Kaieteur News

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AIETEUR NEWS

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

Former EPA Head:

Govt. should be

Saturday Edition December 23, 2023 - Vol. 17 No. 51

mindful of its disregard for rule of law in oil sector

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $100 readership yesterday, 46,254

Govt. continues to hide how much taxes it's paying for - Chris Exxon and partners Ram Three years later…

Girl dies in North West boat mishap KNews staff robbed of cellphone while entering bus 7 years later...

Public Works Ministry yet to receive $12M telephone network system

Govt. finalizing sale – Jagdeo of Marriott Hotel

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Kaieteur News

Saturday December 23, 2023

Kaieteur News

Saturday December 23, 2023

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Three years later… Govt. continues to

hide how much taxes it's paying for Exxon and partners - Chris Ram Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram in his most recent Oil and Gas Friday column published in the Stabroek News, has rebuked the government for failing to disclose how many taxes it is paying on behalf of an ExxonMobil-led consortium operating the Stabroek Block.

Readers would recall that the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) Guyana signed with Exxon, Hess Corporation and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited in 2016 requires the Government of Guyana to pay to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) the Corporation Tax owed annually by the oil companies.

Those payments, the agreement states, are to come out of the Guyana's share of profit oil.

While the money Guyana makes from the sale of profit oil is deposited into the Natural Resource Fund (NRF), in addition to royalties received, none of the audited financial statements for the fund state anything about withdrawals being made to cover tax payments on behalf of the Exxon group.

When contacted on the matter yesterday, Auditor General Deodat Sharma, who is in charge of auditing the NRF declined to say why the financial statements make no reference to the taxes that ought to be paid over to GRA.

Chairman of the NRF Board of Directors, Major General (Ret'd) Joseph Singh He said, “I acknowledge that the Stabroek Block Agreement states Guyana must pay the taxes but I think it is a little more than that…I will have to find out from the Governor of Central Bank and (GRA's) Commissioner General (Godfrey Statia).”

The Stabroek Block agreement further requires GRA to issue to the oil companies, certificates to show that they have met their tax obligations.

It therefore begs to question if the Guyana Revenue Authority issues a certificate to the companies stating that it has paid its taxes when the money to pay the taxes remains in the NRF. Calls to the tax chief yesterday for a response to this matter proved futile.

Since Bank of Guyana is the operational manager of the NRF, Kaieteur News also

made efforts to contact its G o v e r n o r, D r. G o b i n d Ganga. But this proved an unsuccessful pursuit.

Kaieteur News also reached out to Chairman of the Board of Directors of the NRF, Major General (Ret'd) Joseph Singh to ascertain if the absence of transfers from the NRF to GRA to cover the tax obligations of the oil companies is a concern for the Board.

He said, “Based on the (NRF) Act, what the board is responsible for doing is ensuring whatever disbursements are made, that the Central bank which has the operational responsibility for the management of the fund informs us on the amounts paid as well as those deposited into the Federal Bank where the NRF account sits.”

The Chairman added,

Car stolen from sleeping family found abandoned The car that was stolen from a sleeping La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara (WBD) family was found abandoned on Friday at approximately 11:25hrs. by ranks of the Timehri Police Station and Division 4 'b' Intelligence Department.

The car, a silver Toyota Runx, bearing registration number PNN 7422 was found at a sand pit behind Chan Sand Road, Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara (EBD). It was examined and found to be intact.

On Wednesday, when Nafiza Khan and her family woke up they discovered that their motorcar and other valuables were stolen. Reports are that the robbery occurred between 03:00hrs. and 04:00hrs.

Kaieteur News understands that the family was awakened by a neighbour and it was then they discovered that their silver Toyota Runx motorcar was stolen. Further checks revealed that $100,000 in cash was stolen from Khan's daughter, along with two gold chains, two wedding rings, one gold band, and one silver and gold band, all worth $800,000.

Additionally, an iPhone valued $105,000; $190,000 in cash and three pairs of gold earrings were stolen.

Meanwhile, Khan's neighbour was also robbed of two mobile phones. Reports are that thieves robbed them first before pouncing on Khan's home.

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

Auditor General, Deodat Sharma “Our job is to ensure disbursements are in accordance with the Act, meaning approved by parliament and any disbursements go into the Consolidated Fund… I can't answer your question but based on the Act, our job is this. That question should be directed to Ministry of Finance and Natural Resources. It really is out of our remit.”

As for Christopher Ram, he nonetheless expressed his concern about what he believes is an inflated NRF account.

In his column he said, “...The problem is that the whole business of the payment of taxes and the issue of certificates have

Chartered Accountant, Chris Ram b e e n withheld from the public.”

The columnist added, “I find it difficult to believe that the Guyana Revenue Authority would issue a receipt for money it does not collect.

Forget for a moment, that those oil companies also claim credits in their home countries for taxes represented by the Certificates but which they did not pay.”

Overall, Ram said he considers this whole matter a complete cover-up involving key agencies of the state.

Ram said one can only speculate whether the reason for this cover up is to prevent the Guyanese public from knowing the annual amount

of taxes paid by the government on behalf of these avaricious oil companies.

With the government being in office for more than three years, and failing to disclose such critical information, Ram deduced that the PPP/C is not an iota different from that of its predecessor which it has criticized for keeping citizens in the dark.

With there being no withdrawals from the NRF in the form of tax payments on behalf of these companies to GRA, Ram opined that the balance of the account is overstated by tens of billions of Guyana dollars, with a corresponding error in the Consolidated Fund.

Seven years later…

Public Works Ministry still to receive $12M telephone network system In the Auditor General (AG) 2022 Report, it was highlighted that after seven years, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, now named Ministry of Public Works, is still to receive a $12.470 million telephone network system.

Auditor General, Deodat Sharma, in his report stated that a contract in the sum of $12.470M was awarded for the supply, delivery, and installation of a new telephone network at the Ministry.

He explained that the contractor received the entire contract sum in 2016, contrary to the contractual terms of fifty percent advance payment within thirty days of the signing of the contract and the balance on delivery and issuance of the provisional acceptance certificate.

The AG noted that more than six years after the payment, “the new telephone network is yet to be installed at the Ministry.”

According to the report, the Ministry indicated that it wrote the Ministry of Legal Affairs on 28 July 2021 seeking assistance to resolve the issue.

At the time of reporting, the position remained the same, the AG said.

It was reported also that the Head of Budget Agency indicated that the observations are correct and that this matter is still engaging the attention of the Ministry of Legal Affairs.

A subsequent letter was written to that Ministry on August 20, 2021 where further information was provided. However, there has been no further update in this matter, the Public Works Ministry stated.

In its recommendation, the Audit Office recommends that the Head of Budget Agency continue to engage the Ministry of Legal Affairs and to bring closure to this matter.

Kaieteur News

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

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

EDITORIAL

Foreign interests, Guyana's interests The PPPC Government is banking heavily on a heavy foreign hand to be the trump card against Venezuela's verbal aggressions, and unfolding plans. Anyone listening either to President Ali or Vice President Jagdeo is sure to walk away comforted that many 'Big Brothers' around the world are watching Venezuelan developments carefully, and are looking out for Guyana. There can be no question that that has some substance, but both leaders must be careful that what they are banking on is not a gamble. That is, tossing the dice and hoping for the most favorable roll.

Vice President Jagdeo literally oozes confidence: “We have allies also who will not countenance the lack of democracy in Venezuela, who will not countenance Venezuelan aggression… [they] have made it very explicit that in this hemisphere they are not going to allow it and we have to extend our capabilities on the basis of the defence cooperation with these allies and we have done so.” We take this opportunity to urge the former head of state not to put all his eggs into the foreign basket. To be sure, there is foreign interest in the rule of law, adherence to court rulings, and the integrity of borders. But their own interests are always paramount. Undoubtedly Jagdeo knows this, but puts on a brave face for local consumption.

He himself mentioned foreigners and their “interests. It would be the height of vice-presidential astuteness, therefore, to reconcile how well foreign interests and those of Guyana coincide.

What is it in Guyana that holds significant “interest?” What is there left for Guyana, should those interest(s), in whatever form or shape they take, be part of the price for international support that Guyana must pay? We are on the same page with the PPPC Government and Jagdeo that we are not helpless, and that we need strong allies to help us in this tussle with Venezuela. But how heavy will be the pound of flesh that will be part of the bargain, which would be embedded in their demands? It is sound to recall that beggars can't be choosers. Presently, we have some helping foreign hands around here, but they appear to be on the thin side; a little flesh on the foreign support skeleton would send the best signal to those in Caracas with ideas, which their words emphasize.

One of the distinctive features of the rash of daily Guyana-Venezuela developments is this flurry of words emerging from Georgetown and Caracas. There is the offensive and aggressive from the west, while from Guyana's corner of this ancient contest, the controlled and the circumspect have been most prevalent. The international community has been wooed around the clock, and many of its members have come out with pronouncements about a region of peace, peaceful resolution, and mature and responsible conduct by all parties.

Though the words have been almost unanimously in favour of where Guyana is, and how it has managed this demanding situation, the long, tall shadow in the room is still unfazed, with the levels of rhetoric raised to heated proportions. It is Venezuela, with its president, Nicolas Maduro, charging around like some out-of-control warhorse. There is a host of foreign friends that Guyana is counted upon for support, and their words and postures have certainly indicated some level of this. A notable fly in the ointment in the Guyana-Venezuela spat is Russia, which said that outsiders must keep out of the matter.

Russia is not Guyana, but a superpower in its own right, no matter how much it is besieged. Russia has to be cognizant of its own interests, and how all these appeals from Guyana to the international community could jeopardize its current and future interests.

The most undesirable situation for Guyana right now would be for it to get entangled in the bigger wars (and great games) being played out by the same people reached to for assistance. Help is needed, but some caution is vital, so as not to depend too much on what could be on the skimpy side.

