Kaieteur News

K

AIETEUR Journalist loses foot after Saturday Edition being badly wounded NEWS in Israeli attack in Gaza April 13, 2024 - Vol. 18 No. 14

Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $100 readership yesterday, 57,992

...Gaza's media office and Reporters Without Borders say there is evidence to suggest it was a targeted attack

Govt. approves th oil project for

6Exxon at US$12.7B

SBM grabs contract th for Guyana’s 6 FPSO Taxi driver shot Labourer stabbed by brother to death by during row friend’s mother during row over girlfriend

‘Hold your horses’ Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat (2nd right) and representatives of the Stabroek Block Co-Venturers CNOOC, Exxon and Hess in smiles as the 6th Stabroek Block project, Whiptail is approved.

...Mahipaul urges calm, unity as infighting heats up in PNCR

Govt. turns to Cuba for engineers to ease blackout woes ExxonM, EPA a no-show again ...Minister at Natural Resources Bharrat joins

Parliamentary meeting absentees

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Saturday April 13, 2024

Kaieteur News

The 'One Guyana' FPSO being built by SBM Offshore for Guyana's fourth oil project, Yellowtail.

SBM grabs contract for th Guyana's 6 FPSO Dutch shipbuilder, SBM Offshore on Friday announced that it will be constructing Guyana's sixth Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, Jaguar.

The vessel will be designed to produce 250,000 barrels of oil per day, and will have associated gas treatment

capacity of 540 million cubic feet per day and water injection capacity of 300,000 barrels per day. The FPSO will be spread moored in water depth of about 1,630 meters and will be able to store around 2 million barrels of crude oil.

In a public missive, SBM said that ExxonMobil

Guyana Limited (EMGL) has confirmed the award of contracts for the Whiptail development project located in the Stabroek Block in Guyana. Under these contracts, SBM Offshore will construct and install the Jaguar FPSO. Ownership will transfer to EMGL prior to the FPSO's installation in

Guyana, and SBM Offshore expects to operate the FPSO for 10 years under the Operations and Maintenance Enabling Agreement signed in 2023.

SBM said the award follows completion of frontend engineering and design studies, receipt of requisite government approvals and the final investment decision on the project by ExxonMobil and the

Stabroek block co-venturers.

“The FPSO Jaguar's design is based on SBM Offshore's industry leading Fast4Ward program that incorporates the Company's 7th new build, multi-purpose floater hull combined with several standardized topsides modules,” the shipbuilder explained.

It said it remains committed to working with Guyanese companies and

will continue to expand these activities, as more Guyanese engineers will be recruited and employed as part of the FPSO Jaguar project team.

To d a t e , S B M h a s constructed four FPSOs for Guyana, including the Liza D e s t i n y, L i z a U n i t y, Prosperity and One Guyana.

Exxon had recruited the services of Japanese ship builder, MODEC, for its fifth FPSO, Errea Wittu.

East La Penitence man remanded for stealing phone, jewellery A 51-year old man of lot 183 East La Penitence, Georgetown was on Friday remanded to prison after he was charged with the offence of simple larceny.

The man, Mark Younge, is accused of stealing an Iphone and two gold chains from the victim. The accused appeared before Senior Magistrate Clive Nurse where the charge was read to him. He pleaded not guilty.

According to Police, on April 5, 2024 on Regent Street, Georgetown, Younge stole an Iphone 11 ProMax valued $200,000 and two gold chains valued $420,000 from the victim.

Younge was represented by Attorney Clyde Ford who pleaded with the court to grant his client bail.

Ford told the court that Young will abide by any conditions set, should bail be granted.

During Friday's case, it was noted that Younge was previously charged with Robbery Under Arms in 2015.

As a result, the prosecutor objected to bail being granted on the ground that Younge was previously charged.

As a result, Magistrate Nurse refused bail on the ground listed by the prosecutor. Court was adjourned to May 24, 2024.

Mark Younge at the Georgetown Magistrates' Court

Kaieteur News

Saturday April 13, 2024

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th

Govt. approves 6 oil project for ExxonM at US$12.7 billion E

xxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) has received a green light from the Government of Guyana (GoG) to pursue a sixth oil project in the Stabroek Block, the Whiptail development.

This was officially announced by the oil giant on Friday morning in a statement to the press.

Kaieteur News understands that the $12.7 billion Whiptail development will target an estimated resource base of more than 850 million barrels of oil and include up to 10 drill centers and 48 production and injection wells. The floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel for Whiptail, which will be called Jaguar, is already under construction.

ExxonMobil also announced its Final Investment Decision (FID) for the project that is expected to produce

approximately 250,000 barrels per day (bpd) by the end of 2027.

Liam Mallon, President of ExxonMobil Upstream Company said, “Our sixth multi-billion-dollar project in Guyana will bring the country's production capacity to approximately 1.3 million barrels per day.”

He noted that the company's unrivaled success in developing the Guyana resource at industry-leading p a c e , c o s t a n d environmental performance is built on close collaboration with the government of Guyana, as well as its partners, suppliers, and contractors.

Mallon further pointed out, “We are committed to helping spread the benefits throughout the country by investing in local Guyanese communities and projects to support the country's phased and sustainable development.”

Currently, three FPSOs – the Liza Destiny, Liza Unity

ExxonMobil Guyana Limited Country Manager, Alistair Routledge and Prosperity – are operating offshore Guyana and are producing more than 640,000 barrels of oil per d a y. C o n s t r u c t i o n i s underway on FPSOs for the Ye l l o w t a i l a n d U a r u projects, with Yellowtail anticipated to start production in 2025 and Uaru targeted in 2026.

Chief Executive Officer

Woman accused of snatching gold bangle granted bail A 27-year-old pastry maker, who is accused of robbing a man of his gold bangle, was granted $75,000 bail when she appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates' Court on Friday.

Rophro Peters of Middle Road, La Penitence made her first court appearance before Senior Magistrate Clive Nurse, where the Robbery with Violence charge was read to her.The mother of two pleaded not guilty to the charge that alleged that on Monday at Croal Street, Georgetown, while being in the company of others, and inflicting violence immediately before or after, she robbed Victor Daniels of his gold bangle valued

$235,000.

Peters' lawyer pleaded with the court to grant the woman bail in a reasonable sum while noting that she is the sole breadwinner for her household. The Attorney assured the court that Peters is not a flight risk.

Bail was objected to by the prosecutor due to the seriousness and gravity of the offence. Further, the prosecutor reminded the court that the penalty for the offence is equivalent to five years' imprisonment.

Notwithstanding, Magistrate Nurse placed Peters on $75,000 bail. She is scheduled to return to court on May 24, 202 for statements.

(CEO) of Hess Corporation, John Hess in a separate statement said, “We are excited to sanction Whiptail, our sixth oil development on the Stabroek Block, and remain on track to have six FPSOs online by the end of 2027 with a total gross production capacity of

approximately 1.3 million barrels of oil per day.”

Furthermore, Hess noted, “We are proud to work with the Government of Guyana to realize the remarkable potential of this world class resource for the benefit of all stakeholders.

The world will need these vital oil resources to meet future energy demand and help ensure an affordable, just and secure energy transition.”

There are currently 6,200 Guyanese working in support of Stabroek block operations—which is 70% of the workforce. The cumulative spend of ExxonMobil Guyana and its contractors with Guyanese suppliers since 2015 surpassed $1.5 billion at the end of 2023.

Exxon said production from the six Stabroek block developments will generate tens of billions of dollars of revenue and significant

economic development for Guyana. Since first production in 2019, more than $4.2 billion has been paid into the Guyana Natural Resource Fund.

Following Exxon's announcement, the Ministry of Natural Resources said the GoG was pleased to announce the granting of a Petroleum Production Licence to ExxonMobil for its sixth offshore development.

It said billions in revenue will be generated from the Whiptail project that will support significant economic and social upliftment for the country and its citizens.

ExxonMobil affiliate, ExxonMobil Guyana Limited is operator and holds 45% interest in the Stabroek block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. holds 30% interest, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited holds 25% interest.

Kaieteur News

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Saturday April 13, 2024

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

Publisher: GLENN LALL - Tel: 624-6456 Editor-in-Chief: Nigel Williams Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

Maduro objectively advancing imperialism’s plans for Latin America and the Caribbean

DEAR EDITOR, substance of independence – The original intent was to 1968 General Elections and President Ali rolling The aggressive posture and that brought them into have that as a tool to ensure was meant as threat to the by the Nicolas Maduro direct disagreement with the imperial control of the future then People’s National over, rolling along administration in Venezuela United States.

Guyanese governments in Congress (PNC) regime.

President Irfaan Ali considers himself a man who gets things done, a leader one who brooks no nonsense. Some say he is a visionary, a man on the move. The position that we at this paper take is in what direction, up or down, or in circles? We go deeper and say that he is a man groping around for solutions without even knowing what the problem is.

The GPL is a source of continuing curses from Guyanese. Blackouts have raged across different parts of Guyana recently with increasing frequency. The electricity goes off, then it comes back, only to go down again within a matter of minutes. True to traditional practice, President Ali looked around for an easy, saleable scapegoat, and quickly found one in the APNU+AFC Coalition Government of 2015-2020. He spoke of what was inherited, and the dilapidated state in which the GPL was when the PPPC Government returned to power in August 2020. The president is wrong, and he knows it, for there was a notable decline in the number of blackouts and other outages during the Coalition’s management of it. We at this publication know that for a fact, for the simple reason that the electricity interruptions and the related disruptions were lesser. There is no refuting that record, and President knows that, but pretends not to, and plays the usual politics at which he gets more seasoned and slicker on his feet.

Few of the president’s attitudes and actions relative to the GPL have provided relief from incessant blackouts to the energy starved population of Guyana. The president may be angered to be reminded about this, but it was his PPPC Government that brought back an executive whose performance was rated as “below expectations” by his own people. “Below expectations” means that he could not deliver, and in a problem prone organization like the GPL, only the best person available could make a difference.

Jamaican CEO, Albert Gordon worked small wonders with what he had and produced the one standard that means the most to the Guyanese public: a noticeably smaller number of blackouts. President Ali had no use for either the man or his work, and how much he could have probably delivered at the GPL, so down and out he went. There is a strong resemblance to the fate that was meted out to Dr. Vincent Adams of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), who was also shown the door. Like the GPL, Guyanese should take a deep breath and check where the PPPC Government reengineered EPA is today. When it is needed to be at its best, the EPA is a national entity that would make the comedy circuit in a real country.

But President Ali, is not a man who responds to facts and circumstances complacently, brushes those nuisance reminders, and is said to have read the “riot act” to the GPL Board of Directors and its management team. Sad to say, President Ali is more bark than bite, a man given to bluff and whoof. While he takes joy in reading riot acts with his sternest face here and there, the mob still runs madly ahead.

In other words, the electricity woes of Guyanese still have to be experienced. We don’t know who is advising the president, or the source of some of his ideas, and what he has adopted as his leadership style. But many of the things that he puts his hands on, the big national issues are fast becoming too identical to what his champion, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, represents. Jagdeo has failed serially, and President Ali runs that same risk, should he keep rolling along the wrong roads chosen.

The performance of the GPL today is laid on the Coalition, as are most things. Guyanese are not biting. For the Ali board at the GPL has lost credibility, and his executive management team has its holes. All the generators in the world will not make the difference they should for Guyanese, when senior positions are filled based on politics rather than on proven track records. The GPL is dragging Guyanese down with recurrent blackouts. The PPPC Government, led by Irfaan Ali, has dragged them to this state.

against its neighbour Guyana is ironically fulfilling an imperialist scheme with origins way back in 1962.

