Kaieteur News

‘Exxon's billboards

insulting, disrespectful’

...says company out to mislead, silence concerns regarding lopsided deal

The billboards erected by American oil giant, ExxonMobil aresetouttomisleadGuyaneseand silence genuine concerns regarding the lopsided contract that governs theStabroekBlock,inwhichtheoil companyenjoysthemajorityofthe benefits.

ThisisaccordingtotheAlliance For Change During its press conference on Friday, one of its members and former Head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr Vincent Adams argued that the oil company must retract this misleading message “The AFC condemns in the strongest way possible the embarrassing display of billboards by Exxon across our beautiful country as no doubt propaganda to mislead and silence our people's bonafide concerns about the unfair exploitation our nation's patrimony byExxon,”hetoldthemedia.

Dr.Adamswaskeentonotethat the party welcomes foreign investors such as Exxon, as was demonstrated during the party's tenure in office between 2015 and 2020; however, by erecting the

structures across the country, Exxon has demonstrated “an abuse of our warm welcome and hospitality ” In fact, the AFC believes the act was an “in-yourface show of disrespect and insult” toGuyaneseintelligence.

As such, Dr Adams reasoned, “In as much as we welcome the presenceandcontributionstowards our nation's economy, we are highly disappointed by this unprecedented behaviour of a foreign company of Exxon's calibre, coming into our country andengaginginpropagandainsuch grossly dishonest attempt to misleadourpeopleanddemeanour genuine concerns of unfairness in the exploitation of our God-given resources.”

He reminded that Guyana played a vital role in reviving Exxon's financial viability, adding that the party will simply not allow “colonization” days to reoccur where Guyanese had their wealth taken away from them and had to keep quiet. Contrary, the AFC urged, “We wish to advise Exxon that the Guyanese people are not as

stupid as they might think and we can see through these farcical displays. We therefore advise that in order to earn the respect our people, we implore them to cut out thecontentiouspropagandaandtell thepeoplethetruth.”

Notably,thepartylistedabouta dozen terms they believe Exxon shouldcomecleanwithGuyanaon. To begin with, the political group insistedthattheoilcompanyshould erect a billboard to tell the nation the truth about its paltry gains from theoilcontractandthefactthatitis getting six times more than

Guyana.

Not only that, but it also argued that Exxon should tell the country that it may never get more than this meagre sum in the absence of ringfencing provisions in the lopsided deal.

Additionally, Dr Adams reasoned, “How about putting on yourbillboard,thetruththatyouare legally exceeding the safe productionlimitby25percent,thus increasing the chances of a spill? How about telling us the truth on your billboard, how you are breakingthelawsofthelandbynot providing parent company guarantee that you signed up to, to cover liabilities of a spill, even thoughincreasingtheriskofspill?”

He continued, “How about telling us the truth on your billboards that Guyana and the rest oftheCaribbeanwillbebankrupted with a major spill and where is the billboard Exxon that tells us the truth about the massive amounts of hot, oil contaminated, toxic and radioactive water you are dumping into the clean ocean and the hundreds of thousands of barrels of

pureoilthatyouwillbedumpingin thewater?”

The AFC told reporters that theyarenotagainsttheoilcompany erecting billboards; however, they owe it to the nation to be truthful concerning the exploitation of the oilresource.Itwaskeentonotethat it will not stand by idly “watching the invasion of our sovereignty and dignity and propagandists attacks on our people's psyche while defacingourexquisitelandscape.”

This newspaper reported on Tuesday that the oil company erected a number of billboards across the country claiming that Guyana is getting 52 percent of the profits from the Stabroek Block. The Publisher of this newspaper, Mr Glenn Lall has since challenged the company's assertion,explainingthatGuyanais merely getting a quarter of the profits due to the 2016 PSA. He is adamant that what Exxon should have been telling Guyanese on those huge billboards, is who is getting the ¾ of the apple plus the other half of the quarter apple whichremains.

AFC member and Former EPA Head, Dr. Vincent Adams

Jagdeo agrees Guyana gets 52% from Stabroek Block deal

The country's

manager of the petroleum sector, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo is throwing his support behind American oil major, ExxonMobil's calculation, that Guyana's totaltakeofrevenuefromthe oil and gas sector is a whopping52percent.

Jagdeo, an Economist, was asked to weigh in on the issue on Friday following the placement of a number of billboardsbytheoilcompany across Guyana These billboardsclaimamongother things that Guyana benefits from 52 percent of all the profitsfromoilandgas.

The VPexplained, “I saw how they are claiming the 52 (percent)- 50 percent from profit oil and then 52. That might not be the most egregious thing because it is accurate that 52 percent. If you look at how it's calculated, so its 50 percent oftheprofits.”

He was reminded that 75 percent of the revenue is first deducted to cover the operator's expense, in keeping with the lopsided Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) andwasaskedtoexplainhow this calculation would be accurate.

After pausing, he then responded,“Ifyoulookatthe lifecycle, normally you look at the lifecycle of the project. It can't be done simply So if you look at the lifecycle at 50- we had the simulations done- of $50, $60 and $100. So this is, here if this is $100, it works out to about 49 to 50 percent.

If its $50 over the lifecycle of the project, it's close to 50 something percent,56percent.”

He stressed that in determining Guyana's share, factors such as the number of production years and number of barrels produced must be considered and then multiplied by the price per barrelat$50.

As such he said, “No, I don'tthinkthatismisleading, there might be other things I do not agree with but I don't thinkthat'smisleading.”

Speakingontheissue,the publisher of this newspaper, Mr Glenn Lall said citizens need to know that the cost to erect the very billboard is being recovered by ExxonMobil based on the lopsided contract it signed w i t h t h e G u y a n a Government.

“ExxonMobilisspending

millions, further shortening our share to build and erect huge billboards, to tell us the Guyanese people we are getting 52% out of the Stabroek Block,” Lall stated. Heasked,“52%ofwhat?Not thewholeapple,but52%ofa ¼ofthetotalrevenuemade.”

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

“It is mind boggling, that these guys can up billboards staring in our faces to mislead all of us and our Leaders, all of themaresilent.”

Following his statement on the front page of Kaieteur News last Tuesday, Exxon issued a response insisting that the billboards erected across the country are no being recovered as an expense The company's Media Advisor, Kwesi Isles, in a letter to this newspaper maintained that the information presented on the billboardsarefactual.

Isles explained, “The information displayed on the billboard in question is factual and can be verified. It is no secret that the 2016 P r o d u c t i o n S h a r i n g Agreement (PSA) allows the Stabroek block co-venturers (CoVs) to recover their investments – up to 75 percent of oil produced and soldinagivenmonth.”

Subsequently, the Exxon representative noted that all profits over and above the cost to find, develop and produce oil are split 50/50 between the Government of GuyanaandtheCoVs.

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

Notwithstanding Exxon's claims, the Kaieteur News Publisher maintains his position.

“WhenIseethefinancial statements along with the billstoshowGuyanathatthis billboard cost is not coming out as cost oil then I will withdraw my comments,” Lall said in response to

Building Guyana

Exxon'sletter

Further, Lall asserted his position on the ExxonMobil billboardsmountedatseveral locations in the country “I also stand my ground as to thebillboardcomments.Iam maintaining the information onthebillboardismisleading andthatExxonshouldtellthe Guyanese people the whole truth.”

In fact, he argued that the r e s p o n s e f r o m t h e multinational company has failed to address the misleading information on the billboard. According to that poster, planted at the Demerara Harbour Bridge junction in Region Three Guyana has received more than $280B since oil production started here late 2019, as 52 percent of the profitsgoestothecountry

W a r n i n g s f r o m International Energy Organization

It must be noted that Guyana has been warned on numerous occasions in the past that the 2016 PSA may never allow Guyana to see the promised annual revenues from its oil sector, as the “one-sided” oil contract gives ExxonMobil and its partners the benefit, leaving Guyana and its people out of their fair share ofthewealth.

This is the view of the Institute for Energy

c o n o m i c s a n d

Financial Analysis ( I E E F A ) , a n i n d e p e n d e n t organization that examines issues related to energy markets, trends and policies.

According to one of its reports titled 'Lack of Ring-Fencing rovision Means Guyana Won't Realize Oil Gains Before 2030s, if at All- Loophole Allows ExxonMobilLed Development Team To Use Profits To Pay for More Oil Exploration in Guyana' details that Guyana's failure to implement a “ring fence” provision has provided Exxon an opportunity to reduce the country's share of profits.

According to the document, “Among the contract's weak provisions, Guyana never imposed a “ring fence,” which means that the oil companies can

charge the government for costs incurred for new development and pay for it outoftherevenuesfromLiza Phase One, an oil field that commenced production in December2019.

A strong ring fence provision would have allowed ExxonMobil to charge only costs related to Liza Phase One against revenues received from oil fromthatfield.”

The Institute went on to say that Guyana only received US$344 million in the first 16 months of production.

To date, ExxonMobil has received approval for four projects, including Liza One and Two, Payara and more recently, the Yellowtail development.Inaddition,the company also made several other discoveries, along with about four dry holes, of which the costs are being charged against the oil produced at the Liza One well. This, the report says,

reducesGuyana'sshareofthe profits.

IEEFA estimated that Guyana should receive upwardof$6billionannually by 2028 or sooner However, theorganizationbelievesthat due to all of these new costs, Guyana will be shortchanged until the 2030's, if notlonger

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

To this end, IEEFA said its findings suggest there is much work to be done on the oil agreement before Guyana couldenjoythebenefitsofits offshore resources The institute added, that the government's considerations of a new gas project is troubling, considering the i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e outstanding issues with the oilcontract.

Farmer found dead in Alness trench

A 49-year-old farmer from Alness Village Corentyne Berbice was on Sunday found dead in a trenchlocatedalongtherace course street in the said village.

Dead is Burnette Grey, a livestock and rice farmer According to his reputed wife Althea Pearson, Grey wasatherhouseonSaturday around 4:00pm. She said he had left to go down to the back dam. She said at the time she was leaving, she told Grey to sit on her mother's step and that she willreturnsoon. "Itoldhim wait and sit on my mother step and that I was coming back and I left and go away

and look after the stock and whenIcomeback,hewasn't there and my mother said she saw when he leave the yard,"Pearsondisclosed.

