Kaieteur News

Samuel

$890 million contract awarded to build Admin. building at CJIA

Av i n a s h

Contracting and Scrap Metal Inc. has been awarded a $890M contract to construct an Administrative Office at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport(CJIA),Timehri.

Theawardofthiscontract follows the completion of the US$150M expansion and rehabilitationoftheairport.

On Thursday, Kaieteur News reported that President Irfaan Ali announced that Governmentintendstospend more money on a new terminalattheairport.

“As I speak to you tonight, we are already contemplating a Terminal Two because you have to get it”, said President Ali at the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) dinner and awards. The President said that Government intends to build a second terminal at the airport to facilitate the rapid increaseinarrivalshere.

“By 2025, the projections are that we will be creeping past one million arrivals”, he added.

Meanwhile, the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) on its website said thatAvinash Contracting and Scrap Metal Inc. won the bid for the construction of the administrative building following a competitive bidding process The $890,440,820contractforthe construction of the building was awarded on November 15,2022.

In August 2021, it was reportedthattheMinistryhad signed a $25.9M contract withKalitechIncorporatedto design a new office building for the airport staff. In December 2021, CJIA's Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ramesh Ghir, was quoted in a Department of Public Information (DPI) article stating that the design for the office was completed paving the way for the Ministrytogototender

Back inAugust, Kaieteur News had reported that eight contractorshadplacedbidsat the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) office for

this project, which the MinistryofPublicWorkshad estimated would cost $906.7M.

MinisterofPublicWorks, Juan Edghill had disclosed that the new building would be constructed across the road from the airport. “What we are seeking to do is move all the administrative offices from the airport into a new building so those spaces could be used for other commercial activities,” he hadstated.

Minister Edghill, had announced earlier this year

that citizens should expect more money being pumped into the 'continued modernisation'oftheairport.

“We have to continue m a k i n g m o r e accommodation I think sooner or later with the oil and gas sector growing and tourism growing and bringing in high profile tourists, we will have to have facilities for corporate jets, luxury lines…people coming herewithprivateplanestogo and do things, we have to keepexpanding…”hesaid.

It wasn't so long ago that

Chinese contractor, China Harbour Engineering C o m p a n y ( C H E C ) , completed its part under the US$150M airport expansion contract. That contract was signed in 2011 under then President Bharrat Jagdeo, and was passed through the truncated presidency of DonaldRamotar

However, when the D a v i d G r a n g e r administration took over in 2015, it said that the very defective plan needed adjustments and changes were made. The decade-old

project was awarded to CHEC for the sum of US$150M: $138M from the China Exim Bank and $12M from the Consolidated Fund –taxpayers'money

W h e n t h e P P P administration took office in August 2020, Minister Edghill said the government wasunsatisfiedwiththework that was done by the contractorandhadnegotiated and got CHEC to do additional works at the airportatnocosttoGuyana.

The additional works done by the contractor included a superstructure corridorandcurtainwall;this wasonlyrecentlycompleted.

Notably, while the contract cost with the Chinese contractor remains a t U S $ 1 5 0 M , t h e Government is undertaking several multi million upgrades to the airport which were separated into three parts.

The additional projects u n d e r t a k e n b y t h e Government has increased the amount of money spent ontheairport.

The Cheddi Jagan International Airport. (Mike Charles photo)

French company awarded contract to supply pipelines for fifth unapproved project

After signing a 10-year frame agreement with ExxonMobil affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) for the supply of line-pipe products last year, French company Vallourec has secured three major contracts to provide the items for the oil company's upcoming Yellowtail and Urau projects, as well as the Gas to Energy venture set to bring naturalgasfromtheseabedtoland.

In a press release, the French company said it had won a major Line-Pipe order from ExxonMobil Guyana. “Vallourec has secured a thirdmajororderintheframework of the Long Term Agreement (LTA) signed last year with ExxonMobil Guyana. Under the contract, Vallourec will deliver line pipe for ExxonMobil Guyana's deep water Uaru project,”thecompanysaid.

It noted that the Uaru project is located in the Stabroek Block, a 26,800km2strategicbasinlocated off Guyana's continental shelf, where several important discoveries have been made since 2015. The Group said it will deliver 35,000 metric tons of linepipe, including 2,000 metric tons of X80, an innovative and unique material developed and qualified by Vallourec's R&D teams. “The X80 combines high strength with resistance to service conditions, making it a key enabler for future deeper-waterdevelopments.”

Vallourec highlighted that “followingtheYellowtailandGasto-Energy orders, signed under the same LTA, the Uaru order further strengthens Vallourec's strategic supplier relationship with E x x o n M o b i l G u y a n a , underpinned by a significant backlog of line-pipe orders of approximately 90,000 metric tons (or 520 km of line pipe) booked since December 2021. Vallourec will serve ExxonMobil Guyana from its state-of-the-art Jeceaba

(Minas Gerais) factory which combines large production capacities and premium capabilities.

Philippe Guillemot, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Vallourec, related that, “This significantnewcontractrepresents the third under the 10-year frame agreement signed last year with ExxonMobil Guyana. Our new grade X80 has been qualified by ExxonMobil and will be field-

leader in premium tubular solutions for the energy markets and for demanding industrial applicationssuchasoil&gaswells in harsh environments, new generation power plants, challenging architectural projects, and high-performance mechanical equipment “Vallourec's pioneering spirit and cutting-edge R&D open new technological frontiers. With close to 17,000 dedicated and passionate

Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Yellowtail, development costs are poised to exceed US$9B or GY$1.8trillion.

Itsaidthatcostsareexpectedto be higher since there would be a greater number of development wells and associated drilling costs when compared to previous projects. The project documents said that Yellowtail will consist of the drilling of approximately 41 to 67 development wells (including

The Urau discovery involves two parts In January 2020, ExxonMobilannouncedthatUaru1 was their 16th discovery in the Stabroek Block The well encounteredapproximately94feet (29 meters) of high-quality oilbearing sandstone reservoir and was drilled in 6,342 feet (1,933 meters)ofwater ExxonMobilsaid lastApril that Urau-2 added to the previously announced gross discovered recoverable resource estimate for the block, which is currently estimated to be approximately 9 billion oil equivalent barrels Drilling at U a r u 2 e n c o u n t e r e d approximately 120 feet (36 7 meters) of high quality oil bearing reservoir and was drilled in 5,659 feet (1,725 meters) of waterandislocatedapproximately 6.8 miles (11 kilometers) south of theUaru-1well.Theprojectcostis yettobeidentified.

The Gas to Energy project remains a topic of contention despitegovernment'sdrivetohave the rising US$1.3B project on stream. Stakeholders have called for the provision of an updated feasibility study for the project, m o r e e n v i r o n m e n t a l considerations and proof that the project will be financially viable.

proven with this order, demonstrating Vallourec's ability to deliver solutions to the industry that are both technology and efficiency enablers.” It was noted however that the recently signed contract is subject to ExxonMobil Guyana securing necessary approvalsfromtheGovernmentof Guyanafortheproject.Vallourec's Chairmansaidthecontractisanew milestone in the company's long history with ExxonMobil, and “I would like to thank ExxonMobil once again for its confidence and ourownteamsforthisgreatwork.”

Vallourec says it's a world

employees in more than 20 countries, Vallourec works handin-hand with its customers to offer more than just tubes. Vallourec delivers innovative, safe, competitive, and smart tubular solutions, to make every project possible,”thecompanysaid.

Exxon's Yellowtail and Urau projects are the fourth and fifth oil ventures being undertaken in the prolific offshore Stabroek Block, while the Gas to Energy project is geared to provide electricity at significantly cheaper rates, the government has touted ExxonMobil's Environmental

production, water injection, and gasre-injectionwells);installation and operation of Subsea, Umbilicals, Risers, and Flowlines equipment; installation and the operationofaFloatingProduction, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) vessel in the eastern half of the S t a b r o e k B l o c k ; a n d u l t i m a t e l y p r o j e c t decommissioning.

The FPSO will be designed to produce up to 250,000. The initial production is expected to begin by the end of 2025–early 2026, with operations continuing for at least 20years.

Vice President and government point person on energy Bharrat Jagdeo “estimates” that the Wales, West Demerara project will generate electricity and distribute sameatUS$0.15centsperkilowatt hour (KWH), but stakeholders insist on the VP proving these numbers.

TheentireWalesDevelopment Zone will entail a gas processing plant (GPP) and a natural gas liquids (NGL) facility Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat, M.P., in response to a notice paper yesterday said nonetheless that the Gas to Energy project is on track for its 2024 deadline.

Artist's Impression of Natural Gas Plant that will collect the gas from the Liza field

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EDITORIAL

The wisdom of Minister Bharrat

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat is concerned about chasing away potential investors from consideringinvestinginGuyana.Thiscameaboutwhenthe issue of renegotiation of Guyana’s horrendous 2016 oil contract with ExxonMobil is put before the PPPC Government. Inthefirstinstance,MinisterBharratmustbe recognised for holding the same head as his leaders in the face of repeated calls for his government to revisit the ExxonMobilcontractandgetbettertermsforGuyana.Inthe next instance, we ask ourselves if the minister understands what he is saying, the interpretations that the foreigners couldputtohiswords,andtheimplicationsofhisstance.

Guyana wants and needs foreign investors and their fundstogetalotofthingsdone.

Big things that cost big dollars that we don’t have, and which could assist this country’s progress on a path of nationaldevelopment,andpositionittoreapthebenefitsof itsmassiveoilwealth,andofferallitscitizensafarbetterlife. But, as much as this country wants and needs foreign investmentandforeignskillsandforeigntechnology,thereis anothersidetothatcoin.Itisthattheforeigninvestors,who have the money to invest, want to come here more than we want and need them. They don’t even want to consider elsewhere,notwhenGuyanaisthebestthingintheuniverse.

Foreigninvestorshavechoices,andtheylookatwhatis most promising, which happens to be Guyana head and shoulders above any other place. We make the point that Guyanahasnocompetitionfromanyothercountry,giventhe quality of oil, and the high probability of more billions of barrels still undiscovered, just waiting to be found. We proceed to make the case that Guyana is now beyond mere potential,forwhatGuyanahasisnowproven.Wehavethe11 billionbarrelsofoilasproof,andforeigninvestorsarelining uptogetapieceoftheGuyanaoilpie,somethroughoffshore exploration and production, others through downstream opportunitiesonland.

MinisterBharratcantwistitorturnit,jumpthroughthe hoopshecraftstododgetheburningissueofrenegotiationof the2016ExxonMobiloilcontract,butoutsidersdesperately wanttocomehere,andgetrich.

Ourprospectsarethatgood,ourreturnscanbethathigh, that all other places fall out of contention for investment dollars. The minister knows all this, so we ask ourselves what game he is playing, and why he is doing so, when Guyanese expect so much, and they are getting so little, almost nothing. Moreover, Minister Bharrat knows that the ExxonMobil contract is a criminal one, an incomparable horror story, which his own leaders and government have saidrepeatedly IftheExxonMobilcontractwasacriminal one before, and it remains still untouched and still unchanged, then it is still a criminal contract. To talk of sanctity of contract, therefore, becomes a criminal attitude andcriminaldevelopment,simplyfromtakingthatposition.

WehaveanotherscenariotoputbeforeMinisterBharrat and his bosses, PresidentAli andVice President Jagdeo. In their efforts to shield ExxonMobil, to leave the oil contract aloneatallcosts,andbyanymeans,andusinganydegreeof cunning, they are forgetting something, and unwittingly openingthedoortotheunwanted.

Meaning, that the same foreign investors that Minister Bharrat says that he and his government are fearful of chasingawaycouldhavetheirownprofitconsiderationsup theirsleeve.Inanutshell,theywouldwantthesameplaying field as what is allowed to ExxonMobil through that still standing criminal contract. They could demand that those same contractual terms and conditions be what they will settlefor,otherthanforafewtinycrumbshereandthere.

InsteadofrunningfromGuyana,theycoulddigintheir heels, and play hardball. When we are strong, courageous, anddeterminedtogetafairdealforGuyana,theninvestors willdealwithusrespectfully,carefully

WhenGuyana’sleadersshowweaknessandfearfulness, foreigners will rip us off, just as ExxonMobil did, and the PPPCGovernmentallowsittocontinuedoingso.

