Kaieteur News

Gas-to-energy project moves from US$900M to over US$2B

At a p r e s s conference held inAprillastyear at the Arthur Chung ConventionCentre(ACCC), severalgovernmentofficials told reporters, editors and publishers that the gas-toenergy(GTE)projectwould costroughlyUS$900M.

Specifically, Winston Brassington, Head of the GTE task force had explained the estimate to be as follows: US$570 –US$630M for the offshore pipeline and “riser”; US$80 – $100M for the onshore pipeline; US$120M for the gas plant and between US$40 – US$50M for infrastructure.

Revelations by Esso Exploration and Production G u y a n a L i m i t e d (EEPGL)—a subsidiary of E x x o n M o b i l Corporation subsequently exposed that the project estimate would be much

higher than the independent media were originally told.

In its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), EEPGL explained that it is responsible for building out a 135-mile pipeline that would connect to the Liza Unity and Liza Destiny vessels in the Stabroek Block. That pipeline would transport 50 million cubic

feet of gas per day to facilities built on the west bankoftheDemeraraRiver

Upon arrival, a Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) plant will createdrygas—usedmostly to power a 300MW power plant as well as other usefulliquidssuchasethane and propane Those two plants are to be constructed bythegovernment.

EEPGLwaskeentonote in its EIA that the conservative estimate for building the pipeline was US$1 3B Kaieteur News previously reported that Guyana would be using a portionofitsoiltopayback Exxonforthisinvestment.

On several occasions, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo said the cost for the

gas-powered plant and the Natural Gas Liquids facility would only be known after theStategoestotender.Last week, the government finally inked a US$759M Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract for the 300 megawatts (MW) combined cycle power plant and Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility This agreement was sealed with a US-based partnershipCH4/Lindsayca.

With ExxonMobil’s modestestimateofUS$1.3B and the US$759M contract recently signed, it therefore means that the project is expected to cost more than US$2B, a significant jump from the previous estimate profferedbyBrassingtonlast year

Despite such an astronomical increase, Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo insists that the promiseofa50percentslash

in electricity costs is still doable. He said this was catered for “in simulations” that were done by governmentspecialists.

Another new detail that recently came to light is the fact that government will be approaching the US Exim Bank for a loan to cover the costs associated with the US$759M contract This was revealed by Jagdeo less thanaweekago.

He said too that government is hopeful that when products such as cookinggasaremadebythe NGL facilities, it would be sold, and a portion of the profitswouldgotorepaying investorstheirUS$759M.

This newspaper also reportedthatEngineersIndia Limited will supervise the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) of the onshore plant facility It isexpectedtohireanother

onpage8

…Govt. now says it will approach US Exim Bank for loan …Critics slam initiative as abusive, exploitative, not in keeping with spirit of Constitution

Head of Transparency Int’l Guyana Inc. (TIGI), Frederick Collins

International Lawyer, Melinda Janki

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo

PrintedandPublishedbyNationalMedia& PublishingCompanyLtd 24SaffonStreet, Charlestown,Georgetown,Guyana.

Publisher:GLENNLALL-Tel:624-6456

Editor-in-Chief:NigelWilliams Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

-thepunishedandtheprotected Lawbreakers

Too many Guyanese are thumbing their noses at the law Guyanesebreaklawsalmostasahabitnowadays,andasmall handful have even taken to attacking cops physically What came out of the court recently is that two such cop beaters willnowcelebratethisyear’sChristmasinjail. Itshouldbea hard-earnedlessonforthetwoofthem,aswellastoanyother Guyanese thinking of taking the law into their hands, and delivering their style of justice in the form of closed fists, or other instruments of violence. Jail time is a good deterrent, and for quiet reflection and second thoughts about one’s responsibilitytoobeyGuyana’slaws.

We refer to the two now jailed young men, and applaud a timely, necessary decision. Having said this, there are some other points we would like to make. First, the law is mostly swift and sure when people at the bottom of the social and economic ladders are the guilty perpetrators. They feel the sting of the law, and without too much beating around the bush with sophisticated arguments. The guilty either don’t have the depth of awareness, the contacts, or the money that isrequiredtomountaspiriteddefense.

Second, when those alleged to have broken the law are higher up in society’s circles, and have resources that can makethingshappen,likelegalmattersgoingaway,thenthere is this standard of justice that boils down to one for the poor and unconnected, and another for those with deep pockets, and friends in influential places. We have seen, heard, and reported on developments like these that reflect the imbalancesintheapplicationsandoutcomesinourlaws.

Third, there were strong convictions before that those withpoliticalreachinthePPPCGovernmentpre-2015hada free pass on this nation’s laws applying to them, while the opposite held true for those considered to be political foes. Put differently, citizens believed that those persons who had some relationship with the PPPC Government, and were allegedtohavebrokenthelaw,nothingcameoutofthat,most of the time. But those who could be categorized as political enemiesweremadetofeelthebruntofthelawinajiffy This hasbecomemorefar-reachingsinceAugust2020.

Recently, there has been another development, which makes all of the above pale in comparison. As new laws are crafted,especiallyastheyhavetodowiththemanagementof the nation’s overnight oil wealth, there is something that has becomeconspicuousbyitsabsence. Therearenoprovisions andnopenaltiesinthelawformalfeasanceinthehandlingof this country’s oil treasure. Great care and much effort were expended to insert clauses in our laws to go after those who reveal or speak out against (whistleblowers) wrongdoing, as suchhavetodo,forexample,withourOilFund. Meanwhile, regardingthosepoliticalorpublicofficerswhoparticipatein whatwouldbenormallyclassifiedasacorruptact,orengage inwhatisagainsttheinterestsofthiscountry,thereisnothing in the law that could be wrapped around them. Guyana’s rulingpoliticianssparednoefforttoensurethatsuchwasnot includedinthelawgoverningourOilFund.

Inwhatcouldpotentiallybeamongthecostliestofwhitecollar crimes, there is a blank slate. It is nothing included, nothing provided, and nothing that could be applied. This was not accidental, but deliberate; this was not incompetence, but possessing considerable wisdom, on the part of savvy politicians, to insulate either themselves, or others close to them, possibly already harbouring criminal instincts and attitudes towards the oil monies that are the property of all citizens. What could be a greater deficiency than that glaring gap? It is what allows any cunning as a fox politician to claim with a straight face that no laws were broken. The fact is there was no provision in the law that addressed what was violated. In summary, the ordinary citizen pays for breaking the law, while the powerful pay themselves, through what would be lawbreaking anywhere else. They setup things in the law to guarantee them that protection.

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Exxon is drowning in our oil wealth, we thirst

DEAREDITOR,

abundanceintheland,tenoftheleaders President made it clear that negotiating Guyana is on the brink of ending were so consumed with awe of the with ExxonMobil was like negotiating decades of being in the economic perceived might and great stature of the with a superpower (giants !!). It is wilderness. occupiersoftheland,thattheyregarded inexplicable that our President would

But that may not happen if our them as giants, and in comparison saw put the inferiority complex of his political leaders continue to see themselves as grasshoppers. And so government on such public display So, themselves like the ten leaders of the were they seen by those who occupied whiletheexploitersofourresourcesare twelve tribes of Israel who were sent by theland. drowning in the abundance of our oil MosestospyoutthePromisedLand. But Caleb, one of the twelve, wealth,wethirst.

ThoseofuswhohavereadtheBook vehementlyopposedtheviewoftheten. Guyanese are stuck in the of Numbers in the Bible, would recall He shut them up and declared that the wilderness, and would be there for that after being in the wilderness for people of Israel “were well able to many years yet, unless there is a Joshua forty years, on reaching the Promised overcome …” the giants and take and Caleb in the political leadership to Land, Moses sent out the leaders of the possession of the land (Numbers 13:26 confront the foreign exploiters and take twelve tribes of Israel to spy out the –33,NKJV). back control of what the Almighty has land. Editor,reminiscentofthetenleaders bequeathedtous.

When they returned from their who saw giants in the Promised Land Yourssincerely, mission, in the face of absolute and themselves as grasshoppers, our W.Richards

Kaieteur M@ilbox Kaieteur M@ilbox

Shortage of police, or an abundance of wrongdoing

DEAREDITOR encounteredbarriersmanned

From the dawn of by approximately seven civilization, we had policemen. This experience instances of civil discontent was similar as I approached causedgenerallybyinjustice the southern and eastern and the heavy-handed use of entrances of the Court. At State resources, also, the that time, His Worship the improper deployment of MayorofGeorgetown,Ubraj those institutions (Police, Narine and Sherod Duncan military), which were were in Court to answer designed to protect citizens charges laid by the police. I and not pummel them into wonder how it is that the submission Throughout Guyana Police Force that human history, power in the claims to be short staffed hands of those committed to could deploy in excess of bullying has been the curse twenty ranks and five senior ofmankind. officers and an unknown

Thursday, I attempted to number of plain-clothes visit the Magistrate’s Court police. There was no riotous on Avenue of the Republic conditiontowarrantthis a n d B r i c k d a m . I (Continued on page 6)

An appeal to Pres. Ali to intervene at Human Services Ministry

DEAREDITOR, officers who have

Serious breakdown in security arrangements at State House

DEAREDITOR, comprehensivereviewofthe reported that, “the Acting Commissioner and I begin this letter by entiresecurityarrangements, perpetrator was shot on the Crime Chief held a press condemning in the strongest not only at State House, but response and is presumed conference to “debunk” the manner, the incident at State at other buildings where dead”. allegation. House on the morning of senior government and other The police reported of an That did not go so well. I Thursday, December 15, functionariesworkandlive. “alleged shooting incident”. would have thought that 2022. I also want to take this This must be done by Other reports stated that the given the seriousness of the opportunity to wish the competent professionals perpetrator is a Haitian, State House incident, they injured rank a full and This review must include while others reported that he would have seen the speedyrecovery staffing, training, and the is a Nigerian. It was reported necessity to provide the

It was reported that a r e l e v a n t S t a n d a r d that he worked as a security public with relevant maleattemptedtoenterState Operational Procedures guard, yet another report information,whichIamsure House illegally, which is the (SOPs),amongotherissues. stated that he worked as a would have cleared up the official resident of the I have noted that the cleaner speculations and rumors President of Guyana. In the Head of the Presidential There is another report T h a t w o u l d b e t h e process the person seriously Guard, Special Assistant which suggests that a professional thing to do by injured one of the security Commissioner Edgar triangular love affair might anycompetentperson. ranks, relieved another of a Thomas,wascalledoutfrom be at the centre of this Perhaps the fall-out from firearm, which he then used pre-retirement leave in incident. that disastrous press to discharge several rounds. August 2020 to be in-charge What alarms me, and conferencehaslefttheacting Thankfully, the discharged ofthatBranch. should alarm every right Commissioner and the bulletsdidnotstrikeanyone. I know Thomas very thinking Gu y a n e s e , Crime Chief so traumatized

As a former head of the well. He spent most of his e s p e c i a l l y m e d i a that they are now fearful of PresidentialGuard,Ifindthe years in the Guyana Police operatives,isthatatthetime having another media entireincidentveryalarming Force at the Police of penning this letter, more engagement. as it appears that there was a Communications Branch than forty-eight hours has I hope that this incident serious breakdown in the His competency is in the elapsed since this incident would cause the government security arrangements at electrical and electronic a n d t h e A c t i n g t o r e a l i z e t h a t State House resulting in this fields. Commissioner of Police has professionalism and unfortunateincident. He has absolutely no not seen it fit to face the competence are the required

many

There is high tension at yearsofservice. the Ministry of Human Allegedlypersonsfroma ServicesandSocialSecurity, cultural group, closely where members of staff have associated with the Minister, been complaining about and are contracted, and paid exposing the egregious acts handsomely for positions that are ongoing at the which they are both Ministry,sinceAugust2020. u n q u a l i f i e d a n d

I gather members of staff inexperiencedfor recently appealed to the As a consequence, many Head-of-State, Mr. Ali, competentandqualifiedstaff requesting his immediate haveresigned,andothersare intervention in the threateningtoleave. operationsoftheMinistry Editor,Ijoinwithstaffers

A previous meeting from the Ministry of Human held, at his request, with Services and Social Security Former Minister of Public and urge Mr Irfaan Ali to Service, Ms Jennifer avert this looming crisis at a Westford, MP, and staff to Ministry which is critical to address earlier grievances the well-being of all wasfruitless Guyanese, in particular the The staff are now calling vulnerable segments of our on Mr Ali to ACT NOW by population. removing Minister Vindhya Yourssincerely, Persaud and the Permanent AnnetteFerguson Secretary, Mrs. Shannielle MemberofParliament Hoosein-Outar The

allegations made are grave and should be addressed since they hinge on d i s c r i m i n a t i o n , victimization, nepotism, and bypassingofqualifiedsenior

It must be noted that the expertise in executive media to inform the elements in the Guyana Presidential Guard is a unit security,but,heistheheadof Guyanese public of the Police Force, including an of the Guyana Police Force. security for Guyana’s details of this serious important Branch like the Its members are policemen President. security lapse, which in my PresidentialGuard. andwomen.

S p e a k i n g a b o u t view can have national T h e s e c u r i t y o f

Thequestionstobeasked c o m p e t e n c y a t t h e securityimplications. government functionaries, ishowwasthepersonableto PresidentialGuard,ithasnot I recall not so long ago in especially the President, get into the security escaped me that on the wake of the damning should not be entrusted to enclosure at State House September 17, 2020, eight allegation by police sergeant croniesandfavourites. withaweapon(knife),which ranks of the Presidential Dion Bascom that a senior God help the Guyana hethenusedtoinflictserious Guardwhowererecruitedon rank of the Guyana Police PoliceForce! injuries on a rank and August 18, 2020, a mere Force received a large cash Paul Slowe, CCH, relieved another of a month before, were bribetocoveruptheRicardo D S M , A s s i s t a n t firearm? promoted to the rank of Fagundes’ murder, the Commissioner(Ret’d).

This clearly shows that sergeant. something is definitely They are part of the wrong with the security management structure at the arrangements at that Presidential Guard One location. wonders the extent to which

It is fortunate that this may have contributed to (according to the sketchy the apparent dilution of the reports) the person once in efficiency and effectiveness possession of the firearm did ofthePresidentialGuard. not attempt to go further into Editor, since this the compound of State incident, there has been House. conflicting reports The

This incident calls for a Ministry of Home Affairs

Kaieteur M@ilbox Kaieteur M@ilbox

What’s up with this beef, who’s running cow?

DEAREDITOR, successful breeding leads to Who does not know that offspring with the genetic Guyana has been sold down material of both parents the river? It’s not as if the From a simple mind, my alphabet soup of decision- queryisnotcomplex. makersremainsunknown. Are these genes being Theyknowwhotheyare, manipulated for disease and they know what they are r e s i s t a n c e , g r o w t h doing, or should I say, enhancement, or other kinds c o n t i n u e t o d o of manipulation? Will the Unfortunately, recent offspring be considered and developments consistently, owned by Guyanese? I am constantly, and consciously most concerned if the remindmeofthesedirefacts. offspring will be able to One recent development is reproduce successfully And, the implementation of if that is the case, then who genetically modified bulls owns the beef? Maybe a intoourmeatsupply Solomonic scenario

Your 16 December 2022 surfaces. issue published an article Other questions can be titled “30 cattle farmers to raised, but those will have to benefit from breeding bulls” be done by more brilliant especially caught my minds. One I do hope to be attention. raisedisthequestionrelating

After reading this article, the arrangement between Icouldnothelpbutwonderif government and the farmers. now comes the time when For example, “Will farmers the alphabet soup thinkers have to sign an agreement? demand that we hold on to Because these animals are theirmeat. the property of the State and

Whiletheintroductionof canberetrievedatanytime.” these GMO animals may be Editor,thisremindsmeofthe laudable to some, the Indianricefarmerswhowere consequences could be dire forced into deep debts and forall. penury by big agri. I rue the

From your reporting, it day that you may publish an seems that some brilliant article, “Handling seeds lead mind(s) convinced others tosuicide.” that these Texas bulls will Editor, speaking of help to improve Guyana’s handling seeds, the herds. government needs to think

The introduction of these through their actions and bulls for our cows seems a how they carelessly wrap grand idea. Perhaps this is a their fingers around our metaphorical moment. affairs, especially behind Maybe, just maybe, we will closeddoors. realize and start seeing that We need to know who we are being screwed. has our interest balanced Maybe, just maybe, we will against when we need selffinally stop hearing the care. Maybe those who gobshite. continue to craft Guyana’s

Maybe, just maybe, we economic future want us to willcometooursenseswhen holdontotheirmeat.Editor, we touch and smell the I am not holding onto obscurantism. anyone’s meat, but I will beg

Editor, I am far from the question: Will they eat beingqualifiedasabiologist, ourbeef,whileweholdonto let alone a geneticist. But theirmeat? whatIdoknowisthatwhena Respectfully, bull copulates with a cow, LesArcher

LINDSAYCA is American and not Venezuelan, Mr. Forde

DEAREDITOR,

awarded to a Venezuelan current government is the cannot deter this project and I am not surprised like company Editor, Forde is on most patriotic ever and will it will become a reality for most Guyanese of the recent recordsayingthecompanyis not even consider a the benefit of all Guyanese immature tantrum by a a Venezuelan Company, Venezuelan company to andgenerationsthereafter struggling lawyer, Roysdale which I am not aware of; invest and build the historic I close by saying that Forde, in relation to his hence, I did my own natural gasplantforGuyana while Mr Roysdale Forde is public personal comments research. and for Forde to make such a member of the Opposition on the recent signing of the As such, I am pleased to an assertion reveals his level PNC, it does not indicate he contract for the Wales inform the general public of judgment, lack of or any other members have NaturalGasPlant. t h a t t h e c o m p a n y, c h a r a c t e r a n d free range to oppose

Forde was overlooked LINDSAYCA, is an professionalism which everything the current bythePNCasayoungleader international organization continues to be his downfall administration is doing because he is a novice in employing over 1,000 as a lawyer, leader and as a Rather, be constructive and politics and struggling as a employees with over 30 politician. factual in their objectives lawyer who has failed the years of experience

Further, the Wales andcriticism. PNC at the highest level, executingEPMCprojectsfor Natural Gas Plant is a This lack in integrity is evenasthePNCattemptedto the energy industry Further, mammoth transformational the recipe for their failure as rigthe2020elections. t h e c o m p a n y i s project for Guyana and the aneffectiveopposition.Ifwe So now, there is a headquartered in Houston entire SouthAmerica for our are to hold the current renewed attempt by Forde to Texas, USA and not country will be “the government accountable, we seek attention by slandering Venezuela as Mr Forde is manufacturing destination” need an effective opposition the company that was alluding Please see the of this hemisphere providing and the current crop of successfulinaninternational actual link for reference: stable and cheap energy for Opposition leaders have bid for the construction of https://lindsayca.com/. all households and proven to be failures. We theWalesNaturalGasPlant. I, therefore, submit that commercial activities deserve better as Guyanese Editor, Forde is basing Mr Roysdale Forde is once Hence, Roysdale Forde and to be fooled by the current his accusation that the again continuing his charade the entire Opposition cabal Opposition just to gain current government is not to pull wool over the eyes of are running scared to have a attention and false political transparent because all Guyanese, but it is not project of this magnitude mileage. according to him and only working with this caliber of become a reality However, Sincerely, him, the contract was Guyanese generation. The their lackluster approach Mr.C.DeBarros

Shortage of police, or an abundance of...

From page 5 from those of the ruling oftheArmyReserve. theDPP massive show, of course, elite

Those of us who are Ms. Tremaine Clarke, an while daily decent citizens Since this matter is aware of the purpose and Attorney-at-Law is arrested complain that when they before the Court, it will be i n t e n t b e h i n d t h e violating her civil liberties, visit police stations in and improper for me to establishment of the Reserve samepattern. aroundGeorgetown,theyare comment, save to note that I regard this statement by the Policedidnothing,soshe told of a shortage of police understand the Mayor GDF as Pure, Political soughtlegalrecourseagainst officers. simply posed a hypothetical Posturing and I believe as I the three SOCU Officers,

I get the impression that question now do ask the Commander- Superintendent Rammana, we have an oligarchy But what is worrisome is in-Chief, President Ali for Sergeant Persaud and pushing us to the disaster of this The GDF issued a somejustification. Sergeant Singh and the DPP a dictatorship As has strongly worded Statement Then, we have out of Ali again had that matter happened before, this group dischargingMayorNarineas control, SOCU, part of the discontinued. in charge is possessed of the a Reservist When the Police Force, the killing of All the above has and is sameattitudesandbeliefsof r e s e r v e F o r c e w a s Orin Boston at Dartmouth taking place under the watch an old imperial master, who established under the Theme and that matter will soon be of His Excellency, Dr. used the arms of the State to “ Every Citizen a soldier,’’ gathering dust from the Mohamed Irfaan Ali. I take pummel and punish those it was to deal with files comfort in the words of an who dare to express mobilizing our citizens to A simple female Abolitionist, Wendell contrary views and to seek counter the sweat of C o n s t a b u l a r y r a n k PhillipsfromMassachusetts, justice, freedom of Venezuela to the West, Shawnette Bollers, is ”Justice and humanity have expressionandassociation Surinam to the East and the allegedly verbally assaulted been fighting their way, like This attitude runs AtlantictotheNorth. by being called a black a thunderstorm, against the counter to the essence of There is nothing I know monkey, but highly organized selfishness of d e m o c r a c y , t h e that the Mayor has said or connected Attorney Nirvan human nature.” Dear characteristics of decency done to warrant this Singh is not charged by the Editor, as the people of and the right of citizens in egregious and strong police. Mozambique in Africa an open democratic society statement of condemnation Police took no action but continued their efforts for to express different views dismissing him as a member e x e r c i s i n g o u r human dignity, justice and Constitutional right to equality, Dr Eduardo justicebringsprivatecharges Chivambo MondIane made againstAttorneySingh. these two words “A luta

The DPP, Ms. Shalimar continua,’the rallying cry as Ali-Hack, using I feel quite t h e y f o u g h t a g a i n s t capriciously the powers Portuguese oppression and investedinherhasthematter l a t e r S a m o r a M a c h e l discontinued.Samestory followed suit as he became Meanwhile, charges the first President of against Minister of Legal independent Mozambique. I Affairs and Attorney say A luta continua - the General, Anil Nandlall that struggle continues. allegedthetheftoflawbooks HamiltonGreen were also discontinued by Elder

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The Mayor's brouhaha

Much was said about Mayor Narine's remarks that landed him in court. Many persons and organisations have also had a lot to say.

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What we wish to say is that as a nation of diverse peoples, we will be successful in continuing with these patented deceptions and hypocrisies for only so long.

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Truth and facts and circumstances all have a way of rising to the light; light itself can only be suppressed for a time.

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It usually finds a way for a ray to seep into the public consciousness.

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Oil companies could take Guyana for a ride with uncapped interest rates for Stabroek Block loans

The International Monetary Fund

(IMF), one of Guyana's key development partners and advisors on the oil sector, believes authorities should move to close fiscal loopholes in the Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) thatwouldleadtoabuse.

Oneareaithighlightedin a technical report prepared for the State is the need for immediate attention on provisions governing interest rates taken on loans by ExxonMobil and its partners, Hess Corporation and CNOOC Petroleum GuyanaLimited.

The IMF said it is an industry norm that the government of the day disallows interests from being recovered on loans. Even if this is allowed, the administration sets a cap or limit to prevent the full

interest amount from being recovered.

The IMF pointed out that Guyana not only allows the recovery of the interest but also sets no cap. Guyana has also waived its right to tax suchinterestamountstoo.

The foregoing loopholes it said, therefore, provide enough incentive for the contractors to finance their projectswithloansinsteadof revenues from their accounts.

The IMF was keen to point out that in certain territories; governments even limit the number of loansthatcanbeusedtoback a project. Guyana does not finditselfinsuchacategory

An example is Uganda's model PSA, which allows interest on loans to finance development operations but only up to 50 percent of the total financing requirement. Interest on loans to finance

- IMF warns

e

xplorationisnotallowed.

The IMF believes that such a restriction, should Guyana choose to use one, could be supplemented with regulations or guidance defining the financing requirement. It also noted that limiting the amount of debt for cost recovery purposes or disallowing interest expense altogether in PSAs would be an appropriate course of action for Guyanese authorities to take.

In a previous interview, former University of Houston Instructor, Tom Mitro, had urged Guyana's authorities to correct this state of affairs in the Stabroek Block PSA as it leaves Guyana open to the

abusive use of debt by Exxon.

During an exclusive interview, Mitro said, “The treatment of loan interest varies by country and situation.

Countries like the USA that have only an income tax on oil and no productionsharing do allow tax deductions for interest on debtofoilcompanies.

However, countries like theU.K.,AngolaandNigeria that have royalty and special petroleum tax regimes, do not allow tax deductions for interest costs of oil companies.”

T h e P e t r o l e u m Consultant added, “This is due partly to the fact that

these governments offer certain investment tax incentives already, such as tax credits or special allowances, and they view interest on tax deductions as unnecessary or duplicative. In some PSAs, theydo allow interest as part of cost recovery, but that is no longeracommonpractice.If it is allowed, it is vital to establish strict rules that preventpotentialabuse.”

Mitro had said that most common is setting a maximum debt to equity ratio that effectively limits the borrowing to no more than 60-70% of the capital costs.Also,

Mitro said that these regimes may limit the

repayment period of the local computations so that interestisn'texcessive.

Another common practice, the official pointed out, is to cap the rate of interest. In this way, Mitro said that governments avoid companies pushing a lot of their corporate debt at inflated rates into the local project, merely in order to obtain cost recovery benefit at the expense of the government.

Mitrosaidthattherehave been notable cases of abuse such as Chevron inAustralia where the authorities accused them of charging interesttotheirlocalaffiliate at a rate that was well above their actual borrowing rate merely to obtain tax recovery benefits in Australia.

The issue of gold-plated interest rates being pushed on Guyana has been raised onseveraloccasionswiththe Ali administration All officials within the government apparatus have however maintained that no changes will be made to the Stabroek Block PSA. All fatal flaws shall remain

Gas-to-energy project moves...

Frompage3 firmtooperatetheproject.

Government has said it remains hopeful to bring the project on stream in 2024. Two years after its operationalization, Jagdeo said consumers would enjoy reducedelectricityrates.

In the meantime, several transparency advocates have expressed their displeasure with the government's handlingofthisproject.

In her review of all that h a s t a k e n p l a c e , International Lawyer, Melinda Janki told Kaieteur News that the proposed gas project appears to be illegal. In 2015, after the discovery of oil, she recalled that Guyana made a commitment undertheParisAgreementto go 100 percent renewable by 2025 subject to available funding.

Janki said one ought to bear in mind that the Paris A g r e e m e n t i s a n international treaty Guyana cannot go back on its legal obligations. She opined that thegovernmentthereforehas a legal obligation to spend money on renewable energy andnotongas.

Importantly, Janki said observersneedtounderstand that ExxonMobil is not investing in Guyana. She said, “Guyana will have to

pay at least US$1.3B for the pipeline if it goes ahead.

Exxon pays for nothing This gas deal is as abusive and exploitative as the Stabroek Block oil deal. In 2018, Mr Jagdeo told the National Assembly that the deal with ExxonMobil sold our patrimony and would harmusfordecades.”

Thelawyerfurthernoted, “This is a pipeline to nowhere. It needs a gas plant which will cost at least US$759M and power lines which the Inter-American Development Bank says will cost at least US$80M Therefore, the estimate for this gas project is over US$2bn That's over US$2,500 per person in Guyana The Guyanese people are expected to pay for everything. That is not foreign investment. That is exploitation.”

She said too that Guyanese must also bear in mind that gas is very dangerous.Inthisregard,she said, “If explosions happen and they kill people, who will compensate families if their loved ones are killed? Who pays for property damage?”

Thelawyermaintainsher position that solar is the cheapestformofenergy She said all must question why

the nation cannot have cheap, safe solar energy instead of dangerous, expensivegas.

Frederick Collins, Head o f T r a n s p a r e n c y International Guyana Inc (TIGI) also expressed concerns about the project. In a comment to this newspaper, he said TIGI would have preferred the nation be privy to the analysis that arrived at the pipeline alternative. He was keen to note that the nation's Constitution requires the procurement of goods to be done in a “transparent, competitive and cost effective manner according tolaw”.

He said the supreme law of the land also requires that consultation be meaningful. “What we are seeing with this gas-to-energy project is all the signs of a lack of compliance with the spirit of the constitution in these areas. At more than double the original cost and climbing, it appears that this projectwilldelivermorecost than benefit to the final Guyanese consumer,” Collinsstated.

He said the real burning question therefore is: Who stands to benefit from the nation's most expensive project?

EXTRA LESSONS SHOULD NOT BE NECESSARY

Extra lessons did not emerge out of a crisis in delivery withintheclassrooms.

Extra lessons did not become an industry in Guyanabecauseofthefailure of the school system; it expanded in the seventies in Guyana because the pay of teachers was so abysmal that many of them were forced to resort to lessons to supplementtheirincomes.

Basic items were in short supply Almost everything had to be procured from outside of Guyana at exorbitant prices Inflated prices developed within the markets as shortages hit home.

In such conditions, many teachers found themselves in the humiliating position of not having enough to get by Some of them were challenged to pay the high rentals that landlords began to charge as sub-letting increased.

Those were rough days and teachers therefore were forced to resort to extra lessons to help. Parents were only too willing to help since many of them felt that the extra lessons would close the gap between what they wantedfortheirkidsandhow thekidswereperforming.

But it was not as if there was an absolute need for extralessons.

The good teachers were still in the schools and the syllabuses were being completed.

Whatthisshowedwasthe school system was not shortchanging the children yet there were extra lessons taking place since parents hoped that the extra help

wouldbringbenefits.

That said, what is important from the perspectiveoftheMinistryof Education is to avoid the necessity of any child having toattendextralessons.

The goal of the ministry should be to ensure that students obtain the necessary training within the school system that would make the attendance of extra lessons something that they would n o t n e e d t o p a s s examinations.

Ensuring that this is done is not going to end extra lessons.

There will always be parents, as there was when it allbegan,whowillwanttheir children to get that extra help regardlessofwhathappensin theschool.

Right now, however, extralessonsarebeingforced ontochildrenbecausethereis not the confidence that enoughisbeingdonewiththe formal classrooms to ensure that children are ready for examinations.

In this regard, the situation is different from what it was years ago when this practice of extra lessons expanded. It is no longer a case of teachers receiving starvationwages.

Obviously, the salaries of teachersarenotgoodbutthey can still get by much better than their counterparts in the past.

But there is also a situation, there is a high level of unqualified teachers at all levels of the educational system and those teachers however committed simply cannot bring about the desiredoutcomes.

The Ministry of

Dem boys seh...

Education knows that there are high volumes of untrained teachers within the system. They are working to progressively reduce the ratio of trained to untrained teachers.

While large numbers of teachers have migrated overseas and therefore have affected the quality of teaching within the school system,hundredsothershave graduated from training school to replace those who havegone.

But to what extent have those who have graduated been able to be placed within theschoolsystem.

Thisissomethingthatthe Ministry needs to examine since unless there is a high rate of attrition, what we will find is that when teachers graduate from training school, they will not be able to secure jobs within the school system because the untrained teachers are not leavingfastenough.

The solution therefore has to be for the Ministry of Educationtocompilealistof all untrained teachers within the system as well as a list of vacancies.

Then as soon as teachers graduate from training schools, these teachers should be placed within the school system and the untrained teachers removed at a rate that would all for there to be adequate numbers.

However, this does not solve the problem of trained teachers leaving because of poorconditionsofwork.

And to deal with this problem, the Ministry has to begin to pay teachers well, butonlytrainedteachers.

De West Indies problem solve!

West Indies cricket may have finally foundthemysteryspinnerthatitwaslooking for For a lang time, deWest Indies team nah had a bowler that could bamboozle them odder team batsmen with guile, flight and turn. But now de West Indies team problem solve.Demfindwhatdembinlookingfor Dem find de Money Making Machine (MMM).

De MMM could bowl a googly, a chinaman and a doosra all with de same delivery Demganspinoutdemforeignteam withdembowling.

De MMM did set up de hotel fuh benefit dem selves. Dem had preferred investors who would get preference in case de hotel collapse. And if de hotel company lose money and has to be sold, de preferred investors gan get mek dem money fuss and

who knows could even have bought de hotel fuhcheap.

ButdeWaterfallpaperbossmandidbuss updebagofdeMMM.AndwhendeCoal-ashun come in dem outsmart de MMM. Dem tell dem how de government tekking over de loanofdepreferredinvestorsandsodehotel become fully government owned. And de preferredinvestorsgetaspokeindemwheel.

But de MMM nah teking leff. Dem now wan sell de hotel. Wah mekking money and wah always full dese days. And who yuh think gan get fuh buy de hotel? Yuh smart yuh know! But yuh nah smarter dan de MMM. Dem would mek dem three card artistslooklikeamateurs.

Sokeepyuheyepondehotelandseewho buyingit.

Talkhalf.Leffhalf.

