Kaieteur News

The missing container snackette

Hillfoot man charged with murder of reputed wife

Linden Kellman also known as “Jason” was on Tuesday charged with the murder of his reputed wife, U m a d a i L a l l a k a “Samantha”onFridaylast.

Thieves cart off vendor’s mobile container snackette from seawall

A vendor’s 20-foot container snackette she received a call from an acquaintance, has reportedly been carted away by thieves informing that the mobile snackette had from the Georgetown seawall some two days disappeared. The vendor has since made a ago. Facebook post offering a $160,000 reward to

Theownerofthecontainer,KeshaCoates anyone who can assist her in locating the lives on the Essequibo Region Two but had missingcontainersnackette. reservedaspotattheseawallsometwoyears Presently, the vendor is hoping that ago to open up a fast food business there. security footage from nearby buildings can However,authoritiestoldhershehadtohave provideaclueaboutthedisappearanceofher amobilestand. mobile snackette K a i e t e u r N e w s

She managed to raise some cash and understands that a group of men were purchased a 20 foot container for some reportedly seen removing the woman’s $400,000 and had transported it to the spot property Ifanyoneknowsthewhereaboutsof last month. Coates was hoping to start up her the missing snackette, kindly make contact food business just in time for the Christmas with Coates on telephone number, 674-1583 holidays but her hopes were shattered after or660-8444orthenearestpolicestation.

Kellman, a 44-year-old welder of Hillfoot, Soesdyke/Linden Highway a p p e a r e d a t t h e Diamond/Golden Grove Magistrate’s Court before Her Worship Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman. He was not required to plead to the indictable charge and wasremandedtoprisonuntil January12,2023.

According to reports, the welder on Friday last woke up and found his commonlaw wife dead next him, hours after he had reportedly beaten her during an alleged altercation at their home.

he began quarreling with the The welder said that he The suspect, according woman about her condition dealt her several cuffs to her police has since admitted to and she allegedly started to head and face until she beating the woman on fightwithhim.Afterawhile, calmed down and then he Thursday night before going thefightingstopped. wenttosleep. tobed.

He reportedly told claimed that he entered the when he awoke around investigators that he came room to go and sleep, but 07:00hrs the next day home from work around Lallallegedlystartedtofight ( F r i d a y ) , L a l l w a s 19:00hrs on Thursday and withhimagainandthistime, motionless and not foundhiswifedrunk. hebecameangry breathing.

The suspect claimed that

A short while later, he He further claimed that

Safie, Dr. Goding, and others too many to mention.

verification fee before receiving US$187M in carbon credit sale” “Guyana to pay US$1.8M

Before Guyana receives

said the now approved sum a cent from the sale of its was needed to specifically carbon credits, the country cater to the payments must first pay a verification Guyana will be receiving for fee of US$1.8 million or the period 2016 to 2020. GYD$360 million to the

Based on the agreement international regulatory with Hess Corporation, it body- the Architecture for will be paying US$15 per R E D D + Transactions tonne between 2016 and (ART). 2020, which amounts to

This was the message US$187M. In the next 18 conveyed to the National months, Vice President, Assembly, by Minister of Bharrat Jagdeo said he Natural Resources, Vickram expects the payments to Bharrat during Monday’s come to the country Sitting. according to the schedule. According to the

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat

Some $28M of this amount Minister, “In order for he said, will go directly to countries to sell carbon verified.” Amerindiancommunities. credits, it must be validated, It was only last Friday “Wemadeacommitment it must be checked.” To this that Hess Corporation that 15 percent of all of the end, he explained, “We are signed a 15 year agreement proceeds from any sale of using ART to verify our with the government to forest carbon will go to carbon credits, otherwise, purchase its carbon credits Amerindian communities,” we cannot put it into the between the period 2016 to the former President market… nobody will buy 2032. reminded.Thismeansthat carbon credits if it is not Nonetheless, Bharrat (Continued on page 6)

Appeal Court set Feb. 8 for hearing second election petition matter

The Court of Appeal has dismissing the coalition’s #60, also known as the set February 8, 2023 as the second election petition Recount Order, were in date when it will hear which challenged the results violationoftheConstitution. arguments in the second oftheMarch2,2020General However, in dismissing Election Petition case, andRegionalElections. thepetition,theChiefJustice challengingtheHighCourt’s The petition filed by held that the petitioners decision to uphold the Claudette Thorne and failed to present evidence to recount order, which was Heston Bostwick sought to support that the conduct of used to facilitate the havetheresultsoftheMarch theelectionscontravenedthe National Recount of the 2020 General and Regional Constitution and electoral votes cast at the last General Elections invalidated on the laws. She ruled that neither andRegionalElections. ground of serious non Section 22 nor the Recount

The case was filed on compliance with the Order was ultra vires the behalf of appellants Constitution of Guyana and Constitution, adding that Claudette Thorne and electoral laws as it relates to Article 162 of the Heston Bostwick. During a GECOM’s conduct over Constitution empowered casemanagementhearingon thoseelections. GECOM to take whatever Wednesday, Justice of The petitioners had actions were necessary to Appeal, Rishi Persaud told contended that Section 22 of conclude the elections, the parties in the case, they t h e E l e c t i o n s L a w including embarking on a have up until the 28th (Amendment)ActandOrder recountofallballots. December, 2022, to make their written submissions while the respondents are required to answer to those submissions no later than January18,2023.

He said “Replies are due on January 22, 2023. The matter will come up again in the Court of Appeal on Wednesday, February 8, 2023at9:30hrs.”

APNU/AFC Member of Parliament (MP), Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde has decried the slow pace at which the party’s second electionpetitionismovingat the Court of Appeal of Guyana and is preparing to fileanapplicationtohavethe matterexpedited.

In June 2021, Forde appealed to the appellate court against Chief Justice Roxane George, SC’s April 2

‘Don’t get giddy over cleaning, catering, taxi service contracts or money in oil account’

...real benefits can only be realized with strong institutions - Int’l Experts warn

hile Guyana levels of capacity building

WBut you know what, has made and technology transfer In there were many companies

successful spite of having attained this in the petrochemical strides in ensuring oil fantastic feat, Trinidad and industry who did not have companies have 90 to 100 Tobago’s economy is licences and they have been percentoftheircontractsfor desperately trying to get operatingfor40years.” transportation, catering and backonitsfeet.

Asaresultofthisstateof janitorial services go to One of the stakeholders affairs, the industry expert locals, it should not distract who spoke with this said there was extreme fromthebiggerpicture. newspaper said, “Everyone opposition and difficulties

In fact, international oil can see that Trinidad is toimplementguidelinesina and gas experts are struggling so it shows that bid to regularise that section cautioning Guyanese to havinglocalcontentpolicies of the industry In light of avoid buying into the dream andsupportinglawsarevery this lawlessness that was that more money in the good virtues They are allowed, it prevented the nation’s oil account or necessary but trust me, they government from abiding accomplishments on the are not sufficient and withasectionofthelawthat local content front, Guyana must not run away requires a register of such automatically translates to a withthatidea.” licences to be properly kept betterstandardofliving. The energy specialist and made available for

According to the added, “You must have publicscrutiny industry experts, the key to proper governance and “…So you see, one can real transformative growth oversight or else it will all get very complacent in the lies with having strong fail, all your investment will face of oil money…Guyana institutions and an fail or will lose value day needs to be aware of this experienced cadre of afterday.” danger,” the expert added professionals overlooking Further to this, the while stressing the need for the spending of the oil experts stressed that at the civil society actors to wealth. heart of Trinidad’s struggle communicate the poignancy

Theexpertswerekeento today is the lack of of these arguments to the highlight that Trinidad and accountability of the manontheground. Tobago underscores how regulatorsofthesector In conclusion, industry critical it is to robust In this regard, one of the analysts are of the view that i n s t i t u t i o n s a n d stakeholders said, “I will Guyana has to build a clear professionalsinplace. give you an example if you l i n e o f s i g h t f o r

The experts said think I am mistaken. The communicating activities, Trinidad has been in the lawsaysthateverycompany impact, and outcomes to the game for more than a operating in the oil and gas citizens and make people century while adding that it industry, no matter what feel that they have a right to has made some admirable theydo,beitpipelinesorgas demand better and know moves to ensure that its petrochemicals,musthavea howtheycangoaboutdoing industry had significant licence. so.

Kaieteur News

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MOE and SchoolsAdministrations

NIGELWILLIAMS

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

EDITORIAL

SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET

Itmightbearguedthattheonlythingpositive,straight, andtrueaboutSupplementaryBudgetsinGuyanais

thattheyareofficial,theyareonpaper,andtheypass through parliament. Other than that, a whole series of questionsandconcernscanberaisedabouttheirlegitimacy, sometimes even their necessity, given what becomes of the billionsofdollarsthatareapprovedunderthecoverofthese kindsofbudgets.

Itismoney,money,andmoremoney Thereismoneyfor this, and then for that, for over here, and next over there. Unlike previous times, millions are available from lending institutionsduetoGuyana’sdiscoveryofoil,whichgivesthe PPPC Government money at its fingertips than any prior government. Few are the government ministries, and State agencies, that do not share in the money action that are usuallylateintheyear Thetimingisnotaccidental,butpart ofthedeliberateplottingbyonegovernmentafteranotherin GuyanaandthisPPPCGovernmentisthemasterofthegame of Supplementary Budgets. In fact, this current PPPC GovernmentissocleverwithSupplementaryBudgetsthatit can’t help guzzling from that trough to suit its visions and addictions. The last has to do with the irresistible nature of taxpayers’money

Yearly, there are bigger and bigger national budgets, followedbytensofbillionsinSupplementaryBudgetswith huge areas, and many State sectors, here still in the same stagnant place.The more that it is earmarked in Parliament for budgets, the more Guyanese fall behind, have little to showforthedollarsspentlavishly,whilethePPPCboysand girlshaveagrandtime.ThePPPCofbefore,thePNCeven beforethat,andtheAPNU+AFCallhadtheirturn,andwith worse and worse results always dogging Guyanese looking forbetter

ThisSupplementaryBudgetinDecember2022hasacool billionforGuySuCoandtosweetenthosewhousethesugar belt as a clever camouflage for their predations from the dollarsthatcontinuouslyflowinthatfailedentitytopropit up.Thepoliticalandcorporaterankshaveafeast,andlittleto justify the billions keeping the GuySuCo boat afloat. The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority was the beneficiary of another $2B and instead of remedial flood works that can help citizens and communities stay dry, and thepricesoffarmproductslower,itistheotherwayaround. The question is what Guyanese are getting for all these billionsapproved,andspent.

The case may be made that without these billions and extra billions, farming and other communities would be worse off in times of heavy rainfall, which contribute to extendedandprolongedflooding.Ourposition,however,is though that may be so, we should be getting more from all these billions of dollars budgeted at different times of the year TherecentSupplementaryBudgetof$47Bplusaddsto thenationalbudgetthatwasatarecordofcloseto$600Bfor thisyear Alittledrillingdownintothenumbersconfirmthat the PPPC Government just awarded itself and its cabal of insiders something similar to what public servants are to receive,meaning,almost8%.

Onanannualbasis,andlikeclockwork,theauditreports come about the usual litany of budgeted monies spent, but someofwhichareeithernotbooked,orthebooksdisappear without a trace. There are no records to examine, and no peopletointerrogate.

