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Sunday Edition

AIETEUR

December 08, 2024

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

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‘ExxonMobil free to sell assets being paid for by Guyana to clean up oil spill’ - Jagdeo

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

‘Implement windfall taxes, it is a common practice in oil sectors’ - Dr. Vincent Adams Thieves break into Miner buried WBD rice mill twice alive after Immigration officer transferred in weeks, escape pit caves in with cash and after allegedly at Region 7 letting Brutus’ court documents Deputy Superintendent of Police, Phiona Harris

wife leave country

- suspects released on station bail

backdam

Oxford Energy:

The worse the deal, the more likely it is to be renegotiated

- three countries successfully changed terms to increase government's share

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Kaieteur News

Sunday December 08, 2024

Sunday December 08, 2024

Kaieteur News

Miner buried alive after pit caves in at Region 7 backdam A 46-year-old miner died on Saturday morning after a mining pit caved in and covered him at Aramu Backdam, Cuyuni River, Region Seven. Dead is Oral Anthony Rouse of 58 Miles Mabura Road, Region Ten. Police said that the mining pit incident occurred at around 09:30h.

“Initial investigations revealed that Rouse was employed by Alvin Higgins, a 49-year-old gold miner, to work on a four-inch land dredging operation at Aramu Backdam, with four other workers,” police said.

Kaieteur News understands that Rouse and

his co-workers were working in a 25-footdeep pit when one of the walls collapsed. His co-workers managed to escape but Rouse was buried alive. He was buried for about 14 minutes before his workers were able to dig him out the pit. However, Rouse was motionless. He was removed and taken to the Bartica Hospital where doctors pronounced

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Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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

Sunday December 08, 2024

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

ExxonMobil responds to Craig Jagdeo on Suriname Sylvester on bribery accusations EDITORIAL

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rue to form, Guyana’s chief oil policymaker had less than a positive reaction to Suriname’s oil royalty announcement that came on that country’s Independence Day. Always sensitive to what reduces him to the ranks of lost leaders, he rushed to poke holes in what the Surinamese President, Chandrikapersad Santokhi offered to all of that country’s citizens. The US$750 for every citizen of Suriname, along with its 7% annual interest rate payment doesn’t compare to what the PPP/C Government is doing for Guyanese. We check to see how Guyana stands when matched against Suriname.

Whatever the result, it would prove Jagdeo to be right, or otherwise engaging in one of his now usual six for nine.

Suriname just found oil and has not yet produced any oil, but already inspiring provisions are being set in place for all citizens of that former Dutch colony. Guyana is producing 650,000 barrels of oil daily presently, and has already shipped out 500 million barrels since oil first started to flow from under the sea over four years ago.

With oil numbers like those, and with oil prices where they are, all Guyanese should be doing very well, enjoying a better than average standard of living. With oil revenues flowing into Guyana, albeit at gangster levels from a vile contract, the national government is well-equipped to do better for all Guyanese.

Instead of that, Jagdeo’s PPP/C Government has chosen to prioritize sharing the oil wealth with its inner circle, and a small crowd of sycophants. Guyanese have received a paltry $25,000 (slightly over a hundred US$), and some minimal subsidies when it pleases leaders to do so. The greatest portion of budgets have gone to building infrastructure (hundreds of billions) while Guyanese are punishing daily from hunger and failing to meet their other basic needs. This is the history of the current 4-year-old PPP/C Government, with Vice President Jagdeo, the official national oil leader and, as many are ready to contend, the de facto national leader. It took four plus years of criticisms and condemnations for Jagdeo’s PPP/C Government to announce a cash grant of $100,000 for Guyanese who attained the age of 18 when this year began. In Suriname, it is every single citizen who stands to collect US$750 (GY$150,000) later. Here it was first an undefined “household” to receive $200,000, then all those 18 and over on January 1, 2024. Indeed, the cash in Guyana is in the present, but even then, hundreds of thousands of Guyanese are still left out.

Jagdeo is right to say that Guyana’s $100,000 cash grant announcement is money in the pockets of many Guyanese today. But he has the power of three oil projects going like a rocket, and increased daily production behind him.

Suriname is set to produce oil four years from today, but already all of its citizens have a return committed to when that happens. Suriname’s Santokhi has no oil production going for him now, but has already roped in all of his people, as part of a grand vision.

Jagdeo rides on the crests of an oil wave, and all he has done is search for ways to use the people’s oil wealth to wrap a rope around their necks. Surinamese have something to look forward to, while Guyanese own richly producing oil fields but look at Jagdeo and fear about what he is going to come up with next.

For sure, what President Santokhi has put before his citizens is a promissory note, as Jagdeo correctly pointed out. But let no one ever forget that it is the same Bharrat Jagdeo who promised to renegotiate the obscene ExxonMobil oil contract signed by the APNU+AFC Coalition. Then what did he do once back in power, but forget and/or deny what he swore to do, and walked back on his oath. This is the type of clever and shifty national political leader with whom Guyanese live.

Yet, this is the man that looks at what Suriname’s Santokhi is staking his leadership on, and says that it does not compare to what the PPP/C Government is doing here.

Jagdeo’s leadership record is of next to nothing, yet he loudly markets that he has done everything.

DEAR EDITOR, Please permit me space to respond to a letter in your December 6, 2024 edition by Mr. Craig Sylvester titled “Our major political parties may have received as much as US$46.5M from the oil companies”.

While we usually ignore

flights of fancy, attacks alleging illegality on our part cannot go uncorrected. In his letter Mr. Sylvester u n w i s e l y a n d disingenuously makes unsubstantiated allegations of bribery, and evidence-free “assumptions” about payments he says we “may”

have made. None of them is true.

Let me state clearly: ExxonMobil Guyana neither supports nor finances any political party or candidate.

We categorically reject allegations of any involvement in bribery or corrupt practices.

We adhere to the highest ethical standards and are committed to transparency and integrity in all our dealings.

Andrew Lodge General Counsel Law Department ExxonMobil Guyana Limited

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 08, 2024

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Kaieteur M@ilbox Kaieteur M@ilbox The deplorable state The PNCR must act in the best interest of High Palm Road, of Guyana and its supporters South Ruimveldt now tell the Guyanese Harmon to be removed for hour.

D E , The leader on the other people what he has in his Former Leader of the writing empty letters that EAR

DEAR EDITOR, It is with great concern that I pen this letter to the r e l e v a n t authority/authorities.

Road works have begun on High Palm Road, South Ruimveldt Gardens, since early in the month of November, closing off access from Aubrey Barker Road. Note, this point of access serves residents of both Kiskadee Drive and High Palm Road. As a result of these road works, the alternative access to residents of the aforementioned locations is from Cane View Avenue.

Additionally, it was observed that Guyana Water Inc.’s (GWI) team was also doing work in the said area whether they are finished or not, it’s left to one’s wonder.

To the corner of Cane View Avenue and High Palm Road, large ditches on both sides of the junction can be observed. These were

created as a result of GWI’s work, and were left open by the said utility company.

This has caused great concern for residents traversing through there. To date, many vehicles, including the large trucks transporting materials, have been victims of these ditches causing them to widen further thus making navigating into High Palm Street very dangerous.

When this occurs, access into and out of this area is now inhibited since vehicles cannot pass, and the roads are too poor to facilitate foot-traffic. A report was made to GWI and, to date, no action has been taken. Are we awaiting a serious tragedy to occur?

On behalf of the residents of this community, I am imploring for meaningful action be taken soonest to resolve this perilous existing situation.

Concerned Resident

DITOR

Opposition, Joseph Harmon was pressured out of that position because the PNCR had turned into a press statement party under his leadership. He must now be rocking with laughter since we have boldly and barefacedly returned to exactly that.

However, much is at stake because we are heading to national elections in 2025 and instead of severe pressure being applied to bring the PPP to its senses, what we are seeing is Jagdeo playing on our internal party differences and is likely to buy over some of our party officials and MPs. It is clear that there is not fight left in o u r p a r t y ’s c u r r e n t leadership and it can be fairly concluded that there was no fight there in the first instance.

What is good for the goose is good for the gander and if it were right for

Jagdeo found amusing as the PPP continued its rampage on Guyana, it has to be the same for the current leadership, only now it can be said that Jagdeo and his PPP do not find our daily press statements amusing because he does not even bother to read them. He is too busy riding roughshod over the opposition.

While Harmon had the support of most of his party comrades, it was evident that he was not up to robustly challenging the PPP and he paid the price for that. The same cannot be said of the current Leader of the PNCR who could barely keep the party together and does not enjoy the genuine support of his MPs. However, he is lucky in the sense that the party has to engage in a public show of having a united front but the rut is eating away at its internal core and weakening it by the

hand seems comfortable in remaining as Opposition Leader for the unforeseen future. Many of the party leader’s ardent pitbull-like supporters are now quiet. It is as if they realise that something is not right when a poodle is put to lead ferocious beasts ready to devour the enemies.

Harmon may have been a press statement leader and one that was apparently friendly with the PPP but he was not facing an upcoming national elections in an oil rich state governed almost single-handedly by Jagdeo.

It can be argued that Harmon as leader at a time of national elections could have easily redefined himself and redoubled his efforts to be victorious at the polls because he has the resources and had full support of his comrades and many IndoGuyanese business people.

The current leader must

arsenal to take the opposition to victory and save Guyana.

It can never be too late for the party to strategise to find the best possible solution to revitalise the party and opposition to prepare to be a viable alternative to the PPP in 2025. As it is today, our supporters are uncertain about the current leadership, its performance and readiness to take the helm and lead Guyana.

The questions must be asked and the party must be publicly grilled and must be prepared to tell Guyanese what mettle the PNCR has outside of press statements trailing behind every wrong Jagdeo visits on the country.

It is time for us to pressure the leadership of the PNCR to act in the best interest of Guyana and its supporters.

Sincerely Norman Browne Social and Political Activist

Kaieteur News

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Sunday December 08, 2024

Kaieteur M@ilbox Kaieteur M@ilbox I did not complain about administrative matters at Forestry Commission DEAR EDITOR, I am writing in reference to the letter published on December 4, 2024, under the name “Tia Campbell.”

The letter criticized Human Resources and the Board of Directors for their alleged failure to discipline an individual accused of mistreating stakeholders and staff.

I am deeply concerned as I, Tia Campbell, an employee of the Forestry Commission, am not the author of this letter.

Its publication has caused significant d i s t r e s s a n d misrepresentation of my identity.

I respectfully request that my name be disassociated from the letter that was published.

Additionally, I urge the publication to implement stricter verification processes for future submissions to prevent such incidents.

Sincerely, Tia Campbell

Jagdeo in his Goebel Sian mode DEAR EDITOR, Please allow me to offer my gratitude for giving prominence to my letter on the chaotic first day of the distribution of the Cash Grant in Lethem.

Since that letter was published, no fewer than fifteen residents, pensioners among them, have contacted me with the same story – they have not received the Grant even though they would have done what was required of them – getting registered.

I am anticipating that with the widening of the distribution exercise, many more residents, countrywide, will find themselves in the same predicament. This is totally normal since no system is fool-proof, no system is ideal. There will always be flaws.

It’s against this backdrop that I am appalled that the VP Jagdeo would have taken to his weekly Press Conference to berate my efforts, not only of highlighting that fact, but also offering a possible solution to the problem.

Therefore, please allow me to state some irrefutable facts;1. There was confusion on day one. No one can deny that. Even a known PPP sympathiser, Mr. Clairmont Lye acknowledged that in a letter to the Press; 2. None of the staff present was equipped with answers to the many queries that were made on that day; 3. Some persons, including me, had registered using our passports. No cheques came for such persons. Not one.

4. During the registration exercise,

persons operating the Biometrics device did not always “lock in” the information after completing the process. This invariably led to some persons not being recorded as being registered.

One would have thought that the VP Jagdeo would have been sensible enough to recognise the failings in the system and seek to correct them since this is not the end of the exercise. No, rather, he ranted and raved as though he alone has all the a n s w e r s t o G u y a n a ’s problems and anyone who dares offers an opinion is out of place.

Please allow me to inform the VP Jagdeo, that when it comes to national issues, all Guyanese have the right to have a say. If others are willing to forfeit that right, not Carl Parker. I

will be in his bonnet day in and day out; if that is the way he wants it.

The VP Jagdeo should be embarrassed to offer us a measly $100k after nearly five years of pumping oil.

While some residents are grateful for the “small piece,” it is not a lifechanging sum that will make us better off. It is not like the billions that are being siphoned off by the Kleptocrats in this, the largest Kleptocracy called Guyana.

Anyways, I have been reliably informed that there will be reconciliation; and that persons who missed out this week, will get their cheques before December 31. I guess we will have to wait and see.

Yours truly, Carl Parker Pensioner.

Sunday December 08, 2024

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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Sunday December 08, 2024

Oxford Energy: The worse the deal, the more likely it is to be renegotiated - three countries successfully changed terms to increase government’s share W i t h o u t a n understanding of the facts underlying a renegotiation, one can easily jump to the wrong conclusions, and that is precisely what seems to have been happening with alarming frequency on the conference/ seminar circuit, where conclusions are too often drawn from incomplete information derived from press releases or press reports.Oxford Energy Forum in an August 2010 research paper documented the events that led up to renegotiated oil contracts in three countries, Venezuela, Bolivia and Kazakhstan.

According to the document, many of those contracts were not only economically indefensible, but they also purported to cede control over petroleum operations to private parties, often in a manner that raised serious legal issues going to the heart of the contracts.

All this has led to contract renegotiations, and in some cases, complete national industry

restructurings, in the last few years. In many countries, this has involved fundamental issues of structure and governance; all cases involved adjustments in government take.

Host countries that have taken measures in this direction include Algeria, Bolivia, Canada, China, Ecuador, Kazakhstan and Venezuela, all of which imposed new taxes and royalties on production, exports or windfall profits.

Bolivia and Venezuela also mandated structural changes for all contracts in their hydrocarbons industries. In Alberta, Canada, the provincial government announced a 20 percent increase in oil and gas royalties.

The US Government provided Congress with a report in May 2007 on the question of increasing oil and gas royalties, including a comparison of royalty rates under fiscal regimes around the world, in response to concerns that government

take was not keeping pace with record oil company profits. Oil executives were called before Congress to defend windfall profits, and S a r a h P a l i n ’s A l a s k a collected billions in additional revenue from a new windfall profits tax.

Three Case Studies

the Kashagan field in Kazakhstan.

Venezuela I n Ve n e z u e l a , approximately 500,000 barrels per day were being produced under the operating service agreements, which were supposed to be pure service

“Bad deals spell trouble. The worse the deal, or the more imbalanced the deal, the more likely it is to be renegotiated.

That goes for both sides.”

Three of the best-known renegotiations or industry restructurings of the last few years involved the operating service agreements (convenios operativos) in Ve n e z u e l a , t h e g a s production contracts in Bolivia, and the renegotiation of the world’s largest production sharing agreement, the one covering

contracts. The 1975 Law Regulating the Industry and Trade of Hydrocarbons did not allow, except in certain cases approved by Congress, any private participation in production. Service contracts were allowed for basic services, such as drilling and seismic survey, but these were supposed to be pure service contracts, not

contracts mimicking production sharing agreements that effectively granted the contractors a participation in the business.

The Venezuelan operating service agreements, although structured as service contracts, were in substance anything but pure service contracts. They ceded control over petroleum operations in huge areas for 20 years, and compensation was based on the volume and value of production. Many of the service providers were in effect senior partners in the business, on average taking more than half the value of production.

In some cases, the state company actually lost money for each barrel of oil produced, after accounting for the royalty owed to the State. Making matters worse, the contractors, claiming to be only service providers, argued that they were subject to the non-oil income tax rate of 34 percent rather than the rate applicable to oil producers, 50 percent. In

April 2005, the Venezuelan Government intervened to require migration of the operating service agreements to the new structure of mixed company (empresa mixta) under the 2001 Organic Hydrocarbons Law, and 30 out of 32 contracts were successfully migrated over a one-year period. The other two resulted in negotiated settlements.

The new mixed companies emerging from the migration of the operating service agreements are all subject to combined royalties and special advantages (ventajas especiales) of 33 1/3 percent, as well as the 50 percent oil income tax rate. A special assessment for extraordinary prices also applies when the price of crude oil exceeds $70 per barrel. Apart from the fiscal regime, a state company is by law the owner of at least 60 percent of the shares of each of the new mixed companies. Basic (Continued on page 57)

Govt. must secure more fiscal benefits for Guyanese

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he Alliance For Change (AFC) believes that the Government of Guyana needs to secure additional fiscal benefits for its people ahead of the granting of a permit to ExxonMobil Guyana for the 7th oil project – Hammerhead.

On Friday, during the p a r t y ’s w e e k l y p r e s s conference, Kaieteur News asked whether the party believes there should be more fiscal benefits ahead of the approval of the permit.

Chairman of the party, David Patterson told reporters that Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, who is also the country’s chief policymaker on oil and gas, should focus his attention on deriving more benefits from the oil company.

“Jagdeo and the PPP instead of doing what they should be doing trying to make the country better are taking out the big stick method, threatening that they will withhold permission on (7th project),” Patterson said.

He added, “We have made it quite clear already the processes in which we would like…when the

– David Patterson

Chairman of the Alliance For Change, David Patterson Petroleum Activity Bill was tabled, I think in late last year or early this year, we put in 34 amendments that would have addressed this very issue and it said that there is a grandfathering clause whereby all projects approved prior to the petroleum activities continues (but) any new project after the Petroleum Activities Bill (that) comes into play should be under that new act.”

Patterson is of the view that Exxon would not be opposed to discussing better benefits for Guyana.

“I can say this, Exxon apparently is not happy with the stewardship not only in the oil and gas sector. They are probably getting

feedback from their contractors in the country how difficult it is to operate in such a corrupt society, and they may have been voicing their disagreements with the PPP hence the reason why J a g d e o i s threatening…withholding consent which he has never done before,” Patterson said.

Furthermore, he believes that the issue is not a question of the operator providing the data but is more of attempts to silence a major operator.

“Fortunately for Exxon and the rest of the country, times for change are here and obviously when we assume office, we will treat everybody, foreigners and the country with respect, we

will ensure the rule of law is respected and everything is done openly and transparently,” he assured.

On December 6, Kaieteur News in an article captioned, ‘Engage Exxon on better fiscal terms ahead of granting permit for 7th oil project- PNC’ reported that t h e P e o p l e ’s N a t i o n a l Congress Reform (PNCR) is of the view the Government of Guyana should engage ExxonMobil on better fiscal terms for Guyanese ahead of granting the permit for the Hammerhead project.

Advisor to the party on oil and gas, Elson Low said the party always held the position that it is critical for the government to have discussions with ExxonMobil to derive additional benefits for the people of Guyana.

Low was asked by Kaieteur News whether his party believes that more benefits ought to be obtained before the approval of the project.

“It doesn’t have to be at the instance of the granting

of an additional permit, it could be in the near future. It could be that the government engages with consultants, and with legal representation to have that discussion and prepare itself. Rather, we have not seen any movement on that front,” Low said.

T h e P N C R representative recalled that the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) while in opposition had promised to renegotiate the contract.

However, that position has since changed now that the party is in government. Low called on the government to use the request for licence as an opportunity to have discussions with ExxonMobil.

“However, that is not going to happen under the PPP, they have no interest engaging the company in any particular sphere and so sadly, the opportunities will p a s s b y, w i t h o u t a n y discussions whatsoever.

There can be a wide range of discussions that could be had but they don’t intend to carry out any discussions at all,” Low stressed.

On November 10, Kaieteur News reported that the Government of Guyana

is unable to say whether the country will obtain improved fiscal benefits from the seventh oil project until ExxonMobil makes a full submission about the project and that submission is reviewed by the government.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo at a recent news conference told reporters that “right now, we are not considering that.”

Jagdeo was asked by Kaieteur News to state whether there will be any improved fiscal benefits to the country should the project and others be approved.

In response, the government’s chief oil spokesperson said, “I don’t want to be premature. We have not received the full application from Exxon and when that application comes in sometime next year, we will review it.”

He explained that after a thorough review of Exxon’s submission, he will disclose what the fiscal benefits will be.

“So, my position is still the same, we haven’t received an application as yet and we will deal with it at that time,” Jagdeo said.

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 08, 2024

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The Fungible Fandango D

ennis Chabrol asked Bharrat Jagdeo a simple question and Jagdeo responded with acrobatics that could rival Cirque du Soleil—minus the charm and coordination. Chabrol wasn’t asking for the moon or even the stars. He wasn’t even asking for an audited ledger.

No, he simply wanted to know why the government can’t outline how the funds from the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) are going to be used. Easy-peasy, right?

Wrong.

What we got instead was 15 minutes of obfuscation, distraction, and enough verbal gymnastics to make a thesaurus blush. Jagdeo’s answer boiled down to this: “Funds are fungible.”

Now, I’ve heard some excuses in my time but this one takes the cake. “Funds are fungible” is like saying, “Water is wet.” Yes, Bharrat, we know. Money can be moved around. It’s not the answer to the question; it’s a statement of fact that doesn’t remotely address the issue.

L e t ’s t a l k a b o u t fungibility for a second because, apparently, it’s Jagdeo’s new favourite word. He said it with the conviction of a man who just discovered a big word and wanted to show off at a dinner party. Fungibility means that one unit of money is as good as another, interchangeable like socks or bad excuses.

But here’s the thing: just because funds are fungible doesn’t mean they should be inscrutable.

Imagine if you asked your teenager what they’re going to do with their allowance and they said,

“Money is fungible.” You’d be looking for the car keys to drive them to therapy—or, at the very least, revoke their spending privileges.

Governments, last I checked, aren’t teenagers.

They’re supposed to plan, budget, and, dare I say it, be accountable.

Jagdeo’s tap dance around this issue isn’t just evasive; it’s insulting. If the government had a mediumor long-term expenditure plan, as any responsible administration should, this wouldn’t even be a question.

He could have said, “In 2024, we’re spending X% of the oil revenue on infrastructure, Y% on health, and Z% on education.” See? Not rocket science. I didn’t even break a sweat coming up with that example.

But instead, we’re treated to a lecture on the liquidity of government revenues, as if that somehow absolves them of the need to explain themselves.

