Kaieteur News

ExxonMobil to begin paying corporate taxes in Australia after dodging for a decade

ExxonMobil Corporation had avoided paying corporate taxes in Australia for a decade. In fact, the company had said that it will only resume paying its taxes in the year 2021, after recouping billions of dollarsininvestmentithadmadein thecountry

While the company was expected to start paying its corporate taxes last year, it was onlyinMay2022,amidthehighoil prices, when the company disclosedthatitwillresumepaying its taxes for the first time in a decade.

According to the company's website, 'ExxonMobil Australia' utilised carried-forward tax losses in 2021 and expects to resume payingincometaxfor2022.”

InAustraliathereisapetroleum

resource rent tax (PRRT) - a tax generally on profits generated from the sale of marketable petroleum commodities (MPCs).

The Guardian had r e p o r t e d t h a t ExxonMobil touted that it was caught in a set of unique circumstances –caused by a large expenditure on capital investment and falling prices–whichhaveleftit without a taxable income However, a report released by the Tax Justice Network in 2017 had exposed the links between the company's Australian operations and tax havens in the Bahamas and the Netherlands.As such the

company's Australian operations came under scrutiny After having paidnotaxsince2013,theoilgiant Australian tax affairs have faced closescrutiny Itwasin2018,while being grilled at an Australian

Senate hearing (Inquiry) on tax avoidance, when Exxon had disclosed that it did not expect to pay corporate tax until2021.

According to Reuters despite reporting billions of dollars in income from operations in the country, ExxonMobil Australia Chairman, Richard Owen had told the Senate panel, “The only reason we're not paying tax at the moment is because we just invested A$21 billion (US$16 5 billion). The company's Tax Manager, Stuart Brown, had said that Exxon will start paying A$600 million a year in corporate tax from 2021. Notably, the Guardian also reported that the oil major spent US$10 million over a

10-year period fighting Australian Taxation Office cases.On the local front, Exxon's affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Ltd (EEPGL), is the operator of the country's richest oil block (Stabroek Block) and continues to enjoy tax-free earnings owing to the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) Guyana signedontowiththeoilmajor According to the 2016 PSA, Guyana has agreed to, under the taxation provisions, to pay ExxonMobil'sshareofCorporation and Income Tax. As such it would mean, that Guyana foregoes each year, billions of US dollars. On top ofthis,documentationtothiseffect is then provided to the US based company allowing it to not have to pay any taxes in its home country foritsearningsoverseas.

GT Mayor, Duncan arrested on cybercrime, traffic charges

Police on Wednesday

afternoon arrested Georgetown (GT) Mayor, Ubraj Narine, and Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) and General Secretary of the Alliance for Change (AFC), Sherod Duncan, on Cyber Crime andtrafficrelatedcharges.

Ranks had detained the men at the Mayor's Office and were captured on cell phone recorded videos cautioning them about the alleged offences they had committed.

According to a statement sent out by the Police Force, Mayor Narine and Duncan were arrested for three offences they had allegedly committed during evening hours on Monday, December 12 last, at New Market

Street in the vicinity of Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation(GPHC).

Narine and Duncan had gone there that evening to join Vendors who were protesting the removal of their mobile food stands and other structures on New Market Street by members of the Ministry ofPublicWorksandthePolice.The Vendorsreportedlydidnotcomply with the Ministry of Public Works' notice for them to move because their stalls and mobile food stands were obstructing the smooth flow of traffic along the street. Narine had said that he does not have a problem with them being moved but wants the Government to dialoguewiththeCityCounciland not just forcefully remove the

Vendors without providing a solution.

During the protest Narine and Duncan had allegedly placed a

wooden pallet across the road to block the flow of traffic. Cell phone recorded videos also captured the Mayor lying under a truck to prevent it from driving off with some structures from that area.

As a result of their actions, Police decided that both Narine and Duncan be charged with obstructing traffic, contrary to Section 61 of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 51:02, using a computer system to attempt to excite ethnic divisions on the ground of race, Contrary to Section 18(2) of the Cyber Crime Act, and attempting to excite hostilityorillwillonthegroundof race,contrarytoSection2(1)(a)of theRacialHostilityAct.

It was a chaotic scene yesterday in Georgetown as the arrest of the Mayor sparked protests from Vendors in the City andOppositionmembers.Someof them tried to stop ranks from taking him and Duncan to the Brickdam Police Station by lying across the stairway of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council(M&CC)officelocatedon

Regent Street and the Avenue of theRepublic.

EventuallytheMayorgotthem to move after he said that he will complywiththeinstructionsofthe Police.

Protestorsfollowedthemtothe BrickdamPoliceStationandstood outside chanting, “Free the Mayor!” “Free the Mayor!” until both the Mayor and Duncan were released.

Themenwerebothreleasedon $100,000 station bail and are expected to appear at the GeorgetownMagistrates'Courtsto facechargesat09:00hrstoday

After his released Narine told Protestors, “What happened here to me is victimization, I am fearless, I represent my people, andmypositionisnotaboutwealth orfameand Iwillcontinuetofight for the Vendors and the people of thiscountry”

Narine has since publicly apologised for the some of the remarks he had made on Monday nightduringhisattempttostopthe Police and other Ministry Staff from removing the stalls on New MarketStreet.

A

ExxonMobil Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Darren Woods

Narine and Duncan walking out of the police station after being released on bail.

Protestors blocking the stairway at the M&CC office

Protestors outside of the Brickdam Police Station

‘Govt. must tell the nation whether Marriott is up for sale as a losing entity or a profit-making business' entit

By Zena Henry -FormerfinanceMinister,WinstonJordan

Guyanese is currently in the dark as to whether the 'transformative' US multimillion dollar Marriott Hotel which was built by the People's Progressive Party (PPP) Government, is profitable or whether the entity will be sold at a loss now that the Administration is seeking to get rid of the almostUS$60Mholding.

Former Finance Minister, Winston Jordan says only the releaseofthehotel'sfinancial documents will reveal whether the controversial project was a plus or minus forGuyana.

In an interview with Kaieteur News just a day after the Government advertised the hotel's sale, he described the action as “interesting” given the dilemma involving the project's realisation He indicated that a lot of money was needed to correct defects at the hotel and even more to service loans taken by the project's handlers It is unclear what position the hotel is in, and the former Minister believes that information should be communicated to the public. He recalled that during the David Granger Government it was established that the Administration was not interested in owning a hotel and wanted to sell the business. He said it was soon discovered however that the state of the finances would

not allow them to sell the company and realised sums morethanwhatwasinvested.

Jordan highlighted that together with the fact that the hotel had some problems; that it had a loan outstanding toRepublicBank-andtosell, permission was needed from the institution, along with other financial issues, “Marriott in terms of profitability at the time was under question.” He said his understanding is that even thecontractwiththeMarriott brand had an implication on sale. Jordan reminded that when the Marriott Hotel was built, to make it profitable wasthebuildingofthecasino which had not happened by the time the Granger Government got in Any selling of the hotel was deferred until the Marriott could be put into a ready state, the former Minister said. “Now, I don't know whether Marriott is in any state to be sold for profit,” he added.

Jordan agreed that with the finances unavailable, it is unclear whether anything was invested to make the hotel profitable and if not, then it would be selling at a loss. He said one thing that is known for sure is that the casino was never built and so profitability is still a question.

“Unless you see the financials of Marriot you

don'tknowwhatisbeingsold because even if you are selling your shares, your shareshavetobebasedonthe profitability or the worth of the stock. And the worth of theInstitutionisnotwhatyou put in it but what the market is prepared to pay or value your shares at,” Jordan opined.

Oilandhotel

When asked about the growing oil economy as a positive marker for the hotel's profitable sale, the former Minister said, “it would not be wise to speculate where numbers are concerned, because if the casino was built it is difficult to say even now and even with 100 percent occupancy whether the hotel will be profitable.”

He said Marriott still has itscasinolicense.Itisunclear however whether the license will be sold with the facility, although Jordan believes it could be part of the deal to makeitmoreattractive.

In 2017, during a state media broadcast, Jordan had s a i d t h a t m a s s i v e misspending by the current Government appeared to be “more than just mistakes” and advocated for some type o f a c c o u n t a b i l i t y. He said that the Government wasatthetimesaddledwitha large debt despite putting a large amount of equity He had highlighted the Marriott

Opposition condemns Govt. for alleged politicisation of PAC, other state agencies

The Opposition, A Partnership for National Unity+AllianceForChange

(APNU+AFC) has condemnedwhatitdescribed as the politicising of Public Account Committee (PAC) andotherStateorgans.

Thepartyinamessageto mark UN International Human Rights Day and World Anti-Corruption Day said the PPP Government politicises anti-corruption institutions such as SOCU andtheGuyanaPoliceForce. “It stalls and stymies the work of other institutions such as the Public Procurement Commission (PPC), the non-confirmation of the Chief Justice and the Chancellor of the Judiciary, and reducing the schedule of and its attendance at the Public Accounts Committee (PAC)).

Further, the Opposition

The Guyana Marriott Hotel

said the Government degrades or sidelines Institutions, such as the C o m m i s s i o n e r o f Information and the oversight Parliamentary Sectoral Committees. The APNU+AFC claimed that the PPPchanged the quorum of the Public Accounts Committee to ensure that whenitstaysawayfromPAC meetings their accounts cannotbescrutinised.

“But just as dangerous is the Government attitude that signals that it condones corruption within its own inner circle and among its political cronies…We also alerted Guyanese that corruption extends not only t o b r i b e r y a n d t h e embezzlement of public funds, but also to trading in influence, abuse of public office, money laundering, obstructing justice and

privatesectorcorruption.”

T h e A P N U + A F C Coalition emphasised that corruption is a plague that s t u n t s e c o n o m i c development, impoverishes people, perverts the rule of law, turns public institutions i n t o b r i b e - t a k i n g bureaucracies,detersforeign investment, and erodes democracy and human rights. “It is in this context we must condemn the condoning of corruption by SOCU and the PPP elite, family, friends and favourites. We warned that corruption is increasing (and worse, normalizing) in Guyana. One of the main causes continues to be the purposeful weakening or sidelining of anti-corruption institutions by the current Government,” the party said inthestatement.

project and the Skeldon Factory, another failed expensive Government venture,atthetime.

He said the Granger Government was forced to “take over Republic Bank's debt of US$17.7M to repay because the Atlantic Hotel Incorporated (AHI) was brokeandhadnomoney.”

He said too that on that p r o j e c t a l o n e t h e Government had to find another Guy$5 3B to fix defects on the hotel Marriott was opened in 2015 to be a first class branded hotel. It is owned by the Government through the

National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) but was owned by bankrupt Atlantic Hotel Inc. (AHI), a special p u r p o s e c o m p a n y established by NICIL. To prevent the hotel from being acquired by Republic Bank, the Granger Government transferred AHI's financial obligations to the Central Government costing taxpayers US$1 1 million ($226 million) every six months since 2017 to service theentireUS$27millionloan f o r 1 3 - y e a r s NICIL said it is seeking Expressions of Interest

(EOIs) from persons or companies,individuallyoras part of a joint venture / consortium, with an interest in purchasing its shares in AHIfortheacquisitionofthe GuyanaMarriottHotel.

Pre-qualification must include financial capability intermsofnetworth,audited financial statements for the lastthreefinancialyears),net w o r t h m i n i m u m (approximately US $250 million), and letter of financial capability from a recognized financial institution(s) to acquire NICIL'ssharesinAHIforthe GuyanaMarriottHotel.

Govt. makes third withdrawal of US$207M from oil account

Senior Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh disclosed y e s t e r d a y t h a t t h e Administration has made its third withdrawal from the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) totalling US$207.6M orG$43B.

The Minister said in a statement to the Press that this will be the final withdrawalfor2022.

He also noted that the funds were transferred to the Consolidated Fund to f i n a n c e n a t i o n a l developmentpriorities.

It would be recalled that in May and July of this year, the Government made w i t h d r a w a l s totallingUS$400 million equivalent to G$83 billion. This brings the accumulated withdrawals from the NRF for the year 2022to U S $ 6 0 7 6 m i l l i o n , equivalent to G$126 billion, and in line with approved amountinthe2022Budget.

Guyana'sCentralBankis responsible for the operational management of the Fund which includes

e s t a b l i s h i n g r i s k management arrangements, and all necessary internal management systems for the fund.

The NRF Act states that petroleum revenues shall be directly paid into a bank account denominated in United States Dollars and held by the US Federal ReserveBankinNewYork.

Wi t h r e s p e c t t o withdrawals, the law states that the maximum amount that may be withdrawn from theFundinafiscalyearshall not exceed the total withdrawal from the Fund approved by the National Assemblyforthatfiscalyear It categorically states that all withdrawals shall be d e p o s i t e d i n t o t h e

Consolidated Fund and shall be used only to finance national development priorities including any initiative aimed at realising greeneconomyandessential projects that are related to ameliorating the effect of a major natural disaster Furthermore, the amount

that may be withdrawn from theFundinafiscalyearshall be subject to a ceiling calculated in accordance withtheFirstScheduleinthe Act Additionally, the Legislation empowers the Auditor General of Guyana to audit the accounts of the Fund. He can also engage an internationally recognised auditing firm to assist in the dischargeofthisfunction.

