Kaieteur News

K

Borderline Facts Pt. 6

ICJ ruling Sunday Edition NEWS renders Venezuela referendum sterile

AIETEUR

December 03, 2023

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

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- Maduro regime saying otherwise to save face, distract from internal turmoil

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Auditors instruct Exxon to return Guyana’s $52M oil profits used to purchase branded caps, fishing shirts and sweatpants A lesson for Guyana on new Stabroek Block beneficiary

Chevron skillfully wiggled out of paying US$9.5 billion in environmental damages - got lawyer thrown in jail and disbarred OGGN calls for greater Woman arrested after transparency in future audits of ExxonMobil’s meat in macaroni US$46 billion expenses turns out to be weed

Exxon at full production at Liza field again, after quietly fixing mechanical issue at FPSO

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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

Publisher: DR. GLENN LALL - TEL: 624-6456 Editor-In-Chief: NIGEL WILLIAMS Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

Referendum Day over there The Nicholas Maduro inspired referendum is about to get, or already, underway in Venezuela on this Sunday. Five questions put to that country’s citizens that have the severest of implications for this country. The Venezuelan response to the last question could set the stage for unleashing circumstances that lead to lasting damage to both Guyana and Venezuela. May wiser and sober heads prevail in both places.

In its simplest construction, question five of the Venezuelan referendum is about providing the grounds to seize and settle the rich Essequibo lands and its related sea lanes. Attempts may be made to gloss over this primary objective, long the biggest bone of contention between Guyana and Venezuela, but annexation of Essequibo is the paramount attraction in the visions of many Venezuelans, and the ambitions of President Maduro and others in his circle. There is a high probability that the referendum, with all eyes on that fateful final question five, will garner an enormous number of affirmative votes. People from anywhere in the world, who consider themselves patriots would be galvanized to see things one way only, and vote accordingly. Essequibo is Ours, go and get it, make it happen.

What does Nicolas Maduro do then? Having pushed his country to this shaky brink, what options are left for him? Is he in position to deescalate, and at what political cost to himself? Can he extricate himself from the snare in which he has trapped himself, and do so in one piece? To advance across the borders could lead to an international inferno consuming his country and its people. For him to standstill may not be an option still open to him.

Whatever the driving forces that compelled Maduro to this appealing, but extremely dangerous, referendum, he has left himself in a no man’s land. There are landmines strewn all over, some of which are hidden. His own people could transform into his worst enemies, but he has not survived so long by being halting or unsteady on his feet. All of his assets will have to be humming in unison, and he had better have eyes in the back of his head. In front of him, Maduro has Guyana, and it is not the pushover that he thought was there to be run over. Though it is our position at this paper that crossing the border by Venezuela is the last of last choices, it should not be lost on President Maduro from what he is hearing and seeing from the international community. One miscalculation, any misstep, and he makes himself into mincemeat. The diplomatic cables that he is absorbing from his ambassadors across the region, and many other places, should persuade him that any belligerent post referendum movement on Venezuela’s part dooms him into the doghouse of history. He would be remembered as the man who took a huge gamble, and who did his country and its full restoration into the fraternity of civilized nations a grave injustice.

For Guyana has assembled its assets and arranged its friends. They are big, they are bad, and they are still of a bad disposition to Venezuela. Guyanese are best advised not to let down their guard, to be forever watchful, as any and all developments should be anticipated. Guyanese have the biggest stake in this Venezuelan referendum, so the erratic and unexpected should never be far from consideration.

Further, there has to be the willingness to learn some lessons from, and adapt to, this tense experience. It can never be comforting to know, and then to be a spectator in watching a powerful and greedy neighbour put one’s house on the chopping block. It is unhealthy to live next to one that is constantly of a mind to do so.

Venezuela covets the treasures of this country, which have caused so much harsh contentiousness inside of Guyana. We had better come to our senses and get the best from our wealth. If not, there are neighbours who will move and fill the space that is left by us. What Guyana has is worth fighting for, and all Guyanese must feel that they belong, they own, and for that they must be willing to fight.

Sunday December 03, 2023

Kaieteur M@ilbox Send your letters to Kaieteur News, 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown or email us kaieteurnews@yahoo.com

Judge Damone Younge’s ruling in favour of a working-class NIS victim is a deserved slap on NIS/Ministry of Finance faces DEAR EDITOR, Judge Damone Younge’s ruling in favour of Mr. Shariff Zainul, a carpenter, is a deserved slap in the face of the NIS management, the Ministry of Finance who supervises them, and the NIS Board – an outfit which fiddles while NIS pensioners burn.

I wish the Judge could have imposed punitive damages too. Judge Younge is my new hero. I will vote for her if ever she chooses to run for something. With this ruling, she has done more for the working class than those unions whose employees face the brunt of NIS transgressions, done more than the Ministry in solving problems, and done more than other unions silent

while some of their employees who paid dues to them caught hell trying to get pensions that they contributed to and deserved.

In 2019, Justice Younge had also ordered the NIS to revisit the claims of a 66year-old widow, after NIS had disallowed her the payment of survivor ’s benefits, saying she filed too many years after her husband died. We need to change the rules to allow for late filing.

NIS was set up to provide “social security” in a person’s most vulnerable years, not terrorize them.

(See “Justice Younge orders NIS to pay Toolsie Persaud Limited staffer,” KN, Nov 29, 2023).

This latest ruling vindicates President Ali’s

directive to the NIS to process all NIS backlog cases by year end. Thank you, Mr. President! You now have the leverage from Judge Damone’s decision to order the NIS to pay people such as my cousin waiting 28 years for his pension. This is a landmark ruling that pronounced on the obligation of the NIS and the employer for the maintenance of accurate and complete records. That’s their job. That’s not the employees’ burden. You cannot blame the victims for the failure of NIS to do its statutory duty in ensuring that timely contribution statements were being submitted by employers.

A top Ministry of Finance official had told me,

“If your cousin wants to sue, be my guest.” The Board Chair said to me, “If your case is solid, the courts should be pursued.” These rich, heartless folks had no empathy or sympathy for old workers trying to get their benefits. It is very callous for the working-class Government side to tell working-class folks to sue for your benefits. NIS can push people around for a long time knowing most people will not have the resources to retain a lawyer to sue them, that they will go away when NIS tells them “We don’t have records that you worked for the time you claim.”

It took Mr. Shariff 12 years to finally get justice (Continued on page )

Sunday December 03, 2023

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur M@ilbox Kaieteur M@ilbox Judge Damone Younge’s ruling in favour... My lawyer could be “This pensioner’s win over the n u m e r o u s a r t i c l e s i n contributions made by the From page 4 working against me through Judge Younge. insurance scheme would not newspapers lamenting the Applicant, or for the failure Thanks to Mr. Shariff for filing this case. Thanks to the courageous lawyers at the Christopher Ram and Associates firm, especially Mr. Christopher Thompson.

Now the taxpayers have to pay to cover the ongoing blunders of the NIS folks.

Heads should roll at NIS, and the President must not allow this opportunity to pass to now do major revamping of the NIS system with utmost urgency. So how did Mr. Shariff make out during that time? How did he feed himself and family? Many NIS claimants have died “not receiving the promise.”

What can a poor person do if NIS tells him or her, we don’t have your records that show you qualify for a pension? Which agency is set up to help? Where can a rural applicant or an interior applicant go to for help?

There are no mechanisms.

So, President Ali had to intervene and give the NIS an order because the Ministry was not getting the job done.

Many people were dying and not receiving their benefits before they die. My cousin is 88 years. Mr. President, you lead with the heart. Please intervene and ensure my cousin gets his benefits speedily to enjoy it before his time expires.

The facts of this Shariff case showed that for decades the NIS has embarked on frolics of its own, taking the law into its own hands and denying benefits to old-age workers. It seemed they did everything to make sure Mr. Shariff was not paid. But as was noted in the news article,

only be seen as a victory for him, but for countless other pensionable members whose complaints against the scheme are all too similar.

The court ruling will therefore be used as a precedent. Justice Younge in her ruling delivered on Monday, made it clear that an applicant should not be made to suffer for failure on the part of NIS and employers to reconcile their records or to have an accurate record of the contributions made by an applicant—or for the failure of employers to pay over their employees’ contributions to the insurance scheme. In fact, the Judge in no uncertain terms blasted the NIS which she said has become ‘notorious’ for inaccurate and incomplete contribution records which a r e u l t i m a t e l y unreliable…Justice Yonge asserted, ‘as the instant case pellucidly demonstrates, contribution Schedules can and sadly are often inaccurate or incomplete… It is most unfortunate that NIS contribution records in the possession of the Respondent have become notorious for its unreliability.’ Minister Singh himself is cited in

mess and missing contribution records at NIS. Some important findings in the Shariff case are: · Contribution schedules should by no means take precedence over later documents, to the exclusion of those later documents. She made it clear that NIS is required to consider all documents put before it before coming to a decision on the calculation of an insured person’s contributions and his or her entitlement to pension benefits under the Act. · The Judge said that Shariff having been unable to obtain his employment records from TPL despite his valiant efforts, did what he could to provide proof that he was employed by TPL and that he made the requisite number of NIS contributions to entitle him to the payment of oldage pension. “This Court therefore finds that the Applicant is entitled to be paid an old age pension,” the Judge declared. · The Applicant should not be made to suffer for failure of the NIS and TPL to reconcile their records or to have an accurate record of the

of TPL to pay over the Applicant’s contributions to the NIS. · The Judge said that in keeping with the spirit and intention of Section 17(1)(c) of the Act and Regulation 6(1).

“This Court finds it rather disturbing that the Respondent, despite being empowered to do so, does not take a more robust approach in ensuring that employers comply with the law as it relates to the deduction and payment of NIS contributions on behalf of their employees. Instead, the Respondent seemingly allows employ [ers] to flout the law to the detriment of the employees,” Justice Yo u n g e s a i d . ( S e e “Carpenter wins NIS pension in landmark rulingafter 12-year battle over TPL record, SN, Nov. 29, 2023).

I implore President Ali that given this ruling; the government should move quickly to issue new guidelines on what to do about missing contributions to the NIS for processing all benefit claims speedily. If you are a “Victim of NIS,” please send your story to “victimsofnis@gmail.com” Sincerely, Dr. Jerry Jailall

DEAR EDITOR, My tenant who lives in the bottom flat of my premises owes me several months’ rent. I paid a lawyer in early August who claimed she posted a notice of possession to him.

In September, I paid her to commence court action for possession of the premises. Two months later, despite several text messages and phone calls, most of which were unanswered, I am still at square one.

A few days ago, I texted the lawyer bluntly requesting a refund of my fees as her inaction was causing me financial distress.

Five minutes later, I received a voice message

from the tenant, requesting a renegotiation of the contract; he would pay all outstanding rent and would leave the premises by January 2024.

It appears that the two are in collusion together to deny me justice.

‘Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive’ - Sir Walter Scott.’

‘The evil that men do lives after them, the good is oft interred with their bones’ - Mark Anthony in ‘Julius Caesar ’.

Judgment Day is coming. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

(Name and address supplied)

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Kaieteur News

Sunday December 03, 2023

Kaieteur M@ilbox Treat all undocumented persons equally DEAR EDITOR, This month ushers in our traditional Christmas season when we all share wishes for peace, happiness and p r o s p e r i t y .

This weekend, we await the Venezuelan Referendum.

Our case is rock-solid and as a patriot, I say Not a Blade a grass.

But Editor and citizens, my word is the mishandling of important matters by our duly elected President and his inner circle.

Whatever happens with the Referendum on Sunday, December 3, 2023 in Caracas is of some significance.

Over the last few weeks, we’ve seen and heard quite a bit concerning this border question but nowhere have I heard from any of the Government top brass an articulation of what we were taught before and after Independence, the

programme of ‘defence in depth. ’ If the Government is serious about the integrity of our nation-state, they should seek wise counselling from those who were involved in the programme of defence in depth.

If President Ali and the PPP are serious about keeping Essequibo as part of Guyana, we need them to announce a policy which does not favour Venezuelans coming and settling in Guyana as against other groups of persons.

I hereby demand from the Government, a clear unambiguous statement that all undocumented persons found in Guyana will be treated equally, whether it be from Brazil, Suriname, Haiti, Nigeria, Dominica, Palestine or Venezuela.

Hamilton Green

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L B T LUNT.. UNT...B BL B Sunday December 03, 2023

Kaieteur News

The Organization of American States, the Commonwealth of Nations and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have all made resounding statements in defence of Guyana’s sovereignty, in the aftermath of a positive judgment by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

These organizations, representing more than 70 unique member countries, have endorsed the order of the world’s highest court, that Venezuela must not interfere with Guyana’s control of the Essequibo region, pending the outcome of the case.

We all know that this unhinged campaign

by Nicolas Maduro is being used to throw a cloak of obscurity over his poor governance of Venezuela, as he seeks to secure another term in Venezuela’s next election.

Guyanese and the rest of the world are hopeful that Maduro would let good sense prevail instead of starting a losing war against the sacredness of international law.

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Sunday Monday December May 02,03, 2022 2023

A lesson for Guyana on new Stabroek Block beneficiary Chevron skillfully wiggled out of paying US$9.5 billion in environmental damages - got lawyer thrown in jail and disbarred

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merican attorney Steven Donziger, known for his g r o u n d b r e a k i n g environmental litigation against oil company Chevron, ended up being disbarred and thrown behind bars. Donziger's story is a sobering warning sign for Guyana, as the powerful supermajor finalizes its acquisition of Hess Corporation and establishes

itself in Guyana's ultralucrative petroleum industry.

Donziger gained prominence for his role in Aguinda v. Texaco, Inc., where he represented over 30,000 Ecuadorian farmers and Indigenous people against Chevron for environmental damages in Ecuador's Lago Agrio oil field. Texaco, which merged with Chevron in 2001, was accused of spilling millions

of gallons of crude oil and polluted wastewater over the course of nearly three decades, contaminating the ground and waterways of the Amazon Rainforest. The case concluded with an Ecuadorian court awarding a staggering US$9.5 billion to the plaintiffs. However, this victory was short-lived as Chevron withdrew its assets from Ecuador and initiated a countersuit against Donziger

in the United States under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupted Organizations (RICO) Act, accusing him of f r a u d , b r i b e r y, a n d racketeering Controversially, U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan ruled that the Ecuadorian judgment was obtained through corrupt means and could not be enforced in the U.S. This ruling led to Donziger's

disbarment in New York in 2018, and in the District of Columbia in 2022. Kaplan's judgment was primarily based on the testimony of Alberto Guerra, a former Ecuadorian judge, who alleged that Donziger bribed him to ghost-write the judgment against Chevron.

However, Guerra later admitted to lying and changing his story multiple times during the trial.

Donziger's legal woes intensified when he was placed under house arrest in August 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of criminal contempt of court. This charge stemmed from his refusal to surrender electronic devices during his appeal against Kaplan's RICO decision. In July 2021, he was found guilty by U.S. District Judge Loretta Preska and sentenced to six months in jail in October 2021, a sentence he served beginning in October 2021.

The case against Donziger and his subsequent imprisonment have sparked widespread condemnation and concern. Twenty-nine Nobel laureates described Chevron's actions as "judicial harassment." Human rights campaigners echoed this sentiment, labeling

Chevron's legal strategy as a SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit A g a i n s t P u b l i c Participation).

The late Harvard Law School professor Charles Nesson had criticized the bribery and corruption charges as a means to protect Chevron from environmental accountability. Moreover, The Nation publication said documentation revealed extensive collaboration between Chevron, its law firm, and a private prosecutor in conducting the criminal contempt case against Donziger.

Despite an appellate court upholding parts of Kaplan's ruling against Donziger, it vacated Chevron's request for millions in damages and sanctions against Donziger.

After spending 45 days in prison and a combined total of 993 days under house arrest, Donziger was released on April 25, 2022.

Chevron announced in October that it entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Hess, in an all-stock transaction valued at US$53 billion. Hess' 30% interest in the Stabroek Block was a principal driver for Chevron, in this deal. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2024.

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 03, 2023

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Guyana is climate hustler

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n recent years, Guyana has been thrust into the global spotlight for its stance on climate change, particularly in the context of the ongoing COP 28 discussions. It has raised eyebrows with its seemingly contradictory approach to environmental policy.

On one hand, Guyana positions itself as an advocate for the environment, dedicating vast acreages of its forests to conservation, biodiversity research and sustainable forestry development. One of its Presidents was even

named as a Champion of the Earth.

On the other hand, its actions tell a different story – one of embracing and accelerating fossil fuel production and calling for a just transition to renewables – a position seen as defending increased fossil fuel exploration and production in the short- to medium- term. This perplexing duality raises questions about the sincerity of Guyana’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

Guyana’s recent plea for oil companies to play a more prominent role in climate

change negotiations has further signaled its role as an apologist for the oil companies. The government argues that these companies, often criticized for their contribution to global warming, should be active participants in finding solutions.

However, a closer look reveals a paradox: oil companies have long been present at the negotiating table, actively lobbying for and safeguarding their interests. One analyst has pointed out that not only has the oil companies been lobbying and protecting

DEM BOYS SEH

Visa is like winning de lottery Y’all remember when in 2014 and early 2015 Uncle Sam was handing out visas like candy at Christmas? Those were the days when the embassy doors swung open, and people sauntered in like they were strolling down Main Street on a Sunday afternoon.

More than 50,000 visas were handed out like popcorn at a movie theatre.

No papers? No problem!

No ties! No problem! Just flash a smile and Uncle Sam would stamp the visa in yuh passport. It was for many like winning the lottery, only instead of cash, you got a multiple visa to the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Rumor had it that Uncle

Sam had a cunning plan to thin out the PPPC supporters. They said, “Give ‘em a visa, and watch ‘em ride off into the American sunset.”

Conspiracy or not, the numbers spoke louder than a Georgetown market vendor on a Saturday morning – from 50,000 visas between 2014 and 2015 to less than 5,000 faster than you can say “Dem Boys Seh.” Now, here’s where the plot twist hits harder than a cricket ball to the wicket.

Some folks got themselves a visa not for a holiday but for a ‘holi-stay.’

Dem treated that visa like a golden ticket to the land of their dreams. No intention of coming back,

just living the American dream.