Alltheuntrainedteachers should be encouraged to upgrade or be fired. This will ensure that students are not shortchanged with the schools.

The less the students are shortchanged, the less need therewillbeforlessons,even though it cannot be entirely eliminated.

The problem right now is

that extra lessons have become so profitable that many who carry out these extra classes really do not need a teacher's salary; they are making big bucks from the lessons and are simply using their presence in the schoolsasmarketingfortheir private classes after school hours.

(The views expressed in

this article are those of the a u t h o r a n d d o n o t necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this

The Mayor's outburst and the possible consequences

Anation must be careful when ethnic/cultural/re ligious accusations against the president or the prime minister and government is relentless.

They could be harmful consequences The Unites States is suffering from the fall-out of extreme rightwing,racisthatred.

President Granger instituted a Commission of Inquiry into the Police Force after a man in a drunken conversation asked another to go and harm Mr Granger Outsideofthatincident,there has not been any attempt on the life of Mr Granger and any important State official including Cabinet members during their occupation of power

One day, I was coming downthestairsoftheFaculty of Social Sciences at UG and Ronald Waddell was going up.

I knew Waddell as a person to converse with. So I asked him why he was

instigating violence in the aftermath of the 2001 election.

Waddell said that the police physically assaulted Robert Corbin. He told me you do not touch party leaders.Thenextyear,oneof the most horrifying eras of criminal violence descended on Guyana with important cadres of the PNC and WPA involved.

The Buxton mayhem, 2002-2006 is second only to theWismarmassacre.

The full story of Buxton has not been told. I did umpteen columns on the mayhem for the Kaieteur News and the Chronicle but the full story cannot be told. But it could have been if President Granger had commissioned a judicial enquiry But Granger never had that in mind because the PNC and WPA would not havesurvivedthefindings.

It was the constant call to hurt Indian people by Waddellandothersthatledto the horror of Buxton

Waddell himself went on channel 9 and told Indian people who voted for the PNC that in the ensuing targeting of Indians, those Indians who voted for the PNC will be offered protection.

H e r e n o w i s t h e connection between the Mayor'soutburstandtherole ofsubordinatesdoingviolent things. I am postulating that the March 2020 election disaster has ushered in a narrative of ethnic sermonizing never seen in this country before Two myths of two occasions of race preaching need to be disbanded.

One is that race rhetoric reached its apogee at the beginning of the sixties that led to the Wismar massacre. A research of political speeches and the newspapers does not support this contention.

Whathappenedisthatthe warring factions used violent political demagoguery but the race baiting was always

subliminal.

There was no vicious vocabulary of race hate at political meetings and in the press. What the opposition PNC and United Force and their supporting media houses did was to attack Cheddi Jagan and the PPP knowing fully well they meant Indians but the barefaced use of race hate wasnotresortedto.

The second myth is the bottom meetings of the two majorparties.

I have not attended those secret gatherings but I know over the past 50 years, PNC andPPPleadersusedtherace card to urge their supporters to vote to keep the other out ofpower

SinceIwasneverpresent, I cannot deny race hate has notbeenweaponizedatthose meetings but if such vocabulary has been used and is being used, the effect on the public is dampened because it does not reach a majority of people so they cannotbeinfluenced.

24-year land rights legal battle…

When ethnic demonization is in the public domain then uncertainties become the norm.

You do not know when a person full of race poison is goingtodosomethingstupid.

A sociological fact of political competition is that theleadersinthearenadonot havetogiveanordertohurta politician.

A fanatic who has internalized race baiting can actonhisown.

From March 2020 up to this day, opposition parties, mainstream media, cultural organizations, social media, non-Indian elites among othershaverelentlesslystood on the pulpit of race preaching.

To offer an enumeration will take volumes. A few should suffice. David Hinds urged Black people to buy from their own Amanda Walton Desir offered the theorythatPPPsupportersdo not think for themselves. Rickford Burke exclaimed

that unless someone drive them off the road, PPP leaderswillnotlisten.

A prominent African rights activist says that if the PPP don't come to the negotiationtable,theywillbe forced to come.Another said that they will break up the negotiation table if the PPP donotlisten.

A school of racial preachers have birthed the theory that Guyana is becoming an apartheid state. A columnist in the Stabroek News says that Guyana has always been against Black people. In the Kaieteur News last week,Tacuma Ogunseye says he will support armed resistance.EntertheMayor

(The views expressed in this article are those of the a u t h o r a n d d o n o t necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this newspaper and its affiliates.)

CJ rules Akawaio and Arekuna people do not have exclusive rights to Upper Mazaruni lands

Chief Justice (Ag ) RoxaneGeorge-Wiltshireon Fridayruledinadecades-old Amerindian land rights case – stating that while the Akawaio and Arekuna peoplehaverightstotheland in dispute – their rights are notinexclusiontoothers.

The Indigenous people of the Upper Mazaruni District have long sought

legal title for recognition of their rights to traditional and ancestral lands. The CJ’s ruling has brought the curtains down on the 1998 case, which was before the DemeraraHighCourt.

The land dispute case wasfiledagainsttheStateby the Akawaio and Arekuna Indigenous peoples who were represented by Nigel Hughes The State was

represented by the Attorney General The two groups approached the court seeking declarations that they not only have rights to the land they deem ancestral land but exclusive rights to thelandsinquestion.

On Friday, the Chief Justice confirmed that the Indigenous groups have rights to the lands in dispute. However, she made it clear

that those rights were not to theexclusiontoallothers.

The Akawaio and Arekuna people argued that that from time immemorial they continuously occupied the Upper Mazaruni lands and by virtue of this, they have inalienablerights to the lands. However, the Chief Justice found that while the groups have communal and aboriginalrightstothelands,

meaning they do have land titles, those rights are not to theexclusionofothers.

In her explanation, Justice George-Wiltshire said that she could not declare that the Indigenous Peoples have rights exclusive to the lands because those rights are subjectedtotheState.

Further,theChiefJustice saidwhiletraditionally,from the1800sandonwards,there was a practice by the Akawaio and Arekuna people to occupy the disputed lands evidence presented to the court shows that non-indigenous persons have been occupying the lands.

The two Indigenous groups were awarded $250,000incosts.

Friday’s ruling by the Chief Justice ended the 24year legal battle. Kaieteur News understands that in 1967, the Government instituted an Amerindian Lands Commission (ALC), tasked with mapping and suggesting titles to be issued

toIndigenouscommunities.

But in 1991, titles were granted individually to each community; though the request was for holding collective title to their traditional territory the collective title would give the Akawaio and Arekuna tribes’ control of the entire UpperDemeraraRegion.

The villages of Paruima, Waramadong, Kamarang (Warawatta), Kako, Jawalla and Phillipai in the Upper Mazaruni have long sought legal title over the area defined by the 1959 Amerindian District as one Akawaio/Arekunadistrict.

Being dissatisfied that theirwishesweren’tgranted, the Arekuna and Akawaio people had sought relief in theCourt.

Frederick Kissoon

Toshaos, other representatives of the Upper Mazaruni District Council on Friday during the ruling (Amerindian Peoples Association photo)

Acting Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire

OP-ED A week of the usual – more minuses than pluses

By GHK Lall

Istart with the positive. Thanks,Dr President for that December hand to workers inthepublichealthsector

It was overdue, and it was meaningful. This relays that His Excellency knows where the problems are, who are the citizens (and segments) feeling the viselike squeeze, and what hastobedone.

My concern is that the President has displayed a marked preference for proceeding in this manner that smells of humiliating some citizens, as if to emphasizetothemwhoisthe boss, and which is the group thatisincharge.

That is, who has the power, who is forced to wait

patiently, with their hands extendedinsupplication,and their hopes callously stretched past the breaking point.

I point to that other group of nurturers, our teachers, and ask of the nation's leader: why not at the same time, Excellency? Guyana is not waiting on the approval of a loan; nor is money in short supply, skipper

Thispiecemealapproach registers as having its own objectives, among which is toteachtheunrulysomehard lessons.

One is 'wait till we ready.' Another is 'line up and shut up.' All this seems rather whimsical and selfservingtome. Nowthehope is that I did not incur the wrath of PPP Guyanese

gods, who search for some law(oragent)todemonstrate to me the fruits of my audacity

This is as good a time as to bring in one of the negatives from last week. It involves Georgetown Mayor, Ubraj Narine. He spoke in a fashion with which I disagree, and I have publiclysaidso.

It should be noted that it is how he said what he said; and against whom he directed his pent-up frustrations.

On both issues, he tabled so pungently, there is much smoke,andweallknowwhat is said when there is smoke. What was interesting was how the PPP well-tuned, standbymachinery,itsmedia delta force, sprang into action. In addition to the

GHK Lall

avalanches of criticisms that were dumped on his head, a series of volcanic eruptions quickly engulfed Mayor Narine, and carried him alongtothecourtandbail.

Mayor Narine spoke of discrimination in Guyana, as meted out by the PPP Government to carefully targeted sections of this country's population Immediately, he turned into Satan, Rawana, and Shaitan combined As the world knows, I have written and spoken about discrimination by the PPP Government against real and perceived enemies,whichusuallytakes onamostlyracialstrain.

H e n c e , t h e r e i s familiarity with what is happening to Mayor Narine currently In terms of that other aspect of the mayor's remarks,Ihavebeenprivyto that reality, as uttered very quietly by PPP supporters

themselves.

For emphasis, not PNC mischief makers, but incensed PPP loyalists. So, when I observed the extremely fevered reactions from under the PPP tent, a conclusioncame.

ItwasthatMayorNarine had to be shut down immediately, and by any means.

What he said could not be allowed to gain any reception, any traction. It must stay within the PPP family When I studied the all-points, all-hands steamroller response of PPP hypocrites and selfdeceivers, it was clear that the more the mayor's message was tried to be suppressed out of existence, t h e m o r e e n e r g y i t developed.

A t h i r d a l a r m i n g development involved the foreigner who stabbed the President's security detail, andthemayhemthatensued.

Thank God for quick reactions, and the human damage was confined to whereitis.

I salute the Presidential security circle for bravery, dedication to duty, and resourcefulness under attack.

That said, the questions comewitharush. Howdoes a man, anyone, get inside the gates? With reports of a knife, what about screening for such prior to taking one

step within that complex? Whataboutsecuritycameras at the perimeters of the compound? The alarms should trigger on the inside, starting at the guard enclosure; hopefully, overlapping rings of such What happened with all of thoseessentials?

I table this because if the most innocent appearing of citizens were to even show their faces around that presidential complex, then all agents as a matter of routine would go to a d i ff e r e n t s t a t e o f watchfulness So, for anyone, especially an armed individual, to reach the point that he did, just does not comeoverright.

I am going out on a limb for now and assert that there ismoretothisthanwhatisin publicatpresent.

Already, one strand, and one posture, has commenced making the rounds, which is a word beginning with an 'a'. It is not apartheid, but assassination attempt In Guyana, the art of the possible has no bounds, particularly when in the hands and minds of the calculating. Like I said, it was one of those regular Guyaneseweeks,andIdidn't sayawordaboutthepending sale of the Marriott; or who makes out like Bill Gates at the beginning, middle, and now the end (sale). Lovely country!

Men escape from CANU, leaving $7M in ganja, shot gun behind

The men had reportedly disappeared into thecanefields,CANUsaid.

According

in a

CANU stated, “Officers made checks around the area in attempts to identify and apprehendtheindividualsinvolvedbutcame upempty-handed.”

The suspected narcotics and shotgun were taken to CANU's Skeldon Office, Corentyne Berbice. The narcotics tested positive for ganja its total weight amounted to57.2kg.Investigationsareongoing.

Ranks of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) are on the hunt for two suspected ganja smugglers who fled during an intelligence operation in Skelton Estate Backdams,RegionSix.

to CANU, the men were seen fleeing from a speedboat

canal close to some cane fields and left a 12 gauge shotgun with 12 live matching cartridges and five carefully wrapped parcels containing $7M worthofganja.

The shotgun and the ganja seized by CANU

Govt. tells IDB not to disclose all information on US$97 million loan for Health Sector

Th e P e o p l e ' s

Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Government has secured approval for a US$97M loan from the Inter-American DevelopmentBank(IDB).

This funding forms part of US$160M line of credit made available to the country by the financial institution for strengthening Guyana's healthcare network However, the government has asked the bank not to disclose all documentsfortheloan.

When Kaieteur News recently attempted to access the document titled: Project Profile GY‐O0010 –GY‐L1080 Guyana, it said, “At the request of the borrowing country, the informationcontainedinthis document will not be disclosed.” A screenshot of the said page is also attached tothisnewsitem.

TheIDBadded,ascanbe seen on the picture, “The non-disclosure of this document is in accordance with the 'country-specific information' exception in paragraph 4.1 i of the Bank's Access to Information Policy.”

Other documentation available for the loan notes that the US$97M will be usedtoimprovethehealthof the Guyanese population through increased access, quality, and efficiency of healthservicesbyimproving health outcomes associated w i t h l o w a n d h i g h complexityprocedures.

This will be done by expanding the capacity of strategic hospitals; by extending coverage of diagnostic, medical consultation, and patient management services, inclusive of the country's hinterlands, through digital health; and by increasing the efficiency of the public h e a l t h s y s t e m , b y strengthening key logistic, management, and support processesandinputs.

The project is also e x p e c t e d t o t a r g e t infrastructure improvement and expansion in seven priority hospitals, namely the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation ( G P H C ) , t h e N e w Amsterdam Regional Hospital (NARH) and the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC), as well as four

District Hospitals located in the hinterland (Moruca, Kamarang, Kato, and Lethem).

Further, the Bank said that as part of the investment project activities, the line of credit will also finance Guyana's plans for a digital

provision of maternal and child health, and contribute to pandemic and emergency preparedness, among other activities,” the Bank said noting that the programme includes a gender and diversity assessment to identify and address health

environmentally sustainable and resilient to climate change.

The IDB loan has an amortization period of 25 years, a grace period of 5.5 years, and an interest rate based on Secured Overnight FinancingRate(SOFR).

of around 406,000 persons, over 50% of the population. In addition, the telemedicine activities installed in 18 hospital and polyclinic sites will reach all 10 of the country's regions, including thehinterlands.

The maternal and child

transformation in health, including the expansion of the teleradiology and t e l e o p h t h a l m o l o g y networks.

“ F i n a l l y, i t w i l l strengthen supply chain management, improve the

disparities by gender, ethnicity, and disability status.

Additionally, it said it contributes to climate change mitigation and adaptation by financing health infrastructure that is

Through the programme, Guyana's population will have greater access to improved clinical and diagnosticservices.

The seven hospitals benefiting from the project have a catchment population

essential health services package under the loan will be rolled out in hinterland communities for Region One, Seven and Eight which have a total population of around 57,777inhabitants.

Upper Mazaruni Indigenous group to appeal portions of High Court ruling

Th e U p p e r

Mazaruni District Council (UMDC) on Saturday said that it intends to appeal portions of the High Court ruling on the rights of the Akawaio and Arecuna people's rights to UpperMazarunilands.

Chief Justice (Ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire on Friday ruled in the decadesold Amerindian land rights case that while the Akawaio and Arecuna people have rights to the Upper Mazaruni lands which were in dispute for over two decases – their rights are not in exclusion to others.

The group, in a statement which followed a press conference, said though it feels it emerged victorious in the case, there is some concernthattheChiefJustice “did not elaborate on precisely what it means to have communal title and what she meant by the exclusionstoourtitle.”

Asaresult,thegroupsaid it will appeal portions of the ruling that would allow the Government to control their lands. “We plan to appeal to

the Court of Appeal on the portions of the ruling that leave room for the government to continue infringing on our communal landtitle,”theUMDCsaid.

The UMDC maintains that the court has reaffirmed its position that the government must first seek and obtain consent prior to any projects that it intends to undertakeinthearea.

The group is also claiming rights to carbon creditsgeneratedontheland.

The UMDC noted that “because it is our land, the government must seek and obtain consent prior to any projects that it intends to undertake involving these credits.”

“ We e x p e c t t h e government to live up to its repeatedcommitmentsinthis r e g a r d , a s w e l l a s internationallawobligations. Free, prior, and informed consent is an incident of propertyrightsofIndigenous peoples, and the 1959 District has been judicially declared to be our property, something we have always known,”thegroupsaid.

The UMDC said too that it is their understanding that, in light of the Court's ruling, Government agencies such as the Guyana Geology and MinesCommission(GGMC) and Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) do not have the authority to issue any concessions in the communal lands without the express permission of their communities.

“We intend to write to various Government agencies to formally notify them of this position. In addition, we intend to seek advice and information regarding the status of concessions granted between 1998 [when the case was filed] and the date of this judgment. Our communities are the clear victors in this case,” the group added in the statement.

TheIndigenouspeopleof the Upper Mazaruni District have long sought legal title for recognition of their rights to traditional and ancestral lands.

The CJ's ruling has brought the curtains down on the 1998 case, which was

before the Demerara High Court.

Thelanddisputecasewas filed against the State by the Akawaio and Arecuna Indigenous peoples who were represented by Nigel Hughes The State was represented by the Attorney General.

T h e t w o g r o u p s approachedthecourtseeking declarations that they not only have rights to the land they deem ancestral land but exclusive rights to the lands inquestion.

In her ruling, the Chief Justice confirmed that the Indigenous groups have rights to the lands in dispute albeitnotexclusive.

The Akawaio and Arecuna people argued that that from time immemorial, they continuously occupied the Upper Mazaruni lands and by virtue of this, they have inalienable rights to the lands.

In her explanation, Justice George-Wiltshire said that she could not declare that the Indigenous

Peopleshaverightsexclusive to the lands because those rights are subjected to the State.

Further, the Chief Justice said while traditionally, from the 1800s and onwards, there was a practice by the AkawaioandArecunapeople to occupy the disputed lands evidence presented to the court shows that nonindigenous persons have beenoccupyingthelands.

The two Indigenous groups were awarded $250,000incosts.

A screenshot of the IDB document that cannot be disclosed to the public

Members of the Upper Mazaruni District Council (UMDC) and their lawyer Nigel Hughes.

Removal of residency requirement makes law consistent with Constitution – Jagdeo …dismisses AFC's concerns as 'pure clown show'

argument that the removal of the residency requirement from the Representation of

the People Act (ROPA) and theNationalRegistrationAct (NRA), is a major blow to

democracy

According to the Department of Public Information (DPI), the Vice President described the AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan's assertions as 'pure clown show'. “This has been in the public domain for almost e i g h t m o n t h s t h e explanation is when the Constitution removed that in 2001, the law is inconsistent with the Constitution of Guyana so now that we have a ruling from the Chief Justice, the law has to be consistent, an ordinary law with the supreme law of the country – the Constitution of Guyana,” DPI quoted Ramjattanassaying.

Jagdeo said that the events which followed the March 2, 2020 General and RegionalElectionsprompted the People's Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) administration to amend the ROPA. He said that the amendments seek to enhance, modernise and reform the democratic quality of the country and maketheelectoralmachinery and the registration process m o r e t r a n s p a r e n t , accountableandeffective.

Amendments were made to the National Registration Act, Cap. 19:08, which seek to strengthen and clarify the concept of a continuous registration system which is provided for by law, DPI reported.

Fixed periods for voter registration, regular removal of deceased persons from the official list of electors, and cyclic issuance of national identification cards are among the significant amendmentstheAct.

The amendments to the NRA go hand-in-hand with amendments to the ROPA and complete the cycle of amendments being made to theelectoralsystem.

However, Ramjattan at a press conference held on Friday said that the removal o f t h e r e s i d e n c y requirements for eligible voting at elections is a major blow to democracy and free andfairelections.

Ramjattan said “The has effectively subtracted out of section 6(2)(a) of the NationalRegistrationActthe express requirement which stipulated that on the qualifying date, people who areregisteredmustbepeople “(a): who are resident in Guyana ”“Further, it substituted for this mandatory residency qualification, which is the duty of GECOM to find and

file, an alternative arrangement under a new Section 6(4) which stipulates “ at which registration officers shall receive: (a) the application of registration of every person eligible therefore,withandaddressat the date of his application in the registration division in that district or any part thereof…,”Ramjattansaid.

The AFC Leader who is also an Attorney further added that as it relates to the a m e n d m e n t t o t h e Representation of the People Act, the Government has by substitution of Section 2 of the Amendment Act 24 of 2022, knocked off the word 'resident' and replaced same with 'with registered address'; and, for the words 'an elector's residence within Guyana' substituted this with thewords'anelector'.

Displaying a high degree of alarm and apprehension, Ramjattan continued by saying, “Further and more alarmingly, the Government has installed a new part into the Representation of the People Act in a new section 33 A (6), which now stipulates : ''If the Commission so directs by order, the list of Electors to choose the members of any localdemocraticorgan(other than a regional democratic c o u n c i l ) o r L o c a l Government Authority shall consist of names extracted

from the Official List of Electors prepared under this section and registered with an address in the area of that Local Democratic Organ or L o c a l G o v e r n m e n t Authority”

“The previous position by Section 2 (3) was that the officiallistofelectorsforany division 'shall be the preliminary list of the electors' resident in that d i v i s i o n F r o m a l l appearances, the PPP missed the amendment needed for the Local Government ElectionsActtocompletethe circle It obviously overlooked this residency qualification therein One has to be ordinarily resident to be a voter in the Local Government Elections, and, 'ordinarilyresident'isgivena meaning therein,” Ramjattan added.

T h e A F C L e a d e r continued by saying that thereisonlyonedeductionto be made based on the actions of the Government, and that is“tohaveavoterslistwhich will increasingly be bloated eachyeartocome,andwhich will be abused via impersonations.”

Additionally, the Party's Leader said that after noticing the Government's intention, it sought to have the matter deferred to a SpecialSelectCommitteefor deliberations. However, that requestwasdenied.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has refuted the AllianceForChange's(AFC)

Alliance For Change Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo

Govt. mislead Guyana on insurance for Liza field …promisedUS$2.5BbutpolicyonlycoversUS$600M

Th e G u y a n a g o v e r n m e n t , along with US oil major ExxonMobil have blatantly misled Guyanese regarding the US$2 5B insurance that was said to be available to cover the sector duringitsstart-upstage.

The oil company's President, Alistair Routledge has told Guyanese repeatedly that Exxon's former Country Manager Rod Henson never promised the sum for oil insurance and dismissed those claims made by former Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) head, Dr VincentAdams.

The Guyana government also discredited Adams sayingthathewas makingup stories as there is no documentation or other evidence in the government's possessiontoprovesame.

However, an exclusive report by Stabroek News back in July 2019 has shown that both the government and Exxon lied about the insurance.

Inthereporttitled:'Exxon secures local insurance' and published on July 22, 2019, Henson not only confirmed the availability of the US$2.5B coverage, but he also informed that it was being held in country by a localcompany.

Henson, who headed E x x o n M o b i l ' s l o c a l subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), had told the Stabroek News reporter that the company has the “ r e q u i r e d i n d u s t r y insurance ”and that Diamond Fire and General Insurance (DFGI) Inc, a subsidiary of Demerara Distillers Limited issued the policy

Hetoldthereporterthatin addition to the US$2 5B, ExxonMobil and partners H e s s a n d C N O O C Nexen were working w i t h t h e B a n k o f G u y a n a , t h e Department of Energy and the Environmental P r o t e c t i o n A g e n c y (EPA) regarding their plans to cover “above and beyond” insurance sum, which is met by the parent companies.

Themeetingofthesestate agencies and the oil operator was also denied by the government when Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat told this newspaper a n d r e p e a t e d i n a Parliamentary debate on environmental protection that nothing was done to

protect the country since the a n n o u n c e m e n t o f commercialoil.

But when Henson was asked about the progress of the meetings with the State agencies as they occurred in 2019, he had told Stabroek that, “We are in the middle of thatprocess.

We are working with the Bank of Guyana and the EPA and right now, we have done everything we can do…we areallworking.”

Hesaidthatthecompany, “ absolutely intend to c o m p l y w i t h t h e requirements.

We are not dragging our feetatall…wewillensurethe EPAissatisfied.”

Komal Samaroo, the Chairman of DFGI, had also told Stabroek that the Exxon placement was a welcomed local content move. “We obviously are delighted…” he told the newspaper, “Any new business that comes our way as a new company, we areelatedandwelcomeit.”

Samaroo supported more localcompaniesbeingableto provide services to the upand-coming oil sector, explaining that, “The more companies can do, it is better fortheoveralleconomy.”

Theresurfacedarticlehas now caused a number of questions to be asked. Dr Adams during an Alliance For Change (AFC) press conference on Friday, called on the government to come clean on the insurance arrangement it now has with Exxon.

Adams submitted that the article proves the availability of the US$2.5B during the early stage of the Liza fields andthemovetosecureparent coverage above and beyond what the subsidiary could

afford. Dr Adams said that the million-dollar question now, is how did the policy move from US$2 5B to US$600M and where is the parentguarantee?

Adams said that Henson in 2019 had personally delivered to him the policy after purchasing it for Liza 2 andwassupposedtohavethe parent company guarantee donebytheendofthatyear

Adams continued that the company failed to deliver the guarantee by yearend and so in2020whenthePayarafield permit came up for approval, he did not sign off on it. Adams said he was later removed as CEO of EPAand a month later, the Payara permit was signed without the parent company guarantee.

The insurance available to Guyana for an oil spill in 2022isUS$600Mperproject with no parent company guarantee.

Adams said the parent company guarantee has no immediate cost. It is a letter that says the parent company will provide unlimited coverage for all costs the subsidiary cannot cover However, the current negotiation on this is for a “paltry” US$2B parent company cover and a promise to do more if the moneyisinadequate.

Adams reminded that insurance is necessary, but it is the parent company guarantee that is most important to cover what EEPGLcannot.

He said inadequate protection for the oil sector could mean financial doom for Guyana and other Caribbean countries, particularly those with economiesthatdependonthe environment.

To date, no local company holds oil sector insuranceincountry

T h e r e i s a n advertisement out for insurance services for the Yellowtail project and Gas to Energy project, but the operator is seeking a local company 'front', meaning they get a fee to pretend to own Exxon's oil insurance while the overseas holder makeshundredsofthousands of US dollars in premiums, cedingcommissionandother fees.

Local operators have complained bitterly as they believe oil sector regulators are being slothful in ensuring that the oil companies follow thelaw

Dr Adams said the

government must hold Exxon to the law and give them no special treatment, especially since the same courtesyisnotextendedtoits localbusinesses.

ExxonMobil Guyana Country Manager, Alistair Routledge

Sunday - Dec 11, 2022

continuously separates oil from

will not involve withdrawal of produced water and associated gas groundwater, so there will not be Jagdeo ‘sick and tired’of for onboard storage, and later any effect on groundwater media’s questions on securing transfertothirdpartytankers. availability associated with this greater oil benefits for Guyanese

The anticipated production rate Project activity The intensity of maintains that all future for the FPSO ranges between this potential impact relative to projects will align with approximately 220,000 barrels and degradationofgroundwaterquality Trotman’s 2016 contract 275,000 barrels of oil per day. The is therefore rated as negligible vessel will be capable of storing duringtheConstructionstage.” Following its assumption to approximately two million barrels

In addition to this, ERM office, several industry ofoil. explained that there is a possibility stakeholders expected the PPP/C

Furthermore, third party oil for untreated wastewater to be Government to secure greater tankerswillbescheduledtooffload releasedfromtheNGLPlant. benefits from the oil-rich Stabroek the oil from the FPSO, making the

“The infiltrating water could Block which now holds 11 billion oil available for export to the include dissolved contaminants barrelsofoilequivalentresources. international market. The FPSO such as nitrates, phosphates and

Much to the disappointment of will also process, dehydrate, other nutrients, metals, many observers, the Government compress, and reinject associated hydrocarbons, biodegradable has refused to do anything that gasproducedfromthereservoir As organic matter, and pathogenic make or break the future of all andevencompanies. would ruffle the feathers of the Uaru and Mako reservoir microorganisms,” the study citizens, must be addressed. He

“Theaquiferisintact,that’spart ExxonMobil Corporation whose pressures deplete over time, this warned. even requested further time to ask of the environmental studies, the affiliate, Esso Exploration and gas reinjection will help maintain These constituents, the EIA other pertinent questions on the aquifer is intact. We are running a Production Guyana Limited reservoir pressure and allow for continued,couldinfiltrateintosoils sectorbutwasignored. pipeline (and) it’s not gonna (EEPGL) benefits from the o p t i m u m p r o d u c t i o n o f and increase levels in the shallow The Uaru Project contaminate the water supply It lopsidedagreementsignedin2016. hydrocarbons to continue over water-bearing zone, which could In its project summary that was will not, definitively not In fact, Vice President Dr. time. In addition, some of the gas then discharge to canals and submitted to the Environmental contaminate the water supply,” the Bharrat Jagdeo continues to insist willbeusedasfuelontheFPSO. potentially contribute to human Protection Agency (EPA), VicePresidentassured. that EEPGL will continue to enjoy Furthermore, EEPGL told the health impacts, but only over a ExxonMobil subsidiary, Esso However, research by this the lion’s share of profits from all EPA that it has undertaken localized area it therefore again Exploration and Production publication has confirmed that the projects pursued in the Stabroek additional studies to obtain an even classified potential impacts on GuyanaLimitedwhichoperatesthe watersupplycanbeaffectedbythis Block. His most recent declaration m o r e c o m p r e h e n s i v e groundwateraslow Stabroek concession, said the Uaru project. in this regard was issued during a understanding of potential impacts This major concern regarding Project will be located in the Buried deep in Volume One of pressconferenceonFriday of effluent discharges to water, the the project was first raised by an eastern portion of the block, i t s a l m o s t 1 5 0 0 w o r d s

During his engagement with feasibility of alternative handling environmental advocate and approximately 200 km from Environmental Impact Assessment media operatives, he made it clear of produced water, cradle to grave Geologist, Simone Mangal-Joly Georgetown and amid previous (EIA), Esso Exploration and that all projects will remain waste management in Guyana, Last week this newspaper reported StabroekProjects. Production Guyana Limited shackled to the highly flawed emergency response capabilities, that the location identified by the

Current plans include drilling (EEPGL) or ExxonMobil Guyana, Production Sharing Agreement and environmental compliance Government of Guyana for the via drill-ships to produce oil from isastatementthatsaystherewillbe (PSA). His remark was in response monitoring and verification. The country’s gas-to-energy project is approximately 40-76 wells degradation of the groundwater to questions from Kaieteur News company said the learnings from unsuitable and will likely pose Production is expected to begin quality however these impacts Publisher,GlennLall. c u r r e n t o p e r a t i o n s a n d great danger to the country’s main between the fourth quarter of 2026 wouldbenegligible. The businessman called on the environmentalstudieswillenhance groundwateraquifer andthesecondquarterof2027with

The study was prepared by Vice President to tell the nation if the design and implementation of An aquifer is an underground an expected field life of at least 20 Environmental Resources the Government would be seeking the Uaru Project, thereby layer of water-bearing, permeable years. Management (ERM), a Consultant greater benefits for Guyanese as increasing environmental rock, rock fractures, or

EEPGL said the production firmthathas completedmost of the well as the closure of critical performanceandeconomicvalue. unconsolidated materials facilities to be installed include EIAs for the oil company to date in loopholes for the fifth project It concluded that the Uaru Groundwater from aquifers is subsea equipment attached to the Guyana. Exxon is pursuing at the Stabroek Project will contribute positively, extractedusingawaterwell. seafloor as well as processing

According to the study, “HDD Block’sUarufield. directlyandindirectly,toeconomic The Environmental Protection equipment on the ocean’s surface [Horizontal Directional Drilling] is

Specifically, Lall asked Jagdeo growth in Guyana, including Agency (EPA) recently approved known as a Floating, Production, a trenchless construction method if the Government would seek an increased national revenues, local ExxonMobil’s pipeline and NGL Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) that uses drilling fluids under increaseintheroyaltytobepaidon procurement of select goods and Plant for Wales, in the absence of vessel. EEPGL said this subsea pressure. The potential impacts on that project, and if Exxon would be services, increased direct and anyupdatedstudies. equipment is installed at groundwater resources from HDD made to pay its fair share of taxes.

indirect local employment

Notably, a critical document to approximately 1,450 – 1,950 m of operations are related to the HealsoenquirediftheGovernment opportunities which drive prove the safety of the area was water depth while noting that the potentiallossofthesedrillingfluids would demand full coverage associated beneficial ‘multiplier’ never published. At the same time, main components of the subsea kit from the HDD bore to the insurance from Exxon in the event impacts throughout the local the site at Wales sits above include the following: production surrounding formation With ofanoilspill. economy Guyana’s main groundwater tree, production manifold, proper drilling fluid design and Jagdeo said, “We made it clear aquifer that provides 90 percent of flowlines, risers, and umbilicals. management, these losses are to the public that projects under the Impact study for Wales gas all the domestic and commercial The subsea umbilicals, risers, and expected to be infrequent StabroekBlockwillenjoythesame project warns of reduced water water flowlinesarecommonlyreferredto a n d w h e r e t h e y d o terms as was there in the 2016 quality…Jagdeo defends

As such Geologist, Simone asSURF occur—limitedinarealextent.” agreement.That’sit!” site; says project will

Mangal-Joly has labeled the Additionally, EEPGL’s

At the same time, it was also

Later on in his almost three- not cause contamination approval of Exxon’s project document explained that the oil, explained that, “In some cases, hour briefing, the Vice President “criminal”. gas, and water flows from the well unforeseen circumstances can lead expressed his disgust for repeated Amid concerns that Guyanese

In an exclusive interview with into the production tree. The fluids toanexcessivelossofdrillingfluid questions regarding the Stabroek will be at risk of cancer from the this publication, the environmental are then gathered into the manifold from the HDD bore to surrounding Block. He said it is time he puts an likely contaminating of the advocate pointed out that: “When which then connects to the groundwater or to the ground end to this redundancy, adding that country’s water supply when the you look at that EIA, it says the flowlines before the risers take the surface, as a loss of this magnitude his position on the block has been Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) project impacts on the groundwater will be fluids up to the FPSO for is a situation that is not reasonably cleartoall. at Wales, West Bank Demerara negligible. Nowhere in the world processing. expectedtooccuraspartofplanned

He said, “In Guyana things (WBD) begins, Vice President can you put a power plant and an

Kaieteur News understandsthat Projectactivities. seem to be circular Every time I Bharrat Jagdeo has assured that NGL plant and a pipeline over the umbilical lines support

In summary, the HDD bores cometoaPressConference,itison therewillbenosuchconsequence. ground water and it never gets production by providing real time that will be completed in the soils racism, the Stabroek Blocks, etc.