Foreign interests usually have what is controlling about them. Some of Guyana's interests will suffer, how much of such is what Jagdeo must weigh.

Saturday December 23, 2023

Calls, more calls, and no call from GTT DEAR EDITOR: I have an 80-year-old Church Brother who is a pensioner with a medically fragile wife.

His landline has not been working and for the past four months. GTT has failed to respond to calls for help. I have stepped in to help this brother and can report that GTT has been “Bad Santa” and must be providing the worst possible customer experience and atrocious customer support at this time. Maybe Region 6 country folks’ lives do not matter!

GTT has shown such a poor display of customer service even though they call the helpline “Customer Care.” That should really be “Customer Don’t Care.” I sent a complaint to the “GTT Customer Experience” folks and they responded quickly that someone will call within 24 hours, but no one did. I sent 3 other emails, but our

“Customer Experience” folks did not respond. They should probably call themselves “Customer Bad Experience.” Apart from the NIS, I can’t believe such bad experiences could come from a Public Utility Company. Who is minding the store there at GTT? How can there be such a breakdown where you can get no help? The WhatsApp chat line did not work. An e m a i l t o Support@GTT.co.gy got kicked back. I scheduled a chat and waited for 40 minutes when they said I was number one in line. Then I got a message saying I must schedule another chat. Do these folks not check their broken processes?

When you call the helpline, GTT operators do answer promptly but they tell you their job is only to log calls, that someone will do a follow up call to solve the problems. I talked to a Ms.

Valencia, Ms. Sheniah, Ms. Kimberly, and others. A Mr. Av i n a s h w a s q u i t e sympathetic and said he escalated the complaint as urgent, but no one called back. I called about 10 times, but no one ever called back. I asked to speak to a Supervisor and they said twice that a Ms. Letitia will call back. There was no call back. Instead, while on hold to speak with a Supervisor, the phone will activate the Customer Survey for you to rate their service pertaining to the call, although you never got to speak to the Supervisor. I gave them a big fat “F” grade and left messages about their poor response to the problem.

So, I eventually called the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) at Port Mourant, and the staff there said when she called GTT they said the Complaint Ticket was “closed.” How does the Ticket get closed

and the problem has not been fixed? So, the PUC staff initiated another ticket.

There are no numbers for GTT for senior management to whom you can complain.

The PUC must initiate new rules to protect consumers.

The PUC process gives them 14 days to fix the problem.

This is unacceptable. If a problem had not been fixed in 4 months, that complaint should get on the priority list for instant resolution.

GTT has failed this customer and it’s quite frustrating that you cannot contact senior management to make them aware of what customers face. GTT must make personnel changes at t h e C u s t o m e r Experience/Support Departments, especially when there are competitors in the phone business. At Christmas time, GTT is “Bad Santa.”

Sincerely, J. Jailall

vOIL & BRICS: How the New Regime of Geopolitics will impact Guyana & Venezuela In a previous publication, I brought to readers’ attention the geopolitical and wealth considerations that had fueled and driven the G u y a n a - Ve n e z u e l a controversy. I now draw your attention to the new regime of influence that has been engulfing the region since the end of the Cold War. Could you imagine Venezuela agreeing so readily to a truce after all its recent agitation? Perhaps there was never a serious intention to invade Guyana.

It would be no surprise if the major goal was lifting US sanctions. Nevertheless, it is in everyone’s interest to maintain peace and security in the region, thus, regional and other support led to the Argyle Declaration on December 14.

It is important to point out that, beginning with Chávez, the Venezuelan government took a position against the historical oil dependency and s o c i o e c o n o m i c underdevelopment in the presence of foreign companies. It moved towards a policy of nationalization of natural resources. In terms of foreign policy, an antiimperialist discourse denounced US imperialism while promoting Latin American integration, using oil as one of its foreign relations mechanisms.

Venezuela’s ideological shift saw the nationalization of oil companies. In early 2007, when Exxon cleared the way for oil exploitation in Guyana, it simultaneously had a major setback in Venezuela. It followed on the heels of the nationalization of British Petroleum, Exxon, Chevron, Conoco Philips, Total and Statoil. Together, they produced some 600, 000 barrels a day, equivalent to 2 5 % o f Ve n e z u e l a ’ s production, in which the companies invested roughly US$17b. Exxon’s defeat in the long legal disputes against the Venezuelan government led to huge financial losses and the move to Guyana where it made huge oil discoveries.

Meanwhile, Venezuela impeded foreign investments in the Essequibo region of Guyana. For example, besides fully occupying Ankoko Island, it blocked the construction of a facility of the Texas-based Bael Aerospace Company in 2000; and in October 2013, a Venezuelan navy ship intercepted an oil exploration vessel owned by t h e Te x a s C o m p a n y Anadarko Petroleum and arrested its crew, which included five Americans. As would be expected, this incident shook relations between Venezuela and Guyana. Following the discovery of oil in the

territorial sea off the Guyana coast by the US company ExxonMobil in May 2015, geo-economics and geopolitical variables were again at play involving Venezuela, and the US on opposite sides, and, marginally, China. In June 2015, the Venezuelan Navy declared an ‘integral defence zone’ covering the maritime area in dispute with Guyana.

This period also saw the emergence of the new world powers referred to as BRICS i.e. Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

Each began to share the US geopolitical and economic pie. Russia and China have been the most dominant so far and now occupy what was the US backyard, or ‘sphere of interest’ under the now obsolete Monroe Doctrine. Brazil took an economic leap forward while Russia gained an economic foothold in Venezuela, Argentina, and other Latin American economies.

Guyana is strategically positioned in the AmazonCaribbean area, as evidenced in the strategic thinking and military presence of the US. Having been shut out from Venezuela, the US jumped across to Guyana, pledging full support to the country it undermined in the 1960s when it was in bed with Ve n e z u e l a . T h e o i l discoveries in Guyana have

no doubt led to geopolitical and geo-economics impacts regarding the intensification of internal political strife and disputes involving US and Venezuelan interests. More broadly, the Latin American and Caribbean region, and more specifically Guyana, has taken a center stage position in the renewed global power struggle, given the Sino-Russian presence and rivalry with the US, and the growing spread and influence of India and South Africa. For Brazil, Guyana is a gateway through the Panama Canal to the Pacific markets.

The impact of the geopolitical and economic crisis has dragged on in Venezuela since 2014 and is accompanied by increased strategic energy assets and the military presence of external powers allied to the Maduro government, notably China and Russia, and the absence of Brazilian regional leadership and of South American institutions that had played an important role in resolving internal conflicts in countries in the region. Further, financing through the oil-for-loan model of China and Russia resulted in the commitment of about half of Venezuelan oil exports, and the transferring of assets.

These extra-regional states or regional alliances utilizing strategic resources (Continued on page 06)

Saturday December 23, 2023

Kaieteur News

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President Ali and the First Lady want the best for Guyana and Guyanese DEAR EDITOR, In Guyana we say, “Good things come to those who wait.” In the midst of the festive season, Guyanese are much relieved as they go about in their preparation for the holidays. Guyana’s “Father Christmas,” President Dr. Irfaan Ali, has managed to give the precious gift of love as he shares it with the invaluable package of peace and non-violence.

These priceless ingredients have encouraged the generosity of giving and sharing after our goodly neighbor had threatened the peace and sanctity of the holiday. President Ali, the ever considerate and thoughtful person, has pledged to ensure that the safety, security and success of this nation is guaranteed and will always be treated with priority since he was sworn into power in 2020.

The welfare of Guyanese is forever close to his heart.

Christmas was stolen in 2018 and 2019 by the “Grinchier.” President Ali brought back cheers in 2020 to allay the fears and wipe off the tears of Guyanese. After Scrooge had removed bonuses from the shelf, bonus is again part and parcel of the PPP/C Party and government holiday package. The going was rough, but the tough fought a cruel battle to come out victorious.

Guyanese say, “Easy lesson good for dunce.” The month of December is synonymous with election in the minds of Guyanese. One of CARICOM’s “Three Wise Men” that brokered the 1998 Herdmanston Agreement after the impasse of the December 1997 General Elections in Guyana, Sir Shridath Ramphal, a former Commonwealth SecretaryGeneral and Guyana’s Attorney-General, had written, “ It is utterly regrettable that, despite the highest-level agreement between the political leaders of Guyana and five CARICOM Heads of Government acting for the Community, the invited CARICOM team to oversee the recount of the votes has had to withdraw. Guyana is being deprived of regional and international approval and the opportunity for global respect at a time when it matters most.” The dark hours of Guyana’s 2020 General and Regional Elections still haunt the sobered ones. President Ali kept his cool and the hottempered losers lost their calm. The battle of brain over brawn was eventual and eventful and became evident and eminent. After the Election Petition No. 88 appeal was dismissed by the Guyana Court of Appeal this week, will the arrogant

advocates of lurid lawlessness, facetious frivolity and vicious vexation learn any lesson?

Another Guyanese saying has merits, “If you cannot hear, you must feel.”

Guyana always has a plaster for every sore, especially since the new Health Minister took over in that daredevil year of 2020 when, this country was held under siege by a band of outlaws led by a sanctimonious gangster for five agonizing months! A year when nefarious delinquents ran amok knowing that the sad reality was that, they were convincingly trashed and lost the general election, those poorly schooled mathematicians tried numerous times to swear in a president who was “fit and prapa” to rule by foul means and not fair means. Those squanderers reluctantly then decided to scrape the bottom of the barrel, scrap the search for a ‘might is right’ take

over and secretly surrender, much to the annoyance of their compadres in disagreement. A losing party, soured and bruised, licked their wounds and cowered, knowing that they will not enjoy the Presidential post anytime in a hurry or the near future.

