Kaieteur News

Amerindian group files notice of appeal to CJ’s ruling in decades-old Upper Mazaruni land titling case

The Upper Mazaruni determined that the State District Council (UMDC) held the radical title of the hasfiledanoticetoappealto lands, failing to take into contest Chief Justice (ag) consideration the RomanRoxane George Wiltshire’s Dutchlegalunderpinningsin ruling in their challenge to Guyanese property law, the Government, over their under which the State does rights to upper Mazaruni not hold such radical title to lands. thelands.

The group had promised The group said that to appeal portions of the Justice George Wiltshire High Court ruling on the erred when she found it was rights of the Akawaio and not necessary for a Arecuna to Upper Mazaruni declaration to be granted to lands. the tribes, to say that they

Last December, Chief were entitled to a legitimate Justice (CJ) George- expectation of communal Wiltshire handed down a titles, given the occupation judgment in the decades-old of the said properties from Amerindian land rights case, timeimmemorial. stating that while the The UMDC contends Akawaio and Arecuna that the trial judge erred in people have rights to the law by refusing to recognize UpperMazarunilandswhich that the Akawaio and were in dispute for over two Arekuna People’s aboriginal decades – their rights are not title was to the exclusion of inexclusiontoothers. all others, despite finding the lands including rights to

Members of the Upper Mazaruni District Council (UMDC) and their lawyer Nigel Hughes following

T h e g r o u p h a d that they are the exclusive the water and subsoil December, the UMDC The Akawaio and too that it is their

Following the ruling last albeitnotexclusive. the ruling, the UMDC said

nonetheless expressed some occupants of the lands, at the resources in addition to the i s s u e d a s t a t e m e n t Arekuna people argued that understanding that, in light concern that the Chief time of the British colonial ownerrestitutionoflands. reaffirming its position that from time immemorial, they of the Court’s ruling, Justice “did not elaborate on rule.

Added to this, the group the government must first continuously occupied the Government agencies such precisely what it means to Thegroupclaimsthatthe contendsthattheCJmadean seekandobtainconsentprior Upper Mazaruni lands and as the Guyana Geology and have a communal title and judge erred when she failed erroneous determination by to any projects that it intends by virtue of this, they have M i n e s C o m m i s s i o n what she meant by the to recognize that the refusing to grant the tribes to undertake in the inalienable rights to the (GGMC) and Guyana exclusionstoourtitle.” aboriginal title which was compensation for the communallands. lands. ForestryCommission(GFC)

Representatives of the issued under Roman/Dutch impairment of rights to the The group also claimed In her explanation, do not have the authority to two tribes contended that the property law is still relevant lands. rights to carbon credits Justice George-Wiltshire issue any concessions in the CJ erred when she and affords them ownership generatedontheland. said that she could not communal lands without the

The Indigenous people declare that the Indigenous express permission of their of the Upper Mazaruni Peoples have rights communities.

District have long sought exclusive to the lands “We intend to write to legal title for recognition of because those rights are various Government their rights to traditional and subjectedtotheState. agencies to formally notify ancestrallands. Further, the Chief Justice them of this position. In

T h e t w o g r o u p s said that traditionally, from addition, we intend to seek approached the court the1800sandonwards,there advice and information seeking declarations that was a practice by the regarding the status of they not only have rights to Akawaio and Arekuna concessions granted the land they deem ancestral people to occupy the between 1998 [when the land, but exclusive rights to disputed lands Evidence case was filed] and the date thelandsinquestion. presented to the court shows of this judgment Our

In her ruling, the Chief that non-indigenous persons communities are the clear Justice confirmed that the have been occupying the victors in this case,” the Indigenous groups have lands. group added in the rights to the lands in dispute In a statement following statement.

122 roads under construction in Reg. 2

Region Two residents can soon look Region Two, of which 122 are being built. forward to improved connectivity, enhanced These roads will be done in asphalted or safety, increased mobility and an improved reinforcedconcrete.Charity,BountyHalland quality of life, as 122 priority roads are Dunkeldareamongthecommunitiesthatwill currentlybeingconstructedintheregion. immediatelybenefitfromtheseroads.

The roads span a number of areas across The Ministry of Local Government and the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils Regional Development has allotted some (NDCs) and the Anna Regina Municipality $108 million in the 2023 National Budget for Minister of Local Government and Regional the construction of community roads in Development, Nigel Dharamlall, provided Region Two. The construction of priority this information to the Committee of Supply roads is part of an overarching project on Wednesday afternoon, in his response to fostered by collaboration among the Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), ministries of Public Works, Local ShurwayneHolder GovernmentandRegionalDevelopment,and

He reminded the committee that Minister Housing and Water The project will see a of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, had numberofimportantroadsacrossthecountry gone at length to explain that some 1,084 being identified for construction, as part of roads on Guyana’s coast will be constructed. the government’s wide-reaching and Of that number, 261 were identified in inclusivetransformativeagenda.(DPI)

the ruling last December.

Seven years later...

Guyana now making moves to set up data register for oil sector

ExxonMobil funding its own cost oil audits

Theauditorreviewofthe an account held and and Validation of the billshandedtoGuyanabyoil c o n t r o l l e d b y t h e Government of Guyana’s giant ExxonMobil to Government US$400,000 to ProfitOil’Share’. developtheresourceisbeing beusedbytheadministration The Government of fundedbythedeveloper. “for the preparation of the Guyana (GoG) is expecting

Minister Vickram Bharrat

The Ministry of Natural agent. In offering a case in Resources will this year point to the Assembly, the commence the process to Minister explained, “we house Guyana’s technical have this bid round, our bid petroleumdatain-country round that is now public- 14 Subject Minister, blocks up for auction. If any Vickram Bharrat made the company- take for example get a consultant to assess the disclosure during Day Two Exxon- they need additional needs of the country to move of Consideration of the dataonGuyana,seismicdata inthisdirection. Estimates in Parliament as or any other data then they “We will have to the project is catered for in have to go to this third party determine first of all what this year’s Budget. He told in Houston and to pay for data we need to store; the the National Assembly, thatdata. size of the data; what “Indeedpartoftheallocation Of course 50 percent (of software will be needed; is to ensure that we start the the revenue or service what hardware will be process of having our very charge)willcometousbutit needed; the specification own data repository right is because we don’t have our requirements. These are all here in Guyana ” The own data repository in information that we need up Minister explained that Guyana that we have to take front so there is an allocation Guyana presently faces a 50 percent and not 100 here to hire a consultant to disadvantage since these percent so we are aiming to start the initial work so that statisticsisnotheldlocally change that so we can have we are advised properly

According to him, it is our own data, Guyana data beforewerushintosetupthe being held in the USA. stored in Guyana and we can data repository in Guyana,” “Presently, it is being hosted manage it to make the hepointedout. by one or two different revenue for ourselves right This year, $500 million companies in Houston that hereinGuyana.” has been allocated for this has the kind of capacity to The Natural Resources project and others under the hold our data and these are Minister said this is Ministry’s ‘Oil and Gas not new arrangements Mr particularly important even Sector Development C h a i r T h i s i s t h e as the country continues to Programme’. Notably, it is arrangement that has been in develop its oil and gas sector being funded through a loan p l a c e t h e p r e v i o u s as there will be more data by the International administration has been in required not only from the Development Association government,” Bharrat Stabroek Block but all other ( I D A ) T h i s i s a n reported. blocks offshore, onshore and international financial

He urged that Guyana is near-shore. To this end, institution which offers losingrevenuebynothaving Bharrat said provision has concessional loans and the data in-country and been made in this year’s grants to the world’s poorest actingasthesoleresponsible Budget to start the process to developingcountries.

This was revealed by audit scope and the the final report on the Minister of Natural procurement of third-party US$7.3 billion audit to be Resources Vickram Bharrat auditors to supplement the completed by March. during Tuesday’s Sitting of Chief Inspector’s resources Bharrat explained that the the National Assembly The and develop institutional first report has been handed Minister was at the time capacity for the ongoing over to the government responding to a line of conductofaudits...” already as he pointed out questions from Opposition Notably, Exxon was there may have been some Member of Parliament required to pay this fee 30 misunderstanding regarding David Patterson when he days after the License was theexpectedcompletiondate outlined that these costs are granted and annually on the fortheexpenditurereview “I not coming from out of the same date for a total of three think from the inception nationalpurse. consecutive years This whenthecontractwassigned

Bharrat explained, would amount to US$1.6 there was a bit of “There is a petroleum billion. Presently,Guyanais misunderstanding In the account at the Geology and conducting an audit contract it says 120 working M i n e s C o m m i s s i o n specifically targeting days and I think there was a (GGMC) of which license fees and other dues are paid into the account and for example,thenewProduction License that we are issuing now we have actually included an auditing fee. So the operator is paying an auditing fee to Guyana in those new licenses and those monies are being paid into expenses between the years lot of misconception…that it the Petroleum Account at 2018to2020thathasalready would be 120 running days GGMC.” beenbilledtothecountry or calendar days, but its 120

The Minister pointed out The cost of that audit is workingdays,”Bharratsaid. that the present audit, being pegged at US$751,000. On President Irfaan Ali in conducted by a local May24lastyear,thecontract November last year told this consortium in collaboration was signed for VHE newspaper that the process with an international firm, is Consulting which is a was estimated to wrap up being paid through that registered partnership before the end of 2022, with mechanism.

between Ramdihal & the first report ready by

According to the Haynes Inc, Eclisar December

$40.4B Human Services Ministry budget approved

healthcare, and the Ministry of Human Services and S o c i a l S e c u r i t y ’ s

T h e b u d g e t a r y discussion because we have programmes, “the minister provisions for the Ministry a c o m p r e h e n s i v e added. of Human Services and programme that focuses on

Meanwhile, expenditure Social Security were on strategies to tackle gender- under childcare and Tuesday approved in the based violence, as different protection services will see Committee of Supply of the from every other country in the implementation of a National Assembly, the region, which includes juvenile processing centre totallingsome$40.4billion. Latin America and the that will provide the Minister of Human Caribbean.” necessary services for Services, Dr Vindhya The conference will young persons, who have P e r s a u d s a i d t h e allow the ministry to speak come into conflict with the programmes and policies of on several initiatives, law,todevelopthemselves. government in the area of including the 914/24-hour The establishment of a social services, have hotline and the range of learning lab, an institution positioned the country as a services that the ministry thatcaterstothetrainingand pacesetter She outlined to offers such as the survivors’ empowerment of persons the committee that, “This advocate programme, living with disabilities, will year we’ll be hosting a which Minister Persaud also come on stream in conferencetoshareonsome notedisnewtotheregion. 2023 (Extracted from DPI) of the more outstanding The human services programmes of the ministryhasalsocreatedthe ministry we will be iMatter app, which has a sharing nationally and series of resources that regionally the work, we persons can access using wouldhavedoneongender- their electronic devices, based violence, and we are including a 914-panic thecountrywithoneofmost button “The kind of exemplary records under sharingwewilldo[willalso Spotlight. showcase] the development

“It is the Spotlight of a referral pathway that team’s expectation that links all of our regions

Yellowtail Production Financial, and Vitality When the Head of State License granted to Exxon’s Accounting & Consultancy was questioned on the audit subsidiary, Esso Exploration Inc. with support from an during a press conference on and Production Guyana International firm- SGS and January 17, he told Kaieteur Limited (EEPGL), the Martindale Consultants for News ”Well I can only tell License holder shall pay to the ‘Cost Recovery Audit youwhatyouknow.”