Publicworkscompletedatgreatexpensetothetaxpayers areconstantlybeing“fixed”,orthroughwhatisnowgaining increasing traction in the form of additions, which nobody hadthewisdomtothinkofbefore.

The Supplementary budgets are notable for coming late in the year when many matters with financial significance can be slipped under the noses of Guyanese busy with holidaypriorities.Theyarealsonoteworthyinthattheyare stuffedwithalotofporkthataddstothealreadythicklayers offatinthesebudgetexercisesthatenrichtherich,andcheat thetaxpayers.

This is how the financial shams and scams continue uncheckedandunchanged,withpoliticiansandtheircronies rippingthiscountryapart.

DEAREDITOR, • Broad band, smart distribute best practices agree that a class size of no Toshoreuptheeducation boardsandotheraudiovisual across the education larger than 18 students is l a n d s c a p e , t h e resourcesineveryclassroom landscape Migrate to required to produce the Ministries/Departments of and each student with electronic data collection, desired benefit, especially Education should consider computeraccess. including a portal for individualization and thefollowing:

• Teachers’aides to help students’evaluation that can personalization of

• Creation of student w i t h c l a s s r o o m be accessed by parents and instructions. personnel departments, to management, students’ guardians. • Establishment of a include counsellors, social instructional understanding • Ongoing training of all school safety unit within the workers and school andengagement. teachers to ensure readiness police force. To facilitate psychologists, available to • Self-contained special for new challenges quickresponselargeschools students, teachers, parents, education classes with Selective, piecemeal leaves should be equipped with administrators and the s c h o o l s b e c o m i n g huge gaps and adds to the intercoms. community wheelchairaccessible. existing inequity, while • Incorporation anti

• Full-time reading and • Comprehensive, placing some teachers and violence and related issues writing specialists in every ongoing, data collection on schools at disadvantage. As suchasself-esteemandselfschool,whocanoperateboth schools, to be aware of real well,teachertrainingshould confidence; anti bullying as push in (during reading time developments, ensure not be subjected to the and cyber bullying; saying instructional times) and pull ongoing evaluation, vagariesofpolitics. no to drugs and alcohol; out (with the requisite space continually strengthen areas • Reduction of class dealingwithviolentand/or andresources)teachers. of weaknesses, and sizes. Researchers generally (Continuedonpage5)

Changleeistobetakenseriously,he would dowelltoreadandlearnofourhistory

DEAREDITOR, up in the mid-50s, when the Son Chapman, where all ago, which dismisses the I was appalled at a letter Guyanawasdestabilisedand ofthefifty-oddvictimswere group of people who are the written by Mr Jamil damaged when this racial Afro Guyanese Has most humiliated and Changlee.Idon’tknowwho anthem of “Apan Jaat” Changlee read the sometimes hunted down as thisgentlemanisorwherehe resonated throughout this revelations of the Bacchus theevilones. grew up, but what is clear is country causing mayhem brotherswholivedinPrinces An examination will that whether he is young, and the division of Street,Lodge? show it is quite the opposite middle aged or senior, he communities into warring, Is he aware who caused andifChangleeistobetaken knows little of our racial camps. Certainly, the thedeathofArthurAbraham seriously, he would do well experiences and the tone of architectsofApanJaatcould and his family in Hadfield to read and learn of our his letter suggests a disdain not have been the Street? history, perhaps beginning for Guyanese of African APNU/AFC grouping I do not wish to burden withtheBook,‘Bloodonthe descentorthosewhoseekto Changlee conveniently thisletterwithsordiddetails River,’ and speak with the defend their rights and to ignores the killing of more that I recall as a youngster, likes of myself and others, speakupagainsttheinjustice African people than Indians but if Changlee is serious who have been around for a directed against slaves and asaresultofthecivilstrike. about creating a Guyana he few decades and have their descendants on to this He does not know or talksabout,hemustbeginby witnessed atrocities day conveniently ignores the makingstatementswhichare committedonbothsidesand Changleefurtherseemed horrors committed against balanced and not hurtful to bybothsidesofthepolitical to be influenced by the blackpeopleatTainVillage, onlyonegroup. andethnicdivide. propaganda that has existed the Mahaica - Mahaicony He must stop this Regards, for many years but stepped Creeks and the bombing of nonsense,startedalongtime EricMoseley,MS.

Nation Owes Fr. Rodrigues a Debt of Gratitude

DEAREDITOR, legendary activist to show picketing exercises, and students, and parents were

It is with deep sadness I his commitment to justice, addressed public rallies. He grateful of the role readofthepassingofFather fair play, democracy, and was a lead speaker after Dr Rodrigues, Rodney, and Malcolm Rodrigues (news humanitarianism He was Chaitram Singh and just others played in helping to item Dec 5).As a youngster legendary in the field of before Dr Walter Rodney at bring the strike to an end. growing up in Guyana social services and human a large rally in Lower Miss Those associated with Fr during the 1970s, I rights.

Phoebe, Port Mourant on a Rodrigues were targeted remember him as a Father Rodrigues, a school day afternoon in including those who met champion of freedom, friend of well-known Father February 1977. As he and with, organised and hosted justice, democracy, and Cheerah who was my Rodney spoke, a GDF meetings for him and quality science teacher at CHS, was helicopter threateningly RodneyontheCorentyne.

I read a lot in the local very supportive of our hoveredabove,apparentlyto ImetFr Rodriguesagain papers about the activism of studentprotests(andboycott intimidate the speakers and by chance during the midthe Jesuit Priest and UG of classes) at the Corentyne the crowd. I was among the 1980sinGeorgetownduring lecturer and was privileged High School (October 1976 organisers and promoter of a leaf letting exercise tomeethim.Ialsoreadofhis andSpring1977)thatspread the rally We appealed to all expressing a desire for an activism in the now defunct throughout the Corentyne to stand their ground; the engagement on the politics. Caribbean Contact and lasted almost two largecrowddidnotdisperse. We t a l k e d a b o u t (published out of Barbados) months.

Father Rodrigues laced into Burnhamism and how to during the 1980s and 1990s I was the student Burnham, criticising his combat it. He invited me for after my migration to study President and I interacted governanceandhisactionto lunch at the Archdiocese inNewYork. extensively with him, send an army helicopter to whichIdeclined.Wemeton

Hehaddedicatedhislife Rodney,Kwayana,andother instillfearinpeople. another chance encounter at to the welfare of the social and human rights The crowd, the largest I UG around 1992. I was downtrodden and whose activists. Father Rodrigues, had seen outside of a Jagan walking from the main gate rights were violated, which and other rights champions, featured meeting, burst into to the library to meet would be the entire nation. traveled from Georgetown laughter Rodney followed students for recruitment and Hemingledwiththepoorest and joined us in meetings in uppokingfunathimcalling training for a NACTA and lived. I would like to January and February 1977 Burnham king kong who survey Hestoppedandgave share a few anecdotes about to plan strategies on the fearedevendonkeyscoming mealifttomydestination.I my encounters with the protests, participated in together to feed. The staff, (Continuedonpage6)

If

APNU+AFC placed a target on AfroGuyanese professionals in public service

DEAREDITOR, serviceandelsewhere. Officer (CEO) under the persons regardless of forcefully reestablish the forked-tonguesspitvitriolat It is time that Guyanese Fortunately, the Afro spitefulAPNU+AFCcabal. ethnicity, who was ForbesBurnhamphilosophy Dr. Hutson with the usual confrontthedirtywashed-up Guyanese who were In a letter to the media, instrumental in Dr. Hutson of party paramountcy.Volda threatsandderogatorylabels wolfseekingtodisguiseasa railroaded and left to perish Dr. Hutson said, “My career returning to the Ministry of Lawrence articulated it best not limited to ‘sell out’, sheep, which is seeking to duringthefascisticcoalition as an educator, and more so Education where his fortheworldtorecordwhen ‘house slave’, and ‘dunce uproot our democracy regime that wanted to grab as Chief Education Officer immeasurable experience shesaidonlyPNCmembers thugs’. through race baiting power by the nefarious (CEO) spanning more than was key to Guyana could get jobs under the The scars of the failed campaigns to divide our means of another PNC-led 33 years could have ended overcoming the challenges CoalitionAdministration. APNU+AFCregimearestill country rigged election, are disastrously after being sent toeducationduringthepeak That meant that Afro- freshandhauntsmanyAfroThetruthhasslappedthe confronting the baseless lies on extended leave for doing oftheCOVID-19pandemic. Guyanese who were non- Guyaneseprofessionalswho d e t r a c t o r s i n t h e on race relations from an what I do best: Serving the From my count, Dr members of the PNC were lost their jobs to PNC APNU+AFCintheface.No Opposition Coalition in children and people of this Hutson is not the onlyAfro- obviously sidelined for members. longer can they keep up the extremis. nation There was a Guyanese that the coalition Government contracts and Thetruthhasexposedthe shenanigans and pretense Dr Marcel Hutson, an deafening silence on this unceremoniously dismissed jobs. wolfthatistheAPNU+AFC about caring for the Afro Guyanese and matter by those with a from the Ministry of There was silence then anditsthirstforpower,even advancement of Afro consummate professional penchantfortalking.” Education Four former fromthewolfgang,thelikes if it means shredding our Guyanesewheninfact,they withnopoliticalaffiliationto It was President Dr seniorstaffmembersreadily of wanted man Rickford beautiful country apart, have worked silently and, in the best of my knowledge, Mohamed IrfaanAli, whose comes to mind in Burke,LincolnLewis,Nigel using race to spread some cases, openly to broke his silence on Sunday caring and compassionate Olatocumbo Sam, Mary Hinds, David Hinds, Lelon propagandainfurtheranceof destroy Afro Guyanese about his tempestuous qualities along with his Luke, Yonette Edwards and Saul, and others, who now a narrow political agenda of professionals in the public removal as Chief Education veneration for professional MelcitaBovell. claim to be champions for retaining whatever little

MOEandSchoolsAdministrations

Frompage4 enabling students to create • Establish mentoring toxic home environments; murals on school walls and andremedialprogrammesin teenage pregnancy and anti- within school communities; high schools to close the sexualabuse,intotheHealth drama clubs, music clubs, gapsamongstudents. and Family Life and Health dance clubs with talent • Build an inclusive Education programme, tapped to enable fundraisers sports programme that wherethisisnotyetinplace. and participation in contests encompassesaminimumset

• Setting up school and online high school of sports for all schools and leadership teams (SLTs) newspaperclubs. include PE as part of the comprising parents and To facilitate all of this, curriculaforallschools. community members along schoolsshouldbeallowedto In this respect, schools with administration rep/s, use one afternoon session can build relationships with selected teachers including weekly for club activities. sportsclubsandassociations the union rep, one or two Implement a creative arts whereby they can access student reps, perhaps from programme to supplement training for their various the Students’ Council and a the clubs with subjects such teamsandwithalumna,local Ministry of Education rep as fashion design and and overseas for resource suchastheeducationofficer cooking, enabling students support.• SLTs develop educational to leave high school with Add a vocational policiesfortheirschoolsand portfolios and a body of programme to the curricula, make sure there are work that they use to seek along with STEM and a resources to support those further training and career technicalprogramme,where policies Also school possibilities.• thesedonotyetexist,sothat administrations should be Set up work-study and needsofalltypesoflearners empoweredto: internship programmes can be fulfilled and all

