Kaieteur News

Former EPA Head says:

ExxonMobil allowed to break Laws of

Guyana while Locals are being prosecuted

...Govt. playing with fire with no parent guarantee for oil spills

Upon reflection of t h e Government's management of the oil and gassector,formerHeadofthe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Vincent Adams said there are two alarming issues all Guyanese must raise their voices against.

He said the citizenry ought to be outraged that for two years, the PPPC Administration has allowed ExxonMobil Corporation through its subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) to operate two ships, the Liza Destiny and the Liza Unity, without securing a full coverageliability

He recalled that the Government has only secured a US$600M per occurrence coverage and is yettotellthenationthestatus of talks for a US$2B parent guarantee for the Stabroek BlockfromExxon.

Dr Adams said what is even more disturbing is that in the absence of such parent guarantee, ExxonMobil is pumping oil beyond the approved safety limits for the Liza Destiny He noted that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the

Liza Phase One Project outlines the safe operating limitas120,000barrelsofoil perday.

Exxon is now pumping 150,000barrelsperday.

Takingthisstateofaffairs into consideration, Dr. Adams said 2022 has been plagued by poor governance. He said with the absence of a parent guarantee-Guyanese authorities are playing with fire.

During his recent appearance on Kaieteur Radio's Programme, Guyana's Oil and You, Dr Adams said, “I wish I could report good news about the Government's performance this year but unfortunately I cannot Exxon has been allowed to get away with thumbing their noses at our Laws and an excellent example to start with is the full liability coverage which means securing financial protection from the parent company to cover all costs if somethinghappens.”

Dr Adams recalled that when he had served as the EPA's Chief, Exxon had agreed in writing to comply with the provision of full coverage He said Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, had also admitted to

thiswhenhelastappearedon theGlennLallShow.

M u c h t o h i s disappointment, Guyana has been running for two years without a parent guarantee that would ensure it does not gobankrupt.

Dr Adams said it is very d i s t u r b i n g t h a t t h e Administration is neglecting its responsibility to ensure that the Rule of Law is compliedwith.

He said citizens ought to hold the Government accountableforsuchreckless endangerment.

“Exxon is essentially breakingthelawandtheyare allowed to get away with it. Why aren't they prosecuted for their actions? But we will send the full force of the Law to unleash retribution on Locals for illegal acts with lesser consequences,” expressed the former EPA Head.

While Dr Adams' concernsarealsosharedwith other industry stakeholders, the Government appears to be nonchalant in addressing same.

At a Press Conference held two months ago, the Vice President was asked to address the concerns raised by Dr Adams on the safety limits being violated and the status of discussions on the parentguarantee.

issues are for the EPA to address.

That regulatory body has not held an engagement with members of the media to address these specific matters.

OILSPILLRISKS

Shouldanunmitigatedoil spill occur at any of E x x o n M o b i l ' s f o u r sanctioned projects, namely the Liza Phase One, Liza Phase Two, Payara and Yellowtail in the Stabroek Block, Kaieteur News would have reported, that it could have far-reaching effects for RegionOnetoTwo.

The 185th year of Emancipation and the Bicentennial Anniversary of the Demerara Slave Revolt will be observed in August 2023.

In honour of the milestone of emancipation and the ushering in of the observance of the resistance to slavery, the inaugural Emancipation Games will be launched, Organizers said in aPressRelease.

The Emancipation Games, which will be an annualevent,aresetfor4&5 August 2023 and will come on the heels of the traditional E m a n c i p a t i o n D a y celebrations of August 1 The Games will also precede the observance of the bicentennial anniversary of theDemeraraSlaveRevolt.

Several events are planned for the Games and will include the featured Emancipation Race that consists of a long distance

road race open to all interested runners and aimed atculminatingthecelebration of emancipation and a c k n o w l e d g i n g t h e commemoration of the 1823 Demerara Slave Revolt, the releaseadded.

According to the Press Release, consultations with several villages about the Games, have commenced and similar engagements with other villages will be undertaken.

The list of participating villages will be announced upon completion of the consultations Also, the Emancipation Games Committee is evaluating several grounds on the East Coast for the hosting of the Games. The Emancipation Games are being held under the aegis of the International Decade for People ofAfrican Descent Assembly-Guyana as a legacy to people of AfricandescentinGuyana.

He was dismissive on both fronts, stating that such

For theYellowtail project in particular, the EIA notes that there can be devastating implications for the marine life and ecosystems of nations such as Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited said it identified 16 spill scenarios, including spills of d i f f e r e n t t y p e s o f hydrocarbons(e.g.,crudeoil, marine diesel, fuel oil, lubricating oil), with several being applicable for spills at theshorebasesandonvessels in the Demerara River estuary (e.g., from a supply vessel) or in the Atlantic Ocean (e.g., from a well, drillship, supply vessel, t a n k e r , F P S O ) But the largest of these scenarios considered a loss-

of-well-control incident at the seafloor In such a scenario,EEPGLsaidthereis a5to40percentchanceofthe oil contacting the coast in Region One, and a 5 to 10 percent probability of the oil reaching Region Two Expounding in this regard, EEPGL said, “If oil were to reach the Guyana shoreline, those resources most at risk would include protected areas (i e , Shell Beach), coastal habitats (especially mangroves and marshes), and coastal wildlife (especially birds), as well as coastal communities and i n d i g e n o u s p e o p l e s dependent on fishing in the ocean and other ecosystem services.”

EEPGLfurthernotedthat based on the oil spill models it considered, there is the p o t e n t i a l f o r a n unmitigated oil spill to r e a c h t h r e e m a i n geographic regions:

Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, and the so called “ABC Islands” (Aruba, Bonaire,andCuraçao).

Othercountriesthatcould be affected include: Barbados,St.Vincentandthe Grenadines, St. Lucia, and Grenada.

Due to its location at the southern end of the Lesser Antilles, EEPGLwas keen to note that Trinidad and Tobago has the highest probability of any of the Antilleanislandsofshoreline oiling as a result of a loss-ofwell-controlevent.

The probability of oiling at least a portion of the coast of Trinidad and Tobago and/or its coastal waters is approximately 10 to 100 percent, the oil company said.

Despite the foregoing risks, EEPGL was keen to note that it is taking every possible measure to ensure thatitsoperationsaresafe.

Inaugural Emancipation Games set for first weekend in August 2023 Guyana to become arbitration capital of the Caribbean with realization of modern Law - Nandlall

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC has said the Government will be actively working to realise the establishment of a modern Arbitration Bill in the New Year

“TobetakentotheParliamentisthe most modern Arbitration Bill in the Caribbean. In fact, it is described as a CARICOM model, because we intend tomakeGuyanaanarbitrationcapitalof not only the Caribbean but possibly Central America,” Nandlall told audience recently on his programme 'IssuesintheNews'.

The Attorney General noted that arbitration is the ideal method of dispute resolution for the oil and gas sector and a modern Legislation would instill confidence in International Investors that Guyana can be a competentarbitrationhub.

He asserted that the Government is confident in its ability to provide the

necessary infrastructure, educate the necessary employees, and prepare the system to deal with conflicts that may arise in the industry In support of the Arbitration Bill, he highlighted that a series of training exercises commenced last year for Professionals, the

Judiciary,andthePrivateSector

He explained, “sensitising the populationoftheconceptofarbitration, the importance of arbitration, and the benefits we can derive from making Guyana an arbitration destination Many of the huge contracts that are being entered, both at the level of infrastructure as well as in the oil and gas sector have arbitration clauses that require this arbitration to be taken to different parts of the world if the contractsrequirearbitration.”

AGNandlallalsonotedthatGuyana does not currently have a modern arbitration infrastructure to meet internationalstandards.

“We intend to change that. The arbitration industry alone is a multibillion-dollarindustry.”

He noted too that the PPPC Government remains committed by repealing outdated laws and creating a contemporary legal framework. The Government has set out on a rigorous mission to modernise Guyana's legal system.

Former EPA Head, Dr. Vincent Adams

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC

24SaffonStreet, Charlestown,Georgetown,Guyana.

Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456

NIGELWILLIAMS

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

EDITORIAL

GUYANESESTIRRINGANGRILY

Guyanesearegettingthemessage,andtheydon’t like it. ExxonMobil went too far with its

billboard,nowmanyGuyanesefeelinsulted. In trying to squeeze the hands of Guyanese with its golden handshakeofroyaltyandprofits,ExxonMobiloverstepped and riled up Guyanese, who were previously silent and complacent.

It is good to see Guyanese getting out of their shells, speaking out for themselves. More citizens must also get outoftheircomfortzonesandgetinthefaceofExxonMobil anditsmessengers,andletthemheartheangeranddisgust in their voices. Guyanese must get in the face of ExxonMobil using all the tools and channels at their disposal. Itcouldbeanysocialmediaplatform,itcouldbe the letter columns in the media, it could be through radio shows, TV programmes, and when they gather together at theirplacesofwork,communities,outletsforsocialleisure. Let the messengers and defenders of what ExxonMobil is doinghear,andthoseputtingtheirownsweetspinsonthem, hearthesharpdiscontentsofthosewhohavelivedinpoverty for generations, and look on this national oil patrimony to fulfilltheirhopes,thewayoutoftheirtoughcircumstances.

Guyanese must reject the slick messages that ExxonMobilputinpublic.

It must not matter who the messengers of ExxonMobil are, be they Guyanese orAmerican- be they those who are powerful and protective of ExxonMobil’s interests. Or be theythosewho,duetotheirnearnessto,andgettingapiece of the riches, cheer the vile deeds that ExxonMobil did to Guyana. ExxonMobil did so to all Guyanese, through the Coalition APNU+AFC weaknesses and failures ExxonMobil does so again today because of the spinelessness, believed comprised nature of the PPPC Governmentthatallowsittodowhatitpleases,evenifthe degradingispartofthepicture. Thedevelopmentinvolving billboardsqualifiesassuchascheme,suchapicture.

It is an ugly electronic one, which shares a few things that make the American company look good (royalties, profits), while excluding other mult-imillion dollar things (bills,damagetosectorsandwaters)thatdrainanddevastate domesticdreams.

Guyanese must keep on making their voices heard, so thattheworldcouldgetthetruepicture,andthefullstory,of how ExxonMobil has been the most covetous, the most rapacious,ofmodern-dayplunderersofGuyana’swealth. If Guyanesedonotstepupnow,andspeakoutnow,thenthere isnotelling,likelynolimit,ofhowfarExxonMobil,withthe fullcooperationofafeeblePPPCGovernment,willpushits freedomstomisleadthepeoplesofthisnation.

LetExxonMobilhear,Guyanese,thatitmustbeamore honest partner, what it must do to be recognized and accepted as a trusted presence in Guyana. The company muststopputtingoutpropaganda.Itmustputmoremoney on the table for the Guyanese people. Instead of spending money,andwastingtime,tomakefoolsofGuyanese,allthat thepeopleatExxonMobilhastodo,istofreeuptheirpurse strings. This is so that all Guyanese can get to appreciate that there is oil, that they are the owners, and that they are benefiting tangibly from their wealth. ExxonMobil has to bepushedtocomeclean.

Letthisrealitybefaced. ExxonMobilwillnotbemoved by reasoning and appeal. History has demonstrated time andagainthatConquerorsandUsurpers,andCheatersand Hustlers,knowonlyonelanguage,respondtothatonly Itis pressure, sustained pressure, that what they believe is acceptableisdismissedoutofcontention,withthemessage ofbillboardsbeingfirstinline.

Thisisnomatterhowself-servingandacceptablethose aretotheMasterHuckstersandSellersoftricksandconsin their efforts, to pull the wool over the eyes of Guyanese. Enough is enough, and it past the hour when ExxonMobil shouldbemadetosenseandfeeltheunmovingpositionsof those who are cheated, who know that this is what is happening to them, at the hands of ExxonMobil. There is thisbillboardconcoctionfromthemindsofitspeoplehere andabroad.

Democracy in Guyana means demons gone crazy

DEAREDITOR, PresidentAli.Mytrainingby apparently the case to allow times, he apologizes but not Ihopeyou,yourstaffand the British suggests that this outsider to discharge before or after justifying his all Guyanese had a peaceful yearsafter-withutilityinthe severalrounds. behaviour and seeks to and thoughtful Christmas.A followingorderisstillvalid, As I understand it when justifyhisuncouthbehaviour review of incidents which i.e.boots,baton,bayonetand youcarryapistol,unlessyou inaratheraggressivetone. took place before Christmas bullets.Oncethismanwasin perceivetobeinadangerous Is Mr. Charandass suggestthatattherateweare the vicinity of the fence of situation, there is no need to Persaud still enjoying the going, dictionaries and State House demanding to put a round in the breech. perksofoffice?Hashebeen lexicon determine that see the President, then Anytrainedpersoncanputa reassignedoncehisContract democracyinGuyanameans Standard Procedure should roundinthebreechtorender terminated or will this be demonsgonecrazy. require the rank on duty to thepistollethal. Ifneededin anotherStatesecret?

