Kaieteur News

Asasha Ramzan

Peter Charles

The Guyana Marriott Hotel

Lawyer, barber found dead in apparent murder/suicide

AyoungcouplewasonTuesday found shot to death in what appeared to be a murder/ suicide in their Nissan X-Trail at Clay Brick Road,BelleWest,CanalTwo,West BankDemerara(WBD).

Dead are 31-year-old Peter Charles, a barber, and his wife, Asasha Ramzan, a 30-year-old State Counsel with the Attorney GeneralChambers.

The couple was last seen alive around 07:00hrs and police believe that they were killed in a murder/suicide.

Reports are that Charles, shot and killed Ramzan before taking hisownlife.

Their lifeless bodies were found in the driver's seat and front passenger side of the vehicle Kaieteur News understandsthatthe doorswerelockedandpolicehadto prise open the SUV to remove the bodies.

Crime scene investigators observed that Ramzan bore two gunshot wounds to the face and head while Charles' body had a singlegunshotunderneaththechin. A .32 semi automatic pistol and four spent shells were recovered from the vehicle. Family members andclosefriendswereleftinastate

of shock after receiving the tragic news and are still clueless about what might have led to Charles killing his wife and then taking his ownlife.

The couple had gotten married four months ago. However, some speculate that they might have developed “relationship problems” intheirmarriage.

One of the couple's friends, Rama Persaud posted on Facebook, “…W shared a long relation never would I have ever dream you were having problems in y o u r relationship I'm so sorry this happen this way which is not the right way… May both of your soul rip may the fami y be guided through this terrible time ... rip my friend Peter Charles (Rat)andripSashaRamzan”

Another friend, Nigel Hardatt posted, “Peter Charles this hurt my friend. Sorry I didn't reply to your messagelastnightbro.RIP”

Meanwhil e theAttorney General, Anil Nandlall in a statement said that Ramzan graduated from h e H u g h ooding Law School in 2020 and was admitted to bar Novemberthatsameyear

ShehasbeenworkingasaState Counsel with the Attorney General's Chambers since then and was described as “a confident, hardworking, able, and driven

attorney-at-law”.

“ Ms. Ramzan brought the h i g h e s t l e v e l s o f p r o f e s s i o n a l i s m a n d proficiency to every matter in which she was involved, and was concerned especially about the plight of the ordinar Guyanese”,statedAGNandlall.

Nandlall added too th Ramzan had also worked closely with the General Register Office (GRO),providinglegaladviceona ready basis to the Registrar on a varietyoflegalmatters”.

“Asasha” he stated, “will be remembered by her colleagues as

energetic,focusedandambitiousin allofherprofessionalpursuits.

Her dedication to her work is a hallmark of her tenure at the Chambers, for which she stands recognized”.

Asasha Ramzan

Peter Charles

The crime scene on Tuesday.

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TRANSPARENCY –PPP/C GOVERNMENT STYLE

ItcouldbethatthePPP/CGovernmenthasgottenso carried away with this nation’s oil bonanza that it

haslostalltrackoftime. Itisnowtwoyearssince the specially recruited Canadian Consultant, Ms. Alison Redford, QC, and her team completed their review of Guyana’s Payara project. Guyanese are still in darkness, know nothing about either the positives or the question marksaboutthat3rdoilproject.

This is the kind of transparency of which the PPP/C Government is proud, the degree of transparency that His Excellency, President Irfaan Ali, is delighted to say he is about,butwhichleavesboththesensibleandtheunlearned openmouthedinastonishment.

Secrecy with our oil wealth is killing this nation that doesn’thavethefaintestideaofalltheshenanigansthatare now part and parcel with this oil wealth. Shenanigans include foreigners and collaborating locals taking advantageof,andmisleading,theGuyanesepeopleatevery turn in the road. It took a mere 42 days for the former PremieroftheprovinceofAlberta,Canada,Ms.Redford,to finish her review of the Payara project. Others, who are experts in what is required for these kinds of reviews, are firm that it would take a minimum of 12 months to get a properjobdone.

What could Ms. Redford and her team get done in 42 days? What quality of review could she and her people presenttotheGovernmentofGuyana? Whatisitthatshe actually delivered to the government, and can it pass any typeofreasonablemusterbypeoplewhoareexpertintheoil business? WhyisthePPP/CGovernmentsodeterminedto hidetheAlisonRedfordReviewofPayarafromGuyanese? AtthetopofthelistofworryingquestionsiswhyPresident Ali is so ferociously resistant to releasing the report of the work done by Ms. Redford and submitted to the PPP/C Governmenttwoyearsago?

None of this makes any sense, not when the President himself is so fiercely insistent that his record has been all abouttransparency,andhisactionsproveso. Whichrecord, and where is it, we respectfully ask the President? The recordhasbeenmoreaboutwhatisconcealed,thanwhatis revealed.

As examples, there is the US$460M pre-contract audit reportstillshroudedinsecrecy,theminingcontractsthathis Vice President promised repeatedly to have handed over, buthasnot,andithasbeenthesameblanketofsilenceand secrecyrelativetothe4th(Yellowtail)oilproject.

Weaskagain:Whatistheretohide? Whyistherethis fearoverwhatwasdelivered,iscontainedinthatPayaraand otherreports? Thereareothersnotvisitedtoday,butitisthe same amazing scenario of the PPP/C Government and its leaders saying one thing, but doing the complete opposite too frequently for comfort. When leading politicians feel theneedfor,andcommitto,thislevelofchronicsecrecyin thegovernanceofGuyana’smostpreciousassets,thenonly theworstcanbeconcluded.

The history of this country has been a thick wall of secrecy Thediscoveryofoil,awholenewworldforus,has resulted in even more impenetrable secrecy, multiple such layers. When each new review and report should be a learning experience for the Guyanese people, nothing of substancereachesthem,sotheycontinuetoexistinastateof ignoranceandimpotence. Thisisonthegreatestprizethat Guyanesehavebeenfavouredwith,thisoilwealthoftheirs.

Secrecy is not clean governance; it can never be. Secrecycannotbeofwhatisaboutprincipledleadership,no matter what any leader says. Only transparency is what represents clean governance and ethical leadership, and onlywheninitsfullestflower.

Wewonderhowlongthegovernmentwillcontinuewith its charade about transparency, when the covert and covered-up is what Guyanese live with, has become the norm surrounding some of the most vital issues in today’s Guyana. ItisourhopethatPresidentAliwouldtakenote, andrecognizehowpoorlybothheandhisgovernmentlook whentransparencyistheissueinthespotlight.

EveryGuyanesemustbeawatchdog againstcorruptionwhichmightbeincreasing

DEAREDITOR, “A” grade, “Western An extra $520 million is not Corruption Day (IACD) As the world observed Diplomats call on Govt. to small change The news seekstohighlightthecrucial “International Anti- do more to root out reporthasnotexplainedwhy linkbetweenanti-corruption CorruptionDay,”Iamtrying corruption: say those and what’s going on here. and peace, security, and to balance the headlines, who take bribe, collude with The Ministry must explain development. At its core is “Gov’t touts robust anti- criminals must be held fully the notion that tackling this corruption framework -as accountable ” I give the Government has failed crime is the right and Guyana observes UN Anti- Government a failing grade to give teeth to the responsibility of everyone, Corruption Day” (SN, Dec. for openness, transparency, “Whistleblower laws” - and that only through 11, 2022) and “Western andaccountability Whileno Guyana’s Protected cooperation and the DiplomatscallonGovt.todo one has come up with any Disclosures Act 2018, involvement of each and more to root out corruption: specific evidence of whichrequiresaProtected every person and institution …say those who take bribe, corruption, you can smell Disclosures Commission. can we overcome the collude with criminals must corruptionintheairaslotsof The Public Accounts negative impact of this be held accountable” (KN, projects mean lots of Committee(PAC)hearings crime. States, government Dec. 9, 2022). (So, who in opportunities for kickbacks and Auditor-General’s officials, civil servants, law the Government colluded and “SU-SU” deals. Lots of reports highlight many enforcement officers, media withMr.Su-Su?) anecdotal evidence of “pay irregular and corrupt representatives, the private “The Government of to play” and payoffs for activities, yet no one is sector, civil society, Guyana…believes that one shoddywork. going to jail or getting academia, the public and of the most effective pillars For instance, there is a punished. So what good is youthalikeallhavearoleto in the fight against recent news story, Government’s boast that play in uniting the world corruption is openness, “Questions raised as to how t h e y h a v e againstcorruption.” transparency, and debarredcontractorawarded “ a n t i c o r r u p t i o n ” I c a l l o n t h e accountability Further, the 8 Region Nine contracts” frameworks when there is Government to enact the Government of Guyana has (SN, Dec. 12, 2022). How still so much ongoing Protected Disclosures taken several steps to was that possible? Most of malfeasance in our Commission right away if enhance transparency and therecentcontractsawarded Governments (both PNC it is serious about tackling accountability as critical to seem inflated in cost. Small and PPP), as the PAC and corruption.Theymustalso goodgovernanceofthestate, projects are costing Auditor-General reports enforce all anti-corruption to prevent and combat hundreds of millions and have continuously provisions in existence corruption at all levels of billions. Four miles of road revealed?(See article: Corruption consumes us publicadministration,andto cost$9billion! “Don’t steal, the all,sowemustallcareand have multi-agency What is the explanation Government hates unite against corruption coordinated anti-corruption forthisheadline:”Additional competition” - KN, Jan. 5, becauseit’sourwealthand policies and practices,” it $520M to complete Good 2021). our country Wake up declared.

Hope Secondary where AUnitedNationsrelease Guyana! However, while the $840M was already spent” stated, “The 2022 Sincerely, Government gives itself an (KN, Dec. 10, 2022). Why? International Anti- Dr

JerryJailall

The Sugar Industry – Fooling Itself

DEAREDITOR,

respectively for Field, reference to the following Honourable Minister adds Those of us who are Factory, Finance, and allocations must be totally the following: ‘At better informed about the H u m a n R e s o u r c e s meaningless to those c o m m e n c e m e n t o f sugar industry of Guyana, M a n a g e m e n t , a n d managers who must wonder Government’s term, estates indeed through high-level Supervisory and Non- whether they had prepared wereoperatingat49percent experience in managing it Supervisory levels. Indeed, therespectivebudgets: of capacity and now they overdecades,wouldbemost the records would show that –AlbionEstate–$363m have been rehabilitated and amused by the vacuous RoseHallEstatecollapsedas – Blairmont Estate – areworkingoptimally! debate, as reported, on a result of persistently $76m Can the Minister please Monday,05Decemberinthe defaulting management – Rose Hall Estate – translate ‘optimally’ , National Assembly, in performance – in Field and 561m with Uitvlugt Estate particularlyinthelightofall relation to the further $1B Factory totallyignored. the operational deficits donatedtoGuySuCo. T h e r e l e v a n t Next, there is the most highlightedearlier?

Neither the Minister of performance evaluation and casual reference to non- As well as his climatic Agriculture, nor the disciplinary records should functional equipment, all in assertion: ‘We will continue Oppositionshowedadequate bechecked,inordertobetter unidentifiedlocations. to ensure that we make familiaritywiththeindustry understand the basis for Then non-sequentially factories more efficient They simply toyed with the ‘achieving operations in the reference is made to the modernised and at the same numbers–additionallytothe secondcropof2023’,taking following: October 2021 time reduce the cost of Corporation’s $47Bn account of the unqualified $12Bbudgeted production’– no mention as Budget. personnelcontractedtoplant – to set up equipment to towhatcostshavebeensince

According to the canes, irrespective of yield ensure‘wecancontinuewith assumption of his portfolio presentation,themoneyisto potential that should be the tillage (in unspecified (Referto‘optimally?) beutilised(atleast)for: vetted by appropriate locations,) where the The undersigned in

1) development of researchteams.

