Kaieteur News

Billions budgeted for health sector not benefiting Guyanese - Opposition

...as AG report flags undelivered drugs

As Guyana gears to thepeople.” by the IDB. Norton said he one of its reports, the IDB NEW GPC. Amounts commence spending another On the other hand, believes the report is on spoke extensively about totalling $6.631 billion were US$97 million loan from the Nortonsaidhebelievesthere point, as an analysis on the access to quality health care paid to the supplier which

a n is a “well orchestrated” plan ground would confirm. The in Guyana. It referenced the includesprioryearpayments Development (IDB) towards by the People’s Progressive situation, according to him, 2021 Global Health Security totalling $683M.” However, the improvement of the Party (PPP) government to is compounded by an Index which measures how at the time of reporting, the health sector, the Opposition use its close associates to unsatisfied workforce that is prepared nations are for Audit Office said supplies has put the country on notice procure drugs on behalf of beingunderpaid. epidemics and pandemics. totalling $478.963M were not to expect benefits, as thecountry,whileinfactthis He therefore concluded, The IDB pointed out that yet to be delivered In budgetaryallocationstodate would serve as an avenue to “I think it is a reflection of Guyana placed 126th out of response to the AG’s havefailedtoreachlocals. makemoneythroughcorrupt the reality and this 195countriesandnexttolast findings, the Ministry of Company, another drug In an invited comment practices. government is not a intheCaribbean,afterHaiti. Healthacknowledgedthatas supplier for the Ministry that last week, the Leader of the “So I think essentially, government that is people- Additionally, theAuditor of September 2022 the received the second highest Opposition, Aubrey Norton we cannot look at the centered.Thisgovernmentis General (AG), Mr Deodat $478.963 million in goods amount in contracts also told Kaieteur News, “I think Budgetary allocations to a government bent on Sharma, in his first full year were yet to be delivered. It failed to deliver the products what we need to understand d e t e r m i n e w h a t i s putting resources in the r e v i e w o f t h e P P P explained, “The remaining on time The Auditor is that expenditure under the happening, we have to look hands of the PPP elite, their Governmenthasfoundthata deliveries are still ongoing General pointed out that, PPP is not expenditure that at the reality and when you friends, families and company owned by the due to logistical constraints “amounts totalling $3.212 thepeoplebenefitfrom.Alot look at the reality on the favourites while the people friend of Vice President that would have impacted billion were paid as at 31 ofitgoestocorruption.” ground, many of the health ofGuyanapunish.” Bharrat Jagdeo, received the entire supply chain December 2021. Of these He went on to explain institutionsthataresupposed Just recently, the IDB over$7billionincontractsto negatively and as per MOH payments, supplies valuing that while reviewing the to have pharmaceuticals, provided Guyana with a supply medical products to s t a g g e r e d d e l i v e r y $695.671M are yet to be Auditor General’s report for shouldhaveacertainamount US$97M loan. That money theMinistryofHealth,butat period ”The Audit Office delivered at the time of 2021, he found that millions [number] of nurses, doctors is set to help Guyanese the time of the audit, over recommended that the Head reporting ” Again, the had been paid over to a etcetera [is lacking,] the authorities strengthen the $478 million in drugs was of the Budget Agency take Ministryconfirmedthatasof company for the supply of OppositionLeaderargued. health care network. As is y e t t o b e the necessary action to September 2022, the goods drugs but are yet to be Just last week, this customary with such loans, delivered.According to the ensure that the drugs and were not delivered due to delivered. To this end, he newspaper reported that theIDBconductsareviewof report, “An examination of medical supplies already logistical constraints. The madehispointthat,“Billions Guyana was ranked second the state of affairs for its the contracts revealed that paid for are delivered as AG gave similar orders to of dollars are budgeted for to last in the Region for borrower and how its loan amounts totalling $7 314 intended Meanwhile, ensure the drugs were health but are not meeting access to quality healthcare will make a difference. In billion were entered with the We s t e r n S c i e n t i f i c delivered.

Leader, Aubrey Norton

Opposition

Kaieteur News

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President bodyguards need training

DEAREDITOR, thewatchword.

PresidentialGuardshouldbe on duty When he was

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

NIGELWILLIAMS

EDITORIAL

REVISITING 52% PROFITS FOR GUYANA

ExxonMobil’s Alistair Routledge has broadcast to the worldthatGuyanaisreceiving52%combinedinprofitsand royalties from its oil. The world hears that, reads that, and absorbsthat,andtheconclusionisthatExxonMobilisvery fair and generous to Guyana. After all, 52% is 52%, and there it stands in all of its fresh, rich, splendors. The unknownpartofthat52%benefittoutedbyExxonMobilis what is left unsaid, the whole kit and caboodle of what depletes and drains away Guyana’s wealth, and leave its citizensswindled,shortchanged,andsuckered. What ExxonMobil’s broadcasts, billboards, and big publicrelationsproductionshaveconvenientlyleftoutofthe 52% number hailed as the best thing that ever happened to Guyana is what was taken out to get to that 52% bandied about so cleverly The truth and reality is that 75% of revenuesmustcomeoutfromthetopfirst,beforethereisany profitcalculation. Therefore,thegrandsounding52%isnot of the whole oil pie, or some reasonably slimmed down version of it to account for fair and accurate expenses. Rather,ExxonMobil’s52%consistsof2%royalty,plushalf (50%) of the 25% that remains after 75% has already been takenoutbytheAmericanoilcompany

When this is taken into consideration, suddenly Mr Routledge’sandExxonMobil’s52%doesnotlooksosweet and pretty; 52% no longer registers as generous and acceptable. Whenthat75%forexpensesissubtractedfrom revenuesbyExxonMobil,thenflashbulbsgooff,andthefirst understandings of ExxonMobil’s games, trickeries and deceptions, take the firmest hold. There are several longstandingfactorsatworkinthissituation. Thefirstisthe history of seasoned and powerful oil companies, and how theyhavedealtwithpoor,unpreparedThirdWorldcountries thatdiscoveroil.

The second is how the new oil-producing countries are totallyatsea,almostcompletelyignorant,ofthedeviousness in motion and, even if they have some idea of the skullduggeries that are going on, how trapped and helpless they are to do anything about it. The third is that when the two realities are put together, how much unaware (even trusting) oil-producing countries can be, and have been, robbed by the stealthy rapaciousness of oil companies. It is howmuchtheruthlessoilcompaniesbenefit,whentheytake targetedcountriesfortheirbillion-dollarrides.

Thisistheperfectstormofcircumstances,ofadvantage and corresponding disadvantage, known to be seized by oil companies for their benefit. In Guyana’s instance, we are staringattensofbillionsinstatedexpenses,whichhavetobe coveredrightoffthetopofouroilrevenues,tothetuneofa rich75%ofthetotalproductionandrevenue. Thereisahuge amount of room in that 75% expenses reserved to absorb someofthebillionsinexpenses,andforwhichExxonMobil has put in its claims, and where untold skullduggeries can flourish. Another massive minus for Guyana is that it doesn’t even have the required auditing expertise locally and,tocompoundmatters,thePPPCGovernment’schargeto a hastily cobbled together audit team is not to conduct a forensicaudit. BillionsofAmericandollarsinexpenses,the dirty reputations of oil companies, the crime (contract) that ExxonMobil committed against Guyanese, and the Guyana Government still did not insist, has not proceeded, with a full-scaleforensicaudit.

Each US billion in expenses for this poor, ill-equipped country is major matter Each billion must be combed through, sifted, filtered, checked, and crosschecked to the tee,becausesomuchisatstake,becausewearesopoor,and because ExxonMobil cannot be trusted to do right thing by Guyana.