• Harness student’s Thatonlyafewschoolshave students provided with creativity: poetry slam club such programmes, is vastly careerpathways. with students’performances unfair to other students and Regards recordedandshared;artclub fosterstheexistinginequity Annan Boodram

We are aware of Afro- Afro-Guyanese. remaining relevance it has Guyanese professionals in In light of Dr Hudson’s left. other Government positions revelations,wecancertainly Respectfully, who were targeted and expect these dogmatists to KwameMcCoy strippedofjobsbyapolitical rush to the defence of the Minister within the creature that sought to APNU+AFC while their OfficeofthePrimeMinister

Iwokramawelcomes innovativeCarbonAgreement

DEAREDITOR,

TREESprocessincludesthe providing economic returns T h e I w o k r a m a quantification, monitoring, thatmaintainlivelihoodsand InternationalCentreforRain reporting and verification of contribute beyond Forest Conservation and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) traditional means of the Development extends emission reductions and timber trade, to the gross warmest congratulations to removals from REDD+ domesticproduct(GDP).Of His Excellency President activities at a jurisdictional equal importance is the Irfaan Ali, the Government and national scale, which is substantialfinancialbenefits andthepeopleofGuyanaon assessed and verified by providedbytheagreementto securing an innovative international third party the local communities – the carbon credit agreement auditors. Guyana’s success true stewards of Guyana’s with Hess Corporation. The inthisprocessisasignificant forests. The wider scope newagreementistheworld’s andsignalachievement. LCDS 2030 to include blue first under the Architecture Indeed, the landmark carbon and other natural for REDD+ Transactions Low Carbon Development assets exemplifies the every (ART) initiative, and The Strategy (LCDS) initially increasing prominent role REDD+ Environmental launched in 2009 was forests and the environment Excellence Standard innovative in demonstrating holdonthenationalagenda. (TREES)system. thevalueofforestservicesin Dane Gobin, CEO of

Itisimportanttonotethat combating climate change Iwokrama,noted,“theseare accreditation under the while concurrently (Continuedonpage6)

Frompage4 Burnham. forhigherwagesandhuman reminded him about our Whenever he saw dignity Rodrigues also encounters including the injustice, as he did when he played a pivotal role in the Port Mourant rallies and his intervened in student trade union movement that description of Burnham; he protests against the wouldputitinthepositionto laughed. After my meeting victimization of teachers, he win the TUC election in with students, it was raining spokeoutwithouthesitation. 1984. Rodrigues, Dr Nanda and Fr. Rodrigues was He spoke out against Gopaul, and Cheddi Jagan headingbacktoGeorgetown electoral frauds and the were founders of the “Four and saw me waiting for a authoritarian and anti-poor Union Movement” minibustotown. policies and actions of (Burnham called them the

He gave me and an regime. big four), that became the Africanfemalealiftandafter He also condemned forerunner to FITUG. The droppingofftheyounglady, judicial rulings in favor of Burnham and Hoyte offered me lunch which I thegovernmentthatviolated governments were fearful of politely declined because I internationalnorms. Rodrigues, and he would hadanothermeeting.Wemet And he also was very have been among the targets and exchanged ideas and activeonthelabourfront.He for violence. He was far thoughts a few times and Dr Joshua Ramsammy more active than Father thereafter, including at were among the founders of Darke who was assassinated GUARD rallies, during my the University of Guyana for merely being a visits to Guyana to conduct StaffAssociationwhichlater photographer exposing surveys and to engage in became the UG Workers atrocities Rodrigues, protest activities against the Union He served as G o p a u l , C h e d d i , dictatorship and for free and TreasurerandRamsammyas Ramsammy,PaulTennassee, fairelections.Myencounters Secretary He, Dr Gopaul, Kwayana,andothersworked withandreadingsonorabout David Westmaas, among relentlessly for free and fair Fr. Rodrigues revealed he others founded the CLAC elections. We should not was a true human and social (Civil Liberties Action forget that he was an rights activist and a Council)thatusedtomeetat outstanding Physics teacher. champion of the poor, Hadfield Street; Westmaas Studentsshoweredpraiseon d o w n t r o d d e n , a n d became General Secretary. himasaneducatoratUG. underprivileged. Rodrigues, Gordon Todd, The country owes Fr

He helped so many In Birchmore Philadelphia, Rodrigues(andafewothers) addition, he was one of the Boysie Ramkarran, a debt of gratitude for the most courageous fighters Ramsammy, Gopaul, Komal freedomandrightsweenjoy against injustice and Chand, among a few others today electoralfraud.Hefearlessly played a pivotal role in the Yoursfaithfully, and frontally confronted 1979 strike and court action Dr VishnuBisram

Iwokramawelcomesinnovative...

Frompage5 signals, finally, recognition highlyvaluedand,yetagain, excitingtimesforGuyanaas by the private sector of the underscores Guyana’s it continues to mobilize its substantial value of leadership role sustaining forest services in the fight ecosystem services and the natureandsupportingsocioagainstclimatechange”.The urgentneedtosustainthem. economicdevelopment. 1,000,000 acre Iwokrama T h e I w o k r a m a Regards, Forest is an integral part of InternationalCentreremains Dr Raquel Thomas Guyana’s demonstration of committed to supporting the Caesar how tropical forests can be successful implementation Director, Resource conserved and utilized of the Low Carbon ManagementandTraining sustainably for local, DevelopmentStrategy2030. Iwokrama International national and global benefit. The Government of Centre for Rain Forest Mr Gobin contends that the Guyana’s continued support C o n s e r v a t i o n a n d Guyana - Hess agreement to the Centre’s work is Development

Frompage3 Degradation (REDD+) the global average forested and non-forested jurisdictional carbon temperature rise to well Indigenous communities credits. This initiative is a below 2°C and was one of will split the value from the global mechanism that was the major commitments sale of carbon credits, he createdbytheConferenceof made at the COP26 climate said. the Parties to the United summit, where more than

Meanwhile, during the Nations Framework 130 countries, including period 2021 to 2025, Convention on Climate Guyana, pledged to end Guyana will be earning Change (UNFCCC) in deforestation by 2030 US$20 per tonne which is support of the Paris Guyana’s more than 18 expected to rake in another Agreement. million hectares of forests US$250M for the country Hess is now Guyana’s are estimated to store Fortheperiod2025to2030, first client, purchasing 30 approximately 20 billion Hess will pay US$25 per percent of the country’s tonnes of carbon dioxide tonne amounting to carbon credits for a equivalent Through US$312M, bringing the minimum of US$750M. It Guyana’s Low Carbon total to US$750M over the was explained that the cost Development Strategy 10 year period. Overall, the of the carbon credits can 2030, the country has a Indigenous communities increase and if this shift roadmap for preserving its will receive approximately occurs, Guyana will benefit forests, while growing its US$112M. more. economy and creating a

T h e m u l t i y e a r Avoiding global development pathway that agreement is for 37 5 d e f o r e s t a t i o n i s is diverse and includes millionReducingEmissions foundational to the Paris opportunities for all from Deforestation and Agreement’saimoflimiting Guyanesecitizens.

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

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BRAINWASHING BY BILLBOARDS

Exxon delivered another gift to Guyanese: deceptive billboards.

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

Billboards are Exxon’s new weapons to beat Guyanese into the ground;

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

Billboards are Exxon’s new yokes put around Guyanese necks.

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

Billboards are the new structures that Exxon builds to imprison Guyanese minds;

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

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

Guyanese should spit upon and curse each time they see them…

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

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

Guyanese should kick up a stink each time they think of Exxon’s insulting billboards!

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

BLUNT BLUNT BLUNT BLUNT

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

ExxonMobil looking for a Guyanese company to “front” insurance for energy projects

-localinsurerssaynomoneyto

controlwillrestwithoverseasplayers

It was explained that everything is collected in the Esso Exploration and whatiscurrentlybeingasked backroom by Exxon’s Production Guyana Limited for does not entail the overseas broker And all we (EEPGL) has begun its business flowing from a will be getting is one petty search for local insurance broker and then that broker cash fronting fee,” the operators to provide

ExxonMobil affiliate

decides or negotiates with concernedagentasserted. coverage for at least two of the insurance market. “They Another insurance its upcoming energy (Exxon) would have operator who also requested projects. bypassed all of that and just anonymity said that Exxon

Service providers are givingalocalcompanysome in following local content concerned however that crumbstofrontforthem.” procedure has put a tender there is no real money to be “What happens is that out in the market for a m a d e f r o m t h e U S local company that is “fronting insurer”. He said multimillion dollar fronting will issue the paper, that when the request is transactions since EEPGL is as they say, which is a policy looked at technically, “what only seeking local firms to document on terms and they are saying is look we “front” the policy that will conditions following the have arranged the cover and still be held by overseas overseas placement so that as a consequence what we insurers and out of the the local company will have needisforsomebodytofront controloflocalcompanies. no say in the terms and it for us and I assume they

Exxon just over a week conditions.Theywillblindly wouldentailtosomesortofa ago said in a public notice issue the paper based on the fee.” thatitwasputtinginplacean terms and conditions from A number of questions agreement for the provision the reinsurance company.” are raised, the local operator of local insurance services “All decisions will be made submitted. He said that in all andrequestedinformationof by the people overseas, by the money to be earned, a commercial and technical E n e r g y P r o j e c t s newspaper however that, “It cover to be placed on terms the company providing the very small part of it will be content from suppliers for Development Insurance a p p e a r s f r o m t h e andconditionsthattheyhave cover behind them. So, they called the fronting fee and meeting EEPGL’s bid Program. a d v e r t i s e m e n t t h a t negotiated,andnowtheyjust are basically in front, but that is all that will be paid to selection requirements for One local insurance ExxonMobil has already want somebody to front it everything is done in the the local insurer who is Local Guyana Insurers operator who requested placedtheinsurancecoveror which defeats the purpose of b a c k r o o m A n d a l l frontingthepolicy “The Yellowtail and Gas to anonymity told this made arrangements for the localcontent.” commissions, premiums and (Continued on page 9)

