Kaieteur News

Civil Society Group shows how Ghana lost

US$882M on 14 oil contracts

The Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), a nonprofit energy think tank working with technical partners around the world, produced an investigative reportonGhanawhichshows that it lost over US$882M on 14 petroleum contracts since regulators failed to be vigilant.

In its report, ACEP reminded that after the commercial discovery of oil in2007,Ghanawasprojected to rise as a key player in Africa's oil and gas industry The country had signed 16 PetroleumAgreements (PAs) with multi-national oil companies for the purposes o f e x p l o r a t i o n a n d productionofpetroleum.

Despite the number of available active contracts inked in 2007, ACEP found t h a t t h e c o u n t r y ' s hydrocarbon potential was seriously underexplored partly because not all companies were performing in accordance with the minimum contractual obligationsinthePAs.Sucha stateofaffairshadsignificant implications for Ghana's expected revenue inflows, and even deprived the State ofmuchneededresources.

To better understand how

deep the problem was, the Africa Centre for Energy Policy teamed up with experts attached to the Strengthening Action A g a i n s t C o r r u p t i o n (STAAC)programme,aUKfundedinitiative.

STAACwasinstrumental as it provided the non-profit with financial and technical support to investigate and monitor the performance of all existing Petroleum Agreements that Ghana had entered into since the discoveryofoilin2007.

In 2017, they joined forces and examined companies' performance and compliance with contracts from2016to2020.

In their findings, the investigative group outlined that the 16 contracts it examined, were signed between the period of 2006 and 2019 and included specific deliverables to ensure that companies did not merely hold onto the blocks but instead proceeded t o e x p l o r a t i o n a n d production. The PAs gave companiesbetween6-7years for exploration, with this time frame divided into three stages. It was also noted that a company is supposed to m e e t t h e m i n i m u m requirement for a stage as a

prerequisite before moving to the next phase. Failure to p e r f o r m m i n i m u m obligations incurs a sanction in a form of payment to the State.

As of the time when ACEP and STAAC began their intervention, this was not being enforced by state institutions mandated to do so. Further to this, the PAs also imposed obligations on the companies with set b e n c h m a r k s f o r performance, which include payment of taxes including surface rentals, royalties, corporate income tax and capitalgainstax.

Unfortunately, as ACEP investigatedandkeptlooking for available information (a significant challenge in itself), there emerged a deeper pattern of noncompliance in meeting the minimum contractual obligations enshrined in the Pas.

The failure to deliver as stipulatedinthePas,required the activation of sanctions against those companies. In contrast, ACEP said some of the companies received extensions without paying any penalties for the inactivity of their blocks. In addition to this, surface rentals which were supposed

to be paid to the State under the PAs were defaulted by some of the oil companies without enforcement of the necessary sanctions

The non-profit's report explained for example that the investment requirements for just 14 active PAs sum up to a total of US$923 million. For companies whose initial period has expired, they should have invested about U S $ 7 5 0 m i l l i o n i n exploration. ACEP said the limited activity points to less than 2% of the required minimum expenditure over the period, leaving Ghana losingoutonoverUS$882M.

The civil society group said the implication of poor contract management is that the country also loses on potentialrevenuesfromearly discovery and its attendant b e n e f i t s s u c h a s employment, linkages with therestoftheeconomy

According to the group's report, the lesson to be learned is that “Contractors and companies often cut c o r n e r s w h e n w e a k contracting systems are in place.Withoutgoingthrough the necessary due diligence and processes for strong contractual obligations, corruption risks are far

Woodcutter returns from interior to find empty house

Wife, children, car, furniture, ducks, chickens disappear

Like many who work in the interiorlocationsofGuyana, a 45-year-old logger of Riverstown Sand, Region Two, was eager to get home for Christmas but when he showed up at his house on ChristmasEve,itwasempty

His wife, children, car, some of his furniture and even the chickens and ducks his family was rearing had all disappeared.

The logger, identified as Kawall (onlynamegiven)haslodgedareportat the Suddie Police Station and has been trying to locate his family and his car sincethen.

Kawall told Kaieteur News on Fridaythathelearnthiswifehadmoved out but he “really needs his car back” andisworriedabouthischildren.

“We had a lil hard talk…a lil problem before I go in the backdam but I never put she out,” said Kawall as he recalled the day he left his home to work.

He explained that he and his wife had a dispute over her drinking habit andfrequent'partying'withafriend.

However, Kawall said they

reconciledbeforehelefthomeforwork earlyDecember.

“I thought everything dey ok, I left somemoneywithsheandtellshethatif I ain't mek it home back by Christmas must buy thing and suh fuh dem children”,Kawallclaimed.

He reportedly spent some two weeks working in the backdam and finished just in time to return home for theChristmasholidays.

Kawall reportedly left the backdam aroundmidnightonDecember23,2022 to make the long journey home and arrived around 11:00hrs on Christmas Evedaytoasilenthouse.

The doors were locked and his car was not in the yard. At first, said Kawall,hethoughtthathisfamilywent onanerrandandwaitedforawhile.

As the time elapsed he decided to break the door locks and enter only to findanemptyhouse.

After realizing that everyone and everything had 'disappeared' he immediately began inquiring from neighbours about his family's whereabouts only to notice that his duckandchickenpenwereemptytoo.

“All dem groceries and suh she tek away, we had about 19 chicken and coupleduckmininandallduhshegone widto,”Kawallsaid.

According Kawall, he was told that his wife had moved out the day before hearrived.

“Dem people seh truck come in the day and move out all dem thing and in the night dem pack up d groceries and all them small, small thing and move dem out with ma car,” the logger told KaieteurNewswhileaddingthatpolice have not been much help to locate his wifewithhisbelongings.

He said, “The last thing I heard, somebody seh how she deh Bartica and then a next person seh how she move and gone North West but me na know way she got meh car Meh me really need da car fuh do meh work around hay”.

Thelogger is asking the public to assist him in finding his wife so that he can at least get his car back and know if his children are in a safe space where they will continue their education (Shervin Belgrave)

higher.”

ACEPsaid it also learned that there was a capacity gap in monitoring contracting –neither state institutions nor civil society had the capacity to deeply understand contracting, the loopholes and gaps in the contracting process, and how to monitor the performance of companiesholdingcontracts. To be effective in contract monitoring, the civil society body said the capacity of relevant institutions must be builtfirst.

ACEP's experience with the GRA and other state institutions it partnered with revealed that they generally need the support of independentnon-stateactors. It said, “State institutions are sometimes unable to act or workthewaytheyshoulddue toactualorpotentialpolitical interference.”

As a result of its study, advocacy and engagements with Government, ACEP said it was able to get the Petroleum Commission of Ghana to make it mandatory for oil companies to submit

yearly and quarterly work plans as a way of monitoring performance of the oil companies.

Oxfam America– which had been working on natural resources and advocacy in Ghana – partnered with ACEP, the Petroleum Commission, and the Upstream Chamber to m o n i t o r c o m p a n y performance, developing a framework to measure performancegoingforward.

A C E P h a s a l s o collaborated with the Ghana Revenue Authority to draw upplanstorecoverallunpaid taxes and royalties owed by companies operating in the petroleum sector. Through the evidence submitted by ACEP, the GRA was able to identify the defaulting companies and began the process of recovering unpaid funds.

ACEPsaiditsapproachis a clear indication of civil society providing advisory support to the Government while still holding the authorities accountable for theiractions.

Kaieteur M@ilbox

PPPC GOVERNMENT’S GAMES

The PPPC Government is having a grand time talkingoutofbothsidesofitsmouthatthesame

time. Listen to any Leader in the Government, andheorshewouldbequicktoasserthowmuchtheregime isabouttransparency,truth,integrity,andthatithasnothing tofearbecausetherecordspeaksloudlyforit. Apparently, the PPPC Government has its own sound system, which it listensto,sothattheechoeswillprovideconfirmationasto the clarity of its practices, and the cleanliness of its governance,whentherealityistheopposite.

Anybodycanmakefancyspeeches,andtherearenoneas dedicated to that craft as those in today’s Government. If they spend a small fraction of their time doing right by the Guyanese people, instead of trying to mislead citizens through a barrage of propaganda, this would be a totally different country One of the areas of governance that has come under scrutiny, and which stands as a poster child of howtheGovernmentprotectsitselffromtoomuchscrutiny, is the Integrity Commission. In this country, given the torrent of malfeasances in government offices, we need morethananIntegrityCommission.

What is needed is an Integrity Ministry, an Integrity Court,andanIntegrityjail.

ButanIntegrityCommission(Commission)iswhatwe have,andwiththatwewillhavetomakedo. Presently,the Commission is hobbled to the point where it can barely function,andthenonlyatsomewherearoundquarterspeed. One of the tried and proven tricks with an entity like an IntegrityCommissionistostrangleitofresources,sothatit ispreventedfromdoingitsworktoanysatisfactorylevel. It is there, but that is all there is to it. Currently, the Commission is woefully understaffed, which means issues that should be prioritized just have to be left alone, in the hope that they will be gotten around to at some time. It stands to reason if a body with the impressive sounding nameofIntegrityCommissioncannotdoitsjobeffectively, thenitjustaswellmightnotbearound,mockingeverybody byitslistless,impotentpresence.

But this is how PPPC Governments, past and present, have operated. The President was all smiles and smooth wordswhentheIntegrityCommissionwasannounced,with itsmembersintroducedtotheGuyanesepublic. Therewas an all too brief spark of interest, of hope, that good things wouldresultfromthepresenceofthenewCommission. Of course,itdidnottaketoolongforGuyanesetocometotheir senses, and realize that it was all part of the smokes and mirrors (games) of PPPC Governments, with plenty of promises,andnothingelse. Bynow,Guyanesehavecome to appreciate that what comes out of this government is muchsoundanditisallhollow.

Forexample,thereisthePresidentalwaysinsistingthat he and his Government are about transparency, and that thereisnonebetter WearestillinsistingtothePresidentand others that what he says about transparency does not reconcileintheleastwiththeendlesssecreciespracticedby his PPPC Government. Reviews completed and reports issued for Field Development Plans relative to Payara and Yellowtail are still kept hidden from the Guyanese public, andthatisonlyastart. Promisesweremadetopublicizethe Payara review, only for walking back to occur Vice President Jagdeo has repeatedly promised to release the miningcontractsandtodatehehasdeliverednotascrapof anything.

This is not leadership, and it certainly is not transparency When a Government is compelled by circumstances of its own construction to engage in these kinds of sleazy tactics, then there is nothing possessing integrityhere,onlypossiblythedirty

Last,examineGuyana’sEnvironmentalProtection Agency and what it has been made into, and no selfrespectingLeaderwouldtakeownershipofanentityof such dreadfulness and disfigurement. When matters andagenciesarereducedtothissickeningstate,thenit is a testimony to the kind of Government and leadership that is in place. And no amount of propagandacanwishthataway

The PPPC and their Clones‘ IronicApproach to Technology and Biometrics: The GECOM Scenario

DEAREDITOR, notembracehightechinthe fingerprints for voter fingerprints;andtheirusefor VicePresidentJagdeohas electoral sphere For identification has been voter identification, at the recently announced a new example, in preparation of stoutly championed by place of poll, on the initiative:theintroductionof the 2023 budget, the Jagdeo, his party and their following purported anewidentificationcardthat Government appointed ilk. grounds: (a) the essentiality would be universal in its Commissioners and They have proffered a ofafeasibilitystudy;(b)the usage The new card is GECOM‘s Chair voted proliferation of illogical inaccessibility to power purportedly intended to down the proposal of the of reasons why biometrics, to supply and internet facilitate ease of business GECOM‘s Administration wit a system for the connectivity, country wide; and travel. It will carry a and the IT Manager, for electronic capture of and (c) the prohibitive cost securechipwithdatasuchas GECOM to acquire simple fingerprints, and the use of factor blood type, tax ID number scanners for the electronic those prints for voter This raises immediate anddriver‘slicense.Thisisa captureoffingerprints,inthe identification must not be questions, in relation to the welcomed high tech nationalregistrationprocess. introduced. Those reasons new ID card initiative. Are development.

Opposition to the have been categorized as thesefactorsalsoinhibitions

Ironically, the said introduction of advanced technicalandlegal. toJagdeo’shightechIDcard Jagdeo and his Government technology and the use of They are opposing the initiative, which is a more are doing their uttermost to biometrics, to wit electronic implementation of the intricateandinter-agency ensure that GECOM does capture and matching of electronic capture of (Continuedonpage6)

Kaieteur M@ilbox Kaieteur M@ilbox

MochaArcadia: bulldozing of homes a human rights violation

DEAREDITOR, not an obstruction to the of vendors were recently the part of the government. full display by some of the Government boldly justified The Working People’s proposednewroadway demolished against their WPA warns that these police officers who the debacle as a form of Alliance condemns in the So, why ha

he will, represent acts of actions are pregnant with accompanied the demolition “strength.” He made clear strongest terms the recent Go

o brutalityandterrorthathave ethno-political provocation force from the Ministry of thathedidnotwanttoappear Government action against determined to evict the noplaceinmodernsociety which threatens the Housing. The brutalization weak. It is now abundantly homeowners in Mocha occupants at all costs? The The events in Mocha wholenessofourcountry ofthewomenbyatleastone clear that Guyana is Arcadia. Whatever the state answer obviously has to do Arcadia, therefore, open the WPAis also incensed by officer and their subsequent governed by a government ofnegotiations,iftherewere

Government to charges of the cynical act of arrestsareastonishing.WPA whose praxis is driven by any, between the two sides, acquisition of the land racial profiling and racial demolishingpeople’shomes calls for the charging and force and is normalizing someotheroutcomeshortof because of its potential discriminationintheprocess and immediately after prosecution of the officer or suchforce. demolition of the houses value. WPA thinks this is of governance. This, in the calling them with offers of officersinquestion.Nothing WPA warns that shouldhaveensued. naked land-grabbing on the International Decade of the money and alternative lessshouldsuffice. indiscriminate Government Bulldozing people’s part of a Government which People of African Descent, homes. Such cynicism is Finally, the WPA is also forceleadstofear,fearleads homes against their will is a has already been accused of an UN-sanctioned akin to willfully killing astonished by and roundly to desperation, and human rights violation, but transferring State and observation, to which the people and offering to pay berates the President for his desperation leads to worse, it is an act that reeks AncestralLandstoitsfriends Guyana Government is a for their burial. In any case, cowardly justification of the instability ofdisdain,anddisrespectfor andcronies. signatory the arrogance of unilaterally actionstakenatMocha. Working People’s citizens who have not It should be noted that Thewithholdingoffunds deciding the worth of The Head of State and Alliance offended the law or the thisistheseconddemolition from the local body, c o m p e n s a t i o n i s government. The images actbytheGovernmentinthe IDPADA-Gcoupledwiththe manifestation of the broadcasted to the world last year—the previous one wanton demolition of inhuman attitude of the fromthatvillagebringsback being in Linden. These African Guyanese homes government on this and memories of South Africa’s actions are in stark contrast andbusinessplacespointtoa similarissues. apartheideraandjustifiesthe to the issuing of titles to deliberateness of action on That inhumanity was on charges by sections of the “squatters” in communities African Guyanese deemed to be supportive of communitythatGuyanaisan thegovernment. emergingApartheidState. The Government cannot The issue here cannot be notknowthattheperception resistance to ‘development’, and reality of unequal as the Government seeks to treatmentundermineitsown castit.WPAwishestomake stated mantra of ‘One it abundantly clear that it is Guyana’.Further,theoption strongly opposed to any of forced removal of mainly development at the expense people of African descent of the dignity and rights of whether it is in Linden, people. It is patently clear Mocha Arcadia or that the land in question is Georgetownwherethestalls

Kaieteur M@ilbox Kaieteur M@ilbox

ThePPPCandtheirClones‘IronicApproachtoTechnologyandBiometrics...

Frompage4 implementation of an picture which is printed on p r i m a r y f o r m o f verifiesthatthelistedperson In Guyana where the operation; reliant on power electronic system to capture thecard. identification. has presented himself or content of the voters‘ list supply and internet andmatchfingerprints. If the person does not In her decision, on this herself. includes at minimum connectivity; and requires a Legally, it has been have an ID card, he/she can matter, in relation to a Ifthatiswhatisrequired, thousands of overseas pre-requisite feasibility argued that the decision in attesttobeingapersononthe motion for the introduction what better verification can Guyanesewhoaredeceased, study? Yet a decision has the Esther Perreira case list and by virtue of that of electronic fingerprint there be that a biometric and since there is still no beenmadetoimplementthe prohibitstheuseofanyform attestation, along with the identification at the place of verification where the mechanismtocleansethelist universalIDcard. of identification from verification of particulars poll, she concluded that “If person‘s registration record of those names, and in the

The stark reality is that inhibiting a voter This is such as date of birth, abiometricsystemwasto is retrieved and the person‘s circumstance where there is electronic fingerprint p r e m i s e d o n t h e registeredaddress,interalia, be used as an alternative being is verified by tangible documented identification does not constitutional provision that under oath, is allowed to means of identification, so electronically matching his evidence of voter require a source of power statesthat“everypersonmay vote. that persons will be orherfingerprintwiththatof impersonation, any person other than portable battery voteatanelectionifheisof The ID card and the permittedtobeidentifiedby the actual person, bearing in who has an interest in, at packs, and no internet the age of eighteen years or attestation are optional additional means and be mind that finger prints are least the appearance of, free connectivity is required upwardandis acitizenof mechanisms used to allowed to exercise their unique and that those which andfairelectionswouldwish sinceeachpointofoperation Guyana….” determine the person‘s right to vote even in the are electronically captured to wed themselves to the can have a stand-alone The Constitution further identity and to his/ her absence of such biometric are usually flawless and implementation of the battery powered scanner to states that “no person shall entitlement. In other words, identification, then the definitely superior to the electronic capture and capture and or match the vote at an election unless he the election official must, introduction of biometric visualmatchingofimagesor matching of fingerprints as fingerprints. isregisteredasanelector.”In beyond reasonable doubt or identification at the Polling attestationswhicharelargely an integral part of the Also, the need for a the Esther Perreira case it positive degree of Stations might be anchored on trust rather that electionprocess. feasibility study is not an was concluded that a voter probability, based on which permissible.” objectivereality Anyone who does not is i n h i b i t i o n t o t h e identification card is an of the standards GECOM This conclusion treats To equate electronic suspect. implementationofelectronic imposition on the voter to applies, determine that a the fingerprint identification fingerprintmatchingtoother The introduction of the fingerprint capture and have a particular document voter has presented himself inlikemannertotheIDcard methods of identification, electronic capture and identification system, since asapre-requisitetoexercise orherselftovote. whichisnotmandatorysince presently practiced, is to matching of fingerprints is such systems have been the franchise when the Against the background attestation can stand in its ignore the primacy and technically and legally tested and widely used in constitution only requires of the Esther Perreira case, stead. directness of electronic feasible. developed and developing the elector to be of a certain there are those who contend In that regard Justice fingerprint matching which It should be reiterated countries. age,acitizen,andregistered. thatnoformofidentification ClaudetteSinghdiffersfrom issuperiorandthemostnon- that many countries across It is just a matter of In that circumstance, otherthantheIDcardorthe those who contend that it intrusive form of the continents have getting the specifications being on the voter‘s list and attestationcanberequiredof shouldnotbeused,period. identification. successfully implemented right in response to the being able to attest to being avoter I beg to differ from both It guarantees, more than this system. Its proponents environment in which the thelistedpersonsufficesand The ID card is used to positions on the following any method, that it is the can have no interest other systemwillbeimplemented. gives effect to the verify the person‘s grounds.

registrant who turned up to than enhancing the electoral In principle, any feasibility constitutional provisions registrationandqualification The Constitution vote. process and assuring the study will be facilitative The present form of to vote as required by the stipulates age, citizenship Other methods use fairnessoftheelections. rather than fundamental to attestationisbeingtheholder constitution with the and registration as the intermediary mechanisms Those who oppose it are thedecision. of an identification card attestationbeinganalternate requirements for a person to and subjective engagements either backward or have an There can be no which allows the election form of such verification. In qualifytovote.Procedurally, tomakethatdetermination. interest in the identifiable comparability in cost officialtodeterminethatthe that circumstance, the one‘s inclusion on the list, Those who oppose the loopholes. betweenthetwosystems,by personwhopresentshimself Chairperson of GECOM, and the presentation of an introduction of electronic

In the instance of virtue of the difference in orherselfisoneandthesame and the author of the Esther ID card matching the capture and matching of Guyana, it‘s not just a m a g n i t u d e o f t h e person, as the listed person, Perreira judgment, has informationonthelistalong fingerprints are either left question of modernizing the infrastructure required and by virtue of the name on the opined that electronic with the likeness of the behindinarchaictechnology system, the evidence of the thepossibleoverheadcosts. card which matches the fingerprintscanonlybeused personwiththephotoonthe or have no interest in an loop hole in the system Therefore, there is no name on the list and the as an alternate form of ID card or an attestation to objective and transparent establishestheneed. technical basis for the non- likenessofthepersonandthe identification, rather than a the registrant‘s information electoralsystem.

VincentAlexander

EPAignoresLaw... waiving EIA on gas plant Gives own reason for

Protection Agency (EPA) has returned to its own method of handling business, just weeks after the Court handed down a ruling in which it explicitly stated the factors that must be included in its reason(s) for waiving an Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA).

Guyana's High Court on December 16, last ruled that the country's main regulatory body for the petroleum sector, the EPA breached the law when it issued a Permit to Schlumberger Guyana Inc. to construct a radioactive storage facility without conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA)first.

Justice Nareshwar Harnanan after listening to arguments from the two sides told the Court that according to the Environmental Protection Act, EIAs must “(a) identify, describe and evaluate the direct and indirect effects of the proposed project on the environmentincluding—(i)human beings (ii) flora and fauna and specieshabitats(iii)soil;(iv)water; (v) air and climatic factors (vi) materialassets,theculturalheritage and the landscape, (vii) natural resources,includinghowmuchofa particular resource is degraded or eliminated, and how quickly the natural system may deteriorate, (viii) the ecological balance and ecosystems, (ix) the interaction between the factors listed above, (x) any other environmental factor which needs to be taken into account or which the Agency may reasonably require to be included, and (b) assess every project with a view to the need to protect and improve human health and living conditions and the need to preserve

the stability of eco-systems as well asthediversityofspecies.”

The Judge explained that while theseparametersmustbetakeninto consideration for the impact study, in like manner, the EPAreasons for waiving such a study must reflect thesestandards.

“This Court is of the view that inthelightoftheextensiverangeof factors to be considered in an EIA under sub-section (4), where 'reasons' must be given by the EPA for their decision to either require or exempt an EIA for a project applied for under section 11(1), these reasons should reflect the standard expressly laid out in subsection (4),” Justice Harnanan stated.

He continued to point out that where the EPA determines that a proposed project will not significantly affect the environment and exempts the requirement for an EIA, then the reasons for making this determinationmustbepublished.

In its decision to grant an exemption to Schlumberger Guyana Inc. for the radioactive facility, Justice Harnanan said that the notice did not give reason as to the determination that the project will have no significant impact on the surrounding environs or neighbouring residential communities.

He was keen to note that, “These considerations are important in giving effect to the intentionofthenotice.”

But while the Court only days ago gave the EPAa clear definition ofthereasonsthatmustbeincluded in its determination for granting an exemption of an impact study, the Regulator has issued yet another waiveronitsowngrounds.

On Friday, the EPA in a public notice published in the Guyana Chronicle announced that an EIA was not required for the 300 megawatt gas-fired power plant being pursued by the Government ofGuyana.

It went on to list six reasons for itsdecision.

To begin with, the Regulator explained, “The proposed location for this project falls within the area of influence/footprint of an EPA approved Gas to Energy Project (GTE) that was subjected to a comprehensive EIA, including a Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA).

The CIA concluded that there will be no significant impacts from thecombinedactivities/projects.”

That EIA was conducted by a Texas based Consultant, Environmental Resources Management (ERM), for the gas pipeline and Natural Gas Liquids

(NGL) Plant to be developed by U.Soilgiant,ExxonMobil.

These two aspects form part of the Government's Wales, West Bank Demerara Gas-to-Energy (GTE)project.

In that study, the Consultant made it clear that the power plant being pursued by the government would be subjected to a separate Environmental Authorization process and impacts from this venture were not included except during the Cumulative Impact Assessment(CIA).

This means that the public is still unaware as to the potential impacts of this project as well as what safeguards would be instituted.

Secondly, the EPA explained that the CIA done for the project revealed that while there is potential for temporary impacts on air quality, these will be within the WorldHealthOrganization(WHO) stipulatedlimits.

Thirdly, the Regulator noted, “As natural gas is used for power generation, the flue gas emissions will not have particulate matter and SO2emissions.

However, in the case of back fueluse,particulatematterandSO2 emissions will be released but to a minimal extent, and well below recommendedWHOguidelines.”

At its fourth reason, the body noted that compared to Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) currently in use for power plants, natural gas has lower carbon content and as a result will havealowerCO2emission.

Fifthly, it was explained that “Processwastewaterwillbetreated to local and international acceptable standards (GNBS Interim Effluent discharge standards and/or IFC Guidelines)

via a wastewater treatment plant priortobeingdischarged.

The sanitary sewage system within the facility will collect all sanitary wastewater and treat it to international applicable standards priortodischargeintoastormwater pond prior to discharge into the DemeraraRiver.”

I n w r a p p i n g u p i t s announcement at the sixth point, theEPAnotedthattheprojectisnot locatedinasensitiveecosystembut within a “highly modified landscape”.

The design of the project, according to the EPA will include embedded controls as well as targeted mitigation measures during construction and operation toavoid,minimizeandmitigateany impactstobiodiversity

However, the Court was clear thattheEPAreasonsmustreflectan evaluation on human beings, flora, fauna and species habitats, soil, water, air and climatic factors-how much of a particular resource is degraded or eliminated, and how quickly the natural system may deteriorate,amongothers.

The public was not given any reassurance concerning these factors.

The 300 MW power plant is a component of the Gas-to-Energy (GTE) project in which the Governmentispushing,eveninthe absence of updated feasibility studies and environmental safeguardsbeinginstituted.

This project is now pegged at over US$2 billion, with a 190 kilometres pipeline to be laid by ExxonMobil to the tune of US$1.3 billion and a Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility and power plant to be built by Government at a cost of US$759M.

Police recover four more firearms stolen from Radar Security

Police on Saturday recoveredfourmorefirearms that were stolen from Radar Security and Supplies Company at a location in Albouystown, Crime Chief, W e n d e l l B l a n h u m confirmed.

Blanhum told Kaieteur News that one of the suspects, who is in police custody, took detectives to a location in Albouystown where four of the stolen firearms were recovered. Of the weapons recovered, three are .32 calibre and one is a 9mmcalibre.

On Friday, detectives f r o m t h e C r i m i n a l Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters made a major breakthrough in the case where they were able to arrest the mastermind and four accomplices in relation to the theft of 11 weapons belonging to Radar Security

andSuppliesCompany

Kaieteur News had reported that the weapons were stolen from the company between 10:00h on December 25, and 18:30h on December26,2022.

The weapons that were stolen are two single-barrel

s h o t g u n s v a l u e d a t

$950,000,four 9mm Taurus Pistols valued at $1,400,000, fiveTaurus.32pistolsvalued at $1,425,000, 25 12 gauge cartridges, 538 32 ammunition, and 18 9mm roundsofammunition.

In an update on Friday,

Crime Chief disclosed that five persons are currently in police custody including the mastermind who happens to be a Security Official at the company

Blanhum stated too that one of the suspects took a team of Investigators to a

location in South Ruimveldt where two of the stolen weaponswererecovered.

This publication had reported that the firearms were stolen from company's office which is located at C a r m i c h a e l S t r e e t , Georgetown.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) had initially reported that Radar Security and Supplies' office is located in the middle flat of a threestoreywoodenbuilding.

According to the police, there is an office to the western side, which has a wooden door to the eastern side, secured with a manufactured Yale lock. In thesaidoffice,thereisasteel 'strongbox' where the security firm secures the firearms and ammunition The strongbox is secured with two padlocks and inside the strongbox-the firearms are chained and padlocked withthreepadlocks.

It was reported that on Christmas Day, the firm's Chief Security Officer, a 72year-old from Guyhoc Park, checked the firearms and all wereintact.Around18:30

EPA Head, Kemraj Parsram

The firearms detectives were able to recover on Saturday

The Private Sector criticisms If the Second obtaining financing for eco theGSDSlaysgreaterclaim by requests for specific tax Commission of Vice President wants andenvironmentalservices. to being a national measures; it knows what to Guyana (PSC) organizations to couch The Low Carbon development strategy than e x p e c t f r o m t h e

a n d t h e proposals within a Development Strategy 2030 theLCDS. Government.