Pearson said she did not hear or see Grey for the

entire Saturday night but on Sunday, she got up around 6:00amtolookforhim.She added that she ventured to his aunt's house where he usually visits but he was not there and the aunt indicated that she did not see him. It was while she was making her way along the race coursestreetthatshesawhis body in the trench and she raised an alarm The neighbours came out to assistinpullingthebodyout of the trench. Police were subsequentlycontacted."He was a good person; we do farming together; we graze stock together," the reputed wife said. An investigation isunderway

More than GY$280 billion for Guyana since 2019

Guyana receives 52% of all profits from Stabroek Block - 50% profit share plus 2% royalty

The billboard erected by Exxon in Region Three.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo during his most recent press conference responding to queries from the press

Deceased: Burnette Grey

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

Publisher: GLENN LALL-TEL: 624-6456

Editor: NIGELWILLIAMS

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

EDITORIAL

UGValedictorianspeech

The University of Guyana’s top graduatehit all the high notes in his valedictorian Speech. Economics graduate, Sean Pemberton aced the boards with a perfect 4.0 Grade PointAverage, which takes a lot of doing. To Valedictorian Pemberton and the 3000 others in this year’s batch of graduates from our highest institution of learning in this country, we say well done, and thanks to all of these young, bright,inspiringGuyanese.

The valedictorian spoke of “transformational economic development” and “burgeoning opportunities” and of how he and his fellow graduates have a duty to be agents of changeforthebettermentofthiscountry Undoubtedly,they all do, and it is our wish that they have it in them to be the determinants of the many changes so desperately needed locally Frankly, those that we have elected to office to be the agents of change that it was thought they could be, only resultedintheworstofdisappointments. Inturn,thosethat the elected have selected (senior public servants) to get the many sensitive jobs done have been another source of despair,acaseofunendingdisgust.

Look at where Guyana is today, then look at the people that we have leading the way in government and lots of placesinthepublicservice. Forthemostpart,theyhavenot been agents of change of anything laudable, but agents of self-help, and what changes their bank accounts, changes their asset bases. We at this publication have been calling for agents of change for a long time, but it is always heartening to hear another voice, a younger one now, repeating that mantra. They must be different than the present crop of Guyanese who are about under the table money before duty, the dirty when responsibility is called for, and the criminality where only honesty would make a difference.

ItisourhopethatGuyanawillbeblessedbytheseyoung sons and daughters, who have made many sacrifices to reach this far in the world of learning, They must form the foundations for a new and different Guyana, the agents of change of which young Sean Pemberton articulated so powerfully. For sure, this is a time of many opportunities for well-educated and well-equipped Guyanese students to grow up wisely, and take their places in our new and dynamic world. It will only be dynamic and of the transformational when our young take the bit between their teeth and courageously call things as they are. When, they will have nothing to do with the old sicknesses that torment thiscountryanddragthegreatmassofstrugglingGuyanese deeper into the gutter We are glad that Mr Pemberton, in quotingthereveredNelsonMandela,recognisedthecrucial role that education occupies in building a better country, towards changing the world. We would like to remember thisvaledictorian’sspeechintheyearstocome,andhowhe andhisbatchofgraduatesliveduptothewordssharedabout changeandtransformationandbettermentfortheGuyanese people. Their first challenge is to overcome the obstacle of societal division, with the next being to resist the temptationsthatmakefuelcorruptions,thosefallingvictim. Education is a solid beginning, principle and high ethical behaviouriswhatwillhelpthemseetheirway,andmakefor a better day for Guyana. If they fail at this, then there is the risk that instead of being agents of change, our graduates will end up being more of the same, unchanging world of Guyana. Oil discoveries have exploited and expanded our divisions. The greedy has gotten greedier, and the dog-eatdog world that characterizes oil-producing nations and national oil leaders have only intensified beyond compare. The predatory politicians, the grabbing public servants, the crooked and conniving contractors, now live large, while the poor and those left at the bottom have to fend for themselves. There are few exceptions in the political and bureaucratic realms relative to the uglier world that oil has introducedtoGuyana,andthisiswhathasseepedintosome oftheothersectorsthevaledictorianmentioned. Goahead! Betheagentsofchangeweneed,whichwehaveneverhad.

National awards for 2022

DEAREDITOR,

In my capacity as uninvited, unwelcomed, and unpaid advisor to President Ali, I humbly submit the following respectful recommendations for consideration for 2022 national awards. All are merited.

The President should award himself three medals. One for transparency, a second for accountability, and a third for unity The citations should read as follows. Transparency: for unparalleled dedication to storytelling while leaving Guyanese more mystified. On accountability the wording must say: for standards that held the thieving PNC to book, but used another one for friends, family, and favourites Regarding, unity, the record is impeccable: Guyanese are together like never before; one group goes to the bank (or where cash is stashed), the other runs to the pawnbroker (to barter anything). What could be more unifying than that picture? I think that His Excellency has earned all threenationalawards.

The best slogan of 2022 is ‘One Guyana.’ In a nutshell, never has a nation owedsomuchtoaleaderand a party for doing their best to define and decide who counts as this mythical and magical‘One’andthosewho qualifyasanother‘One.’ No c o l o u r c o d i n g , n o

sugarcoating, no second language interpreting should be required. One Guyana distillstothis:bowdownand belong Naysayers and criticscanmakeuptheirown minds; hey, it’s a free country

For courageous service under harrowing fire, Guyana’s EPA head takes 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and every consolation prizes The President may think of himselfasDr Teflon;butthe head of the EPA is the real McCoy, a nonstick frying pan. He neither sizzles nor f i z z e s , d e s p i t e t h e denouncements that pour on his hapless head. When giving him his medal, give him an asbestos suit, and an Apollo 13 one also.The man is like Elliot Ness of FBI lore, nothing touches, nothing fazes. Can I have thatjob,andthecashtoo?

The national award for fiction literature goes to the President’s scriptwriters There is creativity, mystery, fantasy,withalltheelements present: a superhero (the President), a supervillain (the PNC), and a supergerm (riggedelections). Itis‘One Guyana’ in diamonds. An award for unequalled hypocrisy belongs to the European and American Foreign Legion resident here The diplomatic doublespeakcallsonthePPP toactagainstGuyana’sbribe takers and corrupters Weren’t these the same people-PPP financiers, PPP

guardians, and PPP insiders, [some ministers]-that the foreigners hobnobbed and socializedwithawhileback?

I can visualise the DPP’s office, SOCU, and the AG fetching that corruption basket. I have many names thatbelong.

National encomium belongs to Exxon’s Country Head in Guyana for his miraculous skill of speaking t w o l a n g u a g e s simultaneously Like

A m e r i c a n s s w e a r , (expletives omitted) foreigners are taking over TheCountryHeadhadagem for Guyanese: it is the best contract ever, then supporting billboards Thanks for half of the story The second language still to engagelocalsisthatthesame contract is also the best ever for Exxon For every revenue dollar that Guyana gets,Exxongetsmultiplesof that, and of which the headman is mum. He gives thatlovelydutytoJohnHess, thedeliriousExxonproxy

The best parliamentary manoeuvre is owned lock, stock,barrel,andallthoseoil boats out there by the now Almighty PPP. Since the natives are clamouring for t r a n s p a r e n c y a n d accountability then, in the best democratic tradition, give them a committee, and ensure that it is always short of a quorum, calendar, and clock. In sum: no meetings, no discussing, no nothing. I love it; would made

Machiavelli. I will let the skeptics and critics in Guyana’s barren mental desert know that we have the best tendering and awarding system anywhere, and for whichaninternationalaward would be most becoming. It works like this: put in a bid, make a few phone calls, shake a few hands (have something inside), and wait to hear name called Clockwork, it is, just like the M i n i s t r y o f S o c i a l protection, and its Old Age Pension book distribution sleight of hand. Is this a national government involved, or ghetto gang? Still, I think that the minister and her bottom-house cabinet should get at least honourable mention for t r y i n g , f a s t o n e notwithstanding.

L a s t , C e n t r a l Government and the Local Government Ministry are deserving of an award for what both are doing to the capital city Pumps are given, but fuel is unavailable inacrunch.

ThePresidentcleansup, but I am still paying monthly (foryears)toclearmydrains, and also my garbage bins whentheCityCounciltrucks arenotrunningorbypassmy home.

These are outstanding examples of ‘Because we Care.’ And, ‘We know you are There.’ ANobel Prize is due...Tome.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

Speedboat operators perfect a vulgar, lawless culture

Dear Editor, The strike by the speedboat operators plying t h e V r e e d - e nHoop/Georgetown didn’t cometomeasasurprise,and if no one traversing there didn’t expect that, then they should check their sanity Followingthenews,Iseethe operators claiming that they haven’t increased their fares for 13 years, but I would like to inform them that the majorityofcommutersusing their service have been working for the same salary for over 15 years. The last time the fare increase was to $80.00, but the operators’ greed overcame them and they started keeping the $20 00 change, which eventually caused the authorities to make the adjustment.

These bullies would

charge double on Sundays and holidays, despite the authorities instructing them, and in cases of an accident at the Demerara Habour Bridge, they would also increase their fares without consideration. Should you refuse to pay, you are meted with embarrassment and bullying Whenever an accidentoccursatthebridge, they get tremendous work during that period and openly they would be boasting of how much money they earned, so apparently,theydidn’tseean opportunity this season and decided to hold this country atransom.

Editor, repeatedly, there have been complaints about the service provided by the operators and periodically, they would be adjusted and gradually,theyreturntotheir

despicable behaviour

A u t h o r i t i e s w o u l d sometimes be there, but conveniently they don’t be around to witness when they overcharge people, behave in an atrocious manner, openly use the foulest language available, dress improperly, and some consuming alcohol whilst waiting for their turn to work.Attimes,it’sadisaster to embark or disembark on a boat, and for the years they are plying there, none ever see it fit to make it more comfortable for commuters, especially the females Instead, they find it funny telling one another what colour or type of underwear someone wearing when they areaccidentallyforcedintoa revealing position. It should be noted that these operators work to their own interests,

anddecidewhattimetodrive theboatfastandwhennotto, which causes commuters to vent their anger against the operators. So, how do we deal with these bullies? The authoritieshavethenamesof the boats and operators that refuse to work/strike, and theyshouldleavethepresent system in place until the holidays are over, and let them stay home and enjoy theholidays.

Finally, editor, over the years, there have been many callsforabettersystemtobe put in place for the commuters traversing the Demerara River and other rivers using the speedboats, and despite all the boasting of Guyana morning forward, that area still remains in a deplorable condition. That’s thedevelopment/moving

Ethnic conflict - roots, perceptions, legitimization, conclusion

DEAREDITOR,

Back in mid-December 2020, I was asked by the ERC to make a presentation in a “National Conversation on Ethnic Relations” they sponsoredwithUGon“How can we improve ethnic relations in Guyana?” I pointed out that, it was because our “ethnic relations” are conflicted that w e a r e h a v i n g t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n S o , essentially, we are trying to address our “ethnic conflict” Since this was confirmed in several clashes of varying intensity since t h e n , I r e p e a t m y observations since some stubbornly deny any ethnic nexus.

