Easter decor.Notsurewheretobegin?Try before dinner (The little ones as a possible political problem. may not seem like the most logical riddle: What happens on the first one of these unique egg-decorating wouldagree.)Butformanypeople, Jesus was tried and convicted of choice. But it begins to make sense Sunday following the full moon ideas. Easter is more in line with the blasphemy by Jewish authorities when you remember that Eostre is that occurs on or just after the Hunt for Easter eggs religious observances of Lent and and sentenced to execution. The the goddess of fertility, and rabbits springequinox?Yep,that’sEaster

Fill plastic eggs with candy and Good Friday. Before you look into

Roman governor ordered his death mate like, well, rabbits Baby Based on the cycles of the toys, then hide them outdoors for what day Easter is or send those in a brutal Roman style called bunnies are everywhere in the moon, the holiday might occur on children to find on Easter morning. Easter wishes to loved ones, read crucifixion; Jesus was crowned springtime, a sign of fertility and, any Sunday between March 22 and

It’s a treasure hunt, a little exercise up on the origins of the holiday as with thorns and nailed to a cross traditionallyspeaking,goodluck. April 25. It can get confusing, so and a photo opportunity all in one. weknowit. until he died. After, his body was The bunny that brings Easter here’s a cheat sheet of Easter dates

Hint: This is the Easter candy What is the original meaning of dressed and laid to rest in a stone basketsofgoodiesforteens,tweens forthenextfiveyears: everyonewantsintheirbasketsthis Easter? tomb.Threedayslater,accordingto and little tykes is a relatively ·

Sunday,March31,2024 year Easter is a religious Christian Christian doctrine, he was moderninvention.Theoriginofthe

·

Sunday,April20,2025 Attend a church service holiday observed around the world miraculously resurrected and Easter Bunny dates back to the ·Sunday,April5,2026

What is Easter all about? For to celebrate the resurrection of returnedtovisithisdisciples. 1900s, when it appeared in ·Sunday,March28,2027 Christians, it’s the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the spiritual leader of Easter serves as the foundation advertisingcartoons. ·Sunday,April16,2028

Christ after he died on the cross, so Christianity and to Christians, formanyholycelebrationsthatlead Its loot whether candy- The history of Easter church is front and center in the the son of God. But with some up it, starting withAsh Wednesday colored dyed eggs or those made The Christian celebration of celebration Most Christian aspects of the holiday rooted in (the first day of Lent), Lent (the from sweet chocolate—is a nod to Jesus’s resurrection may be the churches offer a special service on pagan and Jewish traditions, the observance of giving up something bothpaganandChristiantraditions. most familiar Easter tradition, but Easter morning. It’s tradition to origin of Easter dates back to you love for 40 days in honor of Eggs represent new life, it’s certainly not the oldest. The wear your Sunday best while centuries before Christ was even Jesus’s 40-day fast in the desert), symbolizingnotonlythefertilityof holiday also has roots in paganism listening to a sermon and singing born. These days, many people Palm Sunday (the day Jesus rode Eostre but also the rebirth of Christ andJudaism. hymns. celebrate Easter, regardless of their into Jerusalem and was celebrated afterdeath. Pagan Easter traditions

Host Easter dinner religion. as the messiah) and Good Friday Because the holiday is also a

There is historical evidence of This is the perfect opportunity

What is the story of Easter? (thedayJesuswascrucified). celebration of the season, aligning millennia-old spring celebrations to gather your loved ones for a

The story of Easter is the story Traditions like baking hot cross closely with the spring equinox, c e n t e r e d a r o u n d t h e celebratory feast. A ham or lamb, of the start of one of the world’s buns and filling empty eggs are symbols of spring are incorporated equinox—early versions of May potatoes, fresh vegetables, hot largest religions. According to the symbolic of Christ’s intothefestivities.Afterall,whatis Day festivals Because they crossbuns,deviledeggs,fruitsalad death on the Easter without baby chicks, green occurred at the beginning of the the you’re try

This Day in History - APR. 09

Compiled by Richard Francois

Billy the Kid convicted of murder

April9,1881

Afteraone-daytrial,BillytheKidisfoundguiltyofmurderingthe LincolnCounty,NewMexico,sheriffandissentencedtohang.

There is no doubt that Billy the Kid did indeed shoot the sheriff, though he had done so in the context of the bloody Lincoln County War, a battle between two powerful groups of ranchers and businessmen fighting for economic control of Lincoln County When his boss, rancher John Tunstall, was murdered before his eyes in February 1878, the hotheaded young Billy swore vengeance. Unfortunately, the leader of the men who murdered Tunstall was the sheriffofLincolnCounty,WilliamBrady WhenBillyandhispartners murdered the sheriff several months later, they became outlaws, regardless of how corrupt Brady may havebeen.

After three years on the run and several other murders, Pat G a r r e t t f i n a l l y arrested Billy in early 1881. Garrett, a onetime friend, was the new sheriff of Lincoln County.Onthisdayin 1881, a court took only one day to convict Billy of the murder of Sheriff Brady Sentenced to hang, Billy was i m p r i s o n e d i n Lincoln’s county jail while Sheriff Garrett gathered the technical information and supplies needed to build an effective gallows.

OnApril 28, while Garrett was out of town, Billy managed to escape. While one ofthejail’stwoguards was escorting a group ofprisonersacrossthe street to dinner, Billy asked the remaining guard to take him to the jail outhouse. As the guard escorted him back to his cell, Billy somehow managed to slip a wrist through his handcuffs. He slugged the guard and shot him with a pistol either that he took from the guard or that a friend had hiddenintheouthouseforhim.Hearingtheshot,thesecondguardran back to the jail, and Billy killed him with a blast from a shotgun he found in Garrett’s office. Reportedly, Billy then smashed the gun and threw it down on the dead guard, yelling, “You won’t follow me any morewiththatgun!”

After murdering the guards, Billy seemed in no hurry to flee. He armed himself with two pistols and, according to one account, “danced about the balcony, laughed and shouted as though he had not a care on earth.” Apparently, the people of Lincoln were either too fearful or too admiring of the young outlaw to act. After nearly an hour,Billyrodeoff.

He was not able to ride far enough. Upon his return to Lincoln, Garrett immediately formed a posse and set off to recapture the outlaw On July 14, 1881, Garrett surprised Billy in a darkened room notfarfromLincolnandshothimdead.

Troops surrender in Bataan, Philippines, in the largest-ever US surrender

April9,1942

OnApril9,1942,MajorGeneralEdwardP King Jr surrenders at Bataan, Philippines against General Douglas MacArthur’s orders—and 78,000 troops(66,000Filipinosand12,000Americans),the largest contingent of U.S. soldiers ever to surrender, aretakencaptivebytheJapanese.

The prisoners were at once led 55 miles from Mariveles, on the southern end of the Bataan peninsula, to San Fernando, on what became known as the “Bataan Death March.” At least 600 Americans and 5,000 Filipinos died because of the extremebrutalityoftheircaptors,whostarved,beat, and kicked them on the way; those who became too weak to walk were bayoneted. Those who survived

US Soldiers

Tribunal, established by MacArthur, tried Lieutenant were taken by rail from San Fernando to POW camps, General Homma Masaharu, commander of the Japanese where another 16,000 Filipinos and at least 1,000 invasion forces in the Philippines. He was held Americans died from disease, mistreatment, and responsible for the death march, a war crime, and was starvation. After the war, the International Military executedbyfiringsquadonApril3,1946.

Anti-Nazi theologian Dietrich

Bonhoeffer is hanged

April9,1945

support to the Confessing Church

OnApril9,1945,Lutheranpastor movement in Germany, a declaration and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer by Lutheran and evangelical pastors is hanged at Flossenburg, only days and theologians that they would not before theAmerican liberation of the have their churches co-opted by the POW camp. The last words of the Nazi government for propagandistic brilliant and courageous 39-year-old purposes. Bonhoeffer returned to opponentofNazismwere“Thisisthe Germany in 1935 to run a seminary end—forme,thebeginningoflife.” for the Confessing Church; the

Two days after Adolf Hitler governmentcloseditin1937. became chancellor of Germany, Bonhoeffer’s continued vocal Dietrich Bonhoeffer, lecturer at objectionstoNazipoliciesresultedin Berlin University, took to the radio his losing his freedom to lecture or and denounced the Nazi publish. He soon joined the German court-martialed and sentenced to die. Fuhrerprinzip, the leadership resistancemovement,eventheplotto While in prison, he acted as a principle that was merely a synonym assassinate Hitler In April 1943, counselor and pastor to prisoners of for dictatorship Bonhoeffer’s shortly after becoming engaged to be all denominations Bonhoeffer’s broadcastwascutoffbeforehecould married, Bonhoeffer was arrested by Letters and Papers from Prison was finish. Shortly thereafter, he moved the Gestapo. Evidence implicating published posthumously Among his to London to pastor a German him in the plot to overthrow the celebrated works of theology are The congregation, while also giving governmentcametolightandhewas Cost of Discipleship and Ethics

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

“Chicago Eight” pleads not guilty federal conspiracy charges

April9,1969

Chicago Eight

The Chicago Eight, indicted on federal charges of conspiracy to incite a riot at the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago, plead not guilty The defendants included David Dellinger of the National Mobilization Committee (NMC); Rennie Davis and Thomas Hayden of the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS); Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin, founders of the Youth International Party (“Yippies”); Bobby Seale of the Black Panthers; and two lesser knownactivists,LeeWeinerandJohnFroines. They were charged with conspiracy to cross state lines with intent to incite a riot. Attorneys William Kunstler and Leonard Weinglass represented all but Seale. The trial, presided over by Judge Julius Hoffman, turned into a circus as the defendants and theirattorneysusedthecourtasaplatformtoattack (Continued on page 35)

Billy the Kid

Health Facts

How lifestyle and daily routine affect blood sugar

Diabetes is a serious carbohydrate counting and fiber that helps keep your effective treatment for s h o u l d N o n - C o m m u n i c a b l e portion sizes.Akey to many blood sugar levels more quickly raising blood sugar g e t a t Disease (NCD) that affects diabetes management plans stable. Talk to your doctor, thatistoolow least 150 close to 66,000 Guyanese. is learning how to count nurse, or dietitian about the EXERCISE minutes a As a result, management of c a r b o h y d r a t e s best food choices and the Physical activity is w e e k o f the disease is crucial to Carbohydrates often have appropriate balance of food another important part of m o d e r a t e leading a normal life the biggest impact on your types. your diabetes management aerobic activity

By Rehanna Ramsay

However, this requires blood sugar levels For Avoid sugar-sweetened plan. When you exercise, Aim for about 30 awareness. You must know people taking mealtime beverages. Sugar-sweetened your muscles use sugar minutes of moderate aerobic sugar, such as feeling shaky, what makes your blood insulin, it’s important to activity a day on most weak, tired, hungry, sugar level rise and fall — know the number o daysoftheweek. lightheaded, irritable, andhowtocontroltheseday- carbohydrates in you Keep an exercise anxious,orconfused. to-dayfactors. food, so you get the schedule. Talk to your Stay hydrated Drink

Keeping your blood properinsulindose. doctor about the best time plenty of water or other sugar levels within the range Learn what portion of day for you to exercise fluids while exercising recommended by your size is appropriate for o that your workout because dehydration can doctor can be challenging. each food type. Simplify outine is coordinated affectbloodsugarlevels. That’s because many things your meal planning by with your meal and MEDICATION make your blood sugar writing down portions for medicationschedules. Insulin and other levels change, sometimes foods you eat often. Use CHECK UP diabetes medications are unexpectedly The following measuring cups or a scale Check your blood designedtoloweryourblood are some factors that can to ensure proper portion sugarlevelbefore,during, sugar levels when diet and adversely affect your blood size and an accurate and after exercise, exercise alone aren’t sugarlevels. carbohydratecount. especially if you take sufficient for managing

DIET

Make every meal insulin or medications d i a b e t e s B u t t h e beverages tend to be high in (glucose) for energy

Healthy eating is a well-balanced. As much as that lower blood sugar effectiveness of these calories and offer little Regular physical activity cornerstoneofhealthyliving possible,planforeverymeal Exercise can lower your medications depends on the nutrition. And because they also helps your body use withorwithoutdiabetes.But to have a good mix of bloodsugarlevelsevenupto timingandsizeofthedose. cause blood sugar to rise insulinmoreefficiently if you have diabetes, you starches, fruits and a day later, especially if the Medications you take for quickly, it’s best to avoid Talktoyourdoctorabout need to know how foods vegetables, proteins, and activity is new to you, or if conditions other than these types of drinks if you an exercise plan. Ask your affect your blood sugar fats. Pay attention to the you’re exercising at a more diabetes also can affect your havediabetes. doctor about what type of levels. It’s not only the type types of carbohydrates you intense level. Be aware of blood sugar levels. Talk to The exception is if you exercise is appropriate for offoodyoueat,butalsohow choose. Some foods, such as warning signs of low blood yourdoctoraboutthis. areexperiencingalowblood you. In general, most adults much you eat and the fruits, vegetables, and whole sugar level Sugarcombinations of food types grains,arebetterforyouthan sweetened beverages, such youeat. others. These foods are low as soda, juice, and sports L e a r n a b o u t in carbohydrates and have drinks can be used as an

This Day in History...

Baghdad falls to U.S. forces

April9,2003

On April 9, 2003, just three weeks into the invasion of Iraq, U.S. forces pull down a bronze statue of Saddam Hussein in Baghdad’s Firdos Square, symbolizing the end of the Iraqi president’s long, often brutal reign, and a major early victory fortheUnitedStates.

Dramatic images of the toppled statue and celebrating citizens were instantly beamed Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld around the world. With Hussein in hiding saidinaPentagonbriefing. andmuchofthecitynowunderU.S.control, The Iraq War was far from over, the day’s events later became known as the however Hussein was captured by U.S. Fall of Baghdad. “Saddam Hussein is now forces in December 2003 and executed in taking his rightful place alongside Hitler, December2006,buttheUnitedStateswould Stalin, Lenin, Ceausescu in the pantheon of not formally withdraw from Iraq until failed brutal dictators, and the Iraqi people December 2011, eight years after the are well on their way to freedom,” then- conflictfirstbegan.

“Chicago Eight”pleads not guilty federal...

From page 33 years Although declaring the defendants Nixon, the war, racism and oppression not guilty of conspiracy, the jury found all Their tactics were so disruptive that at one but Froines and Weiner guilty of intent to point Judge Hoffman ordered Seale gagged riot and strapped to his chair (Seale was The others were each sentenced to five eventually tried separately ) When the trial yearsandfined$5,000.However,noneofthe ended in February 1970, Hoffman found the defendants served time because in 1972 a defendants and their attorneys guilty of 175 Court of Appeals overturned the criminal counts of contempt of court and sentenced convictions and eventually most of the them to terms ranging from two to four contemptchargeswerealsodropped.

HOW TO CONTROL ASTHMA

happen when you are exposed to “asthma triggers.” Your asthma triggerscanbeverydifferent from someone else’s asthma triggers.

Know your triggers and learn how to avoid them. Watchoutforanattackwhen you can’t avoid your triggers. Some of the most commontriggersaretobacco smoke, dust mites, outdoor air pollution, cockroach

allergen, pets, mold, smoke fromburningwoodorgrass, andinfectionslikeflu.

HOWISASTHMA TREATED?

