Kaieteur News

Senior Counsel K NEWS Rex Mc Kay AIETEUR

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

passes away

Friday Edition December 22, 2023 - Vol. 25 No. 51

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $100 readership yesterday, p. 13 57,831 Senior Counsel, Rex Mc Kay

Unless there is renegotiation, Stabroek Block deal will - Chris continue to undermine Ram

Guyana's sovereignty until 2057 Court of Appeal throws out AG's request to help ExxonM fight against citizens’ case for full oil spill coverage EITI countries must now publish all exploration mining contracts

APNU still weighing pros and cons of ring-fencing oil projects to give Guyanese more benefits

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Kaieteur News

Friday December 22, 2023

Friday December 22, 2023

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Court of Appeal throws out AG's request to help ExxonMobil fight against citizens' case for full oil spill coverage The Court of Appeal on December 19, 2023, unanimously rejected the application by AttorneyGeneral, Anil Nandlall to join the case of two Guyanese, Frederick Collins and Godfrey Whyte, who are fighting for the Environmental Protection A g e n c y ( E PA ) t o g e t ExxonMobil Guyana to furnish the nation with unlimited liability coverage for oil spills.

In the said case, the EPA is represented by Frances Carryl and Sanjeev Datadin.

ExxonMobil Guyana is represented by Edward Luckhoo SC, Andrew Pollard SC and Eleanor Luckhoo.

The Attorney General was represented by a battery of lawyers including Darshan Ramdhanie, KC, and Nigel Hawke. Kaieteur News understands that Justice of Appeal, Rishi Persaud read the first written judgment, then Justice of Appeal, Dawn Gregory Barnes read the second written judgment

and finally the Chancellor (Ag.), Yonette Cummings Edwards read her written judgment, whereby the three judges all agreed to dismiss the AG's Application to join the appeal. The Court of Appeal unanimously upheld the submissions made by Seenath Jairam ,SC, leading Ms Melinda Janki and Mrs. Abiola Wong-Innings on behalf of Collins and Whyte, strenuously objecting to the joinder of the AttorneyGeneral (AG). The AttorneyGeneral had sought to join the side of Exxon Guyana which opposed the orders made by High Court Judge, Justice Sandil Kissoon for there to be a full coverage for all oil spill costs.

Jairam , SC made a number of legal arguments as to why the AG should not be allowed to join but in particular pointed out that the Attorney-General has no place in judicial review proceedings – a legal position that has now been judicially endorsed by the

Court of Appeal.

The Collins and Whyte case is currently in the Court of Appeal following the internationally renowned and historic decision by Justice Sandil Kissoon on May 3, 2023. The High Court Judge had ordered the EPA to obtain from Exxon Guyana, environmental liability insurance as is customary in the petroleum industry and an unlimited parent company guarantee to cover all costs of an oil spill, in accordance with the environmental permit issued to Exxon Guyana.

In his judgment, Justice Kissoon was very clear and had castigated the EPA for abdicating its statutory responsibilities stating that the EPA had “relegated itself to state of laxity of enforcement and condonation compounded by a lack of vigilance thereby putting this nation and its people in grave potential danger of calamitous disaster.” Justice Kissoon

Attorney General, Anil Nandlall also found in the evidence that Exxon Guyana, “was engaged in a disingenuous attempt which was calculated to deceive when it sought to dilute its liabilities and settled obligations stipulated and expressed in clear unambiguous terms” in its environmental permit.

Both the EPA and Exxon Guyana appealed the decision which is now before

the Court of Appeal for a date to be heard and determined.

On June 8, 2023, Appellate Court Judge, Justice Rishi Persaud granted a stay of Justice Kissoon's orders and ordered Exxon Guyana to produce a guarantee for US$2 billion within a fixed time frame instead. Justice Persaud also stayed the requirement for insurance.

On July 5, 2023 Collins and Whyte filed a Motion for an urgent hearing to vary or discharge the Order made by Justice Persaud. In his Affidavit in Support of the Motion, Collins pointed out that as a result of the stay granted by Justice Persaud, Guyana is now on the hook for damage caused by an oil spill and warned that “the potential harm to Guyana's economy cannot be overstated. Liability for clean-up, restoration and compensation following an oil spill, well blow out, or tanker accident from Exxon's operations is unlimited and

uncapped and could run into billions of US dollars or trillions of Guyana dollars, far exceeding the National Resource Fund and Guyana's biggest ever annual budget, and even exceeding the amount of said fund and budget combined.”

On behalf of Collins and Whyte, Attorney-at-Law, Melinda Janki wrote several letters to the lawyers for the EPA and Exxon requesting a copy of the US$2 billion guarantee but none was produced.

On November 1, 2023, a summons was filed for orders directing the EPA and Esso to produce a copy of the US$2 billion guarantee. Neither the motion nor the summons has been heard as yet. However, following the hearing on December 19, the Court of Appeal directed Wong-Inniss to follow up with the Registrar with regard to obtaining a copy of the US$2 billion guarantee and dates for the hearing of the appeal and other applications.

APNU still weighing pros and cons of ring-fencing oil projects to give Guyanese more benefits The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) political grouping on Thursday disclosed that it is still weighing the pros and cons of ring-fencing oil projects in the prolific Stabroek Block.

During the Opposition weekly press conference, Economist Elson Low and Party Chairman, Shurwayne Holder were confronted with queries regarding the possibility of ring-fencing projects within the Stabroek Block, managed by ExxonMobil Guyana.

The 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) signed by the previous Coalition government, stipulates that a whopping 75 percent of the monthly revenues are to be deducted as costs to repay the companies' shareholders, while the remaining proceeds are split as profits equally with Guyana. In the absence of a ring-fencing provision, the companies have the leeway to use the profits from producing oil projects to pay for others that are yet to

commence production. A ring-fencing provision would therefore prevent oil companies from using revenue generated from a production field to offset costs in another project. It would also mean that when that project cost is repaid, Guyana would enjoy 50 percent of the revenue generated there.

E x p r e s s i n g discontentment, party representatives criticised the Government of Guyana's recent 6.5% across-the-board salary increase for public servants.

Low labeled the raise as a “slap in the face” to these essential contributors across vital sectors like healthcare, education, national defense, and infrastructure development. He stressed the nation's fiscal capacity, buoyed by a substantial national budget and burgeoning oil revenues, advocating for higher wages and a fairer distribution of wealth.

He said ,“for the next Coalition government, our

Shurwayne Holder

Elson Low

budgeting will put people first and at the centre of national development. We see this not only as a moral obligation but as an economic investment in our human resources. Our budgets therefore will reflect this philosophy.” When pressed about potential implementation of a ringfencing provision under a future Coalition government, Holder said the Coalition is committed to maximizing benefits for Guyanese citizens. Holder added, “A lot

of other things that can be done in the confines of this contract…so there is no excuse for us still being poor in this country, no excuse.”

He emphasised that upon assuming government, provisions within the oil contract would enable, the Coalition “to sit and to work out the maximum benefits that we can gain from the existing contracts and I am committing that when we take government we are going to do that.”

Moreover, he said that the

party has to deal with ringfencing from an informed position. He then underscored that they are a d v a n t a g e s a n d disadvantages to ring fencing. “So it is an issue that we are conscious of but as I said, our key focus doesn't lie in ring-fencing or the other measures our key focus is to get the maximum benefit from our resources and allow it to meet the people. So that will be our focus, we will have to look at it in a holistic manner and as I said, we will have to weigh pros and cons before we move forward so we don't want to make a definitive statement to say well ring fencing will be in this discussion of not, we will look at it holistically,” Holder said.

Notably, a few months ago, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has finally accepted that ring-fencing the oil projects will allow Guyana to benefit more from the wealth generated in the resourcerich Stabroek Block, immediately. Despite his acceptance however, the VP

is unwilling to affect any changes to the lopsided deal that United States oil giant, ExxonMobil and its partners.

For his part, Low stressed the importance of informed decisions, seeking expert advice and considering economic dynamics before determining the best course of action in relation to ringfencing the oil projects.

“What we have said is that there is a range of options that we will speak to the operator regarding…Now ring fencing is one of those options. However, we will evaluate closely how we will approach each option because they are different economic dynamics that we need to make sure are properly accounted for so we believe that we have already started that and we will engage in that conversation,” he added.

Low explained that the next Coalition government will not adopt the approach to make demands, but to have discussions with the oil companies and experts before making a decision.

Kaieteur News

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Friday December 22, 2023

Kaieteur News

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Publisher: DR. GLENN LALL - TEL: 624-6456 Editor-In-Chief: NIGEL WILLIAMS Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

THE FASTEST, THE SLOWEST, THE WEAKEST When someone like Daniel Yergin speaks, people listen keenly, especially those leaders of countries with oil.

Currently, he is the chairman of analytics at Standard and Poor Global. A man of tremendous prowess at an institution of lofty standing in America; it is as good a combination as anyone could expect. The fact that Dr.Yergin wrote a Pulitzer-prize winning book on oil (The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money, and Power) only burnishes his standing some more. When this author, historian, and student and teacher of oil make a statement, the world of oil respects the expertise that he brings.

Dr. Yergin said during a recent appearance on CNBC that Guyana “is the fastest offshore oil development in the history of the world.” It says something about Guyana, and this statement from Dr. Yergin, that after 125 years of offshore oil drilling beginning in California, that this country holds the honors for the “fastest offshore oil development” in history.

ExxonMobil has certainly leveraged its vast knowhow and its incomparable technology to bring Guyana to this place where, as Dr. Yergin said,Guyana is now of major importance to the energy markets. He also noted that this is what has caught the attention of Venezuelan dictator, Maduro, and puts all kinds of unconstructive and covetous ideas in his head.

We fully agree with Dr. Yergin. Now, since Guyana has been producing oil for several years, and has more than doubled its production in such a short span of time, so it is reasonable to think that the Guyanese people would be among the fastest, strongest, and more prosperous people anywhere. That is, at the individual, family, and community levels. The reality could not be more contrasting. For, despite now boasting the fastest offshore oil drilling development ever, the story of Guyanese is that they still languish among the slowest and weakest.

Relative to the slowest, the ordinary Guyanese man and woman stuck on the lower levels of the economic ladder are not keeping pace with the explosive growth of their offshore oil sector. Considering the small population of this country, and the amount of oil produced by leaps and bounds, there should be no conversation here about poverty, and struggling Guyanese. There ought not be any discussion over the crush of cost-of-living, and the feeling of helplessness, it inflicts upon Guyanese supposedly standing on top of the world.

And there could not be anything but contemptuous dismissal of the pittances that the government hands out to citizens as their share of the national multibillion dollar pie.

What is taking place in this fastest offshore oil developing location is more than enough to lift every Guyanese from where they and their ancestors have always lived. For the coastal and remotely located Guyanese population, it has been the grind of dirt poverty for many. Not a single Guyanese should be without enough food, not living at a standard of refinement, and the quality that goes with being the richest people on earth. But here they are, those Guyanese who still live with their perpetually punishing poverty. They are those who are not part of the charmed inner circle of a cold and selfish (and self-enriching) PPPC Government.

Guyanese should be prospering now that they are creating history. But the truth is ugly and leaves huge blotches on the face of the government and its leaders. Children are malnourished, according to the findings of reviews by international bodies. Babies are still born underweight in a country that has the brightest prospects of all, but where the owners of the oil, the Guyanese people, are far from experiencing any such condition.

Dr. Daniel Yergin, like so many other foreign experts, has spoken and written powerfully about how blessed Guyana is.

The concern, and it is an acutely frightening one, is why there are these significant segments in the local population who lack so much, and who live in such misery. In this time of holiday cheer, no Guyanese should be worrying about what kind of Christmas they will have. The fastest country has the slowest citizens, and too many of them don’t know what it is to truly benefit from what they own.

RALPH GONSALVES HAS HAD A LONG ASSOCIATION WITH GUYANA DEAR EDITOR, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves’s motif for convening the get together between Presidents Maduro and Ali was questioned.

Anyone who has read and or followed Gonsalves would know that he has had a long positive history with Guyana and a consistent advocate of Caribbean interests. He stands unique among Caribbean politicians in his qualifications– economist (BA, UWI Mona), political scientist (MA Mona), progressive, trade unionist (PhD Manchester), lecturer (UWI Cave Hill) and lawyer (Inn’s Bar London). He has been a lifelong ‘Jaganite’, admiring the late leader (since the 1960s) for his socialist credentials and has not deviated from left wing i d e o l o g y. A n d h e consistently championed democracy in Guyana from 1966 thru 1992 and again in 2020. As such, he was/is not someone who would compromise the interest of the region or that of Guyana for self-interest.

Remarks were made about benefits and recognitions received by his country and several other Caricom states and or their leaders from Maduro, imputing those as motifs for their presence in the St. Vincent meet. It is noted, for example, that several Caribbean states (Dominica and St. Vincent included) had their (PetroCaribe energy) debt cancelled of by Venezuela. Dominica was relieved of US$100M and St. Vincent US$70M debt. The PM of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerritt is the Chair of Caricom. Several other Caricom members

(including Belize) have their debt renegotiated and or s o m e f o rg i v e n . P r i m e Minister Mia Mottley was recently honored by Maduro with that country’s highest national civilian award.

Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Rowley of Trinidad and Tobago has an agreement for gas and a percentage of revenues from the nearby Dragon Field block in Venezuela. It is impossible to ignore benefits as motivation for wanting to maintain good relations with Venezuela.

In the international political system, as students of political science (Foreign Policy 101 or International Relations 101) learn, all nations act in their best selfinterests. It is not different from (most) politicians acting in their self-interests to fill deep pockets. Yes, Caricom states benefited tremendously from Venezuela over the last couple decades with purchasing ‘cheap’ oil with payments deferred. Thus, they can’t simply forget Venezuela’s generosity and back Guyana; it is called realpolitik. Otherwise, they would be considered as ungrateful. At the same time, Guyana is their long-time regional partner and can’t abandon it in times of need or distress. They would prefer not to have to choose sides in the controversy. Thus, they must pursue a balanced relationship of self-interests between the two neighbors turned new adversaries. It is in Caricom’s as well as E C L A C ’s i n t e r e s t i n bringing ‘nemesis’ together so that the good friendly relations they enjoy with Venezuela and or with Guyana are not impacted.