Federation of Independent framework, then a different is essentially a document Itishowevernottoolate The Government surely Trade Unions of Guyana kind of consultative process developed to bolster for the Second Vice could not have expected (FITUG) should withdraw is required, one that would Government’s efforts at President, to initiate a much from the one-day theirsubmissions,relatingto be far better structured than obtaining climate financing, process which would allow consultation which amounts Budget 2023 Those merely inviting submissions including from the sale of stakeholderstocontributeto to a farce. The optics was submissions were treated and holding a cosmetic one- carbon credits. The LCDS the development of a poorattheconsultation.The GuyanaBeyond2030. with disrespect and disdain off, one day stakeholder 2030issoblatantandvulgar framework for a medium- Government financial gurus The one-day, one-off bythecountry’sSecondVice meeting. in its financing posture that term development plan. He sat at the head table on the consultationwasanexercise PresidentBharratJagdeoata The proposals submitted its four objectives are listed surelycannotexpectthemto stage while the stakeholders in cosmetology. It was consultationheld recentlyat were related to the Budget, as :1) Value Ecosystem do so merely for the annual sat below in the audience, months too late and it was StateHouse. the one-year plan of the services, 2) Invest in Clean Budget consultations. He symbolic of one group muchtooflawedaprocess–Bharrat Jagdeo’s government. If Jagdeo Energy and Stimulate Low may be misguided in talking at and talking down the Ministries have already comments were extremely desires a framework Caron Growth, 3) Protect believing that there is no totheother. submitted their provision disturbing. He accused the approach,thenthishastobe against climate change and underlying framework Thisisnotthemannerin estimatesandplans–forany PSCofmakingasubmission related to consultations for biodiversity loss and 4) informingthesubmissionby which a consultation should meaningful consideration to which was mostly about tax the medium- term and long- Align with Global Climate FITUG and the Private proceed. And it certainly be given to the proposals reductions Similarly, he termplanofthegovernment. Goals The LCDS 2030 SectorCommission. doesnotlendanycredibility madeatthatmeeting. said, that the FITUG TheGovernmenthasnot reads like an environmental The submission of to an inclusive process for The Private Sector submission dealt mainly pursued such a process manifesto rather than the specific proposals for tax developing the one-year Commission and the with a request for better Instead,theGovernmenthas national development reforms is not inconsistent financial plan of the Federation of Independent wages. The Vice President designated its Low Carbon strategywhichitpretendsto with a neo-liberal government. Trade Unions of Guyana implied there was no Development Strategy 2030 be. framework which speaks to Thepreparationofaone- should take umbrage at framework informing the as its national development The APNU+AFC growthandtheprivatesector year Plan for the Jagdeo’s comments and twosubmissions. strategy produced an unwieldy and astheengineofthatgrowth. Government has been should immediately But how does he know ButthisStrategyisnota voluminous document The Private Sector reduced to crunching withdraw their submissions. this? It is downright national development plan. called the Green State Commissionhaslongcalled numbers and fulfilling That would be the most condescending for the Vice It is fundamentally focused, Development Strategy for tax reform. But it is the Manifestopromises.Itisnot honorable thing to do by President to level such aswastheoriginalLCDS,on (GSDS). Despite its flaws, Governments of Guyana – derived from any medium self-respectingpersons. both those of the term or long term plan. In (The views expressed in APNU+AFCandthePPPC– fact, it is now being this article are those of the which has for three decades rumoured that the author and do not haveundertakentaxreforms Government is recruiting necessarily reflect the in a piece meal fashion. No personstoprepareamedium opinions and beliefs of this wonder the PSC’s term plan and this is why n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s submissions are dominated IrfaanAlicannowtalkabout affiliates.)

Police recover four more firearms...

Frompage8 Officer then informed the thestrongbox. hours on Boxing Day, a 65- owner of the security The 57-year-old guard year-old Weapons Training service, a 49-year-old saidthathedidnotcheckthe OfficerfromEnterprise,East businessman of Diamond, office door, nor did he go Coast Demerara (ECD), EastBankDemerara(EBD). intotheoffice. visitedthelocation. When detectives arrived on He was arrested, and a

The police reported that thescene,theyobservedthat searchwascarriedoutathis the Weapons Training thepadlocksandchainwere home, but nothing was Officer observed that the indeedcut. found. door to the office was not The two shotguns were

The Weapons Training secured,butratheritwasleft removedfromthestrongbox Officerwasalsoarrestedand ajar He then entered the and lodged. The office was questioned, and his home office, where he observed checked, but there were no was searched, but nothing that the padlocks on the signsofbreakage. wasfound. strongbox were cut off, the The 57-year-old security

At that time, when chain that secured the guard was questioned, and checks were made by the firearms was also cut, and he claimed that at 17:00 police for the 36-year-old thefirearmsmentionedwere hours on Boxing Day, he security guard at his stated missing. took over duty from a 36- address, no one was seen at

However, two other year-oldsecurityguardfrom the house, which seemed to shotguns were left in the Paradise Housing Scheme, havebeenabandoned. strongbox. whohandedoverthekeyfor Investigations are

The Weapons Training the said office that housed ongoing.

Dem boys seh...

TIK TOK PUTTING PEOPLE IN TROUBLE!

Videoevidenceprovesinnocence ofsecuritypersonnelaccused ofintimidatingbusinessman

- Law Firm

on social media clearly 1966 Law Firm, Everton Inastatement,signedby shows that our clients were Singh Lammy and Jinelle Attorney, Sanjeev Datadin, not the aggressors in any T h o m a s , w h o a r e the Lawyers said the video event or any occurrence as representing Cleon Jack, evidence “exonerates our a l l e g e d b y t h e Elijah Cosbert and Imran clients” from the offences aforementioned media Khan, employees of El they have been arrested for publications and we await Dorado Security Services, The Lawyers said that “It is the outcome of the police whowererecentlyembroiled unfortunate that several investigation,”thestatement in an incident at a popular publications have published said Datadin said the city restaurant are anunbalancedversionofthe accused remain fully maintaining their clients’ incident.” committed to assisting the innocence The trio was The video was provided p o l i c e w i t h t h e i r arrested on January 3, 2023 tothepoliceandisalsointhe investigation El Dorado for reportedly intimidating a publicdomain. SecurityServices,on Businessman while at a “The videos circulating (Continuedonpage57)

Lawyers attached to the restaurant.

Dis Tik Tok thing gat its dangers. De fuhdrinktrenchwaterdanusedewellwater waterfall boss man do a Tik Tok pun de ButdatiswhatTikTokdoescause. waterwahheseeinWakenaam. AmandoesbewatchingTikTokwhole When de video was streamed on de day He married and gat a wife. When he social media platform its cause one lookatTikTokhedoesenjoyseeingwhena commotion in de Water Company People man asking girls, “What is something, you become experts in water chemistry and nevertoldyourex?” geology immediately Is all kind of excuse Heseesomuchgirlsanswerdequestion yuh hearing as to why de water smelling dathedecidefuhtryitoutonhiswife.Sohe stink and looking like mauby Dem boys walk up to his wife and ask, “What is even learn about iron bacteria – something somethingyounevertoldyourex?” demneverhearabout.

The wife answered, ”Dat I never loved

A bird whisper to dem boys how nuff him” scientists coming down to Guyana fuh The man was stunned, “I thought yuh investigate this unusually stink and told me dat you never had an ex and that I discolored water Dem want know how a wasyourfirst? well could produce such water dat is safer

Talkhalf.Leffhalf!

THE OLIGARCHIC MAN ON HORSEBACK IN GUYANA IN 2022

If you want to know now.Basedonthemanwho aboutcruelmencommitting hegemony was virtually company It was how I feel about the hurt my kid, he would be acts of violence on women. impregnable. an unreasonable future of class arrested or my daughter Never mind how sickening The book is titled, “The i m p o s i t i o n

relations in Guyana herselfwouldbearrestedfor is that social malady is it is Man on Horseback.” When because there was please see the exchange I goingtothepolice. not as widespread as class you enter university for the simply no place to hadwithaguestnamedDon I believe domestic domination which has the first time, certain books park if you were Singh and my co-host violence is a national crisis potential to derail Guyana’s leave an everlasting visitingThirstPark. Leonard Gildarie on the that must be confronted and f u t u r e I s a y impressiononyou.Theyear The Traffic Chief Gildarie/Freddie Kissoon canbeeradicated.Butforme unapologetically, the was1974andonearticleand (TC), Mr Dennis Show a more destructive element scourge of domestic onebookwillremainforever Stephen with a senior Gildarie brought up the in this country is class violence cannot undermine inmymemory rank accompanied me theNDCdiscovereditwasa topicofthefrequentmurders injustice which takes on Guyana’s future, class The article is “Law and to Thirst Park. At the gate, horrible deal, JFL withdrew of wives and girl friends in frightening proportions and injusticecan. Class Struggle” by Alan the receptionist telephoned from the arrangement but Guyana and both Gildarie whichcharacterized2022in I saw in 2022 the partial Hunt in the journal inside to announce the passed on the Draculean and Mr Singh felt it was a this land and looks set to destruction of this country publishedbytheCommunist arrival of the TC The transaction to a mysterious priority concern for continuein2023. and if committed men and Party of Britain titled, officials refused to speak to entity Guyanese. Gildarie asked Domestic violence is a women who believe in an “Marxism Today.” I will the TC. He waited for 15 Air Services Ltd at Ogle meifitwasapriorityforme virusthatthetotalsocietyis essential role for humanity never forget the moment. I minutes then left in disgust. allegedly fired a pilot who and said it be on the top of committed to eradicate. At do not confront class readitwhentheupperflatof The man on horseback refused to fly a helicopter people’slist. every level, Guyanese are destructioninGuyana,then, UG’s library was almost dismissed the power of the that was defective. No one I told both gentlemen prepared to deal with this Guyana is going to have a deserted around 10:30 one PoliceForcebecausehehad protested the Thirst Park that class injustice and class social disease But precariousfuture. evening. The book is “The more power than the Police incident,theJFLconspiracy cruelties were more of a Guyanese were not willing One of the first books I ManonHorseback.” Force. The usual suspects and what Air Services did. pressing exigency for me. to take any interest read as a freshman at UG in The man on horseback that publish sesquipedalian All three companies are All hell broke loose. Both whatsoever against class 1974 pursing a degree in wasubiquitousinGuyanain letters in the newspapers multi-billion dollar entities. gentlemen disagreed Mr hegemony in 2022.And my history was a book on the 2022. No other incident is complaining about They personify the man on SinghaskedmehowIwould fear is that class hegemony description of the banana morereminiscentoftheman everything the government horseback in Guyana in feel if my daughter was poses a greater danger to republic in Latin America onhorsebackthanwhattook does conveniently forgot to 2022. assaulted. social stability than and how oligarchic forces place at the gate at Thirst write about the man on Thehorsebackriderwill Here is my answer then, domesticviolence. dominated Latin America Park at Banks DIH. I will horseback outside Thirst rideagainin2023. and it is the same answer Domestic violence is and where the oligarchs’ never stop writing about Park. (The views expressed in that. The man on horseback this article are those of the

The Traffic Chief went rodeoverpowerlesscitizens author and do not there to issue an order to in2022.JohnFernandesLtd necessarily reflect the BanksDIHtoremovecones (JFL) purchased lands from opinions and beliefs of this on a long stretch of public the NDC of BV-Triumph at n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s parapet outside the $240, 000 per acre. When affiliates.)

FrederickKissoon

MOCHA – HIDDEN HANDS, HIDDEN AGENDAS, HIDEOUS RESULTS

y the time

BtheMinistryorGovernment. the click of a finger in I have not said a word o v e r t h e radicalized. It has to do with them circumstances over which I aboutthePPPGovernment’s d o m i n a n t The PPP Government earninganhonestlivelihood. stillhavemisgivings. Butin shifting of the goalposts in

narrative about will say that compensation

Yes, there was that, too. Mocha, there is the cold, the middle of the struggle. what happened in Mocha was offered, and that it was It is not a matter of finding clinical consideration and Meaning, what was in the wouldhavesettledinsolidly. more than fair. Even a them a job somewhere, get summary dismissal: there is wayandjusthadtomove,no It is that the PPP surface glance confirms that them off one’s hands (and a space, here is some cash, ifs,ands,orbuts,asopposed Government was kind, there is much more to the news) and be done with nowgetgoing. towhatisoutsidethepathof patient, longsuffering, and mixture than what was them. Theyarefarmersand On this occasion, I thenewroad,andnowhadto generous,whiletheresidents packaged as an offer, and those who rear livestock. employ a word that I have followsuit. of Mocha that had to move whatisgoingtobepresented

Selltheanimalscheaply,put not used before; it is Just like that. I can were hostile, uncooperative, goingforwardrelativetothe themonthechoppingblock, imposition To expand, understandtheformer(inthe goonish, and greedy obstinacy and combative or be rid of them in any there is this premeditated direct path), and appreciate Because of the complexions nature of a large handful of fashionthatpleases. heavy-handed, callous, and thatafirmhandisnecessary, of the two sides engaged in Mocharesidents. From all indications, I coldblooded unilateralism at times. Regarding those thisbattleofwills,Guyana’s Market value is not gatherthatwhatsomeofthe (and opportunism), not notintheway,mypositionis historic ills, the raw enough,Isayit. Sofar,this residents of Mocha put unlike what goes on with simple: why? Why so late, polarizationsofthiscountry, is concerning immovable together painstakingly one other sections of Guyanese so mysteriously, in the arerekindledandreleasedin propertyonly Andwhenthe sheepatatime,andonecalf life involving the same kind determination? What is evenmoretoxicflaresifthat future value of those same after another to the small ofcitizens. involved here? Why must canbeimagined. adjacent lands or spaces are herd, was nothing but a Insum,takeitorleaveit, thesepeoplemove?

By: GHK LALL

But the objecting I find it difficult that a factored into the Mocha

nonfactor We are going to andthisiswhatitis. Indeed, This should be revisited residents of Mocha, the matterthatshouldhavebeen calculus, there is the real give a sum of money for the if it is not taken, then it will sometime after the road is holdouts, are who they are, dealt with honestly and Mocha story About those home,relocatetoaspot,and be forcibly stuffed down the completed. Who is there, and with these people (yes, franklywasnot,andthatthe refused to move and why; that should be fair and just throatintothecraw,whether and what they are engaged thesepeople)therecanbeno inevitable deterioration had and who had to get rid of compensation. We can all liked or not. For those in, should furnish the reasoning, no civilized to occur In blazing them, these dogged human wash our hands, and deal refusing to leave, making answerstotoday’spuzzle. It dealing. prejudice Into politics obstacles,forwhatpurposes, with the demands of the oil nuisances of themselves, is not so hard to solve

To me, this sounds like From standoff to square-off and for whose benefit. This business. there is set and proven currently the usual stereotype. By toflare-uptotheblowupthat iswhererealvalueis,whena Something is wrong formula to deal with such (The views expressed in then,itwillbelongforgotten weallknowwasgoingtobe highway cuts through an about this sweet and noble troublemakers. Uniforms, this article are those of the that these were homes of where matters concluded area; when there are various picture. TheGovernment,in guns, bulldozers, and author and do not working-class citizens, and That is, the mechanized kinds of commercial ideas the person of the President excavators Thus, the necessarily reflect the there was also that other might of machinery aimed andagendasthatswirlinthe himself,candropeverything hidden hands are revealed, opinions and beliefs of this consideration, which straight at the heart of men minds of the all too cunning and rush headlong to Mon and these are the hideous n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s seemednottomatteratallto and women in Mocha. It is andcalculating. Repostodoleoutmillionsat results. affiliates.)

Loopholes in new oil Law give Govt.free rein with oil money

hen money is provisions to compel the Natural Resource Fund the serving members.

Wgeneral oversight withdrawn Government to report what (NRF) Board, the Public servesasChairperson.

the f r o m t h e specifically the oil money is Accountability and Mr LaurisHukumchand,

N a t u r a l beingspenton. Oversight Committee, and who is currently overseas,

the fund is Resource Fund (NRF) to The first demonstration theInvestmentCommittee. will be appointed at a later managedincompliancewith support the Government’s of the above occurred in On the NRF Board, time. theAct and other applicable budgetary agenda, who or February 2022, when the MajorGeneralJosephSingh, As for the Public laws. what Committee is H o u s e a p p r o v e d MSS serves as Chairperson. Accountability and While it is responsible empowered to determine its US$607.6Mtobewithdrawn He is supported by Former Oversight Committee for putting together an use? Which Committee is t o s u p p o r t t h e ForeignAffairsMinisterand (PAOC), the following investment mandate, this responsible for outlining Administration’s budgetary PermanentRepresentativeof persons were selected to role is circumscribed by what national priorities it measures. Guyana to the United serve: Mr Clement Sealy whatthemandatemustentail mustbespenton? K a i e t e u r N e w s Nations,CarolynRodrigues- (Chairperson), Mr. Abu asspecifiedinSection27.

A perusal of Guyana’s previously reported that the Birkett, Professor Compton Zaman,Mr RyanAlexander, Thispartofthelawstates Natural Resource Fund first tranche totalling Bourne, O E, former Attorney-at-Law Teni that the investment mandate (NRF) Act shows that the US$200M of the US$607M Parliamentarian, Mr Housty,Mr DawnGardener, shall include directions Board of Directors, the was withdrawn on May 10, Dunstan Barrow, and long Pastor Wendell Jeffery, and relating to the management Investment Committee, or 2 0 2 2 standing member of the AslimSingh. of credit, liquidity, e v e n t h e P u b l i c (https://finance govgy/gove Private Sector Commission, According to the NRF operational, currency, Accountability and rnment-makes-first- Mr RameshDookhoo.

Act 2021, the Board of market, and other financial that the investment mandate Oversight Committee is withdrawal-from-the- With respect to the Directors is tasked with risks; ethical investments is subject to the approval of NOTvestedwiththatrole. natural-resource-fund/). The Investment Committee, s e v e r a l c r i t i c a l includingpolicies,standards theFinanceMinister Withsuchaloophole,the second withdrawal of Executive Director of the responsibilities. and procedures for avoiding Given the provisional Government has free rein to US$200MwasdoneonJuly Georgetown Chamber of These include: overall prejudice to Guyana’s powers and loopholes in the swoop in and have full 13,2022. Commerce and Industry management of the fund, reputation as a responsible Law, the PPPC Government control.Withamajoritylead It was only until August ( G C C I ) , R i c h a r d reviewing and approving member of the world hasthepowertospendtheoil in Parliament, it also has no 30, 2022, that President Rambarran, Attorney-at- policies of the fund, community, along with any moneyhowitdeemsfit,with worry about final approval IrfaanAliawardedLettersof Law, Michael Munroe, and monitoring performance, other eligible assets as the no true check or balance on for spending. As an added Appointment to several CharteredBanker,MBAMs. ensuring compliance with ministerdeemsfit. wherethemoneygoes. sweetener, there are no Guyanese to serve on the Shaleeza Shaw are among approved policies, Noteworthy is the fact

Shaw exercising

of all aspects of

operations of the Fund; and

ensuring that

President, Dr. IrfaanAli

Sunday – Jan 1, 2023

Citizens have a right to receive all information on oil and gas sector – Int’l Body

According to the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), it is i m p e r a t i v e t h a t Governments are upholding theirconstitutionaldutytobe transparent with citizens on howtheirresourcesarebeing exploited.

It said rules and regulations ought to be in place to ensure that there is a smooth flow of information to the people so that they can hold their elected officials accountable.

The Institute noted that the rules governing access to address.

on the line. It said that in Kaieteur News Jordan had milking cow in their information on resource

The Institute also noted order to assess whether there described the advertised sale pasture?” “Marriott is now a management are usually that important places to look is sufficient and effective of the hotel as “interesting” money-making machine and spread across different for these provisions include transparency, citizens must given the dilemmainvolving President Irfaan Ali is documents in a country’s requirements in sector consider the rules regarding the project’s realisation. He allowingittodisappearfrom legal framework. It said that legislation and regulations, access to information, how indicated that a lot of money ourhands.” these rules can make information laws, and information is managed, wasneededtocorrectdefects Fullybooked disclosure of certain types of provisions in contracts what information is at the hotel and even more to Lall disclosed that the information mandatory, or between the Government disclosed, and how it is service loans taken by the hotel has been fully booked they can create processes andextractivecompanies. disclosed. project’s handlers It is for a long time now, “at that citizens can use to

NRGI said that where While Guyana does have unclear what position the US$200 a night, we are compel the Government to contracts are not publicly Access to Information hotel is in, and the former talking about US$15M a release specific pieces of available, it can be helpful to Legislation, stakeholders Minister believes that year, take out a third of that information. consider model contracts to h a v e c r i t i c i z e d i t s information should be as maintenance and salary,

The Institute said that see if there is a standard usefulness.They believe it is communicatedtothepublic. US$10M profit a year, see while the Government is clause agreed between actually a deterrent to easy Lall for his part said that what kind of money we expected to release extractivecompaniesandthe information access as the Marriott with 197 rooms talkingaboutthere.” information proactively, one government that prevents opposed to being helpful to was built with an ill-gotten According to Lall, must consider if the legal publicaccesstocontracts. theprocess. plan in mind. According to US$10M is more than 10% framework includes rules With the aforementioned Lall, the Publisher of the salary increase per year for that enable access to in mind, the Institute Marriott Hotel profits can Kaieteur News said from the all public servants, police, information. e m p h a s i z e d t h a t hike all public servants’ time the first block was laid teachers,soldiers,nursesand The Institute said, “It is transparency in the oil and salaries by 10% every on that structure, his if the room rate doubles to important to consider gas sector, which is year – Glenn Lall newspaper reported many $400 a night “you can give whetherproactivedisclosure particularly notorious for times “it was for the boys, it all the public servants 20% is mandated, or if disclosure being corrupt, is critical. It …Says Govt. lining-up was only a matter of time for increase every year alone on is only required upon said relevant and timely oneofitscroniestobuyhotel them to snatch it out we thatMarriottprofits.” request The Government information being easily Ahead of the impending hands. When it opened for M o n e y - m a k i n g should release almost all available to all actors so that sale of the lucrative Marriott business in 2015, the hotel machines information proactively theycanobserveandanalyze Hotel by the Guyana couldn’t even pay its light Meanwhile, making Request systems can be a decisions made and actions Government, Transparency bills, that was how bad the possible links as to whose useful complement to the performed by authorities, is Advocate and Businessman, investment was on hotels at hands the hotel can fall into, Jagdeosoldtohim.” proactive release of data, but an inherent right of the Glenn Lall believes that the that time in Guyana. Thank Lall recalled that months Additionally, Lall said they should not be the people. profits currently being made goodness the Coalition won after Bharrat Jagdeo had Jagdeo did not stop there; he primary method by which In addition to deterring by the hotel can hike public the elections and kicked out become President in 1999, proceededtospendhundreds citizens can access bad behaviour, the Institute servants’salary by 10%, but the secret players that were he sold to Ranjisinghi of millions of tax dollars to information, as the need to articulated that transparency theIrfaanAliAdministration installed inside through ‘Bobby’Ramroop for “next- renovate and fix up the go through a request process also helps lay foundations of is determined to sell it to one Republic Bank Trinidad and to-nothing” the entire Sanata Complex which was can significantly hamper trust between citizens, the oftheircronies. APNU+AFC took over the Guyana Pharmaceutical worth US tens of millions in access.” private sector, and the In a special message first hotelinfull.” Corporation. West Ruimveldt and again

It continued, “If requests Government. published on his Tik Tok Lall continued, “Then At the time Lall said the sold it to Ramroop at a are required, what are the It commented that the account,Lallsaidthecurrent God smiled on Guyana with then state company used to bargainprice. grounds on which an need for transparency in the profits on Marriott alone can the oil discovery and the rake in decent foreign

“Like the Sanata institution can deny a extractive industries is give 10% increase to all hotel began seeing its way, exchange for this country Complex, the bulk of the request? How quickly are particularly strong, given Public Servants every year, this eased the burden on our throughtheexportationofits money to build the Berbice institutions required to that resource extraction and yet the Government was hell taxdollars. popular Whizz, Limacol, Bridge came from our tax respond?Whatistheprocess revenue management are bentonsellingit.

NowthePPPisbackwith Nutrophus, Ferrol and other dollars, yet Bobby Ramroop for an appeal? Are there processes that are highly Only recently Former the same old tricks, them say products. “From then on, Company is the single prohibitive fees for technical, typically involve Finance Minister, Winston the hotel is for sale…” Lall right up to 2015, Ramroop largest shareholder in it, accessinginformation?Does few people, and usually take Jordan, called for the release cautioned Guyanese to and his companies were reaping the hog of the the legal framework include place in locations that are of the hotel’s financial watch and wait “and see given the bulk of all the drug profits.” rules that prevent access to physically distant from documents to give Guyanese whosehandsitwilllandin.” contracts to the tune of Further, days before information?” muchofthepublic. a clear picture as to whether The Kaieteur News billions and were being paid Jagdeo left office in 2011, he The Institute said that Furthermore, the Natural selling it would be a plus or Publisher asked, “who in hundreds of millions to store granted television, radio and

r

producing nations need to

important Resource Institute reminded minusforGuyana. their true and righted sense the Ministry of Health drugs cablelicensestothe questions that citizens of oilthat large sums of money are In an interview with would sell out the best in the same GPC bond that

From page 13

Resource Fund. He said the money RamroopGroupofCompanies. was moved to the Consolidated

LallremindedtoothatRamroop Fund but no one, save and except had put in a proposal to buy out the for the government, knows how Bourda Cricket Ground, but after this money was used. He said this the letter was leaked to him and the hinders the power of the people to Kaieteur News exposed the story, holdGovernmentaccountable. theplanwasabandoned.

