Kaieteur News

WHATAREN’T THEY TELLING

US?

Exxon claims it will make no profit on US$1B investment in gas-to-energy project

Let’s say you are approached to investonemillion dollars in an extremely profitable business venture. Butyouaretoldthatyouwill only be repaid what you invested.Youwillreceiveno profit. Does that make sense?

Would you invest your hard-earned money, only to receive dollar-for-dollar, whilesomeoneelsecashesin on all the profits? Only a madman would do that, right? But this is what the PPPC government would have us believe Exxon is doing when it comes to investing in the Gas-toEnergyproject.

ExxonMobil has been bestowedthetaskoflayinga pipeline from its Liza Phase One and Two projects offshore Guyana, to an onshore power plant at Wales. The company said thattheestimatedcostforthe pipeline and accompanying facilities adds up to just underUS$1B.

According to Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, the pipeline will be fundedthroughcostoil.This means Exxon, Hess and CNOOC will spend their own money on the project and their expenses will be repaid in barrels of crude produced from the Liza oilfield in the Stabroek Block.

The amount of crude to berecoveredwouldbeequal to the value of the oil companies’ investment plus interest More recently, Jagdeo said the government wouldbepaying48% ofthe companies’investment back to them. But is that all that the companies are getting in return?

ExxonMobil’s Country Manager,Alistair Routledge has said that this is the best deal ever for a country He said there is no profit element to the gas supply deal that will be signed between government and Exxon.

Basiceconomicsteaches that a rational business will make decisions that maximize its profits. But when it comes to the apparent dollar-for-dollar dealthePPPwouldhavethe Guyanese public believe thereis,thereisnoprofitfor

ExxonMobil So, what’s missing?

The PPP has not furnished the Guyanese publicwiththeparticularsof the financial arrangement it plans to enter into with ExxonMobil, which appears toevolveovertime.

Recently, Opposition Chief Whip, Christopher Jones indicated that the Opposition has filed a motioninParliamentsothat all agreements linked to the controversial project would behandedover He said the motion is submitted against the backdropoftheGovernment clearly spending huge sums oftaxpayers’moneywithout notifying the people of Guyana what is the agreement between the Governmentandinvestorsin the Gas to Shore project. Opposition Member of Parliament, Ganesh Mahipaul moved a motion, which was seconded by Jermaine Figueira, to have Parliament instruct Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, to hand overalldocumentsrelatedto theconstructionoftheWales Gas-to-Energy project and the Heads of Agreement signedonJune30,2022.

“The claim that the project is not finalised yet cannot be of merit because billions of dollars have already been spent in 2022 and billions more have been budgetedtobespentin2023. The conclusion is that this government is acting in secrecy and the people of Guyanaelectedmetoensure there is transparency and accountability for our money,” Jones said. In this regard, he is referring to the costs the government is incurring to develop the natural gas power plant and naturalgasliquidsfacilityat Wales, as well as transmission infrastructure andconsultingfees.

It should be noted that G$24.6B was expended to meetstartupcostsassociated withtheprojectin2022.This year, the government budgetedG$43.3B.

The Opposition said the government must come cleanonwhattheagreement is and be open and transparent with the people ofGuyana.

Caribbean Economist stresses importance of having legislation around sovereign wealth funds

…toensurepropermanagement,investedwisely

Ca r i b b e a n

E c o n o m i s t , Marla Dukharan

on Friday underscored the importance for Caribbean countries to not only establish a Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) but to alsohavelegislationaround ittoensurethatthefundsare managed properly and investedwisely

For those unfamiliar, a sovereign wealth fund is a state-owned investment fund comprised of money g e n e r a t e d b y t h e government, often derived from a country’s surplus reserves

Last Friday, Dukharan participated in a high-level conference hosted by the WorldBankandtheEastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) in St Kitts and Nevis The conference was based on “Building Resilience through Sustainable Development F i n a n c i n g i n t h e Caribbean”

D u r i n g a p a n e l discussion Dukharan was asked to outline priorities that would promote debt sustainability and help unleash the development potential for the Region She first highlighted that every Caribbean country should have a sovereign wealthfundwherecountries can “save some money in a particularwaythatisgovern properly”

The economist stated that countries like: Guyana, Suriname, and Trinidad & Tobago, all have sovereign wealth funds, adding that Turks & Caicos Islands have signalled its intention toimplementaSWF.

WithTurks&Caicosnot being a resource rich country, the economist notedthatnotonlyresource rich Caribbean countries shouldestablishsuchfund

Expounding further she said,“Andthereasonthatit isimportantisthatitcreates a stable, transparent and well governed mechanism tomanagetheresourcesthat are saved and deploy for developmentneeds ”

However, Dukharan shared that while having a SWF is important, without proper management it can lead to negligence She explained that while her country has established a

governments of T&T only

Conditions are ripe for higher royalty, ring-fencing provision in Exxon contract

the passage of Budget 2023 in the National Assembly

According to the Finance Ministry, US$607 6 million was withdrawn from the NRFin2022

Kaieteur News had reported Director of Energy

at Americas Market Intelligence (AMI), Arthur Deakin, highlighting that while Guyana has establishedalegislativeand regulatory framework to manage its oil revenues, a deeperanalysisexposesthat the checks and balances implemented are closely tiedtotheExecutivebranch – alluding that this does not bode well for transparency andaccountability

managed to save under US$3B

“At one point the sovereignwealthfundstood ataroundUS$8Bsothatjust goes to show the power of investing wisely and compounding of course,” she added As such, the economist stressed the importance of having legislation to govern the sovereign wealth fund to ensure proper management ofwhatevermoneyissaved and also to ensure that the moniesisinvestedwisely Dukharan, is a point of reference for monitoring regional developments and country-level economic performance, and is known for leading discussions and publishing reports on the Caribbean implications of global geopolitical developments

She is a highly soughtafter speaker for key industry, multilateral, and academic conferences on a regional and international scale, and she regularly advises investors and private sector Boards of DirectorsintheCaribbean

GUYANA

Guyana has a Natural Resources Fund (NRF), which commonly referred toastheSWF

Just last week, the Government of Guyana announced that it has withdrawn G$41 6B from theNRFandtransferreditto the Consolidated Fund to f i n a n c e n a t i o n a l developmentpriorities

The Government’s first withdrawal of 2023 was doneinaccordancewiththe Natural Resource Fund (NRF) Act 2021, following

With four oil projects already approved, and two presently pending the a p p r o v a l o f t h e Environmental Protection Agency(EPA),theLeaderof the Opposition, Aubrey Norton believes that “conditions are ripe” for Guyana to seek changes to the lopsided 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) the c o u n t r y h a s w i t h ExxonMobil.

Deakin explained that Guyanahasimplementedan NRF legislation which allows for a Board of Directors, an Investment Committee and a Public Accountability and Oversight Committee Expoundingfurther,hesaid most of the members appointedtothecommittees responsible for the management of the oil monies have either been appointed directly by the President or chosen by the National Assembly, where the President’s party has a majority Deakin said this prevents the much-needed separationbetweenpolitical influences and the billions of dollars flowing into the country

He told a news conferenceonThursdaythat any measure that can be taken to plug the abusive loopholesinthecontractwill be supported by the Opposition.

Norton told members of the media that not only shouldGuyanabelookingto cash in on a higher royalty rate from the oil company operating the prolific Stabroek Block, but steps should also be taken to include a ring-fencing provision.

Ring-fencing provision, for those who may not be familiarwiththeterm,serves as a shield and prevents burdensome expenses from being lumped onto one project, thereby shortening profitsreceived.

While responding to a question from this newspaper on whether he

believes the leaders should be chasing a higher royalty rate, the Opposition Leader said, “I think that, like I’ve said before, our major objectivehastobetoensure that the people of Guyana benefit as much as possible and any measure that needs to be taken to do that I will support.”

He went on to point out, “We have heard the issue aboutring-fencingwhichwe know is needed and therefore that will help in terms of us being able to restrict costs ending up wheretheyshouldn’tbeand we believe all of these measures are needed to ensure that we benefit and I think the conditions are ripe in the World for us to do that.”

Nortonwaskeentopoint out that developed nations suchastheUnitedKingdom as well as the United States of America (USA) have

impressed changes to their oil contracts to ensure more benefittoitscitizensevenas petroleum companies continue to enjoy increased profits.

He believes that Guyana has earned its title as oil producing nation which means that there are certain key steps the country must taketoallowforitspeopleto truly enjoy the fruits of the sector

According to him Guyana must implement a Foreign Policy that is structuredtoallowthenation to mobilize support in effecting the much-needed changes to contracts such as theExxondeal.

On this note, he argued thatthePeople’sProgressive Party (PPP) government is clearly working in the interests of ExxonMobil, by refusing to change the lopsidedoilcontract.“Ithink

Continuedonpage9

Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton

...Govt.actinginoil company’sinterestby refusingtochangedeal

Caribbean Economist, Marla Dukharan

Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456

Editor:NIGELWILLIAMS

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

EDITORIAL

Top regional performers

Onceagain,thetoptierofourCSECandCAPEstudents has performed with distinction in the region. We again hail them for their outstanding achievements, their awards, and theirpeerswhodidverywell,butnotaswelltomakethecutto the highest level Again, we applaud their parents for providingtheproperhomeenvironmentandresources,their teachersfortirelessdedication,andtheMinistryofEducation for spearheading what makes their recognition possible Using our highflying students’ successes, we revisit some other students of Guyana’s soil and their passage through Guyanese life, especially in the public glare to make some points

Wehavehadstudentsofscienceoccupyingseniorpostsin Guyana,withoneatthetop,inthenewsforever,evennowthat heisnolongeraround CheddiJaganwasadentist,aGuyanese political warrior of regional and international impressiveness, andarespectedGuyaneseleader Whetheronewasforhimor againsthim,hecameoutofthelocalschoolsystem,androseto theheights Hecamebacktogovernment,didthebestthathe couldforhispeople,thepoorfromwhichhecame Therewas ForbesBurnham,amanadmiredandvilified,butonewhono Guyaneseintheirrightmind,andafairone,wouldnotrecognize asbeingapatriotofthefirstwater He,too,wasaproductofour educationalsystem,andonewhomadeitallthewaytothetop

Over the years, we have had Ministers of Health who havebeendoctors,andhadtohavehadrigoroustrainingin the science subjects, such as biology and chemistry One leaderofmorerecentrecord,VicePresidentBharatJagdeo, a former head-of-state, has an economics background. Whilestillanotherformerhead-of-statewhosemainareaof concentration,outsideofthemilitary,washistory,isDavid Granger The point is whether hard sciences, or the socalled ‘softer’sciences, such as business, humanities, and other fields of study, Guyana’s young students have grown intomenandwomen,whohavesteppedup,beenrecognized for their presences and contributions to this nation. Some havelaudedthem,somehavelittleusefortheirefforts,but theyleftafootprintofsomemeaning,dependingonwhois polled.