We have to start off with someagreement–a‘theory’, if you will – on the wellsprings of our tensions orconflict.Inevitably,sucha theory–implicitorexplicit–would have crucial implications for how we seek to resolve that conflict, and obviously, its chances of success. For example, if our conflict is viewed as, say, only competition over material resources, those trying to end it will propose equal access to those resources.

But will this suffice if there are cultural structural barriers preventing some groups from advancing? Similarly, those who attribute the same conflict to incompatible cultures or identities would make bridging these differences central to their conflict managementefforts.

Our ethnic groups lived

for a hundred years together without any major conflicts between them – with the significant exception of two African-Portuguese clashes in the 19th century This means that it is not cultural differences, per se, that cause the conflict, which only sprouted in the 1950s, eruptedinthe1960s,andhas done so sporadically ever since. What happened in the 1950s and ‘60s? Modern democratic politics was inaugurated with the universal franchise in 1950 and, starting in 1953, elections that would eventually determine who would ‘rule’ independent Guyana Democratic e l e c t i o n s m e a n agglomerating people into groups that would vote according to their common interests. And this seismic political change opened Pandora’s Box to let out “ethnic conflict”, which should therefore be more properly called, “ethnopoliticalconflict”.

Inaugurally, a carefully crafted leadership of all the e t h n i c g r o u p s w a s constructed as the PPP, and they won the 1953 elections overwhelmingly

Butwhilewemayblame the ambitions of Burnham for the subsequent split that has never been healed, certain structural features were already present that presaged the eventual conflict.

Pared to its bare bones, these factors can be summarized in a simple f o r m u l a : G r o u p Comparison/Group Worth +

Group Legitimacy = the PoliticsofEntitlement.

Before the elections, the Coloured/African elite assumed they would inherit the British mantle, and concerns about the growing I n d i a n - G u y a n e s e demographic had been raised since the 1920s. The latter had inexorably moved from then being a despised group at the bottom of the barreltonowcompetingand, horror of horrors, possibly obtainingpoliticalpower As Arthur Lewis said in the 1960s re democratic elections, “Are the Negroes of British Guiana to be liquidatedonthecountingof heads?” For AfricanGuyanese, the inevitable socialcomparisonprocessas articulated by some leaders was also not sanguine on what it implied for their “worth”.

This was because the premise of the modern state system and its politics about the equality of citizens was not acceptable to many African/Coloured Guyanese because of their greater claim to “legitimacy” Because of their prior arrival, slave labour without being recompensed, earlier w e s t e r n i z a t i o n / “civilization” etc. leaders made (and still make) the claim that they had greater entitlement to the national patrimony than others, especially Indian Guyanese. This demanded their control ofthestatefordistributionof resources.

This point of view still receives great traction in the A f r i c a n - G u y a n e s e

community and must be addressedifwearetochange ourethnicrelationsfromone of conflict to peace. The notion of greater legitimacy precipitated counterclaims insistingonequalrighttothe national patrimony from other Guyanese Indian Guyanese claimed they “saved” Guyana as a viable proposition in the 19th centurywiththeirindentured labour; and Indigenous Guyanese, that this was their country, to begin with Conflict arises when the aspirations of the various groups cannot be realised to an extent they believe is “just”, yet where the “deprivation” – especially economic – is unfortunately perceived relatively The sources of these perceptions are justified and revealed in the groups’ narratives Policies to rectify objective group inequalities must be introduced, implemented, monitoredandreported.

Sincerely, Ravi Dev

salivating

carbon

DEAREDITOR, The VP’s securing of the sale of carbon credits is being hailed as an “initiative,” and astute leadership by our VP (See “Astute leadership delivers massive carbon credit deal for Guyana” (Chronicle, Dec. 6, 2022). It may very well be so, but judging from how the PPP Government has reneged on its campaign manifesto to “review and renegotiate” the worst oil contract in the world, and ceding every leverage and point of accountability regarding oil governance, the sale of carbon credits deserves closer scrutiny by the appropriate experts. It wouldhavebeennicetoseea headline that says, “Astute leadership leads to a renegotiated oil contract that delivers billions more to Guyana.”

W h e n h a s a n y Government put Guyana first in all the natural resource permits and contracts? Millions of

ouncesofgoldareminedand exported yet the largest gold miners declare losses at tax time. In the case of oil, we pay the taxes of the oil barons, effectively making a loss on oil if you subtract the taxeswepayonbehalfofthe oil companies from our income from oil. Both the PNCandPPPhavebeenvery secretive about the natural resources contracts. Their d e f a u l t s e t t i n g s t o governancearenotaboutfull disclosures.

I am surmising that because HESS and EXXON are salivating to buy carbon creditsthatitmustbeasweet or sweeter deal than the worst oil contracts in the world leaving us with the short end of the stick as President Ali might say Not only do we have the short end of the stick with oil and gas,wearegettingshaftedin placeswewouldprefernotto be shafted. Did we get a deal onthesaleofcarboncredits? Whydidthegovernmentnot

(Continued on page 6)

Exxon, HESS

to buy

credits, is that a bigger giveaway?

Public contributions for a better Guyana Exxon, HESS salivating to buy...

DEAREDITOR,

My fellow Guyanese, please answer the following question. What will it take foryouto:

1). Stoplittering?

2).Stop spitting in public?

3). Stop Urinating in public?

4). Stop being rude to fellowGuyanese?

5) Stop using foul languageinpublic?

6). Stop blowing your vehicle horns loudly and constantly?

7). Stop playingloudand offensivemusic?

8). Stop expecting your neighbours to pick-up your garbage?

9). Stop depending on fail City Council/NDC to clean your garbage, cut your parapetandremoveit?

1 0 ) S t o p p u t t i n g businesses in residential areas and congesting the communities?

11) Stop failing your children?

1) Start keeping your communitiesclean?

2) Start doing the right things?

3) Start being kind and respectfultoall?

4) Start correcting others when you see wrong is being done without being offensive?

5

amazing neighbour and communityleader?

7).Startinspiringothers?

8). Start being a blessing toothers?

9 ) S t a r t h o l d i n g government officials accountable?

10) Start to show pride where you live, work, etc ?

11) Start to set high standards for yourself?

Kindly send your r e s p o n s e s t o mattersofguyana@gmail com I am eager to read your answers, comments and suggestions

From page 5

bring this to the public soliciting ideas, and debate in Parliament to get the viewsoftheOpposition.

The carbon credits contracts will tie future governments, and it is important to involve the Opposition and civil society groups in securing a consensus as to what is good forGuyana.

The VP alone or the PPP alone is not “One Guyana, ” that’s half Guyana

They alone do not know whatis goodforGuyana

Would you not fall into a ditch if both the PPP and PNC use each other’s reigns as benchmarks if you want a progressive and 21st centuryGuyana?

Any emerging Third F o r c e p a r t y m u s t promise to trust the people and involve all the people in these i m p o r t a n t m a t t e r s regarding naturalresources.

of government’s move to make decisions over Indigenous titled lands” (SN,Dec.8,2022).

Also, it is being reported that “Hess’carbon credits could ‘offset’ Stabroek Block emissions for a decade” (OilNow,Dec. 7,2022).

) Start accepting

correction and adapt quickly without being offended?

6) Start being an

Let’s see if we can help each other to make a differencetoourcountryand tobegoodhumans.

Kind regards, Mich Lee

The PPP must govern differently and better, and not benchmark itself to the PNC’s mediocrity while in power

When you critique the PPP, the PPP zealots like to say, “ButtheAPNU/AFCdid notdoanything.”

The KN columnist “Peeping Tom” has r a i s e d s o m e v a l i d questions that will best be answered by a full public disclosure of the carboncreditscontracts

See “This deal may be worse than the oil deal” (Peeping Tom, KN, Dec 5, 2022)

Government must also answer comments by Dr Janette Bulkan as raised in “NTC must explain legal basis of their endorsement

Is this suggesting the oil companies can use these credits to cover ongoingflaringinGuyana?

I c a l l o n t h e Government to release the contracts for the carbon credits

While you are at it, please also release the contract pertaining to “No marketing commission for BP to sell Guyana’s crude – Jagdeo” (Dec 5, 2022) It’s ‘Our Wealth and Our Country’ and we mustcare.

Sincerely, Dr. Jerry Jailall

Speedboatoperatorsperfect...

From page 4 forward we have to show the foreigners/investors visiting Guyana. For some unknown reason,someescapetheeyes of the authorities and continue to unsafely put people’s lives at risk with their compromised vessels. There is no proper solution or alternative when disaster happens, but confusion. I cannot understand why there isn’t a restroom provided around the speedboat areas for the operator/commuters.

Instead, you are witnessing a stink and ‘dutty’place when you are walking, or would accidentally witness s o m e o n e r e l i e v i n g themselves at some corner The recreational park under construction at Windsor Forest already has toilets installed.

It is no doubt that we have a mediocre opposition to properly challenge this government, and this government knows this, so they are governing to their

pleasure. Indeed, with the newfound wealth, they have become more corrupted and do as they please, but at the same time, they could make liveseasierforthecitizensas they continue to rape this countryofhermoney

Yours faithfully, Sahadeo Bates

U.S committee weighing risk of Exxon, Shell

plan to walk-away from California oilfields

American oil giant, ExxonMobil Corporation and British oil giant Shell plan to sell their California wells has been delayed as it awaits U S regulatory approval.

Last month, Kaieteur News hadreportedthattheoil giants agreed to sell more than 23,000 wells in California, which they owned through a joint venture called Aera Energy, toGermanassetmanagement group, IKAV, for an estimatedUS$4billion.

The ExxonMobil and Shell move had raised concernsamongU.Sofficials questioning if the reason behind their departures is the looming liability for environmental cleanup –which can be left on taxpayerstofootthebill.The environmental cleanup p r o c e s s i s c a l l e d

decommissioning–thisisthe processofendingoffshoreoil and gas operations at an offshore platform and returning the ocean and seafloor to its pre-lease condition.

On December 8, Reuters reported that the oil majors' saleoftheCaliforniaoilfields is delayed, pending review bytheCommitteeonForeign Investment in the United States, which weighs national security risks of sales to foreign-owned companies. It was reported too that the sale, which originally was to close this month has been pushed back tothefirstquarterof2023.

O n N o v e m b e r 7 , Kaieteur News reported that, ProPublica, a non-profit newsroom that investigates abuses of power particularly in the oil and gas industry, highlighted that despite the

price of oil produced in California this year reached itshighestlevelinadecade,–Exxon and Shell who have done business in the State for more than a century, are selling assets and beginning topulloutofCalifornia.

