Kaieteur News

An aerial view of the gutted Christ Church Secondary School which was destroyed by fire on Thursday afternoon (Leroy Smith photo)

Govt. awards $865M in contracts to construct concrete roads in Leguan

Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar (center) at the signing of the road contracts [DPI Photo]

The Government Minister signed off on the time to execute, it is hard,” of Guyana (GoG) roadwork contracts. Indar theMinisterwarned.

on Friday signed called on the Contractors to M e a n w h i l e , t h e 28 contracts valued at minimize inconveniences C o n t r a c t o r s w e r e $865M for the construction residentsmayfaceasaresult encouraged to employ of 8.1 kilometers of concrete of the various projects while residentsfromtheisland,ina road in Leguan Island, cautioningthattheroadwork bid to stimulate Leguan’s RegionThree. must be done according to economy Minister within the t h e G o v e r n m e n t ’ s The Ministry of Public Ministry of Public Works specifications to serve their Works is executing the Deodat Indar, visited the intendedpurpose. projects in collaboration i s l a n d t o i n s p e c t “I’m not dealing with withtheMinistryofHousing infrastructural works Contractors who when the and Water, and the Ministry ongoingthere. contract is in their hands, of Local Government and During his visit, the they bid for it, but when it is RegionalDevelopment.

E x x o n M o b i l Corporation’s subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL),hashandedoutyet another contract for its fifth project in the absence of regulatoryapprovals.

Strohm B.V which is headquartered in the Netherlands revealed this week that it received a contract from Exxon to supply24jumpers(pipesand pipe connections) for the Uaru field development which will produce 1 3 billion barrels of oil over the courseof20years.

The company said this is the largest commercial agreement in its 15-year history. Less than 12 months ago, it said Exxon had awarded it a similar contract f o r t h e Ye l l o w t a i l development, also in Guyana’sStabroekBlock.

The Dutch company said the equipment will be p r o d u c e d a t i t s manufacturing facility and length, terminated, and Strohm’s in-country used for water and gas tested onsite in Guyana. In specialist field service (WAG) injection. It said the this way, the company said technicians will mobilise to technology will be supplied the concept provides Guyana as the jumper to ExxonMobil Guyana in a maximum flexibility to the termination campaigns are single continuous length end-user The jumpers made called off over the duration along with associated pipe of carbon fibre and PA12 o f t h e d e p l o y m e n t handlingequipment. polymer, will also be programme, spanning pre

It said this concept and installed in deep water, at and post first oil from the delivery method allows the depths over 1,700m development. individual 24-plus jumpers operating in the region of In the absence of the to be cut to the desired 10,000psi. relevant approvals, Exxon made two other awards last year for the Uaru Project. Kaieteur News had reported t h a t M i t s u i O c e a n Development&Engineering Company (MODEC) which is based in Japan signed a contract to perform Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) for a Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel (FPSO) for the “Uaru” development project French multinational Vallourec also securedathirdmajororderin the framework of the LongTerm Agreement (LTA) signed in 2021 with

ExxonMobil Guyana. Under the contract, Vallourec will deliver line-pipe for

ExxonMobilGuyana’sdeepwaterUaruproject.

Importantly, the Uaru Project is expected to cost Guyana over GY$2 6 Trillion (US$12B) The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) states that the Uaru Development Project will develop the Uaru, Mako and Snoek oilrich fields with the potential to develop other resources withintheLicencearea.

A preliminary schedule anticipates that FPSO and otherfabricationand

Map showing the location of the Uaru Project Development Area within Stabroek Block

Guyana signs contract with India to supervise Wales energy project

President Irfaan Ali on that President Ali met with Thursday witnessed the India’s Minister of signing of a contract Petroleum and Natural Gas between the Guyana Power and Housing and Urban and Gas Inc. and Engineers Affairs, Shri Hardeep S Puri India Limited (EIL) for the inDelhi,IndiaonThursday provision of Consultancy Along with witnessing Services for the Wales the inking of the agreement, Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) the two leaders also facility as well as the 300 d i s c u s s e d , “ d i r e c t megawatt (MW) power G o v e r n m e n t - t oplant. Government cooperation These two facilities are across the oil and gas components of a US$2 spectrum including billion Gas-to-Energy increased long-term off (GTE) project, being participation in exploration pursued by the Government and production activities in of Guyana and its partner, G u y a n a , t e c h n i c a l U.S.oilgiant,ExxonMobil. c o o p e r a t i o n i n t h e E x x o n w i l l b e midstream and downstream constructing and laying a 12 sectors and capacity inch pipeline to transport building, as well as the natural gas from the Liza synergies which exist One and Two projects in the between the two countries,” Stabroek Block to the Wales Office of the President said development site where the inastatement. other two aspects will be The two countries have developed. since agreed to set up

The NGL plant is being technical teams to advance constructedtotreatthegasto discussionsintheseareas. remove NGLs for sale to In addition to Engineers third parties, and ultimately India Limited, Worley had placed a bid of US$23, Government

deliver dry gas for use at the (T&T), Stratergy (USA), 331, 860 for the job, but the through the Gas

Power Plant that will SGS Panama Control contract which was awarded Task Force in the design generate some 300 MW of ServicesInc.,NovusGuyana on November 1, 2022 was review, construction, electricity Inc., Massy Wood Guyana peggedatUS$22,143,190. supervision and general

The President, along Inc.,CB&AssociatesInc.in The Ministry had project management of the with a high level team, is joint venture with Stantec e x p l a i n e d i n i t s development of the presently in India on official and TGM (Canada) had advertisement that the main integrated plants, and stateduty submitted bids to supervise o b j e c t i v e o f t h i s contract administration

The Office of the theproject. Consultancy is for the throughout the project President announced Friday Engineers India Limited Consultant to assist the implementation process and thereafter during the defects liabilityperiod.

Exxon signs another contract for...