In this connection a) ‘equipment was set very profound indifference

Ministersaidthat: particularwondersaboutthe cultivablelands

11) rehabilitation of therefore, it is difficult to asideandleftinthefields’ to the most critical machineryinfactories understandwhattheMinister b) ‘keep discovering component of the industry’s

111) 2000 acres of Rose meant when he adverted to more equipment need to be operations – its human Hall Estate to be put back just ‘1,500 workers’ being rehabilitated’. resources, the current intocultivation involved, for in the industry It is difficult to be capacityofwhichneedstobe 1v) aim to return to the terminology normally convinced that the alleged seriously questioned, operationbythesecondcrop specifies skilled, semi- ‘discovery’ process could following the precipitate of2023 skilled and unskilled last from as long as 2020 – termination of highly

v) 1,500 workers categories. 2022. qualified and experienced involved

This casual reference to So while the Opposition staff at the beginning of this

Withregardtotheabove, ‘workers’ must indicate his and the reader, are trying to government’s take-over, and there is no mention of the ownunder-informedstatus. cope with all these replacedessentiallywith staff requirements

Again, the Minister’s o b f u s c a t i o n s , t h e

MPconcerned over pace of court case

DEAREDITOR, by both sides before Justice Supreme Court Protocols, Editor, it is public

OnAugust4,2022,eight Younge. Subsequent to the thematterisnowrefixedfor knowledge that staff at the Members of Parliament, arguments, Justice Younge rulingviathezoomplatform Supreme Court are working from the Opposition informed all parties, onJanuary16,2023.”Editor, at full strength during their Parliamentarybenches,were including media houses that Ifoundthisexplanationtobe usual working hours, unlawfully suspended from were on the zoom platform, unprofessional since the 08:00hrsto16:30hrs.Isthere the NationalAssembly, four that December 8, 2022 at matter has always been held adifferentprotocolofwhich from four sittings and the 09:15hrs, she will hand virtually Also, I have a the public and clients who remaining four from six down her decision. She was matter at the Magistrate’s have pending matters in the sittings, all without due expected to rule whether the Court, and I have been highcourtareunaware?Did process. Legal action was CourthasJurisdictiontohear attendinginperson. Allthis the judges for the two takenandtherewereseveral the applications brought by is happening with COVID- aforementionedcasesbreach hearings before Justice the affected Members of 19stillubiquitous. theCOVID-19Protocolsfor Damone Younge, a High Parliament; and whether a Editor, I would also like the Supreme Court? Is there Court Judge via the zoom conservatory order will be tobringtoyourattentionthat cause for concern about platform At the last given to ensure that the on Friday, December 9, discrimination in our justice hearing, which was held on Members of Parliament 2022, the following two system? I am at a complete Friday, November 11, 2022, return to the National cases, presided over by two loss and cannot help but oral arguments were made Assemblywhilethematteris different trial judges, were wonderwhethereveryeffort underconsideration. heard in-person in the isbeingmadeforthismatter

TheSugarIndustry...

Frompage4 beginnerswhobroughtlittle or no analytical and historical value to the organisation. Now there is no reference to the Human Resources Development p r o g r a m m e , e g scholarships to the Guyana School of Agriculture and University of Guyana, in respect of which one wonders whether the long established ‘Performance Evaluation System’ is conducted in relation to the standard organisation SuccessionPlan.

On the other hand, there is much interest shown in ‘Contractors’ who are unlikely to be subject to any form of evaluation In fooling the Opposition, it only shows how effectively theGovernmentfoolsitself.

E.B.John F o r m e r H u m a n ResourcesDirector GuySuCo

MycolleaguesandIwere Supreme Court. The first, not to be concluded in a all in place via the zoom with Former Attorney reasonable time and for platform for Decision Day, General and Minister of Justicetoprevail.Iwouldbe Thursday, December 8, Legal Affairs, Mr Basil grateful if Justice Damone 2022, not realizing that the Williams, SC involving Youngeweretomakepublic, decisionwasnolongerbeing currentAttorneyGeneraland the new COVID-19 handed down as was Minister of Legal Affairs, Pandemic measures for the promised. Senior Counsel, Mr Anil Nandlall, SC and Supreme Court, which I am Mr Roysdale Forde, MP, Former President, Mr oblivious to as a client, and subsequentlyinformedusof DonaldRamotar Thesecond her reason for re-using the anemailhereceivedstating, being the matter involving identical zoom credentials “due to recent Events of the Ms. Roxanne Myers against fortheJanuary16,2023. Coronavirus Pandemic and Messrs, Sanjeev Datatdin, Yourssincerely, in accordance with the LennoxShumanandBharrat AnnetteFerguson updated COVID-19 Jagdeo.

MemberofParliament

AFC condemns forceful removal of vendors

DEAREDITOR, Therefore, any action to

TheAllianceForChange remove vendors from New (AFC) condemns in the Market Street without the strongest possible terms the expressed authority of the aggressive and bullying CityCouncilisultravires. tactics of the PPP We also view the recent government in its attempt to action by the Ministry of remove the vendors from Public Works to remove New Market Street. The vendors’ caravans from governmenthasnoauthority selected sections of the city in its current campaign to as another attempt to usurp remove these vendors the authority of and withoutdueprocess. emasculate the Georgetown

This hostile and CityCouncil.Streetvending destructiveactionagainstthe is a part of who we are as vendors is inhumane, Caribbeanpeople. uncaring and designed to It is part of our postfurther divide Guyana’s E m a n c i p a t i o n a n d people. indentureship identity and

TheAFCalsonoteswith canbefoundonthestreetsof a l a r m t h e b l a t a n t every Caribbean nation discrimination and racial Hence, we consider these application in the tactics as most abominable government’sactiontowards and devoid of humanity in vendorsinthecityincontrast lightofthecurrenteconomic to its action at Mon Repos, struggles of the people which were earlier Nevertheless, this kind of destroyed, and are being re- vending is most welcomed, constructed in the new especially as we enter the market Clearly, ‘One Christmasseason. Guyana’ applies only to the We continue to caution chosen. thegovernmentagainstthese

In a statement today, the a c t s o f f l a g r a n t AFCstatedthatNewMarket discrimination, which will Street was never declared a lead to disaffection, public road. Hence, through unnecessary tension and the Ministry of Public strife.

DEAREDITOR, CCwouldthrowhimselfinto City, as is being claimed by The Chief Citizen threw getting the tons of garbage vendors, to vend in a highly himselfacrossatruck, even littering city streets and sensitive area as the public lyingontheground,inorder wards for several weeks to hospital? Now efforts to to block the removal of represent the poor and hard bring some order is being caravans and stalls outside working rate payers in this metwithanoffensive,aided, the GPHC, as he boldly City While it is acceptable abetted and supported by no proclaimed ‘to represent the that an alternative location lessapersonthantheCC,in poorerclassofpeopleinthis should be found for the thenameofthepoorerclass. country’ (Demerarawaves vendors, it has to be Ithasafamiliarring. December13). wondered, how could Regards, How noble. If only the approval be given by the ShamshunMohamed

Works, the central The AFC urges the government has no legal government to immediately authority over this street. meet with the City Council Based on the present and the vendors to find an arrangement, such power acceptableresolution. rests with the Mayor and Regards, CityCouncil.

IfonlytheMayorwouldthrowhimselfinto gettingridofthetonsofgarbageinthecity

AllianceForChange

Racehateandreligiousintolerance shouldnotbeusedtoundermineprogress

DEAREDITOR, The President personal the strengthening of the The Viraat Sabhaa i n t e r v e n t i o n a n d social and religious fabric is Guyanaopposestheremarks involvement in programme being admired by all with made by the mayor in his suchasMenonMissionisa whom he would have come condemnation of work testimony to the fact that he intocontact. executed by the Central is concerned about every Howisitamanwhoisan Government.Hisexpression gender, that is, men should ambassador of CARICOM ofdegradingthePresidentas maximize their support for and who aspire to create a a racist and Muslim leader women and children better Guyana for all, could whowantstocreateGuyana President Ali has never be accused of racism and into a Muslim state has no deliberately absented religiousbias?TheMayorin relevancetohissubject. himself from any Hindu efforttoexplorepossibilities The Sabhaa has festivals.Asamatteroffact, for the vendors has allowed confirmed that since this year he was personally his emotional overdrive to President Ali ascended to involved in the Diwali ventilate these bias his position, his agenda of celebrations in Georgetown accusationsofthePresident. uniting Guyana took and other parts of the The Viraat Sabhaa precedence over everything country His passionate denounces such expressions else. For he is firm in his celebration of Phagwah and and calls on the Mayor to convictionthatonlyaunited hispersonalvisitstovarious tender his resignation with Guyana could accelerate the Mandirsisatestimonyofhis immediateeffectformaking progressive attitude of our support for the Hindu such dangerous statements. people. religion. His contribution to The Sabhaa continues to s u p p o r t n a t i o n a l development wherein all couldbenefit.

Amanisacitizenbefore he becomes an individual. Allcitizensshouldsubscribe to full patriotism which couldenhancefullevolution ofthenation.

Kindregards, Pt Rabindranath Persaud,J.P., President, ViraatSabhaa(Guyana)

Benn calls for removal of City Mayor

DEAREDITOR,

importantly, understanding deplorablestateofthecityof I hereby, condemn in the the development shift and Georgetown, it’s critical strongest possible terms, the the development priorities. public spaces and even the actions and the words of the First, to the municipalities condition of City Hall and MayorofGeorgetown,Ubraj and town councils and the services provided to Narine, in preventing the importantly also, to the citizensandvisitors. policefromconductingtheir macro development agenda I call on every person to lawfuldutiesinrespectofthe oftheGovernment. publicly disassociate removals of vending huts, Additionally, the themselves from the hurtful carts, caravans and stalls statements made by the words and actions of the illegally placed and Mayor about H.E President Mayor, which could only impeding along the main Mohamed Irfaan Ali, are have been intended to access road into the

outrageous, egregious and promote racial and religious Georgetown Public warrant legal interventions d i s h a r m o n y , t h e Hospital. fromtherelevantauthorities. continuation of the illegal

Last night’s antics and Ubraj’s remarks drive with occupation of spaces in the public expressions of the envy, malice, and religious city, and the violence which Mayor in this incident, were andracialhatred. itpromotes. totallyuncalledforandcould I call on the Mayor to It should perhaps come havebeenresolvedinamore resign or for his removal for asnosurprisethatthedecline dignified manner The theseveryreasons. in management, behaviour Mayor, however, has The police have been andconditionsoftheCityof completely disregarded his requested to review the Georgetowncontinuesunder Oath of Office and has antics and utterances of the anotherAPNU/AFCleader forgotten that the call to Mayor for breaches of the Regards, service is one that peace and the law It is my Hon. Robeson Benn, collectivelyandindividually view that the actions and M.P requires upholding the oath wordsoftheMayorgoalong Minister of Home of office, and more way in explaining the Affairs

Opposition stands fully behind Mayor and City Council

DEAREDITOR, Sector Commission (PSC) businesses whether large or TheOppositionreaffirms for the Mayor to resign as small, or whether on the its total confidence in the political hogwash. The PPP pavementsorinbuildings.It stewardshipofMayorPandit cronies in the PSC were has become a political Ubraj Narine as he fights on obviously handed the stooge, and Guyanese are behalfofthevendorsonNew statementbytheirhandlersat correctinignoringitspublic MarketStreetwhoareeking FreedomHousetorelease. utterances. outalivinginthiseraofhigh The PSC has once again The Opposition hails costofliving.We,therefore, failed its obligation to those vendors who continue find the call by the Private represent the interest of to resist the destruction by the PPP of their livelihood. They can continue to look forward to our support as they seek to earn an honest living.