Take your medicine exactly as your doctor tells you and stay away from things that can trigger an attack to control your asthma.

Everyone with asthma does not take the same medicine.

You can breathe in some medicines and take other medicines as a pill. Asthma medicines come in two types quick-relief and long-term control. Quickrelief medicines control the symptoms of an asthma attack.

If you need to use your quick-relief medicines more and more, visit your doctor toseeifyouneedadifferent medicine.

How to treat dandruff yourself

Dandruff occurs, essentially, when small bits ofdryskinareshedfromthe scalp. You might spy these flakesinyourhairoronyour shoulders.

WHATISASTHMA?

Asthma is a disease that affectsyourlungs.Itisoneof themostcommonlong-term diseases of children, but adults can have asthma, too. Asthma causes wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing at nightorearlyinthemorning. Ifyouhaveasthma,youhave it all the time, but you will have asthma attacks only when something bothers yourlungs.

We don’t know all the thingsthatcancauseasthma, butwedoknowthatgenetic, environmental, and occupational factors have been linked to developing asthma.

If someone in your immediate family has asthma, you are more likely to have it “Atopy,” the genetic tendency to develop anallergicdisease,canplaya big part in developing allergic asthma. However, not all asthma is allergic asthma.

Being exposed to things in the environment, like mold or dampness, some allergenssuchasdustmites, and secondhand tobacco smoke have been linked to developing asthma Air pollution and viral lung infection may also lead to asthma.

Occupational asthma

occurs when someone who neverhadasthmadevelopsit becauseheorsheisexposed

to something at work. This canhappenifyoudevelopan allergytosomethingatwork such as mold or if you are exposed to irritants such as wood dust or chemicals at work over and over at lower levelsorallatonceathigher levels.

HOWCANYOU TELLIFYOUHAVE ASTHMA?

It can be hard to tell if someone has asthma, especially in children under age5.Havingadoctorcheck how well your lungs work and check for allergies can helpyoufindoutifyouhave asthma.

During a checkup, a doctorwillaskifyoucougha lot,especiallyatnight.Heor she will also ask whether your breathing problems are worse after physical activity or at certain times of year

The doctor will then ask about chest tightness, wheezing, and colds lasting morethan10days.

He or she will ask whether anyone in your family has or has had asthma, allergies, or other breathing problems. Finally, thedoctorwillaskquestions about your home and whether you have missed school or work or have troubledoingcertainthings.

Thedoctormayalsodoa breathing test, called spirometry, to find out how well your lungs are working bytestinghowmuchairyou

canbreatheoutaftertakinga very deep breath before and after you use asthma medicine.

WHATISAN ASTHMAATTACK?

An asthma attack may include coughing, chest tightness, wheezing, and troublebreathing.Theattack happens in your body’s airways,whicharethepaths that carry air to your lungs. As the air moves through your lungs, the airways become smaller, like the branchesofatreearesmaller thanthetreetrunk.Duringan asthma attack, the sides of the airways in your lungs swellandtheairwaysshrink. Less air gets in and out of your lungs, and mucous that your body makes clogs up theairways.

You can control your asthma by knowing the warning signs of an asthma attack, staying away from things that cause an attack, and following your doctor’s advice. When you control yourasthma:

you won’t have symptomssuchaswheezing orcoughing, you’llsleepbetter, you won’t miss work or school, you can take part in all physicalactivities,and you won’t have to go to thehospital.

What Causes anAsthma Attack?

An asthma attack can

Dandruffmaymakeyour scalp itchy, too It’s a commonproblem,butitisn’t as simple as it seems Dandruff is actually quite tricky to define because it overlaps with seborrheic dermatitis(achronicformof eczema) and other skin conditions that lead to a scalyscalp.

Here’s what you need to know Signs and Symptoms ofDandruff

The big tip-off that an individual may have dandruff are the telltale patches of white flakes on the scalp, made up of dead skin,thatcomelooseinyour hair

According to the Merck Manual,othersignsinclude:

Attimes,thescalpcanbe itchy

GREASYORDRY SCALESONTHE SCALP

Yellowish to reddish scalyraisedbumpsalongthe hairline(inseverecases)

CAUSESANDRISK FACTORSOF DANDRUFF

Dandruff can happen for anumberofreasons.

Seborrheic dermatitis If you have a particularly bad caseofdandruff,it’slikelya mild case of seborrheic dermatitis (SD), according totheAmericanOsteopathic CollegeofDermatology

SD is a chronic form of eczema that affects areas of the body that secrete the mostsebum,oroil,notesthe N a t i o n a l E c z e m a Association.

Peoplewithoilyskinare often more prone to

dandruff The reason: A yeast called Malassezia globosa feeds on oils on the scalp.

Some people’s bodies perceive this breakdown of oilasanirritant,sothescalp reactsbyuppingthespeedat which skin cells renew, causingdandruff,notesAmy McMichael,MD,aprofessor ofdermatologyandthechair of the department of dermatology at Wake Forest School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

For those without dandruff, it takes a whole month for new skin cells on the scalp to mature, die, and shed.

But for those with dandruff,thisprocessoccurs inameretwotosevendays, according to a report in the Journal of Medical

Chemistry

Still, it’s important to note that while M. globosa has long been thought to be the main risk factor for dandruff, a causal relationship has yet to be firmly established, noted a July 2019 report in the journal Experimental

Dermatology

Contact dermatitis

Contact dermatitis is skin irritationcausedbyeitheran allergen or an irritant, resultinginanitchy,possibly painfulrash.Andinthecase of dandruff, that reaction is on the scalp. This generally occurs because of hair-care products or dyes, according totheAmericanAcademyof DermatologyAssociation.

Dry skin If cold winter air dries out your skin all over, including your scalp, then dry skin may be the cause of your dandruff When dry skin causes dandruff, the flakes are usuallysmallerandlessoily thantheflakescausedbySD. (In addition, cold and dry climates can worsen SD, according to the Cleveland Clinic.)

Almost anyone can have dandruff, but the following factors can make you more susceptible.

Shampooing habits “For thosewhoarealreadyatrisk for dandruff, washing infrequently can worsen the condition, ” says Dr McMichael Taking extendedbreakscanleadtoa buildupofoilthatcanleadto dandruff.

Dry scalp caused by a lack of moisture can cause itching and flaking skin.

Lessons from a Lashpreneur !!!

DO YOU EVER NEED TO TAKE A BREAK FROM EYELASH EXTENSIONS?

Takingabreakfromlash extensions – is it really necessary?

So – you love your lash extensions. They make your

facelooksofreshandawake, and it’s just so simple to get readyinthemornings…why wouldyoueverstop?

Clientssometimesaskus

whentheyshouldbetakinga break for the sake of their lash health. Their biggest worryisthatlashextensions are straining their natural

West Vybz Sports Bar to Host

Official Westside Easter Jam

- To Feature Live Entertainment by Top DJs and Special Guests

On Easter Monday, April 10th, 2023, West Vybz Sports Bar will be hosting the official Westside Easter Jam, featuring an all-star lineup of DJs and live entertainment.

Slingerz Family Guyana's #1 Sound, BobbyKushandSelector

Jerome, and DJ Sanjay will all be taking the stage, along with special guest DJs including DJ C a s h m o n e y t h e Georgetown Badboi out ofCanada,DJStarrfrom Atlanta,Georgia,DJPolo fromWashingtonDC,DJ Peppa from Kanabis SoundoutofAntiguaand

out of the USA “Troopa Traloopa” Mavado & Alkaline'sOfficialDJ.

Thiseventpromisesto be a night of non-stop entertainment, with the b e s t m u s i c a n d performances from top DJs and live performers. Attendees can expect a wide variety of music genres, including dancehall, soca, reggae, hiphop,andmore.

The Westside Easter Jamisproudlysponsored by Banks Beer, and attendees can expect a fully stocked bar with a wide selection of drinks and refreshments. Food will also be available for

purchase throughout the night.

The event will take placeatWestVybzSports Bar,locatedonthePublic Road in Tuschen. Doors willopenat8PM,andthe party will continue late into the night.This event is expected to be a sellout, with hundreds of party-goers expected to attend from all over Guyanaandbeyond.

Overall, the Westside EasterJampromisestobe an unforgettable night of music, dancing, and entertainment.Don'tmiss out on the party of the year - join the fun on EasterMonday!

lashes or making them fall faster than they should. The answer? Properly applied eyelash extensions can be wornindefinitely–aslongas the lash extension applied is the correct length, weight and thickness for your natural lashes, there’s absolutely no reason why they would be damaged Persons have been wearing lashes for years with zero issues.

Remember, your natural lashes work on a cycle exactly like your hair; there arenewitty-bittybabylashes growing constantly, and older lashes shedding off whenit’stheirtimetogo.In yourinfillappointment,your lash tech will be on the lookout for new lashes that arestrongenoughtoholdan extension, and voila!You’re backuptofulllashcapacity, lookingfabulous. thehealthofyournatural lashes is our first priority If we think that the extension look that you’re after will damage those lovely natural lashes, we can assess them and suggest simple ways to createasimilarlookwithout the weight. We always keep trackofyourlashhealthand if any changes happen we’ll letyouknow

Of course, sometimes you just feel like you need a break from extensions, and

that’sokay sometimesyou need to be on a break. Here are our golden rules on how torecognise(anddealwith!) alashbreak.

Remove them in a way thatworksforyou.

You have two options with a break: let the lashes shed gradually over time, or pop into the salon to have t h e m r e m o v e d professionally. It takes aroundfivetosixweeksfora typical lash set to shed completely, and even then you might find a few very determinedstragglers.Ifthis is easier, we’d say go for it!

Forthosewantingtogocold turkey, a salon removal is best. It’s a super simple process – a technician applies a removal serum to yourlashesandslidesoffthe e x t e n s i o n s We ’ d recommend against home removalsforthesakeofyour natural lashes, as you can never quite be sure how successful/non-damaging they’ll be! Our removal products are fast-working, professional products and none of us here would attemptourownremovals.

Tryaserum.

Lash serums are a clever way of reviving your lash game – these specially formulated solutions are meant to make your natural lashes grow longer and

ByLatoyaZephyr

s tronger

Most good lash serums contain conditioning and stimulating ingredients, which can improve your lasheswhenusedonthereg. Theseproductsusuallyshow results after a few weeks, so combining a serum with a breakislikeaspaholidayfor yourlashes!

Make sure the timing is right.

There’s no hard-and-fast rule about how much time you should spend sans extensions, but we’d recommendatleastamonth. This gives your lash cycle time to reboot itself, with those baby lashes growing through nice and strong. It also gives any lash serums a chance to really work their magic!

Timing your break right up to the week of big event can be a lovely way to treat yourself, especially if you usually rock a glam look. Some clients can spend months without lash extensions, some prefer just one–it’salluptoyou!

But if you feel you want to take a break just have a talk with your lash technician and they will adviseyou.

all set to showcase thrilling Indian Premier League matches ENet

ENet,theleadingTVand Entertainment Provider in Guyana,recentlyannounced that it has secured the rights to broadcast the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 onRUSH,itspremiersports channel. The IPL is one of the world’s most popular T20 cricket tournaments, featuring the best players fromaroundtheglobe.

A dozen West Indian players have been drafted in the tournament, which runs fromMarch31toMay28.

The IPL 2023 promises to be a thrilling tournament, withtopteamscompetingfor the championship title. Fans in Guyana can catch all the action on RUSH, available onlyonENet.

Additionally, ENet

customers can use the ENet TV app to stream the games liveontheirmobiledevices, so they never have to miss a momentoftheaction. Download available in the Google Play and App Store.

See photograph attached tothisnewsitemonmatches that will be played Do enjoy!

PROMOTING SAFE

WORKING ENVIRONMENT WITH THE ISO 45001:2018 STANDARD

How important is a safe working environment? A safe and healthy workplace is vital for productivity and qualityasitnotonlyprevents injuryorillness,butcanalso reduce absenteeism and boost employees’ morale. It also saves time and money

In other words, safety is good for business This month, Guyana is observing Occupational Safety and Health Month under the theme: “A Safe and Healthy Working Environment is a Fundamental Principle and a Right at Work.” Thetheme

promotes the need for employers to implement measures to ensure their workersaresafe.

Asmanagersareseeking waystoincreasesafetyinthe workplace, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) helps

companies implement the International Standard for Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) – ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems –Requirements with guidanceforuse.

The ISO 45001:2018 standard specifies the requirements for an OH&S Management System which preventsinjuryandill-health towards employees and customers alike The document requires that top managementtakeownership a n d d e m o n s t r a t e commitment through leadership to ensure that workers are appropriately trained and that effective controlsareputinplace.The standard also recognizes the valueofworkerinvolvement or consultations to develop and apply better OH&S practices. It is applicable to any organization regardless ofitssize,typeandactivities.

The GNBS offers training to persons who are interested in understanding the requirements of the standard and technical assistance to companies l o o k i n g t o a t t a i n certification. Acquiring ISO

45001 Certification demonstrates that a

company’s management system complies with the International Standard and validatesthecapabilityofthe business. Further, it helps to build trust and brand integrity, especially for companieslookingtosupply the oil and gas industry which is highly committed towards ensuring that suppliers maintain health andsafetyrequirements. Companies are also encouraged to implement safe practices to show employees that they are valued.Thiswillreducehigh staff turnover and protect investments in training new staff According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Occupational Health and Safety is identified as the disciplineofdealingwiththe prevention of work-related injuries and diseases as well as the promotion of healthy workers.

Meanwhile,onabroader level, the ILO estimates some2.3millionwomenand men around the world succumb to work-related accidents or diseases every year This along with more

sick days contributes to significantlossofproductive hours and can affect the overall output of a business o r o r g a n i s a t i o n Implementing the ISO 45001:2018 OH&S requirements is a critical approach companies can taketoremedythissituation. Creating a safe working environment is an intentional and ongoing efforttobuildawareness,set guidelines, and constantly monitorworkingconditions. Italsorequiresemployeesat every level to take responsibility for their own safetyandthesafetyofthose aroundthem.

Let this Occupational Safety and Health Month motivate you to pursue Training and Technical Assistance to implement the ISO 45001:2018 Standard. Protect your workers and customersso theycanbetter c o n t r i b u t e t o t h e development of your company or organization Reach out to the GNBS today on Telephone numbers: 219-0064 or 2190065, or visit the GNBS website: www.gnbsgyorg. You can also WhatsApp us on+5926924627.

MILLET SET TO PLAY IMPORTANT ROLE IN GUYANA’S AGRICULTURAL REVOLUTION

BY:PATDIAL

Thisyear,2023,hasbeen designated International Year of Millet (IYOM) by the United Nations, with intent of bringing to the attention of Governments andMinistriesofAgriculture worldwide, the value of a crop that could help to counter the food shortage, that is affecting many parts oftheworld.

Millets are among the first food plants to be domesticatedbyhumansand are still a traditional staple food crop in Sub-Saharan AfricaandAsia.

Though it is grown in many countries, India is the top producer of Millet, followed by Nigeria, Niger and China. Millets, like many cereals, is a grass and encompassesadiversegroup of small grained, dryland cereals. Theycansurvivein harsh growing conditions with poor soils, are adaptable,aswellas,climate r e s i l i e n t T h e s e characteristics would allow for semi-desertification lands to produce more food with millet cultivation and forthosecountrieswhichare better endowed by nature to evenachievefoodsurplus.

