Kaieteur News

Grove house on

(Joseph Allen photo)

Public scoping meetings for Exxon's 6th project now a farce

- Key questions on options for excess gas, insurance coverage left unanswered

By Kiana Wilburg

Do e s ExxonMobil Corporation regard Guyanese as unintelligent,undeservingof respect and dignity, incapable of knowing when the proverbial wool is being pulledovertheireyes?

The spectrum of emotions, one can feel from lending due consideration to such a question was amply pronounced at a project meeting on Thursday eveningattheUmanaYana.

The occasion marked the first and only Georgetown scopingmeetingforthesixth oilprojecttobedevelopedin the Stabroek Block by ExxonMobil's subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL).

Key themes that were raised for discussion centred on how Exxon would treat with excess gas for the sixth project, and the type of insurance coverage in place for an oil spill and possible implications for Caribbean territories. Also raised was the question of who is keeping an eagle's eye on Exxon's operations to ensure it is in compliance with internationalbestpractices.

Fielding these questions was Project Manager for ExxonMobil Guyana, AnthonyJackson.

Arepresentativefromthe Guyana Environment

Initiativewasfirsttotakethe floor on Friday evening to understand which company orgroupisensuringthatdrill cuttings which will be dumped into the ocean from the project are meeting international requirements, asExxonclaimed.

Jackson said there is a comprehensive system in place. He said drill cuttings are extracted from 2000 meters beneath the sea bed. He said Exxon subscribes to

the use of internationally accepted fluids during the extraction and drilling process. Jackson also noted that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does go out to the oil vessels forinspectionpurposestoo.

Having observed that the question was not answered, Kaieteur News followed up by asking Jackson to say which company is ensuring that Exxon is in compliance with international standards foritsdischarges.

This newspaper also asked the Exxon official to say who is determining the “international standards” to beused,especiallywhenone considers the fact that the country does not have laws or regulations specific to the treatment of oil sector dischargesoffshore.

Jackson said there are a number of companies involved in the compliance process but failed to list the namesofthesefirms.

“I have to admit this is not my area of expertise but we have a couple of folks in theroomthatareinchargeof our environmental and regulatoryprocess,”Jackson said.

As to the international standards, he said it is practice in the industry that countries utilize best practices that are accepted across the world and where there isn't any specification or in-country guidance, Exxon defers to the standards it knows govern various aspects of the industry

An Exxon official jumped in at this point to note that the EPA also sets the standards to be complied with and it is also responsible for compliance monitoring.

Kaieteur News also askedhowoftenthisisdone.

JoelGravesande,Headofthe EPA's Oil and Gas Unit was keen to note that compliance

isdoneeveryday,sinceithas real time access of what is happening offshore. He said there is real time data on the discharges made and therefore the EPA can know if there is compliance with international standards. He said too that there are daily reports from the FPSOs. He said there are also compliance checks done in person.

It is important to know that this is not 24/7 in person compliance, but rather, remotemonitoring.

Guyaneseenvironmental activist and Lawyer, Elizabeth Dean-Hughes also took to the floor to understand from Jackson, what percentage of the gas would be considered excess since only a small portion w o u l d b e u s e d f o r operationalsupport.

ConsideringthatJackson was not clear in providing a specific number, Kaieteur N e w s rephrased the question. He was asked to put a number to the excess that would be available from the project and what the options for government are, be it for export purposes or via another gas to energy project.

Jackson was unable to speak definitively on this matter He said it would be

a d d r e s s e d i n t h e Environmental Impact Assessment to be produced bythecompany'sconsultant.

Kaieteur News' Senior Journalist, Davina Bagot also asked about the insurance policy in place for this project She also enquired about the implications of citizens ingestingmarinespeciesthat would have consumed a cocktail of oil and toxic dispersants during an unmitigated oil spill scenario.

Jackson said: “On insurance, I would have to defer that question, I am not an insurance expert of the affiliate, I am aware of our commitment to address any issue that might arise especially if it was related to oil spills…Insurance is not

the primary mechanism that weusetodothat.Ifthereisa car accident and we needed to act, we don't wait and say 'hold on let me call insurance'…thatisatoolthat is used after the fact to address any claims we might have…”

Intheeventthereisanoil spillanddispersantsareused tobreaktheoilintosmallbits and marine organisms consume it, Jackson said, “it would have to be in significant quantities of oil forthistohappenanditisnot like a yellow-finned tuna is going around and is interestedineatingdispersed o i l I t i s u s u a l l y bacteria…The risk is fairly lowinmyview.”

Another Kaieteur News representative took to the floor, to register in the

capacity of a citizen, her disgust with the fact that this is the sixth project Exxon is hostingascopingmeetingon and the subject of insurance from the parent company, ExxonMobil Corporation, is yettobeironedout.

S h e s a i d , “ I t i s worrisome, troubling and alarming that the relevant expert is not here to speak definitivelyonthismatter.”

Kaieteur News was also armed with several other questionswhichitdidnotget the opportunity to pose due to time constraints placed on the meeting by the organizers.

At the conclusion of the scoping meeting, attendees got a clear understanding of how hungry Exxon is for Guyana's oil, but not so m u c h a b o u t t h e environmental implications s i n c e t h e r e l e v a n t representatives on these issueswerenotpresent.

Exxon's sixth project, as previously reported, will target the Whiptail, Pinktail and Tilapia discoveries, estimated to hold over one billion barrels of oil resources.

The project is poised for startup in 2027-2028 and will produce between 220,000 and 275,000 barrels ofoilperday(bpd).

Scoping meetings for this project continue on Monday at the Mahaicony TechnicalInstitute.

ExxonMobil Projects Manager, Anthony Jackson

Elizabeth Dean-Hughes

Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456

Editor-In-Chief:NIGELWILLIAMS

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

The PPPGovernment doesn’t know everything, should desist from what bodes ill for Guyana

DEAREDITOR,

When businesspeople get too cozy with government leadersallthingsarepossible. Mutualbackscratchingisthe result, with both government leaders and their cronies in businessbenefitingenormously Theusuallosersarenobody but the taxpayers, the law-abiding, and the continuously disappointed.

TaketherecentrevealingdevelopmentsinvolvingIndia’s super tycoon of a businessman, Gautam Advani. He transformed from corporate star to media rock star to global business superstar It looks as though his star, the entire constellation of them, is about to take a plunge. Ahundred billion in value wiped out in the blink of an eye could slowdown,ifnotsink,thelikesofWarrenBuffett,BillGates, and Mukesh Ambani, among others of that illustrious moneyedelite. Mr Advanimadesurethathealwayswasat thesideofthatotherrisingstar,thepoliticalonefromGujarat, NarendraModi,asheblazedhispathtotheheadoftheIndian Government. Itwas,andstillappearstobe,thebestcompany he could have kept, the one remaining ace in his crumbling deckofslipperycards.Somecallitnetworking,whichhasa respectable sheen that conceals plenty of other activities, some not so palatable to those who do things by the book. Otherobserverstaketheharshertoneandposturebyattaching the label of crony capitalism to such businesspeople and political leadership relationships. The story is that Mr Advani was approved for building six airports, though his only known association with such structures was when he passed through them, or invested in them, or closed deals in someexclusiveloungewhileheawaitedhisflight.

The sentiment is that Mr Advani has enjoyed way more thanhisshareofgovernmentbusiness,whichismainlydueto hisintimatetieswithPrimeMinisterModi.Inaddition,ways are found to soften or neutralize regulations that smaller, unconnected companies and people must manage somehow ThisisnotthewaythingsareinIndiaalone;justlookathow the defence companies and big business come in their own whenRepublicanshavetheupperhandinAmericanpolitics; and, by the same token, how trial lawyers and trade unions come in for most favourable entity status, when the Democratscontroltheleversofpower.

Connections to the politically powerful payoff, personal relationships between politicians and businesspeople flourish,sometimestoincredibleheights. Usingtheparallel and plight of India’s Advani, there is Guyana, and its own realities involving guileful businesspeople and still silkier politicians,withleadersasthegamechangers. TheoldPPPC Governments had a businessman who grew from a one-man shop to the equivalent of a local conglomerate. This was notwithstanding collapsed sea defences, other crumbling infrastructureworks. Thesamesmoothbusinessoperatorgot anextendedleaseonhiscommerciallifewhentheCoalition APNU+AFCtookthereinsofgovernmentin2015. Assaid earlier,connectionsanddonationsarewhatcountthemost.

Nowthepeoplewithmoreassetsarethosewhohavemore to give. They are also recognized as the ones who must get more. This came into full flower recently, and it did not involve business. To stretch matters, it could be said that it wasaboutthebusinessofkilling,anexecutiondoneunderthe bright lights and cameras Names were called, businesspeople on a collision course made speeches, and there is where a most heinous and sordid affair has since rested.Whatisenlighteningaboutthatexecution-stylekilling wasthatitoccurredneartotheofficialresidenceoftheFirst FamilyofGuyana. Notwithstandingthatcompletedisregard for the safety of those around the nation’s head-of-state, be they upstairs or outside, the President himself has been the pictureof,shallwesayaremarkablestillness.

Whatdarkenedthemuddywatersstillmore,waswhennot one national leader, but another, made it his duty to get uncomfortably close to what was a murderous business. When it is money that leads to falls, as in the case of Mr Advani, one can understand that high political friends work outwaystohelp,ifonlyaspayback. Ontheotherhand,when murderisthematter,thenbusinesspeopleandpoliticalleaders shouldbeworldsapart.

This week we’ve had anotherunhappysituationat Buxton Editorials and letters have examined the situation from different perspectives. Before I go further,letmemakeitcrystal clear First, I grew up in the Charlestown/Albouystown/ LaPenitenceareasandknew no racial prejudice nor hostilityandthishasmolded my character and political life.

Second, I condemn all forms of uncouth behaviour, disrespect for others and forms of lawlessness, however, it is human nature from antiquity through the Dark Ages for the savagery of slavery and imperial domination for people to strikeoutwhentheyfeelthey and their kith and kin are underattack.

What happened at Buxton, with memories of the Henry’s cousins, Boston issue, spitting in the face of Constable Bollers, the interesting withdrawal of certain matters by the DPP and other incidents will happen again unless the present Government understands, or is made to understand,thatsectionsofa polarized country, for whatever reason, will not accept the insinuation, the craftsmanship and trickery of a 21st century imperialist command.

The major tool used by those who plundered our human material and natural resourceswasthedivideand ruleinstrument.

Our Constitution and historyarebasedonwhatwe inherited from the British and Dutch and, more recently, the democratic institutionsobservableinthe United States of America. The cardinal feature is the existence of a government andanopposition.

Is this Government, the

disciple of that philosophy? Inourcase,theGovernment doesnotrepresentahugeand numerically dominant portionofoursocietyandthe question of shared governance and the consultation with the designated opposition must therefore be a sine qua non. So, when you have a headof-state and his top brass g o i n g a r o u n d t o c o m m u n i t i e s a n d deliberately ignoring the Opposition, including religious and cultural groups, you have the classic case of the Old Massa believing that certain folks are so low, so lacking pride that you can win their support by doling out paltry sumsofmoney

People are waking up to this kind of insult and disregard for the essence of ourConstitutionwhichtalks about inclusionary democracy We are lucky that there are not many rabble-rousers around to stokefire.

Another mistake PresidentAli is making is to believe that the likes of the PrimeMinister,BishopJuan Edghill, Minister Joseph Hamilton,etalcanspeakon behalfofcertainfolks.

That is the height of naivety. People in Buxton and elsewhere have noticed who hold the key portfolios that control the massive wealthwenowhave.Editor, there is a dangerous and unhappy aspect which if ignoredcanleadtodisaster

Elevenyearsago,Icame upon a boy, 9 years old, shoeless, selling genips duringschooltimeoutsideof Stabroek Market. I engaged him in a quiet conversation and pointed out to him that he ought to be in school becauseoftheimportanceof education.

He said two significant things,(1)thathewasselling

the genips at the request of his mother to get money to purchaseclothesforschool.I keptuptheconversationand asked him what he would like to be when he becomes an adult. His answer after repeating the question to be certainheunderstoodwhatI was saying He said he wantedtobeabandit.Thisis aseriousmatterforme,andI bought his genips and pursuedthematter

It turns out that the village he lived in, that known bandits were sharing goodies, so for this young boy that was his image, that was his ambition, that was hisaim.

Editor, this is not an isolatedcase,itrepresentsan old attitude of providing certainthingswhileignoring the deep significant issues, and I have given this example before. Instead of so many arrangements shrouded in secrecy, the Governmentshouldbeginto provideanevenplayingfield by making education free from kindergarten to university

I am aware of an o b s e s s i o n o f t h i s government to do or say nothing that appears to give credence to the ideas of vision to the previous presidency, and they can refashion the language in whatever way, but make educationfreeandaccessible from kindergarten to university

This letter need not go into the virtue and value of the many things that can contribute to make Guyana wholesome.

A retooled National Servicewillgoalongwayto erase existing prejudices basedonrace,creed orplace ofbirth.

It is necessary for the major elements of our Constitutiontoberespected. Thissimplymeanstoaskthe

Government to respect particularly in the main urban centres, the duly elected Councils and Municipalities.

Iamavoidingdetailsbut the absurdity of not having the Mayor of Georgetown take part in the annual ceremonyheldinNovember at the War Memorial to honour those who sacrificed their lives in the two World Wars is just one small exampleofthepettinessofa Government that prattles aboutOneGuyana.

Finally, I appeal to this Government to ponder the underpinnings of this taken from the Encyclopedia of Philosophy - MORAL SENSE. “In the first half of the eighteenth century c e r t a i n B r i t i s h Philosophers argued that the moral sense is the faculty that distinguishes between moral right and wrong. The deliverance of this faculty are feelings or sentiments, which enables us to distinguish that action asvicious.

The moral sense is also an influencing motive in ourpursuitofvirtueandour avoidance of vicious behaviouranditplaysapart in our bestowal of praise andblame.”

Dear Editor, the worst affliction to descend on a country is when one group feels that they are the fountain of all wisdom and that the other people are stupid.

Letushopeandpraythat those in authority are possessedwithamoralsense to know the difference between what is right and what is wrong and that they cannot ignore tradition and the significance of inclusionarydemocracy

The lynchpin of our Constitution.