bemade,all

A section of the Request for Information document

The change of name of circumstances, the and his party lost the a Reform component of reinvent itself and it did so the PNC to the PNCR Guyanese people wanted electionsin1992afterscores mainly business people and under the umbrella of represented an attempt at change, even if a significant ofhissupportersaccustomed professionals, similar to APNU,whichissupposedto reinventing the party of number of them were not to the PNC gaining a what the PPPhad done with be an open partnership but Forbes Burnham.As part of keen on that change taking majority without popular theCivic. which has failed, like the that process, the later leader theformofthePPP support, failed to register to That alliance eventually Reform component did, to of the party, Desmond Hoyte understood the vote. Despite this fact, the wasformallyincorporatedin attractanygroupingorparty Hoyte, cultivated a need for change and so he PNC gained more votes in the party which re titled with significant electoral with the PPPC and the personality cult and aligned projected himself as that percentage terms in 1992 itself as the PNCR. The support. PNCR. The PNCR may be himself and the party with change. The PNC moved than APNU did in 2011, REFORM component had The partnership was in better advised to return to prominent, but by no means from asking the Guyanese effectively parodying the pulled off a major coup by effect seen more as another begin PNC, restore its representative,personsfrom electorate to “light up your idea that APNU did well in catapultingitselfintotheold reinventing of the PNCR. It identity as a working class withintheprivatesector lifewithDesmondHoyte”to the2011elections. PNCstructure. did create that aura of a party and refuse to accept Thisalignmentwasdone Hoyte portraying himself as After the 1992 elections, There were many different party with the massive donations from the for the purposes of image. “Iamthechange.” Hoyte attempted another persons within the partnership having its own bourgeoisclass. Hoyte knew that after years In the end, he did not reinvention of his party by leadership of the PNC who colours. Today the green The constant need to of depressing economic manage to hold on to power enteringintoanalliancewith were not comfortable with shirts and jerseys, without reinvent itself increases the Hoyte surrounding himself the logos, are still popping risk of the PNCR losing its with persons who were not up at demonstrations which political identity This is the traditionally card bearing indicate that people still real danger that APNU members of the PNC. But identify with the reinvented presents to the PNCR. And Hoyte had his own internal grouping. afterwhathappenedafterthe problems and needed to Theconstantreinventing 2020 general and regional createapartymachinerythat of the former PNC is elections, there is bound to would be loyal to him. He however bound to be major fallout from both more or less was able to do undermine the traditional thePNCRandthePPPC. this.Overtimehowever,and values and beliefs of the There is therefore only especially after his death, former self professed onewayinwhichthePNCR many of the business class vanguard party. How is the can redefine itself. It should members who can come on present PNCR, different restore itself as a socialist board began to go their from what existed under party, fighting to replace separate ways and so the Hoyte or for that matter legally and democratically a PNCR more or less entered under Burnham? And how PPPC government which is the 2006 elections without a can the PNCR avoid neo-liberalinorientationand strongReformcomponent. undermining its traditional whichistiedtothebourgeois However,theshowingof values and beliefs when at class. the PNCR in those elections each election it has to That appears the only had little to do with the reinventitself. hopewhichthePNCRhasto weakened Reform and more The PNCR needs to redeeming itself after the todowiththeattitudeofthe redefine itself not reinvent debacle of Marcy – August traditional supporters of the itself.Itneedstostatewhere 2020. PNCtotheleadershipofthe it stands ideologically and (The views expressed in party and what they the nature of its relationship this article are those of the perceived as the party’s with the business class author and do not generalineffectiveness. There is a view that the necessarily reflect the

ExxonMobil looking for a Guyanese company to...

Frompage8 risk domicile in Guyana Guyana. entire premium coming into would include coverage for This money lost, the the industry which is what major equipment among agent continued, could have we have been fighting for to others. assisted the local sector to make sure that all of the “So, it’s a considerable increaseitscapacitysinceas premiums associated with amount of money that we the year goes by, the sector any risk that is domicile in have lost in the period that would be able to maintain Guyana comes to the essentially our laws are not more of the risk for collective insurance brokers beingenforced.”Andaslong themselves as they grow and the collective insurers - as (insurance) placement is The off spin, he added, “is allthatislost.” done literally on a fronting thatoncewearegrowing,we It was explained that basis all that is actually are actually trickling that when the local insurers derivedfromthisbusinessis down because we are consortium proposal was just the fronting fee paid to employing more people, we submitted to the Bank of the insurer who agrees to can have the University of Guyana several weeks ago, front.Theagentsaidthatthe Guyanathenputattentionto “it essentially meant that as EEPGL advert highlights a degree in insurance etc. an industry, the provision of that the local agents can “So, we become far more insurance coverage was write the coverage but can’t skilledandatsomepoint,we being approached as a retain any part of it in are able to handle the collective to ensure that Guyana, “the entire thing industry ourselves; in the commissionsthatareusually mustbeensuredabroadsoas yearstocome,wewillretain payable to brokers and a consequence, there is no a greater part of the risk seedingcommissions,which seeding commission being which means we will earn is what reinsurers pay paid,nobrokerinbetweenso directly and then we will insurers, once they have no broking commissions are earn seeding commissions gotten that business, all of earned, and all that revenue from what is placed to that revenue would come goes to an external broker reinsurers and of course we intothecountry and then it goes to external willearnbrokerage,whichis Frankly speaking, the reinsurers.” very important “The agent said it is a The consequence of that advertisement could be “considerable” amount of isthelocalindustryislosing found on the Centre for revenue that would be all that revenue that would L o c a l B u s i n e s s comingtolocalsbecauseany have otherwise come to Developmentwebsite.

Dem boys seh...

APPLE SKIN CAN’T MEK FRUIT JUICE

Guyanese looking for a share in de pie. And despite we gat over US$1B in oil Butisnatapplepiedemganget.Youseede revenues parked in the Bank in Uncle Sam, oil companies tekking de flesh of de apple de Guyana dollar still trading above G$200 andleffingdeskinfuhwe. toUS$1.Somethingnahrightdeh.Demore Dem nah only carrying away 87.2 % of foreignexchangeweearning,destrongerwe deapple,butdemalsoearninginterestfrom dollar supposed to become. But is like de we and setting aside money fuh de needle stick pon de foreign exchange scale commissioning costs. Dat is why dem boys becausededollarnahgettingstronger. agreedatwhatwegettingisjustdeskinofde Datiswhydemboyssehwegattogeta apple. better deal from de oil companies. If we Guyanese know how fuh stretch things. Burnham did deh hay, he would ah We used to eat chowmein with rice fuh nationalize de Stabroek Block and tell dem stretchdefood. Indehardtimes,Guyanese oilcompaniestosetsailwithdemrigsunless used to tek pineapple skins and mek fruit Guyanagetabetterdeal. drink.

IfwasCheddi,hewouldahdonecancel But dis apple skin nah look like it can dat deal and sign a agreement with Russia mek any fruit juice. Dem oil companies fuhdrillfuhoilonbettertermsinGuyana. boasting to dem shareholders about de But we gat some fellow here who Guyana operations. Yet we own people stubborn…becausewemekdemso! tekkingabatteringfromdecostofliving. Talkhalf.Leffhalf!

By the time the 2011 business class has been able opinions and beliefs of this elections came around, the to peddle a disproportionate n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s party again saw the need to degree of influence both affiliates.)

A SEMI-APOLOGY TO THE US EMBASSY IN GUYANA

Ihereby correct a dimensionsofthecolumn. column,andherenowisthe EU Embassy, many of its the past five years, misconceptioninmy I hereby offer a semi fourth. I have never had a senior personnel from SASOD received columnofThursday, apology to the US Embassy reaction from Mr Lall on Europeweremembersofthe millions of Euros

December 1, 2022, becauseIhighlightedtheUS this revelation because he LGBT community, which Over that five year captioned, “I’m accusing Embassy and not the EU knowsitisthetruth. gave rise to generosity period, SASOD would the US Embassy of missioninGuyana.Iamnot Since publishing that extendedtoSASOD.Infact, have gotten literally highly qualified technical discrimination.” In that afraid to apologise and will commentary on the US onecurrentseniorEuropean hundreds of Guyanese staffinthepublicsector commentary, I took the willinglydosointhefuture. Embassy, I have been official at the embassy just dollars. I regret the poor position that the US I have apologised several contactedbyseveralpersons divorced his husband and Iamwarningreadersnot journalisminGuyana.Ionce Embassy bankrolls a times on this page even who have given me has married a Surinamese to shrug off that figure. It is read that Stabroek News, LGBTQ group in Guyana when I was right just to informationIdidn’tknow.It malecitizen. factual that over a five-year Founder David DeCaires’, namedSASOD. avoid people suing me and wasreallyasurprisetome.I Hold your horses! I do period,SASODhasreceived hisfirstlovewasjournalism The angle used in that thenewspaper. havebeenreliablyinformed nothaveaproblemwithwho hundreds of millions and not law My first love columngivestheimpression Nowthattimehaspassed that over the years, the EU isgay,lesbian,bisexual,etc. (Guyanese) from the EU was history and not to be a that the US Embassy is the and the statutory of mission on Sendall Place My problem is why these mission. One million practising academic I mainfinancialcontributorto limitation has kicked in, I and Croal Street has western embassies give so American Dollar is wanted to join my history SASOD. Let me offer a can recant some of those provided amounts just as much money to SASOD equivalent to 220 million training with journalism. clarification and be apologies Once more, I similar to those of the US when SASOD is not the Guyanese Dollar I know There are so much unambiguous because I inform readers that even EmbassytoSASOD. democraticbodythekindof absolutely that over the past journalisticscoopstobehad could mislead again in this thoughIwasright,therewas HereiswhatIhavebeen which democratic EU five years, SASOD would in this country like the one article. There is only one pressure on me by the informed about by people countrieswouldadmire. have received prodigious on the EU Embassy and its wrongturninthatcolumn.It newspaper to apologise and once connected to the EU I am aware that the EU sums. relation to SASOD that I givestheimpressionthatthe save both me and the embassy; that over the past funds many civil society Here is a fact that havenowrevealedabove.If US Embassy at the moment n e w s p a p e r c o u r t years SASOD has been organisationsbutSASODis Guyanese do not know Guyanaispoorinanyaspect is SASOD’s essential proceedings Also I patronised by enormous not an endangered entity in NGOs like SASOD, Child- ofitslife,itisjournalism. financial backer I withdraw willingly apologise because amounts of funds from the Guyana so why so much Link, etc. receive so much (The views expressed in thatsectionofthearticlebut of what Mr Glenn Lall told EU Embassy that exceed money? And by so much moneyfromtheEUmission this article are those of the stand by my contention that me many, many moons ago. thatoftheUSEmbassy money,wearetalkingabout that the employees of these author and do not the US Embassy gives HesaidanylibelIincurwill One senior businessman hundreds of millions of NGOs are some of the most necessarily reflect the continuous financial havetobefinancedbyme.I whoknowsalltheplayersin dollars One Euro is highly paid employees in opinions and beliefs of this assistance to SASOD I havewrittenthisthreetimes the diplomatic circles told equivalent to $220 Guyana with monthly n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s stand by the other beforeinmy Kaieteur News methatovertheyearsatthe Guyanese. I think that over income in the range of affiliates.)

FrederickKissoon

Exxon’s ‘misleading’ billboards

tells Guyanese

Tgetting less. “Based on the amounts to just over 12 responsibility to the o p p o s i t i o n fromExxon,thegovernment

he main political whether they are coming

structure of the PSA, if percent, after the 75 is taken Guyanese people by A P N U + A F C oranyoneelse. Guyana fails to audit out. After the two percent producing a satisfactory

believes that until Meanwhile, Exxon, in at effectively, it leaves us royalty is added, Guyana’s audit as: “It is possible that Guyanese see a satisfactory least 10 billboards erected vulnerable to not getting our total benefit is merely some we are getting far less than a u d i t o f o i l g i a n t across the country, has fair percentage that we 14.5percent. weshould,andaproperaudit ExxonMobil’s costs, the sought to convince shouldgetfromthePSA,”he Usingthe52percentrate, wouldrevealthis.” nation will not know the true Guyanese that the country is said. the Economist pointed out Exxon has nonetheless benefits it is receiving from receiving 52 percent of the

The lopsided deal that Guyana could easily be embarked on a billboard oil production in the totalprofitsfromthesector Guyana entered into with getting as little as 30 or 40 campaign across the country StabroekBlock. Tothisend,Lowsaidthat Exxon grants the company percent of the real profits, to “brainwash” Guyanese as Inanexclusiveinterview while the Production permission to deduct 75 which means 10 to 20 to the benefits from the oil with K a i e t e u r N e w s Sharing Agreement (PSA) percent of the earnings from percent less as a result of its sector, according to yesterday, Opposition for the lucrative Stabroek production to cover its failure to verify the costs Publisher of this newspaper, Economist Elson Low Block provides a 2% royalty expenses. Exxon deducted to develop Mr.GlennLall. r e a s o n e d t h a t a n y and for 50% percent of the

This means that the theresource.