The Opposition member also

“The 20% shares Guyana chided the Government for failing owned in GTT, that used to give to even commence an audit of the Guyana $US2.5M a year, Jagdeo nation’s fishing stock in lieu of sold it out and on to this day, the impactsfromtheboomingoffshore Guyanese people don’t know industry Government had said last whosehandsthoseshareswentinto year that a study was done by the – we were told it’s a Chinese Food andAgriculture Organization company, that’s it, we are still to on this very matter but never receive a missing US$5M on that releasedtheresults. deal. The Amaila Falls Hydro In light of the foregoing points, Project that Jagdeo wanted to push along with the fact that the nation’s down our throats, telling us it’s a petroleum laws remain outdated, Chinese investment, read through Patterson said 2022 for Guyana’s the lines,” Lall cautioned oil sector was the epitome of Guyanese.Healsoraisedsuspicion lawlessness. about the New Demerara Harbour Bridge. The administration said on Cop, fisherman shot dead on Friday that it will be seeking a loan New Year’s Day – Police from the Chinese Government to Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) reports that were drafted by Alison Constables under close arrest buildtheproject. administration. Redford, a Lawyer and former

In 2017, during a state media Specifically, Shadow Minister Canadian Politician who had Twopersons,includingaPolice broadcast, Jordan had said that for the oil and gas industry, David reviewedthePayaraandYellowtail Constable,havebeenshotdeadand massive misspending by the Patterson said 2022 has come and Field Development Plans. Both another injured in a New Year’s currentGovernmentappearedtobe gone without the Government reviews were done in an Day incident which occurred at “more than just mistakes” and securing full liability coverage for unprecedentedfashion,lessthan60 Grove Huntley, Mahaicony, East advocated for some type of oil spills from ExxonMobil days Given the level of due CoastDemerara(ECD). accountability. He said that the Corporation, even though this is a diligence required for such Dead are 31-year-old Detective Government was at the time requirement in the permits for its projects, each costing Guyana Corporal Dwayne McPherson, and saddled with a large debt despite four sanctioned projects in the between US$9B and US$10B, a 22-year-old fisherman Kishan puttingalargeamountofequity.He Stabroek Block. Patterson also industry stakeholders have said a Budburgh. Budburgh’s 19-year-old had highlighted the Marriott lambasted the Government’s year minimum, is needed for a brotherMarlonwasinjured. project and the Skeldon Factory, silence on this front, saying that thorough review. Stakeholders According to information another failed expensive they ought to be forthcoming about have said that proper reviews are reaching this publication, both Government venture, at the time. thereasonsforitsfailurethusfar necessary to ensure Guyana is not McPherson and Kishan were shot He said the David Granger Pattersonwasalsocriticalofthe beingshaftedonprojectcosts. and killed during the wee hours of Government was forced to “take fact that audit report of Further to the aforementioned January 1, 2023 Details over Republic Bank’s debt of ExxonMobil’s cost recovery bills Patterson said, “They also failed to surrounding the fatal shooting are US$17.7M to repay because the have yet to be made public. The produce any feasibility reports for sketchy and leave more questions Atlantic Hotel Incorporated (AHI) contract to audit Exxon’s costs the gas-to-energy project despite thananswers. was broke and had no money.” He totalling US$7.3B for the period making promises to do so and even KaieteurNewsunderstandsthat said too that on that project alone 2018 to 2020 was awarded early budgeting to do so. We don’t know McPherson and other ranks theGovernmenthadtofindanother audited financial statements for the last year VHE Consulting, a how they arrived at costs which are attached to the Mahaicony Police Guy$5.3B to fix defects on the lastthreefinancialyears),networth registered partnership between now in excess of US$2B. Also Station, located in Region Five, hotel. minimum (approximately US $250 Ramdihal & Haynes Inc, Eclisar frightening is that the Natural were at the time responding to a Marriott was opened in 2015 to million), and letter of financial Financial, and Vitality Accounting Resources Committee of report at the Budburgh brothers be a first class branded hotel. It is capability from a recognized &ConsultancyIncwerehiredtodo Parliament has never met, thus residence at Grove Huntley, owned by the Government through financial institution(s) to acquire the job with support from two preventing parliament from Mahaicony, ECD, when the police the National Industrial and NICIL’s shares in AHI for the international firms SGS and exercising proper oversight of the corporal and Budburgh were shot Commercial Investments Limited GuyanaMarriottHotel. Martindale Consultants. The ‘Cost oilandgassector.” and killed while Marlon was (NICIL) but was owned by Recovery Audit and Validation of While the country may have a wounded. bankruptAtlanticHotelInc.(AHI), Tuesday – Jan 3, 2023 the Government of Guyana’s Profit Local Content Law in place, While the police have not a special purpose company Oil Share’was awarded to the tune Patterson said its many loopholes released details surrounding the established by NICIL. To prevent ‘Adisastrous year for Guyana’s of US$751,000 with a four-month and zero regulations, also point to incident, the Force’s Director of the hotel from being acquired by oil sector’– Patterson deadline.TheAuditorshandedover the government’s incompetence. Corporate Communication Unit Republic Bank, the Granger 2022 closes with no trace of their report, as Kaieteur News He also said there is no proper oil (CCU), Mark Ramotar disclosed Government transferred AHI’s US$600Mdrawdownfromoil understands, in December 2022. spill recovery plan in place nor has that two Police Constables are financial obligations to the Central fund President Dr Irfaan Ali had onebeentabled. under close arrest for the fatal Government costing taxpayers

No audit reports on Exxon promisedtomakethedetailsofthis The Shadow Minister also shooting. US$1 1 million ($226 million) bills audit public but there has been no lamented the absence of a In a press statement, the GPF every six months since 2017 to No full liability coverage for updateonthisfronttodate. Petroleum Commission being notedthatacomprehensiveprobeis service the entire US$27 million oilspills

Another key audit report that is established to ensure independent underway and promised to give loan for 13-years In the

No independent regulators in yet to make its way into the public management of the sector He said regular updates as the investigation advertisement announcing the sale place domain pertains to over US$460M the sector remains within the progresses. NICIL said it is seeking

Noscrutinybyparliamentary in pre-contract costs Exxon and bosom of the President, Vice Budburgh’s mother Beverly Expressions of Interest (EOIs) committees partners incurred from 1999 to President and Natural Resources Dundas told Reporters that she was from persons or companies, No audit of oil impacts on 2016.Thisauditwasundertakenby Minister, therefore exposing its notawarethattheshootingincident individually or as part of a joint fishingindustry IHS Markit since 2019. Natural governance and policies to occurred. The grieving mother, venture / consortium, with an Noupdatedpetroleumlaws Resources Minister, Vickram significantpoliticalinterference. who is a security guard, said she interest in purchasing its shares in Bharrat has not provided an update He also said citizens must be asked to leave work early so that AHI for the acquisition of the The political Opposition is of on when this report would be alarmed by the fact that they have shecanattendchurchonDecember Guyana Marriott Hotel Pre- the firm conviction that 2022 saw availableforpublicscrutiny no clue what Government did 31,2022.Uponarrivalatherhome, qualificationmustincludefinancial nothing but disastrous oil sector Patterson also slammed the specifically with the withdrawal of KishanandMarlonwerenotthere. capability in terms of net worth, governance from the People’s Government’s failure to release over US$600M from the Natural

Opposition’s Shadow Minister for Oil and Gas, David Patterson

Govt. must disclose foreign consultants' reports on ExxonMobil's Payara, Yellowtail Project before rushing to approve another - KN Publisher

Kaieteur News Publisher, Glenn Lall, is calling on the People's Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) administration to make public, two reports which were done by foreign

consultants following their review of ExxonMobil's US$9B Payara and US$10B Yellowtail Projects in StabroekBlock. Lall said these reports

which were done by

Bayphase Limited and Canadian Lawyer, Alison Redford, should be made public so that citizens can judge for themselves, if the

country received value for moneyaswellasdetermineif the State's interests were properlyrepresented.

During the airing of the Glenn Lall Show on Friday,

Lall said citizens ought not forget that Bayphase is Exxon's client while Redford is not known for having any track record in reviewing project plans that are of such

magnitude.

“Guyana deserves to know what we are getting for payingthesepeople.Weneed to know what these experts are finding and what they are preventing Are we anywhere better with these reviews? I don't think so because experts continue to flag several loopholes that leave current and future generations in danger? What have these experts said about full coverage insurance for oil spills?We don't know and we need to know,” said the Businessman.

Furthermore, Lall said that these consultancies are paid for using a portion of a US$20M World Bank loan whichallGuyanesewillhave to repay with interest. “In both instances, Government used Exxon's client and someone who has little to no experience in this field of work This is how Vice PresidentBharratJagdeoand President Irfaan Ali running this trillion dollar industry We need to see what these people have done before rushing to approve a fifth projectforExxon”

Like Lall, other industry stakeholders have expressed grave concern about Guyana's use of Alison Redford. She was used not once,buttwiceforthereview of ExxonMobil's Payara and Y e l l o w t a i l F i e l d DevelopmentPlans(FDP).

Stakeholders were keen to note that both projects will cost Guyana a whopping US$19B. Given the fact that Redford has no well known track record of being a fierce defender of States on field development plans, industry experts cannot comprehend why she was selected for such an important job. What has surprised them as well is “Guyana's wild rate of approval for Exxon's projects” following Redford's input. They noted that Redford reviewed both Payara and Yellowtail within 42and52daysrespectively

More than a dozen industry experts who have experience reviewing FDPs said emphatically, “No proper review is done with such break neck speed ” Specifically,oneindustry

KN Publisher, Glenn Lall

Mr.

pictured

Amisha Sarjoo

This week's belle is the alluring Amisha Sarjoo Amisha is a former Miss Teen India Guyana and Senior Dancer for the Dharmic Nritya Sangh. Professionally, Amisha works as a Finance Manager and is currently pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration. Her Favorite quote is: “Be brave to stand for what you believe in, even if you stand alone”

The fallacy of ‘President’ Juan Guaidó is over

By Sir Ronald Sanders hasten its collapse, did not which steadfastly adopted legitimate Government NowthatGuaidó succeed. Theonlythingthat this principled stance from How any Government could been deposed by the (The writer is Antigua the sanctions accomplished the outset, wereAntigua and expect to maintain the Opposition parties and Barbuda’s Ambassador was hurting the populace of Barbuda, Dominica, St credibility of the OAS in and the farce of his to the United States of the country, particularly the Vincent and the Grenadines, suchcircumstancesisdeeply Presidency has A m e r i c a a n d t h e poor, creating the second and Trinidad and Tobago. troubling. evaporated, the Organization of American largest flow of refugees in These countries, recorded in As matters turned out, it Court will be States. He is also a Senior theworldtoday the resolutions of the OAS, was the Venezuelan constrained to Fellow at the Institute of Many countries, which that they did not accept the Opposition parties that put reviewitsruling. Commonwealth Studies, followed the Trump lead in violation of the OAS rules an end to this international Meanwhile, University of London and recognising Guaidó as and would not be bound by conspiracy to accord Guaidó Gustave Tarre, Massey College in the President of Venezuela, had anydecision,whichrequired thestatusofPresident. Guaidó’s nominee University of Toronto) begun to abandon that farce. the vote of Guaidó’s The opposition shadow as Representative to The pretender, Juan In Latin America and the representativetopass. ‘National Assembly’ voted t h e O A S , h a s Guaidó, is now finally gone. Caribbean, change of On 6 October 2022 – just on Friday, 30 December a n n o u n c e d t h e The myth that he was the governments in Mexico, three months ago – at the 2022, to remove Juan termination of his own to all those who initially President of Venezuela and Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, St General Conference of the Guaidó. Guaidó’s own appointment in the wake of recognizedGuaidó. had the capacity to act and Lucia, and Guyana, which OASinPeru,asAmbassador party did not oppose Guaidó’sremoval.

On 28 December 2022, speak for the country has had formed themselves with of Antigua and Barbuda, I removing him; they wanted SinceitwasGuaidówho, Spain formally appointed an nowevaporated. Canada into the ‘Lima introduced a resolution to toreplacehim. hims elf , made this Ambassador to Venezuela, The myth of Guaidó’s Group’, departed from the overturn the decision to seat But the three major appointment as ‘President of dealing directly with the presidency and authority patently obvious uselessness Guaidó’s Representative at O p p o s i t i o n g r o u p s the NationalAssembly’, and Maduroadministration. was possible only because of supporting a charade theOAS. recognised that, realistically, he has been removed by the

The reality is that on 27 Donald Trump, as President The Jamaican Government, The resolution received afarcewasneversustainable same opposition National April 2017, the Government of the United States, whilenotformallyamember majority support of 19 of the in the beginning, and Assembly, the entire scheme of Venezuela denounced the endorsed him on 23 January of the Lima Group, supposedly 35 member continuing it was self- at the OAS now falls away OASCharterandannounced 2019, for personal political continued its pro- Guaidó states (neither Cuba nor destructive. Instead, they Unless, of course, 19 its withdrawal from reasons. position. Venezuela are members have created a five-member Governments are brazen m e m b e r s h i p o f t h e

Trump needed the exile Thepurposeofthe‘Lima despite the unenforceable Commission to manage enough to try to once again Organization with effect two votesinSouthFloridaforhis Group’ was to try to give 1 9 4 8 r u l e s o f t h e Venezuela’s foreign assets, bulldoze and bully the other yearslateronApril27,2019, run for a second term as international legitimacy to organisation, really making especially the U.S. based, m e m b e r s o f t h e as required by the Charter President Several Juan Guaidó, particularly in membership 33). Only 4 CITGO, a subsidiary of the Organization to accept Since then, a pretender has countries were ‘persuaded’, hemispheric organisations, countries voted against, state-owned oil company, another mockery of wrongly occupied the in defiance of customary such as the Organization of namely Canada, Guatemala, PDVSA. customary international law Venezuelan seat, not paying international law to support American States (OAS) and ParaguayandtheU.S. However, this scheme is andpractice. any part of the $10 million, Trump’sposition. t h e I n t e r- A m e r i c a n However, even though entirely dependent on the Itismostunlikelythat19 ascribed as dues payable by But many of the then Development Bank, where, Guaidó’s nominee was s u p p o r t o f f o r e i g n member states will support Venezuela over the last 4 governments of those along with the U S seated at a General Governments, including the suchaninitiative. years.

supporting states knew that Government, they used their Conference in 2019 by 19 U S and the United The vote at the OAS

The consequence was the position they took was slender majority to impose votes, which, wrongly, Kingdom. General Conference on 6 false accounting that has not rooted in international Guaidó’s nominees as the included the nominee voting Almost $2 billion worth October, 2022 was selfcontributedtotheinabilityof law or practice, and it was r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f for himself, the archaic rules of Venezuela’s gold reserves evident. Only 4 countries the Organisation to fulfil its unsustainable, unless the de Venezuela. of the OAS required a are held in the Bank of voted against the Resolution mandatetothepeoplesofthe facto government of Nicolás Several Caribbean favourablevoteof22topass. England. by Antigua and Barbuda, memberstates. Maduro crumbled. Four Governments resisted this Abstentions by three A London High Court whose objective was to This additional fallacy years later, Maduro is still imposition,whichwasalsoa CARICOM countries had ruled last August that restore respect for law and mustalsonowend. there. violation of the rules of the deprived the OAS of Guaidó should control these rules at the OAS by

Responses and previous Further, sanctions OAS and of customary correcting the blemish of assets, but the Maduro r e m o v i n g G u a i d ó ’s c o m m e n t a r i e s : applied against the Maduro international law Among illegality and immorality of Government appealed the representative. www.sirronaldsanders.com Government, designed to the Caribbean countries, seating a pretender as a decision. Spain has shown the way

Sir Ronald Sanders

Court Journal THE

Remarrying without a divorce is a criminal offence that carries jail time

InsomecountrieslikeGuyana, not been known by that person to

During November 2019, matter would be forwarded to the monogamy is mandated and as be living within that time, or (c) to Taylor had reportedly moved out Criminal Investigations such, if someone enters another any person who, at the time of the of the home and went to live with Department (CID) of the Guyana marriage while still being married second marriage, has been his girlfriend at Soesdyke. Two Police Force. Taylor was later (without a divorce), that person lawfully divorced from the bond monthslater,Taylorreportedlygot charged with bigamy and placed commits ‘Bigamy’ and can be of the first marriage, or (d) to any married to his girlfriend while still beforethecourt. jailedforcommittingtheoffence. personwhoseformermarriagehas beingmarriedtohisfirstwife.

On his first court appearance Section 83 of the Criminal beendeclaredvoidbythesentence Taylor’s firstwifehadtoldthis Taylor appeared before Chief Law Offences Act stipulates, “(1) of any court of competent publication that she found out Magistrate Ann McLennan. He Everyone who, being married, jurisdiction.” about her husband’s second haddeniedthechargewhichstated marries any other person during Back in April 2021, Michael marriage from a mutual friend, that he got married to another the life of the former husband or Taylor, 38, the airport ramp months after he had moved out. woman while still being married. wife,whetherthesecondmarriage attendant who was found guilty of According to the woman, “De The charge was filed under has taken place in Guyana or marrying twice, was fined person call me and say you deh Section83(1) of the CriminalLaw elsewhere,shallbeguiltyoffelony $100,000orindefaultwasordered home and your husband have big (Offences) Act which stipulates, and liable to imprisonment for to spend 12 months in prison for wedding going on.” The woman “Everyone, who being married, sevenyears.” theoffence. had stated that she was shocked marries any other person during “(2) The offence may be dealt Taylor,ofLot1Soesdyke,East when she heard the news. She the life of the former husband or with, inquired of, tried, Bank Demerara, was charged in added, “I went all over to find out wife, whether the marriage takes

By Renay Sambach

The matter was later determined, and punished in any 2019,forbigamy,andthecasewas ifthereisanythingIcoulddo,”and place in Guyana or elsewhere, transferredtoMagistrateWeever’s county in Guyana where the tried in the Georgetown “then a lawyer advised me to go to shall be guilty of a felony and courtroom for trial. After the trial offender is in the same manner in Magistrates’ Courts before GPO to the Registrar’s Office and liable to a term of imprisonment Magistrate Weever ruled that the all respects as if the offence had Magistrate Rondell Weever, who find out if they were married forsevenyears.” prosecution had provided enough been actually committed in that handeddownthesentence. legally.” ThecourthadheardthatTaylor evidencetoshowthatTaylordidin county: Provided that nothing in Taylor’s was the first case of As directed, the wife visited hadnoknowledgeofthecrimeand factcommitbigamy thissectionshallextend-(a)toany bigamy that was brought before the General Registrar’s Office that he was unaware that he is still The Magistrate subsequently second marriage contracted thecourtinGuyana. (GRO)andpresentedhermarriage married to his first wife due to the finedTaylor$100,000,orifhehad elsewhere than in Guyana by any This publication had reported certificate.Shesaidthatsoonafter, fact that she promised to divorce failed to pay his fine he would other than a citizen of Guyana, or that Taylor and his first wife, with officials at the GRO uncovered him before he moved out of their havetoserve12monthsinprison. (b) to any person marrying a whom he shares two children, had another marriage certificate in the marital home. However, Taylor’s (To share any useful second time whose husband or gotten married in 2015. They had name of her husband and his new lawyer on a previous occasion had information you can contact me wife has been continually absent reportedly lived together for five wife. She said that she learnt from admitted that there is no record v i a e m a i l from that person for the space of years before separatingbecauseof the Head of the GRO that a crime beforethecourttoshowthecouple @naesambach@gmail.com) seven years then last past, and has hisinfidelity had been committed and that the hadeverfiledforadivorce.

Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts

A hopeless delusion or a promising reality? Part 1 Ending littering in Guyana:

By: Richard

OFrancois needs to be cleaned from random areas like parapets, drains, ne of the grave ills trenches, rivers and creeks, extra currently affecting our funds are required to employ

society is the careless additional personnel and abandon with which Guyanese equipment to clean-up the littered litter The ease with which garbage areas. Thus, litter clean-ups costs is flung from vehicles, dropped by theeconomymorethancleaningup pedestrians, and dumped by paid waste disposed of in the proper ‘handymen’ on parapets and mannerbyresponsiblecitizens. various sites around country is Some of the harmful effect of disturbingandoffensive. litter

It is long past the time for Education is an essential tool Guyanese to develop a that when used properly can dispel consciousness of respect for their ignorance and myths about surroundings, and treat the littering. There is even literature environment with care. Littering is that speaks to the fact that people dangerous to the environment on who are made aware of the dangers many levels and must be curbed of littering are often likely to make andstoppedifGuyanaistobetaken more of an effort to always seek to seriously as a leading global player dispose of their trash in the correct in environmental protection and manner Therefore, I urge that you sustainability share this article with family and Litter is not only harmful to the friends, so that each one can teach environment, it is harmful to one, so that together we can humans and animals, and can eradicate the national problem of Government or the City Council or pollution. This pollution often do not decompose. When trash, pollute the air, water, and land. littering. the Neighourhood Democratic occurs when litter decomposes and chemicals, and any other Litter can also attract pests, such as Have ever wondered about the Councils (NDCs) for not doing releases hazardous chemicals into improperlydisposedmaterialmake rats and cockroaches and result in severe impacts litter can have on enough, but perhaps there is need the air. Human exposure to these their way into drains, they pollute the spread of diseases.A complete the environment? If so, this piece for some thorough self- chemicals may result in the the water From there, the polluted cultural reorientation is needed at a will give you a bit of an insight, so examination into our daily actions, development of many respiratory water makes its way into nearby national level from the bottom up as to bring about a heightenedlevel to see whether if we the people are problems In some extreme trenches, rivers and creeks which and across our society where ofconsciousnessthathopefullycan not the architect of our own circumstances,certaincancersmay can affect our sources of drinking littering is concerned, so that result in some amount of changed problemsofflooding. alsodevelop. water which results in additional collectively as a nation, we can be behavioursamongGuyanese.

There is some research which costs to the authorities to not only more responsible when it comes to Flooding, air pollution, fires, Plasticbottles,cups,Styrofoam suggests that more than 40% of remove the litter, but to purify wastedisposal. and water pollution can all be food boxes, plastic bags, litterburnedgetsmixedwiththeair water for drinking. And if the

Littering is often described in causedbylittering. mattresses, chairs, and other debris we breathe. Burning litter can polluted water makes its way into environmental literature as a form Flooding don’t just magically appear in releasesignificantvolumesoftoxic rivers and creeks where of pollution Apart from litter One of the most visible effects drains, trenches and on parapets. particulatematterandgasesintothe communities depend on that water negatively impacting the aesthetics on littering that is relatable to most The litter we see is as a result of atmosphere. for their livelihoods, the harmful of a community, it is a burden to Guyaneseisflooding.Everytimeit deliberate human actions When we inhale polluted air, effectscanbecatastrophic. taxpayers since extra funds have to rains, flood waters rise. And while Guyanese need to learn to properly the likelihood of sickness be spent on additional garbage theremaybecontestingreasonsfor dispose of their trash in a amplifies This situation is Polluted water also has a removal If waste is properly the rising flood waters, one of the responsiblemanner something we should all be most devastating effect on aquatic life. disposed at designated areas by the primary reasons for flooding is the Perhaps a national public concerned about, especially since According to Britannica com, public (like in strategically placed proliferation of garbage that is education campaign on littering is we breathe in air to maintain our sewage can promote algae growth, bins), then cleaning the waste found in drains and outfalls needed to raise awareness of the existence. which can eventually result in becomes relatively easy and cost throughoutthecountry Thereisthe dangersoflittering. If the air we breathe is getting eutrophic “dead zones” where effective for the concerned eager temptation for many to Air Pollution polluted to the extent that it can aquatic life cannot survive because personnel. However, when litter i m m e d i a t e l y b l a m e t h e

Littering can lead to air cause serious health hazards to of a lack of oxygen. Micro-plastics humans, then greater efforts must are often found in marine wildlife be made to stop the burning of and can become concentrated in litter/garbageintheopen. humans who consume seafood The open burning of garbage is because of bio-magnification. So, a practice that must stop. Guyanese you see the negative impact of need to understand the harmful littering have far reaching effectsofthispractice. consequences.

Fires Addressingtheissueoflittering When litter is composed of requires the combined efforts of combustible flammable materials, every one of us. Focusing on a small spark or even lightning can prevention will surely help reduce immediately start a fire. Such fires the cost and boost the overall can become uncontrollable and impact of our anti-litter efforts. lead to great losses of property That is why it is important that we depending on the proximity of the all do our part as citizens, and not fires.Wildfires can also result from rely exclusively on Government, accidental or deliberate lighting of CityHallorNDCstodoeverything litter/garbage. Waste burning is a alone. We ALL can play a role in significant source of dangerous keeping our streets and parapets carcinogens like dioxins and clean and keeping litter out of our furans,andblackcarbon.Particular waterways. care must especially be taken when NextweekIwilllookatsomeof disposingofaerosolcans. thelocallawsregardinglittering,as Donotsetlitter/garbageonfire. wellassimpleandeffectivewaysto Water Pollution create and spread awareness about Items such as plastic bags, the dangers of littering and ways in bottles and styrofoam containers which it can possibly be eradicated becomesuspendedinthewaterand fromoursociety

A garbage heap in Georgetown

Garbage in a Georgetown trench

After 29 years, Teacher Shonell has no regrets

By: Vanessa

Council (CSEC), that feeling of future seemed to be a herculean Braithwaite-Moore pride and satisfaction flows task. “My journey has been very through her, knowing she also interesting. When I started, I Moulding the young minds of played an important role in their knewnotwhattoexpectorwhere the nation was her ultimate calling. successes. it would have led me, and was Asherfavouritequotesays,“Don’t BecomingateacherforShonell even too naive to even imagine follow where the path may lead, go was not a ‘fly by night’ decision, this was really my calling. It was instead where there is no path and but one that stemmed from her certainly a long, long way from leaveatrail.”For29years,Teacher childhood years as well “I knowing, but as I journeyed on, I ShonellJameshasleftanimpactful remember always dressing up and realised it was certainly my gift,” and inspiring trail in the field of playing school in my kindergarten shesaid. education, particularly in area of and primary school days My What really cemented this early childhood education. She has mother was also influential as she feeling was being placed at the moulded hundreds of minds and inspired me to become a teacher I nursery level after a short stint at with a few years left to retirement, was just out of secondary school the St Aiden’s Primary School. she has no regrets taking up one of without any professional training Shesaidbeingatthenurserylevel the world’s most significant and or experience. That year was brought out the best in her “I feel noblecareers:Teaching. January3,1994.Iwasappointedan more comfortable and connected She strongly believes that a actingteacher,”sherecalled. using my gifts to help boost my child’s education foundation paves Initially, she said she was still confidence. Iunderstandmyrole the way for academic excellence at unsure whether this was her fit; it isveryimpactfulatthislevelandI all levels of learning, and when she took some time to be comfortable am the key to the dreams and sees her former students excelling physically, mentally and

aspirations of every child’s with at the National Grade Six emotionally, to being a teacher whom I interact. I am very Assessment (NGSA) and even the Being responsible for children’s mind Caribbean Secondary Examination

ful of how I teach and there is so Throughout her leadership, she much joy and peace, helping every has spearheaded many activities to child I teach to find their passion make her team which also includes and joy She finds her joy in seeing parentsfeelvalued. her little girls and lads become Despite these many positives, respectable, responsible, Teacher Shonell said she does find honourable citizens and positive it challenging balancing work, contributorstosociety homeandsociallifeassheisnotthe

Overtheyears,TeacherShonell onetoputaway‘schoolwork’atthe has moved her way ‘up the ropes’ endoftheday and currently serves as She also believes that more can Headteacher (ag) of the Pine Street be done to motivate teachers and to

one of Linden’s help the pupils become more

institutions

Despite being the school’s Her advice to young people administrator, she still plays an pursuing a career in teaching is to integral role in the classroom, give of their best service always. participates equally with teachers Her plans for retirement are to in extracurricular and team establish a counselling centre for buildingactivities. teacherssinceshebelievesteachers

“What really matters to me is need a safe space to help them how influential I am in helping offload some of the challenges that others to work collaboratively to comewiththeterritory bring their ‘A’ game to the She also plans to continue environment in which they are a teaching, mentoring, inspiring and part of, both teachers and parents,” motivating teachers and other shesaid. publicservants.

Nursery School;

leading nursery

roundedindividuals.

Teacher Shonell James

Teacher Shonell with children from her school playing in the school yard

Teacher Shonell with children in a classroom

Teacher Shonell (Centre) with other teachers

This Day in History - Jan. 08

Compiled by Zena Henry

Watergate burglars go to court

Air Africa 1996 accident has largest ground fatalities in history

pic from the 1996 crash site

Farmer reports “perhaps most completely and carefully documented” UFO sighting of all time

A little after 5 pm on 8th January 1981, a farmer Renato Nicolai of Trans-en-Provence France, was at his home building a concrete shelter for an outside water pump. His home overlooked the land below it as it was built on a raised level. As he noticed how cold it was becoming, he heard a “sort of faint whistling”. He turned his attention towards the sound and in front of him was a “device in the air” at the treetop height at the very edge of the land of his property He would distinctly remember the device “was not spinning”. Andfurthermore,itwas“cominglowertotheground”.He (Continued on page 37)

TheWatergatescandalwasamajorpoliticalscandalinthe United States involving the administration of President Richard Nixon (1972 to 1974) that led to his resignation.The scandal stemmed from the Nixon administration’s continual attempts to cover up its involvement in the June 17, 1972, break-inoftheDemocraticNationalCommitteeHeadquarters attheWashington,D.C.,WatergateOfficeBuilding.

Afterthefiveperpetratorswerearrested,thepressandthe Justice Department connected the cash found on them at the time, to the Committee for the Re-Election of the President. Further investigations, along with revelations made during subsequent trials of the burglars, led the House of Representatives to grant the U S House Judiciary Committee additional investigative authority to probe into “certain matters within its jurisdiction”, and led the Senate to create the U S Senate Watergate Committee, which held hearings Witnesses testified that Nixon had approvedplanstocoveruphisadministration’sinvolvement in the break-in, and that there was a voice-activated taping system in the Oval Office. Throughout the investigation, Nixon’s administration resisted its probes, and this led to a constitutionalcrisis.

The Senate Watergate hearings were broadcast “gavel-togavel” nationwide by PBS and aroused public interest. In Januaryof1973,fiveoftheburglarspleadedguilty,whiletwo otherpersonswereconvicted.(Wikipedia)

Iran shoots down Ukrainian passenger plane by mistake kills all 176 on board mistak

Debris from the crash (Hindustantimes.com)

The1996AirAfricacrashoccurredon8thJanuarywhenan overloaded Zairese Air Africa’s Antonov An-32B aircraft, bound for Kahemba Airport, overshot the runway at N’Dolo AirportinKinshasa,Zaire(nowtheDemocraticRepublicofthe Congo), after failing to take off and ploughed

Four of the six member crew from the aircraft which had been wet leased from Moscow Airways, managed to survive. However, between 225 and 348 fatalities and around 253 serious injuries occurred on the ground.This crash remains the deadliest inAfrican history, and also one with the most ground fatalities of any air disaster in history, superseded only by the intentional crashes of American Airlines Flight 11 and United AirlinesFlight175

US President George Bush signs No Child Left Behind Act

OnJanuary8,2002,PresidentGeorgeW Bushsignedthe No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) into law The sweeping update to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, created new standards and goals for the nation’s public schools, and implemented tough corrective measures for schools that failed to meet them. Today, it is largely regarded as a failed experiment. The new law mandated that states createmeasuresofAdequateYearlyProgress(AYP)basedon standardized tests Schools that did not meet AYP requirements were s u b j e c t t o increasinglyharsher actions by the state, such as giving students the options to transfer after 2 years of missing AYP goals or even the wholesale restructuring of a schoolafter5years.

right:

AUkrainianpassengerplanethatcrashedinIranonJanuary 8, 2020, was shot down by mistake, by an Iranian anti-aircraft missile. The Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752, bound for the country’s capital of Kiev, crashed just minutes after taking off from Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran, killing all 176 people aboard. US officials told Fox News that military officials believe Iran shot down the UkrainianairlinerbymistakeusingaRussian-madesurface-toairmissile.(FoxNews)

While some schools did see improvements in test scores, the results were uneven and often negative. Teachers complained that standardized testing cut into class time and forcedthemto “teachto thetest”ratherthanto theirstudents’ needs. Many felt that requiring all schools statewide to achieve the same goals unfairly punished both schools that were already performing well and schools in underserved areas Others argued in principle against threatening underperforming schools with corrective measures, while some accused Republicans of using the law to turn private schools over to charter school companies or private businesses. In 2015, NCLB was replaced with the Every Student SucceedsAct, which retained parts of the old law but attempted to make it less punitive to underperforming schools.TheNCLBisoftencitedasanoverlyharshapproach toeducationreform.(History.com)

Joaquín “El

Chapo”Guzmán

is recaptured following his escape from a maximum security prison in Mexico

Joaquín Archivaldo Guzmán Loera commonly known as “El Chapo” is a former Mexican drug lord and a former leader within the Sinaloa Cartel, an international crime syndicate. He is considered to have been one of the most powerful drug traffickers in the world. He oversaw operations whereby vast amounts of cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, and heroin were produced, smuggled into, and distributed throughout the UnitedStatesandEurope.