From page 2 bpd is considered to assess installed the Fibre Optic installationworkswillbegin potential impacts from the Cable Project, which in 2024 following the project and cover potential provides the fibre optic completion of engineering production optimization c o m m u n i c a t i o n and will take approximately after facility start up. If infrastructure from the three years. Development during the detailed design Stabroek Block to shore, well drilling may also occur stage or during production enabling high-speed, lowduring this period operations an opportunity to latency communications Production operations are expandtheupperproduction and data transfer between expected to begin in 2027 limit arises, the project will EEPGL’sFPSOsandshore. and will continue for at least document the evaluation

The Fibre Optic Cable 20years. and justification and an Project included installation

With respect to the updated upper production of two optical distribution F P S O , E E P G L ’ s limitwillbeavailable.” units (ODUs), two main Environmental Impact It was also noted that the fibre optic trunk lines to Assessment states that oil project will be producing shore, and fibre optic cables production will average at 540 million standard cubic routed from the Destiny, 250,000 barrels of oil per feetofgasperday Unity, Prosperity, and One day. It was keen to note that I m p o r t a n t l y , Guyana FPSOs to the peak rates may be higher telecommunications ODUs EEPGL plans to during the lifetime of the equipment will also be connect this Project’s FPSO project, depending on installed on the FPSO to into the existing fibre optic multiple factors such as enable safe operation of the infrastructure back to shore, reservoir pressure, number facilities in normal and which will consist of two of wells, equipment emergency conditions fibre optic cables connected reliabilityetc. Kaieteur News understands from a Uaru subsea drill

It states at page 146, that this equipment will centre back to the existing “Currently, the FPSO basic allow communication with two ODUs. From the Uaru design has an upper the offices, shore bases, subsea drill centre, the fibre production limit of 263,000 support vessels, helicopters, optic cable will connect to BPD (42,080 m3) peak oil and tankers, as well as the Uaru FPSO via one of production rate For the communication within the the dynamic umbilicals, purposes of the EIA, FPSO. which will contain fibre production up to 300,000 EEPGL had previously strands.

The estimated duration of the project is 42 months from the date of Contract

signing

President Irfaan Ali and India’s Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Housing and Urban Affairs, Shri Hardeep S Puri ,witnessing the contract signing for the provision of consultancy services for Guyana’s gas project

of Guyana

and at least 12 liability from a date to be

to Energy monthsthereafterfordefects determined.

PrintedandPublishedbyNationalMedia& PublishingCompanyLtd. 24SaffonStreet, Charlestown,Georgetown,Guyana.

Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456

Theworldatlargehasrecognisedthe dilemmaofthePeoplesofAfricanDescent

NIGELWILLIAMS

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

EDITORIAL

NOCABINETBRIEFINGS: HOWLONGWILLMINISTERSHIDE

IfMinistersofthePPPCGovernmentdonothavethe skills,atleasttheymusthavetheguts. Thatis,toface

themusicandrepresenttheirportfoliospersuasively, andtakewhatevercomesonthechin. Thisishowanhonest Government operates in a democracy of openness and accountability

ItisappallingthatmembersoftheCabinetfindithelpful tohidebehindtheprotectiveskirtsoftheDPI. Thismakes their faces look tear-stained from fright, and smudged with manysuspicions. Ifthereisnothingtoconceal,thenevery Minister has a duty to show that they are the real deal, that theyareneitheroverwhelmednorlostintheareaforwhich theyareresponsible.

CabinetMinistersarenotwaterboysandgirls,orhighly paidshoeshinemenandwomen.

ThemoreMinistersseekshelterundertheDepartmentof Public Information (DPI) umbrella, the clumsier, more pitiful, and shallower and more anxious they look. Undoubtedly, Ministers are only human, and they are comforted by friendly, helpful, softball questions. Their handsareheld,andtheirnosescleanedsothattheylookgood when presented by the DPI to the Guyanese with their half stories,andclevercoverstories. WhattheDPIsucceedsin doing is adding farce to spectacle resulting in usual governmentcircuses.

Whenanybodyhasonlythetruthoffactsandfiguresto present,andinthemostpowerfulterms,theydonotneedthe DPI barricade. They stand on their own feet like real men andrealwomen,andsaytotheirquestioners:goahead,fire away,weareready ThisiswhatMinisterswithaminimum of dignity, of self-respect, of pride would do, including the Hon. Minister of Natural Resources, mostly a no-show, a presenceofscantsubstance,ashellthatisovershadowedby events. Nobody has to serve as a crutch for Ministers, put words in their mouths; or be afraid that they will crumble when confronted with tough questions. This is how real people and real leaders operate in the real world. There is noneofthisslinkingawaylikescaredykittenstotheDPIsafe harbour Theystandtheirgroundandstandfortruthifthey haveit.

Whathappenedtothatstandard? Wheredidthosekinds of men and women go? The people need to know, they are owed,andtheydeservetobeservedbythosewhoholdvital portfolios. At times, those interests may call for incredible dedication to duty, or honesty and integrity of a kind never beforeaskedforinGuyana.

TheMinisterswhohandledthemselvesimpeccablywell onbothcountsshouldhavenofear,knownobarriers,totheir being able to stand in front of the independent, mainstream mediaandspeaktotruth. Truthdoesnotduckanddodgeand dancearoundcleverly Truthneedsnoescapevalve,noexit strategy,noDPI.Truthandfairnessandwhatisrightshouts fromtherooftops,andneitherofthosethreeessentials(truth, fairness,andright)runsawayandhidesunderthebedofthe DPI.

What our Ministers are doing is a disgrace. It makes them look dodgy and tricky Once a Minister is clean and about managing his portfolio in the right way, there is no needforthegimmickoftheDPI,themedia‘backtrack’ofa protectiveGovernmentprovision.

ArealMinister,onewhohasbeentrueandfaithfulinhis or her duty to Guyanese, would recoil from any backdoor arrangements like the DPI. In fact, there would be sharp angeratsuchanarrangement,thestealthycharacterofsucha convenience, and a bona fide Minister would tell whoever cameupwithsuchmediatricktotakeitandshoveit.

SincewedonothaveanyMinisterobjectingtothisDPI setup, the door to speculation is flung open as to what they may have done, and which necessitated why they need to hide. Surely,theycannotbethislimitedthattheirhandshave tobeheld.

Surely,theycannotbethisneckdeeppossiblyinthedark anddirtythatleadersdonottrustthemtothefullexposureof mainstreammedia,anditshardquestions.

