Kaieteur News

Twin among 36 babies born on Christmas Day

Christmas Day tradition, the GPHC Maternity Unit was visitedbyFirstLady, Arya Ali, where she delivered care packages to the mothers of the newborns.

More than 35 babies were b o r n o n Christmas Day at six hospitals across the country Thebabiesweredeliveredat the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), West Demerara Regional Hospital, Linden Hospital Complex, Suddie Regional Hospital, New AmsterdamHospitalandDr BalwantSingh'sHospital. Given its usual

This year, the GPHCsawatotalof 15 babies being born, eight boys and seven girls. Thirteen of the deliveries were normal while two were caesarean sections (C-Section).

KaieteurNewslearntthat 21-year-old Hasyah Dodson delivered the first boy at approximately 02:31hrs while the first girl was born at 03:14hrs to mother – 21year-old Lesnia Nascimento attheGPHC.

In Region 10, at the Linden Hospital Complex, twobabieswerebornon Continuedonpage9

Babies born on Christmas Day at the New Amsterdam Hospital

The six babies who were born at the Dr. Balwant Singh's Hospital.

The boy and girl who were born at the Linden Hospital Complex. (Photo courtesy, Linden Hospital Facebook's page)

Twins born at New Amsterdam Hospital.

(Photo courtesy, Regional Chairman of Region Six, David Armogan)

Guyana yet to make ExxonMobil's field development plans available for public scrutiny

Wh i l e t h e

P P P / C

administratio n has expressed its intention toensuretransparencyisone of the main hallmarks of the oil sector, observers say thereisstillmuchworktobe done regarding disclosure of keydocuments.

Industry experts have lamented the need for ExxonMobil Corporation's Field Development Plans (FDPs) for its projects to be made public as well as the guidelines being used by the administration for due diligence.

For readers unfamiliar with the term, FDPs provide key information about the

geology of an oil and gas field, the commerciality of the oil find, steps to be taken to prevent a blowout or similar mishap, along with all the associated costs to extractandproducethatoil.

Various arms of the government such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) examine this documentandensurethatthe requisite protective measures are in place, that the data provided is accurate and the costs for production as outlined are not inflated.

Oftentimes, the government hires an expert to provide assistanceinthisregard.

Thiswasdoneinthecase of the projects pursued by

ExxonMobil and its partners Hess Corporation and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, in the Stabroek Block Local Content Expert, Anthony Paul has told Kaieteur News on more than one occasion that in the interest of transparency and accountability, these field developmentplansshouldbe made public, while noting that Norway, in particular, the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate, publishes this typeofinformation.

Paul categorically stated that the information c o n t a i n e d i n t h e s e documents allow citizens to bemoreinformedabouttheir resources and empowers

Police probe death of 18-year-old Brazilian national

Police ranks in Regional Division#7areinvestigating a report of a suspected suicide by hanging committed by Dennis Nascimento, an 18-year-old Brazillian national of Boa Vista,Brazil.

The incident occurred at about 17:00hrs Monday at

CuyuniRiver

Enquiries disclosed that Dennis Nascimento had been working at Quartstone Backdam, Cuyuni River, on his uncle's Antonio Nascimento's dredge for the past few months On Monday at about 17:00 hrs,

Dennis' body was found hanging motionless by his co-workers at Antonio's Mining Camp with a cord around his neck suspended from a rafter in the camp. The workers cut the rafter and lowered him to the ground The matter was reportedtothepolice.

them with the data they need to hold the authorities of the dayaccountable.

Former University of Houston Instructor, Tom Mitro was also in agreement as he noted that citizens ought to know what the associated costs for the project are and be able to question whether they are economical.Hesaid,“…But unfortunately in most cases, they aren't. Companies tend to argue that they contain geological or engineering data and analysis that is proprietaryandcouldbenefit competitors.

But since the planned developmentcanhavesucha large and wide impact, public interest should override the company concerns.”

Mitro who has over 30 years experience in the industry added, “They could always separate any competitively sensitive informationifneeded.”

Also in agreement with Mitro was Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram He opined in a previous interview with this newspaper that if the FDPs haveproprietaryinformation then indeed, he can see how thiswouldbeanissueforthe

T&T Energy Expert, Anthony Paul

companies as well as the government Ram noted nonetheless, “But I don't see how it can (have proprietary information). I do believe that these plans should be madepublic.

The government should be insisting on it and the people should be demanding i t , b e c a u s e i t h a s environmental implications while giving you an idea of thecosts.”

Earlier this year,

Kaieteur News had asked Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo about the release of FDPs in the interest of t r a n s p a r e n c y a n d accountability He said at an August press briefingthathe saw no issue with the release of the guidelines and the FDPs with proprietary informationremoved.

He has not provided the media with an update on the government's position on thismatter

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

Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456

NIGELWILLIAMS

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

EDITORIAL

COSTS ARE KILLINGS US

Guyanese taxpayers are choking on costs today, withpricessoaringonjustabouteveryitem. At

the rate that costs are exploding, Guyanese are suffering from more than a spasm of choking. Costs are killingus,withwhathastobespenttogetwhatisneeded. Itis truealsoforwhatispushedonus,whetherweagreewithitor not.

We focus not on the high cost of living today, but on the steeplyincreasingpricetagoftheWalesGastoShoreproject (GTE). What was recently presented by the PPPC Government to be US$900M is now estimated to be over US$2B. Atthistime,thefinalfigurefortheGTEisunknown, anditcouldbestillmorethantheUS$2Bamountmakingthe rounds. This is because it is the PPPC Government that is leadingthewaywiththisproject,anditisknownforendless brazen financial skullduggeries whenever projects of these typesareinvolved.

By ExxonMobil’s own estimate, the offshore pipeline, whichitisconstructingisexpectedtocostaroundUS$1.3B, whichis‘conservative’. Meaning,thatitisonthelowerside, just to be safe, and not to have given the wrong impression, should the final cost of the offshore pipeline need to be increased,whichlooksmoreandmorelikely

By now, Guyanese have learned not to place too much confidenceinthetrustworthinessofExxonMobilwheretheir oil is concerned, and millions of dollars are at stake. They almostalwaysendupgettingthewrongendofthestick.

Now, a contract was signed between Guyana and CH4/LINDSAYCA,anotherAmericanentity,forUS$759M for the other two huge aspects of the entire GTE project, which are the power plant and the Natural Gas Liquids facility

Using the currently available figures (Exxon’s and CH4/LINDSAYCA), Guyanese are now staring at US$2.059B,andnottheearlierapproximationofUS$900M that officials of the PPPC Government were touting. It is either that the government and its senior people don’t know whatisgoingonwiththeGTEproject,ortheyareuptotheir usualtricks.

Considering the steep increase in the GTE price tag, we believethatitisacombinationofthetwo.

Morethandoublethanwhatthecitizensofthisnationwas told,andtheystilldon’tknowwhattheyaregetting. Thatis, if it is going to mean definitely cheaper electricity at a significantlyreducedrate,andwhatthenewpricefortheGTE isgoingtomeanfortheoperationsoftheGPL,Inc.

Tosaddlethepeopleofapoornationwithwhatcouldbea US$2B Ponzi scheme is not just appallingly callous, but totallylackinginconsciencebyanyonewhofirstdanglesan urgentlyneededproduct(cheapelectricity)beforeanenergy thirstypeople,onlyforittobediscoveredlaterthattheywere being led on a string by a cunning and manipulative government.

TheUS$2BtotalfortheGTEmeansthateveryGuyanese isgoingtoberesponsibleforUS$2500moreindebt,orahard halfmillionGuyanadollars.

From every indication, this GTE looks more and more like a crime of unparalleled proportions, the shenanigans of scheming politicians and their henchmen working their magicwithforeignexploiters.

Bharat Jagdeo, Guyana’s oil czar, explained that “simulations” were done under varying scenarios, and that the GTE will deliver the promised cheaper and reliable electricity It is likely that he is talking about price simulations and different market conditions, and not factoringinthemorethan100%pricefortheGTE. Thisputs thePPPCGovernment’sinsistenceof50%cheaperelectricity to Guyanese under severe pressure, and makes it look most unpromising,ifnotsuspicious.

Even from now, this secrecy-riddled GTE registers as anotherpoliticalcrimealongthelinesofwhattookplacewith the rich Stabroek Block, and its billions of barrels of oil. WhattheCoalitionAPNU+AFCagreedtowithExxonMobil intheformofthe2016oilcontract,thePPPCGovernmentof today is doing something similar with US$2B and counting GTE project at Wales. The foreigners don’t have to exploit anddeceiveus,ourowngovernmentsdoso.

For Exxon, HESS and CNOOC every day is Christmas

DEAREDITOR, 2020electionstheywillnot coconuts in profit (a total of showthatisnotacceptable.It In Guyana, we sing, renegotiate. 13 and a half coconuts). It can never be right that “Christmas comes once a The PNC never can never be acceptable to rapacious corporations year, and everybody must promised they will any Guyanese, any political receive enormous profits have a share, everybody renegotiate, but the PPP leader, and any party that from our oil revenues and must have their rum and did and used the Global wantstoruleoverustoleave Guyanagetscrumbsthatfall gingerbeer.” Witnessreporttocondemn thestatusquowithregardsto fromthemasters’tables.Our While Guyanese hope the PNC for signing the the abundance of 11+ abundant natural resources for a special time of eating worst oil deal in the world billionsofbarrelsofoilinthe must give us the good life and drinking and andsellingoutthecountry large Stabroek Oil Block. now We cannot defer our merriment on Christmas ThePNC’sMr Nortonhas Ouroilandgasresourcesare gratificationanylonger day, for the oil companies, not responded whether he mostly benefitting the oil Nation, the KN, SN, and every day is Christmas had indeed met with barons,leavingthemassesof nationalist commentators Day While our Guyanese Exxon/oil companies’ impoverished Guyanese to have given us enough people make sacrifices to officials after his hope for Santa Claus cash information and analysis to have an enjoyable appointmentasOpposition grantpittancesandbonuses. educateusthatwearegetting Christmas for one day of Leader. (See “Did Inthenewyear,wemust theshortendoftheoilstick. the year, the oil companies Opposition Leader Norton redoubleourcommitmentto Wemustnotrestuntilallthe and their shareholders are meet with Exxon officials overturn the bad oil deals in bad provisions of the oil livinglargeeveryday. intheUSA?”-KN,Jun22, theStabroekBlock,although contractsareremedied.

Wearenotgettingafair 2022). the Government and We must support all share. Guyana is their To make it simple, if the Opposition have vowed not efforts to change the milkingcowthatgivesand income from oil were 100 to renegotiate. Government contracts.It’sourwealthand k e e p s o n g i v i n g coconuts, Exxon gets 75 must know the impact of our country, and we must abundantly to them, not to coconuts to cover its “PeoplesPower.” care. our Guyanese people.And expenses, and gets an IftheGovernmentthinks Every day should be our two main political additional 11 and a half it can campaign that it will Christmas for us, not for the partiesareOKwithsucha coconuts in profit (a total of “reviewandrenegotiate”the oil companies Wake up sadstateofaffairs. 86 and a half coconuts). worst oil deal in the world Guyana!

They both privately Guyana gets 2 coconuts in and then renege when it got Sincerely, promisedExxonduringthe royalty and 11 and a half into Government, we must Dr.JerryJailall

Better Hope/ LBI NDC not following protocols

DEAREDITOR, thatthesedecisionsarenever knows “what they are doing blanche to some of their Pleasepermitmeaspace addressed.Weweremadeto because those individuals friends and families. We are toairmyconcerns.Iwantto understand from a reliable held the position for more calling on the relevant knowiftheBETTERHOPE- sourcethattheworkershave than 23 years.” Fair enough, authoritiestolookintothese LBI NDC is above the law. been unethical. They have we understand that certain mattersandweneedanaudit Thereasonforthisisbecause broken many protocols, individuals have been with for our NDC because the there are numerous including breach of theNDCforalongtime,but administration at the complaints where people c o n f i d e n t i a l i t y we don’t understand why BETTERHOPE-LBI HAS went to the office to make a Nevertheless, we cannot their behavior is so created too many conflicts report and the responses are allow such a situation to go unprofessional and cannot and continues to make poor farfromsatisfactory by without any meaningful comprehendthebasicvalues decision.

We have a council that actionbeingtaken. oftheNDC?

Sincerely, sits and makes decision to They show little regard In addition, it is known Concerned Citizens of better develop our forthecouncil.Weweretold that certain members of the ChateauMargot, communities but it seems that people in high position NDC office give carte PigeonIslandSuccess

Open letter to CARICOM Secretary General and CARICOM Heads of States

Honourable CARICOM Caribbean leadership that Caribbean basin, with Netherlandsandarecutfrom Leaders, withtheillegalannexationof Venezuela, Suriname, and the budgets for poverty With this letter, Nos our island Bonaire on Guyana oil and gas as the e r a d i c a t i o n a n d KeBoneiruBek (NKBB) October10,2010,theDutch newemergingGoldCoast. implementationofMDGand wants to inform the acquired 200 nautical miles NKBB urges the SDG projects The CARICOMleadershipofthe ExclusiveEconomicZonein CARICOMnottobetakenin Netherlands have used this Dutch attempt to deviate the the Southern Caribbean Sea by the Dutch apology ruse. strategy of promising UN attention from their Basin in which they have TheDutchareawarethatthe and international funding to continued crimes against absolute power by complete CARICOM leadership is eradicate poverty to destroy humanity by a half-hearted colonial rule from The very serious concerning the anddissolvetheNetherlands Dutch apology for slavery Hague,Netherlands. reparation’s trajectory on AntillesonOctober10,2010 The Dutch government Thethreatisreal(seeour slavery The Dutch main andneverkeptthepromises. continues committing previousletterssenttoyouin objective should be NKBB hopes the advice in crimesagainsttheCaribbean 2018and2019ontheDutch understood as to divide the thisletterwillfindalistening peoples, by continuing the provocationof Venezuela), Caribbean leadership, ear with the CARICOM colonization of their the Caribbean as a peaceful meanwhile they continue Secretary General and subordinated Caribbean region is over with their colonial agenda CARICOM Heads of States territoriesuptoday Bonaire50milesofthecoast depopulating and ethnically andstrengthentheresolveto

At the same time, the of Venezuela and the Dutch cleansing Bonaire peoples endcoloniality Dutchannounceapologyfor expanding the airport by substitution which will YourSincerely, slavery and a budget of 200 beyond commercial to inevitably lead to the J a m e s F i n i e s –million Euros to raise military standards. disappearance of the natives P r e s i d e n t N o s awareness for slavery, they Furthermore, NKBB has to Bonerians as Caribbean KeBoneiruBek are funding the War in the remind every Caribbean people. The promised 200 Davika Bissessar –Ukraine with 500 million. leader of the sudden Dutch million Euros for awareness President Bonaire Human Wewouldliketoremindthe interest in Southern will be mostly spent in the Rights