Given the PPPC Government’s weaknesses, and leadership failures, ExxonMobil is in the best position imaginable. Itsexpensesarenotscrutinizedastheyshould be,ithasthefriendliestgovernmentpossibleonitsside,and itrakesinunderhandedbillionsfromthoseexpenses,butof whichitisnotsayingaword. Consideringallthis,52%for Guyana is not only flattery, 52% is the worst of costly deceptions, due to the concealed possible billion-dollar robberiesthatcouldbeunderway

As a former bodyguard As a closeman with someone experienced in questioned as to why he and closeman with three Cheddi and Janet, you have Executive Protection and jumped the fence, he said presidents of Guyana, the tobewittyCheddiandHinds Presidential Security The that he works in the film late Cheddi and his wife were not really security PresidentshouldvacateState industryinChinaandtravels JanetJaganandSamHinds,I consciousbutJanetwas.She House; it’s too vulnerable around the world and is was shocked at the incident didn’t want bodyguards and hard to defend. The city staying at a guesthouse at State House. This is a following her but we were has become congested and where he made friends with major security breach that there invisibly, in these traffic has increased in someoftheguyslivinginthe couldhavecausedthelifeof times,securityistoppriority volume, protesters can neighbourhood. more people, how did that I would normally watch swarm the compound and Onenight,theywereona person breach the gate to videos of President Ali overrunsecurity drinking spree and he asked enterStateHouseanddisarm walkabout in Guyana, I can I am thinking that the who lived in that mansion thesentry? tellthathisbodyguardsneed President would have over there and they told him

I remember Eric alotoftraining. constructed a state of the art thePresident. Liverpool, one of the I remember while I was security compound at He said no way because instructors at our training in the uniform section and D’Urban Park where it in his travels to different camp at Timehri would tell worked the overnight tour, would house the official countries, the Presidential usstoriesaboutwhatittakes we were being taken to the residence of the President compound is heavily to be a bodyguard for gardensfordrillsandwhenI andhisoffice.Irememberan guarded so he took a bet to Burnham and would lecture went over to the plain- incident at State House that jump, the next day, he was us about, halt, who goes clothessection,wehadtofall occurred during the Jagan deportedoutofGuyana. there,whenyouareonsentry outforPTunderOvidHardy Presidency, a white Yourstruly andtherulesofengagement, for MartialArts training and American jumped over the S.Harald i n t h o s e d a y s then shooting at Timehri fence at State House and he Formerbodyguardand professionalism, neatness, Rangesmonthly was quickly tackled and closemanforJanet,Cheddi alertness and training were The Head of the brought down by the sentry andHinds

Slave labour was in part responsible for the rapid development of Europe reparations must be a priority

DEAREDITOR, engineeredslavery

be promoted would be the have taken the lead, I look

At the break of dawn In1812,asaresultofthe Government’s active forward anxiously to the yesterday, the BBC in its European contortions, the involvement and support on British, not only taking the global podcast announced British took over this the issue of giving African noblesteptoapologisebutto that the Government of the territory and for over two ancestral lands legal ensure that the Descendants Netherlands (Dutch) made a generations continued the substance No less of the Manumitted Africans public apology for their role practice of slavery I have significant than the exercise areallowedafairshareofthe intheslavetradeandslavery discussed this matter with toensurethattheindigenous National cake. I hope that

The report specifically Mr Eric Phillips, Head people, our Amerindian this Statement by the Dutch referred to Surinam and ACDA,andhealongwithSir Brothers have some control wouldallowoureducational Aruba. The impression I get Hillary Beckles and others and say in the use of their system to inform all is that the Dutch authorities proposed to take this matter lands.Forme,Ihaveargued Guyanese in and out of or those making the report upattheappropriatelevel. earlier that the sums which school that slave labour was seemedtohaveignoredordo The mechanisms for the former enslavers will in part responsible for the not realize that the Dutch Reparation, I have no doubt now make available should rapiddevelopmentofEurope engineered slavery for would be tedious, but swift be utilised in specific areas and that the issue of centurieshereinGuyana. and I hope that our of education and the reparationmustbeapriority

The uprising of 1763 led Government would say development of those Regards, by Cuffy and others was something on this matter ancestrallands. HamiltonGreen againstthebrutalityofDutch Oneoftheissuesthatshould NowthattheNetherlands Elder

Uproar against Exxon’s billboard justified

DEAREDITOR, required cost of capital for the life of the project when The EPA needs to be

The uproar against theinvestment. decommissioning of the leveraged and the fines Exxon’s billboards is What is even worse is wellsiscompleted.Ihopewe imposed for the pollution justified. There is no way that the $13.50 is at risk of are taking the time to audit causedbytheindustryneeds they can make such a claim being further reduced theirexpensesproperly to be substantial to withastraightface. because the expenses are This company’s compensate for the gaps in

Even the expense to also at risk of growing at a mathematicsisprovingtobe the agreement. Withholding decommissionawellisyetto rate that outpaces the similar to that of the the production license for be discussed. One can only revenue, and if a major oil Opposition’s.Findinghalfof newly discovered wells will imagine what additional spill occurs without the a number is now also a surely bring the company problems exist in their proper insurance being in problem for such a major back to the negotiating table expenses which have yet to place, the $13 50 may corporation. for the current and future beproperlyaudited. become negative. Guyana The Government needs agreements.

How can you collect a cannot afford to lose money to sit down with Exxon and Ourleadersknowthatthe $100, give us $2 off the top while increasing depth and work out the kinks in the lack of integrity of the thenpullout$75andsplitthe watchingoursuppliersleave agreement Add the o p p o s i t i o n i n t h e $23 left and then look us in with the lion’s share of the i n s u r a n c e , t h e negotiationswithExxonalso the eye and say that the profits. decommissioning cost and played a part in the $13.50 we have received is Anyonewhosaysthatwe the ring-fencing of the opposition’s loss of power 52%oftheprofitwhenatthe aregettingmorethanhalfof expenses. Making the same mistakes end of the project, you will the profit is misleading the Reintroduce the taxes also have consequences charge me an additional public, especially when you and negotiate a price floor whichmustbeavoided. amount which I will have to consider that all of the for the oil produced. Exxon Withconcern, pay out of the $13 50 expenses are not in the knowswhatafairdeallooks

Mr.JamilChanglee

received The $75 in calculation Whatever we like.Askingnicelyisnotthe Chairman expenses also includes your receive with the current onlywaytocreateawin-win

overhead allocation and the calculation will reduce over atthenegotiatingtable.

No protests from the likes of Dr. Hinds

DEAREDITOR, GuySuCo presided over the people?

Kindly allow me to APNU/AFC government

The WPA Dr Hinds respond to Dr David Hinds’ firing of some 7000 Indian writes, “The Government’s letter in the KN of 12-19- sugar workers and left them resorttowhatitperceivesas 2022 titled, “WPA stands destitute? its right to ensure order in with vendors for balance Dr Hind’s race bias is Georgetown is yet another betweenorderandsurvival.” veryglaring. reminderofourswiftdescent Trust the ghostlike WPA He writes, “Where is the toaPoliceState. tocondemntheGovernment respect for the right of To add insult to injury, for its policy of removing citizens to fend for their this action by the vendors from the vicinity of f a m i l i e s ? I t i s Government is in clear the Georgetown Public unconscionable for a violationoftheseparationof Hospital.TheWPAdoes not Government to forcefully powers between Central exist except in letters to the block poor people from Government and Local editor Whytheirhubbub? making a living in these Government.

GCCI calls out city businesses for improper garbage disposal

DEAREDITOR, t h e i r g a r b a g e for littering and improper

The Georgetown i n d i s c r i m i n a t e l y

disposal. Littering not only Chamber of Commerce and Concurrently, the Chamber negatively impacts the Industry (GCCI) strongly requests that the Mayor and environment, but poses urges all businesses in City Council acknowledge serious health risks that a Georgetown to adhere to their responsibility for populationofoursizecannot proper garbage disposal ensuring timely garbage afford. methods. collection in order to avoid Regards,

Dr David Hinds admits difficulttimes”.

Where is the respect for in his letter that it’s a choice Surelypoorpeoplecome theruleoflaw?” between order and chaos. in all colours, sizes and Dr Hinds should be Whatdoesheexpect? races Yet the WPA reminded that the City

The government was expressed no solidarity, Councilconstantlyseeksthe elected to preserve law and concern or sympathy for central government’s order Dr Hinds’ entire those 7000 sugar workers to subvention to run the city symbiosis with the vendors earn a living. Also, the and repair and rebuild with their unsightly shacks, PPP/Cgovernmenthadhired Georgetown city streets blockingtheentrancewayof some 2000 Amerindian There are no protests from ambulances to enter the workers prior to the thelikesofDr Hinds. GeorgetownPublicHospital APNU/AFCcoalitiontaking Why? Isn’t this central is because the vendors are powerin2015.TheCoalition government action a mostlyAfricans. firedallofthem!Wherewas violationoftheruleoflaw?

No care or sympathy is the WPA or Dr Hinds who Sincerely, expressed for the sick who ostensibly speaks for poor SultanMohamed are seeking medical help. Famous for playing the race card, Dr Hinds does not disappointagain.

Where was the WPA when the WPA’s Dr Clive Thomas who was CEO of

The Chamber is citizensandbusinessesusing Georgetown Chambers extremely concerned about non-collection as an excuse ofCommerce garbage build-up along Regent,Robb,andCharlotte Streetsandbelievesthatitis a hazardous practice with severe environmental consequences.

