Kaieteur News

VPJagdeoexposed…

“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 going to renegotiate those contracts because that’s not what we had in mind. When we were in the early days, we were coaxing the people (ExxonMobil and partners) to go along. They (APNU+AFC) came into office (and met) 3 billion barrels of proven reserves and then gave up zero royalty, no taxes, no ring-fencing, no local content for these people to spend any money here.” Those were his exact words in a 2019 interview as Opposition Leader.

Exxon now needs its own dumpsite,

Guyana to foot the bill

Guyana pays for ExxonMobil’s oil spill insurance – PSA reveals

Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo told no lies when he recently described the 2016 Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) asa“sh*ttydeal”Butascrassasitmayseem, the phrase does not begin to portray the frightening game of Russian roulette the country is playing with ExxonMobil Corporation on matters of insurance for oil spills.

AccordingtothePSA,thereareanumber of unbelievable items Exxon can recover without needing permission from the Government One of these pertains to insurance The contract says on Page 11 of Annex C that, “Insurance premium and cost incurredpursuanttoArticle20,providedthat if such insurance is wholly or partly placed with an affiliated company of the parties comprisingthecontractor,suchpremiumand costs shall be recoverable only to the extent generally charged by competitive insurance companies…”

Itgoesontostatethat,“costs,losses,and damagesincurredtotheextentnotmadegood by insurance are recoverable including costs, losses or damages resulting from indemnities unless such costs have resulted solely from an act of willful misconduct or gross negligenceofthecontractor.”

Two matters are therefore clear: Guyana ultimately pays for its own clean-up costs unlessitcanproveincourtthatExxonisutterly atfault Andinthemeantime,Exxonisallowed torecoverinfull,allinsurancecoststakenfor

thecountry’sprotection.

For the time being, the Environmental ProtectionAgency(EPA)saidlastyearthata US$600Minsurancepolicyisinplacetocover costs related per oil spill Aparent guarantee from ExxonMobil Corporation is still in the discussionstage

With Exxon already in pursuit of its sixth project, set for commencement in 2027 to 2028, several stakeholders have underscored the need for Guyana to have full coverage insurance from Exxon and its partners They are also of the firm conviction that EnvironmentalPermitsshouldbearmedwith provisions that close the loophole for insurancecoststoberecovered.

It is difficult for many transparency advocatestounderstandwhythegovernment ofthedayhasnotmovedwithalacrityonthis matterwhenitsCARICOMcounterpartshave takenano-nonsenseapproachtothematter.

Over in Suriname, the Dutch-speaking nationhasmadeitapracticetoonlyacceptfull coverageinsurancefromtheparentcompanies operating in its backyard In fact, oil companies are only allowed to dream about recoveringsuchcosts

Confirming as well as elucidating this industry requirement in a previous interview was former head of Staatsolie (Suriname’s National Oil Company), Mr Rudolf Elias During one of his appearances on Kaieteur Radio’s programme, Guyana’s Oil and You, EliasnotedthatSurinameauthoritiesalways engagetheparentcompanyoninsurance.

Eliassaid,“ Evenifitisthedaughterof thedaughterofthedaughterofthedaughter,in theend,theparentcompanywillhavetotake full responsibility So it is always good to havethemothercompanybetheguarantorfor aneventofanoilspill”

While Suriname has made it a nonnegotiablepositiontohaveparentcompanies provide insurance that cannot be recovered, in Guyana, the circumstances remain vastly different, leaving many to wonder—who reallycallstheshotsinGuyana’soilsector?

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Editor-In-Chief:NIGELWILLIAMS

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

EDITORIAL

Audit of oil money spending

BudgetmoneyhasbeenidentifiedfortheAuditOffice, so that its people can take a close look at how the millions withdrawnfromthenation’soilfundwerespent.

Guyana’s Audit Office has been saddled with the responsibility to follow the money trail from beginning to end,sotospeak. Thatis,fromthetimedepositsweremade into the National Resource Fund (NRF), to when withdrawalsoccurred,andtowhereandwhatandhow,the monies taken out are spent. The Minister of Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, had said that such withdrawals are to fund”national development priorities.” It is the Audit Office’sdutytogobehindthatbroad,blandumbrellaofDr Singh,andcheckthespecificsofwhateverthatmeant,and howoilfundmoneywasinvolved.

We at this paper think that all of this could have some substance, but only on the condition that Guyanese taxpayersandGuyaneseownersoftheoiland,byextension, the oil monies, get real honest scrutiny in any audits executed by theAudit Office. Of necessity, there must be deepprobing,andprincipledreportingonwherethemoney went,andhowwellitisaccountedforandmanagedbythe Government. TheAudit Office has its work cut out for it, andwebackittodowellforus.

In2022,atotalofUS$607MwastakenoutoftheNRF accountheldinaNewYorkbankbytheGovernment. Itis overGY$121Bwithdrawn,andtheAuditOfficenowhasthe responsibility to peer behind the veil of “national development priorities” and to determine how many of thosedrawndownoilbillions(localdollars)wereusedfor whatcouldbeconsideredtobereally‘national’andofwhat represented ‘development’ and how many of such ‘priorities’registeredaslegitimate.

Now, a special eight-member unit is to be established withinthenexttwomonthstoaudithowthewithdrawnoil fundUSmillionswerespent.

In confirmation, these are the actual words of Auditor General, Dr Deodat Sharma, “If you look at the various committees that they (government) set up, one of the committeesthatIthinkhasbeensetupwilldeterminehow themoneywillbespent,soyouwillhavetocheckwiththe committeesattheBoG(BankofGuyana)thatisoverseeing the Natural Resource Fund. They would have that responsibility to say okay we are going to be building x, y and z. So, in other words, this Committee will say exactly howitwasspent. Wewouldthenchecktoverifywhatever they say that the money was used for that it went to the projectintended.”

“Checkandverify”iswhattheAuditGeneralsaid,and though that may come across as a normal part of audit routines, in the instance of oil and gas spending, other considerationsarealwaysonthetable. Itisoilmonies,the patrimony of the people, that are under the microscope. Hundredsofbillionsinoilmoneyhavebeensiphonedoffby greedy and crooked politicians and their crews in most placesthatoilwasfound,withparticularemphasisonpoor ThirdWorldcountriesstrugglingtokeeptheirheadsabove water InGuyana,thereisalengthy,ugly,andcostlyhistory ofgovernmentalandpoliticalthieveryoftaxpayers’money longbeforethearrivalofoil.

As has become more obvious with each new development, the presence of oil and its rich rewards have onlymademattersworsewhenrulingpoliticaloperatorsand cooperativebureaucratsareinvolved.

Credibility and trust have been savaged into shreds by roguepoliticianswithsecreciesanddodgestheorderofthe day Nothingisdisclosed,withnoconscientiousGuyanese official in the mix saying anything, and silence enjoying a long,unendingseason.

This is what the Audit Office’s 8-member oil and gas auditunitwillencounter Itisimperative,therefore,thatthe right blend of skills, professional ethics, and experienced people, with Guyana’s interests at heart, must be the ones leadingthechargewithauditsofoilmoneyspending.

OnlythenwillGuyanesebeaccuratelyinformedofhow theiroilmonieswerespent,andifitwascleanly

Opposition parties play an important role in democracy

DEAREDITOR,

Thank you for the opportunity to publish this letter in your daily publication.

Good governance requires enlightened leadership, possessing progressive visions, grounded in a commitment to act morally, the right persons who are bestqualified to implement that vision and who are effectivelyresourced.

George Tierney, an 18th century English Politician, preached that the duty of an

Opposition was to ‘oppose everything and to propose nothing.’Inmyopinion,that ideologywaspurecynicism, utter garbage and what seems to be an absurd belief of many politicians in our countrytoday

Lord Randolph Spencer Churchill,however,declared a more sensible aphorism: ‘’The duty of an Opposition is to oppose sensibly and logically.’’

O p p o s i t i o n responsibility is oftentimes neglected and over-looked. Opposition parties are

placed in an irresponsibility frame - a frame our Opposition is very fond of, considering the absolute buffoonery that is taking p l a c e , a n d t h e embarrassment they are puttingusthrough.

The purpose of an Opposition is not only to be the minority that lost the election,butratheraconcept of the people, for the people to represent the people by suggesting, recommending and cooperating with the government to develop the country

In 2008–2011 of Spain’s legislature, Zapatero government was under increasing pressure because of the policy measures needed to be implemented f o l l o w i n g E U recommendations.

In this circumstance, the main Opposition party, the conservative Popular Party (PP), united and delivered responsible behaviour showing less opposition to initiatives, because most policy decisions of the governmentwereinline

(Continuedonpage6)

Kaieteur M@ilbox Kaieteur M@ilbox

Professionalizing the Police

DEAREDITOR,

The criticism of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) by the Opposition and Opposition elements, and c a l l s f o r t h e i r “professionalization”, has now become a standard feature of their political polemics.

Wehavebeencallingfor such professionalization since the 1990s, including representativeness and less authoritarian behaviour, but without any support from that quarter We welcome theirnewepiphany

We explained the inherentauthoritariannature ofourGPFonaccountofits model being the Irish Royal Constabulary (IRC) rather t h a n t h e L o n d o n Metropolitan Police (LMP) whenitwasformedin1839. The LRC, originally chosen as the model by local authorities in 1838, was discarded:itwastoocitizencentred. The IRC, on the other hand, was militarily centralized, heavily armed and ethnicized: it consisted mostly of Irish Protestants and English Officers, to ensure the imposition of o r d e r a g a i n s t t h e predominantly Catholic population. Its local mirrorimageGPFwasto“serveand protect” the colonial rulers againsttheGuyanesepeople. The authoritarian nature of theGPFissoembeddedinits culture that nothing other than a complete overhaul and institutionalisation of

new values will make any difference This is a thresholdnecessaryreform. On“representativeness”, in1993asingleactofracism bytheLMPwasnotallowed to be covered up by the authorities, as had been the norm, and led to an Inquiry in1999.Itpromptedamajor overhaul for racial “representativeness” of the British police as an integral a s p e c t o f t h e i r professionalisation. In that year, Race Equality Employment targets were introduced for their police forces These were now dubbed “Services”, as ours should be, to emphasise the turn away from using “force”.

Their overall national target was set at 7% and the

LMPat25%.Thefocuswas to aggressively pursue recruitment, retention and progression of minority ethnic officers and staff Initiatives varied from force toforcebutincludedtargeted advertising, mentoring, familiarisation days, open days and seminars directed at minority groups. Today, the national percentages of minorities are 8.1% and 16.3% for the LMPup from 2%and3%in1999.

In Guyana, because of intense pressure by the PPP during the 1960’s riotswhentheAfrican-dominated Police and Volunteer Forces had displayed ethnic partiality - the British had established an ethnically balanced Special Services Unit (SSU) in 1964. It was

disbanded in 1965 by the PNC. But as part of the British-imposed conditions for granting independence, a n I n t e r n a t i o n a l Commission of Jurists (ICJ) panel was deployed to investigate ethnic representativeness in the state institutions It recommended a 75% recruitment of Indians until t h e G P F b e c a m e representative of the population. After observing the stricture for a one year, the PNC reverted to the old pattern. While one could understand the PNC’s real politik’s rationale,the PPP’s stance after 1992 was very circumspect.

Ashton Chase, a founder of the PPP– and a perennial insider - speculated that the

party, “allowed these recommendations to go abegging for fear of being stigmatized as an ‘Indian’ party.”Afterriotsgreetedthe PPP’s electoral victory in 1992, the B O Adams Commission of Inquiry recommended that “the Police Force be more ethnically balanced and that the Government have a riot responseplantocontainany futurerecurrence.”

Whatever the reasons, the contradictions arising from de-professionalised, imbalanced forces did not disappear: violence rose to unprecedentedheights–and unexpected breadth – after

1998. In 2003, under direct Constitutional mandate, a Disciplined Forces Commission (DFC) took submissions across the country on how to professionalise the Forces. They submitted their recommendationsin2004to Parliament.

On the matter of ethnic representativeness they d e c l a r e d : “ T h e Commission…isoftheview that the allaying of ethnic security fears which stems from the predominance of Afro-Guyanese presence in t h e G P F m u s t b e addressed…buttoensure,in (Continuedonpage6)

2019 interview exposes Jagdeo’s promise to renegotiate lopsided Stabroek Block deal

Formorethantwoyears, Vice President (VP) Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has condemned every voice that dared to remind him of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) government’s promise to renegotiate the lopsided Stabroek Block contract He out rightly rejected the notion that the party ever made such utterances.A2019interview which recently surfaced has exposed the VP as committing to change the lopsidedarrangement.

The interview in question was recorded on 94.1FM. Jagdeo was at the time, serving in the capacity asOppositionLeader

Here is an excerpt of what the politician had to say: “Theysoldusouttothe foreigners- the oil companies.Everytimethere is a find there, our people should be sad because nothing comes our way. We are going to renegotiate those contracts because that’s not what we had in mind. When we were in the early days we were coaxing thepeople(ExxonMobiland partners) to go along. They (APNU+AFC) came into office (and met) 3 billion barrels of proven reserves and then gave up zero royalty, no taxes, no ringfencing, no local content for these people to spend any

moneyhere.”

He continued: “Paying our people GY$72,000 a month when the foreigner is getting US$10,000. Bringing water from California to drink here. We are paying for all that. Landscaping they wanna contract it to a company coming from abroad and the Trinidadians and others are just walking in not only in the oil sector but they are getting all the prime lands too… So that is why I got back into politics. I’m not preparedtoseethishappen,I have no desire to be President again.” Since its releasetothepublicin2016, manystakeholdershavesaid that the Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) has some of the world’s most unusual provisions when compared to what is accepted as best practices To understand how deeply flawed the document is, Kaieteur News in 2019 also, did an extensive review of 130 PSAs.

Itturnsoutthatoutof130

PSAs this newspaper examined; Guyana’s is in a class by itself. It is the only countrythathasmorethana dozen odd provisions all in one place. For example, the PSA sees the government paying the contractor’s income tax out of the country’sshareoftheprofits. However, none of the 130 PSAs examined shows this arrangement Further, Guyana’s PSA is the only one out of 130, which has very moderate work obligations for contractors whoarevestedwithoffshore licenses. Additionally, the Guyana-ExxonMobilPSAis the only one out of 130 contracts,whichhasnoringfencing provisions to p r e v e n t c o s t s o f unsuccessful wells being carried over to that of successfulwells.

There is also no sliding scale for royalty to increase

asproductionimproves. And that is not all Guyana’s PSA is the only one out of 130 that allows insurance premiums to be fully recovered as well as interest on loans and

financing costs that are incurredbythecontractors. In spite of being well aware of the foregoing, the PPPC administration has maintained that the contract willbepreservedasis.

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Professionalizing the...

Frompage5 so doing, that no similar insecurityfearsarecausedin the Afro-Guyanese community.” AsROARhad proposed in its submission, the DFC recommended, “It should be an aim (of the GPF) to achieve a Force representative of the ethnic diversity of the nation

without employing a quota system ” The DFC also recommended that, as had the British in this area:

“Ethnically diverse recruitment and promotion panels be employed as openly and extensively as possible.”

The DFC’s Report was unanimously approved by

Parliamentin2010andsince the Opposition is now concerned about the GPF’s performance perhaps they would now support the government in establishing itsrepresentativenessaspart o f t h e i r n e e d e d professionalism.

Sincerely,

RaviDev

Oppositionpartiesplayan...

Frompage4 withtheirpolicypreferences. Critiques claim that we ‘expect’ too much from the Opposition by placing the burden of responsibility on them.Indeed!

We are expecting a lot from them! They are not there to make a mockery of our country, to incite hate, racism and islamophobia or block laws regarding the environmental care of our communities. They are not t h e r e t o s p r e a d disinformation and hatred. Their responsibility should be to oppose decisions that would be disastrous or damaging to Guyana; and proposingenhancedideas. Opposition parties play an important role in democracy.InNepal,Nepali Congress is the main opposition party. Congress are raising their voices at certain policies to make the

government accountable meanwhile monitoring the government’s activities e f f e c t i v e l y a n d professionally

Democracy is a battle of ideas, one that depends on treating opponents as legitimate adversaries not treasonousenemies.

An unbalanced system lacks stability

Excessive centralization of power, control, eroding public trust in the institutions of governanceandreducingthe effectiveness of the government puts that stability at risk. Sadly, that describes the state of our oppositiontoday

The good news is that renewal is possible and does not require a complex solution.Whatit takes is the will and commitment of the Opposition to eschew excessivecentralization,and instead, embrace the values

and balance of our system, putforwardinnovativeideas, professionally and sensibly settle an issue, put personal biasesandopinionsasideand putALLcitizens at the forefront of their decisionmakingprocesses.

A smart, competitive Opposition pushes the government to do better, rethink its actions and keep its competitive edge to win the next elections. Democracy requires representative and effective institutions and demands respect for the rule oflaw

It requires a professional and effective public service and is nurtured by an independent and diverse media. It is anchored by an informed and involved citizenryandbalancedwitha robustOpposition.

Respectfully,

NazarMohamed Businessman

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo

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So why PresidentAli and VPJagdeo not calling Exxon back to the table?

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Exxon Contract has room for renegotiation

Exxon's 5 project could cost more than US$12.7B

ExxonMobil Corporation

confirmed last month that its Uaru project in the Stabroek Block is projected to cost a whopping US$12.7B. The eye-popping estimate recently caught the attention of shareholders for Hess Corporation which is a 30 percent partner in the block.

During Hess' earnings call for the fourth quarter of 2022, Hess officials faced questions on the impacts of the high project cost. Shareholders asked what percentage of the cost was due to inflation. They also sought to learn whether this was the final figure and whether this can be considered the baseline for similar projects in thefuture.

Hess' Chief Operating Officer (COO), Greg Hill did not answer most of the questions. He was keen to note however that the US$12.7 billion is consistent with the estimate that the operator of the block (Exxon's subsidiary—Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited) submitted as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to the Government of Guyana Hill cautioned that the cost is going to

be finalized as the project progresses.

“Once we sanction it, we will give the final details. But in any case, the final cost of Uaru reflects a couple of things. It reflects current market conditions and then alsoadditionalscope.Oneexample is, is the Subsea Umbilicals, Risers and Flowlines (SURF) is twice as big as (those ordered for the) Yellowtail project, for example,” Hillsaid.

He noted that the SURF equipment needed is way more than those ordered for the YellowtailProjectsinceitconnects a number of reservoir systems that are further away from each other Hilladded,“Butwewillgiveyoua finalcolouronthatoncetheproject isfinallysanctioned.”

To temper the concerns raised about the cost of the Uaru Project, HessCorporation'sCEOJohnHess was keen to remind about the incredibleeconomicsoftheproject due to the fact that it is tied to the 2016 Stabroek Block Production SharingAgreement(PSA).

That contract, as he has noted on several occasions, allow for fast recovery of oil expenses. It is also without any ring-fencing

- Hess tells shareholders not to worry, Stabroek Block contract & sweet crude will be shareholders' saving grace

provision. This gives Hess and partners the freedom to use revenuesmadefromtheLizaPhase One and Two Projects to develop others.

Hess said, “What's also important is Uaru still offers some of the best returns in the industry So even though there is cost inflation with the resource we're developing, the fact that it's low cost,lowcarbon,itstillofferssome ofthebestreturnsintheindustry.”

Hess officials noted that while the project is 30 percent larger than the Yellowtail in size and costs are projectedtobehigher,thenatureof Guyana, that is to say its sweet oil as well as its favourable contract terms, will ensure the companies canrideanystormthatcomes.

Kaieteur News previously reported that the Uaru Development Project will tie in discoveries at the Uaru, Mako and Snoek oil-rich fields with the potential to develop other resourceswithintheLicencearea.

A preliminary schedule anticipates that FPSO and other fabrication and installation works will begin in 2024 following the completionofengineeringandwill (Continued on page 9)

Map showing the location of Exxon's 5th project

Suggesting rice and gold sectors are in crisis is a fear-mongering tactic

The suggestion that rice and gold are sectors that are in crisis is a fear-mongering tactic While gold experienced contraction last year, the challenges are explainable and resolvable and do not amount to a chronicdecline.

As the Minister of Finance explained, rice production expanded in 2021eventhoughtherewere the lingering effects on the sector caused by the 2021 floods. It is estimated that rice production and productivity increased in 2022 relative to 2021. And that growth appears to be impressive, averaging more than 8%, a feat considering the steep hike in fuel and fertilizerscosts.

Riceexportsnettedsome US$185M in 2022 The introductionofnewvarieties has yielded an increase of

40% in yields, which ought to compensate for the increased input costs. And withanewmarketopenedin Lebanon, it can hardly be claimedthatthericesectoris incrisis.

The plans announced by the Minister of Finance for the rice sector do not approximate to recovery plans but rather to efforts to boost productivity and improve crop resilience These plans include investing G$300M to improve production, yields and to expand drying facilities, develop new varieties and secure additionalmarkets.

Thereisnodoubtthatthe conflict between Russia and Ukraine has led to a steep increase in the price of fertilizers And this has increased production costs. But with the continued

bottlenecks to trade in other grains, the price which rice fetches on the world market is expected to increase in 2023, thereby compensating for the increase in input costs, including that of fuel andfertilizers.

Thisisnottosuggestthat everythingisrosyinthelocal rice sector Persons who are plantingsmallacreages,less than 10 acres, are not likely to do well in 2023. In fact, some of them have not gone back to crop because of the riseinthepriceoffertilizers andtheeffectsofpaddybug infestation. It is therefore naïve for anyone to believe that rice farmers will do better by planting smaller acreages The small cultivation cannot be profitableinthisdayandage and should have long been phasedout.

All of these facts

Exxon's 5th project could cost...

Frompage9 take approximately three years Development well drilling may also occur during this period Production operations are expected to begin in 2027 andwillcontinueforatleast 20years.

With respect to the

Environmental Impact

Assessment states that oil production will average at 250,000 barrels of oil per day It was keen to note that peak rates may be higher during the lifetime of the project, depending on multiple factors such as reservoir pressure, number of wells, equipment

reliability etc. It states at page146,

“Currently, the FPSO basic design has an upper production limit of 263,000 BPD (42,080 m3) peak oil productionrate.

For the purposes of the EIA, production up to 300,000bpdisconsideredto assess potential impacts from the project and cover potential production optimization after facility startup. If during the detailed design stage or during production operations an opportunity to expand the upper production limit arises, the project will documenttheevaluationand

Dem Boys Seh...

justification and an updated upper production limit will beavailable.”

Itwasalsonotedthatthe project will be producing 540 million standard cubic feetofgasperday

During long-term production operations, the in-country, direct offshore workforce will peak at around 100 to 160 people during periods of higher maintenance activity and during offloading of an FPSO.

The EIA also states that during periods of regular operations, the workforce requirement on an FPSO is estimated to be on the order of90to100people.

Doctorates giving away!

Istraditionofsomeuniversitiestohand out honorary doctorates to esteemed individuals!DeUniversityofdeWestIndies didgiveonetoBrianLaraafewyearsago. AndoneofdemuniversitiesinIndiaconfer PresidentAliwithadoctoratelastmonth.

UGdecidefuhjoindedebandwagon.At its last Convocation it give out a few honoray doctorates. Dem boys nah envy anybodywahgetdemdegree.

But deh gat something dat bothering demboys.Howmuchdoctoralprogrammes UG does offer Dem boys can’t remember reading about UG graduating any PHD graduates in recent times. Dem boys know about dem wah study medicine does be called“doctor.”

Sohowcanauniversitywhichdoesnot offer many PHD programmes, if any at all, conferhonorydoctorates?Justasking!

InAmerica dem gat people with PHDs selling at fast food joints. De question dem doesgatfuhanswerdemostis,“CanIhave ketchupwiththat?”

Itreminddemboysaboutdestoryofde scientist and de drunk man wah sitting in a baraboutdecoronavirus.

The drunk man tell de scientist, “You justtryingfuhscarepeople.Youdon’tknow anything.”

The scientist replies, “I’m a scientist! I’mpaidtoknowthesethings.IhaveaPhD andeverything!”

The drunk slurs back, “Well I have a DhD.

The scientist says, exasperated, “What thehellisaDhD?”

The drunk replies, “You’re some doc if youdon’tknowwhataDHDis!” Talkhalf.Leffhalf!

however will not deter the naysayers in the Stabroek News An editorial in yesterday’seditionsoughtto suggestthatricemaybeinas poor shape as sugar The Stabroek News sought to arrive at this position by interviewing a few small farmerswithoutundertaking a proper assessment of the overall sector Its conclusions represent gross exaggeration and hysteria. An 8% growth is not an insignificant increase in output.

Rice production, in fact, shouldbeexpandedutilizing abandoned sugar lands There are limited properly drained and irrigated lands available at present for expanding rice production. Andifgovernmentiskeento expand the output of rice, it ought to be looking at converting unused cane landsintoriceproduction.

The government has ambitious plans to expand grain production, including rice. Rice production is expected to reach almost 850,000tonnesbytheendof 2025.

This however would require expanding cultivation for which new lands will be needed; this target cannot be reached by merelyincreasingyields.

There are obviously problems in the sector Drainage is one of these. Reducing the fees for land leases for farmers without increasing drainage fees is not going to assist. Farmers who are making money in the sector – and many of them, despite their whining –are filthy rich – must pay more for drainage fees. The APNU+AFC went about increasing fees in a rash mannerbutthereisaneedfor cost recovery for drainage andirrigationservices.