DEAREDITOR, and after much discussion on the view that we are not those of us who live in the For the last few months, and critical analysis has equal to others or entitled post-slavery, colonial and IDPADA-G and things concluded that the state of likeothers.Consequentially, neocolonialstate. AfricanGuyanesehavebeen the people of African we were and continue to be Given that my first i n t h e h e a d l i n e s descent,worldwide,requires deprived of the means and objective is to examine the Unfortunately, not apparent a period of attention, hence resources required for our lived experience of in most of this is a real the declaration of the spiritual and material Guyanese of African articulation about, and International Decade for the growth. descent, the question which understanding of, the lived People of African Descent, The plantation, colonial arises is whether the experience of African 2015-2024,andactionaimed and neo-colonial states construct outlined above Guyanese. at addressing the issues of epitomize all of the above, characterizes the present

In instances, where Recognition, Justice and generally, since they were stateofAfricanGuyanese? attempts have been made to Development for the people built, and operated, on the Itisundoubtedlytruethat address those realities, they of African descent This premise of inequality, enslavement of Africans in have been greeted by the globally agreed effort is in s u b j u g a t i o n a n d Guyana and subsequent denial of antagonists. Some itselfanacknowledgmentof exploitation For the generations (people of of those antagonists are kin the fact that the people of realization of that form of Africandescent)wasdonein butnotkitandothersneither African descent have been society and to maintain the a manner reflective of the kitnorkin. dealt with unjustly, have not plantation, colonial and aforementioned construct

In this circumstance, it been duly recognised, or neocolonial status quo, The institutionalized wouldberemissofme,asthe allowed equal opportunities institutionalarrangementsas economic relations reduced Chairperson of IDPADA-G, fordevelopment. thebasisofinterpersonaland the Africans to the status of not to share my perspective That is to say that we inter-community relations property and all of the andshedlightonthestateof have been the victims of and a complimentary inferiority associated with African Guyanese and the disrespect, unfair treatment psycho-social outlook were Master and Slave relations. location of IDPADA-G on and not acknowledged for articulatedandenforced. The imposed belief system thatlandscape. ourcurrentcontributionsnor The aforementioned, ingrained an inferiority

Theworldcommunity,to that of our ancestors to generallycharacterizedwhat complex, and the social wittheUnitedNations‘(UN) humandevelopment.Weare befell both our Ancestors, relationswerepremisedon fora, over a period of time also not treated fairly, based who were enslaved, and (Continuedonpage6)

DEAREDITOR, “Whoever does not love, these accusations have a These are the two major Overthelastsevenyears doesnotknowGod,because limited view (myopic), have politicalpartiestolookupon, in Guyana the growth of GodisLove”(John4:8).The limited vision, and they are whichmustworktogetherin ethnicandreligiousstrifehas Bhagwat Gita admonishes: theoneswhoarebeingracist my view to create the “One been monumental and “BhaktiorpureloveforGod or ethnically prejudiced GovernmentSociety”.Inthe painful as have never been and genuine compassion for Everyonehastherighttohis Sanathana Dharma (Hindu: seen before This is allbeings.”. or her political view or to Eternal Love) it is stated: something that is very In any sphere of the support his or her political “Letusexisttogether,Letus difficult for me to accept in universe, we as a people group of choice. Everyone work together, Om, Peace, my capacity as an cannot live without each has this inalienable right. Peace,andPeace.”TheHoly Ambassador for Peace, other While here in Guyana This is a prerequisite of Bible records in Hebrews Humanist and Religious there is strife between the decencyandeleganceofany 12:14– “Strive for peace Leader IndoandAfroGuyanese,itis society.Noonehastheright with everyone, and for the

POLITICS clear we cannot live without to attack, target or holiness, without which no

Unfortunately, for some each other This division demoraliseanyone. onewillseeGod”. people, while the two major only happens by political F o r t u n a t e l y f o r In the Qur’an, the political platforms often vie machinations particularly at Guyanese, we have a Prophet Muhammad (peace for power and hearts, they Elections time I have Government whose be upon him) teaches us: seeanystatementnotaligned personally found Afro manifesto is to reach every “The true servants of the withtheirviewofthinkingas Guyanese to be the best of “nook and cranny” of MostMercifularethosewho ethnic biases and racist. For friends,thebestinskills,the Guyana to foster peace, walktheearthwithhumility, me, Dr Haji Roshan Khan, best teachers, nurses, harmonyandunity Someof and when the uncivilized any accusation of racism medicaldoctors,community the elements of the address them, they respond goes against the grain of my leaders,statesmenetc. Opposition is opposing just with words of peace existence, soul, heart and Afro Guyanese have forthesakeofopposingand (Salaan)”(The Holy Qur’an mind. I truly believe in the ingrained their wisdom, causing discord This is 25:43). concept of Islam that skills of leadership, and destructive behavior and So my appeal to the Mankind is a Single Nation knowledgeintomyheartand unstatesman like and does leadersofourgreatcountry(Qur’an2:213).TheProphet mostofitIhavepassedonto not foster peace and political and nonMuhammad (peace be upon mychildrenandanyoneelse goodwillforallGuyana. governmental is to realize him), in his famous last who share time and space I do believe in the thatGuyanacanneverreach sermon of Hajj said: “{O withme. principle of One Human that high platform destined people!YourGodisoneand Ihavealsoobservedthat Family under God The for us by our Creator unless your forefather (Adam) is everything that was done by creation of a One World wemaketheefforttoworkin one… white is not greater the APNU Coalition SocietyandaNationalFront respect. than black nor is the black Government was looked Government. I know it is impossible greater than the white…, upon with suspicion and If the two political sides for mankind to have ArabnotgreaterthanaNon- personstaughtthattheywere can cast aside their “absolute unity” but we Arab and a Non-Arab not racist. Same for the PPP imaginationsbyovercoming definitelycanhave“absolute greaterthananArab”. Civic or anyone that speaks suspicions, Guyana can rise respect”. And “respect” is

The Universal Peace on their behalf concerning to Glory Strife between the theFoundationonwhichwe Federation, Holy Founder action taken by them for the two major races in Guyana canbuildthegreatedificeof Father Sun Myung Moon, development of Guyana and existsbutthisstrifemustnot Peace,HappinessandJoy philosophy is: “One Human the good of the Nation as a overshadowthegoodwillof Sincerely, Family under God”. In the whole. thepeopletoliveinharmony Dr. Haji Roshan Khan Holy Bible it is stated: These persons making andatpeacewitheachother (Snr)

Whoever does not love, does not know God, because God is Love

President Irfaan and India Jaishankar struck a close chord in bilateral relations

DEAREDITOR, between the two countries. 2018 gatherings of PIO Indian diaspora Minister Inhisconversationswith the PBD; Prime Minister India’s Minister of Dr JaishankarandPresident Parliamentarians in Delhi. Sushma Swaraj, a mentor of Dev and I, Jaishankar Modi hosted lunch for a E