But dat is the cause of de sour grapes. The ones who got denied, well, they’re crying foul like they just lost a game of dominoes. “Injustice!” they shout from the rooftops, watching in dismay as their compatriots pack their bags every six months for an Uncle Sam-sponsored work vacation. Dem vex dem get denied while de friends who get through abusing de visa by treating it as either a temporary work permit or landed immigrant status. Dem claim dem would have come back if dem did get that miracle stamp in dem passport.

Talk half. Leff half.

their interests but that they have completely corrupted and taken over the entire COP process.

The call for a “greater say” by these companies seems more like an attempt to cater to their agenda rather than a genuine effort to address climate concerns. Oil and water do not mix and it hard to reconcile championing the environment while being an apologist for the oil companies.

Most climate-vulnerable states across the globe advocate for a reduction in fossil fuel production, recognizing it as a pivotal step in mitigating climate change. Guyana, however, stands out by deviating from this consensus. Instead of joining the chorus for decreased oil exploration, the nation aligns itself with oil companies, demanding their increased involvement in the decision-making process. This position, while claiming to support a just transition towards renewables, is paradoxical given the government’s eagerness to exploit its oil resources as fast as possible and as much as possible.

T h e a p p a r e n t contradiction in Guyana’s stance becomes more glaring when considering the absence of a comprehensive national oil and gas depletion policy.

The government’s approval for accelerated oil exploration contradicts its rhetoric of a just transition, raising questions about the sincerity of its commitment to environmental sustainability. If fossil fuels

are indeed on borrowed time, as evidenced by the global shift towards renewables, why push for a just transition?

Guyana’s approach to climate change has been further clouded by its pursuit of carbon credits. The government’s push to earn carbon credits for environmental conservation initiatives seems commendable on the surface. Guyana is attempting to prostitute its environmental efforts to earn carbon credits while simultaneously supporting expanded production of the very industry responsible for environmental degradation.

The confusion deepens when examining the mixed signals emanating from the People’s Progressive Party C i v i c ( P P P C ) administration. While projecting an image of an environmental champion, the administration’s policies appear to prioritize economic interests over genuine sustainability.

It is crucial for Guyana to reevaluate its environmental stance and present a coherent strategy that aligns with the global effort to combat climate change. This requires a transparent and comprehensive depletion policy that considers the finite nature of fossil fuels.

Furthermore, the government must reconcile its push for carbon credits with a genuine commitment to ensuring a reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions, rather than simply allowing polluting companies to buy a “pass” towards their national emission targets.

Guyana’s recent actions on the global environmental stage paint a troubling picture of a nation engaged in climate hustling. On one hand, it seeks to present itself as an eco-friendly champion by selling carbon offsets to foreign firms, allowing them to ostensibly neutralize their carbon footprint in their countries. It appears that Guyana is exploiting the carbon credit market as a smokescreen, enabling foreign companies to continue polluting the environment with impunity while Guyana itself rushes headlong into becoming a major player in the fossil fuel industry.

In a stunning display of e n v i r o n m e n t a l contradiction, Guyana’s oil production is expected to surpass 1 million barrels of oil per day by 2027. This rapid escalation of oil production stands in stark contrast to the principles of responsible climate stewardship, revealing a blatant disregard for the very environmental concerns the government purports to champion.

(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.)

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Sunday Monday December May 02,03, 2022 2023

H@RD TRUTHS

BY GHK LALL

Guyana-Venezuela –R-Day ‘Not a blade of grass' never seems to lose its sparkling national resonance.

With each new rendition in response to an old state of mind in Venezuela, 'not a blade of grass' is given a fresh sprinkle of water, and reset in a prominently placed national flowerpot.

Now there is another stirring phrase hauled out of the haze and put into the public arena.

It is 'not a stone left unturned' in efforts to defend Guyana from Venezuela's naked war of words and escalation of tensions.

I hope that Guyanese will not be called upon, not be put

to the test, to deliver on either of those two electrifying statements. But should the circumstances be unavoidable, then all the little Davids in Guyana must be ready with a hand raised in self-defense, and a belly full of fire, to stand up to the Venezuelan Goliaths. I can go on about how the smallest axe could cut down the biggest tree; or that other one about which it is said that it is not the size of the dog, but the fight in the dog that counts in a junkyard scrap, but the point should have sunk in by now.

If Venezuela wants

Guyana's forests to serve as a final resting place, an early graveyard, for its sons and daughters, we must be ready to give them a hand in that direction. I would prefer that matters do not reach such an irreversible stage, but Guyana has not asked for this fight. In fact, Guyana has not uttered a single untoward word against the Venezuelan people, though the temptation has been everpresent, ever insistent. The entirety of the sharp words, the fevered pitches, the rhetoric and actions intended to drive fear across Guyana have all been from the higher

elevations and bigger people in Caracas.

I have no quarrel with the Venezuelan people. But my father and his parents were from Essequibo, so there is this umbilical connection for me. Though I have lost touch with the remnants of that side of kith and kin over the decades, there are still a few of them living in the coveted and disputed Essequibo region. To make matters tighter, I understand that a few of them have Venezuelan spouses. Matters get a little messy, all things considered, but there is no choice, only one loyalty that ever counts.

As the Americans like to say, it is God, country, and applesauce.

It is where I am, other than for any creole combination that could take the place of that last condiment.

It is now time for a hard reality check. All of this-not a blade of grass, not one stone left unturned-is easy to say from the safety of the distant shores of Georgetown. But we are all going to have to be fully ready to make good on these fulsome patriotic words. I have to, if push comes to shove, and in whatever way this country could use an ancient duffer like me. I would be pretty exercised to be given nothing to do. Our resolve must be more than in words that sing.

Our resolve must be made of steel and sting, and the willingness to lay all on the line.

Some may call it patriotism, but it has to be proved in spades. The words of Sir Winston Churchill should come to mind, and strike Guyanese where they count. I favour a single word that says all that has to be said: self-sacrifice. I will be so bold as to recommend that that same call to selfsacrifice be made the commanding tenet of the individual religion that is embraced with question, and without condition. With a mindset like that, and a conversion of that nature, a much-needed national religion could be in the making.

We need an element with the strength of cement to bind

u s together in this country. Whether recklessly or unthinkingly, Venezuela's President Maduro has given us this gift as part of his referendum, his Christmas greetings. I will refrain from insulting anyone, but for every word said and each line written, the blood racing in our veins should get hotter, our heads clearer. Enough has been mentioned and penned about 'existential threat' emanating from Venezuelan jingoism, saberrattling, and its relentless ratcheting up of tensions on its lost cause. We have no control over what goes on across the western border.

But we can do our best regarding the kind of existence that we seek to live.

It must be of the desire and passion that surpass those of anyone else, including whatever is coming out of Venezuela. We, the sum of the Guyanese people, have a sacred duty to rise up and face the enemy lurking at the gates with this Trojan Horse referendum of his.

International help is welcome, but at the end of the day, Guyanese have to step up.

Whatever the results of the Venezuelan referendum, Guyanese must tighten their belts, as they are in for the long haul. No matter how the temperature cools in Caracas (if it does at all), every Guyanese must stand for the motherland, and make any interloper pay dearly for their monstrous ambitions, their deformed mentalities, and all of their unneighbourly treacheries harboured.

(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.)

Sunday December 03, 2023

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Sunday December 03, 2023

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

SUNDAY – NOVEMBER 26, 2023 WE ARE NOT GOING TO SUCCUMB TO VENEZUELA'S BULLYISM!!!

“We are interested in maintaining peace in our country and on or borders…We are going to be working with our allies to ensure that we plan for all eventualities…I know that we are going to be working on greater defense corporation with a number of countries.

We would have from the US Department of Defense this week, two visits to Guyana by two teams, and then several other visits in the month of December, and high level representation from the Department of Defense here. We are not going to succumb to Venezuela's bullyism...”Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo MONDAY – NOVEMBER 27, 2023 “Even as Guyana is ready to defend its borders using our military, the position remains that Guyana's border with Venezuela was legally and inter-nationally decided over 100 years ago by a tribunal of arbitration in 1899 in what was determined then to be a “full, perfect, and final settlement.” – The Government of Guyana TUESDAY – NOVERMEBR 28, 2023 Venezuela the aggressor There have been calls from certain regional leaders for Guyana and Venezuela to maintain peace, suggesting that somewhat this country has been a hostile neighbour.

Guyana has not uttered a single word of hostility against the Venezuelan people.

In contrast, Venezuelan leadership have, from different corners, ratcheted up its warlike rhetoric in efforts to boost its incendiary referendum, and galvanize its suffering citizens.

WEDNESDAY – NOVEMBER 29, 2023 VENEZUELA'S REFERENDUM HAS NO VALIDITY OR

STANDING IN INTERNATIONAL LAW – CARICOM CARICOM has insisted t h a t Ve n e z u e l a ' s Referendum on December 3 to drum up support for a unilateral seizure of Guyana's Essequibo Region “has no validity, bearing, or standing in international law.

CARICOM has categorically stated that the Referendum is a purely domestic construct, but its summary effect is likely to undermine peace, tranquility, security, and more, in our Region.

CARICOM has also reiterated its support for the finality of the judicial process being overseen by the International Court of Justice.

That Court has determined that it has the jurisdiction to hear the Guyana-Venezuela Border Controversy.

THURSDAY – NOVEMBER 30, 2023 Pres. Ali urges calm as his govt. reviews all strategies ahead of Venezuela's Dec. 3 Referendum “We remain hopeful that Venezuela will not allow itself to act recklessly but we are not taking anything for granted.

We have engaged our international partners and I want to thank them for the solid, strong and consistent support for Guyana.

We intend to continue a diplomatic pursuit and that includes, as is enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, settling this c o n t r o v e r s y, a t t h e International Court of Justice. That is where it must be settled.

I want every Guyanese to understand that at the diplomatic level, at the ICJ, at the level of leaders and through military cooperation and defense cooperation, we are engaging with our bilateral partners.

Whilst you have every reason to be concerned, do not burden your hearts unnecessarily.”

-His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana said at the Annual Awards and Induction Ceremonial Dinner hosted by the Guyana

Oil and Gas Energy Chamber.

FRIDAY – NOVEMBER 01, 2023 Venezuela will never succeed in changing our boundaries!

“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.

SATURDAY – NOVEMBER 02, 2023 Venezuela bound by UN Charter, ICJ Statue to

ensure strict compliance with ruling to refrain from reckless action The International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued an important Order yesterday.

It instructed that Venezuela refrains from acting on those aspects of its December 3 Referendum that seeks to galvanize support from its citizens to engage in the illegal annexation of the Essequibo Region.

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali welcomed the ruling by the

ICJ, emphasizing that the ruling is legally binding on Venezuela.

The Commander-inChief said both the United Nations Charter and the Statute of the Court to which Venezuela is a Party, require its strict compliance.

President Ali said this is an opportunity for Ve n e z u e l a t o j o i n Guyana in demonstrating respect for international law and the principles that govern peaceful coexistence.

Sunday December 03, 2023

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Borderline Facts Pt. 6

ICJ ruling renders Venezuela referendum sterile Attorney General, Anil Nandlall

- Maduro regime saying otherwise to save face, distract from internal turmoil – Attorney General, Anil Nandlall

By Kiana Wilburg

G

u y a n a ' s Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall S.C is urging citizens and regional stakeholders to be mindful of believing as well as peddling Venezuela's propaganda on the latest Order

of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

It was on Friday (December 1, 2023) that the World Court issued an emphatic and unanimous ruling that Venezuela must refrain from any action that would affect Guyana's control over the Essequibo region following its referendum to be held today.

Following that ruling, Venezuelan authorities not only showed total disregard, but put a new spin on it. Its leaders said for example that Guyana applied to the court to stop the referendum in its entirety.

Nandlall said nothing could be further from the truth.

The Attorney General underscored that Guyana had applied to the World

Court in October for provisional measures against those aspects of the referendum which seek to galvanize the support of the Venezuelan people to take unilateral actions that would result in the annexation of the Essequibo region.

Nandlall said, “Prior to the delivery of the ruling, Venezuela pumped up its population to a certain crescendo and now, it is desperately seeking to save face.

So it places the most d i s i n g e n u o u s interpretation of the ruling before its people for consumption.”

Nandlall also noted that it is a weak attempt to distract Venezuelans from the economic crisis that continues to plague

that nation.

The Legal Affairs Minister added, “One only has to compare V e n e z u e l a ' s interpretation of the ruling with the rest of the world.

And you get a clear impression of how jaundiced their interpretation is. It cannot be that the whole world is wrong; that the OAS is w r o n g , t h e Commonwealth is wrong, CARICOM is wrong and Venezuela is right.”

Nandlall said the ruling is clear and Venezuela is bound by the United Nations Charter and the Statute of the ICJ to refrain from all actions that would affect Guyana's control over the Essequibo region.

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Sunday December 03, 2023

WEEK-IN-REVIEW SUNDAY Chris Ram reveals: Belize imposes ringfencing provisions on oil companies through its tax legislation …But Guyana allows abuse on Exxon’s US$41B projects Chartered Accountant a n d A t t o r n e y - a t - L a w, Christopher Ram recently brought to the attention of the nation, a most damning and embarrassing revelation—Belize, one of the world’s smallest oil producers, imposes ringfencing provisions on its oil companies.

In stark contrast, Guyanese authorities have refused to arm the nation’s oil resources with similar protection. In fact, the current administration has refused for three years, calls to ring-fence ExxonMobil’s five oil projects in the Stabroek Block which are worth a whopping US$41.4 billion. Those projects are expected to produce a total of 3.4 billion barrels of oil over the next 20 years. Currently, Guyana is producing about 400,000 barrels of oil per day from two projects. With a third project in start-up mode, Guyana’s output will jump to 620,000 barrels per day by the first quarter of 2024.

In his most recent column in the Stabroek News, Ram outlined that Belize which produces about 5000 barrels of oil per day, imposes ring-fencing through its tax legislation.

For context, ring-fencing is an important protective clause as it ensures oil companies only deduct from a project’s profits, those expenses which are related to that project. When ringfencing is in place, companies cannot take the profits of one project and use it to cover the expenses of an entirely different project.

Ram in his column, showed how a Belizean court dealt with an oil company that tried to use the income earned from one oilproducing project to cover the exploration expenses of another project.

According to Ram’s column, here is what the Belizean court had to say in that matter: “When a contractor enters into a contract, he is taking a risk as there may not be any

production. The expenses incurred for taking such risk cannot be imposed on other Production Sharing Agreements where there is Initial Commercial Production without specific provisions in the Act.” The Court added: “The Legislature would have been specific if it had intended for contractors to recover expenses from Production Sharing Agreement where there was no ….Production.”

Ram said that the company (Chx Belize Lp), in conceding the logic of the court, agreed to make quarterly payments to the country’s Commissioner of I n c o m e Ta x w i t h o u t including exploration costs for another project. “Sadly, that would be unheard of in Guyana under these administrations,” said the Chartered Accountant.

OTHER TROUBLING DIFFERENCES Ram was also keen to bring to his readers’ attention, other critical aspects of the regime governing Belize’s oil industry. Ram highlighted for example that while Guyana accepts a mere two percent royalty on its oil resources, Belize has demanded way more for its people. Ram revealed that under Belizean law, royalty is set at a minimum of 7.5% for oil and 5% for natural gas. Additionally, Ram highlighted that the country charges an extra tax when oil prices are high. Critically, the profits made by the oil companies are charged at the rate of 40%, all of which were negotiated under a prediscovery contract.

Highlighting other critical aspects, Ram said oil companies in Belize have up to eight years to explore for oil. If a commercial discovery is made, the company is given 25 years for production. If no oil is found within eight years of exploration, Ram said the

contract “self-terminates,” meaning that they have to go.

No ifs, no buts and no Bridging Deed.

When compared to Guyana where the world’s largest oil find of the decade has been unlocked, oil companies enjoy a more lax regime. Ram said companies have up to 10 years for exploration and 30 years for production of any commercial find. Ram also noted that the terms are even more generous when looking at the relinquishment provisions. “For good measure, our politicians think they have to plead with oil companies to give us back what represents our patrimony, and what the law requires them to relinquish, anyway,” Ram said.

Guyana’s generosity does not end there. Ram notes that instead of Guyana collecting taxes from the oil companies on the billions they make, Guyana actually pays to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) the taxes payable by the oil companies, out of Guyana’s share of profit oil. The most incredible part of this whole concocted arrangement is that when Guyana pays the taxes for ExxonMobil and its partners, the GRA issues to the companies a certificate stating that they have paid taxes here. The companies then use that fictitious certificate to fraudulently claim a rebate on their worldwide tax liability in their home country.

While Guyana has already paid off for the Liza One and Liza Two Projects, the country’s share of profits has not increased because our leaders have refused to ring-fence these projects. As a result, Guyana is losing US$4B annually.

This state of affairs gets even worse as there are no ring-fencing provisions for the third, fourth and fifth oil projects. The consequence is that Guyana will lose at

minimum, an additional US$6B annually. This is a total of US$10B at minimum annually, from those five projects.

In the meantime, Guyana sits with a US$4B national debt that also attracts interest and the government is about to grant the sixth oil project without ring-fencing provision, to lose even more billions.

Findings of US$7.3B audit of Exxon justify fullfledged forensic auditOGGN The Oil and Gas Governance Network (OGGN) is urging the Government of Guyana (GoG) to conduct a fullfledged forensic audit of U.S oil giant ExxonMobil expenses, racked up between 2018 and 2020.

An audit of the company’s US$7.3 expenses was conducted by a local consortium, VHE Consulting which is a registered partnership between Ramdihal & Haynes Inc, Eclisar Financial, and Vitality Accounting & Consultancy Inc. The Local Consortium was supported by International firms – SGS and Martindale Consultants.

The team found that the company blatantly misused revenues generated in the Stabroek Block. https://www.kaieteurnewso nline.com/2023/11/12/howexxonmobil-brazenly-

abused-guyanas-oilprofits/#:~:text=A%20recen t%20audit%20report%20ha s,children%20of%20its%20 international%20workers.

OGGN members, Alfred Bhulai, Andre Brandli, Janette Bulkan, Kenrick Hunte, Darshanand Khusial, Rueben Khusial, John Palmer, Joe Persaud and Mike Persaud published in Saturday’s edition of this newspaper highlighted that the audit encompassed 260,000 transactions, totaling US$7.3 billion, for the Stabroek Block and was expected to be completed in four months.

OGGN raised concerns over the size of the audit team, which included a few Guyanese, likely with no prior experience in reviewing oil and gas transactions.