Yourssincerely,

HamiltonGreen

GWI: Please do something about this problem

DEAREDITOR,

I am hoping through this medium, I can get some action on an ongoing matter withthewatercompany For quitesomeyears,perhapsas much as two, GWI has been placingbillsforaresidentin Alberttownonmypremises. These bills are stuck on the gate I reside in North Cummingsburg.

EachtimeIwouldreturn the bills to the Company,

since I do not know the resident and request that the practiceceases.

This was done as recent as Friday, January 20 2023, when I returned two bills to the customer service representative at the Vlissengen Road Head Office and again implored therepresentativetohavethe matteraddressed.

The rep said she would speaktothesupervisor Well,

it did not serve any useful purpose as the practice continueswiththeplacingof two more bills for the Alberttown customer on my gate. Thesebillswerefound on the morning of Friday, February32023.

I have observed these bills are placed either in the evening or early morning. Why GWI persists with this disrespectful practice, despite several requests, is

beyondreason.

Apublic appeal is made, since the personal appeals have failed, for GWI to immediatelyceaseanddesist fromplacingonmygatebills fortheAlberttowncustomer, (Mr Singh).

I will once again return these two latest bills to the company with the hope this isthelasttime.

Yoursfaithfully, ShamshunMohamed

When business people get too close to government leaders

GECOM Opposition Commissioners stonewall endless, futilely, the work of the Commission

DEAREDITOR,

My attention was drawn to a letter published in the name of Vincent Alexander in the February 1st ‘23 edition of S/N headlined: “GECOM has decided demarcation report meets standard required despite evidencetothecontrary.”

Please allow me to providereaderswithafuller picture of the matter raised byMr Alexander

At a recent statutory meeting of GECOM, after weeks of hemming and hawing by Opposition commissioners, chairman Justice Claudette Singh ruled that a Report on the conduct of a field exercise for the reconfiguration of constituencies with reference to Order No. 39 of 2022 presented by GECOM CEO Vishnu Persaud, and in preparation for Local Government Elections, be adopted and implemented Opposition commissioners objected vehemently to the chairman’sdecision.

Consequent upon the completion of the field exerciseconductedbysenior GECOM staff members, PPP/C scrutineers along with a sprinkling from of APNU+AFC, the CEO submitted his report on the exercisetotheCommission. The CEO subsequently submitted a memo in which he rebuffed attempts by Opposition commissioners who,incriticizingthereport, claimedthattheCEOdidnot use ‘approved criteria’ for the demarcation of constituencies.

In his memo, the CEO stated that he had factchecked the claim about ‘approved criteria’ by perusingminutesofprevious GECOM meetings and found no record of the Commission approving any such criteria. Furthermore, andmuchtoMr Alexander’s chagrin, the CEO reported that no Commission ‘approved criteria’ were

appliedinthedemarcationof constituenciesinpreparation for the conduct of Local Government Elections in 2 0 1 8 u n d e r t h e APNU+AFC.

In another attempt to sway the Commission his way, Mr Alexander sought to disparage the CEO’s reportclaimingthatitdidnot meet the ‘standards required’ He continued badgering the Commission with his unsubstantiated claimthatsometimein2009, GECOMusedcriteriaforthe demarcation of constituency boundaries. Again, research by the CEO revealed, that contrary to Alexander’s claim, no evidence in any minutes of previous GECOM Meetings, nor any report from the then CEO showedthatanyexercise,as the one done by the current CEO, was executed for the 2018 elections under the APNU+AFC.

It is to be recalled that through the actions of the t h e n M i n i s t e r o f C o m m u n i t i e s , reconfiguration of constituencies occurred without any reference to criteria or standards So much for Mr Alexander’s ‘standardsrequired.’

Notwithstanding several rounds of discussion and convincing arguments advanced by the three government-sponsored commissioners, Opposition commissioners carried on totally oblivious to their seemingly endless and unsatisfying arguments. In the end, the Opposition commissioners’ constant harpingoncriteria,endedup being a total waste of our timetryingtoextinguishthe negative bias and the cluelessnatureofopposition commissioners who, from all appearances, clearly lost their way in their efforts to navigate passage though constitutional matters, local government laws and best practices of good governance. The hot pursuit

with which the Opposition commissionerspursuedtheir flawed, but transparent, agenda was baffling, to say the least. Contrary to their efforts, they were unable to cite authoritative sources, decisions adopted by the Commission, or to provide systematic data to disapprove the CEO’s report,muchlesstoofferany evidence to prove the chairmanwrong.

As if thrashing around for something to clutch to, Mr Alexander sought to havetheCommissionaccept his view that since there is mention of “approved principles” in Commission records, that this should be interpreted to mean ‘approved criteria ’ The Chairman specifically asked Mr Alexander whether he couldpointtoanyrecordthat will confirm that the Commission gave its approval to ‘approved criteria.

He admitted that he could not. The Opposition commissioners stubbornly refused to wrap their minds around the logical and reasoned case presented in the CEO’s report. Blithely, they continued to toot their tiny local government horn without recognizing that no one will hear anything becausethesoundwasoutof sync with local government lawsandregulations,aswell as the basic tenets of democracy and good governance.

Alexanderwentsofaras to claim that the CEO’s report represents what the Minister of Local Government ‘illicitly’ sought to foist on the Commission and that with the chairman’s ruling GECOM has now clothed the Minister’s ‘illicit act’ with its approval. Another

figment of his imagination. Not satisfied over the rejection of his false claims about ‘approved criteria’, ‘standards required’ ‘process’ and ‘approved principles’ Alexander then shifted the goal post to ‘points of reference.’ He proceeded to make the

spurious claim that (geography, community and population) previously developed and used by

G E C O M f o r t h e d e m a r c a t i o n o f constituencies were ‘thrown out’bythechairmanandthe government-sponsored commissioners.

Mr Alexander’s claim that ‘the Commission threw out collectively determined criteria and procedures, and accepted the validity of a report that resulted from a process that was crafted by theCEO,deficientandnever approvedbythe

(Continuedpage6)

Re: Part II – No Lost and Found at CJIA

DEAREDITOR,

Itispleasanttoknowthat aPublicRelationsOfficerby the name of Ms. Shunza Samuels of CJIA, Timehri indicated that there is a Lost andFoundSystematCJIA.I believe that this is a bit of “whitewashing” by Ms Samuels, which is usually the job of Public Relations Officers, and that Public Relation Officers normally do when institutions are caught in disappointing situations. In my case of the gentleman I spoke of, the passportwasnotatanyLost andFoundDepartment,orin theAirportDutyOffice,with neatlittletelephonenumbers as shared in Ms. Samuels’ letter of 2nd February, 2023 inthemedia.

Reliable information led metoconfirmthattherewas no Lost and Found at CJIA Timehri during the time when the passport went missing This can be confirmed by the telephone records placed to two senior managers of CJIA that was contacted on the missing passport. It would be absurd tothinkthattherewouldbea L o s t a n d F o u n d Department/System at CJIA and two Senior Persons in Administration would not know of its existence. I do not wish to make this a

continuous form of communication, nor to mentionthenamesofthetwo senior officers. But, most importantly, it took more than five weeks for the Immigration Office to realize that the passport was not uplifted Being as popular as the gentleman is, youwouldhavethoughtthat contact with the individual wouldhavebeenestablished much sooner A pleasant gentleman from the Immigration Department eventually made contact withthepopulargentleman’s office on seeing that the passport was still at the ImmigrationDepartment.

Therefore, I wish to recommend to the Administrative Authorities ofCJIAthatasignbeplaced at the Duty Office Door reading “Lost and Found”. And all departments and Administrative persons should know that this is whereLostandFounditems are kept In addition, a register log should be createdwhereentriesofLost and Found items are documented with the dates and times the items were located and entered into the system and the name of the person making the entries. Along with entries of items thatwerereturned.Further,a

website to send enquiries to the Lost and Found Department at CJIA and to track updates on lost items shouldbeestablished.

I wish to thank Ms Shunza Samuels, Public Relations Officer of CJIA, for trying to clarify the matter, but the statement seeksonlytogivetheideaof just wanting to create an impression of a flawless systeminplace,whenthisis clearlynotthecaseasinmy experience.Itissatisfyingto know that the matter has been highlighted in the media and has caught the attention of the relevant administrative and managerial persons with responsibilities for management at CJIA, Timehri.

Sincerely, M r s . K a t h e r i n a Roshana

The wealthier, and the richer businesspeople, are the stingiest in giving

DEAREDITOR,

Iwritetocommendbusinesses, organizations,andindividualswho go outof theirway tohelptheless fortunate, and those in distress, whilealsosimultaneouslyappealto other businesses to give to worthwhile causes. The act of the wealthy and businesses giving assistance to others is called social entrepreneurship or corporate social responsibility, or philanthropy,andregrettablyonlya small percentage of Guyanese businesses and individuals engage inthepractice.

In Indian culture, it is called daan—meaningtogivefreelyand generously to charities and other worthwhile causes The less wealthy sections of the society seeminglygivemoredaanthanthe wealthier sections as per conversations with many individuals from all strata of society Someofthebusinessesand individuals who practice social responsibility are kinder, gentler,

andmorealtruisticandhelpfulthan others. And there are wealthy businesses (persons) who do not engageinanycharitablegiving—a higher percentage than those who give. The less wealthy tend to be more generous than the giant businesses.

Smaller businesses (persons) tend to be more generous than larger ones. Several of the larger businesses are the epitome of selfishness, and there are quite a numberamongthebusinessclassin the country In fact, based on empirical evidence of efforts to garner assistance for benevolent causes, over half of large businesses don’t give to charitable causes. The lower income people arefreerhandedinhelpingtheless fortunate. And if you talk to the public,theywilltellyouthenames of the meanest and stingiest businesspersons in their neighborhoods.‘Demnagiveeven alemonadetothepoor.’ It is not easy to induce

wealthy businesspeople to share a littleoftheirwealthtocharityorto thepoor Asanillustration,Itriedin vain to get some businesses and wealthy to give to the worthwhile causeofaidingaMandir

They are only interested in earning or exploiting, not helping peopletolifttheirlives,orplowing some profits into their purchasers as a thank you measure. Just last week, I went around to some wealthy businesses to plead a case to assist a Mandir in dire need in a very depressed neighbourhood in Region3.

Of twelve very wealthy businesses I approached to assist thecollapsedtemple,onlythree(all from the Corentyne) gave assistance in kind (meaning food materials)fortheproposedopening ofthemandir—fivewholesalersof food in G’town would not even contribute potatoes or dhal or channa or any food items for the

mandir opening on Feb 19. All of themareHindus.

A Muslim businessman not in thefoodbusinesshasexpressedhis willingness to contribute to the project. Two businesses gave cash for the building construction fund. Two other businesses, not in the food business, made a pledge and expectedtodeliversoon.

A small businessperson from Canada, based in Bel Air, who is only now starting out his business, and who seeks no mention of his contribution, committed to donate food materials without even being asked; he understands the concept ofdaanandtheneedofgivingand ofaidingthepoor

No other individual has come forwardtoassisttheworthyMandir project although it was brought to the attention of many prominent and wealthy individuals Governmentofficialsalsohavenot helpedintheirprivatecapacity The

President pledged his personal contributions, not from the state, foraprojectrelatedtotheMandir It is hoped government officials will contribute in kind. Societal giving or social entrepreneurialism is a wise business model. It wins over hearts and minds and grows a business. Very few companies understand this business model. Mohamed Enterprises, Nand Persaud,QueensAtlantic,amonga fewothers,areverygeneroussocial entrepreneurs. They ought to be commended. More companies should follow in their footsteps. I would like to thank those who contributed funds and or materials to the Mandir and other worthwhile projects. Those giant, most profitable businesses who don’t have a corporate social responsibility ethos should be exposedandblankedbythepublic.

Yourstruly,

VishnuBisram

GECOM Opposition Commissioners...

Frompage5

Commission’ lacks appreciation of the reality Hefailedtotakeintoaccount that, in the absence of any referencepointrelativetothe applicationofpredetermined criteria, the CEO could not formulate an abstract notion regarding ‘Community Interests’ to which the Registration Officers who ‘walked the ground’, could h a v e t a k e n i n t o consideration.Followingher ruling in support of the CEO’sreportandhercallfor its implementation, there were emotional outbursts and expressions of outrage b y o p p o s i t i o n commissioners who, soon after, as if licking their wounds, rushed to the press to air their grievances over the decision. Since my

appointment to GECOM, it hasbecomeanormtohearat statutorymeetingsthegloom and doom fixations and narratives by opposition commissioners who behave as though they know everything, and no one else knows nothing! To unplug fromthegridoffreeandfair elections has proven to be relatively easy for the politicaloppositionandtheir commissioners, but to plug into the grid of democratic electoral practices continues to be a bugbear at all levels. Recognizing that he had reached the nadir of his argument and having rejected the chairman’s ruling, Mr Alexander declaredthathewillprovide ‘statisticalevidence’toshow thattheboundariesproposed by the Minister of Local

Government are ‘acts of gerrymandering aimed at giving the PPP an unfair advantage in the upcoming Local Government Elections’. Ironically, Mr Alexander failed to recognize the duplicitous nature of his offer since the gerrymandering allegations he now claims, is precisely what his party did when it ransacked the local government laws and regulations,bendingthemto their whims and fancies in preparation for the 2018

Local Government Elections. As regards his promise to provide ‘statistical evidence’ Mr Alexander should be reminded of what Mark Twain attributed to Benjamin Disraeli about statisticsandthattheyrarely show what they seem.

Correcting a wrong that was done under theAPNU+AFC which changed the boundaries of a number of constituencies in 2018 and with the Ali administration now returning them to what they were prior to being changed, can never be deemed as gerrymandering

as Mr Alexander so unjustifiableclaims.

The Government

appointed commissioners havemadeitclearthatitwill be considered a superfluous exercise were the commissiontoengageinany furtherdiscussiononareport that has already been a p p r o v e d f o r implementation and which Opposition commissioners deem as flawed and of no use. And though they didn’t say it, the Opposition commissioners’ position is that the report be scrapped, andtheexercisebedoneover in its entirety Consistent with their methodology of engagingindelayingtactics, weknowthatMr Alexander and company will use every opportunitytointroducenew obstaclesaimedatstymieing the successful holding of LocalGovernmentElections in 2023. Grumpily, the Opposition commissioners refuse to recognize and acceptthatthingsarerapidly changing in Guyana for the better, not for the worse. Grudgingly, they know life in Guyana is not like it was under the APNU+AFC, in thecircumstancestheyspend much of their time trying to shoreuptheirhousebuilton sand.