Below, I refer to four shout out Stop! Halt! or asplitsecondandasseemsto M r E d i t o r a n d separate but related whatever other words are to be the case at State House, Guyanese, listen to this incidents. First, the alleged beused. unless this Nigerian had recording of the apology fracasatStateHousewherea If the person keeps militarytraining,evenifyou made by Charandass and Police rank sustained coming forward, an got hold of the pistol and Judge for yourself where he injuries inflicted by a knife adequately trained rank will there is no round in the draws an interesting wielding- man. This should immediately adopt a breach, an ordinary person distinction between males have warranted a full scale defensive or attack stance pulling the trigger would and females. The third issue investigation particularly and dependent on the speed soon find out that there can is the unfortunate handling since the rank was posted to withwhichthatpersonkeeps benodischarge. of our natural resources and protectourHeadofState. coming forward, could What is more worrisome the transfer of State assets

But the reason for throwhimselftotheground, about this on-the-bed and resources to the chosen returning to this matter is and using his boot with promotion is that there is in few, but we will deal with because the Media reported knownpositionstotheankle circulation a suggestion that this at another anon, even as that PresidentAli visited the and knees throw the this man attacked a we listen to Patriots and the injuredmanandmadeanon aggressor to the ground, Constable for a purely voice of the likes of Glenn the bed promotion, pinning more often than not this personal and intimate Lall. Finally, let me remind two stripes on his sleeping swiftnessanddexterityofthe reason. Not unusual in a the public that our best garments. I understand that rank would cause the society where morality is known and internationally thereisapicturewiththetwo assailant to drop whatever constantly in question. Did acclaimed Artiste, Eddy stripespinnedonhimbythe weapon he may have in his thePresidentorhisAdvisors Grant, expressed an interest President in the presence of arms. seek to find out why this in developing a massive the Commissioner of Police DearEditor,wastherank Nigerian wanted to speak cultural facility at the andthemedia. armed and if so with what. with the President before he junction of the Demerara The absurdity of this is Did he have a whistle, if he rushed to make this on-the- River and the Atlantic palpable for I know of no neededsupport? bed-promotion? Ocean This included similar recurrence before or Whatisunbelievableand What is even more utilizing the Luckhoo after Independence. Beyond as a citizen and I hope PPP worrisomeisthatthegeneral Swimming Pool named in this, there is no evidence to supporterswouldalsojoinin public seems to be losing honourofapreviousMayor, suggest that Mr Perreira a demand not to have a confidence in the Guyana Sir LionelLuckhoo. displayedanyactofbravery, recurrence.Howisitthatthis Police Force. This incident As Mayor, I was called valor, courage or one man in addition to beingsobadlymanagedwill by the then Head of State of perceptiveness. In an earlier inflicting wounds on not help to improve the the PPP Administration and comment from all we heard Constable Perreira could image of the Guyana Police toldnottoproceedsincethey behind the usual veil of alsorelieveanotherrankofa Force.Adangeroussituation. had something bigger for secrecy is that the 9mm pistol and fire off As you’ve seen in other thatarea.Thisturnsouttobe persons/officers who posted rounds, but at least we are countries, nearby Haiti the building of the Marriott ranks, who were obviously toldofnothowmany Inour where the Police can no Hotelandinspiteofmybest not trained or ill-trained, old days, before you are longer be relied on to even efforts at several levels, the those Officers responsible entrusted with a revolver or protect our Head of State Council (M&CC) received oughttohavebeenpenalized pistol, that pistol or revolver muchlessanordinarymanin notonecentfortheLuckhoo andanypromotionshouldbe is attached to a lanyard so the street, we are in deep Swimming Pool and its afteraninvestigation,which thatinthecaseofascuffleor trouble. environs. Now that it ought shows the rank or ranks sudden movement, the When will we learn? to be making money, why involved were deserving of weapon remained under the When will we know the shouldtheGovernmentwant such. control of the particular truth? todisposeofit,theMarriott?

Information available officer

Second, I listened to an Threecheersforreturnto suggests that the alleged Next, if the weapon in audio of Charandass’ democracy attacker is a Nigerian who question is a 9mm pistol, defense of his unacceptable Sincerely, indicated earlier that he why should the round be in conduct in New Dehli on HamiltonGreen wished to speak with the breech which was August 1, 2021 Several Elder

Deceptions Disinformation & Magic Distractions

DEAREDITOR, theWorldWarsasheroesand world, when the slaves black, native and other In Guyana sources for Germanythebogeyman.But overthrew the French Slave minority townships that global information were what of the allies? Russia’s Masters in Haiti, the Slave were successful were books, movies and Stalin did the same thing to Masters demanded Haiti torched to the ground and television, now the internet. Jews and other minorities in compensated them for their black people were being We learned the US, UK, hisgulagsandconcentration losses,asubsequentinvasion killedforfightingforvoting France and Russia were camps The UK under ofHaitibytheUStoenforce rightsastheUSwastricking heroes to Guyanese for Winston Churchill thisdemandwasenactedand the world, they were the defeating the evil German slaughteredmanyminorities the US took Haiti’s forest as beacon of freedom and Nazis in WW1 and WW2 inthe3rdworld,notablythe a lesson to Haiti, leaving equality However, like who massacred Jews and Mau Mau tribe in Kenya Haiti to suffer from deadly skilled Magicians flickering other minorities in Europe Africa,IndiansintheBengal mudslides as there were no their hands with smoke and andalsopeopleofZambiain Province of India and many longer trees to hold the soil, mirrors, the allies used the Africa. Because of this the others across the 3rd world. at the end of all this no Nazi’s evilness to hide their leading allies, the US, UK, France also slaughtered compensation was given to own.Shiftingtomodernday, France and Russia came out minorities across the 3rd Haiti’s slaves. In the US,

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Clear agreement on approach to Carbon markets and equitable benefits sharing for Indigenous Peoples under Forest Carbon Credit Programme

DEAREDITOR, December, 2022, a letter Development Strategy 2030 onbenefitssharingthatcame titled to villages, to go to support for jurisdictional As Amerindian Leaders, writerwhoclearlyhasamain can bring for Amerindian back from stakeholders was Amerindian villages for scale engagement on carbon it is important to speak up, motive, to stop Indigenous people across Guyana, to that a national level resourcing of Village Plan marketsandbenefitssharing when our voices as Communities from transform lives and engagement (the marketing which contain activities that mechanism of 15% of all Indigenouspeopleswholive benefiting from the forest livelihoods at the village of all carbon assets by villagesidentify Needlessto revenues, with no deduction inourforests,aretakenover that they have protected for level. Government)shouldbeused say, this is widely supported of costs, to go the by those who profess to centuries.

At the recently in the carbon market rather byAmerindiansvillages. Amerindian communities, speakforus. A m e r i n d i a n concluded consultations on thanasubnationalorproject The results of the 7 wasunanimously IreadintheLettertothe communities are hopeful of Guyana’s Low Carbon level. month nationwide agreed to. A resolution Editor section in the what the vision outlined in DevelopmentStrategy2030, This is the only way that consultation and as was passed by this national StabroekNewseditionof8th the country’s Low Carbon the main recommendation meaningful financing at expressedintheSummaryof representative body of scale would flow to forest Consultation Report on the Amerindian Leaders, the villages and communities in LCDS Website Summary of NationalToshaos’Councilto Guyana. Amerindian Feedback – LCDS, show express this agreement. The communities have long broad consensus – this recentcontractsignedbythe asked for Government to consensus involves that Government for the sale of provide the support for Government bears all cost carbon credits represents to expanding the value of for entry into the villages, this promise forests to villages The programme, and benefits becomingareality LCDS 2030 has done this. flowto IndigenousLeadershave Another main area which Amerindian community, resolved, at their meeting in was supported by villages is evenexceedingtheextentof July 2022 that the approach for a dedicated total of 15 forest titled to Amerindian ofnationalscaleengagement percent Communities. in the carbon market is the of all revenues earned At the meeting of all agreedapproach.Indigenous from the sale of forest village leaders in July 2022 leaders further support the carbon, a level even greater (the National Toshaos’ proposedbenefitssharing than the forest, which are Council Conference), this (Continuedonpage6)

Deceptions Disinformation & Magic...

Frompage4 infrastructure dedicated to and GGMC as a prostitute wenowhavetheNewWorld oil, pollution, seafood loss leavingtheLocalMinersand Order, the G20 countries and miscellaneous costs) goingwiththerichforeigner mainly NATO, Russia, whichworksouttonegative Goldenstar, how fitting China, India, Canada etc., and the poor is feeling this shouldthiscartoonbeasone c o n t i n u e t h e e v i l loss. John Hess not to be of the many billboards exploitation of 3rd world outdone with his trick of popping up in Guyana resourcesclaimingit’sabout CarbonCreditshidesflaring, When the Leaders of the development, there is China toxic waste dumping in the US,UK and Australia tried who crackdown on ocean,drillingoverthelimit, the trick on Iraq to steal its Buddhists, Ughir Muslims, radioactive exposure, poor oil, the world saw through and any critics in China. quality air and water due to the illusion and protested, India tricks the world as the oil operations etc The thewareventuallyfailedand largest democracy but Guyana politicians are not those Leaders were kicked diminishes the rights of low skilled tricksters so they use out of power So Guyanese castes and women, in secrecy and non-disclosure whenwillyoutellthemagic Canada mass graves of agreementsinsteadsincewe trickstersthatyouwillnotbe native children are being see their tricks before they tricked anymore and the found in many places. The evenstart. magicshowisover? G20 is all about smoke and When Desmond Hoyte Sincerely magic trickery God must brought Goldenstar Gold R.David. bless and protect the Journalists,WhistleBlowers and other exposing the evil tricks globally In Guyana, the mastery trickery of the US came into play when the PPP who won the elections were installed and the rigging by the PNC was denied due to pressure from the US, the US came out as heroesyettheyweretheones who taught PNC to rig elections and stay in power for over 28 years, in my opinionthiswastogetridof PNC’s EPA, not to save Guyana, if PPP’s EPA was more stringent on the oil companies than PNC, PPP would not be in power, rememberRexTillerson,the firstSecretaryofStateunder TrumpwasaformerCEOof Exxon.

Now Exxon’s Routledge isexplaininghismagictrick of Guyana’s share of the oil is 52% with billboards but Co. to Guyana and took hiding52%x1\4equals13% away the Local Miners minus (Exxon’s Tax mining claims and gave Exemption, Duty Free Goldenstar, Stabroek News Concessions, Debt and p

The ‘offshoot’of gun ownership to ‘shootoff’private guns

DEAREDITOR, the crime on a lesser charge ‘legitimate’ firearm license per100citizens.Thisratiois primary driver for personal State because of their The process required by ofmanslaughter holders conversely, in only second to the Bahamas protection Further, laxity ‘politicalconnections.’ private citizens for the There were many other Guyana, are loaded with in the English-speaking within the national security Government Security acquisition of firearm similar incidents with the ‘greenbacks’ and the right Caribbeanandexceedsmost sector will witness the O f f i c i a l s s h o u l d licenses is tedious, nerve- most recent of these connections and a nefarious Latin American countries exponential growth of immediately undertake a wracking, and frustrating atrocities occurring desire to conform to ‘under including Brazil, Chile, private companies proper assessment of the yet, even then, after a approximately two weeks thetable’negotiations. Columbia, and El Salvador Obviously, the State has environmenttoascertainthe detailed, demanding ago, on Tuesday, December A corrupt licensing amongothers. failed to adequately provide correlation between procedure, sometimes leads 13, when the nation was regime will inevitably One would have an adequate security decreasedcriminalactivities to denial. Despite the most informed of an apparent elevate gun ownership to a surmisedthatthedemandfor apparatusthatcanprotectits and increased demand for stringent security checks to murder/suicide involving a status symbol rather than a licensed firearms by private citizens from criminal personalprotectiveweapons satisfy the prerequisites, barber and his wife. The tool for personal use, and citizens would have dipped activities thus the coupledwiththeexponential many applicants are given former individual was protection of property somewhat, especially since mushrooming of dozens of growth of armed private the thumbs down which reportedlylicensedtocarrya Accusations by some the Police would have private security firms and a securitycompanies. tends to bolster the handgun so one can

Clear agreement onapproach toCarbon marketsand equitable benefits

Frompage5 mechanism which was consulted on for over 7 monthsaspartoftheLCDS 2030 stakeholder process, and endorsed by Indigenous Leaders at this national meeting in July 2022.