The word ‘ironically’ is used here because President Maduro has dressed himselfup in the garbs of an antiimperialist and a politician on The Left. But unfortunately, due to many factors, including domestic and international pressures, his regime’s politics, while sounding Left in rhetoric, is, in practice, facilitating and strengthening the forces of imperialism in and against the Latin American and Caribbean region, even inviting a military pressure the region can do without.

Political scientists and historians would recall that this issue was raised at a time when British Guiana was on the verge of becoming an independent state. The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) had a very strong position on the meaning of independence.

The party leaders of that era were not prepared to have just formal independence or a neo-colonial status.

Instead, they insisted on the

In order to delay Independence to the then colony, Venezuela — then a pro-US puppet state — was used to raise an issue that had been settled more than six decades before: the delineation of Guiana’s borders.

Clearly it was a put-up job because the grounds on which it was raised was known to Venezuela and the world since the 1940s, but was dismissed as a nonissue.

At the time it was raised Dr. Jagan who was British Guiana’s Premier, and British officials agreed for the Venezuelans and British experts to examine all the records in the British and Venezuelan archives, to see if any evidence existed to support the new claim. But none was ever found and the PPP and the British, at that point, regarded the issue as being closed.

H o w e v e r, a f t e r t h e overthrow of the PPP government in 1964 the British, in 1965, accepted the leadership of the US and nodoubt on US insistence, signed the Geneva Accord.

the post-independence period.

The Right-Wing political parties in Venezuela began using the claim to Guyana’s Essequibo as an instrument for mobilization during elections campaigns. The two main parties (COPEI and AccionDemocratica) began to compete with each other in their irrational claim on the Essequibo. That constant banging made it engrained in the psyche of many among the Venezuelan people.

This Venezuelan claim was also used as a warning to the Burnham Government in 1966, when Venezuela seized the Guyana’s half of the Ankoko island in the Cuyuni River. This was both to threaten Guyana and at the same time to pollute the minds of ordinary Venezuelans even more.

It is also quite possible that the Rupununi uprising in Guyana on the Venezuelan border, which began on January 2, 1969, could have been an expression of the US’ disapproval of the PNC’s ditching of the United Force (UF) at the December

Chavez Era The situation changed greatly, however, when Hugo Chavez took office in 1998.

Chavez was a genuine patriot, revolutionary and regionalist. He educated himself on the GuyanaVe n e z u e l a i s s u e a n d dismissed it early as an invention of the United States for imperialistic purposes. That explained his friendliness to then exPresident Mrs. Janet Jagan who attended his inauguration.

Chavez also built a very good and friendly relationship with Guyana’s President Bharrat Jagdeo and he also visited Guyana, where and when he again publicly dismissed the border issue as a US creation.

Chavez had a vision of a Latin America and Caribbean region that’s integrated and prosperous.

He felt that the people of the Latin America and the Caribbean should determine the socio-economic direction of the region. He sought to keep any uninvited outsider (Continued on page 5)

Importance of improving livestock breeds in Guyana DEAR EDITOR, The livestock industry has great potential for development and has many spin-off industries. It can provide a cheap protein food source for the population, provide employment, and earn foreign exchange. To realize this potential, efforts are being made through the MOA to improve the local breeds and to be able to increase productivity in an efficient and economical manner.

The sheep and goat industry is important in Bartica and the Rupununi.

Sheep are also reared on the coastland. The animals are generally of the improved breeds which were imported in the 1940s and 50s.

Crossbreeding has led to some improvement in the quality of animals. Pigs are found all across the country, especially in Amerindian and rural areas.

Poultry is the most common animal in the backyard farming system.

Horses are kept by some farmers as draft animals and for transportation.

The most common livestock animal is cattle, which ranges from the improved breeds to the Creole animals. Improved breeds such as the zebu and taurines were imported to Guyana in the 1900s and after.

These cattle were brought to improve the beef and/or dairy industry in many tropical countries.

Programs such as the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) and the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) still import genetic material to improve the local breeds.

The improved breeds are found mainly on the

coastland and in some parts of the interior. With the sugar industry on the rise again many small and large-scale farmers are also keen on expanding their livestock rearing and the MOA has been ensuring assistance in all forms is given in that regard.

A small percentage of the improved breeds are found in the Rupununi where there are attempts by Brazilian farmers to improve the local breeds with genetic material from Brazil. The Creole animals, which are found right across the country, have adapted to the different e c o l o g i c a l a n d environmental conditions.

These animals are considered tough and hardy but have a slow growth rate and poor carcass quality.

Livestock farming plays a major role in the agriculture sector in Guyana.

It is a significant contributor

to the way of life of many rural farmers. Livestock contributes to the livelihood of approximately 2000 lowincome farmers, contributing to about 3.1% of the agriculture GDP. These farmers rear cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, horses, donkeys, and poultry.

Livestock is considered an asset and often regarded as an insurance against hard times and is an important means of converting crop byproducts into human food.

Animals also provide manual labor, power for transportation, and a source of rural employment.

With the Guyana-Brazil partnership, the enhancement of livestock production and farming in bound to set standards that the rest of the Caribbean is likely to follow.

Sincerely, Sean Daniels A Proud Berbician

Saturday April 13, 2024

Kaieteur News

Public Service Commission not aware of vacancies in Region 2 DEAR EDITOR, The Public Service Commission (the PSC) is a constitutional body authorised under article 200 of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to make appointments to public offices and to remove and exercise disciplinary control over persons holding or acting in such offices.

The PSC hereby addresses the inaccuracies and misleading information presented in an article published in the Kaieteur Newspaper on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, titled ‘Public Service Commission in place but officials still acting- MPs’. Firstly, the PSC unequivocally asserts that it was never informed of any existing vacancies in Region 2. This is despite the fact that a memorandum dated September 19, 2023, had urged the Regional Executive Officer to provide this information.

Secondly, contrary to claims made in the Article, there is no law regulating the operations of the PSC requiring it to make acting appointments for a limited period of

four months.

This restriction, to which the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairman referred, only applies to a delegate to whom the PSC has delegated the power to make such an appointment. Thirdly, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairman should have sought an answer from the Regional Executives as to why those persons have been acting for the stated period.

The PSC maintains that since its appointment in July 2023, it has been working assiduously to fill all known vacancies within the Public Service, and had substantively appointed qualified persons who have been acting in positions within the Public Service.

Finally, the PSC awaits notification of a list of existing vacancies in all sectors of the Public Service that it is authorised to fill, and on such notification all vacancies will be advertised via its website.

Regards, Public Service Commission

Knotted and tangled web DEAR EDITOR, The filing to CCJ, which was not public knowledge immediately, raised eyebrows, and saw umbrage unleashed after the revelation as a news issue, with perceived vexatious headlines.

It is unclear on what basis is the

grievance, if justified in the merits of filing to the apex court? Why was this course of action, in a national matter, not made public at the time or sooner? It’s a knotted and tangled web, or so it seems.

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

PAGE 05

Maduro objectively advancing...

From page 4 from interfering in the affairs of the region. All his actions were in the direction of building friendship among the peoples of the various countries.

Maduro inherited some of Chavez’s popularity.

However, unlike Chavez, he was not as skillful in dealing with the pressures of the United States. Sanctions and other pressures created a difficult environment in Venezuela. But Maduro, instead of educating the masses as to the real problem, began adopting heavy-handed and dictatorial methods in dealing with the political opposition, leading to his flagging popularity.

Maduro fires wild allegation at and about Guyana and its President, but he’s now jailing opposition leaders and candidates.

Repression has become his main tool in dealing with his political and economic opponents. He has created a very toxic atmosphere in his country which makes it difficult to have free and fair elections.

Sadly, the contentious border issue concocted originally by the US has now become a useful weapon in Maduro’s hands to whip-up extreme nationalism in Venezuela, in the hope of maintaining some mass support ahead of presidential elections in July.

In the process, however, he has forced the Guyana Government to seek support from the international community, including from the United States.

This became possible since the US announced that they regard the 1899 Arbitral Award as the final settlement of the issue.

Therefore, what Chavez tried to avoid, Maduro is inviting by adopting the position of Venezuela’s then President Romulo Betancourt (1959 to 1964) who had collaborated with the West to remove a progressive government in the then British Guiana.

U n f o r t u n a t e l y, f o r Maduro, that position is now no more. The “leftist” Maduro has degenerated into a dictator at home, unable to win any argument by a

rational debate, and an aggressor to neighbour Guyana, which, from a military point of view, is no match or threat for Venezuela’s military.

The Left-Wing forces in our region should understand that Venezuela’s stance is objectively very ‘anti-left’ and ‘anti-regional’. They must therefore guard against making Left politics to appear to be disreputable.

Unfortunately for Venezuela, Guyana, Latin America and the Caribbean, M a d u r o ’s a c t i o n s a r e objectively pro-imperialist and that cannot be doubted.

Donald Ramotar Former President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

Kaieteur News

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Saturday April 13, 2024

Criminals are road-smart they know to manipulate the legal system DEAR EDITOR, Robbery under arms, should be a non-bail offence but given written commitment to the accused that they will conclude by 180 working days.

Let me further appeal to the learned attorney general, that when a man or woman is

attacked by an accused, under arms with a gun, cutlass, knife or what they believe is asset, the victim has little chance to avoid the robbery, he or she is forced to surrender and give up their hard earned property under the belief that if he or she does not comply, they will

die as a result of the attack.

So, robbery under arms doesn’t give the victim a chance to protect his or her property.

The attacker, knowing the present legal system, knows that if they are caught, they can plead not guilty and are entitled to be bailed,

he/she then goes on a series of armed robberies, knowing fully well that if he/she is caught, all they have to do is plead guilty to the first offence, so they will get 5 years for each count of armed robbery, which will run concurrently under the legal system.

If he/she commits six

armed robberies, they will serve five years for each armed robbery, and when run concurrently, he/she will serve some 5 years, which is 45 months.

This would be very economical in the eyes of a career criminal under the watchful eyes of all former attorney generals, such as

Mr. Fenton Ramsahoye, Mr. Fred Wills, Mr. Shridath Ramphal and presently Mr. Anil Nandlall, who are all brilliant minded people. Mr. Editor, I ask all legal minded experts to put their heads together and come up with a solution to this problem.

Yours truly, Frank DeAbreu

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Kaieteur News

More oil projects equal more profits for Exxon and less for the people of Guyana.

Who would willingly allow 85 and a half of every 100 barrels to be given away while you settle for 14.5?

More oil projects mean greater revenue at the disposal of the oil companies to feast on while Government settles for the bones to feed its starving population.

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Kaieteur News

Saturday Monday April May13, 02,2024 2022

Taxi driver shot by brother during row over girlfriend A 38-year-old taxi driver was shot in the region of his thigh on Thursday by his 32-year-old brother at Castello Housing Scheme, La Penitence, Georgetown during an argument about the victim's girlfriend.

The injured man has been identified as Lawrence Fanfair, and the suspect as Rendell Vanrassum.

According to police, the shooting incident occurred at about 23:00hrs on Thursday at Lot 21 Castello Housing Scheme, La Penitence.

Police said that the brothers were arguing over a woman whom Fanfair shares a relationship with. At the time, Fanfair was said to be seated on a chair outside of their house when Vanrassum whipped out a black handgun from his right side pants waist and fired a shot at his brother hitting him on his left thigh.

Vanrassum then made good his escape while Fanfair was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) by his relatives, where he was admitted as a patient in the male medical ward, with his condition listed as stable. Investigations are ongoing.