PPPnever had any use for ethics or governance procedures

DEAREDITOR,

awarded increases of 31.06 salaries in any given year government over the years Letter writer Randolph percentand26.66percentfor Furthermore,Persaudshould has been such that it has Persaud (KN Nov 30/22) the years 1999 and 2000, understand that Part II resulted in a drastic decline contendedthataletterunder respectively Thisamountsto Section 23 (1) of the Trade inwelfare,standardofliving the title “Guyanese replaced around66 0 percent, Union Recognition Act for public servants, with slave masters with…” (KN calculated on end 1998 states that ‘the employer many of them existing in a Nov 28/22) was nothing salaries. shall recognise the union, worsening state of short of a catalogue of For reference, sixty six and the union and the insufficiency, not having unsubstantiated claims, percent of G$150,000 is employer shall bargain in enough to feed, clothe and [with] the call for the letter G$99,000. It is also a fact good faith and enter into housetheirfamilies. writer and all public service thatgovernmentawardeda5 negotiations with each other These include staff with workerstobepaidmorethan percentincreaseinsalariesin for the purpose of collective diplomas, degrees and post$6M.Hewentontosaythat 2002, avoiding any bargaining.’ However, Part graduate qualifications, this claim was both comical disagreement which would IV Section (35) states the beingunabletocarefortheir and irresponsible. Persaud have provoked another call Governmentastheemployer families and dependents seems quite satisfied with for arbitration Such shall not be liable to becauseofthecruelnatureof making scurrilous claims payment in the absence of prosecution (there are the man behind the PPP himself without providing agreement/arbitration over penalties) under thisAct but Includedalsoaremanyaged substantiveproof. theyearsmakesgovernment an aggrieved party may staff, some as old as eighty Firstly, Persaud should be liable for all sums, when applytotheHighdeclaration years of age, who cannot well aware that the suchdecisionisrendered,for and the High Court may retirebecausetheywoulddie administration of the PPP every instance of makeanorderdeclaratoryof fromfinancialdistressifthey never had any use for ethics government’s breach of therightsofsuchparty did. and governance procedures, governinglaws. Persaud should therefore The administration’s easily explaining why they I am unaware of any read and understand that the treatment of public servants continuously disregard negotiations between the government knows, and over the years demonstrates representatives of public unions and government on understandsthelaw,andthat a few points which only servants.Thisisnotpolitical. public servants’ salaries it has willfully breached the public servants working for Itisastatementoffact.Heis since 1999 in which the law by not meeting with the less than G$170,000 can urged to Google Bringing unions agreed to any recognized representatives refute: 1 Government Guyana into The 21st increase offered by of public servants over the considers that workers are Century for reference government. years inclusive of 2022, by underlings, lesser beings, to material. The six million While there have been avoiding negotiations aimed be treated as less than equal dollarsreferredtowasbased discussions between the at determining appropriate ordeserving.2. on an across the board teachers’ union and the increases in salaries for ThegovernmentofthePPP G $ 5 0 , 0 0 0 / m o n t h government over the years, publicservants. doesnotcarewhetherpublic adjustment, my estimate, theseinsumdidnotresultin He should understand that servantsliveordie,doesnot giving G$600,000 for every any agreement which governmentbyitsactionsare care for their children, their one of the ten years I have materially address the exacerbating the financial families, does not respect workedinthepublicservice. pressingfinancialconditions distress of public servants, them as Guyanese. Only It is a fact that the 57-day of teachers and their economicallyabusingpublic public servants can refute strike in 1999 forced the families, where the union servants, their children and this. movetoarbitrationinwhich and teachers happily agreed otherdependents. Yoursfaithfully, public servants were to any given increase in Further, policy by CraigSylvester

Stop voting blindly, stop party politics

DEAREDITOR, the gullible over the work commenced for its halfway up. It would appear It is being recorded that precipice with sweet music rehabilitation. thatthemoniesfinishandthe billions of dollars have been ofnothingness. Today December 1, bridgelefthalfway Thethird expended on infrastructural The second bridge to the 2022, it is halfway bridge is beginning to show developmentinthiscountry, Herstelling New Scheme completed, and work was signs similar to the faith of Guyana, but look around, wasdismantledsinceAugust abandoned over the last few the second bridge. Who is especially on the roads and 2022 due to its brokenness. days with boards scattered monitoringtheworksthat bridges and you would Aftermonths,twoweeksago on the bridge, old rails (Continuedonpage5) wonder who is fooling who, really The residents of housing schemes especially suffer

The NDC repeats one rhetoric, ‘we don’t have controlyet,itain’thandover to us’ Meanwhile the President scurries around at 3 and 4 o’ clock in the mornings,forwhatpurposes, are yet to be determined. What strategy is that? Nonetheless, his intentions could be interpreted from a press release on DPI today December 1, 2022, as he plansforthenexteightyears. Clearly, he forgot that the citizens of this country are living in hard times, and when push comes to shove, we will make decisions in our best interest So, continuetodance,asthepied piperwashiredtodo,taking

Govt. should consider include Yom Kippur as a national holiday

DEAREDITOR,

every major religious belief the nation The current

Arecentsurveyofhiring represented in our list of administration is from Her managers in the USA Presidents.Thisisthebeauty Excellency Janet Jagan’s showed that 1 in 4 hiring ofGuyana. party of which she was a managers say that they are Under His Excellency founding member.Although less likely to move forward President Burnham, Guyana there is no Jewish with Jewish applicants also used to be a country representation in the current These numbers get worse whereYomKippur,whichis administration,Iamhopeful dependingupontheindustry a Jewish High Holiday, was that the One Guyana and sector of the economy observedalongsidetheother initiative being led by His The Ali administration religious holidays of Islam, ExcellencyPresidentAliwill currently does have a gap in Hinduism and Christianity take up the challenge and Jewish representation, but However, today this holiday embrace those who keep their Party’s history would is no longer a part of the Torah The One Guyana suggest that they would be nationalcalendar initiative must also embrace willing to easily overcome The One Guyana andreflectthisreality any perception of initiativehastheopportunity Bestregards, antisemitism. Our country to continue to embrace our Mr JamilChanglee had the first female Jewish legacy of inclusivity by Chairman President in Her Excellency bringing back the T h e C

Janet Jagan and we have observanceofYomKippurto RepublicansofGuyana

AG Nandlall prefers to turn a blind eye to the inconvenient facts

DEAREDITOR, p u b l i s h e d t o d a y, independently by the bybelittlingmeas“agoodly andtheEuropeanMolecular I will refrain here from In my letter of November December1, 2022, in International Institute for Professor embarking upon Biology Laboratory in analyzing the academic 29, 2022, published in KaieteurNewsbystating,“I Democracy and Electoral anotherharangue”. Heidelberg, Germany, and I credentials of the attorney StabroekNews,Ihadargued amtoregrettablyinformthat Assistance (IDEA) as To address the first point have held research positions general as I do not believe that Attorney General there is no ‘evidence outlinedbelow made,IwillrevealthatIhold at the University of thatthisisnecessary Infact, MohabirAnilNandlallisnot presented’ capable of being Instead of considering my a PhD degree in Natural California at San Francisco, I have high respect for his takingseriouslytheevidence takenseriously.” concerns, AG Nandlall Sciences, which was HarvardMedicalSchool,the expertise in the field of indicatinganunusuallyhigh The data he was referring prefers to question my awarded with the grade of Swiss Federal Institute of jurisprudence and he is an voter turnout in the General to indicated an unusually credentialsbystatingthat,“I “summa cum laude” by the Technology (ETH Zurich) authority familiar with the Elections of March 2, 2020. high voter turnout, which am not aware of the area of University of Basel, andcurrentlyattheLudwig- lawsofRepublicofGuyana. He concludes his response w a s s u p p o r t e d theProfessor’straining”and Switzerland’s oldest Maximilians University In moving forward, I will universityfoundedin1460.I Munich, where I am a citeinmyresponsesolelythe was trained at the Biocenter tenured professor of dataoftheInternational of the University of Basel molecular pathophysiology (Continuedonpage6)

Domesticviolencecan neverbecondoned

DEAREDITOR, staring back, terrified. That violence This isn’t

They got down on their person, staring at who could uncommon Despite your knees to pave the roads we betheirown. age, race and gender you walkon. What kind of human havearight.

Their reward is to be being values things of the If something does more buriedsixfeetunder world, than something that harm than good it is not What comes to a man’s canneverberetained,alife. contributingtoyourlife,itis mindtoharmthem? As for the women, the notforyou.Iamspeakingto What could possibly women that go to bed with all. make a man raise a weapon tears in their eyes. The men My condolences to atsomeonesotender? who are supposed to families who suffer a loss, a

When I think of the sacrifice for these women, loved one gone because of elderly,Ithinkofrespectand sacrifice their good morals the actions of someone who intelligence Why? andmistreatthem. listenedtotheirheadinstead Experience. Domesticviolenceisnot oftheirheart. Seekthehelp

Tobeexperiencedinthis something and never has youneed.Seekcounselingif world is a gift. Who are we been something that should need be. You are in great to take the life of someone becondoned. danger if you allow your who is not yet finished Awoman,sheisamaker mindtoconsumeyou. living? When we are called, that can carry the future in Seek the help you need. we go, when our time is her womb, and someone’s Seek advice if need be. You finally up, we leave. Who daughter. Awomanhasonce are in great danger if you are you to determine, that carried you, men. The same allow your mind to control theirtimeisup?Whoareyou men that raise hands and you. to determine they die such raisevoice. Liveshavebeen With the warmest crueldeaths? lostbecauseofyouranger regard,

How could you possibly Men also face domestic Ms.SaayaPrasad take the life of another, with noremorse?

That could be your mother, your brother, your sister, your father, your son and your daughter That person with weary eyes

Stop voting blindly, stop party...

Frompage4

I would also like to know highlight the conditions you peoplearecontractedtodo? whothecontractor(?)is. are living under, so all can It is time to hold the Without further ado, I see Local government authorities accountable, and urgethePresidenttotakehis elections in March 2023, I citizens must start taking an presidential entourage, and urge residents to stop voting interestinthewelfareofthis drive into the community so blindly, stop party politics. country, it cannot be left to he can get a firsthand The NDCs are not the government alone, as experience of the roadways functioning. clearlyourbestinterestisnot in that same scheme, Drains are clogged up, theirconcern.Iwouldliketo between the first bridge and parapets left for residents to knowhowmuchmoneywas thesecondbridge. clean themselves, so what spent to have the second I also urge the residents aretheNDCsfor? bridge to the Herstelling living in other housing Yourssincerely, HousingSchemecompleted. schemestogetproactiveand MichaelPersaud

AG Nandlall prefers to turn a blind eye to the...

Frompage5 determined by IDEA). VAP electionswereheldin1992.I investigation of the issue by InstituteforDemocracyand Turnout is calculated by will therefore focus on the all bodies in Guyana with Electoral Assistance dividingthe“TotalVotes”by VAP turnouts from then responsibilities to ensure ( I D E A ) , a n t h e “ Vo t i n g A g e onwards. The VAP turnout that general elections are intergovernmental Population”.

numbers ranged between carried out free from illegal organization that works to According to the IDEA, 63.71%(in1992)to86.27% manipulations. support and strengthen the Voting Age Population (2015). The average VAP The focus should not only democratic institutions and (VAP) Turnout provides a turnoutacrossthesixgeneral be limited to the deplorable processes around the world. more accurate indicator of elections between 1992 and irregularities that happened IDEAmemberstatesinclude political participation in 2 0 1 5 a m o u n t s t o during the tabulation of the Barbados, Brazil, Canada, general elections. The VAP 74.02(±8.42)%. votesinRegion4inthewake Germany, Ghana, India, figure is the estimated By contrast, the VAP of the 2020 General Indonesia, Norway, South number of all those citizens turnout in the 2020 general Elections but need to Africa,Sweden,Switzerland over the legal voting age electionswas91.49%,which extendeddeterminewhether and Tunisia Anybody based on the most recent clearly stands out as being other irregularities might including the attorney population census figure abnormallyhighonthebasis have occurred leading to a general can access IDEA’s available, while the of two criteria derived from higher than usual voter primary data on the internet registration rate comprises the data of the previous six turnout. via the following link given the actual number of people general elections held Finally, all measures, such here in parentheses onthevoters’roll. between 1992 and 2015, as the introduction of an (https://wwwidea int/data In some countries, such as where: electronic voting system tools/country-view/121/40). Guyana, the voters’ roll is 1)theaverageVAPturnout with biometric voter The voting data compiled difficult to keep up to date was74.02%;and identification, need to be by IDEA (see table below) due to deaths and 2) the standard variation taken now to ensure that in covers all general elections immigration of electors, was8.42%. the next general elections to heldinGuyanafrom1964to something which is a It is therefore very clear be held in 2025will not be 2020. common problem facing thattheVAPvoterturnoutof marred by similar

It relies on the public data electoral administrators not 91.49%forthe2020general irregularities. provided by the Guyana only in Guyana but around elections as determined by Withregardtotheattorney Election Commission theworld.

IDEA was an outlier given general, he needs to keep an (GECOM)anddemographic Therefore,theVAPturnout thatitis17.47%higherthan open mind and should not data drawn from different reflects more accurately the the long-term average of resort to seeing any resources. true voter participation in 74.02%. inconvenient facts brought

Theimportantcolumnsare elections. Therefore, I maintain my tohimthroughthelensofthe the “Voter Turnout” (as Now let us take a closer previously expressed bipartisan optics typical of calculated by GECOM) and look at the table below It is position that the 2020 voter the political discourse in the “VAP (Voting Age generally considered that turnout was unusually high Guyana. Population) Turnout” (as Guyana’s first and free and I call for a thorough I therefore hope he sees now my contribution in a moreconstructivelight.