Jagdeo told Kaieteur News on seriously impacted. Basic common control of the subsea installation along the onshore pipeline corridor There is no proper policy Friday that Guyana’s main aquifer sense will tell you that upset from the surface by delivering are not reasonably anticipated to discussion. Every time I come, it is which is located below the Wales conditionsofspillsetc.overthe30fluids to facilitate the flow of result in effects to water quality in thesamequestion.” site, earmarked by Government for year-life of such heavily polluting hydrocarbons. the shallow groundwater zones

However,Lallmadeitclearthat a NGLfacility and a power plant to industries put the groundwater at

As for the FPSO, it is an through which the HDD bores will questions regarding the oil sector, generate electricity, will not affect highrisk.Andthisisourmost industrial floating complex that pass. Further, the HDD operation the most crucial industry that could thequalityofwaterreachinghomes

From page 16

petroleum sector, Vice President know that the cost to erect the very

see the promised annual revenues prized groundwater aquifer Bharrat Jagdeo is throwing his billboard is being recovered by from its oil sector, as the “oneGuyana’s coastal water supply supportbehindAmericanoilmajor, ExxonMobil based on the lopsided sided” oil contract gives comes mainly from the A Sand ExxonMobil’s calculation, that contract it signed with the Guyana ExxonMobil and its partners the Aquifer, which lies below the Guyana’stotaltakeofrevenuefrom Government. benefit, leaving Guyana and its WalesEstate.” theoilandgassectorisawhopping “ExxonMobil is spending people out of their fair share of the The Geologist explained that 52percent. millions, further shortening our wealth. when hydrocarbon pollutants get Jagdeo, an Economist, was share to build and erect huge

This is the view of the Institute intoyourwatersupply,theyremain asked to weigh in on the issue on billboards, to tell us the Guyanese for Energy Economics and there permanently, and are Fridayfollowingtheplacementofa people we are getting 52% out of Financial Analysis (IEEFA), an cancerous,makingthewaterunsafe number of billboards by the oil the Stabroek Block,” Lall stated. independent organization that forconsumption. company across Guyana. These He asked, “52% of what? Not the examines issues related to energy

The EPAon November 25 gave billboards claim among other whole apple, but 52% of a ¼ of the markets,trendsandpolicies. US oil giant, ExxonMobil its thingsthatGuyanabenefitsfrom52 totalrevenuemade.”

According to one of its reports blessings to commence the US$1.3 percent of all the profits from oil He added that what Exxon titled ‘Lack of Ring-Fencing billion Gas-to-Energy project that andgas. should have been telling Guyanese Provision Means Guyana Won’t will allow for the construction of a The VP explained, “I saw how on those huge billboards, who is Realize Oil Gains Before 2030s, if natural gas pipeline, as well as a they are claiming the 52 (percent)- getting the ¾ of the apple plus the at All- Loophole Allows NGL facility and supporting 50 percent from profit oil and then other half of the quarter apple ExxonMobil-Led Development Guyana,”thecompanysaid. infrastructure at Wales, West Bank 52. That might not be the most whichremains. Team To Use Profits To Pay for Notwithstanding Exxon’s D e m e r a r a W h i l e m a n y egregious thing because it is “It is mind boggling, that these

More Oil Exploration in Guyana’ claims, the Kaieteur News stakeholders had raised concerns accuratethat52percent.Ifyoulook guys can put up billboards staring details that Guyana’s failure to Publisher maintains his position. regarding the safety of the project, at how it’s calculated, so it’s 50 us in our faces to mislead all of us

implementa“ringfence”provision “When I see the financial the EPA in its decision to grant the percentoftheprofits.” and our Leaders, all of them are has provided Exxon an opportunity statements along with the bills to Permit, said the project’s EIA and He was reminded that 75 silent.” to reduce the country’s share of show Guyana that this billboard Environmental Impact Statement percent of the revenue is first Following his statement on the profits. cost is not coming out as cost oil (EIS) have been declared deducted to cover the operator’s front page of Kaieteur News last According to the document, then I will withdraw my acceptable, by the Environmental expense, in keeping with the Tuesday, Exxon issued a response “Among the contract’s weak comments,”Lallsaidinresponseto Assessment Board (EAB) in lopsided Stabroek Block insisting that the billboards erected

provisions, Guyana never imposed Exxon’sletter accordance with section 11(13) of Production Sharing Agreement across the country are not being a “ring fence,” which means that Further, Lall asserted his the Environmental Protection Act, (PSA) and was asked to explain recovered as an expense. The the oil companies can charge the position on the ExxonMobil Cap. 20:05. “The EPA is satisfied how this calculation would be company’s Media Advisor, Kwesi government for costs incurred for billboards mounted at several that the project can be conducted in accurate. Isles, in a letter to this newspaper new development and pay for it out locations in the country “I also a c c o r d a n c e w i t h g o o d After pausing, he then maintained that the information of the revenues from Liza Phase stand my ground as to the billboard environmental practices, and in a responded, “If you look at the presented on the billboards are One, an oil field that commenced comments. I am maintaining the manner that avoids, prevents and lifecycle, normally you look at the factual. productioninDecember2019. information on the billboard is minimizes any adverse effects lifecycle of the project. It can’t be Isles explained, “The

A strong ring fence provision misleading and that Exxon should which could result from the done simply So if you look at the information displayed on the would have allowed ExxonMobil tell the Guyanese people the whole activity,” it said. Exxon has been lifecycle at 50- we had the billboard in question is factual and to charge only costs related to Liza truth.” granted a five year Permit by the simulations done- of $50, $60 and can be verified. It is no secret that Phase One against revenues In fact, he argued that the agency, this means it will remain in $100. the 2016 Production Sharing receivedfromoilfromthatfield.” response from the multinational effect until November 24, 2027. It So this is, here if this is $100, it Agreement (PSA) allows the

TheInstitutewentontosaythat company has failed to address the will be renewed only after the worksouttoabout49to50percent. Stabroek block co-venturers Guyana only received US$344 misleading information on the Permit Holder submits an If it’s $50 over the lifecycle of (CoVs)torecovertheirinvestments million in the first 16 months of billboard. application form six months before the project, it’s close to 50 – up to 75 percent of oil produced production.

According to that poster, its environmental authorisation somethingpercent,56percent.” andsoldinagivenmonth.”

To date, ExxonMobil has planted at the Demerara Harbour expires.

He stressed that in determining Subsequently, the Exxon received approval for four projects, Bridge junction in Region Three Meanwhile, Government said Guyana’s share, factors such as the representative noted that all profits including Liza One and Two, Guyana has received more than the Permit for its 300 Megawatt number of production years and over and above the cost to find, Payara and more recently, the $280B since oil production started Power Plant will be issued in a few number of barrels produced must develop and produce oil are split Yellowtaildevelopment. here late 2019, as 52 percent of the weeks’time. be considered and then multiplied 50/50 between the Government of In addition, the company also profitsgoestothecountry. bythepriceperbarrelat$50. GuyanaandtheCoVs. made several other discoveries, Monday - Dec 12, 2022 As such he said, “No, I don’t “An additional two percent of along with about four dry holes, of Warnings from International think that is misleading, there alloilproducedandsoldispaidout which the costs are being charged Energy Organization Jagdeo agrees with Exxon that mightbeotherthingsIdonotagree to the Government as a royalty and against the oil produced at the Liza Guyana getting 52% from with but I don’t think that’s comes out of the CoVs share of the One well. This, the report says, It must be noted that Guyana Stabroek Block deal misleading.”Speakingontheissue, profit. reduces Guyana’s share of the has been warned on numerous thepublisherofthisnewspaper,Mr The result is 52 percent of all profits. occasions in the past that the 2016 The country’s manager of the Glenn Lall said citizens need to profit goes to the Government of

IEEFA estimated that Guyana PSA may never allow Guyana to shouldreceiveupwardof$6billion annually by 2028 or sooner However,theorganizationbelieves that due to all of these new costs, Guyana will be short-changed until the2030’s,ifnotlonger

Tom Sanzillo, a director of financial analysis for IEEFA said, ”The lack of contract protections means that every time Guyana announces it has received more revenue, it is actually being shortchanged.”

To this end, IEEFA said its findings suggest there is much work to be done on the oil agreement before Guyana could enjoy the benefits of its offshore resources.

The institute added, that the government’sconsiderationsof

AFC member and Former EPA Head, Dr. Vincent Adams

From page 17 licensees.

a new gas project is troubling,

On the issue of discrimination, considering the importance of the Lall argues that the Agreement “is outstanding issues with the oil discriminatory to Guyanese contract. employees by exempting from personalincometaxincomeearned

Farmer found onlybyexpatriateemployeesofthe dead inAlness trench contractor, affiliated companies or non-resident sub-contractors who

A 49-year-old farmer from are physically present in Guyana Alness Village Corentyne Berbice for183daysorlessonacumulative was on Sunday found dead in a basisinthetaxyearofassessment.” trenchlocatedalongtheracecourse

However, Luckhoo contends streetinthesaidvillage. thatthelawshouldbeinterpretedto

Dead is Burnette Grey, a mean that the concessions and livestock and rice farmer waivers may be given to persons According to his reputed wife with sufficient connection to the Althea Pearson, Grey was at her licensee. house on Saturday around 4:00pm.

He submitted that Lall’s legal She said he had left to go down to team failed to address questions the back dam. She said at the time surrounding the points raised by

“if

court shewasleaving,shetoldGreytosit subsidiary, Esso Exploration and be subject to affirmative action of EEPGL(thecontractor).

on her mother’s step and that she Production

the national assembly, direct that The Senior Counsel said that delayinmakingtheapplicationsfor will return soon. ”I told him wait (EEPGL),EdwardLuckhoo,SCon any or all of the written laws while Lall is challenging the use of judicial review and grant of relief andsitonmymotherstepandthatI Monday petitioned the court to mentioned in subsection (2) shall PEPA by claiming that it is ultra would cause substantial hardship, was coming back and I left and go strike out the case filed by Kaieteur not apply to, or in relation to, a v i r e s o f t h e F i n a n c i a l prejudicetherightsofanyparty…It away and look after the stock and News Publisher, Glenn Lall to licensee where a licensee has Administration (and Audit)Act may be consider it not appropriate when I come back, he wasn’t there challenging the Government’s entered into a production sharing (FAA), “There is no definition of a toconvertthematter.” and my mother said she saw when decision to grant massive tax agreement with the Government of tax act within the context of [our]

Added to this, the Senior he leave the yard,” Pearson waiverstooilcompanies. Guyana.” legislation…” then the sections of Counsel advanced that Lall has not disclosed.

Lall had filed a case against the

He noted that while Lall’s PEPAthataddresstaxmodification shown any reasons in his Pearson said she did not hear or Government of Guyana (GOG) argument is that the PEPA should oughttobedeemedastaxlaw application as to why the matter see Grey for the entire Saturday back in January to challenge the be limited to Exxon and its Luckhoo, who represents should be converted under the night but on Sunday, she got up decision to grant massive tax subsidiary, the law does not EEPGL along with Senior Counsel JudicialReviewAct. waivers to the oil company and its expresslystatewhothebenefactors Andrew Pollard, was only Lawyer

HestressedthattheApplication affiliates. However, EEPGL was arewhenitmentionsthewords,“in to make oral presentations in the didindeedsufferunduedelaybeing subsequentlyaddedasarespondent relationto.” case before Justice Nareshwar filed five years after the Petroleum inthematter

Among the grounds, Lall lists HarnananonMonday Agreementwassignedbetweenthe On Monday, EEPGL’s Lawyer his main contention as the Lall’s lawyer, Mohamed R Ali Government of Guyana and the oil argued, among other things, that provisions of the agreement violate aswellasLawyersrepresentingthe operator Lall’s Application should not be thePetroleumAct,bypurportingto Government led by Attorney

He said: “They say they were allowed to proceed since it was extend production sharing General and Minister of Legal financiallyconstrainedwhichIfind filed erroneously under the private concessions to persons other than Affairs,Anil Nandlall, SC declined very difficult to understand since lawproceedings. thoselicenced. tomakeoralsubmissionsbutrelied the applicant puts himself forward

Luckhoo asserted that “Based

Against this background, he on the information previously as the owner of a media house. on his own submissions of the arguesthatanyexemptionsreferred submittedtothecourt. Theysaytheywereunabletoobtain applicant [Lall] the proceedings to in Article 15 Petroleum The case which seeks to legal representation which in the cannot move forward by way of Exploration and Production Act, overturn the expansive tax context of Guyana, thought of an private law proceeding because at purportingtoextendconcessionsto provisions granted to the oil unavailability of lawyers is paragraph 3.5 of the applicant’s persons other than the licensees are companies is now set for ruling in impossibletoentertain.” submission, the applicant admits not consistent with the provisions February2023.

Luckhooaddedthattheissueof that he has no personal interest in ofAct. He contends that “licensee” tax exemptions, which is the center the reliefs sought and he is not as defined by the Petroleum Act Guyana ranks second to of Lall’s Application, is one that is directlyaffectedbyinanindividual refers only to Esso Exploration and last in region for access to around6:00amtolookforhim.She tobeeasilydisputed. capacity.” Production Guyana Limited quality healthcare – IDB added that she ventured to his

During his presentation, Senior AccordingtotheLawyer,byhis (EEPGL), CNOOC NEXEN aunt’shousewhereheusuallyvisits Counsel Luckhoo cited Section 51 own admission, Lall whose legal

Petroleum Guyana Limited and Given the scale of Guyana’s oil but he was not there and the aunt of the Petroleum Exploration and team is led by Attorney, Mohamed Hess Guyana Exploration Limited bonanza, currently pegged at 11 indicatedthatshedidnotseehim.It ProductionAct(PEPA)whichdeals R. Ali, has been disentitled from andnottoanyotherperson. billion barrels of oil equivalent was while she was making her way with the modification of the tax any of the reliefs sought under

Lall through his Attorney has resources in the Stabroek Block, along the race course street that she lawswithrespecttothelicensee. privatelaw asked the Court to make a organisations like the Intersaw his body in the trench and she

That section states that: “The He continued “… The only declaration that bringing the American Development Bank raised an alarm. The neighbours Ministerassignedresponsibilityfor issue that rises for your Honour’s agreement into force that the tax (IDB)believeAuthoritieshavea came out to assist in pulling the finance may, by order, which will consideration is whether, in the waiver must apply only to (Continued on page 57) body out of the trench. Police were circumstances of what is before the subsequently contacted. “He was a courtandundertheJudicialReview good person; we do farming Act,ifitispermissibleandwhether together; we graze stock together,” the Court ought to exercise its the reputed wife said An jurisdiction to convert the investigationisunderway proceeding to Judicial Review proceedings…”

Tuesday - Dec 13, 2022

Further, Luckhoo submitted that the Court should not exercise Exxon wants Court to strike its jurisdiction if it finds the down Glenn Lall’s application applicant would be disentitled to challenging tax waivers thereliefsought.

– Lawyer argues case should “It would be unnecessary to have been filed under entertain this application,” he said public law proceedings alluding to the overarching principle, which is set out in Attorney for ExxonMobil’s Section 21 of the Judicial Review

Act where it states

the

considersthattherehasbeenundue

Guyana Limited

Deceased: Burnette Grey

Kaieteur News Publisher, Glenn Lall

Attorney, Mohamed R. Ali

Senior Counsel, Edward Luckhoo

The New Amsterdam Hospital is one of the facilities that will benefit from the US$97M loan. IDB officials had found it in a deplorable state where mold was on the walls of the operating room.

P&PspreadsChristmas cheerto12organisations

P&P Insurance Brokers Limited on Thursday made its annual Christmas donationsto12organisations.

The recipients are: Bless the Children Home,CanaanChildrenHome,PtolemyReid Rehab Centre, Uncle Eddie’s Home, Friends oftheArcher’sHome,TheDharamShala,St. Ann’s Orphanage, Cheshire Homes Guyana, Hauraruni Girls Home, Tina Insanally Foundation,BalNivasShelterandtheJoshua HouseChildrenCentre.

For the past 16 years, the Insurance Company has provided financial support to several organisations involved in humanitarian work. Executive Director of P&P, Mr Vikash Panday said 16 years ago when the idea was conceptualised, the Company donated $1M to 10 organisations witheachreceiving$100,000.

Since its inception, the number of

organisationshasincreasedfrom10to12with each receiving $125,000 representing a donationof$1,500,000tosupporttheirwork.

However, this year, each organisation benefittedfrom$150,000takingthetotalsum giftedto$1,800,000.

In addition to the increase in the value of the donations, P&P made donations of personalhygieneitemstoeachorganisation.

Further, the staff of P&P with their own funds, they made donations of toys to each orphanage,agesturepleasingtoMr Panday

Meanwhile, the P&P Executive Director commended the organisations for their humanitarianworkandwishedthemwellfor the Christmas season and beyond In response,representativesoftheorganisations thanked Mr Panday and his staff for their continued support while wishing them the bestfortheseason.

Recipients along with Executive Director of P&PInsurance Company Mr. Vikash Panday and Ms. Jaya Panday on Thursday

Govt. to spend $221M more to repair Canal Nos. 1 & 2 main roads

The Ministry of Public Works will be spending an additional $221,841,060 to continueitsrehabilitationof theCanalNos.1and2West Bank Demerara (WBD) mainroads.

Recently, the Ministry signed two new contracts at its Kingston, Georgetown office to complete Phase Three of the rehabilitation projects.Thecontractswere s i g n e d w i t h R & B Investment Inc. contracted to complete phase three of CanalNo.1mainroadtothe tune of $103,520,235, and AJM Enterprise contracted to complete Phase Three of CanalNo.2roadtothesum of118,320,825.

Rehabilitation of the main roads began in 2021 with Phase One of the projects being awarded in September to complete the roads in the farming communities As part of efforts to continue the upgrade of the access roads thisyear,twomorecontracts worth $192, 181,710 were awarded to complete Phase Twooftheprojects.

T h e s e t w o n e w additional contracts, when

calculated show that a total of $757,767,417 is being spent by the Public Works Ministrytodorehabilitative worksonthesetworoads.

Back in April, the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board(NPTAB)officeonits website had revealed that R&B Investment Inc secured the contract to execute works for Phase Two of the Canal No.1 road for $99,000,300 while Navin & Son Construction was awarded the $ 93,181,410contracttowork onPhaseTwoofCanalNo.2 road.

K a i e t e u r N e w s previously reported that already $343,794,647 was spent on the first phase of these roads. In September 2021, two contractors, Japarts Construction Inc and Aronco Services Inc. were awarded contracts to upgradethefirstphaseofthe roads.

Reports are that Japarts was awarded $173,131,854 to work on Canal No. 1 and Aronco to work on Canal No.2mainaccessroadfor Continuedonpage63

Phase Two of rehabilitation works to the Canal No.1 main access road. (Photo courtesy, Canal Polder NDC Facebook page)

Rehabilitation works ongoing for Phase Two of Canal No. 2 access road.

Sadiya Yahya

This week’s featured beauty is the stunning SadiyaYahya.Yahya is a youth advocate, feminist, model and dancer. She recently graduated from the University of Guyana with a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations. Yahya aims to work in areas that will foster greater national development. She said, “My intent in whatever I do, whether it be in the corporate world, youth work or just my life, it is to go above and beyond.”

The beauty holds to this quote by MayaAngelou. It says, “Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women.”

VILLAGE

community of interesting personalities 39 Stanleytown

By Malisa Playter-Harry

when we showed up and as we entered his yard, visible were

The small community of 39 amazing pieces sculpted wood by Stanleytown is located in New Jameshimself.Itwasquiteasight! Amsterdam, Region 6 and is The talented James said he situatedjustafewminutesfromthe learnttheartfromhiscousin. heart of the township and another “Acousin use to do it and I use few minutes from East Bank to sit by him every day and watch Berbice. andIjustsuddenlypickupthetools

A w a l k t h r o u g h t h e andburstintoit...” neighbourhood will reveal a small James said he is more into clusterofinterestingpeople. creative art and for him, it’s just

When The Waterfalls visited, having a piece of wood and him we caught up with a retired nurse; getting creative without having shewashangingclothesontheline, anythingreallyinmind. oneofthemanychoressheengages “What comes out, comes out,” in on a weekly basis A bit hesaid. apprehensive at first to speak with He added that one piece of art us, she eventually warmed up and such as a table with stools would turned out to be a really friendly individual.

- A

A section of 39 Stanleytown

If persons are desirous of

Hyacinth Griffith is 71-years- having a piece sculpted, they can oldbutlooks20yearsyoungerthan makecontactwithJameson(+592) her actual age. She has been living 602-3077 Meanwhile, over on the at 39 Stanleytown for the past year southern side of 39 Stanleytown, but was a resident of New we met another resident who has Amsterdammostofherlife. been living in the community for

“This is my mom’s place; she justoverayear Hepreviouslylived usedtosellsweetsatthemarket...” at No.1 Village, Corentyne and

Griffith who was a nurse for 25 notes that where he lives now is years is now retired and said she more developed and more misses the profession dearly She accessible. was attached to the New

Hehadafewbonestopickwith Amsterdam Hospital and the the authorities in charge of the National Psychiatric Hospital at township and by extension, the FortCanje,Berbice.Sheaddedthat government. though retired, she is still a source of basic medical advice to people who know her and are associated with her The retired nurse

He said he has played with the take about a month with him described the community as very idea of opening a gallery to working on it every day The quiet. She said jokingly, “I does display his pieces but has smaller pieces usually take a drink a lot of water and mind my second thoughts because he shorter time. He uses Mahogany business” before agreeing to have believes that it won’t get the and Samon wood to create his her picture taken. She went about attention it deserves in magnificent pieces, with just a her merry way and continued with Berbice. chisel, sand paper, mullet and the herafternoonchores.

James said that he enjoys varnish to add to its finishing

Just a short distance away, we living within the community touches. found another gem; a sculptor and andnotesthatheiswell-known

The sculptor mentioned that he hirecardriver,namedKingJames. around New Amsterdam but he oncesuppliedanartandgiftshopin He was extremely welcoming stillremainshumble. Georgetown but does not anymore.

“Eitherthecity,thegovernment or whoever, should look after New Amsterdam properly Right in NewAmsterdam, it got some holes when I drive, I does drop in some deep hole and at the backdam where the RDC is, they have a very good road there and in the town, it havebig,deeppotholes...”

He also mentioned that the drainageisnotasitshouldbe,“This trench is let’s say 12 ft wide and they gave a 2 ft gutter to drain the water, how you gon drain from 12 to 2?” He said there is a lot of backup and when the rain falls, it floodseasily

Inthecommunity,youmayfind afewabandonedhousesandempty lotsbuttheresidentslivepeacefully witheachother

An

old abandoned house with age-old architecture

Sculptor King James and some of his pieces

Hyacinth Griffith, retired nurse.

A resident that is concerned about road and drainage

The National Psychiatric Hospital

Critical to the Regional Health Services in Region Six, and the health sector in Guyana, is the National Psychiatric Hospital, locatedatFortCanje,Berbice.This is the only institution in Guyana specializing in the provision of rehabilitative care for persons sufferingwithmentalillnesses.

When talking about mental health in the past, it may have been a taboo subject with a lot of stigma attached to it, but as time progressed and people became more knowledgeable and aware of mentalhealthissues,thetopicitself hasbecomeanextremelyimportant one.Theneedforabetterfacilityto assistinthisregardremainshighon

- A home for the mentally challenged

Inside the compound

programme was at some point However, that structure proved to discontinued but is set to be re- be rather small at the time and it introducedintheyear2023. was considered more of “a prison But what do we know about the than a hospital” since these history of this institution that has mentally ill persons “had to be put now etched itself into a historic awayandnottreated.” landmark for the country? While In 1867, it moved fromAsylum these plans are set to transform the Street to where it is today at Fort way in which mental health is Canje and back then that location delivered in Region Six, it is also was called “Fort Look Out” or important to understand how and “Pointlook-out.” whereitallbegan.

“It moved to the present site in History 1867becausewhereitwas,itwasa Dr Leslie Ramsammy, small cramped building and revealed that the name, “The because by then, after the slaves National Psychiatric Hospital” were set free, hospitals were no gained popular usage under his longer for the white people, it was stewardship but said that it was also for the rest of the free people previously referred to as the and so now you have more general “Lunatic Asylum”, noting that “it treatment,” Dr Ramsammy could see and the intention is that a heisawarethatitwilltaketimebut the agenda for the Government of indicates to you and the whole mentioned. portion of the patients that come thatitwillhappen. Guyana. world how people looked at mental The site which is considered into the hospital to be returned to “The vision has always been The original structure of the health and how they looked at it as historic was occupied by the Dutch their home eventually, but if you there, the resources were not, I National Psychiatric Hospital over people who are crazy and had to be and English as their command are going to do that you have to know the vision is still there and I the years has deteriorated, and lockedaway.” centre for security reasons. It was ensure that there are enough case knowforsurewearebetteroffwith while the need is to have it

The “Lunatic Asylum” which said to be the “look-out” location workers who will follow them, the resources, both human and preserved and even have a brandwas later renamed the “Mental for their enemies, hence the name make sure that they are getting the financial…”hesaidconfidently new state of art building, the Hospital” and subsequently “Fort Look-out” or “Point look- necessary support so that they can He also mentioned that during resources are not readily available. changed to its current name was out ” The English and Dutch stay in their community rather than histimeasMinisterofHealth,there However, some enhancements will built in the early 1600’s in Asylum eventually left, and the site became return so we are going to do all of was a Post Graduate training likelytakeplaceinthefuture. Street, New Amsterdam; occupiedbythestaffandpatientsof that.”

programme in Psychiatry which

During a candid sit down with interestinglytonote,thatstreetwas theNationalPsychiatricHospitalin Theideahesaidistobringback helped to qualify some eight Dr Leslie Ramsammy, former named after the institution 1867. humaneness to the institution by persons in that field. There were Minister of Health, he mentioned

According to Dr Ramsammy, the “It had some small buildings, providing patients with the same two before, including Dr Mayda, that the service the institution colonialist established the first one the old landmark building, the opportunitiesasanynormalperson. whom he said deserves an award provides is one that is critical to in Guyana in 1725 and it was Victoriablockwasnotbuiltuntil While he is cognisant that such for all that she has done for mental mental health, and that with the among the first in the Caribbean.

(Continued on page 40) changes won’t happen overnight, health in Region Six That introduction of the mental health billatthelastparliamentarysitting, it comes at a time when plans are being put in place for a brand-new facility

The rebuilding of the National Psychiatric Hospital into a modern facility,“ispartofourplanandthat will be done at some point. I know that every infrastructure project that we develop with the IDB and World Bank since I was minister, always included the Psychiatric Hospital but then we make the choices and now I believe finally nothing will knock it out…,” he said.

Headdedthatthegovernmentis working towards having modern mental health programmes “and I think that while in my time, we madealotofchangestomodernize it, people didn’t see it because that is something that people didn’t pay attention to. The kind of changes now will be visible so that people

An old building that once housed patients in the compound

Chalets seen from the exterior of the compound

Travel within the Caribbean in crisis

By Sir Ronald

Sanders Touristsonmulti-destination means for food security and all might have continued to while it is a holidays and even those who making the CARICOM area reapthebenefitsitdelivered. “development”

(The writer is Antigua wouldliketomakeaday-trip more self-sufficient and less All parties should learn a bank, it is still a and Barbuda’s Ambassador to another island that they dependent on goods and lesson from the LIAT b a n k t h a t h a s to the United States of can see on the horizon, services imported from experience, including the responsibilities to its A m e r i c a a n d t h e c a n n o t n o w e v e n outside the region, are also unemployment of its shareholders who trade, employment, business Organization of American contemplatesuchaprospect. beingadverselyimpacted. workers. If no lesson has contribute the capital to the activity and social relations States. He is also a Senior The connectivity simply While no one can been learned about how bank or are active in helping in the region These Fellow at the Institute of doesnotexist. discount the anxiety of cooperation can help to to raise it from hemispheric conditions should not be Commonwealth Studies, Caribbean Airlines does governments, in the period maintain jobs, then that a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l allowed to continue. The University of London and not have enough planes or of the COVID-19 pandemic, historywillrepeatitself. institutions. regionisharmingitself. Massey College in the frequency of travel to fill the when costs escalated and Partially good news is The bank has to balance More than 9.1 million University of Toronto) travel needs; additionally, it revenues declined, causing t h a t t h e C a r i b b e a n its role in “development” tourists visited the

The closure of LIAT in only flies to some Caribbean some owner-governments to DevelopmentBankisalertto with its obligation to Caribbean in 2019. The 2020, without establishing destinations from its base in want to shed the increasing the issue and is considering sustainability majority of them arrived on air transport to fill the Trinidad and Tobago expenses associated with ways to help to address it. By any objective aircraft and traversed the vacuum, has led to chaos in Attempts by two other small LIAT, the decision to The CDB’s Board of analysis, the current crisis of regiononregionalairlines. regional transportation, airlines to ply some of the collapse it with nothing to Directors, responding to a inter-regional travel is a T h e C O V I D - 1 9 gravely affecting the routesarealsotooinfrequent replace it – at least r e q u e s t f r o m t h e direct result of the decision pandemic affected those movement of people and a n d , r e g r e t t a b l y , substantially – has led to the governments ofAntigua and to collapse LIAT without arrivals until most of 2021, goods throughout the undependable. The owners presentdifficulties. Barbuda, Barbados, measures to fill the gap butbordershaveopened,and Caribbeanregion. and management have good It is also understandable Grenada, Guyana, Saint caused by its shuttering people are travelling again – Anyone, who has tried to intentions, but lack of that, at a time when Lucia, and St. Vincent and Antigua and Barbuda’s and want to continue travel from one country to adequate capital has g o v e r n m e n t s w e r e theGrenadineshasapproved Prime Minister, Gaston travelling – in large anotherintheCaribbean,can restricted their ability to confronting decreased consultancyservices. Browne, is making a valiant numbers. In addition to attest to the nightmare it has invest in aircraft, staff and revenues and increased These services will attempttokeeparumpLIAT passenger travel in the become. Whereas in the other costs that would serve expenditure to support the suggest “urgent provisional in the air, recognizing that it region, the volume of freight heyday of LIAT, there were theregion’sneeds. poor and vulnerable as well measures” to re-establish was the main intra-island air by air transport in the at least 2 daily flights from Two vital things have asescalatedcoststofightthe regular air transport services carrier in the Eastern Caribbean, which had which to choose, allowing resulted from all this. First, Coronavirus and the effects withinthesub-region. Tobe Caribbean. increased by more than 50% for transfers through the the objective of achieving of the COVID-19 pandemic, clear the Board’s action is But, LIAT presently before COVID, is severely airline’s main hubs in the social and economic cuts in expenses had to be better than nothing, but, by operates only a few flights, constrained. Antigua and Barbados, integration of the Caribbean made. LIAT looked then as itself,itisnotenough. largely with the singular That business is still flights are now few and far Community (CARICOM) is an opportunity to be rid of Fortunately, the Board support of the Antigua and there and can contribute to between. beingeroded. what might have been approval allows for Barbuda government jobs, earnings, profits, and A d d i t i o n a l l y , People to people contact regarded as an unending consideration of a more LIAT’s flights are currently market cohesion, but not connectivity from one – and therefore familiarity haemorrhagingoftaxpayers’ permanent solution “in a less than 90% of its 500 withoutairlift. Caribbean island to another, and cohesion – has been set money that was needed for subsequentintervention”. weekly flights prior to its

Undoubtedly, the kind of which physically neighbour back Second, the pressingdomesticpriorities. In short, this decision by closure. The number of services provided by LIAT each other, often requires realization of the long- In this regard, LIAT the CDB Board, while flightsisnotenough. provided is sorely missed, travel to Miami or some vaunted Caribbean Single workers, who continuously encouraging, does not solve To emphasize the point, andisurgentlyneeded. other country with overnight Market and Economy demanded, increased wages the immediate problem, nor reduced airlift capacity has Responses and previous stays, lengthening journeys (CSME) is being retarded. and greater compensation will it contribute to doing so stymied the movement of c o m m e n t a r i e s : andincreasingcosts. The marketing of goods and packages, might reflect on inthenearterm. Thisisnot goods,servicesandpeopleto www.sirronaldsanders.com Gone are the days when s e r v i c e s b e t w e e n whether they could have a criticism of the Bank. For the detriment of tourism, b u s i n e s s p e r s o n s , CARICOMcountries,which acted in ways that would consultants, marketing is one of the fundamental have helped to maintain the agents and others could get requirements of a Single viability of the airline in on a plane in the morning, Market, has effectively been everyone’s interest, conduct business in another paused. including their own. Had country, and return to their Other current objectives, LIATcontinuedtooperatein home base by the evening. such as establishing the conditions of cooperation,

Sir Ronald Sanders

The Skipping Rope

The

but

effective exercise tool that when used properly andconsistentlycanhave a plethora of health benefits According to Nike com, skipping or jumping rope as some may call it, is a versatile exercisethatisoftenused asawarm-uporevenasa key part of the workout itself.

