Kaieteur News

After two decades of court battle over infamous Valdez oil spill …

Exxon beat down US$5B court judgment for fishermen, natives, landowners to US$507M

On March 24, 1989, an oil tanker owned by ExxonMobil Corporation and dubbed the “Exxon Valdez” ran aground in a body of water in the Gulf of Alaska. It was heading to LongBeach,Californiawith over50millionbarrelsofoil but had hit a well-known navigation hazard in Alaska’swaters.

The impact of the collisiontoreopentheship’s hull, causing some 11 million gallons of crude oil to spill into the ecologically sensitivelocation.

At the time, it was the largestsingleoilspillinU.S. waters. Initial attempts to contain the oil failed, and in themonthsthatfollowed,the oil slick spread, eventually blackening about 1,300 miles of Alaska’s coastline. It was, and still is, regarded as one of the largest environmental disasters in U.S.history

Thecaseisoftencitedby environmentalists here and abroadasacautionarytaleof

howriskyoiloperationscan be and for Guyana to be on its guard. But what this case also highlights is the litigative power of

ExxonMobil which is also the operator of Guyana’s StabroekBlock.

The oil giant indeed faced numerous lawsuits for

the 1989 spill. But it did not roll over and accept all judgments handed down for compensation to those affected.

The state of Alaska had sued Exxon over the spill, and the federal government indicted the company for violating the Clean Water Act. The oil company was forced to dish out US$1 billion in settlements to the s t a t e a n d f e d e r a l governments, and US$300 million in voluntary settlements with private parties.

A lawsuit was also filed against ExxonMobil on behalf of more than 32,000 fishermen, native Alaskans andlandowners,resultingin an award of US$5 billion in punitive damages. Exxon’s full strength in the courts was demonstrated here. In 2008, it appealed the case and got the judgment reduced to $507.5 million.

(See link for article r e f e r e n c e d : https://wwwwashingtonpos t com/lifestyle/magazine/th

e-exxon-valdez-oilspill/2017/03/14/d131b630-

f 8 7 6 - 1 1 e 6 - 9 8 4 5576c69081518_story.html).

Importantly, the case woulddragoutfor26years, showing just how tedious a n d e x p e n s i v e environmental litigation is. In fact, the case came to a close in October, 2015 in a federal district court in downtown Anchorage, Alaska.

A c c o r d i n g t o international media reports, one of which is attached to this news item, the state and federalgovernmentsdecided not to pursue a final US$100-million from ExxonMobil over its 1989 oil spill in Prince William Sound.

JudgeH.RusselHolland — who presided over the Exxon Valdez case from the start — asked the state and federal governments if they had anything to add to their written filing. They said no. Sothejudgehimselfspoke. “I understand that some will be displeased with the government’s decision,” he hadsaidadding,“Butwhatis Continuedonpage16

GYD2,050,000 Promo Price

Exxon Valdez oil spill workers and maxi-barge hose beach after Corexit test on Quayle beach, Smith Island in Prince William Sound, Alaska, US, on 7 August 1989. Photograph: Alaska Resources Library and Information Services (Arlis) Photograph: ARLIS

…European, Middle Eastern countries already submit tenders - Ministry’s Brief

T

In presenting aspects of the new fiscal regime being used as part of the process, the Ministry of Natural Resources has confirmed that it is seeking a Signing Bonus of US$10M for each of the oil blocks being offered in the shallow waters south of the StabroekBlock.Withregard to the three blocks in the ultra-deep waters, the Ministry noted that it would beseekingUS$20MSigning Bonus for each of those blocks identified, north of the Stabroek block and east of the Kaieteur and Canjie OilBlocks.

This information is contained in the Ministry of Natural Resources’ Guyana EnergyBrief2023,prepared in conjunction with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC). In that document it was noted that the government in Novemberlast,launchedthe 2022 Guyana Licensing

Reference Map

h e G u y a n a Government is gearingtoauction 14 oil blocks in Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), 11 in the shallow watersandthreeintheultradeepwaters.Round with fourteen 14 oil blocks up for tender – three located in the ultradeepwaterandtheremaining 11intheshallowwater The competitive bid round was open to all local, regional and international energy players and according to the Ministry, “already, oil majors operating out of Europe,theMiddleEastand South America have tendered their interest in securing oil blocks which rangefromacreagesof1,000 square kilometres to 3,000 squarekilometres.”

“ A l t h o u g h b o t h international and local companies will be given an opportunity to bid for blocks, they must, however, possess a proven track record of technical, financial, health and safety, and environmental capabilities.”

Bidders, the Ministry said, will be assessed based on their guaranteed work programmes which will be weighed with the offered signing bonus and that local content commitments will alsobefullyexamined.

Additionally,whilethere will be no restrictions on how many bids a company

maysubmit,eachsuccessful bidder will be limited to an awardofthreeblocks.“This licensing round gives qualified international and local companies the opportunity to tap a country whose hydrocarbon potentialplacesitamongthe top-five non-OPEC (Oil Producing and Exporting Countries) countries set to lead as global producers by 2030.” This licensing round comes to a close in April 2023 with the expectation for the new model Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) to be applicableforawardsbythe end of the first half of this year,theMinistrysaid.

It was observed, in the Energy Brief, that as the guiding terms for the 2022 licensing round, the government has identified, too, a new and enhanced fiscalframework.

This structure, the Ministryindicates,willform the basis for a draft new modelPSAthatisscheduled to be released by the end of this Month Addressing some of the key changes on the new PSA, it noted that royaltyhasbeenincreasedto 10percent.

“The current 75 percent cost recovery ceiling has been lowered to 65 percent. Profit sharing after cost recovery remains the currently applied 50/50 system between the contractor and the Government of Guyana ” A c c o r d i n g t o t h e government, these new terms “have increased Guyana’s profit share from

14.5percentto27.5percent, plusthenewlyintroduced10 percent tax.” According to Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat, “these changescomeontheheelsof reviewing the licensing models of global oil producers, complemented by the advice of industry experts.” He said, “These incentives are expected to attract major international

oil companies with the necessary finance and expertise to expedite the p r o s p e c t i n g a n d development.”

f

Scale: 1:2,734,000 MapNo.00

Date: December 5, 2022

The Blocks identified for auction by tender as identified by the Ministry of Natural Resources and GGMC D1 D2 D3 Venezuela

Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456

Editor-In-Chief:NIGELWILLIAMS

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

EDITORIAL

CONCESSIONAL FINANCING

Itmustbethefoodthatweeatintheseparts,ortheeffects oftoomuchsunshinethatsapsthementalenergiesofleaders acrossthisregion.

Whatever is responsible, we are left to deal with the incredible (‘Caribbean leaders call for more concessional financing’ -KN February 11). We are willing to give the leaders in the rest of the region a pass on this call for a differenttypeoffinancing,butwearenotreadytodosowith our own Guyanese leaders, who embrace this line and then slavishlyparrotit.

Concessionalfinancingisdefinitelycompulsoryforother countries in the region, the Caribbean and Latin America, which have accumulated an amazing US$5.8 trillion in foreigndebt.Wewanttoaskwhereallthatmoneywentwhen the peoples of the region are as impoverished as ever, and always forced to run to some NorthAmerican or European country to make a dignified living.We leave the others out, andfocusonGuyanaalonetoday

Tojoininaskingforconcessionalfinancinghasitsmerits, but the PPPC Government should find the courage to share with Guyanese the financing terms in our relationship with ExxonMobil, and all that debt it incurs using our oil as collateral. We urge the President and his Government to be open about the kind of interest concessions that Guyana receivesfromExxonMobil,ifany Also,whenGuyanajoins withothersintheregiononconcessionalfinancing,itisour belief that it is taking the cowardly way, going in reverse. Though Guyana’s Minister of Finance delivered an impressive sounding speech before the bankers, he of all peopleshouldknowthatheisbarkingupthewrongtree.

Why not go the other way? We at this paper insist that goingafterrevenuesourcesisthebetterway Wehaveallthis high-quality oil, which is what we should be working fang and claw to wring concessions from foreign operators reaping and milking and guzzling our natural resources wealth. For emphasis: target the oil revenue streams, and other segments in the natural resources sector To do so, means that leaders in the PPPC Government must courageouslystandupandpushtothetableofconversation. Thisistosqueezefairnessoutofreluctantforeigncompanies, especiallythosetransferringsomuchofthiscountry’swealth totheircoffers.

Insteadofpleadingandbegginginthetimewornfashion of poverty-stricken Third World countries with depressed economies, why not face the music and expend the same energies in tireless and relentless pounding on the door of foreign executive suites for movement on the economic aspects of contracts.When the top executives of companies insist on digging in their heels and playing hard ball (even dirtygames),thencountrieslikeGuyanahavetofindwayson how to use their strengths to manage their wealth wiser, to reducedebtdependency

The conversations must not be about what is fair and reasonableforforeigncorporations.Thathastochangeright away, if we are ever going to make oil companies see some light.Forthatwouldneverwork,everbefoundacceptableby anyself-respectingentity,whoseprimarymotivationsareto profit the most in the shortest time at the least cost. Foreign companiesaretheirownbestriskandreturnadvocates.

There has to be mutual regard for what each party to business deals brings to the table. Guyana brings its highqualityoilinincreasingquantities.

Therefore,theoilcompaniesmustbemadetorecognise thewealthownership claimsof poor nationswith expectant peoples,aspittedagainsttheprofitmaximizationvisionsof foreigncompanies.Theremustbesomesatisfactorytradeoff thatassuresprosperityforbothsides.

USPresident,JoeBidenhasbeenunrelentinginhiscalls for a more balanced understanding from companies, includingAmerican companies.The wealth of nations is an asset,andtheexpertiseandfinancingofincominginterested partiesarevitalcogsinamachinethatmustbeinharmony

If not, there will be the inevitable crises and disgruntlements up the road, and the need for concessional financingthatbeggarslineuptobedoledouttothem.

Questionable statements by Esso Guyana on the safety of oil production in the Stabroek Oil Block

DEAREDITOR,

OnWednesday,February 15th,2023,theEssoGuyana Media Relations Advisor, Kwesi Isles, stated that the increaseofLiza1andLiza2 projects’combinedoutputto 400,000 barrels per day was safe. This appears to be the second time in less than a year that an Esso Guyana representative has issued highly questionable statements about the safety ofLiza1production.

For the last several months, Liza 1 has been operating at about 150,000 barrels per day as per the government website https://petroleum.gov.gy/dat a-visualization?tid=203.

However, the Liza-1 Environment Impact Assessment (EIA), see here https://www.oggn.org/wpcontent/uploads/2022/08/Vo

lume-I-Liza-Phase-1EIA.pdf, states on page 28, “a design rate of 100,000 barrels of oil per day (BOPD), with potential to safely operate at sustained peaksofuptoapproximately 120,000BOPD.”

How can operating 50% abovethedesignrateofLiza 1besafe?

Imagine if you load a plane 50% above its cargo capacity, surely you won’t get on such a plane. Then why is it acceptable for Exxontoriskamajoroilspill which would result in the bankruptcy of Guyana and other Caribbean nations by significantly exceeding the approveddesigncapacityfor itsoilprojects?

The Gulf of Mexico oil spill in 2010 was estimated to cost US$145 billion. Guyana has earned only a

couple of billion of US dollars from its oil production.Atinyfractionof what a major oil spill would cost.

On SaturdayAugust 6th, 2022 the Communications

M a n a g e r o f E s s o Exploration wrote a letter that appeared in the major Guyanese newspapers in which she stated, “ProductionratesontheLiza facilities are maintained within safe operating limits at all times.”This was when Liza 1 facilities were producing about 140,000 barrelsaday

That is 40% above the design rate of Liza 1. It is disturbing that Esso Guyana keeps using the Guyanese media to promote a highly questionable narrative about the safety of the oil production in the Stabroek

OilBlock.

Mr Isles claims, “Safety is a core value of ExxonMobil operations. We do not compromise safety standards to improve profits.” These sound like hollow words by Esso Guyanagiventhatthelegally required parent company guaranteetocoveranoilspill in Guyana’s Stabroek Oil Block has not been signed. Liza 1 began oil production about 3 years ago, if ExxonMobil is confident in thesafetyofitsoiloperations in Guyana then why are a fewstrokesofthepentaking this long? You can learn m o r e h e r e , https://chng.it/5KHTYsgqb Q. Regards, DarshanandKhusial For Oil and Gas GovernanceNetwork

Civil Society groups in Haiti seek CARICOM intervention

DEAREDITOR,

We are writing to ask you to make public this letter from 42 Haitian Civil society organisations to the CARICOM Heads of Government attending the 44th inter-sessional Conference held in Nassau, Bahamas from 15-17 February,2023.

H o n o u r a b l e CARICOM Heads of Government,

We are long past the point where one needs to prove that the gangs who have taken over Haiti, who have been purposely rendered all-powerful, and gifted the right of life and death over the Haitian people, are anything other than the foot soldiers of the internationalcommunity

They are a criminal fabrication who bear the imprimatur of the “Core Group”, which is a gang of Ambassadors which includes, among others, the OAS, Canada, France and theUnitedStates,whoenjoy the unfailing complicity of the PHTK regime of oligarchs and corrupt and criminal Haitian politicians. Thepurposeforthegangsis to reinforce the relentless stateofinsecurity

Since 7 October, 2022, the current de facto Prime Minister and his ministers, have donned a hideous costume of TRAITORS TO THENATIONbyrequesting foreignmilitaryintervention onournationalsoil,whichis a crime of high treason,

punishablebyarticle21.1of the Haitian Constitution

Mr Henry was actually installed by a mere tweet fromtheCoreGroup.

Theactionstakenbythis so-calledPrimeMinisterare theexpressionsofthewillof the Core Group and not that of the Haitian people.All of the prescriptions of the Haitian Constitution and the righttoself-determinationof the Haitian people are presently being trampled upon. Consequently, Ariel Henry, the Core Group’s Prime Minister, has no title, no capacity, and no

legitimacy authorizing him to decide or speak on behalf oftheHaitianpeople.

Therefore, all decisions arrived at with this gentleman will only commit himandhiscronies,andwill in no way bind Haiti or the Haitian people, who are locked in a struggle for survivalwithhim.

Werejectinadvanceany draft resolution aimed at supporting this de facto Prime Minister and his cronies or the mafia agreement of 21 December, which is nothing more than the Core Group’s last ditch

effort to save their incompetentpuppetfromthe wrathofthepeople.

The cries of distress of theHaitianpeopletrapped bytheCoreGroupandthe mafiaPHTKpower

The gangs, who are real terrorists working for the Core Group and the Henry government, operate with total impunity, with astonishing ease and frightening arrogance. Wellequipped and highly protected, these gangs and theirlocalcollaboratorshave managed,undertheauspices (Continuedonpage6)

Poverty Reduction:AMajor Goal of PPPC’s Policy

DEAREDITOR,

Immersed in the excitement of oil wealth, many Guyanese have been calling not only for direct cash transfer to every household but also asserting thatoilwealthoffersthebest opportunity to produce the goodlifeandforeliminating poverty

While exuberance about impending oil wealth is understandable, direct cash transfer has serious limitations; for example, it wouldnoteliminatenoreven reduce poverty; rather it would lead to dependency and entitlement that are unsustainable It is important, therefore, that G u y a n e s e ’ l o f t y expectationsbetamedwitha doseofreality

The Ghanian oil expert, George Owusu stated, “I don’t believe in cash transfer; you must work for themoney.”(Feb2022).Mr Owusu’s view synchronizes withthisposition:“anyablebody person gains his/her self-respect and self-esteem through being a productive member of society ” However, the PPPC is not

a v e r s e t o l i m i t e d

“conditional”cashgrantsfor such projects as home ownership, business startup, education advancement, job creation, and scientific research to improve living conditions and reduce the povertylevel.Itsfocusison “empowerment”toprovidea good life and lift people out ofpoverty

Stunned by the 43% poverty rate in 1992, the PPPC government moved quickly to invite the Carter Center to develop a plan to reduce poverty That effort resulted in the development of a National Development Strategy(NDS)andtogether withaBusinessSummitheld in 1999 there emerged the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS).