A Guyanese proverb shines the light at the end of the tunnel, “moon a run til day ketch am.” This doctors the doctrine of “the arm of the law is long.” The former administration tried a lot of “jiggery pokery” methods but their methodology of “Burnham Magic” didn’t work. The US sanctions finally shook them up and awoke them to a sudden, sad and severe reality. Their desperate days were numbered and their sleepless nights couldn’t hide their disappointment! The heavy booths kicked in and a begrudged league of dauntless participants caved in to subdue to the result of a

long, lasting and legitimate battle. Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali was sworn in on 2nd August, 2020 as Guyana’s tenth President to lead the administration of the PPP/C Party to govern this land for the next term. All hell broke out for the bewildered party who fell flat on their face.

The battle was won but the war continued.

Guyanese warn, “When bird fly too fast, he does pass he nest.” Selfishness dominated the rulers from 2015 to 2020. Dubbed the “Iron Lady,” by a Soviet journalist, the United Kingdom’s first female Prime Minister who ruled from 1979 to 1990, Margaret Thatcher, had remarked “You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.” The PPP/C Party faced an uphill battle when they began to administer in 2020.

A raped, ravaged and ruined Treasury was the sad reality.

Missing records added to the chaos and confusion. The spread of the hate and race disease poisoned a society nurtured by greed and grouse by a grotesque party, who had vengeance on their agenda because they were left out in the cold. The ugly face of violence instigated by opportunists, surfaced to disrupt peace and stability.

But President Ali survived and reigned in law and order to curb the ambitious band of rebels. The presence of the then US Secretary of State, Mr. Powell, helped to restore faith and confidence in Guyana, relying on a youthful administration presided by a matured and seasoned leader, Dr. Ali. In Guyana they say, “You can’t keep a good man down.” President Dr. Irfaan Ali rose to international prominence and became the “Man for all Seasons.” It was (Continued on page 06)

Kaieteur News

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Saturday December 23, 2023

Jagdeo v. Burke: a fine kettle of fish President Ali and the First Lady want...

DEAR EDITOR, The following Demerara Wa v e s r e p o r t : “ Vi c e President Bharrat Jagdeo said the fugitive was properly served at his Brooklyn residence” in reference to Rickford Burke, has led me to ponder, why would the Vice President, to wit in his capacity as General Secretary of the PPP, report

on a matter which is essentially a police (law enforcement) matter, while according to the Demerara Waves` report, the “Police Force and the Guyana government on Thursday remained mum on a series of questions related to the service of summonses to New York-based Guyanese anti-government activist

Rickford Burke.”

The Vice-President’s use of language also attracts attention.

How can someone who was never in captivity and was reportedly properly served a summons be referred to as a fugitive, in such circumstances?

Yours sincerely, Vincent Alexander

From page 05 the good will of integrity, the reputation of honor and the prevalence of dignity on which the PPP/C Party rode out the storm embroiled in lies, propaganda and tonguetwisting by dangerous dementors.

Favorable weather fathoms the fashion of Dr. Ali whose familiar face has been featured to make him famous and a welcoming personality to grace any occasion. In

Guyana, peace, progress and prosperity will always prevail to light up the spirit of the festive season as long as you have a few good men and women like President Ali and the First Lady, Arya Ali, who will forever want the best for Guyana and Guyanese. Season’s greetings and do have a safe and happy holiday Guyana.

Yours respectfully, Jai Lall.

vOIL & BRICS: How the New Regime...

From page 4 to challenge its supremacy or security run against US interests. From the US perspective, the geostrategic importance of Latin America and the Caribbean is highlighted by its classical geopolitics. The US current military presence is scattered across Central American and Caribbean countries: Cuba, Honduras, Aruba and Curaçao, El Salvador, Colombia, Guyana and Suriname. Therefore, the recent oil discoveries in Guyana are an area where US supremacy cannot be contested.

The oil discoveries in Guyana, the Venezuelan crisis, and the heightened tensions between the countries, have led to a growing feud between powers and companies from outside the region. South America has become a center of tension in the global power dispute led by the US and the Sino-Russian alliance, allying with different internal groups or outside powers, using economic tools or military presence as assets and strategies.

As a result of the growing territorial threat coming from Venezuela, Guyana has tied its defense strategy to ExxonMobil’s economic and US strategic interests. This

was evidenced by the actions of the US diplomatic corps, which previously presented a position of greater neutrality. For e.g. the US began to work closely with Guyana to defend Exxon’s contract with the Guyana government while an intense debate was raging because the contract was favorable to Exxon. Thus, the US defense of the economic position of its company in a territory with strategic position and resources and with a government that appears to act favorably to the exploitation by its company, worked against Venezuela’s interests. In turn, Venezuela has strategic location and resources too, but its government acts against the participation of US companies, and on the geopolitical level it positions itself contrary to and allies itself with external rivals of the US that have been resisting US pressures for change of government.

While the VenezuelaGuyana controversy has a h i s t o r y w i t h multidimensional implications, the oil discoveries, coupled with the presence of Exxon and the US in Guyana aggravated Venezuela.

Further, while Exxon, the main operator holding 45% of the stakes in the

consortium formed for the exploration of the Stabroek block, there is another private US company, Hess Guyana Exploration with 30%, and the state-owned China National Offshore Oil C o r p o r a t i o n (CNOOC)/Nexen Petroleum Guyana with 25%.

According to some estimates, future production has the potential to quadruple Guyana’s current GDP, with government annual revenues reaching US$5 billion by the end of the next decade. Other estimates indicate that extraction could yield between US$ 7 billion and US$27 billion in gross revenues per year over the next 30 years.

In light of the potential gains for Guyana, and the increasing presence, economic activities and influence of BRICS in the region, it is foreseeable from the geostrategic importance of the mineral-rich Essequibo region and the US presence in Guyana, that new chapters in the Venezuela-Guyana relations would emerge until a final settlement is reached on the controversy.

Ronald Singh, LLM, MS, International Lawyer Lecturer, Faculty of Law, The University of the West Indies, Mona

Saturday December 23, 2023

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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Saturday Monday December May 02, 23,2022 2023

Govt. finalizing sale – Jagdeo of Marriott Hotel V

ice President (VP), Bharrat Jagdeo during his weekly press conference on Thursday disclosed that the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) and their lawyers are still finalizing the sale of the Marriott Hotel.

American businessman, Ramy El-Batrawi, was the highest bidder, proposing the sum of US$90 Million for the acquisition of the Kingston, Georgetown property.

On Thursday, Jagdeo reiterated that the Government of Guyana (GoG) is not involved in the negotiations at the technical level with El-Batrawi and his lawyers; as NICIL is facilitating the sale of the hotel.

Jagdeo said, “The investor complained about the sloth. Once the bid was out, we, as I said before, we left it to NICIL and their lawyers to deal with the negotiations at the technical level. Let me just say we want the matter concluded but the executive will not

Guyana Marriott Hotel

intervene unduly into a technical process unless we believe that something is not being addressed to satisfaction and the satisfaction of the original bid, now let me make it clear that this company put in a bid and they have to remain faithful to the bid.”

The Vice President explained that NICIL has to ensure that the country's interest is protected in those

negotiations and that the original concept of the bid is reflective in the signed agreements of the sale.

“At this point in time NICIL will issue a press release in the negotiations we are bound by a confidentiality clause but we are not rushing anything to satisfy because there is there is no desperation for money from this deal, the asset remains 100% government,”

Jagdeo said.

He continued, “We went out to tender, we wanted the agreement concluded but it must be concluded in a manner that would reflect public scrutiny and scrutiny by the audit office.”

In December 2022, the Government announced that it will be selling the hotel.

Negotiations with ElBatrawi and NICIL began in June 2023.

Following the announcement, six companies had submitted their proposals for the hotel.

However, in May, the government had informed the bidders that their initial bids were rejected, because the bids were too low and did not reflect the true value of the hotel.

Thereafter, four bidders dropped out leaving X, LLC owned by El-Batrawi, and local consortium Integrated Group Guyana Limited, headed by Ravindra Prashad, whose second bid was US$86.1 million, falling short of El-Batrawi's proposal.

Construction of the Marriott Hotel started under the Bharrat Jagdeo-led

Vice President (VP), Bharrat Jagdeo

administration. Taxpayers' money along with a syndicated loan through the Republic Bank Limited of Trinidad was used to finance the project.

The hotel opened its doors on April 17, 2015.

Under the syndicated loan agreement, the preferred rights go to those investors – meaning that in the event of the hotel being unable to service the loan – the unknown investors would have the first privilege to the proceeds of a sale.

Meanwhile, Kaieteur News had highlighted that El-Batrawi was barred by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) back in 2010 from acting as an officer or director of a public company for a period of five years.

Notably, while El-Batrawi n e v e r a c c e p t e d wrongdoings, in April 2010 the final judgment resulted in him being barred from running a public company for five years.

Moreover, El-Batrawi visited Guyana twice last year, October 2022, and November 2022. The American businessman had praised the time he spent with President Irfaan Ali during his visits to Guyana.

One month later, NICIL

a n n o u n c e d t h e Government's decision to sell the hotel.

In March 2023, Jagdeo revealed that despite the criticism the hotel faced when the construction was announced – the hotel had emerged as a profitable venture, but justified the sale of the hotel by stating that it was a business decision.

In fact, the VP said during a press conference that while the hotel is making a profit, it is of no supreme benefit to the Government owning it anymore.

Jagdeo continued by saying that within a few years, several hotels are expected to come on stream and in order to avoid competition, this is the best time to maximise the profit and sell the hotel.

According to Jagdeo, the proceeds of the sale is to be used, “to clear off the remaining loan and some of it will come back to the Treasury to be used back for whatever purpose is determined.”

Notably, a decision by the former administration resulted in US$1.1 million ($226 million) of taxpayers' money coming out every six months (since 2017) to service the US$27 million loan from the bank – for a 13year period.