The oil giants have agreed to sell more than 23,000 wells in California, which they owned through a joint venture called Aera Energy,toGermanIKAV

Kaieteur News had also reported that while Exxon and Shell say the deal will strengthen their businesses –Greg Rogers, an Attorney and Accountant who researches the oil and gas industry, said the deal allows the sellers to shed

decommissioning costs

“You got bad assets with big liabilities,andyoucangetrid of both at the same time. That's a win for Exxon and

Shell,”hesaid.

Other industry experts, l a w m a k e r s a n d environmentalists are concerned about the deals, noting that the sales shift environmental liability from corporate powerhouses to less-capitalized firms, increasing the risk that aging wells will be left orphaned, unplugged and leaking oil, brine and climate-warming methane.

They see a threat that the

State's oil industry could repeat a pattern seen in other extractiveindustrieslikecoal mining and lead to taxpayers bearingcleanupcosts.

California Assembly Member, Steve Bennett, a Democrat who has long worked on oil policy, has seen oil companies in his Ventura district walk away from environmental liability “Itgetspassedontoasmaller company and to a smaller company until someone

declares bankruptcy and the public is stuck with the cleanupbill,”hesaid.

According to ProPublica, if it's not profitable to return wells to production, they needtobeplugged.

But if a company does not plug its wells before walking away, wells are orphaned and the cleanup costs ultimately fall to taxpayers and current operatorsthroughfees.

It was stated that in order t o m i n i m i z e t h e Government's exposure if wells are orphaned, producers must put up a bond, typically held as cash orasuretypolicy

The bonds act like a security deposit in which the companygetsitsbondbackif it cleans up its mess, but the Government keeps the money if the company orphansitswells.

Exxon's affiliate, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) has been taking out money fromGuyana'soilproduction

(Continued on page 16)

Police arrest quartet after finding gun, drugs at apartment building

Ranks of the Guyana Police Force Major Crimes Unit on Saturday arrested four persons- three men and a woman- after finding parcels of ganja and a Glock 9MM pistol inside of an apartment building at D FieldSophia,GreaterGeorgetown.

The investigators also believe that the suspects might also be connected to more parcelsofganjathatweresubsequentlyfound underneath some stalls at Stabroek Market. Ranks showed up at the apartment building around 03:00hrs to conduct an intelligenceledoperation.Theyreportedlyenteredoneof theapartmentslocatedonthelowerflatofthe two-storey building occupied by a 24-yearoldshopkeeperandhisbrother

Insideoneoftherooms,ranksdiscovered a multi-coloured haversack containing one Glock 9mm pistol loaded with four live 9mm rounds.Ranksalsofound19more.32rounds

of ammunition inside of the haversack along with seventeen transparent plastic bags containing a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis. One of the persons arrested reportedly claimed ownership of the illegal items found in the haversack but both were arrested. Before leaving the building, the investigators searchedanotherapartmentoccupiedbya26year-old man and a 22-year-old woman and found a black plastic bag containing more ganja.

They too were arrested and taken into custody with the two brothers. Cops also confiscated a black CG motorcycle that was found in the yard. The total amount of ganja found at the building was 528 grams. Investigators later found 393 grams more stashed underneath some stalls at Stabroek Marketarea.

Over 1,400 killed, hundreds kidnapped in Haiti this year – UN

(CMC) - The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk says more than 1,400 people have been killed and over 1,000 kidnapped in Haiti so far this year by gangs who also use sexual violence.

Speaking on the Friday in Switzerland, the eve of World Human Rights Day, Turk called for a show of “political courage and responsibility at a national and international level” to address the “endemic

impunity” The UN

representative noted that Haiti – the poorest nation in the Americas – is facing an acute political, economic, security and health crisis which has paralysed the country and sparked a breakdownoflawandorder The assassination of president Jovenel Moise in July 2021 exacerbated the crises, as gangs grew in strength and territorial control This “multifaceted and protracted crisis cannot be ignored,” Turk

said “This is a country where armed gangs, reportedly supported by economic and political elites, control more than 60 percent of the capital, where some 4.7 million face acute hunger,” he said. ”Since the beginning of this year, a staggering 1,448 people have been killed, 1,145 injured and 1,005 kidnapped bygangs.”

He stressed that these were not just numbers, with each victim leaving “entire families and communities…

tornapartbytheviolence.”

Turk, who took over as the UN rights chief in October, also decried that gang members were “using sexual violence to instill fear and exert control over the population”. A UN report published in October found that the gangs use sexual violence to “punish, subjugate, and inflict pain” on the citizens and as a coercive tool to force cooperation. It detailed gang rapesofchildrenasyoungas 10 and of elderly women,

often in front of family members. “Sexual violence is an additional factor that is very chilling for the population and one that r e a l l y n e e d s t o b e countered,”Turksaid.

He insisted “the root causes of the crisis, e s p e c i a l l y s o c i a l inequalities, rampant corruption, collusion between powerful elites and gang leaders, and endemic i m p u n i t y, m u s t b e a d d r e s s e d ” “ I t i s unconscionable that there

are people benefiting from this endemic insecurity and the suffering of Haitians.” Turk hailed a recent UN Security Council decision to sanction members of Haiti’s economic and political elites who reportedly support the gangs, saying it sends “a very strong message to those threatening Haiti’s peace, securityandstability.”

He called on countries to make sure that people fleeing Haiti “have access to fair and efficient asylum procedures.”

Mr. Carlos De Barros' reply to Dr. Janette Bulkan

People have a right to express their o p i n i o n s

Viewpoints can be ignorant and stupid but freedom is completely lost when you deny humans the right to express their thoughts on anything.

Iaccepthomosexualityas a practice that society should not frown on. The gays have their parades in the streets. Certainchurchesareopposed to homosexuality and they must have the right to picket anddemonstrateinthestreets too.

Here is something that I have never printed on this page before. Well known politician, formerly of the PPP and the AFC, Rajendra

Bissesar, who is also a frequent letter-writer in the press, told me that the Stabroek News refused to carry his analysis on the genesis of Russian feelings onitssecurityinEurope.

He showed me his exchange with its editor-inchief, Mr Anand Persaud. I do not support the Russian invasion of Ukraine. I will sign a petition condemning the invasion. But a society must not stifle debate and there has been an interesting global debate about NATO's policies toward Russia after the Cold War since the invasion of Ukraine took place.

Mr Bissesar's letter described and explained the

geopolitical antecedents that led to the war in the Ukraine.

I contacted the then editor of Kaieteur News, Sharmaine Grainger,andaskedhertolet Mr. Bissesar's analysis be part of intellectual debate so readers can learn about the past. I could not have denied Mr Bissesar's publication because I do not support the Russianinvasion.

We come now to the caption of this column with Dr Janet Bulkan's name. Dr Bulkan is trained in forestry b u t n o t p e t r o l e u m engineering. She appeared virtuallyinfrontoftheOAS's body on human rights and asked for the OAS to intervene to stop further oil drillinginGuyana.

Dr Bulkan's action I found offensive but no one should have stopped her What we could have done was to assert our right to respondtoher

The first person to do so was Jonathan Yearwood, formerlyofANUGandnowa leading voice in the civil society grouping named, Article13.

Mr. Yearwood's response

was very good. Dr Bulkan was it again when she was part of a group that recently (November 13) published a letter in the Stabroek News againcallingforcessationoil operations here. Please see my column,” A conversation on two subjects: Slavery and the diaspora,” of November 22.

In that column, I described the long exodus from Guyana of many of those signatories, all of whomareneverevergoingto come back and serve Guyana.

They will never live out theirliveshere.

They are part of another country

In yesterday's issue of this newspaper, Mr Carlos De Barros a gentleman of Amerindian extraction took issue with Dr Bulkan's intervention into the affairs of the National Toshao Council His letter was pointed and penetrating and needs to be read. This is the value of intellectual debate that we need in Guyana. Let Dr Bulkanpublishherletters but we must reply to her Mr

DeBarrosdidand we learned I know,Ilearned.

Mr. De Barros informed us that Dr. Bulkan sat on the board of directors of the Guyana Forestry Commission while living in Canada. I quote from Mr De Barros: “She (Dr Bulkan) even failed as part of GFC Board of Directors where she attended all meetings virtually from her comfort living abroad.”

I don't know if Mr De Barros's statement is true so I amnotgoingtoendorseitbut what worries me is why any government would want to make a person a board director who does not live in thecountry

That does not make sense to me unless that person is indispensible.

A more useful format is for the board to have the foreign-based Guyanese act as a consultant to the board. Can the board not locate its membership right here in Guyana?

Mr De Barros accused Dr Bulkan of being present

a tal l board meetings but only virtually I find that hard to believe. There must have been some meetings where Dr Bulkan travelled from Canada to Guyana. Of course,theboardwouldhave financedherjourney

I cannot accept that Dr Bulkan attended all the statutory confabulations of the Guyana Forestry Commission's board through theZoomsystem.

That certainly is hard to believe.IthinkMr DeBarros needstoclarifyhisstatement. And certainly Dr Bulkan has a moral obligation to explain totheGuyanesepeopleifMr De Barros is wrong. I hope she does (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this newspaper and its affiliates.

Frederick Kissoon

Ruptured pipeline releases 14,000 barrels of oil in U.S State

By Erwin Seba and Nia Williams

RUETERS - Residents nearthesiteoftheworstU.S. oil pipeline leak in a decade took the commotion and smell in stride as cleanup crews labored in nearfreezing temperatures, and investigators searched for clues to what caused the spill.

Aheavy odor of oil hung in the air as tractor trailers ferried generators, lighting and ground mats to a muddy site on the outskirts of this farmingcommunity,wherea breach in the Keystone pipeline discovered on Wednesday spewed 14,000 barrelsofoil.

Pipeline operator TC Energy (TRP.TO) said on Friday it was evaluating plans to restart the line, which carries 622,000 barrels per day of Canadian oil to U.S. refineries and exporthubs.

"We could smell it first thing in the morning; it was bad," said Washington resident Dana Cecrle, 56. He shrugged off the disruption: "Stuff breaks Pipelines break,oiltrainsderail."

TC Energy did not provide details of the breach or say when a restart on the brokensegmentcouldbegin. Officials are scheduled on Mondaytoreceiveabriefing on the pipeline breach and cleanup, said Washington County's emergency preparedness coordinator, Randy Hubbard, on Saturday

OILFLOWS TO CREEK

E n v i r o n m e n t a l specialists from as far away as Mississippi were helping

with the cleanup and federal investigatorscombedthesite todeterminewhatcausedthe 36-inch (91-cm) pipeline to break.