However, the PRS is not theonlyPPPC’sgovernment approach to poverty reduction; others including theNDS,theNCS(National Competitiveness Strategy) and the LCDS 2030 (Low Carbon Development Strategy) are also critical policy instruments

Together, these strategy documents indicate that

poverty could be reduced through the implementation of various measures such as providing affordable housing, job creation, and quality education. (Please see chart). The focus here is restricted to housing development, education advancement, quality healthcare,andjobcreation.

The government is investing$(G)54.5billionin housing development in 2023.

About80%ofthe20,500 houselotsallocatedbetween 2020-2022 have been awarded to low-income families. This means that over $(G) 25 billion annual housingsubsidygoestolowincomefamilies.

The government has established 44 new housing areas, constructed 827 homesforlowandmoderate income and professional people (with another 527 in progress), and regularized 6 of the 19 existing squatter settlements. These projects providejobsforthousandsof workers as well as expand household income and consumption and help to lift many households out of

poverty

Delivering quality healthcare to all regions is a top priority of the government. With a budget allocation of $84.9 billion, the government has moved swiftly to establish 6 stateof-the-art regional hospitals and one Pediatric and Maternity hospital at Ogle, plus the construction of a Hospital at Bartica The G e o rg e t o w n , N e w Amsterdam, and Linden Hospitals are scheduled for rehabilitation and expansion, while 4 telemedicine centers will be established in regions 1,7,8, and9.Hundredsofworkers, including those previously unemployedandthoseliving inpoverty,arebeinghiredto workontheseprojects.

B u o y e d b y t h e distinctive honor conferred upon the Anna Regina Secondary School for being named the 2022 CSEC School of the year for the Caribbean, the Education Ministry with budget of $94.4 billion is expected to play a significant role in the transformation of Guyana.

governmentawarded13,690 GOAL scholarships at a combined cost of $(G) 2.3 billion. For 2023 and 2024 the projection for GOAL scholarships is 6,000 annually

By 2024, this GOAL investment alone translates intolifting4,881households (or2.1%oftotalhouseholds) outofpoverty

The cash and school uniform grant amounting to $5.8 billion and awarded to 147,000;thenationalschool feeding programme that benefits 85,000 children ($2 1 billion); and $3 4 billion worth of textbooks would also augment the household income of thousandsofhouseholdsthat live in poverty and progressively lift many of themoutofpoverty

The government has allocated $(G) 10 billion in budget 2023 for the continuation of the 11,000 regular part-time job program at a 10-day per monthlyrateof$40,000.By contributing an average of $(US) 6.5 per day (based on a 30-day month) to the household, many part-time

workers are helping their householdstoriseabovethe officialpovertylineof$(US) 5.50 per day About 4,180 households (1.3% of total h o u s e h o l d s ) w i t h supplementary income of $6.50 per day would rise above the ((US) 5 50) povertyline.

Together,theGOALand Job program alone would result in a poverty reduction of 3.4%. With a budgetary allocation of $220+ billion for other sectoral programs/projects, like in housing, health, human services, public works, agriculture, hinterland, and tourism, a further drop of at least3.4%inthepovertyrate wouldberealized.

This rate (3 4%), combined with that of GOAL and Job program (3.4%) would result in a decline of 6 8% in the povertyratefrom38%(asof 2022) to 31.2% by 2024. And once the government continues on this track, the poverty rate is expected to drop progressively to single digitby2030.

Regards

DrTaraSingh

Ethnic pluralism was propagated in colonial times to ensure hierarchical advantage

DEAREDITOR,

My friend Gokarran

Sukhdeo reminded me, “RacialpluralisminGuyana was not an invention of British colonialism, although the British mastered it and practiced it with the greatest expertise, especially in India and Africa, namely, caste and tribal hierarchical delineations.

Pluralism always existed. The harnessing of socialpluralism,thedivision of labour, specialisations in the production of goods and services, establishment of ownership/management/ruli ngclassesareallderivatives of the capitalist system which itself inherited and adopted much of its traits from its parent/predecessor, i.e.,thefeudalsystem.”

Ethnic pluralism and hierarchical dominance of the planter class, for their psychologicalandeconomic

advantage in Guyana, was deliberately sustained and viciously practiced during colonial times as a policy and, after independence from colonial control, was conveniently copied and propagatedsincethenbythe local ruling class to ensure control and continued exploitationofthemasses.In order to achieve this and maintain the derived status quo, they found it necessary to stigmatize groups of people as ‘lesser’ so as to

justify dominance and exploitation.

The exploited were supposedly inferior, lacking inabilitytoreason,love,and hate.

They were presumed lower in the evolutionary tree, needed “protection”, were a “burden” that had to be taken care of through the generosityofcolonizers,had to be “Christianized” to make them docile and “ c i v i l i z e d ” There was also science,

p s e u d o - s c i e n c e , promulgated to prove racial inferiority

ThisincludedI.Q.testing attheturnofthelastcentury, and the practice of phrenology – that cast the cloudofphysicalandmental subjugation of Blacks, Chinese, Mexicans, Native

Indians, East Indians and others (such as Jews and EasternEuropeanswhowere administered intelligence and sanity tests at Ellis

I s l a n d )

Because it was decided that the exploited were the inferior people, they were segregated from the ruler

class, which averted sympathies and any notion ofequality

Indeed, the underclass were not allowed to attend thesamechurchforfearthat theequalitystatusintheeyes ofGodmightbeinferred.

Allcolonialpeoples (Continuedonpage30)

Civil Society groups in Haiti seek CARICOM...

Frompage4 of the Core Group, to establish a reign of terror, chaos, and lawlessness, which sees the Haitian people living under a constant state of insecurity, systemic political repression, targeted political assassinations, and programmed daily kidnappings, all openly planned by the State. The undeclared war which the imperialistic powers are waging against the Haitian people is entering its final stage of implosion, whereby the fundamental rights to security, freedom of movement, food, education, health and life itself are all being systematically denied toHaitians.

We ask you not to allow yourselves to be drawn into the criminal logic of the imperialistic powers, who are determined to suffocate or eliminate Haiti, and we urgeyoutoengageinadeep political reflection on the revolting situation our country is undergoing, in order to better understand what is really going on, and beinapositiontohelpusto overcome it. Sister Nations of CARICOM, we cannot forget our common past markedbysignificantevents uniting Haiti and the Caribbean, which resonate

with the memory of our rebellious and victorious ancestors. It is time for the Caribbean to stop being the amplifiers of the former colonial powers, who are today’simperialisticpowers, and instead rediscover the meaningofactivesolidarity

The Haitian people fully expect to find among you steadfast supporters of our cause, and thank you in advance for your solidarity to help us to break from this dangerous impasse and take charge of our destiny We hereby list the help which is primarily required by Haiti, tobreakoutofthisdisastrous predicament:

Wedemandanendtothe indecent support of the international community, in particular the USA, Canada and France, for the criminal PHTK government of Ariel

Henry, a d e f a c t o government which has neither the will nor the capacity to bring about the requiredsolutions;

· We claim a sovereign Haiti, freed from the genocidal grip of the imperialistic powers, and as former American Special EnvoytoHaiti,DanielFoote pointed out in his letter of resignation: the right of Haitianstotaketheirdestiny intotheirownhands;

· We ask for genuine

support to break the wall of silence erected to conceal from the world the criminal actions of the imperialistic powers, theCoregroup,and in particular the American government against the Haitianpeople;

· We ask for support for the Haitian people’s right to self-determination, and respect for their rejection of military intervention, which will only serve to maintain ArielHenryandhiscliquein power, to reinforce the tutelage being imposed on Haiti to achieve total political control of Haiti in order to consolidate foreign interference and facilitate the looting of the country’s resources;

· We demand restitution fromFranceofthehundreds of millions extorted in the form of an odious and egregious ransom to punish Haiti for daring to win its independence, as well Reparationsforthehistorical debt for slavery, and all the wrongs, abuses and injusticessuffered.

· We demand the double restitution from the US for the gold reserves stolen by US Marines from the vaults oftheNationalBankofHaiti on 17 December, 1914, and the theft of Navassa island, as well as reparations for all of the wrongs, abuses and injustices being endured to thisday

W e d e m a n d ReparationsfromtheUNfor the families of the 30,000 victimsofcholera.

We hope that this Conference will be an occasion for a great awakening, and that CARICOM will not continuetobecomplicitwith the former colonial, slaveholding, and racist powers.

We end this letter by reminding you of the words ofBishopDesmondTutu:

“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor, because neutrality always helps the oppressor,neverthevictim.”

The Haitian people currently find themselves in a situation of extreme danger, and we ask you to heed the words of Bishop Tutu, and take a stand for righteousness, to help the peopleofHaitifromsinking into the abyss into which its oppressors are intent on drivingit.

Long live the solidarity between the peoples of the CaribbeanwithHaiti!

Long live the solidarity of the peoples of the world withHaiti!

Signators:

Alternative Socialiste (ASO) / Jean Hénold Buteau et Jean-Paul Bastien

A L B A

M O V I M I E N T O S , ChapitreHaiti/Islanda MichelineAduel KONAKOM, Dunois ErickCantave

Inisyativ Patriyòt Maryen (IPAM) / Hugues Célestin

Latibonit Kanpe pou Ayiti (LAKAY) / Rigaud

Velumat

Mouvman Revolisyonè pou Liberasyon Mas yo (MORELIM) / Nelio PetitHomme

COMIPOL/ Ernso ErtilusetJulioFilsCham

Osnel Jean-Baptiste / Journalisteengagé

Union Nationale des Normaliens-nes d’Haïti (UNNOH)/PeguyNoel

Kolektif Solidarite, IdantiteakLibète(KASIL)/ RudyPrudent

Centrale Nationale des O u v r i e r s H a ï t i e n s

(CNOHA) / Dominique St Eloi

Konbit Ayisyen pou

LojmanAltènatif(KAYLA)/ FranciaPierrette

Obsèvatwa pou Egalite

(OPE)/JeanClaudyAristil

PlatfòmAyitiVèt(PAV)/ SaicoJeanMichelSévère

Union Syndicale des Transporteurs Haïtiens (USTRAH) / Venès Junior

Many

Asosyasyon Viktim

Masak Leta nan Katye

Popilè yo (AVIMEKP) / NevelsonJean-Baptiste

Respect des Ouvriers

Haïtiens de la Manufacture (ROHM)/CamitoSainclair

Collectif des Planteurs

R e s p o n s a b l e s p o u r l’avancement d’Haïti (COPRAH)/

Rezo Òganizasyon

Nòdwès/KerbyJoseph

Fowòm Sitwayen nan

Sid (FOSID) / Rejean

Fontaine

Platfòm Oganizasyon

pou Ideyal Bwawon Tonè / Hugues-CapèMondésir

G a r y L i n d o r

MOSSO/AVIMB/ Kowòt Patriyotik / FranciscoAlcide

Cercle Grégory SaintHilaire/CilienLuxenat

Armand Joseph Jules / Citoyenengagé

Cri Castro / Wismanie

Perrin

F ò s D è l m a 3 2 / ClerveauxFritznel

Fanm Vanyan pou sove

SouverennteAyiti / Myrlène

Deshommes

Sèk Janil / Bedouby

Nobert

MSTH-ROZO / Mario

Maisonneuve

ESKANP/MarioCoty

ROZO/MirthaElie

AJSOCH/ Jean Thony

Forest

FOSYNPO/Gedeon JuniorGeorges

FRAKKA/ Francois

Philippe

Z O U L A / P i e r r e DieudonnéDelice

Oganizasyon Konbit

Aksyon Popilè / James Francisque

Schneider Alcereste / NOUVOLIB

Kolektif Atis Angaje (KATAN)/KébertBastien Konbit Òganizasyon Sendikal, Politik ak Popilè / JosuéMérilien

PlateformeHaïtiennede P l a i d o y e r p o u r u n Développement Alternatif (PAPDA)/Camille

Chalmers

Mouvman Leve Kanpe pou yon Lòt Endepandans / Patrick

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GUYANESE MUST SPEAK UP

President IrfaanAli and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo in recent times, have been getting a lot of speaking appointments both locally and overseas.

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We urge them to use these opportunities to speak up against the contract injustice wreaked upon this country by Exxon.

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Guyanese participating in international forums must also summon the skill and boldness to highlight this contract injustice to partners, in the hope that they will lend their voices to our cause.

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Foreigners continue to be attracted by the many opportunities in Guyana.

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The primary objective of all is to get a nice share of Guyana’s riches.

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We are all for that, but as owners of this wealth, we also must get our rightful share of it.

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It is not constructive to be in a country where many in the population are unhappy with an oil contract that they believe cheats them and robs them.

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This is not good for business.

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It would help immensely, if more voices are added to the call for fairness for Guyanese with their oil.

Fairness begins with an improved contract. The more foreign voices support Guyana’s cause, the more Exxon will be forced to address this agitating issue.

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ExxonMobilendangeringGuyana andCaribbeanbyexceedingsafeproductionlimits

...says nation’s oil earnings could easily be wiped out

ExxonMobil has ramped up oil production activities offshore at the two Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels currentlyoperatingintheStabroekBlock.

Just last week President of ExxonMobil Upstream Company, Liam Mallon revealed that Exxon is already producing 380,000 barrelsperday(bpd)whichis40,000barrels above the Liza Destiny and Liza Unity FPSOs name plate capacity As though this was not alarming enough, he said that ExxonMobilGuyanaismakingpreparations

to produce an additional 20,000 barrels bpd over the vessels’ full capacity Mallon explained that with further debottlenecking workwhichareongoing;Exxonwillbeable toreach400,000barrelsperday

Weighing in on the subject, Darshanand Khusial a member of the Oil and Gas Governance Network (OGGN), said that theseactivitiesallow“Exxontoriskamajor oilspillwhichwouldresultinthebankruptcy ofGuyanaandotherCaribbeannations.”

OGGN is an advocacy group that comprisesofanumberofGuyanesecitizens

whohavebeencallingforbettermanagement of the oil and gas resources. Exxon has constantly warned in its Environmental ImpactAssessments(EIAs)submittedtothe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), that an oil spill offshore can impact several Caribbeannations.

Khusialina‘lettertotheeditor’reasoned thatwhileoverthepastfewmonthsLizaOne has been operating at about 150,000 barrels per day as per the government website, the LizaOneEIAstatesonpage28“adesignrate of 100,000 barrels of oil per day (BOPD), with potential to safely operate at sustained peaks of up to approximately 120,000 BOPD.”

To this end, the activist questioned how operating 50 percent abovethedesignratecan be safe The OGGN representative was also keen to point out that an oil spill that occurred in the Gulf of Mexico back in 2010 was estimated to cost US$145 billion. On the other hand, he said Guyana has barely earnedjustoverUS$1billiontodatefromits oil production activities- “a tiny fraction of whatamajoroilspillwouldcost.”