suspectingcitizenspointtoa reportedareductionincrime greaterdemandforweapons These Officials have confidenceoftheuninitiated reasonably presume that he corruptlicensingregimethat for successive years. Such andsecurityservicesforself- recently boasted of a stark citizen that those applicants would have satisfied the is favourable to those commendable statistics defense and protection decrease in criminal that are eventually granted outlinedcriteria. bigwigs with money to burn should have triggered a against upheaved criminal activities as well as an this privilege would have Onemaybecompelledto and willing to shamelessly concomitant decrease in the activity. improved public security passed a rigid screening test question the efficacy of the subvert the system. Such demand for weapons for Let’s face facts; the apparatus (disciplined that ensures that they are firearmlicensingregimeand laxities emerge and are personal protection and exponential growth of services).Theaptquestionto properlyqualified. even those successful influenced, by rent-seeking thoseheldbyprivatesecurity privatesecuritycompaniesis ask then is, what are the Despitetheseguarantees, applicants might fall under Politicians and corrupt companies. On the contrary, precipitated by a weak and factors involved that are the nation is constantly stringentscrutinyforfirearm Police Officers resulting in there has been an compromised national driving the demand for rocked by the devastating licenses under the extant the unmeritorious exponential growth of securitysectorthatlacksthe personal firearms and the news of shootings by none rules. acquiescence of firearm private security companies, capacity to effectively growth of armed private otherthanthosecitizenswho Unscientific research licenses to scores of many with uncanny discharge its constitutional securitycompanies? would have ‘qualified’ to seems to suggest that there undesirable citizens Can characteristics of private mandate. When authorized Regards, carry firearms following are multiple licensed onethenfeignamazementat military companies and by the state, private security LelonSaul stringent security and other handguns, and to some the concomitant result of greater demand for personal companies automatically applications One cannot extent, shotguns, within our suchmaladministration? protectionweapons. increase the demand for forget former GDF Captain, small society One cannot The World Population The stark reality is that small arms and light Orwain Sandy who, a few negate the fact that owning Review 2022 peruses the the demand for legitimate weapons (SALW) and years ago, shot his wife, such a deadly device situation in Guyana and firearms and the growth of facilitate increases in the ReonaPayne,fourteentimes demandsgreatresponsibility notesthat122,000legitimate private security companies supply within the illicit toherbodyincludingonceto and self-discipline firearms are held by are obviously driven by market if stockpile the head. He has since been Notwithstanding, there have individuals and private several factors including a management is weak and sentencedtolifeinprisonfor been suspicions that many organizations, a rate of 15.8 lack of trust in the armed there is corruption forces, a perceived weak Additionally, poorly trained security sector, high private security guards are incidences of crime, known to misuse their deliberate attempts by the firearms and in some cases, ruling elites to legitimately have been implicated in arm their supporters and an criminalactivitiesaswellas unsavory obsession with humanrightsviolations. firearmsbysomesectionsof Likewise, many private the population. The right to licensed firearm holders are bear arms neither comprises known to have violated the a part of the Guyanese human rights of citizens culture nor is it a which automatically constitutional right translates to abuse of the Arguably, a weak public privilege to carry those security sector will force weapons Some of them law-abiding citizens to seek behave like demigods and out alternative remedies to after blatant transgressions, the crime situation as the avoid prosecution by the

Theclaimthatthereisno legal basis when there is expressed agreement by Amerindian villages is disingenuous and aims at preventing opportunities available to indigenous peoples to be taken advantage of. It is clear that suchattemptsseektoprevent Amerindian villages from accessingthe resources that is available, by creating a false perception on what

Indigenous leaders have actually themselves spoken up on, support to the vision and approach of the LCDS 2030 and support to receiving resources for development We the members of the National ToshaosCouncilherebystate our satisfaction with the consultation process and fullysupportthecarbonsales agreementthefirstofitskind intheworld.

Regards, DerrickJohn

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PARLIAMENTARY PUBLIC ACCOUNTS (PAC) COMMITTEE

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ACommittee of any kind cannot get anything done if it doesn’t meet.

The PPPC Govt. sees to that when its members don’t turn up for PAC meetings.

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This is how oversight is sabotaged in Guyana at the highest level.

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This is what Guyanese Taxpayers get for their loans and their budgeted dollars.

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Instead of taking recesses, Parliament should just shutdown.

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

Parliament itself is a farce, thanks to the Speaker.

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

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

BLUNT BLUNT BLUNT BLUNT

The PAC is an empty shell, thanks to the PPPC Govt. and its maneuvers.

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

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

ExxonM sues EU to avoid paying windfall tax on 'big profits'

American oil giant, E x x o n M o b i l o n Wednesday filed a lawsuit to challenge and stop the European Union (EU) imposed windfall taxes, arguing that the Brussels exceeded its legal authoritybyimposingthelevy

Kaieteur News had reported that a windfall tax is a one-off tax imposed by a Government on a company, specifically targeting those that benefit from something theywerenotresponsiblefor In this instance, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war has sent oil prices soaring and triggering a cost of living crisis in many countries.

Amid the war, oil and gas companies have been seeing record-shattering profits and as such, many Western Governments have introduced a windfall tax on the big profits to alleviate the costof-living crisis and balance their economy

For the third-quarter of 2022, Exxon announced that its overall earnings was a record-shattering US$19.7billion.

The Financial Times reported that the lawsuit is the most significant response yet against the taxfromtheoilindustry Theaction threatens the viability of a levy the European Commission said would raise €25bn “to help bring down energybills”.

The news agency also reported that Exxon said the lawsuit was filed on Wednesday by its German and Dutch subsidiaries at the European General Court in LuxembourgCity

The lawsuit challenges the Council of the EU's legal authority to impose the new tax—apowerhistoricallyreserved for sovereign countries — and its use of emergency powers to secure member states' approval for the measure.

It was also reported that the European General Court will decide whether to rule on Exxon's lawsuit. If it does, any future judgment may be appealed at the European Court of Justice Proceedings could drag on through much of next year The Commission is the EU's Executive, which has the power to propose Legislation.

The Council is the InterGovernmental arm of the EU, in which representatives of its 27 member states debate and agree

Legislation.

Thenewtaxisduetotakeeffect from December 31, 2022 and will apply a levy of at least 33 percent on any taxable profits in 2022-23 that are 20 percent or more above average profits between 2018 and 2021.

Exxon, one of the largest petroleum suppliers in Europe, noted in a November filing that its tax liability under the new solidarity levy, could amount to US$2Bthroughtotheendof2023.

Brussels has made regular use during the energy crisis of emergency powers granted in Article 122 of the Treaty on the FunctioningoftheEU.

Thearticlestatesthat“inaspirit of solidarity” member states may approve Legislation directly from the Commission, circumventing

the European Parliament, “in particularifseveredifficultiesarise in the supply of certain products, notablyintheareaofenergy”.

Exxon's lawsuit argues the windfall tax will not remedy any shortage of energy supply and so the Commission and Council were wrong to use emergency powers to secure its approval with a majority voteratherthanaunanimousone.

The European Parliament has protestedagainsttheCommission's repeated use of Article 122, saying that it undermines the democratic process even if laws would take much longer to pass with its involvement.

The EU's levy was followed in November by the UK, which increaseditswindfalltaxonoiland gas producers from 25 per cent to 35 per cent and extended it until

2028. The move prompted outcry from local Producers who said the measure would threaten future investment Casey Norton, a spokesperson for Exxon, said the US super major recognised high energy costs were “weighing heavilyonfamiliesandbusinesses” but argued the levy was “counterproductive” and would “undermine investor confidence, discourageinvestmentandincrease relianceonimportedenergy”.

On the local front, Exxon's affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Ltd (EEPGL), is the operator of the country's richest oil block (Stabroek Block) and continues to enjoy tax-free earnings owing to the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) Guyana signedontowiththeoilmajor

According to the 2016 PSA, Guyana has agreed to, under the taxation provisions, to pay ExxonMobil'sshareofCorporation and Income Tax. As such it would mean, that Guyana foregoes each year,billionsofUSdollars.

On top of this, documentation to this effect is then provided to the US based company allowing it to not have to pay any taxes in its home country for its earnings overseas.Guyana'sStabroekBlock is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometers) and has approximately 11 billion proven barrels of oil. EEPGLholds 45 percentinterestin theBlock.

Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. holds 30 percent interest, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited holds 25 percent

Angola court orders assets of ex-President's daughter bought with nation's stolen oil wealth, seized

(Al Jazeera) Angola's Supreme Court has ordered the 'preventive' seizure of assets worth about $1bn held by Isabel dos Santos, the Daughter of its former President, Portugal's Lusa News Agency said on Tuesday

The court document cited by Lusa, dated December 19, saidAuthoritieshadevidence of alleged embezzlement and money laundering and ordered the seizure of the money dos Santos holds in 'allbankinginstitutions'.

The seizure also includes all of dos Santos's shares in A n g o l a n c o m p a n y, Embalvidro, as well as 100 percent of shares in Cape Verde's telecom company Unitel T+ and Unitel STP in Sao Tome and Principe, accordingtoLusa.

A total of 70 percent of her shares in Mozambique's

telecom MStar and

should be seized too, Lusasaid.

For years, dos Santos, once Africa's richestwoman,hasfaced corruption accusations.

In 2019, Angola's Supreme Court ordered the seizure of her assets for allegedly steering state funds to companies in which she held stakes during her father's Presidency, including oil giant,Sonangol.

Her father, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, a former freedom fighter who led Angola from Marxism to crony capitalism, died in July He ruled Angola for almost four decades until 2017.

A spokesperson for dos Santos did not immediately reply to a request for

comment.

She has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and told CNN Portugal in November that the courts in A n g o l a w e r e ' n o t independent' and that Judges there were “used to fulfil a politicalagenda”.

In November, Global

Police Agency, Interpol, issued a red notice for dos Santos, asking Global Law Enforcement Authorities to locate and provisionally arresther

In a 2020, Luanda Leaks I n v e s t i g a t i o n , t h e International Consortium of Investigative Journalists

revealed that dos Santos andherhusband,Sindika Dokolo,hadobtainedthe stake in the Portuguese oil company, Galp, for just a $15 million initial d e p o s i t , i n a controversial deal made with Angola's state oil company — overseen at the time by dos Santos' father, Angola's thenPresident, Jose Eduardo dosSantos.

L u a n d a L e a k s reporting showed how insider deals, political connections and an army of Western enablers helped dos Santos amass a fortune. The exposé revealed how the billionaire and her allies benefited from lucrative deals in diamonds, telecommunications, bankingandrealestate.

The inside dealmaking that led to the acquisition of

the Galp shares, revealed in part through leaked documents, was featured in theLuandaLeaksreporting.

In2006,Angola'sstateoil company, Sonangol, sold 40% of its interest in joint venture company, Esperaza toExemEnergy,aDutchfirm owned by Dokolo. Sonangol then sold to Dokolo's company a $99 million stake for an initial $15 million deposit.

That same stake is now worth more than $500 million.

The deal was “tainted by illegality, enabling Ms. dos Santos directly or through her husband, Mr Dokolo, while using her position as daughter of the Angolan President to reap an extraordinary financial gain to the detriment of Angola,” according to the ruling.

Exxon CEO, Darren Woods

EU President, Ursula von der Leyen

Upstar Comunicacoes

Isabel dos Santos

INTER-CLASS WARFARE IS TAKING PLACE AT THE EXPENSE OF POOR VENDORS

The representatives of is usually unheard of, and mostbusinesses.