Investments need to be more focused and better managed

DEAREDITOR, put in place are not at the The recent visit toTATA

Jaishankar never visited and the person Jaishankar remarkedabouthismeetings selective group of us who Subrahmanyam Jaishankar President Chandrikaperad Guyana or the Caribbean, replaced as MEA after she with Guyanese and other were invited to share our is among the followed and Santokie appeared in public but he is no stranger to opted not to seek a second Caribbean people. The two views on diaspora affairs. most respected Foreign for several functions before Guyanese. He would have term in that office in 2019, diplomats and Swaraj (a The event allowed us to Ministers globally He is andduringthePBDandthey known about the history of c h a i r e d t h e 2 0 1 6 politician) were extremely further our conversation vociferous in his advocacy seemingly got along quite Indian presence in Guyana proceedings. skilled in diplomacy, among with policymakers on the of India’s interests. He is well as per reports in the and the Caribbean having Swaraj, the line Minister the best I had encountered Caribbean and India treated like a rock star in media At an open air studied political science and for the diaspora, was very amongthemanypoliticiansI Akbaruddinwasalsotherein India in the field of foreign cultural concert, Dr international relations, engaging in the discussion met globally in my travels. Bangalore though he was affairs and in his defense of JaishankarandAliwereseen earning a PhD While on diaspora relations Swaraj fondly recalled her reserved this time around. India’s position in various constantly interacting at the serving as India’s Jaishankar and then UN meetings with President Both would be forced into international issues The frontseatdirectlyinfrontof Ambassador to Washington A m b a s s a d o r S y e d Donald Ramotar Jaishankar retirement as diplomats Indian public and the the large stage where the between 2014 and 2015, he Akbaruddin spoke at the and Akbaruddin were very beforethefirsttermofModi. diaspora, including Indian cultural troupes performed. met Guyanese in New York event and offered wise sharp and eloquent in their He joined the faculty as a GuyaneseNewYorkers,love They chit chat quite a bit. It at Diwali celebrations and counsels on engagements comments on the way guestlectureratauniversity his strong nationalist stance showed they had developed when Modi visited New with the diaspora forward for India to in Singapore as an on matters pertaining to a friendly rapport while York in the Fall of 2014. Akbaruddin engaged strengthen ties with the international relations India. commentingonandcheering When he served as Foreign Guyanese at several diaspora at the summit of expert. I was fortunate to Guyana’s President the performances of the Secretary between 2015-18, functions hosted in NY by experts. They were among visit Singapore at the time Irfaan Ali appeared to have culturalartistes. he interacted with Ravi Dev the Indian Consulate where themostlearneddiplomatsI and had the opportunity to struck the right chord as he It is not known whether andmeinDelhiatafunction there would be a large metthoughtheywerenotau listen to him. Though soft engaged Dr Jaishankar in this was the first encounter (a summit of leading Guyanese presence fait on the large presence of spoken, he was strong in his their public appearances at between Jaishankar andAli- diaspora specialists) Following the parley on IndianCaribbeansinseveral views about national the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas they could have met at organizedbyMEAinAugust diaspora affairs, Dev and I countries including in the interests and how nations in Indore as it pertains to Commonwealth, UN, and 2016 to discuss strategies to had separate extensive chat Caribbean territories should conduct their foreign bolstering bilateral relations Climate summits and the engagethe32millionstrong with Jaishankar and India’s Jaishankar made a mark for policy He was an excellent AmbassadortotheUNSyed himselfinhispresentationat speaker, very scholarly and Akbaruddin on India’s the diaspora engagement, knowledgeable on foreign foreign policy towards anditwasnotsurprisingthat affairs. Shortly thereafter, Guyana and the Caribbean. he was chosen to succeed when the BJP won reAkbaruddin,likeJaishankar, Swaraj Akbaruddin had election, Jaishankar was were strong supporters of remainedattheUNwherehe invited by PM Modi to join diaspora policy and of continued to shine pushing the cabinet succeeding strengthening ties with the India’s agenda; he Swaraj who declined a Caribbean The duo demonstrated that he was secondtermintheposition. endorsed Swaraj’s amongthebestAmbassadors Since May 2019, engagement with experts in ofhiscountry

In preparation for the level of quality needed to should be a wake-up call to upcomingbudget,itisCRGs prevent a high reoccurring all. Focusing on key growth hope that the Government cost for maintenance and areas is better than trying to willkeepinmindthelessons upkeep Once again dotoomuchatonce.Guyana learned during the years illustrating a need for more being known for technology leadingupto2023. civil engineers and development, research &

The oil sector needs inspectors. development, coding and substantial correction to Farmers continue to informationtechnologywith secure the economy’s major suffer losses and the afocusonsustainabilityisan revenuesource.Investments handouts are increasing in admirable ambition, but we needtobemorefocusedand frequency due to the mustfirstassessourinternal better managed, and return persistentflooding. resources and capabilities to on investment continues to The feasibility study on better understand where we be an opportunity for sea defense and drainage have and can have a improvement. shouldbeakeyfeatureofthe competitiveadvantage.

Fires have destroyed our upcomingbudget. Only after this becomes schools and government Wemustavoidbecoming clearcanwetrulydetermine buildingsyetfireprevention awelfarestatethatisknown wheretoinvestandcompete and fire protection has not for missed opportunities ontheworldstage. been incorporated into the instead of thoughtful long - Focus is needed in the newstructures.Ministersare term investment. GuySuco upcoming budget and CRG being turned into building has yet to turn the corner on is looking forward to the inspectors,whichisnottheir profitabilityandcontinuesto presentation with the hope areaofexpertise. be a major employer in the that these areas amongst

Additional resources in nation.The level of urgency others are addressed in a this area is an urgent need n e e d e d t o d r i v e meaningfulway that will constrain the pace improvement in the sector Bestregards, andqualityofinfrastructural must increase if it is to Mr JamilChanglee development. continue to be a key Chairman

Hundreds of roads are employer after the oil has T h e C o o p e r a t i v e planned, while those being beensold.

Jaishankar has become a each territory of the Indian After the diaspora seasoned politician and diaspora. Akbaruddin was summit, the discussion on outstanding diplomat, more talkative than the Caribbean diaspora Minister of foreign affairs. Jaishankar who appeared resumedwithAkbaruddinat T h a t w a s c l e a r l y more reserved and business the Delhi Airport Air India demonstrated in remarks like than his UN pal ExecutiveLoungeandonthe uttered in public twice in Akbaruddin was very flight to JFK; Akbaruddin welcomingdelegatesatPBD productive, informed, wasflyingbacktoNewYork and the visiting Presidents accomplished, and gifted in havingcometoDelhiforthe andatotherfunctionsheldat his oratory — the kind of Diasporasummit. Indore. The delegates and diplomats a country craves. We (Dev, me and the public chased after Bothleftastrongimpression Jaishankar) would meet Jaishankarforpix.Theyalso of their masterful skills in again at a luncheon in mobbedIrfaanandSantokie diplomacy BangaloreinJanuary2017at (Continuedonpage6)

RepublicansofGuyana

PresidentIrfaanandIndiaJaishankarstrucka...