Thestudentsoftoday,theregionaleaglesandtheirpeersof slightlylesseracademicbrightness,mustenvisionthemselves asourleadersoftomorrow Itisinwhattheybringback,what theygiveback,whattheydointimetocomethatproveshow muchtheyhavetheirfellowcitizens’backs CSECandCAPE results, in outstanding and pleasing fashions are a start, the stepping stones, for the road ahead, where we need strong youngmenandwomenofGuyanatotravel,andcarryothers withthem Thatis,towardsthekindofsparklingnationhood thathasalwayseludedus,despitethisgreatconcentrationof natural resource wealth As we salute the current crop of inspiring and exciting young students, we emphasize that leaders,governors,decisionmakers,patriots,ethicists,andmen andwomenofprinciplearemosturgentlyneededtopavethe wayforabetterGuyana,onethatwehavealwayslonged-for,but has never really had They are our latest hope in this the floweringofGuyana’scomingageofoil Theymustbeuptothe greattasksahead,wraptheirmindsandhandsaroundthemany greaterchallenges,andcarveoutsomewaytoliftthepeoplesof this nation out from where they are stuck To articulate the known,ourpresentcohortofleadershasbeenglaringintheir chronicfailures,theirindividualweaknesses

Our youthful students can turn out to be very good doctors, legal luminaries, and business overachievers, but theirbestcontributionscouldbeinpublicservicetoasociety thatyearnsforakindthatalwaysescapesitclutchinggrasp. Weneedabettercaliberofpublicservants,havethemostuse for a different breed of leaders and other elected officials. Maytheyoungstersofthelastdecade,thecomingone,dous proudintheseaspects.HowGuyaneseneedthedifferent,the better,thecleaner,leadingthewayforward.

UnderJagdeo’spresidencythebauxite industryself-contributingPensionFund, worthmorethan$2.5Billion,wasdestroyed

DEAREDITOR, Vice President Bharrat

Jagdeo has no moral authority to speak about g o o d g o v e r n a n c e , discrimination, and the upholding of law in this country Hemustalsobetold he is squatting on the people’s interest. He and President IrfaanAli must be madetorespectthepeopleof Guyana by demonstrating respect for the Constitution and Laws of Guyana in its entirety

Theymustfirstadhereto theconstitutionalstipulation thatthePrimeMinisteristhe First Vice President and Head of Government Business in the National Assembly Mark Phillips by virtueoftheofficeheholdsis ascribedthestatedpositions, yet he is not allowed to so function.

WhereasPhillipsappears content to support the constitutional violation, JagdeoandAlimustknowin Phillips there are the physical characteristics of a

Black man, and such relegation to the African community reinforces that even when the constitution so ascribe and we stand to benefit, Jagdeo and Ali will take it upon themselves to deny This has been their politicsandpracticeoverthe years.

It was during Jagdeo’s presidency the bauxite industry self-contributing Pension Fund, worth more than $2 5 Billion was destroyed This saw the destruction of the single largestpoolofmoneyowned by African workers, along withtheirconstitutionalright toapension.

Duringhispresidencyall bauxite workers, both at Linden and Berbice, were terminated. Jagdeo, nor the PPP, didn’t think about the village/towneconomy,when they placed thousands of bauxite workers on the breadline; causing great economic and social depravity to families and communities.ToJagdeoand

the PPP, this group of workers were deserving of the economic dislocation, forced status into poverty

and the dire social consequences of their decision.

We have the Bauxite

C o m p a n y G u y a n a Incorporated (BCGI) 14 years grievances that they refuse to apply the law and resolve,quiteawarethatwas where the David GrangerMoses Nagamootoo administration was before the March 2020 Elections. But no, the Black man and woman must live on their knees for them or be forced to accept placing their dignity under their feet in order to have a morsel or enjoywhat’s justlytheirs.In this instance as outlined in Article 147 of the Constitution of Guyana and Section 23(1) of the Trade Union Recognition Act (1997) This nation continues to bear witness to constitutional and economic discrimination.

Every few months the Jagdeo/Ali regime would throw billions of taxpayers’ money into the beleaguered GuySuCo on the pretext of keepingthevillageeconomy of sugar workers alive. It is not lost on us that this a massive transfer of cash to ensuretheseworkersreceive anincome;canreceiveshortand long-term benefits from NIS; the Sugar Workers’ Pension Fund, that also saw injection of taxpayer’s money, could be viable and paypension.

As a trade unionist it is not lost on me that keeping sugar alive also keeps GAWUaliveviauniondues.

Ontheotherhand,public service, teachers and BCGI workersarebeingdeniedthe constitutional right to collective bargaining. These sectors are dominated by African Guyanese, but no such contempt is meted out tosugarworkers.

When bauxite workers joinedwithaforeign

(Continuedonpage06)

Kudos in Order-SEN getting deserved input from Government

accessible in every region” acrossGuyanaisnewstoget all of us excited. We are all aware,andasemphasisedby Education Minister, Priya Manickchand, “Disability is one of the most serious barriers to education across the globe.” So, these SEN classrooms that will be accessible in every region are a necessary and most welcomedstep.

Letmeremindthenation that SEN is of global concern, and according to UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund), “ children’s education is built uponourstrongcommitment to ensure that all children, regardless of gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic b a c k g r o u n d o r circumstances, realize their righttoaqualityeducation.” And UNICEF has always beenattheforefrontinissues such as the one that is now touted by the Education Minister

Currently,therearesome 240 million children with disabilities worldwide. And

like all children, those with disabilities also have ambitions and dreams for their futures Like all children too, they need quality education to develop their skills and realize their full potential. This I guess sets the basis for what is about to unfold in Guyana.

More so, as too many times and in too many places, children with disabilities are often overlooked in policymaking, thereby limiting their access to educationandtheirabilityto participate in social, economic and political life. Worldwide, these children areamongthemostlikelyto be out of school. They face persistent barriers to education stemming from discrimination, stigma and the routine failure of decision makers. But now, I can safely say that Guyana will not be trapped into a neglectinganddenialmode.

Inotethatthewordfrom MinisterPriyaManickchand is that the People’s Progressive Party Civic Governmentiscommittedto improving the quality of life of persons with Special Education Needs in schools

acrosstheregion.Shestated in her 2023 Budget presentationthat“Weplanto put an SEN classroom accessible in every region.” And to cater for this kind of infrastructure, the planning is wonderful, as she explained that “We also started, for the first time, a specialisation at CPCE [the Cyril Potter College of Education] where for the firsttime,theyhaveteachers specialising in Special EducationNeeds.”

Editor,Icangoontosuch things like the over 300 teachers who are already registered under the programme, as well as the current 13 SEN classrooms intheregion.

But I think I have made my point, and by way of reiteration,itisthatGuyana, under its current leadership, i s m a n i f e s t i n g unprecedented maturity in beinganall-accommodating nation. No one is left out of behindandeveryoneisbeing treatedwithdignity

In closing, I point our people to the fact that the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities defines living with a

disability as having a longterm physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairment that, in interaction with the environment, hinders one’s participationinsocietyonan equal basis with others. So, this must always be catered for at all times. It will do all ofuswelltotakecognizance of the reality that children and adolescents with disabilities are a highly diverse group with wideranging life experiences They live in every community, and are born with or acquire distinct impairments that, in relation totheirsurroundings,leadto functional difficulties, like s e e i n g , w a l k i n g , communicating, caring for oneself or making friends. Yet they are full-fledged humanbeings.Thus,whenit comestothem,nothingmust be left to chance in ensuring thatchildrenwithdisabilities are able to function, participate in society and lead fulfilling lives No mattertheirstory,everychild has every right to thrive and notmerelyekeoutalife.

Yourstruly,

HenrySingh

Constitutions,Constitutionalism andConstitutionalEngineering

DEAREDITOR, Constitutional ‘reform’ was promised by the incumbent PPP government in their 2020 manifesto and the Attorney General has assured us the process has been launched The APNU/AFC coalition had also done the same in 2015 but after a brash start they deep-sixed the initiative

However, since it appears that both major political forces agree that even though the present constitution was extensively from2000,itneedsafurther major overhaul. Some, like the writer, believe the entire document ought to be scrapped since there remain the contradictions of the 1980 “cooperative socialism” cant (Art 1: “Guyanais…inthecourseof transitionfromcapitalismto socialism”;Art 18: “Land is forsocialuseandmustgoto the tiller”) and the ideological telos, as indicated by the protection ofthepropertyrights,which favourstheextantneoliberal realities.

Constitutions describe the authoritative allocation of state powers amongst the various branches, as defined by the constitution itself; prescribe the rules by which those powers would be conferred and also includes procedures by which the Constitution may be altered. In a fundamental sense, therefore, it is, or should be, the embodiment of a social contract crafted by the peoplesofacountryfortheir governance. In a divided society such as Guyana it is critical that the institutions createdbythesocialcontract are seen as just: “justice is the first virtue of social institutions as truth is of systemsofthoughts.”

It is ironic that the British, with their stress on theruleoflaw,donothavea written constitution The anomaly, however, should remindusthatrules,inandof themselves may be necessary but are not sufficient to ensure a harmonioussocialorder The

rules have to be embedded within, and be supported by, a wider political culture that gives life to the rules. This British idiosyncrasy of doling out written constitutions to its colonies whilerefusingtodothesame for itself, masked the reality of the need for the development of the wider network of informal traditions, accommodations, informal pro quid quos that makes the British unwritten constitutionalrulesfunction. Western constitutionalism arose out of the struggle for personal freedom, and escape from arbitrary political will We should certainly resonate t o t h i s s t r u g g l e Constitutionalism is a foundationstoneofLiberalism anddefinesapoliticalscheme inwhichlaw,ratherthanmen, issupreme Politicalauthority is exercised according to law, not vigilantism as in Hopetown recently, which is obeyed by all including the governors,whocannotdepart fromitbywhim.

