Issuu

PAGE 02

Kaieteur News

Friday December 01, 2023

Kaieteur News

Friday December 01, 2023

PAGE 03

In absence of ring-fencing from 2018-2023...

ExxonM and partners walk out with US$21.6B; Guyana left with US$3B Since the startup of oil production activities in Guyana, ExxonMobil and its partners, Hess and CNOOC have walked away with a whopping US$21.6B, while the country has only seen US$3 billion in profits and royalties from its resources. ExxonMobil is now producing oil from three projects in the Stabroek Block- Liza One, Liza Two and Payara. The total production is expected to reach 620,000 barrels per day in the first quarter of 2024. In keeping with the parameters of the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), the contractor is allowed to deduct up to 75 percent of the revenues generated in the Stabroek Block monthly to

recoup its investments. The remaining 25 percent is then split between Guyana and the partners as profits. Guyana is paid an additional two percent as royalty from the contractor. This means Guyana receives a meager 14.5 percent of the earnings from the block. It was reported that during the period 2018 to 2020, Exxon racked up some US$7.3 billion in expenses for the petroleum activities in the Stabroek Block. Meanwhile, in 2021, the company spent another US$610 million, according to its financial statement. In its 2022 Annual Report, ExxonMobil indicated that US$7.4 billion was deducted to cover its investments in the Stabroek Block. Additionally, the Bank of

Businessman being questioned for Unity murder A businessman is being questioned by police in connection with the brutal murder of Chooromantie Tulsie, also called “Anita” of Unity, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara (ECD). Tulsie was found murdered around 08:00hrs on Wednesday in the bottom flat of her home with her mouth gagged and a knife stuck in her throat. Police had initially arrested three persons for questioning and among them was the businessman. The trio was released on station bail after being held for 72 hours but investigations continued in what appears to be a coldblooded murder in the presence of her 5-year-old son. New information resulted in the police’s rearrest of the businessman. Kaieteur News understands that the businessman was very close to victim and frequented her home.

The woman was last seen alive around 19:00hrs on Tuesday. The individual who discovered the Tulsie’s lifeless body said calls were made to the woman but no response was given. As the person was about to leave, Tulsie’s son was seen at a

Murdered, Chooromantie Tulsie window in the upper flat of the house. An alarm was raised and residents broke into the premises to get to the child. After gaining entry, the concerned residents ventured to the bottom flat where Tulsie’s lifeless remains were found.

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo Guyana (BoG) in its Half Year Report also revealed that some US$4B was already recovered during the first six months of 2023. This means that between 2018 and June 2023, ExxonMobil and partners recovered a whopping US$19B in costs; but that was not all it walked away with. The companies also benefitted equally from the profit sharing agreement with Guyana. According to the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) receipts on Central Bank’s website, inflows to the oil account only amount to US$3,057,571,695.52, as at September 20, 2023. This

included the two percent royalty that totals US$385,357,766.82 (20182023). It therefore means that the profit made by the oil companies from 2018 to 2023 amount to US$2,672,213,928.7. This means that Exxon and partners walked away with approximately US$21.6B since oil production commenced in 2018 while Guyana was left with US$3 billion. No ring-fencing In the absence of a key provision, known in the industry as ‘ring-fencing’, ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) has been utilizing the revenues in producing fields to pay for projects that are yet to come on stream. For instance, Kaieteur News reported that the Stabroek Block partners in 2022 deducted millions to clean up the third and fourth oil projects that were yet to p r o d u c e o i l . https://www.kaieteurnewso nline.com/2023/07/04/exxo n-took-out-billions-in-2022to-clean-up-3rd-and-4thprojects-without-pumpinga-drop-of-oil-yet/ A ring-fencing provision would therefore prevent the company from

President, ExxonMobil Guyana Limited, Alistair Routledge using the resources in one field to pay for another. Notably, this key clause would enable Guyana to benefit from 50 percent of all revenues generated at one project after costs have been repaid and ensure each development pays for itself. Guyana has been repeatedly advised by independent international experts to ring-fence its oil projects to ensure the country benefits from its

resources early on, as this would help to improve the n a t i o n ’s e d u c a t i o n , infrastructure and health services among others. For instance, the Director of Financial Analysis for the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), Tom Sanzillo in a report estimated that Guyana should receive upward of $6 billion annually by 2028 or sooner, however, the organization believes that due to all of the new costs, Guyana will be shortchanged until the 2030’s, if not longer. Even though Guyana can implement a ring-fencing provision in the future Permits for the Stabroek Block projects to protect the country’s revenues, the Chief Policy maker for the sector, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo is reluctant to move in this direction. https://www.kaieteurne wsonline.com/2023/10/15/v p-jagdeo-claims-ringfencing-oil-projects-couldleave-guyana-with-nothingin-the-future/

Kaieteur News

PAGE 04

Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL-TEL: 624-6456 Editor: NIGEL WILLIAMS Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

A PPP Govt. propagandist – from ExxonMobil “Delivering business opportunities, jobs for Guyanese because it takes time to generate revenues from the oil production and for the government to be able to take that investment in roads and hospitals and improved education, that’s coming. That excites me for the future but it’s not tangible today for people. What is tangible is can I have a job? Can I grow my company…? If Guyanese thought that that was coming from Freedom House, and a Bharrat Jagdeo’s press conference, they could be forgiven. It definitely sounds like words that Jagdeo would use to market his government. It was not former president Jagdeo, but none other than ExxonMobil Guyana’s President, Mr. Alistair Routledge. What a marketer, what a propagandizer, the PPP/C Government has in its corner, selling its cosmetics and brightly coloured balloons. But President Routledge was not quite done, for he still had this left to say in his recent press appearance: “Any international bench-marking would say that it’s tremendous progress.” No doubt that Mr. Routledge is a keen student, for there he was doing in Guyana, what Guyanese in the PPP/C has made a fine living doing. That is, being the best at propaganda. In ExxonMobil, the government and Jagdeo have the kind of partner that is dreamed of, one that is on the ramshackle side when benefits to the people are involved. ExxonMobil did not rise to the top of the oil world by being seekers and tellers of pure truth; it has its own versions of that standard. ExxonMobil does its research well, studies its own people better, and then chooses the best. In its Guyana President, Mr. Routledge, ExxonMobil took the greatest care to ensure that it has the best salesman in this country. There he was selling the company to the natives. It could also be said that, given his own choice of words, Mr. Routledge is the paid top public relations officer, the paid chief lobbyist, and the paid lead propagandist, for the PPP/C Government and the ruling party’s General Secretary Jagdeo. For when Mr. Routledge opens his mouth, Guyana is paying in some way for his every word from its oil dollars. Three sets of words from Mr. Routledge’s first quotation above give him away. The first is “it takes time to generate revenues”, the second is “that’s coming” and the third is it “excites me for the future.” We said that ExxonMobil is world-class smart, and that Mr. Routledge is a super salesman, and he proved it himself in his tricky efforts via the local media. We direct the attention of Guyanese to Mr. Routledge’s emphases: “time” and “coming” and “future.” The kind of returns that this country should be enjoying now is reengineered, with Guyanese being setup for tomorrow. We invite all Guyanese to listen to Jagdeo and Routledge to hear for themselves how the two of them sound like a duet in a chorus. They are both singing the same song, and in sweet harmony. It was Jagdeo who spoke at one of his recent conferences about ‘foregoing revenues now’ so as to ‘maximize profits later.’ Clearly, they are both saying the same thing, using different catch phrases. The question is whether Jagdeo is parroting what Routledge wrote for him, or Routledge is lipsynching what is in Jagdeo’s songbook. ExxonMobil Guyana is telling Guyanese to be patient, for their future is rosy, but while doing so, the company is forcing its banks to build new vaults now, because its Guyana’s profits are so plentiful at present. Guyanese should remember that old saying: “bellyful man tell hungry-belly man to bear he chafe.” Today, many Guyanese are living in poverty, but ExxonMobil is celebrating prosperity. Guyana’s oil is helping ExxonMobil to prosper, but the company (Routledge) is telling the starving in this nation, don’t worry, all citizens will be richer later. The history of oil companies is always that oil producing countries and their people will come out on top later. It is never sooner, but always later. When there are weak and pitiful leaders like Jagdeo in the clutches of an ExxonMobil, then an artist like Alistair Routledge is free to draw his comic book pictures, deliver his cheap, self-enriching propaganda.

Friday December 01, 2023

Prem Persaud helped to preserve an enduring historical legacy DEAR EDITOR, Much eulogizing has been done, all well-meaning, about the dearly departed Justice Prem Persaud. I wish to add to that line-up. In an interview with him on July 19, he related his role in preserving the legacy of Prashad Nagar. Prashad Nagar was a post-World War II private housing scheme, built on land previously owned by the Bookers conglomerate in a geographical location referred to as “area H.” It was a built environment developed primarily from rice land, a virtual mud field. The builder of the scheme, Hari Prashad, Prem’s fatherin-law, had the foresight and “animal spirit” (to borrow a phrase from Lord Keynes) to embark on a risky venture that eventually proved to be successful. The plot of land Hari purchased comprised almost 77 acres, which would eventually be converted into 404 house lots of varying sizes. Residents, past and present of Prashad Nagar include David Chanderballi, Justice Rishi Persaud, Justice Clifford Baburam, Vincent Teekah, Dr. George Walcott, Reepu Daman Persaud, Dr. Vindhya Vasini Persaud, Pat Dial, Feroze Mohammed, and Justice Prem Persaud. Hari owned lots 9 and 10 on Delhi Street, opposite those of his son-inlaw, Justice Prem Persaud, who owned lots 11 and 12.