This was after the hotel was unable to service the loan. In order to prevent the hotel from being acquired by the bank, the APNU+AFC Government in April 2017 transferred the hotel's financial obligations to the Central Government.

However, VP Jagdeo stated that while in Opposition, the People's Progressive Party (PPP) was opposed to the hotel's financial obligation being transferred.

Kaieteur News

Saturday December 23, 2023

PAGE 09

David Granger saved Guyana from a calamity If you are building a house, you would first seek to ensure that you can obtain both at the start of your undertaking or during construction, cement, sand, aggregate and wood, depending on what type of building you are putting up.

In other words, without the ability to source the essential items needed for the construction of the house, you would not undertake the project. Similarly, if a government is developing a hydroelectric facility, it should at the minimum ensure that the most basic resource needed for the operation of the falls is adequate. And what is that basic? It is water. Unless there is an adequate supply of water for the project, it will flop.

In the case of the Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Project, the brainchild of former President Bharrat Jagdeo, it was necessary to ensure that the hydrology data was credible and that there was sufficient water to justify the massive investment in the project. In order to maximize efficiency and reduce the marginal cost of generating electricity you must ensure there is adequate water for the operations of the hydroelectric plant. This maximization cannot occur if the plant operates an optimal capacity during the wet season and a far lower capacity during the dry season. This is why great emphasis was placed on the hydrology of the project.

The APNU and the AFC have always raised concerns about this project, including its hydrology.

In 2013, Kaieteur News published a series of articles concerning this aspect of the project.

In response, the government had backed the hydrology of the project based on a 70-page report by H a l c r o w, a U K - b a s e d engineering consultancy.

The government accepted that during the dry months, water flow will be limited but it contended that the reservoir will be used to store water and allow for the station to have a continued supply of water. This was wishful thinking at best.

Recent photographs have shown that the river is now bone-dry in sections and therefore had the project gone ahead, the reservoir would not been able to supply a continuous flow of water to the project. The 2 0 1 6 N O R C O N S U LT evaluation of the project maintained that the live storage volume of the reservoir is small compared to the annual water flow and the plant will be operated mainly as a run-of-river plant with little impact on the downstream river hydrology, except for the about 4 km stretch of the river between the intake dam and the tailrace outlet from the powerhouse.

NORCONSULT also had similar reservations, as the APNU+AFC relative to the hydrology of the project.

NORCOBSULT found data

inadequacies in relation to the flow of water to the site.

This is what the report said, “The hydrology for Amaila Falls Hydropower Project is not very well established since continuous series of direct flow measurements in Kuribrong River at the project site do not exist.” The Norwegian consultants suggested that to mitigate the current hydrological uncertainty, particularly crucial during the low flow season, it is necessary to extend the duration of direct measurements in the Kuribrong River at the project site. This extended monitoring period would bring about significant advantages, including confirming the presumed underestimation of water flow during the dry season.

This monitoring would lead to more reliable estimates of energy production during the low season, providing an improved foundation for planning the necessary backup capacity for the same period. There is a clear hint that back-up sources of energy would be needed, especially during low-flow periods. NORCONSULT recommended that the programme for continuous water flow measurement be resumed as soon as possible and before a new main sponsor of the project is found. It called for 2-3 additional years of continuous flow data would provide a more reliable basis

DEM BOYS SEH

De Christmas feeling missing in action People are walking down the streets and are claiming how they are not getting the Christmas feeling. Des Christmas feeling in Guyana dis year like it hiding better than a man running from a nagging wife!

Dem boys walking down de streets looking like dem lost dem Christmas cheer somewhere between de oil barrels and de government’s announced wage increases. People claiming how dey can’t feel Christmas, like it gone on a vacation and lef dem behind fuh deal with the dry weather and de dusty breeze. Now, we all know in dis beautiful land of ours, de best way to feel Christmas is if yuh pockets fat like

Santa after a night of cookie munching. But alas, it seems like de oil riches playing hide and seek, and most people feeling more trickle than treasure. So, what’s a Guyanese to do when dem Christmas spirit tek a lil’ break? Some wise soul suggested slowing down.

Downgrade yuh expectations, like yuh downgrading yuh phone plan when money tight.

Maybe if we stop chasing after de Christmas sales and start walking like we got all de time in de world, we might just catch a glimpse of dat elusive Christmas feeling in this dry weather season.

And talking ‘bout dry, dis weather drier than Vee Pee sense of humor. Christmas without rain and fresh greenery?

But fear not! Just ase how de rains will come in due course, so too will de Christmas feeling if we just take it easy. Spend some quality time with yuh family and friends instead of spending all yuh money on gifts dat nobody really need.

Enjoying the simple pleasures of life, like a nice, slow stroll through de neighborhood and down dem shopping areas.

So, let’s all take a page from Santa’s book and slow down dis Christmas. Who knows, maybe in dat leisurely pace, we might stumble upon dat hidden Christmas cheer, like finding a five hundred dollar bill in yuh old jeans pocket.

Talk half. Leff half

for an updated energy production simulation.

Someone needs to ask Jagdeo whether the 2-3 years of data has since been collected. This is hardly likely since upon returning to Office, the PPPC said that the project would be restarted in 2022.

Predictably, the PPPC has run into serious bottlenecks with the project.

It is not finding a sponsor and is now suggesting returning to bids for a BOOT arrangement. By now it should realize that this project is overpriced and,

given the hydrology concerns, too risky an investment.

The APNU+AFC did this nation a great favour when it forced the developer to walk after not giving its approval for the project when it held a one-seat majority as the Opposition in the 2011 parliament. David Granger saved Guyana from a calamity when he canned the project citing high costs, hydrology concerns and financing concerns.

Jagdeo, however, is persistent and wants to redeem his pet project. But

time and history are not on his side. No one will touch this project unless they obtain it as a sweetheart deal.

(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

HARD

TRUTH

HK

BY G

LALL

Saturday Monday December May 02, 23,2022 2023

H@RD TRUTHS

BY GHK LALL

Happy holidays, brother Bharrat B

rother Barry had more than my sympathy.

Bharrat Jagdeo has my handshake. Don't know what he said. Don't care. No disrespect intended for a former president. No hard feelings for a man in the throes of someone distinctively unhinged.

He should be helping me.

Instead, the roles are reversed, and the fraternal duty is to reach out and touch.

The hope is for a better Bharrat. The dream is for a better Guyanese world for every citizen. Foreigners are included, including aliens, legal or illegal.

The more Barry Jagdeo curses, the more a curtain of calm descends. Rail on, bro.

There is a country that could use a little ray of light, a small speck of truth. Since this former head of state has clearly lost his head, then the duty falls to me.

I try. He can continue with his tortured trademark tirades. We have fallen far and hard, haven't we?

I mean what is the use of all those fine gentleman in

government offices, or enjoying government sponsorship, when Bharrat Jagdeo has to get out his pickaxe and battleaxe, and wax uncontrollably, as though he is some inebriated brawler out to prove a point.

What is the point, my brother?

The more ranting that there is, the more there is the deep conviction that my efforts on behalf of the Guyanese people have some value, reach into high places, and possess some sting. If some dirty work has to be done, and all political hatchet jobs are dirty, then leave it to the analysts and pundits and government bandits.

For the good doctor's information, my people money came too hard, it was scarce, and so there is the duty to do justice to their memories and sacrifices.

Mine is not the luxury to be squeamish. Or to be spiteful and wrathful.

Christmas or no Christmas, brother Jagdeo should come to this understanding. This work is not political.

These words are not racial. These thoughts are not financial.

They are national.

But before those there is something even more special. It is spiritual. Now the honorable Vice President, the esteemed doctor, the majestic man of so many attributes, must know something: the people against whom he wages war are not his enemies. Indeed, they are against what is bad for the poor people of this country.

But they are not his enemies. The real ones are from Texas, who send him into these fits of frenzy, and the paroxysm and deliriums of someone who realizes that he is being used, but cannot help himself.

How do I not take pity a brother who has dug such a big, open, noticeable hole for himself?

I am working overtime to not just warn him, but also to lift him out of it.

His own people are not going to open his eyes, nor whisper in his ears. Their job is to pander to his whims and

fancies. Mine is to point to them, and then say, brother, there is better, and it can be done.

Now, if that brings whips and chains, and whatever else, then let it be. I am thinking. All this attention given, this much time wasted, and for what?

His people are looked upon as charlatans by his own. I take that back and substitute the lost. Or the lonely.

Or losers. Mr. B: please don't let this leadership, this wealth, come to this agitated state. I can manage with whatever is tossed in this direction.

Clearly, my brother Bharrat Jagdeo is self-destructive. Don't do this to self, bro. If there are five Guyanese who will whisper how things really are, how the pain of our fellow citizens, how the exploits condoned damage the national psyche, I am one.

What is shared with country and Barry is not the product of people behind the scenes.

It is a product of the soul. If pummeling has to come from that, then it just has to be.

How do we lift up the poor in Guyana? How do we give the empty of heart hope?

How do we make those lovely statistics mean something in their lives?

And their communities?

And the many other communities across black, brown, and native Guyana?

Should this be a source of rage (and clearly it is), then I regret that, and it is the savaging of Guyana continuing.

The boys have tried everything, and I am better because of it. Find unknown parts of myself. One of the startling developments is brother J's own people urging me to keep on doing what is done. The more Bharrat Jagdeo depletes himself, the more I intend to replete his

wasted energies.

This man needs help, and I am not one to kick someone when he is down.

If it is my call to singlehandedly lift the quality of the conversation in this society, then the labours must follow.

In closing, I make this point before all Guyana, the world, and particularly Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo. I do not need you. But YOU need people like me.

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

Govt. to increase investments to boost military capacity – Dr Jagdeo DPI - The government plans to increase its investment in the military and continue pursuing defence cooperation opportunities with international allies.