According to statistics provided by the BankofGuyana,Guyana’sNaturalResource Fund (NRF) or the oil account held US$1,426,319,194 at the end of December 2022.TheearningsforJanuary2023havenot yet been updated. Khusial argued that while theoilcompanyclaims“safetyisacorevalue of ExxonMobil operations. We do not compromise safety standards to improve profits,” these equate to hollow words, especially since the oil company is yet to provide the country with a parent company guaranteeforitsStabroekBlockoperations.

He argued that Liza One started productionactivitiesoverthreeyearsagoand ifExxonMobilisconfidentinthesafetyofits oiloperationsinGuyanathenthissigningthis guaranteeshouldnothavetakenaslongasit did.

Previously, the Former Head of the EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA),Dr

VincentAdams said ExxonMobil’s increase in production without conducting a fresh Environmental ImpactAssessment (EIA) to examinethepossibleeffectsofsamedoesnot only violate safety standards, but also increasestheriskofapotentialoilspill.

The former boss of the EPA said even though Exxon and its subsidiaries might be making the necessary infrastructural adjustments to facilitate the increased production, it must first be approved by the EPA, and only after consultations are done withcitizens.

Heexplained:“Themostimportantthing that an EIA does is it defines the safety envelope for operating and when the EIA they wanttopumpmorethan120,001barrelsper

daythey got go and convincetheEPAthatitissafeandithastobe opentoconsultations.Theyjustcannotmake thatdecision.”

For the Liza Destiny, the safety limit is 120,000 barrels of oil per day and for the Liza Unity, it is 220,000 barrels of oil per day Head of ExxonMobil Corporation, Darren Woods admitted that these two vessels are operating beyond those limits. The company has said it has engaged in ‘debottlenecking exercises’to allow for the increase. Dr.Adams however believes this too is absolute nonsense. He said Exxon’s executives use such jargons as a mask for their unconscionable pursuit of obscene profits

He argued, “They are using this debottlenecking jargon to intimidate and confuse because they know most Guyanese don’t know fully what this type of lingo means. That terminology means that they widenthepipingsystemandotherequipment toincreasetheproduction.Theytrytomakeit seemthatthisissomeindustrynormbutitis not.Theycan’tpullthisnonsenseintheUSAIknowthatforafact.”

Man missing after leaving mining pit

Family members of a Pomeroonmanarepresently looking for him after he reportedly went missing some five days ago after leavingaminingpitatGood Hope Backdam, Waini River,RegionSeven.

The missing man has been identified as Ravin Stoll,30,ofGrantNewPort, Pomeroon River, Region Two According to the man’s sister, Diane Stoll, Ravin left his home on February12lasttoheadinto the backdam He was reportedly taken there by a dredge owner to work on someoneelse’sdredge.

Diane told Kaieteur

News that based on information she received from his boss, Ravin had worked one day and then disappeared.Hisco-workers reportedly claimed that he just walked out of the pit where they were working andleft.Theyneversawhim again since then His belongings and clothes, however,arestillinthecamp butRavinneverreturned. Checks were reportedly madeforhimintheareabut he was not found. Worried abouthiswellbeing,Ravin’s relativeshavesincelodgeda missingperson’sreportwith

police

If anyone knows where Ravin might be, they can make contact with telephone numbers, 6725004, 611-1495, 672-5904, 632-5907 or the nearest policestation.

Why was a protest planned for outside the Chinese Embassy?

Guyanese have been charged and convicted with serious financial and drugrelated crimes in the United States of America, ranging from mortgage fraud, bank, wire fraud and drug trafficking.Yet,noAmerican citizen launched any protest outside of the Guyana Embassy or the Guyana Consulate in New York in protest over the illegal acts, allegedandproven.

Thereasonissimple.All Guyanese living in the TriState area should not be tainted as a result of the unlawful actions of a few. And there have been quite a few unlawful actions committed by Guyaneseborn citizens in the United States.

It was therefore surprisingtoreadthatalocal group of Guyanese citizens were planning to picket the Chinese Embassy in Guyana. This decision was no doubt instigated by the charges which were levied by the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) against alocalGuyanesefamilywho are accused of allegedly being involved in financial crimes. It said that it is

believed that sums were moved on behalf of Chinese nationals. But no charges havebeenleviedagainstany suchforeignnationalorfirm.

Not many details have been provided by SOCU as to these charges or to the claimed links to Chinese nationals The details available have been very sketchy and therefore it is somewhat premature for aspersionsofevenlinkstobe made to foreign nationals in lightofthedisclosuresmade thusfar.

Thereisalsosupposedto be the presumption of innocence.Accused persons are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty and this implies that it is the responsibility of the State to establish the veracity of chargesagainstthemandnot foranaccusedpersontohave to establish his or her innocence.

The presumption of innocence however has never prevented persons from protesting either the guilt or innocence of persons. There have been many protests outside the precincts of courts over either the perceived guilt or

Dem Boys Seh...

innocence of persons, but outside of political considerations,suchprotests have always been based on information which was available about the offences for which the accused have beencharged.

SOCU has had a far but stellar reputation when it comes to the successful prosecution of persons for serious financial offences.

As far as can be recalled, in its 10-year history SOCU hasonlyhadlimitedsuccess in money laundering prosecution but no massive sums were involved in the successfulcases.Thepresent casewilltestwhetherSOCU hasdevelopedthecapability togoaftermajorcrimes.

But even if those planning the protest outside of the Chinese Embassy are of the opinion that there is a major money laundering ring in Guyana involving Chinese nationals, why protest outside of the ChineseEmbassy?Doesthis not constitute an unfair stigmatization of the Chinese community in Guyana?

It is surprising that no protests have been planned

Men does gat dressing problems too!

Dehgatsomewomenwahdoesgattoget new clothes every time dem gat to go out. Duh is one of de reasons why some of dem don’t go to everything dem get invite to. Dem know dat dem does gat some friends wahdoesbelookingfuhseeifdemganwear backdesamedresswahdemwearatanother event.

And we gat some people who does be going through people Facebook page jus fuh see if dem wearing back clothes wah dem wear before. But men nah gat dat problem.

Dem could wear de same pants 1,000 timesandnobodynahgannotice.Butifdem weardesameshirttodemoredanoneevent, somepeoplegantalk.

Dat is why some of dem politician does gat to get a fat wardrobe allowance. Dem

doesgattoweardifferentclothes.Andsome of we politicians looking fuh dress up dese dayssincedemnoticedewaterfallmanhave on a different shirt every time he do a Tik Tok.

DemTikTok reachingso manypersons dat dem boys frighten fuh ask Uncle Glenn fuh borrow one of he shirts because somebody gan notice and go and spread gossip how dem boys borrow shirt from UncleGlenn.

Butyuhknowwahdoesfretdemboys.Is when dem gat to go to a special function. Anddemgoandbuydemostexpensiveshirt in town, only to turn up at the event and somebodyelsegatondesameshirt. Demthingsdon’thappentodemladies. Itdoesonlyhappentodemmen. Talkhalf.Leffhalf!

for outside of the United States Embassy Far more information is in the public domain concerning the operations of the Exxon Mobil oil company, an American multinational Thereisseriousconcernthat the company has signed an agreement with the government of Guyana which has shortchanged the country and the details of which are of concern in relation to the lack of ring fencing, poor royalties and the absence of full liability coverage in the event of an oil spill There are also concerns about whether the Stability Clause is in contravention of Guyana’s sovereignty

There are far greater grounds for protesting the workingsoftheAmericanoil company in Guyana than exists for protesting the ChinesepresenceinGuyana. But we have no heard of no planned protests outside of theUnitedStatesEmbassy

So why is China being targeted? If the issue is the illicit operations of some suspected Chinese businesspersons, why involve the Chinese Embassy. The Embassy has since said it will cooperate withanyinvestigation.

Those planning the protest should be circumspect that their actionsdonotstigmatizethe entire foreign Chinese

communityinGuyana.They should be cautious also about the basis upon which they have formed their assumptions.Theyshouldbe careful that they are drawn intothenewColdWarwhich the Americans have launched and which aim to limitChineseinfluence.

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

Reduce ministerial control over Radiation Safety & Security Laws

Prominent Guyanese Engineer and Energy Technologist, Alfred Bhulai is calling on the administration to revamp its political control embedded in the Radiation and Safety Security Bill of2022.

Having unsuccessfully attempted to make contact with governmentorparliamentofficials, he has since written directly to the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, calling on the administration to relinquishitspoliticalcontrolofthe proposedbody

He identified as key for public consultations, namely that the Minister with responsibility for its enforcementmustnotbetheperson appointing the seven-member boardandtoselectitschairmanand deputy Bhulai was adamant that the Minister must not be the person to determine the remuneration and terms and conditions of the appointment of members and suggested that “Parliament should

dothatinaseparatebudgetforthe purpose.”

In relation to the appointment ofsuitablyqualifiedinspectors,the engineer said that this should be done by the Board and not the Minister and “above all” the Ministershouldnotbethepersonto determine the appeal against a

decision of the Board since that “should be the remit of the Judiciary, which should be facilitatedforurgency.”

As such, he was adamant that MinistersofGovernmentshouldbe answerable to citizens, through Parliament or public access and that“wedonotwantourMinisters tobeotherwiseoccupiedandfailin this duty; and we also do not want to provide the Minister the opportunity to give arbitrary decisions when a Board is to be constitutedforsuchapurpose.”

Additionally, he proffered that “similarly, we should not want governmentemployeestobeonthe Board, because we want access to our public servants; and we also fear they may not be truly independent of ministerial influence.”

In his missive to the Attorney General, he was quick to point out that there are other inefficiencies andunclaritiesintheBill.

To this end, Bhulai was unwavering that a very important

- Bhulai

considerationisthattheBillshould be redrafted to not have the potential to incriminate persons who discover, whether by investigation or otherwise, that publicsafetymaybecompromised.

“A sufficiently independent Board,asIamtryingtoencourage inthislegislation,couldbegranted the power to hear whistleblowers on radiation safety and security, consistent with Part V of the ProtectedDisclosuresActof2018, especiallyintheglaringabsenceof a Protected Disclosures Commission,forwhichnoonehas anypenaltytopay.”

In his appeal to the Attorney General, Bhulai noted too that in the setting up of the Board, it should be enshrined that no member of the Board may be a government employee or member of a political party and that members should have passed at

least at the CSEC level some subject containing the physics of radioactivity

Additionally, he is calling for representatives of autonomous bodies to be agents not controlled by the autonomous body for the purposes of the business of the Board.

The Bill was tabled in the House, in April last and was subsequently referred to a Special Select Committee for further consideration.

TheBillthatwaspresentedto Continued on page 15

Prominent Guyanese Engineer and Energy Technologist, Alfred Bhulai

Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony

Local company withdraws court action over lands to develop houses for oil sector

Mohamed’s Sons and Daughters Trading, Mining, Logging and Construction Inc., a local company, on Tuesday withdrew its court c a s e a g a i n s t t h e

Beterverwagting /Triumph

Neighbourhood Democratic Council(NDC)overthesale of private lands to build housesfortheoilsector.

According to court documents seen by this newspaper Jimmaul Bagot, C h a i r m a n o f t h e

Beterverwagting /Triumph

NDC was approached by Keith Chapman, a Sworn Land Surveyor sometime in March 2021. Chapman told Bagot that he was retained by John Fernandes Ltd (“JFL”) and that the company had an interest in acquiring Sections ‘F’ and ‘G’partofBeterverwagting, EastCoastDemerara(ECD) lands which together total 200hundredacres.

The Land Surveyor also

said that the company wanted the land for a massive development project related to the oil and gas sector The said project willalsoprovidehousingfor expatriates.

The NDC suggested that the proposed megaproject would require financial inputs amounting to at least GY$2 billion to develop the housing project but the initial buyers would purchasethesaidparcelsfor $20million.

John Fernandes Limited subsequently handed over thedealtoMohamed’sSons and Daughters Trading, Mining, Logging and Construction Inc. and the company subsequently took the NDC to court following an investigation by the Deeds Registry that unearthed several transports issued over the years. This made it impossible for the NDC to sell land that it did

notown.

The lands reportedly belonged to veteran journalist, Adam Harris, PerrianJonas,EltonMcRae, Mustakeen Khan, Patrick Gittens, Winslow Padmore, Clyde Westmoreland, Ishan Arjun and Juan Rowe all of whom had applied through their attorney, Eusi Anderson to join the court actionchallengingthesaleof theland.

However, when the matter was called before Justice Gino Persaud at the High Court on Tuesday, Mohamed Sons and Daughters Trading, Mining, Logging and Construction Inc through its attorney Nigel Hughes withdrew its application.

In its defence, the NDC represented by Attorney-atLaw, Kashir Khan, told the court that it sought to discontinue the transaction by refunding the cheque to

the principal buyer which had initially refused to collect it. Taking the circumstances into consideration, the company withdrewtheapplicationand thecourtorderedittopaythe NDC cost of $250,000 withinthenextsixweeks.

Kaieteur News had previously reported that the Beterverwagting/Triumph

NDC had shared that it had receivedaproposalfromJFL in 2021 for a plot of land at the backlands of the B e t e r v e r w a g t i n g community

Following concerns raised that the NDC did not own the lands and that several persons from the community owned it, JFL had publicly stated that it is no longer interested in purchasingthelandfromthe NDC.

H o w e v e r , t h e BV/TriumphNDCatapress conference had later informedthemediathatthey had received a document from Mohamed and Sons and Daughters Trading, Mining, Logging and Construction Inc. indicating that JFL had handed its interestandrightstothemin relationtothelandlocatedat Section‘G’.

Back then, NDC Chairman, Jimmaul Bagot

noted though JFL had publicly stated that it is not interestedintheland,hesaid that it is of the view of the Council that JFL is using Mohamed and Sons and Daughters as a shell companytodeceivethem.

John Fernandes in responsesaidithadengaged the local NDC and entered into an agreement to purchasetheland.Sometime after this agreement was signed and a deposit by JFL made to the NDC, it was disclosed by “an individual unknown to the company, stated via social media that the land earmarked for purchase was in fact ancestral lands meant to be owned by their descendants andobjectedtoitbeingsold toacorporation.”

This was followed by claims that there were personsholdingtransportfor somepartsoftheland.While

Continuedonpage31

BV/Triumph NDC Chairman, Jimmaul Bagot

Eightwantedformoneylaundering,financialcrimes

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Tuesday issued wanted bulletins for eight persons in relation to money laundering and other seriousoffences.

Those wanted are:

Denzel Lawrence Muir, 29, of 194 First Street Mocha

Arcadia East Bank

Demerara, Aubrey Anthony Fraser,26,ofLot75Accabre Drive, Kara Kara, Mc Kenzie, Linden, Leon Anthony Williams, 24, of Lot 74Accabre Drive, Kara Kara Housing Scheme, Linden, Cassandra

Alexandra, 27, of Lot 58 Accabre Drive, Kara Kara

H o u s i n g S c h e m e ,

Mackenzie, Linden, Upper Demerara River, Melicia Adella, 39, of Lot 99 Inner Bagotsville, West Bank

7

Ruimveldt,Georgetownand Lot 74,Accabra Drive Kara

Kara Housing Scheme,

Mckenzie, Linden, Akeem

ElijahPowers,28,ofLot918

Victory Valley, Linden, and Lot 37 West Watoaka Farm Road, Linden; Khadijah

Nafeesah,26,of266Wisroc Housing Scheme, Linden, Upper Demerara River and RaulJomalJames,35,ofLot 98AccabreDrive,KaraKara H o u s i n g S c h e m e , Mackenzie,Linden.

The bulletins were issued by the Special

Organised Crime Unit (SOCU),anarmoftheGPF

According to information, the suspects are wanted for questioning in connection with money laundering and

other serious offences committed in Guyana

However, the Police did not

information about the whereabouts of the suspects isaskedtocontactSOCUon telephone numbers 2253079, 225-3084 or the nearestpolicestation.