Natural Resources

Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456

Editor-In-Chief:NIGELWILLIAMS

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

Letitia Wright

WeareproudofaGuyanesethatmadeitgood. LetitiaWright isacauseforlocalcelebration,afigureworthembracingby all Guyanese, regardless of our old scars and bones-in-thethroat, our politics. She is an example for all of us, one who reached the heights, and never forgot where she came from, whoherpeopleare.

It is inspiring that Letitia Wright, a Guyanese woman of humble roots, who hit it big with international cinematic stardom,stillremembered,cametoshare,andshareshedid. She graced our top lawmaking body, Guyana’s National Assembly, with her presence and made a memorable impression with some simple words that ring with rich resonance across the length and breadth of Guyana. “Love andpeace”werewhatstruckachordwithusatthispaper This society has been plagued, has grievously hurt itself, where Guyanese are a divided people that limps along, and drags around,mostlyaimlessly

InsteadoftheloveandpeacecounseledbyLetitiaWright,we have been consumed by hatred and fears, hostility and resentments,thatjustwillnotletgoofus.Theonlytimethat Guyanese seem to have the time of the day for one another, extend beyond the basic courtesies necessitated by convention, is when they migrate to foreign shores. In good timesandbad,andtheyhavebeenmostlytough,thereisthis preference that deepens bitterness, expands rancor, and deliverstothestateinwhichwenowlivesomewhattensely Anylittledevelopmentcouldunleashtheworseinus,withthe usualsharp,boilingpartisanshipspringingtothefore. Given our circumstances, this visit of Letitia Wright to her own, and for her own, the expanse of the vast diversity of Guyana people, ought to have been capitalised upon more vigorously,moremeaningfully

ItwouldhavebeenawonderfulopportunityfortheLeaderof theOppositiontostandupandofferafewwordsofsupport,of citizenship, of joy during the parliamentary presence of Ms. Wright.Itwouldhavebeeninfinitelybetter,agreatnational moment and opportunity, for the PPPC Government and CoalitionOpposition’sAPNU+AFCMembersofParliament tocometogetherasone,duringtheshortspanoftimethatthis Guyanese superstar was in their midst. To take this to even higherground,itwouldhavebeenmakingthebestuseofour sister’s highly hailed visit, if President Ali and Opposition LeaderNortoncouldhavebeenseentogetherwithher Alongthesamelines,weatthispaperbelievethatstillanother beautifulmomentwasforegone,perhapsduetoschedulingor someonenotthinkingaboutit.

ThiswaswhenLetitia(sheisnowatrulynationaldaughter,so we are comfortable speaking of her in this familiar manner) paid her courtesy visit to Guyana’s most prestigious institutionoflearningattheSecondarySchoollevel,Queen’s College. We ask of our fellow Guyanese to think of how it wouldhavebeendelightfulforallcitizensofthiscountryto watchtheHonMinisterofEducationandtheAPNU+AFC’s ShadowMinisterofEducationsharingspaceandsharingthe momentwithLetitiaandthecreamofourstudentprincesand princesses.

Imaginetheimpressiononourbestyoungminds,ourfuture leaders, and actors (actresses, too) on the national political, social,scientific,andfinancialstages.

LetitiaWrightcametoGuyana,andclearly,wesawherinher simpleandgracefulgrandeur,howsheconqueredourhearts with the humility of her bearing and her spirit. She is a real, true,andauthenticproductofthistornsoil. Somuchwecan learn from her, so much we can do. We urge our leaders on bothsidesofthenowalmostunbridgeabledividetoseekout ways to mend, instead of working diligently to mangle. Guyanaurgentlyneedssomekindofgluetobringittogether, and that something which holds the Guyanese people together

The tragedy of our existence is that we have all this wealth, but we have all these woes, this polarising willfulness that wrenches more apart. Thanks to Ms. Letitia Wright for makingourday,forgivingusonesmall,fleetingglimpsesof whatcanandshouldbe.

Karl’s Place in Mocha killing the golden years of an elderly woman

DEAREDITOR,

I would like to draw the attention of the concerned authority towards the issue of noise nuisance emerging from Karl’s Place located at Lot‘N’NelsonStreetMocha EastBankDemerara.

I am a retired Public

Servantandtheneighbourof the above business place. Music is being played for most part of the day and all night until 5am Several complaintsweremadetothe MochaPoliceOutpostbutto noavail.

I tried speaking to the

proprietor explaining to him how the noise is affecting me. I was met with a hostile attitude and in the end, he said, ‘do what the hell you like’’ Mr Editor it has becomeamajorconcernsince itconstantlycausesmetolose sleepandhaveheadaches.

I am also hypertensive. I am kindly asking that through this media swift actionbetakenandsoatleast in this regard help me to enjoymygoldenyearsofage 75and81yearsplus. Regards, FrustratedMocharesident

An urgent solution to the morning traffic chaos on the West Bank of Demerara is needed

DEAREDITOR, I wish to highlight an unbearablesituationthathas developed recently on the West Bank of Demerara and is inconveniencing and frustrating some road users. During the hours of 6:00 to 8:00, commuters using the West Bank Demerara Public Road not crossing the Demerara Harbour Bridge are left to the mercies of the multitude trying to catch the doublelanestoheadoverthe bridge Initially, if you

travelled from the west coast,thereweretwolanesto cross the bridge and a third lane for those persons heading further up the bank. Today, there are four lanes heading to the bridge and those of us heading further upthewestbankareleftwith the uneven bumpy curb to traverse. If you are heading north along the West Bank Public Road, apart from the unscrupulous drivers who drive in the corner lane to bore the line, as soon as you

pass the harbour bridge, thereisnowheretogo.

Thisisbecausefourlanes of traffic are heading to the bridge So, between Schoonord Road and the DemeraraHarbourBridgein the morning, it is chaotic, with no police presence to marshal and manage the traffic situation. How long will this continue? No one knows. But, at the moment that is the situation from Monday to Friday, between thehoursof6:00to8:00,on

the West Bank Public Road between Schoonord Road and the Demerara Harbour Bridge. Editor, I wish this letterfinallyhighlightstothe Region Three Commander that there is a serious traffic problem that needs solving, and that he provides the appropriate means of managing the traffic issue highlighted in this letter in a timely and consistent manner

Yoursfaithfully, Afrustrateddriver

Tetanus Injections Unavailable at Health Centres

DEAREDITOR,

I write on the above caption on a matter of great sorrowtomyheartandmore sototheordinaryCitizensof Guyana who could face death,seriousillnessesatour publicmedicalhospitalsand healthcentres.

Iknowforafactthatour government budgets tremendous amount of tax dollars for the supposed accident healthcare to our people especially to those who cannot afford to go to the private medical institutions. This lady that I am about to speak of could have died over the weekend from Friday 27th January, 2023 to Monday 30th January,2023.

My aim also is to highlight the fact whether health centres should also operateonSaturdaystohelp andsupportthebackboneof thiscountry Whoaresimple ordinary people who cannot afford the private medical care I know that some cannot afford but that they will bleed their little resources that they have denying,themselvesofother important facilities in order togetsomehelpasitrelates totheirhealth.

On Friday 27th January, 2023 a woman who definitely cannot afford privatehealthcarewasbitten by a dog on her wrist. I was advised of this by a staff of mineandimmediatelymade

contactwiththewoman.And upon making contact with her she was asking for an antibiotic because she was feeling a discomfort in the areawhereshewasbitten.

I would not know whether it is psychological, by fear, or as a result of the bacteria in the area of the woundcausebythefangsof theGermanShepherd.

I immediately got excitedasahumanbeingand putthingsinplaceforherto visit the Better Hope Health Centre.

Only to be told it would beclosedbythen.Apointat thisjuncturewouldbetoask “do these health centres catering for the backbone of the nation, the ordinary simplepeopleoperate8to4? “Ihaveanissuewiththis.So I pray that in time our g o v e r n m e n t , t h i s government of care will consider extending the time to 6pm. And to operate at least until to 2pm on Saturdays.

Now that the health centre was closed, I made arrangements to get the woman to the Public Hospital and gave her a few bucks. Even provided my number for her to call me back But she never contacted me by phone on the result of her treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Only when I saw her by chance on Saturday in the

neighbourhood that she indicated that the GeorgetownPublicHospital did not have Tetanus Injection. Well Government of Guyana, Honourable MinisterofHealthimagined that I flipped and became extremelyupset!Annoyed!

Asacomplyingtaxpayer of this country and knowing that the government of this countryisdoingallthatthey can. That the administrators of Medical Drugs to the various healthcare institutions cannot a d m i n i s t r a t e a n d communicate to ensure that there is no shortage of medication such as basic as tetanusinjection.

I have heard that many persons got bitten by snakes and the Public Healthcare Institutions do not have the anti-venom medication for snakebites. For a tropical countryandanoil-producing country like Guyana and a country by a caring Government,aswehave,we are being shortchanged by people in positions administering the distribution of medical equipmentanddrugs.

Myinformationalsowas thatshewastoldtoreturnon Monday (30th January, 2023) or go to the health centre. The lady went to the HealthCentre.

On Monday morning, shesawme,assheworkedin theareawhereIliveandtold

methatthehealthcentrewas notopenedwhenshepassed at7am.

As a human being, I dropped her back at the HealthCentreandtoldherto go get register and wait in line. Only to be told about 8:15 that they have no tetanusinjectioninstock.

I flipped again and I calledtheHealthCentreand spokewiththepharmaciston dutyatthetime.

The pharmacist was so kindandcaringandsaidthat she will call up a number of health centres in the area to see whether they have Tetanus Injections in stock. This pharmacist was so professional, helpful and courteousinthemannerthat she spoke and dealt with the situationthatIcouldnottake out the annoyance of the inefficiency of the Health Centreonher I got a call later with some good news that the stock of Tetanus Injections hadjustarrivedattheHealth Centre!Thisisaprofessional pharmacist who needs to be recognisedandapplaudedat that Better Hope Health Centre. I wish to thank her, and she said that she will nowdispensethemedication tothatperson.

I subsequently saw the victim later heading into to work in the area that I live and she told me that the tetanusinjectionwas

(Continuedonpage5)

History must direct us to examine the efforts from Accabre to Cuffy, from Marcus Garvey to Nkrumah, from the Mandingos to Martin Luther King (Jnr.) to Mandela

DEAREDITOR,

Fifty years after the African slaves secured their release from bondage in the United States of America, a descendant of the Manumitted Africans, Dr CarterWoodsoninitiatedthe process to educate people in that Continent and beyond about the consequences of the TransAtlantic slave trade. Over the years, the intention was and still is to share the horrors of the TransAtlanticslavetradebut also to help people everywhere to recognize the massive damage done to the psyche of black people who live in North America and theCaribbeaninparticular

The principal purpose was to help people and leaderseverywheretogetrid of inherited prejudices anchored on a belief that somehow people with melaninandwoolyhairwere createdasinferiorbeingsby theoneGod,weallclaimto serve. This week we begin the celebrations of Black History Month It’s an opportunity for all of us irrespective of race, color or creed to study and benefit fromthemanyusefullessons

thatblackhistoryoffers.