As Prem Persaud observed, Prashad Nagar is one of, if not “the best housing scheme” within the Greater Georgetown area. Being a proud Indian, following its construction, Hari named all the streets in Prashad Nagar after members of his immediate family and friends. He included the following names of the streets in his village: Delhi Street, Shantinikatan Street, Amla Avenue East, Amla Avenue West, Rohintal Street, Bombay Terrace, Damanbir Terrace, Jasmatbina Terrace, Sachibazaar Street, Kaka Street, Bisessar Avenue, Purshottam Street, Santram Street, Deobirana Street, Agra Street, Munipur Street, Cheddi Street, Shribasant Street, Chandranagar Street, Premniranjan Place, Rampersaud Street, Puna Street, Ganges Street, and Amla Avenue. Between 1970 and 1971, when John Meredith Ford (1923-1995) was the Mayor of Georgetown in a country firmly in the grips of the PNC, he “hosted independence celebrations in the nation’s capital” and “renamed streets to celebrate the country’s freedom” from British rule. As Mayor of Georgetown, Ford had collaborated with the City Council to change the name of part of High Street, which leads from Church Street to the Parliament Building, to its new name, “Avenue of the

Republic.” During the ceremonial event, performed on February 21, 1970 (merely hours before Forbes Burnham declared Guyana a “Cooperative Republic”!), Ford explained that the renaming of some of the streets in Guyana was “a necessary exercise” to preserve historically significant occasions “such as independence and the birth of the republic.” He initiated a campaign to have the name of Prashad Nagar removed from the suburb. It was an act wholly dismissive of the fact that the evolution of Prashad Nagar captured in some ways the historical contributions of Indian Guyanese. By the time the issue of the name change regarding Prashad Nagar came to light, Hari Prashad had already left Guyana, and he entrusted Prem Persaud as caretaker regarding all matters relating to Prashad Nagar. Prem Persaud, deeply concerned about the Mayor’s decision to change the name of Prashad Nagar, paid a visit to Prime Minister Burnham’s office to lodge his complaint. He reminded Burnham that Prashad Nagar was a privately owned developed housing estate, insisting that no public official had the authority to dictate the name of the housing scheme, and the Mayor of Georgetown and the City Council possessed

no authority to do so. According to Prem Persaud, in his presence, Burnham immediately made a phone call to Mayor Ford and issued a clear directive: “They got a place named Prashad Nagar. I would like to know that during my lifetime, I have left instructions that not a single piece of that land should be changed or renamed. Let those lands remain as they are.” Prem Persaud had saved the day. He also remembered, later, a conversation with another resident of Prashad Nagar, Mohamed Shahabuddeen (who became a member of the International Court of Justice and judicial tribunal of the International Criminal Court). Shahabuddeen had informed him that a plan was underway to change the name of “Ganges Street” to “ E a s t e r n H i g h w a y. ” However, with confidence, Prem Persaud assured his erstwhile colleague that he had in his possession the original plans of the housing scheme and that he [Shahabuddeen] could rest assured that such a name change would not happen. Prem Persaud took on additional responsibilities for any unfinished business regarding Prashad Nagar. Not all roads and drainage trenches were completed in the housing scheme when (Continued on page 09)

Kaieteur News

Friday December 01, 2023

PAGE 05

Discrimination does exist in Guyana Dear Editor, After information was made public, a team from the I n t e r- A m e r i c a n Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) would be visiting Guyana, the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) dispatched a letter seeking a meeting. At the time of writing this letter, there has been no response. At the same time, it is noted, acting President Mark Philips met the team and “assure” the Bharrat Jagdeo/Ali Ally regime does not practice discrimination and respects the “rights of all majorities and minorities in the Guyanese society’ as stipulated in the Constitution of Guyana. This could not be farther from the truth. For the record, discrimination is pervasive under this regime. A few instances the regime’s acts and actions are herein cited:1. Open contempt and disregard of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the

Individual’ as outlined in Title I of the Constitution of Guyana; 2. The violation of workers right to join trade union of choice, engage in collective bargaining and strike as enshrined in Article 147 of the Constitution of Guyana; and the duty of the employer to treat with the trade union in good faith as stated in Section 23(1) of the Trade Union Recognition Act. Trade unions affected are: The Guyana Teachers Union, Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) and the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union. The GPSU has approached the court seeking its directive to have the government engage the union on collective bargaining. 3. Flagrant disregard for the ‘Objective of the political system’ as enshrined in Article 13 in the Constitution of Guyana which outlines: “The

principal objective of the political system of the State is to establish an inclusionary democracy by providing increasing opportunities for the participation of citizens, and their organisations in the management and decisionmaking processes of the State, with particular emphasis on those areas of decision-making that directly affect their wellbeing.” 4. The continued violation of the ‘right to free education,’ as outlined in Article 27 (1) of the Constitution of Guyana where it is expressly stated: “ (1) Every citizen has the right to free education from nursery to university as well as at non-formal places where opportunities are provided for education and training.” 5. The marginalisation of independent trade unions and violation of 38 and 149C in the Constitution of

ESSEQUIBO IS WE OWN! Imagine I was born an Essequibian and I could speak good, good English, Now, deh threatening to neutralize we as Venezuelans, and we gat to learn Spanish Well teacher Patsy gon gat to beat me, till she fed-up and miss Because dis controversy nah gon end like dis I hear they deh on de border wid big…big machine guns and powerful army boats, Even galvanizing international support to claim Essequibo and its

ports. We h a v e l i v e d i n peace, love and unity all de time Knowing dat our boundaries were legalized since 1899 But I… know and you… know dat Essequibo is we own! And nobody, not even VP Delcy gon tek away we plantains, cassava, mushroom leaves or even we sucker trees… So, I plead with all Guyanese, let us stand up as a people, united and free! Strong, proud and ready

to defend our sovereignty Essequibo belong to we and with one voice of love and unity Enjoying every inch of our precious air, land and vast seas… N o … n o … no...Margarita! Essequibo will not be yours tomorrow, Not even if de message came from the voice of President Maduro Because we gon tell him until he accept and let it be known… Dat Essequibo is nothing else but… we… own! Elroy Stephney

Guyana, respectively; Article 38A that deals with the ‘National cooperation for development of economy,’ which expressly states: “It is the duty of the State, cooperatives, trade unions, other socio-economic organisations and the people through sustained and disciplined endeavours to achieve the highest possible levels of production and to develop the economy in order to ensure the realisation of the rights set out in this Chapter.” Article 149C that deals with the ‘Right to participate in decision making processes of the State’ and expressly states “No person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of participating through co-operatives, trade unions, civic or socioeconomic organisations of a national character, in the management and decisionmaking processes of the State.” 6. The nonestablishment of the Human Rights Commission as guaranteed in the Constitution at Articles 212N, 212Q and 212P; 7. Land grabbing and coveting of ancestral land; and discriminatory allocation of house lots; 8. Arbitrary withdrawal of subventions (state grants) to the Guyana Trades Union Congress; Critchlow Labour College; the International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly - Guyana ( I D PA D A - G ) ; a m o n g others; 9. Threat to the Right to Freedom of Expression as outlined in Article 146 of the

Constitution of Guyana. This is manifest twofold: - i) Denial of access to state media (which has the widest coverage) to the political opposition and organisation independent of the PPP regime. The state-media used by regime to attack persons and leaders in society who are denied the right to response via same media; ii) denial of state advertisement to some private media not considered supporters of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) as a political entity and Government; 10. Discriminatory allocation in government contracts; 11. Discriminatory budgetary allocation towards communities, regional and local democratic organs not controlled by the regime; 12. The noninvolvement of the Opposition in decisionmaking, particularly on major issues; 13. The continued nonappointment of the Chancellor and Chief Justice, in spite of High Court ruling on 26th April 2023 to have the matter resolved. Two qualified African Guyanese women are being denied tenure and pension they would have ordinarily accrued were their appointments substantive; 14. Open disregard for leaders elected by the African and Amerindian communities if these leaders are independent of the PPP

or from the political Opposition. Not uncharacteristic of the PPP, the person assigned the task to deliver the deceptive message the regime does not practice discrimination is an African, acting as President when the principal architects of the discriminatory policies Irfaan Ali and Bharrat Jagdeo have found reason not to meet the IACHR by attending a conference in Dubai. Phillips is from Linden/Region 10, a region that has faced the brunt of the PPP discriminatory policies and wrath, dating back to 1993. One must also see Phillips as a victim of discrimination for he has been placed in a position to deceive and/or lack the testicular fortitude to say he cannot participate in this act of deception. Lincoln Lewis

Kaieteur News

PAGE 06

Congratulations to President Ali on Order of Freedom of Barbados awards DEAR EDITOR, I am pleased to extend my warmest congratulations to President Dr. Irfaan Ali on being conferred with the Order of Freedom of Barbados, the highest national award of the country. This prestigious recognition is a testament to President Ali’s unwavering commitment to fostering regional integration and advancing social and economic partnerships for the betterment of the people of Barbados and the wider region. President Ali’s dedication to enhancing cooperation has not only earned him this esteemed honour but also serves as an inspiration for leaders across

the globe. It is a remarkable achievement that highlights his outstanding contributions to the upliftment of communities and the pursuit of shared goals for the greater good. As the Head of Region Three Private Sector Inc. (R3PSi), I want to underscore the significance o f P r e s i d e n t A l i ’s accomplishments, which resonate not only with the citizens of Barbados but also with the international community.His recognition alongside distinguished figures like Rwandan President Paul Kagame speaks volumes about the caliber of leadership that President Ali embodies. Even as he displays

remarkable leadership in the face of the Venezuela controversy. We, at R3PSi, applaud President Irfaan Ali for his exceptional achievements and express our gratitude for his tireless efforts in promoting collaboration and solidarity. This honour reflects not only on the individual but also on the collective spirit of unity and progress that he advocates. O n c e a g a i n , congratulations to President Irfaan Ali on this welldeserved recognition, and we look forward to witnessing continued success under his leadership. R3PSInc Head Halim Khan

Friday December 01, 2023

Schools: safe haven not death trap DEAR EDITOR, My heart is broken! A child, brimming with life and potential, has died as a result of the action of a “school b u l l y ” ! In recent times, there have been many incidents in which students have been seriously injured as a result of vicious attacks by their peers. Something has to be fundamentally wrong! Schools are supposed to be a safe haven, not a death trap! In our days at school, occasional fighting among peers was not uncommon, but it was always a fistic encounter. There was never the use of any instrument or w e a p o n ! If we are to find solutions -

and that urgently- we must delve deep! Rooted in this dilemma is the absence or dearth of family values! Children live what they learn and this learning should begin at home. But in cases where parenting proves to be difficult or inadequate, there were/ are organizations that prove to be beneficial. There was a time when joining clubs - athletic/ sports, boy scouts, girl guides, Sunday School, was a given! There, children learn to share, co-operate, and understand the importance of camaraderie, respect for each other and the fear of God, so even when there was a deficit of certain values in the home, these activities helped to provide

moral moorings. As a society, we may have become so ‘sophisticated ‘ that basic human standards and values are traded for gain (sometimes ill-gotten) and temporary pleasure. I join with the parents of Mark Harripaul “...pleading that other parents instill values in their children to do the right thing...” (Kaieteur News, Thursday Nov.30th. p 1 0 ) . ”Boys will be boys”, some say, but boys will be men some day! May we in our homes, villages, clubs, churches “train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 Claudia Heywood

T N U L B . . . T B N U T L N T B . U . L . L T B . N . U . N U T L N B . U . T . L N T U N B . N U . L U L LUNT. B . T . . T T N N B U B . U . L . L T B . B . . N . . . T U T L N N T U U L N L B U . B . . L . . . T B T . . N . N T U L N LU B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B Venezuela will never succeed U . . L N . T B U . . L N . B our Tboundaries! U L NT LUNTin...changing N B . . U . L B N . . B . U . . T L . N T B . . U N . L N T B U N . . L . U T L B . . N B . . . T U . L N T B U . . L . UN T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L B U UN .BLUNT. . . L . T B . . N . T U . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B . . L LU ...BLUN . T B . . N . T U L N T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U . . L N . T B U BBL T...BLUN BLUNT... ...BLU . T . N . N T T U L U N L B U T...BLU U B . L . N . B T . . . N T U N N N L U U U B L . L B T LUNT.. UNT...B BL B Friday December 01, 2023

Kaieteur News

“Venezuela will never succeed in changing our boundaries. Venezuela will not succeed in its imperial designs on Guyana; because, if they were to succeed, and we cannot allow them to succeed, then no boundary in the world, no border in the world will be safe because any country in the world can one day unilaterally decide to repudiate centuries-old borders on the basis of spurious claims as was done in this case.” - Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo during a recent outreach at Anna Regina.