Yoursfaithfully, ClementJ.

Rohee

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Budget passed, let the thieving begin

$781.9Billion offers plenty room.

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Plenty room for cheating Guyanese, robbing them blind…

Everyone benefits, except taxpayers paying through their noses.

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Govt. politicians get a sweet piece of the action; cronies get another, and contractors help themselves.

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With $781.9Billion approved, the thieving can now officially begin!

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ExxonMobil “back-in-bed” with copy and paste consultant for 6th EIA

By Davina Bagot

Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), commonly referred to as ExxonMobil Guyana has selected its longtime partner and London-based consultant, Environmental Resources Management to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for its sixth project in the Stabroek Block- the Whiptail development.

The credibility of ERM came under scrutiny just over a year ago after the signature of a People's Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) member; Shyam Nokta appeared on the cover ofthedeveloper'sEIAforthe Yellowtailproject,thefourth development in the rich StabroekBlock.

An apology letter was later issued by ERM explainingthatNoktaplayed no role in the conduct of the EIA.Intheletterseenbythis publication, the ERM clarified,“In(the)conductof

the EIA, ERM did not engage with or involve Mr N o k t a o r E M C ( E n v i r o n m e n t a l Management Consultants).

ERM has no current relationship or engagement with Mr Nokta or EMC to provide support to any EIA concerning the Yellowtail Development Project or otherwise.

It is with deep regret that Mr Nokta's electronic signature was inadvertently included by ERM on the cover of the version of the EIA non-technical summary f o r t h e Ye l l o w t a i l Development Project that was posted on the EPA's website”.

Environmentalists had flaggedtheissue,referringto it as serious conflict of interest. Moreover, they highlighted the short timeline in which these studies were being prepared forthenation.

A group of Caribbean organizations had objected to the Yellowtail EIA done by ERM, insisting that the consultant group had been in

fact been copying and pasting sections of their previous EIAs into new documents, without considering whether or not thoseassessmentsweredone to honour the steps it had outlined regarding potential transboundaryvictims.

The group included the Caribbean Coastal Area Management (C-CAM) Foundation, The Jamaica Fish Sanctuary Network, Jamaica Environment Trust, Institute for Small Islands, FishermenandFriendsofthe S e a a n d F r e e d o m Imaginaries.

It was also reported that ERM have hired experts to conduct those studies who have worked with the oil companyforyears.

This much can be found in the most recent EIA completed by ERM for Exxon's Gas-to-Energy project to be constructed at Wales,WestBankDemerara.

One of the experts at E R M , t h e G u y a n a Programme Lead, Partnerin-Charge,Mr ToddHallhas over 25 years of broad

experience in environmental consulting, focusing on environmental, social and health impact assessment, m a n a g e m e n t p l a n development, multimedia permitting, site planning and licensing, remediation, and riskassessment.

His biography included in the EIA states that “Todd h a s w o r k e d w i t h ExxonMobil for his entire career, from his first project involving a remedial investigation of a legacy ExxonMobil property, and he has led ERM's programs for ExxonMobil at multiple downstream facilities, legacy sites, LNG (Liquified natural gas) regasification facilities, and upstream e x p l o r a t i o n a n d development projects worldwide.”

An EIA is intended to highlight the potential impacts from a project, outline measures that will be taken to mitigate these harmful impacts as well as inform the public what actions will be taken to respond in the event of an accident.

During a public scoping sessionfortheprojectheldat the Umana Yana, Kingston, Georgetown on Thursday, environmental advocate and Lawyer, Elizabeth DeaneHughes asked ExxonMobil Guyana to explain why the oil company “is in bed again” with this consultancy group.

So far, ERM has completed all of Exxon's environmental impact studies,withtheexceptionof the most recent study completed by Acorn International for the fifth project-Uaru.

Responding to the citizen's concern was the Projects Manager for ExxonMobil Guyana, Anthony Jackson He explained, “ExxonMobil Guyana does engage in a processofassessingwhocan complete the (study), it's a verylargeamountofworkto conduct an EIA and the past experience in country is

takenintoaccount.”

Jackson continued, “ERMalsoisnotexclusively used for conducting these EIAs…but ERM we went through an assessment process, we have a pretty detailed assessment process for who has the capability and the experience to do the work and we have elected ERM to represent us for this scopingsession.”

ERMcontroversy

In December 2021, a group of Environmentalist wrote to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requesting that it discloses the list of other qualified consultants, from which ERM was selected to conductEIAs.

In the document seen by this publication, the experts Simone Mangal-Joly, Alfred Buhlai, Vanda Radzik, Janette Bulkan, Denuta Radzik, Jerry Jailall, Alissa Trotz and Maya Trotz questionedtheindependence of EEPGL's Consultant, ERM, since records at that time showed that the ExxonMobil subsidiary has only ever selected the ERM from a list of consultants, to c o n d u c t a l l i t s Environmental Impact A s s e s s m e n t s a n d

managementplans.

Kaieteur News reported that one environmentalist; Simone Mangal-Joly questionedtheindependence ofERM.

She said, “There seems t o b e a l o n g - t e r m relationship between this firm, Esso [Exxon's partner] and the Environmental Protection Agency in Guyana as it keeps selecting the same firm to do the study forEsso.”

According to Mangal, “the EPA Act requires that the firm is independent. You cannot claim independence when you have a long-term relationship doing all of the studies for the applicant [Esso] because you have a financial relationship now Thisisafirmthatestablished itself in Guyana and is doing all of Exxon's work effectively

It is not independent and Guyanese need to look at the EPA for failing to do its duty,”

Emphasizing the law, Mangal noted that the relationship between the three entities leaves many q u e s t i o n s “The EPA Act is very clear, there must be independence and that independence has to be judged on serious criteria Do you really think a firm is independent when they keep doing the studiesoneaftertheother?

Are they the only qualified firm to do the job overandoveragain?

And why is Guyana's EPAfailing the nation by not looking into this practical pattern that it is responsible for?” questioned the environmentalist.

The unpredictable hand of history

I met a man a few days agoandwestruckupacasual conversation. We joked and pokedfunateachother As things ended up, I jokingly told him that perhaps one day I will have to address him as “His Excellency”, since he may endupbeingthePresidentof Guyana.Helaughedandsaid thatitwouldtakeamiracle.

But life is not always predictable. Things have a way of turning out in unexpectedoutcomes.

Anyone can end up becoming President. Even though Samuel Hinds was Prime Minister when the PPP/Cbeganitsfirsttermin 1992,veryfewexpectedthat Cheddi would get sick and die on the job and that Sam would be elevated to the Presidency

Well, it happened and SamHinds,amemberofthe CIVIC component of the PPP/C who was hardly a politicalfigurepriorto1990, became the President of Guyana. Not many could have predicted that development.

Notmany,includingshe, could have envisioned that Janet Jagan would have become President But regardless of what her colleagues say, she was determined, on her husband’spassingtoassume the mantle of leadership –she saw it as her entitlement given her long years of

political struggle and, who knows, the political opportunism of many of those who surrounded her husband. The PPP/C went intothe1997electionsonan ‘A’Teamticket–JanetJagan as President, Samuel Hinds as Prime Minister and Bharrat Jagdeo to pull the youth vote. Even though it was said that there was always an agreement with the CIVIC that the PPP would always hold the Presidency and that therefore should anything happen to Janet that Bharrat would assume the Presidency, no one expected that Jagdeo would ever become President. He was toopoliticallyinexperienced andjuniorwithintheparty But as things turned out he not only became President but powerful enoughforthe‘matriarch’of the party to be told that she was a private citizen. The unexpected hand, what Machiavelli refers to as FORTUNA,haditssay

Similarly, Donald Ramotar, not being a m e m b e r o f P P P / C governments since 1992, was not necessarily the front-runner for the 2011 elections. Other names were givenfarmoreattentionthat Ramotar,andtherewaseven the view that dynastic tendencies had overrun the PPP But Donald prevailed over one of his more

Dem Boys Seh...

favouredrivalsandemerged as the party’s Presidential candidate.

Ramotarwasdealtahard hand. He not only presided over the country’s first ever minoritygovernmentbutthe PPP/C’s first ever electoral defeat in 23 years. He was never a left-wing firebrand but has far more workingclass sympathies and ideological groundings than mostinhisparty

Even though it is now being suggested that he was not keen to return to parliamentin2015asLeader of the Opposition, there was noreasonforsomeoneofhis politicalmettletohavebeen bypassedforthePresidential candidate for the 2020 elections. An injustice was donetohim.

But even after it became clearthathewouldnotbethe Presidential candidate in 2020, not many persons would have thought that Irfaan Ali would have so easily sewn up the PPP/C supporttobethePresidential candidate.Thesituationwas so fluid that even a political n o v i c e w h o o n c e embarrassed himself in the NationalAssemblythrewhis hatunofficiallyintothering, deluding himself into believing that he stood a chanceofgaininghisparty’s nod. ButAlihadthebacking of the powerful economic classwhichsupportsthePPP and they were instrumental

No tricks, no living!

SinceIrfaanshareoutdisdisabilitygrant all kind of schemers coming out of de woodwork.Somepeopledeterminedfuhget de$100,000wahsharingoutasdedisability grant.

Wan man claim how he disabled. Dem boyssurpriseatdatbecausedemanwalking, talking and seeing good. So dem boys ask hehowhedisabled.Hetelldemboysifdem nahseehegatcockeye.

So dem boys ask he if de eye affecting howheseeing.Hetelldemboys,“No.”So demboyshadtotellhedathenahdisabledis justdatheeyesnahdesameasnuffpeople. Butdemangetvexandsehhowhedisabled becausehegatcockeye.

So dem boys wan know if yuh gat tied-

tongueifyuhdisabled.Andifyuhbornwith funny elbow, if yuh disabled or if yuh gat knackkneeorbowfoot,likeyouknowwho, ifyuhdisabled.

Dem boys had to remind de man dat de grantisfuhchildrenandnatfuhadults.Dem boys waiting fuh see if some big men gan turnchildjustfuhgetdegrant.

Itmekdemboysrememberdemanwah turnupandclaimhowheisafishermanand he name nah get pon no list fuh get help. Demboysaskhewahkindoffishermanhe was,hetelldemhedoesthrowcastnet.

ButdatisGuyanafuhyou.Notricksno living.Desmarterdegovernment,dewiser depopulation.

Talkhalf.Leffhalf!

insewinguphiscandidacy

And so as we look towards the 2025 and 2030 elections,wemustnotmake themistakeofassumingthat the predictable will happen. Historyhasawayofturning out differently from the way we predict, and in politics, especially when it comes to the PPP/C, you never know what side the die of history will turn-up Machiavelli once said that luck plays a roleinhumandestiny InThe Princehewrote,“Sothatour free will may not be extinguished, I think it may be true that Fortune is the

arbiterofhalfofouractions, but that she still leaves the other half of them, more or less,tobegovernedbyus.”

The PPP/C is now controlled by a powerful bourgeoisclass.

But the strength of the economy by the end of the decade will see the middle classbecomemorepowerful and willing to assert its growinginfluence.By2030, there is going to be a major conflict between the oligarchic class and an emergingpowerfulandlarge middleclass.

Bothclasseswillfightto

ensure that whoever the PPP/C selects is favourable to them. And who knows whathandhistorywillserve up then A compromise candidateisquitepossible.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s affiliates.)

Man on $2M bail for accident which claimed lives of fishermen

Twenty-one year old Derindra Sitaram was on Friday placed on $2M bail for the deadly Essequibo Coast, Region Two, accident which claimed the lives of two fishermen when he appeared at the Suddie Magistrates' Court before Magistrate Esther Sam.

It was reported on Tuesday, January 31, 2023 that Zamaan Rafeek, 23, of Paradise, EssequiboCoastandMohanManiram,50,of Hampton Court, Essequibo Coast were allegedly killed by a speeding car along the DevonshirePublicRoad,EssequiboCoast.

On Friday, Sitaram, of Devonshire Castle, Essequibo Coast and Lot 'B' Zelandia WakenaamIslandEssequiboRiver,appeared before Magistrate Sam at the Suddie Magistrates'Court.

The 21-year-old man was slapped with twocountsofmotormanslaughtercontraryto Section 35 A (1) of the Motor and Vehicle Traffic Act, Chapter 51:02 as amended by Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Amended)ActN0.17of2022.

Sitaramwasnotrequiredtoenterapleaas the charges were laid indictably Magistrate Sam granted bail in the sum of $2M and the matterwasadjournedtoFebruary28,2023.

In addition, Sitaram was also charged for driving under the influence of alcohol and failing to render assistance to injured persons.

Hepleadednotguiltytobothchargedand he was placed on $100,000 bail for driving under the influence and $20,000 bail for failing to render assistance. Magistrate Sam also adjourned those matters to February 28, 2023.

According to reports, the fishermen were killed after they were struck by a black Toyota Wagon. It was stated that Rafeek and Maniram were reportedly struck around 00:50hrs on Tuesday, while they were heading to the riverside to prepare for a fishing trip out at sea.The fishermen worked together on the same boat and Maniram was reportedly towing Rafeek on his bicycle to thelocation.

According to police, “Maniram was riding west along the southern side of the road when a speeding car, PAD 831, heading in the same direction struck them from behind”.

TheimpactreportedlyseveredManiram's head and tossed the rest of his body and Rafeek into a nearby trench while the car careened off the road some 50 yards away fromwhereithadstruckthem.

Police said once the car got into the trench,thedriverexitedandranaway.Hewas arrested about half an hour later after police found him hiding out at his house located about“200yards”fromtheaccidentscene. A breathalyzer test conducted on him revealed thathisbreathalcoholcontentwaswayabove the legal limit measuring 43 and 45 micrograms.

Dead: Mohan Maniram

Charged: Derindra Sitaram

Dead: Zamaan Rafeek

Essequibo teacher remanded for grandmother's murder

Twenty-two-yearold Stephanie Gamell, a teacher of Lot 28 Richmond Village, Essequibo Coast, was on Friday remanded to prison for allegedly murdering her grandmother, Agatha Gamell,twomonthsago.