TheAmerican framers of the first written constitution appreciated, as we Guyanese should after our recent history, that the fundamental problemoforganizedsociety is of the use and abuse of power - how men may best preventitsabuseanddirectit to good ends This notion is rooted in the fallibility of man thebeliefthatnoman or group of men, is good enough to be entrusted with absolute power over other men We have unfortunately experienced that this tendencyisexacerbatedwhen a country has groups that are deeply divided, since it becomes so much easier to

demonise the “other” and resorttoextrememeasuresto assert one’s position We are in the throes of one such campaign.

Since the constitution of acountryallocatesandlimits the powers devolved by the citizensofthatcountrytothe institutions of the state and also specifies the rules and procedures for selecting officers who are to authoritativelyexercisesuch powers, the incentives for creating a New Political Culture would have to be built into a Constitution.

“ConstitutionalEngineering” ie tousetheConstitutionasa tool to engineer political behaviour of the political participants: “engineer”, as Webster reminds us: “to use tact, craft or ingenuity to achieve a result”, is now a major tool in the kit of state building and functional politicalbehaviour

The premise is that the rules of the political system should accomplish three tasks: institutionalise moderationondivisiveethnic themes, contain their destructive tendencies and pre-empt the centrifugal thrust of ethnic mobilization. We have to agree on our equitable democratic objectives and choose institutions, which may deliver them and then incorporate them in our constitution

Fortuitously, our new demographics, in which no ethnic group has a guaranteed majority, should facilitate moderation by rational politicians to secure office.

Sincerely,

RaviDev

Re-imaginingtourisminGuyana, theinterestanddemandisgrowing

DEAREDITOR, Guyana’s tourism product is in its infancy, but we have the potential to become a popular tourism destination.Thinkaboutthis, excluding Guyanese in the diaspora, how many people do you think plan their vacations in Guyana similar to planning to visit Jamaica, Cuba, Barbados, Panama, CostaRica,Italy,andsoon? Increasing revenue and investment demand occasioned by Guyana’s production of oil, and its untapped oil and natural gas resources offer a unique opportunity for the Central and Regional Government andprivatesectortoadvance a more diverse and sophisticated tourism product. This means more jobs, joint venture opportunities with local tourist operators, land owners and other service providers. Guyana has the raw material and local expertise, the type of expertise and finances to take our tourism products to thenextlevelareavailablein the Caribbean and Latin America, North America, Europe and Asia. Investors from these locations are literally knocking at our door,buthaveweenvisioned and prioritised the level and diversity of tourism beyond what we currently see and experience?

We need to think bigger; the expertise and finances are available, we have the raw material in the form of our rivers, creeks, land, beaches,waterfallsandlocal knowledge.

So where is the transformational tourism

project? What is the wow factor for tourism? The government has investment in enhancing the aesthetics of several areas and these need to continue as it goes hand-in-hand with tourism experiences.There are areas suchastheLinden-Soesdyke Highway, many parts of the Hinterland, locations in and along the Essequibo, Demerara, and Pomeroon rivers and other locations that can be designated and developed as high tourism potentialareasorhubs.

I’ve seen this done in Jamaica, Costa Rica, Barbados and several other countries.

Imagine for a minute, a rustic, brick-built cottage style hotel thoughtfully constructed in keeping with the natural beauty of Orinduik Falls Imagine sitting under ambient lighting in a cozy restaurant with tall glass windows providing views of the falls or its streams, nestled somewhere along one of the curves of streams that feed andreleasethefalls.Imagine hot tubs, a garden, several trails, romantic all-season benchesstrewnalongatrail, surrounded by trees and othersitesthatincludeafalls viewswimmingpoolandhot tub.

Imagine Salbora Falls transformed into a regional recreational park with log cabins available for tourists wishing to stay overnight, trails, outdoor volleyball facility and an outdoor restaurant neatly tucked awayinthenature.

TheSoesdykehighwayis another example of a potential tourism hub. With

its numerous creeks, clear water channels, temperature variations, trees, sand, low populationdensity,andother gems, this area is ripe for more sophisticated tourism. The copycat syndrome (for example, look how many bars from the Soesdyke and Timerhi junction offer the same services (alcohol, cutters,maybepool,barsand loud music) to the same recycled crowds is most restrictive to realizing the potential of this area as a touristhub.

Finally, enhancing the Camp Street to Vlissengen road section of the Atlantic seawall, and exploring ways of enlarge the national park andrepurposingsomeofthe lands that currently house sportsclubscouldelevatethe tourist experience and productsonthisarea.

The beneficiaries of these lands should be duly compensated and/or invited tobepartnersininvestingin tourism products Such investments could have multiple, long-lasting benefits pertaining to the stated use of these properties.

Upgraded spaces for meetingsandsocials,special rates for members and so on couldbepartofthedetailsof ajointventure.

Annually, most of these properties are under and scarcely utilized, and they costmoneytomaintain.

Leveraging our tourism potential requires big thinking, envisioning tourism experiences and products beyond the current statusquo.

Sincerely RawleA.Small

The challenge of honey being shipped via Trinidad and Tobago Living with mental health disability

DEAREDITOR

, Despite over 15 annual meetings of the Council on Trade and Economic Development (COTED) and n u m e r o u s p u b l i c declarations by our Caribbean leaders about lifting intra-regional trade barriers, 2023 still finds us with the challenge of being unable to ship honey from Guyana via our beloved Caricom sister the Republic ofTrinidadofTobago.

Thisisnothingshortofa regionaldisgrace.Iheardthe Prime Minister Hon. Keith Rowley personally commit to resolving this issue on at least three separate occasions. After the pronouncements, as per usual,silence.

I am not going to extol the virtues of honey or its potential to become a significant export product. ThatistoomuchtypingandI don’thavethepatienceatthe moment.

My principled view h o w e v e r i s t h a t notwithstanding all of honey’s good virtues, the position of Trinidad & Tobagoisaclearviolationof the fair trading principles of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.Addedtothis, is the deafening silence that can be, or maybe should be, viewedasaninsult.

I also have to wonder whether our relevant agencies are taking an activist role in trying to resolve this matter Our Trinidadian brethren come into Guyana, set up and happily conduct business with very minimal conditions. I believe some entitieshavebeenheresince the 1970s if not before. We howeverhavetoputupwith this continued obdurate stance by Trinidad and Tobago.

I have always been told that the Caribbean Court of Justice was created, among

manythings,toresolvetrade issues. Guyana and other Caricom countries have refrained from doing so in this instance, preferring to negotiate via the COTED mechanism. Note as well thatIamnotaskingtoaccess the market. We will pursue that issue at another time. I am asking for in-transit facilities:nothingelse.

Can you however imagine the wailing, gnashing of teeth not to mention the fire and brimstone if we applied similar policies? Nobody else ent shy when dey vex. We have already seen the Caribbean Private Sector Organization (CPSO) raise in no uncertain terms, their concerns about our local content provisions. Ah supposedatdifferentnuh?

This has gone on long enough. Decisive action is needed.

Sincerely

LanceHinds

DEAREDITOr, I have a mental health d i s a b i l i t y c a l l e d schizoaffectivedisorder

At first, I was in denial aboutthecondition,butover time, I have learned to live withit. OnceamonthItake an injection This is supported with daily tablets tomanagemymentalhealth.

When on medication, I can live a full life which I thinkIdoforthemostpart.

My main “hobby” is clubbing (I like to dance thoughIamnotverygoodat it. I have also taken up salsa and bachata dancing). I also enjoy Pub Quizzes and

listening to music which I canunderstandthewords-I like R&B and Pop music. I do listen to Indian music sometimes. I don’t like Rap asthemusicistoofastforme tounderstandthewords.

I play chess and like doingapuzzlesaswell.And, Idosomeyoga.

The point in writing this letter is not to brag about myself, but to point out that intheUnitedKingdomIcan dothesethings.Iwouldlike to ask what is the Government of Guyana doingtopromotearts,sports andcultureinGuyana,aside from the odd music/dance

showwhichattimescitizens complain are descending intovulgarity

Isthereaholisticplanto develop local arts, sport and culture in Guyana; some kind of meaningful cultural policy?

Every town and village need the arts, sports and culture outlets classes as wellasentertainmentcentres and not just rum venues where binge drinking takes place.

Before, Guyana did not have the money. But this is notanexcuseanymore.

Sincerely

SeanOri

Poor safety practices on full display

DEAREDITOR,

The season of fires continues with the recentconflagrationatParikaMarket,where from all reports and accounts, the lack of health and safety practices was on full display It is being firmly posited by eyewitnesses (the vendors and stallholders) that the blaze, which led to the massive destructionofthefacility,wasallegedignited by sparks from welding being done on the structure. Inacongestedarealikethat,with all kinds of combustible materials, how reckless it is to conduct welding knowing it

couldleadtopotentialdanger,asitdid.

The not too distant destruction of a storage bond by fire, which was similarly caused, apparently did not provide any lessonstothosewhoengagedinthewelding activityatParika. Nowlivesandlivelihoods aredisruptedandpeopleareindespair

My sympathies to all those who suffered in this man made tragedy It is hoped they will overcome this setback and rebuild their livesandtrade.

Regards

ShamshunMohamed

KudosinOrder-SENgetting...

Frompage4 investor to purchase BERMINE, the Jagdeo regime never acknowledged the bid and thereby prevented these workers an opportunity to own a business they successfully managed on behalf of the stateforyears. Itisthesame PPP that would go the distance, to subtly and overtlypresentanarrativeto society that some Guyanese are lazy and not industrious wheneveryefforttheymake at economic selfdetermination and the government has to have a say, the PPPwill move with alacritytodeny,depriveand destroy

Look at the cooperative sector Amajorportionofthe cooperative economy is ownedbyAfricanGuyanese. The Ali regime has put a compliant minister, of African ancestry, to threaten the participants of this economy that unused land will be confiscated, rather than seek to put a humane policy and programme in place to help these leasees

improvetheirperformance.

Were the cooperative sectordominatedbyanother group the approach by the Jagdeo/Ali regime would have been different. We see thisintheregime’seffortsto facilitate the private sector economy through tax incentives, government absorbing costs for agricultural products, and in the state sector the massive transfer of state wealth to party comrades and cohorts t h r o u g h s a l e s o f government’s assets and contracts.