Mike Matthews, ISSA-certified personal trainer and author of “Muscle for Life: Get Lean,Strong,andHealthy at Any Age!” says that jumping rope can fit seamlessly into just about anyworkoutroutine.

“You can jump rope at a slow, steady pace if you want to use it as lowimpact,steady-statecardio or you can increase the intensity with techniques like high knees or double-unders (when the ropepassesunderthefeettwiceper jump)ifyouwanttouseitforHIITstyle training,” he says. “Plus, if you’repushedfortimeandlooking foraneffectivefull-bodyworkout, jumping rope is an excellent solution.”

Skipping can improve your cardioandmusclestrengthbutalso help burn calories to support weightloss.

Benefitsofskipping

Alongwithhelpingwithweight loss, there are many other benefits to skipping. Literature gleaned from healthline.com suggests the

following:

Improvescardiofitness

Skipping is excellent for improving your cardio-respiratory fitness

Jumping continuously for a periodoftimerequiresmoreblood and oxygen to be pumped to working muscles, which increases yourheartrateandrespiratoryrate to accommodate the increased demand.

Over time, this can strengthen your heart and improve your lung capacity, allowing you to exercise forlonger

Strengthensmuscles

If you’re looking for an effective full-body workout, try

jumpingrope.

The act of jumping rope relies on your lower body muscles (e.g., calves,thighs,andbuttocks),upper body (e.g., shoulders and biceps), andabdominalmuscles.

Thiscannotonlyhelpimprove muscle strength but also your muscularendurance,whichallows yourmusclestoexerciseforlonger, and increase explosive power for quick, sudden movements that are commoninsports.

Buildsstrongerbones

Jumping rope is a high impact exercisethatstressesthebonesina healthywaytomakethemstronger

As a person jumps, the body respondstothetemporarystresson

bones caused by ground reaction forces by building them back strongeranddenser

In fact, one 22-week study including Olympic swimmers observed significant increases in bonemineraldensityofthelumbar spine and femoral neck (a part of the thigh bone) after participating in20minutesofjumpropeandfullbodyvibrationtwiceperweek.

Other studies have also shown similar results with jumping rope andsimilarexercises.

Mayimproveyour coordinationandbalance

Adding the jump rope to your workoutroutinecanbeagreatway to improve your balance and

coordination.

Learningtojumpropeinvolves thecoordinationofyourarms,legs, and torso while also keeping a constantrhythm.Furthermore,you must have proper balance to maintainyourcentreofgravityand allow your feet to push off of the groundinarepeatedfashion.

Fortunately, you decide how fast you’re jumping and rotating the rope, meaning you can slowly build your coordination and balancebasedonyourneeds.

When the Christmas season is over and the new year begins, be sure to incorporate the skipping role into your daily exercise routine.Youwillbegladyoudid.

skipping rope is a simple

Court Journal THE

Charges discontinued by the DPP this year

The charge alleged that on instances where the Director of August 17, 2022 at the Criminal Public Prosecutions (DPP), Investigation Department (CID) Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC, Headquarters, Eve Leary, discontinuedcharges. Georgetown, Blanhum used a

Today, I will highlight three

Inallofthesematters,theDPP computer system to transmit exercised the powers conferred on electronic data with intent to her by Article 187 (1) (c) of the humiliate, harass or cause Constitution of the Co-operative substantial emotional distress to RepublicofGuyana. Bascom. Blanhum was slated to

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC

Firstly, Article 187:1 states appear in court on September 21, that, “The Director of Public 2022. Prosecutions (referred to in this

However, the following day, articleas‘theDirector’)shallhave the DPP sent a letter to the Chief power in any case in which he or Magistrate, Ann McLennan March 20, 2022 at the corner of sheconsidersitdesirabletodoso– informing her that the charge Middle and Cummings Streets, (a) to institute and undertake against the Crime Chief is to be Georgetown, by means of words criminal proceedings against any discontinued. spokenbyhiminapublicplace,he personbeforeanycourt,otherthan

By Renay Sambach

In order to discontinue the willfully excited and or attempted a court martial, in respect of any charge, the DPP exercised the to excite hostility and ill-will offenceagainstthelawofGuyana; powersconferredonherbyArticle against Bollers on the ground of (b) to take over and continue any 187 (1) (c) of the Constitution of her race as an Afro-Guyanese by such criminal proceedings that the Co-operative Republic of using words directed to her and may have been instituted by any Guyana. published by him, to wit: “black other person or authority; and (c) In May, the DPP discontinued monkey”, “monkey”, “black to discontinue at any stage False Imprisonment arise. These Chapter 10:05 is to provide for the the charge against attorney-at-law people have no purpose in life”, before judgment is delivered are issues of Tort and punishment for the offences of Nirvan Singh, son of former contrary to the provisions of any such criminal proceedings Constitutional breaches which are abduction, wrongful restraint and Chancellor of the Judiciary, Carl Section 2 (1) Racial Hostility Act instituted or undertaken by him civilactions.” confinement for ransom and other Singh, who was charged for using Cap23:0). or her or any other person or The DPP added that all issues related offences and for matters racial slurs towards an Afro- Chief Magistrate McLennan authority.” which are included in the incidentalthereto.” Guyanese policewoman who was had granted bail in the sum of The most recent matter the allegationswillbeaddressedinthe She added that it is therefore tasked with guarding his $100,000 and ordered the lawyer DPP discontinued was on civil action that was filed against her considered opinion that the residence. not to make contact or cause Monday, December 12, 2022, theState. facts alleged by the Lawyer, “do On Wednesday May 18, 2022, anyone to make contact with whenshe discontinuedtheprivate Notably, she stated too that the not fall within the scope, purport the charge was formally Bollers. The matter was then criminal charges against three allegations made against the and intendment of the Kidnapping discontinued against Nirvan adjourned. membersoftheSpecialOrganised Officers who are all active serving Act; therefore, the charges filed Singh. However, on the following Crime Units (SOCU) who are members of the Guyana Police under this Act is an abuse of InApril,hemadehisfirstcourt hearing, instead of the matter accused of unlawfully detaining Force (GPF) was done in the process.” appearance in the Georgetown continuing, the magistrate Attorney-at-Law, Tamieka course of their duties, adding that Back in September, Crime Magistrates’ Courts before Chief informed the court that she Clarke. theOfficersareprotectedbyvirtue Chief Blanhum, got a case against MagistrateAnn McLennan. It was received a letter from the DPP

On October 28, the Lawyer of Section 14 of the Justice himdiscontinuedbytheDPP alleged that Singh unlawfully whichstatedthatinexerciseofthe was detained by SOCU Officers ProtectionActChapter5:07. The day after a private excited and or attempted to excite powersconferredonherbyArticle reportedly after she repeatedly As it relates to the charge that criminal charge was filed against racial hostility or ill-will against 187 (1) (c), “I hereby discontinue advised her client who is being was filed under the Kidnapping the Crime Chief by the Lawyer police constable Shawnette thechargeintheabovematter.” investigated by the agency, to not Act Chapter 10:05, the DPPstated representing Detective Sergeant Bollers. As such, the matter against provide any answers to the that, “the intent and purpose of Dion Bascom, the DPP Singhhadpleadednotguiltyto attorney-at-law Singh was questions being asked, and to Parliament in the Kidnapping Act discontinuedthecharge. the charge, which stated that on discontinued. remainsilent.

Clarke through her Lawyer, Nigel Hughes had filed legal proceedings at the Demerara High Courtseekingseveralreliefsalong with $300,000 in damages. The Lawyer had also filed two private criminal charges at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts against Superintendent Krishnadat Ramana, Sergeant Navranda Persaud and Sergeant WinstonSingh.

The two charges that were filed are for the offences of Wrongful Restraint pursuant to Section 6 of the Kidnapping Act, Cap 10:05 and Wrongful Confinement,contrarytosection8 oftheKidnappingAct,Cap10:05.

The DPP in a letter addressed to Magistrate Annette Singh, notifiedtheMagistratethatshehas discontinuedbothchargesfiledby Clarke’sAttorney

In giving her reasons to discontinuethechargesagainstthe SOCUOfficers,theDPPstated,“I have considered it and found that the issues of Wrongful Arrest and

The Pedestrian Crossing

By Richard Francois

Pedestrian crossings are strategically placed markings on the road that are designed to give people a safer place to cross the road. These crossing points are located at sites where there are high volumes of trafficandpedestrians.

There are several types of pedestrian crossings, but the one most commonly used in Guyana is the Zebra crossing. Today we will examine some of the rules of using the pedestrian crossing efficiently andsafely

The Zebra crossing Zebra-crossings can easily be identified by their distinctive black and white stripes painted on the road (a bit like the markings of a zebra)

In some countries, zebracrossings have flashing orange belisha beacons, so named after LeslieHore-Belisha,theformerUK

Minister for Transport who introducedthemin1934.

Zebra-crossings are controlled crossings where pedestrians have a legal priority over vehicles without the use of traffic signals. Traffic MUST come to a complete stop when pedestrians are crossing the zebra-crossing.

Using the pedestrian crossing correctly

Pedestrianswishingtocrossata zebra-crossingmuststopatthekerb and wait for the traffic to stop in bothdirections.

When the traffic has stopped, the pedestrian should cross whilst stillwatchingfortraffic.

It is not unknown for cars to overtake those which have stopped to allow a person to cross Pedestriansmustbewatchful.

In Guyana, some drivers seem to ignore pedestrian crossings altogether and are sometimes hostile towards other drivers who stop to allow pedestrians to cross. It

is a most discourteous display of poor driving etiquette when drivers blow their horns on cars that stop to allowpedestrianstocross.Ifyouare guilty of this, please make a special efforttostopthistypeofbehaviour

If the pedestrian crossing has an island in the centre of the road, it is advisable that the pedestrian should stop on the island and wait until the traffic on the opposite side of the road stops before continuing to cross.

Crossing near the zebra, but not actually on it, is very dangerous as drivers are more likely to be focusing on the crossing itself and may not see a person crossing elsewhere.

Pedestrians please use the pedestrian crossing responsibly Do notsaunteracrosstheroad.

Walk with urgency and purpose whenusingthepedestriancrossing.

Conventional driving rules that must be applied when approaching apedestriancrossing

Drivers approaching a zebracrossing should do so with caution at all times, as any pedestrian who steps onto the crossing has priority! ALL drivers must STOP and give way to a pedestrian who has moved onto the zebra-crossing

and should only proceed once all pedestrians have left the crossing. Manypedestrianstendtowaitatthe kerb for cars to stop before moving ontothecrossing.

Drivers must never overtake the moving or stopped vehicle closest tothezebra-crossing.

Cars must never be stopped or parked on the zig-zag markings at a Zebra crossing, as this reduces the visibility and can put pedestrians at a greater risk. It is also illegal for vehicles to stop on the pedestrian crossing.

Pedestrians and drivers both have a responsibility to use the roads in a safe manner Pedestrian crossings must be respected by drivers and used properly by pedestrians.

Drivers, please develop a culture of stopping and allowing pedestrians wishing to cross the street using the pedestrian crossing todososafely

Try to be more patient with other drivers allowing pedestrians tousethepedestriancrossing.

People using a pedestrian crossing in Guyana.

Zebra Crossing with flashing belisha beacons

It is often said that nothing comes for free; and that something attained easily is often let go in the same manner that it was received. The logic is that less effort, less meaning and worth is attached to a thing that comes to a person by windfall and so they do not feelcompelledtovaluewhat theyhavereceived.

Working towards a desire, however, is a very differentandcolourfulstory Having to actually put the workandeffortintoachieve a dream or goal brings a wholedifferentdimensionto the conversation because that is where the real work liesandthatiswhenpoweris showcased.

Some aims are bigger than others but require the same inputs; sacrifice, discipline, endurance, patience, determination, commitment and all the other qualities that have allowedforgreatthingstobe achieved.

The problems usually surface however, when we have failed to keep in tune with our mission. It is when we lose sight of the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, either because we believe it is taking too long, it is too difficult, or some other excuse, that we find ourselvesintrouble,andlose sight of why we began the journeyinthefirstplace.

Along the way, many of

By Zena Henry

uswilllosesightofthegoal, andactually,thereisnothing wrong with that because the next move is what really mattersastowhetheryouare going to pick up the pieces and try again or call it quits andwalkaway

The answer is very simple for Chartered Accountant Judah Samuel AdilLouisy “Ikeepmyeyes on the prize, I know what I would like to achieve, and I work towards it,” the 28year-oldtoldtheCovenashe describedhislongjourneyto becoming not just a chartered accountant, but a lecturer at university level

Young Professional Series: CharteredAccountant JudahSamuelAdilLouisy

“Picking up the pieces after a challenge”

studyduringthattime.After about a month of procrastination, I finally forced myself to actually studybecausetheexamdate was quickly approaching.”

Louisynotedthathequickly gothisacttogetherknowing thatattheendofeachtrial,it is always our own duty to dust ourselves off and try again.

therightbalance.”

Louisysaidthathehasan extremely supportive wife and family, that help him make the necessary sacrifices to achieve his goals. He said, “I remind myself daily about the overall objectives and I set short-term goals as well whichallowmetogetquick winsandremainmotivated.”

and racking up an already impressive range of experience within his field.

Louisy told the Coven that discipline is most important when it comes to achieving.

“I have seen people who started studying with me, who I perceived as smarter than me, never finished. In my opinion, that is due to a lack of discipline and dedication.As cliché as it is “you see my glory, but you don’t know my story” is a reality.” Louisy contended thatmanypeoplewanttobe successfulandachievealot, but he advised that success don’t happen by a windfall as it takes hard work and dedication. “As my primary schoolmottosays,“Through discipline and dedication comesuccess”.

Louisy remembered that during his preparation for

Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) around the muchhyped town week in Linden Region 10, that he did not attend any events as he was toocommittedtohisstudies.

“I did not attend a single activity,” he told the Coven, “While I was up studying at nights,Icouldhearthemusic of the various activities taking place but remained committed to my studies, that is the kind of discipline youneedtohave.”

There will nonetheless be potholes along the road, Louisy indicated. He said that failure has been one of

his biggest fears; handling the challenges and finding the courage to pick the pieces up and move on. “I remember when I failed my first paper/course while I was doing ACCA, I rechecked the exam portal every day for about two weeks because I have never failed in academics prior It was unbelievable,” he explained.

“Nevertheless, I started preparing for the course again and as I set aside my usual study time, I found it difficult to find the will to study but I continued to set asidethetimeandpretendto

Louisy told the Coven that staying motivated is another factor to consider when striving to be successful, as it serves as a majorcontributortothewins alongtheway

“Quick wins keep me motivated,” he said. “I set small targets within my overall targets, so I can see the progress I am making. I donotcomparemyprogress with other people’s success.

I know my ability, my mindset and my objective. I surroundmyselfwithpeople whom I perceive as smarter than me, people who are talking academics and business. Not that I don’t have friends and associates solely for the purpose of leisure,butthekeyistofind

Louisy has much to be grateful for with massive

achievements that have positioned him to reach the sky’s limit. Following his successfulsittingofCSECat Mackenzie High School in Linden and achieving 10 subjects,gradesoneandtwo in2011,Louisyattendedthe Accounting Training Centre where he qualified as an Accounting Technician. He attendedtheTrainingCentre and further achieved his status as a Chartered Accountant by the end of 2017 He went on to Caribbean Institute of ForensicAccountantswhere he completed the Forensic Certified Public Accountant courseandbecame

CharteredAccountant, Judah Louisy

Louisy during his journey at an ICAG andACCArecognition event

Judah and proud parents; Coretta Braithwaite and dad Patrick Louisy

InterestingCreatures...

The Bullet ant (Munuri)

By Shervin Belgrave

Venezuelans called it “Hormigas 24” (referring to 24 hours of pain

As a boy, my father, a afterbeingstung). former miner would I was lucky enough not to get

tell me tales of how he “stung”. My Venezuelan friends fell ill with fever and excruciating said, “do not wish for it or you will pain after being stung by large haveregrets.” black ants called “Munuri”, while It is mainly a tropical rainforest searching for gold in Guyana’s ant and got the name “bullet ant” densejungle. because of its “powerful painful

Since then, I became interested sting.” in finding out more about this Some scientists compare the interesting creature that drove fear stings of bullet ants to the shot of a into my father, other gold miners bullet and according to Schmidt and Amerindians living in the Pain Index; it has the most painful hinterlandregions. stingofanyinsect.

IsoonfoundoutthattheMunuri Justin Schmidt, an American asitislocallyknowninthecountry entomologist described the pain is the bullet ant- the largest ant in like “Walking over a flaming theworld. charcoal with a three-inch nail

During my teenage years, I got embeddedinyourheel”. my own encounter with the bullet Apart from the excruciating ant while strolling through the pain, the venom makes humans Venezuelan jungle The sick and may result in blood

appearing

symptom.

as

Bullet ants, however, will only

sting if provoked so if you ever see

one in the wild, do not attempt to

crossitspath. wingless wasps. The queen ant is Nectar,

If you are curious and want to notmuchlargerthantheworkers. mandibles, is the most common disturb a bullet ant then it is Bullet ants are generally not food

important to note that when one of aggressive but can be vicious when foragers. them stings, it releases chemicals defendingtheirnestsandstingwith Source of information that signal other bullet ants in the unbridledferocity (https://en wikipedia org/wiki/Par vicinity to sting the threat Colonies consist of several aponera_clavata) repeatedlyuntilthecolonyissafe. hundred ants and are usually

Thescientificnameofthebullet situated at the bases of trees.

TheNationalPsychiatricHospital

From page 25

Queen Victoria Block ill patients were referred from governmentwasreducedtoaband- apart, NA hospital, Skeldon, Port 1899 and that was built after a The building which was various hospitals in Berbice to the aid. So that was one of things I Mourant, Suddie, West Demerara, doctorcamefromEngland.Inthose referred to as the Queen Victoria institution at Fort Canje. To date, remembered well that the Lindenandsochoiceshadtomade. days, Dr Robert Greaves came to block, no longer exists today, the manymentallyillpatientsaretaken government put on its agenda to And whilst we had our priority, we Guyana in 1875 and began to look British had set aside $60,000 to totheNationalPsychiatricHospital rebuild the National Psychiatric had to go to Plan B; building at the hospital,” Dr Ramsammy build the structure. That structure here in Berbice, in fact, according Hospital but the resources it would chalets, doing minor repairs to that mentioned. included ten wards, six male and to the Regional Health Officer Dr havetaken,youdidn’thavebutyou building and those minor repairs Greaves, who he said was four female with approximately Vishalya Sharma, over 50% of the alsocouldn’twaitbecauseapatient were done only because we still instrumental in the transformation 300 female and 200 male patients, patient population at the institution had no place to stay and it wasn’t hoped to preserve that building. So of the institution, believed that “the 100 both male and female arefromRegion4. safe to keep them there.” Some the greatest sentiment in peoplewhoarecalledlunaticswere attendants, one Medical Fire and deterioration

minor repair works were done on government was to preserve and so not crazy people but that they had a Superintendent, a doctor, maids, In1957,anunfortunateincident the Victoria Block building and wewerewaitingtogetthatbigsum mental problem that can be treated. porters and guards. Senior staff occurred.The female section of the chalets were built. The idea of of money to put in there; however, They didn’t have medicine and so members were also housed in the Victoria block was burnt to the building the chalets as a cheaper timeranoutandthebuildingstarted on, but he pioneered occupational compound while attendants were ground. The building was repaired, alternative at that time, was started fallingapart.” therapy in the Caribbean and in trainedthereaswell. r e c o n d i t i o n e d a n d r e - by the now Minister of

Thirty-eight years later, in mental health treatment in AfterDr Greaveshadleft,there commissioned in 1964 by Dr Parliamentary Affairs and 1995,thefemaleVictoriablockwas general…” were some questionable Cheddie and Janet Jagan. In 1992, Governance of Guyana Gail condemned, and three new wards Greaves, he said also believed methods/treatments implemented, RamsammybecametheMinisterof Teixeira,Ramsammysaid. were constructed. The chalet type that the patients should be given not only at the institution but in Healthandhehadpaidavisittothe He describes the building as a buildings housed 75 females’ recreationalopportunitiesandsohe mental health treatment around the institution.Therehesaidduringhis majestic one. “Anybody who grew inmates of the institution had put in place a cricket ground, world.Theelectricshocktreatment visit, it “was scary to see”, in that, up in Berbice, anybody who ever However,notlongafter,onefemale kitchen garden, a sewing room, a wasamethodusedtotreatpatients, he was “scared” to walk in the passed Canje Bridge, that building chalet was destroyed by fire and butcher shop and more for the but “today we look at them as wards,“IfeltlikeIwasgoingtofall stands out, but we didn’t maintain that ran an estimated loss of $20M patients to access and for the archaic,brutalbutatthetime,those through the floor, it was smelly…” it. From 1964-1992, not a drop of atthattime. institution to become self- were the type of treatments. There Thebuildingwasnotmaintainedas paint,thebuildingdeteriorated.”

Currently, there are over 200 sufficient. His approach was to was an electric shock room there at it should have been and in 1992, According to him, “the history patients housed with a total of 170 rehabilitate patients instead of thetime.Atthetime,theythoughtit while it was one of the things high of the Queen Victoria building is staff members and while there are “locking them away”, and have was effective but today, we on the agenda of the government the history of mental health in this new structures in place in the them involved in regular activities, questionwhetheritwas”,thehealth then, to have the institution up to country because it shows how compound, there are still remnants “because he was trying to prove ministryadvisornoted. standard, the resources were not things changed.” While the desire of what existed many years ago that these people are not lunatics to Together with the Victoria availabletodoso. was still there to find the resources when the institution came into be locked away and that they can Block, there was a King George tohaveanewbuilding,Ramsammy existence. There have been several actually go back into society…”, building, a mess hall for staff and “We quickly forget the new said there were other pressing other small reported fires that Dr Ramsammy said. It was also patient. governmentcameinwherethetotal matters that those resources had to occurred at the facility over the Greaves that introduced modern Interestingly, there was no revenue, the debt servicing and bedivertedtoatthattime. years and several escapes by occupationaltherapyasatreatment Observation wards in Georgetown publicservants’salarywas128%of “Istillhadthatdesiretofindthe patients, this pushed authorities to formentalhealthpatients. atthattimeandassuch,allmentally your total revenue. Therefore, the money but there was GPHC falling increasesecurityatthelocation.

in faeces

a common ant is Paraponera clavata, and it Workers forage arboreally in the

inhabits humid lowland rainforests area directly above the nest for

inCentralandSouthAmerica. small arthropods and nectar, often

Workerantsare18–30mmlong as far as the upper canopy; little

and resemble stout, reddish-black, foraging occurs on the forest floor

carried between the

taken back to the nest by

The face of a Bullet ant

The Bullet ant

Lessons from a Lashpreneur !!! Perfect Lashes forYour Holiday Festivities

By Latoya Zephyr

WithChristmasalmost here and the holiday atmosphere rapidly enveloping the country, many of us find our thoughts turning to those annual parties and other festivities. If you're like most women, you want to ensure that you look your best for any special occasion, but the holiday season creates even more pressure to always show up withthemostdazzlinglookyoucan muster To accomplish that feat, you need a strategy to really make sure that you shine – and new eyelash extensions can be a critical partofyourplan!

Extensions for Your Perfect HolidayLashes

With all of the parties and events the holidays have to offer, who wants to spend hours of time applying, removing, and reapplying mascara? With eyelash extensions, you can enjoy the followingbenefits:

Perfect, long lashes that will enhance the brightness of your eyes, make you look even more alert and engaged, and help you lookyoungerthanyoueverthought possible. Your friends and coworkerswillbeamazed!

Finally, you can put an end to mascara application and removal. Your extensions will be as full and darkasmanymascaraapplications, ensuring that you have the ideal lashesforanysocialgathering.

You'll receive the star treatment

that you deserve. Your new lashes will dazzle everyone you see, providing a renewed sense of confidence and enabling you to put your own unique stamp on this year's holiday season. Of course, it doesn't hurt that you'll look great in allthoseholidayphotostoo!

Beautiful Natural Lashes And ExtensionLooksForTheSeason

So now that you are ready to book an appointment and get lash extensions, let us discuss the populareyelashextensionsstyles.

A. Go Demure With Classic EyelashExtensions

Gofortheperfectgirlnextdoor look with the classic eyelash extensions that add a subtle and natural lash beauty to your eyes. This look is perfect for those who want a simple yet noticeable differencetotheirlashes.

With length matching your natural lashes and a beautiful B or C-type curl, these lash extensions will last you all through the holidays.

Pair these lashes with strong brows, and you are all set to be the belleoftheball.

B. Let Your Eyes Talk With HybridLashExtensions

Forthoselookingfortheperfect eyelash extensions that give you a little extra oomph than the classic set but who are still hesitant to opt for the volume lashes, we have the perfect holiday lash look for you. Askyourlashtechnicianforhybrid eyelashextensions.

These lashes are a perfect

balance of the popular classic lash extensions and volume lashes and together create a fuller lash line withaboostintexture.

We suggest pairing these eyelash extensions with a dramatic D-type curl to make your eyes the mostbewitchingintheroom.

C. Wow The Room With VolumeEyelashExtensions

Let your strong inner woman shine through with the 'You cannot look away from my eyes' kind of volume eyelash extensions. Go for the ultimate full and textural lashes with this dramatic lash look this winter, and become a stunner in all

holidaygatherings.

Pair the volume lashes with dramatic smokey eye makeup in rich jewel tones, like emerald green, add a strong and full brow game, and keep the rest of your makeup simple. Channel your inner diva with these lashes in a bold D-type curl to capture hearts with asingleglance.

This festive season, treat yourself and give yourself a fabulous 'New year, new me' look with a brand new full set of eyelashextensions.

N

E et is official broadcaster for FIFA WORLD CUP

The ENet team is pleased

to bring its subscribers, The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ as it is Guyana's LicencedBroadcaster

Immerse yourselves in the World Cup action in crystal-clear high definition on all of ENets'

DreamTV platforms. Watch all 64 World Cup matches and highlights on ENets' E2 from November 20 to December 18. Need to catch the action on the go? Download the DreamTVmobileapp–availablein thePlayStoreandAppStore.

ENets.Morewaystowatch.

This Day in History - Dec. 18

Compiled by Zena Henry

The world’s first communications satellite is launched (1958)

Montserrat promotes heritage and culture with first carnival (1962)

United Arab Emirates holds its first-ever parliamentary elections (2006)

SCORE (Signal Communications by Orbiting Relay Equipment) was the world’s first purposebuilt communications satellite Launched aboard an American Atlas rocket on December 18, 1958, SCORE provided the second test of a communicationsrelay system in space (the first having been provided by the U S A F / N A S A’ s Pioneer 1), the first broadcast of a human voice from space, and the first successful use of theAtlas as a launch vehicle. It captured world attention by broadcasting a Christmas message via shortwave radio from U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower through an on-board tape recorder Thesatellitewaspopularlydubbed“TheTalkingAtlas”.

The Atlas-B with SCORE on the launch pad; the rocket (without booster engines) constituted the satellite

Montserrat Carnival was celebrated for the first time in 1962 with the purpose to celebrate and promote Caribbean heritageandculture.Initially,thefestivalwasjustacelebration but, gradually, it started gaining popularity among the local people and, today, it is popular worldwide. At first, only a certain group of people used to participate in the festival. However, it is the same no more. Today, people from all over the territory participate in the event to celebrate the carnivaljoyfullytogether

SCORE, as a geopolitical strategy, placed the United StatesataneventechnologicalparwiththeSovietUnionasa highlyfunctionalresponsetotheSputnik1andSputnik2,the world’sfirstartificialorbitingearthsatellites.

US House of Representatives impeaches Donald Trump for the first time

MontserratCarnivalis around a two-week long festival. The interesting thing is that despite having such a long duration, the festivity and celebrationof the carnival are not at all decreased by thepassingdays.Infact,it gets only more and more exciting The last few days of the festival are incredibly electrifying. The enthusiasm of participants and local people is really on another level. Every year, Montserrat Carnival starts in mid-Decemberand lasts till NewYear’s Day Usually, the dates are also the same every year, from 17 Decemberto2ndJanuary However,thepre-activityandevents start taking place from the beginning of December itself. The carnival officially starts in mid-December though (iccaribbean.com)

The world’s largest combat aircraft takes flight (1981)

Amongst modern military aircraft, few are as majestic yet utterly destructive in purpose as Russia’s Tupolev Tu-160 strategic bomber, dubbed the White Swan (Belyj Lebeï) and codenamed Blackjack by NATO. Capable of ranging far across the globe and unleashing a dozen nuclear weapons fromstandoffrange;theTu-160remainsbyfarthelargestand fastestsupersonicbomberinservice.

The Tu-160 was in its origins a reflexive product of the Cold War arms race. Tupolev, a Russian aerospace and Defence company, had drafted several designs by the time it settledontheProject’s160MdesigninformedbytheTu-22M

Parliamentary elections were held for the first time in the UnitedArabEmiratesinDecember2006toelecthalfofthe40 members of the Federal National Council. Voting took place inAbuDhabiandFujairahonDecember16,inDubaiandRas al-Khaimah on December 18, and in Sharjah, Ajman and Ummal-QuwainonDecember20.

The 40 member Federal National Council consists of 20 elected members and 20 members appointed by the rulers of each Emirate. The elections were held using electoral colleges, with only 6,689 of more than 300,000 citizens over 18 years being allowed to vote, of which 1,163 were women. The Electoral College members were chosen by the rulers of the seven emirates. The FNC (in Arabic: ÇáãÌáÓ ÇáæØäí ÇáÅÊÍÇÏí, al-Majlis al-Watani al-Ittihadi) of the UnitedArab Emirates (UAE) is an advisory quasi-parliamentary body in the UAE. Twenty of the members of the FNC are indirectly elected by the hand-picked 12% of Emirati citizens who have voting rights through an electoral college. Reuters has said that“theprocessofselectingthepeoplewhocaneitherelector beelectedisopaque.”(Wikipedia)

DonaldTrump, the 45th president of the United States, was impeachedforthefirsttimebytheHouseofRepresentativesof the 116th United States Congress on December 18, 2019. The House adopted two articles of impeachment against Trump: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The Senate acquittedTrumpofthesechargesonFebruary5,2020.

Trump’s impeachment came after a formal House inquiry foundthathehadsolicitedforeigninterferenceinthe2020U.S. presidential election to help his re-election bid, and then obstructed the inquiry itself by telling his administration officialstoignoresubpoenasfordocumentsandtestimony The inquiry reported that Trump withheld military aid and an invitation to the White House for Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in order to influence Ukraine to announce an investigation into Trump’s political opponent Joe Biden and to promote a discredited conspiracy theory that Ukraine, not Russia, was behind interference in the 2016 presidential election. A phone call between Trump and Zelenskyy on July 25, 2019, was particularly important—whistleblower Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman was a participantinthecall,andlaterinformedCongress.

Tu-160 weapons loadout (Image Credit: Creative Commons)

Backfireswing-wingsupersonicbombe,in1977.TheTu-160 madeitsfirstflightinDecember1981andenteredoperational service in 1987. The behemoth bomber, weighing in at 129 tonsempty,mountedfourextremelypowerfulKuznetsovNK32 afterburning turbojet engines—the largest on any combat aircraft—ontoanairframewithgiganticwingsspanningmore thanhalfafootballfield(54meters)fromwingtiptowingtip.