Kaieteur News

Saturday April 13, 2024

PAGE 09

The PPPC must accept responsibility for the present electricity crisis Jagdeo has more excuses than a politician caught in a scandal. But no amount of blame-shedding and sanddancing will exculpate the PPPC from responsibility for its utter incompetent administration of the electricity sector.

Guyana is now in the midst of a frustrating and ongoing electricity crisis.

Households and businesses are subject to blackouts and power interruptions. The situation has become exasperating and people are fed up.

Since the PPPC returned to government, there has been an excess of ribboncutting, sod-turning, and ceremonial launchings.

Almost every day there is one such event. Rather than indulging in these superficial spectacles, the time and resources allocated could have been redirected towards tackling the pressing issues facing our nation.

But far worse than these events is the reluctance of Jagdeo to accept the government’s responsibility for the failures plaguing the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL). Instead of doing so, he goes on his usual rant, blaming the previous administration, particularly the APNU+AFC, for the current state of affairs.

At the heart of the electricity crisis is a fundamental lack of political accountability on the part of the government. Despite being in power for four years, they have failed to address the longstanding

problems within GPL, including what they say is poor maintenance practices a n d i n a d e q u a t e infrastructure.

One of the key failures is the PPPC’s shortcomings in properly planning the expansion of generating capacity to meet growing demand. Despite being aware of the need for additional generators, they have been slow to act, resulting in delays and disruptions to the supply of electricity. The recent revelation that a number of generators, purchased by the government since last year, remain uninstalled is a glaring example of this mismanagement.

T h e g o v e r n m e n t ’s response to the crisis has been woefully inadequate.

Instead of conducting an independent evaluation of the problems facing GPL, they have opted for a bandaid solution by appointing a team of Ministers to monitor the utility on a daily basis.

This approach is not only ineffective but also undermines the independence of GPL as a public corporation.

The decision to task a group of Ministers, rather than qualified engineers, with overseeing GPL’s operations is deeply concerning. It raises questions about the government’s motives and introduces the risk of increasing political interference in the management of the utility.

The public has a right to know that decisions

regarding GPL are being made in their best interests, free from political meddling.

When addressing generating problems, it is best to engage technical experts rather than relying s olely on government Ministers. Technical persons possess the specialized knowledge and expertise required to diagnose and resolve problems and challenges within power generation systems.

By entrusting the task to qualified engineers and technicians, rather than political figures, there can be solutions based on sound technical merit rather than political expediency.

By now it should be obvious to even the blind, that the government’s handling of the emergency generation procurement process was marred by an underestimation of country’s energy needs. The government we are now told is being forced to again scramble to obtain additional generating capacity.

This is indicative of a lack of foresight and planning. It is utterly unacceptable that the government’s failure to adequately prepare for foreseeable challenges has resulted in further hardships for the Guyanese people.

In order to regain public confidence and address the electricity crisis, the PPP/C government must take immediate and decisive action. This includes, foremost, accepting responsibility for the failures within GPL and committing

Dem Boys Seh...

All are welcome!

De Pee Pee Pee is now challenging de Big Tent on Durban Park as de best show in town. De show must go on and de party is now accepting any and everybody fuh membership.

Dem fellas believe in inclusion. Dem welcoming anybody into their political fold. You got a rap sheet longer than the line at de market? No problem! Step right up, mate, Pee Pee Pee got your back!

So, who we got parading around in dis Pee Pee Pee procession? Well, first up, we got de career floorcrossers. Dese fellas switch parties more times than a

traffic light in rush hour.

One minute dey red, de next minute dey green, all for a seat at de table.

Then we got dem political rejects. Dey couldn’t make it in de big leagues, so dey end up here, scraping de bottom of de political barrel. But hey, Pee Pee Pee ain’t picky. Dey’ll take anyone with a pulse and a p e n c h a n t f o r pandemonium.

And oh, don’t forget ‘bout dem ex-convicts. Dese fellas done their time now dey trading de prison jumpsuit for a politician’s suit. Talk ‘bout a career change!

But wait, there’s more!

Pee Pee Pee even got space for de hangers-on, de groupies, and de yes-men who nod along to anything just to feel relevant.

Dem boys seh de Pee Pee Pee got a new motto: “Inclusion at any cost!” But some ah we wondering if dat includes de kitchen sink too.

So, what’s de Pee Pee Pee policy platform? Well, dat’s anyone’s guess! Dey flip-flopping more than a fish outta water. But hey, who needs coherent policies when you got a colorful cast of characters like dis? It’s like watching a circus act.

Talk half. Leff half

to addressing them without resorting to partisan blame games. It also must involve conducting a thorough and independent assessment of GPL’s operations to identify areas for improvement and implement necessary reforms. But as we know the government is reluctant to do so, most likely because of what such findings will expose.

Instead of reading the Riot Act, heads should have been rolled?

Going forward, the government must ensure that decisions regarding GPL are made by qualified experts

rather than political appointees, in order to safeguard the utility’s independence and integrity.

They must equally develop a comprehensive plan for expanding and modernizing G u y a n a ’s e l e c t r i c i t y infrastructure to meet current and future demand.

Even the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) recognizes that after 1928, there will be a need for another major project for the generation of renewable energy.

Only by accepting responsibility and taking decisive action can the PPPC

government begin to restore public confidence and ensure a reliable and sustainable electricity supply for all Guyanese citizens.

Anything less would be a further disservice to the people of Guyana.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this newspaper and its affiliates.)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10 S

UTH

D TR

HAR

HK

BY G

LALL

Saturday April 13, 2024

H@RD TRUTHS

BY GHK LALL

OL Norton getting in the groove Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton is getting in a groove, building momentum.

I open a paper, turn a page, and there he is getting in the face of the PPP Government and naming names.

President Ali and Vice President Jagdeo have become his preferred targets, his whipping posts.

I commend Mr. Norton for going to the top and latching on to the jugular.

The rest are minnows; this PPP leadership duet is what decides where the action is going to be, who is part of it, and how it must unfold. Look at the results of their combined handiwork.

It has been one bum job after another.

This should not be surprising in the least, for Guyanese get what they paid for (trust is the scarce currency now short) and live with what they had hoped would be those ready to do battle for them. Look elsewhere because Messrs.

Ali and Jagdeo have lost

whatever courage they had and abandoned their country.

If anybody cares to ask what about citizens, I have a ready answer: since when did they matter? If the PPP didn't care and give a damn about them in 23 years, why are there expectations in the recent three years and more?

This is where the Opposition Leader has to find his openings, get into his grooves, and come into his season. He has been a bit on the sluggish side. But, like an aircraft accelerating on a runway and gathering power and thrust for liftoff, so must Aubrey Norton.

He has lost some time, and every day in Guyana in this era of oil is too precious to be wasted. Often, I muse about writing less in public spaces, while writing books for private profit.

The people and the public space win on each occasion.

To comfort Dr. Ali and Dr. Jagdeo, I am not running for anything, these writings are not campaign presents. But

back to the Opposition Leader. Oil is what makes the pot boil in today's Guyana.

If the PPP Government, my dear beloved brothers Irfaan and Bharrat, cannot deal with the heat in the oil kitchen, or are too fearful, or on the hook, both should get the hell out of the way. He should see to that, and it will only come about through tireless efforts.

He knows more than I do that he represents a barrel of people. The president and vice president have condemned Guyanese, none more than his own, into the dead end and despair of a crab barrel. There should have been a throw down and a showdown already and Mr. Norton knows so. Like I said, he has been kind and gentle; too much so.

To help the Opposition Leader, just like I do for Doctors Ali and Jagdeo, bullies are big bad men until somebody stands in their face and shows them for the

cowards that they are. On this oil, both Ali and Jagdeo have worked overtime to shutdown Guyanese who have called for them to fight for Guyana. Jagdeo will have none of that and his minutemen (militias) takeover from there. I see some in the Constitutional Reform Commission.

Nigel Hughes lamented the lack of women on it; I point to the extra PPP hands operating in stealth formation under one camouflage body and more. Politics ain't gat god in Guyana.

I share this with Comrade Norton; the people at Exxon are big boys, old barroom brawlers.

They can take a punch.

Mr. Norton can only rain so much on them, but he can make the PPP Government into a punching bag. He has no choice but to do everything within his hand reach to force these two clever, cloak-and-dagger PPP leaders to deal in the best patriotic fashion with the

likes of Routledge here and Woods over there.

These Exxon operators are not brothers, they are plotters and controllers and deprivers of the Guyanese people.

President Ali is well aware of that, but he seeks shelter behind words that normally mean something, only for them to mean nothing when he is done running away and hiding from Exxon.

VP Jagdeo knows what is required of him but has developed a bad case of yellow fever. Focus on the fever less, associate more with the color. It is the one embraced by frikken peeple.

Now, Mr. Norton is in the laundry business. He has his list. How many new barrels of oil? What accountability from Exxon on Guyanese oil money?

Why all the secrecy with this oil? Who are these two guys working for, who do they represent?

The Opposition Leader may not like this, but he has to sleep, dream, and rise and shine

with oil. Oil must light his lamp. His wick should light a flame around (or under) Dr. Ali and Jagdeo, so that they can see the light. Oil can provide relief with cost of living. Oil can get more to those Guyanese who are chronically short of necessities. Oil must build more than PPP insiders and PPP prearranged infrastructure deals.

Oil must mean poor inhabitants of Guyana. Of course, oil means corruption. Simply check how fat some cats have got. Oil is the hub, the rest are spokes.

A whole world of difference could unfold if this wealth is handled right. Over to the Opposition Leader.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this newspaper and its affiliates.)

Kaieteur News

Saturday April 13, 2024

PAGE 11

ExxonMobil, EPA a no-show again at Natural Resources Parliamentary meeting ...Minister Bharrat joins absentees ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Friday again failed to attend the Natural Resources Parliamentary Sectoral Meeting, providing no reasons for their absence.

This was ventilated by the Alliance For Change (AFC) during a press conference on Friday afternoon. Deonarine Ramsaroop, an AFC Member of Parliament (MP) and member of the Natural Resources Sectoral Committee told members of the press that the organizations have been providing consecutive letters of excuses to avoid being grilled at the level of the National Assembly.

Also absent at Friday's

meeting was the Minister of Natural Resources and Vice Chairman of that Committee, Vickram Bharrat.

Ramsaroop argued that the Opposition had compiled approximately 15 questions for the Minister relative to the findings of the auditors and the developments in the Gasto-Energy (GTE) project.

Ramsaroop made it clear, “Parliament is not a cakeshop and if the government believes that this is a cakeshop and not having the relevant agencies to come to us to the sectoral committee, we are not gonna take it lightly...we're gonna execute the Standing Orders where we gonna summon these agencies directly to come to Parliament.”

Leader of the AFC,

Khemraj Ramjattan was keen to note that Standing Order 86 of the National Assembly states that the Committees can summon individuals and organizations to provide evidence and provide answers to questions.

“They can call for their papers and they can call for their records and documents and they are to give evidence in accordance with the Legislative body's Evidence Act whereby they can be forced to answer questions,” he explained.

Ramjattan pointed out that this was similar to the Congressional Committees in the United States of America (USA) where Exxon must answer questions and provide evidence if required.

Driver on $200,000 bail for causing death by dangerous driving A 48-year-old man was on Friday granted $200,000 bail when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates' Court to answer a Causing Death by Dangerous Driving charge.