PAGE 07

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

Friday December 01, 2023

Trini. MPs raise concerns about Venezuela’s Dec. 3rd Referendum as TT-Venezuela gas deal hangs in the balance By Kiana Wilburg Venezuela’s Referendum on December 3 which seeks to galvanize support to take unilateral actions that could annex Guyana’s Essequibo Region has left several Trinidadian parliamentarians concerned. During a recent parliamentary sitting on November 28, 2023, Senator Wade Mark moved a private motion calling on the Trinidad and Tobago government to provide a detailed account of the arrangements that underpin the project that would see the development of “the Dragon field” which lies along the maritime border of Trinidad and Venezuela. Trinidadian authorities see this project as a critical lifeline for their ailing economy as it holds up to 4.2 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. The development of the gas from the Dragon field involves entities such as Shell, Trinidad’s National Gas Company, Venezuela and the US Government. In addition to demanding greater transparency on the financial arrangements for the project, senators sought to understand how the government intends to respond to the

Opposition Senator, Dr. Tim Gopeesingh

Senator Sunity Maharaj

Senator Wade Mark

implications of the Venezuelan Referendum on the Dragon Gas project. The parliamentarians reminded that it was the United States of America (USA) that had to grant approval to Trinidad and Tobago to develop the Dragon Gas Field as well as ease sanctions on Venezuela to allow its state-run oil company, PDVSA to receive payment from Trinidad and Tobago in any currency or in humanitarian aid. However, several international reports note that the sanctions were

eased on a conditional basis, the two main ones being that Venezuela’s President Nicholas Maduro would release U.S. citizens that remain in wrongful detention as well as the hosting of free and fair elections in 2024. Maduro was actually required to define the specific timeline and process for the reinstatement of all candidates who want to run for president, ensuring their freedom of movement and physical safety. This was supposed to be done by November 30, 2023.

Instead of lifting its ban prohibiting a number of top opposition leaders from running for public office, the Venezuelan government, through its Supreme Court, issued a ruling that suspended the results of a primary election held by the opposition in September, in which main opposition leader Maria Corina Machado won more than 92% of the votes. While the U.S. has already warned that it would return sanctions if Venezuela does not

honour its part of the bargain, Trinidadian politicians expressed fear that the Dragon Gas deal which many are pinning their hopes on, could be in grave trouble. Specifically, Senators such as Wade Mark, Sunity Maharaj, Dr. Tim Gopeesingh and Anthony Vieira, raised concerns about the possible implications of Venezuela’s referendum. While Guyana has approached the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for protective measures, the parliamentarians expressed concerns about the possibility of any reckless action by Venezuela. Senator Sunity Maharaj in her contribution to the debate said, “The government’s challenge is deepened by geopolitical considerations. It is not going to be easy and I do not envy anybody who has to navigate the waters that are beginning to bubble around us. The ICJ said it will give a ruling on Venezuela referendum (today).” Maharaj added, “…Now I don’t know what will be our position if at the ultimate moment, we are asked by Maduro to come out with a statement supporting Venezuela and we wish to never get there because we have so much (Continued on page 22)

Kaieteur News

Friday December 01, 2023

Brazil increases northern border military presence amid Venezuela-Guyana spat-ministry Members of the Brazilian military. (Stock image)

(Reuters) - Brazil “has intensified defensive actions” along its northern border as it monitors a territorial dispute between its neighbors, Guyana and Venezuela, the country’s defense ministry said on Wednesday. “The Ministry of Defense has been monitoring the situation. Defensive actions have been intensified in the northern border region of the country, promoting a greater military presence,” it said in a statement. Brazil’s push to move more military resources

north comes amid rising tensions between Venezuela and Guayana over an oil-rich region known as the “Esequiba,” which constitutes over two thirds of Guyana’s total land mass. Venezuela’s claims on the Esequiba, which have been the source of a long-running territorial dispute, were reignited in recent years after Guyana’s discovery of oil and gas near the maritime border. On Dec. 3, Venezuelans will vote in a referendum on “the rights” to the Esequiba. The International Court of

Justice (ICJ) is expected to rule on Friday on a request by Guyana that the referendum be called off. Venezuela’s government has said it will go ahead no matter what. Venezuela protested an oil tender announced by Guyana in September, arguing that the offshore areas are subject to dispute and the companies awarded the fields will not have the rights to explore t h e m . T h e Ve n e z u e l a n communications ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Brazil’s actions.

Prem Persaud helped to preserve... From page 04 Hari migrated to London in 1968. Prem Persaud had to contend with the fact that there were a number of individuals who owned land in Prashad Nagar, but they were not living up to their end of the contractual agreement. According to Prem Persaud, “People occupied the land, and some still owed a substantial amount for the purchase of the land when the transport was passed. The people who could not pay the full cost, as well as the maintenance to upkeep the

property, were mostly the poor farmers…We could not put them off the land because they had no place to go. So, we worked out a deal and allowed them to pay a reduced cost. That is what Hari would have done. I took care of all the necessary paperwork.” The owners of Prashad Nagar eventually lost control of the administration of Prashad Nagar when the Municipal and District Council Act of 1970 vested control of the scheme in the Georgetown City Council. Sincerely, Baytoram Ramharack

DEM BOYS SEH Stray dogs and cats gan soon outnumber de human population Did you know that we have more animals being killed on our roadways than humans? This all came about because there was time when cattle had more rights on de road than motorists. Burnham used to tell yuh dat de animals must be allowed to cross the carriageways and that motorists must give way to them. But the one thing he failed to control was the stray animal population. Today, the population of stray dogs and cats increasing faster than the human population.

Dese days when yuh driving, yuh does gat to be on the lookout fuh three things: speeding motorists, drunk pedestrians and stray animals. De colonial authorities had a solution to this problem. Dem had a squad – a mysterious animalcatching squad, the James Bond of stray control. These unsung heroes would cruise around the neighborhood, rounding up strays faster than you can say, “Who let the dogs out?” What they did with these captured creatures remains a mystery –

perhaps they sent them out for adoption. Or perhaps they did the cruel alternative. Fast forward to today, and we find ourselves yearning for the return of the colonial squad, armed with nets and leashes, ready to restore order to our chaotic roads. De problem however is not just the roads. There are far too many stray animals roaming the streets and far too little attention being paid to rescuing their animals and putting them up for adoption. Talk Half! Leff Half!

PAGE 09

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

UTH

D TR

HAR

BY G

LAL

Friday December 2023 Monday May 02,01, 2022

H@RD TRUTHS

BY GHK LALL

The future will be full Everybody who is somebody is telling hopeful Guyanese that (trust them) the future will be better. Guyana’s Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, has planted this rose in the hearts of expectant Guyanese: be patient now, for later will be greater; revenues will be maximized, and citizens will reap the rewards of their present discipline, sacrifices, and belief in the PPP’s newest Bible. It points to the future. This is Dr. Jagdeo at his bedside best: take the bitter medicine (starving and suffering today) for maximum relief coming (pain free, stress free, poverty free tomorrow). Brother Barry is now a missionary proselytizing across Guyana with the verses of Exxon and Mr. Alistair Routledge. Regarding the Exxon Guyana hand, President Routledge, he came out recently and prioritized (guess what?) the future in

store for Guyanese. I love these two lovely gentlemen, leaders of a rare stripe, one that even a zebra would hurry to shed in some dark corner when nobody is watching. For here is where they both are: Guyanese have good things coming to them. All they have to do is wait and hope and trust. I knew that Dr. Jagdeo was a politician of a certain unmentionable kind, and President Routledge a businessman that is not looked upon favourably all over. What I didn’t know was that both are now holy men peacocking around with this new dispensation of the years ahead will be loaded with dates and grapes. Guyanese are identified over and over as the richest people in the world today, but they are eating salt and rice today, and told today to wait for tomorrow. This is while the same people (Bharrat and Alistair), who are encouraging them to tighten

their belts, and control their expectations, are feasting on venison and vintage wines. If either of the two is a vegan or a teetotaler, please accept my hastily tendered apology. If this is not a contradiction, then it is the rankest of rank hypocrisies from both. Tomorrow could be five years from now, or never at all, depending upon oil prices, and new technology developments lagging. If I left out the insatiable greed a n d s p r a w l i n g unscrupulousness of venal politicians and their comrades, chalk that up to the amnesia of advancing days. Today, I will go easy on my Guyanese brother and zero in on the American one. President Routledge knows that the tomorrow of lush promise about which he tells Guyanese doesn’t cut it for Exxon’s investors. Exxon does not deliver handsome returns now on a quarterly basis, and American,

European, and other investors are calculating the odds, and making their bailout plans. For emphasis, it is why quarterly company earnings are such a closely watched event. Fail to meet expectations in one or two quarters is a warning sign, but Exxon Guyana man knows that pleading with big investors to wait for years (the future) is dead on arrival. Portfolio managers have to produce results, or they lose money, and lose Investors. Pension fund managers and hedge fund managers have people to pay, and had better have capital gains and dividends to handout (not GY$25,000, a la Excellency Ali). None of these Exxon watchers and investors want to hear about the promise of the future, and profit maximization at a time that could turn out to be a mirage. Investors want returns now, as in today. The big players have returns on capital to consider, people to pay, and reputations to maintain, or surpass. Oh, another thing: they have analysts studying them like birds of prey and

ready to pounce, should they lapse in performance. I recommend that President Routledge try to pull that rope-a-dope about tomorrow in America and see if he is not run straight to Siberia. As to why the different standard for poor, coloured Third World people, President Routledge has a lot to answer, but it is par for the course. It is more than the clash of contradiction; it is the double standard fostered by hypocrisy. Foreign investors in Guyana’s oil patrimony have to be enriched now, while the domestic owners of the same wealth have to tighten their bellies and depend on some d i s t a n t t o m o r r o w. I congratulate President Routledge for getting former president Jagdeo to go along with his jive talk about seasons of prosperity waiting in the future for poor, passive, and patient Guyanese. Reflecting on this, Dr. Jagdeo should extend his customary information blackout on things oil and gas, and put a halt to all those glittering announcements

about how great Guyana is, and how good Guyanese have it. Why torture the poor and needy and expectant by dangling all these beauties about GDP, and economy, a n d p r o s p e r i t y, w h e n Guyanese remain emptyhanded, hollow-eyed, slackjawed, and stomachdeprived? I implore Presidents Jagdeo and Routledge (not necessarily in that order) to cease the pantomime of trying to dance in cement shoes. The former should stick to politics and its flights of the fanciful, while the latter should limit himself to commerce, given how well it has done for him. Leave evangelizing about the future and the heaven waiting for Guyanese to the truly clean hearted. (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

Friday December 01, 2023

PAGE 11

e n i l r e d r o B 4 Facts Pt.