Speaking to media operatives at his weekly press conference at Freedom House on Thursday, General Secretary of the People's Progressive Party, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, said that these investments are of a purely defensive nature since Guyana remains committed to maintaining a zone of peace.

He was at the time addressing questions regarding the recent tensions amidst the ongoing border controversy.

Dr Jagdeo added that the recent meeting between President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in S t Vi n c e n t a n d t h e Grenadines has been instrumental in reducing tensions.

“We have to spend more now on defence of ensuring that we grow our capability to protect this country. We made it clear in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines that our engagement with our international partners to build capacity of a defensive nature. So, we made it clear

we are not planning to attack Venezuela or any other country for that matter,” he said.

Following this meeting, the joint declaration of Argyle for dialogue and peace between Guyana and Venezuela was released, which essentially outlined that the two countries have agreed not to use or threaten force against each other.

In this declaration, the two countries also agreed to the establishment of a joint commission of the Foreign Ministers.

Additionally, the two countries agreed to meet again in Brazil.

“Everyone wants the region to remain a zone of peace because we benefit from that globally. So we went to Saint Vincent, determined to hold to our position that the ICJ process is going to be preserved and we will pursue it to its conclusion, notwithstanding what the Venezuelan position is and that became very clear.

That was the conclusion of the agreement that there is no room now for a return to the bilateral engagement on that particular matter, but there are several issues that could be discussed at the bilateral level that are outside of that single issue,” the GS reminded.

Saturday December 23, 2023

Granted bail: Shad Shivrattan

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Labourer remanded for stabbing man at domino table Deceased, Dwayne Byass

Vendor on $50,000 bail for allegedly stealing phone from woman A 20-year-old man of Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD) was on Friday granted $50,000 bail when he appeared before the Georgetown Magistrates' Court to answer a theft charge.

The accused, Shad Shivrattan, a vendor of the Stabroek Market made his first appearance before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly to answer the charge which alleges that he stole a Samsung mobile phone from Elaine Norton on Regent

Dellyssa Ramitt

Street, Georgetown.

The court heard that the phone valued $89,000 and was stolen on November 12, 2023. Shivrattan entered a not guilty plea and said he was wrongfully accused of the crime.

The prosecution had no objections to bail being granted.

The virtual complainant was not present in court.

Shivrattan is scheduled to return to court on February 2, 2024.

Girl dies in North West boat mishap

Dellyssa Ramitt, a student of the North West Secondary School, died on Thursday afternoon after she was flung overboard following a boat accident in the Port Kaituma River, North West District.

Reports are that Ramitt, a Grade Seven student, fell in the water while the boat captain was navigating the waters close to the river mouth in the vicinity of the Barima River around 14:00hrs on Thursday.

The vessel was heading to a farm in the direction of Port Kaituma and reports are that the waves from a passing vessel shook the boat Ramitt was travelling in.

Ramitt reportedly

sustained chop wounds from the boat engine's propeller when she fell overboard. She was sitting at the front of the vessel at the time. Efforts were being made yesterday to retrieve her body.

Thursday's accident is the second to occur in the area this month.

Last week, another teenager, Safea Daniels died following a boat incident further up the Port Kaituma River. He was also flung from the vessel he was travelling in.

The lad and his father were travelling from Port Kaituma to Mabaruma when tragedy struck.

His body surfaced a day later.

A labourer was on Friday was remanded to prison for stabbing a man during a game of dominoes at Paradise Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB).

The accused, Nascio Allen, appeared at the Weldaad Magistrates' Court before Magistrate Peter Hugh.

Reports are that 26-year-old Allen stabbed Dwayne Byass. Both men hail from Golden Fleece, WCB. The court heard that on Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at about 11:50hrs., Allen stabbed Byass at Middle Street, Paradise, WCB. The accused was not required to plead to the indictable charge and was remanded to prison until January 5, 2024. The two men were at a shop on Middle Street,

Paradise, playing dominoes when an argument started and a fight ensued.Eyewitnesses told police that Allen whipped out a knife, stabbed Byass to the left side of his stomach and ran out of the shop with the knife in his hand.While the suspect was making good his escape, Byass reportedly collapsed in the shop. His cousin picked him up and rushed him to the Mahaicony Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Allen subsequently turned himself in at the Weldaad Police Station. He told investigators there that he did not stab Byass. He alleged that Byass had run into his knife while attacking him with a piece of wood at the shop.

PAGE 12

Kaieteur News

Saturday December 23, 2023

Saturday December 23, 2023

Kaieteur News

PAGE 13

Former EPA Head: Govt. should be mindful of its

disregard for rule of law in oil sector The Attorney General (AG), Anil Nandlall S.C last week issued a cautionary statement to Guyanese critical of the oil sector, as he claimed these were being used by the Venezuelan government to bolster its outrageous claims over Guyana's sovereign territory.

His remarks were met with widespread condemnation and continue to be disarmed by citizens.

On Thursday, former Head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Vincent Adams said it is the government that ought to exercise more caution in its actions relative to the sector, as these may be monitored closely by the country's neighbour.

Dr. Adams, a Petroleum and Environmental Engineer was at the time appearing as a guest on the Oil and Gas Governance Network's (OGGN's) weekly radio programme, Oil Talk when he encouraged Guyanese to disregard the views promulgated by the AG and Legal Affairs Minister.

In fact he reasoned, “If it hadn't been so serious it would have been just laughable. I want the Attorney General to identify one thing that anybody has said that can be used by

(President Nicolas) Maduro in making his case. I want him to identify one, anything.

Is it flaring, is it dumping of water, is it renegotiation?

How is that...he is a Lawyer, let him go use that as evidence to bolster Maduro's case, there is none.”

The former EPA boss believes the caution issued by the AG amount to nothing more than a hoax and distraction to the nation.

He pointed out that it is the government that should be more mindful of its disregard for the rule of law in the management of the sector, particularly in its activities involving ExxonMobil, the operator of Guyana's oil rich Stabroek Block.

In making his case, Dr. Adams highlighted that the AG on behalf of the government joined several cases to defend Exxon rather than team up with the citizens of this country to protect its patrimony.

There are three such instances already; Dr. Adams highlighted the recent ruling of the High Court on full liability coverage for oil spills in the Stabroek Block.

He said, “This is the same Attorney General who has fought against his own rule of law and against his own

Former EPA Head, Dr. Vincent Adams

regulations in the full liability coverage (from an oil spill) for the people.

That's what Maduro would use to say here; even our Attorney General is not even following the rule of the law of the country.”

Dr. Adams said these acts by government could most likely be used by Venezuela rather than the environmental cases filed by Guyana.

He continued, “I would love to hear the arguments in making that some kind of an evidence to bolster Maduro's case, its absolute nonsense.”

More concerning, the former EPA boss said the AG's statements may be heading down a path of stifling free speech in the country.

He recalled that when High Court Judge, Justice

Kissoon made a decision in the oil spill coverage case, both Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and the AG were critical and complained of the ruling which was subsequently appealed.

Consequently Dr. Adams said, “That's what Maduro could be using because the people who are supposed to implement the laws of the country are going against their own laws.”

He argued that comments on the excessive flaring by Exxon are in line with international best practices while the lopsided terms of the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) simply cannot be muzzled.

Further to that he reasoned, “I don't know what are the arrangements Maduro

has with Chevron and whichever company is running but I bet you its more than 14 and a half percent that he is getting so how is he gonna use that and say that we are arguing for more money?

It's the most stupid comment and that's how we should be addressing it than giving any credence to it as though it means something.”

On Sunday, Kaieteur News reported that the AG issued a public statement in which he detailed that during the historic talks between President Irfaan Ali and President Maduro on December 14, 2023 in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Venezuelan Head of State was furnished with several volumes of documents extracted from the local media on the oil sector.

He explained, “Many would have seen that President Nicolas Maduro had with him at the meeting, several volumes of documents.

Many of those were compilations of public statements made on this matter, critical commentaries on the operations of Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) and the several legal proceedings filed in relation

thereto – all extracted from the local media.”

He went on to note, “These are materials which Venezuela is using to bolster their narrative. Whatever weight is placed upon them, they certainly do not and will not assist Guyana in any form or fashion.”

The Attorney General therefore urged, “Those who wish to travel this road by making such statements, or taking such actions, must now become alive to this consequential reality.”

Notably, Attorney-atLaw, Christopher Ram on Monday also penned a letter in response to the statements made by the AG. He pointed out, “We do not criticise for its own sake, but to highlight the multitude of weaknesses in, and the egregiously poor oversight of the 2016 Petroleum Agreement. After years of tone deafness, commentators and the silent Guyanese are frustrated by the Government's unwillingness to address any of the glaring deficiencies which result in serious loss of revenue to Guyana, each and every day.”

The Lawyer made it clear that Guyanese will not stay quiet on Exxon's illegal and improper conduct in the country.

K News staff's cell phone snatched while entering bus Bandits snatched a cell phone belonging to a staff of the Kaieteur News on Friday night while he was entering a Route 42 minibus at the Timehri Bus Park, Stabroek, Georgetown.

The employee said that his Samsung S23 mobile device was stolen from him at around 20:00h.

He said he had just left work and was on his way home when he was robbed.

The young man believes that the bandits

The stolen phone was tracked to Croal Street, Georgetown.

might have been gauging him while he was awaiting transportation.

He recounted that while he was boarding the bus, the bandits posed as passengers, rushed up and snatched the phone out his bag and made good their escape.

The distraught Kaieteur News employee has since been able to track the device to a location on Croal Street, Georgetown.

A report has been filed with the Police.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Saturday December 23, 2023

Five families to move into their own homes in time for Christmas DPI - Five families will have their own homes in time for the Christmas holiday as the government through the Ministry of Housing and Water officially handed over the core houses to the beneficiaries on Friday.