Sincerely, AndreBrandli,PhD Professor Ludwig Maximilians UniversityMunich

Shameful8%increasecomes withtheaddedinsultoftaxes

DEAREDITOR, noticed a few Government Kindly permit me a very ministers justifying this small piece of your column increase. toventmyfrustrationonthe Most reactions from those matter of the retroactive postsattractedahighlevelof salary increase that was criticism while some people thrownatthepublicservants simply chose to ask if the of this country I, along with retroactive payment (what many others, am sure, we call retro) will be taxed, expectedmore,butIcameto and to date, there has not the realization that it is still been a response from any an increase, and I must government minister or the accept and bless The President. I think it is very frustratedpartofallthis,isI shameful of already hurting learned from my employer us with an announcement of today that the retroactive 8 percent increase and then payment will be taxable. I having us paying tax on it have been browsing various too. socialmediaplatformssince Yoursrespectfully the announcement, and I R.Persaud

Calling on community for elderly is neutralized by plots of family members

DEAREDITOR, doing.

The call that ‘much more In one of the cases, a family community support is member confessed to being needed to protect vulnerable part of the plan as she older folks’ (News Room conspiredwithandaidedand Nov 29) following the abetted the alleged killer, a gruesome murders of two fellowvillager elderly women, one day So how can the community apart, does not take into be involved when account in these particular supposedly trusted family cases, family members, and members who are frequent female members, were visitors to the homes, are allegedlyinvolved. planning and scheming to The community it seems, is commitafelonyagainstaged being asked to take on the relatives, who are role of ‘sisters’keeper’even unsuspiciousandinnocentto in the face of relatives, who theevilplotbeinghatched. in their roles, should be so ShamshunMohamed

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WORKERS’ UNION BEGGING, POLITICIANS

FEASTING

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Guyanese workers are begging for a living wage.

The best they can expect to get is a few mores scraps.

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The ordinary Guyanese workforce begs to get by with a little dignity.

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Guyanese politicians and their families fatten themselves on the people’s wealth.

Guyanese workers can barely buy bread, struggle to pay their bills.

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Guyanese politicians feasting on champagne and steak, cheesecake and the richest ice-cream.

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This is Guyana: the haves and have-nots. The few that are banqueting, the many living with an empty plate.

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Exxon abandons West African oil venture for Guyana, other lucrative projects in Americas

With the world's largest oil discovery in the last decade, Guyana is among top petrostates where ExxonMobil will be redirecting its energies as it abandons its West African venture in Equatorial Guinea, as part of a wider move to phase out African crude for more lucrative projectsintheAmericas.

An exclusive report by international news agency Reuters revealed that the company will be shifting its attention to Guyana and other markets in a bid to rid itself of high cost and environmental issues associated with the region. It was noted that the African

location, “…is a high-cost region where carbon emissions are a problem as well”, so Exxon will be looking to take its business elsewherewhenitslicenseto operate in that nation ends in 2026.

“The departure reflects a wider move by major oil producers to reduce crude production in West Africa and shift investments to lower-carbon natural gas de

Countries (OPEC), was said to have peaked at more than 300,000 bpd eight years ago andhasbeendecliningsince. Exxon is said to have been trying to sell its operation since2020.

elop

ent on the continent, and to more lucrative projects in the Americas ” Exxon's oil output in Equatorial Guinea,

Reuters said that the African continent itself has been struggling to meet OPEC quotas due to the lack of investments in crude production. Output from top two producers, OPEC members Angola and Nigeria,sankbyathirdto2.1 million bpd in October from 3.2 million bpd in 2019 and has been declined since 2013, by 41percent Nigeria's output is said to be at 32-year low and foreign

oil producers such Chevron Corp (CVX.N), Shell Plc (SHEL.L) and Exxon have been retreating from that Nigeria due to rampant levels of oil theft, selling their assets mostly to local companies.

It was noted however that as crude output in West Africa shrinks, “production in the Americas is expected to grow to 28 million bpd next year, up 2.3 million bpd from pre-pandemic levels, OPECestimatesshow Much of the increase comes from the United States, Canada, Guyana and Brazil, some of the places where Exxon has increased spending on oil output.” Reuters said that Exxon has decided to decommission its Zafiro field and tow the platform away, a spokesperson confirmed.

Guyana has become a sweet spot for industry players with operators such as Hess and others urging investors to tap into the Guyana oil boom. Guyana continues to be the location for most exciting oil finds especiallyasStabroekBlock operators are gearing for an increase in Guyana's proven oilwealth.

Mostrecentutterancesto investorsbyChiefExecutive Officer (CEO) of Hess Corporation, John Hess is that they should brace themselves for a 'major upgrade' to the 11 billion

barrels of oil equivalent resources discovered at the Stabroek Block. During a recent engagement, Bank of America Securities Global Energy Conference, Hess said that ExxonMobil's affiliate and operator, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), marked nine significant discoveries for 2022 alone. They are namely Fangtooth1, Lau Lau-1, Barreleye-1, Patwa 1, Lukanani 1, Seabob 1, Kiru Kiru 1, Sailfin 1 and Yarrow 1 wells, all of which are yet to be appraised for the number of barrels they hold and their estimatedvalue.

Hess, whose company has 30percentstakeinthe6million-acre Stabroek Block said that its resource has beengrowinginGuyana.“In fact, it moved from one billion barrels of oil equivalent to 11 billion. The ninediscoveriesthisyearare not in that resource base estimate so there will be a major upgrade to that number,” he said. The Hess company has been very frank about the key role Guyana's oil resources has been playing in stabilizing the company Earlier in the year, Hess said that it too would be allocating significant resources to Guyana as it focuses on “the low cost, high value resources” coming out of the country

BLOW HER MIND

Imetafriendafewdays walkedintoajewellerystore tellyouaboutmyweekend!” whythetwosplitup,hesaid from a man, even one that ago. He looked all stressed one Friday evening with a Some years ago, I wrote an it had nothing to do with his sheisdivorcedfrom. out.Iaskedhimwhatwasthe beautiful young lady at his article about blowing a unfaithfulness. He added, “I I believe that most problem, and he replied that side. He told the jeweller he woman’s mind. It was a big was afraid of her She was women would rather have behindit. hejustcouldnotdecidewhat waslookingforaspecialring hitonfeministblogs.Iended toobeautifulforme.Shewas love and affection than the (The views expressed in togivehispartnerasagift. for his girlfriend The that article with the toosmartforme.Shehadtoo most expensive gift in the this article are those of the Herewasaguywhowas jeweller looked through his following observation: much integrity for me. I felt world. The greatest gift you author and do not not short on cash. He could stock and brought out a Whenmenarecourting,and so small next to her.” That can give a woman is your necessarily reflect the buy whatever he wanted. $50,000ring. theyareseriousaboutagirl, line, sincere and exact, undying love and respect. opinions and beliefs of this Theproblemhefacedisthat The old man said, “No, they are on their best would blow any woman Blow her mind, not by the n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s hedidknowwhattobuy He I’d like to see something behaviour They shower her away No woman could ask value of the gift, but by the affiliates.) could not choose the more special ” At that with gifts, say the nicest for a greater compliment valueoftheloveandrespect appropriate gift that would statement, the jeweller went things, and are always kind expressjusthowhefelt. to his special stock and andconsiderate.

I know quite a few men brought another ring over But no sooner does the whohavethesameproblem. “Here’s a stunning ring at wedding ring go on the Myadvicetothemalwaysis only$400,000,”thejeweller finger of the bride than her to do something that would said. sufferingbegins. blow their partners’ minds. The young lady’s eyes Some men suddenly Do something that would sparkledandherwholebody begintotaketheirpartnerfor havetheirpartnersallstarry- trembled with excitement. granted and at times will eyed. In the process, you The old man, seeing this, even try to belittle their mayalsobedoingsomething said, “We’ll take it.” The wives in front of their foryourself. jewelleraskedhowpayment friends.

There are some women would be made and the old I urge all the men in who feel that you can best man stated, “By cheque. I Guyanatotreattheirpartners showyourlovebythetypeof knowyouneedtomakesure with respect. Pamper them gift you give to them. The my cheque is good, so I’ll and make them feel loved more expensive the gift, the writeitnow,andyoucancall and wanted. One night, I greater is the love. I know the bank Monday to verify watched an interview on quite a few men who dig the funds, and I’ll pick the NBC with Billy Bob deep into their accounts to ringupMondayafternoon.” Thornton. He was speaking buythatsuperexpensivegift Monday morning, the about his ex wife, the fortheirlovedones.Ifthatis jeweller phoned the old stunningAngelinaJolie,and what it takes to blow their Guyanese man. “There’s no hetookalltheblamefortheir partnersminds,well,sobeit. moneyinthataccount.” split.Hetoldtheinterviewer Thisremindsmeofanolder, “I know,” said the that it was entirely his fault. white haired Guyanese who Guyanese man, “But let me Then when he was asked

Dem boys seh...

Some prisoners gan be disappointed!

De Prison Service announce how dem nuff money gan gat to spend because some allowing families fuh bond with dem demguyswantfancyfood. prisonersfromDecember5tode11th.Dem Lastyeardemshowphotographofwhat ganallowdemfamiliesfuhspendtimewith dem prisoners get fuh eat pon Christmas deminmates. Day And dah mek some dem prisoners But dis is nuttin new It does happen all relativesmoreworried. detime.Butdemannounceitsodatdemwah Because dem prisoners eating better on wantcomecouldmekappointment. deinsidedandemfamilypondeoutside. Dat announcement cause all kind of Butdehgatodderproblems.Someofde problems. Deh had some inmates who prisoners’ partners move on with dem life families nah want nuttin fuh do with dem. anddemnahgatplansfuhturnupatdejail. And so dem did not plan fuh do no ‘ Sodemjailbirdganfeelshamedatdemother bonding’. Dem in fact did not plan fuh go halfnahcomeandseedem. nowehereneardejail.

Is suh when yuh deh in jail. People nah

But now dem gan gat to tek shame out knowyuh. demfaceandturnup.

But as soon as yuh come out and start

And dem can’t turn up empty-handed. doing good, everybody know yuh and want Dem gan gat to carry some nice food and beyuhfriend. thingfuhdemfamilywahdehbehindbars.Is Talkhalf.Leffhalf!

SONIA PARAG, WOMEN GROUPS AND UBIQUITOUS HYPOCRISY

Ilost all respect for far away to comment on whenthemurderoccurred. letter,henoted: “The whole silence in some Eusi Kwayana after what was going on. But What went on from world knows by now it has sectionsofpolitical two replies to me in technology in the 21st has Wednesday, March 4, 2020 been alleged that the son of society and civil

the letter pages of collapsedtheworldintoone at GECOM’s Command the former Chancellor Mr. society on what thisnewspaperinApril2020 tinyroom. CentreinAshmin’sbuilding Carl Singh described a transpiredatBelladrum when the election rigging What goes on in the was captured live and Policewoman in inhuman with Minister Parag was going on. There was a world people can see, by transmitted to the world by and disrespectful language. was because those If we are going to part of those deliveries that holding a tiny instrument – what is known as live The words were widely sections view Guyana’s understand the outcry from shookmetothecore. the smart phone, in front of streaming I have seen published.” existence through ethnic these quarters about the It was that part that theirface,intheirbedroom. Kwayana participated in The whole world saw lenses? dildo comment by a showed me the proof that T h e M e x i c a n programmes that were live- Mr Jordan was present Is the political factor the Minister, the outburst Kwayana’s political culture government has charged a streamed. when Minister Parag was key to understanding the againstthesonoftheformer had become wasted and I womanwithmurderandhas I mentioned the prevented from delivering doublestandards?Mostcivil chancellor but complete dissolved any respect I had askedtheUStoextraditeher Kwayana thing in the developmental aid to the society organisations and silenceonwhathappenedto forhim. Thechargeoriginatedfroma context of the incident at community of Belladrum. womengroupsareinflexibly Minister,Paragthenwehave IneverthoughtKwayana video the Mexican police Belladrum in which PNC His action was widely anti-government. to understand the past with his oceanic experience saw of the accused beating parliamentarian Vinceroy carried in the media.” But Thatinitselfcriesoutfor mergingintothepresentand and residence in the 21st her friend to death. The Jordan was present at the Mr Kwayana chose not to analysis. I have done my that confluence was the century in one of the most Americans have accepted scene when Minister, Sonia offer his take or maybe he analysis on that subject in March2020elections. technologically endowed theextraditionrequest. Parag was prevented from forgot. No women rights several columns and need

There will be more countries on Planet Earth, IftheAmericanstookthe enteringapublicbuilding. group has commented on not repeat it here. The incidentsliketheBelladrum theUSA,wouldoffersucha perspective of Kwayana, Thegoodthingaboutthe what Mr. Jordan did to the analysis is complex and flare up against Minister poor, jejune response to my they would not have smartphone is that it minister.The usual suspects elaborate and involves an Parag and the hypocrisy of criticismofhissilenceonthe accepted the extradition prevents people from suing would have been energised historical journey back to the usual suspects and the electionrigging. papers because American forlibel. Youcannotsuefor if a minister had done what class society in British women groups will be laid He said that he was too policemen were not there libel if you are accused of Jordan did. A letter would Guiana. The yearnings and bareforallGuyanatosee. runningaredlightwhenyou have been dispatched with dreams of the dominant (The views expressed in were filmed doing exactly hastetothenewspapers. classes of that era were this article are those of the that. Kwayana writes letters What analysis does the realisedin2015.TheCreole author and do not to the newspapers often, the academicoffertothesetypes middle class and their necessarily reflect the most recent being, last of instincts and attitudes in cultural allies have not opinions and beliefs of this Tuesday (yes, last Tuesday, Guyana? Could race be a accepted the return of what n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s and before that, another last factor? they see as Indian rule affiliates.) week). In his last Tuesday’s Is it possible that the throughthe2020elections.

