Kaieteur News

Guyanese outraged over

Exxon’s misleading billboards

American oil giant, ExxonMobil has embarked on an aggressive public relations campaign in an effort to sell Guyanese a message that this country was receiving 52% of the profits from its oil resources in the Stabroek Block. But Guyanese are not buying it, with many taking to social media to express disgust at themessageonthebillboard.

Observers have said that Exxon’s public relations campaign issureproofthatthecompanywas under enormous pressure to renegotiatetheoildealandhasnow turned to propaganda to sell its message.

The issue of the billboard was first made public by Businessman and Publisher of the Kaieteur News,GlennLall,whodenounced ExxonMobil for the move. The company also indicated on the billboardthatGuyanahasreceived more than $280B since oil productionstartedherelate2019.

Speakingonthisissue,Lallsaid citizens need to know that the cost to erect the very billboard is being recoveredbyExxonMobilbasedon thelopsidedcontractitsignedwith the Guyana Government. He also

questionedwhetherthejobtobuild the billboard was done in Guyana oroverseas.

“ExxonMobil is spending millions, further shortening our share to build and erect huge billboards, to tell us the Guyanese people we are getting 52% out of the Stabroek Block,” Lall stated. He asked 52% of what? Not the

hammered locally for the lopsided contract it signed with the then Coalition Government, which offers this country a mere 2% royalty The deal is also fraught with a number of loopholes including the lack of ring-fencing provisionsamongotherthings.

Kaieteur News has been told that the oil company has erected

Glenn Lall questions whether job was done locally or overseas

wholeapple,but52%ofa¼ofthe totalrevenuemade. Headdedthat what Exxon should have been telling Guyanese on those huge billboards, is who is getting the ¾ of the apple plus the other half of thequarterapplewhichremains.“It is mind-boggling, that these guys can put up billboards staring us in our faces to mislead all of us and ourleaders,allofthem,aresilent!”

The company has been

four of the billboards in Berbice; twoinRegionThreeandoneonthe Soesdyke Linden Highway Anotherbillboardwasalsoerected attheCheddiJaganAirport.

African Activist and Businessman, Eric Phillips commentingonthebillboardwrote on his facebook page on Tuesday that he went to the CJIA Tuesday morning and “…was shocked at how barefaced this was.” Joining

the thread another person commented: “Why lie? Goes to show that they know the deals are crappy. Another Guyanese wrote: “Yet less than one million adults can’tbenefitfromamiserlymillion dollars that can’t give me a house foundation.”

Additionally, Satruhan Seerattan commenting under the story published by this newspaper wrote: “I think that this Government …really got Exxon doing a lot a nonsense and right now the PPP Government need to get out of power now before it too lateortheGuyanesepeoplewillbe sufferingmorewedonotneedPPP or PNC orAPNU orAFC they are all the same we need a new Leader”.

Adolphus Humble wrote: “Where does Exxon get the authority to do something like this inaSovereignState?Anybillboard they erect should be advising Guyanese how they can be gainfully employed within that company Our Government solely, must be the authority to inform its citizenry of the country’s benefits or losses. Since this is not actually the case we must wonder what is Exxon’s true role in this oil

News Publisher, Glenn Lall

industry It would appear as if Exxon, its partners and international players are the real owners of Guyana’s natural resources, not oil alone. In this modern day of technology we are well aware of and up to date with international conspiracy theories, and how they work. According to the saying ‘you can’t fool all the peopleallthetime‘.Guyaneselet’s facereality,weweresoldouttoour colonizers all over again. We are worth nothing to these Politicians even though we the people are the real government. Our government will not and cannot do anything to stop Exxon even though the oil contract can be changed. Ya’ll know why? Because there is anothersecretagreementthatnone of us can see, which ensures such. OuronlysolutionisforGuyanese

Kaieteur

US-billions at stake as shallow audit of ExxonM fails basic expectations -Opposition

The A Partnership for NationalUnity+AllianceFor Change (APNU+AFC) Opposition is arguing the need for a comprehensive audit to be conducted into theexpensesofAmericanoil giant, ExxonMobil as Guyana stands to lose billions of United States dollars.

The Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) that governs the Stabroek Block, in which Exxon is the key shareholder, allows for an audit or a review to be conducted of the monies the oil company spent to develop the resource. This process is usually done across the World by oil producing states to ensure they were not over charged for items and that they received the quantity they paidfor,amongotherthings.

On Tuesday, Economist Elson Low who is also the Opposition’s Spokesperson on oil and gas matters told Reporters at a Press Conference that there are morequestionsthananswers as it relates to the type of audit being conducted by VHEConsulting.

Lowsaidiftheteamhired will merely be verifying or checking the costs Exxon’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) for the years 2018, 2019 and 2020

then,“Thisraisesaquestion as to whether the cost themselves are being interrogated One of the major concerns that are being raised as Exxon looks to cost recover its expenses arewhetherthesecostshave beeninflated”.

The Economist said that the Government allowed the twoyeardeadline,inwhichit can conduct the audit, to elapse and therefore had to request an extension for this timeline from the oil company. This “was a national embarrassment” Low said, adding that this approach was taken only after public pressure from GuyaneseActivists.

Now that the review is finally underway, the Opposition believes that the audit is unlikely to meet “even the most basic expectations”, a folly that cannot be allowed to continue.

The Economist reasoned that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Administration must release the Terms of Reference for the audit so thatGuyanesecandetermine for themselves whether a thorough review is being paidfor

“Failuretoproperlyaudit Exxonisaderelictionofduty of the most heinous form Hundreds of billions of USdollars are at stake. Even

further, this nation cannot afford to let any companylet alone the one operating thenation’slargestreserves, believe that we Guyanese, out of ignorance or foolhardiness or corrupt , will not closely monitor whatwearebeingcharged,” Lowposited.

Lowcontinued,“Thatisa recipe for disaster and no serious Government would receive a bill for over US$7 billion and not check to see whetherthepricesitisbeing charged are reasonable and competitive.”

He explained that the Stabroek Block PSA with Exxon allows for a detailed audit That agreement makes it clear that Guyana has the righttoverifyiftheincurred costsareinflated.

LowremindedthatAnnex C,Section31(b)sub section

1states, “The actual costs of contracts for technical and other services entered into by the Contractor for the Petroleum Operations, madewiththirdpartiesother thanAffiliated Companies of t h e C o n t r a c t o r a re recoverable and provided that the prices paid by the Contractor are competitive withthosegenerallycharged by other international or domestic suppliers for comparable work and services.”

Sub section 2 continues: “Without prejudice to the charges to be made in accordance with subsection 2 5, in the case of services rendered to the Petroleum Operations by an Affiliated Company, the charges will be based on actual costs without profits. The charges will be no higher than the usual prices charged by the Affiliated Company to third parties for comparable services under similar terms and conditions elsewhere, and will be fair and reasonable in the light of prevailing international oil industry practice and conditions.”

To this end, Lowe urged Guyanese to oppose the PPP Government rather than allow the administration to treatthecountry’spatrimony with “carelessness, malice andcontempt.”

Recently, Kaieteur News reported that the audit team reviewing some US$73B in expensesfortheoilcompany is not conducting a forensic audit, but rather a cost recoveryaudit.

In that article, Financial Analyst and Certified Accountant, Floyd Haynes explained, “”a forensic audit is done with the aim of identifying fraud and embezzlement with the goal of gathering evidence to be usedinacourt.”

Hesaid,contrarily,acost recovery audit of ExxonMobil’s bills is being done pursuant to the parameters of the 2016 P r o d u c t i o n S h a r e Agreement(PSA)governing theStabroekBlock.

“The goal is to verify the accuracy or rather the legitimacy and validity of costs claimed…there is a hugedifference…,”hesaid.

Since the publication of that article on November 27, 2022 several persons argued that the review is not thorough.

Attorney at Law and Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram, believes thatGuyanaisonadangerous path ifAuditors believe that they are merely required to check the bills handed to it byExxon.

ABOUTTHEAUDIT

In May, the Government

signed a four month contract withVHEConsulting which is a registered partnership between Ramdihal & Haynes Inc, Eclisar Financial, and Vitality Accounting & Consultancy Inc along with international firms SGS and Martindale Consultants for the ‘Cost Recovery Audit and Validation of the Government of Guyana’s ProfitOilShare’.

This includes costs incurredfortheLizaOneand Liza Two Projects which are currently producing over 360,000 barrels of oil per day Importantly, the audit will cost Guyanese some US$751,000.

Early last month, President Irfaan Ali told Reporters at the sidelines of aneventthattheauditprocess was delayed and the first report is expected to be handed over to government beforeyear-end.

The Head of State said, “They expect the first report before the end of December andthedelaywasbecauseof coordination issues with the Auditors themselves which is natural in these circumstances so before the endoftheyearweexpectthe firstreport.”

Haynes told Kaieteur News that an Interim Report willbeissuedinthefirstweek ofDecembertoGovernment

...insists Govt. must ensure prices charged are reasonable, competitive

Economist, Elson Low

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

Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456

NIGELWILLIAMS

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

EDITORIAL

EXXON’S BILLBOARD

Anyone taking a look at the billboard that ExxonMobil erectedovertheDemeraraHarborBridgewouldwalkaway with the solid impression that Guyanese are the luckiest people in the world. There needs to be a correction of that misimpression. From the numbers alone highlighted in gleaming, eye-catching electronic writing, many would conclude that Guyana lucked out again in having an oil partnerlikeExxonMobil.

In that particular regard, nothing could be more distant fromthetruth. And,ashistoryandstatisticshavereminded ustimeandagain,thereareothertruths,inconvenientones,in thestatementsofdeceptivelycleverpeoplethatsaysomuch, butleaveoutmuchmore.

Itsoundslikealion’sshare,that$280Bwhich,according toExxonMobil,Guyanareceivedinthematterofthreeshort years. Itisanindicationoftheslickness,andthetrickiness, of the people at the American oil supergiant that they now employ Guyanese dollars to tell the world of how generous thecompanyhasbeentoGuyanese. Whatisleftout,whatnot many beyond the Region know, is that a single American dollar exchanges for approximately two hundred Guyana dollars(US$1:GY$200).

GuyanareceivedjustoverUS$1billioninitsoilfundina USbank,whichExxonMobilwastrickyenoughtoconvertto local dollars to swell the heads of Guyanese, and help them look kindly on the rapaciousAmerican company After all, $280 billion blows the mind, when compared to one billion USdollars. AnothersideissuethatExxonMobilwassensible not to propagandize to naïve Guyanese concerns its record shatteringprofits,asignificantportionofwhichisdrivenby cheap,highqualityGuyanaoil.

RegardingthatpartofExxonMobil’sbeautiful,inspiring oilstoryittookgreatcarenottoincludeinitsbillboardover theDemeraraHarborBridge.

Thecompany’sprofitingonthebacksofthepeopleofthis country, and with the fullest collaborating of craven local politicians,isnotforinclusionandpublicationinthatlovely billboard. Unsurprisingly, it is not a matter for Guyanese consumption. Thebillboardsparkleswiththejuicyandthe spicy:52%ofallprofitsfromthe[staggeringlyrich]Stabroek Block, and 2% royalty. It is a Third World dream, the yearnings of generations, come true. Again, the prime cuts fromExxonMobil’sbillboardarenotmentionedatall.

The same 2% royalty was what it used to recover in its costs submitted to Guyana, until that sleight of hand was discovered and corrected. If ExxonMobil would stoop so low as to take back (recover) part of the measly 2% royalty thatisunequalledanywhereintheworld,thenitdoesn’tcall fortoomuchwisdomtoappreciatewhatitcouldpossiblybe doing with its billions in expenses. We at this publication takethepositionthatinthemazeandmountainthatistensof billionsinexpenses;thereisplentyofroomforExxonMobil toextractanotherhugeundetectedprofit,ofwhichGuyanais totally at sea. This has been the history of oil companies, especiallyinpoor,ill-equippedcountriesthatarecursedwith weak, compromised Politicians. ExxonMobil has its own pungentreputationforoperatinginsuchdarkcorners,where dirtytricksarepracticed.

AsthecontentsofExxonMobil’sbillboardareabsorbed, we recall history The slave masters used to sing a song of how good the slaves had it, how happy they are, because of howwelltheirmasterstookcareofthem. TheAfricanslaves inchainsgotChristianity,whileGuyanesecitizenslivingin mental slavery got democracy The people at ExxonMobil arenothingifnotastute.

Theychoseoneofthewell-travelledmilesinGuyana,the Demerara Harbor Bridge to broadcast, emphasize, and reemphasize their message. ExxonMobil has dealt with Guyanalavishly;ExxonMobilhasbeengoodforGuyanese. In addition, the American oil monstrosity is strategic: the citizensitstargetaudience,theresidentsontheothersideof the river, is reminded until all are glazed in the eye, of how muchthenewcolonizer,ExxonMobil,hasdoneforthem.It counts come elections season.Guyanese coexist with a onesidedoilcontract. ExxonMobilcontinueswithitsbillboard, theusualone-sidedstoryithasperfected.