Besides economic interests, nations also have an overriding concern to maintain their region as a zone of peace. Any violence between states would have devastating (economic and social) consequences in the region and beyond.

Thus, it is inherently wrong to impute that Dr. Gonsalves only had selfinterest in bringing the two nemeses together in his nation for talks. It was a high-level meet with high level attendance to guarantee its success. Dr. Gonsalves is interim Pro-tempore chair of ECLAC, a position that rotates and which comes to an end in 2024. As Chair of Caricom, Dominica PM served as co-host of the meet with other heads and other invited guests serving as interlocutors. The invitees included representatives of UN, Brazil, and Honduras, among entities. Gonsalves merely took the initiative to write the two Presidents to meet and discuss the controversy. He was the right person to take the initiative since he chaired ECLAC to which both Guyana and Venezuela as members; Venezuela is not a member of Caricom. Gonsalves served as a host for the talk with himself and other invitees serving as interlocutors assisting to broker peace.

Gonsalves is not a ‘selfish’ politician like several others from the region. He has consistently demonstrated care for the region and its people.

Anyone who has been around like me and have studied Caribbean politics from the 1970s, long before the current crop of regional politicians and academics,

Need for more Caution in the Corporate World DEAR EDITOR, The yellow building megastore in neighbouring T&T had a shooting incident in its car park recently which resulted in deaths, injuries, chaos and trauma to employees shoppers and members of the public (SN December 18).

From the report. It seems an off-duty policeman was conducting his own business in the megastore’s car park, it is perceived in the name of

the megastore, to an unsuspecting, gullible customer, who fell for the scam and swindle.

It is still unbelievable how these scams are born and how members of the public would fall, hook, line and sinker, for them.

Where was the due diligence by the gullible customer to the deals allegedly being offered by the megastar, that only the off-duty policeman knew

about? It still has to be wondered how the use of the car park, for a nefarious activity, came about? Was there collusion.... complicity? It is hoped our own yellow building megastore would take note of this happening and ensure it is not replicated here, especially at this time when deals and bargains are born and made everyday.

Regards, Shamshun Mohamed

would know the name Ralph Gonsalves. His name appeared in the region’s mass media as well as in academia (journals and books) long before he became a politician in mid1990s and PM since March 2001. He has been an outstanding writer and great speaker. He penned several articles on the region and published a few books. His name appeared in Caribbean Contact newspaper to which I subscribed from the late 1970s; its editor was Guyanese Rickey Singh, the former Guyana Graphics editor who was driven out of his country by the authoritarian Forbes Burnham.

Gonsalves and Singh had a close friendship.

Gonsalves was also a political activist; when Walter Rodney was expelled from Jamaica, Gonsalves, as head of the Students Guild, led fiery protests at MONA campus and in Kingston. He also spoke out against R o d n e y ’s d e n i a l o f employment at UG and his assassination by the Burnham dictatorship. He supported the Maurice Bishop coup in Grenada in 1979 and condemned the PM’s murder in 1983. These can be verified from Contact archives and in magazines such as Caribbean Perspectives. Gonsalves supported the left-wing movement in the region. And he was a close comrade of the late trade unionist and activist Tim Hector of Antigua in their struggle against exploitation of the region’s working class and what they called ‘neoimperialism’.

My first personal encounter with Gonsalves was at City College of NY where I was an elected S e n a t o r i n t h e Undergraduate Day Student Government (1978 to 1982) that hosted his lecture. I met him multiple times thereafter in Guyana, Trinidad, St. Lucia, Antigua, and elsewhere. Gonsalves was a visiting Professor at Queens College of CUNY for a year and in Spring 1980, with Vassan Ramracha as elected Treasurer, the CCNY DSG at my tabling a motion for funding co-sponsored a Caribbean Conference where Gonsalves, Joey Jagan, Arjune Karshan, and a host of Caribbean intellects (Continued on page 5)

Friday December 22, 2023

Kaieteur News

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WPA remains uncomfortable with the recent summit held in St Vincent DEAR EDITOR, T h e W PA r e m a i n s uncomfortable with the recent summit held in St Vi n c e n t b e t w e e n t h e presidents of Guyana and Venezuela.

To begin with, WPA was skeptical of the objectives of the meeting.

While we believe that bilateral dialogue between Guyana and Venezuela should not be taken off the table, we do not think it should have been a first resort. We were and are cognizant of Venezuela’s desire for such a meeting and feel that they should not have been unconditionally rewarded. We are also aware that Venezuela wanted a substitute for the ICJ process which it unequivocally rejects.

A minimum condition for such a meeting therefore should have been Venezuela’s withdrawal of the decrees enacted in the wake of the referendum and a cessation of all hostilities towards Guyana.

Failure to get Venezuela to agree to these conditions meant that President Ali walked into the proverbial political trap.

His declaration that he would not discuss the border

controversy was naïve on his part. WPA also has great difficulty with Dr Ralph Gonsalves and his CARICOM colleagues spearheading the meeting.

The utterances of some CARICOM leaders on the developments over the last few weeks left no doubt about where they stood.

There is no guarantee that these leaders are prepared to take a principled stand in support of Guyana’s just case; their position is driven by their gratitude to Venezuela for its economic aid to their countries, WPA is disgusted by this hustler mentality which has poisoned the region’s elite political culture.

It is against this background that WPA is unsurprised by but disappointed with the Argyle Declaration.

We are of the firm view that the Argyle Declaration in its totality represents an advantage for Venezuela at the expense of Guyana’s interests.

In this regard WPA strongly feels that CARICOM’s leadership has s a c r i f i c e d G u y a n a ’s territorial interests for its own narrow political and

economic interests.

This flies in the face of the traditional spirit of Caribbean integration.

First, It cannot be accidental that the declaration describes the matter as a dispute between Guyana and Venezuela and thus calls on the two countries to de-escalate hostilities.

This is a slap in Guyana’s face. From the standpoint of international law, Essequibo is not disputed territory.

Further, Guyana has never in word or deed threatened Venezuela on this matter.

Rather it is Venezuela which has since 1966 been hostile to Guyana.

Second, the insertion of the Geneva Agreement as a central clause in the declaration while omitting the ICJ process represents a coup in favor of Venezuela.

Although the Geneva Agreement provides a forum for dialogue, it was never intended to determine the validity of the 1899 Arbitration Award.

This historic position by Guyana has not been endorsed by the Argyle Declaration—a failure that in effect amounts to an endorsement of Venezuela’s

Tribute to the late Rex Hubert McKay, SC. DEAR EDITOR, News about the death of Rex Hubert McKay, SC, a doyen in the legal fraternity, has dealt me a shocking blow. While I know he was shackled by old age and illness, I did not realize death was so near.

As a young policeman, I had cause to be on the opposite side to him in Court. As a lawyer defending the accused, he pilloried me with questions and exposed weaknesses in the evidence presented. His questions posed in cross examination enriched my knowledge and helped to make me a better investigator.

Once after our duel in

Court had just ended, he invited me to his office at Croal Street in Georgetown and reviewed the gaps in the evidence.

That was a learning experience for me.

I had the privilege to subsequently investigate the theft of bales of “Island in the Sun” patterned cloth from his bond. He was appreciative when I recovered the cloth and held the suspect.

He, however, took the route of monetary settlement instead of criminal prosecution against the suspect. That added strength to our relationship.

Rex Hubert McKay was

a mentor who impacted my professional development. I offer my very sincere condolences to his family and friends in mourning, and hope it is well with his soul.

Regards, Rennie Inniss

official position.

T h i r d , w h i l e W PA accepts that Venezuela’s agreement to cease hostilities towards Guyana could provide some space and time for the latter to rally more support for its cause, the price it has paid is too high.

It is clear that Maduro has something to take back to his supporters while the Guyana government came out of the meeting without any tangible gains.

This lobsided outcome hurts Guyana’s morale and could be detrimental to its case in the medium to long term.

WPA hastens to point out that Venezuela’s threat to Guyana is not just military in nature—it is also economic.

Venezuela is threatening to stifle Guyana economically.

The decision to pass a budget for Essequibo and to arrogate unto itself the right

to authorize investments in the territory should not be underestimated. Fourth, WPA takes this opportunity to reiterate its view that the Guyana government must hastily move to lead the crafting of a national initiative to combat Venezuela’s aggression.

This must include at a minimum an All-Party Forum which should take full advantage of all the technical and professional expertise at our disposal.

The WPA does not rule out other more robust forms of national governance.

Fifth, WPA supports a weaponizing of the army to meet the current military challenges.

This must be part of an overall strategy that clearly defines the role of the armed forces in non-partisan terms.

While WPA is aware of the political and ethnic sensitivities of this issue, it

feels the urgency of the matter requires some degree of flexibility by the political forces.

Further, it is our view that the government must make every effort to ensure that all groups in society are encouraged to join the army.

Defense of the country should transcend the ethnoracial divide.

Finally, WPA supports the crafting of a genuine developmental plan that takes into consideration the Venezuelan threat.

It is our view that economic development cannot be divorced from the defense of our territorial integrity.

The alleviation of poverty, for example, must be pursued in a more structural manner and with much more purpose.

Regards, Wo r k i n g P e o p l e ’s Alliance

Need for more Caution in the...

From page 4 made presentations at Lewisohn Lounge south campus. (Chuck Mohan was there but I can’t recall if he spoke).

There, Gonsalves and I exchanged views, and he publicly condemned electoral fraud in Guyana and spoke out against Caribbean authoritarianism.

He praised Cheddi Jagan for his peaceful struggle for restoration of democratic rule in Guyana.

He described Jagan as “a socialist giant” in the region and a Caribbean hero who was respected by all comrades. Subsequently, Gonsalves would endorse

the description accorded Jagan by then Prime Minister Maurice Bishop as “Dean of Caribbean Socialism”.

So in his relations with Guyana, Gonsalves did not come across as someone pursuing selfish interests. He cared for democracy, peace, development, and the working class.

Instead of criticizing him, we should praise the intent of Gonsalves to invite the leaders of Guyana and Venezuela to come together to talk about the border controversy.

And we must commend Gonsalves and other regional leaders as well as

the representatives of ECLAC, Brazil, and the UN to be closely associated with the meet that has brokered peace between Guyana and Venezuela even for a short period.

The meet would help to strengthen partnerships between and among states as well as continuing the long period of peace and security in the region.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Kaieteur News

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Friday December 22, 2023

Driver killed in car crash along Essequibo coast

A

5 8 - y e a r- o l d man is now dead following a head-on collision between two cars along the public road at Aberdeen, Essequibo Coast, Region Two. Dead is Abdool Hakeem Ally, of Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast.

He was one of the drivers of the two cars. Following the head-on collision he was found motionless in the

driver’s seat of his car, PAE 46 51.

The surviving driver of the other car involved, Dwarka Nauth, 67, told police that he was driving south along the eastern side of the road while Ally was heading in the opposite direction.

Nauth alleged that as the cars got closer to passing each other, Ally suddenly swerved into his path

causing the head-on collision. Nauth and his female passenger sustained minor injuries.

Other motorists passing by, stopped to render assistance and a motionless Ally was rushed to the Suddie Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Nauth is in custody assisting police with investigations.

The mangled cars ( News Room Picture)

Guyana doing too well to insult public servants with 6.5% increase DEAR EDITOR, In a move that has sparked discontent among Guyanese public servants, on Thursday, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo staunchly defended the government’s decision to grant a 6.5% salary increase.

This increase, without any prior collective bargaining between the government and labor

unions representing the workers, raises serious questions about the fairness and adequacy of the adjustment.

The context of Guyana’s economic landscape adds fuel to the fire. The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) regime has enjoyed substantial increases in per capita income since the onset of oil production.

This raises eyebrows about the distribution of wealth in Guyana. As oil revenues flood the nation’s coffers, the glaring absence of a proportional and fair wage increase for public servants becomes even more conspicuous.

Despite Guyana experiencing a remarkable surge in per capita income, the 6.5% increase falls woefully short of addressing the pressing needs of the workforce.

With an inflation rate standing at more than 6.7 percent, the meager salary adjustment hardly keeps pace with the rising cost of living.

The government’s failure to engage in collective bargaining further exacerbates the sense of neglect among the labor force.

Food prices – a significant component of daily expenses – have surged

by a staggering 14 percent, according to the World Bank.

Public servants, already grappling with the challenges of inflation, find themselves further burdened by the escalating costs of essential commodities.

This places an undue strain on the very individuals who form the backbone of public services, raising questions about the government’s commitment to their well-being.

The importance of the public service cannot be overstated. These individuals play a vital role in maintaining the functioning of essential services, and their dedication deserves recognition

through fair compensation.

The 6.5 percent increase, however, not only fails to acknowledge their contributions but also sends a disheartening message about the value placed on public service.

One cannot ignore the elephant in the room – where is all the oil money going?

The government’s decision to allocate a mere 6.5% increase to public servants prompts skepticism about the equitable distribution of the nation’s newfound wealth. As Guyana’s annual income from oil sales to the public sector workers comes under scrutiny, criticisms e m e rg e r e g a r d i n g t h e transparency and fairness of

the allocation process.

Public servants, who work tirelessly to ensure the smooth functioning of government services, deserve more than a token increase.

The insult lies not only in the inadequacy of the adjustment but also in the lack of consultation and negotiation.

Collective bargaining is a fundamental pillar of fair labor practices, and its absence in this scenario raises concerns about the government’s commitment to fostering a just and collaborative working environment.

Yours faithfully, Mark DaCosta

The Masquerade Band

By Haimnauth Cecil Ramkirath Fifes, flutes, fiddles, kettle and boom drums, triangle and shac-shac— festive music and beats of the masquerade band along the street.

Children ran to see the fun.

Every man and woman reveling in sweet music.

There was much dancing, wining, and flouncing, and revelers moving and grooving on Christmas morning.

Costumes—a patchwork of outlandish colors.

A mismatch never seen; more bizarre with the ghoulish masks.

Men danced on stilts.

“Long Lady” brushed the clouds away; it was a sundrenched day.

Mother Sally gyrated with a big, big behind.