Frompage5 India with an excellent global issues, He does not minds, causing us to seek send its diplomats for defense partnership, for pix. Guyanese at the approval rating, perhaps the mince words when it comes him out for an extensive trainingatthesameschoolas cooperation in several areas event, in fact all of the highest rating of all public toIndia’sselfinterestsandin discussion He is a Jaishankar including energy, and delegatesinterviewed,spoke figures. championing developing remarkable, polished, well At PBD, there appeared strengthening relations with glowingly of Jaishankar — In India, almost everyone countries (The South). Ravi spoken, skillfully adept, to be smooth, productive Guyana. Indian Guyanese in the admiredhim. Dev and I had the good well-rounded diplomat; he interaction between Irfaan It is hoped that diaspora also admire Foreign Ministers and fortune of engaging Dr came across sharp and andJaishankar Jaishankar will visit India Jaishankar world leaders have taken Subrahmanyam Jaishankar seriousabouthisjob. It is hoped that their thisyear—aninvitationwas Everyone this writer note of Jaishankar’s words inDelhisomeyearsago. He is among the best relationship will bear fruits extended to him and to the interviewed in India about on matters pertaining to Hewasforeignsecretary diplomats I met from India. for Guyana and the PM. Jaishankar spoke positively Ukraine, Climate change, at the time, and he created Guyana’s diplomats should Caribbean – in economic Yourstruly, of him. He has represented Covid 19, among other quite an impression in our emulatehim.Guyanashould development, strategic VishnuBisram

TheworldatlargehasrecognisedthedilemmaofthePeoplesofAfrican...

Frompage4 allowed Financial others. However, the stark opportunityandoneGuyana reached out to Government Government‘s true the inferiority of the institutions were not at their reality is that equality of cannot work. We are better in relation to the teaching of disposition to the enslaved.The institutions of disposal, especially for the opportunities could be quite described as Different Guyanese History in our protagonism of IDPADA-G the state maintained the granting of seed money for inequitable if the competing Peoples, One State, One school system, the and ultimately the African status quo through coercion entrepreneurial activities forces are not starting from Destiny That one destiny decriminalization of ganja, Guyanesecommunity and force and all of the Their indigenous religious the same base and even in can only be realized if each and the reintroduction of I D P A D A - G i s tangible institutional and other practices were instanceswherethematerial people at their level of village councils, in the local committed to a protagonist arrangements, such as those outlawed.Thejusticesystem base is equalized, the separateness and peculiar government system. All of modeofoperation,inpursuit providing economic and defined much of their induced psycho-social state circumstance is given the these initiatives received of the goals of the Decade: social services and the behaviour as deviant; may still pose difficulties as necessary and requisite lukewarm responses across Recognition, Justice and intangible ones, such as targeted it and protected the farasactuallyequalizingthe treatment. the political regimes and Developmentandcallsupon spirituality, all, either upper class Negatives baseisconcerned.Itisinthis IDAPADA-G came into mayhaveruffledthefeathers the Government to reflectedandorenforcedthe stereotypes, and prejudices contextthattheInternational existence as a protagonist of some of the current demonstrateitscommitment fundamentally exploitative were peddled about them in Decade for the People of rather than an antagonist. It regime, who commenced a to the UN Resolution of relations. such a manner as to African Descent was established a programme of campaignofbesmirchingthe 2013, which it supported, What happened after the stigmatize them Services envisagedanddeclared. work aimed at empowering nameoftheorganizationand and to treat transparently abolition of enslavement were denied, such as proper The situation in Guyana theAfricanGuyanese,hence its leaders by insinuating, in with IDPADA-G, which has was that the form of things irrigation for their today is even starker and it embarked upon efforts to public fora, that the brought together 65 African changedbutthemorethings agricultural undertakings begs for redress While resource African Guyanese subvention that was being Guyanese organizations; changed, the more they Burdensome taxes were historical wrongs have to be by providing them with providedwasbeingmisused, crafted a programme of remained the same imposed on them The righted, the multi-ethnic skills and knowledge that skimmed off, and that the action, based on community Exploitation merely oppressive, exploitative and nature of the society and the would equip them to create community was none the consultations; conducts its continuedindifferentforms. degrading measures against unevencompetitionthatwas pathways to opportunities better off for all that was affairs in keeping with the Things may have changed them were endless The fostered,evenastheAfrican and development Mega intendedtobeofbenefittoit. principles of Good quantitatively but remained impact was economic and Guyanese faced the realities empowerment conferences This seemed liked the Governance and corporate the same qualitatively social degradation and ofpostenslavement,created across the country, skills emergence of an antagonist, responsibility; and been Labourwasstillexploitedin subservience With the a basket case of the African t r a i n i n g , y o u t h intentonbringingtheefforts accountable to its the interest of the planter attainment of independence, Guyanese. The presence of e n t r e p r e n e u r i a l of the organization to its stakeholders, including the class.Educationwasskewed some of the obstacles were race politics and ethnic development,promotionof knees even as the President Government for the conduct to prepare the ex-enslaved removed,othersremainedin dominance and a lack of entrepreneurial activities, paid tribute to the people of ofitsaffairs. for jobs at the lower levels place, while equal empathy for the state of cultural engagements and African descent on While experiences of and only where the system opportunities were GuyaneseofAfricandescent o r g a n i z a t i o n a l occasions such as the individualAfricanGuyanese needed their services at introduced in some spheres haveexacerbatedtheirplight development are some of Emancipation celebrations. are acknowledged and higher levels were they and equitable policies in and calls for special the areas addressed by However, paying tribute respected, none of those attention Much of what IDPADA-G’s work doesnotnecessarilymeanan should be supplanted as the confronts Guyanese of programme, 2018 to understanding of the current experience of the African descent is as a present.Noneofthesewere plight and a commitment to community of African consequentofdeliberateacts antagonistic, in their its resolution In its Guyanese.Theworldatlarge ofthestate,bothpreandpost orientation. IDPADA-G, in protagonistmode,IDPADA- has recognised the dilemma independence The recognitionofthefactthatin G sought audience with the of the Peoples of African successorstatethereforehas the absence of policy shifts President; and received Descent.ThecaseofAfrican aresponsibletotreatwiththe andinstitutionalrealignment commitments, which have Guyanese, generally, is GuyaneseofAfricandescent in areas like the ones never been honoured, while irrefutable and must be in a manner, in principle, identified above, also agents of his Government addressedbythestatewhich similartotheattentionbeing embarked on an advocacy have terminated the has inherited, and in many given to the Indigenous and communication subventionwithoutnoticeor instances perpetuated, the tribes. Platitudes of equal progammeandinthatregard explanation The non- situation,evenastheAfrican attendance by the Guyanese community seeks Government of Guyana at to overcome the challenges, the 1st Forum of the which are mainly grounded PermanentForumonPeople in impositions and systemic ofAfrican Descent, recently constructs. convened in Geneva, may Yourstruly, will be indicative of the VincentAlexander

Mr. President, this is not a donkey cart economy.