The Opposition, bless their skeptical hearts, is understandably concerned that the country’s oil wealth is going to vanish faster than the dessert tray at a wedding.

They’re not asking for miracles; they’re asking for a plan. A roadmap.

A post-it note, even.

Something to show that the government has thought this through beyond, “Let’s wing it and see what happens.”

But let’s be honest: Jagdeo’s whole “shtick” here isn’t about economics or fungibility or even accountability. It’s about control. If the government outlines exactly how the NRF money will be spent, it opens itself up to scrutiny.

And scrutiny is to this administration what garlic is

to a vampire. They’d rather dance in circles, spewing jargon and platitudes, than give anyone a straight answer.

And let’s not ignore the irony here. This is the same government that spent years criticizing the previous administration for its handling of the oil sector.

T h e y p r o m i s e d transparency, accountability, and all the other buzzwords that sound great in a campaign speech. But now that they’re in the driver’s seat, they’re acting like they just discovered the oil money in the glove compartment and have no idea what to do with it.

Jagdeo’s claim that the Opposition is trying to create confusion is laughable. If anyone’s creating confusion, it’s him—with his longwinded, convoluted nonanswers.

Dennis Chabrol wasn’t trying to score political points; he was asking a question that any citizen of Guyana should be able to ask: What are you doing with our money? And instead of a straight answer, he got a verbal maze with no exit.

At the heart of this debacle is a troubling reality: the government doesn’t have a plan. Or if they do, they’re too afraid to share it because it might not hold up to public scrutiny. Either way, it’s a failure of leadership. Oil revenues are a once-in-alifetime opportunity for Guyana.

They could transform the country, lift people out of poverty, and build a future that everyone can be proud of. But that won’t happen if the funds are squandered.

The fact that Jagdeo couldn’t—or wouldn’t—

DEM BOYS SEH

Dem three envelopes!

Dem boys seh Burnham deh pon he deathbed and de country bin in a state.

Economy flat like piece a clap bread, and shortage all over de place. Burnham call in Desi and hand him three envelope. He seh, “Boy, if you end up in a jam yuh can’t handle, open one.”

Well, Desi tek de envelope and put dem in he drawer. Fuh de first few months, tings smooth like oil. But six months in, de economy tek a next lash. Pressure start come from all corner. Desi remember de envelopes and open de fuss one. It seh, “Blame yuh predecessor.”

Desi call press conference quick. He seh it was Burnham socialist ting mek de country in dis state. De party grumble but seh leh we give Desi a chance. Next ting

yuh know, de economy start look nice again. Desi start breathe easy.

But dem boys seh good times don’t last long. A year later, de economy tek a dive again. Desi seh, “Is time fuh envelope number two.” He open it, and it seh, “Reorganize.” Desi shuffle up some people, change some plan, and bam! De economy bounce back again.

Couple years pass and pressure come from de union this time. Desi seh, “Boy, is envelope number three now.” He lock he door, sit down, and open it slow. De message seh, “Prepare three envelopes…”

Dem boys seh when Janet gone, she lef three envelope too. But she mek sure she label dem, “Fuh Bharrat.”

Talk half. Leff half.

provide a straight answer to Chabrol’s question speaks volumes. So here we are, left with more questions than answers, more confusion than clarity, and more frustration than hope.

Dennis Chabrol asked a simple question. Jagdeo could have given a simple

answer. Instead, he chose to perform the Fungible Fandango, leaving us all wondering if this administration knows where it’s going—or if it’s just making it up as it goes along.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not

necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

Kaieteur News

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D TR

HAR

LL HK LA

BY G

Sunday December 2024 Monday May 02,08, 2022

H@RD TRUTHS

BY GHK LALL

Oil money – tangles, twists and torments When the choice is made to travel the long, dark road that is unknown, there comes that time when the way is, sometimes, lost. For when that man or woman thinks they are walking in a straight line, the hard fact is that the path is twisted and potholed, rocky and treacherous. Full of dangers, it is. The man or woman may have deceived themselves, pretend or insist, that it is not so. Meanwhile, others may have been misled into believing so. The latter group could be about blind faith expressed, notwithstanding what the eye and the mind are confirming. Meanwhile, the world recognizes that road chosen for what it is in its length and breadth: twisted and distorted in many places.

There is nothing philosophical about this; it is what many know from their own experiences, from harmful reality.

I think that a notorious German from another even more perilous era said this better: begin with a deception, then deception becomes the only road left to follow. The deceptions don’t

just multiply, they must multiply. I am thinking of where Guyanese find themselves today with their precious little oil money.

Where is the truth about it?

What are its truths, if any?

From the moment that the cleverness of “national development priorities” was heard, it was recognized for the monstrosities that were going to be housed under its roof.

Time and circumstances have now proven so, haven’t they?

Look at how twisted the narratives about NRF withdrawals have become, how tortured it has become for those who man it to speak cleanly about those checks written against the NRF, so to speak.

Oh, they did everything with flair and furious energy, and fullness in its parliamentary revision and forced midnight passage. At least, the political architects thought so. Oftentimes, the best is too smart for their own good. That sneaking around and signing of the revised law like the biblical thief in the night was the first clue of the self-serving plans

already finalized, the stream of sordid developments to come.

The people of Guyana need to know, must know, how their oil dollars are spent. Three quarters of those dollars are currently snatched right off the top, right before Guyanese get to touch and taste one penny from their patrimony. There are some secrets shrouding about what specifically were those American billions were spent. The first ones withheld from Guyanese. Now those first secrets involving oil dollars (expenses) are now succeeded by another set of secrets about hundreds of billions of Guyanese dollars taken out from the NRF. According to those standing in husbandry over the NRF, the spending of withdrawals from it is a mystery, one to which there is neither clue nor key.

Are Guyanese to accept that there are no men and women of real caliber in this country who can unravel the tangle of those withdrawals that came so easily, so deliciously? They were such fun during the times when the NRF taps were opened

full blast. Now come the hangovers, the reckonings for the splurges and what could very well be a carnival of corruption. Now that there must be some accounting, there are these verbal sleights of hand, and sixes for nine, and pigs in a poke all kneaded into one.

An unschooled market vendor counts what comes in and what goes out. He or she is being honest with self, transparent for small dollars that be just a few thousands and nothing more. It is for the children; they must not be made to suffer. More importantly, the greatest care must be exercised so that they are not cheated by honest error, or deliberate deviousness.

Seven billion was set aside in the 2024 budget for what looks to a stupid fellow l i k e m e t o b e ‘miscellaneous.’ Of course, a brilliant sounding label like “measures to be determined after consultations…” was found to slap on it. Do Guyanese know anything about the disposition of that $7 billion [for sundries], now that the year is drawing to a

close? One may look away, even allow themselves to be persuaded or overpowered, since it is only a measly $7 billion. But the same can and should never be permitted for hundreds of billions of oil money withdrawn from that Guyanese retirement fund, that rainy day safety deposit canister known as the NRF. The question for all Guyanese (minus those that had a good time with NRF withdrawals) is how could such a large sum be such a problem, such a torment, to detail the specifics of its uses. I could settle for broad specifics, as in so much for this and so much for something else. There is little that should be intolerable about what is being asked re those NRF withdrawals. It is more than about good governance, or good overseership, or good accounting. It is about the kind of good leadership character that guarantees the brightest transparency.

In closing out this seemingly crippling manmade NRF situation, a man of truth is usually

prompted to be honest with himself. He takes stock, admits his predicament, and seeks help out of the deep hole in which he inadvertently trapped himself. Honest mistake, honest efforts at selfcorrection, restoring some semblance of honest balance. On the other hand, a citizen, who is less inclined to the straight and simple way, is left with only one choice: continue as before, in the hope that the thick darkness will protect, h o w e v e r i m p e r f e c t l y.

Perhaps, what is most appropriate in Guyana’s NRF circumstances is that timeless truth from Sir Walter Scott: “Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive…” Guyanese can say goodbye to NRF money.

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

Sunday December 08, 2024

Kaieteur News

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BLUNTNESS ON INDECENCIES! 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 indecencies in our land that should matter, not only to us at this publication, but the entire nation.

MONDAY – December 02, 2024 Change the deal The Government through its Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo is adamant that there would be no referendum on the lopsided ExxonMobil contract before next year’s general and regional elections.

National elections are the pathway to power, where it is either gained or lost. A referendum on renegotiation of the ExxonMobil oil contract, could wreck all of Jagdeo’s cleverly laid plans.

An outcome that says “YES” to renegotiation leaves him stranded, with nowhere to run. Because of the thought of that clear danger, among the bigger ones in his nightmarish world, he is horrified at having a referendum before elections.

But Guyanese must continue the fight for a change in this wretched oil deal that benefits only the oil companies, Jagdeo and his friends.

TUESDAY – December 03, 2024 Willful blindness and corruption Guyanese on a daily basis long for a steady supply of electricity desperately to ease their anxieties, to reduce their woes and losses.

Expensive items are lost daily through spoilage, work hours and precious study hours gone and not coming back. When the PPPC Government first contracted with Karpowership of Turkey, the hope was that the lights would come on and that any controversy would be on the ‘off’ switch.

Whatever hope there was that Karpowership, obtained through UCC Holdings, would be only about electricity and nothing that resembles controversy is now dashed.

In South Africa, in Lebanon, and in Pakistan, disputes have dogged the

company’s way of doing business.

Allegations of bribery have been leveled, court cases are on the record, and so are the fines levied against Karadeniz, the parent company of Karpowership.

How could all of this have been missed by Government of Guyana officials tasked with identifying a reputable and capable source of power for energy-starved Guyanese?

Could this be viewed as a case of simple negligence, with people acting irresponsibly under the rush of circumstances? Or was it more that, given its record that is now coming to light, Karpowership (the Karadeniz parent) was the kind of power company with which PPPC Government officials were only too pleased to seal a deal?

WEDNESDAY – December 04, 2024 Justness for Guyanese The oil bosses operating here last week ate turkey and celebrated Thanksgiving in a grand way. And they can afford that lifestyle having been gifted our patrimony by our leaders. We Guyanese are gearing up for Christmas.

It would not be the same for most of us, because there is little to eat and enjoy.

Where is a little justness for Guyana with this oil, is what we ask of John Hess and Alistair Routledge?

Guyanese are being tricked, squeezed and then cheated with their massive oil wealth.

Yet, Hess Corporation Vi c e P r e s i d e n t , C l a r e Gardner, could talk about what is “just” and “affordable” for others, but not the oil owners, Guyanese.

There is an extraordinary level of hypocrisy at work with ExxonMobil and its American partner, Hess Corporation. The plunderers could highlight what is “affordable” when a

significant fraction of Guyana’s population can’t afford to buy food.

THURSDAY – December 05, 2024 Media Abuse on Robb St. Today Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo will be at it again. His presser is slated for 2PM. He is the happiest man in Guyana when he is abrasive. Though a leader made of sand, he relishes delivering words with the texture of sandpaper. What he fakes as a weekly press conference has actually deteriorated into one-man brawls, ugly examples for citizens, and regular sessions of the sickness that is so pervasive.

As if in a race to prove who is bolder and brassier,

President Irfaan Ali had his own press engagement a few weeks ago to unleash his rage. If President Ali’s action could be accepted at face value, his listeners were treated to an encounter that trashed them to pieces, left hanging their heads in shame. Ministers of the government, engineers employed by the State, senior public servants were given a public whipping that they all should remember for a long time.

FRIDAY - December 06, 2024 Trade unions or political proxies In Guyana, the trade union movement has long been plagued by deep-seated political divisions. The

consequences of these fractures are now painfully evident.

Once a force for solidarity and worker empowerment, the trade union movement is now splintered along political lines.

This has weakened its ability to effectively advocate for the rights and interests of workers. Instead of fostering unity among the working class, trade unions have often allowed partisan loyalties to overshadow their primary mission. Some of them are all but political proxies in name.

SATURDAY – December 07, 2024 PPP/C afraid of transparency

National leaders in the PPP/C are determined not to have a Petroleum Commission manned by reliable, trustworthy people, who have earned their spurs in the oilfields around the world.

Whenever this newspaper mentions a name, those with proven prowess and known integrity, the PPP/C Government dismisses them and circles its wagons.

Like the operation of the network of tender boards across Guyana and contract awards, like the chronic secrecies surrounding the Black Hole that is sugar, the same standards have come to characterize what goes on in the growing oil sector of Guyana.

Kaieteur News

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The Port Kaituma District Hospital in Region One.

Sunday December 08, 2024

‘Implement windfall taxes, it is a common practice in oil sectors’ – Dr. Vincent Adams

Port Kaituma to get $53M maternal waiting home T h e N a t i o n a l Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) has awarded a $53 million contract to GC Construction Inc. for the construction of a maternity waiting home at the Port Kaituma District Hospital in Region One. On its website, NPTAB said that the construction firm was the most responsive

bidder of the two bids that were received. The contract is valued $53, 309, 930.

At the recent sodturning ceremony for the new Kato Hospital in Region Eight, Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony had reiterated the importance of having maternal waiting homes constructed nearby the hinterland hospitals.

“Let’s say if someone was pregnant and they had to come to a hospital, it would be very challenging because if you are pregnant and you leave when you are going into labour more than likely by the time you get to the hospital, you will probably deliver the baby enroute to the hospital,” he said highlighting the challenges expectant

mothers from far-flung villages face.

The Minister said that the approach was utilized in Region Nine.

“We have tried this in Region 9; it is working very well for us in Region 9; it is working very well for us in Region 1 and we want to make sure that at every hospital that we have gets this,” the Minister shared.

Former head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and member of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Dr. Vincent Adams told reporters on Friday that the government of Guyana should implement windfall taxes, a common practice within the industry.

Windfall tax is a tax levied by governments against certain industries when economic conditions allow those industries to experience above average or projected profits.

Dr. Adams was asked by Kaieteur News to comment on the Vice President on November 29, 2024 statement that the government will not be instituting windfall taxes at this time, while the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC) is of the view that the conditions within the industry are not bizarre enough to have it added to the oil policies.

“This whole nonsense is just a bunch of excuses.

Windfall taxes is a common thing, look how many countries, Germany, Britain, the United States…several countries have done it. So, this is nothing that this government (cannot do) …this is one of the mechanisms that they should be using,” said Dr. Adams who has over 40 years’ e x p e r i e n c e i n environmental, petroleum and geological engineering.

Dr. Adams stressed that since the Vice President does not want to renegotiate the contract, this is an opportunity to be able to benefit from windfall taxes which, the government can have control over outside of the contract. “But the guy [Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo] puts on this big bravado talk like everything else and finds excuses as to why we shouldn’t do it. This here is one of those that we have a lot of control over and there is precedent. Like I said a bunch of other countries have done it,” he lamented.

Furthermore, he explained that countries that have the mechanism in place are actually considering not removing the windfall taxes mechanism. Dr. Adams said that all the excuses that the Vice President has are “empty rhetoric to try and fool people as if he is pushing back on Exxon. If he wants to push back on Exxon, there are several different

examples.”

On December 6, this publication reported that the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) said that the current circumstances within the oil industry are not bizarre enough to have the issue of windfall taxes included in their oil model.

The disclosure was made last Friday by Advisor on Oil and Gas to the PNCR Elson Low. Low told reporters that, “We have looked at the issue of windfall taxes and a couple of years ago, we made some remarks on this. The critical issue is that these oil agreements are based on some base assumptions, if those assumptions are violated then it will raise a question.”

He continued: “So, I would say that given that we are not looking at such a substantial change to the industry it’s not something that we are looking at. It is not something that we have raised in our oil policies.

However, looking at our previous statements, it is only in a very bizarre scenario that we would incorporate that into the model, but I would say that windfall taxes are a bit beside the point.”

On November 29, Kaieteur News reported Vice President Jagdeo saying that windfall taxes will not be instituted at this time.

Jagdeo, in response to a question posed by Kaieteur News on why the government is not implementing windfall taxes since it does not breach the existing Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with ExxonMobil and its partners, said, “I have dealt with windfall profits in the past, and why we believe that windfall taxation should not be pursued at this time. I dealt with it in the past, if you go back and read.”

Earlier this year, the Vice President had told the media that the windfall tax that some countries are exploring only came after intense pressure from their populations.

However, he explained why the institution of the tax could not be replicated in Guyana. “We are bound by a PSA (Production Sharing Agreement) with very specific terms on the taxation side.”

To this end, he suggested, “if you change the taxation here, it’s considered a breach of the contract.”

Sunday December 08, 2024

Kaieteur News

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‘ExxonMobil free to sell assets being paid for by Guyana to clean up oil spill’ - Jagdeo A

lthough Guyana is paying for the assets being used in the offshore production of oil in the Stabroek Block through the cost recovery mechanism, this does not make the country a part owner of the assets. This therefore means that in the event of an oil spill occurs as a result of the activities in the resource rich offshore acreage, ExxonMobil will be free to sell the assets to respond to such an event.

This explanation was offered by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, the country's Chief Policymaker on the oil and gas sector.

During his Thursday press conference at Freedom House in Georgetown, this newspaper reminded the VP that he previously said the two Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessels (FPSOs) purchased

by Exxon recently, can be sold to handle costs related to a spill. He was asked to explain the logic, since Guyana is repaying those expenses through the cost recovery feature, provided in the contract.

According to the 2016 Production Sharing

off...you are entitled to collect 50% of future profits and they get 50% and then 2% royalty on the gross...that's your entitlement to collect.”

A noticeably annoyed Jagdeo continued, “It's a simple thing. Why do we have to keep explaining this all of the time? We don't own 50% of the company. We have an entitlement as a state to 50% of the revenue. That is why we don't have to supply any capital to invest, we don't supply any capital.”

He pointed out that the Co-Venturers raise the capital and invests, allowing Guyana to enjoy the entitlement.

On the other hand, Jagdeo said that if the company was to dissolve and sell the assets, Guyana may then be entitled to 50% of the assets. “Now if you have a dissolution of the company and they sell off the assets, I guess we are entitled to 50% of the assets too in the situation where you dissolve the company so I hope that clarifies your question,” he noted.

Exxon's investment?

Previously, Attorney-atLaw and Chartered Accountant, Christopher

Agreement (PSA) Guyana signed with Exxon, the contractor can deduct up to 75% of the oil produced each month to recover costs or investments made. The remaining oil is then shared equally with Guyana as profit.

As such, this newspaper asked Jagdeo, “...why should we sell our own assets to take care of an oil spill?”

In his response, the VP explained, “It's a simple thing. You're not part owner of any company. You don't own these assets. So, ExxonMobil puts in the investment. They create a company; the company has these assets. We are entitled to receive in the future, 50%, once everything is paid

Ram identified Guyana as a co-investor in the Stabroek Block, as a result of the lack of ring-fencing.

It should be noted that to date, the cost of the three projects producing oil could have been recovered by ExxonMobil. They carry a collective price tag of US$18.5B, while more than US$25B has so far been recovered by the Stabroek Block partners- Exxon, Hess and CNOOC. Liza One, pegged at US$3.5B, Liza Two which costs US$6B and the US$9B Payara project could have each been paid off in 2023 had Guyana ring-fenced the projects. A ring-fencing provision would mandate each project to pay for itself.

After the cost of the project has been repaid, Guyana is poised to receive 50% of the revenues generated at the project. This means that revenue flow to the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) would significantly increase.

In the absence of this key principle, ExxonMobil is free to use the revenues from these producing fields to fund projects that are yet to commence production or invest in its exploration

activities across the Block.

'Ram had addressed Jagdeos rejection of his claim that Guyana is a de facto investor in petroleum operations. Jagdeo said he has not seen any borrowing by the government injected into the petroleum sector hence Guyana cannot be considered an investor.

The lawyer however pointed out that the Vice President must know that borrowings are only one

form of financing of investment. Ram said, “As any company finance executive, or any review of financial statements of Banks DIH or DDL would elucidate for him, there are two other principal methods – raising money from shareholders via equity or preference shares, or retained earnings of the company.”

“It is a logical corollary that by virtue of being a 50%

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo participant in profit oil from the Stabroek block, Guyana is bearing 50% of all costs, contractually or otherwise deemed recoverable,” Ram said.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday December 08, 2024

New Amsterdam Rotary Club, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints collaborate for water improvement project in Berbice

Hospital staff trying out the dispensers The Rotary Club of New Amsterdam (RCNA) and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (CJCLDS) continued their fruitful partnership for the benefit of residents in Region Six. The most recent collaboration for a water improvement project in Berbice schools and hospitals.

The two non-profit organisations acquired 12 water dispensers, installed them and handed them over to hospitals and schools in the East Berbice/ Corentyne; Region 6.

Eight of the dispensers were installed at the New Amsterdam Hospital, two at the Port Mourant Hospital, one each at the Tutorial Academy Secondary and the St. Therese Primary Schools.

A simple handing over ceremony was held at the New Amsterdam Hospital where Rotarians, church members, doctors, nurses, other hospital staff and visitors were present.

The RCNA is an August body with its motto “Making a difference”. Over time, it has been collaborating with the CJCLDS in many humanitarian ventures as they strive to make the country a better place.

Speaking at the simple ceremony, President of the RCNA Keine Read emphasized the organization pleasure in fulfilling one of its obligations in terms of water and sanitation. He expressed happiness that the RCNA has again teamed up with the CJCLDS to successfully execute a project for a humanitarian cause.

Read added that the RCNA is always looking for opportunities to make life easier and better for residents.

“This project is a step up from what we were accustomed to

doing. We use to just provide safe drinking water. Now we are giving you chilled water”.

He said too that the RCNA is willing to take on more projects with bigger impact and more magnitude.

Speaking on behalf of the church, Elder Cory expressed his pleasure of working with the RCNA to complete another successful project.

He said as a church, it is their mandate to help and see mankind happy and they are willing to continue to assist in whatever way possible.

Expressing gratitude on behalf of the New Amsterdam Hospital was Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jagroo. He thanked the RCNA and the CJCLDS for always going the extra mile to bring satisfaction and happiness to persons in the community.

He was happy that the two esteem organizations has once again partnered with the hospital in such a well thought out venture. He promised to ensure that the facilities are well taken care of.Dr. Jagroo spoke of the many benefits of the project and the enormous benefits of water.