The man, Lee Lawrence Holder, of Lot 661 Paradise, East Coast Demerara (ECD) made his first appearance before Chief Magistrate Sherdell Isaacs –Marcus. He was not required to plea to the indictable offence.

Holder is accused of driving motorcar PAF #3166 in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of 46-year-old Conal Anthony Husbands on March 25, 2024 at Cummings and Church Street, Georgetown.

Police said that on March 25, 2024 the vehicle driven

by Holder was proceeding north along the western drive lane of Cummings Street, while Motorcycle # CM 2986, driven by Husbands was proceeding east along the northern drive lane of Church Street, when as both vehicles approached the intersection of Cummings and Church Street, Holder failed to stop at the stop sign and collided with the motorcycle. Both vehicles were damaged from the

He stressed that even the Minister who is responsible for the sector and is the Vice Chair of the Committee was also dodging scrutiny.

The former Minister reasoned, “Why is this thing not happening? Why is it, they got something to hide?

You don't want to be accountable; you don't want to be scrutinized?

What is it that you want to hide because these are the Committees that could get all the answers?”

Meanwhile, former Minister of Public Telecommunications, who is also a member of the Natural Resources Sectoral Committee, Catherine Hughes explained that the Committee through the Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs, had written the request to Exxon, through the Prime Minister's office to follow the established protocols.

Hughes said when the AFC enquired on Friday about the appearance of Exxon; they were informed that Isaacs requested copies

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat of the correspondences from the Office of the Prime Minister that were sent to Exxon.

She said, “As a member of the Committee we know that we have been sending letters since November of last year so we are going over to six months and of course what has been told, is although we request that if you can't make the proposed date, please recommend a date, the subsequent correspondence just says we are unable to attend.”

Hughes was keen to point out, “The Evidence Act allows us to take this up a

notch. The first step would be the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Isaacs writing the two organizations next week and we have asked that we hope to have a response before the next statutory meeting which is in two weeks and if not then we will certainly go under the Evidence Act and summons the representative to speak with the Committee.”

The MP said it was “wholly unacceptable” that Exxon and the EPA were dodging scrutiny since it impacts the tenets of transparency and accountability.

Labourer stabbed to death by friend's mother during row

Dead: Conal Anthony Husbands

Granted bail: Lee Lawrence Holder

impact of the collision and the motorcyclist was flung some distance on the northern parapet of Church Street and received injuries about his body. The man was picked up by EMT personnel in a semi-conscious condition and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was examined by the doctors on duty. He subsequently succumbed to his injuries. Holder was represented by Attorney-atLaw, Adrian Thompson, who made an application for bail

in a reasonable sum. The Attorney told the court that his client has no prior record and that Holder is not a flight risk. It was also revealed by Thompson, that Holder was placed on $150,000 station bail. Prosecutor Lacon Quincy did not object to bail but petitioned the court to grant same in a substantial amount.In light of this, Magistrate Isaacs-Marcus placed Holder on $200,000 bail. He is scheduled to return to court on May 7, 2024.

A 36-year-old labourer was on Friday stabbed to death by his friend's mother during a confrontation at Perry Street, Tucville, Georgetown.

The victim has been identified as Amaziah Hohnikirk of lot 1803 Unity Place, Festival City Georgetown.

Reports are that at about 07:00h the accused, a housewife stabbed and killed Hohnikirk at her Tucville home with a knife. Police said that a confrontation occurred at about 23:15h on Thursday between the victim and his 24-year-old friend, Darrel Kennedy. Reports are that the duo became heated over a speaker box, which belonged to Kennedy, being damaged. On Friday at 06:50h, Kennedy's mother complained to another son, Malkchi Kennedy that she was abused by Kennedy. Malkchi went in search of Darrel and found Hohnikirk with Sean (only name given) an associate on Perry Street. An argument ensued on the street and continued at the accused's home.

During the confrontation, Sean who was allegedly armed with a hockey stick hit the woman on her left wrist. In retaliation, the woman allegedly retrieved a knife and stabbed Hohnikirk once in the abdomen and once each on the left and right wrists. After the attack Sean and

Dead: Amaziah Hohnikirk Hohnikirk fled the scene in a motor vehicle and proceeded to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Hohnikirk succumbed to his injuries while receiving medical treatment.

The accused and her son Malkchi were arrested. Investigations are ongoing.

PAGE 12

Saturday April 13, 2024

Kaieteur News

Journalist loses foot after being badly wounded in Israeli attack in Gaza Gaza's media office and Reporters Without Borders say there is evidence to suggest it was a targeted attack Aljazeera - Three journalists have been injured, one seriously, in an Israeli attack at the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza that authorities in the besieged strip say was a targeted attack.

Sami Shehadeh, a journalist with Turkish broadcaster TRT had his foot amputated after being wounded in the attack on Friday, according to the c h a n n e l . T RT A r a b i correspondent Sami Berhum was also wounded.

“The vehicle of a team from TRT Arabi [TRT's Arabic-language channel] that was preparing to broadcast from the Nuseirat camp … was targeted by an Israeli army strike,” the broadcaster said.

TRT's Director General Zahid Sobaci called the attack “Israeli brutality” and said it had gone beyond all “moral, legal or humanitarian limits”.

Lying on the floor of the al-Aqsa Hospital in the Gaza City of Deir el-Balah, Shehadeh told an AFP reporter that he was “far from the danger zone. I was even surrounded by people and journalists,” when the attack took place.

“We were shooting when a strike targeted us, I don't

know if it was a missile or a tank. I saw that my leg was amputated,” he recounted.

“I was wearing a press vest and helmet and it was clear even for the blind that I am a journalist.”

'Journalists deliberately targeted' Gaza's media office condemned the Israeli attack on the vehicle carrying the three journalists.

“We strongly condemn the ongoing targeting of journalists and media crews

by Israeli occupation forces,” it said in a statement.Israeli forces are “deliberately killing and wounding journalists in an attempt to scare, threaten, and prevent reporters from carrying out their duties, as well as to stifle the truth,” it added.

Jonathan Dagher, the head of the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Middle East desk, said reports of journalists being attacked, injured, and killed in Gaza by Israel have become “so commonplace”.

“We've had to report them almost daily for the past six months. This is just the latest attack, it's terrible … it's unacceptable,” he told Al Jazeera.

Dagher described the attack as “unprovoked”, and

Injured journalists from TRT Arabi channeI are brought to a hospital for medical treatment after an Israeli attack at the Nuseirat refugee camp, Gaza [Ashraf Amra/Anadolu] said there is enough evidence to prove that the vehicle was targeted.

More than 100 journalists have been killed

by Israel in Gaza over the past six months, he said.

This “massacre has to stop”, he added, calling on the international community to “step up the pressure” on

Israel.

Speaking to journalists in Ankara, Turkey's presidential office communications director Fahrettin Altun said that “Israel targeted, deliberately and willingly committed this massacre.”

Altun reported that Turkish President Recep

Tayyip Erdogan and his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas had discussed the attack in a phone call.“No matter what happens, we will continue to stand firm against Israel's barbaric attacks on Gaza and Israel will pay the price for this cruelty,” Altun reported Erdogan as saying.

At least 70 people injured in Israeli attacks on Nuseirat camp in central Gaza have been brought to the camp's al-Awda Hospital since Friday morning, according to local sources.

Israel's attacks on Gaza have killed more than 33,600 people since the war began on October 7.

Govt. turns to Cuba for engineers to ease blackout woes The Government of Guyana has turned to the Republic of Cuba to source engineers to boost the Guyana Power and Light's (GPL) technical capacity and ultimately help ease the country's power woes.

This was announced by President Irfaan Ali on Friday night during a live broadcast published on Facebook to address the challenges the Power Company is experiencing. The Head of State said that he has engaged Cuban Ambassador to Guyana, Jorge Francisco Luis on the subject of importing Cuban engineers.

He said that the recruitment of Cuban engineers is one method of addressing the challenges that face the power company.

He noted that in addition to the numerous power outages coming

from GPL, the company also faces a shortfall in its technical capacity to execute its operations.

“We are taking steps to increase the technical capacity of GPL by recruiting an additional 10 engineers with relevant skills to ensure adequate maintenance and reliability in the system,” the President said.

President Ali said too that government, on a number of occasions, has sought to recruit the services of Guyanese engineers but was unsuccessful.

“So we are working. For example, I just concluded meetings with the Cuban Ambassador, they have skilled, very skilled technical personnel who they are willing to deploy immediately to work in the system and to help us technically,”

he announced.

Additionally, President Ali announced that the government through GPL entered into a time charter agreement with UCC Holding for a power ship to be deployed to Guyana within three weeks. Upon arrival, the ship will be connected to the national grid.

This arrangement he said will add 36 megawatts of power to the national grid to offset generation shortfalls.

Kaieteur News understands that this facility involves the chartering of a power supply vessel that will be connected to the Demerara –Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS) at Everton in Berbice, which would provide timely support to the generation capacity of GPL and relief for consumers

President Irfaan Ali connected to DBIS grid.

Further, President Ali said that the vessel would be chartered for a period of 24 months from the date of commencement of the agreement and that this power arrangement is being obtained at a very competitive cost.

“It will cover the charter cost of the vessel including its generating engines as well as operation and

maintenance cost,” he noted.

He continued, “It is important for us to note and I want to say this again that while this facility will come in place based on what we are seeing. Based on the projections we have to go after more power. But this facility gives us that room to make the investments in the age infrastructure that we have to (Continuned on page 13)

Kaieteur News

Saturday April 13, 2024

PAGE 13

Govt. unveils new strategy to eliminate cervical cancer in Guyana ...plans to ramp up HPV vaccination, testing & awareness

By Allyiah Allicock With the aim of eliminating cervical cancer among women in the country, the government through the Ministry of Health on Friday launched a new plan of action for the elimination of the disease (2024 – 2030).

The simple but significant launch was held at the Pegasus Corporate Suites in Kingston.

The Ministry's Chronic Diseases Unit says cervical cancer is a form of cancer that begins in the cervix, the part of the uterus (womb) that opens into the vagina. This cancer is one of the most common cancers in women worldwide and usually affects women between the ages of 30 and 65 years, but women of any age can get cervical cancer.

Opening Friday's proceedings, Co-ordinator at the Chronic Disease Unit, Dr. Dianele Drepaul said that the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that cervical cancer is the fourth leading cancer in women globally.

“In Guyana, during the years we have found that cervical cancer ranked among the top three cancers in women and also for the year 2023, the Cancer Registry has reported that we had 126 cases, this is too much cases for that year,” she explained.

A c c o r d i n g t o D r.

Drepaul, this disease is preventable and once detected early, it can be successfully treated but it continues to claim many lives. She said that the Health Ministry has a programme which has been in existence for over a decade but they found there are not much uptake of these services, hence authorities met to formalize a new strategy to address this disease.

Giving an overview of the new strategy on Friday was

Director of the NonCommunicable Diseases Unit and Mental Health Programme at the Ministry, Dr. Lachmie Lall who related that this action plan deals with five strategic areas.

She told the gathering that the plan was designed to ensure that more Guyanese women survive cervical cancer and can continue to live productive lives and contribute meaningfully to society. In seeing this plan come into fruition, Dr. Lall said collaborative effort is now needed between the Government, nongovernmental organization (NGOs) and the private sector for successful implementation and sustain progress towards achieving the goal of cervical cancer elimination in Guyana.

“This strategic plan is well rounded and ambitious with a multifaceted approach that has the potential to significantly reduce and eliminate the burden of this disease and to improve the outcomes for Guyanese women. Our overarching goal is simple, by the year 2030 we aim to significantly r e d u c e t h e m o r t a l i t y, morbidity and disability cause by cervical cancer among Guyanese women,” she mentioned.