Millet used to be much more consumed worldwide thanitistoday But,withthe shifting food preferences to cereals like wheat and rice,

thedemandformilletandits production fell. With the current food shortages worldwide and also the desire of many developing countries to create more opportunitiesforsmallscale farmers, Millet is beginning to recover lost ground Guyana is an example of a countrywhichisdeveloping itsMilletcultivationwiththe intention of supplying the local market and later exporting.

Millet provides a very healthydiet. Itisglutenfree and rich in minerals such as calcium, iron, zinc, phosphorus,magnesiumand potassium.

It also contains dietary fibres and vitamins such as folic acid, vitamin B6, caroteneandniacin.

Millet could be ground into flour or used in other ways. Thatitisbeingusedin so many different cultural regions result in it being cooked and prepared in manydifferentwaysandthe repertoireofitsrecipescould satisfy any taste. Guyana, now a notable oil and gas producer, bringing in large revenues, is determined not tobecaughtinthesyndrome

of the “Dutch Disease” or “Resource Curse” and is diversifying its economic base, with the use of part of the oil revenues. One very important area of diversificationisagriculture.

Traditionally, Guyanese agriculture revolved around theproductionofrice,sugar, groundprovisionsandfruit.

This traditional base is being developed while new expansions are taking place in livestock, dairy, fishing, and the introduction of new crops. Among these new cropsisMillet.

ProductionofMilletisan attractive option for small farmers who will have increasingemployment.

Itwillintimebepartlyan imported wheat substitute, would enrichen the diet of the population and surplus production could find a niche market in the very largeIndiandiaspora.

The Ministry of AgricultureandtheCarnegie School of Home Economics should begin to explore the Millet recipes from various parts of the world and promotetheuseofthecereal.

Guyana has secured the helpandpartnershipofIndia

whichwillprovideateamof expertstodevelopanumber of Millet farms. India will provide technical assistance and training and will help

Guyanatopromotethegrain in the Caribbean and South America.

Haiti with its exhausted soils could be a beneficiary

from Guyana’s aid in this regard.

Millet production is about to take off and all are confidentofitssuccess.

Michelle Obama, Oprah

Winfrey Bring ‘The Light We Carry’ Chat To Netflix

(Essence)

The forme and forever FLOTUS

Michelle Obama welcomes youtoafrontrowseatonher latest book tour in a new Netflixspecial.

The Light We Carry

Michelle Obama & Oprah Winfrey,premieringglobally on April 25, the former first lady sits with the beloved interviewer and her good friend on the final stop for Obama’sbooktourfilmedin December2022.

In a wide-rangin conversation, Obam shares personal famil stories about her childhoo and time in the Whit House, offers hard-wo wisdom about self confidence, fear, and aging and gives practical advic for living in modern times including the power of kitchentablefulloffriends

Sometimes poignant and other times comical, the two delve into everything from menopause to societa issues, and even the truth picture.’”

mother, daughter, and First behind being social media’s Obama’sbook, The Light Lady to offer her readers a #RelationshipGoals. We Carry: Overcoming in series of stories and

“We have to be honest Uncertain Times, released in insightful reflections on the about real marriage and the November 2022 and was an power of lighting up for work that it takes to build a instantbestseller othersandforself life with another person,” In her second book, The Light We Carry: Obama tells Winfrey in the Obama poses the question Michelle Obama & Oprah trailer “It’s like all ‘hashtag “how do we overcome?” Winfrey streams on Netflix relationship goals!’ and I’m S h e d r a w s o n h e r startingApril25.

New Music From Drake, Youngboy, Never Broke Again & Nicki Minaj and More

Check out the must hear releases of the week

(Billboard) Billboard’s Friday g r e a t s w h o h a Music Guide serves as a handy expanded the ways in uide to this Friday’s most which singing can be essentialreleases—thekeymusic deployed in rap music, thateveryonewillbetalkingabout Minaj sounds right at today, and that will be dominating home alongside laylists this weekend and Youngboyon“WTF.” beyond. Jonas Brothers,

This week, Drake makes “Waffle House” noise while awaiting rescue, W h e n J o n a s Suga’s Agust D persona returns, Brothers made their and Youngboy Never Broke grand comeback in Again gets a high-wattage assist 2019 with the Hot from Nicki Minaj. Check out all 100-topping smash ofthisweek’spicksbelow: “ S u c k e r ” a n d Drake, “Search & Rescue” reunion full-length While Drake’s decision to Happiness Begin, sample a Kim Kardashian they timed the speech and crash it into the rollout to the spring middle of “Search & Rescue” of that year, so that h i s along with using a the single and album could be enjoyed all singular story: fusing elements of superimposed image of the two of summer long. “Waffle House,” the trio’s alternative rock, modern pop, classic soul themtogetherinmatchingmotorcycle new single which precedes next month’s and different eras of hip-hop, NF plays helmets—willlikelydominatesocial The Album,couldbedestinedforasimilar upon childhood nostalgia while tter around the new single warm-weather flare-up: the JoBros are pondering the state of the world and his “Search & Rescue” also marks an lockedinwithahuge,giddyanthemhere, ownfuture. interesting sonic choice from the singingabouthowthey’llalwaysarriveat Labrinth, “Never Felt SoAlone” superstar, who pivots away from the therightpathasbrightharmoniesexplode Did you recognize that voice cutthroat rapping heard on the 21 around them. It’s onlyApril, but don’t be harmonizing with Labrinth on his woozy Savage collaborative project Her surprised to hear “Waffle House” on this newsingle“NeverFeltSoAlone”?That’s Loss to croon about yearning for year’sbeachplaylists.

Billie Eilish, who reached out to the ncomplicated love Both the NF, Hope singer-songwriter expressing how much sampled audio and Drake’s audio Last week, NF announced an she loved the in-the-works track being uggest emotional incompletion international tour that kicks off in July, produced by her brother Finneas before after many years of mind-boggling runs for three months and will hit plenty providing some lilting vocals and leads commercial success, and paired of arenas along the way; in case anyone the second verse. “Never Felt So Alone” with subtly detailed production doubted the Michigan rapper and certainly speaks to Eilish’s experimental from Sad Pony and BNYX, the producer’s commercial appeal after side: Labrinth has long been capable of vulnerabilityproveseffective. becoming an underground titan over the classically crafted balladry, but here, his Suga (Agust D) feat. IU, years, that itinerary should put those words are warped and processed, the “People Pt.2” worriestorest.Newalbum Hope islessof productionshudderingaroundhisfalsetto

As the members of BTS a victory lap than another shot at telling ashecontemplateshissolitude. continue rolling out solo projects, sometimes as their first officially released statements on their own, Suga’s upcoming DDay has been a long time coming,astheendofhistrilogy under the moniker Agust D owing 2016’s Agust D and 2020’s D-2). “People Pt. 2,” the sequel to one of D-2’s most fully realizedpop-raptracks,spinsSuga’s rative forward with a more complex blend of hip-hop, R&B and top 40 hooks: in between the swelling beauty of IU’s chorus, Suga reflects on connection and loss with a nimble vocal approach andaneffortlesssenseofgravity

Youngboy Never BrokeAgain feat. Nicki Minaj, “WTF”

“Cross YoungBoy, then you cross the Queen,” Nicki Minaj declares to open her verse on “WTF,” a new team-up with Youngboy Never Broke Again that juxtaposes their rap methods, but still places them squarely on the same side.After Youngboy’s voice warbles, squeals and unfurls in the same intoxicating manner as heard on his album I Rest My Case from earlier this year, Minaj plays the more traditional role until making a vocal run at the her verse; as one of hip-hop’s

Molly's Easter Hen

byAnnieWillis McCullough

When Molly came in from the chicken house,shelookedverysad.

"O dear me!" she sighed "I'm so disappointed!"

"Whatisit,sunnygirl?"askedmother

"Red Top hasn't laid an egg, and tomorrow is Easter I shut Red Top in all by herself, so I should know that it was her very ownegg,andshehasn'tlaidany."

"But the other hens have. We shall have plentyofEastereggstocolor,"saidmother

"But I was going to take one of RedTop's eggs to Auntie Brooke for Easter," said Molly,dismally

"Wouldn't any other egg do?" asked mother

"It wouldn't be half so nice," replied Molly "AuntieBrookegavemeRedTop,and this is the first Easter since I had her I told AuntieBrookeIwasgoingtobringheroneof RedTop'seggsforEaster."

"You shouldn't count on Easter eggs before they are laid," said her mother "I am sure Auntie Brooke will understand if you take her another egg. You may color it pink, and I will let you have some gilding, so that you can mark her name on it. It will be a beautifulEasteregg."

Molly tried to smile. All day she kept going out to where Red Top was, to see whethertheexpectedegghadbeenlaid.That, and the work of coloring eggs for the family, kept her busy all the day The pink eggs were beautifully colored, but she would not gild AuntieBrooke'snameonone.

"I have a plan," she said. "I believe I'll have an Easter egg for Auntie Brooke, after

How to Dye Easter Eggs with Food Coloring

Ingredients

*1 Dozen Eggs (or more)

*White Vinegar

*Food Coloring (liquid or gel)

all,mother."

On Easter morning Molly ran out into the hen-house before any one else was awake. After breakfast she slipped away; she carried a covered basket and walked very fast. First shewentthroughthegreenlanethatledfrom their house to the road, and then along the road until she came to Auntie Brooke's. The lane was all trimmed with beautiful spring flowers for Easter, and the trees beside the road were full of birds, all singing Easter songs.

She went through Auntie Brooke's squeaky gate and along the gravel path to the side door An old lady with a sweet face sat outonthedoorstep.

"Auntie Brooke," said Molly, a little out of breath, "I've brought you an Easter egg, only it isn't laid yet. You may keep Red Top until she lays it, and then you can give her back. You'll have to excuse there not being any pink on it and your name in gilt letters, butRedTopdidn'tlayitintimeforthat."

“Thank you, dear," said Auntie Brooke, tryingnottolaugh."I'msureIshalllikeitjust as well as if it were pink with gold letters on it."

Easter puzzles

Find your way through the bunny maze. Then hop onto the next puzzle and try to complete the task. There are different

pictures placed on the paper, find and write down how many of these pictures you can spy on the paper and include the total in the boxes

Water Instructions

1. Hard boil your eggs via method of choice Allow to cool to room temperature.

2. Boil water for dye - you will need 1.5 cups per color of dye that you wish tocreate.

3. Carefully pour the hot water into glass jars or mugs. Add 1-2 teaspoons of vinegar intoeachjar

4. Add 10-20 drops of food coloring into each container until desired shade is achieved. For gel food coloring, you will only need a very small amount to achieve vibrantcolors.

5. Carefully add an egg to eachofthedyebaths.

If you want pastel colors, remove the eggs from the dye after30-45seconds. For medium shades, keep the eggs in the dye for 2-3 minutes.

For darker and more vibrant colors, keep the eggs in the dye for 4-6 minutes or longer until maximum saturation is achieved.

6.Removetheeggsfromthe dye, and allow to dry Refrigerate shortly after dyeing topreserveedibility

7. Store dyed eggs in the refrigeratorforuptoaweek.

Notes

Any eggs that you intend to eat should be refrigerated shortly after dyeing Eggs

should not be kept at room temperature longerthan2hours!

FUNWITHPOETRY God ,

Good morning, God, and thank you For the glory of the sun, And thank you for the health I have, To get my duties done.

I shall devote the hours Of this golden day to By honouring Your holy name In everything I do.

I shall pursue my daily tasks Without complaint or fear And spend my every effort To be friendly and sincere.

Once more, good morning, God, And please depend on me, Because I want to honour you For all eternity

Use this time of Religious Celebration to get closer to God

We know that Easter is the time when all Christians celebrate what they perceive as the Resurrection of their Saviour, Jesus Christ, whom they declare died on Good Friday, and rose again on thisthirdday

This is why, centuries ago, they had introduced kite-flyingasathingtodoon this holiday, because, as you have to look up as you fly your kite, they use this to signify the rising up of Christ to heaven, towards whom they have to always lookupforHisblessings.

Whetherornotyouare a Christian, it would be fitting if you use this occasion not only to have some fun as you fly your kite but, as you look upwards to observe your kite soaring above, and be delighted in this always appearing as if it is also enjoying itself, you can say a prayer to God for not only making this time possible, but that you have been gifted with all that has made your life enjoyable,

and filled with all you need to keep you happy and

successful in all you are doing,inandoutofschoolor workplace.

Make this Easter time an opportunity not only to have a time of fun, but a chance to get closer to your Creator by looking upwards to heaven and saying a few prayers for yourself, relativesandfriends.

In the end you will feel much happier and blessed than if you just flew your kiteforthefuntimeitalways provides.

Suguru

The heavy lines indicate areas, called cages, from one to five squares in size. Fill each cage with unique digits, counting up from 1 So for example a 2-square cage contains the numbers 1 and 2; anda5-squarecage c o n t a i n s t h e numbers from 1 to 5 A d j a c e n t (touching) squares, even ones that touch diagonally, may never contain thesamenumber

Today brings me joy, my whole heart sings, As if it has been given wings, As a new day so new and bright Is spread before my wondering sight!

Today will bring me peace in quiet prayer, As I lift my heart and, everywhere, See God's wondrous works appear, And feel His presence calm and clear

Today with faith I make my way, Sure of His blessings all the day, Content to trust the staff and rod Of an all-wise, all-loving God.

all

Today I have wealth much more than gold, Than hands may touch or heart may hold, Because I know that God will feed, By satisfying all that I may need.

UNCLEROY Tellitto

Hello,readers, UncleRoyisagainaskingallofyoutotryinsomeway tomakeacontributiontothispage,andthustothewelfareof you and your fellow readers. This contribution can take any formthatyoufeelwouldbevaluable–anaccountofwhatis going on in your community and country, any advice you would like to pass on to your fellow teen readers and, on a broader level, any comment or recommendation you would liketomaketoyourfellowGuyanese.

Please remit same to my email –roypaul2002@yahoo com, and be assured that your worthwhile contribution will have a prominent place on our page.

Solutions to last week’s

It would always be fitting to get closer to the Almighty by sharing the celebrations of all the religious.

5 tips for healthy skin

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Don't have time for intensive skin care? You can still pamper yourself by acing the basics. Good skin care and healthy lifestyle choices can help delay natural aging and prevent various skin problems. Get started with these five nononsense tips.

1. Protect yourself from the sun

One of the most important ways to take care of your skin is to protect it from the sun.Alifetime of sun exposure can cause wrinkles, age spots and other skin problems — as well as increase the risk of skin cancer

For the most complete sun protection:

Use sunscreen. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15.Apply sunscreen generously, and reapply every two hours — or more often if you're swimming or perspiring.

Seek shade.Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun's rays are strongest.

Wear protective clothing. Cover your skin with tightly woven long-sleeved shirts, long pants and wide-brimmed hats. Also consider laundry additives, which give clothing an additional layer of ultraviolet protection for a certain number of washings, or special sun-protective clothing — which is specifically designed to block ultraviolet rays.

2. Don't smoke

Smoking makes your skin look older and contributes to wrinkles. Smoking narrows the tiny blood vessels in the outermost layers of skin, which decreases blood flow and makes skin paler This also depletes the skin of oxygen and nutrients that are important to skin health.

Smoking also damages collagen and elastin — the fibers that give your skin strength and elasticity. In addition, the repetitive facial expressions you make when smoking — such as pursing your lips when inhaling and squinting your eyes to keep out smoke — can contribute to wrinkles.