Be wary of Venezuela’s misleading call for return to - Director Geneva Agreement of Frontiers By Kiana Wilburg On December 3, Venezuela will likely hold a Referendum seeking the support of its people to engage in unilateral actions that would annex Guyana’s Essequibo Region. In the interim, its leaders continue to make misleading calls for the Guyana Government to return to the Geneva Agreement. During an informative session on Kaieteur Radio r e g a r d i n g t h e G u y a n a / Ve n e z u e l a Controversy, Director of the Frontiers Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation, Donnette Streete urged Guyanese to be wary of Venezuela’s skewed narrative.

The Director explained that Guyana’s boundaries which included the Essequibo Region were settled via an Arbitral Award in 1899. For 63 years, Venezuela celebrated that award for the very instrument allowed it to gain control over the mouth of the

Orinoco as well as the Orinoco Basin. However, when Guyana had approached the United Nations (UN) in 1961 regarding its application for independence, the UN received an objection from Venezuela. The UN was informed that Venezuela was in possession of a troubling letter from Severo MalletPrevost, a junior American lawyer who was on Venezuela’s side during the 1899 arbitration. That lawyer had written a letter alleging corruption at the tribunal. Interestingly, that letter was written in 1944. This was after he was awarded the Order of the Liberator by the Venezuelan government. Strangely, he instructed in his will that his damning letter of alleged corruption should only be read and made public knowledge after his death which was in 1948. It was on the grounds of this letter that Ve n e z u e l a n authorities said the 1899 award was null and void. Between 1962 and 1966, the period when Guyana was seeking independence, Ms. Streete explained that the United Kingdom wanted to give Venezuela an opportunity to prove its claim of nullity. She noted that during that period, the British Government opened its archives in London for the Venezuelan authorities at the time to go through the

documents related to the 1899 award. This was done in an effort to confirm the allegations of corruption as alleged by Mallet-Prevost. In 1966, when it was realized that the controversy started by Venezuela was going to affect Guyana’s transition to independence, the Director of Frontiers said the British Government agreed to sign what was called—The Geneva Agreement. She said this 1966 agreement essentially provided a number of mechanisms to allow Venezuela to prove its claim of nullity of the 1899 award. “That instrument is still valid today and still applicable in the search for a resolution,” the Director said. She further noted that the Geneva Agreement established a Mixed Commission which had a life of four years. Its sole aim was to find a satisfactory solution for a practical settlement of the controversy. During that four-year period, Venezuela failed to prove its claim. “When the Mixed Commission came to an end in 1970, the parties also agreed to a 12-year moratorium (called the Protocol of Port of Spain) so that they could work on developing relations between the two and so that they could search for a resolution of the controversy in a friendlier atmosphere,” she said. In 1982, the Director said Ve n e z u e l a u n i l a t e r a l l y abandoned the “Protocol of Port of Spain” which was signed to allow for the moratorium.

Director of Frontiers, Donnette Streete

Furthermore, the Director noted that the parties were unable to choose a means of settlement as well as agree on an international organization that would choose a means of settlement. “So the Geneva Agreement said that if they were not able to choose or arrive at a means of settlement amongst themselves or on an international organ then that choice would go to the Secretary General of the United Nations.” By 1989, the matter then fell into the jurisdiction of the Secretary General which commenced a Good Offices Process and then eventually enhanced mediation. With years of dialogue failing to work, the Secretary General, as he was empowered to do, referred the Guyana/Venezuela Controversy to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). By calling for a reversal of all the aspects of the Geneva Agreement that have been activated, Ms. Streete, as well as the Guyana Government are of the view that Venezuela is running because its case would not wither under any light of legal scrutiny.

PAGE 12

Kaieteur News

Friday December 01, 2023

Heat wave triples fires in West Coast Berbice The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) has reported a significant increase in the number of wild fires occurring in the West Coast Berbice (WCB) district: Rosignol to Mahaicony. The Onverwagt Fire Station has recorded 295 fires so far for 2023. This year’s figures have tripled in comparison to last year, where there were fewer than 100. Of the 295 fires reported, the majority were deemed wild fires. According to reports, the fires have been attributed to the scorching heat experienced over the last few months. Coupled with the heat wave, low water levels have also affected the GFS ability to extinguish fires in a timely and efficient manner. “While last year saw under 100 fires, this year total stands at 295 and the majority of them are grass and bushfires,” a source close

to the Fire Service told Kaieteur News. This publication understands that between August and November 2023, the Onverwagt Fire Station received multiple calls daily about wild fires (grass fires) which resulted in firefighters continuously being dispatched to locations. Just recently, Desmond Jacobs, a farmer of No.40 Village, WCB lost his entire farm due to grass fire. He recounted visiting his farm and noticing smoke at a section. As he proceeded around the farm, the farm became engulfed destroying cash crops, fruit trees, and his store room containing pesticides. Jacobs estimated his losses to be more than G$2M. Given the number of wildfires, the GFS is cautioning citizens to desist from lighting fires and leaving them unattended.

Friday December 01, 2023

Kaieteur News

Miner drowns at Rock Creek Backdam

Mazaruni River

A man identified only by his alias ‘Tommy Lee’ reportedly drowned on Wednesday morning at Rock Creek Backdam, Mazaruni River, Region Seven. Reports are that the man drowned around 08:00hrs. ‘Tommy Lee’ had reportedly left Rock Creek Backdam intoxicated and went to a place called “Vanessa’s Mining Camp”. From there, he went to an old mining pit some 20 feet away with a friend to take a swim.

He was left swimming alone while his friend went back to ‘Vanessa’s camp’. ‘Tommy Lee’s’ friend returned sometime later to check on him but he was nowhere to be found. The man then notified others and a search party was formed. ‘Tommy Lee’s’ body was found submerged in the old mining pit. The police were notified. ‘Tommy Lee’s’ legal name, address and age are unknown. Investigations are ongoing.

PAGE 13

PAGE 14

Kaieteur News

Friday December 01, 2023

Kaieteur News

PAGE 15

PAGE 18

Kaieteur News

Friday December 01, 2023

Kaieteur News

PAGE 19

PAGE 20

Kaieteur News

Friday December 01, 2023

Kaieteur News

PAGE 21

$228M police headquarters for New Amsterdam The $201M police headquarters built in Region Five at Fort Wellington.

$228M contract was awarded to Wazeer Khan and Sons Construction firm to construct a new police headquarters at New Amsterdam, Region Six. According to the National Procurement a n d T e n d e r Administration Board (NPTAB) website, the contract is valued $228,369,020. When bids were opened for the Ministry of Home Affairs’ project in October, Wazeer Khan and Sons Construction f i r m w a s among 18 contractors that submitted bids for the works which was estimated to the cost of $246 million. Kaieteur News understands that the new police structure will be more user-friendly and

assist the police in p r o p e r l y e xecuting its functions. This year, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) was allocated some $2 billion from the national budget t o e n h a n c e i t s infrastructure facilities, which include the construction, maintenance and rehabilitation of police stations across the country. In October, the ministry had gone out to tender for contractors to build the police headquarters for Region Seven. That project is estimated to cost some $252 million. Earlier this year also, the ministry had commissioned a spanking new Police Divisional headquarters in Region Five to the tune of $201 million.

United Airlines to operate service between Houston and Guyana from April 2024

Major American carrier United Airlines on Thursday announced that it will operate direct flights between Houston and Guyana from April 1, 2024. In a statement published on its website, the Chicagoheadquartered airline said from April 1, 2024, it will offer non-stop service between Houston and Georgetown, Guyana with four times weekly service on a Boeing 737-MAX 8 aircraft. “This route joins nonstop flight to more than 160 destinations from Houston, including more than 85

destinations no other carriers serve non-stop from the city - including places like Brazil, Australia, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Panama, Peru and more,” the carrier noted. United said that it offers more flights from Houston to more destinations than any other airline and this winter will increase capacity by nearly 10%, flying to more than double the number of cities from Houston than all other airlines combined. Over the past decade, United said it has added more than 20 new destinations out of Houston, including to

Sydney, Australia; Santiago, Chile; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; Munich, Germany and more. United Airlines had previously announced plans to operate between the US and Guyana. The airline will join American Airlines to become the second US carrier to operate here. The carrier is the world’s third largest carrier following American Airlines and Delta Airlines in terms of fleet. As of October 2023, United Airlines operates 922 aircraft; it operates a mixture of Boeing and Airbus model aircraft.

Missing man found murdered in drain - Three Venezuelans arrested

A missing Berbice man’s mutilated body was on Thursday found in a drain in the vicinity of Arjune Chicken Farm at Fyrish Village, Corentyne Berbice, Region Six. The dead man was identified as Chetram Ramjattan, 43, of Kilcoy Village, Corentyne. His body was discovered around 06:50hrs on Thursday. Police have since arrested three Venezuelan nationals in connection with his murder. They have been identified as labourers, ages 31, 32 and 34 of Chesney Village, Corentyne, Berbice. According to police, Ramjattan was last seen alive on Sunday drinking at his home. He left around 12:00hrs

Murdered, Chetram Ramjattan and was never seen again since. His wife filed a missing p e r s o n ’s r e p o r t o n Wednesday after she could not find him anywhere. Ranks from the Albion Police Station went in search of Chetram to no avail.

A search party was formed and while looking for him, his partially decomposed body was found in a drain. He was clad only in a red and white track pants. Police were called in and crime scene ranks noted that Chetram’s body bore several stab and chop wounds. “Several suspected stab wounds were seen below the neck. Injuries were also seen on the head with what appeared to be several chop wounds,” police said. F o l l o w i n g a n investigation police arrested t h e t h r e e Ve n e z u e l a n nationals. Kaieteur News understands that Ramjattan had an ongoing feud with the Venezuelans.

PAGE 22

Kaieteur News

Friday December 01, 2023

Pres. Ali using COP28 trip to engage world leaders on border controversy WANTED

FOR RENT

Wanted! Male & Female workers for packaging pasta and chowmein on the Back Road (Mandela Ave). Call: 611-7839.

4 bedroom furnished house, 6 beds and 2 parking available at Lamaha Gardens, Garnett street. Call: 6792966.

Truck and Canter Driver, ages 30 years & older. Must have atleast 5 years experience. Call: 613-0855 9am4pm.

Shop for rent at Stewartville, opposite secondary schoool. Call: 649-2179.

One licenced car Driver, ages 40-50 years. Must have atleast 10 years experience. Call: 613-0855 9am-4pm. Workers needed to work on Cash Crop Farm, $6000 per day. Call: 695-6139, 6797552. Male & female Staff needed to work in a Printery at Campbellville. Ages 18-25 years. Call: 621-5140, 6188842. Experienced Mechanic, Operators (excavator, bulldozer, ADT) and dredge crew needed for mining operation to work through Christmas. Call: 688-6575.

Commercial building for rent at Zeelugt public road, E.B.E. 4500 SQ FT. Call: 650-0402/ 652-0251. Furnished 1 & 3 bedroom apt in Diamond and Providence. Call: 604-6664, 617-2666, 2162299.

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

Experienced Land dredge Workers and male Cook needed. Call: 677-2385.