Washington County, a rural area of about 5,500 people, is about 200 miles (322 km) northwest of KansasCity

The spill has not threatened the water supply or forced residents to evacuate Emergency workers installed booms to contain oil that flowed into a creekandthatsprayedontoa hillside near a livestock pasture,saidHubbard.

TCEnergyaimstorestart on Saturday a pipeline segment that sends oil to Illinois, and another portion that brings oil to the major trading hub of Cushing, Oklahoma, on Dec 20, Bloomberg News reported, citingsources.

Reuters has not verified those details.It was the third spill of several thousand barrelsofcrudeonthe2,687mile (4,324-km) pipeline since it opened in 2010. A previous Keystone spill had causedthepipelinetoremain shutforabouttwoweeks.

"Hell, that's life," said 7 0 - y e a r - o l d C a r o l Hollingsworth of nearby Hollenberg, Kansas, about the latest spill. "We got to havetheoil."

TC Energy had around 100 workers leading the cleanup and containment efforts, and the U S Environmental Protection Agency was providing oversight and monitoring, said KellenAshford, an EPA spokesperson.

U.S. regulator Pipeline and Hazardous Materials

Administration (PHMSA) said the company shut the pipeline seven minutes after receiving a leak detection alarm.

CRUDE BOTTLENECK

A lengthy shutdown of the pipeline could lead to Canadian crude getting

bottlenecked in Alberta, and drive prices at the Hardisty storage hub lower, although price reaction on Friday was muted.

Western Canada Select (WCS), the benchmark Canadian heavy grade, for December delivery last

traded at a discount of $27.70 per barrel to the U.S. crude futures benchmark , according to a Calgarybased broker On Thursday, December WCS traded as low as $33.50 under U.S. crude, before settling at arounda$28.45discount.

"The real impact could come if Keystone faces any (flow) pressure restrictions fromPHMSA,evenafterthe pipelineisallowedtoresume operations," said Ryan Saxton, head of oil data at c o n s u l t a n t s Wo o d Mackenzie.

Gunman drops weapon, flees from cops

Police are hunting a gunman who on Sunday ran away leaving his illegal firearm behind, after patrol rankspulled-upinfrontofabar located at Crane, West Coast Demerara(WCD).

According the police, the man was standing in front of the bar around 02:30hrs with the gun in his hands when the ranksarrived.

When he saw them approaching, he reportedly jumped over a fence with the

weapon still in his hands and disappeared.

However,whilerankswere searching the area to find him, they soon discovered that he hadlefttheweaponbehindand madegoodhisescape.

They stumbled upon a pink cap he was seen wearing and inside it they found the gun loadedwiththreeliverounds.

Police have since taken possession of the weapon as they continue their search for thesuspect.

The oil spill in Kansas (Reuters photo)

The illegal gun left behind by the gunman.

Men on Mission to build 150 homes for vulnerable Guyanese next year - Pres. Ali

President Irfaan Ali said that the Men o n M i s s i o n (MoM) initiative that he is leading will help with the c o n s t r u c t i o n o f approximately 150 homes across the country for vulnerable persons who own theirownhouselots.

The Head-of-State made the remarks during a simple handing-over ceremony where he presented 85-yearold Herstelling, East Bank Demerara resident, Meena Bafan with the keys to her newly built home, the Office of the President said in a statement.

“I think this is a real testimony to who we are as a people, as a country, when we can come together like this, and work with the private sector, led by the private sector to do things like this, and this is what is going to transform our country—the way we think and feel about each other Whenwecancometogether; peopleofall,allpersuasions, whether it's political, social, cultural, ethnic, coming together and working together to deliver good things for citizens across our country.”

This, the President said,

iswhatisgoingtocementthe countryas'OneGuyana'.

He explained that MoM is going to be very active in 2023.

“Next year, under the Men on Mission umbrella, we are going to launch a massiveprogramme.

We are hoping that through the Men on Mission Initiativealonenextyear,we can build at least 150 homes acrossthecountry."

The Head-of-State explained that the banks have already been engaged andarewillingtofinancethe projects, once persons own theirownlands.

Interested persons are urged to contact the offices of the Police Commissioner and the Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force to

Z u l f i k a r

Mustapha on Saturday commissioned a state-of-theartagro-processingfacilityat Fort Wellington, West Coast Berbice(RegionFive).

T h e $ 3 7 m i l l i o n investment will see approximately 700 persons including farmers, agroprocessors, women, youth, and other stakeholders from Regions Five and Six benefiting from improved services geared at increasing the value and extending the shelf life of their products, the Ministry of Agriculture saidinapressrelease.

The facility is outfitted w i t h t h e n e c e s s a r y equipment to process and package approximately 4,320 liters of green seasoning and 3,600 liters of pepper sauce monthly and is designed to offer 24-hour service as well as a mechanisation process to reduceoperationalcosts.

While offering remarks,

M i n i s t e r M u s t a p h a challenged farmers to make full use of the facility and said that the government intends to ensure the agriculture sector develops i t s a g r o - p r o c e s s i n g capabilities.

“Many times, the government may expend large sums of money to build new facilities but the farmers are not making full use of it. Thesefacilitieswillhelpusto develop and modernize our agriculturesector

These initiatives are not new for this government because when you look at the plans, we have for the agriculture sector; the plans that were detailed in our manifesto, it stated that we have to move the sector from a primary productive sector to one with value-added capabilities.Bytheendofthe year, we'll see around nine facilities like this one being opened across the country,” theministersaid.

Minister Mustapha also said with CARICOM now

looking to reduce its food import bill, more locallymade products are being exported to countries in the region.

“When you look around theCaribbean,ourproduceis in demand. We are working to remove all the non-tariff barriers that were preventing our products from entering those markets. We are now seeing more products being exported to Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, and other countries in the Eastern Caribbean,”henoted.

General Manager of the New Guyana Marketing Corporation (New GMC), Ms. Teshawna Lall said the establishment of the facility is a result of multiple dialogues and engagements between Minister Mustapha and various stakeholders from Regions Five and Six. She added that stakeholders will now benefit from better prices as well as an increase in access to regional and internationalmarkets.

“Given the geographical

location of this facility, its design encompasses modern equipment, and an effortless production process to reduce wastage and spoilage drastically

A d d i t i o n a l l y, a l l stakeholders will also enjoy better prices for their productsbypenetratingmore

register “So a house like this, we will work with to deliver everything you see here for about $5M for anybody who has their own landanywhere.”

President Ali also noted that it is not only Government that should be praised for the initiative but alsotheprivatesector

“These guys are willing toactuallyreduceprofitlines and everything for the wood and labour, which is one of the most critical things for us.” Expanding the project, the Head-of-State also posited that the Government will explore the option of providing the GuyaneseVenezuela migrants who have returned with jobs This, he said will be c o m plemented with w o r k e r s f r o m Albouystown and other similar communities throughout the country Theseworkers,thePresident noted, will be trained thoroughly in carpentry and masonry

The Head-of-State also noted that in the new year, there would be a “massive push with community involvement,” which will see all the small pathways and roads rehabilitated

Tree-planting exercises and o t h e r c o m m u n i t y infrastructural works will also be done by the communities. “So while the last two years, we've been focusing heavily on the transformativeagenda.

Ithinknextyearwillbea massive push on community development, village development that really pushes people development also.”

The Head-of-State also emphasised that he does not want MoM to become a reactive initiative but a proactive one that is spread acrosstheentirecountry

Healsonotedthatonthe last Sunday of January, MoM is planning a “Home withDad”event.

“We're encouraging all fathers to be at home to cook for your family, to spend the entire day with your family, toplaywithyourchildren,to bringfamiliestogether

There is absolutely no beauty in becoming wealthy asacountry,andwearepoor as a people; the way we think, the way we act, the way we behave, the way we socialise, the w a y w e t r e a t o u r f a m i l i e s a n d o u r communities.”

markets locally and internationally as a result of valued added production,” she noted. This year, the New GMC is expected to commence construction and/or retrofitting of a number of agro-processing and packaging facilities across the country Last

month, Minister Mustapha commissioned a similar facility in St. Ignatius in RegionNinethatwillbeused primarily for the production and packaging of peanut butter Another facility is expectedtobecommissioned in Region Nine (deep south) beforetheendoftheyear

The new home for 85-year-old, Meena Befan.

President Ali looks on as Herstelling, resident, Meena Bafan cuts the ribbon to her new home.

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha and General Manager of the New Guyana Marketing Corporation (New GMC), Ms. Teshawna Lall at the commissioning of the facility

New $150M gas station proposed for Vreed-en-Hoop

E n v i r o n m e n t a l

authorization is being sought for the construction of a new $150 million gas station at Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara, to service the demand for fuel in this area, given its rapid increase in motorized transport, as a r e s u l t o f o n g o i n g developmentintheRegion.

The developers, Phillip and Corrina Singh in collaboration with RUBIS, havesubmittedasummaryof the proposed project to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), seeking approval to commence constructionworks.

According to the document, published on the EPA'swebsite,thegasstation will be located on a current vacantplotoflandmeasuring 0.3514 acres in size and described as Lots 114 and 115 of Block 'A' Pln. Vreeden-Hoop, West Coast Demerara.The site is located

north of and along the New Road, Vreed-en-Hoop in an areacharacteristicofamixed land use development pattern. Access is directly fromthePublicRoad.

The developers are seeking to install an underground dieseline tank, with a capacity of 6,000 gallons, an underground gasolinetank,withacapacity of 8,000 gallons and an aboveground kerosene tank, with a capacity of 3,000 gallons. The project will also require the construction of a backcourt building to house offices and a facility for the sale of vehicle parts and lubricants.

They estimate the capital investment for the project to be around $150 million Upon its completion, the projectisexpectedtoemploy fivepersonsfull-time.

Meanwhile, it was explained that manageable amounts of solid waste are

expected from the operations which will be stored in receptacles and disposed of off-site by a private waste disposal service provider “Any waste oily substances will be channelled to the oil/water separator before discharge into the existing drainage system in order to prevent contamination of water in drainage channels,” thedevelopersnoted.

As it regard the protection of its fuel tanks, the investors explained that the underground fuel tanks will be painted with anticorrosive protective paint and fitted with spill and overfill protection and also a leak detection system. Its aboveground tank will also be painted with anticorrosive paint and covered witharoof.Ventpipeswillbe installed to channel any fumes into the atmosphere. Additionally,abundwall (Continued on page 16)

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U.S committee weighing risk of Exxon, Shell...