Exxon says billboard advert cost not being recovered

DEAREDITOR, verified. It is no secret that GuyanaandtheCoVs. arerecoveringthecostofthe Please permit me space the2016ProductionSharing An additional two billboards Expenses in your letter columns to Agreement(PSA)allowsthe percent of all oil produced associated with these respond to an article Stabroek block co-venturers and sold is paid out to the billboards are not cost publishedinyournewspaper (CoVs) to recover their Governmentasaroyaltyand recoverable and will be on December 6, 2022 under investments up to 75 comesoutoftheCoVsshare verified in future the headline ‘Exxon erects percent of oil produced and oftheprofit. Government cost recovery billboard to mislead sold in a given month. All The result is 52 percent audits. Guyanese–GlennLall’. profits over and above the of all profit goes to the Regards, The information cost to find, develop and GovernmentofGuyana. KwesiIsles displayedonthebillboardin produce oil is split 50/50 What is incorrect is Mr. MediaAdvisor questionisfactualandcanbe between the Government of Lall’s claim that the CoVs ExxonMobilGuyana

FITUG mourns the passing of Father Malcolm Rodrigues

DEAREDITOR, For the FITUG, in the Clerical of Commercial was among those who at the The Federation of particular, we remember the Workers Union (CCWU) Trade Union Congress IndependentTradeUnionsof prominent role he played in The movement later (TUC) stood with the sugar Guyana (FITUG) joins in 1979 in the four union blossomed into the FITUG workers as he called for the mourning the passing of movement which comprised was fertilized by the Levy to be removed. His Father Malcolm Rodrigues the University of Guyana contributions of this forthright stance earned him whopassedawayafewdays Staff Association, the outstanding stalwart, among the respect of many workers ago The Federation Guyana Agricultural and others. and Trade Unionists alike. remembers Father General Workers Union Father Rodrigues Additionally, during strikes Rodrigues for his (GAWU), the National solidarityandsupportisalso in 1979 in protesting the outstanding contributions to Association of Agricultural, recalled during the 1977 cost of living, Father thestrugglesoftheworking- Commercial and Industrial sugar workers strike against Rodriguesstoodtogether classinGuyana. Employees (NAACIE), and the onerous Sugar Levy He (Continuedonpage5)

DEAREDITOR, transparent process Chase, who is also the As all of know, and that I write with reference to administered through the President of the Guyana Bar includesMr HughesandMr an article under the title National Procurement and Association. Hinds, the civil service is ‘Concernsgrowoveralleged Tender Administration Now let us consider the Guyana is predominantly one sided distribution of Board (NPTAB).Any faulty postulate that African populated by non-Indians. I Public Works contracts’ decisioncouldbechallenged Guyanese Contractors are note this to underscore the ( K a i e t e u r N e w s , by any aggrieved individual systemically excluded If scale of betrayal that would 05/12/2022) While the or company to the Public this is correct, it means that have to be in place for article assumes the form of Procurement Commission in addition to Pauline Chase African Contractors to be impartial news reporting, it This is a constitutional body (who incidentally is the systemically excluded from is actually a highly partisan under the direction and daughterofthefamedLabor contracts awards to which and inflammatory piece control of no one. If Afro Attorney and Trade they rightfully entitled intended to disseminate Guyanese individuals and Unionist,Mr AshtonChase) MightIalsoremindbothMr injurious claims and companies have grievances, the following Cabinet Hughes and Mr Hinds that propositions tantamount to theyhaveredresstothePPC. Ministers, who are of thousands of Indians also race-baiting. If they feel they are African descent, all gang up voted for the APNU-AFC,

The central point of the discriminated against, then againstAfricancontractors– andthatasignificantnumber article was first presented in they have recourse to the Bishop Juan Edghill, of established Indian another Kaieteur News Courts under the Anti Minister of Public Works, Contractors are ‘big-time’ article under the title ‘PPP DiscriminationAct. Oneidge Walrond, Minister supporters of the same policies weakening Readers should know of Tourism, Industry and APNU-AFC. In fact, this competition, growth in that by law, all tenders must Commerce, Robeson Benn, same Coalition is on record business, other sectors be publicly advertised and Minister of Home Affairs, giving out humongous A c c o u n t a n t ’ ( K N , evaluated by a transparent Kwame Mc Coy, Minister contracts to Indian 11/30/2022). The ‘account’ teamofevaluators. within the Office of the businesses, most of it wellin the latter title refers to There is within the Act, Prime Minister, Joseph deserved,Iamsure. Nigel Hinds. Both of the provisions for any Hamilton,MinisterofLabor, Editor, I very much urge articlesnotedaboverelyona technically justifiable Hugh Todd, Minister of the learned Attorney, Mr document titled “Economy deviation, for example, ForeignAffairs,andnotleast Hughes,tousehisenormous and Justice in Guyana” purchasing of items that is (Brigadier R’td) Mark skills, expertise, and authoredbyAttorney-a-Law, specialized and highly Phillips, who is the Prime reputation, to advance the NigelHughes. complex in nature where MinisterofGuyana. cause of those who he feels

Readers should consider only one supplier or Add to this at least are are victims of favoritism, the following points in their producer can meet the four other Cabinet Ministers racism, or are otherwise assessmentoftheallegations specifiedrequirements. who are not of Indian being discriminated against t h a t t h e c u r r e n t Theevaluatorsareateam ancestry, but whom you are in the procurement process. Administration favors party of professional Public asked to believe gang up He has nothing less than an supporters and foreign Servants, not Politicians, againstAfricanContractors. obligation to protect and entities over other groups in who are tasked with the It is imperative that defend the rights of those awarding Government responsibility of overseeing readers know that Cabinet who he claims are contracts. a very transparent process. has no role in the discriminatedagainst.

Let us begin with the Note that APNU-AFC has determination of the award In the meantime, an basics.TheProcurementAct two nominated members on ofanycontract. apology is necessary He stipulateshowtendersareto afivepersonPPC. The awards are made by shouldknowtowhom. be advertised and The Chair of the PPC is NPTAB and merely goes to Sincerely, administered It is a nolessthanAttorneyPauline Cabinet for its no objection.

Mr. Hughes should seek redress in court if they think there is systemic discrimination in contract awards

The Pearl Harbor attack

DEAREDITOR, peaceful path would bring American citizens regarded recordedburiedatsea. Aconditionwhichdefies themgloryandgoodnessfor as being none of their Fortunately, three large logic and prudence seems to Guyana. business. Just as the United aircraft carriers, the bethecurseofmankindfrom Our Leaders must know Stateshademergedfromthe Enterprise, the Lexicon and the dawn of civilization, but thatofttimes,itisbettertobe Great Depression, on the the Saratoga were out on hope of good sense among very humble even with morning of December 7, a routine maneuvers and were leaders everywhere is the powerintheirhandstoavoid Japanese squadron of three thereforespared. one thing that can keep us silly steps of stupidity. hundred and fifty two (352) This horrific attack on going and hope that the Unfortunately, arrogance aircrafts swooped down on the pride of US Maritime recent Summit in Egypt and and being power-drunk has Pearl Harbor where the Command, compelled the the Agreement could avoid brought death, damnation, American sailors and USAtoenterWorldWarIIon this generation of leaders disease and damage to the military personnel were the side of the Allies led by superintending the verypeopleleadersclaim to preparingforbreakfast. Great Britain. They say out destructionofourplanet. carefor The Japanese in a two ofevilcomethgoodforwho As a youngster in early The attack on Pearl hour blitz using 360 war knows without Russian and PrimarySchool,myMother, Harboronthe7thDecember, planes destroyed five (5) American backing, we may astoutpro-Americantoldus 1941inasensehelpedshape Battleships, fourteen (14) havebeenaGermancolony aboutthehorrorsofthePearl the world we live in today smaller ships, two hundred The value of these incidents Harbor attack. This week, For better or for worse is of (200) American aircrafts, in history should be useful December7thmarksanother course, a matter of opinion killed two thousand (2,000) lessons for leaders anniversary of that error by andconjecture. Seamen, and four hundred everywhere to benefit from. Imperial Japanese The anniversary of the (400) other people and Lesson 1 - Why did the command. Reference to the attack on Pearl Harbor, wounded thirteen hundred Japanese Imperial anniversary of the Japanese whichonreceivingthenews, (1300)atPearlHarbor Command, as records we attackonthehugeAmerican President Franklin D Soseverewasthisassault have seen suggest that the military installation at Pearl Roosevelt declared it a day that one of the large mass of destruction Harborin1941shouldallow of infamy and forced the battleships, the Arizona completely destroyed allourpoliticalleaderstouse United States of America to never surfaced and the Americannavalandmilitary their intellect or in some enter the secondWorldWar bodies of a hundred odd power and therefore forced cases, what is left of it and (1939 - 1945), after shying Seamen on board could not, them into submission theninterprethumanhistory a w a y f r o m a c t i v e astheysay,beretrievedwith underestimating the to recognize that seeking a involvement is what many dignity and have been resilienceandcourageofthe peopleofAmerica.

FITUG mourns the passing...

Frompage4 playedinnotonlyprotecting forever remembered and at with the many workers who the workers of Guyana and this time the FITUG wishes weresenthomeinexercising earning their respect, but himeternalpeaceandrest. their freedom of association ensuring that Guyana Regards, and right to strike. His remained a free and The Federation of efforts in advancing the democraticnation. Independent Trade Unions country’s return to Hiscontributionswillbe ofGuyana(FITUG) democracy in 1992, is also recalled at this time. Father Rodrigues was one of the several outstanding Unionistswhoadvancedand advocated the return to democraticnormsfollowing severalriggedelections.His role again was monumental, and his efforts did not go in vain Indeed, as FITUG reflects on the contributions ofthelateFatherRodrigues, we recognize the role he

Sillysteps.

Lesson2-Forallofusin Guyana,at theturnofthe (Continuedonpage6)

Malcolm Rodrigues

DEAREDITOR, were named ‘GUY’

News of the passing of something GUYWA, Father Rodrigues is sad for GUYSTAC, GUYBRIDGE, G u y a n a , a s h e i s GUYBANK, etc. So, the remembered as someone PNC and its operatives who fought to restore free controlled everything as and fair elections, at a time Government had an whenBurnham’sgoonswere oversized,controllingrolein out to squelch all opposition theeconomy(justlikenow). tothePNCdictatorship. It is in this context that The younger generation Father Rodrigues shone must know that despite brightly and was a voice for Guyana being the richest the poor and destitute, country in Caricom but struggling daily to survive havingtheloweststandardof (justliketoday). living and lowest currency The PPP was the (lower that Haiti) started Opposition in 1968-1992, under the PNC’s era of and stood in the gap to fight rigged elections and the PNC dictatorship and undemocratic rule Mr restore democracy At that Burnham and the PNC time most Afro-Guyanese established‘Paramountcyof were silent and did not the Party’and you were OK openly oppose the Burnham as long as you kowtowed to dictatorship.Everybodywas the party and do not oppose scared. its practices, including The church people were ongoingriggingofelections. silent, especially the Your fortunes rose, if you Pentecostals–Assembliesof supported the PNC G o d , F u l l G o s p e l dictatorship, and fortunes Fellowship, New Testament sank if you criticized the Church of God, Elim PNC’s policies and Pentecostal, and others practices The PNC These church people controlledthe“commanding “prayed” for Burnham and heightsoftheeconomy”and theGovernmentbutdid all the public corporations (Continuedonpage6)

Father

stood up for democracy when it was unsafe to do so

The Pearl Harbor...

Frompage5 Nagasaki in August major natural disasters, be told that from before 20th century the Japanese 1945.The first time nuclear hurricanes, earthquakes, Emancipation and after, we assumed that their naval weapons were used on floods, monsoons, droughts the six races of Guyana, power gave them control of humanbeings. andpestilencebutinsteadwe were the victims of an the Pacific So when When the first atomic are blessed with an ideologyandthatweshould President bomb was dropped on abundance of gold, be ad idem, a wholesome Theodore Rooseveldt Hiroshima on the 6th of diamonds, timber, marine one, a genuine one, an assembledwhatisknownas August, as the Pilot circled resources, tourism potential authentic one, to overcome the Great White Fleet togainaltitude,theCo-Pilot andnowoilandgas. thislegacy comprising 14 Battleships, looked through the window With these God given For example, I noticed a all painted in white, they and on seeing the mass of resources,ifwesitdownlike BBCreportonSaturdaythat sailed around the world and grey smoke covering the rational human beings, set a group in Barbados is what was said to be the entire city, he turned to the aside all personal demanding reparation from Goodwill visits to the Pilot and said “My God, differences, every family in the Drax’s family and from Pacific, theAtlantic and the whathavewedone?”

Guyana should live in the descendants of Queen Caribbean Seas One of Lesson 4 - All of us comfortandbehappy Elizabeth I for the those vessels visited without exception must put Lesson5:-Tohelpmake exploitation on the Trinidad. pressure on whichever a reality of our dream, to be Plantations during and after Therealityhoweverwas politicalpartywe supportto ‘One People, One Nation slavery I hope the present the United States had now tell them that to avoid being with One Destiny’, we must Government will express demonstrated to the World, damned, to allow us to be e n d t h i s p r e s e n t supportforthisInitiativeand they were now a sea power primary beneficiaries of the bombardment of biased publicly state their support, and could therefore now Creator’skindnesstous,we reporting and past and their efforts of the dominate land, air and sea. must sit and talk so we can current events. This will Reparation Committee in This Goodwill voyage tell our erstwhile masters widen the gap that now Guyana. As we remember which lasted nearly two that we need a bigger share exists We must stop Pearl Harbour, remember years alarmed Japan and of the cake and that this can behaving and for some the billions used including therefore caused a be achievedpainlesslyif we believingthatweareAngels the ‘Marshall Plan’ for rationality, a serious defect cooperateforGuyana. and spotless but the other Reparation and the damage among Leaders. Lesson 3 - As we recall the folks are the devils and done during these man Sometimes we pay a heavy mistakes, the misjudgments filthy Onavisitsomeyears created wars over the past price for our missteps of and massive destruction agotoJapan,Iwastakentoa fewgenerations. stupidity and within four cause at Pearl Harbor 81 Museum showing the Finally, our educational years, President Harry S. years ago, we must remains of the bombings of systemmustuseeventssuch Truman ordered the rememberthatweareamong Hiroshima on August 6, as Pearl Harbor, Battle of bombing of two Japanese the few countries where we 1945. Stalingrad,MaginotLinesin cities, Hiroshima and donotsufferfromanyofthe TheGuidetearfullytook Guyanaintheearly1960sas us to the glass case, which teachingtoolssothatwecan showed remnants of produce a Cadre of young salvaged clothing and lunch people, informed by the kitsofchildrenwhoperished lessons of history and and referred to US ambition therefore stimulate our to control everywhere and thinking and release the therealpurposeoftheGreat creative energies of our White Fleet, but not a word youngpeopleeverywhere. abouttheJapaneseattackon Regards, PearlHarbor. HamiltonGreen Young Guyanese must Elder

Malicious, contrived and completely misconceived

DEAREDITOR, falsify claims and

We the undersigned, do misrepresent the views of hereby wish to distance GNNL’seditorialteam.

ourselves from, and A meeting of editorial categorically reject, the staffmemberswasconvened comments included in a on Monday, December 5, letter titled: ‘Who broadcast 2022, and it was agreed that their quackery and keep weremainunitedandwilling quacks?’ which was to continuously improve the published by the Kaieteur outlook of the newspaper NewsonMonday,December and, by extension, the 5,2022. company We will not be

The letter written under drawn intothemachinations the guise of ‘concerned ofthosewhodonotwishour staffers’, contains content team or company well, nor that is malicious, contrived, will we sit silent and allow misleading and completely the personal agenda of erroneous,asitseekstobring person(s) to bring into the management of the disrepute our professional State’s newspaper into credibilityandwork. disrepute,aswellasdiscredit Yoursrespectfully, dedicatedstaffmembers.