In explaining the five strategic areas, Dr. Lall elaborated that firstly, this plan would see the ramping up of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme throughout the country. This she said would see them increasing the HPV vaccine coverage among the 9 to 15 age group to an impressive 90 percent. Kaieteur News understands that currently the coverage of vaccination stands at 40 percent.

“By vaccinating our young girls against Human Papillomavirus, the primary cause for cervical cancer is

Govt. turns to Cuba for...

From page 12 ensure that, that infrastructure all of it is brought on stream to support the demand for energy.”

On Friday, Kaieteur News reported that Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo at his press conference on Thursday revealed that Guyana is finalising an agreement with a Turkish power company – Karpowership for the supply of the 36 megawatts of power.

Jagdeo said that Karpowership would sell the electricity at 8 cents per megawatt over the next two years. He said Guyana would supply the fuel to the barge.

According to Jagdeo, the power supply barge will help supply electricity until the Wales Gas-to-Energy– natural gasfired electricity generation power plant is completed in 2025.

Representatives from the Ministry of Health at the launch.

preventing this disease at its very source. We are also further expanding this age group to include women between the age of 16 and 45 years,” she related.

Secondly, the plan would see the expansive screening efforts in ensuring that at least 70 percent of women of reproductive age undergo screening twice between the ages of 21 and 65. The doctor noted that early detection is key to elimination, and that persons will see the incorporation of HPV testing at all healthcare facilities.

Thirdly, Dr. Lall noted

that they are dedicated to treating 90 percent of all women with precancerous lesions and 90 percent of all women diagnosed with invasive cancer.

Additionally to surgical intervention and chemotherapy for the first time, the ministry will introduce public radiotherapy services.

“Fourthly we recognize the importance of improving the quality of live for women.

Up until this point we look at palliative care as end of life care but this new plan would ensure a more holistic

approach to palliation and support services that are essential in providing comfort and dignity to those facing advance disease,” she revealed.

Finally, she said the plan would see the awareness and education on HPV infection be incorporated in teaching curriculum. This would see the continuous education and prevention of HPV infection, promoting vaccination and screening occurring in schools.

She added, “We will implement a comprehensive communication strategy that would extend to all modern social media platforms reaching every corner of our nation with vital information on prevention of cervical cancer.”Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony in his address said that this comprehensive strategy will address from prevention all the way to treatment of the disease.

He noted that in dealing with prevention the ministry will not only look at girls but also boys who can get vaccinated. According to the minister, now that the

strategy has been developed the next important task is the implementation.

“I think once we are able to do that, we can come back here within a year's time or two and assess how far we would have progress… Once we implement what is in the document I think we can all be able to celebrate when we see those numbers for cervical cancer dropping and then we see the coverage for HPV going up. So lets us all work together to make this happen,” he said.

Meanwhile, in her brief remarks, Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand welcomed the new plan of action of eliminating cervical cancer in the country.

The Minister also made an appeal for women and girls to get their HPV vaccination and get screened early.

“We are fully committed at the Ministry of Education to help you roll this out with all the medical information that you will give to us and make it available to every school child,” Manickchand said.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Saturday April 13, 2024

US meets Venezuelan officials to express concerns over electoral process ...Venezuelan President Maduro meets with Colombian President Petro in Caracas WASHINGTON, April 12 (Reuters) - U.S. officials met representatives of Ve n e z u e l a n P r e s i d e n t Nicolas Maduro in Mexico this week to express concerns about Venezuela's electoral process, a White House official said on Friday. The secret meeting

was held as an April 18 deadline approached for the United States to decide whether to reimpose sanctions on Venezuela's oil industry in response to what Wa s h i n g t o n s e e s a s Maduro's failure to make good on commitments for free and fair elections later

t h i s y e a r. T h e B i d e n administration has vowed to reinstate oil sanctions that it suspended in October unless Maduro makes progress on meeting his promises for the July 28 presidential election.

His government has set up major obstacles to participation by the

opposition, including barring its leading candidate, Maria Corina Machado, from running against Maduro."The purpose was to express our concerns about Ve n e z u e l a ' s e l e c t o r a l process," a White House National Security Council (NSC) spokesperson said of the meeting.

Daniel Erikson, the White House's senior d i r e c t o r f o r We s t e r n Hemisphere affairs, led the U.S. delegation in the talks, which were held on Tuesday in Mexico City. Bloomberg News was first to report on the meeting.

The NSC spokesperson declined to provide details on the discussions, including whether the participants talked about sanctions on OPEC member Venezuela or if any progress was made or differences narrowed.

T h e Ve n e z u e l a n Information Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

U.S. President Joe Biden's aides are still discussing a range of options ahead of the expiration on Thursday of a temporary U.S. license that has allowed Venezuela to freely sell its crude, according to people familiar with the matter.

No final decision has been made, the sources said.

The U.S. provided the partial sanctions relief in October in response to an election deal reached in

Barbados between Maduro's government and the opposition. The agreement included the right of the opposition to choose its own presidential candidate.

T h e B i d e n administration's diplomatic engagement with Maduro and the easing of U.S. sanctions marked a major shift away from former President Donald Trump's "maximum pressure" policy.

Weighing on current U.S. deliberation are concerns about whether reimposing sanctions on Venezuela's energy sector could spur higher global oil prices and increase the number of Venezuelan migrants heading for the U.S.-Mexico border.

The U.S. in January reimposed some non-energy sanctions after Venezuela's Supreme Court upheld the election ban on Machado over what it said was her support for sanctions and accusations of corruption, which she denies.

Wa s h i n g t o n h a s a l s o condemned the arrests of opposition activists by Venezuelan authorities.

Kaieteur News

Saturday April 13, 2024

PAGE 15

‘Hold your horses’ ...Mahipaul urges calm, unity as infighting heats up in PNCR

A

mid the fierce infighting g r i p p i n g Guyana's main opposition party - Peoples National Congress Reform, Central Executive Member, Ganesh Mahipaul has stepped forward to urge calm and unity. He also called for greater civility as rival factions trade barbs at each other ahead of the much anticipated Congress.

This week the nation witnessed the public denunciation of the leadership of party leader, Aubrey Norton by former General Secretary, Amna Ally and then the retort by the current Chairman, Shurwayne Holder who not only defended the stewardship of Norton, but also questioned Ally's contributions to the party since 2020.

Since then several other persons have joined the fray including former Mayor of Georgetown, Ubraj Narine and Egland Gomes. There is also loud chatter on social media about the internal struggle of the party founded by the late Executive President of Guyana, Forbes Burnham.

Mahipaul, a Member of Parliament and a key representative of the Region Three constituency of the party, told the Kaieteur News

Central Executive Member of the PNCR, Ganesh Mahipaul that this was not the time for "the tearing apart of each other."

"The common enemy is at the gate and we must all band together to fight the corrupt, PPP Government not our members," he added.

Then in a public missive he said as the PNCR prepares for its biennial Delegates' Congress in 2024, the anticipation and energy within the party are noticeable.

"As the strongest, largest, and most democratic political party in Guyana, the PNCR embodies the spirit of inclusivity and empowerment, where every financial member has the opportunity to shape the party's future. With the Congress looming before August 31, 2024, members are gearing up for a pivotal moment in the party's

trajectory. At the heart of this democratic process lies the freedom for any member to vie for elected offices, including Leader, Chairman, Vice-Chairs, Treasurer, or CEC member."

According to Mahipaul, currently, the stage is set with A u b r e y N o r t o n , M . P. , signaling his intention to seek re-election as Leader, while Roysdale Forde, SC, MP, has expressed his intent to contest for the same position.

"Both individuals bring a wealth of dedication and experience, embodying the PNCR's rich history of service and commitment," the MP said.

He noted that as the Congress draws nearer, it's expected that many other devoted members will step forward to declare their intentions to contest for various offices. This exercise of democratic rights is fundamental to the PNCR's ethos and underscores the diversity of voices within the party.

"Reflecting on past Congresses, characterised by robust debates and healthy competition, it's imperative to emphasise the importance of maintaining integrity and playing by the rules. While spirited discourse is integral to democracy, it's essential to champion policies and

programmes that resonate with the membership and offer a vision for a brighter future." Stressing the coming together of all the forces, Mahipaul said, "unity must be our guiding principle as we rally our troops for victory in 2025." He said despite differences, a shared commitment to the PNCR's

ideals and objectives should unite "us in our pursuit of national progress and prosperity."

Mahipaul said amidst the challenges facing Guyana, the PNCR stands as a beacon of hope, uniquely positioned to lead the nation towards a better tomorrow.

"With maturity, mutual

respect, and a focus on the greater good, we can overcome any obstacle that lies ahead. To all my comrades, I extend my best wishes as they seek office.

Let us rally together, unwavering in our support for the PNCR, as we march towards a brighter future for Guyana," Mahipaul said.

PAGE 16

WANTED

VACANCY

EDUCATION

Sales Representative, canter Drivers & Porters to work in warehouse. For more information Call: 673-7373.

One Plumber needed for Eccles. Call: 645-8443/ 6159132.

First AID/CPR/AED & home nursing courses Available at St. John Headquarters.

Call: 225-9082.

One night Watchman needed.

For more information Call: 612-2125.

Two Kitchen Assistance to work from 6am-2pm. For more information Call: 6655074/ 603-1278.

Wanted! Workers for packaging pasta and chowmein. $4100-$5000 per day. Workers paid weekly. Call: 6117839.

Porter needed for truck. Call: 661-1000.

Male cooks, Mechanics/ serviceman and utility operators (excavator, bulldozer, ADT) wanted for mining operation. Call: 697-6015.

Vacancies for Maintenance/ Semi- Skill Workers, One Cleaner, Welder and Labourer.

Call: 621-6969/ 615-7784.

Male Sales Representative, Age 20-30 years old. Apply or Contact: 619- 1237.

Vacancy Exist For two Experienced Dispatcher At Confidential Cabs. Call: 231-5784, 231-4001, 231-4000.

One Clerk for TSI Eccles office. English & Mathematics, grade 2. Email application: techserigy@yahoo.com or Call: 615-9132.

Maid to cook & clean for East Bank area. Call: 615-9132.

VEHICLES FOR SALE 1 Honda CRV, includes TV, music system, alarm, reverse camera, sproiler, crashbar, low mileage PTT Series (first owner). Contact: 649-0956.

1 Toyota Allion, Pioneer DVD, CD & USB deck, reverse camera, alarm, low milage. Call: 649-0956.

Painter needed. Call: 6159132 or 645-8443.

Vacancy exists for a Nurse, $180,000 per month, 5 days per week. Call: 617-5700.

FOR RENT 2 bedroom apartment at Herstelling. Call: 601-0223.

2 new 2 bedrooms apartments both self-contained.

Located Western end of Eccles over pass. Call: 2271813.

Vacancy for a male Office Assistant, $160,000 per month. Must have a motor cycle. Call: 617-5700.

Vacancy for a Pharmacist Assistant, $35,000 per week. Call: 617-5700.

One Domestic needed. $30,000 weekly, 5 days a week. Call: 617-5700.

Living and Business Quarter for rent at James and Hunter Street. For more information Call: 674 0614.

J & M Shipping is hiring Supervisors & Manager along with other team member. Call: 641-5897.

4 apartments for rental, fully furnished, located at lot 4 Area K, LBI, ECD. Call: 6490609.

Anda Shipping is hiring Supervisors & Manager along with other team member.

Call: 641-5897.