TheBoardofDirectorsis also required to prepare and submit to the Minister, an annualreportoftheFund.

Furthermore, the Minister is required to p r o v i d e G u y a n a ' s Parliament with an Annual ReportontheFund.

The Ministry of Finance is also mandated to publish on its website for public perusal: annual reports on the fund, audited financial statements, and the external auditor's report, quarterly reports, and financial statements submitted to the Minister by the bank, monthly reports, and the Fund'sinvestmentmandate.

Kaieteur News

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

Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456

Editor-In-Chief:NIGELWILLIAMS

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

EDITORIAL

CARBON CREDITS

Guyana is now US$750M richer, thanks to its vast canopy of trees, and untouched natural wonderlands. In essence, this country is being paid three quarter billion Americandollarstoletthingsbe. Thatis,todoourpartinthe fight against climate change, help other parties, all foreign, thataremoreprofitdriventohaveacushion,andgivethema helpinghandintheirrecklessexcesses.

As we at this publication view this development concerningcarboncredits,itbecomesclearthatthisiswhat matters boil down to: profit conscious oil companies, and fossilfuelguzzlingcountries,paytoplay. Theycontaminate andchangetheconditionsunderwhichtheworldlives,and Guyana collects its millions in carbon credits. We need as muchmoneyaswecanget,sothishastobeagoodthingon the face of it. More millions of US dollars for Guyana can only be helpful for Guyanese, but there are some other ingredientstothispotthatoughttobebroughttolight,which wedonow

Simplyput,localforestsareahugemassofgreencapable ofabsorbingthepoisonsfromongoinguseoffossilfuels,and at the rates that developed countries use the more refined products. Thesamecouldbesaidforthosecountrieslower on the developmental chart that make heavy use of dirtier sources of energy like coal. China and India feature prominently in this category that cannot afford, as yet, to wean away more aggressively from fossil fuels with more damaging impacts. Allowing our forests to be used to provide relief, and get paid for it, is a win-win situation for Guyana.

The question, though, is how much of an impact our commitment to continuingconservation will have on our logging sector and those other sectors that operate in our forestedareas.

Thisisoursideofthecarboncreditbargainthatwewill have to honor, and the extent to which this is done, could make a difference in the lives of many Guyanese. This includes those employed in interior locations, and those acrossGuyanathatdependontheirproductsforavarietyof uses.

Wearenotknowntobeapeoplethatlookfavorablyupon rules and regulations, and about which our indigenous communitycanwriteabigbook,possiblyseveral,thatreveal theintrusionsandassaultsonitswayoflife.

It is helpful, therefore, that the leaders in the PPP/C Governmenthavealreadystatedthatanoticeableportionof the carbon credits millions received are earmarked for indigenouscommunities. Thiscontainsbothapositiveand negativegloss.

The positive is that once the millions set aside are employed primarily for the protection and enhancement of those strapped and degraded communities, then carbon creditswouldhavebeenputtoamostconstructivepurpose. Ifandwhen(anditisamatterofwhenonly,therearenoifs) Guyana’s regular politics inserts itself into those millions, then a bigger environmental blight occurs, than when comparedtoatmosphericdamage. Guyanagetsthecarbon creditmoney,whiletheindigenouscommunitygetsusedand misused in the normal manner that appeals to our ruling Politicians.

Carbon credit dollars, like Oil Fund money, have a common thread: the Guyana Government cannot resist dabblingwiththem. Thedollarsarethere,sotheyareupfor grabs, and there is no better camouflage than “national development priorities”, for the usual leadership tricks to surface, and this is regardless of how well structured and watched. Wearesayingitfromnow:carboncredits,money coming,willturnouttobethenewestinvitingplaygroundfor rulingPoliticians.

On top of all this, taking Hess Corporation’s millions is givingthecompanyahelpfulboosttopumpandprofitsome more. Itistheequivalentofaneighborpayingus,sothathe can continue unhindered and uncaring with his damaging pollutions.We can insulate our homes, or buy cheaper earplugs. SomethingtellsusthatthePPP/CGovernmentis goingtofindabetteruseforsomeoftheUS$750M.

It will keep its own party, and have a good time with carboncreditcashconvertedtocorruptuses.

Students of private schools continue to excel

Diasporawhowishtoinvest as “a model school”, and businesspeople,retireesand in education. Like all other proof those students in the others who would love to aspects of national countrysidecandoaswellas contribute a lump sum to DEAREDITOR, development, there is no those in the well established construct an educational The consistent academic dispute that educating its schools in the city given an structurewherereligiousand success of Saraswati Vidya populationshouldalwaysbe equalopportunity other moral values can be Niketan (SVN) and the given priority by any Its history is also an taught to students of all recent announcement that Government.Itappearsasif exampleofcooperationwith backgrounds. oneofitsstudents,ATISHTA the Government has thoseintheDiasporaandthis Some are retired and SEENARINE is the most recognised this and has processcanbeduplicated. looking for ways to give outstanding performer not recently extended financial Manywhocontributedto back but do not wish to be just for Guyana but for the support to all students and this unique institution are involved in bureaucracy or entireCaribbeancriesoutfor alsopaytotrainallteachers. elatedwiththenews.“Ofall politics on a continuing a change in the educational Itwouldbeamerepittanceto the projects we financed in basis. systeminGuyana. extend this support to Guyana SVN makes us There is a lot of

These schools (private) Teacher’s salaries as there proud,” says Canadian discussionofhowGuyanese have been producing arenotmanyprivateschools KishoriePrasadassheshares overseas can help with excellent students over the presently but more can be the good news unable to development of the county years and should be established with some controlherexcitement. She andthemediarevealsalotof encouraged to continue assistance.Thisisnotanovel fondly recalls her trip to discontent This is an without burdening the idea. NeighbouringTrinidad Guyanabeforetheturnofthe opportunity for the students and parents with has private schools where century when she invited Government to challenge schoolfees. Teachers are paid by the Swami Aksharananda to them to participate in nation

The advantages are Government In fact the visitToronto.Atthattimethe building. Invite them to numerous. Maha Sabha administers so first building was a few erect the buildings, hire the

1 They help the many that they have their concrete columns that stood teachers and administer the governmenttofulfillafewof ownschoolboard. like sentinels behind the school.

its obligations in a In fact this was also the temple. His first visit kick Government will pay democracy to educate the situation in Guyana before startedafundraisingnotonly salaries and benefits of the entirecountry Independence when the in Toronto but in North teachers. In fact some of

2 They encourage schools were administered Americaandbeyond. these buildings are already cultural diversity and those by Christian organisations Aspecialaccountisnow constructed but are empty whohavelosttheirlanguage buttheteacherswerepaidby established in New York to Manyprivateschoolscannot and culture can now study theGovernment. which tax deductible get off the ground or theseintheclassroom The discriminatory contributions can be made. continue to expand because

3 They can offer results were experienced Thereisaneedforexpansion of the largest continuing employment for the m o s t l y b y I n d i a n toincludeakindergartenand expense of attracting and graduates who can be families Fewer girls and a primary school. Both payingexperiencedteachers. assured of attractive salary children from rural areas students and teachers will Government should take so they do not have to leave attended school. Today the face less of a challenge if advantage of this thecountry student population of SVN studentsareintroducedtothe opportunity now that the

4 They encourage a andthehighestachieversare cultural and disciplinary income from oil and gas in healthycompetitionbetween mostlygirls. atmospherefromchildhood. flowing. Whenthisassetis private and public exhaustedinabout20yearsa institutions like any other SVNAMODELSCHOOL CHALLENGE

c u l t u r a l l y areasofbusiness.

Several past Presidents THEDIASPORA educatedpopulation would

5 They can provide whoattendedthegraduation The Diaspora is continuetobeamongthe opportunities for the ceremonies described SVN overflowing with scholars, (Continuedonpage5)

GECOM Chair should resign

DEAREDITOR, the President Ali COI, this competent candidates. It is that yet there has been dead

In a society that has a nation would have never the first time in the history silence and not a motion for strong civil society presence known about her poor that election is pushed back his removal Staffers are by now there should have decision making abilities at after date has been complaining of his been calls for resignation of thatcrucialtime.Iwonderif announced… who is to be management style, but who two officers at GECOM. a Presiding Officer at the blamed? is taking notes. Under the Last week, this nation count of ballots decides that Again there are six current CEO, weekend meal listened to a testimony from he/sheneedsabreakatatime Commissioners, well paid, a allowances have been the Chairperson of GECOM when the ballot box is Chairperson,wellpaidCEO. slashed, long hours are and no doubt drawn the opened.Iwonderifstaffsaid They are all responsible for required to work with no conclusion that she is not fit theyneedtolockthemselves thecurrentstate. mealsandthelistgoeson. and proper for the post she in a room because they are Why is it now that the ThisisaCEObackedby currentlyholds. not feeling OK during CEO realises that a Claims the very Chairperson whose

Taxpayershavetofoota registration Given her andObjectionisnecessaryto competency is under monthly bill that includes a testimony, her conduct itself bring conformity with the question. massive stipend plus a therefore will cause her acts governing the Even after one year of mammothoffringebenefits. subsequent decisions to be preparation of the list of advertising vacancies, The question is; are they questioned. Already it is on Local Government GECOM cannot fill them. getting the value by way of record that many times the Elections. Is there a Legal Instead, where they are not performance from this votes are 4-3 at GECOM Officer at GECOM? What satisfied with the pool, they Officer. Stabroek News withhersidingwiththePPP has GECOM done since manipulate the process as Editorial puts it best- the Commissioners most times. September2020,tomakeits obtained in the appointment current Chairperson should The most glaring was the listcredible? ofanACEO. not be allowed to sit at the appointmentoftheCEO. Intheleadtoannouncing Withallthatishappening helm of GECOM given her Last week, a GECOM adate,severaltimestheCEO at GECOM, there should be inactionrole. Commissioner spoke about needed to be sent back to an internal COI into the

She has not seen it fit the competency that obtains havehisworkplanrevisited. Commission workings even immediately post currently at the Secretariat In fact the media reported GECOM as an important elections to call a Press which is headed by a CEO, that the timeframe body cannot be allowed to Conference to inform the shesupported. suggestions are unrealistic. function with this level of public of all that transpired Mind you in the race for This again points to the incompetency andevenlodgeareportabout CEO, there were several competency/ incompetency Regards, herfears.Haditnotbeenfor more qualified and of the CEO. It is puzzling

Malcolm Rodrigues was the authentic Christian revolutionary

DEAREDITOR, w a y , u n d e r t h e

BarAssociationmourns deathofyoung Attorney,AsashaRamzan

DEAREDITOR, oftheviolentactatthehands

Itiswithgreatshockthat of her partner who, from all the Bar Association and indications,tookhisownlife members of the Legal aftercommittingtheact. Profession learned of the The Bar Association u n r e s e r v e d l y a n d murder of Ms Asasha unequivocally condemns Ramzan, an Attorney-atthisandeveryactofgender- Law attached at the based violence regardless of ChambersoftheAttorney whatever form it may take. General as a State Familyviolencecontinuesto Counsel. She was scourge our society and no admittedtopracticelawin doubtsetsusback. Guyanain2020.

