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AIETEUR Commonwealth NEWS

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Ministerial Group urges full, proper respect of ICJ order

Tuesday Edition December 12, 2023 - Vol. 16 No. 49

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $100 readership yesterday, 102,153

Exxon tells Maduro ‘We ain't backing ...remains committed to with Guyana down’agreementGovt. seeks $24B Crime scene investigators examine the car of Travis Chase

more from coffers ...to push 2023 budget to $897.9B

Travis Chase

Sir Shridath warns against false expectations from Pres. Ali, Maduro talks

Journalist, Travis Chase 19,000 registered escapes execution Venezuelan migrants attempt on D’ Urban Street in Guyana – Minister Benn

$108 billion in taxes Auditor General Report waived for oil companies in 2022

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday December 12, 2023

Exxon tells Maduro ‘We ain't backing ...remains committed to down’agreement with Guyana

By Kiana Wilburg

E

xxonMobil Guyana Limited said in a statement on Monday that it is not backing down from its plans to develop the 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent resources discovered in the Stabroek Block.

The s tatement is a stinging response to recent threats by Venezuela's President, Nicholas Maduro for Exxon and others to exit the Essequibo Region. An unfazed Exxon said: “We are not going anywhere.”

The oil giant added, “Our focus remains on developing the resources efficiently and r e s p o n s i b l y, p e r o u r agreement with the Guyanese Government.”

Readers would recall that Maduro's three-month ultimatum was given after he held a sham referendum on December 3, 2023.

The referendum which sought to galvanise support from his people to annex Guyana's mineral-rich Essequibo was only supported by a mere 11 percent of the voting populace. Following his referendum, Maduro

Venezuela's President, Nicolás Maduro announced a slew of measures that would be taken to advance his quest for the Essequibo region. In addition to the ultimatum, Maduro instructed his administration to set up two state-owned divisions that would begin exploring for oil, gas, gold and other minerals.

He has also instructed his parliament to pass a law that would allow for the governing of the region, making it a new state within Venezuela's territory. The top

brass in Guyana's government, President, Dr. Irfaan Ali; Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo; and Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall have all urged companies to ignore Venezuela's threats.

They have all said, if Venezuela continues along this reckless path, then Guyana can make calls for sanctions.

Guyanese authorities have already informed the International Court of Justice

ExxonMobil Guyana's CEO, Alistair Routledge ( I C J ) o f Ve n e z u e l a ' s disregard for its provisional orders which state that no action should be taken to alter Guyana's control over the Essequibo Region. The United Nations Security Council has also been informed of Venezuela's actions.

Since Guyana's announcement of oil being discovered in the Stabroek B l o c k , Ve n e z u e l a h a s engaged in a series of aggressive tactics which

have increased in recent times. These actions included the deployment of troops near the border and threatening statements to deter investors from p a r tak in g in G u y an a' s maiden auction.

Irrespective of Ve n e z u e l a ' s p o s t u r e , Guyanese authorities have maintained that they will zealously protect, every inch of the nation. They have also stressed that nothing shall stymie Guyana's

development.

Exxon, in partnership with Hess Corporation and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, has been able to bring three oil producing projects on stream.

The Liza Phase One and Liza Phase Two Projects currently produce about 400,000 barrels of oil. The Payara Project which started producing in November, is expected to push the nation's output to 600,000 barrels of oil per day.

Yellowtail and Uaru, the fourth and fifth projects, are in progress and will each have a production capacity of approximately 250,000 gross barrels of oil per day. The operator is currently working with the Government of Guyana to secure regulatory approvals for a sixth project at Whiptail.

In total, six FPSOs with a gross production capacity of more than 1.2 million barrels of oil per day are expected to be online on the Stabroek Block by the end of 2027, with the potential for up to 10 FPSOs to develop the estimated gross discovered recoverable resources of more than 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent.

$108 billion in taxes waived for oil companies in 2022 - AG Report The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) in 2022 waived $108 billion in taxes to petroleum companies operating locally.

This information is outlined in the Auditor General's (AG's) report that was released to the public on Monday. According to the AG, Deodat Sharma, “the total contractual tax exemptions granted to the Oil and Gas Sector during the year under review totaled $108.275 billion.”

The report also noted that the total revenue collected from taxpayers within the Oil and Gas sector during the period amounted to $86.207 billion. It was explained that this sum comprised of revenue of $80.711 billion and $5.496 billion from the

internal revenue and customs respectively. The AG pointed out that the Oil and Gas Sector accounted for 28.6 percent of the gross overall revenue collected by the Authority.

Meanwhile, the taxes waived by the GRA for oil companies in 2022 amount to approximately US$541 million; this means that the total taxes waived to the oil companies since production activities commenced in 2 0 1 9 t o t a l s US$2,841,000,000.

Kaieteur News reported that tax exemptions granted between 2019 and 2021, according to previous AG Reports, amount to a whopping US$2.3 billion. In 2019, Guyana lost US$600 million in taxes and in 2020

another US$685 million; this was followed by US$1 B in tax exemptions in 2021 and US$541 million in 2022.

It must be noted that during the same period- 2019 to 2022- Guyana only received US$1.861B in revenue from the sector.

According to the Bank of Guyana (BoG) statements on the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) inflows, the country received a total of US$1,861,770,494.46.

Guyana has agreed to pay the taxes for the oil companies in the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) it signed with ExxonMobil in 2016. The PSA states at Article 15.1 that the Contractor (ExxonMobil Guyana Limited) as well as its affiliates shall not be

subjected to tax, value-added tax, excise tax, duty, fee, charge or impost in respect of income derived from petroleum operations, property held or transactions except as specified under the agreement.

It goes on to state at Article 15.4 that the sum equivalent to the taxes owed by the company will be paid by the Minister responsible for Petroleum to the Commissioner General of the GRA. A legal suit brought against these abusive tax giveaways by the Publisher of this newspaper, Mr. Glenn Lall was unsuccessful as the Court dismissed the case in February of this year.

He argued that many of the provisions listed under Article 15.1 of the Petroleum

Agreement grants exemptions to persons other than licensees, which violate the Petroleum Exploration and Production Act, the Financial Administration (and Audit) Act, the Prevention of Discrimination Act, and the Constitution.

In light of this, Lall through his lawyer, contended that the provisions are unlawful, null and void, and of no legal effect.

High Court Justice Nareshwar Harnanan said the minister is vested with the power under Section 51 of the PEPA and the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) (Tax laws) to grant EEPGL, CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Limited, and Hess Guyana Exploration Limited, all companies that are parties

GRA Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia to the case, concessions of extensive tax exemptions.

Read more here: https://www.kaieteurnewson line.com/2023/02/23/glennlall-loses-case- challenging-

tax-waivers-toexxonmobil/

Kaieteur KaieteurNews News

Tuesday December November 12, 07,2023 2023

PAGE PAGE 03

Govt. seeks $24B more from coffers ...will push 2023 budget to $897.9B The Government of Guyana (GoG) has introduced yet another supplemental financial proposal in the National Assembly, aiming for an additional $24 billion. If approved, this will mark a total supplementary budget of $116 billion for the year, following the passage of the country's largest budget of $781.9 billion back in February.

Senior Minister in the Office of the President, responsible for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, tabled Financial Paper No.5 of 2023 on M o n d a y, s l a t e d f o r consideration during the next Parliamentary session.

This supplementary allocation is designed to cater to expanded work programmes until December 31, 2023, encompassing $10,142,492,044 for current expenditures and $13,901,603,864 for capital expenditures.

It caters for over $12.3 billion for the agriculture sector including provisions for subsidies and contributions in local organisations and additional resources for the National

Drainage and Irrigation Authority to execute drainage and irrigation works.

These drainage irrigation interventions are aimed at mitigating the effects El Nino has had on Guyana's agricultural sector. Farmers have been demanding additional support to protect and boost the productivity of their crops and livestock and Government had committed to providing this support. It would be recalled as well that in November last, President Ali had indicated that as part of the $5B cost of living allocation, $850M would be used for the acquisition of fertilizer to be distributed to the farmers.

Further, over $1B was sought under the Ministry of P u b l i c Wo r k s f o r maintenance of roads, procurement of equipment and for the Transport and Harbours Department with the country continuing to undergo massive i n f r a s t r u c t u r e transformation.

In terms of the health sector, $3.9B was sought largely to support the rollout of healthcare infrastructure

with $3.3B provided for the construction of the New Amsterdam Regional Hospital, which adds to the suite of several new hospitals as part of Government's broader agenda to modernize the health care system.

Under the education sector, over $530.6M was sought for additional inflows under the Caribbean Development Bank loan for the skills development and employability project.

Under the Ministry of Home Affairs, over $2.8B was sought for various initiatives including $2.8B to boost the firefighting capabilities of the Guyana Fire Service including their operations in hinterland and outlying areas. The Financial paper also sought nearly $1.3 billion for the Guyana Defence Force for defence and security support while under the Regional Development programme, more than $527 million was catered for a number of development programmes in Regions One, Six, Seven, Eight and Nine.

Under the Office of the Prime Minister, supplementary provisions

Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh sought included more than $188 million for additional resources to support the Linden Electricity Company Incorporated to sustain Ituni's operation, the Mahdia Power and Light Inc. and Kwakwani Utilities, as well as for additional inflows under the Government of India's supported Line of Credit due to an acceleration in the delivery of solar photovoltaic systems.

This additional budgeting follows previous supplemental budgets passed earlier in the year: in July, a $31 billion supplementary budget was passed. The sum

includes $4.7 billion that will be directly allocated to 242 Indigenous communities and $26.5 billion for climate adaptation measures that were earned through Guyana's carbon credits deal with the Hess Corporation. It also allocated US$150 million in revenues from carbon credits towards two critical priorities under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

In August, a $61 billion supplementary was approved, distributing funds across various sectors. The disaggregated sum of $61,013,184,705 includes $10,181,998,722 and $50,831,185,983 for current and capital projects, respectively.

The fiscal provision allocated an additional $5 billion to the Office of the Prime Minister; $33 billion for the Ministry of Public Works, and over $3 billion for the Ministry of Education. Other notable provisions include close to $15 million more for the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs for Security services; $500 million more for the Ministry of Culture, Youth

and Sport and $638 million additional resources for the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). Under the Health Sector, $1 billion was approved for the rehabilitation and upgrade of health facilities countrywide.

Meanwhile, under the Ministry of Agriculture, over $8B was approved. The Ministry of Home Affairs also received an additional $1.5 billion to procure vehicles and boats to boost the operational effectiveness of the Guyana Police Force and finance other initiatives.

The initial budget of $781.9 billion, passed in February, was partially financed through revenue generated from Guyana's sale of carbon credits, with contributions from the Hess Corporation. Budget 2023 included significant allocations for crucial sectors, including healthcare, education, and infrastructure development. Notable projects included the construction of a natural gas liquids plant, a combined cycle gas turbine power plant, upgrades to highways, bridges, and energy supply systems.

Norton wants agenda of Ali-Maduro ...hopeful talks would meeting publicised result in peace

By Davina Bagot

L

eader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton on Monday expressed support for the decision of President Dr. Irfaan Ali to engage in talks with Venezuela's President, Nicolas Maduro, but has called for the agenda of the meeting to be made public.

Maduro has recently picked a fight with Guyana over the mineral-rich Essequibo region.

The dispute over the territory was settled in 1899 by an International Tribunal; however Venezuela has renewed its outrageous claims over this country's sovereign territory which Guyana maintains must be settled through the International Court of Justice (ICJ). With the matter still pending before the World Court, the Venezuelan government has declared its intention to take control over the Essequibo region, issuing a suite of measures last week.

In light of the deepening tensions between the two states, Regional bodies have called on the Heads of States to meet this week in

a bid to maintain peace. President Ali has since accepted that invitation. Norton told the National Assembly yesterday that President Ali briefed him on the meeting where he expressed his support for the dialogue with President Maduro.

He said the Opposition has frequently voiced it support for bilateral talks with the country, however, these conversations should not involve the border controversy.

Norton explained that during the previous sitting of the National Assembly, a resolution was passed to support the government in the pursuit to ensure a peaceful and lawful resolution of the controversy before the ICJ and rejects the proposal to return to any form of dialogue with Venezuela on the controversy outside of the process before the court.

The Opposition Leader pointed out that he fully supports the resolution and agrees to the engagement on the basis of quelling the ongoing conflict and ensuring peace.

To this end he noted, “Mr.

Speaker, it is our sincere hope that the summit will result in peace...we support dialogue, we believe that there is a place for dialogue but like we said we hope at the end of this summit, there is movement in the direction of peace and the deescalation of conflict but we do not compromise our position on the Guyana/ Venezuela territorial question.”

Further, the Opposition Leader said the political group believes the “clear agenda” of Thursday's meeting with Maduro should be publicised ahead of the event.

According to him, “I believe it is in the interest of the people of Guyana, not the PPP, not the APNU/ AFC but the people of Guyana to have a clear agenda moving forward so that when we arrive for discussion there is little or no scope to bring anything in that isn't part of it.”

Norton recalled that over the years, Venezuela made a number of attempts to address the border controversy in a format suitable to itself; however this was rejected and should continue to be rejected, as the outcome of the matter should

be determined by the ICJ. On Sunday, President Ali accepted an invitation by Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves for dialogue with President Maduro.

Guyana's Head- of- State made it clear in his correspondence to Gonsalves, dated December 10, 2023 that the talks should be focused on peace, respect for international law and avoidance of threats.

The President said, “I will be there in answer to the call by colleague CARICOM Heads of Government on 9 December, 2023 for appropriate dialogue between the leaders of Venezuela and Guyana to ensure peaceful coexistence, the application and respect for international law and the avoidance of the use or threats of force.”

The talks between President Ali and Maduro is set to take place in St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Thursday, December 14, 2023.

St. Vincent's Prime Minister in his letter to Guyana's Head of State, dated December 9, 2023 informed, “The leaderships of the Community of States of Latin

America and the Caribbean (CELAC) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) consider that it is necessary and desirable to facilitate the convening of a meeting in St. Vincent and the G r e n a d i n e s o n T h u r s d a y, December 14, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., between the Presidents of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and the Bolivarian Republic of Ve n e z u e l a o n m a t t e r s consequential to the border controversy between these two great countries.”