According to the body, “It is almost impossible for such a team, in that short time period, to verify 260,000 transactions thus they sampled transactions and ignored small transactions, where small transactions seem to be anything less than US$1,000.”

The citizens added, “It appears no materiality, an accounting criterion, was formally defined by the auditing team which raises concerns about the quality of the audit. What is not clear is what percentage of the 260,000 transactions were sampled and how many fell into the bucket of too small to audit. We know more than 40% of Guyanese live on US$5.50 per day thus US$1000 is not small to them.”

The Oil and Gas Network went on to note that in the series of articles highlighted in the press, there was no mention of the ‘big ticket’ engineering items of the offshore expenses. Instead, the group said the audit report exposed “simpler cake shop

accounts”.

It pointed out that the “big-ticket engineering items” need to be scrutinized with as much, or more care as the go-karting and Zumba lessons have been in the recent cost-recovery audits, since those expenses could potentially have a great effect on the money flows to Guyana.

OGGN noted that a thorough forensic audit will cost more and take longer, but is necessary, since a review of Exxon’s US$1.7 billion expenses, incurred between 1999 and 2017 flagged US$214 million in questionable costs.

“Whether the team did or did not have such expertise, for the 2018 to 2020 audit (is unknown); clearly the time and money allowed for this sample cost-recovery audit was not enough for a thorough investigation. The findings of this limited-scale audit have easily paid for the cost of the audit,” OGGN said.

The team noted that what the auditors discovered during the review process of the 2018-2020 bills are enough to justify a full-scale forensic audit. To this end, the OGGN members urged government to commission a forensic audit of the company. It said such a review such also be required for all subsequent years.

“The Auditor-General and the Guyana Revenue Authority should be in close contact with the US Security & Exchange Commission and the US Internal Revenue Service to check on transfer pricing and other means by which the ExxonMobil Guyana may be trying to inflate costs and reduce legitimate taxes,” the organization said.

Financial Analyst and Certified Accountant, Floyd Haynes said that the audit of costs incurred by ExxonMobil in the Stabroek Block was not a forensic audit or a witch hunt.

Haynes said that, “a forensic audit is done with the aim of identifying fraud and embezzlement with the goal of gathering evidence to be used in a court.”

He said, contrarily, a cost recovery audit of ExxonMobil’s bills was done pursuant to the parameters of the 2016 Production Share Agreement (PSA) governing the Stabroek Block.

“The goal is to verify the (Continued on page 15)

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Sunday December 03, 2023

From page 14 accuracy or rather the legitimacy and validity of costs claimed…there is a huge difference…,” he said.

OGGN in its letter reminded that it had proposed a Gross-SplitModel to replace the lopsided Production Sharing Agreement with ExxonMobil. This alternative would allow for Guyana to receive 55 out of every 100 barrels of oil produced offshore and would eliminate the need for time-consuming audits which are complex and costly.

MONDAY Gas-to-Energy project in limbo – Former EPA Head …since one year later, Exxon yet to make FID, loans for NGL & power plants still pending Former Head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Vincent Adams believes the highly touted Gas-to-Energy (GTE) project is in limbo, as the American oil giant, ExxonMobil is yet to make a Final Investment Decision (FID) and the government of Guyana (GoG) is still trying to secure funding from the United States Export Import (US-EXIM) Bank to fund the 300-megawatt power plant and the Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility.

The GTE project is geared towards generating cheaper and cleaner electricity. Gas from the Liza One and Liza Two fields in the Stabroek Block will be piped to shore to be used at the Wales, West Bank Demerara facilities which are yet to be constructed.

O n S u n d a y, t h i s publication reported that Exxon received a Permit for the pipeline component of the project since November 25, 2022; however, a year later, the company is still to announce an FID. This is a crucial stage in mega energy projects as it’s the final stage to decide whether to go ahead with the project or not.

In other terms, it is the final stage to determine if the investment in the project would be beneficial or not.

Before investing such an enormous amount in the project, the company or group of companies assesses all possible outcomes, including the capital required to execute the p r o j e c t s u c c e s s f u l l y.

Former EPA Head, Dr. Vincent Adams Likewise, it’s the phase for the investors to calculate the project’s financial viability and put their money into it.

After assessing those factors, project owners or investors agree to either go ahead with the funding or back out. If the budget is sanctioned and investors decide to move forward with the project, it is known as FID. In an exclusive interview with Kaieteur News, Dr. Adams, a Petroleum and Environmental Engineer, said such a key step should have already been completed for the massive project. He believes the lack of an FID and failure by government to secure funding from the USEXIM Bank for the project questions the feasibility of the facility.

Despite calls for a thorough independent study to be completed to determine the project’s viability, government is adamant that this is not necessary.

The former EPA boss reasoned, “If this here has been touted as being so economical and lucrative, why wouldn’t an investor quickly jumped on it? It goes back to what type of business plan or models the investors are seeing. Are they uncomfortable with what they are seeing?”

He was keen to note that the cost of the project has now more than doubled from its initial estimate of about US$500 million, but government is still convinced that the cost of electricity will be slashed by 50 percent. Dr. Adams said, “It could mean that it doesn’t look that lucrative to the investors with the cost and returns.”

He argued that the project was described as a “ n o - b r a i n e r ” b y Vi c e President, Bharrat Jagdeo, however, investors today do not seem convinced. “Why

aren’t they getting on board?

What’s wrong with the business plan when the VP has been touting this as the best thing since slice bread?

He is saying that electricity will be cut by 50% but it’s now turning out that investors might not be able to make money if that’s the price of electricity, they are probably saying we are not gonna get a good return,” he said.

Dr. Adams concluded that the project could be in limbo as investors often shy away from uncertainties. He referenced the fact that two Guyanese women have appealed the ruling of the High Court not to quash the Permit to Exxon, even though it was determined that the EPA acted “illegally” by allowing to project to commence without adherence to the regulations.

According to him, “When they see that there is something wrong here in terms of legal issues and those types of things, they are gonna be spooked. They are not going to want to get into a situation where they put their money in to invest and it becomes held up in Court and cannot make any

money.”

He said the current state of the project with the Permit being legally challenged and government failing to secure financing for the other components leaves enough space for uncertainty.

C o n s e q u e n t l y, t h e former EPA head stated, “Investors are never gonna want to enter into that arena where you have so much controversy with a lawsuit and so.”

He was keen to note that government has contributed significantly to the delay in the project that could potentially be beneficial to the country. He explained that a feasibility study, as required under the 2016 Petroleum Agreement with Exxon could have allowed for not only greater investor confidence, but support from Guyanese as well, since several stakeholders are still questioning the outcome of the project.

Moreover, Dr. Adams contended that the EPA failed to adhere to the Environmental Act in the granting of the Permit to the oil company, hence the matter is still now before the Appellate Court.

Venezuela would not escape sanctions if it violates ICJ order -AG While what will happen after December 03, 2023, when Venezuela holds its much-publicised referendum may be the question on the minds of many Guyanese, Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall sought to reassure citizens that it is likely that Venezuela would have to face sanctions if it violates any order from the

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International Court of Justice (ICJ) and annex Guyana’s Essequibo County.

In response to a question from a student during a panel discussion held at The Bishops’ High School on Friday last, the AG reminded citizens that the Government of Guyana has approached the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for protective measures.

Nandlall noted while Venezuela can go ahead with the vote, acting on it is something totally different.

“Let us for a moment interpret the tone and tannery of Delcy Rodriquez, Vice President of Venezuela, to mean that they will not obey the Court’s process… not obeying the Court’s order is striking at the heart of international law, norm and legal order… they will be violating a World Court Order,” he said.

The AG stressed that the ICJ is a Court that doesn’t stand alone but stand as the judicial enforcement agency o f t h e l a rg e s t g l o b a l organization on earth – the UN. “There is no court that would not have the ability to enforce its own order. If you go to our High Court and you violate a court order, the judge has the power to jail you. Now translate that to the International Court of Justice, the very summit of the hierarchal structure of the legal order of the world; it is unimaginable that the violation of an order of that court will go without sanctions,” the Attorney General said.

Former Foreign Affairs Minister and Guyana’s Agent on the border case before the ICJ, Carl Greenidge in his response, to the question said while “We

Panelist: International Relations Expert, Guyanese Professor Dr. Mark Kirton, Attorney General Anil Nandlall SC and Guyana's agent on border controversy case Carl Greenidge

don’t know what (will happen). Guyana has to confirm to international law. “ W e h a v e responsibilities, we have to protect our interest and that is what we will do…It is likely from what Venezuela said that they will continue with the referendum… the key thing is that at the level of the UN and of the Court it was made clear that they [ Ve n e z u e l a ] a r e n o t empowered to act on whatever comes out of the referendum,” Greenidge added.

Venezuela’s December 3 referendum essentially seeks to authorise the government of the Bolivarian Republic to embark on the annexation of Guyana’s resource-rich Essequibo region and to create a state within that country.

Venezuela has already said, through its Vice President that moves to the ICJ, where the matter has been referred for review, by Guyana to stop the referendum in its current form will not deter the December 03 vote.

TUESDAY New Canadian gold company wants to build wharf, airstrip for operations Reunion Gold, the Canadian-company holding an estimated 4.2 million ounces of gold in Guyana’s Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), has submitted its project summary for the Oko We s t G o l d P r o j e c t Development Phase, to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The comprehensive document outlines development, operations, and closure stages and its plans for an alternative wharf in the Essequibo River and an airstrip to support its operations. The company anticipates its preproduction phase to span from September 2025 to December 2026, with operational activities projected to extend from 2027 to 2039/41.

In a strategic move, the company favours developing a new port of entry on the Essequibo River over using the existing Georgetown port, aiming to facilitate importation.

The company stated, “The Project has considered two alternatives for (Continued on page 16)

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From page 15 importation of materials and equipment into Guyana from foreign ports: use of the existing port of entry in Georgetown, and development of a new port of entry outside of Georgetown.”

To this end the company said, “The preferred alternative is the development of a new port of entry outside of Georgetown. The proposed port of entry wharf and staging area will be developed on the Essequibo River. Reunion will develop the wharf and staging area facility and the Government of Guyana will establish port authority operations at the facility to facilitation importation approvals. Four preliminary candidate sites have been identified for the port of entry wharf and staging area.”

A d d i t i o n a l l y, p l a n s include the construction of a 1,000-meter airstrip for gold export, personnel transport, and emergencies.

Reunion said, “An airstrip will be constructed in the Project area. A number of alternative locations are currently being considered.

The airstrip will be designed to accommodate airplanes up to the size of a Twin-Otter or Caravan…”

Notably, the company added that an average of three or four flights per week is anticipated; these will occur during daylight hours, as the airstrip will not be lit.

The Oko West Gold Project, spanning the Cuyuni-Mazaruni Mining Districts, is currently accessible via Itabali jetty, and roads are under assessment. Reunion Gold plans to import supplies to Georgetown or the proposed Essequibo River port, estimating 15 to 20 trucks daily for mine essentials.

With a 100 percent interest in the Prospect License, covering 4,400 hectares, Reunion Gold received the Prospect License (PL) issued in September 2022 by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), f o l l o w i n g t h e relinquishment of eleven medium-scale mining permits held by two Guyanese entrepreneurs with whom Reunion had signed agreements.

Recently, the company shared promising drilling updates, revealing an initial mineral resource estimate of 2,475,000 ounces of gold in

Figure 1-7 Preliminary Candidate Sites for Proposed Port of Entry Wharf and Staging Area indicated resources and 1,762,000 ounces in inferred resources.

Several Canadian gold mining companies, including OMAI, have shown interest in Guyana’s mining industry. OMAI, which produced over 3.7 million ounces of gold in the past, is making a comeback in Guyana with a prospecting licence.

Guyana Goldfields Inc., led by a Chinese consortium, is another major player in the Guyanese mining sector.

However, the country has experienced declines in annual gold declarations since 2017, despite billions in incentives given to the industry.

Efforts have been made to request the release of mining contracts from the Government of Guyana, particularly large-scale contracts, as per Guyana’s commitment to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). Despite these requirements, the administration has been slow to disclose these agreements.

Reunion previously engaged in manganese exploration in Matthews Ridge but has since shifted focus to gold.

Guyana treading dangerous path by ignoring experts’ advice on management of oil sector- Dr. Vincent Adams As a new petroleum producer, Guyana’s oil and gas sector is constantly under scrutiny by independent international experts. These experts

oftentimes offer recommendations to this nation for the prudent management of its resources, using the perils of other nations as cautionary tales this nation should avoid.

In response, the Government of Guyana (GoG) has been dismissive and has so far refused to heed the suggestions proffered by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Commonwealth and even the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) just to name a few.

Though the government has accepted on numerous occasions that it lacks the necessary capacity, it is determined to manage the sector as a “one-man show”.

This is according to former head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Vincent Adams.

In a recent interview with this publication, Dr. Adams, a Petroleum and Environmental Engineer said this nation is treading a dangerous path by ignoring the advice from these experts on the prudent management of its oil resources.

ExxonMobil Guyana Limited, the operator of the Stabroek Block, has unlocked an estimated 11 billion barrels of oil offshore Guyana. The discoveries are however tied to what is now

known across the industry as the “worst oil deal”.

Consequently, a number of experts have offered suggestions to ensure Guyanese enjoy the benefits from their patrimony.

According to Dr. Adams, “What is playing out is very irresponsible governance and it all comes down again to accountability and the sad part of Guyana is its politics...it’s clear that there is no accountability and I say it’s clear because we hear it coming from (Vice President Bharrat) Jagdeo and all the rest of them that we do not have the capacity, but what are they doing to even build the capacity?”

He argued that a responsible government, that is truly focused on the development of its country would have been taking note of the experts’ advice to improve the lives of their people, currently living on no more than $1,000 per day according to the most recent World Bank findings. To this end, he warned, “We are heading down a path here that is not good for the country and the reason is because they (government) can get away with it. There is no accountability whatsoever that they need to worry about so that’s how they are governing.”

The former EPA boss pointed out that there seems to be no strategic plan by the

Sunday December 03, 2023

administration as there continues to be talk of new projects daily, like the Gasto-Energy initiative. He was keen to note that while the project can be beneficial, the government took office and decided to spend billions without first conducting a feasibility study. As a result, D r. A d a m s b e l i e v e s investors are unsure about their returns and have withheld a Final Investment Decision.

In January this year, it was reported that President Irfaan Ali downplayed the advice of Commonwealth and the IMF when he was faced with questions from this newspaper.

The Commonwealth Secretariat, of which Guyana is a member country, had issued a report that warns of the various ways oil producing nations can be robbed by petroleum companies when it comes to decommissioning or cleaning up the environment, following the life of an offshore project.

Despite this, President Irfaan Ali said he will not respond to any question on advice given by the agency.

Additionally, he was told that several oil experts and international bodies have criticized the way his administration is managing the petroleum sector and the IMF had warned that Guyana should cap the interest rate on the oil companies to avoid them robbing the country.

The IMF said it is an industry norm that the Government of the day disallows interests from being recovered on loans.

Even if this is allowed, the administration sets a cap or limit to prevent the full interest amount from being recovered.

The IMF pointed out that

Guyana not only allows the recovery of the interest but also sets no cap. Guyana has also waived its right to tax such interest amounts.

Similarly, the President was told that the Commonwealth also issued advice to the country, but before the question was completed, he interrupted and requested that the direct quote be pulled from the reports.

A senior journalist attempted to respond to the President however he said, “Well, I can’t answer you.

You quote directly for me…quote for me what the IMF said in relation to Guyana. I will answer you directly. Then also, the Commonwealth, there are many oil experts also who are writing about the performance of Guyana who have lauded the Government of Guyana for the way we are handling the oil and gas sector for our work in terms of utilizing the administrative mechanisms for work in the new (Production Sharing Agreement) PSA, for our work in going out to auction on the new (oil) blocks, so what is it you want? What is it we want exactly?”

The Director of financial analysis at IEEFA, Tom Sanzillo has compiled a number of reports on Guyana, however VP Jagdeo has not only dismissed those but has questioned the integrity of the agency during multiple press conferences.

WEDNESDAY Oil Company must handle all costs without limitation for oil spills in Belize-contract Belize, one of the world’s (Continued on page 68)

Former EPA Head, Dr. Vincent Adams

Sunday December 03, 2023

Kaieteur News

s l l a f r e t a W

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The

Owner of Tootie Fruities, Mandy Field

A Sweet Symphony of Passion, Innovation, and Dedication

Camille’s Academy cops top GMSA award for facilitating safe learning via online platforms during COVID-19

Five members of the Board of Directors at Camille’s Academy: From left: Mr. Rabby Gorakh, CEO Mrs. Camille Deokie-Gorakh, Mrs. Polly Ragnauth, Ms. Kamini Latchman, and Dr. Vishnu Doerga

Sunday December 03, 2023

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CLIMATE CHANGE REALITIES AT COP28: A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT

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

The Climate Change meeting in Dubai – COP28 – which is currently in progress, is enveloped in hype, yet expectations of transformational change are misplaced.

Industrialized countries, major greenhouse gas emitters, along with developing oil and gas producers like India and Saudi Arabia, often offer misleading statements.

Countries like Canada and the European Union, despite their vocal commitment to climate change, frequently fall short in fulfilling their pledges.

That, regrettably, is the way of the world. This status quo, particularly among rich nations, will continue as they get richer, protecting fossil fuel producers and disadvantaging developing countries, especially small island states, even as the latter countries suffer the worst climate change effects.

The economic divide between developed and developing countries has been further exacerbated since the 2020 global COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war. In the US and the EU, for instance, we’ve seen a significant rise in workers’ real wages. Reports indicate that in the US, average weekly earnings have notably increased since 2019, and in the EU, federalgovernment employees in Germany are expecting wage hikes of up to 16.9% next year.

This economic growth in developed regions, however, often comes at a cost to developing countries. It’s driven not only by internal policy but also by exerting control over international markets and financial institutions. The US and the EU, by protecting their agroindustrial sectors and imposing unequal trade agreements, gain access to markets in developing countries. Moreover, their dominance in institutions

like the IMF and World Bank results in conditional financing for developing nations, impeding their ability to enhance production capacities and competitiveness.

This economic strategy not only widens the wealth gap but also contributes significantly to climate change, as the agroindustrial systems of the US and the EU are among its largest contributors.

Additionally, the oil and gas companies exert considerable political power in the US, the EU, and Canada, influencing policies through various means.