Leadershipofthecartelalsobrought immense wealth and power Forbes ranking the kingpin as one of the most powerful people in the world between 2009 and 2 0 1 3 . T h e U S D r u g

Enforcement Administration estimated that he matched the influence and wealth of Pablo Escobar Guzmán was first captured in 1993 in Guatemala and was extradited and sentenced to 20 years in prison in Mexico for murder and drug trafficking He bribed pris guards and escaped from a federal maximum-security prison in 2001.

He was arrested again in Mexico in 2014 but escaped prior to formal sentencing in 2015, through a tunnel dug by associates into his jail cell. Mexican authorities recaptured him following a shoot-out in January 2016 and extradited him to the U.S. a yearlater In 2019, he was found guiltyof a numberof criminal charges related to his leadership of the Sinaloa Cartel and was sentenced to life imprisonment, and incarcerated in ADX Florence,Colorado,US.

The five Watergate burglars

into Kinshasa’s Simbazikitastreetmarket.

intheSeptember11attacks.

A

President Bush during the signing

Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán during his 2014 arrest

From left to

Dr. Jacques Vallee, Dr. Michel Bounias, Renato Nicolai

Here’s What Readers Picked as Their Favourite Song of 2022

(Billboard) The year The No. 1 favorite song “Envolver,” BLACKPINK’s 2022 saw the release of of the year, according to “Shut Down” and Sabrina several smash singles, with readers, is Elton John and Carpenter’s“Vicious.” the year kicking into Britney Spears’ duet “Hold We have some more overdrive with Harry Styles’ Me Closer.” The track, superstars among the top 10 hit “As It Was,” which whichdebutedinAugustand too, including Styles’ nabbed the No. 1 spot for 15 peaked at No. 6 on the megahit“AsItWas”atNo.6, weeks In later months, Billboard Hot 100, secured a Taylor Swift’s Midnights TikTok gave rise Steve whopping 45% of the vote, lead single “Anti-Hero” at Lacy’s “Bad Habit,” before likely thanks to fans No. 7, Burna Boy’s “Last Beyoncé’s “Break My Soul” and Taylor Swift’s “AntiHero” claimed the crown for the summer and winter months. But which hit was yourfavorite?

To find out, we polled our readers about which track from the past year was voracious appetite for a Last”atNo.8,NickiMinaj’s their favorite — which, of much-deserved Britney “SuperFreakyGirl”atNo.9, course, arrived after comeback. Coming in at No. and Beyoncé’s Renaissance compiling our own 100 2 is Wizkid’s “Bad to Me,” breakout hit “Cuff It” at No. favourite songs of the year which followed with almost 10.With100songstochoose The results are in, and the 25% of the vote. Rounding from,these10hitsareinelite responsesmaysurpriseyou. out the top five are Anitta’s company

Full body exercises for beginners to try at home

By Davina Bagot

Cheers to you for making it to a new year! If you are a new reader, welcome to my weekly column, where I try my best to share great exercise tips and recommendations, for a healthier lifestyle.

For the readers who may not be new, welcome back to Fit-nest. In this week's article, I want to focus on some full body exercises youcantryathomeifyouarenew toexercising.

Many of you may have decided to focus more on your health and fitness in this New Year, so, in case you are wonderinghowtogetstarted,here iswhatyoucando.

Triset1

Firstly, if you are not familiar with what is a Triset, let me explain. A Triset is three sets of exercises you perform consecutively before resting. The first three exercises are simple, and wait, there is more good news - they don't require any special equipment. The exercises are:

Glute Bridge, Incline Push-Up and I-Y-T Raise You may complete 12-15 reps of the first two exercises, and then 6-8 reps per letter of the I-Y-T Raise. Complete 2-3 rounds total and make sure to rest for 1-2 minutes afterallroundsarecompleted.

Glute Bridge- For the Glute Bridge, you'll need to lie on the floorandbringyourheelscloserto yourbutt.Pressyourheelsintothe ground, lifting your hip off the floor Hold the position for about two to three second before bringing your weight back to the floor Repeat.

Incline Push-Up- To perform the inclined pushup, begin by standing face forward to a bench or a sturdy elevated platform. Place both hands on the bench or platform, slightly wider than shoulder width. Keep your body straight; lower your chest to the edge of the structure, by bending your arms. Then, push your body up until the arms are extended againandrepeat.

engage your shoulder blades, then lift your arms overhead, keeping your biceps close to your ears, making an 'I' shape with your thumbs facing up. Slowly lower armstosides.

Next, raise your arms again, this time into a wide Y shape, framing either side of your head with thumbs facing up. Slowly loweryourarmstoyoursides.Lift yourarmsagain,thistimeliftyour arms out to sides into a T shape. Lowerthembacktoyoursides.

Triset2

This Triset includes the Alternating Reverse Lunge, Superman Pull-Down and the HighPlank.

Alternating Reverse LungeBegin by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart and core engaged. Step back with your right foot and bend both knees to sink into a lunge. Keep your core engaged, hips tucked, and back straight. Return to your starting position by pushing off your left foot and stepping forward. Repeat ontheotherside.

Superman Pull-Down- Lie on your stomach with your arms extended overhead by your ears. Lift your chest, arms, and legs off the ground and squeeze your butt. Keeping your arms and legs off the ground, pull your elbows in towardyoursides,thenforcethem straightinfrontofyou.Repeatthis motion, hovering your arms and legs above the ground and engaging your glutes the entire time.

I - Y - T raise- For this exercise stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, and with your core engaged, send your hips back, slightly bending forward with your knees straight. Press your shoulders down to

the Merriam-Webster Word of the Year for 2022

(Reader's Digest) Whether you consider yourself a word nerd who's always looking for new words in the dictionary or just enjoy a good end-of-year roundup, you're going to want to listen up: The Merriam-Webster Word of the Year just dropped. To select the Word of the Year, MerriamWebster uses data collected on the site to discover which terms experienced a major bump in search Often, the MerriamWebster Word of the Year has a cultural implication, too take '2021sWord of theYear “vaccine,” forinstance.

Here's everything you need to know about the 2022 MerriamWebsterWordoftheYear What was Merriam-Webster's WordoftheYear?

The Merriam-Webster Word of the Year for 2022 is 'gaslighting'. According to Merriam-Webster,

...and why it might have gained so much momentum

the dictionary definition of 'gaslighting'is,“Theactorpractice of grossly misleading someone, especially for one's own advantage,” or “psychological manipulation of a person usually over an extended period of time that causes the victim to question the validity of their own thoughts, perception of reality, or memories…”

This year, the word experienced a 1,740% increase in lookups. Interest remained high throughout the entirety of the year, too. It's safe to assume this 'word wont be removed from the dictionaryanytimesoon!

Because the Merriam-Webster Word of the Year is driven by data,

it's obvious that plenty of people were searching for this term in 2022 Traditionally, a singular event spurs people to search for a wordthatleadstoitsselection,such as“vaccine”in2021.However,the same can't be said for “gaslighting.”

It's possible that because 'gaslighting' is vaguely connected to other buzzy terms such as “fake news”andisapplicabletopersonal relationships, politics and beyond, people were curious about it in 2022. However, it's impossible to identify just one reason because Merriam-Webster doesn't track why visitors are searching the term—justthattheyare.

WhataretheotherWordsofthe

Year?

While “gaslighting” is the primary Word of the Year 2022, Merriam-Webster released several otherpopulartermsthatemergedas top searches in 2022. Some of the otherwordsoftheyearinclude:

Omicron

Since the World Health Organization uses the Greek alphabet to differentiate the variants of COVID-19, many people searched “Omicron,” the most current adaptation of the virus. This variant was one of the mostpervasivetypesofCOVID-19 lastyear.Thetermwassearchedthe mostinearlyJanuaryduetoasurge of Omicron-variant COVID-19 infections and in November when

information about the Omicron boosterwasreleased.

Oligarch

Interest in this word spiked in March 2022 due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.As the United States and other countries put sanctions on Russian oligarchs, several people searched the term to understandwhatitmeans.

LGBTQIA

This is an acronym which, according to Merriam-Webster, stands for “lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning (one's sexual or gender identity), i n t e r s e x , a n d asexual/aromantic/agender.”Itwas frequentlysearchedduringJune, (Continued on page 40)

By Zena Henry

Young Professionals Series:

Policy and Governance

Specialist,

Education was my key to success! Ms. Dianna Rajcumar

to school with a freshly picked “puri leaf” umbrella; nothing would stop me from walking the

The Creators' Coven's journeytoschool!”sheexclaimed. Young Professionals'

Determined to succeed, Seriesseekstointroduce

Rajcumar said that being deprived some of the brightest and most meant she walked to a friend's promising minds the country has to house on many occasions to use offer; their backgrounds, textbooks to complete homework. challenges and secrets to their She acknowledges this as a success. Theseprofessionalscome defining moment in her childhood- from various walks of life, each “to be mentally strong, undeterred, with their own intriguing stories. humble and appreciative that at For 40-year-old Policy and least they allowed me to attend Governance Specialist, Dianna school. It later dawned on me that I Rajcumar, her very humble was on the right track that beginnings was the driving force childhood education correlates behind her will to achieve with lifting a community out of economic freedom, through poverty and ending the inter- academic means. She said that generational transmission of meant her taking responsibility for poverty as my parents hadn't the herownsuccessanddevelopingthe opportunity to complete a primary correcttraitstowardtheendgame. education ” Having to be “If being disciplined and responsible for her own success responsible was a person that came like a default mode, would definitely be me!” she told Rajcumar said. There was no other the Coven, during an interview the banging chant of her teachers available route out of poverty but withthemagazineearlierthisweek. reinforcing that “education is the education. “These are perhaps the two most keytosuccess”.

Rajcumar said she owes her guiding principles which

“Well, I must have taken that discipline toward her studies to her enveloped my graduate and post seriously especially after I realized motherandherstrongwill.Shesaid graduate studies and public service in standard one that I was the only together, her parents worked career at the local and regional odd one wearing an old brown tirelessly, fearlessly and without level.” Growing up in the 1980's uniform surrounded by students all pride in the informal sector to intothe90's,Rajcumarsaidthatthe clad in their new blue uniforms! ensurethefamilywasfed,sheltered socio-economic conditions were The school decided to change the and attended school. “My brothers very different then, and provided coloroftheuniformandIturnedup and I who are now all professionals everyreasonforhertowantabetter on the first day of the new school in our fields have had our fair share lifeforherself. termcladinmyoldbrownuniform! of joining our parents in adding to “Igrewupinapoverty-stricken And I recalled vividly the teacher's theincomeonweekends–bundling community and forging a living astonishment, almost like a the grass and cleaning houses!And was literally “survival of the scolding episode – “didn't your after school was not all play but it fittest”, barely there with surface mother read your report card about included selling at a little stand and breathing! I think that the the change in colour of uniforms, I supplying shops in the circumstances then built me rather

bet she didn't even see you got first

place in class!,” Rajcumar told the H o n o u r i n g t h o s e l i t t l e and driven to be free of the

than break me, as I was determined

conditions of abject poverty ”

Rajcumar said she recalled clearly,

Coven that her mother did read her

report card, she just could not

affordtobuyanewschooluniform.

Buttheepisodedidnotdeterthe and red polka dot ribbons, which in

neighborhood with eatables ”

young Rajcumar She said at the no way complemented her uniform

time, she stood out like a brown or were remotely close to ribbons

responsibilitieshelpedtobuild

island in a sea of blue with her fit for school. “And it was worse

(Continued on page 41)

plasticbagfilledwithschoolbooks when the rain fell. I would turn up

A picture with her brothers: from left Superintendent of Police Kevin Das, Rayman Persaud, Aeronautical Engineer, and Rovin Das, Deputy Superintendent of Police

Australian National University graduation 2016

Rajcumar with parents (centre) and brothers

Swearing in as Public Procurement Commissioner before President Irfaan Ali earlier this year

duo creates unbreakable bond in the kitchen

By: Malisa Renada Playter Harry

There is a popular saying, “A mother is a daughter’s best friend.”

For Amanda Ahamad and her daughter Aaliyah, it is certainly a combination that defines that popular quote. Amanda, a mother of three from Belvedere, Corentyne, Berbice is a well known business woman and proprietor of Triple A’s Bakery & Catering. The sweet and savory treat business which started in 2015, has grown since it was conceptualized,andhascreatedan avenue for Amanda to bond with herteenagedaughter

This mother and daughter dynamic has done magical things in the kitchen when it comes to creating scumptuous bites, whether it is sweet donuts or zesty pizzas; thetwoenjoyeverymoment ofit.

The name itself, “Triple A’s Bakery and Catering,” Amanda said was created from the names of her children, Aaliyah, Afridi and Arshad.She said when the business started in 2015, shedidcakesforholidaysor special occasions, however, as her daughter grew older, she began assisting her in the kitchen when orders were received. Fast forward to 2022, the business has since takenofftogreaterheights.

A variety of delicious treats were added to the menu and her daughter Aaliyah added creativeness to the products, making them more attractive to theeyeandtasty.

Amanda relayed that baking and cooking are passions of hers and that business runs in the

family She is originally from Anna Catherina, East Coast Demerara, but got married and movedtoBerbiceyearsago.Asthe years passed and all her children began attending school, and her husband went off to his job, she was at home alone and was bored, soshedecidedtostartbaking.

“I was bored and my daughter came up with the donuts idea, she told me to start with it and don’t fatigue myself too much, those wereherexactwords...”

Amanda said that when they started with the donuts it was a huge hit and her daughter helped hercomeupwithcreativeideasfor the toppings that customers loved. But they wanted more and so she decided to create milkshakes, made from scratch. She

explained that she was using icecream to do it but there was an issue with the supplier and she resorted to using her own ingredients that she could access nearby, that was the best decision, she said because the reviews were

great

! From this point, Amanda and her daughterbeganadding other items to the menu to be sold, “we take orders everyday and people order different things everyday.”

Her daughter

Aali

yah also took a moment to speak with me and noted that she is grateful for the opportunity to spend time with her mom and strengthen their bond while cooking some of their favorite thingstosellcustomers.

“Mymomsupportsmealotand onedayIamgoingtobeadoctor

(Continued on page 43)

Some of the amazing designed cakes done by Amanda

Some Christmas cookies that were done over the holidays

Amanda (right) and her teen daughter Aaliyah

Amanda (black top), her teen daughter Aaliyah (red top) and her two other children.

One of her most requested pizza

Iced cupcakes

Some of the doughnuts offered on the menue at Triple A’s Bakery

By Allyiah Allicock

When the pandemic hit the country two years ago, a lot changed.We were confined to our homes for some time; many worked and attended classes online, this became the new normal some would say While many

'

Artful Hubble'

found it difficult to adjust to this new reality, others used the situation to make something good come out of it forthem.

One individual who was able to create something positive as a result ofthepandemicisArianaRamnarain, the owner of an artistry business called'ArtfulHubble'.

In an interview with this magazine, Ramnarain said 'Artful

Hubble' was established August of 2020, when was just 16 years old. During t h i s t i m e s h e w a s

commencing preparation for her CAPE examinations a QueensCollege.

Just like many during the daysofthepandemic,sheentertained newhobbieslikebakingand

growth and development of an economy Young entrepreneurs bring new ideas to the table and ones who will bring about changes in society.”

Young Entrepreneur, Ariana Ramnarain

The young woman showcasing her art works at two previous pop-up events.

Just some of Ariana Ramanrain unique pieces.

(Continued on page 42)

DIETARY TIPS FOR PEOPLE WITH PSORIASIS

n autoimmune

Awhich is an autoimmune ·Herbslikethyme,sage, d i s o r d e r , disease. ginger and cumin are rich in psoriasis is a Glutenisaproteinthatis antioxidants.

diseaseinwhich found in wheat and other ·Legumeslikebeansand the body attacks its own grains and an intolerance to certaintypesoflentils tissue. The body starts to gluten causes the body to · A fist full of nuts and overproduce skin cells, attack the small intestine’s seeds- walnuts, flaxseeds creating red and scaly tissue. Cutting down gluten andalmondsarerichsources patches, known as plaques, fromthediethasbeenshown ofomegathreefattyacids. ontheskin. to reduce the effects of ·Wholegrains

Itchyandpainfulplaques psoriasis in people with Consult a dietician to a r e t r i g g e r e d b y glutenintolerance. come up with an effective environmental factors like

FOOD TO EAT psoriasisdietplanadjunctto infections and stress The food items which your prescribed treatment. Psoriasis not just affects the combat and reduce Obesity can worsen the skin but also affects joints, inflammationinthebodyare effects of psoriasis and you eyes and mental health known to be beneficial for might want to work towards Therefore, one must consult people with psoriasis and losing weight as well. In a doctor for diagnosis and they may help reduce flare- addition to a healthy diet, Readaheadtolearnmore contains a protein called fats:Redmeat,cheese,fried treatmentforthiscondition. ups,reducingthesymptoms. make some lifestyle abouttherightdiet. casein, which can cause food, margarine and fast There is no scientific Followingahealthydietalso changes. digestive problems in some food are known foods that evidencethatsupportsacure reduces the risks of type 2 Get ample rest, adequate

FOODS TO AVOID people. Studies show that trigger inflammation and for psoriasis with diet, but diabetes, cardiovascular sleep, regular exercise and Worsening the effects of psoriasis conditions have worsenpsoriasis. experts suggest a positive diseasesandcertaintypesof reduce stress levels. If you psoriasis, these are some of improvedbycuttinghigh-fat · Added sugar: Natural correlation between a cancer smoke,quit. the beverages and foods to dairyfromthediet. sugar in food like fruits is a healthy diet and lifestyle

The best food items to Making changes in the avoidwithpsoriasis: R e f i n e d partofthepsoriasisdietplan. with reduced severity of include in the diet for dietisthebestandtheeasiest · Alcohol: Consumption carbohydrates: Refined However, added sugar in psoriasis. psoriasisare: waytocombattheeffectsof of excessive amounts of carbohydratesarecountedas fruit juices, candy, soda and

Expertssaythatthereisa ·Whole Fruits and autoimmune disorders like alcohol overworks the liver, foods that trigger psoriasis. sweets is bad and the body close link between psoriasis vegetables. Cherries and psoriasis and to reduce causing long-term These items include white produces excessive insulin and diet, as there are many berries are good fruits for inflammation. inflammation. Additionally, bread, white rice, pasta, to process the sugar These food groups that can cause psoriasis, as are green leafy If you suspect that a alcohol damages good breakfast cereals and some foods increase the levels of inflammationthroughoutthe vegetables. Consume 2-3 particular food item is b a c t e r i a , c a u s i n g pastries. These food items cytokines,whichisaprotein body. portions of fresh seasonal triggering the effects of inflammation in the colon have no fibre and whole thatcausesinflammation. For some people, these fruitsandveggieseveryday psoriasis, consult your andintestines. grains and can contain a lot · Gluten: People who food items can worsen the Include plant-based doctor(https://pharmeasyin · Dairy: Dairy products ofsugar suffer from psoriasis may effectsofpsoriasis. proteins like tofu, lean /blog/dietary-tips-forare rich in fat. Cow’s milk · Saturated and trans also have Celiac disease, Sufferingfrompsoriasis? proteinandfishinthediet. people-with-psoriasis/)

10 Amazing Health Benefits of Skipping Rope

Can’t go to the gym due reducing the chances of fatigue.

9:Glowsyourskin to COVID-19 lockdown? cancer Skipping rope is a 5:Increases Post-workout glow is Well, it might look difficult great calorie-burner and bodyflexibility oneofthebestglowonecan tomanageworkoutwithouta improves the cardiovascular

Skipping rope makes get. Exercises like skipping gymbutskippingropeisone system. yourbodycalmandflexible. willalwaysgiveyouhealthy, of the super-convenient, 1:Improveshearthealth Jumpinggivesgreatstrength blushingandglowingskin. easy and effective home Skipping rope is the best to the muscles and relaxes 10:Improve exercises. Skipping is great cardio exercise as it them That’s why it is pulmonaryfunction cardio, aerobic exercise increasestheheartrate.This included in an athlete’s Skippingropesimproves Skipping rope helps to tone will significantly reduce the workoutregime. blood circulation and your calves, tighten your risk of heart diseases and 6:Boostmentalhealth breathing which ultimately core, build stamina and stroke. Skipping rope at a enhancesyourlungcapacity improve your lung capacity

2:Increasesconcentration moderate intensity can

Benefitsofskipping Skipping rope alone won’t Every cardio exercise reduce anxiety and ropeforweightloss help you to reduce weight will help you to focus on depression Exercise can There are numerous loss skipping rope can be a yourgoalandskippingisone increasebloodcirculationto ways to lose weight, part of a diet and exercise of them. Skipping rope can yourbodyandbrain. skipping rope is one of the routine which boosts your calmyourbodyandincrease 7:Decreasesbellyfat effective methods for it can’tdoitstraightfor30 intensityasyouwant. metabolism yourconcentration.

Howmanycalories

It is one of the main However, skipping rope minutes,youmayneed The following points

3:Improvescoordination obstacles while losing alone is not enough to lose sometimetoincreaseyour should be kept in mind for burninskipping? Skipping consistently weight. But skipping rope weight but also it requires a duration. weightlosswhileskipping Surprisingly, skipping improves your coordination canhelpyouwiththat.High- planned diet, weight loss

Theeffectivenessof · Skipping can reduce ropescanburn10caloriesin andstamina. intensity interval training goals,commitment,andhigh skippinginweightloss yourwholebodyfat. aminuteandalsostrengthen 4:Increasesstamina (HIIT) exercises helps to activity level.You also need

Skipping rope activates ·You can do singles and your legs, butt, shoulders, andgetsridoffatigue reduce belly fat without diet to consider some other allthemusclesofyourbody try in various intensity at belly,andarms.Onaverage, By continuous work you and strengthen your factors like age, previous The more you work out, the whatevertimeyouwant. youcanburn200caloriesin may feel tired or loss of abdominalmuscles. illnesses/ surgeries before more calories you burn · The skipping rope is 10 minutes sessions each stamina. Skipping can help

8:Strengthening starting exercise as it may losing more weight. As a cheap and doesn’t need any day Itismoreeffectivethan you to improve your yourbones affect your rate of weight beginner, you can start with expensiveequipment. briskwalking. stamina. The more you do Skippingropewillgive loss. low-intensity skipping and Skipping with a Benefitsofskippingrope skipping regularly the more strengthtoyourbonesand Ifyoujumpropefor30 as time passed you will get balanced diet in proper There are multiple your stamina increases A increasebonedensity,thus minutestoonehourdaily control and coordination routine will reduce your benefits of skipping rope consistent skipping range reducesthechancesof youwilllosealmost200then you can enhance your weightloss from losing weight to practice can help get rid of osteoporosis. 300calories.Butbeginners

Lessons from a Lashpreneur !!!

DISPELLING FEARS ABOUT LASH EXTENSIONS AND ALLERGIC REACTIONS

ByLatoyaZephyr Allergicreactions

cyanoacrylate If you’re That’s why we don’t risk for irritation. This

If you’ve always wanted Firstly, allergic reactions allergic to this compound, patch test and recommend can be induced by the to get beautiful, lush lashes, due to lash extensions are f u l l r e m o v a l i s that if you’ve had a reaction a d h e s i v e f u m e s you may think about extremely rare Common recommended to prevent inthepast,justdon’tgetlash Symptoms are similar to booking an appointment for symptoms of allergic furthercomplications.Some extensions. thatofanallergicreaction, medication, so there’s no extensions. reactionscouldbeanyofthe salonswilldoapatchtestto We know you’d love but irritation will subside need to worry too much However, are they really following: swollen eyes or with a drop of glue on a them, but if you’re allergic, once the adhesive properly aboutit.Atliftandlashes,we safe? What if you were eyelids, redness of the sensitive area of skin like you’ll probably always be cures. work in a well-ventilated allergic? cornea,andordiscomfortor behind your ear, but we’ve allergic. Irritation can also occur room.Weutilisetape,aswell I get you. At Lift and itchiness around the eye foundthatinmanycasesthis Having an allergic overalongerperiodoftime, as quick-drying glue that Lashes,wetakemeasuresto area. can lead to a ‘false-positive’ reaction on only one eye is when bacteria build up driesinsecondstominimise minimise the risks of clients These symptoms might result where the client highlyunlikely,butyoumay When lashes are worn for a fumes, and therefore reduce havinganallergicreactionor also occur 48 hours or more doesn’t react and then experience irritation on just long time, bacteria can theriskofirritation. irritation In this article after lash application and assumes she’s in the clear – oneeyeforotherreasons. accumulateeitherontheglue We also make sure to though, I’ll dispel some of likely won’t subside over then after extensions are Irritations or on the lashes themselves. explain lash aftercare to our your lash-related fears by time. applied it becomes apparent While lash extensions If this happens, make sure clients,neworregular,allto answering some of your Clientsmaybeallergicto that she actually is allergic are considered low-risk that you go to your eye ensure that you can enjoy most frequently asked the lash glue itself due to its and needs to get a full when done by skilled doctor immediately your lashes and be questions. b a s e i n g r e d i e n t : removal. technicians, there is still a Irritationcanbetreatedwith beautifullyworry-free.

Music enthusiasts launch Creative Titans GY to promote new talent

Creative Titans’ is celebrating its f i v e - y e a r

anniversary by launching Creative Titans GY,anewimprintdedicated to the regional West Indies market.

The imprint will be h e a d q u a r t e r e d i n Georgetown,Guyana(South America) which has been experiencing rapid growth due to recent oil findings. Enhancements have been happening across all industries and the music industryisnoexception.

CreativeTitanshasplans on promoting Guyana as another music hub for the Caribbean.

“With

GY, we are on track to

develop, launch, distribute

and IzyBeats —

J h o s y a n d H i g h It believes in fostering Connection’s first taste of uncanny collaborations to commercial success and by create unique music across the looks of things, it won’t all genres, and across the bethelast. diaspora.