Kaieteur News understands that President Maduro has also accepted the invitation for talks with Guyana. Meanwhile, President Ali in a subsequent address to the nation on Sunday, made it clear that there will be absolutely no compromise on the border controversy.

The Head of State explained, “This matter is before the ICJ and that is where it shall be settled.

There is no negotiation on this, there is no compromise on this…we have committed ourself to international law and that will not change.”

Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL

Benchwarmers and fence-sitters The whole world was talking about Guyana and loving everything about this country. Everybody was speaking in hushed tones about the awesome nature of Guyana’s prospects, and all wanted a piece of the national wealth.

All and sundry were rushing here to plant a stake and erect a tent, investments and partnerships, those were called.

Guyana was the greatest, yet now that Guyana has its back to the wall, at its lowest, it is surprising and discomforting that all of Guyana’s friends and neighbors, even some of its own countrymen, have become frozen-lipped and chickenhearted.

When Guyanese look around and take stock, the only ones that are there for them are their own native-born sisters and brothers.

CARICOM has been the closest, but in this border controversy with Venezuela, it has been the strangest. Some friendship and brotherhood (sisterhood, too) have come, but after some time had elapsed, and when the silence grew so thick that its thunder made the hair stand on end. Perhaps the sharp sentiments of some Guyanese commentators prompted the belated platitudes that had a forced and artificial quality about them. In truth, platitudes are usually hollow, and those of CARICOM certainly left a hollow feeling in many Guyanese at different levels in this society.

America is the strongest, and has been the staunchest ally in the endless quest for genuine democracy in Guyana. America was all over the place and all the time intimately involved in Guyana’s affairs in the brutal trials of the last decades. Today, when Guyana needs America the most, it is a shadow of itself.

There can be no question that the draining Ukraine situation, and the explosive Israeli-Palestinian conflict (one-sided war, to be blunt), have both occupied much time and strength of the US. However, that falls short as either excuse or justification for America’s coolness, cool and too careful language, in the heat of Guyana-Venezuela border developments in the aftermath of the ICJ. The prior keenness of US attention, and the earlier vigor of US actions in Guyana, now feels like the stuff of imagination. Before America was in lockstep with developments good and bad in Guyana; today that America is not as engaged as it once was. The question that cannot be shaken is what went wrong. Another is why is Guyana being treated as some distant stranger, a one-time friend preferred not to be around?

Similarly, the European Union (EU) was hand and foot with Guyana in recent years, but in recent days, as such relate to Maduro and his mad recklessness, this body of substance and power is content to issue pronouncements in the most careful diplomatic language. It is as if the greatest care is taken so as not to step on Nicolas Maduro’s toes, and to give him the widest berth possible. The Venezuelan president is running wild, and Guyana’s once stalwart friends are a composite of blandness and timidness on this border controversy of ours. The urgency embedded in the latest developments with de facto annexation standing foremost has not shaken any group out of its state of too cool to be true.

Even the Chinese have practiced walking on eggshells, in that the few words they have expressed are all coated in velvet, with warmth for Guyana sadly lacking. It seems that all of Guyana’s friends shrink from unequivocal support for Guyana, and limit themselves to the tired diplomatic jargon of ‘let peace prevail in the region.’ It is understood that some of Guyana’s relationships have existing interests in Venezuela and that they dwarf what is held in Guyana. There is also the irresistible lure of what the potential of a fully reopened and highly functioning Venezuela could mean in days to come.

There is what we could call threading of the needle, so as to be on the right side of Venezuela’s considerations, even if that means a grave injustice is done to Guyana’s cause. Our view is that this is no accident, not with almost everyone seemingly speaking from the same playbook. Maduro’s plans are outrageous, and should be offensive to American and European sensibilities, competing interests notwithstanding. Yet Guyanese live in this curious world of blandishments and artful dodges.

Tuesday December 12, 2023

Call for freedom, equality and justice for all DEAR EDITOR Sixteen days ago, the President, Executive Council and Members of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), joined with the world in recognising the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Therein, we reaffirmed that women’s rights are human rights.

We expand our advocacy, to recognising International Human Rights Day, which is being celebrated under the theme ‘Freedom, Equality and Justice for All.’ It is the celebration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which, since 1948, have become more recognized, but less guaranteed across the globe.

In the context of Guyana, the Universal Declaration influenced the promulgation of certain basic rights which were reduced into law in our Constitution. These include women’s rights, secure protection and due process of law, which includes respect for the role of the judiciary and its processes, the duty of citizens to participate in developing our democracy and economy, the guarantee of decent work, and equality of opportunity, which includes the payment of a living wage.

THIS YEAR, 2023 International Human Rights Day is being celebrated at a defining moment in our country’s history. First, our

goodly neighbour to the west, has launched yet another unfortunate attack at our sovereignty, by their frivolous, and unmeritorious c l a i m o v e r G u y a n a ’s Essequibo, territory which were delineated and definitively settled by a binding, full and final arbitral award in 1899. This action is an attempt to violate Article 15 of the Universal Declaration, which guarantees Guyanese living in this county, the right of national existence.

Second, Human Rights Day 2023 is being recognized at a time where Guyana is experiencing exponential economic growth, with rising consumer inflation at the rate of 1.80% in October 2023 as compared to September 2023 at 1.03%, and 0.33% in August, 2023. The daily experiences of many Guyanese in the public service, is not reflected in policy decision making that accounts for such issues as inflation and economic growth.

This is evident by g o v e r n m e n t ’ s announcement of a paltry 6.5% across the board increase in salaries for public servants. This figure was plucked from thin air, and arrived at in the absence of due process, and regard for legal processes set out by law to facilitate change in conditions of service

(remuneration) of workers.

In this context, the GPSU wishes to recall that the role of government is not to dictate, but rather to facilitate the building of a viable economy and an inclusive and harmonious society. The imposition of salary increase, in the absence of due process, or broad participation, is a flagrant violation of the Constitution of Guyana, including the right of free association as is guaranteed under the UN declaration for Human Rights, and the ILO Convention no. 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise. It is for these reasons, that the GPSU has sought declarations from the High Court, that this conduct of the Government of Guyana of plucking figures from thin air, and thereafter imposing it on public servants to the exclusion of collective bargaining with recognized trade unions, is unlawful.

1. Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.

2. Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.

3. Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy

of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection. 4. Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

The GPSU also notes the proliferation of vile political attacks in the form of demotion, transfers and dismissal of public servants, many of whom are identified by the apolitical disposal of their duties, religion, gender, and race. Specific mention is made of health care workers, who are currently being denied a living wage, with adequate risk and other allowances. This category of workers, who are predominantly women, continues to be singled out by government in its exclusionary approach to governance. On this International Human Rights Day, the GPSU calls on the Government of Guyana and all stakeholders, to recognize that we are living in perilous times.

The threat of climate change, rising inflation, and potential incursion of our territory, are among the reasons for us to work together in achieving lasting freedom, equality and justice in every sphere of life for our people.

Happy International Human Rights Day to all.

Sincerely Guyana Public Service Union

What the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security is Doing to Pensioners is Truly Reprehensible DEAR EDITOR, The whole issue of pension continues to be a nightmare for us pensioners and the present distribution of the $25,000 cash grant runs true to form. It seems the Hon. Minister of Human Services and Social Security (MoHS & SS) just cannot get it right and ease the burden of the aged and disabled. A Government (a country) is to a large extent judged by the way it treats its elderly citizenry.

So here we are in December 2023 being issued with instructions via the media to collect our “Because We Care” cash grant of $25,000, not an overly generous amount but will come in handy to assist with our massive food bills in oil-rich Guyana. Already for the month, I have been to a pension location twice – to collect my monthly pension and then to collect my 2024 pension books. Now I am being asked to drag my tired

old body for a third time to collect the cash grant.

There was no advisory that there would be a numbering system. So, when I turned up at the advertised Alberttown Basketball Court (should be Queenstown as it is east on Albert Street where the city ward changes) at 11:00 am on December 06, 2023, I was told to come back the next day as they had finished their quota for the day. The next day I returned at 09:15 am and was given a number 241. After making five trips to the venue, I finally secured my bumper grant at 04:35 pm.

The pensioners were out in their numbers, the sun was hot, the shade provided by the tents and the chairs were both inadequate. There was no washroom facility for the staff nor the pensioners for all those long dreary hours.

There was much confusion and quarrels and outbursts as the day wore on and the pensioners got tired, hungry

and frustrated as they moved their tired aching limbs from chair to chair to get to the head table. Many of the pensioners were in distress as they moved around slowly with their walking sticks or walkers; some were assisted by relatives who also had to spend the long hours there.

The catchment for the Alberttown Basketball Court included the densely populated wards of Queenstown, Alberttown and North Cummingsburg.

Yet only two days for distribution were given with a cut-off point for each day.

This small window of opportunity contributed to the chaos and frustration.

The staff members (Mr. McBean and his team) were kind, patient and helpful but as they explained they were following instructions on the distribution system. So, there we have it, the system which failed woefully was thought out and implemented by the MoHS

& SS. Here’s my concern, I know there will be many complaints reaching the top officials of the Ministry including the Hon. Minister but next time there is a similar exercise, it will be more of the same because in our dear Guyana, the plights of the poor and the elderly will continue to be consigned to oblivion. No one cares; no one has the will to make changes.

An observation I made at the location was that the four police officers who were there were surprisingly involved in the actual work of the cash grant distribution.

So, they had their big guns resting on their laps as they cut up the numbering slips from exercise leaves, collected pension books, called out names and other such activities. Strange as I know that police officers especially heavily-armed ones do not, as a rule engage in civilian work as their duty (Continued on page 09 )

Tuesday December 12, 2023

Kaieteur News

PAGE 05

The Jagdeo/Ali regime cannot proceed alone and feel they could win the hearts and minds of all Guyanese DEAR EDITOR, Government could only go as far as the people, who participate in the election process, forgo their civic duty and responsibility to elect and hold the government and their elected representatives accountable after casting their votes.

Where Guyana faces an existential threat from Venezuela, foreign capital is seeking to exploit our resources and an uncaring regime runs roughshod over the nation.

There are three issues

dominating national a t t e n t i o n : T h e Guyana/Venezuela Border Controversy; Demise of Five Members of the Guyana Defence Force; and Imposition of 6.5 percent wages and salary increases.

The Ali/Jagdeo regime is being reminded that while the Nicolas Maduro Government continues to mobilise and galvanize the citizenry, he has made it very clear, regardless of the ICJ’s orders, Venezuelans have more than a passing interest in the wealth of Essequibo.

Instructive at this juncture is the absence of a galvanized internal response and motivation that would cause Guyanese to want to defend Essequibo in greater measure than the Venezuelans want to covet this territory.

The apathy and disconnect are in no small measure the result of the partisan and anti-national politics and policies of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), as a political entity and government.

Though Venezuela and

Dedicated to the five servicemen: Oh, soldiers!

Seven in number they were buckled in chopper way up in the sky from Olive Creek to Arau, they flew with passions so high far away towards the frontier with crew duty had called to go they must to protect and maintain sovereignty over Essequibo in whom we trust; Making stops along the way villagers watched with little dismay as chopper passed by up so high Oh soldiers! you never did say a forever good bye, we wished you w e l l t o f u l f i l l C I C ’s command hereby; With spinning blades lift off was perfect that day as the chopper lifted upwards in overcast skies to fly away challenged by visibility on the rise Oh soldiers! together you

did cry ‘mission must be accomplished’ not knowing the ultimate price you were destined to pay in lieu of your demise; Oh soldiers! To visit ranks, you were commanded to pay, camped at Olive Creek and Arau so far away with forests, mountains creek and trails the Cuyuni not far away running deep carrying with its flow many a tale; Tragedy struck on that fateful day the chopper fell like a bullet gone astray blades falling silent beneath broccoli like canopy resting eerily as if comfy in total disarray Oh soldiers! If only we knew it was you death it was to carry five limp bodies to thy Father’s mansion with many a room; Snatched away were five heroic servicemen in perilous times when country needed

men to serve with pride and human sacrifice a loss to motherland needing the brave and the bold to defend our land and wealth an aggressor to our west who now doth loath; Oh soldiers! Guyana weeps for you night and day valiant heroes from noble origins you rose with commitment and dedication never to delay time served way beyond the call of duty flags fluttering in wind at half-staff as though in sympathy In many a way and in many a year shall we bow in homage to your sacrifice Gone too soon having paid a heavy price Five to fall too many, no replace will suffice A Heroes Highway dedicated to you a debt of gratitude nothing more will do.

Regards Clement James Rohee

the PPP have individually and collectively scarred the psyche of the nation, I strongly believe, deep within the heart of every Guyanese is the love for country if they could only be made to feel valued and there is a stake in this nation for them. As a man would defend his family and personal property because he feels an intrinsic alliance and sense of belongingness, so too would he for the country, under the right conditions (psychological, social, economic, political and otherwise).

For instance, we could explore a form of national service starting with the cadre of Guyanese who are presently paid the $40,000 and $50,000 monthly merely to mark their names and present a few days of the month.

This is gross underutilisation of our human resources, dehumanising and conditioning citizens to feel less than worthy.

Guyana has the financial wherewithal to commence a massive training programme to equip Guyanese with requisite skills based on societal needs and more so instilling a sense of nationalism.

The trainees should be paid the statutory minimum wage whilst on the programme.

We must return to the collective bargaining table and engage the unions in the teaching and public service on working conditions.

Special attention must also be given to the conditions under which our men and women in uniform work and

in the face of increasing threats by Venezuelans are placed on heightened alert and even in barracks.

The reported helicopter crash last week reinforces recognition that accidents do not happen, they are caused, the army is severely undercapitalized, and these workers are being called on to work with outdated equipment and tools of their trade.

N o government/employer can engender a working climate of confidence when basic workplace rights, including remuneration, occupational safety and health are denied.

Workers must not be asked to give of their service or put their lives on the line in a working environment that threatens their safety.

For the military, these workers should not go on a suicide mission.

To execute their duties, they must be adequately equipped with effective functioning tools of the trade, appropriate training, leadership and good intelligence.

These pointers are raised in full awareness that buy-in and success could result with the political opposition, labour and other stakeholders’ involvement as required by Articles 13, 38, 147 and 149C of the Constitution of Guyana.

The Jagdeo/Ali regime cannot proceed alone and

feel they could win the hearts and minds of all Guyanese when the people have spoken.

At various levels in society, they would have determined who they have entrusted their confidence to articulate, advance and defend their interests.