Look today they are usingourmenandwomenin uniform and in state employ in some programme with an effeminateacronymtomove around the country to build blue houses and clean up streets, taking them away from their posts of duty and family, in another form of exploitation.

On the matter of constitutional governance not only are financial r e s o u r c e s d e n i e d communities the PPP does not dominate, evident again

in the 2023 Budget, but Articles 13, 38 and 149C of the Constitution that stipulate the inclusion of groups in the political management and economic development of the nation are being trampled on with impunity by the Jagdeo/Ali regime.

They have decided they will cast our laws aside-the foundation of a democratic anddecentsociety-anddoas they please with the resources of this nation, including African Guyanese contribution to the coffers via taxation, to deprive a group of people and ignore their elected representatives when the political foundation of this nation is built on representation and inclusion.

Jagdeoshouldtakeaseat andbesilenttoanyclaimof discrimination for he is the architectandenforcerofthis anti-human rights, antinational unity, and antidevelopment policy in modernGuyana.

Regards LincolnLewis

Residents and communities must know details of impacts from country’s first power plant ...Houston resident objects to EIA waiver by EPA

A Houston resident and environmental activist, Danuta Radzik has objected to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPAs) decision to waive an Environmental Impact Assessment for the 300 megawatt gas fired power plant to be constructed at Wales, West Bank Demerara.

The power plant is a component of the Gas-to-

Energy (GTE) project being d e v e l o p e d b y t h e Government of Guyana (GoG) and American oil major, ExxonMobil The project entails transporting the natural resource via a pipeline,thenseparatingand treatingthegasviaaNatural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility which will then be used to generate electricity via the powerplantinquestion.

RadzikinherFebruary3,

2023appealaddressedtothe Environmental Assessment Board (EAB) said the gas firedpowerplantthatcarries averycostlypricetagmeans it is not a “business as usual project.”Infact,shetoldthe board that this project is the first of its kind; therefore, residents and communities need to be made aware in detail about the impacts of such a project on the environment and the

affectedpopulations.

ExxonMobil through its Consultant, Environmental Resources Management (ERM) had prepared and submitted an EIA for the pipeline and the NGL facility This document statedthatthelikelyimpacts from the power plant were considered in the Cumulative Impact Assessment(CIA)done.

To this end, the resident told the EAB “the Power Plant is not covered in any detail sufficient in this EIA and as such cannot be a substitute for a separate comprehensive Power Plant EIA.”Shewaskeentonote, “Not to do so would be a v i o l a t i o n o f t h e (Environmental Protection) EPActandanattempttouse an unacceptable back door p r e m i s e t o d e n y stakeholders the right to access all necessary informationthroughEIAsas set out in Guyana’s EnvironmentalAct.”

Radzik is of the firm view that CH4 Global and Lindsayca, the joint venture that has been awarded the contract to construct the power plant should pilot a separate environmental impactstudy

In fact, she said this separate assessment is r e q u i r e d b y t h e Environmental Protection

Act- Fifth Schedule. According to her, “Denying of a separate EIA for the Power Plant which is dependentontheNGLplant to function is giving a go ahead for a power plant to nowhere as there is no information provided as to how power plant is going to transfergastoelectricityfor Guyanese.Accordingtothis EIA, there is no location assignedtowherethispower plant is to be built, nor any information on electrical substationsandtransmission linetotransmitpowertothe Guyana electrical grid. It is the height of absurdity and negligence for the EPA to deny a separate EIA under

these circumstances No right-thinkingGuyanesecan accept such a ludicrous proposition.”

Radzik pointed out that the EPA in its reasons for grantingawaiveroftheEIA said, “The results of the (CIA), revealed that while there is potential for temporary impacts on air quality, the maximum concentrations of nitrogen oxide(NO2)sulphurdioxide (SO2)andparticulatematter (PM 2.5 and PM10) and carbon monoxide (CO) will be within the World Health Organization (WHO) stipulatedlimits.”

It also said, “The proposed location falls within the area of influence/footprint of an EPAapprovedGastoEnergy (GTE) that was subjected to a comprehensive EIA, including a CIA. The CIA concluded that there will be no significant impacts from t h e c o m b i n e d activities/projects.”

The activist explained that these reasons fail to c o m p r e h e n s i v e l y individuallyorcumulatively addressorreflecttheWHO’s statementthat“cleanairisa basic human right” but air pollution still poses a significant threat, leading to the cause of noncommunicablediseases

Continuedonpage16

EnvironmentalActivist, Danuta Radzik (Guyana Chronicle image)

L.A.isshuttingdownitslargestgasplant - and replacing it with an unproven hydrogen project

LOS ANGELES TIMES - The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to move forward with an $800million plan to convert the city’s largest gasfiredpowerplanttogreenhydrogen afirstof-its-kind project that was hailed by supporters as an important step to solve the climate crisis but slammed by critics as a greenwashing boondoggle that will harm vulnerablecommunities.

Council President Paul Krekorian described hydrogen as crucial to meeting

LA’sgoalof100%cleanelectricityby2035

The Los Angeles City Council’s approval of an $800-million plan to convert the city’s largest gas-fired power plant to green hydrogen is being hailed as the kind of project needed to solve the climate crisis. But critics say keeping the Scattergood Generating Station open would harm vulnerable communities.(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

“Itwaswidelyseenasbeinganimpossible goal And we’re now on the precipice of achieving that,” he said The vote authorized the LA Department of Water and Power to begin the contracting process for revamping Scattergood Generating Station, which sits alongthecoastnearElSegundo

DWP plans to install turbines capable of burning significant quantities of hydrogen, which has never been done before on such a largescale Thefuelwouldbeproducedfrom water,withrenewableelectricity fromsolar panels or wind turbines, for instance — splitting H2O molecules into hydrogen and oxygenatoms.

The city-run utility hopes to ultimately convertitsothergasplantstohydrogenaswell: HarborandHaynesfartherdownthecoast,and ValleyGeneratingStationinSunValley Those facilities wouldn’t be fired up often, but they would help Los Angeles keep the lights on during times when there’s not enough solar and wind power to go around, such as hot summernights.

The city’s ultimate goal is burning 100% green hydrogen but DWP officials have acknowledged the technology might not be ready right away That means the initial fuel mixatScattergoodmightincludemoreplanet-

warmingnaturalgasthanhydrogen

JasonRondou,DWP’sdirectorofresource planning, told The Times that Scattergood should be able to burn at least 30% green hydrogenonDayOne thesamepercentage the utility is targeting at its coal-fired IntermountainPowerPlantinUtah

“There’s a lot of things that need to be figured out over the coming years,” Rondou said Thatuncertaintyhelpsexplainwhymany climate and environmental justice activists opposedWednesday’sCityCouncilmotion

Inpubliccommentsbeforethevote,critics from groups including Communities for a Better Environment, Pacoima Beautiful and the Sierra Club noted that although hydrogen doesn’t produce planet-warming carbon emissionswhenburned,itdoesgeneratelungdamaging nitrogen oxide pollution — much more than gas, at least using current technology

That’s especially problematic for lowincomecommunitiesofcolorthathavealready sufferedfromyearsoffossilfuelpollution like those around DWP’s Valley Generating Station, where residents were forced to live withayears-longmethaneleak

JasminVargas,anorganizerwithFoodand Water Watch, described hydrogen as “fundamentally racist and inequitable” She also objected to public comments from labor union and business leaders saying hydrogen wouldcreategood-payingjobs

“The jobs that everybody’s talking about arenotcleanenergyjobs,”shesaid.

Other activists pointed to the risk of explosions from hydrogen leaks and to research finding that hydrogen can worsen climatechangeintheshorttermiftoomuchof itleaksfrompipelinesbeforeit’sburned They alsoraisedthepossibilitythatDWP’s

Continued on page 16

Businessman burns to death in fire after turning back to save grandchild

Firefigthers combing through the rubble

A b u s i n e s s m a n , Rajendra Mohabir, 60, popularlyknownas‘Slowie’ was killed on Sunday afternoon after going back into his burning house at Seventh Street, Windsor ForestWestCoastDemerara (WCD)tosavehisgrandson he believed, was still in the building.

The child however had already escaped to safety Before family members couldhavestoppedMohabir, he had already entered the burning building and later becametrappedintheflames Mohabir’s two-storey building which housed a grocery store and church on the bottom flat reportedly caughtfirearound14:00hrs.

According to initial reports Mohabir, his wife, grandchild, and daughter wereinthetopflatatthetime and were unaware that the buildingwasonfire.

Church members were the first to run out of the building, while his son, and the pastor of the church, ran upstairs to alert his family Kaieteur News understands that they had all exited the building safely but amidst the panic and confusion, Mohabircouldnotlocatehis grandson.

Believing that the child might still be trapped in the building, he ran back inside to find and save his grandson, but ended being trapped after the entire building quickly became engulfedinflames.

Hissonandotherpersons reportedlyranbehindhimto save him but they were unable to do so and reportedly sustained injuries.

In a cell phone recorded video, a woman could be heard weeping and shouting “mehnahseeRajmenahsee Raj(Mohabir)”.

Other persons were heard crying as well while neighbours assisted in savingthefamily’scar

Firefighters had arrived atthesceneshortlyafterand did their best to extinguish

the blaze but failed to save Mohabirorthehouse.

Afterhoursofsearching, firefighterseventuallyfound asmallportionofMohabir’s charred remains in the burnt building.

The cause of the fire is not known at this time, but someofthechurchmembers alleged that there was low voltage and a power outage in the area that caused some sparks.

Mohabir’s home on fire

Dead businessman, Rajendra Mohabir

Mohabir and his wife in happier times

In-River construction picking up steam at Berbice Deep Water Port

Michael Stockinger, VP Operations, Tarachandra Khelawan, Country Manager.

Vickram Ajudya, Project Coordinator, Nkasse Evans, HSE Manager and Shanelle Dundas, Engineer from GCIE join consultants from Case, Aqua Y Terra and Gaico’s workers to memorialize the commencement of pile driving in the Berbice River.

ByKianaWilburg

In October last year, Grand Canal Industrial Estates (GCIE), which is 100% owned by CGX Energy Inc., announcedithadinkedacontractwithGaico Construction and General Services Inc. (Gaico)istobeginin-riverconstructionofits Deep-Water Port. That project is located north of and adjacent to Crab Island on the easternbankoftheBerbiceriver.