LEGAL NOTICE

SERVICES Elevate your brand with our professional Graphic design services. Call: 619-0007, 6295526. Business/ residential PFSGYD$58M, Visa Application, advertisements, graphics design, passport application forms & i130 application. Call: 626-7040. Repair & install fridge, freezer, washer & dryer, AC units, stove, etc. Whatsapp/ Call: 637-4927, 654-9511 or 683-8734.

FOR SALE Empty 20ft containers for sale. Call: 701-6735. Yamaha 300hp HPDI outboard motors for sale. Call: 655-6283/ 673-9593.

APPLICATION FOR MONEY LENDER’S CERTIFICATE PURSUANT TO SECTION 4 OF THE MONEY LENDERS ACT I, ANWAR HASSAN SALIM of Roden-Rust, Parika, East Bank Essequibo, hereby give notice that I have applied to the Magistrate of the WEST DEMERARA MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT for a Certificate under the Money Lenders’ Act, authorizing the grant to me of a Money Lender’s Licence to carry on the business of a Money Lender under the title· of SALIM’S MONEY LENDING of Roden-Rust, Parika, East Bank Essequibo. NOTICE of any objections to the application should be sent forthwith to the CLERK OF COURT OF THE WEST DEMERARA MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT and a copy of any such notice should be sent to the subscriber, ANWAR HASSAN SALIM of

resident Irfaan Ali, during an interview on Thursday with News Room, disclosed that he is using his trip to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) to have engagements with world leaders on the Guyana/ Venezuela border controversy. The long-standing border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela revolves around Venezuela’s claim to a significant portion of Guyana, which includes the entire Essequibo region and its offshore exclusive economic zone. President Ali left Guyana on Monday for Dubai, where he is leading a delegation at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties (COP) 28 being held in Dubai. During the interview, President Ali disclosed that he had engagements with former United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister and current Foreign Secretary, David Cameron. He said, “(the discussion) was to deal with the whole issue of border and the Venezuela controversy bringing the foreign secretary up to date with what is going on and sharing the most recent information and having that reassurance that the UK stands strongly behind Guyana, not only in recognition and support of the 1899 award but also in reassuring us

that they are paying close attention to this controversy and all the antics and reckless statements coming out of Venezuela.” President Ali also met with His Royal Highness, King Charles III. Vice President (VP), Bharrat Jagdeo was also part of the meeting. During the interview, President Ali said that on Wednesday he had discussions with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. Ali said, “We had an important bilateral (engagement) with the President of the UAE… In the engagement with the President of the UAE, I raised the controversy on the border. The president of UAE gave me their own experiences, we shared in a very open conversation some advice and of course their commitment towards peace within the region and peaceful existence of countries.” Moreover, the Head-ofState said that he also had engagements with Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders and disclosed that a statement will be issued shortly – reinforcing CARICOM’s position on the border controversy and calling on Venezuela to, “ensure their actions are neither reckless nor adventurous.” Venezuela accepted the 1899 Arbitral Award for over six decades before contending that it was “null and void”

President Irfaan Ali – as such Guyana initiated legal proceedings in March 2018 at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), actively pursuing a binding judgment to assert its ownership of the Essequibo region. However, Venezuela has since opted to conduct a “consultative referendum” scheduled for December 3, 2023. This referendum seeks to gauge public support for Venezuela’s decisions regarding the Essequibo region. In a statement issued in October, CARICOM said that Venezuela’s move to hold a referendum on its

baseless claim of the Essequibo “has no validity, bearing, or standing in international law.” Meanwhile, Guyana is expected to push climate financing, forest incentives and its model Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) on the COP28 stage. It will also co-chair the group of forested countries in the Commonwealth in providing guidance on the environment. Notably, President Ali is expected to return on Saturday, December 2nd before Venezuela’s referendum.

Trini. MPs raise concerns about Venezuela’s... From page 8 riding on these negotiations because we have found ourselves in a position where we have very little choices. We have failed to develop our economy and we have to deal with the hard fact that if the plug is pulled then we are in tough times with gas supply because we don’t have enough for our own industries.” Maharaj said Trinidad has found itself in a tough position where it has dwindling gas resources and must hasten to develop LEGAL NOTICE Roden-Rust, Parika, East Bank Essequibo

Sworn to at West Demerara, This 19th day of October, 2023

more so that the economy is not drastically affected. The independent senator said, “…We have to hasten to build out the economy and at the same time, we have to try to carry this ship to safe harbour as much as we can…We are not in a position to force anything and we can only have to hope that Mr. Maduro becomes a tiger that can be tamed.” Maharaj also expressed the view that Maduro’s posturing over Guyana’s Essequibo has to do with the elections he must face next year in a free and fair manner. Opposition Senator, Dr. Tim Gopeesingh also raised concerns about the geopolitical conundrum facing Trinidad and Tobago. He explained that the Dragon deal is off if Venezuela does not host free

and fair elections. It is also off if Venezuela acts in a reckless manner with Guyana. Furthermore, Gopeesingh urged his colleagues to consider some key questions which include: Will the Trinidad government still be willing to work with the Maduro government if it acts by seizing two-thirds of Guyana’s land? And will the Trinidadian government be willing to place its energy security into the hands of the Maduro regime if violates its CARICOM neighbour? As for Senator Mark, in his contribution he was keen to note that Trinidad is facing a natural gas crisis. He said, “Natural gas production has collapsed to around 2.5 to 2.6 billion cubic feet per day, and from all indications, will likely fall even further in 2024 and

beyond. This is all manmade. The companies involved in gas activity have not been properly incentivized by the administration to drill and to explore …Even oil production is now heading to less than 55,000 barrels per day, the lowest since early 1940s…” Given such a troubling state of affairs, Senator Mark said Trinidad has been pursuing the Dragon Gas deal with Venezuela since 2016 as a game changing solution to the economic and production woes facing the CARICOM state. With the Venezuelan Referendum poised for December 3, armed with worrying aspects, Senator Mark and his other political comrades believe the T&T authorities can no longer see the Dragon Deal as a panacea for the crisis facing the legacy producer.

Friday December 01, 2023

Kaieteur News

PAGE 23

IDB announces US$550M ready to support lending activities to Guyana T

h e I n t e r A m e r i c a n Development Bank’s (IDB) Board of Executive Directors has given the green light to a US$550 million financial commitment ready to support lending activities to Guyana. In a press statement on Thursday, the Bank made the announcement of the approved Country Strategy with Guyana for 2023 through 2026. The strategy is focused on resilient infrastructure, human capital development with an emphasis on improving health and education outcomes and social services and strengthening institutional capacity. The IDB said that the financial commitment in the lending pipeline is poised to support Guyana’s journey toward sustainable development and inclusive growth. The Bank stated that, climate change, environmental sustainability and strengthening gender

and diversity are crosscutting themes of the strategy. It was stated too that the new strategy also provides support to Guyana on implementing its Low Carbon Development Strategy and meeting its decarbonization objectives. Additionally, it was outlined that there is an expected increase in private sector activities from IDB Invest, the private sector arm of the IDB Group in keeping

with the economy’s growth trajectory and to foster a c c e s s t o l o n g e r- t e r m financing for Guyana’s private sector. This will strengthen the development of Guyana’s private sector by deepening its links to the booming economy and improving the business climate in non-oil industries through productivity-enhancing, resilient infrastructure and a better equipped labour force.

President Ali to receive Barbados’ highest award

resident Irfaan Ali was on Thursday conferred with the Order of Freedom, Barbados’ highest national award. The award was bestowed on President Ali for his “strong commitment to enhancing cooperation to achieve regional integration and social and economic partnership for the upliftment of the people of Barbados and the region.” As news spread of the conferral, the President was congratulated by a number of organizations. The Private Sector Commission in a statement to the media said that the president’s inclusion is testament to his “remarkable d e d i c a t i o n a n d unwavering commitment” to fostering cooperation and achieving regional integration. T h e P S C acknowledged President A l i ’s “ o u t s t a n d i n g contributions, which exemplify the values of collaboration, leadership, and dedication to the betterment of society.” President of the Guyana

President Irfaan Ali

Oil and Gas Energy C h a m b e r, M a n n i r a m Prashad also extended congratulations to the Guyanese leader. The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) also e x t e n d e d w a r m congratulations to President Ali on the conferral of the award. FITUG and its affiliates namely: - the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), the Guyana Labour Union (GLU), the Clerical and C o m m e r c i a l Wo r k e r s Union (CCWU) and the

National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) see the award to the President as yet another representation of the sterling leadership and exemplary dedication towards the upliftment of the well-being and welfare of the Caribbean peoples. T h e G u y a n a Manufacturing Services Association (GMSA) also joined in sending a congratulatory message to the president noting that it looks forward to continued partnership between Barbados and Guyana.

“This new strategy puts p e o p l e a t t h e c e n t e r, reflecting the government’s commitment to improve the well-being of the Guyanese population hand in hand with the economic growth,” the Bank said.

Moreover, the Bank said through these areas of support it will further contribute to Guyana’s economic transformation supporting more investment and employment, and ultimately improving standards of living across the country. “It is a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity/to witness Guyana’s current resource boom,” said Lorena Solorzano Salazar, the IDB’s representative in Guyana. She added, “It gives momentum to innovative and sustainable solutions that can help improve the quality of public and social services and, ultimately, people’s lives.” “As a long-standing development partner to Guyana, at the IDB Group we remain committed to

deepening our collaboration and ensuring our interventions are meaningful and impactful,” added Solorzano Salazar. Moreover, the IDB pointed out that Guyana will leverage resources from other facilities like the Bank’s Group Amazonia Forever Program and the forthcoming Program for the Caribbean to strengthen Guyana’s actions in areas such as regional integration, food security, and climate change among others. N o t a b l y, t h e B a n k highlighted that the Country Strategy is the result of an inclusive process of sustained dialogue and engagement with the Government of Guyana and consultation with a wide cross-section of civil society stakeholders.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 24

Friday December 01, 2023

Blinken urges Israel to protect civilians amid tough Gaza truce talks US Secretary of State Antony Blinken