persons with considerable and still set up stalls on the three Private Sector stillsaleswerenotthatbrisk. A d d i n g t o t h i s resources On Regent roadside and pavements Organisations have claimed The Government was proliferation of businesses Street, the Vendors arrive Some move from market to vending spots They are that business was better this clearly mindful of the are the large numbers of earlyinthemorningsintheir markets,ondifferentdays. invading and buying out year The Chairman of the slothfulness of business illegalVendorswhodescend own vehicles which they The City Council has these spots.And at the same Private Sector Commission activity was the country in front of businesses on parkinthecyclelanes.There granted permission for time, they are providing was reported by the Guyana approached Christmas It pavementsandonroadsides. are some Coconut Vendors booths to be established on unfair competition for Chronicle assayingthatthis announced that more than Businesses are unable to do whosedailyturnoverismore the Merriman’s Mall. These established businesses that year’s Christmas was 50,000 Public Employees anything about this massive than one hundred thousand are going to be used for areseeingtheirsalesdecline “excellent” for the private hadreceivedsalaryincreases illegal invasion because the dollars. beauty parlors Do you precipitously sector, the Head of the and others had received Authorities have long lost a Vendors are now believethatitispoorpersons (The views expressed in Essequibo Chamber of additional adjustment and grip of the situation. This franchising. Some of them who are going to outfit and this article are those of the Commerce believed that bonuses. All of this it was invasionmeansthatthereare have established roadside o p e r a t e t h e s e author and do not businesses did fairly well, said, pumped billions into virtuallyjustasmanysellers outletsmilesawayfromtheir establishments? Think necessarily reflect the and the Chairman of the the pockets of consumers as asbuyers,andthishaseaten original establishment again! opinions and beliefs of this Region 3 Chamber of disposableincome. away at the market share of Some of them have huge Thelowermiddleclassis n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s Commerce, said that, from H o p e f u l l y, t h e traditionalbusinesses. businesses in the markets pushing the poor out of affiliates.) his feedback, things were newspapers will undertake But within the vending betterthisyear their own independent establishment,therehasalso These are premature assessment of how was been a significant change. assessments which do not business over the period. The majority of the persons accord with what this Thiswouldallowforabetter who are vending in front of Columnistobservedoverthe understandingofjustwhatis businesses on the roads and Christmas Season. Indeed takingplaceintheeconomy parapetsarenotpoorpeople. the shopping areas were There are two major Poor people do not crowded but sales appeared undercurrents in the possessmillionsofdollarsin tobesluggish,atbest.Some economy which could stocksanddonotturnoverof of the business persons that account for poor sales by hundreds of thousands of this Columnist spoke to businesses.Thefirstofthese dollars each week. Poor complained about poor relates to the massive people cannot afford to sales.Butthisisnotunusual multiplication of sellers in spend millions of dollars to because the business the economy It is fact that build and outfit food community is full of the number of businesses caravans Poor people perennial whiners. But even h a v e i n c r e a s e d cannot afford the cost of a the shoppers were tremendously and at rate canter from which to do complaining Many said which has been higher than business.Poorpeoplecannot they expected more persons theincreaseinlocaldemand afford some of the tobeontheroadsandinthe for goods and services equipmentthatisbeingused shopping centers, and some There were almost twice as inroadsidefoodvending. businesses are worried that many persons selling apples Elements within the they may not breakeven for and grapes than in previous lowermiddleclassaretaking thisyearbecauseofthepoor years. over vending. These are not Christmassales. Relatedly there has been poor persons; they have The situation was so a wide diffusion of business substantial assets and they bleak that some stores were activities.Manyvillagesand are taking over the vending forced to open on Boxing ruralcommunitieshaveseen on pavements parapets and Day (Monday) and on the an increase in the on the roadside where, in following day (Tuesday) in establishment of businesses. some cases, permanent order to try to see if they Businesses are propping up businesses are being could secure some more all over, even in residential established. sales. And some businesses areas. As such consumers This is not poor people opened on Christmas have more options and this who are scrounging for afternoon, something which translates to less sales for living; this is being done by

ATAVISM: AUBREY NORTON ON SANCTIONS

On the Gildarie- words. I set a trap for him (2)-secondly,Guyanais exception, where there are been inevitable FreddieKissoon andhefellrightintoit. billions of miles away from these types of big power within the regime Showlastweek, I inquired if he has the resources of large sanctions, hardened simply because

Aubrey Norton childreninGuyanaandwith countries with large attitudes on both sides are some big wigs in assertedthatinMarch2020, anger in his tone, he said he populations like Iran and inevitable and matters t h e p o w e r he would have preferred to has one son in the US and Venezuelathathaveendured deterioratedangerously establishment and live with five years of thatsonisn’tcomingbackto American sanctions It is simple to envisage theirfamilieswould sanctions against Guyana aplacelikeGuyana. Guyana suffers from the such a situation. During the havebeentargetedfor than five more years of the I t h e n b e c a m e “Canadasyndrome.” initial phase of the sanctions. PPP vociferous. I asked if it was Canada’s economy is punishment, the big power (6) - CARICOM, It would take several alright for his son to enjoy intricatelyboundupwiththe expects some compromise. Canada and the US (7)-it is likely that columns to analyse the thegoodlifeintheUSwhile US.Canadawillnotsurvive If that is not forthcoming, a would have become Russia, China, Venezuela, implications of American other people’s children A m e r i c a n t r a d e second phase of harsher extremely irritated because Iran would have used the sanctions against the would have their future confrontation Guyana treatment ensues If the the deteriorating economy confusion in Guyana to unelected Guyana destroyed by sanctions. On cannot survive American small state reacts angrily to would have produced an establish a line of economic Government after 2020 that utterance by me, he trade punishment Our thesecondphaseandshows exodus of people fleeing supportfortheregime.Once Here is a brief analysis. We walkedaway economy has always been defiance, then an even misery thus putting a strain thathappened,theUSwould begin with individual Norton ought to know based on mono-culture to harsher third stage comes on their immigration have implemented a regime opportunism.Whenthefive betterandheknowsbetter A use the term of radicalWest along. system. change plan. It is doubtful months of rigging were tiny populated country like Indian economists in the It was Jerry Gouveia After five years of that theAPNU+AFC would taking place, I had an G u y a n a w i t h a n 1970s. who for the first time since sanctions, Guyana by 2025 have lasted three years with encounter in the National infinitesimal space in the Wesoldoursugartothe March 2020 revealed last would have seen a nonsanctions. Once the regime Parkwitharestaurantowner world economy would be Westandwesurvived.Now month on the Gildarie- existent economy and a wasforcedout,thenboththe whose business is heavily devastated, literally we are selling our oil. The Freddie Kissoon Show that depressed population that PNC and AFC would have patronised by African destroyed by American US would have targeted the there was a decision by the made the Burnham’s era had no future place in middle class men, and was sanctions. oil industry thus crippling White House to add look like child’s play Guyana. They did the wise the favourite weekend Herenowistheanalysis Guyana’seconomy (3)-Iran economic sanctions to visa Guyana would have thingandconcededelectoral retreatformanyministersin that flows from that andVenezueladonotbelong cancelations and he, atavistically returned to the defeat. t h e A P N U + A F C statement.(1)–Itwouldnot toanentrenchedintegration Gouveia was part of the Burnham nightmare (The views expressed in government. have been five years but a movementasGuyanais. PrivateSectorCommission. Interestingly, on the show, this article are those of the His point was direct and permanent embargo. After There is absolutely no Mr Gouveia told me and Nortonadmittedthatduring author and do not straightforward.Hewilllive five years, theAPNU+AFC wayCARICOMwouldhave Gildariethathewasallowed the Burnham era when the necessarily reflect the with sanctions but he is not would still have been in defiedtheABCEUcountries toretainonhisphoneapart West was applying pressure opinions and beliefs of this living with five more years power in 2025 and still not and continue to do business of the conversation with to the economy, Burnham n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s of Jagdeo. He was furious preparedtoholdfreeandfair asusualwithGuyana.(4)-in WhiteHouseofficials. sought rapprochement (his affiliates.) when he uttered those elections. all situations, without (5)-cracks would have word)withtheWest.

Guyana’s draconian Libel Laws must be scrubbed from Law Books

…US based Activist says act stifling press freedom, urges

modernization

f the Government is Henotedthatforoneitis

Further, Dr Jailall

be pushing f

r

Ihe serious about thecontentionthatGuyana’s pointed to the comments andinadditiontoCivilLaw, decriminalisation of updating and LibelLawplacestheburden made

modernising the of proof of Defendants to Parliament and former also by Criminal Laws with amendments will be before LawsofGuyana,itcanstart show that they have not General Secretary, Geeta sentencesuptotwoyearsof Parliamentbeforetheendof with the Defamation Act defamed the public or Chandan-Edmond, earlier imprisonment. 2020.Theissuehasbeenon whichsomebelieveisbeing political figures, but in thisyear

“While there were no Guyana‘s human rights used as a tool to stifle press modern societies like the It was reported that ongoingcriminallawsuitsor reformation agenda for freedom and criticism of United States, it is not the Shadow Home Affairs cases of Journalists being sometimenow thoseinpublicoffice. same. Minister in the National detained or convicted, the Media organisations This contention was “IntheUnitedStates,the Assembly,Attorney-at-Law, mere existence of criminal havebeenlobbyingGuyana raised by US based person bringing the suit Geeta Chandan-Edmond liability for defamation and other Jurisdictions to Guyanese, Dr Jerry Jailall. must show how they were said there has been “a constitutes a threat which abolishcriminaldefamation According to Dr Jailall defamedorlibeled.Thelaws crackdown” on freedom of may lead to possible self- forsometimenow defamationLawsoftenclash aremodernizedandupdated speech and freedom of censorship by media The International Press with free speech and free to allow a greater level of expression since the professionals,” the EU Institute has said that presswhichareamongsome freedom to Journalists and People’s Progressive statedinitsreport. Criminal Libel Law was of the basic liberties of a the Press which will allow Party/Civic (PPP/C) Back in January of that born in an Elizabethan democraticsociety them to express at a level Government took Office in same year the United England courtroom as a but once they get into

He explained that in that they can critique the August 2020 through the Nations Human Rights means for silencing critique Government, they use those Guyana, this is particularly actions of the Government barefaced abuse of the Report (UNHR) had of the privileged class. The same bad policies they trueasmanyPoliticiansand without being prosecuted country’s Cyber CrimeAct. highlighted the fact that the body said a law of such criticized while in Public Figures have used of course, it does not allow “… Guyanese have lost the Guyanahadbeenworkingto antiquated ethos, has little Opposition. these laws as a means of for persons to personally basic fun indulgence of remove defamation from place in modern society

Speakingoncybercrime, silencing their critics and at attack a person’s character speaking their minds on criminal aspect of the laws. where the Press plays a he stressed that, “It is silly the same time, gaining by labeling them without socialmedia. According to the report, the pivotal role in shaping that because you use a mileagewiththepublic. proof but it gives the press

We cannot even post on OfficeofthePrimeMinister publicdiscourse. computerordigitaldeviceto However, Dr Jailall, a way more leverage to do Facebook in peace, the has been working with the The IPI had been type a public comment or vocal critic on matters theirjobs,”hesaid. Government cyber security AttorneyGeneralChambers activelycampaigningforthe critique that it is called related to governance in In the meantime, Dr teamsarescoutingthepages t o w a r d s t h e governments of the “cybercrime” All the PPP’s Guyana, said this can be Jailall also pointed to the of ordinary Guyanese to decriminalisation of Caribbean to redress their criticisms of the PNC changed if the Defamation need for the Government to abusetheCyberCrimeAct,” defamation. current criminal libel laws. [opposition] Bill when it Act is reformed and given repeal the Cybercrime Act, MP Chandan-Edmond was The report had come Atpresent,theLawisvague wasdiscussedinParliament moremodernfeatureswhich orrevampit. quoted as saying to the ahead of Guyana’s human and open to indiscriminate are still valid today So why will allow for Guyanese to In a letter to the Editor, NationalAssembly rights review at the UN’s a n d i n c o n s i s t e n t hasthePPPnotamendedthe freely make observations he noted that both the

In its final report on the Office in Geneva. In its implementation, largely Actorrepealeditnowthatit and critique the actions of People’s Progressive Party March 2, 2020 elections the national report submitted to wielded to quell dissent and is in power? What’s those occupying public Civic (PPPC) Government European Union had the United Nations Human stifle government criticism, stopping them? This is the offices,withoutthethreatof and the People’s National observed that despite the Rights Council ahead of its IPI had said While political syndrome of being hauled before the Congress Reform (PNCR) Constitution guarantees third Universal Periodic infrequently used in the “where you stand, depends CourtofLawinthenameof have critiqued bills during freedom of expression, Review, the Guyana Caribbean,CriminalLibel onwhereyousit.” libel. parliamentary discussions, Guyana is at odds with Government had said it will

FrederickKissoon

international obligations

o

t

by PNC Member of defamation is prosecuted defamation and those

US based Guyanese, Dr. Jerry Jailall

Cracked pipeline releases almost 4,000 gallons crude into U.S waters

Acracked pipeline reportedly discharged almost 4000 gallons oflightcrudeintoU.Swatersover theweekend.

According to Caller-Times, thecleanupofthe3,800gallonoil spill near Flint Hills Ingleside may continue for several days. The cracked pipeline resulted in crude releasing into the Corpus Christi Bay, which is located on theTexasCoast.

According to a Press Release, the pipeline cracked in multiple places. The spill covered an area that was approximately 300 by 20 yards. So far, no wildlife has been impacted but the oil reached the shore of the Spoil Islands. The investigation into environmental damageisongoing.

“The source of the discharge

has been secured and responders from Miller Environmental Serviceshavedeployedmorethan 1,500 feet of boom to contain and absorb the oil product,” the releasestates.

Notably, Flint Hills Spokesman Andy Saenz told Caller-Times that there has been recovery of a “significant amount of the oil, especially what was in thewater,becausewewereableto contain it with booms.” He added that the pipeline had been shut down and officials notified immediately on Saturday, with remediation efforts beginning withinhours.

In an email the spokesman said, “There is an ongoing investigation on the root cause, butwesuspectthiswasinfluenced by the freezing temperatures and

thecoldweatherconditions.”

It was also stated that the pipeline will remain shut down untilthecauseisdetermined.

While the Corpus Christi Ship Channelisopentotraffic.Itisstill considered a safety zone. In this case,thatmeansvesselstransiting near the cleanup sites are required to move slowly to avoid waking andpotentiallydisturbingcleanup areas.

The priority is protecting the environment and remediating the site,Saenzalsowroteinhisemail. "We've had crews working day and night since Christmas morning and we're making significant progress," he wrote. "No spill is acceptable, so we'll work hard to figure out how and why this happened to prevent futureevents."·

Dec. 25, 2022. (U.S.