In addition, smoking increases your risk of squamous cell skin cancer. If you smoke, the best way to protect your skin is to quit.Ask your doctor for tips or treatments to help you stop smoking.

3. Treat your skin gently

Daily cleansing and shaving can take a toll on your skin. To keep it gentle:

Limit bath time. Hot water and long showers or baths remove oils from your skin. Limit your bath or shower time, and use warm — rather than hot — water

Avoid strong soaps. Strong soaps and detergents can strip oil from your skin. Instead, choose mild cleansers. Shave carefully To protect and lubricate your skin, apply shaving cream, lotion or gel before shaving. For the closest shave, use a clean, sharp razor. Shave in the direction the hair grows, not against it.

Pat dry After washing or bathing, gently pat or blot your skin dry with a towel so that some moisture remains on your skin.

Moisturize dry skin. If your skin is dry, use a moisturizer that fits your skin type. For daily use, consider a moisturizer that contains SPF

4. Eat a healthy diet

Ahealthy diet can help you look and feel your best. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins. The association between diet and acne isn't clear — but some research suggests that a diet rich in fish oil or fish oil supplements and low in unhealthy fats and processed or refined carbohydrates might promote younger looking skin. Drinking plenty of water helps keep your skin hydrated.

5. Manage stress

Uncontrolled stress can make your skin more sensitive and trigger acne breakouts and other skin problems. To encourage healthy skin — and a healthy state of mind — take steps to manage your stress. Get enough sleep, set reasonable limits, scale back your to-do list and make time to do the things you enjoy The results might be more dramatic than you expect.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/skin-care/art-20048237

Fly your kites safely this Easter

By:RichardFrancois

TheEasterseasonishereanditisthetimetoflyyour

kites and have lots of fun with your family and friends. As you fly your kites this Easter, please ensure that you do so safely and responsibly, so as not to endanger yourself and those around you. Fly your kites in wideopenspacesandawayfrompowerlines.Thisarticlewill outline a few kite-flying safety tips you should pay heed to whenflyingyourkitesthisEaster

TIPSFORSAFEKITEFLYING:

Do not fly kites near power lines – Ensure that you find wideopenspacestoflyyourkitesthisEaster Itisdangerousto flyyourkitesnearpowerlines.Ifbychanceyourkitebecomes stuckonapowerline,donottrytoremoveityourself.Donot trytofreethekitebypullingand/ortuggingatit.Itisadvisable that you let go of the kite immediately after it comes into contact with power lines. Contact the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL Inc.) immediately if you believe yourkiteposesadangertoothersandneedstobetakendown.

Do not fly your kites near roadways –Itisdangerousand unsafe to fly your kites near roadways.Apart from the clear andpresentdangerofpossiblyrunningontotheroadwayinto oncoming traffic, kites can be a distraction to drivers particularlyifthosekitescomedownsuddenlyontheroadway obscuringtheviewofdrivers.

Do not fly your kites near airports – Flying kites near airports can not only distract pilots but kites can easily be ingested into aircraft engines or even become entangled in aircraftpropellers.Theseincidentscanresultinenginefailure with catastrophic consequences to aircraft passengers and persons on the ground. Information gleaned from the Civil AviationAuthorityofNewZealandpositsthatyoushouldnot flykiteswithin4kmofanairportabove400ft(about150km) abovegroundlevel,orover400ftbelowcloud.

Be aware of your surroundings –Itisimportantthatyou areacutelyawareofwhatisbehindyouaswellasinfrontof you at all times. Do not keep walking backwards without lookingbacktoensureyourpathisclear Failuretodosocan result in a variety of incidents that can range from embarrassingtolifethreatening.

Avoid flying your kite in bad weather – Do not fly your kites in stormy, thundery weather, particularly on beaches. Though it may not be raining, lightning can strike or static electrical charges build up and run to earth down your kite twineandthroughyou,thismayresultinburnsorworse.So pleasewatchtheweatherbeforegoingouttoflyyourkites.

Someadditionalpointstonote:Donotrunwithyourkite unlessabsolutelyessentialandifso,besurethatthegroundis clear and fairly level. Do not allow the line or twine to wrap aroundyourfingersorlimbs.Kitestringscancutdeeplyand cause friction burns. If possible, protect your hands by wearing gloves. Wear sun glasses or a peaked cap to protect your eyes in bright sunlight.And be sure to protect yourself fromexposuretothesunbywearingsunscreen.

Pleasepracticethesesafetymeasurestoensureyou,your friends and family all have a fun-filled experience. Have a happyandsafeEasterfromallofusatKaieteurNews!

Bob Marley And The Wailers’ ‘Catch A Fire’ Turns 50

(DancehallMag) Catch aFire,thealbumregardedas responsible for catapulting Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer to global stardom, has clawed its way back onto Billboard’s Reggae Albums chart 50 yearsafteritsrelease.

Along with Exodus and RastamanVibration,Catcha Firemadeitsresurgenceinto the Top 10 of the chart, nestling at No. 6, with the othertwoalbumsre-entering at No 9 and No 10, respectively

A subject of contention formanyyears,thecritically acclaimed Catch A Fire was released in April 1973 and distributed worldwide, a year after Bob Marley and his compatriots Peter Tosh andBunnyWailer,(thenThe Wailers) signed a contract withIslandRecords.

The album, which is regarded as the catalyst which also helped to put Reggae on the world map, was recorded mainly at Dynamic Sounds, Harry J and Randy’s studios in Kingston.

According to the official Bob Marley website, the album was “originally recorded by the Wailers in Jamaica and eventually releasedwithoverdubsanda mix overseen by island founder Chris Blackwell at the label’s London headquarters.”

The website also says that “although Bob Marley may have been the main voice” on the album, “every memberoftheWailersmade valuable contributions and theywerenevermoreunited intheirvisionandsound.”

The album contains nine songs, two of which (400 Years and Stop That Train) were written and composed by Peter Tosh. The others, Kinky Reggae, Baby We’ve Got a Date, No More Trouble, Stir It Up, Midnight Ravers, and Slave Driver, werewrittenbyBob,aswell as Concrete Jungle, on which the late Robbie Shakespeare, then 21 years old,playedthebassguitar

Upon release, Catch A Fire had peaked at No. 171 onBillboard’s200Chartand reached No. 51 on the R&B chart.

In February 2012, at the 15th Annual Bob Marley Lecture at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, Professor Mike Alleyne in discussing how the studio albums the Wailers released through Island Records during Bob Marley’s lifetime were “recorded, packaged, and critically received”, noted thatCatchaFirewasusedby

Island Records to create a reggae-marketingtemplate.

T h e p r o f e s s o r highlighted the Rock influence,whichhesaidwas establishedbyIsland’sChris Blackwell from the start as the intention was “to establish Marley as a black rockact.”

He said that the original recording from Kingston was not only substantially remixed in England, “deemphasising the bass frequencies, but keyboard and guitar overdubs gave a distinctive rock tinge to the album.”

According to him, Tony Platt, the engineer for the mixing sessions, made it clear that Bob Marley was therefromtheverystartand was very much a part of the process and “quite aware of where it was going to take him” even while cognizant that “it was a message he wantedtogetacross.”

In September 2010, the BBC reported that an attemptbytheMarleyfamily to obtain the copyrights for Catch A Fire and his bestknown recordings Natty Dread, Rastaman Vibrations and Exodus had “been thwarted” in New York, by Judge Denise Cote, who ruled that Universal Music Group (UMG) owned the copyright to the five albums the Gong recorded between 1973 and 1977 for Island Records.

Bob’s widow Rita Marley and his children had sought millions in damages for Universal’s alleged attempts to “exploit” his recordings, accusing the company of “intentionally withholding royalties from their Fifty-Six Hope Road Music company”, and among other things, failing to consult with them on key licensing decisions, among them the use of Marley’s music on ringtones, accordingtothelawsuit.

The judge had however, ruled that Marley’s recordings were “works made for hire” as defined under US copyright law and as a consequence, “entitled UMG to be designated the ownerofthoserecordingsas theparentcompanyofIsland Records”.

Exodus, the second albumwhichre-charted,was released in June 1977, six months after Bob Marley survived an assassination attempt in Jamaica on December3,1976,andlater wentintoself-imposedexile inLondon.

Exodus, which was named Time Magazine’s GreatestAlbum

Bob Marley and the Wailers live at BBC

Bob Marley And The...

Frompage58

20thCentury,consistedoftrackssuchas Natural Mystic, So Much Things to Say, Guiltiness, The Heathen, Jamming, Waiting In Vain, Turn Your Lights Down Low, Three Little BirdsandOneLove.

Thethirdalbum Rastaman Vibration,re-enteredthechart for the second time in five months. The LP, which contains songssuchasWhotheCapFit,CrazyBaldhead,andWar,had enteredtheBillboardReggaeAlbumschartinNovemberlast year, for the first time ever, and debuted at No. 4, following specialvinylreissueoftherecordasacollector’sitem.

That occasion marked the first time the album had ever appeared on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart, despite beingreleasedmorethanfourdecadesago.

US-based non-profit, ICO expands its humanitarian work in Guyana

Engineering and Math nal Children’s dayonEasterSaturday

Internatio grand end-of-camp fun community

“Each day is divided into project, listened to stories Outreach (ICO), a According to five parts: breakfast, from Guyanese Folklore, US-based non-profit ICO’s Camp morning activities, lunch, spent time reading, wove f o u n d e d b y Coordinator, afternoon activities, and a friendship bracelets, made Guyanese-born

R o m a r i o farewellroutine. kites, and even learned how Onica Charles Saintjohn, the According to Saintjohn, tobakehotcrossbuns. has hosted its

Easter camp duringthemorningactivities He explained that “After i n a u g u r a l signals an expansion of campers residing within the lunch which is prepared by EasterCamp. ICO’s humanitarian work in village of Craig, ages five to ICO volunteers, Veda The camp was h e l d Guyana.

16,paintedEasterEggs,built Mohamed and Devika in Craig on the East Bank of He explained that each bridges with popsicle sticks Persaud, campers settled Demerara from April 1st to day is packed with activities and rubber bands as a down for the afternoon 6th and concluded with a for the youth in the Science Technology activities.”

Children having fun at ICO’s

“In the afternoons, campers participated in friendly yet spirited competitions They made paperplanesandthrewpaper activities had been learn, and javelins, and filled balloons completed by Thursday, express themselves She with water for dodge ball on April 6th, a grand End-of- indicated that the successful a hot day. The teen campers Camp Fun Day was held for completion of their bonded with ICO volunteer, all children residing in Craig inaugural Easter Camp Christiano Whyte, through regardless of whether they marks a new phase in the their daily football matches. attended any of the prior charity’s outreach efforts in While the younger campers plannedactivities. GuyanaandtheCaribbeanat enthusiastically followed There were several side large Meanwhile, the behind ICO volunteer, Justin attractions such as a bouncy o r g a n i s a t i o n i s o n Whyte, as he led them castle, trampoline, face preparations for ICO’s through classic games such painting, carnival games annual Summer Camp, as 1-2-3 Red Light Statue, which was rented from MJ which usually takes place Hopscotch, Hula-hooping, Party Rental at a discounted during the July-August andTwister...As the campers price. schoolbreak. returned to their homes, they “We also had an Easter Charles anticipates this lined up to receive an EggHunt,”hesaid. one will be one to remember afternoon snack and bid the In an invited comment, given that ICO summer volunteers farewell, ” ICO’s Executive Director, camp activity is now coming Saintjohnsaid. Onica Charles, highlighted back on stream following a

He noted too that the importance of having a hiatus due the COVID-19 although all camp-specific haven where kids can freely pandemic.

A Group photo of some of the participants of ICO’s inaugural Easter Camp.

Each child was given materials to make a kite at the ICO’s Easter Camp

first Easter Camp

accidents enroute to Rodeo, 1 dead, several injured

A total of six accidents reportedly took place along the Linden/Lethem trail on Friday leaving one dead and severalinjured.

All of the vehicles involved were enroute to LethemfortheannualRodeo celebrations and the accidents along the trail definitelymarredthejourney for many especially the loved ones of 28-year-old Abdul Straker of Robb Street,Bourda,Georgetown.

Straker died after the Ministry of Public Work’s pick-up, which he was travelingintoppledalongthe Maburatrail.

According to police,

Straker was among five passengers in the vehicle when the driver lost control while trying to negotiate a bend.

They were all rushed to the Linden Hospital ComplexwhereStrakerdied while receiving treatment. The other four passengers and the driver survived but they were all admitted with severeinjuries.

The accident that took thelifeofStrakerwasnotthe onlyonethatoccurredalong the trail. There were five others.

JusthoursbeforeStraker methisdemiseanotherpickup flipped off a bridge at Kilometer 33, injuring five passengers including the driver They too had to be rushed to the Linden Hospital Complex for treatment.

A third pick-up was involved in an accident during the wee hours of Friday The vehicle reportedly attached to Safari Tourshadturnedturtleintoa ditch. Multiple passengers wereinjuredaswell.Aphoto of that accident, showed a bleeding woman sitting on the laterite road with multiplebruisestoherbody

Three more accidents werereportedbeforetheday ended and all were vehicles that turned turtle along the trail.

One of them involved a truck; another was that of a fourthpick-upwhilethefinal accident involved an SUV reportedly belonging to the Neighbourhood Democratic Councillor from the East BankofDemerara.

Dead:Abdul Straker

Ableeding accident victim sitting on the trail.

An overturned vehicle lying in a creek at Kilometer 33, Mabura Trail

The ministry’s pick-up in which Straker lost his life.

ZENBOOKA opens to the public

Mr. GaryAlleyne, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Zenbooka’s Café

Zenbooka, the newest restaurant, bar and café in

Guyanaopeneditsdoorstothepublicyesterdayat its 25 Saffon and Sussex Street location in Charlestown,nexttoKaieteurNews

The establishment offers visitors authentic international andlocalcuisinesinanenvironmentthatexudesthetropical vibeofGuyana.

Whenaskedby The Waterfalls magazineabouttheorigin of the name Zenbooka, Mr Gary Alleyne, the Chief ExecutiveOfficer(CEO)explainedthatthenamerepresents a combination of calm and celebration. He and his brother, Mr. Gavin Alleyne, the Managing Director (MD), took a significant risk in putting together Zenbooka Café, which theyseeasatrendsetterinthecentralpartofGeorgetown.

TheCEOenvisionsZenbookaasabrandthatwilloccupy various parts of Guyana, not just a one-stop-shop. The establishmentplanstofranchiseandprovidequalityfoodand servicetoitscustomers.

ZenbookaCaféisopenedsevendaysaweek,withthecafé opening from 6am to 10am and the pub from 7am to 11pm. Walk-ins are welcome, but guests are encouraged to make reservationsinadvancebycalling+592-679-7602forthebar and+592-504-6603forthecafé.

Apictorial view of inside of the Zenbooka Café

Hot Cross Buns recipe to try!

CROSS BUNS (JEHAN POWELL RECIPE)

By:Renay Sambach

Hot Cross Buns have been a beloved staple of Easter for

centuries, and for good reason. Imagine biting into a warm, fluffy bun infused with cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, studded with plump raisins or currants, and topped with a deliciously sticky glaze.Is your mouth watering yet?

Luckily, making hot cross buns at home is easier than you might think, and the rewards are truly scrumptious. It is a quintessential Guyanese Good Friday and Easter tradition.

