Kaieteur News

K

Thursday Edition Govt. pushing ahead AIETEUR NEWS with gas strategy despite no clear plan to prevent more multi-billion dollar losses to Exxon

Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly

December 21, 2023 - Vol. 16 No. 51

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $100 readership yesterday, 61,818

Canadian gold company in Guyana to sell 12% stake to US firm for CDN$22.5M GTUC to sue Govt. Govt. sends police over imposition to the US to serve of pay hike for summons on public servants Rickford Burke Cops who allegedly Man to serve 18 helped bandits months for rob supermarket stealing ‘greens’ granted bail

US releases Maduro ally for 10 Americans in prisoners swap

Govt. boasts of injecting $13B in disposable income into economy before Christmas but gave away $108B in taxes to oil companies last year

PAGE 02

Kaieteur News

Thursday December 21, 2023

Kaieteur News

Thursday December 21, 2023

PAGE 03

AG should use his talents and resources to make case for renegotiation of Exxon contract Following a statement of caution to Guyanese from the Attorney General (AG) and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall S.C regarding “critical comments” on the operations of ExxonMobil in Guyana, prominent Attorneyat-Law, Christopher Ram has called on the politician to use his legal skills to modify the lopsided terms of the 2016 Petroleum Agreement.

Ram in a stinging letter, responded to statements made by the AG in an article published by Kaieteur News in its Sunday, December 17, 2023 edition. The Lawyer argued that the government has acted as accomplices of Exxon, allowing blatant acts of misconduct to continue.

He therefore posited that prudent management of the sector by government would a v o i d “ c r i t i c a l commentaries” and assure the administration of compliments and commendations instead.

Nandlall said in a public statement that the Venezuelan Head of State, Nicolas Maduro during the historic December 14, 2023 peace talks in St. Vincent and the Grenadines with Guyana's President, Dr. Irfaan Ali was furnished with several volumes of documents.

Notably, he revealed that many of the documents were public statements made on the ongoing controversy as well as critical commentaries on the oil company's operations in the Stabroek Block and the legal challenges that have been mounted thereto.

The AG noted that the information that Maduro compiled were all extracted from the local media, as he went on to caution, “Whatever weight is placed upon them, they certainly do not and will not assist Guyana i n a n y f o r m o r fashion…those who wish to travel this road by making such statements, or taking such actions, must now become alive to this consequential reality.”

Ram in his response to the AG said all Guyanese commentators both local and abroad are focused on a single objective which is to ensure the country benefits from the best possible deal for its people from the exhaustible petroleum resources.

To deter the negative

- Chris Ram

Attorney General, Anil Nandlall SC comments on the sector, Ram urged the AG to use his legal expertise to renegotiate the Exxon contract to secure better terms for the country.

He said, “As a citizen and leader, Mr. Nandlall should join the call for a Commission of Inquiry into the award of the 2016 Petroleum Agreement for which the Clyde & Co report provides compelling evidence.”

Clyde and Co, a British Law firm was hired to conduct an independent investigation into the circumstances leading to the execution of the Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with ExxonMobil Guyana, Hess Guyana Exploration Limited and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited.

Among the findings in the report, it was highlighted that the oil company pressured and duped the former Coalition government into signing the deal.

The report states: “The Contractor Consortium appears to have put a lot of pressure on the Government and the Ministry of Natural Resources to secure the 2016 Agreement in a short time scale…It seems to us likely that EEPGL (now known as ExxonMobil Guyana) was also strongly driving to have a new agreement signed prior to the Liza-2 well results becoming fully known and understood by the Government. Presumably because knowledge of a 'world-class' discovery could have altered the government's negotiating position.”

Exxon and its partners had announced their first discovery of oil in the Stabroek Block in May 2015, at the Liza 1 well.

The Liza-2 well was intended to help the consortium understand the volume of oil that was available for production in commercial quantities. On February 5, 2016, drilling of Liza-2 commenced in order to further evaluate the Liza-1 well.

But before revealing the true size of the Liza-2 well which found enough oil to be a standalone project, Exxon

and partners rushed the previous government to close the deal with generous terms.

These included a two percent royalty and a tax-free ride.

Clyde and Co said it was provided with and analyzed, drafts of the 2016 Agreement exchanged between the ministry and Exxon.

The law firm's report states, “From this analysis, it is clear that the negotiations of the detailed terms of the 2016 Agreement were limited and took place over the period of roughly one month.

The Government could have taken a different approach and tried to have extensive negotiations on the terms of the 2016 Agreement, principally to improve the fiscal terms. However, such an approach was not in the forefront of the Government's mind.”

Ram has frequently reiterated that this

Attorney-at-Law, Christopher Ram independent investigation by the Law firm is enough to justify a renegotiation of the contract.

N o t a b l y, t h e P P P government before it was elected had promised to engage in renegotiation of the oil contracts/ better contract administration but it now maintains that the deal must not be changed for varying reasons. Given the negative feedback from the Guyanese

populace, supported by independent international bodies, Ram believes the AG should make a case for renegotiation.

He said, “As a lawyer, he should use all his talent and the resources at his disposal to make the case for renegotiation of the 2016 Agreement. And as a citizen, he should join his fellow citizens to make that happen.”

Lloyd's adds Guyana Offshore Sector to War Risk List Amidst heightened border tensions between Venezuela and Guyana, Lloyd's Joint War Committee has added the booming Guyanese offshore sector to its list of areas of elevated risk, alongside notable hot spots like the southern Red Sea and the Black Sea. According to an article by The Maritime Executive, in an update to its Listed Areas issued Monday, the JWC said that it was adding Guyana, but only for calls to offshore installations within the Guyanese EEZ between the 12-mile and 200-mile lines (beyond territorial waters). This is an increasingly busy region: ExxonMobil is developing multiple offshore oilfields in its prolific Stabroek Block lease area off Guyana, and is deploying multiple FPSOs to ramp up production on a short timetable. Vessel traffic includes OSVs and large tankers, which call at Exxon's FPSOs to load crude.

The privately-owned Demerara Waves has quoted President Irfaan Ali as saying that Guyana will ask the United Kingdom (UK) government to consider mounting a joint lobby to Lloyd's of London insurance company to reduce its risk assessment of this country's maritime space due to the border controversy with Venezuela.

“Together, we will have to speak to Lloyd's so that they can understand the nuances, the reality that exists in Guyana and in relation to the controversy,” Demerara Waves quoted

President Ali as saying.

According to Demerara Waves, Ali was critical of the assessment by Lloyd's Market Association's Joint War Committee that is confined to vessels visiting offshore installations in the Guyanese Exclusive Economic Zone outside the nation's “territorial waters.”

“The Lloyd's analysis is pandering to what people want: create instability and insecurity,” he said, according to Demerara Waves.

Venezuelan President, Nicolas Maduro has increased tensions along the border by reasserting old claims to the province of Essequibo, Guyana.

This region of undeveloped valuable prospects for oil and gold extraction, and Maduro has ordered Venezuelan state natural resource companies to pursue opportunities in the region - on Guyanese territory. The dispute dates back to the colonial era, when Guyana was known as British Guiana. British administrators selected a border demarcation west of the Orinoco River in 1840, then entered into an Americanmediated agreement with Venezuela formalizing this border in 1899.

Venezuela protested in 1966, winning a promise from the UK to further discuss the matter or refer the dispute to the UN. In 2020, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) agreed to take up a Guyanese case to settle the dispute once and for all. Maduro claims that the ICJ does not have jurisdiction, and he has

not waited for the court case to finish.

This year, he held a popular referendum asking whether Essequibo should become part of Venezuela. The result as reported by Maduro's authoritarian state - showed overwhelming Venezuelan popular support for the idea.

The referendum was accompanied by small-scale military movements along Venezuela's side of the border, prompting concern that Maduro might attempt a military intervention. Though Venezuela's forces have been depleted by years of financial deprivation, Guyana has little if any ability to resist a military attack, and it only maintains a handful of maritime patrol vessels to guard its waters, the Maritime Executive reported.

President Ali has emphasized that his government "reserves the right to work with all our partners to ensure the defence of our country." The Biden administration has ordered a review of Venezuela's military movements in order to better assess the likelihood of a conflict.

Last week, a summit between Maduro and Ali appeared to lower the temperature somewhat. At an airport conference room in Kingstown, St. Vincent, the two men shook hands and agreed to mediate the dispute peacefully. They agreed to differ on the validity of the ICJ proceeding, and noted Venezuela's objections.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 04

Thursday December 21, 2023

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

Publisher: GLENN LALL - Tel: 624-6456 Editor-in-Chief: Nigel Williams Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

Women know Guyanese women know what it takes to run a home, care for a family. Currently, they are catching hell, and the women of Red Thread recently spoke of the condition of Guyanese most eloquently. ”People are still suffering, though we have oil.” Oil the remedy is not touching Guyanese at the bottom of the economic pile. The richness of oil is a stranger to working class men and women, and their families, in Guyana. The PPP/C Government that presides over this oil either has the math wrong, or it just doesn’t care.

When the world talks of Guyana’s economy, its present and its future, it is always in superlatives. When the poor in Guyana tell their story of living in an oil-rich country, reportedly the richest in the world, then all the statistics come crashing down, fall apart, for all they are worth. Try telling a man struggling to provide for his hungry family that he is among the richest people per capita in the world, and he is likely to go berserk. Somebody is insulting him, making a mockery of his already hard circumstances. The irony is that the lush statistics are accurate, with plenty to spare. The Guyana economy has no equal, and it is set to outmuscle and outrun most of the competition for top honours. But there is this horror of the country’s masses bringing up the rear in what has transformed into a battle of survival of the strongest, with the weak falling farther behind.

It is clear that the planners and the decision-makers in the PPP/C Government are mainly concerned with what enriches cronies and other familiar faces in the cabal of those having a wonderful time feasting at the public trough.

Almost two hundred billion Guyana dollars drawn out of the Natural Resources Fund, and the government is still absconding on its responsibilities to the less well-equipped, and less fortunate, in Guyana. The well-known problem in Guyana is that the poor at the bottom are competing with greed and corruption and criminality in political circles, and the bureaucrats who do the dirty work for bosses. Unless there is some revolutionary development, those at the bottom and on their knees always lose. There are enough millions to spread around, but then the corrupt in the ruling political class would have to do with less.

Hence, it is not surprising at all to hear the women of the Red Thread group lament about the dreadful challenges faced by single mothers. Their reality is harsh and unrelenting: come up with a balance diet for the family, or come out as a deadbeat who cannot pay the bills. It is this draconian condition of paying the bills, leading to the family suffering. When a balanced diet is lacking for too long, then the medical bills are to be feared next. This cannot be an oil rich country, not with citizens forced to live like refugees racking their brains on how to manage on the pittances they have in hand.

The PPP/C Government and its leaders (and mouthpieces) celebrate the lavishness of 6.5% for 54,000 public servants. If each of those 54,000 Guyanese have only one dependent (a child, or an elderly parent), 6.5% is not just bleak, but savaging beyond imagination. The women are complaining bitterly, the unions are raging in disbelief, and the public servants themselves are rendered speechless.

New housing schemes go up for the elites, top of the line vehicles are the trophies of the chosen ones, and modern luxuries proliferate for the entitlement class. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of bottom-of-the-barrel Guyanese are constantly reminded by the output of the PPP Government’s choir of the many billions of barrels of oil that this country has, and how much it is going to mean for Guyanese.

It is always later, as if the future ever gets rosy; it may forever be unreachable. Bharrat Jagdeo, the Chief National Policymaker (self-appointed, like everything else about him) had an inspired line: revenue maximization.

According to Jagdeo, it is waiting and Guyana is going to be great. This is the eternal story of Guyanese and their political leaders. They are told to be patient, but they always end up as patients.