(USCG)

CH&PA inks $202M contract for Single Window platform for building construction process

The Central Planning and HousingAuthority(CH&PA)under the Ministry of Housing and Water onWednesdaysignedacontractfor t h e d e v e l o p m e n t a n d implementation of the Information Technology (IT) platform for the SingleWindowfortheconstruction permittingprocess.

The $202 million contract which was signed by the CH&PA's Chief Executive Officer, (CEO), Mr Sherwyn Greaves , was awarded to Consultancy Firm, Global Services Inc. The contract was signed at the Ministry's boardroom.

Delivering remarks at the simple signing ceremony was Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, who stated that by June next year the platform should be fullyimplemented.

The Minister said that the introduction of the platform is truly a transformational project and a solution for the ease of doing business in Guyana. “Now for many years you have heard Government speaking about reducingtheredtape,andmakingit easy for people to do business in Guyana and this is a demonstration of that commitment. So this IT platform followed by the

Legislation that will be passed and that will be made into law will allow for a single window for planningandbuildingpermits,”she said.

TheMinisternotedthatpersons usually have to go through a whole host of Agencies to get their application processed but with the IT solution platform, it would “tremendously ease that process of doing business where you will present your completed application atasinglewindow.”

According to Minister Rodrigues, they will have a hybrid system in the beginning especially for those people who are in the remote areas and persons who are

overseas and are “planning on having an investment here in Guyana, you can submit that application online using the virtual single window and so this not only importanttoustofacilitatetheease of doing business but to Government and the Ministry it is very important for the purposes of transparency and accountability,” sheexplained.

Shenotedthatoneoftheunique features of the system is that it is time-bound and therefore they are

Contract being signed yesterday for the Development and Implementation of the Information Technology Solution for the SingleWindow System. (Photo courtesy, DPI)

officialwilldenytheirapplication,” shestated. Rodriguesadded:“Soit removes any bias from the system, it removes all subjectivity, and if the application is one that can be facilitated,itwillbepassedwithina certain amount of time, it also remove any form of corruption fromthesystem.”

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal who expressed gratitudeforhavingtheplatformon board said that the contract is being awarded to a consortium of companies based in Guyana, North America, and the United Arab Emirates. He noted that the IT solution which will ease doing business in Guyana will have a server,anetworkinfrastructureand will have security solutions, hardware, and software maintenanceandrepairs.

not trying to pass Legislation or implement an ITsystem that would ultimatelygetstuckstill.

“So we are applying timeboundstoalloftheAgenciessothat people have to respond in a particular time and if they do not respond in a particular time their approval will be deemed to be granted and so we are removing all subjectivity from the system so no GuyaneseorInvestordoesnothave to fear any form of subjectivity or do not have to fear any public

Croal added that the contracted firm, “will have access to the work that is being done here by the Central Housing and Planning Authority and they are required to map and re-engineer the planning anddevelopmentprocessandthisis important because throughout the implementation, one has to keep reassessingandexamineifwehave toredesignorre-engineer

” It was noted that the scope of the project will be executed along five principles providing a one window access which would allow the CH&PAto act as a single point of entry for planning and developmentapplications.

Boom contains an oil spill in the La Quinta Channel in Corpus Christi Bay, Texas,

Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class, Stephen McConnell)

Suspects confess to beating, robbing gas station owner, employee

Two men have r e p o r t e d l y confessed to

beating and robbing, 50year-old Ganga Deo Sridat, Businessman and Owner of Sridat Service Station, located at New Road VreedEn-Hoop and his 35-yearold Pump Attendant, JermainMaxwell.

AccordingtotheGuyana Police Force (GPF), the suspects were identified as 21-year-old Dinesh George, a Welder of Lot 101 West Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara and Navindra Kunik of Lot 73 De Kinderen, West Coast Demerara George was arrested for robbery with violence while Kunik was arrested for robbery with violence and possession of a firearm and ammunition withoutalicense.

The incident occurred about22:30hoursonBoxing Day. According to the Police, the Owner had gone to the location in a motor car and parked on the eastern side in the gas station.While exiting his car, two armed masked males approached him. It was stated that one of the men hit the Businessman

with an object (suspected to be a firearm) to his head and askedhimforthemoneyand hisfirearm.Sridatreportedly responded by stating that he does not have money nor his firearm and this led to the other suspect searching the Businessman. The suspect took away Sridat's firearm andhiswallet.

According to the Police, themaskedmenthentoldthe Businessman to open the door to the gas station shop

to which he complied. The suspects then tookSridatintotheshop.

They then asked for the keys to the safe, and the Businessman told them that the keys were outside in the guard hut One of the suspects then went and got the keys and opened the safe and took a quantity of cash, after which they tied up the Businessman.

For his part, the Pump Attendant relayed to the

Police that he saw when his boss arrived after which he heard him screaming Maxwell stated that when he ran to the western side of the gas station he was confronted by two armed masked males, one with an object which he believed to beafirearm.

The suspects then relieved the PumpAttendant of an undisclosed amount of cash along with his car key They then took him into the

shop where he was beaten and he saw his boss lying on theground.

The gunmen later escaped in the Pump Attendant'scar

The items that were reported stolen are one 9mm Smith and Wesson pistol w i t h o n e m a g a z i n e containing fifteen live matching Ammo, one driver's license and National ID card belonging to the Owner and an undisclosed

amount of cash, property of the Owner of the gas station. The matter was reported to the Police and the Businessman and his employee were taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where they were examined by Doctors on duty

The Police later arrested two suspects, who later confessed to the crime. The Businessman's firearm was alsorecovered.

Banks DIH Group grows pre-tax profits by 21% despite external challenges

De s p i t e e x t e r n a l c h a l l e n g e s o n businesses here in Guyana, Banks DIH Group said that it has seen improvement in its performance with a 21 percent increaseinitsprofitbeforetax.

The food and beverage company said it was able to increase its after-tax profits by 12 percent for the financial year 2022. IntheChairman'sreport,Chairman and Managing Director, Clifford Reis reported that profit before tax was$10.506billion,an11.3percent increase compared to last year's $9.439billion, profit after tax for this year increased from $6.777billion to $7.589billion, a 12 0 percent increase The chairman noted that revenue generated by the Company was $39 653billion compared to $35 858billion last year, an increase of $3.795billion or 10.6 percent.

The chairman reported that the Company's Board of Directors recommended a dividend proposal of $2.00 per share unit which resulted in an overall cost of $1.700billionascomparedwiththe $1.445billion payout last year, an increase of $255million or 10.6 percent.

The revenue of Citizens Bank GuyanaInc.a51percentsubsidiary of the Company was $4.847billion compared with $3 949 billion generated in 2021, an increase of $898 million or 22.7 percent. The profit before tax was $3.001billion compared to $1.782billion in 2021, anincreaseof$1.219billionor68.4 percent, while profit after tax was $1 800billion compared to $1 056billion, an increase of $744million or 70 5 percent EarningspersharefortheBankwas $30.26 while the total asset base was$84.7billion.LoanAssetswere increased from $33 8billion to $38.2billion, by 13 percent or $4.4billion.

Banks Automotive and Services Inc. a 100 percent owned subsidiary of the Company generated revenue of $117 0 million compared to $57.5million in 2021, an increase of $59.5million or 103. 5percent. The profit before tax was $5.9million compared to $2 7million, an increase of $3.2million or 118.5 percent. Next year, the company envisionsthecompletionofitsnew multi-story vehicle parking facility and corporate offices and showroom of Banks Automotive andServicesInc.

I t w a s e x p l a i n e d t o shareholdersthat'sduring2022,the Company continued to make capital investments in plant, machinery and equipment to sustain long term development and enhanceitsmanufacturingcapacity and efficiency in operations. The Company has completed the installation of a Centrifuge System in its Brewery, it completed works to facilitate the bottling of Minute Made drink products, fitted a new labeller and cleaning in place system in its Rum Plant as well as otherupgrades.

The Chairman noted that the overall performance of the Banks DIH Group improved for this year as it recorded a Profit before tax to

the tune of $13 398billion compared to the $11.078 it made last year, an increase of $2 320billion or 20 9 percent Profit after tax for the Group attributable to shareholders of the Parent Company increased from $7.170billion to $8.395billion, by $1.225billionor17.1percent.

The Chairman said that continued challenges of the global economy continued to cause considerable instability and unpredictable impacts on businesses. Even as the restrictions of Covid-19 Pandemic unfold, the effects of the Geopolitical crisis in Europe continue to create difficultiesinthewaytheCompany is managed. He said that “the

Financial Year which ended 2022 had many ongoing challenges of supply chain issues, which resulted in the rising cost of raw materials, spares,production,distributionand the rising cost of living on workers income ” The Chairman noted however that due to strategic planning and leadership skills, “the Company was able to rise above those difficulties managing our manufacturing processes to make consistent quality beverage and food products, the engineering of efficient plant and equipment operations and the selling of our products“BetterandSmarter”soas tomanagegrowth.”

The Chairman said that apart fromitsbuildingworksandfacility upgrades, it also boosted its transport fleet with new international trucks and minivans, as well as the upgrade of its technology department among others Next year, the Group intends on commencing capital works for its drink plants, new equipment for its rum and wine production as well as a new oven for its bakery The Chairman furtheraddedthatthecompanywill alsosecureanewCO2plant,power distribution, and new land for furtherdevelopment.

The firearm that was recovered

Suspect, Navindra Kunik

Suspect, Dinesh George

Banks DIH Group said that it has seen improvement in its performance with a 21 percent increase in its profit before tax

Jagdeo says Gas-to-Energy project still feasible despite cost doubled

Vice President Bharrat

Jagdeo said the

People's Progressive Party (PPP) G overnment is confidentthateventhoughthecost of the controversial Wales Gas-toEnergy(GTE)projecthasdoubled, it is still feasible with electricity still to be generated at the initial estimatedcost.

At his most recent Press Conference,hostedattheOfficeof the President, Jagdeo was asked about the project's viability, given theincreaseincost.

Back in 2018, the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) had partnered with the State toconductafeasibilitystudyofthe planned natural gas pipeline. The primary objective of the study, which was executed by 'Energy Narrative' for US$70,000 an international entity that provides strategic market analyses and advice was to determine the overall feasibility of transporting natural gas from offshore Guyana, building a Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) separation plant and a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) production plant to market the liquidsfromthenaturalgasstream, as well as building a new electricitygenerationstationtouse theremainingdrynaturalgas.

Notably, a table was used in that report that was sourced from ExxonMobil in which the oil company said the pipeline would cost US$478 million. Four years later, Exxon estimates that the structure could cost Guyana US$1.3billion.

Jagdeo is however confident that the estimated price of electricity from this project will not change. He told Reporters, “We ran the simulation when we came up with between four to five cents per kilowatt hour (KWH) that would be the total cost of generation- we ran it at the new number so a higher figure than what was there in the period when (or) pre-inflation...so we are very confident that that will not change the cost (to generate electricity) per KWH- between four to five cents,whichwewillthensellat15

cents per KWH. Now it is being sold between 30 to 35 cents per KWH.”

In arguing his case, he added that if the Government had used the “old figures” the cost to generate electricity could have beenlessthantheestimatedfourto five cents. Not only that, but he said, “that gives us a lot of room there still because we are selling (electricity) at 30 (to) 35 (cents) now… and then as I said before, the sale of the liquids will then allow us to pay back for the infrastructure so effectively, the power comes in to us free basically.”

According to the Vice President, “If we can pay for the operation and maintenance cost and the capital expenditure from the sale of the liquids, then really we are getting the power and the gas comes in for free- we are getting the power for zero

ALJAZEERA - A court in Mozambique has sentenced the son of a former President,twoex-spybosses, and eight others to years in prison for their part in a corruption scandal in which the Government sought to conceal huge debts, triggeringfinancialhavoc.

The 11 were found guilty and sentenced onWednesday on charges related to a $2bn 'hidden debt' scandal which saw hundreds of millions of

effectively.”

Publisher of this newspaper, Mr Glenn Lall, believes the project will amount to a white elephant given the astronomical increase in cost. He reasoned, “No feasibility study, no Press Conference on this subject matter, pricedoubledanditisstillfeasible; Jagdeo plug that feasible out of

thin air. That's another white elephant that will hang Guyanese fortheso-calledcheapelectricity.”

In October, an Engineer with over 50 years of expertise challengedVicePresidentJagdeo's figures as it relates to the cost to generate electricity via the US$2 billiongasproject.

In the absence of any new

feasibility studies for the venture Jagdeo had said he “estimates” the project to generate electricity and distribute same at US$0.15 cents perKWH.

He explained during a Press Conference in June that while the five US cents per kilowatt hour may be the cost to generate the electricity, another five cents may be lost in the transmission and distribution of the power This could take the final price for the sale of the electricity to about US$0.15 cents, after adding five US cents as profits for the company

However,Mr FitzroyFletcher, a Jamaica born Engineer does not agree with these “estimates” as providedbytheVP

In fact, the Specialist, who graduated from the University of the West Indies in 1969 and later achieved an MBA from the University of Toronto in 1974, has provided a detailed analysis of the project explaining that its intent of lowering electricity costs by 50 percent will not be possible c o n s i d e r i n g t h e n e w developments.