The exclusion and unilateralism must end, for these remain our greatest threats to internal stability and the capacity to confront external adversaries.

Our individual and collective salvation and well-being reside internally.

The soonest President Irfaan Ali and his advisers acknowledge this and work to implement an approach to governance that upholds the Rule of Law and treats all citizens with respect and dignity, the fervour, nationalism and sense of belonging would not rise to the surface.

Guyanese must rise from passivity on matters of poor governance and inept opposition politics. We should not give Venezuela an opportunity to take advantage of government lawlessness by not upholding the laws of our l a n d a n d b e i n g representatives of good governance and democracy.

Regards Lincoln Lewis

Kaieteur News

PAGE 06

Tuesday December 12, 2023

Form a Think Tank of all forces to discuss Venezuela and propose solutions DEAR EDITOR, When there is a national crisis, as in an invasion threat to and annexation of a country, government and opposition, supported by civil society, tend to come together thinking of and planning common strategies to counter the peril. Guyana faces a very serious threat to its physical territory from western neighbour Venezuela. Both government and opposition hold a common position to oppose Venezuela’s claim to our territory. The government and opposition unanimously passed a resolution in parliament holding such a common position.

The elected government (party) runs the affairs of the nation by virtue of winning the election. It makes and

implements policies. It engages other nations and conducts foreign policy. Those are its legitimate constitutional powers. But it also has a constitutional requirement to engage the opposition and it does although historically the opposition is ignored regardless of which party ran the country.

The ruling party is not required to consult with opposition on all policies and certainly not on foreign policy.

President Ali does not have to seek advice from the opposition on Venezuela policy as he is constitutionally empowered to engage with other countries and international institutions. Thus, Ali is commended for informing the opposition that he has been invited by the leader of St. Vincent Mr. Gonsalves to enter into talks with Maduro of Venezuela and

President Lula of Brazil at a summit in Kingstown next Thursday. He has rightly sought opposition support. Now is not the time for party partisanship.

Opposition forces are with the government.

In order to maintain a strong unified position against Venezuela, it is always good to consult with, engage, and seek ideas or views from the opposition and civic society and even the diaspora on how to respond to this serious threat. The government does not have to accept or implement advice from the opposition or civic society or diaspora but can listen and analyze ideas or proposals and then give consideration or reject accordingly. Unity must be the objective. Meaningfully engage the opposition, civic society, and

diaspora will project to the enemy and the world that the Guyanese are unshaken in their unity and opposition to the external threat posed by Venezuela.

Our country is deeply divided politically and ethnically. We must not bury our divisions under the proverbial carpet. The Venezuela threat provides a unique opportunity to bring the various people and forces together and reduce political and ethnic tensions. The Venezuelan threat has the potential to heal the nation from the wounds of divisive politics and ethnic tensions inflicted during the five months of attempts to influence the election outcome in 2020.

We m u s t b u r y o u r d i ff e r e n c e s a n d c o m e together as a nation to

combat the foreign threat.

This can be achieved, for lack of a better term, through a kind of establishment of a holding committee of forces that represent all our people — ethnic, political, labour, intellectual, grass roots, legal, etc. — to discuss and analyze the Venezuela threat and propose immediate responses as we await the ICJ ruling. The establishment of such a strong coalition of forces, a kind of a think-tank, that is comprised of government, opposition, and civic society of intellectuals, scholars, political people, labor, diaspora, etc. to engage in deep thinking and discussion on the threat and suggested solutions will strengthen our response to Venezuela. Ideas and proposals from non-ruling forces, civic

society scholars in particular, can only help to improve our position against Venezuela.

Bipartisanship is the objective of the hour. Two and more brains are better than one.

Bringing people representing varied interests and groups will best serve the nation during this crisis.

Government is not required and does not have to listen to anyone who is not from the ruling side or from civic society or from the diaspora. But unity is in the national interest. Taking the confidence of non-ruling politicians and nongovernment civic forces will strengthen the hand of the ruling side to confront Venezuela and show the world we are a united people.

Yours truly, Dr. Vishnu Bisram

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T B UN Tuesday December 12, 2023

Kaieteur News

PAGE 07

PAGE 08

Tuesday December 12, 2023

Kaieteur News

Commonwealth Ministerial Group urges full, proper respect of ICJ order

T

he Commonwealth Ministerial Group on Guyana (CMGG) has called for a full and proper respect for the provisional orders made by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the Guyana- Venezuela controversy.

In a statement the Commonwealth Secretariat said the CMGG convened an e m e rg e n c y m e e t i n g o n 11 December 2023 called by the Commonwealth SecretaryGeneral, Patricia Scotland at the request of the Government of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, and in accordance with the mandate given by the Commonwealth Heads of Government in 1999 to monitor, “further developments in respect of the existing controversy between Guyana and Venezuela.”

The meeting was chaired by State Minister for Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, Md. Shahriar Alam, MP. At the meeting the Ministerial Group received an update from Hugh Hilton Todd, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, presented by His Excellency Rajendra Singh, High Commissioner of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, on

the heightened tensions between the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the Co-operative Republic of Guyana over the Essequibo region since the last CMGG meeting in September 2023.

“The Group urged full and proper respect for the binding 1 December 2023 Order of Provisional Measures of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that states that “Pending a final decision in the case, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela shall refrain from taking any action which would modify the situation that currently prevails in the territory in dispute, whereby the Co- operative Republic of Guyana administers and exercises control over that area” and that, “Both Parties shall refrain from any action which might aggravate or extend the dispute before the Court or make it more difficult to resolve.”

Additionally, the Group called for a de-escalation of the tensions between Venezuela and Guyana, respect for international law, the maintenance of peace, and the rejection of the use or threats of the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Guyana. “The Group rejected the recent actions of Venezuela that

constitute a threat to Guyana's sovereignty and a disregard of the 1 December 2023, Order of the ICJ. The Group reiterated its firm and steadfast support for the ICJ process underway as the appropriate and lawful means to address the matter under international law, the maintenance and preservation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana, its right to self-defence and the unobstructed exercise of its rights to develop the entirety of its territory for the benefit of its people,” the statement read.

The Group reaffirmed that the position of the Commonwealth since the Group was formed in 1999 has remained unchanged, and is as expressed in 2016, “The Group reiterated the unequivocal and collective support of Commonwealth member governments for the maintenance and preservation of Guyana's sovereignty and territorial borders, in accordance with the 1899 Arbitral Award, which definitively settled the land boundary between the Co- operative Republic of Guyana and Venezuela,” the statement said.

The Group said it endorses without reservation the statements made by the Secretary-General in

The Commonwealth Ministerial Group on Guyana has condemned threats by Venezuela support of Guyana on 1 November 2023, and 1 December 2023. “The Group commended the Good Offices of the Secretary-General on behalf of the Commonwealth to engage its partners to support peace and stability in the Caribbean region and encouraged the Secretary-General to continue to use her Good Offices to support Guyana in upholding its territorial sovereignty and integrity.

The Group also agreed to draw the conclusions of this meeting to the attention of all Commonwealth member governments.” Members of the Group, as constituted following the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting held in Durban in 1999, are Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Canada, Guyana, Jamaica, South Africa,

and the United Kingdom.

Meanwhile, the Private Sector Commission of Guyana said it is closely monitoring the recent developments concerning the threat by Venezuela to annex a part of Guyana. “We understand that these circumstances may raise concerns within the community, and we wish to reassure the public that every effort is being made to address the situation effectively. In light of these developments, we urge the general public to remain calm, vigilant, and resilient. It is of utmost importance that information is sourced from verified and credible sources to avoid the spread of misinformation,” the PSC said.

To the business community, “we emphasise that operations (Continued on page 9)

Kaieteur News

Tuesday December 12, 2023

PAGE 09

The President must choose his team carefully The President of Guyana is going into a lion’s lair on Thursday. He has agreed to meet face-to-face with the President of Venezuela as part of a Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and Caribbean Community (CARICOM) initiative aimed at deescalating present tensions.

The President has accepted the invitation to meet – as he must. Guyana cannot claim that it is interested in peace and at the same time refuse to accept an invitation to a conversation with the President of Ve n e z u e l a a i m e d a t deescalating tensions. The President of Guyana therefore had little choice.

Once the invitation was made, he had to accept even

though there are scores of Guyanese who may feel that there is nothing for him to say to Maduro, and do not support such a meeting.

The President has been receiving much advice – all good – from various sources.

Some of the advice has been unsolicited. The President of Guyana needs all the advice that he can get. He is going into a discussion with persons who are craftier and more experienced than he is, and he will not have it easy.

President Irfaan Ali is still inexperienced as a president. His presidency is less than four years old. As he would have no doubt found out, the Presidency is a major step-up from being a Minister, especially when it comes to international affairs. He is also dealing

with a leader in Maduro who is much more experienced and shrewder than he is.

President Ali will therefore need all the help that he can get. But he should stay clear of including in his delegation any person who has contributed to inflaming tensions between Guyana and Venezuela of recent. It would be a magnanimous gesture if he invites the Leader of the Opposition on his delegation.

The international community has been insisting on the need for both sides to not inflame tensions.

On the 10th November, the Office of the UN Secretary General issued a statement on the ongoing issue between Guyana and Venezuela. In that statement the UN Secretary General

Commonwealth Ministerial Group urges...

From page 8 should continue as usual. We encourage business leaders and investors to maintain confidence in the strength of Guyana's economy.

The Private Sector Commission acknowledges the unity and resilience of the Guyanese people during challenging times. We believe that by staying informed, calm, and focused on our daily activities, we can collectively contribute to the stability and prosperity of our beloved country. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as necessary. Our thoughts are with all Guyanese as we navigate through these challenges together.”

Also adding its voice the Guyana Gold and Diamond

Miners Association (GGDMA) said it stands firm with the Government and people of Guyana on the sovereignty of Guyana and the ownership of the Essequibo region. “The GGDMA joins with the Government and people of Guyana to mourn the loss of our brave soldiers and recommit our efforts towards Guyana.”

The association said it has noted with concern the recent utterings from the Ve n e z u e l a n P r e s i d e n t Nicolas Maduro in relation to the state of Venezuela administering over the rights of all natural resources contained within the Essequibo region.

“The GGDMA wishes to make it clear that the Government of Guyana and

its agencies are the SOLE and ONLY entities legally empowered to administer over the land and mineral rights contained within this territory.

The Essequibo region is firmly part of Guyana.

Miners of Guyana will continue to give these entities due regard and comply with their instructions as we continue to work towards the sustained prosperity of Guyana. The GGDMA stands firm with the Government of Guyana and the country of our birth. We will not bend to the rantings of a foreign dictator. We will continue to rally our members in support of efforts to safeguard our sovereignty,” the miners' body said.

DEM BOYS SEH

De bamboozling bonus De government is so generous. It is unbelievable.

Dem bamboozle de public servants with a dazzling $ 2 5 , 0 0 0 b o n u s announcement that sent ripples of joy through the bureaucratic corridors, only to be swiftly followed by a 6.5% salary increase.

De government, in its infinite wisdom, gifted our public servants with a modest 6.5% salary bump.

Bravo! However, before the ink could dry on the congratulatory memos, the reality check arrived. After de taxman takes his share (and we know he takes a sizable chunk), that 6.5% suddenly transforms into a meager 4.5%.

It is a case of where de government gives with one hand and takes back with de odder. De workers should demand de increase be tax free.

After all dem getting it at de end of the year, a year in which they have to struggle to balance their personal budgets against the onslaught of de cost of living. And de soldiers, firemen, police and prison workers getting a one month tax free. Wah happen to public servants? Goat bite dem?

Meanwhile, a lone voice in the wilderness claims that inflation for the year is a paltry 3.8%.

Applause for that brave soul

who must be moonlighting as a stand-up comedian. In the bustling markets, however, where the real economic theatrics unfold, prices are skyrocketing, led

by Mr. Pumpkin.

Yet, de Inflation Denier, insists that 3.8% is the magic number. Perhaps he’s been living in a parallel universe.

The rest of us, are afraid to look at de price tags on de items on de supermarket shelves. And so, in the fastest-growing economy in the world – a title we proudly bear – public servants find themselves holding, yet again, the wrong end of the stick.

Talk half. Leff half

was said to have urged that “both parties will demonstrate good faith and avoid any action that would aggravate or extend the controversy.” Soon after the announcement of the holding of a consultative referendum in Venezuela, the Barbadian Prime Minister had made a similar plea. She called on both Guyana and Venezuela to not do anything that would affect the Region as a zone of peace. She has said, “I hope that the rhetoric and noise between Venezuela and Guyana does not turn our Caribbean into anything that is not a zone of peace.

Because it matters to us that this Caribbean remains a zone of peace and we ask those parties to recognize that their actions go beyond their two countries.”

Brazil’s call for dialogue and its offer to mediate the dispute to keep the region as a zone of peace is based on similar sentiments. Brazil does not want an escalation in tensions that could lead to a breach of the peace. In its ruling of 1st December, the International Court of Justice urged that neither Guyana or Venezuela do anything which could

escalate the situation.

U n f o r t u n a t e l y, w h i l e President Ali has been restrained in his comments on Venezuela, another member of his government has been less constrained and has continued to launch his verbal broadsides against personalities in Venezuela.

This cannot be helpful or even in compliance with the ICJ ruling. The President therefore should therefore carefully choose his delegation and those who will be part of the face-toface meeting with the Ve n e z u e l a n P r e s i d e n t .

Persons who have been of recent attacking the government of Venezuela and its governing personalities should not be part of the Guyana delegation, no matter how senior they are within the Ali government. Also, as a former Commonwealth Secretary General noted, Guyana must temper expectations about the outcome of this meeting. The President has already said that the issue of the border is off the agenda. As such the meeting is not expected to result in any breakthrough on the issue of dispute.

People need to appreciate

this fact.

The main objective of the meeting in St, Vincent appears to be the cooling of tensions. One possible outcome of the meeting could therefore be a reiteration of the need for both sides to constrain their rhetoric on this issue.

This is an issue which both sides can easily be in agreement with. It will be a lot more difficult to ask the Venezuelans to reverse some of its recent actions in relation to the creation of a new state incorporating the Essequibo. But the negotiators, not Guyana, may consider asking the Venezuelans to freeze any such plans.

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

What the Ministry of Human Services...

From page 04 is strictly security and they must be focused and observant.