Nowadays, you can find hot cross buns in bakeries and supermarkets all over the world, but there’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of baking your own batch from scratch.

Whether you’re a seasoned baker or a newbie in the kitchen, this recipe is sure to impress your friends and family and fill your home with the irresistible aroma of freshly baked buns.

So,without further ado,let’s get started! Grab your apron,dust off your mixing bowl,and let’s make some hot cross buns.Whether you enjoy them toasted with a dollop of butter, or simply as a snack on the go, I promise these buns will be a hit with everyone Let’s bake!

TIPS AND TRICKS

Be careful not to over-knead the dough, as this can make it tough.Kneadthedoughjustuntilit becomessmoothandelastic.

While the recipe calls for raisins and a specific amount of cinnamonandnutmeg,feelfreeto add more fruit and spices according to your taste preferences Dried cranberries, currants,orchoppeddriedapricots can make a great addition to the buns.

Tocreateaboldandnoticeable

frosting cross on top of the buns, makesuretheicingisthickandnot too runny If it’s too runny, the cross may be difficult to pipe and willbelessvisibleonceitdries.

Makesurethemilkiswarmed to the correct temperature for activatingtheyeast.Toohot,andit could kill the yeast; too cold, and theyeastwon’tactivate.Theideal temperatureisbetween100-110°F (37-43°C).

The rising time for the dough may vary depending on the temperature and humidity of your kitchen. If your kitchen is cooler,

thedoughmaytakelongertorise, so be patient and allow enough time for the dough to double in size.

Ingredients

1.25ouncepackageactivedry yeast

11/2cupslukewarmmilk

41/4cupsall-purposeflour

1/4teaspoonsalt

1/2cupwhitesugar

3/4tspcinnamon

1/4tspnutmeg

1/2cupbutter,melted

1egg

1/4 cup raisins or currants, optional

SUGARGLAZE

1/3cupwater

2tbspsugar

ICINGCROSS

11/2cupsconfectioners’sugar

2tbspmilk

Instructions

1. Sprinkle the yeast over the warm milk and let stand until dissolved,about5minutes.

2. Place the flour, salt, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, melted butter, egg and orange zest in a stand up mixer. Pour the yeast and milk mixture on top. With the dough hook, mix for about 5 mins until well combined.

3. If using raisins, add themandmixforadditional 2mins.Youcanalsoadd1/2

cupcakefruits.

4.Coverandletrisefor1hour After an hour, punch dough down and pour onto a lightly floured surface. Kneadlightlyforabout1 to2mins.

5. Divide into 12 portions and shape into balls. Place onto a baking sheet pan, lined with parchment paper Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 30 minutes.

6. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F Remove the plastic wrap from the rolls. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown,20to25minutes.Remove from oven and brush with glaze. Allow to cool completely before addingfrostingcross.

To make the glaze,placesugar and water in a small pot and cook forabout5mins. Brushglazeover bunswhenhot.

Make the icing by whisking the confectioners’ sugar milkuntilsmooth.Place into a small ziploc bag,andsnipatiny hole on one corner When the buns are cool, pipe icing crossontop.

Notes

To make the flour cross, mix 1/4 cup flour with 1/4 cup Placeinapipingbag andpipethecrossonthebuns placingintotheoven.

Seventh-day Adventists open major conference on Wednesday

Th e G u y a n a Conference of Seventh-day Adventists is set to hold its 6th Quadrennial Session from April 12-14, 2023, at the Central Seventh-day Adventist Church, followed by convention and installation of officers at the National Cultural Centre on SaturdayApril15,2023.

The session is themed “Anchored in His Promises, Advancing His Purpose,” and will bring together delegates from across the country to discuss mission goals, receive reports from administratorsanddirectors, make suggestions for future effectiveness and elect officers to serve for the new quadrennium.Thesixty-five thousand strong Adventist populationinGuyanawillbe

r e p r e s e n t e d b y approximately 400 local delegates and will be joined bydelegatesfromthemother organisation, the Caribbean Union Conference, the next higher organisation, the Inter-AmericanDivisionand administrators from sister fields across the Caribbean Union.Alsojoiningthelarge delegation will be international speaker of the BreathofLifeMinistriesand Pastor of the Oakwood University Church, Pastor Deblearie Snell “Beyond the important task of managingthebusinessofthe church, the session will also beareflectionofthemosaic of diversity within the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Guyana. A true sampling of the cultural varietyofourcomposition,a

flavouring of authentic Guyanesediversity,”sosays Pastor Osley Edwards, CommunicationsDirectorof the Guyana Conference of Seventh-dayAdventists.

He continues: “through this diverse representation, we are able to make transformational deposits to our society in almost every community across this country in the areas of health, family life, youth development, community enrichment and spiritual development. These daily outstanding contributions to our society is also a point of acknowledgement at this session.”

A colourful and solemn opening ceremony is planned for Wednesday April 12 to kick start the 3daysession,amajordecision

EASTER MESSAGES FOR 2023

ETHNIC RELATIONS COMMISSION

The Ethnic Relations

Commission, (ERC), extends Easter greetings to all Christians and fellow Guyanese at home and the Diaspora Easter is traditionallyknownasatime when Guyanese truly come together, especially in kiteflying and at social gatherings. Easter befits the true spirit of our national observances which continue to foster togetherness of our peoplesfrommanycultures. The significance of the resurrection is an inspirational turning point

and offers mankind the universal message that there is always hope for a new beginning in the face of adversity It brings comfort and motivation for the path to continuity even in what maybeseenastheend.

As the kites of different colours and sizes soar and buzz high in the skies once more, let it symbolize our collective and sustained efforts in rising to the challenges to remove barriersofmisunderstanding andprejudice.

Let the significance of

makingforumofthechurch. Also in attendance at the opening ceremony will be the President, Irfaan Ali, Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton and Mayor of Georgetown,UbrajNarine. While the business sessions will remain closed to delegates in attendance, thedevotionalsessionsinthe mornings and evenings will be streamed live on the Facebook and YouTube platforms at Guyana Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

the occasion of Easter guide ustorenewourcommitment to individually and collectively endeavour to build on the strides made in thefosteringoftoleranceand respect.

The Commission urges Guyanese to ensure that the true significance and message of Easter remain alive and its religious teachings inspire us to promote harmony and good relations across our dear land.

Peaceandfellowshipfor theEasterholidays!

GUYANA AGRICULTURAL AND GENERAL WORKERS UNION (GAWU)

TheobservanceofEaster isoneofthemostprominent events on the calendar of Christianity Today, Christians in Guyana and around the world will celebrate Easter and commemorate the death and resurrectionofJesusChrist.

Easterisatimetoreflect on the values of sacrifice, hope, and forgiveness at the heart of Christ’s message. Traditionally,Christianswill attend church, spend time with family, and organize Easter egg hunts for children.

As the holiest day of the Christian calendar, Easter is also an opportunity to recognize the strength of one’s faith in helping overcomelife’sobstacles.

As we consider our present-day situation, the

enduring message of Easter remains relevant. It reminds us, to some extent, of the challenges Christ and his disciplines faced in their times and the adversities they would have eventually overcome. It is a story of perseverance and the will of peopletoconfrontthosewho seek to thwart what they stood for despite the tall obstacles put in their way It is also a reminder that even the darkest of periods are only but a period and eventually that will soon pass Indeed, we are confident, like in times before,aspeopleshavebeen gripped by one crisis or the other, we again will overcome and persevere, andwewillbecomestronger and better for it all. The Guyana Agricultural and

General Workers Union (GAWU), at this time, extends Easter Greetings to all Guyanese and more especiallytomembersofour Christian Community, both here and around the world, on this most event of the Christian Calendar. For the members of the Christian Community,theEasterstory represents the fulfilment of God’s Prophecy that mankind would be offered the hope of eternal life through the sacrificial death of His son, Jesus Christ and HissubsequentResurrection fromthedead.Itisthisfaith which has kept the worldwideChristianChurch alive and enabled its followers to significantly contribute towards making theearthabetterplaceforall mankind.

Pastor Osley Edwards, Communications Director of the Guyana Conference of Seventh-dayAdventists

From page 16

the President’s deferral of production, Head of the questions “related to their Environmental Production [Kaieteur News] oil and gas Agency (EPA), Kemraj obsession, and the tented Parsram has stressed that no settingbeinganaffronttothe increase in production dignity and nobility of the occurs without thorough media.” reviewbytheregulators. KN Publisher responds Parsram said, “In all of Publisher of Kaieteur the environmental permits, News, Mr Glenn Lall was one of the key requirements anxious to respond to the is that if there is any change Minister’s statement, which to what was approved, they he believes failed to accept (Exxon and partners) must responsibilityforthe“unsafe seek approval from the EPA environment” in which the and in so doing, we will President subjected the require information that will press. help assess if it will cause

Lall said, “The Minister significant impacts before is saying that the journalists approvingsame.” had a problem being under Head of the Oil and Gas the tent, but this is not the D e p a r t m e n t , J o e l case. Had the reporters Gravesande also confirmed known that they would have analysis of the effects based US$20M World Bank loan her remarks as “wild andtheGPAPresident.” t h i s , n o t i n g t h a t been in this uncomfortable on real data which we have which the country received accusations”. Even though the ExxonMobil’s subsidiary; setting and that they were been gathering over the last backin2019. In an article carried by President at no point during Esso Exploration and going to be mocked they two years for the Liza Kaieteur News on Sunday, it his engagement with the Production Guyana Limited would have never sat in that Destiny and over the last Govt. defends was reported that journalists press sought to intervene in ( E E P G L ) d i d s e e k forum- but the fact that they year for the Liza Unity So intimidation of media were intimated by the the heckling by his permission before pumping sat there showed that they we redid the water and air at President’s h u n d r e d s o f p a r t y supporters, the Minister more oil at its Stabroek never expected what they quality modeling and it was press conference representatives at the venue, argued that there were no B l o c k o p e r a t i o n s were met with. Let me be inkeepingwiththeEIA.” …says citizens who decided to join the tent acts of hostility towards the Gravesande said the clear, being under the tent

Gravesande said the only intermittently under which the President media Nevertheless, the Environmental Impact surrounded by supporters of foregoing is a testimony to expressed disgust opted to host his press statement noted, “the PPP/C Assessments (EIA) makes t h e P P P w h o w e r e the EPA’s commitment to …K/News Publisher conference. The crowd was Administration does not two important points on unwelcoming to their ensure all boxes are checked says lack of respect for heckling reporters as they encourage any such production. “Both vessels questions is what I sincerely when monitoring offshore journalists confirmed attempted to question the hostilities, and the track which are floating, have an issue with and by oil and gas operations. The Guyanese Head of State on record of the Irfaan Ali production, storage and attempting to justify this, it capacity of the EPA will be The intimidation of matters relating to the Government stands tested, offloading (FPSO) facilities, shows how little respect the furtherheightenedfollowing media workers on Friday by petroleumsector proven and unrivalled with can operate beyond design Ministerhasforthepress.” an agreement that was supporters of the People’s The GPA President said regards to extending respect, parameters There is an The Publisher was also signed between the Ministry Progressive Party (PPP) reporters could have been empowering support and the operating parameter and a keen to note that while of Natural Resources and during President IrfaanAli’s possiblyharmedattheevent, building of an enabling design parameter The McCoy highlighted the Maxar Technologies, a press conference at the but the government has environment for unfettered design for Destiny for newspaper’s “obsession” world renowned provider of Leonora Track and Field defended the circumstances freedom, access and example is about 150,000 with oil and gas related comprehensive space Centre, West Coast under which the media were advancement of the whole barrelsbutitwasoperatingat matters, he also failed to solutions and precise, Demerara (WCD) has been engaged. mediafraternityinGuyana.” 120,000 barrels of oil per admit the deafening silence geospatial intelligence. The d e f e n d e d b y t h e In response to the article, Raghubir was quoted in day…,” the official said. from the government as it two organizations inked a Minister McCoy said, “They the article highlighting her Gravesande said the regards the management of three-year contractual are claiming that they dissatisfaction with the mere consideration of impacts the country’s greatest source agreement for Maxar to somehow felt intimidated by hour and a half notice given fromaworstcasescenarioof ofrevenuegeneration. provide environmental the fact that residents of to media representatives, an unmitigated oil spill is He said, “If they are so monitoring services for both Region Three who had been stationed in Georgetown to also considered in the EIA upset and want to avoid offshore and terrestrial benefiting from direct attend the press conference, for the Liza Destiny at questions from this sector at applications. government services and across the Demerara River 200,000 to 300,000 barrels their press conferences for

The Environmental presidential interventions to She described it as a “slap in of oil per day “So even the the world to see, they should Protection Agency will solve age-old problems the face of the same impacts are considered feed the media with the utilize Maxar’s Crow’s Nest across their communities t r a n s p a r e n c y a n d beyond the operating level information required Maritime Monitoring and duringthetwo-dayoutreach, accountability they [the and now they are at 150,000 without them having to ask Security products to support became voluntary observers government] claim to be barrels of oil per day The and respond to the queries o ff s h o r e p e t r o l e u m to the open-tent press flyinghighon”. emissions and impacts on when they are sent to them monitoring. It will also use conference, with some In justifying the short water are all considered. personally.”

the Crow’s Nest Maritime intermittently choosing to notice given for the press to Whentheyrequestedtogoto Tipping and Cueing Service, express their disgust with attend the event, McCoy 150,000westillrequiredthat Wednesday –April 5 which leverages Maxar’s some reporters disinterest in stated that this is a standard a technical analysis done on very-high resolution optical the substantive matters global practice for the press the equipment to ensure Jagdeo vows to satellites, to monitor drilling addressed during the to be on stand-by for there are no mishaps,” the fast-track oil sector vessels for regulatory outreachexercise.” continuous coverage at a Head of the Oil and Gas for 15 yrs minimum; compliance and safety It Headded,“Andforsome “moment’s notice” Departmentsaid.

Government. has no shame about that willalsousetheCrow’sNest troubling reason, the According to him this,

Gravesande shared too Minister within the Multi-Sensor Oil Detection peoples’ freedom to openly “appears to no longer apply that a Hazardous and OfficeofthePrimeMinister, The PPP/C Government Service to identify potential express dissatisfaction with to this particular media Operability Study (HAZOP) Kwame McCoy in a planstoembarkonanumber spills. The agreement with some reporter’s persistent house and the GPA, thereby w a s a l s o d o n e f o r statementonMondaysought of measures that will keep Guyana marks Maxar’s first disinterest in the issues other rendering a one-and-a-half- government. This document to justify the hosting of a the oil industry on the fast Crow’s Nest contract in than oil and gas that are hournoticeforaPresidential outlines that the vessels press conference amidst track for a minimum of 15 Latin America and the germane to the lives of Press Conference at the very could function at a higher ardent supporters of the years, says Vice President, C a r i b b e a n M a x a r Guyanese and their site, terribly insulative to production level. He added, party and dismissed the BharratJagdeo. Technologies Inc.’s three- communities, are mute, to them.”