There was much dancing, wining, and

flouncing, and revelers moving and grooving on Christmas morning Gone the pain in knees and joints; Nani and Nana pranced and danced, and incited the band to raise the music like Jouvay on Christmas day.

Big Bertha brought out black cake and mauby.

Every reveler on the street had a treat.

There was much dancing, wining, and flouncing, and revelers moving and grooving on Christmas morning Then the music stopped; the leader of the band raised his voice.

Revelers and onlookers listened to every word: “Christmas comes once a year, and every man shall have his share, but poor brother Joe in the jail drinking sour ginger beer!

Blow! Blow!”

Fifes, flutes, fiddles, kettle and boom drums, triangle and shac-shac heeded the leader’s call; the verve and energy flooded the street.

There was much dancing, wining, and flouncing, and revelers moving and grooving on Christmas morning.

And the man with the “Bull-Cow” rushed to the crowd.

Children saw the lowered horns; they saw fire in the bull’s eyes.

They ran; they came back; a dangerous thing to tease a mad bull born to gore, but what a thing to watch: the sweet mischief of children and bull.

There was much dancing, wining, and flouncing, and revelers moving and grooving on Christmas morning.

T N U L B . . .

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B T LUNT. UNT...B BL Friday December 22, 2023

Kaieteur News

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo was at it again yesterday, wasting tax payer's dollars and reporters' time with his weekly press 'cussfrence'.

He told the nation that it was a long time he did not 'cuss' Kaieteur News so he devoted two hours of the his press conference to do so. Imagine a former President and current Vice President of a country with Venezuela to worry about, rampant crime, and a starving nation, has the time to stoop so low.

The public display was so disgraceful coming from a man who plays such a major role in the governance of this country. No wonder Guyana is a laughing stock and being run like a cake shop.

PAGE 07

Kaieteur News

PAGE 8 10

Friday Monday December May 02,22, 2022 2023

Unless there is renegotiation, Stabroek Block deal will continue to undermine Guyana's sovereignty until 2057 - Chris Ram W

hile Guyanese authorities h a v e displayed an outstanding degree of courage in their efforts to thwart Venezuela's plans to seize the Essequibo region, there is a document sitting right under their nose that undermines the nation's sovereignty. That document is the Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement which Guyana and an ExxonMobil-led consortium signed onto in 2016.

Chartered Accountant a n d A t t o r n e y - a t - L a w, Christopher Ram recently pointed out in a column published in the Stabroek News that the PSA essentially strips Parliament, a key vessel of Guyana's statehood, of its most essential power and function, and that is the power to “make laws for the peace, order and good government of Guyana.”

(Article 65 of the

Constitution).

“And how do we do it?

By the burdensome stability clause contained in Article 32 of the 2016 Petroleum Agreement,” said Ram in his column.

Referencing the said clause, Ram said subArticles .1 and .2 state: “Except as may be expressly provided herein, the Government shall not amend, modify, rescind, terminate, declare invalid or unenforceable, require renegotiation of, compel replacement or substitution, or otherwise seek to avoid, alter, or limit this Agreement without the prior written consent of Contractor.

It further notes, “After the signing of this Agreement and in conformance with Article 15, the Government shall not increase the economic burdens of Contractor under this Agreement by applying to this Agreement or the

operations conducted thereunder any increase of or any new petroleum related fiscal obligation, including, but not limited to, any new taxes whatsoever, any new royalty, duties, fees, charges, value-added tax (VAT) or other imports.”

Ram pointed out that this state of affairs will not only be obtained for one year, five years or 10 years but until 2057. In a subsequent letter to the press where Ram cited the 2057 date, he noted that this includes the one-year extension that the former APNU+AFC Administration granted to Exxon to continue exploration of the block.

Exxon was required to return 20 percent of the Stabroek Block to the State in October 2023 but had asked the former regime for an extension to October 2024, claiming that its exploration activities were interrupted by the COVID19 pandemic.

Former President of Guyana, David Granger had granted the extension on the condition that a review would be done to determine the extent to which it was affected.

When the PPPC administration assumed office, it said that review was done and it was satisfied that Exxon's operations were affected.

It therefore allowed Exxon to be granted the oneyear extension to hold onto the block in its entirety.

Apart from that bland good faith statement, Ram told Kaieteur News that the PPPC has not said who did the review, the evidence provided by Exxon and who gave final clearance.

According to Ram, “This is the shady nature of deals between the PPPC and Exxon

Chartered Accountant, Chris Ram in which everything is hidden from Guyanese, and everything further sweetens the already lopsided deal, making a mockery of the PPP/C's 2020 elections pledge for better contract administration.”

Kaieteur News

understands that Exxon is targeting at least 10 to 12 wells in the Stabroek Block next year to unlock more multi-million barrels of oil.

Thus far, more than 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent resources have been discovered.

Kaieteur News

Friday December 22, 2023

PAGE 09

AFTER THE OIL IS GONE F

ifty-three years ago, Norman Girvan wrote an article entitled “Multinational Corporations and Underdevelopment”. In that article he unearthed the practice of oil companies shifting production to different parts of the world.

For example, he observed that the United States shifted production to Mexico in the early 20th century. Then between the 1920s and 1940s, they shifted from Mexico to Venezuela.

In the 1950s and 1960s, production had shifted to the Middle East. Girvan argued that this shift was analogous to what took place in plantation economies. In otherwords, it follows a pattern of economic colonization Despite what happened in the 1970’s following the massive increases in the price of oil, the same pattern of shifting production continues. Venezuela is now sidelined for geo-political reasons and therefore new frontiers have to be found.

Guyana and parts of Africa are now once again in the limelight following oil discoveries. At present, oil multinationals are encircling Africa in search of oil. Africa still accounts for close to 8% of global oil production. On the other hand Namibia, South Africa, Sierra Leone and Liberia are seen as promising for future oil discoveries.

In July of this year the five major oil- producing countries in Africa were Libya, Nigeria, Angola, Egypt and Algeria. In keeping with the traditional policy of displacing

supplies, attention is now being focused on Namibia.

That country’s Orange Basin.

Guyana’s on the other hand has an estimated 11 billion barrels. This however is still far less than the 300 billion barrels of reserves held by Venezuela.

We a r e t o l d t h a t production in Guyana will soon reach 600,000 barrels having commenced in 2019 at less than 100,000 barrels.

In four years, production has increased more than threefold. We are further told that it will increase by 2028 to 1,000,000 million barrels of oil.

At the rate at which oil production is being ramped up, Guyana only has a few decades before its reserves are likely to be exhausted.

The government is treating the sector as having a limited shelf life – given the assumed emphasis on phasing out fossil fuels.

But in the absence of a National Depletion Policy, it is really the oil companies and not the government which is dictating the pace of extraction. What makes the situation all the more worrying is because the government has declared that it believes it only has a narrow window to exploit its oil resources and therefore want to pump as much as oil as it can get as quickly as possible.

This plays right into the hands of the oil companies.

They will plunder our oil and empty our reserves and then walk away to another location. This is consistent with what Girvan had deemed the planned displacement of supply sources.

A t p r e s e n t , multinationals are looting Yemen’s oil. The conflict in that country has not discouraged the plunder of its oil and gas resources. In fact, oil companies are notorious for stoking conflict and benefitting from it.

The Russian-Ukraine War has led to an increase in the cost of energy sources and the oil companies are profiteering from the higher prices being demand.

In other words, the oil companies will bleed Guyana dry and leave the country underdeveloped because of the lop-sided deal it secured. Having pumped out all of our oil, they will then leave to find new production sites. A recent report suggested that Exxon is shutting down in exploration and production in Mexico.

When a country’s oil is finished, the oil companies will move on. This is an ominous development for Guyana.

The oil companies have options. They can pack up when Guyana’s oil if exhausted and they can seek new supply sources in Africa. Exxon can leave Mexico and increases its investment in Guyana. But it could also end up back in Venezuela within the next 10 years. Chevron is already in Venezuela and ramping up production there.

Exxon recently said that it plans to stay in Guyana for a long time. But that is little comfort for Guyana because the history of the oil and gas sector suggests that oil companies enjoy planned displacement of oil supplies, as the late Norman Girvan

Dem Boys Seh...

We wallets screaming De government is de best thing making excuses. Dem now defending the indefensible. Dem claiming how over the past 3 years dem increase public servants salaries by a compounded 33%.

De only thing is that dese numbers are like a magic trick. But instead of pulling rabbits out of hats, they’re making our money disappear.

De government conveniently omit from their numerical acrobatics the detail of the actual inflation rate, compounded. De inflation rate is a like an uninvited guest at a wedding. It eating out de food while de invited guest are left with empty plates.

Inflation has been devouring dem public servants pay raises like a fiscal termite.

Imagine getting a bigger slice of the pie, only to find out that the pie has shrunk.

The school cash grant may have soared

to new heights, but parents are left scaling the mountain of rising costs for lunch and fuh snacks. A dhal puri is now a delicacy priced at a princely $300. A small soda – once a modest $160, now sells for at $200 at nuff of dem schools’ cafeteria.

What happened to all those increases in disposable incomes? Poof! Gone, vanished into thin air. It is trying to fill a leaky bucket – you pour in more, but the holes of inflation keep draining it away.

Our wallets are now screaming every time we walk into a store, a supermarket of a shop. Dem kicking and screaming” Murder!

Help!”

De government should put on a magic show fuh Christmas. Because making money disappear seems to be their greatest illusion yet.

Talk Half! Leff Half!

pointed out fifty-three years ago. And Guyana’s turn will come when the oil is done.

Where does this leave Guyana? It leaves us high and dry.

Yesterday at his Press Conference Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo accused this column of lying in relation to the Norconsult Report and total emissions free electricity.

This column has not been suggesting that the Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Project could not supply clean electricity. After all it is renewable energy project.

What was being pointed out

was that the project could not m e e t G u y a n a ’s t o t a l emissions free electricity and that other renewable energy sources would have had to be developed but these would take time.

This is verbatim what the Norconsult Report said: “Amaila Falls alone cannot provide a 100% emission free power generation in Guyana.

Other generating sources will have to be added in parallel like sun, wind and thermal production based on emission neutral fuel (bagasse) for back-up in the dry periods when the water

flow to AFHP may be insufficient for full capacity operation.” Perhaps Jagdeo should tell the nation what were the back-up plans for the dry periods.

(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.)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10 S

UTH

D TR

HAR

HK

BY G

LALL

Friday Monday December May 02, 22,2022 2023

H@RD TRUTHS

BY GHK LALL

Remittances: more than relief, revelations also I really should be focused on December and the season, which are my favorite times of the year. Time to gear down, slowdown, and tone down. It is time that there is looking inward, and starting to space out these contributions. But there is still some pending business to close down.

According to the World Bank, remittances from overseas to Guyanese amounted to US$380M, US$429M, US$548M, 548M, and US$549M for the years 2019 to 2023 respectively. On the surface that represents an extraordinary amount of g e n e r o s i t y, n u m e r o u s

significant expressions of care and compassion from Guyanese friends and families overseas to their own. It is the sum of many kind gestures those hundreds of American millions remitted back here on an annual basis. I bow and applaud. But those numbers reveal so much more than a helping hand, and being a timely friend or relative. It assists to put this against the light, and peer behind the curtain.

In the last three years (2021-23), remittances amounted to close to GY$110 billion annually, which was a 27% increase on 2020.

Considering 2019

with remittances reported at US$380M (GY$76B) and 2023 US$549M (GY$110B), is an increase of 44%. In all other impoverished countries of the world that 44% increase in remittances would be a most welcomed development. But not Guyana. I repeat: not the Guyana of today, not with all that we have, not with all that this country receives (could get), and must have. In a nutshell, there are too many Guyanese who need so much, are short so much. We have heard so often about the richest, brightest, and swiftest country in the world that it is jading. It is now embarrassing with so many

Guyanese so dependent on the rescuing lifeline of a dollar from overseas. It is a big dollar in the last three years: GY$110 billion.

Amid all the pretty presidential pontifications, and clever vice-presidential submissions, this is where and what Guyanese are. A basket case.

A hand-to-mouth case. A charity case.

Possibly a remittance-to-remittance case.

Has Laparkan called yet?

Why is the money transfer place taking so long when the hurting is so bad? This is reducing remittances to flesh and blood pain in our Guyana.

I urge my fellow citizens to try this one to see where it brings them.

Remove this GY$110 billion from the hands of recipients and it should bring acute heaviness of what their circumstances would be.

Takeaway a half only, and GY$55 billion less looks like a living nightmare for Guyanese recipients.

But this is what His Excellency, President Ali does not want to hear about, and about which former President Jagdeo is incited to stridency and petulancy.

Plus whatever else his henchmen feel fit to employ to purge such unbecoming narratives, and menace the people responsible for them.

For it stands to reason that the Guyanese who are the grateful recipients are not those considered of middleclass stock, or the ruling class aristocracy.

The great majority of local recipients are those at that point on the ladder, where the thorns and grass cluster. Minimum wagers with relatives and friends somewhere beyond the borders; pensioners with children or siblings who are resident 'outside'; public servants and others with those in foreign habitats who remember them. These are the wretched of Guyana, who are forced to swallow their pride, and stretch out their hand. Dr. Ashni Singh, is there still that coldbloodedness and shallowness, when this is the reality of struggling Guyanese with a national budget closing in on that breathtaking line: one trillion Guyana dollars.

I am tired, but the night is still long, and I must go on.

The World Bank figures are based on official numbers.

This venerable institution's number do not capture the thousands (more accurately tens of thousands) of Guyanese who visit, and

leave a 'raise' with a friend, a neighbor, a family member.

Every US$20, or US$50 adds up, contributes something to those who are helped, makes a difference in their sometimes rugged, if not ragged, life. The barrels that are loaded and looked for with so much yearning here also speak most loudly, though those are also not included in the World Bank's graph and tabs.

This is the result when Guyanese across the length and breadth of this country are not fair and full participants in the gifts given to this land.

When this is part of the economic environment, and to this degree, then those in c h a rg e o f p o l i c y a n d decisions count for a waste of space, are nothing but the proverbial empty barrel.