The activity was chaired by Rotarian Tajpaul Adjodhea who gave a background of the work of Rotary, which he says benefits all. “When we serve, we are helping all of humanity.” He thanked all those who contributed in one way or another to the success of the venture.

A number of schools and other organizations have benefited from the generosity of the two organizations. One successful project that was completed by the RCNA was helping to set up the ICU at the New Amsterdam Hospital.

The project coordinator was Rotarian Roger Greenidge.

Sunday December 08, 2024

Kaieteur News

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Recover Guyana launches green entrepreneurship programme for Youth R

ecover Guyana, a non-governmental organization (NGO) successfully launched the ENGAGE Project, a green entrepreneurship programme designed to empower youth across Guyana with tools, resources, and knowledge to initiate and maintain environmentally sustainable businesses in eco-tourism, renewable energy, waste management, organic farming and more.

In partnership with Scotiabank and Van Oord, ENGAGE will train over 150 Guyanese youth between the ages of 16-35 years in green technologies, eco-friendly innovations, and sustainable business practices offering up to 2 million Guyanese dollars in grants to support the most promising and viable business ideas.

ENGAGE will be piloted in January 2025 targeting 150 youth from regions; Region 3 E s s e q u i b o I s l a n d s - We s t Demerara and Region 6 - East Berbice Corentyne through training and mentorship programmes.

At its core, the project offers a comprehensive learning environment providing skills, resources, and networks needed to start and scale successful ecofriendly business models.

Building on Recover Guyana's commitment to environmental sustainability, ENGAGE forecasts nationwide expansion to all regions by 2026 creating a robust and widespread movement of young entrepreneurs.

The project is made possible with funding from corporate sponsors Scotiabank and Van Oord highlighting their collaborative commitment to building a greener and more prosperous Guyana where youth share a leading role in environmental responsibility and economic growth. In her company's endorsement of the ENGAGE project, Nafeeza Gaffoor, Country Manager of Scotiabank Guyana said “Scotiabank is pleased to collaborate with Recover

Guyana on its ENGAGE project, helping to provide opportunities for young people to build their skills, while at the same time promoting environmental sustainability.

We are committed to investing in initiatives that help people rise up, become better off and change their circumstances so they can have successful futures. The ENGAGE Project not only aligns well with this focus, but also helps our young people learn sustainable practices, encouraging greener communities.”

Dutch offshore company Van Oord expressed their mandate to create a better world for future generations.

The company stated “we are proud to announce our commitment to a social initiative, for which we are partnering with the NGO Recover Guyana. This NGO is led by Guyanese young professionals. Our goal is to empower nature and communities through creating new opportunities and possibilities for today's world and for generations to come.

Through Recover Guyana, we expect to maximize our positive impact on the vulnerable youths by providing them with the skills and knowledge needed for sustainable employment and positive community engagement.

Therefore, this project fits perfectly with our value system and we cannot wait to see Recover's work come into life.”

D r. D a v e L a l l t o o , President of Recover Guyana reinforced the organization's commitment to fostering innovation, environmental protection, and community resilience through the ENGAGE Project and many other initiatives. He explained that “by providing tailored training, mentorship, and funding opportunities, ENGAGE equips young people with the tools to turn their green business ideas into reality, creating lasting change for themselves, their communities, and Guyana as a whole.”

Dr. Dave Lalltoo, President, Recover Guyana, executive members of Recover Guyana, Ms. Nafeeza Gafoor, Country Manager, Scotiabank and representatives of Scotiabank launch the Engage Project, a green entrepreneurship programme designed to empower Guyanese youth.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday December 08, 2024

G$362.41 million grid-forming solar photovoltaic farm commissioned in Mahdia

The 0.65-megawatt grid-forming solar photovoltaic farm at Mahdia (DPI photos) DPI – A 0.65-megawatt grid-forming solar photovoltaic (PV) farm in Mahdia, Potaro-Siparuni (Region Eight) was commissioned on Friday by Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret'd), the Honourable Mark Phillips.

The project, which is funded by the InterAmerican Development

Bank (IDB) under the E n e r g y M a t r i x Diversification and Strengthening of the Department of Energy (EMISDE) programme, signifies a crucial advancement in Guyana's sustainable energy journey.

During his remarks, the Prime Minister emphasised the Government's unwavering commitment to transitioning to renewable energy. He noted that this change aims to foster equitable development and environmental sustainability.

“The commissioning of the 0.65-megawatt gridforming solar photovoltaic (PV) farm in Mahdia today is a game-changer for renewable energy integration in the region and country, as it sets a new benchmark for future energy projects,” Prime Minister Phillips said.

He said that the solar PV farm demonstrates the Government's commitment to building a low-carbon future through sustainable e n e rg y i n i t i a t i v e s , a s outlined in the LCDS 2030.

The Prime Minister highlighted the significant economic and environmental benefits of the solar farm, which is expected to save $80.5M (GYD) by reducing diesel consumption by 309,681 litres per year.

Additionally, it will cut carbon dioxide emissions by 672,561 kilograms. Some 3,000 residents are set to benefit.

“This solar farm will drive socio-economic transformation in the region by supplying reliable and affordable energy, fostering the growth of small

businesses and microenterprises, and boosting local economic activity,” he added.The Prime Minister also lauded the collaborative efforts between key stakeholders, including IDB representatives, the Guyana Energy Agency, and local officials, to bring this project to fruition.

“The success of this initiative reflects the strength of partnerships and the Government's vision for a low-carbon future.”

The 0.65 MW solar farm, which includes a 1,500-kWh battery energy storage system, is an addition to Mahdia's energy infrastructure.

It integrates seamlessly with the existing mini-grid, providing a stable and resilient power supply.

This state-of-the-art facility can independently support the existing grid and ensure energy reliability during peak demand and adverse weather conditions.

The project, completed at G$362.41 million, also includes a 2-kilometre, 13.8 kV transmission line for efficient energy distribution.

The solar PV farm is expected to supply 935 MWh of electricity annually.

Aligned with the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030, the Mahdia solar PV farm is part of a broader initiative that has already installed solar PV systems in Lethem and Bartica. Improvements are also slated for Wakenaam and Leguan, among other regions.These efforts aim to increase Guyana's solar energy capacity to over 39 MW by 2025.

Sunday December 08, 2024

PAGE 17

Kaieteur News

The Proud owner of Gio's Art, Giovanie Fletcher

Giovanie Fletcher at a recent event showingcasing her art pieces.

Spreading positivity through creative paintings & craft

PAGE

F

ive-year-old Sabrena Solomon and her adorable little sister, Serena, 4, stole the show at the Kuru-Kururu Nursery School on Friday, during a Christmas concert. Little Serena also copped an award for best costume, standing tall as a Christmas tree.

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Kaieteur News

Ta w a n e Marshall Meet this week's beauty, Ta w a n e M a r s h a l l a n undergraduate student, passionate artist, business owner, and dedicated antipoverty advocate. With a love for drawing and singing, she blends creativity and purpose to inspire change. Focused on self-development and raising awareness, Tawane's life centers around the empowering mantra, “Why not you?” encouraging others to embrace their potential and make a difference.

Sunday December 08, 2024

Sunday December 08, 2024

Kaieteur News

PAGE 19

High-Stakes Bid for OAS Secretary General post

By Sir Ronald Sanders The election of a new Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), scheduled for March 10, 2025, represents a pivotal moment not only for the organization but also for the countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

For the first time, the CARICOM member states are unified in their strategic support of a single candidate: Albert Ramdin, the Foreign Minister of S u r i n a m e . Wi t h t h i s alignment, CARICOM has positioned itself as a strong bloc in an election fraught with geopolitical implications, gender equity debates, and regional rivalries.

The Geopolitical Landscape The collective endorsement of Ramdin’s candidacy by CARICOM gives him 14 of the 18 votes required for victory.

He has announced that he also has the committed support of Chile, Honduras, and Peru.

Assuming these commitments hold, he is just one vote shy of clinching the position.

Meanwhile, Paraguay’s Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez has emerged as a contender. In a bold display to OAS member states, Ramírez prominently exhibited a photograph of himself with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump at the latter’s Florida home, Mar-a-Lago, on November 25. He also made pointed references to conversations about the future direction of the OAS with Carlos Trujillo, a former U.S. Ambassador to the OAS under Trump’s first presidency.

While Ramírez’s display appears calculated to imply tacit U.S. backing, it remains unclear whether such support will materialize or significantly influence the race.

The election reflects broader tensions within the Americas.

The OAS has long adhered to an informal rule that the Secretary General and Assistant Secretary General cannot hail from the

same subregion.

With Ramdin vying for the top post, CARICOM’s ability to retain the Assistant Secretary General position—a role that CARICOM nationals have held for 40 of the past 45 years—is uncertain.

The UN Factor Beyond the OAS, the election has ramifications for global diplomacy.

A successful bid by a CARICOM candidate for Secretary General of the OAS could effectively disqualify the region from fielding a candidate for the United Nations Secretary General position in 2026.

It is widely believed that it is the turn of the Latin American and Caribbean Group at the UN to assume the post of Secretary General. Latin American states may leverage Ramdin’s OAS victory to block CARICOM nominees for the UN Secretary General post, arguing that the region cannot hold both roles.

This dynamic underscores the zero-sum nature of global and regional diplomacy, where gains in one arena can translate to losses in another. Gender and Regional Politics Calls for a female Secretary General at both the OAS and the UN add another layer of complexity.

Although no women have officially entered the race for either position, the expectation for gender equity remains significant.

Barbados’ Prime Minister, Mia Mottley has been informally touted, in international circles, as a potential candidate, though she has not expressed interest.

Meanwhile, some Latin American women are actively seeking the UN Secretary General post and may yet emerge in the OAS race, complicating the dynamics further.

Additionally, after the inauguration of President Trump on January 20, 2025, t h e U n i t e d States—historically influential in OAS elections—may sponsor a Latin American candidate aligned with U.S. interests. Should this

occur, considerable pressure will likely be applied to OAS member states to support the U.S.-favoured candidate.

The betting within the OAS is that this scenario is a strong possibility, and it is being watched with considerable interest.

What’s at Stake for CARICOM? CARICOM’s collective backing of Ramdin marks a significant milestone in r e g i o n a l d i p l o m a c y, demonstrating a rare unity when a top international p o s i t i o n i s a t stake—particularly in the face of potential influence or pressure from larger powers.

However, a loss in the Secretary General race could jeopardize CARICOM’s ability to secure either of the OAS’s top positions.

With its focus on the March 2025 Secretary General election, CARICOM would have limited time to campaign effectively for a candidate in the Assistant Secretary General election just two months later in May, should Ramdin’s bid fall short.

With neither posts of Secretary General or the Assistant Secretary General, CARICOM will lose the prestige and recognition that occupation of the top positions bestow.

However, the group’s influence in the OAS will not necessarily diminish, provided its national delegations are firmly and positively engaged in its work.

Conclusion The outcome of the election for OAS Secretary General will profoundly shape the future role and direction of the Organization.

One must hope that, in the end, the choice will be guided not by the nationality or region of the candidate, nor by the desire of any nation to dominate the OAS, but by the candidate’s vision for a strong Organization and its mission to integrate and strengthen The Americas on a basis of equity and rights.

CARICOM and its candidate, Albert Ramdin, must embrace and champion this principle, recognizing that the stakes extend far

beyond personal or regional ambitions.

Regardless of the outcome, CARICOM’s unified stance in this election signals a growing maturity in its regional diplomacy—an approach that must continue

to guide its engagement on the global stage.

(The writer is Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the US and the OAS. The views expressed are entirely his own. Responses a n d p r e v i o u s

By Sir Ronald Sanders

commentaries:www.sirro naldsanders.com)

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WEEK-IN-REVIEW SUNDAY Fulcrum tells Govt. it has access to finance for gas project …but still seeking partner to help fund initiative Fulcrum LNG, the oneyear-old company that was awarded a contract by the government of Guyana to design, finance, construct, and operate a gas project to monetize the country’s resources claimed in its bid that it had access to finance to develop the venture.

This is according to Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo.

The VP during his weekly press engagement at Freedom House, Georgetown explained, “The public tender was issued, public evaluators evaluated on the basis of the tender submitted and they scored Fulcrum ahead of others.

Fulcrum argued that they had access to financing and secondly that there are several large companies associated with their proposal.”

Kaieteur News understands that 15 other firms tendered to develop the non-associated gas in the Stabroek Block, operated by ExxonMobil.

On June 21, President Irfaan Ali announced that Fulcrum LNG was selected by the government to monetize the resources.

A week later, on June 28, 2024, Fulcrum LNG in a statement said the main feature of its solution will involve the development of state-of-the-art gas processing and modular, scalable facilities to produce, Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) and NGLS/LPGs for Guyana as well as regional and global markets.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company, the former Vice President of ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL), Jesus Bronchalo stated, “We are honored to be selected to undertake this strategic energy infrastructure project. This opportunity aligns perfectly with our mission to deliver innovative, reliable, and sustainable energy solutions to develop gas resources. We look forward to working closely with the Government of Guyana and other key stakeholders to ensure the success of this endeavor.”

Despite informing

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo

CEO, Fulcrum LNG, Jesus Bronchalo

government through its bid that the company is able to finance the gas project, Fulcrum LNG has no evidence of a completed project and has already hinted at seeking the help of Guyanese investors to develop the project. The statement issued by Fulcrum said, “In keeping with our project proposal, Fulcrum LNG is considering Guyanese investors in various components of the project.”

On Thursday, Jagdeo said that the government, Exxon and Fulcrum was still in the discussion phase of determining whether a gas project would be feasible. He explained, “…right now they are still in discussion or would be having discussions on whether such a project is feasible and then what would be the elements.”

T h e Vi c e P r e s i d e n t outlined three key considerations for monetization of the resources at this time. These include a floating platform to export Liquefied National Gas (LNG); to bring the gas

onshore for industrial purposes or thirdly to bring the gas onshore to generate electricity for export purposes to Brazil.

“So those are potentially three areas of demand. They have to decide first of all the availability of the gas and then the numbers and at that stage then it would be tested so that’s where we are at this stage,” Jagdeo noted.

The Vice President was keen to note that government was not worried about financing for the project at this stage since it is still being defined. In fact, he noted, “It may very well end up that there is no project or its not feasible and then if that’s the case that Exxon argues, then we may decide, we already started talking to Suriname because there are some gas fields that Exxon has that we may be able to work jointly with Suriname to link with their situation.

They have more gas in their gas field close to our border, maybe do a joint project. We are not putting all of our eggs in one basket.”

About Fulcrum LNG

Olive Andrews

Sunday December 08, 2024

Fulcrum LNG was founded by the former Vice President of ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL), Jesus Bronchalo, five months after he left the company. He was employed with Exxon for 19 years and one month before his questionable resignation.

Bronchalo’s company was later selected by the Guyana government to design, finance, construct, and operate the required gas infrastructure to provide gas monetization solutions and accelerate upstream gas developments in the country.

Research done by this newspaper found that Bronchalo appears to be one o f t h e c o m p a n y ’s t w o registered employees.

Bronchalo, who left Exxon in February 2023, is not only CEO of Fulcrum LNG, but he also wears several other professional caps at the business he registered in July 2023.

According to company records, seen by this publication, Bronchalo is also Secretary, Treasurer, Director, and President of the company.

From all indications, he has only hired one employee.

Kaieteur News discovered that Ivor Ellul has been hired as Technical Director at Fulcrum LNG. He was appointed in July 2023 and previously worked at Schlumberger GeoQuest and CiSK Ventures, Ltd, among others. Ellul held senior positions, including Managing Director, Chairman, CEO, and President among others in his career.

The limited experience of the company has raised

Emma Andrews

serious questions about its capacity to fulfill its contracted obligations.

Bronchalo never responded to this newspaper’s request for a comment, issued since August.

Three dead in two-car smash-up at St. Cuthbert’s Mission Three persons were killed in a two-car smash-up around 18:00 hrs. on Saturday, at Four Mile (Tail C r e e k ) , S t C u t h b e r t ’s Mission, Region Four.

The victims were identified as 63-year-old Olive Andrews, her daughter 29-year-old Athina Andrews, a mother of three and former Miss Indigenous Heritage pageant contestant, and her seven-year-old daughter Emma Andrews, all of St Cuthbert’s Mission.

Both drivers survived the deadly accident.

Kaieteur News understands that two other persons including a baby boy are also injured. The injured were transported to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre for treatment.

The details surrounding the accident are sketchy but Kaieteur News understands that the Andrews family and the baby boy, whose identity is unknown, were passengers of a red car bearing registration number PAE 5140. The occupants of that car were returning to St. Cuthbert’s Mission when the head-on collision occurred with a white car bearing registration number PXX 4949 that was leaving the village The occupants of the

Athina Andrews

white car, the driver and his father, who are originally from the indigenous community but reside in Georgetown, were heading to the city when the tragedy struck.

This publication understands that the Andrews family was left pinned in the car for some time before being pulled out

by Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT).

Meanwhile, reports are that the driver of the red car, who escaped with minor injuries, is being questioned by police.

News of the tragedy has left the residents of St Cuthbert’s Mission in a state of shock.

In 2015, Athina represented the Village in the Miss Indigenous Heritage pageant. Andrews was 20years-old at the time and was a strong believer that the high rate of school drop-outs among indigenous youth negatively impacts the development of their villages.

According to a Stabroek News report on the contestants published in 2015, Athina was an aspiring nurse who enjoyed eating pepper-pot with a side serving of Otocuma worms and Cassava Bread.

Prime Minister makes third commitment to submit Wales Gas Projects agreements to Parliament …apologizes to House, makes another promise Prime Minister (PM) Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips, for a third time, last week promised the National Assembly to lay over the agreement signed with ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) for the Gas-to-Energy (GTE) project.

During Wednesday’s Sitting of the National Assembly, former Minister David Patterson reminded the House that in January 2024, the PM made a commitment to lay over all the documents.

He said the Clerk of the N a t i o n a l A s s e m b l y, Sherlock Isaacs on April 2, 2024 wrote to the Prime Minister informing him of his commitment.

Patterson said the letter stated, “…and to remind you, during the consideration of the 2024 Estimate of Revenue Expenditure, the 77th sitting Continued on page 21

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 08, 2024

From page 20 on 30th January 2024, you promised to, as requested by Mr. David Patterson MP, to provide information with respect to the following: breakdown of the $73B for 2023 because if you could remember sir, there is a shortfall in the numbers you gave of $5.49B.” He added that the letter also reminded the PM of his promise to provide the House with copies of the agreement with ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) – previously Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) – for the GTE project.

To this end, Patterson said, “Can the honourable Prime Minister say, not to me, to the country, why he has not kept his promise?”

PM Phillips apologized to the National Assembly for failing to provide the response and again promised to ensure the necessary information and documents are provided. According to him, this will be laid as soon as possible.

“Mr. Chair, if I had failed in offering my response as requested by the honourable member, let me apologize to this honourable House and I will seek to, in the shortest possible time, honour that request,” the Prime Minister said.

Seemingly not satisfied with the response, Patterson pointed out that this was now the third promise made by the PM to provide the information. The Speaker of the House, Manzoor Nadir however reminded Patterson that the forum allowed him to pursue with questions rather than a comment and that the PM has graciously committed to provide the information.

Earlier this year, Kaieteur News reported that the Prime Minister assured that the construction phases of the GTE project is insured and related documents can be provided to the House. He was responding to Patterson on whether insurance is in place for the current works to support the gas plants and whether the government can lay those in Parliament. The PM said, “The EPC (Engineering, Procuring and Construction) contract has its own insurance policy.” When reminded about the latter part of the question, he said, “Certainly Mr. Speaker.”

Similarly, on the issue of Exxon’s pipeline, the PM noted, “I am advised again Mr. Speaker that Exxon has insurance coverage with the contractor, so that is catered for…we will lay it over.”

He also committed to providing the total sum expended on the project to date, including costs for the transmission and distribution of e l e c t r i c i t y, c o n s u l t a n c y a n d substations, among other costs, as well as the agreements signed for the project.

The GTE project is divided into two parts, with the first- a 225 kilometers pipeline from the Liza

PAGE 21

International Group Investment Inc. and Sigmund executives fields offshore to the Wales development site on the West Bank of Demerara- being financed by the S t a b r o e k B l o c k o p e r a t o r, ExxonMobil. This is expected to cost about US$1 billion.

The other aspect of the project entails a Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) facility and a 300-megawatt power plant to be financed by the Government of Guyana (GoG) through a loan from the United States Export Import (US EXIM) Bank. The two plants are pegged at US$759 million.

Hiding GTE agreement Since 2022, the government signed a Heads of Agreement (HOA) with the Stabroek Coventures that outlines the principles and conditions for the commercial and technical arrangements of the deal.

In a previous article, Patterson told Kaieteur News that since 2022, he asked both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat for the contracts signed with Exxon and others.

“In 2022, the Prime Minister wrote back to the Parliament saying not all the agreements have been signed, as soon as all the agreements have been signed, he will lay it over in Parliament,” the former Minister pointed out.

Despite the repeated commitments with the pipeline now nearing completion, Patterson said believes that the government is reluctant to table the agreements as these would expose the beneficiaries of the arrangements.

He said, “Obviously they don’t wanna lay it because that would unravel where the feed troughs are and how unviable this entire thing is. It would show how corrupt this thing is.”

The government has been reluctant to release documents relative to this project and numerous attempts by the Opposition to seek clarity in the National Assembly have been defeated. MP Catherine Hughes had complained last year that questions submitted by her were not allowed by Speaker of the

House, Manzoor Nadir since these issues were addressed by Head of the GTE Taskforce, Winston Brassington when Guyana hosted its Energy Conference in 2023.

MONDAY Company that won two oil blocks in Guyana happy to pay 10% taxes, 10% royalty International Group Investment Inc., one of the companies awarded oil blocks in Guyana’s maiden auction, has expressed satisfaction with the government’s fiscal terms under the new Production Sharing Agreement (PSA).

The company, led by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Levi Wilson Odoe, secured two shallowwater concessions, S5 and S10, during the auction that commenced in December 2022.