‘PPP, trade unions and poverty in the public sector’ DEAR EDITOR, Guyana is an autocratic state: there is no separation of powers – an ethnic political party controls the executive and the parliament and as a result has significant influence over the judiciary that some have assessed as being in a state of collapse.

Political accountability is nil - political competition is rooted in ethnic voting and electoral manipulation – and the power of civil society and groups like trade unions is, to say the least, extremely weak.

In democratic societies where trade unions have the capacity to successfully strike, collective bargaining has increased the wages for organised and unorganised workers by forcing employers to reflect upon their expenditure priorities, and the decline in collective bargaining is important in explaining the growth of global inequality. ‘This erosion of collective bargaining occurred despite large numbers of workers indicating they would prefer collective bargaining if they had a choice. But the political power of those with the most income, wealth, and power prevented the adoption of laws to m o d e r n i z e o u r labour–management system and enable workers to pursue c o l l e c t i v e bargaining’(http://www.epi. org/publication/chartingwage-stagnation/).

A similar situation exists in Guyana, where an autocratic government rooted in Indian ethnicity has been attempting to impoverish the African

supporters and the organisations of its opponents to force them into its ranks, migrate or disintegrate. For example, in 2004 when this policy was in its infancy, per capita GDP was US$860, the average annual salary of teachers, who are mainly Africans, was 3.4 times GDP, namely US$2,924. Today, since the oil companies and their associates are taking away much of the growing GDP, 3.4 times the GNI (2022, gross national income) of about US$15,000 is US$51,000 but the average annual salary of teachers is about US$7,300! I am not suggesting what teachers should be paid but that the present outcome of the PPP’s decades-long unilateral imposition of public sector wage increases is ridiculous!

Now consider the above table in relation to government expenditure and public sector salaries today.

Between 2020, when the APNU+AFC coalition left office and 2023, central government expenditure as a percent of GDP has declined from 28.4% to 24.6%. But current expenditure declined from 21.7% to 10.8%. The wages and salaries of public sector workers declined from 6.3% to 3.1%. What is most

interesting is that capital expenditure has gone in the opposite direction, doubling from 6.7% in 2020 to 13.4 percent in 2023!

The government has openly stated that if supporters of its opponents want adequate social services, then that is their democratic rights they will have support it. Now, in the absence of trade unions and collective bargaining, this same government solely determines the wages of the ethnic group it wishes to force into its ranks. In this ethnic/racist political context, one would have to be an idiot not to enquire into which ethnic groups benefits most from the above deliberate unilateral movement in central government expenditure.

We know that Africans are dominant in the public service and as such are most likely to be disadvantaged by this severe decline in wage allocation. In a rudimentary manner, considering the award of some 288 government contracts in 2022, it was argued that while Guyanese of Indian and African descent are about 39.8% and 29.3% of the population respectively, government contracts were awarded 5 times as often to

Indians than to Africans and the dollar value of contracts awarded to Indiancontrolled businesses was 10 times greater than that awarded to African owned firms (‘Domination’ VV,11/12/2022)!

It is, therefore, fair to argue than by prioritising private sector capital works, the regime is deliberately moving resources from wages and salaries for mainly African public servants and transferring them to the private sector that consists mainly of Indian companies.

This can hardly be considered ethnic equitability in the distribution of national resources.

Last year, on arguments based upon the migration of professionals, the regime was forced to announce relatively substantial increases for health care workers, and now dealing with teachers, it has gone through hoops to avoid similar humiliation but maintain its drive for political dominance.

It has defined professionals as those with university degrees who can easily migrate to teaching positions and gave them various levels of allowances so that the increase going to a teacher with an average monthly income of about $125,000 is between 14% and 31%. As for the public s e r v i c e p r o p e r, w e l l remunerated contracts of employment are being given to the professionals the PPP wishes to employ and like teachers without degrees, the remainder can go fend for (Continued on page 5)

Pres. Ali fearlessly did not throw in the towel DEAR EDITOR, After serving as the eight US Secretary of State from 1817 to 1825, John Quincy Adams became the sixth United States President, to preside from 1825 to 1829.

Earning the nickname, “Old Man Eloquent,” he was known to refer to Nicole Krauss’s quote, “better to try and fail than fail to try.” How often have Guyanese not toyed with this quotation while passing the ball around the field in order for the footballer to score? In this process, Guyanese have also succeeded in conveniently shifting the goalpost in order to arrive at a desired destination.

Like they say, “Guyanese are never satisfied.” If you do, you die, and if you don’t,

you also die. It’s extremely difficult to please some people while it’s almost impossible to please others.

President Maduro threw down the gauntlet as his sabers rattled, but ended up showing the white flag when he returned to Venezuela from the Argyle arena. The distant drums did not deter the brave Guyanese President as he boarded his plane to take him to SVG to do battle with the big, bad bully, Venezuela’s President.

Passing the buck is an old political game but the buck stops with the President.

President Ali did not walk the rope alone as his hope was kept alive with the burning but encouraging words of Trinidad and Tobago’s Opposition Leader,

Kamla Persaud-Bissessar.

Her warning to President Maduro was “My clear message to Maduro is you touch one, you touch all! We unequivocally support the people of Guyana in this crisis. Stay out of Essequibo...”

While some deliberately dodged the bullet with cosmetic excuses and longed for a certain desire, their pipe-dream petered out to be a daydream.

The favoured President Ali fearlessly did not throw in the towel but, delivered diplomacy with his dialogue to dent the daring ego of President Maduro and defend democracy in order to save Guyana’s sovereignty.

The writing was always on the wall but President

Maduro chose to deny reality and turn a blind eye to the world.

The proof is in the pudding as per the 11-points declaration signed by both Presidents and witnessed by Caricom and UN observers.

There will be no annexation of Essequibo, no invasion by intruders and Latin America and the Caribbean will remain a Peace Zone.

What yardstick is Guyanese using to measure success or failure? Some Guyanese should stop clawing in the air in order to fabricate illusions, save face and nurture negativity.

President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali has the “Midas touch.”

Yours respectfully, Jai Lall

Thursday December 21, 2023

Kaieteur News

PAGE 05

One way traffic for Regent Street from All great nations lean on their songs and chants Thursday to Christmas to galvanize their people against an adversary Eve night-Traffic Chief DEAR EDITOR, Happily, Guyanese in Government of not wanting Anthem. Every American Over the last period, Guyanese at home and abroad have been inundated with issues related to the complete absurdity of Venezuela’s claim to our Essequibo. For me, it’s not a controversy; it is an illconceived contention by the current leadership in Caracas.

every walk of life have so regarded this spurious claim

by Mr. Maduro and his cabal.

What some of us are concerned about is the ease with which the Government shifted from not talking to an adversary to the meeting in St. Vincent. On reflection, we can empathize with this shift of position of the

Changes needed in PPP behaviour to enhance democracy DEAR EDITOR, I am not a Marxist. I am not a Capitalist. If I had to define my politics, I would say that I am more a Social Democrat. I believe in people-centred development in a Democracy. In such a Democracy, for there to be development Capital (money), Human Resources (Labour) and Mineral Resources needs to come together and be managed so that people benefit. The end result is not necessarily more money for people but rather better value for money/resources.

This is why I favour a r e n e g o t i a t e d ExxonMobil/Guyana Oil Contract. So that we get better value for Guyanese oil. We do not need to pump more oil; we just need better value from the oil contract which heavily favour ExxonMobil.

With the current oil contract ExxonMobil is basically saying “Here are beads for your gold”. And as such the current oil contract is exploitative.

As a minimum, Guyanese should be getting US$500m Signing Bonus (paid over 5 years), 10% R o y a l t y, P a y m e n t o f Corporation Tax on profits

by ExxonMobil, 50/50 percent profits share and ExxonMobil pays for e n v i r o n m e n t a l damage/clean-up in case of an oil spill. AS A

MINIMUM. So, what can us, as ordinary Guyanese do to get the current lopsided ExxonMobil/Guyana Oil contract renegotiated? In a Democratic Society we would petition the government by signing a petition calling for renegotiation. But the government is not listening as it sees people who are calling for renegotiation as enemies of Guyana progress and development. The political Opposition is no different. They too do not want to renegotiate the lopsided oil contract.

What we can do is to agitate for change in the PPP/C (in particular, the PPP) behaviour. We need to get them to change the manner in which they select the Central Executive Committee Members who are basically supporting each other. By democratising the PPP, Guyanese stand a better chance of enhancing G u y a n a ’s f l e d g l i n g Democracy. Guyanese stand a better chance of getting the PPP/C to govern in their best interest.

SADLY to say, the ExxonMobil/Guyana oil contract is not in Guyanese best interest. Prove me wrong by demonstrating how the oil money is benefiting the majority of Guyanese?

Sincerely, Sean Ori

to irritate our friends in the OAS, Caricom and beyond.

But I suppose political leaders are entitled to what three generations ago would refer to as ‘sand-dancing,’ that is trying to waltz when the band is playing a robust rhumba.

I am at a risk of repeating myself to advise our Government that they must seize the opportunity to inject from childhood to old age a deep sense of patriotism, that will ensure that deep down, every one of us will have a passion to preserve, protect and die for our patrimony, all of it.

Speaking to youngsters just entering secondary schools, they could not sing with the gusto, we did fifty, sixty years ago, most of our national patriotic songs. In many countries when the national teams are playing against others, the stadium erupts with a popular national song or jingle.

Ministries, religious and social organisations must work at this. It may seem simple, but all great nations lean on their songs and chants to galvanize their people against an adversary whether it be in football, cricket or an attempted assault on one square inch of our territory.

Our best-known big neighbour, the United States has a stanza in their National

proudly sings meaningfully ”O say can you see by the dawn’s light What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?

And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there O say does that starspangled banner yet wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.”

When we sing our National Anthem, when we stand erect, click our heels together and with reverence, our right hand on our heart and say our pledge, it must be a solemn moment of recommitment to our National Anthem, our National Flag and our country.

This is a part of what I meant earlier, when I talked about ‘defense in depth.’

Editor, this is not the dreams of an old man but the hope and aspirations of a patriot anxious to solidify and vindicate the sacrifice of our noble ancestors.

Sincerely, Hamilton Green Elder

Playing the blame game DEAR EDITOR, Absurdities of all absurdities! The Mayor not taking blame for the financial state of City Hall, casting blame instead on the previous council (GT December 20).

The mayor was part of the previous council, no less than deputy mayor. To now seek to divorce and point fingers at the doings of the council which may have led to its present, precarious financial position is nothing short of being disingenuous.

Whether he likes it or not, the mayor has to accept

and be held accountable and responsible for the financial position of City Hall. To come now and try to wriggle out of a damming situation you were a part of, is tantamount passing the buck and playing the blame game.

How absurd!

Regards, Shamshun Mohamed

Traffic Chief, Senior Superintendent Mahendra Singh on Regent Street on Wednesday.

(Photo Courtesy, Radio Eve Leary)

Traffic Chief, Senior Superintendent Mahendra Singh on Wednesday announced that in an effort to maximize a smoother flow of traffic during the heightened Christmas shopping period, Regent Street - between Vlissengen Road to the east and Avenue of the Republic to the west - will be closed to eastbound traffic.

This will take effect from today and run until midnight on Christmas Eve. “Regent Street will be meant for one way traffic and that will be westbound flow of traffic as early as tomorrow (Thursday) and what that will translate to is more free movement of all forms of road users, what it will translate to is the ability of the police to work in partnership with the private sector, the public sector and all persons who are right minded and are using the road to ensure that they have access to the place they wish to go and to have access without any form of accident,” the Traffic Chief said during a radio programme on Radio Eve Leary on Wednesday.

Road users were reminded to pay attention to traffic ranks who will be placed at various points along the roadways and to adhere to directions.

‘PPP, trade unions and poverty...

From page 4 themselves with 6.5%. It recommends that they find work in the private sector over which it has significant influence by way of ethnicity, contracts, etc.