(AL JAZEERA)- US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has told Israel that it must account for the safety of Palestinian civilians before resuming any military operations in Gaza, where a week-long truce has allowed the exchange of captives held by Hamas for Palestinians imprisoned in Israel. As negotiators from Qatar and Egypt were in difficult talks on Thursday for a new two-day extension to the pause in fighting between Hamas and Israel, the United States’ top diplomat made his third trip to the region since the IsraelPalestinian war began on October 7. Blinken said Washington remains committed to supporting Israel’s right to self-defence, but also stepped up calls for Israel to comply with international law and protect civilians if it starts major military operations in southern Gaza. His message was in keeping with the administration of US President Joe Biden’s shifting rhetoric on the war, which began as a fullthroated embrace of Israel’s response to the Hamas attacks but gradually tempered as the number of Palestinian civilian casualties began to rise dramatically. More than 15,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 7, including more than 6,000 children. The death toll and scale of destruction have

prompted widespread international criticism. As Israel bombarded hospitals, schools and homes, the Gaza Ministry of Health said at least 7,000 people are still missing or feared buried under the rubble, and more than 36,000 Palestinians have been wounded, many with life-altering injuries. With 26 of Gaza’s 35 hospitals out of service, their chances of getting treatment are slim. According to Ibrahim Abusharif of Northwestern U n i v e r s i t y i n Q a t a r, Blinken’s continued trips to Israel and meetings with Israeli leaders “doesn’t seem like it’s moving the needle in any direction”. “What set the tone was the early rhetoric from the Biden administration that gave unconditional support for what turned out to be a genocidal war,” he told Al Jazeera. “Blinken can try to soften his rhetoric and apply pressure, but in the end, it won’t bring back the dead in Gaza.” During a meeting in Jerusalem, Blinken assured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he could count on US support. But, he said that such support requires Israel’s “compliance with international humanitarian law,” and “urged Israel to take every possible measure to avoid civilian harm,” the US Department of State said. To prevent a further significant increase in civilian casualties, Blinken “stressed the imperative of

accounting for humanitarian and civilian protection needs in southern Gaza before any military operations there,” the department said. Later on Thursday, US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said Washington supports the resumption of fighting in Gaza after the end of the truce, which Netanyahu has affirmed would happen. “We continue to believe that Israel has the right and responsibility to go after Hamas … and as they make that decision, they’ll continue to find support from the United States,” Kirby told reporters. Settler violence Blinken also “urged immediate steps to hold settler extremists accountable for violence against Palestinians in the West Bank” and said the US places great importance on the resumption of a peace process that would eventually lead to the creation of a Palestinian state. Israeli officials have pledged to the US on multiple occasions that Israeli settler violence will be punished, but Netanyahu’s office released a statement about the meeting with Blinken that contained no mention of either settler violence or a two-state solution. Netanyahu said he told Blinken, “We will continue this war until we achieve the three goals – to release all our abductees, to eliminate Hamas completely and to

ensure that Gaza will never again face such a threat.” Blinken also met Israel’s war cabinet in Jerusalem before travelling to the occupied West Bank for talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and then back to Tel Aviv where he held talks with Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and opposition leader Yair Lapid. Humanitarian aid, Palestinian state In his meeting with Abbas, Blinken focused on efforts to increase the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza and condemned Jewish settler attacks against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. Blinken told Abbas “he would continue to insist on full accountability for those responsible,” and that Wa s h i n g t o n “ r e m a i n s committed to advancing tangible steps for a Palestinian state,” the State Department said. Abbas presented Blinken with “a comprehensive file documenting Israeli occupation crime in Gaza, and the West Bank, including Jerusalem”, Palestinian state news agency Wafa reported. Israeli army raids have taken place on a daily basis across the West Bank since the war began. The total number of people arrested since October 7 is now more than 3,325, according to the P a l e s t i n i a n P r i s o n e r ’s Society (PPS). At least 248 Palestinians, including more than 50 children, have been killed in

the occupied West Bank since October 7. More than 2,750 have been injured. Abbas also raised the topic of the forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, particularly in light of increased attackers from settlers. The top US diplomat will close out his latest Middle East tour in the United Arab Emirates on Friday, where he will discuss the Gaza situation with Arab leaders gathered in Dubai for the COP28 United Nations climate change conference. Another truce extension? Blinken’s meetings came as Israel and Hamas agreed at the last minute to a third extension of a truce under which Israel has paused most military activity in return for the release of captives held by Hamas. Qatar, which has been mediating between the two sides, said the agreement was being extended under the same terms as in the past, under which Hamas has released 10 Israeli captives per day in exchange for 30 Palestinian prisoners. Late on Thursday, the

Israeli military said two released captives have been handed over to its soldiers by the Red Cross and the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club released a list containing the names of 30 Palestinian prisoners – eight women and 22 children – who are expected to be released later in the day. But as the number of civilians held in Gaza dwindles, Daniel Levy, a former Israeli negotiator, said the current iteration of the truce deal will have to be renegotiated. “Can one do that in time to extend this cessation without getting back to the intention of the Israeli political and military leadership, which is to resume its all-out assault on Gaza? They are being clear that that’s where they want to go,” Levy told Al Jazeera. “The Americans are apparently saying, ‘Hey, we’re with you on you continuing your military mission, but can you do it differently’ – that sounds like a disingenuous position to me. Why would anyone have faith that Israel will do this differently.

Canadian mother and 5-y-o son drown on vacation in Antigua

This is the second instance of tourist death at Devil’s Bridge this year. - Contributed photo.

(CMC) – A 37-year-old Canadian woman and her five-year-old son who were visiting Antigua on a family vacation drowned on Thursday morning at Devil’s Bridge. According to police reports, the woman’s 38year-old husband, who is also from Canada, received cardiopulmonary resuscitation at the scene after he went into distress while trying to save his

wife and son. The incident came to a tragic end with the retrieval of the lifeless body of the 5-year-old boy and his mother. They were pronounced dead by a doctor at approximately 9:15 am (local time). The husband, who has not yet been named, said they had come to witness the sunrise at Devils Bridge, when a wave got

too close to his son who was standing at the water’s edge, causing him to panic. The child held onto his mother’s legs, and they both fell over the bridge. Tourism Minister Charles Max Fernandez told reporters that plans are underway to get the man returned to Canada on Thursday as he wished. This is the second instance of tourist death at Devil’s Bridge this year.

Friday December 01, 2023

Kaieteur News

PAGE 25

United Airlines to operate service Miner drowns at between Houston and Guyana from Rock Creek Backdam April 2024

Mazaruni River A man identified only by his alias ‘Tommy Lee’ reportedly drowned on Wednesday morning at Rock Creek Backdam, Mazaruni River, Region Seven. Reports are that the man drowned around 08:00hrs. ‘Tommy Lee’ had reportedly left Rock Creek Backdam intoxicated and went to a place called “Vanessa’s Mining Camp”. From there, he went to an old mining pit some 20 feet away with a friend to take a swim.

ajor American carrier United Airlines on Thursday announced that it will operate direct flights between Houston and Guyana from April 1, 2024. In a statement published on its website, the Chicagoheadquartered airline said from April 1, 2024, it will offer non-stop service between Houston and Georgetown, Guyana with four times weekly service on a Boeing 737-MAX 8 aircraft. “This route joins nonstop flight to more than 160 destinations from Houston,

including more than 85 destinations no other carriers serve non-stop from the city including places like Brazil, Australia, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Panama, Peru and more,” the carrier noted. United said that it offers more flights from Houston to more destinations than any other airline and this winter will increase capacity by nearly 10%, flying to more than double the number of cities from Houston than all other airlines combined. Over the past decade, United said it has added more than 20 new destinations out of Houston, including to

PAGE 26

Kaieteur News

Friday December 01, 2023

PAGE 27

Kaieteur News

Letter to the Sports Editor...

Could Guyana’s football be heading into another crisis? Dear Sports Editor, As the football fraternity eagerly await the staging of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Electoral Congress on December 9, many strongly believe the devious actions by the current executive is malicious and could plunge the sport into crisis. The Wayne Forde-led administration and the Electoral Committee has appeared very deliberate in their attempt to be un-accommodating to queries about members eligibility to vote at the Congress and would only have themselves to blame for any negative consequence. Voters’ eligibility and the reluctance to announce the incumbent slate are being

viewed by the game’s stakeholders as disrespectful and clearly not in keeping with good governance and transparency. For someone who has repeatedly touted good governance and transparency as the hallmark of his stewardship, stakeholders are getting a full view of the deception that has been constant throughout the reign of Forde. There are many examples of his deceptiveness with the abovementioned two as the most vivid illustrations, while the claim of not knowing the full implications of some of the new provisions in the constitution, including his contention of ignorance of the three

term limit, the announcement of the Lady Jags progression to the CONCACAF Nations League A and his folly of stating that the Golden Jaguars qualified for three Gold Cups, also confirm his disdain for the knowledgeable public. The fact is that Guyana qualified for the Gold Cup in 2019 but played twice in preliminaries for qualification in 2021 and 2023. Forde, who had stated that his candidacy for office is dependent on his family’s decision, citing how demanding the job can be and one that takes valuable time away from them, must still be in consultation with the important people in his life since no word of that meeting has been

Friday December 01, 2023 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Sometimes, it's amazing to see how your relationships can spin so easily out of control, Aries. Today you may have to deal with a lot of tension within your group. You'll almost feel as if no one understands the situation.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) As the dawn of another quiet and peaceful day appears, Libra, you will be in the best disposition to observe and appreciate the lightness of things. Life can seem so beautiful on some days.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) You sometimes have difficulty making up your mind. You don't always know exactly what you want. Today, Taurus, you'll be at peace with yourself.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You will find a clean page on the agenda today, Scorpio. You should try to think only about yourself. This will allow you to meditate about your life and be at peace with yourself. . SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You will wake up today on cloud nine, Sagittarius. Your morale is at a peak. You will feel totally free and be able to clearly perceive the essentials of life.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Sometimes we all feel a little lost, Gemini. We often want to move mountains and use all our energy and enthusiasm to try to do so. CANCER (June 21–July 22) You have a natural ability to accomplish a great deal rather easily, Cancer. But today you may feel snowed under with projects. Things around you might be moving quickly. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Your day has finally come, Leo. You have your own vision of life and you like sharing it with others. You're far from thinking that you're any sort of new messiah. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22) Today you'll have the strange feeling that something is floating in the air. The time is right to try to understand the different needs of your family circle.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) The The astral energy will have you reminiscing all day long over childhood memories, Capricorn. These memories will take you to the houses and places where you were raised. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You love interacting with people others might consider eccentric. You can't help it. You're simply attracted to them. You will probably encounter one of these people today, Aquarius. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You have always tried to build up your health using traditional methods, and you take great care of yourself.

provided to stakeholders. Is the non-disclosure of a slate an indication that he is struggling to put together one in the wake of his poor performance after eight years at the helm? How could there be a deadline for the submission of contesting slates, but the governing body is not subjected to that request. The opposing group along with other members of the electorate have repeatedly inquired about this in addition to other pertinent information related to the process, but the response from the GFF has been flimsy and in some cases none. Forde, after two terms of enjoying the perks of the job, seems more concentrated on continuing in that vein, at the expense of the sport. This observation would see him struggle mightily to refute, there has been no acceleration of the game locally, rather one could safely say that the only burst of speed witnessed was its decline. The on-field activities have been sparse, the grassroots development clinging to life and the fan experience missing. One would be hardpressed to recall any era in the history of Guyana’s football that compared to Forde’s tenure save and except for the unavoidable period of Covid 19. Lack of activities on the local grid appears to suggest we are still experiencing the Covid 19 restrictive protocols. Guyana is one country noted for a flurry of on-field competition during the festive season of Christmas that last into the New Year, but because the sport is in an asthmatic state (sporadic breathing), associations and private promoters are struggling for real support from the corporate community. Forde’s tenure has blanketed the sport’s landscape with dark clouds and unless there is an immediate change in the management, the fortunes of such a major sport will continue to suffer. This assessment, though bleak, could rebound with a change in stewardship; the challenging slate is stacked with administrative and managerial competence in every member on its list. Pressure from the public at large should be applied to the GFF and the Electoral Committee to disclose the incumbent slate and provide the list of eligible voters at the earliest opportunity. It would help to remove all perceptions of skullduggery, the Electoral Committee,

which is mandated to be impartial has apparently shown its hand and must be advised against such action. This crucial body must not appear to be favoring any section of the race and must put out a statement to that effect, failing which the other party and observers will be in their right to interpret its silence as favorable to the incumbent. The Body must be challenged to publish the slate of Wilson’s challenger as well as show on what date was its submission made. Imagine Wilson not having the knowledge of who he is running against, this is such madness, and the two entities that blame should be attributed to entirely are the GFF

and Electoral Committee. For these reasons many observers and those close to the sport are warning the GFF and the Electoral Committee to do what is right to eradicate any speck of suspicion of preferential treatment. For the records, when Forde was running for his first term in office he knew who his opposition was and their full slate. To deny the opposition that right is keeping the process hostage and at the same time provide caretakers more evidence of his undemocratic style of governance. Such exhibition of power has no place in national life or sports. Football Enthusiast and watcher of the unfolding drama.