“When the EIA was done, a statements made by the The official said such an year contract with Guyana the preeminence of the He therefore equated the lot of the data used were President of the Guyana approach would include the costs US$ 1,160,714.0. It freedoms and special GPA’s remarks to “wild hypotheticaldatasowhatwe Press Association (GPA), timelyawardofproduction will be taken from a interests of Kaieteur News accusations” in response to ordered as well was an Nazima Raghubir; deeming

(Continued on page 67)

Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy

A section of the audience at the summit

From page 66

Mr Lallsaid he believesthat licences as well as the statement was issued encouraging investment in “because they are feeling the the sector Given the pace at heat, they are smelling the which discoveries are being wrath of you the people out made in the Stabroek Block, there, listening to these and the overall speed of programmes and reading the development activities, Kaieteur News - is the naked Jagdeo said it is critical that truth we are bringing to your the government adopts a ears and eyes. For too long complementary approach to these foreigners have been ensure local and foreign doing this thing to us, businesses are not left with thieving your bread and strandedinvestments. butter while you are left to

He provided this policy suck the cane husk with salt positionduringthecountry’s on it. How things like this first Local Content Summit can go on and a nation keeps held yesterday at Pegasus calm…” Corporate Suites and Turning his attention to ConventionCentreunderthe the US Ambassador, Sarah government will not U.S. Embassy said that it is

Guyana and the stage of government cannot operate theme, “Sustaining Supplier AnnLynch,Lallsaid:“every succumb to the jaundiced urging US citizens to be on development for goods, in a manner that would see Development through Local day you guys boasting about calls of certain detractors to high alert as it has received services and capacities here international and local Content Partnerships.” The how Guyana is so good and shut down the industry In threats against US interest. without harming interests of investors being left with event was hosted by MBW great over your interests, closing, he said government While the embassy did not f i r s t t i e r o i l strandedinvestments. Support Services, a women- whatisgoodandgreatforthe will continue to defend the specify what those threats companies/contractors and The Vice President said, powered company that is led Guyanese people and their country’s right to develop its were in the statement, it without slowing the “All that we are doing is to by Abbigale Loncke- interest? Theyaredrivingin resources. The official also urged all its citizens to “stay momentum,” expressed the s u s t a i n t h e Watson. Mercedes Benz, Lexus, called for there to be a alert” and “exercise VicePresident. level/(momentum) and we

The summit brought BMWs and Audis with our deepening of the analytical heightenedcaution.”“Outof He said it was a careful will do so aggressively and together policy makers, wealth, while some of us views that make their way an abundance of caution, we balancing act that will have unashamedly to sustain high industry operators and can’t even afford to buy a intothemedia. want to inform U.S. citizens to be pursued once again levels of activity for a c o n t r a c t o r s , bicycleforyourkidtorideto that the embassy has with the update of the law minimum of 15 years. That vendors/suppliers, investors school or a bus fare to send Glenn Lall takes US increased security protocols this year The policymaker means licensing new FPSOs and general businesses in themtoschool.Howcanthis ambassador to task over due to receiving threats for Guyana’s oil sector also (Floating, Production, one forum to better ever be in this country, the security alert against U.S. interests,” the

n o t e d t h a t i f t h e Storage and Offloading understand the role of local fastest growing economy on — says Western nations US embassy said Vice administration is to stay true vessels), consistently content as a driver of the earth today? How can this have ignored plight, abuse PresidentBharratJagdeolast to its objective to build encouraging investment, economicgrowth. ever be acceptable,” Lall of Guyanese with lopsided Thursday said that the threat capacity and grow the going out, as we have done, Jagdeo was the keynote lamented. He said too often oil contract against US interest in economy in the future years, toanauctioninamannerthat speaker and thanked the foreigners have been Guyana is a “serious matter” itmusttakedecisivesteps. could potentially have a purpose-driven Guyanese expressing concerns about Against the background andthatitisgettingallofthe

“We want to be able to minimum of five different entrepreneur for taking the their prosperity, their of a recent statement issued government’sattention. amortise the major investorsinthebasin.” initiative to host the event. interests and their security by the US Embassy alerting He too did not disclose investments that they Jagdeo was also keen to Though, noting that the

However, he asked: “what its citizens about threats to the nature of the threats but (companies)aremakingnow note that government is not governmentisnota“bigfan” happen to the prosperity, their interests here, Kaieteur related that the US as a consequence of the unmindful of the debate of summits, he did security and interests of News Publisher, Glenn has Government is also looking Local Content Act; for taking place globally about acknowledgetheimportance Guyanese?” questioned the motive of the into the situation. “I don’t example, many of them are the need to reduce carbon of such platforms for Lall said what the West advisory and surmised that it want to speak about it. It is a putting up buildings to rent emissions to save the planet. g e n e r a t i n g d e e p e r has done to Africa and India could be as a result of the serious matter and we are and they need to have He said the administration conversations about local for hundreds of years, they growing dissatisfaction of giving it all of our attention enoughbusinessforabout15 s u b s c r i b e s t o t h a t content which speaks to are repeating it here right G u y a n e s e o v e r t h e fromtheStateandtheUnited years to recoup costs. So philosophy He stressed giving first consideration for now“withourrawmaterials, wholesale thievery of this States Government also,” keeping that in mind, it however that the transition the use of Guyanese goods our rich natural resources country’s resources by Jagdeosaid. mandates the government to from fossil fuels to andservices. and we must stay quiet; we foreigners. Meanwhile, speaking on operate in a certain manner,” renewableshastobejustand

The Vice President also mustnotsayanything, In a statement published his radio programme; ‘The theofficialsaid. in a sustainable manner He said that government

(Continued on page 68) on its website last week, the GlennLallShow’lastFriday He said too that the said, unreservedly, that the officials were present at the event to listen and not necessarily divulge details about what plans are being streamlined to channel greater benefits in the oil sectortolocals.

Speaking to the mindset that led to the creation of the soon-to-be-amended Local Content Legislation, Jagdeo s a i d i t w a s t h e administration’s intention to not engage in wholesale copying of best practices fromothernations.“Thelaw was not one you could take best practices from elsewhere and transpose them here in a major way into the Local Content Legislation…we had to go through an iterated process to craft a piece of legislation that is appropriate for

Kaieteur News Publisher, Glenn Lall

US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah Ann Lynch

The United States is concerned about the interest of its citizens in Guyana

From page 67

The Vice President because if we say something added, “They knew we were it can be interpreted as a going to put out the draft threat to their security and PSAs. It is a five years issue businessinterests.“Henoted …I think it is just another that inequality causes people one of those things where to live in poverty, which peoplecallformoretimebut sparks hunger, distress, they really don’t want to put sickness. Lall asked why so i n t h e t e c h n i c a l many Guyanese have to live effort…Nevertheless we are scraping from the bottom of movingforward.” the barrel and live with $600

Since the release of the and$1,000aday “Isthisfair, documents on March 14, is this just? How isn’t that a last, the political opposition threat to those citizens or are called for there to be an theynothumans?” extension of the timeline for

Lall said he has seen the review, adding that it should atrocities committed by be sent to the National Western countries on Africa Assembly for debate. Since the costs in question are not Offloading (FPSO) vessels the pot is boiling and there is years since a British firm, and Asia “How can making those calls however, in keeping with industry respectively The Yellowtail no way I can see these types IHS Markit, is yet to foreigners come here, it has not said publically standards and would Project costs US$10B and is ofheinouscrimescontinuing complete an audit of sucking the blood out of our what it agrees, or disagrees thereforehavetoberefunded expected to come online in in this land. I am sorry US$1.6B in expenses for the bodies, the air out of our with, in the draft documents. for distribution among the 2025 with a production Ambassadors and High oil-rich Stabroek Block lungs, and tell us to be happy, It has also not offered an partners. Government has capacity of approximately Commissioners, if I am Those costs were incurred nottobeangry,nottoreact,or alternativetowhatitbelieves not said if it would take this 250,000 gross barrels of oil offending you people, it’s during the period 1999 to should we just roll over and oughttobeaddressedinsuch course of action, should perday not my intention, all I want 2017 by ExxonMobil take it all in I hope that agreements.

Exxon maintain its Exxon is awaiting for me, my family and the Corporation’s subsidiary, nothingIspeakontheradioor Be that as it may, disagreement with its approval for its fifth project Guyanese people is that our Esso Exploration and havewritteninthenewspaper KaieteurNewsonMarch15, findings. at the Uaru field in the interests are secured with Production Guyana Limited is ever considered a threat to 2023,publishedanextensive

Furthermore, the length Stabroek Block with talks what God Almighty blessed (EEPGL). anybody’s business interest, review, highlighting some of of time the audit report is already initiated for the sixth uswith.”

Confirming the status of becauseallwewantisourfair the key features of both taking to be completed has at the Whiptail discovery Time to end the abuse the audit was Commissioner and rightful share from every documents. caused some degree of field.Uaruwhichisexpected Lall said it was time the General of the Guyana foreigner doing business in When compared to the concern among observers. to come online at the end of West ended the abuse of Revenue Authority, Godfrey thiscountry Giveusthatand controversial Stabroek Some individuals have said, 2026 at a cost of US$12.5B countries like Guyana “Your S t e v e n S t a t i a H i s wewillapplaudtheworkyou Block Production Sharing for example, that authorities will have a gross production countries and your people clarification came on the are doing When everybody Agreement (PSA), signed should properly explain why capacity of approximately have done enough to we the heels of two articles benefits, everybody is happy with an ExxonMobil-led it is taking so long to 250,000 barrels of oil per people and this country and it published by the Stabroek When only one side benefits, consortium in 2016, it is complete an audit for a day is time this thing come to an NewsonIHSMarkit’sreport then you see jumbie all over clear that the government company when the Audit Exxon and partners end Ambassadors, High that it provided to the PPP/C and I think that is what you made deliberate efforts to Office of Guyana takes currently have a line of sight Commissioners, I have a regime Stabroek News people are seeing right now – close several dangerous approximately 12 months to for at least 10 FPSOs question for all of you, what comprehensively, and jumbies,” Lall told his loopholes for abuse and auditandproduceareporton offshore Guyana to extract

kindofhumanbeingswalkin clearly, outlined that there audience revenueleakage. thenation’saccounts. the 11 billion barrels of oil to a poor man’s home and were some US$214M in

Lalldrewtotheattention

A significant feature in There are also concerns resources discovered in the snatch the little food he has costs that could be contested of his audience, the lopsided the new draft agreements is about the accelerated pace at StabroekBlock. for his family and leave them byStateauthorities. ExxonMobil contract, that the government has which government is to starve to death ? We all GRA’s boss did not reminding listeners that preserved the right to review approving oil projects and Guyanese had enough know this has been going on denounce these figures as while Guyana is getting 2% and approve the budgets for the difficulties that would time with 14 days to for centuries where the white inaccurate He did note royalty from its oil the exploration and ensue for cost regulation and scrutinize new oil world huffed out the black however that IHS’report, as resources, the US oil major developmentprogrammesof monitoring since it is still contracts- Jagdeo world’s wealth in Africa, is being quoted, is not the waswalkingawaywith98%. the oil companies The stuck at auditing costs snatched out the Indians final document, adding that “How can this ever be fair agreements state that: “The associated with the 1999 to Vice President, Dr wealth in India, when they government is now at the Ambassadors?Howcanthey contractorshallsubmittothe 2017 era. A second audit is Bharrat Jagdeo has were dumb and didn’t know stage of awaiting feedback walk away with 98% and minister for approval, in currently underway for costs confirmed there will be no the real value of their wealth, from Exxon’s subsidiary He don’t even pay a single cent accordance with the totalling US$7 3B which extension of time for comeonman,todayweknow also did not provide a taxes in this country too, to Accounting Procedures, a were incurred from 2018 to stakeholders to review the even more than you - the timeline on when this these hungry and angry Budget of the Costs to be 2020. provisionsofthedraftModel value of our resources, why processwouldbecompleted. citizens of this country who incurred in implementation

That contract was Production Sharing the people being treated this Statia also noted that the own the wealth? How come of each Work Programme, awarded last year May That Agreements (PSAs) for way.” He added: “your government will make the there is no secret alert on simultaneously with the tooisstillongoing. deepwaterandshallowwater interest is threatened, then report public at the these high crimes being submission of such Work

Be that as it may, Jagdeo blocks. thievery of our wealth is appropriatetime. committed against the Programmes. said at the Local Content The chief policy maker threatened and got the nerve At a Local Content business interests of the The minister will decide Summit that government forthenation’soilsectorsaid to tell us that their business Summit held on Tuesday, people of this country, on the proposal of Budgets intends to keep the industry the14-daystimelinethatwas interestisthreatened-nothing Vice President, Dr Bharrat Ambassadors? Tell the simultaneously with the on the fast track for a granted, was more than for us is being threatened, we Jagdeo was keen to note that nation something in another a p p r o v a l o f t h e minimum of 15 years so that enoughtime. police,soldiers,nursesandall the report is not being statement from your corresponding Work investors, both local and On the sidelines of a them public servants, the withheld from public Embassy about their interest Programme.” Such powers foreign, will have enough Local Content Summit on p e n s i o n e r s a n d scrutiny and their economic are not enshrined in the time as well as a thriving Tuesday he said, “We have

schoolchildren, must take He said too if there are security.” Stabroek Block PSA or any business environment to had quite a few comments what they getting and make a costs that are questionable, Lall, a businessman and otherexistingPSA. recouptheirinvestments. from a large number of goodlifeoutofit ” a n d E x x o n c a n n o t newspaper publisher Equally important is the T h e G u y a n a people (on the draft

adequatelyjustifysame,then demandedthat“thepeopleof insertion of a new provision Government has already documents but) I find it Thursday –April 6 it will be disallowed this country must have their that ensures the country is sanctionedtwoadditionaloil strange that this matter has According to the Stabroek rightful share, whether it is notleftonthehookforanyof projects, namely the Payara beeninthepublicdomainfor Three years on … Block Production Sharing from my efforts or from theoilcompanies’bills.That a n d Y e l l o w t a i l the last five years about Audit of Exxon’s US$1.6B Agreement (PSA), it would those of the other Guyanese c l a u s e s p e a k s t o developmentswhichwilluse what’s wrong with the pre-contract costs still not be such an easy walk in who are moved into action indemnification. At Article the Prosperity and ONE current PSA and so people ongoing– GRABoss the park. Government would by the things I stood for and 30.2itsays:“Thecontractor

U YA

l o a t i n g , have been saying that two first have to prove through a done. The tide is turning and (Continued on page 69) Production, Storage and weeksisnotenough.” It is now more than three process of arbitration, that

GRA Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia

Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo

From page 68 commitments carried in a manner that allows the shall indemnify, defend, and hold out ” In the Stabroek country to increase its take, the minister and Government of Block PSA or in other throughhigherprofitoilalso. Guyana harmless against all existing agreements, no

He explained, “At the claims, losses and damages of any suchpenaltyisinplace. moment, the 50/50 split gets nature whatsoever by any Guyana only 12.5 percent of personnel of the contractor or of Friday –April 7 oil revenues–a percentage any subcontractor for the loss or that seems unlikely to budge damage to personal property or ‘Gov’t lacks urgency under the ongoing oil rush. injuryordeathtoPersonscausedby in recovering US- With five (Floating or resulting from any petroleum millions from Production Storage and operations conducted by or on ExxonMobil’ Offloading vessels) FPSOs behalf of the contractor under this ——Opposition says already in operation or Agreement or any License issued audit duration already approved, the pursuanttotheAct.” unacceptable country is now well-