GCCI encourages citizensandbusinessowners to refrain from dumping garbageintheroadwaysand drains. There must be zero toleranceforindividualsand businesseswhocontributeto littering.TheChamberurges the Mayor and City Council to impose harsher penalties onbusinessesand residents who dispose of

BIG THANKS TO MINISTER EDGHILL& TEAM

DEAREDITOR, much safer to traverse our Thisletterservestothank communityatnights. theMinisterofPublicWorks After requesting for the forpoweringourcommunity lights, we got a speedy with brand new road lights acknowledgement and the f o r t h e h o l i d a y s installingbeganafewweeks Approximately eight (8) after Months later, it is now months ago, my community completed. We thank the members and I wrote to the Minister once again, his minister asking for road Team and the Government lights for No.66 - No.73 for not forgetting our VillageCorentyne,Thisarea community has never gotten lights Regards, Today, it is brighter and ZakirAlly

Thereisafairmeasure ofgenderequityinGuyana

DEAREDITOR, public life, society is all the Women are debarred morepoorer from attending universities We are indeed fortunate in Afghanistan. The move tobeinasituationinGuyana has sparked international where more than half of our condemnation by several university graduates and human rights groups who from other tertiary viewthedecision,rightly,as institutionssuchastheCyril adenialoftherighttohigher Potter College of Education educationforwomen. andtheGeorgetownNursing Since assuming office, School are women. In fact, the Taliban administration women dominate the hastakenseveralmeasuresto teaching and nursing limit women’s participation profession and the public in public life. This is most serviceasawhole.Thereisa unfortunate given the fact fairmeasureofgenderequity that women constitute in Guyana and legislations roughly half of the are in place to ensure that population. Moreover, women are treated with women are known to have respect and in a dignified superior organizational and manner management skills and by Regards, limitingtheirparticipationin HydarAlly

Who,orwhatistheWPA?

DEAREDITOR, politicalorganization,ledby Lately, there have been a patriotic Guyanese - Dr. several unsigned letters Walter Rodney, who was written by a purported allegedly murdered at the organisation, calling hands of the then ruling themselvesthe“WPA.”This government. is confusing to many young Could it be that WPA Guyanese. members do not sign their Are they afraid to own letters because they are the arguments or writings of embarrassed, that some theirletters? citizensbelievethattheyare Do they not realize that now embracing some of the they insult the reader’s peopleorthepartywhowere conception by not taking allegedlyresponsibleforDr ownership of their writings? Rodney’sdemise? I vaguely remember that the Regards, WPA was once a vibrant JhagrooPersaud

Teen chopped to death, other man injured as NA man goes berserk

On Wednesday morning, a 15year-oldboywas

choppedtodeath and another man narrowly escaped with his life after theywereviciouslyattacked by a man at Timmers Dam, Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam.

The dead teen has been identified as Carlus LeungA-Weh, a student of the Special Needs School in Vrymans Erven, New Amsterdam while the injured man has been identified as 24-year-old Carlus Singh called Carly from Mount Saini. Singh is currently hospitalised with multiple wounds about his bodyinaseriousconditionat the New Amsterdam Hospital.

The suspect is also hospitalised and under police guard at the said medical institution. He was reportedly beaten by residents in the area after he committedtheviciousacton theteenandman.

Mother of the dead teen, Michelle Bess said that her son had been attending the Special Needs School for some time now after an incident involving him and with something under he helped pull him out, all the went to buy chicken feed at another student, during shirt and he run and bore he while,theotherinjuredman, the poultry shop and was whichhewashitinthehead (Leung-A-Weh) in he chest Carlus Singh called Carly waiting on him. He said he withapieceofwood. and when he start holler for wasalsointhedrain. heard a commotion and

Sincethentheyouthhad meandIgothemanrunme,I Thesuspecthadattacked ventured out, “when I come beensufferingfromseizures. had to leff and run and go Singh at a poultry outlet a out, me relative say that me BesssaidonWednesday,she inside,”Besssaid. few houses away, he injured sonjustgetstab.” senthersontoplaithishairat

The tearful mother the man with the said sharp He disclosed that the her niece in Islington, East disclosed that as she objectandchasedhimdown suspect is not too well- Bank Berbice and while he screamed for help as the thestreetwherehecaughtup known in the area since he was making his way out the suspectchokedhersoninthe with the teenager and moved there recently but yardwithhisbicycle,hewas draininfrontherhouse.She attackedhim. that he would usually pass attacked by the 41-year-old saidasshebeggedpersonsto Father of the injured byandnotspeaktoanyone suspect from Mai Mai Dam, save her son, persons were man, Nerajan Narayan, 65 An investigation is Angoy’sAvenue. reluctant but came after and told reporters that his son underway “I see the man coming

The home of Leung-A-Weh and where the incident took place

Deceased: Carlus Leung-A-Weh

Michelle Bess, the mother of the dead teen

Father of injured man, Nerajan Narayan

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A rate of 10% on US$50B is US$5B annually for interest alone;

That is bigger than even Guyana’s largest national budget to date.

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But Guyanese don’t know the interest rate they are paying on Exxon’s US$50B debt.

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Whatever the interest rate, Guyanese can be assured of one thing,

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Exxon has a piece of it for itself, in what the company adds to what it is charged by banks.

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What is enriching for Exxon is impoverishing for Guyana;

This is how the PPPC colludes with Exxon to cheat Guyanese.

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More Guyanese to be certified for oil sector with development of new training centre

u y a n a i s of the workforce supply that for Local Business GUY$140 billion with

Gwomen empowerment and positioningitself will be needed support the Development starting in Guyanesesuppliers. protecting the environment. for massive broadereconomy 2017, working with other Routledge said, “We will The company has, to date,

gains in local PresidentofExxonMobil organisations like the TVET have a much bigger impact spentmorethanGUY$2Bon content as the current Guyana, Alistair Routledge schools,andtheministriesto as we invest in the projects, initiativesintheseareas. a d m i n i s t r a t i o n i s made the foregoing ensure that people are well- as we build the business,

“We really want to play c o l l a b o r a t i n g w i t h

revelation yesterday while trained and available and through the development of our part in the community ExxonMobil Corporation’s noting that the company’s abletocontributeandplayan local content and we’re able and so we take our corporate subsidiary, Esso Exploration early capacity building important part in developing to give local businesses and social responsibility as and Production Guyana investments are paying the nation’s resource,” p e o p l e j o b s a n d seriously as we do our Limited to develop the dividends. Routledgesaid. opportunities to grow, to commitmentstogrowingthe Guyana Technical Training He said this can be seen Routledge noted that the develop skills and to be able business and delivering job College Inc. The institution inthegrowthoflocalcontent money Guyana earns from to become competitive opportunitiesforpeople. is intended to deliver world- numbers in the local oil and oil sales and royalty internationally.”

And so, both as c l a s s t r a i n i n g a n d gas industry Routledge said payments is important for With nine discoveries

ExxonMobil ourselves and certification to Guyanese more than 4,400 Guyanese the government to be able to announced in 2022 and a through our contribution workers in five main skills are currently supporting the execute its works but added second project starting up in budgets and the projects that areas:electrical,mechanical, company’s operations, that the company’s near- the Stabroek block offshore we’ve embraced and of instrumentation, process representing some 64 term impact would be felt Guyana, he acknowledged course the Greater Guyana operations to support the oil percent of the industry’s more in its investments that it has been a rewarding Initiative, we are making and gas industry, as well as workforce. Since the first discovery in year for ExxonMobil team but of course we count s o m e s i g n i f i c a n t c i v i l a n d b u i l d i n g “It speaks to the early 2015, ExxonMobil Guyana Guyana.

on the whole team of teams, contributions to the construction. commitments that we made and its contractors said they “It’s all about the people; many contractors and other community and to the These are critical aspects aroundthingsliketheCentre have spent more than itstartswiththeExxonMobil organisations including development of the society m a n y g o v e r n m e n t and country,” Routledge regulatoryagencies. highlighted.

Retrial ordered for woman sentenced for murder of uncle

The Court of Appeal on

forgiveness, while fellow killer Thakurdyal expressed his remorse and sympathy, tellingthecourthewantedto be a “constructive father” to hissixchildren.

yearsimprisonmentbyHigh Wednesday set aside the CourtJudgeSandilKissoon. conviction of Vishawantie

The appeal was heard by Ragnauth, who is currently Chancellor (ag) Yonette serving40yearsbehindbars Cummings-Edwards and for the murder of her uncle, Justices of Appeal Dawn and ordered that she be Gregory and Rishi Persaud; retried at the next practical the State was represented by sitting of the Demerara ProsecutorDianaO’Brien. Assizes.

The Chancellor, who Ragnauth and her delivered the ruling, said reputed husband, Nyron that the defence’s case Thakurdyal were initially should have been properly jointly charged with the put to the jury and the jury capital offence of murder should have been directed

Thecouplewasfoundguilty ofthemurderof39-year-old miner Sunil Ramsundar on December26,2014,atSkull previouslytoldthecourtthat City, Patentia, West Bank she was sorry for what Demerara. happened and begged for R a g n a u t h h a d

AttorneyLisaCave,who a p p e a r e d f o r t h e prosecution, however deemed Ramsundar’s killing as senseless and unprovoked,statingthenow deceased man was standing andcursingbyhimselfwhen hewasattacked.