PAGE 28

Kaieteur News

Friday December 01, 2023

Sebai Primary crowned Matarkai Schools U13 inaugural T10 Tapeball Cricket champion Canal Bank Primary “runner up” and Sebai Primary along with officials spreading public awareness that Essequibo belongs to Guyana.

Last Sunday, in front of their home supporters and under overcast weather conditions, Sebai Primary defeated Canal Bank Primary by 10 wickets in the final of the Matarkai Schools U13 Inaugural Tapeball Cricket competition held in Sebai Village, Region One. The competition was organized by Sebai Primary School Parent Teachers Association in collaboration with Barima Waini Cricket Committee, Matarkai Sport Council and Matarkai District Education Department. Canal Bank Primary won the toss and decided to bat on a pitch with lots of moisture. However, they managed a paltry 21 runs all out from eight overs. Canal Bank Primary opening batsman Chavez Harry managed to score six, while Jonathon Joseph made four as the batsmen struggled against Sebai bowlers. Ricardo Moses picked up 4-4, Rupheldo John had 3-1 and Randolph Hutson 2-4. Sebai Primary School in

reply managed to overhaul the target in two overs as Sebai opening batters Rayaad Hutson made a quick fire 11 not out, while Dwayne John contributed 12 not out to seal a comfortable 10 wickets v i c t o r y, l i f t i n g t h e International Organization for Migration (IOM) Champion Trophy. Ricardo Moses was adjudged the man of the match for his 4 for 4 from 2 overs and won himself a t r o p h y Sponsored by IOM. Raayad Hutson of Sebai Primary scored the most runs (36) in the competition while his team mate Ricardo Moses finished the competition as the leading bowler with figures 8 for 15 from 5 overs. Canal Bank Primary received the runner up Trophy while both teams received medals. The Four Schools; Port Kaituma Secondary, Port Kaituma Primary, Canal Bank Primary and Sebai Primary participated in spreading public awareness

that “Essequibo is we own, E s s e q u i b o b elongs to Guyana” throughout the competition. Sebai Primary School Chairman Mr. Sherlon Rodrigues expressed gratitude to the sponsors who made the competition a reality and successful. “Firstly, our sponsors International Organization for Migration, Hon. Collin Croal MP, Minister of Housing and Water, Mr. Orlando Rogers of Sky West Charter Service, Mr. Roshan Rampersaud, Mr. Eon James, Mr. Peter De Freitas of Frontier Pharmacy, Officer in Charge of Matarkai Police division Mr. Kooldeep, Ms. Maureen Rebeiro District Education Officer, Matarkai and Mr. Deelep Singh President Essequibo Cricket Board among others, we say a big thanks you.” Mr. Rodrigues is also appealing to corporate Guyana to kindly join Sebai Primary School to sponsor more sporting activities for the youths in the future.

District 10 in prime position... From page 31 obliterating a record set by none other than Springer (27.88s) herself in 2018. Roberts, not content with a mere cameo in the 800m, soloed to victory in his 1500m race, leaving no doubt about his athletic

prowess. As the championship’s grand finale unfolds, featuring individual showdowns in the 400m, 3000m, 5000m, triple jump, relays, and the coronation of this year’s champions, today’s event gets on the way from 10:00 hrs. (Rawle Toney)

Friday December 01, 2023

Kaieteur News

PAGE 29

West Indies “A” have mountain to climb after South Africa “A” dominate day three of second unofficial “Test” SportsMax - West Indies “A” will have it all to do on Saturday’s fourth and final day of their second unofficial “Test” match against South Africa “A” if they want to go 2-0 up in the three-match series. Friday saw the West Indians end day three 1345 off 41 overs, needing a further 308 runs for victory on day four at Buffalo Park in East London. Zachary McCaskie hit a 90-ball 50 to top score for the West Indies, so far. Tevin Imlach (16) and Kevin Sinclair (15) are the batsmen at the crease.

Off-spinner Dane Piedt ended the day with 3-57 from 14 overs. Earlier, South Africa began day three 65-1 with a lead of 209 runs and continued to drive the West Indies further back through some excellent batting. Tony De Zorzi (34) and Raynard Van Tonder (20) were the batsmen at the crease at the start of the day. De Zorzi fell pretty quickly for 37 and that wicket brought Keegan Petersen to the crease to j o i n Van Tonder. Va n Tonder was able to score his second half-century

East Bank vs the Best Street Football action continues - Joy Water Service supports Ballers Ent to host KO stages

Joy Water Service supports Ballers Ent Street Football competition.

Final round of preliminary stage of the East Bank Versus the Best Street Football competition is scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday) at the Mocha Community Centre, Tarmac. As the tournament approaches the business end, Joy Water Service and Ballerz Entertainment have joined forces, infusing the tournament with an extra spark as it reaches its pinnacle. The collaboration brings a surge of excitement to the knockout stages. Amidst the fervor, the top eight teams will emerge from a pool of 20, to secure their positions for the final s t a g e s . To m o r r o w, December 2, the adrenaline continues to surge with a lineup of intense matches on day three. Leading the pack are formidable contenders like S p a r t a B o s s , Ta l i b a n , Agricola, and Back Circle, each commanding their groups with an impeccable record of two victories in as many games. However,

Back Circle, with a win and a loss, eagerly seeking an opportunity to cement a place in the quarterfinals as the tournament strides into the crucial phase of the competition. The upcoming clashes promise a gripping spectacle: Stabroek Ballers versus Xtra Mature opens t h e e v e n i n g ’s f e r v o r , followed by the face-off between Five-O and Taliban. Bent Street will take on Unruly Ent before Group-C table-toppers Agricola clash with Team Cruel. Lock ah Scene steps up against Ballerz Empire, while Broad Street matches skills with Team Family, as Back Street Warriors aim to upstage Sparta Boss, followed by the final clash between Back Circle and Red Force. With the support of Joy Water Service and Ballerz Entertainment, the tournament pulsates with heightened anticipation as these top teams battle fiercely for a coveted spot in the quarterfinals.

of the game with a 74-ball 56 before he fell in the 39th over with South Africa “A” cruising at 139-3. Petersen carried on, batting beautifully on his way to an unbeaten 112 off 134 balls, following up his 67 in the first innings. Khaya Zondo (49) and Ruan De Swardt (29*) also provided excellent contributions as the hosts declared on 297-4 off 71.3 overs, setting the West Indies a target of 442 for victory. Full Scores: South Africa “A” 298 off 97.2 overs (Keegan Petersen 67, Raynard Van Tonder 50, Tony De Zorzi 44, Ruan De Swardt 42, Akeem Jordan 343, Shamar Joseph 3-57,

Dane Piedt has taken eight wickets in the match so far.

Kevin Sinclair 2-53, Jair McAllister 2-64) & 297-4 dec. off 71.3 overs (Keegan Petersen 112*, Raynard Van

Tonder 56, Khaya Zondo 49) West Indies “A” 154 off 47.2 overs (Zachary McCaskie 62, Dane Piedt 5-

28, Tshepo Moreki 3-66) & 134-5 off 41 overs (Zachary McCaskie 50, Dane Piedt 357)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 30

Friday December 01, 2023

Archery Guyana’s Continental Judges selected for International Competitions in 2024

ollowing on the heels of the r e c e n t l y concluded Continental Judges Seminar and Examination, and Caribbean D e v e l o p m e n t Championships in Tobago last September, 3 Guyanese have been selected for the World Archery Americas International Competitions

2024. Archery Guyana’s Mr. Mohamed Gamal Khan, Mr. Robert Singh and Mr. Nicholas Hing are the Guyanese selectees for next year’s competitions. Hing, one of Guyana’s most senior coaches will officiate at the Pan American Championships in Medellin, Colombia from April 7-9,

2024. Meanwhile, Singh and Khan will officiate at the Caribbean Development Championships in Ocho Rios, Jamaica from July 1014, 2024. Archery Guyana wishes our Continental Judges all the best in their appointments for these very important events.

Archery Guyana’s Continental Judges (L-R): Robert Singh, Mohamed Khan and Nicholas Hing

Kaieteur News

Friday December 01, 2023

PAGE 31

District 10 in prime position Guyana Jaguars roar into action today at Grenada 7’s for 20th ‘Nationals’ title …Tianna Springer grabs spotlight with another record-breaking performance As the curtains gracefully descend on the 61st National Swimming, Cycling, and Track and Field extravaganza today, District 10 is in a championship chase reminiscent of a seven-part drama, aiming for their seventh consecutive title. District 10 is also on a victory marathon, eyeing that 20th overall title. The masters of suspense, District 10 strategically

positioned themselves with a silver lining in both cycling and swimming. Now, they’re all set to snatch the track and field trophy, potentially securing a top-three finish in the teacher’s championship. It’s almost as if they’ve copyrighted the term ‘Nationals dominance.’ In the realm of jawdropping performances, Ti a n n a S p r i n g e r, t h e C a r i b b e a n ’s j u n i o r

Canada-based Guyanese umpire Suresh Budhoo ecstatic to officiate at Over-40 World Cup in South Africa Fully qualified umpire Suresh Budhoo is ecstatic to be one of the umpires at the forthcoming International Masters Cricket Over-40, World Cup to be held in Cape Town, South Africa. Budhoo is named as the only one from Canada at the 12-nation, round-robin tournament which bowls off February 19 and culminates March 1 with the grand finale. T h e 4 5 - o v e r extravaganza will be split into two Groups with Canada in Group A alongside England, Australia, USA, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Group B is consisted of South Africa, New Zealand, India, Wales, Sri Lanka and United Arab Emirates. “Definitely, I [am] looking forward to the tour; I am excited and no doubt it would be a memorable tournament especially with Canada participating,” Budhoo related. Quizzed on some of the challenges while calling playing in a tournament of this magnitude, Budhoo responded: “You have to make the right decisions; sometimes it can be challenging because it is a huge tournament and you want to be spot-on with your decisions, but I am an experienced umpire and I’m confident of doing well in South Africa,” the Canadabased Guyanese Budhoo commented. No schedule is released as yet for the umpires to do matches, but Budhoo might be doing games in Group A. He is thrilled to be given the opportunity to exhibit his skills on a big stage like a World Cup event.