The Government of Guyana initially put 14 blocks on offer, but received bids for eight. The PSA framework includes a 10% royalty on oil production and a 10% corporate tax. Additionally, cost recovery is capped at 65% annually, with profits split evenly between the government and operators. The fiscal terms of the new PSA have improved on those of the PSA that was signed with ExxonMobil Guyana Limited for the Stabroek Block. That deal requires a meagre 2% royalty, no taxes, 75% cost recovery ceiling each month which leaves 25% of profit to be shared with Guyana.

During a recent interview with this publication, Dr. Odoe, a lawyer and international arbitrator, highlighted the favourable business environment in Guyana as a key r e a s o n f o r t h e c o m p a n y ’s participation in the auction. “I like stable government, because we are business people, we are not politicians. Any government that comes, as long as you create an enabling environment to do business, we are happy,” he said.

He also emphasised the company’s agreement with the PSA terms, noting, “We have reviewed

the PSA with our lawyers, and we are very happy with the cost recovery, the signature bonus, and the royalties. We are happy with all the terms and conditions.”

Dr. Odoe revealed that his company is in the process of finalizing documentation required by the government before they move along with the process. “We are submitting this week,” he said, expressing confidence that the process would conclude smoothly.

“We are ready to go, once we discover commercially viable oil, the finances are there to start operation almost immediately,” he noted.

IGI is teaming up with Nigerian company Sigmund Oilfields Limited for the development of the oil blocks. Dr. Odoe noted that he invited Sigmund to Guyana as he is confident in the company ability to execute works offshore Guyana.

Sigmund’s General Manager Chris Ubah disclosed that the company is experienced in oil and gas exploration, production and s e i s m i c s u r v e y. H e a d d e d , “Sigmund Oilfields is a major player in Nigeria’s offshore oil and gas sector…Sigmund is also a trader of crude oil.”

“We are known for unlocking opportunities…” he underscored.

In relation to the partnership with IGI it was stated that the companies have been in talks with each other for about two years. It was stated that the companies are eagerly awaiting the finalization of the agreement with government before they can move straight into action.

Teen dies in fiery accident at Linden A 19-year-old pillion rider was during the wee hours of Sunday killed in a fiery crash involving a car and a motorcycle along the Washer Pond Road, Mackenzie, Linden, Region Ten. Dead is Ezekiel Smith of West Watooka Linden. Smith was the pillion rider of a motorcycle when at around 03: 45hrs it collided with a car, PAH 2213, driven by a soldier. The rider was 21-year-old

Joel Nurse from Half Mile Linden.

“Enquiries disclosed that the car was proceeding south along the Washer Pond Road while the motorcyclist was proceeding in the opposite direction along the road,” police stated before adding, “the driver of the car ended up in the path of the motorcycle.”

As the result of the collision the motorcycle slammed into car and burst into flames. The impact flung Smith and Nurse onto the road where they sustained injuries to their bodies. “The car driver along with the motorcyclist and pillion rider was all picked up in unconscious condition by publicspirited citizens and taken to the Linden Hospital Complex”, police said. Smith was pronounced dead on arrival while the soldier and Nurse received treatment.

As Guyanese push for change of oil contract - Exxon says stability critical in supporting investments in Stabroek Block As Guyanese remain relentless in their calls for the oil contract with ExxonMobil and its partners to be renegotiated, the company has stepped up its campaign to shut down any such demand.

President of ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL), Alistair Routledge during an appearance on the Energy Perspectives Podcast aired on Sunday, said investing in confidence is always crucial to the company.

According to him, “I think what’s critical around the world to support an industry that has a long horizon for investments-20 years, 30 years plus- is stability. It’s always super important to us to ensure that we are investing with confidence, that the rules aren’t going to change, that our investors can have that ability to look out when they make an investment decision, know that it is going to materialise.”

Routledge pointed out that while the company takes other risks such as geological and execution, Continued on page 22

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From page 21 “having that consistency around the regulatory and legal environment is extremely important.”

He explained that the company plans to put six projects onstream by 2027, increasing the country’s total production capacity to 1.3 billion barrels of oil per day.

Presently, EMGL, the operator of the Stabroek Block has received regulatory approvals for six projects. Three of those are currently producing an average 650,000 barrels per day, well above the expected capacity.

While this production has resulted in record earnings for shareholders of Exxon, Guyana has been receiving a meagre portion of the revenues earned from the projects. The country is also faced with greater environmental risks for which it does not have full financial protection.

A key provision not included in the contract allows Exxon to shorten Guyana’s share of profits by investing the earnings to develop projects yet to startup, and even finance the company’s exploration activities.

To date, Guyana would have been receiving a greater profit share with a ring-fencing provision, since the cost of the three projects in operation have been paid off.

Despite being urged to implement a ring-fencing provision to ensure the country benefits from the current high oil prices, the government is reluctant to apply this mechanism.

In the meantime, Exxon deducts 75% of Guyana’s oil produced each month to recover cost. The remaining 25% is shared equally with Guyana as profits. The country also receives one of the lowest royalty rates known to the sector, a paltry 2% which is paid quarterly.

ExxonMobil holds 45% interest in the block, while its partners Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited hold 30% and 25% respectively. The Stabroek Block is estimated to hold some 11.6 billion barrels of oil equivalent.

Since production commenced

Sunday December 08, 2024

in 2019, Exxon has produced over 500 million barrels of oil. This however only translates to US$5.4B in oil revenue for Guyana, while the company has already grabbed about US$25.9 billion in costs alone. Since the agreement provides for a 50% profit split, it would be safe to conclude the oil companies have so far collected US$31.3B, over five times what the country received for its resources during the same period.

TUESDAY Exxon says US$2.5B spent to purchase oil ships is a ‘win’ for company - Jagdeo confirms company will recover cost from Guyana’s oil President of ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) Alistair Routledge has said that the US$2.5 billion that was spent to purchase two Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels from Dutch shipbuilder SBM Offshore is a more cost-effective approach for both the company and Guyana.

Routledge made that statement during a recently aired interview by the Energy Perspectives Podcast.

Last year, Exxon purchased the Liza Unity from SBM for US$1.3 billion, a few months before the end of its maximum lease term in February 2024. Similarly, on November 7, SBM announced that it had completed the transaction with EMGL in relation to the purchase of the FPSO Prosperity, ahead of the maximum lease term, which would have expired in November 2025. The purchase involved a total cash consideration of US$1.23 billion.

When asked about the company’s decision to purchase a second FPSO, Routledge said, “It’s really primarily a financial matter.

It’s more financially-efficient for the investors and for the country to purchase the FPSOs at this stage.”

He explained that while early and construction leases can help

Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo ensure efficient and high-quality project completion, long-term leases typically involve higher financing costs. “We found that model to be a very effective one, but a long-term lease is generally a more expensive financing option for the country and for the investors than purchasing the FPSOs,” he said. Routledge added that with the vessels already proven to be operating “very well” at this stage, Exxon feels comfortable that it’s the right time to purchase.

It should be noted that before the end of the year, Exxon is expected to purchase a third vessel from SBM – FPSO Destiny.

At his press conference a few weeks ago, Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo reminded that the US$2.5 billion that was spent by Exxon to purchase the vessels will be recovered by the oil company from revenues generated from the Stabroek Block. At his November 14, press conference Jagdeo said, “That’s all part of the cost oil, it’s part of cost oil, every cent that goes into or is spent, it goes to cost oil…” the Vice President noted.

Under the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) that requires Exxon and its partners Hess and CNOOC to pay no taxes to Guyana, 75% of the revenues generated from the Stabroek Block go to Exxon to cover operational expenses. The remaining 25% is

FPSO Prosperity

then split between Guyana and the oil companies – out of that share Exxon pays a 2% royalty to Guyana.

Guyana’s 3rd oil project achieved fastest ramp-up in the history of deep-water operations- ExxonMobil Guyana President Guyana has managed to make its name known on the global map for many reasons, but for ExxonMobil, the country’s third oil project has set a remarkable milestone for the company, copping the fastest ramp-up in history of deep-water operations.

This was revealed by President of ExxonMobil Guyana (EMGL), Alistair Routledge during the most recent episode of the Energy Perspectives Podcast, hosted by CEO of the Guyana Energy Conference, Kiana Wilburg.

Reflecting on the company’s strategic achievements for the year, Routledge noted that Exxon was not only able to hit 500 million barrels of oil since the startup of production activities in 2019, but also reached another milestone, the one-year anniversary for production activities at the Payara project.

He explained, “It’s been a dream startup. The Payara project set all kinds of industry records for safety, no hurts in the first year of operation, extremely high reliability, has also had the fastest ramp up from first startup all the way to full capacity that we have been able to identify in the industry, certainly for a deep water, offshore operation so, really an outstanding project and multiple achievements within that milestone of one year.”

Payara is Exxon’s third deep water project in the Sabroek Block.

The Prosperity Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading vessel (FPSO), which commenced production on November 14, 2023, was designed to produce 220,000 barrels per day (bpd) but Exxon has increased production about to 250,000 bpd.

Only recently, this newspaper reported that Chief Executive

Officer (CEO) of Exxon Mobil C o r p o r a t i o n , D a r r e n Wo o d s boasted about the world class performance of the company’s assets in Guyana.

During the company’s third q u a r t e r E a r n i n g ’s C a l l i n N o v e m b e r, Wo o d s u p d a t e d shareholders of the company that Exxon completed tie-in for the country’s Gas-to-Energy (GTE) project. This was completed on budget and schedule with the company already back to full production activities. Exxon had taken the Liza One and Liza Two projects offline for a period of two weeks each to facilitate the tie-in works.

Meanwhile, Woods said, “Our Payara project, which remained online during the tie-ins, continues to perform above investment basis – as has been the case with all the projects we’ve brought online in the world’s premier deepwater development.”

ExxonMobil is the operator of the oil rich Stabroek Block with a 45% interest, while Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. holds 30% interest and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited holds 25% interest.

Currently, ExxonMobil has three projects producing oil in Guyana. It should be noted that each of these developments have been pushed to produce above the limits outlined in project documents submitted to Guyanese regulators. The company has been able to increase capacity of the three FPSOs through a process called debottlenecking. Exxon previously explained that the company would assess the projects for bottlenecks to improve recovery of the resources. The company would then submit its findings to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Ministry of Natural Resources for consideration and approval.

Following its independent assessment, the regulator would then issue its blessings for the optimization activities, allowing Exxon to increase production on the vessels.

WEDNESDAY $100K payout kicks off in Reg. 9 - public registration commences in several areas With the hope of distributing at least 300,000 cash grants to citizens 18 years and older before the end of the year, the Government of Guyana on Tuesday commenced distribution in Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo).

The distribution exercise is being spearheaded by Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips and Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Sonia Parag. The process commenced at 10:00 am at Continued on page 42

Sunday December 08, 2024

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GNBS IN FOCUS

STAY LIT, STAY SAFE! – GNBS ENFORCES SAFETY STANDARD FOR SEASONAL LIGHTS

A

s we install festive lights and decorations in homes and public spaces, transforming them into wonderlands during the holiday season, it is crucial to prioritize safety and q u a l i t y. T h e G u y a n a National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) plays its part in ensuring safety by enforcing the requirements of the Guyana Standard GYS 232:2003 – Safety for Seasonal and Holiday Decorative Products.

This standard was developed to ensure that decorative lighting products meet stringent safety requirements, reducing the risk of electrical hazards, fires, and accidents during the holiday season.

Based on requirements, the GNBS Product Compliance Team monitors decorative lights which must undergo rigorous testing for safety, and to ensure these products carry vital information for users.

Essential details which

must accompany decorative lights offered for sale include the Manufacturer’s Name or Trademark, the M o n t h o r Ye a r Manufactured, the Voltage Ratings and Certification Marks which attest to the quality of these items. User instructions for appropriate installation and care must also be included.

Further, labels on lights shall provide legible instructions pertaining to the risk of fire, electric shock or injury, operation of the product and the usermaintenance and storage.

These instructions encompass a comprehensive overview of risks and empower users with the knowledge to navigate potential hazards.

With increased electrical usage from string lights, illuminated ornaments, and other decorations, the holiday season presents a higher risk for electrical related incidents.

The GNBS continues to b e v ig ilan t to en s u r e

importers, manufacturers and retailers offer products meeting the requirements of standards, offering peace of mind to consumers.

Meanwhile, consumers are encouraged to choose standard compliant lights to illuminate and beautify their spaces.

Making this smart choice will protect families and properties from potential dangers.

The following are some useful tips to consider when purchasing decorative electrical items: · Choose the Right Lights: Use lights labelled “For Indoor Use Only” or “For Outdoor and Indoor Use” as specified. · Avoid Fire Hazards: Do not install lights on trees with metallic needles, leaves, or branches and ensure that lights are mounted securely to prevent wire insulation damage. · Electrical Safety: Never overload outlets or connect multiple small strings to one fitting.

· Check Labels: Ensure labels are legible for safety guidance over time. Adhere to labelling information. · Inspect before Use: Always inspect lights and

cords for any signs of damage, such as frayed wires, cracked bulbs, or loose connections. Damaged lights should be replaced immediately to prevent

electrical hazards.For further information on this subject, call the GNBS on Telephone number: 2190065 or visit the Bureau’s website: www.gnbsgy.org

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Champions of Change…

Brightening futures one life at a time E stablished in 2016 Champions of Change, a nonprofit organization focused on empowering citizens is about to make a grand return with hopes of uplifting the future of the less fortunate.

During an interview w i t h T h e Wa t e r f a l l s , founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the organization Sabrina Craig gave a walk-through of what she has been up to since its establishment and plans for the future.

The mission of Champions of Change was mainly to look into the health and talent development of less fortunate youths.

Craig told The Waterfalls that there was a point where around the city they had booths where persons can go and have testing done for a number of diseases.

After the operations were being interrupted during COVID because of the seriousness of the pandemic, she decided to restart her operations this year and the booth should be up and running by next year.

Plans to resume full operations include hiring retired nurses as well as t h e r a p i s t s a n d psychologists. However, she is looking to undertake another mission as well.

From this month, Craig and her staff plan to gather the homeless persons off of the streets, have them cleaned up and placed into the State-controlled night shelter, as hers is still under construction in C Field

perpetrators went free.

Craig stated that if she was in the country, things would have played out differently.

Secondly, she said a close friend of hers turned to drugs and alcohol due to marital problems and has been

Sabrina Craig Sophia.

“So we’re gonna pick up the ones who suffer from alcoholism, clean them up, try to counsel them, motivate them, and you try to launch them up to life. Yeah.

So basically, focusing on the picking them up next week and start a workforce, you know, venture with them, whereby cleaning them up,” Craig said.

Craig told this publication that additional support from the public is always welcomed. The Government of Guyana has pledged their support and the organisation is also looking to have a number of fundraising activities come 2025.

Ta p p i n g i n t o t h e entertainment arena, Craig said that she has been in talks with Isaiah Laing who is the founder of Reggae Sting

Jamaica, and she is hoping to collaborate with him to have a show done with a number of artists both locally and internationally, in hopes of raising fund to facilitate al the necessities the ne night shelter would need and to fund the operations.

Asked what sparked her interest in this type of effort, Carpenter sorrowfully told The Waterfalls that a friend of hers had her teenage daughters venture to the city in search of employment. She said things did not go the way they planned and they ended up not having anywhere to spend the night; they ventured to the seawalls and were sexually assaulted.

S a d l y, s h e w a s overseas at the time and due to shame and fear, a report was never made to the police and the

living on the streets even since, not quite in his logical senses. Saddened by the outcome of the situation, Craig vowed to help him and others facing the same plight, as she feels if he had someone to talk to, or to advise him, things would have turned out

differently.

This friend will be the first of many being taken to the night shelter to be cleaned up and rehabilitated and given a place at the new Champions of Change n i g h t s h e l t e r o n ce it opens its doors.

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CONSUMER CONCERNS

DDL MAINTAINS ITS REPUTATION OF EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION AS IT EMBARKS ON THE MILK INDUSTRY PAT DIAL During the era of Slavery, milk was never part of the diet of slaves and whatever milk was used came in small quantities from the few cows and goats kept for some of the European planter class.

After Emancipation, the situation did not change and the Freedmen continued not to use milk. Amerindian people also did not use milk.

The use of milk and milk products like yogurt (dahi) came to be used more widely with the introduction of Indian indentured immigrants who knew all aspects of cow-minding and milk production. Indeed, cows and milk were an integral part of Indian life and culture and were used even in religious ceremonies.

By the 1860’s many exindentured and even indentured servants kept a few cows and produced more milk than they needed and the surplus was sold in the village or estate.

With the availability of milk, the culture of the use of milk was again resuscitated among the planter class, the Freedmen of the villages and among the newer waves of indentured servants such as the Madeiran Portuguese and Chinese.

By the 1880’s, a milk industry had been established and milkmen, riding their bicycles, delivered milk to homes or sold in the streets.

The growth of a milk industry necessitated Legislation, in particular to protect the consumer.

The new Legislation dealt with the health of the cows, especially to guard against tuberculosis but more particularly with the quality of milk being sold.

Many milk sellers diluted their milk with water and a number of milk inspectors were appointed to test at random milk being sold. In the newspapers at the time and in the court records, there are many examples of sellers being prosecuted for

diluted milk.

After World War II, the old-style vending of milk produced by the vendor faded away and various efforts were made to establish an industrialized milk industry including producing pasteurized milk. None of these was sustained and the population was forced to use evaporated milk and finally milk powder.

The Demerara Distillers Ltd (DDL) project of establishing an industrialized milk industry now offers the ultimate solution to Guyana’s milk problems.

DDL, in its typical style, did a thorough social, economic and technical research before embarking on the Industry.

Normally, a company embarking on such a project would have approached Holland or Germany for technical partnership and expertise,

but DDL is using an Israeli partner and CEO Komal Samaroo took time off to visit Israel to ascertain their capabilities which are congruent to Guyana’s needs and environment.

DDL Group Chairman and Chief Executive O f f i c e r, M r. K o m a l Samaroo, gave the essence of the Project: “The Project is built on the basis of quality and competitiveness,” said Mr. Samaroo, “hence we are using science and technology to make this the most efficient dairy farm, certainly in Guyana and I believe this Region”.

There would be two cow sheds of 80,000 sq. feet each to house the cows.

Those sheds will be equipped with Veterinary services and milking parlour.

As the cows feed, they will be taken out and milked and the milk would be treated and cold stored before being

transported to the plant at Diamond where they will be attractively packed for the local and external market.

The farm would be self-sufficient: It will grow its own grass, using four varieties and sweet corn and this fodder would be prepared by two methods, the baling method where the grass is compacted into bales and the silage method where the grass is placed under shrink wrap.

By the baling method, the fodder could be stored for six months and by the shrink method for two years.

The cow manure is collected and liquified and used to fertilize the grass.

The farm will be well supplied with water at all seasons since there would be a number of wells and a freshwater irrigation pond which would be storing water during the rainy season.

In other words, times

of drought which reduce milk production, would not affect the farm. It has its own transformer and will generate adequate electricity.

The farm will have its own weather station, the data of which would be helpful in analysing the various facets of the Project in both the longterm and short-term.

The data would include records of sunshine, rainfall, humidity and wind currents and would help the farm to plan rationally.

The farm is located at Moblissa along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway and will cost US$20M and is being managed by Mr. Darrell Manickchand.

Project Manager, Administrative Division, and Mr. Wesley Kirton, the Company’s Project Manager.

The Project will come in full stream by the last quarter of 2025.

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Generation Next Celebrates Groundbreaking Graduation of Essential Programmes

T

he Generation Next Community Development Association marked a monumental achievement on December 5, 2024, as graduates of seven Essential Programmes came together for a grand graduation ceremony held at the Generation Next Conference Hall.

This event celebrated not only the completion of the November 2024 batches but also a historic milestone: participants successfully completed over 100 programmes since the initiative’s inception in July 2024.

The Essential P r o g r a m m e s , conceptualized by Martin Massiah, Administrator of Generation Next, aim to revolutionize the lives of participants by equipping them with skills, tools, and the adaptability required to thrive in what Massiah calls the “New Guyana.”

Offering transformative education across diverse fields—including Marketing, Crisis & Reputation Management, L e a d e r s h i p , Entrepreneurship, Cake Decorating, Urban Agriculture, and Fashion Designer Essentials—the programmes are recognized for integrating artificial intelligence to level the playing field and empower participants to excel independently.

The ceremony commenced with a rousing opening address by Ms. Adielle Rosheuvel, Vice Chairman of the Generation Next Community Development Association and a seasoned actuary.

Rosheuvel inspired graduates with insights into the future of skills development and their role in shaping Guyana’s progress.

The keynote presentation was delivered by Mrs. Tiffany Griffith, an esteemed attorney-at-law and Trustee of Generation Next.

Her motivational address encouraged graduates to leverage their newfound skills for personal growth and as a means to uplift their communities, emphasizing the transformative potential of education in fostering positive societal change.

The event spotlighted the exceptional creativity and innovation cultivated within the Essential Programmes.

Highlights included: Urban

The Generation Next Community Development Association marked a monumental achievement on December 5, 2024, as graduates of seven Essential Programmes came together for a grand graduation ceremony held at the Generation Next Conference Hall.

Participants of the programme were presented with certificates of completion Agriculture Essentials: Under the guidance of Essential Coach Julius, students presented two innovative versions of homemade organic pesticides, evidence of the programme’s commitment to sustainable and ecofriendly urban farming practices.

Cake Decorating Essentials: Led by Essential Coach Yvonne, students showcased a stunning variety of intricately designed cakes and cupcakes, reflecting a mastery of both artistry and skill.

Fashion Designer Essentials: Essential Coach Dr. Deborah orchestrated a spectacular showcase of student-designed and crafted outfits, celebrating the programme’s focus on c r e a t i v i t y, t e c h n i c a l expertise, and fashion-

forward thinking.

Crisis & Reputation Management Essentials: Under the leadership of Essential Coach Shevion, one of the students highlighted her roadmap for crisis resolution and avoidance that she had successfully deployed in her place of work.

Leadership Essential: Led by Essential Coach Martin, some students highlighted the transformational aspect of the course that boosted their confidence and their ability to effectively influence teams and make them productive.

A mini-expo and showcase provided an interactive platform for graduates to exhibit their businesses and projects, offering attendees a glimpse into the tangible impact of the programmes on

participants’ entrepreneurial journeys.