NavendraSeoraj

To briefly clarify, the RabindraRooplall apologies published by the DerwayneWills newspaper on December 4, ClestineJuan 2020, were in accordance CindyParkinson withvariouscourtordersthat ShamarMeusa hadtobefollowed.

DillonGoring

If anything, the LindaRutherford apologies,inourview,prove AdrianNarine that the company is NaomiParris committed to rectifying its SamuelMaughn errorsandmaintainingahigh CassandraKhan level of integrity and MohammedYamin accountability, as it moves TamicaGarnett forward with its agenda of TrinaWilliams providing credible news on MichelleOutridge issues, events and other LeonHoratio social and economicmatters SamuelSinclair across the country and RondellJames furtherafield.

KrisKaladeen

It is, therefore, SebastianBisnauth unfortunate that a person(s) ElvinCroker would go to this extent to YateshChowbay

Father Malcolm Rodrigues...

Frompage5

of harm by the governing nothingtoprotestoroppose powers. He is not like all the dictatorship. The two those fake bishops, apostles, strongest voices against the and prophets masquerading PNC’s reign of terror were todaywhosaynothingabout the Catholic Church under national ills. Father Darke Bishop Benedict Singh and and Father Morrison were the Anglican Church under otherheroes.

Bishop Randolph George. As Martin Luther King When the other churches said, “The ultimate measure were telling people to pray of a man is not where he for the Government, that the stands in moments of PNC were Christians, and comfort and convenience, the alternative – the PPP but where he stands at times were Hindus and atheists– o f c h a l l e n g e a n d Bishop George and Bishop controversy ” Father S i n g h b e l l o w e d Rodrigues stood for the denunciations against the masses,asagiantlendinghis various atrocities committed support and involvement to bythePNC. restore democracy to

Father Rodrigues also Guyana To honour the became one of those legacy of this Guyana hero, Christian voices against the wemustemulatehim.Restin PNC dictatorship, speaking peace dear Brother All at many public forums. He Guyana appreciates your wasaniceman,fearless,and service and difference you spoke up for the people of made.

Guyana when it mattered Sincerely, most and his life was at risk Dr.JerryJailall

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

WORKERS’ UNION BEGGING, POLITICIANS FEASTING

Guyanese workers are begging for a living wage.

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

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

The ordinary Guyanese work beg to get by with a little dignity

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

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

Guyanese workers can barely buy bread, struggle to pay their bills. Guyanese Politicians feasting on champagne and steak, cheesecake and the richest ice-cream.

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

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

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT BLUNT BLUNT BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

‘Gas agreement with Exxon must not be hidden’ -Opposition

The Opposition on Tuesday demanded that the Government makes publicitsUS$2BGas-to-Energy(GTE) project agreement with U.S. oil giant ExxonMobil.

Economist and Opposition Spokesman on oil and gas matters, Elson Low said that it is alarming that theGovernmentisseekingtojustifythe withholdingoftheagreement.

“Ifindthattobevery,veryalarming. Any agreement that is signed, one would presume it’s an agreement that has been finalized, and so such an agreementneedstomakeitswaytothe publicsothatwecanexaminetheterms andsowecangetasenseofwhetherthe nationhasgottentheappropriatedealor whether there are some further questions to be asked,” Low said in an invited comment during an Opposition PressConference.

Since the inception of this US$2B project, the entire agreement has been shroudedinsecrecy WhentheHeadsof Agreement was signed, the Press was invited but were not allowed to ask questions. There has been no Press Conference on the mega project too, even though there is no updated feasibility study proving the viability of the project.

It was reported that Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat in a written response to Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), David Patterson, on Wednesdayexplainedthattheagreementthat was already inked with the oil company outlinestheprinciplesandconditionsforthe commercial and technical aspects of the

project.

“Mr Speaker,theGovernmentofGuyana hassignedaHeadsofAgreement(HOA)with the Stabroek Co-ventures 30th June 2022. This agreement sets out the principles and conditions for the commercial and technical arrangementsoftheGas-to-EnergyProject,” Bharratsaid.

Patterson in his request for the information, submitted to Parliament on October 18, 2022, had asked whether any

agreements

However, Bharrat in his response to Patterson said, “There are other agreements on supply, buyer’s agreement, field development, licensing conditions, onshore works, and land matters that are currently beingdrafted.Therespectiveagreementsand

policy documents will be presented to this Honourable House when they have been agreed upon and executed.All agreements are being done in a timely manner to meet the Final Investment Decision which will allowfortheprojecttobecompletedbyour committeddeadlineofDecember2024.”

Governmentsaidtheventurewilllower electricity costs by 50 percent, however independentanalystshavesaidthismaynot bepossibleduetotheincreasedpricetagof theproject.

The Wales GTE project entails three components inclusive of the pipeline, a NaturalGasLiquids(NGL)facilitytotreat and separate the gas and a power plant to generate 300 megawatts of electricity Exxon’s pipeline so far is expected to cost US$1 3 billion, while Government anticipatestheothertwoaspectswouldcost anadditionalUS$700million.

On November 25, the oil company received the blessing from the EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)to commence work on the project. In the meantime,itwasreportedthatgovernment will likely be issued with the requisite environmental approvals in another few weeks’time.

In September, members of civil society told Kaieteur News thattheagreementsforthe project ought to be made public even before Governmentattachesitssignature Economist, RamonGaskin,TransparencyActivist,Dr Yog Mahadeo and Attorney at Law, Elizabeth Deane Hughesallinsistedthatmistakesmade inthe2016oilcontractmustnotberepeatedin thegasdealwithExxon Government, however, remains adamant againstthereleaseofsuchcriticaldeals.

were signed with Esso ExplorationandProductionGuyanaLimited (EEPGL) in connection with the Wales project and if yes, for the Minister to supply theHousewithacopyofthesaidagreement.

REORGANIZING THE STATE REQUIRES AN ORGANIZING IDEA

The question has been fears, suspicions or political power. Why would E v e r y f o r m o f berearranged. asked It should be insecurities? there be support for organization reflects an Afterallisthesubliminal answered. Or will these models federalism when there can organizing idea or ideology source of the fears, It is not the type of themselves become victims hardly be agreement on If one is clear about the suspicions and insecurities can be no agreement on a question that can be to the underlying fears, sharingpoweratthe“lowest organizing idea or ideology, based on concerns about central ideology for the answeredwithasimple‘yes’ insecurities and suspicions? common denominator”- the then the mechanics can who gets what within the reorganization of the State? or a simple ‘no’. It is a Orcantherebeamodelthat localgovernmentlevel?Isit easily fall into place. Since State? If there can be an See why organizing to live complex question that is actually tailored to deal because it is not power both of the main political organizing idea that wholesomely is like going requires a simple but by no withthesefears,insecurities sharing that is the ultimate parties have a socialist promotes each according to aroundincircles? means a straightforward andsuspicions? goal but rather political background and since their hisneedoreachaccordingto (The views expressed in answer Onemodelthathasbeen power? And if the present leadershipareoftenaccused hiswork,thencanthisnotbe this article are those of the The question is whether proposed to deal with the Westminster system is such of still having socialist a starting point for author and do not wecanorganizetolivemore problem is federalism an aberration and sympathies, how about an agreement on a model? Can necessarily reflect the wholesomely That question Those who advance it argue impractical for plural agreement on what should therebeanagreementonan opinions and beliefs of this needs however to be that it will promote ethnic societies such as ours, then be the organizing idea organizingidea? n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s rephrased to mean, can our security and cooperation what can be wrong with aroundwhichtheStatecould What happens if there affiliates.) political parties improve But this model has been organizing State power their relationships because rejected, and it has been differently, say federalism when it comes to the rejected because those who evenifitisforatrialperiod? ordinarycitizen,theydo,for reject it are really not Instead of quarreling the greater part, live i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e about Local Government wholesomely with each ‘wholesome’ power sharing Elections and alleging the o t h e r W h e r e t h e that the model claims it can gerrymandering of unwholesomeness emerges produce. boundaries, we should be is when it comes to the This is not to say that talkingaboutdisbandingthe political organization of the federalism is not without its obsolete Local Government State and more specifically shortcomings Two System which we have. We the competition for State criticismshavebeenmadeof should focus on having a power by political parties. theapplicationofthismodel more wholesome and This competition, however, to Guyana. The first is that smaller Local Government is mere symptomatic, federalism is not likely to System based on the old exemplifying rather than work in small federal villagecouncilmodel?How beingthesourceofdivisions constituenciesandsecondly, can there be wholesome withinthesociety the specific model of three development when so much

At the heart of this federalstatesinGuyanacan valuable human and division are suspicion, fear actually lead to ethnic financial relations are being andinsecurityofthe‘other’. domination by one group absorbed by the Local That fear, insecurity and rather than the sort of Government structures in a suspicion can only be partly wholesomesharingofpower country that is suffering overcome by appreciating thatitseekstoachieve. fromabraindrain. our common humanity But these shortcomings We have failed to reach Pleas for such appreciation a r e b y n o m e a n s agreement on a model for are merely plasters used to insurmountable After all organizingtheStateandone conceal the real and deeper instead of three federal of the reasons why we have rooted problems that subsist states, there can be ten, failed, is because we have within plural societies and whose boundaries can skipped over the most especiallysocietiesinwhich approximate to the existing fundamental step: an therearetwomaindominant regionalboundaries. agreement on the political ethnicorculturalgroups. Those who are calling philosophy that should So how can our society for power sharing will informsuchanorganization. be organized in a way that however not agree to If there can be no would allow us to live more federalism Why should agreement on a model of wholesomely? Several they, when power sharing is organizing the State, then modelshavebeenproposed. not seen as an end product how about an agreement on But can models truly but rather as means towards an ideology around which attenuate the underlying theeventualgoalofcoveting theStatecanbeorganized.

Dem boys seh...

EVEN METAPHYSICAL FORCES PROTESTING DE DEAL

A man wanted to do a demonstration He carry de apple in de studio and he yesterday with an apple. He went to de start to slice it up fuh show de Guyanese market fuh buy de apple dat he could show peoplehowdemgettinghalfofaquarteras deGuyanesepeoplehowsmallashareofde profitoil.Butwhenheguhfuhcutdequarter oilrevenuesdemgetting in half, de slice fall pun de ground. Is like

It was a good idea. It gave a visual even de Gods protesting against de oil deal presentation of how de oil apple is being datdeslicesosmalldatisfalldown.Dende shared. Hats off to de man fuh coming up man cut off another small chunk from withdatidea! anotherpieceandshedatisderoyalties.

But it almost did not happen. When de People wah watching de think pun man reach de market, he tell heself dat is Facebook and Tik Tok start fuh shake dem better fuh use an orange instead. But when headinunderstandingofhowdecountryget hefindoutdepriceofdeorange,hechange shaft.Deappledodetrickanddemansmile hemindandwentbacktobuyingdeapple. andwalkoutdestudio.

Apple does come in different sizes in But dem boys wondering wah he do Guyana. De man buy de smallest apple. withdeslicedapple! Demdoesretailfuh$140each.

Talkhalf.Leffhalf.

Thanksfourshowingyourappreciationforme

Igot six discman, the long discarded instrument that the world does not produce any longer,deliveredatmyhome from abroad. This is the subject of this column but some introductory paragraphs are necessary so bearupwithme.

Long before I ever became a publically known citizen in Guyana, I had no concern even at a minimum level of what people say or write about me. I never did andneverwill;atleastnotin Guyana.

I would like to emphasize the words; “at leastinGuyana.”Peopleare shameless in this land and quite comfortable in their

doublestandards.Iamsorry a long-standing friend of mine, Charrandass Persaud got into a moral tangle in India.

His unbecoming words toawomanwhileheheldthe ambassador’s post in India left the government with no choice. Some of those who criticizeCharranthatIknow have no moral right to p r o n o u n c e o n h i s indiscretion. They are no moralexamples.

I know a woman group where a man had an affair with three members at the same time and each one of them knew he was doing this. I know this just as I knowthebackofmyhand.I am72yearsofageandhave

been involved in social justice since I was 16, and I haven’tstopped.Trustme!I know what goes on in this place.

Thiskindofinformation should be brought out becausethesearethepeople that want to lecture the government and society and they are in no position to so do I brought out this information but regret the laws of libels prevent elaboration I will never accept three women knowing that they subscribe tothesamelover Iamoneof the world’s most radical liberals but such behavior is crossingtheline.

I hope Charran returns soon (he told me later this month) and takes up a good jobwiththestate Assoonas hereturns,hewillbetheguest ontheGildarie FreddieShow KissoonShow

Is there anyone in this society that wears moral clothes so we cannot see their unethical nakedness? Maybe a few What do you think?Thefrequentlettersin the newspapers with forty, fiftysignaturesatthebottom

of it I find disgusting because of the moral double standards.

I come now to the discman topic. I announced on the Gildarie Freddie Kissoon Show and on this page several times that I am an old-fashioned person. I am happy with my “mangopelter,” the little cheap $4000cellphone.

Soforalmostayearnow, people home and abroad have offered to buy me a smart phone including my co-host, Leonard Gildarie. I tellthemIcouldbuymeone but I prefer my “mangopelter.”