Regards,

APNU+AFC

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THE MAYOR APOLOGISES

The PPP/C on Tuesday brought out all of its affiliates to condemn the Mayor of Georgetown, Ubraj Narine for comments he made regarding the religion of the President. The Mayor has since apologised.

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The Mayor at the time was challenging the callous removal of vendors in front of the Georgetown Public Hospital.

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Kaieteur News believe the vendors must be removed, but with dignity and possible alternative space to ply their trade at this critical juncture heading into the Christmas season.

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The Government has now mobilised paper organisations- some never seen or heard of before to condemn the Mayor for his remarks, fittingly so, but we also wish these same people and groups would be moved similarly to stand up and protest for Guyana that is being robbed daily by foreigners and poor governance.

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- AFC

Guyana's share is 14.5% after Exxon walks away with 75% in cost oil

The Alliance For Change (AFC), one of the country's largest political parties is arguing that oil giant ExxonMobil is not being truthful to the Guyanese people by hiding pertinent data regarding production.

After issuing a staunch statement at its last press ConferenceonFriday,thepartyhas now come out to explain what it believes the country's true benefits fromoilandgasare.

Dr Vincent Adams, a member of the Alliance For Change explainedinarecentinterviewwith Kaieteur News that the country is merely benefitting from a 14.5 percent share, after Exxon bags 75 percent to cover its expenses to developtheresource.

He explained, "They said it's 52 percentoftheprofitsandthey'renot wrong but it's just a trickery to give people the impression that we are getting 52 percent; but it's 50 percentofa25percent.Afterthe75 percent is taken out as cost oil...we are left with the 25 percent so they splitthatandweareleftwith12and a half percent and on top of that, there is the two percent Royalty so that'showwegetto14.5percent."

Dr Adams,theformer Executive Director of the EnvironmentalProtection Agency(EPA)arguedthat the oil company is misleadingthepopulation by failing to point out the facts that they are first collecting 75 percent, then sharing a remaining 25 percent with Guyana. As such, he made it clear "that 52 percent is not whatwearegetting."

On the other hand, the former Head of the regulatory body reasoned that while Guyana has been told that 75 percent is being taken out each month to cover expenses,thiscouldverywellbeas much as 80 or 90 percent, further lesseningthecountry'sshare.

"The 75 percent that they put there, it's just for accounting. It could be 90 percent, it could be 80 percent. This 90 or 80 percent is going over to the next month every month.It'saddingupallthetimeso we will never pay off," Dr Adams said. He explained the method of cost recovery Guyana agreed to in the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with Exxon,

Dr. Vincent Adams

comparing it to a credit card that one uses to purchase items each month. "Imagine you have a credit card and each month you go shoppinglikecrazy

You're buying $100 worth of goods but you are allowed to pay a minimum of $25 so when you keep paying back the $25 but you still shopping $100 so what happens is for your entire life, you'll still owe on that credit card and it's the same exactthingwithouroil.

We do not know how much it's costing us and remember on top of that, there is no ring-fencing so we

will never get that 52 percent.Never!"

As such, he challenged the oil company to tell Guyanese the truth in the billboardstheyhaveerected across the country In those structures, Exxon claims that Guyana is getting 52 percent of the profits from oil and gas activities in the Stabroek Block, where approximately 360,000 barrels of oil is being pumpedperday

The AFC has rebutted this claim, insisting that the oil giant comes clean.At its Friday press conference, the party said,"Howabouttellingusthatthat means you are getting six times whatwearegetting?

How about telling us on your billboards that we may never get more than this 14.5 percent and if you disagree, how about becoming transparentandstophidingthedata thatshowyouractualoperatingand capital cost plus your analysis as to when payout of these projects will occur to get us to make more than the14andahalfpercent."

Additionally, it noted that Exxon should also communicate to

the public what the 75 percent means in terms of value. The Party said it is confident that most of the population is unaware that the cost of production surpasses the 75 percent value each month, which means the country's debt will be recurrent.

Notsatisfiedtherehowever,the AFC has also called on the multinationalcorporationtotellthe nation when all of its debts would bepaidofftogivethecountrymore thanitscurrent14.5percent.

The AFC's statements regarding Guyana's benefits from oilandgascomesatatimewhenthe oil company has embarked on a billboard campaign across the country claiming that Guyana is getting 52 percent of the profits fromtheStabroekBlock.

The Publisher of this newspaper, Mr Glenn Lall has since challenged the company's assertion,explainingthatGuyanais merely getting a quarter of the profitsduetothe2016PSA.

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.

VENDING IS OUT OF CONTROL

This present situation GeorgetownCityHall,yetat ofthesevendorsarenotpoor limited in the city because Theexpansionofcommerce with illegal vending was this single junction, the people. The stocks that they not only is it creating in the city should be halted l

n

n

making vendors are encroaching on have amount to millions of unmanageable congestion and new commercial zones Unlawful vending has been the roadway, sections of the dollars;someofthecaravans but it is also causing traffic should be created outside of encouraged for so long that pavementhasbeenco-opted and canters costs millions. woes as far as Annandale. thecity those who are operating forvendingandonebusiness However, illegal vendors The traffic authorities are This is called urban illegally are of the view that owner has extended his feel that they have a right to nowbeingforcedtousethree planning and someone said powers it now claims to they have a right to vend on business right onto the comeandsellinfrontofyour lanes on the East Coast thatPresidentIrfaanAlihasa exercise over pavements, the parapets, pavements and pavement. business without paying PublicRoadduringmorning doctorate in the subject parapetsandstreets. infrontofbusinesses. Itisnotasifthehandsof taxesoroverheads. peak hours. This is because Regulatingillegalvendingis (The views expressed in Vendors are now of the the City Council are tied. The situation outside of of the heavy traffic entering also part of urban planning this article are those of the opinion that because they The perimeter of City Hall the Georgetown Public the city The government and if the City Hall is going author and do not have been given approval to hasalwaysbeenofflimitsto Hospital is a nightmare should not grant any more to be obstacle to regulating necessarily reflect the vendandbecausetheypaya vending. No one dares to There are vendors on one permission for converting illegal vending, then the opinions and beliefs of this cleaning fee to the vend on the pavements side of New Market Street formerresidentialproperties government has no choice n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s municipality that this alongside City Hall. This andano-parkingareaonthe to commercial properties but to strip City Hall of the affiliates.) legitimizes their operations. shows that City Hall has the side. As such, vehicles park It does not. Most pavement capacity to limit pavement alongside the vendors, vendingisillegalbutthereis androadsidevending. furthernarrowingtheroad.If noauthoritytostopitandthe Along Regent Street, you are in a hurry, avoid situation is now fully out of there is an early morning going anywhere near that control and may have food vendor with a tent that hospital. The situation reached the point of no encroachesontheroadways. outside Woodlands and return. Then there is practice of BalwantSinghHospitalsare

The City Council must persons driving up in motor also following the pattern assume full responsibility vehicles–cantersandcars– outside the Georgetown for this terrible state of andvendingoutofthese. PublicHospital. affairs.Fordecades,theCity At the markets, the Actionisneeded.Butthe Council has failed to put an situation has become action cannot be confined end to illegal vending. If unmanageable.Theinsideof simplytothehospitalandto anything, by its actions and the markets have been the pavement and roadside inactions, one can say that reduced to graveyards with vending. The biggest culprit theCouncilhasdonemoreto less persons entering the in creating disorder in encourage illegal vending marketeachyearonaccount Guyana is the Central thantodiscourageit. of the fact that there are so Housing and Planning

The situation at the many vendors plying their Authority corner of King and Regent tradeoutsideofthemarkets. The city of Georgetown Streets is an example how People are now of the is too small for the disastrous the situation has opinionthattheycansimply businesses which are being become.Thisjunctionisone go and prop themselves authorized Commercial block away from the anywhere to sell. And most buildings must now be

Dem boys seh...

It nah matter which side deh plucking moneyganrun. starfrom.Intheend,oncewestaywithdis DegovernmentsoafraidofdeAmerican oildeal,weareallgoingtogetplucked. dat dem planning fuh tek de word De government bin seh how dem renegotiate out of de dictionary Dem clawing back benefits fuh we. Dem claim claiminghowdatwordisnowacusswordin how dem claw back more benefits in the Guyana.Don’tbesurprisedifdemteachers formofpenaltiesfuhflaring.Butdemboys aretoldnottousedatwordindeclassroom. nah seeing dese benefits. It muss be IslikewhendePeeNCeewasinpower, disappearlikeSue. demtalkhowyuhmustnotsaysomeoneis

Butnowwehearingthatwhenitcomes beingfired. to de Stabroek block, nutting nah gan De right word is retrenchment. And if change.Butwillanythingeverchange?De yuhgettransfer,yuhgetredeployed. oilcompaniesgatderightfuhdesameterms And when de lights come off in yuh ifdemgetaccesstootherblocks. house fuh eight hours per day, is nat So de Vee Pee better get he facts and blackout,isloadshedding.Wellnuffpeople focus right. By de time he ready fuh claw sheddingalotofloadandlikedemwantput back substantial benefits, we goose gan disrounddenecksofGuyanese. done get plucked. De oil gan done and de Talkhalf.Leffhalf.