The company indicated then that it had engaged in a re-design of its in-river trestle andwharftoseekefficienciesasthepriceof steel rose steeply in 2022, resulting in a modification of its original schedule of construction.

Kaieteur News visited the facility on Sunday, February 12th, 2023 to observe the progress of the work completed and the inriver construction Michael Stockinger, CGX’sVice President of Operations, shared that all of the required pre-stressed concrete piles have now been produced by a local contractor,testedindependentlyandarenow beinginstalled.

Stockinger,aCivilEngineerwithover42 yearsofexperienceasadrillerforcompanies like Kerr McGee, Murphy, Conoco Phillips and Anadarko, was on hand with other officials of the company, as Gaico commenced the installation of piles and dredging,asa160feetaccesstrestleisbeing builtfromtheshorelineintotheBerbiceriver, in a East-West direction. Stockinger shared

when the nearly 40 feet wide trestle is completed, the plan is to then construct a wharfplatformperpendiculartothetrestle,in aNorth-Southdirection.

The original design called for the use of steel piles, but working with consultants, Aqua Y Terra, Case Engineering Inc. and Gaico, the in-river structures were redesigned to utilize pre-stressed reinforced concretepiles.Theresultofthisapproachis significant savings to the company’s capital expenditures.Engineersalsosuggestthatthe concrete pilings are likely to be more resistanttosalt-watercorrosion.

SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTINBERBICE

Kaieteur News understands that the company has spent some US$22 Million already on the facility and with the trestle nowbeingbuilt,theCGXfacilityisoneofthe largest private sector investments in the ancient county The Government of Guyana has expressed concern from time to time regardingthepaceoftheproject.

It was evident, however, that there has been a considerable amount of development at the site – starting from the access to the Corentyne highway and the Company’s 16acre Logistics Yard located at Bramfield/Palmyra along the Corentyne Highway

It was also evident that CGX has developed symbiotic relationships with residents in the area, in particular Seawell Village, where it has constructed concrete

drains,concretedrivewaysandpavedthe roadway for the benefit of the residents. The company has also installed solar streetlightsalongthe3.2kmaccessroad tothesite,andalongtheperimeterofthe site.

Kaieteur News understands that the Companyisalsoabouttoembarkonthe collection of garbage generated by residents of Seawell Village, in partnership with the area NDC, to help promoteresponsibledisposalofgarbage. But the collaboration between Seawell VillageandGCIEdoesnotstopthere.

The company constructed, for example,aprotectedpedestrianwalkway on a recently constructed concrete bridge, to facilitatethesafepassageofresidentswhenthe bridge is being used by vehicular traffic

KaieteurNewsunderstandsthatGCIEcleared 20acresofMangrovesin2011,underpermit from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Guyana Forestry Commission and all otherregulatoryagencies

The company has since then been monitoring the site and providing annual reportstotheEPAwhichdetailthestateofthe physical,biologicalandecologicalfactorsin and surrounding the site. Of the 30 acres which GCIE controls, 10 acres of standing mangroves have been set aside by the companyasalivinglaboratoryandprotected habitat. GCIE also works closely with the ChambersofCommerceinBerbice,theTain CampusoftheUniversityofGuyanaandthe

severalTechnicalInstitutesinthecounty LONGTERMCONTRACTS& IMPORTATIONOFAGGREGATES

Professor Suresh Narine, CGX’s Executive Co-Chairman, shared that the companyisveryinterestedincapitalizingon the Government of Guyana’s announcement thatitintendstobeginimportingaggregates fromCanada.

Dr Narine is confident that the rate of economic growth in the country currently and projected, no doubt creates an immense need for additional, non-congested ports which are not located close to residential areas,suchastheBerbicePort.

However, he explained that for private sector companies, investment in large infrastructure projects must also be supportedintheneartermbycontractsand

Continued on page 18

Gaico’s Barge commenced the driving of piles in the river as GCIE builds out its access trestle into the Berbice River

CGX’s Executive Co-Chairman & Guyanese Professor, Suresh Narine

Fire Service confirms Ser welding sparks started fire at Parika Market

-Threearrestedforlooting

One dead, another hospitalised in Corriverton accident

A 2 6 - y e a r - o l d motorcyclistisnowdeadand his pillion rider injured following an accident along the No 79 public road, Corentyne, Berbice, on Saturdayaroundmidnight.

Dead isVickram Basdeo of lot 106 No.71 Village, Corentyne, Berbice The injured person has been identified as Luvendra Dhanraj,22,oflot9Section

‘

driven by a 22- year-old from Scottsburg Housing Scheme was heading south along the eastern lane, where it is alleged that Basdeo was proceeding north along the western drive lane at a fast rate and collidedwiththecar

A’ No.81 Village, Corentyne,Berbice.

Initial reports are that a motor car bearing license plate number HC 9047 and

Police said that Basdeo andthepillionriderwerenot wearingsafetyhelmetswhen they collided with the front portion of the car. They fell onto the road surface and sustainedseriousinjuries.

They were taken to the Skeldon Public Hospital

where Basdeo was pronounced dead on arrival and Dhanraj was admitted withbackinjuries.

Essequibo teen killed in motorcycle accident

TheGuyanaFireService (GFS)onSundayconfirmed that the Parika Market Fire wascausedbysparksfroma weldingtorch.

“ The fire which destroyed the Parika market wascausedbyresiduefroma weldingtorchthatfellintoa storage bond and ignited nearby combustible materials,”GFSstated.

Vendors had alleged “somemenweredoingsome welding at the market when the spark fell on a tarpaulin and it start bun” They claimed that no quick attention was paid to the tarpaulin and the “spark” caused a “big fire” that

destroyed their stalls and all ofthemerchandiseinside.

According to the GFS “high winds” and “the clusteringofthearea”fueled thequickspreadofthefire.

Meanwhile Police Commander of the Region Three District, Mahendra Siwnarine told Kaieteur News that his ranks have arrested three persons suspected of raiding and looting the market after the blaze.

Firefighters had managedtosaveafewstalls butlootersreportedlyraided andstoleitems.

Kaieteur reported on Sunday that vendors saved

whatever items they could from their stalls before completely evacuating the burning market. However, looterstookadvantageofthe chaotic environment and cleared some stalls of their remainingitems.

On Saturday afternoon Region Three ranks were able to recover some of the looteditems.

Some of the recovered items are clothing and electronicappliances.

Accordingtoreports,the stolenitemswerereportedly found “in a community” located behind the market. Thenameofthecommunity wasnotrevealed.

Eighteen-year-old Nyol GittensonSundaydiedafter being involved in a motorcycle accident, on the Abram Zuil Public Road, Essequibo Coast, Region Two.

Gittens of Henrietta Villagewasatthetimeriding a motorcycle when he reportedly crashed into a white motor lorry Kaieteur News was reliably informed that the teen was at the time attempting to overtake the vehicle when he collided withit.

He was rushed to the

Suddie Public Hospital but succumbedhourslatertohis injuries.

Notably, this is the second consecutive Sunday that an 18-year-old motorcyclistwaskilledinan accidentalongtheEssequibo Coast.

Last Sunday, Devendra Khan died after he lost controlofhismotorcycleand ended up between a bridge and a canal on the eastern sideoftheroad.

He was rushed to the hospitalbutwaspronounced deaduponarrival.

Dead, Nyol Gittens

Dead, Vickram Basdeo

Cleaning up the rubble after the massive Parika Market fire

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Residents and communities must know...

From page 8 (NCDs) such as heart attacks or stroke. She was keen to point out, “According to the World Health Organization, there are 7 million premature deaths every year due to the combined effects of air pollution– with millions more people falling ill from breathing polluted air. More than half of these deaths are recorded in developing countries.” She said

that the cumulative assessment done by Exxon could not have properly assessed air emissions from the power plant as the exact location and design is unknown.

“It is unacceptable that this lack of information was deemed acceptable by the EPA to waiver a separate EIA for a missing comprehensive plan for a power plant,” Radzik argued.

On Sunday, Kaieteur

News reported that a group of citizens filed an objection to the EPA’s decision to waive an EIA for the power plant. It was filed by two citizens Attorney-at-Law Elizabeth Deane-Hughes and Environmental Activist, Vanda Radzik.

Fourteen other Guyanese also attached their signatures to the objection letter addressed to the EAB on February 5, 2023.

L.A. is shutting down its largest gas plant...

From page 10 experimental green hydrogen project could fail, leaving L.A. stuck burning natural gas when the city instead could have invested more heavily in battery storage, energy efficiency and other strategies to ditch fossil fuels while keeping the lights on.

Councilmembers Traci Park and Katy Young Yaroslavsky said would require DWP officials to more closely examine alternatives and more robustly engage with communities near the gas plant.

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“DWP should go back to the drawing board,” said Theo Caretto, a UCLA legal fellow at Communities for a Better Environment.

After hearing from opponents and supporters, the council voted 12 to 0 to move forward with the hydrogen plan — but only after approving a separate motion that newly elected

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“Even with the additional oversight, safeguards and engagement, I am still very reluctant to vote to move this project forward,” Yaroslavsky said before the vote. “However, I am willing to support allowing the process to move to the next stage so that we can all collectively gather more information and understand its risks and its alternatives.” It’s not yet clear, though, whether the City Council would be able to stop the Scattergood conversion if something went awry — costs spiraling out of control, for instance, or an inability by DWP to reduce nitrogen oxide pollution from burning hydrogen. Further steps in the contracting process must be approved by the DWP board, whose members are appointed by the mayor. The City Council can override those decisions — but only with 10 supporting votes from the 15-member council, a high bar to clear. In 2021, L.A. got one-quarter of its electricity from natural gas — a major contributor to the worsening fires, droughts and heat waves of the climate crisis.

tious because the vast majority of hydrogen currently in use globally is produced from fossil fuels, adding to the climate crisis. The renewable “electrolysis” method for producing hydrogen planned by DWP is costlier and less efficient. Adding to the skepticism over green hydrogen is that its loudest proponents are often fossil fuel companies.

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Gas usage on California’s power grid as a whole was even higher, at 38% — roughly the same as the country overall. Green hydrogen has emerged in the U.S. and around the world as a potential substitute for natural gas on the electric grid — as well as gas piped to homes for heating and cooking. It’s one of many relatively high-cost technologies competing to complement low-cost solar panels, wind turbines and battery storage to zero out global climate pollution by midcentury. Many climate activists do see a role for hydrogen — but mostly in “hard to electrify” industries where switching from dirty fuels to clean electricity is expected to be too expensive, such as shipping, aviation, steelmaking and potentially long-haul trucking. Those activists’ preferred technology is hydrogen fuel cells, which produce no pollution and can power heavy-duty trucks.