InGuyanaandelsewhere as we seek to benefit from the history of the so-called six races of Guyana, it must be in the pursuit to heal and not peel A mere few generations after the events of slavery in NorthAmerica and the Caribbean, the examinationofthetruthmay oftenbeuncomfortableifnot painfultoboththevictimsof slavery and those who benefitted from the slave tradeandslavelabour

In the State of Florida andotherpartsoftheUnited States, this examination is already creating conditions of hostility and vitriol

Books written by black and white authors have been banned for use in the educational system where the extreme ultra-white are claiming some of the revelationsaboutslaveryare not education but indoctrination.Forhistoryto be promotional, for history to secure peace, we must be unafraid to recount past events.Itisthisexamination, which allows all of us to avoid mis-steps and misdeedscommittedearlier

Ifweattempttohideour

failings, our foibles and our prejudices, we are likely to repeat them In Guyana, armed with a number of Advisors, we had our Headof-State while addressing Indian Arrival Day said we all came for betterment. That we certainly could not include those who are tricked, kidnapped and enslaved on our plantations. When the absurdity of this Statement was made, there wasacorrection,buttheold folks say your first word stands in Court. There is evidence that in some theaters where authority resides that there appears to be an anxiety to practice the old techniques of our erstwhile masters, that is, to preach equality but practice inequality using as black history has shown some of the victims as the tools for philosophyofsuperiority

The state now in control of massive funds will not take the opportunity to ignore those who can speak from the heart on behalf of the African community, and that the opportunity will not be taken to create a compliant class of descendants of manumitted

Africans who wittingly or unwittingly carry out the biddings of the new master withcontrolofmoney

We need to remember that this year also marks the endofthebicentenaryofthe 1823 Uprising. An uprising thatfailedbecause,letuscall him Sammy, a slave, but living in the quarters of the Master,learningoftheplan’s uprising, quickly informed the Master allowing the latter to take brutal action to putdownthe1823Uprising. Historyhasapuckishwayof repeating itself and Black History Month should allow us to ponder and should allow us to bring forth the strength and spirit of the African who survived the worst form of brutality knowninrecenthistory

Arecurring challenge as we look at Black History is that in the mind of some, they came to accept that the crumbs from the Master’s tablewerethejustdeserved. Historymustdirectustothe grave and to be courageous, to examine the efforts from Accabre to Cuffy, from MarcusGarveytoNkrumah, from the Mandingos to Martin Luther King (Jnr.) to

Open Letter to President Irfaan Ali

Welcome to Berbice

Yourvisitistimelyasitwill allow many concerns to be addressed Sir, your appointed people are failing itscitizens.Throughoutyour termsofar,youhavealways shown that leaders must serve. They must come off their‘highhorses’.Youhave many sacred cows in Berbice, and because they

Tetanus Injections...

Frompage4 administered and that she had started to feel better Hon Minister Frank Anthony, I address you Sir, youareagreathumanbeing, you mean well for this country and the peoples of thiscountry

It is obvious that your people in positions of authorities have let you down. Just as we know that millions of dollars in medical equipment and medical drugs are manipulatedoutofthedrugs bondsthatshouldbegoingto benefitthepeople.

Sincerely, HajjiDr.RoshanKhan.

knowaministerortwo,they enjoyimmunity.Inyourlast visit, residents complained bitterlyabouttheattitudeofa certain NDC official in East Canje Nothing has improved since. In fact, her attitude has gotten worst towardscitizens.Anycitizen whocomplainsagainstheris berated, abused and ridiculed. Everyone knows of her outburst style. This is notwhatyoustandfor.How canonepersonholdsomany positions in Berbice? It is because of the many

positions, some of your people assume, they cannot function to the fullest Shouting, screaming, hollering cannot be the way businessisdone.Thedaysof bullytypeleadershipisgone and unless this individual undergoes some reforming then your party will constantly be disgraced Videos after videos are on social media about her conduct, even petitions by residentsyetnoaction.

Contractors are the new powerhouses in the country

Mandela.Afewdaysago,we observed what is termed as theJewishholocaustandwe have seen around the globe people obtaining reparation in one form or the other, but there is insufficient enthusiasmwhentheissueof black reparation is raised. The Anglican churches, the Government of the Netherlands among others havepubliclyacknowledged the horrors of slavery and have accepted the need of formsofreparation

As we celebrated 150 years of Emancipation, speaking to a group in Guyana, Professor Ali Mazrui noting how others have benefitted from the experiences of their foreparents noted that Blacks have neither sacralized their suffering into a sacred doctrine nor exploited it as a political fund. As we observe Black HistoryMonth,thosewhose descendants’bonesareatthe bottom of the Atlantic rattlingforjustice,peaceand the right to share honorably intheenormouswealthmust not give up the quest and regard this month and every other month as the

Surely, money run things. These young contractors don’t understand that being associated with the party doesn’tgivethemtherightto trampleonothers.

Mr President, welcome to Berbice. We expect great thingsfromyourvisit.

Yourtruly,

EastCanjeResident

continuation of a struggle to educate our young people irrespective of race, colour or creed, that we should use ourhistoryasatooltounlock ignorance, folly, which has helped to dismember the fabricofoursociety.

To those who are sitting around the table, I ask them to remember the lesson of Esausellinghisbirthrightfor a mess of pottage found in one of the Holy Books, Black History Month must be used as a catalyst for a betterGuyana.

Black History month must be used by a caring government to share knowledge from the cradle throughout our educational systemsothatasapeoplewe canbetrulyliberated.

Now that we have an abundanceofmoneynopain should be spared to share knowledge and the truth of our pre-independence and post-independence experiences and this should not be perceived as setting aside those organizations, whohaveforsometimenow represented people of Africandescent.

Regards, HamiltonGreen

Demarcation of Constituency Boundaries

DEAREDITOR, GECOM today, after hagglingovertheissueofthe demarcation of constituency boundaries from November 2022 to January 2023, decidedthatthereportofthe CEO met the standard required of such a report. The opposition appointed Commissionersdifferforthe followingreasons.

1 The criteria and procedures (geography,

community and population) for the demarcation of constituencies previously used were thrown out. The Chairperson and the Government appointed commissioners argued that nominutescouldbefoundto show that they had been approved The CEO previously argued that there were no points of reference of the previously developed and used procedures and

criteria Documents were produced to show that they existed. He then resorted to contend that there were no approvedminutes.

2. The records clearly showthattheproceduresand criteria that were discussed fromMay2009toDecember 2009 were actually implemented and were the basisfortheconfigurationof constituencies in 2016 and 2018.3.TheCEOinhisown

wordsarticulatedthatheand his staff determined what criteria (population and a distorted concept of geography) should be applied Imagine a Commission threw out collectively determined criteria and procedures and accepted the validity of a report that resulted from a process that was crafted by theCEO,deficientandnever a p p r o v e d b y t h e

Commission.

4. The report represents exactly what the Minister hadillicitlysoughttofoiston GECOM. In other words, GECOM has now clothed theMinister’sillicitactwith itsapproval.

5 The opposition appointed commissioners have reserved the right to provide statistical evidence to show that the proposed boundariesaresimplyactsof

gerrymandering aimed at giving the PPP an unfair advantage in the upcoming localgovernmentelections.

6. While the discussion so far was about the validity of the report, the Government appointed commissioners are insisting that there should be no discussion on the content of thereport.

Regards, VincentAlexander.

Gas to shore by containerised CNG is a fraction of the cost of pipeline

DEAREDITOR,

Recent “Letters to the Editor” have sought to question the viability of transporting gas to shore by ship. Editor, it can be said categorically, that gas to shore by vessel as compressed natural gas (CNG), is a fraction of the cost of the present pipeline planoftheGovernment.

Elements of an option ofCNGbyvessel

One option investigated involves the use of selfpropelledbargeseachloaded with 120 ISO containers. Eachcontainerwouldhold9 tonsofCNGatapressureof 250 bar Four barges would be required to transport 50 million standard cubic feet perday

The barges would travel at a rated speed of 10 Kn. when fully loaded, and have a turn-around time of 36 to

48hours,inclusiveoftimeto “cascade” load and discharge. Six barges are proposed in the cost estimates below, to cater for planned maintenance and unforeseendowntime.

CapitalCostEstimate

Using quotations received from equipment manufacturers a year ago, the costing of the core

e l e m e n t o f t h i s transportation option, is as follows: This option would therefore transport 50 mmscf/day gas to shore at lessthanUS$300million.

OtherBenefitsofGasto shorebyBarge

(1) With a draft of 4.2 meters when fully loaded, the barges allow access to

most GPL generating locations The existing generating and transmission assets of GPL would continue their useful lives, with the addition of units as short-term demand grows. Plans for the installation of cost-effective renewable powercouldbeimplemented as soon as practicable to supplement natural gas powergeneration.

(2) The barges would act as storage buffers in the event of an unexpected interruption of gas supplies, therebyreducingtheneedfor extensive storage tanks at GPLlocations.

(3) Barges allow flexibility in the sourcing of gas from any FPSO, and opens the possibility of multiple destinations, local or to nearby countries. In addition, scaling up gas volumes could be

economically and quickly achieved.

(4) B a r g e s conveniently allow planned or unplanned maintenance. Shuttingdownapipelinefor maintenance, especially in an event occurring in deep water, is likely to be a very expensive and dislocating operation.

CNG Transportation by ISO Containers is maturetechnology

There are thousands of applications around the world, where CNG is transported overland in pressure vessels, such as the ISOcontainers.

Maritime applications are few, but uniquely fit the Guyana context, with our geographic realities of a “mud flat” all along the coast, natural gas sources spread out in deep water a hundred miles off shore

These realities make constructing pipelines hugely expensive So expensive that the present US$1.3 billion pipeline plan would drive up the cost of gasdeliveredtoshoretoover US$ 8.00 per million Btu (compared with a present price of natural gas of US$3,50 in the United States), and would actually increase GPL’s generating cost when crude oil prices areatorbelowUS$80.00per barrel.

In comparison, the gas transportation cost of the barge option above, would belessthanUS$2.00permm Btu An example of a maritime transportation of CNG by ISO container can b e v i e w e d a t : https://vimeo com/5031672 66

Sincerely,

FitzroyFletcher

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

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

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

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

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Exxon 55, Guyana 1

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

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

Exxon reaps over US$55B in 2022!

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

Guyana collects over US$1B.

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

Those are nice odds, a sweet ratio!

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

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

Just ask PresidentAli and VP Jagdeo sitting on their hands…

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

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

Look at them cheering on Exxon, while Guyanese punishing.

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

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Stop the exploitation of Africa, Pope Francis tells western nations in DRC

(Al Jazeera) Pope schoolchildren from the displaced some 5.7 million Francis has demanded that many Catholic-run church people, a fifth of them last foreign powers stop schools run over here in year alone, according to the plundering Africa’s natural Congo,”headded. WorldFoodProgramme. resources for the “poison of

“The Catholic church Congo accuses Rwanda their own greed” after he runs about 60 percent of of backing the M23 rebel landed in the Democratic health and education group fighting government Republic of Congo as part of services here it’s what troops in the east. Rwanda atriptotwoAfricannations. makes the Catholic Church deniesthis.