When those who shrink or circle around from standing up and getting in-the-face, then they betray all Guyanese. When they fail to apply the sternest of tests to those same policymakers and decision makers to effect change for the better, then they also are unworthy of their roles, fall apart in doing their duty to their contemporaries.

When I think of GY$110 billion in remittances each year for the last three years in this time of fat, what has been done with all the money that came into official coffers?

Who really are the Guyanese who came into a real share of that money? I have said more than enough, it is time I go.

(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.)

Friday December 22, 2023

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

PAGE 12

Friday December 22, 2023

Kaieteur News

EITI countries must now publish all exploration mining contracts The Extractive Industries Transparency initiative (EITI) now requires all implementing countries to publish all exploration mining contracts.

Following a two-year campaign by Kaieteur News, the government in May this year finally made mining agreements and licenses issued for the extractive sector.

This however did not include exploration contracts for the major gold companies for instance presently in Guyana.

On the Ministry of Finance website, five mining contracts were published.

They include, –Aurora Mineral Agreement; –Guyana, GGMC and Reunion Manganese Inc. Mineral Agreement; –Guyana, GGMC, First Bauxite & Guyana Industrial Minerals Inc. Mineral Agreement; –Karouni Mineral Agreement and – To r o p a r u Mineral Agreement.

An additional 13 Licences granted to the mining companies were also made public. They include Atlantic Golds Inc; Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. 2006; Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. 2010; Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. 2012; Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Inc. 03 2004; Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Inc. 04 2004; Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Inc. 05 2004; Guyana Goldfields Inc.; Guyana Industrial Minerals Inc.; Guyana Manganese Inc. ML 022022; Guyana Mining License G-1000 000; Ontario Mining License and Troy Resources Pharsalus.

EITI is focused on promoting the understanding of natural resource management, strengthening of public and corporate governance and providing the data to inform greater transparency and accountability in the extractive sector.

In keeping with its objective, the organization has issued new standards that compels the release of exploration agreements for oil and gas and minerals.

The 2023 Standards at Requirement (2.4) (a) states: “…Implementing countries are encouraged to publicly disclose any contracts and licenses that provide the terms attached to the exploitation of oil, gas and minerals, as well as material exploration contracts…”

It was explained that the objective of this requirement is to ensure the public accessibility of all licenses and contracts underpinning extractive activities, at least from 2021 onwards, as a basis for the public's understanding of the contractual rights and obligations of companies operating in the country's extractive industries.

The requirement further aims to ensure that contract disclosure is contributing to stakeholders' ability to monitor compliance with contractual obligations.

The 2023 EITI Standard places heightened emphasis on contract transparency. In September, it was announced that addition to disclosing main contracts and annexes, countries are now encouraged to disclose significant exploration contracts and agreements. These must outline the terms of the sale of the state's share of production or other in-kind revenues, and contracts outlining infrastructure and barter provisions, including resource-backed loan agreements.

Moreover, countries are also expected to disclose contracts mandating social and environmental payments.

Such disclosures, according to the EITI provide citizens with a more comprehensive understanding of whether companies fulfil their contractual obligations beyond the stipulations in the main contracts.

Notably, mineral-rich Guyana became a member of EITI in October, 2017.

About the EITI Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) was first announced at t h e Wo r l d S u m m i t o n Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002 (the Earth Summit 2002) and was officially launched in London in 2003.

EITI is currently being implemented in 57 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Pacific, North and South America, and the Caribbean.

The EITI Standard sets out the requirements which countries need to meet in order to be recognised, first as an EITI implementing country and subsequently assessed against the EITI Standard.

The Standard is overseen by the EITI Board, which comprises members from governments, extractive companies, and civil society.

Kaieteur News

Friday December 22, 2023

PAGE 13

Senior Counsel Rex Urgent action needed to protect Mc Kay passes on children from e-cigarette risks – PAHO Senior Counsel Rex McKay passed away at the Woodlands Hospital on Thursday morning. He was 95 years old. The McKay name is famous in Guyana over the past few decades.

Apart from practicing law, McKay also owned WRHM TV 7, and Sunjet Travel Service.

His long time associate and veteran broadcast journalist, Enrico Woolford told Kaieteur News that he remembers Mr. Mckay as a pioneer in Guyana's broadcast sector given his role in leveling the playing field in order for the wider Guyanese public to be able to enjoy television.

“He was an advocate and an exceptional constitutional lawyer. He did a lot of work in the civil and criminal arena…He also did family law and other matters. He was very concerned about the independence of the judiciary…I remember him for his advocacy for freedom of the press and free speech….” Woolford said.

Given his contributions, Mr. McKay was conferred with the Order of Roraima (O.R) and Cacique Crown of Honour (CCH) during his lifetime. Despite his age, McKay still practiced some

Senior Counsel, Rex Mc Kay amount of law out of his law firm, McKay and Associates. Several persons have expressed their sadness at Mr. McKay's passing including APNU Member of Parliament, Annette Ferguson. Ferguson who noted that Guyana has lost a luminary and a brilliant mind in the Legal fraternity.

“Though I have never met Mr. Rex McKay personally, I read and heard of his many successes in representing persons, whether pro bono or otherwise, and the knowledge shared to others in the profession, of Attorney-at-Law. I am

cognizant of the many young Lawyers, who benefited tremendously from Mr. Mckay's training, and experience,” Ferguson said in a Facebook post. She extended her condolences to his immediate family members and his colleagues in the legal fraternity and other professions. “Kindly accept my profound sympathy on the passing of a distinguished Guyanese, Mr. Rex McKay. I pray Almighty God give them strength, as they mourn knowing that he served his nation and people well, and has left a legacy,” Ferguson added.

Taxi driver's car stolen from Middle Road, La Penitence

A photo of the stolen car Car thieves during the wee hours of Thursday stole a taxi driver's white old model Toyota Allion, HC 4701, from Middle Street, La Penitence Georgetown.

Akini Niles, the taxi driver is at this time unable to identify the car thieves but knows that the car was stolen some time after 1:30 hrs on Thursday.

He recalled coming home from a wake around that hour and parking his car in the spot where he has been parking for several years. He then walked through an alleyway to his home and fell asleep around 02:00hrs after watching the news. He woke up hours later and prepared to ply his trade as a taxi driver but could not find his vehicle. “I dress and

come out to go and work but the car was not in the spot”, Niles told Kaieteur News.

After realising that the car was stolen he headed to a police station and filed a report.

One neighbour, living exactly where the car was parked refused to let police review his security cameras. Others assisted but they cameras did not capture the thieves.

Nevertheless, Niles is continuing the search for the car because it is his source of livelihood. He wants the public to know that there is a crack straight across the car's wind screen and cracks on the bumper. If any has seen the car or knows the car thieves, Niles is asking that they contact the nearest police station or cell phone number 689.4224.

In a recent call to action, the Pan American Health O r g a n i z a t i o n ( PA H O ) emphasized the pressing need for measures to safeguard children and nonsmokers from the escalating risks associated with ecigarette use. Urgent steps, they contend, are crucial to curb the burgeoning uptake of these products among young demographics and mitigate the potential health hazards pervasive in their consumption.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, DirectorGeneral of the World Health Organization (WHO), underscored the gravity of the situation, stating, “Kids are being recruited and trapped at an early age to use e-cigarettes and may get hooked to nicotine. I urge countries to implement strict measures to prevent uptake to protect their citizens, especially their children and young people.”

The concerns raised stem from alarming evidence highlighting the adverse health effects of e-cigarettes.

Despite being marketed as cessation aids, they have shown no population-level efficacy in curbing tobacco use. Instead, these products have infiltrated the open market and aggressively targeted young people, with 34 countries banning their sale, while 88 countries impose no minimum age restrictions and 74 countries lack regulatory frameworks to control these harmful products.

The addictive nature of nicotine-laden e-cigarettes, coupled with their potential health risks, presents a cause for alarm. While the long-

term health implications remain incompletely understood, these devices have been found to produce toxic substances linked to cancer, heart ailments, and respiratory disorders.

Furthermore, their use can impede brain development, leading to learning disorders in adolescents, and adversely affect fetal development in pregnant women.

Dr. Ruediger Krech, WHO Director for Health Promotion, shed light on the insidious tactics employed by the e-cigarette industry to entice young users.

Employing social media and influencers, these products, available in over 16,000 flavors and often adorned with appealing designs and cartoon characters, have witnessed a worrying surge in underage consumption, surpassing adult usage rates in several countries.

Statistics reveal a troubling trend: children aged 13–15 are increasingly turning to e-cigarettes at rates surpassing those of adults across all WHO regions. Reports from Canada highlight a doubling in e-cigarette use among 16–19-year-olds between 2017 and 2022, while England witnessed a threefold increase in young users over the past three years.

Moreover, exposure to ecigarette content on social media has been linked to heightened intentions to use these products and foster more positive attitudes toward them. Studies consistently show that young e-cigarette users are nearly three times more likely to take up conventional

cigarettes later in life.

To address this escalating crisis, PAHO advocates for stringent measures to prevent e-cigarette uptake, including enhanced bans where applicable and robust regulations in countries permitting their commercialization.

Strategies encompass banning all flavors, limiting nicotine concentration and quality, and imposing taxes on these products.

Critically, PAHO warns against governments permitting the sale of ecigarettes as consumer products under the guise of smoking cessation, advocating instead for rigorous control over their access and regulation as medicines, if pursued in specific clinical contexts, after exhausting proven cessation methods.The organization also flagged the tobacco industry's vested interests, highlighting its role in promoting misleading evidence to downplay harm while aggressively targeting children and non-smokers, even as it continues to profit from conventional cigarette sales.

In light of mounting evidence indicating the perils of e-cigarette use among children and adolescents, PAHO urges resolute action to counter these risks and safeguard public health.

The call to action underscores the imperative of swift, decisive measures in the face of escalating ecigarette use, particularly a m o n g y o u n g e r demographics, emphasizing the need to prioritize public health and stem the tide of potential health crises.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Friday December 22, 2023

Govt. probing mining sector to identify, address leakages - Jagdeo This was disclosed by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo at his weekly press conference on Thursday. He said that the government is currently doing investigations since people can “dupe” the system. The VP was asked by this publication if “Guyana has any systems currently in place to monitor its gold, diamond and other areas in the mining sector or how soon this can be implemented since the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) now requires countries to verify production data from all mining companies.

In response Jagdeo said: “we have had a positive report…our system is much more transparent than the other countries' systems that are part of EITI. We have had

a fairly decent tracking system for the gold, because we have licensed a few dealers. Do we have leakages? There is a current investigation ongoing as to whether we have leakages because people can dupe even the system.”

Jagdeo noted that he would not “say anything adverse about the Extractive I n d u s t r y Tr a n s p a r e n c y Initiative, (since) after the issues of not having the report done on time, there have been a lot of imp r o v emen t w ith th e working relationship between the government and EITI “and I am looking forward to strengthening the systems all the time.” It is important to note that the country's mining sector is one that comes under constant scrutiny especially

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo in the area of gold.

Back in July this newspaper reported that an investigation into the steep decline in gold declarations made to the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) over the past six years was underway, as authorities here believe the resources are being

smuggled into neighbouring Brazil.

Jagdeo back then had told reporters that the noticeable decline in gold declarations, as first reported by Kaieteur News, could be as a result of the country's resources being smuggled into Brazil. He explained, “I see a big thing about gold smuggling now too and its absolutely right…Kaieteur News has (reported) a drop in declarations of gold from 2017…it's absolutely true that we have noticed, especially the last couple of years a significant deviation

and the story coming out from Brazil now we realize it may be diverting (there).”

The former Head of State noted that the government was formerly of the view that gold from Venezuela was coming into Guyana to bypass the sanctions, then head North through a legal route.

However, it has now realised that it is Guyana's gold that is being smuggled into Brazil. “When we saw an article recently in Brazil, we had not been officially notified before that all of this gold was going into Brazil. In

fact, we found it strange that our gold would go there; we were thinking that Venezuelan gold was coming in but it doesn't seem so,” Jagdeo noted.

It was reported that the Brazilian Federal Police in Boa Vista, Roraima are investigating a Guyanese businessman, for allegedly laundering some US$16.5M in smuggled gold, through shell companies in Brazil.

According to the Brazilian Federal Police (Policia Federal), the investigation was launched on July 7, 2023.

Local Govt. organs flouting laws ...several failed to submit financial statements Municipalities continue to breach the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01 of the Laws of Guyana.

The law stipulates that all accounts of Municipal and District Councils be made up yearly to the end of the financial year by the treasurer of the Council and shall be so made up not later than four months after the end of such year to which they relate and for those accounts to be audited by the Auditor as soon as practicable.

According to the Auditor General's report for 2022, several of the municipalities are in violation of Section 177 of the Municipal and District Councils Act Chapter 28:01. In accordance with the Act, it is the responsibility of the Treasurer to submit all Financial Statements to the Audit Office but the councils continue to flout the law. As a result, it was noted that the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development continues to advise the Local organs to submit their Financial Statements and that they must do so in the required period.

“All municipalities were written to as a reminder to submit all Financial Statements to Audit Office.”

As a recommendation, the Audit Office urged the Head of the Budget at the Ministry

follow-up with the municipalities to have the proper and complete financial statements submitted for audit. Section 134 (1) of the Act, stipulates that the Auditor General may at any time audit the accounts of the Councils.

It should be noted that while the Ministry transferred sums totalling $338.120M to the Councils in 2022, the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) was one of the primary offenders. Despite receiving $30 million last year, the M&CC still had outstanding financial statements for 2006, 2008 to 2011, 2017 and 2020 to 2022. The last time Georgetown was audited was in 2004. The Linden Town Council has not submitted financial statements for 1985 to 2007, 2011 and 2013. However, it has been compliant with the law since and received $15.7 million last year.

Mabaruma and Bartica meanwhile did not submit statements from 2015 to 2022, receiving $17.4 million and $13.8 million respectively. Mahdia and Lethem did not submit statements for 2019-2022 and 2021 to 2022, respectively. Only the New Amsterdam Town Council and Rose Hall Town Council have generally complied with the law. The Anna Regina Town Council was

meanwhile last audited in 2017, submitting statements from 2018 to 2020.

Corriverton was last audited in 2018 and received $15.6 million.