SowhatIdid,Itoldthem what they can get me –somethingthatisimpossible to find in Guyana and probably the world a discman that plays music CDs.Itookmydiscmanthat had conked out and displayeditonthescreenon the show I simply said if they want to get me a smart phone, get me instead a discman.

The past two weeks on six occasions, courier service people have

delivered to my gate, a discman. One person sent two. I now have six discman I want to say an enormous thank you to all those persons who did that.

I want to say t h a t y o u r appreciation of me is the kind of steam that preserves my willingness to continue my activism both in society and in the media. It is these kindsofgesturesthatmakes one feel that one’s activism is needed and appreciated. I wanttosaythanksalsotothe two persons who sent me a copy each of the Clement Rohee memoir I have not namenamesbecauseIknow that there are humans who just want to stay out of the limelight.

So I have two copies of Rohee’s autobiography, one of which I will keep of course,andtheotherIplanto give to my friend, Mike Khan, former CEO of the Georgetown Hospital, who is home for the holidays.

MostGuyanesedonotknow butMikeKhanhasoneofthe largest personal collections of books on Guyana I believe it is time there be some negotiations for Mike to sell that priceless stuff to either the University of Guyana or the National Library

So once more, my gratitude to those persons whosentmethediscmanand the Rohee autobiography Please stay in touch and I hopefrommyend,Icoulddo a little favour for you Thanksmaan!

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s affiliates.)

FrederickKissoon

Death of‘Aunty Betty’: Neighbour now says he was contracted to kill but did not stab her

Shaheed,themanaccusedof colluding with Roshanie Basdeo to kill 85-year-old Sumintra Sawh called ‘Aunty Betty’ has told Investigators that he was contracted to kill the elderly woman but denied stabbing her

He had initially denied being involved in Sawh’s murder. However, on Monday he reportedly told Investigatorsthathebeather withapieceofwood.

Sawh’s battered body was found a week ago with stab wounds and head injuries lying in a blood soaked bed at her Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice (WCB)

home.An autopsy has since revealed that Sawh was stabbed seven times and sustainedafracturedskull.

Her 37-year-old Great Niece and Care Giver, Roshanie Basdeo called “Mala”, has been remanded to jail pending a trial D e s p i t e B a s d e o ’s confession,Policecontinued theirhuntforShaheedcalled ‘ B h a g e e ’ , S a w h ’s neighbour.

Uponhisarrest,Shaheed providedpolicewithanalibi.

Shaheed reportedly admitted to striking the elderlywomanseveraltimes to her head with a piece of wood he had found in her yard After battering the

woman,hesaidheleftandas such has no knowledge of herstabbing.

He reportedly told Investigators that he was contracted to kill Sawh so that her Great Niece could gainownershipofherhouse. The man reportedly told policethattheplantokillthe woman was made two Wednesdaysago.

He was allegedly told to “getridofAuntyBettyfirst” and then he would get paid. Toexecutetheplan,theman saidhestartedbyconsuming white rum on his verandah and at around midnight he ventured to Sawh’s house wherehepickedupthewood and entered the house

throughthedoorthatwasleft openforhim.

Shaheedsaidthatentered Sawh’s room and dealt her several lashes to her head until the elderly woman started groaned with pain. He threw the wood into the hallway and before leaving thevictim’shome.

The man alleged that he went home and continued drinking before retiring to bed. Around 04:00hrs, he was awoken to screams of “Thief!Thief!”comingfrom Sawh’s Great Niece

According to Shaheed, he subsequently got up, took a bath, shaved, locked up his houseandlefttheareaonhis bicycle.

HewasarrestedMonday on his return to Bushlot VillageonSaturday

Aunty Betty’s Great Niece, Basdeo, was the first tobearrestedforhermurder Basdeo had initially told Investigators that two men wearing dark clothing and armed with knives, entered the home, tied her up, killed Sawhandstole$350,000.

Basdeothenchangedher story and instead claimed thatshewaspartofaplanto rob and kill the Bust Lot Pensioner Her story changed a third time when she told cops that she had murdered her Great Aunt alone. She claimed that she had battered the woman to death with a hammer and wood and then discarded theminapitlatrine.

Cops reportedly recovered the suspected murderweaponsandablood stainednightgown.

Mohamed Ramzan

MURDERED: Sumintra Sawh aka ‘Aunty Betty’ ARRESTED: Ramzan Shaheed

PrivateSectorsubmitsLocalContentfindingstoSecretariat

- outlines revision of legislative framework, redefinition of key terms

ThePrivateSectorCommission (PSC)onTuesdayannouncedthatit has officially handed over the report of the findings from its recentlyheldLocalContentForum to the Local Content Secretariat (theSecretariat).

In December 2021, Guyana passeditslocalcontentlegislation, which caters to Guyanese getting first preference in the country’s oil and gas sector The Local Content lawisintendedtoregulatetheway companies operate in Guyana’s oil and gas sector; employ persons, buy services and the way that they procuregoods.

Under the Act, the Secretariat which falls under the Ministry of Natural Resources was established andfunctionsasthefocalpointfor the monitoring, evaluation, coordination, and reporting of Local Content in the petroleum operations of Guyana. Therefore, the Secretariat’s key role is to monitor and evaluate companies’ performance with respect to the Guyanese utilization targets outlinedintheAct.

In a statement, the Private

Sector disclosed that Chairman of PSC, Local Content Advisory Group, Shyam Nokta, presented the report to Senior Petroleum Coordinator, Ministry of Natural Resources, Bobby Gossai in the presenceoftheLegalOfficerofthe

LocalContentSecretariat,Michael Munroe, and Economist of the Private Sector Commission, Nayteram Ramnaraine in the BoardroomoftheCommission.

Those joining virtually were PSC Chairman, Paul Cheong,

President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Timothy Tucker, and members of PSC Local Content

Advisory Group, Richard Rambarran,Dr MelissaVarsawyk, andJoelBhagwandin.

According to the PSC areas covered in the report include revision of the legislative framework, redefinition of key terms, unbundling of contracts, training and capacity building, access to finance with better interest rate, and reporting and accesstoinformation.

Since the passage of the laws, the Private Sector had highlighted several local content woes that are hampering local businesses in Guyana’soilandgassector

TheSecretariathassinceissued strict guidelines which require all Contractors, Sub-Contractors, or Licensees to not only award contracts through a competitive biddingprocess,butalso,unbundle as far as possible, large contracts intosmallerunitssothatGuyanese can have greater opportunities for participation.

Last month, this publication had reported that Chief Justice (AG), Roxane George-Wiltshire warnedagainstarbitrarinessdueto the lack of rules and regulations in Guyana’s Local Content Act of 2021.

PSC officials handing over to the report on Tuesday.

UN agencies call for strengthening of agricultural production

T h e E c o n o m i c Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) on Tuesday presented a new, joint Policy Brief entitled Towards sustainable food and nutrition security in Latin America and the Caribbean in response to the global food crisis, in which they call for strengthening agricultural production and social protection systems and for extending their scope in ruralareastomeetthetriple challengeofcombatingfood insecurity and the rise in extreme poverty, and supporting food production intheregion.

The document was unveiled at a Press Conference in Santiago, Chile led by José Manuel Salazar Xirinachs, ECLAC’s Executive Secretary; Mario Lubetkin, F A O ’ s R e g i o n a l Representative for Latin AmericaandtheCaribbean; and Lola Castro, WFP’s Regional Director for Latin AmericaandtheCaribbean.

According to the report, the international context of successive crises and the war in Ukraine jeopardize Latin America and the Caribbean’s access to food and key inputs for regional agriculture.

Theimpactsofthewarin Ukraine on productive sectors must be understood inthecontextofthemultiple crises that have affected the global economy in the last 15years:thefinancialcrisis of 2008, trade tensions between the United States and China, and, since 2020, theCOVID-19pandemic.

These crises translated into breakdowns in various primary and manufacturing production chains, whether due to an increase in trade barriers or to disruptions in the global system for producing and transporting goods,thereportexplains.

It adds that the war in Ukraine has directly affected international trade in crude oil, natural gas, cereals, fertilizers and metals. Thus, higher energy and food prices are among thefactorsthathaveledtoa downward revision for globalgrowthin2022.

It is forecast that the global economy will grow 3 1% in 2022, 1 3 percentage points less than

what was estimated prior to thewar’soutbreak,whilethe Latin America and Caribbean region will expandby3.2%thisyearbut will decelerate sharply to 1.4% in 2023, according to ECLAC’slatestprojections, precisely because of the unfavorable international context.

The prolongation of the current crisis, in which various threats of a productive, trade, climatic and geopolitical nature converge, not only endangers food security but could also lead the region andtheworldtosuffermajor setbacks in relation to poverty, inequality, climate action and sustainable development, the report warns.

“Despite having a significantagriculturaltrade surplus, Latin America and theCaribbeanareexposedto the production and commercialization problems and to the price increasesstemmingfromthe war in Ukraine Higher international prices for food and inputs affect both exporting countries as well as net food importers. In addition, the region imports more than 80% of the fertilizers used in agriculture. A reduction in the yields and harvests of productsthatarekeytofood security, due to less fertilization, is seen compounding the harmful effects of food inflation on the most vulnerable population,” José Manuel Salazar Xirinachs, ECLAC’s Executive Secretary,indicated.

As the report by ECLAC, FAO and WFP states, food inflation increases the risk of problemstoaccessahealthy diet, food insecurity and hunger, since it affects lower-income households more.

In the region, the inflation affecting the poorest sectors (the first quintile of income distribution) is 1 4 percentage points higher thanwhatcorrespondstothe wealthiest sectors (the fifth quintile).

Inthefirstquintile,food corresponds to more than two thirds of headline inflation, whereas in the fifth quintile, it is less than half Food prices have increased more than headline inflation in the regionsincelate2018and

Blind Linden Student to graduate with communications degree from UG

Amin Britton, a resident of Linden, Region 10 has defied all odds and is scheduled to graduate this weekend when the University of Guyana (UG) hosts its 56th Convocation exercise at the National CulturalCentre.

Britton, who has been blind since the age of 14 defied, persevered, and completed his Degree in Communication Studies He isthefirstpersoninhisfamily toearnauniversitydegree

The visually impaired man was diagnosed with glaucoma at the age of two and by age 6 had undergone several surgeries to have his sight However, due to financialconstraints,hecould not continue the treatment This led to the gradual deterioration of his sight and by age 14 he lost his sight completelyinbotheyes

Despite the diagnosis, Brittonbravedthestormand naysayers and registered at the University of Guyana in 2018.

He said, “No one in my family has a University degree The Centre for Communication Studies

becamelikeanewfamilyto me I approached UG expecting it to be challengingbecauseofwhat was told to me, but UG exceededmyexpectations.I never felt uncomfortable amongmypeers.”

Britton will walk the graduation stage on Saturday, December 10, 2022withjoyandasenseof pride as he has achieved a great personal goal while also breaking family barriers.

Currently, he works as a RadioAnnouncertoeducate and entertain persons on the ‘RushVibes’onMassiveFX Radio in Linden. His future plans include pursuing a Master’s Degree in Communications – Social Change.

M e a n w h i l e , a n Ophthalmologist and LecturerattheUniversityof Guyana for approximately seven years, Dr Celeste H i n d s e x p l a i n e d , “Childhood glaucoma, also referred to as congenital glaucoma,isararecondition that may be inherited or caused by incorrect development of the eye’s

drainage system before birth If treatment is inaccessible or inadequate, as in the case of many children, vision loss is almostcertain.”

After hearing of Mr Britton’s success, Dr Hinds expressedsincerejoyforhis stalwart accomplishment. She expressed: “Kudos to Mr Britton for persevering despitetheoddsandserving as an inspiration to us all, especially those with visual disabilities”.

I n e x t e n d i n g congratulations, the Vice Chancellor and Senior Management Team of the University have noted that a Special Unit called the ‘InclusionUnit’whichcaters specifically to students with physical,learning,andother , provides various kinds of support for a typical studentslikeBritton.

Close to three thousand Graduants,thelargesteverin the history of the University of Guyana, will proudly walk the graduation stage, both face-to-face and some virtually, over the next two weekends when the Institution hosts its 56th

Convocation.

The Convocation ceremoniesfortheTurkeyen Graduantswillbeheldatthe National Cultural Centre on December 9 and 10, 2022 andonDecember17,2022at the UG Berbice Campus for theTainGraduants.

The event will be streamed live on the University’sFacebookpage: https://wwwfacebook com/ uniofguyana and on UG Broadcasting Service at https://broadcasting.uog.edu .gy/.

Amin Britton

Guyanese outraged over Exxon’s...

Frompage2

of all ethnicities to unite togetherandenforceourrole as Government We the people are the Government not those who are supposed to manage on our behalf. WakeupGuyaneseandlive.”

Joann Joseph said: “Unbelievable!! A giant b r a i n w a s h i n g billboard,!!,Exxon knows exactly what kind of populationtheydealingwith, long before they started operations here they sent in their people to suss out the population to see what they could get away with. The divisiveness of the politics was an oilman dream come true, all they had to do was stir behind the scenes and bingo! hence, what’s happeningnow…”

Ram Singh wrote: “52% equal 50% of 25% profit oil plus 2% royalty Guyana percentageequals14.25%of oilextraction.”

SWEETESTDEAL

Only last week this newspaper cited a recent Bloomberg Report, which highlighted that while Guyana’s oil revenue has a 50-50 split with a 2 percent royalty paid to the Government, industry analysts insist that Guyana would have provided “an unusually sweetdealforExxon”.

“It’s the most favourable (contract) I think I’ve ever seen in the industry, anywhere,” Tom Mitro, a senior fellow at Columbia University’s Center on Sustainable Investment told the agency As a Financial Officer at Chevron for three decades,Bloombergsaid that Mitro crafted deals with Governments in several developing nations and later jumped to the other side of the table, consulting on behalf of developing countries, including Angola, in their dealings with fossil fuel companies

Exxon has often defendeditscontractwith Guyana, saying that it took on significant risks bygamblingonacountry with no history of oil productionandverylittle energyinfrastructure.