FrederickKissoon

Essequibo, Mon Repos 'Cop beaters' to spend Christmas in jail

Two men who have been found guilty of assaulting the police this week will spend Christmas in prison. In two separate cases, the men were sentenced to six and nine months in prison respectively for disorderly behaviour, resisting arrest, and assaultingapeaceofficer

Samuel Paraj, 27, of Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD) pleaded guilty to the charges of Assaulting a Peace Officer, Resisting Arrest and Disorderly Behaviour when he appeared before Magistrate Rochelle Liverpool when he appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrates' Court. He was sentenced to nine months imprisonmentfortheoffences.

In a separate matter, Rohit 'Poduck' Lall, a fisherman of Walton Hall, Essequibo Coast was charged with the offence of Assault with the Intent to Resist Arrest. Lall was sentenced to six months imprisonmentforthecrime.

Police said that on Wednesday, the 25 year old fisherman was arrested at about 16:45h by ranks from Regional Police Division No. 2

for fighting a police rank. Reports are thattherankswereconductingseveral policing exercises on the Essequibo Coast when Lall was arrested and subsequentlycharged.

Meanwhile, on Monday, Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken said that physical assault on ranks of the

Rohit Lall: Six months imprisonment

New Chief Education Officer appointed

Samuel Paraj: Nine months imprisonment

Guyana Police Force (GPF) will not be tolerated and those found guilty of the attacks will facethefullbruntofthelaw Hicken told traffic ranks from Georgetown and the East Coast that he has taken note of the recent incidents of aggressive and abusive attacks meted out to members of the Force while carrying out their lawful duty.“There will be a zero-tolerance approach in this regard and is asking the public to desist from such behaviour,” Hickensaid.

TheMinistryofEducation on Thursday announced the appointment of Saddam Hussain as the new Chief Education Officer (CEO) Hussain replaces Dr Marcel Hutson who served in the position for six years, two of which were post-retirement years. Dr Hutson has now been appointed Executive Director of the National Accreditation Council

Education Officer at the Ministry in August 2016, filling the position of Olato Sam, whose contract was not renewed.

The Ministry said that on Wednesday Dr Hutson handed over the office to Hussain who has been a classroom teacher for more than 20 years. Over the last two years, he served within Central Ministry as the Chief

(NAC), the principal body in Guyana responsible for conducting and advising on the accreditation and recognition of educational and training institutions, providers, programmes and awards, whether foreign or national.

“…He [Dr Hutson] has m a d e e x c e p t i o n a l contributions to the development and forward movement of the education sector

TheMinistryofEducation extends tremendous gratitude to Dr Hutson for his service as Chief Education Officer, especially during one of the nation's toughest periods, the COVID-19pandemic.

The Ministry looks forwardtoanotherstellarstint in his new role,” the Ministry of Education said in a press release Dr Hutson had retired in September 2020 but was re-appointed CEO later that month He was first appointed as the acting Chief

Schools' Inspector and has been managing the efforts to restructure the Inspectorate Unit of the Ministry of Education.

“Mr HussainwasaCadet Officer and was appointed as a Senior Education Officer in 2011; a position which he later declined. He brings to the position of CEO, a wide range of experience having workedattheNationalCentre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), the Cyril Potter College of Education and the Caribbean Examination Council,” the Ministry said. The Ministry welcomed Hussain in his new role while noting that his previousroles“Demonstrated a deep love and passion for developing the sector and transforming education and systems to meet the needs of present-dayGuyana.”

The Ministry assured that it is paying unswerving attention to creating the best educationsysteminGuyana.

New Chief Education Officer, Mr. Saddam Hussain (right) receives handing over statements from former Chief Education Officer and new Executive Director of the National Accreditation Council, Dr. Marcel Hutson

Guyanese seeking protection from Venezuelan gang

working in the Five Star Backdam, North West District (NWD), Region One are being forced to pack up and leave after a marauding Venezuelan gang invaded the area on Wednesday.

They are now calling on the authorities to intervene and protect them as the gang continues its rapid invasion of the Guyanese mines. According to information reaching Kaieteur News, the gang is heavily-armed with more than 30 men strong. It is believedthat the gunmen might belong to the notorious Sindicato gangofVenezuela.

The invasion reportedly started at Lena landing - a part of Five Star that is close to the Venezuela border Since then the gunmen have covered more grounds and entered Powis Landing, looting and robbing alongtheway

A M a t t h e w s R i d g e businessman in the area related that they have forcefully taken over “Fat man's new shop” at Powislandingandsent12oftheir men to hide in the bushes as lookout for the Guyanese joint services ranks who may enter to stopthem.

Kaieteur News understands that gang has since told their victims that they cannot return to Venezuela and are going “fight their way out” if anyone tries to stop their takeover of the Guyanesemine.

Another businessman who is fearful for the lives of his employees said, “I am currently preparing my employees at our mines located along the Wauna River/creek for evacuation to Matthews Ridge because even with a security detail of 5-10 it's surelysuicide.”

He also urged other dredge owners to do the same if the need arises. Region One police have

since confirmed receiving reports about the invasion and are currently in the process of mobilising ranks to investigate thethreat.

In 2017, three Guyanese were slaughtered in their sleep at a Venezuelan mine called Imataka that is located close to the Five Star Backdam. Gunmen brandishing high powered weapons had stormed into their mining camp around 03:00 hrs on Wednesday July 19, 2017 and riddledthemwithbullets.

Police identified the dead as Vernon Eudoxie, 51; Cologne Solomon, 23 – both of Fitzburg, Port Kaituma and Samuel Moses, 19, of Four Miles Oronoque, Port Kaituma, North West District, Region

Venezuelan authorities suspected that killings were carried out by thesindicatos,aVenezuelangang, that would cross over into Guyanese mines and rob victims frequently

Map depicting the Five Star Backdam in Region One

$26M to fix crumbling Santa Rosa Primary School

The much needed rehabilitation of the deplorable Santa Rosa Primary School in Region One will soon get underwayasacontractforthe works has been awarded by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board(NPTAB).

NPTAB on its website stated that on November 21 last, contractor Bree's Enterprise was awarded the $26,487,900 contract to do the job. When bids for the project were opened back in October, Bree's Enterprise was among three contractors that were vying for the

M

cost

Building 'A' of the Santa Rosa Primary School which is slated for rehabilitation.

$19,993,560, according to its engineer This contractor had submitted the lowest out of thethreebids.

Kaieteur News had reported that what prompted authorities to have the building repaired was a

protestactionbyteachersand parents of the school over its deplorablestate.

Following the protest action on September 26, last, officials from the Ministry of Education had visited the residents and parents, and promisedtohavethebuilding repaired.

The school's Parent Teachers Association (PTA) Chairperson, Ms Donna Henry told this publication previously that the Santa Rosa Primary comprises of three buildings, building 'A', 'B', and 'C' and that the buildingindireneedof

i n i s t r y o f L o c a l Government and Regional Development project which was estimated to

The deteriorating state of the school building. (Photo credit: Moruca DC)

GNBS opens new sub-office in Mabaruma

The Guyana National BureauofStandards(GNBS) on Wednesday opened the doors of its new sub-office at Mabaruma, Region One Barima-Waini.

The modernised and expanded facility which was

built in the Regional Democratic Council's (RDC) Compound will better enable the GNBS to provide its core servicestotheresidentsofthe remoteregion.

Executive Director (Ag) of the GNBS, Ramrattie

Karan, said the residents of Mabaruma will benefit from the verification of measuring

instruments, product inspections, training and technical assistance for businesses The Executive Director (Ag) also thanked

the Regional Administration and the Business Community forpastandfuturesupport.

Public Relations Officer of the Mabaruma Chamber of Commerce Industry (MCCI), Trevor Rupan stated that the establishment of the office in Region 1 will positively impact the products produced bybusinessesthere.

Meanwhile, the Mayor of Mabaruma, His Worship Chris Phang advised that the servicestobeprovidedbythe office are directly related to the Government's vision “With the rapid development experienced we must

safeguard the interest of consumers which the GNBS can provide, and I am happy that Mabaruma is not left out of the developmental drive led by his Excellency Irfaan Ali,”theMayoradded.

Similarly, Director of Business, John Edghill said that, “the work of the GNBS h o l d s w e l l f o r t h e G o v e r n m e n t ” H e acknowledged the extreme growth of Guyana's economy and advised that it must transcend across the Regions of the country Meanwhile speaking to the business community, he advised that it

is better to build capacity through services like those providedbytheGNBS.

“Services provides to these businesses will make them competitive and sustainable in the long run,” E d g h i l l s a i d w h i l e encouraging the local Authorities to support the workoftheGNBS.

Regional Executive Officer, Tikaram Bissessar committedtoofferingsupport to the officer stationed of the GNBS Office to provide transportation and other resourcesrequiredtovisitthe (Continued on page 22)

GNBS Inspector in Mabaruma, Jonathan Peters (left) gives a tour of the office.

New Hire Purchase Bill protects customers from wanton repossession

The Hire Purchase

Bill of 2020 which seeks to provide a statutory framework to govern contracts between buyers and sellers under credit sale and conditional sales agreements was on Wednesday passed in the NationalAssembly Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond presented theBillforitssecondreading to the NationalAssembly It was subsequently adopted andpassedbytheHouse.

Minister Walrond informed the House that the

bill benefitted from

widespread consultations which were conducted with stakeholdersinterestedinthe hire purchase sector. Twenty seven of the 30 clauses were amended, ensuring a balanced framework to protect consumers as well as vendors. “Mr Speaker, I'm particularly pleased to have had the opportunity to work on this piece of legislation which we believe will make a positive consequential contribution to the environment for Trade and Commerce in Guyana and most importantly to the lives

of everyday people,” the ministerstated.

She noted that the Bill applies not only to hire purchase agreements but also to credit sale and conditional sales agreement when enacted it would provide a statutory framework to govern contracts between buyers and seller under such arrangements.

“Itisofsomeimportance Mr Speaker that I say that the Bill seeks to level the playing field and not to distortit.Weweremindfulof and determined to avoid replacing a regime that

Ramayya charged for alleging Pandit ate fish at religious functions

Political activist and former coordinator of President Irfaan Ali's Rapid Response Task Force in Region SixwasonThursdaychargedforallegedly harassing and humiliating a Hindu religiousleaderfromCrabwoodCreek.

Dr VeersammyRamayya,75ofWhim Village, Corentyne, Berbice was arrested andchargedwith usingacomputersystem toharassandhumiliateSurujdyalSahadeo called "Pandit Dave", 43, a religious worker and Pandit of Crabwood Creek, UpperCorentyne,BerbiceonJune12022.

The charge was laid Contrary to section 19 (5) (a) in Contravention of Section19(3)oftheCybercrimeAct2018, oftheLawsofGuyana.

The political activist made his appearance at the Springlands Magistrate's Court before MagistrateAlex Moore and pleaded not guilty to the charge. He was subsequently was sent on hisownrecognizancethroughhisattorney Mirza Sahadat. He will appear in court againonFebruary202023.

Kaieteur News understands that Ramayya in a video that was posted on socialmedialambastedthecharacterofthe

Pandit. Ramayya reportedly said that the Pandit consumed Gilbaka fish at religious functions despite his religion not permitting him to so do.

Ramayya also said that there was a shortage of milk because people used it to wash the Pandit's feet. However, after the court case, Ramayya told reporters that him being dragged before the courtispolitical.

substantially disadvantaged the buyer with one that disadvantaged the seller,” MinisterWalrondexplained.

Recognising that consumers enter hire purchase agreements w i t h o u t i n f o r m e d consideration of their ability to pay; Clause (10) provides foraseven-day“coolingoff” period, whereby the consumer, who had the benefit of more informed considerationmaycancelthe agreement.

In Clause 13 of the Bill, provides for a buyer who cancels an agreement to recover any monies paid under that agreement, subject to a restocking fee charged by a seller to a maximum of 10 percent. Clause 14 makes provision for a buyer who has two or more agreements with any seller,toapportionpayments between or amongst the agreements.

“This is especially useful where a buyer may experience some temporary difficulty in meeting payments. Conceivably, he or she could avoid default

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond

c o m p l e t e l y o n o n e agreement while making partial payment on the others,”shesaid.

In addition, Clause 15 makes certain arrangements in respect of agreements concerning vehicles This Clause requires the Guyana Revenue Authority to make an annotation on the registration of a Vehicle indicating that the said vehicleisthesubjectofahire purchase agreement This

annotation would put a potentialbuyeronnoticethat there is an encumbrance on thevehicle.