Meanwhile, the AG report said the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) also continue to be in breach of the Local Government Act, Chapter 28:02 of the Laws of Guyana, which stipulates that “…the accounts of Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC's) to be made up annually”. In Region One, there was a 27year gap where no financial statements were received.

There were also gaps in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Nine and 10.

According to the Ministry, all NDCs were written to reminding them to submit their financial statements.

“The Head of Budget Agency indicated that in accordance with the Act, it is the responsibility of the Overseer to submit all Financial Statements to the Audit Office. The Ministry continues to advise the Local Organs to submit their Financial Statements and that they must do so in the required period. The Audit Office recommends that the Head of Budget Agency follow-up with the agencies to have the outstanding Financial Statements submitted for audit,” the report states.

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Friday December 22, 2023

Dr. Neville Gobin passes on R

e n o w n e d obstetrician and gynecologist, Dr. Neville Bhagwandeen Gobin passed away on Thursday.

His death was announced by the Woodlands Hospital, the private medical institution which he served for over three decades. He was 75.

Dr. Gobin was considered one of Guyana's most outstanding obstetrician and gynecologist. “He served as the Managing Director of Woodlands for over three

decades, where he worked tirelessly to ensure that patients visiting the hospital were provided with the best possible care,” the hospital said on its Facebook page.

Minister of Health, Dr. F r a n k A n t h o n y, w h o expressed condolences to Dr. Gobin's family, said that his passing “is a huge loss to Guyana, and we share your sorrow over the departure of a distinguished medical professional and a true pillar of our healthcare community.”

Dr. Gobin has left behind an incredible legacy of

compassion, innovation, and unwavering commitment to the field of medicine, the Health Minister said.

He noted that the late doctor had his early education in India and this culminated in the achievement of his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS). He then returned to Guyana and commenced his career as an intern under the guidance of the renowned Dr. M.Y Bacchus at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

In the early 1980s, driven

by a thirst for knowledge and excellence, Dr. Gobin returned to India to complete his post-graduate diploma in obstetrics and gynaecology, Dr. Anthony said.

He said upon his return in 1984, Dr. Gobin became a private doctor at Woodlands Hospital where he would go on to shape the healthcare landscape in Guyana for nearly four decades.

Dr. Gobin's leadership at Woodlands Hospital was transformative, Dr. Anthony said. Serving as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer for

The late Dr. Neville Gobin

the majority of his tenure, he successfully propelled the hospital from a small private facility to one of the leading medical institutions in the Caribbean, the minister said.

He noted that Dr. Gobin's commitment to innovation was evident in the introduction of pioneering medical services, including the first comprehensive ultrasound service, ultrasound-guided surgery, MRI, CT scan, and the first fully automated laboratory in Guyana. “ D r. G o b i n w a s a trailblazer in the medical field. He performed numerous surgical interventions for gynaecological cancers. In early 2023, he introduced Guyana's first stem cell therapy for patients, which marked a significant milestone in the country's medical landscape. On the occasion of the launch of this pioneering programme he received encouragement from H.E. President Irfaan Ali,” the Health Minister added.

In addition to his duties at the Woodlands Hospital, he also served as a lecturer at the University of Guyana, School of Medicine.

“His exceptional teaching skills and vast knowledge in Obstetrics and Gynecology enriched the education of countless aspiring doctors. His

lectures and workshops were known for their informativeness, engagement, and structure,” the minister said.

“As Chairman of the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee, Dr. Gobin played a pivotal role in improving maternal health services in the public sector.

His commitment to addressing systemic issues and enhancing antenatal care demonstrated a profound dedication to the well-being of mothers and infants in the community,” he added.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions, the Government of Guyana bestowed upon Dr. Gobin the Cacique Crown of Honor in 2020.

This prestigious national award acknowledged his tireless efforts in advancing maternal and child health, as well as his contributions to the overall improvement of healthcare services in the country, the Health Minister added.

B e y o n d h i s achievements, Dr. Gobin also volunteered for various medical outreaches and served as the President of the Family Planning Association of Guyana, contributing to the formulation and enactment of progressive legislation, including the Termination of Pregnancy Act in 1996.

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Govt. to use $3B in supplementary funds to pay advance on New Amsterdam Hospital project Wi t h $ 3 . 6 b i l l i o n approved for the health sector in the supplementary budget, approximately $3.332 billion will be used to pay the advance the government is obligated to pay to the contractor undertaking works on the New Amsterdam Hospital.

This is according to Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony who made the revelation on Tuesday while responding to questions posed by Opposition M e m b e r, D r. K a r e n Cummings at the 70th Sitting of the National Assembly.

In his explanation, the minister mentioned that the government's obligation is that they have to advance 10 percent of the contract sum to the contractor on the project.

“So the $3 billion that we

are requesting is for a very specific project and that is we have recently signed a contract with VAMED (contractor) to build a new, New Amsterdam Hospital and as per contract the government's obligation is that we have to advance 10 percent to the company and this $3 billion dollar reflects that 10 percent that could be advanced to the company,” he said.

The minister added that part of the $3.6 billion requested, some $16 million will go towards the supervision services for the hospital project.

He mentioned that the new hospital will be located in the compound of the Psychiatric Hospital.

“We have already started work on the site so we have

Minister of Health, Frank Anthony

level the ground, and we have handed the site over to VAMED. So we expect that construction would start early in the new year,” the minister stated.

This publication had reported that the hospital will

b e b u i l t b y VA M E D Engineering, an Austrian company.

The company has been also contracted by government to build the $31.9 billion (EUR$149 million) Paediatric and

Maternal Hospital.

I n S e p t e m b e r , D r.

Anthony indicated that the signing of the contract for the construction of the hospital was completed although he did not state the cost.

Kaieteur News subsequently learnt that the contract is valued at US$161M. “This [hospital] would be at the same level like the paediatric one we are developing and this would have approximately 220 beds, with five operating theaters and a cardiac suite as well.”

It would also have a section for psychiatric patients, and another section where health workers, doctors and nurses would be trained, he said.

The new facility will also be equipped with services

and equipment that the current facility cannot provide.

The Governments of Guyana and Austria signed an agreement in 2018 for the development of a number of health facilities here, Minister Anthony disclosed in February.

“One of the facilities that were earmarked was the Georgetown Public Hospital.

When we came into government, we reviewed the agreement and we decided at the time, we wanted to build a maternal and child health hospital…and we amended that agreement,” Dr. Anthony had said.

There was no public tendering process employed in the selection of the contractor to construct the hospital.

Labour market in Caribbean still sluggish despite lower unemployment rate in 2023 The labour markets in Latin America and the Caribbean, almost four years after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, showed a full recovery in their employment rates.

However, these are still characterized by the persistence of gender gaps, youth unemployment, informality, and loss of purchasing power of wages, the ILO Regional Office said today when it presented the 2023 edition of its Labour Overview report.

During the presentation of the 2023 Labour Overview, A cover of a book description automatically generated ILO Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Claudia Coenjaerts, noted that "the decline in the purchasing power of wages, both minimum and average, is a challenge that has a negative impact on the life quality of Latin American and Caribbean families.

Despite the recovery in employment, the mass of total labour incomes is still below pre-pandemic levels".

In the international context, -characterized by moderate global growth and high inflation- Latin America and Caribbean economies have experienced a w i d e s p r e a d r e c o v e r y, although they still face a complex macroeconomic scenario. The world economy

is projected to grow by 2.9 per cent in 2023 and, in our region, growth is expected to be 2.3 per cent, according to the IMF, and 2.2 per cent, according to ECLAC, for the same period. "While these rates indicate a recovery, they are below the levels reached in 2022", Coenjaerts said.

This year, the dynamics of the labour market in Latin America and the Caribbean were characterized by an increase of less than 1 percent in the regional employment rate. Participation, on the other hand, decreased slightly compared to the previous year (62.3 percent in 2023 compared to 62.5 percent in 2022) and, finally, an average unemployment rate of 6.5 percent. "While urban employment returned to 2019 rates, there is still some lag in rural employment", said Roxana Maurizio, report coordinator and expert on labour markets in the region.

This, therefore, has widened the employment gap in favour of the existing urban environment prior to the pandemic.

The rate of economic participation, as mentioned above, is lower than prepandemic values in both areas, around -2 per percent.

Finally, due to the more intense recovery in employment than in labour supply compared to 2019, the unemployment rate dropped

in both urban and rural areas by 2.5 percentage points and 1.7 percentage points, respectively.

Gender, youth employment, informality, and wages At the regional level, the recovery in female employment continued to be more intense than that experienced by male employment.

However, gender gaps are persistent and remain very high in Latin America and the Caribbean. According to Claudia Coenjaerts, "the female labour participation rate is 23 per cent lower than that of men, while the employment rate is 22.5 per cent lower.

These disparities are even deeper between different levels of education". This situation spotlights the need to promote transformative care policies, which would allow for greater equality between men and women, since the latter bear the greatest burden of care.

The report warns on the situation of youth employment. The unemployment rate for young people is 14.4 percent, more than double the overall rate of 6.5 percent.

Notwithstanding, some countries in the region show significantly higher rates than those, reaching values

close to 30 per cent. In addition, historical difficulties experienced by young people in the labour markets of the region persist.

They face increased work intermittence explained by, in part, intense hires and dismissals from the workforce. The greater occupational instability, in turn, is associated with its higher prevalence in informal, precarious, lowskilled activities.

These challenges, the report warns, can be intensified by technological transformations. In the current context of a growing need for digital skills, vocational training emerges as an essential element to bridge the digital and skills gap between young people.

In addition, it plays a crucial role in ensuring more employability and access to quality jobs for this group.

Job recovery has continued to be driven by growth in informal employment in most countries.

Informal occupations have contributed to job creation by 40 and 95 per cent in the third quarter of 2020, and the second quarter of 2023.

The average labour market informality rate in the region stood at 48 per cent in mid-2023, however, in some countries it exceeded 70 per cent.

In that regard, the

regional overview remains very complex. Even more so, considering that certain branches of activity - such as domestic service - with a high incidence of informality and female participation still falls behind in employment recovery. "The region needs comprehensive measures that support the creation of formal jobs, strengthen labour institutions, and provide social protection and income to those who need it most in a constantly changing world of work", Coenjaerts concluded.

Three Decades of Analysis to Build Decent Work As a Special Theme for the 30 years of uninterrupted publication of the Labour Overview report, an exhaustive analysis was carried out that seeks to provide a comprehensive vision of labour evolution and contextualized within the framework of the broader transformations that Latin America and the Caribbean have experienced over the last three decades.

In particular, changes in the structure of employment are discussed, highlighting the decline of agriculture, stagnation of industry, sustained growth of services, and a great productive heterogeneity within and between economic sectors, as well as between regions and territories. Progress of

women -although insufficient- in the world of work, with labour force participation rate for women aged 15 and older rising from 41.3 per cent in the early 90s to 53.9 per cent on average in 2022, although it remains lower than that of men (76.3 per cent).

It also highlights the continuing challenge to youth inclusion and its projection toward decent work trajectories, in a context where youth unemployment rates more than double the totals, and employment and participation rates are significantly lower.

It also deepens the analysis of technological advances and accelerated digitalization, in particular the challenges of the present and the future of work, such as the adaptation of legislation and institutionality; the increasing expansion of digital work platforms, with needs and dilemmas for its measurement and regulation, remote work and teleworking, and the reconsiderations that arose in this topic with the COVID-19 pandemic and that will continue in the future.

"Labour Overview is not only a guide to decisionmaking, but also a photograph and a historical record of what is happening in our region", said Coenjaerts. (ILO)

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Nicaragua arrests second bishop in crackdown on Church BBC News - Police in Nicaragua have arrested a bishop who expressed solidarity with a fellow bishop found guilty of treason.

Isidoro Mora was taken away by police after he had told his congregation that Nicaragua’s bishops were “united in prayer” for Rolando Álvarez. The Rt Rev Álvarez is serving a 26year prison sentence imposed after he criticised

the government of President Daniel Ortega.

The move is the latest crackdown on the Catholic Church in Nicaragua.

President Ortega, and his wife, Vice-President Rosario Murillo, have targeted clerics for speaking out against their rule, jailing some and expelling others.

There were 12 priests among the 222 jailed opposition figures deported from Nicaragua to the US in

February this year. Rt Rev Álvarez, the bishop of Matagalpa, refused to go into exile at the time unless ordered to do so by the Pope.

A day after his refusal, he was sentenced for treason, undermining national integrity and spreading false news. Isidoro Mora, who is bishop of the diocese of Siuna, had mentioned the Rt Rev Álvarez during a homily on Tuesday at the cathedral in the city of Matagalpa.

The Rt Rev Mora said that Nicaragua’s Episcopal Conference, the official assembly of the bishops of the Catholic Church in the country, “was always united, praying for Monsignor Rolando”.

It is this remark which is thought to have triggered Bishop Mora’s arrest on Wednesday. The Catholic Church has been a thorn in the side of the Ortega government since clerics

sheltered students in churches during mass antigovernment protests swept through the country in 2018.

Religious orders and priests as well as lay people have been targeted by the authorities. In August, the government cancelled the legal status of the Jesuit r e l i g i o u s c o m m u n i t y, confiscating all its property for allegedly failing to provide required financial statements of its activities.

The Jesuit-run Central American University had had its assets seized earlier that same month.

But it is not just religious organisations the government has clamped down on. The organiser of the Miss Nicaragua beauty pageant stepped down less than two weeks ago after she was charged with treason and dozens of nongovernmental organisations have also been shut down.

Holness highlights Massy sends outspoken impact of New Social executive on leave Housing Programme

Prime Minister, Andrew Holness ST MARY, Jamaica— Prime Minister Andrew Holness highlighted the impact of the New Social Housing Programme while handing over a threebedroom unit to a family in St Mary on Thursday. The family had reportedly lost its breadwinner some years ago under violent circumstances leaving the elderly matriarch of the home, identified as Beverly, to take care of the deceased woman’s children who were left behind.

However, Beverly suffered a stroke and was unable to work. Holness in his remarks during the handing- over c e r e m o n y, s t a t e d t h a t housing improves the possibilities for the entire household.

“Housing helps the entire household, it improves the possibilities for the entire household.