In an interview with this

newspaper, Fletcher noted that 'Energy Narrative (EN)', the consultancy firm that conducted a pre-feasibility study for the gas project, concluded that the pipelineandNGLplantwouldcost an estimated US$450 million and the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) would generate electricity at approximately 8.5 US cents per KWh, which would be about a 40 percent reduction on GPL's generating costs when the world market price of crude oil was approximately USD60 00 per barrel.

Now that the cost of the pipeline alone has increased to US$1.3 billion, Fletcher reasoned thatthismammothincrease,would necessarilydriveupthecostofgas s u p p l i e d t o G P L , a n d consequentially,placetheviability oftheprojectinjeopardy

To this end, he pointed out, “The Government's estimates that with the latest pipeline cost, the cost of generating power by GPL wouldbelessthantheENestimate of8.5UScentsperKWh,andbeas low as 4 or 5 US cents per KWh,

to be figures drawn out of a hat,andwishfulthinking.”

dollars in Governmentbacked loans disappear and crashed the SouthernAfrican nation'seconomy Nineteen individuals, including state security officials, were put on trial on charges such as money laundering, bribery and blackmail; the remaining eight were acquitted by the courtinMaputo.

Armando Ndambi Guebuza, son of former President, Armando

Guebuza, was sentenced to 12 years in prison, while others who were convicted were handed sentences of between10and12years.

“Armando Ndambi Guebuza showed no remorse forcommittingthecrimeand hemaintainsthathehas been targeted for political reasons,” Judge Efigenio Baptista of the Maputo City Courtsaid.

“Ndambistilldoesnot (Continued on page 16)

Armando Ndambi Guebuza, in orange trousers, was sentenced to 12 years in prison [Grant Lee Neuenburg/Reuters]

appear

A chart used in the feasibility study of the Wales Gas-to-Energy project that estimated the total upstream and pipeline cost to be US$478 million. Today, the cost of the pipeline alone is now estimated to be US$1.3 billion

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, during his most recent Press Conference responding to queries from the press

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Jamaicarenewsregionalstatesof emergencyduetogangviolence

KINGSTON, (Reuters)Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness renewed states of emergency in eight parishes on Wednesday to control an ongoing threat of crime linked to gang activity in the Caribbean nation.

Holness on Nov. 15 had announced regional states of emergency, which allow authorities to search buildings and arrest citizens withoutawarrant.

“While we have had reasonable success in controlling the number of murders leading up to and during the Christmas season, the threat levels for ongoing gang conflicts ... (remain) elevated and extensive in scale,”HolnesssaidinaPress Conference.

Police Commissioner, Antony Anderson told the same Press Conference that Jamaica recorded an average ofnearlyfivemurdersperday in September The previous

states of emergency, as well as new firearms legislation, have caused violent crime to decline, he said. There were 1,463 murders in Jamaica in 2021, with gang activity

accounting for 71% of these, according to official data.

Jamaica’sSupremeCourt ruled inJune thatAuthorities violated the rights of a man who said he was arbitrarily

arrested during a state of public emergency and then held in detention for months without a trial.The country hasoneofthehighestmurder rates in the region.

The Black Stalin has died

Veteran Calypsonian, Dr LeroyCalliste,alsoknownas ‘TheBlackStalin’,hasdied.

Calliste, 81, passed away at his home in San Fernando on Wednesday

He was surrounded by hisfamily

At his 80th birthday celebrationlastyear,Calliste sang “Happy Birthday” and verses from his popular calypso hits.

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From page 10 Statutes remain, an unnecessary resource at the disposal of any offended official,IPIsaid,addingthat the mere threat of Prosecution chills investigation and free speech, sustains corruption, unnecessarily protects Public Officials, and denies one of the most basic of human rights, freedom of

Calliste suffered a stroke in 2014 which affected both his speech and movement on the right side of his body. However, his memory and mental faculties remained intact.

Mozambique

Frompage15 reckonthathewrongfully benefittedfrom$33mthatthe Mozambican people badly

Last year, Lord Street in San Fernando was renamed Dr. Leroy Calliste Street. Calliste, however, was not well enough to attend the celebration.

Calliste was mourned by his colleagues, friends and relatives on social media.

ex-president’s son, 10 others jailed...

need.” Two top intelligence service officials, General Director, Gregorio Leao and Head of the Economic Unit, Antonio Carlos do Rosario, were also each sentenced to 12 years in prison.

public.

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expression.“CriminalLibelis one of the most pernicious media constraints in contemporary society Implementedatthewillof any insulted Public Official, it frequently leavesnorecourseforthe Defendant.

Inmostcountries,truth is not a valid Defence, leaving Defence a vexing proposition.”

Leao and do Rosario were found guilty of embezzlement and abuse of power, while NdambiGuebuzawasconvicted for embezzlement, money laundering and criminal association,amongothercharges.

The Judge said those convicted had by their actions helped impoverish Mozambique’s people. “The Defendants tarnished the good imageofthecountryabroadand in the international markets, withenduringandhard-to-repair effects,” he said.

Week in the Middle East

The scandal arose after state-owned companies in the impoverishedcountry,illicitly borrowed $2bn in 2013 and 2014frominternationalbanks tobuyatuna-fishingfleetand surveillance vessels. The Governmentmaskedtheloans from Parliament and the

When the ‘hidden debt’ finally surfaced in 2016, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other donors cut off financial support, triggering a sovereign debt default and currency collapse. An independent audit found $500m of the loans had been diverted.

The money remains unaccounted for. Former President Guebuza, who was in office when the loans were contracted, testified at the trial, but was not seen in court on Wednesday Wearing a black sweater over an orange prisoner jumpsuit, his son stood up as the Judge handed out the verdict. During the proceedings, Baptista said Ndambi Guebuza acted deliberately “to exert influence on his father” and get the government to approve the purchase of the vessels.Hetooka$33mbribe thatwenttosatisfyhis“desire for luxury” the Judge said, listing some of the assets the former President’s son acquired with the money

They included luxury cars and a 10-million-rand ($590,000) mansion in neighbouring SouthAfrica. Besides being sentenced to jail, the younger Guebuza was ordered to pay a fine of 162,000meticais($2,500).The trial started inAugustlastyear and ran until March. It was broadcast live on local TV and radio stations. Dozens of people, including AntiCorruption Activists and Civil Campaigners, sat in the courtroom, a makeshift facility set up in a white marquee to accommodateDefendants,their Lawyers and other parties. The debt scandal exposed corruption on a global scale and sparked legal cases across three continents. Swiss bank, Credit Suisse, was fined $475m last year over its partinissuingtheloans. Former FinanceMinister,ManuelChang –whosignedofftheloans–has been held in SouthAfrica since 2018,pendingextraditiontothe UnitedStatesforallegedlyusing theUSfinancialsystemtocarry out the fraudulent scheme.

Members of security forces guard the streets as Jamaican REUTERS/Gilbert Bellamy

Guyana’s draconian Libel Laws must be scrubbed from Law Books...

The late Dr. Leroy Calliste popularly known as ‘Black Stalin’

Exxon's flaring info not updated on website

The high levels of gas flaring by oil giant ExxonMobil has been a sore issue for Environmentalists andCivilSocietyActivistshere.

However, the Guyana Government has taken a different approachtothematter,allowingthe companyto burn the excess gas but payapaltryfinefordoingso.

Aftermonthsofdemandingthat the oil production data be shared with the public, the government finally directed the media to a website in August to access the information, usually updated at the endofeverymonth.

Notably, this website provides key updates on the number of barrels of oil produced at the Liza OneandLizaTwooperationsinthe StabroekBlock,aswellasthedaily reported amount of gas produced, gas injected, flared gas and gas used for fuel. It also gives an overviewontheBrentCrudeprices and the amount of water produced andinjected.

While data as recent as November 30, 2022 is available for public scrutiny on all the other aspects of oil production, flaring statistics for the past four months have not been uploaded to the portal.

In fact, the last published gas data on the site is dated July 12, 2022 Nonetheless, data was uploadedthatdepictstheamountof gas produced daily during the offshore production of oil in the Stabroek Block. It is unclear as to why the flaring statistics are not being made public as Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, did not respond to queries relatingtotheissueyesterday

Flaring,asthewordsuggests,is the process of burning associated gas that is brought up during oil production. Notably, this process emits harmful gases into the atmospherethatcan,notonlyaffect seabirds and marine creatures, but alsoclimatechange.

ExxonMobil through its subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) had been flaring associated gas at the Liza One field soon after the startup of oil production in 2019, owing to its failedgascompressor

It was only in late July this year that the company told members of the media that the equipment was finallyreplaced.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had tweaked the permit governing the operations in the field, to remove a no-flaring policy, thus allowing the oil company to flare gas and pay a fine inreturn.

To that end, it was reported by ExxonMobil's Production Manager, Mike Ryan that a total of some US$10 million in flaring fees hadbeenpaidovertotheentity

However,whenhewasaskedto disclose the total volume of gas flared at the Liza Destiny Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel over the two-year period, he carefully dodgedthequestion.

TheProductionManagerwould only repeat that the company maintained full compliance with the EPA's permitted parametres for flaring which was between 15-7 millioncubicfeetofgasperday

The Production Manager said, “We have met our expectation of delivering it (the new compressor), installingit,andsafelystartingitup inJuly

We have achieved background flare of less than one million standard cubic feet of gas. It is a remarkable accomplishment by many people who have been relentlesslypursuingthis.

We have also gone 1000 days without any injury which is really world class performance ” Meanwhile, on the second FPSO, the Liza Unity, he said, it has achieved background flare within a record60days.Themediawasfirst

A graph on the Ministry of Natural Resources website, last updated on July 12, 2022, depicting the amount of gas injected, flared, and used.

The chart that shows the amount of gas produced daily offshore Guyana during oil production activities

directedtothewebsiteinAugustby the Ministry of Natural Resources, amid pressure from transparency

activists on the release of data relating to oil production here. See link attached below to access the

w e b s i t e https://petroleum gov.gy/datavisualization?tid=All

Disgruntled Soldiers question President's

adjustments for Joint Services

Members of the

Guyana Defence Force (GDF) have expressed dissatisfaction with the Government'sdecisiontoadjustthe salaries for ranks at all levels of the Police, Prison and Fire Services, but only a selected few in the military

Thesoldiersarequestioningthe methodology used by President IrfaanAli who is also Commanderin-Chief of theArmed Forces. The group said just two categories of military personnel were selected for the salary adjustments. The soldiers who spoke to this newspaper under conditions of strict anonymity questioned the disparity in the Government's decision. The soldiers said that President Ali adjusted salaries for members of the Police, from Constable to Commissioner, with the Fire Service also receiving

benefits, “but for the Army he would have only adjusted salaries from Corporals to civilians. So from Sergeant up, no adjustment was made. We want to find out why,”oneGDFmembersaid.

“Members of the force are beginning to be disgruntled and it's not a good look. You did all of this for the Police. You raised salaries for the Police plus give them bonus and you just gave us bonus alone and did not raise our salary We want to know why there was no salary adjustment for the entire GuyanaDefenceForce.”

President Ali announced in November, salary adjustments for Public Servants with some 8,000 members of the Disciplined Services to benefit from January 1, 2023.RanksandOfficersatvarious levels within the Guyana Police Force as well as those within the Fire Service received pay

increases, while the salaries of Recruits and Privates within the GDFwereincreased.

In announcing the pay increase for the GDF, PresidentAli said that Recruits would have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $94,485 to $100,000 Additionally, Recruits with five and more years' experience will now receive a salary of no less than $100,000.

Privateswillbenefitfroman8.1 percent increase on their minimum salary moving it from $94,771 to $102,488.

Privates with five to ten years' experience will now receive a salaryofnolessthan$110,000,and those with more than ten years' experience will now receive a salary of no less than $115,000. Nothing was mentioned for Senior Members of the Force. Instead, at the GDF's annual Christmas lunch,

Constabulary

In a letter to the Editor, the writer said that “members of the GuyanaPrisonServiceandtheCity Constabulary work hard to ensure that law and order is maintained in our country, just like the other Disciplined Services. I will be very grateful if HE (President) can kindly grant us an increase in our salaries with conditions similar as those announced for the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Guyana Defence Force (GDF), and the GuyanaFireService(GFS).”

In a statement shortly after P r e s i d e n t A l i ' s s a l a r y announcements, Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton had described the President's increase to the Police as “unacceptable.” He said that with the Government's budget ballooning by nearly 50 percent this year, the increases that have been proposed across the different categories and ranks of Police Officers are unacceptable. He questioned why State Workers' pay could not be increased further with the billions of dollars within the country “The PPPC can stand upandsaytothenationthataPolice Officer with over ten (10) long years of experience should only be paid $115,000 dollars a month is unbelievable. Clearly, they do not respect the hard work that Policemen and women do every day in service of our nation,” he opined.

last Tuesday, President Ali told Officers that they would receive one-month bonus and that Government would provide free steel and cement to soldiers who wereallocatedhouselots.