These companies resist measures like carbon taxes to minimize their tax burdens, thereby expanding fossil fuel production, multiplying their profits, and worsening climate change.

COP28’s propaganda will portray promises as progress, despite little action to mitigate the impacts on developing countries.

Te l l i n g l y, t h e U . N .

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) found that the world is likely to surpass the 1.5 degrees Celsius warming limit by the early 2030s, leading to extreme, unadaptable climate disasters and fundamentally altering the Earth system. Heatwaves, famines, and diseases could claim millions more lives by the end of the century.

Thus, the real task at COP28, beyond mere “stocktaking,” is to establish legally binding rules for significant carbon emission reductions. Unfortunately, this is unlikely.

Industrialized nations and fossil fuel-dependent countries, including coal producers, won’t agree to binding commitments. Talk, promises, and pledges are easy and cheap.

The ‘loss and damage fund,’ a critical topic at COP28, is shrouded in

misinformation. Advocates from small island states have tirelessly championed this fund, facing significant challenges.

Their struggle is evident when considering the power dynamics of past COP meetings. For instance, wealthier countries like China can send a large delegation, such as the 233 delegates at COP15, vastly o u t n u m b e r i n g representatives from smaller nations like Haiti and Chad, who could only send seven and three delegates, respectively.

Moreover, the influence of fossil fuel companies cannot be overlooked. These companies unite to exert considerable sway over the negotiations, deploying numerous lobbyists and even distributing briefing papers to support their positions.

Alliances, like the Association of Small Island States, lack the numbers or expertise to negotiate effectively across multiple simultaneous committees.

African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries might have better chances if they coordinate mechanisms and share negotiation responsibilities, but they don’t.

At COP27, after years of advocacy, the concept of establishing a loss and damage fund was agreed, but its activation was delayed a w a i t i n g “recommendations” from a “transition” committee dominated by industrialized nations. Five meetings, including a hurried one in November 2023, were held to reach a grudging consensus on the C o m m i t t e e ’ s recommendations for COP28, where nations are said to have agreed its terms on the first day of the meeting, but delivery is yet to be judged.

One reluctant recommendation is that the

World Bank, distrusted by developing countries due to its policies largely set by the US and the EU, should run the fund.

An African NGO, Power Shift Africa, declared the initial funding pledges “clearly inadequate” and the US pledge “embarrassing.”

Of the $429 million pledged, the EU promised $245 million, the UK $75 million, and the US $10 million.

Therefore, while hoping for an adequate and effective loss and damage fund, especially for small island states, I remain cautious.

The world is likely to surpass the 1.5 degrees target by the early 2030s, leading to extreme climate disasters beyond adaptation. The Washington Post found that countries are underreporting their greenhouse gas emissions, likely 16 to 23

percent higher than reported. Clearly, r e l y i n g o n inadequate funds in a loss and damage fund is unrealistic.

The funds simply will not match the pace of damage and losses that continues to be inflicted.

Without radical change, matters will worsen.

The UN Secretary General has called for the phasing out of coal, oil, and gas, responsible for over three-quarters of global emissions, but there’s little sign of this happening.

Developing countries’ best hope lies in applying collective pressure to push for action.

The world has the scientific knowledge and resources to curb climate change; the damage can’t be fully reversed but it can be

Sir Ronald Sanders halted, if the industrialized countries apply the necessary political will.

H o w e v e r, d e v e l o p i n g countries should not expect industrialized countries to act without pressure. It is up to the developing counties to build such pressure.

They should pool resources to develop and deploy joint strategies to cause industrialised nations to act.The Alliance for Small Island States should begin the work to create such a platform for cooperation.

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

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The rebirth center presents: Guyana Laff Aff - Linden Edition Linden is set to come alive on Sunday 3rd December, 2023 as the rebirth center presents: Guyana Laff Aff - Linden Edition, featuring a plethora of prominent Guyanese Kings of Comedy such as Lyndon ‘Jumbie’ Jones, Chris Gopaul, Kirk “Chow Pow” Jardine, Mark Luke-Edwards, Michael Ignatius and Kwasi “Ace” Edmonson.

The Rebirth Center is a local non-profit organization (NGO) that was established by Mr. Andre Wiltshire with the primary goal of offering support to existing institutions that provide support to Guyanese citizens in the fields of mental wellness and substance abuse disorders.

They also conduct interventions

especially with those citizens who are afflicted with such and reach out for assistance. The “Guyana Laff Aff ‘’ comedy series is the first of the center’s fundraising initiatives to aid in offsetting operational costs as well as to raise awareness about pertinent social issues plaguing our society today.

The show will be held at the Lichas Hall, Linden, on Sunday 3rd December, 2023 and starts at 19:00 hrs. So be sure to bring out the entire family, your sense of humour and your funny bones! Early bird tickets cost GYD$2000.00 and are available at the Muslim Top Up Shop, in front of LEN Building.

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Sunday December 03, 2023

g stin s... e r e e r Int eatu Cr

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Drosophila melanogaster

Drosophila melanogaster is a species of fly (the taxonomic order Diptera) in the family. The species is known generally as the common fruit fly or vinegar fly. Starting with Charles W. Woodworth’s proposal of the use of this species as a model organism, D. melanogaster continues to be widely used for biological research in g e n e t i c s , p h y s i o l o g y, microbial pathogenesis, and life history evolution. As of 2017, Six Nobel prizes had been awarded for research u s i n g Drosophila.https://www.kai eteurnewsonline.com/image s/2020/06/Fruit-Fly.jpg Drosophila melanogaster is typically used in research owing to its rapid life cycle, relatively simple genetics

with only four pairs of chromosomes, and large number of offspring per generation. It was originally an African species, with all non-African lineages having a common origin. Its geographic range includes all continents, including islands. This fly species is a common pest in homes, restaurants, and other places where food is served.

Flies belonging to the family Tephritidae are also called “fruit flies”. This can cause confusion, especially i n th e M ed i t e r r an e an , Australia, and South Africa, where the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata is an economic pest.

Wild type fruit flies are yellow-brown, with brickred eyes and transverse black

rings across the abdomen.

The brick-red colour of the eyes of the wild type fly is due to two pigments.

Xanthommatin, which is brown and is derived from tryptophan, and drosopterins, which are red and are derived from guanosine triphosphate.

They exhibit sexual dimorphism; females are about 2.5 mm (0.10 in) long; males are slightly smaller with darker backs. Males are easily distinguished from females based on colour differences, with a distinct black patch at the abdomen, less noticeable in recently emerged flies, and the sex combs (a row of dark bristles on the tarsus of the first leg).

Furthermore, males have a cluster of spiky hairs

(claspers) surrounding the reproducing parts used to attach to the female during mating.

Under optimal growth conditions at 25 °C (77 °F), the D. melanogaster lifespan is about 50 days from egg to death.

The developmental period for D. melanogaster varies with temperature, as with many ectothermic species. The shortest development time (egg to adult), 7 days, is achieved at 28 °C (82 °F).

Development times increase at higher temperatures (11 days at 30 °C or 86 °F) due to heat stress. Under ideal conditions, the development time at 25 °C (77 °F) is 8.5 days, at 18 °C (64 °F) it takes

Drosophila melanogaster

19 days and at 12 °C (54 °F) it takes over 50 days. Under crowded conditions, development time increases, while the emerging flies are smaller. Females lay some 400 eggs (embryos), about five at a time, into rotting fruit or other suitable material such as decaying mushrooms and sap fluxes.

D. melanogaster is a

holometabolous insect, so it undergoes a full metamorphosis.

Their life cycle is broken down into 4 stages: embryo, larva, pupa, adult. The eggs, which are about 0.5 mm long, hatch after 12–15 hours (at 25 °C or 77 °F).

The resulting larvae grow for about 4 days (at 25 °C) (Continued on page 54)

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This week in History Gas leak in Bhopal, India Nelson led to death of thousands Mandela died at the age of 95 years The Union Carbide Plant before the explosion

December 3 On this day in 1984, a gas leak from a union carbide plant in Bhopal, India, spread over a populated area, resulting ultimately in 15,000 to 20,000 deaths and leaving some half million survivors with chronic medical ailments. Considered the world’s worst industrial disaster, over 500,000 people in the small towns around the plant were exposed to the highly toxic gas methyl isocyanate.

Estimates vary on the death toll, with the official number of immediate deaths being 2,259.

In 2008, the Government of Madhya Pradesh paid compensation to the family members of 3,787 victims killed in the gas release, and to 574,366 injured victims.[ A government affidavit in 2006 stated that the leak caused 558,125 injuries, including 38,478 temporary partial injuries and approximately 3,900 severely and

permanently disabling injuries. Others estimate that 8,000 died within two weeks, and another 8,000 or more have since died from gas-related diseases.

The owner of the factory, UCIL, was majority owned by the Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) of the United States, with Indian government-controlled banks and the Indian public holding a 49.1 percent stake.

In 1989, UCC paid $470 million (equivalent to $970 million in 2022) to settle litigation stemming from the disaster. In 1994, UCC sold its stake in UCIL to Eveready Industries India Limited (EIIL), which subsequently merged with McLeod Russel (India) Ltd. Eveready ended clean-up on the site in 1998, when it terminated its 99year lease and turned over control of the site to the state government of Madhya Pradesh.

Dow Chemical Company purchased UCC in 2001, seventeen years after the disaster.

Suriname’s politician and first Prime Minister Henck Arron died December 4 On December 4 2000, Surinamese politician Henck Arron, who helped Suriname gain its independence (1975) from the Netherlands and served as prime minister (1973–80) until being overthrown by the military, died at age 64.

A member of the National Party of Suriname, he served from 24 December 1973 with the transition government, to 25 February 1980. He was overthrown in a coup d’état by the military, led by Dési Bouterse.

Released in 1981 after charges of corruption were dropped, he returned to banking, his previous career. In 1987, Arron was elected as Vice President of Suriname and served until another coup in 1990 overthrew the government.

Arron was born in Paramaribo in 1936.

He completed high school in 1956, and moved to the Netherlands to study banking.

Arron worked several years at the Amsterdamsche Bank. On return to Suriname, he became staff member at the Ve r v u u r t s B a n k ( c u r r e n t n a m e Hakrinbank).[3] In late 1963, he became deputy director of the Volkskredietbank (People’s Credit Union).

On 24 December 1973, Arron became

Surinamese politician Henck Arron prime minister, and lead the final negotiation for the independence of Suriname. The NPS found an ally in the Dutch PvdA who wanted independence as soon as possible.[5] In February 1974, Arron announced that Suriname would be seeking independence before the end of 19.

December 5 Party’s white-only government established Nelson Mandela South African anti- apartheid, a system of racial segregation that apartheid leader and politician who served as privileged whites, Mandela and the ANC the first president of South Africa died at the committed themselves to its overthrow. age of 95 years in December 2013. He was the He was appointed president of the ANC’s country’s first black head of state and the Transvaal branch, rising to prominence first elected in a fully representative for his involvement in the 1952 democratic election. His Defiance Campaign and the 1955 government focused on Congress of the People. dismantling the legacy of He was repeatedly arrested apartheid by fostering racial for seditious activities and reconciliation. Ideologically was unsuccessfully an African nationalist and prosecuted in the 1956 socialist, he served as the Treason Trial. Influenced by president of the African Marxism, he secretly joined South Africa’s National Congress (ANC) party the banned South African first President from 1991 to 1997.

Communist Party (SACP).

A Xhosa, Mandela was born Nelson Mandela Although initially committed to into the Thembu royal family in Mvezo, non-violent protest, in association with South Africa. He studied law at the University the SACP he co-founded the militant of Fort Hare and the University of uMkhonto we Sizwe in 1961 and led a Witwatersrand before working as a lawyer in sabotage campaign against the government.

Johannesburg. There he became involved in He was arrested and imprisoned in 1962, and, anti-colonial and African nationalist politics, following the Rivonia Trial, was sentenced to joining the ANC in 1943 and co-founding its life imprisonment for conspiring to Youth League in 1944. After the National overthrow the state.

The bust of Nefertiti was discovered in Egypt December 6 On 6 December 1912, the bust of Nefertiti was discovered during excavations at Tell elAmarna, Egypt; the sculpture later went on display in a Berlin museum, and it became a source of controversy as an alleged plundered artifact.

The Nefertiti Bust is a painted stucco-coated limestone bust of Nefertiti, the Great Royal Wife of Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaten.

The work is believed to have been crafted in 1345 BCE by Thutmose because it was found in his workshop in Tell-el Amarna, Egypt. It is one of the most-copied

works of ancient Egypt.

Nefertiti has become one of the most famous women of the ancient world and an icon of feminine beauty.

The Nefertiti bust has become not only a defining emblem of ancient Egypt, but also a symbol of the grave impact that European colonialism has had on Egypt’s history and culture.

It has been the subject of an intense argument between Egypt and Germany over Egyptian demands for its repatriation, which began in 1924, once the bust was first displayed to the public, and more generally it fuelled discussions over the role museums play in undoing colonialism. Today, Egypt

The bust of Nefertiti continues to demand the repatriation of the bust, whereas German officials and the Berlin Museum assert their ownership by citing an official protocol, signed by the German excavators and the Frenchled Egyptian Antiquities Service of the time

American naval base Pearl Harbor came under attack by the Japanese A memorial erected to mark the attack on Pearl Harbor

December 7 The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service upon the United States against the U.S. Naval base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii, just before 8:00 a.m. (local time) on Sunday, (Continued on page 55)

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Local artiste Azar to drop his new hit “One Night Stand” early next year Early in 2024, local artiste Azar plans to release a new single titled ‘One Night Stand,’ a song which he says will catch the attention of his fans and anyone who is within listening distance of the track.

Azar, whose music has been making the rounds on social media in recent months, decided to name the hit ‘One Night Stand,’ after listening to other people’s experiences. He said the single is a mixture of the dancehall and pop genres.

“I wrote this song after hearing some stories about people lives and their experiences, so I said you know there are people out there who gonna relate to it,” he told The Waterfalls magazine.

He said one of the experiences came

about after listening to one of his friends who was part of the cast for the video for his hit single “Fuego.” He said something unfortunate happened soon after the closing of the song’s production.

“It is really funny cause we were shooting one of my recent projects called Fuego and you know it was a full out party, everyone was enjoying the vibes,” he said.

Azar said the young woman “had a blast” and soon after the song was released, she told the crew that she “just had a break up.”

He said after hearing her story, he thought through the idea of a song and then he combined the experiences of others. He quickly grabbed his pen and

put lyrics to paper.

“It is scheduled to drop in the New Year because we are still working on the video and finalizing business side of things,” he said.

Azar’s songs are usually of the R&B genre. But this one is different. “It is not the regular sound you usually hear from me,” he said. Shooting for the video for “One Night Stand” will be done at various places in Guyana. “It’s going to be like a movie,” Azar said, adding “it will be real high-quality production maybe my biggest one yet.”

Fans can look out for the single on his Facebook page-Azar Music- or on Instagram- Azar Lalljee. The hit will also be on his YouTube channel, Azar.

Local artiste Azar says he will drop the single “One Night Stand” early in 2024.

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Sherriff Group presents popular radio host with $2M cheque after she was robbed by shoddy contractor Days after a video surfaced on the social media of popular media personality, Feliz Robertson detailing her harrowing experience with a shoddy contractor who shafted her out of approximately $4 million which she advanced him to construct her home, Sherriff Group of Companies has stepped in to help.

The company on Wednesday presented Robertson with a cheque of $2 million to assist with the construction. Due to the subpar work from the contractor, Robertson found herself in need of significant repairs to her home.

The radio host spoke candidly about an

ordeal with a contractor who left her with dashed dreams of building her own home.

In a release, the company stated that Sheriff Group of Companies is seeking to make a positive impact in the life of a respected broadcaster. Upon learning of Robertson’s ordeal, the release explained that the Managing Director of the Sheriff Group, Ameir Ahmad, was deeply moved by her story and the outstanding contributions she has made to her media landscape.

In a heartwarming gesture, he immediately pledged and contributed $2 million to assist Feliz in restoring her home.

(Continued on page 43)

At Left: Director of Public Affairs and Community Engagement at Sheriff Group, Janelle Persaud hands Radio Host, Feliz Robertson a cheque valued at $2M

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Sherriff Group presents popular radio host with $2M cheque after...

From page 33 On Wednesday, Director of Public Affairs and Community Engagement, Janelle Persaud, had the privilege of meeting Ms. Robertson to hand over the cheque on behalf of Sheriff Group.

“We believe in the power of unity and supporting each other during challenging times, and we’re honoured to stand by Feliz in her time of need,” Sheriff Group said in a statement.

On Sunday, Robertson posted a video on her social

media page explaining that she advanced the man (name given) $4 million from a loan that she had taken from the bank to build her home.

However, shortly after the money was advanced, Robertson said that the contractor disappeared with the money for two months and even stopped paying his workers.

Robertson said that she eventually tracked him down and he promised to rectify the problem since he claimed he could not refund her money. Nevertheless, the

situation worsened because not only did the contractor fail to complete the work, but the work he did on the building was deemed faulty and substandard by an engineer who examined the building.

As a result, the radio presenter filed a fraud report against the contractor to the police.

Robertson was appalled that as a single mother, she was taken aback that the contractor would do such a thing to her. She lamented: “This guy tell the police he

gon pay me back and he ain’t pay me back yet...”

The popular media personality therefore used the opportunity to appeal to the Guyanese public to operate with due diligence and do background checks on contractors before hiring them.

“Guyana y’all be careful with these contractors, you are building and you’re renovating go and see what these men have done before, talk to the people they have worked for before…,”she said.

Managing Director of the Sheriff Group, Ameir Ahmad

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GNBS IN FOCUS

RELY ON PRODUCT LABELS FOR GUIDANCE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON I

t is already the final month of the year, and even as the nation collectively faces a b o r d e r c o n t r o v e r s y, customary shopping during this holiday season is also at the forefront of citizens’ minds. As December progresses, shopping lists are growing longer with gifts and household items required to make this period a joyous one, and businesses are extending great deals to entice customers. Whether you are a consumer or purchasing items for resale, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) encourages shoppers to read product labels to guarantee longer lasting products.

As a consumer protection body, the GNBS believes that, by taking a few moments to pause and

carefully read the product labels prior to purchasing, consumers can really safeguard themselves.

Labels are intended to guide consumers by providing key information on the products they intend to purchase.