“We’ve had small but It also hand delivers impactful successes which talent with excellence and have been paying off in a has said it will continue to major way,” says Ron bridgeculture,technologyto Telford.“Thisyearalone,we set the trends of the future. caught the attention of the CT also provides artist Latin music industry which management, music lead to new business publishing, consulting, ventures with Sony Latin & events, and artist

The Orchard and we are development, marketing, looking to amplify our careerstrategyandmore.

wanted to officetherefeltlikeanatural Almost one year ago, more.

relationships across

Creative Titans develop their own artists step. We plan on promoting Ron Telford and Creative In May 2022, the team LATAM”

parallel to their own the country and creatives to Titans took a gamble on made it to Spotify’s Viral Forthosewhomaynotbe

careers,” explained Adrian the rest of the world ” High Connection - Colombia and Deezer Top aware, Creative Titans is a and publish new talent from Johnson, Managing Partner Alongside the launch of the Cartagena based music 300 Tracks Venezuela All full-service entertainment theWestIndies,andalso,our ofCreativeTitans. newimprint,CreativeTitans collective consisting of Genres charts, as “Aurora,” company with years of roster – like Walshy Fire, “I love my birth nation haspartneredwithSony/The Jhosy,FrankDesign,JoeOn the smash hit by Jhosy experience in the music Popeye Caution, J. Perry, Guyana and opening an OrchardforLatinreleases. The Beat, D. Wolther & soared to the top. It was industry

(From Left to Right) Ron Telford, Jhosy, Frank Design,Joe On The Beat, Luis Gabriel (High Connection), John Eddie Perez (A&R - Sony Latin)

Health Facts

Intermittent fasting and how to lose that stubborn holiday weight

By Rehanna Ramsay

ost people

MIntermittent fasting L o n g e r would agree works by prolonging the periods without that during the period when your body has food, such as 24, 36, 48,

benefits associated with the h o l i d a y s burned through the calories and 72-hour fasting periods, practice. These include a because people indulge in consumed during your last are not necessarily better for longerlife,aleanerbodyand the extra goodies and mealandbeginsburningfat. you and may be dangerous. asharpermind. yummy foods that are being How to do it? Going too long without “Many things happen passed around, weight gain It’s important to check eating might actually during intermittent fasting is common. This week, this with your Doctor before encourage your body to start that can protect organs publication takes a look at a starting intermittent fasting. storing more fat in response against chronic diseases like diet plan that includes Once you get your Doctor’s tostarvation. type 2 diabetes, heart fasting intermittent permission, the actual Mattson’s research disease, age-related fasting, which is guaranteed practice is simple. You can shows that it can take two to n e u r o d e g e n e r a t i v e to help you lose the extra able to go without food for hourswithoutfood,thebody pick a daily approach, which four weeks before the body d i s o r d e r s , e v e n pounds. Let us first look at many hours, or even several exhausts its sugar stores and restricts daily eating to one becomes accustomed to inflammatoryboweldisease, what is intermittent fasting? days or longer In prehistoric starts burning fat. He refers six- to eight-hour period intermittent fasting You andmanycancers,”hesays. It is an eating plan that times, before humans to this as m e t a b o l i c each day For instance, you might feel hungry or cranky Some intermittent switches between fasting learned to farm, they were switching may choose to try 16/8 while you’re getting used to fasting benefits research and eating on a regular hunters and gatherers, who It is recommended fasting: eating for eight the new routine. But, he revealed that it has so far schedule. evolved to survive — and during the times when hours and fasting for 16. observes, research subjects benefited one’s thinking and Research shows that thrive — for long periods you’re not eating, water and Williams is a fan of the daily who make it through the memory, heart health, intermittent fasting is a way without eating. They had to. zero-calorie beverages such regimen: She says most adjustment period tend to physicalperformance,type2 to manage your weight and It took a lot of time and as black coffee and tea are people find it easy to stick stick with the plan, because diabetes and obesity, and prevent—orevenreverse— energy to hunt game and permitted.Youcanhardlygo with this pattern over the theynoticetheyfeelbetter tissuehealth. someformsofthedisease. gathernutsandberries. wrong when you pick longterm.

Benefits

Mattson, therefore, But how do you do it? How does intermittent complex, unrefined

Another, known as the Research shows that deduced that intermittent Andisitsafe? fasting work? carbohydrates such as whole 5:2 approach, involves intermittent fasting periods fasting is completely safe, Withintermittentfasting, There are several grains, leafy greens, healthy eating regularly five days a do more than burn fat particularly for persons who youonlyeatduringaspecific different ways to do fats,andleanprotein. week.Fortheothertwodays, Mattson explains, “When do not have major health time. Fasting for a certain intermittent fasting, but they M a t t s o n s a i d you limit yourself to one changes occur with this issues or are on medication. number of hours each day or are all based on choosing “Intermittent fasting 500–600 calorie meal. An metabolic switch, it affects If you are sick, pregnant, or eatingjustonemealacouple regular time periods to eat contrasts with the normal example would be if you thebodyandbrain.” on medication consult your ofdaysaweek,canhelpyour and fast. For instance, you eating pattern for most chose to eat normally on One of Mattson’s studies Physician before embarking body burn fat.And scientific might try eating only during Americans, who eat everydayoftheweekexcept published in the New onafast. evidence points to some an eight-hour period each throughout their waking Mondays and Thursdays, E n g l a n d J o u r n a l o f S o u r c e d f r o m : healthbenefits,aswell. day and fast for the hours,” Mattson says. “If which would be your one- Medicine revealed data www.hopkinsmedicine.org According to an article remainder Or, you might someone is eating three mealdays. about a range of health from Johns Hopkins choosetoeatonlyonemeala mealsaday,plussnacks,and University, Neuroscientist day two days a week. There they’re not exercising, then Mark Mattson has studied are many different every time they eat, they’re intermittent fasting for 25 intermittent fasting running on those calories years He says that our schedules. and not burning their fat bodies have evolved to be Mattson says that after stores.”

Farmer reports “perhaps most completely and carefully...

From page 26 until he was happy it had least) was of a temperature moved closer to a stone gone. Then, he would walk of between 300 to 600 cabin on his property so he toward the landing site degrees Celsius (between couldwatchtheobjectland. where he could clearly see a 500 and over 1,100 degrees As it moved, there were circle around two meters Fahrenheit) Due to the no flames or clear signs of across. Within this circle relatively close location of propulsion or an engine. were “abrasions” or scorch the Canjuers military base, Almostassoonasittouched marks Following his Nicolai would ponder if the down on the ground it rose reporting of the incident, device was some kind of again, the whistling sound further reports would reveal s e c r e t m i l i t a r y still audible. It would take more intricate details of the reconnaissance craft. And off with speed towards the area One of those while UFO enthusiasts had woodland nearby It had the investigating groups was an obvious interest in the shape of “two saucers, one GEPAN who would case, many theories on top of the other” and was investigate such mysterious bizarrely enough, would aleadcolor sightings. They would find revolve around “natural The higher it went “mechanical pressure” most phenomena” despite the Nicolai could see ‘four likely the cause of the reportofaveryphysicaland openings’ on the underside, impressionleftatthesite. realnuts-and-boltsmachine, although no lights or flames Verylikely,thecraftwas as well GEPAN’s own were visible from inside. of a weight of between four suggestion that a four or Still a short distance away to five tons. Furthermore, five-ton machine had made from where the craft landed, indications were that the the impression on the land. he would wait for a moment underside of the craft (at

Discover the Merriam-Webster Word...

From page 39

which is Pride Month Queen Consort

When Queen Elizabeth II died last year, announcements of her death mentioned King Charles III

and identified his wife Camilla as theQueenConsort.

That word rapidly became the subject of many Merriam-Webster searches.

Sentient

This word gained popularity in June when an engineer at Google stated that a company AI chatbot had human-esque consciousness As a result, lookups of the term went up by

480%. Codify This term refers to the process which allows Congress to create laws.

When Roe v Wade was

overturned in June 2022, searches forthewordincreasedbyamassive 193%.

S o u r c e d f r o m : https://wwwrdcom/article/merriamwebster-word-of-the-year/

Young Professionals Series: Education was my key to success!

- Policy and Governance Specialist, Ms. Dianna Rajcumar

From page 30 A u s t r a l i a A w a r d s character that transcends Scholarship, from a highly academic and professional competitive process - one of life,Rajcumarsaid. 40 students from across the Fast track to high school, Caribbean to access this the Governance Specialist opportunity. Rajcumar said she was surrounded by continued that she completed threebrotherswhoallmadeit aGraduateDiplomainPublic to Guyana's coveted top Administration; Masters in schools.“Iwasnotpartofthat Public Policy and Masters in league,” Rajcumar said Diplomacy (2014-2016) at Looking back, she said being the Australian National theonlygirlamongsttheboys University camewithitsownchallenges. The academic related that “There was an inequity of throughout her professional roles in the household, which and academic life, two of the still exist today more so in biggest challenges she faces c u l t u r e d a g r a r i a n a r e i n e q u a l i t y i n communities – that girls are o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r expected/indoctrinated to do girls/women and the household chores and boys presumption of being too should not.” She contended young to be placed in high that her brothers had more level positions. “I recalled, at time to focus on studying, one Institution, my superior while she was expected to do wasaccostedwithacomment the same and still complete “of employing a young girl, herregularhouseholdduties. out of high school! But I was Rajcumar was passionate not – with a diploma and about this issue. She insisted degree behind my name.And that the equalizing of therewasalwaysthatonefact opportunities for young girls that could not be defeated –is paramount because it Education matters! So, in reduces early marriages most instances, I flap my whichcreatesdependencyfor wingsandfly,sometimesinto uneducated young females the unknown. To grow one and increases the incidences must take risks and when of domestic violence and there is a good foundation it suicide. The domino effect of cancushionafall.” this imbalance in opportunity After completing her is that it adds no economic, graduate studies, Rajcumar innovative or creative value said she returned to Guyana to the community, Rajcumar and was placed in a strategic said. She noted that her managerial /policy position unequalracedidnotallowher in Government with a well best results but she was not experienced and a mature daunted.“Ididn'tevenscorea workforce, where she was grade one at CSEC,” she told amongsttheyoungest. the Coven. I was content that “That was a defining my grade twos and threes moment in my public service qualified me to enter the career, where I served in a University of Guyana! That capacity to effect change in wasanotherdefiningmoment policy and governance and in my life, there was no represented Guyana at many turningbackthen!” International Forums.” She

AtUG,Rajcumarsaidshe said there was always the survived by literally burning initial questioning or puzzled the midnight oil to study, as looks at official forums there was neither electric screaming too young. Then, power nor internet service in she said, if needed, she the community in which she whipped out her academic resided. She said owning a and work experience computer was a farfetched credentials and that saved the thought. “That meant hours day ofworkinthelibraryandthen Today,Rajcumarsaysshe a risky walk home from is entrusted with public trust University after late night and confidence in a classes.” But I was still not constitutional post, having deterred,asIwasconditioned more recently, selected to sit to the survival of the fittest on the local Public concept,thescholarsaid.

ProcurementCommission.

Rajcumar said that by the Rajcumar told the Coven time she started working at a that she has come a long way young age at the Ministry of on her journey and while Foreign Affairs, she had there may be hardships already attained a diploma in ahead, the goal is always to Public Communication focus on the endgame. She (2003) and a Degree in saidshefoundeducationtobe International Relations her key to success and (2008) She served as a believes it to be the same for regional public servant at the any person determined CARICOM Secretariat and a enough, regardless of the fewyearslaterwasgrantedan circumstances.

F r o m page 34

jewellery making, to pass the time as the pandemic dragged on. But the one hobby that she really got hooked on was painting. “It became a great distraction from everything happening outside in the world,” she added.

Little did she know that this hobby would turn into something bigger When asked how did this business come about? Ramnarain shared that she was inspired after her family and friends recommended that she showed the world her gifted artskills.

“I was inspired to start my business after family and friends to whom I'd gifted paintings, expressed how much they liked them and suggested I start posting

'Artful Hubble'

socialmediafor was a response I xpect They me to continue.

w h i l e o f ng the idea, Artful Hubble was born.

Although I am not a professional, I turned my hobby into a business that would provide customised art at an affordable cost, so that persons can own art that possess the elements they value,”sheexplained.

Takingthatbold step, the hard work has paid off, because she told this magazine that the support she has been receiving has been great so far “Not only do my family and close friends support me but people I've never met reach out to me and interact with my page, share my work and commission their own customised paintings from mybusiness,”shedetailed.

Not only that, she had attended two pop-up events in the latter part of 2022, Fuma-Con and Upmarket,

and both were met with amazingsupport.

Having been in the business arena for almost three years, the young woman described that one of challenges she faced was having to step out of her comfort zone to become an entrepreneur “I had to put my art and myself out there in order to sell it, and as a young artist and an introvert it's definitely not the easiest thing,” she disclosed. But having gotten accustom to it now, she is proud to say that she has improved a lot than whenshefirststarted.

“In Guyana, art is not widely appreciated in many homes Numerous times young artists are looked down on and told that they will get nowhere with doing art. That is a challenge I also facebutIamslowlytryingto overcome it by staying focused on being positive and patient, working hard, appreciating the small wins and understanding that things take time and not

everyone can and will appreciatewhatyoudo,”she added.

Another significant challenge she faced was balancing her school and home life with her business. She admitted that she would sometimes doubt herself and was weighed down by the great pressure and stress of completing her studies and assignments.

B u t w i t h t h e o v e r w h e l m i n g encouragement from family and friends along the way, she noted that they helped and pushed her to continue and to do better so she could be where she is today “These challenges are all still uphill battles that I am dealing with, but each day I get closer to overcoming them,”sheassured.

With regard to the pandemic and its impact on her business, Ramnarain mentionedthatthepandemic actually had a positive influence on her business.

“With promoting my

business by traditional methods being thrown out the window due to the circumstances, I found using an online platform to be moreeffective.

Everything was being done online because people spent more time on their electronic devices, allowing businesses to have an easier way to find their target audience,”shenoted.

Ramnarain who is aiming for higher heights, indicated to this publication that her long term goal for her business is to continue creatingartthatpeoplevalue and to one day createa space that artists, especially young artists, so that they can feel confidentandbeinspired.

TheformerSt.Stanislaus College student is of the v i e w t h a t y o u n g Entrepreneurs are deemed i m p o r t a n t t o t h e development of our country R a m n a r a i n s a i d “ E n t r e p r e n e u r s a r e considered essential to the growth and development of

aneconomy

Young entrepreneurs bring new ideas to the table and are the ones who will bring about changes in society.”

Additionally, they can also be considered rolemodels to the younger generation as they will inspire them to also take up various roles to bring about change in society in the future.

When asked what she thinks can be done locally to boost small businesses, she mentioned that a committee shouldbeestablished,whose focus will be on helping small businesses with funds/grants and organising promotional and marketing events to showcase their productsandservices.

If you are interested in customisedartwork,youcan message the talented artist on her Instagram page @artful.hubble.gyorcontact her on telephone number (592)610-2852.

From page 34 and although I help out alot with the business, she ensures that I know I can be anythingIwanttobe...”

She noted that she loves theopportunitytospendtime with her mom and that she has become her bestfriend when it comes to talking aboutthings.

Meanwhile, Amanda s a y s s h e p l a n s o n expanding even further in the future. Currently, persons can place orders and have their items delivered or picked up, but she plans to open her own bakershopthisyear

“I do plan on expanding but we need a fixed location...maybe if we get a land located along the public road we can do something but by this year end we should open something infront of me here at Belvedere...”shesaid.

Triple A’s Bakery offers delightful treats such as milkshakes, boba tea, glazed doughnuts, pizzas, cakes, cupcakes, cheesecakes, cookies, brownies, deviled eggs, fried rice, cranberry rice, spagetti, bbq chicken

andmuchmore. They also do catering for parties, weddings and special occasions Her customers base extends all the way to the diaspora. Customers would usually

duo creates unbreakable bond in the kitchen unbreak

order items for persons they want to surprise on a special occasion.

Persons within Berbice who might be interested in trying some of Amanda and her daughter’s goodies can check their social media page out on Facebook

(Triple A’s Bakery and Catering),orcontactthemon WhatsApp to place an order via whatsapp on 6442891/6916669.

Her advice to upcoming business owners is to not look at her as competition, but rather do everything to theoftheirability

“If you ever need advice or tips, do feel free call or text me Whatever little businessyou’reinto,Iwanna saythatI’mproudofyou.”

One day Maui said to his four brothers, “Come fishing with me today! Let's go far out tosea.Thefisharemuch bigger and better there, than they are close to land.”

“Okay!” said his brothers They were good fishermen and wanted those big fish. The four brothers and Maui jumped into their canoe and started to row Whentheygotfar out to sea and could no longer see land, Maui jumpedontotheendof the canoe. He drew outhismagicalfishing hook When his brothers were looking ahead, he cast the hook over the side of thecanoe. Thehooksunk down deep into the blue water

Soon, the magical hook stuckfasttothebottomofthe sea. Maui pulled the fishing linetight.Hecalledout,“See that tug? I must have hooked agiantfish!”

"That

“My brothers!” Maui called out. “Paddle hard so we can bring up this great fish!”

T h e

brothers paddled with all theirmight. Theypaddledso hard they did not see that the hook was pulling up the land from the bottom of the sea. Behindthem,oneislandafter anotherrosefromthesea!

Junior page

HOW TO MAKE PAPER LEAF DOODLE ART FOR KIDS?

SUPPLIES

Leaves template Color Markers Ribbon Thread Tape

Thick straw Scissor Decorative beads (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Draw the shape of leaves on a paper You can also download our free template under supplies.

2. Let kids enjoy doodling each leaf with different designs of their choice with colorful markers.

3. Cut the paper around leaves roughly. It will make easier to cut final leaves better

4. Cut the leaves carefully

5. Take a thick thread. Cut this thread in 5 pieces. ( 3 pieces - 8 inches, 2 pieces – 10 inches)

6. Stick one thread to the back of the leaf with the help of tape. Do this for all the leaves.

7.Add beads of your choice (optional) to the thread. This will make it look more beautiful.

8. Take one thick straw and tie all the other ends of the thread to the straw. Make a pattern of short, long strings.

9. Tape the thread on straw from the backside after tying it.

This will keep the thread in place and will not slide on straw

10. Take a piece of ribbon (approx.- 12 inches) and tie it at both ends of the straw That's it! Beautiful doodle art wall hanging is ready to decorate your room or assroom.

There was a time not long ago, I used to hate some types of food, But that was when I did not know That they could only do me good.

The things I used to put aside –Kalaloo, bora, ochro, green tea, Pumpkin, Boulanger, cabbage and beans –Are what I now know keep me healthy

The green ones are good for my blood and teeth, The orange and red for my brains and eyes; Many others serve to keep my heart regular, So that I become both healthy and wise

Now

To think of their health as they eat;

Eating greens and vegetables will keep us so cool, We will run and play and live so sweet.

“Wo w, I see that!” said one brother

is some fish you caught!"saidanother

I try to tell all my friends

Eat right and be healthy FUNWITHPOETRY

Keep on in this New Year to improve yourself continuously

As a person with ambition and the desiretomakethebestofyourself,you must realise that you need to continuously make the effort at improving yourself in the various aspects of your life. For the coming weeks, Uncle Roy will be sharing with you some pointers on developing a better personality and achieving successinyourambitions.

Physical

Exercise daily – Take some time every day to do some physical exercises, such as stretching, walking, runningandliftingweights,evenifthis isminimal.

Try to get up early every day You will find that by doing this you will not only feel better physically and emotionally, but your day will become more and more sufficient for all the thingsyouhavetodo.

Eat the right foods. Many young people prefer to eat fast foods and sweet foods that may not be healthy, and in fact may tend to destroy your bodyinvariousways. Learnaboutthe foods that are healthy and contribute to

the health of your brain, heart, lungs and other parts of your body and get to likeandenjoythem.

Mental

Expect the best and prepare for the worst–Alwaystrytobeoptimistic,that is, looking for the best to happen, but still prepare yourself for the times whenthingsmaynotgoright.

Keep in mind the 5 highest priorities of your life – You should try to keep in your mind the things that mattermost,andnotallowotherthings to keep you from the proper direction you have chosen. These should include your family, your ambitions in life, your friends, and the things you need to do to keep on track. When you makearealefforttothinkonthese,they willbeautomaticallyinsertedintoyour intuition and naturally come up to be includedinyourdailyactivities.

Say no to distractions – This is probably the biggest obstacle facing anyyoungpersonwhoistryingtomake it in the modern world. There are so many things that can keep your attentionfromthethingsthatyoureally need to do that you can waste a lot of energy, time and resources in getting involved in these and move in the wrongdirection. Keeptellingyourself not to let the TV, cell-phone, idle friends, and useless activities get in the way of your ambitions, both short and longterm.

Try to improve your work in some way every single day, even in the smallest manner Little by little this willshowgreatprogressovertime.

by Oswald Gunraj

I am a cellular phone, Coming in various sizes, shapes and tones, I'm a modern top-class invention, Made for personal wireless communication; But I'm very expensive, you see, Check it out and you'll surely agree.

I am a fancy cell-phone, Making different sounds and overtones; You will look cool and exquisite, Placing me at your neck, waist or pocket; So get hungry, talk like you mad, As for me, I will eat up your phone card.

I am a cell – a real attraction, Geared for your amusement and satisfaction, I am sure to make you happy, If you could only afford to own me; But remember, I like to be useful, And not just to make you look fanciful.

I am a handy cell-phone, Use me in and out of your home; Go! Talk to some faces, Or let us together go places; Up, down, in or out, Whisper to me softly, don't you shout.

I am a fussy cellular, And I can be very peculiar, I need for you to keep me full of money, Or I will behave very funny; So keep me topped up all the time, And I will serve you rain or shine; Yes, I am a great cell-phone, But only if and when you keep control.

Binox

The finished puzzle should be filled with Xs and Os. Horizontally and vertically, there should never be a continuous run of the same symbol longer than 2. There are an equal number of Xs and Os in each row and column.

All rows are unique. All columns are unique, too.

UNCLEROY Tellitto

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

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

Our real purpose in life may be to keep improving, so keep up the efforts at this to fulfil your ambitions.

ByJenA.Miller

Areyoumakingaresolutioninthenewyear?Warning:More thanhalfofallresolutionsfail,butthisyear,theydon'thavetobe yours.Here'showtoidentifytherightresolutiontoimproveyour life,createaplanonhowtoreachit,andbecomepartofthesmall groupofpeoplethatsuccessfullyachievetheirgoal.

PicktheRightResolution

You'llgiveyourselfyourbestshotatsuccessifyousetagoal that'sdoable—andmeaningfultoo.

AccordingtothetimemanagementfirmFranklinCovey,one thirdofresolutionersdon'tmakeitpasttheendofJanuary

A lot of these resolutions fail because they're not the right resolutions.Andaresolutionmaybewrongforoneofthreemain reasons:

It's a resolution created based on what someone else (or society)istellingyoutochange.

It'stoovague.

Youdon'thavearealisticplanforachievingyourresolution.

Your goals should be smart — and SMART That's an acronym coined in the journal Management Review in 1981 for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound. It may work for management, but it can also work in setting your resolutions,too.

Specific Your resolution should be absolutely clear “Making a concrete goal is really important rather than just vaguely saying 'I want to lose weight.'You want to have a goal: How much weight do you want to lose and at what time interval?” said Katherine L. Milkman, an associate professor of operations information and decisions at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. “Five pounds in the next two months—that'sgoingtobemoreeffective.”

Measurable.This may seem obvious if your goal is a fitness or weight loss related one, but it's also important if you're trying to cut back on something, too. If, for example, you want to stop bitingyournails,takepicturesofyournailsovertimesoyoucan trackyourprogressinhowthosenailsgrowbackout,saidJeffrey Gardere, a psychologist and professor at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine. Logging progress into a journal or making notes on your phone or in an app designed to help you track behaviors can reinforce the progress, no matter what your resolutionmaybe.

Relevant. Is this a goal that really matters to you, and are youmakingitfortherightreasons?“Ifyoudoitoutofthesense of self-hate or remorse or a strong passion in that moment, it doesn't usually last long,” said Dr Michael Bennett, a psychiatrist and co-author of two self-help books. “But if you build up a process where you're thinking harder about what's good for you, you're changing the structure of your life, you're bringingpeopleintoyourlifewhowillreinforcethatresolution, thenIthinkyouhaveafightingchance.”

Time-bound Like “achievable,” the timeline toward reaching your goal should be realistic, too. That means giving yourself enough time to do it with lots of smaller intermediate goals set up along the way “Focus on these small wins so you can make gradual progress,” Charles Duhigg, author of “The Power of Habit” and a former NewYork Times writer, said. “If you're building a habit, you're planning for the next decade, not thenextcoupleofmonths.”

https://wwwnytimes com/guides/smarterliving/resolutionideas

$195M contract awarded to close Byderabo dumpsite

Puran Brothers

Disposal Inc. was awarded a $195, 855, 000 contract for the closure of the Byderabo dumpsite and development of sanitary landfill located at BaricainRegionSeven.

The National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) announced on its website that the contract wasawardedonDecember28, 2022.

Following the national c o m p e t i t i v e b i d d i n g procedure for the project, the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) on its website revealed that on December 28 last, Puran Brothers Disposal Inc.wasawardedthecontract

During a visit at Bartica last year May, the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development had indicatedthatitwasinthefinal stagesofacquiringanewarea, suitable for a landfill sanitary site in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni).

Once finalized, the area will be commissioned. The current sanitary site is located at Byderado, in the centre of thetownship.

Quoted in a Department of Public Information (DPI)

article, Minister of Local G o v e r n m e n t , N i g e l Dharamlall, had said the locationofthecurrentsanitary site is not good for human health.

“We are going to do some development work where that (sanitary site) is concerned. Solid waste is always a major problem, and I think the township of Bartica has been able to manage it much better than other areas. So, it means that we have responsible people in this township,” he statedduringthevisit.

The Minister reiterated Government's commitment to creating an integrated sanitation management system to enhance citizens' qualityoflife.

Kaieteur News had reported that back in 2020, the Environmental Protection A g e n c y ( E PA ) w a s considering closing some dumpsites across the country, inclusive of the Byderabo site. Thelandfillsaresituatedclose toresidentialareas.

It was reported that from the 2022 National Budget the Ministry was allocated $1.4 B to improve sanitary and environmental conditions through infrastructural developmentcountrywide.

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall during his visit to Bartica last year.

Seasoned Guyanese Mathematics Teacher, With a career spanning over forty years…

Mr.WinstonSavory

is a ‘Special Person’

students’performance.

Rightfully so, Mr Savory’s students record over a 90 percent pass rate at the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate(CSEC),atMLCeach year Prior to this, he saw similar results teaching students in the publicschoolsystem.

ROOTS

For this, Mr Savory is especially pleased to spend his days pouring knowledge into students at the school located in Lodge — the community where theSavoryfamilyhastheirroots.

He said, “I come from a humble family, we were nine siblings for my parents and we were mostly boys. Growing up I remember that when our community here in Lodge was very close-knit, so much so that when one person achieved somethingwetookitasawinfor everyone and If something bad happenedtooneperson,itwasfelt throughoutthevillage.”

Savory said that his family wasandisstilldeeplyinvolvedin churchwork.

payingbecauseeducationwasnot free in those days, some of my brothers dropped out of school andstartedworking.”

Nevertheless, the young Savory wrote the college preceptorstestandwasawardeda placeatsecondaryschool.

“By God’s grace,” he said he was able to attend and complete secondaryschool.

Itwaswhiletherethathemet hisHighSchoolteacherwholater became his mentor, Ms Bibi Hanif According to him, Ms. Hanif was instrumental in helping him complete High School.

ByRehannaRamsay

Mr Winston Savory is no doubt a

seasonedGuyanese educator Withoverfortyyearsas a teacher, he has certainly played his part in shaping the future of thousandsofGuyanese,aswellas those in the region, by reason of his stint working with the department of education in St Lucia.

Love and commitment to his vocation, has led this week’s ‘Special Person’ to continue teaching way past his age of retirement. Today, he holds the positionofVicePrincipal(VP)of Morgan’s Learning Centre (MLC) This is in addition to teaching mathematics at MLC- a top performing private school locatedinLodge,Georgetown— thecommunitywherehegrewup.

Mr Savory told the Waterfall that he never imagined that teaching would be his lifelong career, given that he was initially reluctant to join the profession.

According to him, teaching was his only viable career option at a time when he had dif iculty findingstablework.

He shared, “I did some odds and ends before becoming a teacher;itisamentorofminewho encouraged me to join the profession.”

Savory said however, that he had to confront and overcome somepersonalchallenges.

“Now I am speaking clearly but back then I used to stutter terribly, so I never wanted to teach I had no confidence in myself,”hesaid. Afterbecoming a teacher, Mr Savory used the platform to become better and moreconfident.

He said, “Having to stand in fronttheclassroomeverydayand use my voice to help pupils understandandgrasptheconcepts I am teaching forced me to step

outside my comfort zone, confrontandovercomemyfears.”

To this end, he credits teaching for his personal as well ashisprofessionaladvancements.

“Teachinghassavedmylifein somanyways.HadInottakenthe chance so many moons ago, I would not be equipped with the skills I have today, to help so many students here at Morgan’s Learning Centre and those I taught before to perform exceptionally well at CSEC,” the teacher added; expressing obvious satisfaction with his

“My siblings and I attended St. Sidwell’s Anglican (Church) school by virtue of my father’s involvement there My mother who is still alive is a Congregationalist, so we branch of to attend Salem Church. This was an important part of my upbringing,”hesaid

Outside of the Church, the familydidtheirbesttoensurethat academic achievement was a priority He was about the age of 10whenanaccidentrenderedhim hospitalized and unable to write the Common Entrance Examination. Hesaidsomeofhis siblingssacrificedfortheothersto finishschool.