From page 8 for decommissioning – this money is being controlled by the company

While California has the authority to ask for an additional US$30 million in financial security from a single operator – Shell and Exxon’s joint venture holds a US$3millionbond.

As a result, Aera’s bonds cover way less than what would be required to plug the wells.

According to ProPublica, California is unique because Statelawallowsregulatorsto call on former operators such as Shell and ExxonMobil to helppayforpluggingonshore oil wells if they are later orphaned, even by a different owner. But companies have escaped responsibility under this stronger legal standard, by exploiting loopholes such as a porous bankruptcy code.

Some experts question whetherShellandExxonMobil wouldberequiredtopayifthe wellstheyaresellingtoIKAV are ultimately orphaned, saying their ownership of the wells through a separate company, Aera, might shield themfromliability

Onthelocalfront,Exxon’s affiliate,EEPGListheoperator of Guyana’s lucrative Stabroek Block which has

New $150M gas station...

From page 15 willbeconstructedtotrapany accidentallyleakedfuel.

“All underground piping leading from fuel tanks to the fueldispenserswillbesecured inaconcreteencasement,”the developersassured.Theyalso pointed out that fire prevention systems as stipulated by the Guyana Fire Servicewillbeinstalled,which willincludethepositioningof portablefireextinguishersand fire buckets at critical points aroundthefacility

over11billionprovenbarrels ofoil. Underasigneddeal–the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) – the oil giant has been taking out money from day one (2019) of production to set aside as adecommissioningfee.

Basedonits2021financial statements,for2020and2021, ExxonMobilanditspartners, Hess Corporation and CNOOC Group, have recovered a whopping US$355.7 million for decommissioning costs which would be incurred in another 18 years for the Liza Phase One Project.

During an engagement withmediaoperativesinJune, ExxonMobil Guyana acknowledged that decommissioning funds are not needed until 20 to 30 years down the line. Be that asitmay, the company noted thattheprovisionsofthe2016 StabroekBlockdealallowfor early recovery The oil giant assured nonetheless that when Guyana needs that money for clean-up, the money will be handed over

SevennewCOVID-19cases

The Ministry of Health (MOH) on Sunday reported that there are seven new COVID-19caseswithnonew deaths.

The Health Ministry also reported that active cases

now stand at 226. There are five persons currently in institutional isolation,221inhome isolation and two persons in institutional quarantine.

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The EPA has not yet granted its approval for the project. In a notice from the agency dated November 23, 2022,theEPAsaidtheproject does not require an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA); however, persons who may be affected by the proposed project may lodge an appeal against its decisionwithin30daysofthe publication of the notice. Appeals should be addressed to the Chairman of the Environmental Assessment Board or sent via email to eabguyana21@gmail.com.

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Only three CT machines operable in public hospitals countrywide

Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony has revealed in the National Assembly that there are merely three operable CT machines in p u b l i c h o s p i t a l s countrywide,whichdoesnot includetheLindenHospital.

Dr Anthony was at the timerespondingtoaseriesof questions as to why Lindeners must travel to Georgetown to benefit from t h e s e r v i c e s o f a

Computerised Tomography scan commonly referred to asCTscan.

The questions were posed by Opposition Parliamentarian, Jermaine Figueira Dr Anthony revealed that the CT machines are located at the G e o rg e t o w n P u b l i c Hospital, New Amsterdam Regional Hospital, and the other at Bartica Regional Hospital.

He noted that persons in Region 10 must journey to Georgetown, should they requirethisdiagnosticscan.

“Linden hospital, the persons there will be able to access the scans from Georgetown hospital once there’s a need,” Dr Anthony said. Figueira stressed about the burden of travel between Linden and Georgetown Currently, persons travelling

from Georgetown to Linden and vice versa, pay $3,000 for a round trip with a car or $1,400withabus.

“ T r a v e l l i n g t o Georgetown is a challenge foralotofpeople,especially with the additional increase inthecostofliving.”

Meanwhile, Dr.Anthony noted that several CT machines will be bought and installedintheshortterm.

The Minister said two of the machines were donated to Guyana from RAD-AID International in 2016 under the previous Coalition Government, but the equipment was never installed The minister pointed out that it was in

2020, that the CT scan machines were installed at the Bartica and New Amsterdamhospitals.

The health minister explained, “But Linden Hospital, the persons there will be able to access CT scans from Georgetown Hospital [free of cost] once there is a need for it. I must say that over the next three years, the government is committed to, at least, install about 10 different CT machines in different hospitals across the country Already, we have given out contracts with the new hospitalsthatwe’rebuilding. Includedinthenewhospitals (Continued on page 18)

Over 170 residents at regularized sections of Greenwich Park (Railway Embankment), Tuschen (Railway Embankment); Plantation Uitvlugt and Stewartville Sideline Dam; and De Kinderen (Railway Embankment), Region Three are expected to start receiving their Certificate of Title before the end of the year

A team from the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), including Director of Community Development, Mr Gladwin Charles and Head of the Conveyance Unit, Ms. Esther Stephens processed Agreements of Sale for some of the residents on Saturday and Sunday (December 10-11, 2022) at the Greenwich Park PrimarySchool.

In addition to this, the residents also registered for theirCertificateofTitle.

According to a CH&PA press release, the two-day exercise is in keeping with a

commitment made by the Minister of Housing and Water,CollinCroal,duringa meeting in September Minister Croal was present at the exercise on Sunday and handed over several of the Agreements of Sale, as he interacted with the residents.

The Minister further committed that the Titles w i l l b e r e a d y f o r distribution by the end of theyear

Mr Suresh Sookul, a resident of Tuschen

Railway Embankment for over 18 years, was elated to receive his Agreement of Sale, as he stated he can now move forward with plans to extend this home

“The Minister was here one time and he promised that he was g o n n a g e t t h e s e documents fixed, the documents for the land, and fuh know he stood to his word and he came back [ ] I am real happy and real comfortable,” said

Mr Sookul

Meanwhile, Mohamed Amin Bassir and his wife, who have been residing at Uitvlugt for over three decades expressed, “we happy that we own something […] we waiting long”.

Another resident, Amin Ali also noted that he was pleased with the work of the Ministry and is excited to receive his CertificateofTitle.

Residents have been occupying the various areas for 30-50 years

T h e b l o c k a n d occupational survey was completed by CHPA, documenting some 82 persons residing at Plantation Uitvlugt and Stewartville Sideline Dam and more than 40 persons at T u s c h e n R a i l w a y Embankment.

Around 40 persons have also been recorded at Greenwich Park Railway Embankment and 17 at De Kinderen.

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony

Drunk men detained after trying to fight way into bar

Two shirtless drunk men were detained on Saturday evening by police for disorderly behaviour, after they attempted to fight their way into a bar at Metenmeer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara(WCD).

Thecommotionatthebar erupted around 23:00hrs and was so loud that it disturbed neighbours close by Someone even reported hearing what sounded like gunshotsbeingfired.

However, according to police,therewasnogunplay, just two drunken men behaving disorderly and creatingaruckus.

Kaieteur News was told that the men had turned up at the bar and had wanted to enter without shirts, but the ownersrefusedtoletthemin.

The refusal annoyed them and they started to curseloudlyandtriedtofight their way in Bouncers managed to keep them out,

butthingsstartedtogetoutof control and the police had to becalledin.

When the cops arrived the men continued their disorderly behaviour, but the policemen managed to get them control and took them away, so that the other patrons at the bar could continue to enjoy their eveningwithoutincident.

The men were both released on bail after they soberedup.

Police, EPA to tackle noise nuisance during Christmas season

The Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) Impact Base in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) willbeworking aggressivelytotacklenoise nuisanceduringtheChristmasseason.

Assistant Superintendent at Impact Base, Brickdam, Mohan Khan during an episodeof‘PoliceandYou’recentlysaidthe two agencies will work collaboratively to ensure they are proactive in dealing with noise nuisance. “The open-air functions as well as the indoor functions, they usually use noisy instruments much to the annoyance of neighbours or persons within proximity to the function, whether it’s an open-air function or an enclose function, those that are affected may complain to the police and by so doing, they expect us to givethebestresults,”ASPKhanposited.

The Assistant Superintendent said whenever complaints are made relating to noisenuisance,itisexpectedoftheForceto take immediate action; however, police

From page 17 areimagingequipmentsuch asCTscans.”

Further, Dr Anthony highlighted that three biomedical analyzers are at thehospital.

A new analyzer was installed there in 2020, “and we installed another one in 2021.

There’s a third one that went in this year in September which is now operable.”

In response to the question related to the

officers are sometimes challenged by disorderly citizens who may have been imbibing.As such, he has called on persons to be compliant when police officers are calledtointervene.

“Please ensure that you cooperate with the police officer and ensure that you cooperate with the police officer and ensure that if you have to turn your music off, or turn it down, that you comply,” ASP Khan stressed. Persons who fail to comply will be prosecuted under the Environmental ProtectionAct. Khan highlighted that, “It is notastepthatwewanttoprosecutepersons, we want everybody to have an enjoyable timeaswellaswewantpeopletoenjoytheir peace, so, we’re looking forward for the general public cooperation in this season.”

In residential areas, persons are allowed to omit only 75 decibels during the day and 60 decibels at night. In commercial areas, only 100 decibels are allowed during the day while70atnight.(DPI)

complement of the medical staff at the Linden Hospital Complex, Dr Anthony said there are 16 doctors, 130 registered nurses, and 110 nursingassistants.

There are also 13 s p e c i a l i s t s , t w o obstetricians/gynaecologists , two internal medicine s p e c i a l i s t s , t w o paediatricians, two surgeons, two orthopedic s u r g e o n s , o n e anesthesiologist, one intensivist, and one radiologist.

“We also have a visiting urologist that goes twice per week…these specialists are the ones that we have on the ground.

I must say that we have a number of Cuban and Chinesespecialists.

The Cubans come on the brigade and the Chinese specialists who are also on the Chinese brigade… So, I am very certain that they would be at the hospital operating because we have assigned them there,” the ministeradded

Ranks pulling up in front of the bar in a police pick-up to detain the men.

New surgical theatre commissioned in Moruca

Residentsof Moruca will no longer have to travel long distances to access surgical treatment, as a new surgical theatre was commissioned at the Kumaka District HospitalonFridaylast.

The over $40 million investment features a new operating theatre suite with all the amenities, including anesthesia machines, an ICU wing, and a recovery wing with Crisis Stabilisation Units (CSU) It is the culmination of several specialistvisitstotheregion, forming part of the Ministry of Health and Regional Democratic Council's 20year strategic development plan for Region One (Barima-Waini).