In 2018, the couple was accordingly, taking into found guilty by a jury of consideration the evidence murderingSunilRamsundar that was provided to the onBoxingDay2014atSkull High Court. The Chancellor City, Patentia, West Bank allowed the appeal and set Demerara (WBD) They aside the conviction and were each sentenced to 40 sentence.

“ I t ’ s t r u l y The Greater Guyana transformational.We’revery Initiative is a 10-year, fortunatetohavemadeatrue GUY$20B programme success here in Guyana. But under which ExxonMobil now that we are on that path, Guyana and its Stabroek putting it all together, block co-venturers will fund continuing that success, capacity-building projects in m o m e n t u m , f r o m keeping with the country’s exploration into the overall development development and the objectives. projects is fundamental to The Payara project, the setting up this business for thirdintheStabroekblock,is the future,” Routledge expected to start up next expressed. year Routledge said it was

The president added that one of several undertakings the company is fortunate to that could provide more have a series of projects opportunitiesforsuccessand which allows it to take developmentinGuyana. lessons learnt and improve “We’re drilling a number on them for subsequent of exciting exploration wells developments. and I look forward to the

Inadditiontoitsspendon results of those, we have production, ExxonMobil another major project start Guyana said it has been a up with the Payara project consistent contributor to coming before the end of the community initiatives with a year, and of course many focus on STEM education, other projects and activities community building, thatcontinuetogrow.”

ExxonMobil Guyana, President Alistair Routledge

Vishawantie Ragnauth

CLIMATE CHANGE IS BOGUS!

TheEarthiswarmingbut greenhousegaseswerebeing explain why the world is in the development of seriously all along, even climate change is a hoax. emitted uncontrollably into being lulled into believing r e n e w a b l e e n e rg y though you may not want to The warming of the Earth’s the atmosphere.And no one that greenhouse gas technologies Climate admit it all along. It shows temperatureisnotcausedby said anything then about emissions are the cause of change is the ruse to create howeasyitisforconspiracy greenhouse gas emissions. climatechange. globalwarming.Hereagain, the global demand for the theoriststoentrapyourmind Therearemanysmallcauses The second major cause therearetwomainfactorsat new renewable energy andtomakeyouoneoftheir which contribute to global of climate change is cloud work. The first is what is technology, which will followers. It shows why warming but there are two cover. Everyone knows that called eco-imperialism. The sweep the world within the today, the greatest threat to accept the findings of maincauses. when there is a low thick forest producing developed nextfiveyears. ending the COVID-19 scientists who laboured in Thefirstisthealignment cloud that covers the skies, nations want to continue to Now if you believed pandemic is the conspiracy record time to develop a oftheEarthinrelationtothe thedayiscooler.Thereason command global timber anything that I have just theories about chips being vaccine. sun. At present, in this why is because the cloud stocksandsoforthepast30 written, you are a sucker for implantedinthevaccineand

(The views expressed in century, the Earth is at its blocks the sunrays from years, they have been conspiracytheories.Nothing aboutthevaccinesnotbeing this article are those of the closest point to the sun. As penetrating and create a f u n d i n g a g l o b a l which I have said above has safe and not effective author and do not such, you can expect that cooler surface. At present, environmental movement to any basis in science or fact. People are going to believe necessarily reflect the global temperatures will be we have a phenomenon force developing countries ButIamsurethatquiteafew allthatnonsensewithoutany opinionsofthisnewspaper.) hotter than at any other knownasthincloudcover In tokeeptheirforestintactand of you were taking me proof, yet be unwilling to period in recent human effect, the cloud cover is thereby ensure the history There may come a thinner thereby allowing developedworlddomination time, perhaps billions of greater light and heat to ofglobaltimbersupplies. years from now, when the penetrate As such, what The second factor which Earth will be at its furthest happens is that global explains why the world is fromthesun.Theworldwill temperatures are rising being forced into believing returnthentotheIceAge. Cloudsactasablanket.They thathumanemissionsarethe But before that happens, reflect light and heat, causeofglobalwarminghas theSunislikelytoburnitself allowing for the Earth to to do with competitiveness. outandcivilisationwillend. retain heat and also, at other The rich countries of the Therefore, the Second Ice times, reflecting heat away worldarenolongerthemost Age may not happen once from the Earth allowing for competitive in the the Sun implodes. No one cooler temperatures The production of goods and haseveraskedwhytherewas clouds are like a thermostat services.Beginning60years an Ice Age. The answer is helping to regulate the ago, they recognised that simple; the Earth was then Earth’s temperature. Cloud theywouldhavebeenousted furthest away from the Sun. thinning is contributing to inthisareaandsotheybegan Todayitisbecomingaligned global warming Warmer outsourcingtheirproduction closer to the sun and so temperatureshavenothingto to the Asian Tigers, and global temperatures are do with greenhouse gas instead focused on rising. emissions from human developing a much stronger Obviously,thecloserthe activity It is being serviceseconomy Earth gets to the sun, the contributed to by cloud Buttheworldiscatching hotter it will become. So thinning and by the upwiththeminthisareaand forget about all that garbage alignmentofthesun. so the next frontier of about greenhouse gas Now, I am sure that I capitalist domination is now emissions contributing to have managed to explain to emerging:renewableenergy climate change In the you why there is global Withinthenext20years,the industrialagewhencoalwas warming. But what I have USAandEuropearegoingto the main source of energy, not managed to do is to surpass the rest of the world

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DE NOISY SEASON DEH PON WE!

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ONE IS NOT ANTI-WEST BECAUSE ONE CRITICIZES THE ATTITUDES OF THE WEST

It is foolish for any The security forces are andnotseektoimposetheir death penalty This is a G u y a n e s e minister of any Western killingdemonstratorsinIran values He said what a classiccaseofimpositionof desirousofhaving governmentoranydiplomat as this column is being priorityisforonecountry,is the developed world on the a Messi autograph of any Western embassy writtenincruelwaysthatthe not the priority for others. ThirdWorld. can travel to hereinGuyanatothinkthat Shah never did. In one year He went on to add that Now it is interesting to Argentina visa- free to because a minister or after the revolution, Castro urgencies in Kenya revolve listentowhatObamasaidat get it? In my media businessman or editor or executed more people than around developmental that Kenyan press careerofover34years, academic in this country his overthrown predecessor, needs that the US does not conference. In batting for I have heard some sad CommissionertoldTimothy criticizes the attitudes of Baptistadid. havetodealwith. gay rights, he intoned, stories of visa denial by the Tucker is wrong.” Is there Western governments, In the democratic world In most Third World “Governments get in the Canadian and American anyGuyaneseouttherewho he/sheisanti-Western. of Western countries, there countries, medical services habit of treating people offices here that is believes a European oil No Guyanese would is an approach to Third are free Even under differently, and those habits downrightillogical. expert working in Guyana argue that China, Russia, World countries that Third Obamacare in the US, there canspread.” Guyanesehadtoapplyto would have met with the Iran are democratic World people resent In stillisn’tpublicmedicine.It The Western countries a private company - VFS- response that Mr Tucker countries. President Putin repudiating Western is not a priority for the US. treat people around the Global - rather than the UK got? runsaterrorshopinRussia. impositions,itdoesn’tmean Gun restriction in the US is worlddifferently TheWorld High Commission for visa Guyana has benefitted You fall out with Putin and that Third World people are not on the legislative Cup heads to the US in four facilities for holiday enormouslyfromitsalliance either you are dead from anti-West. agenda. years’ time. Do you know purposes before it was withEurope,Canadaandthe jumping out a window or All future scholars in The EU mission in the thousands of Third changed months ago US But Guyanese must you fell down the stairs as international relations Guyana is relentless in its World people that will be Timothy Tucker is a never believe Third World what happened days ago to should watch the reply of demand that Guyana refusedentrytotheUStosee prominentbusinessfigurein people are seen as equal. yet another high level then President of Kenya to abolishes the death penalty the matches? On the other Guyana. Mr.Tucker wanted Guyana must start looking businessman. To date, more thethenPresidentoftheUS, It picks on a country it feels hand, all Canadians, visaforhimandhisfamily for trading partners that than a dozen businessmen Mr Obama. The American itcanbully ButtheEUdare Australians and Europeans After not hearing from servetheinterestsofGuyana who have rejected Putin’s presidentonavisittoKenya not tell that to its most and New Zealanders will thecompanyfor months,he and not rely exclusively on style have died in such spoke at a joint press politically close and simply go on a plane and enquiredoftheBritishHigh theWest. circumstances. conference in which he strategicfriend-theUS. land in the US to see the Commissionerwhotoldhim (The views expressed in In China, President Xi advocatedtheacceptanceof TheUSexecutesdozens games. she can do nothing because this article are those of the Jinping will rule forever LGBTrightsinKenya. ofconvictseachyearyetthe Almost 50 percent of VFS-Global is as private author and do not Castro would have ruled Mr Kenya delivered a EU which hardly counts non-immigrant visa company necessarily reflect the Cubaevenifhehadreached devastating response He Guyana as a traditional and applications to Canada and See my column of opinions and beliefs of this 100 years and was said countries must respect geo-political ally keeps the US from Guyana are September 22, 2020 titled, n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s incapacitated on his bed. the cultures of other nations pressing Guyana on the turned down. Do you know “What the British High affiliates.)