Suresh Budhoo “I am grateful to be given the chance to put the bails on in a country where cricket is being played passionately; I am really looking forward to it,” Budhoo, who has been an active umpire in Canada for the past twenty-three years, declared. Last August, Cricket Canada Masters Council (CCMC) hosted a fournation, over-60 tournament that included Australia, England and USA. Budhoo umpired the entire tournament and thanked CCMC for picking him as one of the umpires in the 45over competition. He was the umpire coordinator too. According to Budhoo, that was an unforgettable outing for him and again he would embrace the opportunity next year in South Africa. Apart from competitive cricket in Canada, Budhoo is providing services as well in USA. Recently he done some umpiring in the USA Over-40 National tournament, which they used primarily for the selection of the USA World Cup team. This trip to Houston, Texas has added to his already established umpiring recognition. He is expected to depart Canada February 12th.

sensation, is not just breaking records; she’s shattering them. Sprinting through the 200m like a whirlwind, she clocked 24.30s, obliterating the previous record set in 2017 by Tiffauna Garnett. Springer, 16, isn’t just the star of District 11’s show; she played a key role in their gold medal, record-breaking saga in the Girls Open 4x400m. In the symphony of astounding performances, Athaleyha Hinckson and Javon Roberts joined the elite ensemble. Hinckson, like a sprint sorceress, rewrote the record books in the women’s 200m, clocking a staggering 24.50s, as Leandre Bennett (25.54s) and Kenetha Fraser (26.15s) trailed in her wake. Meanwhile, Tessianna Harris decided to etch her name in the Nationals record book, winning the girl’s U12, 200m in 26.35s, (Continued on page 28)

The Guyana Jaguars will be in action today in the Grenada 7’s. The Guyana national rugby team, now proudly donning the moniker ‘Guyana Jaguars,’ is poised to unleash their roar at the Grenada 7s, which will scrum off today at the Kirani James Athletic Stadium in St George’s. Guided by the strategic hand of GRFU head, Ryan Dey, the 12-man squad finds themselves in the fierce battleground of Pool A, facing off against Atlantis Men, FRN Men, Misfits, and T&T Defence Force. G u y a n a ’s s p i r i t e d campaign commences today

as the ruggers engage in a showdown with Atlantis Men at 10:00h, followed by a clash against T&T Defence Force at 12:40hrs. The battleground preparation has been under the vigilant gaze of coach Claudius Butts, ensuring the ‘Jags’ are in prime form. The squad boasts a lineup featuring Captain Jamal Angus, Vice Captain Vallon Adams, Kevin Grant, Scott Garraway, Tyrese Prescod, Akino James, Jonathan Garnett, Ronald Niles, Lionel Holder, Sean Phillips, Leon Cole, and Godfrey

Broomes. The Grenada 7s has attracted a global rugby spectacle, with teams from the UK, USA, Canada, and the Caribbean converging for the action. This event marks the return of the longest-running Club Rugby 7s tournament in the region to the ‘Spice Isle’ for its second year. In a clash of titans, eighteen of the world’s best Men’s and Women’s Elite 7s teams will engage in a thrilling two-day tournament, vying for a coveted US $20,000 total prize pool.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 32

Friday December 01, 2023

“Champions Connect” event invites All-round Rose Hall NAMILCO advances to quarter-finals fathers and sons to unite against GBV BCB Premier T20 Tournament…

of BCB Premier T20 - Defeat Port Mourant by 58 runs R o s e H a l l To w n NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour stormed to a 58-run win over Port Mourant, as they won Zone C in the Berbice Cricket Board’s (BCB) Premier T20 Cricket tournament. Action at the Area H Ground last Saturday saw Rose Hall advance to the quarter-finals. Batting first, the eventual winners posted 128-7 from their 20 overs. Former Berbice senior player and one-time Guyana wicket-keeper prospect, Jason Sinclair rolled back the clock with a top score of 38. All-rounder Matthew Pottaya hit 14, while Vidal Crandon stroked 22 and Ramesh Bharat (19) were the premier scorers for Rose Hall NAMILCO. Port Mourant Cricket Club bowling was decent, led by Vinod Samaroo who grabbed 2-31 and Madan Budhram 2-10 from 4 overs.

Sylus Tyndall

Jason Sinclair

The trio of Joshua Ramsammy, Josh Harrichand and Yogindra Harrinarine finished with one wicket each. With a gettable target of 129 Port Mourant never got out the blocks and were steamrolled for 70 inside 20 overs. It was a rampant exhibition from the Rose Hall bowlers, led by veteran inter-county pacer Slyus Tyndall who rattled the opposition with 3-5 and his captain, Guyana Harpy Eagles speedster Clinton

Pestano (2-13) and veteran left-arm spinner Keith Simpson (2-16). Junior national opener Rampersaud Ramnauth (14) was the only batsman to reach double figures amidst the carnage dished out by the Rose Hall bowlers. Quarter-finals Fixtures (dates to be announced): R o s e H a l l To w n NAMILCO vs. Blairmont at the Area H Ground Albion vs. Port Mourant at the Port Mourant Ground Tucber Park vs. Rose Hall Canje at Canje Ground

n a powerful initiative aimed at f o s t e r i n g connections and combating Gender-Based Violence (GBV), the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Policy Unit presents “Champions Connect.” This engaging event, scheduled for Saturday, December 2nd, will take place at the Gandhi Youth Organisation on Woolford Avenue, starting at 13:00 hours. “Champions Connect” extends beyond the boundaries of a typical sports event. It serves as a call to fathers and sons to c o m e t o g e t h e r, s h a r e experiences, and stand united against gender-based violence. Hosted by the distinguished Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Policy Unit, the event promises an insightful afternoon featuring members from the National cricket and football teams, renowned sportsmen, and coaches including Roger Harper, Steven Jaccobs, Leon Johnson, Jeremy Garrett, Curtez Kellman and others. Attendees can anticipate a dynamic agenda, including a mentorship programme where participants can

Head of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Policy Unit, Dr. Cona Husbands engage with experts in the field. Interactive sessions, led by professionals from the National cricket and football teams, will provide valuable insights into discipline, teamwork, and leadership. Dr. Cona Husbands, Head of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Policy Unit, expressed the transformative impact of “Champions Connect.” In her statement, Dr. Husbands stated, “This event transcends the realm of sports; it’s about fostering connections, imparting wisdom, and instilling

values that go beyond the playing field. ‘Champions Connect’ is an opportunity for fathers and sons to stand together against genderbased violence, creating a legacy of respect, empathy, and strength.” Fathers and sons eager to participate in “Champions Connect” can simply turn up to the venue at the stipulated time to be part of the activity. This event provides a unique chance to be part of a meaningful afternoon that transcends sports, leaving a lasting impact on the community.

Kaieteur News

Friday December 01, 2023

PAGE 33

Shane Dowrich announces international retirement; withdraws from West Indies squad for CG United ODI Series ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Cricket West Indies (CWI) yesterday announced that Shane Dowrich, the experienced wicketkeeper/batsman has announced his retirement from international cricket with immediate effect and has withdrawn from the West Indies squad for the upcoming CG United OneDay International (ODI) Series against England. Dowrich made his international debut against Australia in Dominica in 2015. He played 35 Tests where he scored 1,570 runs including three centuries with a top score of 125 not out against Sri Lanka in Trinidad in 2018. Behind the stumps he had 85 catches and five stumpings. He also played one ODI in Ireland in May 2019. CWI thanked Dowrich for his contribution to West Indies cricket and wished

him the best in his future endeavors. Miles Bascombe, CWI’s Director of Cricket said: “We want to thank Shane for contribution when he played for West Indies. He is a disciplined, hardworking cricketer who always gave his utmost in front and behind the stumps. He had a memorable series in 2019 when he made an outstanding Test century on home soil in Barbados to help us beat England and win the Wisden Trophy. We respect his decision to retire and appreciate it is not an easy one to make. We wish him all the best as he steps away from the international stage.” The CWI Selection Panel will not name a replacement for the three match Series and the squad consists of 14 players. The CG United ODI Series will feature three matches. The tour will start

Shane Dowrich (CWI)

with two CG United ODIs at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Sunday 3 December and Wednesday 6 December.

GCB congratulates President Ali following bestowal of Barbados’ Order of Freedom National Award The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) sent its congratulations to the President of the Republic of Guyana, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, who was bestowed with the Order of Freedom of Barbados, y e s t e r d a y, T h u r s d a y, November 30. President Ali received the prestigious awards, as part of Barbados’ 57th Independence Day celebrations held yesterday. The Order of Freedom of Barbados, which is an honorary award, is given to distinguished nonBarbadians for their service to Barbados, the Caribbean, the Caribbean Diaspora or humanity at large.

President of the Republic of Guyana, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali.

The first CG United ODI is a day game starting at 9:30am with the second CG United ODI is a day/night game starting at

1:30pm. The tour then moves to Barbados for the third and final CG United ODI to be played at Kensington Oval, on Saturday 9 December. This will also be a day/night contest starting at 1:30pm. Fans can purchase tickets in advance, saving money on the venue box office price (saving included in the online price) from the Windies Tickets service presented by Mastercard at www.tickets.windiescrick et.com . Fans can choose their preferred seats and download or print the tickets from their Windies Tickets account to present at the venue entrance. The venue box office at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium is also open for tickets sales. Fans can visit on non-match days from 9am to 5pm. On match days the box office will open two

hours before the official start of play. FULL SQUAD 1. Shai Hope (captain) 2. Alzarri Joseph (vice captain) 3. Alick Athanaze 4. Yannic Cariah 5. Keacy Carty 6. Roston Chase 7. Matthew Forde 8. Shimron Hetmyer 9. Brandon King 10. Gudakesh Motie 11. Kjorn Ottley 12. Sherfane Rutherford 13. Romario Shepherd 14. Oshane Thomas MATCH SCHEDULE Sunday 3 December: 1st CG United ODI at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua – 9:30am Wednesday 6 December: 2nd CG United ODI at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua – 1:30pm Saturday 9 December: 3rd CG United ODI at Kensington Oval, Barbados – 1:30pm

Athaleyha Hinckson completed her sprint double at Nationals, rts o p winning the 100m and 200m S in record-breaking times.

District 10 in prime position for 20th ‘Nationals’ title

Tianna Springer has so far won the 100m, 200m, 800m, 4x100m relay at ‘Nationals’. She will compete in the 400m finals and 4x400m relay finals today.

…Tianna Springer grabs spotlight with another record-breaking performance

Sebai Primary crowned Matarkai Schools U13 inaugural T10 Tapeball Cricket champion

Sebai Primary School with the champion trophy. (Front row from L-R: Ricardo Moses- Most wickets, Captain Dwayne John and Rayaad Hutson- Most runs.) Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.