The actions of SOCU seem to be politically motivated

DEAREDITOR, prepared statement by the is a most dangerous action, she advised her client to negligent, unfitting for the benefited Ms. Joseph. Totalitarian regimes SOCU. Yes, SOCU, the madeevenmoregravewhen remain silent and he did so, rankofSuperintendent. Whether these transactions politically control the investigating organization one considers that the State, in this case remaining silent I sincerely hope the involvedallocationofassets judiciaryandpolice.Inmany and a unit of the GPF, the through the Ministry of meant not signing a Guyana Bar Association or funds that were directly cases, but not entirely, these agency that would be Home Affairs perhaps did statement SOCU prepared must recognize the used by Carol Joseph in her regimes use political responsible for prosecuting not use the opportunity to forhim. significance of the case personalcapacity,channeled connectionsandinfluenceto Ms.Clarke’sclient. firmly register its Secondly, by arresting brought against the State by toherthroughintermediaries cause these institutions to Whether you wear your expectation that all officers and detaining her until she Attorney-at-law Tamieka and other details were not take actions on their behalf political party on your a r e b o u n d b y t h e was released only after the Clarke, and not take its reported Assuming that foranymultitudeofreasons. sleeve, you’re a silent or Constitution, and must Head of SOCU intervened proverbial foot off the gas. SOCU has determined that This thought resonated non-active supporter of the legallyrespecttherightsand and instructed that she be Thisisoneofthosemoments the evidence it has is clear strongly with me while current PPP Government, freedoms of all citizens, freed. thatwewilleitherlookback and compelling, this is an reading a news report of the theAPNU,AFCoranyother whether they are under Thirdly, it was already in history and say, “this is openandshutcase. charges brought against party in the Parliament, I investigation, alleged to stated that Ms Clarke’s where our descent into The burden is on SOCU Carol Smith Joseph by hopeyouunderstandthatthe have committed a crime, revelations indicate that the tyranny was demonstrated basedontheirinvestigations SOCU. Recently, whether actions of SOCU as related havecommittedacrimeoris Superintendent and SOCU butnobodysawitforwhatit to:(1)provewithoutashow legally or publicly by Ms. Clarke, her counsel guiltyofthatcrime. violated Guyana’s really was at the time”, or of a doubt that the acknowledged by the andclientrepresentthemost Historically and more constitution I can only “we worked diligently to transactions were Government, SOCU violate dangerous violation of our recently, there have been speculate that the DPP’s safeguard the integrity of unauthorized, unlawful and therightsofAttorney-at-law Constitution, since the days other instances of the State discontinuance of private Guyana’s constitution, the personally and (2) Ms Ms.Tamieka Clarke and her of openly rigged elections violating constitutionally criminal charges against glue that literally holds Josephdirectlyorthroughan client when as she alleges: knowingly, whether by guaranteed freedoms and Superintendent Krishnadat Guyanese society together intermediary, personally (a) when the GPF: (1) omission or commission, rights of persons by post Ramana and others, despite peacefully Justice was receivedandbenefittedfrom arrested her (i e Ms went along with Burnham’s 1992 PPP Governments and premeditation and willful victorious.” the14transactions. Tamieka Clarke) for planstocontinuouslysecure elections and by the PNC intent, means that Mr BacktoCarolJoseph,the Guyana is paying advising her client to hisandhisparty’sre-election between 1968 to 1987. The Krishnadat Ramana, as former Director of MARDS attention, watching SOCU exercise his constitutionally desires. actions Attorney-at-law holding the rank of between July 2015 and June and these cases keenly, for protected right not to sign a TheactionbySOCUand Tamieka Clarke and her Superintendent in the GPF, 2018. It is alleged that from we are aware that the clientallegesSuperintendent and an organizational June to August 2016, she politicization and Krishnadat Ramana and memberoftheSOCUdidnot undertook 14 transactions weaponization of SOCU or SOCU of are more than a actonhisownaccord. unknowingly to the Board any other State agency violation of the constitution, At the minimum and and therefore, without its against members of the they were premeditated and irrespective of whether he approval. public, for any reason, willful which indicates wasinstructedorconsidered Secondly,SOCUalleges, causes and is a recipe for malicious intent to: firstly, t h e r e p e r c u s s i o n s based on reports it has instabilityandtyranny causeharmtotheattorneyby inconsequential, the alleged received, that these Regards, threatening to arrest her if conduct is reckless and transactions personally C.Singh

Heartbreaking deaths involving young children

DEAREDITOR, alleged, when a flying Two recent incidents firewomanlostcontrolofher which resulted in deaths motor vehicle and collided involving young children with the motorcycle which were heartbreaking as they thetwo-year-oldwason. were devastating and In a news report, it is distressing. further alleged the

In the first incident, a motorcycle had the twobrother and sister, aged one year-old as the pillion rider and five perished when the (NewsRoomDec24). boattheywereincapsized.It It has to be queried how isallegedtheboatwasbeing was a two-year-old on a navigated in the dark night motorcycle and as a pillion with the aid of a torchlight rider? from a cellphone The My condolences to both second incident which families. occurred a few days ago a Regards, two-year-oldlostherlife,itis ShamshunMohamed

IwasapproachedbyahighGovt. officialtotestifyattheelectionsCOI

DEAREDITOR, Jagdeo, Irfaan, Anil, Seeraj, commission. He said he Because I was at the Donald, Sanjay Datadin, watched all the testimonies GECOM Ashmin building Zulfi, among others, came and believe I should also observingthecertificationof and left on various days and have on the record my the SOP ballot count (of times. I saw Sase Singh, observations while March2,2020onwards)and Nalini Singh, Dr. Vindya, commending my role in was an eyewitness to the Azeena Baksh, Priya exposing fraud and helping shenanigans and attempted Manickchand, Rosalinda to bring political change in skullduggery to change the Rasool, Susan Rodrigues, myhomeland. electoral outcome, and was Peter Ramsaroop, Gerry Ididnotsubmitmyname at almost all press Gouveia, Kit Nascimento, asawitnesstotheCOIeven conferences, I was Norman McLean, Ramesh though I was at Ashmin approached by a high Dookhoo, among several daily I was not approached government official in others(includingdiplomats) by the commission to give October,longbeforethestart insidethecertificationroom. statementsofwhatIsaw No of the Commission of Some of these individuals other government official or Inquiry into the attempted gave testimony and others, I GECOM affiliates implored March 2020 electoral fraud, presume,willfollow me to give testimony It to give testimony I was at I was non-committal in would not be wise for me to A s h m i n b u i l d i n g , givingtestimonyinCOIasI give testimony as I cannot headquarter for the toldthegovernmentofficial. divulge confidential certificationof SOPs, and at Subsequently, several other information revealed to me press conferences in a prominent individuals, by inside sources on the privatecapacity including lawyers and fraud. My testimony could I spent my own personal politicians and the crème la jeopardize lives and or their resources for the exercise. I crème of Guyanese society jobs, something I would had no personal vested and the diaspora queried never do as the individuals interest other than to see why I have not given involved were responsible democracy protected and testimony on the attempted for the political change that prevailed the will of the fraud. So many place hopes Guyana experienced never voters respected. I took no on me. So many friends mind that their role was not political side and acted reprimanded or nudged me recognized And what I o b j e c t i v e l y a n d to give testimony on my observed was already professionallyatalltimesin eyewitness accounts and captured in testimony, with my reporting for the media. what I knew of the fraud. critical exceptions, by Attimes,IwaswithmyNew Also, an associate of severalothersincludingSase Yorkpresspassprominently GECOM not presently in Singh,RosalindaRasul,Josh displayed and other times I Guyana, who in my view Kanhai, etc. What was not did not show it in order to was primarily responsible revealed were the gainentranceatAshmin.The for political change in machinations behind the media was not given full Guyana, the key figure for scene, and who, it was accesstoAshminatalltimes. the change in government, believed, were calling the I was in the room when whose name shall remain shots, how the fraud was Owen Arthur offered his anonymous, also rang me planned,andhowitwouldbe observercredentialIDtothe two days ago saying he had executed, and the planned F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r notseenanytestimonyfrom swearinginofthePresident. Cummings.IwasatAshmin me on the attempted fraud I knew a lot about the daily and saw several andwaswonderingwhyIam attemptedfraud,everystep political figures, such as not appearing before the (Continuedonpage22)

The PPP/C Government has had to make harsh but not rash decisions overnight

DEAREDITOR, a principle when they failed spread rumours to create Decision-making is to call election immediately bonfireslargeenoughtogive dependent upon those who afterlosingtothe“motionof thefireenginearunfortheir dedicate their time, effort, no-confidence” in 2018 and water Granger and Harmon energy, intellect and stallingforanotheryearplus producedadoctrineofracial resources in order to while, chartering a demonic diatribes when they visited deliberate on the logistical scheme to retain power the Henry cousins’ scene to dimensions of the subject through unlawful and foul set strife and laid the matter, creatively and means. foundationfortension. analytically,and,collaborate Therearemanyincidents In Guyana, nothing goes those ideas and concepts to which occurred and the unnoticedandthebirthofan take the lead to provide a President’s inclusivity attractive, sweet smelling solutionafterconsideringall propelled the opportunity to flower,isreasonforconcern, p e r s p e c t i v e s a n d reflectandcommentontheir chaos and confusion. This alternatives.

outcome Granger’s year,thePPP/CGovernment

The PPP/C Government rationale caused his introduced the biggest had its hands filled and had Government to lose three b u d g e t , $ 5 5 3 B to grab the bull by its horn times in a row at the (US$2 652B), ever and get to the meat of the Caribbean Court of Justice presented in the history of matter on assuming and create the disgusted the country, eliminating administrationsinceAugust’ embarrassment of Guyanese most of the unpardonable 2020; but, with a well laid universally The public will taxesinstitutedbytheformer out plan and a detailed not allow a feather to fall P N C g o v e r n m e n t , manifesto engineered to without complaining about intentionally designed to propel on day one, it was the deafening sound created manufacture hardship and foresightreplacinghindsight bysuchwavelikeecho.The severity, especially in the whichcatapultedthecountry Coalition Party and the agriculture sector mostly to a metamorphosed ‘usual suspects’ are ever on associated with one section ambience. the alert to jump on the oftheGuyanesepopulation.

It’s a step-by-step PPP/C Government’s throat Much less the presence process which may be and craw unhesitatingly just of the President in a place, riddledbutnotridiculedwith to make the headline and to which discomforts the insignificant flaws, weakly portray that they are Coalition President Dr contaminated with fighting for the assumed MohammedIrfaanAli’svisit humungous challenges and rightsoftheircontingency to Linden, Mocha, the ultimate profitable end The circumstances Albouystown, Den Amstel, result may be unsatisfactory surrounding the issues are Buxton and other minor to many disgruntled parties. not at all times transparent areas,wereallwellreceived The PPP/C Government has and therefore, the nature with hugs and kisses and had to make harsh but not behind the resolutions are words of encouragement for rash decisions overnight in notalwaysopaque. the country’s progress while order to plug loopholes T h e m e t h o d i c a l being thankful for all the created by the devious PNC distribution of the oil blocks Government’s generosities Party. Appeasing all when submergedwhenthesigning toallandsundry. concludingmayberemotely of the oil contracts emerged Mr. Charrandass made unique,while,hurtingothers to create convulsions of the right decision when he maynotdistanceditselffrom astronomical controversies, voted with the PPP/C Party being practically realistic. toxic to the economic health on 20th December 2018, in The former administration of Guyana. What makes it the no-confidence motion was aghast when they more interesting if not a g a i n s t t h e P N C realized that the gravy train difficult, are the challenges Government Former was derailed and the PPP/C to project a non- MinisterDominicGaskinhit Government put it out of discriminativeanswerwhich the nail on its head in 2020 commission from their hand should magnify equitable whenhequitthegovernment reach.Thepluralisticsystem distribution in terms of cash and pleaded with his fatherof weighing the advantages or kind and also, to amplify in-law, then President anddisadvantagesinorderto thecaseofreachingouttoall Granger, to stop misleading outbalancetheprosfromthe communities, societies, his supporters (same as cons provides a holistic organizations, people, ages, Norton), and concede to the approach in order to justify races and gender Naturally, willofthepeople. fairness. beyond the shadow of a The ABCE, Caribbean

The only fairness the d o u b t , t h e P P P / C Heads of Government and PNC Party ever knew was Governmenthasqualifiedin over 50% of Guyanese the means to serve their this respect to become an conscientiously traversed privateinterestsandnottobe unparalleled competitor to the truthful path when they subservient to the will and champion this cause refused to support the needsofthepublic. Remember what the PNC ‘sanctimonious’Grangerand

The Government of Party boys did the minute the PNC Party in their Guyana is currently tasked theyropedinpowerin2015? attempted 2020 election withsuchaburdenonadaily Who can forget the 50 rigging. Is constructing and basis and shoulder the percent salary increase to executing a decision a responsibility of continually pad the boys’and girls’pay difficulttaskforyou? maintaining an unbiased cheques and leave the man- Time for the NewYear’s approach while remaining in-the-street out in the dark resolution list? Season’s neutral. Obviously, the PNC to face the cold, callous and greetings, best wishes and Government under c r u e l c a l a m i t i e s , regardstoall.

Granger’s dictatorship, had continuously? Yoursrespectfully, noinclinationtohonoursuch Gossip mongers do JaiLall

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

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Exxon is on the move, and Exxon is in a groove.

Thanks to Bharat Jagdeo, Exxon does whatever it pleases.

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

Exxon approves multimillion dollar projects for what is still unapproved by Guyana.

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

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Clearly, public consultations, review processes, and government approvals are big shams.

There is no stopping Exxon now.

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

Not even Bharat Jagdeo can do anything about that, and he knows it.

BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT

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If he pretends not to know, we do, which is why we say he must go.

Report flags Government's grip on oil regulatory state agencies

A2022 Report by IHS

Markit has flagged the Government's control of state agencies, particularly those responsible for the management of the oil sector, as being a means of fasttrackingandfacilitatingproject approvalsintheoilandgassector

The document titled 'Guyana aims to strengthen institutions to avoid petro-state pitfalls' noted that though the country's upstream regulatory and management responsibilities are dispersed across different state entities, the current institutional arrangement places these entities under the full control of Guyana's executive branch.

The President is tasked with appointing the leadership of the Ministry of Natural Resources as well as other agencies with jurisdiction over the oil and gas sector "This situation appears to

have resulted in decision making leeway that has generally facilitated project approvals thus far,"theReportstates.

Over the past few months, members of civil society have been complaining about the ramping up of oil production activities off the country's coasts by American energygiant,ExxonMobil.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the regulatory body thatpermitstheseprojectshasbeen the subject of criticism for waiving E n v i r o n m e n t a l I m p a c t Assessments (EIA) for drilling projects, which environmentalists believecouldnegativelyimpactthe marineenvironment.

So far, Exxon has received Environmental Permits for four production fields in the Stabroek BlockincludingLizaOneandTwo, PayaraandYellowtail.

Presently, the oil company is

seeking permission for a fifth project, Uaru+. The government has said that oil and gas activities must be expedited as the World moves to lower its dependence on fossilfuelsby2030.

In the meantime, Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton believesthatthestrategytorampup oil production despite climate change warnings and the flagrant abuse of environmental standards bythemajoroperator,ExxonMobil neatly aligns with the 'greedy agenda' of the government of the day Back in June, he told this newspaper “I do not think an approach which says just take out the oil, get as much money as you can,canbetheapproach”.