FrederickKissoon

Puerto Rico file racketeering lawsuit against Exxon, others for deceiving public on climate-change effects

(The Guardian) The said:“What’sdifferentabout s a m e r a c k e t e e r i n g this [Rico] case is that we legislation used to bring have their enterprise in d o w n m o b b o s s e s , writing – the decision by motorcycle gangs, football rival companies, their front executives and international groups, scientists and fraudsters is to be tested associations to act together against oil and coal to change public opinion companies who are accused regarding the use of their of conspiring to deceive the consumerproductsbytelling publicovertheclimatecrisis. people something that they

In an ambitious move, an knewwasnottrue.” attempt will be made to hold According to the lawsuit the fossil fuel industry – filed in the US federal accountable for “decades of district court of Puerto Rico deception”inalawsuitbeing – evidence of the conspiracy brought by communities in dates back to 1989 when the Puerto Rico that were defendants, which include devastated by Hurricane ExxonMobil, Shell, BP and Mariain2017. Rio Tinto, individually and

“PuertoRicoisoneofthe through trade association most affected places by formed the Global Climate climate change in the world. Coalition (GCC) as a “notIt is so precariously for-profit corporation to positioned – they get hit on influence, advertise, and all fronts with hurricanes, promote the interests of the storm surge, heat, coral fossil fuel industry by giving bleaching – it’s the perfect false information to their place for this climate consumers and the public at litigation,” said Melissa large”.

Sims, senior counsel for the It argues that so-called plaintiffs’lawfirmMilberg. rival companies conspired

The 1970 Racketeer for a common purpose – to Influenced and Corrupt deceive consumers and sow Organizations (Rico) Act confusion in order to keep was originally intended to fossil fuel sales high and combat criminal enterprises profitable–andthattheGCC like the mafia, but has since was a propaganda machine been used in civil courts to specifically set up to oppose litigate harms caused by the Kyoto protocol, the first opioids, vehicle emissions major international effort to and even e-cigarettes as combat climate change. To organisedcrimecases. do this, a written action plan

Now, the first-ever was devised in 1998 to climate change Rico case mislead consumers by alleges that international oil convincingthemthat“global and coal companies, their warming”wasnotoccurring, trade associations, and a and if it did happen, there network of paid thinktanks, was no scientific consensus scientists and other on whether fossil fuels were operatives conspired to toblame.

deceive the public – Inotherwords,theaction specifically residents of plan was allegedly a climate Puerto Rico – about the change denial plan executed direct link between their through a network of dark greenhouse gas-emitting money ploughed into productsandclimatechange. thinktanks, research

T h i s f o s s i l f u e l institutions,tradegroupsand enterprise, which remains PR firms, and provided a operational according to the roadmap for an open-ended lawsuit,resultedinmultitude enterprise that is still of damages caused by implementedtoday climate disasters that were The lawsuit argues that foreseen – but hidden – by the oil and coal companies the defendants in order to knew that Puerto Rico was a maximiseprofits. “sitting duck” because of its

The plaintiffs are 16 geographic location, which municipalitiesinPuertoRico made the island and its – towns and cities that were people particularly hit hard by two powerful vulnerable to climate change hurricanes in September events – namely hotter and 2017, Irma and Maria – wetter storms, extreme heat which led to thousands of and rising sea level – caused deaths, food shortages, bytheircarbonproducts. widespread infrastructure

Over the past two damage and the longest decades,PuertoRico–along blackoutinUShistory withHaitiandMyanmar–Sims, the senior counsel, (Continued on page 15)

Caption: Humacao, Puerto Rico, on 20 September 2017 after Hurricane Maria hit. Photograph: Carlos Giusti/AP

Minibus driver in Zeeburg fatal accident remanded to prison

The 35-year-old minibus was trapped underneath. She driver who was involved in reportedly died on the spot. the fatal accident at Zeeburg Eyewitnesses rushed to last Saturday, which claimed assisttheinjured. the life of Gaitree

Cellphone videos Sewsankar, was on Tuesday recorded public-spirited charged for causing death by citizens removing the dangerousdriving. injured from the accident

The minibus driver, scene. They were all rushed Devon Daziel of Lot 68 to the West Demerara Vergenoegen, East Bank RegionalHospital. Essequibo made his first

Dead, Gaitree Sewsankar

S e w s a n k a r w a s court appearance at the pronounced dead at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court hospital and her body was before Magistrate Zamilla subsequently taken to the Ali-Seepaul, where the EzekielFuneralhome. minibus that ploughed into chargewasreadtohim. the Guy America Store, Daziel was not required which is located next to the to plead to the charge which publicroad. alleges that on December 17

According to reports, the last, on the Zeeburg Public accident occurred at 14:30h Road,WestCoastDemerara, and Sewsankar and other he drove minibus BAB1864 customers were standing to in a manner dangerous to the front of store when the public, causing the death of minibus swerved from a car, 37-year-old Sewsankar crashed into a truck and then formerly of Sister’s Village, veered off the public road WestBankDemerara.Daziel and crashed into the variety was remanded to prison and store. will make his next court Subsequently, another appearance on January 18, minibus swerved from the 2023. truck and crashed into the

Kaieteur News had rearofthefirstminibus. reported that Sewsankar on K a i e t e u r N e w s Saturday afternoon was hit understands that Sewsankar and killed by a Route 32 was run over by the bus and

Carol Joseph on $140k bail for allegedly defrauding MARDS of $6.1M

Former director of the Mahaica Abary Rice Development Scheme

(MARDS) Rice Milling Complex Limited and a member of the Opposition People’s National Congress (PNC) Carol Smith-Joseph was on Monday released on $140,000 bail after being charged for allegedly defrauding MARDS of over $6million.

Smith-Joseph, of 99 Main Street, Hopetown, West Coast Berbice was slapped with 14 fraudulent appropriation of property of body corporate charges, that and as such, Smith Joseph were brought against her by was not required to plead. the Special Organised Crime She was represented by Unit (SOCU) an arm of the attroneys-at-law Nigel GuyanaPoliceForce(GPF). Hughes and RoysdaleForde, The defendant appeared S.C. a t t h e M a h a i c o n y The magistrate granted Magistrate’s Court before bailinthesumof$10,000on her Magistrate Marissa each of the 14 charges. The Mittleholzer where the matter was adjourned to chargeswerereadtoher The January11,2023for charges were laid indictably (Continued on page 16)

The Route 32 bus which was involved in the fatal accident.

Charged, Carol Smith-Joseph

CARICOMsaysapologyimperialistic withoutinvolvementofvictims

Guyana not included in Netherland’s apology over slavery

Chairman of Guyana Reparations Commission Eric Phillips

On Monday, Dutch years cotton, tobacco and Dr Beckles noted Prime Minister Mark Rutte sugar plantations An however that the apology gave a 20-minute-long indelible Dutch legacy lives adds to the Netherlands speech apologising for his through names within the beingthebestEuropeanstate country’s role in the slave c o u n t r y s u c h a s poised to bring global trade. It is understood that Sparendaam, Vergenoegen, l e a d e r s h i p t o t h e membersofthePM’scabinet New Amsterdam, Holland longstanding issue of will also be giving speeches and Uitvlugt among others, r e p a r a t o r y j u s t i c e in seven former Dutch yet no one from the Historically, the Dutch has Caribbeancoloniestheyplan Netherlands will be coming been a driving force in the tovisit. here,Phillipsreiterated. African enslavement Guyana will not be Phillips said that the business having assisted among those countries, Dutch apology is welcomed other European states to get Phillips said as the country nonetheless as it should be in on the free labour Dr

Puerto Rico file racketeering lawsuit against...

From page 12

opioid litigation which resulted in has been among three territories most compensation for damages, cites have an affected by extreme weather such as storms, almost unfettered ability to use their floods, heatwaves and droughts, according nuisancelawsandlocalordinances. to the Germanwatch Climate Risk Index, Sims, a Republican and Christian, said: which are becoming more intense due to “Cities across the nation have woken up to human-made global heating driven by this power and are starting to exercise their greenhousegases. rightsalmostlikeminiattorneygenerals.