On the front page of pronouncements on the profits to be split between remaining 25 is then split When he was asked Tuesday’s edition of the shareofprofitsthecountryis Guyanaandtheoilcompany, between the two parties.The specifically if he believes K a i e t e u r N e w s , Lall receivingshouldbesetaside, the country could still be country’s share therefore this is the current state of denounced the oil company affairs, the Economist for erecting a billboard just explained, “That is a distinct over the Demerara Harbour possibility but we wouldn’t Bridge with a message that know and I don’t want to Guyana is getting 52 percent accuse Exxon of anything out of the Stabroek Block until we have the report on a deal The company also proper audit. If we have a indicated on the billboard proper audit, and if we see thatGuyanahasreceived things that are problematic, more than $280B since oil we would then call for an production started here late investigation,butthatisonly 2019. if we see things that are Speaking on this issue, problematic.” thenewspaperpublishersaid Low stressed the citizens need to know that i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e thecosttoerectthevery government fulfilling its (Continued on page 13)

Suspect in fatal

backdam chopping nabbed

Police in Region Seven on Tuesday arrested the man who allegedly chopped a miner to death and critically woundedhisbrotherduringa revenge attack at Sulphur Rose Backdam, Cuyuni River

The suspect has been identified by police as a 31year-old miner. He allegedly attacked the brothers, Rafael however, the following day, and Clive Cadogan around thesuspectallegedlydecided 06:00hrs on Tuesday while totakerevenge. they were still asleep in their He armed himself with a camp. Rafael a welder of cutlass and headed to where Linden, Region Ten was the brothers were asleep. He killed and Clive is critical at launched an attack on Clive theBarticaHospital. first. Investigators reported Police said that the that he allegedly shook suspect and the brothers Clive’s bed to wake him up worked together in the same and dealt him a chop behind mining company but things the neck. Rafael was turned sour between them on awakened by the commotion Monday afternoon while and rushed to assist his they were watching a brother but the suspect football match at a shop in chopped him too to the right the Backdam. An argument, shoulder before fleeing the police related in a press scene. release, ensued between Other co-workers rushed Clive and the suspect during the brothers to a health clinic the match over his (the located in the compound of suspect) girlfriend and it Aurora Gold Mines (AGM). ended in a fight between the Rafael was pronounced dead two. Rafael had reportedly on arrival while his younger intervened to defend his brother was referred to the brother and the girlfriend BarticaHospital. Detectives broke-up the fight. Rafael have since recovered the and his brother went to the suspected murder weapon as camp and retired to bed; investigationscontinue.

Opposition Economist, Elson Low

Murdered, Rafael Cadogan

National Assembly passes amendments to key elections law

Oil spill hits 4 kilometers of Venezuelan coastline

An oil spill on Monday “catastrophicscenario.” has polluted approximately In another post, he stated four kilometers of coastline that the city authorities will of one of Venezuelan’s top continue to monitor the touristdestination. coastlines and added, “The

Despite calls by the proposal on these pieces of Opposition to send paper that are intended to modifications to the create an electoral advantage Representation of People for any political party And I (ROPA) Act to the special want to stress and emphasise select committee, the that 100 times,” Nandlall National Assembly on said. Tuesday at midnight passed The Attorney General several amendments in a bid also emphasised the to prevent further abuse of importance of having a theelectoralsystem. sufficient number of polling

In presenting the bill for stations to accommodate the its second reading to the electorate, and noted that the National Assembly Attorney amendmentaddressesthis. General (AG) and Legal B a s e d o n t h e Affairs Minister, Anil memorandumattachedtothe Nandlall, S C said the ROPA (Amendment) Bill amendments are part of section six of the principle efforts by the People’s actisamendedtoimposethat Progressive Party /Civic every village or locality has (PPP/C) government to an adequate number of preventanyrecurrenceofthe p o l l i n g p l a c e s t o efforts made by the accommodatetheelectors. opposition to thwart the Additionally, a new democratic rights of the section 6A is inserted that electorate. divides the polling districts

Nandlall noted that the Region Three, Region Four ROPA (Amendment) Bill and Region Six into subseeks to enhance, modernise districts, each acting and reform the democratic i n d e p e n d e n t l y a n d quality and architecture of distinguished by the names. Guyana.

RegionThreewillbedivided

He said that the objective into the Essequibo Islands is to make our electoral and River, St. Lawrence to m a c h i n e r y a n d t h e Cornelia Ida, and Hague to registration process and the ArabioCreeksub-districts. compilation of the list of Region Four will be electors more transparent, separated into four units, more accountable and more namelyEastBankDemerara, effective.The 2020 elections North Georgetown, South brought to light the way that Georgetown, and East Coast the legislation in its current Demerara. Further, Region form can be subjected to No. 6 will be divided into abuse,”hesaid. three polling sub-districts: Nandlall stressed that East Bank Berbice to Canje, these reforms are not Upper Corentyne and Lower intendedtogiveanypolitical Corentyne. party an electoral advantage. TheActalsorequiresthat On the contrary, he pointed the Statements of Poll out that these reforms are (SOPs), among other much needed changes to the certified forms, be system and are good for distributed to the Chief democracy Election Officer, and the “Theimportantthingthat C h a i r m a n o f t h e I want to emphasize here is Commission. Additionally, that there is not a single (Continued on page 16)

The hydrocarbons have hydrocarbons authorities been spilled along the shores h a v e n o t g i v e n u s of Lechería, a Venezuelan information, but reality city located northeast of the speaksforitself.” AnzoáteguiState.

Notably, at the time of

The city’s Mayor, writing, neither the Manuel Ferreira González in Government of Venezuela a Twitter post confirmed the nor the State owned PDVSA incident, and declared the Oil Company have not yet closure of several beaches in announced what caused the theAnzoáteguiState. oil spill, or the quantity of

On Monday he posted, h y d r o c a r b o n s t h a t “We confirm the unfortunate contaminated the coastline news that our coasts are ofthestateofAnzoátegui. being affected by an oil Images and videos spill.” posted by the Mayor, depicts MayorFerreiraGonzález the contaminated water with described the situation as a deadbirdsandfishes.

Ignore Exxon’s ‘misleading’ billboards

From page 12

Isles explained, “The “An additional two comments,” Lall said in billboard is being recovered information displayed on percent of all oil produced responsetoExxon’sletter byExxonMobilbasedonthe the billboard in question is and sold is paid out to the Further,Lallassertedhis lopsided contract it signed factual and can be verified. Governmentasaroyaltyand position on the ExxonMobil w i t h t h e G u y a n a It is no secret that the 2016 comesoutoftheCoVsshare billboards mounted at Government. Production Sharing of the profit.The result is 52 several locations in the ExxonMobil Guyana in Agreement (PSA) allows percent of all profit goes to country “I also stand my a letter on Tuesday the Stabroek block co the Government of ground as to the billboard afternoon responded to the venturers (CoVs) to recover Guyana,”thecompanysaid. comments.Iammaintaining businessman insisting that their investments – up to 75 N o t w i t h s t a n d i n g that the information on the thebillboardserectedacross percent of oil produced and Exxon’s claims, the billboard is misleading and the country is not being soldinagivenmonth.”

Kaieteur News Publisher

Exxon

tell the recoveredasanexpense.

Subsequently,theExxon maintains his position Guyanese

The company’s Media representative noted that all “When I see the financial truth.”Infact,hearguedthat Advisor, Kwesi Isles, in a profits over and above the statements along with the the response from the letter to the Editor cost to find, develop and bills to show Guyana that multinational company maintained that the produce oil are split 50/50 this billboard cost is not failed to address the information presented on between the Government of coming out as cost oil then I misleading information on thebillboardsisfactual. GuyanaandtheCoVs. w i l l w i t h d r a w m y thebillboard.

Scenes from the oil spill (Photo credits, Mayor Manuel Ferreira González)

that

should

people the whole

Attorney General (AG) and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall, S.C.

Carpenters wanted for attempting to murder pump attendant

Police have issued a wanted bulletin for two carpenters for allegedly attemptingtomurderapump attendant on October 30 last at Riffee Gas Station, Henrietta, Essequibo Coast, RegionTwo.

The wanted carpenters were identified as 21-year old Ron Comerback of Henrietta and 19-year-old Junior Seferino of Leopold

The men left and Street,Georgetown. reportedly returned when

Themenwereaccusedof Ramcharran was about to beating and chopping 27close the gas station and y e a r o l d K e m r a j

“I stood up there for like attacked him with a piece of Ramcharran, of Winsor 5 minutes and then the guy wood and a cutlass. They CastleEssequiboCoast. winddownthefrontwindow allegedly beat and chopped A c c o r d i n g t o and ask me if I got he like a himuntilhefell. Ramcharran, he was clown waiting. I told him According to police, the allegedlyattackedbythetwo thathewassupposedtoopen owner of the gas station men between 21:00h and the tank because he is the came to his rescue and 21:30h on October 30 last driverofthevehicle.Hethen rushedtheinjuredmantothe following an argument over came out and stand up about SuddiePublicHospital. theopeningofagastank.

2ftawayandsayif‘youwant Ramcharran reportedly The men had pulled up I jook you up.’ I told him to sustained four chop wounds momentsearlierina“creamleave and he left and got totheheadandabrokenarm. ish white-ish car” at the gas annoyed and say he gon Anyone who knows the station to purchase fuel but come back,” Ramcharran whereabouts of the two men didnotopenthegastankand hadtold Kaieteur News inan are asked to contact the had Ramcharran standing interview nearestpolicestation. thereforsomefiveminutes.