“My family did not have the means, and we had dif iculty

f f f f f f

“I was about to drop out during some dif icult times, but she encouraged me to stay in schoolandshebecameaguidefor me,”headded.

f

MENTOR

As one would imagine, Mr Savory sang high praises for his former teacher and mentor He noted that Ms. Hanif was the person he went to when he was havingdif icultyfindingwork.

f

f

He recalled, “She wrote a letter on my behalf and sent me to see the former Chief EducationOficerandthatishow I landed my first teaching job ” Hesaidtoothatnotonlydid,Ms Hanif helphimgetworkbutshe served as an example of being successfulatwhathedid

“I always patterned myself after her I see her every time I stepintotheclassroomandinto Continued o page 51

Mr. Winston Savory

Mr. Savory is pictured with his fellow Mathematics teachers in St Lucia

Mr. Savory is flanked some of his students at Morgan’s Learning Centre

Culture Cultur Alicia TastyTreatz: TastyTreatz: Sweet& Savory SweetSavory&

ByRenaySambach

With Valentine’s Day

approaching, surprise your loved one with a treat box from ‘Alicia Gy.’ The owner of this 28-year-old Razia Alicia Karim continues to stun with her talenteddesignsoftastytreats.

The business offers: chocolate covered strawberries, chocolate covered Oreos, marshmallows, rice crispytreats,pineapplecakesicel,geo hearts, hot cocoa bombs, breakable chocolate hearts or bears, strawberries bouquets, cake pops, strawberrytowersandmore.

OntheValentine’sDaycustomers can choose either six or 12 pieces of chocolate covered strawberries (classic), or the valentine’s mini package which includes a rose and threechocolatecoveredstrawberries. Therearealsootherpackageslikethe ‘Naughty Valentine’s which comes with 12 strawberries topped with sprinkles, along with customized wordingsuchas‘BemyValentine’s’, ‘XOXO’ and the other packages, whichincludeabreakableheart/bear withchocolatecoveredstrawberries.

During an interview with The Waterfalls, Razia shared that one of her best sellers is the chocolate coveredstrawberries.

Thebusinessownerstatedtoothat her business also does catering and has catered for birthday parties, weddinganniversaries,babyshowers andothergatherings.

Alicia Tasty Treatz is located at Good Hope, East Coast Demerara, and is opened Sunday to Sunday, from09:00to16:00hours.

“IstartedmybusinessonJanuary 21, 2021,” Razia said. When asked what inspired her to start such a business venture, she added, “It was due to COVID. I didn’t have an

income so I decided to start a small business, either making handmade soap or to make custom treats, and with the help of my fiancé I decided oncustomtreats.”

Almostone-yearafterstartingher business ‘Alicia Tasty Treatz Gy,’ Razia disclosed that she is looking forwardtoexpandingherbusinessby gettingastorefrontinamalltomake itmoreconvenientforhercustomers.

Razia shared that she has always dreamtofbecomingherownboss.“I leftschoolatanearlyageandIstarted working at City Mall. After a few yearsIendedupworkingatGiftland Mall, and from there I got the opportunity to start buying and selling items like watches, wallets, handbags and other items on Facebook marketplace This was going well especially since I needed theextracash.”

However,shenotedthatshelater leftherjobandfocusedonheronline business.

“Thatbusinesswasgoodbutafter afewyearsthencametheCOVID-19 pandemic and it became more difficult.”

Razia shared that like others, the pandemic affected her business but shedidnotgiveup.

“IsaidtomyselfIcan’tgiveup,so IdidsomeresearchandstartedAlicia Tasty Treatz Gy When I started this business, I did it because I have a passion for my products. With my dedication I was able to grow and develop my art skills, which propelledmeintobeingmoredetailed inmydesignandpresentation.”

TocontactRaziayoucanvisither Facebookpage@Alicia tasty treatz gyorWhatsApp/call+592682-6638, toplaceyourorder

(Toshareanyusefulinformation you can contact me via email @naesambach@gmail.com)

Mr.WinstonSavory...

somethinginmethatcausedhim torecommendmeforcollege,but all I can remember was that he was observing me in the classroom.”

After completing training in college, Mr Savory taught at an all-age school until he was transferred to teach at St Mary’s Community High School. While there, he solidified himself as a top Mathematics teacher, even becoming the head of the Mathematics and Science Department. Givenhisexpertise in the field, Mr Savory was also tasked with putting together and preparing students for the preliminary examination (an entrance examination) at St Mary’sCommunityHighSchool.

He recalled: “We had some fairly good results at the preliminary examination and made a name for me at that school”

His reputation opened other opportunities and allowed him a platformtotrainotherteachersat the school, with the skills, and methodology of teaching Mathematics.Hisworkledhimto be promoted to teaching at President’s College – one of the nation’s top secondary institutionsinthe1980s.

While at President College, Mr Savory entered the University of Guyana where he spent five years and earned a bachelor’s degree majoring in Mathematics.

Afewyearslater,hemigrated to St Lucia, where he continued h i s v o c a t i o n o n t h e recommendation of a friend

While in St Lucia, Mr Savory continued the trend of producing topperformersinMathematicsat the Leon Hess Comprehensive SecondarySchool.Heworkedin StLuciaforover20years.

He would often return to Guyana and spend his holidays workingpart-timewithMLCand helping Guyanese students perform well in their examinations.

R e f l e c t i n g o n h i s accomplishments, Mr Savory said“Ihavenoregrets,ifIhadto do it all over again I would be a teacher.”

Headded,“IbelieveGodhas aplanforallofusandifIhadnot joinedteaching,IdonotbelieveI would have ever been able to overcome the stutter and be the confident speaker and person I amtoday.”

Frompage49 myroleasateacher Thewayshe taught is always inspiring to me because I wasn’t the brightest student, but she managed to help me so that I could have acquired six subjects at GCE,” Savory stated.

Added to Ms. Haniff, the math teacher said there are several other persons within the professionthatinspiredhim. He noted that Sir Orin Morgan, the Founder, and Principal of Morgan’s Learning Centre, is anothersourceofmotivation.

“I have had the privilege of watching Sir Morgan grow and accomplish all that he has today He is not only an excellent and hardworking teacher but he is an excellent human being, he continues to include me in his quest to help produce some of G u y a n a ’s t o p C S E C performers I am therefore proudtobeapartofthisjourney and what he is doing here at Morgan’s Learning Centre,” Savoryadded.

He said too that outside of professional life, his family serves as a constant source of

inspiration Mr Savory is married to his wife, Beverley for over three decades. The couple has five adult children all of whom they cherish. He related thatallhischildrenaresuccessful in their own right. Mr Savory praises his wife for their achievement and for keeping the familytogetherwhilehewashard atwork.

TEACHINGEXPERIENCES

With regard to his teaching experiences, Mr Savory told the Waterfallthathehascomealong waysincehisfirstjobplacement in the interior (Madhia) Region Eight.

Savory noted that being far awayfromhishomeandfamilyin Georgetown, proved extremely difficult but he completed his stint. His time working away from home earned him a recommendation from a Region Eight Education Officer to be trainedattheCyrilPotterCollege ofEducation(CPCE)afterwhich he was transferred back to Georgetown to teach all age schools.

He noted that “Perhaps he [the education officer] saw

Aproud moment: Mr. Savory is pictured with a former student at a graduation ceremony

Mr. Savory is pictured after receiving several gifts and tokens of appreciation for his work

Mr. Savory was part of the sports arena in his early stages of teaching

From page 14

“Exxon defends the contract, lead up to the 2020 elections, the She recounted that the father of her saying that it took on significant People’s Progressive Party (PPP) children and other children were at risksbygamblingonacountrywith Government has now decided it homewhenshearrived. no history of oil production and willnotamendthedealwithExxon

Dundas said they prepared for verylittleenergyinfrastructure.” as it fears it would deter future church and left home at about “The terms of our petroleum investmentsinthecountry 21:30h. agreement with the Government of Instead, the President Irfaan

“When I come back from Guyanaarecommonintheindustry Ali-led Administration has church around 1 o’clock time and competitive with other committed to securing more (January1,2023),weseethepolice countries at a similar stage of benefits out of future oil deals, vehicle on the dam and as we come

, ” a through a new PSA. This new deal in, when we watch, we see a man SpokespersonforExxonsays. will govern some 14 oil blocks lay down not knowing was one of “But the terms with Guyana presently up for auction as well as thepoliceofficer,”Dundassaid. were drawn up after the discovery the Kaieteur and Canje blocks

The distraught woman later had been publicized as being where exploration activities are found out that Kishan was killed unusually large. “Exxon makes the presentlyongoing. and Marlon injured and was taken argument that they didn’t really The PNC/R’s position on tothehospital. know how much resource was renegotiationoftheExxondeal

Following the fatal shooting there,” Mitro says. “Well, they Leader of the People’s National incident, Acting Commissioner of did.”” Congress Reform (PNC/R), Police Clifton Hicken, visited the Piccolo pointed out that Rystad Aubrey Norton, has said that he grieving families of both Energy AS, an Oslo-based does not believe there should be a McPhersonandBudburgh. Consultant, said the global average renegotiation of the deal as he

The Top Cop expressed foraGovernment’stakeinoffshore respects ‘sanctity of contracts’like condolences, on behalf of the projects is 75%. The Writer argued hiscolleaguesinthePPP Force, to Corporal McPherson’s that Guyana should have gotten At the same time, Norton mother, his pregnant wife, four- morewithanoilfieldaslargeasthe explained that Government should year-old child and other family Stabroek Block that is also easy to seek more benefits out of the members and relatives present at drill. existing contract by ensuring their La Parfaite Harmonie home,

“The sheer geographic size of thorough audits of the expenses are West Bank of Demerara (WBD). Exxon’s lease – 26,806 square conducted. The Party also supports Commissioner Hicken assured the kilometers (10,350 square miles) – theideaofwindfalltax. family that a comprehensive probe also matters. It’s about nine times In September last year, it said is currently ongoing in relation to larger than Exxon’s average the PPPshould increase the royalty the circumstances surrounding the internationaloffshorelease,”Mitro rate when Brent Crude is above a fatal shooting of Detective has calculated, and roughly 100 determined price. A windfall tax is CorporalMcPherson. times larger than the average lease a one-off tax imposed by a

During his brief interaction intheGulfofMexico. government on a company, with Dundas, the Police

“The Guyana contract includes specifically targeting those that Commissioner expressed his an unusual provision allowing the benefit from something they were condolences and assured her that a company to immediately recover notresponsiblefor comprehensive investigation is costs for additional exploratory AFC – the lone political currentlyunderway work anywhere within that area. supporterofrenegotiation “I am transparent, and I want to Exxon effectively pays itself back Though previously a stern be transparent with you, and for those costs out of the oil that advocate of the 2016 PSA, the whatever happens will be revealed otherwise would go to the Alliance For Change (AFC), the at a later stage, and whichever Caribbean and Latin America while the remaining 25 is divided Government Most production- country’s third largest Political direction the DPP advises, so shall including business news, travel betweenthetwoparties. sharing agreements covering large Partyisinsupportofarenegotiated itbe,”saidCommissionerHicken. news,politicsandentertainment.

According to Piccolo, “The areas allow such deductions only oildealwithExxon.

One of its writers, Arthur deal should be 75% to Guyana and within small, specified areas,” In August last year, the Leader Wednesday – Jan 4, 2023 Piccolo, in his piece called ‘Is 25% to Exxon and indeed Guyana Mitro said, “not everywhere under of the AFC, Khemraj Ramjattan, Guyana getting screwed by couldhavenegotiatedevenbetterif lease.” told this newspaper, “I would be ‘Massive exploitation taking Exxon?’ made it pellucid that the it was serious- 80% to Guyana. The American Commentator one of the first Parliamentarians to place in Guyana at the hands 2015 oil discovery by Exxon has What is the difference for Guyana? said that even though Guyana will say if the new Government here is of clueless or corrupt politicians’ positionedthenationtobecomethe Hundreds of billions of dollars lost realize tremendous income it never going to renegotiate a better – US Commentator fastest growing economy on Earth toGuyanathatExxonwilladdtoits had before in the coming years contract, out of the one my but this is only good news if “you huge profits for no good reason at from this deal, this simply is not Government signed, I am in …says ExxonMobil wealthy are OK with the massive all.” enough. supportofthat.” stock owners would still get richer exploitation of Guyanese taking The Writer contended that it is “There is a name for what is It was the AFC’s Raphael fromafairerdealwithGuyana place at the hands of oil super giant time to force Exxon to renegotiate taking place – it is called Trotman, former Minister of

A United States (US) Exxon, and either corrupt or its deal with Guyana. He quoted a Colonialism.Therichandpowerful Natural Resources that entered into Commentator on Latin America clueless Guyanese Government section of a recent article by the lord it over the weak and the poor theagreementonbehalfofGuyana. issues in one of his latest writings Officials.” Business Week Magazine, And as always happens in these During a Press Conference published by News Americas has He explained that the situation published by Bloomberg which cases, the powerful either buy off September last, the AFC reasoned called out American oil major, is “another potent example of stated,“In2016,afterthediscovery those who can stop them, or the that when the Coalition ExxonMobil, for its “massive colonialismthatis aliveand well in wasannounced,ExxonandGuyana Local Officials are so stupid, the Government renegotiated and exploitation of Guyanese” urging the Caribbean and that undermines amended the original exploration rich and powerful can get away signed the PSA with US oil giant, that the present day situation is theintegrityandthepotentialofthe deal they’d signed in 1999. The withanything,”heargued.

ExxonMobil, the country had only equivalenttocolonialism. Caribbean.” new contract, which split the oil TheAmericanWritercontinued found approximately 1.1 billion News Americas, according to Piccolo said that the deal revenue 50-50, with a 2% royalty that while Guyanese would be so barrelsofoilintheStabroekBlock. itswebsiteisanewsnetworkthatis Guyana signed with Exxon in 2016 paid to the Government, struck much better off with hundreds of Sixyearslater,over10billionmore the only daily syndicated newswire splits the income from the massive industry analysts as an unusually billions more than it is presently barrels have been discovered in the intheUS,dedicatedtocoveringthe Stabroek Block evenly between sweetdealforExxon.” getting, thefundswillinsteadgoto country’s Exclusive Economic Black Immigrant Community from Guyana and the company 50/50. Meanwhile, Tom Mitro, a one of the richest companies in Zone, a major increase that the Caribbean and Latin America. While this may sound fair, he senior fellow at Columbia human history – Exxon and their validates the calls for a News Americas focus is on argued“Itisasuckerdealnonation University’s Center on Sustainable wealthy stock owners, “who would renegotiationofthelopsideddeal. Immigration and Immigrant news shouldhaveevermade.” Investment, was quoted as saying, have gotten richer from this deal, Exxon shoots down need for on the Caribbean and Latin The 2016 Production Sharing “It’s the most favorable I think I’ve evenifitwasfairtoGuyana.”

renegotiation

In an interview with Mikhail in the US, marijuana news, as well deduct 75 percent upfront towards anywhere.”

AmericanImmigrantCommunities Agreement (PSA) allows Exxon to ever seen in the industry,

Even though it committed to Rodrigues,popularlyknownasthe as breaking news from the thecostofdevelopingtheresource, That article also explained, renegotiating the oil contract in the (Continued on page 53)

PPP’spositiononrenegotiation

ExxonMobil Guyana President, Alistair Routledge President of Guyana, Dr. Irfaan Ali

Leader of the PNC/R, Aubrey Norton AFC Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan

accused of raping a 14-yearGuyanese Critic in August old girl on November 25, last year, the ExxonMobil 2022, has been asked to step Guyana President, Alistair down from his position held Routledge shot down the at the National Sports need for Guyana to Commission and Trainer at renegotiate the lopsided an Athletic Club, until the deal. investigation is completed, Routledge in responding well placed sources told t o t h e q u e s t i o n o f KaieteurNews.

From page 52

Harbour Bridge,

considering a renegotiation The Coach is on a of the oil contract said, “The $100,000 station bail as business we are in is we Detectives continue their don’tknowwhat’scomingor wait on a Forensic Interview what’s in the corner It may R e p o r t f r o m t h e look great today but I would Social/Welfare Officer to say we kind of made it look complete their case file. A easy so far A lot of the Forensic Interview Report is resource that we found is the Victim’s statement going to be more difficult to againsttheSuspectandifitis develop. The return on those n o t s u b m i t t e d t o won’t be as good as the Liza Investigators, he cannot be Field. The first Field that we charged. found was the best resource It has been more than a thatwefoundintheStabroek month since the Coach was Block. That was where we arrested and according to started.”

Region Three Commander, He went on to explain Mahendra Siwnarine, Police that so far, the reservoirs are still awaiting the havenotbeenaslucrative.At Forensic Report to complete

pertaining to ExxonMobil’s forward, contract cost Economist noted that he is the same time, the high price their case file before sending affiliate Esso Exploration recoveredforthequarterand aware that the Guyana of oil on the global market it to the Director of Public and Production Guyana thequantityandvalueofcost Revenue Authority (GRA) “will almost certainly fall” Prosecutions (DPP) Office Limited (EEPGL) expenses oiltakenanddisposedforthe has commented as being which means that the forlegaladvice. and to update Guyana on its quarter. The operator is empowered to keep track of businessmustbe“robustand K a i e t e u r N e w s financial position within a required to submit the the sector but as it relates to durable” for all stakeholders understands that this is not timely manner is a clear quantityandvalueofthecost Guyana actually being to allow them to continue the first time that allegations indication of the country’s oil taken and disposed of as protected from exploitation investing in the production of raping minors have been inability to monitor its oil well as the contract cost by the oil companies, of Guyana’s oil and gas leveled against the Coach proceeds, Opposition recovered for the quarter, in “ we’ve not seen the resources. and many fear that this case Economist, Elson Low has separate statements for each government speak on that The2016PSA too might not make it before said. field so as to indicate the issue in a way that gives us ActivistsinGuyanahave thecourts.

The Advisor to the total allocation of cost oil as any confidence,” Low beenlobbyingforchangesto According to reports, the LeaderoftheOppositionhas required by Article 11 of the related. He recalled that the be made to the 2016 PSA as Coach allegedly sexually described this inability as agreement which focuses on previous administration had Guyana receives a mere two assaulted the 14-year-old “veryalarming”andhasthus ‘cost recovery and put into the pipeline work percent royalty for its sweet girlafteratrainingsessionat urged the Government to productionsharing’. toward a petroleum light crude and settled for 50 the Leonora Track Field submit all the company’s “The cost recovery commission that would have percent profit sharing, after Centre, West Coast quarterly cost recovery statement should be taken lead role in all aspects Exxon takes 75 percent of Demerara(WCD). statements to Parliament. He reviewed by the Public of the oil industry and would the earnings to clear its Kaieteur News learnt Hutson was at the time said that the Government to Accounts Committee (PAC) be responsible specifically, expenses. that he was prepping a responding to the rape date,hasfailedtopublishthe in the same way the audit for the management of the The deal that the oil number of athletes for the allegation made against the costoilaudits,reiteratingthe should be reviewed by the sector The petroleum company often brags about N a t i o n a l S c h o o l s ’ prominentNationalCoach. dire need to get Parliament P u b l i c A c c o u n t s commission would have to its shareholders, also Championship held in “The AGG does not involved in the monitoring Committee,” Low told the been the ‘go-to agency’ for forces Guyanese to pay their Decemberlastyearandatthe condone misconduct from oftheoilexpenses. newspaper He opined that things petroleum and its share of taxes, amounting to completion of the routine our Coaches We don’t Lowagreedthatthereare the statements are meant to contents relayed in millions of US dollars each training sessions, he condone the kind of waystokeepabreastwithoil give Guyana insight into the Parliament. However, where year This figure is likely to allegedly lured the girl into relationship that some company expenses ahead of recoverable 75 percent cost oil industry finances are further balloon as more one of the rooms where he Coaches may want to have the annual audits, but noted oil, before the actual audits concerned, Vice President operationscomeonstream. sexuallyassaultedher with Athletes,” Hutson said that Government is failing to take place. He added that to Bharrat Jagdeo is the Inaddition,thecountryis The Victim later while adding, “relationships buildcapacityintherelevant further support the annual government point person on allowing ExxonMobil to confided in a friend about should have its borders, and agencies, while keeping audits, the opposition has thematter operate offshore without what had happened to her any Coach, who would want parliamentary oversight at called for increased local In the short run, Low Full Liability Coverage in andcontactwasimmediately to cross the border where bay He noted that one way capacitytomanageandaudit said, it is a matter of taking the event of an oil spill, madewithaWelfareOfficer he’s going to knowingly try eyes could be kept on the sector, as well as Guyana’s oil finances which means that the risk is Her parents were informed to have a sexual relationship Exxon’s expenses is by parliamentary oversight, as seriously because “the borne by Guyana. Another and an official report was in any form with any athlete, accessing the company’s another layer “We Government is simply not key provision that is lacking lodgedwithPolice. is not condoned by the costrecoverystatementsthat repeatedly called for serious about auditing in the document is ring Since his arrest, the Association.” are provided for in Section 8 capacity building especially Exxon.”Hesaidthatcitizens fencing provision, which President of the Athletics of the 2016 Production in the area of auditing so we must become aware of the wouldavoidtheoilcompany Association of Guyana Thursday – Jan 5, 2023 Sharing Agreement (PSA) canbetterassessexpenseson importance of auditing from using the petroleum (AAG), Aubrey Hutson, which says that the Stabroek a short-term, regular basis, Exxon correctly and on time revenue in one field to cover during a recent appearance ‘Submit Exxon’s Block operator “shall” even while we have ifthecountrywishestocome forexpensesinanother on the State owned National quarterly expenses to prepare each quarter of the comprehensive audits from close to its true share of oil Communications Network Parliament for scrutiny’ year the cost recovery time to time. Parliamentary wealth “We must, as a Coach accused of rape (NCN),madeitclearthatthe statement The statement, oversight is an additional nation, come to understand asked to step down Local Governing Body for while nation awaits according to the PSA would lever All these mechanisms that expenses that are from position held at track and field does not delayed audit report – detail among other things, can be leveraged to ensure incurred in oil development Sports Commission condone inappropriate OppositiontellsGov’t recoverable contract cost for Guyana benefits fully from and production need to be behaviour by their affiliated Government’s failure to the quarter, recoverable itsoilresources.” monitoredascloselyas The Athletics Coach Coaches. complete the audits contract cost carried

Chief Executive Officer for the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), Shaik Baksh

The Demerara

which runs across the Demerara River connecting Regions Four and Three

From page 53

expenses that come from

approved ExxonMobil’s

and Natural Gas

building roads. As a result, Liquids (NGL) Plant for Furthermore, his building our auditing Wales, West Bank Demerara Ministerswithkeyportfolios capacity and oversight (WBD)intheabsenceofany have not held press mechanisms is critical to updated studies. Notably, a conferences to update the national development.” He critical document to prove media corps on its opined therefore that “Not the safety of the area was stewardship of major auditing Exxon on time, and never published. The site at industries. Notably in this then potentially delivering a Wales sits above Guyana’s bracket is the Minister of flawed audit, as well as main groundwater aquifer Natural Resources, Vickram failing to build auditing that provides 90 percent of Bharrat. While Bharrat is capacity are all government all the domestic and the Minister in charge of the failures. And as I have said commercial water As such, oil and gas sector, he has before, some of these things Mangal-Joly has labeled the never officially engaged should be criminal approval of Exxon’s project with the media to address offences.” “criminal”. k e y c o n c e r n s o n

In a letter to the Editor

Newwatersource t r a n s p a r e n c y a n d yesterday, Low said that the Moreover, Baksh also accountabilityortospeakon People’s Progressive Party shared during the press upcoming developments. In (PPP) Government seems to conference that GWI has many instances, local media be struggling with the identified a new source of operatives are left to learn challenges that come from water to supply the residents about developments in the natural resource windfalls ofBartica,RegionSeven. oil sector, such as the like discovering oil He “We intend to ensure we exploration programmes suggested that the delayed can exploit that source at offshore for a given year audit is an example of the Five Miles; we call it Five to from companies as opposed Government’s inability to Seven Miles Creek and to be tohisministry cope with the changes as able to provide the people of Furthermore, there has they are yet to say also, Bartica with a better quality notably been no end of year whether auditors of Exxon’s of water because right now, press conference by Senior cost oil expenses are tasked although it is being treated, Finance Minister, Dr Ashni to identify whether or not they are getting water from Singh, who is tasked with costs have been inflated and the Mazaruni River…we are maintaining the nation’s the country is being robbed hoping that within the next economicwellness. billionsofdollars. two to three years to move Other major agencies

A s i t r e l a t e s t o that supply source of water such as the Guyana Revenue Parliamentary oversight, from the Mazaruni River to Authority (GRA) which has Opposition Members have this very good source (Five a heightened role in auditing argued against the limited to Seven Miles Creek),” the the multi-billion dollar oil number of times the House citizens. before it is distributed to (Linden) at a later date,” CEOsaid. andgassector,hasnothelda meets, the dormant natural Alreadytheoperationsof residents, it is costing the Bakshsaid. single press conference, r e s o u r c e s s e c t o r a l ExxonMobil and its partners companymore.

Guyana’s accelerated oil Friday – Jan 6, 2023 though this was the practice Committee, the increase of have virtually crippled the “The people of Wismar operations offshore have priorto2020. persons for the PAC which fishingindustryhereandthis and surrounding areas are resulted in an increase in Cabinet press briefings Another major agency increasesdifficultyinhaving announcementbyBakshwill receiving water from the more marine traffic passing dead for two years that did not hold an end of aquorumduetoabsenteeism cause greater concerns by Demerara River and that through the country’s main …as President blanks year press conference was and the reduction of the Guyanese. water is becoming more and channel– the Demerara end-of- year news t h e E n v i r o n m e n t a l oversight layers that was Baksh underscored that more polluted, it’s a huge River The river is also conference, Ministers opt Protection Agency (EPA), placed in the now Natural while providing quality costforchemicaltreatment,” Guyana’s main hub of all to sit with DPI one of the key regulators of Resource Fund The water to GWI customers is a Bakshsaid. import and export trade. Just the oil and gas industry Opposition, A Partnership priority, water treatment is As such, he explained recently, the dredging of the Since taking the reins of Independent media houses for National Unity and the one of the major challenge that the company has DemeraraRiverchannelwas office in August 2020, the have in the past two years, Alliance For Change has the company faces. “Now embarked on a project to completed to facilitate the People’s Progressive Party also complained about the b o t h a c c u s e d t h e they are challenges a improve water quality to the US$300 million shore-base C i v i c ( P P P / C ) difficulties in accessing Government of weakening majorareaofchallengeisthe residents of Linden He facility which is being Administration has not held information from Ministers and in some cases, ignoring water quality and we have added that GWI have constructed at Vreed-en- Cabinet press briefings even as they make state institutions that handle outlined what we are doing. identified the Watooka Hoop, West Coast Demerara which serve to inform the themselves available for a oversightofpublicfunds. It’snotonlyplanning,weare Conservancy as the source (WCD). media, and the nation by range of well choreographed Guyana’s current audit beyond planning, we now for better water to be Onlyrecently,Geologist, extension, of critical i n t e r v i e w s v i a t h e entails some US$7B. The have programmes and distributedtotheresidentsof SimoneMangal-Jolly,raised decisions made on contracts Department of Public pre-contract cost totals projects in place to ensure Linden “ the West concerns about the location andotherissues. Information(DPI). aroundUS$460M. this becomes a reality…” he Watooka Conservancy, very i d e n t i f i e d b y t h e In addition to Cabinet While Vice President, said. good quality of water with a Government of Guyana for press briefings being dead, Bharrat Jagdeo, has held CEO, Shaik Baksh says: Baksh shared that one minimum of treatment, only the country’s gas-to-energy and the administration being meetings with the media “Polluted Demerara River such programme is to switch disinfection because its project. She said the site is dismissive in the past on its where questions on the oil costing GWI more to treat the source of water being stream water,” GWI’s CEO unsuitable and will likely return, President Dr. Irfaan and gas sector have been drinking water” treated and distributed to stated. pose great danger to the Ali has not addressed the allowed, in many instances, some residents of Linden, According to him, by country’s main groundwater media regarding critical he has been dismissive on a Amid growing concerns Region 10. He disclosed March 31, 2023, the aquifer An aquifer is an developments in the oil and numberofissues.Onseveral of the impacts of oil that presently, the company company is expected to underground layer of water- gassector occasions he has directed operations on this country uses water from the switch from the water being bearing, permeable rock, In place of facing the Kaieteur News to pose waterways, Chief Executive Demerara River to distribute used from the Demerara r o c k f r a c t u r e s , o r independent media, the certain questions on the oil Officer(CEO)oftheGuyana to the residents of Wismar, River, to that from the West unconsolidated materials President has developed a andgassectortotherelevant Water Incorporated (GWI), Linden and surrounding Watooka conservancy “So Groundwater from aquifers fondnessforFacebookLives agencies, which, as noted Shaik Baksh has disclosed areas The CEO noted this is on the move, so the is extracted using a water and the issuance of before,havenotbeenopento that the Demerara River is however, that the water is people of Linden can look well. statements. While he is an probing from independent becoming “more and more becoming more and more forward to a better quality of The

polluted” and is costing the polluted and in order to water and this would be Guyana, through the the President has been more With the foregoing company more money to acquire the chemicals extendedacrossthebridgeto Environmental Protection o p e n t o e n g a g i n g informationblackout, treat drinking water for needed to treat the water other parts like McKenzie Agency (EPA) last year international media as (Continued

opposed to the independent

pipeline

Guyanesepress.