T h e c u l t u r e o f repossessing items from consumers by sellers will be discontinued as Clause 29 will prohibit the seller from repossessing goods without first approaching the court and obtaining an order if 70 percent or more of the purchasepricehasbeenpaid. In the instance whereby less than 70 percent of the purchasepricehasbeenpaid, the seller is obliged to give 21 days' notice of intent to repossesstheitems.Thiswill allow the buyer to cure the breach. The Hire Purchase was supported by, Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton and Member of Parliament Sanjeev Datadin. The Bill received support from the m e m b e r s o f t h e A Partnership for National Unity +Alliance For Change party

Political activist, Veerasammy Ramayya

Exxon audit: Professor Haynes sets the record straight OP:ED

By GHK Lall

I confess to have a sympathetic spot for

Professor Floyd Haynes. I recallthatancientwisdom:be careful what is wished for, whichthisGuyaneseofmany hats: lecturer, auditor, record straightener, and all around committedGuyanesehelperhas seen come to pass in his case. Professor Haynes has been given a basket to collect watertobatheaduck.

Hischallengeistolocate some source of water, as well astheduck,bothofwhichare not cooperating; meanwhile, when he does find a well, the already leaky basket quickly pours out its cleansing liquids.

This audit task is more than Hercules sanitizing the stables, it is of that frail and tortured fellow, Sisyphus, doing his best with his uphill rollofaboulder,onlyforitto fall right back on him. I am genuinely sorry for my brother,ProfessorHaynes.

In true professorial style, the auditor of vintage minting, set about setting the record straight, and setting critical and ignorant Guyanese straight in the

process. It is for US$7.3 billion, and not US$9 billion.

If Guyanese can't get something as simple as that right,thentheyarelost.

I am grateful that this goodlyGuyanesewasgentle, and not rail about Exxon was right to strangle us before, and now string us along. Next, to keep his side of the bargain,hemadesurethatthe world knows that the US$7.3 billion audit project is not a forensic audit. Fraud and 'gotcha' duly recognized, then why are we paying this man and his people over GY$150 million in real money?

Then,Dr Hayneswentto town with a full head of s t e a m o v e r m e d i a s e n s a t i o n a l i s m a n d exaggerations (my words) about the kind of company Exxon is, and the type of noblemen that it has for headhunters and spear carriers in Dark Ages countries,suchasGuyana. A kind and gentle part of me conveys that Guyanese are getting their money's worth from Professor Haynes, and this is considering his media appearances and public

utterancesonly

I must say something, just so that the no n a y s a y e r s a n d deliberately uncritical amongst us don't get the wrong idea. I, for one, do not wish for the Floyd Haynes commanded audit team ever engage in a n y w i t c h h u n t whatsoever in its review process.

Foremphasis:nowitchhunts. Now, there challenge for me; for all Guyanese for that matter, including those who look on Messrs.

Woods and Routledge as their blood brothers, most trusted of best friends ExxonMobil has engaged in what, by any means, measure, method, and magic can only be concluded to be witchery, sorcery, and even necromancy in the deviltry that is that ugly, beastly oil pact with Guyana. Though the learned professor should need no education from the likes of me, I write on his chalkboard this little truth: wherethereissmoke,thereis fire. Incidentally, that is

written in stone, and in permanent and non-erasable ink.

It was the PPP in opposition,ingovernment,in manifesto, in media moments, in the majesty of the National Assembly-that said it is an incendiary contract that burns this country up. Nobody should need a fire stick to see the men with hoods on, who burnedthatcontractCrosson Guyana's lawn, that of every Guyanese,whethertheyhave abladeofgrassornotintheir space.

The 2016 contract was witchery and sorcery Now

because of that dark start, I assert, I contend, I insist that therearewitchesaround,for he contract is their handiwork, their witches brew

Surely, Professor Haynes, President Ali, and the Most Hon Vice President will not imprison me! They are so many witches that Professor Haynes should befallingoverthem,thatis, he was really looking and the alert (reviewing) for thoseevilcreaturesthathaunt this dismal land. Instead of being engaged in that, Dr Haynes rushes forth, and tangles his feet, garbles his words intended to soothe, that Exxon is on the up and up, a corporate giant in the realms of ethics and clean business practices. I suggest he sells that line to the US Marines.

Since when has Exxon been this paragon of virtue?

Since when has Exxon let a penny, a measly Guyana dollar, go to waste? As asides, Exxon charged us for cricket attire with its name of it, was sneakily recovering therobberyofaroyaltythatit

was sharing with us. Since when has Exxon transformed into a bastion of compassion, and its ruthless people converted to sainthood? It is my turn to do the lecturing. To Professor, doctor, auditor Haynes, I say this Sir: US$7.3 billion presents a spectacular range of possibilities that is enough to empty the Bank of Guyana andBankofNewYork.

What Exxon did with spreadsheets, the Pentagon and MIT would have been proud to own Those spreadsheets seem bigger than the 26,800 kilometers that Guyana gave to it to roam and dream. I recall mighty IBM delivering a truckloadofdocumentsinthe U.S., pursuant to a judge's order, with the objective of tricking, trapping, and tying up the adjudicatory process. What IBM did in America, Exxon is doing in Guyana, butbeingallowedtogetaway with it. Professor Haynes reported for duty with this audit farce. He must go through the motions I congratulate him on doing verywell.

From page 16 repairsisbuilding'A'.

She shared that Grades One, Two and Five students are usually housed in that building and they are the ones seriously affected Henry explained that at the engagement with the Ministry officials it was decided to have building 'A' closed until it is fully repaired. In the meantime, the students who usually occupy that building will be r e l o c a t e d t o o t h e r classrooms in the other two buildings and that a shift systemwillbeputinplace.

Region'sEducationOffice.

She mentioned that for months, the Headmistress of theschoolwouldwriteinher monthly reports to the RDC thattheschoolisindireneed ofrepairs.

According to Henry, what she learnt was that there is a $19.5 million allocation for the repair of the school, which the RDC promised to use to do the necessary renovation, but to datenothingwasdone.

Linden man nabbed with 75 rounds of ammo, ganja

A26-year-oldWisroc,Lindenmanwas on Wednesday arrested for being in possession of 75 rounds of .32mm live ammunitionand168gramsofmarijuanaat LookoutMountain,RegionEight.

According to police, the man who resides at 111 Miles, Wisroc, Linden was apprehended during a patrol at Mango LandingArea at about 17:20h Wednesday after he was seen with a bulky haversack while riding a Honda XR motorcycle with nofrontlicenceplate.

The man upon seeing police rode his motorcycle in a different direction, speeding away Uponseeingthis,thepolicegavechaseto the man who was intercepted in the vicinity of LookoutMountain.

The ranks searched the haversack and found 75 rounds of ammunition and a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis.

The man was arrested and taken to the Mahdia Police Station where he remains in custody

Thechairpersonhadalso told this publication that prior to the protest, a PTA meeting was held with parents and they raised concerns about the school. Flowingfromthediscussion at the meeting, they decided to protest in front of the

“We have some major issues there, where there is major overcrowding of the school, we have some children admitted to register and they cannot attend school because the school doesn't have space for them.

Another issue is that the building is a very, very old building – the floors are rotten, we have a serious heat problem that resulted

because the building does not have ceiling and there is no proper ventilation,” she explained.

Henry added that just before schools reopened earlier this month, some minor repairs were done to the building by the RDC. This, she said, was done because the school's officials had planned not to open the school if the issues werenotfixed.

Kaieteur News was told recently by an official of the school that while they are waitingforthebuildingtobe rehabilitated, students are also accommodated in army tents.

They are hoping to see works on the building be executed soon because with the current rainy season, when it rains it affects the students that are under the tents.

The ammunition and marijuana found by police

Man who spent nine years on remand sues State for $3M

Raymond Jones, the Micobie Village, Potaro, Region Eight man who spent nine years on remand for allegedly killing Gary Joseph without a trial has sued the Statefor$3M.

Jones, 58, was on remand for the alleged fatally shooting Joseph with an 'arrow and bow' on December 26, 2012, at Micobie Village. He was freed by Justice SandilKissooninJuly2022.

According to the lawsuit filed by attorney Dennis Jawan Paul, on behalf of Jones, and seen by this publication, Jones is seeking three declarations and $3M in compensation.

Joneswantsthecourttodeclare that the nine years he spent on remand at the Camp Street and Lusignan Prisons without a trial,

after he was charged with murder was in contravention o fundamental rights guara under Article 144 (1) of Constitution of the Co operative Republic of Guyana.

Jones also wants the court to declare that the time he spent on remand withoutatrial,inparticular the circumstances of such imprisonment, was in contravention of his f u n d a m e n t a l r i g h t guaranteed underArticle 141 the Constitution of the operativeRepublicofGuyana.

Further, Jones is seeking $1M fortheviolationofhisfundamental right of protection of law guaranteed underArticle 144 (1) of the Constitution of the Co

Raymond Jones (News Room photo)

r a tive Republic of Guyana; $1M for the inhumane and degrading

he endured during his incarceration and $1M for being and housed in prison in ful and deplorable conditions for in excess ofnineyears.

Kaieteur News had reported that the Director of Public Prosecutions' (DPP) Chambers had issued a statement saying that Jones was never indicted.

However, Jones was freedbyJusticeKissoonin Demerara High Court on 15, 2022. Justice Kissoon hisconstitutionalrightto a free trial within a reasonable time wasbreachedbytheState.

It was reported that Jones was charged and committed to stand

trial in 2014 following a preliminary inquiry (PI) at the Magistracylevel.

In 2015, when DPP, Shalimar Ali Hack, SC, received the depositions in the case, she remitted the matter back to the M a g i s t r a t e t o c o r r e c t 'irregularities'.

The DPP's Chambers in its statement noted that additional evidence was requested in 2015, October 2020 and in January 2021, but that evidence was never provided, and resulted in the DPP not being able to favour an indictment. An indictment is a formal, written accusation of a crimethatispresentedtoacourtfor theprosecutionofanaccused.

The Attorney General of Guyana is the respondent in the lawsuit.

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Carpenters, masons & labourers required. Call: 645-9805.

Bar girls needed to work in the Interior, ages 20-30 years. Call: 687-7638/ 6913942.

Able-bodiedPorterneeded. Ages between 18-25 years, $4,000 per day. Call: 2239677.

LiveinCook,mustknowto cook Indian dishes, 3040yrs. Weekly waitress for Ogle area, $22000 weekly Call:610-3974.

Urgently need one female cook/ kitchen attendant for theInterior.Call:689-4461/ 662-6254formoreinfo.

Two porters and 1 experiencecookthatspecializein cooking curry, fried rice, chowmein, etc. Contact: 231-6591/648-8279.

One sales person needed at Stabroek, Salary- 8-4:30 $75,000.Goodcustomerservicerequired,call:669-9258.

VACANCY

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NISbenefitcomplaintsclimb toover1000annually-Report

The National Insurance Scheme (NIS) receives over 1000 complaints annually from beneficiaries, a 2020 report tabled in the National Assembly on Wednesday said.

The report, said that over 1000 complaints are presented to the Appeal Tribunal for processing each year. Provisionwasmadefor the establishment of the Appeals Tribunal under Sections 60, 61 and 62 of the National Insurance Act Chapter32:01forthepurpose of receiving, processing, hearing and determining appealsfrompersonswhoare not satisfied with any decision of the National Insurance Board.

appeal, Old Age Benefit accounted for approximately 67 percent, Sickness Benefit accounted for approximately 25 percent, and Survivors Benefit accounted for approximately 4 percent and Maternity Benefit approximately 3 percent injury,funeral,invalidityand disablement benefits accounted for the remaining 1percent.Thereportsaidthat the appeal tribunal adjudicated on 68 of the complaints submitted, of which five were allowed, 22 were disallowed and 41 were adjourned. Additionally, the General Manager reviewed andallowed510appeals

recognized this is an issue that required very urgent attention.” Illustrating the urgent attention needed, he said, was the thousands of outstanding claims which have been a cause for frustrations for citizens who contribute to the insurance scheme.And as such, he said the body has been zeroing in ontheseunresolvedclaimsto reduce the backlog.

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The complaints are related to claims for benefits and/or other matters under the said body and are not under the control of the National Insurance Board or any other state agency or departmentofGovernment.

The Tribunal operates with complete independence and is funded by monies approved by Parliament through the Appropriation Act. For the year 2000, the document said there were 2,432complaintswerelodged beforetheappealtribunal.Of this total, 1603 complaints were brought forward from the previous year

Of the complaints for

Attheendoftheyear,the reportsaidtherewereatleast 1,837appealsoutstanding. The report is being released even as thenewBoardofDirectorsofthe NationalInsuranceScheme(NIS) announced efforts to tackle a backlog and resolve issues relatedtotheclaimsofcitizens. Sofar,the11,000claimsfrom citizens have been resolved and efforts are underway to resolve the outstanding claims.SeniorMinisterwithin the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance,Dr AshniSingh,had announced that outreaches are part of the government’s efforts to address a large stock of inherited challenges withtheNIS.Hesaid,“When wecameintogovernment,we

Importantly, too, he said that there has been a significant challenge with pensioners’ life certificates not being processed in a timely manner These life certificatesenablepensioners toreceivetheirpensionsums fromNISbyprovingthatthey have not died.