Guyana inks five-year MOU with German entity to receive protected areas support

Aerial view of the Kanuku Mountains Protected Area. (Photo courtesy, Frankfurt Zoological Society)

Guyana on Monday Areas Commission here in ceremony which was held at signed a new memorandum Guyana in setting up the the Herdmanston Lodge in of understanding (MOU) protected area system and Georgetown, Dr Mullner with Frankfurt Zoological managing the Kanuku statedthatoneofFZS’smain Society (FZS) to continue its Mountains Protected Area guiding principles is a longsupport of protecting and (KMPA)since2014. t e r m a p p r o a c h a n d maintaining the Kanuku Yesterday, a new c o m m i t m e n t t o MountainsProtectedArea. agreement was signed conservation, through strong F Z S , a G e r m a n between Dr Antje Mullner, partnerships with national organisation based in Head of South America and and community based Frankfurt is an independent Southeast Asia Department institutions. n o n g o v e r n m e n t a l of FZS and Permanent She noted that an organisation which has been SecretaryoftheOfficeofthe important factor is the working for decades President, Abena Moore to coordinated approach of worldwide to conserve continue the works of FZS several institutions and the biodiversity FZS has been for the next five year relevantlocalstakeholdersto supporting the Protected Speaking at the simple (Continued on page 16)

The wanted carpenters

Junior Seferino

Ron Comerback

Bulgaria imposes 33% windfall tax on oil companies

…says citizens “sick and tired” of high oil prices

countries around the world have been implementing windfall taxes on energy

As global economies companies operating in their continue to grapple with the countries. Their aim is to fallout from unusually high access some of the massive oil prices, Bulgaria has been profits that energy thelatestcountrytoimposea companies are receiving windfall tax on oil from high commodity cost companies operating in the due initially to demand and SouthEuropestate.Business sanctions placed on Russia Intelligence group SeeNews duetoitswarinUkraine. said that Bulgaria’s National Identified as having the Assembly on Tuesday most favourable oil find in adopted changes to its the last decade and currently legislation placing a the world’s most prime oil temporary windfall tax of 33 destination, Guyanese percent on oil, gas and coal stakeholders have called for companies. the imposition of windfall

Lawmakers agreed on taxes after oil companies the windfall tax describing it operating here, particularly as a temporarily means HessCorporationandExxon toward taxing excessive Mobil, reported record profits generated by and

shattering profits. Guyanese companies active in the

crude oil, petroleum protest in front of the year to $125 billion.” “The

of the a windfall tax cannot be refining,naturalgasandcoal C a l i f o r n i a E n e r g y oil

since its production industries The European Commission building on war and inflation as shields become energy independent profits to describe it rather, agreement with the oil Union had agreed for a levy Tuesdaypriortoahearingon to hide their price gouging. from fossil fuels,” the as a “penalty to avoid a partners does not allow it. of at least 33 percent aimed Big Oil windfall profits Enough is enough. We stand Assemblymanstated. requirement that new taxes This is despite hundreds of at“redistributingsomeofthe Red, Green and Blue, an with the people of our state To ensure the placement be passed by a two-thirds thousands of dollars to be extra income energy American group in support and urge the enactment of a of the oil fine without voteinthestatelegislature.” gained from the unexpected companies have earned of action against climate windfallprofitscap.” triggering the legal One after the other, oilprofits. thanks to soaring prices changesaidthatthe“Elected While crude oil prices driven in large part by Officials to Protect America were dropping, oil and gas Russia’s invasion of (EOPA) and California’s companies were raising Ukraine ” The Bulgarian local electors from frontline prices on California Parliament said that the tax communities will talk about consumers by a record 84 will apply to energy firms’ how their communities have cents per gallon in just 10 profits for 2022 and 2023 beenaffectedfromgasprices days.“Oilrefinersmorethan that are 20 percent above the as the oil industry continues doubled their CA profits average of the four previous to rake in billions of dollars from the recent gas price years. It is expected that in profits with no regard for spikes—makingaclearcase some 32 companies will be how it hurts Californians, to enact a windfall profits subject to the windfall tax, our climate and security.” cap,” said Assemblyman including the country’s own “Advocates will stand in Alex Lee. “It’s high time the oilrefinery. solidarity behind the people of California see

In the US state of lawmakers on the west steps relief from this price California, lawmakers are of the CAState Capitol,” the gouging I commend also urging legislation on a groupsaid. G o v e r n o r ( G a v i n ) windfall profits cap on oil California’s State Newsom’s plan for a companies. Members of the Senator Henry Stern related windfall tax on oil Last Chance Alliance, Oil that “Profits of ExxonMobil, companies and urge

GECOM agrees to use electronic fingerprinting at place of poll

- to discuss demarcation of boundaries, defective voters’ list today

The Guyana Elections publication that yesterday’s Commission (GECOM) has m e e t i n g i n v o l v e d deferred discussion deliberations for a decision regardingthedemarcationof to be taken on the three constituency boundaries and critical matters that can finalising the list of electors impact the upcoming for a special meeting to be elections timetable. These held tomorrow as the fallout involve whether or not continues between the GECOM will embrace Opposition and the electronic fingerprints at the government regarding next p l a c e o f p o l l f o r year’s Local Government identification, whether in Elections. GECOM’ s opinion the

The elections body, Minister has the authority to during its statutory meeting demarcate constituency Tuesday, also agreed on the boundaries and whether the useofelectronicfingerprints proposaltorectifythevoters’ considered, Alexander said. at the place of poll, list by conducting a claims He told the newspaper, “It Commissioner Vincent and objections exercise was agreed to in principle Alexander said in an invited shouldbeentertained. subject to a feasibility comment. Use of the electronic study.”Henotedhowever, Alexander told this finger apparatus was (Continued on page 16)

Gas Network and local Chevron, BP, and Shell have legislativeaction.Thisisjust requirement of a state vote

climate justice groups held a skyrocketed 169 percent this the latest of countless California Governor has authorities have insisted that

incidents underlining the changed the name

industry is using Putin’s urgency for California to windfall tax on oil company placed

Last Chance Alliance, Oil and Gas Network and local climate justice groups protest the California Energy Commission for hearing on Big Oil windfall profits.

GECOM Commissioner, Vincent Alexander

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National Assembly passes amendments to...

From page 13 it provides for the returning officer to post an electronic copy of the SOP on the Commission’s website to be viewed publicly. Strict fines and penalties are attached for breaches of these principles in the amended Bill.

Despite these provisions, the Opposition made repeated calls for the passage of the Bill to be delayed until a Special Select Committee could examine it.

Alliance For Change (AFC) Leader and Member of Parliament Khemraj Ramjattan hinted that while parts of the Bill could even get Opposition support, other parts are hurdles to bipartisan support.

Ramjattan said despite the

Government’s efforts to clarify the residency requirement in the amendments, he said that the principal act should have been left intact.

“You should have put in back that which is not clear and that is the residency requirement. Because we are going to have a scenario where so many people can take advantage of the bloat,” he said.

“A lot of these amendments, you carry them to the select committee, a lot of them will be supported.

But this one here is the big set up for a lot of nasty things that can happen in future elections by impersonation,” he added.

However, Minister of Pub-

lic Service Sonia Parag made it clear that they were long past time to send the Bill to a Special Select Committee.

“This is the second reading.

We’re debating this Bill. This Bill has been laid in this Parliament many moons ago. There was enough time for that to be raised. Not only that… this Bill and all its amendments, were placed on the websites of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance and you know what’s worse?

I sit on a committee of the IRI, just like the Honourable Member and I have brought it to their attention many times, that it is on the website but there was no contribu-

tion,” Parag said.

Moreover, Nandlall reminded that the Bill has undergone a series of consultations to incorporate contributions from over 100 stakeholders.

The AG noted that upon assuming office in 2020, the PPP/C Government made several commitments that are well underway, including electoral reform.

He said, “We promised that the investigative arm of the state will be activated, and criminal charges will be instituted if there is evidence to support these charges. We also promised that the Commission of Inquiry will be launched under the hand of the president.”

Guyana inks five-year MOU with German entity...

From page 14 tackle the threats to biodiversity. Both the problems as well as the possible solutions to the crisis are often complex.

“We need all hands on deck to jointly work on that from multiple angles,” she said.

Dr. Mullner also commended the Government on the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030, which

has compiled so comprehensively the many aspects of low carbon development and has set very clear goals for the country particularly relating to biodiversity conservation and the expansion of the national protected areas system. She added that FZS is very much looking forward to supporting the Government in this area.

This new MOU, which covers a five-year period, will

see the expansion of FZS’s cooperation in Guyana within the context of the LCDS 2030.

It will allow the German entity to establish and operate a Country Office in Guyana, support the expansion of the National Protected Areas System (NPAS), continue its collaboration with the Protected Areas Commission (PAC) for strengthened management of the KMPA and the NPAS, foster indigenous community

engagement and development, and support Guyana to advance participation in key global biodiversity and climate-related initiatives.

Present also at the ceremony was Robert Persaud, Chair of the Board of the PAC and Foreign Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who expressed that agreement is important in protecting and managing the country’s protected areas.

GECOM agrees to use electronic fingerprinting...

From page 15 that given the elections timeline, it would be “a hard fix” to have its implementation ahead of schedule. “Two matters have been deferred to a Thursday special meeting. The power of the Minister [regarding] boundary demarcation and how the list leading up to the elections should be prepared/finalized,” Alexander related.

Decisions on some of

these issues could have some effect on the timeline regarding the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE).

He suggested that the effects on the voters list where the constituencies reflecting boundaries declared by the Minister are reversed. “The list has to relate to constituencies that are legit. If they were created, they are not legit,” the Commissioner opined.

Pomeroon, would be merged into one Neighbourhood Democratic Council and in Region Three, the ToevlugtPatentia boundary was extended to Free and Easy, to name a few.

Both the government and Opposition parties have registered their positions for the use of biometrics during elections.

died overseas.

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Minister of Local Government Nigel Dharamlall said last month that the government had decided to revert to the 2016 local district boundaries and widen others as part of measures to ensure greater representation of citizens in the upcoming LGE to be held in March.

He told a news conference that some of the changes include Region One, Mabaruma town which would now include Wauna, KittyProvidence and MorucaPhoenix, located in the Lower

The government has already stated that it will not support fingerprint identification at the place of poll, while the Opposition has described the use of the technology as an upgrade to GECOM’s system.

Alexander had stated that since the High Court had ruled that the Register of Registrants could not be retired, or names deleted from it other than those of the registered dead, it implied that the extracted voters’ list would have the names of persons whose deaths were not registered, including the thousands of registered Guyanese who

In an effort to confront and prevent the mischief of those names being used for fraudulent voting, he recommended that: “provisions of the Representation of the People Act which provide for the elector ‘to hand his or her identification paper to the poll clerk’ be amended to provide for the elector to also have his or her finger prints, electronically, matched with those of the named elector which was captured at the time of registration, as the basis for the determination of his or her identity and eligibility as a particular voter/ elector/registrant.”

The ruling party said it would not accept the proposal given for fears that of the Opposition loss the elections it would move to the court to declare the election illegal claiming that citizens were deni ed the right to vote on the basis of the finger print identification requirement

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K/News robbery suspects for court today

The defendants in the October 10,2022robberyatKaieteurNews’ Saffon Street, Charlestown office are slated to return to court today for the disclosure of statements in thematter

Those charged and on remand are: Ryan Wharton, 33, a former Kaieteur News Research Assistant of R4-574 Canary Street, Tucville, Georgetown, 35-year-old Joshua Junor, Kaieteur News Security Guard of Middle Road, La Penitence, 25 year old Ivor Belingie called ‘WildLife’of Back Circle, East Ruimveldt, 23-year old Lemuel Grant, a clerk of Russell Street, Charlestown and 36-year-old Harry Stongster of Hyde Park, Timehri, East Bank Demerara(EBD);CollisHaywood, 40, a chef of Lot R2-578 Canary Street, Tucville and Kevin France, 35, ataxi-driverof EastRuimveldt, Georgetown.

On Wednesday, the defendants appeared before the Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. They were once again remanded andarescheduledtoappearincourt today Accordingtoreports,during the wee hours of Monday, October 10, three bandits entered the Kaieteur News office located at 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown office and stole a safe containingmillionsofdollarsalong with a firearm and ammunition. Whartonwasthefirsttobearrested. While in custody, he reportedly confessedtoplottingthecrimewith Junor who was one of two security guardswhowereondutyduringthe

commission of the robbery – and severalothers.Accordingtopolice, Wharton and Junor had confessed to planning and carrying out the crime while their accomplices admitted to playing their roles as well Wharton and Junor had reportedly been planning to rob the company a while back but had only finalised their scheme the Sunday morning prior to the robbery They contracted Stongster and Belingie to be their accomplices and borrowed a Toyota Spacio motorcar from Grant to transport them to and from the Kaieteur Newsoffice.