VISA FREE TRAVEL: A NATION’S

PSYCHOLOGICAL MESS

“government must income, yet lowbecautious.” livesintheUScan Why should travel to any the government be country visa-free cautious about a but people with

People ask me all comfortable saying and developed countries.” This policy that is basic to good jobs and a the time, in doing things against the newspaper along with other modern living in the world decent standard of

person, through government that put me in media houses, civil society that people should enjoy- living in many Third email correspondence, and the category of people groups, certain individuals travel without visa hassles World countries are in the call-in section of the whose politics I find haveadoptedafixationsince andvisanightmares? denied visas to the US, Gildarie-Freddie Kissoon absolutely abominable theAlipresidencycameinto have the jurisdiction in Why should the Canadaandelsewhere. Show why I do not criticise because it based on pure being in August 2020. It is deciding which country governmentbecautiousand I know one of the most thegovernment. dislikeforagovernmentthat that the government must Guyana should have visadecide on a course of action sought after vehicle Thisquestionwillnotgo intellectual arguments consult the citizenry and free facilities with. Then thattheGuyanesepeopledo mechanics in this country waybecausepeoplehaveput cannotjustify seek approval for important come tomorrow, the very not want? The Guyanese withahighsourceofincome meinafixedmode.Imustbe This sphere includes not policies that have newspaperwillexclaimwith peopleinanypollwouldnot wasrefusedaCanadianvisa anti-government. only the two opposition formidable consequences uncontrollable decibels that frownonacceptingvisa-free eventhoughhispassporthad They know Frederick parties, PNC and AFC but forthecountry the government must travel to all the countries in a ten-year multi-entry Kissoon has been a also the media, civil society Both independent consultthepeople. theworld. Americavisa.Thatwascruel demonstrator against power groups, certain individual dailies, the Stabroek News

Here now right in front No human in a survey andrepugnant. fordecades,soevenwiththe among others. I read an andtheKaieteurNewshave ofyoureyesisthereasonfor wouldrejectvisa-freetravel. Do you know consular flow of dialectics that editorial in the Stabroek given extensive coverage to a changed Frederick John Lennon’s phenomenal officers at the US Embassy humans cannot predict I NewsofDecember10,2022 a group named Article 13. Kissoon. global hit song, “Imagine” within seconds deny mustremaininthatmode. titled, “Caution needed on This civil society entity

For over 50 years my resonated with the peoples Guyanese a visitor’s permit I have publicly offered ‘visa-free’ push” and after insists that article 13 in the politics contained long and of the world because it withoutevenlookingattheir my reasons for my digesting that reasoning, I constitution compels the sustained relationship with imagined a world without applications.Thatiscoming understanding of the Ali know where I want my government to consult with peopleInolongercarefor I borders. from a country that sees presidency on this page politicstogo. thepeopleofGuyanabefore am not going back to that

The motto of the itself as the guardian of several times. I repeat it I want it to be far away itdecidesonpolicies. world.Mypsychewouldnot Olympicsisforpeopletoget human rights around the again.Iseehispresidencyas fromthegenreofthepeople Inthesamebreathinthat allowmeto. to know other people from world. going in directions that I that wrote that opinion- editorial,theStabroekNews (The views expressed in the countries and cultures On the opposite believe necessitate my piece. wants the government to this article are those of the thatmakeuptheworld. spectrum, low-lives support. Letmequotetheopening have the sole discretion in author and do not

Do you know the American can just hop on a

But in bits and pieces lines: “The government deciding if Guyanese must necessarily reflect the countlessmillionsofpeople plane without a visa and hereandthere,Ihaveoffered would be wise to tread enjoy visa-free travel to opinions and beliefs of this in the US that are worse off cometoGuyana. otherreasons.Oneofthemis carefully in its push for developed countries Just n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s than countless Third World So the Stabroek News that I do not feel mentally “visa free” travel to various read the opening line- affiliates.) citizensintermsofpersonal wants the government to

FrederickKissoon

“Oil sector auditors must be skilled enough to identify triggers that warrant forensic audits”- says consultant

Guyanamaynotsetoutto conduct a forensic audit of the more than US$7B in oil expenses that ExxonMobil affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) has delivered, but those conducting the checks and balances must be “skilled” enough to identify red flags that may warrant a deeper look into the finances of the company

Project management specialist and public commentator Mark Weeks in an invited comment told Kaieteur News that it is a matter of “professional responsibility”totheirclients that financial auditors keep an eye out for any w r o n g d o i n g o r

inconsistencies when ensuring the truth of the books.

He said that while the auditor may not set out to detect fraud or may not have been instructed by the client, “the auditor must be skilled enough to recognize triggers that may bring cause to a forensicaudit.”

Financial Analyst and Certified Accountant, Floyd Haynes had stated in a Kaieteur Radio presentation thatauditorsoftheExxonbill are only tasked with reviewing the sums provided; that they are not engagedinaforensicauditor awitchhuntexerciseandthat the audit is being conducted according to the terms of the Stabroek Block Production

SharingAgreement(PSA).

He explained that a forensic audit is done with the aim of identifying fraud and embezzlement with the goal of gathering evidence to be used in a court” Contrarily, a cost recovery audit is what is being done pursuant to the parameters of the 2016 Production Share Agreement (PSA) governing the Stabroek Block. “The goal is to verify the accuracy or rather the legitimacy and validity of cost claimed…,” hesaid.

Weeks submitted that it would be “disingenuous” on Guyana's part to initiate a forensic audit of the oil expenses without any evidence or suspicion of wrongdoing. He agreed that

to trigger a forensic audit a "financial crime" needs to be suspected. He added that a forensic audit for instance, which entails trail balances can reveal much, “but must be triggered by a justifiable cause.”Sincethereisnosuch suspicion of wrongdoing, it may not sit well for the relationship between the two parties.

He reiterated however, that once the independent auditor spots a trigger, then things become very different as the auditor is now responsibletohighlightthese triggers on behalf of his client and there are different ways to do that One example, he said is that overseas as a matter of transparency, is that “the financial body will write under the International Financial Crime Act and under the (anti) Money Laundering Act to be submitted under the TransparencyAct.

The request is for the particulars of the business transactions to be released fromoverseassupplierssince Statutory (requirements) will trump on the service agreement for the release of information.”

He said if things should get bad, Guyana too can make a request as “the financial body (being the S O C U & F i n a n c i a l Intelligent Unit of Guyana) which has the legal authority to write to sister agencies to get the information...which has the jurisprudence to solicit the information under theaforementionedact.”

Guyana's take in the billion StabroekBlockis52percent. The arrangement is that Exxonremoves75percentof earnings made as their expenses to produce the oil sold. Guyana then gets a two percent royalty from what's left, described as profit oil. Exxon and Guyana will then split the remaining profit downthemiddle.

The problem with that arrangement however is that the Guyana government cannot guarantee that Exxon is not bloating its bills by merely “checking” its bills. Chartered accountant and attorney, Christopher Ram described the US$7B a u d i t o r s a s b e i n g

“dangerously wrong” to believethattheymustmerely conduct a cost recovery audit. He said based on the technical details of the Stabroek PSA, the auditors should be conducting more than just a cost recovery audit. He also thought it necessary to point out to the t e a m o f C h a r t e r e d

Accountants that they have a duty to familiaris e themselveswiththetechnical details of the Agreement under which they have undertaken a professional engagement…”

Industryexpertsandlocal s t a k e h o l d e r s h a v e highlighted however, numerous instances where Guyana may be leaking money based on its contractualarrangementwith Exxon. Among other things, thecontractdoesnotcaterfor ring-fencing so the oil company is allowed to use the finances of any of the multi-billion-dollar oil projects to conduct its operations, while it is also allowed to deduct and utilise mullions of US dollars in decommissioning cost, years ahead. It was noted that a comprehensive audit would even shine light on the performance of local content and allow for government to create laws and policies to tighten leakage where they mayoccur

In a statement on the 'Auditor's Responsibility for Fraud Detection' in October, acting Chief Accountant of the US Securities and Exchange Commission Paul M u n t e r s a i d t h a t “Independent auditors play an important gatekeeper role in supporting high-quality financial reporting and the protectionofinvestors.”

He said that a critical aspect of this role is an independent auditor's responsibilities with respect to fraud detection during the financial statement audit, or, in other words, the auditor's useofthefraudlens.”

Labourer drowns in Essequibo River after returning for bag

boarded

The man was identified as Nyron Parke, of 31 Section 'B' Hyde Park, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) and an employee ofArchieandSon'sStonesandSuppliesat Parika.

Parke reportedly drowned around 08:30-hoursatManaka,locatedontheleft bank of the Essequibo River and some 28.1kilometersawayfromParika.

Police reported that Parke, his employer and other co-workers had travelledtoManakaonSaturdaytoinspect a work site.They spent the night there and were preparing to leave Sunday morning whentragedystruck.

According to police, Parke and his coworkers along with their employer had

After Parke did not return to the boat in a timely manner, his workmates called out to him but received no response. This prompted the team to leave the waiting boat in search of the man. He was nowhere to be found and suspicions rose that he may have fallen into the EssequiboRiver

An alarm was raised and persons jumped into the river, close to the barge, in search of Parke.Hislifelessbodywasretrieved.

Parke's workmates placed his body into the waiting boat and travelled to Parika where a report was made to the Parika Police Station. His body was examined for marks of violence butnonewasvisible.

A subsequent and closer examination of Parke's body was done at the Leonora Cottage Hospital before it was taken to the Ezekiel FuneralHome.

Investigationsareongoing.

Vice President Bharrat JagdeolastFridayreaffirmed

Mark Weeks

A 20-year-old labourer of Hyde Park, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) drowned in the Essequibo River on Sunday after he disembarked a boat at Manaka, EBE to return to a barge to collect a bag, which he hadforgotten.

a boat to return to Parika. However, beforethevesseldeparted,Parkelefttheboatto collectabaghehadforgottenonabarge.

Govt. signs agreement to build US$759M Wales gas plant

The Government of Guyana onTuesday signed a US$759M contract with CH4-Lindsayca to build two Natural Gas Plants at Wales, West Bank Demerara (WBD).

The Engineering, P r o c u r e m e n t a n d Construction (EPC) contract, stipulates that CH4-Lindsayca is solely responsible for the design, p r o c u r e m e n t a n d construction of the plants. The firm will be tasked with building a Natural Gas Liquid plant and a 300 megawatt natural gas fire plantforelectricityatWales.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo at a recent press conference had revealed that the two plants alone are expected to cost Guyana US$759M. On Tuesday, the Vice President said he will make the details of the contractpublicinthefuture.

“Over the course of the next few weeks, we will make ourselves available to the media so that they can better understand the details of what is being signed here

today,”Jagdeosaid.

However, Jagdeo related that he believes that CH4Lindsayca “can deliver on this project” and told the contractors that timelines, quality of work and staying within budget is of great importance.

“These are three things that we will look for and monitor carefully”, Jagdeo said.

Meanwhile, President Irfaan Ali assured that the projectwillnot“slowdown” Government's plans to pursue a hydro project since

it is the administration's intention to provide “diversifiedenergymix.”

CH4-Lindsayca was among five companies who had placed bids for the projects in September The American joint venture had placed the highest of five international bids to the tune of US$898M to build the plants. However, Jagdeo at his last press conference indicated that the project cost has been reduced to U S $ 7 5 9 M “ I n t h e negotiations, because a number of things in the

Lindsaycabidwere,theyhad provisions for a number of things that were not required as part of the manufacturer's requirement so those were removed and based on the original scope of the contract,thefinalpricecame downtoUS$759million.”

In November, President Ali announced that his Cabinet issued a noobjection to the joint venture to build the Government aspect of the Gas to Energy projectunderanEngineering Procurement Construction (EPC)Contract.

AccordingtoCH4Group website, the company is based in Puerto Rico but has an established presence in several other countries –while Lindsayca is a company based in Texas, United States of America (USA).

AlihadsaidthattheGTE project is expected to deliver power at less than half of the current costs. He said too that the project generation costs, payment for the pipeline, operations and maintenance (O&M), and capital cost recovery, shall

totallessthanUS$5centsper kilowatt-hour

While the Irfaan Ali Government is moving aheadwiththeGastoEnergy project, a recent United Nations (UN) report warned L a t i n A m e r i c a a n d Caribbean (LAC) countries against pursing natural gas projects. The report noted that pursuing natural gas projects in the Region is costlier than transitioning to renewableenergy

Guyana'scostfortheGas toEnergyprojectisnowover US$2Bandcounting.

His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret'd) Mark Phillips, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh and Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat at the signing.

Bike bandits jump fence to rob pensioner in yard

An elderly woman was attacked on Sunday and robbed at knifepoint of her chain and mobile phone by two masked motorbikebandits.

The incident which was caught on camera occurred at Shirley Field Ridley Square.Policesaidthattheelderlywoman wassittingonherverandahwhentwomen approachedheryardonamotorcycle.