On a related and disturbing note, I was told that anyone who does not collect his/her pension during the stipulated time will lose it.

So, my sister who is abroad for a medical condition will not get her “Because We Care” cash grant as she returns on December 21 and so too will the many pensioners who for good reasons, could not have reached on the

stated days.

My wife told me that I am wasting my time writing this letter because nothing will come out of it as nothing changes in Guyana.

It will be read perhaps even by the subject Minister and then set aside.

But you know what, I just had to write this letter; I am that angry and frustrated at the never-ending contemptuous and inhumane treatment of us pensioners.

A. Singh Concerned Pensioner

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10 S

UTH

D TR

HAR

HK

BY G

LALL

Tuesday Monday December May 02, 12,2022 2023

H@RD TRUTHS

BY GHK LALL

Sounds like border discussion “I will be there in answer to the call by colleague CARICOM Heads of Government on 9 December, 2023 for appropriate dialogue between the leaders of Venezuela and Guyana to ensure peaceful coexistence, the application and respect for international law and the avoidance of the use or threats of force.”The words are those of Guyana's President Dr. Irfaan Ali responding to Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of S t Vi n c e n t a n d t h e Grenadines. I struggle with this response to the prime minister, given the government's vigorous insistence about no discussions on the heated Guyana-Venezuela border controversy.

Peaceful coexistence means that there is no border controversy of note that exists and pushes the two neighbors to menacing loggerheads.

Peaceful coexis tence cannot be “ensured” when there is this tortured border issue pitting the two countries against one

another. To sum this up: peaceful coexistence does not exist in a vacuum. It sounds to me, as if President Ali plans to deal in the improbable, if not the impossible.

That is, he will do his best to “ensure peaceful coexistence” but without any reference to the thorny border controversy that has roiled relations between Guyana and Venezuela, and who holds sovereignty over it. In other words, it is as if there is no divisive border context. This talk about peaceful coexistence would be both irrelevant and untimely but only if there are no clouds of war in some form hovering.

We all know on both sides of the border that the words and actions of the Ve n e z u e l a n P r e s i d e n t , Nicolas Maduro, has relentlessly raised the stakes in that direction. Hence, the Guyana's president emphasis on peaceful coexistence.

There would not be any need for a conference in anyplace but Georgetown or Caracas, and without the need of

regional intermediaries, were it not for this combustible border controversy. There would be no need, no call by anyone, for the interventions of Brazil's President Lula, and the public and behind-the scenes efforts of the 14member CARICOM heads, to bring the leaders of Guyana and Venezuela to a neutral place of conversation.

All the reasonings and positions taken with respect to “ensure peaceful coexistence” also have the fullest application to the other elements of President Ali's response to the meeting host, the St Vincentian Prime Minister. “Application and respect for international law” could not be intended, in this particular instance, vto mean trading relations, or cross-border smuggling. No one should miss the relationship (though unsaid) to the recent ruling of the ICJ on December 1, and another to come later. International law has its greatest restraining value in reducing, if not eliminating, tensions between two neighboring

countries on the brink of actual hostilities.

The president may want us to believe that application and respect for international law is an abstraction, something raised for academic purposes, in St Vincent, while maintaining the pretense that the border controversy is not involved.

It is inevitable that since application and respect for international law is going to be part of the agenda, then which country has the right hand and the incontestable hand in this issue will surface.

We d o u b t t h a t t h e Guyanese and Venezuelan presidents are going to talk in hypotheticals (Country A and Country B), in efforts to disguise the underlying issue in the center of the room.

President Lula and PM Gonsalves should have their own ideas about such.

The third element extracted from President Ali's response speaks to “avoidance of the use or threats of force.” Guyana's concern about force by any means is not some wayward

leaf out of nowhere hanging in the air, but as founded on Venezuela's totally baseless border claims.

Regarding how President Ali and his team would be able to circle around talking about who owns and controls Essequibo in the midst of all his serious representations is anybody's guess.

Quite frankly, it does not look feasible in the least. Not a blade of grass is not the stuff of fiction or political fluff.

It should not be because it is so real.

I am pained to point to what I call conflicts in construction and vision as it relates to the Guyana border issue in the St Vincent discussions.

In my thinking, Excellency is trying to resolve how to make the immovable object and irresistible force work in harmony. Peace could come at a price. International law may be observed under duress, which only endures for so long. And, there comes a time when the envelope is pushed and

threats are not avoided but transformed into tangible and irreversible action. Having said all this, there is keen recognition of President Ali's challenges in St Vincent.

Though I believe that he is trying to square the circle, and having things both ways at the same time, I assure him of my fullest support. God speed, and may God guide.

The President and his g o v e r n m e n t , h o w e v e r, cannot be this naïve, so shortsighted, and expect the same of Guyanese.

Essequibo and issues of sovereignty and control, who belongs and who must rule, just have to be in the conversations in Kingston.

The president's own words feed into this; the border controversy hinges and lives on what he is seeking.

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

Sir Shridath warns against false expectations from Ali, Maduro talks

A

mid concerns over the scheduled meeting between President Irfaan Ali and his Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolas Maduro, revered Guyanese diplomat Sir Shridath Ramphal said that it is important that the limits of the talks in St. Vincent and the Grenadines are understood, while warning against false expectations.

In a statement issued on Monday, Sir Shridath said, for decades, CARICOM has been the mos t vocal and cons is tent supporter of Guyana with regard to the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy. He said never was that support more evident than when its Heads of Government held an emergency meeting in that context on 8 December 2023. “ T h e y d i d n o t f a l t e r.

CARICOM Heads repeated where they stood on the most critical aspects of the current situation, namely: that they 'firmly support (s) Guyana in pursuance of the resolution of its border controversy with Venezuela through the process of the International Court of Justice (ICJ)'. that they 'urge Ve n e z u e l a t o r e s p e c t t h e conservatory measures determined by the ICJ in its recent

ruling until a final resolution' and they reiterated CARICOM's 'commitment to the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace and the maintenance of international law'.”

Ramphal who is also Guyana's coagent in the border case before the International Court of Justice said it is in that context, and with perfect awareness that the GuyanaVenezuela matter is under consideration by the ICJ and that the Court's proceedings cannot be compromised, that CARICOM Heads have called for an 'appropriate' dialogue between the leaders of Guyana and Venezuela: to ensure 'peaceful co-existence', 'the application and respect for international law', and 'the avoidance of the use or threats of force'.

“There was no call for any discussion on the Venezuelan controversy over the Essequibo region of Guyana. It is within those parameters that Guyana's President has responded positively to the R e g i o n ' s call for an 'appropriate' dialogue with Venezuela's President.

G u y a n a h a s a l w a y s u rg e d Venezuela in the direction of peaceful coexistence.

All Guyanese should bolster

Sir Shridath Ramphal President Ali's efforts in this regard.

If President Maduro responds in like manner, CARICOM's efforts will have the reward of deference to not only regional but international norms of peace and security,” Ramphal's statement concluded.

On Sunday President, Ali assured Guyanese that the nation's position regarding Venezuela's

claims for the Essequibo region remains non-negotiable. During a live broadcast Sunday morning, President Ali outlined the steps that preceded his decision to hold talks with the Venezuelan leader.

He made it clear that in the interest of regionalism, peace and stability, good neighbourly relations, and the coexistence of the two countries sharing a border, Guyana is always up for any action that would enhance relations.

Since the beginning, the Guyana government has constantly stated that there would be no compromise on the border controversy since it is currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for resolution.

“Guyana is committed to peace and every action that will ensure that the region remains a region of peace and stability.

We have a commitment to this region to work together to ensure the prosperity and stability of our region. We have said that we have no objections to any conversations with Venezuela with the aim of ensuring the peace and stability of our region,” the head of state posited.

CARICOM leaders held an emergency conference recently,

where suggestions were made for a meeting with President Maduro to be held in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves along with the President of Brazil, and representatives of CARICOM and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) will observe the discourse.

“They requested that I have a conversation with Venezuela. I made it very clear to them that we have no objections to a conversation,” the president highlighted.

President Ali has already updated all relevant parties, including the respective legal practitioners, diplomatic allies, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and the Leader of the Opposition.

“We expect that good sense will prevail and the commitment to peace, stability, and the threat of disruption will cease.

And I assure all Guyanese, investors, our development in all ten of the administrative regions and all three of our counties will continue unimpeded,” the Guyanese leader assured.

Tuesday December 12, 2023

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Borderline Facts Pt. 12

We have a responsibility

to explore every option to counter Venezuela's threats

By Kiana Wilburg

Ahead of a historic inperson meeting with his Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolas Maduro, Guyana's President, Dr. Irfaan Ali has maintained that there will be no deviation from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) adjudicating the case of the longstanding controversy.

Be that as it may, President Ali believes there is merit in having talks with Venezuela which has escalated tensions with this country following a December 3 referendum to annex Essequibo. During an interview with Bloomberg on Monday, President Ali said Guyana's position is that this is a region of peace and stability, adding “we will do everything in our power to ensure it remains that way.”

President Ali reminded that Venezuela's latest acts of aggression, which include an ultimatum for companies to exit the region in three months, and the passing of a new law to govern the affairs of the mineral-rich region, are contrary to the ICJ's orders.

To recap, the World Court categorically stated on December 1 that Venezuela should refrain from all

Venezuela's President, Nicolás Maduro

actions that could alter Guyana's control over the Essequibo. In light of its defiance, President Ali said he believes there can be a positive outcome from the talks which are set for Thursday in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

“As neighbours, we have to coexist. We have to talk on issues of development. We have issues of climate change; we have issues on which we can have joint collaboration, in which we can explore how we develop our countries for the full prosperity of our countries and basically deescalate the situation.”

Guyana’s President, Irfaan Ali

- Pres. Ali ahead of talks with Maduro

Reiterating that the border controversy is not up for negotiation, President Ali said there are other areas that can be discussed as well as modalities on future interactions and even the establishment of technical and working groups to look at areas of development.

President Ali also noted that he accepted the invitation for talks since it was requested by Prime Minister o f S t . Vi n c e n t a n d Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves. He also noted that the meeting will also bring together officials from CARICOM, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) as well as Brazil's President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

The Commander-InChief of the Armed Forces said, “Guyana prides itself on being a good global citizen and we have tremendous respect for international partners and regional partners. He said: “our regional partners, who are all very strong in support of Guyana… reached out to us and asked us to have this

conversation. I think it would have been irresponsible to our partners if we did not also have this conversation with Maduro…”

On the foregoing premise, the President said he is of the view that Guyana has a responsibility to ensure that while it establishes its fundamental position, it must explore every avenue to have Venezuela de-escalate its level of aggression and work towards a peaceful coexistence.

PAGE 12

Tuesday December 12, 2023

Kaieteur News

Journalist, Travis Chase escapes execution attempt on D'Urban Street Journalist Travis Chase narrowly evaded an attempted execution on Monday evening at the intersection of D'Urban and Cemetery Road Georgetown.

The harrowing incident unfolded around 19:30 hours, marking yet another perilous encounter in Chase's career.

Remarkably unharmed, Chase recounted the chilling event amidst the backdrop of investigators scouring the scene for clues and shells scattered.

“I'm fine, not injured,” Chase calmly asserted during an on-site interview, his composure, a stark contrast to the chaos that had ensued only moments before. He was in the area to visit his aunt to retrieve a document.

Recalling the chilling moments, Chase detailed that as he parked his car, “I told the guy that operates the restaurant just watch the car for me, give me two minutes, I coming back.”

“As soon as I stepped out of the car, the gunman open fire,” he added.

Chase explained that it was a lone gunman on a motorcycle.

He disclosed that a police officer who witnessed the ordeal pursued

the gunman but regrettably, the perpetrator managed to evade capture.

When questioned about the motive behind the attack, Chase said he does not know.

“This is not the first attempt on my life. If I am to attribute anything to this incident, I would say my style of reporting, it can't be anything else.”

He noted, however, that this is the first time somebody has shot at him.

Chase recalled that a few years ago, his car was maliciously set on fire

Chase car on the crime scene

Journalist, Travis Chase

while parked in a government compound near the D'Urban Street location. He said too that some years ago, there was information that there was a bounty

on his head. Undeterred by the n e a r- f a t a l i n c i d e n t , C h a s e reaffirmed his commitment to truth-telling.

“I am a reporter that stands for the truth. I am not going to be scared or

back down from this.”

Additionally, Chase noted that he is not at war with anyone but thanked God that he is alive. Chase also commended the swift response of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

Tuesday December 12, 2023

Kaieteur News

PAGE 13

PAGE 14

Tuesday December 12, 2023

Kaieteur News

19,000 registered Venezuelan migrants in Guyana – Minister Benn There are approximately 19,000 Venezuelan migrants registered in the Ministry of Home Affairs' database, subject minister Robeson Benn revealed on Monday.

Benn was at the time speaking at the 69th Sitting of the National Assembly held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Lilendaal where he responded to questions posed by Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Tabitha Sarabo-Halley.

Sarabo-Halley raised questions about the influx of Venezuelan migrants and Government's ability to record and track the migrants

given the rising tensions between Guyana and the Spanish-speaking country over the territorial controversy for rights to Essequibo region.

As such, the Opposition MP asked the Minister to inform the House of the number of registered Venezuelan migrants in Region Nine as of June 16, 2023, and in the other Regions as of July 11, 2023.

Sarabo –Halley also asked the Minister to tell the House whether there is a process to determine if any of the migrants have military background.

In response, Minister

Murder accused Mortima Sandy (Photo credit Guyana Daily News)

Labourer's attempted murder charge upgraded as victim dies 12 days after being stabbed Mortima Sandy a 27 year old labourer from Glasgow Housing Scheme, New Amsterdam was on Monday remanded to prison for murder.

He appeared at the New Amsterdam Magistrate's Court before Magistrate Peter Hugh. Sandy was previously charged with attempted murder after stabbing Kern Wilson several times on November 24th, 2023. He had made his first appearance on November 28 th , and was placed on $250,000 bail. The previous charge was withdrawn and the murder charge instituted after the victim died on December 6th, 2023, 12 days after the incident, in the Intensive Care Unit of the New Amsterdam Hospital.

The prosecution also informed the court that they are awaiting an autopsy report of the deceased to complete their case file. The accused

who was represented by Attorney-at-law Tuanna Hardy was not required to plead to the indictable charge and was remanded. He will appear again before the court on January 17 t h , 2024.