GUSUCO should undertake to import fertilizersinbulkfortherice industry and to rent out machinery for field cultivation. This can be part oftheeffortstodiversifythe sugar corporation’s activities. It is possible for farmers to enjoy cheaper costsforfertilizersandspend less on renting machinery from other farmers, if the

same services can be providedcompetitivelyfrom thesugarcompany

Thericeindustrycannot be modernized while feudal relationsstillexist.Thereare stilltoomanypersonswhose lands are being worked by othersforafeewhilemaking little or no investment in improvingthelands.

Feudal relations exist outsideoflandrentals.Many ricefarmersareforcedtosell to particular rice millers since they take monies from these millers for cultivation and reaping There is therefore room for modernizingriceproduction and to include reforms to financingriceoperationsand landuse.Unlessthishappens no amount of investment by thegovernmentwillprovide securityforricecultivation.

(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.)

Exxon shipbuilder looking

pets, find living quarters, set up bank accounts for Guyanese to help expats move around

SB M O f f s h o r e ' s subsidiary, Guyana Deep Water Operations Inc (GDO) recently issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking to understand the extent of in-country capabilities for the provision of internationalmobilityservices.

GDO which is also the operator of Guyana's two oil ships, the Liza Destiny and Liza Unity floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels, said the mobility serviceswillbeforitsexpatriatesin every aspect of their relocation to Guyana.

The document said: “It is expected from bidders to demonstratethecapacitytoexecute all services related to assisting expats and families to relocate to Guyana and provide services as per the below areas: Airport pick-up / Orientation / Assistance in moving p e t s a c r o s s c o u n t r i e s (Documentation) / Educational

a s s i s t a n c e ( S c h o o l recommendations) / House hunting and Reviews / Short-term living quarters / Settle in assistance / Lease contract support (Issuance and Renewal) / 24hr Support Assistance / Expat house

management assistance / Bank account set-up support / Local documentation issuance support / Logistic assistance (shipping and handling of personal items) / StorageFacility.”

Itadded,“Theabovearethekey areas..., we can add to the scope if deemednecessaryasitrelatestothe service.”

GDO said the RFI has several objectives. Expounding on this front, it said the company may use responses from participants to validate and further develop the company's recommendations for the Request for Quotation (RFQ) forInternationalMobilityServices.

It said too that the RFI process allowsittoseekinputanddevelopa list of qualified bidders before structured bid rules take effect. Additionally, GDO said the RFI process provides participants with an opportunity to begin developing responses to some of the potential requirementsiftheyareselectedfor theRFQ.

Finally, depending on responses from participants, the company said it may unbundle the services described in this RFI and in a future RFQ (Request For

Quotation) into several enabling agreements that may be awarded to morethanonebidder

Furthermore, the SBM subsidiary said Guyanese content developmentisthekeyfactortothe successofitsoperation,addingthat it is committed to establishing Guyanese partnerships and developingGuyanesecontent.

In keeping with this business philosophy, SBM said companies answering the RFI will have to present their involvement for the

Guyana community and/or any involvement in sustainability projectsordevelopmentincountry

According to GDO's 2021 financials, its principal activity is the operation and maintenance of theLizaDestinyandLizaUnity T h e o p e r a t i o n s a n d maintenance for Liza Destiny started December 19, 2019, w h e n a c e r t i f i c a t e o f production was issued by its c l i e n t , E x x o n M o b i l subsidiary Esso Exploration

and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL).

In December 2018, the company signed a Readiness for Operations (RFO) contract with Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited for the FPSO Liza Unity

T h e o p e r a t i o n s a n d maintenance contract for the Liza Unity kicked in following first oil inFebruary

I n t e r m s o f f u t u r e developments, the SBM affiliate said operations continue to experience strong growth, both offshoreandonshore.

It said preparations are also ongoing for the arrival of the FPSO Prosperity in 2023 and FPSO for theYellowtail development project in 2025 for which the operations and maintenance contract award is subject to necessary government approvalsandfinalworkordertobe receivedfromtheclient.

The company said it continues to expand and embed its presence in-country with the opening of new purpose-built operational headquarters including an Integrated Operation Centre for offshoreunits.

Nothing has really changed from Cold War days. The old line Soviets (Putin)arestillatit,onlythis time, it is on their own extended soil, as in the periphery,meaningUkraine. But, so that nobody gets the ideathatAmericaandBand C and E are given a pass, I say: perish the thought Let’s take a grassroots look, conduct a poor man’s analysis. In Ukraine’s Zelensky, America and Europe have found their local superstar. He is adept at keeping the war on the front pages of the press, and before the television cameras.Hedoessowhilehe milks ABC&E, and they all return the favor by making thebestuseofhimtostickit

Proxy wars – Keep fires burning, people divided

to Vladimir, upturn his cart. Getthisstraight,Idon’thave muchuseforComradePutin, but I can see through what the West is doing near the Urals and Steppes: tanks, missiles, and more to keep the fires burning The Caucasians are sabotaging the Slavs under the long shadow the Caucasus mountains Democracy under duress, rallying and extending a helping hand necessary Why? Russia probably has more oil than anybody else, including SaudiArabiaandVenezuela. Despitesignificantadvances with renewables, oil is still king for the foreseeable future,asIseeit. Whocares if the world burns up; or some poor people

experience droughts, floods, poverty,andstarvation? The world is suffering from a population crisis anyway RememberThomasMalthus and his food wisdoms. The point is that Russian oilknown and undiscovered-is a prize that is not just tempting, but irresistibly so. TheonlyspoilerisVladimir, who has these ideas about motherland and national patrimony, which reminds me of a Guyanese by the Guyanese, Cheddi Jagan, (Burnham also). When the former rolled out his program,hisgoosewasfried and devoured. And when Burnham launched his business about the commanding heights of the economy, the State

Department decided he had outlived his usefulness. It was just business, like how the business of ITT, Pepsi Cola, and United Fruit took precedenceovertherightsof the people of Chile and Guatemala.

Looking East, things got outofhandwithPutinatthe helm, and Exxon and Chevron had to retreat. I recallthatShellandBPhada piece of the action; maybe still do. Enter Zelensky, in what is now recognized far and wide as a proxy war for Western objectives. I admit tofrightbecausethatmanin theKremlinhashishandson thetrigger,andsometimeshe doesn’t look toohappy or settled. Corner Putin, bring himtoheel,andpavetheway foroilcompaniestoreturnin triumph. The good guys

By GHK Lall

win,democracyprevailsand everybody live happily ever after Itisthecapitalistway, theAmericanway I do a long, slow turn from Europe to Guyana. In Guyana, America has its local Zelensky in the twin personages of PresidentAli,

andtheHon.VicePresident. Don’tforgetoil.

The President has fallen in love with the American Way, while the impeccable VicePresidentclearstheway for Exxon. The Americans talk from two sides of their mouth. Ambassador Lynch speaks of inclusion, while Exxon’s people light a fire under Guyana’s leadership tagteamtokeepthings,asis. Rigging and riggers will do thetrick. Toelaborate,keep the people divided and distracted, so as to facilitate Exxon, Hess, and the Orientals enriching themselves at our expense. Why worry about backward natives fighting among themselves about Local Content,themagnificenceof numerous reforms under the Attorney General’s wily craftsmanship, and equity in thesharingoftheoilpie?

Put them (craven leaders) to fight America’s proxy wars, whileAmerican interests flourish It is Zelensky again; the Americans are gifted in latching on to those who would do their barbaric handiwork They had Forbes Burnham, now they have two remarkable Guyanese leaders, only too happy to jump to their bidding, execute their visions. Itisadifferentkind of outsourcing. In fairness, ifthePNCwasinpower,my conclusion is that Guyanese would have been similarly sold up the creek, only in a less crude, possibly less primitive manner Ukraine and Zelensky wage war for nationhood, democratic ideals and processes, i n c l u d i n g s e l fdetermination. Well,atleast on paper In Guyana, it is about elections, democracy, free and fair, and human rights. I am not hearing a peepaboutoilrights,orwhat is free and fair about our oil wealth Perhaps, Her Excellency would get around to saying a word on thatscore. Didsomeonesay private business? If Local Government Elections is on thetableforforeigners,how come Exxon’s crimes are not? It is why we hear endlessly about rigging and riggers,amidthetomfoolery and hypocrisy of ‘One Guyana ’ Exxon strips Guyana, the PPP flips Guyanesethebird.

(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.)

Exxon in race to unlock another 10 billion barrels of oil before giving up 20% of acreage in 2026

Having unlocked 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent resources in the StabroekBlock,ExxonMobil Corporation has a better understanding of where the sweet spots lie. So improved is its knowledge of the block that the American oil company has said on several occasions that the resource found could be doubled. The big question is: Will it have enoughtimetodoit?

This multi-billion dollar question recently raised its head during the 2022 fourthquarter earnings for Hess Corporation. Its shareholders wanted to know the game plan for doubling the resource before having to relinquish a portion of the blockinthreeyears'time.

Chief Executive Officer, JohnHessacknowledgedthat Exxon and its partners are well aware that they do not haveallthetimeintheworld. He was keen to note that the partners still see multibillion barrels of exploration potential remaining on the block.

Hess said, “We are still in

the early innings of defining thedeeperpotential,butthere is definitely multibillion barrels potential remaining. And to get after that, that's why ExxonMobil is doing an excellent job developing this block. It has a six-rig programme. Three of them are for development activities and three really are for exploration and appraisal.”

Hess added, “So, we are going to continue to have a very active exploration appraisal programme this yearandfutureyearstomake sure we capture all the highvalue resources that we think areontheblock.”

Shareholders then challenged Hess to say definitivelyifthereisenough timetounlocktheresourceor if an extension would be secured to allow for further exploration works to continue.

Hess was keen to note that there is no extension in play Hesaid,“Thereasonwe are doing the exploration and appraisalprogrammeistoget aheadofthattomakesurewe

capture all the resources that we can, and we work closely with our joint venture led by ExxonMobil and the governmenttodothat.”

Since 2016, industry stakeholders have criticized t h e r e l i n q u i s h m e n t provisions in the Stabroek Blockwhichtheyposited,are lopsided and not in keeping withindustrystandards.

Attorney-at-Law and Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram in a previous interview with Kaieteur News had pointed out that both the Coalition and the People's Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C)

Governments utilised a loophole in the Petroleum Act that allows the minister to alter the size of a block to

berelinquished.Asaresultof this, he said Exxon only has torelinquish20percentofthe blockinsteadof75percentin normalsituations.

He was keen to note that the first person to utilise this loophole was Janet Jagan in the 1999 Pre-discovery Agreement which was then made worse under the 2012 model Agreement produced

during the time of former President, Donald Ramotar and former Natural Resources Minister, Robert Persaud.

But, the Chartered Accountant reserved his disgust for the David Granger regime which had renegotiated the agreement in 2016 and did nothing to correctthisflaw Ram had expressed the fear that with little oversight a n d u n d i s c l o s e d arrangements between ExxonMobil and the Government, the block can be subject to any form of machination via production licences In the meantime, ExxonMobil and its joint venture partners are pushing for more explorations licences so that by the time the first relinquishment is due, the 20% to be given up would be of a considerably reduced portion of the StabroekBlock.

To date, ExxonMobil has made over 32 discoveries in the Stabroek Block Ten more are planned for this year

Map showing the location of the Stabroek Block

Stabroek Block

Guyana

Atlantic Ocean

Sunday – Jan 29, 2023

providetheAfricannationof more than 200 million

World ganging up to take people with more loans due advantage of Guyana’s to rampant corruption by wealth politicians.

...But country’s leaders

Be that as it may, the are asleep at the wheel; N a t u r a l R e s o u r c e conversation in our Governance Institute country must change (NRGI) which is closely – KN Publisher following the crisis in Nigeria opined in one of its

Followinghisattendance analyticalpiecesthatoil-rich at Trinidad and Tobago’s countries such as Nigeria recently concluded energy have clearly found conference, Kaieteur News themselves stuck between Publisher, Glenn Lall said the “rock” of economic ruin one of his key observations and the “hot place” of wasthelevelofconversation environmentalcatastrophe. among global industry

But NRGI, one of the leaders on how they can world’s leading non-profit capitalize on Guyana’s oil organisations in improving resources. presenters at Trinidad’s Parliament (MP) and former government has been years, this glimmering countries’ governance over B u t w h a t h a s energyconferencenotedthat Minister of Public Health, borrowing to finance them picture of marvelous their natural resources, disappointed him the most, the Region needs US$11B to Volda Lawrence. On Friday despite earning over US$1B economic management was firmly believes that all is not however, is that the same reach its renewable energy afternoon in the National in the oil account for last unexpectedly obliterated lost for Nigeria. It posits that level of discussion does not targets. The president also Assembly, Lawrence took year Delivering his budget Ghana moved from riding a the future of Nigeria lies in obtain at the level of said that no stakeholder or thestageofferinganin-depth presentation, Dr. Singh wave of meteoric growth to weaning itself off of fossil government. agency is saying where financial review of the 2023 sought to allay the fears of now wallowing in the abyss fuels and preparing its

Lall said, “Everything vulnerable CARICOM Budget. Guyanese by claiming that of indebtedness. From 2019 economy for the energy you heard at the conference states will find the financing Of concern to the MP is G o v e r n m e n t h a s to 2022, the country that was transition that is taking place was about what Guyana is to forthis. the fact that Guyana’s public “maintained its long- oncepairedwithGuyanaasa theworldover the region and the L a l l e x p r e s s e d debt rose by 16.9% in 2022, standing practice of prudent model state on good The Institute was keen to world…Yes, the world is disappointment with this reaching US$3,654 9 debtmanagement.” governance is now a lesson note that some countries ganging up, conversing, and type of thinking that alludes million. She told the House, He argued that Guyana ontheperilsoftheoilcurse. which are rich in oil are planning for our wealth, and to borrowing loans as he “Sir, the government’s continues to enjoy strong International media already headed in the wrong what are the owners of this stressed, “The conversation eschewing the use of the d e b t s u s t a i n a b i l i t y reports released in direction. In this regard, it wealthconversingabout…? in this country needs to burgeoning natural resource fundamentals, “even as we December 2022 said Ghana notedthatpoliticiansinsome

“The conversation and change. We must make use funds, in preference to expand investments in is in such a worrying state of countries are intent on gyaff across this country is of our own resources, get the borrowing from any and all public infrastructure, social debt distress, that it has been proving that their country about what people will cook best value for it and fund our sources, on the assumption services and other initiatives forced to suspend payments can become a world-class today, who wearing what, needs Our leaders are that oil prices will remain geared at ensuring improved on most of its external debt. profit-making machine, just who goes where, who deh clearlyasleepatthewheel.” high, thus allowing easy standards of living for all In fact, its Finance Ministry as international oil with who man, and who deh The KN News Publisher repayment of loans taken Guyanese This delicate said it will not service companies did in the 20th with who woman. That’s implored citizens to take today,isfallingintothesame balancing act hinges on our selected external debts century It warned however, what some of our peopletalk charge of their destiny and trap as did Ghana and time-honoured debt including its Eurobonds, such lofty dreams come at a about daily,” the Kaieteur start changing the national Nigeria,forexample.” management strategy of commercial loans and most price. NewsPublishersaid. conversation.

Lawrence pointed out contracting development bilateralloans. NRGI said, “The

But while some are busy He said, “the begging that external public has financing and meeting debt Ghana’s Ministry said, difficulty of navigating gossiping and making plans bowlmentalitymustcometo grown steadily since the service obligations at the “Ghana is today faced with transition is hardly exclusive to empty their pockets at the an end. Let this conversation People’s Progressive Party lowest cost, within prudent major economic and toNigeria…FromMexicoto latest nightclubs, Lall said be with your neighbours, (PPP) took office in August riskparameters.” financial crisis and its Mongolia, from Ghana to the world is plotting, with your friends, with your 2020. The figure ballooned Lessons from Ghana attendant social challenges. Guyana, governments must planning,and‘gyaffing’how workmates, let it be in the from US$1.321 billion in Kaieteur News reported In2020and2021,theCovid- address the unknown future to take advantage of the minibuses, let it be at every 2020 to a projected that oil-rich Ghana was 19 pandemic negatively of energy markets. As the country’sresources. roadcorner,everysparetime US$2.146 billion in 2023, or dubbed fastest growing impacted our fiscal and world recovers from the Lall even referenced a you have… For too late, too 62%sheflagged. economy on earth in 2019, economic situation. Global pandemic and continues to previous Kaieteur News lateshallbethecry.”

The former Minister but now that African nation risk aversion triggered large transition toward renewable publication where Hess explained, “The country’s isdrowningindebt. capital outflows, a loss of energy, city skies may Corporation was boasting Guyana is falling into the exposure has swung from The glory days of external market access and remain relatively clear But about finding more oil at the debt trap like Ghana and borrowing from multilateral Ghana’s offshore oil rising domestic borrowing how resource-producing Stabroek Block’s Fangtooth Nigeria – Volda Lawrence financial institutions – operations can be traced costs.” countriesmanagethedecline SE1 well, drilled 18,000 feet …says nation dangerously principally the Inter- back to December 2010.The Nigeria drowning in debt in fossil fuels is critical, deep. The oil company told exposed to crisis American Development West African nation began Similarly, after more especially after the shock of its shareholders that more Bank-tobilateralcountries.” pumping oil from its first than six decades producing the economic and health mega profits await them, As Guyana continues to Assuch,shenoted,“Any commercial discovery in its oil, Nigeria, thanks to the crisis.” adding now is the time to earn more revenue from the collapse in oil prices Mr Jubilee Field Those decisions of its politicians, is GRIPPED BY invest further in the world production of its newfound Speaker, will leave the operations delivered US$1B drowning in US$108B of CORRUPTION class resources in the oil wealth, the country has country dangerously in earnings annually to the debt. WhileNigeriamaybethe StabroekBlock. also scaled up its borrowing exposed to situations not State. But in order to survive largest oil producer of oil in

The Kaieteur News from multilateral and unlike what happened to Sri Nine years later (in the dreaded COVID-19 Africa,industryexpertshave Publisher said that President bilateral partners to fund LankaandUganda.” 2019), Ghana was dubbed to pandemic, Africa’s biggest said that the wanton misuse IrfaanAli, instead of driving various development Finance Minister, Dr have the fastest-growing oil producer needs US$11B ofitsresourcesisresponsible a conversation on how he projectsandinitiatives. Ashni Singh during the economy It was also praised in fresh loans from financial for where it is today. and his government will get This stance however presentation of Budget 2023 for the steps it took to institutions such as the According to the World more value from the lands the nation in a announced that the country’s improvetheregulationofthe InternationalMonetaryFund Bank’sstatisticspublishedin Stabroek Block resources dangerous trap, quite similar total public debt stood at industry In fact, Ghana was and the World Bank to 2020, 80% of Nigeria’s through renegotiation, to the one that ensnared oil- US$3,654.9Manincreaseby seen as a champion of purchase basic medical and energyrevenuesonlybenefit choosestofocusonaccessto producing states like Nigeria 16.9percentfromlastyear growth for other nations foodsupplies. one percent of the loans. andGhana. Almost all of its recently within the continent and In 2021, this newspaper population.

He recalled that the Sounding this warning a n n o u n c e d p u b l i c furtherafieldtofollow. reported that some financial Corruption was cited as Presidentwhowasoneofthe was Opposition Member of infrastructural projects But in a matter of three institutions are hesitant to (Continued on page 15)

From page 14

F i r e t r u c k s a n d comes out there – like last the main cause, with the net ambulances were sent to the year, it was US$607 million effect being widespread scene. While firefighters Budget support to the poverty battled the blaze Gray, government so we will have

Oxfam America, a Johnson and the four-year- t o a u d i t a l l t h o s e confederation of 19

old were rushed to the expenditures.”

independent charitable Georgetown Public Hospital Sharma was asked to organizations, has also been fortreatment. elaborate on how the team alarmed at the scale of

They were admitted to would be tracking this corruption in this African the burn care unit where spending since the People’s nation. In a special study it Johnsonlaterpassedaway Progressive Party (PPP) did on Nigeria, it was found

Firefighters were unable government has signaled that the combined wealth of to save their home from their intent to transfer funds Nigeria’s five richest men being destroyed, but from the NRF to the amounts to US$29 9

Investigators did learn that consolidated fund, thereby billion—more than enough the deadly blaze was caused blendingthevariousrevenue to end extreme poverty at a by an electrical fan that streams. This was a sore nationallevel. overheated. concern for transparency

Further computations by

“The purported cause of activists but the Auditor Oxfam also showed that the fire is an electrical fan General (AG) clarified that between 1960 and 2005, that overheated and ignited the Investment Committee about US$20 trillion was nearby combustible will be tasked with outlining stolen from the treasury by materials”, the Guyana Fire the projects funded by oil public office holders. This is Servicehadstated. money He explained: “If larger than the GDP of the you look at the various United States in 2012 (about Tuesday – Jan 31, 2023 committees that they US$18trillion). (government) set up, one of

As a result of the Special team to the committees that I think mistakes made with the oil in 2020 to 87.5% last year those of 2019 for the first account for almost 60 audit Govt.’s has been set up will andgasresources,57million andexpectedtomaintainthis time cannot be upheld to the percent of Gross Domestic spending of oil money determine how the money Nigerians lack safe water, veryhighsharein2023.” scrutiny of the Budget Product (GDP), clearly – Auditor General says will be spent, so you will over 130 million lack The former Public 2023’s predictions of falling o u t s t r i p p i n g t h e eight-member committee to have to check with the adequate sanitation, and the Health Minister reasoned commodity prices and likely contributions of the other be established by March committees at the BoG country has more than 10 that when merchandise globalrecession.” traditional sectors such as (Bank of Guyana) that is million children out of exports are compared to The Opposition MP said rice, sugar, bauxite, timber The Audit Office of overseeing the Natural school. 2019 when non-oil exports it is worrying that the andgold.Takingthislevelof Guyana will be boosting its Resource Fund. They would contributed to all the economy “could be so domination into account, capacity with a new eight- have that responsibility to

Monday – Jan 30, 2023 merchandise export receipts quickly caught in the jaws of along with the heightened member body this year say okay we are going to be of the country, oil exports theoilsector.”Asamatterof cost of living pressures, dedicated to conducting oil building x, y and z. So, in ‘Economy caught up in havecrowdedoutthenon-oil fact, she noted that this Jordan said the ‘Dutch andgasaudits. other words, this Committee the jaws of oil sector’- exports in a very dramatic unfolding situation “is as Disease’ phenomenon is Auditor General (AG), will say exactly how it was Volda Lawrence fashion. frighteningasthefragilityon alreadyinGuyana. Deodat Sharma told this spent. We would then check

To this end, Lawrence which the economy’s newspaperyesterdaythatthe to verify whatever they say …says Govt’s talk about noted, “So, for all the talk of transformation is being Boy, 8, killed after Committee is to be that the money was used for diversifying economy not spendingtoavoidthe‘Dutch undertaken.” house catches fire established by March. This that it went to the project working Disease’, all the talk of The Corporate Finance – Grandmother, special committee will be intended.”

Over the past two years, focusing on agriculture and Institute defines the ‘Dutch brother injured tasked with specific Secondly, the oil and gas Guyana’s key export achieving 25% reduction in Disease’ as a concept that functions according to the committeewillbeupdatinga commodity has been its new food import bill by 2025, the describes an economic Aneight-year-oldboyon report it conducted between found natural resource, oil. evidence indicates that the phenomenonwheretherapid Sunday died at a C 2019 and 2020 to assess Oil exports accounted for Government’s policies are developmentofonesectorof hospital while receivi Guyana’s preparedness to 41.1 percent of exportations having little to no effect on the economy (particularly treatment for burns respond to an oil spill. He in 2020 and jumped to as diversifyingtheeconomy.” n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e s ) received after the house he said this will be undertaken much as 87.5 percent in Shifting her attention to precipitates a decline in was in caught fire. The so that the country can 2022, thereby drowning out non-oil exports in 2019, other sectors. It is also often fire occurred on Friday know its present status in export earnings in the other Lawrence told the House c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y a last at Lot 873 South that regard. Thirdly, commercialsectors. that this figure stood at substantial appreciation of Cummings Lodge, East Sharma noted that the Flagging this issue was US$1.567 million. In 2022 the domestic currency Coast Demerara. His capacity of the eight Opposition Member of however, this dropped to ‘Dutch disease’ is a 7 5 - y e a r - y e a r –member team will be Parliament (MP), Volda US$1 425 million She paradoxical situation where grandmother, Lynette boosted so as to ensure Lawrence during her pointedoutthatGovernment good news for one sector of Gray, is still in a critical that Guyanese are contributions to Budget in its outlook for 2023 the economy, such as the conditionwhiletheboy’s conducting their own Debates on Friday She told projects that this would be discovery of natural four-year-old brother is audits to verify its share of theHousethatdevelopments increased to US$1 644 resources, results in a alsorecoveringfromminor profits from the offshore in the balance of payments million. negative impact on the burns. operations. mirror the performance in See table attached for country’soveralleconomy The dead boy w

According to him, the rest of the economy. It is statistics on performance of Several stakeholders identified as Jermaine Remember they have here thatLawrencemadethe non-oil sector These figures havewarnedGuyanathatthe Johnson. contacted an auditor to audit pointthat“Oildominatesthe makeitclearthatsince2019, nation may already be AccordingtotheGuyana out there what is happening AG. For instance, he noted export receipts of the earnings from non-oil gripped by the ‘Dutch Fire Service (GFS), their intermsoftheoil…wedon’t that the Auditor General’s country in an indecent merchandise exports have Disease’, even while the home caught fire at around know if we should get Office will be fine-tuning manner.” not been matched or administration continues to 02:43hrs while they and US$100 million or if we are spendingbytheGovernment She explained, “Sir it is surpassed. argue otherwise. Former other family members were supposed to get more and of Guyana from the nation’s instructive to note our Lawrence explained, “In Finance Minister, Winston sleeping. what is the procedure so Natural Resource Fund merchandise exports for 2019, such earnings were Jordan last August told The family of six woke that’s the part that the World (NRF)ortheoilaccount. 2019 was US$1.587 billion. US$1,567 million. But these Kaieteur News that one of up just in time to escape the BankAuditors are doing. So He said, “We are the Sir, since the first oil in declined in the next two thelatestreportsoftheInter- burning building but not wehavetobuildourcapacity auditors for the Natural December 2019, oil’s years, before recovering American Development before the eight-year-old also to understand what they Resource Fund so all the contribution to export slightly in 2022. The Bank (IDB) has projected J o h n s o n a n d h i s are doing and eventually we expenditurewhenthemoney earnings from merchandise projection that these that for 2022, Guyana’s oil grandmother were severely mighttakeoverthattypeof goes into the Natural hasrisensharplyfrom41.1% earningsin2023willsurpass and gas resources would burnt.