The teacher appeared virtually before Magistrate Esther Sam at the Suddie Magistrates' Court for the capitaloffence.

She was not required to plead to the indictable charge which alleges that between November 26 and 27, 2022, at Charity Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast, she

murdered her 75-year-old grandmother

M a g i s t r a t e S a m remanded the accused to prison and the matter was adjourned to February 27, 2023 for disclosure of statements. The matter was also transferred to the CharityMagistrates'Court.

According to reports, the elderly woman was brutally murdered in her Charity home, where she usually residesalone.

A neighbour recalled hearing loud screams and sounds of a crying baby coming from the woman's home on the morning of November27,2022.

Itwasstatedthatthenoise reportedly lasted about 15 minutes before it suddenly wentsilent.

Sometime later, the teacher reportedly turned up

at the neighbour's home and knockedonherdoor

The woman recalled that the teacher's hands were bloodiedandshewasholding a naked baby in her arms. She allegedly told the neighbour that her baby had just died and attempted to give her the child, but the woman refused and the teacher walked out of the yardanddisappearedintothe streets.

Realizing that something was amiss, the neighbour notified the police of her encounter with the teacher and the screams she heard earliercomingfromGamell's home. Investigators visited Gamell's residence where theyfoundherdead.

According to police, Gamell's bloodied remains were found lying face down on her kitchen floor There

were large gaping wounds to the back of her neck and anothertotherightsideofher head.

Some of her hair appeared to be cut off and was found next to her body Detectives also found a blood-stained scissors on top agasstoveandsuspectedthat could be the weapon used to killGamell.

Remanded: Stephanie Gamell

Dead: Agatha Gamell

$13B approved to upgrade markets across the country

The Committee of Supply on Wednesday approved $13B allocated in the 2023 national budget for the continuation of upgrades to markets across the country Some $87.4B was allocated to the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development which has responsibility for the renovation and rehabilitation of markets acrossthecountry.

DuringtheConsideration of the Estimates of the 2023 budget, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall was asked by Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Ganesh Mahipaul when the upgrades would be done to the Parika and Mon Repos markets. Mahipaul said that money was allocated for this purposesince2020.

“Sir [Speaker of the National of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir] in excess of $21 billion this project code had since 2020, two projects continue to reoccur in this project code line item and it is the Mon Repos market and the Parika market. Since 2020, they have been coming and c o m i n g , w o u l d t h e honourable minister please provide us with an update on the current status of these two markets and if they are expected to be finished in 2023 or would they reoccur in2024,”Mahipaulasked.

Responding to the q u e s t i o n , M i n i s t e r Dharamall said that the markets have been upgraded consistently over the years. The minister said that the work on the markets is being doneinphases. “Wewillsee resources every year allocated in the budget for thesemarkets.”

“Mr Chairman, we have putalotofresourcestowards transforming regional economies and market placesareasignificantcentre of business in many of our regions and these markets have been a hodgepodge arrangement We have decided as a government to enhance the quality of

services at these markets so resources have been geared towards Parika, Mon Repos, Charity many markets across the country,” the Ministersaid.

N o t s t a t i n g t h e percentage of works completed, the Minister sharedthatattheMonRepos Market, the eastern wing is near completion. Dharamlall told the Committee of Supply that the eastern wing

phaseoneoftheproject.

At that contract signing, it was noted that the project wouldseetheconstructionof 1000 sq. ft. of roof with translucent sheets that would allow natural light to illuminate the market, a 300foot concrete and steel f e n c i n g w o u l d b e constructed, and the establishment of a fourchamber sanitary facility. Majorworkswerealsoslated

willhavetiledsurfaceswhile the western wing, where workhasalreadystarted,will have a mezzanine floor The minister disclosed that the Mon Repos Market will be modernized.

Speaking to the upgrades at the Parika Market, Dharamlall said that the area has been relatively congested for a number of years and that government has taken a decision to do works in phases He disclosedthatthemarketwill be rebuilt and expanded in steel so that it can accommodatemorevendors.

Meanwhile, Kaieteur News had reported that the rehabilitation of the Parika Marketbeganin2021whena $29.2M contract was signed in mid-July between the M i n i s t r y o f L o c a l Government and Regional Development and Vals Construction to complete

to be done on the electrical distributionsystem.

It was also reported that when the works on the market are completed, vendors will vend under better and improved conditions.

In December 2022, the Ministry inked another contract with Panko Steel F a b r i c a t i o n a n d Construction to complete phase two of the market project. Works are ongoing there to the tune of

$230,136,170.

Meanwhile, the Ministry had signed a $619M contract with Vals Construction last Novembertocompletephase three of the Mon Repos Marketproject.

As reported in the media, the upgrade to the Mon Repos Market began back in 2020 The decision to upgrade the facility was premised on its dilapidated state.

The Parika Market that is slated for rehabilitation.

The Mon Repos Market where works are ongoing.

Resort owner, workers arrested for beating truck driver, vandalising truck

An argument over sand price on Friday ended with the owner of a popular resort along the Linden/Soesdyke Highway and some of his workers being arrested by police after they assaulted a truck driver and vandalized hiscompany'struck.

The beaten truck driver was identified as 49-year-old Ramkumar Persaud, an employee of Chief Trucking Services Limited and a resident of La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara(WBD).

According to information received by Kaieteur News, the resort owner owns the sandpit He reportedly assaulted the truck driver after a heated “cuss out” between Persaud and the resort owner's workers ensuedataround06:30h.

Persaud alleged that the argument stemmed over the rightpriceforsand.

“This problem start since last time (a previous day) when I come fuh buy sand, I stop at the boot and pay $4000 for the load and gone in fuh them load me up… When I come out back, the managerstop meand seh that is white sand I collect and is $6000 fuh white sand”, Persaud told Kaieteur News while adding that he explained to the sandpit manager that he did not have any more money and would cancel the balance when he returns for a “next trip” (the followingweek).

“He [the sandpit manager] tell me, “Boy you know this thing don't wuk suh, you ga pay,” Persaud said while recalling that they argued for some time before the manager eventually allowedhimtoleavewiththe sand.

On Friday, Persaud reportedly returned for more sand and allegedly paid $7000 at the sandpit's boot before entering to uplift his sand.

“I pay $7000, $5000 for the load and $2000 wa me own them from the previous trip but when me gon in fuh load-up,themanagercalland tell them worker fuh don't loadmeup.SoIjustdriveout back empty and collect back me $5000 from them,” the truck driver told Kaieteur News

It was at this point that Persaud allegedly got into a heated argument with one of theworkersoverthepricefor sand.

Persaud claimed, “The man [worker] cuss me out about me mother, suh me cussheback”.

While they were cursing each other, the resort owner arrived.

“Me ain't know way he come from, if them call he or wa but when me see he coming, I seh he musse coming fuh see wa is the problem so I start explaining to he wa happen,” Persaud said.

To his surprise, the truck

Mon Repos man wanted for conspiracy to commit murder

Thirty-six-year-old Kevin Boodram of Lot 435 Block 8 Agriculture Road, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, is wanted by the Guyana Police Force(GPF)forconspiracytocommitmurder

The police on Friday issued a wanted bulletin for Boodram. They are asking anyone with information about Boodram's whereabouts to contactthenearestpolicestation.

driver alleged that the resort owner joined in cursing him too,andwalkedstraightupto the truck, jumped on one of the steps and cuffed him to face before turning off his ignition and taking possessionofhistruckkeys.

The resort owner's

workers then reportedly joined in the assault and started by shattering one of the truck's windows with a largerock.

Persaud said that he tried to secure himself in the truck buttheworkersandtheresort (Continued on page 23)

Wanted: Kevin Boodram

Wanted bulletin issued for rape accused

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Friday issued a bulletin for Kevin Pollard called “Chiney” for the offence rape.Notably, Pollard was one of three men charged October2022,forallegedlygangrapingaVenezuelanwoman Second Avenue, Bartica, Region Seven. The police are anyone with information about Pollard's whereabouts to thenearestpolicestation.

Wanted: Kevin Pollard called “Chiney”

The truck that was vandalized

The shattered truck window

The empty battery shelf attached to the truck

Photo showing the area where the power steering and fuel pump were removed.

Contractor behind schedule for completion of $346M Bamia Primary School -DavidPatterson

Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) David Patterson on Friday disclosed that the $346M Baima Primary School is behind schedule for completion as works are only about 20 percent completed.

In a Facebook post, the former Minister of Public Infrastructure and Opposition MP reminded that on November 8, 2021, a $346M contract was awarded to St8ment InvestmentInc.fortheconstruction of the Bamia/Amelia's Ward PrimarySchoolinRegionTen.

Patterson shared that St8ment Investment Inc. was incorporated in March of 2021 and its principals are Rawle Ferguson and Kerwin Bollers of Hits and Jams Entertainment along with Aubrey

'Shanghai' Major and Kashif Muhammed of the Kashif and Shanghaifootballtournament.

Thecontractfortheschoolhasa 20 month lifespan, which means that the project should be completedinJulythisyear TheMP shared that to date almost 50 percent of the contract sum has beenpaidtothecontractor.

“The photos below were taken on Tuesday January 31, 2023 at 12:20pm, as shown no more than twenty (20%) percent (being generous) of the project has been completed with less than seven monthsremaining,”heposted.

Patterson further noted in his post that during the examination of the estimates, the government and their supporters made light of the

issues raised, preferring to comment on the oversight by a Regional MP as to the actual time that elapsed, as opposed to responding to when will the project be finally completed and, if the

governmentdeemstheprojecttobe providing value for money to Region10.

Asreported,thecontractforthe schoolwassignedattheMinistryof Local Government and Regional Development. Subject minister Nigel Dharamlall,at the timeof the signing, said that the project is expectedtobecompletedwithin20 months.

“This area is very important in the development scope of our country because of its magnitude and because of its potential,” the Minister said while urging the contractor to utilise labour from within the community as it will create employment for persons there.

“Part of the vision of His Excellency [President IrfaanAli] is to ensure that whatever resources weplaceintodifferentregions,that employment creation is one of those outcomes, as well as wealth

generation. So, this is not an investment in a school alone, but it is also an investment in the wider economy of Region 10, ” Dharamlallsaid.

M eanw hile, Regional ExecutiveOfficer(REO)ofRegion 10, Dwight John, who inked the contract on behalf of the Region, emphasisedtheneedforaschoolin thelocaleconsideringtheexpanded housingdrive.

Bids were opened by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) in July 2021 during which time four companies made submissions

Noteworthy is the fact, that St8ment Investment Inc was incorporated the same year it received the contract to construct theschool.

Kaieteur News understandsthat when fully completed, the school will accommodate some 800 students.

Works that have been done so far on the Bamia Primary School. (Photo courtesy of Opposition MP, David Patterson)

Jagdeo changes tune about ring-fencing, renegotiation -KNewsPublishersays

...‘Lionoutofofficeturnspussycatwhenelected’

Apassionate and almost angry Bharrat Jagdeo while functioning as Leader of the Opposition, just over three years ago, said in an interview that the then A Partnership for National Unity +Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition government “sold” the country to “foreigners” because that administration failed to include ring-fencing to shore up profits from the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with American oil giant, ExxonMobil.

At that time, Jagdeo assured that when the People's Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) returned to office, this would be a priority when the contract is renegotiated.

“They sold us out to the foreigners.

The oil companies, every time there is a find out there,

our people should be sad because nothing comes our way We are gonna renegotiate those contracts because that's not what we hadinmind,”Jagdeosaid.

He added, “When we were in the early days, we were coaxing the people (ExxonMobil) to go along. They (Coalition) came into office-threebillionbarrelsof proven reserves and they gave up zero royalties, no taxes,noring-fencing.”

Soonaftertakingofficein 2020, the nowVice President (VP)hasnotonlychangedhis tune but also his tone when it comes to the renegotiation of the Exxon contract and securing greater benefits for Guyanese.

At a press conference held on December 10, 2022, Jagdeo was visibly annoyed when he was confronted with the question of renegotiation by the Kaieteur News Publisher and businessman,

GlennLall.

TheVPsaidateverypress conference he is being asked the same set of questions and sought to make it clear that the Exxon deal will effectivelyremainthesame.

To this end, Lall during hisradioprogrammeairedon the Kaieteur Radio (99.1 and 99.5 FM) on January 30, 2023said“thelionturnintoa pussycat.

Hisactions,hiswordsand postures today is more of a man who is pretending to be clueless, helpless, powerless and useless, when he has to deliveronhisownpromises.”

For those who are not familiar with the term ringfencing, the newspaper publisher and radio host explained,“Withoutthatrule, that provision in place to ring-fence each oil project, uncle and auntie, is like leaving your front door with the safe in your house wide open for the bandits to come

…13 homeless Grove house maliciously set on fire

Thirteenpersonsarenow homeless after a Grove, East Bank Demerara (ECD) house was maliciously destroyed by fire during the wee hours of Friday, the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) said.

The Fire Service, in a statement said that the Lot 110 Grove Public Road twostorey wooden and concrete building which housed four

families, was set on fire by unknownarsonists.

The GFS said that it was alerted to the fire at about 02:34h. Upon receiving the call, water tenders from the Eccles and Diamond fire stations were dispatched to thelocation.

Someoftheoccupantsof thehousewereathomeatthe time the fire erupted and were able to vacate the

and take what they want and leave the couple pieces of bruck-up jewellery and the few dollar bills for you in the safe, and Jagdeo out of all persons know that more than anybodyelse.

You see why this ringfencing is so very importantremember ring pon your finger and the fence you or your neighbour got up, and everytimeyouwatchthering and the fence, remember the fence is to protect your ring from the thief man passing by.”

Lall argued that a ringfencing provision is more important than the two percent royalty Guyana receives as well as the 50 percent profit share from the contract. The Kaieteur News Publisher said that without a ring-fencing provision in any business, as much as 99 percentofprofitscanbelost.

“Man uncle, which farmer you know would allow their business partner to keep on piling up bills upon bills from here, there and everywhere on your mango tree, in which you have to get half and half profit,knowanyone?

In a nutshell that is what ring-fencing means or what ring-fencing is all about Each mango tree should bear its own expenses, that is how youwillgetyourfullhalfand halfprofits–isnahtrueman? If you allow the man to keep spending all over the place and come tek it out from that one mango tree, wha gon happentoyourprofits?

You will end up getting nothing – that is why Guyana isgettingnothingfromweoil presently,” the businessman said.