For the first time,

facilitators of the Essential Programmes were conferred with the designation of Essential Coaches, while Programme Leaders were recognized as Essential Tu t o r s — a m o v e t h a t underscores Generation Next’s commitment to acknowledging and elevating teaching excellence.

The Essential Programmes reflect the innovative spirit of Martin Massiah, a globally educated business leader and digital media consultant whose career spans Boston, Dubai, London, and Washington D.C. With a Master’s in International Business from Hult International Business School, Massiah brings a dynamic and disruptive approach to skills development.

He is also known for his

creative endeavours under his personal brand, MA, which combines creativity with cutting-edge strategy.

As Massiah noted, “The Essential Programmes are not just about imparting knowledge—they are about transforming mindsets, equipping individuals to embrace the challenges of a rapidly evolving world, and empowering them to lead their communities into the future.”

Looking Ahead The December 2024 graduation was more than a celebration—it was a bold declaration of Generation Next’s mission to drive growth and innovation in Guyana.

The Essential Programmes at Generation Next are setting a new benchmark for impactful education in Guyana.

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From page 22 t h e Ta b a t i n g a S p o r t s Complex for residents of Lethem and St. Ignatius and is slated to continue until December 6, for that area.

For other villages in the Region, Government announced as well that these

will be listed along with their distribution schedule soonest.

The administration has prioritised public servants and pensioners over the last several days, with registration schedules for National Insurance Scheme

and Old Age Pensioners disseminated to the public via the media.

Moreover, public registration for the cash grant commenced on Tuesday in several areas including Region Four and outlining areas. The government has

outlined a four-step process for the initiative which begins with the registration exercise comprising each community having a registration schedule then technical teams with preprogrammed tablets will be dispatched to gather persons’ data. The second stage is the verification of the registrants with the next stage being the cutting of cheques then distribution to persons 18 and above.

Government’s $100,000 Cash Grant Initiative was announced by President Irfaan Ali in October last and every Guyanese citizen 18 years old and over will receive the payout.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo last Thursday announced that while the government is looking to distribute the $100,000 oneoff cash grant to public servants and pensioners first – not every citizen will receive theirs before Christmas. Jagdeo said, “What I can say to Guyanese is that they will get it, not everyone will get it before Christmas. A lot of people ask, Oh, will I get it before Christmas but I would say to people you still will get it…and it might come in good after Christmas.”

The Vice President stated that he had previously stated since the cash grant initiative was first announced in October, that the process would take the government about five months to complete.

“The president said that we are trying to hurry this up to see if we can complete at least the public servants and the pensioners before the end of the year. We may be able to do that and then a number of other people who are registered…” Jagdeo noted.

Last Wednesday, the Committee of Supply approved $30.5 billion to cater for the distribution of the one-off $100,000 cash grant to citizens 18 years and above. This is expected to cover the first phase of the distribution and includes public servants and pensioners. Jagdeo also disclosed that the government is aiming to distribute the cash grant to about 300,000 persons before the end of the year.

Jagdeo noted that the 2025 budget which is expected to be passed by February will cater for the second phase of the distribution of the $100,000 cash grant.

“And then we can seek to

Sunday December 08, 2024

appropriate the balance of the money, we anticipate that it will be about another $30 billion because we think about 600,000 adults you have in the country, or just o v e r t h a t … ” t h e Vi c e President stated.

The Vice President noted that the government anticipates that in the future, there will be similar grants.

As such, he noted that once the government completes the database for the distribution, the future distribution will become easier. Once this initiative is completed, $60 billion would have been placed in the hands of citizens across the country.

ExxonM mum on whether it wants new oil block on own terms -but confirms talks continuing with Guyana Govt.

United States oil major ExxonMobil has declined to comment on whether it wants to use the new shallow-water block it won at Guyana’s first auction for carbon capture and storage contrary to what this country wants.

However, the company confirmed that it is continuing to negotiate with the Guyana Government on the terms for developing the shallow-water oil block, an Exxon spokesperson told Reuters on Monday. Exxon, Hess and CNOOC won offshore block S8 in a bidding round launched in late 2022 by President Irfaan Ali’s administration, Reuters reported. The group remains interested in the block and talks are continuing, an ExxonMobil spokesperson said via email, Reuters article said. According to the news agency, the spokesperson declined to disclose whether it aimed to use the block for carbon capture and storage, or for oil and gas exploration.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had initially reported that Exxon had pulled out of the block since they wanted to use the area for carbon capture and storage, “and we don’t want to do that at this s t a g e . ” H o w e v e r, l a s t Thursday, Jagdeo walked back on his statement saying that since he made the disclosure, Exxon wrote government saying that “that might not be the full story, that they still have some interest in it.” “So from last week to now, after my press

conference and I verified it with Vickram Bharrat, that was said in a meeting, and they said that there might h a v e b e e n a misunderstanding that they have not walked away from it. So, let’s see how it goes.”

G u y a n a ’s m a i d e n auction launched in December 2022 featured 14 blocks but only eight received bids. The fiscal regime of the new PSA requires the payment of a 10 percent royalty and a 10 percent corporate tax. The cost recovery ceiling will be capped at 65 percent in a given year, while profits will be shared 50/50 between companies and the State.

ExxonMobil is the operator of the Stabroek Block and it holds 45% interest in that block. Its partners Hess and CNOOC hold 30% and 25% respectively. Guyana’s oilrich Stabroek Block, operated by ExxonMobil, requires a meagre 2% royalty, no taxes, 75% cost recovery ceiling each month which leaves 25% of profit to be shared with Guyana.

Stakeholders had warned that the terms of the Exxon deal could deter investment since the new PSA now requires greater fiscal benefits for the country.

This led to calls for new projects in the Stabroek Block to be subjected to these terms; however, the government remains adamant that seeking greater benefits could slow the pace of development and chase investors.

Moreover, Block S4, a shallow water portion, has been awarded to TotalEnergies EP Guyana B.V. in consortium with Qatar Energy International E&P LLC and Petronas E&P Overseas SDN BHD. Out of Nigeria, International Group Investment Inc. was found eligible for two shallow water concessions—S5 and S10. An American and Ghanian partnership, Liberty Petroleum Corporation and Cybele Energy Limited, was approved for the shallow water block—S7. Delcorp Incorporated, a Guyanese company, in collaboration with Watad Energy and Communications Ltd and Arabian Drilling Company was approved for a deepwater block titled—D1.

Government had disclosed that International Group Investment Inc. accepted the PSA with Continued on page 43

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From page 42 processing ongoing; Cybele Energy Limited accepted the PSA and is in the final review stage; Delcorp accepted the PSA and is now in the final stages of review and the To t a l E n e rg i e s - l e d consortium accepted the PSA and is currently in the final review stages.

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The Oko West Mine

THURSDAY Canadian mining firm eyes 4 flights weekly to export Guyana’s gold - to build own airstrip to accommodate twin-Ottersized planes Canadian mining firm, G Mining Ventures (GMIN) anticipates three to four flights weekly from their Oko West gold project located in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) to export gold from Guyana as well as facilitate other business and emergencies.

In April 2024, GMIN bought Reunion Gold, another Canadian company for some US$638 million – through this transaction GMIN acquired Reunion’s flagship Oko West Mine.

The Oko West project is expected to produce 353,000 ounces of gold annually over its 12.7-year mine life, with a total output of 4.5 million ounces. On Wednesday November 27, GMIN s u b m i t t e d t h e Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Oko West project to Guyana’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

In a statement the company said, “The comprehensive documents were officially submitted…this submission marks a significant step forward advancing the Oko West Gold Mines Project, e m p h a s i s i n g G M I N ’s commitment to sustainable and environmentally responsible mining practices.”

In one of the documents, it was stated that an airstrip will be constructed in the project area. It was explained that while a number of alternative locations were considered, in the end it was decided that the airstrip will be located to the south of the mine infrastructure and close to the pit/processing plant.

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

will be approximately 850 meters long. The airstrip will be used for the export of gold, personnel transport, and health and safety emergencies during all phases of the Project,” it was stated. An average of three or four flights is anticipated per week. These flights will occur during daylight hours, as the airstrip will not be lit.

Gold production is slated to commence by 2028. “The airstrip will be unpaved and constructed from laterite.

The airstrip will be oriented northeast-southwest, as required by prevailing winds,” the document states.

By the third quarter of 2025, GMIN is looking to start construction on its gold project. The Oko West Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) highlights an average gold grade of 2.00 grams per tonne (g/t) and a high metallurgical recovery rate of 92.8%. The company had said that the PEA confirms strong economics for a lowcost, large-scale mining operation using both conventional open pit (OP) an d u n d erg r o u n d ( U G ) methods.

According to GMIN, with operating costs well below industry averages and a high rate of return, the project is ideally positioned to benefit from favourable macro-economic conditions, including strong gold prices, low inflation, and Guyana’s rapidly developing economy. The open pit mine is projected to have a life of 15 years, which includes 2 years of pre-stripping and involves four pit phases. In

contrast, the underground mine is expected to operate for 13 years, including 2 years of development, across three zones.

The milling operation is planned to run for 13 years. It was explained that during the first three years of commercial production, the processing feed will be provided entirely by the open pit. From the fourth year onward, underground mining will begin supplying a significant portion of the mineralized material.

Notably, the Oko West project payback period is estimated at 3.8 years, based on a gold price of US$1,950 per ounce.

Businessman shoots man dead, claims he was a thief - released on $1M station bail Police have reportedly released a businessman on $1M station bail after he shot a man dead on Sunday at his Bladen Hall, East Coast Demerara (ECD) home.

According to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) , the businessman identified as 52-year-old Pooran Singh claimed that the man was stealing Heineken Beers from his premises so he shot him.

The dead man remains unidentified and the press was left in the dark about the killing. Police instead of reporting on the shooting death of the unidentified man only chose to publish an advisory asking the public to assist investigators in identifying him. No details were shared about how he

died or if police had found him dead.

Journalists had to press the Guyana Police Force for answers after information began circulating that he was shot dead by a businessman.

Pressed for answers, the force Corporate Communications Unit (CCU), issued a statement, saying that he was killed around 02:30hrs on Sunday December 1, 2024. “The businessman was arrested, and his firearm was lodged”.

At first the force said that he is in custody and investigators are awaiting legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Shalimar Ali Hack SC. Later during the day, police issued another statement, saying that the businessman was released on a million-dollar station bail on Wednesday afternoon while investigators continue to wait on legal advice. “The suspect, Mr. Pooran Singh, who was arrested by the police for discharging his licensed firearm while at his residence which allegedly caused the death of someone who he alleged was stealing his goods, was this afternoon placed on one million dollars ($1M) station bail”, police stated.

FRIDAY ‘Showing how oil money being spent would be difficult’ -Jagdeo says transparency exists in transfers to NRF and in Budget process Although the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) Act of

2021, passed by the current administration, sets strict guidelines for the use of resources garnered from the oil and gas sector, the government has failed to identify and inform the population what the funds are being used for.

In fact, Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday made it clear that this may very well not be possible since itemizing oil revenue expenditure would be a difficult task. He reasoned, “How do you balkanize revenue coming into the budget? (It) becomes a very difficult thing to do; so where the transparency is done, transparency is that every cent spent from oil money, from non-oil revenue and from borrowing, has to be appropriated by the National Assembly through a Budgetary Appropriation Process, whether it is the original Budget or through Supplementary Budgets which then form an appropriation act or a s u p p l e m e n t a r y appropriation act, which itemizes all of the expenditure of the state and how much is going to be spent…”

Section 16.2 of the NRF Act states that, “All withdrawals from the Fund shall be deposited into the Consolidated Fund and shall be used only to finance: (a) national development priorities including any initiative aimed at realizing an inclusive green economy, and (b) essential projects that are directly related to ameliorating the effect of a major natural disaster.”

Be that as it may, the government has not highlighted any national development priority or essential project funded through this source of income. In fact, major development priorities and essential projects such as roads, hospitals, and the new Demerara River Crossing are being funded through loan agreements. Government has also applied for a loan to support the Gas-to-Energy project.

In the meantime, the VP said that while the population is of the view that the oil money is not benefitting them, government is financing thousands of scholarships.

Additionally, he said, “I didn’t even put in the $230B that we are spending now on housing development. To do the 40,000 house lots, now it’s $232B. We anticipate to get up to 50,000, we need another $50B next year.

About $282B will go only to deliver on our promise of doing 50,000 house lots because it costs about $5M to develop a house lot…we only have $300B this year coming in from oil. Of course, the $282B is not for one year, it’s for the five years so why don’t we have that conversation rather than the sound bites?”

To this end, Jagdeo said that there is no greater clarity surrounding oil resources that he has seen compared to Guyana. He said, “You name a country that every three months every receipt of revenue from an oil and gas company that is paid in to the NRF has to, by law, be published in the Official Gazette and Parliament has to be notified within three months of that receipt; not a n n u a l l y, f o r e v e r y transaction.”

He was keen to note too that the Minister could be jailed for failing to issue these reports. Further, the VP pointed out that government has instituted a formula where a specific sum is withdrawn each year to fund the National Budget.

Brutus’ wife allowed to leave country for emergency medical checkup Adonika Aulder, the pregnant wife of embattled Assistant Police Commissioner Calvin Brutus, has been granted permission by the court to Continued on page 44

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From page 43 leave the country for emergency medical treatment. The ruling was made on Thursday at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court by Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty.

Aulder appeared with her lawyer, Eusi Anderson, who made the request for her to leave the jurisdiction on Thursday afternoon. The court approved the request and Aulder is expected to return to Guyana in time for her next court appearance on December 18, 2024.

Meanwhile, her husband, Calvin Brutus, who is facing allegations related to financial crimes, will remain in Guyana while she is away. Anderson, in his remarks, emphasised his client’s innocence, stating, “Mrs. Brutus is completely innocent of the charges that she faces. She intends to vigorously protest that in the court of law, and Mrs. Brutus is of the view that these charges are vexatious.” He also expressed gratitude for t h e c o u r t ’s r u l i n g , acknowledging both his and

Aulder’s appreciation for the decision. Aulder is facing two charges of money laundering in the Magistrates’ Court. She is accused of acquiring $352,082,315 from her company’s bank account at Republic Bank in December 2023, knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that the funds were derived from criminal activity.

Initially, Aulder and Calvin were denied permission to travel to the United States for medical care when he appeared at the High Court on October 18.

Justice Gino Persaud rejected his application, citing Brutus’ involvement in over 240 charges related to financial crimes.

Additionally, the court noted back then that Calvin Brutus had not sought approval from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of H o m e A ff a i r s t o l e a v e Guyana. There were also concerns regarding him being a potential flight-risk, as he had returned to Guyana after overstaying a 42-day leave abroad in August.

President of ExxonMobil Upstream Company and Vice President of ExxonMobil Corporation, Liam Mallon

After five years of umping oil, Govt. hands Guyanese 18 and over $55 per day - Glenn Lall calls it an insult The much touted $100,000 cash grant to every adult Guyanese works work out to some $55 Guyana dollars per day for the five years since this country has started pumping oil.

Government, this week, rolled out the pay-out initiative in Region Nine and

has sought to make it the centrepiece of its policy in giving back to citizens.

Speaking in one of his social media commentaries this week, Businessman Glenn Lall said it is an insult for Guyanese to be receiving $54 Guyana dollars a day after five years of oil production here.

“After five years of ExxonMobil pumping our oil and walking away with tens of US billions, every Guyanese over 18 is set to receive just one American quarter – 25 US cents – a day.

Yes, that is what Guyanese worth after five years of pumping oil. That’s right: $54 Guyana dollars a day.

Fifty-four dollars! That can’t even buy ah ¼ lb. plantain…” Lall, a fierce critic of the lopsided oil contract the coalition government signed with ExxonMobil back in 2026, said.

Lall said $100,000, which is less than US$500, is being thrown at Guyanese after the pumping of oil for 1,825 days in this country.

“This is what the government and opposition have reduced all of us to, with that unprecedented oil discovery made in Guyana.

And to add more insult to that injury, you have to join three lines, on three different dates, at three separate locations before you can get that $100,000. That is what the PPP is proud of while the PNC and AFC are silent…”

The businessman recalled joining Mr. Ray Daggers, earlier this year, on a protest walk from Moleson Creek in Berbice to Charity on the Essequibo Coast. Lall said it was hoped that more Guyanese would have joined the walk “to overturn that contract, to get what we truly deserve, but just a handful of persons joined in and walked with us. Today, had you raised your voices and marched with us in droves to

Sunday December 08, 2024

bring about that change, all Guyanese over 18 would not have had to join three lines at three different times to collect that $100,000.”

He added: “You didn’t have time then to join that walk, but now you finding time to line-up in that hot sun or pouring rain to register as a citizen, then line up again to collect the cheque, then go to the bank to line up again to cash that cheque.”

Telling citizens that they deserve better, Lall said, “This is not what your children deserve and certainly this is not what our ancestors fought for. And until you ready to stand up and raise that voice to demand a referendum before any elections, so that you and I can decide what deal we want from that oil, $54 or 25 US cents a day will be the reality.”

The administration has prioritised public servants and pensioners over the last several days, with registration schedules for National Insurance Scheme and Old Age Pensioners disseminated to the public via the media.

Moreover, public registration for the cash grant commenced on Tuesday in several areas, including Region Four and outlying areas. The government has outlined a four-step process for the initiative, which begins with the registration exercise comprising each community having a registration schedule, then technical teams with preprogrammed Tablets will be dispatched to gather persons’ data. The second stage is the verification of the registrants with the next stage being the cutting of cheques then distribution to persons 18 and above.

Government’s $100,000 Cash Grant Initiative was announced by President Irfaan Ali in October and every Guyanese citizen 18 years old and over will receive the pay-out.

Vice President Bharrat J a g d e o , l a s t T h u r s d a y, announced that while the government is looking to distribute the $100,000 oneoff cash grant to public servants and pensioners first – not every citizen will receive theirs before Christmas. Jagdeo said, “What I can say to Guyanese is that they will get it, not everyone will get it before Christmas. A lot of people ask, “Oh, will I get it before Christmas?” But I would say

to people, you still will get it…and it might come in good after Christmas.”

The Vice President said that he had previously stated since the cash grant initiative was first announced in October, that the process would take the government about five months to complete. “The president said that we are trying to hurry this up to see if we can complete at least the public servants and the pensioners before the end of the year. We may be able to do that and then a number of other p e o p l e w h o a r e registered…” Jagdeo noted.

Last Wednesday, the Committee of Supply approved $30.5 billion to cater for the distribution of the one-off $100,000 cash grant to citizens 18 years and above. This is expected to cover the first phase of the distribution and includes public servants and pensioners. Jagdeo also disclosed that the government is aiming to distribute the cash grant to about 300,000 persons before the end of the year.

Jagdeo noted that the 2025 budget which is expected to be passed by February, will cater for the second phase of the distribution of the $100,000 cash grant.

“And then we can seek to appropriate the balance of the money, we anticipate that it will be about another $30 billion because we think about 600,000 adults you have in the country, or just o v e r t h a t … ” t h e Vi c e President stated.

The Vice President noted that the government anticipates that in the future, there will be similar grants.

As such, he noted that once the government completes the database for the distribution, the future distribution will become easier. Once this initiative is completed, $60 billion would have been placed in the hands of citizens across the country.

SATURDAY Guyana’s oil contract “very fair” – Exxon’s Vice President President of ExxonMobil Upstream Company and Vice President of Exxon Mobil Corporation, Liam Mallon has described G u y a n a ’s P r o d u c t i o n Sharing Agreement (PSA) with the company as “very Continued on page 45

Sunday December 08, 2024

From page 44 fair”. During an interview this week with Hart Energy, Mallon who is expected to resign with effect from February 1, 2025, gave an overview of the massive discovery in Guyana, followed by its successful string of start-up projects.

He explained, “It was not that it almost didn’t happen.

If you go back and trace the history of Guyana, this is the nature of exploration to some extent. As a basin, several wells were drilled in Guyana through the ’60s, ’70s. The proposition was that there were hydrocarbons there because there was a heavy oil field which still produces today in Suriname.”

Mallon said that while geologists and geoscientists were certain of a source rock, they just did not know where.

The assumption was the resource was in the shallow water, but exploration there was not favourable.

According to him, “Then the hypothesis that our team came up in the early part of the 2000s was that it’s potentially out in the deeper water. Of course, technology at that time wasn’t where it is today. Imaging wasn’t where it is today. And then the country, the activity was under force majeure for quite some time.” The process to drill the wells was both “expensive and high risk” Mallon recalled. He said that while there is chatter about the oil deal government signed onto, the contract can be considered fair, taking the risk into account.

“I think it was kind of a unique proposition hypothesis and the only way to test it was to go drill it. And these were expensive wells to drill and high risk. And people talk about the [government] contract. The contract is very fair relative to the risk that was taken. I t h i n k t h a t ’s w i d e l y acknowledged,” Exxon’s Vice President noted.

While Mallon said it is widely acknowledged that the oil deal is fair, this statement is perhaps only limited to the opinion of ExxonMobil. Guyanese politicians have often frowned upon the deal, labelling it the worst contract ever signed.

While strong statements have been made against the deal, leaders are reluctant to renegotiate the terms of the contract with Exxon, adamant that this could affect future investments in

Kaieteur News

Leader of the Alliance For Change, Nigel Hughes the oil rich Stabroek Block and breach the ‘sanctity of contracts’ principle.

“An incredible success story” For Mallon, who has been with Exxon since the early days of exploration in Guyana, the rate of development taking place is unlike anything he has seen in the history of the deepwater industry.

He noted, “I’ve been with this from the very start. I was in Georgetown (capital of Guyana) in 2015, very early.

And the pace at which we’ve developed this, we’ve gone from zero to now, today, greater than 600,000 barrels per day (bpd), and we’ll grow to the 1.2 million bpd capacity we talked about by 2027 in a very short period of time, at a pace that we’ve never seen in the deepwater industry.”

The Vice President said this is tied to the capabilities and partnerships, which is nothing less than “high quality”.

Additionally, he pointed out, “The rocks are very high quality, the subsurface is very good, but we’ve also done an incredible amount of things with our technologies to improve it. These boats (FPSOs), for example, let’s say they’re designed for 600,000 bpd, we’re producing (almost) 100,000 bpd more today. We’re optimizing debottlenecking, finding ways to do more than we thought we could do. And that just continues. It’s an incredible success story.”