Norton explained that while he believes that developing countries must be given the space to exploit their resources and grow their economies, this must be done in a

sustainablemanner

“I believe that developing countries must be given the environmental space the developed world would have had space to use the environment and achievetheirobjectives.

Now as developing countries, we need to develop as well so I believe there is some amount of environmental space that should be created, but I also believe that we have to focus on climate change and the environment generally and ensure whatever we do is sustainable,”heexplained.

In this regard, the Opposition Leader said there must be a different approach - one in which guarantees safety of the environmentandmoreimportantly, benefits for the present and future generations.

It was also reported that while the integrity of Guyana's

environmental regulator remains under question, the Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat has made it clear that the government had to take steps to makethegrantingofpermitseasier, to allow the free flow of business andrevenueinthecountry

Bharrat specifically pointed out that this was the case at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) as well as the regional authorities, suchasCityHall.

“We had to ensure that the permitting process was not as cumbersome or not as tedious as it used to be in the past without jeopardizing the integrity or without compromising anything to ensurewefasttracktheapprovalof development coming to our country,” the Minister said at a LocalContentworkshopinMay

HOW NOT TO SPEND AN ENJOYABLE EVENING!

The other day, I was in the evening when one of the these is to take command of The guy at the wheel was taking so long. After about the drive-through at a fast sisters said, “I don’t know the situation, dictate the leaning out of his window ten minutes, I realized why food restaurant. My crowd whyIallowedyoutotalkme terms of engagement or in trying to speak into the This guy only had one other or he may have just been was big. When you offer to into coming. I did not get to otherwords“calltheshots.” intercom. He kept leaning person in the vehicle but showing off to show that take out a young lady in eatmydinner.”

There was a chorus and talking, then pausing. judging from his order, he having placed such a big Guyana, she likes to walk Now, when you pick up calling for a visit to a fast After a while, I wondered must have been feeding a order,hedidnotneedtoeven with a company It is like if someoneandthatiswhatyou food restaurant. I began to whether he was having a wedding fete The guy lookatthebill. she and others of her ilk are hear,youknow,regardlessof perspire even though the friendly chat with the other collected about ten boxes, My turn came and I walkingwithabodyguard.It which part of the world you evening was cool. I had no person. andonlytwodrinks. proceeded slowly in the is also a way of saying to are in, that dinner has to be intentionofspendingtherest Eventually, I drove up I began to get nervous window Aladywithalovely your date that nothing extra on the menu for the night. ofmyeveningburiedamong and waited for the prompt. consideringmycrowd.Ifelt smile greeted me, “Good specialisgoingtohappen. My problem was what was a group of persons whose There was no reply I said, my wallet for assurance. It evening, what would you Well my date wanted to going to come after the company I could care little “Hello?” No reply “Hello felt puffy Luckily, the US like to order, this evening,” make that point more than dinner about, except for my date. Hello!”Noreply dollar exchanges for G$212 she asked. Before I could ordinarybecauseshewalked The second mistake I And worse of all, I certainly Oneofthepersonsinthe toUS$1. answer, a chorus broke out with her entire family I had made was in trying to be did not look forward to back shouted. The phone- However, I was still frombehindme. plansforaquieteveningbut friendlywitheveryone.They spending my precious time thing is not working, you worried because at least one “We change our mind; when we left her home with alltookalikingtome,which inafastfoodrestaurant. havetodrivearound. of my group had indicated we don’t want fast food family in tow, it was clear eventually meant that they But I had gotten myself So I drove around. The that she did not eat for the anymore, we would like to thatnotonlywastheevening began to dominate the intothisjamandIhadtoget car in front of me was entireevening. eatChinesefood.” notgoingtobequietbutthat conversation. myselfoutofit.SoIdecided placinghisorder Hepaidfor Justbeforetheguyinthe (The views expressed in it would cost me a hell of a ThethirdmistakeImade thatweweregoingtothefast his order and then settled in car moved off, he dropped this article are those of the fortune to feed all those was in asking, “Where you food restaurant, yes, but we his seat. I waited for him to the bill that he had received author and do not mouths. guys would like to go?” were not going inside. We moveoff.Hedidnot.Atleast in the lane. He must have necessarily reflect the I received an early Huge error on my part! One wouldusethedrive-through. two minutes passed and still lovedhiscaragreatdealthat opinions and beliefs of this warning of how things ofthethingsthatyoualways As I entered the lane, I hisorderwasnotcollected. he preferred to litter rather n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s wouldturnoutfortherestof learn about situation like sawavehicleinfrontofme. I wondered what was thanbringthebillintothecar affiliates.)

Twin among 36 babies born on...

Frompage2 threegirls.Thefirstwasborn amongstthedeliverieswasa ChristmasDay Accordingto atapproximately01:07hrsto twin. a post on the hospital’s mother – Sandy Chan, the According to the post, Facebook page, the secondgirlwaswelcomedat Gynaecologist, Dr Roy Maternity Ward was on 12:40hrs to mother – Sandewhoisattachedtothe Sunday morning buzzing NazeelaJosephandthethird New Amsterdam Regional withcheerastheywelcomed was born at 13:15hrs to Hospital noted that it is his a bouncing baby boy and mother–MichellaGodette. first Christmas delivery girl. At the West Demerera since joining the profession

Lucretia Hector gave Regional Hospital, five and shared that three of the birth to the baby boy at babies, three boys and two deliverieswerenormalwhile approximately12:37amwho girlswereborn. thetwinwasdeliveredviaCweighed 3.730kg, while the In a Facebook post, Section. g i r l w a s b o r n a t Regional Chairman of Similarly, the mothers approximately 06:30hrs RegionSix,DavidArmogan received care packages, as weighing3.920kgtomother announcedthatonChristmas well as the children in the AngelaEdwards. Day, five babies were hospital’sPaediatricWard. As customary, the delivered at the New Meanwhile, via its Linden Hospital Complex Amsterdam Regional Facebook page, privately gifted the mothers and Hospital. owned Dr Balwant Singh’s babieswithhampers. Though their genders Hospitalannouncedthebirth

In Region Two, the were not revealed, the of six angels on Christmas Suddie Hospital welcomed Chairman shared that Dayattheinstitution.

Dem boys seh...

DE VEE PEE SPOIL PREZZIE CHRISTMAS!

One man get stop by de police pon share nat realizing dat de black cake laden Boxing Night. De police tell he how dem withrun.Sonowdemangetchargeandgat notice how he look lil tipsy and dem want to appear in court because he eat too much testfuhseeifhedrivingunderdeinfluence. black cake and it spike he blood alcohol

Demanbussoutabiglaughandtellde level. popohowheneverdrinkalcoholinhelife. But at least he get something fuh eat Hewillinglyagreefuhdodetest. over de holiday weekend. Dem boys hear

Imaginedemansurprisewhendepolice howdePrezzievexbadwithdeVeePee.He tell de man dat de result of de breathalyzer senddeVeePeefuhbuydecasareepfuhde test show how he blood alcohol level was pepperpot and de man turn up with bun above the allowable limit fuh drive pon de sugarinstead. roads. De man can’t understand how he Dem boys hear how Prezzie tell de bloodgatalcholwhenhedon’tdrink. security at the President Office dat he gan Islangafterdemanrealizedathewent ringfencedeplacefromdeVeePeeandhow visiting relatives on Boxing Day and at deVeePeenahgangetnoroyaltytreatment every house dat he visit dem give he black anymore. cakefuheat.Hedidnatrefuse.Heeathefull

Talkhalf.Leffhalf!

DEATH SENTENCE ON POOR VENEZUELAN JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS

What is the home invasion but for Police Station. Foreigners appeal here? We have to complain. Harris connection receiving stolen goods? convicted of over-staying discuss what happened to a and I had a big between sex Obviously, because of his and were ordered deported pilotattheCorreiaairport.It showdown over

appeal, the migrant status and language ended up being in the has been reported in the that complaint. One deathofaVenezuelanyouth barrier, he probably didn’t holding cells for years media, a pilot, Mr Akeem morning I met Ms. in the Timehri prison and a have paid legal assistance because they had to find Stollwasdismissedbecause Arjoon-Martins in the dismissed pilot at the and the magistrate probably their own airfare. Two died herefusedtouseahelicopter park and she told me Eugene Correia Airport? did not assign bail because and were secretly buried. that had serious mechanical that the lady was problems.” Theanswerishypocrisy he was a foreigner The Oneranmad. questions.Thisgentlemanas compensated. I am in my Dr Persaud has joined On Christmas Eve, a question is; even if bail was To date, the then reported in the press, was right without entering the Mr Ramkarran in the Venezuelanyouthwasfound allowed,would he havehad President, David Granger allegedly dismissed by Air kingdom of libel to say if I analyzing the dubious dead in his cell. It appears the money? The painful and them Home Affairs ServicesLimited,ownedby believe someone or not. If a existence of civil society that he hung himself. The thing about this tragedy is Minister, Khremraj Mazarally because he person cannot say he/she groupsinthiscountrywhose youth was on remand since somewhere back in Ramjattan have never refused to pilot a helicopter does not believe what neglect of issues deeply April for receiving stolen Venezuela, a mother will apologisedtothisnationfor that he felt was unsafe. It another person says, then affecting this country has items. No doubt he came to liveinendlesshopethatone this scandal. They were in turned out his attitude was ourrightsaregoneforever I dangerous implications Guyanalookingforahappy day she will see her son charge.Icannotbelievethat justified by a report by the don’t believe Mrs. Arjoon- They are looking for life, a dream hundreds of again.Hissiblings,ifhehas I was once a friend of Guyana Civil Aviation Martins. So where does sex publicity and therefore they thousandsofGuyanesehave any, will never know where Ramjattan. I hope Granger Authority I hear the name appeal feature in these two latch on to events that they pursued the past 80 years their brother is buried. To and Ramjattan one day into Air Services Limited and I cases Constitutional knowwillcatapulttheminto and still doing.How can the think that Venezuela has an thefutureareprosecutedfor remember my conversation advisor to the President, Dr thelimelight.Butthereisno court system in this tiny embassy here and did not what happened at the with one of its leading RandolphPersaudinaletter mentalembraceofthethings populated country have a offer consular services to DiamondPoliceStation.Itis officials, Annette Arjoon inthenewspapersthisweek, that hold civilized society human on remand for nine this fellow. This death my right to express how I Martins, who is married to quoted the beautiful, together Maybe if we had months,awaitingatrialday, reminds me of my feel about politicians the Guyanese singer Dave poignant observation about decent civil society not for murder, for robbery investigationintoacriminal withoutlibelouscontent. Martins,intheNationalPark the sex appeal our civil organizations that poor with violence, for rape, for scandal at the Diamond Isayhereandnow,both one morning. I had written societyorganizations. Venezuelan youth would men in my eyes are thatthewifeofanemployee I quote Dr. Persaud; havebeenalivetoday detestable people I say whose was on a plane when “Mr Ralph Ramkarran (The views expressed in unapologetically, if I have a it disappeared with the pilot thoughtfullylabeledas“sex this article are those of the choice between Ramjattan had complained she appeal”, the excessive author and do not orBharratJagdeorulingmy received no compensation dipping of civil society necessarily reflect the country,Iwillclosemyeyes fromAirServices. groups into politics and opinions and beliefs of this andchooseJagdeo.Sowhat Ms. Arjoon called my e v e n u n n e c e s s a r y n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s is the relevance of sex editor, Adam Harris to politicization of functional affiliates.)

FrederickKissoon

Govt.'s plans for new ID Cards worrying - Norton

O p p o s i t i o n ,

Aubrey Norton is questioning the recent announcement by Vice PresidentBharratJagdeothat Guyanesewillsoonhavenew digital identification (ID) cards.

The Government of Guyana on December 10 disclosed that it intends to produce new and improved digital national identification cards. According to Jagdeo,

thenewIDcardswillbedone withassistancefrompartners from the United Arab EmiratesandDubai.

The Vice President made this disclosure during a Press ConferenceheldattheOffice of the President where he said that the ID cards will haveasecurechip,whichcan store data including blood type, date of birth, drivers' licence and taxpayer's identificationnumber Jagdeo said too that the

necessarylegislationtoallow for the card's use will be taken the NationalAssembly nextyear

“It will be for nationals and people who are resident inGuyana.

So, if you're coming to work here, you have a different colour card Guyanese will have one colourCard,”heexplained.

The digital ID card, the Vice President noted can be used at banks and other

institutionswithease.

“When they [Guyanese] comehome,theycantakeout their card and just swipe and come in. They don't have to go through this elaborate customs and all of that at immigration etc., making it easierforthat,”heexplained. However, the Opposition Leader said, "Guyanese should recognize that their resources are being mismanaged.

They should recognize

that there is no planning and Bharrat Jagdeo treats this country as if it is his plantation.Hejustcomeback from the United Arab Emirates and says to people, Guyana will get new ID Cards...Is it a deal that he would've made that some people will benefit from? Was there any public tendering?

Who determine from a technical standpoint that this is the best system for us to use, or is it his view that he is God almighty and whatever hedoes,theGuyanesepeople havegottolivewith?"

Norton explained that the a n n o u n c e m e n t w a s particularly worrying since "Bharrat Jagdeo historically islinkedtofailure."

According to him, the People's Progressive Party (PPP) was given $32 billion t o f i n d a l t e r n a t i v e employment and activities for the sugar workers but ended up "destroying" the industry

"The government cannot account for the $32 billion

yethe(Jagdeo)cangooffand come back telling Guyanese thathemadesomedealforID Cards. It makes little or no sense to me, except the government condones the corruption,"Nortonsaid.

Meanwhile, the Vice President also announced that the Government is also looking to introduce epassports.

“The next phase is probably e-passports,” he said explaining that he met withAbu Dhabi Exports, and Guyana is looking to the entitytofundaprojecthere.

“They'll fund about 90 percent of the cost, and the Government,10percent.

It has to do with our airport. So, the Cabinet has approved that, to move fully to an e-visa portal, and put in anumberofe-gates,sothatin the future, hopefully within eight months to a year, that it will almost seem paperless coming in through our airport, but with a lot of security features,” the VP disclosed.

Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton

Brothers confess to killing surveyor at Arimu Backdam

Two brothers have been arrested in connection with the murder of Ricky

Ambrose, the surveyor who was found dead last week on the Arimu Backdam trail, Cuyuniwithmultipleincised wounds and lacerations abouthisbody

Police sources close to the investigation told Kaieteur News that the men were arrested after they reportedly confessed to the crimeonChristmasDay

In their confession, the brothers reportedly told investigators that on December 18, Ambrose visited their camp and instructed them to remove from the land on which they were working The men claimed that Ambrose shot one of their pumps and even threatenedtokillthemifthey refusedtoremove.

The duo told law enforcement officials that they armed themselves with two pieces of wood and went into the trail and waited behind a tree for Ambrose. When Ambrose approached the location on his ATV, the brothers said that one struck himofftheATVandtheother

dealt him several stabs about hisbody

Thesiblingsthentookhis firearm and walked through the bush and threw it in a creek after which they returnedtotheircamp.