Director General of the Ministry of Health, Dr Vishwa Mahadeo, said the new theatre is in keeping with the government's manifesto promise of expanding and upgrading health facilities and diagnostic services to improve access to healthcare countrywide.

“The Government of Guyana under the leadership of His Excellency, President Ali, has made it a priority to bring healthcare to the hinterland, to bring healthcare to those who need it most. This is another such project where access to healthcare is being made

more equitable and readily availableforpersons.”

Dr Mahadeo said efforts will continue to further

expand the range of healthcare services in the region, especially in the training of medical personnel.

The director general referred to the ongoing nursing assistant training in the region, noting that pharmacy assistant training is also set to commence in early 2023. “More persons are being trained, more services are becoming available, and even the specialists are coming out heretodeliverthecarethatis necessary,”henoted.

The Department of Public Information spoke with a few Moruca residents and staff of the hospital who were relieved and ecstatic at the new services made available to them Dr DamienFraser,whohasbeen practicing in Moruca for the past five years, lauded the government's passionate efforts to bring development toRegionOne.

“The healthcare system in Region One has always been challenging. However, recently we have started to see a lot of development. Looking at where we came from to where we are now, I must say that we're doing far better.”

Good Intent man busted with stolen items, weed

Another resident expressed excitement at b e i n g p a r t o f t h i s development She said, “We're grateful for our p r e s i d e n t a n d t h e government for enabling us and providing us with these services.

This is something that we needed.” Recently, x-ray andultrasoundserviceswere officially launched at the facility. Additionally, during the health outreach, several residentswereprovidedwith prescription glasses as part of the ministry's 'snap on' spectacles programme (DPI)

RanksonSaturdaybusted a man in Good Intent with suspected stolen items and over 80 grams of ganja stashed in a house at Belle on the West Bank of Demerara (WBD).

Police reported that the bustwasmadebetweeno4:00 and 07:30hrs during a raid carried out by ranks in the community.

As they were conducting their operation, a man was spotted running away from a house and ranks chased after

him.

He was eventually corneredandcaptured.Ranks took him back to the house and searched the place in his presence. They found the weed in a large black plastic bag and some items they believetobestolen.

The items were identified as two music boxes and two DVDplayers.

Police have since detainedthemanattheWales PoliceStationastheyprocess himforcourt.

Over 50 patients are slated for operations at the newly commissioned surgical theatre

The ganja being weighed by police.

FIFAto introduce new match ball for World Cup semi-finals

SportsMax - FIFA has confirmed a new match ball will be used for the final stages of the World Cup, replacing the existing model that has been used throughout the tournament sofar

The Al Hilm, which succeedstheAlRihla,willbe usedinthesemi-finals,thirdplace playoff and final of Qatar 2022, having been introduced for the last four games by Adidas.

The existing ball, which

has been implemented with technology to assist in tracking and helping referee decisions across the

tournament,hasbeenusedso far across the group stages and initial knockout rounds.

ButtheAlHilm,whichwill

comewithagoldbasedesign and triangular pattern paying tribute to the deserts surrounding major host city Doha,willnowtakeitsplace.

“Al Hilm represents a beacon of light on the power of sport and football to bring the world together,” Adidas generalmanagerNickCraggs said in a statement.

“Millionswilltuneinfrom almost every country around the globe, united by their passion for the game. We wishallteamsinvolvedinthe finalstagesofthetournament the best of luck.”

Monday December 12, 2022

ARIES (Mar.21–Apr.19)

A large weight should lift from your shoulders today, Aries. The air has started to clear,andthewindsofcommunication have started blowing again. Listen closelytothebuzzintheair

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

People may be abrasive today, Taurus, but you will findaftercarefulassessment that they don't mean any harm. More than likely they aren'tfullyinformed.

GEMINI(May21–June20)

Don't criticize the situation until you've come up with a better solution, Gemini. Be creative.Youcanaccomplish much if you approach the situation confidently

CANCER(June21–July22)

Your thoughts may have a dreamy quality today, Cancer You will find that things are less stable than they have been for the past few days. Don't get discouraged by pessimistic people.

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

Your emotions are soaring, Leo,andyoushouldfeelfree to indulge in your greatest fantasies.Take a break from reality for a while. Let your innerchildplay

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)

Reward yourself with two desserts today, Virgo. Take a bubble bath. Share your fantasies with others and expressyourselffully.Don't feellikeyouhavetosayyes.

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

The weightiness of the past fewdaysseemstobelifting. Youwillfindaslightbreeze building that will help fuel yourfire,Libra.Bybuilding a solid foundation, you've createdareliable.

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov.21) Now that you have a solid grip on your situation, unexpected things may come along that change the rules again, Scorpio. It may feel like the chair you just got comfortable.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Use gadgets and electronic devices to make life easier today,Sagittarius.Whytake the time to chop food by hand when you can use the food processor

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)The Becarefuloftheinformation that comes your way today, Capricorn.Peoplemaymake unwarranted claims and false accusations. The day has a dreamy, innovative quality to it that asks you to venture out on a limb.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Maintain an air of detachment,Aquarius. Feel free to delve into your fantasy worldandletyouremotions carry you to another realm. Today is one of those days when you might come up with a new invention.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20) Youmayfindthatthingsare muchlighterthantheywere the past couple days, Pisces. This is a good time to let your physical body take a rest.

Thesemi-finalshavebeen setforQatar2022,with2018 winners France and runnersupCroatiabothpotentiallyin line for a rematch in the final four years on.

The pair will play Morocco, the first African nation to reach the last four in the tournament’s history, andformerwinnersArgentina respectively

West Indies

Women...

From page 22

6pmEasternCaribbean/5pm Jamaica

Saturday, 17 December: 3rd T20I, Kensington Oval, 6pm Eastern Caribbean/5pm Jamaica

Sunday,18December:4th T20I, Kensington Oval, 6pm Eastern Caribbean/5pm Jamaica

Thursday, 22 December: 5th T20I, Kensington Oval, 6pm Eastern Caribbean/5pm Jamaica

Trophy Stall supports GDA end of year tourney

Trophy Stall has supported the Georgetown Dominoes Association Endof-Year dominoes tournament which commenced yesterday at Transport Sports Club. The free entry tournament has seen over 33 teams participatedwiththeprizesas

follows:- 1st prize $150,000...2nd prize $75000..3rdprize$50,000and 4thprize$25,000andtrophies.

Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall has sponsored the first place trophy. Sunich wished the teams well while Barbara Marshall of GDA expressed gratitude to Sunich.

Barbara Marshall accepts the trophy from Ramesh Sunich

West Indies Women name squad for first two T20Is against England

ST JOHN’S, Antigua –

The Cricket West Indies (CWI) Selection Panel yesterday named a 14member squad for the first two T20 Internationals against England Women Theopeningmatchison11th December at the Sir Vivian Ri S t a d i u m Antigua wi thesecondon 1 4 t h December a t Kensingto n Oval in Barbados.

O f fs p i n n e r K a r i s h m a R amh ar ac comes back the squad after missingtheCGUnitedODI series due to injury Shakera Selman has been ruled out at this time and Chedean Nation will miss the series due to injuries sustained in the CG United ODI series. Djenaba Joseph and Trishan Holder,membersoftheWest Indies Women U19 Rising Stars team have been called up as replacements. Holder and Joseph are currently in Antigua for a highperformance camp with the U19 Rising Stars ahead of theICCWomen’sU19World Cup in South Africa in January2023.

Lead Selector Ann Browne-Johnsaid:

“The upcoming T20 series is vitally important as the team continues its preparations for the World CupinFebruary2023.

With some of the senior players missing out through injury, it is an ideal opportunity for the other players to start cementing a place in the World Cup

team.” B r o w n eJohn added, “ B a s e d o n injuries in the CG United ODI series Chedean NationandShakera Selman ha

at this time. Two members of the Under 1 9 World C u p squad, Djenab a Joseph a n d r i s h a n er, who h a v e b e e n making great progress, have been named to the squad and we believe that they will fit in well and absorb the experience

Karishma Ramharack returns to the team after missingtheODIseriesdueto injury and Shamilia Connell who was on the injured list for the ODIs is also expected to be ready to be considered for selection later in the series ”Tickets are just US$9/EC$25 for the 1st T20IinAntigua.

For the four T20Is in Barbados, Greenidge & Haynes stand tickets will be US$10/BD$20 with 3Ws stand tickets behind the wicket available for just US$15/BD$30. Fans can purchase tickets in advance from the WindiesTicket online service, presented by M a s t e r c a r d a t tickets.windiestickets.com receiving their tickets securely into their online account to save to mobile devices or print out for

p resentation at the stadium, avoidingtheneedtoqueueat ortraveltothestadiumticket offices.

Ticket offices at each venuewillbeopenontheday ofeachmatch.

Fans can watch all matches live via streamed coverage on the Windies CricketYouTube channel, as well as on the ESPN Play app. Fans in the UK will be able to view on BT Sport with fans based in the USA abletowatchliveonESPN+.

FULLSQUAD (1stand2ndT20Is) Hayley Matthews (Captain)

· Shemaine Campbelle (ViceCaptain)

·AaliyahAlleyne

·AfyFletcher

·CherryAnnFraser

·ShabikaGajnabi

·ShenetaGrimmond

·ChinelleHenry

·TrishanHolder

·DjenabaJoseph

·KyciaKnight

·KarishmaRamharack

·KaysiaSchultz

·RashadaWilliams

F U L L M A T C H

SCHEDULE

T20ISeries

Sunday, 11 December: 1stT20I,SirVivianRichards Stadium, 6pm Eastern Caribbean/5pmJamaica

W e d n e s d a y , 1 4 December: 2nd T20I, KensingtonOval,Barbados, (Continued on page 21)

Rain has the final say as Port Mourant horserace meet called off Venue

Despite their best effort the organizers of the Port Mourant Turf Club Pre-Christmas Horse Meet were force to call off the event duetoincessantrainfallinthearea.

The venue, which is situated at Port Mourant Corentyne, Berbice, has been left in a waterlogged and muddy state and impossibletostagethehorseracemeet.

Theevent,whichwaspeggedasaclashof thechampionsduetothenumberandclassof animalsthathadtakenentry,hadseenover50 horses taken entry Seven races were slated for the day with over $9M in cash and other incentives were up for grabs with Banks DIH Limitedbeingoneofthemainsponsors.

Themaineventwasopentoallracehorses

in Guyana for a whopping $2M and trophy complementsofBanksDIHLimited.

Another big event on the day was for all West Indian bred horses in Guyana. The winner will take home a hefty $1M and trophyover1mile.