The pillion rider, armed with a knife and wearing a facemask, jumped into the woman's yard and attacked her He snatched her chain and mobile phone. The

The pensioner being robbed by the bike bandit at her home.

bandit also searched the woman's handbag that wasneartoherforvaluableitems.Itisunclearif thebanditstoleanythingfromthebag.

Afterstealingtheitems,thebanditscaledthe fence and made good his escape on the motorcyclewithhiswaitingaccomplice.

Meanwhile, residents of Shirley Field were shocked to hear of the incident. One resident said,“Wehavenothadarobberyinyears”.

Many said they are afraid to venture outside at nights because of the incident and will take precautionary measures to protect themselves frombandits.

GAWU and GuySuCo ink pact for 8% pay hike hik

and (GA S ( signedanupdatedCollective Labour Agreement (CLA) paving the way for sugar workers to benefit from improved pay and other conditionsofwork.

The agreement was arrived at after several meetingsbetweentheparties over the past few weeks, GAWU said in a press release.

Through the agreement r e a c h e d w i t h t h e Corporation, sugar workers onthepayrollwillreceivean eight(8)percentwage/salary increase retroactive to January 01, 2022 Also, arising from the discussions between the parties, workers will benefit from improved allowances and benefits which are also retroactive to the beginning of the year The agreement also caters for appropriate adjustments to pay scales and other piece rates in keeping with the

personal protective equipment (PPE) which workers will benefit going forward.

In delivering brief remarks at the signing, GAWU's President Seepaul NarinesharedthattheUnion and the workers took into account the present constraints confronting the industry He noted that the Union anticipated that improvements would be forthcomingarisingfromthe investments into the industry The Union's President also expressed appreciation to the Government of Guyana, and in particular President Irfaan Ali and his Cabinet, for their supportinpavingthewayfor theagreementtobereached.

Mr Narine shared that the Union was heartened to reach an agreement and though he noted that there were disagreements during

that respectful enhance the sentiments were also expressed by GuySuCo's Chief Industrial Relations Manager Deodat Sukhu who also expressed his appreciation to the Union's team which he shared was objective and were able to engage in frank discussions.

Sugar workers will receive their retroactive payments on (Friday) December 16, 2022, when they receive their usual wages and salaries GuySuCo has disclosed that the new rates-of-pay have been implemented and sugar workers have welcomed the improvements in conditions and pay levels. They have also expressed their appreciation to the Government for their assistance and recognize the efforts of theAdministration toensurethattheyaretreated similarly to their colleagues inothersectionsoftheState.

Officials of GAWU and GuySuCo following the signing of the agreement

Local companies should participate in oil blocks auction

Manufacturing

and Services Association (GMSA) is urging local companies to p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e competitive auction for new oilblocks.

TheGMSAmadethecall on Monday during a press conference held at its W a t e r l o o S t r e e t ,

Georgetown office just days after President Irfaan Ali announced the launch of Guyana's inaugural bid round for 14 of its offshore oil blocks, estimated to hold more than 10 billion barrels ofoil.

President of the GMSA Rafeek Khan disclosed that the Association has been working in primarily non-oil

- GMSA

sectors with the hope of being able to carve a path into the burgeoning oil sector

“I would say sometime we were sleeping at the wheel and businesses not realizing the growth of our new economy, so this announcement [launch of bid round for oil blocks] will f u r t h e r h e l p o u r c o m p a n i e s t h o s e especially in Guyana who is tryingtobepartoftheenergy sector and I would like to strongly suggest that those companies who have been seeking opportunities now is your time with the recent announcement,” Khan stated.

Though he strongly encourages local companies to take advantage of the opportunities, Khan made it clear that they need to prepare not only for the opportunities abound but to

ensure that there is improvement relative to qualityandstandards.

company coming out of the GMSA being a primarily producer,”Khanrelated. e

“It gives us at the manufactures level to go in stronger negotiations and being prepared to travel i n 2 0 2 3 t o o t h e r countries bringing joint venture partnerships and bringing other players who can help us become even perhaps a major player in the oil and gas industry

I t w o u l d b r i n g tremendous joy to see a

M anwhile,Chairmanof Trade, Investment and Legal Committee of the GMSA, Ramesh Dookhoo said that with the announcement of the bid round for the 14 oil blocks represents a huge opportunity for local businesses.

The Chairman noted that the issue of energy “as you know especially for the manufacturing sector has been a huge issue, so we

believe there is huge opportunity for local content to be further developed and for more Guyanese companies to benefit from localcontent.”

President Irfaan Ali, on Friday, announced the commencement of Guyana's inauguralbidroundfor14of its offshore oil blocks, estimated to hold more than 10billionbarrelsofoil.

Theauctionwillrununtil April 14, 2023, with contracts expected to be signedthefollowingmonth.

Chairman of Trade, Investment and Legal Committee of the GMSA, Ramesh Dookhoo (left) and President of GMSA, Rafeek Khan at the Press Conference on Monday

Govt.putsprofitableMarriottHotelupforsale

After investing US millions into the Guyana Marriott Hotel and

burdening taxpayers with a US-multimillion dollar loan that the hotel was unable to service, the Government of Guyana (GoG) has now decided to sell the controversialhotel.

The almost US$60 million hotel started under Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo's tenure as President using taxpayers' dollars and otherfunds.

The hotel which was opened in 2015 is owned by the Government through the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL). Notably, Atlantic Hotel Inc (AHI), a special purpose company owned by NICIL was established to own the Kingston, Georgetown hotel.

Back in 2017, AHI was unable to meet its due financial obligations to repay a loan from Republic Bank Limited of Trinidad. As such, AHI had requested the assistance of NICIL, the guarantor but the State agency was also unable to assist.

In order to prevent the hotelfrombeingacquiredby the bank, the former Government in April 2017 madethedecisiontotransfer AHI's financial obligations

to the Central Government. This decision has resulted in US$1 1 million ($226 million) of taxpayers dollars comingouteverysixmonths (since 2017) to service the US$27 million loan - for a 13-yearperiod.

The Marriott Hotel has been deemed over the years a s a m o n u m e n t o f corruption, and a colossal waste of taxpayers' money Importantly, financial statements for the hotel have not been made public for severalyears.

Now seven-years after being operational and toutingtheinvestmentasone o f t h e m o s t “transformational project”, the PPP-administration is nowreadytosellthehotel.

In an advertisement in December13,2022 Kaieteur

News edition, NICIL issued apre-qualificationnotice.

According to the advertisement, NICIL is seeking Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from persons or companies, individually or as part of a joint venture / consortium, with an interest in purchasing its shares in AHI for the acquisition of theGuyanaMarriottHotel.

NICILstated too that the pre-qualification notice is for applications in order to shortlistthepartieswhohave the necessary financial capability to undertake this requestforEOIs.

Applications for prequalification must include the following information: financial capability in terms of net worth; audited financial statements for the last three financial years); net worth minimum (approximately US $250 million); and letter of financial capability from a recognized financial institution(s) to acquire NICIL's shares in AHI for theGuyanaMarriottHotel.

The deadline for the submissionofapplicationsis on January 10, 2023 at 1 4 : 0 0 - h o u r s T h e

A 26-year-old miner was on Monday killed and his brotherseverelyinjuredafter a tree fell on them while in a mining pit at Kupang Backdam, Cuyuni River, RegionSeven.

The dead man has been identified as Ravin Moses of Charity, Essequibo Coast, Region Two. His injured sibling, Shane Moses, is currently hospitalized at the SuddiePublicHospital.

According to police, the fatal accident took place around 10:45hrs while the brothers and their coworkers were working on an eight-inchlanddredge.

The dredge owner told policethatonehisemployees was clearing land with an excavatorclosetothemining pit when the accident occurred.Reportsarethatthe employee operating the excavator was attempting to fell a tree away from the miningpitwhenthemachine suddenly “cut off”. As a

result, the tree fell into the mining pit where the Moses' brothers and their coworkers were working. The duowaspinned.

Their co-workers rushed to their aid, pulling them fromunderthefallentreebut Ravin had already died. His severely injured brother was rushed to the Suddie Public Hospital where he was admittedandisbeingtreated.

Investigations are ongoing.

Dead: Ravin Moses

applications for prequalification must be submitted to the Chief

Executive Officer of NICIL at Lot 199 Camp Street, SouthCummingsburg.

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo

The Guyana Marriott Hotel

Miner killed, brother injured after tree falls in mining pit

Appeal Court orders retrial for man convicted of rape, jailed for 40 years

The Court of Appeal on Tuesday ordered a retrial of a rape case involving Julius Branker who is currently serving a 40-year-jail sentenceonthegroundsthat there were several errors madeinthetrial.

Branker was jailed in 2018 after he was found guilty of breaking into a woman's house and raping her at knifepoint. In a bid for freedom, he had moved to the Court of Appeal to have the conviction and sentence quashed, arguing, among other things, that his convictionisunsafeandthat thesentenceisexcessive.

Delivering the decision, Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards,whopresidedover the case along with Justices Dawn Gregory, Rishi Persaud said the jury was only given adequate direction on how to address evidence given via the identificationparade.

Among other things, the Appeal Court Judge said that the complainant in the case had identified Branker as a man she knew from around Linden and saw on Court round-up; the TV

news programme that broadcasts stories about personschargedinCourt.

The judge noted this statement was prejudicial and could have influenced thedecisionofthejury

Additionally, the judge noted that the Appeal Court found that the jury was not given sufficient direction on how to adequately deal with Branker'sdefence.

Branker, who resided at Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), prior to his incarceration, was found unanimously guilty of

Rape convict: Julius Branker

hisinnocence,stating,“Iam notguiltyofthiscase.”

The court had heard that the victim was struggling to deal with the trauma which flowed from the horrific ordeal. “Honestly, I forgive him but you can't be hurting women so. I get nightmares, Iamalwaysshaking.

'Terra' charged with murder of La Penitence man

A n 1 8 - y e a r- o l d f i s h e r m a n w a s o n November 29, 2022 charged with murder when he made his first appearance before Magistrate Leron Daly at t h e G e o r g e t o w n Magistrates'Court.

raping the woman on February15,2014.

The prison sentence was handed down by Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall The evidence detailed that armed with a knife, Branker brokeintothevictim'shouse in the wee hours of the morning while she was lying in bed with her 18month-old toddler and committed the act in the child's presence while threatening to kill her with theknife.

But despite the jury's verdict, Branker maintained

Before imposing sentence, Justice MorrisRamlall said that she had considered the nature of the offence committed at the hands of Branker, who broke into the privacy and comfort of the woman's home in the wee hours and violated her The judge recalled that the child eventually ended up under the bed, though she said it was not stated at the trial howtheinfantgotthere.

Justice Morris-Ramlall said that the convict had no regard for the verdict of his peers, nor did he show any remorse, either personally orthroughhisattorney

However, Branker is claiming that the trial judge made a number of errors in law, which effectively renders his conviction unsafe, and as such, it shouldbesetaside.

T h e f i s h e r m a n , Nicholas Da Silva commonly called 'Terra' of L o t 7 R i v e r v i e w, Ruimveldt had reportedly admitted to killing 39year-old Mark Frank on November 25, 2022 at Riverview,Georgetown.

'Terra' was not required to plead to the indictable offence which alleges that on November 25, he killed Frankandwasremandedto prison until January 25, 2023.