Kaieteur News had reported that 40-year-old Ambrose, of Lot 3093 Profit's Square South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was found dead at about 10:00h on December 18 by a miner who was walking alongthe'Guana'sandtrail.

The miner had raised an alarm and police at the

Bartica Police Station were contacted.

Ranks, on arrival at the scene,foundAmbrose'sbody lying face down in a pool of blood. He was reportedly clad in blue jeans, red T-shirt andblackboots.

Kaieteur News learntthat Ambrose's body bore six incised wounds to his back, onetotherightchestandtwo to the back of his right ear Eight lacerations were also visible to the head. Two pieces of wood were found besideAmbrose'sbody

A statement from the Guyana Gold and Diamond Association (GGDMA) had noted that Ambrose was a Sworn Land Surveyor and Ranger for the past twenty yearsandwasagreatsupport tominers.

“The late Ambrose is well-known to all in that populated area and other mining districts in the country TheGGDMAwould like to express its condolences to the family and friends of the late Ricky Ambrose,” while calling on the authorities to conduct a “proper investigation into thisincident.”

D'Urban Street businessman shot dead during robbery

A businessman was on Boxing Day gunned down at his D'Urban and Chapel Streets, Lodge business establishment.

Dead is 41-year-old Shimron Adams of Lot 129 Macaw Drive, Kaneville, EastBankDemerara(EBD).

According to police, Adams was shot at around 23:40h on Monday Adams operated a wholesale and retail business at the threestorey building while at the bottom flat, located on the south-western side of Durban and Chapel Streets, alcoholic beverages were sold.

The business place is fitted with a zinc shutter to the northern side (front) and hasCCTVcameras.

Police said that when ranks arrived at the scene Monday night, Adams' 29year-old female friend said she arrived at the business place at about 21:30h. The woman told investigators that Adams was wearing a goldringandagoldbandand had a small bag hanging on hisshoulder

At about 23:30hrs, the woman said Adams closed hisbusinessplaceandstarted to pack items into a freezer About ten minutes after, Adams opened the shutter for them to leave from the bottomflat.

Itwaswhiledoingsothat two persons entered the building through the shutter andorderedthemtolieonthe ground. The woman told police that they complied. The two suspects, one of whom was armed with a handgun, reportedly wore surgicalfacemasks.

Police were told that the unarmed suspect then took off the businessman's gold band and ring and ordered him to get up. He followed theinstructionsgiven.

The suspect then held onto the businessman's shoulder bag and pulled at it, butAdams continued to hold onto the bag to prevent the suspectfromtakingit.

As a result of this, the businessman ended up releasing the bag and fell to the ground while bleeding from the gunshot wound. The suspect removed his shoulder bag, picked up the businessman's phone and the woman's cellphone and made good their escape throughtheshutter

According to reports, Adams was picked-up by police ranks from the AntiCrimepatrolandtakentothe G e o rg e t o w n P u b l i c Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. His body is currently at the hospital's mortuary awaiting apostmortemexamination.

The Government of Guyana intends to introduce laws that will govern electronic transactions come 2023, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, AnilNandlallsaid.

TheE-TransactionandEPayment Bills which would allow citizens to make payments via their debit and credit cards in a more secure a n d c o m f o r t a b l e environment will soon be tabled in the National Assembly

“E-Transaction/EPayment Bills are also two pieces of legislation that will also come on stream (in) 2023. This is where we are going to introduce and allow fortheuseofplasticinpublic institutions' payments. We have to move in that direction, dispense with money and so on and use cards in the public sector,” the Attorney General explained last week on his programme 'Issues in the News'.

The introduction of these Bills would support Government's drive to develop a Single Window System,forwhichlegislation hasalreadybeenpresentedto theNationalAssembly Implementation of the

Single Window System Bill would allow citizens to conductalloftheirnecessary t r a n s a c t i o n s w i t h Government agencies through one source. The Bill is structured in a way that would ensure citizens get to conduct services swiftly and efficiently within a specific timeframe, and that would aid in eradicating constant delays, maladministration, briberyandcorruption.

Nandlall explained that if a document sent to a specific agency is not completed within a given timeframe, it would automatically be consideredapproved.

“This Bill has a mechanism that when it goes to a particular office, if it staystherewithinaparticular

timeframe and it is not dealt with by that agency, it is deemed to be granted Whatever that agency had to do, the law says it will be presumedthatitwasgranted, and the application moves on,”Nandlallstressed.

Meanwhile, the General Register Office (GRO) and Immigration Support Services have only recently implemented their epayment options through Mobile Money Guyana (MMG).

T h i s s y s t e m w a s launched to allow persons to make online payments for transactions conducted with those agencies, so as to save time and have services offered to them more efficiently

The suspect, who was armed with the firearm, discharged a round at Adams, which struck him to therightsideofhisabdomen.

Additionally, ranks from the Criminal Investigation D e p a r t m e n t ( C I D ) headquarters, recovered one 9mm spent shell, along with a warhead at the scene. The area was canvassed for CCTV cameras which were visible. The cameras captured when the suspects went to the business place and left on a black and white XRmotorcycle.Basedonthe CCTVfootages,thesuspects escaped south onto Chapel Street, west onto Princes Street, and south onto St. S t e p h e n ' s S t r e e t , Charlestown, where they werelastseen.

Investigations are ongoing.

Man shot, friend injured as bandits invade Canje home on Christmas Day

Two bandits armed with a gun and cutlass reportedly attacked and robbed two men: Michael Chunoo and Gordon Benn of Sheet Anchor Village, East Canje Berbice

Police said the robbery took place on Sunday at about 19:40hrs when the criminals entered the home of the men. They hid their

faces with a piece of cloth tied around their mouths. One of them was holding a small handgun while the other brandished a 22" cutlass.

Chunoo told police they wereimbibingwhenthemen ran in on them One perpetrator dealt Chunoo a lash to his head with the cutlass while the other

perpetrator shot Benn on his right leg. The bandits then stole one LG cellphone valued at $60,000 and escaped. Both victims were treated at the New Amsterdam Hospital and while Chunoo was released, Benn remains a patient and has been transferred to the G e o rg e t o w n P u b l i c Hospital.

Dead, Ricky Ambrose

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall

Dead: Shimron Adams

The Canje home of the Michael Chunoo

Two teenage boys of Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara are in police custody afterallegedlyadmittedtostealingagunwith matching ammunition from the home of an Aubrey Barker, Road South Ruimveldt man onChristmasDay

In a press release, police said ranks early Tuesday morning recovered the firearm and the ammunition after being led to where one oftheteenshadburieditinhisbackyard.

According to the police, Clarence Griffith, a licensed firearm holder of Aubrey Barker Road, Ruimveldt, Georgetown had gone to the Ruimveldt Police Station at about 10:00 hrs on Christmas Day where he reported that his firearm was stolen. Griffith told police that he suspected his 16-year-old nephew,astudentatasecondaryschoolonthe East Coast of Demerara, stole his firearm along with six matching rounds from his

ECDteensarrestedafterstealinggun,ammo Bladen Hall businessman found strapped with two illegal guns

home. Police promptly arrested the teenager in Georgetown and questioned him about the missing firearm. The teen admitted that he stole the weapon and related to police that he handed over the firearm to another teenager who lives at Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara, for him to hide. Acting on this information, on Tuesday at about 01:00 hours, the police conducted a joint operation with ranks from Regional Divisions 4A and 4C. The ranks went to the home of the 16year-old student at Beterverwagting, where he was contacted in the presence of his mother. He was questioned about the firearm and admitted to receiving it from Griffith's nephew He then took the police to the back of his house and pointed out a spot where he hid the firearm and six matching rounds of ammunition.Bothteenagersareincustodyas investigationscontinue.

ABladenHall,East Coast Demerara businessman was early Tuesday morning found with two illegal firearms with matching rounds of ammunition when police ranks conducted a search on him.

According to the police, around 03:00hrs a party of ranks acting on information received, went to 2J's Supermarket located at Strathspey, East Coast Demerara where they made contact with a 29-year-old businessmanofBladenHall.

A search was conducted on his person, and one black .32 Taurus Pistol with eight live matching rounds of ammunition was found in his crotch.

A further search was

carried out on him, and in his left-side pants pocket, the ranks found one black and silver firearm with seven live m a t c h i n g r o u n d s o f ammunition.

The businessman was

toldoftheoffencecommitted, cautioned, arrested and escorted to Vigilance Police Station along with the two firearmsandammunition.

Investigation is in progress.

The illegal weapons seized from a businessman of Bladen Hall, East Coast Demerara

Six Christmas Day babies delivered at GPHC

Six women who

gave birth on

Christmas Day at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation were the recipients of care packages from First Lady, Arya Ali when she visited themattheMaternityWard.

Mrs. Ali brought them season's greetings, good wishes, and the care packages which contained baby supplies and diapers. “This is the season of caring and sharing, so we cannot forget our babies. We have been giving out a lot of hampers, and we did a lot of toy distributions throughout the course of the season, so we are here this morning,” Mrs.Alisaid.

She thanked sponsors of the hampers for their contributions, naming DeSinco Trading Ltd , Sleepy Diapers and Twins Manufacturing Limited. She also extended season's greetingstoallpresent.Chief Executive Officer of GPHC, Robbie Rambarran said the visitfromtheFirstLadyisan honournotjusttothemothers and their babies, but to the staffofthehospital.

“We look forward to it,

First Lady, Arya Ali, greets Mona Persaud and her baby.

and the staff look forward as well… to when leaders come and compliment them, to give them support and wish them a Merry Christmas.

Christmas is a joyous time of the year, so it's always a pleasure to have her here.”

Mothers who had given birth prior to Christmas Day also received care packages Meanwhile, forty-six-yearold Antonio Persaud was overjoyed as he welcomed his first granddaughter into hisfamily

The man, who was overwhelmed almost to the point of speechlessness, explained that he had been awaiting the birth of his granddaughterforsometime, and could do nothing but cry when he saw her for the first time.“Ifeelsogood.Nothing elseissospecialatChristmas for me but my daughter and granddaughter Ilovethemso much.

I will always accept them as my family because they are my only family,” he expressed.

He looks forward to spending more time with his family after they are discharged from the hospital.

(DPI)

The care packages distributed by H.E. Arya Ali.

President donates $2M to Dharm Shala

In keeping with the season of giving, residents of the Dharm Shala continue to feel the government's appreciation for their services as President Dr Mohamed IrfaanAli delivered a cheque of $2 million to the managementoftheorganisationonChristmas Day

The Head-of-State reminded of the $1.5 millioninsubventionsalreadybeingafforded to the institution, as he emphasised the importance of the government partnering withtheprivatesectortobetterthelivesofall Guyanese. “It cannot be solely driven by the State nor by the private sector We have to find a way in which we can match each other's objective of doing something to make things better,” he stressed.

President Ali also noted that the government is working on improving the range of services made available to the elderly “One of the signs of development is how we treat the elderly We are now working on a new platform - one in which we can have our elderly retire with dignity and in

rendering support to the healthcare system building more homes for the elderly…and training more caregivers. We are working aggressively on ensuring we do better, and we do more for our elderly,” he said. The aim of the organisation from its creation was to clothe, feed and house the indigent. To ensure that the Dharm Shala continues on this quest of humanitarianism, President Ali also committed to having the institution's water charges waived. This will takeeffectfromJanuary

Moreover, in addressing issues relating to staffing, the head of state said the institution's five employees will be put on the government's temporary jobs programme, wheretheywillbegivenamonthlystipendof $40,000 The Dharm Shala has been extending service to humanity for over 100 years, serving as a safe haven for the elderly and infirm. The organisation is headed by the granddaughters of the founder, Pamela and Kella Ramsaroop. The two women are assistedbyasmallstaffoffivepersons.(DPI)

President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali also distributed Christmas gifts to the children in the community.

Coast Guard rescues seven crewmembers after boat sinks

Ranks on Christmas Day rescued six crewmembers fromtheLadyShaneezaboat which was damaged by bad w e a t h e r a n d s a n k subsequently

According to a statement by the GDF, the Coast Guard ranksconductedaSearchand Rescue Operation at approximately11:30hoursin response to a sighted distress signal detected by the Timehricontroltower,offthe EssequiboCoast.

Two members of the GDF Coast Guard rescue a crewmember of the 'Lady Shaneeza' boat. (GDF photo)

The response vessel and team were immediately deployed to the location and six crewmembers of the vessel, 'Lady Shaneeza', were pulled to safety from a Life Raft and they informed that their vessel encountered extreme bad weather and sank.

“They also informed of another missing crew member who drifted, wearing his life jacket. An aerial search by Roraima Airways was also launched to complement the effort,”

thestatementsaid.

H o u r s a f t e r, t h e additional crewmember, 57year-old Christopher Williams, who drifted for more than 19 hours after the ordeal, was rescued Williams was rescued about 4nauticalmilesoffthemouth of the Pomeroon River He was transported by ambulance to the Charity Hospital.

Thevesselwasonitsway back from Trinidad after departing Guyana earlier this month.

A gold miner of Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara was arrested by police Tuesday morning with an illegal firearm and matching ammunition.

Nabaclis man tosses gun in bid to flee from cops

A 31-year-old miner of Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara was apprehended after attempting to flee from police ranks who had seen him tossing an illegal firearm on the roadwayatMelanieMarketSquare.

According to a police press release, around 05:20hrs ranks were on Mobile Patrol in the vicinity of Vigilance, East Coast Demerara, when they ranks received certain information and went to Melanie Market Road.

On arrival, the ranks saw the 31-year-old

miner running away The ranks gave chase, and the suspect was seen throwing an object on the southern parapet. The suspect was apprehended, and a search was carried out on his person, but nothing was found. The suspect was taken back to the area where he threw the object at which point one firearm was found on the parapet. The suspect was told of the offence committed, cautioned, arrested and escorted to Vigilance Police Station along with the said firearm Investigationisinprogress.

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard

City Hall must fulfill its legal obligations or

Govt. will take control of city streets - Nandlall

Should the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) fail to fulfill its l e g a l o b l i g a t i o n s , Government could take could the management of City streets, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall said.

Nandlall said the M&CC

is required by law to keep its parapets and public spaces free from encumbrances whichincludevending.

“There is a power in the l a w w h i c h C e n t r a l Government does not wish to activate and Central Government can take over every street within the precincts of the city and take

chargeofthemanagementof those streets It is not something that Central Government would like to do, but the Mayor and City Council must understand thatiftheyneglecttoexecute their statutory functions, if they act in breach of their statutory duties, if they neglect and refuse to carry

out their obligations under thelaw,thentheycanbesued andCentralGovernmentcan take over,” the Attorney Generalsaid.

Nandlall, who was at the time speaking during last week's broadcast of 'Issues in the News' said that businesses and private citizens can initiate court action to compel the Council to remove illegal structures from in front of their homes and businesses The Attorney General referenced theCouncil'sresponsibilities under the Municipal and Districts Council Act Chapter28:01.

“Section 302, paragraph 25, says that the M&CC is obligated to 'prohibit trespassinalleywaysandthe encumbering of public and council roads and the parapets thereof and of pavements'.