During the wee hours of October 10, they put their plan into motion. Junor turned up for work duties early while Wharton drove the borrowed car with Stongster and Belingie as passengers to the location. Belingie entered the building and held their accomplice Junor, as well as the other security guardonduty,andthegraphicartist at gunpoint, while Wharton and Stongster headed upstairs of the two-storey building and broke the door of the company’s Accounts Department. They also broke a drawer,stolepettycashandfetched out the safe which contained the other items that were stolen. The two men loaded it into the car, which was parked just outside the Kaieteur News office, and then escaped with Belingie. Junor remained and waited until his accomplices were a safe distance away before contacting his superiors to inform them that he and his colleagueshad been robbed

ofcellphonesand$5000cash.After splitting up the cash at Wharton’s home, a sixth suspect, Haywood, was contacted and given the stolen firearm and ammunition to keep. He reportedly hid them in his backyard. Investigators were able to crack the case after individuals were able to identify Wharton as oneofthebanditsseeninfootageof therobbery AsitrelatestoFrance, he was reportedly the suspect who provided the firearm that was used tocarryouttherobbery Following the robbery, an investigation was launched and this led to France being arrested. A search was conducted at his home and he reportedly handed over the firearm to police Wharton, Junor, Stongster, Belingie and Grant were jointly charged with robbery under arms,contrarytoSection222(c)of the Criminal Law (offences) Act Chapter 8:01. According to the particulars of the offence, between October 9, 2022 and October 10, 2022 at Lot 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, while being armed with a dangerous weapon, the defendants robbed Kaieteur News owned by Glenn Lall of $38.8 million, a Republic Bank cheque valued at $9.1 million, US$9,306, one black .32 Taurus pistol serial number FHS60749 valued $350,000, ammunition valued at $480,000, one firearm case valued at $25,000, two handles valued at $10,000 and six magazines valued at $60,000. Additionally, the men robbed Noel Junor, the other security guard who was on duty of $5000 andWayne Lyttle, a Graphic

Artist who was also on duty of one cellularphonevaluedat$44,000.

The defendants denied the charge read to them and the Chief Magistrate had remanded them to prisonuntilNovember10,2022.

Moreover, Haywood and France were charged individually and not for the actual robbery that wascarriedoutonthemediaoutlet.

They made their second court appearance on Wednesday This publication had reported that Haywood was slapped with two charges which allege that on October 10, at Canary Street, Georgetown, he had in his possession 210 matching rounds of ammunition along with a 32 Taurus pistol, while not being a licensed firearm holder Haywood’s lawyer had told the court that his client lives at a propertythatisoccupiedbyseveral persons and his position is that he

had no knowledge, possession or control over the firearm and ammunitionthatwerefound.

However, the Police Prosecutor had informed the court that the firearm and ammunition that Haywood handed over to the police were the items that were stolen during the robbery at Kaieteur News It was reported that during the investigation, the police went to the home of Haywood and during a searchinhispresence,thedefendant handed over a bag containing the items mentioned in the charge Meanwhile, France was slapped with two charges that allege that on October 10, 2022, at East Ruimveldt,hehadinhispossession one .9mm pistol and 10 .9mm ammunition. As for the other five defendants, they were charged jointly and are scheduled to make their second court appearance todaybeforetheChiefMagistrate.

Canada sends diplomatic mission diplomatic to Haiti over gang violence

Dec7(Reuters)-Foreign affairs officials from Canada beganathree-daydiplomatic mission to Haiti on Wednesday in a bid to address a gang related humanitarian crisis unfolding in the Caribbean country, the office of Global A f f a i r s C a n a d a said.Canada’sambassadorto theUnitedNations,BobRae,

is leading the mission and will consult with high-level political figures, local groups and key Haitian officials to determine Canada’spotentialroleinthe international response, the officesaidinastatement.

Haitian gangs in September created a humanitarian crisis by blocking the entrance to a

fuel terminal, leading to shortages of gasoline and diesel that halted most economic activity just as the country reported a renewed outbreakofcholera.

Some 200 gangs of varying size have become de facto authorities in large parts of the capital Port-auPrince and are involved in illegal activities including

extortion and drug trafficking.

Over the last five weeks, Canada has imposed sanctions on 11 Haitian political and economic officials.Ithasalsoprovided security and humanitarian assistance as well as funding to fight corruption and impunity in Haiti, the office noted.

Rose Delpe cries as people displaced by gang war violence in Cite Soleil walk on the streets REUTERS/Ralph Tedy Erol

West Demerara Secondary School crowned debating champs

G a s k i n M e m o r i a l Secondary School was represented by Crystal Smartt, Quincie Andrews andMasaniJordan.

WKeba Evelyn of the West Demerara Secondary School was judged the best est Demerara (NCERD). speaker It is worth noting Secondary The teams debated the that she was judged the best

School on moot: “The primary avenue speaker in every debate Wednesday emerged for economic prosperity in throughoutthecompetition. victorious with 315 points at Guyana is the oil and gas Mr Sheldon Granville, the conclusion of the 2022 industry.” Winifred Gaskin Senior Education Officer J O F Haynes Memorial Memorial Secondary was within the Secondary Sector DebatingCompetition. the proposition, while West said that every Education They defeated Winifred Demerara Secondary School District was represented in GaskinMemorialSecondary the opposition Desson the competition The (259 Points), in an intense Daniels,RaphaelaDavidand competition started with 11 final, held at the National KebaEvelynrepresentedthe schools; the Santa Rosa Centre for Educational West Demerara Secondary Secondary School (Region Resource Development School while the Winifred One), the Anna Regina Secondary School (Region there were independent in debating, measured Two), the West Demerara judges at each stage of the speech is required and that Secondary School (Region competition. they should not lose their T h r e e ) , F r i e n d s h i p Hesaidthatbeforemoots waywithwords. Secondary School (Region were finalized, they were A s s i s t a n t C h i e f Four), Fort Wellington analyzed to ensure that they E d u c a t i o n O f f i c e r Secondary School (Region were balanced and allowed (Secondary), Ms Tiffany Five), Winifred Gaskin both debating sides to Harvey and Assistant Chief Memorial Secondary School present sound arguments E d u c a t i o n O f f i c e r (Region Six), Three Miles Chief Judge yesterday, Ms. (Literacy), Ms Samantha Secondary School (Region C o l l e t t e H o r a t i o Williams were present to Seven), Mahdia Secondary commended both teams on hand over prizes and School (Region Eight), theirperformance.Shenoted trophies to the two teams. Aishalton Secondary School t h a t t h e r e w a s a n The JOF Haynes debating (Region Nine), Mackenzie improvement in the use of competition is an annual one High School (Region Ten) supporting evidence to a n d s e e s s c h o o l s and St. Joseph High School es tablis h a logical participating from every (Georgetown). relationship with the moot. education district from

Mr Granville said that Sheadvisedthespeakersthat across

Guyana.

The winning team from the West Demerara Secondary School

The second place finishers, the team from the Winifred Gaskin Memorial Secondary School

Best Speaker, Keba Evelyn receiving her prize from Assistant Chief Education Officer (Secondary), Ms. Tiffany Harvey

Members of both teams pose for a photograph with the Director of NCERD, Ms. Quenita Walrond-Lewis (right), Assistant Chief Education Officer (Secondary), Ms. Tiffany Harvey (centre) and Assistant Chief Education Officer (Literacy), Ms. Samantha Williams (fourth from left).

Muhammad ecstatic about One Guyana President’s Cup tournament - Hails President

By Rawle Toney

Kashif Muhammad and his forever partner and friend, Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major, conceptualized a football tournament in 1989, which would later grow to become the ‘holy grail’ for the sport locally.

Muhammad and Major formed the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation and became responsible for bringing some of the best regional players and teams to these shores, for what would be the biggest fusion of entertainment and sports.

The Kashif and Shanghai

tournament culminated on January 1 of each year for over two decades.

Sponsors hounded the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation to be part of the football spectacle in Guyana and probably the Caribbean at the time.

However, in 2011, a fallout with long-time sponsors Banks DIH and the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) resulted in the Association and the company coming up with a tournament of their own –The GFA Banks Beer Cup.

The Kashif and Shanghai

tournament began to wither.

Following the 2015/2016 tournament which was won by Slingerz Football Club, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) transitioned from a stage of the country’s first Normalisation Committee to having new management under the current president Wayne Forde.

Fast-forward to 2020, the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation partnered with the GFF to host its ‘Bounce Back Classic’ tournament, marking a return to promoting Year-End football for the Medal of Service award-

Ali’s injection into the ‘Beautiful Game’

winning entity.

This time around, the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation was tasked with realizing an initiative of President Irfaan Ali – the One Guyana President’s Cup football tournament.

“We were always hoping that one day, a type of injection will come into the tournament to make it explode into something really solid for Guyana’s football, and we think this is happening right now,” Muhammad told Kaieteur News.

He added, “We have for the first time, the President of our country, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, the GFF, the Media; so many stakeholders, sponsors willing to come on board.”

Thursday December 08, 2022

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19)

You may have that awful feeling that you really need to get down to work yet something seems to stand square in the way of progress. Perhaps you feel like you're at a four-way stop with three other cars.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

You're anxious to take action, Taurus, especially when it comes to matters of the heart. Be careful about acting too hastily. It's important that you and your loved one.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

It may feel as if something or someone is trying to keep you from moving ahead with your ambitious goals and aggressive nature, Gemini. At first you may resent this ball and chain attached to your ankle.

CANCER (June 21–July 22)

You're apt to feel more talkative than usual, Cancer. There are many times when you may shrink from a situation in disgust or perhaps boredom.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)

You may be anxious to try an uncharted path that speaks to your sense of risk and adventure, Leo. It's important to temper these actions with realistic planning.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22)

Other people are likely to be anxious to get up and moving with their plans, Virgo. It might be better for you to hang back a bit and see how things pan out before you take action.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

Your heart has been active, Libra, and you're probably feeling the need to take charge of a certain relationship. Instead of being too hasty in your pursuit of this romance, you should probably do more planning.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

There is solid grounding to your emotions right now that is helping you stabilize your sensitive feelings, Scorpio. As you become more attuned to your internal needs,.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

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AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Things may roll along nicely in love and romance and then suddenly run into a snag, Aquarius. Perhaps you failed to recognize an important birthday or anniversary.

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The One Guyana Football tournament will see the 10 Administrative Regions placed in two groups of five, with each group playing a round-robin format, after which the top two teams will advance to the semi-finals.

“The K&S organisation is supporting this 100%. We’re excited about making this successful where we can head to the stadium once again,” Muhammad reasoned.

The long-time sports and entertainment organiser added, “This is the kind of injection the tournament needed, and we’re getting it right now. It’s happening at the point in time where we have a very vibrant GFF. So the K&S is more than excited to work with the GFF to ensure the success of this One Guyana President’s Cup.”

The Guyana National Stadium has been used many times for both local and international football, but after the finals on January 1, 2021, cricket officials cried foul at allowing the world’s most popular sport on the pitch at Providence.