A well-labelled product informs consumers of their choices and ultimately gives guidance as to the product quality and its monetary worth. Labels state how to care for a product and what that product contains. They also provide the necessary warning and precautionary information about products to help ensure the health and safety of users.

Additionally, with labels, consumers are not left to ponder on what they are buying, what it is used for, how it is used, or what it is

made. Outside of the assistance of the seller, labels are essential to answer crucial questions consumers may have regarding products. The GNBS, through its Product Compliance Programme, monitors the labelling of seventeen (17) categories of products based on several mandatory labelling standards. Products imported, manufactured and distributed in Guyana are required to be in compliance with these standards which include the Guyana Standard Specification for the labelling of commodities – Part 1: General Principles.

The General Principles standard stipulates that product labels be printed in English Language and should state the brand, type

of product, name of manufacturer or distributor, country of origin, and necessary information on care, maintenance, and precautions for use.

Other product labelling standards available at the GNBS include standards for the labelling of electrical appliances, labelling of footwear and the labelling of furniture. They provide information that is specific to the product, for example labels of electrical appliances should have details on voltage, hertz, model and serial numbers, and a certification mark which is an indicator of q u a l i t y. S i m i l a r l y, cellphones should be labelled new, used or refurbished while toys should indicate age appropriateness, materials

used in manufacturing, etc.

Aside from paying attention to labels, as you go about your busy shopping this holiday, ensure you always collect a receipt, ask for a warranty and remember not to compromise quality for quantity. Consumers are encouraged to seek advice and redress from the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (CCAC) if any issues are

encountered with purchases and no redress is provided by the seller.

For further information on this subject, please contact the GNBS Product Compliance Department on Telephone Numbers: 2190065, 219-0066 and 2190069 of WhatsApp: 6924627. Please visit our website: www.gnbsgy.org and like our Facebook page: gnbsgy.

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Sunday December 03, 2023

The Jaden Foundation to distribute 150 hampers to families with special needs children this Christmas

Michelle Playter-Kennedy and her husband John and her sons, Justin and Jaden

T

h e J a d e n Foundation is keeping its tradition of spreading cheer during the festive season by donating food and medical supplies to the parents and guardians of children with special needs.

Founder of the non-profit Michelle Playter-Kennedy, knows all too well the challenges that come with taking care of a child or children with special needs, particularly during the holiday season, given her experience taking care of her own son, Jaden.

Playter-Kennedy explained that this is the 4th year that the Jaden

Foundation is partnering with donors to help meet the needs of these families.

The model and Guyanese beauty ambassador said that this year, the foundation will donate 150 hampers of food and medical supplies to these families. She said that the Foundation extended assistance to elderly persons who are in need.

O n S a t u r d a y, t h e foundation kicked off its 4th distribution drive at the Midwest Medical Centre located at Nouvelle F l a n d e r s , We s t C o a s t Demerara.

Playter –Kennedy, who now resides in the US with her husband and two sons,

Members of the Jaden Foundation following a distribution exercise on Saturday.

said despite her often busy schedule as a model, mother and entrepreneur, she is still happy to play an active role in the foundation.

Said Playter –Kennedy ”I am a part of the Jaden foundation, it is the one that is closest to my heart, I have no regrets launching the foundation. I am happy to call it my number one project. Helping others is what I love to do, it’s the greatest and most fulfilling to me I love my son, Jaden and would always treat him as normal as possible and would encourage other parents especially mothers to do the same. It’s not an easy task but we have to take it

one day, one step at time and leave the rest up to God.” She added, “Our 4th year drive was a great success even though I now reside overseas, I am happy to still make the Jaden Foundation food hampers and medical supplies distribution possible with the help of the Jaden Foundation team and our generous supporters.”

She explained that the hampers of donated or sponsored food and medical supplies are set be distributed to a list of families who have children with disabilities, within the days leading up to Christmas.

“We did Bartica last year,

Georgetown the previous year and Kamuni Creek our first year in 2020,” she said.

Playter-Kennedy is particularly grateful to those who contributed to this year’s drive.

She noted that the sponsors include Team Mohamed, Gail and Charlie Da Silva of the Home Hardware store, Winston Brassington from the Consulting Group LLC, Dyna’s Embroidery, Isla Corlette from Sparkle supermarket in Berbice, Dr. Ravi & Nazalene Persaud from the Midwest Medical Centre.

The founder is especially grateful to her husband John

Kennedy whom she said is in full support of all that she does, especially the Jaden Foundation.

The Jaden’s Foundation, a new special needs organisation launched in 2020 seeks to be a voice for persons with disabilities of all kinds throughout Guyana.

Since the launch, the foundation hosted a number of drives and outreaches aimed at supporting families with children who have special challenges.

The foundation sponsors workshops and host drives to provide necessities such as food hampers, clothing, and medications to persons with disabilities.

Drosophila melanogaster From page 27 while moulting twice (into second- and third-instar larvae), at about 24 and 48 h after hatching.

During this time, they feed on the micro-organisms that decompose the fruit, as well as on the sugar of the fruit itself.

The mother puts faeces

on the egg sacs to establish the same microbial composition in the larvae’s guts that has worked positively for herself. Then the larvae encapsulate in the puparium and undergo a 4day-long metamorphosis (at 25 °C), after which the adults emerge.

The female fruit fly

prefers a shorter duration when it comes to sex. Males, though, prefer it to last longer. Males perform a sequence of five behavioural patterns to court females.

First, males orient themselves while playing a courtship song by horizontally extending and vibrating their wings. Soon after, the male positions himself at the rear of the female’s abdomen in a low posture to tap and lick the female genitalia.

Finally, the male curls his abdomen and attempts copulation. Females can reject males by moving away, kicking, and extruding their ovipositor. Copulation lasts around 15–20 minutes, during which males transfer a few hundred, very long (1.76 mm) sperm cells in seminal fluid to the female.

Females store the sperm in a tubular receptacle and in two mushroom-shaped spermathecae; sperm from multiple matings compete for fertilization.

A last male precedence is believed to exist; the last male to mate with a female sires about 80% of her offspring.

This precedence was found to occur through both displacement and incapacitation.

The displacement is attributed to sperm handling by the female fly as multiple matings are conducted and is most significant during the first 1–2 days after copulation. Displacement from the seminal receptacle is more significant than displacement from the spermathecae.

Incapacitation of first

male sperm by second male sperm becomes significant 2–7 days after copulation.

The seminal fluid of the second male is believed to be responsible for this incapacitation mechanism (without removal of first male sperm) which takes effect before fertilization occurs. The delay in effectiveness of the incapacitation mechanism is believed to be a protective mechanism that prevents a male fly from incapacitating his own sperm should he mate with the same female fly repetitively.

Sensory neurons in the uterus of female D. melanogaster respond to a male protein, sex peptide, which is found in semen.

This protein makes the female reluctant to copulate for about 10 days after

insemination.

The signal pathway leading to this change in behaviour has been determined.

The signal is sent to a brain region that is a homolog of the hypothalamus and the hypothalamus then controls sexual behaviour and desire.

Also, females exhibit mate choice copying.

When virgin females are shown other females copulating with a certain type of male, they tend to copulate more with this type of male afterwards than naive females (which have not observed the copulation of others).

This behaviour is sensitive to environmental conditions, and females copulate less in bad weather conditions.

Sunday December 03, 2023

Kaieteur News

This week in History American naval base Pearl Harbor...

From page 29 December 7, 1941. The United States was a neutral country at the time; the attack led the U.S. to formally enter World War II on the side of the Allies the following day. The Japanese military leadership referred to the attack as the Hawaii Operation and Operation AI, and as Operation Z during its planning.

The attack was preceded by months of negotiations between the U.S. and Japan over the future of the Pacific. Japanese demands included that the U.S. end its sanctions against Japan, cease aiding China in the Second Sino-Japanese war, and allow Japan to access the resources of the Dutch East Indies.

Anticipating a negative response from the

US, Japan sent out its naval attack groups in November 1941 just prior to receiving the Hull note—the U.S. demand that Japan withdraw from China and French Indochina.

Japan intended the attack as a preventive action.

Its aim was to prevent the United States Pacific Fleet from interfering with its planned military actions in Southeast Asia against overseas territories of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and those of the United States.

Over the course of seven hours there were coordinated Japanese attacks on the U.S.held Philippines, Guam, and Wake Island and on the British Empire in Malaya, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

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Kaieteur News

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Santa's Sleigh Junior page Has A Breakdown! DIY Upcycled

©Storyberries2011 What happens one Christmas, when Santa's sleigh has a breakdown?

We all know Santa's sleigh. Most of the pictures are just right –big, shiny red, sparkles and sleigh bells, golden sled runners AND gold reins for the reindeer.

BUT what you don't know is that Santa always takes one of the workshop elves with him. The workshop elf has two jobs- making sure that the right parcels are in Santa's sack AND to be ready with a hammer or a nail or a bit of magic dust if something goes wrong with the sleigh. It shouldn't, of course, but you never know!

Last year, I think it was last year, the golden sled runners were pulling far too right, slowing the sleigh down. It doesn't happen often, but they had to make a quick repair stop. Last year it was Edwin Elf on sleigh duty, and he knew exactly what to do.

“The sled runner on the left has to be shaved a tiny bit, so that they are both exactly the same.” “Do you have the tools?” Santa asked. This was slowing him down a lot.

Wallpaper Ornaments

“I always have the tools.”

Edwin opened his tiny toolbox and found a little golden hand plane. “This should do it, just a wee bit to make the runners exactly the same…” Edwin Elf was as quick as a flash. The reindeer didn't mind a short break – Santa did! Edwin Elf looked at the sled runner and saw the problem. “It'll need a complete repair in the workshop when we get back.

But a quick shave of the runner should get it right for tonight, and running straight again…” It didn't take a moment. Santa was pleased, but the reindeer wouldn't have minded a few minutes more…. Edwin Elf was finished in a twinkle of an eye. And, that's what happened last year, well, I think it was last year. Santa's sleigh was a tiny bit late, but

most children didn't notice.

The ONLY children who might have noticed were two children playing in their garden with their new toys on Christmas day. “Whatever is this?” The little boy picked up some shavings of golden wood lying in the winter grass. The little girl looked closer.

“Golden curly strips of wood?” She looked up into the sky. “I wonder where they came from?” Of course they never guessed. Would you?

But the little girl put those golden wood shavings into her treasure box. Those curls of gold twinkle in the dark like tiny Christmas stars…all year round. “Golden Christmas Magic…” the girl smiles. “I wonder who dropped you into our garden on Christmas Day?”

RY T E O P H T I FUN W

Celebrate and live together

By Uncle Roy We Guyanese are of different races, And we have as many religions; So we have always celebrated together All our sacred holidays as one.

Our Hindus observe Phagwah and Diwali, While our Christians have Christmas and Easter; Muslims worship at Eids Al Fitr and Al Adha, At these we always come happily together.

So let us learn to live at these times, Just as how we do when celebrate; Then our people will always prosper, And Guyana will be ever united and great.

Take advantage of old wallpaper scraps or buy a pack of your own to create these unique ornaments. Cut wallpaper into nine .5” x 10” strips. Poke three holes in each strip (top, middle and bottom). Thread a wooden bead onto a 10” piece of floral wire and wrap the wire around itself to secure. Next, add paper strips onto the wire through the center hole.

Thread each end of the bottom strip onto the wire. Move clockwise repeating with each strip until all ends are on the wire. Add on another wooden bead and make a loop of wire and wrap it around itself to secure. Tie a ribbon on top to hang.

Sunday December 03, 2023

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 03, 2023

PAGE 57

TEEN TIME

Keep your Brain functioning at its best with these various practices In our last issue we recommended a positive attitude will go a far way in training your brain to contribute to the proper development of your life.

We will now suggest ways by which you can keep it working at its maximum to

produce these results.

Firstly, just as physical exercise helps to keep your body healthy and able to carry out all that is necessary to keep it working to fulfil all your needs, just so regular exercise will work towards keep this

most vital part functioning at maximum capacity.

What is important to a student is that it increases self-esteem and selfconfidence, and increases growth in the memory centre of the brain.

Working out in the various forms will all contribute to a positive result – walking, weight-lifting, aerobics, pilates, as well as yoga.

Breathing exercises are especially beneficial in this regard, as they keep the brain well supplied with the oxygen that is vital for its efficient working, just as they do to the other parts of your body.

Conscious efforts at breathing deeply and regularly will make this more effective.

Relax and close your eyes while you tell yourself you are going to add vital

A STATE OF MIND If you think you are beaten, you are; If you think you dare not, you won't; If you like to win, but don't think you can, It's almost a cinch you won't.

If you think you'll lose, you're lost, For out in the world you'll find Success begins with a fellow's will; It's all in a state of mind.

energy every time you inhale deeply.

Yoga, which involves meditation and placing the body in various positions to facilitate this, is especially beneficial to the working of the brain, as it increases blood flow to the brain and improves awareness and memory.

Make a special effort at using these methods, and you will before long experience improvement in the working of your brain, as well as your entire personality.

Toto puzzles Each row and column contains four unique T shapes (four different orientations) and two Os. Ts should not form straight lines by touching other Ts. There is a unique solution.

For many a game is lost, Ere even a play is run, And many a coward fails, Ere even his work is begun.

Think big and your deeds will grow, Think small and you'll fall behind; Think that you can and you will, It's all a state of mind.

If you think you are out-classed, you are, You've got to think high to rise; You've got to be sure of yourself before You can ever win a prize.

Life battles don't always go To the stronger or faster man But sooner or later, the man who wins Is the fellow who thinks he can

Your brain, which is your greatest attribute, will benefit greatly from your positive efforts to improve it.

Solutions to last week’s 1 CHIMNEY 2 ELVES 3 JOLLY 4 SLED 5 NICE 6 NORTH POLE 7 TOYS 8 REINDEER 9 SLEIGH 10 RUDOLPH 11 LETTERS 12 PRESENTS 13 ST. NICK 14 WORKSHOP

Santa Cryptogram

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Best Natural Cough Remedies 1. Honey Honey is a time-honored remedy for a sore throat.

According to a 2018 reviewon the effects of honey on acute cough in children, researchers found that honey may relieve coughs more effectively than some OTC medications.

2. Probiotics Probiotics are microorganisms that can provide a host of health benefits. While they don't relieve a cough directly, they do help balance your gastrointestinal flora. Gastrointestinal flora are bacteria that live in your intestines.

3. Bromelain You don't usually think of pineapple as a cough remedy, but that might be because you've never heard of bromelain.

There's slight evidence to suggest that bromelain — an enzyme found only in the stem and fruit of pineapples — may help suppress coughs.To enjoy the most benefits of pineapple and bromelain, eat a slice of pineapple or drink 3.5 ounces of fresh pineapple juice three times a day.

4. Peppermint Peppermint leaves are well known for their healing properties.

Not only is it common to find peppermint in an assortment of foods and beverages, but peppermint oil may also help relieve cold symptoms. The menthol may be soothing for a cough, too.You can benefit by drinking peppermint tea or inhaling peppermint vapors from a steam treatment.To make a steam treatment, add 7 or 8 drops of peppermint essential oil to about a cup of just boiled water. Drape a towel over your head and take deep breaths directly above the water.

5. Marshmallow root Marshmallow root comes from Althaea officinalis, a perennial that flowers in summer. It's not the same as the squishy marshmallow that you roast over a fire.The leaves and roots of the marshmallow plant have been used since ancient times to treat sore throats and suppress coughs.The marshmallow root also contains mucilage, which coats the throat and soothes irritation.

6. Thyme Some people use thyme for respiratory illnesses. In fact, one 2021 randomized controlled trialTrusted Source found that thyme and ivy herbal extract helped reduce both acute cough and cough severity in study participants. The participants also didn't report any adverse side effects.

Thyme leaves may contain compounds called flavonoids that relax the throat muscles involved in coughing and lessen inflammation.You can make thyme tea at home using 2 teaspoons of crushed thyme leaves and 1 cup of boiling water. Cover the cup, steep for 10 minutes, and strain.

7. Saltwater gargle While the remedy may seem relatively simple, a salt and water gargle may help soothe a scratchy throat and break up mucus that causes you to cough.

Mixing 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of salt with 8 ounces of warm water can help to relieve irritation.

Note that since children under 6 years old aren't especially good at gargling, it's best to try other remedies for this age group.

8. Ginger Ginger is a popular traditional remedy. People often useit to treat nausea and stomach upset, but it may also soothe coughing by breaking up phlegm.

If you have a cough, ginger tea is a good choice. The hot liquid can reduce irritation, dryness, and mucus in your throat.

Too much ginger may cause side effects, such as throat irritation, abdominal discomfort, and heartburn.

9. Slippery elm Slippery elm is an ancient remedy for coughing and sore throat.

People claim it may reduce inflammation and soothe the lining of your throat.

10. Turmeric Turmeric has been used traditionally for many ailments over the years, including coughing. Its active compound, curcumin, has potent anti-inflammatory properties.

Consuming turmeric with black pepper can make it more effective. That's because piperine, the major compound in black pepper, increases the bio availability of turmeric. This supports your body's absorption of turmeric.

11. Avoid acid reflux triggers GERD, or acid reflux, occurs when your stomach contents flow back into your throat. This can cause irritation, resulting in coughing.

12. Drink hot fluids You can help ease a cough by drinking plenty of warm fluids.

Drinking fluids can help relieve dryness in your throat, a common cause of coughing. It also helps to thin out mucus, which can ease coughing and congestion.

Sipping hot liquids like broth or tea may be great for easing coughing. If you prefer a cold drink, opt for a noncarbonated beverage like water or unsweetened tea. Sucking on ice cubes may also help.

13. Breathe in steam Dry air in your home can further exacerbate your cough. You can breathe in steam in the bathroom after a hot shower. Or you may also consider investing in a humidifier. https://www.healthline.com/health/allergies/best-natural-cough-remedies#summary0

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 03, 2023

Sunday December 03, 2023

Kaieteur News

Camille’s Academy cops top GMSA award for facilitating safe learning via online platforms during COVID-19 For their swift introduction of a customized online learning platform and the provision of smart schools to facilitate safe learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, the executive team from Camille's Academy Inc was on Wednesday presented with the top award for innovation and creativity by the Anniversary of Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA).

The award was presented by the GMSA to the team of Camille's Academy Inc (CAI) at the association's annual dinner and award ceremony at the Marriot Hotel.

Speaking with this publication following the award ceremony, Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CAI, Camille Deokie-Gorakh

recalled overcoming the hurdle of social-distancing to provide safe learning options for students of the academy.