Nandlall said, “this Mayor and City council on the contrary is encouraging and worse yet, defending the encumbrance of public roads, public parapets, and public pavements. They are supposed to prohibit, they are not only encouraging but defending…”

Meanwhile, theAttorney General said that while he servedasaprivatelawyer,he initiated court proceedings on behalf of clients to compel the Mayor and City

Council (M&CC) to remove illegal vendors. He said he often times secured aWrit of Mandamus.

“AWrit of Mandamus is directed by a High Court Judge to a Statutory Officer or Statutory Tribunal compellingthemtocarryout their lawful duties when there is a neglect to do so. I a p p e a r e d f o r m a n y businessmen and got Writs of Mandamus directing the Town Clerk, directing the City Engineer, and directing the Mayor and City Council toclearpavementsinfrontof their businesses,” Nandlall said.The Attorney General added that business owners “must also play their part” to curbillegalvending.

“A resident or business owner,whosehouseorliving accommodation is blocked by unlawful vending on the pavement, can go to a judge andgetanorderdirectingthe City Council to come and clearthatvendororclearthat encumbrance. So, I hope they act on this advice. This must not be a government fight alone. This involves everyone. It is a matter of publicorder,theruleoflaw,” Nandlallemphasised.

Further, the Attorney General reminded that the City Council has Court Orders that speak to vending outside of certain businesses and those Orders should be

heeded.

Earlier this month, the government issued a final notice to vendors who are occupyingspacesalongNew Market Street, between Thomas and East Streets, to removeallerectedmakeshift stalls, sheds, carts, caravans, motor vehicles, and other receptaclesusedforvending.

T h e s e v e n d o r s , according to the previous notice have been impeding the smooth flow of traffic in the vicinity of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), the main public health institution in the country, the Ministry of Public Works said. The Ministry of Public Works added that it would have served 'Violation Notices' prior, giving the vendorssevendaystovacate thearea.

Nandlall's comments followed a standoff between City Mayor Ubraj Narine and the Ministry of Public Works over the illegal vendors in the vicinity of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation(GPHC).

Attorney General, Anil Nandlall SC

Guyana now hurrying to modernise waste management laws

… as oil sector moves at breakneck speed

EPA says ready to comply with court order

Attorney General and

maximum extent possible, Minister of Legal Affairs, and three LMPs have been AnilNandlallrecentlynoted established in Guyana to thatthegovernmentisinthe support the offshore drilling process of modernizing the operations. This publication nation’s waste management previously reported that laws. ExxonMobil Guyana has

During the airing of his suggested in the interim the programme, Issues in the use of the Haags Bosch News, Nandlall said a Dumpsite. Among the modern waste management highlights of the analysis, it bill is currently being wasnotedthat,“openingthe worked on. The minister HaagsBoschLandfill(HBL) said, “Waste management is Cell 2 will provide adequate always a sore issue in short-termdisposalcapacity, Guyana.And we don’t have but a longer-term strategy modernlegislation.Wehave needs to be evaluated and been working on modern implemented. Consideration approximately 5,000 tonnes (law) for a while now We of an engineered landfill for oftotalwasteweregenerated haveconsultantshired.They industrial waste needs to be during 2020 from Liza are working on it.” With the evaluated.”

Destiny. According to the emergence of the oil sector,

A m o n g t h e document submitted to the Nandlallsaiditisimperative r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s EPA,thedrillshipsroutinely that the nation has laws that documentedintheanalysisis generate the most waste governtheproperdisposalof the development of the among the various types of wastefortheindustry Comprehensive Waste vessels, and the FPSO

The significant increase Management Plan (WMP) operations are estimated to of waste and the need for that will account for lessons generate200to250tonnesof proper management is also learned from data efficiency wasteannuallyperFPSO. highlighted in Esso reviews, capturing waste It was stated in the Exploration and Production volume estimate revisions, documentthattheincreaseof Guyana Limited (EEPGL)’s and suggesting potential waste volumes observed in Cradle to the Grave Waste improvement opportunities. the2023timeframeisdueto Management Analysis EEPGL, which is the theoretical increases from which was submitted to the operator of the Stabroek, further development of Environmental Protection Canje, and Kaieteur Blocks Guyana’s resources Agency(EPA)lastyear offshoreGuyana,isengaged According to the document, According to the in numerous ongoing “EEPGL’s use of drilling document, the total waste e x p l o r a t i o n a n d fluids and LMP (liquid mud volume anticipated for 2021 development operations plants) operations are from the Liza Destiny offshore, and began expected to increase operations alone was production from the Liza substantially during the approximately8,000tonnes, Phase1ProjectinDecember 2021–2023 time period, and includes all hazardous 2019withthedeploymentof giventhatsixdrillshipsmay and non-hazardous wastes. the first Floating, be potentially operating Continued full field Production, Storage and concurrently.” development efforts for the Offloading(FPSO)vesselin

Asaresult,“drillingfluid Liza II development and Guyana. EEPGL has also management will be a key additional drilling efforts, is obtained additional focus area for waste expected to generate

Production Licences and minimization of drilling approximately 6,000

Environmental Permits to fluids,whichhashistorically tonnes/yearoftotalwastesin developandoperatetheLiza beenoneofthelargestwaste both 2022 and 2023, as Phase 2 Project, the Payara streams requiring treatment drillingwindsdown,andthe Project, and the Yellowtail and disposal.” It was noted, Payara Project continues its development It is in however, that as part of the development drilling d i s c u s s i o n s w i t h minimization of company activities. governmentforapprovalfor waste generated, drilling

It should be noted for a fifth project at the Uaru- fluids are already being reference purposes that Makofield. recycled and reused to the

Bob Marley’s grandson Jo Mersa dead at 31

K I N G S T O N , death as “tragic” and JAMAICA - Grandson of rememberedthesingeras“a legendaryreggaesingerBob talented young reggae Marley, Joseph ‘Jo Mersa’ artiste”.

Marley was found dead in Golding said, “The loss the United States on of a child is a devastating Tuesday JoMersa,thesonof blow and something no Stephen Marley, was parentispreparedfor,Isend r e p o r t e d l y f o u n d my condolences to Stephen unresponsive in a motor andtheentireMarleyfamily vehicle. May he rest in eternal

The 31-year-old was peace.” known for songs such as Disc jock and producer ‘Burn it Down’, ‘Made It’, Walshy Fire said, “(Jo and ‘NoWay Out’. News of Mersa’s) talent and his death triggered an intelligence was insane outpouring of tributes on Loveyouking.SogladIgot

socialmedia. toworkwithyou.”

Opposition Leader Mark Meanwhile, Leah my darling nephew”, with Golding described Marley’s Tavares-Finson, the sister of

losing case

TheEnvironmental the requirement of an works at the radioactive P r o t e c t i o n Environmental Impact storagefacility

Agency (EPA) Assessment with respect to Justice Harnanan hassaiditisreadytocomply Schlumberger Guyana Inc. declared that the EPA’s withthedirectiveoftheHigh (SGI)’s application for decision to not conduct an Courtafterlosingthecaseof environmental authorization EIA into the effects of the its decision to waive an for the construction of the construction of the facility Environmental Impact said facility is in breach of was illegal, ultra vires, Assessment (EIA) for the EPAs statutory duty for unreasonable, and irrational Schlumberger Guyana Inc. failuretoprovidereasonsfor since it breached the (SGI) to build a radioactive the wavier as mandated Environmental Protection atthefacilityatHouston. under section 11(2) of the Act,Cap.20:05.

The EPA issued a Environmental Protection Section 11 of EPA Act, statement in respect to the Act,Cap.20:05.” stipulates that any project outcomeoftherecentcasein Itcontinuedthatnotably, thatmaysignificantlyaffects which Danuta Radzik and Justice Nareshwar the environment requires an others challenged the Harnanan, further stipulates EIAand such an assessment agency It acknowledges its in paragraph 56 of his requires publication in the errorandpromisedtoadhere judgmentthatit’s“[t]heEPA newspapers of the intended totheCourt’sjudgment.The bysection11(2)ismandated project as well as agency clarified however to determine whether the consultations with the that the judgment was not project requires an EIA or public. againsttheagency’sdecision not”,astheregulatorybody The Judge said, “This towaivetherequirementfor In the meantime, the court is of the view that the an EIA, but rather its failure agency said it remains EPA’s decision to waive the to publish in the statutory committedtoworkinginthe requirement or EIA cannot notice reasons/adequate bestinterestoftheGuyanese be found to be lawful as it reasons for the decision not peopleandtheenvironment. directly contravenes requiringanEIA.

OnFebruary14,2022,three [section]11(2)ofthe[EPA]

The High Court of the EnvironmentalActivistsand Act,thecourtalsofindsthat SupremeCourtofJudicature residentswholivenearbythe no adequate reasons were ofGuyana,onDecember16, facility, Vanda Radzik, contained in the notice 2022 issued several DanutaRadzik,andRaphael publishedbytheEPA…” administrativeorders,which Singh, through their Justice Harnanan dealt with the issue of the Lawyers: Marlene Alleyne, highlighted that while the EPA not publishing Siand Dhurjon, and Ronald EPA contended that by reasons/adequatereasonsfor Burch-Smith,filedalawsuit granting a permit to a decision in relation to not at the Demerara High Court Schlumberger to construct requiring an EIA for the against the EPA, the the facility it does not construction and operation Environmental Assessment guarantee storage of the o f a s o u r c e Board,andSchlumberger radioactive sources at the storage/calibration building The residents won their facility – the EPA Act in accordance with Sec.11 case last Friday when the explains – that the agency (2) of the Environmental Judge handed down his should not issue a Protection Act, Cap.20:05, ruling in the case not only construction or operation LawsofGuyana. quashing the EPA’s decision permit unless the agency

According to the EPA, to grant permission to the includes in the permit JusticeNareshwarHarnanan US-owned company to conditions that are inhisjudgmentstated;“That construct and operate the reasonably necessary to the EPAs decision to waive facility but also halting the protecttheenvironment.

-

Health Minister, Dr. reductionofmalaria.” towardseradicationby2030 Frank Anthony highlighted Thiswasdisclosedbythe in the regions that are that government remains minister on Monday during affected Five diseases, steadfast in its efforts to r e m a r k s a t t h e among them, leishmaniasis combat malaria in affected commissioning of the or bush yaws, have been areasacrossthecountry Mabaruma Smart Hospital identifiedbythegovernment

Theministeremphasised lastweek. to be eradicated in a few that one of the ways that Dr Anthony said, “We years. Dr Anthony said that malaria can be eradicated is have already sat with the this, would then, allow by distributing insecticide regional health personnel government to free up impregnated bed nets. To here along with the other resources to invest in other this end, he noted that, regions that malaria is areas The World Health “Over the last year, through endemic and we are Organisation(WHO)aimsto t h i s g o v e r n m e n t ’s w o r k i n g t o w a r d s reduce malaria cases and initiatives, we have already eradication.” mortality rate by at least 90 d i s t r i b u t e d 5 7 , 0 0 0 He noted that malaria is percent;eliminatemalariain insecticide impregnated bed still endemic in Region One at least 35 countries and nets and that has already and the ministry is working prevent a resurgence of started to make a huge assiduously to reduce in its malaria in all malaria-free impact in terms of the first instance, and to work countries.(DPI)

…after

over waiver of EIA for Houston radioactive storage facility

Attorney General, Anil Nandlall

Marley’s uncle Damian

Marley, posted, “Rest easy

cryingemojis.

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Sales girls and porters needed. Send Written application to Best Buy Food Supplies, Deniss and Milton Street C/ville.

Cook/baker, pitmen, servicemen and hauler operators for interior location. Applicants must be experienced. Call 615-0545.

From page 6 that was going to be taken by some GECOM officials on instructions or coercion from a certain political party, directives that would be issued, the planned swearing in, etc., well ahead before they were executed. I knew ahead of time the planned changes of SOP vote counts and how it would happen, the staged sicknesses of GECOM staff and their planned feints, the electricity blackout, the attempted manipulation of computer data, among so many other shenanigans, skullduggery, and malpractices.

I also knew of the planned court cases that would be filed and the rulings long before they latter were delivered.

I was there during the isolation of Chair Claudette Singh and witnessed the presence of security blocking her entrance as well as when she was escorted out the building. Much was revealed to me about the entire affair.

I prefer to maintain public silence on that episode to protect reputations and identities.

Their intelligence was weak or poor on what was planned by another side. I, myself, didn’t know how the fraud would be foisted until information was passed on to me from a reliable confidential source. Only he, an East Coast businessman, and I knew of planned fraudulent acts and how they would be implemented. He obtained information that was passed on to me. We took deterrent actions to save democracy. In fact, it was he who prevailed on me to expose the fraud. He would call at odd hours of the night waking me up with latest information on planned fraudulent acts.

My wife too, like me, has sworn secrecy to the names at GECOM and the businessman and of involved in combating fraud.

To give public testimony at COI may require divulging secrecies and names of individuals whose employment, if not also lives, would be in danger. So I decided in the best interest of their lives and also what obtained on August 2, 2020, to remain quiet. One other person knows almost everything I know about the planned fraud.

did not benefit him financially. But country comes first for him and for me also.

I have not benefit from my political and financial sacrifices for nation and for democracy. He sacrificed business and wealth to protect democracy. I know of no other business person who did same. I will attribute his contribution as key for protecting the outcome of the vote of March 2, 2020 and of preventing the installation of a regime from fraud. He would be number two or three on the list who saved democracy.

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VEHICLES

What surprised me was that none of the then opposition parties was aware, ahead of time, what would transpire at the Ashmin building and GECOM central office during the SOP certification — how fraud would be perpetrated, undertaken or implemented.

He spent enormous personal resources to obtain information that was passed on to me in utmost confidence with a commitment never to reveal names and how the information was obtained. I have honoured his request thus far. Lives could be at risk. I promised to protect the various sources, and I never revealed their names to anyone until two days ago when I told my wife about a few individuals who were involved in certification of SOPs and the recount and change in administration.

No political figure was among those who saved democracy. A deceased legal luminary also played a critical role in the outcome.

We shared information and collaborated in deterring the fraud our own way in confidence. He spent a lot of money to protect democracy and to bring about a change in administration. His name shall be anonymous. He said, and repeated two days ago, that he never told anyone what we did, not even his wife.

Regrettably, he claims he was repeatedly approached since the change in administration to give bribes to get contracts. He said he refused.

He is a principled businessman and is known by Ministers and bureaucrats for his honesty and for not offering bribes.

And as a result of his integrity and decency, the amount of government contracts he gets is less than what he had under the coalition. So a change in Administration

The GECOM associate is the number one person responsible for steering the fraud and the change in administration. Others also played important roles — ballot box watchers, diplomats, polling agents, etc. The USA government sealed the deal.

None of the individuals involved in political change were ever remunerated or received significant honours for their contributions to protect democracy and or for the change in government; promises made were not honoured. I salute those who contributed to the struggle to respect the will of the voters.

For those who testify on the attempted fraud, I commend you for your courage.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

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Business place to rent at fourth corner on Hunter Street, mini bus route. Call: 674-0614.