In1989,asmallgroupof Organgstein and St him to reestablish a small service.AtthetimeMalcolm The late Fr Malcolm instrumentality of Fr us walked from Brickdam Cuthbert’sMission. memorial to Fr Bernard was stationed in the North Rodrigues once told me that Michael Campbell Johnson, Cathedral to Parliament Twobroaderverification Darke who was martyred. West. During the funeral Marxism could not be to a greater commitment to Buildingtoofferprayersand tests were also done. The The original boulder which service, I was surprised to disputedonanygrounds.He social justice and human hymns in solidarity with firstwasasampletestknown constitutedthememorialjust see him in the congregation. also suggested that Marx’s development. By the time those protesting the as the Curtis Test, outside of St Stanislaus Iwasdeeplytouchedthathe characterization of religion Johnson departed for Rome, hardships imposed by that undertaken by Fr. Tim College had been removed camebutevenmoresowhen as the opiate of society was Rodrigues was there to take year’s Budget. I was tasked, Curtis; and the second was soonafteritwasplacedthere heturnedupatthecremation not a denial of the existence hisplace. for a period, with holding a done by Selwyn Ryan and in 1979. When Hamilton site knowing I had no priest of God but rather a He armed himself with large wooden crucifix. The knownastheRyanTest.Iam Green became Mayor, he toadministerafinalprayer. commentary on the misuse an in-depth and extensive policetriedtocorralusintoa advisedthattheresultsofthe consented to the placement It was there that I first ofreligiontooppress,itsrole knowledge of the Church’s corner but someone surveys which our group of a new boulder. Peter saw the signs of his illness. in dulling people’s social social teachings. The Joint remarked that they should undertook were dispatched Cummings, the owner of He, a priest for more than consciousness and its Pastoral Letter entitled not let the shadow of the toDr Ryan. MazaruniGraniteandwhose fortyyears,struggledtofind penchant for demanding JusticeandPeaceintheNew crossfallonthem.Thislocal The EAB continued its mother worked with Bishop asuitableBiblereading.His them to accept their earthly Caribbean, which was superstition saved me from election observation and Singh, donated the boulder brilliant mind which had lotandawaittheirrewardsin published by the Bishops of arrestthatday education in subsequent Fr Malcolmhadfinehuman inspiredsomany,hadbegun theafterlife. the Antilles Episcopal Malcolm was not that elections. During one of the qualities;hewasconsiderate to decline. Malcolm would While Fr Malcolm was Conference in 1975, had a fortunate.Thefollowingday elections,ImetMalcolmand andcaring.Whenmymother surprise me in contrasting sympathetic to liberation profound influence on him. he was arrested and held hecomplainedbitterlyabout died in 2017, I had great fashion on two occasions. theology, he was no It affirmed that faith and the overnight at the Brickdam a top official of GECOM difficulty in finding a priest WhenFr Morrisonwas liberation theologian pursuit of justice are Police Station and hauled frustrating the certification to officiate at the funeral (Continuedonpage6) Liberationtheologyinvolves inseparable; and that the beforetheCourt.Idistinctly of his observers. I advised a different way of doing Church must evince a recall how at a meeting held himtoexposethegentleman theologyfromthatemployed practical concern for the at Brickdam Presbytery on publicly,buthedidnotfavor by Malcolm. His radicalism needy,defendhumandignity theeveningofhisreleasehe thatapproach. and revolutionary instincts and human rights, identify appeared abstracted and There is a mistaken were derived not so much with the poor and pursue exhaustedasifthetollofthe perception that after 1992, from his leftist leanings as socialjustice. years of struggle were Fr Malcolm and the Church they were from his Catholic Joint Pastoral Letters weighingdownonhim. retreated from the struggle creedand,inparticular,from were to become an At the time, Malcolm for social justice. This was the “best kept secret” of the instrument of the Church’s waspartoftheleadershipof far from true. In a letter Church,itssocialteachings. witness to social justice the University of Guyana published in the Stabroek Hesawnoinconsistency Malcolm’sfingerprintswere Workers Union which had News edition of 18th between being a Christian all over the Joint Pastoral joined unions in the sugar October 2007, Malcolm and being a revolutionary Letters issued by Catholic andbauxitebeltsincallinga lamented that “we are back Indeed,forhimallChristians Bishop Benedict Singh and strike.ImetMalcolmonthe to square one, and as such a r e c a l l e d t o b e Anglican Bishop Randolph daythatGuyanaAgricultural the struggle for our rights revolutionaries – to George. and General Workers Union goeson.” dismantle unjust structures Catholicsocialteachings (GAWU) broke ranks and His struggle for justice of oppression and to bring informed Malcolm’s decided to call on its extended to regional and liberationtothepoor–thisis working class praxis In members to return to work. internationalcauses.Hewas thegospelofJesusandnotof 1991, he asked the Faith, Hefeltbetrayed. part of the Jubilee 2000 Marx. Justice and Social Action Malcolmwasatthehelm Movement which was

As Guyanese, we owe a Ms Ramzan was duty of care to be each known to be industrious, other’s keeper, we must fair, hard-working and remain vigilant to look for competentCounsel. the signs of gender-based

Within her, held great violence. potentialforadvancementto The Bar Association of the highest levels within the Guyana extends sincerest legalprofession. condolences to the relatives, Herlossisnotonlytothe lovedonesandfriendsofour professionbuttothecountry dearcolleague. atlarge.AttheBarwedeeply Maysherestinpeace. mournherdeath.

BestRegards,

From all reports, Ms. KeomaD.Griffith(Mr.) Ramzan’sdeathisasaresult Secretary

Studentsofprivateschools...

Frompage4

By the time he was Group, with which I was of the Elections Assistance pressing for debt relief for ordainedapriestin1973,the associated, to organize a Bureau (EAB) when it was poorcountries.Insupportof groundwork for his future s y m p o s i u m t o established in 1991 The itswork,hedispatchedmeto social apostolate had been commemorate the 100th members of the Faith and Rome and Lewis Singh to laid. The Second Vatican anniversary of the landmark JusticeGroupvolunteeredto Japanformajorconferences. Council had opened the Catholic social encyclical support its work which I also worked with him in a windowsoftheChurchtothe Rerum Novarum, and which involvedverifyingnameson Committee for the winds of modernization and as far back as 1891 had the Voters’ List, advising RestorationofDemocracyin had urged greater called for fair wages and eligiblevotersofthepolling Haiti, following the coup involvementoftheChurchin respect for the right of stations to which they were which deposed Jean earthly affairs. In Medellin w o r k e r s t o f o r m assigned, and conducting BertrandAristide. in1968,theBishopsofLatin associations. field tests of the List. The In the Justice and Peace America, reflecting on the Thesymposiumwaswell groupundertookfieldtestsat Commission, I worked with reforms of the Council, received, and this adopted the “preferential germinated the idea of a option for the poor”. Three wider national dialogue on yearslater,theWorldSynod socialandpoliticalconcerns. ofCatholicBishopsdeclared Asaconsequence,symposia that the Church’s vocation were held to foster a robust was to be present in the exchange of ideas but also world by proclaiming “the for the dissemination of the Good News to the poor, not widely known Catholic freedomtotheoppressedand social teachings. Malcolm joytotheafflicted.” participatedinmanyofthese Locally, the anti- activities, explaining the communist ferment of the Church’s teachings on the 1950s and 1960s had given respectiveissues.

unemployment just to name greatestresourceofnational just a few What is not development. One must helpfulfornationbuildingis also consider the positive for other ATISTHA changes a culturally SEENARINEs

notattending educated graduate may school simply because their effect in reducing some of parents cannot afford school the many social ills facing fees while the world passes the nation: domestic themby. assaults, alcohol and drug Regards, abuse, noise pollution, RamnarineSahadeo

Govt. is out of control

MalcolmRodrigueswas...

Frompage5 “Do you know who I am?” about to retire from the And I kept answering, “Yes, Catholic Standard, he came youareaSoupDrinker!”He tomyhomeandaskedmeto did not seem to know what I consider succeeding him as meant and admitted, “Yes, I Editor I told him that Colin dodrinksoup.Whatiswrong Smith was my close friend withthat?” anddeservedtheposition. Whenhefinallyrealized Somehow, the issue was what I meant, he wrote a discussed at a Presbyteral strongly worded letter to Council meeting and I was Bishop Singh demanding i n f o r m e d b y a n that action be taken against unimpeachable source that me. I faced the possibility of Malcolm spoke against me. ostracismwithintheChurch. But what shocked me the OnememberoftheFaithand most were the reasons he Justice Group resigned gave.HewasmyMentorand immediately saying that I Irespectedhisposition. wasimpudent.

The second incident was It was Malcolm who in 1990 following a Justice came to my rescue He MassheldattheSacredHeart argued that since Compton Roman Catholic Church. and I had both received the Compton Young, a very Holy Eucharist at Mass we popular Leader of the were equals in the eyes of Catholic Charismatic God, and that I had every Movement, was about to be right to confront him on his elected as Mayor of unbecomingbehavior When Georgetown.AftertheMass, it mattered, Fr Malcolm Merle McCormack was battedforme…ashedidfor asking persons to sign a the poor throughout his petition and Compton made priestlyministry insultingremarkstoher RestinPeaceMalcolm…

I confronted Compton andthanks…foreverything! and things escalated into an Yourssincerely, uglyrow Hekeptaskingme, WilliamCox

DEAREDITOR, figures. In the meantime, I truly believes that Slavery do is see that real power is Let the Afro Guyanese, the opportunity to do their In a conversation with a recommend as compulsory and Indentureship are placed in the hands of their Members of the Cabinet put work.Iconcludewithoneof knowledgeable patriot, reading and listening the similar, it is no wonder that brothers so that they can an end to this campaign to my favourite passages from MalcolmDeFreitas,hedrew Statement made last we’re stuck in the mud, really uplift them out of the ignore an Indo Guyanese Shakespeare’s play Julius to my attention to this new weekend on Sherod morass, and confusion of murk and mud they find Mayor of the Capital City Caesar, “Why Man he doth slogan of One Guyana, the Duncan’sFacebookbyNigel abundantignorance. themselvesin. because he didn’t come out bestride the narrow world initiative of no less a person Hughes, which gave details Only the truth of our Let them ensure that the fromFreedomHouse. likeaColossus,andwepetty thanourHeadofState. of the disproportionate historycanallowustomarch children, mostly Afro- Letthemexplainwhether men walk under his huge I agree with the point allocation of Contracts and triumphantly to achieve the Guyanese can go to schools the budgetary allocation for legs and peep about to find madebyMalcolmDeFreitas State Funds to Regions. His goal set of being ‘One in the South of Georgetown, Region 6 exceeds that of ourselves dishonorable thatitisimproperforpersons research demonstrates both People, One Nation, One fivedaysaweekandnottwo Region 4. It is well known graves. Men at some time in high office to go against courage and scholarship and Destiny’. To those Afro- daysaweekasexistsinsome thatthemajorityofresidents are masters of their fates. the Constitution Our on behalf of all decent Guyanese who are wittingly schoolsatthemomentwhere of Region 4 are Afro The fault, Dear Brutus, is National Motto on the Coat citizenswemustthankhim. orunwittinglyonthesideof the majority of children are Guyanese. not in our stars but in ofArmsis,‘OnePeople,One As happened before, we the Oppressor must know Afro-Guyanese. Here again, is the Afro- ourselves that we are Nation, One Destiny’ and canexpectthewell-oiledand that they fall neatly into the Let them not reject Guyanese Policemen who underlings.” therefore part of our funded Government categoryofthoseusedbythe employmentofqualifiedand are used to carry out this Regards, approved Independence propaganda machine to ruling elite, to turn against competent Afro-Guyanese improper campaign denying HamiltonGreen Constitution. swing into action, but dear their own kith and kin. Not because they are not the Mayor and City Council Elder This matter may at first Editor, as we examine this new perceived to be sycophants appeartobetrivialandofno demonic condition and Today the Amerindians, nor supporters of the consequence, however it is economic and ethnic like the Afro-Guyanese are GovernmentandInowcome part of the deliberate effort apartheid, let me make it not the beneficiaries of the fullcircleonthenewslogan bythePPPregimetodismiss clear that in Guyana today largest of the State, but we of ‘One Guyana’ while we this regard and destroy all we have a number of decent needtoberemindedthatthey have an accepted Motto on things including the East Indian, Portuguese, were used and paid ourNationalCoatofArms–Constitution that preceded Chinese,Amerindian,Mixed handsomely to hunt and ‘One People, One Nation, the return to Government in andAfro Guyanese citizens. catchtheAfricanslaveswho OneDestiny’. 1992and2020. Those decent ones must not ran away from the Coast to This attempt to rewrite With this salary increase beguiltyofthesinofsilence. escape the cruelties inflicted and retool our history and other actions without The problem Afro- byMassa. suggeststhatwenowhavea any form of consultation, Guyanesefaceismanifestin ItwasAfricanPolicemen President and Advisors who don’tbesurprisedifwewake our history and their who were used by Massa to areconvincedthattheyknow up one day and hear that the religious and moral shoot Indo-Guyanese, all, that they can do things, Capital is no longer upbringing. Enmore Martyrs. In South good and bad ignoring the Georgetown,butBharatCity I spoke with some of the Africa, Rhodesia and fundamental feature of a and that Guyana is now the present Advisors who elsewhere, it is the same modern democracy, good State of Ali Irfaan and note seemed convinced that His story where they are governancewithouteventhe thisisapatternofdictumby Excellency is righteous but marginalized or used to facade of consultation as is our new Massa. These are here is another problem satisfygreedandneedofthe required by custom and our serious issues but perhaps ManyofthoseAdvisorslack Oppressor constitution. the most destructive is what melanin and therefore can So I plead with the This is a dangerous appears to be a creation of hardly share the pain of the African Ministers and development The human apartheid conditions where Afro- Guyanese whose purported Leaders in this history has shown that leads resources of the State are ancestors suffered at the Government not to use, to to dictatorship and being available to over hands of those who believe w r i t e o r d e f e n d insinuation of forms of an ninety percent of one ethnic that there were nothing discrimination so well apartheid State, a condition group. wrongastheybrutalizedand outlined with Nigel Hughes’ where the ruling elite feel A detail statement by dehumanizedslaves. research.Whattheymustdo theycandonowrong. NigelHughessetstheclarity, In fact, one of the today, difficult as it may be, Today there are about justificationforthisbeliefof President’s Advisors, with is to seek justice and equity two or three score Indo an emerging economic and non-woolly hair stated that for the children of those Guyanese families who are ethnic apartheid State of slavery and indentureship brutalized Africans who the major beneficiaries of Guyana. That is where one were similar The absurdity civilized by their blood, Stateresources,therestIndo, group is set apart from ofthisStatementneednotbe sweat and tears most of Afro and Amerindians must another With others, we discussed,savetonoteifthe Guyana. rely on the handouts from shalldeemanonthefactsand likes ofAdvisor Dr Persaud Whattheyshouldseekto ournewMassa.