Kaieteur News had reported that Frank was killedinwhatwasbelieved to be a 'revenge attack'. According to a police report, Frank was stabbed to the neck around 07:05 hrs on November 25, 2022 with a Rambo knife that day

Investigatorshadlearnt that the fisherman, whose alias is 'Terra', attacked Frank of Lot 13 Company Path, La Penitence, Georgetown, while he was ridinghisbicyclethrougha cross street in Riverview Eyewitnesses had reported to police that during the confrontation, 'Terra' told his victim, “You think I forget you when you chop me?” Frank reportedly ignored Terra's remarks and continued riding but the suspect pursued and attackedhim.

The young fisherman was seen whipping out the Rambo knife from his pants waist and reportedly stabbed Frank to his neck.

He fell to the ground and 'Terra' ran away from the scene. An ambulance was called but by time it arrived, Frank had alreadydied.

Athoroughsearchofthearea by law enforcement officials resulted in 'Terra' being found and he was arrested at Riverview While in custody, 'Terra' reportedly admitted to killingFrank.Hetoldpolicethat Frank had chopped his right hand last year during a misunderstanding.

He further told police that lastyear'schoppingincidentwas not the reason for him killing Frank. He explained that he was heading to a friend's house in Riverview, to collect his television, when Frank rode up to him.He said that because Frank had chopped him before, he cautioned him to stay away from him but Frank did not heed the warning. The suspect told police that Frank continued to approach him and he suspected that Frank was going to harm himashereachedforhiswaist.

He said that to protect himself, he whipped out his Rambo knife and stabbed Frank before running away 'Terra' said he threw the weapon in someone's yard in Riverview whichwaslaterretrieved.

Charged, Nicholas 'Terra' Da Silva

Skerrit names Cabinet

NATION NEWS – comfortablywonthegeneral ministers, former National andUrbanDevelopment. economicpolicies,whilethe electoral reform. The DLP Prime Minister Roosevelt election that was boycotted Security Minister, Rayburn Skerrit had called the opposition United Workers won the election by a 19-2 Skerrit Monday night by the major opposition Blackmoore, who did not December 6 poll, two years Party (UWP) and the margin with the two announced a 13-member parties here The new contest the election and ahead of the constitutional Dominica Freedom Party independents winning in Cabinet, less than a week Cabinet,whichwillbesworn Melissa Skerrit, the wife of deadline, saying it was (DFP) urged supporters to traditional opposition after his ruling Dominica inonTuesday, includesnine theprimeminister,whowill importantfortheretobeare- stay away from the polls in stronghold constituencies of Labour Party (DLP) former government be the Minister for Housing set of the country’s socio- protest of the lack of SalisburyandMarigot.

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European Parliament sacks Vice President amid corruption probe

ALJAZEERA - The European parliament has removed Greek legislator Eva Kaili as one of its vice presidents after she was implicated in a bribery and corruption scandal that prosecutors said involved a Gulf country.

Kaili was dismissed from her post on Tuesday following allegations that the country had bribed her to buy influence in the assembly. Reports quoting sources close to the investigation identified the country as Qatar, which dismissed the allegations.

She was among four people charged by Belgian prosecutors with corruption, money laundering and participation in an criminal organisation.

She has denied any wrongdoing.

The government of Qatar rejected “any attempts to associate it with accusations of misconduct. Any association of the Qatari government with the reported claims is baseless and gravely misinformed,” a Qatari official told Al Jazeera.

“The State of Qatar works

through institution-toinstitution engagement and operates in full compliance with international laws and regulations,” the official added in a statement.

On Friday, police in Belgium arrested Kaili, one of 14 vice presidents of the European legislative body, after her house in Brussels was searched.

It was part of a series of raids on the homes and offices of several members of parliament and their assistants or associates.

Investigators said about 1.5 million euros ($1.58m) in total was found.

Prosecutors said 600,000 euros ($630,000) in cash was found at the home of one suspect, 150,000 euros ($159,000) at the apartment of a parliamentarian and several hundred thousand euros in a suitcase in a hotel room.

Some of these “bags of cash” were found in Kaili’s home, a judicial source said, leading a judge to conclude that her parliamentary immunity from prosecution would not apply.

Bottom of Form

Roberta Metsola, the head of the European parliament, said in a tweet that “this decision [to dismiss Kaili] is effective immediately”.

“We will continue to fully cooperate with relevant national law enforcement and

judicial authorities,” she added.

“There will be no sweeping under the carpet. Our internal investigation will look at what has happened and how our systems can be made more watertight,” Metsola said, as 625 parliamentarians voted to remove Kaili from her post, with only one voting against and two abstaining.

Kaili, her father and two other co-accused are in

custody pending trial. On Wednesday, a Belgian judge will decide whether to keep them in prison until then.

Two other suspects were released after being initially detained.

Several European Union members, including Germany, said that the 27-nation bloc’s credibility was at stake. Countries that have faced criticism from the assembly, including EU member Hungary, said it had lost the moral high ground.

“From now on the European parliament will not be able to speak about corruption in a credible manner,” Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto wrote on Facebook.

The Greek authorities on Monday froze Kaili’s assets in her homeland, while the Greek Socialist PASOK party said it would expel her from its ranks.

Kaili, a Socialist politician, was among several young, aspiring Greek legislators who emerged in the debilitating debt crisis that swept Greece from 2010 to 2015, where the country required three international bailouts.

Some parliamentarians braced for more revelations.

“I’m fearful that what we’re seeing here is just the tip of the iceberg,” warned German social democrat Rene Repasi.

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At least seven dead as Peru protests disrupt flights and train travel

CNN — At least seven people have died in ongoing protests in Peru after former President Pedro Castillo was impeached and later arrested after trying to dissolve Congress last week.

from Tuesday due to the protests, railway operator PeruRail said in a statement.

damage to the airport, according to CORPAC.

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Two minors are among the dead, Peru’s ombudsman’s press office told CNNE on Tuesday, and there were two deaths on Sunday and five on Monday. Since last week, demonstrations have erupted in cities across the country in support of Castillo, who has not accepted his removal from office and has branded his successor Dina Boluarte an “usurper.”

Demonstrators have called for a general election, the dissolution of Congress, and the creation of a new constituent assembly, according to the radio and television broadcaster Radio Programas del Perú.

Trains to and from Machu Picchu will be suspended

“We regret the inconvenience that these announcements generate for our passengers; however, they are due to situations beyond the control of our company and seek to prioritize the safety of passengers and workers,” the statement read.

Flights have also been disrupted due to protests, with LATAM Airlines Peru announcing the temporary suspension of services to and from airports in the cities of Arequipa and Cuzco.

Protesters attempted to storm the terminal at Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport in Cuzco on Monday, according to the Peruvian Corporation of Airports and Commercial Aviation (CORPAC).

So far there have been no reports of injuries, arrests or

LATAM called on Peruvian authorities to take “corrective measures to ensure safety” for the operation of its flights.

“We regret the inconvenience that this situation beyond our control has caused our passengers,” it added.

Peru’s National Police said that, as of Monday evening, there were blockades on national roads in at least 11 regions of the country.

In addition, the government has declared a state of emergency in seven provinces in the Apurimac region in south-central Peru.

Peru has been racked with political instability in recent years, and has been on the brink since Castillo was impeached for attempting to dissolve the nation’s Congress last week.

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Eva Kaili is one of four charged in the alleged bribery case in which prosecutors pointed fingers at a Gulf nation.

Eva Kaili, Greek Socialist member and vice president of the European Parliament, in Brussels, on December 7, 2022. ERIC VIDAL / AFP

GHK Lall

seabed, both the known not what, I shall call, ‘cost It is an exhilarating and inthebestofplaces,andthe (The views expressed in discovered amount to date, constrained.’ daunting prospect at the worst one simultaneously this article are those of the andthosestilltobefound. It Thisshouldbesubjectto sametime. Consideringour Something is going to have author and do not is most likely more billions the most liberal of severe limitations of to give here, and this one I necessarily reflect the of oil equivalents interpretations. If we find population, skills, amsureof:Iamnotgoingto opinions and beliefs of this Currently, Guyana has 11 more billions of barrels of supporting infrastructure, be around to say or do n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s billionbarrelsinitsledger I oil,thenumberofproduction andoverallknowhow,weare anythingaboutit. affiliates.) make the not unreasonable years of this vast national assumptionthatthereis,ata treasure simply continues to minimum, an additional 9 marchrelentlesslyhead. billion barrels, for a grand Bynow,Ithinkthatmost approximation of 20 billion would be able to appreciate barrels in total in the where I am heading, based StabroekBlockalone. onthefocusIgivetonuclear It is an abundance of energy fusion today All billions for a society with other things being equal less than a million citizens. (though they never are, To clear the air, the focus including hydrogen today is not on the developments, renewables, economicsofthenationaloil and so forth) this new bonanza, or how well or wonder energy source is ByGHKLall poorly it is distributed, but expected to be in hand in 30 Fusion energy is here. ontheproductionofit. years We would have Well,yesandno,asitisstilla Before advancing, I produced a huge quantity of few decades away from restate my standing position oilforconsumption,butstill transforming into the withthenation’soil. Itisan have a considerable fraction revolutionary development endowment that must be of our oil still locked inside thatitisheldouttobe. That exploited to the fullest, but their homes underwater is, clean, free replacement underonecondition. Holding still to the constant forfossilfuels. Butthewait The proper safety limits of 20 billion barrels, this couldbeasfarintothefuture must be fully and honestly means that likely up to 50% as 2050, almost 30 years observed. Again,Iwithhold ofouroilcouldbebehindthe fromnow comment on the money part 8-ball.

Hailedasa“anenormous (terms and conditions) for That is, existing in a game changer” and “one of thiswriting. worldwhereoilasanenergy the most impressive So, now it is back to the source is noncompetitive, if scientific feats of the 21st numbers, and aligning them notsubjecttofadingdemand century”, nuclear fusion with this groundbreaking to a precipitous degree energy has all the elements (‘moonshot’)nuclearenergy Guyana’s oil could be halfthatanendangeredworldhas fusiondevelopment. depleted, at best; or fully been searching for in its I will fast forward a few defeated (by fusion energy), quest to cease the century- years to the point where atworst. long dependence on oil Guyana hits that magic It should be noted that I Thirtyyearsinthetrial-and- number and club of have religiously abstained error process beginning at producing 1,000,000 barrels from going beyond 20 Princeton, nuclear fusion perday(1MBPD). Foreach billion barrels for the energy as experimented, billion barrels of oil purpose of this discussion; pursued, and now refined to availablethatwouldbegood and one million barrels in where it is at Lawrence forproductionof1000days, daily production. What if it Livermore Laboratory, with orabout3years,giveortake, is another 10 billion? Or thecarbonfreeemissionand using a 300-day production double the 20 billion that I less long-lived hazardous cycle. employsofreely? waste trail in its wake, is A nonstop 24/7 Or I put this another proofpositivethatAmerican production scheme lowers way: without a speck of science is still very much the pumping days to some proof and corroborating alive. extent. For the 20-billion- science in hand, it is almost In this instance, I am barrel estimate that is my guaranteed that we have not forcedtoadmitthereisafree baseline total discovery maxed out at the 11 billions lunch,consideringitscarbon figure for the oil-saturated thatareonthebooks. breath, its innocuous Stabroek Block, we are We are going to have to sounding radioactive talking about 60 years of increase production at excretions. production of 1M BPD. It multiplesofthe1MBPDrate Interest on my part in could be that the to leave as little oil as tabling this issue has to do infrastructurefordoublethat possibleinthegroundinour with this country’s pool of amount may be erected, race with the nuclear energy fossil fuels lying under the especially since Guyana is fusionclock.