The 86-year-old Francis such a significant institution “As well as armed is the first pontiff to visit DR here [in Congo],” Webb militias, foreign powers Congo since Pope John Paul added. hungry for the minerals in II did so in 1985, when the

About half of Congo’s our soil commit, with the country was still known as population of 90 million are direct and cowardly support Zaire. RomanCatholics. of our neighbour Rwanda,

“ H a n d s o f f t h e

The six-day trip, which cruel atrocities,” said Democratic Republic of the also includes a stop in South Congolese President Felix Congo! Hands off Africa!” Sudan, was originally Tshisekedi, speaking just

Francis said on Tuesday to scheduled for July 2022, but before the pope on the same applause in his opening was postponed because of stage. speech to Congolese

Francis’s knee problems, The pope said the government authorities and whichwerestillsoseriouson Congolese people were the diplomatic corps in the Tuesday that he could not fighting to preserve their garden of Kinshasa’s stand to greet journalists in territorial integrity “against nationalpalace. the plane heading to deplorable attempts to

Pope Francis sits next to Democratic Republic of Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi as he attends a welcoming ceremony at the Palais de la Nation on the first day of his apostolic journey, in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, January 31, 2023 [Simone Risoluti/Vatican Media/Handout via Reuters]

Calling Congo’s vast Kinshasa and was forced to fragment the country”. The mineral and natural wealth a use a wheelchair on the pope did not name Rwanda “diamond of creation”, countries have exploited the The 86-year-old didn’t detriment of the local ground. inhisaddressortakesidesin Francis demanded that resources of poorer ones for identify Belgium or any peoples, and not forget this Fighting in DRC thedispute. foreigninterestsstopcarving theirownprofit. neighbouring country by countryandthiscontinent.” Francis was also Instead of travelling to up the country for their own Francis pointed the name, but he spared no word Al Jazeera’s Malcolm supposed to have included a Goma, Francis will meet interests and acknowledge finger at the role colonial of condemnation, saying Webb, reporting from stop in Goma, in eastern with a delegation of people their role in the economic powers such as Belgium there was a “forgotten Kinshasa, said hundreds if Congo, but the surrounding from the east who will “enslavement” of the played in the exploitation of genocide”underway not thousands of people on North Kivu region has been travel to Kinshasa for a Congolesepeople. Congo until the country, “The poison of greed has the roads followed the plagued by intense fighting private encounter at the

“Stop choking Africa. It which is 80 times the size of smeared its diamonds with pope’s motorcade on between government troops Vatican embassy on isnotaminetobestrippedor Belgium, gained its blood,”Francissaid. m o t o r b i k e s t o t h e and the M23 rebel group, as Wednesday a terrain to be plundered,” independence in 1960. He “ M a y t h e w o r l d presidential palace from the well as attacks by fighters Theplancallsforthemto said history’s first Latin also said neighbouring a c k n o w l e d g e t h e airport. linked to the ISIL (ISIS) participate in a ceremony in American pope, who has countries are playing a catastrophic things that were “The roads were lined up armedgroup. whichtheyjointlycommitto long railed at how wealthy similarroletoday doneoverthecenturiestothe with church groups and The fighting has forgivingtheirassailants.

Govt. to take contractor to court for substandard work on Ministry of Health HQ

On Tuesday, in the National represented some 20 percent of the the internal and external walls, Assembly, Minister of Health, Dr. contractsum. electrical andAC unit installations, Frank Anthony disclosed that the Notably, in April 2018, the installation the lifts, tiling works, Government has commenced legal APNU+AFC Administration plumbing works and additional proceedings against Chung’s contracted a supervisory firm to furnishing. Global Enterprise, in relation to look over the construction of the

He noted that in 2019, the substandard work on the Health building Also, in 2018, two AuditorGeneralrecommendedthat Ministry’sHeadquarterslocatedon additional payments were made to the head of budget agency take Brickdam,Georgetown. Chung’sGlobalEnterprise. immediate actions to activate the Minister Anthony made the According to Dr Anthony, the stipulations of the contract disclosure while responding to first and second payments were including termination of the questions by Opposition Member made in the sums of $34.5 million contract and recovery of the sums of Parliament, Jermaine Figueira, and $48.8 million, respectively paid.With the decision being made inrelationtotheterminationofsaid However, according to the Auditor to terminate the contract – it was contract by the government 0n General’s report, at the end of estimated that for the work to be October31,2020. December 2018, little work was completed, the contract had to be

The Department of Public done. MinisterAnthony noted that on “At the end of 2019, the increased to about $870 million. Information (DPI) reported that the “Twenty-one months after the February 11, 2019 ground beams contractor received $304.5 million This represented an additional minister stated that the Attorney signing of the contract, only were found to be substandard and or about 85 percent of the contract $513.3 million to be added to the GeneralandLegalAffairsMinister, foundation work was completed these defects were pointed out – sum, and payments were made $304.5 million that was already Anil Nandlall, SC, has already and some work was started on the adding, some of the work had to be without valuation of six payment paid. When the performance bond taken the necessary legal steps erection of steel frame, and when redone which also added to the certificates, which totaled about waschecked,itwasalreadyexpired againstthecontractor they visited the site, there were cost “The Auditor General $233 1 million, there was no oneyearprior Dr Anthony said the original three workers on the site, three recommended that liquidated valuation certificate, and works DPI reported that the current cost of the project was $365 workers were working,” Minister damages should have been remained incomplete,” the health administration took office in million. It was intended to be Anthony said. In fact, the company instituted, but there was no minister pointed out. DPI reported August 2020 and terminated the completed in 12 months and the contracted to supervise the work evidence that the ministry that Dr Anthony added that among contract soon after and a new contractor received an advance saidtherewere“manyinstances”of liquidated any damages,” the some of the works to be completed contractwas awarded to the tune of payment of $71.2 million, which substandardwork. ministersaid. were the ceiling works, painting of $436milliontocompletethework.

File photo of the Ministry of Health’s head office at Brickdam while under construction

Those who are part of the problem cannot be a part of the solution

It is ironic that local cricketenthusiastsshouldbe callinguponthegovernment to intervene in the administration of the local game.

One person has gone as farasaskingthegovernment to dissolve the Guyana Cricket Board and replace it with an interim committee.

Unfortunately that is a harebrainedsuggestion.Forone, neither the West Indies Cricket Board nor the International Cricket Council would countenance such a move by the political a u t h o r i t i e s T h e International Cricket Council (ICC) would look disapprovingly at such a development.In2019,itwill be recalled, that the ICC suspended Zimbabwe from all its competitions because of government interference in that country’s cricket This was after the government took action against the local cricketing Board and installed an interim leadership to administer Zimbabwean Cricket The ICC, in response, said it could not condone such political interference.

When a former PPP/C government had attempted to nationalize the assets of the Guyana Cricket Board, the West Indies Cricket Board made it clear that the government had no right to seek to take over a private entity concerned with the administration of local cricket Yet, political interference is the very

action which one cricket enthusiast wants replicated in Guyana. As long as the government installs an interim committee to manage local cricket, Cricket West Indies (CWI) would have no other option buttosuspendGuyanafrom participation in regional cricket tournaments and its meetings.Butwhywouldthe government want to replace aBoardwhichitwenttosuch extremestoinstall?

The ICC’s Constitution requires that cricket be administered autonomously But what happens if the law of a country or an ICC member state allows for the removalofalocalcricketing council?

This was the case in 2020, when the authorities responsible for sport in South Africa called upon Cricket SouthAfrica to step aside. Thesituationreached an impasse which was resolved inelegantly when the contesting parties reached an agreement but there is no doubt that there was political interference in Cricket South Africa. There isequallylittledoubtthatthe PPP/C government was intentontopplingtheformer local cricket Board so as seizecontroloflocalcricket. It virtually declared war on the local cricket Board. The then Board stoutly resisted for years, exhausting the legalsystemtofulleffect.

ButthePPP/Cwouldnot be denied. There is little doubt that it was pulling strings behind the scenes in

Dem Boys Seh...

an attempt to topple the old Board. The PPP/C got its way and a cricket law was enactedasanewBoardduly elected. But cricket has not beenthesameeversince.

The administration of local game is now being p l a c e d u n d e r t h e microscope. A number of alleged grievances, over the manner in which local cricket is administered have been ventilated in public. A mini-storm is being created over an on-field tradition. The selection of the Guyana team for the ongoing Regional four-day tournament has been criticized in some quarters. There was a breach of good faith in the manner in which o n e o f G u y a n a ’ s representatives on the CWI was removed. Divisions and backstabbing have been alleged,andtherehavebeen acallfortheGuyanaCricket Board to be dissolved Unfortunatelyorfortunately, the law does not allow this. And should anything like this happen, it would be hard-pressed for Cricket WestIndiesnottorejectsuch politicalmeddling.

ButwhywouldthePPPC want to dissolve a Board with which it finds so much favour?

In fairness to the local cricketBoard,therehasbeen little cricket over the past three years With such limited cricket, selecting a teamisalwaysgoingtoreek of controversy The pandemichadblanketedany attempt to organize

Demessengernuffmen binwaitingpon…arrive

Dehgatawomanwhomekkinnuffmen happy And all she doing is giving friendly advice.

ShedehponTikTokandshepreaching de words wah nuff men glad fuh hear But shealsodispleasingplentywomen,whonah agreewithwhatshetalking.

Dewomanclaimhowherhusbandisher boss. He is number one. She telling dem odder women dem muss listen and do whatever dem husband want dem fuh do. Whensomeofdemboysheardis,dembuss out into applause. Dem want UG fuh give disladyadoctorate.Demurgingdewoman fuh“Talkdetalk,Sister!Talkdetalk!”

And de woman smiling when she talking.Sheeventelldemwomenhowdem need to bring more women fuh their

husbands. One man when he hear dis leff with he mouth open. He scream, “Where wereyouallmylife!DisiswhatIwantdem otherwomentohear!”

Butsomewomenturningupdemmouth. Dem nah agree with what de woman talk. She even tell a story about a woman who ketchshehusbandcheating.Andguesswhat she did? She bring de sweet woman in she house so dat de husband gan be pleased. Wanmanwhenheheardissisterpreach,he turn up de volume on he phone so he wife could hear what he called, de “words of wisdom”. De last time dem boys check, he dehindeEmergencyWard.

Nahaskdemboyshowhegetthereand wahhappentohephone. Talkhalf.Leffhalf!

tournaments and with the poor weather and atrocious conditionofcricketgrounds, it was the most challenging period for the Guyana CricketBoard. The government can try to assist to sponsor more tournaments. But even with strong government backing, it will take some doing to overcome the malaise in localcricket.Thereissimply not sufficient cricket being played locally Cricket in a

crisis in Guyana and while someblameforthishastobe paid at the feet of PPP/C governmentswhichmeddled in the affairs of the Guyana Cricket Board, other factors such as weather, the poor state of grounds, limited tournaments and the pandemicmustbetakeninto account when apportioning responsibility

Issues over team selectionareonlyasymptom of the malaise which has

crept in local cricket administration. These issues are not the cause of the problem and therefore are not likely, even if resolved satisfactorily, to stem the declineinlocalcricket.

(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.)

By GHK Lall

The plea for “love and peace” inside Guyana’s parliamentisafirst. Ifthere wereanysuchsprinklingsof thinking harboured before by a few from either side of the rancorous, savaging, divide in the People’s House, those have all vanished like straw rushed along by a fierce wind. Love and peace have been

Love and Peace

the constant foundations of religious teachings, sometimes commandments; bothcanbeconvenientlyput to use by nifty political leaders,butthetwoarenow vacant in the schemes of most Guyanese, whether inside or outside of parliament.Therichesofoil introduce this kind of wretchedness, this national dreadfulness. The few who speak to either one are mocked for untimeliness and the foolishness of their callings, their yearnings for a m o r e t o l e r a n t , understandingGuyana.

It is delightful that a local possessing of several helpful mixtures issued the exhortation for “love and peace.” She is a mixture of homegrown origins, the enticingflavourofaforeign address,andwithsignificant international fame, completing a rather flamboyant portrait

Whoever makes a call for “love and peace” in parliament, in Guyana, and gainssomeleveloftraction, somefollowing,hasmynod ofthanks.

Afewofushavetriedto no avail; victims of what familiarity brings, plus that one about messengers delivering unwanted scrolls not being welcomed, not even in their own homeland by their own. There is resonanceinthatforme.