According to reports the men made a bet from which the stake was $5000, and Wilson would have won the bet.

Sandy would have wanted his money back and ventured into the shop Wilson operates, where picked up the money box which acted as a safe, and was said to have in excess of the bet stake.

Wilson then approached Sandy as he pulled out a knife dealing the now deceased several stabs about his body.

The now deceased man was then taken to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital and had to undergo e m e r g e n c y s u r g e r y.

Reportedly no one had realised that Wilson was stabbed.

Benn said, “In Region Nine, there are 1348 persons; in Region One - 7671 persons; Region Two - there are 3255; in Region Three - there are 1114 registered migrants, in Region Four: 1215; Region Seven: 4099 and in Region Eight: 80.”

However, in response to the question about the background of the registered persons, the Minister could not give a direct answer.

“Persons come to Guyana with different backgrounds and in a general sense, you

wouldn't be able to say for each one of them, who might have had a background in military or policing services… but if they are a f e w, w e h a v e s o m e information, I can say that some checks have been made, some persons who have been made aware would have come into the country,” Benn explained.

Sarrabo-Halley nonetheless enquired whether the Ministry has a mechanism for screening migrants to determine

whether they have any military background at all. “…The question of military background, I think I have answered that question,” he said.

Opposition MP Juretha Fernandes then followed up with a question about Indigenous migrant population from Venezuelan.

“Can the honourable Minister say what the Government policy is when it comes to documenting Indigenous Venezuelans that (Continuned on page 16)

Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn

Sophia man tells Court he found illegal gun while cleaning trench A 27-year-old man was on Monday remanded to prison after he was found with an unlicensed gun by police on Thursday in the North Sophia District.

The accused Ackeem Bristol made his first court appearance on Monday and in his defence told Magistrate Rhondell Weever that “I was working last month by cleaning drain, by (name provided), whilst working, second week, I pick up a bag with the gun inside from the drain.”

According to police, at about 00:40hrs on Thursday, ranks from the Turkeyen Police Station, were on patrol in the North Sophia district, when they observed Bristol riding a bicycle with a cart attached, through a cross street.

Upon seeing the ranks, Bristol reportedly hopped off the cycle and attempted to run, but due to quick response by the ranks, Bristol was apprehended. A search was conducted on Bristol's person but nothing illegal was found on him.

However, when the ranks searched his cart, a black plastic bag containing one Uzi semi-automatic machine with an empty magazine, along with some identification documents, which was in favour of Bristol was found.

The Sophia resident was asked if he is the holder of a firearm licence to which he responded in the negative.

Bristol was then told of the offence, cautioned and arrested.

After his arrest, the man told police he found the gun in a trench on Sophia Road.

Akeem Bristol at the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts

The cart attached to the bicycle, where the gun was found

He was charged for possession of an unlicensed firearm. He pleaded guilty with an explanation. In his explanation, Bristol said that he was working with 'Juan Bacchus' for about a month as a sanitation worker. He said that it was during his second week that he found the gun while cleaning a trench on Sophia Road.

Bristol told the court that when he picked it up and washed off the dirty water from the said gun, he went to the police station to make a report. However, upon arrival, only one female officer was there, and according to him, the officer said she cannot take the report because she is the only one there.

Notwithstanding his

The Uzi semi-automatic machine gun

recount of the events leading to his possession of the illegal firearm, the prosecution told the court that when Bristol, during a video interview, after his arrest told ranks that he intended to sell the gun.

The Magistrate then requested the audio from the

video interview to which the prosecution said they did not have. Magistrate We a v e r i n f o r m e d t h e prosecution that in order for Bristol to be sentenced, the audio is needed.

Bristol is scheduled to return to court on December 18, 2023.

Tuesday December 12, 2023

Kaieteur News

PAGE 15

World needs to do more to fight financial crimes - IMF

T

he fight against financial crime is not lost, but the world needs to do more to limit the economic impact of crime, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said.

Money laundering is a necessary component of the organised crime that too frequently spans borders, skirts taxes, funds terrorism and corrupts officials—and it comes with hefty macroeconomic costs, Carolina Claver, Chady El Khoury and Rhoda WeeksBrown wrote in an article for the bank last week.

According to the IMF, bad actors are also embracing new technologies on top of their traditional techniques, all of which makes economic growth less inclusive and sustainable, fueling inequality and informality.

“The international community has made significant progress toward strengthening safeguards against money laundering and terrorist financing, with help from the IMF and other organisations. We decided a decade ago to take a more bespoke approach to identifying key risks, working with member

countries and international partners, particularly, the Financial Action Task Force, the international standardsetter in this area,” the IMF article states.

But the overall efforts are still broadly insufficient. For example, as the FATF noted last year, there is still a major gap between progress countries have made on technical compliance, such as enacting new laws, and on the effectiveness of these efforts. For example, very little laundered ill-gotten proceeds are ever confiscated. Accordingly, the IMF recently reviewed our strategy on anti-money laundering and combatting the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT). The goal is to better help our 190 member economies address these critical financial integrity issues, the IMF said.

High costs Meanwhile, the article points out that “we must first recognize that financial crime affects lives and livelihoods, especially those of the most vulnerable, and that the costs it imposes are very high—and increasing.

Direct costs vary and can include lower revenues, higher expenditures, sanctions, lost banking

services, and even increased financial instability. For example, and as recent IMF work has shown in the Nordic Baltic Region,

AML/CFT deficiencies are associated not only with large drops in stock prices for the most directly affected banks, but also declines in share prices of other lenders who simply happen to be in the same country, as well as banks in the region that have similar cross-border exposures.”

It notes that the indirect costs are even greater because they are imposed across an economy, whether by fueling boom-and-bust cycles or making home prices unaffordable.

“Potential financial stability impacts include bank runs and lost foreign investment.

Govt. tables Mid-Year report at the end of the year Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance Dr. Ashni Singh on Monday tabled the country's 2023 Mid-Year Report in the National Assembly.

In a press statement, the Finance Ministry said that the Mid-Year report showed that Guyana continues to achieve strong, resilient, broad-based economic growth, reflecting the focus of Government's policies on modernising the traditional pillars of the economy and catalysing a growing and competitive non-oil economy.

The August 2023 Report had highlighted that Guyana's overall real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) had grown by 59.5 percent in the first half of the year, with non-oil growth of 12.3 percent.

The report also highlighted that despite the mining sector receiving billions in tax breaks and other incentives from the Government, there has been a decrease in gold declarations for the first half

Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh of the year. Finance Ministry report attributed the decline to low declarations made by small and medium scale miners. It was stated that at the end of June, gold declarations stood at 209,756 ounces, compared with 236,728 ounces during the same period last year, an 11.4% decrease.

Other noticeable disclosure in the report was that as of June 2023, the local content register has enlisted 876 companies and that $39 billion was expended on road improvements within

six months.

Moreover, the Ministry's press release emphasised the positive assessment by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in its Article IV Consultation Report regarding Guyana's economic performance. The IMF lauded the Government's management strategies, particularly highlighting the implementation of policies aimed at transforming the nation's economy.

N o t a b l y, G u y a n a achieved the highest real GDP growth worldwide in 2022, and the IMF forecasts continued rapid growth owing to factors such as increased oil production and substantial investments in non-oil sectors like transportation, housing, and human capital. Anticipated GDP growth rates stand at 38.4 percent in 2023 and 26.6 percent in 2024. The Ministry stated that the MidYear Report echoed the IMF's favorable sentiments, affirming the Government's effective implementation of Budget 2023.

Large-scale money laundering can even spur volatility in international capital flows, undermine good governance, spark political instability, and just generally erode trust—in governments and institutions.

Liquidity, as measured by deposit flows, tends to deteriorate around financial integrity events for the affected bank while other domestic banks' liquidity could benefit from positive substitution effects in the short-term,” the IMF article states.

Another important consideration the bank put forward is that illicit financial flows are a global problem.

It noted that insufficient AML/CFT frameworks in some countries, including international financial centers, can attract criminal proceeds from abroad. “In countries exporting illicit flows, we see there is less o p p o r t u n i t y, h i g h e r inequality, higher poverty, more illegal immigration, misused resources, and

environmental degradation.

For example, one study shows that illicit financial flows in Africa (an estimated US$1.3 trillion since 1980 has left sub-Saharan Africa) drain domestic revenues that could be used for the continent's development, have a strong and negative effect on investment rates, notably private investment, and are curtailing Africa's savings rate. These effects can also have a cascading effect on countries transiting or receiving the illicit proceeds.”

“This underscores why we must better understand how money laundering and terrorist financing can hurt individuals, countries, and even the global economy.

And because of the wideranging consequences, we are deepening AML/CFT considerations across all the work that we do, while urging our members to safeguard their financial sectors and broader economy to help ensure global financial stability,” the IMF said.

Deeper understanding

According to the IMF analysis of money laundering and terrorist financing historically focused on threats and vulnerabilities. “Both are central to gauging and containing risks, but more is needed.

Knowing the full extent of consequences for economies requires being able to understand the fiscal, monetary, financial sector and structural costs of illicit flows.

This is needed to document just how financial integrity affects both a given country's financial stability and broader economy, plus how global financial stability might be affected.”

Accordingly, the IMF Executive Board has endorsed a plan for the institution to expand its data analytics capacity to focus on these issues and deepen the coordinated approach across all of our key work areas, including IMF surveillance, lending engagements, capacity development and Financial (Continued on page 16)

Female Prison Officer arrested for attempting to smuggle ganja into NA Prison A female prison officer attached to the New Amsterdam Prison was nabbed with narcotics in a water bottle she intended to smuggle into the prison on December 9, 2023.

Police reported that on December 9, 2023, at the main gate of the New Amsterdam Prison, whilst on duty, at about 07:30hrs, a female prison officer saw her female colleague entering the compound through the front gate with a green water bottle in her hands.

The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) specifies that a search would be conducted on all officers entering the compound. As a result, the female officer searched her colleague but nothing was found. The officer then carried out a search of the water bottle that she was holding. Inside the water bottle was a transparent taped package containing leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be Cannabis.

Notably the officer contacted her supervisor after which a further search was carried out, in her presence, on her motor car PZZ 1197. On the floor

The suspected cannabis that was found behind the driver's seat, a black plastic bag containing two transparent parcels wrapped with tape was found. An examination was carried out on the parcels, and it was observed that a quantity of leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis was found.

The Police were summoned and parcels of suspected marijuana were

handed over which, when weighed, amounted to 289 grams. The water bottle was also handed over to the Police.

The female Prison Officer was arrested and escorted to the Central Police Station where a video interview was conducted with the arrested officer.

T h e f e m a l e o ff i c e r remains in custody.

PAGE 16

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Tuesday December 12, 2023

Kaieteur News

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(BBC NEWS) The UN climate talks in Dubai could be in jeopardy after some nations reacted furiously to a draft deal on fossil fuels they call “weak”.

The draft removed language included in a previous draft suggesting that fossil fuels could be “phased out”.

All 198 countries at the summit must agree or there is no deal.

Humans burning fossil fuels is driving global warming, risking millions of lives, but governments have never agreed on how or when to stop using them. A representative for the European Union called the draft “unacceptable” and said the bloc could walk away.

“We can’t accept the text,” said minister Eamon Ryan, a negotiator for the EU and Ireland’s environment minister. But he added that the collapse of the talks is “not the outcome the world needs”.

Politicians, including from nations on the frontline of climate change, have been in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to discuss the growing problem in a year that is set to be the warmest on record.

The question of what to do about greenhouse gas emissions from burning oil, coal and gas have dominated the talks.

Expectations were low that the controversial COP28 President Sultan al-Jaber could deliver a strong deal on fossil fuels because he is also CEO of the Abu Dhabi oil giant Adnoc.

But countries that want a rapid end to fossil fuels had grown optimistic as Mr. Jaber appeared to say he backed a “phase out” of fossil fuels.

UN climate talks in jeopardy in fossil fuel backlash The UN climate talks COP28 are hosted by United Arab Emirates this year

A draft text published on Saturday confirmed that one option for the talks’ outcome was a “phase out of fossil fuels in line with best available science”.

Questions remained over when this would happen and whether it would rely on the use of expensive and experimental technology to store the carbon dioxide released when fossil fuels are burned.

On Monday, another draft was published that deleted mentions of “phase out”. Instead, it said nations should “reduce consumption and production of fossil fuels in a just, orderly and equitable manner”.

While the changes in language can seem small, slight differences in UN documents can significantly change what countries are obliged to do.

Many nations appear to have had just an hour to look at

19,000 registered Venezuelan...

From page 14 living within Guyana at the moment?”

Benn noted that he doesn’t have the specific number but the Government has noted the movement of some Warraus, particularly in Region Nine.

He explained that persons are registered when they enter but the authorities do not track them to know where they settle. The Minister said that he could not say how many Venezuelans are in the other regions including Regions 10, Five and Six. Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton then queried whether the Minister could say whether in light of the present circumstance if the Ministry is considering any action to ensure that Venezuelans are not in “heavy numbers” in the Essequibo.

In response Benn said, “I’m not sure what heavy numbers are but there are Ven-

ezuelans and children of Guyanese who are Venezuelans in the Essequibo and so other than certain other measures we have taken to identify people, who they are and where they are. The procedures are being followed. We have upped the identification of the communities and the actors or persons in the communities who we presume to be Venezuelans but are actually descendants of Guyanese…”

Notwithstanding, the Home Affairs Minister said that government has been encouraging unregistered and undocumented persons to get registered.

He explained that: “We have…to a certain extent…through the Ministry itself, identified and set up little patrol groups which are set to identify the people and direct them to areas where they can be properly documented.”

the text before a meeting of all governments were called.

Countries on the frontline of climate change - places where sea-level rises are already destroying homes and storms are killing people - condemned the draft deal.

“We will not sign our death certificate,” said a representative for the Alliance of Small Island States, adding it would not agree to a text without “strong commitments on phasing out fossil fuels”. Mr. Jaber, the COP28 president, said the text reflected his ambitions and called it a “huge step forward”.

But a spokesperson for the US said the part of the text about fossil fuels “needs to be substantially strengthened”. And the UK called the draft “disappointing” and said it “does not go far enough”.

A spokesperson said “there must be a phase out of unabated fossil fuels to meet our climate goals”. Saudi Arabia, which has been reportedly blocking strong language on fossil phase out throughout the talks, did not respond to a request for comment.