Last year’s Year-End tournament final was played at the National Track and Field Centre, but Muhammad noted that the magnitude of the tournament will make it not conducive for the West Demerara venue.

According to Muhammad, “Last year, we

filled the National Track and Field Centre, and we have a little issue with the cricket ground at Providence, but we know we need the kind of space to accommodate everybody.

We know the President will understand this, and we will eventually get to put football back into the stadium.”

Following the conclusion of the Inter-Ward fraction, the tournament will now move to the Regional Championship, which starts on Sunday at the National Track and Field Centre.

PresidentAlicommitsGovernmenttofootballdevelopment

By Rawle Toney

President Irfaan Ali last evening doubled down on theGovernmentofGuyana’s c o m m i t m e n t t o t h e development of Guyana’s National Football team, the GoldenJaguars.

TheHead-of-Statewasat the time addressing representatives of the 10 Administrative Regions that willcompeteintheinaugural OneGuyanaPresident’sCup football tournament, which will kick on Sunday at the National Track and Field Centre.

The ceremony, held at StateHouse,wasattendedby Government officials, players,theGuyanaFootball Federation, Kashif and Shanghai Organisation, along with sponsors GTT, Digicel, Ansa McAl, New GPC, CaribbeanAirlines, ENetworks, Edward Beharry Groupamongothers.

A s m u c h a s t h e tournament is being used as part of the President’s One Guyana initiative, the Commander-in-Chiefadded, “It’s not only about football, but a mission and an aspiration of us getting into the next world cup ” President Ali has been speaking at several public events, where he was vocal about seeing Guyana at the 2026 World Cup in Mexico, Canada and the USA. Last

evening, he told the players that the Government of Guyana is committed to removing all barriers that will prevent them from getting into the next world cup.

As it relates to the One G u y a n a F o o t b a l l Tournament, President Ali thanked the players for their participation while noting that it was just the beginning of a legacy that he hopes formspartoftheGFF’splans to see Guyana qualify for the 2026FIFAWorldCup.

Following the Inter Ward tournament played throughout the country, the districts selected their best 25 players to play in the RegionalTournament.

In Group A, Region 4 (Demerara/Mahaica), ranked as the top seed, will be joined by Region 6 (East Berbice/Corentyne), Region 7 (Cuyuni/Mazaruni), R e g i o n 9 ( U p p e r Takutu/Upper Essequibo) and Region 8 (Potaro Siparuni).District10(Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice) was placed as the top seed in Group B and joined by R e g i o n 5 (Mahaica/Berbice), Region 1 (Barima/Waini), Region 3 (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) and Region 2 (Pomeroon-Supenaam). The teams will play in a roundrobin format in the initial

stage, where the top two teams from each group will advancetothesemi-finals.

Matcheswillbeplayedat the National Track and Field Centre, the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) Ground, the Buxton Community Centre Ground, the Bartica Community Centre Ground, #5 Ground and Albion Community CentreGround.

After Sunday’s opening ceremony at the National Track and Field Centre, Region 6 will battle Region 9 from 18:00hrs, followed by a clash between Region 3 and Region 1 The tournament will continue Wednesday, December 14, at the GFC Ground,withRegion4facing Region 7 and Region 10 coming up against Region 5 The One Guyana President’s Cup will be one of the most lucrative tournaments ever heldinGuyana.

Apart from the $2M up forgrabsforthewinner,each player will pocket $80,000 as a one-off payment. Team captains will receive $100,000.The head coach of each team will collect $100,000, while members of his coaching staff are to receive $80,000. For each wininthegroupstage,teams will be rewarded $200,000, and each semi-finalist will collect $400,000 Second placeteamtoget$1M.

Representative of the Upper Demerara/Kwakwani District 10, Patrick Dey, receives his region’s uniform from President Irfaan Ali. (Rawle Toney photo)

Walsh laments another poor batting display as West Indies Women slump to another massive defeat

SportsMax - West Indies Women’s coach Courtney Walsh has lamented another poor performance with the bat by the team that suffered another massive loss to England Women at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in AntiguaonTuesday

After bowling England out for 260, the West Indies Women were skittled out for a 118 in just 31.3 overs to lose by 142 runs, a similar margin to the loss in the first ODI on Sunday in which England made 307-7 and then bowled the home side outfor165.Theresultmeans E n g l a n d t a k e s a n unassailable 2-0 lead in the CG United One Day Internationalseries.

“In both games we haven’t batted well,” Walsh said after Tuesday’s

humiliating defeat “We werealotbetterwiththeball in this game on a good batting track and for the score where we had them at 260, I thought we would havebattedbetter.”

Walshreservedpraisefor Rashada Williams, who stoodoutamongthebatters.

“We lost those early wickets and just never recovered,”hesaid.

“The batters can take a lot from Rashada’s performance. I am pleased with how she went about it and showed that it can be done. We have a lot at stake with one game remaining and we need to get championship points. Our momentum is good but performance and execution, we have to try and get better.”

Batting first, England owedtheircompetitivescore toAmyJones,whoscoredan unbeaten 70 and Sophia Dunkley’s unbeaten 57 as the local bowlers restricted England’sabilitytobuildbig partnerships.

Leading from the front Hayley Matthews took 3-50 and was supported by Afy Fletcher, who returned figures of 2-41 and Aaliyah Alleyne2-47.

T h e We s t I n d i e s Women’s reply got off to a disastrous start losing four wickets inside the first four overs with just eight runs on theboard.

Williams offered the only real resistance with an unbeaten 54 that allowed the West Indies Women to push past 100 runs. Chedean Nation and Chinelle Henry

with scores of 17 and 13, respectively, were the only other batters in double figures as Lauren Bell wreakedhavoctaking4-33.

Charlie Dean took 2-9 and there were also two wickets each for Sophie Ecclestone (2-25) and Kate Cross(2-35)intherout.

The teams meet again tomorrow,Friday,December 9atthesamevenue.

Rashada Williams

Windies Women fined 40 percent match fee for slow over rate against England

SportsMax - The West Indies Women have been docked 40 percent of their match feeforaslowoverrateagainstEnglandinthe firstODIinAntiguaonSunday England triumphed in the match by a massive 142 runs after amassing 307 in addition to the loss, however, the ICC match referees imposed the sanction after the West Indieswerefoundtobetwooversshortofthe target after time after allowances were taken

into consideration West Indies Women’s team captain Hayley Matthews pleaded no contest to the charges and as such there will benoneedforaformalhearing.

Based onArticle 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over rate offences, players are fined 20 per cent of their match fee for every over their side fails tobowlintheallottedtime.

Taxi,Transportation&Delivery Servicedominoestoconcludethisweek

Trace’s

Trace’s Taxi Transportation and Delivery Service dominoes competition is settoconcludethisweekatPikeandGanges corner,Sophia.

The winner will take home $250,000, runner up $100,000. There will be other consolationprizes.

Among the sponsors are Extra Energy, Stag Beer, Braddies Catering, Why Pay More, Shanta’s Puri Shop, Lag, Isha constructionandRealEstate.

KFC Goodwill Tournament fixtures revealed

One day after the launching of the third annual KFC Goodwill Tournament, the organising team, Petra, has revealed the fixtures for the five-day event, which commencesonDecember14 at the Ministry of Education Ground,CarifestaAvenue.

The six-teamtournament will be divided into two Groups with Trinidad’s current Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premiership Champions –St Benedict’s College, GuyOil/Tradewind Tankers League runner-up – Golden Grove Secondary and Desrey Fox (Waramadong) Secondary, slotted in Group A.

Group B has Annai Secondary - the defending c h a m p i o n s , GuyOil/Tradewind Tankers League Champion Christianburg/Wismar

Secondary (CWSS) and SVB Academy out of Suriname.

The other playing dates of the tournament are December 16, 18 and 20, with the culmination billed forThursday,December23.

On the opening day, the four local teams will showcase their chemistry in the first two matches in what is expected to be a thrilling doubleheader

At 17:00 hrs the opening match gets underway as CWSS oppose Annai then Golden Grove go head-tohead with Desrey Fox in other showdown from 19:00 hrs.

Day two will see CWSS springing into action in the first match once again as they meet SVB Academy at 17:00hrs.

That match that follows feature St Benedict’s

College and Waramadong battlingfrom19:00hrs.

On Sunday, December 18, the group stage concludes with matches five and six; St Benedict’s collide with Golden Grove from 17:00 hrs while Annai and SVB Academy thrash it outfrom19:00hrs.

After that, the top two finishers from the two groups advance to the semifinal round on Tuesday, December20,whilethethird place showdown and finale unfoldsthreedayslater

Both days have matches scheduled to kick off at 17:00hrsand19:00hrs.

The tournament is sponsored by KFC, Tiger Offshore Rentals, MVP Sports and Demerara Life with support from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Culture, YouthandSports.

The West Indies Women have been docked 40 percent of their match fee for a slow over rate.

Barbara Marshall ® receives the prizes from Trace Ann.

- Local teams to showcase onopeningday

GCB donates U-13 cricket equipment to county boards

The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) today donated a set of under-13 cricket equipment to Demerara and Essequibo at the national Gymnasium.

The small presentation was done after the third trial match played between the twoteams.

A series of trial matches were arranged after the inaugural GCB Under-13 40 o v e r s i n t e r c o u n t y tournamentwascancelledon Saturday, December 3 due to persistent and heavy rainfall acrossthecountry

The four matches organized will be used to select a Guyana Under-13 squad to participate in a bilateral series against a touring Trinidad and Tobago Under-13 team scheduled to arrive in Guyana on Friday,

December 9. The two teams will play four (4) matches between December 10 and 18. The GCB plans to add the Under-13 inter-county to its calendar of activities in which it would be an annual event; this is in keeping with t h e f i v e ( 5 ) y e a r development plan outlined bythisnewadministration.

Present at the handing over ceremony were Hon. Secretary of the GCB, Mr Ronald Williams, Assistant Secretary, Mr Davteerth Anandjit, Territorial

Development OfficerAdmin Assistant, Kavita Yadram and Chairman of the Junior Selection Panel, Mr Andre Percival.

The GCB will hand over gear to the Berbice team during their match against Demeraratoday

Italian far-right activists held for assault on Morocco soccer fans

ROME, (Reuters)

Italian police said on Wednesday they had detained 13 far right activists in Verona for an assault on Moroccan soccer fans who were celebrating their historic qualification for the World Cup quarter finals.

The supporters were revelling in the centre of the northern Italian city on Tuesday evening after Morocco’s victory over Spain when they were attacked by a group of men

dressed in black with their faces covered, the police saidinastatement.

Those held “were identified by investigators as militants of far-right groupsinthecity,”itsaid.

Morocco’s World Cup progress has seen vibrant celebrations by its supporters in cities with large Moroccan immigrant populations around the world, which have sometimesturnedviolent.

Their victory over Belgium in the group stage

sparked riots in Brussels, and on Tuesday evening video footage showed fans lighting flares and throwing furniture and other objects inthecentreofMilan.

Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, leaderoftheanti-immigrant League party, tweeted the images of the Milan episodes, saying he hoped those responsible would be identified and made to pay forthedamagetoproperty

He did not comment on theincidentsinVerona.

The Demerara team take time out for a photo with the gear that were presented.

The Essequibo team take a photo with the gear that were presented.

President Ali commits Government to football development

Kashif Muhammad and the One Guyana President’s Cup tournament trophy.