The PPP’s attempts to explain away its shenanigans and skewed allocations are fruitless for it cannot turn the outcome of an arbitrary and illegitimate process into an

acceptable outcome. No one apart of its staunchest supporters will believe its self-interested tirades. That is why Cheddi Jagan’s mantra against accusations of allocation bias was ‘show them the books’ and ultimately trade union disagreements end in arbitration-like processes.

Sincerely, Dr. Henry Jeffrey

PAGE 06

Kaieteur News

Thursday December 21, 2023

Bus driver who struck Businessman nabbed with gun down woman was drunk at GuyExpo released on bail

The man who was behind the wheels of a bus that struck down and killed a woman at Le Destin, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) on Tuesday night, was under the influence of alcohol, police said in a report.

According to the report released to the press on Wednesday, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) stated, “A breathalyzer test was conducted on the driver and .05% and .04% were found in his breath.”

He remains in custody as police continue investigations into the accident in which Anita Narine met her demise. Reports are that the accident occurred around 19: 45hrs on Tuesday.

Narine, a 47-year-old resident of Providence, East Bank Demerara was at the time crossing the public road at Le Destin, EBE when she was struck down.

The woman was picked up in an unconscious state by the bus driver and she was rushed to the Sherriff Hospital at

Dead: Anita Narine Leonora, West Coast Demerara (WCD) where she died while receiving treatment.

T h i r t y - f i v e - y e a r- o l d Quincy Linton, who was nabbed by police with a gun at GuyExpo last month, was granted bail in the sum of $75,000 on Wednesday, after his lawyer pleaded with court for bail in reasonable sum whilst citing the lack of evidence against his client.

Linton made his second court appearance virtually via zoom at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court, before Acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Issacs-Marcus.

During the court hearing, Linton’s lawyer noted that the police did not initially verify the authenticity of the firearm, or investigate the matter, before the ranks instituted the charge, ‘possession of unlicensed firearm’ against his client.

He told the court that the number on the licence his client produced for the gun is valid. The attorney noted also that if signature was the issue, that were many

processes in which ranks would have had to go through before laying the charge against the defendant.

On those grounds, the lawyer requested bail in reasonable sum for his client. Following the request made by the attorney, Magistrate IssacsMarcus, granted bail in the sum of $75,000. Linton is scheduled to appear before the court again on February 7, 2024, for statements.

The police had noted that on November 18, 2023, at about 21:45hrs, Linton was nabbed with a loaded gun and a ‘fake’ licence while he entered the GuyExpo event at the Sophia Exhibition Centre.

Kaieteur News was on the ground when a female security officer raised an alarm that a man was moments earlier found in possession of an illegal weapon.

Seeking clarity on what transpired, Kaieteur News later learnt from the police

that the man had entered the venue via its western entrance and handed over a 9MM pistol and 17 matching rounds to police ranks on duty.

He also gave them a small laminated copy of a firearm licence claiming that he was a legal firearm holder.

But the police officers became suspicious after they could not recognize the signature on the document. “…the purported signature on the licence appeared to be not of any senior rank in the division,” police said at the time.

The ranks promptly detained and questioned the man but he reportedly gave them conflicting stories as to how he obtained a firearm licence.

Police decided to search his home for the original licence he claimed he had but found none.

They arrested him and took possession of the weapon and ammunition.

Unity fisherman charged for robbery at Mahaica gas station A fisherman of Lancaster/Unity, East Coast Demerara was on Tuesday charged for robbing two pump attendants of the KK Gas Station at Mahaica last month.

The man, 22-year-old Rayad Mohamed, was arrested on Tuesday, and charged with the offence of robbery under arms. The robbery occurred on November 5, 2023, at around 01:32hrs.

The accused appeared at the Mahaica Magistrate’s Court, and pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him. Bail was granted in the sum of $70,000 and he will make his next appearance on February 6, 2024. His alleged accomplice is still at large.

According to reports, two men, one of whom was armed with a cutlass and the

other with a gun, approached the pump attendants and relieved them of the days’ earnings; they subsequently fled the scene.

The robbery was captured on closed circuit television cameras.

Mohamed was subsequently identified by one of the victims and he was captured by public spirited citizens.

Reports are that he was beaten and suffered burns about his body, allegedly from a substance being poured on him. The police were contacted and responded to the scene.

The injured bandit was taken to the Mahaicony Cottage Hospital where he was observed by a doctor and admitted to undergo treatment after the beating.

T N U L B . . .

T B N U T L N T B .

U .

L .

L T B .

N .

U .

N U T L N B .

U .

T .

L N T U N B .

N U .

L U L LUNT. B .

T . .

T T N N B U B .

U .

L .

L T B .

B . .

N . . .

T U T L N N T U U L N L B U .

B . .

L .

THAT ABOMINABLE . .

T B T . .

N .

N T U L N LU 6.5% PAY HIKE! B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

N T B . .

U N .

L T U L B N . .

B .

U . .

T L .

N T B . .

U N .

L N T B U N . .

L .

U T L B . .

N B . . .

T U .

L N T B U . .

L .

UN T B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L B U UN .BLUNT. . .

L .

T B . .

N .

T U .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

LU ...BLUNT LUNT...B NT...BL T B U . .

L N .

T B U BL T...BLUN BLUNT... UNT...B . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B U . .

L N .

T B BBLU T...BLUN BLUNT... ...BLU .

T .

N .

N T T U L U N L B U T...BLU U B .

L .

N .

B T . . .

N T U N N N L U U U B L .

L B T LUNT.. UNT...B BL B Thursday December 21, 2023

Kaieteur News

As public servants grapple with the measly pay increase ordered by Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, it must be very traumatic at this Christmas time.

Thinking of 6.5% as a pay raise in a one or two resource country, some level of satisfaction would come.

The government is trying, has done its best.

But when one thinks of what and where Guyana is today, there is the chilliest reception to that 6.5% number.

Take it and shove it up that place with its own truths.

This single-digit public service pay raise is so thin; the odds are heavy that some smearing could greet the hand.

PAGE 07

Kaieteur News

PAGE 8 10

Thursday Monday December May 02,21, 2022 2023

Govt. boasts of injecting $13B in disposable income into economy before Christmas but gave away $108B in taxes to oil companies last year

T

he Guyana Government boasted yesterday that it injected an additional $13 billion in disposable income into the hands of public servants before Christmas. Interestingly, the very government gave away eight times this amount in tax concessions to oil companies last year.

In fact, the Auditor General's report for 2022 notes that the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) in 2022 waived $108 billion in taxes to petroleum companies operating locally.

In a statement to the press on Wednesday, the Ministry of Finance proceeded to note how much additional income it made available for citizens just before the Christmas season via its recent 6.5 percent salary increase.

The ministry said more than 54,000 public servants, teachers, members of the disciplined services, and government pensioners have received their 2023 salary increase representing payment of the 6.5 percent retroactive salary increase announced by Senior Finance

Minister Dr. Ashni Singh on December 10.

Dr. Singh thanked staff of the Ministry of Finance and Finance Departments of the various Government agencies who worked tirelessly and diligently to ensure that the increases were paid out in time for the Christmas Season to eligible persons, together with the retroactive amounts.

The ministry also ensured that the 12,000 members of the Disciplined Services including members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and, for the first time, civilian employees of the army, received the onemonth tax-free bonus. In addition to the 6.5 percent salary increase received, as part of a $5 Billion cost of living allocation, the ministry recalled that government also paid out a 25,000 one-off taxfree cash-grant to public sector employees, a one-off $35,000 cash grant to persons with disabilities receiving public assistance while old aged pensioners also benefited from the $25,000 one off cash grant. The ministry said these amounts

placed a total of over $13 billion in the hands of all of the above categories of persons.

Furthermore, Minister Singh highlighted the importance of persons receiving these payments before Christmas, which he said will stimulate economic activity across the country. “…an injection of this nature has tremendous positive multiplier effects in the economy because it generates the consumption that it stimulates at the household level, then feeds into the retail trade and that then feeds into the wholesale trade and that then feeds into production,” Dr. Singh explained.

Moreover, members of the Disciplined Services and health workers received salary adjustments in January 2023 reflective of announcements made by President, Dr. Irfaan Ali on November 24 and December 12, 2022 respectively.

With respect to health sector workers, the ministry noted that the salary adjustment to the tune of $1.5 billion benefitted over 5,000

health care professionals while an estimated 8000 members of the Disciplined Services benefitted from their salary adjustments which increased their disposable incomes by over $1 billion annually.

For 2023, the ministry reminded that government announced salary adjustments and other emoluments for teachers as follows: All Graduate Teachers (i.e. holders of a relevant Bachelor's Degree from the University of Guyana, a Degree awarding institution under the GOAL Programme, or a Degree certified by the National Accreditation Council) shall be moved to the maximum of the scale applicable to the post they currently occupy.

This will benefit over 4,000 teachers at an additional annual cost of $1 billion, effective from 1 December 2023.

Secondly, teachers will receive an Education allowance of $10,000 monthly for holders of a Bachelor's Degree, $20,000 monthly for a Master's Degree and $30,000 monthly

for a Doctorate Degree. The ministry said this revision benefits over 4,500 teachers.

It also noted that any preexisting allowances paid in relation to the Post Graduate Diploma in Education (DipEd) will remain in place.

Kaieteur News understands that the Remote Areas Incentive will be adjusted upwards from its current level to $20,000 monthly, effective from 1 December, 2023 to the benefit of over 2,400 teachers.

Furthermore, all teachers who hold a substantive appointment as a Senior Master/Mistress/Head of Department or above and are within three years of retirement and have not previously received a Dutyfree concession on a motor car, shall be entitled to one Duty-free concession for one motor car up to 1500cc.

Dr. Singh noted that other than salary increases, the Government's approach to improving the lives of Guyanese involves improvements and upgrades to essential services under the

numerous policies and plans the administration has been administering.

He said some of the measures include the reviving of the 'Because We Care' cash grant for school children, pensioners' water subsidy, removal of taxes on various commodities as well as the resumption of the onemonth tax-free bonus for the Disciplined Services.

“When you speak about disposable income, you have to speak first of all about adjustment to salaries…We have also adjusted upwards a number of specific categories of public sector employees.

Some as high as 50, 60 and 70 percent. We have recently announced the cash grant of $25,000 to every single public servant,” Minister Singh had pointed out.

H e s a i d t h e implementation of these measures, including government's housing initiatives has, no doubt altogether enhanced the lives of Guyanese all across the country including public servants who are among the nearly 30,000 individuals who have benefitted.

Kaieteur News

Thursday December 21, 2023

PAGE 09

Sleeping family robbed of Man jailed for assaulting vehicle, other valuables 11-year-old student

A Parfait Harmonie family woke up to a nightmare on Wednesday morning when they discovered that they were robbed of their motorcar and other valuables.

Reports are that Nafiza Khan and her family were robbed between 03:00hrs and 04:00hrs at their La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara home. According to reports, the family was awoken by neighbours and they soon discovered that their silver colour Toyota Runx motorcar, bearing registration PNN 7422, was stolen.

Further checks revealed that $100,000 in cash was stolen from Khan’s daughter

Pritima, along with two gold chains, two wedding rings, one gold band, and one silver and gold band, all worth $800,000.

Additionally, Pritima’s brother-in-law lost an iPhone valued $105,000; while $190,000 in cash and three pairs of gold earrings were stolen from Khan.

The family’s neighbour also related that they too were robbed of two cellular phones.

It was after they discovered that the thieves struck at their home, that they alerted Khan and her family.

The matter was reported to ranks at the La Parfaite Harmonie Police Station.

Man to serve 18-months in jail for stealing ‘greens’ A t w e n t y - o n e - y e a r- o l d m a n o f Queenstown, Essequibo Coast was sentenced to 18-months imprisonment when he appeared at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday where he was charged with stealing a quantity of vegetables from a farmer. Akbar Sookra appeared before Magistrate Esther Sam and was charged with the offence of praedial larceny or, theft of agriculture produce.