Lallwaskeentopointout too that Guyana should be getting US-billions rather than a few hundred million USD every year from its oil resource.

He noted that the first, second, third and fourth project were all approved without correcting this criticalaspectofthecontract.

W i t h t h e f i f t h development awaiting approval, Lall said, “now he going to approve Liza 5 –Uaru, without asking or demanding any taxes, or a cent more on that zero percent royalty he talked about, or fix the lopsided contract, and I am betting my last dollar, he will approve that fifth project with no ring-fencing to protect us from being robbed of our rightful half and half profit share from this project.”

In the absence of this key provision in the PSA which G u y a n a h a s w i t h

ExxonMobil, the company is allowed to deduct expenses from oil projects that are yet tocommenceoperation.

That clause – 'ringfencing provision' – serves as a shield and prevents burdensome expenses from being lumped onto one project, thereby shortening profitsreceived.

Guyana has been warned by International Energy Institutes in the past that the country may never see the promised annual revenues from its oil sector, as the “one-sided” oil contract gives ExxonMobil and its partners the benefit, leaving Guyana and its people out of theirfairshareofthewealth.

The contract allows Exxontodeduct75percentof the resources each month to coverexpensestodevelopoil andgasprojects.

The 25 percent is then shared evenly (50/50) between the government of Guyanaandtheoilcompany

It must be noted that the expenses that are not covered in that month are taken forwardtothenextmonthfor repaymentorcostrecovery

premisesunharmed.

The house and all contents therein were completely destroyed, leaving the 13 persons homeless.

K

understands that the owner of the property has died but the property is the subject of adispute.

ongoing.

Kaieteur News Publisher, Glenn Lall during one of his recent radio programmes

The Grove house on fire (Joseph Allen photo)

Murderaccusedmakescourtappearance

Deonarine Sawh, called 'Boyzie' of Plantation Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD) made his first court appearance on Thursday at the Vigilance Magistrates'

Court where he was charged with the offence of murder, Contrary to the Common Law He was arrested on January25,2023. The accused appeared

before Magistrate Fabayo Azore where the charge was read to him. He was not required to plea and was remanded to prison.The case was postponed until March

14,2023forreport.

Sawh was captured on January 25, 2023 after a wanted bulletin was issued for him in relation to the mu

M o h a m e d a t H o p e

Lowlands, ECD He was found in an abandoned house atMahaica,RegionFour,one dayafterthepoliceissuedthe wantedbulletin.

This publication had reported that the body of the 47-year-old woman, a housewife of Belfield Squatting Area, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was found floating in a canal, with several wounds about her neck, ear, head and abdomen –withintestinesprotruding.

The police in their initial statement had disclosed that the suspect has been identified as the dead woman's ex-partner

Kaieteur News understands that Mohamed was living at BelfieldSquattingArea,with her daughter and reputed husband, who was at sea on a fishingboat.

The woman was last seen alive by a neighbour, while shewasleavingherhomeand heading to her brother's residence at Hope Lowlands, ECD.

Reports indicate that around08:05honJanuary25, the woman's 32-year-old son received a call from his mother's cellular phone When he answered, he reportedlyheardamalevoice (whom he identified as the suspect)andalsohismother's voice shouting for her phone –beforethecallended.

Thewomandidnotreturn home and the neighbour left in search of her While walking along Hope L o w l a n d s , R a i l w a y Embankment, the neighbour came across Mohamed's motionlessbodyinthecanal.

T h e p o l i c e w e r e immediately summoned, and the scene was processed and photographed.

Dead: Nazaleen Mohamed

Deonarine Sawh

Republic Financial Holdings records US$59.73M in first quarter profits

Chairman of Republic Financial Holdings Limited (RFHL), Vincent Pereira announced this week that the Group recorded profit attributable to its equityholdersofUS$59.73millionforthe three-monthsendedDecember31,2022.

ThisrepresentsanincreaseofUS$0.65 million or 1.10% over the US$59.08 million reported in the corresponding period of the last financial year, the bank saidinapressrelease.Totalassetsstoodat US$16.95 billion at December 31, 2022, an increase of US$243.1 million or 1.45% overthetotalassetsatDecember2021.

This increase was fuelled by growth in

customer deposits across our subsidiaries in Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean, and Suriname In announcing the results, Mr Pereira said, “The Group's first quarter results reflect the strong performance of our US dollar denominated subsidiaries in the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands because of the rising interest rate environment, together with the continued recovery in most of our Caribbean subsidiaries.

These gains were offset by a specific credit loss arising out of the Government of Ghana's restructuringofitsdomesticandinternational

(Continued on page 20)

Republic Financial Holdings records...

From page 19 debt, a condition of that country's December 2022 Staff- Level Agreement with the International Monetary Fund for a three-year US$3 billion Extended Credit Facility This credit loss negated the otherwise strong operating

performance of our subsidiary in

Ghana The overall net improvement does highlight the value of the Group's international diversification strategy and the resilience of our operations. We remain confident that the underlying strength of the Group

will enable us to continue to manage any challenges ahead.” In closing, Mr. Pereira said, “I would like to express my gratitude and thanks to all the members of the RFHL Team for their commitment as we continue to serve our clients andcommunitieswithexcellence.”

Single mothers top list of persons seeking help from President during two-day outreach in Region 6

More than 90 percent of the persons seeking assistance from President Irfaan Ali during a two-day outreach to Region Six weresinglemothers.

The President, during a press conference held on the second day of his outreach to the Region told reporters that “more than 90 percent of the women who represented the issues were single parents. That is something that needs specific attention Many have between 3-5 children Single mom, single women-led households so we can understand the type of challenges, difficulties additional pressure on women-led households in the region. This is something we need to take in the planningframework…”

Reports are that over 2200 residents turned up at the government outreach in search of solutionstotheirproblems.

PresidentAli told reporters that “we have listened to, helped and supported, counselled to some extent more than 2200 persons in the last two days…” The Head-ofStatesaidthatgiventhecomplaints he has personally listened to, it is evident that there is need for intervention at the community level.

The President applauded the young people who are actively contributing to the development of Region Six. Lauding the efforts of the youth, President Ali said that there is good reason for such optimism noting that “with investment from the private

sector… transformative projects including roads, highways, call centres, centre for differently abled people, the oil refinery, expanding of port facilities, massive housing program, expansion of private sectorinvestment...etc.”

Turning his attention to the housing sector, for which he was once Minister, the President disclosed that almost 200 titles and transports were processed with 150 advertisedtobecollectedFriday T

distribution of land titles was also

done with specific reference to an area in John's, Port Mourant, Berbice being fully regularized within 24 hours of the President's arrival in Berbice. Twenty-four titleswerealsomadeavailable.

Additionally, the President said that approximately 50 house lots were allocated, while over 50 lowincome homes and five core home applicationsbeingprocessed.

Notwithstanding the progress made over the last two days, PresidentAli was disappointed that personshadtowaitforanextended period to be given their titles and transport, something he said was dealtwithinamatterof48hrs.

Another issue, which he said remains a challenge is, allotees refusing areas they were offered. Despite such, Ali noted that he has seen tremendous aggression and expansion in the housing sector in Berbice and from the engineering aspect, “getting infrastructure going and delivering what they have delivered in a year is amazing.”

Meanwhile, the President said that healthcare in the region has improvedandheiswellpleased.

In the area of public works,

President Ali said there were more than 100 complaints in relation to roads, drains, bridges, and sea defenceofstructures,“asaresultof this, we already have engineers on thegroundworking...”

The Head-of-State said he also took note of the high number of public assistance complaints, with more than 100 persons filing complaints He disclosed that approximately 70 percent of those issues were addressed at the outreach.

Speaking to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), the President said that there have been many complaints while noting that over 200 complaints lodged with 40 percent being resolved and 20 percent in the process of being resolved. He said the remaining 40 percent of the cases will be addressed in the shortest possible time.

During the outreach, representatives from the Office of the President, the various ministries, NIS, the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) worked collectively to bring to a close the manyissuesventilated.

(Malisa Playter-Harry)

Construction of $12.4B maternal and paediatric hospital to begin soon

DPI - The government says the design and land preparation for the new maternal and paediatric hospital are completed and the construction of the modern state-of-the-art facilitywillcommencesoon.

This was revealed by Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony in his response to Opposition MP, Dr Karen Cummings in the Committee of Supply of the National AssemblyonThursday

“The site is now prepared and very shortly we expect that they would be able to start putting down the foundation and start building the hospital,” Dr Anthony said.

Giving the details, he noted that the 256-bed hospital is slated to be completedin2025.

“We had a team from the Georgetown Public Hospital Paediatrics Department who

provide a lot of technical inputs into what should go into the paediatric section of thehospital.Wealsohadalot of consultants from the Obstetrics Department of the Georgetown hospital, participating in the technical design of the obstetrics side of the hospital,” Dr Anthony stated.The hospital is being builtbyVAMED,anAustrian c o m p a n y t h a t h a s constructed more than a thousand hospitals around theworld.

HenotedthattheAustrian Government and the

Government of Guyana signed an agreement in 2018 for the development of a number of health facilities here.

“One of the facilities that were earmarked was the Georgetown Public Hospital. When we came into government,wereviewedthe agreement and we decided at

thetime,wewantedtobuilda maternal and child health hospital…and we amended thatagreement,”Dr Anthony said.

He related that it is under this agreement that the maternal and child health hospitalisbeingbuilt.

“In terms of the financing, we are using the UK banks to finance this hospital and it is a very, very concessional rate and therefore through this arrangement of this MOU,

we have been able to do this quitesuccessfully,”headded.

The contract for the hospital was signed in June lastyear

The ministry is working on providing all the required training for the staff that will work at the hospital, both specialistdoctorsandnurses.

“With nurses, we have some specialised training that we are working on. We have some partnerships with universities in Canada to get our nurses specialised in the

areas that we would need themtobeinthenewhospital and we have a partnership, as you know with Brazil where anumberofnurseshavegone there to get further training andthatisgoingtocontinue,” thehealthministernoted.

Among other specialised services, the hospital will have a Paediatric Cardiac Unit that will conduct surgeriesonchildren.

However, while the hospital is going to be built, this service will soon be

started at the Georgetown PublicHospital.

“Hopefully, we will be able to operate on the first 20 or so children that have various types of cardiac problems, this year and we are hoping that we can continue that programme so whenthehospitalopens,it'sa natural flow, where this team that is going to be at the Georgetown hospital now, would go across to the hospital,” Dr Anthony added.

President Irfaan Ali (seated second left) pays keen attention to a resident who attended his two-day outreach in Region Six.

Region Six residents turned up in their numbers to President Irfaan Ali's two-day outreach.

An artist's impression of the new $12.4B maternal and paediatric hospital (DPI)

WANTED

Wanted: Experienced Cashier, Cooks, Counter Person, Supervisor and Labourer. Apply @ Shanta's, 225 Camp and New Market Sts or WhatsApp: +592-6544361.

One hauler truck Driver and licence Excavator Operator needed, must have at least 3 years experience. Call: 6447088/ 624-7248.

Seamstress, Tailor, Block maker & Carpenter wanted. Call/ Whatsapp: 691-1918

Skilled Carpenters, Masons and Labourers. Call:6029469 or 615-7526.

One Domestic needed for residence. Call: 223-5273/ 223-5274.

Persons to install outdoor carpet. Call: 615-9132.

Farm Workers needed to work at Hauraruni and Hog Island. Call: 674-8723.

General Domestic needed to work 3 days per week in Campbellville. Call: 6215140.

Handyman to work 4 days per week in Campbellville, $5,000 per day. Call: 621-5140.

One Receptionist to work in office in Campbellville. Call: 621-5140.

Security required to work in Charity, Essequibo Coast. Call: 687-5814/ 688-0417.

Truck Driver required. Apply at: Lens 136 Sheriff Street, Campbellville G/Town. Call: 227-1511/ 645-1613.

Farm Workers needed to work in Timerhi. Call: 6172032 / 617-2047.

Domestic needed, 2 days wkly. Job includes pressing clothes & housekeeping, must be able to work flexible hours and attractive salary offered. Call: 6098691.

VACANCY

Maid required to cook and clean in East Bank area. Call: 615-9132.

Lathe Operator, Welder & Handyman required. Call: 645-9333/ 220-6078.

Driver required, ages 23-50 yrs. Must be able to assist in Workshop at Eccles and must have car and van licence. Call: 645-8443/ 6429823.

Payless Variety Store is now hiring Sales Representatives and Porters. Location: 42 Wellington St, Georgetown. Call: 658-4494.

Hotel Attendant required at Hick's Ville Hotel. Call: 6400673, 231-0951, 227-7714, 223-3448. Email: info@ vegeworld.net

VACANCY

One Clerk for TSI Eccles office. English & Mathematics, grade one or two, email application to: techserigy @yahoo.com or Call: 6159132.

FOR SALE

CAT 320 excavator buckets, CAT 320 idler, road painting machine.Call: 275-0367/ 6837225.

Ton and a half - Dragline hammer, steel Traylor 16ft, 2ft, 8ft. CAT 215 excavator parts. Call: 275-0367/ 6837225.

Prime property located in Prashad Nagar. Call: 6540200/ 685-3342/ 691-1153.

LEGAL NOTICE 1

Applicant in person: Hubert Stanislaus Cyrus

Address: Lot 41 Castello Housing Scheme, West La Penitence, Georgetown Tel# : 592-665-2072/ 592617-5365

2022-HC-DEM-CIV-FD1678

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL

JURISDICTION FAMILY

DIVISION

PETITION NO. FD-1678

BETWEEN:HUBERT STANISLAUS CYRUS Petitioner

within 35 (thirty-five) days from the date of the final publication of this Notice.

TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on Monday the 17th day of April,2023 at 9:30 am before the Honourable Madam Justice Sandra Kurtzious via Zoom Meeting ID: 648 772 9256 and Password: 5hRiHf.

IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/Notice of Intention to Defend, Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce.

Experienced Kitchen Assistant, Cashiers & Roti/ Puri Cook. Apply @ Hack's Restaurant 5 Commerce St.

One female Cleaner needed. Apply at Lens, 136 Sheriff Street C/Ville, Georgetown. Contact: 227-1511/645-1613.

Cashiers, male and female Supermarket Attendants and Drivers needed. Apply with written application/ CV and passport photo to Survival 16 Vlissengen Road, Newtown Kitty.