WANTED: Raul Jomal James

WANTED: Denzel Lawrence Muir

WANTED: Aubrey Anthony Fraser

WANTED: Leon Anthony Williams

WANTED: Khadijah Nafeesah

WANTED: Cassandra Alexandra

WANTED: Melicia Adella

WANTED: Akeem Elijah Powers

Reduce ministerial control over...

Frompage10 the House by Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony, is aimed at regulating the use of ionizing radiation and protects persons and the environment from the harmful effects of radioactivewaste.

In the explanatory memorandum accompanying the Bill, it was noted that the proposed law “recognizes that the use of ionizing radiation can provide important benefitsinmanyfields,includinghealthand medicine, energy production, scientific research,agriculture,industryandeducation.

However, it is also recognised that it is equally important to establish measures to protect individuals, society and the environment from the potentially harmful effects of ionizing radiation, including those that can result from improper use, accidents ormaliciousacts.”

WithregardtotheobservationbyBhulai on the Board, it would be apposite to note thatwhenpresenteditwasintimatedthatthe body to be established would be an “independent regulatory authority” mandatedtoworkwithrelevantgovernment agencies to ensure that activities and

practices involving the uses of ionizing radiation and nuclear energy are used in Guyanaforonlypeacefulpurposes

TheBoardshall,accordingtothepresent iterationoftheproposedlaw,istobemadeup of seven persons, appointed by the Minister of Health, from the Ministry of Health, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Guyana Revenue Authority, the Ministry of Human Services and Social Protection, and three persons qualified in any of the following areas – clinical oncology, radiology, petroleum engineering, occupational health and safety, national securityandintelligenceorpublichealth.

AccordingtotheBill,thelifeoftheBoard shall not exceed two years and it shall be responsible for assisting the government to developpoliciesandmeasurestoregulatethe useofionizingradiationandnuclearenergy, inspection of associated facilities and ensuring compliance with regulations, amongotherfunctions.

Bhulai is calling however, for those memberstobeinplaceforatleastfiveyears atatime,inordertoallowcontinuitybeyond thelifeofGovernments.

Govt.stillfinalizingnewoilagreement

One week after the promised release date for a new Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), the Government of Guyana (GoG)isstillintheprocessof

finalizingthedocument Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat in a brief comment said that the new oil agreement was being finalized, but did not

saywhenitwouldbereleased tothepublic Uptoyesterday there was no sight of the a g r e e m e n t o n t h e government’swebsite Initially, the GoG said a

draft of the new PSA, set to govern 14 oil blocks presently on auction and all future agreements with oil companies,wouldhavebeen releasedonFebruary13

Thereleasewastotrigger a two weeks public consultation on the new model agreement, slated to have been completed on February 28, 2023 The final PSAwas to be publicised on March8,2023accordingtoa Licensing Round Schedule posted by the Natural ResourcesMinistry

Companies interested in theauctionofGuyana’s14oil blockswereawaitingthenew t e r m s t o f i n a l i z e participation Atleastthiswas so for ExxonMobil Guyana President,AlistairRoutledge

He said at a press conferenceearlierthismonth that Exxon is waiting on the finaltermsofthenewmodel Production Sharing Agreement that will be used for these blocks “and when wehaveallofthat,wewillbe in a position to make a decisiononwhetherwebidor not”

It is unclear whether the delayed release of the model contract would impact the estimated time for exploration activity to commenceintheprospective oil blocks President Irfaan Ali had said contracts would be awarded by May 31 this year

Inthemeantime,political oppositionparty,thePeople’s National Congress Reform (PNCR)hasrenewedcallsfor thenewPSAtobereleased EconomicAdvisor to the Opposition Leader, Elson Low in an invited comment shared, “Government’s failure to release the new model PSA by its stated deadline of February 13, is yet another example of the government’s incompetence and desire to keep this PSA outofthepubliceye”

Low added that Vice

President, Bharrat Jagdeo said during the International Energy Conference and Expo, that there will be no ring-fencingprovisionfor14 oilblocksonauction

This however he said is worrying and highlights the need for the new model contract to be released, since thiscontractwillalsogovern other oil blocks already awarded

A ring-fencing provision wouldallowforoneprojectto paybacktheoilcompanyfor its investment to develop the resources in that particular field

In the absence of this clause, oil companies can deduct expenses for projects that are yet to commence productionactivities,thereby shorteningprofitsreceivedon thefunctionalproject

Low reminded that the new agreement will also govern acreage presently being explored in the Kaieteur and Canje Blocks forexample,whicharelarger thanthoseonauction

“The Vice President mentioned that there would be no ring-fencing for this newPSA,giventhesmallsize of oil blocks now being auctioned, but given existing block awards are also to be governed under these terms doesthismeantheywillalso notberingfenced?Theseare thetypesofdetailsweneedto see, which is why the PSA

must be released now,” he explained

During Guyana’s Energy Conference hosted between February14and17thisyear, Jagdeo announced that ringfencing will not be included in the new PSA that will govern the 14 oil blocks presentlyonauction

According to him, “We saidtherewasaneedforringfencing but given the size of the future blocks we decided against ring-fencing because they are small, especially those Blocks that are going outtotender”

Jagdeo explained, “We alsosaidthatwearegoingto change the fiscal terms from thoseenjoyedinthePSAthat was signed by Exxon in the Stabroek Block We had 10 contracts that were signed that had the old fiscal terms thesenewfiscalterms willbeapplicabletoallofthe nineothercontractsthatwere signedinthepast”

The new PSA according to the VP, will feature improved fiscal terms for Guyana including a 10 percent royalty, 65 percent cost recovery ceiling, 50/50 sharing of profit oil and a 10 percentCorporationTax He said these terms, among others, had work that was undertaken with several consultants Jagdeo said IHS Markit,aleadinginformation s e r v i c e s p r o v i d e r headquartered in the UK, is taking lead on guiding the Guyana government on the auction

ExxonbeatdownUS$5Bcourtjudgment...

Frompage2 clear to me is that the process has been lengthy, it’s been extensive, it’s been expensive.”

BiologistRickSteiner,whohasfollowed the case since 1989 and pushed the state of Alaska to seek the additional funds, was outragedbythedecision.

“Itwasextremelydisappointing,”hehad said. “This was a very sad end to a very sad chapter in Alaska’s history It is an unconscionable betrayal of public trust. Above all, it just validates the public’s distrust of the oil industry, and government promises of responsible oil development in Alaska.”(SEELINKFORMOREDETAILS https://alaskapublic org/2015/10/15/hearing -ends-26-years-of-litigation-over-exxonvaldez-oil-spill/)

TheValdezspillhadimmenseimpactsfor fishandwildlifeandtheirhabitats,aswellas forlocalindustriesandcommunities.

The oil killed an estimated 250,000 seabirds, 2,800 sea otters, 300 harbor seals, 250baldeagles,asmanyas22killerwhales, andbillionsofsalmonandherringeggs.

More than 25 years since the spill, the following species remain in a “Not Recovering” or “Unknown” status: Killer whales (family group known as pod AT1), Kittlitz’s murrelets, Marbled murrelets, and Pigeon guillemots (See link: https://darrp noaa gov/oil-spills/exxonvaldez#:~:text=The%20spill%20affected%2 0more%20than,2%2C800%20sea%20otter)

Somereportsestimatethetotaleconomic loss from the ExxonValdez oil spill to be as muchasUS$2.8billion.

Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat Economic Advisor to the Opposition Leader, Elson Low

with

American company to boost monitoring of oil operations and forest operations

ByShervinBelgrave

The Government of Guyana through the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)hasentereda US$550,000($116M)threeyear deal with MAXAR Technologies to boost its capabilitiesinmonitoringoil operationsoffshoreandeven onshore activities in the country’sforest.

Maxar Technologies is an American Company based in Westminster, Colorado, United States of America (USA) that specializesinmanufacturing communication, earth observation, radar, and onorbit servicing satellites, satelliteproductsandrelated services.

The EPA officially launcheditspartnershipwith the company on Tuesday at itsSophiaheadquarters.

AccordingtoHeadofthe EPA,KemrajParsram,“This

approach now strengthens and supports our capacity building and bolstering our man power to conduct physical in person i n s p e c t i o n s a n d monitoring(ofoiloperations offshore) Yes, we do physical inspections. I don’t believeit’snecessarytohave 24/7 presence but rather intermittent and regular inspections.”

The deal will allow EPA to receive daily satellite imagery intakes across the country through the SecureWatch platform, vessel alerts through the Crow’s Nest Maritime solution, SAR oil spill detection services, and change monitoring over specifiedareasofinterest.

This simply means that the EPA can now detect oil spills remotely, flaring and even track vessel movementsoffshore

Continuedonpage32

Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat, flanked by US Ambassador, Sarah Ann-Lynch (left) and EPA Head, Kemraj Parsram (right) at Tuesday’s official launch with Maxar to monitor the oil and gas sector

Businesswoman’s car stolen and torched

A vehicle belonging to an auto sales businesswoman in Berbice was reportedly stolenandsetonfireleavingthewomanwith some$3.5Minlosses.

Reportsarethatthevehicle,a2019Great WallbearingregistrationnumberPYY1184, belonged to 37-year-old BevonAlphonso of No.2 Village, Berbice. The car was found at theOverwinningSidelinedaminRegion6on Monday

Alphonso,theownerofD.AutoSalesand Rental,toldreportersthatthevehiclewassold toacustomerin2022butthecustomerfailed to make payments and the vehicle was repossessed.

”Wehadanissueconcerningthisvehicle, in November The vehicle was at the station for over 3 months so I got back the vehicle fromhim...”Alphonsoexplained.Thevehicle hasnotbeeninusesinceitwastakenbackbut accordingtothebusinesswoman,shelenther

friendthevehicleonSundayto transactsome business.

Her friend had reportedly stopped at a Chinese Supermarket and parked the car on theoppositesideoftheroad,whenheexited theChineseshop,thevehiclewasgone.

“So when he walk out back the vehicle gone missing so then he had called me, we went to the station, make a report and come back this morning looking for the vehicle,” Alphonsosaid.

The woman said she subsequently receivedacallinformingherthatthevehicle wasfound.Thecarwascompletelydestroyed byfire.

Alphonso disclosed that she was able to reviewthesecurityfootageandshehasbeen able to identify who stole and torched the vehicle. The businesswoman is demanding justice while stating that “a man just can’t stealmyvehicleandburnit...”

Cane View/Mocha residents move to Court over demolished homes

CaneView/Mocharesidentswhosehomes were demolished by the government have instructed their lawyers to start legal proceedings after government failed to signal interestinmediation

Lawyers for the affected residents had set February15asthedeadlineforthegovernment torespondtotheirrequestformediation

That deadline expired without any response from the government “We have strengthened capacity for aggressive representationandhavestarteddeployingour litigation and conflict resolution strategies” said New York based Attorney-at-Law, Dr Vivian Williams who along with Attorney LyndonAmsterdamwrotethegovernmenton February8,2023.

unresponsiveness of the government, the

residents who have lost their homes and personalproperty,expresseddisappointmentat government’s unwillingness to engage on the matterandadvisedthatthematterengagedthe courtoflaw Thelegalteamwasboostedover theweekendwiththeadditionofAttorney-atLawDexterTodd

Thenumberofresidentswhohaveretained thelawyershavenowgrowntonine Inajoint interviewlastweek,WilliamsandAmsterdam stressed the value of conflict resolution to society and expressed the hope that the government would grasp the opportunity to engageinsensemaking.

Thelawyersstressedthattheresidentshave very strong claims against the government However,theywantedtogivethegovernment anopportunitytofindcommongroundwiththe aggrievedresidentsbeforeheadingtocourt

The vehicle that was stolen and torched

Candacie Williams looks at the land where the only place she called home for all her life, once stood.

Guyana’s oil production peaked at 400,000 barrels last month

-EPAsaystechnicalanalysisdonetosupportincreaseattwoships -EPAsaystechnicalanalysisdonetosuppor

ByKianaWilburg

Guyana’s two oil ships—the Liza Destiny and Liza Unity reached their highest production mark last month at 400,160 barrels, according to data from the Ministry of Natural Resources. This was attained on January 12, 2023.Abreakdown of the data indicated that the Liza Destiny produced 153, 890 barrels on that day while Unity was 246,270barrels.

Following January 12, production hovered around 330,000-390,000 barrels of oil per day January31closedwithadaily productionof393,290barrels.

Notably, both ships are producing beyond their nameplate capacity The Liza Destiny’s nameplate capacity is 120,000 barrelswhileitis220,000barrelsof oilperdayforLizaUnity

Concerns have been raised about the implications of increasing the production. Former Head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr VincentAdams has lamented time and again, that in his view, such a

move is unsafe; that it spells grave danger for Guyana and the wider Caribbean He believes this increases the risk for a major oil spill.

Hissuccessor,KemrajParsram does not share this view In an interview with Kaieteur News, Parsram said the EPA has been working earnestly to ensure the integrityoftheoiloperationsisnot compromised.Healsoassuredthat no increase in production occurs without thorough review by the EPA.

Parsram said, “In all of the environmental permits, one of the key requirements is that if there is any change to what was approved they (Exxon and partners) must seekapprovalfromtheEPAandin so doing, we will require information that will help assess if it will cause significant impacts beforeapprovingsame.”

Head of the Oil and Gas Department, Joel Gravesande also confirmed this, noting that ExxonMobil’s subsidiary; Esso Exploration and Production GuyanaLimited(EEPGL)didseek permission before pumping more

oilatitsStabroekBlockoperations.

Assessments (EIA) makes two important points on production.

“Both vessels which are floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) facilities, can operate beyonddesignparameters.Thereis an operating parameter and a design parameter The design for Destiny for example is about 150,000barrelsbutitwasoperating at120,000barrelsofoilperday...,” theofficialsaid.

Gravesande said the consideration of impacts from a worst case scenario of an unmitigated oil spill is also considered in the EIAfor the Liza Destiny at 200,000 to 300,000 barrelsofoilperday.“Soeventhe impacts are considered beyond the

operatinglevelandnowtheyareat 150,000 barrels of oil per day.The emissionsandimpactsonwaterare all considered When they requested to go to 150,000 we still required that a technical analysis done on the equipment to ensure therearenomishaps,”theHeadof theOilandGasDepartmentsaid.

Gravesande shared too that a Hazardous and Operability Study (HAZOP) was also done for government This document outlines that the vessels could function at a higher production level.

He added, “When the EIAwas done, a lot of the data used were hypothetical data so what we ordered as well was an analysis of theeffectsbasedonrealdatawhich we have been gathering over the last two years for the Liza Destiny

and over the last year for the Liza Unity Soweredidthewaterandair quality modeling and it was in keepingwiththeEIA.”

Gravesande said the foregoing is a testimony to the EPA’s commitmenttoensureallboxesare checkedwhenmonitoringoffshore oilandgasoperations.

ThecapacityoftheEPAwillbe further heightened following an agreementthatwassignedbetween the Ministry of Natural Resources and Maxar Technologies, a world renowned provider of comprehensivespacesolutionsand precise, geospatial intelligence The two organizations inked a three-year contractual agreement for Maxar to provide environmentalmonitoringservices for both offshore and terrestrial applications.

The Environmental Protection Agency will utilize Maxar’s Crow’s Nest Maritime Monitoring and Security products to support offshore petroleum monitoring. It will also use the Crow’s Nest Maritime Tipping and Cueing Service, which leverages Maxar’s very-high resolution optical satellites, to monitor drilling vessels for regulatory compliance and safety It will also use the Crow’s Nest Multi-Sensor Oil Detection Service to identify potentialspills.