“Love and peace” here, can we get it? Are we willingtodowhatittakesto draw closer than where we arecurrently?Tosomestate that could be termed a Guyana of ‘oneness’? The President says that he has that in mind, but my doubts accumulate about both his mind, and whatever he says on not just that vision claimed, but on most things nowadays. Whenattitudes and actions from the top contradict what s offered in pailsofplatitudesaboutone this or one that, then Guyanesearenottightening their grip on an elusive oneness. They are drifting from, if not destroying any hope of, what is asserted to

beclosetotheheart.

The President is on record that he envisions something called ‘One Guyana.’ As monitored by me, the President has compiled a record of saying that he stands for numerous things that could be supremely beneficial to the citizens of this country, but then being totally pleased with himself to exist in an altogether different universe. It is more than a parallel track, but of what batters first, then buries, the elements he held out as his leadershiptruths.

I remind my fellows of t r a n s p a r e n c y , accountability, and unity How quickly he forgot!

Howmuchthebloodrushed from his head, leading to sustained memory loss, is still a work in progress. If what Guyana’s President (andhiscomrades)aredoing wereasong,itwouldbeone obscenestreetditty But love and peace it is, and in the National Assembly of all places Love and peace have come to mean so much of what cannot be digested in this country, in its parliament,

for people can get sick just from anticipating the mere expression. I don’t pretend to have any sophisticated concepts or papers about how much love and peace can matter to this ruptured andwrenchedland,butIstill do know a few little things, whichIhavetheaudacityto putinthepublicdomain. Wherethereislove,only some meaningful degree of it, then it is almost a given that peace that is true and treasuredfollows. Forwhen thereisloveandpeace,then b r o t h e r h o o d a n d togetherness become achievable, maybe even inseparable. If that sounds peculiarly like some camouflaged rendition of reconciliation and some form of union, I confess to being guilty Taking this to an upper layer, love and peace opens the door to honest conversation that is confident of any outcome, including the resolution of suchlongstandingmysteries to Guyanese like truth and justice.Sincethereisnofear of where any of this may lead, I can speak and write, assert and argue, that the effortwouldbeworthwhile,

for then what are we left with as a proxy guiding body? Foreign interveners and mediators? Part time foreign social workers operating in the local political arena? External pacifiers smoothing domesticbruises,whiletheir eyes latch onto our family prizes? Speaking for myself, the preference is to do what we have never reallygiventhefullestoffull chances. Try Try and fail and fall, but still having the courage to stand up and restart.Wedon’tandweare at the mercy of foreign predators, as is unfolding like some slow-motion NationalGeographicpicture right before our eyes, and pointingtothecashcarnage already happening I disbelieve lots about Guyanese, but this I can’t believe.Meaning,weprefer foreigners prospering as divisions drain us, and impoverishus.

(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.)

White House blasts Exxon over historical US$56B profit

First Lady gives official send off for Prosperity FPSO

WASHINGTON, Feb 1 production, but they’re

The White House instead choosing to plow yesterday expressed outrage thoseprofitsintopaddingthe at Exxon Mobil Corp’s pockets of executives and record net profit in 2022 of shareholders while House US$56 billion (RM238 8 Republicans manufacture billion), a historical high not excuse after excuse to shield just for the company but for t h e m f r o m a n y the entire Western oil accountability,” the White industry Housesaid.

Oil majors are expected President Joe Biden has to break their own annual blasted oil companies and records due to high prices refiners for much of the last and soaring demand, year for enjoying surging pushing their combined take profits as gasoline prices to near US$200 billion. The soared. scale has brought renewed In June, he Biden wrote criticism of the oil industry to executives of major oil and sparked calls for more refinersandcomplainedthey countries to levy windfall had cut back on production profit taxes on the to pad profits, according to a companies. copy of a letter seen by

AWhiteHousestatement Reuters. said Exxon’s profit margin Exxon’s CFO Kathryn was particularly galling as Mikells responded to Americans paid record high growing criticism over the pricesatthepump. industry’s windfall profits

It criticised attempts by and suggested the answer is Republicans in the House of not increased taxes. “We Representatives to push look at the EU tax on the policies aimed at supporting energysector,andyouknow, theoilindustry it’s just unlawful and bad

“The latest earnings policy trying to tax reports make clear that oil something, when what you companies have everything actually need is for it to they need, including record increase,” Mikells said. “It profits and thousands of has the opposite effect of unused but approved what you’re trying to permits, to increase achieve.”—Reuters

First Lady Arya Ali flanked by officials from SBM Offshore and ExxonMobil during the naming ceremony and

First Lady Arya Ali “This vessel offers level of collaboration among its operation,” said Mr officially dedicated the anotheravenuetoprosperity, multiple companies in Farris. Prosperityvesselatanaming an opportunity to build a several countries that went The Prosperity, which is ceremony in Singapore futureforourpeople,afuture into making the project a s ch ed u led to leav e Prosperity is the third they deserve. The Prosperity reality He also highlighted Singapore for Guyana this floating,production,storage, is more than just a symbol of the benefits that will arise quarter, will be utilized on and offloading (FPSO) developmentthough;sheisa from having a third vessel the Payara development, vesselthatwilloperateinthe physicalmanifestationofthe operatingoffshoreGuyana. ExxonMobil Guyana’s third Stabroek Block offshore hard work and collaborative “ T h e P r o s p e r i t y project in the Stabroek Guyana. relationship between the reaffirms ExxonMobil’s Block. Start-up is expected Mrs.Aliisthegodmother people of Guyana and the commitment to Guyana. A laterthisyear of the vessel, a longstanding collection of companies third vessel operating The Prosperity will have maritime tradition which doing business in our oil and offshore will further aninitialproductiontargetof identifiesawomantobestow gassector,”Mrs.Alisaid. contribute to Guyana’s 220,000barrelsofoilperday good luck and protection ExxonMobil’s Senior transformation,creatingnew and an overall storage over the vessel and those Vice President of Deepwater business and employment volume of around two whosailaboard. Hunter Farris praised the opportunities over the life of millionbarrels.

Reducing debt levels… – IDB says in new report

Countries should improve efficiency of spending and tax revenue collection

With Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) countries debt level standing at a whopping US$5.8 trillion –investment projects, t h e I n t e r- A m e r i c a n implement countercyclical Development Bank (IDB) in policies,andprovidesupport its new report urged the to economies in the face of region to improve efficiency negative shocks. However, when spending and improve theIDBwarnedthatifpublic theirrevenuetaxcollection. debt becomes too large or is Guyana’s Finance

In its report titled, of public investment can be not managed with sufficient Minister, Dr Ashni Singh ‘Dealing with Debt – Less enhanced at all stages of caution, interest costs may announced two weeks ago Risk for More Growth in the project cycles, as can the balloon, growth prospects thatthecountry’stotalpublic Latin America and the efficiency and targeting of maysuffer,andinthelimit,a debt stood at US$3,654.9M, Caribbean’ the IDB urged transfer payments,” the costly debt crisis may be an increase by 16.9 percent governments to bring their reportstated. provoked. from last year This debts down to more prudent Kaieteur News had It was stated too that publication had reported that levels–whileaddingthatthe highlighted that, “Given the public debt had increased almost all of its recently best way for a country to dangers of excessive debt, before the pandemic, with a n n o u n c e d p u b l i c reduce debt levels is through the current situation in Latin sudden debt spikes infrastructural projects fiscal consolidation which America and the Caribbean accounting for much of the government has been depends critically on each isworrisome.” increase. According to the borrowing to finance them, c o u n t r y ’s s p e c i f i c IDB said public debt IDB, “that spikes occurred despite earning over US$1B characteristics. serves a critical role for largelyduringtimesof in the oil account for last

“In particular, the quality countries to pursue public (Continued on page 16) year.

A White House statement said Exxon’s profit margin was particularly galling as Americans paid record high prices at the pump

US President Joe Biden

Italian firm to supervise construction of new Demerara River Bridge, works yet to start

s works on the

ACaribbean Company Construction Engineering new Demerara Limited and China Railway CorporationLimitedin2021 River Bridge Engineering Bureau Group to the tune of US$256.6

(DRB) is yet to CompanyLimited. million. start, it was revealed on

It was reported that the Vice President, Bharrat Tuesday that an Italian newbridgewhichisslatedto Jagdeo announced last year consultancy firm, Politenica becompletedin24monthsis February, during an would be supervising the saidtohavealifespanof100 interview with a foreign project. years. Minister within the mediahousethatthecontract

This is according to Public Works Ministry, was pulled from that firm as Minister of Public Works, Deodat Indar at the contract the cost of financing was too Juan Edghill who on signing ceremony had stated high. Tuesday was asked on the that the length of the bridge During the interview, the status of the project on day is 2.65km and the width of Vice President said, “we two of the consideration of the driving surface is 23.6 have just terminated the the estimates of Budget meters which is around 77.8 negotiations with them 2023. ft. (CSCEC)becausethecostof

Posing the question to

He noted that the bridge financingistoohigh.” the Minister was Opposition is a hybrid design at the The Chinese firm had Member of Parliament navigation span which is secured the contract to build (MP), David Patterson who was just recently they Ministerexplained. and handled all of the alsocalledthehighspan. the new bridge under a asked that the Minister state received in country, the The supervisory firm he propertiesthatareinthepath Theverticalheightatthis Design-Build-Finance the percentage of works supervisory firm that would announced is Politecnica of the bridge and we have no span he said is around 50 (DBF)model. completed, having paid be supervising this design, from Italy who won the bid resistance from anyone not metersfromthemainhighest However, according to some $22 billion on the buildproject. forthecontract. wanting to move, so I would watermark.“Thatmeansthat information provided in the projectlastyear “That supervisory firm “Just last Friday, an like to report that to the a vessel maybe a handymax National Estimates of 2022, “If this sum budgeted for took effect I think from the engagement was held with house.” size vessel can pass freely the financing of the bridge is 2023, includes anything for 15 of January 2023, and they the contractor and the However, he noted that under the bridge. So that is not external but rather is landacquisitioncost.Hasthe are in their mobilization supervisory firm and my the commencement order the kind of traffic that we are being funded by central contractor submitted any stage The contractor is project team and we will be has not been issued because accommodating. There are government. geotechnical or any design required to submit all the able to keep the nation they are still finalizing cyclelanesonthebridgeand During the reading of the reports, if so has this been things the Honourable updated in another couple of arrangement between the the width of the high span is Budget 2022, Senior approved? Has the member was asking to the weeks about the various supervisory firm and the about 210 meters,” he Minister with responsibility commencementorderforthe supervisoryfirm,sothatthey stages of where the bridge contractor, but some explained. with Finance, Dr Ashni project been issued and if so can review them and willbe,”henoted. preliminary work has started The New River Bridge Singh had announced that on what date?” Patterson approve them so that we can Meanwhile, as it relates atthesite. aims to replace the aging some $21.1B was allocated asked. actually have approvals for tothelandacquisitionforthe The US$260 million Demerara Harbour Bridge fortheproject.

Responding to the the construction, the project, Minister Edghill project was awarded to (DHB). Kaieteur News had T h i s y e a r , t h e question, Minister Edghill Minister would not approve disclosed on Tuesday that China Railway Construction reported that the contract for government has allocated an said that the project which design, geotechnical and “The Ministry of Housing Corporation (CRCC) and its thenewriverbridgewasfirst additional$5.2billionforthe was signed last year May; it other technical things,” the has successfully negotiated partners, China Railway given to China State newrivercrossing.