Male & Female workers required to work at Carwash in Campbellville and Workers to work weekends. Call: 604-1980.

Office Clerk and Domestic Worker required. Live-in facilities available, Call: 2237500.

Cleaners and Kitchen Assistant needed at Hibiscus Restaurant, 91 Middle Street. Call: 231-5857.

Drivers needed at Hibiscus Transportation Service , 91 Middle Street. Call: 231-5866. Foreman, Drivers/ Expeditors needed to drive car/ van and lorry in Georgetown.

Ages 25-55 yrs, Call: 2269768/ 225-7528.

VEHICLES FOR SALE

One CRV Honda, fully loaded immaculate condition, low mileage $3.3M negotiable. Contact: 649-0956.

Two Canter GAB Series for sale, $3.5M each negotiable. Call: 667-9696.

FOR RENT

2 and 3-bedroom fully furnished luxury apartments for rent, short term and long term. Tel:# 682-2585, 6911432.

Three bedroom unfurnished apt in Vreed-en-hoop and 1, 2 and 3-bedroom furnished apt in Providence and Diamond. Call/ Whatsapp: 6046664, 682-6238, 216-2299.

12 self-contained rooms, 2bedroom bottom flat, 8000 sq ft and 900 sq ft for business. Call Ray's Realty: 6279685.

One bedroom house for rent at 18th Av Diamond, E.B.D. Call: 657-2951, 612-9697.

Two Bobcat, gravel bucket, 1 Sand roller, 1 Diesel generator and hand wheels for Bobcat. Call: 665-1150.

One Bobcat bucket, bucket of excavator, welding plant, heavy duty fleet charger & 3-diesel containers. Call: 665-1150.

House lots for sale, $20,000 monthly payment plan. WhatsApp: 622-1957.

-and- MARY CHERRON

OSWELD CYRUS nee HOLDER Respondent

TO: MARY CHERRON

OSWELD CYRUS nee

HOLDER

Formerly of Lot 18 Bent Street

Werk-en-Rust

Georgetown

TAKE NOTICE that on the 12TH day of December, 2022 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by HUBERT STANISLAUS CYRUS the Petitioner in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that as part of an

The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts [Georgetown, Demerara]. The office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the Registry is closed. Dated the 24thday of January, 2023.

ENTERTAINMENT

Swimming pool, family fun, crystal clear pool, kids and adults sections at Aracari Resort, Call: 264-2946-9.

EDUCATION

Seeking to get into business or advancement in your job? Free Course offered! Send Email: caribbiz@gmail.com, visit website: https:/eaharris destiny.mastermind.com/ masterminds/40245

Have your child/children (7 years and older) accelerate in their reading, writing and phonetic skills. Call: 6508925 or email: nmf1010@ gmail.com.

Vacancy at People's Choice mobile for Counter Staff. Call/WhatsApp: 679-9449.

Log Truck Driver, Diesel Mechanic, Porters, Timber Grant Manager & Maid. Call: 609-7675/ 674-1705.

Room Attendant, Receptionist and Desk Staff needed, 25-45 years old. 233 South Road Lacytown, Call: 225-0198.

SERVICES

Visa Application: Canada and UK & U.S.A. Graphics design & advertisements. Wedding decorations & elderly grooming: hair, nail etc. Call: 626-7040.

Elevate your brand with our professional Graphic design services. Call: 6190007, 629-5526.

DRESSMAKING

Enid's Dressmaking certificate classes located 66 Sixth St, Albertown. Call: 643-7966/ 223-9106.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Aracari hotel located at WBD (Versailles, Vreed-enHoop)- A/C, all amenities and breakfast included, from $63USD. Call: 2642946-9. TO

Store at Lombard street, commercial spaces at Enmore mall, top floor 300ftx25ft. Call: 609-7675/ 674-1705.

Order made on the 18th day of January, 2023 the Petitioner was directed to effect service of her Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) consecutive Saturday issues of the Kaietuer News, a daily newspaper printed, published and circulated in and around Guyana and on the worldwide web.

AND FURTHER TAKE

NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorney-at-Law at the Registry of Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with related documents.

AND FURTHER TAKE

NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, you must file an Acknowledgement of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry), Answer and/or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara

LEGAL NOTICE 2

2022-HC-DEM-CIV-FD1674

IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE

FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION

PETITION NO. FD-1674

BETWEEN:

DAWN ROSEMARIE

BELL nee DE ABREU

Petitioner -V-

DERREL HENRY BELL

Respondent

DERREL HENRY BELL

Last Known Address

Lot 5 Grant R

Soesdyke

East Bank Demerara

Guyana

TAKE NOTICE that on the 12th day of December, 2022 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by DAWN ROSEMARIE

BELL nee DE ABREU, the Petitioner in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara.

AND FURTHER TAKE

Vacancy exist for two experienced Dispatcher at Confidential Cabs. Call: 695-1961 / 231-5784.

NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 25th day of January, 2023 the Petitioner was directed to effect service of her Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) consecutive Saturday issues of the Kaieteur News Newspaper, a daily Newspaper printed, published and circulated in and around the Republic of Guyana and on the world wide web.

AND FURTHER TAKE

NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorney-at-Law at the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with related documents.

AND FURTHER TAKE

NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy- of the Petition, you must file an Acknowledgement of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry), Answer and/or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 35 (thirty-five) days from the date of the second and final publication of this Notice.

TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on Monday the 27th day of March, 2023 at 9:00 am before the Honourable Madam Justice Sandra Kurtzious in the Directions Hearing Room via Zoom Meeting ID: 648 772 9256 and Password: 5hRiHf at the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown.

IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/Notice of Intention to Defend, Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce.

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

Dated the 27th day of January, 2023

Bandit fatally shot by businessman during robbery of food vendors

…getaway driver charged as police hunt two accomplices

Abandit was on January 25 last shot dead while he and his accomplices were robbing a couple, who are food vendors at Industry, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

The dead man has been identified as 26-year-old Akeem Granville of Sophia, Guyana.

According to police, the robbery took place around 21:46 hrs along the Industry Access Road moments after the couple, a carpenter and his wife, had closed their food stand.

The couple was reportedly about to enter a taxi when Granville, armed with a gun and two other men identified as “Chicks” and “Naldo” pounced on them and relieved them of a cellphone and $2000.

Shortly thereafter, gunshots from a group of men standing across the road sent the bandits scampering from the location.

Granville was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital in a car where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The 26-year-old man sustained a gunshot wound to his chest and, according to police, the bullet passed through.

The robbery was not yet reported but the driver of the vehicle which took Granville to the hospital was detained by police for questioning. The man, identified as 35year-old Sherwayne Freeman, a labourer of Onderneeming, West Bank Demerara (WBD) told the law enforcement of-

Mayor urges Haitian police to return to work

ficers that he was the getaway driver.

Freeman has since been charged with armed robbery and was remanded to prison on January 30 following his court appearance at the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Court. He is expected to return to court on February 23, 2023.

Reports are that Freeman named Granville as the mastermind of the robbery. He said that Granville had called him around 17:30 hrs on January 25 to pick him up in Georgetown. The man reportedly said Granville told him he had to “make a spin”.

Freeman reportedly picked Granville up from the Sophia bus park and they went to Albouystown where they picked up “Chicks” and “Naldo”.

Granville then allegedly instructed Freeman to take them to the Guinness Bar located at the Plaisance ‘Line Top’. Upon arrival, Freeman said he was told to turn back because the bar was “not so bright [lively]”.

On their way back, Granville allegedly told him to turn onto the Industry Access Road where they saw the couple standing next to a car. It was at this point, Freeman claimed that Granville said, “we will rob them two people”.

Freeman allegedly parked a short distance away while Granville, “Chicks” and “Naldo” exited the car. Shortly after, Freeman said he heard gunshots and saw the

three men running towards his car. They subsequently entered.

The getaway driver said that Granville told him that he was shot and he then drove to ‘D’ Field Sophia, where ‘Chicks’ and ‘Naldo’ came off.

Freeman said that he then drove Granville to the Georgetown Public Hospital where doctors pronounced Granville dead.

Meanwhile, police discovered during their investigation that a businessman -a licensed firearm holder - had shot at Granville and his accomplices while they were robbing the couple.

The businessman was subsequently detained and questioned. He reportedly told police that he was standing across the Industry Access Road when heard a firearm being cranked.

The sound made him look over the road and he soon realized that the couple was being robbed.

The businessman said that he attempted to intervene to save the couple but as he was crossing the road, one of the bandits pointed a gun at him. Fearful that he was going to be shot, he reacted by pulling out his gun and shooting first.

The businessman said that he was unaware that he had actually shot one of the bandits because they had all fled the scene.

Investigations are ongoing as police search for the two suspects “Chicks” and “Naldo”.

26-year-old woman is latest COVID-19 fatality

The Ministry of Health on Friday reported that a 26-yearold woman from Region Five, who contracted the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), died on Wednesday while receiving treatment at a medical facility.

As a result of this, the country’s COVID-19 death toll has moved to 1,295.

Meanwhile, the Ministry via its dashboard revealed that 14 new cases were recorded within the last 24 hours, one patient is in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 10 persons are in institutional isolation, 93 are in home isolation and to date, a total of 71,585 persons have recovered.

A week into a police protest movement prompted by the death of six police officers, Gonaïves’ Mayor Donald Diogène implored police officers to go back on duty and protect the residents.

“While you’re grieving the loss of your brothers who fell in horrible conditions, don’t give up because the people are counting on you,” Diogène told The Haitian Times in a Feb. 2 WhatsApp call. “The town hall is with you all and we will help how we can but we need police officers to stand stronger and start working again normally.”

Police officers are not working as usual even though Gonaïves is more at risk of danger because 11 inmates escaped out of the Gonaïves Prison during a jailbreak on Jan. 27. Police officers allegedly started the jailbreak after barging into the prison to set two of their colleagues free, according to Metropole. At least 14 inmates died.

The police protests began after gang members killed six

police officers during a confrontation in Liancourt, a commune in the Artibonite Department 32 miles from Gonaïves on Jan. 25. Five days before that, bandits also killed eight police officers in Port-auPrince, raising the number of police officers killed this year to 15.

Angry, police officers started taking it to the streets in different cities such as Portau-Prince, Cap-Haitien, Les Cayes, Saint-Marc and Gonaïves on Jan. 26. In Portau-Prince, they ransacked Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s home and stormed into the Toussaint Louverture, waiting for the head of state to return to Haiti from a trip to Argentina.

Diogène said he noticed that the police’s performance in Gonaïves improved before the movement and he is hoping that things will get back to normal.

“Work was getting done,” Diogène said. “Unfortunately, because of this incident things have gone down.”

Resort owner, workers arrested for beating truck...

From page 15 owner dragged him through the shattered window and took him to a shed where they allegedly took possession of his wallet containing $120,000 - money for dieseland his cellular phone.

The workers then allegedly held Persaud down while the resort owner pounded away on his body and face with cuffs.

“He [resort owner] bus up me mouth and cuff me all in meh stomach and suh”, the truck driver told Kaieteur News.

Persaud's alleged assaulters then abandoned him under the shed and went away with his wallet, cell phone and truck keys.

The truck driver reportedly remained stranded there until 11:00 hrs when his employer sent men to rescue

him. Persaud's superiors said that they found Persaud beaten and sitting under the shed.

They took him to the Madewini Police Station where he reported the assault before returning for the company's truck.

However, Persaud's bosses claimed that when they returned for the truck, it was further vandalized.

They claimed that the battery, power steering and the primary fuel pump were gone. The resort owner and his workers also refused to give them the keys and Persaud's wallet.

The police were called and ranks arrested the resort owner and his workers.

Up to press time on Friday, they were still lockedup as ranks conducted their investigations.

Gonaïves’ Mayor Donald Diogène

Two Lindeners, who are allegedly members of a gang that operates notoriously in Linden, were on Thursday charged and remanded to prison for the unlawful wounding of a teenager, contrary to Section (50) of the Criminal Law Offences Act,Chapter8:01.

The duo, 36-year-old Travis Hazel, a businessman ofLot24SilverCityWismar, Linden, and 48-year-old Royston Hilliman, also a businessman, of Lot 1831 Main Street CentralAmelia's Ward, Mackenzie Linden, wasarrestedonWednesday

The men are accused of unlawfully wounding 19year-old Dwayne Mitchell, a minerof Wisroc on December 26, 2022 at Block 22, Wismar Linden.

Hazel and Hilliman appeared at the Linden Magistrates' Court before Magistrate Wonda Fortune, where the charge was read to

Two alleged gang members remanded for 'unlawful wounding' of Linden teen

them.Theywerenotrequired to plea and were both remandedtoprison.

T h e m a t t e r w a s postponedtoMarch9,2023.

Meanwhile, on January 17, 2023, Kaieteur News had reported that residents of the mining town voiced their concerns about the increase in gang violence across the town during a recent visit of Prime Minister Brigadier (ret'd)MarkPhillips.

The residents said there have been many cutlass attacks in the communities along the Wismar shore, which have seen several youths being injured about theirbodies.

As a result, the residents havecalledontheauthorities to not only investigate the prevalence of gang violence buttakeactionstocurbit.

The Prime Minister had visited the community of Wisroc,Linden.

The gang, popularly known as the MOB or the

'Cayenne' gang has been fingered in several violent and drug-related incidents overtheyears.

In 2019, there was a peak in gang related violence in Linden which led to the execution-style shooting of Ian Williams called 'OJ', in Amelia'sWard.

An emotional mother, while describing a recent chopping incident that took placeinWisroconChristmas Eve and resulted in her 19year-old son being chopped about his body, said she now fearsforherlife.

“Mr Prime Minister, there is a gang in Linden that controls Linden by the name of MOB controlling the drug trade and everything in Linden,” she said before explainingwhattranspired.

The angry mother said the chopping incident involvinghersonoccurredin Wisroc. The woman alleged that gang members ran into her home and chopped her

son.Seven other young men wereallegedlyattacked.

The woman said she was forced to protect her child at the hospital after receiving threats from the gang and no supportfromthepolice.

“Right now, my life is in threat,Itriedtomakecontact withthepoliceandthepolice ain'thelpingme.

If they can be brave to chop eight young men, who looking out for we? There is nobody looking out for we and they going in the house,” she said.Prior to the Prime

Minister's visit, several residents had taken to social media in December to express their concern over gangviolence.