(Continued on page 16) Resource Fund and when it

Auditor General, Deodat Sharma

From page 15 audit also in the future.” Sharmasaidthatthisteamof auditors will be carrying out similar functions to the Oil and Gas committee employed by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). Hewaskeentopointoutthat his eight-member body already has engineers ready to verify the money government expended from the NRF for infrastructure and other projects. As it regardstheupdatedreporton Guyana’s preparedness for an oil spill, he said that this willtakesometime.

The new committee was announced on Monday during the consideration of Estimates for Budget 2023.

It was Opposition Member of parole after spending a violence. This violence that each for the gruesome of Parliament (MP) Volda minimum of 25 years in was meted out to a young murderofFaiyazNarinedatt Lawrence who followed up prison. man, who later died… they She said that though on an increase in wages for The men were found didn’t just beat him… they seven years have elapsed B i s r a m ’s b i r t h d a y whencomparedtoprofitsfor the Audit Office that led to guilty of murdering used pieces of wood which since her son’s death, “it celebration Narinedatt’s 2021totallingUS$23B. the disclosure by Minister of Narinedatt in November he [another witness] said pains me heart”. The grief body was found in close The oil giant was keen to Parliamentary Affairs and 2022 by a 12-member jury came from a fence…” the struck woman told the men proximitytoBisram’shome. note that shareholder Governance, Gail Teixeira. TheStatewasrepresentedby lawyertoldthecourt. that they should not have Bisram, a Guyanese- distributions were an eye“I note the revised figure for specialprosecutor,Latchmie Rahamat told the court, executed their plan while Americanhadreturnedtothe popping US$29 8 billion, 2022 is some $819,562,000 R a h a m a t a n d S t a t e “the attack was violent at the blaming them for the state United States shortly after including US$14.9 billion in as opposed to the 2023 prosecutor Nafeeza Baig time of infliction, they sheisin. the murder of Narinedatt but dividends and US$14 9 amount budgeted of T h e c o n v i c t s w e r e showed no concern when he “ I a m s o m e b o d y was later extradited to billion of share repurchases. $109,117,000. I am asking represented by Mursaline ranawayfromthemandthen differentandIdon’tlikewho Guyana and placed before Given the significant whatwouldbetheadditional BacchusandArudGossai. whenhefellinthetrenchand Iam.Mehatemyselfforwho the court for the Carpenter’s revenuesmade,Exxonsaidit categories of employees I Rahamat told the court was picked up and dragged I become, I am not the same murder increased and extended its assume would be added to that based on the evidence back, he was repeatedly person I use to be and ayuh He was subsequently s h a r e - r e p u r c h a s e the Audit Office and could presented, it was clear that beaten and the extent of the responsible for that,” the acquitted based on the lack programme with up to we know whether there is a there was pre-meditation by violence he faced from these mother told the men noting of evidence and was set free US$35 billion of cumulative special department that is those convicted. She argued five accused persons is that she is unable to trust in June 2020 However, share repurchases in 2023looking at oil and gas and recordedinthePMreport.” anyone. D i r e c t o r o f P u b l i c 2024. what are the diff

Dead: Faiyaz Narinedatt

The special prosecutor She continued: “…ayuh Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali- Following the news of portfolios therein,” the referenced Narinedatt’s post destroy my life, you just Hack had instructed that the record-breaking Partnership for National mortem report which listed destroy my life entirely I Bisram be recommitted to performance,DarrenWoods, Unity (APNU) M s cause of death as willneverbehappyagain,no stand trial for Narinedatt’s Chairman and Chief enquired Teixeira multiple fractures to the matter what me do. One son, murder Executive Officer said, “The pointed out that the skull with cerebral one child me had in my life Bisram, through his hard work and commitment r eas on for the damage, a fractured and ayuh know da.Ayuh, rip lawyers, appealed and ofourpeopleiswhatenabled increase was two- spine,arupturedspleen he life away from him,” she subsequently High Court us to deliver industryfold. In addition to and liver, a fractured said. Judge, Justice Simone leading operating and the across-the-board arm and pulmonary Meanwhile, Justice Morris-Ramlall ruled that financial results and eight percent salary contusion. Singh said based on the post his imprisonment was shareholderreturnsin2022.” i n c r e a s e , s h e She pleaded with mortem examination done unlawful and ordered his He added: “while our referencedthenewoil the court to institute the on Narinedatt, there is “clear release. That decision was results clearly benefited and gas committee for maximum sentence evidence of a brutal then overturned by the Court from a favourable market, theAuditOffice. since, “there are no beating”. The High Court ofAppealandBisrammoved the counter-cyclical itigating factors” judge said that “the injuries an appeal to the Caribbean investments we made before 66 years each for 5 men anwhile, Narinedatt’s are so numerous that even if CourtofJustice(CCJ)where and during the pandemic who killed Corentyne ther in an emotional you are angry with someone it was ordered that he be provided the energy and carpenter, Faiyaz dress to the court and got into a fight, at some released. products people needed as Narinedatt disclosedthatfourofthefive point in time where there is economies began recovering men convicted of the no response from the other Wednesday – Feb 1, 2023 and supplies became tight. The five men found heinous crime are known to person, you must want to We leaned in when others

that based on the evidence guilty of the 2016 murder of her family She said they stop beating, this is a brutal ExxonMobil nets record leanedout.”

presented by the main Berbice carpenter Faiyaz visited her home at No.72 beating.” breaking US$55.7B Woods said the plan for witness, Marcus Bisram Narinedatt last year, were on Village,Berbice. Justice Singh, just before profit in 2022 2023 calls for further instructed the men to beat Monday sentenced to 66 The distraught woman sentencingthemen,saidthat – foresees more multi- progress on strategic Narinedatt after he refused years imprisonment each by said that the men woke her after considering the men’s billion dollar revenues as objectives, which include Bisram’ssexualadvances. JusticeNavindraSingh. son from his sleep and statements, there are no production ramps up leading the industry in “…he refused them and Orlando Dickie called convinced Narinedatt to go mitigating circumstances offshore Guyana safety, operating, and then he slapped Bisram and ‘Rastaman’, Radesh Motie out to catch iguanas with that could be considered in financial performance. He then Chaman Chunilal said called ‘Rado’, Diodath Datt them. The woman said she their favour Between American oil giant, said Exxon will therefore he followed him through the called ‘Brukhand’, Harri had a bad feeling about the October31andNovember1, ExxonMobil Corporation continue to invest in its house to the front, where the

five accused persons were.

outing.

2016, Narinedatt of No.73 announced yesterday that it advantaged projects such as

‘Lloydy’ and Niran Yacoob

Orlando Dickie, Radesh Village, Corentyne, Berbice, made a jaw-dropping those in Guyana to not only

He heard instructions given called ‘Orin’ will spend 66 Motie, Diodath Datt, Harri wasfoundlifelessontheNo. US$12 8B in the fourth cashinonmorerevenuesbut to‘beatamtillhedead’.And years imprisonment for the Paul Parsram and Niran 70VillagePublicRoadhours quarter of 2022, bringing also to deliver profitable whenthoseinstructionswere gruesome murder of Yacoob have been sentenced a

earnings to US$55.7B. growth,helpmeetsociety’s given,hisevidencestartedto Narinedatt with a possibility to 66 years imprisonment

describe the level of

Orlando Dickie, Radesh Motie, Diodath Datt, Harri Paul Parsram and Niran Yacoob have been sentenced to 66 years imprisonment each for the gruesome murder of Faiyaz Narinedatt

CEO and Chairman of ExxonMobil Corporation, Darren Woods

Exxonnowneedsitsowndumpsite,Guyanatofootthebill

industrial waste disposal needs (nonhazardous, non-biodegradable), including construction waste and debris, in both the near term (one to three years) and long term (three-20years).

Other tasks and considerations to meet

these key elements would include the identification of potential sites for an industriallandfilldevelopment.EEPGLsaid this would include engagement with major stakeholderssuchastheEnvironmental Continued on page 55

With plans already in place to welcome ‘Prosperity’ Guyana’s third floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel ExxonMobil Corporation’s subsidiary,EssoExplorationandProduction GuyanaLimited(EEPGL)hasindicatedthat itwillneeditsowndumpsitetoensureproper wastemanagement.

Justlastweek,theExxonaffiliateissueda Request for Information (RFI) seeking to understand the number of suppliers capable and interested in conducting a screeninglevelstudyofindustriallandfillopportunities in Guyana. The study is intended to further develop EEPGL’s long-term waste managementstrategy

Atpresent,EEPGLsaidtheHaagsBosch Landfill(HBL)istheonlyengineeredlandfill inGuyanaforthedisposalofmunicipalsolid w a s t e a n d n o n - h a z a r d o u s commercial/industrialwaste.

Against this backdrop, EEPGL said considerationisbeinggiventoperforminga screening-level identification and assessment study of potential opportunities to develop a dedicated industrial waste disposal facility in Guyana for non-

biodegradable (no landfill gas), nonhazardouswasteonly

EEPGL said the main purpose of such a facility would be to support the growing wastedisposalneedsofitsoffshoreactivities. Identifiedopportunities,iffeasibleinlightof technical considerations, socioeconomic factors, cost, and required Government approvals, may potentially be funded by private investor(s) and may be privately operated,EEPGLsaidintheRFI.

Furthermore,EEPGLsaidsuppliersmust demonstratethattheyhavetheexpertiseand capacity necessary to provide a screeninglevelassessmentofcurrentandfuturelandfill opportunities for EEPGLindustrial waste in Guyana.

Itsaidkeyelementsofthescreening-level assessment would include: developing a succinct summary of the existing (current)landfill infrastructure in Guyana; and estimating future landfill disposal capacity needs for EEPGL’s industrial solid wastes(non-hazardous, nonbiodegradable)extending up to 20 years into thefuture.Itwouldalsoincludesummarizing optionsforaddressingtheestimatedEEPGL

FOCUS

Five vehiclechecksyoushouldperformbeforedriving

By Richard Francois

Ibetween.Ideally,theoillevel engine is cold before before driving off in a besurethatyourengineoilis 2. Raise and secure the should be at or near the checking the liquid in a fyoudriveacar,then vehiclein the morning.They at optimum levels it is bonnet, then locate the oil highest line, though radiator! it is important that are: important that you check it level dipstick (usually anywhere above the lower E: Electrics

driver must check every day stays in healthy motion. To thesump.

you read this article P: Petrol (includes Diesel) first thing in the morning yellow, orange or white), lineisstillOK. Always make time to and try to practice some if Before leaving home before driving. Try not to which is usually pretty easy If the oil level is close to check the lights on your not all of what is being always check the petrol wait for the oil light toseeandtoreach. or below the minimum vehicle to ensure that they discussed here today. As gauge of your car, to ensure

(lower) mark, you definitely are working. Check your longasyoudriveavehicle,it that you have enough fuel need to top up your oil right indicators and headlights, is essential that you check it to get you to you away. If the level is mid and if it is possible, please regularly to ensure that it is destination. way, then topping up your have someone help you in proper working condition, Nothing is more gine oil level is check your brake lights so as to avoid any embarrassing than

recommended to bring the Rememberwhendrivingitis inconveniencing break- havingyourvehiclerun oil level up to near the importantthatyouareableto downswhiledriving. out of fuel while maximum(higher)mark see properly and that others

You do not need to be a driving. So, ensure you to offer the best canseeyou. trained mechanic, there are check your petrol level. protection for your R: Rubber some basic tips that anyone Some literature eve engine. Always check your tires canfollowtocheckavehicle states that running yo

Importantly, even before driving. Ensure that before getting inside and vehicle for prolong if you only need to add a all tires are properly driving. periods on empty (when little oil, you must make pressurized and that you do

Regularly checking your gauge is on “E”) forces sure you add the correct nothaveanysoftorflattires. vehicle is vitally important engine to use the sediments viscosity and specification I hope the information to your safety and that of whichincludesthedirtystuf oil. sharedtodaywillhelpallyou your passengers.Conducting that settles at the bottom

W: Water drivers develop an acute a simple walk around check your gas tank This is An important check that sense of your vehicle’s on a vehicle before setting certainly not good for your you check your engine oil anduseacleanclothorpaper drivers should carry out functionality As mentioned off on a journey allows engine. Always ensure you levels. towel to wipe the end clean. before driving a vehicle is to earlier, you need not be a driverstospotandreportany have adequate petrol in your This is something Then replace it, making sure ensure that the radiator has mechanic to do the simple defects. There are a few vehicle. anyone can easily do it goes all the way in, before enoughwaterorcoolant.The checks outlined in today’s simple things you can look O: Oil According to castrol com immediatelyliftingitoutand water or coolant in the article. for first thing in the morning Oil is a very important there are a few simple steps holding it in a horizontal radiator stops your vehicle Believe me, checking before you set off on your part of an automobile. A car youneedtofollow: position. fromoverheating.So,before your vehicle on a daily basis dailyjourneys. needs oil to run properly Oil

1.Firstmakesuretopark 4. Near the end of the leaving in the morning make will surely bode well for you

There is an acronym lubricates the moving parts your car on level ground, dipstick there should be two sure your radiator has as a driver You will be more POWER which refers to the in a vehicle’s engine then wait at least 10 minutes lines, sometimes with a enough water or coolant. aware of how your vehicle is five most important things a ensuring that everything to let the oil drain back into cross-hatched area in ALWAYS ensure that your functioningatalltimes.

Haiti and Peru biggest worry

By Sir Ronald Sanders Grenadines,

OAS on January 30, called mandate of the 10 remaining support. Everyone examined. This omission is for “respect the right to members of the Haitian wants to help, but

were not

(The writer is Antigua probably due to the assembly and for protest to Senate expired for lack of all the parties and Barbuda’s Ambassador smallness of the populations be exercised in a peaceful elections in recent years. within Haiti and to the United States of of these countries, although manner” and for the And yet, elections make no Peru must first agree

A m e r i c a a n d t h e it is an omission in the EIU resumption of dialogue to senseinthecurrenttumult.” on the nature of the Organization of American analysis which should be “build consensus to The internal situation in help they want and the States. He is also a Senior corrected. overcome the current Haiti, as in Peru, poses terms on which it could be functioning of government, Fellow at the Institute of According to the EIU, situation”, and also for “the enormous difficulties for the provided. political participation, Commonwealth Studies, the countries driving the prompt holding of free, fair world’s governments to The issues to be settled political culture, and civil University of London and 2022 decline in the LAC are and transparent general help. Inbothcountries,there internally are precisely the liberties. Massey College in the Haiti (-0.68), El Salvador (- elections, with international has first to be internal categories in the EUI index Responses and previous University of Toronto) 0.66) and Mexico (-0.32). electoral observation.” The political agreement that of Democracy: electoral c o m m e n t a r i e s :

All the countries of ‘the Countries recording more latter is unlikely to happen external governments can process and pluralism, www.sirronaldsanders.com Americas ’ i e , those in modest declines include anytime soon. The Peruvian North, Central and South Peru (-0.17) and Brazil (- Congress has refused to America and the Caribbean 0.08). Peru’s declining score bring forward the date of are experiencing political, ranks it lower than a “flawed elections, even though the social and economic trials to democracy”. current President of Peru, someextent. “Weak state capacity” is Dina Boluarte, has called for In large part, these trials, cited by the EIU as a major it in the wake of angry in most countries, are the cause of the region’s low demonstrations. result of several factors, scores related to the Both Peru and Haiti will including persistent functioning of government occupy the attention of the h i s t o r i c a l s o c i e t a l andpoliticalculture. member states of the OAS in inequalities, the lingering The analysis concludes the coming weeks. Haiti economic impact of the that “the most extreme case will be a greater priority for COVID-19 pandemic and of weakening state capacity the Caribbean Community the global consequences of in the region is Haiti, which (CARICOM). Haiti is now the Russian invasion of experiences the area’s run, for all practical internal Ukraine on the prices of steepest fall in score in purposes, by more than 200 food, oil and gas, and the 2022". Stating that the armed gangs, according to worldwide chain of supply interim prime minister,Ariel United Nations and Haitian ofgoodsandservices. Henry, has “failed to re- NationalPolicefigures. The However, in some establish the state’s control situation has worsened since countries of ‘the Americas’, over parts of the country, 9 October 2022, when Prime thetribulationsarecausedby ceding ground to heavily Minister Henry wrote to the undemocratic practices by armedgangs,manylinkedto OAS Secretary-General, governments or other power drug-trafficking networks”, Luis Almagro, asking holders. the EUI blames Mr Henry countries “that are friends of T h e E c o n o m i s t for “failing to call elections, Haiti” to deploy “without Intelligence Unit (EIU), which led to significant delay a specialized usually reliable for the score downgrades”. The internationalarmedforce”to thoroughness of its EUI also regards Henry’s address “the breakdown in investigation and analysis, call for foreign intervention security.” There was no recently published its to help re-establish order, as formal response from the Democracy Index for 2022. “an abdication of leadership OAS, although diplomatic The Index is based on five and a damaging admission representatives have categories: electoral process that the country is no longer informally expressed and pluralism, functioning capableofself-rule”. concernsabouttheprovision of government, political Regarding Peru, this of an “international armed participation, political country has declined rapidly f o r c e ” , w h o w o u l d culture,andcivilliberties. into political chaos. As I contributetoit,howitwould

The EIU ranks only 4 pointed out in a recent be financed, under what countries of ‘the Americas’ commentary,thecauseofthe terms, including immunity, among the top 22 fully current crisis, while it is a woulditoperate,andforhow democratic nations of the struggle for power between long. world. These are: Uruguay rival political parties, is Pierre Esperance, the (11),Canada(12)CostaRica rooted in economic Executive Director of the (17) and Chile (19). The d i s c r i m i n a t i o n a n d National Human Rights United States of America m a r g i n a l i z a t i o n o f DefenseNetwork(RNDDH) (US) is ranked at number 30 indigenous people. Even in in Haiti, claimed in a of the 167 countries that the midst of social and publication on February 2, wereexamined. political upheaval, which that “the root of the problem Latin America and the should have demanded lies in the corruption of C a r i b b e a n ( L A C ) inclusionarydialoguetofind successive governments and experiences its seventh a solution, the response has their increasing use of gangs consecutive year of decline beenadisproportionaluseof to suppress public protests, in2022intheEIUtable.The force by the military against provide personal protection, area’s average score fell to protestors, resulting in the and ultimately to retain their 5.79, down from 5.83 in deathsof58personssofar hold on power.” Esperance 2021. However, I point out These events in Peru led rejects an international thatThe Bahamas, Barbados to the introduction of a armed force entering Haiti, and the 6 independent DeclarationatthePermanent saying: “… such a force countries in the Eastern Council of the Organization cannot possibly be effective Caribbean, Antigua and of American States (OAS) inthecurrentpoliticalchaos. Barbuda, Dominica, byAntigua and Barbuda and Henry effectively rules on Grenada, St Kitts-Nevis, St Colombia. The Declaration, his own, with no Parliament, Lucia and StVincent and the which was adopted by the as just last month, the

Sir Ronald Sanders

Exercisesforstrongarmsusingdumbbells

Let’s face it We can all use a little arm strength every now and then Not only does exercise for your arms make them stronger, but they also help toneorcarvethemnicely,forthosewhomay havesomeextrafatinthatarea

Ifyouarelikemeandpush-upsaren’tyour game,I’mgoingtoshareafewgreatexercises thatcanhelptonethispartofyourbody

Oneofthebesttoolsforthejobisapairof dumbbells For me, this was a great investment, so I always encourage people to getthemselvesapairandkeepthemathome, especiallyifyouaren’tcomfortablehittingthe gymjustyet But,evenifyouarealreadyinthe gym, here are some exercises you can try to strengthenyourarms:

BICEPCURLS

body Palms should be facing forward with backstraightandchestupright

Without moving your upper arms, bend yourelbowsandbringweightsuptowardyour shoulders, next, slowly lower the dumbbells back to the starting position with control That’sonerep

UPRIGHT ROW

Upright rows

Foryourstartingpositionstandwithyour feethip-widthapartwithyourarmsrestingin front of your body, with a dumbbell in each hand Next,liftthedumbbellsbyraisingyour elbowsuntiltheyreachchest-levelandslowly lower them back down to waist with control, andrepeat That’sonerep

LYING OVERHEAD

TRICEPS EXTENSION

hand,andextendthearmsupovershoulders, palmsfacingtowardeachother Now,slowly bendyourelbows,bringingtheweightstoward floor and close to your temples Pause, then, slowlyextendarmstobringtheweightsback overhead.That’sonerep.

ALTERNATING BENT-OVER ROW

back, bringingyourupperbodyslightly forwardholdingonedumbbellin each hand With your core engaged,pulltherightelbowback until the right wrist is near your ribs Lowerwithcontroltoreturn to start position and do the same foryourleftelbow Thisisonerep

REAR DELT FLY

Start standing with feet hip-width apart holdingapairofdumbbellsatthesideofyour

What I love about these exercises is that they are all so simple and I hope you are enjoyingthem Forthisnextexerciseyouwill need to switch your position and lie on your backwithkneesbentandfeetplacedflatonthe ground,aboutafootfrombutt

Next, grab your dumbbells, one in each

Start with your feet hip-distance apart, holdingonedumbbellineachhandwithpalms facing each other This exercise is one of my favourites,asitnotonlyburnsthemusclesinthe armsbutalsoworksyourglutesatthesametime

Start by slightly bending your knees and

Thisexerciseissimilartobent-overrows Startbystandingwithfeethip-widthapartand knees slightly bent Hinge at the hips and let your arms hang straight down from your shoulders, palms facing your body, holding a pairofdumbbells Next,raisebotharmsoutto thesideswithelbowsslightlybentandsqueeze shoulder blades together Lower the weights withcontroltoreturntostart That’sonerep

Lying Overhead Triceps Extension Alternating

Court Journal

Govt. to abolish Preliminary Inquiries

In the Magistrate’s Court, reportedon. there are three different methods

Magistrates often choose to in which matters are tried. For the conduct a PI into a matter, even not so serious offences, a trial is though it can take more than five conducted, while for the serious years to complete. Like the trial, offences,theMagistratecaneither the Magistrate takes down in conduct a preliminary inquiry (PI) writing every witness’ statement orapapercommittal. and records and marks all items

However, the Government of presented to the court as exhibits. Guyana, will be moving towards After the prosecution would have the abolition of preliminary calledallofhisorherwitnessesto inquiries (PI), as part of the testify, the prosecution can then criminal justice process, with the closetheircase. aim of reducing the waiting time

Most prosecutors are hopeful for persons to be tried, Attorney thattheevidencetheywouldhave General and Minister of Legal produced to the court would Affairs, Anil Nandlall disclosed satisfy the Magistrate to make out recently a prima facie case, so that a

Nandlall, speaking during the reasonable jury can convict the final day of budget 2023 debates defendant. known in other jurisdictions as said, that government is cognizant If the Magistrate finds that a ‘PaperCommittals.’ of the complaints about the prima facie case is made out Apaper committal is when the backlog of cases and the against the accused, he or she can witnesses’ statements and prolonged delay in the time opttoleadtheirdefenceornot. documentary evidence are accusedspendawaitingtrial. A defendant, who chooses to tendered to the Court without the

“Part of the reason is because lead their own defence, can call witnesses being present in court currently the law requires a PI to their witnesses to testify in the and are inventoried and marked as be done to establish a prima facie matter, but a defendant who exhibits. case before going to a judge and language.

defendant or attorney will then refusestoleadtheirdefencewould Based on the written records, jury,” he told the House while While those offences are still make his or her no-submission to automatically be committed to the Magistrate will take explaining that across the criminal acts, those matters can be the court and the prosecutor will stand trial. The accused will then approximately 45 days before C a r i b b e a n a n d i n t h e disposed of in the Magistrate’s alsomakeasubmission. join the line of accused awaiting giving a ruling on whether there is Commonwealth jurisdictions they Court. On the defendant’s first A no-case submission to the trial at the next convenient sitting sufficient evidence for a prima have abolished this first tier of the court appearance he or she is court occurs when the defence of the criminal jurisdiction of the facie case to be made out for the criminaltrialprocess. required to either plead guilty or highlights aspects of the matter to HighCourt. accused to stand trial in the High

Guyanawillsoonbemovingin not guilty to the charge after it is support their claims that the It should be noted that the Court. this direction to reduce the read by the Magistrate. With a prosecutiondoesnothaveamatter assizes do not consider the Additionally, the Magistrate significantbacklogofcases. guilty plea, based on the offence, againsttheirclient. accused matter until the may also consider submissions

For the serious offences, the theMagistratecaneither,sentence When the Magistrate is Magistrate’slonghanddepositions from counsel that there is defendant is not allowed to either thedefendanttonotmorethanfive finished reading both parties’ are typed by the court staff. A insufficient evidence or allow the pleadguiltyornotguilty,sincethe years, impose a fine or order the submissions, a date will be set for longhand can take anywhere from cross-examination of witnesses matter was laid indictably For defendant to do community ruling on the submissions. If the a few weeks to years to be before making his or her decision those offences, the Magistrate service. In some instances, some Magistrate upholds the defence’s completed. whethertocommittheaccusedfor does not impose a sentence but persons are fined and sentenced, no-case submission, the matter Additionally, there are several trial. It should be noted that rules whether or not sufficient buttheMagistratewouldalsotake will be dismissed. However, the aspects of the PI which cause Magistrates are not expected to evidence was presented to the into consideration the defendant’s Magistrate can also rule that there delays. allow cross-examination ad court for the matter to either be honesty and with a not guilty plea, is sufficient evidence against the Not only does the Magistrate nauseam as this would defeat the discharged or for the defendant to the matter will have to go to trial.( defendant. have to set the matter to purposeoftheact. be committed to stand trial in the The defendant is either granted

In the Magistrate’s Court, accommodate other PIs, summary The defence on his or her own High Court of the respective bail or remanded, and a date will someonewhoisfoundguiltyofan civil matters, summary criminal motion or on an application to the district. be set for report and fixture. This offence can only be sentenced to a matters, inquests, and other proceedings, can require any

However, while a PI can last will be based on the readiness of total of five years, which can be statutory and administrative witness to attend before them and for more than five years, most the prosecutor, who is expected to accompaniedbyafine. functions, but also the police give evidence – the crossMagistrates prefer this have his or her file completed and PRELIMINARY INQUIRY prosecutorial system and the examinationisalsoallowed. method The paper committal bereadyfortrial.