Terms of Guyana’s oil contract In accordance with the provisions of the 2016 PSA, Exxon can deduct up to 75% of Guyana’s oil produced each month to recover its investment in the block. The remaining 25% is shared equally with Guyana as profits. The country also receives one of the lowest royalty rates known to the sector, a paltry 2% which is paid quarterly.

In the meantime, a key

provision not included in the contract allows Exxon to shorten Guyana’s share of profits by investing the earnings to develop projects yet to start-up, and even finance the company’s exploration activities.

To date, Guyana would have been receiving a greater profit share with a ringfencing provision, since the cost of the three projects in operation have been paid off.

Despite being urged to implement a ring-fencing provision to ensure the country benefits from the current high oil prices, the government is unwilling to apply this mechanism.

Jagdeo’s statement on showing how oil money is spent “the most reckless admission of gross disregard to the prudent management” of Guyana – Hughes Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Nigel Hughes, on Friday during the p a r t y ’s w e e k l y p r e s s conference, issued a scathing statement in response to the explanation provided by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, on government’s failure to account for the use of the country’s oil revenue.

Jagdeo said on Thursday that itemizing the expenditure from oil money would be difficult and went on to highlight the steps taken by government to ensure transparency in the use of the resources.

He reasoned, “How do you balkanize revenue coming into the budget? (It) becomes a very difficult thing to do; so, where the transparency is done, transparency is that every cent spent from oil money, from non-oil revenue and from borrowing, has to be appropriated by the National Assembly through a Budgetary Appropriation Process, whether it is the original Budget or through Supplementary Budgets which then form an

appropriation act or a s u p p l e m e n t a r y appropriation act, which itemizes all of the expenditure of the state and how much is going to be spent…”. For his part, Hughes quoted a letter by Dr. Te r r e n c e C a m p b e l l (published in today’s edition of the Kaieteur News) highlighting the failure of the Investment Committee to perform its functions, as outlined in the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) Act of 2021.

In a section of the letter, as quoted by Hughes, Dr. Campbell, the Opposition’s representative on the Investment Committee said he was shocked to read Jagdeo’s comments that “balkanization of revenues” in the Consolidated Fund would make it difficult to show how NRF funds were being spent.

He explained, “a little over a month ago I began pressing internally for the Board of the Fund to demand the justification for withdrawals from the fund in accordance with section 16 subsection 2 and subsections (a) and (b).”

These subsections specify that withdrawals must be for national development priorities and or essential projects to ameliorate the effects of a n a t u r a l d i s a s t e r. D r.

Campbell said his request was met with stout resistance, even in the face of

PAGE 45

threats to initiate litigation.

“In essence, the Board signs a blank cheque with each withdrawal. This effectively reduces the Board to a rubber stamp and the Public Accountability and Oversight Committee, which is supposed to provide oversight, to a white elephant,” the Committee member concluded.

To this end, Hughes said this was perhaps the most disturbing news he read for the month, as there is essentially no scrutiny of the resources meant for future generations, by the Investment Committee.

“If we really sit down and think what that means, in other words, this has now become a slush fund, a facilitating entity that literally carries out the government’s bidding when i n e ff e c t t h e p r i m a r y responsibility is to overlook exactly what the government is doing with our money, our asset, our investment and attempting to stop them, interrogate them,” the lawyer stated.

In the absence of adequate oversight, coupled with the excuse proffered by Jagdeo, Hughes argued that it is likely that the country’s resources would be diverted for political purposes.

The Leader of the AFC called for the members of the Oversight Committee to indicate what methodologies they have used to interrogate the government’s

application for spending, state the professional advice they have sought before approving government expenditure and outline the methodologies that they have deployed regarding the country’s wealth.

Hughes said, “Think of the most profound statement m a d e b y M r. J a g d e o yesterday (Thursday) which essentially says showing how oil money would be spent would be difficult…this is the most reckless admission of the gross disregard to the prudent management of this country.” The AFC Leader added that Jagdeo labeled the O p p o s i t i o n a s obstructionists, affecting the efficiency of the government, which means they do not deserve to be appointed to examine and oversee the actions of the government.

He said Jagdeo’s idea of efficiency is the movement of funds from the NRF to the Consolidated Fund to allow spending in a manner where he is unable to give account.

In fact, Hughes argued, “All he wants is that to be done very quickly so the friends, families and favourites of the PPP can continue to benefit from this money as efficiently as they want to get it, particularly coming up to an election year.”

Hughes made it clear that the “squandermania” by the regime must not be allowed to continue.

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Sunday December 08, 2024

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Kaieteur News

Sunday December 08, 2024 Miss World Guyana 2022/2023, Andrea SC King

Miss World Guyana 2022 steps away from coronation over unfulfilled prize Andrea King, the reigning Miss World Guyana 2022, announced on her Facebook page on Friday that she will not be participating in the upcoming 2024 coronation ceremony. King's decision stems from an unresolved issue regarding the grand prize promised to her after winning the pageant: a 2017 Toyota Vitz.

King explained, “This decision follows an unresolved and prolonged matter regarding the fulfillment of one of the grand prizes promoted during the 2022 pageant and included in the official contract. To date, I am still awaiting a meaningful response from the M i s s Wo r l d G u y a n a organization regarding the fulfillment of their contractual obligation to deliver the 2022 grand p r i z e — a 2 0 1 7 To y o t a Vitz—that I rightfully won on the night of my crowning.”

She expressed frustration over the lack of urgency in addressing her claim, stating that the manner in which her follow-ups have been handled has undermined her position as titleholder.

King further emphasized that attending the coronation would not align with her values of integrity and

respect, adding, “I am not desirous of simply showing up for appearances as though it is business as usual.”

In response, Missosology Guyana, the organization behind the pageant, issued a statement under King's post.

The organization defended the customary practice in the pageant industry, stating, “As is customary in the pageant industry, prize winnings are typically distributed after the conclusion of a queen's reign.” It continued, “This longstanding practice is the established norm across various competitions, including Miss World. In line with tradition, most organizations, if not all, ensure that prizes, such as scholarships, cash awards, and other benefits, are awarded only once the reigning titleholder has completed her year of service.”

Missosology Guyana explained that this approach allows the pageant queen to focus on her responsibilities and charitable work throughout her reign, adding, “Given that one has not yet completed her reign or fulfilled the duty of crowning her successor, it is difficult to see how she would be entitled to the prize winnings.”

Sunday December 08, 2024

Kaieteur News

PAGE 51

BNick, Issibaby are Rude Boy’s brand ambassadors Issibaby officially becoming a Brand Ambassador with Rude Boy Guyana.

Guyanese artiste, BNick signing his deal with Rude Boy Guyana.

Two upcoming artistes in Guyana, BNick and Issibaby are now part of the Rude Boy family.

The artistes were earlier this month signed by Rude Boy Guyana as its brand ambassadors in Guyana.

Rude Boy is an alcoholic beverage manufactured in the Dominican Republic but is available across the Caribbean and very popular among the Caribbean people.

According to the company's official website, “Rude Boy represents a culture of individuality”. ​ “ The term Rude Boy comes from the Jamaican vernacular which means "bad boy" or "bad man", the beverage company stated on its website while adding the term is deeply rooted in Jamaican and Caribbean culture. “...The Rude Boy genre of music, dance, film and the arts has positively impacted social attitudes across the world bringing people from different cultures together”.

Apart from broadening its reach across the Caribbean, it

has been supporting Caribbean artistes and Models.

BNick and Issibaby are among the latest addition to its family.

BNick is a rising dancehall star not only in Guyana but the Caribbean. His smooth voice along with deep and meaningful lyrics has gained him much popularity and his streams on YouTube are already in the millions.

One of his hits “Too Much” has amassed over 5.4 million views on YouTube alone.

Following his signing, he p o s t e d o n h i s o ff i c i a l Facebook Page, “BNick is now a Rude Boy meen saying please and thanks nomo, bare rudeness”.

Meanwhile, Issibaby is a Venezuelan born artiste but has been living and representing Guyana in its local music industry. In recent times, she too has gained popularity with her “dembow” and trap styled songs, especially among the growing Latina migrant community in Guyana.

Kaieteur News

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Sunday December 08, 2024

Giovanie Fletcher at a recent event showingcasing her art pieces.

Proud owner of Gio's Art, Giovanie Fletcher

Spreading positivity through creative paintings & craft Gio's A famo rt showc a us St abroe sing the k Mar ket.

By Allyiah Allicock

W

hile art is the expression of one's creative skill, emotions and ideas on a physical medium, for Giovanie Fletcher, art is more than that, it serves as positivity and a safe space for her.

In an exclusive interview with The Waterfalls, 34-year-old Fletcher said her art business 'Gio's Art' was launched in 2020 following a very difficult period in her life.

She recalled, “My creative energies for art were reactivated four years ago which was a very difficult period in my life. On the verge of my breaking point, art, the act of drawing and painting became my safety net.”

Fletcher shared that finding her way to art again, she was

elevated mentally and spiritually, and that each illustration she created caused a ripple effect on her life in a positive way.

“From that, I knew this is what I wanted to do. I want to activate and invite positive energies into everyone's life with each purchase of my art. My work which is also my hobby will forever be a vessel of positivity for me, a shield, my safe space,” the young woman explained.

Gio's Art for those who are not familiar, is a business that creates paintings and other illustrations using mixed media mainly, acrylics on canvases and wooden surfaces. All paintings can be customized to your specified desire.

Having been in the art industry for some years now, Fletcher mentioned that the support for her work has been good noting that it comes in a seasonal manner.

Elaborating, she said, “I have been doing this for five years and I found that it is seasonal, there are times that you will have lots of work and there are times when you won't have anything.”

According to her, the support has been mostly from foreigners

though she appreciates this, she would also like to see the gesture coming from more locals.

“I think Guyanese are now catching up to the sense of art. To the sense of creativity and what it is to be creative and to acknowledge, support and understand creative people that it is hard work. I think Guyana is slowly catching up to that concept,” she added.

Addressing the challenges, she would have faced time to time with her business, Fletcher disclosed that a main one would be sourcing the materials to create her pieces. She said from the time she launched, to now, she has seen progress where some small businesses would now be selling the materials needed for art.

“We have gotten a far way from 2020 to now in terms of the art world, persons are being able to ship in varnish and paints and so forth but art materials are still hard to come by in terms of artist brand

A creative abstract showing Kio fishes done by Gio's Art

hurdles, the artist explained that having a passive income helps a lot in this area.

“Even in these dry spell seasons where business isn't that good having something else to fall back on, a side gig Gio's Art depicting actually helps,” she a flamingo. pointed out.

Fletcher, who is not materials, not only will only known as an acrylic it be pricier but because it is being painter, muralist and crafter, shipped here,” she related. is also a part-time art teacher at a Another challenge she alluded private secondary school. to has to do with the seasonal Notwithstanding the support for her art. Asked how she challenges, she said she will manages to overcome these (Continued on page 56)

Sunday December 08, 2024

New nursery school commissioned in Monkey Mountain Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand on Friday commissioned the brand-new Monkey Mountain Nursery School in Region Eight.

According to a release from the Education Ministry on Saturday, the modern facility accommodates 49 children and provides a safe and stimulating environment for young learners in the hinterland community.

It was noted that the school marks another milestone in the government’s commitment to equitable access to quality education. “The school is equipped with modern amenities, including bright and spacious classrooms, age-appropriate furniture, educational tools, and play areas. This environment is designed to foster creativity, curiosity, and a love for learning at an early age,” the ministry said.

Minister Manickchand at the simple ceremony highlighted the importance of early childhood education in shaping the future of Guyana. According to the ministry, parents and community members welcomed the establishment of the nursery school, noting that it relieves them of the burden of traveling long distances to access early education services.

The nursery school also provides trained teachers who are equipped to deliver high-quality instruction tailored to the needs of young children. “In addition to the nursery school, teachers in Monkey Mountain are being trained online right within the village, enabling them to enhance their skills without leaving their community,” the ministry noted.

Kaieteur News understands that in the village, a secondary school is being constructed and it represents a significant investment in the community’s educational infrastructure and ensuring that students have access to continued learning opportunities close to home.

Thieves break into WBD rice mill twice in weeks, escape with cash and court documents - suspects released on station bail Thieves have broken into the rice mill of 66-year-old Jeetlall Ramraj, at Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara (WBD), twice in 14 days, carting off with large sums of cash and court documents. The most recent break-in occurred early Friday morning. Ramraj fears that the thieves could strike again after ranks at the La Grange Police Station, released the prime suspects (two individuals) on $50,000 bail each. Ramraj believes that the theft of his money and destruction of his property to gain access to his safe is an inside job and might even involve persons (relatives) who were formerly close to him.

“They break the locks of the doors and the safe,” he told Kaieteur News as he noted that at the time of the first breakin, the thieves thought that they had the keys for the safe but they were unaware he had changed the locks. “So, they broke it,” he disclosed. Asked why he believes that some of his relatives may be involved, Ramraj said “they took documents too, court documents,” while explaining that there is an ongoing dispute over his property.

The rice farmer alleged too that after the recent theft, he was able to trace foot tracks from the crime scene towards the suspects’ home. He claimed too that he even provided evidence to the police at the La Grange Police Station while filing a report. No one was arrested for the first break-in but police did arrest two persons following the second break-in but quickly released them on station bail.

Ramraj believes that he might not receive any justice, because the police seem to “believe the suspects more than him”. He claimed that there have been ongoing issues between him and the suspects. “They have filed a police report against me in the past because they have a rice field next to me,” Ramraj told Kaieteur News. “One of them alleged that I had threatened him with a gun and another allegation is that I threatened to run them over with my tractor while they were working in their field but all of the allegations are false,” Ramraj told Kaieteur News while alleging that the situation stemmed from the ongoing property dispute.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 53 Inside the recently commissioned Monkey Mountain Nursery School in Region Eight.

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Sunday December 08, 2024

The Miracle of the Christmas Bell ReadTheTale.com In the cozy little town of Snowflake Hollow, Christmas was everyone's favourite time of the year. The streets were lined with twinkling lights, wreaths hung on every door, and the sweet smell of gingerbread wafted through the air. At the heart of the town stood the grand Christmas tree, crowned with a shimmering golden bell.

This bell wasn't just any decoration. It was the Christmas Bell of Wishes, a magical treasure that rang out every Christmas Eve to grant a wish to someone truly deserving. But this year, something strange had happened.

“It's gone!” Mayor Tinsel exclaimed, his face pale. “The Christmas Bell has vanished!”

The townsfolk gathered around the tree, gasping in shock. Who could have taken it?

Without the bell, Snowflake Hollow's Christmas magic would fade.

Among the crowd was a curious and brave 7-year-old named Mia. She loved mysteries and had a knack for solving them.

With her trusty backpack filled with snacks and a flashlight, Mia decided she wouldn't let Christmas be ruined.

“I'll find the bell,” she announced confidently.

Her best friend, Max, tugged at her sleeve. “Are you sure, Mia? What if it's too dangerous?”

“Christmas is too important,” Mia replied. “We have to try.”

The Clue in the Snow…

Mia and Max examined the area around the tree for clues. Beneath the branches, they spotted something shiny half-buried in the snow. It was a small golden feather.

“This looks like it belongs to… an owl?”

Max guessed, scratching his head.

“No ordinary owl,” Mia said, narrowing her eyes. “It's the Golden Owl of Everpine Forest! Grandma told me about it—it guards

Paper Christmas Tree Garland Tutorial November 15, 2016 -THE CRAFTY ANGELS · Cardstock in various shades of green · twine/thread · beads in colors of your choice · glitter/3d outliner etc · glue, pencil, ruler etc treasures.”

Everpine Forest was just outside Snowflake Hollow, and it was said to be enchanted. Some townsfolk avoided it, fearing its strange whispers and glowing trees. But Mia wasn't afraid.

With Max by her side, she marched toward the forest, her flashlight cutting through the darkness.

The Enchanted Forest…

The moment they stepped into Everpine Forest, the air changed. The trees shimmered with frost that sparkled like diamonds.

Strange, melodic whispers floated around them, and the ground glowed faintly beneath their feet.

“This is incredible,” Max whispered, his fear giving way to awe.

They followed a trail of golden feathers deeper into the forest until they reached a clearing. There, perched on a branch, was the Golden Owl. Its eyes glowed like amber, and around its neck hung the missing bell.

“We found it!” Mia whispered excitedly.

But as they approached, the owl spread its wings and hooted loudly. A gust of wind swept through the clearing, and a deep voice (Continued on page 57)

GINGERBREAD MAZE Can you help the gingerbread man find the gingerbread house?

How to make these paper Christmas tree garland:

First make the 3d paper Christmas trees and then bead them through your twine along with your colourful beads for a garland.

For making the tree, you need a template base which you will need to cut out the tree shapes on cardstock. The template is pretty easy and you can draw them with your freehand.

Fold your green sheets and draw half the

template since they are symmetric on both sides. You will require 6 such cut out pieces for one tree so you might want to draw the outline over the entire sheet and then sit down to cut them out.

Once you have cut out the template, stick them side to side. As I said I have used 6 numbers per tree but that's totally your choice to have more or lesser papers.

Once you have stuck 6 side by side and you have to close the loop, place your twine passing along the center of the tree bottom to top and leave a tail at the top to join with main twine. Now you can stick the final two flaps and close the tree.

You can add some more tiny details to the tree like I did here. Maybe border or dots or anything of your choice to keep a high interest level. Alternately, if you have green cardstock in Christmas theme, it will work great too!

Once you have completed all the details, time to add little beads.

Here is how I added the little red beads on top of the Christmas tree.

Make sure your top bead's hole stays horizontal so that while adding them to the garland, the tree hangs straight. For the garland I chose beads in shades of blue, green and red. I added them in some pattern along with our Christmas tree and look how pretty they are.

Treat everyone like a brother

By Uncle Roy Among my friends in and out of school, There are those who look different, Because of the colour of their skin, Otherwise I see no difference.

Sometimes when we are together, Two of them start to bicker, And they call one another names, Which have to do with this colour.

This seems to me so silly, When I know they are otherwise good, And in all other things we do, They deal with one another as they should.

I now make it my duty Not to judge people by their colour, And tell others to do the same, And treat everyone like a brother.

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 08, 2024

PAGE 55

TEEN TIME

Do your part to advance our country in peace and progress With the problems that our people encountered in relation to our national elections finally coming to an end with the swearing in of a new President and government, each citizen of our country must recognise their duty to contribute to the progress of all our citizens in a just and peaceful manner.

This must include all of our young people, as they would have the most to gain or lose according to how our

country keeps on this onward course of peace and progress, as they would have to live long after many of the present adult population have retired or passed from the scene.

It must therefore be necessary for our young people to stop and think how they can best make this contribution. To do so, it would help to study the past and present situations in our national affairs, much of which has disturbed the

Uncle Roy is once again appealing to all teens to write to him about any problem you may be facing for which you need a solution.

He would also like you to contribute to this Page by submitting other material that he can include here. These include: 1. A poem, short story or bit of advice that you have written and would like to share with your fellow teens.

2. Any significant event that has happened, or any interesting item about what is going on in your community.

3. A commentary about where you live to acquaint others about it.

4. Any advice you would like to pass on to those like you which would serve to make them better, and be of benefit to our people.

As mentioned before, you can email me at: roypaul2002@yahoo.com

SUGURU

Call to Guyana's Youths Youths of Guyana, let's heed our country's call, Youths of Guyana, let's heed it one and all; Let's help to build our nation, let's join to till the soil, Guyana's needs our efforts, Guyana needs our toil.

Youths of Guyana, let's work in unity, To feed, house and clothe ourselves to banish poverty; We should not ever tire, we should not ever tarry To strive to make Guyana a land that's just and free.

peaceful coexistence among our people.

Among the main factors that has worked to prevent unity among our citizens is the racism chiefly among the two main racial groups that has done so much harm to our living together peacefully, and also to our economic progress. This means that each of us needs to make a determined effort to stamp out this curse in our interactions at every level, by first of all setting an example of proper behaviour towards others of another race, as well as helping others, especially those close to us, to do the same when we experience

people acting in a biased manner when dealing with others of another racial group. Apart from this, we need to try to contribute in all other aspects of our national affairs by making an extra effort to make the best of ourselves through our studies, in our work within our families, and in whatever we can do in our communities.

Moreover, as in every effort that we can engage in, it would help if we can pray regularly about our national situation, including asking for the help of our Almighty Creator towards those who are responsible for running our political affairs.

Every citizen has a sacred obligation to help in whatever way he can to build his country.

Let's go forth determined, let's advance fearlessly, To make Guyana mighty, a land of true dignity; The future is ours, if we strive for peace and unity, So let's build together, and we will all taste victory.

Solutions to last week’s

The heavy lines indicate areas, called cages, from one to five squares in size.

Fill each cage with unique digits, counting up from 1. So for example a 2-square cage contains the numbers 1 and 2; and a 5-square cage contains the numbers from 1 to 5. Adjacent (touching) squares, even ones that touch diagonally, may never contain the same number.

Troix

PAGE 56

Kaieteur News

Sunday December 08, 2024

Living with HIV: Lisa’s journey of resilience and hope WANTED

VACANCY

Drivers (25-45 Year old) to deliver Groceries & Porter to work on the canter & warehouse. Attractive salary. Tel673-7373.

One male & Female staff to work in a store. Call: 225-2313 / 658-8559.

One single reliable live-in Domestic, for the East Bank Area, must be 46 years and above. Contact: 662-2018

Porter Vacancy at Vegetarian Gardens. 68 Robb & Cummings G/Town. Tel:2277714 Cell:640-0673 Receptionist Vacancy at Hick’s Ville Hotel. 79 West Ruimveldt Estate G/Town. Tel :231-0951/640-0673 Email:info@vegeworld.net

Experienced bus driver for Region #3, Must have a valid bus license. Contact : 60079618/ 703-7133 or email : e.e.transportgy@gmail.com

Live-in Babysitter / Cook age 45-55 years old. Experience would be an asset. Contact : 681-4662.

Help Wanted: Join 592 Rides as a Driver!- Download the 592 Rides app from your smartphone's app store.