Member of Parliament

(MP) Jermaine Figueira in a Facebook post said, “The upsurge use of illicit drugs (molly) and gang violence

w i t h i n t h e L i n d e n

c o m m u n i t y i s m o s t concerning, particularly among our young people and the use of cutlasses as the weapon of choice The brazenness of these violent

actsbeingcommittedinview of the public in different communities across Linden has to be dealt with condignlyandstopped.

Theelectedofficialmade public calls to the regional policecommand,todealwith theseissuesseriously

“Ithereforecallonhimto look into these serious allegations and do that which is required to prevent a potential upsurge of retaliationofvigilantejustice and more criminal acts to spiraloutofcontrol.”

Royston Leroy Hilliman

Travis Hazel

UK Athletics want to prevent transgender athletes from competing in women’s category

(Reuters) - UK Athletics want the women’s category to be reserved for those who were female at birth to ensure fair competition while transgender athletes can compete in an “open” category alongside the men, the governing body said yesterday.

However, UKA said its hands are tied as they cannot prevent transgender athletes from competing in the women’s category unless the government changes the law.

Transgender rights be-

come a major talking point in recent months as sports seek to balance inclusivity while ensuring there is no unfair advantage, with LGBTQI advocacy groups saying excluding trans athletes amounts to discrimination.

“UKA believes that efforts should be made to fairly and safely include transgender women in an ‘open’ category, which would replace the current male category and be open to athletes of all sexes,” it said in a statement on Fri-

day. “(Efforts should be made to) reserve the women’s category for competitors who were female at birth, so that they can continue to compete fairly.” But according to the Gender Recognition Act, they are duty bound to “treat those trans women with a Gender Recognition Certificate as female for all purposes”.

“UKA therefore requests that a legislative change is made to extend the sporting exemption,” it added. “This would enable UKA and other sporting bodies the ability to ensure the women’s category can be lawfully reserved for female competitors.”

Saturday February 04, 2023

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19)

You're feeling especially loving, attractive, and romantic, so romance is likely to be on your mind. Romantic novels and movies could seem especially appealing. If you're currently involved.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

An increased level of ESP and imagination could have you feeling more creative and artistic. You might want to channel this energy into writing, painting, or adding touches to your living room.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

An attractive neighbor with whom you seem to share a bond could become a friend. A group you're affiliated with could be expressing highly idealized goals and purposes.

CANCER (June 21–July 22)

Dreams of a new career could fill your mind today, perhaps because of too much stress in your current one. You might even think of becoming a movie star.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)

Spiritual goals may be at the top of your priority list now, Leo. You may be looking for online metaphysical seminars or meditation workshops, perhaps taking place in a distant state or foreign country.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22)

Lovely dreams could spark your imagination and get your artistic abilities going. You could learn a lot about yourself and whatever has been limiting you. Write down whatever comes your way.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

A new friend could arrive today, Libra. You're probably going to like this person very much. He or she probably shares many of your interests. You could become close friends.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

If you've been thinking about a job change or even a new career, a chance interaction could provide the opportunity. However, Scorpio, remember, "If something seems too good to be true.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

A journey by air to a distant place might be on your mind, though you might not make it for a long time. Knowledge is important to you, and you can be insatiably curious. This is likely to be one of those days.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19)

The desire to beautify your home could hit you full force today, Capricorn. Perhaps you're expecting future visitors or house guests and want to make a good impression.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

A new neighbor could arrive who you feel especially drawn to, Aquarius. You might have high hopes for a friendship with this person. He or she may seem especially congenial and share a lot of your interests.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)

You could be feeling especially sociable today. Maybe there's a virtual party of some kind you want to be invited to. You could hear some good news, and there is probably some truth to it,.

The debate surrounding transgender athletes intensified last year when University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas became the first transgender NCAA champion in Division I history after winning the women’s 500-yard freestyle. Swimming’s world governing body FINA voted to restrict the participation of transgender athletes in elite women’s competitions, which led to several other sporting bodies doing the same.

‘LAWFULLY RESERVED’

“The statement we are issuing today demonstrates the challenge UKA and other sporting governing bodies are faced with at this time,” UKA Chair Ian Beattie said.

“Therefore we are calling for a change in legislation that will provide clarity for all and ensure the women’s category can be lawfully reserved for female at birth competitors.”

World Athletics said it is consulting with member federations on a proposal that would impose more stringent testosterone limits on transgender women athletes competing in women’s track and field events.

However, UKA said they did not agree with the use of testosterone suppression for transgender women. “Scientific evidence... is that transgender women retain a testosterone/puberty advantage over biological females regardless of the reduction of post puberty testosterone levels,” UKA added.

“There is currently no scientifically robust, independent research showing that all male performance advantage is eliminated following testosterone suppression.”

Last year, England’s rugby governing bodies restricted transgender participation in the domestic game, recommending that only players recorded as female at birth be allowed to play in the

women’s category. Advocates for transgender inclusion say that there are relatively few trans women ath-

letes and that not enough studies have been done on the impact of transition on physical performance.

General view of athletes in action during the men’s 100m, heat 7 at the UK Athletics Championships. (Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine)

Tennis star Kyrgios admits assaulting girlfriend, avoids conviction

AFP - Australian tennis star Nick K y r g i o s yesterday pleaded guilty to assaulting a former girlfriend, but avoided a conviction for what the magistrate called a “single actofstupidity”.

Appearing in a Canberra court, the Wimbledon finalist admitted assaulting then-girlfriend Chiara PassarionJanuary10,2021, bypushinghertotheground afteraheatedargument.

Kyrgiossaidhewas“not in a good place” at the time, and that he “reacted to a difficult situation in a way I deeplyregret”.

“Iknowitwasn’tOKand I’m sincerely sorry for the hurt I caused,” he said in a statement.

Passari lodged a complaint with police 10 months after the incident, afterthepairhadbrokenup, lawyerstoldthecourt.

Inastatementreadtothe court, Passari said she had beenseverelytraumatisedby

the incident, experiencing severeweightloss,stayingin bed day and night — unable to sleep or form new romanticrelationships.

Lawyers for Kyrgios appealed to have the charge of one count of common assault dismissed on mental health grounds, arguing it was an isolated incident and outofcharacter

Psychologist Sam

Borenstein told the court Kyrgios suffered from recurring major depression, which included black periods, thoughts of self harm, insomnia, agitation andfeelingsofguilt.

Borenstein said the tennis star had relied on alcoholanddrugsasameans of coping, but was now making progress in dealing withtheissues.

Magistrate Beth Campbell heard that appeal but ultimately dismissed the casewithoutconviction.

Campbell said Kyrgios acted poorly but the offence was not planned or

premeditated and was a “singleactofstupidity”bya young man attempting to removehimselffromatense situation.

The court was told KyrgiosshovedPassari,who was preventing him from leaving her Canberra apartment.

“I do not record a conviction against your name, I do not find any necessity to place you on a

good behaviour bond,” Campbellsaid.

-Squanderedtalents?Kyrgioshadhobbledinto courtinCanberrawithapair ofcrutchesandabraceonhis knee, after suffering a “gruesome” injury that sidelinedhimatlastmonth’s AustralianOpen. He was flanked by his current girlfriend Costeen Hatzi, an interior designer, andhismotherNorlaila.

Canberra-born Kyrgios, known for his mercurial talent and on-court outbursts, later said “mental healthistough”.

“ L i f e c a n s e e m overwhelming But I’ve found that getting help and working on myself has helped me to feel better and to be better,” his statement read.

The case was adjourned in October, as Kyrgios prepared to play the Japan Open, so experts could produce mental health reportsforthecourt.

“There’s only so much I cancontrolandI’mtakingall the steps and dealing with that off the court,” Kyrgios saidfromTokyoatthetime.

Currently ranked 20th in the world, Kyrgios featured prominently in the first episode of Netflix’s new Break Point tennis documentary

“I now plan to focus on recovering from injury and moving forward in the best waypossible,”hesaid.

The fan favourite won the Australian Open men’s doubles crown with close friend Thanasi Kokkinakis lastyearbutwasruledoutof this year’s tournament beforeplayingamatch. His manager Daniel Horsfallsaidhehadrecently undergone surgery to remove a cyst inside his knee.

“Thesurgerywentgreat, to be honest, we couldn’t have asked for a better result,” he told radio station SEN.

“Hemightberecovering faster than what we were expecting, so it’s good news.”

Kyrgios burst to fame as a 19-year-old in 2014, when he shocked the tennis world by beating Rafael Nadal to reach the quarter-finals of Wimbledon.

Often criticised for squandering his talents, Kyrgios reached the final of last year’s Wimbledon, but wascomprehensivelybeaten byNovakDjokovic.

Nick Kyrgios on Friday pleaded guilty to assaulting a former girlfriend, but avoided a conviction.

Brazil calls for crackdown on racism in football

Brazilian Football Confederation said it sent a letter to FIFAcalling for a crackdown on racism in the sport.

AF P - T h e

B r a z i l i a n F o o t b a l l Confederation said yesterday it had sent a letter to FIFA calling for a crackdown on racism in the sport, after a series of incidents targeting players including Brazil star ViniciusJunior

TheCBFtoldAFPithad also addressed the letter to European football’s governing body, UEFA, and the South American c o n f e d e r a t i o n ,

CONMEBOL, urging stronger action to fight racism and raise awareness about a problem that has longdoggedthesport.

Thelettercomesafteran effigy of Vinicius Junior, who plays for Real Madrid, was found hung by the neck

from a bridge near the Spanish club’s training center ahead of their derby against crosstown rivals AtleticoMadridlastweek.

The player who scoredagoalinhisteam’s31 win that day — was also thevictimofracistslursata league match between the twoclubsinSeptember And Spain’s High Council for SportsaidMondaythatReal Valladolid fans who racially insulted Vinicius Junior duringamatchinDecember wouldbeprosecutedforhate speech “It’s essential to wage an absolutely firm fight against racism. Cases like the recent ones involving Vinicius Junior and so many other athletes are unacceptable,” CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues said Thursday at

the opening of a FIFA seminarinRiodeJaneiro.

“It’s reached a point that goes beyond attacking the victims’ dignity to threaten theirsafety.”

Rodrigues,68,isthefirst blackCBFpresident.

He has made fighting racismaprioritysincetaking thepostinMarch2022.

OnSaturday,hemetwith Brazilian Justice Minister Flavio Dino to discuss the incident involving Vinicius Juniorandfightingracismin football more generally, the CBF said Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula daSilva,whotookofficelast month, has also made fighting racism a priority The veteran leftist recently signed a bill into law increasing sentences for racialdiscrimination.

Ronaldo nets first goal for Al Nassr to snatch 2-2 draw

(Reuters) - Cristiano

Ronaldoscoredhisfirstgoal forAlNassrwithalast-gasp penaltytosalvagea2-2draw at Al Fateh in a thrilling Saudi Pro League match yesterday.

The37-year-oldPortugal international, a five-times Ballon D’Or winner, converted from the spot three minutes into added time, having failed to score onhisdebutlastmonth.

Ronaldo signed a 2-1/2 year deal with Al Nassr in December, reported to be worthover200millioneuros ($216.54 million), and was appointed captain shortly afterhisarrival.

Al Nassr now top the standings after 15 games,

Al Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo in action vs Al Ittihad at the King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh, Saudia Arabia. (REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri)

South Africa beat India as preparations continue ahead of the Women’s

T20 World Cup in February

BBC News - South Africa’s final T20 tri-series match ahead of hosting the Women’s T20 World Cup needed a blistering half centuryfromChloeTryonto lead them to a five-wicket win against India in East London.

It was the team’s first match since the double announcementthatDanevan Niekerk had been left out of South Africa’s World Cup squadduetofitnessconcerns and her wife, Marizanne Kapp,wassubsequentlyalso given “compassionate leave” for February’s tournament.

Having won the toss, India’s innings was held together by Harleen Deol’s 46from56ballsasthehosts o p e n i n g b o w l e r Nonkululeko Mlaba returnedfiguresof2-16.

South Africa’s top order wobble looked to hand the tourists the game as they werereducedto21-3and,in

the fourteenth over, 66-5 with Sneh Rana’s off breaks claimingfiguresof2-21.

All rounder Tryon, 29, blasted 57 from 32 balls, including two sixes, to see her side romp home with two overs to spare

South Africa face

PakistannextinPaarl,while India take on Bangladesh in Stellenbosch, on a day of warm up matches on 8

Bravo takes 3-37 to help MI

Emirates book spot in ILT20 playoffs

SportsMax-Ontheback of a three-wicket haul from Dwayne Bravo, the MI Emirates condemned the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders to their eighth defeat in nine games in the DP World IL T20 at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi yesterday

TheEmiratesfirstposted 180-4 from their 20 overs after the Knight Riders won the toss and elected to field first.

Februaryaheadofthestartof the T20 World Cup on 10 Februarywhenthehostsface Sri Lanka at Newlands in CapeTown.

Scores Women’s International T20 Match, EastLondon:

India 109-4 (20 overs):Deol46;Mlaba2-16

South Africa 113-5 (18 overs):Tryon57;Rana2-21

Result:SouthAfricawon byfivewickets

The UAE’s Muhammad Waseem top scored with a 43-ball60includingonefour and six sixes while captain KieronPollardcontinuedhis excellent form throughout theseasonwith43offjust17 deliveries including four foursandthreesixes.

The Knight Riders reply fell short by 18 runs despite a top score of 42 from 22 balls from Andre Russell His knock includedfivefoursandtwo

sixes Dwayne Bravo took 3-37 from his four overs while Imran Tahir and Zahoor Khan took two wicketseach.

The Emirates have now booked a spot in the playoffs with a game to spareintheleaguephase.

Scores: MI Emirates 180-4 off 20 overs (Muhammad Waseem 60, Kieron Pollard 43) Abu DhabiKnightRiders162off 19.2 overs (Andre Russell 42, Joe Clarke 22, Dwayne Bravo 3-37, Imran Tahir 220,ZahoorKhan2-33).