So in this season of Christmas, it’s my great pleasure to be handing over a unit on behalf of the people of Jamaica. We really ought

to say thanks to the people of Jamaica, because this is the taxpayers’ money and the message behind it to those who are looking on is that this programme will be available for all Jamaicans who meet the criteria set,” the prime minister said. He stated that he is aware there might be thousands of Jamaicans in the same position as the recipient of the new unit, adding that the government is hopeful it can create housing solutions for all affected.

“We hopefully can get to all of them but to get to them we have to have a process, we have to have order, systems in place and we have to get Jamaicans into this mindset that the government can’t just take up money and spend.

There is a process,” Holness said.

“It takes time so we ask you to be patient and we are going to try to be quicker because I have been to handing over ceremonies

like these where the recipient was waiting for three or four years, sometimes even longer,” he added. The prime minister stated that 177 housing solutions have so far been distributed under the programme, with an additional 50 units currently being constructed. Holness disclosed that with the development, he expects that next year the government will be able to increase the number of houses it can deliver. “We estimate that we have about 6,000 Jamaicans who are in this kind of situation where they can’t buy a house for themselves; they have no income, the family unit is under threat and they need intervention.

Of the 6,000, we are at 177 so we have a far way to go,” Holness said.

“Now, the government won’t be able to address all 6,000 but as the economy gets better and more people get employed people will be able to lift themselves out of poverty.

T R I N I D A D GUARDIAN - The board of Massy Holdings Ltd has sent its executive vice president o f Bu s in es s Integ r ity, Angelique Parisot-Potter, on administrative leave until January 12, Massy sources told Guardian Media last night.

The reason she is being sent on leave is because of her conduct at the group’s 100th annual general meeting, which was held at the Hilton Trinidad on Monday, the sources said.

Parisot-Potter, who is also group general counsel at Massy and a shareholder of the company, told the meeting that she felt obliged to speak up about significant governance and fiduciary concerns, as detailed in a 13page document, including audio evidence, that had previously been shared with the Massy CEO and president, Gervase Warner.

In a written statement that she read out at the annual general meeting (AGM), Parisot-Potter said, “Among other matters, one alarming issue is the so-called executive leadership programme, Delphi, which has been present in our organisation for over a decade.

“This programme involves frequent travel to Fort Myers, Florida, and weekly commitments for over a year at a cost per participant of tens of thousands of US dollars for which there were over 11 participants last year, alone.

“Their bizarre rituals include

that they can train Massy employees to communicate with the dead and that attendees can self heal with ‘white light energy’.”

S h e s a i d M a s s y ’s engagement with Delphi was “a matter of grave concern to shareholders because the couple leading this programme appear to exert disproportionate influence over our executive team.”

She also told the Massy AGM that in the middle of a foreign exchange crisis, “Massy cannot be spending scarce resources on highly dubious activities, and contracts awarded cannot be pushed through without prudent due process. This is not just a governance issue; it’s a blatant disregard for shareholder interests.”

On Monday afternoon, a few hours after the annual meeting, Warner was asked by a Guardian Media journalist whether ParisotPotter’s job was in jeopardy.

“Not because of what she said at the AGM,” he said in the interview, which was held following a private luncheon hosted by Massy at the Hilton. Asked whether the fact that she wrote the 13page letter of complaint to him means that ParisotPotter is not aligned with the rest of the Massy executive management, Warner said, “That’s an interpretation that I cannot expand upon because that would be for her to speak to.”

In the interview with Guardian Media on Monday, the Massy CEO did not deny the claims made by Parisot-

Potter three hours earlier at the AGM. Instead, he said there was a direct link between Massy’s success and the training received by t h e g r o u p ’s e x e c u t i v e management and board directors from Delphi Sphere Consultants.

But on Tuesday night, the board of Massy issued a press statement in which it said it was appalled at Parisot-Potter’s conduct at the AGM. In the statement, the Massy board described her comments as “patently untrue and scandalous.” The board said it takes all allegations seriously and had initiated an independent process to look into each of Parisot-Potter’s allegations.

“The board, however, is concerned that Ms ParisotPotter used the occasion of the company’s 100th AGM to follow up on her submission with public disclosure of a matter confidential to the company.

The board has initiated a disciplinary process to review Ms Parisot-Potter’s conduct at the AGM against her duties as the general counsel to the company and will follow due process to determine how this should be handled responsibly yet decisively,” according to the board’s Tuesday press statement.

Yesterday’s emailed letter to Parisot-Potter, Massy sources said, indicated that the board of the group had decided to initiate the disciplinary process to consider her conduct at the AGM.

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Exports from Latin America and the Caribbean contract as trade opportunities emerge - IDB A

fter climbing by 8.8% in 2022, the region’s export prices fell by 4.7% year-onyear in the first half of 2023, while export volumes grew by 2.9%. Although volume growth was above the global average (-1.3%), it was lower than the previous year and concentrated in a handful of Latin American and Caribbean economies. Import prices fell by 1.5%, less than export prices, causing the region’s terms of trade and

trade balances to deteriorate.

This is according to a report by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

The report notes that goods exports to every destination market fell. However, the decline of intraregional sales (-0.6%) was less than that of extra regional sales (2.2%), and the share of intraregional trade increased to 15.2%. The report concludes that Latin America and the Caribbean is facing a challenging external environ-

ment marked by less dynamic demand, greater geopolitical fragmentation, more active industrial policies among global competitors, and new regulatory requirements dictated by the climate agenda.

As the world’s leading net exporter of agricultural products, the region has an opportunity to expand supply and contribute to global food security. To make the most of this potential, governments need to work alongside the private sector to increase pro-

ductivity and regain competitiveness through integrated public policies that address multiple objectives and help find a way around the tradeoff between increasing production and reducing the impact on the environment and climate change.

The Trade and Integration Monitor report was prepared by the IDB’s Integration and Trade Sector and its Institute for the Integration of Latin America and the Caribbean (INTAL).

What Gaza’s death toll says about the war BBC NEWS - At least 20,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been reported killed since Israel began bombing the territory in the wake of Hamas’s 7 October attacks.

BBC Verify examines what Gaza’s death toll reveals about the conflict.

On average, nearly 300 people have been killed each day since the start of the conflict, excluding the seven-day ceasefire, data from Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry indicates. The World Health Organization’s regional emergency director Richard Brennan says he considers these casualty figures trustworthy.

Counting the dead is a challenge in any war zone, and doctors in Gaza say the death toll is likely to be significantly higher as it does not include bodies buried under the rubble of destroyed buildings or those not taken to hospitals. BBC Verify has looked in detail at the figures, how they compare with other conflicts and the impact on Gaza’s young population.

A high death toll The pace of killing in this war has been “exceptionally high”, says Prof Michael Spagat, who specialises in examining death tolls in conflicts around the world, such as the 2003 Iraq war, Colombia’s civil conflict, wars in the Democratic Republic of Congo as well as previous wars between Israel and Gaza.

“Within the series of Gaza wars stretching back to 2008, the current one is unprecedented both for the number of people killed and for the indiscriminateness of the killing,” he adds.The 20,000 figure represents almost 1% of Gaza’s 2.2 million population.

The BBC has spoken to military experts who have described the wide variety of bombs used by Israel - some about 100lb and others as large as 2000lb - as having

directly contributed to the scale of fatalities in this conflict. Being near the impact of the largest bombs is like “surfing on the Earth as the shockwave momentarily liquefies the ground”, says Marc Garlasco, a former senior intelligence analyst at the Pentagon and former UN war crimes investigator, who spoke to victims and witnesses of these bombs. What makes them even more devastating is that Gaza has a very high population density.

It is just 41km (25 miles) long and 10km (six miles) wide. On average, before the conflict, there were more than 5,700 people per sq km in Gaza very similar to the average density in London.

Israel began its military campaign in Gaza in the wake of Hamas’ attacks, in which 1,200 people were killed, most of them civilians. Three months later, it is facing mounting pressure over the number of civilian casualties.

In worldwide conflicts between 2011 and 2021, on average 90% of fatalities were civilians when explosive weapons were used on populated areas, according to the research and advocacy group Action on Armed Violence.

According to US intelligence assessments seen by CNN, in

this war, Israel had dropped more than 29,000 bombs on Gaza since the war began and mid-December, with 40-45% of these unguided.

These unguided bombs “can miss their target by up to 30m, which is the difference between hitting a Hamas HQ and an apartment packed with civilians”, says Mr Garlasco, who has worked on three previous wars in Gaza and is now a military adviser for the Dutch peace organisation PAX. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has said it takes precautionary measures in order to avoid damage to the civilian population.

It says these measures include warnings before strikes in cases where it is possible to do so. Israel has also insisted that its record on killing civilians has been better than those in other international conflicts. The IDF says it will “abort attacks when we see unexpected civilian presence. We choose the right munition for each target - so it doesn’t cause unnecessary damage.” Israel also says that Hamas uses Gaza’s civilian population as human shields.

How many civilians have been killed?

Women and children make up about 70% of those

who have been killed in Gaza during the current conflict, says the Hamas-run health ministry. However, Hamas’s figures do not distinguish between male civilians and combatants. The previous official breakdown of the deaths from Hamas’s Government Media Office on 19 December, which stood at 19,667, said that more than 8,000 children and 6,200 women had been killed. It also said that 310 medical personnel, 35 civil defence personnel and 97 journalists had been killed - all of them civilians. The war is having a particularly devastating impact on Gaza’s children.

Nearly half of the territory’s population is under 18, according to data released in 2022 by the health ministry.

There have been over 52,000 people injured in the conflict so far, the health ministry says.

While there are no up-todate figures for the number of children injured, on 3 November there were reportedly 24,173 injured - comprising 8,067 children, 5,960 women and 10,146 men. Gaza is now the “most dangerous place in the world to be a child”, according to the United

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$13M set aside to rehab St. Stanislaus College The St. Stanislaus College is to undergo rehabilitation w orks shortly and according to the recent opening of tenders at the National Procurement and Tender

Administration Board (NPTAB), the Ministry of Education has set aside approximately $13,876,695 to carry out the works.

Below are the companies and their bids:

Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport Consultancy Services for the Supervision: Construction of Stand at the Guyana National Stadium.

Ministry of Education Rehabilitation of Works at St. Stanislaus College.

Ministry of Public Works Construction of Hinterland Roads 54 to 56.

Construction of Perimeter Fence at Day & Night Care Facility-Cornelia Ida, Region 3.

Ministry of Finance Provision of Security Service.

Ministry of Human Services and Social Security Construction of Perimeter Fence at Day & Night Care Facility-Mocha, Region 4.

Guyana Energy Agency Design, Supply, Installation and Commissioning of a 0.60 MW Solar PV Plant and Transmission & Distribution Networks for Leguan.

Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development Supply and Provision of Security Services 2024.

Office of the Prime Minister Supply of Line Hardware for Mahdia Grid Extension to Police Station/Court.

Ministry of Natural Resources Provision of Security Services Jan-Dec 2024.

Construction of Hinterland Roads 57 to 60.

Kaieteur News

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Friday December 22, 2023

Prague shooting: Gunman dead after killing 14 at Charles University BBC NEWS - A gunman has shot dead 14 people and injured another 25 at a university in Prague, officials say, in the deadliest attack in modern Czech history.

Police say the 24-yearold gunman was also “eliminated” following the shooting at Charles University in the historic centre of the capital.

University staff were told to barricade themselves in rooms during the attack.

Prime Minister Petr Fiala said he had cancelled upcoming engagements in light of the “tragic events” on Thursday.

The shooting started at about 15:00 local time (14:00 GMT) at the university’s Faculty of Arts building on Jan Palach Square. Dramatic footage later emerged on social media showing some people jumping to safety from one of the building’s ledges several storeys up, and gunshots are also heard. In a separate video, terrified

The area around the university remained sealed off late into the night

crowds are seen fleeing the area popular with tourists.

At a briefing on Thursday evening, the country’s police chief and the interior minister said the gunman had been a student at the faculty. They said he was from a village 21km (13 miles) outside Prague. The suspect’s father had been found dead earlier on Thursday. The gunman’s motives were not

immediately known.

Preliminary information suggested that no police officers were injured in the attack, the authorities said.

The police said they were also working on the theory that the gunman may have been responsible for the deaths of two people last week in a forest near Prague.

S e r g e i M e d v e d e v, a professor at the university, told the BBC he had been in

one of the university’s auditoriums when the shootings began. “I was giving a lecture at the moment and at first didn’t quite realise what happened because there were some sounds. The students... heard it better because I was so much concentrated on my talking, on my lecture,” he said.

“Then... we understood that something big is

What Gaza’s death toll says about the...

From page 22 Nation’s child agency, Unicef. “Entire neighbourhoods, where children used to play and go to school, have been turned into stacks of rubble, with no life in them,” said Adele Khodr, Unicef’s regional director for the Middle East and North Africa.

How does this compare with other wars?

Each conflict is unique in the way it is fought, but the experts the BBC has spoken to agree that the rate of killing in Gaza is significantly bigger than in others fought recently.

“What we’re seeing in terms of civilian deaths has already far outpaced rates of harm from any given conflict we have documented,” said Emily Tripp, director of Airwars, an organisation which has monitored civilian deaths in wars and conflicts since 2014. The former Pentagon intelligence analyst Marc Garlasco said: “To find a similar density of high explosives used in a small populated area, we might have to go back to the

Vi e t n a m w a r f o r a comparable example - like the 1972 Christmas bombing, when some 20,000 tons of bombs were dropped on Hanoi during Operation Linebacker II.” An estimated 1,600 Vietnamese civilians were killed in the Christmas bombings.

By contrast, US-led coalition air and artillery strikes killed fewer than 20 civilians per day, on average, during the fourmonth offensive to drive IS out of the Syrian city of Raqqa in 2017, according to Amnesty International. It is unclear how many civilians lived there at the time, but UN officials estimated that there were between 50,000 and 100,000. Additionally, over 160,000 civilians reportedly fled their homes and became internally displaced at the time.

And an Associated Press investigation suggested that between 9,000 and 11,000 civilians were killed in the nine-month battle between US-backed Iraqi forces and IS for the Iraqi city of Mosul which ended in 2017. This

amounts to an estimated fewer-than-40 civilian deaths per day, on average.