Mr. President, Guyana is an oil rich economy, and among the fastest growing ones.

Mr. President, going behind the blanket of Facebook is not the way to deliver fact, figures, and truths.

Mr. President, isn’t time that the nation be given its due and the respect it deserves?

Mr. President, isn’t time that the courage and transparency be found to hold press conferences?

Real ones, Mr. President.

PAHO and Canada step up efforts to bring COVID-19 vaccines to vulnerable populations in Latin America and the Caribbean

P A H O – T h e Health Emergencies at funds, PAHO will support Government of Canada and PAHO,said. Member States in Latin the Pan American Health “I commend the America and the Caribbean Organization (PAHO) on Government of Canada for in strengthening health Friday announced a its continued support to systems and immunization renewed collaboration to PAHO and the countries in p r o g r a m s , a n d i n increase access to COVID- the region in facing the incorporating COVID-19 19 vaccines for populations COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination into regular that have lagged behind in building upon our joint vaccinationschedules. immunization efforts across efforts to achieve optimal The collaboration will Latin America and the health and contribute to the a l s o s u p p o r t t h e Caribbean. wellbeing of all the peoples i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f To this end, Canada will of the Americas”, Ugarte information systems and provide an additional C$45 added. digital platforms for million (US$ 33.4 million) While over 70% of the C O V I D - 1 9 v a c c i n e to PAHO in support of Region’s inhabitants have surveillance, research COVID-19responseefforts. completed a primary initiatives to build evidence This financial support adds vaccination schedule to on COVID-19 vaccines to a prior contribution of C$ date, 203 million people perception and acceptance, 50 million (close to US$40 have yet to receive a first and will encourage million) made in May 2021. dose of the COVID-19 vaccination through Almost a third of the new vaccine. targeted outreach and funds will support national “Although we may wish community engagement interventions in Colombia, we could turn the page on efforts. HaitiandJamaica. COVID-19 altogether, we With Canada’s support, The announcement was know it is not that simple. since 2021 PAHO has madeataneventinKingston There is still work to do to provided guidance to health as part of the launch of control the spread of the a u t h o r i t i e s i n t h e Canada’s Global Initiative virus, move into recovery, development and rollout of for Vaccine Equity and build stronger health C O V I D - 1 9 v a c c i n e (CanGIVE), which aims to systems,” the Minister of campaigns, ensuring that support countries in vaccine International Development populations in situations of delivery and distribution, of Canada, Harjit Sajjan, vulnerability are adequately including efforts to increase saidattheevent. reflected and prioritized in confidence in vaccination “Canada’s partnership 28MemberStates. and boost the regional with PAHO will help PAHO and Canada have productionofvaccines. improve access to COVID- also supported 22 countries

“The pandemic is not 19 vaccines, especially for in strengthening their cold over Lastmonth,theRegion people in vulnerable chain capacity to safely of the Americas reported situations, including women manage and distribute more than 3.6 million new and girls. [It] will also help COVID-19vaccines,alongCOVID-19 cases and i m p r o v e v a c c i n e term investment that will 18,000 new deaths, a surge surveillance, and support i m p r o v e r e g u l a r of 42% and 28% of cases health workers,” Minister immunization programs and and deaths, respectively”, Sajjanadded. strengthen health systems Ciro Ugarte, Director of With the additional altogether

-

Drugs, guns, ammo found during Crane raid

three persons in custody

Three persons on Friday were arrested, after

police in Region Three found drugs, guns and ammunition at a house located in Crane Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara(WCD).

According to a police report, around 05:00 hrs on Friday, ranks acting on informationreceivedwentto the home of a 55-year-old

A rank then dug up the contained a quantity of housewife of Crane Housing area and found a red metal suspectedcannabis. Scheme, West Coast tin. Upon opening the tin, a The three suspects were Demerara, where the items bulky black plastic bag was told of the offence werefound. seen and opened in their committed and were

Police said a search was presence. A black .38 escorted to the Vreed-en- carriedoutinthepresenceof Revolver without a serial Hoop Police Station with the her29-year-olddaughterand number was seen inside the suspected firearm and her 55-year-old boyfriend tin,policerevealed. cannabis, which was and during the search,

A further search was weighed and amounted to nothing illegal was found in conducted under the front 523grams. their home. However, a concrete bridge which leads Thesuspectswereplaced search was carried out in the to the premises. During that in custody pending further yard where ranks observed search, a bulky black plastic investigations and charges. ‘disturbed soil’ in the back bag was seen which Aninvestigationisongoing. yard.

The persons who were arrested after a raid at a house in Crane and the firearm which was found.

Deon

IS IT THE END OF CHEDDI’S DREAM OF A CONSOLIDATED HIGH SCHOOL?

The destruction of the andinfactisratedamongthe easier the Ministry’s task of Smyth Street was also in raisequestionsastowhythe Christ Church Secondary toptensecondaryschoolsin placing the school’s poor shape. Instead of the Ministry opted to expand its School represents a tragic Georgetown. d i s p l a c e d s t u d e n t putting it in order, the administrative arm rather commencement to the New It is known as an alma population.Butthisexercise decision was taken to merge than downsizing or their places of residence. So Year The education sector materofformerWestIndian is compounded by the fact theCentralHighSchoolwith decentralizingit. if a student, for example, is hasbeenrockedbythislatest cricketer, Carl Hooper and that the Ministry of St. Mary’s High School and The Ministry of from Cummings Lodge, he fire, and coming so soon former national footballer, Education has closed two toestablishtheNewCentral Education has limited or she can be placed at after the destruction of a Clyde Wooly Forde. Not as important schools within HighSchoolatthecampusin options for placing the C u m m i n g s L o d g e multilateral school and the well-known, was the role of Georgetown which could WoolfordAvenue. displaced Christ Church Secondary School, St. George’s High School oneCliftonMcDonald,who have helped to absorb some Itwasamostinteresting Secondary School students providingthereareplacesin will further setback the as Head Teacher, helped ofthestudents. decision because the said in schools in Georgetown. thoseschools. Ministry’splans. make Christ Church The authorities took a Smyth Street location was Andthismaybeforthebest