One bedroom apartment for rent,471 East Ruimveldt $40,000 per month. Call: 225-2737.

Local Govt. Ministry estimates $27M to reconstruct Rasville Access Bridge

The Ministry of Local Meanwhile, R&W Government and Regional Construction Service was Development intends to the lone bidder for the reconstruct the Rasville Ministry of Public Works Access Bridge in project to remove

Georgetownatanestimated submergedobjectsfromthe costof$27M. Kaituma River in Region

When tenders were One. opened recently at the The entity submitted a National Procurement and bidof$19,500,000.

Tender Administration Additionally, the Board (NPTAB), it was Ministry of Finance is disclosed that Spectre planning to renovate the Construction was the lone Dependent’s Pension Fund bidder for the project. The buildingatanestimatedcost constructionfirmsubmitted of$27M. abidof$30,189,060forthe B e l o w a r e t h e project. companiesandtheirbids:

MinistryofPublicWoks

RemovalofsubmergedobjectsfromtheKaitumaRiver

Emergencyshorelineprotectionworkslong KingstonForeshoreGeorgetownforLots1&2.

MinistryofCulture,YouthandSport Procurementofonetractor

Procurementofoneminiexcavator

MinistryofEducation

Supplyoftoolsandequipmentforsix PracticalInstitutionCenters.(PICs).

Procurementofoneskidsteer-Multi-purpose.

MinistryofLegalAffairs Procurementofvehicle.

Procurementofcomputerhardwareandaccessories.

Designandsupervisionservicesfortheconstructionofa modernschoolbuilding/complexandadormitorytohouse 500studentsinclassroom,250pupilsinthedormitoryand 40teachersinHosororo,RegionOne.

Melanie miner nabbed with illegal gun

MinistryofFinance

RenovationofDependent'sPensionFundBuilding.

SupremeCourtofJudicature Supplyanddeliveryofcomputerpartsandaccessories.

SupplyanddeliveryofInformation CommunicationTechnologyequipment.

MinistryofLocalGovernment andRegionalDevelopment ReconstructionofRasvilleAccessBridge.

Procurementofthreereplaycameras.

Designandsupervisionservicesfortheconstructionofa modernschoolbuildingandadormitorytohouse350 studentsinclassroom150pupilsintheinthedormitoryand 30teachersinMaruranau.

The illegal weapon and ammunition recovered by police.

A26-year-oldgoldminer heranawayinanattemptto of Melanie Damishana, East escape.Theranksgavechase Coast Demerara was on and he was caught, but not Tuesday morning nabbed beforepeltingametalobject with an illegal firearm and under a nearby motorcar matching rounds of The police recovered the ammunition. object, which turned out to

In press release, police be one .32 Taurus Revolver said about 02:50hrs ranks with four live matching wereonmobilepatroldutyin rounds of ammunition. The the vicinity of Melanie suspect was told of the Acting on information allegation,cautioned,andhe received, the ranks went to remainedsilent.Hewasthen Melanie Market Road, arrested and escorted to where they made contact Vigilance Police Station with the 26-year-old miner along with the said firearm A search was about to be a n d a m m u n i t i o n conductedonhisperson,but Investigationscontinue.

Institutions from Latin America and the Caribbean to receive grants to support the elimination of communicable diseases

Six institutions (UNDP), the World Bank GarryAslanyan,Managerof Strengthening working infected dairy inoculum and collection and analysis, and from Argentina, and the World Health P a r t n e r s h i p s a n d groupsinHealthandScience the importance of oral fluid other related activities. The

Brazil, Haiti, Organization(WHO)). GovernanceatTDR. to optimize surveillance of fordiagnosis. teams responsible for the MéxicoandPerúwillreceive “Operations research is Around 2 5 million t h e h u m a n T- c e l l Zanmi Lasante, projects selected will research grants for topics keytogenerateevidenceand peoplelivewithHIVinLatin lymphotropic virus in Haiti: Assessing the develop, in coordination related to Tuberculosis and information that allows America and the Caribbean. Argentina, Chile, Colombia feasibility of using with PAHO and TDR, a other opportunistic

progress towards the It is estimated that, in the andUruguay

community health workers protocol to carry out infections in advanced HIV, elimination of diseases in region, 291,000 people Evandro Chagas (CHWs) to conduct contact operational research, which sexually transmitted Latin America and the contracted tuberculosis in National Institute of

tracingthroughhometesting will undergo evaluations by infections,andHumanTcell Caribbean, ” said Dr 2020, 10% of whom were Infectious Diseases - INI for sexually transmitted ethics committees at the lymphotropic virus (HTLV- MassimoGhidinelli,interim living with HIV Sexually Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, infections(STIs). national and regional levels. 1),whichmaycauseatypeof Director of Communicable transmitted infections Brazil: Opportunistic National Institute Data collection activities cancer DiseasesandEnvironmental (STIs), which are easily infections caused by fungi of Respiratory Diseases willthenbegin. These grants of around Determinants of Health at c u r a b l e , a f f e c t andmycobacteriainpatients Ismael Cosio Villegas, Technicalassistancewill 30,000 dollars are provided PAHO. “Grants for these approximately 38 million withHIV/AIDS:Importance Mexico: Protocol for the be provided throughout as part of the “Operational investigations will expand people between the ages of of rapid methods in the implementation of rapid activities to ensure the research to support the our knowledge and 15 and 49 in the region, laboratory diagnosis of diagnostic studies of production of valid and e l i m i n a t i o n o f strengthen public health accordingtothelatestWHO c r y p t o c o c c o s i s , opportunistic infections in relevantresearchresults,and communicable diseases in response,”hesaid. estimates. Meanwhile, it is histoplasmosis and reference centers in Mexico toassistintheintegrationof the Latin American and “We are very pleased to estimatedthatbetween5and tuberculosis. City the results into the program, Caribbeanregion”initiative, see these very promising 10 million people are Carlos Chagas U n i v e r s i d a d policy and/or the health of the Pan-American Health projectsbeingidentified.We infected with HTLV-1 FilhoInstituteofBiophysics, Peruana Cayetano Heredia, system. It is expected that Organization (PAHO) and are confident that working worldwide. FederalUniversityofRiode Peru: Notification systems every recipient will TDR (the Special withPAHOandthegrantees Institutions and selected Janeiro, Brazil: Vertical forsexualpartnersinorderto published a peer-reviewed Programme for Research wewillhaveresultsfromthis projects: transmissionofhumanT-cell accelerate treatment and article as well as a policy and Training in Tropical

Teenkilled,anotherinjured inhit-and-runaccident

The motorcycle that was involved in the accident.

A 19-year-old man was Prechand of Williamsburg, early Tuesday morning Corentyne, Berbice was the westernsideofMainStreet. killed in a hit-and-run pillionrider Sheisnursinga Theduowaspickedupin accident on Main Street, broken leg and arm at the an unconscious state and New Amsterdam while an Georgetown Public takentotheNewAmsterdam 18-year-old pillion rider is Hospital According to Public Hospital where nursing injuries. Dead is reports, Ramphal was Ramphal was pronounced Vishan Ramphal of Lot 5 A headingnorthontheeastern deadonarrivalandPrechand Campbell Street, Belvedere, lane at a fast rate when was transferred to the Corentyne, Berbice motorcar PJJ 3534 crashed Georgetown Public Ramphal was riding into his motorcycle, pelting Hospital Police are motorcycle CJ 4962 at the him and Prechand into the searching for the driver of time of the accident air. They landed on a themotorcarwhomadegood Eighteen-year-old Renita concrete arch block on the hisescape.

Dead: Vishan Ramphal

11 weapons stolen from city security firm

Belarus sentences in absentia former Olympian Herasimenia to 12 years in prison

(Reuters) -AMinsk court sentenced in absentia former O l y m p i c s w i m m e r Aliaksandra Herasimenia and political activist

Alexander Opeykin to 12 years in prison for calling for sanctions and actions aimed at harming the national securityofBelarus.

"They were found guilty of public calls to commit actions aimed at causing harm to the national security of Belarus, including the use of restrictive measures (sanctions) against Belarus, individuals and legal entities of the republic," the state news BelTA agency reported onMonday

"Such actions entailed

graveconsequences."

Belarushasbeenshunned by the United Nations and many countries for an ongoing crackdown on political opponents, civil societyandjournalists.

According to the U.S. embassyinBelarus,thereare more than 1,300 political prisonersinBelarus.

Herasimenia, a threetime Olympic medallist, was among the elite athletes who fled Belarus in the wake of a crackdownagainstthosewho protested what they said was the fraudulent re-election of Alexander Lukashenko in August2020.

Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian President

Vladimir Putin, has denied any wrongdoing. Although officially not participating in Moscow's invasion in Ukraine, Russia has used Belarusianterritorytolaunch itsmulti-prongedattacks.

Aleksander Opeykin is the chairman of the Belarusian Sport Solidarity Foundation aimed at supporting athleteswho have been detained and faced r e p r e s s i o n s u n d e r Lukashenko's authoritarian rule."From August, 2020 to May 20, 2022, through the media and the Internet, they disseminated deliberately false information and fabrications about the events that took place on the

Wednesday December 28, 2022

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19

If at first you don't succeed,try,tryagain.Thisis your maxim for the day, Aries. What have you done latelytoimprovethewayyou liveyourlife?

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20)

Today you may be overcome by a current of humanist thought, Aries Your consciousness is traveling, and you probably couldn't care less about the details of the events going on aroundyou.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

You tend to want to explain everything that goes on around you, Gemini. You rationalize everything in an instant, and group all your experiences into great theories.

CANCER (June 21–July 22)

As a Cancer, you don't really like to talk about things. Talking just isn't one ofyourspecialties.

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

Scientistsseemtoliveina worldapartfromtherestofus, Leo, and from the events in everyday life, because they're soabsorbedinotherrealities.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22)

You're often like a Zen master who doesn't say anything to pupils for months,untilthedaythepupils begin to not believe any more andfind themselves growing indifferenttothewholething.

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

Ÿ

It's time to take some time out of your busy day for yourpersonallife,Libra.One of your family members or friends may need to talk to you, and you need to listen attentively to what they have tosay

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

Today is a good day to clarify your life, Scorpio. You may have understood lately that it's useless to undertake anything new whenyou'reconfused.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

Are you going to be available to other people today? Someone in your entourage may need to confideinyou.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

You may come in contact with someone today with whom you enjoy a highly emotional exchange You mayevenfallinlove!

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18)

It's possible that you're having some ups and downs in your love life at the moment. Someone may be asking you to play another role than you're used to playinginyourrelationship.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)

Today you may get the opportunity to feel proud of yourself. But don't let things get too out of hand. It isn't often that you allow yourself thislittlebitofnarcissism.

territoryofBelarus,aboutthe course and results of the election campaign 2020," BelTAreported.

Thecourtalsoorderedthe seizure of Herasimenia's apartment, her car and $48,700 in her bank accounts.

Belarusian opposition leader-in-exile Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, condemned thecourt'sruling.

" S h a m e f u l ! " Tsikhanouskaya said on her Twitteraccount."Theregime can't get to them, but their property in Belarus was seized, including a car & an apartment. This is how the regime tries to punish its opponentsinexile."

- BelTA

In-form Rashford leads dominant... In-f

From page 30 the earlier-than-planned withdrawal of Reece James, seven minutes into the second period, on his return from the kneeinjurythatruledhimoutof theEnglandsquadforQatar

The 23-year-old lay on the turf with his hands on his head before receiving treatment and eventuallywalkingoffunaided.

While the Cherries improved after the break, and substitute Ryan Christie forced home goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga into a good save, they rarely looked capable of applyinganylatepressuretothe hosts.

Aliaksandra Herasimenia of Belarus (bronze) poses with her medal at the 17th FINA World Aquatics Championships. (Reuters)

NBA roundup: Nets sink Cavs for 9th straight win

(Reuters)-KyrieIrvingscored 15 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter as the Brooklyn Nets survived a shaky finish and extended their winning streak to a season-high nine games with a 125-117 victory over the host Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night.

On the 11th anniversary of his NBAdebut with Cleveland, Irving made 11 of 19 shots and hit seven 3-pointers as Brooklyn took a pair of 19-point leads before withstanding Cleveland's late comeback try that featured several big shots by Darius Garland, who ledallscorerswith46points.

While Garland made 14 of 20 shots and finished with his fourth 40-point game of his career, Donovan Mitchell was held to 15 points.

Kevin Durant scored 32 points but fouled out for the sixth time in his career when he bumped Garlandwith1:54remaining.

Durant also moved past Tim Duncan for 15th place on the alltime scoring list and ended the nightat26,516careerpoints.

Garlandscored18ofhispoints inthefourth,includingajumperin the lane that made it 121-117 with 44secondsleft.

After two free throws by Irving, Garland was blocked in the lane by Nic Claxton with 31.3 secondsremainingandT.J.Warren hit two free throws to ice it with 13.8ticksleft.

Clippers 142, Pistons 131 (OT)

Paul George scored 32 points and handed out 11 assists as visitingLosAngeles,whichrallied from a 14-point deficit in the last three minutes of regulation, captured an overtime victory over Detroit.

Luke Kennard had 18 points

for Los Angeles, while Marcus Morris Sr., Norman Powell and John Wall supplied 16 points apiece.

Bojan Bogdanovic led eight Pistons in double figures with 23 points Isaiah Stewart had 21 points, Killian Hayes tossed in 18 with 10 assists and Jalen Duren added15pointsand12rebounds.

Heat 113, Timberwolves 110 Miami's defense forced 22 turnovers, the last coming on Kyle Lowry's steal in the closing seconds, to hold off visiting Minnesota.

Max Strus led the way with 19 points, including 5-of-10 shooting frombeyondthearc.Struswasone of five Miami players to score in doublefigures.

Lowry finished with 18 points andagame-highnineassists.

Anthony Edwards led all scorers with 29 points. Edwards, however, committed eight of Minnesota's 22 turnovers, the last ofwhichcameontheWolves'final opportunity when D'Angelo Russell lost the ball and Lowry came up with it to deny Minnesota a look at a potential overtimeforcing3-pointer

Pelicans113,Pacers93

Jonas Valanciunas had 20 points and 12 rebounds and shorthanded New Orleans routed visiting Indiana for its third win in arow

Naji Marshall added a careerhigh 22 points for the Pelicans, who played without Zion Williamson (reconditioning), Brandon Ingram (toe), Herbert Jones Jr (health and safety protocols), Trey Murphy III (nonCOVID illness) and Dyson Daniels(non-COVIDillness).

Bennedict Mathurin put up 15

points and MylesTurner scored 14 to lead the Pacers, who finished a 2-1roadtrip.

Rockets133,Bulls118

Kevin Porter Jr. scored 15 of his season-high 36 points in the fourth quarter as Houston snapped a five-game losing streak with a victoryoverhostChicago.

After the Bulls cut what was a 19-point deficit to 109-100, Porter responded with back-to-back 3pointers and a midrange pull-up that allowed the Rockets to finally seize control of a back-and-forth affair

Porter had plenty of help, however,asAlperenSengunadded 25 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.

DeMar DeRozan led Chicago with 31 points and nine assists.