Activists are also cau-

In Los Angeles, that would be Southern California Gas Co., the nation’s largest gas utility. Last year, the company proposed Angeles Link, a massive and potentially lucrative pipeline that would bring green hydrogen fuel to the L.A. Basin. “It allows California to dramatically advance its climate and environmental goals,” SoCalGas President Maryam Brown said at the time. “It creates a cornerstone for the California green hydrogen economy, and the hydrogen economy in general.” “Southern California Gas is an infrastructure company. And we use that infrastructure to be able to meet customers’ needs,” she added. “Customers’ needs are changing. We see our customers needing cleaner and cleaner fuels.” In an email ahead of the City Council’s vote Wednesday, SoCalGas spokesperson Chris Gilbride said company executives “have not been engaged, and are currently not engaged, on the Scattergood project.”

But there’s little question it could be a boon for SoCalGas, fueling demand for the company’s proposed pipeline and potentially leading to more widespread use of hydrogen. Federal dollars could also accelerate L.A.’s hydrogen plans. The City Council voted last year to apply for a share of $8 billion in federal “hydrogen hub” funds, allocated by Congress as part of the bipartisan infrastructure bill signed by President Biden in 2021.

Whether or not that money materializes, DWP’s Rondou said Los Angeles has little choice but to bet on hydrogen. “We certainly looked at all the different pathways to get to 100%” clean energy, he said, referring to an in-depth study conducted with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. “But the study was clear. ... There wasn’t an alternative.”

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Church motivating Agricola youth to excel academically

Rewarding success is oneofthewaysthattheElim Pentecostal Church at Agricola, East Bank Demerara has been motivating the youth of its community to excel academically and become responsible members of society

The church has been doingthisfornineyearsnow, by awarding top National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) performers from Agricolaeveryyear

Each of the awardees would be given a monetary

reward and a certificate of excellence.

Speaking with Kaieteur News, Collin Klass, one of the main principals behind this initiative said, “We do this as a form of motivation for the children, motivating them to become successful academically We give them a monetary reward to help buy books for school or whatevertheymightneedto maketheiracademicjourney asuccess”.

While there are some middle class families living inAgricola, there are others

who are impoverished. This resultsinanumberofschool d r o p o u t s a n d l o w performance in schools

However, the Elim

Pentecostal church believes if these students are rewarded for putting their best foot forward then they will be motivated to stay in schoolandtoworkharderto attainhighergrades.

AccordingtoKlasssince the church started the award NGSA students nine years ago, there has been lots of successstories.

Not only has there been

OP:Ed President Ali on renegotiation fallout

ByGHKLall

I must congratulate His Excellency,PresidentAlifor his near perfect mimicry of Exxon’s Guyana Country Head, El Supremo, Alistair Routledge. The American Master in Guyana, spoke in the starkest terms against renegotiation of the sweet 2016 oil contract, his company executed with this country (under the PNC). Mr. Routledge warned that any action towards renegotiation would be “very destructive” to investor confidence. As I tender thanks to Mr Routledge, the thought comes that the mere c o n t e m p l a t i o n o f renegotiation now assumes theperilousforGuyana. Itis scratch investors and be preparedtofeelpain.

This is expected of Exxon’s Guyana Country Head. ButforGuyana’sown Head-of-State to advocate against renegotiation along thesamelines,usingslightly different words, confirms how much Exxon has this country sewed up, and how

the leaders in our national government sing from Exxon’s songbook. It is unpardonable for any nationalleadertodohisbest imitation in servitude to Exxon’s interests and its likely upset investors. The latter is imaginary and exaggerated.

According to President Ali, putting on his Wall Street hat, there would have been “serious financial ruin.” What Mr. Routledge dismissed in two words (“very destructive”), Guyana’s scrappy leader needed three. Regardless, there is an eerie Siamese attachment to what both leaders said publicly I am wondering whether the President uses Exxon’s scriptwriters, but

c a m o u f l a g e s t h e

arrangement through slightlychangingthewords.

The choreography is stunning,revealing.

In addition, our own patriotic President Ali was proud to point to the hundreds of Guyanese who are benefiting from their

association-employment, education and involvementin the oil and gas sector I cheer President Ali’s nifty footwork with that one, whichneedsalittlepolishing and refining, so that the real story, the bigger picture of Guyana’s oil is tabled Guyana has a population of 750,000 plus citizens. For him therefore, to speak of hundreds is an exercise in denial, silkiness, and accentuating the positive, while sweeping under the carpet the missing links in Guyana’sAge of Oil. They are grim and lengthy, with plenty of locals forced to visit bread lines and soup kitchens, so that they manage to the next meal.

How about that, Dr President, for the fastest growing economy, and ranking among the top GDP performers in the inhabited universe! I appreciate that PresidentAli in his hurry to defendtodaywhathisgroup used to rightfully curse (the PNC contract), and run interferenceforExxon,must

(Continuedonpage18)

better performance at the exams but some students who received awards went ontobecomedoctors.

“Yes we have doctors, one of them is a dentist I believe”,Klasssaid.

Last year the church faced a major setback after one of the sponsors of its annual award ceremony retired.

“We had someone sponsoring the awards for a longtimebutthatindividual has retired and is no longer able to continue supporting theinitiative”.

Despite the setback, the church went ahead with its plans by faith and according to Klass God provided another sponsor who pledged to continue supporting the initiative of motivating the children of Agricola.

A member of the TeDivinagroupinMaryland Florida, USA, LaTasha Carpenter reportedly visited the church to speak on the benefits of herbal tea and after learning about the church's annual award ceremony, she volunteered

tobecomeitsmainsponsor

With her coming onboard.thechurchwasable to keep its annual initiative aliveandwasabletoreward fourstudentslastyear

Proud of their awards were Lidya Joseph who secured a place at St Joseph HighSchoolwith496marks, Xavier Scott and Chavez Alphanso both Tutorial High School Students with 441 and 428 marks respectiveandNikeshaFyffe who secured a spot at the Ascension Secondary Schoolwith331marks.

Guyanese urged to use cancer screening services for early detection

Guyanese are being encouraged to utilise the various cancer screening services available from the Ministry of Heath, as a means of early detection of the disease. Especially since being able to detect cancer early not only increases the chances of survival, but allowsfortheearlytreatment ofthediseasebeforeithasa chance to spread to other partsofthebody Cancerthat is detected early is more likely to be treated successfully.Chief Medical Officer, Dr Narine Singh, speaking on a recent programmesaidtheministry has a three-pronged approach to fighting this disease.Thesearetoincrease HPV vaccination uptake, early screening and early treatment According to PAHO/WHO the Human papillomavirus(HPV)isone of the most common reproductive tract infections responsible for a variety of cancersandotherconditions i n b o t h m e n a n d

women.However, there is a challenge as many are not taking the HPV vaccines which are now available for girls over 9 years to women up to 45 years of age.“The uptake with the HPV programme has not been so good over the years because wehavehadalotofvaccine hesitancy among the population, and this year in 2023,wewillberelaunching the HPV vaccine, we are tryingtoactuallyincorporate it into part of the routine vaccination programme for school aged children and

also to push the uptake of HPVvaccineagain,because we know HPV vaccine works, it does help in the prevention of cervical cancer,”hesaid.

He noted that more VIA centreswillbeestablishedin differentpartsofthecountry and more persons will be trained to conduct these screenings.

The third approach is to provide early treatment and care for persons who are diagnosed with cervical cancer

“We have the oncology unit at the Georgetown Public Hospital, we have radiotherapy for those who have been diagnosed with cervicalcancer,butwedon’t want to reach to that stage, butsadlywhatweareseeing is that most of the persons who are detected with cervical cancer in Guyana are sometimes in the late stage, and this is so sad because cancer by itself is preventable,andalsocurable

(Continuedonpage18)

Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Narine Singh

New Sponsor, LaTasha Carpenter (center) flanked by the Pastor of the church (right) and his wife (Left)

The four awardees posing with their certificates

PresidentAlionrenegotiation...

Frompage17 play the hand he has Meaning, he speaks in hundreds,whilehundredsof thousands of Guyanese handle the short end of the stick with hopelessness and despairsolidifying.

Anytime Exxon needs a new chief counsel, I nominate Guyana’s President Ali, which I am sure local and international bars will waive any educational requirement

When I read my own President going to bat for Exxon and its unbreachable Maginot Line of no renegotiation, I hasten to remind him that he is not Presidentofsomesubsidiary of Exxon Guyana, or Esso Guyana, but of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana itself I respectfully exhortmyPresidenttorefrain from tarnishing the national presidential coat of arms in thiscasualmanner Itreeksof ancient kowtowing, worse collaborating Further,itwas astonishing that President

Ali could have seemingly alluded to Venezuela and what happened when oil producing countries get too aggressive for their own good. IregretthatGuyana’s President and his advisers barkedupthewrongtreefor comparisonpurposes. What Venezuela is paying a harsh priceforwasitsnationalization of American business under whatever guises, which led to ourneighborsbeingmadeinto examplesnottobeadmiredor replicated In order that everyone-America’s Routledge, Guyana’s Ali, and theworldofinvestorsoutthereis on the same page, renegotiation does not mean that Guyana must move from 2%royaltyto12%(asmouthwatering as that sounds) Or that the 50:50 profit sharing should be replaced by something along the lines of 90:10or80:20,oreven70:30, again as prospering as those could be to Guyana Rather, renegotiation should be on a staggeredbasis Iwouldstartat 5% royalty, with openness to

maneuvering;profitsharingcan be 60:40 in Guyana’s favor; expense deduction should be finalized somewhere between 55-65% Theseareastart,with agreementtorevisitin2-3years to engage on zero taxes, insurance coverage, and what should and should not be cost recoverable. These are admittedly broad, and deliberately so. It gives everyoneatthetable,roomfor honest and fair developments favorabletoallGuyanese,not only the less than 1% of the population that benefits from thisoil Iwouldcontendthat we could have a unique contract, as renegotiated in parts; one more palatable to Guyanese, and not that expensive for Exxon, or that destructive to investor confidence For Guyana’s President to parrot Mr Routledge’s line is the pits. Last,Ihopethatnonedareto assertthattheworlddoesnot work this way The world worksthewaywewantitto, including that of oil and contracts.