DPP discontinues private criminal charges against SOCU Officers who arrested Attorney

Pros

utions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC has discontinued the private criminal charges against three members of the Special Organised Crime Units (SOCU) who are accused of unlawfully detaining Attorney-at-Law, Tamieka Clarke.

On October 28, the Lawyer was detained by SOCU Officers reportedly after she repeatedly advised her client who is being investigatedbytheagency,to not provide any answers to the questions being asked, andtoremainsilent.

Clarke through her Lawyer, Nigel Hughes had filed legal proceedings at the Demerara High Court seeking several reliefs along with $300,000 in damages.

The Lawyer had also filed two private criminal charges a t t h e G e o r g e t o w n Magistrates' Courts against Superintendent Krishnadat Ramana, Sergeant Navranda Persaud and Sergeant WinstonSingh.

The two charges that werefiledarefortheoffences of Wrongful Restraint pursuant to section 6 of the Kidnapping Act, Cap 10:05 and Wrongful Confinement, contrary to section 8 of the KidnappingAct,Cap10:05.

The DPP in a letter dated December 12, 2022, addressed to Magistrate Annette Singh, notified the Magistrate that she has discontinued both charges filedbyClarke'sAttorney

The DPP exercised her powers conferred on her by Article 187 (1) (c) of the

Constitution of the

Cooperative Republic of Guyana, and discontinued thecharges.

According to Article 187:1: “The Director of PublicProsecutions(referred to in this article as 'the

Director')shallhavepowerin any case in which he or she considers it desirable to do so…(c) to discontinue at any stage before judgment is delivered any such criminal proceedings instituted or undertaken by him or her or any other person or authority.”

In giving her reasons to discontinue the charges against the SOCU Officers, the DPP stated, “I have considered it and found that the issues ofWrongfulArrest and False Imprisonment arise.TheseareissuesofTort and Constitutional breaches whicharecivilactions.”

The DPP added that all issues which are included in the allegations will be addressed in the civil action that was filed against the State.

GECOM Chair concedes Minister Dharamlall, overstepped authority in changing constituency boundaries

The Guyana Elections Commission will decide its next move toward the preparation of the Local Government Elections (LGE) Voters List, now that the body has accepted that M i n i s t e r o f L o c a l G o v e r n m e n t , N i g e l Dharamlall overstepped his authority when he sought to configure both Local Government Areas and Constituencies within some ofthoselocations.

Public Relations Officer, Yolanda Ward confirmed the information to Kaieteur News yesterday following another special meeting of the election body She said that “having reviewed extractsfromOrderNo.50of 2022, the Chairperson explained that it is evident that the Minister would have combined and/or subdivided areas to form constituencies and that is outside of his statutory powers ” The information said that this jurisdiction is given solely to the Elections Commission.

Ward noted that as such, “GECOM will now have to further deliberate on this matter to determine whether it would consider the constituencies purported to be constituted by the Ministerorundertakeitsown process to form the requisite number of constituencies in those Local Authority Areas thathavebeenchanged.”The next statutory meeting, she said is slated for 20th December.A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)

Commissioner Vincent Alexander was insistent that the Minister did not have the p o w e r t o c h a n g e constituenciesandurgedthat his action had a negative effect on the preparation of the list as well as the ability of the relevant stakeholders to exercise their right in contesting any possible irregularities involving the document He told the publication that the meeting yesterdaywasveryshort,but it was recognized, that “basedonareportemanating from the Logistics Division (of GECOM), the Chair ruled that order 50 of 2022 clearlycannotstandsincethe Minister has no authority to constitute constituencies ” He said that at the next statutory meeting the Commission will look at proposals on the way forward.

The Chairperson's decisionwasmadeyesterday as Commissioners remained divided on the issue at their statutory meeting Tuesday.

Alexander had told the newspaper that that meeting was adjourned without the new plan for Local

G o v e r n m e n t b e i n g approved. He said that some Commissioners were still insisting that the Minister can configure constituencies and the Chair seemed to be unclear that the Minister had acted unlawfully under the Orderof2022.

Commissioner for the Governing People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP) Sase Gunraj had also

spoken to Kaieteur News at the time and for him, the matter had been decided on.

He said Tuesday that the Opposition raised some issues and the Chairman had adjourned the meeting to deal with those issues. But

G u n r a j a n d f e l l o w Commissionersbelievedthat the Minister acted correctly inlaw

GECOM in a Press Release last week said its Chairperson,Justice(retired) Claudette Singh had refuted Alexander's claims stating that the Minister had no authority to constitute the Constituency Boundaries and Local Government Areas.Thebodyhaddeemed t h e i n f o r m a t i o n a s 'misleading'.

Alexander had explained however that Local GovernmentAreas,arethose e n c o m p a s s i n g Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC) or municipalities and the constituencieswhicharepart of the Local Government Areas.Hesaidthelocalareas are first established by the Minister and GECOM has the authority over the constituencies This is interrelated to the Voters List,Alexanderhadstated.

The problem, however, was that the Voters List was not extracted on the basis of LocalGovernmentAreasand Constituencies and therefore the electorate were unable to make objections on the principle of residency Alexander submitted that Local Government Election

provides for residency, so one must be resident in the constituency of the Local Authority in which they are either going to vote or going tocontest.

It means therefore, that during the claims and objections period, an Elector must be able to go to the list of the constituency and see if there is anyone on that list who does not reside in that list in keeping with the provisions of the law about residency and to object that persononthelist.

That was not done hence Alexander said, GECOM must redo the matter of the preparation of the list because the body has to use the Constituencies as the basisforthespecificlisttobe drawn up He said the Minister has configured constituency boundaries in Toevlugt/ Patentia where he added Vriesland/Patosi and inYarowkabra/Hararuniand Lamaha Yarowkabra and attempted to identify the Town of Mabaruma as a constituency.

Alexander noted that GECOM's previous process o f e s t a b l i s h i n g i t s Constituencies involved Registration Officers and Political Scrutineers going on the ground and later making recommendations to GECOM. The Commission wouldinturndeterminewhat the final boundaries would be. The situation has already caused the cancellation of NominationDayandislikely to push back the March 13, 2023dateforlocalpolls.

Notably, she stated too that the allegations made against the Officers who are allactiveservingmembersof the Guyana Police Force (GPF)wasdoneinthecourse oftheirduties,addingthatthe Officers are protected by virtue of Section 14 of the Justice Protection Act Chapter5:07.

As it relates to the charge that was filed under the Kidnapping Act Chapter 10:05, the DPP stated that, “the intent and purpose of ParliamentintheKidnapping Act Chapter 10:05 is to provide for the punishment fortheoffencesofabduction, wrongful restraint and confinement for ransom and other related offences and for mattersincidentalthereto.”

She added that it is therefore her considered

opinion that the facts alleged by the Lawyer, “do not fall within the scope, purport and i n t e n d m e n t o f t h e Kidnapping Act; therefore, the charges filed under this Actisanabuseofprocess.”

Those were the reasons stated by the DPP as to her discontinuing the two private criminal charges against Superintendent Ramana, Sergeant Persaud, and SergeantSingh.

High Court frees man charged with killing another in row over Guinness

...no case submission upheld

The High Court on Wednesdayupheldanocase submission presented on behalf of Seon Rajgopaul who was charged with manslaughter.

Rajgopaul 29, called 'Bumps', allegedly killed Nickosie Vankenie, 24, during an argument over a bottle of Guinness Stout, on July3,2020.Hewasontrial before Justice Navindra S i n g h a t t h e N e w Amsterdam High Court, when a no case submission was presented on his behalf byAttorney-at-Law,Tuanna Hardy In her submission, Ms. Hardy pointed out that the Prosecution's case was faulty in that there was no eyewitnesstothecrime.She contended that no one saw the accused stab the victim, neither did anyone see him with the alleged weapon. Added to this, the Lawyer said that the Prosecution failed to negate Rajgopaul's claim that he acted in self defence. Overall she said that the evidence presented was not enough to establish acaseofselfdefence.

Rajgopaul of Pope Street,NewAmsterdamwas therefore set free on a no case submission State Counsel Nafeeza Baig represented the Prosecution in the matter On July 3, 2020,Vankenie was stabbed during an argument over a bottle of Guinness Stout at 'Choby' Hangout, Patrick Dam, Plantation Mount

Sinai, commonly referred to as Angoy's Avenue in New Amsterdam.

He succumbed to his injuries at the New Amsterdam Hospital just before 08:00hrs, two days afterundergoinganine-hour emergency surgery His injuries which included a stab wound to his jugular vein stemmed from an argumentwiththesuspect.

A c c o r d i n g t o information received, it was after 21:00 hrs on the Friday evening when the now deceased, along with friends, were liming at the popular spot. He purchased a bottle of Guinness but had stepped away from the counterbeforebeingserved.

It was during this time that the suspect apparently picked up the alcoholic beverage. An argument and scuffle ensued between them, before Vankenie slumped to the ground. He was rushed to the New Amsterdam hospital where helaterdied.

The Director of Public

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC

Attorney-at-Law, Tamieka Clarke

Seon Rajgopaul, called ‘Bumps’

GUYANA HAS TO LOOK AFTER ITS OWN INTERESTS

Irfaan Ali is still found himself making an Government of Guyana to risks and to create a better theagreementitsignedwith young to the absurd statement about the scale back on its relations investment climate to the Government of Guyana. ofthepracticeofdiplomacy Presidency He has representatives of foreign withChina. encourage more of their TheAmericansarenotgoing

ThePresidentthereforemust greatdealtolearn. countries being part of a It would not be companiestoinvesthereand tosaytotheirowncompany not get carried away with Even though he was a collective whole to do the surprising to learn that the makemoney that it took advantage of this idea that the Foreign Minister of the Government best for the citizens of American Government may That is what protecting Guyana and should make Governments are part of a foraboutsixyears,thereisa Guyana The President have something to do with your national interest thingsright. collectivewholeworkingfor bigdifferencebetweenbeing cannot afford to be this the visit of a Vice News involves.ThePresidentmust Itcannotdothatsinceits the benefit of the citizens of a Minister and being a naïve The Foreign Investigative Journalist as a therefore cease with all the mission is to act in the Guyana. President. It is a quantum DiplomatsinGuyanaarenot means of throwing shade on back-slapping.Heisgoingto interest of its companies

The Foreign Diplomats leap and he has to grow into partofanycollectivewhole. China. The Americans were becomevulnerable.Hisduty operatinginGuyana.Sowhy areworkingfortheircitizens the position and not assume They are representatives of seeking to protect their istodoforGuyanawhatthe isthePresidenttalkingabout and their companies and that he will make an easy their country and their nationalinterest,alegitimate ForeignDiplomatsaredoing theDiplomatsbeingpartofa IrfaanAli must work for his transition. primary mission is to secure function of a country’s for their countries. His duty collectivewhole? citizensandhiscompanies. As part of growing into thenationalinterestsoftheir foreignpolicy is to protect Guyana’s Guyana has to look after

(The views expressed in the job, PresidentAli has to respective countries. In so When earlier this year a national interest, even if it its own interests. And at this article are those of the be careful with his public doing they take actions high-level Government means displeasing those times,doingthiswillbringit author and do not pronouncements.Speakinga which may help Guyanese Team paid a sudden and Foreign Governments. No intoconflictwiththeForeign necessarily reflect the few weeks ago at an event butthePresidentmustnotbe unexpected visit to oneisgoingtolookafterour Governments And those opinions and beliefs of this hosted by the Guyana deluded into believing that Washington, the political economic interests The Governments will try to n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s Manufacturing and Services those Diplomats are here to signals were obvious. The Americans have not asked apply pressure on the affiliates.) Association (GMSA) he work primarily for our USwantedtransparencyand ExxonMobil to renegotiate Government.Thattooispart madesomecommentswhich interest. inclusiveness Translated reflected political naivety T h e s e F o r e i g n into non-diplomatic

The President was preceded Diplomatsareheretoensure language, the US was on the podium by a member that the Government of demandingthattheawardof of the Diplomatic Corps. Guyana does not jeopardize contractsbefair And when it was his time to the interests of their In this regard they were address the gathering he Governmentandthatoftheir securingtheinterestsoftheir sought to pander to the Investors. They are here to companies The Line of Foreign Diplomats in ensure that their citizens are Creditwhichwasofferedby attendancebysayingthathe protected.Itisallabouttheir animport/exportBankinthe does not see them as High national interest. It was no US was to facilitate local Commissioners and accident that soon after the companiesbuyingUSgoods Ambassadorsbutaspartners PPP/CtookofficeinAugust and services. It was not a as part of a collective whole 2022, the then US Secretary partnership to help trying to do the best for the of State, Michael Pompeo Guyanesecitizens. citizensofGuyana. paid a visit to Guyana. He WhentheUSpressedfor The President has to be was here to protect US inclusiveness, what they c a r e f u l w i t h h i s interestsincludingthatofits desire is a stable political exhortations. As a Head of companies operating in environment to protect their State he should never have Guyanaandtoencouragethe companies from political

Caribbean, Latin American countries exchanged experiences to make progress on food and nutritional security

December 13, Buenos forms of malnutrition. They problems that we must Aires, Argentina - also discussed ways to continue to address; this is Se

n the lateralism based on American and Caribbean framework of CELAC’s solidarity States (CELAC), the Food multilateral mechanism to This implies working a n d A g r i c u l t u r e promote a common political together and developing Organization of the United dialogue to transform food fairerandfullersocietiesand Nations (FAO), and the systemsandensurefoodand narrowing the gaps in Inter-American Institute for nutrition security in the production and accessibility Cooperation on Agriculture region. Foreign Minister of that often leave large (IICA),participatedtodayat Argentina,SantiagoCafiero, populations of our territory the event “Integration and Assistant Director General behind,” said Chancellor exchange of experiences to andRegionalRepresentative Cafiero. Lubetkin pointed advance food security and of FAO, Mario Lubetkin, out that “between 2019 and nutrition in Latin America National Coordinator of the 2021, the number of people andtheCaribbean.” Argentine PPT of CELAC, suffering from hunger in The meeting was held in Gustavo Martinez Pandiani, LAC increased from 43.3 Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Director General of million to 56 5 million, which currently holds the IICA, Manuel Otero, and which means an increase of pro tempore Presidency of Ambassador Ramiro 30%. This situation is a CELAC.Atthemeeting,the Ordoqui, Under Secretary paradox,consideringthatthe countries exchanged good for Economic, Multilateral Region produces food for practices and experiences and Bilateral Negotiations morethan1.3billionpeople, adopted to promote heldthemeeting. twiceitspopulation.” economicrecovery,improve “CELAC, FAO, and He added, “We must food security and nutrition, IICAconstituteasinglebloc listentothevoicesof toeradicatehungerandother working on profound

Dem boys seh...