It is alleged that on October 11, 2023, Sookra stole agriculture produce from Toney Narine, a 38-year-old farmer of Capoey Public Road, Essequibo Coast.

During court proceedings, the magistrate found the defendant guilty of the offence. The magistrate then handed down sentencing.

The accused was also fined $50,000.

Jailed: Akbar Sookra

A 25-year-old man of Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast, was sentenced to serve 12 months in prison on Tuesday after he appeared at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court where he was charged for assaulting an 11-year-old student.

Sunil Ramdeo appeared before Magistrate Esther Sam, where he was charged for the offence of assault causing actual bodily harm. According to police, the incident occurred on July 16, 2023.

The charge was laid under section 30 (a) of the Summary Jurisdiction Offences Act. It was also noted that the 11-year-old child is a student at C.V. Nunes Primary School at Henrietta Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast.

Following the court hearing, the Magistrate found the defendant guilty of the offence, after which sentencing was handed down.

Jailed: Sunil Ramdeo

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10 S

UTH

D TR

HAR

HK

BY G

LALL

Thursday Monday December May 02, 21,2022 2023

H@RD TRUTHS

BY GHK LALL

Exim's US$2B: what's up with that?

It was nestled in a cozy corner of page 16 of Saturday's edition of SN under the terse caption “Singh meets US EXIM VP” (SN, December 16, 2023). I took in stride the single narrow column of 17 wizened lines, and understood that Venezuela and St. Vincent may have overwhelmed a development with the significance of something like this. Meaning that there was no choice but to quietly tuck it away in a corner, almost as an afterthought. In the context of the blur and whir of the Wales gas-toenergy project, it was almost like a death announcement.

Still, I picked up a couple of things, have a thought or two that may embarrass some big people. But, as usual, I must carry on.

For starters, it is good to see Dr. Ashni Singh, the man over the money, involved with the US people about the money. Given a man of the prowess of Dr. Singh, a

former Guyana scholar, it is a certainty that he handled himself with some finesse, even flair. Interestingly, the bigger guns than Dr. Singh (and he is no pistol himself) saw it fit to take a back seat, leaving the good doctor to preside over the US$2 billion development from his fiefdom at Finance. Why did the man with a universal portfolio take himself out of the picture? Maybe it was to give himself some cushion with his Chinese friends, about why they are not getting the US$2 billion business. It could be that that man Maduro has to be watched; or the finishing touches put on that Venezuelan vote that is so coveted.

Next, I notice that that US$2 billion EXIM understanding of a loan is now almost eighteen months old. What's up with that, already? By any banking standards, that is a stale check, an expired

The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) said it will take legal actions against the government on the recent imposition of salary increases to public servants, while violating the principles of collective bargaining.

The Central Executive of the GTUC held its first meeting for the Triennial Period 2023–2026 on Thursday 14th December, 2023 under the chairmanship of newly elected President Norris Witter where the matter was discussed.

According to a GTUC release, the meeting was also attended by representatives of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) where discussions were held on the government's continual violation of the Rule of Law and the transgressing of the constitutionally protected right of unionised workers to collective bargaining.

In a press statement, the GTUC said that imposition of wages and salaries, irrespective of the sum, violated the principles of collective bargaining and the international conventions which the Government of

Guyana is a signatory to.

"GTUC condemns, in the strongest possible terms, continuous descend into lawlessness and warns actions like these do not augur well for citizens' welfare and legitimacy of any government," the statement read.

"No government that believes in the Rule of Law, which governs modern society, would flagrantly continue to violate the tenet on which modern societies is built," the statement added.

According to the GTUC, it is hoped that the court can move expeditiously in addressing the collective bargaining case placed before it, noting that it remains a travesty in this society that workers/citizens must revert to the court to ensure respect for basic rights.

"GTUC calls on the Government and its allies to honour the Rule of Law and acknowledge the importance of same to a harmonious working climate, production and productivity."

The union pointed out that Article 23 (1) of the Trade Union Recognition

Memorandum of Understanding. It is either that the original memorandum has to be reworked, or that the part about 'understanding' needs some refurbishing. In civil circles, this is called a clearer, better meeting of the minds.

They had better hurry to find some sweet spot beyond the gentleman's agreement of a MoU, for the gas-to-energy affair at Wales is galloping forward on adrenaline and steroids.

What is holding it up after those bright smiles and bonhomie of Blinken, Ali, and Jagdeo, all fine fellows.

Don't tell me that was forced for the photo op. Somehow, I get the impression that this US$2 billion loan 'promise' by the Americans is going around in circles. The winds blowing from the Far East may have something to do with that state.

Permit me a moment of mischief: why then is US$2 billion going from month to

month without being credited to Guyana's account, and with the Government of Guyana most keenly interested to put their neat little paws on those crisp Yankee greenbacks? What is it that David Sena of the US EXIM could be labouring so hard over, had to leave the snows of Washington to come to Georgetown? What conditions (likely new) have come into play, and which the US is making sure is laid out to the letter? The MoU for the loan still stands, or it doesn't. C'mon, let's get a move on, will we? The borrower seriously wants it, and the creditor did sign-on to the idea, so what's the holdup, folks? The Chinese are waiting, and they are neither fussy about conditions for loans extended, nor squeamish about how the loans are spent. So, to cry out like Marvin Gaye: 'what's going on?'

Dr. Singh definitely has

some answers to these questions, but he is not known to being responsible for any sunken vessels.

Not a veteran Lodge man of his caliber. Who would have imagined this: Guyana going a week, then two, without a broadside against Exxon, or a sortie aimed at Mr. Alistair Routledge, or a hostile word against the PPP Government and its errant luminaries?

Why even Bharrat Jagdeo erected a stage for himself to demonstrate how much of a statesman and patriot he is. It has been a lean season for those who have what it takes to make him do his best Little Richard imitation. Maduro and his roiling referendum took care of all of that fancy business, and it has not been fun. In one fell swoop, Nicolás Maduro Moros directed all attention at himself, and all the others in

the Guyana environment got an early and extended Christmas. Now there is Dr. Ashni Singh holding the equivalent of secret and shaky talks with EXIM's David Sena about a US$2 billion revolving line, which has seemingly run out of gas.

No sire, it is not revolving at all, and I wonder what line Dr. Singh is going to come up with for his fellow Guyanese.

Those with inquiring minds want to know. I do, so tell us Dr. Singh.

There is so much that Guyanese need to know about this Wales gas-toenergy caper.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this newspaper and its affiliates.)

Govt. warns GTUC to sue govt. over imposition boat operators of pay hike for public servants not to arbitrarily hike fares

President of the GTUC, Norris Witter Law expressly states: “Where a Trade Union obtains a certificate of recognition for workers comprised in a bargaining unit in accordance with this Part, the employer shall recognised the Union, and the union and the employer shall bargain in good faith and enter into negotiations with each other for the purpose of Collective Bargaining.” The workers deserve no less.

According to the GTUC, there is no reason why the government cannot honour the very law they helped draft and passed if its intent towards all the citizens of Guyana is honourable and non-discriminatory. "To this end, the Central Executive has taken a decision to move to the court to seek legal remedy as it commences action of sensitizing workers throughout the country as to the dangers of only addressing the quantum of its increase while at the same time turning a blind eye to the violation committed by this government."

The GTUC said its meeting further commenced the examination of a proposed Plan of Action arising from the decision of congress.

Among those decisions are reconstruction of the women and youth arm, focusing on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2030 and deconstructing GTUC 15point plan in its pursuit of social, economic and political justice for the working class, past, present and future.

The government has once again issued a stern warning against unauthorised increases in transport fares.

Public Works minister, Bishop Juan Edghill has called on citizens to report any instances of overcharging, and these will be swiftly addressed by the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), and the ministry.

He gave the assurance on Tuesday at the Arthur Chung Conference Center, as the Parliamentary Committee of Supply approved $79 million in supplementary funding for the provision of additional resources to support the Transport and Harbours Department.The minister was responding to concerns raised by Opposition Member of Parliament Juretha Fernandes regarding operators requesting more than the approved fare of $2500 for passengers travelling the Parika/Bartica route.

Taking into consideration the Christmas season, when such exploitation becomes more frequent, Minister

Edghill reminded that the government has not approved any increases in fares.

“All speedboat services in Guyana operate and are regulated by the Maritime Administration Department.

The speedboats put themselves into a turn system, and they are organised by their respective associations. However, MARAD, nor the government of Guyana have sanctioned, approved or condoned overcharging from minibuses, speedboats, or even when it comes to aircraft fares.

We pay careful attention to these, and we have been monitoring it,” he said.The public works minister added that the government is dedicated to the maintenance of law and order, as well as protecting citizens from exploitation.

I m p o r t a n t l y, h e highlighted that operators benefit from government concessions, such as the removal of excise tax on fuel to cushion the global rise in fuel prices.

Thursday December 21, 2023

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Govt. sends police to the US to serve summons on Rickford Burke The Guyana Government on December 13 sent a policeman to the United States of America (USA) to serve political commentator Rickford Burke with a court summons, police confirmed on Wednesday.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) explained that it had filed two charges against Burke in his absence on August 18, 2023, after issuing two wanted bulletins for him in 2021 and 2022 respectively.

The charges were filed at the Vigilance Magistrate's Court but Burke was not present.

“As such, the Magistrate ordered that the 'defendant summons' be prepared and served on Rickford Burke to attend the Vigilance Magistrate's Court

on the 28th day of March 2024,” police revealed.

The summons was reportedly prepared and on December 13, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Rodwell Sarabo boarded a plane and headed to the US, with orders that he delivers the document to Burke's residence.

“On the 16th December 2023, ASP Rodwell Sarabo met with Mark Wesserman, a Process Server based in the United States of America and they served both defendant summons on Rickford Burke at his home address at Maple Street, Brooklyn, New York,” police said.

In 2021, the police issued a wanted bulletin for Burke, stating that he had allegedly engaged in, the excitement of

The wanted fugitives implicated in the murder of the police rank.

hostility or ill-will on the grounds of Race, under the Racial Hostility Act, sedition under the Cyber Crime Act, use of a computer system to coerce and intimidate a person, under the Cyber Crime Act, seditious Libel contrary to common law, seditious libel under the peace under the Summary Jurisdiction Offences Act, inciting public terror under the Criminal Law Offences Act. In 2022, another bulletin was issued for Burke, stating that he had allegedly conspired to commit a felony and the publication of defamation libel in order to extort money from Afras Mohammed, BM Soat's boss.

The GPF warned that the same actions that it has taken

Murdered policeman, Quincy Lewis

Rickford Burke

in summoning Burke to Court will be done for persons who live abroad and engage in criminal activity.

Notably, the Force has not the same for murder suspects and other fugitives living abroad despite issuing wanted bulletins for them.

One such case is the coldblooded murder of one of its own, a police rank, Quincy Lewis.

Lewis had been missing for three years until his skeletal remains were found in April this year buried in a shallow grave at Madewini, Linden-Soesdyke Highway.

Investigations later revealed that the cop was lured into a death trap where he was killed from the bullet of a gun.

Two men have been remanded for being part of

his murder. According to reports, the suspects never confessed to shooting Lewis, but claimed that a woman and her husband committed the heinous crime and they participated in moving the body and transporting it to the location where it was buried.

Police had issued wanted bulletins for the couple, identified as Thakurdial Samaroo, and Naqueeba Zahid Zafarali also known as Naqueeba Zafarali. It was learnt that these individuals fled the jurisdiction.

Kaieteur News understands that the Police Force had received information that they had fled to Suriname after the murder of Lewis.

Despite the fact that the couple was placed on the INTERPOL's 'Red Notice List' and the Force assuring that it will use all legal means necessary to extradite the couple, it has never moved to file charges against the wanted fugitives in their absence.