Letitia Wright pays tribute to family, country ...after conferred with

speaks of when you are invited to the wedding banquet, do not take the high seat, take the lowly seat and waitforthepersonswhoisin charge to honour you and I carry that with me in my career and in my life and I want to share that with you today that no matter where you are going, no matter what your path is, please do itwithhumilityandtrustthat God will exalt you when it’s time. I have always waited for my moment,” the

Letitia Wright was on supported her in all of her shared. Wednesday awarded an achievement. “These are all

Guyanese born actress, and friends who have awarding winning actress

She added that as the Honorary Doctorate of Arts people who have stood years went by in her career andLettersbytheUniversity behindmeandhavenurtured and as God used her, she of Guyana during which she mewithlove,”shesaid.

honorary doctorate from UG

and there is Guyana in the career, in my path and honorary doctorate that has always made it known to paidtributetoherfamilyand Wright who grew up in veryfabricofallthatIdoand wherever God has for me to beengiventotheactresswas everyone where she came country for believing in her Goed Intent on the West all that I am so in a way, I do I just want to thank you bestowed on 10 other from “I really took the ability Bank of Demerara shared have not been home but foryourloveandsupportand persons before in the 60 opportunity to highlight my The university yesterday yesterday that her journey to home has not left me,” she as you love me, I love you years history of UG and is country because this country held an Extraordinary where she is today has not expressed. andas you areproudof me,I the university’s highest is a part of where I am from, Convocation ceremony at its beenaneasyonebuttrusting

Wright who is in Guyana am proud of you too honour this country is in my Turkeyen campus, awarding God, she waited for her on an invitation by the Guyana.” She expressed to Wright bloodline I go home and the prestigious degree to the moments “There is a President Irfaan Ali said to UG’s Vice Chancellor, that “I find it important that thereispepperpotandbread, Black Panther star A tearful particular scripture in the the gathering yesterday: “I P r o f e s s o r P a l o m a you are teaching the world I go home and there is dhal

Wright took the podium and Bible that speak about the accept this honour and as I Mohammed in her brief aboutpowerofpeace, roti, my favourite, I go home firstly honoured her family wedding banquet and Jesus continue to journey on in my remarks, stated that the (Continued on page 16)

A 3D model of the new Demerara Harbour Bridge which was released last year.

Scenes from yesterday ceremony where actress Letitia Wright was being conferred by the University of Guyana with an Honorary Doctorate of Arts and Letters. (Photo courtesy, Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce)

Guyanese-born actress, Dr. Letitia Wright delivering remarks at the University of Guyana yesterday.

Residents blocked roadways, burned truck during protest over CANU shooting

Residents of Buxton on Wednesday blocked the public road and the Railway Embankment on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD)

and torched a truck following a Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) operationinthearea.

Odearie Phillips, the suspect arrested by CANU ranks for trafficking in marijuana.

The massive protest erupted between 10:00 and 11:00hrs and lasted until 15:00hrs after shots were reportedly fired by the CANU ranks while arresting him “Members of the team return (CANU rank), a suspect identified as, public became hostile, Let the team return.” Others Odearie Phillips, 25, of assaulted several officers claimed that their houses Vigilance, ECD. CANU had and damaged several of the were“shotup”bytheranks. reportedly tried to intercept unit’s vehicles in an attempt O n e w o m a n w h o Phillips’ car during an to free Phillips who was in identified herself as a friend operation along the ECD but lawful custody by pulling of Phillips, the suspect hereportedlyevadedranksat him out of CANU’s vehicle, nabbed by CANU said, “I aroadblocksetupatBuxton. this resulted in several shots was at home in Brushe Dam, The ranks suspected that he being discharged into the Friendship lying down on might have been carrying air”,CANUstated. mybedwithmyhusbandand drugs and chased him into The Buxtonians on the when I hear some gunshots Buxton and were eventually other hand claimed that they firing. But before I heard the able to arrest him with some became angry because the gunshots, I hear the building $7M worth of marijuana

C A N U r a n k s h a d vibrateandwhenIlift-upmy (23.2 Kilograms) after his endangered their lives by head and look up, I saw carcametoahaltinatrench. recklessly “shooting up” bullets coming through the

H o w e v e r, C A N U

During the protest, the building.” claimed that while arresting residents were heard telling While she was sharing Phillips, its officers were theECDPoliceCommander, her story, other protestors forced to fire warning shots Khali Pareshram as he tried could be heard shouting, after Buxtonians became to calm them down “Y’all release the man hostileandassaultedsomeof “Supposedthembeenkillme (OdeariePhillips.Freeheor them for trying to apprehend the morning. We want the (Continued on page 16)

The $7M worth of drugs found in Phillips’ car.

Phillips’ car in the trench

Scenes from Wednesday’s protest at Buxton

The burned remains of the truck

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Residents blocked roadways...

From page 14 else we na gon done (protest) today”. Just as they were chanting, a DAF Leyland truck belonging to Hack Rice Milling Complex was set ablaze and the driver, Feroze Shaw aka “Javid” had to run for his life while police including the Commander of ‘C’ Division stood helplessly.

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Shaw was taken into protective custody but before leaving with police, the truck driver told reporters at the scene, that he was attacked by two men while he tried to turn his truck around and retreat. Shaw said, “… I was going to reverse back one time but after they get a vehicle deh lang side the road, I had to pull forward lil bit more and push meh back in the street lil bit more fuh get to turn back.”

“”Suh when a thing now (try to turn back),” continued the driver, “two of them guy open the door and jump up, turn off the engine and pull out the key. I don’t know what them do with it.” It was at this point that the truck was torched and Shaw had to escape with rocks being thrown

The truck was burnt until the shell remained. However, at around 14:30hrs, the protestors started to calm down and police ranks monitoring the situation decided to call in members of the Guyana Defence Force and Guyana Fire Service to assist in extinguishing the flames of the burning truck and clearing the debris off the road. As the Joint Services ranks began the process, some of the protestors became hostile again and began pelting bottles and rocks at the approaching ranks. Reporters at the scene had to take cover but the hostility only lasted a short while and the ranks were allowed to clear the road. It took a few hours for the lawmen to entirely clear the road before traffic was eventually restored around 17:00hrs on Wednesday. Wednesday’s skirmishes were also reminiscent of the violence that enveloped Golden Grove and other Upper East Coast Demerara villages last year over the killing of Quindon Bacchus by members of the Guyana Police Force.

Letitia Wright pays tribute...

From page 13 tradition and science through your art and the art of those great writers and those you will work with.”

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Following the ceremony at the university, Wright was escorted to State House for a meeting with President Irfaan Ali. There the Head-of-State presented Wright with a framed copy of her Guyanese birth certificate and a copy of her parent’s marriage certificate.

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The Black Panther: Wakanda Forever star said she appreciated the gift and that the President “read her mind.” Wright then visited the City Hall where she received the symbolic key to the City of Georgetown from His Worship the Mayor, Pt Ubraj Narine. Narine was joined by Deputy Mayor Alfred

Mentore and Councillors of the MCC who expressed pride in Wright’s achievements and supported the recognition. Town Clerk (ag) Candace Nelson along with Councillors and staff indicated that “this was a moment in our history for all Guyanese to rally around,” Mayor Narine said on his official Facebook page. Dr. Wright in her statement mentioned that she “sees the key to the City as a symbol of respect, honour and trust that it doesn’t come lightly, “it has to be earned and respected.” She further mentioned that she will use it with grace and honour while thanking the Mayor for honouring her and her family. As Dr. Wright concluded, she signed the Mayor’s visitation book for special invitees.

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From page 12 stress, fueled by a combination of low growth, high fiscal deficits, ballooning interest payments, currency depreciations, and significant off-budget and unfunded liabilities.”

“This pattern of debt increases in the region points to the need for stronger fiscal institutions to establish credible and sustainable mediumterm objectives to limit debt spikes, and where they are necessary, to promote periods of debt reduction…” the IDB said.

hance fiscal balances and boost growth.

The IDB said that there are many reasons why public debt levels should be lower than they currently are, highlighting that there are several ways to reduce that debt.

“An analysis of past debt reduction episodes around the world points to countries that have reduced debt-toGDP ratios by increasing growth and improving fiscal balances,” it was stated.

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According to the report, governments can bring down their debt levels by improving spending efficiency, expanding the tax base, and seeking wider reforms to en-

Notably, it was disclosed that the region has more cases in which significant debt reductions have been achieved through low real interest rates or higher inflation, although they have typically not been as smooth or resulted in as good growth performance.

Close to $2B to be spent on waste management this year

Min. Dharamlall promises six new dump sites

Accreditation of creative arts institute, hosting of literary arts festival on the card this year -

Some $1 billion has National Assembly that k e e p i n g w i t h t h e join the government in been allocated in almost $300 million of the a d m i n i s t r a t i o n ’ s advocating for proper

this year’s budget $885 million has been commitment to promoting disposal of garbage across specifically for solid waste allotted for the Haags Bosch integrated sanitation thecountry management interventions, SanitaryLandfillSite. management to safeguard He stressed that the while another $885 million He explained that the human health and the national clean up exercise is set aside to upgrade and management of solid waste environment “We have which is being spearheaded expandthelandfillsites. is one of Guyana’s biggest started expanding on some by President, Dr Mohamed

Minister of Local challenges, adding that the of these, we have also Irfaan Ali in all regions, has Government and Regional current disposable sites included additional areas for not received any support Development, Nigel c a n n o t r e s o l v e t h e operations,”hestated. from the opposition. “This is Dharamlall, who made the nationwideissues.

Already, the government aasnationalissue. disclosure on Wednesday, The government has has held a number of And so, Mr Chairman if also announced that an m a d e s i g n i f i c a n t consultations to create a you can use your office to additional six landfill sites investments to enhance strategic plan to strengthen encourage the opposition to will be established at awareness on sanitation and develop the country’s join this effort as we move strategic areas in 2023, the practices and solid waste solid waste management towards transforming the Department of Public management countrywide, system. aesthetics of Guyana Informationreported. since assuming office in Minister Dharamlall i n c l u d i n g t h e c i t y

The minister told the August2020. urged the Opposition Georgetown,” the minister Committee of Supply of the The approach is in Members of Parliament to urged.

- as $4.3B approved for Culture, Youth and Sports Ministry

The Culture, Youth and disclosed This year’s Sports Ministry’s budgetary budget allocation will see allocation of some $4 3 funds being expended for billion was on Tuesday the accreditation of the a p p r o v e d b y t h e InstituteofCreativeArts. Parliamentary Committee The Literary Arts of Supply and will see the Festivalwhichaimstobring further advancement of all the works associated thesesectorsin2023. with the Guyana Prize for Minister, Charles Literature to life through a Ramson Jr noted that from number of sub-events, such the allotment, some $200 as poetry slam, storytelling, million caters for the symposiums and others is upcoming Mashramani also catered for There will float parade and a series of also be a drama component sub-events including flag which will see three to four raising ceremony, Calypso, plays being supported by Chutney and Soca monarch thegovernment. competitions, steel band The first one will panorama, and folk commence during the evening. Literary Arts Festival and The Guyana talent the second during the search, religious events and Independence celebration. other activities related to The Regatta which will be Cricket Carnival and the hosted at Blue Lake, One Guyana festival are Linden, Region Ten as well also catered for in the as steel pan on the beach are allocation, the minister alsoonthecards.(DPI)

No bail for businessman who chopped wife at wash bay

The businessman the vehicle but was chopped and did not fully put her car She collapsed on the wash bay assisted the New Amsterdam Hospital who brutally bytheman. in park when the accused ground but he continued to woman after the accused ran and subsequently moved to chopped his wife However, surveillance rushedupfrombehindwitha fire chops at her before away and a police constable the Ocean View Hospital

at a wash bay on footage seen by this cutlass and began chopping escaping in his car in a who was also there, took her because of her testing Sunday was on Wednesday publication shows that the the woman as she exited her westerlydirection. tothePortMourantHospital. positive for the COVID-19 remanded to prison when he victim drove to the wash bay vehicle. Persons who were at the She was transferred to the virus.

made his first court appearance at the No.51 Magistrate’sCourt.