She explained that though the pandemic rocked the country and stymied physically classroom sessions, with the guidance of business coach and Founder of Action Invest Caribbean, Dr. Vishnu Doerga, who is also a director of the private school, CAI quickly adapted to the new normal.

The private school was one the first to lead the charge in the fast-paced innovation by introducing the first customized online learning platforms (www.eschool.gy) powered by Techlify Inc. During this time, while classes were conducted online, two (2) new SMART schools were under construction at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara a n d C r a n e , We s t C o a s t Demerara.

“With the introduction of (Continued on page 72)

CEO Mrs. Camille Deokie-Gorakh flanked by Directors Polly Ragnauth, Ms. Kamini Latchman

Five members of the Board of Directors at Camille’s Academy: From left: Mr. Rabby Gorakh, CEO Mrs. Camille Deokie-Gorakh, Mrs. Polly Ragnauth, Ms. Kamini Latchman, and Dr. Vishnu Doerga

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Sunday December 03, 2023

Man granted $400k bail for stealing over $5 million from Liquor store T

wenty-eightyear-old Akeem Marshall was granted $400,000 bail on Friday, after he stole over $5 million in cash and items from Shabhana and Son Liquor Mart and General

Store between August 18 and August 19, 2023.

Marshall was slapped with three counts of break and enter and larceny charges.

Police related that Marshall broke into

Shabhana and Son Liquor Mart and General Store located at Lot 6 James Street, Albouystown, and stole $4,765,000 in cash, $1 million worth of GTT and Digicel phone cards, an Xbox worth $60,000 and

two cell phones worth $40,000 in total, all belonging to Bibi Shabhana Mohamed. In addition, Marshall is also accused of stealing $335,000, belonging to Jessica Singh.

The accused made his second court appearance virtually, via Zoom, at the Georgetown Magistrates' Court, before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly.

M a r s h a l l w a s represented by Attorney-atLaw Patrice Henry, who made application for bail in a reasonable amount. The Attorney told the court that his client is not a flight risk and also has no prior record.

The prosecution, however, objected to bail due to the seriousness of the crime, the amount of money involved, and because there is video footage, and fingerprints that show Marshall was involved in the

Akeem Marshall

said act.

Notwithstanding the prosecution's statement, the Magistrate granted Marshall bail on condition that he reports to the Criminal

Investigation Department (CID) at Brickdam Police Station every Monday.

The matter was then adjourned to January 15, 2024.

Woman arrested after meat in macaroni turns out to be weed

The marijuana in the macaroni which the woman was caught with at the prison

A woman was on Friday caught trying to smuggle weed into the Camp Street Prison by allegedly disguising it as meat in a bowl of cooked macaroni.

The woman, identified as Lotoya Hunt, was taking the meal for her son who is an inmate at the prison. It is believed that she rolled the marijuana into small balls to make them look like chunks and she was

confident that it was good enough to fool the prison guards.

Unfortunately for her, the guards decided to inspect the meat in the macaroni and soon realized that it was balls of weed.

The prison guards detained her immediately. The narcotics, according to police, weighed 70 grams.She is presently in police custody awaiting charges.

Sunday December 03, 2023

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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From page 16 smallest oil producers, does not leave anything to chance when it comes to protecting its people against the grave financial and environmental ramifications of an oil spill.

The CARICOM member state’s Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with Belize Natural Energy (BNE) is a testament to its commitment to shield its people from any impending danger. This agreement, overseeing the daily production of approximately 5,000 barrels from two fields, mandates comprehensive coverage of all costs not addressed by standard insurance policies.

Under the PSA, BNE is required to maintain a diverse portfolio of insurances. These include: a Workmen’s Compensation Insurance, an Employer’s liability Insurance, Commercial General Liability Insurance with Bodily Injury (other than automobile), Pollution Liability which addresses sudden and accidental damage, Umbrella Liability or Excess Insurance which covers claims in excess of the underlying insurance, and an Automobile Liability.

BNE is also required to have in place, an Energy Exploration and Development Policy which

In Guyana, the situation is quite different, especially as it pertains to the Stabroek Block which is operated by an ExxonMobil-led consortium. Guyana’s PSA with the Exxon group does not demand any of the forms of insurance obtained in the Belizean PSA. Citizens over the years appealed to authorities to close this loophole, by demanding that there be a separate policy or agreement in place demanding full coverage of all costs.

The government has unfortunately refused to demand that ExxonMobil be tied to any policy of that n a t u r e . T h u s f a r, t h e government has accepted a US$2B affiliate liability coverage for the Stabroek Block which measures 6.6 million acres. In that concession, Exxon has unlocked 11 billion barrels of oil. It also has permission to set up five projects which w o u l d p r o d u c e approximately 3.2 billion barrels of oil. Each project also has a US$600M per occurrence insurance policy.

While regional and local stakeholders have urged the government to have ExxonMobil provide a parent company guarantee for the Stabroek Block which would cover all costs not handled by the US$2B or

Former EPA Head, Dr. Vincent Adams addresses insurance for the damage caused by a well blowout, drilling, and other similar works.

The PSA also states that the oil company must indemnify, defend and hold the government harmless against claims, losses and damages, and without limitation, claims for loss or damage to property or injury or death to persons caused by or resulting from only petroleum operations conducted by or on behalf of the company.

U S $ 6 0 0 M p o l i c y, t h e administration has insisted that it is more than enough. It has maintained this position, even though many of Exxon’s environmental reports have said that an oil spill from any of its projects could not only cause irreparable harm to Guyana’s coast but also devastate more than a dozen nearby nations.

The demand for financial coverage beyond the US$2B policy is currently engaging the attention of the Appellate

Sunday December 03, 2023

Court. In the interim, numerous requests by Kaieteur News to see a copy of the US$2B policy Exxon submitted to authorities remain unanswered.

will be no negotiations on the fiscal terms but will allow minor amendments that does not weaken the accountability and transparency clauses.

In absence of Petroleum Commission…

Govt. and Opposition should urgently agree on national negotiation team for oil blocks-Dr. Adams

THURSDAY

As Guyana prepares for negotiations with petroleum companies that successfully participated in the country’s inaugural bid round, former Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Vincent Adams is calling for a national negotiation team to be urgently set up.

Ideally, a competent Petroleum Commission would have executed the functions of the negotiation team to ensure the nation’s interests are protected during the process, however, the delayed establishment of this body warrants the need for skilled negotiators to engage with the petroleum companies.

Former Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman who inked the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with A m e r i c a n o i l m a j o r, ExxonMobil had revealed in his recent book that the company pressured the administration into signing the contract. In fact, this was emphasized by British law firm Clyde and Co, that was hired by the former government to probe the circumstances that led to the agreement being signed. https://www.kaieteurne wsonline.com/2023/11/22/e xxon-pressured-dupedgranger-govt-into-signinglopsided-deal-damning-ukreport-reveals/ Stakeholders have often questioned the capacity of elected members of government to engage in contract negotiations.

Prominent International Attorney-at-Law, Melinda Janki had previously argued that government should not be participating in any such activity but rather, competent negotiators.

While there remains to be controversy surrounding the lopsided agreement with Exxon, Dr. Adams said measures should be taken to avoid a recurrence of this.

The former EPA Head believes there must be consensus between the

ExxonM awards contract for 6th project while pending govt. approval

ExxonMobil Guyana President, Alistair Routledge

government and opposition members on the negotiation panel that would engage the petroleum companies.

He explained, “There is no question we do not have the capacity; what I can tell you is we have the skills in the diaspora and for every single job I can get members of the diaspora because of that brain drain that we have.

If we were sensible and had any concern for this country, we should be turning that brain drain into a brain gain.”

He continued, “We have no capacity to do it in Guyana so what we should be doing is say well okay both parties get together and decide on a team.”

Dr. Adams, a Petroleum and Environmental Engineer, was keen to note that this could limit corruption in government and moreover produce fruitful engagements with petroleum companies to benefit the country.

Beyond contract negotiations, Dr. Adams pointed out that this team could draft a strategic plan for the country and ensure that priorities are funded and implemented in Guyana.

This strategic plan, he pointed out could be amended from time to time, however it would avoid the misuse of funds by randomly “pulling projects from the sky”.

With negotiations set to commence soon with the successful participants of Guyana’s maiden bid round, the former EPA Head called for government and

opposition to urgently agree to setup a competent negotiation team, as the Petroleum Commission is yet to be established.

“Absolutely, it wouldn’t have the same powers but what it would have is enable us to get better for our resources and we would be able to hold those people accountable. We should be doing this right now because these government officials are running from the questions, especially in this petroleum sector, they don’t want to address the difficult questions and they are going to move forward and they don’t care a damn about Guyanese and what we want,” he said.

Guyana’s oil blocks auction President Irfaan Ali, on December 9, 2022, a n n o u n c e d t h e commencement of Guyana’s inaugural bid round for 14 of its offshore oil blocks, estimated to hold more than 10 billion barrels of oil.

It was only in September this year that it was revealed eight of the 14 areas received bids from six bidders.

Government has said the new blocks would be subjected to a more stringent fiscal regime that demands the payment of a 10 percent royalty, 10 percent corporate tax and signing bonuses, to name a few.

ExxonMobil, though it expressed interest in auction said it was not comfortable with those terms. Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had however indicated there

ExxonMobil Guyana has forged ahead by awarding a contract to Italian engineering powerhouse, Saipem, for the proposed US$12.9 Billion sixth oilfield development ‘Whiptail’ located in the Stabroek Block. This bold step comes in the midst of the oil company aw aiting approval from the Government of Guyana (GoG) for the Whiptail development.

Saipem announced on Wednesday that it has been awarded two offshore contracts, one in Guyana and the other in Brazil, worth approximately US$1.9 billion.

The scope of Saipem’s involvement in the Whiptail project is extensive. It encompasses the design, fabrication, and installation of critical components, including subsea structures, risers, flowlines, and umbilicals.

Located in the challenging offshore environment of the Stabroek Block, with water depths reaching around 2,000 meters, this project demands cutting-edge expertise and precision. Saipem will leverage its state-of-the-art vessels, including FDS2, Constellation, and Castorone, to execute these intricate operations.

Notably, Saipem’s Guyana O ff s h o r e C o n s t r u c t i o n Facility in the Port of Georgetown serves as a pivotal fabrication site, ensuring a sustainable and steady growth trajectory within the country.

However, it was stated that the timeline for Saipem’s active involvement remains contingent on securing the necessary government approvals. Once granted, the contract allows Saipem to initiate specific activities, such as detailed engineering and procurement, marking the initial steps toward the realization of the Whiptail project.

Simultaneously, Saipem (Continued on page 69)

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 03, 2023

From page 68 has clinched a second major contract, this time from Equinor, for the Raia project.

This endeavor involves the development of a pre-salt gas and condensate field situated in the Campos Basin, approximately 200 km offshore from the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. These back-to-back contract awards not only highlight Saipem’s global prowess but also underscore the company’s ability to secure and execute projects of significant magnitude.

Saipem said that the two awards confirm, once again, the competitiveness of the company’s offer in bidding processes and the ability to build long term partnerships based on consistent performances. Moreover, they further strengthen the visibility on Saipem’s key assets utilization throughout 2027.

Coastguard sends back boatload of Venezuelans from Moruca The Guyana Defence Force’ s (GDF) Coastguard on Wednesday sent back a boatload of Venezuelans to the neighbouring country who arrived around midday at Santa Rosa, Kumaka in the Moruca sub-region in Region One. Kaieteur News was told there were more than 30 individuals in total and the group included men, women and children.

They reportedly arrived in a large iron boat powered by an outboard engine. The coastguard ranks stopped the foreigners from going any further after they discovered that they were entering Guyana illegally.

They were packed into the same boat they came with and escorted back to the closest Venezuelan border point by the coastguard.

Their deportation follows a series of interceptions by the authorities after the government decided to clamp down on their illegal entry into these shores.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, at a recent press conference, noted that while the government has a responsibility to treat Ve n e z u e l a n r e f u g e e s humanely, the armed forces are going to thoroughly monitor and vet those crossing its borders.

He noted that the Joint Services ranks had detained

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Venezuela nationals who were detained at Moruca

a person of interest who c r o s s e d t h e c o u n t r y ’s borders recently.

Joint Services ranks had also detained Venezuelans who arrived illegally by boatloads at Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast, Region Two several weeks ago. It was reported that they too were deported to Venezuela.

The tightening of security at Guyana’s border comes at a time when people at remote border communities have expressed fear as Venezuela moves ahead with its planned Referendum for December 3.

In the referendum, Venezuela is seeking the support of its citizen in a move to unlawfully claim the county of Essequibo as its own.

The border controversy case is currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and Guyana has approached the court to block the referendum.

The ICJ will make its decision on Friday but Venezuela is signaling that it will move ahead even if the court blocks the referendum.

President Mohamed Irfaan Ali had said that Guyana wants to settle the matter peacefully and lawfully but if Venezuela acts of aggression continues t h e n t h i s c o u n t r y ’s developmental partners will not stand aside and see the neighbouring country take advantage of the country.

Since President Ali’s statement, the GDF has had several military engagements including with United States Defence officials.

Engagements were held on November 27-28 with the US army and the discussions were centered on “upcoming engagements to include strategic planning sessions and processes to enhance both countries’ military readiness and capabilities to respond to security threats.”

Ali had said too that Guyana has planned a series of activities to counter Venezuela’s referendum.

Some of the activities have already started with Head of State visiting several border communities to sensitize residents on the border controversy.

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

Exxon 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 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

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo

would therefore prevent the company from 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/ Trini. MPs raise concerns about Venezuela’s December 3rd Referendum - as TT-Venezuela gas deal hangs in the balance Venezuela’s Referendum (Continued on page 70)

President, ExxonMobil Guyana Limited, Alistair Routledge

Kaieteur News

PAGE 70

From page 69 on December 3 which seeks to galvanize support to take unilateral actions that could annex Guyana’s Essequibo Region has left several T r i n i d a d i a n parliamentarians concerned.

During a recent parliamentary sitting on November 28, 2023, Senator Wade Mark moved a private motion calling on the Tr i n i d a d a n d To b a g o 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 implications o f t h e Ve n e z u e l a n 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

Opposition Senator, Dr. Tim Gopeesingh humanitarian aid.

However, several international reports note that the sanctions were eased on a conditional basis, the two main ones being that Ve n e z u e l a ’s P r e s i d e n t Nicholas Maduro would

Sunday December 03, 2023

Senator Sunity Maharaj

Senator Wade Mark

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 r u l i n g o n Ve n e z u e l a 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 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 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.

F u r t h e r m o r e , 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.

SATURDAY ExxonMobil tells Court citizens had no right challenging pipeline Permit for gas project ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) has applied to the Appeal Court to reverse a decision that the two citizens who successfully challenged their Permit for the Gas-toEnergy (GTE) pipeline had “sufficient interest”.

The company, formerly Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) was granted a Permit by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on November 25, 2022 for the (Continued on page 71)

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 03, 2023

From page 70 pipeline aspect of the GTE project. The gas project also entails a Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility and a 300 megawatt power plant.

Two citizens, Elizabeth Hughes and Vanda Radzik approached the High Court in March this year, seeking that the Permit be quashed since the legal requirements were not met by the company at the time it applied for the P e r m i t . https://www.kaieteurnewso nline.com/2023/03/29/citize ns-file-court-actionchallenging-permit-issuedto-exxon-for-gas-to-energyproject/ On October 5, 2023 the High Court ruled that the EPA acted ‘contrary to the law’ and ‘improper’, by granting a Permit to Exxon.

Even though the Judge flagged the improper decision made by the regulator, the reliefs sought by the Applicants were not granted.

Consequently, Radzik and Hughes filed an appeal of the High Court’s decision not to quash the Environmental Permit to Exxon.

The oil company on November 28, 2023 filed an intention to contend that the decision of the High Court be varied. It believes that: “The findings of the trial Judge that the Appellants had sufficient interest in the subject matter of the application and/or that the Appellants had locus standi to institute the proceedings (should) be reversed.”

Exxon contends that the appellants lack locus standi to challenge the alleged breach of the Environmental Protection Act Regulations.

It argued that Regulation 17(c) (ii) is for the protection of a definite category or group of persons, namely, landowners or occupiers.

In addition Exxon asked the High Court to reverse the finding of the trial Judge that at the time the Permit was granted it had no legal right or ability to conduct its scope of the Guyana GTE project without the consent of the landowners or occupiers.

In fact, the oil company said the Judge “failed to distinguish between ‘legal right’ and ‘ability’ to carry out the GTE project” without the consent of the landowners or occupiers.

Exxon said the Judge’s decision that Esso had failed to show that it had the legal right or ability to carry out

President of the ICJ, Judge Joan E. Donoghue the GTE project activity without the consent of the landowner or occupier should be reversed, adding that the findings were “against the weight of the evidence”.

The company is arguing that the Judge erred in finding that the decision by the EPA to grant the Permit for the pipeline was contrary or improper.

ExxonMobil is being represented by Guyanese Lawyers, Andrew Pollard, S.C and Edward Luckhoo, S.C. The EPA as well as the Attorney General (AG) of Guyana, Anil Nandlall, S.C are respondents in the matter.

About the GTE project/ case The highly touted GTE project is intended to deliver cleaner electricity at 50 percent of the current charges.

The pipeline currently being constructed by Exxon in Region Three will deliver natural gas from the Liza One and Liza Two fields in the Stabroek Block to the Wales Industrial site, West Bank Demerara. The gas will then be processed in the NGL facility to be built by government and ultimately used for power generation.

Citizens Radzik and Hughes in their Appeal of the High Court’s ruling stated, “the learned Judge took into account irrelevant matters namely the purported expenditure while failing to take judicial notice of relevant matters such as the questionable expenditure claims made by (Exxon) as revealed in the public pronouncements of members of government.”

They argue that the learned judge failed to have

due regard to the utility of the declaration in the context of the application of Guyana’s Environmental Laws and the importance of a declaration to clarify and confirm the legal duties of the respondent authority.

Justice SewnarineBeharry in her October 5, 2023 decision stated that, “Cognisance must be paid to the fact that significant fiscal expenditure has been injected into the Gas to Energy pipeline. A quashing o r d e r w o u l d disproportionately disadvantage Esso Guyana and the State by halting significant project development already underway. Moreover, it may also have an unintended consequence of impacting innocent third parties to the project development, all while proving to be a brutum fulmen in the way of substantive relief for the Applicants.”