“The terms of our petroleum agreement with the government of Guyana are common in the industry and competitive with other countries at a similar stage of resource d i s c o v e r y , ” a Spokesperson for Exxon told the firm. “But the

terms with Guyana were drawnupafterthediscovery hadbeenpublicizedasbeing unusually large,” and according to Mitro, Exxon wasawareoftheresourcesin Guyana.

Aroughlyevensplitisn’t unheard of for a high-risk operation with a shaky promise of payoff but when the probability of success is greater, the Government generallygetsasignificantly larger share, often through increased royalties, Mitro reported. A Rystad Consultant, Bloomberg said, also noted that global average for a Government’s takeinoffshoreprojectsis75 percent.

Itwasnotedhoweverthat beyond the basic percentage splits, more surprising concessionsareburiedinthe Exxon contract “For example, the contract stipulates that any income taxesimposedonExxonand itspartnersbepaidforbythe Government However, Guyana passes the companiesareceiptforthose taxes, which Exxon can use toearnaforeigntaxcreditin theUnitedStates.”

And while Exxon has claimed that this is common practice, Mitro clarified that this was once true, “but now describes the practice as “highly unusual and beneficialtothecompanies.” Thereareadditionalbenefits to Exxon in the contract, Mitro continued “The company is allowed to use current oil revenue to repay itself for future expenses for decommissioning and abandoning its wells. The company likely won’t incur thosecostsfordecades.“I’ve neverseenthat,anywhere.”

Mitroaddedthateventhe geographic size of Exxon’s lease 26,806 square kilometers (10,350 square miles) matters. “It’s about nine times larger than E x x o n ’ s a v e r a g e internationaloffshorelease,” Mitro has calculated, “and roughly100timeslargerthan theaverageleaseintheGulf of Mexico The Guyana contract includes an unusual provision allowing the company to immediately recover costs for additional exploratory work anywhere within that area Exxon effectively pays itself back

for those costs out of the oil that otherwise would go to the Government ” Most production sharing agreements covering large areas allow such deductions only within small, specified areas, Mitro said, “not everywhereunderlease.”

On conclusion of annual spending, Guyana is provided a two-year time limit to audit the costs handedoverbyExxon.Apart from local stakeholders expressing concern over the short time limit, they have also expressed reservation about Government’s failure to audit within a timely manneraswellasthetypeof auditconducted.

Thisisespeciallythecase since Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, the Lead Official on the oil sector was adamant that Guyana does not have co-management status with theoilcompaniesandcannot monitorcostinreal-time.He urged therefore that Guyana’s power lies in the audits conducted to ensure that the costs presented are not bloated and Guyana in turn loses more than it should.

Exxonresponds toGlennLall

...says Billboard cost is not being recovered

Ex x o n M o b i l

Guyana has responded to Kaieteur News Publisher, Mr GlennLallinsistingthat thebillboardserectedacross the country – that seeks to stateGuyana’stakefromthe oil resource - is not being recoveredasanexpense.

The company’s Media Advisor, Kwesi Isles, in a letter to this newspaper (published on page four of today’s edition) maintained that the information presented on the billboards arefactual.

Isles explained, “The information displayed on the billboard in question is factual and can be verified.

It is no secret that the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) allows the Stabroek block co venturers(CoVs)torecover theirinvestments–upto75 percent of oil produced and soldinagivenmonth.”

Subsequently, the Exxon representative noted that all profits over and above the cost to find, developandproduceoilare split 50/50 between the GovernmentofGuyanaand theCoVs.

“An additional two percent of all oil produced and sold is paid out to the Government as a royalty and comes out of the CoVs share of the profit. The result is 52 percent of all profit goes to the Government of Guyana,” thecompanysaid.

It was keen to note that Lall’s statement about the cost of the billboards being recoveredisnotfactualand can be verified in cost recoveryaudits.

Notwithstanding Exxon’s claims, the Kaieteur News Publisher maintains his position “When I see the financial statements along with the bills to show Guyana that this billboard cost is not comingoutascostoilthenI will withdraw my comments,” Lall said in responsetoExxon’sletter

Further,Lallassertedhis positionontheExxonMobil billboards mounted at several locations in the country “I also stand my ground as to the billboard c o m m e n t s I a m maintainingtheinformation on the billboard is misleading and that Exxon should tell the Guyanese

Routledge

peoplethewholetruth.”

In fact, he argued that the response from the multinational company has failed to address the misleading information on thebillboard.

On yesterday’s front page of the Kaieteur News, Lall denounced the oil company for erecting a billboard just over the Demerara Harbour Bridge withamessagethatGuyana is getting 52% out of the StabroekBlockdeal.

The company also indicated on the billboard that Guyana has received more than $280B since oil production started here late 2019.

Speaking on this issue, the newspaper publisher said citizens need to know thatthecosttoerectthevery billboardisbeingrecovered by ExxonMobil based on the lopsided contract it signed with the Guyana Government.

“ExxonMobil is spending millions, further shortening our share to build and erect huge bill boards, to tell us the Guyanese people we are getting 52% out of the Stabroek Block,” Lall stated. He asked 52% of what? Not the whole apple, but 52% of a ¼ of the total revenuemade.

He added that what Exxon should have been telling Guyanese on those huge bill boards, who is getting the ¾ of the apple plus the other half of the quarter apple which remains.

“It is mind boggling, that these guys can put up billboards staring us in our facestomisleadallofusand ourLeaders,allofthemare silent.”

Alistair

One of the Exxon’s billboards at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport

CAPE programme launched at Rosignol Secondary School

TheCaribbeanAdvanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE®) programme has been extended to the Rosignol Secondary School inRegionFive.

This is part of the Ministry of Education’s effortstoexpandthedelivery of education across the country to ensure each child has access to educational opportunities.

Currently, there are six students at Rosignol Secondary enrolled in the programme.

During brief remarks at the commissioning of the programme on Tuesday, the MinisterofEducation,Priya Manickchand said that the Ministry of Education has been investing heavily to ensure schools are equipped to deliver quality education “becauseourchildrenacross this country deserve nothing less.”

Minister Manickchand said that the Rosignol SecondarySchoolisthethird school where the CAPE® programme has been extended to The other schools are Anna Regina SecondarySchoolinRegion Two, and West Demerara SecondarySchoolinRegion Three.

The Minister announced that before the end of 2025, CAPE® colleges will be establishedineachcounty.

“Those are colleges dedicated to teaching and training sixth form students

from those counties, one on the Essequibo Coast, one in DemeraraandoneinBerbice withdormswherenecessary So,theintention,myfriends, is to make sure every child who wants a secondary educationtoitshighestlevel can get a quality secondary education,”shesaid.

Region Five Regional Education Officer (ag), KeaneAdamsinherremarks noted that students will no longer have to relocate to GeorgetownortraveltoNew Amsterdam to advance their studies. She assured that the Department of Education in RegionFivewillgiveitsfull supporttotheprogramme.

Rosignol Secondary School’s Headmistress, Donnette Danrade welcomedtheprogramme.

Meanwhile, Arrianne Mangal,oneofthefirstsetof students enrolled to undertake the CAPE® programme expressed gratitude to be able to complete her secondary studiesatthislevelandnoted that she is confident that the firstbatchofstudentswillset thebarandexcel.

Also present were Chief Education Officer, Saddam Hussain, Deputy Chief Education Officer with responsibility for

za

Recreation does for you what it says literally. It creates you again. It refreshes the mind, renews the spirit, and motivates the body. Constant working towards some objective can do the opposite, unless we control it by rest and relaxation.

Amerindian Hinterland Education Development, Marti DeSou

, and Assistant Chief Education Officer(Secondary),Tiffany Harvey.

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand (right) and Region Five, Regional Education Officer (ag.), Keane Adams unveil the CAPE plaque on Tuesday in the presence of students and the Rosignol Secondary School’s Headmistress, Donnette Danrade.

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand

U.S.donatesthreeoxygengeneratorstoMOH

The United States Embassy in

Georgetown on Tuesday donated three oxygen generatorsvaluedatUS$495,000tothe Ministry of Health.The generators will be placed in Region 1 (Mabaruma Regional Hospital), Region 9 (Lethem Regional Hospital), and Region 8 (MahdiaRegionalHospital).Follow-on trainingontheirusewillbescheduledat a later date at Lethem Regional Hospital.

The oxygen generators will help to alleviate shortages in remote areas and support medical care for the most vulnerable communities by supplying oxygeninprimaryhealthcarefacilities.

Thisdonationwillhelpover61,000 people in Regions 1, 8, and 9 by providing oxygen, which is essential in thefightagainstCOVID-19.

Becausetheoxygenisproducedonsite and supplied directly to the facilities, there is no need for oxygen

tanks The plants provide an independent oxygen source, another significant savings for the Government ofGuyana.

United States Ambassador to Guyana,Sarah-AnnLynch,handedover the oxygen generators to Minister of HealthDr FrankAnthony

The donation is part of a U.S. Department of Defense strategy in Guyana to help Caribbean partners improvetheirresponsecapabilities.

GECOM to discuss CEO’s proposal for extension to correct Register of Voters at special meeting Thursday

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is scheduled to hold discussions on the proposal by its Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Vishnu Persaudfortheretobea14day exercise to correct the Register of Voters (voters list) for the upcoming local elections.

Coalition approached the court seeking several declarations and four orders intended to nullify the preliminary list of electors and give rise to a new Register of Voters, before LocalGovernmentElections (LGE)areheld.

Persaud in his letter to the GECOM chair warned

The discussion is scheduled for Thursday during a special meeting of t h e C o m m i s s i o n , Commissioner Vincent Alexanderconfirmed.

Persaud’s proposal is in responsetotheCourtAction filedbytheAPartnershipfor National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition calling for the current voters’ list for LGE tobescrappedduetovarious legalconcerns.

TheCEOinalettertothe Chairurgedthattheelectoral body gives consideration to the delaying of holding LocalGovernmentElections to facilitate corrections to theRegistersofVoters.

Persaud’s letter comes days after the APNU+AFC

that as a major election stakeholder, the Coalition’s concerns should not be ignored and as such, he set outseveralproposalstocure thedefectsonthelists.

Inhisletter,Persaudtold Singh that whereas the Registers of Voters (RoVs) for all 80 Local Authority Areas (LAAs), have been extractedinaccordancewith theprovisionofSection5(6) of the Elections Law (Amendment)Act,No.15of 2000,herattentionshouldbe drawn to the APNU+AFC courtaction.

In this regard, Persaud underlined that the “APNU+AFC is a major parliamentarystakeholderin theconductofelectionsin

U.S. Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch and Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony exchange handshakes during the handing over ceremony. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Embassy)

Chairman of GECOM, Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh

MoneyChangershotduring brazen robberyonWaterStreet

ByShervinBelgrave

Two armed motorbike banditsonMondaybrazenly robbedtwoMoneyChangers andshotoneofthemamong a crowd of vendors and shoppersalongWaterStreet, Georgetown.

The victims have been identified as a 66-year-old male Pensioner of V l i s s e n g e n R o a d , Georgetown, and a 41-year oldmanofSophia.Bothmen were reportedly plying their trade on Water Street when thetwomen,onearmedwith a gun pounced on them around13:45hinthevicinity ofKFC.

The duo snatched cash –local and foreign currencyfrom both men but shot the 66-year-old man after he fought them. The Pensioner is hospitalized in a stable

conditionattheGeorgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Police said in a report.

AccordingtoPolicethey ruffeduptheSophiamanand snatched his stack of cash firstbeforeattackingthe66year-old.

Security cameras mounted on a nearby building captured the moment the Pensioner was robbed and shot. The 66year-old man was sitting on plastic chair next to a stall withastackofcashinhisleft hand when the bandits ran towards and grabbed him. Other vendors close by ran and left their stalls while shoppersscattered.

Ascuffleensuedbetween thebanditandthePensioner The bandit, armed with the gun grabbed the cash but as he was about to make his

Screen grab from the robbery footage showing one of the bandits pointing a gun at the Money Changer.

escape, the Pensioner grabbed onto second bandit and was not letting him go. According to Police, the victimhadpulledoutaknife from his pants waist to defendhimself.

It was at this point, according to the footage seen, that the armed bandit shotthemoneychanger The bullet struck the man to his forearmandhewasforcedto let go of the gunman’s accomplice Police added that the bullet had also entered the man’s lower abdomen.

Both bandits fled the scene and were reportedly seen escaping on a motorcycle they had parked a short distance away on WaterStreet.

Eyewitnesses who were shoppingintheareaatthe Continuedonpage22

UNagenciescallforstrengtheningofagricultural...

Frompage14 have accelerated starting in May2020.

The12-monthfoodprice index at a regional level reached11.7%inSeptember 2022, versus 7.1% in the

case of headline inflation.

According to FAO, the food priceindex,measuredinreal terms, reached a historic high of 156 3 points in March2022.

Mario Lubetkin, FAO

Assistant Director-General andRegionalRepresentative for Latin America and the Caribbean, noted that “hunger and food insecurity increased in the region by 30% between 2019 and

2021. The high dependence on fertilizer imports and the variationinfoodpriceshasa negative and unavoidable impact on livelihoods, mainly of the rural population,andonaccessto ahealthydiet.”

Lubetkin added that while the FAO food price index declined in the last seven months, its level remains 14% higher comparedto2021.

“Strengthening social protection systems in rural areas,particularlyforfamily farmers, and removing restrictions on international trade in food and fertilizers will be key measures in responding to the current crisis.”

Furthermore, the study indicates that bolstering the active role that social protection systems including national school feeding programs performed during the pandemic’s most critical phaseisanecessitytoensure that the most vulnerable

segments of the population, such as children and older persons, are not irreversibly affected by the increase in foodprices.