And developing nations that wanted more support in moving their economies away from fossil fuels to renewable energy are also likely to support a deal that places less emphasis on a rapid phase out of coal, oil and gas.

The latest text did include a promise to treble renewable energy capacity by 2030, a pledge signed earlier in the talks by more than 100 nations.

The draft appears to fall short of the standard for success laid out earlier on Monday by UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

He said the talks will be judged on nations’ ability to decide on the future of coal, oil and gas.

The meeting will only be considered a success if it reaches “consensus on the need to phase out fossil fuels in line with a timeline of 1.5C”, he said.

Nations have promised to keep global temperature rise below 1.5C above preindustrial levels. The talks are officially supposed to finish on Tuesday but could overrun as nations argue over the final deal.

World needs to do more...

From page 15 Sector Assessment Programs.

This new approach will also give the IMF new evidence to answer key questions including: Which sectors are most vulnerable for money laundering, from banks and real estate to virtual assets and precious metals?

What countries export illicit flows, allow them to transit, and what countries integrate them?

How do these illicit flows affect the economy, including its prospects for inclusive and sustainable growth and development?

The IMF said even after decades of progress in finan-

cial integrity, the Fund and the international community must persist and press on in this fight. “Crime is a moving target, but we can—and must—broaden and deepen our containment efforts.

This includes improving cooperation among stakeholders, including governments, international bodies, and civil society. For our part, the IMF will use its strength as a macroeconomic institution with global reach to help its members assess the impact of financial crimes and illicit flows and design and implement policies to address them. The cost of failure is simply too high.”

Kaieteur News

Tuesday December 12, 2023

Govt. dips into contingency fund for $1.9B to pay for GuySuCo operations, security charges Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance Dr. Ashni Singh on Monday presented Financial Paper Number 4 to the National Assembly, which caters for $1,899,647,334 Contingency Fund advances for the period October 1, to December 31, 2023. The Financial Paper catered for advances for various agencies, including the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Home Affairs, Agriculture and Education.

The advance delineates $1,867,917,334 for current expenses and $31,730,000 for capital expenses.

According to the document, the bulk of the allocation—$785,808,944 —was used for heightened

security charges across 14 government facilities in regions One, Two, Six, and Nine. The government also gave account for $643,690,000 which was used for Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) for operational costs. It should be noted that in August, the National Assembly approved $1.5 billion for GUYSUCO, specifically to revitalise various estates, and

reopen the Rose Hall estate.

Additional allocations encompass $382,418,390 for contributions to the Regional Security System (RSS), $20,000,000 for hosting the Annual Caribbean Examination Council governance meeting and regional awards ceremony and $24,000,000 for fuel and lubricants for the Guyana Fire Service (GFS).

DNA test confirms burnt remains found in car is that of Bel Air woman

A

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) testing has confirmed that the burnt remains of a woman which was found in a car just at the back of Swan Village, Soesdyke-Linden last month, is that of Nirvana Algu of Bel Air. Kaieteur News had previously reported that on November 12, the police were alerted that a car burst into flames at the Swan area to which they responded to immediately. After the fire was extinguished, detectives discovered the human remains in the driver’s seat of the car. Detectives had suspected the remains belong to Algu.

In conducting their investigation, police were able to establish that the vehicle found is a dark-grey Audi registered to an individual by the name of Nirvana Algu, a resident of Bel Air. It was reported that at the scene, detectives found a liquid substance in a bleach bottle which was sent to the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory for testing.

Following the discovery, one person was taken into custody for questioning. This publication learnt that the individual and the missing woman are known to each other.

Subsequently, an investigation was launched into the matter.

Farmers to get financial assistance as SBB launches workshop Farmers and agroprocessors will soon be able to expand their businesses by contributing to Guyana’s agriculture sector as the Small Business Bureau (SBB) in collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC) launched their first Envision Equity workshop on Monday.

The two-day workshop which is being hosted at the Ramada Princess Hotel, Providence specifically targets persons within the two fields, the Department of Public Information (DPI) reported. It is aimed at allowing coconut farmers and agro-processors to access loans and grants from the two entities, and their partnered financial institutions such as Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) and Republic Bank.

The workshop targets over 40 farmers and agroprocessors from Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and Ten. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the SBB, Mohamed Ibrahim, told the

Department of Public Information (DPI) that this meeting is to help farmers advance their businesses, especially in the marketing area. “We have known and we have taken very seriously the President’s vision for promoting agriculture in this country. So, because of that, we have put together this specialised workshop to deal with agro-processors,” Ibrahim said.

He explained that the session will take a comprehensive approach where each farmer will be given the opportunity to meet one-onone with representatives from the SBB, ITC, and the two banks to have further financial discussions.

“So, this one-on-one workshop will help them (farmers) to develop their business plan, develop their agro-processing plan, their facilities, and teach them how they can access guaranteed financing in a much easier and practical manner,” the CEO posited.

M e a n w h i l e , I T C ’s

KOSMOS closes doors - sites disagreement with MovieTowne management

P

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance Dr. Ashni Singh

Coordinator, Raymond Trotz explained that the centre aims to see the coconut industry revitalised. “The purpose of this programme is to raise the industry back to what it was in the 50s, 60’s and to modernise it…There is a programme called the Alliances for Coconut Industry Development in the Caribbean. It is sponsored by the European Union and CARIFORUM but it is being administered by the ITC in collaboration with the Caribbean Research and Development Institute (CARDI).

There are several aspects of the programme which include marketing and that’s why we are here today,” Trotz explained. In relation to the Alliances for Coconut Industry Development, the coordinator said that he deems the workshop necessary because it allows for the development of the coconut industry along a value chain, which is from production, to processing to marketing.

PAGE 17

opular restaurant a n d b a r , K O S M O S , located at the MovieTowne mall announced on Monday that this month is its last at the facility.

In a notice on its facebook page, KOSMOS said: “It is with deep sadness that we inform you that December is our last month at MovieTowne Guyana.

Before anything else, we think it is important to recognise and celebrate your patronage, without which KOSMOS Grill and Lounge would not have been possible,” the notice read.

KOSMOS said that it represented not just a significant financial investment but an emotional

one as well. “Unfortunately, it was – we believe – an investment that MovieTowne Guyana’s management has not given due consideration to, despite KOSMOS being one of their flagship clients. What was already a difficult relationship was exacerbated with the construction of the mall’s latest venture, one that has directly negatively impacted upon our business for months,” KOSMOS said.

According to the business, all reasonable attempts to come to a resolution with management have been met with indifference, “and so we have been forced to close our d o o r s . We h a v e n o

immediate plans to open at another location. We want to, once again, express tremendous gratitude for your time with us – through a global pandemic; through heightened political tension; and, most impactful of all, the untimely and tragic passing of our co-founder, Dillon DeRamos. Because of you, KOSMOS, in its relatively short time in operation, became a household name in Guyana, and a completely homemade success story.

As we say goodbye, we wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Abi DeRamos and the Management of KOSMOS,” the notice concluded.

New water wells for Grove, Lima to cost $224M The residents of Grove on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) and Lima Sands on the Essequibo Coast will soon benefit from new water wells being drilled by the Guyana Water Inc (GWI).

These two wells are expected to be constructed and drilled to the tune of $224 million. This is according to information released by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).

It was revealed that following the national

bidding process for the p r o j e c t s , N P TA B h a s awarded a $108,763,250 contract to contractor S. Jagmohan Construction & General Supplies Inc. to construct and drill the well at Lima, and $115,973,000

contract was given to contractor Jemcorp Engineering & Imports to construct the structure at Grove.

This year the GWI was allocated some $17.7 billion from the national budget to facilitate the construction of wells, water treatment plants among other projects in a number of communities across the country. It was noted that the drilling of w e l l s i s p a r t G W I ’s programme to improve water coverage in coastal areas and increase it to 90 per cent by 2025.

Ganja found in imported bed sheets at McKenzie Post Office

T

he Guyana R e v e n u e Authority (GRA) on Monday said its Customs and Law Enforcement Officers seized 24 packs of leaves, seeds and stems, suspected to be cannabis sativa at the McKenzie Post Office, Region 10.

In a release, GRA stated that the packs were found concealed between several bed sheets imported in a parcel from the United States of America. The

agency noted that the consignee of the parcel when confronted about the items found ran away.

GRA said that the suspected illicit items were handed over to the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) for further investigations and possible prosecution.

“With the observation of the alarming trend of the smuggling of prohibited and restrictive items (firearms, drugs etc.) through personal

consignments, the Authority once again advises all such persons dealing, or in contemplation of such activities to cease and desist there from,” GRA related.

The agency also urged citizens to report any illicit, unlawful or smuggling activities on telephone number 227-6060, extensions 3201, 3204, 3205, 3211, 3212, or 3408.

All information provided will be dealt with strict confidentiality.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 18

Tuesday December 12, 2023

Govt. modernized Immigration Dept., beefs up staff to address New CEO appointed for mmg influx of Venezuelan migrants - boasts of 'proven leader' in financial management The Government of Guyana through the Ministry o f H o m e A ff a i r s h a s modernized the Immigration Department, in addition to increasing its staff to cater to the influx of Venezuelans entering the country.

This was revealed on Monday by Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn during his response to Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Tabitha Sarabo-Halley on the measures that have been put in place to deal with the i n f l u x o f Ve n e z u e l a n migrants.

“Can the Hon. Minister state whether the government has taken any steps to modernize the institutional and legislative framework associated with migration in Guyana since 2020?” Sarabo –Halley questioned at 69th Sitting of the National Assembly.

In response, Minister Benn said, “In respect of the institutional framework related to migration both the Immigration Department and the Immigration Services Department have been modernized. Staffing has increased, (and) the work that they are doing now is being put on electronic

Opposition MP, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley

Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn

platform for proper recovery of information from the databases.”

Minister Benn said that no specific Bill has been tabled in the National Assembly relating a migration policy but noted that in the future Bills will be tabled. The minister said that discussions have since been had with the Ministries of Home, Foreign, and Legal Affairs. “We have had discussion from time to time between the three parties the honourable member mentioned but as yet as we work on the issues of the total migration policy package, we have not made a subcommittee of itself to deal with it specifically,” Benn told the House.

Minister Benn said too

that efforts are being made to ensure that persons entering Guyana and claiming to be migrants are indeed migrants. “We have had situations in the past, where we inherited a situation where thousands of persons are coming through Guyana ports, claiming to be migrants but not staying in Guyana… [In] the year 2019, some 19,000 or so persons of a particular country came through the country [Guyana] and cannot be accounted for and that goes across the board for a number of countries,” Benn told the National Assembly.

There are approximately 19,000 Venezuelan migrants in seven of the ten regions in Guyana, Benn disclosed.

GTT has announced the appointment of Mark Singh as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of mmg, effective November 2023.

Singh, the company says brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of leadership for the company. He previously occupied the role of Vice President of Finance and Corporate Controller at GTT since 2016. With a career spanning over a decade, he continues to demonstrate a deep understanding of financial market dynamics, strategic vision, and a commitment to driving organizational success, the release noted.

Mark has consistently delivered results in his previous roles, through innovative approaches and a focus on building strong, collaborative teams. His passion for industryspecific trends aligns seamlessly with MMG's mission and positions him as the ideal leader to guide the company through its next phase of growth.

"I am honored and excited to join mmg as its new CEO," said Mark Singh. "mmg has a rich history in pioneering mobile finance here in Guyana, and I am eager to work alongside the talented team to build upon that legacy.

Together, we will continue to innovate, drive operational excellence, and deliver exceptional value to our customers."

As CEO, Mark will continue to drive mmg as the solution to make lives easier across all ten regions and contribute to the company's overall growth in Guyana. His strategic leadership will play a crucial role in propelling mmg to new heights in an everevolving market.

The company's Board of Directors expresses confidence in Mark Singh's ability to lead mmg into a successful future. "Mark's

Mark Singh is the new Chief Executive Officer of mmg

extensive experience and impressive leadership skills make him the perfect choice to guide mmg through its next chapter. We believe his vision and strategic acumen will not only strengthen our position in the market but also drive sustained success for the company," said David Soo Ting, Board Director of Mobile Money Guyana.

Mark holds a qualification from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), demonstrating his commitment to professionalism and excellence in financial management. Team mmg welcomes Mark Singhandlooks forward to a future of continued growth and success for the largest e-commerce industry leader in Guyana.

Gaza’s al-Fukhari is dangerously overcrowded as Israel pushes people south (AL JAZEERA) Al Fukhari, Gaza Strip – Palestinians in Gaza who have spoken to Al Jazeera are weary and heartbroken from having to leave their homes and move repeatedly, seeking safety.

Many pray for an end to the displacement and suffering that has torn Gaza apart for more than 60 days.

In al-Fukhari south of the city of Khan Younis, the European Hospital and schools are filled beyond capacity with thousands of displaced people from Khan Younis itself and areas farther north.

They keep moving south because they are told by the Israeli army to do so, leaving areas they either lived in or were already displaced in, heading for so-called “safe zones” that the Israeli army has bombed anyway.

Dr Youssef Al-Akkad, director of the European Hospital, told Al Jazeera that his teams were overwhelmed with the sheer number of people and they are not trained or capable of

providing them with aid.

“The displaced are in the hospital corridors, departments and garden. The lack of water will lead to infections, and cases of cholera have already started to appear. This is such a difficult and disastrous situation.”

The displaced people around the European Hospital, who were forced to camp in the streets due to the overcrowding, each has a story of suffering to tell.

They hope that at al-Fukhari they have finally reached a safe area. Sadly, however, most of them no longer believe in the idea of a safe area. Rula Musmah, 40, says: “I’ve never been through this before.

We’ve been displaced four times until we got to the European Hospital, where there wasn’t even a single spot for us. I looked for a cafe where me and my three daughters can sleep at night, and during the day, we just sit in the street.”

Musmah and her daughters, who are aged 15

to 18, left Gaza City on October 14 when the army asked people to leave. “We have a beautiful house in the industrial area, which we left because of the danger that our daughters would get hurt. We went to the Deir elBalah camp, where we stayed with friends for more than a month. But the house there got so crowded as more displaced people came and the bombing intensified, so we decided to look for another safe place.”

We had been in Khan Younis for two weeks when the truce began. We were happy that we would have a short rest from the sound of the bombing even though nothing had changed.