On the issue of insurance, the positionedtoseekalargercut draft contracts state that the oil T h e p o l i t i c a l of the pie In terms of companies must have in place, Opposition is of the view numbers, the 25 percent policiesthatcoverpollutioncaused that the Government of profit oil must be allowed to in the course of petroleum Guyana (GoG) is increase so that the 50/50 operations for which the contractor u n i n t e r e s t e d i n split would earn Guyana an may be held responsible. The recovering US-millions increase of more than 12.5 agreements also state that, “At the that the country may percent.” minister’s discretion the contractor have lost due to unfair

Low was referring to the may be permitted to self-insure all practices by oil giant, fact that the oil contract or part of the aforementioned ExxonMobil during the allows Exxon to first deduct insurances.” The ability of oil period1999-2017. 75 percent of the oil towards companies to self-insure, that is, to O p p o s i t i o n repaying its investment relyontheirownfiscalresources,is Economist,ElsonLowat (known as cost oil) and the alsopartoftheStabroekBlockPSA a press conference remaining 25 percent (profit andwashighlycriticizedforyears. yesterday made the oil) is then shared evenly

A new arrangement or demand observation that a between the government of rather, is that oil companies must preliminary audit report, Guyana and Exxon (12.5 also ensure their subcontractors which has been leaked to Ministry of Human Services by $6 Jagdeo’s push for faster oil percent) With more have adequate insurance coverage another section of the media and billion; bigger than the budget for extraction is a formula for investments being made daily, he too. reported on, has shown that the Ministry of Agriculture by billion-dollar losses and disaster has made the point that Guyana’s

Importantly, the draft US$214 million in costs are about $13 billion, and bigger than

- Opposition Economist share of profit is not likely to agreementsstatethatoilcompanies disputable as they could not be the budget for the Ministry of increase in the near future, will not be allowed to acquire the verified by supporting documents. Culture, Youth and Sport by $39 Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo especially with the policy maker’s blocks and sit on their hands for TheEconomistsaidthisisalarming billion.” recently signaled the government’s recent announcement to fast track decades The draft documents as the administration chose to keep

To this end, the economist said position to fast track the petroleum such development. In this regard, citizensinthedarkonthe Guyanese are left to fear what the sector over the next 15 years, but the Opposition is calling for a progress of the review audit of Exxon’s US$7.3 billion given the current management phased development plan that process, conducted by expenses can uncover, and more regime, the Opposition believes would allow for greater profits for the auditing firm IHS importantly the response from the this may very well set the nation up thecountry

Markit, hired by the government in ensuring these costs to lose billions of dollars and even Low told reporters, “of former A Partnership for are not recovered by the oil exposethenationtoagreaterriskof necessity, allowing profit oil to National Unity + company disaster grow from 25 percent would Alliance For Change According to him, “Despite the During its weekly press require a measured spacing-out of ( A P N U + A F C ) magnitude of the sums involved, conference, the Opposition shared the company’s expenditure on new government. the government’s attitude reeks of this view, suggesting that the developments so that it can recover He told reporters, collusion, negligence and government instead take a step its earlier investment cost faster At “The PPP government is recklessness. We must therefore be back in production activities, to theendoftheday,Guyana’soillifts showingamarkedlackof fearful with regards to the second allow for the country to benefit mustincreaseduebothtohigheroil urgency to complete the audit being conducted by VHE greater within the existing production and to a greatershare of audit cycle and to engage Consulting for the period 2018- provisions of the Stabroek Block that production. Importantly, such E x x o n M o b i l i n 2020, which involves the sum of contract signed with ExxonMobil. negotiations between the recoveringalldisallowed US$7.3B—thatis,asumoverfour Economic advisor to the government and the operator could expenses.” In pointing to times larger than the first audit. Let Opposition Leader, Elson Low occur within the framework of the th e u n accep tab le us recall that at our Press explained, “Guyana must urgently existing2016PSA.” duration of the review, Conferenceon6thDecember2022, exercise intelligence and foresight The Economist was keen to Low pointed out that the weremindedthenationthatthePPP to maximise the country’s oil note that a measured pace of new first audit report was agreed to conduct this second audit revenues under the current Exxon oil developments will also allow submitted in March only after persistent public PSA in parallel with efforts to the country to build its institutional 2021- over two years pressure Furthermore, we had ensurethepeopleofGuyanaobtain capacity building to monitor, ago. In this regard, he insistedthattheauditofoilreceipts the maximum benefit that we can evaluate, and audit the offshore u r g e d t h a t t h e mustbebasedon“anassessmentof get.” operations. As such, he stated, government must act reasonable and competitive HesaidthattheVP’sstatements “Jagdeo’s position that Guyana now to protect the prices.”Ifproperlydone,weexpect asreportedinThursday’seditionof must extract its oil as fast as

categorically state that, “If in any interestofthepeopleofGuyana. the second audit to reveal greater Kaieteur News, announcing plans possible will fail to fully serve phaseoftheExplorationPeriod,the

While the audit report in amounts of contestable to fast track the oil industry for a Guyana’s interest as it is a formula contractor does not fulfill its question is a preliminary expenditures ” Low added, minimum of 15 years is “reckless, for billion-dollar leakages, losses, obligations in respect of the document, Low said it is important “Guyanese must demand that the wild and a recipe for massive loss missedopportunities,anddisasters. Minimum Exploration Work to note the magnitude of the sums PPPreleasealltheauditreportsand and leakages of revenue that is The proper balance must be found Programme for that exploration that have so far been flagged as recover all invalid expenses. The needed for the development of the betweencontinuedexpansionofoil period, the contractor is obliged to questionable. He explained, “For PPP’s cavalier attitude in the peopleofGuyana.” production and a greater share of pay the Government an amount perspective, Guyanese should note management of the country’s As such, the Opposition the profit for the country With equal to the difference between the that the questionable US$214M (or national patrimony will cost proposed that the nation develop a good faith negotiations, the minimum expenditure obligation G$46B) is close to 6 percent of the Guyana tens of billions of dollars. strategy to phase the development company can still get high returns specified for that phase of the total 2023 national budget; but it is Thisdisastermustnotbeallowedto of new projects in the Stabroek on its investment, while Guyana exploration period and the actual bigger than the 2023 budget for the persist.” Block. Low said this must be done canmaximiseitsoilproceeds.” amounts expended on the work

Economic Advisor to the Opposition Leader, Elson Low

‘Politicians are experts at hypocrisy’...

Frompage13

k i n d s o f w a y senvironmentalists, biologist, propagandist, all forms they come in Very important point, imagine someone calling themselves a patriot and going to a court to stop you from the revenue that belongstoyouthepeopleof Guyana in the oil and gas sector.” President Ali said Guyanesehaveevengoneas far to write the country’s

neighbours to say they must stopGuyanafromproducing its oil, due to the potential dangersofanoilspill.

The President argued however that these same neighbouring states have developed their petroleum sector for 100 years. He therefore said, “They call themselves patriots and lovers of our country They are nothing short of being hypocrites!Nothingshortof

being hypocrites and let me be very clear, there is no government in this region who has the environmental credentials as this government.” The President said the PPP came back to officein2020afterleavinga Low carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) which was abandoned by the former administration. Hewaskeen to share with the Berbice crowdthatthisProgrammeis now earning the country revenue for its forests. No insurance But while Guyana hasearneditstitleasacarbon sink,meaningittakesoutmore carbon dioxide than it produces, the oil sector has beenmovingatarapidpacein the absence of full liability coverage, thereby exposing not only Guyana, but the Caribbean Region to grave

risks Presently,approximately 400,000 barrels per day is beingproducedoffshoreinthe Stabroek Block at the Liza OneandTwofields. A third project, Payara, will also startup this year, adding another 220,000 barrels per day Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), the operator of the Stabroek Block has committed US$600millionininsurance foreachprojectitdevelops. This however has been deemed a meagre amount considering the losses experienced by other oil producingstateswhenaspill occurred. To this end, the p a r e n t c o m p a n y ExxonMobil is required to supply a parent company guarantee in accordance with the Permit it received

from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). After more than three years, this provision is yet to be adhered to. It is intended to subject the parent company tocoveranyexpensesabove thecappedinsurancepolicy This newspaper has reported that ExxonMobil hadbeatdownaUS$5billion Courtjudgmentforfishermen to US$507 million following a 50-million-barrel oil spill 1989inAlaska,UnitedStates In February, members of a civil society group wrote to TrinidadandTobago’sPrime Minister (PM), Dr Keith Rowley,puttinghimonguard about the potential oil spill dangersofGuyana’soffshore projects The letter which wassignedbyAlfredBhulai, Andre Brandli, Janette Bulkan,DarshanandKhusial,

Mike Persaud, and Charles Sugrim all of whom are members of the Oil and Gas Governance Network (OGGN) was issued on February8,2023tothePM’s office TheOGGNmembers werekeentonotethattheyare concernedcitizensofGuyana and inhabitants of the Caribbean They stressed that Guyana’s oil reserves, totalling some 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent resources in the Stabroek Block, underpin grave oil spill concerns for Caribbean citizens What is also troubling for them is that ExxonMobil Corporation, through its subsidiary, EEPGL, currently plans to drill 158 wells in six oil fields by 2030 in the southeast corner of the Stabroektractalone.

UG Student dies days after being stabbed, beaten during robbery at ECD bar

An 18-year-old student of

the University of Guyana died on Friday almost one week after he was beaten and stabbed during an armed robberyatabaralongtheEastCoast Demerara(ECD).

ThevictimwasidentifiedasAnil Jerry of Sixth Street, Cummings Lodge (ECD). Jerry was attacked around 22:30hrs last Sunday while having a drink with two female friends.

The owner of the bar told Kaieteur News that the attack took place in the outside section of the bar

According to reports, several menwearingfacemasksapproached and snatched one of Jerry's female friends'cellularphone.

Jerry reportedly intervened to

stop the bandits from taking the woman's phone and was badly beaten. The bandits allegedly gun butted him to the head and stabbed him to the neck. Jerry collapsed and gunshots were reportedly fired before the men made good their escape.

The victim was rushed to Georgetown Public Hospital and underwent surgery but did not fully recover He was placed on a life supportmachine.

Subsequently, Jerry was reportedly transferred to Infectious DiseaseHospitalatLiliendaalwhere he latersuccumbedtohis injurieson Friday

Following the news of his demise, his Facebook friends flooded the social media platforms withheartwarmingposts.

He was described as a lover of football and dedicated student who wasthevaledictorianinhighschool.

One of his high school teachers said, “I knew since the day he entered the school, he would be the top student. His parents, villagers, teachers and friends were all proud of him. I can't forget the happiness on his mom's face when he was announcedasthetopperformer”.

Jerry is originally from Jawalla, an Amerindian village located in RegionSevenandafterdoingwellat the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate(CSEC),heappliedtothe University of Guyana and was acceptedtopursuehisstudies.

Sadly,hislifewassnuffedoutby bandits two days after completing th his 18 birthday and before he completedhisuniversityeducation.

Dead: Anil Jerry

Guyana men’s side in action today at Jr Pan Am Hockey Championship

By Rawle Toney

An enthused and excited Guyanese men and women side arrived in Barbados and are ready to get into action at this year’s Junior (U21) Pan Am Hockey Championship in Bridgetown.

The men’s side will be grouped with Barbados, the USA and Canada in Pool B, while the women’s unit is set to face Barbados, Canada and Chile in Pool B of their competition. Pool A for the men’s competition will come from Argentina, Chile and Brazil. In the women’s tournament, the USA,

Argentina and Uruguay are in Pool A. While the Guyanese men will feature on the tournament’s opening day against the USA, the women’s side take the field on Day Two (April 11) against Canada. Also on April 11, Guyana’s men’s team will play their game of the tournament, facing off with Barbados.

A clash with Canada on April 13 will wrap up the men’s team group play, where they will hope for a positive result that will see them being one of the two teams to play in the finals on April 17. The women will play Barbados on

Sunday April 09, 2023

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19)

Today your brain is supercharged, Aries. If you've been thinking about doing some writing or have put off analyzing a particularly tricky problem, this would be the perfect day to get started.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

With today's planetary energy, you'll find yourself a little more extraverted than usual, Taurus. You'll finally be able to say what you really think about things.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

Today you're unstoppable! You're a very hard worker by nature, and with the current planetary alignment you'll be able to accomplish even more than usual.

CANCER (June 21–July 22)

Discard those items from the past for which you really no longer have use. As much as you like to surround yourself with objects of sentimental value.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)

Intimacy will be in the air over the next few days. Loved ones suddenly want to spend more time with you, and you'll want to invite friends over every night! By all means, do.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22)

Feeling unusually adventurous, Virgo? You're often motivated by your idealistic expectations, and the planetary configurations today .

Romel and Robin Golf...

From page 78 begin play between 8:00AM & 9:00AM.

Once on their respective tee boxes, players must await the sounding of the horn or siren as indication to begin teeing off.

Presentation of prizes will be held at the completion of the tournament at approximately 12:00pm.

Wins for Buxton Stars-U18; St. Cuthbert’s...

April 12, followed by their final Pool B game on April 14 against Chile. Men’s coach Robert Fernandes in a

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

The celestial energy signals a pleasant change for you today, Libra. Finally, the overpowering emotions that have been surging from your relationships will subside. You are now beginning a more contemplative phase.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

This is a good day to devote time and thought to spiritual pursuits, Scorpio. Do something inspirational that instills a sense of wonder deep in your soul.

SAGIT (Nov.22–Dec.21)

A new phase in your life is beginning, Sagittarius. The previous phase could be interpreted as having taught you to be serious and devoted to professional responsibilities.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19)

Today's aspects might clear up some rather sketchy ideas about your professional future, Capricorn. If you long for a change, such as daring to undertake a more artistic pursuit.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

You have acquired some sound confidence in yourself, Aquarius. Now it is time for you to show everyone else by actually putting it to use in your life.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)

Today's planetary energy should compel you to commit certain acts of self-affirmation that are needed to define your territory and protect your rights.

previous article published in the Kaieteur News said the level of preparation that went into the men’s team should see them being considerably successful in Barbados. He highlighted that the team have been in preparation mode for almost two years while pointing to their December tour of Barbados, where they played four games against the ‘Bajans’, drawing three and winning their final game. With the men’s team grouped with two of Pan Am Hockey’s powerhouses in Canada and the USA,

Fernandes said his players are not fearful of their opposition. “The group of players, we had to bring them down (to earth), because they think that there’s no other team in the world that could stop them. So we had to narrow their focus on the small things they need to do to beat these teams,” Fernandes said. Former National player John Abrahams will be Fernandes’ assistant Coach for the tournament that serves as a Qualifier for the 2023 Junior World Cups.

From page 79 each from Swade Edwards and Osafo Browne. This was after Pele scored had scored first, compliments of Shawn Murray.

In the female clash between Santos and St. Cuthbert’s Mission, the latter, after falling behind when Santos broke the deadlock, eventually found their rhythm and were unstoppable thereafter as they marched to a comfortable 6-1 triumph.

Fiona Benjamin blasted a hat-trick, the only one in the four matches played.

Teammate, Britney Poonsammy hammered in a double with the other scored by Amelia Bangatt.

The veterans clash between Santos and Pele saw a number of former national players rolling back the years including Omali Nassey, Terrence ‘Old Head’ Lewis, Sheik Kamal, Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson, Travis Grant, Solomon Austin, National cricketer Christopher Barnwell, Justin Bentick, and Rawle ‘Overseas’ Jones for Pele.

Santos’ line-up included Jermaine Fraser, Lennox Charles, and Dwayne Ally among others and it was the vets in all-white who triumphed by a 4-2 margin, in the end.