InSeptember,HurricaneIanleftmuchof They are now often the first ones the island without power and water, as well bringing cases on opioids, Juul electronic as damaging essential infrastructure like cigarettes, pollution, reverse red-lining and roadsandbridges. now climate change, using their rights

Chairman of Guyana seen as a portal for Beckles explained that the and became the leading be dialogue with nations and Reparations Commission constructive dialogue He Dutch was Europe’s pioneer supplier of capital that communitiesthatcontinueto Eric Phillips has expressed saidthattheapologymustbe state in the global slavery financed new world suffer and expects to be dismay that Guyana was not followedbypositiveactions, enterprise.Formostofthe17 colonization. The national treated with the dignity of included in an apology “…based on the principle century, he said, the Dutch enrichment from African participating in dialogue recently issued by the that harms must be m o n o p o l i z e d t h e e n s l a v e m e n t w a s with the Dutch state Kingdom of the Netherlands readdressed…” transatlantic slave trade and unprecedented as the Dutch Conversations should despite almost 200 years of Dr Beckles highlighted provided finance and became one of Europe’s involve executives and other African enslavement in the that the formal apology and technology that enabled it to most developed industrial state representatives, but country acknowledgement of the establish its empire based on states which continues to be ultimately commercial Phillips expressed the transatlantic slave trade chattel slavery and provided their position to date, “as an banks, insurance companies concerns during a virtual r e p r e s e n t t h e the resources that enabled imperial nation holding a and even families who press conference hosted by acknowledgment of a crime the French, Portuguese, significant part of the benefitted from the crime the Caribbean Community’s against humanity and such a Spanishandotherstofollow Caribbean community in a willhavetobeengaged. (CARICOM) Reparations crime must be repaired with As a result of this pioneering stateofcolonialbondage.” Suriname’s Reparations Commission Wednesday specific remedies. He said role Amsterdam became the Dr Beckles said after the Chairpersonsaidthatthe The press conference was the Dutch apology is financial centre of Europe apology the next step must (Continued on page 16) chaired by CARICOM understood to be based on Programme Manager and internal discussions as the Reparations Commission country did not involve secretary Hilary Brown, survivors of these historic while the panel included was not even mentioned to crimes nor the victim Phillips, CARICOM have suffered at the hands of communities in the Reparations Chairman and Dutch enslavers. “Guyana Caribbean and beyond. Dr UWI Vice Chancellor Dr was a Dutch colony from Beckles opined that Hilary Beckles, Suriname 1616to1812,aperiodof196 multilateralism, and the full Reparations Chair Armand years” Phillips told the press inclusion of stakeholders is ZunderandProfessorVerene conference He explained the necessary impetus to Shepherd, Director for that in 1621 the Netherlands move the reparation issue Reparations Research at gave the Dutch West Indian forward in a dignified way, UWI, who all provided Company full control over a and until that is done, the reactions to Netherland’s large Essequibo trading port a p o l o g y r e m a i n s apology as it owned for some 170 challengeable.

The damages resulting from the 2017 pursuant to racketeering and other laws storms – and the likelihood of worse climate we’vehelpedfine-tuneovertheyears.” disasters battering the island in the future – Seven oil firms, three coal companies, come down to the acts and omissions of the and hundreds of organisations and defendants, as the oil and coal companies, operatives are among the defendants alongwiththeirworldwideco-venturers,are accused of consumer fraud, racketeering, collectively responsible for at least 40.01% antitrust, fraudulent misrepresentation, ofgreenhousegases,thelawsuitargues. conspiracy to defraud, products liability and

It’s the latest in a wave of civil class unjustenrichmentamongothercrimes. actions brought by municipalities – towns The American Petroleum Institute and and cities – against corporations and the National Mining Association did not organizations accused of causing harm to respondtorequestsforcomment. Severalof residents. According to Sims, who has also the defendants have made statements represented Puerto Rico municipalities in criticisingthelawsuit.

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FTXfounderBankman-Fried consentstobeextraditedtoUS

Cryptocurrency entrepreneur faces fraud charges and could be flown from Bahamas to US as early as Wednesday

Aljazeera-SamBankmanFried has consented to be extraditedtotheUnitedStates, wherehefacesfraudcharges, accordingto anaffidavithis lawyer read at a court hearing in the Bahamas.

It paves the way for the founder of the bankrupt FTX cryptocurrency exchangetobeflowntothe USasearlyasWednesday Bankman-Frieddecided toagreetoextraditioninpart out of a “desire to make the relevant customers whole”, according to the affidavit, read in court on Wednesday and dated on Tuesday

Bankman-Friedstepped up to the witness box and spoke clearly and steadily as he was sworn in.

“Yes,Idowishtowaive my right to such formal extradition proceedings,” he told the judge.

Hisdefencelawyersaid his client was “anxious to leave”.

The hearing was adjourned after the statements.

Officials with the FBI and the US Marshals Service, which handles transportation of people in UScustody,havearrivedin the Bahamian capital, Nassau, a person familiar with the matter said.

It was not immediately clearwhenBankman-Fried

would depart the Caribbean nationforNewYork.

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan have charged the 30-year-old cryptocurrency mogul withstealingbillionsof dollars in FTX customer assets to plug losses at his hedge fund, Alameda Research, in what US Attorney DamianWilliams called “one of the biggest financial frauds in American history”.

Bottom of Form Bankman-Fried was arrested on a US extradition request on December 13 in the Bahamas, where he lives and where FTX is based.

Heinitiallysaidhewould contest extradition, but Reuters and other news

outlets reported over the weekend that he would reverse that decision.

Bankman-Fried’s USbased defence lawyer, Mark Cohen, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday A spokesman for the US Attorney’s Office in Manhattan declined to comment.

Bankman-Fried has acknowledged riskmanagement failures at FTX but has said he does not believeheiscriminallyliable.

Confusing sequence of events

Wednesday’s hearing follows a confusing sequence of events this week that had left the status of Bankman-Fried’s expected

extraditionunclear

OnMonday,followingthe news reports that he had agreed to be extradited, Bankman-Fried appeared in court, and his local defence lawyerJeroneRobertssaidhe had not been informed of the purpose of the proceedings.

After a brief recess, Roberts said his client had seen an affidavit outlining thechargesagainsthimbut wanted access to the full USindictmentagainsthim before consenting to extradition.

The proceedings were thenadjourned.

They had been expected to resume on Tuesday morning, but Bankman-Fried’slegalpapers werenotreadyintime.

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Carol Joseph on $140k bail for allegedly...

From page 11 statements and June 7, 2023 forPreliminaryInquiry(PI)to commence.

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According to the police, during the month of March 2022, a report was made to SOCUbyMARDSRiceMilling Complex Limited, of fraudulent appropriation of funds of that company by Smith-Joseph, who was a director of that company at the time. As a result of that report,SOCUcommencedinves-

During the course of the investigations, it was revealedthatthedefendantwas appointed as a Director of MARDS between the period July2015andJune2018.

According to the police, whilebeingthedirectorwithout authority, Smith-Joseph solely approved 14 transactions amounting to $6,121,108.00 without the Board’s knowledge and approval between June 1, 2016

and August 2016. Notably, theBoardmakesallthepolicy decisionsofMARDSandthe dutytoexecuteBoard’sdecisionisdonebyMARDSGeneralManager

The police reported that whenever payments have to be made toanysuppliersor if MARDS has to do any financial transaction, approvalmustbegivenbythe Board. Based on the Board’s decisions to pay, theGeneralManagerwould

cause the payment to be processed by his staff and two authorized signatories of MARDS must sign a cheque of payment so that it can be encashed at Republic Bank where MARDS has a Bank Account.

It was further stated that Smith-Joseph allegedly used the monies she solely authorised for her personal benefits and other purposes other than that of MARDS’ business.

Guyana not included in Netherland’s apology...

From page 15 government of the former Dutch colony is yet to react to the Monday’s apology, but emotionsarehighamongparticularlyeldercitizens.Hesaid a process of discourse had commencedlastyearwhenin Durban, the Netherlands apologizedforracism.

That same year Dutch cities decoratedtheirlocationswith messages of apology Monday’s statement came unexpectedly, nonetheless,

“because it wasn’t the result oftheprocessofdialoguebut theresultofaone-waystreet approach,” Zunder said. He noted that at least seven cities includingAmsterdam are registered to have profited fromAfricanslavery

Professor Shepherd called the Dutch apology a step in right direction as she recalled the efforts put into reparations activism since 2013.ShesaidthattheCaribbean has been calling on all

European powers through letters and other means to own up to the past and commit to a process of repair, but most European governmentshavenotapologized and have not agreed that transatlantic trafficking of enslave African and chattel enslavement was a crimeagainsthumanity

She said that she learned that the Dutch apology came from a report last year by a govern-

ment advisory board set up in the wake globalization of the Black Lives Matter campaign.

She felt however that the apology should have come afterearnestdiscussionswith stakeholders.