“If you submit your life certificate and it’s not processedinatimelymanner, you would be unable to get your pension and you might even drop out of the pension roll. On average in each pension cycle, you would have about 3,000 life certificates that were not processedinatimelymanner and this would result in a pensioner paying their pension late or a pension dropping off the pensioner’s roll,”helamented.

But,withconcertedeffort placed on eliminating such challenges, Dr. Singh said that the numbers can be reducedsignificantly

GNBS opens new sub-office...

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Brickdam property for 70 staff with parking (8000 sq ft)Brickdambottomflat1000 sqft.Contact:Ray'sRealty: 627-9685.

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Repair & install fridge, freezer, washer & dryer, AC units, stove, etc. Whatsapp/Call:637-4927, 654-9511or683-8734.

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From page 18 other sub-districts in the Region. The opening ceremony was also attended by Regional Chairman, Brentnol Ashley, Regional Education Officer Elly Peterkin, Post Master Rainsford Smith, RepresentativeoftheGuyana Water Incorporated Samuel Drepaul, Regional Commander Senior Superintendent Himnauth Sawh and representatives of the Guyana Defence Force among others.

The Mabaruma Office is the tenth sub-office opened bytheGNBSinadministrative regions across the country With support from the Government, the GNBS has successfully established offices in Anna Regina

(Region Two), Vreed-enHoop (Region Three), Fort Wellington (Region Five), New Amsterdam and Corriverton (Region Six), Bartica (Region Seven), Mahdia(RegionEight),Lethem (Region Nine) and now in Mabaruma, (Region One). WhileinMabaruma,thevisiting GNBS Team also held several meetings with stakeholders including the Mabaruma TownCouncil,thepolice,the RegionalAdministration,and the Mabaruma Chamber of Commerce and Industry to discuss mutual concerns and areasforcollaboration.

Stakeholders needing to contacttheGNBSMabaruma Officecancall:+592-690-8032 to speak with Inspector, Jonathan Peters stationed in town.

The National Insurance Scheme’s (NIS), headquarters on Brickdam, Georgetown

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Region 10 elects Mark Goring as new Vice Chairman

A Partnership for

National Unity (APNU) + Alliance For Change (AFC) Region 10 Councillor Mark Goring was on Thursday elected as the new Regional Vice Chairman of that the Upper Demerara – Berbice Region.

His appointment came 18 months after former Vice Chairman Douglas Gittens, died and several months of disagreement between the Central Executive of the AFC and the Regional Council.

GittensdiedinJune2021 after being diagnosed with COVID-19.

Goring,whoisamember of the AFC was not supported by the AFC leadership for the position despite being recommended by the Regional Council. The AFC had identified Coretta Braithwaite for the post.

However, at Thursday's Statutory Meeting, Goring w a s n o m i n a t e d b y Councillor Michelle Daniels and seconded by Councillor Hugh Stephens. He was the lone person nominated for thepost.

G o r i n g r e c e i v e d resounding support from all the Councillors barring Braithwaite who said, “I abstain,infact,Iobject.”

Meanwhile, Goring thanked the Councillors for supporting and placing their faithinhim.

“By your vote, you have demonstrated that you have the confidence in my leadership and abilities to executemyduties.

I also wish thank the most honourable Rafael Trotman, my mentor for introducing me to what it really means to be a politician, that our job as a politicianistobeaservantto the people we represent,” he said.

Linden Hospital staffed with doctors despite recent resignations and transfers

D e s p i t e t h e reportedly high turnover of staff at the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony said that the hospital is equipped with doctors and specialists to cater to the residentsthere.

- Health Minister

staffed with nurses and nursingassistants.

“LHC has 38 doctors at the Linden Hospital, 25 of them are government medicalofficersandwehave 13 specialists, so all the specialties at the hospital, surgical, obstetrics, Gynecology, medicine, pediatrics, all are adequately covered,” Dr Anthony said in response to questions posed by Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Jermaine Figueira about recent resignations and transfers.

It is unclear if the hospital is satisfactorily

st Figueira, at the 51 Sitting of the National A s s e m b l y h e l d o n Wednesday, questioned Government's response to the number of resignations and transfers of doctors, registered nurses and nursing assistants from the hospital between June 2020 andAugust2022.

Dr Anthony disclosed that in 2020, one doctor and 22 registered nurses resigned. He said that in 2021, three doctors and 35 registered nurses resigned. This year, the Minister said that while no doctors resigned, 16 nurses and five nursingassistantsresigned.

The Minister of Health told the House that between

the years 2016-2019, 34 d o c t o r s w e r e transferred, while 18 registered nurses and one nursing assistant were transferred He explained that during that period, some of the doctors left the hospital to pursue their s t u d i e s t o b e c o m e specialists.

“The doctors who were transferred we have doctors who would have served as government medical officers that wanted to get better qualifications and as you know, we have a post graduate programme, between the University of Guyana, Georgetown Hospital and the Ministry where we have 14 different specialties that we offer, so manyofthesedoctorswould have come from Linden to join those programmes,” Dr Anthonysaid.

will be responsible for the Sub Region Two District which includes Ituni, Kwakwani and the villages intheUpper-BerbiceRiver.

He is expected to take residenceinKwakwaniinan effort to provide better representation for the outlying communities. “The taskathandishuge,butwith w i s d o m , p a t i e n c e , understanding and hard work, I will execute my duties without fear or favour in serving the people of Region 10 I intend to p r o v i d e m a x i m u m representation to the people of Ituni, Kwakwani and all the villages along the Berbice River within the boundariesofRegion10,”he said.

Further, Goring opined that regional politics should be local and autonomy should be given to the local organs.

Meanwhile, the simple ceremony was attended by severalOppositionMembers of Parliament (MP) including Jermaine Figueira who said he is pleased with Goring'sappointment.

“Allpoliticsarelocaland the locals made a decision that I believe was prudent and in the best interest of the peopleintheRegion10.

The leadership of the AFC who supported their candidatearenotdomicilein the Region so it can be concludedthattheirdecision was influenced from a bird eyeview

We are happy with the election of Mr Goring and I believe he will continue to serve the region in an exemplarymanner.”

The AFC had threatened that there would be consequences if Goring was sworn in against the wishes oftheexecutive.

U.Sterritorygoesafter Exxon,othersover climate-changecollusion

(Reuters) - Puerto Rican municipalities have filed a lawsuit in federal court saying ExxonMobil Corp, Shell Plc, Chevron Corp and others colluded to publicly downplay the risks of their fossil fuel products on climate change and are financially responsible for d a m a g e s f r o m t h e devastating 2017 hurricane season, which was made worsebyglobalwarming.

The group of 16 municipalities filed what theycalledafirst-of-its-kind lawsuit last week against about a dozen fossil fuel companies and others. The towns say the companies coordinated a multibilliondollar "fraudulent marketing scheme" to convince consumers that fossil fuel products do not alter the climate.

That campaign ran contrary to the companies' own studies showing their products accelerate climate change, resulting in more deadly storms, the lawsuit said.

The municipalities said the companies outlined a plan of deception in a joint memo that took aim at international climate negotiations in the 1990s. The coordinated deception spanning decades violates U S racketeering and

antitrust laws among others, thesuitclaims.

"Puerto Rico was hit by the perfect storm and is the ultimate victim of global warming," said Marc Grossman, a partner at Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, a firm r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e municipalities, in a statement.

ShellspokespersonAnna Aratasaidinastatementthat addressing climate change requires a “society wide” approach, and the company doesn't believe the courtroom is the right venue toaddresstheissue.

Exxon spokesperson Casey Norton said that legal proceedings like this “waste millions of dollars of taxpayer money and do nothing to advance meaningful actions that reduce the risks of climate change.”

Theodore Boutrous of GibsonDunnandCrutcher,a counsel for Chevron, said the "lawsuit is a baseless distraction from the serious challenge of global climate change, not an attempt to findaneffectivesolution."

The 2017 Atlantic hurricane season, featuring six major hurricanes and more than a dozen named storms, caused at least $294 billion worth of damages in

the U.S. territory, according to the lawsuit. Hurricanes Irma and Maria contributed to an estimated 4,600 deaths and the failure of critical infrastructure in Puerto Rico, the municipalities said.

The suit claims the oil companies should pay for the damage from the storms, which the municipalities said was made worse by climate change, including l o s t e d u c a t i o n a n d healthcare opportunities and tourismrevenue.

Dozensofmunicipalities across the United States have sued oil companies over climate-change-related damages and adaptation costs, mostly in state court. Those suits have been delayed amid numerous jurisdictionalbattles,andthe Supreme Court has been asked to weigh in on where thosecasesbelong.

The case is The Municipalities of Bayamon etal.v.ExxonMobilCorp.et al.,theUnitedStatesDistrict Court for the District of Puerto Rico, case No. 3:22cv-01550.

For the municipalities: Marc Grossman, Melissa Sims, and Vicki Maniatis of Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman. For the oil companies: Not immediatelyavailable.

The newly appointed Regional Vice Chairman

Vice Chairman Mark Goring takes the Oath of Office alongside Regional Executive Officer, Dwight John

Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony addressing the House on the question of the resignation at the Linden Hospital Complex.

LGBTQ community can visit Qatar, but don’t try to change us – minister

BERLIN, (Reuters)Members of the LGBTQ community can go to the World Cup in Qatar but the West cannot “dictate” to Qataris what they should believe, Qatar’s energy ministertoldGermany’sBild newspaper

Qatar’s relations with Germany have been choppy oflate.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser sported the “OneLove” armband at the

nationalteam’smatchagainst Japan last week and has criticised Qatar’s human rights,butthisweekGermany sealed a deal to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) fromQatar “If they want to visit Qatar, we have no problem with it,” Minister of State for Energy Affairs Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi said of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, speakingtoBildincomments

published on Wednesday

But he said the West wants to “dictate what it wants” to Qatar, where homosexualityisillegal.

“Ifyouwanttochangeme sothatIwillsaythatIbelieve in LGBTQ, that my family should be LGBTQ, that I accept LGBTQ in my country, that I change my laws and the Islamic laws in order to satisfy the West –then this is not acceptable,” he added.

Humble Frappart...

Friday December 02, 2022

ARIES (Mar.21–Apr.19)

Profligate spending over the past week or two may have you feeling less confidentaboutyourmoneysituation today, Aries. Perhaps you've lent some money to a friend and you doubt their ability to repay

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

Your ambition and will to succeed may be at war with your feelings today, Taurus. Perhaps you've been working so hard that you aren't paying enough attention.

GEMINI(May21–June20)

Today, Gemini, you might uncharacteristically decide to sequester yourself away from the world. Perhaps you're tired or feeling a bit under the weather and only wishtokickbackandreada good book.

CANCER(June21–July22)

A quarrel over money could interfere with a friendship today, Cancer. Perhaps someonehasn'trepaidaloan and the lender now needs it.

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

Spiritual and metaphysical studies may take up a lot of your time today, Leo. You might want to dig into the world'smajorreligionsortry to make it through works.

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)

You might long for a vacation today, Virgo, and you could toy with the idea of a future journey by air Your mind may turn to spiritual places such as India, Egypt, Israel, or Ireland as you wonder how it would.

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

Someone you've known for alongtimemaymoveaway or otherwise vanish from your life. He or she may movetoadistantstate.You'll probably stay in touch by phone or email, but it will never be the same.

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov.21)

Theremightbesometension between you and your romantic partner that might have you feeling a bit depressed. The key to patching this up is honest communication.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

Todayyourbiorhythmsmay bealittlelow,Sagittarius,so youaren'tlikelytobefeeling very sociable. You're more likely to want to bury your nose in your projects instead of being your usual outgoing self.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

Anelectrifyingattractionto someone you may have just met could cause your mind todwellonsexandromance today,Capricorn.Ifyoucan, set up a romantic evening with a love partner

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

Family members could be upsetoverdifferentfrustratingeventsintheirlives,and thesemoodscouldspillover to you. Today it would be best to leave them alone to work things out.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20) Unguarded words on the part of a younger person might lead to upset. If the words are directed at you, don't take them seriously. The person doesn't know any better

From page 30 at the men’s World Cup for the first time) and it’s a step forward for our rights, in allowing (women) to occupy more positions that are given in priority to men,” Dominique Edeyer, cafe owner in Herblay,toldReuters.

Calve added: “I have a young girl who is around 15 or 16, who has started to referee. She has one goal, doing what Steph does. She really wants to do the same thing.”

The FIFA World Cup logo is pictured on the Corniche Promenade ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. (REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch)

WestIndiesWomennamesquadfor1stand2ndCGUnited ODIsagainstEngland

ST JOHN’S, Antigua –

The Cricket West Indies (CWI) Selection Panel yesterday named a 14 member squad for the first and second matches in the CG United One Day International (ODI) series against England Women startingon4Decemberatthe Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua. West Indies and England will contest three day/night CG United ODIs

starting at 2pm local time/1pm Jamaica time. All three CG United ODIs in the series will be played at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium (SVRS) in Antigua on 4, 6 and 9 December as part of t h e I C C Wo m e n ’ s Championship.