The agreement with Guyana marks Maxar’s first Crow’s Nest contract in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Maxar Technologies Inc ’s three year contract with Guyana costs US$ 1,160,714.0. It will be takenfromaUS$20MWorldBank loan which the country received backin2019.

The Liza Unity FPSO

The Liza Destiny FPSO

Head of EPA’s Oil and Gas Department, Joel Gravesande

EPA Head, Kemraj Parsram

AmerindianAssociationunfazedbyJagdeo’sattacks

Against the background of recent attacks on the organisation, by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo,

the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) said it is unfazed by the action of the government official,

reminding that it has a responsibilitytomonitorthe policies and decisions that particularly affect the lives

of indigenous peoples in Guyanaandwillcontinueto doso. Last week during a

meeting with Amerindian leaders,Jagdeolashedoutat the organisation for its criticisms of government’s

handlingofthecarboncredit sale initiative it has embarked on. The APA is nottheonlyorganisationthat has criticised the initiative. In responding to Jagdeo the APAsaidtheVPsvilification of the organisation is a continuation of the attacks by Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall.

“However, the APA remains resolute in its objective of ensuring that indigenous peoples’ rights are protected and respected byall.TheAPAalsowonders why the organisation is being used as a scapegoat anddistraction,andwhythe real issues are not being addressed.”

The APA said Jagdeo, like Dharamlall, repeatedly accused the organisation of beinginbedwiththeAPNU “and again, we reiterate that the APA is a politically neutral organisation.” The organisation said too that it notes the intended vulgarity of these descriptions and urged national leaders to treat their offices with due decorum.

“The APA wishes to, again inform the public that the organisation has consistently encouraged support for the indigenous peoples of Guyana but remains firm that the principles of free, prior and informed consent [FPIC] must apply when engaging indigenous communities. In thisregard,weobservedthat VP Jagdeo has recognised APA’s consistent calls for FPIC,andweencouragehim toheedthosecalls.”

Additionally, the APA reminded theVice President that all of its suggestions at the level of the Low Carbon Development Strategy’s Multi-Stakeholder Group wereshotdown.Itnotedthat its Governance and Rights Coordinator, Laura George represents the APA on the MSG and has made representations for indigenous peoples and leaders to be properly included in the decisionmaking process. The APA said it made representations for villages that complained ofnotbeingconsultedbefore the submissions to the ART Secretariat.

“Again, the APA’s representationofindigenous peoplesandtheirissueswere shotdownbybothPresident IrfaanAli and VPJagdeo. It isthereforedisingenuousfor theVicePresidenttoaccuse

Continuedonpage24

...says will continue to monitor policies, decisions that affect the lives of Indigenous peoples

HousingMinistrycommencesdistributionof vouchersforsteelandcementsubsidyprogramme

nexttwoweeks,theMinistry aimstodistributeatleast500 vouchers to persons who would have satisfied the

programmecriteria.

During her remarks, MinisterRodriguessaidthat thisinitiativeisnota“hand-

out programme”. She noted that this is a “programme designtoensurethatpeople

Continuedonpage24

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal and Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues (center) alongside Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Andre Ally and Chief Executive Officer of the CH&PA, Mr. Sherywn Greaves and some of the first set of beneficiaries of the Steel and Cement Subsidy Programme on Tuesday. (Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Housing and Water)

The Ministry of Housing and

WateronTuesday commenced its Steel and Cement Housing Subsidy Programme, by awarding vouchers to some 30 beneficiaries.

The simple ceremony was held at the Ministry’s Brickdam, Georgetown officeandsawinattendance Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal; MinisterwithintheMinistry ofHousingandWater,Susan Rodrigues; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Andre Ally and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), Mr. Sherywn Greaves.

This initiative is the brainchild of President Irfaan Ali, and aimed at providing support for Guyanese seeking to construct their homes, whether on governmentallocated or private lands. Homes estimated at $6 million and below can benefitoneslingcementand steel. Meanwhile, builders

with estimates above $6 million to $25 million will benefit from two slings of cement.

Speaking at the

ceremony yesterday, Minister Croal in his brief remarks said that this initiative is another demonstration of the government’s commitment to providing housing interventions across the board to different categories of citizens with the ultimate aimofreducingtheirburden and enhance home ownership amid the rising global prices and other challenges.

The Minister explained that in applying, persons would have to satisfy basically two things. One is ownership “so you must prove your ownership and secondly it is to make sure thatyouhavetheapprovalof your plan whether it is from themunicipalityortheNDC ( N e i g h b o u r h o o d

Democratic Council) because the approval of the plan helps us to determine theleveloftheconstruction, the type of construction that

is being undertaken and to quantify your value of construction,”heexplained.

According to the Minister, when that is finish there is a verification process, where a team from the Ministry goes out diligently taking their picturessoastofileareport.

He added that when this report is compiled it is submitted to a board that is called the Housing Subsidy Committee and that committee approves the applicant.

The Minister noted that already “Verification has been done for over 500 persons that these are going through the approval process.”

To date, the agency has received 1034 applications from Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Nine and Ten Of this, 697 verification/field visits were conducted, 397 were recommended and 134 were approved for distribution, while the other applications arebeingprocessed.

Minister Croal related yesterday that within the

The Steel and Cement subsidy vouchers.

100% increase in road fatalities

- Home Affairs Minister concerned, urges stringent enforcement

There has been a 100 percent increase in the number of road fatalities this year in comparison to the

same period last year, the MinistryofHomeAffairshas reported Statisticsshowthatforthe

periodJanuary1toFebruary 18,2023,16personslosttheir lives when compared with eight persons in 2022 This

represents a 100 percent increase when compared to 2022

The Ministry of Home Affairs noted that pedestrian fatalities increased by 25 percentwhencomparedtothe same period last year while approximately 44 percent of motorcyclists were killed during the same period comparedtolastyear

“Comparative data has shownthatasofFebruary18, 2023,16personswouldhave been killed on our roads as a result of 14 accidents, when compared with the same period for 2022 when eight persons died from 7 accidents,”theMinistrysaid while noting that it is alarmingthatin2022,fiveof the eight persons killed during that period were the most vulnerable classes of roadusers(2pedalcyclists,1 motorcyclist and 2 pedestrians).

Additionally, at February 18,2023,ofthe13killedthe vulnerable classes accounted for 16 (2 pedal cyclists, 7 motorcyclists,4pedestrians)

Further, in the case of serious accidents, data provided shows that as of February18,2023,41serious accidents were recorded, while 39 serious accidents occurred during the same periodin2022,indicatinga5 percent increase in serious accidents in 2023 when comparedto2022.

Dataalsoclearlyindicates that fatal accidents occur primarily on Sundays and Fridaysbetweenthehoursof 18:00 and 05:59, with male drivers accounting for 81 percentofalldeaths

The Ministry of Home Affairssaidithasbeenableto reduce road deaths by 30 percent in 2021 and 2022 with less than 100 persons killed for the first time in 16 years

“Thisachievementofthe previous two years will be extremely difficult to maintainatthepresentrateof road fatalities,” the Ministry said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry said that a review of more measures to promote road safety is currently being undertaken through a collaborative effort by the MinistryofHomeAffairs,the Guyana Police Force, the Traffic Department, the Guyana Revenue Authority, and the Ministry of Education.

Subject Minister, Robeson Benn said that he hasnotedwithgraveconcern the growing number of road fatalities this year and has urged Guyanese to exercise care and caution when using theroad

“This increase in road fatalitiesappearstobeadaily occurrence, and the indications are that reckless driverbehaviour,attributable to excessive speeds, driving under the influence of alcohol, driving without due care and attention (or inattentiveness), tailgating, anddrivingwhiletiredisthe common cause, ” the ministry said even as it sympathises with those affected.

The Home Affairs Ministrysaidthattherebeing effective preventative strategies make this situation

allthemoreunacceptable

“The five Cs’- Care, Caution, Courtesy, Consideration and Commonsense-taughtatour driving schools seemed to have been forgotten or ignored altogether by many motorists

Motorists are failing to observe the fundamental principle of safe driving, which is to maintain a safe braking distance and not exceed the required speed limits,”theMinistrysaidina statement

Notwithstanding, the ministry said that there is need for “stringent law enforcement” as it is unacceptable that Guyanese continuetodieandbeinjured ontheroadways

“The Ministry of Home Affairs is continuously collaborating with stakeholders to develop a comprehensiveactionplanto reduce road accidents and fatalities by 50 percent by 2030”

On November 7, 2022, the National Assembly passedtheMotorVehicleand Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2022 to promote and enforce safe driving while imposingmuchhigher

Continuedonpage30

HousingMinistrycommencesdistribution...

Frompage23

acquirehomeownership”

Speaking to the media, one of the beneficiaries, QuacySmart,afatheroftwo said that “I feel ecstatic

reason being is that it was a good initiative on the part of His Excellency President

IrfaanAli AstheMinisterof Housing alluded that homeownership is the key

AmerindianAssociationunfazed...

Frompage22

theAPAofnotwantingtoparticipatewhenitsparticipation islimitedbythegovernment.”

Withrespecttothe15%Amerindianswillreceivefrom the carbon credit sales, the APA noted that its President, Toshao Lemmel Thomas, on Wednesday, took the Vice President to task and asked him to provide information on how the 15% was decided, by whom and whether the 241 communitieswereinvolved.Additionally,ToshaoThomas said that the indigenous peoples of Guyana are the protectorsoftheforest,andthereforedeservealargershare oftheprofitsfromthesaleofcarboncredits.

“Wenotethat,inhisusualstyle,VPJagdeododgedthe questionsaskedbyToshaoThomasandcontinuedhisattack ontheAPAinferringthatitsonlyobjectiveistocriticisethe PPPC government. The APA, once again, calls on the governmenttodesistonitscampaignofmisinformationon theorganisation,”thereleaseconcluded.

aspect of each individual in Guyana.SoIwasoverjoyed when I heard that I meet the requirement.”

Smart said that having receivedthesubsidy,thenext stepistobuild

Another beneficiary, Hyacinth Benjamin said she is excited She received a voucher for two slings of cement and noted that this would help in big way Benjamin encouraged persons to apply for the governmentsubsidy

Beneficiaries can select fromalistofsuppliersintheir area. All suppliers are required to sell the construction materials at the same price, the Ministry noted The$700millionSteel and Cement initiative was one that was first announced by the President during the BuildingExpolastyear

Home Affairs Minister, Robeson Benn

Where is their character now, whither conscience? OP:ED

By GHK Lall

Citizens in this country provide enlightenment daily on what matters the mosttothem,whotheyreally are at their cores. At best, what I observe speak to inconsistency; at its worse, it is about the subtle racial alignments that justify any development, so as to protect one's own. In sum, individual decay prevails, through the rankest hypocrisies, in those pretending to be about truth, justice, fairness, balance and whatisright.

During the long, ugly, dreadful 2020 elections season,whichisstillnotover, all kinds of people helped Guyana. They came from all over, and spoke with strength and conviction about what was destroying Guyana. A fair number of those who spokewerehailedandspoken of in glowing terms for being a b o u t f a i r n e s s a n d democracy's norms. It would beimproperonmypartnotto point out that some of those who objected in the sharpest, sternest terms to what the PNC (aka Coalition

Government) was trying to pull off during the elections torments are of a strain identicaltothatoftoponesin the then Government Moreover,theirownpolitical base is primarily like that of thePNC/coalition.

Yet they disagreed. Still, theyobjected.Neverdidthey fadeorflagfromstandingfor what was interpreted to be right. Amongthosehailedas heroes were: Dr. Ralph Gonsalves,PrimeMinisterof Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

He could have played skillful games with words, or adopted postures that gave him room to manoeuver, but he didn't. Guyanese of a particular segment in this nation's demographic were profuse in their precious thanksgivings. I think that those were in order, certainly due.

But look at what we have today,withnovoiceofanger, not even some passing disgust for the record, at the studied discourtesy, even palpabledisrespect,whenthe same Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves is disregarded and degraded in

our own home, at our main international airport. I would like to ask what kind of people we are, but I already know Nothing better is expected, nothing better can be, when consideration is given to what has happened to our guardians and luminaries and stalwarts sinceAugust2020.

Deceptions multiply, but so-called learned and honourable men either rationalise or disappear into the mists. I could give them learned, but of honour, not anymore, for it is what they may have never had in the firstplace.

What those who made a world of noise about in 2020 projected a lot of passions over during that same 19monthinterval,boilsdownto this- the tribe- subtle racial instincts and now, blatantly, obvious deficits of character and conscience, because it impacts their clan and comradesandcashbook.

Becausetoutterawordof disapproval (concern only, not protest) against the indignity that was inflicted on PM Gonsalves and his diplomatic traveling

Driver in Enmore fatal accident charged, granted $1M bail

companions could be just possibly construed as being anti-business, hence antiExxon, therefore anti-PPP, when all is kneaded and threadedthrough.

This is the putrid state to which freedom and fairness and democracy's dogged struggles have descended Those who were loud and proud over the St Vincentian Prime Minister in 2020, are now so consumed by a startling cravenness of c h a r a c t e r , a n d i t s accompanying cockroachinfestedconsciencethatthere is a determined rush to distance from the public humiliation of our guest, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, with his sterling handiworks of yesteryearnowallforgotten.

It would be a mistake to say that the silent and impotentarenothingbutfairweather friends. It is worse than that in that men (and women) are so beholden to the ties of the tribe-blood, politics, interests, and so onthat there are no other

considerations Thatis,nooneelse, no other group, nothingelsecounts foranything.

They justify

a n y t h i n g a n d everything. These are the remarkable

c i t i z e n s , t h e

u n e q u a l l e d

e x a m p l e s o f bravery and socalled standing and integrity, who insist that they have Guyana'sback.

Allofitinitswidestmost vulnerable, expanses. The only back that they have is their own, their ambitions, their closeness to power and how much money that makes possible.

It is amazing that these brothers of mine can look at themselves in the mirror, and walk away unaffected. When we can't stand for a man who was there with us in the trenches of turmoil and trauma, then what can we ever stand for, ever claim to represent? Even in the most

Lall

innocent of circumstanceserror, incompetence, sloppiness-which does not appear to be so, I expected some good guardian of Guyana's home, Guyana's democracy,andthedignityof our prime ministerial visitor, to have possessed the simple decency to find his or her energy and vitality to speak a word of consternation, maybe somecondemnation It was the embarrassing experience of Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. If we can't do this, then we can'tbeaboutanything.

Dead: Samantha Moffatt

A 24-year-old Buxton, East Coast Demerara (ECD) man was on Monday charged for the fatal accident of 41-yearoldSamanthaMoffattatEnmore,ECDlast weekandplacedon$1Mbail.

Devon Brutus of Lot 78 Middle Walk Buxton, ECD made his first court appearance at the Vigilance Magistrates' Court before Magistrate Fabayo Azore wherethreechargeswerereadtohim.

Brutus pleaded not guilty to the chargeswhichallegedthatonFebruary15, he drove motorcar bearing registration number PZZ 7712 in a manner dangerous to the public, causing the death of Moffatt, a vendor of Haslington New Scheme, ECD. He was also charged for being an unlicenseddriverandbreachofinsurance.

Themanwasgrantedbailtothetuneof $1,050,000 and will make his next court appearanceonApril11,2023.