Charged with attempted murder is Khemadatt Persaud called “Krishna” 55 of Lot 40 Vryheid, West BankBerbice.

Persaud who is a wellknown businessman in Berbice was charged with attempttocommitmurderon Deoranie Marcia Badal, 36, Import Officer for Nand Persaud&CompanyInc.

He was not required to plead and was remanded to prison until February 16, 2023.

Meanwhile, prior to Magistrate Rabindranauth

Singh remanding the accused,theprosecutiontold the court that Badal is currently hospitalised since she has been tested positive forCOVID-19.Shewasalso listed as being in a critical state.

Police had reported that Badal was at the Jamrock Wash Bay in Port Mourant, Corentyne,Berbicewhenthe accused approached her vehicleshewasinandbegan chopping the windscreen of thevehicle.

Police said the woman became fearful and exited

Deoranie Marcia Badal

Khemadatt Persaud called “Krishna

Volodímir Zelenski

Dani Alves offers to turn in passport, wear tracking device

MADRID (AP) — Brazilian soccer player Dani Alves has agreed to turn in his passport and wear a tracking device if he is set free pending the sexual assault investigation against him, his lawyers said in an appeal filed to a Spanish court this week.

Alves was provisionally detained in January after being accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a nightclub on Dec. 30. A judge ordered the veteran player to be jailed without bail after analyzing the initial probe by authorities and hearing testi-

device

mony from Alves, the alleged victim and a witness.

Alves has denied any wrongdoing.

In the appeal obtained by The Associated Press on Wednesday, Alves offered to report to the court and to authorities as often as required, including daily, and to not leave Spain. He would not get within 500 meters (yards) of the accuser or her home or work place, and would not communicate with her in any matter.

The appeal said he would agree to wear a device allow-

ing authorities to constantly monitor his whereabouts to make sure he complied with his obligations.

The appeal said Alves would pay bail in the amount established by the judge, in

Thursday February 02, 2023

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19)

You will experience an intense amount of energy today, Aries. Your dream state will be more active than usual, and you will find that people are drawn to you like moths to light.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

You should enjoy the intense energy of today, Taurus. The mud is finally beginning to clear away. Expose the truth in every issue and get ready.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

Today marks the beginning of a new cycle for you, Gemini. Collect and consolidate your recent ideas and focus them outwardly. The time is right for you to act. Improve your surroundings.

CANCER (June 21–July 22)

Take a cold shower to jumpstart yourself today, Cancer. It's fine if you laze around a bit in the morning, but by evening, you should be working at full capacity.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)

Today may start out sluggish for you, Leo, but by the end of the day the energy will move fast and furious. Your thoughts will be buzzing around your head like bees around a hive.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22)

Enjoy the calm morning, Virgo, because things are going to get crazier and more energetic as the day goes on. Emotions will run high, and people will be more opinionated than usual.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

Things are moving your way, Libra. As the day progresses, you will find that the energy intensifies. Conflicts may arise near sundown, but don't worry about it too much.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

It's time to get up and get moving, Scorpio. You have tremendous ideas and vision for the future. You have all the information you need. Now all you have to do is act.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

The early part of the day might find you sluggish and indecisive, Sagittarius, but later you should be psyched up and ready to go. Today marks the beginning.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19)

Today's energies will get progressively more intense as the day goes on. In the morning, you may be in an easygoing, dreamy state, Capricorn, but you will be itching to take action by nightfall.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

For the past several weeks you've felt like you've been dragging your heels, Aquarius. Decisions may have been hard to make and people may have seemed wishy-washy.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)

The morning might find you sitting like a stick in the mud, Pisces. People might be getting down on you for not contributing, but tell them to be patient. You will be raring to go by nightfall.

Brazil’s Dani Alves listens to a question during a press conference on the eve of the group G of World Cup soccer match between Brazil and Cameroon in Doha, Qatar, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022.

(AP Photo/Andre Penner, File)

addition to giving up his travel documents to authorities. The judge had denied Alves bail in part because he was deemed a flight risk.

Alves’ lawyers, which includes the same one who worked for Lionel Messi in his tax fraud case, claimed that the accusations alone made by the alleged victim were not enough to prompt his detention without bail.

They said there were inconsistencies in her testimony, including when she said she was scared of Alves and his friends at the nightclub even though security cameras showed that she and her friends were in a “festive” way.

West Indies...

From page 24 St. George’s Park, Gqeberha are the host venues for the tournament with both SemiFinals and the Final being played in Cape Town on 26 February.

T20 World Cup Match schedule Monday, 13 February: West Indies vs England, Boland Park, Paarl, 3pm (9am Eastern Caribbean/8am Jamaica) Wednesday, 15 February: West Indies vs India, Newlands, Cape Town, 3pm (9am Eastern Caribbean/8am Jamaica) Friday, 17 February: West Indies vs Ireland, Newlands, Cape Town,7pm (1pm Eastern Caribbean/ 12noon Jamaica)

Sunday, 19 February: West Indies vs Pakistan, Boland Park, Paarl, 3pm (9am Eastern Caribbean/8am Jamaica)

FULL SQUAD

· Hayley Matthews (Captain)

· Shemaine Campbelle (Vice Captain)

· Aaliyah Alleyne

· Shamilia Connell

· Afy Fletcher

· Shabika Gajnabi

· Chinelle Henry

· Trishan Holder

· Zaida James

· Djenaba Joseph

· Chedean Nation

· Karishma Ramharack

· Shakera Selman

· Stafanie Taylor

· Rashada Williams

They also point to images that showed that the accuser was not forced into the bathroom where she claimed to have been assaulted.

Alves initially denied having sex with her but later admitted to a consensual sexual encounter. The lawyers said in the appeal that he initially denied that he had sex with her because he wanted to protect his wife and children.

The accuser has reportedly relinquished her right to seek financial compensation from Alves if he is eventually found guilty. Under Spain’s sexual consent law passed last year, sexual assault takes in a wide array of crimes from

online abuse and groping to rape, each with different possible punishments. A case of violent rape can receive a maximum sentence of 15 years. The 39-year-old Alves won 42 soccer titles, including three Champions Leagues with Barcelona and two Copa Americas with Brazil. He played in his third World Cup last year in Qatar. Alves had his contract with Mexican club Pumas terminated after his arrest. He was detained after returning from Brazil to Spain and agreeing to talk to authorities about the case. His lawyers said Alves has also lost sponsorships because of his arrest.

JarylMooreappointedStrengthandConditioningCoachforGHE

The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has appointed JarylMoore,whoisafitness trainer certified by the International Sports Science Association,asStrengthand Conditioning Coach for the Guyana Harpy Eagles team currently involvef in the regional four day championship.

Moore recently worked at the Ministry of Education attached to Queen’s College where he taught Physical Education and Sports. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Medical Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy, a Graduate Diploma in Computer Science, Psychology at the Cambridge A Level, and CXC subjects in the area of science. The appointment of Jaryl Moore as the Strength and Conditioning Coach with the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) is in keeping with CWI Sports Medicine and Science Strategyforthedevelopment of players. CWI Manager of SportsMedicineandScience

Dr Oba Gulston expressed gratitude to the Territorial Boardsfortheircommitment shownin the appointment of physiotherapists and Strength and Conditioning Coaches. Moore’sselection c o m p l e m e n t s t h e appointment in December 2022ofAngelicaHolderasa physiotherapist attached to the Guyana Cricket Board,

with her main responsibility being that of the Guyana HarpyEagles.

On the implementation of this new Regional Medical Team, Dr Gulston

indicated that, “The

assignments of the

physiotherapists and

Strength and Conditioning

Coaches will greatly improvethemedicalsupport for all players in our system and the communication

between our medical professionals, teams, and players.”

Further, Dr. Gulston mentioned that, “CWI will centrallytrainalltheStrength and Conditioning Coaches and Physiotherapists to ensure compliance with operating procedures for testing The Territorial Board’s assigned Strength and Conditioning Coach and Physiotherapist will now be able to work collaboratively tocarryouttherelevanttests locally for all players Men,

Women, and Youths within their Territory Given this fact, it is necessary that each Territorial Board has access tothecorrectequipment,with the initial equipment purchases including that Timing gates, Jump Mats, Dynamometer (Muscle tester) with an expansion pack, and Software and IT supportforallequipment”

Jaryl Moore said that he washappytobeappointedas t h e S t r e n g t h a n d Conditioning Coach for the Guyana Cricket Board and that he is keen on using his knowledge and experience to improve players by getting them to match readiness Jaryl indicated that thorough planning on mental, skills and decisionmakingwillbenecessaryfor player growth This approachwillhelptorealize improved performances and so help the players to transition to higher competitivelevels.

Dr Oba Gulston Jaryl Moore

Buttler, Malan smash tons, Archer claims six as England seal big win over S Africa

(Reuters) - Jos Buttler and Dawid Malan struck superb centuries and Jofra Archertooksixwicketsasa resurgent England secured a 59-run victory over hosts SouthAfricainthethirdand final one-day International inKimberleyyesterday

South Africa won the toss and sent England into bat, reducing the visitors to 14-3 before Buttler (131 from 127 balls) and Malan (118 from114)sharedastunning fourth-wicketstandof232in atotalof346forseven.

The home side were always up with the run rate, but lost wickets at regular intervals

Heinrich Klaasen (80 from 62 balls) and opener Reeza Hendricks (52) top-scored, while Archer took a careerbest 6-40 as the hosts were bowledoutfor287

The victory ended a run of five successive losses for England in ODI cricket as they build towards the defence of their World

Cup title

“Itisnicetofinishwitha win today and bar 10 or 15 oversinthefirstODIwe’ve played some brilliant cricket in a hard-fought series,” Buttler said at the post-matchpresentation.

“There were some really good strides, guys

making hundreds is

excellent and Jofra Archer’s performance tonight was excellent (too). He broke the game open with wicket of Klaasen.

“We’ve got a strong squad and bar the recent results, we’re building nicely.”

South Africa won the series 2-1 to keep alive their hopes of automatic qualification for the World Cup in India later this year, though they may still have to win both ODIs against Netherlands in March and Apriltomakesure.

England were in early strife when a triple early blow from Lungi Ngidi (4-62) had Jason Roy (1),

Ben Duckett (0) and Harry Brook (6) back in the pavilion inside the sixth over

After a period of consolidation, however, Buttler and Malan took to the bowling and smashed thehomeattacktoallparts England struck more sixes (19) in their innings than fours (16) as batsmen opted forpoweroverfinesse.

The visitors scored a remarkable 217 runs in the final 20 overs of their innings for their second total above 340 in as many matches

A number of the South Africa batsmen got starts, but England kept chipping away at the wickets with Archer e a s i l y t h e m o s t impressive as hebeginsto find top form following his returnfromlong-terminjury Scores: England 346 for 7 (Buttler 131, Malan 118, Ngidi 4-62) beat South Africa 287 (Klaasen 80, Hendricks 52, Archer 6-40) by 59 runs

England’s Jos Buttler celebrates reaching his century. (REUTERS/Rogan Ward)

Shubman Gill hits another century as hosts win T20 series

Shubman Gill (right) has scored 202 runs in six T20 internationals at an average of 40.40. (BCCI)

West Indies name squad for ICC Women’s T20 World Cup

ThreeUnder19RisingStarsplayerscalledup to feature in marquee event in South Africa

ST JOHN’S,Antigua

–

The Cricket West Indies (CWI) selection panel yesterday announced a 15member West Indies Women squad for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa starting on 11 February The squad sees the inclusion of three West Indies Under19 Rising Stars players who recently competed in the first ever ICC Women’s U19 World Cup: Zaida James, Trishan Holder and Djenaba Joseph.

BBC Sport - Shubman

Gill’s magnificent form in 2023 continued with an unbeaten century as India beat New Zealand by 168 runs and clinched the T20 series2-1.

Gill smashed 126 from only 63 balls to help India reach234-4inAhmedabad.

The opener, 23, now has a double century, three centuries and a fifty in 12 innings this year and becomes the fifth Indian player to score a hundred across all three international formats.

Hardik Pandya then took 4-16 as New Zealand wereskittledfor68

Gill is also the seventh India player to hit a T20 international hundred in what was only his sixth

appearance.

Last month Gill became the youngest man to hit a double ton in a one-day internationalattheageof23 years and 132 days in a thrilling victory over New ZealandinHyderabad.

His blistering knock, including 12 fours and seven sixes, formed the backbone of India’s innings and included a 103-run partnership for the fourth wicket with stand-in skipper Pandya, who hit 30 from17balls.

Rahul Tripathi added a brisk 44 from 22 balls and Suryakumar Yadav 30 from 13 to help India post an imposing target New Zealand needed a fast start to keep on top of the run rate but lost four

wickets in the first 16 balls of their innings to collapse to 7-4, with Michael Bracewell falling two overs later to leave the Kiwis reelingat21-5.

Arshdeep Singh, U m r a n M a l i k a n d Shivam Mavi all took two wickets as the tourists were all out inside 13 overs

Daryl Mitchell was the only Black Caps player to show any resistance with 35, with Mitchell Santner (13) the only other to reachdouble figures Scores: India 234 for 4 (Gill 126*, Tripathi 44, Pandya 30) beat New Zealand 66 (Mitchell 35, Pandya 4-16, Malik 2-9, Mavi 2-12, Arshdeep 216)by168runs

Shemaine Campbelle, thewicketkeeper/batterhas been named as ViceCaptain.

Experiencedallrounder Stafanie Taylor has been named in the squad subject to a final fitness assessment.

Lead Selector Ann Browne-John said: “The selectors have opted for a blend of youth and experiencefortheupcoming T20WorldCup Foursenior players who have been out throughinjuryhavereturned – Stafanie Taylor, Shakera Selman,ChinelleHenryand ChedeanNation

We continue the developmental pathway to growwomen’scricketinthe region, hence we feel the

timeisrighttoincludethree oftheUnder19RisingStars inthesquad.” Browne-John added: “Zaida James, DjenabaJosephandTrishan Holder have been making greatprogressandhavebeen includedinthesquad

Zaida brings both lefthand batting and left-arm orthodox bowling, both of which the team has been missing in recent time Djenaba is a batting allrounder and Trishan a powerful striker and wicketkeepingoption

They have all proven thattheycanholdtheirown atthislevel

We believe the 15 playersconsistofagoodallround mix and we expect

themtobeabletocompetein thisWorldCup”

The West Indies squad features six players, Hayley Matthews, Shemaine Campbelle,StafanieTaylor, Shamilia Connell, Shakera Selman and Afy Fletcher who became World Championsin2016 West Indies have been drawninGroup2alongside England,India,Pakistanand Ireland and will travel to Cape Town on Friday 3 February ahead of the start of the tournament, which will begin on Friday 10 February with hosts South Africa taking on Sri Lanka Newlands, Cape Town; BolandPark,Paarland

(Continuedonpage21)

Caps were issued to GHE players

The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) noticed in a Facebook post made by Cricnation592 that debutants did not receive capspriortothestartofthe first round match of the West Indies Championship against Barbados Pride in Antigua.

Itshouldbenoted,there wasadelayintheshipment of the uniforms and caps that were ordered for the tournament due to the unfortunatedeathofaclose

family member of the supplier and a subsequent delayinMiami.

However, the GCB issued caps to all players (nottheBaggyGreen)prior to the team’s departure to Antigua.

Additionally, the customary handing over ceremony will be held duringthelunchbreak.

To suggest caps were not issued to the debutants iserroneous,areleasefrom theGCBstated.

Hayley Matthews is the captain of the side. (Nathan Stirk-ICC, Fiona Goodall-ICC)

2023WestIndiesChampionship…

Nandu keeps Harpy Eagles

First class debutant, Matthew Nandu, made a solidimpressionwiththebat fortheGuyanaHarpyEagles as they commenced their 2 0 2 3 We s t I n d i e s Championship campaign against the defending champion, Barbados Pride, at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua The 19-year-old patientlycraftedanunbeaten inningsof70ontheopening day of the four-day match when Harpy Eagles opted to take first strike and reached 205 – 5 in 76.4 overs at stumps.

Nandudidwelltofillthe gap that was left when Guyana’stopscorerfromthe previous season, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, departed for International duties. The squad also features new comers Shamar Joseph and the experienced Ashmead Nedd.Thematchbeganwith a shortened first session due to last minute repairs being done to the pitch; Guyana pedaled to 29 – 0 from 12 overs. The other opening batsman, Chandrapaul Hemraj, was the first to fall in the second session with thescoreon30,whenhewas bowled by Jair McAllister for11onhis37thdelivery

The right-handed Tevin

airborne

achievethemilestone,seven of which were dispatched to theboundaryrope.

Imlachwasthenewbatsman buthisstayinthemiddlewas brief. He was caught legbefore-wicket by Akeem Jordan without getting off the mark as Harpy Eagles stumbled to 35-2 in the 16th over. Kemol Savory was the nexttojoinNandutomakeit adoubleleft-handedpairlike the openers. They added 45 runs for the third wicket before Savory was caught behindbyShaneDowrichon 25,offthebowlingofChaim Holder The Harpy Eagles captain, Leon Johnson

another left-hander, partnered with Nandu with the score on 80 in the 30th over That pair took their teamto122–3in45oversat the tea interval Nandu brought up his maiden firstclass half century to end the second session on 50 while Johnsonwason24.Thelefthandertook124deliveriesto

When the final session commenced, it did not take longforPridetopickuptheir third wicket as Johnson (26) pushed too far for one from the off-spinner, Holder, and wascaughtatsecondslipby Jordan, with the score on 126.WhileNandustoodfirm at the other end, Anthony Bramble added only 20 as Harpy Eagles lost their fifth wicket for 163 in the 63rd over Kevin Sinclair was the newbatsmanthatpairedwith Nandu and lasted until the closeofplay

Sinclair played an excellentinningstochalkup 28 from 47 deliveries at stumpswhiletheimpressive Nandu is also overnight in the middle after facing 219 deliveries in an innings that has five hours and 28 minutes on the clock. The opener has struck nine fours andis30runsawayfromhis maidenfirstclasscentury

Today the match is scheduled to resume from 10:00hrs. Scores at Stumps on Day 1: GHE 205-5 from 76.4 overs (Matthew Nandu 71*, Kevn Sinclair 28*, Kemol Savory 25. Akeem Jordan 2-34, Chaim Holder 2-36,JairMcAllister1-20).

Djokovic had three-centimetre hamstring tear at Australian Open, claims tournament boss

SportsMax - Novak

DjokovicwontheAustralian Open despite playing with a three-centimetre hamstring tear, according to tournament chief Craig Tiley,whopaidtributetothe Serbian’sresolveanddrive.

Having missed last year’s opening grand slam due to being deported for breachingAustralia’s border rulesrelatingtohisCOVID19 vaccination status, DjokovicreturnedinJanuary andbeatStefanosTsitsipasin the final to claim a recordtying 22nd men’s singles majoronSunday

Thefeat,whichdrewhim levelwithRafaelNadal,was made all the more remarkable by an apparent hamstring problem that hampered the 35-year-old throughoutthetournament.

Some critics suggested the extent of Djokovic’s injury was exaggerated, but Tileydefendedhim.

“A lot of the challenges aroundNovakisthathegets a bad rap,” he told SEN Sportsday “Butattheendof theday,Idon’tthinkanyone canquestionhisathleticism.

“Thisguy,hehadathreecentimetre tear [The scans and]thedoctorsaregoingto tellyouthetruth.

There was a lot of speculation about whether it wastrueornot.

“It’shardtobelievewhat theycandowiththosekinds ofinjuries.He’sremarkable, to deal with it extremely professionally.”

Ten of Djokovic’s 22 grand slam titles have come in Melbourne alone, outlining his impressive dominanceattheevent.

Tiley does not see the Serbian ever being overhauledwhenitcomesto his impact there, adding:

“He’s so focused on everything he does, with every single minute of the day That’s what he eats, whathedrinks,whenhedoes it,howhedoesit.

“There’s no breakdown or mental breakdown in anything that he does. He’s beenthroughalotandtowin 10Australian Opens, I don’t think that’s ever going to be repeated.

“Over the last 15 years –he tells me it’s 14 years becausehemissedlastyear–it’s such a remarkable achievement.

“He’ll hold a significant place in the history of the AustralianOpen.”

Algeria crush Niger to set up CHAN final against wasteful Senegal

AFP - African Nations Championship leading scorer AymenMahiousbaggedabraceas Algeria hammered Niger 5-0 in Oran on Tuesday to qualify for a finalshowdownagainstSenegal.

While the host nation were ruthless when presented with scoring chances, Senegal were guiltyofsomeincrediblemissesas they edged Madagascar 1-0 in Algiersintheothersemi-final.

Algeria will face Senegal before an expected sell-out 40,000 crowdattheStadeNelsonMandela inAlgiers on Saturday, a day after Madagascar and Niger meet in Orantodecidewhofinishesthird.

Mahious,a25-year-oldforward from Algiers club USM, scored three of the goals that earned Algeria four 1-0 victories en route to the penultimate stage of a tournamentknownastheCHAN.

AftercaptainAyoubAbdellaoui nodded the host nation in front on 15 minutes, Mahious struck with a fierce shot, then a powerful header to take his tournament total to five goals. A nightmare first half for Nigergotworseinthefinalminute when captain Boureima Katkore

conceded an own-goal to leave the westAfricans four goals behind at the break. Niger fared better in the secondhalf,partlybecauseAlgeria

often cruised, but there was still time for a tap-in fifth goal from substitute Sofiane Bayazid. It was the widest winning margin in a

CHAN semi-final, surpassing the 4-0 hiding Morocco gave hosts

Cameroon in the last edition two yearsago.Algeriaalsomatchedthe

biggest victory in the 15-year history of a unique national team competition as it is confined to footballersplayingforclubsintheir countryofbirth.

Niger were also the victims of the previous 5-0 thrashing inflicted by Tunisia during the group phase of the 2016 edition in Rwanda. Algeria go into the final not having conceded in five matches with goalkeeper Farid Chaal, standing in for the suspended Alexis Guendouz, troubledonlyduringabriefspellof second-halfNigerienpressure.

In Algiers, favourites Senegal wasted little time establishing superiority over surprise semifinalists Madagascar and went ahead in the fifth minute. Several Malagasydefendersfailedtonotice a dash into the box by Pape Diallo and he nodded into the net as goalkeeper Zakanirina Rakotoasimbolamistakenlyrushed off his line. Continually dominant Senegal squandered numerous second-half chances to increase their lead with Cheikh Diouf substituted immediately after missinga71st-minutesitter

Novak Djokovic had three-centimetre hamstring tear at Australian Open it was revealed.

Kevin Sinclair

Action in the match between Algeria and Niger.

JofraArcher prised out David Miller as

turned the screw. (AFP)