There was suffering in obtaining water and food, but we felt a little safe at the beginning.

But then news began circulating that the Israeli government was threatening to move its operation to Khan Younis.

“I felt like my heart would just stop, I was so afraid. The [Israeli military]

leaflets [to evacuate] began falling on the city again. We went looking for another place and didn’t find anything other than alFukhari. We were among hundreds of people, there was no room in the European Hospital or the schools. The schools can’t take any more people.” Musmah’s eyes filled with tears, and her voice was choked with grief over ending up on the street.

No space left With nowhere else to go, people started setting up tents on an empty lot near the entrance to the hospital.

The lot itself had already been hit twice by Israel, but with no other options, hundreds of displaced people took shelter there.

Salem Awaida, 55, said he had managed to stay in his home in Khan Younis until recently.

“I had displaced people from Shujayea in my house. I was taking care of them, and it was so busy I didn’t know how my day began or ended.

Imagine my shock when they asked the people in the

S h e i k h N a s s e r neighbourhood to leave.

“I didn’t believe it at first and waited another day, but then there was a really bad night of bombing two days ago, a ‘belt of fire’ wrapped tight around the area, and this morning they said tanks had entered Khan Younis not very far from my neighbourhood.

So me and my family of 10 and the displaced people staying with us all walked

east to al-Fukhari.

“It wasn’t safe at all. It was a really rough night I went through at the European Hospital with bombing until the late hours and me sitting in the hospital garden.

There was no space for me inside. Eventually, I went out to walk a little, trying to breathe, to think, and I found people setting up here in this empty lot, so I put up a tent for me and my family.

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday December 12, 2023

Volodímir Zelenski

Tuesday December 12, 2023

DCB Senior T/20 Inter-Association /Sawh Voltcom Construction Inc./Precision Service Center Inc tournament.

East Coast, Georgetown notch up wins following opening round

Boxing Association President attends IBA Ordinary Congress in Dubai

G

- Action continues this weekend East Coast and Georgetown pulled off respective wins, as the first round bowled off this past weekend at the famous Bourda County Cricket Ground.

The GCA Panthers handed the West Demerara Jaguars unit a huge 7-wicket win, after the latter posted just 90-9 in their 20 overs at Bourda.

Guyana Harpy Eagles newbie Richie Looknauth (25) and Narendra Persaud (22),

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Kaieteur News

stood out amidst a terrible batting card.

Georgetown seamers Ronaldo Ali-Mohammed (320) and (Carlos LaRose (2-11) were lethal while National U17 Skipper Jonathon Van Lange chipped in with 2-12.

Van Lange then returned to score a solid 15* along with former national youth opener Raymon Perez, who captained the ship to the docks with his innings of 40 not out.

Veteran all-rounder Chris

Match MVP Raymon Perez guided the GCA Panthers to a comfortable win.

Tuesday December 12, 2023 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You'll notice that your emotions are coming to a monthly climax today, Aries.

Don't be alarmed but do be cautious about lashing out at people for no reason. You may feel on edge.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) This is a terrific day for you, Libra, and you'll find that there is a great deal of power at your disposal. This is a day of new beginnings. You have the opportunity now to start over.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Extremes is the name of the game now, especially for you, Taurus. Today the emphasis is on action. You're the one to call to get the job done.

You won't wait another second to simply go for it.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) The fire is raging today, so be careful, Scorpio. Try not to be too impulsive in your actions. Your natural tendency may be to lash out against others without really thinking about the consequences.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Be adventurous and strike out into new territory, Gemini. Be a pioneer. Work to make some new discoveries in the world. Today isn't a day to worry about consequences.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Go for the gold, Sagittarius.

Today marks the beginning of the rest of your life. Treat it with respect. You may be on a crusade and your combative instincts could be working overtime.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Certain situations may be difficult to deal with today as they take an emotional spin, Cancer. You're getting anxious.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) You may feel as if someone is poking you today, Capricorn, urging you to get up and get moving. Don't be surprised if someone seems to be picking on you for no reason.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You should find that the general mood of the day is favorable to your personality style, Leo. Take this opportunity to present more of your thoughts and ideas to the world.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) This is a great day for you to get up on stage and make your presence known, Aquarius. Let people know that you're the leader of the pack.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22) The fog has lifted and you're ready to take off, Virgo. The dreaminess you may have experienced lately has been nice, but now it's time to get moving again.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) This is a good day to add spark to your life, Pisces. If things have seemed boring and stagnating lately, you may need to infuse a bit of excitement into the situation.

Barnell was the next best Scorer with 18, to wrap up a good Georgetown win as the ended on 93-3.

The Second match saw East Bank opting to field in a game which was reduced to 18 overs and the 34year-old Chandraka led the way with 54 for East Coast made 118-6 from their allotted 18 overs, after rain forced officials to reduce a few overs.

East Coast veteran batsman, Ex-West Indies Test opener Rajendra Chandraka, was the man of the moment leading his team to a 26-run win, following a stylish innings of 54.

Other batsmen to reach double figures were Vishwanath Ramlakhan (21) and Krishna Deosarran (16), as duo of Leon Swammy (2-19) and former youth spinner Sagar Hateramani (2-15), led with the ball for East Bank.

However, despite a small total, East Bank found themselves mowed down for just 92 in 14.4 overs.

The pair of star bowlers returned with bat in hand as, Swammy hit a brisk 47 with 4 sixes while Heteramani finished on 13.

Match-winners for East Bank were Andrew Samaroo ( 4-14), Neeran Bani (3-26) and all-rounder Sachin Singh (2-23) wrapping up proceedings.

Next Round features Georgetown tackling Upper Demerara, while East Coast f a c e We s t D e m e r a r a a t Lusignan Ground this coming Saturday.

Meanwhile, Sunday’s action will feature a bout between Georgetown and East Bank, while Upper D e m e r a r a p l a y We s t Demerara at Farm, with action this weekend bowling off from 9:00h both days.

uyana Boxing Association President, Steve Ninvalle, attended the International Boxing Association (IBA) (formerly AIBA) hosted Ordinary Congress in Dubai on Saturday December 9th. He along with a number of heads of boxing associations around the Caribbean and world were part of the gathering. At the event, IBA President Umar Kremlev announced, inter alia, that 2024 has been declared the Year of the Americas.

Ninvalle was one of several Caribbean presidents to attend and offer recommendations at the Congress.

Among the others joining

Ninvalle were St. Lucia Boxing Association president David ‘Shakes’ Christopher, Neil Roberts president of the Boxing Association of Grenada and Shawn Blair, president of the St. Maarten Boxing Association, Len Mussington of Antigua, Vincent Strachan of Bahamas, Nigel Nedd of Aruba and Pierrie Eddy of Haiti.

Ninvalle noted, that boxing remains in good hands under the leadership of Umar Kremlev, who announced at the Congress, increased funding for the World Championship and welcomed back to the IBA fold the boxing Association of Switzerland.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 22

Tuesday December 12, 2023

Gokarn Ramdhani Memorial Badminton Tournament concludes Winners with the Sponsors and Executives of the Guyana Badminton Association.

T

he Gokarn R a m d h a n i M e m o r i a l Tournament concluded on December 9, 2023, it featured a variety of competitions across different categories, including Under23 Men and Women Singles, Men’s Doubles, Women Doubles and Mixed Doubles.

The Guyana Badminton Association also added a consolation round for Under23 Men’s Singles and Men’s Doubles due to the high number of entries.

The Mixed Doubles category added a fun and spontaneous element, with random pairing of male and female participants.

This approach brought an entertaining and unpredictable aspect to the tournament.

A Presentation Ceremony was held immediately after the tournament.

The cash prize incentive was presented by Mr. Kareem Munroe of Massy Distribution under Blue Waters Brand and fuel vouchers were presented by Mr. Earl Carribon.

This added an extra layer of motivation for the participants. Mr. Chet Bowling presented the Medals/Trophies.

Mr. Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall sponsored a perpetual trophy for the Most Outstanding Performance, emphasizing the importance of dedication, commitment, sportsmanship, and a positive attitude in the sport of badminton.

Congratulations to Akili Haynes for being recognized as this year’s recipient of the Most Outstanding Performance award. It’s clear that the GBA values not only the competitive spirit but also the qualities that contribute to the overall g r o w t h a n d sportsmanship within the badminton community.

Special thanks to all sponsors, including Massy Distribution, Sol (Guyana) Inc, Chet B o w l i n g a n d Tr o p h y Stall, for their support in making the tournament a success.

The GBA’s extends appreciation to the National Sports Commission for the use of the facilities which further highlights the collaborative efforts involved in organizing and executing this tournament.

The GBA Looks forward to more successful tournaments and continued growth in the sport of badminton in Guyana in 2024.

DAY 3 MATCHES – DECEMBER 9TH, 2023 Under-23 Men Singles Semi-Finals: Tyrese Jeffrey vs. Nkosi Beaton 21-13, 211 5 M e n ’s D o u b l e s Consolation Semi-Finals: Colin Bowry/Ryan Alexander vs. Jason Stephney/Sekhar Mallampati 19-21, 21-19, 21-14 Men Doubles SemiF i n a l s : We n y u a n Chen/Marlon Chung vs.

Ernesto Choo-A-

1st Place Winners in the various categories (from L-R) Priyanna Ramdhani, Avinash Odit, Mishka Beharry, Akili Haynes, Tyrese Jeffrey, (missing from the picture is Ambika Ramraj).

Fat/Avinash Odit Men Doubles SemiFinals: Akili Haynes/Tyrese Jeffrey vs. Chet Bowling/Xavio Alexander 21-7, 21-9 Men’s Doubles Consolation Finals: Anthony Stephens/Gavin Cao vs.

Colin Bowry/Ryan Alexander: 24-17, 12-21, 22-24 Under-23 Men Singles Consolation Finals: Matthew Klautky vs.

Jedidiah Uwagboe: 21-17, 21-17 FINALS: U n d e r - 2 3 Wo m e n Singles Finals: Priyanna Ramdhani beat Mishka Beharry: 21-5, 21-6

Under-23 Men Singles Finals: Akili Haynes beat Tyrese Jeffrey: 21-16, 23-21 Mixed Doubles Finals: We n y u a n C h e n / A n n a P e r r e i r a b e a t Av i n a s h Odit/Mishka Beharry: 2117, 21-16 Wo m e n ’ s D o u b l e s Finals: Priyanna Ramdhani/Ambika Ramraj beat Ayanna Watson/Anna Perreira: 21-8, 21-14 Men’s Doubles Finals: Akili Haynes/Tyrese Jeffrey beat Marlon Chung/ Wenyuan Chen: 21-12, 2422 WINNERS – GRM TOURNAMENT Men’s Doubles

1st Akili Haynes & Tyrese Jeffrey 2nd M a r l o n C h u n g &Wenyuan Chen 3rd Ernesto Choo-AFat & Avinash Odit3rd Chet Bowling &Xavio A l e x a n d e r Wo m e n ’s D o u b l e s 1st P r i y a n n a Ramdhani & Ambika R a m r a j 2nd Ayanna Watson & Anna Perreira 3rd M i s h k a Beharry & Leshaunte Berkley 3rd Alimah & Asiyah Eastman Mixed Doubles 1st Avinash Odit & Mishka Beharry2nd Wenyuan Chen & Anna

Perreira 3rd Tyrese Jeffrey & Jefina James3rd Akili H a y n e s & Ay a n n a WatsonMen’s Singles U231st Akili Haynes 2nd Tyrese Jeffrey3rd Nkosi Beaton3rd Xavio AlexanderWomen’s Singles U-231st Priyanna Ramdhani2nd Mishka Beharry3rd Asiyah Eastman3rd Alimah EastmanConsolation Men’s Doubles 1st Ryan Alexander & Colin Bowry2nd Anthony Stephens & Gavin CaoConsolation Men’s Under 23 Singles1st Matthew Klautky2nd Jedidiah Uwagboe

Kaieteur News

Tuesday December 12, 2023

PAGE 23

National Draughts Association hamper competition concludes:

Navin Meighbarran takes top prize T

he National D r a u g h t s Association Christmas Hamper competition concluded Sunday December 10th 2023 at the Transport Sports Club.

First time winner Navin Meighbarran of any event in the sport, who is a member of the newly formed draughts club at Tr a n s p o r t , w a s g o o d enough with 13 points to narrowly get pass Mark Brathwaite and Floyd Cumberbatch from Linden to take the big prize. Mark and Floyd ended on 12 points each, but Floyd conceded to Mark squashing the tie breaker

play off. Steve Bacchus and Jiaram took the other two hampers.

Transport Sports Club, who came up with a late hamper for the tournament, it was distributed to some of the losers giving most participants something to take home.

B e f o r e t h e presentation, President of the Association Mr. Jiaram promised to hold its AGM in January 2024 and to put up some new members up for election.

He once again called on coordinators to get their clubs started.

A toast of wine was taken by all present compliments of GT WINES.

National Draughts Association President Mr Jairam (right) and the respective top finishers in the Hamper Tournament.

The National Draughts Association would like to thank the following for their contributions to the event: Fast Relief Pharmacy Durban Street, Werk en Rust, Chris Groceries 14th Avenue Diamond, Mattai’s supermarket, Survival Supermarket, Frescho of Diamond Public Road, A &Y Groceries Bourda Market, Colours Boutique, Gentle Elias Attorney at Law, H A Snacks, Hoosein’s Security Services and GT WINES. Special thanks to the Management of Transport Sports Club for providing the venue and President of the club Mr. Ivor English for supplying snacks.

Stop Clock trial to get underway from Foster given ultimatum opening West Indies vs England T20I

by GCB to produce long overdue financial statements - as Value for Money Audit released Following the recent announcement that he will no longer seek re-election, current Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) president Hilbert Foster has been given an ultimatum by the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), to submit the audited final reports for the years 2022 and 2023, respectively, on or before December 15, 2023.

Sources close to GCB revealed that in compliance with the Guyana Cricket Administration Act (GCAA) 2014 and the National Sports Commission (MSC) Act, these submissions must be made by the said date, as the reports will be admitted for Value for Money Audits to ensure that the requisite integrity and statutory obligations are met.

Also these reports must be presented, discussed and scrutinized by all stakeholders.

Following the 2020 financial report submitted by the BCB, the draft Value for Money audit which was conducted by the firm, Chateram Ramdihal Chartered Accounts Professional Services, according to the sources, revealed a number of discrepancies, omissions and allegations of impropriety which reflect adversely on the transparency and integrity of the BCB’s financial state.