TheNetherlandhashighlighted already that it does not intend to pay money to itscoloniesbutwillprovidea EURO 200 million dollar funds to help colonies affectedbytheirhistoriccrimes.

Appeal Court cuts 40-year jail sentence of pastor convicted of raping underage girl

The Court of the State was represented by f i l e d b y a t t o r n e y s hadsexwithher

A p p e a l h a s Assistant Director of Public Andranauth Gossai and H a n n i b a l , w h o

reduced the jail Prosecutions (DPP) Natasha Mursaline Bacchus, pastor reportedly has been a pastor sentence of Pastor Andrew Backer Hannibal is contending that forover28years,issaidtobe Hannibal who was serving a The Appeal Court at the summing up of his the founder of the Rosignol 40-year jail term for raping affirmed Hannibal’s trial, the judge ignored a Deliverance Temple Church anunderagegirlby15years. conviction but reduced his number of discrepancies in of Marcy Dam, Rosignol, His jail time reduced to sentence to 25 years with the the evidencepresentedin the West Bank Berbice. It was 25 years by the Court of possibility of parole after matter. reportedthathealsofounded AppealonWednesday. serving18years. The appellant is arguing eight other churches around

In 2018, Hannibal was Time in pre-trial custody that the judge failed to direct thecountry found guilty by a jury of will be deducted from his the jury on pertinent The story unravelled raping a 15-year-old girl sentence. evidence presented in the when the girl’s parents between January 29, 2016, This means Pastor t r i a l i n c l u d i n g reportedly missed her one and January 31, 2016, in the Hannibal who was out on inconsistencies about the night and began enquiring county of Berbice. The teen bail pending his appeal will location and layout of the aboutherwhereabouts. wasreportedlyleftinhiscare have to return to prison to roomthattheactisallegedto They went looking for forcounsellingandguidance serveareducedsentence. have been committed and on her but were unsuccessful. athischurch.

Pastor Hannibal was matters of the medical She was found subsequently

The appeal was heard by found guilty for raping a 15- certificate. and after being questioned, Chancellor (ag), Yonette year-old girl between he court heard that the relatedwhathadhappened. Cummings-Edwards, and January 29, 2016 and pastor had taken advantage It was learnt that the Justices of Appeal, Dawn January31,2016,inBerbice. of a child who he was pastor was having an affair Gregory and Rishi Persaud; In his notice to appeal reportedly counselling and withthechild

Shoe vendor stabbed to death on Regent Street

Amaninhisearly20s’wasonWednesday eveningstabbedtodeathreportedlybyalone attacker while plying his trade on the pavement in front of Pressy Enterprise locatedonRegentStreet,Georgetown. ThedeadManhasbeenidentifiedasMark Singh of Sea Dam, Herstelling, East Bank Demerara (EBD). Kaieteur News learnt that the attack took place just after 18:00hrs. According to information received, Singh also known as “Papi” was attacked from behind.

Eyewitness recalled seeing a man sneaking up behind Singh and plunging an object believed to be a knife into his neck before sprinting away Singh collapsed and remainmotionless.

Kaieteur News understands that the killingtookplaceinfrontofhisrelativeswho were close by at the time. When this newspaper reached the scene, investigators had cordoned off the area while awaiting the arrivalofcrimesceneinvestigators.

relatives while his bloodied body clad in a

A woman who believed to be Singh’s white T-shirt and a pair of blue denim jeans common-law wife was being consoled by laynexttoablood-stainedmannequin.

forsometime.

Pastor Andrew Hannibal

Singh’s body at the crime scene

Murdered, Mark Singh

GRA in last-minute push to clear Christmas barrels

- Finance Minister inspects operations at city wharves

Senior Minister in the key priorities (including cleared before Christmas Office of the President with highest standards of Day so that the respective responsibility for Finance, integrity, increased families can enjoy their been introducing risk that the GRA staff ensure upon its return to office in

Dr Ashni Singh on efficiency and delivery of holiday season. Dr Singh management and risk- thattheydeliverefficientand 2020 VAT has also been Wednesday visited and high-quality services) and said Government will profiling systems and effective service to removed from locally- toured the Guyana Revenue also interacted with continue to work towards methodology within the taxpayersatthefacilities. In produced building and A u t h o r i t y ’s ( G R A ) members of the public who rapid modernization of GRA, all with the objective October this year, Dr Singh construction materials operations at the various were on site uplifting barrels Guyana through its efforts of deploying technology and oversaw the signing of an Further, on April 29 last, wharvesinGeorgetown. andboxes. andinvestmentsaswellasin data in a more efficient way a g r e e m e n t b e t w e e n Government also removed The visit has become According to a Ministry partnership with private to facilitate more efficient Muneshwer’s and IDB- VAT from cement in support necessary given the busy of Finance press release, sectorentities. Customs Operations and Invest for a US$4M loan for of the country’s massive Christmas season when the a c c o m p a n i e d b y “You have seen on most more efficient trade theprocurementofGuyana’s housingdrive. year-end clearance process Commissioner-General Mr of our visits, both at the transactions and port firstmobilecrane. G o v e r n m e n t h a s is in full swing. During visit, Godfrey Statia and other GNIC Laparkan Wharf and transactions,” the Minister In August 2021, in an indicated s ince its Dr Singh inspected the senior officials of the GRA, also at the John Fernandes furtherexplained. effort to ease the burden of assumption to office that it operations at the Guyana the Senior Finance Minister Wharf,modernscannersthat M i n i s t e r S i n g h the higher cost to import will use this period in National Industrial toured the respective offices are able to scan barrels and highlighted that clearance of container-goods into Guyana to build out as Company’s (GNIC) on in the compound as well, smallpackagesandthoseare consignments will further be Guyana, Government, by quickly as it can the Lombard Street and the John greeting and speaking to investments that we have improved with the addition statute, reduced freight foundation of a strong and Fernandes Wharf on Water staff, advising that they been making overtime to of two mobile cranes charges to pre-pandemic competitive non-oil Street. There, he met with ensure that they make their ensurethatatallofthemajor expected to be operational levels (March 31, 2020) in economy and for this reason GRA Department Heads to best effort to ensure all ports of entry, we have the soon by John Fernandes terms of the calculation of is aggressively building out outline his Government’s holiday consignments are capability and we have also Limited and Muneshwer’s. customs duties, excise taxes, infrastructure as well as These pieces of equipment and input VAT on goods capacity in the country for will form part of the further imported. Government also modernized social services, modernization of operations removedVATfromanumber roads, bridges, ports, atthewharves.Healsourged of essential commodities hospitals,schools,etc.

In recognition of hard work!

In recognition of his hard work and dedication in service to the people of Guyana, along with his exemplary professionalism in the discharge of his duties, Guyana Police Force’s Best Cop for 2022, Detective Sergeant, Mr. Kester Cosbert, was given a token of appreciation from S. Jagmohan Construction and General Supplies Incorporated. Cosbert received tickets for two for a round trip to the beautiful island of Barbados. Making the presentation on behalf of the company was Ms. Rosanna Chaitnarine.

Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh and Commissioner General of the GRA, Godfrey Statia during their tour at city wharves

Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh and others at one of the wharves

Russell’s57,Hosein,powerMelbourneRenegades tofour-wicketvictoryoverBrisbaneHeat

SportsMax-Playerofthe Match Andre Russell’s sixladen half century and an MVP-like performance from Akeal Hosein helped steer Melbourne Renegades to a four-wicket victory over BrisbaneHeatwithfourballs to spare in their Big Bash clash at Geelong yesterday Hoseintookthreewickets andscoredaquick-fire30for Melbourne after Russell had bludgeoned them back into contention after a Michael Neser’s hat-trick had threatened to deny them victory

Brisbane won the toss and chose to bat first but weretwowicketsdownfor14 in the third over thanks to Mujeeb ur Rahman and Hosein who claimed the wicketsofMaxBryantforfive and Colin Munro for eight, respectively

However, knocks of 25 from Sam Billings, 29 from Matt Renshaw and an unbeaten Jimmy Peirson helped stage a recovery However, after a partnership of 61 between Billings and Renshaw both were dismissed by Tom Rogers in

the 11th over as Brisbane slippedto78-4.

It was soon 96-5 as Rogers dismissed Ross Whitely for 8 in the 15 over

Thursday December 22, 2022

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)

You may have that awful feeling that you really need to get down to work yet something seems to stand square in the way of progress. Perhaps you feel likeyou'reatafour-waystop with three other cars.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

You'reanxioustotakeaction, Taurus, especially when it comes to matters of the heart.Becarefulaboutacting toohastily.It'simportantthat you and your loved one.

GEMINI(May21–June20)

It may feel as if something orsomeoneistryingtokeep youfrommovingaheadwith your ambitious goals and aggressive nature, Gemini. At first you may resent this ball and chain attached to your ankle.