Mosul had an estimated population of less than two million people when IS captured the city in 2014.

During the almost two years of the Ukraine war, the United Nations estimates that at least 10,000 civilians have been killed. However, the UN’s human rights monitoring mission has also cautioned that the actual figure may be significantly higher given the challenges and time required for verification. And comparing casualty rates in different conflicts is difficult, in part because varying methodologies are used for estimating deaths.

How many Hamas fighters have been killed?

Israel has stated its goal is to destroy Hamas but has not been clear how many of its members it has killed.

Officials have previously pointed to “thousands” and elsewhere “7,000”. Hamas is proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the Israeli and UK governments and others. But when asked

directly, the IDF said it “does not have an exact number on the number of Hamas terrorists killed”.

News agency AFP reported that senior Israeli officials had suggested Israel had killed two Palestinian civilians for every one Hamas fighter. That ratio was described by the IDF’s spokesman Jonathan Conricus as “tremendously positive”, to CNN. The BBC has not been able to establish a clear method of verifying the number of fighters killed.

Prof Michael Spagat, said he would “not be at all surprised” if around 80% of those killed were civilians.

The IDF’s numbers for combatants killed “have been all over the place, devoid of details and without explanations”, he added.

There are “no reliable figures” for the ratio of civilians to combatants killed in Gaza, say Hamit Dardagan and John Sloboda of Iraq Body Count, an organisation that examines the number of deaths in the Iraq war.

happening. There was nothing online yet, nothing in the Czech press and the [news] networks.

Then at some point, the special operation groups went storming in, they searched the room briefly and then went out... they told us to stay inside.

“One hour later, another police squad broke in and then put us on the floor, briefly searched us then evacuated from the building.” US tourist Hannah Mallicoat told the BBC that she and her family had been on Jan Palach Square during the attack. “A crowd of people were crossing the street when the first shot hit. I thought it was something like a firecracker or a car backfire until I heard the second shot and people started running,” she said. “I saw a bullet hit the ground on the other side of the square about 30 ft (9m) away before ducking into a store.

The whole area was blocked off and dozens of police cars and ambulances were going towards the university.”

Britain’s Joe Hyland, 18, told the BBC he had heard four gunshots.

“Everyone was sprinting

and running for cover. I have a bad knee, am on a crutch.

So I hobbled as quickly as possible,” added Mr Hyland, who was on his first holiday with friends. “We got to the metro and went down there because we thought it would be safest.”

Charles University students said they had barricaded themselves in classrooms. “Currently stuck inside my classroom in Prague,” Jakob Weizman, a student at Charles University, wrote on X (formerly Twitter) as it unfolded. “Locked the door before the shooter tried to open it.”

An email to staff at the faculty of arts, seen by R e u t e r s n e w s a g e n c y, warned staff of the shooting.

It read: “Stay put, don’t go anywhere, if you’re in the offices, lock them and place furniture in front of the door, turn off the lights.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she was “shocked by the senseless violence”.

Founded in 1347, Charles University is the oldest and largest university in the Czech Republic, and one of the oldest such institutions in Europe.

Rudy Giuliani files for bankruptcy after $148m defamation verdict BBC NEWS - Rudy Giuliani, a longtime associate of former President Donald Trump, has filed for bankruptcy just days after he was ordered to pay $148m (£116m) in a defamation case. He was ordered to pay the sum after a judge found he defamed two Georgia election workers over false claims they tampered with votes in 2020. The filing shows he owes millions of dollars in legal fees and unpaid taxes. A spokesman said the move should “be a surprise to no-one”. In a statement, the spokesman for Mr Giuliani, Ted Goodman, said “no person could have reasonably believed that [Mr Giuliani] would be able to pay such a high punitive amount”. He added that Thursday’s bankruptcy filing in New York would give Mr Giuliani the “opportunity and time to pursue an appeal, while providing transparency for his finances

under the supervision of the bankruptcy court”. Mr Giuliani, 79, said earlier this year that he was having financial difficulties because of his increasing legal fees and expenses. Last week, an eight-person jury ordered him to pay $20m to Georgia poll workers Ruby Freeman and her daughter Wandrea “Shaye” Moss. The pair said Mr Giuliani’s false claim that they tampered with votes had a traumatising impact on their lives. Ms Freeman said she would “always have to be careful” because of lingering fears she might be recognised publicly. Ms Freedom and Ms Moss were also awarded more than $16m each for emotional distress. Another payment of $75m in punitive damages was ordered to be split between them. Addressing reporters outside the court after he was ordered to pay the sum, Mr Giuliani said: “I don’t regret a damn thing.”

Kaieteur News

Thursday Friday December November 22, 24, 2023 2022

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Tom Curran: Sydney Sixers and England all-rounder banned for intimidating umpire BBC Sport - England and Sydney Sixers all-rounder Tom Curran has been banned for four games in Australia’s Big Bash League after being found guilty of intimidating an umpire.

He was charged over an incident on 11 December before a game against Hobart Hurricanes in Launceston.

Cricket Australia found

that Curran was involved in a disagreement with an umpire during the warm-up.

Curran, 28, and his club denied the offence and plan to appeal.

In the build-up to the match, the fourth umpire who is tasked with supervising the pitch - asked Curran not to run on the pitch.

But Cricket Australia’s

code of conduct commissioner Adrian Anderson found that Curran then “attempted to perform a practice run-up and run at pace straight towards the umpire, who stood in the bowling crease facing Curran. The umpire stepped to his right to avoid the risk of collision”.

The incident was deemed to be “intimidation or

Friday December 22, 2023 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You always see both sides of a situation clearly. Today you might judge possible future courses of action in view of the past. Prior values may be put to the test and former opinions revised.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Someone you've known for a long time may disappear from your life. This could leave you feeling disoriented and unfocused. Your ideas of truth, honor, ethics, and morality might require some revision in light of recent events.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Today you might put aside your usual tendency to push ahead without a backward glance.

You could reconsider past ideas and see them in an entirely new light.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Today is about reevaluation.

Dreams or ambitions that you may have abandoned could resurface. You could be forced to confront difficulties in your current situation.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Though communication is one of your strong points, today you might find it hard. You may feel introspective, but open, honest discussion could be what you need now.

SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Happy and painful memories of childhood could come to mind today, bringing new understanding of how your early experiences affect your present situation. Unexpected insights could bring a new perspective on the present and future.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Stress-related health complaints could force reevaluation of your current situation, particularly your job. You may take a good look at your skills and consider how they can be put to use in other fields.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) While you may be comfortable with your environment, you could receive an unmistakable signal that it's time for change.

This could involve a different job, allowing you to make use of skills and talents that have been lying fallow.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Your inner child surfaces today. Memories of past good times bring out your playful side. You might want to try forms of amusement that you once enjoyed but have long since abandoned.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Sudden financial success could produce upheaval in your lifestyle. Therefore, rethink your current situation and consider the pursuit of cherished old dreams that you may have abandoned.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Renegotiating relationships may cause sorrow today. You may find that trying to fix one won't work. Past emotions that have created difficulties may resurface. Releasing them could bring the courage to move on.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You spend much of your life serving others. Now you may reevaluate your "duty" toward them. Perhaps someone is taking unfair advantage of your good nature. Perhaps you're finally experiencing desires that you feel you have to fulfill.

attempted intimidation of an umpire or match referee” under the Cricket Australia code.

According to the BBL’s rules, only the captain and team coach are permitted to walk on the pitch to assess its condition prior to the start of play, with spiked footwear also not allowed before the match.

Former Australia women’s captain and head of the Sixers Rachael Haynes said: “Tom and the club maintain that Tom did not knowingly or intentionally intimidate a match official and, on legal advice, we will exercise our right to appeal the decision.

“We will support Tom during this period and look forward to him returning to the field.”

The ban means Curran, who has not played for

Tom Curran joined the Sydney Sixers in 2018. (Getty Images)

England since 2021, will miss the Sixers’ clash with Adelaide Strikers on Friday

and will not be available until their match against Brisbane Heat on 3 January.

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Friday December 22, 2023

War in Ukraine: tennis player Alexandr Dolgopolov on life as a soldier B B C N e w s Occasionally, Alexandr Dolgopolov still thinks about tennis. But not very often.

Dolgopolov, once ranked 13th in the world and with a notable win over Rafael Nadal on his CV, now lives another life, as a soldier.

The 2011 Australian Open quarter-finalist is one of thousands of Ukrainians fighting on the frontline to defend his nation in the war with Russia.

Dolgopolov, 35, joined up when Russia invaded its eastern European neighbours in March 2022, and was provided with military training to teach him how to use weapons.

He has feared for his life under Russian attack, and has seen colleagues seriously injured or killed.

His days on the ATP Tour seem a long way away.

“It has been tough on the battlefield in the last year,” Dolgopolov, who last played professionally in 2018 before retiring three years later because of a recurring wrist injury, told BBC Radio 4.

“When they are firing

and getting really close, you know they know approximately where you are.

“When the round exits, you hear that and then you have the few seconds where it is flying - it is like loud whistles coming in - and then you feel the impact.

“You hope the impact is not exactly on the top of the trench.

“If it is one or more metres from you, you should be fine because you’re half or one metre under the ground. if it doesn’t hit the ceiling, you should be OK, but you don’t know that.”

Dolgopolov has been deployed with Ukraine’s Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) in the Zaporizhzhia region of the country and is currently back in capital city Kyiv as he waits for his next assignment.

Asked about the attacks his unit faced, Dolgopolov said: “Mostly artillery fire and aircrafts, that’s the main danger.

“The worst day was when mortars landed reasonably close to us.

“Usually it is random fire and if they see you, they

shoot two, three, five times and then forget about it unless they see what they’re aiming for. You try to hide and protect yourself.

“This time it got really intense and we got maybe 20 rounds fired at us. They were all close.”

Dolgopolov describes how “comrades” have been lost, including a Georgian soldier in his unit a month ago. Another man lost his leg in an attack.

“We haven’t had too many close people dead but many have been injured,” he said.

“We hear a lot about other guys from other units, and friends of friends, dying.

“The longer it goes, the more people are dead.”

‘Is the world doing enough? I don’t think so’ With the war nearing the two-year mark, Ukraine continues to face challenges - in terms of financial and military aid - as it tries to repel Russian forces.

On Tuesday, Ukrainian P r e s i d e n t Vo l o d y m y r Zelensky rejected a suggestion that the nation could be starting to lose the war.

President Zelensky said Ukraine’s military wants to mobilise up to 500,000 extra people to join those such as Dolgopolov who have already signed up.

But these are costly proposals and there are fears in Ukraine that operations will be scaled back because of a drop-off in foreign aid.

Olena Zelenska, Ukraine’s first lady, warned in a BBC interview earlier this month that Ukrainians

Alexandr Dolgopolov reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open in 2011. (Getty Images)

were in “mortal danger” of being left to die without further Western support.

Dolgopolov, who said Ukrainian troops are able to “analyse” how the war is panning out themselves through “critical thinking”, agreed.

“We need armoury and instruments to win this war.

At the moment, mathematically we’re not in a good position,” he said.

“On the battlefield,

Russia have advantages in most things - more people, more armoury and more artillery rounds.

“Is the world doing enough? I don’t think so. I think it is obvious by now.

“We are not getting enough, not fast enough, not enough quantity, it is a big war and we need much more.

“I think the West needs to wake up and understand it’s not just Ukraine’s problem.

Actions have to be taken.”

Embiid and Maxey scored a combined 86 points of the Sixers’ 127. (Getty Images)

NBA: Sixers’ Joel Embiid with longest scoring run in 51 years BBC Sport - Joel Embiid scored a season-high 51 points and 12 rebounds as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 127-113.

The 29-year-old is the first NBA player to score more than 30 points and 10 rebounds in 12 consecutive games since Kareem AbdulJabbar 51 years ago.

Abdul-Jabbar’s record stands at 16 games for the Milwaukee Bucks in 1972.

Embiid, the NBA’s reigning Most Valuable Player, helped the Sixers to their seventh win in eight games.

The Cameroonian scored 20 points in the first half then completed the seventh 50pointer of his career and second of the season late in the fourth quarter.

It inflicted a first loss in five games on We s t e r n C o n f e r e n c e l e a d e r s t h e Timberwolves.

“That’s one of the best teams in the league and the best in the West,” Embiid said. “I’m glad everybody just showed up.”

Embiid, the NBA’s top scorer, averaging 34.4 points per game, also became the first Sixers player since Wilt Chamberlain in 1967

to score more than 40 points and 10 rebounds in three consecutive games.

Tyrese Maxey added 35 points for the Sixers, forming a prolific partnership with Embiid.

“He [Embiid] does it every night so consistently,” Maxey said. “We expect it of him and he goes out there and performs every single night.”

Elsewhere, the Boston Celtics moved to 21-6 at the top of the Eastern Conference with a 144-119 victory against the Sacramento Kings.

Jaylen Brown and Derrick White each scored 28 points in the absence of top scorer and rebounder Jayson Tatum who has a sprained ankle.

The LA Clippers extended their win streak to nine games with a 120-111 victory against the Dallas Mavericks. Kawhi Leonard scored 30 points and 10 rebounds for the Clippers.

Meanwhile, two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic scored 31 points and added 15 rebounds as reigning NBA champions the Denver Nuggets beat the Toronto Raptors 113-104.

Friday December 22, 2023

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West Indies wins T20 series from England in tense final match TAROUBA, Trinidad (AP) - The West Indies held its nerve in the last over to beat world champion England and win their Tw e n t y 2 0 s e r i e s 3 - 2 yesterday.

England, defending a measly 132 all out, bowled brilliantly at the death to raise the tension and earn a glimmer of hope at Brian Lara Stadium.

Fast bowler Reece Topley took out West Indies captain Rovman Powell in a two-run 17th over, and medium-pacer Sam Curran nabbed Andre Russell in a two-run 19th over.

The West Indies was still favored going into the last over, but needed nine runs.

Jason Holder scored three runs off the first delivery by Chris Woakes with Rehan Ahmed saving a run on the boundary behind square, then Shai Hope smacked his first six over deep point to finish the match.

West Indies made 133-6 and won by four wickets with four balls to spare.