World Court orders Venezuela to stand down, preserves Guyana’s control over Essequibo The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Friday ordered Venezuela not to take any action that would alter Guyana’s control over its Essequibo region, but did not specifically ban Venezuela from holding its planned referendum on the territory’s future tomorrow.

Ve n e z u e l a h a s historically claimed Guyana’s Essequibo region as its own despite its initial acceptance of the 1899 Arbitral Award that gives Guyana control of the Essequibo.

The case finds its genesis in Venezuela’s challenge to

the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award of the boundaries that separate the two countries.

After years of fruitless mediation, the two countries were sent to the world court through the United Nation’s (UN) peacekeeping process to settle the controversy once and for all.

H o w e v e r, w i t h t h e substantive case still pending before the ICJ, the Venezuelan Government took a decision to put the issue to a national vote upon which the country promises to act and possibly annex two-thirds of Guyana’s territory.

As a result, Guyana approached the World Court last month seeking protective orders that would effectively halt parts of the vote, aimed at paving the way for Venezuela to annex the Essequibo region.

It is based on this request that the World Court handed down a unanimous decision by all 15 judges of the ICJ. The ruling is set to effectively block the Spanish-speaking country from taking any action based on the results of its referendum.

In her delivery of the orders, President of the Court, Judge Joan E. Donoghue said that the interim orders were necessary because “ Ve n e z u e l a ’s expressed readiness to take action” on the disputed territory “at any moment following the referendum” showed that there is “a real and imminent risk of irreparable prejudice to Guyana’s plausible right, before the court gives its final decision.”

She submitted that if Venezuela proceeds with its scheduled referendum, the “inevitable” affirmative response to the fifth question would lead Venezuela to annex the Essequibo region and to grant Venezuelan citizenship to its inhabitants, causing irreparable harm to Guyana’s rights.

“In Guyana’s view, even a judgment of the Court on the merits upholding the validity of the 1899 Award or settling the boundary dispute in a manner that leaves all or part of the Essequibo region under G u y a n a ’s s o v e r e i g n t y might not be sufficient to protect Guyana’s rights if Venezuela has already annexed that territory,”

PAGE 71

Justice Donoghue posited.

As such, she noted that “Pending a final decision in the case, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela shall refrain from taking any action which would modify the situation that currently prevails in the territory in dispute, whereby the Cooperative Republic of Guyana administers and exercises control over that area” The ICJ President said, “Unanimously, both parties shall refrain from any action which might aggravate or extend the dispute before the Court or make it more difficult to resolve.”

Before handing down the decision, Justice Donoghue said the Court, pursuant to Article 41 of its statute, has the power to indicate provisional measures when irreparable prejudice could be caused to rights which are the subject of judicial proceedings or when the alleged disregard of such rights may entail irreparable consequences.

She said too, noted that its orders indicating provisional measures under Article 41 of the Statute have binding effect and thus

create international legal obligations for any party to whom the provisional measures are addressed.

Last month, lawyers representing Guyana at the ICJ presented evidence showing the increased military presence of Venezuelan soldiers at the border near Guyana as that neighbouring country moves towards voting in a referendum to seize the Essequibo Region.

Attorney-at-Law, Paul Reichler noted that following its referendum Venezuela plans to inter alia, issue IDs to the people of the Essequibo region.

Professor Reichler said therefore that Guyana’s decision to seek provisional measures swiftly is

necessary to block the referendum because of the implications for Guyana’s continued control of Essequibo.

“Urgency is shown by the impending referendum to be held less than three weeks from now, which would be the trigger for the execution of Venezuela’s annexation plans and by the preparations of the national Bolivarian Armed Forces to secure Venezuela’s claim to the territory,” he said.

Reichler had submitted evidence, comprising newspaper articles, video recordings, and statements issued by the President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, the Minister of Defense for the National Armed Forces of Venezuela, Vladimir Padrino Lopez and Colonel Juan Gutierrez Ortiz, of the country’s plan to seize control of two-thirds of Guyana’s territory and reject the Court’s authority to resolve the controversy.

Ve n e z u e l a h a s nonetheless remained defiant. Vice President (VP) of that country, Delcy Rodriguez told the court in response to Guyana that nothing will stop the Bolivarian Republic from proceeding with its December 3, 2023, referendum.

Rodriguez said too t h a t Ve n e z u e l a ’ s appearance before the ICJ did not constitute it recognizing the jurisdiction of that court but opted to present its arguments to counter “ G u y a n a ’s c h i l d i s h manipulation of her country’s historic legal position.”

“Without prejudice to our position and doctrine on jurisdiction. We come before this court to defend independence, sovereignty and self-determination as the inalienable rights of our nation,” she said.

As a result, the VP noted that regardless of what the ICJ says the government will act in accordance with what the people of Venezuela decide.

“No one can deny or divide this right finally, the state of Venezuela will not turn its back on what the people decide during the referendum,” added Rodriguez.

She told the ICJ that Guyana’s move to the World Court to seek to curtail the referendum was “abhorrent and illegal behaviour.”

PAGE 72

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 03, 2023

Orealla Village to get new secondary school

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A new secondary school will soon be built in the Amerindian community of Orealla, Region Six. During a recent visit to the community, Senior Minister with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh told residents that government is currently identifying an area for the school. Dr. Singh said too that the Region’s adminFOR RENT istrative officials are aware 4 bedroom furnished house, that funding for the project 6 beds and 2 parking avail- must be presented in the 2024 able at Lamaha Gardens, budget submission.

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Minister Singh in his address to the residents of Orealla reassured that the government of Guyana will ensure that children get access to quality education where they reside. He noted that this will ensure that the number of children traveling to the coast to receive an education would be minimized.

During the first half of 2023, the Ministry of Education awarded close to $9B in contracts to build seven new schools. The schools identified are St. Mary’s Secondary School, St. George’s High School and Christ Church Secondary School all of which will be reconstructed.

The Kwebanna, Hosororo, Tuschen and Karasabai Secondary Schools will be built for the first time. Also, a new secondary school is in the pipeline for Vreed-en-Hoop, Region

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challenge with online learning, however, is that a significant number of students – about 40 percent – have no, or poor, internet connectivity.” This hurdle, she said, “was surmounted by offering a self-study option where parents uplift worksheets and

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billion was set aside for the construction, rehabilitation, extension, and maintenance of educational facilities across the country.

Camille’s Academy cops top GMSA award for facilitating...

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From page 65 these two new smart schools, we moved from a traditional classroom setting to a more modern approach to educating our nation’s children.

This integration of technology in our education programme is geared at making learning more interesting and interactive while providing a conductive and comfortable learning environment including fully air-conditioned “Smart Classrooms,” she explained.

The CEO had explained that learning platforms were available from nursery to high school learners. The businesswoman noted that, “The

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instructional videos and return same to be marked, followed by a one-on-one session with the students to review/reinforce the lessons.”

“Some teachers even opted for home visits during the pandemic to conduct assessments with students

who had internet challenges, observing all COVID-19 protocols,” she said.

Camille’s Academy is the largest private school in Guyana with four (4) campuses and currently 1600 students with a staff composition of 120 employees.

Venezuelan woman stabbed by jealous...

From page 72 arrested by police at the scene. The woman’s daughter said that the doctors told her that her mother had to undergo emergency surgery; she said her mother suffered internal bleeding issues.

Pierre said Daniels is not known to the family but her mother told her that he is a friend who wanted to be more than just friends.

Her mother complained that Daniels would continuously ask to marry him al-

though he knows she already has a boyfriend.

The man became so desperate that he told the woman that if she marries him, Guyana will grant her full citizenship.

However, she turned down all his offers.

Sunday December 03, 2023

Kaieteur News

PAGE 73

Police charge director of Miss Nicaragua pageant with running ‘beauty queen coup’ plot (AP)- Nicaraguan police said Friday they want to arrest the director of the Miss Nicaragua pageant, accusing her of intentionally rigging contests so that antigovernment beauty queens would win the pageants as part of a plot to overthrow the government.

The charges against

pageant director Karen Celebertti would not be out of place in a vintage James Bond movie with a repressive, closed off government, coup-plotting claims, foreign agents and beauty queens.

It all started Nov. 18, when Miss Nicaragua, N i c a r a g u a ’s S h e y n n i s

Palacios won the Miss Universe competition. The government of President Daniel Ortega briefly thought it had scored a rare public relations victory, calling her win a moment of “legitimate joy and pride.”

But the tone quickly soured the day after the win when it emerged that

Palacios had posted photos of herself on Facebook participating in one of the mass anti-government protests in 2018.

The protests were violently repressed, and human rights officials say 355 people were killed by government forces. Ortega claimed the protests were an

attempted coup with foreign backing, aiming for his overthrow. His opponents said Nicaraguans were protesting his increasingly repressive rule and seemingly endless urge to hold on to power.

A statement by the National Police claimed Celebertti “participated

actively, on the internet and in the streets in the terrorist actions of a failed coup,” an apparent reference to the 2018 protests.

Celebertti apparently slipped through the hands of police after she was reportedly denied permission to enter the country a few days ago.

PAGE 74

Sunday December 03, 2023

Kaieteur News

Israel pulls Mossad negotiators from Qatar after ‘impasse’ over captives

People chant slogans at a pro-Palestinian rally in Paris on Saturday [Thomas Padilla/AP] (AP)- Israel has pulled its Mossad negotiators from Qatar, which along with Egypt and the United States is mediating talks to secure a renewed pause in the IsraelHamas war.

“Following the impasse in the negotiations and at the direction of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, David Barnea, head of the Mossad, ordered his team in Doha to return to Israel,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement on Saturday.

The statement accused Hamas of not fulfilling its side of an agreement to extend the truce in Gaza. The deal had included the release of all women and children held in Gaza in accordance with a list conveyed to Hamas and agreed upon, the statement said.

Hours later, Hamas said there will be no further prisoner exchange with Israel until the war on Gaza is over.“Our official stance is there will be no further prisoner swap until the war ends,” deputy head of the group, Saleh alArouri, told Al Jazeera.

“Israeli prisoners will not be released until our [Palestinian] prisoners are liberated and after a ceasefire comes into effect.”

“What we have left of Israeli prisoners are soldiers and civilians serving in the army,” he added. The Hamas official said the group was ready to exchanges the “bodies of dead Israelis in exchange for our own martyrs, but we need time to exhume these bodies”. “The Israeli occupation insists that we are still holding women and children but we have already released them all,” he said.

Reporting from Doha, Al Jazeera’s Ali Hashem said: “Given the fact that the demands now are changing, the Israelis are demanding that Hamas should release women soldiers.”

“To Hamas, that has a different price,” he said, referring to the previous agreement of three Palestinians prisoners released for every captive held in Gaza under the weeklong truce that ended early on Friday. “The main issue is also that Hamas was from the beginning offering all for all – the Israeli captives for all the Palestinian prisoners in Israel. “Now, we are facing this deadlock with the Israelis withdrawing. This doesn’t mean that negotiations are coming to an end. There may be another mediation and new ideas from different parties,” he said. The temporary truce between Israel and Hamas collapsed after mediators were unable to extend it. The humanitarian pause saw the release of 80 Israeli captives in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners. Israel and Hamas have traded blame over the truce’s collapse.Macron in Qatar Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron said France is “very concerned” by the resumption of violence in Gaza as he landed in Qatar on Saturday to help kick-start a new truce. Macron said at a press conference at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai that the situation required the doubling-down of efforts to obtain a lasting ceasefire and the freeing of all captives. He also urged Israel to clarify its goals towards Hamas.

“We are at a moment when Israeli authorities must more precisely define their objectives and their final goal: the total destruction of Hamas – does anyone think it is possible? If this is the case, the war will last 10 years,” he said.

“There is no lasting security for Israel in the

region if its security is achieved at the cost of Palestinian lives and thus of the resentment of public opinion in the region. Let’s be collectively lucid,” Macron added.

Asked for a response to those remarks, Mark Regev, senior adviser to Netanyahu, told reporters Israel does not want to see Gaza civilians caught in the crossfire as battles resume. “Israel is targeting Hamas, a brutal terrorist organisation that has committed the most horrific violence against innocent civilians. Israel is making a maximum effort to safeguard Gaza’s civilians,” Regev said. Jabalia camp hit again But the civilian death toll continues to mount in the enclave.

At least 100 Palestinians were killed by Israeli air strikes on the Jabalia refugee camp in the north of the strip on Saturday. Rescuers used their bare hands to dig through rubble in search of survivors.

Palestinian authorities said at least 240 people have been killed since the bombings resumed early on Friday.Fadel Naim, chief doctor at al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, said his morgue has received 30 bodies since Saturday morning, including seven children. “The planes bombed our houses.

Three bombs, three houses destroyed,” Nemr al-Bel, 43, told the Agence France-Presse news agency, adding that he had counted 10 dead in his family and “13 more still under the rubble”.

The United Nations estimated at least 1.7 million people in Gaza – 80 percent of its population – have been displaced since the war began on October 7.

Since then, the Israeli campaign in Gaza has killed more than 15,000 people, most of them civilians. In Israel, the official death toll stands at about 1,200.

Sunday December 03, 2023

Kaieteur News

PAGE 75

Volodímir Zelenski

Kaieteur News

PAGE 76

Sunday December 03, 2023

Man granted $400k bail for stealing over $5 million from Liquor store T

wenty-eightyear-old Akeem Marshall was granted $400,000 bail on Friday, after he stole over $5 million in cash and items from Shabhana and Son Liquor Mart and General

Store between August 18 and August 19, 2023.

Marshall was slapped with three counts of break and enter and larceny charges.

Police related that Marshall broke into

Shabhana and Son Liquor Mart and General Store located at Lot 6 James Street, Albouystown, and stole $4,765,000 in cash, $1 million worth of GTT and Digicel phone cards, an Xbox worth $60,000 and

two cell phones worth $40,000 in total, all belonging to Bibi Shabhana Mohamed. In addition, Marshall is also accused of stealing $335,000, belonging to Jessica Singh.

The accused made his second court appearance virtually, via Zoom, at the Georgetown Magistrates' Court, before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly.

M a r s h a l l w a s represented by Attorney-atLaw Patrice Henry, who made application for bail in a reasonable amount. The Attorney told the court that his client is not a flight risk and also has no prior record.

The prosecution, however, objected to bail due to the seriousness of the crime, the amount of money involved, and because there is video footage, and fingerprints that show Marshall was involved in the

Akeem Marshall

said act.

Notwithstanding the prosecution's statement, the Magistrate granted Marshall bail on condition that he reports to the Criminal

Investigation Department (CID) at Brickdam Police Station every Monday.

The matter was then adjourned to January 15, 2024.

Woman arrested after meat in macaroni turns out to be weed

The marijuana in the macaroni which the woman was caught with at the prison

A woman was on Friday caught trying to smuggle weed into the Camp Street Prison by allegedly disguising it as meat in a bowl of cooked macaroni.

The woman, identified as Lotoya Hunt, was taking the meal for her son who is an inmate at the prison. It is believed that she rolled the marijuana into small balls to make them look like chunks and she was

confident that it was good enough to fool the prison guards.

Unfortunately for her, the guards decided to inspect the meat in the macaroni and soon realized that it was balls of weed.

The prison guards detained her immediately. The narcotics, according to police, weighed 70 grams.She is presently in police custody awaiting charges.

Sunday December 03, 2023

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Kaieteur News

Every related arm for sport’s resurgence will be tackled - Wilson Franklin Wilson

In less than one week the direction the sport of football takes will be made clear when the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) stages its Electoral Congress, at the National Training Centre, Providence.

In what can only be described as an obvious attempt to hijack the process, the Wayne Forde-led GFF has shown total contempt for the football fraternity.

The fact that the GFF and the Electoral Committee waited until seven (7) days before the elections to identify the list of eligible voters, resulting in the exclusion of four (4) members, who were deemed not to be in good standing, demonstrates their indifference to a

free and fair process.

Had they been genuinely immersed in the tenets of good governance and fair play then every step should have been taken to ensure that all members of the electorate be clear about the eligibility procedures.

Instead, because the GFF’s responses to queries for clarity on the crucial requirements were apathetic and vague, the four members are now debarred from participating in the process.

They are: West Demerara Football Association, Guyana Police Force Football Club, Western Tigers Football Club and Santos Football Club.

However, Wilson in his outreach to all the eligible

constituents have made it clear that should they be given the mandate to govern, they intend to meet with stakeholders to address some of the contentious changes in the recently revised constitution.

He cited the three-term modification as one of the main issues that will be up for discussion, while the lack of clarity on the eligibility of voters is another matter that will certainly be examined.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, he stressed the importance of every member being able to vote at such an important Congress, adding that every effort should have been made to apprise them of their obligations.

Sunday December 03, 2023 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Today you may extend an invitation to someone close to visit you in your home, but don't count on the person being able to make it.

Something may come up.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Though you're usually outgoing, today you might feel more shy and reserved, perhaps because of melancholy thoughts about love or friendship.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) News of illness or employment problems on the part of someone you care about can have you feeling a bit down in the dumps today.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Information regarding spiritual or philosophical matters that may not be all that trustworthy may come your way.

Don't take what you hear today at face value. .

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Group activities or gettogethers with friends may not go as well as usual today. You're feeling more reserved and perhaps preoccupied about a friend or romantic partner with whom you might be on the outs.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Overspending on luxury items might have you feeling the need to tighten your belt a little. This could make you feel downhearted. Don't blame yourself too much.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Minor family problems might make you gloomy today.

Perhaps a family member is away, or there may have been some petty squabbles in your household.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) The illness of a relative or neighbor might have you feeling downhearted today.

The news is likely secondhand, so it might not be as bad as reported.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22) Friends or groups could make excessive demands on your time today. As a generous and service-oriented person, you tend to go along with what others want.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) A separation from the special someone in your life, perhaps because of a minor disagreement, could have you feeling melancholy today.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) A touch of melancholy and moodiness might have you feeling distanced from your entourage and so you could throw yourself into solitary activities.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You feel romantic and sexy today, but you won't have the opportunity to do anything about it. You may be temporarily separated.

Wilson informed that should they take the seat of office, going forward extensive deliberations to make the process easier and transparent will be a top priority of his administration. “Our approach will be an all-inclusive one, where every stakeholder of the sport will be afforded the opportunity to offer their opinions in an effort to make the game safe, resilient, sustainable and proficiently managed, as outlined in our stated vision,” Wilson said.