Kaieteur News had reported that

Charged: Devon Brutus

Moffattdiedafterthecarshewasincareenedoff the Enmore Public Road and into a trench. Police in a release said the incident occurred around05:00hrsthatday

According to a police report, the motorcar was proceeding east along the northern driving laneontheEnmorePublicRoad,atafastrateof speed when the driver lost control and ended up inatrenchonthesouthernsideoftheroad.

As a result Moffatt, who was seated in the frontpassengerseat,wasflungoutofthecarand into the trench, where she received injuries aboutherbody

She was picked up by public-spirited citizens in an unconscious condition and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital by Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) along with the driver, who fled on arrival at the hospital.Moffatt died while receiving treatment atthehospital.

Subsequentlyaninvestigationwaslaunched andBrutuswaslaterarrested.

GHK

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100% increase in road...

From page 24 penalties for serious infractions.

TheNationalRoadSafety Council’sfinancialresources have been boosted from $3 milliontomorethan$11million,whichwillaidinthesensitization and reduction of road accidents.

menting national efforts to promote road safety awareness.

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The ministry said that through advocacy, training, andeducation,theministryis committed to providing evidence-based road safety knowledge and awareness programmes to create a culture of safety among all road users and address high-risk behaviours among young adults and the broader roadusingcommunity

The Traffic Department has been intensifying efforts to prevent speeding on the roads, but despite these efforts,deathsonourroadways continue to be problematic. The PPPC government has been spending considerable sums of money to upgrade roads and highways, as well asinstallinglightsandCCTV cameras at strategic points, whichimproveinfrastructure and safety for all road users.

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As part of corporate socialresponsibility,theministry is encouraging private sector participation in aug-

“The Ministry wishes to remindthepublicthatthereis no justification for not wearing a helmet or a seatbelt.An accident may occur at any time, but our safety and that of others should be prioritisedoverconvenience, as the case may be. Not only

is it the law to wear a helmet or a seatbelt at all times, but it only takes a few seconds todoso.Weallhavearoleto playinthepreventionofroad accidents. It cannot be the responsibility of the Police Traffic Department alone,” the ministry stated. Additionally,theministry said that despite the encouragement given to motorists with the free distribution of safety helmets, a large number of motorists continue to ride without helmets, and “worse yet, persons are transportingwomenandchildrenonmotorcycleswithout helmets at high speeds. This practice must be stopped.” Discussions will be had with stakeholders regarding the requirements for the importation,registrationandlicensing of electric bikes.

Ethnic pluralism was propagated in...

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From page 5 were thus labeled with taboos, and were stereotyped according to the racial/ethnic/religious group – the ignominious divide-and-rule strategy. The bottom-line for allofthiswas/istoexploitlabororpropertyforeconomic gain. Then and even now, there were/are modern-day racial theorists – individuals with respectable academic credentials–whospewsimilar prejudicial and bigoted rationalisation, in order that a‘super’classismaintained, or for a political or religious hegemony to gain ascendancy.Mostly,theseacademicsandintellectuals(andpoliticians) are on the fringe, extremeintheirviews,andfundamentalistintheirpractices. And they are on the rise worldwide.

Such rationalisation is used to justify social cleavages rather than augment co-

hesion. Observe this kind of over-zealous and over-reactivebehaviorasracial,ethnic, tribal, religious, and indigenous when such consciousness takes shape and form throughout the world.

The consequence is the development of a neo-Darwinistsocialthoughtthathas appealedtosome,andindoctrinated them in new concepts, in exaggerated beliefs, in fixity of human characteristics as being primal or primordial, which suggests that humansareunchangeableregardless of time and space. Such kind of pre-ordained conceptandimmutablebelief isanti-Freudian,anddoesnot favor rational and objective dialogue.

”Though the concept of race [and ethnicity] is genuine enough, there is perhaps no field of science in which the misunderstandings among educated people are so frequent and so serious.”

thinking. The sooner we revert to the “brotherhood of man” concept, the better the worldwouldbe.

“The golden way is to be friendswiththeworldandto regardthewholehumanfamily as one,” counseled Mahatma Gandhi. Luis Valdes putsitpoetically,“Túeresmi otroyo.” And the Indian ‘Namaste’ennoblesthisoneness.

This “dream” of Martin LutherKingJrwillarriveone day, the sooner the better –whenwecanjudgeothers“by the content of their hearts rather than by the colour of theirskin”.

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ACCOMMODATIONS

For my part, I venture to acknowledge that there is no “pure” stock; that racially speaking, humans are hybrids to a greater or lesser degree; and that the designationtorace/ethnicityisprimarily a function of constructs, and cultural diversity

There are no better cultures, no chosen people, no superior or inferior people. Weareindeedallbrothersand sisters.Thephilosophyofthe modern-day Charles Murray (of the “The Bell Curve” notoriety) and the Kiplings and Chamberlains of the past should be purged from our

I daresay debates will continue.... In Guyana, new Governments are set up with great expectations. Government must seek the opportunity to address the vexing question of the racial/ethnic divide that has been plaguing the nation for too long. It is not a job for the governmentonly.Itmustalsobethe specialchargeofschoolsand colleges, of business, of all citizens, to address the burning issues with truthfulness and candor.

There must be genuineness on all sides. There must bedebatesandmoredebates, done with respect and civility – not pontification – to arrive at positive resolve. Unity in the nation is a preconditionforlivingtogether With unity and democracy, therewillbedevelopmentfor all to savor

Yours, faithfully, Gary Girdhari

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

Guyana now equipped with technology to monitor every drop of oil

By Shervin Belgrave

Guyana, through t h e u s e o f a r t i f i c i a l intelligence (AI) and an IBM cloud database, is now equipped to monitor every drop of oil being pumped by ExxonMobil and its partners fromtheStabroekBlock. This form of real-time monitoring was first implemented by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) early last year on the Liza Destiny, the first Floating Production Storage and Offloading Vessel

(FPSO) in Guyana that is reportedly producing some 150,000 barrels of crude oil per day, EPA's head of Oil and Gas, Joel Gravesande told Kaieteur News on Tuesday

To monitor the amount of oil being pumped, measuring instruments equipped with AI are installed on the vessel and it automatically uploads live-feed to a cloud database (something similar to a networkserver).

EPA now has access to the cloud and is able to monitor in real-time the amount of oil that is being

produced daily and even know how much produced water is being dumped in Guyana'swaters.

Live feed from the Liza Unity, Guyana's second FPSO,isnotyetavailablebut according to EPA head, Kemraj Parsram, the AI instruments are expected come on stream by next week.

Liza Unity has the capacity to produce some 220,000 barrels of crude oil per day and had begun pumping oil since February, 2022.

Gravesande said that the

Rosignol man sentenced to 20 years for killing wife

Taijram Rahim, a cane cutter of M a r c y D a m , Rosignol Village, West Bank Berbice (WBB), was on Monday sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for the fatal stabbing of his 28-yearoldwifebackin2020.

Thirty-four-year-old Rahim was charged in November 2020 for fatally stabbing his wife Amrita Rahim, called 'Sally,' a mother of three, at their MarcyDamhome.InJanuary, when Rahim appeared before Justice Navindra Singh at the Berbice High Court indicted for the capital offence of murder - he opted to plead guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter As such he admitted that on November 13, 2020 he stabbed killedhiswife.

R a h i m w a r e p r e s e n t e d b y Attorney-at-Law, Surihya Sabsook and the State was represented by Prosecutor, Nafeeza Baig.

According to reports,thecouplewas livingtogetherwiththeir three sons, ages 11, 10 7. The killing took place around 23:45 hours on November 13, 2020, after the family had a birthday celebration in their yard, and otherrelativesreturnedhome.

- EPA

current permits for the Liza Phase One, Phase Two and Payara projects does require real-time monitoring before start of production but the agency has rectified this issue for the Yellow Tail project.

“… So as soon as they press the button we will be getting live-feed (from the Yellow Tail Project)”, said Gravesande.

The EPA's Oil and Gas Head related that many wouldaskifthedatafromthe

AI instruments could be tampered with but he assured that there is no human interference involved in uploading the data to the cloud.

G r a v e s a n d e a l s o explained that it will be difficult for one to manipulate the system b e c a u s e t h e r e a r e redundancies.

Data redundancy means that the same piece of data exist in multiple places and according to Gravesande if

one attempts to manipulate the system, they will have to do so in all the places that they exist and that is extremelydifficult.

In other words, if one triestocheatthesystemitcan be easily picked due to inconsistency

According to reports, an argument ensued between the couple after Rahim accused his wife of cheating on him

the day before. The woman had threatened to leave her husband. The argument became even more intense and the suspect walked into thekitchenandarmedhimself withaknife.Hethenreturned to Amrita who was lying on the bed at the time and stabbed her about her body He then ran out of the house andescaped.

The eldest of the three children had raised an alarm and alerted the other relatives who lived nearby – upon arrival at the house, they found Amrita in an unconscious state on the blood soaked bed. She was then taken to the Fort Wellington Hospital in a taxi but was pronounced dead on arrival.

uring the sentencing hearing, the couple's three ons in their victim impact statement shared mixed feelings about their father killing their mother Justice Singh, in handing down the sentence, said that the situation is a sad one which leaves the ouple's children grappling with the death of mother and the incarcerationoftheirfather R a h i m w a s t h e n sentencedto20yearswiththe possibility of parole after serving15years.

Local company withdraws court action over lands...

From page 14 no evidence was produced to legitimize these claims, JFL decided not to proceed with the purchase, a position which remains thesametodate.

John Fernandes Limited explained that Mohamed and Sons and DaughtersTrading, Mining, Logging and Construction had

agreed to refund them the deposit if the rights to the agreement were transferred to them.

ThiswaspurportedlydoneandJFLtherefore had no interest in the dispute over the lands. The company argued that it was Mohamed's that must therefore settle the matter with the NDC.

Jailed: Taijram Rahim

Dead: Amrita Rahim

Frustrated Essequibo farmers call for better paddy prices

Frustrated Essequibo

farmers on Tuesday demanded better paddy prices during an outreach hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture Many of the farmers walked out of the planned meeting held at the Rice Producers Association

Paddy bond at Anna Regina because the Minister reportedly refused to address theirissuescollectively

At the beginning of the outreach, Minister Zulfikar told the farmers that he will not make any general pronouncements on the rice sector but will instead listen privately to “personal and group issues”. His statement angered the farmers who felt thatthereweremanyissuesto bediscussedopenly

F o l l o w i n g t h e announcement, almost half the famers in attendance walked out of the meeting. Some of the farmers, who despite leaving the outreach, lingered outside of the meeting venue and told Kaieteur News that they are in a financial crisis and want 'real'solutions.

One farmer, who spoke on behalf of a group, told Kaieteur News, “We come with the intention for a hearing about paddy price. LettheMinistercomeoutand talk… abbi na know wa the paddy price gon be, but abbi

…Walk out of Agri. Minister's Essequibo Outreach

A number of visible empty chairs at the Ministry of Agriculture's Anna Regina, Essequibo outreach.

knowthatthedrugspriceand cost of production gone up high. The last crop, abbi get $3600 a bag, and Berbice ah get$5,500wahappentoabbi,

Essequibo People na counted.”

The Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Agriculture had made some efforts in providing cheaperfertilizerstofarmers. Despite this effort, however, just 22,000 acres of rice land were cultivated, compared to the just over 30,000 acres available.

One farmer said, “We are in a financial crisis. Plenty farmer want go back to dem land but dem can't go back because dem gat no money, peopleowebankanddemgot deh bank to pay and dem got no way to get the money Wherewegettingthefinance

fromtogobacktotheland.”

Kaieteur News also spoke with a number of farmers who were still in the meeting.They shared similar sentiments as their colleagues who left the meeting, saying, “Cash relief is what we want, we lose we crop and we na get money to go back to we land. Right now, only half of the land plant and what the minister dodehiswrong.

The issue needs to be raised publicly, we stayed because there are a lot of issue we got. GUYSUCO is being funded by the government with billions of dollars, we want to ask the government if they can produce fertilizer for two crops at least because we can't stand on we own financially.”

Pigeon Island man busted with crystal meth, marijuana

M e a n w h i l e , t h e Department of Public Information (DPI) said that M i n i s t e r M u s t a p h a acknowledged the losses faced by farmers due to unfavorable weather patterns and assured that government

will be putting systems in place to ensure those farmers are given assistance to return to the land as soon as possible.“I have a list with the names of farmers who lostasaresultoftheweather We are looking at it and we

will see how best we can assist them to go back to the land as soon as possible,” the ministernoted.

The Agriculture Minister said that the price of paddy for the current crop was a burning concern for many farmers and committed to meeting the Guyana Rice Millers' Association soon to discussthematter

“The main issue today seems to be the price for paddy Only about 22,000 acres were planted in Region Two for this crop. I will be meeting with the Guyana Rice Millers' Association on Friday to see if farmers can get better prices for paddy, especially in Region Two. When that meeting is finished, I will communicate withthefarmers,”hestated.

A 2 3 - y e a r - o l d construction worker of Pigeon Island, Squatting Area, East Coast Demerara (ECD) was on Monday busted by patrol ranks with 41.1 grams of marijuana and 3 6 6 g r a m s o f methamphetamine (crystal meth). Police nabbed him with the drugs around 19:20hrs in the vicinity of SuccessSidelineDam,ECD.

The suspect was reportedlystandingwithtwo other men at the location when patrol ranks from the Beterverwagting Police Station drove up in a pickup. Upon seeing the police, the three men ran but were chasedbypoliceranks.Only one of the trio was caught as the others made good their escape.Police searched the construction worker's

haversack and found the marijuana and the crystal methparceledoffinzip-lock bags.Accordingtopolice,20 bags containing marijuana and 17 contained bags c o n t a i n i n g methamphetamine. He was immediately taken into c u s t o d y a t t h e Beterverwagting Police Station Investigations continue.

Former media worker changes plea to cocaine charge, to be sentenced next week

Twenty-five-year-old Zanneel Williams, a former media worker, of Lot 181 Lamaha Gardens, Georgetown, has once again changed her plea and now admits for the secondtimetoanarcoticscharge.

On April 22, 2022, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Williams was busted with 9.6 kg of cocaine strapped to her bodyandalsoinherluggage.

On her first court appearance at the Diamond/Grove Magistrates' Court before Magistrate Sunil Scarce, Williams had acceptedculpability

She was remanded to prison and the Magistrate had ordered a psychiatric evaluation and probation report to be prepared in her favour However, when Williams returned to court, she changed her pleatonotguilty

Last Friday, when the trial in the matter was set to commence, Williams opted to change her plea back to guilty As such, Magistrate Scarce set February 27, for sentencing.

Kaieteur News had reported that Williams alleged accomplices, former Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) officer, Anil Sookhoo, 33, of Lot 127 Kuru Kuru, Soesdyke- Linden Highway and Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) officer, Shameka Caesar, 27, of Lot ZZ, D'Urban Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown, had denied the charge on their first court appearance and were both placed on $ 7 5 0 , 0 0 0 b a i l e a c h

Zanneel Williams

According to police reports, on the day in question, Williams was an outgoing passengerattheCJIAdestinedfortheUnited States. However, the woman was nabbed withaquantityofcocaineinthefalsesidesof her laptop bag. She was then arrested and escorted to CANU's Headquarters with the narcotics.A further search of the suspect, which was conducted at the CANU headquarters, revealed a quantity of cocaine strappedtoherbody Thesubstancewasthen tested and came back positive as cocaine, with a total weight of 9.6 kg. The narcotics hadatotalstreetvalueofG$60millionwhich isequivalenttoUS$300,000.

Furtherinvestigationsledtothearrestsof the former CANU officer and the GRA officer

Govt. inks deal withAmerican company...