The Tu-160 could carry enough fuel to fly 7,500 miles witha50%missilepayload,anditsretractablerefuelingprobe enablestheaircrafttoflyevengreaterrangesifdesired.Acrew of four operates the bomber on its long-distance missions—pilot and co-pilot seated side by side in the front, and two navigators individually sub-specialized in weapons andself-defensesystems.(19fortyfive.com)

Meteor burning up near earth

On December 18th, 2018, a large meteor fell from the sky andexplodedovertheBeringSea.Thisexplosionhadaforce10 times the strength of the atomic bomb dropped over Hiroshima in1945.

These types of events are known as fireballs, and they happen more often than some may think. The term “fireball” referstoaverybrightmeteor,typicallyoneasbrightasVenusin the night sky or brighter (via the American Meteor Society). Venus is typically the brightest object in the sky other than the moon and sun unless a bright fireball streaks by The main difference between a normal meteor (or shooting star) and a fireballissimplysize.

Mostmeteorsburnupintheupperatmosphereastheyfallto theEarth,andfireballsareoftennotbigenoughtomakeit

Former US President Donald Trump with a newspaper article of his 2020 acquittal (Getty Images)

UAE ruler Sheikh Mohammed casts vote at second FNC elections 2011.

(AFP/Getty image)

Meteor explodes over the Bering Sea with a force over 10 times greater than the atomic bomb that destroyed Hiroshima in 1945 (2018)

CONSIDER KIDS SAFETY WHEN BUYING TOYS AND PLAYTHINGS

Safety should be e v e r y b o d y ' s business when selling or buying toys for children this Christmas season.

T h i s i n c l u d e s manufacturers, importers, retailers, parents and guardians and even the users of those playful items –children.

The Guyana National BureauofStandards(GNBS) has been actively monitoring toys imported for sale to ensurecompliance.

Manufacturers,importers

and retailers have a responsibility to ensure safe toys and playthings are available for sale on the local market to prevent sickness or even death due to harmful manufacturing materials, accidents, or inappropriate usage.

In addition to quality, toys must be adequately labelled with the necessary caution statements and parents and guardians should take the responsibility to educate and guide children

onhowtousethemtoprevent accidentsorinjuries.

The GNBS monitors toys based on the requirements of the Guyana Standard Specification for the Safety of toys and playthings- GYS 234:2003.

This standard was specifically developed to provide guidelines to importers, retailers and consumers on the safety requirements for toys and playthings intended for children.

The National standard

specifies requirements for toxicological hazards and other hazards, such as, mechanical hazards, inflammability hazards, hygienic hazards, electrical hazards and thermal hazards. Further, precautionary instructions and warnings, requirements for the packaging and labelling, and inspection and testing procedures, which include preconditioning for shipping and storage, are also addressedinthestandard.

The GNBS relies on

Certification Marks such as UL, CE, NOM as crucial guides to quality and safety

The marks are affixed to toys once they pass testing conducted by independent laboratories for hazards, structural defects and other parameters.

Even though much is c o n s i d e r e d d u r i n g manufacturing, testing and monitoring, parents and guardians still have the responsibility to ensure children use toys and playthings safely The following are some importanttipsforyou:

· Read labels to gather important information about how to use the toys and ensure that this information issharedwithyourchildren.

· Avoid giving children toys that shoot objects into the air as they can cause seriouseyeinjuries.

· Be mindful of other smaller children in the home. While a toy might be appropriate for one child, it might not be appropriate for youngersiblings.

Toys with small parts, for example,arepopularforkids

over five-years-old but can pose a great choking danger for those under the age of three.

Beware of button batteries.Thesenotonlypose a choking hazard, but if swallowed, they can erode the lining of internal organs; without any initial sign or symptoms Adults should changebatteriesintoys.

Toy jewellery often contains lead. It's generally good to avoid metal jewellery, especially if your childislikelytoputitinhisor hermouth.

·ChargersandAdapters–Charging batteries should be supervised by adults Chargers and adapters can pose thermal burn hazards to children.

· Scooters, electric bikes and other riding toys and skateboards can go fast, and falls could be deadly Helmets and safety gears shouldbealwaysworn.

For further information on this subject, call the GNBS on Telephone number: 219-0065 or visit the Bureau's website: www.gnbsgy.org

Health Facts

A look at some common types of cysts

Acystisasac-likepocket to remove the contents

decompr of membranous tissue that Large cysts can come back ession of contains fluid, air, or other after this procedure and may the cyst substances. Cysts can grow have to be surgically v i a almost anywhere in your removed (excised). If a cyst fenestration. body or under your skin. becomes swollen, tender, DERMOID There are many types of large, or infected, treatment SKIN

CYST

By Rehanna Ramsay

Dermoid cysts or noncancerous In this thensurgery comprise mature skin, hair removed. Surgery is also week’s health fact, we will BREAST CYSTS follicles, sweat glands, and normally recommended if look at the different types of Breast cysts are common clumps of long hair, as well there are concerns that the cysts, how they are formed and may be painful In as fat, bone, cartilage, and cyst could be cancerous or and how they can be females, these cysts can thyroid tissue They can could become cancerous removed. develop or change in size form anywhere on the body Thereare2typesofsurgeries A c c o r d i n g t o throughout the menstrual

cysts. Most cysts are benign, may include antibiotics and

Surgical removal is the only used to remove ovarian information composed by cycle, and they often effective treatment for any cysts: a laparoscopy and a Medical News Today, cysts disappear on their own type of dermoid cyst. The laparotomy are formed by some of the However, a doctor can drain type of surgery depends on PANCREATIC CYSTS cells in the top layer of skin the fluid if they are causing the kind of dermoid cyst: Health professionals that produce keratin, a discomfort. drainedmorethanonce. recommend surgery or Periorbital dermoid cyst: the may refer to them as protein that gives skin its According to the

CYSTS prescription antibiotics as surgeon will clean the area “pseudocysts” because they strength and flexibility American Cancer Society, Baker’s cysts are also treatment. andinjectsalocalanesthetic. do not contain the types of Normally, these cells move simple cysts do not increase known as popliteal cysts. DENTIGEROUS They remove the cyst cells present in true cysts. up to the surface of the skin theriskofbreastcancer That Some do not cause any (DENTAL) CYSTS throughasmallincision. They occur when the cells of astheystarttodiesotheycan said, there is a small chance symptoms However, a Dentigerous cysts

Meteor explodes over the Bering...

applying prescription- Thisway,you’remorelikely

CHALAZION

(EYELID) CYSTS

strength topical gels or tonoticechangesrightaway Verysmalleyelidglands, creams to the skin, You should make an known as meibomian r e c o m m e n d e d b y a appointment to see a glands, make a lubricant that dermatologist or trusted healthcare professional if comes out of tiny openings medical professional. Cystic you discover a new lump, or in the edges of the eyelids. acne treatments include an area of your breast that is Cysts can form here if the antibiotic creams, gel noticeably different than the ducts are blocked. These are solutions, and lotions to kill rest, a lump changes or knownaschalazioncysts. bacteria and decrease grows larger, you notice an Thesecanbetreatedwith inflammation. unexpected discharge from warm compresses, antibiotic SEBACEOUS CYSTS the nipples and you have an ointments, or steroid

These lumps are often at invertednipple,anditwasn’t injections If they don’t the front of the neck. Lumps alwaysinverted. resolve on their own, in the skin or just below the Fine-needle aspiration surgical drainage may be skin are often caused by may be used to diagnose and necessary Surgeons numb cysts, such as sebaceous treat a breast cyst if all the the eyelid and usually scrape cysts.Thethyroidglandmay fluid can be removed from outthecyst. also produce swelling or one the cyst during the

BARTHOLIN’S CYSTS or more lumps. This can be procedure, and then your

Bartholin’s cysts can due to thyroid disease or breast lump disappears and occur if the ducts of the cancer your symptoms resolve. For Bartholin gland, which are

In this case, a hole some breast cysts, however, inside the vagina, become (puncture) is made in the top you may need to have fluid blocked A doctor may

From page 62

Brown, became the first astronomer to through Earth’s atmosphere, NASA noticeit.HewasreviewingtheCTBTOdata reports. But, in some rare cases, such as the when he realized that the explosive event one that fell over the Bering Sea in 2018, was caused by a rare fireball. Brown stated, theyexplode. “It’s an unusual event, we don’t see things

The Bering Sea fireball was not initially thisbigveryoften.” noticedbyastronomersthattrackmeteors.It During this time, the Bering Sea was first spotted by the Comprehensive explosion was also added to NASA’s Jet Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty Organization Propulsion Laboratory’s fireball database (CTBTO)shortlyafteritoccurred.

Atomic bombs: “Fat Man”, a plutonium

OVARIAN CYSTS the pancreas are injured or be shed But the cells that complex cysts may person with a Baker’s cyst surround the crown of an Ovarian cysts are inflamed They can also sometimes move deeper into contain cancerous cells or can experience: knee pain, a unerupted tooth A common in females who occur when pancreatic the skin and multiply, increase a person’s risk of lump behind the knee, a dentigerous cyst always have regular periods. They enzymes leak and damage formingasac. cancer later on, depending feelingoffullnessbehindthe includes a tooth that cannot form during ovulation. The thetissueofthepancreas. ACNE CYSTS ontheresultsofabiopsy knee, swelling in the knee complete the eruption majority of ovarian cysts is ENDOSCOPIC C y s t i c a c n e , o r Most breast lumps (such and lower leg, stiffness or process and occurs around benign and causes no DRAINAGE nodulocystic acne, is a as cysts) are noncancerous. tightness located at the back the crown by the fluid symptoms. However, some Percutaneous catheter severe type of acne in which There are many possible oftheknee. accumulation between the can become so large that the drainage uses a hollow tube the skin’s pores become causes for a lump to develop Baker’s cysts usually layersoftheenamelorgan. abdomen protrudes. inserted into the body to blocked, leading to infection in your breast. Instead of develop due to a problem Dentigerous cysts can be Polycystic ovary syndrome removethefluid. andinflammation. performing a breast self- with the knee joint, such as painful and are generally refers to when the ovaries Surgical drainage, either These cysts may take exam, it’s important to be arthritisoracartilagetear. treated by surgical means. developmanysmallcysts. via open surgery or months or more to clear up. familiar with how your Non-steroidal anti- The most common surgical Large or persistent laparoscopic surgery (using inflammatorydrugssuch modalities used are total ovarian cysts, or cysts that alaparoscope,asurgicaltool as ibuprofen, can be e n u c l e a t i o n , are causing symptoms, that only requires a small used to reduce marsupialization, and usually need to be surgically incision)canbedone. swelling and pain in the affected knee, hold an ice pack to your knee for 10-20 minutes to reduce any swelling – try a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel (never puticedirectlyonyour skin), rest your knee joint, wear knee support – you can buy Treatment often involves breasts typically feel so thesefromapharmacy taking oral antibiotics and you’re aware of changes.

This organization looks for signs of implosion-type nuclear weapon; and nuclear missiles but moved on after “Little Boy”, an enriched uranium guncataloging the Bering Sea explosion and type fission weapon, were dropped on realizingitwasn’tcausedbynuclearactivity Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

It wasn’t until three months after on 6 and 9 August 1945 with a force that CTBTO initially recorded it that meteor killedbetween129,000and226,000people. expert and professor of physics and (Sources: NASA, MSN, CBS News, astronomy at Western University, Peter Wikipedia).

BAKER’S

Santa Claus

A long time ago, in a place not a million miles from here, there lived a man. There was something very, veryspecialaboutthisman.

This man was very rich. Butthat'snotwhatmadehim special Since the world began – well, almost – there have been lots of very rich men.

But the man that we're talking about was also very, verykind.Andthatiswhatis special Very, very, very special.

The very rich and very, very kind man loved nothing morethantogivepresents,in secret, to the people around him It made him happy Very, very happy But, one day, he heard a story that made him sad Very, very sad.

A long time ago, in a place not a million miles from here, there weren't the same opportunities for girls that there were for boys Some might say that not muchhaschanged.Butthat's a story for another day And, anyway, it wasn't this that made the very rich and very, very kind man sad. Not just that,anyway Itwasthis.

Oneofhisneighbours–a veryoldandverypoorman–had three daughters. A long time ago, in a place not a million miles from here, no matter how poor a family mightbe,theywereexpected to pay for their daughters' weddings But this man couldn't afford to pay for one daughter's wedding, never mind three And he was proud. Very, very proud. So, although his three daughters hadallfoundhusbands-to-be who loved them and wanted them to follow their dreams

and didn't care a jot about money, the entire family was stuck.

Anditwasthatthatmade the very rich and very, very kind man sad. Because life is far too precious to waste a single day of it being stuck. And so the very rich and very, very kind man came up withaplan.

On the first night, the very rich and very, very k i n d

Do you know what? Let's callhimNicholas.

On the first night, Nicholas dropped a bag of gold down the chimney of the very, very old and very p o o r

Do you know what? Let's call him Ned On the first night, Nicholas dropped a bag of gold down Ned's chimney Thebagofgoldfell into a stocking that Ned's eldest daughter had hung beside the fire to dry In the bag was just enough gold to pay for her wedding.And so, shegotmarriedthatveryday A long time ago, in a place not a million miles from here, people weren't really intolengthyengagements.

On the second night, Nicholas dropped another bag of gold down Ned's chimney This time, the bag of gold fell into a stocking that Ned's middle daughter had hung beside the fire to dry In the bag was just enough gold to pay for her wedding And so, she got marriedthatveryday

On the third night, Ned wondered if the family's secret benefactor would return. He thought the very least he could do was say, “Thank you!” So, he sat in a chair beside the fire and

waited. But after two days of wedding celebrations, Ned was feeling tired. Very, very tired And his eyes were beginning to close when he heard a noise on the roof. Ned dashed outside and spotted Nicholas dropping a third bag of gold down his chimney No prizes for guessing that, this time, the bag contained just enough goldtopayforaweddingfor Ned'syoungestdaughter

“You've brought such happiness to my family!” Ned shouted up, “How can I ever repay you? Bearing in mind that I'm very, very old andveryp…”

“Yep, I get it,” replied Nicholas. “But there are lots of things that you can share with other people. Presents are lovely But a kind word is, too A loving hug, a genuine smile, a helping hand. And it's sharing gifts like these that make our worldabetter–andhappier–place.”

Nicholas spent the rest of hislifebeingvery,verykind. So much so that, when his life was over, he was made a Saint Saint Nicholas Or Santa Claus as he is now morecommonlyknown.

Of course, all of this happened a long time ago. A very,verylongtimeago.But you never know Christmas isamagicaltimeofyear And maybe, just maybe, if you hang up a stocking on Christmas Eve, Santa Claus will find a way to leave a special little something, just foryou!

But remember: you don't n e e d t o w a i t u n t i l Christmastime to be very, verykindyourself!

Santa's WatchingYou FUNWITHPOETRY

Christmastimeiscoming, It'stimewemustbegood, ForSanta'swatchingeveryday, And we should behave as we should.

Clean our room and wash the car, Helpmomwitheverychore, Forpresentsweareafter, Andagoodonewemustscore.

Notimetochat,notimetoplay, There's dishes to be done; There will be a lot of time later For us to have some fun!

CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS

INGREDIENTS

*Clear glass ornaments

*Enamel paint

*Skewer sticks

*Water

HOW TO MAKE THESE HOMEMADE CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

· Swirl a little water in the o r n a m e n t s ( a b o u t a tablespoon and then dump it out completely.)

· Pour the enamel paint into the ornament.

You can use wooden skewer sticks to help move it around to different areas on the glass before you start to marble

· We found the best way to get the paint to marble and move together, is by tapping the or nament against your hand in a circular motion Make sure you hold the opening closed with your nger and a paper

towel.

· Once the entire inside of the ornament is coated, place it back in the plastic container it came in to dry for 24 hours, with the

opening facing up

· Within the 24 hours, turn the ornament to different sides a few times so the paint doesn't settle in one area. So Be creative and enjoy!

The Almost 100% True Story written by Isla McGuckin

Do your part to make the coming holiday a part of the effort to promote our government's policy of One Guyana

In this season of Christmas which is so meaningful to Christians, it is very heartening that people of all religions celebrate it, which has been the tradition since our forefathers came to this country from various other places from around the world.

This is just as true for the festivals of the other main religions which are followed by our people, mainly Hinduism and Islam, insomuchthatmostofthem have been declared national holidays. In a world where some feel that religion has been the cause of people being divided in many societies, this must make Guyana unique even at a globallevel.

Along with the good

timesthatwewillpersonally enjoy and share in this season, it is important that all Guyanese recognise and keep in mind this tradition, and make it one of the reasonsthatweshoulduseas a means of promoting unity andbrotherlinessamongour people.

During the week leading up to this great holiday, try to contribute to this tradition, so that you will be playing your part, not only to make yourself satisfied that you are helping your countrymen to become free of all ill feelings towards one another, but to make an impactinthisnationaleffort ofbringingustogether

There are many ways by which you can help in this effort – giving presents

to your friends and

neighbours who may be not as fortunate as you are to have what is necessary to make life worthy, and not seeking for any returns from this, making it possible that

Tellitto

you spend happy times with those mentioned above, sharing happy times together, and expressing sincere wishes with all those with whom you associate duringthisblessedseason..

UNCLEROY

Hello,readers, UncleRoyisagainaskingallofyoutotryinsomeway tomakeacontributiontothispage,andthustothewelfareof you and your fellow readers. This contribution can take any formthatyoufeelwouldbevaluable–anaccountofwhatis going on in your community and country, any advice you would like to pass on to your fellow teen readers and, on a broader level, any comment or recommendation you would liketomaketoyourfellowGuyanese.

Please remit same to my email –roypaul2002@yahoo com, and be assured that your worthwhile contribution will have a prominent place on our page.

Christmas crossword

Giving at Christmas

Christmas is for giving And for showing that we care, For honouring the Christ Child With the loving gifts we share.

The wise men gave of riches; The shepherds, faith and love. Each gift, in its own measure, Was smiled on from above.

Let every gift be treasured; Not always size or price Determines the extent of love And willing sacrifice.

Handsome gifts with festive trim Bring smiles of sweet content, But modest gifts of humble means Are ofttimes heaven sent.

Whether it be large or small, Each gift will share in part The message of true Christmas joy, If given from the heart!

Solutions to last week’s

Ripple effect

Christmas movie

Christmas above all else is for sharing –make sure you fulfil this by doing what you can to make others happy.

Best Ways To Take Care Of Your Skin

1. Wash Your Face

Washing your face removes dirt, oils and bacteria that accumulate and make your pores appear larger You should wash your face when you wake up to remove dirt and oils, and again before bed to remove makeup and grime from the day You should also wash your face after you sweat or work out. You should use a gentle, natural face wash such as our Tamanu Luxury Facial Cleanser. It is made with 95% organic ingredients and naturally foams without harmful sulfates.

2. Get More Sleep

“Beauty Sleep” is a real thing. Our bodies need 7 to 9 hours of restful sleep every night to restore, rejuvenate and repair. It's like visiting the fountain of youth every night, as our skin produces new collagen when we sleep. To maintain strong sleep hygiene, experts recommend a consistent sleep schedule and a cool (65℉), dark environment. Build thirty minutes into your schedule to wind down before bed; this is a great time to wash your face and use our Beauty Sleep set, full of powerful antioxidants that help repair your skin overnight.

3. Breathe CleanAir

Heavy air pollution, cigarette smoke and artificial fragrances can harm our skin health, forming harmful free radicals and causing skin irritations. If you can't avoid these, help repair your skin with nontoxic products. Use natural, organic face wash and products with antioxidants to help undo the damage polluted air does to your skin.

4. UseAntioxidants

Free radicals cause damage to our skin and bodies. They are generated by fried foods, alcohol and pesticides. However, antioxidants can neutralize free radicals, like natural superheroes. It's important to eat foods with antioxidants such as dark chocolate, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and pecans. It is just as important to use skincare products that include antioxidants, such as Vitamin C, Green Tea, Olive Leaf, Licorice Root, and Pomegranate. OurAntioxidant Skin Boost is a great source of antioxidant Vitamin C and can be added to serums or moisturizers.

5.

Exfoliate Your Face

Look for gentle exfoliating ingredients like alpha hydroxy acids (AHA), which are found in natural fruit acids.Alpha hydroxy acids dissolve the skin's natural “glue” that holds on to dead skin cells, gently removing them without scrubbing. Alpha hydroxy acids also act as a humectant, drawing moisture to the skin.

6. Exercise Regularly

Exercise helps increase blood flow, drawing oxygen into and free radicals away from the skin. Exercise also helps decrease stress and improve sleep quality. Make sure to wash your face after sweaty workouts.

7. UseAMoisturizer

Using a moisturizer every day is important for every skin type, whether it is dry, oily, mature, or acne prone. Proper moisturizing helps prevent dry, flaky skin and keeps skin cells performing at their best, preventing fine lines and wrinkles from forming. Our Citrine Complete Botanical Treatment is a combination moisturizer and serum that hydrates and nourishes skin. Intensive Eye Repair, with black cumin seed oil, can be used on any wrinkles and lines on your face that need a little extra care.

8. Drink Water

Drinking water feeds the skin from the inside. Dehydrated skin can look dull, be itchy and dry and make lines more noticeable. It can also enhance dark areas around your eyes and nose.Alcohol and coffee dehydrate skin. Drinking plenty of water keeps skin hydrated and can give your skin a healthy glow. Eating fruits and vegetables, exercise and restful sleep can all help keep skin hydrated, too.

9. Wear Sunscreen

The sun causes the majority of aging for skin. Too much sun can cause serious skin damage, contributing to dehydration and forming harmful free radicals. Sunscreens provide essential protection from the sun's harmful rays and should be worn when you are in the sun for long periods of time. You should also wear protective clothing and limit sun exposure.

ByAllyiahAllicock

If you are ever looking for a self service Laundromat or need to get your laundry returned the same day, then Clothesline Laundry Services has got youcovered.

Clothesline Laundry Services was launchedonNovember8thisyearandissaid to be the first of its kind that offers self service Laundromat here in Guyana. The businessisownedbyCowenGittens.

Gittens in a recent interview with this magazine related that his business came about based on the inefficiency of other Laundromatsaroundthecountry

Herecalledthatearlierintheyear rainingnon-stop,andhedidnotgeta todohislaundry So,heandhiswife decided to check to see if there wereanyLaundromatsopenatthe time.

“This was around 3pm on a Sunday Wefoundthatjustonewas open.Sowedrovetothelocation. When we got there, we were told that we would have to wait 7-10 daysbeforewecangetourlaundry back.We needed clothes for work thenextday,soweinquiredabout an express service, and were told that it will take three days,” he recalled.

He added that it was while on their way home, he and his wife decided that they will open their own laundry service, that will be establishedandrunonefficiency,so personswouldnothavetofacethesame troublesthattheyhadencounteredthat

“Andsoherewearethefirstself-service Laundromat in Guyana and we are the only Laundromat that has a same day return time forlaundry,”Gittensnoted.

Havingonlylaunchedlastmonth,Gittens said the business has been blooming. The support he mentioned has been overwhelming. “Our weekends are always packed. And now that it’s the Christmas season, bags upon bags of laundry are comingin,”hedescribed.Gittenssaidthisis so because people really do appreciate the kindofservicetheyoffer

Moreover, why they have been getting tremendous support is because most of his networking tools for the business comes from social media, especially TikTok. He added that most of their customers walk in andinformthemthattheyfoundoutaboutthe businessonthatplatform.

Besides the overwhelming support, Gittens made mention of the challenges he

encountered. He told this magazinethattheprimary challenge they faced was capital.“Wehadthevision, wehadtheplans,wehadthe direction, but we didn’t have the money,” he said. But having secured a loan through the Small Business Bureau helped them overcome that challenge.

When asked about the state of the competitive environment, in his line of business,Gittensindicatedthatconsidering the unique nature of their business, they are i n

e i r

ownclass.“AndIknowforafactthatover time, many other persons, or companies maywanttoadoptourmodel.Butwedon’t mind the competition. Competition is good for consumers. And our policy of givingcustomerspeaceofmindwiththeir laundry will always keep us ahead of the game,”heexplained.

Having their dreams realized, Gittens relatedthatinaboutfiveto10years,theyare goingtoopenotherlocationsacrossGuyana. “Our long-term goal is to start a laundry franchiseinGuyana.Wewantpeopletohave peaceofmindwiththeirlaundry,”heshared.

His business has been receiving tremendous support so far and for this, the youngmanhasexpressedhisgratitudetoall thepersonsthathaveutilisedtheirservice.

Ourfeaturedentrepreneurisofthebelief

that young entrepreneurs are pivotal in our society today and that they will drive our countryforward.“Ourcountryneedspeople withvisionandambition.Youngpeoplewho cantakewhattheyknow,whatthey’regood at,anduseittotheirbenefit,willbenefitthe country,”hesaid.

He added that they will inevitably give back to their communities and also be role models to younger persons who may have similarpassion,andwhomaywantguidance.

When asked what more he thinks can be done to boost small businesses locally, he

mentionedfortheretobemorelocalsupport.

“Smallbusinessesneedsupportfromthe localcommunity Ifthereisasmallbusiness in your community, trying out their product or service can help them grow,” Gittens stated.

Persons desirous of utilising Gittens’ laundromat services, can visit them at 667 Mandela Avenue, Georgetown (opposite Plaza bridge) or contact them on telephone numbers (592) 503-2982/ 610-4085. They are on Instagram, Facebook and Tik Tok

@Clotheslingy

“Smallbusinessesneed supportfromthelocal community.Ifthereisa communitysmallbusinessinyour,tryingouttheirproductorservicecan helpthemgrow.”

Young entrepreneur, Cowen Gittens

Sweet Confections: OfficialCheesecake

Stop

By Renay Sambach

Satisfy your sweet tooth with a delicious cheesecake from ‘Sweet Confections.’Choosefromavariety of toppings such as strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, kiwi, passionfruit,Oreoorindulgeintheir renowned death-by-chocolate cheesecake.

While speaking with the owner ofthebusiness,27-year-oldRonetta Alexis Austin, she shared that she began baking for her family and closefriendsinJuly2019,andlater launchedherbusinessofficially

Whenaskedwhatinspiredherto start Sweet Confections, Ronetta said,“Iinitiallystartedbakingcakes for family and friends who later encouraged me to get more exposureandpromotemybusiness. After a little over a year of continuously honing my skills and consistently perfecting my art, I reached a pointofmakingaproductthatisconsistentin qualityandtaste.”

She added, “Especially in meeting today’s society high standards. I eventually “launched late in November 2020 with my main driving force being a strong sense of independence;runningmyownbusinessand

providing for my family, while simultaneously being able to genuinely pursueahobbyI’mpassionateabout.”

According to the business owner, she initially started with cakes, cupcakes and othersweettreats,butduetothehighdemand for her cheesecakes on a daily basis, she eventually transitioned to solely making cheesecakes.

Ronetta shared that her customers’ favourite is the multi-toppings cheesecake andthechocolatecheesecake.Customersare a l s o allowedto

custom order their cheesecakes Other options available is the cheesecake jar, cheesecake shooters, cheesecake brownies, cheesecake cupcakes and character themed cheesecakes.

“We have recently

Cuisine Culture

catered for Cevon’s Waste Management Christmas Light Up. We also catered for a few restaurants supplying them with cheesecakes throughout the recently concluded restaurant week,” Ronetta said.

Sweet Confections is located at Lot 64 Howes Street Charlestown, Georgetown (between Russell&AdelaideStreets). The business is opened Monday to Saturday from 08:00-hoursto16:00-hours.

“Comingfromafamilywellversedin catering and cooking, I found myself being able to express my art through baking.Beingawifeandmotherof1with anotherontheway,coupledwitha9to5 job, having my business on the side does present its own challenges; but with the consistent support of my family, friends and even to the extent of my loyal customers, I have managed to rise above themall,”Ronettashared.

As it relates to her long-term goal, Ronetta said, “I’m currently looking to pursueamorespaciousbusinesslocation incentralGeorgetownwhereIwillbeable to fully cater to my growing customer base as a dessert shop with a delicious difference. My aim is to establish the equivalent of Guyana’s first ‘Cheesecake factory’.”

To contact Ronetta, you can visit her Facebook page Sweet Confections or WhatsApp/Call+5926122189.

(To share any useful information, you can contact me via email @naesambach@gmail.com)

Atlantic Edge Insurance Brokerage Inc. hosts BLACK CAKE COMPETITION

Atlantic Edge Insurance Brokerage Inc., as part of its Christmas activities, on Friday hosted its first black cake competition at its David Street, Subryanville,Georgetownoffice.

The scent of fresh cakes soaked in rumfilledtheairasthefiveparticipants showcased their black cakes. Black cakesmadefromdriedfruits,nuts,dark sugar caramel and rum are a must at Christmas time in Guyana. The cakes aresoakedinrumweeklyandwillkeep for a long time with continuous soaking.

The company had published an advertisement calling for the country’s bestblackcakemakerstoparticipatein

the competition. The five persons who responded to the advertisement hail fromtheWestBank,EastBankandEast Coast Demerara They were all enthusedforthejudgestosamplewhat they deemed to be ‘the best’ black cakes.

Thecompetitionwasjudgedbyfour volunteers who not only sampled the cakes but graded each participant on presentation,taste,texture,anddensity The person with the most points emergedthewinner

Taralyn Harris was adjudged the maker of the best black cake. She secured 69 points and won $50,000. Second place was awarded to

Jacqueline Bontick-Tuell who scored 68pointsandreceiveda$30,000while thirdplacewenttoJasmine(onlyname given) with 58 points. She received $15,000.

Meanwhile, Sharon Ramrattan, the Company’s Director said that black cakecompetitionwasheldtoaddtothe Christmas spirit and the pleasantries associatedwiththeseason.

“We want to build awareness that family is important, especially during this season, we want families and communitiestocometogetherasoneto dosomething,andwewantedtocreate somethingtogivebacktothe

Continued on page 62

Rabina Shivraj’s cake

First place winner, Taralyn Harris

Taralyn Harris received her $50,000 cheque from Director ofAtlantic Edge Insurance Brokerage Inc. Sharon Ramrattan

P o l l y

Ragnauthwas a teenager, she always dreamt of a career in the medical field. To be exact, shewantedtobeanurse.

Thereasonforthisisthat she loved the idea of caring for others in a way that will make their lives better and morewholesome.

Herinterestinthatcareer path, nonetheless, shifted aftersheenteredtheteaching profession and fell in love with moulding the minds of youngchildren.

In many respects, Ms. Ragnauthhasnowexceeded thebenefitsofherchildhood

dream. Instead of nursing people back to health; as a teacher, she is able to play a pivotal role in shaping tomorrow’s leaders, equipping them with the academic and social tools necessary to navigate life’s challenges and ultimately leadmoremeaningfullives.

This week’s Special Personhasinfactspentover 20 years in the teaching profession, which she says has opened doors for her to evolve in other areas of her life.

Today, Ms. Ragnauth is knownformorethanjusther teaching skills, she has blossomed into an

Ms. Polly Ragnauth

entrepreneur, administrator, and Director of Camille’s AcademyInc(CAI)—oneof the nation’s premier private schools.

She said, “Teaching exceeded that goal, part of what I do is establish values and principles and give children life skills, not just academics.”

Ms Ragnauth holds several credentials from locally and internationally recognized and accredited academic organisations

Theseincludecertificatesfor completing courses in Psychology, Emotional Intelligence, Best Practices For Teachers, Self Development, and Introduction to Guidance and Counselling from the American University of PeaceStudies.

S h e a l s o h o l d s certificates in Business Management from Action Coach Guyana – a local businesscoachingentityand Cambridge University,

where she completed a course in Educational Leadership. She is currently pursuinganILMprogramme accredited by the City and GuildsofLondon.

Ms Ragnauth is also a decorated teacher and entrepreneur with several awardsunderherbelt These include CAI’s outstanding teacher award for the year 2019, the DirectorAward for ExcellentinService-serving Camille’s Academy for 20 years, and the best Teacher Award- Teacher of The Year Awardforthemostpassesin CSECEXAMSin2021

She was also nominated as employee of the year for theBIX-XAwardsin2020at a conference held in Nashville Tennessee as well astheYoungEntrepreneurof theYearforBIX–XAwards inFeb2022,ataconference held in Las Vegas, Nevada. Outside of this, the teacher/ CAIDirectorisalovingwife andmotheroftwo.

Her husband, Vijay Bhagwandin, and their two children, Ricardo and Renatta,serveasthebedrock for all she does and strives for

“ B e i n g a y o u n g entrepreneur, being one of the Directors for the Camille Academy Inc, a private school with four locations in Guyana has definitely made me realize thatitdoesnotalwaysgothe wayyouplanned,”shesaid.

She continued, “I love

whatIdoandthatistobethe change I want to see in my community and personal life.”

SIMPLECHILDHOOD

Ms.Ragnauthhailsfrom thecommunityofSoesdyke, East Bank Demerara. She is a product of a deeply religiousmother,Omawattie Surajlall whom many villagerscall‘AuntieDolly’, and her father, the late Roy Ragnauth.

She recalled having a simple but great childhood, having been afforded the opportunity to explore the outdoors and lots of simple adventures.

She said, “Honestly, I had an awesome childhood, the children back then were notexposedtotoomuchtoo soon I was able to participate in bush cooks, fishingattheriverside,anda hostofoutdooractivities.It’s notlikewhatthechildrenof today are exposed to, using gadgetsfromearly.”