PAGE 12

Thursday December 21, 2023

Kaieteur News

GAWU and GuySuCo reach agreement to increase wages for sugar workers T h e G u y a n a Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) on Wednesday announced that it has reached a breakthrough culmination of negotiations with the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) which will see “substantial wage increases” for sugar workers.

Those who will benefit i n c l u d e f i e l d foremen/forewomen, and field superintendents, GAWU said.

The successful conclusion of the discussions signifies the result of collaborative efforts and constructive dialogue between GAWU and GuySuCo, the union said. “Both parties acknowledge and appreciate the indispensable contributions made by our dedicated workforce. This agreement stands as a testament to their joint commitment to prioritize the financial well-being and professional development of the sugar workers.”

The union said the

A section of the gathering at a meeting which GAWU held on Wednesday

agreement, “underscores the unwavering dedication of both entities to cultivate a supportive and equitable work environment.

It serves as recognition for the tireless efforts and pivotal role played by our sugar workers in propelling the industry's success and sustainability.”

It was noted that the

“ratified agreement” marks a significant milestone in fostering a harmonious relationship between the two bodies.

It was noted by GAWU that it highlights “a shared objective: to ensure a flourishing and prosperous sugar industry while steadfastly advocating for the welfare, rights, and

dignified livelihoods of our members.”

GAWU said it remains resolute in its commitment to further collaboration with GuySuCo. “Together, we aim to ensure fair treatment for our workforce and collectively steer the industry towards sustained growth and prosperity,” the union said.

Cops who allegedly help bandits rob Chinese national, granted bail

Granted bail: Winston Williams (left), and Julian Smartt (right), at the Georgetown Magistrate's Court.

Two police ranks, who allegedly helped bandits to rob a Chinese national last month, were on Wednesday granted bail in the sum of $500,000 each, after they appeared virtually at the Georgetown Magistrate's Court.

Julian Smartt, 30 of Guyhoc Park, Georgetown and Winston Williams, 25 of Grove, East Bank Demerara

(EBD) are accused of escorting bandits to and from a robbery scene with police sirens on November 29, 2023 from the Prashad Nagar Police Outpost, robbing a Chinese national Qi Li Lin, of $8 million.

The police related that the investigators are still to arrest the armed bandits for the robbery but a comprehensive (Continued on page 15)

Thursday December 21, 2023

Kaieteur News

PAGE 13

Govt. pushing ahead with gas strategy despite no clear plan to prevent more multi-billion dollar losses to Exxon Govt. pushing ahead with gas strategy despite no clear plan to prevent more multibillion dollar losses to Exxon The government is moving forward with the finalization of a national gas strategy, even though it is yet to outline how it will prevent even more revenue loss as well as control over the nation's gas resources to ExxonMobil. This concern has to do with the contentious Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), known for its bias towards international oil companies ExxonMobil, Hess, and CNOOC. The government's focus on gas renews the conversation about the skewed terms of the Stabroek Block PSA because, even though the generic fiscal terms of the deal are lopsided, the terms on gas have the potential to make the situation even worse for Guyana. The contract's current conditions, including a 2% royalty rate, a 75% cap on cost recovery, a 50-50 profit-sharing model, and effective tax waivers, have faced extensive criticism. The contract also has a stability clause that substantially restricts Guyana from securing a better financial deal.

Turning to gas, the contract's non-associated gas clause grants ExxonMobil and its partners a potential avenue to negotiate even more favourable terms if they believe that is what the situation requires.

The contract states, “When the Contractor has provided Notice to the Minister… of a NonAssociated Gas discovery within the Contract Area that is of potential commercial interest, the Contractor shall inform the Minister whether

the Contractor believes such discovery is potentially commercial under the current Agreement terms, or if Contractor requires revised fiscal terms or contract terms under the agreement to proceed with a Development Plan.”

“The Contractor shall propose revisions to the Agreement to the Minister as the basis for entering into good faith negotiations on revised terms that can provide the Contractor with a commercially competitive return on investment for development of the NonAssociated Gas discovery.”

In other words, this provision gives Exxon the power to bring the government back to the negotiating table to secure more benefits on gas exploitation that are in the company's favour. Unlike the Stabilization clause in the contract, this leaves no room for the government to be in agreement or not. It also shows that the contract makes room for renegotiation, but only if it benefits the contractor.

These potential gas deal renegotiations for Exxon may come at a time when the fairness of the existing fiscal terms is already under intense scrutiny and criticism, raising concerns about exacerbating the inequity of the contract.

The government is actively working on its first n a t i o n a l g a s s t r a t e g y, recognizing the immense potential of its offshore gas reserves. ExxonMobil, after lining up a series of oil projects, is beginning to turn its attention to gas resources.

This shift in focus is evidenced by ExxonMobil's recent drilling at the Haimara2 appraisal well, following the discovery of a gas field at

Haimara-1 in 2019.

There is an estimated 17 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in the Stabroek Block.

Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has cautioned that if ExxonMobil does not actively monetize these gas reserves, Guyana would request that the blocks be relinquished to the government, so it can explore partnerships with other interested companies.

Kaieteur

Stabroek Block

Canje

The Stabroek Block

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Thursday December 21, 2023

Labour Ministry investigating Buck Hall accident The Occupational Safety and Health Department of the Ministry of Labour has launched an investigation into Monday's fatal accident at Buck Hall, Aurora, Region Seven which claimed the life

of truck driver, Tyron Anthony.

The 32-year-old man of Supenaam, Essequibo Coast was killed around 17:35hrs on Monday while transporting fuel to the

Chinese-owned Aurora Gold Mines (AGM).

According to police, the tanker the man was driving toppled off a slope at 16 kilometer along the Aurora/Tapir trail in Region

Seven.

According to the Ministry of Labour, Naipaul Persaud OSH Officer with responsibility for Region Seven, was assigned to conduct the investigation to

determine the causes of the accident, and to provide recommendations on how to prevent future accidents. The investigation will begin after AGM submits a report on the accident.

Dead: Tyron Anthony On Tuesday, police said the fuel tanker which Anthony was driving when he met his demise, had mechanical issues.

“Enquiries disclosed that the fuel tanker was proceeding south along the trail, and while negotiating a turn down a slope, the tanker developed a mechanical problem causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle and 'run off' the trail,” police said.

Investigators did not disclose what the mechanical issue was but Kaieteur News understands that the tanker suddenly “cut off” while Anthony was descending the slope. The man was flung out of the truck and the vehicle fell on him, pinning part of his body in the process.

Anthony was not employed by AGM, however the police said he was working with a sub company called Demerara Transportation Limited, which was contracted to transport fuel for the mining operation.

Investigations are continuing.

Kaieteur News

Thursday December 21, 2023

PAGE 15

Canadian gold company in Guyana to sell 12% stake to US firm for CDN$22M G

2 Goldfields Inc., a Canadianbased company, disclosed on Tuesday its agreement with AngloGold Ashanti (AGA), a US-based firm, to finalize a strategic investment deal. AGA has committed to purchasing an 11.7% stake in G2's Guyana mining project for CDN$22,050,000.

January 2024, subject to fulfilling these conditions.

Dan Noone, CEO of G2, expressed enthusiasm about AGA's interest, stating, “We are delighted Anglo Ashanti has confirmed it intends to be a major shareholder in G2. This is a testament to the quality of our assets and exploration team.

Anglo Ashanti's

The Guiana Shield is host to a number of significant deposits including the Aurora (6Moz) and Omai (5Moz) mines and the Toraparu (7.0Moz) deposit in Guyana; the Rosebel (13.7Moz) and Merian (6Moz) mines in Suriname; and the Montagne d'Or (3.9Moz) and Camp Caiman (2.9Moz) deposits

gold ounces.

G2 plans to release a Mineral Resource update in the first half of 2024 and has identified exploration targets within a 20km radius of OKO Main and Ghanie.

These are situated adjacent to Reunion Gold Corporation's OKO West discovery, which published an Indicated and Inferred

strong position in one of the world's key gold provinces with significant potential for new discoveries. We look forward to G2's continued exploration success as the Guiana Shield continues to develop.”

About G2 Goldfields Inc. As stated on the company's website, the G2

Aurora Gold Mine, March 31, 2020).

The Oko Main Zone discovery is the initial fruit of the application of this extensive in-country experience. Ongoing exploration within the 17km long Aremu – Oko trend has generated multiple drill targets, similar in geological setting and scale to Oko

Depictions of the area foreign companies have their mining projects (G2 image)

According to G2's statement, AGA will acquire the 11.7% shares at a rate of $0.90 per share.

Proceeds from this transaction will be directed toward advancing exploration activities at G2's Oko project in Guyana, along with funding, working capital and general corporate needs.

The agreement includes provisions granting AGA pre-emptive and top-up rights for future security issuances by G2.

However, the completion of this strategic investment remains contingent upon the execution of definitive documentation, encompassing customary closing conditions such as approval from the TSX Venture Exchange.

The subscription is anticipated to conclude in

investment will allow us to continue to advance our high grade OKO project whilst aggressively exploring our district scale land package.”

The sale of shares to AGA will be conducted through a private placement in the United States, following exemptions from registration requirements under the United States Securities Act of 1933 and Canadian securities laws.

The shares will be subject to a four-month hold period in accordance with Canadian securities laws.

For its part, AGA expressed confidence in G2's exploration properties, citing significant growth potential within Guyana.

The company highlighted Guyana's position as part of the Guiana Shield, a highly promising gold province globally.

in French Guiana.

AGA noted in its statement that the G2 team, led by Patrick Sheridan, Executive Chairman and Dan Noone, CEO is comprised of professionals who have been directly responsible for the discovery of millions of ounces of gold in Guyana.

N o t a b l y, G 2 h a d previously financed and developed Guyana's largest mine, Aurora, before its sale to China's Zijin Mining in 2020 for US$238 million.

The principal OKO project comprises the OKO Main Zone and Ghanie deposits.

Initial estimates in April 2022 indicated 793,000 indicated tonnes grading 8.63 grams of gold per tonne and 3.3 million inferred tonnes grading 9.25 grams of gold, amounting to 974,000

Mineral Resource of 4.24Moz, grading 1.91 g/t, in June 2023.

Commenting on the subscription to G2 Guyana's mining project, Alberto Calderon, CEO of AngloGold Ashanti said, “This strategic investment in G2 will provide us with a

Goldfields team is comprised of professionals who have been involved in the discovery of more than 7 million ounces of gold in Guyana and the f i n a n c i n g a n d development of Guyana's largest gold mine (RPA, 43101, Technical Report on the

Main.

The Aremu – Oko district has been a prolific alluvial goldfield since the rush of the 1870's.

Modern exploration by the G2 Goldfields team has begun and continues to reveal the exceptional potential of this district.

Cops who allegedly help bandits rob...

From page 12 investigation was done and it has revealed that the two policemen were involved in the heist.

The two ranks made their second court appearance virtually, before Acting Chief Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus on Wednesday, when the court proceedings were held.

Smartt was represented by Attorney-atLaw Patrice Henry and Williams was represented by Attorney-at-Law Jevon Cox. Both attorneys refuted the claims leveled against their clients.

Each attorney pleaded with the court for bail in reasonable sum whilst requesting of

the court to exercise its discretion. Following that, the Police Legal Advisor, Attorney-atLaw, Mandel Moore, objected to bail on the grounds of the penalty the charges attract, the seriousness of the offences, and the prevalence of the offence. The attorney also pressed on the fact that the accused were policemen.

Notwithstanding the prosecution's objection, the Magistrate noted that the court is inclined to granted bail to the accused.

Subsequently, bail was granted to each defendant with the attached condition that they report to the Brickdam Police Station from December 21, 2023.