From page 19 through high resolution satellite imagery andanalytics.

To strengthen its oversight in the oil and gas sector, Parsram said, “…We have embarked on a path of utilizing advanced and cutting-edge technology such as artificial intelligence, electronic reporting and data analytics, state of the art pollution monitoring equipment and IoT (air quality, water quality sensors and drones), satellite/remote sensing and real time alerts from services such as MAXAR Technologies”.

The contract with MAXAR also includes provisions that will allow the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) to utilise technology to combat illegal deforestation, preserve mangroves, and protectGuyana'srichbiodiversity

Meanwhile, Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat is also seeking tousetechnologytoincorporatemonitoring ofminingactivitieswithinthecountry Bharrat said that it is easier to monitor a forest because “you can see a man running with a log on his shoulder” but it is difficult tokeeptrackofillegalminingactivities

Zip-lock bags containing the marijuana and methamphetamine.

Govt.partnerswithSchlumbergerforoilandgastraining

The Ministry of N a t u r a l R e s o u r c e s

(MNR)yesterdaycompleted a training session facilitated bySchlumbergerLtd.(SLB) to help boost the capacity of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) in performing its functions in the oil and gas sector

According to the Ministry, “The GGMC has partnered with SLB to provide both software and the expertise it needs to position the GGMC into the regulator that it is today

WithsupportfromtheWorld Bank, the GGMC made its first purchase of industry leading subsurface software from SLB which included the Petrel, Techlog and Eclipsepackages. These key technologies have given the GGMC the ability to better understand subsurface petroleum reservoirs, plan for future hydrocarbon development, regulate and verify the field

development plans submitted by operators, all withinthesamedigitaltools theyuse.”

In addition to the s o f t w a r e t o o l s , Schlumberger has also been providing training,

mentorship, and best practices, generated from years of experience in the UnitedStatesandTrinidadto thelocalGGMCteam.

It was explained that previous training and mentorship focused on the

geophysics aspect of production which included subsurfacemapping,finding reservoirs, and integrating variousdatasourcesintothe interpretationofreservoirs.

Theteamalsodeveloped their geological knowledge

through hands-on exercise andsharingofbestpractices. The participants were specifically trained to create digital models of the oil and gas reservoirs allowing for better evaluation of operators’fielddevelopment

plans.

During Tuesday’s trainingsession,participants were engaged on Reservoir Engineering, which is the simulating of the hydrocarbonspathsfromthe rock into the well and up to the surface. Present for the session were Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Joslyn M c K e n z i e a n d representatives of the World Bank.

The Ministry said, “This partnership and mentoring between the GGMC and SLBwillcontinuelongafter this training sessions end as more classes will be scheduled.”

It also noted that the combination of SLBs software and GGMCs newfound experience will allow more effective regulation of the oil and gas industryintheyearstocome and provide Guyana the incomestreamneeded.

A section of the participants from yesterday’s training session (Source:MNRFacebookpage)

IOC stands firm against banning Russia despite risk of boycott

BERLIN, (Reuters) - The Olympic movement is facing its biggest dilemma since the ColdWar:bowtodemandsto ban Russian and Belarusian athletes or risk the first mass boycott of the Games in 40 years.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and several of the most powerful national Olympic committees hate the idea of a boycott of the biggest money-spinner in world sport.

After hitting rock bottom with reserves of around $200,000 after the 1980 Moscow Games boycott, the IOC now has a staggering $5.6billioninassets.

Despite their fear of another boycott, after that in 1984 massively undermined the event, it appears the IOC

arepreparedtoriskitinorder to maintain their "nonnegotiable" stance that the Games remain above and beyond politics and that athletesshouldnotbebanned due to their governments' actions.

Ukraine and its Eastern European and Baltic neighbours are leading the call for Russian and Belarusian athletes to be banned from Paris as long as Moscow's troops maintain their invasion of Ukraine, which Belarus helped facilitate.

The IOC wants Russians and Belarusians to compete as "neutrals" - with no nationaluniformsorflags.

On Monday, more than 30 countries including the United States, Britain and France pledged their support

for banning Russian and Belarusian athletes from internationalcompetitions. B

conversations with several Olympic officials reveal widespread support for the IOCstandingfirm-despiteit

Wednesday February 22, 2023

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19

If you're involved in the study of a particular subject, Aries, today you might want to bury yourself in your books and learn as much as youcan.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20)

This isn't the day to make investments, Taurus You may read in the paper or online about some hot new stocks, but be very careful. If you're interested, consult a professional before investing money

GEMINI (May 21–June 20)

Be open and honest about your feelings toward others today, Gemini Your receptive nature should be ready Take a break and let otherscometoyou.

CANCER (June 21–July 22)

Are you working two jobs, Cancer? Today one could demandalotofyou,probably attheexpenseoftheother

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

Your natural urge to innovate may seem to have vanished today, Leo. You may not feel like doing anything outside of routine tasks that you can doautomatically

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22)

The urge to stay in and rearrange your furniture might hit you today, Virgo. Youmaywanttocleanoutthe shelves in your kitchen, add somenewknickknacks.

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

Are you expecting an important communication, perhaps business related, Libra? If it comes today, it willprobablycomelate.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

A check you've been expecting to receive by mail will probably be delayed, Scorpio. It's nothing to worry about.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

You may not be your usual cheeryselftoday,Sagittarius. Gloom may have come over you. You may doubt everything that happens in yourlife.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

Happy memories of a beloved grandparent may float to the surface today, Capricorn, and you may wonder why Something or someone you've encountered inthepastfewdaysmayhave remindedyouofthisperson.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18)

Ameetingmaytakeplace today that you don't want to attend, Aquarius. It could be long and boring, but you should still make the effort to listen.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)

Aprojectcouldbesuccessfully completed today, Pisces Discussions may already be takingplaceaboutthenextone, but you aren't inclined to think about that, at least not right away nurturingheart.

last year initially handing the decision over Russian participation to individual sports. The association of n a t i o n a l O l y m p i c committees also backs the IOCposition.

"If the IOC banned athletesfromcountriesatwar over the years, it would have violatedtheOlympicCharter andwouldnothavegiventhe Gamesitsuniversalcharacter where sport is above politics,"saidapresidentofa European nation's national Olympic Committee (NOC) t h a t b a c k s n e u t r a l participation of Russia and Belarus.

"Ukraine is not the only war or armed conflict in the world right now," the person added,speakingoncondition of anonymity Some other Olympics officials also

pointed to what they saw as hypocrisy in picking and choosing which warring nationstoexclude.

Ukrainian athletes accused IOC President Thomas Bach of being "on the wrong side of history" after he asked them to drop threatsofaboycott.

"We have to accomplish our peace mission and that is a unifying mission of bringing people together," respondedBach.

IOC'SCONUNDRUM

"If you ever wanted a definition of being stuck between a rock and a hard place, the IOC has found itself there," long-time former IOC marketing chief and current sports media strategist Michael Payne told Reuters.

"For the IOC it has always been a red line dating back to the boycott era, that the moment governments decideonwhocompetes,you arepoliticizingsportinaway that the genie is out of the bottle and you can never put itback."

Adding to the IOC's difficult position is the pressure to avoid a boycott f r o m s p o n s o r s a n d broadcasters They have utterly changed the landscapesincethemodelfor the 1984 Los Angeles Games, boycotted by what was then the Soviet Union and its supporters, where TV funding and sponsorship tookoff.

The IOC's TV and sponsorship income for the 1980 Games was less than $100 million but from 20172021 it received $7.6 billion, over90%ofitfromTVrights a n d s p o n s o r s h i p Broadcaster NBC alone paid $12 billion for rights from 2014-2032.

Despite being Ukraine's biggest ally in the war, Olympic heavyweights United States, which will host the 2028 Games, is against a boycott, an official with direct knowledge of talks at a recent Olympic SummittoldReuters.

"The USOPC (United S t a t e s O l y m p i c & Paralympic Committee) was adamant - there was absolutely no talk of a boycott from their side," the officialsaid.

What looks certain is that theIOCwillnotrushtotakea final decision, with the July 2 6 - A u g 1 1 2 0 2 4 extravaganza still some way downtheroadandwithmany qualifying processes not startinguntillaterthisyearor nextyear

Official mascots of Paris 2024 Olympics unveiled - Olympic Committee Head Quarters, Saint-Denis, France - November 11, 2022. (REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/)

Hero CPL generates huge economic impact for Guyana after country hosted finals in 2022

The 2022 Hero

C a r i b b e a n Premier League (CPL) generated a huge economic impact for Guyana as the country hosted the finalsfortheveryfirsttimeas part of the newly created CricketCarnival.

The total economic impact for Guyana in 2022 was US$84,425,587, a 186% increase on the figure from the last time the country hosted Hero CPL matches in 2019.

The vision of His Excellency Irfaan Ali in showcasing the country's many creative and social attributes whilst making the country the entertainment

capital of the region for two weeks in September, led to the most successful hosting of any CPL finals. Businesses across the country benefited from the significant uplift of in-bound tourism during September last year, as people travelled tobepartoftheBiggestParty in Sport. The fans certainly

didn't disappoint with almost 50,000 attending the playoff gamesalone.

With CPLspending more timeinGuyanathanprevious years along with the change to the tournament structure where all six teams, TV production crew and tournament staff travelled as one cohort CPL's direct

England secure top place with crushing win over Pakistan

AFP - England made a record total and crushed Pakistan by 114 runs to secure top place in their Women's T20 World Cup group at Newlands in Cape Townyesterday.

Danni Wyatt and Nat Sciver-Brunt hit halfcenturies and Amy Jones made 47 as England powered their way to 213 forfive.

Katherine Sciver-Brunt then opened the bowling for England and took two for 14 from her four overs as Pakistan were restricted to99fornineinreply

Englandfinishedfirstin Group Two with four wins from four matches and will meet the second-placed team from Group B in the semi-finalsonFriday

Opening batter Wyatt made 59 off 33 balls, with sevenfoursandtwosixes.

The 31-year-old from Staffordshire had made only 27 runs in England's first three matches but showed her intent from the first over when she hit left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal for four andsixoffsuccessiveballs.

Sciver-Brunt, one of the outstanding players of the group stages, hit 12 fours and a six as she rattled along to 81 not out off 40 balls, her second successive halfcentury Jones hit 47 off 31 balls before being caught in the deep off the last ball of the innings.

The previous highest total in a Women's T20 World Cup match was 195

for three by South Africa againstThailandinCanberra in2020.

Katherine Sciver-Brunt had Sadaf Shamas caught behind off the second ball of Pakistan'sreplyandPakistan collapsed to 54 for seven before Tuba Hassan, batting at number nine, made a spirited28off20balls.

Pakistan were captained by Nida Dar in the absence of Bismah Maroof, who had agroininjury

Brief scores: England 213-5 in 20 overs (D. Wyatt 59, N. Sciver-Brunt 81 not out, A. Jones 47; Fatima Sana 2-44) Pakistan 99-9 (K. Sciver-Brunt 2-14, C. Dean 2-28)

Result: England won by 114 runs

Toss: England

s p e n d i n c r e a s e d significantly,withonemetric showing a total of 25,783 hotel room nights filled across the tournament, a 236% increase on the figure from2019.

Thisreportwasgenerated by independent, worldrenowned research company, YouGov Sport, with the

make-up of the values including the total spent by Hero CPL to put on the 2022 event, the value of media exposure for the country from the broadcast of matchesandthemoneyspent with local business by those who travelled into Guyana forthetournament.

The total viewership for the 2022 Hero CPL also smashed all records as it increased to 721.8million. This is the third successive year that the tournament has generated a viewership figureofoverhalfabillion.

Pete Russell, Hero CPL's CEO, said: “The reception for the Hero CPL in Guyana last year exceeded anything

we have seen before, and we are hugely grateful for the vision of His Excellency I r f a a n A l i , w h o masterminded the Cricket Carnivalconceptandshowed how cricket can deliver significant economic value when planned alongside other entertainment initiatives.We are so grateful for the amazing support we continue to receive in Guyana and are thankful that we have been able to repay the country with these fantastic numbers. We can't wait to make an even bigger impactin2023."

For further information o n C P L v i s i t www.cplt20.com.

Diamond Secondary School win Pre-Mash Inter Secondary School's Tapeball Competition

Pre Mash interS e c o n d a r y S c h o o l ' s Tapeball competition final was held on Saturday 18th February at the Durban Park Tarmac located along Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown and the Diamo

y School won their second Pre Mash Inter Secondary Schools Tapeball cricket competitiononthetrot. The tournament was organised by the Holy Family Bible Club On Saturday, two semi finals were played before assimilating a final between Vergenoegen Secondary School and DiamondSecondary

In the first of the two semi finals, Patentia Secondary School made

light work for the Diamond Secondary Diamond

Secondary School posted 61 runs off of their allotted four overs in the first i n n i n g s P a t e n t i a

Secondary in return made 29runsintheirfouroversto hand Diamond Secondary School a comfortable win toadvanceintothefinal.

Across in the second Semi finals, Vergenoegen Secondary School went up against St Rose's High School Vergenoegen

Secondary defeated St Rose's High to meet Diamond Secondary St Rose's High batted first; scoring 28 runs from four overs.

V e r g e n o e g e n

S e c o n d a r y S c h o o l comfortably got to 31 runs in 3 2 overs to meet

Diamond Secondary in the Pre-Mash Tapeball final.Meanwhile, Diamond S e c o n d a r y t r a s h e d Vergenoegen Secondary in thefinalofthecompetition. Vergenoegen batted first and scored 34 runs off their allotted four overs Diamond Secondary reaching to their target losing only one wicket in the process Diamond Secondary cruised to 37-1 to claim the Uprising PreMash Inter-Secondary S c h o o l T a p e b a l l championship for the secondtimeinarow

Diamond Secondary School was presented with the winning trophy donated by James "Uprising" Lewis by Trevon Boston a memberoftheHolyFamily BibleClub.

Diamond Secondary School posing with the championship trophy

GUYMIN Inc partners with Petra in sponsorship of Milo school's football tournament

Every Secondary school that will beparticipatingat this year's Milo U18 Secondary School football tournament will now benefit from the Guyana Industrial Minerals Incorporated (GUYMIN) initiative; handing over of footballs to the Petra Organisation in preparation of Milo/Petra U18 Secondary School's footballcompetition.

The GUYMIN Inc is pleased to be in partnership with the Petra Organisation th to sponsor the 9 Annual Milo Secondary School football competition

Speaking at the presentation ceremony held at the N a t i o n a l L i b r a r y ' s Boardroom,ChiefExecutive Officer (CEO) of the GUYMIN incorporated

Elliot Lincoln explained, “When I was approached by the Petra Organisation to engageinsponsorshipofthis tournament, I was thrilled to accept the offer ” Lincoln also added, “Once Petra continues to be the organiser of tournaments of this

nature, they can count on the supportofGuyanaIndustrial Minerals Inc.” He also mentioned, “It is a great initiative to partner with the Petra Organisation to sponsor its 9th Annual Milo U18 Secondary School footballtournament.”

Meanwhile, the Advisor to the Minister of Education

Africo Selman charged every student in attendance to take this opportunity to market themselves as they journey to become better sportsmen and women at the sport we all love, while in pursuit of better secondary education.

The Petra Milo U18 Secondary School football tournament has expanded to eight regions across the country ThePetra/MiloU18 Secondary School Football tournament which was i n i t i a l l y s c h e d u l e d commences this weekend under the platform: Stop the Violence against Teachers, distributed footballs to the forty-eight secondary schools that will be participating in the 2023

football tournament at Monday's presentation ceremony.