Lead Selector Ann Browne John said: “The return of Shemaine Campbelle and Kycia Knight to the ODI squad

after missing the last series due to injury will bolster the team in the absence of the experienced Stafanie Taylor who is still recuperating from injury sustained during September’s series against New Zealand The CG United ODI matches are vital as points earned will take us a step closer towards automatic qualification for the next ICC Women’s World Cup in 2025.” She

added: “This series against England comes on the heels of the New Zealand tour to the West Indies and continues our important preparation for the upcoming Tri Series against India and South Africa and theICCWomen’sT20World Cup to follow It gives the players a great opportunity to develop and push for final selection for the Tri Series andWorldCup.”

The CG United ODI Series is the second opportunity for the West Indies to gain points in the I C C W o m e n ’ s Championship (IWC). The top five teams in the IWC will automatically book a berth for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in 2025. The remaining five teams in the IWC will have to go through the ICC Women’s CricketWorldCupQualifier The T20I Series which follows provides both teams with important preparation for the 2023 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa which begins on 10 February 2023, with West Indies and England drawn to playeachotherinGroup2of thetournament.

Tickets are available in advance for the first two CG United ODIs and the first T20I in Antigua from the Windies Tickets service, presented by Mastercardtickets windiestickets com T i c k e t s a r e j u s t US$9/EC$25. The third CG United ODI in Antigua will be free for local and visiting fans as it falls on V.C. Bird Day, a national holiday in Antigua and is being s u p p o r t e d b y t h e Government of Antigua and Barbuda. Fans who purchase tickets will receive their tickets securely into their online Windies Tickets account to save to their mobiledeviceorprintoutfor presentation at the stadium, avoidingtheneedtoqueueat ortraveltothestadiumticket offices. Ticket offices at each venue will be open on thedayofeachmatch.

All matches will be available to view in theWest Indies live on the Windies Cricket YouTube channel as well as on the ESPN Play app. Fans in the UK will be able to view on BT Sport

with fans based in the USA abletowatchliveonESPN+.

FULLSQUAD

(1st and 2nd CG United ODIs)

Hayley Matthews (Captain)

·Shakera Selman (Vice Captain)

·AaliyahAlleyne

·ShemaineCampbelle

·AfyFletcher

·CherryAnnFraser

·ShabikaGajnabi

·ShenetaGrimmond

·ChinelleHenry

·KyciaKnight

·ChedeanNation

·KarishmaRamharack

·KaysiaSchultz

·RashadaWilliams

F U L L M A T C H

SCHEDULE CG United ODI Series Sunday, 4 December: 1st CG United ODI at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua 2pm Eastern Caribbean/1pm Jamaica

·Tuesday, 6 December: 2nd CG United ODI at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua 2pm Eastern Caribbean/1pmJamaica

·Friday,9December:3rd CG United ODI at SirVivian Richards Stadium, Antigua 2pm Eastern Caribbean/1pm JamaicaT20ISeries

·Sunday, 11 December: 1stT20I,SirVivianRichards Stadium,Antigua, 6pm Eastern Caribbean/5pm Jamaica

Wednesday, 14 December: 2nd T20I, Kensington Oval, Barbados, 6pm Eastern Caribbean/5pm Jamaica

·Saturday,17December:3rd T20I, Kensington Oval, Barbados, 6pm Eastern Caribbean/5pm Jamaica ·Sunday , 18 December: 4th T20I, Kensington Oval, Barbados, 6pm Eastern Caribbean/5pm Jamaica Thursday, 22 December: 5th T20I, Kensington Oval, Barbados, 6pm Eastern Caribbean/5pmJamaica

Kycia Knight (ICC cricket.com),

KyciaKnightandShemaineCampbellereturn

BCB secures sponsorship for historic U11 cricket tourney from Moore and Son Business Est.

The Berbice Cricket Board continues to break new grounds as it pushes ahead with its youth development programme across the county The BCB has obtained sponsorship for a historic under11 cricket tournament for teams in the ancient county The board usually hosts tournaments at the under13, 15, 17, 19 and 21 and this new tournament would widen the age group bracelet for the county as part of a comprehensive developmentalprogramme.

BCB President Hilbert Foster stated that the under11 tournament would serve as a feeder for the under13 tournament and would assist the coaching staff of the vibrant cricket board to identify players at a young age for further coachingtocorrecttechnical problems. Noting that the tree can only be straightened at a young age, he expressed confidence that the under11 tournament would improve theyouthlevelinBerbice.

The BCB President is

urging clubs across the county to go into primary schools and urge students to join their membership. The BCBistargetingaminimum of twelve teams for the tournament which would be played using the taped flannelball.

The cut-off date for the tournament would be the 1st of January, 2012 and players would be expected to have an eighty percent attendance rateinprimaryschool.

One of the plans of the BCB is to use coaches as umpires in some matches to allow them to watch the youths close up. The BCB currently has nineteen coaches/trainers attached to itsoutreachprogrammewith the assistance of Minister of Local Government Nigel Dharmlall.Clubswouldalso be encouraged to play at least one female in an effort to unearth new female talents.

Mr Moore, who plays for the D’Edwards Cricket Club at the second division level, stated that he was

delighted to be part of history and he was very happy with the massive development taking place in the ancient county’s cricket. He pledged his continued support and committed himself and business to not only renewing his under11 sponsorship but also to sponsor a second division tournament for teams in the We s t B e r b i c e s u b association.

Chairman of the BCB Competition Committee Leslie Solomon disclosed that his committee would strive to organise the tournament in a professional manner and urged clubs to register by the 15th of December

He also stated that 2023 would see a lot of cricket being played with special emphasisbeingplayedatthe inter club youth along with cricketattheintersecondary and primary school levels. This would be in addition to a massive coaching programme at both school levels.

GOA elections likely before end of 2022

By Rawle Toney

The highly anticipated G u y a n a O l y m p i c s A s s o c i a t i o n ( G O A ) electionsarelikelytohappen before the end of this year, a source told Kaieteur News yesterday

According to the source, theGOA’sAuditedFinancial S t a t e m e n t i s n e a r completion, after which eligible members and affiliates will receive the constituted21-daynotice.

“It will be a Christmas gift,” the source said, pointing out that with a busy 2023 ahead, taking several notable regional and continental championships coming up, the GOA will need to focus on ensuring that the country is wellrepresented.

It is one of the most projected elections of the GOAsince, for the first time in almost three decades the Association will have a new president. On June 17, 2022, the GOA’s General Council voted in favour of an

International Olympic C o m m i t t e e ( I O C ) recommendation in its new constitution for an age limit of 70 for severing members ofitsExecutiveCommittee.

The vote ultimately ended former Chief

Magistrate Kalam JumanYassin’stenureatthehelmof the GOA, position he has held since 1996. Yassin, 75,

was seeking another term in office. Meanwhile, there has been no announcement of a potential candidate for the GOA presidency Some prominent figures in local sports have spoken to KaieteurNewsofftherecord of their intentions, but all noted that in time, their case for presidency would be madepublic.

Mr. Rickey Moore hands over sponsorship to BCB Secretary Angela Haniff in the presence of executives Egdert Edwards and Leslie Solomon.

Morocco advance at World Cup after beating Canada 2-1

boosting draw against Croatia and then beat Belgium 2-0 for arguably its best result in international soccer Morocco has now won as many games at this World Cup as in all of its previous appearances at the tournament combined and is on course for its best performance at the tournament The North African country’s only major international soccer title came at the 1976 AfricanCupofNations.

against Aussies

DOHA, Qatar (AP) —

Morocco advanced to the last 16 at the World Cup for just the second time after clinging on for a 2-1 win overCanadayesterday.

The victory meant it finished top of Group F ahead of 2018 World Cup finalist Croatia and semifinalist Belgium Croatia went through in second and No. 2-ranked Belgium was surprisingly eliminated after their 0-0 draw The Moroccans’ only other trip past the group stagecamein1986.

HakimZiyechscoredfor Morocco in the fourth minute after a bad error by Canada goalkeeper Milan Borjan left the winger to shoot the ball into an empty

goal. Youssef En Nesyri addedasecondinthe23rd. It looked then like Morocco would overrun the Canadians.

But Nayef Aguerd’s own goal just before halftime made it 2-1 and lifted Canada enough for them to put pressure on Morocco in search of an equalizing goal for most of thesecondhalf.

C a n a d a c a m e agonizingly close when a header from captain Atiba Hutchinson, who came on as a second half substitute, bounced off the crossbar and onto the goal line Canada, which will co host the next World Cup in 2026 with the United States and Mexico, had already been

eliminated before the M o r o c c o g a m e . I t ultimately lost all three of its games in Qatar, matching its three defeats at its only other World Cup appearancein1986

The Moroccan squad players were already jumping up and down in a huddle near the dugout well before the final whistle and coach Walid Regragui was smiling broadly and gesturing with his arms for themtokeepcelebrating.

Moroccohassweptaside doubts that appointing Regragui less than three months before the World Cup would undermine its chances of reaching the last 16. Morocco began its Qatar campaign with a morale-

A bad Canadian error gifted Morocco the opening goal at Al Thumama Stadium when Steven Vitoria’s back pass put goalkeeper Borjan under pressure But instead of clearing downfield, Borjan inexplicably side-footed the ballgentlyinthedirectionof Ziyech, who chipped it firsttime back over Borjan and intotheunguardedgoal.

For the second goal, Achraf Hakimi’s long ball dropped between Canada defenders Vitoria and Kamal Miller, and En Nesyri chased it down and fired past Borjan to put Moroccoincontrol.

Canada got one back when Sam Adekugbe’s cross deflected off the right foot of Aguerd and in via a n o t h e r t o u c h o f f goalkeeper Yassine Bounou’srightglove.

Bounou was back in goal for Morocco after missing the Belgium win when he fell ill minutes before kickoff and had to be replaced.

SportsMax - West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite insists he was not surprised by the determined, obdurate display of opening partner Tagenarine Chanderpaul, on his debut against Australia, onWednesday

Facing a mammoth 598 for 4 declared, the West Indies ended day 2 at 74 without loss after facing 25 overs. Chanderpaul, the 25year-old son of legendary West Indian batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, madeasolid47from73balls while Brathwaite himself made a more patient 18 from 79.

Chanderpaul was called intothesquadlastmonthasa replacement for previous opening batsman John Campbell, who is currently serving a doping violation

suspension. A match-up against top-ranked Australia certainly isn’t the easiest debutfortheyoungbatsman, his captain Brathwaite was, however,notworried.

“I wasn’t surprised. I’ve known him for a while. I’ve played against him and he has always had fight always takes his time to bat and bats f o r l o n g p e r i o d s , ” Brathwaite said at the end of thedaysplay

“Iknowheisafighter,so itisn’tsurprising. Ijustlook forward to a lot from him playing for West Indies. It was good to see but we need tocontinue,”headded.

Chanderpaul previously stood out for the team last week against the Prime Ministers XI where he recorded a century in the four-dayaffair

Morocco players celebrate by tossing the head coach Walid Regragui into the air at the end of the World Cup group F soccer match between Canada and Morocco at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha , Qatar, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Brathwaite not surprised by stubborn Chanderpaul effort

Tagenarine Chanderpaul took a painful blow during his innings. (Getty Images)

Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope and Harry Brook all made centuries as an electric and record-hungry England piled on the runs on day one of the first Test against Pakistan.

A virus in the tourist camp threatened to delay England’s first five day game on Pakistan soil since 2005 but by stumps it was Pakistan who were feeling sick at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium as the visitorsclosedon506-4.

Havingreached174-0by lunch, the most runs scored in the first session of a Test, Crawley reached three figures early after the restart having overturned an lbw decision on review a few ballsearlier

His hundred came off just 86 balls, the fastest for an England opener, while Duckett – who returned at the top of the order for his firstTestinsixyears–seized his opportunity to also reach threefigures.

A missed sweep off Zahid Mahmood (2 160) sent Duckett (107) packing lbw and Crawley (122) soon became debutant Haris Rauf’s (1 78) first Test victim.

Joe Root (23) fell cheaply after a swift halfcentury stand with Pope but that was Pakistan’s only real spellontopasthelatterpiled ontherunswithBrook.

Together, they made put on 176 for the fourth wicket as Pope (108) celebrated a third Test century prior to

falling leg before for Mohammad Ali’s (1 96) maidenTestscalp.

Brook (101no) went on to make his first Test ton as England became the first team to make 500 runs on dayoneofaTestinwhatwas a glorious display of what has become dubbed ‘Bazball’.

Japan beat Spain as both advance on dramatic night

Crawley and Duckett were the perfect foil on admittedly ideal conditions for scoring, the former driving to the covers at will, while the latter swept with impeccabletiming.

England have had welldocumented issues at the top of the order and Duckett, playing in just his fifth Test, laiddownabigmarkeronhis returntotheteam.

POPE AND BROOK GOFORTHEJUGULAR

Therewasaveryfleeting spell from Pakistan in the secondsessionbutallinallit wasadayoftoilforthehosts’ bowlingunit.

P o p e w a s f l u e n t throughout and Brook, who looks a star in the making, was rapid with his knock including six fours from as many balls off Saud Shakeel inthe68thover

B r o o k h a d t w o maximums and 14 fours. He will return to the crease with captain Ben Stokes (34no) onFriday

Scores: England 506 for 4(Crawley 122, Pope 108, Duckett107,Brook101*)vs Pakistan.