“In a regional scenario where multi dimensional poverty is increasingly linked to food and nutrition insecurity and where different crises are compounding deep structuralinequalities,social protection systems, including school feeding, play a critical role in mitigating people’s vulnerability before, during and after the crises. At the WorldFoodProgramme,we are accompanying National Governmentstoidentifyand respondtotheseincremental needs, by using and expanding social protection in a sustainable way, in addition to continually strengtheningthesesystems’ preparedness, in order to leave no one behind,” said Lola Castro, WFP’s Regional Director for Latin AmericaandtheCaribbean.

Also, ensuring small producers’ access to fertilizers and bio-fertilizers is a necessary and valid measure if it is focused on the producers that need it most and is conditional on improving efficiency in the use of these inputs and the sustainability of agricultural activity

The financing of these initiatives must include not onlypublicbudgetsbutalso development banks, private banks (with the creation of guarantee mechanisms) and otherinternationalfinancing alternatives such as green and social bonds, the documentadds.

Finally, the report emphasizes that the complexityandscopeofthe policies needed to reconcile emergency responses with efforts to reduce structural and fiscal problems require coordinationinvariousareas macroeconomic, social and productive – and the articulationofresponsesata regionallevel.

PPP's culture of fear OP:ED

By GHK Lall

Guyana's environment is now saturated with a culture of fear Thanks to the PPP Government and its calculating leaders, numerous citizens are unnerved, uneasy, and unsettled.Any strengths that they had, they keep bottled up due to their chronic suspicions, their highly sensitive perceptions that to cross the path of a malicious and vindictive PPP Governmentanditsagentsis the equivalent of a kiss of death.

As encountered, there is this overwhelming fear of the death of one's career, the righttoearnanhonestliving, and take care of family There is this overpowering fear that business interests, existing or prospective, could run into roadblocks thatareneverlifted.

There is the dreadful fear that one's very safety and s e c u r i t y c o u l d b e jeopardised,andwithoutany recourse to positive

developments from the guardians of local law Men and women fear being markedandtargeted.

I am familiar with Burnham Time. It was always palpable, a tenseness that invaded the weak and worried, which made Guyanese fear their own shadows. It was a bad time, andlastedforalongtime.He had his minions and goons, and the man had his instruments of the State to unleash at those brave enough and foolish enough to challenge his authority Using that time as context and reference, I detect significant elements of that same fear flowing through Guyaneselife.

Most citizens are fearful to express their thoughts, the w a y t h e y i n t e r p r e t developments.

It could be about this precious oil and gas; it could berelatedtothepowerofthe President (actual or make believe); or, that most watched one, the master manipulator and his

machinations How he movespeoplearoundatwill, how he gets men to do his bidding in blind obeisance, how there are many willing to execute borderline or the unacceptable, to fulfill his visions of total control. Due to this state in the domestic environment, most citizens are fearful of any type of thinking at all, preferring to hold their peace, having nothing to say, stand for, or share.

Many are the men and women who are fearful of writing a letter, making a statement that comes across as remotely critical of this PPP Government, though they see, hear, and learn of the lengthy wrongdoings The safe thing that they have settledforistowhispertothe most trusted friends only, and then only guardedly The majority of Guyanese have reached that stage whereNorthKoreais,where there is forced agreement and ready surrender to get along.

Guyanese go along with

the flow as invisibly and silently as they can, so as not to attract unwanted attention to themselves, hamper their prospects, or that of their familymembers.

The fear is so thick and widespread in this society today that lawyers will shrink from getting involved incertaincases. Thinkcourt filings re oil and gas, about taxes, or environment Those officers of the court who actually consent to participate and lead the way for relief and some justice fortheGuyanesepeoplefind themselves quietly labeled, blacklisted, and rendered persona non grata in their own land of birth. This is what I see that citizenship has deteriorated to, and which only degrades still deeperdaily

The few that buck the culture of sweeping fear stalking Guyana and Guyanese come in for an array of vitriol and vileness. It is more subdued in the independent media, but in the free flowing verbal

trafficofthedarkbackalleys of social media, there are no limits to the rage, the attempts at intimidation, and always to snuff out thinking and postures that contradict the polished but inauthentic narratives of the PPP Government and its army of salesmen and saleswomen ready to swamp any dissent.If there are to be believed, then what is present in Guyana for governance and leadership and standards are beyond immaculate.

There are these kinds of political fanatics in the public domain, and anyone who dares to dissent with that official stance is automatically branded a heretic. Or a racist. Or a hypocrite.

Those in the PPP taking these positions know all too wellofthemanyperversities occurring under this current regime with taxpayers' money, with public works projects,andwithoil,among countless other matters and sectors of government's

presence. Yet they persist futilely because the objective is to compel to one voicetotheoneofficialtruth that favors the twisted ambitionsofoneleader

There is now such pathological insecurity in PPP ranks that men are recruited to drown out, dissuade, and damage the conscientiousobjections of thosewhopointtoandspeak of the nakedness of local emperors and their cabal of the blind and the willing.

The constant today in Guyana is fear Burnham delivered it The PPP reinstateditatamuchhigher level.

Man chopped to death in sleep after 'football row'

A32-year-old man was early Tuesday morning chopped to death in his sleep after a row over football at Aurora Backdam while his younger brother received chopwounds.

DeadisRafaelCadogan.Cadogan's younger brother Clive is currently nursingchopwoundsatacityhospital.

Fisherman caught with gun, ammo at sports bar

A man was arrested on Monday afternoon at Tuschen on the West Coast of Demerara, after he was searchedbypoliceranksand afirearmandfive.38rounds of ammunition were found inhispossession.

Chavez Watson a 30year-old fisherman, of Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara was arrested by police ranks in Regional Division 3, at about 14:30 hrs on Monday, November 4, 2022, at a Sports Bar, located on the Tuschen PublicRoad.

Police reported that ranks acting on information received, went to the sports bar, and after identifying themselves, conducted a search on Watson and found

the firearm and ammunition inhisrightsidepantspocket.

He was cautioned, arrested, and escorted by ranks to the Leonora Police Station along with the firearmandammunition.

Kaieteur News understands that the chopping occurred at a mining camp and followed a row over football betweenthesuspectandCliveCadogan onMonday

This newspaper was informed that the row led to a fight between the Clive

and the suspect and Rafael intervened todefendhisbrother

Following the altercation, the brothers returned to their camp where theyslept.

On Tuesday morning, the suspect reportedlytookrevengebyenteringthe men's camp and viciously attacked themwithacutlasswhiletheyslept.

Commander of the Region Seven District, Dion Moore, confirmed the chopping incident but up to press time could not disclose much information. Moore explained that his ranks were at the Aurora Backdam where investigationsareongoing.

Cristina Fernández: Argentina awaits verdict in VP's trial

Judges in Argentina are due to deliver a verdict later on Tuesday in a corruption case involving the country's Vice President, 69-year-old Cristina FernándezdeKirchner

Ms Fernández is accused of aggravated fraud and leading a conspiracy to award public works contracts to a friend, charges she denies.Prosecutors are seeking a 12year jail sentence and want her banned fromholdingpublicofficeforlife.

Iffoundguilty,shecanappeal.

Ms Fernández says the charges against her are politically motivated and in her last appearance before the court last week, she compared it to a "firingsquad".

She also accused the prosecutors of lying and slandering her The prosecutors accuse Ms Fernández of

leading an unlawful partnership during the time when she was president of Argentina from 2007 to 2015.They allege that she created a kickback scheme which steered lucrative public work contracts towards a friend of hers in return for bribes.The businessman accused of being the main beneficiary of the scheme is Lázaro Báez, the owner of a construction firm, who was sentencedto12yearsinprisonlastyear formoney-laundering.

Ms Fernández and Lázaro Báez are among a total of 13 people on trial whomprosecutorsaccuseofrunning"a systemofinstitutionalcorruption".

The prosecutors say that they uncovered irregularities in dozens of public work tenders awarded in the southern province of Santa Cruz, Ms Fernández's political stronghold. Many

of the construction projects were never completed.Prosecutor Diego Luciani described it as "probably the biggest corruption operation the country has known" He also said the alleged kickback scheme had caused the Argentine state a loss of at least $1bn (£818m) Ms Fernández has vehemently denied all the allegations against her.The case has proven highly divisiveinArgentinawithsupportersof Ms Fernández taking to the streets outside of her apartment in Buenos Aires to show their backing of the Vice President.At times, they have faced off with critics of Ms Fernández, who accuseherofbeinga"thief".

It was during one of these gatherings on 1 September, that Ms Fernández became the target of an assassinationattempt.

Arrested, Chavez Watson

The handgun and .38 ammo found

Murdered: Rafael Cadogan

WANTED

Driver, sales man, porters to work in warehouse. Must have experience , attractive salary offered. Call: 6964444.

Live-in domestic/ maid and canter driver to work in the Interior. Call: 614-1819.

VACANCY

Hotel attendant needed at Hick's Ville Hotel.Tel: 6400673, 227-7714, email: info@vegeworld.com

Wanted: Experienced supervisor, cashier, counter person, cooks and labourer. Apply @ Shanta's, 225 Camp and New Market Sts.

DEAR EDITOR,

Money Changer shot during brazen...

From page 19 time said that it was a traumatizing experience for them.

jersey and a face mask”, recalled the woman.

One of them said that she was crossing over Water Street towards KFC to purchase a meal when she heard something like squib explode but as she was about to take another step she reportedly froze after seeing a man running away with some cash in one hand and a gun in the other.

“Me and he eye mek four, he had on a lang khaki pants, a flap hat, a black long sleeve

A few seconds later, the woman said, she saw a man run out from behind a stall bleeding and holding onto his belly before collapsing to the ground.

hear about these things but it was the first time I ever witnessed it and it was not nice,” said the woman.

A crowd reportedly gathered around him quickly and an ambulance was summoned. The man, identified as a Money Changer, was rushed to the hospital.

“I wanted to go home right away, it was a scary moment, I does only read and

Others described the bandits as brazen and related that they had carried out the robbery just meters away from a parked police car.

Police, however, are yet to identify the suspects and locate them.

Detectives have since obtained security footage and recovered a .32 spent shell from the scene.

Investigations are ongoing.

GECOM to discuss CEO’s proposal...

Carpenters, masons and labourers required. Call: 645-9805. Data Entry clerk needed. Apply to: Essential Care Pharmacy & Supercentre , Block X Mandela Avenue or G3 Building Diamond East Bank Demerara Or Via E-mail - essentialcarepharmacy@ yahoo.com

Urgently need one female cook/ kitchen attendant for the Interior. Call: 689-4461/ 662-6254 for more info.

Two porters and 1 experience cook that specialize in cooking curry, fried rice, chowmein, etc. Contact: 231-6591/ 648-8279.

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

1 experienced hairdresser with cutting & clipper skills and one nail technician & pedicurist. Apply @ Nayelli salon & spa located on 211 New Market St. Call: 2262124/ 621-8851.

1 domestic age 28-40 to work 2 times per week. Call: 6137651/ 649-3783.

One experience accounts clerk required. Call: 2310363.

General domestic covid vaccinated for Tuesday's & Saturday's between Cove & John & Machaica, E.C.D. Call: 259-0953/623-3231.

Handyman, maid & male receptionist for night needed. Call: 225-9211.

Experienced crew (Jet, Maroc, Pitmen) and servicemen required for mining operation. Must be willing to work through christmas and the new year. Call: 697-2533.

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

Sales Rep and driver for car & van needed. Must be knowledgeable of CAT SYS and 30 years & above. Email: agriparts2022 @gmail.com

Cook/ baker, pitman and servicemen for Interior location. Applicants must be experienced. Call: 615-0545 or 2312250.

Experienced manager for one location, good customer service is a must! Whatsapp: 675-1509.

One Housekeeper to work in Providence. Call: 680-3678.

Vacancy for Carpenters, apply in person to Alabama Trading at 65 Robb street Bourda.

Pastry maker, driver/ salesman, porters, table hand, sales clerk, security & cleaners needed. Apply @ Humphrey's Bakery & farm, call: 225-7864/ 225-7281.

One general domestic to work in G/town. Must know to iron clothes. Call: 6153379 between 8:00-4:30.

With reference to the Columnist, Freddie Kissoon’s publication in the Kaieteur Newspaper dated Monday, December 05, 2022, captioned, ‘Air condition driving, antifreeze coolant and Leonard Gildarie,’ please be advised that the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) does not monitor the importation of antifreeze coolant. Currently, the GNBS monitors Electrical Appliances and Electronic Appliances, Weighing and Measuring Devices, Textiles, Garments, Footwear, Safety Helmets, Safety Matches, Tyres, Gas Stoves, Cigarettes, PVC Pipes, Furniture, Toys and Playthings, Christmas Trees and Decorative Lighting, Cellular Phones, Gold Articles, Electrical Equipment and Fittings. Yours sincerely, Guyana National Bureau of Standards

From page 18 Guyana, in this case, overdue Local Government Elections. This Coalition is concerned that, notwithstanding the provision of Section 5(6) of the Elections Law (Amendment) Act, No. 15 of 2000, the current RoVs were not extracted in compliance with the provisions outlined in the Local Authority (Elections) Act, Cap. 28:03.”

The GECOM CEO said the main concern of the APNU+AFC, as has been repeatedly raised by

Commissioner, Charles Corbin at Statutory Meetings of the Commission, is that the electorate was denied the opportunity to scrutinize the RoVs, with specific reference to the constituency RoVs.

More, Persaud said specifically, it appears that the APNU+AFC is concerned that members of the public were not given the opportunity to (i) claim entry in the respective constituency RoVs, providing they qualify for such inclusion based on residency, and (ii) object to

the inclusion of electors in constituency RoVs who do not meet the residency requirement for such inclusion.

Meanwhile, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) , in a Press Release said that it “will not be opposed to GECOM embarking upon another round of Claims and Objections in respect of the Register of Voters for the upcoming Local Government Elections proposed to be held in 2023”.

SERVICES

Visa application: Canada and UK & U.S.A. Graphics design & advertisements.

Wedding decorations & elderly grooming: hair, nail etc. Call: 626-7040.

Repair & install fridge, freezer, washer & dryer, AC units, stove, etc. Whatsapp/ Call: 637-4927, 654-9511 or 683-8734.