Single male seeks a live-in Domestic Partner, Light housework. Salary $60,000 monthly. Call: 603-9085.

Part-time Driver, 5 years experience aged 30-45 years old, preferably from E.B.D. Tele: 665-0677.

Male sales-rep 18-28 years old, Knowledge about vehicle models would be an asset. Call : 619-1237.

Pastry maker, Cleaner, sales representative, security personnel at Humphrey's Bakery & Farm produce @ Ketley street. 505-1324.

Maid to clean for east bank area. Call: 615-9132.

Female cleaner. Call : 6159132 / 645-8443.

One (1) painter & Male cleaner 615-9132 or 645-8443.

Pump Attendant (6am-2pm & 2pm-10pm).Mobil Providence E.B.D, Call: 265-7306.

Email:Mobilramsburg@gmai.com Receptionist, Supervisor , Laundry attendant 23-50 years old. 233 South Road Lacytown. 225-0198.

Vacancy for one Porter and hauler truck Driver. Contact: 611-7088 for more info.

Vacancy for experience and non-experience sewing machine operator at Lall's Garment Enterprise Lot 6 Friendship E.B.D. One day Guard to work around Ogle area. Call: 2275222 or 617-4662.

ENTERTAINMENT

VEHICLES FOR SALE

Family fun Aracari Resort! crystal clear pool, safe kids & adult sections, music & food. W.B.D. Call : 264-29469

1 Honda CRV, includes TV, music system, alarm, reverse camera, spoiler, crash, low mileage PTT Series (first owner). Call: 649-0956.

One Unregistered Nissan XTrail 2016 model, Mode Premiere. Call : 649-0956.

ACCOMMODATIONS Aracari Hotel renovated rooms ,A/C, TV, Restaurant, bar, pool, gym Stay 7 nights, 1 Free! Call: 264-2946.

FOR SALE For Sale 6 used American made Dental chairs excellent condition contact Mr Vino on 661-3030 or 626-8918 One Nissan Double cab pickup, fully off road setup ; -5 Million Negotiable. Call: 626-8919 / 661-3030.

For sale 1 320D Caterpillar Excavator with 3066 Engine.

Contact :701-4000 Shop for sale in Bourda Market. Call : 626-6990 / 638-3065.

BY SHANIA WILLIAMS In a world where each day brings its own set of challenges, few face a more daunting path than those living with HIV. For many, the stigma and discrimination they encounter can be overwhelming. Yet, Lisa’s ( not real name ) story—over a decade-long journey of perseverance—proves that even in the face of relentless adversity, hope, strength, and love can prevail.

The Diagnosis: A lifechanging moment Lisa was just 17 years old in 2008 when she received the news that would change her life forever. Pregnant at the time, Lisa was advised during a routine check-up to undergo an HIV test. The fear of the unknown hung over her as she awaited the results.

When the nurse delivered the news that “Your test is positive”—Lisa was struck with a wave of disbelief.

“I remember crying for hours,” she recalls. “I was scared of how my family, especially my mom, would react. I did not know what to do.” The realization that HIV was transmitted through sexual contact was not lost on Lisa, who understood the implications of her diagnosis.

She said that she had contracted the disease from her

FOR RENT Seeking single Female roommate no pets, no kids $120,000 located at betterhope. Contact: 609-8881.

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child’s father. The emotional toll was immediate. Discrimination from family, friends, and even strangers took its toll on her mental health. The shame, the accusations, and the hurtful words all served to deepen the pain of her new reality. A struggle against stigma and fear For Lisa, the hardest part was not just the diagnosis but the isolation that followed. “People treated me differently. It was like they saw me as a disease, not as a person,” she says. The criticism from her family, the whispers behind her back, and the cold shoulders from those she loved made her feel more like a victim than a survivor. “ when I told my mother that I was HIV positive, she give me my own bowl and cup and tell me don’t share it with others and leave me like that,” Lisa confessed.

But through the darkness, one light remained— her grandmother. With unwavering support, her grandmother helped care for Lisa’s child and encouraged her to continue with her treatment, no matter how difficult. “She was my rock,” Lisa says.

“When I was at my lowest, my grandmother was there, making sure I stayed on track. Every time I take the pills and went to sleep my grandmother would take care of my child.”

Lisa’s treatment journey began at the South Road Clinic, where she was introduced to Antiretroviral

Therapy (ART), which would become a lifeline. ART works by suppressing the HIV virus, allowing the immune system to heal and protect the body from further damage. But the road to stability was not easy.

“The side effects were tough—drowsiness, lightheadedness, and numbness. But I kept going because I had to. Not just for me, but for my four kids,” Lisa explains.

A mother’s Love One of Lisa’s biggest fears was passing HIV to her unborn child. But with the right treatment and care, she gave birth to a healthy baby boy, free from the virus. “I felt relieved she says. “I didn’t want my children to go through what I was going through. I wanted them to live their lives without the disease,” she said. Despite the ongoing challenges, Lisa found strength in her children. With each passing year, her resolve grew stronger.

“They are my motivation. Every day I wake up, I remind myself that I’m fighting for them,” the emotional mothers said. Overcoming the Odds It hasn’t been an easy ride for Lisa, but 16 years later, she’s still here—stronger and more determined than ever.

She has made a conscious decision to live her life with purpose, taking control of her health and her future. “The key is to stay healthy, eat right, and exercise. You can still live a full, normal life with

HIV,” Lisa asserted.

The ridicule and discrimination haven’t disappeared, but Lisa has learned to cope.

She has joined a support group where she shares her story with others living with HIV. There, she has found not only understanding but also a sense of belonging. “We are a family. We help each other, encourage each other, and remind each other that we are not alone,” she says, her voice filled with gratitude.

Lisa’s father, who lives abroad, sends money regularly to support her and checks in on her health. His support, along with that of her grandmother and current partner, has been crucial in her healing process. “My partner is my biggest support now,” she says.

“He’s been there for me in ways I never imagined. He loves me for who I am, not for my diagnosis.”

Today, Lisa’s life is filled with hope. She dreams of becoming a successful business owner and providing for her four children. “My children are everything to me,” she says. “I want them to have a better future. I want them to know that no matter what life throws at you, you can overcome it.”

Lisa’s message to those living with HIV is clear: “Don’t let the stigma control you. Live your life. Stay strong. And always remember that you are not alone.”

Her story is one of resilience, love, and unwavering strength. Through her journey, Lisa has not only survived but thrived—becoming an inspiration to others facing similar battles. In her own words: “It’s a long road, but with the right support and a strong will, you can make it through. Keep fighting, because your life is worth it.”

In a world that often feels unforgiving, Lisa is a shining example of the power of hope, resilience, and love in the face of HIV.

Gio’s Art spreading positivity through creative...

From page 52 continue doing what she loves and spread positivity.

With that being said, the young entrepreneur noted that part of her long-term goals, is that she trying to move into mural paintings.

“So I have been trying actually for like two years to get into the mural world because honestly my goal is to see my artwork on buildings like on a larger scale,” she informed.

She shared that even though it’s technical and difficult; she is up for the challenge in showcasing her creative skills in this way.

Noting that colours bring different vibrations to one’s

life, Fletcher mentioned also, “My long-term goal is just to see my art bring positivity into people’s life.”

It is with this she said that young entrepreneurs have a crucial role in society and that through their skills and ideas they are raising the bar and showing diversity in life and in careers.

When questioned what she thinks that can be done locally to give small businesses that recognition, our featured entrepreneur made a call for more local support.

She noted that speaking from an artist’s perspective, she thinks larger organizations can utilize the services

of young artists for any artistic work they may need, whether it be to paint murals for their buildings or other events. “Give them the exposure and commission, support your locals in any field of work, support them in their early stages of their creative life,” she expressed.

In addition to that, she said she would like to see more and more pop-up shops and expo being held across the various regions.

Interested in one of the many creative pieces by Gio’s Art, feel free to contact her on (+592) 693-2442, 655-7348 or on Instagram @ gios_art_creation

Sunday December 08, 2024

Kaieteur News

PAGE 57

Oxford Energy: The worse the deal, the more likely it is to be renegotiated...

From page 07 minority protections are included in the by-laws, but the legal issue of control has been resolved.

Bolivia Turning to Bolivia, we again hear a lot of talk about resource nationalism, but little about the facts of the old agreements. Prior to 2005, contractors were taking 82 percent of production from Bolivia’s giant gas fields, paying only an 18 percent royalty.

This was after all investment that had long ago been recovered. The contracts had never been approved by Congress, as appeared to have been required by the Constitution.

By 2005, the situation had become untenable.

A new Hydrocarbons Law was enacted in May of that year, imposing a 32 percent tax on the gross value of hydrocarbons (Impuesto Directo a los Hidrocarburos) in addition to the 18 percent royalty, thereby reducing the private party’s share to 50 percent.

The Hydrocarbons Law also provided a six-month period for migration of all existing contracts to one of the new legally-sanctioned forms of contract. That six-month period expired with no progress on the migration.

On May 1, 2006, the new administration again nationalised the industry, granting another six-month period for the conversion of the old contracts.

While the new operating contracts were being negotiated, the state company was given a provisional 32 percent share, reversing the old 18/82 split to 82/18. Six months later, all of the contractors executed the operating contracts, which are structured as service contracts with the service providers receiving remuneration in cash, not oil.

Kazakhstan The third case study is the renegotiation of the PSA covering the world’s largest discovery in three decades: Kashagan in Kazakhstan.

There the heart of the problem was the concept of cost recovery, under which a large percentage of production, known as ‘Cost Oil,’ is allocated off the top to the contractors to recover their costs. In the case of Kashagan, that percentage was 80 percent.

After allocation of that 80 percent to the contractor, the remaining production, known as ‘Profit Oil,’ was allocated initially 90 percent to the contractor and 10 percent to the State, a ratio that was eventually supposed to change in favour of the State based on a set of complicated triggers set forth in the agreement.

Until then, the contractor would continue to receive 80 percent of the Cost Oil and 90 percent of the Profit Oil, or 98 percent of total production.

Despite what many feel is a textbook alignment of interests in a contract including such cost recovery provisions, experience shows that this structure is often a recipe for disaster,

The Miracle of the Christmas Bell...

From page 54 echoed.

“To claim the bell, you must pass the tests of Christmas spirit,” the owl declared.

Mia stepped forward bravely. “What are the tests?”

The owl tilted its head. “There are three: kindness, courage, and teamwork. If you fail, the bell stays with me.”

M i a a n d M a x exchanged a determined look. “We're ready,” they said together.

The Tests of Christmas Spirit…

For the first test, the owl led them to a frozen pond where a small squirrel shivered at the edge.

“This is the test of kindness,” the owl said.

“Help this creature find warmth.” Mia quickly rummaged through her backpack. She found her wool scarf and wrapped it gently around the squirrel.

Then, Max built a little shelter out of twigs and leaves to shield it from the wind. The squirrel chirped happily and scurried off.

“Well done,” the owl said. “You have passed the test of kindness.”

For the second test, the owl brought them to a dark cave. Inside, they heard eerie

sounds and saw shadows flickering on the walls.

“This is the test of courage,” the owl said.

“Retrieve the glowing star at the end of the cave.”

Max hesitated, but Mia held his hand. “We'll do it together,” she said.

With their flashlight beam guiding the way, they carefully made their way through the cave.

Bats fluttered above them, and strange noises echoed, but Mia and Max didn't give up. At the end of the cave, they found a beautiful glowing star carved from crystal. They brought it back to the owl, their hearts pounding with relief.

“You have passed the test of courage,” the owl said, nodding in approval.

For the final test, the owl led them to a tall, slippery hill. At the top was the bell, shining brightly.

“This is the test of teamwork,” the owl e x p l a i n e d . “ Wo r k together to retrieve it.”

Mia and Max knew they had to rely on each other. Max gave Mia a boost so she could climb higher, and Mia pulled Max up when he slipped.

Together, they reached the top and grabbed the bell. “ Yo u h a v e p r o v e n

yourselves worthy,” the owl said as they climbed back down. “The bell belongs to you.”

The Christmas Bell Rings…

With the bell safely in hand, Mia and Max hurried back to Snowflake Hollow. The townsfolk cheered as Mia placed the bell back atop the tree.

As the clock struck midnight, the bell rang out, filling the air with a beautiful, magical sound.

Snowflake Hollow sparkled brighter than ever, and a feeling of warmth and joy spread through everyone's hearts.The mayor approached Mia and Max with a smile. “You saved Christmas,” he said.

Mia beamed. “It wasn't just me—it was teamwork.”

That night, as Mia and Max sat by the fire with mugs of hot cocoa, they felt a special kind of happiness. They had proven that the true spirit of Christmas wasn't just about gifts or decorations—it was about kindness, courage, and working together.

And as they drifted off to sleep, the bell in the distance rang once more, as if to say, Well done.

The End!

and that is exactly what happened in Kashagan.

Overall costs of the project increased by more than 100 billion dollars, and production, originally scheduled to start in 2005 or 2006, now is scheduled for 2012.

The net result was that in the world’s largest discovery in recent times, which is expected eventually to produce 1.5 million barrels per day, the state would have received a grand total of only 2 percent of the oil produced for at least the first decade of production, not including the relatively small participation of a subsidiary of the national oil company in the contractor consortium.

That was obviously an unacceptable situation, which most people with knowledge of the facts fully recognised.

In the renegotiation, the national oil company’s subsidiary doubled its stake

in the project, a new ‘priority share’ was allotted to the Government off the top, and new cost and schedule control mechanisms were introduced to help guard against future cost increases and delays.

What lessons can be drawn from these experiences?

First, bad deals spell trouble.

The worse the deal, or the more imbalanced the deal, the more likely it is to be renegotiated.

That goes for both sides.

One might say that the best form of stabilisation is an equitable deal. Second, don’t believe everything you read in the papers.

M o s t o f t h e renegotiations or industry transformations have ended in success, which says something about the reasonableness of the processes.

The objective has not been to exclude private participation from the

petroleum industry or to make it economically nonviable, but rather to put it on a sound legal and economic footing.

T h i r d , m o s t renegotiations take place without adversarial proceedings, another indication that reason tends to prevail on both sides.

There is a school of thought that favours adversarial proceedings, mainly arbitration, as a negotiating tactic, but the wisdom of using that tactic would not appear to be borne out by experience. Finally, terms such as ‘resource nationalism’ are an over simplification of what has been happening on the ground and are no substitute for informed analysis of both the facts and the legal issues underlying the major renegotiations of the last five years.

(Note: The case studies have been reported verbatim from the Oxford Energy report)

Kaieteur News

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Sunday December 08, 2024

At least 34 killed in Gaza as Qatar holds hope for ceasefire CAIRO, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Israeli strikes in Gaza killed at least 34 Palestinians on Saturday, health officials in the enclave said, as Qatar voiced hope of fresh momentum in efforts to reach a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

The health officials said that an Israeli strike hit a house in Gaza City late on Saturday, killing four women. The Israeli military did not provide an immediate comment on Saturday’s strikes across Gaza.

The death toll was revised upwards from 30 reported earlier in the day by the Palestinian health ministry, which also said dozens were wounded.

The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and militants in the daily death tallies, and Reuters could not independently verify the figures.

Israel accuses the

Islamist group of using civilian population and property as shields. Hamas denies this.

Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh M o h a m m e d b i n Abdulrahman Al Thani said Qatar was engaging with the incoming Trump administration on Gaza after sensing fresh momentum for ceasefire talks following the U.S. election.

Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy has travelled to Qatar and Israel to kick-start the U.S. President-elect’s diplomatic push for a ceasefire and hostage release deal before his inauguration on Jan. 20, a source briefed on the talks told Reuters on Thursday.

Hamas said on Saturday a ceasefire agreement could only be reached if it secured an end to the war in Gaza, reaffirming its outstanding position. Israel says the war can only end once Hamas is eradicated.

“Stopping the war and

Palestinians inspect damage at the site of an Israeli strike on a house, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, at the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, December 7, 2024. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed

aggression is the condition for any agreement,” said a Hamas statement, quoting a top official of the group, Mohammad Darwish.

Hamas has not appointed

a new leader after Israel killed the group’s chief, Yahya Al-Sinwar, in Gaza on Oct 17, but the statement described Darwish as the head of the leading council.

TALKS IN QATAR Darwish met with Turkey’s foreign minister on Friday and Iran’s foreign minister on Saturday to discuss the developments in Gaza and the region, the statement said.

Both meetings were held in Doha, Qatar, which announced earlier on Saturday that officials were trying to revive the ceasefire talks.

“He (Darwish) explained that Hamas was open to offers by the mediators as long as they served the interest of our people and ending their suffering,” the statement said.

The war in Gaza has been raging for over 14 months, with much of the enclave laid to waste and more than 44,000 Palestinians killed, according to Gaza health authorities, as Israeli forces continue their drive to wipe out Hamas and rescue hostages taken by the militant group.

The deadliest IsraeliPalestinian violence in decades began when Hamas stormed into Israel on Oct.7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages back to Gaza.

In the occupied West B a n k o n S a t u r d a y, a Palestinian man was shot dead by Israeli forces at a checkpoint, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society. Police said a security guard had shot him after he threw firecrackers at the forces there and that a knife was found on his person.

The Israeli military said that on Friday it killed several Hamas militants who were identified as operating from a structure in Nuseirat camp in central Gaza, according to a statement issued on Saturday.

Palestinian health officials said at least 20 people, including six children and five women, were killed in that attack.

Sunday December 08, 2024

Kaieteur News

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CARICOM calls for “total lifting of Immigration officer transferred anachronistic embargo” on Cuba after allegedly letting Brutus’ …as 52 years of diplomatic relations observed

T

he Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on Friday hailed its 52-year anniversary of diplomatic relations with Cuba while reiterating call for the “total lifting of anachronistic embargo on the country”.

In a statement, Prime Minister of Grenada and Chairman of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM Dickon Mitchell recalled the “symbolic and bold act of Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago on 8th December 1972, of establishing diplomatic ties with Cuba despite prevailing global political tensions, thereby ushering an exemplary partnership”.

“Since that historic day, the CARICOM-Cuba relationship has deepened and matured, serving as an exemplar of South-South

cooperation and a point of great honour for both CARICOM and Cuba.”

Prime Minister Mitchell said that the Member States of the Community values highly cooperation with the Spanish-speaking country which he said has been of immense assistance, bilaterally and regionally, “particularly with regard to human capacity building and the provision of health care, critical inputs to improving the welfare of our people”.

He said, “I am particularly proud that this friendship, solidarity, and cooperation, has withstood the test of time. Cuba has provided very substantial levels of assistance, despite the deleterious effects of the economic, trade and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against our sister C a r i b b e a n c o u n t r y.

CARICOM also reiterates its call for the total lifting of this anachronistic embargo.”

Further, the CARICOM Chair said the Community stands in solidarity with Cuba which has been adversely affected by recent hurricanes and an earthquake.

“These natural disasters have caused significant damage to Cuba’s infrastructure and tested the resilience of its Government and People,” he said while extending best wishes to the government and people of Cuba.

As we commemorate this important Anniversary, I extend, on behalf of the Community, very best wishes to the Government and People of Cuba, and look forward to deepened friendship, cooperation and solidarity that characterise our unique partnership.

wife leave country

Deputy Superintendent of Police, Phiona Harris, the officer-in-charge of operations at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) has been reportedly transferred from her post.

Kaieteur News has been reliably informed that Harris was transferred because of her alleged involvement in the departure of Adonika Aulder, the pregnant wife of embattled Assistant Police Commissioner, Calvin Brutus from the airport on Thursday.

Brutus and Aulder were both charged with numerous money laundering offences and are currently on bail.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) is yet to release an official statement on the transfer, h o w e v e r , t h e F o r c e ’s C o r p o r a t e Communications Unit (CCU) in response to questions from the media said, “I reached out to DC Admin just now and was informed that the rank in question was not given a letter of posting.”

Kaieteur News understands that Deputy Superintendent Harris was not on duty at the time of Aulder’s departure.

Aulder is accused of acquiring $352,082,315 from her business’s bank account at Republic Bank in December 2023, knowing or having reasonable grounds to

Deputy Superintendent of Police, Phiona Harris believe that the funds were derived from criminal activity.

On October 18, 2024, the High Court denied Aulder and her husband permission to travel to the United States of America (U.S.) for her medical treatment. However, on Thursday, Acting Chief Magistrate, Faith McGusty granted permission for the pregnant woman to leave the country for emergency medical treatment.

Aulder appeared before Magistrate McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court in the presence of her lawyer Eusi Anderson. The pregnant woman is expected to return to Guyana for her next court appearance on December 18, 2024.

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Windies coach Sammy eyes clean, all-round Guards, Lil Rams, Mahdia and CJIA...

Christopher Barnwell 4-7, From page 67 performances in ODI series against Bangladesh finalists. for each of the two semi- Daniel Ross 1-5) MATCH 2 SUMMARY: Lil Rams

S p o r t s M a x - We s t Indies Head coach Darren Sammy exudes optimism and focus as his troops take aim at a possible sweep of their three-match ODI series against Bangladesh at Warner Park in St Kitts and Nevis.

The series, which bowls o ff t o d a y, o ff e r s t h e Caribbean side—coming off a 2-1 series win over England—a chance to once again assert dominance on

home soil while continuing to build a cohesive unit.

With a largely consistent squad bolstered by a few new faces, Sammy emphasized the importance of disciplined, all-round performances to secure victory against a Bangladesh team he is not taking lightly.

“For any home series, the outlook is always to win.

We u n d e r s t a n d t h e opposition we’re up against—a team we cannot

take for granted. But for me, the focus is always on what we can do to be successful.

So I’m just looking for us to go out there and put in some really good performances that result in victories,” Sammy said in a pre-series interview.

Sammy’s confidence stems from what he believes is the balance in his squad, which features both in-form players and fresh talents ready to make their mark.

Sunday December 08, 2024 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Today you will have all the energy you need to deal with long-term family problems.

Indeed, you'll probably clash with some of your relatives.

But this situation won't cause any serious issues.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You really know how to seduce, Libra. There is a spark inside of you that spreads naturally to those around you.

You have a big reservoir of sensitivity and emotion that could grow today.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) You enjoy caring for others and you intervene regularly in their lives to guide them.