PAGE 16

Kaieteur News

Thursday December 21, 2023

Suriname’s ex-dictator sentenced to 20 years in prison for the 1982 killings of political opponents

WANTED

SERVICES

Nanny needed for 3 months old baby. Call: 223-5273/74.

Elevate your brand with our professional Graphic design services. Call: 619-0007, 6295526.

Workers and Cook needed for Issanno mining operation. Call: 695-6401.

One male and female ablebodied Staff needed to work in a store. Call: 225-2313, 2261497, 658-8559.

1 Welder/ Fabricator needed to work in the Interior. Call: 701-4000 between 8am-4pm.

One Domestic/ Cleaner needed to work 2 times per week at 192 Duncan St, Kitty.

Call: 613-7651/ 649-3783.

Business/ residential PFSGYD$58M, Visa Application, advertisements, graphics design, passport application forms & i130 application.

Call: 626-7040.

Repair & install fridge, freezer, washer & dryer, AC units, stove, etc. Whatsapp/ Call Omar: 683-8734 or 6549511.

Females to pluck chicken in Georgetown Call: 219-2170 / 225-4156.

Night Guard for Soesdyke and C/Ville area. Call: 2275222 / 219-2170.

FOR SALE Tundra for sale, GKK5670.

1.8 Mil neg. Call: 668-5034.

571 Culvert City housing scheme, Lethem. 4 bedrooms bungalow. Call: 660-9035/ 699-0785.

VACANCY Carpenters, Labourers, Masons & skilled men wages $7,000-$10,000 per day & Labourer 5-6K per day. Call: 650-1394, 692-7110.

Receptionist, Room Attendant, Deskstaff, Laundry Attendant & Security Guard, Handyman needed at. Call: 225-0198.

2 qualified Pharmacy Assistant needed. Send application to Patient need's Pharmacy, Stall 16-18 Section A, Bourda market.

Male & female needed to work in the Interior, ages 18 years and older. Call: 6998486, 614-1819, 674-9999.

VEHICLES FOR SALE 1 Honda CRV, includes TV, music system, alarm, reverse camera, sproiler, crashbar, low mileage PTT Series (first owner). Contact: 649-0956.

One BMW X1, Doctor owned & driven, sunroof, leather interior excellent condition. Call: 226-4531/ 622-4488.

FOR RENT Commercial building for rent at Zeelugt public road, E.B.E. 4500 SQ FT. Call: 650-0402/ 652-0251.

(AP)- Suriname’s former dictator Desi Bouterse was sentenced on Wednesday to 20 years in prison for the murders of 15 opponents of the then-military regime in December 1982, ending a historic 16-year legal process.

Bouterse, 78, was previously sentenced in the case in 2019 and in 2021 but had appealed both decisions. The court on Wednesday upheld his conviction and the latest sentencing was seen as final with no more appeals allowed. The judge handed down 20 years given the expresident’s age and that it was the highest sentence allowed at the time of the killings.

“We have received a gem of a verdict,” said Hugo Essed, lawyer for the victims’ relatives, adding that he can now “proudly” say there is an independent constitutional state in

Suriname.

Neither Bouterse, nor his four co-suspects, who were sentenced to 15 years in prison, were present in the courtroom for the sentencing.

Bouterse’s lawyer, Irvin Kanhai, said he disagreed with the verdict and had expected an acquittal, but would go into detail at a later date. “I am going to my client now,” he told journalists.

The former president remains chair of the National Democratic Party and some fear unrest in parts of Suriname.

Die-hard supporters call him “boss” and have maintained they will not accept a conviction. Bouterse has urged calm several times.

Tight security measures were in place in part of the capital of Paramaribo.

Bouterse still has the option of requesting a presidential pardon, but according to Essed, the legislation in Suriname is unclear on the issue. “If a

request for clemency is made, it is not expected that the Court will advise on granting it.”

Henk Kamperveen, the son of Andre Kamperveen, one of the 15 people killed, said it took a long time, but the legal process against Bouterse has finally come to an end. “We’re not going to celebrate,” he added, saying it is not a victory for the relatives, but for the rule of law in Suriname.

Prosecutors had demanded the immediate imprisonment of Bouterse, but the judge did not back the request. “How and when (Bouterse’s imprisonment) will happen is up to the prosecution,” said Essed.

Bouterse led a bloodless coup to become dictator from 1980 to 1987 and was democratically elected president from 2010 to 2020.

He and two dozen others were accused of rounding up well-known people including

lawyers, journalists and a university professor and executing them in 1982 in a colonial fortress in Paramaribo.

The former dictator has accepted “political responsibility” but insists he was not present for the killings known as the “December murders.”

The criminal trial began in 2007, a quarter-century after the events it relates to. A total of 25 suspects were initially accused in the killings. A dozen have been acquitted, six have died and five have been sentenced. Two have been convicted but are believed to have fled Suriname.

Bouterse unsuccessfully tried to push through an amnesty law after being elected in 2010. Then in 2016, he ordered Suriname’s attorney general to halt legal proceedings for alleged national security reasons. A court rejected that.

Thursday December 21, 2023

Kaieteur News

PAGE 17

US releases Maduro ally for 10 Americans in prisoners swap MIAMI (AP) — The United States freed a close ally of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in exchange for the release of 10 Americans imprisoned in the South American country and the return of a fugitive defense contractor known as ”Fat Leonard” who is at the center of a massive Pentagon bribery scandal, the Biden administration announced Wednesday.

The deal represents the Biden administration’s boldest move yet to improve relations with the major oilproducing nation and extract concessions from the selfproclaimed socialist leader.

The largest release of American prisoners in Venezuela’s history comes weeks after the White House agreed to suspend some sanctions, following a commitment by Maduro to work toward free and fair conditions for the 2024 presidential election.

Maduro celebrated the return of Alex Saab as a “triumph for truth” over a U.S.-led campaign of lies, threats and torture against someone his government considers a Venezuelan diplomat who was illegally arrested on a U.S. warrant.

“President Biden,” a defiant Maduro said with Saab at his side for a hero’s welcome at the presidential palace, “Venezuela stands strong, following its own m o d e l . We w o n ’ t b e anyone’s colony.”

The release of Saab, long regarded by Washington as a bagman for Maduro, is a significant concession to the Venezuelan leader. Former President Donald Trump’s administration held out Saab as a trophy, spending millions of dollars pursuing the Colombian-born businessman, at one point even deploying a Navy warship to the coast of West Africa following his arrest in Cape Verde to ward off a possible escape.

U . S . o ff i c i a l s s a i d Biden’s decision to grant him clemency was difficult but essential in order to bring home jailed Americans, a core administrative objective that in recent years has resulted in the release of criminals who once had been seen as untradeable.

The 10 Americans released include six who have been designated by the U.S. government as

wrongfully detained.

“These individuals have lost far too much precious time with their loved ones, and their families have suffered every day in their absence. I am grateful that their ordeal is finally over,” President Joe Biden said in a statement.

The agreement also resulted in the return to U.S. custody of Leonard Glenn Francis, the Malaysian owner of a ship-servicing company who is the central character in one of the largest bribery scandals in Pentagon history.

But the exchange, a major U.S. concession, angered many hard-liners in the Venezuelan opposition who have criticized the White House for standing by as Maduro has repeatedly outmaneuvered Washington after the Trump administration’s campaign to topple him failed.

In October, the White House eased sanctions on Venezuela’s oil industry following promises by Maduro that he would level the playing field for the 2024 election, when he’s looking to add six years to his decade-long, crisis-ridden rule.

A Nov. 30 deadline has passed and so far Maduro has failed to reverse a ban blocking his chief opponent, María Corina Machado, from running for office.

Biden told reporters earlier in the day that, so far, Maduro appeared to be “keeping his comment on a free election.” Republicans, echoing the sentiment of many in the U.S.-backed opposition, said Saab’s release would only embolden Maduro to continue down an authoritarian path.

“Disgraceful decision,” Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, posted on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

The U.S. sanctions remain suspended as part of the deal announced Wednesday. It also requires Maduro’s government to release 21 Venezuelans, including Roberto Abdul, who co-founded a prodemocracy group with Machado more than two decades ago, and dismiss three arrest warrants.

Among the Americans

behind bars in Venezuela are two former Green Berets, Luke Denman and Airan Berry, who were involved in an attempt to oust Maduro in 2019. Also detained are Eyvin Hernandez, Jerrel Kenemore and Joseph Cristella, who were accused of entering Venezuela illegally from Colombia.

More recently, Venezuela arrested Savoi Wright, a 38year-old California businessman.

The U.S. has conducted several swaps with Venezuela over the past few years, including one in October 2022 for seven Americans, including five oil executives at Houstonbased Citgo, in exchange for the release of two nephews of Maduro’s wife jailed in the U.S. on narcotics charges. Like that earlier exchange, Wednesday’s swap took place on a tarmac in the Caribbean island nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Saab, who turns 52 on Thursday, hugged his wife and two young children as he descended the staircase of a private jet at the Simon Bolivar International Airport. Also present to welcome him was Venezuela’s first lady, Cilia Flores.

It was a stark reversal from the scene on another tarmac, in Cape Verde, where he was arrested in 2020 during a fuel stop en route to Iran to negotiate oil deals on behalf of Maduro’s government. The U.S. charges were conspiracy to commit money laundering tied to a bribery scheme that allegedly siphoned off $350 million through state contracts to build affordable housing. Saab was also sanctioned for allegedly running a scheme that allegedly stole hundreds of millions in dollars from food-import contracts at a time of widespread hunger mainly due to shortages in the South American country.

After his arrest, Maduro’s government said Saab was a special envoy on a humanitarian mission and was entitled to diplomatic immunity from criminal prosecution under international law.

J o s e p h S c h u s t e r, a lawyer for Saab, welcomed his client’s reunion with his family. “We are also very happy for the American

Venezuelan President Maduro, right, receives Alex Saab at Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023.

The United States freed Saab, who was arrested on a U.S. warrant for money laundering in 2020, in exchange for the release of 10 Americans imprisoned in Venezuela, U.S. officials said Wednesday. (Reuters) citizens who will be able to rejoin their families for Christmas,” he said.

There was no mention of Saab’s past secret meetings with the U.S. Drug E n f o r c e m e n t Administration. In a closeddoor court hearing last year, Saab’s lawyers said that he was for years helping that agency untangle corruption in Maduro’s inner circle and had agreed to forfeit millions of dollars in illegal proceeds from corrupt state contracts.

But the value of the information he shared with the Americans is unknown; some have suggested it may have all been a Maduroauthorized ruse to collect intelligence on the U.S. law enforcement activities in Venezuela. Whatever the case, Saab skipped out on a May 2019 surrender date and shortly afterward was charged by federal prosecutors in Miami.

Meanwhile, millions of Venezuelans who have chosen to remain in their country continue to live in poverty. The minimum wage is about $3.60 a month, just enough to buy a gallon of water. The low wages and high food prices have pushed more than 7.4 million people to leave the country.

The deal is the latest concession by the Biden administration in the name of bringing home Americans jailed overseas, including a high-profile prisoner exchange last December when the U.S. government — over the objections of some Republicans in Congress and criticism from some law enforcement officials — traded Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout for WNBA star Brittney Griner.

The swaps have raised concerns that the U.S. is incentivizing hostage-taking abroad and producing a false equivalence between Americans who are wrongfully detained abroad and foreigners who have been properly prosecuted and convicted in U.S courts.

“What happened to the separation of powers?” said Juan Cruz, who oversaw the White House’s relations with Latin America while working at the National Security Council from 201719. “Normally you would have to wait a defendant to be found guilty in order to be able to pardon him for a swap. This is an especially bad precedent with a Trump 2.0 potentially around the corner. It invites winking and nodding from the executive.”

But Biden administration officials say securing the freedom of wrongfully detained Americans and

hostages abroad requires difficult dealmaking.

Making this deal more palatable to the White House was Venezuela’s willingness to return Francis.