FOR RENT

2 and 3 Bedroom fully furnished luxury apartments to rent. Tel:# 682-2585, 6648641, 691-1432.

VEHICLES FOR SALE

DAF CF85 Double Axle Twin Steer Dump Trucks for sale. $9 Mil each negotiable. Call 658-9008 for inquiries.

2014 Nissan X-Trail $4.5 Mil negotiable. Excellent condition, dark blue colour & black interior. Call 658-9008.

One Honda CRV,fully loaded immaculate condition, low mileage 3.3M negotiable & 1 new super custom Hiace Bus 2.5M .Contact:6490956.

One 3 seater Dump canter Toyota Dyna. Call: 225-2192 ( during working hours).

2009 model Nissan Qashqai/ Dualis for sale 2Million. Call Duane 632-1047 for further details.

Brand new 6x4 and 6x6 Sinotruk " Howo" Dump truck. Call: 623-1615.

FOR SALE

Ginger, cassareep, tumeric and morocott fish for sale at wholesale and retail also good quality carpets for sale at reasonable price. Call: 6699258.

GNBS does not monitor the importation of anti-freeze coolant

$349M estimated to reconstruct North West Secondary School

t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n , were destroyed by fire last rehabilitation, extension, year and maintenance of AlreadytheMinistryhas educationalfacilities. gone through the tender

This would see the process to reconstruct the commencement of the North Ruimveldt Secondary construction of the Prospect School. That contract which Secondary School, and the is worth $556M was reconstruction of North awardedinAugustlast. Ruimveldt and North West B e l o w a r e t h e Secondary Schools, which companiesandtheirbids:

MinistryofEducation Re-constructionofNorthWest SecondarySchool,RegionOne.

TSolutionInc.,N&SGeneral Police ranks who aScienceLab,anofficeand he reconstruction Engineering & Contracting responded did their best to a Home Economics oftheNorthWest Service,andSateshNarine. extinguish the blaze but due Department, along with S e c o n d a r y

On September 25, 2021 to the lack of a fire truck in computers, stationery and School located in the North West Secondary thearea,theywereunableto labequipment. Mabaruma, Region One is School, a two storey savetheschool. TheGuyanaFireService estimated to cost wooden and concrete The blaze lasted for (GFS) had revealed that the approximately $349M and building, which measured hours and was finally firewasanactofarson. fiveContractorshavebidfor approximately 150ft by extinguished around Duringtheconsideration theproject. 200ft.,wasdestroyedbyfire. 02:00hrsthefollowingday of the 2022 budget, Senior

The Contractors are:

Accordingtoreports,the Over 600 students were Minister of Finance, Dr Aruca Inc., Angad Ganesh fire started sometime after housed in the school which Ashni Singh disclosed that B u i l d i n g G e n e r a l 22:00hrsthatday consisted of six classrooms, $6.6Bhasbeenallocatedfor Construction, APlus Total

Unentered Registered Motor Vessels Operating in Guyana - GRA

The Guyana Revenue Authority and registration of these vessels to the enforcecompliance.” (GRA)onTuesdaysaidthatithasnoted RevenueAuthority’sLawEnforcement GRA said that it is committed to several instances where motor vessels andInvestigationsDivisiononorbefore working with stakeholders for the are being imported, registered and January31,2023tohavethesaidmotor developmentofGuyana.“Bereminded operated in Guyana without the vessels deemed entered in accordance that the Authority faithfully remains paymentoftheapplicabletaxes. with the provisions of Section 2 of the yourpartnerindevelopmentofGuyana

The GRA hereby advises all such CustomsAct,Chapter82:01. and is committed to working with all importers to have themselves fully Inapressrelease,theAuthoritysaid suchpersonstoensurecompliancewith regularized, by submitting the relevant that “Failure to do so will allow the theNation’sTax,TradeandBorderlaws documentspertainingtotheimportation GRA to take the necessary actions to administered,”thePressReleasesaid.

25 new COVID-19 cases recorded

Guyana recorded 25 new COVID-19 cases, the Ministry of HealthreportedonTuesday

TheMinistryinitsdailyupdate said that of 314 COVID-19 tests conducted, 25 new cases were detected within the last 24 hours taking the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 71,679. The Ministry’s updated dashboard stated that the 25 cases weredetectedinRegionFourwhich recorded14newcases,Region

One which recorded five, Region Six which recorded three, Region Nine which recorded two and Region Three which recorded onecase.

Withnonewdeathsornoperson admitted into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), the dashboard shows that six persons are in institutional isolation,155areinhomeisolation and to date 70,233 persons have recoveredfromthevirus.

MinistryofCulture,YouthandSport Procurementofplayground equipment–NationalTrustofGuyana.

Procurementoftacticalequipment.

MinistryofHealth Procurementofcubiclesand accessoriesforHeadOfficebuilding.

Designandsupervisionservicesforthe re-constructionofmodernHomeEconomics andIndustrialArtsbuildingatQCCompound.

MinistryofHomeAffairs Procurementofcarrierboogie.

Designandsupervisionservicesforthere-constructionof modernschoolbuilding/complexanddormitorytohouse 800studentsinclassroom,400pupilsindormitoryand40 teachersinTeachersQuarters,RegionSeven.

Designandsupervisionservicesforthere-constructionof modernschoolbuilding/complexanddormitorytohouse 800studentsinclassroomand400pupilsinthedormitory and40teachersintheTeachersQuarters,RegionSeven (Kamarang).

North West Secondary School which was destroyed by fire last year.

GECOMemployeesrefusetotestifyatElectionsCOI

Three employees of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) have refused to testify before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the March 2020 General and Regional Elections despite being summoned bytheCommission.

The employees, who first appeared before the Commission onTuesday, filed a Fixed Date Application(FDA)inthe High Court and are requesting that the summonsbequashed.

ThetrioDeniseBabbCummings, Shefern February, and Carolyn Duncan had initiated proceedings on Monday, citing that the summons amounts to a breach of their constitutional rights a g a i n s t s e l f incrimination under Article 144oftheConstitution.

During their appearance Tuesday, the trio was accompanied by their AttorneyEusiAnderson.

They were informed by the Commission’s Chairman, Justice (Ret’d) Stanley John that the Commission’s requests for

— file lawsuit over summons

their testimony was granted bytheHighCourt.

Justice (Ret’d) John informed the GECOM employees that the Commission is aware of the criminalchargeslaidagainst theminthe2020elections.

“Accordingly, it is our duty to remind you of the right against self incriminationandtherightto

silence Additionally, you have the right to be represented by Counsel and Counsel is actually here this morning,” the Chairman said.

Anderson in response explained that the three GECOM employees are all facing criminal charges and should only be asked to providebiometricdata.

“Ms Duncan had the allegation put to her specifically by the Guyana Police Force that she along with others, in her capacity, as whatever role she performed at the Guyana Elections Commission, conspired to rig the Guyana March 2020 General and RegionalElections.”

Anderson said that on

that basis, “It is my respectful view that their attendance here as witnesses, to speak to issues forwhich…MsDuncanisto bepotentiallyprosecuted…I am humbly asking for only their biometric data or anything that is in the public.”

The Commission still afforded the trio a chance to

make statements but they chosetoremainsilent.

In the FDA, the trio is seeking declarations inter aliathatthesummonsisan infringement of their rights to a fair trial given that they are being called upon to testify at a public inquiryabouttheelections while they are facing criminal trials for fraud related to the same electionsprocess.

Theyare,amongother things, requesting permanent injunctions to prevent the CoI from compelling anyone facing criminal charges to testify atthehearings.

T h e G E C O M employees also want $50Meachindamagesfor breach of due process, a fair trial, and the State’s duty to ensure they each haveafairtrial.

In August 2020, the trio was slapped with charges in relation to electoral fraud. They were accused of inflating the results of Region Four – the country’s largest voting district – in favour of the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC)Coalition.

Carolyn Duncan

Denise Babb-Cummings

Shefern February

Morocco knocks out Spain on penalty kicks to advance to quarterfinals

Yahoo Sports Goalkeeper

Yassine Bounou saved two of Spain's three penalties as Morocco pulled the upset of the 2022 World Cup knockout rounds in a penaltykickwinoverthe2010champions.

Achraf Hakimi calmly chipped the ball down the middle past a diving Unai Simón for the gameclinching penalty The game went to penalty kicks after the two sides tied 0-0 in regulation and failed to scoreagoalinextratime.

It's the first time Morocco has ever made it to the quarterfinals of theWorldCup.TheMoroccanswill play Saturday against the winner of Tuesday's match between Portugal andSwitzerland.

Spain's Pablo Sarabia came on near the end of extra time and grazed the post with the final

chanceofthematch.Hekickedfirst for Spain and bounced his shot off therightpost.

Bounou, who plays for La Liga side Sevilla, then saved kicks by Carlos Soler and Sergio Busquets. Hakimi,whowasbornandraisedin Madrid, kicked fourth for the Moroccans and his goal won the game after Badr Benoun's kick was savedbySimón.

NoneofthethreeSpainplayers' penalties appeared to have any sizzle. It was almost like they were simply trying to pass the ball into the net and Bounou clearlyrealized it.

Morocco has been one of the best stories of the tournament. It won Group F over Croatia and Belgium and has given up just one goal through the first four games of

Wednesday December 07, 2022

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19

Today you can expect to have some disagreements with your partner or friend, Aries. You may overreact. If you do, it's only because the climate of the last few days has made you feel more vulnerablethanusual.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20)

Today you will be confrontational, Taurus. This comes after several weeks of holding yourself back from openly criticizing other people.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

You must be wondering whatintheworldisgoingon? On the one hand, you have humanistic and harmonious thoughts about your family andworkenvironment.

CANCER (June 21–July 22)

You may be planning for the future, Cancer, yet find yourself needing to make choices that will resonate far beyondthenextfewmonths.

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

You can expect to be volatile today, Leo! No one will dare contradict you or insinuate that you've taken yourideasfromothers.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22)

Don't hesitate to speak up for what is right, Virgo, even if it means confronting someone with power. So be it.Theslightestinjusticecan't betolerated.

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

Libra, no one has ever accused you of being overly diplomatic. In fact, since you have no compunction about saying what you think, your mouthregularlygetsyouinto trouble.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

There's some likelihood you'll become irritated with someone close to you today, Scorpio. Just who do they thinktheyare,anyway?

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

Something's gotten into you today, Sagittarius. An iconoclasticimpinsideyouis determined to tear down every convention, especially intheartworld.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

If you're involved in an occupation similar to that of your mother or father, Capricorn, today you may question if the choice was yoursorpreordained.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18)

Most people form their opinions on the basis of what they're told by a few people who supposedly know what they'retalkingabout.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)

If you're involved with thearts,thedayaheadwillbe a bright one for you, Pisces. You feel a strong desire to bring people together in pursuit of some artistic endeavor Listen to your longings

the tournament. And that came on an own-goal against Canada. Morocco has shut out all three of Croatia,BelgiumandSpain.

Morocco is also the only country outside of Europe and South America to make the quarterfinalsandthefirstAfrican countrytomakethequarterfinals of the World Cup when Ghana wonin2010.

That 2010World Cup final is alsothelasttimeSpainhaswona knockout round game in the World Cup. Spain failed to get out of its group in 2014 and has been eliminated in the Round of 16 in each of the past two World Cups. Four years ago, Spain was eliminated by Russia on penalty kicks.

Spain found itself playing MoroccoonTuesdayafterlosing to Japan in the final round of the group games. Had Spain beaten Japan, it would have faced Croatia on Monday But you have to win to get to the quarterfinals. And Spain simply didn't do that despite dominating possession and limiting Morocco'sattackingchances.

Spain had the ball over 75% of the time and had 13 shots to Morocco's two. But just one of those 13 shots was on target — not counting Sarabia's flick off thepostinthewaningseconds— as Morocco's defence was impenetrable.

Morocco's Achraf Hakimi converts during the penalty shoot-out to win the match against Spain on Dec. 6, 2022. (Photo by KARIM JAAFAR / AFP via Getty Images)

President's Cup tournament draw excites

Missing out on hosting 50 CARIFTA Games is AAG's biggest disappointment for 2022

By Rawle Toney

The CARIFTA Games, the Caribbean's largest track and field event, was supposed to have its Golden Jubilee celebration in Guyanain2023.

It was heralded as the first time since the games started that it would've been held in the Land of Many Waters.

Guyana is a founding member of CARIFTA, and in 1972 the games were initiated to mark the Caribbean Free Trade Association's transition to CARICOM,givingtheevent in Guyana historical relevance.

However, in what can only be best described as a 'fumble of the baton' between the Government of Guyana (past and present) andtheAthleticsAssociation of Guyana (AAG), the country lost its right to host the 50th edition of the prestigiousevent.

The North American, Central American and C a r i b b e a n A t h l e t i c Association (NACAC), custodians of the CARIFTA Games, announced the games, instead, will be h o s t e d i n t h e Commonwealth of The Bahamas, following the AAG's inability to garner enough support, especially from the Government of Guyana.

“It was the biggest disappointment for the sport (of Track and Field),” Hutson told Kaieteur News whenaskedabouttheyearin the sport in which he has been president for the past decade.

“I don't think the Government (of Guyana) bought into the CARIFTA Games,” the usually candid Hutsonsaid.

Guyanawonabidtohost the games in 2019, but the AAG failed to secure a written commitment from theGovernmentofGuyana.

The AAG, according to the well-placed source, was only able to get the Government's verbal commitment,whileNACAC was pressing for an official agreement, which is mandatory

To be fair, the AAG has been asking for a written commitment from the governmentsince2019.

Sources confirmed, also, that the AAG had told the current government that

apart from their letter of commitment, the local organising committee was struggling to find sufficient rooms to house the delegation of officials, athletes and dignitaries from participatingcountries.

Hutson, however, b e l i e v e s t h a t t h e Government of Guyana “got cold feet.”“It was more of a national embarrassment, honestly When we stand up in meetings, telling NACAC that we have a commitment andeverythingwillbesetfor us to host the games, and then, we did It was embarrassing,” Hutson noted.