Foster commenced his term in 2018 but after signaling his intent to re-seek another term as head of the Board, recent social media posts stated that the current president intends to step away from the sport, following the end of his current tenure due to health and family concerns. Persons close to the BCB are of the opinion that Foster’s

SportsMax - In its ongoing efforts to speed up the pace of play in international cricket, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has introduced a stop clock, on a trial basis, in Full Member Men’s ODI and T20I matches (approximately 59 fixtures) between December 2023 and April 2024.

The trial will start with the first T20I match between the West Indies and England on 12 December in Barbados. The stop clock will restrict the amount of

time taken between overs, meaning that the bowling team will need to be ready to bowl the first ball of their next over within 60 seconds of the previous over being completed. Failure to do so for the third time in an innings (following two warnings) will result in a five-run penalty being imposed against the fielding team.

Wa s i m K h a n , I C C General Manager – Cricket said: “We are continually looking at ways to speed up the pace of play across

international cricket.

“The stop clock trial in white ball international cricket follows the introduction of a successful new playing condition in 2022, which resulted in the fielding team only being allowed four fielders outside of the inner circle if they were not in a position to bowl the first ball of their final over in the stipulated time.

“The outcomes of the stop clock trial will be assessed at the end of the trial period.”

FIFA President Gianni Infantino congratulates Forde on re-election as GFF president

F

Hilbert Foster recent decision not to run is based on the findings of the value for audit report.

IFA President, Mr. Gianni Infantino has extended heartfelt congratulations to Mr. Wayne Forde on his re-election as the President of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF).

In a congratulatory letter dated December 11, 2023, President Infantino commended Mr. Forde’s unwavering dedication and leadership that have propelled Guyana’s football to new heights during his previous term in office. “Please accept my warmest greetings and sincerest congratulations on your reelection as President of the Guyana Football Federation… I seize this opportunity to thank you for all your efforts, your work and your important contribution to the development of our sport and the promotion of its values in Guyana,” Infantino stated. Under Mr. Forde’s leadership, Guyana has experienced notable achievements in football

development, grassroots programmes, and increased participation at all levels. His commitment to inclusivity, integrity and the overall advancement of football aligns with FIFA’s core values.

President Infantino extended to President Forde and his Council best wishes and emphasized the importance of collaboration between FIFA and the GFF for the growth of football in Guyana.

The FIFA President concluded, “Sending you and your team my best wishes for this new mandate and every success for all the challenges that lie ahead, I look forward dear President, to continuing to work with you for the growth and prosperity of football in Guyana in the years to come.”

Forde has been invited to meet with the FIFA President in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia later this month.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 24

Tuesday December 12, 2023

Bowling wins by landslide in LGC Year End Tournament Harry cops second carting off all supplementary prizes

T

he indomitable LGC Secretary, Chet Bowling, a rookie soon to be promoted to a reduced handicap, ran away with the game as he led the field by 5 lengths with a Net 55 score. Bowling’s net

score of 55 meant he bettered his handicap by a whopping 15 strokes.

His nearest competitor, veteran golfer David Harry, came 2nd with a Net score of 60, in the exciting novelty String Golf Tournament Chet Bowling won the tournament with a net score of 55.

(followed by the Club Christmas Social) held on Sunday 9 December, 2023 at the Lusignan Golf Club.

Harry also won the Nearest ToThe Pin and Longest Drive prizes, making him a 3-times w i n n e r i n t h e D a y ’s To u r n a m e n t . I n t h a t Specialty Prizes area, Club Captain, Pope London earned the Best Dressed Golfer prize, while rookie Jason Clarke received the Most Honest Golfer prize.

Coming up keenly at 3rd place in the Net Tournament w a s G u y a n a ’s c u r r e n t Female Champion Golfer, Shanella London, with a Net 61, pipping former Club Captain, veteran golfer Patrick Prashad, 4th with Net 61also. Current holder of the Tobago Female Champion Golfer trophy, Eureka Giddings, scored Net 63 to come in 5th, while Club Vi c e - P r e s i d e n t , B r i a n

The winners pose with their prizes.

Hackett, produced a fine round to finish 6th with a Net 64. The unique tournament, coordinated and organised

by Board Member Anasha Ally, involved participants using a given length of string to be cut at appropriate times to make up for a stroke, had never been played by many of the golfers, so that the event was thrilling and memorable as they

thoroughly enjoyed themselves in the play. The very good hamper prizes were greatly appreciated by the golfers.

During the Club Social which followed, golfers participated in a sumptuous meal then heartily sang Christmas songs, led by Patrick Prashad on the guitar.

Vi c e - P r e s i d e n t B r i a n

Hackett clearly and especially expressed heartfelt gratitude to the sponsors – Ansa McAl; Banks DIH Ltd.; Guyana Marriott International Hotel; Massy, Guyana; and Survival Supermarket – for their significant contribution to the participants’ happiness and the Day’s events resounding success.

KFC Goodwill Football Timothy Thomas hat-trick sends Five-O into semi’s Series’ kicks off today - As East Bank vs. The Rest football action continues - Teams briefing and gears distribution unfolded yesterday

T

h e P e t r a Organisation h o s t e d a straightforward team briefing and gear distribution session for the eight teams participating in the 2023 KFC Goodwill International Schools Football Series, set to commence today at Queen’s College ground. The fixture lineup and gear allocation took place at the KFC Vlissengen Road branch.

The primary aim of this gear distribution initiative is to ensure all participating teams, whether local or international, are wellequipped and primed for the upcoming football series.

The goal is to provide the necessary gear and equipment, fostering fair play and optimizing performance during the tournament.

Among the eight

schools involved, including five local teams, those present at the presentation were St Ignatius, DC Caesar F o x S e c o n d a r y (Waramodang), Chase’s Academic Foundation, Carmel Secondary, and Bartica. Confirmation was received for the arrival of St Benedict’s College from Trinidad and Tobago, while Clarendon College from Jamaica and VMO-4 were anticipated to arrive today ahead of the competition kickoff.Pamela Manasseh, KFC Marketing Manager, extended a warm welcome to the participating teams during the briefing. She expressed KFC’s immense gratitude for being a part of this event and wished all the teams the best for this year’s competition. She also emphasized the KFC brand’s commitment to motivating and supporting

youth while exposing them to significant opportunities.

Closing the briefing, Petra Secretary Jackie Boodie highlighted that this year’s series is poised to be not just the largest but also a thrilling showcase of talent among the champions of the Caribbean. The tournament commenced at 12:30 pm with four exciting matches.

The opening game features a clash between Chase Academy and St I g n a t i u s S e c o n d a r y, followed by Jamaica’s Clarendon College against Bartica Secondary at QC ground. Simultaneously, the other two matches were scheduled at the Ministry of Education ground, with Trinidad’s St Benedict’s College facing VMO-4 and the final match between Carmel Secondary and Waramodang Secondary starting at 6:00 pm.

The East Bank versus The Rest Street Football competition continued Saturday last, with gripping quarter-final showdowns at the Tarmac of Mocha Community Centre as FiveO, Sparta Boss, Team Family, and Stabroek Ballers triumphed with exhilarating victories, advancing to the semifinals.

The first clash ignited as Stabroek Ballers faced Back Street Warriors, with Jamal Coizer stealing the spotlight.

Coizer’s two crucial goals in the 4th and 18th minutes sealed Stabroek Ballers’ spot in the quarter-finals. Their subsequent face-off against a formidable Back Circle side saw Darren Benjamin’s lone goal in the 7th minute to secure Stabroek Ballers’ w e l l - d e s e r v e d v i c t o r y, propelling them into the semis.

In the other quarter-final matches, Five-O clinched a thrilling 3-2 win against Agricola, thanks to Timothy Thomas’s stellar performance with a hat-trick in the 5th, 12th, and 28th minutes. Team Family dominated The Talibans,

Scenes from Saturday’s quarter finals. securing a commanding 3-0 victory with Dexroy Abrams netting a double in the 5th and 8th minutes, followed by Sese Norville’s goal in the 18th minute. Crowd favourites Sparta Boss claimed a 2-0 win over Team U n r u l y, p r o p e l l e d b y Jermaine Junior’s brace in the 4th and 8th minutes.

The stage is set for the semi-finals on Saturday, December 16, at the same venue. The tournament’s success is indebted to the generous support of Ryda Hard Wine, GT Beer, Klovers Fashion, Adrian’s Groceries, Mocha A r c a d i a N D C , Hungry Helpers, Joy’s Water, and Igloo Ice Cream.

Tuesday December 12, 2023

Kaieteur News

PAGE 25

GBF to host Suriname on Saturday I

n preparation for next year ’s C a r i b b e a n Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championship, the Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF) is set to host Suriname in an International Friendly at the National Gymnasium court this Saturday.

Head Coach Abdullah ‘Zico’ Hamid has assembled a squad of 12 players, the majority of whom were part of the historic 2018 CBC Championship team.

Additionally, some new faces have joined the team to face off against one of G u y a n a ’s s i g n i f i c a n t regional rivals in the sport.

GBF President Michael Singh stated that beyond CBC preparation, the Federation aims to recognise the country’s First Division players, while “The GBF is seizing this opportunity to refine our skills.”

Singh said, that while only one game is being played in Guyana, “the

FLASHBACK! Guyana won the last CBC tournament, which was hosted in Suriname. It was the country’s first men’s title.

Suriname Basketball Association (SBA) is holding games in Paramaribo the first week of January, where we will also

be joined by French Guiana.”

Notably absent from the lineup will be Captain and former CBC Most Valuable

Player (MVP) Stanton Rose Jr who is unavailable for selection due to impending commitments.

H o w e v e r, r e t u r n i n g

players include Shelroy Thomas, Harold Adams, Orlan Glasgow, Dominic Vincente, Nikkolai Smith, Travis Belgrave, Shane

We b s t e r, a n d Ya n n i c k Tappin.

The team also welcomes new additions Brandon Bento, Oquacey Shortt, Zian Gray, and Domair Gladstone t o t h e s e n i o r m e n ’s basketball team.

Singh emphasised, “These friendlies will help our local-based players adapt to the mindset of playing international basketball at a high level, crucial for CBC scheduled in July 2024. The team will be structured around Delroy James, with a focus on speed and defence due to our size.”

The GBF president revealed plans for an effective training camp in the USA, citing the ongoing renovation of the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall and the overseas location of their core players.

Singh noted that defending the CBC title is a top priority for the GBF, with ambitions to qualify for the upcoming FIBA AmeriCup in the following year.

GFF President Wayne Forde DCB U15 Inter-Association 50 Overs tournament... responds to Franklin Wilson’s Charles, Lewis and company comments in Kaieteur News hurt West Demerara - Charles 3-6, Lewis 3-8

President of the Guyana Football Federation Wayne Forde has responded to contents of a statement issued by his challenger in the recently concluded elections of the GFF, Franklin Wilson, taking offence on sentiments expressed by Wilson.

In his missive Forde stated, “I note with concern a statement attributed to Mr. Franklin Wilson in a section of the media that during the election campaign for a new Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Council, the Forde slate asserted his was a PPP slate. He further intoned that my slate used that approach to “mislead the football fraternity.”

It has to be a bounded duty of mine to categorically and unequivocally refute this statement with every fiber of my being. Nothing could be furthest from the truth. My slate and I have never descended to the level of scurrility in championing our suitability for office.

Ours had been the approach of running on our record in office over the last

Wayne Forde GFF President eight years. For indeed, many were the successes, and failures, that we felt provided proof positive of our suitability. That apart, our leadership throughout our eight years in office had always been firmly anchored on the virtues of integrity, honesty and transparency.

To have departed from that ethos would have been an anathema to what we hold true and dear to us.”

Forde further continued, “Then there is the issue of the GFF’s relationship with government. My administration has always accorded the utmost respect to this government and has had a fruitful relationship

with them, recognizing the commonality of our goals to develop the human resources of this great nation of ours requires the unity of efforts. None other than President Irfaan Ali has been voluble in the firmness of the relationship, and this was amply demonstrated through the holding of the inaugural One Guyana Cup held last December.”

“Finally, I wish to assure Mr. Wilson that his is an unfounded fear of any victimization being visited upon any member of his slate. Again, during my administration’s tenure, we have always been guided by the biblical injunction of acting justly, having mercy, and walking humbly with our God. Anything else is not in our DNA. The elections have come and have ended.

The members have spoken.

The gaze and efforts of my administration are now forward focused on doing the business of football for its continued upliftment.

This will be my final comment on this issue,” the GFF president concluded.

Spinner Joshua Charles led a rampant bowling assault as the GCA boys whipped West Demerara by 7 wickets to Kickstart action in the DCB InterAssociations U15 50-Over tournament.

West Demerara were strangled after batting first, posting just 52 all out in 17 overs, leaving more overs than wickets to spare after the leggy Charles, snatched magical figures of 3-6 for 3 overs.

Support from seamers Lewis who also had a field day with returns of 3-8 and his partner in crime, Samuel Barkoye 2-20, was all it took to keep the West Dem. Boys at bay.

The Georgetown crew then made light work of their chase, losing just 3 wickets but more importantly finishing the game in just 7 overs. Nathan Bishop scored 21 off 17 while Shamar Apple hit a run-a-ball 21, to see their team end on 53-7.

A brave Parmeshwar Ram tried to pull things back

Joshua Charles continues to wreak havoc at the U15 level.

for West Demerara with his spirited spell of 3-25 from 4 overs, but Bishop and

Apple’s respective knocks were enough to put GCA well past their opponents.

rts Spo

KFC Goodwill Football

Series’ kicks off today - Teams briefing and gear distribution unfolded yesterday

KFC’s Marketing Manager, Pamela Manasseh hands over practice balls and uniforms to participating teams during yesterday’s briefing.

Boxing Association President attends IBA Ordinary Congress in Dubai

The ICC has introduced a stop clock on a trial basis in Full Member Men’s ODI and T20I matches between December 2023 and April 2024 and will be in play during the Windies England Series.

Stop Clock trial to get underway from opening West Indies vs England T20I

In the photograph, Steve Ninvalle (second from right) is joined by St. Lucia’s David ‘Shakes’ Christopher, Neil Roberts (left) of Grenada and Shawn Blair of St. Maarten.

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