Old dust does bring bad luck in de New Year!’

NuffGuyanesedoesbelieveallkindsof dust from the party Now dat is what yuh things.Someofdembelievedatdemmuss callasweepingstatement. sweepoutthemhouseonOldYear’sNight

Demboyswishheluckbecausewhenit so as to get rid of all de dust from de old comes to house cleaning is de boss of de year.Demdoesfeeldatifyuhleffolddust party gat to decide when and how he want in yuh house bad luck gan befall yuh in de deplaceclean.Andhegattodecidethetype NewYear ofbroomdatganbeused.Notanyandevery

Sodon’tbesurprisedwhenyuhseeyuh broomgandodewuk. neighbour sweeping out she house on Old In Guyana we gat pointer broom, Year’sNight.Itisallpartofthedetradition standardbroom,strawbroom,handbroom, anditisalsofuhtryandbringgoodluckin cobwebbroom,pushbroomandothertypes deNewYear of brooms too numerous to mention. So

Well it look like if de Pee N Cee dem boys nah know which broom gan be planningalsofuhsweepoutsomeolddust. chosen but it gan gat to be heavy duty De party looking fuh good luck in de New becauseisnuffolddirtdehindeparty. Year.

DemboyswishdePeeNCeegoodluck

One man seh how deh party gat nuff in finding a good broom fuh sweep out de dust and it need a good sweeping. So he is olddust. lookingforbroomsfuhsweepoutalldeold Talkhalf.Leffhalf!

THE WITTER INTERVIEW: THE WRONG WAY

It doesn’t take a government to listen to peace. But the Caribbean as in the context being his pronouncement d e g r e e i n them. No other example is azoneofpeacewasboundto discussed here.When asked onsamebyhimwould psychology to larger than the relationship be in trouble if the about those women groups only be done if he is

understand that your betweenthegovernmentand incumbent in March 2020 thatsupportedtheriggingor giventheevidence. boss isn’t going to listen to theCityCouncilbetweenthe had succeeded in rigging refused to endorse it, she When asked if he convenient things to pick your plea for a salary years 1992 and 2015 when Guyana’s national elections saidshewantsnothingtodo has the evidence to back up andchoosefrom.Rightsare increase if he can justify his thePPPhadstatepower in defiance of world with them and will not his accusations on the show fundamental to civilized denial by your pattern of The cry from City Hall governments. engagethem. that the government is living There is nothing behaviour wasthatcentralgovernment For sure CARICOM Be realistic- other PPP violating the constitution wrong with accepting that If your record shows was denuding City Hall of would have collapsed and leaders feel the same way and laws of Guyana, he there were five months of absenteeism and non- funds.Butnoministerinthe Guyanawouldhavebecome Who loses? The people of answered in the affirmative. endeavours by the then performance, it means he government in that period so unstable that the Guyana of course. If these Herewasachanceforatrade incumbent ruling party to willattachnorespecttoyour took City Hall seriously Caribbean Sea would have folks were credible social unionist and civil society tamperwiththeMarch2020 words This is basic because it was a receptacle attracted terrorists The actors, perhaps they would actor to establish a line of elections. psychology that is as of wasted funds, corruption usual suspects never wrote have been able to bring contactwiththegovernment

You can do that and still mundane as the perennial andincompetence. one letter denouncing about a reversal of policy maybe to effect changes he confront the government on grass on the parapet. I have There is a group I attempts to steal the We come now to Mr Norris andhisorganisationwant. what you see are the wrong arguedoverthe50yearsthat referred to as the usual country’s legal election Witter Mr Witter is known Put yourself in the place things you believe it is I have been in social suspects. They write long results. Put yourself in the inGuyanaasalongstanding of the ruling PPP Why are doing.Theoppositionparty, activismthatmanycriticsof letters in the newspapers place of the leaders of trade unionist. He recently they going to listen to this ANUGisafineexample.Its the government will never castigating the government government.Whentheusual joined the group that has tradeunionistandArticle13 leader,Dr MarkFranciswas get the ruling politicians to foreverythingunderthesun. suspects open their mouths givenitselfthename,Article on issues of policy on the Gildarie-Freddie listentothemifthecorridors Months after the new to condemn the government 13. Mr Witter has been in formulationwhenherefuses Kssoon Show last week. He of power believe they are government was sworn in, over an unwanted policy do the news recently picketing to acknowledge election didjustthat. flawed people who have a theusualsuspectspublished you think these leaders will outside the Office of the rigging?

(The views expressed in convenient approach to a letter with over 70 listen? Their first reaction President on several Why deny something as this article are those of the rights and wrongs, justice, signatures questioning the will be – “listen to those occasions. In an interview egregiousasthedenialofthe author and do not freedomandcivilizedlife. visit to Guyana by then hypocrites,who,them?” on the Gildarie-Freddie right to vote but uphold the necessarily reflect the These flawed detractors Secretary of State, Mike The words of Minister, Kissoon Show last week, right of individual trade opinions and beliefs of this ofthegovernmentaredoing Pompeo. They argued that Priya Manickchand on the Mr.Witter refused to accept unions to bargain with n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s ahugedisservetothenation the visit may jeopardize the Gildarie-Freddie KIssoon that there were attempts to government? affiliates.) and to people that want the Caribbean as a zone of Show are worth listening to rigtheMarch2020andsaid R i g h t s a r e n o t

FrederickKissoon

Two men shot during fight with security guards at EBD bar

avid Scott and his cousin,

S h a m a r Edinburgh were allegedly shot last Sunday morning December 10, 2022, by two security guards during a brawljustoutsideabarinthe VicinityofLandofCanaan.

…as hospital partners with US-based group D

Scott, a 20 year old who resides at Lot 2 Public Road East Bank Demerara related the incident to Kaieteur News, and said that he and 21-year-old Edinburgh, entered the Boat House Bar last Saturday night at about 22:00 hrs and were hanging outthere.

Scott said they exited the bar with their beer bottles to urinate and were allowed to re-enter the bar with their bottles, by the security guardsonduty.

Scott further related that they had later exited the bar around 02:00hrs on the Sunday morning to once again relievethemselves and weretryingtoregainentryto the bar when they were stopped by a new set of security guards, who informed them that they couldnottakebottlesintothe bar Scottsaidtheguardshad apparentlychangedshifts.

Meanwhile, while the men were explaining to the guards that they had bought their drinks from inside the bar and would like to re-

enter, they got into an argument which quickly turned to a fight, after one of the guards pushed Scott and hepushedback.

During the scuffle the guard allegedly pulled out a gun and started gun butting Scottacrosshisface.

W h i l e t h i s w a s happening, Scott said the other guard pushed his cousintothegroundandshot himtwice,onceineachknee

Scott upon seeing his cousin shot attempted to flee theguards,butwhilerunning away, two gunshots were fired at him with one hitting him in his back causing him tofalltotheground.

He said he was assisted

by a friend in the area who sawwhattranspiredandthey w e r e t a k e n t o t h e

Georgetown Public Hospital wheretheywereadmitted.

They both received medical treatment for their woundsandweredischarged thefollowingMonday.

The matter was reported totheTimehriPoliceStation.

Kaieteur News has reached out to Regional C o m m a n d e r S e n i o r Superintendent Singh for his comment and he said that efforts are being made to locate, identify and arrest the persons involved in the matter as the investigations are ongoing.

GDF knocks out Mayor Narine from reserve unit

Body of unidentified man found in trench at Princess Street

Th e p a r t i a l l y decomposed body of an unidentified man was on Wednesday discovered floating in a trench at Princess Street and LouisaRow,Georgetown.

Police were called in to retrieve the remains and neighbours living close by to where it was found said that the body appeared to be that of a man who did odd jobs aroundthecommunity

violencewereseen.

The unidentified dead manappearstobesomeonein his 50s and his remains were cladinablackshortpantsand a “yellow and black stripe” jersey

Mr Narine on Monday December 12, 2022, was engaged in a civil protest action during which he uttered words that are consideredtohavepromoted racial and religious intolerance , as well as political dissonance, the GDFsaidinastatement.

According to the GDF several disparaging comments were made against the Commander- inChief and his Government. As a member of the Guyana Defence Force, albeit Regular or Reserve, Mr Narineisrequiredtoconduct himself in a manner that uphold the professional

image and integrity of the Force.MembersoftheForce 'Regular and Reserve' , are required to adhere to the policies, regulations and protocols of the Force; the Values and Standards of the Guyana Defence Force are examplesofsuch.

These require, among others, adherence to Core values such as Discipline, IntegrityandLoyalty

Similarly, it requires members of the Force to adhere to core standards such as Responsibility, Respect for the law, Respect for others, Correct Conduct and Appropriate Social Behaviour

Mr Ubraj Narine's conduct on Monday December 12, 2022 violated the above mentioned and others.

According to information received, the floating corpse was spotted by a woman around06:15hrs.

C r i m e S c e n e Investigators examined the body and Kaieteur News understands that no marks of

The unidentified body is presently at the Memorial Gardens Funeral awaiting identification.

Recuperating from his wounds and surgery

Shamar Edinburgh, shot in his knees

David Scott, gunshot wound to the back

The trench where the body was found

Fo r m e r S t a f f

Sergeant Ubraj N a r i n e w a s discharged from the Guyana National Rerserve of the GuyanaDefenceForce,with effect from Tuesday December 13, 2022 for conduct ' Unbecoming of a soldier'.

The decomposing remains being removed by undertakers

Mayor, Ubraj Narine

Amerindians shut out of carbon crediting process

The Amerindian P e o p l e s

A s s o c i a t i o n (APA) has criticized the Guyana Government of violating the rights of Indigenous People by failing to consult and gaining their approval in the sale and carboncreditingprocess.

In a statement on Wednesday, the APA said it hastakennoteoftheissuance of 33.47 million carbon credits to Guyana under the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART)

Secretariat's TREES (The REDD+ Environmental Excellence Standard) on December 1, 2022. The APA also said it has taken note of the Government of Guyana's immediate sale of those credits to the Hess Corporation, a company that is actively contributing to catastrophic climate change. “TheAPAcontinues to voice its deep concern that this carbon crediting process violates Indigenous Peoples' rights to their free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC)”. Having worked with several communities throughout Guyana, we were aware of their observations and concerns about various proposals and commitments that Guyana had made under t h e L o w C a r b o n Development Strategy (LCDS)2030draftandraised these at the meetings of the Multi-Stakeholder Steering Committee,” the Indigenous Bodystated.

According to the APA, some observations that the Leaders made were that no one consulted them on whether the communities were in favour of their lands and forests being included in carbon trading. No one had consulted them on whether 15% revenue from any carbonsaleiswhattheyagree to, no consultation was done on the mechanics of where funding goes and who has access and oversight of these funds, if the communities, may, in the end, agree to this transaction.

The APA said it also submitted concerns and recommendations to both the Government of Guyana and the ART Secretariat, noting thattheresponses givenwere vague and essentially disregarded our concerns Another observation theAPA raised was that Guyana designed and developed its proposal during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic when there were restrictions on travel and gathering,

meaning, the decisionmaking forums of the communities were also restricted under the national system. This resulted in a two-year hiatus of the annual conference of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) and therefore no Executive Body of the NTC was in existence. Callsweremadeforthistobe done to allow representation and participation at the MSSClevel.