Ironically, today you're the one who needs advice. You'll probably need to get away from it all in order to get a clear view of your own life.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You're a very active person, Scorpio, but today you'll probably be disappointed. If you ask those around you to help with your activities, they most likely won't understand your needs.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) We a l l h a v e t o m a k e compromises in order to live in contemporary society. You may have strong beliefs, but it's difficult to combine your ideals and a social life.

SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Nothing much is happening today, yet you seem worried and tense. You'll have to use this day to your advantage.

Think about your life. You'll also think about the needs of your relatives in the years.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) You've always felt the need to free yourself from society.

You need to feel independent at any cost. You may need to face certain relationship problems at this time.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You often need to thrive on personal emotions. Today will be no exception to the rule. For instance, you could try to captivate the attention of people you admire.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You may feel annoyed about the attitude of some of your group of friends. Unlike these people, you're very openminded and you can deal with situations as they arise.

Indeed, you have a natural ability to adapt to every situation.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) You shouldn't try to fight the feelings that run through you today. Don't even try to rationalize them. These feelings are probably related to emotions dating back to your childhood. You shouldn't avoid or analyze them.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Today, Virgo, you'll be submerged under a lot of emotions. In a way, you'll be revisiting your childhood.

You may be very edgy. This is a good disposition in which to analyze your life.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You'll be lost in your thoughts today, analyzing your life and relationships. You'll be asking yourself if your existence is meeting your standards. You will ponder what to expect from the future and from the people around you.

In fact, the nucleus of the team remains intact from previous campaigns, with an emphasis on maintaining the winning mentality they’ve exhibited at home in recent times.

“What I’ve always stressed to the guys is that the way you prepare, the way you go out and play—what you put in is what you get out. So we shall respect the opposition.

However, we are not here to compete; we are here to win cricket games, especially on our home soil. So that’s the mentality we’ve shown at home over the last year, and we’re looking to continue that,” he added.

Though ranked as underdogs by some, Sammy b e l i e v e s B a n g l a d e s h ’s position is one the West Indies know well themselves—a team playing with nothing to lose. He also alluded to the fact that the visitors, led by head coach Phil Simmons, a former West Indies coach familiar with Caribbean conditions, pose a tactical and competitive challenge.

“Phil is experienced and has a knack for getting teams to be very competitive against us, and we respect that, but again, it’s all about execution.

If we focus on ourselves and perform well, we will give ourselves a chance to win the series,” Sammy noted.

Injuries to customary fast bowlers Matthew Forde and Shamar Joseph have opened opportunities for Jamaican seamer Marquino Mindley and his Barbadian counterpart Jediah Blades, two players who impressed in the CG United Super50 tournament.

Mindley, a consistent performer across all phases of the game, took most wickets in the recently concluded tournament and is seen as a valuable addition to the bowling attack.

Meanwhile, Blades, a promising left-arm seamer, brings a variety that Sammy pointed out that he has long sought for the team, as he continues to build for the future with hopes to maintain a competitive edge.

“Mindley has shown consistency and adaptability, qualities we value. Blades is an (West Indies) Academy product, and it’s great to see his growth. You’ve heard me crying out for a left-arm seam bowler in our line-up, and he brings that variety,” Sammy said. “So hopefully he’ll come and do well.

137-7 from 10 overs (Johnathan Van Lange 50, Shamar Apple 24, Riyad Latif 14; Tariq Farouk 3-15, Shiloh Adams 2-17) v Kings 84-9 from 10 overs (Sachin Singh 15, Chatram Nauth 15, Ryan Latif 14*, Ganesh Surijpaul 3-15, Thaddeus Lovell 2-12) M AT C H 3 S U M M A RY: C J I A Warriors 64-8 from 10 overs (Noel Evelyn 26, Shakiel Wong 18; Neiland Cadogan 3-9, Floy Joseph 2-7) v Mahdia 67-2 from 5.5 overs (Ricardo Adams 39, Carlos LaRose 16; Sunil Sarjoo 1-15) M AT C H 4 S U M M A RY: T h e Organisation 62-9 from 10 overs (Ravindra Beharry 19; Keston Harcourt 4-12, Daniel Ross 2-14) v The Guards 65-7 from 7.3 overs (Daniel Ross 34; Carl Gilgeous 2-7, Sanjay Algoo 1-9)

Individual accolades of $60,000 each will be awarded for the Man of the Final, Most Runs, and Most Wickets, with trophies generously sponsored by Trophy Stall.

There will also be a prize of $100,000 for the t o u r n a m e n t ’s M o s t Valuable Player.

Through this initiative, the ERC aims to build lasting connections among participants, promote mutual respect, and strengthen community ties across Guyana. Summary of matches on Saturday: M AT C H 1 SUMMARY: The Guards 175-5 from 10 overs (Sheldon Alexander 81*, Richie Lookanuth 32*, Daniel Ross 25; Vikash Wilkinson 2-25; Andy Ramnarine 1-25) v Strike Panthers 80-7 from 9.3 overs (Alvin Singh 21*, Vikash Wilkinson 20;

Berbice River Bridge Closure to Road Traffic Sunday December 08, 2024

For Ocean going Vessels & Trawlers 09:25hrs Monday December 09, 2024

For Ocean going Vessels & Trawlers 10:40hrs For Ocean Going Vessels opening last 1-1½ hrs

Demerara River Bridge Closure to Road Traffic Sunday December 08, 2024

For Ocean going Vessels & Trawlers 23:30hrs Monday December 09, 2024

For Ocean going Vessels & Trawlers 01:30hrs For Ocean Going Vessels opening last 1-1½ hrs DATE: 11/07/2024

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G.L.C. 357 Lamaha Street, North Cummingsburg, Georgetown Tel:226-0753. While every effort is made to ensure numbers are correct, please call the hotline for confirmation, The G.L.C. and Kaieteur News cannot be held responsible for printing errors.

Kaieteur News

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Sunday December 08, 2024

Gokarn Ramdhani Memorial Badminton Tournament underway

T

he Gokarn R a m d h a n i M e m o r i a l Badminton Tournament commenced Friday at the National Gymnasium, featuring intense competition across multiple categories, including Under13 to Under-19 Doubles, Mixed Doubles, and Open M e n ’s a n d Wo m e n ’s Singles.

In the Women’s Singles, there were notable upsets, with seasoned players falling to rising junior stars.

The evening was marked by thrilling matches, particularly in the Open Singles, which had the largest draw and saw many games completed.

The tournament continued yesterday, with Junior Doubles and more Open Singles matches.

The finals are set to take place today from 5:00 PM. The Guyana Badminton Association extends its gratitude to the sponsors—Massy Distribution (Blue Water Brand), SOL, the National

Sports Commission, and Banks DIH—for their generous support.

In results from the opening action: Women’s Singles R16 – Asiyah Eastman vs.

Ashley Forde 21-4, 21-1 Men’s Singles R32 – Colin Bowry vs. Jonathan Robinson vs. 21-18, 21-16 Men’s Singles R64 – Omkar Persaud vs. Nikolas Pollard 21-18, 21-14 Men’s Singles R64 – Shane Birkett vs.

Keon Gonsalves 22-20, 1421, 21-14 Men’s Singles R4 – Jason Stephney vs.

Antoine Ramand 21-12, 218 Men’s Singles R4 – Grandison Robinson vs.

Ethan Bulkan 21-13, 21-8 Women’s Singles R16 – Priyanna Ramdhani vs.

Abrianna Tinnie 21-7, 21-4 Men’s Singles R32 – Akili Haynes vs. Anand Persaud 21-4, 21-1 Men’s Singles R32 – Wenyuan Chen vs.

Troxley Cutting 21-14, 2116 Men’s Singles R64 – Kunal Alert vs. Andrew Browne 21-7, 21-6 Women’s Singles R16 – Shivannie Persaud vs.

One Guyana National Futsal Championship...

Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Empowers Tourney with four motorcycles In its inaugural year, the One Guyana National Futsal Championship, powered by the Government of Guyana has already begun to attract the m i g h t o f G u y a n a ’s corporate community.

Amongst the many entities that have already come on board, and some more expected to do so, the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain have come on board to support the players hugely. Sharing remarks at the opening ceremony and march past of this historic championship with male and female teams competing, the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain CEO, Ms. Kiana Wilburg, announced that they will be sponsoring four motorcycles for four lucky players in the first instance.

The respective male and female Most Valuable Players will each receive a

brand new motorcycle as will the Highest Goal Scorer and the Best Goalkeeper for the male segment of the championship, which has 64 teams contesting using the knock-out format. Six female teams will match skills for championship glory.

To resounding applause, Ms. Wilburg also announced that the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain will next year be sponsoring another Futsal Championship as they make their debut.

The teams were all told that to qualify, they have to finish in the top sixteen and that will be enough to earn them a spot. The teams were all happy to hear such an announcement and certainly will be digging deep to qualify. Ms. Wilburg also informed that the prize monies will be similar to that of this inaugural One G u y a n a F u t s a l Championship.

Players and officials take a photo at the Gokarn Ramdhani Memorial Badminton tournament.

Harshini Muralidharan 2114, 21-16 Men’s Singles R32 – Gabriel Felix vs.

Vishal Gopaul 25-23, 21-6 Women’s Singles R16 – Ambika Ramraj vs. Malia Haley 21-11, 21-7 Men’s Singles R32 – Frank Waddell vs. Micaiah Mclean 21-6, 21-5 Men’s Singles R32 – Nkosi Beaton vs.

Percival Chester 21-9, 21-1 Men’s Singles R32Yonneil Benjamin vs.

Mohamed Farouk 21-11, 217 Women’s Singles R16 – Menikshi Jaikissoon vs.

Leshaunte Berkley 21-14, 21-7 Women’s Singles R16 –

Mishka Beharry vs.

Gabrielle Felix 21-11, 21-15 Men’s Singles R32 – Haresh Persaud vs.

Christopher Jordan vs. 2022, 21-16, 21-19 Men’s Singles R32 – Omkar Persaud vs.

Avinash Ramnarine 2113, 21-11 Men’s Singles R32 – Tyrese Jeffrey vs. Grandison Robinson 11-21, 21-14, 2116 Men’s Singles R32 – Avinash Odit vs. Shane Birkett 21-7, 21-7 Men’s Singles R32 – Joanathan Debidin vs. Kunal Alert 216, 21-13 Men’s SinglesR16

– Akili Haynes vs. Colin Bowry 21-15, 21-11 Men’s Singles R16 – Nkosi Beaton vs. Yonneil Benjamin 21-6, 21-6 Under 15 Boy’s Doubles Semi-Finals – Mohamed Farouk/Joel Rambiriche vs. Nathan Mohanlall/Anand Persaud 21-10, 21-13 Women’s Singles Quarter finals – Menikshi Jaikissoon vs.

Ambika Ramraj 21-23, 2116, 21-11 Men’s Singles R16 – Frank Waddell vs.

Jason Stephney 21-14, 21-8 Men’s Singles R16 – Ruel Rambiriche vs. Alok Matadial 21-8, 21-11

Men’s Singles R16 – Omkar Persaud vs. Gabriel Felix 21-14, 21-18 Under 17 Boys Doubles Quarter Finals – Ethan Bulkan/Egan Bulkan vs. Shane Birkett/Percival Chester 2110, 21-8 Under 19 Mixed Doubles Quarter Finals – Abrianna Tinnie/Anand Persaud vs.

Haresh Persaud/Malia Haley 21-12, 21-6 Men’s Singles R16 - Wenyuan Chen vs. Joanathan Debidin 2118, 21-15 Women’s Singles Quarter Finals – Asiyah Eastman vs. Shivannie Persaud 21-17, 21-8

Christmas four-a-side football competition set for New Amsterdam/East Berbice

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ootball players in East Berbice, especially those in the New Amsterdam/Canje and East Bank Berbice areas will have a chance to show off their football skills.

The Ballers Only Promotion Group will stage their second annual Christmas 4-a-side football competition at the Tucber Park Ball field in New

Amsterdam.

The competition will be played on a Knockout basis will be run for four days.

The playing days will be the 21st, 22nd 23rd and 25th December with action each night set to begin at 19:00 hrs.

A number of attractive prizes including cash, trophies, medals and other memorabilia will be up for

grabs.

The winning team will walk away with an encouraging $200,000 among its takings.

The team placing second will be presented with $100,000, while third place will collect $75,000.

Other eye-catching rewards includes Flat S c r e e n Te l e v i s i o n s , Microwaves and Electric

Gadgets among other goodies.

Interested persons can make contact with Fordy’s Sub Letta at Winkle Road a n d Tu c b e r P a r k o r members of the Stand Pipe Crew at Four Corners Tucber Park, New Amsterdam or telephone numbers 694-6832, 6900325, 670-9570. (Samuel Whyte)

Anand and Sancho to stage Gymkhana and Horserace event at Supply Mahaica today Anand and Sancho will stage a one-day Gymkhana and Horserace meet today at Supply, Mahaica Side Dam starting from 1:00pm.

Seven races have been listed on the race programme with events for 3 years and 2

years old non-winning horses, the J Class, K Class, L1 Open, L2, L3 Classes and an Open event.

Some of the leading J Class horses will be in action and among them are Princess Samyah, Rock Star,

GT Boss and Kiss Phonex.

The orgnaisers have indicated that a wellstocked bar along with food booth will be provided plus activities and entertainment for the children including bouncy

castle. Among the sponsors assisting the programme are Metro Office Max, Conway Taxi Service, Mrs Chan Kennard, Fidelity Inc, DSL Sports Bar and Z e b o a n d S o n s Construction.

The Last Mohican: Why I’m stepping away from Sports..

From page 66 minds. As I prepare to step away, I carry with me the memories of a career that has been as rewarding as it has been challenging.

I will leave knowing that I gave everything to this profession, even when it gave little in return. And while the fight in me remains, it’s time to channel that energy

elsewhere.

I am not saying goodbye to storytelling, only to the confines of a system that no longer values it.

Like the final Mohican, I walk away with my head held high, knowing that I stayed true to myself, even when it cost me everything.

Sunday December 08, 2024

Kaieteur News

Penalty decides 2024 champion: Waramuri Primary conquers Marian to lift MVP Sports U11 trophy

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h e P e t r a Organisation/M VP Sports Under11 Girls Football Tournament concluded in thrilling fashion as Waramuri Primary Top clinched the championship title at the Ministry of Education Ground, a fitting venue for grassroots football brilliance.

The final match lived up to its billing, with both teams displaying rock-solid defences throughout the competition.

Neither side had conceded a goal in the 2024 tournament before Saturday’s showdown, both teams prevailed as the regulation period ended in a stalemate.

Despite relentless efforts, the scoreboard remained untouched at the end of 40 minutes of play.

In extra time, the intensity reached a crescendo. Waramuri’s strikers edged closer to breaking the deadlock, but Crissyanne Persaud and Haley Haberkorn of the opposing side held their ground, delivering crucial defensive plays.

The final five minutes of extra time were electrifying, with over 15 attempts at goal between the two teams.

Yet, neither could find the back of the net, leading to a decisive penalty shootout.

Wa r a m u r i p r o v e d unstoppable in the penalty

phase, converting their kicks with precision while their goalkeeper stood tall to deny all attempts from the opposition. The shootout ended 3-0 in favour of Wa r a m u r i P r i m a r y, crowning them champions of the 2024 tournament.

Earlier in the day, St. John the Baptist secured the third-place position with a convincing 2-0 victory over Potaro Primary.

West Ruimveldt claimed fifth place after a commanding 3-0 win over Stella Maris Primary, while Smith Memorial and Genesis Academy finished seventh and eighth, respectively.

Individual brilliance also shone throughout the t o u r n a m e n t . We s t Ruimveldt’s Ariel Farley emerged as the Highest Goal Scorer, netting a hat trick against Stella Maris to take her tally to an impressive 18 goals.

The Most Valuable Player (MVP) award went to Marian Academy’s nineyear-old standout Haley Haberkorn, whose defensive prowess was instrumental throughout the competition.

Meanwhile, Waramuri’s Attai Harris earned the Best Goalkeeper award for her remarkable performances between the posts.

The tournament was made possible through the generous sponsorship of MVP Sports, with additional

Story of the day! Marian Academy’s Haley Haberkorn reacts after missing important penalty.

support from V&V Distributors’ Soft n’ Pretty brand, GBI’s Koolkidz, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, and the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs.

PAGE 65

Scenes from yesterday’s third place playoff between St John the Baptist and Potaro Primary.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday December 08, 2024

Hear Me Out! The Last Mohican:

Why I’m stepping away from Sports Journalism in Guyana

By Rawle Toney For two decades, sports journalism has been my life.

It has taken me to almost every corner of the world, allowed me to live a life many only dream of, and has given me everything I have today.

From covering global tournaments to chronicling the rise and fall of athletes, I’ve been privileged to witness history through my lens. Yet, as I sit here reflecting, I feel it’s time to hang up my pen, not because the passion has faded, but because the battlefield has changed. Sports journalism, to me, was never about simply reporting scores or describing the highs and lows of a game. It was about peeling back the layers, asking the hard questions, and holding power to account.

My candid approach, one grounded in balance and fairness, has always been my north star.

However, in a landscape where critical voices are often silenced and sidelined, I’ve found myself increasingly blackballed for speaking inconvenient truths.

I’ve seen colleagues who keep their heads down and steer clear of controversy rise to prominence, receiving opportunities and accolades that have eluded me. I’ve watched as they’ve been embraced for their silence while I’ve been shunned for my voice. And though I’ve never let envy creep into my heart, the blatant disparity has become impossible to ignore.

As a former national basketball player, I know the value of competition and the sting of injustice.

Emotions run through me as fiercely now as they did on the court. Yet, unlike sports, where clear rules govern the game, journalism, especially in Guyana, operates in murkier waters.

Regardless of which government is in power, my work has often been met with hostility, as if holding up a mirror to the truth makes me an enemy of the state.

I didn’t grow up afraid to confront difficult issues. My early inspirations were sports journalists who dared to dig deep, who made people uncomfortable with

Rawle Toney their truths, and who believed in the transformative power of storytelling. Sadly, in today’s sports media, those values are vanishing.

Sports reporting in Guyana has devolved into a conveyor belt of match results, superficial profiles, and sanitized narratives.

Critical and analytical reporting, the kind that challenges, educates, and inspires, has all but disappeared.

I often think of The Last of the Mohicans, a story about survival, honour, and the inevitability of change.

If I must be the last of a dying breed of sports journalists who dare to tell it as it is, then so be it. I have no regrets about the path I’ve walked. But like Nathaniel in the film, who recognizes that the fight must sometimes give way to survival, I too must accept that my time in this arena has run its course.

This decision isn’t born of bitterness. It’s a choice for my sanity, my wellbeing, and my future.

Journalism has been my identity for so long that stepping away feels like losing a part of myself. But in this transition, I see opportunity, a chance to explore other possibilities in media where my voice and talents can thrive without compromise.

To t h e a s p i r i n g journalists reading this, know that courage in this field is a double-edged sword. It will earn you respect in some quarters but resentment in others.

However, it is better to stand for something than to fade into the shadows of m e d i o c r i t y. S p o r t s Journalism must be more than a profession; it must be a calling. It must challenge, provoke, and inspire. If it doesn’t, then we are merely filling pages, not shaping (Continued on page 64)

Sunday December 08, 2024

Kaieteur News

Guards, Lil Rams, Mahdia and CJIA through to ERC T10 Tapeball finals

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rom 48, there are now four teams – The Guards, Lil Rams, Movements Family (Mahdia), and CJIA Warriors – who will vie for the championship title in the Ethnic Relations Commission T10 Tapeball Harmony League.

The finals will be held today at the Everest Cricket Club. The first semi-final

will be between The Guards and Lil Rams at 09:30h, followed by Mahdia and CJIA at 11:30h.

The final is scheduled for 15:00h. Yesterday, The Guards secured their semifinal match in a nervy win o v e r B e r b i c e ’s T h e Organisation, while Lil Rams and Mahdia had convincing wins over Kings and CJIA Warriors. The

Ninvalle attends IBA Congress At the IBA Congress in Dubai today – GBA President Steve Ninvalle with undefeated current unified welterweight champion and WBA junior middleweight champion Terrence ‘Bud’ Crawford at the IBA event in Dubai.

President of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), Steve Ninvalle, attended the recent International Boxing Association (IBA) Congress held in Dubai.

Over the years Ninvalle has attended several of these Congresses and has developed an excellent working relationship with many of the major players in the organization which has seen a number of development programmes and assistance being afforded to the Caribbean Region.

Ninvalle briefly indicated that IBA President Umar Kremlev has pledged to have more development programmes for the sport worldwide come next year, 2025, even in the face of the ongoing issue with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) which has seen the organization not

allowed to be represented at the Olympic Games.

Kremlev took over the orgnisation amidst much turmoil and has done his best to transform it and its financial issues despite the challenges. He is set to continue his push and the sport can expect more assistance and development in the coming year.

Meanwhile, Ninvalle had the opportunity to interact with a number of the notable attendees including world renowned boxer, American Terrence ‘Bud’ Crawford who is undefeated in 41 fights.

Crawford is a former lightweight champion, a former junior welterweight undisputed champion and welterweight undisputed champion, and the current unified welterweight champion and WBA junior middleweight champion.

Warriors progressed to the semi-final by virtue of having the best net run rate of the three losing teams.

It was announced that FL Sport would stream the two semi-finals and final. The tournament boasts exciting rewards, including a $500,000 prize for the champions, $250,000 for the runners-up, and $100,000 (Continued on page 63)

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Part of the action yesterday at Queen’s College Ground.

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Waramuri Primary dethrones defending champions Marian Academy to lift the 2024 Petra-MVP Sports Girl’s U11 title yesterday at MoE.

Penalty decides 2024 champion:

Waramuri Primary conquers Marian to lift MVP Sports U11 trophy

Darren Sammy...I’m just looking for us to go out there and put in some really good performances that result in victories.

Windies coach Sammy eyes clean, all-round performances in ODI series against Bangladesh

Gokarn Ramdhani Memorial Badminton Tournament underway Christmas four-a-side football competition set for New Amsterdam/East Berbice One Guyana National Futsal Championship...

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