In-Riverconstructionpicking...

Frompage13 existing business. With the current oil and gas activities currentlyconcentratedinthe Demerara River, Narine shared that GCIE has been focused on defining neartermcontractsinagriculture, consumer cargo, emerging aggregate imports and other opportunities.Narineshared that securing contracts is of great importance in order to continue the company’s progress and significant investmentsinBerbice.

Withthisgoalinmind,he sharedthatVicePresident,Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has been encouraging the Company to seek partnerships with Government and Canadian aggregatesupplierstoaddress the Country’s demand for construction aggregates Narine indicated that GCIE expectsthatasthepartnerson the Stabroek block move into additional production developments and explorers such as CGX and its JV Partner, Frontera, progress their exploration phases into

Guyaneseurgedtousecancerscreening...

Frompage17 but once you detect it very earlyyoucanactuallycureit and it can be treated,” he noted Women are being urged to get their first pap smear by age 21 and repeat every two to three years, whilepersonsarealsourged todoannualcheckups.

Acting Director of the Chronic Diseases Unit, Dr DanieleDrepaul,notedthatthe burdenofcancerinGuyanais 141.5 per 100,000. She is urging persons to take measures to prevent cancer,

such as avoiding the use of tobacco, staying active and adopting a healthy diet, among others “We urge persons to have a balanced diet, lots of fruits and vegetables that will provide fibre and aid in your digestion,” she noted Genetics can also play a role in the risk of cancer “If you have a genetic predisposition, maybe a first degree relative, maybeifmymomwasdiagnosed with breast cancer definitely, I should getscreening atan early agejusttomakesure,youshould

doyourself-examinationathome butitisurgedwithinacertainage youshouldstartyourscreening,” Dr Drepaulsaid The Chronic Diseases Unit conducts screening for cervical, breast and some other types of cancers, however, other public health facilities offer more advanced services “You should go to your nearest facility if you have any complaints, you should explain it to your doctor and he or she will send you in accordance to what pathologies that they think

youmayhave “Weareurging persons who smoke, who drink,-Iknowit’sveryhardto cutthehabitbutwehavetotry, I know we have certain programmes here at the ministrywhichwearetryingto roll out which is a cessation programme which helps persons who are smoking to stop smoke, we know it’s a process,”shestated

Guyanawasranked25in theworldforcervicalcancer prevalence with one of the highest incidences in the region.(DPI)

In January, the Government had announced that it is working with the Canadian High Commission in Guyana to seek suppliers of aggregates for its massive infrastructure works in the country, including the building of a four-lane highway on the Corentyne Coast. The Government has indicated that it estimates needing up to 6 million tons of aggregates per year over severalyears.

Narineexplainedthatthe GCIEfacilitycouldbereadyto take advantage of such i m p o r t s o f aggregates as soon a s t h e t r e s t l e i s completed

The company has already completed all sea defences along 1300 feet of river frontage of the 30 acre facilityandhasconstructeda 10-acrelaydownyardbuiltto sustain5tonspersquaremetre

Assuch,thefacilitycould facilitate the delivery and storage of aggregates fromthetimethetrestleis built into the river as it will allow vessels delivering aggregates to be moored The company

also articulated the possibility to take advantage of its 16-acre Logistics Yard along the current Corentyne Highway as a decanting storage facility, to allow facility access to imported a g g r e g a t e s f o r construction

Recently, the Irfaan Aliled PPP administration announced several infrastructure projects in Berbice, including a stadium, airport, new four lane highway, Corentyne River Bridge and several hotels

This and on-going work in the ancient county have created an immense demand for c o n s t r u c t i o n aggregates, which cannot be met by the country’s operating quarries CONGESTION, COMMUNITIES AND

C O M P E T I T I V E

ADVANTAGES The development of new industries and sectors,

such as the oil and

g a s s e c t o r i n

Guyana, inevitably

c r e a t e s g r o w i n g

p a i n s O f t e n ,

c o m m u n i t i e s , environmental concerns and perturbation of the state of affairs results in pressurepoints

There has been, lately, severalmattersrisingtothe

fore such as the use of hazardous materials in densely populated areas, traffic congestion at port sites, displacement of consumer port business duetothegrowingdemand in the oil sector, and other concerns regarding the zoning of areas which is necessary to allow for the safe and healthy coexistence of the population with the rapidly expanding industry Port Georgetown, the historical main port in Guyana, grew in a haphazard, unplanned manner as commerce in the country grew Even before the oil and gas industry, it was a congested port, with almostnodecantingspaceas it is located in the city This congestionhasbecomeacute withthemassiveincreaseof activities from the oil sector, with significant delays being felt in i m p o r t / e x p o r t o f agriculture, consumer goods, timber, sugar and otherproducts CGX and Government have both pointed to the BerbicePortasasolution,at a site where there is no congestion, which is being purpose-built and which is sufficiently far away from built up areas and human population, without hampering access to labour andattendantservices.

Additionally, the Berbice River has the deepest natural draft of all the three main rivers in the country, minimizing the amount of dredgingthathastobedone to achieve similar depths in the Demerara or Essequibo Another advantage of the location is the proximity to Suriname and the opportunity to stage oil and gas exploration and production activities occurring in that country, as well as proximity to the NorthernStatesofAmazonia andRoraimainBrazilandthe opportunity to stage import/export of agricultural and consumer goods to these landlockedstates

The Berbice port providesanadvantageinthat it is only approximatelyhalf the distance to the Panama Canal compared to current routes through the river port ofManaus.

The company articulates the opportunities that these attributes bring, but also is clearlyfocused on securing current contracts for the facility so as to continue to sustainitsprogress

In this regard, it indicated that it intends to work collaboratively with the Government to unlock t h e s e n e a r - t e r m opportunities

MVP Sports supports Jefford’s resuscitation of Golden Mile

Guyana’s leading sports apparel and fitness conglomerate, MVP Sports has announced that it will be supporting the latest venture of the Jefford Track and Field Classic organisation to rebrand and resuscitate the historic Golden Mile.

The Jefford Classic Mile, as it is being called, is scheduled to be held around the circuit of the National Park on Sunday March 12 and promises to be an entertaining and competitive event, featuring Guyana’s leading middle-distance athletes.

“Jefford has created an impressive list of successful sports events over the years,

and we believe that this one will be no different and MVP Sports wants to ensure that we are visible at what will be a great showcase of local athletics talent,” Managing Director, Ian Ramdeo said.

MVP Sports, which is housed at the Giftland and Amazonia Malls, will sponsor the Under-20 Male and Female Categories of the race as well as Gift Vouchers, which will be handed to the Under14 Male and Female Categories of the Jefford Classic Mile. Founder of the Jefford Track and Field Classic, Edison Jefford said that the venture is largely about resuscitating a prestigious platform

for middle distance athletes. He said that each category of athletics should have a signature event.

“There should always be a platform for each category of athletics where the crème de le crème or the best athletes in that segment is showcased. The South American 10km Road Race does that for distance athletes, but there is no signature event for the middle-distance athletes following the absence of the Golden Mile for some years,” Jefford said.

“The aim is to fill this gap, while resuscitating a prestigious and historic event. We want to bring this back with a

Monday February 13, 2023

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19)

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

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

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

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

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

CANCER (June 21–July 22)

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

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)

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

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22)

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

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)

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

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

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

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

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

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19)

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

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

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

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)

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

lot of hype, which means that the atmosphere and environment must be the best for the athletes since it’s all about them,” he added.

According to the mastermind behind the venture, all the funding for the event will be given to the athletes, offset marketing and administrative costs. He informed that the activity is largely developmental and asks stakeholders to continue to contribute to its success.

“We have written the Guyana Olympic Association and National Sports Commission to jump on board this event to help us. I am confident that they will support this venture just as the Athletics Association is giving us their full support,” Jefford appealed.

He thanked MVP Sports for their efforts, stating that the participants will welcome their support. MVP Sports was recently recognised for its Corporate and Social Re-

GCB meets Minister...

From page 22 2023 provide realistic funding support for Under-19 School Cricket, a National Inter-Club Tournament, and the GCB’s Inter-County Tournaments of Super 50 and Three-Day matches.

Further, The Minister mentioned that it is expected that the GCB will utilize the improved weather conditions to run off several of its activities. The GOG and MCYS are working passionately to provide grounds with facilities that support play in more rainy weather conditions. The Minister mentioned that the GCB budgets must be realistic and will be subject to approval after careful analysis, a process the GCB has been invited to participate in, after the competition of the main Mashramani Celebration activities.

GCB President Bissoonyal Singh was high in praise to Minister Charles Ramson, his Ministry and GOG. Singh remarked, “Funding is not always easy to obtain, especially when one is exploring ways to secure sustainable funding for both training and competitions. We, the GCB will like to thank GOG, MCYS, and you Minister Ramson for taking the initiative to support the GCB in such a big way. We agree that the Under-19 Tournament is an essential cricket development pathway and we welcome the considerations put forward by you to substantially support the funding of our Under-19 National Competitions.”

sponsibility at the National Sports Awards 2023 in the category of “Corporate Sponsor (small)”. The company specialises in providing high

quality fitness and athletic apparel like Nike, Under Armour, Skechers, Puma and Adidas for men, ladies and children.

Tiger Rentals Under-13 Football… Bartica and East Coast record comfortable wins

The youths from East Coast and Georgetown Academy Training Centers (ATC) both registered victories to end match-day four of the Tiger Rentals’ under-13 national development tournament on 10 points, extending their stay at the top of the points table, while Bartica made two wins in two after being winless in their opening two matches.

East Coast Demerara defeated West Berbice 6-1 led by a brace from Isaiah Williams and one goal each from

Tyrell Walcott, Sheneil Callender, Mark Glasgow and Malaki Washington.

Meanwhile, the youngsters from Bartica smashed six unanswered goals past East Berbice to move to six points from four games.

It took two late, unanswered goals from Georgetown to get past the resilient West Demerara team. Upper Demerara had a similar 2-0 victory with one goal each from Trayvon Collymore and Jamal Scott against East Bank.

GCBmeetsMinisteronBudgetaryInterestfor2023Competitions…

The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) met with the Minister of Culture, Youth, andSport(MCYS)todiscuss the GCB’s budgets for cricket competitions for 2023onFriday,February10, 2023, at the Conference Room of MCYS This meeting was essential since the marketing Committee of the GCB continues to valiantly seek secure sustainable sponsorship for several competitions for 2023onwards.