The homes which were built under the ministry's Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme saw four houses being handed over to families in the Parfaite Harmonie Housing Scheme, Lust-EnRust area, West Bank Demerara, and one from 19th Street in the Diamond/Grove Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara.

One of the beneficiaries, Tandasey Oneil said that the thought of her having to pay a mortgage has now vanished, thanks to the government.

“It's a real pleasure to be receiving this house today, it's a good Christmas present and I feel so blessed right now. It's very nice for us to finally have our own home.

One of the best things about it is that it is debt free,” Oneil said.

Candase Wrights, another beneficiary stated that the owning of a new home is a big step for her.

“I know I will not have to worry anymore about paying rent or insufficient electricity for the children to study at night…This is a real plus because when we look at where we came from it wasn't easy, it was a hard time. I am so privileged because it is a great moment that would bring a change to someone,” she expressed.

Wright, her children, and her brother will be moving into the house in time for the Christmas season.

With tears in his eyes, an ecstatic Burton Kelly said that he is ready to move into his new home.

“Well, I have been waiting for this house for five years now and I thank God that today is another milestone in my life. I am really appreciative of what the government, their contractors, and the IDB did for me to get my own home today,” an emotional Kelly told the media.

The man and his family were previously living in a small wooden house in the said yard.

“I am really excited to be receiving my own home today. As I was telling the minister I was expecting till February but the guys pushed to get the house done. So, I'm surprised and really happy all at the same time.” Those were the words of Antonio Alexis, another beneficiary and a single father of four who currently resides at Sophia by a relative.

Hilbert Pilgrim, a pensioner will soon be living in his own house at Diamond with his daughter. Pilgrim said that the house came at the right time.

To become eligible for the core houses, the beneficiaries had to already have their lot. Following the approval of the construction, they had to contribute $100,000, with the remainder being funded by the government and the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB).

The beneficiaries also

Antonio Alexis holding the keys to his new house received their electrical certificate of compliance and certificate of home completion.

The homes are outfitted with two bedrooms, a kitchen and bathroom area.

Presenting the homes to the residents was Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal, who congratulated them for this monumental

achievement of home ownership.

“This is another testimony of what we have been doing at the Ministry of Housing and Water. As part of our programme, it is not just about allocating lots but also to encourage home ownership and to address a niche of our society and those in different categories,”

Minister Croal stated.

According to the minister, to date, they have allocated 75 core houses, with 35 being on the West Bank of Demerara, along with the added four that were handed over on Friday. He said that about $1.2 billion has been expended by the ministry to construct the core houses.

Granted Bail: Dwayne Chance

$40,000 bail for man who used abusive and threatening language on wife Dwayne Chance was on Friday granted $40,000 bail when he appeared before the Georgetown Magistrates' Court to answer charges relating to the use of abusive language causing breach of peace and threatening language.

Chance made his first appearance before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly.

It is alleged that on December 20, 2023 at New Road LaPenitence, Chance used

abusive and threatening language on his wife, Christine Chance thereby causing a breach of the peace.

The accused pleaded not guilty to both charges. The prosecution did not object to bail being granted and the Magistrate granted bail on condition that the accused agrees to keep the peace.

He was placed on $20,000 for each charge and will return to court on February 1, 2024.

Saturday December 23, 2023

Kaieteur News

PAGE 15

PAGE 16

Kaieteur News

LEGAL NOTICE 1 (KING) ELROY Respondent

WANTED

SERVICES

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

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

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

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

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

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

Call: 613-7651/ 649-3783.

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

Call: 626-7040.

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

Male to pluck chicken In Georgetown Call: 219-2170 / 708-4374.

1 Accountant Clerk with NIS/ payroll experience. $150K per month. Call: 2192170/ 708-4374.

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

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

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

One Kia Sportage SUV, 2020 year model, only driven 3152 km (almost new). 8 mil neg.

Call: 691-7123.

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

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

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

Truck Driver, Office Assistant, Excavator Operator and AC Technicians. Call: 6085303/ 608-2114.

FOR SALE Tundra for sale, GKK5670.

1.8 Mil neg. Call: 668-5034.

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

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

LEGAL NOTICE 1 2023-HC-DEM-CIV-FD-787 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION Petition No. FD-787 Between: (KING) RHONDALYN AMAKIA nee ALLICOCK Petitioner -v-

Saturday December 23, 2023

UN Security Council passes resolution on increased Gaza aid delivery The US abstains on resolution that it lobbied to weaken over the course of several days, allowing it to pass.

TO: ELROY KING Formerly of 809 Section B, Block X Great Diamond, East Bank Demerara.

TAKE NOTICE that on the 19th day of May, 2023 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by RHONDALYNAMAKIA nee ALLICOCK the Petitioner in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 23rd day of October, 2023 the Petitioner was directed to effect service of her Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) consecutive Saturday issues of a daily newspaper printed, published and circulated in and around the Republic of Guyana. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorney-at-Law at the Registry of Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with related documents. AND FURTHERTAKE NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, you must file an Acknowledgement of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry), Answer and/or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 35 (thirty- five) days from the date of the final publication of this Notice.

TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on Friday the 9th day of February, 2023 at 9:00am before the Honourable Madam Justice Sandra Kurtzious via Zoom Meeting ID: 648 772 9256 and Password: 5hRiHf. IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/Notice of Intention to Defend, Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce.

The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court

US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield, left, Palestinian Ambassador to the UN, Riyad Mansour, right, speak before the Security Council meeting at UN Aljazeera - The United Nations Security Council has passed a resolution to boost humanitarian aid to Gaza, following several delays over the last week as the United States lobbied to weaken the language regarding calls for a ceasefire.

The resolution, which calls for steps “to create the conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities”, passed on Friday with 13 votes in favour, none against, and the US and Russia abstaining.

The vote came amid international calls to bring the months-long conflict to an end, as Israeli forces pummel Gaza with one of the most destructive campaigns in modern history and humanitarian conditions in the besieged strip reach critical levels. More than 90 percent of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced, and conditions under Israeli siege and bombardment have been described by UN officials as “hell on earth”.

LEGAL NOTICE 1 is located at the Law Courts [Georgetown, Demerara]. The office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the Registry is closed.

Dated the 18th day of December,2023.

Intense negotiations took place over the last week, with other member states searching for language that would avoid US objections that have doomed previous resolutions on Gaza in the 15-member body, where the US is one of five countries that hold a veto.

The original draft called for “an urgent and sustainable cessation of hostilities” and gave the UN increased control over aid deliveries into Gaza. The adopted resolution opts for less equivocal language on a ceasefire and maintains Israel’s control over all aid.

“This was tough, but we got there,” US Ambassador to the UN Linda ThomasGreenfield said following the vote. While a trickle of aid trucks have delivered muchneeded assistance to Gaza, aid groups say that truly addressing the strip’s humanitarian crisis will not be possible as long as hostilities continue.

“The real problem is that the way Israel is conducting this offensive is creating massive obstacles to the distribution of humanitarian aid inside Gaza. An effective aid operation in Gaza requires security, staff who can work in safety, logistical capacity, and the resumption of commercial activity. These four elements do not exist,” UN chief Antonio Guterres told reporters following the vote.

Before the vote, Russia proposed an amendment strengthening the language around a ceasefire, saying that the draft resolution had been “neutered” by the US. “By signing off on this, the council would essentially be giving the Israeli armed forces complete freedom of movement for further clearing of the Gaza Strip,” Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told the council before the vote. Thomas-

Greenfield accused her Russian counterpart of hypocrisy, pointing to Russia’s own destructive invasion of Ukraine that began in February 2022.

But the US has faced accusations of a double-standard over its position on Gaza, with critics saying that the US has spent months railing against Russia for violations of international law in Ukraine while providing Israel with weapons and diplomatic support, even as it faces similar accusations over its conduct in Gaza.

The US vetoed a UNSC resolution calling for a ceasefire earlier this month, and was one of the few dissenting votes when the UN General Assembly passed a ceasefire resolution by an overwhelming margin last week. “The vast majority of Security Council members, and members of the General Assembly, all want a ceasefire, a complete halting of the bombardment of Gaza, in order to facilitate aid,” Al Jazeera correspondent Gabriel Elizondo reported from UN headquarters.

Earlier this week, the UN called for an investigation into allegations of the killing of unarmed Palestinians by Israeli troops in the strip, and hospitals, UN schools, medical workers, mosques, and churches have also been targeted. Israel has said that it is working to dismantle Hamas, the Palestinian armed group that governs Gaza and launched a deadly attack on southern Israel on October 7 that killed more than 1,000 people, most of them civilians, and took more than 240 captive.

More than 20,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, have been killed since the current round of fighting began.

Saturday December 23, 2023

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Saturday December 23, 2023

Russia blasts US on frozen assets, missiles as Ukraine bombardment persists Moscow warns of retaliation as war in Ukraine causes relations with the West to deteriorate.

Aljazeera - Russia has warned that it will react robustly to Western moves to seize its assets or deploy missiles.

Moscow could sever diplomatic relations with the United States should it confiscate Russian assets frozen under sanctions, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Friday. Officials also said the Kremlin would respond to the deployment of missiles in Europe or Asia, even as Ukraine reported that Russia had unleashed another barrage of attack drones overnight.

Ryabkov threatened that Moscow could cut diplomatic ties with Washington should it hand frozen Russian assets to Kyiv, which is desperate for funds, according to the Russian state news agency Interfax.

Western countries are discussing the confiscation of more than $1bn in Russian assets frozen due to sanctions over the war in Ukraine.

The US “must not act under an illusion … that Russia is clinging with both hands to diplomatic relations with that country”, the official said.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov later said at a media briefing that countries who seize Russian assets would never be left in peace and Russia would look at what Western assets it could seize in retaliation.

Some officials in US political circles have suggested that $300bn of funds from Russian Central Bank reserves frozen in February 2022 to put pressure on Moscow to withdraw from Ukraine be handed to Kyiv.