Zach LaVine scored 22 points and Coby White had 14 off the bench for the Bulls, who had their threegamewinningstreaksnapped.

Spurs 126, Jazz 122

Devin Vassell scored 24 points and Tre Jones hit two shots in the lane in the final seconds to allow San Antonio to outlast visiting Utah.

TheSpurs,whohadlostfourof their previous five games, held on down the stretch after being up by 20 points late in the third quarter and by 14 heading to the fourth.

Keldon Johnson added 21 points for the Spurs, with Malaki Branhamscoringacareer-high20.

Lauri Markkanen led the Jazz with 32 points and 12 rebounds.

Jordan Clarkson added 25 points for Utah, which had a two-game

winningstreakend.

TrailBlazers124 , Hornets 113

Jerami Grant recorded 32 points and 10 rebounds, Jusuf Nurkic scored a season-high 28 points and grabbed 15 rebounds and Portland continued its home dominationofCharlotte.

Nurkic made a career-best five 3-pointers (in seven attempts) and GrantmadefourasPortlandended athree-gameslide.

LaMelo Ball registered 27 points, seven rebounds and seven assists before fouling out for the Hornets,wholostforthe10thtime inthepast12games.

The setback was Charlotte's 15th in a row in Portland dating back to a 93-85 victory on March 29, 2008, when the franchise was knownastheBobcats.

Norwich City sack head coach after three defeats in four

(BBC Sport) - Dean Smith has been sacked as Norwich City head coach after a run of just three wins in13Championshipmatches.

Assistant manager Craig Shakespeare and first-team coach Liam Bramley have also left CarrowRoad.

SteveWeaverandAllanRussell have taken caretaker charge of the team.

“As the club continues to work towards its on-field objectives this season, the board believe that it is the right time to make this transition," Norwich said in a statement."The club will now work to identify and appoint a new head coachthatisabletodeliverboththe level of performances required to challenge at the top end of the league whilst implementing a consistentstyleofplay."

Smith publicly questioned the attitudeofsomefansafterthehome

Dean Smith (Rex Features)

defeat by Blackburn on 17 December and said playing away wasbetterforhisside.

"I think a lot of them have been waitingforthisperiodtohappen,or wantingitto-Idon'tknow,"hetold BBCRadioNorfolkatthetime.

Monday's 2-1 defeat at Luton wasathirddefeatinfour

Canaries sporting director Stuart Webber added: "This was a tough decision, but one that we felt was necessarytogiveourselvesthe best possible chance of achieving our objective of promotion to the PremierLeaguethisseason.

"With just under half of the season remaining and three consecutive home games on the horizon we now have a real opportunity to build some forward and positive momentum, both on andoffthepitch."

Listen to BBC Radio Norfolk's The Scrimmage podcastThe

Canaries had been top of the table on 1 October but are now fifth and 12pointsoffthetoptwo.

Smith was appointed as Daniel Farke's successor in November 2021 but was unable to save them from relegation back to the Championshiplastseason.

Farke won the second-tier title twice during his four and a half years at the helm, but on each occasion they only lasted a single campaigninthePremierLeague.

Smith began his managerial career at Walsall before moving on toBrentfordandthenAstonVilla.

He guided Villa to promotion from the Championship in 2019 and they reached the Carabao Cup finalthefollowingyear

The former defender was sacked following five successive Premier League defeats at the start of the 2021-22 season, only to take theNorwichjobeightdayslater.

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Cedi Osman (16) and Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving (11) go for a loose ball during the second half at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. (USA TODAY Sports)

Hardik to lead India in T20I series against Sri Lanka

- Rohit returns for ODIs; Pant not in either squad

(Cricinfo) - Hardik Pandya will lead India in the three-match T20I series at home against Sri Lanka starting on January 3, with Suryakumar Yadav as his deputy, while Rohit Sharma is set to return for the three ODIsthatfollow.

Virat Kohli and KL Rahul are also not part of the T20I squad; and Shikhar Dhawan has been left out of the ODI set-up after a poor run in Bangladesh, where he scored only 18 runs in three innings at a strike rate of 51.42.Rishabh Pant has not been included in either the ODI or the T20I squad against Sri Lanka after he was given a break from the ODI series in Bangladesh. Pant subsequently returned forthetwoTestsandscoreda rapid 93 in the victory in Mirpur

The BCCI release that followed the selection meeting chaired by Chetan Sharma did not specify which players had been rested,droppedorinjured.

WhileRahulispartofthe

ODI squad, he hasn't been named vice-captain, with HardiktakingoverasRohit's deputy in his first 50-over series since the tour of England in July. Rahul had recentlyled India in the third ODI in Bangladesh after Rohit was ruled out with a thumbinjury.

Ravindra Jadeja did not feature in either squad as he continues his recovery from akneeinjury

HelastplayedforIndiaat the Asia Cup in UAE in August-September, and subsequently underwent surgery Jadeja's inclusion for the Bangladesh tour was provisional and he was later withdrawn after NCA medical staff deemed him "notfullyfit".

E S P N c r i c i n f o understands Jadeja's recovery is taking longer than expected, and while an exact date for his return isn't known, the team is keen to have him back for the fourTest series against Australia starting in February Jadeja could play in a Ranji Trophy

game for Saurashtra, subject to permission, to prove his match fitness ahead of that series.

The selectors chose a young pace attack for the T20IsagainstSriLankawith both Bhuvneshwar Kumar andMohammedShami,who were part of the 2022 T20 World Cup squad, missing. Shami, however, is back in the ODI set up for the first time since the tour of England in June-July, after being withdrawn from the recent tour of Bangladesh becauseofashoulderinjury

Uttar Pradesh's Shivam Mavi and Bengal's Mukesh Kumar earned maiden T20I call-ups following a prolific Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 season.

The T20I squad also features Harshal Patel and Umran Malik, whose mostrecent T20I was in June againstEngland.

E S P N c r i c i n f o understands Harshal had contracted covid upon his return from New Zealand

and was asked to rest from the first two rounds of the R a n j i Tr o p h y a s a precautionary measure. He was subsequently given a fitnessclearanceaheadofthe selectionmeeting.

Arshdeep Singh is back in the ODI squad after making his debut on the recent tour of New Zealand but missing the subsequent triptoBangladesh.

He is yet to take a wicket

in ODIs after going wicketless in two matches in NewZealand.

Middle-order batter

Rajat Patidar and spin allrounder Shahbaz Ahmed are the other omissions from the ODI squad after the recent series in Bangladesh, whereneitherplayedagame.

Deepak Chahar, who had pulled out of the tour of Bangladeshwithahamstring strain, was also not part of

eithersquad.Atthestartofan ODI World Cup year, India begin their home season by hosting Sri Lanka for three T20Is in Mumbai (January 3), Pune (January 5) and Rajkot(January7),andthree ODIs in Guwahati (January 10), Kolkata (January 12) and Thiruvananthapuram (January 15), after which they will also host New ZealandandAustraliabefore theIPL.

Novak Djokovic: Serb lands in Australia after ban overturned

(BBCSport)-NovakDjokovic has been welcomed back into Australiaalmostayearafterhewas deported over his Covid vaccine status.

Officialsconfirmedthe21-time Grand Slam champion, 35, had landed in the country for January's AustralianOpen.

Serb Djokovic, a nine-time Australian Open winner, had an automatic three-year visa ban overturnedinNovember

"I think that he is going to be again the player to beat," said Tennis Australia chief executive CraigTiley

Last January, when Djokovic arrived in Australia for the 2022 tournament, Covid cases were skyrocketing and government rules required anyone entering the country to be vaccinated - unless they had a valid medication exemption.

Djokovic, who was detained by the Australian Border Force on entering the country and forced to stay at an immigration hotel, claimed he had obtained a medical exemption to defend his title without being vaccinated because

After being forced to leave Australia last year, Novak Djokovic also missed the 2022 US Open due to his Covid vaccine status. (Reuters)

he had recently recovered from Covid-19.However, after 10 days of legal argument, the government ruled he did not meet the requirements for entry, so his visa

was cancelled and he was automatically not allowed to return toAustraliauntil2025.

D j o k o v i c ' s d e t e n t i o n dominated the headlines in the

build-up to the tournament, with crowds gathering outside his hotel campaigning for and against his eventualdeportation.

Immigration Minister Andrew

Giles - whose government came to power in May - overturned the ban last month and Djokovic said he was "very happy" on hearing the news.

Tiley said he did not expect a backlash to the player's return and added: "We welcome him back to Australia."I have a great deal of confidenceintheAustralianpublic. I have a lot of confidence that the fans will react how we hope they willreact."

Djokovic, the world number five, said in November he was relieved to be able to return to Melbourne.

"[The] Australian Open has been my most successful Grand Slam," he added. "I made some of thebestmemoriesthere.

"Of course, I want to go back there,Iwanttoplaytennis,dowhat I do best, hopefully have a great Australiansummer."

Djokovic, who is one Grand Slam title behind Rafael Nadal's recordof22,isscheduledtoplayin the Adelaide International, beginning Sunday, with the Australian Open starting in Melbourneon16January

Hardik Pandya and Rohit Sharma

Premier League: In-form Rashford leads dominant Man Utd to victory

(BBC Sport) - Marcus Rashford scored one and c r e a t e d a n o t h e r a s M a n c h e s t e r U n i t e d overcame illness issues to beat Nottingham Forest and movetowithinapointofthe topfour

Rashford converted a superb opener after 19 minuteswhenhewaspicked out by Christian Eriksen in a pre-planned corner routine, allowing the striker to exploit Forest's failure to track his run by sweeping a first-time shot past Wayne Hennessey

The England forward turned provider three minuteslater,cuttinginfrom the left wing and rolling a pass to Antony Martial, whose low finish from the edge of the area found the net after Hennessey failed to hold.

Forest's keeper denied Antony, Martial and Rashford before substitute Fred profited from an excellent through ball from fellowBrazilianCasemiroto find the bottom corner three

minutesfromtime.

Forest never recovered from that first-half double blow,althoughtheydidhave a goal ruled out by VAR just beforethebreak.

SteveCooper'smenhave not scored a league goal away from the City Ground since 20 August and remain secondbottom.

For United, it completed a fourth successive victory in all competitions and underlined the theory that theexitofCristianoRonaldo will not have a negative effect on the remainder of theirseason.

Comfortable Chelsea winbooststop-fourhopes Chelsea boosted their top-four hopes as they resumed their Premier League season with a comfortable victory over Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge.

Having failed to score in three consecutive matches prior to the break for the World Cup it took Chelsea less than 16 minutes to get up and running with Kai

Havertz sliding in an effort at the back post from RaheemSterling'slowcross.

Withthehostsdominant, Mason Mount celebrated his 150th appearance for Chelsea in style, curling a superb effort intothebottom right corner of the Bournemouth net from the edgeofthepenaltyarea.

It drew a nod of satisfaction from manager Graham Potter, who will have been delighted by the slick performance his side delivered, particularly duringthefirsthalf.

Christian Pulisic saw an effortruledoutafterHavertz was judged to have fouled Adam Smith, while the German also spurned a second-half opportunity to extendChelsea'slead.

The result sees Chelsea move up to eighth in the table, six points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham w i t h B o u r n e m o u t h remaining in 14th.The only negative in Potter's and Chelsea'seveningcamewith

(Continued in page 27)

Too soon for Pooran

(Trinidad Express)From the very moment Nicholas Pooran was appointed CWI white ball captain, the general feeling was;toomuchtoosoon.

The panel that made that decision had no logic or sense of history regarding West Indies captaincy, but it wasfeltbytheofficialsthatit would have been a popular choice among Caribbean cricketlovers.

Unfortunately young Pooran who was probably d e l i g h t e d w i t h t h e appointment, and saw the glory of being the West Indies white ball captain. However, he may have been welladvisedtoconsultsenior ex-players who may have advised him differently In short he was thrown in at the deep end. The weight of the job affected his confidence, his batting deteriorated and not leading the T&T franchise in the Caribbean PremierLeaguedidnothelp.

If the appointing committee had checked with previously appointed captains they would have seen that almost all had the opportunity of gaining captaincy experience at the club level and leading their national sides in the regional W e s t I n d i e s competition.From way back in time, this has been the case, all the way from R K NunesthroughtoBrianLara, Jimmy Adams, Carl Hooper, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Darren Sammy, Denesh Ramdin and Carlos Brathwaite. That leadership component Pooran just did nothave.

My nominee for T20 WestIndiescaptainwouldbe

Cody Gakpo: Liverpool agree to sign forward, say PSV Eindhoven

(BBC Sport) - Liverpool have agreed to sign Netherlands forward CodyGakpofromPSVEindhoven, saytheDutchclub.

Gakpo, 23, had an impressive World Cup in Qatar, scoring three goals as he helped the Netherlands reachthequarter-finals.

The fee for the winger is expected to be between 40m-50m euros(£35.4m-£44.3m).

PSV say Gakpo will travel to England to complete the deal, adding that it would be a record transferforthem.

Liverpool have made a move with forwards Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota facing lengthy spells on the sidelines.

Manchester United have been heavily linked with a move for Gakpo "The PSV management completed the negotiations on Boxing Day and gave Gakpo permission to travel to England," saidastatementfromtheEredivisie side.

Gakpo has been in fine form this season, scoring nine goals and providing 12 assists in 14 league gamesforPSV

He has also managed three goals and registered two assists in fiveEuropaLeagueoutings.

At the World Cup, he scored in each of his country's group games against Senegal, Ecuador and Qatar

Liverpool beat Aston Villa 3-1 on Monday as they returned to Premier League action; manager Jurgen Klopp's side are sixth in the topflight.

Reds defender Virgil van Dijk, an international team-mate, spoke glowingly about the winger during theWorldCup.

"Hopefully Cody can go to the moon and back," said Van Dijk duringthetournamentinQatar "He is a very good player and a good boytoo.

“Whatweseeintrainingiswhat youseeonthepitch.Thereisstillso much potential and I hope he can carry on showing it for us. We are veryhappywithhim."

Rovman Powell, who has demonstrated his capability beyond doubt after successfully leading his CPL franchise Jamaica Tallawahs and the regional franchise Jamaica Scorpions to two titles.

Powell displayed good captaincy with the bat and ballwhenhisteamwasunder pressure and his personal leadership skills had the backingofhisentiresquad.

In choosing my One-Day International captain, I have followed the line of being consistent and since Shai Hope was the previous vicecaptain to Kieron Pollard for well over a year, he would be my ODI choice. I am aware that he was criticised for not being aggressive enough recently in Antigua in the CWI 50-over competition but it will be fair to say that Hope may have been leading what was possibly the weakestBarbadianside,with over a half-dozen players

missingonWestIndiesduty

To conclude my thoughts on West Indies cricket in 2023, I would have liked to have seen at least two rounds of our unsponsored firstclassseasonbeplayedbefore leaving for South Africa and the first-class season being competed on their return. That will not happen now, given Cricket West Indies' recent announcements about theupcomingseason.

However, our first-class season remains the shortest in world cricket and I would like to humbly suggest that senior West Indies cricket officials, working with the good officers of the cricketloving president Irfan Ali of Guyana, seek to arrange a meeting with Exxon mobile officials towards finally solving the problem of lack of sponsorship - as Shell did so wonderfully well in the 1970s.