Ragnauth said being an onlychilddoesnotmeanyou get all your wants fulfilled, butsaidshehadtoassisther parents who both worked to makeendsmeet.

Infact,mostofhervalues which include honesty, modesty, compassion, hard work, self-respect, and respect for elders are embedded in the teachings shereceivedfromherstaunch Hinduupbringing

“Mymotherisanactive

WhenTaramatie

Ms.PollyRagnauthholdsontoheraccoladesfollowing anawardceremonyforCamille’sAcademyInc.

Ms. Ragnauth attends a business coaching event in the US

Ms. Ragnauth enjoys a light moment with Santa at a Camille’sAcademy Christmas event

Ms. Ragnauth is an adoring wife and mother of two

Astute teacher, entrepreneur, and Director of Camille Academy Inc.

Ms. Polly Ragnauth...

Frompage54

part of the work of our Mandir and I grew up attending and participating in the various rituals and ceremonies,”shesaid.

Duringherschoolyears, Ragnauthneverthoughtthat shewouldbecomeateacher; she always wanted to be a nurse. Shelovedtheideaof helping, caring, and sharing withothers. However,after completing high school, she ventured into teaching as part of her plan to help support her goal to further her studies and assist her parents.

‘MISSPOLLY’

InApril 2001, Ragnauth whom most of her students call “Miss Polly,” began teaching computer literacy to small children and adults in the evening at the computer school that Ms. CamilleDeokie-Gorakhhad established.

That same year, the first private school on the upper East Bank of Demerara ‘Camille’s Institute for Business and Science Studies’ opened its doors and began operations. Ragnauth was just 17 years oldatthetimewhenshetook up the challenge of becomingateacher.

Back then, she said to herself, “If it doesn’t work out then I will make other plans.” However, as fate wouldhaveit,littlebylittle, day by day, as time passed, she fell in love with idea of workingwithchildren.

And as she matured, got married in her early twenties, and became a mom, Ragnauth was able to glean from her teaching experiences. The teacher said it assisted her with her parenting skills as well as giving back to her community as she helped to mouldthemindsofchildren from her very village in Soesdyke.

Ms. Ragnauth also set and pursued her own academic dreams She completed several short courses including a programme in guidance and counselling, business management, and other life skills to broaden her scope p e r s o n a l l y a n d professionally

After 10 years in the profession,Ragnauthhaving

experienced consistent growthandpromotioninthe field was awarded for her exemplary service and

dedication to the company Shewasalsopromotedtothe Head of the Secondary Department.

In 2014, she prepared

andsentupherfirstbatchof students to sit the CSEC EXAMS which she continues to do and has managed to maintain a

consistent pass rate of 80% andabove.

In 2019, Ms. Ragnauth wasagainpromotedtobeing the Administrator of the Main Soesdyke location of Camille’sAcademy DIRECTOR/ ENTREPENUER

Thenewroleopenedthe doorforRagnauthtoevolve i n t h e a r e a o f entrepreneurship. As the schoolexpandeditsreachin January of 2021 to include new locations, Ms Ragnauth was given a seat on the board and became a shareholderinthecompany She said becoming a part owner of the main location was both rewarding and an accomplishment for her 22 yearsofservice.

Aftershebecameaboard member of CAI and was appointed to serve in the capacity of Director of Administration of four locations, her duties also expanded to cater to the welfare of a school population of over 1500 students.

Her responsibilities include monitoring the planning and designing of a balancedschoolcurriculum, m a n a g e m e n t a n d preparation for national exams, and providing guidance to teachers for the statutory completion of schoolrecords.

She is also tasked with ensuring that a balanced curriculum for every department nursery, primary, and secondary is prepared and delivered in keeping with the school standards, including the SMART school option, and

also integrating Information and Communication Technology(ICT)withinthe curriculum.

As the administrator of the Soesdyke location, Ms. Ragnauth manages its daily operationswhichincludethe welfare of approximately 600 students and thirty staff members.

Reflecting on her journey, she expressed gratitude to the visionary leadership of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Camille’s Academy Inc, CamilleDeokie-Gorakh.

“I would not be in this position if she had not seen the potential in me and o f f e r e d m e t h e opportunities to empower myself in terms of business and leadership courses through training from Action Coach Guyana She also offers moral support for me to complete the courses That is why I and severalotherstaffmembers were able to stay and work with the school for so long becauseshemakesiteasyto work and accomplish our professional goals She is honestlymyrolemodeland mentor,” the Director added

Speaking about her future plans, Ragnauth said that in the next five years, she sees herself as being a proud mother of two successful children and the biggestfanofhercommitted andhardworkinghusband.

She said her goal is constant;itisalwaystobea role model in her community, helping empower the future of tomorrow

Ms. Ragnauth is pictured with some of the students of Camille’sAcademy during an event.

Ms. Ragnauth is pictured with the CEO, Directors and Heads of Department of CAI

“Being a young entrepreneur, being one of the Directors for the Camille Academy Inc, a private school with four locations in Guyana has definitely made me realize that it does not always go the way you planned,” she said.

Bystander killed, several injured after bus ploughed into store at Zeeburg, WCD

minibus

Coast

The dead woman has been identified Gaitree

Sewsankar

According to reports, the accident occurred at 14:30h and Sewsankar and other customers were standing to front of store when the minibus swerved from a car, crashed into a truck and then veered off the WCD Public Road and crashed into the varietystore.

Subsequently, another minibus swerved from the

truck and crashed into the rearofthefirstminibus.

K a i e t e u r N e w s understands that Sewsankar was run over by the bus under which she was trapped. She reportedly died on the spot. Eyewitnesses rushed to assist the injured.

Cell phone videos recorded public-spirited citizens removing the injured from the accident scene. They

were all rushed to the West D e m e r a r a R e g i o n a l Hospital.

S e w s a n k a r w a s pronounced dead at theWest Demerara Regional Hospital a n d h e r b o d y w a s subsequently taken to the EzekielFuneralhome.

K a i e t e u r N e w s understands that the truck driver is in police custody assistingwithinvestigations.

Ukraine war: Putin meets generals as Russian missiles pound cities

BBC - Russian President Vladimir Putin has met his military chiefs on the same day his forces launched another wave of missiles at Ukraine'sinfrastructure.

Mr Putin spent most of Friday at the headquarters of the "special military operation" discussing ideas for what Russia's next move shouldbe.

It comes as some Ukrainian military officials claimedRussiawasplanning an offensive, perhaps early next year.Russian attacks on Ukraine's power grid have plunged milions into darkness Footage from Friday's meeting showed Mr Putin flanked by Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Armed Forces Chief Valeriy Gerasimov."Wewilllistento the commanders in each operational direction, and I would like to hear your proposals on our immediate and medium-term actions," the Kremlin leader was seen telling military officials on state TV.Gen Gerasimov's presence ends rumours circulatingonlinethathehad been dismissed from his

position The 67-year-old has been the target of intensive criticism from hawkish commentators, who have accused him of being toocautious.

Air Force general Sergei Surovikin - who was appointed as Russia's commander in Ukraine in October - was also present at the meeting, photos released bystatemediashowed.

Ukrainian forces have made a series of major advances in recent months, including retaking Khersonthe only major city captured byRussianforcessofar

And the collapse of Moscow's forces in eastern Ukraine earlier this year saw military bosses come in for sustainedcriticismfromproKremlinmediafigures.

The meeting followed claims by the commander of Ukraine's military, Gen Valerii Zaluzhnyi, that Moscow could seek to launch a new offensive in early 2023. He warned that Russiawaspreparingaround 200,000troopsfortheattack.

"Ihavenodoubttheywill have another go at Kyiv," he

added. "I know how many combat units I have right now,howmanycombatunits I have to create by the end of the year - and, most importantly, not to touch them in any way now. No matterhowharditis."

He added that the attack could originate "in the direction of Kyiv" and may belaunchedfromBelarus.

In February, Russian troops advanced towards the Ukrainian capital Kyiv after crossing the border from Belarus.While the country's l e a d e r A l e x a n d e r

Lukashenko has repeatedly denied that his forces will join in the invasion, thousands of Russian troops are currently in the country taking part in what Moscow's defence ministry called "intensive combat training".But analysts have questionedRussia'sabilityto launch a new offensive on the Ukrainian capital, and White House spokesperson John Kirby said that US intelligence officials "aren't seeing any indication that there's an imminent move on Kyiv".

The Route 32 minibus that crashed into the Guy America store located at Zeeburg, WCD

A 37-year-old woman was on Saturday afternoon hit and killed by a Route 32

that ploughed into the Guy America Store she was in at Zeeburg, West

Demerara(WCD).

From page 18

golden opportunity to truly

improvecitizens’lives.

Toraisethestandardoflivingof

its people, the bank has

Back in 2017, AHI was unable recommended that the new oil tomeetitsduefinancialobligations producingstatechannelaportionof torepayaloanfromRepublicBank its wealth into efforts that would Limited of Trinidad. As such, AHI transform the health sector Just had requested the assistance of recently, the IDB provided Guyana NICIL, the guarantor but the State with a US$97M loan. That money agencywasalsounabletoassist. is set to help Guyanese authorities

In order to prevent the hotel strengthen the health care network. from being acquired by the bank, As is customary with such loans, the former Government in April the IDB conducts a review of the 2017 made the decision to transfer state of affairs for its borrower and AHI’s financial obligations to the howitsloanwillmakeadifference. Central Government.This decision

In one of its reports, the IDB has resulted in US$1.1 million spoke extensively about access to ($226 million) of taxpayers dollars quality health care in Guyana. It comingouteverysixmonths(since referenced the 2021 Global Health 2017) to service the US$27 million Security Index which measures loan–fora13-yearperiod. how prepared nations are for The Marriott Hotel has been epidemicsandpandemics.TheIDB deemed over the years as a pointed out that Guyana placed monument of corruption, and a 126thoutof 195 countriesandnext colossal waste of taxpayers’ tolastintheCaribbean,afterHaiti. money. Importantly, financial Not enough beds statements for the hotel have not Similarly, the IDB said Guyana beenmadepublicforseveralyears. also ranks 137th out of 195 in the Now seven-years after being global health security index and is operational and touting the particularlyweakinearlydetection investment as one of the most and reporting of epidemics, which construction and/or upgrade and forces

“transformational project”, the came to attention with how the equipment replacement or transferred to

the project PPP-administrationisnowreadyto country handled the COVID-19 provision. In fact, 20 percent of the much of the country’s health

around 406,000 sell the hotel. In an advertisement pandemic.Whilethecountryhasan buildings had no electricity, and infrastructure, including the persons, over half of the country’s in December 13, 2022 Kaieteur extensive offer of primary health only 60 percent of buildings hospital facilities, presents access population In addition, the News edition, NICIL issued a precare through its numerous health receivedwatercontinuouslyduring difficulties for persons with telehealth activities, which will be qualificationnotice. posts and centers, the IDB said operatinghours. disabilities based on physical installedinover15healthfacilities, A c c o r d i n g t o t h e hospital care is more constrained, In addition, the report found limitations in the current will reach all 10 of the country’s advertisement, NICIL is seeking with only 1.6 beds per 1,000 that just 20 buildings (6 percent) infrastructure and lack of protocols regions,includingthehinterlands. Expressions of Interest (EOIs) persons.Thebanksaidthisislower received treated water Regarding for providing services to them. It is from persons or companies, than the averages in LatinAmerica structural, architectural, and hoped that the US$97 million loan Wednesday - Dec 14, 2022 individually or as part of a joint (2.2)andtheCaribbean(2.3). operational integrity, 24 of the recently approved by the IDB will venture / consortium, with an Furthermore, the financial buildings were judged to require help to address the foregoing, Govt. puts profitable interest in purchasing its shares in institution said the country also immediate rehabilitation and/or amongotherdeficiencies.

Marriott Hotel up for sale AHI for the acquisition of the faces human resource limitations, construction. Furthermore, a study According to loan documents, GuyanaMarriottHotel. with just 0.8 doctors and 1.0 nurses of three regional and six district the US$97M programme will After investing US millions NICIL stated too that the preper 1,000 persons, far below the hospitals revealed that six reported expand the capacity of seven into the Guyana Marriott Hotel and qualification notice is for Latin American and Caribbean routine medication shortages, and hospitals (four hinterland hospitals burdening taxpayers with a US- applicationsinordertoshortlistthe averages of 2 0 and 2 8, four, routine water or electricity in Regions One, Seven, Eight and multimillion dollar loan that the parties who have the necessary respectively shortages, while all district Nine, Linden Hospital, New hotel was unable to service, the financial capability to undertake Given the concentration of hospitals showed insufficient Amsterdam Hospital, and Government of Guyana (GoG) has thisrequestforEOIs. health professionals in the coastal capacityforemergencysurgery Georgetown Public Hospital) and now decided to sell the Applications for preand urban areas, the IDB said these The report also states that the extend the coverage of diagnostic controversialhotel.

qualification must include the indices are even worse in the rural country’s national reference following information: financial interior with indigenous peoples hospital, the Georgetown Public capability in terms of net worth; who face higher mortality rates, Hospital Corporation (GPHC auditedfinancialstatementsforthe increased incidence of diabetes, requires significant infrastructure last three financial years); net uniquementalhealthconcerns,and investments. Similarly, at the worth minimum (approximately lowaccesstomaternalcare. time of evaluation in 2018/19, US $250 million); and letter of

The IDB also noted that while the New Amsterdam (NAH) financial capability from a Guyana’s health care system has and Linden (LH) regional r e c o g n i z e d f i n a n c i a l seen improvements in the past two hospitals, which provide institution(s) to acquire NICIL’s decades,thelifeexpectancyatbirth specialized reference services shares in AHI for the Guyana (70 years in 2019) is the second to the country’s interior, where MarriottHotel. lowestintheregion. the underserved Amerindian

The deadline for the

The financial institution noted populationsarepredominant,were submission of applications is on that the population is relatively deemed to require rehabilitation in January 10, 2023 at 14:00-hours. young, and only 7 percent is aged multiple service areas within three

The applications for pre65 years or older, although this years. IDB officials had found it in qualification must be submitted to portion may grow quickly in a deplorable state where mold was the Chief Executive Officer of exams and m e d i c a l The almost US$60 million coming years as the country onthewallsoftheoperatingroom.

NICIL at Lot 199 Camp Street, consultations. It will also increase hotel started under Vice President progresses to the final stage of the In the hinterlands, the IDB said SouthCummingsburg. the efficiency of the public health Bharrat Jagdeo’s tenure as demographic transition with lower the current – and depreciated – s y s t e m b y s u p p o r t i n g President using taxpayers’ dollars birthandmortalityrates. infrastructure of key district Lawyer, barber found dead in improvements in logistics, andotherfunds.

TheIDBalsopointedtoarecent hospitals limits the supply of apparent murder/suicide management,andprocesses. The hotel which was opened in (2018/9) nationwide assessment of services that should be provided to Infrastructure upgrades will 2015 is owned by the Government 341 health facilities which showed the population at the local level,

AyoungcouplewasonTuesday also include more efficient use of through the National Industrial and that many of them require such as basic imaging and foundshottodeathinwhat water and energy as well as Commercial Investments Limited infrastructure rehabilitation, diagnostic services, which in turn (Continued on page 58) accessibility provisions for (NICIL). Notably, Atlantic Hotel

Inc (AHI), a special purpose

company owned by NICIL was

established to own the Kingston,

Georgetownhotel.

people to travel or to be disabledpersons.

other regions. It said It is expected that

will benefit

The Guyana Marriott Hotel

Dead: Asasha Ramzan

Dead: Peter Charles

From page 57

now and even with 100 percent OnOctober28,theLawyerwas

former Minister said, “it would not Organised Crime Units (SOCU) appearedtobeamurder/suicidein bewisetospeculatewherenumbers who are accused of unlawfully their Nissan X-Trail at Clay Brick areconcerned,becauseifthecasino detaining Attorney-at-Law, Road,BelleWest,CanalTwo,West was built it is difficult to say even TamiekaClarke. BankDemerara(WBD).

Dead are 31-year-old Peter occupancy whether the hotel will detained by SOCU Officers Charles, a barber, and his wife, beprofitable.” reportedly after she repeatedly Asasha Ramzan, a 30-year-old

He said Marriott still has its advised her client who is being State Counsel with the Attorney casino license It is unclear investigated by the agency, to not GeneralChambers. howeverwhetherthelicensewillbe provide any answers to the

The couple was last seen alive sold with the facility, although questions being asked, and to around 07:00hrs and police believe Jordan believes it could be part of remainsilent. that they were killed in a thedealtomakeitmoreattractive. Clarke through her Lawyer, murder/suicide. In 2017, during a state media Nigel Hughes had filed legal

Reports are that Charles, shot broadcast, Jordan had said that proceedings at the Demerara High and killed Ramzan before taking massivemisspendingbythecurrent Court seeking several reliefs along his own life. Their lifeless bodies Government appeared to be “more with $300,000 in damages. The were found in the driver’s seat and than just mistakes” and advocated Lawyer had also filed two private front passenger side of the vehicle. forsometypeofaccountability criminalchargesattheGeorgetown Kaieteur News understandsthatthe He said that the Government Magistrates’ Courts against doorswerelockedandpolicehadto was at the time saddled with a large Superintendent Krishnadat prise open the SUV to remove the debt despite putting a large amount Ramana, Sergeant Navranda bodies. of equity. He had highlighted the Persaud and Sergeant Winston

Crime scene investigators Marriott project and the Skeldon Singh. observed that Ramzan bore two Factory, another failed expensive The two charges that were filed gunshot wounds to the face and Government venture, at the time. are for the offences of Wrongful head while Charles’ body had a He said the Granger Government Restraint pursuant to section 6 of singlegunshotunderneaththechin. providing legal advice on a ready established that the Administration was forced to “take over Republic the KidnappingAct, Cap 10:05 and A .32 semi automatic pistol and basistotheRegistraronavarietyof wasnotinterestedinowningahotel Bank’s debt of US$17.7M to repay WrongfulConfinement,contraryto four spent shells were recovered legalmatters”. and wanted to sell the business. He because the Atlantic Hotel section 8 of the Kidnapping Act, fromthevehicle. “Asasha” he stated, “will be said it was soon discovered Incorporated (AHI) was broke and Cap10:05.

Family members and close remembered by her colleagues as however that the state of the had no money.” He said too that on friends were left in a state of shock energetic,focusedandambitiousin finances would not allow them to that project alone the Government after receiving the tragic news and all of her professional pursuits. Her sell the company and realised sums hadtofindanotherGuy$5.3Btofix are still clueless about what might dedicationtoherworkisahallmark morethanwhatwasinvested. defectsonthehotel. have led to Charles killing his wife of her tenure at the Chambers, for Jordanhighlightedthattogether Marriott was opened in 2015 to andthentakinghisownlife. whichshestandsrecognized”. withthefactthatthehotelhadsome be a first class branded hotel. It is

The couple had gotten married problems; that it had a loan owned by the Government through four months ago. However, some Thursday - Dec 15, 2022 outstanding to Republic Bank- and the National Industrial and speculate that they might have tosell,permissionwasneededfrom Commercial Investments Limited developed “relationship problems” ‘Govt. must tell nation whether the institution, along with other (NICIL) but was owned by intheirmarriage.

Marriott is up for sale as a financial issues, “Marriott in terms bankruptAtlanticHotelInc.(AHI),

One of the couple’s friends, losing entity or a profit-making of profitability at the time was a special purpose company RamaPersaudpostedonFacebook, business’– Former Finance under question ” He said his established by NICIL. To prevent “…We shared a long relationship Minister, Winston Jordan understanding is that even the the hotel from being acquired by never would I have ever dream you contract with the Marriott brand Republic Bank, the Granger were having problems in your Guyanese is currently in the had an implication on sale. Jordan Government transferred AHI’s relationship I’m so sorry this dark as to whether the reminded that when the Marriott financial obligations to the Central happen this way which is not the ‘transformative’ US multi-million Hotel was built, to make it Government costing taxpayers right way… May both of your soul dollar Marriott Hotel which was profitable was the building of the US$1 1 million ($226 million) rip and may the family be guided built by the People’s Progressive casino which had not happened by every six months since 2017 to through this terrible time rip my Party (PPP) Government, is the time the Granger Government service the entire US$27 million friend Peter Charles (Rat) and rip profitableorwhethertheentitywill got in.Any selling of the hotel was loanfor13-years. SashaRamzan” be sold at a loss now that the deferred until the Marriott could be NICIL said it is seeking The DPP in a letter dated Another friend, Nigel Hardatt Administration is seeking to get rid put into a ready state, the former ExpressionsofInterest(EOIs)from December 12, 2022, addressed to posted, “Peter Charles this hurt my ofthealmostUS$60Mholding. Minister said. “Now, I don’t know persons or companies, individually Magistrate Annette Singh, notified friend. Sorry I didn’t reply to your Former Finance Minister, whether Marriott is in any state to or as part of a joint venture / the Magistrate that she has messagelastnightbro.RIP” Winston Jordan says only the besoldforprofit,”headded. consortium, with an interest in discontinued both charges filed by Meanwhile the Attorney release of the hotel’s financial Jordan agreed that with the purchasing its shares inAHI for the Clarke’sAttorney General, Anil Nandlall in a documents will reveal whether the finances unavailable, it is unclear acquisition of the Guyana Marriott The DPP exercised her powers statement said that Ramzan controversial project was a plus or whether anything was invested to Hotel Pre-qualification must conferred on her byArticle 187 (1) graduated from the Hugh Wooding minusforGuyana. makethehotelprofitableandifnot, include financial capability in (c) of the Constitution of the Law School in 2020 and was

Former Finance Minister, thenitwouldbesellingataloss.He terms of net worth, audited Cooperative Republic of Guyana, admitted to bar November that WinstonJordan saidonethingthatisknownforsure financial statements for the last anddiscontinuedthecharges. sameyear In an interview with Kaieteur is that the casino was never built three financial years), net worth According to Article 187:1: ShehasbeenworkingasaState News just a day after the and so profitability is still a minimum (approximately US $250 “The Director of Public Counsel with the Attorney Government advertised the hotel’s question. million), and letter of financial Prosecutions (referred to in this General’s Chambers since then and sale, he described the action as “Unless you see the financials capability from a recognized article as ‘the Director’) shall have was described as “a confident, “interesting” given the dilemma of Marriot you don’t know what is financial institution(s) to acquire power in any case in which he or hardworking, able, and driven involving the project’s realisation. being sold because even if you are NICIL’s shares in AHI for the she considers it desirable to do attorney-at-law”. He indicated that a lot of money selling your shares, your shares GuyanaMarriottHotel. so…(c) to discontinue at any stage “ Ms. Ramzan brought the was needed to correct defects at the havetobebasedontheprofitability before judgment is delivered any highest levels of professionalism hotel and even more to service or the worth of the stock. And the DPPdiscontinues private such criminal proceedings and proficiency to every matter in loans taken by the project’s worth of the Institution is not what criminal charges against SOCU instituted or undertaken by him or which she was involved, and was handlers.Itisunclearwhatposition you put in it but what the market is Officers who arrestedAttorney her or any other person or concerned especially about the the hotel is in, and the former prepared to pay or value your authority.” plight of the ordinary Guyanese”, Minister believes that information sharesat,”Jordanopined. The Director of Public In giving her reasons to statedAGNandlall. should be communicated to the Oil and hotel Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali- discontinue the charges against the NandlalladdedtoothatRamzan public. When asked about the growing Hack, SC has discontinued the SOCU Officers, the DPP stated, “I had also worked closely with the He recalled that during the oil economy as a positive marker private criminal charges against haveconsidereditandfoundthat General Register Office (GRO), David Granger Government it was for the hotel’s profitable sale, the three members of the Special

Former Finance Minister, Winston Jordan

Attorney-at-Law, Tamieka Clarke

From page 58 the charges filed under this nation’s fifth project by and economic value It theissuesofWrongfulArrest Actisanabuseofprocess.” using its vessels, including concluded that the Uaru and False Imprisonment Those were the reasons FDS2andConstellation. Project will contribute arise.TheseareissuesofTort stated by the DPP as to her Subject to the necessary positively, directly and and Constitutional breaches discontinuing the two government approvals, indirectly, to economic whicharecivilactions.” private criminal charges project sanction by growthinGuyana.

The DPP added that all against Superintendent ExxonMobil Guyana and its issues which are included in Ramana, Sergeant Persaud, Stabroek block coventurers, Georgetown Mayor, the allegations will be andSergeantSingh. and an authorisation to Opposition MPon $200k addressed in the civil action proceed with the final phase, bail each for controversial that was filed against the Friday - Dec 16, 2022 the award will still allow remarks, traffic offences State. Saipem to start some limited

Notably, she stated too ExxonMobil hands out activities, namely detailed

T h e M a y o r o f that the allegations made another US multimillion e n g i n e e r i n g a n d Georgetown, Ubraj Narine against the Officers who are dollar contract for 5th procurement.

of all active serving members unapproved project Development Project Parliament (MP) Sherod of the Guyana Police Force offshore Guyana Duncan were on Thursday (GPF) was done in the Saipem, an Italian K a i e t e u r N e w s placed on $200,000 bail on signed a contract to perform by locking in key contracts courseoftheirduties,adding multinational oil services understands that Sapiem’s allegations that they Front End Engineering and early With respect to the that the Officers are company, announced this second contract was from attempted to excite ethnic Design (FEED) for a Uaru Project, Hess officials protected by virtue of week that it has been Petrobel, one of the largest division among citizens as FloatingProduction,Storage said the circumstances will Section 14 of the Justice awarded new contracts in companies working in wellobstructingtraffic. and Offloading vessel be different, adding that the ProtectionActChapter5:07. Guyana and Egypt totalling petroleum and energy sector The duo appeared at the (FPSO) for the “Uaru” cost for the Floating, Asitrelatestothecharge approximatelyUS$1.2B. in Egypt. The contract is for Georgetown Magistrates’ developmentproject. Production, Storage and that was filed under the Saipem said the first t h e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , Courts before Chief

American energy Offloading (FPSO) vessel, Kidnapping Act Chapter contract was awarded by installation and pre- Magistrate Ann McLennan. company, Hess Corporation, will surely reflect current 10:05, the DPP stated that, ExxonMobil Guyana for the commissioningof170kmof The City Mayor and Duncan recently put Guyana on marketconditions,aswellas “the intent and purpose of Uaru field development umbilicals for the Zohr were not required to plead to notice, that the fifth project scopechanges. P a r l i a m e n t i n t h e project, located in the naturalgasfield. the first charge which stated targeting 1.3 billion barrels In its project summary Kidnapping Act Chapter Stabroekblock.Thecontract This publication would that on Monday December ofoilintheStabroekBlock’s that was submitted to the 10:05 is to provide for the scope includes the design, have previously reported 12, at New Market Street, Uaru field, will cost way Environmental Protection punishment for the offences fabrication and installation that several other contracts G e o r g e t o w n , t h e y more than US$10B. The Agency,ExxonsaidtheUaru of abduction, wrongful of subsea structures, risers, were awarded by Exxon for intentionally transmitted by company had issued this Project will be located in the restraintandconfinementfor flowlines and umbilicals for the Uaru Project even as it use of computer system a forewarning about the most eastern portion of the block, ransom and other related a large subsea production still awaits government video attempting to excite expensive development to approximately 200 km from offences and for matters facility Saipem, who was approval. Late last month, ethnic division among the come during its 2022 third Georgetown and amid incidentalthereto.” previously awarded other French company Vallourec people of Guyana on the quarterearningscall. previousStabroekProjects. She added that it is four subsea contracts by said it secured major ground of race. While the Hess Executives told Current plans include therefore her considered ExxonMobil Guyana for contracts for Uaru In first charge was laid shareholders that they were drilling to produce oil from opinionthatthefactsalleged prior developments in the November as well, Mitsui indictably,thesecondcharge able to insulate development approximately 40-76 wells by the Lawyer, “do not fall same area, namely Liza Ocean Development & waslaidsummarily costs for Payara and which costs millions of withinthescope,purportand Phase One and Two, Payara, Engineering Company

Thesecondchargestated Yellowtail to some extent, dollars. Production is i n t e n d m e n t o f t h e and Yellowtail, will perform (MODEC) which is based in thatonDecember12,atNew from inflationary pressures expected to begin between Kidnapping Act; therefore, the operations for the Japan announced that it has Market Street, the Mayor the fourth quarter of 2026 and the MP attempted to and the second quarter of excite public hostility or ill 2027, with an expected field will against a section of the life of at least 20 years. public on the grounds of Exxon said the production their race. Both Narine and facilities to be installed Duncanpleadednotguiltyto include subsea equipment thesecondchargeafteritwas attached to the seafloor as read to them. They are being w e l l a s p r o c e s s i n g represented by a battery of equipment on the ocean’s lawyers led by Senior surface known as a Floating, Counsel, Roysdale Forde. Production, Storage, and The other attorneys include: Offloadingvessel. Khemraj Ramjattan; Darren Exxon also told the EPA Wade and Amanza Waltonthat it has undertaken Desir additional studies to obtain Police Prosecutor a n e v e n m o r e Shellon Daniels, who is c o m p r e h e n s i v e prosecuting the matter, told understanding of potential the court that both charges impacts of effluent stemmed from one issue so discharges to water, the the matters will be heard feasibility of alternative together handling of produced water, Prosecutor Daniels said cradle to grave waste that Onika Vickory, a senior management in Guyana, technician employed with emergency response the Ministry of Public c a p a b i l i t i e s , a n d Wo r k s , a c t i n g o n environmental compliance instructions from the monitoring and verification. Minister of Public Works, The company said the Juan Edghill to remove the learnings from current stalls on New Market Street o p e r a t i o n s a n d had contracted three trucks environmental studies will and drivers to carry out a enhance the design and removalexerciseofthestalls implementation of the Uaru along New Market Street (in Project, thereby increasing frontoftheGeorgetown environmental performance

and Opposition Member

Mayor of Georgetown, Ubraj Narine

Opposition MP, Sherod Duncan Map showing

From page 59

convened a meeting with the Public Hospital). She added residentsandtheirLawyers thattheywereabletoremove During the meeting, EPA one of the caravans, which assuredtheresidentsthatthis was then taken to the wasonlyfortheconstruction ministry’s compound aspect of the facility and that However, while attempting they would get a better to remove a second caravan, opportunity to speak on the they were prevented from merits and demerits of the doing so by the Mayor, the actual radioactive storage MP and other persons. As a facility’s operation when result, the police were Schlumberger seeks an summoned. The prosecutor applicationforsame. added that Narine and Three residents later Duncan placed concrete approached the court blocks, garbage bins and seeking an Order of other items along the Certiorari to quash the roadwaypreventingtheflow construction permit EPA operators, rice farmers, cane then headed to the traffic statutory duties when it oftraffic. grantedtoSchlumbergerand cuttersorfishermen,theyare court where they were made the decision to waive Danielsfurtherstatedthaton an order of injunction to mostly Hindus that’s why slapped with two charges for the requirement of an the said night, the Mayor did prevent the company from you went there but because obstructing the flow of Environmental Impact an interview with Duncan continuing any construction these are Black people, you traffic For these two Assessment (EIA) to and that during the interview ofthefacility are bulldozing them like charges, they were released Schlumberger in relation to thatwasairedonaFacebook However, in responding animals,likedogs…” onself-bail. granting an environmental page ‘Credible Sources’, the to the residents’ lawsuit, the Attorney Wade, in his permit for the construction Mayor made several EPAin its Defence disclosed address to the court stated Saturday - Dec 17, 2022 ofthefacility remarks. that the construction of the that his clients were arrested

In fact, the Judge H o w e v e r , w h e n radioactive facility was at the Mayor’s office and High Court Judge stops declared that EPA’s decision questioned by the Chief alreadycompletedandthatit then walked to the Brickdam Schlumberger from to not conduct an EIA into Magistrate in relation to the had granted permission to PoliceStation.Hestatedthat operating radioactive t h e e f f e c t s o f t h e remarks that were made by Schlumberger to use, the Mayor, who lives at storage facility construction of the facility the Mayor, the prosecutor possessandstoreradioactive LamahaStreet,Georgetown, was illegal, ultra vires, informedthecourtthatsheis substances at the facility is a pandit of 19 years and Justice Nareshwar unreasonable, and irrational unaware of the remarks that sinceJanuary26,2022. has an unblemished record. Harnanan on Friday granted since it breached the were made since those were

The State Agency also He added that Duncan who an injunction to stop the Environmental Protection notstatedinthecasefile. from continuing the submitted to the court that lives at Good Hope on the operation of US based Act,Cap.20:05. The magistrate then possession, use and storage the Orders the residents East Coast of Demerara, has Company, Schlumberger JusticeHarnanangranted stated that the charge is in of radioactive chemicals at sought ought not to be nopreviousconvictions. Guyana Inc ’s radioactive an Order of Certiorari issued relation to remarks made to its Houston facility, unless g r a n t e d s i n c e t h e

Inhisbailapplication,he storagefacilitylocatedatLot and directed to the EPA excite hostility and as such, and until it is in receipt of a construction was completed noted that his clients are not 1 Area ‘X’ Houston, East quashingitsdecisiononJune the court will need to be lawfully issued permit and that operation had flight-risk and intend to BankDemerara(EBD). 9, 2021 to award an provided with the remarks pursuant to the provisions of already started The defendthechargesbeforethe On February 14, 2022, environmental authorisation that were made. The Chief theEPAAct. applicants through their court.Thelawyerthenasked three Environmental toSchlumbergertoconstruct Magistrate then ordered that Further, the Judge Lawyers challenged the for his client to be released Activists and residents who a radioactive substances and the prosecutor contact the orderedcostsweretobepaid EPA’scontention. ontheirownrecognizance. live nearby the facility, material storage and investigating rank to get the by EPAand Schlumberger to F o r i t s p a r t , Prosecutor Daniels made Vanda Radzik, Danuta calibration facility on the remarks that were made by theApplicants. SchlumbergerinitsAffidavit no objection to bail being Radzik, and Raphael Singh, ground that the decision is the Mayor. The matter was According to reports, on of Defence argued that the ultra vires and breached the January 19, 2022, the EPA public did not need any EPA statutory duty set out without any notice given to notice that the EPA was under section 11 (2) of the the public, granted considering a radioactive EPAAct.