Calls were nonetheless made for PresidentAli to similarly revise upwards the salaries of the Guyana Prison Service and City

‘Audit must say whether oil companies cheating on uncapped interest loans'

demands

Economist and

Advisor to the Leader of the Opposition, Elson Low has again raised concerns over the delay in the long overdue oil cost audit of oil majors operating in the offshore Stabroek Block. Low restated his position as he e x p l a i n e d t h a t a comprehensive audit of expenses is an important avenue for the country to monitor its oil income. Low was also making this point as he delved into the matter of loan interest being paid by Guyana on behalf of the oil companies.

Thisisprovidedforinthe 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) which Guyana has signed with ExxonMobil and HESS, and Chinese state company, CNOOC. The oil companies areallowedtoaccessmassive loans to conduct the oil operations in Guyanese waters. Apart from the loan repayment,allinterestearned as a result, will also be reclaimed by the oil companies This cuts the amount of revenue coming to Guyana and protects oil

company capital since they have no need to invest their own revenue into the projects, industry experts have explained. While this matter has been highlighted before, it resurfaced last week in an International Monetary Fund (IMF) report warning Guyana that the provision leavesroom for the oil companies to take advantage.

Low said that according to the PSA, Exxon can only reclaim interest if it is consistent with market rates.

“This implies that the audit must verify whether the interest Exxon is attempting torecoverhasbeenaccruedat the market rate The

Government must therefore ensure this is covered by the current cost recovery audit. Failure to do so could cost GuyanabillionsofUSdollars over time, depending on the sizeanddurationofanyloans Exxonhastakenon.”

Low has been monitoring the urgency with which the audits have been handled and has described it as criminal.

“We haven't noticed it (audits) but perhaps that's because of the Christmas

season. If indeed it has not been released then it is again overdue, even by the extended timeline set out by the Government.” As I've mentioned previously, concealing the audit of an oil company should be a criminal offense, just as failing to audit Exxon should be a criminal offense,” Low said.

He told the newspaper that when the new timeline for the audits were set in September, it was already overdue, and then it was set forearlyDecember Justdays away from the New Year, there has been no update on thepositionoftheworkbeing done The Opposition Advisor said that the Government must release the audits and tell Guyanese what is happening with the oilmoney

Financial partner, IMF, has advised that industry norm is that the Government does not allow oil companies to recover interests on loans taken. And even if that ends up being the case, the Administration sets a cap or limit to prevent the full interest amount from being

recovered. The IMF pointed out however, that apart from allowing the uncapped interest to be recovered, Guyana has also waived its right to tax such interest amounts.

TheFundhighlightedthat the benefit, therefore, provide enough incentive for the Contractors to finance their projects with loans instead of revenues from theiraccounts.

In an invited comment, Project Management Specialist and Public Commentator, Mark Weeks hadtoldKaieteurNewsthatit is a matter of “professional responsibility”totheirclients that Financial Auditors keep an eye out for any w r o n g d o i n g o r inconsistencies when ensuring the truth of the books. He was commenting on whether Guyana needed a forensic audit of its oil sector when he explained that G u y a n a w o u l d b e 'disingenuous'toinitiatesuch an audit against its oil partners without the necessary evidence He saidhoweverthat

Berserk man charged for killing NA youth

The 41-year-old man who went berserk last week killing a teenager andseriouslyinjuringanotherman, was on Wednesday remanded to prison when he appeared at the New Amsterdam Magistrates' Courtchargedwithmurder LesterLaFleurcalled"Eion"of Mai Mai Dam, Angoy's Avenue, was charged with the capital offence of murder committed on 15-year-old, Carlus Leung-EtWeh, of Timmers Dam, Angoy's Avenue. The charge read that on Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at Timmers Dam, he murdered Leung-Et-Weh He was not requiredtoplead.

Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh presided over the case. MagistrateSinghbeforeremanding him to prison, ordered that a psychiatric evaluation be done. La FleurwillreturntocourtonJanuary 25,2023.

La Fleur is accused of stabbing and drowning the teenager Prior to killing the boy, La Fleur stabbed another man but he survived and was receiving medical attention for his injuries. Mother of the dead teenagerhadtoldReportersthather son was a student of the Special Needs School in New Amsterdam. Hehadbeenattendingthereafterhe suffered injuries to his head when hewas9-years-old.

He was beaten in the head by a student and had been having seizureseversince.

On the day of the murder, Bess saidshesenthersontohavehishair braided for a Christmas party at the SpecialNeedsSchool,whenhewas attacked by La Fleur who was on a rampage through the street. Bess said she saw the accused with a weapon tucked under his shirt and he ran to her son and "bore he in he chest and when he start holler for me and I go, the man run me, I had toleffandrunandgoinside"

The woman said that her screams alerted neighbours but the accused had pinned him down in the drain in front of their yard,

drowninghimintheprocess.

Avideoseenbythispublication showed a resident hitting the accused with a piece of wood so that he could release the victim. When he eventually did, the teen had already died. Residents pulled the victim out of the water and contacted the police who arrived and arrested the accused. La Fleur also stabbed Carlus Singh at a poultry shop a few lots away An eyewitness disclosed that Singh was purchasing chicken feed when La Fleur showed up. The suspect becameirritatedataquestionasked bySinghandhedealtSinghseveral stabs to his back and other parts of hisbody

Auditors must be able to pick up on triggers that may warrantadeeperlookintothe company's financials. He said too that while the Auditor may not set out to detect fraud or may not have been instructed by the client, “the Auditor must be skilled enough to recognize triggers that may bring cause to a forensicaudit.”

Financial Analyst and Certified Accountant, Floyd Haynes had stated in a Kaieteur Radio presentation that Auditors of the US$7B bill from ExxonMobil affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGLP), are only tasked with reviewing the sums provided; that they are not engaged in a forensic audit, and that the audit is beingconductedaccordingto the terms of the Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement(PSA).

Guyana has been warned that even if interest on loans isreclaimed,acapontherate of interest is necessary to

and Advisor to the Opposition Leader, Elson Low

avoid oil companies pushing their corporate debt at inflated rates into the local projects in order to obtain cost recovery benefit at the expense of the Government. The Government has also beenaskedaboutthecostand amount of loans oil companies are taking in the name of the Stabroek projects Low insisted however that the cost oil audit must confirm whether the recovery is consistent with the terms of the PSA. When asked whether the loophole is an area that both the Government and the Opposition could mend together, he said, “We are always reviewing the situationbutfornowwhatwe want to say is that the audit needs to be the focus as it is themostimmediateissue.”

Guyanese wanted for murder captured in Suriname after another robbery/murder last week

KevinCarter,theyoungmanthe Guyana Police Force (GPF) had issued a wanted bulletin for in relation to the murder of Sensei, Garfield Newton, was last week arrestedbySurinameseauthorities.

An official of the GPF who confirmed Carter's arrest with Kaieteur News related that he and others were arrested in relation to a robbery and murder committed in Suriname According to Surinamese news website, Waterkant Net, police arrested Carter in relation to the investigationongoinginthemurder of a Chinese shopkeeper on Pandit PaltanTewarieweg.

The news agency reported that last week six persons were arrested in relation to the death of the 53year-old Chinese shopkeeper who was robbed at her shop. It was reported that four of the men are Guyanese. Carter, formerly of East Ruimveldt Squatting Area, Georgetown was wanted by local authorities since December 2021 in relationtoNewton'sdeath.

Kaieteur News reported that the police had arrested two suspects, which makes Carter the third suspect It was reported that Newton was shot dead during the course of a robbery just about 22:00hrs Christmas Eve night at Campbell Street, Albouystown According to Police reports, moments before Newton was

killed, he visited a Goldsmith in the Campbell Street area, where he collected a silver hand band, a gold chain, and two gold rings which he had taken to be cleaned earlier It was while heading back to his company's vehicle, which was parked on Sussex Street when the fatalincidentoccurred.

The Goldsmith told Police that aboutfiveminutesafterNewtonleft togotohisvehicle,ateenagercame and informed him that the person (Newton) who came to collect the jewellery was shot and lying on the street. Immediately after hearing this, the Goldsmith reported that he went out to the street and saw Newton lying motionless. The two suspects that were arrested have sincebeenchargedandremandedto prisonforthecrime.

The large crowd at the Christmas Tree light up at Charity Essequibo

Lester La Fleur

Deceased: Carlus Leung-Et-Weh

Kevin 'Lil Boy' Carter

Economist

India ‘seriously’ considering bid for 2036 Games - sports minister

(Reuters) - India is “seriously”consideringabid to host the 2036 Olympic Games, sports minister Anurag Thakur said.

The world’s second-most populous nation has previously hosted the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games, and ThakurtoldtheTimesofIndia newspaper it was the “right time” to host the Olympics.

“If India is making news in every sector, from manufacturing to services, then why not in the field of sports? India is looking very seriously at bidding for the

2036 Olympics,” Thakur added. The International OlympicCommittee(IOC)has said it was in preliminary discussions with 10 cities but has not revealed a timeframe forwhenitplanstoawardthe 2036edition.

Paris, Los Angeles and Brisbane host the next three Games. Among potential rivals for the Games are Indonesia and South Korea, aswellasQatar,whichhosted this year’s FIFA World Cup. Germany is considering whether to launch another Olympic bid despite strong domestic opposition. Thakur

said his government would consult the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and

Thursday December 29, 2022

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)

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

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

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

GEMINI(May21–June20)

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

CANCER(June21–July22)

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

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

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

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)

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

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

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

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov.21)

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

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

Yourrelationshipsaregoing well from an intellectual perspective, Sagittarius, but from an emotional one, you might feel like they aren't as fulfilling as you'dlike.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

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

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

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

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)

Here'sareminderthatit'sOK tobeyou.Youmayfeelmore centered than usual, which encourages you to stand up for yourself and say the things you must to people who need to hear them.

prepare a roadmap ahead of the IOC session in Mumbai next year. “The IOC session isaprestigiouseventforIndia and whatever steps have to betakentobidalongwiththe IOA, the government will support them. It has to be a jointpreparation.”NewDelhi hosted the Asian Games in 1951 and 1982 and the Commonwealth Games in 2010. Thakur suggested Prime Minister Narendra Modi’shomestateofGujarat would be presented as a potentialOlympicvenue.

Mbappe rescues...

From page 24 while Neymar’s sending off sentPSGintoaninitialperiod of frustration, it ignited their attack as they battled back to try to turn the game around.

Mbappe was clipped by GerzinoNyamsiintheboxas he raced towards the Strasbourg goal and got the better of Matz Sels from the spot, tucking it into the bottom-rightcorner

Anurag Thakur speaks during a news conference in Mumbai. (Reuters)

Luka Doncic scores historic 60-point triple-double in Dallas Mavericks win

(BBC Sport) - Luka Doncic scored the first 60point ‘triple-double’in NBA history to help the Dallas Mavericks claim a 126-121 overtime win over the New YorkKnicks.

T h e 2 3 - y e a r - o l d Slovenian racked up 60 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists, posting double figuresinthreekeyattacking metrics.

With the Mavericks down 115-113 in the final seconds, he deliberately missed a free throw, claimed a rebound, and scored a jumpertoforceovertime.

“I’mtired,Ineedabeer,” he said. Doncic is only the seventh player to record a 50-point tripe-double in the NBA, and he becomes the youngest to achieve the feat, taking the record from alltimegreatWiltChamberlain.

H i s p e r f o r m a n c e powered a superb comeback win for the hosts who trailed by 110-101 with fewer than

45 seconds remaining in the fourthquarter

Doncic’s decision to intentionally throw his freethrow attempt against the backboard, claim the ball in the ensuing melee and have the composure and accuracy to drain his shot, was the highlight of his team’s renaissance.

“I just threw it up, I was kind of lucky,” he admitted.

“We were down, we came back, this is an amazing

feeling ” Doncic’s stellar game attracted praise from across the league and from giantsofthegame’spast.

“We are watching greatness. I’ve never seen anything like that ever,” Mavericks owner Mark Cubantweeted.

DeMar DeRozan of the Chicago Bulls and the Washington Wizards’ Kyle Kuzma were among the present-day stars to express admiration, while two-time

NBA champion Kevin Durant compared Doncic’s numbers to something out of a “video game” rather than reality

It is a fourth-straight win for the Dallas Mavericks, who lie sixth in the Western Conference

Elsewhere, LeBron James impressed with 28 points as the Los Angeles Lakers ended a four-game losing streak by beating the OrlandoMagic129-110.

Russell Domingo: Bangladesh coach quits nine weeks before England tour

( B B C S p o r t ) -

Bangladesh are without a coach nine weeks before hosting England, after RussellDomingoresigned.