(PI) defence counsel’s schedule, and Issues have been raised in the which was introduced in 2008 can With the file completed, a date For the more serious offences the number of witnesses and the past whether the Magistrate last up to 45 days. Also, if the isthensetfortrial.Duringthetrial, like rape, murder, manslaughter, availability of the witnesses must should have more guidance in the defencerequeststocross-examine the prosecutor will call his or her treason, and causing death by betakenintoconsideration. form of regulations with the witnesses it may take even witnesses to testify orally in court. dangerous driving, among other While this method is appropriate safeguards to ensure longertoconclude.

Each witness who testifies is offences, a trial cannot be commonly used by Magistrates theprocesswouldbeexecutedina TRIAL subject to be cross-examined by conducted in the Magistrate’s for serious offences, the PI into a fairmanner

Some matters can be disposed either the defendant or his or her Court. matter usually takes years to Meanwhile, Nandlall of at the Magistrate’s Court level. attorney

For those matters, the complete thus this method often disclosed that focus will be placed

Someofthesemattersare:larceny The Magistrate will usually Magistrate can either conduct a causesbacklogincases. also on the establishment of charges such as simple larceny, take written notes of each witness’ preliminary inquiry (PI) or paper PAPER COMMITTAL Guyana’s law school, reviewing larcenyfromtheperson,breakand testimony which is called a committal. It should be noted that The Criminal Law Procedure the criminal plea deal law, and enter and larceny, assault charges longhand deposition. After that what is said in court by the (Amendment)Act No. 17 of 2008 setting up the Constitutional and threatening and abusive process is completed the witnesses during a PI, cannot be introduced a system which is ReformCommissionthisyear.

By Renay Sambach

This Day in History - Feb. 05

Compiled by Zena Henry

King Leopold II of Belgium establishes the Congo as a personal possession

On February 5, 1885, Belgian King Leopold II established the Congo Free State by brutally seizing the African landmass as his personal possession. Rather than control the Congo as a colony, as other European powers did throughout Africa, Leopold privately owned the region. (Colonizing other peoples, regardless of the justification, is wrong. The people being colonized are robbed of their land, resources, and freedom.)

L e o p o l d f i n a n c e d development projects with money loaned to him from the Belgian government.

The King’s stated goal was to bring civilization to the people of the Congo, an enormousregioninCentral Africa (Believing one people is more civilized than another is wrong.)

The Royal Greenwich Observatory begins broadcasting the hourly Greenwich Time Signal

Belgian chemist Leo Baekeland announces the creation of Bakelite, the world’s first synthetic plastic

By 1899, the invention of Velox photographic paper had already made Leo Baekeland a wealthy man. At his Snug Rock estate in Yonkers, New York, he maintained a home laboratory where he and his assistant, Nathaniel Thurlow, involved themselves in a variety of projects. Like other scientistsoftheirday,BaekelandandThurlowunderstoodthe potential of phenol-formaldehyde resins. The chemical literature included reports written decades earlier by the GermanchemistAdolfvonBaeyerandbyhisstudent,Werner Kleeberg.

Von Baeyer had reported that when he mixed ph common disinfectant, formaldehyde, it formed hard, insoluble material

t h a t r u i n e d h i laboratory equipment, because once formed,

Leopold II of Belgium was honored with Great Britain’s most prestigious title, a member of the Order of the Garter, in 1916. Here, Leopold poses with his honorary sash

Leopold’s reign over the Congo Free State, however, has become infamousforitsbrutality

The people of the Congo were forced to labour for valued resources, including rubber and ivory, to personallyenrichLeopold.Estimatesvary,butabouthalfthe Congolese population died from punishment and malnutrition. Many more suffered from disease and torture. Among those who weren’t killed, many were punished by havingahandand/orfootamputated.

The people of the Congo did not suffer these injustices without fighting back. Several rebellions were mercilessly put down under Leopold’s direction. As the realities and suffering within the Congo Free State became more widely known, many European people spoke out against these abuses.DemonstrationsandprotestsdemandedthatLeopold end human rights abuses in the Congo Free State. In 1908, international pressure forced the king to turn the Congo Free State over to the country of Belgium. The newly named “Belgian Congo” remained a colony until the Democratic Republic of Congo gained its independence in 1960. (Education.nationalgeographic.org)

The Royal Observatory, Greenwich (ROG); known as the Old Royal Observatory from 1957 to 1998, when the working Royal Greenwich Observatory, RGO, temporarily moved south fromGreenwichtoHerstmonceux),isanobservatorysituatedon a hill in Greenwich Park in south east London, overlooking the riverThamestothenorth.

It played a major role in the history of astronomy and navigation, and because the Prime Meridian passes through it, it gaveitsnametoGreenwichMeanTime,theprecursortotoday’s CoordinatedUniversalTime(UTC).

The ROG has the IAU observatory code of 000, the first in the list. ROG, the National Maritime Museum, the Queen’s HouseandtheclippershipCuttySarkarecollectivelydesignated Royal Museums Greenwich The observatory was commissioned in 1675 by King Charles II, with the foundation stonebeinglaidon10August.

The old hilltop site of Greenwich Castle was chosen by Sir ChristopherWren,aformerSavilianProfessorofAstronomy;as Greenwich Park was a royal estate, no new land needed to be bought.

Manuel Noriega is indicted on drug smuggling and money laundering charges

Manuel Antonio Noriega Moreno (February 11, 1934 – May 29, 2017) was a Panamanian dictator, politician and military officer who was the de facto ruler of Panama from 1983 to 1989. An authoritarian ruler whoamassedapersonalfortunethroughdrug trafficking operations, he had longstanding ties to United States intelligence agencies, before the U.S. invasion of Panama removed himfrompower Noriega’s relationship with the U.S. deteriorated in the late 1980s after his relationship with intelligence agencies in other countries came to light, and his involvement in drug trafficking was investigatedfurther In1988,Noriegawas (Continued on page 43)

Noriega’s mugshot after his surrender to U.S. forces

it could not be removed Kleeburg reported a similar

e x p e r i e n c e ,

d e s c r i b i n g t h e s u b s t a n c e h e produced as a hard amorphous mass, infusible and insoluble andthusoflittleuse.

In 1902, Germ

The Edgar Fahs Smith Memorial Collection, The University of Pennsylvania Libraries

chemist Adolf L patented a resin made modifying Kleeburg’s composition in the hope that it could compete commercially withcelluloid.Atleastsevenotherscientiststriedphenoland formaldehyde combinations in their attempt to create a commercially viable plastic molding compound. But no one was able to create a useful product. Baekeland made the first publicannouncementofhisinventiononFebruary8,1909,in a lecture before the New York section of the American Chemical Society Previous reactions had resulted in slow processes and brittle products, he said; then he continued “...by the use of small amounts of bases, I have succeeded in preparing a solid initial condensation product, the properties of which simplify enormously all molding operations...” Today,syntheticplasticsareeverywhere.(acs.org)

The largest alluvial gold nugget in history is found

The Welcome Stranger is the biggest alluvialgoldnuggetthathaseverbeenfound, which had a calculated refined weight of 97.14 kilograms (3,123 oz). It measured 61 by31cm(24by12in)andwasdiscoveredby prospectors John Deason and Richard Oates on 5 February 1869 at Moliagul, Victoria, Australia, about 14.6 kilometres (9 miles) north-westofDunolly.Thenuggetwasfound only 3 cm (1.2 in) below thesurface,nearthe base of a tree on a slope leading to what was Archibald Walls. Deason and Oates were thenknownasBulldogGully paid an estimated £9,381 (equivalent to Atthetimeofthediscovery,therewereno A$666,000 in 2018) for their nugget, which scales capable of weighing a nugget this became known as the “Welcome Stranger”. large,soitwasbrokenintothreepiecesonan At August 2019 gold prices, it would be anvil by Dunolly-based blacksmith worthUS$3.4million.

The Welcome Stranger Nugget

Leo Hendrick Baekeland (1863-1944). Courtesy

The Royal Greenwich Observatory

More “Brown Sugar” for Guyanese

- Movie sequel being released here on February 19

Guyanese will soon be able to savour the taste

of more artistic talentoftheircompatriots.In exactly a fortnight, Brown Sugar Too Bitter For Me 2 –“The Oil Dream” will be released, and of course there’s already a buzz in the air

It is a spinoff and continuation of the original “Brown Sugar too bitter for me” which has popularly spread all over Guyana and theDiaspora.

Both movies were written by Guyanese writer, Somnauth Narine, and clashes in societal classes segregation between produced and directed by a n d t h e e c o n o m i c ‘society classes’ in the past MahadeoShivraj. differences encountered andeventoday

Part 2 is set to release for whentheupperclasswedsan Brown Sugar Too Bitter Mashramani on February individual of supposedly For Me 2 – “The Oil Dream” 19th at the Movietowne lowerstatus. - is a social comedy where Multiplex, and will continue

their film debut. Some cast Dowding, Sean Thompson, MahadeoShivraj. gripping story and brings to power confront the pathos

The sequel movie tells a raw greed and political onwards.

The large diverse cast is members who are well Roshan Khan, Mark Luke Shivraj had produced a life the everyday issue of and humanity of the poor made up of many popular known are: Michael Edwards, Paul Budnah, ‘Brown Sugar Too Bitter for differences in economic There’s a compelling Guyanese actors, and then Ignatius, Neaz Subhan, Aditya Persaud, Nelan Me’more than a decade ago. levels and the eventuality of storyline;it’samust-see! there are also many making Roger Hinds, Simone Benjamin, Sean Budnah and The first movie depicted the

A scene from “Brown Sugar too bitter for me 2 – The Oil Dream”

Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, John Legend & More to Join

DJ Khaled for 'God Did' Performance at 2023 Grammys

(Billboard) DJ Khaled is set to appear on the 2023 Grammy Awards telecast with collaborators Fridayy, Jay-Z, John Legend, Lil Wayne and Rick Ross, to perform “God Did,” which is nominated for song of the year, best rap song and bestrapperformance.

DJKhaledisalsonominatedfor album of the year and best rap album for the album of the same name. “Beautiful,” another track from the album, is up for best melodicrapperformance.

Jay's participation in the collaborationmeansheissuretobe in the house for what is expected to beabignightforhiswife,Beyoncé. Bey is up for nine awards, more thananyotherartistthisyear Ifshe wins three of them, she will tie the late classical conductor Sir Georg SoltiforthemostGrammysever If she wins four, she'll set a new record.

Jay-Z is nominated for five awards, including double nominations for song of the year He is nominated in that marquee category for co-writing both “God Did” and Bey's “Break My Soul.”

If he wins even one of his five nominations, he'll surpass Kanye Westasthemost-awardedrapartist in history The two rap stars are

currently tied for that distinction with24winseach.

This year's Grammys will have a strong hip-hop emphasis. On Thursday (Feb. 2), the Academy announced a star-studded salute to th the 50 anniversary of hip-hop. LL CoolJwillhostthesegment,which will include performances by Big Boi,BustaRhymeswithSpliffStar, De La Soul, DJ Drama, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Missy Elliott, Future, GloRilla, Grandmaster Flash,

sentimental ballad “Without You” tohonorTakeoff,whodiedonNov. 1atjust28.

The 65th Annual Grammy Awards will air live from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles andwillbehostedforthethirdyear in a row by Emmy-winning comedian Trevor Noah. The show will be broadcast live on Sunday, Feb. 5, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBS, and will be available to stream live and on demand on

Grandmaster Mele Mel and Scorpio/Ethiopian King, Ice-T, Lil Baby,LilWayne,TheLox,Method Man, Nelly, Public Enemy, Queen Latifah, Rahiem, Rakim, RUND M C , S a l t - N - P e p a a n d Spinderella, Scarface, Swizz Beatz andToo$hort.

Lizzo and Mary J. Blige, the longtimequeenofhip-hopsoul,are also set to perform on the show In addition, Quavo will be joined by Maverick City Music for a performance of Quavo's

Paramount+.

The Recording Academy made its first performers announcement on Wednesday (Jan. 25), revealing a slate of Lizzo, Bad Bunny, Blige, Carlile, Luke Combs, Steve Lacy, and Sam Smith and Kim Petras. Harry Styles was announced as an addition to the lineup on Sunday (Jan. 29) during the fourth quarter oftheAFCChampionshipgame.

On Wednesday (Feb. 1), the Academy announced that the In Memoriam segment at the 2023

Grammy Awards will include breakout tributes to three diverse artists who died last fall — Loretta Lynn, Christine McVie and Takeoff.

Kacey Musgraves will perform Lynn's 1970 classic “Coal Miner's Daughter” in tribute to the country legend, who died on Oct. 4 at age 90; Sheryl Crow, Mick Fleetwood and Bonnie Raitt will team to

Fleetwood Mac's album of the year-winning Rumours to honor McVie, who died on Nov 30 at age 79.

Earlier Friday, the Academy announced that Stevie Wonder

would be performing in a spot that features his longtime Motown colleague Smokey Robinson as well as country star Chris Stapleton.

The 65th Annual Grammy AwardsareproducedbyFulwell73 Productions for the Recording Academy. Kapoor serves as showrunner and executive producer, alongside Winston and Jesse Collins as executive producers. Phil Heyes joins the team for the first time as director EricCookisco-executiveproducer with Tabitha Dumo, Tiana Gandelman, Patrick Menton and DavidWildasproducers.

Jay-Z & DJ Khaled

- Jay's participation means he is sure to be in the house for what is expected to be a big night for his wife, Beyoncé.

Dwarf Boa (new species found)

(CNN) Scientists Grande do Sul and Butantan different”fromthespecimen have identified a tiny new InstituteinBrazil. inBentley’sphoto. speciesofdwarfboalivingin ‘Radically different’ While the snake didn’t the EcuadorianAmazon that “We were immediately match any known species of even a snake hater could surprised, because it dwarf boas, it had a lot in love:Thesesmallreptilesare shouldn’t be there,” said common with a specimen in justafootlong. Entiauspe-Neto, the the Ecuadorian Museum of Alex Bentley, research corresponding author of the Natural Sciences collected coordinator of the Sumak paper describing the species severalyearsago.

Kawsay In Situ field station in the European Journal of “We’re usually afraid to in the eastern foothills of the Taxonomy Otherdwarfboas describe new species based Andes, stumbled across a have been identified ononlyasingleone,because small, curled up snake in a elsewhere in South America there’s a chance that there bodies, and their skeletons threatening, but Entiauspe- Neto said. “So while it still patch of cloud forest, an andtheWestIndies,butnone might be some sort of bear vestigial hip bones, Netosuspectsthebehavioris needs to be formally upland forest where clouds had ever been found in the variation,” Entiauspe-Neto relics of snakes’ ancient part of a bigger constellation evaluated by the IUCN filterthroughthetreetops. region where Bentley said. “Once we had those legged ancestors And of death feigning found (International Union for He sent a photo of the spotted this one. The closest two specimens, we were instead of being armed with throughout the animal Conservation of Nature), I snake to colleagues, known match in Ecuador fairly sure they were a new venom, they squeeze their kingdom. “Most predators think it might be threatened including Omar Entiauspe- lives west of theAndes, and, species.” preytodeath,blockingblood tend to feed on living prey,” withextinction.” Neto, a graduate student at according to Entiauspe- By comparing both the flow and causing cardiac hesaid.

Manuel Noriega is indicted...

From page 34 indicted by federal grand juries in Miami and Tampa on charges of racketeering, drug smuggling, and money laundering. The U.S. launched an invasion of Panama following failed negotiations seeking his resignation, and Noriega’s annulment of the 1989 Panamanian general election.

T h a í s G u e d e s , a theFederalUniversityofRio Neto, it looks “radically physical characteristics and arrest. If a predator such as an researcher at the State genetic sequences of the While 10-foot-long boa eagleseesadwarfboacoiled University of Campinas in mystery snakes with known constrictors go after animals up and bleeding from its Brazil who was not involved species, the researchers as big as wild pigs, dwarf eyes, “the predator is very with the study, praised the determinedthatthey’dfound boas have diets that largely likely to think that the snake work. an animal new to science. consist of small lizards. And mightbeeithersickordying, “I am always happy They named it Tropidophis since they don’t have size on so therefore it will not feed when I see a new species of cacuangoae in honor of their side like true boa on it” to avoid catching snakebeingintroducedtothe Dolores Cacuango, an constrictors, dwarf boas whatever made the snake world,”Guedessaid. Indigenous activist who have evolved a strange seemill. Honoring activist championed women’s rights defense mechanism: When However, dwarf boas Cacuango in the naming of and founded Ecuador’s first threatened, they curl into a face far bigger threats than the species is also important, bilingual schools with ball and bleed out of their predators: The newly she said, since Indigenous lessons in Spanish and the eyes. identified species may peoples play a key role in Indigenous language This behavior, also seen alreadybeendangereddueto conservation. Quechua. in horned lizards, might habitat loss. “It has a fairly Note: (Article written by Distant boa cousins appear more gross than small range,” Entiauspe- Kate Golembiewski, CNN)

Noriega was captured and flown to the U.S., where he wastriedontheMiamiindictment,convictedonmostofthe charges, and sentenced to 40 years in prison, ultimately serving 17 years after a reduction in his sentence for good behavior. Noriega was extradited to France in 2010, where he was convicted and sentenced to seven years of imprisonment for money laundering. In 2011 France extradited him to Panama, where he was incarcerated for crimes committed during his rule, for which he had been triedandconvictedinabsentiainthe1990s.Diagnosedwith a brain tumor in March 2017, Noriega suffered complicationsduringsurgery,anddiedtwomonthslater

Like its fellow dwarf boas, T cacuangoae is distantlyrelatedtothebigger boa constrictor, but they havekeytraitsincommon.

They both have thickset

Health Facts

Impressive health benefits of eating onions

Onions are highly repair,andironabsorption. cholesterollevels. infl

nutritious and Vitamin C also acts as a Astudyof70peoplewho triglyceride levels, and reduced h a v e b e e n powerful antioxidant in your were obese and suffered bloodclotformation. r

associated with body, protecting your cells from high blood pressure A

several health benefits, against damage caused by showedthatadoseof162mg compounds that inhibit disease. including improved heart unstable molecules called per day of quercetin-rich oxidation, a process that F o r health, better blood sugar freeradicals. onion extract significantly leads to cellular damage and example, a study control, and increased bone Onions are also rich in B reduced systolic blood contributes to diseases like

By Rehanna Ramsay

density Though all vitamins, including folate pressure by 3–6 millimeters cancer, diabetes, and heart showed that habitual intakes intake had a 15% reduced vegetables are important for and vitamin B6— which of mercury (mmHg), disease. as high as 613 mg per day of risk of colorectal cancer health, certain varieties offer p l a y k e y r o l e s i n comparedtoaplacebo. Onions are an excellent a n t h o c y a n i n s w e r e compared to those with the unique benefits. Onions are metabolism, red blood cell

A 2014 study of 54 source of antioxidants. In correlated to a 14% lower lowestintake. members of the Allium production, and nerve females with Polycystic fact, they contain at least 17 riskofnonfatalheartattacks. These cancer-fighting genus of flowering plants Similarly, a 2018 review properties have been linked that also include garlic, concluded that consuming to the sulfur compounds and shallots,leeks,andchives. h i g h e r a m o u n t s o f flavonoidantioxidantsfound

Thesevegetablescontain anthocyanin-rich foods was inalliumvegetables. various vitamins, minerals, associated with a lower risk

A diet rich in allium and potent plant compounds of heart disease and heart vegetables like onions may that have been shown to diseasemortality have a protective effect promote health in many

A d d i t i o n a l l y , against certain cancers ways. anthocyanins have been Additionally, multiple

In fact, the medicinal found to protect against animal studies have shown properties of onions have certain types of cancer and that onion consumption may been recognized since diabetes. benefitbloodsugarcontrol. ancient times, when they

Anti–cancer compounds

A study showed that rats were used to treat ailments

Eating vegetables of the with diabetes fed food like headaches, heart Alliumgenuslikegarlicand containing 5% dried onion disease,andmouthsores. onions has been linked to a powder for 8 weeks

H e r e a r e s o m e lower risk of certain types experienced decreased impressivehealthbenefitsof of cancer, including fasting blood sugar levels onions. stomach and colorectal and had lower triglyceride

Onions are nutrient- cancer and cholesterol levels dense, meaning they’re low

A review of 26 studies comparedtoacontrolgroup. in calories but high in showed that people who Specific compounds function. Lastly, they’re a Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) different varieties of vitamins and minerals. One consumed the highest found in onions, such as good source of potassium, a found that consuming large flavonoidantioxidants. medium onion has just 44 amount of allium vegetables quercetin and sulfur mineralthatmanypeopleare amounts of raw red onions R e d o n i o n s , i n calories but delivers a were 22% less likely to be compounds, also possess lacking. (80–120gramsperday)for8 p a r t i c u l a r, c o n t a i n considerable dose of

diagnosed with stomach antidiabeticeffects.

In fact, normal cellular weeks reduced total and anthocyanins, which are vitamins, minerals, and cancer than those who For example, quercetin function, fluid balance, LDL (bad) cholesterol plant pigments in the fiber. consumed the lowest has been shown to interact nerve transmission, kidney comparedtoacontrolgroup. flavonoid family that give

This vegetable is amount. with cells in the small function, and muscle Additionally, evidence redonionstheirdeepcolor particularly high in vitamin

Moreover, a 2014 review intestine, pancreas, skeletal contraction all require fromanimalstudiessupports Multiple population C, a nutrient involved in of 16 studies in 13,333 muscle, fat tissue, and liver potassium. that onion consumption may studies have found that regulating immune health, people demonstrated that to control whole-body blood Onions have also been reduce risk factors for heart people who consume more collagen production, tissue those with the highest onion sugarregulation. s h o w n t o d e c r e a s e d i s e a s e , i n c l u d i n g foods rich in anthocyanins

GNBS ENCOURAGES GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES WITH NEWLY REVISED NATIONAL STANDARDS

As Guyana’s local vital that our country also The Guyana National nationalstandardsrelatingto More specifically, the oranges, passion fruit, economy expands with new remains focused on Bureau of Standards the sector, to ensure grading standards contain avocado and mangoes, code industries, businesses, maintaining a robust (GNBS) continues to wholesome agricultural r e q u i r e m e n t s a n d of practices for fresh fruits products, and services, it is agriculturalsector develop and revise available produce for immediate specifications to help and vegetables and the consumption, quality input producers, regulators, and specifications for the for agro-processing and consumers to identify or labellingofseeds. exports. categorize agriculture GNBS, by virtue of the

The application of the produce. Standards Act of 1984, is relevant standards in this With these standards, mandated to facilitate the mainstay sector can help produce can be separated development of standards. farmers by providing best based on size, colour, The Act provides for the practices and farming freshness and several other preparation and promotion methods to support characteristics Further, ofstandardsbytheBureauin sustainable production, s t i p u l a t e d g r a d i n g relation to commodities, harvesting, and grading of requirements help to services, processes and produce and ultimately differentiate what is suitable practices. contribute to achieving the for a particular use and help Currently, there are more target set to reduce the food to determine produce than 600 National Standards bill of the CARICOM suitable for the export available at the Bureau, Regionby25%by2025. market. under various categories

Recently, the GNBS Notably, all three of the including: Consumer completed the revision of newly revised standards Products, Labelling, threeimportantstandardsfor contain packaging and Agriculture, Electrical the agriculture sector: GYS labeling requirements. For E q u i p m e n t , F o o d s , 24:2023, Specification for example, the specification Construction, Tourism, Grades of Green Plantain, for the grades of watermelon Environment and Energy GYS 6:2023, Specification states that watermelon shall Management. forGradesofFreshGinger be packed in double-walled These standards can be a n d G Y S 4 : 2 0 2 3 , fibre board cartons or woven viewed on the GNBS Specification for Grades of rice bags free from smell, S t a n d a r d s P o r t a l : Watermelons. dirt, or any other foreign gnbsguy.com

These standards were matter Stakeholders, including approved as national The container shall be ourlocalfarmersareurgedto standardstoreflectadvances marked with the name of apply the requirements of in the sector and to be producer,varietyofproduce, available national standards applicable to current market grade and size, place of in their businesses. The cost requirements. origin, net weight of and scope of these

The grades prescribed in contents, among other documents can be found on the standards are intended to information. the GNBS’ Standards Portal facilitatetransactionsamong The GNBS currently has a t growers, buyers and sellers a total of twenty-eight (28) https://gnbsguy.com/standar who may wish to use a agriculture-related standards ds. purchasing system based on which can be applied by F o r f u r t h e r the quality of green those in the sector as information, please plantains, ginger or benchmarksforquality contact the GNBS on watermelons delivered. The Among these agriculture telephone numbers: 219quality requirements also standards available are 0064-66. You can also visit serve as a guide to farmers standards for the grading of the GNBS Facebook and who are aiming to produce fruits&vegetablesincluding Instagram pages for thebestyields. limes, cucumber, sweet regularupdates.