Someforty-eightschools across eight regions have now registered to participate th in the 9 Annual Secondary School Milo football competitionwithonlythirtytwo teams progressing into the main tournament, an elimination tournament to determine which teams move forward. The winner of the tournament is guaranteed $300,000 to a project of their choice, with $200,000 going to the second place, and $100,000 to the third place school Participating are twentys e v e n s c h o o l s f r o m Georgetown-region four, as well as seven schools out of region three, five schools from region six, two schools each out of regions two, five and ten, and also one school from both regions one and seven.

Further details on the Milo/Petra U18 Secondary School Football tournament will be updated as soon as it becomesavailable.

Dani Alves must remain in...

From page 41

December The player, who initially denied knowing her, changed his story several times but later said they had consensual relations, according to sources close to the case.

Alves is on trial for the alleged crime of sexual assault -- which in the Spanish penal codeincludesrape.

The investigating judge ordered on January 20 that he be remanded in custody without bail, taking into account, among other things, the contradictions in his initial

statementsandthehighriskofabsconding.

Alves was sacked by his club Pumas UNAMinMexicoafterhisarrest.

In a highly successful career, Alves made 408 appearances for Barcelona, with 391 of those coming in his first spell from 2008-2016.

During that initial stint, he won six La Ligatitles,threeChampionsLeaguecrowns andfourCopadelReytrophies.

At last year's World Cup finals in Qatar he became the oldest player to represent Brazilatfootball'sshowpiecetournament.

School's representative poses with Advisor to the Minister of Education Afrio Selman, CEO of GUYMIN Elliot Lincoln and Petra co-Director Troy Mendonca (seated) after receiving footballs.

Four Guyanese Youth Players in CWI Under-19 Encampment

SportsMax - Newly appointed West Indies One-Day International Captain Shai Hope led the Lahore Qalandars to a dominant 63-run win over the Quetta Gladiators in their Pakistan Super League at the Karachi National Stadium on Tuesday The Qalandars made 198-6 off their 20 overs after being put in to bat by the Gladiators.

Hope led the way with a 32-ball 47 including five fours and a six Zimbabwean all-rounder Sikandar Raza provided good support with a rapid 16-ball 32 and Mirza Baig was also in a destructive mood with 31 off

just15balls.

Afghan leg-spinner Qais Ahmad took 2-36 from his four overs. West Indian Odean Smith also took a pair of wickets in his four overs and went for 41runs.

The Gladiators reply never really gotoffthegroundwithonlyJasonRoy providing some tense moments for the

Qalandars with a brisk 48 off 30 balls includingfivesixes.

Pakistani speedster Shaheen Shah Afridi was chief destroyer for the Qalandars with 3-22 from his four overs while SouthAfrican all-rounder David Wiese, who now represents Namibia in international cricket, took 3-23 from his four overs.

Four Guyanese youth players are currently in Antigua to go through player development and assessment exercises in preparation for Cricket West Indies (CWI) participation in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men's Under-19 World Cup, scheduled for Sri Lanka in2024.

The Guyanese players who are amongst the regional pool of players selected by CWI to demonstrate their competenciesandreadinessto represent West Indies in this upcoming and prestigious ICC Under-19 World Cup 2024, are fast bowler Isai Thorne, top-order batters

Rampertab Ramnauth, Mavindra Dindyal, and leftarm spinner Golcharran Chulai.

These and other potential West Indies players, assembled in Antigua on Sunday, February 19, 2023, and will be engaged in HighPerformance exercises over a period of approximately three weeks.

This encampment is one of several ongoing events beingimplementedbyCWIto

ensure the regional pool of Under-19 players is provided with the best opportunities to realizetheiroptimalpotential.

It is trusted that the planned CWI High-performance activities for these Under-19 players will adequately prepare them for the competitive settings that are expected of the ICC U19 World Cup 2024, a release from the Guyana Cricket Boardinformed. When the Tournament begins in 2024, Sri Lanka will join New Zealand as the only two countries to host the ICC Men's Under-19 World Cup on three occasions, having previously hosted the same in 2000and2006.

Golcharran Chulai

Mavendra Dindyal

Hope makes 47 to help Lahore Qalandars

hammer Quetta

Gladiators by 63 runs in Pakistan Super League

Shai Hope top scored for the Lahore Qalandars with 47

Isai Thorne

Rooplall strikes 138 in ESCL's Over-40 tournament

Flamboyant right-handed opening batsman Patrick Rooplall struck a magnificent, unbeaten 138 for Caribbean Cricket Club 2 against Sunrisers Masters in the first semi-final of the Essequibo Softball Cricket League's (ESCL) Over-40, T20 competition Playing at Queenstown ground on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), last Sunday,Rooplallclobbered14 sixes and seven fours as Caribbean Cricket Club 2 raced to a formidable 330-2 from the 20-overs. Sunrisers Masters replied with 259-8 at theexpirationofthe20-overs.

Apart from Rooplall, Eshwar Singh also batted with confidence to make a steady 77 laced with five sixes and four fours. When Sunrisers Masters batted, former Essequibo Senior InterCounty batsman Ravi Beharry slammed an impressive 89 which counted nine sixes and six fours. Latchman Persaud contributed 44 as Yaseer Mohhamedgrabbed3-45from his maximum four overs and he got support from Luckiram Bridgemohan who picked up 2-32 off three overs,

delivering for the reigning champion Caribbean Cricket Club 2. The second semi-final is slated for this Sunday at the same facility commencing at 10 am between Invaders Masters and Devonshire CastleSportsClub.

The final is set for March 12th at a venue to be announced Meanwhile, the competition is being played in memory of Dave Tajeshwar, anardentsupporterofsoftball. His brother Vo Tajeshwar is one of the main sponsors for thisyear'seditionagain.

Patrick Rooplall

Mandhana guides India into T20 World Cup semi-finals

AFP - Smriti Mandhana hit a career-best 87 as India beatIrelandinarain-affected match in Gqeberha on Monday to book a semi-final meeting withAustralia in the Women's T20 World Cup semi-finals.

Replying to India's imposing 155 for six, Ireland 54 for two when rain ended play, handing India a rainadjustedfive-runwin.

A strong, swirling wind made conditions difficult and Mandhana was dropped four times in the outfield during a 56-ball innings which included nine fours and three sixes.

Shafali Verma made 24 and helped Mandhana put on 62 for the first wicket but both batters struggled to time the ball, although the lefthanded Mandhana hit with authority after reaching her second successive halfcenturyoff40balls.

I

Harmanpreet Kaur, playing

i n h e r 1 5 0 t h T 2 0 international, became the fourth player to reach 3000 runs in the format but also lacked fluency before being dismissedfor13off20balls.

While other bowlers suffered because of dropped changes, Ireland captain Laura Delany benefitted from three good catches in thedeeptotakethreefor33.

One of the catches was held by a diving Orla Prendergast, who also bowled impressively to take twofor22.

Ireland made a disastrous start when Amy Hunter was runoutoffthefirstballofthe innings, attempting a second run after hitting the ball to midwicket.Four balls later Prendergast was bowled by Renuka Thakur without scoring.But Gaby Lewis (32 not out) and Delany (17 not out) shared a spirited unbeatenpartnershipof53.

With rain threatening, they went for their shots,

raising the possibility of an upset win if they went past theadjustedpartotal.

Butwhentherainbecame heavier, play was halted and eventuallycalledoff.

India finished the group stage with three wins from four matches and will face Australiainthesemi-finalsin Cape Town tomorrow, Thursday

Ireland, let down during the tournament by some indifferent fielding, lost all theirmatches.

England, who beat Pakistan in Cape Town yesterday,havealsoqualified for the semi-finals and finishedtopofthegroup.

Brief scores: India 155-6 in 20 overs (S. Mandhana 87; O Prendergast 2-22, L Delany 3-33)

Ireland 54-2 in 8.3 overs (G. Lewis 32 not out)

Result: India won by 5 runs (Duckworth/Lewis method)

Toss: India.

Bahamian Olympic and World 400m Champion Steven Gardiner continues return to track

Guyanese Olympian Aliyah Abrams win women's 400m

SportsMax - Bahamian

400msuperstarStevenGardiner ran a season's best to win the 300m at the Radd Collegiate LastChancemeetinGainesville onThursdaylast.

The 27-year-old ran 32.58, thefifthfastesttimeintheworld this year, to win the event ahead of Jamaica's Mario Heslop (33 67) and Fabian Hewitt (34 42) Gardiner holds the WorldRecordfortheeventwith a 31.56 clocking in January 2022.

Gardiner, who finished top ofthepodiumatthe2019World Championships and 2021 Olympics, opened his season with a 33.03 effort to win his sectionofthe300mattheSouth Carolina Invitational on February3.

T h e 2 0 1 7 W o r l d Championship silver medallist is working his way back from a heel injury that forced him out of action for seven months, meaning he was unable to defendhisWorldtitleinEugene inJuly

His last race before the th layoff was on the 24 of June at the Bahamas Championships in Nassauwherehewonin45.22.

Elsewhere, Guyanese

Olympian Aliyah Abrams won the women's 400m in 52.09 ahead of Jessica Gbai (53.64) andAlexisWilliams(55.39).

Tigerrentalsunder-13football

Matches continue in intra-association play Eagles

FC beat Pouderoyen

As o l i t a r y successful strike f r o m K e o n Grant secured three points for Eagles FC as they managed to needle the struggling Pouderoyen FC during Saturday's play, which featured just one match at the West Demerara SecondarySchoolground.

GFA

T h e G e o r g e t o w n Football Association (GFA) officially kicked off their intra-association league last S a t u r d a y a t F r u t a Conquerors ground in Tucvillewherethehomeside thumped Eastveldt 8-0 Shoquan Deen led the onslaught with a hat-trick and he was supported with a brace each from Nicholoi Tappin and Travis Grogan, while Jahim Hart scored eighthgoal.

EBFA

Match day four of the East Bank Football Association (EBFA) intra-association tournament was also played, last Saturday, with a total of four matches at the National Training Center (NTC), Providence.

Recording wins w Timehri PanthersA, Timehri Panthers B, Swan FC and FriendshipAllStars.Timehri Panthers A showed their dominance by defeating Smatta Point/Kaneville 13-0 with goals coming from

1-0

Eagles FC goalscorer Keon Grant

Samuel Tascher (five), Malkai Daniels (four), Niyron Barrow (two) Jason Williams (two) and Devin Persaud(one).

Swan FC defeated Herstelling Raiders 2-0 with one goal each from Marko Andrews and Shameer Daniels, as they continued their unbeaten run.

Friendship All stars outplayed Diamond United to win 3-0 with two goals from Michael Correia and onefromMatthewPrasad. Timehri Panthers B gained a walkover from Agricola Red Triangle who once again failed to show Action continues on March 11atthesamevenue.

Swan FC goalscorers Marko Andrews and Shameer Daniels (right)

Smriti Mandhana hit a career-best 87 as India beat Ireland.

Bahamian 400m superstar Steven Gardiner

Aliyah Abrams

Guyana will not boycott IBA World Championships – Ninvalle

With a growing list of countries boycotting the International Boxing Association (IBA) World Championship in India (Women) and Uzbekistan (Men), the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) president Steve Ninvalle, said the country will support and attendtheprestigiousevent.

The Netherlands became the latest nation to join a boycott of the IBA World Championships because of the presence of Russian and Belarusianathletes.

Despite International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommendations to the contrarybecauseofthewarin Ukraine, the IBA - led by Russian official Umar Kremlev - lifted a ban on national symbols and the participation of athletes from bothcountriesinOctoberlast year

USABoxing was the first national governing body who opted against sending teams tonextmonth'sIBAWomen's W o r l d B o x i n g ChampionshipsinNewDelhi and the Men's World Boxing Championships in Tashkent in May because of the presence of Russia and B e l a r u s a n d w i d e r governance concerns under Kremlev Ireland, Czech Republic, Canada, and Sweden have since publicly declared their

intention to follow suit, as well as Britain from the upcoming Women's World Championships as a minimum.

Ninvalle, speaking to Kaieteur News, pointed out, “Like any family, there will be disagreements,” while noting “but the IBA is governed by rules, and as such, Guyana will follow those rules regardless of who isattheheadoftheIBA.”

“We (Guyana) have committed our boxers to a t t e n d t h e W o r l d Championships, and that's what we will do,” Ninvalle said.

“Attending the World Championships is a must,” Ninvalle said, “We've sent

teams to the last two World Championships,butthistime around we are also attending the Women's World Championship. That is for certain.”

Ninvalle pointed out that Abiola Jackman will be heading to New Delhi as the GBA shifts their focus and attention to give more exposure to their skilled femaleboxers.

The GBA president has publicly supported Kremlev during his election and reelection bid, while on the political side, Guyana and Russiasharealonghistoryof a good relationship, with the establishment of the Russian Embassy in Georgetown in 1970.

Dani Alves must remain in custody – court

AFP - Former Barcelona and Brazil star Dani Alves will remain in custody pending his trial for allegedly raping a woman as he is considered a high flight risk, the Provincial Court of B a r c e l o n a d e c i d e d yesterday.

"Thereisanelevatedrisk of absconding, linked on the onehandtothehighsentence that could be imposed because of the present case, the serious evidence of criminality against him and large financial resources that would allow him to leave Spain at any time," the court saidinastatement.

The court believe taking the 39-year-old's passport would not prevent him from leaving Spain "by air or sea or even by land without

documentation." If he were to return to Brazil, his homeland, the courtbelievehewouldnotbe handed over to Spain as the South American country does not usually extradite its citizens.

According to reports, the IBA's ties with Russian majority-state-owned energy giant Gazprom also came under fire after the renewal of a sponsorship deal prompted a warning from theIOCthatboxingcouldbe dropped altogether from Paris 2024, having already

been left off the initial programme for Los Angeles 2028.

The Swiss Boxing Federationisamemberofthe Common Cause Alliance Their boycott also applies to other events where Russia and Belarus will be present, including the European Boxing Confederation Youth Men's and Women's E u r o p e a n B o x i n g ChampionshipsinYerevanin April.

TheIBA-formerlyAIBA - has been suspended by the IOC since 2019 because of ongoing governance concerns, and relations have hit an all-time low following Kremlev'sre-election.

It has pledged to provide financial assistance for athletes from countries boycotting the World Championships to enable themtoparticipate.

Kremlev has described officials who voted to b o y c o t t t h e Wo r l d

Championships as "worse thanhyenasandjackals".

The IOC has insisted its sanctions on Russia and Belarus including a ban on national symbols would remain in place even if "protective measures" on athlete participation are lifted.

Meanwhile, the IBA announced that World Boxing Championships in New Delhi andTashkent will be the main qualification eventsforParis2024.

According to amateur boxing's global-governing body, they intend to give all athletes the right to compete at the World Boxing Championships and not be the victim of the political games of a few National Federations.

“The IBA uses an open process for registration for athletes from the boycotting nations to compete at the W o r l d B o x i n g Championships.”

The public prosecutor's officeopposedhisrelease.

On January 2, a young woman alleged that Alves had raped her in the bathroom of a nightclub in Barcelonaattheendof (Continued on page 37)

FLASH BACK! President of GBA, Steve Ninvalle, shakes hands with IBA president Umar Kremlev (left), at a meeting in Yerevan, Armenia.

Dani Alves will remain in custody pending his trial for allegedly raping a woman.

England secure top place with crushing win over Pakistan

CEO of GUYMIN Elliot Lincoln handing over sponsorship to Nareeza Latif -Petra Organisation Representative.

Play between Eastveldt (bibs) and Fruta Conquerors