Australian cricketer Khawaja finally gets visa to tour India

MELBOURNE, Australia ( A P ) Pakistan-born Australia cricketer Usman Khawaja was cleared to join the national squad for a tour of India after his visa issues wereclearedupaheadofhis rescheduled departure on Thursday

Cricket Australia said Khawaja was flying out of Melbourne,morethanaday later than planned, after havingtowaitforhisvisato be approved The other members of Australia’s 18man squad were granted entrytoIndiaintimetotake flights on Tuesday and Wednesday to their training campinBangalore.

It is not the first time Khawaja, who was born in the Pakistan capital of Islamabad, has faced visa challenges when trying to enterIndia.In2011,thetoporder batter took to social mediatosayhehadnotbeen permitted to enter the country because he was not borninAustralia.

OnWednesday,Khawaja posted a popular meme on Instagram along with the hashtags “stranded” , “dontleaveme”, “standard”

and“anytimenow.”

The 36-year-old Khawaja hasn’t played in India in any of his 56 test matchesdatingbackto2011, althoughhehasplayedother formats of cricket there. He has undergone a career revival since returning to Australia’stestlineupduring the Ashes series win over England in January of last year following an almost three-yearabsence.

He posted centuries in

eachinningsofhistestrecall in Sydney and has added three more hundreds, including an unbeaten 195 against South Africa last in Sydney last month, and five big half-centuries in 11 matches.Thefour-testseries against India begins in Nagpur next Thursday The second test is set for New Delhi starting Feb. 17, the thirdMarch1inDharamsala and the final test beginning March9inAhmedabad.

Tryon made her debut in 2010for South Africa against the West Indies and has played 180 and times for her country times (Getty Images) has

Dwayne Bravo took 3-37 to help MI Emirates.

Usman Khawaja

Windies interim coach Coley said preparation for Zimbabwe has been ‘sufficient’

SportsMax-Afternearly two weeks of preparation in Bulawayo, West Indies interimheadcoachiseagerly awaiting the first ball of the series this morning

According to Andre Coley, the preparation has been sufficient, with numerous practice sessions and a dominant display in the three-day warm-up match against the Zimbabwe XI, acrosstownattheBulawayo SportsClub.

Now the attention switches the “big show” –the first Test against Zimbabwe, and the location moves to the Queens Sports Club, where the two teams willmeet.“Weareconfident thattheareasthatwewanted to address and spend some time on, we were able to do so. The facilities have

generally been good and offered us enough to get throughwhatweneededto,”

Coley said He also expressed pleasure at the way the players have been responding to the training, noting that they have been putting in extra work in the netsandonfitness.

Regarding getting ahead and eventually winning the series, he is looking for consistencyinallareas.

Wary that Zimbabwe are highly competitive at home, theWestIndieswillbeeager tostarttheyearright,having enjoyed some success in the longest format over the past 18 months and a series in SouthAfricatofollow

The first Test will begin today Saturday, February 4. First ball is 10am (4am Eastern Caribbean/3am

Sunrisers Masters beat Invaders Masters in ESCL’s over-40

Sunrisers Masters beat Invaders Master by seven wicketsinthelatestroundof the 2023 Essequibo Softball Cricket League’s (ESCL)

Over-40, 20-overs competition at Airy Hall ground, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam).

Invaders, the former champion, reached a challenging 180-8 from the 20-overs while Sunrisers replied with 186-3 in the 14thover

Ex-Essequibo senior Inter-County opening batsman Ravi Beharry led the way for Sunrisers Masters with 60 while his captain Shivsankar Bissoon hit a responsible 59. For Invaders, Mohammed Ali struck 52 while veteran softball player Ramesh Narine contributed 37 Bissoonprovedhisall-round capabilitybycapturing3-20 from his maximum four overs. Baharry also showed good skills with the ball to claim3-46offfourovers.

At the same venue, defending champions Caribbean Cricket Club 2 got the better of Hibernia Strikersbyfourwickets.

Hibernia only managed an insufficient 176-7 at the expiration of the 20-overs while Caribbean Cricket Club 2 surpassed the target

in the 15th over Yasir Mohammedledthewaywith 44 and 43 from Richard Patterson as Dhanraj Singh grabbed 2-43 in his fourover outing. When Hibernia Strikers batted, Gobin Chandrika hit a top-score of 40andreceivedcontribution fromFizulMohammedwho made 39. Yasir Mohammed churned out an impressive all-round performance to claim 3-19 from four tidy overs. Rooplall chipped in with2-44offfourovers.

Details from other game between Devonshire Castle S p o r t s C l u b a n d

QueenstownTigerswerenot available. Meanwhile, the action is set to continue on

Shivsankar Bissoon

Sunday with three more matches.

Caribbean Cricket Club 2willfaceoffwithSunrisers Masters at Queenstown ground from 9:30 am while atthesamevenuefrom1pm, while Invaders Masters and Queenstown Tigers will do battle. Hibernia Strikers are set to entertain Devonshire Castle Sports Club at H i b e r n i a f a c i l i t y commencingat10:00am.

Meanwhile, the final is set for mid-March The tournament is being played in memory of Dave

Tajeshwar who was a longtime softball supporter His brother Vo Tajeshwar is still oneofthemainsponsors.

Jamaica) Squad: Kraigg

Jermaine Blackwood (vice-

captain), Nkrumah Bonner, Tagnarine Chanderpaul, Roston Chase, Joshua Da

Silva, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers,

Gudakesh Motie, Raymon Reifer,KemarRoach,Devon ThomasandJomelWarrican

West Indies players go through their paces during a practice session. (CWI)

Farfan and Mendes Ltd renews sponsorship of RHTYSC U-15 Team for 26th year

-ClubreceivesStihlGrassCutter

The long standing relationship between the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club MS and Farfan and Mendes Ltd was renewed for the 26th successive year on Wednesday last during a simple ceremony at the company’s Providence, East Bank Demerara Office. The company and the club first established the highly successful relationship in 1997andtherelationshiphas expanded over the last twentyfiveyears.

Club Secretary Hilbert Foster at the presentation statedthatthecompanyfirst assisted the club in 1995 when it donated a grass cutter to assist in the preparation of the Area H Ground. It then came on board as the RHTYSC first officialsponsorin1997with its support of the under15

team. The relationship has resulted in eight major titles including six Berbice championships, twenty nationalunder15playersand close to seventy under15 players for the ancient county Among the players produced by the team are

Assad Fudadin, Royston Crandon, Dominic Rikhi, Abdel Fudadin, Shevon Marks, Mahendra Gopilall, Jermey Sandia, Junior Sinclair, Keith Simpson, Kelvon Anderson ,

Shemaine Campbelle, Sheneta Gopilall and

Fudadin, Anderson all went on to represent the West Indies at different levels, while Rikhi has represented the United States at the internationallevel.

The team over the last

twenty five years have undertaken over one thousandcommunityrelated activities under the name of thesponsorshipaspartofthe p l a y e r s p e r s o n a l developmentprogrammes.

A m o n g t h e events/activitieshostedhave been medical outreaches, feeding of the poor, senior citizens breakfasts, youth information booklet, television programme, distributionoffoodhampers, solar street lamps project, construction of children playfield, construction of charity kitchen, distribution ofschoolbags,sharingoutof bicycles and educational scholarships. The team and the others in the club have also invested a lot of energy and time into a say no and say yes campaign which is directed to all youths in the county Under this

programme, the teams strivestogetyouthstosayno to drugs, suicide, crime, pre marital sex and yes to education, life, sports, cultureandreligion.

Apart from sponsoring the under15 team, the company also supports a widerangeofothereventsof the club including award ceremony, cricket academy, Christmas Charity Programme, annual youth magazine and Christmas Village. Foster described the company as one of the main foundation of its successandgrowth.

The RHTYSC in its

thirty three history has won overonehundredtitlesatall levels and has produced one hundred and twenty players for Berbice, Guyana and the West indies combined. The Rose Hall Town Farfan and Mendes Under15 would be ledbynationalplayerSohail Mohamed, while long time c l u b e x e c u t i v e Ravindranauth Kissoonlall would serve as team manager The assistant managers shall be Tyrone Pottaya and Keith Hicks while the coach shall be RyanAlgu.

M e a n w h i l e , t h e RHTYSC also received a

STIHL grass cutter in a special arrangement with their long time sponsor The grass cutter would assist the club members to maintain the Area H Ground along with another which was donated by the Berbice CricketBoardtwoyearsago. Fosterexpressedgratitudeto the company for their continued confidence in the club and for investing into the careers of promising junior players. He reassured the company that the under15 team would continue to represent their brand with pride, passion andcommitment.

BCQS Guyana Squash Masters’ concludes today

OnThursdaysawthereturnofplayersat the Georgetown Club Courts (GTC) located along Camp Street, Georgetown; for Day Two of the BCQS 2023 Squash Masters. A good day for squash; players were hyped to hit the courts for the second day of competition.Withfifteenmatchescardedfor the evening; two Women’s 35 and-over matches, as well as four Men’s 30-44 matches, one Men’s 45-55 match and five Men’s55-64matches.

DayTwogotofftoafoulstart,asDennis Dias received his second win in the tournamentintheMen’s65opencategoryby way of a walk-over when he had a no show fromTonyRoach.

However, Kathy Ten Pow and Lydia Fraserbothpickeduptheirsecondwininthe 35-and-overcategorywinning11-0,11-0111and11-6,11-3,11-2respectively

Likewise, Alex Arjoon and Daniel Ince wontheirfirstintheMen’s30-44categories. Arjoon defeated Javid Rahaman 11-3, 11-4, 11-3 and Daniel Ince defeated Nicholas Narain11-3,11-7,11-1.

Matchsix:SawBarbadianMarlonWhite goingupagainstNarendraSinghinthethird ofthefiveMen’s55-64matches,asthegame went on White’s length and accurate short game,startedtotakeitstollandalthoughhis

opponent (Singh) looked a seasoned campaigner, he was no match to White’s accuracy;asWhiteeasetoa3-0victoryover Singh. Nicolette Fernandes defeated Regan Pollard 3-0 While Barbadian Shawn SimpsondefeatedJonathanAntczak1-7,111, 11-2 and Jason van Dijk defeated Reagan Rodrigues11-5,11-1,11-4intheotherMen’s 30-44categorymatches.

Also in the final two Men’s 55-64 category matches; the swift and crafty Mark SealyoutplayedPeterHarrisina3-0victory andTriumphantBrianEdwardscameouton top of the agile Dean Straker (out of Barbados)11-13,11-5,11-3,9-11and11-4.

Yesterday World Masters Semi finalist Mark Sealy took on ‘Home town Hero’ Joseph‘JoJo’Mekdeci.Thenmaineventsof the night; semi finals between Alex Arjoon and defending BCQS Men’s 30 and-over 2022champion-DanielInce. Thelasttime they played in Senior Nationals, Arjoon bested Ince 3-1 in a tight finish. Last of the semi finals were between Nicolette Fernandes and Barbados - Shawn Simpson (the Tallest Man on the Professional Squash Association(PSA)WorldTour).

The tournament is sponsored by Sanjay Amin - Director of BCQS Squash Masters, Barbados.

Junior supervisor Joshanna Marcus hands over the sponsorship to Hilbert Foster in the presence of Darius Machado.

2023WestIndiesChampionship… Harpy Eagles falter on Day three

-Leadby242goingintofinalday

The Guyana Harpy Eagles could have been sittingprettiergoingintothe final day of their 2023 West Indies Championship fourdaymatchagainstdefending champion, Barbados Pride, buthadatorridfinalsession yesterday partially shifted theweightoftheencounter

Playing at the SirVivian RichardsCricketStadiumin North Sound, Antigua, Guyanaslumpedto91–8at stumps on Day three after they restricted the opposition’s first inning scoreto220–9.

Eagles were left with a lead of 151 runs, following the completion of the first innings, after they posted 371, and are now ahead by 242 runs. Overnight in the middle are Veerasammy

Permaul and Nial Smith, who have 11 and 0, respectively

Guyana were in a favourablespotinthesecond session because they ended Pride’s innings at least 45 minutes before the tea interval, but a list of poor shotchoiceslandedthemina less favourable position towards close of play. However, their lead is still formidable.

Tevin Imlach replaced Hemrajatthetopoftheorder because he was unwell but he(Imlach)endedthematch with a double duck since he failed to get off the mark once again when Jair McAllister struck with the score on 3. It was the same result for the new batsman, Kemol Savory, who was bowled for 0 by Akeem Jordan one run later The captain, Leon Johnson (12),

also had a brief stay as did AnthonyBramble(1),Kevin Sinclair (1), Shamar Joseph (4) and Hemraj (15). Nandu made16butwatchedasfive teammates were needlessly dismissedbeforehim.

The result of those wickets brought together Permaul and Smith, the penultimate pair, with RonsfordBeatonastheonly HarpyEaglelefttobat.

For Pride, both Jordan andHardingfinishedtheday with three wickets each while McAllister and Shemar Springer picked up oneeach.

In the first session yesterday, Pride resumed fromtheirovernightscoreof 105 – 3 with Shamarh Brooks (10) and Keon Harding (3) as the surviving pair Theysharedina57-run partnership that was cut short when Veerasammy PermaulbowledHardingfor 24 in the 63rd over to push thetotalto159–4.

Nicholas Kirton (2) was thenewbatsmanbuthehada briefstayinthemiddlesince he edged one from Kevin Sinclair into the gloves of Anthony Bramble on the seventhdeliveryhefaced.

Springer was Kirton’s replacement and the partner thatsupportedBrooksonhis waytoanotherfirstclasshalf century

However, Brooks’ inning was stopped on 51 when he was caught by Nandu off the bowling of Permaul;Pridewere178–6 afterthelunchinterval.

That wicket further exposedthetailbutSpringer was left unbeaten on a resistant 35 as Jordan (0),

Chaim Holder (13) and McAllister (2) all went cheaply to end Pride’s reply at220–9.Unfortunatelyfor Pride, their wicketkeeper, Shane Dorwich, has been unable to take the field for sometime.

Permaul bagged 4 – 53

from 26 2 overs while Sinclairclaimed3–65from 24oversandShamarJoseph picked up 2 – 33 from 15 overs. Today the match enters its final day and is expected to bowl off from 10:00 hrs ETC.

Kevin Sinclair

Veerasammy Permaul has been instrumental with bat and ball for Guyana in this match. (Photo: Wired868)

RHTYSC Secretary Hilbert Foster receives the grass cutter from Darius Machado and Melissa Khan of the company

West Indies players go through their paces during a practice session. (CWI)