“Sadly though, today, the Government of Guyana and

Indigenous Peoples – even though the credits include those generated from forests on Indigenous Peoples' titled and untitled lands The proposal also includes an opaque benefit-sharing mechanism that had not been developed in consultation with indigenous peoples “We know from our interactions with the ART Secretariat that NTC approval was determinative in the approval process for those credits, and was used

…APA says Leaders were not consulted, Govt. violating Indigenous Peoples' rights

ongoing violations of Indigenous Peoples' rights in Guyana over a period of manyyears.

“ W h i l e acknowledgementisgivento the Government for committing 15% of the carbon credits revenue to Indigenous Peoples, questions remain about precisely how those benefits will be distributed and any conditions that may be attached to opting into r e c e i v i n g t h e m .

territories comply with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples(UNDRIP)andother Human Rights Instruments thatGuyanahasratified,”the APAsaid.

Violations

The APA is adamant that the process of issuing and selling these credits has already violated “our communities' rights to effective participation and FPIC; it is unclear how they might further harm

the presence of members of Cabinet and the Diplomatic Corps, private sector representatives and other governmentofficials.

the ART Secretariat in their Press Release announcing the credits stated that the National Toshaos Council is the 'legal representative' of Indigenous Peoples of Guyana and endorsed the sale of credits.” The APA asserted that while the NTC, as a body comprised of all Toshaos in Guyana must represent the interests of our communities at a national level, it maintains that the Amerindian Act identifies the Village Councils as the only decision-making body forindigenouscommunities.

“EvenastheGovernment of Guyana claims that there were 'seven-months long consultations', we are also aware that communities requested that an updated version of the LCDS 2030 document be taken back to communities so they can see how their concerns and recommendations were incorporated or addressed.

Villages brought to clusters also to these so-called 'consultations' noted that they were rushed, and they needed more time to collectively understand in their own time This unfortunately did not happen despite the APA also voicing this concern at the meetings oftheMSSC,”theAPAsaid.

According to the APA it must be reiterated that the Government submitted its proposal to ART for the approval of carbon credits without the knowledge and consent of Guyana's

by ART as evidence that Guyana has met the requirements of TREES for the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples and their free prior and informed consent to the deal. In addition, the fact that the Government has immediately sold them to an oil company, and seemingly has more deals with oil companies in the pipeline, raises significant concerns about the environmental integrity of the credits,”APA said.

Verification

Additionally, the APA said during the verification process, it provided the ART Secretariat with information on the Government's failure to comply with this standard. This standard requires the f u l l a n d e f f e c t i v e participation of Indigenous Peoples, respect for FPIC, and consistency with the objectives of International C o n v e n t i o n s a n d Agreements. That the ART Secretariat and the independent verifiers of the carbon credits (a US company called Aster Global) can simply dismiss this evidence as not relevant or the views of one NGO, points to a failed system of social and environmental safeguards and associated auditing. The APA also sharedthatUNTreatyBodies and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights have consistently expressed concern about

Furthermore, it is not clear h o w I n d i g e n o u s

Communities having have critical land rights issues still to be addressed will be dealt with,” the APA said. “There needs to be a mechanism, if Villages so decide, on individual land use or collective use of our titled and untitled customary and traditional lands (territories and resources). There is no law as well that speaks to carbon ownership rights in Guyana Whilst Guyana's laws speak to recognizing 'Village Lands' as those titled lands, there is still a need for the reform of Legislation to ensure that Indigenous Peoples' rights to lands and

Indigenous Peoples' rights, including rights to lands and territories. This will – as it should – no doubt undermine international confidence in the TREES standard, p a r t i c u l a r l y a m o n g indigenouspeoples. Thefact that there is no grievance mechanism whatsoever under the ART/TREES process is further evidence that it is well below international best practice and is doing a disservice to carbon crediting processes and the establishment of just climate processes. This deal has created a dangerous precedent, for Guyana and the world. We call on the Government, the NTC and the ART Secretariat to acknowledgetheflawsinthis process and to commit to genuinely respecting the rights of our Indigenous Communities moving forward.”

L a s t w e e k , T h e Government of Guyana signed what was dubbed a “historic” agreement with U S oil company, Hess Corporation for the sale of carbon credits the country earned for its massive forest cover The signing ceremony was hosted at State House, in

T h e m u l t i - y e a r agreement is for 37.5 million Reducing Emissions from D e f o r e s t a t i o n a n d Degradation (REDD+) jurisdictional carbon credits. This initiative is a global mechanism that was created by the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in support of the Paris Agreement Hess is now Guyana's first client, purchasing 30 percent of the country's carbon credits for a minimum of US$750M. It wasexplainedthatthecostof the carbon credits can increase and if this shift

occurs, Guyana will benefit more Based on the agreement with Hess Corporation,itwillbepaying US$15 per tonne between 2016 and 2020, which amounts to US$187M. In the next 18 months, the Vice President said he expects the payments to come to the country according to the schedule. Some $28M of this amount he said, will go directly to Amerindian communities.

Meanwhile, during the period 2021 to 2025, Guyana will be earning US$20 per tonne which is expected to rakeinanotherUS$250Mfor the country For the period 2025 to 2030 Hess will pay US$25 per tonne amounting to US$312M, bringing the totaltoUS$750Moverthe10 year period Overall, the Indigenous Communities will receive approximately US$112M.

Jury finds man not guilty of murdering ex-father-in-law

A 12-man jury on Wednesday found a Riverview man, Zahir Hussain, not guilty of murdering his ex-Father-inLawtwoyearsago.

Hussain was accused of beatingAlexieGomes,54,to death on June 25, 2020 during a fight in front of a shop at Riverview, Ruimveldt,Georgetown.

He was charged and remandedtoprisonthesame month Months later in October, 2020 he was committed to stand trial in the Georgetown High Court and on Wednesday his twoyear trial ended with him

being freed of the murder charge.

Hussain's Defense Team was led byAttorney-at-Law, Jevon Cox from Dexter Todd and Associates Law firm. During the trial, the Defense Team called witnesses to the stand in support of arguments that their client, Hussain, was innocent of the indictable chargeleveledagainsthim.

After a more than twohour deliberation by a 12man Jury, they returned with a not guilty verdict According to reports it was alleged that the former murder accused had beaten

For the period 2025 to 2030 Hess Corporation will pay Guyana US$25 per tonne amounting to US$312M

Gomes to death in a dispute over his (the victim) Grandson.

Dead Alexie Gomes

WANTED

Live-indomestic/maidand canterdrivertoworkinthe Interior.Call:614-1819.

Driver, sales man, porters to work in warehouse. Must have experience , attractive salaryoffered.Call:696-4444.

Nimbus water system are now Hiring porters. Apply with application at Lot 79 Albert and Laluni streets queenstown. Contact 6220445or685-7659.

Male & female needed to workintheInterior,ages18 years & older and one live in domestic to work min Georgetown.Call:686-2201/ 691-3942,674-9999.

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TaxiDriversneededatPrincess Taxi Service, Ramada Hotel.Call:265-7075/76or 616-5419,690-2242.

Headcook,assistantcook and kitchen assistant needed.Call:707-4788

Hardware distributor needed in Guyana for home furnishing&hardwareproducts. For further info email: info.guyanahardware @gmail.com

VACANCY

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

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RoomattendantandReceptionist 30-45 years old. 233 SouthRoadLacytown,Call: 225-0198.

$803MtopatchEBDroads

Duringtherecentopening oftenders,itwasrevealedthat the Ministry of Public Works islookingtospendsome$803 milliontorehabilitateroadson theEastBankofDemerara.

Information received stated that the project has been divided into three lots (Lots24to26)andwouldtake placeintheDiamondtoGrove bypass road area. Works at Lot 24 is estimated to cost $332,588,193,worksatLot25 ispeggedat$299,896,843and

works at Lot 26 is estimated to cost $170,999,228.Atotal of 13 Contractors have indicated interest in executingtheworks.

Asreported,currentlythe Ministry is undertaking rehabilitativeworksalongthe GrovePublicRoadcorridor

The Ministry had stated backinSeptemberthatitisin negotiation with the InterAmericanDevelopmentBank (IDB) for funds to undertake rehabilitation and expansion

Ministry of PublicWorks Rehabilitation and upgrade of roads for Diamond to Grove bypass.

works along the East Bank Public Road, from Grove to Timehriwhichwillfurtheraid in achieving the Infrastructural Development GoalsoftheMinistry

Notwithstanding the aforesaid negotiations, in order to ease the persistent fatigue experienced by road users traversing along the Diamond/Grove area, the Ministry has decided to urgently undertake rehabilitative works in this

area, not only to ease traffic congestion, but also improve transportation efficiency and road traffic safety at these locations.

Works on the East Bank corridor include milling and resurfacing of existing roadway, widening of roadway and construction of abridgelinkingThirdAvenue Diamond into Grove, the Ministry had noted.

Belowarethecompanies andtheirbids:

Institute of Applied Science and Technology Rehabilitationofparkingareafor

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Pitbullpuppiesforsale.Call: 673-7079/660-6862.

Hanging baskets for sale. Call:624-0137.

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Repair & install fridge, freezer,washer&dryer, AC units, stove, etc. Call/ Whatsapp Omar(glacier): 637-4927,654-9511or6838734.

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Two & three bedrooms furnished apt in Diamond and 3 bedroom upstairs and downstairsapt@Vreed-enhoop.Call: 604-6664or6826238.

VEHICLESFORSALE

2014NissanX-Trail$4.5Mil negotiable.Excellentcondition, dark blue colour & blackinterior.Call658-9008.

OneHondaCRV,fullyloaded immaculate condition, low mileage3.3M negotiable& 1 new super custom Hiace Bus 2.5M .Contact:6490956.

Construction of drying room and packaging plant atAlbion Estate.

At least four dead after boat capsizes in English Channel

(London CNN) At least four people have died after a small boat likely to be carrying migrants capsizedin the English Channel, authorities confirmed Wednesday after a major search and rescue operation was launched in the early hours of the morning.

The UK’s South East Coast Ambulance Service said it sent resources to Dover, England, after receivingacallregardingthe incident at about 3:40 a.m. GMT (10:40 p.m. ET), PA

Media reported. British Home Secretary Suella Braverman said that “tragically there have been four fatalities,” but said it would be inappropriate to go into details.

The UK government declined to comment on the number of people in the boat and the number of peoplerescuedinthejoint UK-France operation, which involved resources fromtheUK’sRoyalNational Lifeboat Institution, the

British Royal Navy, Border Force, the French Navy and KentPolice.

British media have reported that dozens of people were rescued in the incident on Wednesday morning, citing unnamed government sources. Temperatures were down to 1 degree Celsius (33.8 degrees Fahrenheit) at Folkestone beach overnight, and across the Channel near Calais it was down to -3 degrees Celsius (26.6degreesFahrenheit).

Caribbean, Latin American countries...

From page 9

Producers, rural women, and young people to advance in the process of the social and economic recovery of the region. There is an opportunity for transformationthere. Butwe must act quickly and united.

FAO offers the technical and operational capacity to workwithcountriestocreate conditions that guarantee

food and nutritional security, favor sustainable development, generate jobs and decent livelihoods, help to reduce poverty and inequality, and address the effectsofclimatechangeand the loss of biodiversity.

Mr.Oterosaid:“thereisa longtraditionofcollaboration between our countries in agriculture and food. And muchprogresshasbeenmade

in recent decades. We congratulate CELAC, currently chaired by Argentina, for having decided to update these efforts considering the new and difficult circumstances. This will be the subject of joint analysis and learning and,hopefully,ofsubsequent collective action by the countries involved,” he concluded.”

GuyanaSugarCorporation(GuySuCo)

Guyana RevenueAuthority Supply and delivery of all in one computer systems.

Exxon'sChinesePartnerinstalls solarsystematMoraikobai

CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited (CPGL), a 25% working partner in the Stabroek block, donated a complete solar lighting community system to Moraikobai, the only Indigenous Village in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), w i t h s u p p o r t f r o m POWERCHINA,oneoftheworld's largest power construction enterprises.

T h e p r o j e c t w a s commemorated last Saturday with a formal handing over ceremony at the Moraikobai Village benab and the unveiling of a plaque in the community, the company said in a Press Release issued by Tagman Media.

Speaking at the ceremony, President of CPGL, Mr Liu Xiaoxiang, shared that the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects that CPGL undertakesaredesignedforsuccess and sustainability “We are interested in working together with Communities to help them develop their own capacity.We wish to give them a level of capability that would enable them to develop themselves. In the words of Confucius, we are interested in teaching people to fish, not to give themfish.”saidMrXiaoxiang.

A core team from CPGL and Engineers from Power China visited Moraikabai in November to train and supervise the installation of 116 solar lights around the community

Residents were taught how to

safely fix and maintain the lights with tools and other equipment including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) donated to the Village for this purpose. The wood for the poles was also sourced from Moraikobai, a largely logging community Toshao Derrick John shared that the Solar Light

“Wehavethecapacitybuilding; now local residents can actually fix anything that needs to be fixed when CNOOC is not here,” said John. He went on to say that like every other part of Guyana, Moraikobai is 'evolving' and even

though the Village is 96 miles up the Mahaicony River, “it's not left behind and it's not forgotten” because of partners like CPGL that aresupportingthis“upwardrise.”

Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Guo Haiyan, attended the ceremony which also celebrated winners of the annual CPGLGreen Energy and Renewables Essay Competition and launched the visit of the Chinese Medical Brigade on Sunday “This project is a good example of Chinese companies'

Man who killed wife, stuffed remains in barrel pleads guilty to manslaughter

The man who killed his reputed wife then stuffed her remains in a barrel in April 2020, has pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter

Suraj Veersammy called 'Rabbit' pleaded guilty at the Berbice High Court before Justice Navindra Singh for killing his reputed wife, Devika Bikram Narinedatt called 'Vanessa' of Zeelugt,EastBankDemerara.

Veersammy was charged previously with the capital offense ofmurderbutoptedtotakeapleaof guilty for the lesser count yesterday The charge read that on April 9 2022, Veersammy unlawfully killed Narinedatt, 24. SentencingwasdeferredtoJanuary 2023 where a probation report will be prepared and read for Veersammy

A post mortem examination was performed on the woman's body by Dr Nehaul Singh who gave the cause of death as asphyxiation due to compound injuries to neck and blunt trauma to the back of head. SurajVeersammy was captured at the Dharm Shala Shelter for the abandoned, located

at Canje by police acting on information. He had gone into hiding after a V i l l a g e r i n H a m p s h i r d i s c o v e r e d t gruesome remains of the woman stuffed in a blue barrel and dumped in a trench near the R&S Street, Hampshire Corentyne back in2020.

The body was already in an

advanced state of decomposition and had a bed sheet tied around the neck The corpse was later identified as that Devika Narainedat, Veerasammy's girlfriend for over five months. In police custody Veersammy confessed that he and 'Vanessa' had an argument over her decision to leave him. He became angry and assaulted her before tying a bed sheettoarafterintheirone-storey wooden home and hanging . He said he then cut her body down hours later (when it was dark) and dumped it in a blue barrel they had in the house He then mounted it on his bicycle to discard of it, but one of his bicycle's wheels got punctured and he decided to instead roll thebarrelinthetrenchlocatedjusta street away from the home he shared with her. Four days later a Cane Harvester made the discovery.

commitment and responsibility

The Embassy will continuously encourage other Chinese companies to actively take part in efforts to help improve people's livelihoodinGuyana.“

Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Mr Vickram Bharrat along with Officials from the Ministry of Education and Region 5 also were in attendance. In all 130 lights were given to the community along with eight flood lights for the playfield. Bridgette France, a cook at the Moraikobai GuestHousedescribedthelightsas a“blessing.”

Other residents shared that the lights brought the community closer together, allowing them to play football and engage in group activitiesintheevenings.

16-year-old Sherry Clinton was afraid to venture out in the dark becausesnakeswerehardtospoton the pathways, now the lights give her comfort “safeguarding the community”shesaid.

CPGL's CSR initiatives are selected under four main pillars: d e v e l o p i n g A m e r i n d i a n communities, promoting Education, the transition to Clean and Renewable Energy and fostering Safe and Thriving Communities The Moraikobai Solar Light Community Project embodiesallofthese.

To date, CPGLhas planned and implemented over 30 projects across six regions in Guyana in addition to partnering with Exxon Mobil and Hess on the Greater Guyana Initiative. Some of the initiatives include scholarships for Oil and Gas disciplines at the UniversityofGuyana,andgiftinga new roof to Moblissa Primary School on the border of Region Four andTen.Technical equipment donationstoschoolsacrossGuyana and establishing active relationships with Organisations l i k e t h e P t o l e m y R e i d Rehabilitation Centre and Joshua House.

Large turnout for Christmas Tree light up overwhelms A&S Complex

TheAnnual Christmas tree light up at A&S complex in Charity, Essequiboreturnedinfullforceafter alullduetotheCovid-19pandemic.

HundredsofGuyanesecameout to the Charity waterfront for what has become an annual tradition in thatcommunity,Organiserssaidina Press Release.The turn out this year was so large that the Complex Managerswerecaughtoffguard,the release added Mr. Haimwan Beharry, Operations Manager of A&Scomplexexplained,“wehadto bring out more toys since we had

only catered for 400 children", this was the largest crowd they had ever had. Every year children in the area are treated to gifts, sweets carols, and a Santa parade, this year more than 700 children turned up for the event.

Severalparentswhocamefrom the riverain communities in Pomeroon said they are thankful to Mr Alfro Alphonso for giving the toys to the children. The annual event is sponsored by the Alphonso GroupofCompaniesincludingA&S complex.

C o m m u n i t y P r o j e c t i s

Moraikobai's second project with the Chinese oil company, citing a previous donation of beds to the Mahaicony Amerindian Hostel in September2022.

Residents of Moraikobai install a solar light in the village as part of the Solar Lighting Project between CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited (CPGL) and POWERCHINA

(From left) Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, President of CPGL, Liu Xiaoxiang, Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Guo Haiyan and Shen Dan, Chief Representative, Power China, unveil the plaque commemorating the Moraikobai Solar Lighting Project

The large crowd at the Christmas Tree light up at Charity, Essequibo

Suraj Veersammy called 'Rabbit'

Devika Bikram Narinedatt called ‘Vanessa’

Ramdeholl spins Guyana to victory

Richard Ramdeholl spun Guyana to victory over Trinidad and Tobago by 43 runs in the second match of the Bilateral/Goodwill series Tuesday at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence. Ramdeholl recorded outstanding figures of 3 for 0 off 4.5 overs in a game-changingspellbowling hisoff-spin.Hisspellbrought about a collapse by Trinidad and Tobago after they were 47-4atonestagechasing100.

Guyana captain and leftarm spinner supported

Ramdeholl with figures of 2 for17off5impressiveovers, while fast bowler Raffel McKenzie, who sent back both openers early, finished with 2 for 29 off 4 overs. The Guyaneseplayerswereelated when the final wicket fell for TT after they bounced back fromthefirstmatchthumping to successfully defend the seemingly small total of 99 madebytheirbatsmenearlier in the day Trinidad and Tobago batsmen needed to score just over two runs per over to

complete what would have beenanunassailable2-0inthe four-match bilateral series. However, the Guyanese bowlers had other ideas as pacer McKenzie sent back both openers early; one of which was a beauty to clean bowl, Tyler Ramroop. The bowlers then continued to make steady inroads, although the TT batsmen scored freely, getting to 54-5 in the 12th over and just another44runsforvictory At this stage, Ramdeholl was introduced into the attack,

and the game dramatically changed as TT were eventuallydismissedfor56in the 20 over

Earlierintheday,Guyana limped to 99 all out in 37.5 overs after winning the toss and deciding to bat in overcast conditions. The Guyanese batsmen fared better with the bat this time, following the 43 all-out they had made in the first match played on Sunday. Opening batsman Mohammed Balle looked good during his inningstopscoreof17off40 ballsbeforehewasdismissed. Arif Marimutoo was the second top scorer with 13off 35 balls, Raffel McKenzie chippedinwith11off18balls, and Rayaz Latiff finished on 12notoutoff29balls.

Thursday December 15, 2022

ARIES (Mar.21–Apr.19)

Communicate your feelings early in the day, because by evening you might feel too restrictedtowanttocommunicatewithanyone.Usethis disciplined, sober tone to get a realistic perspective.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

Things will get much easier and more controlled as the day progresses, Taurus. People'ssuperficialattitudes andidlechatterwillgiveway to more realistic and deepseated conversations.

GEMINI(May21–June20)

Today may be a rough day in which you find it hard to decide about anything. Refrainfrommakinganymajor movesregardingfinancesor real estate.

CANCER(June21–July22)

You might find it hard to connect with anyone on a deep and meaningful level today, Cancer, so just free yourself and have a good time.Takeamorerefinedand disciplinedapproachtoyour projects.

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

Getthepartystartedearlyin the day, Leo. You may be runningfromtasktotask,but thisisOK.Youhavetheability to get a lot done by multitasking and keeping things light. As the day progresses.

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)

Bring your thoughts down to Earth, Virgo, especially later tonight. You may be flip-flopping through the day like a fish out of water, but suddenly things start to fall into place at sundown.

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

Theearlierportionoftheday is apt to flow much more smoothlythanthelaterpart, Libra.Youshouldgetthings solidifiedrightoffthebat,if possible.Thingswillbeabit morerelaxedandfree.

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov.21)

This may be a frenzied day for you, Scorpio, but it's likely to settle down as evening sets in. It will be a tender night in which you should stick close to home and get organized.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

Youshouldbeoncloudnine today, Sagittarius. As evening sets in, however, things might get a little too heavy for your comfort. Peoplewillhavehadenough of your gossip by then, so give it a rest.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)=It Lie low during the day and try not to get caught up in the frivolous verbiage that dominates the waking hours. After sundown, feel freetospeakyourmind.You may notice that there is a sober tone and restrictive.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Let your fun-loving nature come out to play today, Aquarius. As the day progresses, the clouds are likelytomovein.Theremay be a more restrictive tone to your emotions.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20) Your thoughts may be scatteredandfranticearlyin the day, Pisces, but things should settle down by evening.Youremotionswill be more stable, and you will bemuchmoredisciplined.

BowlingforTrinidadand Tobago,pacerTylerRamroop took 3 for 15 off 8 overs and playerofthematchinthefirst

game,ShaanRamtahal,again took 3 wickets, this time finishingwithfiguresof3for 16off5.5overs.

The third match of the Bilateral/Goodwillserieswill be played today, December 15, at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, from 10:00hours.

Ramdeholl receiving the MOM Trophy.

Allen clubs 47, Brathwaite takes four wickets in Kandy Falcons’ 10-run win over Jaffna Kings

SportsMax-Awhirlwind knock of 47 from Fabian A l l e n a n d C a r l o s Brathwaite’s four-wicket haul steered Kandy Falcons to a 10-run win over Jaffna KingsintheirLankaPremier League match-up in Pallekeleyesterday Allen smashed three fours and four sixes to rally KandyFalconsto160-8after they had slumped to 79-6 in the14thoverdespite35from Andre Fletcher and 24 from Ashan Bandara, who was dismissed in the 17th over withthescoreat119. Allen raced to his 47 in

just 23 balls before he was dismissed mid-way the final overwhenthescorewas151. Chamika Karunaratne, who was not out on 18 at the end, pushedthescoreto160-8.

Dunith Wellalage was the best of the Jaffna Kings bowlers taking 2-7 while JamesFullertook2-28.

Jaffna Kings made a good go of the chase for 161 thanks in large part to the efforts of Avishka Fernando who made 33 from 20 balls before he was bowled by A l l e n a n d S a d e e r a Samarawickrama, whose steady 48 from 41 balls held

the innings together. He was eventually dismissed by Hasaranga de Silva (2-21), whoalsotookthekeywicket of Shoaib Malik for eight, whichexposedJaffnaKings’ lower middle order to Brathwaite, who scythed through the line up with the wickets of ThisaraPerera(2), DunithWellalage(1)andFuller for16,totakeswingthematch heavilyinfavourofhisside

The giant Barbadian had earlier taken the wicket of Dhananjaya de Silva (0) to finish with figures of 4-18 as Jaffna Kings’innings closed on150-9.

Nicola

Guy

rises to the occasion to win first Jamaica national title

SportsMax - Nicola Guy prevailedinafiercelyfought battle to claim her first national full bore/target rifle shooting title at the recently concluded Jamaica Rifle Association National Championship which was contested at the Jamaica Defence Force Twickenham Park Range, in St Catherine, Jamaica.

On the opening day, Guy earned 145 10 points to finish a breath behind 2019 champion, Denis Lee at 145.11 and ahead of twotime defending champion, Captain Dwayne Ford who had143.6.

On day two the in-form lady marksman, threw down thegauntletbyshooting49.5 out of 50 points in the first event which was 10 shots at 500yards.

Although Major John Nelson was able to replicate that score in the first event, Guy cemented her opener with 47.4 out of 50 at 600 yards in the second event, a score only bested by Karen

Andersonwhoshot48.3.

H o w e v e r , G u y ’s consistency paid off when at 900 yards she shot 61.3 out of 75 points which kept her aheadwithanoveralltallyof 302.22,whichenabledherto claimthetitle.

Anderson shot 65.4 to amass299.21pointsandtake secondplaceoverall.

Claude Russell shot 68.3 towinthe900-yardbankand

finish with 298.18 which earned him the third spot on podium.

Ford was fourth with 298.11, Nelson placed fifth with 297.15, while Lee finishedsixthwith296.22,in seventh place was Dr Derek Mitchell – O Class Champion with 236.5 and eighth was Phillip Scott with 233.8 points to round out the topeight.

Nicola Guy

Fabian Allen and Carlos Brathwaite celebrate a wicket.