Hiring Painter, Joiner & Carpenters, experience would be an asset, Interested persons can Call: 667-0859.

SERVICES Business/ residential PFSGYD$58M, Visa Application, advertisements, graphics design, passport application forms & i130 application.

Call: 626-7040.

Elevate your brand with our professional Graphic design services. For more information Call: 619-0007, 629-5526.

We repair & install fridge, freezer, washer & dryer, AC units, stove, etc. Whatsapp/ Call Omar: 683-8734/ 6549711.

Saturday April 13, 2024

Kaieteur News

Vacancy for Manager at Dollar Stretch Store, Lot 16 Robb Street G/T. Call: 616-9209.

Male Cleaner needed for Eccles. Call: 645-8443/ 6159132.

PROPERTY FOR SALE Land size 40X82 & house 26X54 located at Well Street, North Ruimveldt. Call: 6260607/ 649-1213/ 617-0004.

LEGAL NOTICE 1 Filing Attorney: MS. SHAMEKA TIATT GUYANA LEGALAID CLINIC “Maraj Building” 185 Charlotte & King Streets, Georgetown, Guyana.

Tel: 225-9238/ 225-9246 Email: legalaid@networksgy.com 2023-HC-DEM-CIV-FD1489 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION Application No. FD-1489 Between: (DUBLIN) ORINTHIAPetitioner/ Applicant -and(THEGG) KENNARD Respondent TO: KENNARD THEGG Formerly of Lot 793 Phase 1B Linden Guyana.

TAKE NOTICE that on the 9th day of October, 2024 an Application relating to children was filed against you by ORINTHIA DUBLIN the Petitioner/ Applicant in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara.

AND FURTHER

LEGAL NOTICE 1

LEGAL NOTICE 2

TAKE NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 15th day of March, 2024 the Applicant was directed to effect service of her Application on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) consecutive Saturday issues of the Guyana KAIETEUR NEWS, a daily newspaper printed, published and circulated in and around the Guyana and on the worldwide web (online).

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorney-at-Law at the Registry of Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Application together with related documents. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Application, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Application, you must file a reply to application related to Child, an Answer and/or notice of intention of defense ( Forms are available at the registry) in the registry of Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 35 (thirty- five) days from the date of the second and final publication of this Notice.

TAKE NOTICE that the Application is scheduled for Directions Hearing onWednesday the 19th day of June , 2024 at 9:15am before the Honourable Madam Chief Justice Roxane George inchs at the family Division of the High Court at Georgetown.

IN DEFAULT of your filing, a reply to Application Relating to child, an Answer and/or notice of intention to defend the court may proceed in your absence and may make any order it considers appropriate, including granting Custody.

The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts [Georgetown, Demerara]. The office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the Registry is closed.

Dated the 21st day of March,2024.

within 30 (thirty) days from the date of the final publication of this Notice.

TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on Thursday the 6th day of June, 2024 at 11:30am before the Honourable Mr. Justin Gino Persaud via Zoom Meeting ID: 733 558 9086 and Password: Court3.

IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/Notice of Intention to Defend, Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce.

The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts [Georgetown, Demerara]. The office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the Registry is closed.

Dated the 11th day of April,2024.

LEGAL NOTICE 2 Filing Attorney: MS. Tonza A. Sarrabo GUYANA LEGALAID CLINIC “Maraj Building” 185 Charlotte & King Streets, Georgetown, Guyana.

Tel: 225-9238/ 225-9246 Email: legalaid@networksgy.com 2023-HC-DEM-CIV-FD938 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCEAND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION Petition No. FD-938 Between: (THOMAS) CHERYLANN nee WENT Petitioner/ Applicant -and(THOMAS) JOHN JOSEPH Respondent TO: JOHN JOSEPH THOMAS Grand Roy, S. John’s Grenada.

TAKE NOTICE that on the 15th day of June, 2023 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by CHERYLANN THOMAS nee WENT the Petitioner/ Applicant in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 10th day of April, 2024 the Petitioner/ Applicant was directed to effect service of her Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) consecutive Saturday issues of Local Newspaper, a daily newspaper printed, published and circulated in and around the Republic of Guyana. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorney-at-Law at the Registry of Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with related documents. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, you must file an Acknowledgement of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry), Answer and/or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara

Kaieteur News

Saturday April 13, 2024

PAGE 17

Haiti decrees long-awaited transition council, but questions remain PORT-AU-PRINCE, April 12 (Reuters) - Haiti’s government on Friday issued a decree formalizing the creation of a nine-member transitional presidential council, a long-delayed move intended as the first step in restoring security to the gang-ravaged Caribbean country.

The decree, however, leaves many questions unanswered. It does not name the new council members or establish a timeframe for its installation or that of a new prime minister. The decree was published in Haiti’s official gazette and names the nine political parties or social sectors who will be represented on the council, including two non-voting observers, confirming an announcement made last month.

The transition plan was announced on March 11 as armed men mounted attacks on parts of the capital Portau-Prince they did not already control, while unelected Prime Minister Ariel Henry remained

stranded outside the country.

The same day, Henry said he would step down pending the installation of his replacement, set to be appointed by this council initially expected to be brought in within a couple of days.

Friday’s decree, issued in Haiti’s Le Moniteur gazette, calls for the council to “participate, in agreement with the prime minister, in the formation of an inclusive ministers’ cabinet.”

It says the council must “rapidly” choose a new prime minister, without giving a set timeframe.

It also stipulates the council be headquartered in the National Palace in downtown Port-au-Prince, which has come under fire several times in the past weeks.

In a separate statement on Friday, the government said it invited the designated representatives to submit documents to prove their eligibility at government offices in the capital.

The transition plan, which includes rules that

People walk past remains of vehicles near the presidential palace, after they were set on fire by gangs, as violence spreads and armed gangs expand their control over the capital, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti March 25, 2024. REUTERS/Ralph Tedy Erol/File Photo

would disqualify representatives who are subject to a criminal suit, was agreed with the mediation of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) ahead of Henry’s announcement that he would step down.

The nine groups named

by CARICOM and in

Friday’s decree have all put forward council candidates, but their nominations have yet to be formalized despite frequent pledges that such an announcement was near.

The delayed transition has prompted critics to accuse Henry’s allies of hampering the process in order to keep hold of power.

The government has said it is working through legal and constitutional problems “as fast as possible.”

CARICOM on Friday said it welcomed the decree and reiterated the need for the new leaders to urgently address the security situation so schools and businesses can reopen and people can

travel freely and access basic supplies.

Close to 95,000 people have fled the capital’s metropolitan area in the last month as armed gangs have cemented their control.

Haitians are lacking basic goods as key ports remain closed, while the outgoing government remains absent.

PAGE 18

Kaieteur News

Saturday April 13, 2024

Kaieteur News

ThursdayApril Saturday November 13, 2024 24, 2022

PAGE 19

Expanded CPL and UWI Internship programme open SportsMax - The Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and the University of the West Indies (UWI) Faculty of Sport have expanded their hugely successful internship programme for the 2024 tournament which gets underway on August 29.

Now in its eighth year, the programme will this season have 18 places available for students to study for a three credit fully accredited UWI Sports

Marketing course. Those students will also be given the opportunity to put the skills they have learned into practice as part of the CPL’s marketing team with an internship at games throughout the 2024 tournament.

The programme has seen dozens of young people across the Caribbean get a fully integrated internship with the CPL team, with several of those interns then securing ongoing paid

positions with the tournament.

This year’s edition of the tournament will have matches in Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, St Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia and Trinidad & Tobago.

There will be opportunities for intern in all of those countries as well as the academic Sports Marketing aspect of the course, which is facilitated via online classes delivered by the University of the West Indies.

Saturday April 13, 2024 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Friends or work colleagues could introduce you to a field of study that captures your interest, Aries. You're ready for something new in your life.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) ravel is in store today. It could be a spur-of-the-moment trip with a friend. More likely, it will be a series of short trips closer to home. You could visit friends or take advantage of sales and do some shopping.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You're likely to receive news today that brightens your future outlook, Gemini. It could be that your boss calls you at home and hints at a pending promotion, or your partner could receive a raise or unusually large bonus.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You could be invited on a lastminute adventure today, Libra.

By all means, seize the chance!

You're certainly ready for a change, and this opportunity could turn out to be just what you've been hoping for.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) If you've been thinking about making a career change, today is a good day to do some research on professions that interest you. It may be that you're ready to take the leap and start a business of your own.

SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Technology is going to play a big role in your life today and in the immediate future. It could be that your office is upgrading its systems and you're in charge of getting everyone up to speed on the new equipment.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) You can expect your life to change in a fairly dramatic way today, Cancer. The change could be subtle at first, but with time and distance you're likely to look back on this day as pivotal.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You might find yourself unexpectedly busy today, Capricorn. It could be that you'd planned to spend the day tidying up and reorganizing your home.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Today could have you itching for a change, Leo. The difficulty is figuring out what you really want to do with your life. A good first step would be to talk to people.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) It's hard to imagine a world without computers, Aquarius.

Technology has been key to your professional life, and it's likely to be even more important in the future.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You're going to be busy but happy today. It's likely that a project you've been working on for a long time suddenly yields positive results. You can't help but be delighted, as this achievement comes at a time when you've been questioning your abilities.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You might want to straighten up the house this morning, Pisces. Some unexpected visitors could drop by. With no warning, you could be serving lunch or dinner to a group of ten! Don't panic. Take-out was created for just such an occasion.

Chris Watson, Republic B a n k C P L’s H e a d o f Marketing, spoke highly about the programme’s success.

“We have had some outstanding young people take part in the internship programme over the years and it has been really pleasing to see many of these interns go on to have paid jobs within the CPL. More than this, all those who have taken part have had a great insight into what it takes to put on a world class cricket tournament and entertainment product. We look forward to welcoming the 2024 cohort when we get underway in August,” Watson said.

Meanwhile, Dr Akshai Mansingh, Dean of the UWI Faculty of Sport, echoed similar sentiments.

Shaw cops Goal of the...

From page 21 midfielder was a standout performer for City across March and was deservedly named Player of the Month.

Her series of high-class performances came in victories over Everton, Brighton, Manchester United, and Liverpool.

The stellar work of Shaw, Park and others have propelled City to 12 successive wins in the league, and with four games remaining, they are in pole position on 46 points, three points ahead of reigning champions Chelsea, who have a game in hand.

The WSL resumes next weekend.

Dr Akshai Mansingh...This expansion to offer a three-credit elective will allow them to get credits for the programmes they are pursuing.

“We noticed that the interns previously partaking in the programme were mainly university students from the region and beyond.

This expansion to offer a three-credit elective will allow them to get credits for

the programmes they are pursuing, while gaining valuable experience in the largest sporting event in the region,” Mansingh shared.

Applications are now open for those who are interested in taking part.

PAGE 20

Kaieteur News

Olympic champion Rojas out of Paris Games with injury

Venezuela’s Yulimar Rojas. (REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo)

(Reuters) - Olympic and world champion triple jumper Yulimar Rojas will miss the Paris Games due to injury.

The Venezuelan world record holder said on social media yesterday that she had injured her Achilles tendon while training.

“My heart is broken and I feel so much sadness that I want to apologise for not being able to represent you in Paris 2024,” said Rojas. “It has been a very difficult time.”

Rojas claimed her fourth straight world title in Budapest last year in a memorable performance, when she leapt 15.08 metres in her final attempt to overtake Maryna BekhRomanchuk of Ukraine. She also collected silver at the Rio Olympics. “I wish great success to our Venezuelan delegation in Paris 2024,” said Rojas. “See you soon, with the same dreams and desire.”