The home side also won the one-day international series 2-1.

Hope led the West Indies chase with a run-a-ball 43

not out.

But it was wobbling after eight overs when they were 54-3.

Sherfane Rutherford joined Hope in the middle and overtook the latter with his first six back over Adil Rashid’s head to reach 20.

Rutherford smacked Curran over the fence at fine leg then was caught by Curran on 30 to give Rashid 2-21 off his four overs.

The West Indies was left needing 34 from 30 deliveries, and Ahmed conceded 11 runs in the next over to relieve the pressure.

But it came straight back on when Topley dismissed Powell to finish his four overs with 2-17.

England fought well after a batting performance that was a shadow of what it produced in the serieslevelling win on Tuesday on the same ground.

England was all out for less than half of its record score of 267-3 on Tuesday.

After smashing 19 sixes then, England hit only five on the sticky, used pitch.

Opener Phil Salt topscored for England again in an unchanged team but an inspired West Indies side bowled and fielded with

Shai Hope and Sherfane Rutherford put on a vital stand. (Getty Images) accuracy and energy.

England captain Jos Buttler was gone for 11 in the fourth over, scooping Holder to Oshane Thomas at short fine leg.

Will Jacks hit the first six of the innings then was out next ball, bowled by Akeal

Hosein.

Salt was next to go in the seventh over, straight after his first six. Gudakesh Motie came round the wicket and hit the top of middle stump.

No third successive hundred for Salt — he scored 38 off 22 balls.

Moeen Ali added 23 off 21 and Liam Livingstone 28 off 29, his caught and bowled to Motie starting a collapse of the last five wickets for 11 runs.

Motie and fellow leftarm spinner Hosein shared five wickets for 44 runs.

They dismissed five of the top six batters.

Russell and Holder also took two wickets each.

Scores: West Indies 133 for 6 (Hope 43*, Rutherford 30) beat England 132 (Salt 38, Motie 3-24) by four wickets.

Key questions answered after ECJ rules UEFA and FIFA regulations unlawful S p o r t s M a x International club football faces a potentially fragmented and uncertain future after UEFA and FIFA regulations giving them the right to block new competitions such as the European Super League were ruled to be contrary to EU law.

Here the PA news agency takes a closer look.

What has happened?

The 15 judges comprising the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Justice had been asked to decide whether UEFA and FIFA’s moves to block the formation of the European Super League in 2021, and then sanction those clubs involved, breached EU competition law.

The court found those rules to be contrary to EU law, and that UEFA and FIFA had abused a dominant position in the market by not having suitable conditions

International club football faces a potentially fragmented and uncertain future. and criteria which could give rival promoters access to the market.

What does this mean?

Let’s start with what it doesn’t mean.

The court stresses that the ruling does not necessarily give approval to the European Super League as it was proposed in 2021.

What it does appear to do is

to give companies like A22 the right to pitch a new football competition and for their application to be judged on criteria which are “transparent, objective, nondiscriminatory and proportionate”.

Why is this a shock?

Because last December the Advocate General in the case gave a non-binding

opinion which found UEFA and FIFA’s rules allowing them prior approval were compatible with EU law.

In 80 per cent of cases an AG’s opinion is followed in the final ruling – this case is therefore one of the exceptions.

Grand Chamber rulings are binding and cannot be appealed.

What has the early reaction been?

UEFA issued a statement noting the judgement but insisted it did not see it as an endorsement or validation of the Super League project. It is also confident that its authorisation rules for new competitions issued in 2022 are “robust” and comply with European law.

Super League promoter A22 is jubilant, with chief executive Bernd Reichart promising “free viewing” for fans of Super League matches though it is not immediately clear whether he means in stadiums or on TV. Real Madrid, one of the clubs who initially proposed the breakaway, claimed “European football is finally in the hands of the clubs, players and fans.

Our destiny belongs to us,” while Barcelona feel the verdict “paves the way for a new elite level football competition in Europe by

opposing the monopoly over the football world”.

Does this mean a Super League will happen?

No, it simply says UEFA’s rules governing access to the market were found to be contrary to EU law.

A court judgement does not mean a Super League is inevitable – for a start it requires clubs to be willing.

Premier League teams are looking forward to sharing in a £6.7bn bonanza in their next domestic television deal, and the new independent regulator is set to impose licensing conditions precluding clubs from joining certain competitions.

And aside from clubs, the first iteration of Super League in 2021 was deeply unpopular with English fans.

A22 faces a huge PR battle to convince supporters of the merits of any new competition it proposes.

Friday December 22, 2023

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GFF Elite League Promotional Playoff continues tomorrow The commencement of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Elite League Promotional Playoffs took place last Sunday, igniting energy at both the Eve Leary ground in Georgetown and Anna Regina.

This tournament, meticulously structured, brings together nine formidable teams from the Member Associations’ Leagues, vying fiercely for a coveted spot in the prestigious Elite League Season Six set for 2024.

The kickoff witnessed a trio of exhilarating matches.

Slingerz Football Club (FC) made an emphatic entry into the competition, dominating with a stunning 6-0 win against Dominators FC in A n n a R e g i n a .

Simultaneously in Georgetown, Buxton Stars and Tabatinga FC secured their first victories. Buxton triumphed over Beacon FC with a 2-1 win in penalty kicks, while Tabatinga decisively defeated Herstelling Raiders FC with a commanding score of 3-1.

This playoff serves as the crescendo of the vibrant 2023 GFF football season

that showcased spirited club competitions across the nation.

The anticipation is palpable as participating clubs like Beacons (Bartica Football Association), B e a c o n s ( G e o rg e t o w n Football Association), Buxton Stars (East Coast Demerara Football Association), Dartmouth (Essequibo/Pomeroon Football Association), Herstelling Raiders (East Bank Demerara Football Association), Monnederlust (Berbice Football Association), Slingerz (West Demerara Football Association), Tabatinga (Rupununi Football Association), and Winners Connection (Upper Demerara Football Association) vying for victory.

The Elite League remains a cornerstone of GFF President Wayne Forde’s commitment to club football. It not only provides players a pathway to secure a spot on the Golden Jaguars but also opens doors to opportunities beyond Guyana.

The upcoming matches are slated to continue this

Number of teams score victories in Candy Boss & Antics GT BEER 8-a-side football tournament As play continues in the Candy Boss and Antics GT BEER 8-a-side football tournament, a number of teams have scored victories in the ongoing knockout competition.

The competition which is being played at the AllSaints Scott Church ground, Princess Elizabeth Road in New Amsterdam, Berbice, is being contested on Fridays and Sundays under lights.

The final is set for 30th December at the same venue.

Some results show Police gaining a walk over from Canje FC, while in another game, Rosignol FC of whipped Hearts of Oak 6-0.

Scoring for Rosignol were Royan Rose and Neil Reynolds with a double each.

The other goals came off the boots of Royan Solomon and goalkeeper Evon Smith, who scored from the penalty spot.

Results of two other matches showed Paradise Invaders squeezing past New Amsterdam United by a 2-1 m a rg i n .

Scoring for Paradise were Aubrey Joseph and Jamal Fraser. The goalscorer for NA United was Tyrick Olgerton.

In another game, Cougars FC inflicted a 5-1 drubbing over Ithaca.

However it was Ithaca that scored first with Chrisroy Cummings finding the back of the net.Cougars soon took charge and slotted home five answers goals. Lomar Reid led the way with a double.

While there were once each from Devon James, Ray R e d d o c k a n d Wi l l i a m S o m m e r s e l l .

The tournament is expected to continue today, Friday, at the same venue with quarterfinal matches.

(Samuel Whyte)

Saturday (Decemeber 23) at the No. 5 ground in Berbice and the Eve Leary ground in Georgetown.

In Berbice, Beacons FC (Bartica) is scheduled to clash with Monnederlust FC, while at Eve Leary, Beacon FC (Georgetown) will face off against Herstelling Raiders FC, followed by an intense showdown between Slingerz FC and Winners Connections FC. Action kicks off at 6:00 pm.

The tournament culminates on January 6, 2024, promising an electrifying final showdown to determine the club that will secure promotion to Elite League Season Six.

Slingerz ‘danger men’ will be in action on Saturday at Eve Leary ground.

East Bank vs. The Rest Street Football champion to be decided tomorrow -Will East Bank’s Five-O or Stabroek Ballers rally as Street football kings?

The ‘East Bank Versus The Rest’ Street Football championship, orchestrated by Ballers Entertainment, is reaching its climax at the Mocha C o m m u n i t y C e n t r e ’s Ta m a c .

Tomorrow (Saturday) marks the eagerly awaited conclusion with an electrifying final showdown between Team Five-O and Stabroek Ballers, crowning the tournament’s peak on December 23.

The competition will conclude with eight matches, commencing with intercommunity clashes spanning various age groups and a veteran match to captivate the audience.

Following these will be the official fifth and sixth place matchup, succeeded by the intense third and fourth place playoff featuring Sparta Boss and Team Family.

With a remarkable G$1,000,000 in

cash and prizes, the stakes are high, ensuring an enthralling and competitive event.

This tournament’s success is indebted to the generous support from sponsors like Ryda Hard Wine, GT Beer, Klovers Fashion, Adrian’s Groceries, Mocha Arcadia NDC, Hungry Helpers, Joy’s Water, Igloo Ice Cream, and Specom Inc and MVP Sports.

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Friday December 22, 2023

Petra/KFC Goodwill Series 2023 enters last lap today - Captains of St Benedict’s and Clarendon Colleges faceoff ahead of final In preparation for today’s highly anticipated KFC Goodwill Series 4th Edition final, the competing teams engaged in a spirited faceoff yesterday at the esteemed KFC Vlissingen Road venue, setting the stage for an electrifying showdown.

Deandrae Ballimore of Clarendon College (Jamaica) and Jeremiah Joseph of St. Benedict’s College (Trinidad and Tobago), along with their respective coaches and support staff, participated in a brief ceremony ahead of the much-awaited finale.

Both teams have exhibited exceptional performances

throughout the tournament, maintaining flawless records as they head into this crucial match.

Clarendon College displayed dominance in the semi-finals, securing a commendable 4-1 victory against VWO-4, while St. Benedict’s College clinched a last-minute 1-0 win over Guyana’s Chases’ Academic Foundation.

The action-packed day begins at 6:00 pm with the riveting third-place playoff between Chase’s Academic a n d Vo o r g e z e t We t e n s c h a p p e l i j k Onderwijs (VWO-4) of Suriname. Following that, at 8:00 pm, all eyes will be on

the grand final clash between St. Benedict’s College from Trinidad and Clarendon College from Jamaica.

D u r i n g t h e f a c e o ff ceremony, both teams’ captains and coaches expressed mutual respect and admiration, setting the stage for what promises to be an enthralling final. The outcome hinges on discipline and precise execution, with St. Benedict’s College eyeing a second Goodwill championship title while Clarendon College aims to secure a third championship title within weeks, having recently claimed the Olivier Shield and Decosta Cup.

The excitement unfolds today at the Ministry of Education ground, as the two teams battle it out for a chance to secure the coveted title and first place purse of US$2500. The tournament is sponsored by the Beharry Restaurant Holdings Incooperation, through its KFC franchise, and is well supported by other prominent entities including MVP Sports, ANSA McAL (Lucozade), the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, the Ministry of Education, the Guyana Football F e d e r a t i o n a n d ExxonMobil, also expertly organised by the Petra Organization.

The stage is set for the KFC Goodwill Series 2023 final, as Trinidad and Tobago’s Captain Jeremiah Joseph (left) and Jamaica’s Deandrae Ballimore share a moment with the winner’s trophy.

Kaieteur News

Friday December 22, 2023

PAGE 31

Panko Steel Fabrication and Construction to host golf tournament and village day on Christmas Eve

Administrative Supervisor, Jewanti Chunilall (right) hand over the sponsorship to Edison Jefford yesterday.

…Tournament sponsored to the tune of $3M

O

n Sunday, December 24, 2023, Panko Steel Fabrication and Construction will be hosting a golf tournament and village day at the Lusignan Golf Club. The event is being sponsored for $3,000,000 and will be played over 9 holes.

The tournament will feature many of Guyana’s top golfers turning out in large numbers as they compete in the inaugural event.

The tournament, which will become a regular event on the LGC calendar, is a pair’s competition where participants can either choose their own partner or have one provided for them.

The event coordinator and experienced golfer, Ayube Subhan, stated, “It is not a golf tournament per se, but it is being held to celebrate the Christmas period by aiming to bring smiles and absolute happiness to the children and the less fortunate in the community through the provision of good food and beverages for everyone in attendance.”

According to Subhan,

Coordinator of the event and experienced golfer Ayube Subhan. t h e i n i t i a t i v e i s M r.

Ramsundar’s (Panko) way of fulfilling his corporate social responsibilities.

“Panko himself is a

passionate golfer who developed his love for the sport as a caddy.

Today, he has honed his skills and is an accomplished

player.”

“He feels that this is the least he can do to contribute to the growth and improvement of the game of golf in Guyana,” Subhan shared.

In a fabulous show of rewarding the top place winners, Panko will be awarding the first 6 placed winners with the following cash prizes: · 1st - $100,000 · 2nd - $75,000 · 3rd - $60,000 · 4th - $40,000 · 5th - $20,000 · 6th - $10,000 Individual trophies will also be awarded for the following achievements: nearest to the pin, nearest to the rope, nearest chip to the hole on a designated hole, and longest drive.

The action will commence at 09:00 hours, and lunch will be served at noon.

A bouncy castle and trampoline will be available for the children to enjoy.

MVP Sports sponsors Street Football in Mocha Local sports and apparel giants, MVP Sports, yesterday handed over its sponsorship of the East Bank vs The Rest Street Football Competition that concludes tomorrow night at the Mocha Community Centre tarmac.

Administrative S u p e r v i s o r, J e w a n t i Chunilall hand over the sponsorship and

reaffirmed MVP Sports commitment to the development of Sports in Guyana at all levels, including at the grassroots.

Five-O will play Stabroek Ballers in the Finals of the competition, while Spart Boss tackle Family in the Third Place Playoff. The competition culminates after six weeks of intense competition that witnessed two underdogs emerging to clash for the coveted title.