Schlumberger permission to materials usage, possession

A second Order of use, store and possess and storage permit because Certiorari, was issued and radioactive materials at its the Authority was satisfied directedtotheEPAquashing facilitylocatedatHouston. that there would be no its decision made in January Notably, the public was substantial impact on the 2022, that permitted alsonotgivenanynoticethat environment.

Schlumberger to operate its any such permit was under Notably, the EPA had radioactive substances and consideration by the joined Schlumberger in its materials storage and EnvironmentalAgency Defence stating that it was calibration facility and to However, on April 11, clearthattheprojectwouldnot possess, use and store 2022, the EPA in a notice affect the residents or the then put down to give the granted but asked for two through their Lawyers: radioactive materials, on the published in the daily environment However, the prosecutor time to gather conditions be attached to the Marlene Alleyne, Siand ground that the decision was newspapers, disclosed that Lawyers for the residents additionalinformation. bail Chief Magistrate Dhurjon, and Ronald Burch- in breach of the EPA Schlumberger wanted to contendedandmaintainedthat When the matter was McLennan granted bail in Smith filed a lawsuit at the statutory duty set out under construct a building to house the use and storage of recalled, Prosecutor Daniels the sum of $100,000 on each Demerara High Court Section 11 (1) and (2) of the theradioactivematerialsand radioactive materials at told the court that during the charge and adjourned the against the Environmental EPAAct. that the construction process Houston, EBD could interview,theMayorsaid“Is matter to January 20, 2023. Protection Agency (EPA), Section 11 of EPA Act, wouldnotrequireanEIA. significantly impact the it because I am a Hindu and The conditions attached to t h e E n v i r o n m e n t a l stipulates that any project After seeing the EPA’s environment and should be heisaMuslimthathecannot their bail are that they are Assessment Board and thatmaysignificantlyaffects notice to waiver the EIA for movedtoalesspopulatedarea work with me The barred from posting or Schlumberger the environment requires an Schlumberger, several government is a dictatorship causing anyone to post/air Attorneys-at-Law EIA and such an assessment residents formally objected Guyana urged to beef up government and is this State anythingonlineinrelationto ShareefahParksandFrances requires publication in the to the decision stating that audit capabilities and going to become a Muslim the matter that is before the Carryl represented EPA newspapers of the intended radioactive materials should introduce strong reporting state…? These are Black court.They are also required while the Law Office, p r o j e c t a s w e l l a s notbeusedorstoredinclose standards to avoid people here who are vending to report to the Brickdam Hughes, Fields and Stoby consultations with the proximity to schools,

here and you are going to Police Station the last Friday representedSchlumberger public.

bulldoze them instead of of every month until the

At Friday’s hearing, Further, the Judge issued DemeraraRiver having a talk with them like completion of the matter Justice Harnanan ruled that an injunction against K a i e t e u r N e w s

‘Chatham

an you did with the speedboat The City Mayor and the MP the EPA breached its Schlumberger, restraining it

highway robbery – Int’l

neighbourhood, or the Advisory Group

House’,

understandsthattheEPAthen

EPA Head, Kemraj Parsram

Attorney-at-Law, Marlene Alleyne High Court Judge, Nareshwar Harnanan

Attorney-at-Law, Siand Dhurjon Attorney-at-Law, Ronald Burch-Smith

Guyanese journalist lauds Chinese Int'l press programme

News Editor and Anchor at the N a t i o n a l Communications Network (NCN), Samuel Sukhnandan has lauded the China I n t e r n a t i o n a l P r e s s Communication Centre programme (CIPCC) while recommending it for journalists seeking to report clearly on the matters related thatcountry

Sukhnandan was one of two Guyanese journalists who recently returned from China after completing a four-month fellowship under CIPCC spearheaded by the Government of China t h r o u g h t h e P u b l i c Diplomacy Association (CPDA).

Newsroom's Editor-inChief, Fareeza Haniff also benefitedfromthefellowship programme.

Speaking at a media briefing and launch of the programme at the Chinese Embassy on Thursday, Suknandan said that the programmeallowedtohimto get a closer look at the country's culture and politics

in a manner where he can now report better on the eventscomingoutofChina.

The News Editor had joined journalists and news correspondents from

Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,Mexico,Nicaragua, Peru, Venezuela, and other parts of Latin America on CIPCCprogramme.

During the course, Suknandan and the other journalists attended lectures, participated in journalism training and interned with Chinese media. The duo of about 90 reporters also

visited Chinese provinces and tourist attraction sites throughoutthetraining.

T h e C I P C C i s a programme which allows journalists and media personnel from around the world to travel to Beijing to gain knowledge of China's culture, to adequately report onthecountry'saffairs.

G o r d o n F r e n c h , representative of Public Affairs Minister, Kwame McCoy lauded the CIPCC as a valuable partner that will help to strengthen ties between Guyana and the People'sRepublicofChina.

French said, “It is

More pumps to be deployed along the East Bank corridor

DPI - Several pumps are tobedeployedalongtheEast Bank corridor to help with the drainage of communities experiencing flooding as a result of heavy rainfall withinthelast24hours.

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha on Saturday visited several communities including Peter's Hall, Providence, Diamond, and Grove housing scheme These c o m m u n i t i e s a r e experiencing flooding, which has been intensified by continuous high tides that are making the drainage sluicesinoperable.

“ W h a t w e h a v e discovered is that there are a numberofareasthatwehave to clear up… and with the

high intensity of rainfall the water has accumulated and the [window for drainage with] the tide is very short because we are in the 'neap season' [ocean gravitational pull] now, which means we only have about three hours of drainage time [when the tide is low],” theAgriculture Ministersaid.

The Minister told residents that interventions are being coordinated in the shortest possible time to bringrelief.

“I am hoping by the end of the 'neap tide' season that most of the water will recede, while we will be mobilising and deploying more pumps into areas, to helpwithdrainagewhereitis proving to be difficult due to

t h e h i g h t i d e s , t o complement the drainage systemsthatareinplace,”he assured.

Minister Mustapha said that the residents told him thatitisthefirsttimethey've experienced high levels of waterintheircommunities.

M e a n w h i l e , t h e agriculture minister also visitedthesluicesandpumps in the area to ensure that all were operating at maximum levels.

He was accompanied by Chief Executive Officer of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority Lionel Wordsworth, Regional Executive members, the local Neighbourhood

Democratic Council membersandothers.

important that we continue, as a government, to ensure

thatthemediaandjournalism c o n t i n u e t o f o s t e r development, build capacity, and ensure that we have a veryrobustmediainGuyana. Itispartofthecornerstoneof democracy, and we embrace itasagovernment.”

He thanked the Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Guo Haiyan for the opportunity, a n d e x p r e s s e d t h e government's hope that similar opportunities continueinthefuture.

Meanwhile, the Chinese Ambassador stated that the

CIPCC serves an important role in filling information gaps and correcting misleading information aboutChina.

TheAmbassador said too that the programme also educates participants about Chinese development, culture and society while fostering improved media coverageofthecountry

StudentsoftheConfucius Institute of Guyana and China's Chargé d' Affaires to Guyana, Chen Xilai were alsopresent.

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha visited residents on the East Bank Demerara corridor affected byflooding due to heavy rainfall (DPI photo).

From Left: News Editor and Anchor at the National Communications Network (NCN), Samuel Sukhnandan, Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Guo Haiyan and China's chargé d' Affaires to Guyana, Chen Xilai.

WANTED

Driver, sales man, porters to work in warehouse. Must have experience , attractive salary offered. Call: 696-4444.

Nimbus water system are now Hiring porters. Apply with application at Lot 79 Albert and Laluni streets queenstown. Contact 6220445 or 685-7659 .

One Domestic needed. Call Ameena: # 226-4948.

Experience Cashier, Cooks, Counter Staff & Cleaners. Apply @ Hot& Spicy Albertown. Call: 225-6255/ 226-9000.

Taxi drivers needed at Princess Taxi Service, Ramada Hotel. Call: 265-7075/ 76 or 616-5419, 690-2242.

Head cook, assistant cook and kitchen assistant needed. Call: 707- 4788.

Hardware distributor needed in Guyana for home furnishing & hardware products. For further informantion email: info.guyanahardware @gmail.com

VACANCY

Data Entry clerk needed. Apply to: Essential Care Pharmacy & Supercentre , Block X Mandela Avenue or G3 Building Diamond East Bank Demerara Or Via E-mail - essentialcarepharmacy@ yahoo.com

Pharmacist & Pharmacy Technician needed. Apply to: Essential Care Pharmacy & Supercentre, Block X Mandela Avenue or G3 Building Diamond East Bank Demerara or E-mailessentialcarepharmacy@ yahoo.com

Log truck driver, Diesel mechanic, Porters and Timber grant manager. Call: 609-7675/ 674-1705

One general domestic to work in G/town. Must know to iron clothes. Call: 6153379 between 8:00-4:30.

Masons, skilled men carpenters and labourers, wages $7,000 - $10,000 per day & Labourer 5-6K per day. Call: 650-1394, 692-7110.

Room attendant and Receptionist 30-45 years old. 233 South Road Lacytown, Call: 225-0198.

Sales girls and porters needed. Send Written application to Best Buy Food Supplies, Deniss and Milton Street C/ville.

Kaieteur M@ilbox Possible fish fraud at New Amsterdam Hospital

DEAR

EDITOR,

I would like to bring to your attention a situation that has been going on at the New Amsterdam Hospital and Mental Hospital in Berbice for several months now.

A member from the Fishery at No.66 Village has a contract to supply these hospitals with fresh trout but what this individual is doing is buying lower quality and cheap fish and supplying these hospitals instead.

Trout is selling for $350 a pound and the individual according to the contract was supposed to s upply these hospitals with $700,000 worth of cleaned fresh trout a month, but what this individual is doing is buying low quality and cheap fish such as sea congo, snook and croaker Basha, which are selling for $60 a pound and supplying the hospitals instead.

The cheap fish that is supplied to these institutions is not cleaned and prepared

in a sanitary and hygienic environment and not placed in ice as it was supposed to be whilst being transported to these hospitals.

These arrangements have been going on under the eyes of some of the authorities of these institutions.

However, the person supplying the fish and exploiting the patients of

these institutions who were supposed to be eating high quality nutritious fish at these hospitals mentioned are wellconnected, and as such, no one is doing anything to stop this exploitative and corrupt arrangements.

I am asking for a thorough investigation to be done and action taken against all involved in this abuse of

taxpayers money and steps taken to ensure that fresh wholesale and nutritious fish is supplied to these institutions as set out in the contract, not unsanitary, poor quality bony fish which is hazardous to the health of the patients of these institutions.

Yours sincerely, A Concerned Citizen.

URP is for peace, calls out Opposition

DEAR EDITOR, The United Republican Party stands strong with the motives of promoting peace and unity across Guyana. We encourage Guyanese, at home and the diaspora, to be mindful of your speech and reactions towards your fellow brothers and sisters.

SERVICES

Repair & install fridge, freezer, washer & dryer, AC units, stove, etc. Whatsapp/ Call: 637-4927, 654-9511 or 683-8734.

Visa application: Canada and UK & U.S.A. Graphics design & advertisements. Wedding decorations & elderly grooming: hair, nail etc. Call: 626-7040.

Repairs at affordable price: fridge,\air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezer.Call: 610-5846 or 661-8158.

FOR RENT

Business place to rent at fourth corner on Hunter Street, mini bus route. Call: 674-0614.

Two & three bedrooms furnished apt in Diamond and 3 bedroom upstairs and downstairs apt @ Vreeden-hoop. Call: 604-6664 or 682-6238.

One apartment for rent @ First St Mon Repos E.C.D market street. Tel: 614-0005/ 602-4105.

EDUCATION

Have your child/children (7 years and older) accelerate in their reading, writing and phonetic skills. Call 650-8925 or email nmf1010@ gmail.com

FOR SALE “ Land for sale in Windsor Estate Call: 623-5121/0133”

TO LET

Store at Lombard street, commercial spaces at Enmore mall, top floor 300ftx25ft. Call: 609-7675/ 674-1705.

One 2 Bedroom semifurinished apt at Guysuco Gradens, long term or short term. Tel# 222-7891 / 609-9202.

We witnessed through the media, not so long ago, a brazen attempt on the highest office of the country and this sight shook the town. We’ve heard numerous voices thanking God that worst didn’t happen and we are moved by that. The maturity of Guyanese post the attempt shows progress; it shows that there is potential to live together as one. We look toward the major opposition, the APNU+AFC, with disappointment. Your organization was basically birthed from the independence of this country and to this day, you have consistently misled the people, misused your powers

and displeased the population with the acts you try to pull off; they embarrass all of Guyana locally and internationally. Inciting racial division should now be a thing of the past, history! The cabal should not speak if they don’t have anything of substance to say in their defences. All of the speech coming from the mouths of the top APNU+AFC officials are vile and cause people to become excited for violence, saying openly, statements like “Guyana will Burn”. The URP

is pleading with the APNU officials to desist from race baiting. You are misleading people for your own political gains and that is never what politics was taught to be.

We wish a speedy recovery to the President’s Guard and thank him for his act of bravery. We encourage an uneventful season filled with joy, peace and unity. Season Greetings from the United Republican Party. Yours sincerely, Dr. Vishnu Bandu, Leader, URP

No Commissioner of Title in West Coast Berbice

DEAR EDITOR, I hope all is well, as I’m a regular reader of newspapers. Keep up the great work. It came to my knowledge that since 2015, the entire West Coast Berbice does NOT have a Commissioner of Title as of today. My concern is that this is causing a lot of

uncertainties and chasing investors away. Hence why the Berbice area is very slowly to develop and show of growth. I would ask if you could cover an article about this in your daily news. Thank you, kindly!

Sincerely, M Khan

Atlantic Edge Insurance Brokerage...

From page 53 community,’’ she told Kaietuer News while adding that competition will be held annually.

Meanwhile, Ramrattan spoke to the importance of insurance while highlighting the services offered by Atlantic Edge Insurance Brokerage Inc. “We have easy parking, we provide personal service and you can go with whatever insurance company you choose because we underwrite for all of them,” she said.

to protect, as we provide coverage through all the insurance companies in Guyana, we would like to help people sleep better at night knowing their family and property is secured”.

Atlantic Edge Insurance Brokerage Inc. has been operating in the Caribbean for over 50 years. The company started operations in Guyana during the first quarter of this year.

VEHICLES FOR SALE

2014 Nissan X-Trail $4.5 Mil negotiable. Excellent condition, dark blue colour & black interior. Call 658-9008.

One Honda CRV,fully loaded immaculate condition, low mileage 3.3M negotiable & 1 new super custom Hiace Bus 2.5M .Contact:6490956.

The Director added: “If you’re a parent, you’d want security for them if god-forbid, something happens to you, There are ways

Additionally, the insurance company is currently holding an essay competition for children aged 10-13 countrywide. The topic is ‘Christmas and Family. Thus far, the entity has received hundreds of submissions.

FOR SALE

Hanging baskets for sale. Call: 624-0137.

Motorbike bandits pounce on driver seated in car

Two motorbike bandits armed with a handgun onTuesday pounced on a driver who had just exited a snackette on Russell Street, Charlestown. The man was seated in his car in front of the snackette when he was attacked by the bandits.

Police are yet to make an official statement on the brazen robbery that took place around 10:48hrs but the bandits were caught on nearby security cameras perpetratingtheheinousact.

Thevictimwasidentifiedasan elderlymanwhowasseenfighting backinthefootage.Areviewofthe surveillancefootageshowsthatthe bandits double-banked him and managed to successfully relieve him of his cellular phone and gold jewellery

It is suspected that bandits might have been observing the elderly man and were waiting for him to leave the snackette to launchtheirattack.

The bandits pulled up alongside the victim's car on a black Honda XR motorcycle riding from the southern end of Russell Street just as the elderly man entered the driver's side of his car

The pillion rider, dressed in a blackandwhitecheckeredflaphat, a dark-blue jersey and a threequarter black denim jeans, pulled out the gun from his waist and hoppedoffthemotorbike.

The rider dressed in a red helmet, a red long sleeved football jersey and a three-quarter black denim jeans rode in the northern direction as the pillion rider pointedthegunat thevictim.

The pillion rider then pushed his head through the front driver's side window and grabbed the man'sphoneandjewellery

Shortly thereafter, the rider became visible in the video frame. He was parked a short distance away

As the pillion rider was about the escape, the elderly pushed him away by forcefully opening his car door and started to wrestle with him. It was at this point that rider left the parked motorcycle and rushed to assist his accomplice in successfully completing the robbery

The duo escaped hopped on to themotorbikeandmadegoodtheir escape in the southern direction fromwhencetheyhadarrived.

The matter was reported to the police and investigators are on the

Motorbike bandits terrorize Mon Repos residents

There has been an increase in armed motorbike bandits in the community of Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD) over the last two weeks and residents are callingontheauthoritiestobeefup policepatrolsthere.

Kaieteur News understands that at least four persons were recentlyattackedbyarmedbandits who threaten, and steal their possessions.

The motorbike bandits are usually seen on Trip and Honda XRmotorcyclesridingthroughthe community late at night and in the wee hours of the morning as residents are leaving for or returningfromwork.

One victim who requested anonymity said that the bandits have a habit of riding alongside

residentsand“ruffthemupatknife point.” The Mon Repos resident said that the bands steal money, bags, cell phones, and jewellery beforemakinggoodtheirescape.

Security cameras have been able to capture the motorbike bandits roaming the community's streets and have since published imagesgrabbedfromthevideoson social media with the hope that the policecanidentifythepersons.

Another resident reminded Kaieteur News of an incident that occurred in June where motorbike bandits armed with cutlasses and knives stole goods and money from vendors at the Mon Repos Market An investigation was launched and the victims compensated No arrests were madeinthatcase.

lookoutforthecriminals.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) announced that there was a 30 percent decrease in seriouscrimeinGeorgetown,atits awards ceremony held recently

However, this month there has been an apparent increase in petty theft, burglary and robbery with violence taking place across the city

Last week, Shirley Field

Ridley Square residents were left shocked after an armed motorbike banditjumpedafenceandrobbeda femalepensioneronherverandah. Investigators are still pursuing thesuspect.

In Beijing, funeral homes and crematoriums are busy as COVID-19 spreads

Reuters - Hearses bearing the dead lined the driveway to a d e s i g n a t e d C O V I D - 1 9 crematorium in the Chinese capital on Saturday while workers at the city's dozen funeral homes were busier than normal, days after China reversed tight pandemic restrictions In recent days in Beijing the spread of the highly transmissible Omicron variant has hit services from catering to parcel deliveries Funeral homes and crematoriums across the city of 22 million are also struggling to keep up with demand as more workers and drivers testing positive for coronaviruscallinsick.

China is yet to officially report any COVID deaths since Dec. 7 when the country abruptly ended manykeytenetsofitszero-COVID policy that had been championed by President Xi Jinping, following unprecedented public protests againsttheprotocol.

about30stationaryhearsesstopped in the driveway leading to the Dongjiao funeral home, a COVIDdesignated crematoriusm in Beijing.Parked among them were an ambulance and a wagon with a sheet-wrapped corpse in the open trunk that was later picked up by workers in hazmat suits and moved to a preparatory room to await cremation. Three of the numerous chimneys billowed smoked continuously.A few metres away from the crematorium, in a funeral parlour, the Reuters journalist saw about 20 yellow body bags containingcorpsesonthefloor

testedpositive."

It was not immediately clear if the struggle to meet the increased demand for cremation was also due toariseinCOVID-relateddeaths.

At Huairou Funeral Home, a bodywaskeptforthreedaysbefore itcouldbecremated,astaffersaid.

"You can transport the body here yourself, it's been busy recently,"thestaffersaid.

TRACKING DEATHS AND CASES

China's health authority last reported COVID deaths on Dec. 3. The Chinese capital last reported a fatalityonNov 23.

From page 20 thesumof$170,612,793.

The new projects would form part of the $15 2B that was allocated in this year's budget for the construction and rehabilitation of urban and community roads acrossthecountry

Meanwhile, during the signing of the contracts for phase three of the projects, Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill had noted of

the importance of having these roadworkscompleted.

Edghillassertedthatworkmust begin immediately “Nobody is going to sign a contract and park until next year We don't rest until we got our work done,” the Ministersaid.

The Minister also made an appeal for contractors to continue engaging residents in communities theyareworkingin.

A U.S.-based research institute said this week that the country could see an explosion of cases and over a million people in China coulddieofCOVIDin2023.

A sharp surge in deaths would test authorities' efforts to move China away from endless testing, lockdowns and heavy travel restrictions, and realign with a world that has largely reopened to live with the disease.On Saturday afternoon, a Reuters journalist saw

Reuters could not immediately establish if the deaths were due to COVID The parking security operator and the owner of an urn shop at the funeral home building, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters the number of deaths was above averageinthisperiodandwasmore when compared to the period before lifting of most pandemic curbsonDec.7.

Sickworkershavealsoaffected staffing at the roughly one dozen funeral parlours in Beijing. "We've fewer cars and workers now," a stafferatMiyunFuneralHometold Reuters by phone, also speaking on conditionofanonymity,addingthat there was a mounting backlog of demandforcremationservices.

“We've many workers who

Yet respected Chinese news outlet Caixin reported on Friday that two veteran state media journalists had died after contracting COVID-19 in Beijing, among the first known deaths since China dismantled most of its zeroCOVID policies On Saturday, Caixin reported a 23-year-old medical student in Sichuan died of COVID on Dec 14 Still, the National Health Commission on Saturday reported no change to its official COVID death toll of 5,235 since the pandemic emerged in Wuhan province in late 2019.Since lifting restrictions earlier this month, China has told its population of 1.4 billion to stay home if they have mild symptoms, ascitiesacrossChinabracefortheir firstwavesofinfections.

Motorbike bandits robbing the elderly man on Russell Street.

to spend $221M more to repair Canal Nos. 1 & 2...

Heckling of President Ramaphosa triggers backlash in ruling ANC

Aljazeera - Party allies and even some rivals of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa have condemned opponents who disruptedhisopeningspeech withchantsandshoutingata conference of the ruling African National Congress (ANC).

“We must condemn [the disruption] because it's not the behaviour of the ANC membership,” Siboniso Duma – chairman of the KwaZulu-Natal provincial ANC, the single biggest power bloc trying to get Ramaphosa removed – said onSaturday

“You can't just [make noise] when the president is s p e a k i n g , ” h e t o l d broadcaster Newzroom Afrika, reflecting a backlash over Friday's disruption that some people said could strengthenthepresident.

Ramaphosa spoke at a five-day gathering of the

ANC to elect candidates for 2024 national elections. The presidentisseekingasecond term and is widely seen as the party's strongest candidate despite a scandal involving the discovery of a stash of cash at his Phala PhalagamefarminLimpopo province.

Duringraucouschantsof “Out, Ramaphosa, out!” he could barely be heard during Friday's address, his words drowned out for several minutes before the hecklers quieteddown.

Ramaphosa faces strong opposition from a rivalANC factionthatiscallingforhim to quit over the Phala Phala scandal He has denied wrongdoing and has not been charged with any crimes despite a parliament report that led to a failed impeachmentvote.

The ANC's presidential

candidate has been a shoo-in for South Africa's top job ever since white minority ruleendedin1994.

The conference had been duetomakeadecisiononthe candidacy late on Saturday, but some delegates said the infighting meant it could be postponed until Sunday or later

“Discussions are ongoing Trade-offs are ongoing,” ANC deputy presidential hopeful and E a s t e r n C a p e A N C

Chairman Oscar Mabuyane told reporters. “Provinces are engaging. Nothing [is] completeatthistime.Weare all interested to emerge here with a very solid, strong leadership.”

Ramaphosa's political woes have galvanised supporters of former

President Jacob Zuma, who is himself being investigated

for allegedly colluding with three Indian businessmen, the brothers Atul, Ajay and Rajesh Gupta, to syphon off state funds during his tenure from 2009 to 2018. Zuma deniesthosecharges.

The strongest challenger from that camp is Zweli Mkhize, the former health minister whom Ramaphosa put on special leave last year in the wake of allegations that his department irregularly awarded COVID-19-relatedcontracts to a company controlled by his former associates Mkhizedenieswrongdoing.

Some people said Friday's incident could set backtheirchallenge.

“That was completely out of order,” Zamani Saul, Northern Cape ANC chairman told SABC news. “What they did yesterday soiled[their]campaign.”

From page 60 independent Policy Institute headquartered in London, is encouraging new oil players like Guyana to invest quickly and heavily in beefing up their auditing capabilities.

The international group which provides Guyana and other new producers with advice stressed that a robust monitoring system with strong reporting and accounting standards for oil companies’ expenses is key to preventing significant revenuelosstotheState.

It said an efficient auditing and administrative body for the industry is a fundamental of good governance hence its recommendation that all Governments invest in buildingcapacity

It said even from the early days of exploration, Governments should already move to centralize g e o l o g i c a l d a t a management.

When discoveries are made,‘ChathamHouse’said it is incumbent on new producers to allocate more resources to building capacity in auditing and monitoringoperations.

It said in one of its reports, “If discoveries reveal that the country can count on a significant production lifespan, the Government must invest in i t s a d m i n i s t r a t i v e capabilities and boost its own knowledge of the petroleum sector This will enable the Government to

improve the accountability ofthesector.”

‘Chatham House’ said the foregoing, together with establishing an independent r e g u l a t o r y a g e n c y, i n t r o d u c i n g k e y mechanisms for public accountability, including audits of state agencies and ensuring regular disclosure of audit information to the public, will all serve as critical antidotes to corruption.

Guyanabackin2019had received a US$20M loan from the World Bank to develop its abilities to govern the oil sector. The PPP/C administration has used a portion of it to conduct cost recover and performanceauditsbutthere isstillmuchworktobedone to boost the nation’s army of auditors.

K a i e t e u r N e w s understands that the World Bank loan funds a project with four components: C o m p o n e n t A –Enhancement of Legal Framework and Stakeholder Engagement: (US$3.20M), Component B – Capacity BuildingofKeyInstitutions: (US $10.70M), Component C – Enhancement of Fiscal Management Systems: ( U S $ 3 5 0 M ) , a n d Component – D. Project Management & Project Preparation Facilities: (Cost $2.60M).

F o r e x p l a n a t o r y purposes, the first component being for the enhancement of legal framework and stakeholder

engagement,aimstosupport the update of Guyana’s legal and regulatory frameworks for the governance and oversight of the sector as well as support stakeholder e n g a g e m e n t a n d t r a n s p a r e n c y T h i s component includes two subcomponents: update the legal and regulatory frameworks for the sector, and support stakeholder e n g a g e m e n t a n d transparency

The second component on the capacity building of key institutions includes four subcomponents: support immediate technical needsatkeyinstitutionswith responsibility for oil and gas, support critical training needsatkeyinstitutionswith responsibility for the sector, build up petroleum data management,andstrengthen environmental and social management.

The third component is the enhancement of fiscal management deals with, among other things, improving Guyana’s capacity to manage the NaturalResourceFund.

Finally, the fourth component gives proper m a n a g e m e n t a n d coordination of all project activities financed under the project. More specifically, it provides support and builds the Government’s systems for procurement and financial management, while allowing for the i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f safeguards for proper management,monitoring.

...South Africa's president is seeking a second term and is widely seen as the the party's strongest candidate despite a farm scandal.

BLUNTNESS ON INDECENCY!

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

Champion jockey Dettori says he will retire after 2023 season

(Reuters)-Italianjockey speaking to his father — is going to be my finale next farewell at the Breeders’ Frankie Dettori, who has fellow jockey Gianfranco — year Cup.” ridden more than 3,300 andhisfamily

“I’m riding Boxing Day Dettori famously won all British winners and has 21 “Nextyear,2023,willbe in Santa Anita and planning seven races during one British Classic triumphs, my final professional year to spend about 10 weeks in afternoon at Ascot in 1996, said 2023 will be his final as a jockey,” Dettori, who California and then I’ll make costingbookmakersmillions year in the saddle as he plans has three champion jockey mywaybackwithDubaiand ofpoundsinpayouts. to retire after one last race at titles, said in an interview Saudi Arabia in between, to In 2016, he claimed his theBreeders’Cup. with ITV Racing on start the season in 3,000th winner to become

The British-based 52- Saturday Newmarket. the sixth jockey to reach that year-old, who has enjoyed a “I’ll break the news now “I’ll be riding right landmark in British Flat glittering career in the sport It’s something I’ve been through and it’ll be my last racing. he has dominated for 35 thinking about for a while Guineas, my last Derby, my Dettori said he did not seasons, said he took the and what an appropriate day last Royal Ascot and so on. want to end up like Portugal difficult decision after to tell the racing world that it Then I’ll have the final captain Cristiano Ronaldo who started on the bench in their final games at the soccerWorldCupinQatar

Sunday December 18,

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)

You will be in an excellent mood, Aries, and find your positive attitude amplified as you communicate with more and more people. The one thing to watch out for today is laziness.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

Speak your mind clearly, Taurus. Other people aren't mind readers like you are. If you keep waiting for someone to figure out what you're thinking, it will be a long time beforethetruthcomesout.

GEMINI(May21–June20)

You can soar to great heights on a moment's notice today, Gemini. There's a fast-paced, socially minded quality to the daythatwillencouragepeople to share more of themselves withothers.

CANCER(June21–July22)

Try to see the positive in people, Cancer Relax and don't get so worked up over your internal drama. You're the one responsible for creating this turmoil. Find comfortinacreativeproject.

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

You should find that the adventurous side of you has the support of your emotions, Leo. These two parts of your spirit are working in harmony to help you stretch beyond yourlimits.

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)

Dress in your very best today Feel free to kick up your heels and have some fun This is a great time to communicate with friends, socialize if possible, and have a fabulous time Put your worries aside andjoininsomefun.

2022

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

You will find that the more peaceful and understanding you are today, Libra, the better off you will be in general. Doors will open and people will welcome you with great fanfare.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov 21)

Make sure you leave things in betterconditionthanyoufound them. This is a good time to tidy your personal space and the environment. This is also a great time to do some online shoppingforyourself.

SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)

This is one of those days in which it's easier to be yourself, Sagittarius. Don't feel like you need to change your personality to fit a situation. Younaturallyaddanimportant dynamictothegroup.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

Communicationisakeypartof the day You will find that a great deal of information is available to you when you ask for it. You can pull from many different resources, so don't be afraid to tap the different wells availabletoyou.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

Bringthingsbackintobalance, Aquarius You've probably been so focused on yourself that you've completely forgottenaboutothers.It'stime tofillintherestoftheequation and take into account what otherpeoplefeel.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)

Thisisagooddaytolookatthe big picture and discuss your ideas with others, Pisces. As youwalkdownthestreet,make sureyoupayattentiontowhat's goingonaroundyou.

“ N o t t o m a k e comparisons, but look at Ronaldo, he was playing one minute and on the bench the next. I don’t want to end up likethat,”Dettorisaid.

“Where I’m struggling to get rides in the big races, at themoment,Istillhavegood horses to ride, and I want to finishitlikethat.”

Gill, Pujara hit tons as...

From page 73 debutant Zakir Hasan will resume on 25 and 17 respectively on the fourth day

India earlier bowled Bangladesh out cheaply to take a sizable 254-run first innings lead but decided not toenforcethefollow-on.

Left-armspinnerKuldeep Yadav led India’s bowling attack with career-best figures of 5-40, his third fivewicket haul in Tests, and the visitorsneededbarelyanhour tomopuptheBangladeshtail after the hosts resumed on 133-8.

Axar Patel took the last Bangladesh wicket of Mehidy Hasan, who offered some late resistance before being dismissed for 25 in the 12th over of the morning, w h i l e f a s t b o w l e r MohammedSirajtook3-20.