Government of advocate for local content, mediahouses.

President Irfaan Ali

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh

EPA Head, Kemraj Parsram

GRA Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia

Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat

From page 54

OGGN—whichisbackedby billions of dollars for Kaieteur News is yet to the expertise of several cleanup, cause substantial receive answers on the state G u y a n e s e i n t h e impact to marine life, and of the full coverage D i a s p o r a i s t h a t have lasting long-term insurance for the Stabroek Government makes critical impacttoanyandeverything Block from ExxonMobil piecesofenvironmentaldata inthevicinityofthespill. Corporation Exxon and publicforongoinganalysis. “Take for example, the Government were said to be

I n o n e o f i t s BP Deepwater Horizon oil in talks on this front since commentaries published on spillintheGulfofMexicoin January 2022 This its website, the advocacy 2010 which has cost BP newspaper had pressed group said it is important for (British Petroleum) about Jagdeo for an update on this citizens to understand how US$62 billion. The resulting buthesaidtheEPAshouldbe oil and gas operations can spill covered 68,000 square madetodealwiththis. affecttheirlives. miles of sea surface – that is

Governmentisalsoyetto

While the exploitation of an area which is larger than explain to the nation, why a this resource does attract countries such as Cambodia, breakdownofExxonMobil’s significant revenues, its Uruguay, or Suriname – and bills for exploration, at the members warned that it can almost 80% the size of very least, has not been put lead to loss of marine life, Guyana,”statedOGGN. into the public domain disruption to coastal reefs, It was also keen to note Government has also been Natural Resources, EPA, the increased pollution, and that this oil spill also killed

The Oil and Gas fairerdeal,thewritersaid,“It silent on why it is yet to Guyana Geology and Mines negative impacts on climate approximately one million Governance Network said is also important because it disclose the results of two Commission (GGMC), the change and to the people of coastal and offshore the foregoing suggestions, exposes the United States audits; one on Exxon’s costs Guyana Revenue Authority Guyana, if not managed seabirds, 5,000 marine among others, are critical Government’s lack of totalling US$7.3B, incurred (GRA) and other agencies to properly mammals, and 1,000 sea guardrails that can protect concern for what takes place from 2018 to 2020, and improve their operational OGGN articulated that turtles. The group said the c u r r e n t a n d f u t u r e in the Caribbean whether in another set, over US$460M, competencies in the oil there are several places BP Deepwater Horizon oil generations while ensuring Guyana, Haiti or anywhere alsoincurredbyExxoninthe sector where long term, lasting spill was a combination of a the oil sector is properly else in this region physically StabroekBlockfrom1999to Citizens are also yet to impacts can affect the series of human errors, regulated. It said that mega as close as any to our 2016. receive an update on the citizensofGuyana. Government’s lack of profits being made by oil nation.” KaieteurNewsisalsoyet status of efforts to update With respect to the act of regulatory procedures and companies cannot and must According to him, “Let’s to receive information on p o l i c i e s , l a w s a n d drilling for oil, it said processes for monitoring, never trump the safety not forget the hidden players how much ExxonMobil is regulationsgoverningtheoil companiessettingupoilrigs, inspection, and evaluation, citizensdeserve. here who make all this r e c o v e r i n g f o r andgassector or using Floating Production poor environmental possible – the United States decommissioning costs Storage and Offloading governance, and poor Saturday – Jan 6, 2023 Government and the last two Industryexpertshavesaidon Mega profits for oil Vessels, commonly called operational practices by BP Presidents and the current numerous occasions that companies must not FPSOs, discharge hot water It said this is the same Time for Joe Biden, President.They play the part money has to be set aside by trump citizens’safety from wells into the ocean. It combination of things it sees CARICOM to of the blind mice. See no Exxon in a special account – Govt. must perform saidthisforcesmarinelifein brewing in Guyana at the end ExxonMobil’s evil, hear no evil, do no evil. forcleanupactivitiesafterall independent audits of oil the radius of the heavy moment,ifstrictactionisnot abuse of Guyana Proving yet again how the the oil has been produced companies’operations; machinery to migrate to takennow - US Commentator United States government and sold. This money is publish environmental other areas in the ocean. It In light of the foregoing continuestoignoretheentire supposed to be under data for ongoing said this may be detrimental andotherdisastrousimpacts, Arguing that Guyana got Caribbean which fosters this Government’s control but public analysis to their well-being and thus OGGN said Guyanese must a “sucker deal” when it kindofabuse.” according to the Stabroek –Advocacy Group disrupt the oceanic food demand from Leaders and signed the Production Continuing in his Block deal, it is not chain. oil companies that emphasis Sharing Agreement (PSA) passionate piece, Piccolo Previously, Government had The Oil and Gas “Take, for example, be placed on minimizing the with United States (U.S.) oil explained that the Caribbean said that the Guyana Governance Network shrimp – a delicacy in environmentalimpactsofoil major ExxonMobil in 2016, Community (CARICOM), Geology and Mines (OGGN), a non-profit Guyanese households – that operations. If this is not that no nation should have the body that unites Commission would be organization based in New may now have to migrate done, the group said Guyana ever made, an American Caribbean nations, will be transformedintothenation’s York, is calling on from the warmer South risks becoming a wealthy, commentator is lobbying for celebrating its 50th Petroleum Commission, a Government to perform Atlantic waters to colder but severely unhealthy changes to be immediately anniversary this year To this key independent regulator independent audits of oil ocean water – to which they population. effectedtothecontract. end, he said it is “Time for that is needed for the Moving ahead, OGGN Arthur Piccolo, a writer CARICOM to step up and industry. A portion of the called for the Guyana on Latin American issues in end this kind of abuse of its US$20M World Bank loan Government to address gaps one of his latest writings membernations.It’stimefor was also used for this a n d c r e a t e s t r i c t e r published by News U.S.President(Joe)Biden& purpose. There has been no legal/regulatory frameworks Americas puts the two CARICOM to force Exxon updateonthisfront. to ensure standards for former U S Presidents torenegotiatethisdeal.” compliance, rigorous Barrack Obama and Donald Last year, President Guyanese are also none monitoring and evaluation, Trump, respectively on blast B i d e n s l a m m e d the wiser on the appropriate and enforcement of all insisting that they turned a ExxonMobil, his country’s technology being put in environmental standards are “blind” eye to the abuse leading oil producer, for place offshore to monitor set. Guyanaisfacing. being reluctant to drill more Exxon’s operations. In the It also called for

Notably, President oilfieldssothatitcanbenefit absence of same, Exxon self

Government to perform Obama was in his second from skyrocketing prices for regulates and reports to the independent audits of the term in office when the oilandgasassupplyshrinks. authoritiesonitself. operations of the oil Exxon contract was signed. The American President

As Government speeds companies to understand President Trump took office categorically stated that the aheadwitheffortstoapprove their environmental impact, in 2017 and the current posture of the company was a f i f t h p r o j e c t f o r and publish environmental leader,JoeBidenwaselected reflective of sheer greed as it ExxonMobil, there is still data from the oil and gas in2021. sits back and watches companies operations. The are not well suited and may zero public disclosure on the industry for ongoing public

Piccolo said it is time for inflation rise in-country, groupsaidthisisvitalsothat likely cause a reduction in guidelines it is using to analysis. America’s present leader to much to the benefit of its Stateactorsmayhaveaclear their population,” OGGN conduct a thorough due

Italsorecommendedthat force the U.S Company to shareholders’pockets. and impartial understanding stated. diligence of the project the Authorities create a renegotiate the deal with According to a CNBC of the environmental Of more impact to plans. There has also been systematic, ongoing plan for Guyana. report, inflation in May rose implications for citizens and natural habitat are oil spills. little information disclosed monitoring and evaluating

Just after highlighting at levels not seen since the determine the requisite In this regard, the about the number of i m p a c t s b y t h e how better off the country early1980s.Askedbya safeguardsneeded. transparency body said a technical experts hired Environmental Protection would have been with a (Continued on page 56) Equally critical said single oil spill can cost within the Ministries of Agency(EPA).

U.S President, Joe Biden

Executive Director of the EPA ,Kemraj Parsram

From page 55 c o n s t r u c t e d b y t h e reporter if his administration Government of Guyana will has plans to “go after” oil not have significant impacts company profits, Biden did on the environment and is notsaywhatcourseofaction therefore exempted from he would take. He did state u n d e r t a k i n g a n however that, “Exxon made Environmental Impact more money than God this Assessment(EIA). year.” Notably, the EPA’s Evenastheprofitsforthe decision to not require an oil company continue to environmental impact study soar, the multinational comes weeks after the conglomerate is reluctant to contract to construct the givethecountryabetterdeal power plant was awarded by foritsoilresource. government. The US$759M In the meantime, contract with CH4activists in Guyana have Lindsayca was inked on beenlobbyingforchangesto December13,2022. be made to the 2016 PSA as An EIA, as described by Guyana receives a mere two the former head of the EPA, percent royalty for its sweet Dr Vincent Adams, is the light crude and settled for 50 “Bible of a project” that percent profit sharing, after defines all environmental Exxon takes 75 percent of risks and hazards associated. aspects form part of the

Authorisation process. The particulate matter and SO2 impacts that will be caused the earnings to clear its Oncetheseareidentified,the Government’s Wales, West Power Plant thus is not emissions will be released by the project during preexpenses. study- usually conducted by Bank Demerara Gas-to- included in the Project but to a minimal extent, and construction, construction

The deal that the oil an independent Consultant - Energy(GTE)project. within the EIA (with the well below recommended and operation phases, have company often brags about pointsoutactionsthatwillbe In that study, the exception that the Power WHOguidelines.” beenidentified,screenedand to its shareholders, also taken to mitigate the hazards Consultant made it clear that Plant is considered as part of Itaddedthatcomparedto assessed.” forces Guyanese to pay their or respond in the case of an the power plant being the cumulative impact Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) It added, “Overall, many share of taxes, amounting to emergency pursued by the government assessment),”theEIAstated. currently in use for power of the impacts are localized, millions of US dollars each In announcing its would be subjected to a Nevertheless, the EPA plants, natural gas has lower short-term and/or temporary year This figure is likely to decision to waive an EIAfor separate Environmental said the proposed location carboncontentandasaresult in nature This project further balloon as more the project through a public Authorization process and for the project has already will have a lower CO2 therefore is exempt from the operationscomeonstream. notice in the Guyana impacts from this venture been subjected to a rigorous emission Natural gas, conductofanEnvironmental

Inaddition,thecountryis ChronicleonFriday,theEPA were not included except EIAandCIA. according to the EPA, also ImpactAssessment.” allowing ExxonMobil to listed six reasons for its during the Cumulative According to the EPA, does not contain sulphur In keeping with the operate offshore without conclusion. Impact Assessment (CIA). the CIA done for the project meaning there will be no Environmental Protection Full Liability Coverage in To begin with, the This means that the public is revealed that while there is sulphur emissions from Act, Cap 20:05; any person the event of an oil spill, regulator explained, “The still unaware as to the potential for temporary burning the natural gas that may be affected by the which means that the risk is proposed location for this potential impacts of this impacts on air quality, the Meanwhile, as it regards project may lodge an appeal borne by Guyana. Another project falls within the area project as well as what maximum predicted water quality, the regulator to the Environmental key provision that is lacking of influence/footprint of an safeguards would be concentrations of key explained, “Process Assessment Board (EAB) in the document is ring EPAapprovedGastoEnergy instituted. pollutantsincludingnitrogen wastewater will be treated to againsttheagency’sdecision fencing provision, which Project (GTE) that was “The Government of dioxide (NO2), sulphur local and international not to require an EIA. The wouldavoidtheoilcompany s u b j e c t e d t o a Guyana is pursuing a dioxide (SO2), particulate acceptablestandards(GNBS appeal must be submitted from using the petroleum comprehensive EIA, separate project to construct matter (PM 2.5 and PM10), Interim Effluent discharge within 30 days of the notice, revenue in one field to cover including a Cumulative a power plant (the Power and carbon monoxide (CO)- standards and/or IFC which means persons have forexpensesinanother Impact Assessment (CIA). Plant) that would use a will be within the World Guidelines)viaawastewater until around February 6, The CIA concluded that portion of this associated Health Organization (WHO) treatmentplantpriortobeing 2023 to submit their Govt. relies on non- there will be no significant natural gas as a fuel source. stipulatedlimits. discharged The sanitary objections. existent study for power impacts from the combined Accordingly, EEPGL, at the In further explaining its sewage system within the Appeals against the plant ...as EPAnow activities/projects.” request of the Government decision to waive the impact facility will collect all EPA’s decision should be gives go-ahead after That EIA was conducted of Guyana, is proposing the studyforthepowerplant,the sanitarywastewaterandtreat addressed to the Chairman, contract signed byaTexasbasedConsultant, Projecttoprovidefuelforthe regulator explained, “As it to international applicable Environmental Assessment Environmental Resources Power Plant. The Power natural gas is used for power standards prior to discharge B o a r d o r e m a i l a t

The Environmental Management (ERM), for the Plant will not be owned and generation, the flue gas into a stormwater pond prior eabguyana21@gmail.com Protection Agency (EPA) gas pipeline and Natural Gas operated by EEPGL and is emissions will not have to discharge into the or submitted to its website at has determined that the 300 Liquids (NGL) Plant to be beingproposedbyaseparate particulate matter and SO2 DemeraraRiver.” www.epaguyana.org. megawatt (MW) gas-fired developed by U.S oil giant, proponent under a separate emissions. However, in the It noted too that the The EPA on November p o w e r p l a n t t o b e ExxonMobil These two E n v i r o n m e n t a l case of back fuel use, project is not located in a 25, 2022 gave Exxon its sensitive ecosystem but blessings to commence the within a “highly modified US$1.3 billion GTE project landscape”. The design of that will allow for the the project, according to the construction of a natural gas EPA will include embedded pipeline, NGL facility and controls as well as targeted supportinginfrastructure. mitigation measures during W h i l e m a n y construction and operation stakeholders had raised to avoid, minimize and concerns regarding the mitigate any impacts to safetyoftheproject,theEPA biodiversity in its decision to grant the

As such, the agency Permit said the project’s EIA concluded, “The Project will and Environmental Impact not significantly impact or Statement (EIS) have been change overall ecological declared acceptable, by the functions of the landscape Environmental Assessment and affected watershed will Board in accordance with retain their current functions section 11(13) of the largely unchanged. Potential Environmental Protection environmental and social Act,Cap.20:05.

Govt. issues order to acquire 70 acres of West Demerara lands for gas pipeline

The Government of Guyana between January 4 and 6 this year commenced the issuance of Orders in the Official Gazette for the acquisition of lands for its Gas-toEnergy(GTE)project.

Inthepublicdocumentsitcould be understood that the Administration will be acquiring a total of some 70.6 acres of lands on the West Bank of Demerara (WBD). This is to facilitate the pipeline, which will transport naturalgasfromtheLizaUnityand Liza Destiny Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) VesselsintheStabroekBlocktothe Wales development site where the gaswillbeprocessedandputtouse.

In Bordeaux, Canal Number One, the Legal Order signed by Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill said two plots will be acquiredamountingto10.5acres.

At Java, the Legal Supplement said another 21.1 acres will be acquired for the project, while at Vr e e d - e n - H o o p , K l e i n Pouderyoen, rear of Malgre Tout and Versailles, some 12.9 acres moreoflandwillbeacquired.

In the villages of Union, Rotterdam, Mary and Haarlem, Wallers Delight, Ruimzeight and Vreed-en-Hoop, a further 12 4 acres, according to the Order, will beobtainedforthepipelineroute.

Finally, in the villages of

Alliance and Resource, another 13.7 acres of land will acquired by thestate.

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo at his final press conference for 2022 had told members of the media that the Government will be moving to compulsorily acquire landsfortheproject.

He explained that the Attorney General (AG) Anil Nandlall, SC has been leading the front on this matter and while “there are people who have signed agreements and there are others who are refusing to sign, they would have to compulsorilyacquire.”

When asked about the total value of the lands that Government willbe payingresidents for, Jagdeo said he would try to get the details shared with this newspaper, as it was not available to him at that time.

In September 2022, theAG met with about 25 landowners who received a proposal from the Government to buy over part of their lands to facilitate the 12-inch pipeline.The structure will be 190 kilometres long and planted underground for safety Nandlall had told this newspaper that the land was also demarcated with enough excess on both sides of the structure to create a 'buffer' zone. This will ensure that private property is not affected when

Five arrested following discovery of shotgun, cartridges at Black Bush Polder

maintenance works are required, amongothers.

This publication spoke with a number of landowners who said they are not satisfied with the offer made by government for their lands. One farmer, for example, explained that the offer made did not take into consideration the earnings made from the property thatwouldbeaffected.

The farmer told Kaieteur News, “I don't think the valuation considers the earnings that we get fromthelandbyplantingrice.They justgaveaflatvalueofthatbutthey don't consider that every month we earn on this land so they should consider how it would affect us whentheytakeitawayfromus.”

A landowner in Canal Number One then explained that even though Government will only require part of his land, his farming activity will be completely disruptedhencehedoesnotbelieve he received a fair offer for compensation.

The man, who is employed at a Government office, asked to remain anonymous. He explained, “I am one of the land owners that will be extremely affected According to what they are saying, it will be about six acres they need. My concern is, if you taking half of the land, I can't do anything else on

Map showing the proposed route of the natural gas pipeline (Source: GTE EIA)

the other half. So it's kind of pointless because they are saying, there will be a fence on either side of the pipe and they will have some sort of security or something so I would have to move off of the land becauseIcan'tfarmonit.Ican'tlive there, I can't burn anything on the landbecauseofthepipeline.Iplant pineapples, tangerines, plantains and other cash crops. I born and grow there and my father got the land from his grandfather and so I am currently 29 years old. It will affect me a lot. I am looking forward to a call from whichever lawyer they say they are gonna propose to us but this offer, I can't workwithit.”

Also, the young man said he is fearful that a gas leak may occur andstartachainreaction;hence,he may be forced to discontinue his

greatgrandparents'legacy

A female landowner who did notstatehernameshared,“webeen livingherewewholelife.Nowthey just want come and disrupt your whole system. Not the entire land will be affected but still, you are being disrupted. Exxon had sent a young lady and I asked what would happenifitexplodeandtheysaidit wouldbeundergroundninefeetbut I don't know how much land they really taking but I am waiting on next week to hear what they would s a y ” I n E x x o n M o b i l ' s environmental studies for the project,itwasclearlystatedthatthe venture can result in chronic hardshipsforfarmers.Nonetheless, Exxon has already received approval from the Environmental Protection Agency to commence thelayingofthepipeline.

Video evidence proves innocence of security...

From page 9 Wednesday responded to online publicationsthatdetailedthatthree of its employees were arrested for reportedly intimidating a Businessman while he was at a popularrestaurant.

seen

The

Kaieteur News was informed that police received information and ventured into Johanna South, Black Bush Polder where two males were

Police searched the car but nothing illegal was found. Subsequently, a search was done in a nearby yard where LaFluerwas seen in a store room. In that r o o m , t h e s h o t g u n

with markings CBC and no serial number, and three 12gaugecartridgeswerefound.

Lafleur and the quartet were subsequently arrested.

Investigationsareongoing.

The accused were reportedly arrested on Tuesday following a police report about the alleged intimidation of the Businessman at Hard Rock Café located in the MovieTowne Mall. However, in a press statement, the company noted that it conducted its own investigation into the incident which occurred on the night of December 30, 2022 and evidence gathered from the investigation suggests,“thatthereisaconspiracy tomisrepresentthefactstoprocure the wrongful arrest of our

employees.

In this regard, we have instructed ourAttorneys-at-Law to leave no stone unturned to initiate legal proceedings against all such conspirators.”

The security firm made it clear that it does not condone improper, unprofessional or irresponsible behaviour from any of its employeeswhetherofforonduty

Further, the firm said that the Police Force has received its full cooperationwhilenotingthatthata teamvisitedtheCommanderof‘A’ Division to share information with regardstotheallegedincident.

“The Service has every reason to believe that under the Commander’s stewardship, a fair and unbiased investigation will be conducted,”itwasfurtherstated.

The single barrel shot gun and cartridges found by police

Five persons, including two juveniles, were on Friday arrested at Black Bush Polder, East BerbiceCorentyne(RegionSix)followingthediscoveryofa single barrel shot gun and cartridges during an intelligence-ledoperation.

adults have been identified as Raymond Lafleur of New Amsterdam, Berbice, Thelson ForesightandRashonAlli.

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‘Takingthisthingtomakefine hustlecausethingslilhard’

…farmer busted with ganja tells Police

A Berbice farmer busted on Friday with over2000gramsofGanjaatapoliceroadblock at Ituni, Region Ten told ranks that it was for a “fine hustle cause things lil hard”.

Thefarmerhasbeenidentifiedas58-yearold Compton Joseph Allicock of Unamco Junction,UpperBerbiceRiver

According to a police press statement, Allicockwasamongthreepassengersinacar that ranks had searched at the roadblock around18:25hrsonFriday

Eachpassengerandtheirbelongingswere searched. Allicock was reportedly seated in the front passenger seat carrying a pink haversack.

When searched police found a bulky plastic bag stashed in his crutch along with four others among cassava inside his haversack.

Inside the bags, stated police, were “…leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis”

Afterbeingfoundwiththedrugs,Allicock reportedly told police “Officer, I was taking this thing (marijuana) to make a fine hustle because things lil hard.”

Police arrested him and took him to the Ituni Police Station where the drugs, amountingto2000grams,wereweighed. The other passengers were allowed to continue since nothing illegal was found in their possession.

MoF, Forest Products Association Reps. discuss opportunities to boost production

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Senior Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh along with Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat on Friday met with new President of the Forest Products Association (FPA), Ganesh Singh and FPA’s Project Coordinator, Mona Bynoe, at the Ministry of Finance to discuss how

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Governmentcanfurtherassist in the development and expansion of the forestry sector.

Themeetingcomesonthe heelsofGovernment’srecent signing of a $900M Forestry Revolving Fund Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Demerara Bank Limited to boost production and valueadded.

Management Consultant of the Guyana Forestry Commission(GFC),Mr.James Singh also attended the meeting.

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Duringthediscussion,Dr Singh posited that Government will collaborate and support the FPA and called on its members to take full advantage of the opportunity of the revolving fund to boost their production.

He congratulated and welcomed the new President and encouraged him to continue to engage with the forestry sector stakeholders in efforts to maximize the industry’s performance and improvetheFPA’sstatus.The

new President had indicated thattheFPAhadalreadybeen making efforts to engage its membership during countrywide outreaches.

Minister Bharrat highlighted the dismal state in which the former administration left the GuyanaForestryCommission (GFC) with the entity even unable to pay salaries and meet operational costs. The GFC’s status has since been improving through Government’s efforts and support.

The Finance Minister thenurgedthenewPresident to work towards moving the FPA from its current bankruptcy position and dismal state. The FPA Presidenthadrelatedthatthe Association was in a dismal financialposition.

The meeting also served asafollow-uptothemeeting hosted on Thursday by President Irfaan Ali at State

Housewherehehadengaged the private sector and civil society for a “Discussion for 2023andbeyond”.President

The haversack and the ganja that were found in Allicock’s possession.

Govt. must disclose foreign consultants’ reports on ExxonMobil’s...

From page 16 expert said, “…Other teams having performed reviews of field development plan in other major offshore producing areas find it difficult to envision that a rigorous analysis of the Yellowtail FDP and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was possiblewithin52days.Even with two mega groups of Specialists and Engineers assigned, it is not possible. The question therefore arises as to whether the Bayphase/ Redfordpartnershipskimmed the documents Exxon submitted to the government rather than probing it and requestingadditionaldatafor a proactive assessment.”

Another expert agreed with the foregoing perspective while adding, “For most FDPs you have over 100 items to check that

is why proper review takes a year and change, sometimes longer depending on project size. In the first instance, the government must have its own FDP guidelines on minimum requirements they expect from the company That should be public. This is needed because citizens would better understand the standards the administration is setting for companies to abide by The North Sea TransitionAuthority(NSTA) does this. That authority regulates and influences the oil, gas and carbon storage industries of the UK ContinentalShelf.”

The NSTA clearly states via its guidelines on its website that all FDPs must provide a clear explanation why the development concept being presented is considered optimum from a technical,environmentaland

economic perspective. The authority also requires that companies set out the commitmentstheywillfollow to ensure enhanced oil recovery and sound development. The expert noted that Guyana is yet to prove if the Redford/ Bayphase group achieved this since their findings remainaStatesecret.

ExpertsalsotoldKaieteur News that FDPs must also provide a production strategy that aligns with the country’s interest. Such a strategyincludes:Short-term and long-term plans on production acceleration and recoverable reserves, the number of production and injection wells and the cost to the nation, and an explanation of hydrocarbon bearing sands penetrated not included under the current development plan but which

could be profitable if assumption changes such as extentofreservoiroroilprice.

FDPsalsoincludedetailed information, which the Government needs experienced persons to review regarding production technology and well engineering. In this area, government specialists must diligently assess proposed well design concepts including trajectory and location,inflowperformance prediction, sand control and sand management, explanation of concept selection and how value for moneywouldbeachievedon each component of the project.

keptinthedark?Whyareher reports not public? Why are the reports by Bayphase not public?” In the interest of transparency, the industry experts agreed that the PPPC Government should disclose

a summary of the work performed by Bayphase and the Redford group to date, along with a summary of the type of data used and the methods by which it was assessed.

MoF, Forest Products...

From page 58 Ali was accompanied by Prime Minister, Mark Phillips,VicePresident,Dr Bharrat Jagdeo and the Finance Minister. During thatdiscussiontheFPAhad raised some matters with which it wished to engage Government.

the Memorandum of Understanding(MOU)with the Bank during a simple signing ceremony at the MinistryofFinance.

Sunday January 08, 2022

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)

It's time to let go of the past andfocusonlyonthefuture, Aries. A new person may come into your life who can help you do just that. Communication with close friendsandrelativesishighlighted

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

There's definitely a downside to home ownership! Much as you loveprojects,Taurus,thejoy istemperedwhenthechores neverend.Whileyourhome is structurally sound.

GEMINI(May21–June20)

The glass may look half empty, but only at first glance.Keeplookingatit,or perhapschangethewayyou look at it, and you'll see that itindeedishalffull.

CANCER(June21–July22)

There are lots of personal and financial issues to resolve today, Cancer You may hear from your bank or see some alarming numbers onanATMreceipt.Don'tget upset.

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

A rising tide lifts all boats. When someone close experiences a windfall or especially good luck, Leo, the ripple effect reaches you. Change is in the air

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)

It looks as though change is onthehorizonatwork,Virgo. You've just recently completed some long-term projects and are being recognized for your efforts.

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

Crazy as it seems, why not plan that trip you've been eager to go on, Libra? Adventure calls, and although there are a few obstacles to stop you from answering, you can’t wait to get out of your rut.

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov.21)

Prosperityisjustaroundthe corner, Scorpio. With it comes change. Change in yourjob,career,orenvironment figures prominently today.Howeverthischange manifests.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

Your world is changing, Sagittarius, both internally and externally You feel a need to broaden your horizons. You may be contemplating a move to a newneighborhoodortripto afarawayland.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

Romance is in the air today, Capricorn. It's likely that your relationship with your loved ones will see a dramaticimprovement.Perhaps someflowerswillarriveunexpectedly

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

You'refocusedandattentive todetail.Somelongstanding projects benefit from this sudden spurt of energy and get completed in record time.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)

Don't let others' bad moods get you down, Pisces. And don't feel it's your responsibilitytocheerthemup.Their moodinessistheirbusiness, not yours.

“Inlightoftheforegoing, howcanGuyanafeelassured thatthereviewsbyBayphase and Redford have been performed with their best interestinmind?ItisExxon’s job to advance their best interest: It is the government’s job to safeguard the best interest of its people. It is not clear that this is taking place,” expressed one of the specialistswithover40years experience.

Another industry expert also raised alarm about the oversight provided by Bayphase and the input of the Alison Redford Group which was paid for by the CanadianGovernment.