Peskov said any such seizure would deal a serious blow to the international financial system and Russia would defend its rights in the courts and through other means.

On Thursday, Russia promised to respond in kind should the European Union go ahead with a plan to ringfence profits generated from frozen assets and hand them to Ukraine.

Prosecutors in Germany said this week that they were applying to confiscate more than 720 million euros ($790m) from the Frankfurt bank account of a Russian financial institution.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called German leaders “a thieving lot” that have been taking lessons from Washington.

“They used to be thieving in the political sense – breaking agreements, cheating someone – but now they are thieving in the direct sense,” he said.

President Vladimir Putin this week ordered two European concerns, Wintershall Dea and OMV, be stripped of multibilliondollar stakes in gas projects in the Russian Arctic.

‘War machine’ The West is seeking to tighten its sanctions against Russia as it continues to pummel Ukraine.

US President Joe Biden will sign an executive order allowing Washington to impose sanctions on financial institutions that help Russia evade sanctions, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Friday.

The measure will also allow Washington to ban products originating in Russia but processed in third countries, such as seafood and diamonds, Yellen said in a statement.“Today we are taking steps to level new and powerful tools against Russia’s war machine,” Yellen said.

“And we will not hesitate to use the new tools provided by this authority to take decisive and surgical action against financial institutions that facilitate the supply of Russia’s war machine.”

R u s s i a ’s c o n c e r n s extend beyond the business and financial sectors. Ryabkov also threatened that Russia is ready to swiftly respond in kind to any deployment by the US of short- and medium-range missiles in Europe and the AsiaPacific region.

RSF files second war crimes complaint with ICC over Gaza journalists killed Moscow is closely tracking Washington’s missile development and potential deployments and was ready to swiftly take the necessary political decisions to respond in kind, he stated.

The official also lashed out at the US over problems regarding efforts to organise a prisoner swap, accusing Washington of leaking details of the “sensitive negotiations”.

Saturday December 23, 2023

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Saturday December 23, 2023

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Powell says Windies “responded like champions” to secure England T20I series victory SportsMax - West Indies T20I Captain Rovman Powell praised his team’s ability to perform under pressure to secure a 3-2 series victory over England on Thursday at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba.

The West Indies won the first two games of the series relatively comfortably before England produced a pair of magnificent batting performances to tie the series heading into the Thursday’s decider.

The West Indians first restricted the English to 132 all

out in 19.3 overs, their lowest score of the series.

The hosts then held their nerve to reach 133-6 with four balls to spare, securing another series win under Powell’s leadership in international cricket’s shortest format.

“I think we played very well today. After England came back in the series and put us under pressure, I think the guys responded like champions,” Powell said in a post-match interview.

He especially credited his bowlers for keeping player of

the series, Phil Salt, in check.

Salt hit hundreds in both the third and fourth T20Is. He made 38 on Thursday to finish the series with 331 runs.

“It was very important for us to control him. Yesterday we sat in our team room and tried to have some one on one discussions with the guys to try our best to come up with collective plans to control him. For the last two games they scored 70 in the powerplay to totally write us off,” Powell said.

Powell added that he feels like his side are well prepared

Saturday December 23, 2023 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Get-togethers with friends or meetings with a small group, if possible, should prove informative and enlightening today, Aries, although some of it may be a bit perplexing.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Today things could be rather hectic at work, Taurus. You'll probably be very busy and happy with whatever results you produce. You could tire yourself out, GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Some new information about an interesting field could have you browsing the web and looking through books to learn more, Gemini. This could involve law, philosophy,

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Today your mind will be quick, insightful, and inspired, Libra. Your creative impulses should go a thousand miles an hour and ideas should pop in and out of your head like crazy.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) If visitors are able to pop in and out during the day, Scorpio, you'll be in the right frame of mind to enjoy their company. Expect interesting news and stimulating conversation. .

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Don't be surprised if your inbox fills with email or your phone rings off the hook, Sagittarius.

Friends, relatives, and colleagues could have great news and useful information.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Today you might learn about new and creative ways to increase your income, Cancer, possibly involving technology in some way. So much new information could come your way.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) = It Inspiration is the word for today, Capricorn. Your creative talent should blossom and motivate you to work on wonderful ideas.

This could involve music, painting, decorating,

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Social events could put you in touch with interesting people in intriguing professions, Leo. You might get involved in some fascinating conversations that provide you with a lot of useful information.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Today your physical and mental energy should be operating at a very high level, Aquarius. You probably won't spend much time inside if you can avoid it.

Expect get-togethers

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22) A friend or colleague could recommend some books that you want to read right away, Virgo. Be sure you take breaks and rest your eyes from time to time to avoid eyestrain and headaches today.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Your intuition is likely to be very keen today, Pisces. Accurate psychic insights could come to you thick and fast. Your imagination is also strong, and you might come up with ideas to enrich your home,

for next year’s T20 World Cup but mentioned that there’s still work to be done, particularly in the bowling department.

“I think we are prepared but we still have areas we need to sharpen up, especially our bowling. Two games back to back where England beat us badly as a bowling unit.

Hopefully, over the next few months we can sharpen up and get those areas sorted,” Powell said.

Powell also heaped praise on opponents England, noting that the reigning World T20 Champions have an excellent chance of defending their title next year.

“England is a world class team and they have world class players to come into their squad so that is always going to boost them. All they need to do is get familiar with the conditions. Because they are such a quality team, if they get familiar with conditions they will be difficult to beat,” he said.

“We realized something with the English batters. Once you put them on the good wickets, they’re very good but when the pitch starts assisting the bowlers, it becomes a little bit tricky for everyone. For us Caribbean players, we’ve been playing on bad wickets for such a long time so we know how to play on it,” he added.

The West Indies’ next T20I assignment will be a three-match away series against Australia from February 9-13.

Strongman Campbell...

From page 24 this niche discipline is making waves and headlines for all the positive reasons.”

With the New Year just days away, the former Guyana Sports Journalist of the Year said he wants to end his career on the highest note possible, but before he hangs up the trunks, he earmarked 2024 as another year to further hone his craft and put himself in the best shape possibly, with more medals on the radar.

“For 2024, I want to keep improving and fine tuning my craft and my physique. It’s always me vs me, so I want to improve on my last packages and continue to better the man in the mirror. Once that is done, I think I will achieve the goal of winning the elusive Pro Card at CAC home here in Guyana and bring a suitable and fitting end to my competitive career,” he ended.

West Indies T20I Captain Rovman Powell.

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Kaieteur News

Saturday December 23, 2023

Luis Suarez: Uruguay striker joins Inter Miami & reunites with Lionel Messi BBC - Uruguay striker Luiz Suarez has joined MLS side Inter Miami for the 2024 season, reuniting him with former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.

Suarez, 36, joins as a free agent after leaving Brazilian side Gremio.

“I look forward to reuniting with great friends and players,” said Suarez.

Inter Miami chief business officer Xavier Asensi described the exLiverpool striker’s signing as “another monumental moment” for the club.

Suarez, who has also won league titles with Nacional, Ajax and Atletico Madrid, scored 17 goals in 33 games as Gremio finished second in Brazilian Serie A in the 2023 season.

The veteran forward’s performances led to him being voted the league’s best player.

But the two-year contract he signed with Gremio in 2022 was ended early because Suarez felt he could not play another full season in Brazil with a knee problem and the travelling distances for games.

Luis Suarez has won trophies with Nacional, Ajax, Liverpool, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Gremio.

(Getty Images)

Miami - part-owned by former England captain David Beckham - signed Messi, Busquets and Alba during the 2023 season, with the trio helping the franchise win a first trophy with the Leagues Cup in August.

“I’m very happy and excited to take on this new challenge with Inter Miami,” added Suarez.

“I can’t wait to get started and I’m ready to work to make the dream of winning more titles with this great club a reality.

“I’m optimistic about what we can achieve together with our shared ambition.”

Suarez, who is widely

considered one of the best strikers of his generation, won four La Liga titles at Barcelona alongside Messi, Busquets and Alba between 2015 and 2019.

The quartet were also an instrumental part of the Barca team that won the Champions League and Fifa World Club Cup in 2015.

Inter Miami finished second from bottom in the MLS Eastern Conference last season.

They made a poor start under the management of former England international Phil Neville, who was sacked in June, before a resurgence followed Messi’s arrival.

New CPL franchise to be based in Antigua and Barbuda for 2024

SportsMax - A new Caribbean Premier League (CPL) cricket franchise will be based in Antigua and Barbuda for the 2024 edition of the International T20 tournament scheduled to run from August 17 to September 25. This was revealed by Minister of Sports, Daryll Matthew, who made the announcement during his presentation on the 2024 budget on Tuesday, stating that the yet-to-benamed franchise will replace the Antigua Hawksbills based here between 2013 to 2015. “Over the last year we’ve been having discussions with the CPL and we are now at a stage where I can announce that come 2024, a CPL franchise will be based right here in Antigua and Barbuda once again. At the time, the debate

was that it was costing too much money, and I think at the time they [government] were paying $250,000.00 per year, and they decided, they could not recognize that by having CPL which was, at the time, a new enterprise taking place in West Indies cricket. They could not see what it could have become and you fast forward a few years and CPL is now the biggest thing in regional cricket,” he said.

The sports minister also revealed that based on a report he commissioned from the Ministry of Finance, the presence of a CPL franchise in Antigua and Barbuda could generate in excess of US$5.5 million in revenue on an annual basis. “This data from St Kitts Nevis and St Lucia, we’re looking at 2015 data and so it’s likely to be higher

now, but we can expect very easily and conservatively to generate approximately US$6M per year by simply having a CPL franchise based in Antigua and Barbuda. There will be a competition that is commissioned to name the team and to design a logo for the team, and that will be announced in the coming days,” Matthew said.