The MCYS delegation that met the GCB representatives is Minister CharlesRamson,Directorof Sport Steve Ninvalle, and Chairman of National Sport Commission Kashif Muhammad. The meeting was attended by the GCB’s representatives of President BissoonyalSingh,thePublic Relations Officer (PRO) Clarence Brotherson, Territorial Development Officer (TDO), Assistant Development Officer Anthony D’ Andrade, and

TDO Administrative AssistantKavitaYadram.

Subsequent to the overview by GCB President Singh,heinvitedtheTDOto lead the presentation on the budgetaryconsiderationsfor Cricket Training and Competitions for 2023. The TDO gave a comprehensive presentation and was valuably supported by the Assistant Development Officer and the TDO AdministrativeAssistant.He outlinedtheGCB’sStrategic Plan for 2023 in relation to the players’ development through competitive activities of training and competition which in inevitably carried a mammothcost.

Minister Charles Ramson commended the GCB for their efforts to develop, administer and promotecricketinGuyanato the extent that the GCB continuestoproduceplayers of the highest quality for GuyanaandtheWestIndies. He indicated, that the

Government of Guyana and its affiliate Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport continue to examine purposefulandrealisticways ofdevelopingandpromoting sports, in this instance cricketinGuyana. Minister Ramson mentioned the need for effective implementation andindicatedthattheMCYS is interested in knowing the source of funding given the enormouscostofeffectively executing the planned cricket competitions for 2023.Heindicatedthatheis committing our MCYS through the support of GOG to make a substantial contribution to the funding of the national Under-19 Tournaments for 2023 Minister Ramson indicated that the Under-19 stage is a critical development area capable of providing the proficient transition of talented players from youth tosenior-levelcricket.Inthis regard,GOGandMCYSwill

(Continuedonpage21)

Minister of Sport, Hon. Charles Ramson Jr.(Head Table), NSC Chairman Kashif Muhammad, and Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle meet GCB President Bissoondyal Singh and other GCB Representatives.

New Amsterdam United Athletics Club elects new body

- Rudder takes up President’s post

Former National Athletics Champion and R e t i r e d S e n i o r Superintendent of Prison, N e i l R u d d e r w a s unanimously elected as President of the New AmsterdamUnitedAthletics Club(NAUAC).

Rudder, a former middle andlongdistancechampion, was elected when the body held their election of office bearers recently in New Amsterdam.

Rudder replaced long serving educator and sports and community activist, BusterWright, who held the postfrom2013to2022.

A number of other personswereelectedtoserve as executives members Those elected are Roger Trotman as Vice President,

Naoimi Wright - Secretary, MauriceMonroe-Treasurer, Perpetua Wright - Assistant Secretary, Collie MickleAssistantTreasurer,Thomas Bowman and Omefa Sampson will serve as CommitteeMembers.

Theclubhasalsonamed a number of persons including former National athletes as coaches. Those identified so far are former National Sprint champion, Bowman, who will take chargeofthesprints.

Mickle will be in charge of the field events while Rudderwillbetakingcharge of the middle and long distanceathletes.

The NAUAC was established in August 2011. Its first President was present New Amsterdam

Mayor and retired educator, Winifred Harewood, who served until 2013 when she wasreplacedbyWright.

Theclubpresentlyhas48 members and every effort will be made to increase its membership.

Theclubusuallytrainsat thefamousBurnhamPark,in New Amsterdam. However, since the Burnham Park is unfit for use due to current rehabilitation ongoing at the facility, the members are forced to use other places to train including the Canje Bridge.

AccordingtoRudderthe club will try to engage the service of other former nationalathletessothatthey could pass on their knowledge to the younger athletes. (SamuelWhyte)

The newly elected body of the New Amsterdam United Athletics Club.

GMRSC preps for Drag Wars1.0 on February 19

- Over 80 competitors registered

The Guyana Motor

Racing Sports Club (GMRSC) prepares to launchtheir2023seasonthis Sunday, February 19, when the club hosts their first event of the year, which is dubbed ‘Drag Wars 1.0’, at theSouthDakotaStrip.

It was recently revealed that over 70 local competitors have already registered for the event includingtheusualdominant suspects.

Along with the 11 cars scheduled to line-up out of Suriname,oneofwhichwill be driven by a Surinamese female, there will also be a Special Female Driver categoryinthiseditionofthe Drags. The female drivers will also have the option of stepping up to the plate alongside their male counterparts.

The club has already garnered support for the event from Beverage giant, Banks DIH, Team Mohamed’sandE-Net.

GMRSClastheldaDrag session in August of 2022,

where Team Mohamed’s camp displayed their dominancewiththePro-mod Mustang that reclaimed the strip record with ease Trinidad and Tobago’s Sheldon Bissessar set a new record of 7208s on the quarter-mile trek with his railcaronqualifyingday

However, that record lastedafewhoursastheProModcarshatteredBissessar’s time early on game-day, and stopped the clock at 7036s Team Mohamed’s Godzilla GTR, the previous record holder,wasthefirstchoiceto attempt to break Bissessar’s record but fell short at 7.5s. Inotherhighlightsduringthe last meet, the 16-second class was won by Phillip ArcherandhisToyotaAE91, with the 15-second class going to Peter Deen and his ToyotaGlanza.

RaviSinghandhisToyota starlet won the 14-second class ahead of Reyaz Hamid and his Toyota Verossa, who snagged the 13-second class. The lower classes were decided based on qualifying

times set earlier in the day with Romeo Singh winning the12-secondclass.

Denzel Hopkinson and the Kong Supra won the 11second class and the Trans Pacific’s Toyota Verossa of Sahadeo Ramswayk and Suriname’s Seshe Redjinder (Toyota Altezza) sharing the 10-secondtrophybyvirtueof them setting the same qualifyingtime.

Hans Yzer and the ‘Angry Bird’ Pontiac Firebird snapped up the 9second class, while Kervin Rebeiro of Trinidad and his second Generation RX7 were champions of the 8second class Rebeiro’s 0.010 split second reaction time won him the fastest reaction time trophy, which was donated by Imran Auto Works This Sunday, the event is scheduled to launch at 9:00 hrs with admission set at $1000 for adults and $500 for kids. For more informationabouttheevent, contacttheGMRSCon2315457, Raj (624-2222) or Sahiraz(660-2110).

Guinness‘GreatestoftheStreets’–WestDemerara Semifinalists decided on evening of shootouts

Itwasaneveningofpenaltyshoot-outs, as Showstoppers, Jetty Gunners, Ballerz Empire, and BagotstownWarriors clinched semi-final berths when the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ West Demerara edition continued on Saturday at the PouderoyenTarmac.

Anothermammothcrowddescendedon the venue to support the home side, and three-time winner Showstoppers, who edged inaugural champion West Side Ballers2-0onpenaltykicksafterregulation timeended1-1.StephonJupiterandDexroy Adams were on target to seal their berth in thesemi-finalround.

Similarly, their impending opponent in the semi-final section, Jetty Gunners, overcame Up Like 7 by a 6-5 score on

suddendeathpenaltykickscomplimentsof a Kevin Cummings strike. The score at the endoffull-timewas0-0.

Meanwhile, BagotstownWarriors upset ESPN 1-0 on penalty kicks, following a scorelessaffair.TheywillnowmeetBallerz Empire,whodefeatedTeamFamily2-0via penalty kicks after regulation time was unabletoseparatetheteamsat0-0.

In the Plate section, Team Anti-Social defeated Up Top Bosses via walkover, whilstRamsayClanmauledHillsidebya40 score. Identically, Red Triangle crushed Team Upset 4-0, whilst Pouderoyen BrothersedgedCNBallers.

The semi-final and finals for both sections will commence at the same venue onFriday17th.

Team Mohamed’s Pro-mod Mustang launches on its record breaking run. (Ameer Sattaur Photography)

Motie’s 7-37, Reifer’s 53 put West Indies on top early against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo

Gudakesh Motie holds up the ball after notching career best figures of 7 for 37•Feb 11, 2023•AP

second-wicket partnership of 71 before Chanderpaul fell to Brandon Mavuta for 36.

Reifer went on to score 53 before was run out with the score at 117 Shortly after Jermaine Blackwood lost hi wicket for 22 giving Mavutahissecondwicketof the innings leaving Mayers

and Chase to see out the remainingovers.

Mavuta has so far t a k e n 2 - 2 4 w h i l e Masakadza has figures of 1-32

Scores: West Indies 133 for 4 (Reifer 53, Mavuta 2-24) lead Zimbabwe 115 (Kaia 38, Motie7-37)by18runs.

SportsMax - The West Indies hold a slight advantage againstZimbabweatstumps onyesterday’sfirstdayofthe secondTestatBulawayo.

Chasing Zimbabwe’s modest first-innings total of 115, the West Indies were 133-4, a lead of 18 heading intodaytwo.

KyleMayersandRoston Chase are at the crease on eightandfive,respectively

The hosts, who won the toss and chose to bat, were quickly in trouble when Alzarri Joseph got opener Tanunurwa Makoni out for a 24-ball duck with only16 runsontheboard.

Innocent Kaia and Chamu Chibhabha put on 32 for the second wicket beforethelatterwascaught b y T a g e n a r i n e Chanderpaul at backward point off a Jason Holder deliveryfor10.

One run later, Holder picked up his second wicket

when he Kaia caught by Mayers at first slip as Zimbabweslippedto49-3.

That’s when Gudakesh

M o t i e t o o k o v e r

dismissing Milton

Shumba for three and wicketkeeper Tafadzwa Tsiga for a duck at 64 and 68, respectively to leave Zimbabwe tottering at 705atlunch

It only took the West Indies15.5oversafterlunch to wrap up the innings, despite a stubborn unbeaten 23 from Donald Tiripano, who hit the only six of the innings.

CraigIrvinemade22. Motie took all five wickets to end with careerbest figures of 7-37. Holder finished with 2-18 while Josephtook1-29.

Inreply,WestIndieslost Captain Kraigg Brathwaite for seven to Wellington MasakadzabutChanderpaul andRaymonReiferrepaired the early damage with a

Raymon Reifer swings big. (AP)

Raymon Reifer and Tagenarine Chanderpaul during their partnership. (CWI)