“It's not just important because of our history in CARIFTA, but it's important to host events like the CARIFTA Games to expose m o r e a t h l e t e s t o International competition,” theAAGpresidentsaid.

Huston pointed to the country'shostingofthe2017 S o u t h A m e r i c a n Championships, where they had the second highest medals (25), only behind Brazil(32).

“If you look at how Guyana is seen since the SouthAmericanU20thatwe hosted, our performance there helped to elevate and how we're respected in track andfield.Weperformedwell because we were able to expose a lot more of our athletes to international competition,”Hutsonsaid.

Nonetheless, Hutson said the AGG remains committed to ensuring that the country's best talents, eligible for the CARIFTA Games, are given the opportunity to compete, whereverthegamesareheld.

The 2017 CARIFTA Games will go down as one of the country's most memorable outings, with Guyana grabbing eight medals – four gold, three bronze and one silver.It was at the 46th edition of the games, hosted in Curacao, where Linden's Compton Caesar created history by winning Guyana's first-ever gold medal in the 100mattheevent.

Chantoba Bright is the most decorated Guyanese athlete (to date) at the CARIFTA Games, with the Kansas State student amassing a total of nine medals – three gold, four silver and two bronze in her four outings at the championship.

th

FLASHBACK! From left, Colonel Paul Arthur (LOC member); NACAC president Mike Sands, AAG president Aubrey Hutson, NACAC general secretary Keith Joseph and Mayfield Taylor-Trim (LOC member) during the NACAC team's visit to Guyana in 2020.

ISKF-Guyana Karate team claim 40 medals

at 2022 US International Karate Tournament

Junior and Senior National Hockey Teams to play Test Series against Barbados

After a four year hiatus from international hockey, mainly due to the COVID 19 Pandemic, the GuyanaJuniorandSeniorMenwill be taking on Barbados in a four match test series from December 8th to 11th at the Wildey Hockey Turf in Barbados. Both teams are preparing for the Junior Pan American Championships scheduled for April 2023 in Barbados and the CAC Games in June/July2023.

The team is scheduled to depart on Wednesday December 7th and will have two training sessions to adapt to the artificial turf prior to the series. The Under 21 matches are scheduled for 1:30PM and the Senior matches at 3:30PM on all fourdays.

The Guyana contingent of 29 players, 18 under 21 players and 11 seniors,with8ofthejuniorspulling double duty on both the junior and seniorteams.

This new look squad includes only 4 players with international experience, National Captain Robert France, Midfield Maestro JamarjAssanah, MeshachSargeant and defensive stalwart Kareem M c K e n z i e A l t h o u g h inexperienced,thenewmembersof the squad are not short of talent, with much expected from the likes of Shaquon Favorite, Shakeem Fausette,WarrenWilliams,Samuel WoodroffeandPaulD'Andrade.

The team will be managed by former national women's captain Marisha Fernandes and coached by John Abrahams & Robert Fernandes.

C o m m e n t i n g o n h i s expectations for the series Robert Fernandes stated, “We're excited to see how this new group adapts to international competition, we have averytalented,hardworkinggroup of youngsters who possess a high hockey IQ, the only thing we're short of is internationalexperience.

I view this series as an opportunity to see where we are in our preparation for the Junior PanAms and the CAC games next year It also gives us an opportunity to experiment with different systems, formations and personnel to see what works and what doesn't. I expect us to give a good account of

ourselves but the main purpose of this series is to learn and get better fornextyear.”

Under21NationalTeam Baraka Garnett, Darious Alleyne, Donnel Alleyne, Frederico Cush, Jabari Lovell, Javid Hussain, Leroy Geer, NkhrumaHutson,OshazaySavory,

Quinn Tobin, Raoul Whittaker, Samuel Woodroffe, Shakeem Fausette, Shaquon Favorite, Simeon Moore, Tahrea Garnett, Vladimir Woodroffe & Warren Williams.

SeniorNationalTeam Deheron Wilkinson, Dominic Alleyne, Frederico Cush, Jamarj

Assanah, Kareem Mc Kenzie, Meshach Sargeant, Oshazay Savory, Paul D'Andrade, Raoul Whittaker, Robert France, Samuel Woodroffe, Shaka Gill, Shakeem Fausette, Shaquon Favorite, Shomere Garnett, Tahrea Garnett, Tivesarid Garnett, Troy Hodge & WarrenWilliams.

Ronaldo's benching was fully vindicated as his replacement Goncalo Ramos scored a hat-trick to guide Portugal into the World Cupquarter-finalscourtesyofa6-1 demolitionofSwitzerland.

Fernando Santos had been angered by Ronaldo's attitude after being substituted in their defeat to South Korea and the veteran coach took the opportunity to bench the out-of-form37-year-oldyesterday.

It took Ramos 17 minutes to do what Ronaldo has never done for Portugal: score in a World Cup knockout game, and he would ultimately have a hand in four goals.Pepe, captain in Ronaldo's

absence, got Portugal's second and Ramos also teed up Raphael Guerreiro, with Manuel Akanji's

Goncalo Ramos scored a hat-trick

Ramos'openerwasentirelyout ofkeepingwithadullopening.

Joao Felix passed into the left side of the area and, after taking a touch,Ramossentabulletofaleftfooted strike into the top left cornerfromatightangle.

A fingertip Diogo Costa save from Xherdan Shaqiri's free-kick just before the half hour kept Portugal in front and they capitalised three minutes later as Pepe headed home Bruno Fernandes'corner.

Any hope of a turnaround was swiftlyputdownbytwogoalsearly in the second half.Ramos first turnedinDiogoDalot'slowcross

GHB's Junior National Hockey Team.

The Men's National Hockey Team.

consolation for Switzerland prior toRamos'hat-trickgoalandRafael Leao'slatestunneramerefootnote.

NSC, GHB applauds efforts in hosting Diamond Mineral Water Hockey

The National Sports Commission is extending thanks to the organizers of the Diamond Mineral Water for putting on a wonderful competition amidst the Covid 19 pandemic. When Kaieteur Sports spoke with thePresidentofTheGuyana Hockey Board [GHB] Mr Phillip Fernandes, he applauded everyone that made the event possible, despite the two year break duetothepandemic.Healso deemed the tournament was agreatsuccess.

Healsolamentedthat,as a result of Covid 19; the GHBfacedafewchallenges suchas,travelcost;whereby the cost of travel went up during this period, also disenfranchising of players; players were affected significantly, whereby both players, as well as teams from North America were unable to be a part of this year'scompetition.

Luckily,theywerereally good support from neighbouring Trinidad. Of which, we saw two men's teams came down from Trinidad as well as the femaleteamandtwoveteran teams. He confirmed that they definitely had good participation from the international Diaspora, which was good for the futurehockeytournamentin Guyanaandtheregion.

Despite the gap in terms

of the continuity of the games affected us majorly, also players suffered from lack of practice during the pandemic Due to this, players were unable to train atthistime.Theyindeedlost some ground leading up to competition,hesaid.

Nevertheless, to sum things up regarding the competition, we were still able to see great enthusiasm among players and we all witness high quality of play throughout the competition.

It is ok to say, the Guyana Hockey Board [GHB] and Diamond Mineral Water festival was indeed successful.

When reporters ask about the lack of support in thestands?Herevealedthat, his administration remains committed to continue evolving the sport in GuyanaandpromisesPublic Relationwillcontinuetoput

in the work to increase the level of support for future tournaments He also revealed also that the inclement weather played a part in the lack of support at thegames.

I t i s w i t h g r e a t consideration, after seeing the level of competitiveness by both male and female teams contested at Diamond Mineral Water Hockey festival we must thank the organizers for delivering a wonderful tournament.

The President of the GHB told reporters, he thought the teams that made it into the finals played fantastic hockey, even the other teams that took part of the competition contributed tothesuccessoftheeventby playing very high quality of hockey throughout the tournament.

According to Mr

Fernandes, the Guyanese teams may have suffered a bitfromnothavingaccessto facilities leading up to competition, due to the fact that many sports disciplines were trying to share the facility Andthereforeitwas less available to any one sport,heexplained.

But he promised, with the efforts that we see the administration is doing at themoment,wearelikelyto see more facilities for differentsports.Somuchare in store for hockey in Guyana and regionally for 2023.

Hockey action returns in 2023 with the new season beginning in late January There will be a full local calendar for hockey, which begins with the junior tournament, as well as the school tournament and of c o u r s e , t h e s e n i o r tournament.

Fernandesstatedthatthe main focus of the National sports Commission [NSC] at this time is preparing the senior Men's team for the C A C g a m e s T h e preparation of the senior Men's team remains top priority, as the Men's prepare to compete in the CAC games slated for next year The senior Men's who would have qualified for the CAC game which remains the main focus for 2023.

(Kester Williams)

Narine hits 113 in ESCL's Over-40 tournament

Ramesh Narine hit an entertaining 113 to pilot Invaders Masters to a resounding eight-wicket win over Devonshire Castle Sports Club (DCSC) in the latestroundmatchofthe2022 Essequibo Softball Cricket League (ESCL) Over-40, 20overscompetition.

Playing at Zorg Beach recently on the Essequibo C o a s t , R e g i o n Tw o (Pomeroon Supenaam), the left-hander Narine slammed four sixes and eight fours as Invaders reached 217-2 in the 20th over replying to DCSC's challenging 216-4 from the 20-overs.

Ramnarine, (only named given),pickeduptwowickets for35runsfromfourovers.

When DCSC batted, Latchman Singh struck 70 to be the top scorer while Darshan Persaud contributed 45 as skipper Linden Daniels captured 3 38 from four overs.

At the same venue, Hibernia Strikers defeated Queenstown Tigers by 163 runs. Strikers raced to an adequate 211 8 from the allotment of 20-overs while Tigers only responded with 148 all out in the penultimate

over ChandrikaGobinmade44 and he got support from Dhanraj Singh with 39 as Motielall Deepnarine took 334 in his four-over outing. Lloyd Inniss with three wickets as well but conceded 36runsfromfourovers.

In the Tigers' innings, Deepnarinemade25asGobin proved his all round capability by snatching 4-6 from three tidy overs. Seeram Ramkissoon assisted with 238fromfourovers.

In the other fixture, Sunrisers got a walk-over fromRavensSportsClub.

The action is set to continue this Sunday with three more matches at Zorg Beachfrom10:00am.

Caribbean Cricket Club 2 will take on DCSC while Ravens Sports Club and Queenstown Tigers will do battle. Invaders Masters will clash with Hibernia Strikers while Sunrisers have drawn thebye.

Notably, this edition is being played in memory of Dave Tajeshwar who was a very strong supporter of softballcricket.

His brother Vo Tajeshwar continues to be one of the mainsponsors.

Philip Fernandes; head of the GHB

Seasoned batsman

Ramesh Narine

Tiger Offshore

Rentals assists with logistics 2022KFCGoodwillTournament…

Ahead of the third edition of the Petra organised KFC Goodwill Tournament, the organising team continues to garner support from entities that will assist with the smooth flow of the event, which commences on December 14 at the Ministry of Education Ground, CarifestaAvenue.

Yesterday,TigerOffshore Rentals became the latest entity to lend a helping hand to the Petra Organisation, with the announcement that they will be providing meals and accommodation for the Trinidadian Team, St Benedict'sCollege.

St. Benedict's College are the current Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premiership Champions and will collide with Defending ChampionA n n a i , c u r r e n t GuyOil/Tradewind Tankers League Champions Christiansburg/Wismar, Golden Grove, Desrey Fox (Waramadong) and SVB AcademySurinameRepublic –theotherinvitedteam.

At a simple ceremony held at the company's head office on Middle Street and attended by Tiger Offshore Rentals Country Manager, Shane Singh, and Petra Director, Troy Mendonca, it was revealed that the venture isinitssecondyear.

In Singh's brief remarks, he said, “On behalf of Tiger rentalsGuyana,Iwanttofirst thank the organisers Petra and KFC. This is our second

timearoundcollaboratingfor t h e K F C G o o d w i l l tournament, this is the third annual and we're happy to be partofittwice.”

“We know that the COVID pandemic had a significant impact on the entire sporting fraternity and we're happy to see that these groups and organizations are putting a lot of work in to get these back on the ground and for those of you who know; Tiger Rentals is a big advocator for sport in Guyana, in particular, youth development.

We do have a couple other sport events that we're collaborating on and we're happytobeonboardwiththe Petra team and KFC group and I just want to wish the

youth footballers a successfultournament.

Be safe and have fun,” he stated.

Mendonca told the small gathering, “The teams are scheduled to start coming in between Monday and Tuesday so that we can start onWednesday.

Yes, I did say at the last press briefing that our Plan B will be at the NTC, because we know that they have the all-weather pitch and that is so because it's a tournament that has to run according to thedaysscheduled.”

“At the end of what we have done over the past couple of months is to really measure where we're at and we as an organization, we look at development and we would be very happy for

them to put up a good showing.

I think that coming out of t h e r e c e n t l e a g u e tournament, it put us in good

stead to give a good representation of ourselves,” theDirectoradded.

Meanwhile, the fixtures for the five-day tournament

willsoonberevealedwiththe date of culmination set as Friday, December 23, at the venue mentioned earlier - the designatedturfoftheevent.

Petra Director, Troy Mendonca (right), makes a point alongside Tiger Offshore Rentals Manager, Shane Singh.

Manager of Tiger Offshore Rentals, Shane Singh, hands over the sponsorship cheque to Petra Director, Troy Mendonca, in the presence of two employees of Tiger Offshore Rentals.

Morocco knock out Spain on penalty kicks to advance to quarterfinals

Sports

President's Cup tournament draw excites

Tournament Director, Brian Joseph, GFF president Wayne Forde, and K&S Co-Director Kashif Muhammad, at today's tournament drawing for the One Guyana President's Cup. (Rawle Toney photo)

Morocco players celebrate after eliminating Spain from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. (Photo by Hector Vivas - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saved three penalties.