Matthew hinted that CPL matches will be hosted here in September next year.

The Hawksbills franchise was one of six teams that were established for the inaugural CPL season in 2013, and the only one located in the Leeward Islands. The Hawksbills placed fifth in 2013, and then last during the 2014 edition of the CPL, winning only three of out its sixteen games during that time.

Kaieteur News

Saturday December 23, 2023

Khawaja insists armband was not political, after ICC reprimand AFP - Australia’s Usman Khawaja said yesterday that a black armband he wore in the first Test against Pakistan was for a “personal bereavement” and not politically motivated, after the star batter was reprimanded by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The 36-year-old donned the armband during the team’s 360-run victory in Perth, a move seen at the time as support for people in Gaza, where thousands have been killed. He had wanted to wear shoes emblazoned with the hand-written slogans “Freedom is a human right” and “All lives are equal” during the match, saying he had been hit hard by the Israel-Hamas conflict.

But Khawaja, who is Muslim, was told that it flouted ICC rules on messages that relate to politics, religion or race.

He covered the messages with tape and wore the armband. Khawaja insisted he told the ICC during the match that it was for a personal bereavement and no hidden meaning.

However, the ICC said it breached their clothing and equipment regulations.

Australia’s Usman Khawaja (L) wearing a black armband during the first Test against Pakistan Perth. (COLIN MURTY) “Usman displayed a personal message (armband) during the first Test match against Pakistan without seeking the prior approval of Cricket Australia and the ICC to display it, as required in the regulations for personal messages,” the ICC said late Thursday.

“This is a breach under the category of an ‘other breach’ and the sanction for a first offence is a reprimand.”

Khawaja said he would not wear an armband during t h e s e c o n d Te s t i n Melbourne next week, but remained defiant. “No, I’m not wearing it again. As I said to the ICC, the armband was for a personal bereavement,” he told reporters in Melbourne.

“The armband was

different to my shoes. The shoes were very obvious. At the end of the day I didn’t wear the shoes. I respected the rules and procedures and left it at that.”

He added that being reprimanded for the armband “makes no sense” and pointed to other players who had previously put stickers on their bats and names on their shoes without approval and escaped punishment, urging the ICC to be more consistent.

“I will just be asking and contesting that they (ICC) make it fair for everyone and they have consistency in how they officiate. That’s all I ask for, and from my point of view, that consistency hasn’t been done yet,” he said.

President Irfaan Ali donates first and second prizes for KFC Goodwill I’ntl Football C/ship As a sign of his unwavering commitment to the development of sport, His Excellency President Irfaan Ali has officially donated the first and second place prize packages for the KFC Goodwill International Football Championship, which concluded yesterday.

The gesture totals US$4000, of which $2500 will be presented to the winner and $US1500 will be afforded to the runner-up.

The KFC Goodwill I n t e r n a t i o n a l Championship, which is in its fourth iteration, is an emerging Caribbean Schools Championship that features participation from Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica. The primary aim of the event is to create and foster a studentathlete culture.

Steve Ninvalle, Director of Sports and head of the National Sports

Commission (NSC), said, “I’m simply acting as a humble conduit for His Excellency President Irfaan Ali, who would have wanted to make this donation in his personal capacity but unfortunately, due to his busy but necessary schedule, was unable to be here.”

He further said, “This donation is not an isolated event and is evidentiary of the government’s efforts in the development of sports and, by extension, the human capital of the nation. From infrastructural development and evolution to tournament support and coordination, President Ali’s administration has displayed an unprecedented and encompassing approach to the development of the sports ecosystem, which symbolises the method and modus operandi in the development of all sectors.

Sports is a major part of the ‘One Guyana’ philosophy, as

it provides a common denominator and unmatched value in the unification of its people. His Excellency President Irfaan Ali views this contribution as a significant step in the concretization of a Guyanese initiative that has the capacity to not only transform the local landscape but the Caribbean region.”

Meanwhile, Petra Organisation Co-Director Troy Mendonca stated that he is grateful for the assistance provided by President Ali, which illustrates his commitment to the advancement of the sports sector, noting that any developmental partnership with the government should be embraced and that the entity will seek to continue the dialogue and maintain the partnership with the government in the effort to expand the competition.

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Saturday December 23, 2023

Ajax stunned by amateurs Hercules in shock Dutch Cup loss (Reuters) - Ajax Amsterdam’s poor season went from bad to worse after they suffered one of the biggest shocks in their history with a 3-2 loss to fourth-tier amateur side USV Hercules in the last 32 of the Dutch Cup on Thursday.

Trailing 2-0 in Utrecht after 82 minutes, Ajax looked to have saved themselves when Brian Brobbey and Chuba Akpom

netted late goals to level the score.

But Hercules netted the winner through Mats Grotenbreg in the third minute of injury-time after their own coach Rene van der Kooij had given his team a two percent chance of victory before the game.

Ajax coach John van ‘t Schip was not present to w i t n e s s h i s s i d e ’s capitulation as he is in Australia to attend his son’s

wedding.

It is the first time Ajax have lost to an amateur club in the Dutch Cup. In the 29 previous meetings, they have scored at least four goals.

Ajax spent the early part of this season in the relegation zone but have since risen to fifth in the Eredivisie table, albeit they are a massive 23 points behind leaders PSV Eindhoven.

USV Hercules play in the fourth tier. (Getty Images)

Strongman Campbell eyeing more Gold in 2024 - Dubs 2023 as strong year for Guyanese bodybuilding fraternity Senior National Bodybuilder, Emmerson Campbell dubbed 2023 as a phenomenal year for himself, Guyanese strongmen/women and the entire fraternity, citing 2024 as another year of fine-tuning and improving on him and his craft with sights set on capturing more Gold.

Speaking to Kaieteur Sports his recent accomplishments at home during the National Seniors held a few weeks ago at the Natural Cultural Center, Campbell said the moment was etched in stone for him on a personal note, as he got to celebrate his success with friends, family and supporters of the fraternity.

“It’s always a great feeling to compete infront of friends and family. And winning once again was a great end to my 2023 campaign. I won three gold medals this year including the one in Aruba at CAC. Prior to that, I won my 4th Stage of Champions first place trophy.

Capping the year with my seventh National Men’s Physique title was icing on the cake for a celebrated 2023,” said Campbell.

Looking much leaner yet with defined muscle tones, one of Guyana’s senior bodybuilders said he indeed tweaked a few things which resulted in his most recent string of successful outings, most notably at the 2023 Central American Bodybuilder (CAC) tournament, where he copped Gold.

“There are always tweaks and changes that I make when it comes to every preparation. Every preparing is different and has its own ups and downs but for this year, these preps I started them stress free and injury free. So they were all less taxing.

However, in comparison to previous years, I was able to be less stringent in my diet and cardio sessions and they seemed to work. So in a nutshell, I’d say I ate more and trained less hours and was still able to achieve award winning packages.”

The Guyanese contingent flew the Golden Arrowhead to the max during the recent 2023 CAC, where they copped 7 medals and the avid Gym-Rat added that the outing was among the best in recent times, as it reflected the growth and commitment by the Guyanese bodybuilding fraternity. He

Senior National Bodybuilder, Emmerson Campbell

also credited his teammates for the continued work in making Guyana recognized on the overseas stage.

“It’s always great to see the Golden Arrowhead flying high and the National anthem playing on the international stage. For me winning the gold medal and hearing the anthem playing in Aruba was the highlight of my year. Also the success of my colleagues, Nicholas Albert, Darious Ramsammy, Hannah Rampersaud, Rawle Green and others on the local and international stage is welcomed with pride for not only me but the bodybuilding fraternity. It is great to see that (Continued on page 21)

Kaieteur News

Saturday December 23, 2023

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Bakewell lends support to President Ali’s promotion of Linden and One Guyana Beach football

Bakewell Bakery Managing Director Mr. Rajindranauth Ganga (centre) presents the cheque to Mr. Collin “BL” Aaron in the presence of Mrs. Monette Aaron.

B

akewell Bakery through its Managing Director Mr. Rajindranauth Ganga, took the opportunity to show the Bakery’s support

for His Excellency, The President of the Cooperative Republic o f G u y a n a D r.

Mohamed Irfaan Ali, promotion for the

Linden Communities “One Guyana K i n g a n d Queen of the Sand” Linden Inter Block F o o t b a l l To u r n a m e n t .

The event kicked off

o n S a t u r d a y November 12, 2023 and is concluding on January 6, 2024 and saw 28 Male and 12 Female teams involved with the men competing in a round-robin format divided into eight groups with the winner and runners-up advancing to the knockout format and the Female playing straight knockout.

The tour nament is being played inside the compound of the PPP-C Linden office.

Bakewell continues to support sports across the Nation as a form of giving back to the various R e g i o n s a n d communities all across Guyana to help boost sports in general, while giving full support to enhance His Excellency, President Dr. Mohamed

Irfaan Ali, initiative of One Guyana bringing Guyanese of all races to come together as one using sports as a vehicle to help achieving this objective.

Bakewell Bakery Managing Director Mr. Rajindranauth Ganga handed over a cheque to Mr. Collin “BL” Aaron one of the tournament organizer at Bakewell h e a d o ff i c e T r i u m p h , E a s t Coast Demerara, in the presence of Mrs. Monette Aaron this past week.

The King of the Sand has now entered into the knockout format from Thursday Dec 21, while the Queen of the Sand began on the said night at the same venue. Admission is f r e e for the entire tournament.

Petra’s Troy Mendonca (2nd left) collects President Irfaan Ali’s donations from Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle while (from left) Marlan Cole and Jackie Boodie share the moment. (Newsroom photo)

President Irfaan Ali donates first and second prizes for KFC Goodwill I’ntl Football C/ship rts Spo

Former CPL franchise Antigua Hawksbills.

New CPL franchise to be based in Antigua and Barbuda for 2024 Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.