Pujara, Iyer rescue India after top order collapse against Bangladesh

(Reuters) - India’s Cheteshwar Pujara and Shreyas Iyer combined in a 149-run stand for the fifth wicket to help the tourists overcomeatoporderwobble and reach 278-6 against Bangladesh on the opening day of the first test in Chittagong.

Iyer was batting on 82, a fine knock that included 10 fours, at stumps having lost Axar Patel to the last delivery of the day from spinnerMehidyHasan.

Earlier, India’s decision to bat backfired and they slumped to 48-3 in the morning session with standin skipper KL Rahul and stalwart Virat Kohli among thedismissedbatsmen.

Pujara, who made 90, andIyerjoinedhandstoprop up India aided by the reprievestheygot.

Pujara was dropped on 1 2 b y B a n g l a d e s h wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan, who also spilled an edge when Iyer attempted a cut shot against Shakib Al

Hasan.

Leading the side in absence of India’s injured skipperRohitSharma,Rahul won the toss and elected to bat and Bangladesh drew first blood inside the first hour, thanks to Yasir Ali’s excellentanticipation.

With no fielder behind the square, Shubman Gill (20) attempted a paddle sweep against left-arm spinner Taijul Islam (3-84) only to scoop the ball behind him.

Yasir, standing at first slip and watching Gill shape up to play the shot, had enough time to run across to legslipandtakethecatch.

Bangladesh did not have to wait long for a second wicket.

Rahul made 22 before dragging an Ebadot Hussain delivery onto his leg stump, trying to hit the seamer throughtheoff-side.

India slumped to 48-3 when Taijul returned to removeKohlilbwforone.

Kohli, trying to work the

ball to the leg side, was beaten by turn and wasted a review in his unsuccessful bidtooverturnthedecision.

Next man in Rishabh Pant threw caution to the windandcounter-attackedto liftthepressure.

The left-hander stepped out to hitTaijul over long-on boundary for a six to signal his intention and scored at a run-a-ballrate.

Taijul had his revenge in the second session when Pant, after clobbering the spinner’s previous delivery for a six, draggedaballonto hisstumpstodepartfor46.

Pujara and Iyer ensured India did not lose another wicket in the second session and lead their recovery with their riskfreeaccumulationofruns.

Taijul denied Pujara his hundred and spun one past the bat and into the stumps

Scores: India 278 for 6 (Pujara 90, Iyer 82*, Taijul 3-84, Mehidy 2-71) vs Bangladesh

Like father, like son; 34 years later Arjun emulates Sachin Tendulkar

(Reuters) - Thirty-four years after Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar scored his maiden first-class century on debut, his son Arjun celebrated the same achievement in the Ranji TrophyonWednesday

Playing for Goa against Rajasthan, Arjun struck 120 runs off 207 balls, smashing 16 fours and two sixes on day two of their first innings at Goa Cricket Association Academy Ground in Porvorim.

The 23-year-old, whose primary role is of a fast bowler, produced the impressive performance

after coming in to bat at no.

7. He had moved from the city of Mumbai to Goa at the start of the season in search ofmoreopportunities.

Sachin, who retired from

all forms of cricket in 2013, had scored his maiden firstclasscenturyonhisdebutfor Mumbai against Gujarat in theRanjiTrophyin1988asa 15-year-old.

Arjun Tendulkar, son of Sachin Tendulkar, speaks with Australia’s Aaron Finch during training. (Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs)

Taijul Islam was thrilled to knocked over Cheteshwar Pujara with a peach. (AFP/Getty Images)

KFC Goodwill Tournament kicks off at Providence today France edge past Morocco to set up Argentina final

Inclement weather will play no part in affecting the commencement of the 2022 KFC Goodwill Tournament as the first two matches kick off at the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) National Tr a i n i n g C e n t r e i n Providence,today

At 17:00 hrs the opening match gets underway as CWSS opposes Annai then Golden Grove collides with Desrey Fox in the other showdownfrom19:00hrs.

The second day will see CWSS springing into action in the first match once again as they meet SVB Academy

at 17:00 hrs. The match that follows features St Benedict’s College and Waramadong battling from 19:00hrs.

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

unfoldsthreedayslater Both d a y s h a v e m a t c h e s scheduled to kick off at 17:00hrsand19:00hrs.

The tournament was intended to be contested at the Ministry of Education Ground but the recent rainfall made the venue unfit forplay,hence,thechange.

The tournament is sponsored by KFC, Tiger Offshore Rentals, MVP Sport, Trophy Stall, Guyana Beverages Inc and Demerara Life with support from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry ofCulture,YouthandSports.

BBC Sport - France were pushed all the way by World Cup wild cards Morocco before the holders sealed a place in Sunday’s final againstArgentina.

The first African side to reachaWorldCupsemi-final refused to buckle despite suffering the early blows of losing key defender Nayef Aguerdtoinjuryafterhewas namedinthestartingline-up, and then going behind to T h e o H e r n a n d e z ’ s scrambledfifthminutegoal.

France,forallMorocco’s endeavour and spirit, were more clinical and substitute Kolo Muani ensured they will defend their crown againstArgentina and Lionel Messi at Lusail Stadium on Sunday when he turned in Kylian Mbappe’s deflected shot11minutesfromtime.

Morocco also lost the clearly unfit Romain Saiss to injury before half-time but, roared on by their fanatical support, they came close to drawing level, especially when Jawad El Yamiq’s overhead kick was kept out by a combination of the post and France keeper Hugo Lloris.

France, with Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate outstanding, kept their composure in the hothouse atmosphere of Al Bayt Stadium and had chances of their own, Olivier Giroud striking the post in the first half.

Didier Deschamps’ side always threatened on the break and so it proved as the lurking Muani finally broke Morocco’sresistancelateon.

France stay cool on road to glory France needed to keep their nerve to stay on

course to become the first country to retain the World Cup for 60 years following Brazil’s triumphs in 1958 and1962.

They faced a wall of sound from Morocco’s support, with ear-splitting whistles every time they had possession, and while it was not a classic performance, France remained organised andgotthejobdonetosetup a final of two giants to conclude this Qatar World Cup. Konate, in for Dayot Upamecano who was short of match fitness, epitomised French solidity and coach Deschamps will be hard pushedmakeachangeinthat crucial defensive position on Sunday

And of course, the narrative of Mbappe against Messi will come to a climax on Sunday as France try to repeat their 2018 triumph in Moscow when they beat Croatiainthefinal.

The under-stated Deschamp has put together a France team spearheaded by the brilliant Mbappe and theyrodetheirluckattimes.

France, however, are in another World Cup final and the 54-year-old Deschamps, who captained them when they claimed the crown on home soil in 1998, now has the chance to make history by winning the tournament twice as a coach. Morocco’s night of pride Morocco’s players and coaching staff were given a huge and prolongedovationfromtheir supporters, who have been a real highlight of this World Cup, when they went towards them to take the acclaim after the final whistle.

And it was completely deserved after yet another performance of talent and character which showed exactly why they have been such a glorious surprise packageatthisWorldCup.

Morocco coach Walid Regragui could have been forgiven for feeling the fates were against them after losing crucial players before and shortly after kick-off, as well as going behind. Not a bitofit.

I n s p i r e d b y t h e magnificent Sofyan A m r a b a t , M o r o c c o redoubled their efforts and were so close to restoring parity when El Yamiq’s effort was kept out by a combination of the post and Lloris.

Morocco also had a clear penalty appeal waved aside in the first half when goalscorer Hernandez flattened Sofiane Boufal in the area. Not only was the spot-kick not given but Boufal was mystifyingly shownayellowcard.

Still Morocco pushed after the break but they wasted opportunities with a reluctance to shoot, a failing that left them vulnerable to a second France goal, which duly came. Morocco may have finally been beaten but what a ride this has been for the World Cup and for African football as they beat Belgium, Spain and Portugal - three of the global game’s elite - on the way to the last four

This is a wonderful platform to build on and Morocco have given their fans World Cup memories they will treasure for ever afterthiscampaigninQatar

Randal Kolo Muani makes it 2-0 for France. (Getty Images)

Three more junior cricketers benefit from “Cricket Gear for young and promising cricketers in Guyana”

Go p a u l

R a m c h a n d , Udesh Jaikarran and Munesh Outar, three under-15 players of an East Coast, Demerara based Cricket Club were the latest young players to benefit from this joint initiative between Kishan Das of the USA and Anil Beharry, former Berbice left handed allrounder

The youngsters are currently participating in the Demerara Cricket Board Under-15 Inter Sub Association Championship which will be used to select the County team to participate in the 2023 Inter County Tournament The championship was halted duetorains.

Together, they received onecricketbat,threepairsof batting gloves, three pairs of cricket shoes and one white cricket shirt. Ramchand is a wicketkeeper/batsman, Jaikarran a seam bowling all rounder and Outar an opener/right arm off spinner They are all attending Secondary School. At a simple ceremony held recently, they were grateful for the gear and promised to continue to work hard on their game. This project is happy to be part of the development of young and talented cricketers in Guyana.

Total cricket related items collected so far: $290,000 in cash, two trophies, twelve cricket

boots,twentypairsofbatting pads, twenty five bats, seventeen pairs of batting gloves, twenty thigh pads, one pair of wicket keeping pad, three arm guards, two boxes, six cricket bags and three helmets. In addition to theabove,$600,000worthin gear was donated by Sheik Mohamed, former National wicketkeeper/batsman.

To date, forty seven young players from all three counties of Guyana have already benefited from three junior gear bag, two trophies, three arm guards, eighteen bats, two boxes, three helmets,sixteenpairsof cricket shoes, ten pairs of batting pads, one thigh pad, onebatrubberandfifteenpairs ofbattinggloves.Inaddition, two clubs in the Pomeroon areabenefitedfromtwoused bats. Pomeroon, Leguan and W a k e n a m C r i c k e t CommitteesandCottonTree Die Hard also received one box of red cricket balls each while RHCCCC received two boxes, fifteen white cricket shirts, one pair of junior batting pads, one pair ofwicketkeepingglovesand asetofstumpsandbails.The Essequibo Cricket Board andtheTownofLethemalso benefited.

Cricket related items, used or new, is distributed free of cost to young and promising cricketers in Guyana. Skills, discipline and education are important characteristics of the recipients. Talent spotting is

being done across the countryandclubleadersalso assist to identify same Progressive and well managed clubs will also benefit.

We take this opportunity to thank Javed and Imran of West Indian Sports Complex, Option Group of USA, Hilbert Foster, Bish Panday of P and P Insurance Brokers, Sean Devers, Trevis Simon, Årïêl J. Tïlkú, Aaron Beharry, Leanna Bachan and Imran Saccoor, Devon Ramnauth, Teddy Singh,RomashMunna,Ravi Etwaroo, Kelvin Brijlall, Ravin Harkishun, Surendra Harkishun, Allan Mangru, Dennis Mangru, Vishal Mahabir, Sherman Austin, Huburn Evans, Rajendra Sadeo, Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall, Sheik Mohamed of Star Sports Awards and Trophies and Ajay Gainda of Cricket Equipment Guyana, Gajanand Singh, Peter Ramkissoon, Rabindranath Saywack, Roshan Gaffoor, Ameer Rahaman, Chin Singh, Denesh Chandrapaul, Dr Cecil Beharry, Davo Naraine of UK and Latch Mohabir and family, Raj MathuraandRajBharrat.

Thanks to the media for the role they are playing in promoting this venture Distribution will continue. Anyone interested to contribute can contact Anil Beharry on 623-6875 or Kishan Das on 1-718-6640896.

Messi confirms Qatar final will be his last World Cup game

(Reuters) - Lionel Messi has confirmed he will play his last World Cup game when ArgentinatakeonFranceinSunday’sfinalin Qatar.

Messi led Argentina to a 3-0 win over Croatia in their semi-final on Tuesday and will earn his 172nd cap at the weekend when he tries to bring the country its first World Cuptitlesince1986.

“I feel very happy, to be able to achieve this, to finish my World Cup journey by playing my last game in a final,” Messi told Argentine media outlet Diario Deportivo Ole.

“It’s many years for the next one and I don’t think I’ll be able to do it.And to finish like this, it’s the best,” added the Argentina captain.The35-year-oldisplayingathisfifth World Cup, surpassing the four of Diego Maradona and Javier Mascherano. With his fifth goal in Qatar, he also surpassed Gabriel Batistuta as the top Albiceleste scorer at WorldCups,netting11times.

“It’s all well and good (the records), but theimportantthingistobeabletoachievethe group objective, which is the most beautiful thing of all,” Messi added. “We’re just one step away, after fighting hard, and we’re going to give everything to try to make it happenthistime.”

Tuesday’svictorypromptedthousandsof fans to take to the streets in Argentina to celebratethenationalteam’ssixthWorldCup finalappearance.

Gopaul Ramchand, Udesh Jaikarran and Munesh Outar, three under-15 players of East Coast, Demerara were the latest young players to benefit.

Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates after Julian Alvarez scores their third goal. (REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach)

France edge past Morocco to set up Argentina final

GFF President, Wayne Forde, and Petra Co Director, Troy Mendonca, with the SVB Academy at the GFF NTC, ahead of the KFC Goodwill Tournament kick off.