In the final match of the evening, a senior clash between Pele and Black Pearl ended in victory for the host, 1-0, thanks to Under-18 Captain Matthew Layne’s strike.

All the teams were presented with trophies whilst each player also received a medal.

A number of former national and other Pele players who have come home for the programme were on hand to witness the matches.

They have all expressed satisfaction with the rollout of the programme to date.

These players as well as the locally based members will on Friday next, be involved in a social event (meet and greet) to be held at the Herdmanston Lodge.

Guyana’s Men’s Hockey team after arriving in Barbados ahead of the Junior Pan Am Hockey Championships.

Double Gold for Raekwon Noel at CARIFTA Aquatics Championships

It was one sensational performance after another for Raekwon Noel in Curacao, where Guyana is

competing at the CARIFTA G a m e s A q u a t i c s Championship. Noel stole the show for Team Guyana

in the Dutch Antilles, securing the country’s only medals so far at the event, which started in 1985, and

wrappedupyesterday

Noel first landed on top ofthepodiumintheBoys15 – 17 1500m freestyle, swimming 16 minutes, 17.92s (16:17.92), which wasanewPersonalBest.

Kimani Bellanger (16:24.48s) of Martinique and Trinidadian Nikoli Blackman (16:46 46s) finished second and third respectively

The Guyanese swimmer returned in the boys 15-17 400m Individual Medley, where his time of four minutes, 42.51s (4:42.51) was better than Dominic Hilton (4:51 94) of the Cayman Islands and Trinidad and Tobago’s ZacharyAnthony(4:54.36).

‘Wonder Girl’ Tianna ‘springs’ Gold for Guyana

- Roberts takes silver, Booker grabs bronze on eventful CARIFTA Games day one

ByRawleToney

Itwasnothingshortofa superhero performance from Guyanese athletes on Day One of the 50th CARIFTA Games in the Bahamas yesterday, especially those forced to head straight to the track fromtheairport.

The story of Guyana’s CARIFTA Games athletes andhowsomeevenbecame contenders for a medal is one straight out of a storybook; a story of determination, fighting off adversities and even being asked to do the virtually impossible under their circumstances.

When the dust settled and the noise about who is to be blamed for a mishap thatcould’vecostGuyanaa gold medal, the Guyanese athletes strapped on their capes and placed the huge ‘S’on their chest, and took thetrack.

Tianna Springer (400m U17 girls), Adessa Albert (100m U17 Girls), Malachi Austin (400m U17 Boys), Narissa McPherson (400m U20Girls),EzekielNewton (100 U20 Boys) and Omar James (400m U20 Boys) were forced to run the qualifying round ‘against the clock’ after a mishap with a connecting flight from Cuba on Friday evening, saw them arrive

way past the time for their event in the morning sessionofDayOne.

Except for James and McPherson, the other athletes booked places in thesemi-finalsandfinals.

S E N S AT I O N A L TIANNAGOLD!

While all the athletes producedperformancesthat were nothing short of sensational, it was Tianna Springer’s Gold medal performance which left the spectatorsattheThomasA. Robinson Stadium in Nassau in awe and the Guyanese athlete receiving astandingovation.

K a i e t e u r N e w s understands that countries whose athletes were displaced after Springer made the qualifying time needed, launched a protest, forcing race officials and organisers to have the Women’s U17 400m done in two groups, where the winner will be the athlete thatpoststhefastesttime.

Tianna then registered 54.32 seconds to win her raceinacome-from-behind performance. Her time was better than Jody-Ann Daily of Jamaica (54.81s), who hadtosettleforsilverandSt K i t t s a n d N e v i s ’ De’cheynelle Thomas (55.46s).

Javon Roberts also had to produce a herculean

efforttofinishsecondinthe Boys U17 1500m, running four minutes, 13 63s (4:13.63).

Belize’s Demetire Myers won the race in a timeof4:11.19.Thirdplace went to Joel Morgan of Jamaica4:13.82.

Seon Booker had a bronze medal performance in the Boys U20 1500m with his time of four minutes, 08.38s (4:08.38) saw him giving Guyana its thirdmedalonopeningday

Attoya Harvey was visibly tired, and her 4:58.64 time was just good enough for fourth place. Harvey won gold in the eventlastyearinJamaica.

Ezekiel Newton had a heart-breaking false start in the Boys U20 100m semifinals; this was after the promising sprinter coasted to 10.60s in his qualifying round, which was the second-fastest time in the qualifiers.

Wesley Nobel, after impressinginthequalifying round, placed 5th in the Boys U20 400m, running 48.45s.

MalachiAustin(49.55s) andDejuanAustin(49.75s) were fifth and sixth respectively in the 400m of the Boys U17, while Athaleyah Hinckson (12.12s) was seventh in the GirlsU17100mfinals.

Raekwon Noel displaying one of his two gold medals won at the 2023 CARIFTA GamesAquatics Championships.

Pomeroon Masters and Everest Masters clash in Easter Sunday t/20 Cricket Match

The Pomeroon Masters team and Everest Masters teamwilltesttheirskillsand staminawhenthetwoteams meet in an exciting t/20cricketmatchtoday,Sunday, April-9, 2023, at the Teneze Ferme Sports Club Ground, LowerPomeroonRiver

According to one of the organisers, Mr Eric Gomes, the match is scheduled to start at 10:00 hrs as long as therainstaysaway

Thiswillbethethirdtime the two teams will be meeting, with Everest Masters coming out victorious in both encounters However,

Pomeroon Masters will be lookingtoturntheirfortunes around as they will be playing on their home ground, and will definitely havethehomecrowdbehind them. Pomeroon Masters 16 man Squad – Eric Gomes (Capt), Roopnarine Ramnarine, Abraham Benjamin, Roy Rajkumar, Sherman Austin, Lennox Baharally, Wayne Holder, Kenneth DeAgrella, Elton Thomas, Shahab Mohamed, Barry Alphonso, Ray Williams, Euson Rose, Yuri Alphonso, Carlos Matthias, Kevin Griffith, and Shawn Marks Team Manager:-

Mukesh Singh, while coach isLloydPrashad.

EverestMasters:-Rajesh Singh, Sahadeo Hardaiow, Imtiaz Sadik, Basil Persaud, SeonLovell,AnandBeharry, R a n d y L i n d o r e , Chanderpaul Singh, Anand Persaud, Ronald Jaisingh, Troy Gonsalves and David Williams.

Trophies and Cash incentives will be up for grabs.

All is set for the Port Mourant Turf club (PMTC) one day horserace meet set for today at the club’s track situated at Port Mourant, Corentyne,Berbice.

Eight races are listed for thedaywiththesponsorship being boosted to close to $10M in cash, trophies and other incentives with jockeys,ownersandpatrons allexpectedtocashin.

With race day here, Trophy Stall has hopped on board in a major way and will be presenting trophies for the outstanding individual performers. Most of the top horses in the countryhavetakenentryfor the big showdown. When entries closed with over 60 horses already registered in what is expected to be an exhilarating event Themaineventisopentoall racehorses in Guyana and willberunoveronemilefor awinner’spurseof$2Mand trophy compliments of BanksDIHLimited.

The three-year-old Open Guyana and West Indianbred race over 6.75furlongs hasawinningpurseof$1M andtrophy Theotherevents onboardwillallberunover 6 furlongs and will see the

winners receiving hefty prizes and trophies The othereventsarefortheEand NorthAmericannonstarters; Animals classified H and lower; the J class open race; the L class open; the J and Lower maiden and the Three-year-oldGuyana-bred maiden.Theday’seventwill beheldusingtherulesofthe

Guyana Horse Racing

Authority (GHRA) Sponsors of this event includeBanksDIHLimited, Trophy Stall, KP Jagdeo General Contractors, Anil Sawh, Kascon Engineering and Delmur Company Limitedamongothers.

Post time is 12.15 hrs. (SamuelWhyte)

The Teneze Ferme Sports Club Ground, Lower Pomeroon River.

‘They are off’ at Port Mourant Horserace meet today as Trophy Stall joins the fray

Emma Sunich-Hussain, daughter of Mr. Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall, hands over the champion Jockey Trophy to a representative of Port Mourant Turf Club.

Romel and Robin Golf Tournament to tee off today

Today (April 9, 2 0 2 3 ) t h e Lusignan Golf Club, will be host to the Romel and Robin Golf Tournament.

Thisannualfixtureisset toteeoffbetween8:00am9:00am.Theformatofplay will be Medal play over 9 holesinthree(3)flightsand shotgunstart.

The three flights are: 10 and under, 11-18 handicap, 19-36 handicap. The prizes upforgrabswillbe:BestNet in each Flight 1stPlace

2 n d P l a c e 3rd Place % Overall Best Net%OverallBestGross% Longest Drive – Hole #5

% Nearest to Flag –Will be conducted after completionoftournament.

Inthe2022editionofthe tournament which was held inOctober,manytopgolfers cameouttoplayasthemain golfers were away at the Suriname Open. However, this year, the tournament is expectedto see a mixture of fresh faces and experienced players taking the course by storm. The winners for the 2022editionwereFlight1936: In first place was Roberto Mohan with Gross 38,HC10andaNetof78;in second was Sanjay Persaud and third, Latchman Raju. Flight 10-18: In first place

was Kassim Khan with Gross39,HC8andaNetof 31,whileinsecondandthird positions were Randy Dindanauth and Kevin Boodram respectively.

Flight 9 and Under: In first place was Deso Ramsundar withGross35,HC3andNet of 32, while coming second and third were Mago Seecharan and Richard Haniff respectively All participants are advised to contact the club’s manager onthedayofthetournament to collect their scorecards, pay their tournament fees and proceed to their allocatedteeboxesto (Continuedonpage75)

Winners in the 2022 edition of the tournament.

Name Brand win second Canje/New Amsterdam

Softball Cricket Cup

The 2nd annual Canje Softball

Cricket Cup which was rebranded as the “Canje/New Amsterdam

One Guyana Softball CricketCup” was playedon Sunday 2nd April 2023 and saw Name Brand Softball teamwinthetitle.

The competition was played at the Goed Bananen Land Sports Ground, East Canje. In the final, Name BranddefeatedChaseX1by 43runs.

Batting first, Name Brandmade171for6intheir allotment of 10 overs with Dyal top scoring with 59, Ganagram made 50 and Banks20.

Bowling for Chase XI there was 2 wickets for Black boy, while Chase, Madan and Ravo took 1 each.

In reply Chase X1 reached 128 for 7 with Persaudtopscoringwith46, while Singh made 29 Bowling for Name Brand, Kevin took 3 wickets while Gangaram snared 2 with

Sanasie and Madan one each.

Dyalwasnamedtheman ofthematch.

Earlier in another game, Name Brand defeated Doom Softball Team by 18runs Batting first Name Brand reached 97- 5 in their 6 overs with Gangaram37,Grant24not outandSingh21

Persaud picked up 2 wickets bowling for Doom.

They in reply were restricted to 79-6 with WazimandRiazscoring15 runseach

Bowling for Name Brand there were two wickets each for Kevin and Banks Gangaram waslaternamedthemanof thematch

Ministry of Natural Resources ended third

At the end of the competition Gangaram was named the MVP, Kevin the best bowler and Dyalthebestbatsman

Theorganizerstookthe opportunity to thank the

sponsors and fans for their support

PeleFCAlumniCelebratingYouthEducation-SoccerGames Wins for Buxton Stars-U18; St. Cuthbert’s Mission-Female; Santos-Vets; Pele-Seniors

The winning Name Brand Team with their silverware after the competition.

Rewinding, Kaieteur News PAGE 79 SundayApril 09, 2023

Shop, Control, True Care M e d i c a l , S o o k r a j Industries, Furniture

Ramoutar World, Raja Lumber Yard and A’s Electrical (SamuelWhyte)

Terminate

Members of the Pele FC senior team with members of the Pele FCAlumni following the presentation of trophy and medals.

The Pele FC Alumni Corporation 2023 Youth Education Celebration commenced successfully on Thursday evening last at the Georgetown Football Club Ground when the USAbased body, along with their local chapter, Pele Football Club hosted a series of matches, under the theme, ‘Celebrating Youth Education’.

But Thursday’s focus was all on a series of goodwillmatchesfeaturinga number of sister clubs from inandoutofGeorgetown.

(Continuedonpage75)

BarticaEasterRegatta2023–ExxonMobilFootballCup

Middle Mazaruni Warriors squeeze past Eteringbang to lift to trophy

A Dorwin George 53rdminute goal along with airtight goalkeeping from the tournament’s Most

ValuablePlayer,JoelYhap, d e l i v e r e d t h e championship trophy and prize for Middle Mazaruni Warriors in the final of the ExxonMobil sponsored Bartica Easter Regatta FootballCup

Contested on Thursday evening last at the Bartica Community Centre Ground, Middle Mazaruni Warriors

andEteringbangservedupa riveting final that was supported by a large and appreciativecrowd.

Theexchangeswereendto-end and the respective goalkeepers held things scoreless owing to some gooddefensiveworkatboth endsalso.

But it was the guile and alertness of George whose strike in the 53rd minute turned out to make all the difference as Eteringbang couldnotfor alltheirworth,

respondinlikemanner

Yhap was excellent between the uprights t h r o u g h o u t t h e competition and was rewarded with the MVP trophyforhisefforts.

The third-place clash between losing semifinalists, Rivers View and A K Galaxy produced a comfortable5-2winledbya

hat-trickfromAntonioJones and one goal each off the boot of Andel Norton and Andrew Simmonds. Getting

ontothescoresheetsforA.K Galaxy were Esteban MartinsandSheldonParris.

Meanwhile, in the

female supporting match, Rivers View edged Potaro Strikers, by the odd goal in three.

Guyana Committee of Service assists Junior Carifta athletes with spending allowance

Committee member Mr. Leslie Black (A.A) hands over sponsorship to manager Keith Campbell, Coach Mark Scott on the left, Coach Phillips on the right and the Carifta athletes.

The Guyana Committee of Service continuestoassisttheJuniorCariftaathletes and management team with spending allowance.

The committee was formed when Guyana world rated boxer Clive Atwell neededurgentsurgeryintheUSA

This was possible through Lady Ira Lewis and the committee which is made up

sportspersonnel,Guyanatopcomedianand artiste

Since the successful surgery of Mr Atwelltheyhavecontinuedtoassistathletes withrunningshoesandsportsgearsandalso assisting the less fortunate which includes the building of a home for Ms Rockell Martin, an individual in Bartica and a individualin

Berbice

Tournament MVP, JoelYhap is rewarded by Mr. Ryan Hoppie of ExxonMobil.

ExxonMobil’s Representative, Mr. Ryan Hoppie takes time out for a photo withBartica Easter Regatta 2023 – ExxonMobil Football Cup champions, Middle Mazaruni Warriors.

‘Wonder Girl’ Tianna ‘springs’ Gold for Guyana

- Roberts takes silver, Booker grabs bronze on eventful CARIFTA Games day one

Double Gold for Raekwon Noel at CARIFTA Aquatics Championships

GOLDEN GIRL! Tianna Springer after receiving her gold medal for the girls U-17 400m. (Newsroom photo)

Seon Booker with his bronze medal from the Boys U20 1500m. (Newsroom photo)

Javon Roberts was second in the Boys U17 1500m. (Newsroom photo)

Tianna Springer powers from behind to win the girls U17 400m. (Newsroom photo)