The other events were for H and lower horses; Two years old Guyana and West Indianbredhorses;Jandlowerhorses;Jnonstarter and horses that placed second and lowerinJ3non-starter/earnereventsandone forKandLanimals.

The organizers have not yet said if the event will be rescheduled or cancelled entirely

(SamuelWhyte)

Trishan Holder (CWI)

Djenaba Joseph (CWI)

left in waterlogged state

AustraliasweepWestIndiestestserieswith419-runwin

ADELAIDE, Australia (AP)—Australiacompleted a series sweep with a lopsided 419-run victory yesterday in the day-night test at the Adelaide Oval, with pace bowlers Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland and Michael Neser snaring three wickets apiece as the West Indies were bundled out for 77chasinganunlikely497to win.

West Indies resumed Day 4 at 38-4 with Devon Thomas and Jason Holder each on 8, still needing 459 for an unlikely win with six wickets in hand and six sessionsremaining.

It was all over in the opening session, with the tourists losing six wickets for 39 runs. Australia won the first test in Perth by 164 runs and was even more convincinginthesecondtest at the Adelaide Oval, where it remains unbeaten in daynighttests.

TheAustralianswillplay South Africa in a three-test series starting next Saturday attheGabbainBrisbane.

The action was all onesided yesterday, with West Indies falling to their worst loss, in terms of runs, to Australia.

TheWestIndieshadonly onescoringshotbeforeStarc gotanedgebehindtoendthe 21-run fifth-wicket partnership by having Thomas (12) caught behind on the last ball of his fourth over The veteran left-arm paceman completed another maiden over next and struck againwiththefirstballofthe following over to bowl former skipper Jason Holder (11) with a delivery that swung late and took out off stump as the West Indies slumpedto49-6.

Neser and wicketkeeper Alex Carey combined to take two wickets in an over as the West Indies fell to 768.

Carey stood up at the stumps and gloved a deflected, juggling catch to remove Roston Chase (13) on the first ball of the over and was up again to catch Joshua Da Silva’s (15) thin edge on the last ball of the over

Nathan Lyon bowled Alzarri Joseph for a secondballducktocollecthis450th career test wicket before Neser and Carey combined again to remove No. 11 Marquino Mindley It was Carey’s sixth catch of the innings.

“A disappointing second game for sure,” West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite said. “We thought in the first game we showed some fight butverydisappointing,we didn’t see the fight here at all.”

Brathwaite said the West Indies had the talent to challenge top-ranked Australia, but needed to learnfromtheheavyloss.

“It’s for us to believe in ourselves and learn from all the experiences, all the challenges you go through,” he said. “That is a key to going forward and getting better consistently as a test team. A lot of the guys, this was their first time to Australia so the experience wouldhelp.”

The West Indies hasn’t had a test win overAustralia since 2003 and hasn’t won a test series against the Australians since 1992-93. At Adelaide, the Australians dominated immediately after stand-in captain Steve Smith won the toss, with

Travis Head (175) and Marnus Labuschagne (163) posting big hundreds to help the home team to 511-7 against an injury-depleted West Indies bowling attack before declaring on the secondday

Labuschagne, who scored a double-century and a century in Perth last week, was voted player of the series.

Without skipper Pat C u m m i n s a n d J o s h Hazlewood in theAustralian bowling unit, Neser and Boland stepped up, combining with Lyon and Starc to restrict West Indies to 214 in reply. Only TagenarineChanderpauland Anderson Phillip, who were both run out on Day 3, showed genuine composure against the Australian attack inthefirstinnings.

Set a target of 497 after Australiadeclareditssecond innings a 199-6, the West Indies’ top order crumbled under lights as Boland took threewicketsinanoverwith the pink ball to have the visitors reeling at 15-3 late Saturday and Starc removed Chanderpaulbeforestumps.

WhileAustralia’s batters dominated throughout the series, Smith said the bowling group “did the job for us like they’ve done so many times for us in the pink-ball games We are undefeatedandknowhowto play with the pink ball — it wasanothergoodweek.”

Scores:Australia 511 for 7 d e c ( H e a d 1 7 5 , Labuschagne 163) and 199 for 6 dec (Joseph 3-33) beat W e s t I n d i e s 2 1 4 (Chanderpaul 47, Phillip 43, Lyon 3-57) and 77 (Boland 3-16, Neser 3-22) by 419 runs.

Jason Holder was undone by a Mitchell Starc inswinger. (Cricket Australia/Getty Images)

Alex Carey took two sensational catches up to the stumps. (Getty Images)

Bent Street, Fruta

Conquerors masterfully claim titles

- Nobrega rides away Luminous A&M MVP prize

Ascintillatingeveningof rivalry concluded the third edition of the MVP Sports Futsal Tournament on Saturday as Bent Street and Fruta Conquerors destroyed

the opposition to win the Men’s and Women’s titles, respectively, at the National Gymnasium.

Fruta Conquerors were thefirsttosecuretournament

glory when they steamrolled Tiger Bay, 11 – 2, to cart off with the $200,000 incentive.

Conquerors’ Jessica Teasdale was adjudged the MostValuablePlayer(MVP)

while the runner up side had tosettlefor$100,000.

Teasdaledrewfirstblood for her side in the second minute then followed up with goals in the 19th and 29th minutes to complete a hat-trick.

Her teammate, Jalade Trim,turnedinanaggressive helmet-trick as she scored in the 7th, 10th, 24th and 29th minutes.

Sandra Johnson (13’, 14’, 24’) accounted for a hat-trick of goals in Conquerors’ score line while Hasha Holder (22’) was the holder of the other goal for the eventual victors

Afena Baptiste (6’) and Nina John (18’) were Tiger Bay’sonlyscorers.

Police easily secured the third place trophy and $50,000 incentive that accompanied it when GT Panthers failed to show up fortheirbout.

Panthers will have to settle for the fourth place prizeof$25,000.

Men’sDivision…

I n t h e M e n ’ s Tournament, Stabroek Ballers dominated the third place showdown with Gold is Money to win, 6 – 1. It all went Stabroek Ballers’ way on Saturday as Henry Sampson gained the lead for hissideinthefirstminute.

Aboagye Da Costa then struck twice in the sixth minute to make it a threepossession match before

Jamal Bristol found the back of the net in the 12th minute. With a four-goal deficit, Dextroy Adams was able to pull one back for Gold is Moneyinthe20thminute–a consolationgoal.

Sampson completed his brace in the 22nd minute while Mark Jhalu was successful in the 31st minute to account for the winning side’sfinalgoal.

The victorious effort meant Ballers walked away withthe$200,000thirdprize while the opposition had to settleforthe$100,000prize.

A fruitful team effort led Bent Street to a massive, 8 –4, victory over Future Stars in the Men’s final and the $500,000 top prize Unfortunately, Future Stars hadtosettleforthe$300,000 runner-upprize.

An own goal by Future Stars’ Jaeel Harlinton got BentStreettheearlyleadbut Tyrese Dennis struck in the sixth minute to level the scores once again Five minutes later, William

Europe regained the lead for his team then Clive Nobrega doubleditinthe13thminute.

Omari Glasgow struck in the 19th and 33rd minutes, DanielWilsonsecureda31st minute goal while Nobrega returned in the second half with goals in the 27th and 40th minutes to complete his hat-trick.

A late surge from Future Starssawthemacquiregoals from Raushawn Ritch (35’, 39’) and Jamal Cozier (36’), but it was a little too late to stage a recovery in the fast pacedencounter

Nobrega was then awarded the Luminous Automotive&Motors’MVP p r i z e , a n e w 4 9 c c motorcycle, with additional incentives.

Meanwhile, lucky fan Sheikh Khudadin with ticket number 61 was the one to ride away the other Luminous Automotive & Motors’ motorcycle, while Patrick Williams, holder of ticket 61, won the $10,000

giftvoucher

Sheikh Khudadin won the Luminous A&M lucky fan prize.

Luminous A&M MVP, Clive Nobrega, received the keys to his new motorcycle.

Unity demonstrated at IBA Congress as Professor McLaren declares IBA’s significant change and observable progress

IBA Ordinary Congress 2022 has shown unity within theboxingfamily,whovoted unanimously in favor of declaring the former President of the organization C.K.Wupersonanongrataat the meeting in a hybrid formatinAbuDhabi,UAE.

Professor Richard McLaren presented his comprehensive report about the past of the International Boxing Association, formerlyAIBA,andreported on the vetting processes he hasdone.

“IBA is changing significantly, there’s been observable progress within the organization,” Professor McLarenadmitted.

He also added that, according to the statistics, when the vetting processes have started in 2021, there were approximately 30% of high-risk competition officials,whileasofnowitis less than 5% Lumi confirmed that in total 112 delegates were present, 85 in person and 27 online. The delegates approved the meeting minutes of the Extraordinary Congress in Yerevan,with99%infavor Addressing Congress,

IBA President Umar Kremlev sent a crucial message, which was met witharoundofapplause.

“The IOC must hear us. We have the same goals as them, to create the best conditions for the athletes. We should fight for our sport at the Olympics. I want to stress that not a single boxer, coach or National Federation will be participating in the OlympicGameswithoutIBA This is a request from the boxers,” Kremlev claimed

IBA Constitution was amended according to the Governance Reform Group recommendations, which completed the reform process for IBA The Congress voted in favor with 955% of the votes IBASecretaryGeneral rolewaselevatedtoCEOina jointcapacity,VicePresident becameFirstVice-President, and the number of meetings oftheBoardofDirectorswas increased to a minimum of 6 p e r y e a r N a t i o n a l Federations (NF) were

obliged to include in their constitutions a regulatory framework preventing racism and any other forms of discrimination. Athletes affiliated with a suspended NF are not deprived of their rights to take part in the competitions under their

Officials at the head table during the IBA congress.

respective Confederations without IBA’s consent. In such a case, they may be subject to suspension for v i o l a t i o n o f t h e aforementioned Among otherdecisions,NiueBoxing Federation was admitted as the 204th IBA member with 97% votes in favor The suspension of St Vincent & the Grenadines NF was kept with 85% in favor, and Vanuatu NF with 90% and the monitoring of the situation in both countries willbecontinued.

national flag and anthem but without any symbols of the suspended NF. Annual affiliated fees are waived. In addition, NFs are not permitted to participate in a n y i n t e r n a t i o n a l organizationsorassociations other than IBA and

IBA Secretary General a n d C E O G e o r g e Yerolimpos reported to Congressaboutthelatestwork done by the IBA, including sporting reforms and IBA’s digital transformation “We are going to implement new and innovative technologies at IBA in order to ensure that boxing has the cutting-edge technology to reach our ambitious digital goals,” Yerolimpossaid.