This will not be The former Anglican Secondary School into one decisiontoclosetheCentral renovated, no doubt to the because the sort of welcomed by parents and School was established as of the country’s respected High School and the tune of tens of millions of nightmare situation which teachers because some will secondaryschoolaspartofa educationalinstitutions. BrickdamSecondarySchool dollars.Ithasbeenconverted hasdevelopedwithtrafficin argue that the new school PPP attempt in 1964 to Most of the students of which had a combined into an administrative the city should have long may be of lower standard. merge the secondary the school do not belong to student population of close department of the Ministry forcedtheauthoritiestolimit And, of course, it will mean departmentsofthreeprimary the immediate catchment to 1,000 students The of Education – perhaps the the establishment of new the loss of identity as schools. It proved a highly area. And this has almost BrickdamSecondarySchool largest administrative schools, whether public or students of Christ Church. successfulexperimentasthe alwaysbeenthecasewiththe was closed in 2016, buildinginthecountry private,withinthecity But what other options are school has grown in school’s population being reportedly because of Considering the size of The Ministry may have there? reputationoverthepastfifty- drawn from distant deplorable conditions. The that school, it was shocking little choice but to revert to (The views expressed in eightyears. communities some as far as school has been abandoned that there was a need to what was done with this article are those of the The school has always theEastCoastDemeraraand andlefttoelements. expand the Ministry’s Brickdam Secondary author and do not had a tradition of being a WestCoastDemerara. Itwasalsotoutedthatthe administrative arm to take School. It may be forced to necessarily reflect the schoolfortheworkingclass. If this fact is quickly building which housed the over the entire precincts of place the teachers and opinions and beliefs of this Itofferedaqualityeducation recognized, it should make Central High School on the old Central High School students, of the now gutted n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s inSmythStreet.Intheageof Christ Church Secondary affiliates.) computerization, it does School, in schools nearer to

Prisoners ‘kick open door, run away’ while –Police being transported

Twoprisonersescapedfrompolice open the door of the vehicle transporting custody on Friday while being themandescaped. transported from the Leonora “Just as the truck come off the Harbour

MagistrateCourt,RegionThree. BridgeandturnontotheEastBankroadand Commander of the Region Three Police stop,twoofthemkickopenthedoorandrun District, Mahendra Siwnarine, told Kaieteur away,”Siwnarinetoldthispublication. News that the prisoners who were being Up to press time on Friday, Police ranks transported to the Lusignan Prison, kicked weresearchingtheareafortheescapees.

Dem boys seh...

COCHORE DOES SET DEM OWN TRAP

A man was sick over de Christmas security official come out and start holidays.Sohetellhebosshowhenahgan mumbling, “Dat power drunk idiot who able fuh come fuh he salary But he ask de believesheknowseverything.Idon’tknow bossfuhkeepitfuhheanddon’tfuhgetfuh why he don’t jump through a window and adddebonus. die”

Well,demangetbetterdenextweekand De chochre went and told Burnham turn up fuh he money De boss hand he whattheofficialsaidandBurnhamsentfor envelope.Butwhendemancountdemoney de man. He asked de man “When you left notonlyhegethunchwithdebonus,heget here this morning, you were mumbling jukwithhesalary. something about a power drunk idiot who

Heendupcarryinghomelessthanwhat believes he knows everything. Just who henormallycarryhomeeverymonth.When wereyoureferringto?” heaskdebosswhathappen,debosstellhe Withoutmissingabeatdesecurityman how he following Exxon and deducing answered“IwasreferringtoJagan,Sir!” decommissioning charges. Is knack off de Burnhamthentoldhimtogoandcalled mangetknackoff! in back de cochore and asked him, “When

It remind dem boys of de story of a this morning you heard de security official cochore who used to like to carry news to refertoapowerdrunkidiotwhobelieveshe Burnham.Heusedtomekpeoplegetknack knows everything, who did YOU think he off. One day de cochore was standing near wasreferringto?” de door of Burnham office when he see a Talkhalf.Leffhalf!

FIVE FACTIONS THAT WANT NORTON OUT

From the time, the position Norton’s leaders who would have politics given his t h i r d crescendo was vulnerabilitylies in the area urgedhimnottodoit?Both youthfulness There isn’t compartment reachedforDavid of“beingaroundtoolong.” Ally and Charles had even a shadow of doubt includes an

Granger to step After the PNC’s support in the PNC for the aboutMr Mursalineseeking ambitious group down from the PNC performance in government dissemination of their advicebeforehisbombshell of Young Turks leadership, the picture was and Granger’s leadership feelings. disclosure. that feel their time clear;therewerecontestants style,thefeelinginthePNC Did Annette Ferguson One can conclude that has come and that whowantedtobecomePNC was that there was time for act without consultation? Mr Mursaline’s intended Norton’s star has leader There was no newerfaces.Nortonwasnot What Ferguson did was declaration was cleared by faded.Thefourthisthe consensuscandidate. seen as belonging to the equallydamagingtoNorton other PNC leaders The Diaspora who feel that isnotgoingtoformthenext Nortonbecameleaderin future of the PNC. That as what Faaiz Mursaline stories of Ferguson, Nortonwasrighttostakehis government so it is time to circumstances that were feeling started after the informed the nation about. Chandan and Mursaline claim to be PNC leader was have a new leader that will tsunamic. The PNC was in demand for Granger to go She accused the PNC represent factional warfare given a chance and has make something out of the crisis There was no anditisstillthere.Ithasnot leadership of not properly in the PNC There are failed. futureforthePNC. strategic thinking in the goneaway.Onthecontrary, organizingafairelectionfor essentially five cabals that It is difficult to see how Whatisgoingtohappen party There was need for a itisexpandingeachdaywith the post of Georgetown wantaleadershipcontest. Norton can survive the at the next Congress is that crystallization of direction. Norton’smistakes. leader in which a towering Oneisagroupthatisnot energyandplanningofthese all five schools are going to Even the planning of the The sharp indication of figurelikeRoysdaleForde’s within the leadership of the units. If there is a Congress strategize on how to move Congresswasnotsmooth. that thinking that Norton had his eligibility to vote party but is powerfully tomorrow, Norton will lose. Norton and will pool their In such an environment, should go is the open questioned. placedbecauseoftheirPNC He will lose when the next resources to defeat him there was no time for criticism of Norton that is Geeta-Chandan as experience, and simply Congress comes around WhatIpredictisthatNorton ambitious minds to plan not subtle or subdued but General-Secretary stayed wants Norton out That There is a fifth cabal that is will not have a formidable their strategies. Norton then brazenly public.AmnaAlly away for months, then group has an ongoing not really an organized teamtobatforhim. b e c a m e l e a d e r i n would not have agreed for returned and resigned. Did relationship with Chandan, group.