Saturday April 13, 2024

One Guyana King and Queen of the Sand Beach Football - Bakewell tournament starts today on board The One Guyana King and Queen of the Sand Beach Football tournament will get underway with a bang at the Compound of the PPP/C Office in Linden form 6:00pm and admission is absolutely free. While endorsed by President Dr. Irfaan Ali under the One Guyana banner to foster oneness among Guyanese, and promises a lot of fun and entertainment, this event promises keen contests for the attractive prize packages on offer in both Male and Female segments.

Ta s k e d w i t h t h e organizational aspects of the event, is the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation and yesterday, organisation Rep Monette Aaron collected a sponsorship package from Managing Director of Bakewell, Rajin Ganga.

Known for their organizational abilities, the Kashif and Shanghai Org. has promised fans a chockfull of entertainment starting at 6:00pm today with the March past of the teams and official opening.

Half an hour later the business end of the tournament gets underway with the ladies on show.

The night’s full fixtures read: 18:30 (Queen) Rockstone vs Hururu 19:15 (Queen) Tiger Bay vs Aroaima 20:00 (King) Rockstone vs Hururu 21:00 (King) Fearless vs Wiz Ballers 22:00 (Kings) UDK Victors vs Golden Stars 23:00 (Kings) Speightland vs Pro Ballers Play continues tomorrow with more action at the same venue from 6:00pm.

On show: 18:00 (Queen) Aroaima vs Hururu 18:45 Speightland vs Tiger Bay 19 30 (king) Yo u n g G u n n e r s v s Gorillas 20:30 (King) Presidential vs Universal Ballers 21:30 (King) YMCA vs MS Ballers 22:30 (kings) Team Mineral vs Hi Flyers Games continue on Friday 19 with: 18:30 (Queen) Tiger Bay vs Hururu

19:15 (Queen) Speightland vs Rockstone 20:00 (kings) LA Ballers vs Rockstone/Hururu 21:00 (kings) Goal is Money vs Fearless/Wiz Ballers 22:00 (kings) Platinum vs Golden Stars/UDK Victors 23:00 (King) DC Ballers vs Speightland/Pro Ballers Other playing nights are April 21 and 29, with the grand finale on Sunday May 5.

The Male teams will battle for a share of the prize money which has been split; 1st place $1,000,000, 2nd place $500,000, 3rd place $200,000 and 4th place $100,000.

The ladies will look to claim either of the 1st place $400,000, 2nd place $200,000, 3rd place $100,000 or 4th place $50,000.

Football fans are encouraged to come out and have a fun weekend of action presented by the K&S Organisation under the President’s One Guyana Brand.

Peters Hall meet Providence in EBCA 2nd Division...

From page 22 Quincy Grimmond, and Jermain Grovesnor have been instrumental in Providence’s journey to the final. With their stellar performances, Providence poses a significant threat to Peters Hall’s ambitions.

With both teams in peak form and riding high on momentum, the stage is set for an enthralling battle. Spectators can expect a display of top-notch cricket as these two sides leave no stone unturned in their quest

for glory.

The action is scheduled to commence at 10:00 a.m., promising a day filled with edgeof-your-seat excitement and unforgettable moments.

The tournament is made possible by the East Bank Cricket Association, with generous support from sponsors including David Sugrim, Patrick Khan, Mohamed Trading, Ramesh Trophy Stall, Khan Labels, and Camille’s Academy.

Kaieteur News

Saturday April 13, 2024

PAGE 21

Jamaican government contributes JMD$10M to inaugural Jamaica Athletics Invitational SportsMax - The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has announced a significant contribution of JMD$10 million (approximately USD$64,000) from the Sports Development Foundation to support the staging of the inaugural Jamaica Athletics Invitational Meet, scheduled to take place at the National Stadium in Kingston on May 11, 2024.

Minister Grange expressed full support for the Invitational, highlighting its importance in providing athletes with a platform to assess their status and make necessary adjustments ahead of upcoming competitions, including the Olympics.

“This Invitational Silver Continental Category Meet, as per World Athletics Standard, will allow athletes and coaches to accurately assess their status and make the necessary adjustments to achieve the preferred results in good time for the upcoming Olympics,” Minister Grange stated.

She emphasized the significance of hosting

(Left - right) Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee Ludlow Watts, JAAA President Garth Gayle, Minister Olivia Grange, German Ambassador to Jamaica Jan Hendrik van Thiel and General Manager of the Sports Development Foundation Alan Beckford during the handover of the cheque for Jamaican $10million to the inaugural Jamaica Athletics Invitational on Thursday. (Sportsmax Social Media) international athletes from the Caribbean, United States, Canada, the United Kingdom,

and Europe, fostering healthy competition and camaraderie among participants.

Raekwon Noel seeks assistance to realise Olympic dream

Minister Grange extended a warm welcome to all athletes and emphasized the dual focus on

Shaw’s spectacular strike came against Liverpool.

- National swimmer launched GoFundMe campaign

By Rawle Toney

R

aekwon Noel, heralded as one o f G u y a n a ’s brightest swimming talents, is reaching out to the public and corporate sectors through the GoFundMe platform, for support to attend the upcoming Speedo Sectionals in Ocala, Florida, scheduled from May 24th to 26th.

His ultimate goal?

Olympic qualification.

At just 18 years old, Noel stands as Guyana’s most f o r m i d a b l e s w i m m e r, boasting over 600 FINA points across seven events, a feat unmatched by any other active swimmer in the country, regardless of gender.

His impressive repertoire includes National Records in the 50m, 100m, 200m, and 400m Freestyle, 100m and 200m Backstroke, 50m, 100m, and 200m Butterfly, and 400m Individual

Medley.

Noel’s journey in the pool began at the tender age of seven when he was selected to represent Guyana at the Goodwill Games in Barbados, a platform designed for nurturing young swimming talents.

He continued to represent Guyana at the Goodwill Games for four consecutive years from 2014 to 2017.

His debut at the CARIFTA Games came in 2018 in Jamaica, followed by another appearance in Barbados in 2019, where he marked his territory by breaking Olympian Hannibal Gaskin’s 200 butterfly record.

In December 2021, Noel made his international debut at the FINA 15th World S h o r t C o u r s e Championships in Abu Dhabi, UAE, representing Guyana.

Subsequently, in 2022, he proudly represented his

country at the inaugural Caribbean Games in Guadeloupe, clinching a bronze medal in the 100 butterfly event.

The pinnacle of his achievements came in 2023 at the Carifta Swimming Championships, where he clinched five gold medals and shattered five national records in a single meet, solidifying his status as a force to be reckoned with.

Moreover, Noel has consistently dominated the Guyana Teachers’ Union Annual Swimming, Cycling, a n d A t h l e t i c s Championships, earning the Champion Boy trophy for his age group four years in a row from 2015 to 2018 while competing for the North Zone team.

Link to Raekwon Noel’s GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com /f/help-raekwon-attendspeedo-sectionals2024?qid=98f9c5918284a2 58b6c193d0733bd8da

SportsMax - It was a memorable March for Jamaican international Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw and Manchester City in the Barclays Women’s Super League, as they completed a clean sweep of the league’s monthly awards.

Shaw’s remarkable strike against Liverpool scooped the Goal of the Month prize, while her teammate Jess Park was named the WSL’s Player of the Month for the first time in her career. And with City winning all four of our league fixtures across March, it comes as no surprise that Gareth Taylor was also named Manager of the Month.

In a performance of superlatives, it was Shaw’s

performance and positive social interactions during the meet.

“Competitions of this calibre force all athletes to participate at peak performance while forging positive social interactions and camaraderie. So while great focus will be placed on the performances, an after party awaits you,” Minister Grange added enthusiastically.

The Jamaica Athletics Invitational Meet has already confirmed participation from international stars such as World Indoor Champion Julien Alfred of St Lucia, Dina Asher Smith from Great Britain, 2022 World 100m champion Fred Kerley, Trayvon Brommel, and rising triple jump star Jaydon Hibbert.

With the support from the Sports Development Foundation and the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the inaugural Jamaica Athletics Invitational promises to be an electrifying event, showcasing toptier athletic talent and promoting the spirit of sportsmanship and competition.

“Let the games begin!” the Jamaican sports minister declared.

Shaw cops Goal of the Month prize in City’s sweep of WSL March awards spectacular first half strike against Liverpool that handed her the WSL Goal of the Month prize. On that goal, Shaw picked up play from Laura Coombs and cleverly flicked the ball around the onrushing Gemma Bonner to create space for a well-struck effort, from about 25 yards out, which nestled into the top corner of Liverpool’s net for her 18th goal of the WSL season.

Shaw followed that up with a second half header, as she took another step towards this season’s Golden Boot.

With five WSL goals in four games, the prolific 27year-old striker was only just pipped to the Player of the

Month award by her teammate Park, but the Jamaican would still reach another impressive milestone in her career to date during March.

Indeed, her strike against Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium saw her surpass Georgia Stanway as the Club’s record goalscorer, with her tally now standing at 70 goals in just 83 appearances.

Meanwhile, England international Park has come into her element in the new year and has more than repaid the faith Taylor has placed in her over the past few months.

Moving from out wide into a more central role, the (Continued on page 19)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 22

Saturday April 13, 2024

Iconic artists SEAN PAUL and KES collaborate on T20 World Cup anthem

SportsMax - Jamaica’s iconic Grammy award winning artist Sean Paul and Soca superstar Kes have joined forces to produce the official anthem of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup to be hosted in the West Indies and United States.

With just 50 days to go until the start of the global cricket spectacle, production is in full swing for the track that will reverberate around the world when 20 international teams come together across the Caribbean and United States from June 1-29. The anthem is being produced by Michael “Tano” Montano and will be launched in the coming weeks, together with the music video, which will feature cameos from several well-known superstars.

Grammy-award winning artist Sean Paul expressed delight to be working on the project.

“Cricket has always been a major part of our culture, so I’m honoured to record the official anthem for the T20 World Cup. I’m a big fan of Kes and the track will feature a nice touch of the Caribbean, with some dance, to an international vibe and of course Soca - it will be a real anthem for people to sing out and feel the spirit of unity,” he shared.

Soca superstar Kes, whose given name is Kees Dieffenthaller, echoed similar sentiments.

“Our mission has always

been about bringing worlds together, so blending cricket, (dear to us in the Caribbean), with music is a powerful combination. Shoutout to Sean Paul, Tano, and the whole team for creating this musical vibe. Can’t wait for everyone to sing along to this worldwide anthem and bring the party to stadiums across the West Indies and USA,” Kes noted.

The anthem will add to the excitement that has been building since the World Cup trophy tour launch in New York. The Caribbean leg of the trophy tour continued in Barbados on Friday.

Claire Furlong, ICC’s General Manager, M a r k e t i n g a n d Communications welcomed the excitement around the tournament.

“Excitement is building towards the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, with the first match between USA and Canada starting in just 50 days’ time at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Texas. We are delighted to have two globally recognised artists who are at the top of their genres in Sean Paul and Kes produce our tournament anthem, which will set the tone for the biggest cricket carnival spectacle ever. Fans can expect a song that will reflect the Caribbean identity, while retaining universal appeal for global cricket fans, themed around the event’s marketing campaign ‘Out of this

US Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Roger Nyhus gets batting tips from Carlos Brathwaite. (CWI) World’,” Furlong shared.

Meanwhile, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 To u r n a m e n t D i r e c t o r Fawwaz Baksh concurred.