Nicknamed “Fat Leonard” for his bulging 6foot-3 frame, Francis was arrested in a San Diego hotel nearly a decade ago as part of a federal sting operation.

Investigators say he bilked the U.S. military out of more than $35 million by buying off dozens of top-ranking Navy officers with booze, sex, lavish parties and other gifts.

Three weeks before he faced sentencing in September 2022, Francis made an escape as stunning and brazen as the case itself as he snipped off his ankle monitor and disappeared. \He was arrested by Ve n e z u e l a n p o l i c e attempting to board a flight from Caracas and has been in custody since.

PAGE 18

Kaieteur News

Thursday December 21, 2023

Thursday December 21, 2023

Kaieteur News

PAGE 19

Kaieteur News

PAGE 20

Thursday December 21, 2023

Bishops’ High and University of Guyana record West Demerara Cricket victories in Titan Bowl XII Basketball tourney Association 40 Overs Tournament underway

Bishops’ High School and University of Guyana were on winners’ row in competition in the Titan Bowl XII Basketball tournament currently being played.

In Game 1 of the latest round, Bishops’ High School scored 67 points to defeat Linden Technical Institute on 48 points.

Carmelo Mansonhing (29 pts, 4ast, 7rbs) and Matthias Arrindell (27pts, 7ast, 7rbs) led the winners, while for Linden Technical Institute Lerone Joseph (13 pts, 11pts) and Julian Gordon (13pts, 8rbs) were the standouts.

I n t h e Te r t i a r y Knockout, Game 2 on the day resulted in University of Guyana recording 64

Joshua Rahaman

Avinash Shardandan

The West Demerara Cricket Association has started a new 40 Overs To u r n a m e n t w h i c h i s sponsor by Businessman Jitendra Kishour and his wife Neelan.

In Recent Matches, Bellevue defeated All Youths by 139 runs. Batting first, Bellevue made 241 with Lucian Sam 66 and Devon Harris 25. Bowling for All Youths, Anthony Carrington took 2 for 37.

A l l Yo u t h s w e r e restricted to 102 all out with H. Persaud making 28.

Bowling for Bellevue, Joshua Loknauth took 2 for 10 and Randy Ramrup 2 for 16.

At Canal Sports Club Ground, VNS Cricket C l u b t r a s h e d We s t Demerara Legends by 231 runs. VNS compiled 274 for 9, Michael Subadar 99, Aditya Kadarnauuth 88 and Mohan Chaitram 37 were the lead run scorers. Bowling for Legends, Chris Mangal 4 for 18 and Avinash Shardandan 3 for 35 took the wickets.

Legends were skittled out for 43 with Ravindra Ramnarine top scoring with 14. Bowling for VNS Aditya Kadarnauuth bagged 6 for 13.

At Goed Fortuin Ground, La Grange beat Goed Fortuin 90 runs. La Grange hit 213 all out with Tyron Carrington 45 and Naresh Persaud 61.

Bowling for Goed Fortuin,

Jarmain Ramroop picked up 3 for 28. Goed Fortuin in reply limped to 123 all out with K. Famery 37. Bowling for La Grange, Christopher Gurdyal took 2 for 23.

Canal Sports Club defeated West Demerara Legends by 204 runs. Canal hit 271 all out with Narendra Persaud 126, Vishwanauth Jadunath 40 and Yogendra Singh 36.

Bowling for

Bishops’ High School were on winners’ row. points with Jether Harris (19pts,4rbs), Kobe Tappin (12pts, 5rbs), Jushawn Bailey (12pts, 7rbs) and Leandre Abrams (11pts) to brush aside New A m s t e r d a m Te c h n i c a l Institute with 49 points.

Charles Williams (27pts,

9rbs) and Qwesi Joseph (8pts) were the top shots for the losers.

The Titan Bowl XII and Tertiary Knockout dual tournaments have received the generous support from the following community Partners- Banks DIH LTD,

ENET, John Fernandes, Starlite Trading, Pizza Hut, Thai Express, P & P Insurance Brokers, Praetorian Executive Protection, Real Value, Housty Design, KW Guyana, GTT, Ronald Burch Smith and NSC.

Narendra Persaud

L e g e n d s , Av i n a s h Shardandan captured 5 for 38 and Imtiaz Sadik 2 for 46.

Legends were all out for 67 as Tikoo Safeek 19 and Chris Mangal 12 were the lead batsmen. Bowling for Canal Joshua Rahaman claimed 5 for 11 and Emmanuelle Martin 3 for 3.

The Competition continues this Sunday with five matches on the West Coast and West Bank Demerara.

Kaieteur News

Thursday ThursdayDecember November21, 24,2023 2022

PAGE 21 19

West Dem’ cops GOAPC/Mike Pharmacy Inaugural Climb Guyana Cup set... & Friends Trophy Tapeball Championship

West Dem Secondary School team Captain Christopher Persaud receiving championship trophy form Tournament Co-coordinator James Lewis.

The latest chapter of the Georgetown Office Assistants Promotion Competition (GOAPC) wrapped up its final event of 2023 at Durban Park’s Tarmac this past Saturday.

T h e We s t D e m e r a r a Secondary School continued their winning streak, securing the championship title by triumphing over Beterverwagting (BV) Secondary in the final and claiming the coveted MIKE PHARMACY AND

Friday December 21, 2023 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) This is a climactic time for you, and you may feel like your world is caving in. You may desperately try to hold the keystone in place so that the whole structure doesn't fall.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Your mood should turn toward getting things underway. This may mean that you need to get certain things out of your way, including people. Don't be afraid to take action as necessary in order to get your point across.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Gifts of pleasure could be bestowed upon you with little or no effort on your part.

Regardless, it may be hard for you to sit still, since just about everything seems to be going your way, especially in matters of the heart.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You might be put off by other people's comments. You'll find their behavior rude. You may break from your normal good manners and start to lash out at people around you.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You're on an emotional high.

You feel like a soaring eagle.

Your behavior may seem rather primal and animalistic, but this is fine. See where this instinct takes you.

SAGITTARIUS(Nov.22–Dec.21) Get things started. You have many fantastic ideas. Really, the hardest thing for you now is to choose which one to pursue first. Activities that engage your creativity and sensitivity are most appealing now.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) You may be asking, "Why me?" in almost every realm of your life today. For some reason it seems that everyone but you has exactly what they want. Perhaps you're just being too picky.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Your heartstrings may not feel particularly strong, and this situation isn't likely to get any better today when you find that people are insensitive to your situation.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Draw your strength from your sense of self. There isn't another person like you, so capitalize on this and move forward in the way that only you can. There's a great deal of bravery in your heart asking you to take risks that you may not have considered before.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) The fog has finally lifted and you're able to see clearly again.

Make sure you're awake and alert, because the gun is about to go off and the starting gates are about to open. You have the ability to take the lead, especially when it comes to matters involving love and romance.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) At first you may be taken aback by someone's aggressive approach to people and situations, but then you may see that really, this person has something important you can learn from.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Light a candle and make a wish. See the flame as a symbol of the transformation and passion within you. Your heart may feel restless. The flame flutters as a result of the passing wind.

FRIENDS TROPHY. Six schools vied for the top spot in the tournament, culminating in a showdown between West Demerara and BV Secondary in the ultimate clash. West Demerara took the batting stance first, setting a formidable target of 92-2 within their allocated 6 overs. Captain Christopher Persaud led the charge, showcasing a scintillating half-century performance and finishing with an impressive 61 runs.

In response, BV Secondary attempted to chase down the target but could only muster 73-5 in their 6 overs. Despite a valiant effort, Z. Mohammed stood out for BV with a resilient score of 39 runs in a losing cause.

Concluding the tournament, James “Uprising” Lewis, the tournament coordinator, presided over the trophy and medal presentation. The championship title and accolades were awarded to t h e We s t D e m e r a r a Secondary School team, acknowledging their outstanding performance in yet another impeccably organised GOAPC event.

From page 24 condensed format promises to deliver fast-paced and actionpacked games, keeping the excitement levels high throughout the tournament.

Climb Guyana Founder Amanda Wilson-Falloon said the tournament, which is a fusion of the company’s Christmas festivities and commemoration of its third anniversary, will showcase the exceptional skills and passion of the top teams in North Rupununi.

“We have had another amazing year collaborating once again with various villages across the Rupununi to promote local tourism through thrilling competitions. One standout event was the Republic Race held in February in partnership with Rockstone Village, which left a lasting impression on both participants and spectators,” shared Wilson-Falloon.

“Building on this success, we decided to combine our Christmas and anniversary celebrations, creating a unique and unforgettable experience. As Climb Guyana reached its monumental third milestone in November, we are thrilled to return to the vibrant landscapes of the Rupununi, ready to showcase a captivating blend of talent and camaraderie with the highly anticipated launch of the Climb Guyana Cup.” The opening ceremony will feature remarks by Rupununi Football Association (RFA) President Norbert Williams, North Rupununi Football Association (NRFA) John Abraham, Aranaputa Chairwoman Gillian Rodrigues and Climb Guyana Region Nine Director Alphonso King.

PAGE 22

Kaieteur News

Thursday December 21, 2023

One Guyana Kings and Queens Sand Football in Linden

Knockout stage begins Chase’s Academic quietly exit the 2023 - Going down 1-0 to St Benedict’s tonight with two matches, KFC Goodwill Series College, Clarendon remains unstoppable Guyana’s Chase v i c t o r y. R o m a r i o n double header for queens’ Academic St Benedict’s Foundation faced Thompson netted the first Josiah Ochoa a tough defeat against goal for Clarendon College competition also planned Trinidad and Tobago’s St. in the 16th minute, followed strike denied The men’s knockout stage in this year’s One Guyana $1M Kings Sand Football begins with a double header tonight as sixteen teams remain, while the women’s tournament, which has at stake $400,000 for the victorious team, gets underway also under floodlights with two matches in the opening round of the Queen’s competition at the People’s Progressive Party /Civic ground next to its Linden Office in Mackenzie. In the first match of the men’s knockout, Golden Stars B, who ended second place in Group D, will take on Group C’s Gorillas who also placed second in their group. That game will be followed by one to start the women’s championship as Aroiama FC seek a win when they face Dynamo at 8.20pm.

The second game in this female competition will then pit Speightland against Hururu from 9.00pm.

The final game in the men’s tournament will see Group A second place finisher Golden Stars A facing High Flyers, who came out tops in Group H after playing unbeaten.

The next playing date is Christmas Day, December 25, when five more games are scheduled. Two female encounters and three men’s knockout clashes, starting from7.30pm with the first game will be contested.

Benedict’s College on Tuesday in the semi-finals of the 2023 Petra/KFC Goodwill International School’s Under-18 Football Series.

Despite being a dominating force in local School’s football in this ageg r o u p l e v e l , C h a s e ’s Academic suffered their second loss of the tournament against St. Benedict’s with a disappointing 1-0 loss.

The match was a tense showdown with both teams showcasing strong defensive tactics. Despite numerous attempts on goal from both sides, neither team managed to break the deadlock for

Chase Academy a spot in the final.

most of the game. It was in the 93rd minute that Trinidad’s Josiah Ochoa scored the decisive goal, securing a last-gasp victory for St. Benedict’s in extra time and securing their spot

in the final.

Earlier in the opening semi-final, Clarendon College, a regional powerhouse, outplayed S u r i n a m e ’s V W O - 4 , clinching an impressive 3-1

by Daniel Clark’s impressive strike in the 31st minute, putting them 2-0 ahead in the first half. Although VWO-4 attempted a comeback, scoring in the 50th minute, Deandre Gallimore (Jamaica) dashed their hopes with a goal during stoppage time, sealing the win for Clarendon College.

The final showdown between St. Benedict’s College and Clarendon College promises to be an exciting encounter, scheduled to take place tomorrow at the Ministry of Education ground. Both teams are geared up to battle for the championship in what is expected to be an intense and fiercely contested match.