BBC Sport Japan staged another extraordinary World Cup comeback to r e a c h t h e l a s t 1 6 , overcoming a stunned Spain side who were fortunate to join them in the knockout stage.

In a tournament that has been full of shocks, this was perhaps the most dramatic night so far, with Spain left relying on the result of Germany’s game with Costa Ricaforthemtoprogress

All four teams had started the evening with a chance of progressing but

with Spain needing only a draw to qualify, they were not expected to need any favoursfromelsewhere.

La Roja were cruising at the break after Alvaro Morata headed home Cesar Azpilicueta’s cross from closerange,butJapanwould quickly turn the game - and the whole of Group E - on its head.The Samurai Blue sent on substitutes Ritsu Doan and Kaoru Mitoma at halftime and within six minutes of the restart they had both madeahugeimpact.

Doan equalised with a

fierce shot from the edge of the area and, only 142 seconds later, Mitomo retrieved Doan’s low cross and found Ao Tanaka to bundle home from close range

The goal was initially ruled out by the assistant referee who signalled Doan’scrosshadgoneoutof play, but the VideoAssistant Referee ruled Mitomo had reacheditintime.

Things got even worse for Spain when Costa Rica took a surprise lead over Germany moments later,

because at that stage they wereheadingout.

The big screens at Khalifa International Stadiumshowedtheupdated group table, to the disbelief of the Spain supporters, and pretty much everyone else heretoo.

Luis Enrique’s side were in big trouble, and were showing few signs of knowing how to rescue themselves, with only Germany’slaterallysending La Roja through as group runners up on goal difference.

Labuschagne and Smith reach double centuries as Australia leave West Indies a mountain to climb

Butopenersfightback SportsMax Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smithmadedoublecenturies asAustraliapiledontheruns against West Indies at Perth Stadium, achieving a feat last witnessed over a decade ago.

Not since Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke plundered double tons against India in January 2012 had any pair of batters made 200-plus scores in the same innings of a Test match.

This first Test saw Australia follow up their opening day dominance with more commanding batting to reach 598-4 on Thursday, before West Indiesralliedtoreach74-0at

But openers fight back

stumps, with debutant Tagenarine Chanderpaul closinginonahalf-century

Labuschagne had been 154no overnight, and Smith waswithhimon59,andthey went on to post 204 and 200no respectively, sharing inathird-wicketstandof251 runs. It was a second Test double century for Labuschagne, and a fourth forSmith.

Australia declared when Travis Head was dismissed on99,edgingthe95thballof hisinningsintohisstumpsto give West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite a second wicket, ending a 196-run alliancewithSmith.

In reply, Chanderpaul, son of West Indies great Shivnarine Chanderpaul,

powered to 47no as

Brathwaite battled to 18no, offering hope the tourists may be able to show sufficient defiance to still take something from this match, the first of two in the series.

SmithjoinsBradman

Smith’s century, which became a double, was his 29th ton in Tests, moving him level with the great Don Bradman on the all-time list. He and Bradman share fourthplaceamongAustralia century makers, behind Ricky Ponting (41), Steve Waugh (32) and Matthew Hayden(30).

Chanderpaul a chip off theoldblock

Facing the full assault of Australia’s pace attack,

Chanderpaul did not always look comfortable against Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, but he found a waytosurvivetotheclose.

Dad Shivnarine made 11,867 Test runs for West Indies, so Tagenarine is just 11,820 behind now More

relevantly, perhaps, Shivnarine made 62 in his first Test innings, against England in Georgetown in 1994. After this strong start, WestIndieswillhopehisson can go significantly past that scoreonFriday

Scores: West Indies 74 for 0 (Brathwaite 18*, Chanderpaul 47*) trail Australia 598 for 4 dec (Labuschagne 204, Smith 200*, Head 99) vs West Indiesby524runs

SportsMax Zak

C R AW L E Y A N D

DUCKETT SET THE TONE

There was a long delay for a VAR check before Mitouma’s goal for Japan was awarded. (EPA)

Crawley, Duckett, Pope and Brook all make centuries as record-hungry England seize control

Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley both made hundreds in a flying start for England. (AFP/Getty Images)

Harry Brook and Ben Stokes walk off after England scored 506 for 4 in the day. (Getty Images)

Brazil coach sends message of support to Pelé from World Cup

DOHA, Qatar (AP) Brazil coach Tite sent a message of support to Pele from the WorldCuponThursday

Pele was hospitalized Tuesday in Sao Paulo to regulate the medication in his fight against a colon tumor, his daughter Kely Nascimento said. She added that there was ‘’noemergency’’concerningher82-year-old father’s health. ‘’We all want to wish good health to Pele,’’ Tite said in Qatar a day before Brazil’s next match against Cameroon. Brazil, seeking its first World

Cup title in two decades, reached the round of 16 after two group matches. The team needsadrawagainstCameroontofinishfirst in Group G ‘’(Pele) is our biggest extraterrestrialrepresentative,’’Titejoked.

Pele was listed in stable condition after arrivingatthehospital‘’forareevaluationof the chemotherapeutic treatment of the tumor.’’ The hospital said the former great ‘’has full control of his vital functions’’and was not taken to intensive or semi-intensive careunitsfortreatment.

Humble Frappart completes refereeing journey at World Cup

PARIS, (Reuters) When Stephanie Frappart stepped onto the Al Bayt stadium grass yesterday, she became the first woman to referee a men’s World Cup game to complete a journey that started almost 30 years agointheoutskirtsofParis.

T h e 3 8 y e a r o l d Frenchwoman, who was overseeing the action in the finalGroupEgamebetween Germany and Costa Rica, played football between the age of 10 and 13 in Herblaysur-Seine before changing pathtobecomeareferee.

“I saw Steph run around the stadium, 12 kilometres, two or three times a week to be at the level she is at now onthefield,”PhilippeCalve, the former president of FC Herblay sur Seine, told Reuters in a café yesterday “Ifyouwanttorefereemen’s matches, you’d better be at yourbestonaphysicallevel. And she has done what she needstobephysicallyonthe top.” Frappart became the first woman to referee a French Ligue 1 match in 2019, and the first woman to

officiate at a men’s ChampionsLeaguematchin 2020. Last year, she became the first woman to take chargeofamen’sWorldCup qualifyingmatch.

“This was the last item onthelistofthingsshecould do, she has been beating every record from the beginning. She works hard. She had this goal of going to themen’sWorldCupandshe made it thanks to her qualities and her work,” Calve added. “We are very proud. I sent her a text yesterday, as usual, to tell her that she would be up for

itandshewillbe.”

Frappart has made regular donations to her former club and visits on a regularbasis.

“She stayed humble. She can chat with anyone without giving it too much thought, from the person she meetsinabar,tosomeoneon the street or just a kid,” Calve added. “She hasn’t changed Everyone who knowsherknowsthat.”

Frappart is the pride of thetown,andaninspiration.

“To me it’s a source of pride(thatawomanreferees

60thNationalSchools’Championships… District 10 commands the lead ahead of final day

- Morerecordstumble

Another show of glorious sunshine graced the Leonora Track and Field Facility as the penultimate day of the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) 60th N a t i o n a l S c h o o l s ’ Championship saw the defendingchampions,Upper Demerara/Kwakwani (District 10), maintain the lead when proceedings endedlastevening.

According to official results, District 10 are currently on 422.5 points, while West Demerara (District 3) is on 362 points insecond.

District 4, East Coast Demerara, sits in the third position with 309.5 points, D i s t r i c t 1 5 ( N e w Amsterdam/Canje) with 305 5 points are fourth, District 6 - Corentyne have amassed 266 points and District 2 (Essequibo Coast Pomeroon) in the sixth positionon249.5points.

I n t h e Te a c h e r s ’ championship, District 3 leads with 149 points, District 10 are second with 140 points, Districts 2 and seven (Bartica) are tied in

third with 114 points, District6arefifthwith108.5 points while District 1 (North West) occupy the sixth position with 104 points.

It was light day of events thatfeaturedthe200mfinals, 1500m finals and a majority of field events in both the teachers and students championships.

District three’s Keliza Smith set a new record in the Girls U-20 200m with a time of 24.58s, which eclipsed ToyanRaymond’soldrecord of 25 29s, set in 2017 Finishing second was Keijana Payne (27.89s) and Tyiesha Taylor (27.63s) was third. Smith was the only female to set a new record in the Girls Division of the 200m. District 11’s Simeon Solomon and Angus Lynch of West Coast Berbice both achieved record breaking runs in the Boys U-20 200m heats with 22.06s, to erase theoldbenchmarkof22.14s set byTitusWebster in 2017. However, in the final Solomon won with 22.36s while Lynch (22.96s) was second and Deliza Lyken

(23 28s) of East Coast Demerarafinishedthird.

Records continued to tumble in the 200m dash as District 10’s Omar James smashedwithunder-18Boys record with 21.59s, Malachi Austin of East Georgetown shattered the Boys U 16 record with 22.50s while Christoph Semple of West Demerara set a new Boys U12recordwith27.44s.

Earlier,theotherdistance that had the finals contested, the1500m,wereverykeenly fought battles that had a few interesting finishes while the others saw seasoned athletes competing in a lane of their own. However, up to press time, the official results for thiseventwerenotavailable.

District three’s Attoya Harvey and Odida Parkison swept the Under-20 Girls and Boys 1500m races, respectively The remainder ofresultswillbepublishedin alaterissue.

M e a n w h i l e , t h e

Championships are set to culminate today with the 400m finals and relays being among the most anticipated eventstorunoff.

Referee Stephanie Frappart talks to Germany’s Manuel Neuer before the the match. (REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach)

The future stars were impressive in the Girls U-8 150m Heats.

Odida Parkison (right) ensured the District three sweep in the 1500m U-20 category.

Brazilian Pele attends the 2018 soccer World Cup draw (AP Photo/ Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)

Brazil’s head coach Tite speaks during a press conference (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

Guyana to defend CBC title in February

By Rawle Toney

In 2018, behind a hotshot point guard and captain, Stanton Rose Jr, Guyana lifted the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championship after defeating Antigua and Barbuda 83 – 70 at the Anthony Nesty indoor facility in Suriname, Paramaribo.

The win for Guyana meant that the John Yates Trophy had returned to Guyana.

Yates, in 1981, pioneered the Caribbean Basketball Championship, with the inaugural tournament hosted at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Guyana had never won the title for the tournament, formerly known as the CARICOM Championships, until a team led by an 18year-old point guard from K w a k w a n i i n v a d e d Suriname, where the 2018 tournament was held, and won the trophy named after the man who fashioned the regionalshowpiece.

However, after five years of holding the trophy, Guyana will have to put the CBCtitleontheline.

Basketball’s global governing body, FIBA, released their calendar of activitiesfor2023andsetfor February is the CBC Championship.

There’s no host nation just yet for the tournament, president of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) Michael Singh told Kaieteur News, but he said the country will have to start making preparations. The defending champions, Singh said, will have to start training in January

The CBC tournament will act a gateway to the C o n f e d e r a c i ó n

Centroamericana de Baloncesto (COCABA) and FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023Qualifiers.

The team’s composition, trainingsquad,andcoachare unknown. Dating back to the tenure of Nigel Hinds and a trend that continued under Singh, Guyana has attended almost all the international competitions under FIBA at various levels within their regionandsub-region.

Sponsorship has been an area of contention for the GABF, and it will be interesting to see how they connect with corporate Guyana and Government for support.

While the women would’ve hoisted the title in 1996 when the tournament was hosted in Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana’s best placing in the Men’s tournament came in 1994 whentheeventwashostedin Georgetown and saw the team losing to Jamaica in the finals. The closest Guyana cametotheir1994featwasin 2000 when they finished thirdinBarbados.

Spearheaded then by Lugard Mohan, they brushed asideBelize87–67.

Rose was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament in Suriname for his sensational performances, which also include a tournament-high 41pointsperformancewhich came in Guyana’s 104 – 102 double overtime win against St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Rose, who totalled 106 points (third overall), led the tournament in steals, totalling 15 at an average of 2 5 per game, was third in points per game (17 7), third in assist per game, eighthinReboundspergame and was the fourth best efficient player He will go down in history as the

youngest (18 years old) to ever captain Guyana at the CBC Champion, and the first captain to bring Guyana their ‘elusive’ title

FLASHBACK! Travis Burnett (sitting) with (from left)Anthony Moe along with Stanton Rose, Travis Belgrave, Kevon Wiggins and Timothy Thompson pose for a photo with the CBC trophy in 2018.

and Smith reach double centuries as Australia leave West Indies a mountain to climb

District 10 commands the lead ahead of final day

Morocco advance at World Cup after beating Canada

Henry Samuel led the pack for the majority of the Boys U-18 1500m, which he won in blistering fashion.

Attoya Harvey was in a completely different class as she comfortably won the Girls U-20 1500m for District three.

Tagenarine Chanderpaul takes on the hook. (Getty Images and Cricket Australia)

Steven Smith consoles Travis Head after he was bowled for 99. (Getty Images)