PARENTS AND TEACHERS COULD EASILY RELATE TO EACH OTHER WITH CORDIALITY

BY PAT DIAL misbehaves

should never be proper in his conversation Sixth - Head teachers various kinds will arise from anysituationsthatmayoccur ostracized or ignored. Every and conduct with the teacher and teachers in general time to time in every school withparents. Recently, there were trained teacher should know and that she never restrained should treat visiting parents and they should be swiftly If these usages from the reports in the media of this. Small children and the parent from any kind of with courtesy, and should addressed and diffused as colonial schools are adapted teachers being physically adolescents are often assault. The teacher later never keep parents waiting soon as they are recognised. to our present educational assaulted in two primary affected by many issues in withdrewherallegations,but indefinitely but try to satisfy It is imperative that teachers System, they would most schools and verbally t h e i r h o m e s a n d this incident, which was of the issues they may raise as a n d o t h e r s c h o o l likely result in lasting threatened in a secondary communities that may the nature of a routine class amicablyaspossible. a d m i n i s t r a t o r w o r k cordiality between parents school. negatively impact their occurrence, having reached Seventh - Tensions of assiduously to deescalate andteachers.

The primaries were socialization processes, the media, made an Graham’s Hall and St which may result in them unprecedented blot on the Angela’s and the secondary doing poorly in academic name of Queen’s College, schoolwasQueen’sCollege. w o r k a n d / o r b e i n g though we understand the Thestaff of thethreeschools rebellious. A professional incident has now long been immediately decided to act teacher should recognise forgottenintheschool. in solidarity with the such a child and work Incidents such as those allegedly hurt teachers and towards winning his or her mentioned above, which the Guyana Teachers confidence, so that the child seems to be a growing Association recommended would open up to him or her malady, should never occur its members wear black Itshouldbeunderscoredthat in the educational system clothing in sympathy with a teacher must at all times and the adoption of a few theaggrievedteachers. obey the educational code simple rules from the

The Chief Education and refrain from corporally colonial school system Officer,aftertheSt.Angela’s punishachild. would achieve this:Firstincident, added his In the case of the St Etiquette should be taught in condemnation: “Whatever Angela’s incident, the every class, and printed the circumstances, it is a teacher allegedly struck a cards with the do’s and reprehensible and ghastly childwithawoodenruleand don’tsshouldbedisplayedin act. It is unacceptable and some flints were lodged in everyclassroom. Incolonial will not be condoned in the the child’s hand. The parent times, such cards had 20 or least when parents and visited the school and quite 25 rules Each student guardians are engaged in wrongfully and illegally shouldbegivenacopyofthe violent acts against teachers, assaulted the teacher, etiquettecard. it goes against established opening herself to a criminal Second - Teachers must v a l u e s , n o r m s a n d charge. recognise that they are locus expectations…the Ministry Had the head teacher parentum which simply will take all appropriate been able to intervene, the means that while at school actions to ensure teachers issue could have been teachers stand in the place of continue to work in a safe diffused and kept within the parents They must and secure environment, confinesoftheschool. accordingly guide, help and includingprohibitingviolent Relying on the media understand the psyche of the parents and guardians from reports of the Queen’s children in their care, having access to school College incident: A boy in particularly children who premises; transferring any the lower school allegedly mayappeartobeaggressive, pupil whose parents commit attemptedtobullyhisfemale rebellious or academically any act of violence on a classmate who was the challenged. If teachers are teacher; or any other daughter of a prominent untrained or uncertain about sanction deemed necessary, citizen and the girl stood up how to deal with such whileencouragingthePolice to him. The form teacher children,thehelpofthehead or any other institution or intervened and made the two teachermustbesought. authority, to take whatever students apologise to each Third - The teacher actiontheLawprescribes”. other The girl, regarding should never strike a child.

In all these incidents, the herself as the victim, If the child comes from a positions and feelings of all probably felt that the same background where violence the main actors should be kind of incident may again is the only sanction, the taken into account and occur to her and told her teacher should privately considered, so as to arrive at parentsofit. Herfatherthen explaintothechildwhyheor a balanced view In these visited the school to see the she would never use incidents the positions and head teacher, who, after violence; this could be a feelings of the main actors having kept him waiting, positive step in socializing who are the teachers, the inexplicably did not give suchachild. headmastersormistressesof himanaudience. Theparent Fourth - The teacher the schools, the pupils visited the school a second should try to establish involved and the parents time to see the head teacher contact with parents of were not taken into account, but instead, saw the form “difficult” children All b e f o r e k n e e - j e r k teacher who claimed that the schools should make greater condemnations were made. parent threatened her and efforts to have active ParentIn the case of the Queen’s had to be restrained by a TeachersAssociations. College incident, judging female police constable who Fifth - Teachers and from the media reports, it was present, from assaulting schooladministratorsshould appears that the teacher her. The staff was then always treat children with involved failed to exercise mobilized to support the fairness, since children are disciplinary measures in a teacher. The police acutelyawareoffairnessand professional way and this constable however affirmed justice, sometimes even allowed a routine school that the parent was quite moresothanadults. incident to be blown out of proportion, with all the actors involved being, against their will, drawn into awhirlpoolofdiscord.

Why the Dove is on Our Valentines Adapted from an Indian Folk Tale

Along time ago when there were no white men in ourcountry,butonlyIndians who lived in the forest, there wasatimidlittleIndianboy

All the other Indian lads loved the dark, so full of stars,andmoonlight;butthis boy was afraid of the dark anddidnotventureoutofhis father's wigwam after the sunhadset.TheotherIndian lads hunted bears, and sailed theswiftrapidsinfrailbirchbark canoes, and had no fear of anything that ran, o stalked, or flew But th Indian boy about which this story is told was afraid of all the wild creatures of the forest

He never ventured far away from the safe circle of his home campfire

Most of all was the boy afraidofHoots,thebear

This was because Hoots was a part of the forest. He hid himself by day, for he was afraid of bows and swift flying arrows. But at night, the bear prowled near the Indian camp, and could be heard from one end of the forest to the other, his great feet crunching through the driedbushesandtwigs.

In those days the Indians believed that a good spirit, called the manito, watched over them, and guided them, and kept them from harm. The story tells that the manito was walking one day throughthetreesoftheforest whenhesawthislittleIndian boy, hiding behind a pine tree and giving loud cries of terror

"WhatisthisthatIhear?" askedthemanito."NoIndian boy ever cries. Come forth

FUNWITHPOETRY

by Uncle Roy

that I may see who the coward is, and learn of what heisafraid."

Sotheboycameoutfrom behind the pine tree and spoke to the manito,"I have been sent with my bow and arrows to hunt for food for my mother to cook," he said, "butIcangonofartherinthe forest. I am afraid of Hoots, the great bear, who lives in it."

ground; his bow and arrows dropped too, for he had no longeranyhandswithwhich to hold them He was suddenly completely covered with a coat of soft grayfeathers.Hismoccasins fell off, and his feet turned intotheweefeetofabird.He wanted to call his mother, but his voice had changed to the plaintive call of a dove, and the only sound he was able to make was, "Hoo, hoo!"

"You are now the dove," said the manito, "and you willbeadoveaslongasyou live. Of all birds you will be the shyest. And every one who sees you and hearsyourcallwillknow thatyouwereonceafraid ofHoots,thebear."

What You'll Need: Decorative paper, 14-inch embroidery hoop or floral ring, glue stick, hot glue

How To Make It:

1. Cut out 33 leaf shapes and fold each in half.

2. For each flower, cut out four identical hearts by stacking paper and cutting all at once. Fold each in half and glue the sides together to make a flower shape. You'll need about 18.

3. Hot-glue enough leaves and

"You should be afraid of nothing, my son, not even of Hoots, the bear," warned the manito.

"But I can't help being afraid of Hoots; I think that hemayeatme,"saidtheboy, and at that he began crying again,"Boo-hoo,boo-hoo."

"There shall be no coward among the Indians," said the manito. "And I see that you will always be afraid. I shall change your form into that of a bird Whenever any one looks at you,hewillsay,'Thereisthe bird that is the most timid of all.'"

As the manito finished speaking, the Indian boy's deerskin cloak fell to the

So, for years and years, the dove flew earfully here and there, utteringhistimidcall,"Hoo, hoo " At last white men came, and were sorry for him, and built dove-cotes where he and all his family couldbeshelteredandlivein peace.Thereseemedtobeno work at first for the doves to do, but at last it was discovered that they could carry letters tied about their necks and hidden in their feathers.

They flew quickly with themtoescapedanger

That is why there are pictures of doves on our valentines. The doves grew brave enough to carry messages of love from one person to another, but they are always timid and keep the love that is in the valentine a secret from all exceptthepersontowhomit issent.

Make the most of your time & energy by instilling these qualities

AUseyourresourceswisely

notherthingweneed todoistoensurethat we do not waste our time and resources in unnecessary pursuits, and to keepafocusonwhatisgoodand positive,ratherthanallowingthe negative things to cloud up our actionsandourmind.

As I mentioned last week, whatever you determine to do sincerely, your subconscious mind will keep working on it, even when you are not thinking about it, to bring about the result youwant.

Thismeansthatifyoustartonsome project and do not have the confidence that you will succeed, your subconsciouswillobeyandnotworkas hardtogetyoutoyourgoal.

Have a positive outlook, move forward with confidence, and things willworkout.

Have patience

Remember also that “Rome was not built in a day”. This means that everything worth getting takes some

timeinthemaking.

Therefore, we always need to be patient and not expect the exact results we want to be accomplished in a short time. Aslongasyouknowthatyouare doingyourbest,theresultswillcomein goodtime.

By practising patience,you are also developing your personality in many ways that will prove a help to you in otherefforts.

Thistomymindalsoencourages ustohavefaithinanAlmightyCreator, whowillhelpustoachieveallthegood

things we desire, as long as we have faith in His power todoallthings.

After all, He created the Universe, and so must have themeanstodoanythingwe ask, as long as we develop thisfaithinHim.

Determine your course of action to make the best of yourself

Theworldisinsucha turmoil that it is now very hard to identify the right waybywhichpeopleshould be conducting themselves. In a world where children are exposed to all sorts of indecency and violence, weneedtodetermineourowncourseof action so as to reap the lasting success andhappinessweareallstrivingfor From the efforts towards the legalisation of drugs and same-sex marriages to the killing of innocent people so that others may live abundant lives, it seems that it is now more urgent than ever that we establish the things we need to do to keepourselvessafe.

Jigoku

At every time and in every place, of whatever people you belong, If you observe life with a clear honest eye, you cannot help but see –Life is cast in two clear moulds, and yours is the freedom to choose; Your choice will determine your fate for now and all eternity

On one hand there is the idle side, with many pleasures that call to you, It is easy as sliding down a hill, but filled later with destruction and sorrow

The other side has its hardships, with discipline and sacrifices to endure, But always resulting in a bright future, full of promise and hope for tomorrow.

So he who is preparing to carve his destiny must be sure to pass the test, With care and forethought to choose the path that would lead to his best.

in observe and choose; with test, best.

UNCLEROY Tellitto

Hello,readers, UncleRoyisagainaskingallofyoutotryinsomeway tomakeacontributiontothispage,andthustothewelfareof you and your fellow readers. This contribution can take any formthatyoufeelwouldbevaluable–anaccountofwhatis going on in your community and country, any advice you would like to pass on to your fellow teen readers and, on a broader level, any comment or recommendation you would liketomaketoyourfellowGuyanese.

Please remit same to my email –roypaul2002@yahoo com, and be assured that your worthwhile contribution will have a prominent place on our page.

Solutions to last week’s MAGIC SQUARES

Galaxies

Real Improvement of the Self will be mostly achieved by a determined and conscious effort – so make sure that you take the time and energy in this effort.

HiddenMessagesinCompany LogosYouSeeAlltheTime

(Reader’s Digest) What do Apple, Amazon, Baskin Robbins, and Toblerone have in common? They have hidden messages in their logos—here’s what they are and whattheymean.

Didyouknowtheselogoshave hiddenmessages?

As consumers, we see company

logos daily Logos are everywhere, buthaveyoueverstoppedandreally look at them?There’s more to them thanmeetstheeye.

Turnsout,manycompanieshave hidden messages in their logos. CompanieslikeStarbucks,Amazon, and even Goodwill strategically designedtheirlogostoconveysubtle

Baskin Robbins

Baskin Robbins is known for its ice cream, but did you knowthere’sahiddenmessageinthelogo?Lookclosely, and you’ll see the number 31 in the initials—as in the number of flavors the company began offering in 1953. Why 31 flavors? It’s one for every day of the month, so youcantrysomethingneweveryday Yum!Thecompany recentlyunveiledanewlogo(itsfirstmajorrefreshsince 2006),butdon’tworry—youcanstillspotthe31init.

messagesaboutthingslikecompany valuesandproducts.

Logos can also try to subconsciously influence buying behavior, which partially explains why so many logos are red. Keep reading to discover the hidden messages in logos you see all the time.

The hidden message in this logo is very clever from a marketingandbrandingperspective.Ifyouturnthelogo around,theword“Sun”isalwaysthere.

The sideways E in the Dell logo is more than just a creative way to set it apart from other logos. Michael Dellannouncedthatthegoalofhiscompanywasto“turn theworldonitsear.”It’sbeensaidhestartedwithanE.

Amazon is a staple in many online shoppers’ lives, but have you ever wondered what that little arrow at the bottom of the logo means? It’s not just a fun design element—the arrow broadcasts the wide variety of stuff (fromAtoZ)soldonAmazon.

Why does the tech giant’s iconic logo have a bite taken out of it?The reason is pretty practical. The designer made the bitemarkforscale,sothatasmallerlogo wouldstilllooklikeanappleandnotacherry

You may assume the logo contains a smilingfacetorepresenthowgooditfeels to clean your house, donate items, and recycleclothesyounolongeruse.Butthefaceisactually just a larger version of the g in the word “Goodwill,” whichappearsatthebottomofthelogo.Whoknew?

TheFedExlogolooksprettynormalatfirstglance,soit’s easy to miss the hidden message. Look at the space betweentheEandthex—it’sanarrowpointingforward, perhapstosuggestspeedyandaccuratedelivery

I nitially, this logo looks pretty simplistic The networking company’snameisplainasdayunderalinemotif.But there’smoretothislogothanmeetstheeye.According toCanva,thosebluestripesrepresentanelectromagnet as well as the Golden Gate Bridge, paying homage to Cisco’s namesake San Francisco. Once you see the bridgeinthoselines,youcan’tunseeit!

Toblerone Wikipedia

If you’ve snagged this deliciousSwisschocolatebar in your day, you’ve seen the mountain on its logo. But wait, what’s that on the left side of the mountain?That’s right: It’s a bear The bear is the official symbol of the SwisstownofBern,theoriginalhomeofToblerone.

Wikipedia is a massive source of information, and there’s a reason the site’s puzzling logo isn’t totally complete. The unfinished globe, made of puzzle pieces with characters from various languages, represents the “incomplete nature” of the company’s mission to be the go-toinformationportal—andthefactthatasitebuilton usersubmissionscanneverbecomplete.

Tour de France

Does the yellow circle represent the sun?Nope!It’sactuallyabicyclewheel. The “R” in “tour” is a person, and the “O”in“tour”isthebackbicyclewheel.

TheBronxZoo’solderlogoisincredibly sweet when all you see are two giraffes andafewbirds,butcheckoutthenegative space between the animals’ legs. There, you’ll find the New York City skyline, makingthelogoevenmoreperfect.

Considering the Unilever logo is everywhere,you’dthinkwewouldhave looked deeper at this interesting design Mostpeoplejustnoticetheletter“U”and its decorative motif But upon further inspection, you’ll seetheUnilever“U”usessymbolsrelatedtoitsextensive productofferings That’saprettycoolwaytoencapsulate whatthecompanycoversunderitswideumbrella

Sun Microsystems Dell Goodwill Cisco The Bronx Zoo Unilever Sony Vaio

Atfirstglance,wethoughtadesignergotfancywithfonts when crafting the word “Vaio,” but there’s meaning behind that original look. Sony wanted the logo to representtheintegrationofanaloganddigitaltechnology. The “V” and “A” were drawn to show an analog wave. The “I” and “O” are there to represent binary code. For those not tech-savvy, binary is a computer language comprisedofonesandzeros.

Tostitos

Youmayhavethoughtthedotoverthe“i”wasusedto give the logo a pop of colour, but it’s actually part of a hidden—andcreative—message.Thereddotisactually abowlofsalsa.ThetwoT’sarepeople,andtheyellow triangle in between them is a chip. It’s supposed to representpeoplecomingtogethertoshareatastysnack ofchipsandsalsa.

London Symphony Orchestra

We thought the three-letter abbreviation was written out in a fancy script font—but we were wrong. Not only is the logo an abbreviation of the London SymphonyOrchestra,butitalsorepresentsaconductor The“L”andthe“O”arethearms.

With “Adidas” in lowercase, bold type, most people focus their attentiononthecompanyname But thosediagonalstripeshavemeaning:Theyareintendedto looklikeamountain thetypeofmountaineliteathletes wouldpushthemselvestoclimbagainstallodds.

At first glance, theWendy’s logo looksprettystraightforward—but there is a hidden message in it. Morespecifically,there’sasecret word hidden in the collar of Wendy’s blouse. Look closely,andyouwillnoticetheword“Mom”writtenin the collar of her top. Many culinary sleuths assumed it was a nod to the chain’s efforts to give food a homecooked feel, but higher-ups at Wendy’s say the secret messagewasactuallyunintentional.

Are the Land the G cleverly configured into a smiley face, presumably the face of a happy LG customer? Nope. Eagle-eyed folks point out that if you tilt your head to the side that smiley face actually looks like a modified version of Pacman; perhaps, an ode to the beloved arcade game character and the earlier days of personal technology? That’s pure speculation AccordingtoLG,thelogostandsfortheworld,future, youth,humanity,andtechnology

Adidas Wendy’s LG Pinterest

Youmaythinkthislogoisprettycutand dryhere,withacapital“P”placedinthe middle of a bright red circle. But the company’ssignature“P”alsodoublesasanillustration ofamappin.AccordingtoCNBC,oneofthedesigners ofthePinterestlogodidn’twanttoaddthevisualofan actualpin,butthefinallookcametogetherorganically

>> Continued on page 52 <<

HiddenMessagesin CompanyLogosYou...

>> From page 51 <<

Hershey’s Kisses

These two overlapping Hershey’s Kisses make us crave chocolate big time.Butifyoulookcarefullyatthe logo, you’ll notice it doesn’t contain only two kisses. Therearethree!Lookbetweenthe“K”andthe“I”inthe word“Kisses.”Ifyoutiltyourheadtotheleft,you’llseea sidewayskissplantedfirmlybetweenthetwoletters.Fun fact: Hershey’s Kisses are one of the most famous productsstillmadeinAmerica.

Beats by Dre

The stellar sound quality of Beats by Drespeakersandheadphonesspeaksfor itself, right? So you may think this simple logo is just a lowercase “B.” Not entirely The circle that encapsulates the “B” actually represents a human head. The “B” is meant to represent someone wearingtheheadphones.

Some think the company name, written in bright red cursive, is simply cute and a littlecountry Thefonthascertainlybecomeintegraltothe Chick-fil-A identity, but note the chicken incorporated intothe“C.”Thisisperfectforabelovedfast-foodchain thatdealsstrictlyinchicken.

Thislogofeaturesacolorfulpeacock, so we thought it referenced NBC‘s nickname as the Peacock Network. Well,weweren’tentirelywrong.It’sdefinitelyapeacock, but the six feathers have meaning: They represent the originalsixdivisionsofthenetwork(therearetonsmore now, but the logo remains the same). Plus, the peacock’s head is facing right, which is meant to symbolize the network’seyeonthefuture.

You may think the logo portrays thecompany’snameinascriptfont,providingafashionforwardfeel.Famousforitsbelovedsunglasses,Ray-Ban actually incorporates a subtle illustration of a pair of shadesinthe“B”(justturnyourheadsidewaystoseeit).

It’sajazzy-styled“H”forHyundai, isn’t it? It’s slanted to insinuate speed—orsowethought.Thislogo is meant to represent two people shaking hands; one is a salesperson,andtheotherisasatisfiedcarcustomer

The IBM logo looks like it was printed on a primitive printer, horizontal lines and all. That’snottheintentionbehindthelogo,though.Turnsout, those horizontal lines symbolize the equal sign, representingIBM’sdedicationtoequality

Chick-fil-A NBC Ray-Ban Hyundai IBM Gillette

Thisfontlookssporty,withtheslantedstylelendingitself tothenotionofspeed.Thoseslantedlettersareangledthat waytogiveoffa“razor-sharp”feeling.The“G”andthe“I” havebeencuttosymbolizethebrand’ssignatureproduct.

A liya Elizabeth Wong

Meet the gorgeous Ms. Aliya Elizabeth Wong, a decorated national athlete and model. Aliya is well versed in the sport of shotokan karate and is a third Dan Black Belt phenomenon. She has represented Guyana on the global stage, and is an International Karate Daigaku Hall of Fame inductee Aliya places no limits on herself and entering the body building arena, she also made a stunning impact, winning the ‘Miss Bikini Novice Body’ building contest in 2021. Her favorite quote is by Dr Martin Luther King Jr “You don’t need to see the whole staircase, just take the first step”

Exxon to wrap up public meetings on 6th project this week in Berbice

Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) or ExxonMobil Guyana will wrap

Public

On Monday, February 6, 2023Exxonwillbemeeting with stakeholders from 10:00hrs at the

Technical Institute, Mahaicony, Region Five

Later that day the team will movetotheLatchmanSingh

Primary School, West Coast Berbice(WCB)tohearfrom stakeholders. That meeting will commence at 15:00hrs

(3pm).

On Tuesday February 7, 2023, ExxonMobil Guyana will be at the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) Training Centre, Port Mourant Berbice, Region Six for a meeting commencingat10:00hrs.

So far, stakeholders who attended the scoping sessionsinRegionsFourand Threehaveleftthemeetings withunansweredquestions.

Publisher of Kaieteur News, Mr Glenn Lall had saidthesemeetingsarebeing heldsothattheoilcompany canticktheboxestosaythey met the requirements incountry to consult with the public.

“This is just a sham because of the requirement in place for it to be done. TheywanttoshowtheWorld howtransparenttheywere–that they engaged the countryanditspeople-sono one can accuse them of highhandedness with the people’soilwealth,”hesaid. Hiscommentscameafter the oil company released a public notice informing stakeholdersofthesessions. It must be noted that while the venue and time was set for all the other Regions, Exxondidnotspecifywhere or when the meeting will be held in Region Four, the mostpopulateddistrictinthe country The oil company announced these details two daysbeforethemeeting.

With the sixth project beingpursued,Exxonisstill reluctant to speak on the issue of insurance for the o p e r a t i o n s W h e n questioned on the subject at its Georgetownmeeting,the Project Manager for ExxonMobil Guyana, Anthony Jackson said, “: “Oninsurance,Iwouldhave 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 especiallyifitwasrelatedto oil spills…Insurance is not the primary mechanism that weusetodothat.Ifthereisa car accident and we needed toact,wedon’twaitandsay ‘hold on let me call insurance’…thatisatool

Continuedonpage55

up its

Scoping Sessions for the sixth oil project- the Whiptail development- this weekinBerbice.

Mahaica

ExxonMobil Projects Manager, Anthony Jackson

Investment opportunities abound for Berbice Private Sector

says Peter Ramsaroop

National SecurityAdvisor, Captain Gerry Gouveia makes a point during a business forum in Region Six on Friday.

ByMalisaPlayter-Harry

Representatives of the Berbice Private Sector wereonFridayurgedto take full advantage of the opportunities which exist by forming joint ventures aimed at contributing to Guyana’s development.

Head of Guyana Office for Invest (GoInvest), Dr. Peter Ramsaroop, and National Security Advisor, Captain Gerry Gouveia met with representatives from the Berbice Private Sector , at a Business Forum held during the Office of the President’s two-day outreach at State House, New Amsterdam.

The forum, which was organisedbytheBerbiceChamber of Commerce to discuss business opportunities,the2023budgetand future investments, saw business men and women eagerly seeking advice.

Ramsaroop,wholedtheforum, told media representatives that the attendees were urged to “start paying attention to what opportunities exist and start figuring out how you get involved...” The GoInvest head also said that it is critical that entrepreneurs examine the budget to see what opportunities that can benefit from as the 2023 budget, likeallotherscaterstoexpenditure acrosssectors.