Mushfiqur Rahim topscored for the deflated hosts with28beforehebecameone ofKuldeep’svictims,outlbw

In India’s first innings S h r e y a s I y e r a n d Ravichandran Ashwin also scored 86 and 58 runs respectively.

Off-spinner Mehidy c l a i m e d 4 - 1 1 2 f o r Bangladesh while left-arm spinnerTaijultook4-133.

Scores: Bangladesh 150 and 272 for 6 (Zakir 100, Shanto 67, Shakib 40*, Axar 3-50) need another 241 runs to beat India 404 and 258 for 2 dec.

KFC Goodwill Tournament forcibly...

From page 73

theMinistryofEducationGround,CarifestaAvenue.”

Today’s double header will feature St. Benedict’s College(SBC)andGoldenGroveclashinginthefirstmatch from 17:00hrs, while Christianburg/Wismar Secondary School(CWSS)andSVBAcademyarebilledtocontendthe othershowdownfrom19:00hrs.

After one day, DFSS controls GroupAwith three points whileSBCandGoldenGrovesharethetaskofgettingonthe board.InGroupB,jointleaders,CWSSandAnnai,bothhave one point each while SBC are yet to commence their campaign.

Meanwhile, on the original schedule, Monday, December 19, was billed as the day to contest the final two Group matches between SBC and Desrey Fox Secondary School (DFSS) in the opener and Annai versus SVB Academy in the other match. The organising team will reconfirmthescheduletoday

This tournament is sponsored by KFC, Tiger Offshore Rentals, MVP Sport, Trophy Stall, Guyana Beverages Inc. and Demerara Life with support from the Ministry of EducationandtheMinistryofCulture,YouthandSports.

NBA roundup:

Nets prevail on Kyrie Irving’s last-second trey

Reuters - Kyrie Irving points and Spencer

ahead shot attempt with 29.6 hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer at Dinwiddie scored 13 for secondsremaining. the buzzer and the visiting Dallas, which led by nine at Gilgeous-Alexander Brooklyn Nets defeated the thehalfbeforeoutscoringthe posted a game-high 35 Toronto Raptors 119-116 Blazers 38-22 in the third points. Naz Reid emerged to Fridaynight.

quarter Doncic added six lead the Timberwolves with Irving finished with 32 reboundsandnineassists. 28 points on 11-of-18 points and Kevin Durant Damian Lillard led shooting from the floor and added 28 for the Nets, who Portland with 24 points, grabbedninerebounds. have won five straight and while Trendon Watford Lakers 126, Nuggets 108 nineof10. tallied 16 points, 11 LeBron James scored 30 Yuta Watanabe had 17 rebounds and six assists off p o i n t s a n d R u s s e l l points for the Nets, who the bench. Jusuf Nurkic also Westbrook had a tripleswept the four-game season chipped in 16 points, Keon double with 15 points, 11 series with the Raptors. Nic Johnson added 13, and rebounds and 12 assists as Claxtonhad15pointsand10 ShaedonSharpehad10. Los Angeles overcame a rebounds and Ben Simmons Timberwolves 112, first-half injury to Anthony and. T.J. Warren each scored Thunder 110 Davis and earned a victory 10points.

Austin Rivers’ corner 3- overvisitingDenver

Fred VanVleet scored 39 pointer with 11.8 seconds Thomas Bryant scored points for the Raptors, who remaining helped snap a 21pointsfortheLakers,who have lost four straight and three-game losing skid for played the entire second half five of six. Scottie Barnes Minnesota and extended without Davis after the All- Denver’s only road contest points and ex-Hornet Frank his career high, but it didn’t scored 26 points, Pascal hostOklahomaCity’sswoon Starforwardinjuredhisright ofaseven-gamestretch. Kaminskyadded12pointsto p r e v e n t a s e v e n t h Siakam had 17 points and tofivegames. foot in the first quarter and Hawks 125, Hornets 106 pace the reserves for the consecutive loss for the MalachiFlynnhad13points. The last of Rivers’ 20 still played eight minutes in Trae Young poured in 31 Hawks, who shot 54 7 Hornets. Mavericks 130, Trail points extended a one-point the second period. Davis p o i n t s a n d B o g d a n percentfromthefield. Inotherresults: Blazers 110 Timberwolvesleadtofourin finished with 10 points and Bogdanovic had 28 points as Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball, Kings 122, Pistons 113 Luka Doncic scored 33 the closing seconds, fourreboundsin17minutes. Atlanta won for just the in his second game back 76ers 118, Warriors 106 points and Christian Wood capitalizing on a monster Nikola Jokic scored 25 second time in its last seven from his latest injury Cavaliers 118, Pacers 112 added a season-high 32 defensive play from points with 11 rebounds and games by defeating host absence, scored a season- Knicks 114, Bulls 91 points and 12 rebounds as Anthony Edwards, who eight assists and Jamal Charlotte. high 27 points. He made Magic 117, Celtics 109 Dallas used a dominant third finished with 19 points and Murray added 23 points as AJ Griffin scored 13 seven 3-pointers, one shy of (Field Level Media) quarter to beat visiting 11 rebounds for Minnesota. the Nuggets saw their threePortland. Edwards blocked Shai gamewinningstreakcometo Tim Hardaway Jr. had 17 Gilgeous-Alexander’s go- an end. The loss came in

‘Simmons not only one responsible’

SportsMax - Renowned former West In light of such performances, Murray Indies wicketkeeper, Deryck Murray, has believes there needs to be many more commended the team’s coach Phil Simmons changes at the broader management level forsteppingdownfromthepostbutinsistshe thanjustSimmons,iftheteamistotrulystart is far from the only one who should be doing movingforward.

Thomas’ 3-20 and Fletcher’s 44* help Kandy Falcons register sixth win in seven games in Lankan Premier League

so The regional team has endured a ”IwanttocommendPhilSimmonshehas particularly wretched run of form across all donethehonourablething. formats in recent months. Apoor showing at He was responsible for the team when we the T20 World Cup saw the two-time did not qualify for the T20 World cup and he champions embarrassingly eliminated in the did the hourrable thing,” Murray told the first round of the competition after loses to MasonandGuestradioprogram. ScotlandandIreland.

SportsMax - Oshane 106alloutaftertheywonthe The chase was a simple Thomas and Andre Fletcher tossandchosetobat. one thanks to a 101-run

“We should not assume for one minute,

Intheaftermath,Simmons,and,thenlater however, that one man, Philip Simmons, is team captain Nicholas Pooran, resigned their responsible for the decline, for the losses of positions. The Test team then traveled to WestIndiescricket,”headded. Australia to face the home team in a two- “I keep looking to see others follow suite match series where they were badly butnothinglikethathashappened…” outplayed. In the second Test, for instance, Murray went on to state that he believed the team lost by a massive 419 runs after the entire government system surrounding beingbowledoutfor77. thesportintheregionneededtochange.

the Falcons with a not out) The pair got ColomboStarsintheLankan brilliant 4-11 off 3.1 overs together after the wicket of PremierLeagueyesterday while Captain Angelo Minod Bhanuka for just six Thomas was economical Matthews (41) and Dinesh in the second over and with the ball, finishing his Chandimal (20) were the guided the Falcons to 108-1 four overs with figures of 3- only batsmen to provide any after 16 overs for their sixth 20tohelprestricttheStarsto resistancefortheStars. wininsevenmatches.

Phil Simmons

Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) controls the ball as Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving (11) tries to defend during the first quarter at the Scotiabank Arena. (Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports)

Oshane Thomas and Andre Fletcher helped the Kandy Falcons secure a nine wicket win over the Colombo Stars.

Head strong for Australia after South Africa batting woes continue

SportsMax-SouthAfricawere fallingtoNathanLyonfor62asthe Australiaclosedon145-5. bowled out for less than 200 for the tailfailedtowag. BalancedAussie fifthsuccessiveTestinnings,before S o u t h A f r i c a s t r u c k

bowling downs Proteas an unbeaten 78 from Travis Head immediately in reply though as The key to a potent bowling helped put Australia in a strong David Warner struggled with a attack – especially in Test cricket –position in the first Test at The short delivery from Kagiso Rabada is teamwork and variation, and Gabba. off the first ball of the Australian Australiahavethatinspades.

Dean Elgar’s team were torn firstinningsandwascaughtwellby South Africa’s was an innings apart byAustralia’s bowling attack KhayaZondoforagoldenduck. oftwohalves,withStarc(3-41),Pat on day one as the Proteas were Marnus Labuschagne (11) Cummins(2-35)andBoland(2-28) dismissed inside 50 overs for just edgedMarcoJansen’sfirstballinto all picking up early wickets, before 152. the hands of Elgar before Usman theconsistentspinofLyonmopped

Thehostsalsowobbledinitially Khawaja (11) also nudged an things up, with the 35-year-old on a fast pitch, but Head and Steve Anrich Nortje delivery to sub endingwithfiguresof3-14. Smith (36) steadied the ship from SimonHarmerintheslips. Head leads the way 27-3, though a couple of late After a reprieve when a review It has been a very interesting wickets gave South Africa some showed an edge had dropped just innings from Head, looking hopeofgettingbackintothegame. short of Elgar, Head took full nervous after scoring just two from A tentative start from the advantageashebroughtuphishalf- his first 16 deliveries, before tourists saw them reduced to 27-4, centuryoffjust48balls. deciding to just go for it and and things could have been Apartnershipof117withSmith smashing51fromhisnext32. significantly worse had it not been was ended by Nortje before the He even brought up his 50 with for a partnership of 98 between close as he sent a terrific delivery a six down the leg side, making a TembaBavumaandKyleVerreyne, intoSmith’sstumps,beforeRabada mockery of the struggles before the former was bowled by dismissed nightwatchman Scott experienced by almost every other MitchellStarcfor38. Boland (1) off the last ball of the batsmanondayone,endingwith14 Stumps Australia

64, Bavuma 38, That began another batting day, though Head remained boundaries (13 fours) to his name (Head 78*, Smith 36, Nortje 2-37, Lyon 3-14, Starc 3-41,

5 152

2collapse, with Verreyne eventually unbeatenon78fromjust77ballsas bytheclose.

Teenager Ahmed takes two wickets on Test debut as England enjoy strong first day

SportsMax-Englandyoungest men’s Test debutant Rehan Amhed took two wickets as Ben Stokes’ team enjoyed a strong start against Pakistan Ahmed made history yesterday, becoming the youngest male player to make his Test bow for England, at the age of 18 years and126days.

The leg-spinning all-rounder had a day to remember at the NationalStadiuminKarachi,inthe third and final Test of a series Englandhavealreadywon.

Ahmed’s fellow spinner Jack Leach (4-140) made early inroads for England, dismissing Abdullah Shafique before taking a catch to send Shan Masood packing. Babar Azam (78) and Azhar Ali (45) guided Pakistan above 100, but Ollie Robinson had the latter walking back to the dressing room after a review showed an edge throughtoBenFoakes.

Ahmed’sfirstwicketcamenext – Ollie Pope lunging forward at short leg after Saud Shakeel edged ontohispad.

The teenager was involved againwhenthekeywicketofBabar fell in one of his overs, Pakistan’s roundmattersoffandhave

captain being made to pay for alloutfor304.

hesitating when Foakes swept off Zak Crawley

bailsfromHarryBrook’sthrow the first over of

A superb googly saw Ahmed Abrar Ahmed’s excellent delivery thisTest, with Stokes able to

collect his second wicket, with doing for the opener, but Ben the youngster a chance with the

Scores:

7 for 1 trail Faheem Ashraf pinned leg before Duckett and Pope ensured no seriesalreadywrappedup. whitewash already if not for their Pakistan 304 (Babar 78, Salman wicket,pavingthewayforLeachto further loss as the tourists reached Ahmed did not let anybody skipper, whose 78 came from 123 56, Leach 4-140) by 297 runs.

Pakistan stumpsat7-1.

down, however, and finished with deliveries and included nine

Ahmed delivers on debut finalfiguresof2-89onadayforthe boundaries.

failed to survive

There has been plenty of focus spinnersinKarachi. HewasablysupportedbyAgha the

England’s innings, onhistory-makingAhmedaheadof Captain’s knock from Babar Salman (56), who succumbed to a

afford Pakistan might well have been Leachdeliverylateintheinnings.

looking down the barrel of a series

England

145 for

(Verreynne

Boland

Rabada 2-50) trail South Africa 28, Cummins 2-35) by seven runs.

Travis Head, unbeaten on 78 at the end of the first, is key to Australia taking a significant lead.

(Cricket Australia via Getty Images)

Rehan Ahmed dismisses Saud Shakeel for his first Test wicket and is surrounded by his teammates. (Getty Images)

Virus-hit France focused on finishing the job against Argentina, Deschamps says

(Reuters) - France have not been overly troubled by the virus that has hit several players in the past few days, coach Didier Deschamps said, as the squad prepare to finish off their World Cup campaign in today’s final againstArgentina.

Defenders Dayot Upamecano, Ibrahima Konate, Raphael Varane, midfielder Adrien Rabiot and forward Kingsley Coman were all infected during the week, although mostofthemhaverecovered.

On Friday, only Konate, Coman and Varane missed collective training as Rabiot and Upamecano were back with the squad after being ruled out of the semi-final against Morocco on Wednesday

“We try to take the maximum precautions, to adapt and to deal with it, without going overboard. It isobviouslyasituation.

If it could not exist it would be better, but we manage as best we can,” Deschamps told a news conferenceonSaturday

The showdown at the Lusail stadium will be Deschamps’ third World Cup final after he won it in which is particular But I know that attention to him, but this game is game plan to respect. We are still final against Croatia and today’s 1998asLesBleus’captainandthen the Argentinians, and maybe some notjustabouthim.” studying this team and preparing match against Argentina, Lloris fouryearsagoastheircoach. Frenchpeopletoo,wouldliketosee France have shown they can for this big game. There are always refusedtolookback.

He oozed calm on Saturday Messiwinthetitle.” adapt to any kind of team, which thingswearenotpreparedfor “We want to write our own despite the pressure of facing a Captain Hugo Lloris said the could be a big asset against “To face that we need a perfect story Wewanttofinishitinthebest team looking to give Lionel Messi game was bigger than just Messi, Argentina, who have tested out mindset, to be ready to go above way possible.As long as nothing is hismaidenWorldCuptitle. however several systems during the World and beyond. We know that we are done, the hardest part is still to “Ihavenoworriesorstress.The “The event is too important to Cup. capable of playing with possession come,”hesaid. important thing in preparing for a focus on one player It’s a final “You have to be willing to and on the counter-attack. We have “Wehavetobereadytosurpass match like this is to remain calm,” between two great nations,” he suffer at times. You have to make alotoffastplayersoffensively The ourselves, to make the effort saidDeschamps. said. the most of the good situations, strength of our team is that we can despite the circumstances with the “In a World Cup final, there is “When you face this kind of too,”saidLloris. adapttoanytypeofscenario.” virus, despite the fatigue. We must the match, but also the context player (Messi), you have to pay “Tomorrow there will be a Asked to compare the 2018 finishthejob”.

Scaloni tight-lipped on Argentina lineup ahead of World Cup final

DOHA, (Reuters) -

havebeenbrilliantsince. Argentina against France, it Argentina coach Lionel

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni during the press conference. (REUTERS/ Gareth Bumstead)

He has also made goesbeyondthat. Scaloni kept his cards close changes to his system, using “We both have the to his chest when quizzed three defenders against the necessary weapons so that about his likely line-up as he Netherlands and three the game can be decided by prepares to face holders holding-midfielders to other players and not France in the World Cup neutraliseCroatiagreatLuka necessarily the two of them. finaltoday Modric. Let’shopeitfallsonourside,

Scaloni was evasive

If Scaloni decides he but there are plenty of yesterday when asked if he doesn’t want Molina facing players who can decide the would deploy a three-man Mbappe on his own could game.” defence as he did for the

opt to go back to the tactics After Argentina booked quarter-final against the he deployed against the their ticket to the final with a Netherlands, to give right Dutch, which would mean 3-0 win against Croatia, full back Nahuel Molina Tottenham Hotspur centre Messi confirmed today support against France’s back Cristian Romero would be his last game for lightning-fast star player helping to fend of the Argentina. KylianMbappe. explosiveFrenchforward. Scaloni said that made it

“We already decided the

“To stop Mbappe you an even bigger match for his strategy and we will play in need a collective effort. But team and his country: “Let’s a way in which we think we France is more than just hopethatifit’sLeo’s(Messi) can hurt our rivals the most Mbappe. We need to focus last game, that we can win and suffer the least,” and now we just have to the match without having to suffered a

to on making a good game the title. It would be great Scaloni told a news execute, and I hope we can go through

a

“We have our gameplan, against the Netherlands in Scaloni made key

we know how to play them the quarter-finals - but win

“Sunday’s game is much enjoy it What better

collectively,”Scalonisaid. and the important thing is to conference playasimilargameaswedid penaltyshoot-out.”

shock defeat

the pain of

Saudi Arabia in their World

Cup opener and brought in

youngsters Enzo Fernandez more than Lionel Messi scenariothaninaWorldCup

changes after Argentina and Julian Alvarez - who against Mbappe, it’s final.”

France’s Olivier Giroud and Eduardo Camavinga with teammates during training. (REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo)

Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club returns with a grand Boxing Day Horse Racing Meet

e n n a r d ’ s of Guyana Horse Racing

KG u y a n a g a i n e d areaoflaw Butofcourse,his Memorial Turf Authority Starting with the independence in 1966, he most pride possession was Club (KMTC) A and Lower:- 8 Furlongs continued in that office as said to be his appointment as

Flashback: Justice Kennard (right) accepts the sponsorship cheque and trophy from Maria Munroe of DDL at a previous horserace meet.

Region 9 stays perfect

-President’s Cup continues tonight at Track and Field Centre

returns with its event with a whopping $1.5 StateCounsel. Chancellor of the Judiciary grandBoxingDayMemorial million 1st prize, while 2nd Justice Kennard also in1999. meet on the 26th December, place will take away served as Legal Advisor to Justice Kennard served 2022. Over 5 million in cash $750,000 and 3rd place gets the Guyana Police Force this country with distinction and prizes will be on offer as $375,000. (GPF) from 1971-1973, and humility since 1962. He the KMTC returns with, While in E non Earner duringthisperiodheactedas was a great husband, father what is said to be ‘one of the and F Lower category:-7 a rent assessment magistrate and friend to many, a true biggest’horseracingeventin Furlongs, 1st place will take onaparttimebasis. stalwart,truesonofthesoil. Guyana. This Boxing Day $500,000, while 2nd place Justice Kennard also All entry closes on showdown will be at takes home $250,000 and spent a number of years in Tuesday 20th December, Kennard Memorial Turf 3rdplacepockets$125,000. Antigua while working on entry fees for each race class Club ground on Monday In the J and Lower and 2 high-profiledcasesthere.He listed as follows; $195,000 26th December in memory year old Guyana Bred Open, later returned in 1977 and toenterAandLowerclass,E of the late Justice Cecil as well as the K and Lower was appointed High Court non Earner and F and Lower Kennard. and 2 year Bred Open will Judge. classfeeis$65,000,theJand Justice Kennard was a run:- 6 Furlongs, with 1st In 1985, he was Lower and 2 year old West great Sports enthusiast, well place taking $300,000, 2nd appointed as Justice of Indian Bred Open and the K known for his involvement place will take home Appeal. Followed ten years and Lower and 2 year old in sports, particularly horse $150,000, while 3rd place later, in 1995 he was then GuyanaBredOpenaswellas racing Through his receives$75,000. appointed Chief Justice. In the 2 year old Guyana Bred well known in the horse bar that same year In 1965, i n v o l v e m e n t a n d Also in, the 2 Year old 1996, he was also awarded Maiden entry fee is $40,000. racingfraternityasa‘Racing he was appointed Crown contribution to the sport, he Guyana Bred Maiden the Cacique Crown of While the L Open and the L Patriot’ lived a much Counsel in the office of the was later honoured as the category:- 6 Furlongs, 1st H o n o u r ( C C H ) f o r and K non Earner for 2022 rewarding life. The Retired D i r e c t o r o f P u b l i c President of the Kennard place winning $300,000, distinguished service in the entryfeewillbe$26,000. Justice Cecil Kennard died Prosecutions(DPP)andafter Memorial Turf Club while 2nd place takes on the 12th March 2022 at (KMTC). He also served $150000 and 3rd place wins his New Heaven home, Bel many terms at the Guyana $75,000. Air, he was 86 years old at Horseracing Authority Lastly, the final 2 thetimeofhisdeath. (GHA). Surely he has left an categories which will be the Aside from horse racing, indelible imprint that will L Open and the Land K non Justice Kennard had an have a long-lasting impact Earner for 2022 will be a ‘6 illustriouscareerinLaw His onsportsinGuyana. Furlongs’ event with 1st legal career spanned several For this year’s list of the prize purse stands at decades,whichfirstbegunin event, KMTC horseracing $200,000, while 2nd place 1962, after he graduated meet comprises of 7 takes$100,000and3rdplace from the prestigious categories, with all races walkawaywith$50,000. Lincoln’s Inn in London, he being govern under the rules Cecil Kennard, who was was also called to the local

Croatia 2-1 Morocco:

ModricsignsoffonWorldCuppodium asGvardiolandOrsicstrikebronze

SportsMax - Luka Modric signed off his minutes later, though, with Dari applying a World Cup career with the consolation prize close-range finish with his head after Hakim ofaQatar2022bronzemedalasCroatiabeat Ziyech’s free-kick from the right flank was Morocco 2-1 in the third-place match sent looping up by a heavy touch off yesterday Goals of real wonder from Josko Croatia’sMajer Gvardiol and Mislav Orsic meant the Yassine Bounou had almost sliced a pass runners-up from four years ago in Russia into his own net early on, but the Morocco finished this campaign on a high, following goalkeeper was sharp enough to keep out a the blow of losing to Argentina in the semi- low strike from Modric. However, he was finals. beaten in the 42nd minute by an exquisite

Croatia are hopeful captain Modric, at finishfromOrsic,whoarcedtheballoverthe the age of 37, will decide to play on and take goalkeeper from just inside the left edge of part in their Euro 2024 campaign, but this the penalty area, the shot going in off the far was a World Cup farewell for the Real post.

Madridmidfielder

A deflected Orsic strike from 20 yards Gvardiol gave Croatia a seventh-minute rippled the side-netting early in the second lead at Khalifa International Stadium half as Croatia searched for a third goal Although Achraf Dari swiftly brought against the team that became Africa’s first Morocco level, Orsic’s brilliant finish just WorldCupsemi-finalists. before half-time proved to be the match

Gvardiol later wanted a penalty after winner going down under a challenge from Sofyan Gvardiol’s goal was a super header into Amrabat, before Morocco had their big the left corner after Lovro Majer’s free-kick chance,withYoussefEn-Nesyrideniedfrom into the penalty area was skilfully nodded close range by Dominik Livakovic. They towardsthepenaltyspotbyIvanPerisic. were left to settle for fourth, still a huge Morocco were level just 112 seconds achievement.

Region 9 had another impressive ofGroupAwithsixpoints. performance in the One Guyana President’s Meanwhile, the second match of the Cup, with the men from the Upper evening between Region 3 and Region 2 was Takutu/Upper Essequibo chalking up their abandoned due to a heavy downpour that second win in as many matches played in the caused the pitch to be water-log. The score inaugural tournament. Playing Region 8 on wasnilatthetime. Friday evening, Region 9 disposed of their That match will continue on Tuesday, opposition from Potaro/Siparuni 3 – 0 in a fromthe11thminute. clinical performance in front of a fair-sized The Essequibo Islands/West Demerara crowdattheNationalTrackandFieldCentre. team was playing their second match of the Following an entertaining 5-4 win over tournament,afterdefeatingRegion1bya6-0 Region 6 (East Berbice/Corentyne) on margin in their first match However, opening night, Region 9 returned to the West Pomeroon/Supenaam was featured for the Demerara facility to dominate the 90-minute firsttimeinthetournament. proceedingswithRegion8.

The One Guyana President’s Cup will

The dowdy contest, where the ball was continue tonight at the National Track and played mostly in the possession of Region 9, FieldCentre,whereRegion2and10willhunt saw goals coming from Brandon Parks (33’), their first win of the tournament from VonHarding(36’)andQuasonGillette(48’). 18:00hs, while Region 4 is set to come up Region 9, for now at least, will sit on top againstRegion8.

Terrence Ali National Open Boxing Championships

Surinamese, Allicock, Jones’ brothers among the winners on opening night

ans were treated with a

Flandedafewheavyjabsthroughhis night of fine boxing on defence, defeating Garnett in the Friday at the National finalround.

Gymnasium, Mandela

In the other Bantamweight Avenue The Guyana Boxing match-up, match #7 Lincoln Association (GBA) Terrance Ali Murray had the fight stopped early, N a t i o n a l O p e n B o x i n g in the 2nd round after the Championship got off to a experienced Jullius Kesney proved marvelous start. With a bit of rain his fighting style was too good for fall on the outside of the venue and his opponent. Kesney won the a few onlookers in the stands, the match by way of the judge’s N a t i o n a l O p e n B o x i n g decision.

Championship started a little later

The Featherweight divisionthanscheduled. 54-57 Kgs class, had two fights ofthejudge’sdecision. And in match #12, the burly

With only 12 fights carded for carded for the evening, match #8 In the Welterweight division Troy Glasgow (GDF) went up the night, the school boys led the was deemed the biggest match of 57-60Kgs class only had one fight against Prince Warner from the wayinthe26-28Kgs.Match#1saw the evening, as Keevin Allicock for the night, seeing GDF Andrew Police Boxing Gym (POL). The the young Rondel Croft out of the proved his dominance in the ring, a Griffithabandoningthematch,two ‘mighty’Glasgow heldWarner to a Vergenoegen Boxing Gym (VBG) match-up that only lasted a mere minutes and thirty-two seconds 1st round defeat, winning the went up against Roopesh Balgobin oneround. into the contest handing over the contest by way of Knockout (KO) out of the Rose Hall Boxing Gym Allicock proved that even after wintoMarkCrawfordoutofFYF decision. (RHG), the young Balgobin kept slipping on a slightly wet canvas, Closing the evening with two Warner suffered a hard blow off Croft with a few solid jabs. he got back on his feet, defeating fights in the Superheavyweight from Glasgow, the small Balgobin eventually won the his opponent, Clinton Clarke from refereelaterstoppedthefightinthe category +92Kgs class, match #11 Gymnasium crowd watched contestbywayofaspitdecision. GDFduetostoppage. final round, giving McDonald the got off to an exciting start, seeing Warner fell to the canvas in the 1st In match #2 - 30-32Kgs Match #9 proved to be an equal win. the ‘hard hitting’ Aubrey Headly round, as he sat in disbelief; category, Jhonny Olejondro went contest, where both fighters show Match #5 - 41-43 Kgs weight from GDF being the last man Glasgow was given the win after up against his gym mate Lolem good of resilience and technique in class, Shaquon Marshall standinginthisheavyhittingordeal Warner failed to recover before the Jones. The young Jones came out the ring but the 27 years old represented his gym putting on a between him and Tulsie ‘Babboo’ count, a night ending with great on top of the contest, defeating his Surinamese Samuel Greene got the fiery show, defeating his opponent, Persaud emanating out of the jubilationinthestands. opponent by way of unanimous better of his opponentAndrey Bess Shamario Issacs out of the Guyana Police Force (POL) Fans can catch more action at decision and also making way for from RHG landing more punches Forgotten Youth Foundation Boxing Gym. Headly won the the National Gymnasium, Mandela his older brother Simeon in match bytheendofthe3rdround.Greene (FYF). fight, by way of the judge’s Avenue tonight the final night of #3. Simeon Jones also out of VBG, went on to win the contest by way Marshall from VBG won the scorecard. theevent. collided with the young Cleon contest by way of unanimous Collison out of Rose Hall Boxing decision bringing an end to the Gym in the 35-37Kgs category, schoolboys’preliminaries. defeating Collison after the referee

The ante was raised at the start stop the contest one minute and of the Elite fights, in the forty-two seconds into the 2nd Bantamweight 51-54Kgs division. round. The fans started to get Match #6 got on the way with what restless in their seats, cat-talking seemed to be a good contest outofthisstands. between the two fighters, Daniel

Inmatch#438-40Kgscategory, Garnett from the Guyana Defence theRHG-CurtisMcDonaldproved Force Boxing Gym (GDF) to be too good for his opponent appeared to be hiding behind his Jaden Lewis out of VBG, gloves in the 1st and 2nd round but demolishing the young Lewis, the Seon Griffith (FYF) however

Invaders, CCC 2 record victories in ESCL’s over-40 competition

nvaders Masters and

IInter-county player Prashad Caribbean Cricket Club Mahadeo chipped in with a handy (CCC) 2 recorded 25 as Dexter Reid grabbed 3-16

contrasting victories last from his maximum four overs and Sunday in the continuation of the Salindra Mahadeo also with three 2022 Essequibo Softball Cricket wickets but he conceded 29 runs League (ESCL) Over-40, 20-over fromfouroversaswell. competition at Zorg Beach,

Experienced batsmanAnthony EssequiboCoast,RegionTwo. Persaud offered a fight with 38 for

Invaders defeated Hibernia Devonshire Castle Patrick Strikers by a comfortable 20-run Rooplalltook3-26fromfourovers margin,whileCCC2gotthebetter to lead the bowling for CCC 2. of Devonshire Castle Sports Club JamunaPersaudalsoclaimedthree byathrillingfive-runmargin. wicketswhichcosthim38runsoff

Invaders piled up a sufficient hisfourovers. 211-3 from the reduced 15-overs

In the other fixture, while, Hibernia replied with 190-4

QueenstownTigersgotawalkover at the expiration of the 15-overs. from Ravens Sports Club Thereductionoftheoverswasdue Sunrisershaddrawnthebye. torain.

respectively Meanwhile, the competition is

Veteran batsman Ramesh And CCC 2 rattled up a set to restart in early January as Narine led the way for Invaders competitive 154-9 from the they players will take a break for with 63 which counted four sixes allotment of 20-overs while theChristmasHolidayseason. and six fours Fazeer Khan Devonshire Castle reached 149 all Notably, this year’s edition is supported the left-handed Narine outoffthe20-overs. being played in memory of Dave with57.

Richard Patterson cracked a Tajeshwar who was a very ardent

When Hibernia batted, there blistering 54 for CCC 2 which supporter of softball cricket. His were fighting knocks of 68 and 66 included three effortless sixes and brother Vo Tajeshwar continues to from Dhanraj Singh and Gobin four fours Former Essequibo beoneofthemainsponsors.

Troy Glasgow (left) and Prince Warner

Jolem Jones

Simeon

Jones

Samuel Greene

Chandrika

Richard Patterson

KFC Goodwill Tournament forcibly rescheduled to today

- Moves to MoE Ground

ThethirdeditionoftheKFC They said in a release Goodwill Tournament, which approximately 10:00hrs on got underway on Thursday at Saturday, “Due to inclement t h e G u y a n a F o o t b a l l weatherandexcessiveflooding, Federation’s (GFF) National games are cancelled until Training Centre in Providence, furthernotice.” faced a forceful rescheduling of Later in the day, another Day two, compliments of release followed which stated, inclementweather “Please be informed that

Torrential rain led the today’s match schedule will be organising team, Petra, to played tomorrow, 18th postpone yesterday’s matches December,2022,rainorshineat to today, Sunday, December 18. (Continued on page 67)

Gill, Pujara hit tons as India dominate Bangladesh in first Test

AFP - Shubman Gill and totalof404,wasunbeatenon Cheteshwar Pujara each 102 after smashing 13 fours, struckacenturyasIndiatook with former skipper Virat control of the first Test Kohli 19 not out at the other against Bangladesh in end. Chittagong.

Gillearliercompletedhis

The visitors declared maiden Test century before their second innings on 258- he was dismissed by Mehidy 2 in the third session of the Hasanfor110runs. third day to set a daunting Gill,whohit10foursand 513-run target for the home three sixes, shared a 113-run side. partnership for the second

Bangladesh were all out wicket with Pujara. Rahul for 150 runs in their first holed out to Taijul Islam at innings, leaving India the fine leg off Khaled Ahmed overwhelming favourites to aftermaking23. securevictory Bangladesh survived the

Skipper KL Rahul called dayunscathedintheirsecond backhisbatsmenafterPujara innings, reaching 42-0 at brought up his 19th Test stumps to leave them still hundredwithafouroffTaijul needing another 471 runs to Islam soon after their lead pull off the unlikeliest of surpassedthe500-runmark. victories.

Pujara, who also scored NajmulHossainand 90 in India’s first innings (Continued on page 67)

A snippet of the action on the opening day of the tournament at the GFF NTC in Providence.

Axar Patel celebrates with Shubman Gill the dismissal of Yasir Ali. (AFP/Getty Images)

Surinamese,

Keevin Allicock scores with a crunching right against GDF’s Clinton Clarke on the opening night on Friday.

(Sean Devers photo)

players celebrate at the end of the World Cup third-place playoff soccer match between Croatia and Morocco at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Morocco’s Bilal El Khannous, left, and Croatia’s Luka Modric fight for the ball. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)