FourfirmsbidtobuildGuyana'soilrefinery

F o u r f i r m s h a v e responded to the Ministry of N a t u r a l R e s o u r c e s ' advertisement for Request for Proposals (RFP) to design, finance and construct Guyana'sfirstoilrefinery

At the opening of tenders on Tuesday at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) office, it was revealed that the competing firmsareDRLEngineeringin joint venture with GESS; Sol Guyana Inc. in collaboration with CH4 Guyana Inc. and Lindsayca Inc.; Freight N

Cargo Logistics Inc.; and Berbice Green Refining Inc. in joint venture with ARC Energy, Polaris EPC, and BarsonSG.

K a i e t e u r N e w s understands that DRL Engineering and Freight N Cargo Logistics Inc are based in the United States of America.

According to DRL Engineering's LinkedIn page, the company is a fullscale engineering company basedinHouston,Texaswith offices in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Moscow,

Russia.

With 100 years of combined experience, the company noted, “We specialize in Project Management, Front End Definition, Benchmarking, and Cost Reduction of UpstreamandMidstreamOil a n d G a s F a c i l i t y Developments We also undertake Benchmark and Cost Reduction studies for Offshore and Onshore developments including Refining, Renewables and LNG.”

F r e i g h t N C a rg o

AFC accuses Govt. of engaging in unfair procurement practices despite regulatory Commission

LogisticsInc,onitsLinkedIn page, said that it is a supply chain management company, based in Westbury, New York.

Kaieteur News had reported that the proposed facility will be designed to process 30,000 barrels of oil per day (b/d) and be located on land provided by the government at the mouth of the Berbice River in the vicinityof“CrabIsland.”

Government's RFPsaid it expects construction to start by the first quarter of 2023 with project completion no

laterthantwoyearsafterstart date.

Importantly, government said it will provide several incentives to the successful company

Along with the estimated 30 acres of land to be provided, government said it willalsooffergenerousfiscal incentives for the project including a 10-year tax holiday, supply of feedstock (oil) from the Guyana Government's share of profit oil at market prices; and accesstothedomesticmarket forsaleofrefinedproducts(if

desired).

The RFP had stated too that this project will be strictly financed and owned 100% by the private sector “GOG will not have any ownership or investment interest in the project,” the advertisementmentioned.

Back in October, President Irfaan Ali had mentioned that the refinery will open opportunities in transport and logistics, the service industry, the construction industry, the rental industry and much more.

Spanish court clears Brazil's Neymar, co-defendants of all charges in fraud case

MADRID,(Reuters)-A Spanish court yesterday acquitted Brazil soccer star N e y m a r a n d o t h e r defendants in a fraud and corruption case over his 2013 transfer to Barcelona f r o m S a n t o s a f t e r prosecutors had dropped all charges in the high-profile trial, the court said in a

statement.

The suit had been brought by Brazilian investment firm DIS, the ownerof40%oftherightsto Neymar when he was at Santos. He now plays for ParisSaint-Germain.

DISarguedithadlostout on a cut from the transfer because its true value was

understated and sought a five-year jail term for Neymar and a total fine of 149 million euros ($157 million)forthedefendants.

In October, prosecutor Luis Garcia Canton asked theBarcelonacourttoacquit all defendants as there was "not the slightest hint of a crime".($1 = 0.9498 euros)

Wednesday December 14, 2022

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19

Take the unconventional approach today,Aries.You're able to gain a great deal and establish a whole new perspective just by opening your lens wider in order to include what you normally shrugoff.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20)

Today is a day of opposites for you. You may jump from one thing to another, Taurus. Somehow nothing seems to sit right with you, and so your search intensifies.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

Today is a terrific day for you, Gemini, in which action spells reward. You can't go wrong by expressing your needs and how they fit with thecollectiveagenda.

CANCER (June 21–July 22)

Egos may rage out of control today, leaving you to wonder what all the fuss is about.Giveotherpeopletheir space,Cancer

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

Today is a powerful day for you, Leo. Your emotions may be stubborn but realize theverythingyouresististhe verythingyouneedthemost.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22)

Today could be an unusual one for you emotionally, Virgo. Your usual easygoing, adaptable nature could be ruffled by people who try to take over

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

Ÿ Try not to be too arrogant today, Libra, even when you're utterly sure you're right about the given situation More than likely, you have the correct answers, but it isn't necessary to be stridentaboutit

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

Peoplemayhaveanextra spark in their actions and an extra bite in their words today You will find that you maybebetteroffjustwalking away from any situation that doesn'tfeelright.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

Express yourself to the fullest today, Sagittarius Feel free to take an unconventional approach whenitcomestodealingwith youremotions.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

It may be hard to deal with the opposing energies today, Capricorn Conflicting viewpoints and twisted perspectivesclashwithinyour world

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18)

Aquarius,thismayprovea challenging day for you You're used to being the sovereign surrounded by courtierscurryingyourfavor

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)

Takecareofyourselfand yourneeds,Pisces.There'san advantage to making sure your emotions are cared for and stable before you try to healothers.

NBA renames MVP trophy after Michael Jordan

(Reuters)-TheNational Basketball Association has renamedthetrophygivento itsregularseasonMVPafter Michael Jordan, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.

The bronze Michael Jordan Trophy is one of six renamed trophies unveiled bytheNBAonTuesdayand features a player breaking out of a rock to reach for a crystal basketball that consists of 23 points, a nod toJordan'sjerseynumber

The trophy's namesake badge is six-sided, a nod to thesixNBAchampionships Jordan won with the Chicago Bulls while its five-sided base is a nod to

The other renamed awards are the Jerry West Trophy for clutch player of the year, the Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy for defensive player of the Year, the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy for rookie of the year, the John Havlicek Trophy for sixth man of the year and the George Mikan Trophy for most improved player

"Our new collection of trophies celebrates some of the greatest and most impactful players in the history of the NBA," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver saidinanewsrelease.

"As we recognize the league's top performers each season,wealsopaytributeto the legends who embody theseprestigiousawards."

Iraniansoccer...

From page 29 Persian service, the three children were physically tortured during their detention On December 8, Iran conducted its first execution in relation to the protests.

The Guardian reported that Mohsen Shekari was executed after being accused of blocking a street and wounding a member of the pro-regime Basij militia in September

State media published a video of what it said was Shekari's confession, which showedhimwithabruisingon hisface.

Human rights groups, including the Oslo-based group Iran Human Rights, havesaidShekariwastortured andforcedtoconfess.

The group's director, M a h m o o d A m i r yMoghaddam, called for a strong international reaction to Shekari's death "otherwise we will be facing daily executionsofprotesters."

the five league Most Valuable Player awards he won during his Hall of Fame career

Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan during a pre match press conference.

(REUTERS/Benoit Tessier)

Brazil's Neymar after the Croatia game.

(REUTERS/Hannah Mckay)

France wary of Morocco threat, preparing for wall of noise in semi-final

DOHA, (Reuters)France will go into today's WorldCupsemi-finalagainst Morocco with the utmost respect for their giant-killing opponents as the defending champions prepare for a hostile reception from the Maghreb side's supporters today

The French fans will be largely outnumbered by the Morocco supporters at theAl Bayt stadium and Les Bleus know that they will be jeered andwhistledthroughout.

"They're benefiting from a huge support, I've seen this and my observers have told meabout.Weknowit'sgoing tobeextremelynoisy,it'spart of the context and we'll have to be ready for it," France coachDidierDeschampstold anewsconferenceyesterday

"Good for them. We have to prepare for the game, but also for the environment of thegame."

CaptainHugoLlorissaid: "We're going to have to be readyforthenoise".

The backing of their fans hasbeengivingMorocco,the

firstAfricansideintheWorld Cup last four, extra energy as theybeatBelgium,Spainand Portugal on their way to the semi-finals, but France will beready.”

Iadmireandrespectwhat they've done here, they owe nothing to chance, they

finished top of their group," saidLloris.

"They have a lot of qualities on and off the pitch, in terms of cohesion. The environment will be hostile but we're getting ready, calmly We'llhavetobeready to up our level one more

time."

Morocco play a very compact 4-1-4-1 and patience will be key for France, who hope to be the first team to score here againstthem,astheonlytime they conceded was through anowngoalagainstCanada.

Theirbestelementshould be not forward Kylian Mbappe, who will be deprived of the space he craves, but attacker Antoine Griezmann with his ability to playbetweenthelines.

"Here's another game where he'd better be good. He's got this capacity to change the face of the team, with his technical touch, and the fact that he enjoys a good tackle as much as a good pass," said Deschamps, who expects France to enjoy possession.

Morocco have been very dangerous on the break and quick attacks, but this is precisely how France could hurtthemaswell.

"We want to have the ball to create danger, but you saw that in our game against Poland (in the last 16) they actually had it more than expected,"saidDeschamps.

"We're as good as Morocco on the break and on fast attacks We won't abandon possession, but when we will have the ball we'regoingtohavetomakeit count."

The winner will face Argentina, who beat Croatia 3-0yesterday

France coach Didier Deschamps during the press conference.

Iranian soccer player sentenced to death after protesting against the death of Mahsa Amini

Amir Nasr-Azadani was arrested in November in relation to the killing of a police colonel. (YouTube/20Minutos)

15-year-old Theo Edward smashes second 100 in as many days as St Lucia crush Grenada in Windwards U15 cricket tourney

fewyears

the form of a 15-

year-old all-rounder from St Lucia.

TheoEdwardonMonday scored his second century in two days while helping his country's U15 team to a massive403-runvictoryover Grenada in the Windward Islands WINLOTT Inc. U15 Tournament cur underway at the Darren S a m m y C r i c k StadiuminStLucia.

Team captain E d w a r d , w h o turned 15 in October, scored 101 from 81 balls asStLuciascoreda mammoth 482-8 from their 50 overs. Meanwhile, his vicecaptain Johnath Daniel raced to 142 just 91 deliveries and smashed 17 fours and eightsixes.

St Lucia also got half centuriesfromAaronStClair and Codi Fontinelle, who s c o r e d 6 8 a n d 6 0 , respectively, to set up the massivetotal.

Xzavian Rock was the best of the Grenadian

bowlers with 4-90 from his 10overs.

Faced with incredible scoreboard pressure, Grenadafoldedforjust79.

Captain Jayon Henry led from the front with 25 but Rock's 11 was the only

thrashing of Dominica at the same venue His knock included 30 fours and six sixes that came from 143 balls.

Alexander (58) and Daniel (54) also contributed half-centuries to the matchwinningtotal.

ybird Tharoux was the of the Dominican bowlers with 4-53 from eightovers. With the exception o f E a r s i n h o Fontaine's 53 and Kenneth Valmon (21), Dominica's battershadnoanswer for Alexander (5-23) and Edward (2-13) as their side crumbled to 137alloutinjust27overs. other batter made double figures while four failed to score in the lopsidedaffair

other score in double figures against LeonAlexander, who snared 3-14 and Edward 2-5 t o c o m p l e t e t h e comprehensivevictory

On Sunday, Edward scored 198 in St Lucia's 4356 on their way to a 298-run

E d w a r d h a r b o u r s ambitions of playing for the WestIndiesandlistsJohnson Charles as his hero. On his current path, he just might be the hero the West Indies needs in just a few years' time.