Ramsaroop said too that businesses have to find ways of being involved even if it is by providing “materials from a hardware store or If I am a contractororanelectricianetc.”

“The budget is divided into multiple areas and government invest back into our country in orderforcitizenstobenefitandthat was the whole purpose of getting folkstounderstandthatwemaynot do it ourselves but the goal is joint ventures, consortiums, ” Ramsaroop said while noting that President Irfaan Ali through his ‘One Guyana’ initiative has demonstrated ways in which persons can work together in Region Six to benefit from

Exxontowrapuppublicmeetingson...

Frompage54 that is used after the fact to address any claimswemighthave…”

Its sixth project, the Whiptail development, seeks to produce oil at the Whiptail, Pinktail and Tilapia fields Tilapia’sdiscoverywasannouncedbytheoil giant in February 2019. It was followed by the welcomed news of another successful exploration activity atWhiptail field in July 2021andPinktailin2021.

In the oil giant’s Project Summary, available on the EPA’s website, it was noted

that the operations will add up to 275,000 barrelsofoilperdaytothecurrentproduction ratesofabout393,000barrelsofoilperday ExxonMobil hopes to start up the sixth developmentbythefourthquarterof2027or firstquarterof2028.Ithasanexpectedfield lifeofatleast20years.

Whiptail will be located in the south eastern portion of the Stabroek Block, approximately 183 km from Georgetown. Current plans include drilling via drill ships to produce oil from approximately 40 – 65 productionandinjectionwells.

Exxonnowneedsitsowndumpsite...

Frompage18 ProtectionAgency (EPA) to assess practical suitability of the proposed locations and potentialforGovernmentbuy-in.

The subsidiary also said that companies must also demonstrate their ability to assess challenges for the identified opportunities (e.g., road access or other infrastructure challenges,competinglanduses,etc.).

They must also identify Best Industry Standards for an industrial landfill design, including, for example, lining, leachate system,andmonitoringwells.

Thesignificantincreaseofwasteandthe need for proper management is also highlighted in EEPGL’s Cradle to the Grave Waste Management Analysis which was submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)lastyear

According to the document, “EEPGL’s

use of drilling fluids and LMP (liquid mud plants) operations are expected to increase substantially during the 2021–2023 time period, given that six drillships may be potentiallyoperatingconcurrently.”

Exxon’s partner in the Stabroek Block, HessCorporationrecentlyrevealedthatthree of these ships are dedicated to development workswhiletheothersarepoisedtocontinue an aggressive exploration programme. This newspaperrecentlyreportedthat10wellsare being drilled this year by the Exxon-led group.

Given the nature of the 2016 Production SharingAgreement,allinitiativespursuedby Exxon to support the Stabroek Block operations is subject to cost recovery It therefore means that Guyana’s oil will be used to cover the costs of this proposed dumpsite.

investments while contributing to development.

The GoIvest head spoke of the many opportunities that exist pointing specifically to the Construction of a stadium at Palmyra, expansion of the Rose Hall airstrip, an oil refinery, deep water harbour, bridge between GuyanaandSuriname.

“So if we know that thousands of people will be coming in this region to build the refinery, build the harbour. Am I looking at building apartment buildings? I mightlookatbuildinglargerhotels. Am I looking at food services? so that’s how we have to think as businesses and our agency is there toassistinfolksunderstandingthe business environment and how to potentiallypartnerwithforeignand local investors coming to Guyana coming to develop our nation,” Ramsaroopsaid.

Meanwhile, the GoInvest head believesthattheforumwasableto provideperspectivetothebusiness community in Region Six while notingthatpersonsareaccustomto working alone. He stressed that

partnerships are key to being successful in a highly competitive environment.

“One Guyana moors a much more social and cohesiveness and working together but on the business side, One Guyana makes sense too. Why not partner with somebodyinRegion4orRegion10 tosayyouknow,youaredoingwell in that region and you are now startingoutinBerbice.Howdowe create that opportunity? Don’t try to build it all by yourself, people havedoneitbeforeandthatIthink ismoreofthefeedbackintermsof people who will want to look at thoseopportunitiesoutthere.”

Ramsaroop disclosed that business persons from Regions 5 and6haveexpressedaninterestin largescaleagricultureventuresand eco-tourism.

“So there are many new opportunities growing and I think when these major infrastructure projectscomeabout,Iexpectmore influx of people coming in...,” he said noting that the business communityinRegionSixisexcited abouttheexistingopportunities.

Peter Ramsaroop speaking to the media

Vegans Paradise

ByRenaySambach

Most popular and

emergingrestaurants in Guyana do not cater for vegetarians whose diets arestrictlyplantbasedanddoesnot includedairyproductsandeggs.A vegan’s diet while predominantly plantbasedlikevegetables,grains, nuts and fruits, is not adequately offered in the mainstream restaurantbusiness.

However, when it comes to culinary trends, vegan is one that has been increasing over the past decade and even more so over the past few years in Guyana. HealthconsciousGuyaneseconsumersare becoming more dedicated to following vegan guidelines, cooking vegan food, and dining in veganrestaurantsmorethanever.

Making its way into the

restaurant industry in Guyana is Eco-Garden International VegetarianRestaurantwhichoffers an exotic fine dining experience veganstyle.

One of the owners of the restaurant, 46-year-old Dionna Graham,sharedthatshehasbeena vegetarianfor32yearsandthatshe has a profound love for cooking veganfood.Grahamaddedthather love for cooking and her way of living is what inspired her to start herownbusiness.

“Ilovesharingmycreativityfor vegetarian dishes and lifestyle and to promote healthy eating and living,”shesaid.

Graham shared that she has been cooking from the tender age ofeight,inahomeshesharedwith hereightsiblings–foursistersand four brothers. According to Graham, she had migrated to the

UnitedStates(US)whereshelived for24yearsbeforemovingbackto herhomeland,Guyana.Whileback home, she decided to follow her lifelong dream which led to the establishmentofherbusiness.

Today,Grahamisnowamother ofthreeandabusinessownerdoing whatsheloves.

Eco-Gardenofficiallyopenedits doors on October 3, 2022 The restaurantislocatedat173Mandela Avenue, Alexander Village, Georgetown(oppositeBanksDIH)

The business is opened Monday to Saturday from 06:00hoursto22:00hours.

Some items on our menu include:Bake&VeggieSalmonor Veggie Sausages, Mac & Cheese, Veggie Chicken Balls, Veggie MinceBalls,Roti&Curry,Puri& Curry, Patties, Cheese Rolls, Pine Tarts, Buns, Pinwheels, Veggie

Chicken Pizzas, Veggie Pizzas, Veggie Chicken Burgers, Veggie

Fish Burgers, Chowmein, Veggie

Duck Curry, Veggie Chicken

Curry, Dhal, Veggie Mixed Meat

Pepperpot, Veggie Strip Chicken

FriedRice,SoupandMetemgee.

AccordingtoGraham,someof themostpopularitemsareBake& Salmon, Dhal, Soup, Metemgee, Pepperpot, Black Cakes, Burgers, andVeggieStripChickenFryRice.

Inadditiontothedeliciousfood offered at Eco Garden, the restaurant has a great ambiance.

C

mesmerizing sounds of the steel pan and listen to talented local spoken word artists deliver their poetic pieces. Eco-Garden Vegetarian Restaurant caters for dinner parties, lunches, birthdays, andanniversaries.

A treat for the senses, enjoy

delicate and aromatic vegetarian dishes and immerse yourself in a superlative vegan experience, when you dine at Eco-Garden International Vegetarian Restaurant.

“Mylong-termgoalistobethe number one vegetarian restaurant that meets international standards in Guyana and the Caribbean,” Grahamsaid.

The co-owner of Eco-Garden International Vegetarian Resturant isRampertabEtwaria.

TocontactEco-Gardenyoucan visit their Facebook page @EcoGarden International Vegetarian Restaurant or call + (592) 6374621, + (592) 623-4184 or + (592) 604-4000.

[

information you can contact me

From page 16

and the Railway Embankment on heard the gunshots, I hear the growing needs, and reduce the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) building vibrate and when I lift-up emissions in operations, while and torched a truck following a my head and look up, I saw bullets providing innovative solutions that Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit comingthroughthebuilding.” helpothersreducetheirs. (CANU)operationinthearea. Whileshewassharingherstory,

At the Stabroek Block where The massive protest erupted other protestors could be heard Exxon is the operator through its between 10:00 and 11:00hrs and shouting, “Y’all release the man subsidiary, Esso Exploration and lasted until 15:00hrs after shots (Odearie Phillips. Free he or else Production Guyana Limited werereportedlyfiredbytheCANU we na gon done (protest) today”. (EEPGL), there are two oil ships in ranks while arresting a suspect Just as they were chanting, a DAF operation These are the Liza identified as, Odearie Phillips, 25, Leyland truck belonging to Hack Destiny and the Liza Unity floating of Vigilance, ECD. CANU had Rice Milling Complex was set production, storage and offloading reportedly tried to intercept ablaze and the driver, Feroze Shaw vessels (FPSOs) Both are Phillips’ car during an operation aka “Javid” had to run for his life producing over 380,000 barrels of along the ECD but he reportedly while police including the oilperday AthirdFPSOwillcome evaded ranks at a road block set up Commander of ‘C’ Division stood on stream this year at the Payara at Buxton. The ranks suspected helplessly field with an expected capacity of that he might have been carrying Shaw was taken into protective 220,000 gross barrels of oil per day drugs and chased him into Buxton custody but before leaving with (bopd). The fourth development, The GPHC in a statement

KaieteurNewsunderstandsthat and were eventually able to arrest police, the truck driver told Yellowtail, was sanctioned inApril issued to Kaieteur News said that the woman was diagnosed with him with some $7M worth of reporters at the scene, that he was 2022 and will utilize the ONE thehospitalisknowledgeableabout sickle cell which caused marijuana (23.2 Kilograms) after attacked by two men while he tried GUYANA FPSO with an expected thecaseinquestion. complications during her hiscarcametoahaltinatrench. to turn his truck around and retreat. capacity of 250,000 gross bopd, The hospital claimed to have pregnancy Over the past few However, CANU claimed that Shaw said, “… I was going to with first production expected in worked with the mother and family months, GPHC has recorded a while arresting Phillips, its officers reversebackonetimebutafterthey 2025. to provide pre-and post-delivery numberofmaternaldeaths. were forced to fire warning shots getavehicledehlangsidetheroad,

Afifth development, Uaru, was counselling on account of the case A Lodge, Georgetown woman after Buxtonians became hostile Ihadtopullforwardlilbitmoreand submitted for approval to the being a uniquely complicated one and her unborn child died on and assaulted some of them for push meh back in the street lil bit Government of Guyana in the as a foetus with a poor prognosis, October20,2022,whileonOctober trying to apprehend him morefuhgettoturnback.” fourth quarter Pending which was medically determined 29,2022aMahaicawoman,Navita “Members of the public became “”Suh when a thing now (try to Government approvals and project fromtheonset. Maraj and her unborn child, died at hostile, assaulted several officers turn back),” continued the driver, sanctioning, the project is expected In the meantime, GHPC urged GPHC. Since then, the relatives of and damaged several of the unit’s “twoofthemguyopenthedoorand tohaveacapacityofapproximately those who are peddling and are the deceased have been calling for vehicles in an attempt to free jump up, turn off the engine and 250,000 gross bopd with first oil privy to third party information answers. The hospital has said that Phillips who was in lawful custody pull out the key I don’t know what anticipated at the end of 2026. A related to this incident, to desist investigations have been launched by pulling him out of CANU’s themdowithit.”Itwasatthispoint sixth development at the Whiptail from inflicting further grief to the into the women’s deaths. However, vehicle, this resulted in several thatthetruckwastorchedandShaw field is already before Guyanese mother and her family who, with it is unclear whether reports on the shotsbeingdischargedintotheair”, had to escape with rocks being authorities for review Scoping the guidance of our medical team, investigationshavebeencompleted CANUstated. thrownbehindhim. consultations on that venture will were appraised and had a andorsharedwiththefamilies. The Buxtonians on the other The truck was burnt until the kickstarttoday comprehensive understanding of Meanwhile, last year Dr Karen hand claimed that they became shellremained.However,ataround the associated risks of the Cummings, Shadow Minister of angrybecausetheCANUrankshad 14:30hrs, the protestors started to Baby dies during pregnancy Earlier this month, Health, for the Opposition-led A endangeredtheirlivesbyrecklessly calm down and police ranks delivery at GPHC GPHC had recorded two more Partnership for National Unity+ “shooting up”. During the protest, monitoring the situation decided to …hospital says mother maternal deaths which occurred on AllianceForChange(APNU+AFC) the residents were heard telling the call in members of the Guyana knew of “risks from January 1 and January 6, 2023 said that considering the billions of ECD Police Commander, Khali Defence Force and Guyana Fire complicated pregnancy” respectively dollarsthatispumpedintothehealth Pareshram as he tried to calm them Service to assist in extinguishing

In a brief statement, the sector, Guyana should not be down. “Supposed them been kill the flames of the burning truck and

A baby was pronounced Hospital said that a 31-year-old recording maternal and infant me the morning. We want the team clearing the debris off the road. As stillborn at the Georgetown Public woman died at the facility on deaths return (CANU rank), Let the team the Joint Services ranks began the Hospital Corporation (GPHC) on January6whileonJanuary1,2023, return.” Others claimed that their process, some of the protestors Friday last due to complications a25-year-oldwomandied. Thursday – Feb 2, 2023 houseswere“shotup”bytheranks. became hostile again and began during delivery Kaieteur News

On December 23, 2022, One woman who identified pelting bottles and rocks at the understands that the child died as a Kaieteur News had reported that Residents blocked roadways, herself as a friend of Phillips, the approachingranks.Reportersatthe result of complications due to a 38-year-old Tiffani D. Jeffrey died burned truck during protest suspect nabbed by CANU said, “I scene had to take cover but the congenital disease Information as a result of complications after over CANU shooting was at home in Brushe Dam, hostility only lasted a short while reaching this newspaper is that the giving birth at GPHC. It was Friendship lying down on my bed and the ranks were allowed to clear head of the fetus came off during reported that the woman died two Residents of Buxton on with my husband and when I hear theroad.Ittookafewhoursforthe theprocessofdelivery daysaftershedeliveredherbaby Wednesdayblockedthepublicroad some gunshots firing. But before I (Continued on page 58)

Edghill,MinisterofPublicWorks. lawmen to entirely clear the road before traffic was eventually

From page 57

Cuban woman killed as vehicles restored around 17:00hrs on explode on Mabura Trail Wednesday Wednesday’s skirmisheswerealsoreminiscentof

A female Cuban national was theviolencethatenvelopedGolden killed when two vehicles collided Grove and other Upper East Coast and then exploded on the Mabura Demeraravillageslastyearoverthe TrailonThursdayafternoon. killing of Quindon Bacchus by

Inapressreleasepolicesaidthe members of the Guyana Police accident occurred at about 15:20 Force. hrs between 39 and 40 Miles Mabura Trail, involving a minibus

ExxonMobil funding its own and a motor pick-up which resulted cost oil audits – Bharrat in the death of a female Cuban national.

The audit or review of the bills Details reaching this media handed to Guyana by oil giant house confirms that the vehicles ExxonMobil to develop the involved in the accident are: Ramdihal & Haynes Inc, Eclisar Director, Kemraj Parsram revoke of Public Works has since issued resource is being funded by the minibus #BVV 5815, owned by Financial, and Vitality Accounting EEPGL environmental permit orders to acquire those lands developer Eon Sinclair of Kitty, Georgetown & Consultancy Inc. with support withoutdelay compulsorily to enable EEPGL to

This was revealed by Minister and driven by 35-year-old Kirk from an International firm- SGS In explaining the basis for such put in the pipeline. However, Ms. of Natural Resources Vickram Allicock, a licensed driver, along and Martindale Consultants for the a request, the women outlined that Deane-Hughes and Ms. Radzik Bharrat duringTuesday’s Sitting of with thirteen (13) passengers (both ‘Cost Recovery Audit and

opined that these orders are also the National Assembly. The Indian and Cuban nationals), and Validation of the Government of Environmental Protection illegal. Ministerwasatthetimeresponding motor pick-up (registration Guyana’sProfitOil’Share’. (Authorisation) Regulations The letter to the EPA states, to a line of questions from number, driver name and address The Government of Guyana requires that an application for “Pleasenotethatasageneralmatter Opposition Member of Parliament, unknown). (GoG) is expecting the final report authorisation, contain the of law, ministers may not use their David Patterson when he outlined Enquiries disclosed that the on the US$7.3 billion audit to be following information: “(ii) proof statutory powers to facilitate thatthesecostsarenotcomingfrom minibus #BVV 5915 was completed by March Bharrat that the applicant either owns the illegality TheAcquisitionofLands outofthenationalpurse. proceeding to Mabura on the left explained that the first report has facility or has a lease or other for Public Purposes Act empowers Bharrat explained, “There is a side of the trail in the vicinity of 39 been handed over to the agreement with the landowner or thesubjectministertoacquirelands petroleum account at the Geology and 40 Miles Mabura, and while government already as he pointed occupier to enable the applicant to for public purposes. It is not (and and Mines Commission (GGMC) negotiating a left bend, the motor out there may have been some conduct the activity on the facility cannot be) a public purpose to ofwhichlicensefeesandotherdues pick-up which was proceeding in misunderstanding regarding the or has the legal right of way to acquire private land in order to are paid into the account and for the opposite direction on the right expected completion date for the conduct the activity without the facilitate a breach of law or example, the new Production side of the said trail collided with expenditure review “I think from consent of the landowner or circumventlegalrequirementssuch Licensethatweareissuingnow,we thefrontportionoftheminibus. theinceptionwhenthecontractwas occupier.” astheregulations.Theordersmade have actually included an auditing

As a result of the collision,both signed there was a bit of The women contend in their fee. So the operator is paying an misunderstanding.Inthecontractit letter to the EPA Head that auditingfeetoGuyanainthosenew says 120 working days and I think EEPGL’s application, dated June licensesandthosemoniesarebeing t h e r e w a s a l o t o f 24, 2021, contains no proof as paid into the Petroleum Account at misconception…that it would be required by the regulation GGMC.”

120 running days or calendar days, ElizabethDeaneHughesandVanda

The Minister pointed out that but its 120 working days,” Bharrat Radzik said, “Pipelines are the present audit, being conducted said. notoriously dangerous People’s by a local consortium in President Irfaan Ali in lives, livelihoods and lands are at collaboration with an international November last year told this risk. And yet EEPGL cannot even firm, is being paid through that newspaper that the process was fill in the application form properly mechanism. estimatedtowrapupbeforetheend andtheEPAdoesnotevenbotherto

According to the Yellowtail of 2022, with the first report ready checkitsownrequirements.Weare Production License granted to byDecember citizens of Guyana and are deeply Exxon’s subsidiary, Esso

When the Head of State was concerned at the pattern of Exploration and Production questioned on the audit during a lawlessness that is evident in Guyana Limited (EEPGL), the press conference on January 17, he EEPGL’s operations and that of the License holder shall pay to an told Kaieteur News “Well I can GovernmentofGuyana.” account held and controlled by the onlytellyouwhatyouknow.”

Thewomenalsorecalledthatin Government US$400,000 to be

4th January 2023 as published in were taken to Linden Hospital,

by the Minister under the vehiclesburstintoflames. 2020, it was President, Dr Irfaan used by the administration “for the Acquisition Lands for Public AfemaleCubannationalseated Friday – Feb 3, 2023 Ali who said that, “We cannot lead preparation of the audit scope and Purposes Act to acquire private behind the driver was pinned in the in a way that is disrespectful to our the procurement of third-party land for the pipeline route are minibus when it caught fire — and Guyanese women urge EPA country.” Despite making such a auditors to supplement the Chief thereforeultraviresandunlawful.” sheperishedinthevehicle. revoke Exxon’s environmental statement, the women opined that Inspector’s resources and develop It continues, “Those orders The driver and the other authorization for gas project EEPGL, in collusion with the institutional capacity for the (includingOrders3,4,5,6,and7of passengers received injuries. They Government of Guyana, has ongoingconductofaudits…”

– say oil company did not meet repeatedly shown contempt for the Notably, Exxon was required to the Official Gazette on 6th January where four persons (two males and all legal requirements, call for end nation’slawsandforcitizens’well- pay this fee 30 days after the 2023) do not have legal effect and two females) were treated and topatternoflawlessness being. On this note, they demanded License was granted and annually cannot deprive the landowners and referred to the Georgetown Public

Two Guyanese women are of that the Government puts the on the same date for a total of three leaseholders of their property Hospitalwhilethedriverandothers the firm conviction that the interests of the Guyanese people consecutive years This would rights.Iamcopyingthislettertothe are receiving treatment at the Environmental Protection Agency aboveEEPGL’s. amount to US$1 6 billion Hon. Minister of Public Works so LindenHospital. (EPA) breached the law when it Additionally, the women were Presently, Guyana is conducting an that he is immediately apprised of Meanwhile, Kaieteur News issued an environmental permit to keen to note that the route for the audit specifically targeting the situation and can take the understands that the pick-up is Esso Exploration and Production proposed pipeline runs from expensesbetweentheyears2018to necessary steps to uphold the rule owned by the Brazilian Company, Guyana Ltd. (EEPGL) for the NouvelleFlanderstothroughCanal 2020 that has already been billed to o f l a w , i n c l u d i n g Construtora Queiroz Galvao S.A, US$2BGas-to-Energyproject. No 1 to Wales. They said that lands thecountry rescinding/cancelling the said which was handed the contract to

Specifically, Elizabeth Deane- within the proposed pipeline route The cost of that audit is pegged orders, and restarting the construct the first leg of the Linden Hughes and Vanda Radzik have, are held by Guyanese citizens who at US$751,000. On May 24 last acquisition process on a proper and to Lethem road. Back in May last through their Attorney-at-Law, live, farm, and earn a living from year, the contract was signed for lawfulbasis.” year the Government of Guyana MelindaJanki,onJanuary31,2023 theselands. VHE Consulting which is a

A copy of the letter was also officiallysigned requested that the EPA’s Executive They said too that the Ministry registered partnership between sent yesterday to Bishop Juan A (Continued on page 59)

An illustration of the gas-to-energy project

From page 58

alarming that the relevant Wanted Bulletin was issued a contract with Construtora expert is not here to speak for him in relation to the Queiroz Galvao S.A., the definitivelyonthismatter.” murder of Nazaleen Brazilian company which

Kaieteur News was also M o h a m e d a t H o p e will be constructing the armed with several other Lowlands,ECD. 121km asphaltic concrete questionswhichitdidnotget He was found in an road from Linden to Mabura the opportunity to pose due abandoned house at Hill.Thecompanywasgiven to time constraints placed on Mahaica, Region Four, one a no-objection by the the meeting by the day after the Police issued Caribbean Development organizers. thewantedbulletin. Bank’s (CDB) to build the At the conclusion of the This publication had US$190 million or GY$32.4 scoping meeting, attendees reported that the body of the billion road. Construtora got a clear understanding of 47-year-old woman, a Queiroz Galvao S.A. was how hungry Exxon is for housewife of Belfield among five contractors that Guyana’s oil, but not so Squatting Area, East Coast submitted bids for the m u c h a b o u t t h e Demerara (ECD), was found Ministry of Public Works environmental implications floating in a canal, with project. Kaieteur News had s i n c e t h e r e l e v a n t several wounds about her r e p o r t e d t h a t t h i s representatives on these abdomen – with intestines infrastructure project is issueswerenotpresent. protruding, neck, ear and was Project Manager for countries utilize best a d d r e s s e d i n t h e being pursued by the

Exxon’s sixth project, as head.

Government of Guyana in previously reported, will The Police in their initial AnthonyJackson. across the world and where Assessment to be produced partnership with CDB and target the Whiptail, Pinktail statement had disclosed that Arepresentativefromthe there isn’t any specification bythecompany’sconsultant. the United Kingdom and Tilapia discoveries, the suspect has been

ExxonMobil Guyana, practices that are accepted Environmental Impact

Government The UK estimated to hold over one identified as the dead Initiativewasfirsttotakethe Exxon defers to the Journalist, Davina Bagot funded US$66 million, the billion barrels of oil woman’s ex-partner floor on Friday evening to standards it knows governs also asked about the CDB funded US$112 resources. Kaieteur News understands understand which company various aspects of the insurance policy in place for million while the Guyana

Guyana Environment or in-country guidance, Kaieteur News’ Senior

The project is poised for that Mohamed was living at orgroupisensuringthatdrill industry this project She also Government provided start up in 2027-2028 and Belfield Squatting Area, cuttings which will be An Exxon official enquired about the US$12million. will produce between with her daughter and dumped into the ocean from jumped in at this point to implications of citizens 220,000 and 275,000 barrels reputed husband, who was at the project are meeting note that the EPA also sets ingestingmarinespeciesthat

Saturday – Feb 4, 2023 ofoilperday(bpd). seaonafishingboat. international requirements, the standards to be complied would have consumed a Scoping meetings for Thewomanwaslastseen asExxonclaimed. withanditisalsoresponsible cocktail of oil and toxic

Public scoping this project continue on alive by a neighbour, while Jackson said there is a forcompliancemonitoring. dispersants during an meetings for Exxon’s Monday at the Mahaicony she was leaving her home comprehensive system in Kaieteur News also unmitigated oil spill

sixth project now a farce TechnicalInstitute. and heading to her brother’s place. He said drill cuttings asked how often this is done. scenario. residenceatHopeLowlands, are extracted from 2000 JoelGravesande,Headofthe Jackson said: “On -Key questions on Belfield woman’s ECD. meters beneath the sea bed. EPA’s Oil and Gas Unit was insurance, I would have to options for excess gas, murder… Murder accused Reports indicate that He said Exxon subscribes to keen to note that compliance defer that question, I am not insurance coverage left makes court appearance around 08:05h on January the use of internationally isdoneeveryday,sinceithas an insurance expert of the unanswered 25, the woman’s 32-year-old accepted fluids during the real time access of what is affiliate, I am aware of our

Does ExxonMobil

C o r p o r a t i o n r e g a r d

Deonarine Sawh, called son received a call from his extraction and drilling happening offshore. He said commitment to address any

‘Boyzie’of Plantation Hope, mothercellularphone.When process. Jackson also noted there is real time data on the issue that might arise Guyanese as unintelligent,

East Coast Demerara (ECD) he answered, he reportedly that the Environmental discharges made and especially if it was related to undeserving of respect and Protection Agency (EPA) therefore the EPA can know oil spills…Insurance is not dignity, incapable of does go out to the oil vessels if there is compliance with the primary mechanism that k n o w i n g w h e n t h e forinspectionpurposestoo. internationalstandards. weusedtodothat. proverbial wool is being

Having observed that the He said too that there are If there is a car accident pulledovertheireyes? question was not answered, daily reports from the and we needed to act we

The spectrum of

Kaieteur News followed up FPSOs. He said there are don’t wait and say ‘hold on emotions one can feel from by asking Jackson to say alsocompliancechecksdone let me call insurance’…that lending due consideration to which company is ensuring in person. It is important to is a tool that is used after the such a question was amply that Exxon is in compliance know that this is not 24/7 in facttoaddressanyclaimswe pronounced at a project with international standards person compliance, but might have…” In the event meetingonFridayeveningat foritsdischarges. rather,remotemonitoring. there is an oil spill and theUmanaYana.