Reds Perreira is a veterancricketcommentator

Nicholas Pooran

Cody Gakpo (Getty Images)

Marcus Rashford has scored five goals in his past five starts for Manchester United and England. (Reuters)

Imlach adjudged best Batman, Scott named best bowler at OMCC awards

Fo

Indies U19

wicket keeper –batsman, Tevin Imlach, took the best batsman prize while Jeremiah Scott grabbed the best bowler accolade when the One Movement Cricket Club held its award ceremony recently at the MalteenoesSportsClub.

Imlach scored 296 runs while Scott took 33 wickets as the club won 18 of its 20 matches for the year Scott was voted theMostValuablePlayer Megial Parks was the second highest run getter with 258 followed by OwenAndrewson248.

Other outstanding batsmen were Adrian Hinds, Scott, Royale Melville, Laurel Parks, Damuka Junior, Joshua FerrellandColisRimple.

Melville was the second highest wicket taker with 24 followed by Junior with 17 Also

among the wickets were Parks, Rimple, Dave Balgobin, Stephon Wilson, Ezekiel Wilson andTuenHicks.

T h e e v e n t w a s sponsored by Keoma Williams, One Movement Heat Transfer Shop, Exotic Prints, Guyana Beverage Inc ., Ansa Mc Al, Chrissy Invernary, OCK Farm Productions, C and C Cleaning Services, Synergy Vertex, 007 Hot Spot bar, One M o v e m e n t Entertainment, JS17 online shopping, CR7 bats repair shop and GEA staffs.Theclubmadetrips to East Coast,Wakenaam, L i n d e n H i g h w a y, Berbice, Georgetown and EastBankDemerara.

Owner of the club, Royale Melville, said the year has been successful for the club and he was p l e a s e d w i t h t h e commitment shown by theplayers.

Ashraf “River Conqueror”

BySamuelWhyte

Overseas based Guyanese, Ashraf the 'River Conqueror' Ali, the 76 year old former school teacher formerly of Canefield East Canje, Berbice, Guyana has no plans of slowing down from his regular river swims.

After swimming all the main rivers in Guyana and theAtlantic Ocean, he is once again swimming the Berbice River He is scheduledtoundertakethe task on Thursday, December29.

Now residing in the USA, a Pastor of The Christadelphian Church, Ali had planned to swim the River on a yearly basis whilst undertaking other tasks However, the Covid 19 Pandemic had badly disrupted his schedule, so after a two-year hiatus, he isatitagain.

Ali started swimming long distancesatanearlyageandfirstswam over the Canje River as a youth, something which he would do on a regular basis He first swam the Berbice River in 1979. In 1998, he swam the Suriname River; swimming from Skeldon to Stratt in Nickerie, Suriname.

In 1999, he swam the Demerara

Before he swam in the Atlantic Ocean, Ali met with former President, David Granger, for a cordial meeting about his feats.

people would say the rivers lakes and oceans are dangerous to swim in. People talk about the waters b e i n g f u l l o f dangerous creatures such as anacondas, e l e c t r i c e e l s , stingrays, caimans, piranhas, alligators and sharks etc, and I should swim with protectivegear.”

He said he has a passionforswimming and plans to swim the Pacific and other Oceans. To him, age doesn't matter, he likeschallenges.

River In 2016 he swam the Mighty Essequibo River He has also swam Lake Mainstay twice During the interim, he undertook swims nonstop back and forth, unaccompanied, without a boat across both the DemeraraandBerbiceRivers.

In 2017, Ali undertook the task to challenge the choppy, murky waters of the Atlantic Ocean where he swam his planned seven miles distance in 2 ½ hours.

Speaking about his regular swims hesaidheisnotscared.“Theonlyscary part is before I undertake my feats

He graduated from the DeVry UniversityintheUSA with a degree in ElectronicsandComputerTechnology He got anAinTelevision repairs. He is also a qualified Television Producer and produces a popular Television programme in the Queens area called “TheBestThingsinLifeareFree.”

Ali graduated from BHS in 1967.A trained teacher, he taught Science and mathematics at a number of Secondary and Primary Schools in the Berbice area. He also lectured at The New AmsterdamTechnicalInstituteandwas alsoheadoftheScienceDepartmentof theCanjeSecondarySchool.

Former players of C a m p t o w n Football Club (CFC), located in First Street, Campbellville who are now residing in New York, USA, andundertheCamptownNew York umbrella, have made a timely donation of equipment tohelpboostthedevelopment oftheyoutharmofCFC.

President of Camptown New York, Ralph Green who was in Guyana recently handed over the equipment to CFC President, Brother AkramSabre.

Among the items handed over are two uniform kits for 18 players along with two goalkeeper kits, training ladders, training hurdles, training bibs, spot markers, cones, 12 balls, and players'sackpacks.

Camptown NY President Ralph Green in handing over the items to CFC President AkramSabree challenged him and his executive to commence the rebirth of the club so that they can return to the glory days in the near future by dint of consistent

and committed work with the youths.

“We are eager from the NewYorkendtoseeyouguys get back to being very active asaclub.

The youths deserve your support and we are here to ensure that you get the requisiteassistanceinorderto achieve this objective. We have always been supportive and will continue to be there forthisclubbutweneedtosee some action and consistency fromthisend.”

CFC has over the years produced numerous junior and senior national team players apart from being one of the top-tier clubs in the city and even won the Kashif and S h a n g h a i y e a r - e n d championships.

President along with former CFC Captain and national team player, Troy 'Bugs' Prescod accepted the equipment and promised to work collectively with Camptown NY to return the club to its former glory by investing in a robust youth developmentplan.

Members of the One Movement Cricket Club following their awards ceremony

Ali goes at it again with another swim over the Berbice River

Premier League: In-form Rashford leads dominant Man Utd to victory

(BBC Sport) - Marcus Rashford scored one and c r e a t e d a n o t h e r a s M a n c h e s t e r U n i t e d overcame illness issues to beat Nottingham Forest and movetowithinapointofthe topfour

Rashford converted a superb opener after 19 minuteswhenhewaspicked out by Christian Eriksen in a pre-planned corner routine, allowing the striker to exploit Forest's failure to track his run by sweeping a first-time shot past Wayne Hennessey

The England forward turned provider three minuteslater,cuttinginfrom the left wing and rolling a pass to Antony Martial, whose low finish from the edge of the area found the net after Hennessey failed to hold.

Forest's keeper denied Antony, Martial and Rashford before substitute Fred profited from an excellent through ball from fellowBrazilianCasemiroto find the bottom corner three

minutesfromtime.

Forest never recovered from that first-half double blow,althoughtheydidhave a goal ruled out by VAR just beforethebreak.

SteveCooper'smenhave not scored a league goal away from the City Ground since 20 August and remain secondbottom.

For United, it completed a fourth successive victory in all competitions and underlined the theory that theexitofCristianoRonaldo will not have a negative effect on the remainder of theirseason.

Comfortable Chelsea winbooststop-fourhopes Chelsea boosted their top-four hopes as they resumed their Premier League season with a comfortable victory over Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge.

Having failed to score in three consecutive matches prior to the break for the World Cup it took Chelsea less than 16 minutes to get up and running with Kai

Havertz sliding in an effort at the back post from RaheemSterling'slowcross.

Withthehostsdominant, Mason Mount celebrated his 150th appearance for Chelsea in style, curling a superb effort intothebottom right corner of the Bournemouth net from the edgeofthepenaltyarea.

It drew a nod of satisfaction from manager Graham Potter, who will have been delighted by the slick performance his side delivered, particularly duringthefirsthalf.

Christian Pulisic saw an effortruledoutafterHavertz was judged to have fouled Adam Smith, while the German also spurned a second-half opportunity to extendChelsea'slead.

The result sees Chelsea move up to eighth in the table, six points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham w i t h B o u r n e m o u t h remaining in 14th.The only negative in Potter's and Chelsea'seveningcamewith

(Continued in page 25)

Too soon for Pooran

(Trinidad Express)From the very moment Nicholas Pooran was appointed CWI white ball captain, the general feeling was;toomuchtoosoon.

The panel that made that decision had no logic or sense of history regarding West Indies captaincy, but it wasfeltbytheofficialsthatit would have been a popular choice among Caribbean cricketlovers.

Unfortunately young Pooran who was probably d e l i g h t e d w i t h t h e appointment, and saw the glory of being the West Indies white ball captain. However, he may have been welladvisedtoconsultsenior ex-players who may have advised him differently In short he was thrown in at the deep end. The weight of the job affected his confidence, his batting deteriorated and not leading the T&T franchise in the Caribbean PremierLeaguedidnothelp.

If the appointing committee had checked with previously appointed captains they would have seen that almost all had the opportunity of gaining captaincy experience at the club level and leading their national sides in the regional W e s t I n d i e s competition.From way back in time, this has been the case, all the way from R K NunesthroughtoBrianLara, Jimmy Adams, Carl Hooper, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Darren Sammy, Denesh Ramdin and Carlos Brathwaite. That leadership component Pooran just did nothave.

My nominee for T20 WestIndiescaptainwouldbe

Cody Gakpo: Liverpool agree to sign forward, say PSV Eindhoven

(BBC Sport) - Liverpool have agreed to sign Netherlands forward CodyGakpofromPSVEindhoven, saytheDutchclub.

Gakpo, 23, had an impressive World Cup in Qatar, scoring three goals as he helped the Netherlands reachthequarter-finals.

The fee for the winger is expected to be between 40m-50m euros(£35.4m-£44.3m).

PSV say Gakpo will travel to England to complete the deal, adding that it would be a record transferforthem.

Liverpool have made a move with forwards Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota facing lengthy spells on the sidelines.

Manchester United have been heavily linked with a move for Gakpo "The PSV management completed the negotiations on Boxing Day and gave Gakpo permission to travel to England," saidastatementfromtheEredivisie side.

Gakpo has been in fine form this season, scoring nine goals and providing 12 assists in 14 league gamesforPSV

He has also managed three goals and registered two assists in fiveEuropaLeagueoutings.

At the World Cup, he scored in each of his country's group games against Senegal, Ecuador and Qatar

Liverpool beat Aston Villa 3-1 on Monday as they returned to Premier League action; manager Jurgen Klopp's side are sixth in the topflight.

Reds defender Virgil van Dijk, an international team-mate, spoke glowingly about the winger during theWorldCup.

"Hopefully Cody can go to the moon and back," said Van Dijk duringthetournamentinQatar "He is a very good player and a good boytoo.

“Whatweseeintrainingiswhat youseeonthepitch.Thereisstillso much potential and I hope he can carry on showing it for us. We are veryhappywithhim."

Rovman Powell, who has demonstrated his capability beyond doubt after successfully leading his CPL franchise Jamaica Tallawahs and the regional franchise Jamaica Scorpions to two titles.

Powell displayed good captaincy with the bat and ballwhenhisteamwasunder pressure and his personal leadership skills had the backingofhisentiresquad.

In choosing my One-Day International captain, I have followed the line of being consistent and since Shai Hope was the previous vicecaptain to Kieron Pollard for well over a year, he would be my ODI choice. I am aware that he was criticised for not being aggressive enough recently in Antigua in the CWI 50-over competition but it will be fair to say that Hope may have been leading what was possibly the weakestBarbadianside,with over a half-dozen players

missingonWestIndiesduty

To conclude my thoughts on West Indies cricket in 2023, I would have liked to have seen at least two rounds of our unsponsored firstclassseasonbeplayedbefore leaving for South Africa and the first-class season being competed on their return. That will not happen now, given Cricket West Indies' recent announcements about theupcomingseason.

However, our first-class season remains the shortest in world cricket and I would like to humbly suggest that senior West Indies cricket officials, working with the good officers of the cricketloving president Irfan Ali of Guyana, seek to arrange a meeting with Exxon mobile officials towards finally solving the problem of lack of sponsorship - as Shell did so wonderfully well in the 1970s.

Reds Perreira is a veterancricketcommentator

Nicholas Pooran

Cody Gakpo (Getty Images)

Marcus Rashford has scored five goals in his past five starts for Manchester United and England. (Reuters)

Colossal One Guyana President's Cup semis on tonight

- Region 4 vs Region 5; Region 3 vs Region 7

By Rawle Toney

The highly anticipated semifinals of the One Guyana President's Cup will take place this evening at the National Track andFieldCentre.

In the opening game from 6:00 pm, Region 4 will take on Region 5, while at 8:00 pm, the homeside,Region3andRegion7 willgohead-to-head.

Thetournament,fashionedby President Irfaan Ali and administered by the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation, along with the Guyana Football Federation(GFF), hadanexciting climax to the Group stage, setting the tone for what will be stimulatingsemis.

Region 3 finished on top of Group B after a heated exchange with Region 10, which ended in a 2 – 2 stalemate on Monday at the WestDemerarafacility

Entering their final Group B game on five points (a win and two draws), Region 10 needed a wintoadvance.

Both Region 10 and Region 5 were locked on five points entering their final game, but in the opening game on Monday, the West Coast Berbice team slammed in six goals against Region2towin6–1.

Region 10, playing Region 3, saw the score line sticking at zero attheendofthefirststanza.Coach Anthony Stephens replaced an injured Donavon Francis with former youth National player Shane Luckie and immediately, thegamechanged.

Luckie, the burly forward known for his scoring ability in Linden's club football structure, buried the game's first goal from a well-taken free-kick just four minutesintothesecondhalf.

Pandemoniumbrokeoutsoon after (59th minute) when Jahsawn Moore rifled home the goal of the tournament.

Taken from just over the halfway line on the pitch, Moore's free-kick rocked the net after he timedhisshottoperfection.

ItwasallRegion10.

However, Coach Nantambu Bilal made some changes after going down two goals, and things paidoff.

Second-half sub but a usual starterinthetournament,Roundel Hutson started the comeback in the 73rd minutewithhisgoal.

Referee Gladwyn Johnson kept a stern w h i s t l e i n t h e tournament, and the Region 3 vs Region 10 clashwasnodifferent.

Eleven players (five fromRegion10,sixfrom Region 3) picked up yellow cards at various points in the game, but a nonsensical tackle by NicholasGentlesawhim booked in the 80th minute and for the second time in the game, which meant that Region 10reducedto10men.

In the next position in the game (81st minute), KobiAlexander headed home the equalizer Region 3 just needed a draw to advance and when Region 10 failed to score another goal, the result saw the Essequibo Islands/West Demerara team finishing on top of Group B to set up their clashwithRegion7.

Meanwhile, the game's opening game had little to cheer about, other than Region 5 showing their goalscoring prowess against the weaker Region 2 team.

Apart from the $2M up for grabs for the winner, each player will pocket $80,000 as a oneoffpayment.

Team captains received $100,000. The head coach of each team collected $100,000,

while members of his coaching staffreceived$80,000.

For each win in the group stage, teams were rewarded $200,000, and each semi-finalist will collect $400,000. Second placeteamtoget$1M.

The Region Three team

nd

Camptown New York President, Ralph Green (2 right), Troy Prescod (right), CFC President Akram Sabre (left) and youths of the club display the donated items.