“The upcoming launch of the official tournament anthem led by Grammy Award winner Sean Paul and Soca icon Kes comes as we get ready to launch partystand tickets which is something fans have been eagerly awaiting. Adding to the already hyped excitement, the World Cup trophy tour is now in the Caribbean and people from

all walks of life are looking forward to seeing the coveted trophy in person. It’s an exciting time in the West Indies and USA and we are looking forward to welcoming fans from around the world to be part of an out of this world T20 World Cup experience,” Baksh said.

T h e I C C ’ s announcement of the artists to feature on the official anthem comes as party-stand tickets for World Cup matches are also set to go on sale on April 15, at tickets.t20worldcup.com,

with prices starting at just US$25. General tickets are also available for purchase on the ticketing website and will be available at box offices across the Caribbean when they open in the coming weeks.

Party-stand tickets will be available for all matches across the Caribbean, including those for the Group Stage, Super 8, semifinals and final.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, l i m i t e d hospitality package options are available for all matches across the West Indies. In the

USA, packages to all eight matches in New York, including for India v Pakistan on June 9, are now available to purchase.

And US Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Roger Nyhus got batting tips from Carlos Brathwaite during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 trophy tour at the US Embassy in Barbados, yesterday April 12. The bat is the one Brathwaite used in the 2016 final against England at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

Peters Hall meet Providence in EBCA 2024 CWI Regional 4-Day C/ships Round 6 Day 3 GHE vs. JS 2nd Division 40-Over final this Sunday Scorpions eyeing 296 for victory with 8 wickets remaining as Eagles close in on likely win

The East Bank Cricket A s s o c i a t i o n ’s S e c o n d Division 40-Over Cricket Competition is set to reach a fever pitch on Sunday, April 14th, with the grand finale at Farm Ground. Tournament powerhouse, Providence will lock horns with Peters Hall, in what is deemed Clash of the ‘East Bank’ Titans.

Peters Hall Cricket Club, led by their formidable batting lineup, is poised for a fierce battle. Spearheaded by the dynamic batters Narendra Persaud and the dependable captain Yogeendra Singh, they will be looking to set a daunting target. With Aryan Haripersaud and Devin Roopnarine adding depth to their arsenal, Peters Hall is armed and ready to unleash a

Peters Hall Captain Yogeendra Singh

Providence Captain Michael Realine

barrage of runs. In the bowling department, the duo of Solomon Cameron and Ray Newton will be aiming to stifle Providence’s batting lineup and restrict them to a modest total.

However, Providence

Sports Club is no stranger to success, boasting a roster of seasoned players who have shown throughout the season. Dwain Dick, Ovid Richardson, Michael Realine, Keith Fraser, (Continued on page 20)

Brandon King

Guyana Harpy Eagles maintained their grip on this battle after leaving the Jamaicans with almost 300 runs for victory on the final day at Sabina Park, as Day 4 promises an intense finish.

Jamaica were mopped up for a 1st innings 153 in the end after losing their final wicket on the morning of Day 3.

The champs added to the 271 run lead when they declared on 147-7, following up their 1st innings 424.

Guyana Captain Tevin Imlach followed up his unbeaten ton with 44 while Kevin Sinclair (36*), Kevlon Anderson (25) and Raymon Perez (22) were the contributors during Guyana’s 2nd innings.

Jamaica pacer Derval Green picked up 2-39 with a wicket apiece from Abijahi Mansingh (1-42) and Marquino Mindley (1-13) being the wicket-takers for Jamaica.

The host’s were then tasked with pulling off a daunting chase for a win as a 419-run target awaited them. Jamaica were 123-2 trailing by 296 runs with Kirk McKenzie (39) and Brandon King (13*), are the two men tasked with an uphill challenge today.

Spinners Veerasammy Permaul (1-37) and Sinclair (1-29) will look to rattle out the remaining wickets with help from the fast-bowlers.

Kaieteur News

Saturday April 13, 2024

PAGE 23

Round of 16: Petra/Milo Diamond Insurance sponsors 2024 Schools U18 Football KO stage Women’s Chess Championship set for today & tomorrow

T

he Female Division of the Guyana Chess Federation will kick off its annual women and girls tournament this weekend with the 2024 Wo m e n ’s C h e s s Championship Qualifiers and 2024 Women’s Chess Championship, sponsored

by Diamond Insurance.

The seven-round qualifying tournament starts today, April 13th, 2024, and continues on April 14th, 20th and 21st at the National Racquet Center, Woolford Avenue, Georgetown. The final round will be played on Sunday, April 21st, where the top 9 performers will qualify to play in the Championship tournament, vying for the title of the 2024 Women’s Chess Champion, coming up against reigning Women’s Champion Jessica Callender, who is looking to defend her title.

The tournament will see some of Guyana’s best female players go head to head in testing their skills to determine who will make it to the Championship.

Some notable players on the tournament roster vying for the top spots are Sasha Shariff, runner-up for the 2 0 2 3 Wo m e n ’s C h e s s Championship, Aditi Joshi, current National Under-14 Champion, Shazeeda

Female Chess star, Sasha Shariff Rahim, Ciel Clement, Nellisha Johnson and youngsters Chelsea Harrison and Saura Ruplall.

Two rounds will be played each day, using the Swiss format with a time control of 90 minutes with 30 seconds of additional time after each move.

The Guyana Chess Federation wishes to express its appreciation to the management of Diamond Insurance for their continued support in promoting the sport of chess in Guyana, especially towards the women and girls competitions. It is the second year that Diamond Insurance has supported women in chess.

The 2024 Women’s Chess Championship Qualifiers and Chess

Championship tourneys are part of the qualifying process for the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary in September this year.

Top performers will also gain Grand Prix points from these tournaments and the 2024 Grand Prix Tourneys, which will then be tallied and calculated to see who will make the top five for the Guyana female team.

For more information on upcoming tournaments and to keep updated with player stat details, please visit our w e b s i t e a t w w w. g u y a n a c h e s s . g y.

Interested persons who wish to join the GCF can do so, on guyanachess.gy. The GCF also offers chess classes every Saturday from 10 am to 12 pm to school students at School of the Nations.

Golden State Warriors down Portland Trail Blazers to enter 3-way tie in thrilling Play-In race CNN - The Golden State Warriors edged past the Portland Trail Blazers 100-92 and are now tied on a 45-35 record with the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers as the NBA regular season winds down to its final two games. The Warriors held a narrow one-point lead over the struggling Blazers going into the fourth quarter but pulled away down the stretch behind a team-high 22 points from Steph Curry.

It was a tough shooting night for the twotime MVP, who shot just 36.4% from the floor, but he got it done elsewhere by adding eight assists, seven rebounds, two blocks and a steal. “You know they’re going to play hard and with a lot of energy, and for the most part, it worked for about 42 minutes, but we just got really disciplined down the stretch, had great point of attack defence,” Curry said, per ESPN. “We just competed and that last six minutes was hard-nosed basketball. That’s what it took to win.” Deandre Ayton scored a game-high 25 points for Portland to go with 11 rebounds, while rookie Scoot Henderson continued his late season improvement with 18 points and 12 assists. It was Henderson’s eighth game of the season with double-digit assists, the most of any rookie in the NBA. The Warriors appear to have caught the

winning bug at just the right time with their third straight victory, while the Kings and Lakers have both lost two on the bounce.

After a huge 135-123 win at Sacramento on Thursday, the New Orleans Pelicans currently sit in the sixth and final automatic playoff spot, one game ahead of the Phoenix Suns in seventh as both teams desperately try and avoid the Play-In Tournament.

In what should be a thrilling end to the season, the Pelicans will travel to Golden State before ending their campaign at home to the Lakers, while the Suns’ final two games are away versus the Kings and the No. 2 seeded Minnesota Timberwolves.

After the Warriors hosted the Pelicans yesterday, Steve Kerr’s team will then welcome the No. 12 seed Utah Jazz in its season finale. “It’s a loaded conference.

Everybody’s good,” Kerr said. “It’s just tough to make up ground.”

Final fixtures of the regular season Los Angeles Lakers: @ Grizzlies, @ Pelicans Golden State Warriors: vs. Pelicans, vs. Jazz Sacramento Kings: vs. Suns, vs. Trail Blazers Phoenix Suns: @ Kings, @ Timberwolves New Orleans Pelicans: @ Warriors, vs.

Lakers

The most talked about, Milo Schools Under-18 Football tournament enters its round of 16 stage today at the Ministry of Education ground. Expertly put together by the Petra Organisation, the 10th edition of the tournament promises an electrifying lineup of matches, showcasing the best young talent in school football.

In the opening match (#37), Leonora Secondary face off against Bartica Secondary, both teams boasting two wins each in the competition. Bishops High, with one win from three matches, take on the f o r m i d a b l e C h a s e ’s A cademic F oundation, undefeated with three wins in group A. Meanwhile, Group B leaders Dolphin Secondary meet Queens College in match #3, while East Ruimveldt Secondary clashes with South

Previous action between Chase’s Academic Foundation and North Ruimveldt Secondary.

Ruimveldt Secondary in what promises to be an enthralling encounter.

As the tournament advances towards determining the final four teams, tomorrow brings four more exciting matches, with the winners securing coveted semifinal spots.

The competition offers enticing financial rewards, with $300,000, $200,000, $150,000, and $75,000

awarded to the top four finishers, respectively, to be utilized for school projects.

Trophies and incentives await outstanding players, top goal-scorers, and the goalkeeper with the most saves. Sponsored by Massy Distribution under the Nestle ‘Milo’ Brand and supported

by MVP Sports, Yellow Steel Inc., Ministry of Education, Blue Water Shipping, and the Guyana Football Federation.

2024 GCB men’s 50 overs U19 Inter-county tournament Round 1

Deonarain, Khan among top performers as U19 T20 action commences - Demerara, Berbice secure wins after double-header opening round Friday’s double-header of the GCB U19 men’s 50overs Tournament got underway as powerhouses Berbice and Demerara secure respective wins as they look to this weekend’s second round.

Demerara beat Select XI by 9 wickets at Lusignan Opener Romeo Deonarain scored 53 not out while Sachin Balgobin hit 46 off 44 balls, guiding Demerara to 101-1 in reply to the Select XI’s total of 100.

Demerara earlier knocked over the Select team for an even 100 runs with Justin Doobay (29), Nityanand Mathura (19) and Cyanna Shiloh Adams (17), their main run-getters.

The Demerara bowlers put on a clinic as Wavell Allen (3-23), Riyad Latiff (3-33) and and Alvin Mohabir (2-7), helped make light work of the competition.

Berbice defeat Essequibo by 7 wickets at Malteenoes Batting first, Essequibo were bowled out for 108 after Berbice bowlers Salim Khan (330), Kumar Deopersaud (2-11) and Sanjay Algoo (2-27) led a hostile bowling exhibition.

Openers Shahid Viera (25) and Rajindra Ramballi (21) failed to capitalize on their start while Jadon Campbell (24) rounded off the top scorers list for Essequibo.

Berbice then raced to 109-3 thanks to a

Salim Khan had a good day for Berbice. string of scores from Damion Cecil (31*), Rashad Gaffur (22) along with the Ramnauth’s, openers Rampertab (27) and Rampersaud (11).

Only Gulcharran Chulai (1-25) and seamer Bruce Vincent (2-32) could find success with the ball for Essequibo.

Round 2 continues tomorrow, Sunday, March 14 with Essequibo and Demerara battling at Lusignan while Meten-Meer-Zorg will host Berbice versus the Select XI, from 9:30h respectively.