In December, Domingo, 48, oversaw a 2-1 one-day international series victory over India, but they lost both Tests.

Bangladesh Cricket Board operations chief Jalal Yunus told the AFP news agency that they would start work “to appoint a new head coach before our next series”. The Tigers have no scheduled fixtures before

facing England in early March.

The rearranged tour featuresthreeODIsandthree Twenty20 internationals between1and14March.

South African Domingo, who replaced ex-England wicketkeeper Steve Rhodes as coach in September 2019, hadayearleftonhiscontract buthadalreadybeenstripped of his role coaching Bangladesh’sT20side.

B a n g l a d e s h w e r e knocked out in the group stage of the 2022 T20 World CupinNovember

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) dribbles during the second half against the New York Knicks at American Airlines Center. (USA TODAY Sports)

Russell Domingo took over as Bangladesh coach in 2019. 2019. (Getty Images)

One Guyana President’s Cup…

‘Edinburgh Massacre’!

Region4trampleRegion5onwaytoFinals

By Rawle Toney

It could go down as the ‘Edinburgh Massacre’ as Region 4 minced their Region5counterpartsinfirst semifinal of the One Guyana President’s Cup tournament, lastevening.

Fans at the National Track and Field Centre witnessed a star-studded Region 4 team running riot on the men fromWest Coast Berbice,winning8-1

Coached by Wayne Dover, the Region 4 side, loaded with current players on the country’s men’s senior national team, outplayed Region 5 throughput the lopsided contest

There was nothing to cheer about for the Region 5 supporters,sincetheballwas as mostly in the Region 4

team’s possession and often timesinthebackofthenet.

Kelsey Benjamin continuedhisrichforminthe

Kelsey Benjamin is the tournament’s leading goal scorer with nine goals. (Rawle Toney photo)

tournament, netting in the 45th minute, pushing his tally to nine goals in the inaugural competition and a

Alex Carey century keeps hosts in charge in Melbourne

( B B C S p o r t ) -

Wicketkeeper Alex Carey scored a maiden century as Australia closed in on a series-sealing win over SouthAfrica on day three of thesecondTest.

The hosts racked up 5758 in their first-innings reply to South Africa’s 189 before declaring and switching the spotlightontheProteas.

The call was justified as South Africa skipper Dean Elgar was caught for a duck andhissidefellto15-1.

Play was abandoned early as drizzle hit the MelbourneCricketGround.

It ended as another dismal day for the tourists, butithadbeguninpromising fashion with a string of wickets in the morning session.

Fast bowler Anrich Nortje dismissed Travis Head for 51 before cleaning up David Warner with a superb yorker as the Australian, who resumed on 200 after retiring with cramp on day two, was out to the first ball he faced on day three.

Pat Cummins saw off the hat-trick ball but was soon caught behind off Kagiso Rabadaforfour South Africa had taken

Carey is the first Australianwicket keeperto make a Test century since Brad Haddin in 2013. (Getty Images)

threewicketsforfiveruns,to leave Australia, who had started the day on 386 for three,on400forsix.

But Australia found a first-innings second wind when Nathan Lyon joined Carey at the crease. Lyon hit a plucky 25 before allrounder Cameron Green made light of a broken index finger sustained on day two toscoreanunbeaten51.

Green’s injury will keep himoutofthebowlingattack for the rest of the match and he will miss the third Test in Sydney He took 5-27 in SouthAfrica’sfirstinnings.

Carey,playinginhis14th Test, motored along, reaching 111 before he was caughtandbowledbyMarco Jansen.

Carey is the first Australian wicketkeeper to make a Test century since

Brad Haddin in 2013 and only the second at the Melbourne Cricket Ground afterRodMarsh.

In their second knock, SouthAfrica were quickly in trouble. Elgar’s duck off the bowling of Cummins means the visiting captain has scored only 31 runs in four inningsonthetour

It could have been worse for South Africa because Theunis de Bruyn was dropped by Warner on three. Instead, he survives on six not out alongside opener SarelErweeonseven.

However,Australia, who lead by 371 runs, control the match’s destiny with two days left to collect the nine remainingwickets.

Australia lead the threematch series 1-0 after a sixwicketwininthefirstTestin Brisbane.

front-running for the Honda XRmotorcycleprize.

A d o u b l e f r o m Nicolas McArthur (17’, 30’ ) and Omari Glasgow (51’, 55’), along with a Samuel Garnett (71’), Daniel Wilson (53’) and Jeremy Garrett (42’) sealed the comfortable win Region

4. Abumchi Benjamin’s 84th minute free-kick was too well-taken, as he beat goalkeeper Akel Clarke

It was only cheerful moment for Region 5

With the win, Region 4 earned $400,000 and a place in Sunday’s final where they

would play the winner between Region 3 and Region7.

The winner of the tournamentwillpocket$2M, secondplace$1M.

Teams earned $200,000 for each group stage win and $400,000 for a victory in the semifinals.

Nicolas McArthur controls possession for Region 4 (Rawle Toney photo)

Mbappe rescues PSG on return as Neymar sent off

(BBC Sport) - Kylian Mbappe rescued victory for Paris St-Germain as his late penalty snatched a win over Strasbourg in his first game since losing the World Cup finalwithFrance.

Marquinhos had opened the scoring for the hosts in the Ligue 1 match before scoring an own goal in the secondhalf.

Things went from bad to worse for PSG as Neymar was sentoff aftertwo yellow cardsinasmanyminutes.

But Mbappe saved the three points as he netted his 94th-minutepenalty

The result sees PSG remain top of the table and extend their advantage over second-place Lens to eight points while Strasbourg are threeadriftofsafety

Thehostsweredominant with the ball, having 71% of

the possession, but did little with it and looked neutered in the absence of Lionel Messi, who has not yet returned after winning the World Cup. Second-bottom Strasbourghadcausedissues

in the first half as Kevin Gamerio forced Gianluigi Donnarumma into a lastditchsaveandseemedtobeon courseforasurprisedrawafter Marquinhos’own-goal.But (Continued on page 21)

Ex-Bayern Munich boss Jens Scheuer is new manager

(BBC Sport) - Brighton & Hove Albion have named Jens Scheuer as Hope Powell’s successor as head coach, subject to the Germanbeinggrantedaworkpermit.

Amy Merricks has been caretaker coach of the Women’s Super League’s secondbottom side since the ex-England boss resignedinOctoberafteran8-0loss.

“I’m very excited to work for the team and the club,” said Scheuer, 44, who left BayernMunichearlierthisyear

“The facilities are the best I have ever

seen.” He added: “I had good talks with technical director David Weir The first time we spoke it was clear for me that I wanted to come here and build a team which can grow andmoveupthetable.

“I’mveryexcitedforthefutureandcan’t waittogetstarted.”

Subjecttohisworkpermitbeinggranted, Scheuer’s first match in charge will be a crucial one, with the Seagulls playing at the WSL’s bottom club Leicester City on 15 Januarywhentheseasonresumes.

Haaland scores two as Man City beat Leeds

(BBC Sport) - Erling Haaland became the fastest player to reach 20 Premier League goals in a season as Manchester City overcame a stubborn Leeds to reduce Arsenal’s lead at the top of thetabletofivepoints.

F r u s t r a t e d b y a disciplined and determined home side and their own profligacy for much of the first half at Elland Road, City snatched the lead just before the break through Rodri’s follow-up finish and then sped into the distance in a one-sided secondhalf.

Having seen a couple of efforts saved early in the game, Haaland - playing in

the city of his birth against the side he supports - did not celebrate his goals but showed little mercy in securingthemtobringuphis impressive tally in just his 14thgameofthecampaign.

He could not miss for his first, set up in front of an open goal by the unselfish Jack Grealish, who himself had missed a hat-trick of good opportunities in the first45minutes.

Grealish was the provider again for Haaland’s second, which he slotted in from close range following a deflection to give Leeds too much of an deficit to overcome. In keeping with their display, the home side

refused to lie down and got a goal back through Pascal Struijk’s header from a corner

And they could have set up a grandstand finish had Joe Gelhardt’s poked finish nottrickledthewrongsideof thepost.

City, though, secured the win to move back up to second behind the Gunners and two points better off t h a n t h i r d - p l a c e d Newcastle, both of whom wononMonday

The relegation battle is no less intense, with Leeds in 15th place on 15 points and one of 11 teams separated by just eight points.

Erling Haaland has scored 20 league goals for Manchester City in 14 matches (Getty Images)

Kylian Mbappe secured the three points with a 94th-minute penalty.

Guyana’s Omari Glasgow aiming for big 2023 in CNL

(CONCACAF) - Omari Glasgow is one of the rising stars of the 2022–23 Concacaf Nations League. The 19-year-old winger is the leading scorer for the Guyana National Team through the first four matchesandtrailsthegolden boot race by one in League B.

His love for the beautiful game was ignited half a life ago, growing up in the village of Beterverwagting, around 14 kilometers east of the Guyanese capital of Georgetown, off the coast of theAtlantic Ocean. With the sportengrainedinhisfamily, there was no way he was destined to go without knowingthebeautifulgame.

“My family used to play football, my dad, my granddad and my other granddad My granddad from my dad’s side, he was one of the best players in the east coast, and he passed away before I was born so I didn’t get to see him play,” G l a s g o w t o l d Concacaf.com. “I went to go watch my dad play and I just started falling in love with the game, and I started playingatageeight.”

At 13, Glasgow was called up to the Under-15 national team in what started hisjourneytotheseniorteam a handful of years down the road. He made his senior team debut in a 4-0 win over Bahamas during Concacaf

World Cup qualifying for Qatar 2022 on March 30, 2021, coming off the bench to score and help end a 10match winless streak in qualifiersforGuyana.

“Growing up watching the national team play soccer, some of the guys that I play with, I watched them play at a young age and I always dreamed about playing with the national team,” Glasgow said. “I did thatandI’msogratefultoget called up to the senior nationalteam.”

TheGoldenJaguarswere unable to advance out of the first round of qualifying and again tasted heartbreak by elimination in the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup prelims the following June. Despite the loss to Guatemala, that G u y a n e s e p l a y e r ’s participation in that match led to his signing with Chicago Fire II in the United States.

With the desire to return winners, Glasgow and his teammates prepared at their respective clubs to arrive in thebestformpossibleforthe 2022/23 CNL with the objective of earning promotiontoLeagueA.

“We come into the tournament with a mindset, just playing to win and try to get into the other tier of Concacaf,” Glasgow said. “When we come together, we just want to win. We just play to win, do good for the

country and put the country outthereonthemap.”

Glasgow was the star in Guyana’s opening CNL encounter, leading a comebackwithasecondhalf brace for a 2-1 win over Montserrat The young forward scored off a free kick in the 61st minute and providedthegamewinner10 minutes later at the Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic - the same setting of his debut senior international goal just one yearprior

“The first time I get called up to the senior team,

that’s when we played in a World Cup qualifier, on that same ground, I scored a free kickagainstBahamasonthat same end of the field,” Glasgow recalled. “I just pick up the ball and said I’m taking it. The confidence wasthereandIjustdeliver.”

Delivering another game-winning goal is just what Glasgow did in Guyana’s second CNL match to take a 2-1 result against Bermuda. With six points in hand, the Golden Jaguars were holding onto thetopofGroupB.

The following two matches, back-to-back

encounters with Haiti, threw a wrench in Guyana’s aspirations to ascend. Haiti won both encounters to take pole position for promotion and the direct qualification tothe2023GoldCup.

Guyana can still get promoted by winning its remaining two matches, but they’llneedHaititostumble. Whatcanbesecuredwiththe second-placespotisaspotin the Gold Cup Preliminary Round, as the country is hopeful to return after making its first appearance inthe2019edition.

“Getting them to the Gold Cup would be a dream

come true for me because I alwayswanttoplayinoneof the highest levels in Concacaf,” said Glasgow “I think we could qualify, but we just have to work. We have two more games, we justgottogetfullpoints.”

“The tournament is very good for us because we showcase ourselves. As I said before, we’re trying to get into the top tier of the Concacaf with the big teams,” Glasgow said about playinginCNL.

“We’re working to get there. This round of Nations Leaguewe’vejustgottotake what God make happen for us and just continue working togetthereoneday.”

As Guyana looks to the future,aswellasthepresent, the ultimate aspiration is to earn the country’s first ever World Cup berth An e x p a n d e d 4 8 - t e a m tournament in 2026, hosted in Concacaf, has painted the settingforadreamdebut.

“Oneofmymaingoalsis trying to get Guyana into the WorldCup.

In 2026, the U S , Mexico, and Canada are hosting the World Cup, so that’sagoodchanceforusto get in there,” said Glasgow “I think the small Caribbean countries have a chance to get in there and I hope we make full use of that chance by then, because, as I said, it’s a process and we’re buildingtowardsthat.”

Omari Glasgow #10 was the star in Guyana’s opening CNL encounter, leading a comeback with a second half brace for a 2-1 win over Montserrat.

Omari Glasgow