Lewis, Latif, Nanan maul ECCA as Georgetown lift DCB U15 Inter-Association 50 Overs Title

GCA U15 dominated the DCB Inter-Associations U15 50-Over tournament on their way towards hoisting the title.

- GCA captain Lewis given Most Runs/MVP award Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) U15 stormed to a title they practically owned having dominated the tournament, capping off their whirlwind run by handing the ECCA a 7-run defeat on Tuesday.

Going 4 of 4 from their last string of matches, the GCA took full control of their final assignment at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) Ground, mowing down ECCA for a measly 51.

Georgetown skipper Emanuel Lewis bagged 3-7 while Trilok Nanan (3-6) and the consistent Riyad Latif (3-6) who copped the MVP award of finals, completely bamboozled their opponents after electing to bowl first.

Ravin Singh (20*) and Kush Seegobin (16) added 39 before Nanan (8*) returned to celebrate his brilliance with the ball, by hitting a six to see GCA end on 54-4 in 15.4 overs.

Lewis was given the award for the Most Runs of the tournament with 205. The GCA Skipper also finished as the tournament’s

GCA U15 Captain Emanuel Lewis accepts one of his many awards including the winning championship trophy, from Shawn Messiah.

Most Valuable Player (MVP), while Munesh Outar and Anek Haimnarine finished as the joint leading wicket-takers with 10 scalps each.

Thursday December 21, 2023

Kaieteur News

PAGE 23

GTTA launches CNOOC Petroleum Ltd Nationwide National Table Tennis C/Ship T h e G u y a n a Ta b l e Tennis Association (GTTA) k i c k e d o f f i t s groundbreaking Nationwide National Schools Tennis Championship yesterday with an impressive launch at the Ministry of Education’s National Centre for Education Resource Development (NSERD) building located in Kingston, Georgetown. This momentous event not only marked the inauguration of this championship but also witnessed a significant milestone—the signing of a sponsorship agreement between GTTA and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited.

Among the distinguished guests present was Minister of Education Priya Manickchand, executives from CNOOC Petroleum Limited including President Liu Xiaoxiang and Counsellor Huang Rui, as well as GTTA President Godfrey Munroe. Alongside them were other dignitaries, local tennis stars, and enthusiastic students from various schools.

This championship has been made possible through the generous sponsorship of 4.5 million Guyana dollars

by CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, as part of a strategic partnership facilitated by the Guyana Table Tennis Association.

This collaboration supported by the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport, promises a transformative impact on the tennis landscape in the country.

For the first time in its history, the championship will adopt a nationwide approach, encompassing Independent Regional Schools competitions across regions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, and Georgetown. These competitions aim to identify and celebrate individual school teams and singles champions in eight categories within each region. The pinnacle of the tournament will be the national competition featuring the champion school teams from each category.

Furthermore, in regions 1, 8, and 9 (hinterland), the focus will be on hosting novice competitions, providing tennis tables, and continuing training for student athletes and teachers.

This initiative aims to foster skill development and support in these regions, contributing to their overall growth.

The tournament will unfold as 11 independent regional championships across 11 administrative regions, featuring eight categories encompassing boys and girls teams, singles

GTTA President, Godfrey Munroe during his featured address at yesterday’s launch.

CPGL Executives Liu Xiaoxiang and Huang Rui, GTTA President Godfrey Munroe, Education Minister Priya Manickchand, Female Tennis star Chelsea Edghill seated, flanked by representative from various schools and other dignitaries during the launch at NCERD. and novice events.

Meanwhile, during the c e r e m o n y, M i n i s t e r Manickchand emphasized the significance of human resource development through sports, aligning it

with the ongoing infrastructural development initiatives in the country.

G T TA H e a d , M u n r o e extended gratitude to CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited and their partners in

China, acknowledging the strengthened commitment between Guyana and China over the years. He expressed delight in inaugurating a tournament that aims to benefit all Guyanese.

The tournament is set to commence in the upcoming weeks and will continue until February 9th, 2024, promising a thrilling showcase of tennis talent across the nation.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 24

Thursday December 21, 2023

CWI names 15-man squad for two-match ICC Test Champs series against Australia SportsMax - Cricket West Indies (CWI) Senior Men’s Selection Panel yesterday announced the 15member squad to travel to Australia to play a two-Test series as part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) from 17 to 29 January 2024.

West Indies will again be led by Captain Kraigg Brathwaite, with fast bowler Alzarri Joseph named as the new Vice Captain. The squad will arrive in Australia on 30 December and will hold a preparation camp from 2 – 9 January in Adelaide, followed by a Four (4) Day First Class warm-up match against a Cricket Australia XI at the Karen Rolton Oval (KRO) in Adelaide from 10 – 13 January.

Imlach and Sinclair among new faces

Kevin Sinclair

Tevin Imlach

The selectors have named several uncapped players in the squad. Among them are batter Zachary

McCaskie, wicket-keeper Tevin Imlach; allrounders Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge and Kevin Sinclair, as

well as fast bowlers Akeem Jordan and Shamar Joseph.

This, as Jayden Seales is unavailable for selection due to a shoulder injury, while Jason Holder and Kyle Mayers are unavailable as both expressed a preference t o e x p l o r e Tw e n t y 2 0 Franchise opportunities in January.

Speaking about the make-up of the squad, CWI Lead Selector, The Most Honourable Dr. Desmond Haynes said: ”The squad has b e e n a ff e c t e d b y t h e unavailability of some key players. However, we have had a very strong red-ball program being run over the p a s t y e a r, w h i c h h a s

Cricket West Indies will battle Australia in the two-Test series. unearthed significant talent throughout the region. The selected players have passed each test given to them and must now be given the opportunity to showcase their skills in the test arena.

Australia away is always a challenge, but we are confident in our team.”

The two teams will again compete for the Frank Worrell Trophy – named in honor of the legendary West Indies all-rounder and captain.

The first Test will be a red ball fixture at the Adelaide Oval from 17 to 21 January, and the second, a pink ball Day/Night contest at the Gabba in Brisbane from 25 to 29 January.

This is West Indies second Test Series out of a total of six to play in the new 2023-2025 ICC WTC cycle.

The Test Series against Australia will be the first of three away series that West Indies will play in the WTC. West Indies drew one Test match and lost one against India in August.

Following the Test Series, West Indies will face

Australia in three One-Day International and three T20 Internationals, and these squads will be announced at a later date.

FULL SQUAD 1. Kraigg Brathwaite (Captain) 2. Alzarri Joseph (ViceCaptain) 3. Tagenarine Chanderpaul 4. Kirk McKenzie 5. Alick Athanaze 6. Kavem Hodge 7. Justin Greaves 8. Joshua DaSilva 9. Akeem Jordan 10. Gudakesh Motie 11. Kemar Roach 12. Kevin Sinclair 13. Tevin Imlach 14. Shamar Joseph 15. Zachary McCaskie Match Schedule (start times in brackets) 17-21 January: 1st Test at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide ( S t a r t Ti m e : 1 5 - 2 0 January 7:30pm Eastern Caribbean/6:30pm Jamaica) 25-29 January: 2nd Test at the Gabba, Brisbane (Start Time: 12 midnight Eastern Caribbean (24-28 January 11pm Jamaica)

Inaugural Climb Guyana Cup set for December 23 Launch in Aranaputa, Rupununi 9 Teams set for the Battle of the North North Rupununi — The pulse of competition will beat loud this holiday season with the December 23rd launch of the inaugural Climb Guyana Cup football tournament - The Battle of the North - in Aranaputa.

Nine exceptional teams are gearing up for an epic showdown for glory and cash prizes at the Aranaputa Sports Ground on December 23 and 24.

FC Basin, Piowamak FC, Strikers, Challengers, Surama/Wowetta, Toka, Three Hills, Spartans and Falcon football clubs are all in the running to become the inaugural champions of the Climb Guyana Cup. A random Open Draw on December 23 will decide which teams will face off against each other in the thrilling knockout first round. At the conclusion of the knockout round, group winners will advance to the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final round. It will be an exhilarating two-day event, where each match will be divided into two twenty-minute halves, resulting in a total playing time of forty minutes. This (Continued on page 21)

Kaieteur News

Thursday December 21, 2023

Talented Joshua Thambaran and Shakquain James for Youth World Boxing Cup in March in Montenegro As the Guyana Boxing Association’s (GBA) continues its thrust on exposing young fighters to international competition, a twomember team has been selected to participate in the prestigious Youth World Boxing Cup from March 3rd–11th in Budva, Montenegro.

Following up from this year, pugilists Joshua Thambaran of the Rosehall Town Jammers Gym and Shakquain James of the Forgotten Youth Foundation Gym will enter the squared circle at the Hotel Splendid Conference & Spa Resort to represent Guyana. The pair will be accompanied by technical officer and national coach Lennox Daniels.

A pre-tournament camp will also be conducted from February 17th to March 3rd. The competition, which is being administered in accordance with IBA Rules and Regulations, will feature 13 weight categories for men and 12 weight divisions for women.

For male fighters, the divisions are: 48kg, 51kg, 54kg, 57kg, 60kg, 63.5kg, 67kg, 71kg, 75kg, 80kg, 86kg, 92kg, and +92kg, whilst 48kg, 50kg, 52kg, 54kg, 57kg, 60kg, 63kg, 66kg, 70kg, 75kg, 81kg, and +81kg will comprise the female segment. All fighters must have been born during the period 2006–2007.

Each resulting divisional winner will be awarded a gold medal, while silver and two bronze medals will be presented to the second and third-place finishers. Special accolades will also be presented to the adjudicated best

Joshua Thambaran

PAGE 25

Derrick Kallicharran wades into Ramnarish Sarwan as Shiv Chanderpaul watch from slip.

Shakquain James.

(Newsroom photo)

Derrick Kallicharran and Friends donate to Port Mourant Cricket Club boxers.

Steve Ninvalle, President of the GBA, said, “The developmental agenda of the GBA is an unending exercise.

2024, like the empirical undertakings of 2023, must and will continue in this manner as we strive to build on our accomplishments so that a breakthrough, which has become a familiar occurrence on the regional circuit, can be realised and achieved once more on the international plane.”

Recognised as the most vocal administrator in Caribbean boxing, Ninvalle further added, “This tournament is the strongest youth championship globally given the calibre of opponents that frequent its squared circle. In the previous two iterations, a total of 15 champions and

35 medalists from various world championships, inclusive of titleholders emanating from European, Asian, and Pan American events, confirmed the competitive and prestigious nature of the event. This is the high level of international participation that is required for development. This development not only applies to the fighters but also to the technical officers, who must match their wits and strategies with those of similarly versed technocrats in their bid and effort to achieve the common goal of success. Guyana must embrace this level of challenge, and adversity if we are to continue to evolve in the right direction and not stagnate and be relegated to simply regional supremacy.”

Former Guyana U/19, Shell Shield and West Indies ‘B’ Team Player and brother of Alvin Kallicharran, Derrick Kallicharran, along with few friends (Roy Ramsammy of Robins Gold Smithing of Canada & Ramjit Singh (New York) also, Pawan of DX Sports (Long Island), recently donated a quantity of cricket balls to the Port Mourant Cricket Club for future matches.

Kallicharran, who now resides in the United States, represented Guyana in Shell Shield Cricket from 19781986 and also toured with the West Indies ‘B’ Team to Zimbabwe in 1983.

This was an initiative of Kallicharran and family. This donation is seen as a timely one for the club as cricket continues in the ancient county.

Kallicharran, a former Port Mourant and Berbice Player, has high hopes that Port Mourant will once again produce cricketers at the highest level for the West Indies.

He has showered praises on Rampertab Ramnauth, Rampersaud Ramnauth and a few others from the club.

The club’s executives would like to express a big thank you to Derrick Kallicharran, his friends and family for the donation.