SportsMax - The bad news we all know; the West Indies'battingisdreadful! The good news is that helpmightjustbea

away in

Theo Edward scored 198 and 101 on consecutive days.

Messi and Alvarez fire Argentina to World Cup final

BBC Sport - Argentina's master and pupil Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez combined to deadly effect as they reached their sixth World Cup final with victory over Croatia 3-0 at Lusail Stadium.

Messi now gets one last chance to win the piece of silverware that has eluded him in his trophy-laden career but Manchester City's 22-year-old striker Alvarez claimed at least an equal share of top billing as Argentina ensured they will returnhereonSundaytoface eitherFranceorMorocco.

Argentina's little genius looked to be struggling with ahamstringproblemearlyon but recovered enough to break the deadlock from the penaltyspotafter34minutes f o l l o w i n g C r o a t i a goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic's foul on the maraudingAlvarez.

A l v a r e z d o u b l e d Argentina'sleadfiveminutes later when he took Messi's header just inside Croatian territory and embarked on a slaloming run, aided by fortunate bounces off Josip Juranovic and Borna Sosa, beforebeatingLivakovic.

There was no fortune involved in a brilliant third after the break as Messi mesmerised Croatia's excellent defender Josko Gvardiol on the byeline beforeplayinginAlvarezfor thefinish.

Messi will now have the opportunity to make amends for the bitter disappointment oflosingthe2014WorldCup final to Germany in Rio's iconicMaracana.

Messi's last crack at WorldCupglory

When Messi stretched

and clutched the top of his left hamstring 19 minutes into this World Cup semifinal, there was a fear the dream for Argentina and theiriconicnumber10might havethenightmareending.

Instead, Messi recovered after a spell at walking pace to inspire Argentina as they go in search of a third triumph in the tournament following victories in 1978 and1986.

And what a far cry it was from when Argentina were thevictimsofwhatisstillthe biggest shock of this World Cup in Qatar when they lost their opening game 2-1 to Saudi Arabia, despite Messi putting one of the pretournament favourites in front.

It was in 1990 that Argentina were stunned in similarfashionbyCameroon in their first game and went on to reach the final, losing 1-0toWestGermany

Now they have the chancetogoonebetterasthe World Cup reaches its climax And Messi can finallyclaimthecrowninhis finaltournament.

Argentina used this meeting with the stubborn, resilient and talented 2018 finalists Croatia to produce their most convincing performance of this World Cup, suggesting Lionel Scaloni's side are hitting theirpeakattheperfecttime.

Messi, inevitably, was at the heart of it all and involved in every goal, but Alvarez has shown in Qatar that he has, barring accidents, a wonderful careeraheadofhim.

Much has been made of Manchester City's big spending over the years but

what a coup it was to sign Alvarez from River Plate for thebargainpriceof£14.1m.

Croatia bow out with headsheldhigh

Croatia were undone, likesomanybeforethem,by the brilliance of Messi - as well as his young partner Alvarez - after making a confident and composed start to this World Cup semifinal.

Their defence was exposed in uncharacteristic fashion for Argentina's first twogoalsandtherewaslittle eventheiroutstandingyoung defender Gvardiol could do about Messi's twisting run thatsetupthethird.

Croatia, however, have had an outstanding tournament once more as the country with a population of only four million followed up their appearance in the finalinRussiain2018witha placeinthelastfourinQatar

If Argentina have Messi, then Croatia have their own master footballer in Luka Modric and he received warmapplausefromallparts of Lusail Stadium when he was substituted with nine minutesleft.

He, like Messi, had his sights set on a World Cup triumph after experiencing the same pain of final defeat, butitwasnottobe.

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic and his players can be proudoftheirefforts,despite being well beaten here, and in 20-year-old RB L e i p z i g d e f e n d e r Gvardiol they have unearthed one of the break-out stars of this World Cup who will serve them well for many years andisalreadyaserioustarget forEurope'seliteclubs.

Argentina's Julian Alvarez celebrates scoring their second goal with Lionel Messi and Nahuel Molina. (REUTERS/Hannah Mckay)

Julian Alvarez pounces to fire one home at close range for Argentina's second goal. (Getty Images)

Tyrrell, Taharally lead record-breaking performances at GAPF 'Nationals'

performances.

P

Federation (GAPF) brought the curtains down on another successful year of activities last Sunday in ecstatic fashio

S

auditorium.

Euphoria overtook the usual stomping ground for localPowerlifting,especially after the performances of Dominic Tyrell and Nadina Taharally, as the two stood shoulders above the other competitors on a day of

Tyrrell, a junior, and Taharally, competing in the Women's Master 1 category, were scheduled to be part of Guyana's contingent for the M

Wo

Commonwealth Classic Powerlifting and BenchpressChampionshipsinNew Zealand.

Like several other

Taharally had their hopes of

hampered by the late arrival of the required Visa to attend the November 28 –December4championshipin Auckland.

Nonetheless, Tyrrell and Taharally, on Sunday, attempted and successfully executedwhatwould'vebeen Commonwealth records in Powerlifting.

Competing in the Junior 74kg category, Tyrrell deadlifted 310kg (683.4 lbs), surpassing not only Commonwealth Junior but

Adrien Poinson of France's 2014World Junior Record of 245kg(540.1lbs).

UnfortunatelyforTyrrell, based on technicalities, his lifts will have to stand as 'unofficial records' outside the shores of Guyana, but locally, it stands as a new Nationalbenchmark.

Tyrrell also set new Nationalrecordsinthebench press (140.5kg) and squat (235kg).

Just like Tyrell, Taharally 'unofficially' broke the Commonwealth Master's 1 Women's Squat (150kg),

deadlift (173kg) and total records(398.5kg).

Meanwhile, Sarah Sanmoogan in the Women's Junior (69kg) category made sure that her efforts were enough to see her setting national records in the squat (142 5kg), bench press (72.5kg), deadlift (162.5kg) andatotalof377.5kg.

Keisha Abrigo (76kg) joined the 'record-setting' party with exceptional

performances in the squat (155kg)anddeadlift(175kg) in the Women's Open category

Romeo Hunter (83kg), Shoib Kayume (83 kg), Sherene Williams (84kg), Yogaishawar Seecharan (120+ kg), and Farouk Abdool (120+ kg) are the other competitors that had r e c o r d - b r e a k i n g performance in their respectivecategories.

Tonight, the local teams participating in the 2022 KFC Goodwill Tournament willshowcasetheirtalentsto the invitees, as the third edition of the event kicks off with a double header, which is scheduled to commence at 17:00 hrs at the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground, CarifestaAvenue.

Winner of the Petra o r g a n i s e d , GuyOil/Tradewind Tankers L e a g u e , Christianburg/Wismar

Secondary School (CWSS), springintoactionagainstthe defending champion, Annai Secondary School, as the two sides meet in the first match.

A f t e r t h a t , GuyOil/Tradewind Tankers runner up, Golden Grove, face off with Desrey Fox (Waramadong)Secondaryin thefeaturefrom19:00hrs.

OnFriday,December16,

CWSSleapintoactioninthe first match once again as they meet SVB Academy of Suriname at 17:00 hrs. The match scheduled to unfold afterfeaturestheTrinidadian team,St.Benedict'sCollege, and Waramadong battling from19:00hrs.

On Sunday, December 18, the group stage concludes with matches five and six; St. Benedict's face Golden Grove from 17:00 hrs, while Annai and SVB Academy thrash it out from 19:00hrs.

After that, the top two finishers from the two groups advance to the semifinal round on Tuesday, December20,whilethethird place showdown and finale unfolds three days later Both days have matches scheduled to kick off at 17:00hrsand19:00hrs.

St. Benedict's College arrived in Guyana yesterday

afternoon, just before the captains

at the main sponsor's headquarters on Vlissingen Road.

T h i s t o u r n a m e n t promises to be an intriguing one with the teams in the huntforgloryallbeinginthe dark about the ability of the other, except for the GuyOil/Tradewind Tankers Leagueteams.

However, they have all staked their chances of a d v a n c i n g o n t h e preparatory stages and ability to execute on game day

This Petra-organised Tournament is sponsored by KFC, Tiger Offshore Rentals, MVP Sports, Trophy Stall, Guyana Beverage Inc. and Demerara Life, with support from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Culture, YouthandSports.

and coaches met

Dominic Tyrell in Deadlift mode. (Zaheer Mohamed photos)

Nadina Taharally accepts her prize from Gordon Spencer

Romeo Hunter in action during the Deadlift.

E for One Guyana President's Cup

Net backs Region 10 et R

- Pre-tournament favourite's Region 4 in action tonight

After an entertaining opening night of the One Guyana President's Cup on Sunday, the inaugural football tournament will continue tonight at the National Track and Field Centre with another doubleheader

The night's opening game will bring together R e g i o n 1 0 ( U p p e r Demerara/Berbice) and R e g i o n F i v e (Mahaica/Berbice) at 18:00h, while the evening's secondencounterwillseethe star-studded Region 4 (Demerara/Mahaica) team playing their counterparts f r o m R e g i o n 7 (Cuyuni/Mazaruni) at 20:30h.

Wayne Dover, Assistant Coach of the Men's National team, will have a cadre of players from the Golden Jaguars, with the likes of Chicago Fire FC forward, Omari Glasgow being in the line-up, Jeremy Garrett, goalkeeper Akel Clarke, Daniel Wilson and Sporting FC Curtez Kellman being partoftheRegion4team.

Meanwhile, ENet, formally known as ENetworks, announced their alliance with the Region 10 for the One Guyana

President'sCup.

President Irfaan Ali, said thetournamentwillseesome o f G u y a n a ' s m a j o r corporations aligning their brand with each of the participatingteams.

ENet, joining GTT (Region 9) as the second memberofthePrivateSector to be associated with one of the teams, expressed in a recent statement, “Success and sport are synonymous withRegionTen,anditwasa welcomed honour to be supportive of grassroots sports in the region on a nationaljourney.”

Theinvestmentisnotjust for sport; the only locallyowned telecommunications providerlaunchedits4G,5G and OnFiber internet services in Linden late last year

Decked in the orange colour of ENet, Region 10 is oneofthefavouritestoreach thefinalfour,whothenbattle for a spot in the finals set for January1,2023.

Player-maker, Tyric McAlister, expressed, “It is anhonourtobesupportedby ENet,” and their aim is to play to the best of their a b i l i t i e s g i v e n t h e opportunitiesthatawait.

ENet is one of Guyana's

leading internet and Cable television providers and soon, the first 5G VoLTE cellular network in the country

The One Guyana President's Cup opened with R e g i o n 9 ( U p p e r Takutu/Upper Essequibo) scoring a 5-4 victory against R e g i o n 6 ( E a s t Berbice/Corentyne), while Region 3 (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) hammered their way to a 6-0 win over Region 1 (Barima/Waini). (Rawle Toney)

Chief Executive Officer of ENet, Vishok Persaud, and Marketing Coordinator, Ashley John, along with the Region Ten squad that will contest the inaugural One Guyana President's Cup.

The star-studded Region 4 team

Petra Director, Troy Mendonca

KFC Marketing Manager, Pamela Manasseh Manager

The Team captains met for a friendly chat ahead of the Tournament kick off.

Lionel Messi and co. have one more game to try and top it. (Getty Images)