CANCER(June21–July22)

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

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

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

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)

Otherpeoplearelikelytobe anxious to get up and movingwiththeirplans,Virgo.It might be better for you to hang back a bit and see how things pan out before you take action.

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

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

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov.21)

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

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Yourrelationshipsaregoing well from an intellectual perspective, Sagittarius, but from an emotional one, you might feel like they aren't as fulfilling as you'dlike.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

Concentrate on nurturing yourneedsrightnowinstead of trying to accommodate the needs of others, Capricorn.Thereisadifficulttension that arises when you try to comfort someone.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

Thingsmayrollalongnicely in love and romance and then suddenly run into a snag, Aquarius. Perhaps you failed to recognize an important birthday or anniversary

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20) Here'sareminderthatit'sOK tobeyou.Youmayfeelmore centered than usual, which encourages you to stand up for yourself and say the things you must to people who need to hear them.

Hosein took the wickets ofNeser(3)andJamesBazley (0) in three balls in the 15th over.Peirsonsmashed45 from30ballswithsixfoursto getBrisbanetoacompetitive 138-7.

Rogers ended with 4-23 while Hosein took 3-26 in another solid performance withtheball.

Melbourne’s relatively simple chase of just under seven runs an over, became extremelydifficultwhenNeser ripped through the top order with just nine runs on the board.

HedismissedSamHarper firstballandthenJakeFraserMcGurkfromthefinalballof the first over and then in his second dismissed Nic Maddinson for two and Johnathan Wells for a duck in consecutive balls of his second over to leave

Melbourne facing defeat.

However, Russell and Aaron Finch staged a recovery would set the team firmly on the path to victory Russell hit two fours and sixsixesandheandFinchput on 81 for the fifth wicket before he got out caught behind off Mark Steketee for 57from42balls.

Hosein picked up from where Russell left off hitting two fours and two sixes in a 39-run partnership with Finch. He eventually holed out to deep midwicket for 30

from19ballsoffthefifthball of Steketee’s final over with Melbourne needing just nine from seven balls.

Will Sutherland smashed Steketee’s last ball for a massive six over the midwicket boundary leaving Finchtohitthewinningruns, afouroverextracovertoseal with victory from Bazley’s second ball of the final over Melbourne’sthirdstraight win means they have six points and only trail leaders Adelaide Strikers on net run rate.

Andre Russell

Trophy Stall on board as preparations continue for Kennard Memorial Turf Club Boxing Day Horse race meet

Trophy Stall Guyana has joinedwithothersponsorsto help bank roll the Kennard Memorial Turf Club (KMTC)traditional“Boxing Day “Horse Race meet set forDecember26attheclub’s entity at Bush Lot Farm, CorentyneBerbice.

After an absence of over two years due to the Covid 19 pandemic organizers and thehorseracingfraternityare eagerly looking forward to theevent.

Despite the inclement weather, preparations are moving apace for the much anticipated event. Reports are that the track is in good condition.

TheKMTCarguablyhas the best facilities for horseracing in Guyana and the organizers are making every effort to make the venue is in top shape. Seven p o t e n t i a l l y s t e a m y encountersarecardedforthe day with prize monies

exceeding $6.5M in cash, t r o p h i e s a n d o t h e r incentives.

The feature event for animals classified ‘A’ and Lower carries a winning purse of $1.5M and trophy overeightfurlongs.

There is the E non earner and F and lower even for a winning take of $500,000 andtrophyover7furlongs.

The winner of the J and lowerandWestIndiesBred2 years race over six furlongs, pockets $300,000 and a trophy Animals classified K and lower and 2 years old Guyana bred will also be competing for a $300,000 winning purse and trophy over6furlongs.

There is a race for 2years-old Guyana Bred maiden animals over 6 furlongs which carry a similar first place purse of $300,000 and trophy The L class open event has a pole position taking of $200,000

The KMTC is in good shape.

Work continuing on the KMTC for their Boxing Day Horse Race meet.

the individual outstanding performers including championJockey

Sunich will be donating the trophies for

relevantruleswillapply

The day’s activities will beconductedundertheaegis of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) and the

Guyanese Lionel D’Andrade wins Amicts 5km in T and T

Interested persons may contact Secretary Niketa Ross, Dennis Deroop, Ivan Dipnarine, Isaac Dalloo or other members of the KMTC. (SamuelWhyte) G

d victorious in the Amicts 5km road race which was contested recently at ST Mary’s in Trinidad and Tobago.

D’Andrade clocked 19 minutes 45 seconds to win the event ahead of Nervin Beharry in 19.54 and Adam Singh in 23.32. D’Andrade, who is back home for the holidayseason,saidtherace was part of his preparation for the upcoming season in January He expressed gratitude to his sponsor BuildersLumberYard.

and trophy over 6 furlongs forthewinner The final event is for L

and K non earners for 2022 also over six furlongs with the winner riding away with $200,000andtrophy Trophy Stall through its owner Ramesh

Lionel D’Andrade in action.

One Guyana President’s moves to Albion tonight

-‘Rampant’ Region 3 stays unbeaten; Region 7 in back-to-back wins

ByRawleToney

The Albion Sports Complex - once a host to international cricket - will see football returning to the historic venue with a doubleheader in the One Guyana President’s Cup this evening.

From 18:00hrs, Region three will look to keep their hot streak alive when they come up against a stubborn Region 5 side, while the night’s second game, from 20:30hs, brings together Region 6 and 8 – two teams hunting their first win in the tournamentafterpickingtwo loses in as many matches played.

When action in the tournament continued on Tuesday at the National Track and Field Centre, Region 3 scored the secondmostgoalsofthetournament behind Region 4 (16) when they inflicted an 11 – 0 drubbingonRegion2.

T h e E s s e q u i b o

Islands/West Demerara side’s Captain, Leo-Orion Lovell had a helmet-trick (10', 17', 30', 52), with a double coming from Delon Lanferman (19', 48') and ColwynAdams(63',80').

Region 3 other goals in theirdominantwinovertheir c o u n t e r p a r t s f r o m

Pomeroon/Supenaam were scored by Chris Macy (41'), Trayon Bobb (73') and MalcolmMiggins(77').

The win pushes Region three to the top of Group B with six points from two matches. They’re also the only team in the tournament yettoconcedeagoal.

Region 10 and Region 1 (Barima/Waini) settled for shared points in their contest followingtheirstalemate.

With the results, the Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice side is now in the second position in Group B on five points, following their win against Region 2 anddrawagainstRegion5.

Meanwhile, Andrew Simmonswasonceagainthe lonegoalscorerforRegion7 (Cuyuni/Mazaruni) in an upsetwinoverRegion9.

The GTT-sponsored Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo team entered the game with back-to-back impressivewinsoverRegion 5(5–4)andRegion8(3–0), facing a Region 7 team limped passed Region 6 (1 –0)andhadahumiliating1–6 defeatatthehandsofRegion 4.

Though controlling the bulk of the position, Region 6 fell behind in the 21st minute, thanks to Simmons’ thirdgoalofthetournament.

Several efforts from the hinterland side, especially from their 17-year-old talisman, Matrim Martin, provedfutile.

Region 9 will hold on to second place in Group A b e h i n d t o u r n a m e n t favourites Region 4 on goal difference though having six

pointsinthreematches.

Following tonight’s matches in the ancient county, the tournament will

continue tomorrow at the National Track and Field Centre, where Region 4 will playRegion9inwhatshould

be a mouth-watering encounter from 18:00hs, followed by Region 1 and 2 at20:00hs.

FormerFIFAheadBlatter:Failedto protectsoccerfrominterference

BERLIN, (Reuters)Sepp Blatter, the former president of FIFA, said he had been unable to protect soccer from political and business interference in an interview with German weeklyDieZeit.

Blatter, who led FIFAfor 17years,saidhehad“triedto controlthebusiness”buthad repeatedlyfailed“becauseof the economic value of football and because of politics,” he said in an interview to be published in DieZeit’sThursdayedition.

Blatter was removed as FIFA president and banned from football in 2015 after criminal proceedings were launched against him by the Swiss Attorney General’s office.

He was cleared of fraud byaSwisscourtinJune The prosecutors have appealed the ruling R e c a l l i n g h o w h i s p r e d e c e s s o r J o a o

Havelange had told him he had “created a monster,” Blatter told Die Zeit: “Maybehewasright.”

Blatter said the recent World Cup in Qatar was emblematic of the larger issue affecting his sport: over-commercialization

“Attempts are being made to squeeze more and more out of the lemon - for example, with the World Cup finals with 48 teams or now with a (larger) Club World Cup,” he said, adding that FIFA had no businessinclubfootball.

Latest points standing in the One Guyana President’s Cup.

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter December 13, 2019.

(REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann)