Kaieteur News

Melinda Janki

Guyanese women urge EPA to revoke Exxon's environmental authorization for gas project

Two Guyanese women are of the firm conviction that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) breached the law when it issued an environmental permit to Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Ltd. (EEPGL) for the US$2B Gas-to-Energyproject.

Specifically, Elizabeth Deane-Hughes and Vanda Radzik have, through their Attorney-at-Law, Melinda Janki, on January 31, 2023 requested that the EPA's Executive Director, Kemraj Parsram revoke EEPGL environmental permit withoutdelay

In explaining the basis for such a request, the women outlined that Regulation 17(2) of the Environmental Protection (Authorisation) Regulations requires that an application forauthorisation,containthe following information: “(ii) proof that the applicant either owns the facility or has a lease or other agreement with the landowner or occupier to enable the applicant to conduct the activity on the facility or has the legal right of way to conduct the activity without the consent of the landowner oroccupier.”

The women contend in their letter to the EPA Head that EEPGL's application, dated June 24, 2021, containsnoproofasrequired by the regulation. Elizabeth Deane Hughes and Vanda Radzik said, “Pipelines are notoriously dangerous People's lives, livelihoods and lands are at risk.And yet EEPGL cannot even fill in the application form properly and the EPA does not even bother to check its

own requirements. We are citizens of Guyana and are deeply concerned at the pattern of lawlessness that is evident in EEPGL's operations and that of the GovernmentofGuyana.”

The women also recalled that in 2020, it was President,Dr IrfaanAliwho said that, “We cannot lead in a way that is disrespectful to ourcountry.”

Despite making such a statement, the women opined that EEPGL, in c o l l u s i o n w i t h t h e Government of Guyana, has repeatedly shown contempt for the nation's laws and for citizens' well-being. On this note, they demanded that the Government puts the interests of the Guyanese peopleaboveEEPGL's.

Additionally, the women were keen to note that the route for the proposed pipeline runs from Nouvelle Flanders to through Canal No1toWales.

They said that lands within the proposed pipeline route are held by Guyanese citizens who live, farm, and earn a living from these lands.

They said too that the MinistryofPublicWorkshas since issued orders to acquire those lands compulsorily to enable

EEPGLtoputinthepipeline. However, Ms DeaneHughes and Ms Radzik opined that these orders are alsoillegal.

The letter to the EPA states, “Please note that as a general matter of law, ministers may not use their statutory powers to facilitate illegality TheAcquisition of Lands for Public Purposes Act empowers the subject

minister to acquire lands for public purposes. It is not (and cannot be) a public purpose to acquire private land in order to facilitate a breach of law or circumvent legal requirements such as the regulations. The orders made by the Minister under the Acquisition Lands for Public Purposes Act to acquire private land for the pipeline route are therefore

ultraviresandunlawful.”

It continues, “Those orders (including Orders 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 of 4th January 2023 as published in the Official Gazette on 6th January 2023) do not have legal effect and cannot deprive the landowners and leaseholders of their propertyrights.Iamcopying this letter to the Hon Minister of Public Works so

that he is immediately apprised of the situation and can take the necessary steps to uphold the rule of law, i n c l u d i n g rescinding/cancelling the said orders, and restarting the acquisition process on a properandlawfulbasis.”

A copy of the letter was alsosentyesterdaytoBishop Juan A Edghill, Minister of PublicWorks.

- say oil company did not meet all legal requirements, call for end to pattern of lawlessness

An illustration of the gas-to-energy project

Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456

Editor-In-Chief:NIGELWILLIAMS

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

Corruption in Guyana

ItwouldbeinterestingtohearwhatGuyana’sPresident Alihastosayonarecentdevelopmentthatisablackeyefor Guyana. Infact,itismoreaccuratetostatethatitisablack eyeforthePresidenthimselfandhisPPPCGovernment. It was the same PresidentAli who had a lot to say about how transparent he and his government are, and that when the recordisexaminedthereisnonebetterwheretransparencyis concerned. Thepresenceofcompletetransparencyinvital aspectsandareasofnationalgovernanceinfersthatthereis nothing to hide, which means that there is accountability, with finality about where corruption or incorruptibility stands.

We are sorry to have to be the bringer of bad news to President Ali. Notwithstanding all he had to say about transparency, and whatever else he was cleverly hinting at through his tough postures relative to accountability and corruption,hishandiworkjustgotthrownrightbackathim, and in a most telling manner. The Corruption Perception Index(CPI)for2022isnowpublic,andGuyanadidnotdo toowellinthecorruptiondepartment.

Quitefrankly,itdidratherpoorly,barelymovingabouta pointonthescorecard.AsinglepointadvanceintheCPIis negligible, almost meaningless as a measurement of how muchacountryhasprogressedwherecorruptionistheissue onthetable.

Truth be told, after all of the impatient railings by President Ali when confronted with questions about transparency (contracts, reports, and so forth), Guyana still findsitselfrankedamongsomeofthecountrieswhicharethe dregsoftheearthwherecorruptionisinvolved.

BytheCPI’smetrics,Guyanafindsitselfwiththelikesof India and the Maldives on the corruption front; it is rotten company On the other hand, tiny Barbados and Saint VincentandtheGrenadinesareinahealthyplaceinrelation tothetopcountries. WemustwonderwhatPrimeMinisters Mia Mottley, S.C., and Dr Ralph Gonsalves think of their fellowintheregional(local)leadershipcohort,whentheCPI scoreisreviewed. Itcannotbegood,forwhenallthechatter isover,countrieswithstronginstitutionsofState,andwellfunctioning democracies are the ones that are at the top of corruption index. This is not a healthy place for either Guyana’sPresident(themanincharge),orGuyanaitselfto be, especially when consideration is given to how sharp, strident, and dismissive this nation’s Head-of-State can be whenbackedintoacorneronissuessuchastransparencyand corruption.

Atthispoint,wewishtomakesomethingclear:theCPI report is not a gimmick, but a development that is much watched around the world, and has its own weight in respectedcircles. So,whenthePresidentcomesupwithhis owngimmickabouttransparency,doesn’tmeanthatthereis no confidentiality, then somewhere along the line, he is going to have to make up his mind about what he and his government really stand for, viz., how much transparency, accountability,andincorruptibilitybotharetrulyabout. Itis either than the PPPC Government is serious and genuine aboutcorruption,oritisintoplayingitsusualslymongoose games.

Ofnoteisthat2022,wasayearwiththebiggestbudget ever to that time, with lavish multi-billion allocations for infrastructure and other public projects. This means that there was a deep black hole of corruption opportunities for the ruling party and its cabal of cronies and their related families. We at this paper have reported the astonishing repeatedly, in that the finalized awards for some projects speak to high-level padding to accommodate the corrupt practices that have now grown into a branch of criminal scienceallbyitself. Inanutshell,morebudgetbillionsfor public works projects mean for openings for thievery on a scaleunseenandunheardofbefore.

It is our position at this publication that many of Guyana’s most sensitive State institutions are not functioning as they should, but have been transformed into hotbedsofcorruption,throughpoliticalmanipulations. This iswhatnowcomestolightinthe2022CorruptionPerception Index.

I NEVER REPRESENTED EXXON

DEAREDITOR,

I have been told that somebody on Facebook or a chatshow,saidIrepresented Exxoninthe1999petroleum agreement I did not Apparently, this is based on the notice provision which says Esso’s address for notices is 80 Cowan St, Kingston Then it says “Attention: Melinda Janki.” That address was the office of DeCaires Fitzpatrick and Karran. They were Esso’s lawyers at that time. I was one of the firm’s consultant lawyers. Miles Fitzpatrick, put my name because (he said) nobody else knew anything about oil. Miles (one of Guyana’s finest citizens)isdead.

He cannot comment. If people want to know who represented Exxon in 1999, they should contact Exxon’s lawyers in the head office andaskthem.Iwouldguess that, like me, Exxon head

office does not watch chat showsorreadFacebook.

Esso also did a power of attorney in 1999 which authorised me to receive lawful notices, accept service of process etc. The standard formula. Esso was supposed to revoke the power of attorney but did not. In 2007 I found out it wasstillinexistence;Iasked them to revoke it. It was finallyrevokedin2017after Iaskedagain.

Ihadnoideathatbeinga post box in 1999 would generateexcitementin2023. Iwouldhavethoughtthatmy involvement with the BakuTbilisi-Ceyhanpipeline(oil) and the South Caucasus Pipeline (gas) would have been more interesting. The shareholders include BP, Exxon,Total,Equinor,Eni.I enjoyed Azerbaijan and Turkey

I was less keen on Georgia Some American

militarywereinthehoteland if you did not get to the breakfastbuffetbeforethem, itwasgone.

Lest it generate more speculation,Ialsoworkedin BP’sheadofficeasalawyer

Inthosedaysworkinginthe oil industry was highly regarded. The top lawyers gotthebestwork.Butinthe last few years, things have changed significantly Working for the fossil fuel sectorisnothighlyregarded. Young people hate oil companies.Theythinkitisa betrayal to work for them.

Law students from top schools like Harvard even picket law firms who represent ExxonMobil Students everywhere want their universities to divest from fossil fuels. Even schoolchildrenaretakingto thestreets.

Why the about turn?

Because everybody knows that greenhouse gas

pollutionfromfossilfuelsis causing ocean acidification as well as the global overheatingthatisleadingto climate system breakdown. Rising sea-levels will cover Georgetown Rising temperatures will be hot enough to kill people in Guyana and cause crops to fail.It’salreadyhappeningin other countries Guyana’s currentoilandgasambitions areaspectacularexampleof folly

As we all know, ExxonMobil knew in the 1970s about the harm from greenhousegaspollutionbut lied about it for decades. Lies, speculation, rumour –thetoolsofbigoil.

This is the price we pay for freedom of expression. It’sonlyaproblemifpeople arefoolishenoughtobelieve what big oil and its stooges say

YoursSincerely,

MelindaJanki

DEAREDITOR,

By happen stance on January 23, 2023, I scanned theChronicleNewspaper,of that day, and came across a l e t t e r h e a d l i n e d ‘Alexander`s actions are of concern’.

Iimmediatelycheckedto see who authored the letter That person turned out to be one Neil Kumar, a rabblerousingformerPPPMember of Parliament, who in decadeshadfailedtomakeit past the back bench of the NationalAssembly

Mr Kumar sought to castigate me for my strident positionstakenasaGECOM Commissioner His castigation is not worthy of my attention. My positions are publicly known. I will therefore leave that to the reasonableandnon-partisans ofthepublictobethejudge.

Mr Kumar in his attempt to give credibility to his diatribesoughttoprovidethe public with a negative character reference (character assassination) of me, which may even be libelous. The effect of that attempt can only be the depiction of Mr Kumar as a vile, and malicious stranger tothetruth.

Hereismyevidence.

1. He claimed that I was removed as Regional Executive Officer at Region #3(fiction).ThefactisthatI

refusedatransfertoRegion# 8 and tendered my r e s i g n a t i o n T h e Governmentwantedtoretain my services as a Regional ExecutiveOfficer

2. He also claimed that I was removed from the University of Guyana (fiction).IworkedatUGfor 25 unbroken years-an academic for six years, DeputyRegistrarforthirteen years, and Registrar for six years.At age sixty I did not seek a renewal of my contract Mr Kumar‘s contention exposes the nature of the man. I was not removed.

3. Mr Kumar further contended that I was removed from the Leadership of the PNC, and as a Parliamentarian. Seems like Mr Kumar is a record keeper of things PNC, and Alexander, except that his research resulted in fiction rather than fact. Perhaps, Kumar is incapable of conducting proper research, or too lazy, or has intentionally set out to mislead the public, in furtherance of his objective to discredit me His purported research results exposes his inability and or character Fact, I served one term as a parliamentarian during which time I was promoted from the back bench to the front bench,

unlike Mr Kumar who served many terms and was never considered worthy by his party for promotion beyond the back bench. In two thousand and six, after serving one term, I was not returnedtoParliament,since thePNCthoughtitfitforme to serve as a Commissioner ofGECOM.Iamnowinmy sixteenth year as a Commissioner I was not removed from Parliament, I served the entire term for which I was extracted to serve.

4. He suggested that my tenure on the Local GovernmentTaskForcewas questionable I withdrew from the Local Government Task Force after eight years of tireless service, however the PNC recruited me as its expert, due to my certification as a legislative drafter, to work with the SelectCommitteewhichwas finalizingthelegislationthat resultedfromtheworkofthe TaskForce.

Along with the late Navin Chandarpal, I drafted the legislation for Fiscal Transfers.Howquestionable w a s m y r o l e a n d contribution? This seems more like a question of Kumar‘s state of mind for him to baselessly question myrole. 5

Kumar states that I was swiftly removed as Chairperson of the YSM. Fact, I served a full term as YSM chairman and was reelected to serve a second term I opted to travel overseas to further my studies. In my absence, the YSM found a replacement.

After my return I continued my political service and ascendancyuntotheposition of Acting Chairman of the Party in the stead of the late Winston Murray, who was pursuingstudiesattheHugh WoodingLawSchool.

The Kumars‘ and their ilk seem to have a difficulty with my presence on the national landscape and of recent are seeking to tarnish my reputation in their bid to discreditmycontributions.It hasnotworked,andwillnot work.

My record is public knowledge and beyond revision or distortion by Kumar Iwillnotbedeterred from my endeavor to continue in service to the Nation, and the people of African descent as they strive to realize the UN‘s 2015

s a w

n

be pretender on things PNC,

2024 goals: Recognition, Justice and Development for the people ofAfricandescent. A Luta Continua! Tu Ta Shinda! Regards, VincentAlexander,A.A

The Kumars’and their ilk seem to have a difficulty with my presence on the national landscape

DEAREDITOR,

If the APNU-AFC propaganda that they were the rightful winners of the March 2020 elections, how is it that the statements of poll in the possession of observers and others record themajorityofvotescastfor the People’s Progressive party? How come the SoP totals for Region Four differ to that presented by Mr Mingo?

At one point, the APNU/AFC Government reported to Guyanese and others that it deported Russian operatives who were clandestinely working inGuyanatorigtheelections to produce an outcome unfavorable to the APNUAFC. Prior to this claim, election campaign and several party operatives shared that President Grangerhadwonandwould be sworn in the within 24 hours of the close of poll. I myself was told this by a high-ranking campaign official and current member ofparliament.

News had so spread of his impending victory that cool down carts, other food and drinks vendors were settingupshopontheavenue directly across from the building that served as the APNU-AFC election campaignheadquarters.

Instead of a victory or pre-victory speech, wellwishers and others were reassuredthatvictorywasin hand, riled up and asked to exercise patience, allow the system to work. Two days after the close of polls, a small group of campaign officials and other persons

Where is the smoking gun?

holding various positions within the APNU-AFC government, including Ministers and Advisors planned and mobilized a group of volunteers to take photographs of SoPs at several polling places in Region Four Why was this necessary? DidAPNU-AFC election representatives at polling stations forget this m o s t b a s i c o f responsibilities, to take picturesorscanthefinaltally of votes affixed to a secure spotoutsideofpollingplaces on election day? I hardly believe so, not only because they would have had to see theircolleaguesrepresenting other political parties taking pictures or scanning the images, also because it is a core duty of party agents trained to observe elections andpollingplaces.

Did the incumbent APNU-AFC government, with several of its members having fought twenty-years plus for the opportunity to lead Guyanese really forget totakephotographsofSoPs?

Let’s say they forget to take photographs or scan SoPs after the final votes were tallied and posted, could this be a lapse or willfulactinanelectionthat wasoftentimesreferredtoas the“mother”ofallelections by government officials and other Guyanese on and off socialmedia?

Would the heightened importance of the March 2, 2021 elections in Guyana made it all the more necessary to exercise due diligence?Itjustseemstome that there is too much coincidences, outlandish

Standing diminished

DEAREDITOR,

The report that the international star was a no show at an event organised by the U N backed organisation for people of African descent is troubling. A terse text message indicatedtheguestofhonour would not be in attendance, eventhough,itisalleged,she indicated attendance earlier (SNFeb2).

propaganda and zero substance and credibility in the big messages pushed by the APNU-AFC during the five months Guyanese waited for an official announcement from GECOM.

It would seem that the

Coalition has some explaining to do about other aspects of its campaign and persuasion tactics too. I am knowledgeable of a pen drive that was received by three representatives of the APNU-AFC election campaign from GECOM through a third-party The pendrivehasonitthefigures and results by region and partyfromthefiveelections. Italsocontainsresultsofthe March 2, 2021 elections listed in excel spreadsheets. Unlike results of the prior five elections, the March 2, 2021 files showed three separate sets of result which are titled: (1) How GECOM have it, (2) How the PPP have it and How the Coalition have it. Thinking back about the Coalition SoPs conundrum, where did the figures contained in the

file titled How the Coalition have it derive from? The SoPs they did not have in their possession, or have failedtoproducethusfar?

Readers might be surprised to know the ministers, presidential advisors, campaign communications personnel and young APNU-AFC volunteers involved in the pen drive sharing and the planning and mobilizing of said volunteers to take photographs of SoPs at numerous polling places across Region Four For example, at least one of the coordinators of this exercise isthefounderanddirectorof an Information Technology businessinGuyana.

He not only worked on theelectionscampaignofthe APNU-AFC; his company providedICTservicesforthe government prior to the elections. Other key figures include a PNC intelligence officerandformeradvisorto the president, three APNUAFC Parliamentarians, and an academician, who also served as a presidential advisor

As a Guyanese, I can only anticipate that the findings report produced by the Commission of Inquiry into the March 2, 2021 Elections in Guyana contain more credible contextual details about significant events that took place that the vast majority of the general public remain unaware of. The final major election propaganda was to decry the legitimacy of the elections. It started with the Russian operatives trying to rig the elections and concluded with only valid votescount.Therecountwas not about determining the, which votes should count and which should not, the Laws of Guyana do not permitthis.

The recount was another propagandatactictocounter the legitimacy of the results which favoured the PPPand its own coalition by

attackingtheintegrityofthe votingexercise.

Oneofthehardestpillsto swallow for the coalition is that many of its traditional supporters in several institutions,evensomeofthe rookie politicians worked at national and regional government levels, openly disagreedwiththeirattempts to persuade the nation and international community that it won the elections and the integrity of the voting exercise was violated severely Unfortunately for thecoalition,whenitshifted intowinningatallcosts,not only were many supporters confused and morally uncomfortable, several of Guyana’straditionalalliesin the region and international sphere were unwilling to support the cause of the coalition.

Sincerely,

ChrisSingh

No explanation it seems wasofferedforthechangeof mind in declining the invitation at the last minute leaving scores of attendees disappointed This is unacceptable as it is disrespectful and a veiled undercurrent is sensed. Her standing in my eyes is diminished..

Regards, ShamshunMohamed

Guyanese need to take stock of themselves

DEAREDITOR,

The following has been submitted for consideration and adoption as our supplemental motto, a contemplation to guide our national affairs: ‘A country which fails to defend its democracy,thehumanrights of its citizens, consents to andjustifiestheabusesofits government.’

We should also consider that when we vote for abusive politicians, we are agreeing to pay them hundreds of thousands of dollarstoabuseusandrobus of national wealth, as is currentlybeingdonewiththe Exxoncontract.

May we call to mind our ancestorswhodidtheirbest, struggled against all odds, sacrificed even their lives in some cases, to give us life, whatever legacy they left us under the oppressive system they endured to the end of theirdays.

Especially we remember those who died these last thirtyyears,someinpoverty, some in a state of insufficiency, unable to provide comfortably for themselves even after retirement,thevalueoftheir labour stolen by the government which orchestrated their lives of impoverishment, your lives. We are their successes, and we owe it to them, our children, our children’s children,tocontinuetowork witheachothertoovercome the oppressive and abusive state of affairs in which our governments have placed us throughthedecades.

Guyanese today are the bridgefromthepastendured by our ancestors, to the future we continually struggle to define for

ourselves, our children. As we have continually witnessed through the last ten to fifteen, twenty years, many of us have found ourselvestakenadvantageof by our governments and the systems they employ in managing our affairs

Especially in the last ten years we have come to understand that our politics andour politicalactorshave andcontinuetobethesource ofourpoverty,insufficiency and substandard welfare we areforcedtoendure.

Westillhaveyettograsp that we are being programmed into accepting who we have become, that we are the fault of our failings and insufficiencies. Wehaveyettoacceptthatwe have and continue to be manipulated for political gain, to keep us from attainingapropereducation, from becoming financially independent, because if we as a people did become educated beyond the limitations placed upon us by our governments, if we did become financially independent of government, we would understand that our politicians have only beenusingus,thattheyhave noregardforpropersystems of government, because thesewouldkeepthemfrom engaging in corruption and transfersofmassivesumsof our hard-earned taxpayers’ dollars to their families and friends.

Never to forget Fip Motilall and the US38 0 million road toAmaila Falls and the G$400,000 CJIA toilet bowls. Many of our current crop of government officialshavebeenrecipients of massive handouts of land andotherformsofwealthto

keepthemfromspeakingout against the injustices and welfare abuses against our citizens, whether these be public servants, retired personsorouryoungpeople, many of whom continue to leaveschoolinthethousands eachyearwithoutthelevelof education to secure a proper job as a clerk at any of our commercialbanks. Together theyhavetrampleduponthe life of Dr Cheddi Jagan, gutted his party and transformeditintoamoneymaking machine for themselves They, and Bharrat Jagdeo, have stolen the legacy of Dr Cheddi Jagan Instances of the programming to which I refer abound, and start from the conditioning of (1) rice farmers to accepting the losses and abuses perpetuated by rice millers against them, with the scoundrelswalkingfree,rich men and women who retain high offices, (2) sugar workers who hold on to whatever they can get from an industry that has been clinicallydeadsincebillions of taxpayers’ dollars started beingpumpedintothesugar industry to keep it afloat, these poor workers, many if not all without any proper secondary school education, being maintained for their votes at national elections;

(3) approximately seventyfive percent of the populationwholeaveschool without a proper primary or secondary education who easily believe that they weren’tgoodenough,butdo not understand that it is the government’s education system,fromtop,tobottom, which failed them, in providing motivated teachers, in providing

adequate educational facilities at many of our schools (everyone knows there is a stark difference between both the quality of education and the physical school facilities between Queen’s College and St George’s,ChristChurch.

Yet these discriminatory aspects are enforced and maintained across the country to keep certain classes of society from having an opportunity at achieving much if anything at examinations); (4) public servants whose rights continuetobetrampledupon by the president himself, his administration, many of whom have yet to come to terms with the fact that government owes them millions of dollars because they (government) willfully disregarded regulations governing determination of salaries and wages through the years, subject to a decision by our courts; (5) sections of the population which seek to earn a living from growing cannabis sativa, even as this product has been legalised in America, Canada and has become a multi-billion dollar industry, becoming criminalised because our governments do not want them become financially independent and provide a decentlifeandeducationfor their children; (6) the thousands of workers in the private sector, whether on Regent Street or in some shop or business in Linden, Buxton, Charity, New Amsterdam or the Corentyne, who have to endure oppressive wages and conditions from even successful, and because there are little or no job

alternatives or adequate supplemental training facilities and financial supportmechanisms;(7)our nation’s vendors who have been conditioned to wage war for space that is not theirs, for the right to encroach on other people’s businesses,whogovernment hasensuredhavenorightful place in society, something they will defend with their lives;(8)retiredpersonswho have been conditioned to beingrobbedoftheirrightful retirement benefits after adjustment cost of living adjustments through the decades, many having died withtheirstolenwagesinthe pocketsofgovernment.

This manipulation and commitment by of our governments to continue to disregard our laws, the regulations established to prevent abuses against our workers, our environment, o u r m a r g i n a l i z e d populations (it has become clear that our governments havelittlecareorconcernfor specific groups based on political grounds, as much have they have borrowed from my ideas of reaching into and developing our communities), brings to the surface what I, we had been hopingwouldnotberelived: thattherewouldbenoendto the disregard for our laws and regulations, that this administration of the PPP will continue abuse our workers, our citizens, will continuetospendonprojects without proper oversight, establish institutions to function and make decision in the absence of parliamentary approval, essentially rendering the administration a cake shop wheretheycandoandspend in the absence of parliamentary approval Unless we make any meaningful effort to stop these abuses, we will live and die in the poverty and insufficiencyenduredbyour parentsandgrandparents.

Guyanese continue to observe CANU carrying out its searches and arrests of persons for marijuana while money-laundering on the

scale of billions of dollars continues right before our eyes, while known narcotics actors wash their ill-gotten gains in our economy, even establishing security firms fullyequippedwitharmsand the latest technology, more of the same, for those fully awareofthePPP’stiestothe underworldinGuyana.

In contemplating our present and immediate future, we have to come around to the reality that Guyana has a dysfunctional democracy As much as we can joke and ridicule the PNCR for its obtuse voting mechanisms at its internal elections, this we cannot do at all for the PPP Because the PPP does not have constituency elections with elected representatives. To the best of my knowledge, the PPP is not a democratic institution which allows persons to be elected to s e r v e I t s ‘representatives/technocrats ’representnoone.

All members have to toe theline.

There’sonemasterofthe gang.Jagdeo. Andthat’sina nutshell. Guyanese are up against an anti-democratic styledgovernment,intenton entering the global big league by sharing away our national wealth, which turns a blind eye to wholesale money-laundering activities while hunting down poor Guyanese trying to make a living on what in America andCanadaaperfectlylegal, legitimate commercial activity, and is intent on marginalising sections of societyforpoliticalends.On the other we have an opposition which smashed its image as a national political party, and is ready and willing to rig and steal any election in which it h a p p e n s t o b e i n government. I have in the past compared the PPP to a mafiaorganizationduetoits ties to our local narcotics trade.

ThePPPhasnoelections where its members have constituencies.

Guyana’s teachers want theirdueadjustmentstotheir salaries in addition to the amounts outstanding over the years the administration the terms of collective bargaining with their representativeunion.

Itistimethisgovernment paid us our money Guyanesehavealottothink about regarding their welfare,theirchildren.They havedecisionstomake.

YoursFaithfully, Craig

Sylvester

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Chinese adding insult to injured Guyanese

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AChinese boss kick out a Guyanese for smoking.

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Then get his kicks by taunting him.

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The PPPkicking around Guyanese.

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Now, the foreigners doing the same in imitation of them.

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Will PresidentAli get angry over this insult?

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Will the Police throw the book at this abused Guyanese who regrettably, retaliated?

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Govt. $781.9B budget passed

Th e N a t i o n a l Budget of $781.9 billion was on Thursday passed in the National Assembly at the conclusion of its 62nd Sitting following approval of the Appropriation Bill 2023 (Bill No.2of2023).

On January 16, 2023, the Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, presented to Parliament Budget 2023, the nation'slargestbudgetever

Beginning January 23, both sides of the House participated in five days of debates following which there were four days of Committee Supply Meetings during which the Opposition Members meticulously examined the estimates and p o s e d q u e s t i o n s t o government ministers on various line items under each sector and ministry, providing an opportunity for the public to get a better understanding of what is in theBudget.

According to a Ministry of Finance press release, the budget is partially financed by revenue earned from Guyana's historic sale of carbon credits, with a payment received from Hess Corporation. This has placed Guyana on the world stage as being the first country to receive such a payment,

valued at US$75 million under an agreement that will be worth a minimum of US$750 million up to 2030.Two more payments of US$37.5 million each will bring the total amount appropriated in this year's National Budget to US$150 million.

T h e p a y m e n t materialised as a result of government's continued recognition of the important roleofthecountry'sforestsin the development of our country and in combatting climate change globally, the ministrystated.

On December 1, 2022,

the Architecture for

REDD+Transactions Environmental Excellence Standard (ART-TREES) announced the issuance of 33 5 million credits to Guyana for the period 2016 to2020.

The Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART) is a global initiative that seeks to incentivise the reduction of emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) and restoring forests as well as protecting intact ones Budget 2023 also benefits from continued financing t h r o u g h p r o j e c t e d withdrawalsfromtheNatural Resource Fund (NRF) of US$1billion this year, equivalenttoG$208.9billion

to finance developmental priorities.

D r S i n g h h a d highlighted, the press release stated that this year's budget will strike a balance between addressing the pressing needs and irritants of today, while simultaneously investing in the future. As s u c h , a n u m b e r o f transformational projects are included in the budget for critical projects across the agriculture,education,health andinfrastructuresectors.

Budget 2023 allocates $84.9 billion for the health sector, and $94.4 billion for theeducationsectortoensure that the country's young

people are prepared for the future. Importantly, within these,thereisanallocationof $13 1 billion to advance work on the paediatric and maternal hospital, and six regional hospitals at Lima, De Kinderen, Diamond, Enmore, Bath and No. 75 Village, as well as $12.4 billion to improve education infrastructurecountrywide.

This year's Budget also includes a number of large projects that will transform energy supply in the country including provisions for the construction of an integrated naturalgasliquidsplantanda 300 MWcombined cycle gas turbine power plant within

the Wales Development

Z o n e D u r i n g h i s presentationoftheBudgeton January 16, Dr Singh noted thatthisproject“…represents the single largest investment made in the electricitysector, a n d s i n g l e l a r g e s t Engineering, Procurement and Construction contract undertaken”.

It is anticipated that this project will directly cut emissions by 70 percent, resulting in a number of m a j o r e c o n o m i c development initiatives in Guyana as energy costs would be significantly reduced.

Other large infrastructure

projects include provisions for upgrading and widening of the Corentyne Highway from Palmyra to Crabwood Creek, with a sum of $27.7 billion allocated in Budget 2023; upgrading of the East Coast Railway embankment roadintoafour-lanehighway from Sheriff Street to Orange Nassau, continuing to the Mahaica River bridge, continuing of the upgrade of theEastCoastHighwayfrom Belfield to Orange Nassau and constructing a second bridge across the Hope Canal,with $16 6 billion allocated in Budget 2023;constructing the East Coast – East Bank Road linkage from Ogle to Eccles (first phase of a four-lane highway intended ultimately to link the East Coast ofDemerara and the Soesdyke-Linden Highway), with$10.3billionallocatedin B u d g e t 2 0 2 3 ; a n d , constructing the New Demerara River Bridge, the first high span, four-lane permanent hybrid concrete and cable-stayed structure, with$5.2billion allocated in Budget 2023 to advance works.

Key measures in Budget 2023 include a strong focus on increasing disposable income through salary adjustments benefitting 5,000healthcareworkersand (Continued on page 20)

Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh answering questions during the examination of the budget estimates

Not for all the money in the world

For almost two decades after independence, the then PNC government resisted introducing foreign television because of the threat of cultural imperialism- the fear of importingforeignvaluesand tastes incompatible with the developmental thrust of the countryatthattime.

T h e t h e n P N C government feared that foreign television would encourage patterns of consumption and personal accumulation of wealth that wouldnotbeinkeepingwith thesocialistdrive.

But while television can transmit western values, including false values such asthesuperiorityofthatpart of the world, there has always been a more invidious threat to which scantattentionhasbeenpaid by the authorities That threatistheattitudeofsome foreigninvestors,anattitude that is far more disturbing that the effects of foreign television.

Foreign investors bring morethanjusttheirmoneyto Guyana. They also bring their attitudes, their ideas aboutwhatGuyaneseareand what we deserve. For some, Guyanaisacountryofgreat potential but needs to be more open to their foreign dollars.Otherstakethisview

toanotherextremity

They feel that without their dollars and enterprise, Guyana would go nowhere; that without foreign investors Guyana would remain a poor place. Still many others feel that the government needs to do more to attract foreign investors. Then there are those who come here and feel that they are superior to us They come with an attitude that says that they are better and they look down upon Guyanese. They do not mix with our people. They fraternise only with their own and some of them even try to make their compatriots feel that Guyanesearebadpeopleand theyhavetobecareful.They warn them against mingling withlocals;theypoisontheir mindsaboutGuyanese.

All of these point to a particular mindset that disrespects Guyanese Persons of this mindset should not be welcome to Guyana The authorities have to insist that all who come to these shores to do business or to work respect the culture of our people. If they do not, then regardless of how much money they have or how great are their investmentsinGuyana,they should not be allowed to operateinourcountry.

Dem Boys Seh...

Guyana is not a backwardcountry Guyanais not an uncivilised place. It never was. Therefore those whocomeheremustnotjust respect our laws but must respect our people. If they cannot do this, if they are founddisrespectingthelaws of Guyana, then they should beaskedtoleavealongwith their investments It is simple as that. We cannot have persons coming to this countryandbehaveasifthey are better than us. They are free to believe they are but any attempt at manifesting this superiority smacks of discrimination and should notbetolerated.

We cannot have also persons coming to this country and seeking to poison the minds of their compatriots that Guyanese are bad people who should bekeptatadistance.Suchan attitudetreatsGuyanesewith contempt and treats our country as a colonial-style plantation fit only for exploitation. We should not allow that. Fortunately, the vast majority of foreign investorsdonotexhibitsuch tendencies The vast majority of foreigners show respect for our culture and our people. They have local friends, attend local cocktails and get along well with others. They should be

De outstanding market and outstanding matters!

De unrest in which a truck was vandalizedandthensetalightondeBuxtonFriendship Public Road did remind dem boys about de mayhem in Mon Repos. During dat terrible episode where vendors were robbed, vehicles set alight and stalls destroyed.

Imaginedemgatvideoshowingpeople ridingoffwithitemsdemstealanduptonow none of dem wah steal appear in front de court. Wan man did go pun television and wanmangopunpublictelevisionandclaim howseriouschargescoming.

Demboysstillwaitingfuhdeseserious chargesfuhreach.

Dem charges probably coming pun a steamer from Iceland. Dem boys hoping de charges gan reach before de new FPSO vesselwahdepartSingaporeforGuyana:de

onedatdemname‘Prosperity’.

De failure to institute dem charges following de Mon Repose mayhem emboldened those who set the truck alight and committed robbery onWednesday Dat iswhydemboysnahsurprisebywhattook place. Is sheer blow bow happening! De people getting empty promises and false hopes.

Dem building over de Mon Repos Market. Wan man seh how “Mon Repose ganbeoneofdeoutstandingmarkets.Wellit outstanding fuh truth. It deh in de wrong place,almostindemiddleofdepublicroad. Justicefuhdemvendorswahgetbeatupand roblastyearisstilloutstanding.

And dem vendors still gat outstanding grievances.

Talkhalf.Leffhalf!

welcomedandencouraged. The danger however lies inthosewhohavenorespect for Guyanese, who see this country as their plantation and playground, a place whoseonlyworthtothemis judged by the money they make, the exploitation they invokeandthenumberofour women they can seduce This small minority is contemptuous of our people and it is high time that the authorities pay keen attention to the actions of suchpersons.Theauthorities must make it clear to these

persons that while in our country, they cannot behave asifweareaclosedsociety Wearenot.Guyanaisafree countryandwhilethepolicy of the government is to attract foreign investment, these foreign investors have to respect the culture of our people They cannot be allowedtodoastheyplease. Their investment dollars doesnotgivethemthatright. Themostinvidiousformsof exploitation begin with a mindset that has contempt forourpeopleandthisiswhy thegovernmentneedstonot

wait until complaints arise beforetheyact.Theyneedto make it clear that no foreigner will be allowed to disrespectGuyanese.Notfor allthemoneyintheworld.

(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.)

April 27 set for ruling in Granger’s challenge to Justice Singh hearing his $2.6B lawsuit against Nascimento, three newspapers

Full Court on Thursday heard lawyers in the appeal case by which former President David Granger challenged the decision of HighCourtJusticeNavindra Singh not to recuse himself fromhislibelsuit.

Granger had filed a lawsuit against Public Relations Consultant, Kit Nasimento and three newspapers claiming $2.6 billion for libel Kashir Khan, an attorney- at-law, for Kit Nasimento found a difficulty with Granger’s appeal to the Full Court, noting that the former President is seeking to decide which judge should tryhiscasewithoutaviable orlegallyacceptablereason. The lawyer argued that for the court to take this course of action and have a judge remove himself from the matter there must be

“reasonableapprehension.”

Khanstressedthiswould have given Granger’s application to challenge the judge’s decision not to recuse himself some merit.

“There is clearly no legal basisforthisobjection,”the lawyer argued. He said that the court cannot afford to have litigants “pick and choose”whichjudgeshould hear their case when it’s operating on barely 50 percent of judicial strength owing to the lack of judges.

“Itisnosecretthatthereisa shortage of judges…” Khan saidinhissubmissiontothe court. In his submission, Attorney for Granger, Roysdale Forde noted that the application is viable in that Justice Singh failed to granthisclientafairhearing 0n his request for him to recusehimselffromhearing the case.After hearing both

sidesontheissue,FullCourt Justices Damon Young and Gino Persaud scheduled April 27, at 1:30 pm to deliver their decision in the matter As such, the case which was scheduled to continue before Justice Singh on February 13 and

February14willbedeferred until the court makes its determinationinApril.

Last June the former President Granger stated that he did not want Justice Singh to conduct a pre-trial review (PTR) into the matter, and to also not

preside over the trial. He wrotealettertothejudge.At the time, Justice Singh said that while in accordance with the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) he could understand why the Claimantisobjectingtohim conducting the PTR, no basis had been provided for why he should not conduct thetrial.

Following discussions with Senior Counsel Forde whorepresentsGrangerand other counsel in the matter, however, the decision was takenthatthePTRwouldbe waived in accordance with theCPR,astheissueswhich were identified to be canvassedunderthePTRare properly to be resolved at trial. The judge pointed out that a PTR is really concerned with issues surrounding potential settlement and case

Millions hidden inside sofa…

management protocols, but thatwhathadbeenidentified as PTR issues in the claim, are really evidentiary issues which are properly to be resolvedattrial.

Granger’s $2.6 billion lawsuitisaimedatStabroek News, Kaieteur News and theGuyanaTimes,whichhe sayshaveallbesmirchedhis character through letters which they published by communications specialist Christopher ‘Kit’ Nascimento. In his action, Granger said that Nascimento accused him of attemptingtodefythewillof thepeopleintheMarch2nd, 2020 Elections.The Former President has said that the statements, which he described as libelous by Nascimento,werepublished by the Guyana Times on May23rdof2020,bothinits printandonlineversions.

UkrainskaPravdareceivesvideoofsearches atex-DeputyDefenceMinister’shouse

(Yahoo News)Ukrainska Pravda has received a video of the Augustsearchesofthehome of Oleksandr Myroniuk, former Deputy Defence Minister, a person involved in the investigation into f r a u d i n d e f e n c e procurement.Then,almosta million dollars had been foundinsidehissofa.

Source: a video handed over to Ukrainska Pravda, sourcesofUkrainskaPravda inlawenforcementagencies

Details: As Ukrainska Pravda’s sources state, this is a video from Myroniuk’s apartment, showing the moment of seizure of funds duringtheinvestigation.

In the video, a man, presumably an investigator, takes out bundles of money fromasidenichenearasofa or bed and puts them in a hugepile.

Background: On 31

August,2022,theUkrainian media space was stirred by the news of searches on property of Bohdan Khmelnytskyi,currentHead oftheMinistryofDefence’s procurement department The official was suspected of being involved in the body armour case [participants of the fraudulent scheme seized funds of the Ministry of Defenceduringthepurchase of military ammunition worthUS$580,000–ed.]

Back then, Ukrainska Pravda’s sources said that a huge amount of money had been seized from the Defence Ministry official, which had allegedly been hidden in a sofa. At the request of Ukrainska Pravda, the Ministry of Defence admitted that Khmelnytskyi’s house had been searched, but stated that no funds had been

seizedfromhim.

Later, Ukrainska Pravda found out that a huge amount of money had been seized during a search of Oleksandr Myroniuk’s home,whowasinchargeof theprocurementdepartment beforehisdismissalin2021.

Thisofficialisalsoinvolved

in the body armour case.

U A H 1 7 , 0 7 8 , 0 0 0 [ a p p r o x i m a t e l y US$464,773], US$400,100, and€100,380werefoundin Myroniuk’s possession duringthesearches.

The investigator’s decisionfoundthemoneyto be material evidence in the

criminal proceedings

Ukrainska Pravda learned that immediately after the searches, Myroniuk provided the court with a “document” that the money fromthesofawasnothis.A certified statement made a week after the searches stated that in January 2022,

all the seized money was lent to Myroniuk by Eleonora Duminsh, a 86year-oldKharkivresident.

The journalists found out that Duminsh is a relative of the founders of Kharkiv-based HADO Holding, which, among other things, manufactures rifles In addition, since 2016, Eleonora Duminsh has been registered as an individual entrepreneur for wholesale trade, and during registration she provided an email and phone number belonging to HADO. This holding has a long-standing working relationship with the state-owned specialty exporter Prohres, where Myroniuk had been employed before and after his time at the Defence Ministry The court eventually ordered the money to be returned to the official.

Justice Damone Young Justice Gino Persaud

The Bidens OP:ED

By GHK Lall

President Joseph Biden and his son, Hunter Biden are up to their necks in a deep pileofmanure.

It is self-inflicted in both instances, with the father incurring some shades of sympathy, while the son should be thrown into a cell, and the key conveniently disappearing.

The guy is so wily, this son is so prodigious in his pursuits of all that is perverse, it is likely that he wouldfindit.

The son's record is of corruption scandals, family failures (child support), falsehoods, and tax fraud, among a litany of heavy wrongdoings. He is a

father's worst nightmare, a leader'sAchillesheel.

I look at our leaders in both the old and new PNC, the previous and present PPP,andhowtheyhavebeen wounded by their own, and often by their own selfdestructive hand My position is simple: we are all adults, and accountable for our actions: take it on the chin,fallonone'ssword.

In one word, it distils to this: accountability So, when the day of reckoning comes,therehastobeanend to all the fancy dancing, and the flurry of fancier words andpostures.

WhatgoesforAmerican, also goes for good ole Guyana.

The President's son should be made to feel the

full arm of the law, after due processisfullyobserved.

As for Guyana, the President better serves the dignity of his office, when interference is not run for those who fall afoul of claims involving briberies, collusions, and betrayal of thetrustofcitizens.

There is only one way: Leaders and Losers (in and outofthefamily)mustcome clean,facethemusic.

As the late legal swashbuckler, Johnnie Cochran once said: do the crime,dothetime.

This is the sum of my relationships, be it the biological family, the political family, the spiritual family.

None of this paternal (and unpresidential)

protection, and the sniffer dogs being held in check, or sent off the scent. Like I keep saying, once a start is made with the defense of lying, then lying is the way that it has to be from there forward.

We have had our own corruptions allegations involving the scandalous at the heights, and we do well to recall the vagueness and vacillations of the targeted.

There was also the vacuousness of the sea of sycophants, who did rush ahead in truly mindless fashion to tender what is believed to be powerful defenses, only for all to get suckedin,andbecomeaiders andabettorsthemselves.

President Biden did not come out in a clear and convincing manner with his sonandhistroubles.

Yes,heisfather;butheis the father to a thousand obligations that I believe surpass that of arranging matters for a wayward and wastrel child. If this sounds familiar, it is, for this is precisely what was the experience here, when a leader and a brother got ensnared in the runoffs and fallouts of sharp, hard inquiry

Though swept under the carpet, it remains rancid and unresolved.

From my assessment, this is also what the

president's men have worked to deliver in the instance of the president's son. If that reminds of the Watergate disaster and well-placed m e n t o i l i n g o v e r t i m e t o insulate a sitting president through covering up, then thatalsohitsthejackpot.

For his part, President Biden has his own troubles, and they keep mounting. Classified documents found in improper and unsecured places, even unofficial ones, then more of the same slackness.

Though there are ongoing evaluations for an interpretation of what was classified from Joe Biden's pile of papers, and how classified was classified, there cannot be any deviation from the standard to which his predecessor in the White House is held. The latter may not the endearing figure that Joe Biden is, but the same intensity to official duty must prevail with the probers.

In my book, President Biden is now a lost figure, who just putters around, and dodders around, in a daze mostofthetime.

The disaster in the making is both men are

GHK Lall

determinedtorunin2024.

It is imperative that Presidents are held to the highest standard, an almost inhumanone.

I do so of them. In this regard, I think that President Bidenkeepsshowinghisage more and more, and the frailty that accompanies its advance.

He himself has lost touch, and now US Government papers; and he lost credibility in the matter of his son's tawdry affairs, business and otherwise Like the wives of sitting presidents, sons should also be vigilant to maintain a profile that is low, lacking in dispute, and leaving no trail that tracks right back to the OvalOffice.

Perhaps, that explains why it is oval since there are often so few people inside that can be considered to be truly straight to the bone. Guyana's own President shouldconsiderthedeepness of what is gently shared for hisedification.

Motorcyclist dies after West Bank accident

Police in RegionThree are currently investigating the death of a 21-year-old man who died on Monday following an accident on the Canal No. 1 Access Road,WestBankDemerara(WBD).

According to police, the accident whichclaimedthelifeofShaquanJoeof SchoolStreetParfaiteHarmonie,WBD, and left 59-year-old pedestrian Compton Bowen of 15th Street First Avenue, Parfaite Harmonie injured occurredaround18:50hrs.

It was reported to the police that a motorcycle bearing registration number CL9686 was proceeding west along the Canal No. 1 access road at a fast rate

whenthepedestrianwalkedfromsouthto north across the road and into the motorcyclist's path. Police reported that the motorcyclist ended up colliding with thepedestrian,lostcontrolofthebikeand fell on the northern corner of the road.As a result of this, he received injuries to his head. Joe was reportedly picked up in an unconscious condition by public-spirited persons and placed in the tray of a motor pick-up.

It was while heading to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, the motor pick-up which was proceeding north on the Versailles turn overtaking a line of trafficwithhazardlightson,thatthefront

right-side of the pick-up collided with motorcar with registration number PAB 5231 (owned and driven by a police constable who is stationed at the Vreeden-Hoop Police Station) which was proceedingnorthalongtheeasternlaneof theroad.

Kaieteur News understands that as a result of the second accident no one receivedanyinjuries.Joewastakentothe hospital where he succumbed to his injurieswhilereceivingtreatment.

His body is currently at the Ezekiel Funeral Home, awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Investigationsareongoing.

Dead: Shaquan Joe

Exxon looking for apartments, town houses in Bel Air Park, Lamaha Gardens, 12 other neighbourhoods

Ex x o n M o b i l

Corporation's subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) issued a Request For Information (RFI) this week seeking detailed commercial and technical details from suppliers of residential houses, apartments and town houses.

move in ready, under renovation or estimated completionby2025

EEPGL said the location

o f r e s i d e n t i a l house/apartment/town houses must have direct road access, free of obstacles and appropriate surface for parking.

The oil company said preferred houses should be in-suite- meaning each

barrels of oil perday

The third development at Payara is on track to come online at the end of 2023 utilizingtheProsperityFPSO with a production capacity of approximately220,000 gross barrelsofoilperday

The fourth development, Yellowtail, is expected to come online in 2025, u t i l i z i n g t h e ' O N E GUYANA', an FPSO with a

interested in these units that fall within the vicinity of LiliendaaltoLeRessouvenir, Bel Air Park to Lamaha Gardens and Eccles to ProvidenceareasinGuyana.

EEPGL said it plans to enter into lease agreements for the provision of single family residential houses l o c a t e d w i t h i n t h e neighborhoods known as Le Ressouvenir, Oleander Gardens,CouridaPark,Ogle, Felicity, Liliendaal, Turkeyen, Pattensen , Better Hope, Atlantic Ville, Eccles, Providence,BelAirPark,and LamahaGardens.

It said submissions may include apartments/ townhouses or single-family units that may be at the following stages: design, execution/construction,

bedroom has a dedicated bathroom.

It said too that facilities should include security features such as, fencing, lighting, security bars for windows and doors, security hutwithwashroomfacilityas wellassafetyfeaturessuchas emergency egress, fire extinguishers and smoke detectionalarms.

ExxonMobil's move for sufficient housing unit is due

to the developments associated with its four sanctioned projects in the StabroekBlock.

Exxon's Liza Phase 1 a n d P h a s e 2

d e v e l o p m e n t s a r e currently operating at their combined gross production capacity of

m o r e t h a n 3 6 0 , 0 0 0

production capacity of approximately250,000 gross barrelsofoilperday

APlanofDevelopmentis expected to be submitted to the Government of Guyana before year end for a fifth development, Uaru, which is expected to come online at the end of 2026 with a gross production capacity of approximately 250,000 barrelsofoilperday

Discussions have also commenced for a sixth project.

TheStabroekBlockis6.6 million acres EEPGL is operatorandholds45percent interest in the concession. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. holds 30 percent interest and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited holds 25 percentinterest.

The aftermath of Thursday's accident along the Linden to Lethem Trail

Cuban woman killed as vehicles explode on Mabura Trail

A female Cuban national waskilledwhentwovehicles collided and then exploded on the Mabura Trail on Thursdayafternoon.

In a press release police said the accident occurred at about 15:20 hrs between 39 and 40 Miles Mabura Trail, involving a minibus and a motorpick-upwhichresulted in the death of a female Cubannational.

Details reaching this media house confirms that the vehicles involved in the accident are: minibus #BVV 5815, owned by Eon Sinclair of Kitty, Georgetown and driven by 35-year-old Kirk Allicock, licensed driver a passengers Cuban pick-up d unknown).

the proceeding left vicinity M

navigating a left bend, the motor pick-up which was proceeding in the opposite direction on the right side of the said trail collided with the front portion of the minibus.

As a result of the collision, both vehicles burst intoflames.

Afemale Cuban national seated behind the driver was pinned in the minibus when it caught fire -- and she perishedinthevehicle.

The driver and the other passengersreceivedinjuries. They were taken to Linden Hospital,wherefourpersons (two males and two females) treated and referred to

leg of the Linden to Lethem road.

BackinMaylastyearthe Government of Guyana officially signed a contract with Construtora Queiroz Galvao S.A., the Brazilian company which will be constructing the 121km asphaltic concrete road from Linden to Mabura Hill. The company was given a noobjection by the Caribbean Development Bank's (CDB) to build the US$190 million or GY$32.4 billion road. Construtora Queiroz Galvao S A was among five contractors that submitted bids for the Ministry of P bli W k j t reported e by Guyana and m K the 2 Guyana d

First Lady, officials tour Guyana's 3rd FPSO in SINGAPORE

First Lady, Mrs. Arya Ali on Tuesday toured Guyana's third Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading Vessel (FPSO) – 'the 'Prosperity' – at the Keppel Shipyard in Singapore where it willdepartforGuyanasoon.

Mrs. Ali was accompanied by Mr Jon Gibbs, President of ExxonMobil Global Projects;, Mr Bruno Chabas, Chief Executive Officer, SBM Offshore, Mr Chris Ong, CEO, Keppel Offshore & Marine, Tim Chisholm, Vice President for Guyana and Suriname, Hess Corporation, Mr Tian Lixin, President of CNOOC International,andotherofficials.

The tour followed a dedication ceremony, during which, the First Lady was named 'godmother' of the vessel which is expected to arrive in Guyana during the first quarter of this year Lead by Prosperity's Manager, Ms Nadia Stampes,Mrs.Aliwasaffordedthe opportunity to observe several sectionsofthevesselincludingthe oil, gas, and water processing and offloadmeteringmodules.

“Itwasaspecialmomentbeing able to explore and learn about a vessel that will bring greater prosperitytothepeopleofGuyana. Not only that, I was happy to be able to personally meet and thank someoftheworkerswhomadethis

possible,” the First Lady said according to a statement issued by her office. The tour of the megafacility also afforded the First Lady an opportunity to meet several Guyanese who have been workingonthevessel.

'The Prosperity' will work on E x x o n M o b i l ' s P a y a r a development, located roughly 200 kilometres offshore Guyana. The Payara project will target an estimated resource base of about 600 million oil-equivalent barrels. The project start-up is expected laterthisyear

The FPSO is designed to produce 220,000 barrels of oil per day, with an associated gas

treatment capacity of 400 million cubic feet per day and a water injection capacity of 250,000 barrelsperday

It will be spread moored in a water depth of about 1,900 meters and will be able to store around 2 million barrels of crude oil. Once operational, 'the Prosperity' will increase production to an estimated 560,000 barrels of oil perday

The vessel, which measures 342M in length, 60m in width, and 25m in height, has a minimum lifespan of 20 years. Roughly 4,000 persons have been working on the FPSO which weights 110,000metrictonnes.

‘The Prosperity’, Guyana's third Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading Vessel (FPSO).

First Lady, Arya Ali during a tour of Guyana's third Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading Vessel (FPSO) – 'the Prosperity' – at the Keppel Shipyard in Singapore

'Who's Who in Suriname' business directory launched

ActionINVEST Caribbean Inc., a b u s i n e s s coaching and Investment Company in Guyana that partnered with Creative Tech Hub Caribbean, last Friday, launched the first edition of the 'Who's Who in Suriname' edition of the Business Directory at a reception hosted at Hotel Torarica, Paramaribo.

During the ceremony, Anuskha Sonai, President of C r e a t i v e Te c h H u b Caribbean, informed the gathering that the 'Who's Who Business Directory' has amassed a following in the Caribbean Region for nearly twodecades.

It has publications in Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana. This is the first publicationforSuriname.

As such, she lauded ActionINVEST Caribbean Inc.'s launch of the fourth edition of the 'Who's Who Guyana'editioninNovember 2022.

C h a i r m a n o f ActionINVEST Caribbean Inc., Dr Vishnu Doerga, told

the gathering of stakeholders and dignitaries of the versatile ways the 'Who's Who in Suriname' Business Directory can be used, while noting that it is an all-

encompassing tool for investors who are presented with credible company profilessurroundingfourteen industries across Suriname's economy

Rishma Kuldipsingh, Suriname's Minister of E c o n o m i c A f f a i r s , Entrepreneurship and Technological Innovation, referredtothe'Who'sWhoin

Suriname' directory as a “business guide” which will present Suriname as a key international partner among trade and investment, achievingvisibility

Similarly, Suriname's Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation AlbertRamdinmarveledat (Continued on page 22)

Pictured at the launch of the 'Who's Who in Suriname' business directory are (at far left) Anuskha Sonai, President of Creative Tech Hub Caribbean, and (at far right) President of ActionINVEST Caribbean Inc. Dr. Vishnu Deorga along with other Guyanese and Surinamese dignitaries.

Russia going after Exxon for over US$220M in unpaid taxes

American oil giant, ExxonMobil over US$220 million in unpaid taxes, Reuters said Tuesday noting that local news agencies TASS and Interfax citing courtdocumentssaidthatthe R u s s i a n G e n e r a l Prosecutor's Office is asking a court to recover 15 5 billion roubles (US$220 million) in allegedly unpaid taxesfromU.S.oilmajor

It was stated that the Sakhalin regional court website lists a claim against Exxon Neftegaz Ltd, ExxonMobil's Russian subsidiary, by the General Prosecutor's Office, without givingfurtherdetails.

The next hearing of the caseinSakhalinisscheduled for February 28, 2023, according to the court's website.

Reuters added that E x x o n d e c l i n e d t o immediately comment and the local court declined to disclose further details to the media outlet citing that the company is not a party to the case.

Moreover, it was reported that Exxon in 2021 issued force majeure and abandoned an offshore oil project on the Russian Pacific island of Sakhalin due to Western sanctions imposed on Moscow after it sent troops into Ukraine on what it called a “special militaryoperation”.

Notably, Moscow retaliated by blocking foreign investors' assets, in some cases also seizing them.

After Exxon's exit, Moscow established a new entity, managed by a subsidiaryofRussianenergy giant Rosneft (ROSN.MM) that owns investor rights in Sakhalin-1project.

E x x o n t o o k a n impairment charge of US$4.6billiononitsRussian activities in April. It also reduced local energy production and moved staff outofthecountry

R u s s i a l a s t y e a r approved requests by India's ONGC Videsh, the overseas investment arm of state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC.NS), and Sakhalin Oil and Gas Development C o ( S O D E C O ) , a consortium of Japanese firms, to retain their respective 20 percent and 30 percent stakes in the Sakhalinproject.

Canadian company to spend almost US$140M on second well in Corentyne Block

Ca n a d i a n o i l e x p l o r e r , Frontera Energy Corporation, disclosed yesterday that it anticipates spending approximately US$120-US$140 million on the Wei-1 well, in the Corentyne block, offshore Guyana.

It said this expenditure will come from existing resources.

If a discovery is made, the full costs will be recovered.

Frontera said in a statement that the total cost of the Wei-1 well, including 2022pre-drillcostsandcosts related to drilling delays, are forecast to be approximately US$160-US$170million.

The Canadian firm said the Wei-1 well is located approximately14kilometres northwest of the Joint Venture's previous Kawa-1 light oil and condensate discovery and will target Maastrichtian, Campanian and Santonian aged stacked sandswithinchannelandfan complexes in the northern section of the Corentyne block.

The Wei-1 well will appraise both the Kawa-1 discovery as well as explore additional opportunities withintheCorentyneblock.

Chief Executive Officer,

O r l a n d o C a b r a l e s , commented that Frontera's 2023 capital programme aims to deliver stable cash flow and US$425-US$475 million operating Earnings before interest, taxes, d e p r e c i a t i o n , a n d

amortization (EBITDA) at US$80/bbl average Brent prices from the company's proven and diverse asset base while also investing for future growth through facilities expansion and both near-field and high-impact

exploration.

The Frontera boss said his company's 2023 programme is fully funded from existing cash and 2023 cash flows, features balanced capital allocation across its most productive and prospective blocks, basins, and countries, supports ongoing efforts to diversifyproductionmixand lays the foundation for the company's path to grow productionto50,000boe/d.

In 2023, he said, “We

Alarming rise in attempts to smuggle drugs in barrels, packages - GRA

There has been an alarming increase

in efforts to smuggle refined narcotic drugs and other illicit items t h r o u g h p e r s o n a l consignments (barrels, boxes, packages, and containers) at all ports of entry into Guyana, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA)saidThursday

In a statement to the media, the Revenue Authority said that the increasehasbeennotedover the past few months while noted that just recently the Authority and Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) seized quantities of cannabis and refined marijuana found in personal effect consignments and suitcases which led to several persons being

arrested and placed before thecourt.

Notably,itwasstatedthat t h e A u t h o r i t y i n collaboration with its sister Agencies, CANU and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) intend to pursue and

will advance the company's exciting development and lower-risk exploration portfolio in Colombia and Ecuador execute our hedging programme to

protect our revenue generation and manage our exposure to price volatility, and seek to build on our Kawa-1 light oil and condensate discovery with the Wei-1 well, our second exploration well offshore Guyana."

Frontera is a partner in the Corentyne Block alongsideCGXEnergy

In 2020, CGX had submitted its proposed 25% acreage relinquishment which are required by the Corentyne Petroleum AgreementtotheMinistryof Natural Resources and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission(GGMC)andis now awaiting the agreement of these agencies on the acceptance of the proposed relinquishment and final instruments to formally move into the second renewal period of the CorentynePA.

If a discovery is made, CGX said it has the right to apply to the Minister for a

Petroleum Production Licence (PPL) with respect tothatportionofthecontract area having a significant discovery

After commercial production begins, the company is allowed to recover contract costs as defined in the Corentyne PA from 'cost oil' produced and sold from the contract area and limited in any month to an amount which equals 75% of the total production from the contract area for such month excluding any hydrocarbon used in petroleum operations or whichislost.

When it comes to the Corentyne Block, CGX made it known in its financials dated at October 31, 2022, that it has US$155.0 million of recoverable contract costs brought forward from the original licence. This cost can be recovered against any f u t u r e c o m m e r c i a l production.

minimise all such illicit trade/activities.Anyone who fails to adhere, and found in pursuit thereof will be condignly dealt with in accordance with the respectivelaws–GRAsaid.

“The Authority once

again advises all such persons dealing in or in contemplation engaging in such illegal activities to cease and desist therefrom,” GRAsaid.

As the GRAcontinues to work together with the General Public to ensure compliance with the Nation's Tax, Trade and Border laws, theAuthority encourages persons to report any illicit, unlawful or smuggling activities on telephone number 2276060, or extensions 3201, 3204, 3205, 3211, 3212, or 3408. The Authority said that all information provided therein, will be dealt with strict confidentiality and such persons may be rewarded in accordance with the provisions of the CustomsAct,Chapter82:01.

Map showing the location of the Corentyne Block

...Guyana’soiltostandfullcosts,ifdiscoveryismade

Government's 'Because We Care'cash grant from $25,000 to $35,000 to benefit over 214,000

school children in public and private schools, easing the cost of living through maintaining zero excise taxes on fuel to absorb volatile fuel prices; expansion of Government's part-time job programme, with

$20 million, reducing the cost

$15 million

Price tag for new Ministry of Health HQ moves from $744M to $818M

The Committee of

S u p p l y o n T h u r s d a y approved some $79 million more to facilitate the completion of the new M i n i s t r y o f H e a l t h Headquarters, moving the bill for the building from $744Mto$818million.

During day four of the consideration of the estimatesofthe2023Budget, it was disclosed that from the $79 million approved, $74 million will go towards the contractor while some $5.2 million will be for the supervisingfirm.

This is according to Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony who explained that “Thereis$74millionthathas been allocated for the completion of the ministry's head office and we know the historyofthat.

The consultancy since we h a v e e x t e n d e d t h e construction time for the building, we have to also extend the supervisory contractor'stime,andsothere are some monies that are catering for that. So we have there $74.1 million for the construction and we have $5 2 million for the supervisorycontract.”

A s r e p o r t e d t h e construction of this building has been ongoing from some years, in fact the initial contract which worth $365 million would have been signed under the previous government, followed by a new one under the current government which is worth

$436million. Itwasnotedinparliament that works on building are some 90 percent completed and the project is set to be completedwithinthismonth.

Kaieteur News had reportedonThursdaythatthe Governmenthascommenced legal proceedings against Chung's Global Enterprise, in relation to substandard work on the Health Ministry's Headquarters located on Brickdam, Georgetown.

Minister Anthony made the disclosure on Tuesday while responding to questions by Opposition Member of Parliament, JermaineFigueira,inrelation to the termination of said contract by the government on October 31, 2020. Dr Anthony said the original cost of the project was $365 million.

It was intended to be completed in 12 months and the contractor received an advance payment of $71.2 million in November that year, which represented some 20 percent of the contractsum.

“At the end of 2019, the contractor received $304.5 millionorabout85percentof the contract sum, and paymentsweremadewithout valuation of six payment certificates, which totaled about $233.1 million, there was no valuation certificate, and works remained incomplete,” the health ministerpointedout.

He added that among

some of the works to be completed were the ceiling works, painting of the internal and external walls, electrical and AC unit installations, installation the lifts, tiling works, plumbing works and additional furnishing.

Henotedthatin2019,the A u d i t o r G e n e r a l recommended that the head of budget agency take immediateactionstoactivate the stipulations of the c o n t r a c t i n c l u d i n g termination of the contract and recovery of the sums paid.

With the decision being made to terminate the contract – it was estimated that for the work to be completed, the contract had to be increased to about $870 million. This represented an additional $513.3 million to be added to the $304 5 millionthatwasalreadypaid. When the performance bond was checked, it was already expiredoneyearprior

It was reported that the current administration took office in August 2020 and terminated the contract soon after and a new contract was awarded to the tune of $436 milliontocompletethework. During last year's budget, the house had approved an additional $272 million to complete the building while some $13 million was approved for the supervising firm. It is unclear who the newcontractorfortheproject is.

The new Ministry of Health Head Office which is being constructed.

WANTED

Driver, Salesman & Porters required to work in warehouse. Must have experience, attractive salary offered. Call: 696-4444.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kitchen Assistant and Counter Clerk needed. Call: 697-8160.

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

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

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

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

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

Truck Driver required. Apply at: Lens 136 Sheriff Street, Campbellville G/ Town. Call: 227-1511/ 6451613.

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

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

VACANCY

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

Delivery Clerk, Office Assistant, Sales Clerk & Labourer needed at Lens Hardware. Call: 227-1511/ 645-1613.

Vacancy exists for Salesgirl and Porters at Best Buy Food Supplies, Lot 1 ‘E’ Dennis and Middleton Streets C/ville. Apply in person with written application.

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

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

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

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

Vacancy exist for two experienced Dispatcher at Confidential Cabs. Call: 6951961 /231-5784.

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

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

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

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

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

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

VACANCY

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

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

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

Fuel, cash shortages cause fury among Nigerians ahead of election

Nigerians are facing petrol shortages and chaos at banks over a new currency swap ahead of presidential elections later this month.

Frustrations grow as the vote approaches

Drivers/ Expeditors needed to drive car/ van and lorry in Georgetown. Ages 25-55 yrs, Call: 226-9768/ 225-7528.

FOR SALE

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

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

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

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

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

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

FOR RENT

2 and 3-bedroom fully furnished luxury apartments for rent, short term and long term. Tel:# 682-2585, 691-1432.

One 5 bedrooms house for rent (furnished) located on South Road, for business or residence. Call: 641-0959.

Three bedroom unfurnished apt in Vreed-enhoop and 1, 2 and 3-bedroom furnished apt in Providence and Diamond. Call/ Whatsapp: 604-6664, 682-6238, 216-2299.

12 self-contained rooms, 2-bedroom bottom flat, 8000 sq ft and 900 sq ft for business. Call Ray's Realty: 627-9685.

Aljazeera - Muhammed Bazza has been queueing for petrol in the blazing sun for four hours, while Alexander Okwori has spent the last two waiting at an ATM.

Bazza said he had woken up at 4:30 am to try to beat the petrol queues, but it didn’t work – shortly after 10 am, when he was just 10 metres (30 feet) from the petrol pump, he was told to leave.

“It’s over! No more fuel,” the station attendant said.

“My day is wasted,” Bazza told AFP. “Every day is the same problem, it’s ridiculous.”

These days, Awolowo Road, a main commercial artery in Lagos, Nigeria’s megacity of 20 million people, is constantly blocked by traffic jams worsened by the waits for fuel.

On the other side of the road, 50 or so people are huddled outside a bank, with more people continuously joining the crowd.

Like everyone else, Alexander Okwori is trying to get some of the new banknotes unveiled last October to replace the old naira, the deadline to make the swap was January 31.

Bottom of Form

But days before the deadline, only a few banks were distributing the new notes, leaving many Nigerians, who are overwhelmingly poor and have no bank accounts, without access to cash.

Under pressure, the government agreed to push the deadline back to February 10 but, on Tuesday, many banks were still unable to distribute the new notes.

VEHICLES FOR SALE

One CRV Honda, fully loaded immaculate condition, low mileage $3.3M negotiable. Contact: 6490956.

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

From north to south, the country of about 215 million people is facing a complex combination of problems: petrol shortages and chaos at banks over a new currency swap, in addition to the chronic lack of water and electricity. It’s a volatile mix as Nigeria gears up for presidential and general elections next month, with President Muhammadu Buhari stepping down after the two terms allowed by the constitution.

“No ATM are giving money. I went to 10 banks, there are no new notes,” said Okwori, who wonders how he will manage to buy food for the day.

His anger has reached the point where he has no intention of voting on February 25.

“To get my PVC (voting card), I have to queue again. For what? They (politicians) are all the same,” the 21-yearold said.

SERVICES

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

While Nigeria is one of Africa’s largest crude oil producers, its obsolete refineries have little refining capacity so it must import fuel from Europe and elsewhere so fuel queues are common.

The two main candidates vying to replace Buhari are Bola Tinubu of the president’s governing party and Atiku Abubakar of the leading opposition group.

The two are old political hands, wealthy but also dogged by corruption suspicions in the minds of many voters.

‘Who’s Who in Suriname’...

From page 17

ENTERTAINMENT

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

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

the use of the ‘Who’s Who in Suriname’ directory which creates ease for the integration of markets.

“When you think about investing in Suriname or Guyana, or together, you are

accessing not only the two markets; you are accessing 650 million people,” the Surinamese Minister said.

In its unveiling, the cover boasts the Hypermodern Assuria Hermitage High-Rise, Suriname’s first smart building, untouched greenery, and the country’s beloved Srefidensi ‘I love SU’ Monument.

DRESSMAKING

Drivers needed at Hibiscus Transportation Service , 91 Middle Street. Call: 231-5866.

EDUCATION

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

ACCOMMODATIONS

Aracari hotel located at WBD (Versailles, Vreed-enHoop)- A/C, all amenities and breakfast included, from $63USD. Call: 264-2946-9.

Alongside the ‘Who’s Who in Suriname’ Business directory, was the launch of the updated www.whoswho.sr website, equipped with an interface designed to navigate company profiles as part of the gateway to build and invest in Suriname, and the new, readily accessible e-directory.

Enid's Dressmaking certificate classes located 66 Sixth St. Albertown. Call: 6437966/ 223-9106.

SevenfirmsbidtosupplyICRequipment, otherdevicestoEducationMinistry

During the opening of tenders on Thursday it was revealed that seven companies are looking to supply and install a quantity of computingdevicesandICT equipmentfortheMinistry ofEducation.

At the opening it was revealed that the project is divided into 10 lots. Also opened at the National

Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB)isforthecontract to supply and delivery of tablets with detachable keyboardsandacontractto supply and delivery of materials required for the fabricationof140newcane transportpunt,aprojectfor the Guyana Sugar Corporation.

B e l o w a r e t h e companiesandtheirbids:

GuyanaSugarCorporation

Supplyanddeliveryofmaterialsrequiredforthe fabricationof140newcanetransportpunt(barges).

Supplyanddeliveryoftablets withdetachablekeyboards.

ProvisionofservicesLot1:sanitarydisposal serviceandLot2:pestcontrolservice.

MinistryofPublicWorks

ProvisionofInsuranceServicesLots1to3.

GuyanaElectionsCommission

Provisionofservicesforthemaintenance ofPerkinsandWhisperwattgenerators.

ProtectedAreasCommission

ProvisionofAuditService.

MinistryofEducation

Supply,deliveryandinstallationofnewcomputing devicesandICTequipmentfortensmartrooms.

Volodímir Zelenski

Mbappe to miss Champions League tie with injury

(BBC Sport) - Paris StGermain striker Kylian Mbappe will miss the first leg of his side’s Champions League last-16 tie against Bayern Munich with a thigh injury.

The France forward was injured in Wednesday’s 3-1 win at Montpellier and has been ruled out for three weeks.

It proved to be a night to forget for the 24-year-old who missed two penalties and an open goal before being

forced off after 21 minutes.

PSG host the German champions on Tuesday, 14 February.

Mbappe will also miss his side’s French Cup tie against Marseille on 8 February and a Ligue 1 game against Monaco three days later.

The forward has scored 25 goals in 26 appearances for his club this season.

The second leg against Bayern takes place in Germany on 8 March.

Kylian Mbappe’s injury adds to PSG selection concerns

Raphael Varane: France defender...

From page 31 August 2021, is the latest Les Bleus player to retire after the World Cup.

In January, Tottenham goalkeeper and captain Hugo Lloris stepped down three weeks after the final.

Varane had been expected to take over the French captaincy from Lloris.

“As a child, I remember following France 98, this team, these players who made us experience indescribable emotions,” said Varane.

“I dreamed of being our heroes and 20 years later I lived one of the best experi-

Friday February 03, 2023

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19)

A message could come today from a business or romantic partner that brings some welcome news, Aries. Action on an enterprise of some kind, perhaps involving writing or speaking.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

Today you can expect to have a highly interesting conversation with someone, Taurus. The person you will be talking to is going to provide you with.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

Your physical and mental energy are exceptionally strong right now, Gemini. If you're creative, you will want to put that energy into a project that means a lot to you. If you're athletic.

CANCER (June 21–July 22)

A delivery could come to your house that you find very emotionally moving, Cancer. Perhaps you've received a gift that represents a big sacrifice to the giver.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)

A friend might drop by and want you to keep them company while they runs errands, Leo. This might be a good idea, not only for the diversion from routine but also because something.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22)

Paperwork regarding money might take up a lot of your time today, Virgo. This can be tedious, but it's something that can make a very positive difference to you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

A subject that fascinates you could occupy much of your time today, Libra. Questions may arise about this subject that you want answered now.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

Emotions, impressions, and memories could come up from your subconscious today, Scorpio. This may preoccupy you and keep you from other matters. This is a positive development.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

Social events or group activities could prove more stimulating than usual, Sagittarius. Discussions of every subject imaginable could take place around you,

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19)

Your writing, speaking, and communicating skills are enhanced today, Capricorn. Therefore, you can expect to impress a lot of people around you who will change their opinion about you.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

Correspondence with someone who lives far away could appear to lead to something more than friendship, Aquarius. This person seems to be in total accord with you about nearly everything,

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)

A quick survey of the financial news might reveal that your investments, particularly those involving property, might be worth far more than you thought, Pisces.

From page 29 Barbados went up against Lloyld Fung-a-Fat in the last of the 55-64 category matches. Straker looked solid at the start, before Fung-AFat took control at the end of the first set winning 11-6 while Lloyd also won the second set 11 - 6.

In the third set, Straker fought hard but Fung-A-Fat came out on top nevertheless, winning 11 - 7 to secure the 3 - 0 victory over his Bajan counterpart.

The tournament is sponsored by the Director of BCQS International based in Barbados - Sanjay Amin. Fifteen matches were carded for Day two at the same venue.

ences of my life, one that made me really proud. We brought home the Cup!

“I will never forget it. I still feel every single one of the emotions felt on that day, July 15, 2018. That was one of the most amazing and memorable moments of my life.”

“I respect his decision even if it may seem a bit unfortunate given everything he was able to do with the national team through to the World Cup, during which he behaved like the leader we know he is from start to finish,” France coach Didier Deschamps said.

Former world champion says he is struggling with retirement and mental health

(BBC Sport) - Former world welterweight champion Kell Brook has said he is struggling with retirement and seeking help formentalhealthproblems.

His comments follow a video published by the Sun newspaper showing him appearing to snort a white powderataparty.

Brook, 36, retired from boxing in May following a career that saw him record 40winsfrom43professional fights. “I messed up. I hold my hands up,” Brook wrote onTwitter

His manager Terry Thompson told the Sun that the video was “a joke” and Brook was just “having a laugh” Brook told the Telegraph last year his decisiontoquitthesportwas because his “heart was no longer in it” and that he had “nothinglefttoprove.”

In Thursday’s tweet, he added: “It’s no secret that I struggle with mental health and I’m finding retirement really hard. “I’m actively seeking the help I need to

get me on the right path Again I apologise for the hurtI’vecaused ”

Brook held the IBF world title from 2014 to 2017 after claiming the crown by beatingAmerican Shawn Porter on points in California

He previously said he used a counsellor to help him overcome depression

Top Brandz host Grand season opening Golf Tournament at LGC on Saturday

after losing his title in a fight against Errol Spence, during which he broke his eye socket for the second time Brook’sfinalboutwas a sixth-round victory over bitter rival Amir Khan 12 months ago, but in January Liam Smith said fighting the Sheffield man was an option after his win over ChrisEubankJr.

Golf is back in a bigwaywithbig prizes up for grabsincludingfreeoverseas golfatyearend.

The Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) partners with TOP BRANDZDistributors–The Sole distributor for Corona Beer, Modelo and Goya brandproducts.

Top Brandz Inaugural medal play tournament will be the LGC’s grand season opening tournament featuring 18 holes of competition.

The prizes will range fromfirsttothirdbestoverall net scores, Best gross score, closesttothepinandlongest drive.

In addition to the trophies and prizes, contestants will earn points basedontheirpositions.

The 2023 season will feature a season long point chase competition that will run throughout the year Players will earn points at eachsponsoredtournament The top five point earners will be rewarded richly at theconclusionoftheseason, with the overall winner earning free entries to both the Guyana Open and Suriname Invitational golf tournaments.

The points chase will culminate with the awarding of the top 3 winners giving free entries to the Season opening Guyana Open golf competition and positions four and five given free entry to the Macorp golf challenge.

Saturday’s Top Brandz medal play tournament will

feature some of the best golfers from Guyana along withafewgolfersfromother countries.

Competitionisexpected to be intense as golfers have waited for the rains to stop and are chopping at the bits togetbackintotheswing.

Top brands Other products offered are Coronita Beer, Clorox, Welch’s, Pinesol, Glad and the Sprayway Brands Managing Director of Top Brandz Mr Wayne James has committed to growing the partnership with the Lusignan golf club not just through the sponsorship of this season opening golf tournament but has discussed other avenues of partnershipsthatwillhelpto opentheLusignanGolfClub tomorepersons.

PKFF Easter Weekend Games to return

Port Kaituma Football Foundation (PKFF) Easter weekend games to return on April8,9and10afterathree-yearhiatusdue toCovid19.

The Executive members of PKFF Evel Rodrigues, Glenroy Hercules and PRO Sherlon Rodrigues confirmed that this will be the thirteenth (13) edition of the annual event and all necessary arrangements and permission are being coordinated for the Games to return to Fitzburg Recreational

GroundinPortKaituma.

PKFF over the years held its games to National standards and were strongly supported by Guyana Football Federation andReferees.

Several International and local Artistes have performed on the final night over the year and according to the Organizers, this yearwillbespecialone.Theyareaskingall fans,spectatorsandsupporterstobetunedto socialmediaforemergingdetails.

Top Brandz Marketing Manager, Dinesh Ramsahai (left) hands over the cheque to VP of the LGC, Brian Hackett (centre) and LGC PRO Paton George (right).

Kell Brook beat Amir Khan last February and announced his retirement three months later. (Getty Images)

NBA roundup: 46-point first quarter sends Celtics past Nets quar

(Reuters) - The Boston Celtics didn’t do much wrongintheopeningquarter and breezed to a 139-96 home victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesdaynight.

Boston was 18-for-29 fromthefield(62.1percent) intheopeningframeandled 46-16after12minutes.

Itwasthelargestleadthe Celtics have had after the first quarter in franchise history.

The Celtics made 8 of 11 3-pointers in the period including their first seven attempts and outrebounded Brooklyn 20-6

The 2018-19 Golden State Warriors hold the NBArecord for most points inafirstquarter(51).

Boston’s JaysonTatum scored a game-high 31 points, and Jaylen Brown added26points

Kyrie Irving had 20 points, four rebounds and four assists for the Nets, whohavelosttheirpast10 games against Boston ( i n c l u d i n g t h e postseason)

76ers105,Magic94

Joel Embiid had 28 points and 11 rebounds, James Harden added 26 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds and host Philadelphia defeated Orlando.

Harden went 6 of 10 from 3-point range, while Tobias Harris scored 16 points for the Sixers, who avenged a 119-109 loss to the Magic two nights earlier

Markelle Fultz led the Magic with 18 points, Paolo Banchero added 13 points and nine rebounds, and Franz Wagner finished with13points

Orlando lost for the thirdtimeinfourgames.

Trail Blazers 122, Grizzlies112

D a m i a n L i l l a r d recorded 42 points, 10 assistsandeightreboundsto lift visiting Portland to a victoryoverMemphis.

The Trail Blazers outscored the Grizzlies 3822inthefourthquarter

Portland’s Anfernee

Simonsscored26pointsand Jerami Grant added 18 before exiting in the third quarter due to concussionlikesymptoms.

Jusuf Nurkic departed earlyinthefirstquarterafter aggravating a lingering calf issue.

Ja Morant collected 32 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds for the Grizzlies, who have lost six of their past seven games overall. They also saw their eightgame home winning streak cometoahalt.

Timberwolves 119, Warriors114(OT)

Anthony Edwards saved four of his 27 points for the final 1:43 of overtime as Minnesota outlasted Golden State in Minneapolis

After Taurean Prince gave Minnesota the lead witha3-pointerwith2:58 left in overtime, Edwards scored on a drive and a jumper on Minnesota’s next two possessions to help the Timberwolves win for the fourth time in their pastfivegames.

Seeking a fourth s t r a i g h t w i n , t h e Warriors led by as many as 14 early in the fourth quarter before needing a Stephen Curry layup with 1:39 to go just to pull into a 110-110tie.

Curry led Golden State with 29 points, and he also grabbed 10 rebounds

Jazz 131, Raptors 128

Lauri Markkanen scored 28 points and grabbed 13 rebounds and rookie Walker Kessler had a big game on both ends of the floor as the Utah beat Toronto in Salt Lake City.

Kessler finished with 17 points, 14 rebounds andsevenblockedshots

Jordan Clarkson scored 23 points and Mike Conley contributed 19 points and eight assists as the Jazz earned a second straightwin

Fred VanVleet led all scorers and notched a triple-double with 34 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists Pascal Siakam totaled 21 points, 10 boards and five assists as the Raptors fell to 2-3 on theirseven-gameroadtrip.

Rockets 112, Thunder 106

Eric Gordon scored a season-high 25 points, rookieTariEasonrecorded

his third consecutive double-double and Houston topped visiting OklahomaCity

Houston’s Kenyon Martin Jr had 18 points and seven rebounds while Eason paired a career-high 20 points with 13 rebounds, including 12 offensive boards, off the bench

The Rockets recorded consecutivewinsforthefirst timesincemid-December.

S h a i G i l g e o u sAlexander had 24 points and eight rebounds, while Josh Giddey added 20 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for the Thunder, who took their thirdlossinfourgames.

Kings119,Spurs109

Domantas Sabonis racked up a season-high 34 points and added 11 rebounds and De’Aaron Fox amassed 31 points and 10 assists as visiting Sacramento defeated strugglingSanAntonio.

Sabonis logged his league-leading 39th double-double of the season

Malik Monk had 22 points for the Kings, who won their second game in a row. Malaki Branham scored 22 points for San Antonio,thebesttotalofhis rookieseason

Josh Richardson had 19 points, Jakob Poeltl added 18 points and 12 rebounds and Keldon Johnson also had 18 points fortheSpurs,wholosttheir seventhconsecutivegame Hawks132,Suns100

Dejounte Murray recorded 21 points, eight assists and six rebounds and Atlanta never trailed while drubbing host Phoenix.

Trae Young added 20 points and 12 assists in his return from a onegame absence caused by anankleinjury

Bogdan Bogdanovic had 18 points and Onyeka Okongwu added 17 for Atlanta

The Hawks led by as many as 43 while winning forjustthesecondtimeinthe pastsixgames.

Mikal Bridges had 23 points and seven assists for the Suns, topping 20 points for the ninthtimein thepast12games.

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives the ball against Brooklyn Nets forward Joe Harris (12). (USA TODAY Sports)

Pacer Jamieson returns to New Zealand squad for England tests

(Reuters) - Kyle Jamiesonhasbeennamedin NewZealand’ssquadforthe two-test series against England later this month as the fast bowler makes his returntothesideforthefirst time since pulling out of the Englandtourlastyeardueto injury

The towering 28-yearold has been one of New Zealand’s best pace bowlers inrecentyears,pickingup72 wickets in 16 matches since makinghisdebutin2020.

He missed the final test against England in June last yearandreturnedhomeafter picking up a back injury during the second match at TrentBridge,playingnopart intheirrunchase.

“Kyle is a very determined character with a strong desire to play internationalcricketforNew Zealand,” coach Gary Stead said. “Since he was forced fromthefieldinNottingham he’s been very clear that he wantstogethisbodyrightto return. “He’s reported good progress since his return to professional cricket with Aucklandandhewillgetthe

New Zealand’s Kyle Jamieson walks off the field after sustaining an injury. (Reuters)

Football Black List: Saka, Sterling, Rashford & Sanderson on list

(BBC Sport) -Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling and ManchesterUnited’sMarcus Rashford have been named on a list of the most influential black people in Britishfootball.

The annual Football Black List recognises the efforts of black figures working in various areas of thegame.

opportunity to play some longformcricket...(against) England in their warm-up match next week at Seddon Park.”

Wicketkeeper-batsman

Tom Blundell and fast bowler Matt Henry both finished the tour of Pakistan with injuries but are expectedtobefullyfitforthe home series which begins with a pink-ball day-night test in Tauranga from Feb. 16-20. Spinner Ish Sodhi also retains his place after

finishingthePakistantouras theleadingwicket-takerwith 13wicketsbutAjazPateland GlennPhillipsmissoutinthe 14-mansquad.

NEW ZEALAND SQUAD: Tim Southee (captain), Michael Bracewell, Tom Blundell (wicketkeeper), Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner, Neil Wagner, Kane Williamson,WillYoung

Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira and Burnley boss Vincent Kompany are included in the coaching category

Pundit and ex-England player Lianne Sanderson is alsoonthisyear’slist

TheFootballBlackList, first published in 2008, highlights black industry professionals who are positiveinfluencers.

The names in the eight categories are decided by a panel of experts with representatives from the P r e m i e r L e a g u e , Professional Footballers’ Association, League

Managers’ Association, EFL and anti-racism group

KickItOut

Deji Davies, Les

Ferdinand and Jobi McAnuff are also on the 2022 list. Davies is a nonexecutive director at Brentford and the only black board member at a Premier League club, Ferdinand is the only black director of football in the game, while McAnuff is a Football Association board member

Leon Mann, co-founder of the Football Black List,

said: “I am particularly proud to see the list now feature board members, and managers at the top of the game but clearly we still havealongwaytogotosee better representation in football.

“However, we are highlighting those leading the way. We are proud of these individuals and the impacttheyaremaking.”

There is also a Ugo Ehiogu ‘ones to watch’ category, which identifies talented,youngpeopleinthe industryunder30.

Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford were part of England’s squad at the 2022 World Cup. (Getty Images)

TheBCQS2023SquashMastersgotofftoafinestartonWednesday

The Guyana Squash Association (GSA) local calendar started on Wednesday with the first international Squash tournament - the BCQS SquashMasters.

Thistournamentconsists of five categories namely; Women’s 30-44, Men’s 3044,45-54,55-64and65-andovercategories.

The BCQS 2023 Squash Masters; a four-day tournament will be running from February 1 - 4 at the Georgetown Club Court located along Camp Street, Georgetown.

Day one started in sublime fashion, seeing our local squash players showcasing tenacity and

resilience on the first day of competition.

Dennis Dias won in the Men’s 65 & over category, while the two Barbadians, Peter Harris and Sanjay Amin, along with Guyanese LloydFung-A-Fatregistered wins in the Men’s 55-64 categories.

Javid Rahaman, Janathan Antczak, Regan Pollard, Nicolas Narain and Nicolette Fernandes were dominantintheMen’s30-44 categories, registering convincing wins when they took the court. Lydia Fraser, Kathy Ten-Pow and HazelAnneSandyregisteredearly wins in the Women’s 35 & overcategory

In the first match in the

Men’s 65 & over category, Barbadian Orson Simpson met with Dennis Dias with the Simpson getting off to a winning start, securing the firstgame12–10.

However, Dias came back strongly in the second finishing 11 - 6 to level the score1-1.Attheendofthe thirdsetSimpsonled2-1but Dias showed his class quicklymovingto8-1inthe fourth set, which closed at 11-2.Atthistime,thematch was finely poised at 2-2. Dias delivered some crafty shots in the final play, adjusting his line and length nicely to defeat his Bajan counterpart,3-2.

In the Men’s 30-44 category, Regan Pollard defeated Jason van Dijk 3-0 (11-5, 11-9) while Nicolas Narain defeated Javed Ali, coming from behind to deliver a masterful 1 - 3 victory overAli (4-11, 11-5, 11-5and11-7).

“The Opening Day Stakes” kicks off Horse Racing in February

The much anticipated sport of kings known as Horse Racing is back with a bangonFebruary26th2023, when the Jumbo J

Thoroughbred Racing Committee stages the “The OpeningDayStakes”. T h e J u m b o J e t

Thoroughbred Racing Committee had a bumper year in 2022 with races that spanned from Rising Sun Turf Club to Bush Lot Turf Club. Immeasurable earth workswasdonetotheRising Sun Turf Club to bring the facility to a higher standard befittingofhostingthe2022 GuyanaCup.Dubbedasone of the largest and most successful events for 2022, T h e J u m b o J e t

Thoroughbred Racing Committee promises to aim even higher for 2023 with new attractions and race dates with the highest purse ever offered in Guyana’s history The official launch of the racing is carded for February at the Rising Sun Turf Club for “The Opening DayStakes”.TheJJTRChas been working closely with stables and horse owners across Guyana to reassure them that the sport is very much alive. Trainers have been spending countless hours with these horses to ensure they can compete withafightingchancetowin the bragging rights and trophies The provisional programme was carefully designedtoensureallstables and competitors have a

chancetocompete.

Race1:BClass&Lower

– 1600MM (Total Purse

$3,875,000) Purse – 1st $2,000,000,2nd$1,000,000, 3rd$500,000,4th$250,000, 5th $125,000 (Entry Fee -$232,500/LateEntryFee$310,000)

Race2:FClass&Lower Also Open To E Class First Time Starters In Guyana –1100MM (Total Purse $1,162,500) Purse – 1st $600,000, 2nd$300,000,3rd$150,000, 4th$75,000, 5th $37,500 (Entry Fee$69,750 / Late Entry Fee$93,000)

Race 3: G3 & Lower –1400MM (Total Purse $968,750) Purse – 1st $500,000, 2nd$250,000,3rd$125,000, 4th$62,500, 5th $31,250 (Entry Fee$58,125 / Late Entry Fee$77,500)

Race 4: 3 Year Old Guyana Bred Maiden –1100MM (Total Purse $775,000)

Purse – 1st $400,000, 2nd

$46,500)

Race6:KClassMaidens & Open To L Class1400MM

(TotalPurse$484,375)

Purse – 1st $250,000, 2nd $125,000, 3rd $62,500, 4th$31,250, 5th $15,625 (Entry Fee$29,100 / Late Entry Fee$38,750)

Race7:LClassMaidens & Open To J3 First Time Starters–1100MM

(TotalPurse$387,500)

Purse – 1st $200,000, 2nd $100,000, 3rd $50,000, 4th$25,000, 5th $12,500 (Entry Fee$23,250 / Late Entry Fee$31,000)

When contacted, Mr Nasrudeen “Junior” Mohamed indicated, “All purse monies advertised above are to be paid in Guyana Currency We’re accepting entries from February 6th 2023 and the entries close on 20th February 2023. All horse ownersandstablesareurged to enter between the stipulated days because we would not be accepting entries after the 20th of February For entries please call Jingo Jagdeo at 6187278, Fazal Habibulla at 611-1141 or whatsapp, Nic Chadee on 1-868-386-2432. Wehaveaveryexcitingyear planned for the racing enthusiasts so continue the hardworkandbepreparedto be showcased on the world stage.”

Jonathan Antczak also defeatedLeeFung-A-Fat30 (15-13, 11-4, 11-4), Javid Rahaman copped a 3-0 victory over Dane Pereira, winning11-1,11-2,and11-5 and the classy Nicolette Fernandes proved to be too good for her male counterpart Reagan

Rodrigues, winning the match3-0.

Tian Edwards suffered two defeats in the Women’s 35&Overcategory,losingto Kathy Ten Pow 3-0 (11-1, 11-2,11-1)andLydiaFraser (11-6, 11-3, 11-2), respectively Vincentian Hazel-Anne Sandy also defeatedAnnaPerreiraoutof Canada(11-9,13-11and117)inthe35&Overcategory

Across in the Men’s 5564 categories, the match between Sanjay Amin and Rob Edwards the latter win

3-0 (11-5, 11-3, and 11-8) while Brian Edwards went up against Barbadian Peter Harris in another 55-64 matches. Harris, however, tooktheleadstraightaway1 - 0 ending the first set 11-4. Harris then went on to increase his lead to 2 - 0 in the second, finishing 11-5.

The third game between the two was an equal contest before Harris tipped past Edwards in an 11-8 victory, to claim a convincing 3-0 victory DeanStrakeroutof

(Continuedonpage25)

Nicolette Fernandes (Photo: Squash site)

South Africa’s chances of direct World Cup qualification hit by over-rate penalty

(Cricinfo)

- South Africa’s hopes of direct qualification for the ODI World Cup later this year havesufferedasetbackafter they were docked one point from their tally in the Super League standings for maintainingaslowover-rate during their defeat to England in the third ODI in KimberleyonWednesday

MatchrefereeJeffCrowe imposed the sanction, finding Temba Bavuma’s team to be one over short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration. South Africa werealsofined20%oftheir matchfeefortheoffence.

South Africa are currently ninth with 78 points - they had 79 before the penalty - in the ODI SuperLeague.Thetopeight teams gain automatic qualification to the 2023 WorldCup,whilethebottom fiveintheSuperLeaguewill

have to play the ICC Men’s CricketWorldCupQualifier along with five Associate teams. Two teams from that qualifier will then progress to the World Cup and complete the line-up of ten contenders.

Seven of the top eight spots in the Super League have already been taken by New Zealand, India,

England, Pakistan, Australia, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. The only spot that is still open is presently occupied by West Indies, who have 88 points, with SouthAfrica(78),SriLanka (77) and Ireland (68) in the runningaswell.

Qualification scenarios forthe2023WorldCup

SouthAfrica

Played: 19, Points: 78, NRR: -0 410, Remaining matches:2vsNeth(H)

Two wins for South Africa will take them to 98 points (barring any further

over-rate penalties) Sri Lanka can go past them if they win all three ODIs in NewZealand,whichisatall order given that New Zealand have a 17-4 winlossinhomeODIsinthelast four years With South Africabeingdockedapoint, Ireland can also catch up with them on 98 if they win all three matches in Bangladesh.Inthatcase,net runratewillcomeintoplay.

If the South AfricaNetherlands series ends 1-1, SouthAfricawillfinishlevel with West Indies, while Sri Lanka can move past them with two wins (or one win andtwowashouts).

SriLanka

Played: 21, Points: 77, NRR: -0 094, Remaining matches:3vsNZ(A)

SriLankawillqualifyfor sure if they beat New Zealand3-0(oriftheywin20 with one washout) However, if they lose a

How costly will their slow over-rate in Kimberley be for South Africa? (Getty Images)

game, then they will depend on other results going their way: both South Africa and Ireland can go past them if theyfinishon97.

Ireland

Played: 21, Points: 68, NRR-0 382, Remaining matches: 3 vs Ban (in England)

They have two series three-match ODI series against Bangladesh on their calendar One in March whichdoesn’tcounttowards

theSuperLeagueandonein Maywhichdoes.A3-0series win in that will take Ireland to 98 points, which will be enough for qualification if SriLankadon’twinallthree games in New Zealand, and if Ireland finish ahead of South Africa (on points or NRR).

WestIndies

Played: 24, Points: 88, NRR-0 738, Remaining matches:0

West Indies have

completed their eight bilateral series in the Super League, and can only hope that none of the other teams incontentionreach88points - they will probably lose out onNRRastheirsiscurrently the lowest among these teams.

For West Indies to make it, South Africa should lose 2-0 to Netherlands, and Sri Lanka and Ireland should win no more than one game intheirremainingseries

Man United’s Greenwood has all charges against him dropped

(Reuters) - Manchester

United forward Mason Greenwood has had all criminalchargesagainsthim dropped, police and prosecutors said on

Thursday

Greenwood, who was suspended by United in January 2022 when accusations against him surfaced on social media, was charged with a t t e m p t e d r a p e , controlling behaviour and assault last October He had been due to stand trial onNov 27,2023.

“I am relieved that this matter is now over and I would like to thank my family, loved ones and friends for their support There will be no further comment at this time,” Greenwood saidin astatement

United also released a brief statement saying the club would “conduct its own process before determining next steps”, adding that it would not m a k e a n y f u r t h e r comment until that processwascompleted

“A decision has been made to discontinue prosecution in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors,” the Crown ProsecutionServicesaidin

Mason Greenwood

a statement naming Greenwood

A CPS spokesperson said:“Acombinationofthe withdrawal of key witnessesandnewmaterial that came to light meant there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction.”

The CPS added that it e n c o u r a g e d “ a n y potential victims to come forward and report to police”

Chief Superintendent Michaela Kerr, Greater Manchester Police’s Head of Public Protection, said:

“The investigation team has remained in regular contact with the legal team, providing any

updates of note, and so understand the rationale for the discontinuation of proceedingsatthisstage,and that this decision has not beentakenlightly

“Despitethemediaand public’s interest in this case, we have decided not to comment on it in any furtherdetail

“I would, however, l i k e t o u s e t h i s opportunity to reiterate GMP’s commitment to investigating allegations ofviolenceagainstwomen and girls and supporting those affected, regardless of their circumstances, throughout what can be a hard and upsetting time for them.”

Greenwood came through United’s youth academyandmadehisfirstteamdebutin2019aged17 Hewasakeymemberofthe side last season, making 18 P r e m i e r L e a g u e appearances, the last on Jan. 22againstWestHamUnited, beforebeingsuspended.

He played once for Englandin2020

In February, 2022 Nike ended its sponsorship with Greenwood following the accusations and he was removed from some versions of the FIFA 22 videogame

2023WestIndiesChampionship… Nandustandsfirmtoachievedebutcentury - Barbados Pride trail by 266

Guyana’s Matthew Nandu became the first centurionoftheseasonwhen he achieved his maiden first class ton in the 2023 West Indies Championship yesterday at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound,Antigua.

Nandu crossed the landmark in the morning session against the defending champion, Barbados Pride, and then pressed on to reach 126 before he finally lost his wicket.

His monumental effort propelled Harpy Eagles to 371 in 121.1 overs in their first innings before the oppositionbegantheirreply

Prideare105–3from39 overs at stumps, trailing by 266runsgoingintothethird day of the four-day encounter

Overnight in the middle are Shamarh Brooks and Keon Harding on 10 and 3, respectively

The Bajan side had a good start with the bat as Zachary McCaskie (26) and SheyneMoseleyputona69runopeningpartnershipthen KevinSinclairpickedupthe wicketofMcCaskie.

Jonathan Drakes (0) was the next batsman in but his stay was brief. Drakes lost hiswickettotheexperienced Veerasammy Permaul to

bring together Moseley and Brooks Moseley played aggressive,althoughstriking just above 60, to bring up another first-class half century

He reached 62 before he got an under-edge that carried through to wicketkeeper Anthony Brambletogivethedebutant pacer, Shamar Joesph, his maiden first-class wicket. The night watchman then survived almost four overs beforethecloseofplay

Earlier, Guyana started daytwoon205–5from76.4 overs with Matthew Nandu (70) and Sinclair (42) out in themiddle.

The pair faced 7.3 overs to add 20 runs before Pride struck to break the 62-run partnership when Sinclair needlessly fired at one way outside the off-stump and was caught behind by wicketkeeper, Brooks Sinclair added only 1 run to his overnight score prior to him being dismissed on the 68thdeliveryhefaced.

Permaul arrived to accompany Nandu to his milestone, and they both crossed the line with distinction It took the opener 266 balls to reach triple figures. Harpy Eagles lost their seventh wicket on 315 when Permaul departed on37.

Raphael Varane: France defender retires from international football

(BBCSport)-Franceand Manchester United centreback Raphael Varane has announced his retirement frominternationalfootball.

The 29-year-old, who wontheWorldCupin2018, scored five goals in 93 appearances for his country after making his debut in 2013.

The last of his caps was won in the 2022 World Cup final, in which France were beaten by Argentina on penalties.

“Representing our great country for a decade has been one of the greatest honours of my life,” said Varane.

“Every time I wore this veryspecialbluejerseyIfelt immense pride. The duty to

Nandu, along with the other debutant, Joseph, took the score to 354 then the centurion fell after facing 331 deliveries Joseph’s debut batting inning produced 20 runs before he met his demise while Nial

Smith (9) was run out as the finalwickettofall.

Other matches –Windward Islands 243 (63.1) & 397 – 3* (108) versus T&T 315 (92 1), LeewardIslands260(118.3) versusJamaica186–6*(60)

give it all, play my heart out andwineverytimeweputon thefield. “ I ’ v e b e e n contemplating this for severalmonthsanddeciding it’s the right time for me to retireinternationally.”

Varane, who signed for UnitedfromRealMadridin

(Continuedonpage25)

Shamar Joseph

Raphael Varane