This newspaper also Guyanese environmental dispersants are used to break

The occasion marked the asked the Exxon official to activist and Lawyer, the oil into small bits and first and only Georgetown say who is determining the Elizabeth Dean-Hughes also marine organisms consume scopingmeetingforthesixth “international standards” to took to the floor to it, Jackson said, “it would oilprojecttobedevelopedin beused,especiallywhenone understand from Jackson, have to be in significant the Stabroek Block by considers the fact that the what percentage of the gas quantities of oil for this to ExxonMobil’s subsidiary, country does not have laws would be considered excess happen and it is not like a Esso Exploration and or regulations specific to the since only a small portion yellow-finned tuna is going Production Guyana Limited

made his first court heardamalevoice(whomhe treatment of oil sector w o u l d b e u s e d f o r around and is interested in (EEPGL).

Key themes that were the Vigilance Magistrates’ also his mother’s voice

appearance on Thursday at identifiedasthesuspect)and dischargesoffshore. operationalsupport. eating dispersed oil. It is

Jackson said there are a ConsideringthatJackson usually bacteria…The risk is raised for discussion centred Court where he was charged shouting for her phone –number of companies was not clear in providing a fairlylowinmyview.” on how Exxon would treat with the offence of murder, beforethecallended. involved in the compliance specific number, Kaieteur Another Kaieteur News with excess gas for the sixth

Contrary to the Common The woman did not process but failed to list the News rephrased the representative took to the project, and the type of Law He was arrested on return home and the namesofthesefirms. question. He was asked to floor, to register in the insurance coverage in place January25,2023. neighbour left in search of

“I have to admit this is put a number to the excess capacity of a citizen, her for an oil spill and possible

ExxonMobil Corporation, is operations to ensure it is in

was postponed until March T h e p o l i c e w e r e

The accused appeared her not my area of expertise but that would be available from disgust with the fact that this implications for Caribbean before Magistrate Fabayo While walking along we have a couple of folks in the project and what the is the sixth project Exxon is territories. Azore where the charge was Hope Lowlands, Railway theroomthatareinchargeof options for government are, hostingascopingmeetingon Also raised was the read to him. He was not Embankment, the neighbour our environmental and be it for export purposes or and the subject of insurance question of who is keeping required to plea and was came across Mohamed’s regulatory process,” Jackson via another gas to energy from the parent company, an eagle’s eye on Exxon’s remandedtoprison.Thecase motionlessbodyinthecanal. said. project.

14,2023forreport. immediatelysummoned,and standards, he said it is speak definitively on this S h e s a i d , “ I t i s internationalbestpractices.

As to the international Jackson was unable to yettobeironedout. c o m p l i a n c e w i t h

Sawh was captured on the scene was processed and practice in the industry that matter. He said it would be worrisome, troubling and Fielding these questions January 25, 2023 after a photographed.

Elizabeth Dean-Hughes

ExxonMobil Projects Manager, Anthony Jackson

Dead: Nazaleen Mohamed Deonarine Sawh

Lessons from a Lashpreneur !!!

We’re getting bigger and better in 2023

Hi lash babes, we do have some exciting news to sharewithyouallbutfirstwe would like to thank you for your loyalty and support throughouttheyears.

We at LIFT AND LASHES BY TOYA could not have gotten this far withoutyoursupport.

This year we have made the necessary changes to upgrade our services and provide you with an even better client experience than

before. To facilitate the new changes, therehasbeena30% price increase on all service charges effective February 1, 2023.

With that being said, we arepleasedtoinformyouall thatwehavemovedtoanew location.Ournewlocationis 67 Brummel Place,Stabroek (this is the short street that connects Cummings to Brickdam). Visually this is justawalkaroundthecorner

ByLatoyaZephyr

m our last location. For furtherassistancefeelfreeto call or message us on 6708031,we will be more thanhappytoassistyou. Thank you for your understandingandcontinued support.

E-Net’s Dream TV packed with captivating shows

FromFebruary4to11,E-Net’sDreamTV will feature a suite of entertaining shows for theweekend.Besuretochecktheguideand gather with friends and families for your favourite shows See programme guide attachedformoredetails.

Region 10 receives US$33,000 in medical equipment and supplies from U.S. Embassy

The United States of America Ambassador to Guyana Sarah-Ann Lynch on Fridayhandedoveraquantity of medical equipment and supplies to Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony at the Linden Hospital Complex.

The donation of the medical equipment and supplies represents the spirit of partnership and goodwill between Guyana and the United States, a statement from the Embassy said Saturday

The medical equipment, which includes adjustable hospital beds, diagnostic equipment, and patient care kits, have a combined value ofUS$33,000. Thisdonation was made through the Department of Defense

Overseas Humanitarian Assistance Program and the United States Southern Command.

The donated equipment and supplies will support the Linden Hospital in providing quality day-to-day care to patients in Linden and throughoutRegion10.

In her remarks, A m b a s s a d o r Ly n c h reiterated the ongoing commitment the United States has to Guyana and its people.

She said, “As Guyana works to make major advancements to its healthcare system and medical infrastructure in the near-term, the United States Government is committed to the continued support of the people of Guyana and our

i n c r e d i b l y s t r o n g partnership The United States is committed to promoting prosperity inclusiveforallofGuyana.”

Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony in response n o t e d t h a t , “ T h i s collaboration that we have with the U.S. Government has been a very long one, and more recently during the pandemic, we have been able toenhancethatcollaboration. There have been many instances of how we have beenabletocollaborate.This is just one of those opportunities where the U.S. Government has been working with the health sectortoenhancetheservices weareabletodeliver.”

Meanwhile, Regional Chairman, Derron Adams

said, “I want to extend our most sincere gratitude for the continued robust partnership between the US Embassy Team, the Linden Hospital Complex, and the office of the RDC. I assure you all that the RDC will continue to

seek out and sustain opportunities like this one to bring much needed services to the people of Region 10.

We believe that collaboration like this one, will activate a process where our region in the near future, can

experience additional benefits developing and innovative strategies, like research for emerging technologies, software implementations, training etc for all category of (Continued on page 62)

Ambassador Lynch presents donation to Minister Anthony for the Linden Hospital, Region 10 (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Embassy in Guyana)

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: 6215140.

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/ 6451613.

Farm Workers needed to work in Timerhi. For more information, Call: 617-2032 / 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.

Foreman, Drivers/ Expeditors needed to drive car/ van and lorry in Georgetown. Ages 25-55 yrs, Call: 2269768/ 225-7528.

Male and female General Receptionist to work at a Hotel. Apply in Person at 12 Henry Street,Werk-enRust. Call: 225-9211.

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

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.

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: 2250198.

One legal computer Clerk needed for typing. Call: 6159112/258-0213, Email: husainsaphier@yahoo.com

VACANCY

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

Experienced Hauler/ Lorry Driver and Porters required. Apply at Alabama Trading, 65 Robb St, Bourda.

Lancaster Village...

From page 23 since he does not see himself living anywhere else. He added that the people are really good in their own way and do what they can to make an honest living.

Arjune, well known as “Barber” had a client at his barbershop getting his hair cut and styled.

Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC)become more actively involved in the community, by providing the basic services for residents to live comfortably.

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.

Passion fruit, plum, jam, syrup and juice for sale. Call Andrew: 661-2828.

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

He said that the village is a real melding pot, comprising a mixture of all the different races from various backgrounds. He said too that the people are hardworking in whatever they do to earn a living, “it got a lot of carpenters in this village and lot of people do fishing; this is a quiet place.”

For him, he has been a Barber for quite some time, is married, and has two children which he supports through his ‘barbering skill.’

He mentioned that the drains are an issue since they have not been cleaned in quite a while, this adds to the excessive flooding when there is heavy rainfall.

Not far from the barber, resides ShalimAzimulla, 49, a truck driver, who has been living in Lancaster all his life.

“Lancaster is a quiet, easy village, the people are friendly and very hardworking,” he said as he was about to head out to work as a truck driver for the estate.

According to him, he has been a truck driver for the past five years and that the job “pays the bills.”

ENTERTAINMENT

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

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.

DRESSMAKING

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

SERVICES

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

He said he learnt the skill while at home, practicing on friends and relatives until he felt that he can actually make an honest living out of it.

“I learn this by myself at home; catch them neighbours and so…I do eyebrows and so”

His client said he is one of the best barbers around and that he travelled from Letterkenny to get his hair expertly cut for an affordable cost.

Arjune’s Barbershop is located along the public road, just after the Lancaster sign board. Meanwhile, although Arjune has spoken good things about his community he mentioned that there has always been an issue with drainage and noted that he would like to see the

Azimulla stated that among the vibrant group of Lancaster people lives a retired teacher, a retired police officer, fishermen and many more interesting people.

He expressed that while he loves his community if an opportunity arises for betterment elsewhere, he would take it.

“I like the roadside, but I can’t say you can stick to one place, if an opportunity opens, I am open to going…”

Lancaster Village made the news in 2020 when a fire destroyed a huge house, leaving several people homeless, but other than that unfortunate event, the people said bad things rarely occur, it is mostly positive and incident free when it comes to living.

ACCOMMODATIONS

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

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

Region 10 receives US$33,000...

FOR RENT

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.

CAKES & PASTRIES

Black puddings, pastries and cakes at No. 1 Canal W.B.D. Call Karen: 687-6177.

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.

From page 61 healthcare workers, so that we can identify gaps and opportunities.”

This latest donation is part of the United States’ ongoing partnership with Guyana’s health sector.

The Embassy said that the United States Government is proud to be a strong partner with the Government and people of Guyana in the fight against COVID-19.

PROPERTY FOR SALE

Property for sale at 211 Mon Repos, North E.C.D. Call: 602-4105/ 614-0005.

FOR RENT

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.

The United States Government has donated 355,000 vaccine doses, donated oxygen generators valued at nearly US$500,000, provided five ultra-low refrigeration units for vaccine storage, medical supplies and other equipment valued at us$300,000, and provided strengthened port health surveillance, laboratory reagents for COVID-19 testing, and technical assistance for outreach campaigns to encourage preventative habits and overcome vaccine hesitancy valued at US$475,000.

One bedroom house for rent at 18th Av Diamond, E.B.D. Call: 657-2951, 6129697.

Guyana Shore Base Inc. (GYSBI), attains an Integrated Management System Certification

Building on its I n t e r n a t i o n a l Organization for Standardization ISO 9001:2015 certification, GYSBI – Guyana's largest shore base facility recently attained its ISO 45001:2018certification.

The Certificate was handed over by Ms. Candelle Bostwick, CEO of Global Compliance Service Guyana Inc. to Ms. Leah Milo, the Quality Health Safety Security, and Environment (QHSSE) Coordinator, on January 27, 2023, at the GCS OfficeinGeorgetown,Guyana.

ISO45001isaninternational standard that specifies the requirements for implementing anoccupationalhealthandsafety (OH&S) management system. It gives organizations a framework

for managing risks and opportunities to help prevent workerillnessesandinjuries.Itis critically important for the organization to eliminate hazards and minimize OH&S risks by taking effective preventive and protective measures.

With the ISO 450001:2018 certification in hand, GYSBI outlined that the company benefits internally by being capable of consistently delivering quality services to its clients while externally, it promotes increased business prospects for the company throughglobalrecognition.

Following the handing over ceremony, Ms. Milo n0ted that “GYSBI is committed to promoting employee well-being

and providing a safe, healthy, a n d s e c u r e w o r k i n g environment, for the prevention of work-related injury and ill health, ” it said in its announcement.

“Thehealthandsafetyaspect of our management system focuses on reducing and eliminating identified hazards effectively and we empower our staff to intervene and prevent unsafe acts and conditions and e n c o u r a g e m a x i m u m participation in continually improving this management system.”

GYSBI provides services for the oil and gas industry in Guyana It is currently the country's premier shore base facility supplying a range of integratedservices.

The Certificate was handed over by Ms. Candelle Bostwick, CEO of Global Compliance Service Guyana Inc. to Ms. Leah Milo, QHSSE Coordinator of GYSBI.

PPP still to secure funds for notorious US$2B Gas-to-Energy project, one year before 2024 goal

Th e P e o p l e ' s Progressive Party ( P P P C ) government has engaged in a lot of fanfare about the notorious Gas-to-Energy project, which it says will cut the cost of power for Guyanesehouseholdsinhalf. But despite all that has been said, the project is yet to achievetakeoff.

It is clear that the project is hampered by the fact that the government does not have all the money it needs. Kaieteur News reported in January that out of the G$199.2B (US$955.5M) the government needs for the Gas-to-Energy plants, the transmission network

upgrades and the consulting costs,G$134.7B(US$646M) is supposed to come from the United States EXIM Bank, according to budget 2023. This is two-thirds of the cost of the government's aspectof the project that has not been securedyet.

The government plans to pursue the financing sometime this year The government appears set on capitalising on a US$2B M e m o r a n d u m o f Understanding (MOU) it signed with the US EXIM Bank in 2022 so Guyana would get help to undertake infrastructure and energy projects.

On the other side, the oil

companies have not set aside therequisitefundsneededfor thepipeline.

According to OilNOW, the President of Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), AlistairRoutledge,saidsince July that the oil companies expect to make a final investment decision on the project before the end of 2022.

EEPGL is ExxonMobil's local subsidiary and the operator of the Stabroek Block. When oil companies make their final investment decision on a project, it meanstheyhavesetasidethe requisite funds and are ready to move forward with the project. Yet, in the second month of the year, this decision by Esso, Hess and CNOOChasnotbeenmade.

They are expected to commit US$1 3B to the project.

When added up, the cost of the project is nearly US$2.3B.

In addition to financing woes, key studies have not been shared with the public. WhenOppositionMemberof

Gas-to-Energy project

Parliament (MP), David Patterson raised questions

a b o u t t h e g a s l e a k management plan, Minister of Natural Resources, VickramBharratsaidthatthe operator is still conducting studiesrelatedtotheproject.

Prime Minister Mark Phillips when asked about the Gas-to-Energy project during consideration of 2023 budget estimates last week said the government is

committedtotransparency “Wewillcommunicateto the general Guyanese public and certainly to the members of the opposite side of the House.Thisisaprojectforall of us, all of us will benefit from this project,” the Prime Minister said.In spite of this, a clear outline of the financing and repayment mechanismsforthebenefitof transparency advocates has notbeenforthcoming.

ExxonM refuses questions from K/News at public consultations on sixth project

As ExxonMobil Guyana continues consultations acrossthecountrytohearthe public’s concerns on the sixth offshore oil project planned in the Stabroek Block, Kaieteur News was deniedtheopportunitytoask questions, after pointing out that an earlier response to a questionwas“insulting”.

On Friday, February 3, 2023theoilcompanyhosted its fifth public scoping meeting at the Leonora TechnicalInstituteinRegion Three where an audience of mostlystudentsattended.

Briefingthestudentsand about five other citizens, Projects Manager for ExxonMobil Guyana, Anthony Jackson went into detail about the planned offshore activities Also present were the Consultant group, Environmental Resources Management (ERM)andofficersfromthe Environmental Protection Agency(EPA).

After utilizing about one and a half hours of the planned two hour session, Jackson then turned the microphone over to the moderator,Mr AlexGraham to open the floor for questions.

The hand of former University of Guyana (UG) Lecturer, Mr Alfred Bhulai was first in the air He was told by Graham that ExxonMobil will first take questions from the students and would return to his query

Once allowed the opportunity, Mr Bhulai enquiredabouttheGastoOil Ratio,amatterhehadraised during the last consultation for the fifth oil project,

Uaru+ Bhulai’s question was again not answered on Friday He was told by Jackson that the two would have a chat upon the completion of the session there.

After the session ended, Bhulai told this newspaper, “AnthonyJacksonrefusedto give me even the average GastoOilRatio(GOR).”

Notably, another gentleman who stated his name and identified himself as an instructor at the Leonora Technical Institute a s k e d t h e E x x o n representative if the operations from the sixth project are likely to impact marinelife,especiallyfish.

In his response, Jackson explained, “the water depth thatyouhaveandthedepths thatweare(carryingoutour

ofharmfultoxicwastethatis dumped overboard into the sea water every day during operationsoffshore.

These include dumping of produced water, sewage and other chemicals- which mustbetreated,butthereare no ways of verifying this in t h e a b s e n c e o f environmental officers on board the Floating Production Storage and Offloading(FPSO)vessel.

InitsmostrecentEIAfor the Uaru project, Exxon made it clear that it plans to dump more than a million barrels of toxic, oily chemicals overboard daily during the life of the Uaru project,estimatedatsome20 years.

According to the study, about 300,000 barrels per day (BPD) of produced

comment on the response given by Jackson to the question on impacts to fish fromExxon’soperations.

She said, “While you were responding to a gentleman’s question, I find it just on the border of insultingbecauseyousortof drifted from what the gentleman asked- about impacts to marine life- and youwerespeakingaboutthe operationsontheseabedbut I think you missed the point anditwassortofmisleading to the young folks in the roomwhomaynotbeaware of what some of the emissions are in terms of waste.”

The journalist explained that there is dumping of produced water among othersthatcanaffectmarine lifebutwerenotlistedtothe students in the room who may not know that the impactswouldnotbelimited totheseafloor

question to which Graham responded, “No, no. We’re donefortoday.”

This newspaper spoke to the gentleman who was adamant that the reporter be allowedtoaskherquestions. The man gave his name as GregoryAllenandwaseager tocommentontheincident.

Allensaid,“Grahamwas being very disrespectful for shutting you up, and for standing up to Exxon. What Jackson did, he attemptedto insult our intelligence by telling us that their operations will not affect fish.”

The Georgetown consultation

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 orregulationsspecifictothe treatment of oil sector dischargesoffshore.

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

operations),ifyouhaveever looked at National Geographic or Discovery Channel,when they go deep sea and they got to put the lights on to see down there, the type of fish that you encounter at those depths, one:itisverysparseandtwo: are not the type of fish you andIwouldeat.Infactwhen you bring those fish to the surface they often disintegrate so the activitiesatthebottomofthe oceanwherethewater-depth is deep my personal thought isthatit’snotgonnahavethat muchimpact.”

He said the emissions will be studied during the c o n d u c t o f t h e Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to assess the air quality and likely impacts.

Jackson craftily glossed overthethousandsofbarrels

water, including oil and grease; residual production and water treatment chemicals, among others will be dumped overboard fromtheproject.

About2,264,332perday ofcoolingwaterwillalsobe thrownoverboard.

Bilge water from the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, which refers to a mixtureofwater,oilyfluids, lubricants, cleaning fluids, andothersimilarwastes,will also be discharged into the local waters. According to the document 1,800 BPD of this toxic waste will be dumped.

Cognizant of this, a senior journalist attached to Kaieteur News signaled that she would like to ask a question.Afterbeinghanded the microphone, she said it wasappositetomakeaquick

The moderator, Alex Graham then requested that the reporter continue with herquestion,butinthesame breathinsistedthatheshould respond to what was just said.

The journalist said she would proceed with her question first, but Graham persisted that he must respond to the comment. Observing from the outside, a member of the audience told Graham that he should allow the reporter the opportunity to ask her question, reminding too that itwasapublicconsultation.

The reporter handed the mic to Graham who then explained,

“I cannot accept that Anthony insulted anyone. You may not be satisfied with his answer, you can followup,butthelastthingI can accept is that he was insulting you…you can say that you were not satisfied withtheanswer.”

The journalist asked that she be allowed to ask her

Only on Saturday, Kaieteur News reported that the public scoping meetings forExxon’ssixthprojectisa farce, as key questions were left unanswered regarding insurance and use of excess gas during the operator’s meeting at Umana Yana, Kingston,Georgetown.

That session was hosted on Thursday, February 2, 2023.

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) doesgoouttotheoilvessels forinspectionpurposestoo.

Havingobservedthatthe question was not answered, Kaieteur News followed up by asking Jackson to say

“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 Guyaneseenvironmental activist and Lawyer, ElizabethDean-Hughesalso took to the floor to understand from Jackson, what percentage of the gas would be considered excess since only a small portion would be used for operationalsupport.

ConsideringthatJackson was not clear in providing a specific number, Kaieteur News rephrased the question. He was asked to put a number to the excess thatwouldbeavailablefrom 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 speakdefinitivelyonthis

(Continuedonpage66)

...after reporter flags “insulting” response given by Projects Manager

Map showing the location of Exxon’s sixth project in the Stabroek Block (Source: ExxonMobil Project Summary)

Projects Manager for ExxonMobil Guyana,Anthony Jackson engaging students at the Leonora Technical Institute on Friday

Bath, Region 5 squatters to be relocated – Housing Ministry

Ten (10) households occupying a government reserveatBath,RegionFive will soon be relocated to developed housing schemes

through the Ministry of HousingandWater–Central Housing and Planning Authority(CHPA).

The relocation will pave

the way for a new water treatment plant, which will benefit approximately 17,000 residents in the region from Number Seven

VillagetoKingelly

On Friday afternoon, the MinisterwithintheMinistry ofHousingandWater,Susan Rodrigues engaged the informal settlers on the relocationprocess,aspartof afollow-uptoameetinglast year Shewasaccompaniedby Member of Parliament, Mr Faizal Jaffarally, Regional Chairman, Mr Vickchand Ramphal, and officials from the CHPA and the Guyana WaterIncorporated(GWI).

According to the Ministry of Housing, the familieswereassuredbythe Ministerthatahumanitarian approach will be employed throughout the relocation andresettlementprogramme and that assistance will be providedforallpersons.

“Wewillensurethatyou getyourhouselots[and]we will ensure that we help you to settlesomewhere you can be comfortable,” said the Minister, as she urged residents to work with the Ministry

An inventory of the area was conducted in 2022

During Friday’s exercise, a numberofpersonswereable to verify documents and those who were unable to register for house lots were given the opportunity to initiatetheprocess.

The Minister outlined that as part of the government’s macro plan to push access to treated water on the coastland from fiftytwopercent(52%)toninety per cent (90%) by 2025, thirteen (13) new water treatment plants will be constructed. Contracts were awarded in 2022 for the construction of seven (7) plantsinRegionsTwo,Three andFour

Thisyear,constructionof anothersix(6)isexpectedto begin, including the one at Bath. She further stated that funding has already been approved by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the Ministry is working to prepare the sites and start the tendering process in the

comingweeks.

Although the water treatmentfacilityatBathwill initiallyprovideservicetoat least 17,000 persons, its design will allow for expansion, in tandem with the government’s vision for theregionalhousingsector “Once we construct this treatmentplantaswell,ithas the capacity to be built in a waywherewecanevengive access to more people, to over24,000people,”saidthe Minister

She continued, “The region is growing tremendously and as we openmorehouselotsandwe openmoreareas,wehaveto ensure that we have the ability to expand so that everybody gets the same quality of water and developmentismovedatthe same pace across all of the regions”.

The Minister also met one-on-one with several other residents from the community on a number of housingandwaterissues.

ExxonM refuses questions from K/News...

Frompage65 matter He said it would be addressed in the Environmental Impact Assessment to be producedbythecompany’sconsultant.

Kaieteur News’ also asked about the insurancepolicyinplaceforthisprojectand the implications of citizens ingesting marine speciesthatwouldhaveconsumedacocktail of oil and toxic dispersants during an unmitigatedoilspillscenario.

Jackson said, “On insurance, I would have to defer that question, I am not an insuranceexpertoftheaffiliate,Iamawareof our commitment to address any issue that might arise especially if it was related to oil

spills Insurance is not the primary mechanismthatweusetodothat.

Ifthereisacaraccidentandweneededto act,wedon’twaitandsay‘holdonletmecall insurance’…thatisatoolthatisusedafterthe facttoaddressanyclaimswemighthave…”

In the event there is an oil spill and dispersantsareusedtobreaktheoilintosmall bits and marine organisms consume it, Jackson said, “it would have to be in significantquantitiesofoilforthistohappen anditisnotlikeayellow-finnedtunaisgoing around and is interested in eating dispersed oil. It is usually bacteria…The risk is fairly lowinmyview.”