The Wilson-led slate has also disclosed its areas of focus, key stakeholders who will be approached to drive the sport forward, while a robust plan for every component related to sustainable development of the sport has been shared to all stakeholders.

“I think we have a very good strategy to pull the sport out of its curr ent state. Very little has been done at the local level, the game’s reputation as one of the premier sports locally has suffered immensely and these are just some of the things we intend to address seriously.”

He promised that every related arm for the sport’s resurgence will be tackled, naming, coaches’ education, referees’ development, women’s growth at every level, enhanced facilities in every regional association, effective partnership with the corporate sector for sustainable funding, a solid working relationship with the government, on-going consultative and respectful engagements with its members.

Wilson theorized that with his vast experience at the administrative level combined with those on his slate, voters will be able to evaluate where the sport is today against the vision, they have for it going forward.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 78

Sunday December 03, 2023

GPF, Santos, WDFA and Western Tigers ineligible for GFF Congress

T

he Electoral Committee of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), led by Marcel Bobb, has declared four Elite League Clubs ineligible to participate in t h e u p c o m i n g Extraordinary Congress on December 9.

Citing Article 15.1 (b), which mandates that a Member must have an election for its decisionmaking body at least every four years, the Electoral Committee specified Western Tigers, Guyana Police Force, Santos FC, and West

Demerara Football Association (WDFA) as GFF affiliates prohibited from attending the Congress.

Considering the stipulations outlined in the GFF Statutes and the GFF Electoral Code, including Article 15.1, the Electoral Committee has ascertained the eligibility of affiliate members, including the Bartica Football Association, Berbice Football Association, East Bank Football Association, East Coast Demerara Football A s s o c i a t i o n ,

Essequibo/Pomeroon Football Association, and Georgetown Football Association. Eligible associations/members include Upper Demerara Football Association, Rupununi Football Association, Guyana Football Coaches Association, Guyana Football Referees’ Council, The Women’s Football Association, Ann’s Grove Football Club, Buxton United Football Club, Den Amstel Football Club, Fruta Conquerors Football Club, Guyana Defence Force Football

Club, Milerock Football Club, and Victoria Kings Football Club.

Simultaneously, the GFF Electoral Committee unveiled the competing slates for the December 9 congress.

Incumbent Wayne Forde heads one slate, contested by former president of the Federation, Franklin Wilson.

Forde’s slate includes Bruce Lovell as First Vice President, Rawlston Adams as Second Vice President, and Dion Inniss as the GFF’s Third Vice President.

Proposed Ordinary Members are Alden M a r l s l o w, M a g e n z e Stewart, Rayan Farias, Andrea Johnson, and Denneze Lovell.

On the opposing slate led by Franklin Wilson, Ve r n o n B u r n e t t e i s proposed as First Vice President, Ramesh Persaud as Second Vice President, and Gregory Wickham as Third Vice President.

Ordinary Members on this slate are Otis James, Raul Jerrick, Althea Scipio, Christine Schmidt, and George Clementson.

Sunday December 03, 2023

Kaieteur News

Diamond Mineral Water Indoor Hockey Festival concludes today - Toussaint stars for Antonio’s Hikers on day two The Diamond Mineral Wa t e r I n d o o r H o c k e y Festival progressed into its second day at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Av e n u e . A m o n g t h e triumphant teams in the 2023 championship were GCC Vintage, securing two wins, alongside GBTI GCC, Spice, Antonio’s Hikers, and GCC The Sequel.

The Value4U Over-45 category witnessed a match between Old Fort Generals a n d G C C Vi n t a g e , culminating in a 4-2 victory for GCC. Dwayne Scott and Alan Fernandes shone for GCC, both netting twice in the 5th, 30th, 3rd, and 23rd minutes, respectively. GCC clinched another close win, 1-0 against Trinidad and Tobago Masters in an evening clash.

In the Women’s division, GBTI GCC outplayed Spice with a 3-0 win, courtesy of late goals from Vanessa Pires and Abosaide Cadogan.

Pires struck in the 26th minute, while Cadogan’s stellar performance sealed the victory. GBTI GCC later engaged in a 3-all draw a g a i n s t Tr i n i d a d a n d Tobago’s Police Hockey team in an evening showdown.

The Spice team secured their first win by overpowering YMCA Old Fort, delivering a resounding 7-0 win.

Marzana Fiedtkou showcased an exceptional hat trick in the 5th, 20th, and 4 0 t h m i n u t e s , complemented by Julia Gouveia’s double in the 18th and 27th minutes, with additional goals from Aliyah Gordan and Princessa Wilkie in the 38th and 40th minutes, respectively.

Antonio’s Hikers staged a remarkable comeback against Old Fort Expendables in the Republic Bank Over-35 Women’s category. Despite Old Fort’s three early goals within eight minutes, Akim Toussaint’s five consecutive goals propelled Hikers to a 6-4 victory, with Toussaint securing a late goal after Old Fort narrowed the gap to 5-4.

In the Men’s division, Antonio’s Hikers faced GCC The Sequel in an intense encounter, concluding in a 64 win for the Sequel. Kevin Spencer netted the first two goals, with Antonio’s Robert France equalizing at 2-2.

The Sequel surged ahead with a splendid double from Peter De Groot and another

Limacol U18 School Football League concludes today The stage is set for the electrifying final date of the 2023 Limacol Under-18 Schools Football League, scheduled to unfold today at the Ministry of Education ground located along Carifesta Avenue.

As the tournament gears up for its thrilling conclusion, excitement brims as Chase’s Academic Foundation, Carmel, and Santa Rosa vie for the coveted opportunity to ascend into the prestigious K F C G o o d w i l l International Schools Football Series, slated to commence on December 12.

The U18 Boy’s Schools League promises an intense showdown with a lineup of fiercely competitive matches. The action-packed day kicks off with Ann’s Grove Secondary facing off against Bartica Secondary at 1:00 pm. The momentum escalates with clashes

between Mackenzie High School and powerhouse contenders Chase Academy and Santa Rosa Secondary.

Behind the scenes, the Petra Organisation in collaboration with New GPC Incorporation under the Limacol Brand, alongside MVP Sports, Ministry of Culture and Sports, and the Ministry of Education, have orchestrated the U18 Boys competition.

Their collective efforts have culminated in a tournament that has captured the imagination of football enthusiasts and provided a platform for budding talent to shine.

As the football fever reaches its zenith, anticipation runs high for the decisive matches that will not only determine the league champions but also grant a ticket to the upcoming international series.

goal from Orlando Semple, eventually securing a 6-4 victory with Semple’s final goal in the 30th minute.

Additional matches saw YMCA Old Fort triumph over Saints 2-1 in the Women’s category, while Pepsi Hikers dominated Saints 5-2 in the final of the Diamond Mineral Water Men’s division.

The tournament’s action wrapped up at the same v e n u e t o d a y, w i t h comprehensive coverage scheduled for Monday’s edition. This event was made possible by the generous sponsorship of Diamond Mineral Water, Exxon Mobil, Republic Bank, and Value4U Inc.

PAGE 79

‘One Guyana’ King and Queen of the Sand football competition set to ignite Linden Over 3 million in cash and other incentives would be up for grabs when the inaugural One Guyana King and Queen of the Sand Football competition is contested in the Bauxite Mining Town of Linden.

Set to be staged at the PPP Party Office Compound from December 8th, and culminate on January 1st, the action will feature 52 male teams and a total of 12 female teams. No registration fee is required to enter the competition.

An initiative of His Excellency, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the competition is geared to further assist with the development of the game in Linden and is expected to see fierce rivalry among both male and female teams.

Many of the teams that competed in the People’s Progressive Party / Civic‘One Guyana’ Beach Football championship are expected to contest this competition.

To ensure that the Match Officials are in tip-top shape for the action, the Organisers

His Excellency, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali will be conducting a Referee’s Workshop on Wednesday that will review the Laws of the Game, they will also analyse videos and be involved in a practical session in the afternoon.

The proposed playing days are December 8 when the grand march pass will take place involving all the teams, 9, 13, 15, 16, 20, 22, 26, 29, and January 1st, 2024.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 80

Sunday December 03, 2023

CWI High Performance Unit and GCB/GHE Franchise held an historic meeting Recently, the Cricket West Indies (CWI) High Performance Unit (HP) and the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/Harpy Eagles Franchise (GHE) held an historic meeting when the CWI HP Unit visited Guyana from Sunday, November 26 to Tuesday, November 28, 2023. The CWI HP Unit included Mr. Enoch Lewis, a CWI Director and Chairman of the CWI Cricket Committee, Graeme West the HP Manager, Miles Bascome the newly appointed Director of Cricket and Chris Brabazon, head of coaching education.

Brabazon brings 4 years experience as a Coach Development Manager in Western Australia, having worked at every level of the Cricket Australia (CA) coaching development pathway, which ranges from the grassroots to international levels.

Brabazon, who boasts a Post Graduate Certificate in Business Administration, has over twelve (12) years experience working in the realm of cricket, with his last 4 years spent with CWI.

Outside of coaching and talent development, the Aussie excels in cricket management and accounting.

We s t , t h e f o r m e r Middlesex County academy director who also served as the Middlesex Cricket B o a r d ’s d e v e l o p m e n t officer, has been active in his role for 12 years. He also guided the West Under-19s to their historic ICC World Cup title win, back in 2016.

In a welcoming meeting held on Monday, at the GCB Office prior to the visit to the different facilities, the GCB President Bissoondyal Singh thanked the HP Unit for this initiative. Mr. Singh also highlighted the Government of Guyana’s (GOG) plan to have a national academy as soon as the indoor facility at the Guyana National Stadium (GNS) is completed. He further stated the vision of Guyana President Dr. Irfaan Ali which includes the McKenzie stadium in Linden, the Anna Regina stadium, and the Palmyra stadium.

Those aforementioned Stadiums

will boast state-of-the-art features that further add to the honing and development of Guyana’s cricket sector.

The Berbice Stadium, when done, will seat a whopping 10,000 spectators, adding to the ranks of venues like the famous National Stadium at Providence.

When completed, it will be arguably one of the best facilities in the country and possibly the Caribbean, with its multi-purpose features adding to the country’s stake as it relates to social and cultural activities being hosted at the venue.

President Ali, during the launch in March earlier this year, outlined the importance of Cricket and sports in general, across the spread of Guyana, making the new addition of the Cricket grounds in Linden and Anna Regina, coupled with the state-of-the-art stadiums, a groundbreaking time for Guyana’s cricket future. The HP Unit’s visit to Guyana constitutes of a development plan where the committee is scheduled to visit each franchise to meet with the Territorial Boards

Guyana Harpy Eagles head coach Ryan Hercules speaking with CWI Head of Coaching Chris Brabazon (red t-shirt), in the prescence of Harpy Eagles Assistant Coach Garvin Nedd and CWI Director of Cricket Bascome at one of the facilities

(TB) and/or Franchise to overlook training sessions, visit training facilities used regularly as well as meet with the GCB President Bissoondyal Singh and the GCB’s Operations Unit to discuss CWI and GCB’s development plans for the next two-five years.

The CWI delegation, GCB President Singh and other officials from the GCB which included the GCB

Chief Executive Officer Mr. Claude Raphael, GCB Chairman of Senior Selection Panel Ramnaresh Sarwan, Cricket Operations Manager Anthony D’Andrade and coaching staff Ryan Hercules (Head Coach), Garvin Nedd (Assistant Coach), Angelica Holder (Physiotherapist) and Jaryl Moore (Strength & Conditioning Coach) then visited the facilities that are

used regularly by the GHE players. The Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground, the Guyana National Stadium, Fitness53 gym and the LBI Hostel facilities were the venues which were inspected.

The GCB’s CEO Mr. Raphael thanked the CWI team for visiting and welcomed this face-to-face meeting which, hopefully, would be held more often.

MVP Sports Pee-Wee U11 Girls’ Football Tournament…

St John the Baptiste to meet with Marian Academy in the finale

Some of the action between Marian Academy and North Georgetown

M

a r i a n Academy and St John the Baptiste Primary Schools have secured their spots in the MVP Sports Pee-Wee Under-11 Girls’ Football Championship final after claiming identical 2 - 0 victories yesterday at the Ministry of Education ground located along Carifesta Avenue.

Marian Academy charged past the 2022 champions, North Georgetown Primary, while St John the Baptiste held firm against West Ruimveldt to become finalists.

The semi-finals unfolded

with an intense clash between West Ruimveldt Primary and St John the Baptiste Primary.

The two teams battled fiercely from the start, resulting in a goalless first half where both sides struggled to break the deadlock despite numerous attempts. After a tense first half, St John took the lead with a remarkable long shot from mid-pitch that found its way into West Ruimveldt’s net, putting them ahead at 1 0. They extended their lead when a deflected ball slipped past West Ruimveldt’s goalkeeper, increasing the score to 2-0. Neisa Lewis and

Shemia Hing were the goal scorers for St John the Baptiste. Meanwhile, in the other semi-final, Marian Academy’s Skylar DeNobrega showcased her skills yet again by scoring both goals for her team, securing a solid 2-0 win over defending champions North Georgetown Primary.

Another match of the day witnessed One Mile Primary edging out Genesis with a narrow 1-0 victory, courtesy of a goal by Faith Haynes.

The football action will continue this Saturday, culminating in the highly anticipated grand finale on December 9.

Sunday December 03, 2023

Kaieteur News

PAGE 81

GSSF successfully hosts 2023 AGM - Harry elected new President

The newly elected Board of Directors of the G.S.S.F. for 2024-2026 with the Returning Officer.

(From left to right: Mr. Javin Singh, Mr. Michael Blake, Mrs. Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon, Mr.Ryan McKinnon, Dr. Pravesh Harry, Mr. David Dharry, Mr. Ray Beharry, Capt. Gary Sahai and Mr. DallasThomas. Missing from photo is Mr. Imam Baksh) The 7th Annual General Meeting of the Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation, was held at the National Resource Centre, Woolford Avenue, Georgetown, on Friday 17 th November, 2023.

Members were given the opportunity todiscuss the activities and plans at the AGM. Outgoing President of the GSSF, Ryan McKinnon delivered opening remarks to the Meeting and renewed his commitment to safety in the sport and affirmed the f o u n d a t i o n ’s s h i f t t o community work as well as sports.

He reflected on the past year as being a good year in spite of challenges and returning after the Covid-19 hiatus and congratulated GSSF and thanked all members for the continued support in promoting sport shooting and expressed hope to continue to build the sport and focus on safety.

The Secretary of the Foundation, Mrs. Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon delivered a comprehensive Report on the activities of the GSSF. She also touched on key topics such as general firearm safety, increased membership growth, continuous monthly training courses, the various sport shooting disciplines currently encompassed, donations made, general outreach to supporting agencies, shooting range access, support programs and the ongoing development of the sport of shooting in Guyana.

The Report of the External Auditors along with the Financial Statement of the GSSF was presented by the Foundation’s Treasurer, Mr. Ray Beharry to the membership and this was

duly adopted at the AGM. The External Audit of the Financial Statement was duly conducted and issued

by Auditor, Mr. Harryram Parmesar from the Parmesar Audit Firm.

The Returning Officer appointed, Mr. Javin Singh, duly declared the board and positions therein vacant and commenced elections for a new Board of Directors of the GSSF. Following the transparent electoral process, the members listed below were duly elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation for the term 2024 to 2026 as announced and ratified by the Returning Officer, Mr. Javin Singh.

Newly elected President then delivered Remarks wherein he thanked the members for the support and indicated he looks forward to continuing the work and path carved out from the previous leadership and that he looks forward to working together to promote the sport shooting in Guyana.

Thanks were expressed to the following persons who assisted in one way or the other for the reporting period: The Honourable Minister Charles Ramson, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Director of Sport, Mr. Steve Ninvalle, National Sports Commission, President of the Guyana Olympic Association Mr. Godfrey Munroe and the Executive Committee of the G.O.A., Chief of Staff, Brig.

Omar Khan, Lt. Col Eon Murray, , Major Briglall Brigs, Guyana Defence Force, Mr. Ryan McKinnon, Neutrino Inc., Mr. Julius Simon, Commissioner General Mr. Godfrey Statia, the Guyana Revenue

Authority, Mr. Hakeem Mohamed, Mr. Mohamed Qualander of Queensway, Commissioner of Police Mr. Clifton Hicken, Dr. Bhiro Harry, GPF OC TSU Mr. Lowenfield, GPF Former OC TSU Mr. Guy Nurse, Officer-in-charge of the Armoury GPF Officer Nicholas, Mr. Lancelot Khan, Queensway Security

Service Inc., Mr. Tamesh Jagmohan, El Dorado Trading and El Dorado Security, Mr. Bish Panday and Mr. Vikash Panday, Directors of P&P Insurance and Consultants Ltd., Mr. Harryram Parmesar, Parmesar Accounting Firm, M r. A n d r e w P h a n g , International Technical Supplies (Guyana) Limited,

Drs. Pravesh Harry and Kevin Jodah, Board of Directors of DIG Inc. (Dental Imports Guyana Inc.), Mr. Brian Backer, Board of Directors of Orinduik Development Inc., Aleemul Ali Fabrication C o m p a n y, M r. D a l l a s Thomas, Praetorian Executive Protection Services Inc., Mrs. Luana

Fernandes and the Management and staff of Woodpecker Products, Mr. Bashair Mohamed, Mrs. Vimala Mohamed and Mr. Rameez Mohamed and the Management and Staff of B.M. Soat Auto Sales, Caterer, Match Committees, The Media, The G.S.S.F. Members and the Board of the G.S.S.F.

CWI High Performance Unit and GCB/ GHE Franchise held an historic meeting

rt Spo

s

CWI Director of Cricket Mike’s Bascome (left) alongside GCB president Bissoondyal Singh, GCB Operations Managers and other cricket executives during the recent visit

Diamond Mineral St. John the Baptiste to meet with Water Indoor Marian Academy in the finale Hockey Festival concludes today MVP Sports Pee-Wee U11 Girls’ Football Tournament…

- Toussaint stars for Antonio’s Hikers on day 2 Old Fort Expendables Captain Dwight Sullivan is chased by Akim Toussant of Antonio’s Hikers

West Ruimveldt with an attempt at goal during the 2-0 encounter with St John the BaptisteSkylar DeNobrega stars with double

GPF, Santos, WDFA and Western Tigers ineligible for GFF Congress

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