She said, “Guyanese should be concerned that it was not revealed by Natural ResourcesMinister,Vickram Bharrat that the Redford group was involved in reviewing the US$10B Yellowtail Project until after the work was completed and the production licence awarded. Why? Redford’s group was not listed by the National Tender and Procurement Board as one of the companies submitting a proposalfortheYellowtailor Payarareviews.Whywasshe given a direct contract on both? Why were Guyanese

Ali conquerors Berbice...

From page 64 the USA, Ali is a Trained Graduate Teacher. He taught Mathematics and Science at the Berbice High, Overwinning Secondary and Canje Secondary Schools and also lectured at the New Amsterdam Technical Institute.

Ali graduated from the DeVry University with honours in Electronics and Computer Science. He was a competent Magician and wouldtrillstudentsandadults withmanymagictricks.

The River Conqueror is callingontheGovernmentto setupswimmingpoolsinevery region so that perons, especially seniors will be allowedtoswimattheirleisure.

In October 2022, President Irfaan Ali announced a $900M Revolving Fund to boost Guyana’s forestry sector Hehadindicatedduringhis announcement that Government’s intention is to increase its focus on small, medium and communityloggersandhad notedthatGovernmentand DemeraraBankLimitedwill collaborate to make available the $900M RevolvingFundtoincrease production in the forestry sector. On December 29, 2022 Government signed

The establishment of the Fund is expected to address some of the challenges faced in the forestry sector in terms of the availability of easily accessible, low cost financing, especially for small scale operators. The $900M Revolving Fund comprisesacommitmentof $300 Million by the GovernmentofGuyanaand a further $600M commitment by Demerara BankLimitedtoaddressthe challenges. It is expected tobeutilizedbyindividuals or companies operating withintheforestrysectorfor the purpose of increasing production and valueadded products in the sector

Opposition to take action against Government illegal funding of Wales pipeline from cost oil

…saysadangerousprecedentbeingsetforoilmoneytransparency

The Parliamentary

Opposition is contemplating a c t i o n a g a i n s t t h e

Government for what they believe is the illegal funding of the pipeline in the US$2B Wales Gas to Energy project directly from the profits the country earns from the development of its offshore oilandgasresources.

Guyana has agreed to let ExxonMobil construct a pipeline that will capture associated gas from the Liza subseafields,andtransportit to an onshore energy facility that will be constructed at Wales for the production of among other things, dry gas to meet quotas necessary for p o w e r h e r e T h e

Government has proposed that the pipeline will be fundedfromcostoil.Costoil is all sums deducted by ExxonMobilandpartnersfor the development of the local oilandgassector

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had said that the Stabroek Block operator, Exxon affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), will co-own the intended gas pipeline since that piece of infrastructure will be paid for out of cost oil. This will

result in a 50/50 ownership between the operator and Guyana until it is handed over to the Government in 2026,theVPhadexplained.

Economist and Youth Advisor to the Opposition Leader, Elson Low, has stated however that because the Government has not released the agreement it has with Exxon regarding the transporting of the gas-the Opposition is unable to say exactly the terms by which theprojectisbeingfunded.

Low said that the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) believes that the Government’s stated intention to fund the gas to shore pipeline from cost oil i s p o t e n t i a l l y unconstitutional as it constitutes spending on Government infrastructure which bypasses the

Consolidated Fund, Parliament and the Natural ResourcesFund(NRF).

H e s a i d , “ t h e Government must release the agreement it has with ExxonMobil to fund the pipeline so that the nation could evaluate the exact nature of this arrangement and assess its legality They are spending on a pipeline

without parliamentary oversight. This opens the door to spending on other infrastructure projects through cost oil in the absenceofoversightandthis raises several questions about accountability which are very alarming,” Low opined. He said “If Exxon is selling us gas (just like if they’re selling us oil) then the pipeline is merely a production cost just like an FPSO. If, on the other hand, the Government of Guyana has ownership and operation of the pipeline separate and apart from Exxon once completed then it would be national infrastructure That’s why we need to see thenatureoftheagreement,”

Vendor busted with illegal gun

heposited.

Low continued that the NRF puts a cap on the amount of money that could bespentinanyyear,“butthis is a way to bypass that restriction, opening up the possibility that all its safeguards -which are limited-will, be rendered irrelevant ” He suggested that if the Government is allowed to utilise the estimated US$1.3B to fund the pipeline in this nontransparentmanner,thenone is to believe that other projects could be financed in thesameway

He opined that if the Government were to ask Exxon to build another energy related project from cost oil, then this will continue to undermine all Guyana’s institutions for accountability

“In fact, [Venezuela’s former President Hugo] Chavez similarly bypassed accountability by asking PDVSA [state oil company] to directly fund some of his programs,”Lowpointedout.

Article 12 of the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement that Guyana has with the Exxon consortium says that if the excess gas

from the offshore oil field is determined to be of commercial value, then the contractor could decide to make a further investment to utilize the Associated Gas, “subject to terms at least as a t t r a c t i v e a s t h o s e established for Crude Oil in Article 11 including but not limited to, cost recovery, as Recoverable Contract Cost forsuchfurtherinvestment.”

TheArticlesaysthatifthe contractor believes improved terms are necessary for the development of the associated gas, then the p a r t i e s w i l l e n t e r negotiations, reach an agreement and put it into writing. Low said that keeping this arrangement away from the Parliament and the public is not the way transparency works as information regarding these agreements must be in the Parliamentforsuchscrutiny

Together with the pipeline and onshore processing facilities which will be built by the government, the entire Wales Gas to Energy Project is estimated at nearly US$2B. There have been calls for update studies and financial assessments to be

done and submitted to the Parliament to ascertain the feasibility of the project, but these remain outstanding There were no debates on whether Guyana should expend the sums on such a project or whether it was even necessary for the country Stakeholders have said that the law does not allow for the Government to spend that kind of money without Parliamentary oversight.

It was reminded that the Government was able to access some US$607M, its first set of income from the NRF They joined the sums to support last year’s budget which has been the largest Guyanahasseensofar

There had been much criticism against the administration just adding the money to the budget withoutclearlystatingwhere the oil funds would be utilized. Low indicated that the Government is already ducking NRF transparency and suggested that they are now doing the same where the Wales project is concerned. He said that the Government cannot buy anything for $1.3B without theapprovalofParliament.

Two arrested after police find gun, ammo and ganja in Plaisance house

Zip lock bags found filled with ganja in the Plaisance house.

A 34-year-old vendor of Vigilance, East Coast Demerara (ECD) was on Saturday busted with an illegal Glock 17 9mm pistol loadedwithtwobullets.

Police identified him as Colwin Barnwell called ‘Timmo’ and according to police he was arrested around01:51hrs.

Police stated that ranks were at time conducting a routine Patrol in the Friendship, East Coast Demerara (ECD) area when

they saw Barnwell standing on the road with a black plasticbaginhishand.

When he saw the police he reportedly began walking and was told to stop, “but instead” stated police “he begantorun”.

Ranks chased him down and caught him. He was searched and the Glock 17 was found in his pants crutch. He reportedly told police that he was not a licensed firearm holder and claimed that he had bought

Busted with an illegal gun, Colwin Barnwell.

the gun in Aranka-a mining area in Cuyuni, Region Seven. He was arrested and locked up at the Vigilance Police Station awaiting charges.

Police on Friday arrested two men after they found an illegal shot gun, live ammo and some 286 small zip lock bags filled with ganja at a house located in Plaisance, EastCoastDemerara(ECD).

Thesuspects,a23-yaearold plumber and a 30-yearold labourer were reportedly inthehousewhenranksfrom the Sparendaam Police Station showed up to

conductaraid. Accordingto a police release, ranks went to the location around 05:15hrs after learning that some illegal activities were takingplacethere.

“During the search the ranks found a 12 gauge double-barrel shotgun with no serial number and four live matching cartridges”, theForcesaid.

The men present were

asked if they were licensed firearm holders but they remainedsilent.

Police continued to tumble the house and discovered a black plastic bag with zip lock bags containingtheganja.

Both suspects were cautioned and arrested immediately The ganja found reportedly amounted tosome580grams.

the Glock 17 found in Barnwell’s possession.

The illegal shotgun found

Elson Low

BLUNTNESS ON INDECENCY!

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

Stop Wales Gas-to-Energy project before it becomes another failed Skeldon plant - Economist

Economist and Transparency Advocate, Ramon Gaskin is convinced that Guyanese must act now to stop the 'sketchy' US multibillion- dollar Wales project less they wish to be left footing the bill of another failed government project.

The economist, who once served as Advisor to former President Cheddi Jagan believes that without the appropriate updated studies, citizens cannot just take the Government's word that the US$2B Wales project will reduce the country's electricity bill byhalf.

He said that promises of viable, transformative projects have been madebeforeandintheend,citizens ended up paying loans for projects thatbroughtlittletonovalue.

Gaskin told Kaieteur News that the Government refuses to provide an updated study on the project's viability because it will not reduce electricity cost. He said that “any projectforUS$2Bwouldnotbeina position to reduce electricity rates in the country because at US$2B the loan has to be repaid, interest has to be paid, depreciation, and other factors have to be considered.”

Gaskin said that based on his assessment, to invest that massive sum of money into the Gas to

Energy project, electricity rates would more than double to honour the debt. He explained too that last year the Guyana Power and Light advertised for 50megawatt of power to be supplied privately to addtothenationalgridbyMarchof thisyear

Gaskin said if Guyana's power requirement is within that low bracket, then it cannot be understood why the Government would want to expend such large sums of money for more electricity than it needs. And without the financial assessments, this project, which is Guyana's largest ever, is even more dangerous, Gaskin said. He insisted that “None of it makes sense and the project must be stoppedbeforeitistoolate.”

Gaskinrelatedthatatthispoint, theLeaderoftheOppositionshould be objecting to this project being approved by the Government without Parliamentary oversight.

The Opposition Leader should demand from the Speaker of the House, a meeting of Parliament to discusstheviabilityofthecountry's biggestprojectyet.

“We are talking about US$2B. This is not any little sum. Anytime you want to buy a motor car for the police force, an ambulance for the health sector, you got to go through a whole set of rules and guidelines.

Budget sums have to be debated, tenders,procurement,wherearethe rules to spend US$2B?” Gaskin questioned.

He said the Parliament has not takenupthematterastheyhavenot met to discuss the US$2B project. Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir in December of 2021 had thrown out a request by Opposition Member of Parliament, DavidPatterson,whenhesoughtto debate certain environmental impacts from the proposed Gas-toShore Project, as well as the cost analysis of the initiative, when compared to alternative power generating options. The Speaker had told Patterson that he was not obliged to give reason for refusing thedebates.

Gaskinisadamanthoweverthat the Wales project is more than half of the country's budget and the spending of such sums is not allowed by law, to be utilised withoutscrutiny

“The Constitution says that the Parliamentmustmeettodiscussthe Government'sbusinesswhichisthe People's business and inArticle 13, it speaks to inclusionary democracy, and that the People of the country must be consulted. There is nothing like that going on here. They are just going ahead doing what they want to do with

Exxon and there is no consultation taking place, no documents o r f e a s i b i l i t y provided by the government."

G a s k i n reiterated that the Wales project must be stopped as the situation looks ver similartothatofthefailed Skeldon sugar fac Gaskin said that like the Wales project, former Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had touted the Skeldon investment as a feasible transformative one, especiallyforthesugarsector

He said that the factory, which the Government partnered with a Chinese company to build for a massive US$200M was to grind some 450,000 tons of sugar but neverworked.

Another failed project, Gaskin pointed to the Marriott branded hotel that was built by another Chinese firm and is now up for sale someeightyearslater

The Vice President had also called the Marriott project a transformative one for the hospitality sector which needed a top brand hotel. Despite concerns over the ability to fill the hotel, the Government went ahead with the

project only to have taxpayers' foot the loan some two years later when the state owned company AHI, couldnolongerhandleitsdebt.

Gaskin called on the Governmenttoreleasethefinancial documents for the Marriot before it is sold so that citizens could understand how their money is beingspent.

The Economist reiterated the needfortheGovernmenttoprovide information to the public so that citizens could have confidence in the decisions that are being made.

Gaskin believes that there are more immediate needs in the country such as CT scans and other important health equipment for hospitals that warrant financing more than the exorbitant, sketchy WalesGastoEnergyproject.

Economist, Transparency Advocate and former Presidential Advisor, Ramon Gaskin

Cummins, Hazlewood strikes leave Australia with a glimmer of hope for a result

(Cricinfo) - Australia

quick Pat Cummins tormented SouthAfrica with a sensational spell late on day four as the continued their bold push for a third TestvictoryattheSCG.

At stumps, South Africa were still well short of the follow-on target after C u m m i n s ’ e a r l i e r declaration of Australia’s first innings. Four straight sessions had been lost due to rain, but Australia still believe they can secure a seriessweeptobookaspotin t h e W o r l d T e s t ChampionshipfinalinJune.

Cummins fuelled their hope with the late wickets of Khaya Zondo and Kyle Verreynne to leave South Africanervouslyplacedwith 98overstobebowledonday five. There is only a small chance of rain forecast in SydneyforSunday

A m i d g l o o m y conditions, Cummins produced an outstanding spell marked by inconsistent bounce from around the wicket. Having threatened withtheshortball,Cummins bowled a gem of a full

delivery to trap Zondo lbw for 39 after the batter unsuccessfully reviewed the decision.

He almost replicated the deliverytoMarcoJansenbut the ball pitched outside the leg stump before hitting the pads. Looking like taking a wicket on almost every ball, spurredonbyanenthusiastic crowd, Cummins from over the wicket had Verreynne caughtatslipafterproducing aperfectlengthdelivery

He had earlier picked up recalled batter Heinrich Klaasen, whose only previous Test match was against India in 2019, with a nasty short delivery that was gloved to wicketkeeperAlex Carey

A pumped-up Josh Hazlewood also starred with the wickets of skipper Dean Elgar and Temba Bavuma. Having been preferred over Scott Boland, Hazlewood repaid the faith of the selectors on his return after sufferingasidestrainagainst West Indies in the opening Testofthehomeseason.

He troubled Elgar in particularwithviciousshort-

pitched deliveries, and eventually hit his glove to be caught behind. Elgar has onlymustered46runsinfive innings during a wretched series. He had survived a contentious low catch at slip after edging Hazlewood to Steven Smith, who flung out his right hand in a spectacular effort, but it was given not out on the soft signal.

Initial replays seemingly showed the ball going straight into a full-flung Smith’srighthand.

But further replays cast doubt over whether some of the ball brushed the turf and it was enough for third u m p i r e R i c h a r d Kettleborough to uphold the not-outdecision.

It was consistent with Kettleborough’s decisionmaking - on day one, when Marnus Labuschagne edged to first slip where Simon Harmer claimed a low catch but replays proved inconclusive, Kettleborough had decided in favour of the battertoo.

Hazlewood in the final session dismissed Bavuma,

who tamely edged a length delivery to end what had beenapromisinginnings.He played aggressively at times and struck spinner Nathan Lyon for a couple of sixes before tea, but was left despondent after his dismissalfor35.

Left-arm spinner Ashton Agar bowled just seven overs and failed to threaten in his first Test match since 2017, and his first in Australia.

Cummins’ declaration after lunch meant opener

Usman Khawaja remained stuck on his highest Test score of 195. Frank Worrell andSachinTendulkararethe only other batters apart from Khawaja to have been in the 190s when their captains declaredaninningsclosed.

Matthew Renshaw was on 5 in his first Test match since 2018, after having tested positive for Covid-19 before play on day one. He returned negative rapid antigen tests yesterday and thismorning.

There was a pre-match

ceremony dedicated to Glenn McGrath’s late wife, Jane, who died of breast cancer in 2008 It is traditionally held on day threebutwasmovedbecause of the weather, and players from both teams were presentedwithpinkcaps.

Match details: Stumps South Africa 149 for 6 (Zondo 39, Cummins 3-29, Hazlewood 2-29) trail Australia 475 for 4 dec (Khawaja 195*, Smith 104, Labuschagne 79, Head 70, Nortje2-55)by326runs

activities

The Guyana Squash Association (GSA) ended the2022seasononhighnote b o t h l o c a l l y a n d internationally

The GSA looks forward to 2023 with great enthusiasm,apackedyearof competition for squash playersandtheassociation.

GSA kicks off the local squash calendar with the B C Q S M a s t e r ’ s Championship, happening at Georgetown Club from February 1-4 Then we move straight in the Bounty Farm Ltd Mashramani Handicap Tournament, also set for the Georgetown Club from February 15-19. The Guyana Squash League, which will be consistingoftwolegswiththe first of the two legs starting from February 6 – March 7, while the second leg begins March9–16.

According to Deje Dias,

GSA Tournament Director, Dejé Dias

Tournament Director of GSA, “In terms of tournaments, I think there's g o i n g t o b e m o r e tournaments we've had locally and internationally for a while because we have tournamentsrunningstraight through the year as well a number of overseas tournament.”

In this instance, competition venues remains optionalforthemerefactthat

many venues that might be either under construction or may be undergoing refurbishing,isexpectedtobe completed shortly and as such, will be available for use. In addition to this, the Courts Guyana Squash court is expected to be ready, as well as Guyana Defence Force (GDF) squash court, which is under repairs and also Everest Court may become available for competition.

In addition, the Minister of Culture Youth and Sports, Charles Ramson Jr promised the construction of a multimilliondollarfacilitythatwill house Doubles courts for the firsttimeinthecountry.

The new facility, which will be built at the National Racquet Centre, Woolford Avenue, Georgetown, is funded by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport at

the approximate cost of G$65 million, and should be ready for usage within six to eight months for its commencement.

However, there are a host of international tournaments our local squash players are expected to be part of such as the Junior and Senior Caribbean Championships as well as the South American Squash Championship, to name a few Speaking with Dias, he stated,“Ourmainfocusatthis time, is doing well at those tournaments which will put us (our athletes) in a better positioninordertoqualifyfor the Pan American Games which will be held in Cartagena,Columbia.” This remains high on the agenda fortheGSA

Further information on the competitions will be providedinthenearfuture.

(BBC Sport) - Didier Deschamps has extended his contract as France head coach until June 2026 and is expected to remain in charge forafourthWorldCup.

He led France to World Cup victory in 2018 and to the 2022 final in Qatar, whichtheylosttoArgentina.

Since the 54-year-old former Chelsea midfielder took charge in 2012, France have also reached the 2014 WorldCupquarter-finalsand 2016Eurosfinal.

Deschamps has won 89, drawn 28 and lost 22 of his 139matchesincharge.

The France Football Federation said assistant coach Guy Stephan, goalkeeping coach Franck Raviot and physical trainer CyrilMoinewillalsoremain withthenationalteam.

Deschamps, who also won the World Cup as a

player in 1998, helped France win the Nations Leaguein2021.

Hismostrecentcontractsigned in December 2019took him up to the end of the 2022WorldCup.

He will now oversee France’s qualification campaign for Euro 2024 in Germany before focus turns to qualification for the 2026 World Cup, which will take place in the United States, Canada and Mexico from June2026.

Pat Cummins celebrates the wicket of Heinrich Klaasen (Getty Images)

Inaugural Women’s IPL auction in February; deadline for registration January 26

Theinfrastructuralboom currently being undertaken nationally, as part of the government’s vision to modernize Guyana has now extended to the sporting realm, as the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora, West Coast Demerara, will b e r e s u r f a c e d b y internationally renowned GermanfirmRegupolBSW

Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle informed that the European entity was awarded the contract to resurface the track for the sumofGYD$78.3millionor €352,000 According to Ninvalle the technicians are scheduled to arrive on local shores by the first week of February to commence the process, which has a timetable of completion for April monthend weather permitting.

Similarly, given the extensive use of the field throughout the years especially during the recently concluded ‘One Guyana President’s Cup Football Championship’, access has been removed since Wednesday to facilitate the repair and resuscitationof thatsurface, Ninvalle added “At a minimum there will be replanting of grass on the field and as a consequence that part of the facility will be closed for seven weeks,” theDoSsaid.

The National Track and Field Centre, which serves as an epicenter for e n t e r t a i n m e n t a n d international sporting events, was officially

opened on April 17th, 2015, following a construction window of five years that commenced in December 2010. The approximate cost for the construction, which occurred utilizing a twophase approach, was penciled at GYD 1,804 billionorUS$5.2million.

This is the second major sporting facility that is being modernized by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport in partnership with the N a t i o n a l S p o r t s Commission. Presently, the iconic CliffAnderson Sports HallonHomestretchAvenue is being upgraded to become the nation’s first airconditionedsportsfacility When completed, the venue which is the premier hub for indoor disciplines willalsosportbucketseating and other modern amenities and features.Approximately GYD$130 million is pegged to be expended for the expansion.

Established in 1954, Regupolisoneoftheworld’s leading processors of

recycledelastomers.Itisone of the leading providers of high-performance sports floors, impact sound insulation, vibration insulation,impactprotection flooring, structural protection mats and membranes, and anti-slip matsforloadsecuring.

The corporation has in excess of 65 years of experienceinvariousmarket segments and is the leader in numerous markets The company is based in Bad Berleburg, and employs roughly 800 people around the world, relying on their expertise to offer customers preciselytherightsolutions.

Jamaican Usain Bolt, the global sprint icon and world record holder in the 100m and200m,hassignedonasa Regupol Ambassador, f o l l o w i n g h i s aforementioned exploits Both of his records were achieved on the Regupol bluerunningtrackduringthe 2009 World Athletics Championship at the Berlin OlympicStadium.

(Cricinfo) - The BCCIorganised T20 franchise competition for women, on the lines of the IPL, is likely to be called the Women’s T20 League and the five teams - the applications for which have been invitedwill be formed via a player auction that will be held in February

The deadline for Indian players to register for the auction is at or before 5pm ISTonJanuary26.

The competition will replace the Women’s T20 Challenge,whichwasatwoteam one-off game in 2018 before expanding to a threeteam exhibition tournament in 2019 and saw two more editionsin2020and2022.

In the document titled ‘Guidance note for Indian players’ shared by the board with the Indian players, a copy of which w a s a c c e s s e d b y ESPNcricinfo, the base price - termed ‘reserve price’

- for the capped Indian players is set at INR 30 lakh, INR40lakhandINR50lakh and that for the uncapped players is at INR 10 lakh and INR20lakh.

The players are expected to register for the Women’s T20 League with their r e s p e c t i v e S t a t e Associationsdirectlyandnot viaagentsormanagers.

In February last year, then BCCI president Sourav Ganguly had said that the Women’s IPL would get off the ground in 2023.

In August, the BCCI zeroed in on a window for March Subsequently, the BCCI advanced the w o m e n ’s d o m e s t i c calendar, which generally runs from November to April, to accommodate the franchisetournament

Ever since the formal announcement was made about starting the WIPL, a number of men’s IPL teams

have been sending out talent scouts to identify players they can potentially sign for the women’s tournament should they be awarded the rights to own a franchise. Rajasthan Royals, Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Punjab Kings are all believed to be interested in owning a team inthecompetition.

Calls for the Women’s IPL to kick off have been gaining steam since India’s runners-up finish at the ODI World Cup in 2017.

When they reached the finals of the T20 World Cup inAustralia in 2020, it gained further momentum before Covid-19 stalled women’s cricket, and the sportingeneral.

Last month, the BCCI had invited bids for media rights from 2023-27 for the proposed five-team tournament

By SamuelWhyte

People have strange hobbies and likes that sometimes take a lot of preparation, and at times w h e n a l l i s r e a d y, circumstances arise that may force one to abandon their mission. However, Ashraf “River Conqueror”Ali is not one to abandon his mission despiteanycircumstances.

The now 77-year old recentlydefiedtheoddsonce again, swimming against strong current and rough waves to accomplish yet another swim across the BerbiceRiver

He swam the Berbice

River on many occasions in an approximate time of 45 minutes, but this time the swim was more difficulty than all his other efforts. It took him two hours and a herculean effort to complete thejourney

He had to battle across the river with the waves pushing him in circle as he began his swim from the New Amsterdam Stelling. Initially, the waves were taking him toward the Berbice River Bridge before he battled back to end at his intended destination, the RosignolsideoftheRiver Speaking after the

venture,Alisaiditwasoneof the toughest swims in a river hehasundertaken,excepthis swims in the Atlantic Ocean and across the Suriname

River He also swam the Demerara and Essequibo RiversandLakeMainstayon numerous occasions, among others.

He did not expect the swimtobethattough,butthe water was very rough. Ali mentioned that he was not afraid and always trusts in Godtoaccomplishhisgoals.

This year he wants to undertake some new feats. He plans to swim some 20 milesuptheCanjeRiverand a long distance swim in the Pacific Ocean The Conqueror plans to continue swimming as long as possible.

He hopes that his swims willmotivatebothyoungand

old to take up regular exercise, stating that swimming is one of the best exercises. Alisaidthatitwill bring him joy if young Guyanese could break the recordthathehasset.

A preacher of the Philadelphian Church, Ali wants people to appreciate thehandyworkofthecreator to fashion our bodies in such a way to do wonderful things.

InitiallyfromEastCanje, Berbice,andnowresidingin

The three captains, Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma and Harmanpreet Kaur pose with the trophy, Women’s T20 Challenge. (BCCI)

Chanderpaul to miss opening rounds

The Guyana Harpy Eagles have under a month of preparation left before the commencement of the Cricket West Indies (CWI) 2 0 2 3 We s t I n d i e s Championship, which will have its first round being contested in Grenada and AntiguafromFebruary1–4.

Under the guidance of HeadCoach,RyanHercules, theteamwishestoregainthe title they commanded for five consecutive years; 2014-15 to 2018-19. The title changed hands in the 2019-20 Season when it was handed to Barbados Pride, who were in the lead when the COVID-19 pandemic halted play Barbados then successfully defended the title last season (2021-2022) while Leeward Islands finished second and Guyana wasthird.

Ahead of the new 2023 season, Guyana’s unit recently underwent a fitness session that yielded impressive results by the majority of players, but the coaching staff is still working to improve and develop the players in differentaspects.

The second round of the Championship commences on February 8 and runs until February11.

Despite preparations going along swimmingly aside from inclement weather, the coach is faced

with a situation that every Regional side experiences; Players’ International Engagements. Chanderpaul tomissopeningrounds…

The heavy hitting Test players from the Regional teams will be on their overseas assignments; the Tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa, for the period thatspansfromFebruary4to March12,2023.

Guyana will be without their opening batsman, Tagenarine ChanderpaulWest Indies’ latest Test debutant and the only Guyaneseinthesquad.

Chanderpaul was Harpy Eagles’ highest run getter last season and the only Harpy Eagle to finish in the top ten. His tally of 439 runs from eight innings landed himanaverageof73.16with a high score of 184 to accentuate his performance. His tally was overshadowed only by the WI Test Captain, Kraigg Brathwaite (584), Chanderpaul’s new opening partner

The left hander may be available for the third round of the West Indies Championship, which is scheduled to bowl off from March15,sincethefinalTest (versus South Africa) is set to conclude on March 12. CWIareyettonametheTest squad for the upcoming series. Prior to West Indies’ firsttestoftheyear,theywill

have a four-day warm-up matchagainstalocalsideset for January 28-31 at BulawayoAthleticClub.

Chanderpaul stood firm inhishighlyanticipateddebut against Australia in November 2022 and accumulated 160 runs in his first four international innings,whichincludedahalf century in the debutant’s first inning The opener is still training with Regional Side, which no doubt, have tried to find a suitable replacement for the scenario Harpy Eagles have two scheduled practice matches to play before they commence the Regional Tournament, but inclement weather is the only obstaclethatcouldaffectthat

However, Chanderpaul and Veerasammy Permaul were chosen as the captains for the two sides in those matches. The first match is on January 12, while the second is set for January 17, bothfrom9:30hrseachday

Theplayersnotavailable for this match include Leon Johnson, Clinton Pestano, Keon Joseph, Quentin Sampson, Steven Sankar, Shimron Hetmyer, Keemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford, andRomarioShepherd.

Tagenarine Chanderpaul X I : T a g e n a r i n e Chanderpaul, Kemol Savory, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Mavindra Dindyal, Anthony Bramble, Kevin

Sinclair, Alvin Mohabir, Gudakesh Motie, Antony Adams, Shamar Joseph, Sylus Tyndall, Demetri C a m e r o n , J o n a t h a n Rampersaud and Zynul Ramsammy Veerasammy Permaul XI: Veerasammy Permaul, Mathew Nandu, Tevin Imlach, Kevlon Anderson,AkshayaPersaud, Rampertab Ramnauth, Shamar Yearwood, Junior Sinclair, Ashmead Nedd, Ronsford Beaton, Isai Thorne, Nial Smith, Richie Looknauth and Garfield Benjamin.

Veerasammy Permaul (Photo: Wired868)

Javid Rahaman (left) gets a good stride in against Dane Pereira during the 2022 BCQS Int’l Masters Tournament. (File Photo)