Minister of Housing Susan Rodrigues interacts with the Bath, Region Five informal settlers (Photo courtesy of Ministry of Housing)

Some of the structures erected on the government reserve at Bath, Region Five (Photo courtesy of Ministry of Housing)

BLUNTNESS ON INDECENCY!

In case you haven’t heard, please be informed that as part of our continued effort to channel positive changes in our country, our publisher, Mr. Glenn Lall, has dedicated our Page Seven to be “BLUNT” about on-going indecency in our land that should matter, not only to us at this publication, but the entire nation.

SUNDAY–January29,2023

PresidentAlisteppingup forGuyana

President Ali can stand up for Guyana’s interests whenhesodesires.

Hedidsowhentheinsult ofthatmapinT&Tcameup, plenty is known about Guyana’s oil, yet it was in Venezuelanterritory

Butsomepeoplerefused to correct the mistake when KNpressed, His Excellency, when approached, stepped right up…

Change it, fix that map, get that map right, and right now!

This is what Presidents do!

Thanks,Excellency!

Now there is so much more that you can do with ouroil.

MONDAY–January30,2023

Bigoilandlies

They could lie, they lie bad

Calypsonian Lord Nelson called them ‘King Liars’

Now Guyana is blessed with ‘liar the lion’operating righthere

The oil companies said that that they didn’t know about global warming dangers

Theylie,theyliebad Youhearlie,thatislie

TUESDAY–January31,2023

Bestoildeals

Trinidad has vowed to get the best oil deals for its citizens, mention a better deal for our oil to the PPPGovt. and theydodgingandduckingas aresult.

Guyanese politicians either sellout to Exxon and America or they are the worst of cowards, incompetents,andbetrayers. They talk one thing one time,thenfromanotherside of their mouths the next time.

WEDNESDAY–February1,2023

Guyanashortchangedby US$93M

According to one Guyanese economist, Guyanagotshafted US$92.8M more is due tousforouroil

DoesthePPPGovt.care?

Do our analysts wish to studyandagreeordisagree?

Almost US$93M is not chicken feed money for a poorcountrylikeGuyana

People who can’t afford to buy pumpkin or a puri couldsureuseit

Is the PPP Govt listening? Again, does the PPPGovt.care?

THURSDAY–

February2,2023

Exxon55,Guyana1

Exxon reaps over US$55Bin2022!

Guyana collects over US$1B.

Those are nice odds, a sweetratio!

JustaskPresidentAliand VP Jagdeo sitting on their hands…

Lookatthemcheeringon Exxon, while Guyanese punishing.

FRIDAY–February3,2023

Chineseaddinginsultto injuredGuyanese

AChinesebosskickouta Guyaneseforsmoking

Then get his kicks by taunting him The PPP kickingaroundGuyanese

Now, the foreigners doing the same in imitation of them. Will President Ali getangryoverthisinsult?

WillthePolicethrowthe book at this abused Guyanese who regrettably, retaliated?

SATURDAY–

February4,2023

Budgetpassed,letthe thievingbegin $781 9B offers plenty room.

Plentyroomforcheating Guyanese, robbing them blind…

Everyone benefits,

Eighthomelessafterelectrical firedestroyshouseatAgricola

except taxpayers paying throughtheirnoses.

sweetpieceoftheaction; cronies get another, and contractorshelpthemselves. Sunday February 05, 2023 Kaieteur News PAGE 67

With $781.B approved, the thieving can now officiallybegin!

-

e

The rubble that remained after fire destroyed the family’s home.

learnt that the house was on firearound14:50hrs.

Fire trucks from the Eccles and Diamond Fire Stations were dispatched to sceneimmediately.

The blaze also damaged three buildings located next door The Guyana Fire Service (GFS) related that it

Fire fighters were successful in extinguishing the blaze but could not save the family’s house from being burnt to the ground.

Subsequent investigations conductedbyGFS,revealed that destructive blaze was caused by a faulty electrical wiring of the building. “The fire was the result of faulty electrical wiring resulting in arcing and sparking, which ignited nearby combustible materials and spread to the entirehouse”,GFSstated.

Logistics Company fails to remit workers NIS payments on timea … promises to conduct “thorough investigation”

Century Tamara Logistics Services (CLTS), a locally owned company with ties to Nigeria, on Saturday admitted that it has not been remitting National Insurance Scheme (NIS) payments for employees in a timely manner.

The company’s admission comes one week after it was reported in the media that it was deducting money from its workers’ salaries for NIS, but not making any payments to the government agency

In response CTLS stated, “Admittedly, there were some delays in NIS remittance towards the end of last year”.

The entity did not state the reasons for remitting the NIS payments but Kaieteur News understands that it is because contractors have experienced delays in paying the company for its services.

Notwithstanding, CLTS said that it has since rectified the issue of delays by adopting ‘strict policies to ensure that employees’ contributions are properly processed and remitted in a timely manner” and made all payments on behalf its workers.

“All of our obligations to our employees including NIS and PAYE have been remitted to the appropriate agencies,

which we are confident can be verified by said agencies,” CTLS assured.

Nevertheless, the company has committed to conducting a thorough investigation into claims made by some of its current and former employees that their NIS payments are yet to be remitted.

“We take any concerns raised by our employees or others very seriously and are

Sunday February 05, 2023

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19)

If you've been investing, look for it to pay off big. Or you could execute a new contract, settle a claim, or even win something. Expect the unexpected where money is concerned.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

Plans for a social event that you were going to host in your home may have to be changed at the last minute. Even so, it should go very well.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

An unexpected letter or call could totally turn your working situation in a new direction. This can be disconcerting, Gemini, but it's a very positive and fortunate development.

CANCER (June 21–July 22)

For you, Cancer, relationships with other people should be going so well that you feel more loved than ever.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)

An unexpected opportunity could temporarily throw your life into disorder, Leo, but you will see from the start that this is a definite stroke of good luck that you shouldn't let pass.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22)

A lot of letters, calls, and other communications could skyrocket you into a new and unexpected space, Virgo.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

Good fortune continues to come your way, Libra, and your life may finally seem to be moving in the direction you wanted. Today, however, you may feel frustrated by a lot of minor.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

All the planets are very fortunately aligned for you, and the coming weeks should be great, Scorpio. Minor irritations today could make you wonder, though.

SAGIT (Nov.22–Dec.21)

You may wonder why increased intuition has seemed to replace your usual logical self. An unexpected intellectual, spiritual.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19)

You should feel especially sociable today, Capricorn. You might attend one or more events, or perhaps you will choose another type of group activity.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

Today an important goal might reach a point you've been aiming at for a long time. All those in your entourage have new respect for you.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)

our focus today is likely to be on learning. Something you've wanted to study for a long time may finally be within your grasp. Perhaps money makes this possible,

committed to conducting a thorough investigation of the matter to ensure that we maintain our high standards,” the logistics company said.

Three CTLS workers told Kaieteur News a week ago that they were shocked to learn after visiting NIS to query about their contributions, that none was paid since they started working with the company.

Elvis Jones, an Executive Driver claimed that he has been working with CTLS for a year now and claimed that the company never requested an NIS card from him but was deducting over $6,000 monthly from his salary for NIS. When he visited NIS office to check up his contributions he was reportedly told by one of the staff there that CTLS might be defrauding him

because the company cannot make payments on his behalf unless they are in possession of his account number (A number found on his NIS card).

“These people never took an NIS card and yet they taking out money from me”, Jones iterated.

Jones said that he is an interdicted cop and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) stills pays NIS for him so he decided to intervene by stopping the company from deducting more money from him and reimburse the amount they never paid.

“I ask them not to take out my NIS. I had to bring in three police statements to prove that they are paying NIS on my behalf”, Jones said.

The company stopped deducting the money but

have refused to reimburse some $38, 921 they failed to remit to NIS.

“This is something that has been going on since I start work with the company and I am not the only one… there are many more who have the issue with CTLS,” Jones alleged.

Jones’ story was corroborated by two other drivers. The second driver, Ryan Anderson was employed with the company for over two years and claimed that he was fired in December last year.

Anderson said after he was dismissed, he went to check on his NIS payments only to learn that his last contribution was made two years ago. “When I go in to the people them dem tell me that the last contribution by the company that I was working with before CTLs and duh was two years ago”, Anderson alleged.

The man said he was taken aback because every month his pay slip showed that NIS was being deducted from his salary. He has since informed the company that it owes him over $100,000 in payments. Anderson said too that thousands of dollars were taken out from his salary for two certificates -First Aid and Defensive Diving – but he never received them.

A third driver Shelvin Hercules repeated a similar story to Kaieteur News.

However, despite admitting that it remitted payments to NIS late, CTLS said that it is “committed to the highest ethical standards of business and care for employees” and claimed that some allegations mentioned in the article are inaccurate. “We wish to clarify that the employees referenced in your article resigned on their own accord and were never fired”, CTLS stated. Kaieteur News had also labeled the company as a Nigerian one that might be linked to US$13B bribery scandal in Nigeria.

CTLS has refuted this by stating that it is owned by a Guyanese but partners with a foreign company, “Century Group International for the sole purpose of knowledge and technology transfer”.

“Partnerships of this nature facilitate knowledge and technology transfer to local companies like CLTS, as we build capacity to be able to participate in the oil and gas industry,” the logistics company contested.

CTLS specializes in a variety of logistical services, including “transportation, property management, immigration and procurement to several oil and gas companies”.

Dias, Arjoon and Kathy Ten Pow advance to BCQS Squash Masters finals

The third day of the BCQS Guyana Squash Masters saw players contest the semis to advance to the final round of competition which was scheduled for Saturday

Friday night was an e x c i t i n g n i g h t o f competition, as promised; it was an action-packed Day

Three of Guyana Masters

tournament at the Georgetown Club Court (GTC) Camp Street, Georgetown.

The main event of the night was Nicolette Fernandesgoingupagainst ‘the lanky Barbadian’ Shawn Simpson followed by the high energy match

between Daniel Ince and AlexArjoon Arjooncame outvictoriousintheevenly contested battle and managed to end the contest in the fourth game winning 3-1

The Day also saw Javed Ali defeating Dane Pereira 12-10, 11-2 and 11-4, Javid Rahaman went down to

Nicholas Narain in a 2-3 encounter and Jason van DijkalsodefeatedLeeFungA-Fat11-8,11-7and11-5in theMen’s30-44semifinals. In the Women’s 35 andover semi finals, HazelAnneSandymetwithKathy TenPowinthefirstmatchas thelattersetupaconvincing win over Sandy, 3-0 while

Tian Edwards went the distance to defeat Anna Perreira11-8,12-10,7-11,811and11-8.

Meanwhile, the flaring Don Ben from Barbados lost to Peter Pirtheesingh

out of Trinidad and Tobago in a 2-3 defeat in theMen’s45-54Category

Orson Simpson also defeated Winston Findlay to advance to the final of the Men’s 65 & Over category.

Over in the Men’s 5564 category, in what is deemed ‘the most exciting c a t e g o r y ’ o f t h e competition saw John Holley, Peter Harris, NarendraSinghandWorld Masters Extraordinaire Mark Sealy racking up wins on the third day of competition to advance to thefinalround

LloydFung-A-Fatlostto Peter Harris 0-3, while John Holley defeated Marlon White out of Barbados in a high tempo match-up, Trinidad’sHolleywentonto

win the contest 6-11, 4-11, 11-7,11-7,13-11.

Mark Sealy defeated Joseph‘JoJo’Mekdeci3-0 and Narendra Singh was victoriousina3-0winover SanjayAmin

The BCQS Guyana Squash Masters’finished o n S a t u r d a y 4 t h F e b r u a r y. D e n n i s

‘Running Ants’ Dias was scheduled to defend his title in the against Winston Findlay (British Virgin Island) in the Men’s 65 Openfinal

The 35-and-over final between undefeated the Lydia Fraser and Kathy Ten Pow and the Men’s 30-44 finals between Alex Arjoon and Shawn Simpson werealsobilledforSaturday There was will also the third place playoffs in the various divisions that featured Mekdeci, Ince andFernandes

The tournament is sponsored by BCQS International BarbadosSanjayAmin.

NSC to review National Sports...

Frompage72 Sports Award selection platform”,Ninvallefurther explained.

M e a n w h i l e , Ninvalle explained that Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles R a m s o n J r, w h o applauded the work undertaken by the panel duringthe2022National Sports Awards, has disclosed that the impending edition will

b e c o m p l e t e l y overhauled and upgraded to reflect his vision of a galaandredcarpetaffair

Minister Ramson Jr statedthatthisisanother stepintherightdirection tounderpintheemerging importance of sport under his ministry, w h i c h w a s a l s o highlighted by its historic allocation in the 2023 Budget by the GovernmentofGuyana

Peter Pirtheesingh (left) returns a hard corner to Don Ben (right). Jpeg

David Rose Special School dominates first chess meet for SEN teachers

Intending to ensure the growth and development of chess within the nation, the Guyana Chess Federation remains committed to providing equal access to resources and opportunities for all persons interested in thesportacrossGuyana.

AChess meet on Friday, February 3rd, at the David RoseSpecialSchoolbrought together Special Education Needs (SEN) teachers from the school as well as from

varying periods of timesome even for just a few short weeks All of the teachers were excited about the experience of the meet

which mimicked an abbreviated version of a swiss-system chess tournament with just three rounds.

Of the 17 participants; Roumelia Seer-Daniels, Deputy Head Mistress from David Rose Special School took home the first-place

School, Sarah Ramkarran and Nakita Granum from Diamond Special Needs School and Fiona Phillips from Schoonord Special NeedsSchool.

All participants played commendably and this meet isexpectedtobeheldatleast onceayearaschessgrowsin special needs schools across the country Furthermore, a meet is expected to be held thisyearforstudentsinthese schools.

Chief Education Officer for Disability, remarked on the positive program and the importance of chess in the development of individuals.

He applauded the efforts of Sabine McIntosh and the GCF and the anticipated growth of the program in otherinstitutionsinGuyana.

Vice President of the GCF, Anand Raghunauth, congratulated Ms McIntosh for the excellent job in organizingtheeventandalso

taskedtheSENteacherswith thejobofteachingchessand spotting talent within their student body Twelve-yearold deaf player Anaya Lall who has been playing chess for several years was also present to lend a hand at the event Anaya represented Guyana on the women’s teamatthe44thFIDEChess OlympiadinIndiain2022.

The Guyana Chess Federation extends sincere gratitudetoBeaconCafe,for

their generous support in providing free lunches to participantsandofficialsand to the David Rose Special School for the use of the venue for the hosting of the event. These contributions are deeply appreciated and add immense value to the event. We are truly grateful foryourkindnessandforthe meaningful impact it has made.

(This is an official releaseoftheGCF)

New Amsterdam Special Needs School, Diamond Special Needs School, Linden Centre for Special Children and the Schoonord Centre for Children with DiverseNeeds.

Chess was first introduced at special needs schoolsinthefirstquarterof 2022 where teachers were exposed to the game for

trophy after winning all of her matches. Second place went to Karlina PrakashPhillips(alsoofDavidRose) who finished on 2.5 points.

Third place is Tineisha

Isaacs, of the New Amsterdam Special Needs Schoolwithtwopoints.

Notable performances also came from Oxana Cox from David Rose Special

Thiseventwashostedby the Federation in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and organized by Sabine McIntosh, Managing DirectoroftheGuyanaDeaf Association, who also leads the chess in Special Needs Committee within the Federation.

Keon Cheong, Assistant

GBF/Rawle Toney 3x3 Classic officially launched - MVP Sports to outfit teams

Under the bright lights and soothing ambience at the 704 Sports Bar, the Rawle Toney3x3basketballClassicwasofficially launchedonFridayevening.

The tournament, which started in 2019, will host its third edition, this time in conjunction with the Guyana Basketball Federation(GBF).

Set for March 18 – 19 at the Burnham Basketball Court, the tournament will feature 16 teams, with participation from Trinidad and Tobago, St Lucia and Suriname. “When I started this event in 2019,thegoalwastoproduceaproductthat would attract teams from around the Caribbean,” Toney said. Toney was at the time addressing an audience that included the media, sponsors and perspective sponsors.

The winner’s purse of $400,000 and runner-up’s prize of $200,000 was

sponsored by Team Mohamed’s. The team finishingthirdwillpocked$100,000.

Toney said the tournament was conceptualized as an avenue to resuscitate the discipline, adding that the resulting success has morphed into a national event which is a major highlight of the sport’s calendar According to Toney, the tournament’simportanceisunquestionedas several players have represented Guyana at the 3x3 AmeriCup Championship in the UnitedStates.

Toneyfurtherstatedthathetakespridein pioneering the only senior 3x3 tournament in Guyana, noting that the success of the event could not have been realized without theunwaveringsupportofthesponsors.

Team Mohamed’s, Hennessy, E-Net, VSH Shipping, Slingerz Entertainment, Shi-OilandHotSpotBararelistedassome ofthesponsors.

WestIndiesTourofZimbabwe

Brathwaite,Chanderpaul help visitors sway on rain-curtailed day

(Cricinfo) - Amid the BazballeraandatrillionT20 leagues, Kraigg Brathwaite andTagenarineChanderpaul brought out the good oldfashionedTestmatchcricket grind to gain ascendancy over Zimbabwe on a raincurtailed opening day of the firstTestinBulawayo. With the weather always expectedtobeafactor,West Indies opted to bat first. Zimbabwe had to field four debutantswithplentyoftheir first-choice players out Gary Ballance, who had played23TestsforEngland, was handed his first Zimbabwe Test cap. While therewasabitofmovement early on under cloudy skies, the West Indies openers dug in to remain undefeated when heavy rain brought about an early end to the day’s proceedings with only 51overspossible.

Bothopenersraisedtheir respective half-centuries, with the visitors reaching 112 for 0 at the end of day one.

The Bulawayo surface looked dry from the outset

and with variable bounce often coming into play, both ChanderpaulandBrathwaite took the safety-first approach. Chanderpaul only got off the mark with the 19th ball he faced, although that didn’t mean he was in any trouble. In fact, he was fairly solid despite some probingZimbabwebowling. Brathwaite, on the other hand, was beaten on the outside edge multiple times. There was also a chance in the 20th over when he seemedtogloveashort-of-alength Richard Ngarava deliverytothewicketkeeper. The fielders went up in unison, but the umpire remained unmoved, and therewasnoDRSinplaceto challengethedecision.

The Zimbabwe bowlers kept bowling around the channeloutsideoff,butwere met with staunch defense from both batters Even whentheballstartedtokeep low, Brathwaite and Chanderpaul remained unfazed.

The runs came in instalments in the first

session, with West Indies scoring only 54 runs in 27 overs.Zimbabwecouldhave struckstraightafterthebreak b u t t h e d e b u t a n t wicketkeeper, Tafadzwa Tsiga, mistimed his jump. Brad Evans, also on debut, had secured Chanderpaul’s edge with a quick bouncer Tsigasprungtohisright,but was late in getting his glove up as the ball raced away to the fence Chanderpaul followed that up with a punchy square drive and looked much more fluent in thesecondsession.

Brathwaite reached his half-century - his seventh fifty-plusscoreinthelast12 innings - first with a drive past mid-off off 116 balls. Chanderpaul then smashed legspinner Brandon Mavuta for two successive fours before pulling Ngarava through square leg to bring up his secondTest fifty.The duoalsobroughtupthe100runstandin47overs.Thisis just the fifth time these two haveopenedforWestIndies in Tests and already have threefifty-plusstands.

NSC to review National Sports Awards criterion

- currentcriteriadecadesold

Following the return of the National Sports Commission’s (NSC) NationalSportsAwardsafter a two-year hiatus, the body hasrevealedtheirdecisionto undertakeaReviewExercise to analyze the overall criterion utilized for selection.

Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle stated that the assessmentprocedurewillbe undertakenbyahighcalibre panel comprising media experts and operatives, as well as experienced sports administrators and aficionados. The group will be meeting next week to commence the process, which will be thorough to ensure any inadequacies are remedied.

According to Ninvalle, “The panel, which is of the highest competence, and is littered with media experts and sports enthusiasts, will be meeting next week to analyze the entirety of the

of Sports

Steve Ninvalle

selection criteria and will make recommendations, if shortcomings are identified, for possible amendments The objective is to ensure that the selection process is not only transparent but can stand up to the highest level of scrutiny and examination onthelocalandinternational scene.Theimportanceofthe selection criteria must be reflected That narrative must never be called into question.”

“Ultimately, this assessment process is about

Soon, though, the skies opened up, early tea was takenanditdidnottakelong for play to be called off for therestoftheday

Match details: West Indies 112 for 0 (Brathwaite 55*, Chanderpaul 55*) vs Zimbabwe

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport

Charles Ramson Jr

possibly enhancing and amending the rules that are employed for selection, if deficiencies are recognized. Someareasforanalysishave already been earmarked by thepanel,anddiscoursewill occur on the way forward if amendments are required. There is no point in waiting until next year to undertake the procedure, which can be reinforced now ahead of the next awards ceremony This exercise will encompass the entiretyoftheNational (Continuedonpage70)

Tagenarine Chanderpaul plays a back-foot punch. (Associated Press)

Director

2023WestIndiesChampionship…

Harpy Eagles dent Barbados’ Pride

Othermatchesendinstalemates

Guyana Harpy Eagles played clinically on the final day to come out victorious against the defending champion, Barbados Pride, in their opening match of the 2023 West Indies Championship, whichendedyesterdayatthe SirVivianRichardsStadium inNorthSound,Antigua.

Eagleswereabletoclaim all 10 of the opposition’s wickets on the fourth day to emerge victorious by a massive 183 runs – the only winbyateamintheopening round.

On Day Four, The eventualvictordeclaredon 126–9off44 1oversinthe morning session to post a target of 277 for Barbados

However,aclinicaldisplay of bowling and fielding rocked the Bajan batting line up as they were restrictedto94in36overs

GuyanesepacerNialSmith led the attack with 5 – 31 from ten overs while Ronsford Beaton snagged 2 – 11, Veerasammy

Permaulclaimed2–18and ShamarJosephpickedup1–21.

The most resistant Pride batsman in the second innings was Jonathan Drakes,whocrafted36from 99 deliveries to top score, while Akeem Jordan (20) and Shamarh Brooks (12) weretheonlyotherbatsmen toreachdoublefigures.

Earlier in the day, Guyana resumed their second innings on 91 – 8 and added 35 runs before their declaration came after just over an hour of play that was interrupted byrainshowers

During that time, Permaul was able to top score for his side with a valiant 33 while Smith contributed a muchwelcomed 12 runs at the bottomoftheordertoward the end of Guyana’s secondinnings

Jordan and Keon Harding picked up 3 – 32 and 3 – 37, respectively, while a wicket each went to Jair McAllister, Chaim

Holder and Shemar

S p i n g e r f o r

Barbados

Guyana will now turn their attention to the second round when they

face the Leeward Islands

H u r r i c a n e s f r o m

Wednesday, February 8, at the Coolidge Cricket

GroundinAntigua

Match details: Guyana

Harpy Eagles 371 off 121 1 overs (Matthew

Nandu126,KevinSinclair

43, Veerasammy Permaul

37, Jair McAllister 3-43, Chaim Holder 3-72) and 126-9 declared off 44 1

overs (Veerasammy

Permaul 33, Matthew

Nandu 16, Akeem Jordan 3-18, Keon Harding 3-37)

beat

Barbados Pride 220-9 off 91.2 overs (Sheyne

Moseley 65, Shamarh

Brooks 51, Shemar

S p r i n g e r 3 5 * ,

Veerasammy Permaul 4-

53, Kevin Sinclair 3-65, Shamar Joseph 2-33) and 94 off 36 overs (Jonathan

Drakes 36, Akeem Jordan

20, Nial Smith 5-31, Ronsford Beaton 2-11, Veerasammy Permaul 218)

Ambris55,BryanCharles446, Terrance Hinds 4-72) & 425-5 off 113 4 overs (KimaniMelius192,Kavem Hodge80,SunilAmbris55*, Alick Athanaze 51, Bryan Charles 2-92) drew against Trinidad & Tobago Red Force 315 off 92.1 overs (Amir Jangoo 86, Tion Webster 79, Terrance Hinds 52, Ryan John 5-18, Darius Martin2-80)&225-7off83 overs (Jason Mohammed 79*, Tion Webster 58, Ryan John3-27,KavemHodge254) Leeward Islands Hurricanes 260 off 118.3 overs (Jeremiah Louis 78*, Jahmar Hamiton 40, Marquino Mindley 3-29, AbhijaiMansingh3-47)and 241off73.5overs(Rahkeem Cornwall 85, Montcin Hodge 31, Jamie Merchant 4–43, Abhijai Mansingh 230) drew against Jamaica Scorpions234off82.4overs (Leroy Lugg 79, Abhijai Mansingh56,PaulPalmerJr 47,RakheemCornwall5-54, SheenoBerridge2-25,Colin Archibald2-37)and194–9 off 72 1 overs (Abhijai Mansingh 61*, Jamie Merchant 47, Rahkeem Cornwall5–41)

Nial Smith finished with five wickets for Guyana in the second innings. (CWI)

Kraigg Brathwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul got West Indies off to a watchful start. (Associated Press)

Rawle Toney unveiled the MVP Sports-sponsored uniforms that will be worn by the competing teams in this year’s 3x3 tournament.

Veerasammy Permaul was effective with both bat and ball for the Harpy Eagles. (AFP/Getty