He will not survive spin circumstances that were me to publicize her she act alone? Did she put Ganesh Mahipal and Theyconsistofbusiness or pace. The wicket will be opaque and murky It is not frustrationifsheknewthere her position to others who Roysdale Forde Another people who will not put unplayable. insulting to Norton to make weren’t others that wanted eithertoldhertostayonand factionissympathetictothe moneyintothePNCbecause (The views expressed in thatassessment. Norton to be publicly fight Norton or resign and perspectivethatthetimehas they do not admire Norton, this article are those of the If Granger had insisted chastised. embarrasshim? come for a woman to lead have appreciation for his author and do not on a long postponement of Before Ally there was We come now to Faaiz thePNC. style of leadership and necessarily reflect the the Congress and agreed to Van- West Charles. Would Mursalene. He was not an Fergusonbelongstothat believe he should go.These opinions and beliefs of this hold the forte until things hehavegonepublicwithhis established figure in the school which includes business folks are not n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s settled down, Norton may condemnation of Norton PNC and could hardly be Amanda Walton-Desir and political animals but they affiliates.) not have won the leader withouttalkingtootherPNC described as experienced in Coretta McDonald. The know the reality is the PNC

OP-ED: SPEAKING UP, SHUTTING DOWN

to

it

people of the EPA andfearlesscitizens,mainly initsdelivery

beawell-

Environmental speak today, it is women, who have spoken I agree with him again Protection Agency, Dr. gobbledygook, grasping at out and taken the fight to that Guyanese are Vincent Adams, has urged straws, and making utter those that desecrate our intimidated,andthatthishas Guyanese to speak up and spectacles of themselves birthright. contributed in no small speak out. I hear him beforeallobservers. There really should be measure to citizens making clearly,andasmuchasheis

The people at the EPA more Guyanese in civil themselves invisible and ontherighttrackforwhatis know what the right things society (churches, trade inaudible.Mostdonotwish best for the citizens of this are, what safeguards unions,NGOs,andsoforth), to attract any attention to country, I must share with Guyana’s interests; but who are taking a frank and themselves,evenwhenthey Dr AdamsandtheGuyanese regarding those will not go principled stand on the discern the quarter-truths public that his call will fall near mismanagement of this that the government on deaf ears. It is most They cherish job country by the PPP p e d d l e s , a n d t h e regrettable, but that is the securitymore,andhavelost Government,anditscabalof deviousnessofthosemaking reality of today’s Guyana, any sense of humiliation at commanders and Field pretty speeches, but and of which he has being poodles and toys of Marshals. mismanaging the country’s identified some pertinent local political masters The handicap is that too wealth, and misleading points. before whom they slavishly many Guyanese in civil citizenswhileatit. The first thing I wish to kowtow, bend to do their society are looking for their The PPP Government assert is that the bidding. It is the price of opportunity to score a piece has made a living keeping overwhelming majority of continuity, of a paycheck, oftheoilaction,whichcould Guyanese watching each Guyanese have lost any and of selling their only come compliments of other, and distrusting each acquaintanceship with the conscience, intellect, and the PPP Government. So, other Its leaders and word patriotism, and the reputations for a cheap they hold their peace, loyalists may pretend to be extentofitsmeanings. Love dollar QuislingsinGuyana swallow their senses, and capitalists, but they have ofcountryhasbeenreplaced otherwise from either speaking publicly, but the are a dime a dozen, and scheme their way into retained broad strains of the byloveofmoney,andifthis government recognition or outstanding, protective boughtbythebarrel. personal profitability communisticmindsetthatis meanssilenceandsurrender embrace or that of its workhedidforthiscountry Guyanese know that if Sadly, this is the new intheirbloodstream. to the concoctions and powerful and resourceful from his high office was they run afoul of vindictive Guyanamanandwoman:no It is about fear, crimes of the PPP friendsintheprivatesector detested by Exxon’s people PPPleadership,therewould self-respect,nopatrioticIQ, suppression, control, and Government, then that is Then, as hard as this is because it pushed back on be scant employment no backbone (and none of domination. Thisiswhyso whatitwillbe. Moneybuys for me to articulate, their exploits, held them pickings in the private that other sensitive part of few Guyanese speak out, everything in Guyana, from Guyanese study Dr Adams, accountable, and slowed sector, which will not theanatomy). why so many sell-out. It character to commitment to and recoil from the fate of theirrush. muddyitssweetrelationship

By GHK Lall

Separately, I agree with pays. conviction. this courageous and For such dedication to with the PPP by offering a Dr Adamsthatanythingthat (The views expressed in All three were lacking principled Guyanese, a man duty,Dr Adamswasaxedby job to those who were the Opposition puts on the this article are those of the before, but the owners now withmuchunderhishardhat a cowardly and treacherous kickedoutbyit. table is automatically author and do not put their best face on, while andwhichExxonfearedand PPP Government, and now Regardingcivilsociety,I cloakedwithapoliticaltaint necessarily reflect the Guyanese comfort hatedwithapassion.

Guyanese coexist with a think Dr Adams could get by savvy PPP henchmen. opinions and beliefs of this themselves with their AsEPAhead,Dr Adams feeble EPAthat is the pawn some traction here, but he Nevertheless, the n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s collections legitimate or was constrained from of Exxon, and the has to pick his spots, after Opposition still has its role affiliates.)

FrederickKissoon

Former Executive

laughingstock of the world. searching long and hard.

play,and

must

Director of Unlike Vincent Adams, There are a few upstanding craftedonethathaspotency G u y a n a ’ s when the

Govt. snatches first carbon credit payment to prop up Budget 2023

The Government firsttime. P e o p l e s a n d L o c a l of Guyana has The revenue from the Communities (IPLCs) as set collected its first first carbon credits sale have out in Village Sustainability

p a y m e n t o f been deposited in a US Plans or equivalent, put US$75millionforthesaleof dollar-denominated account together by communities its carbon credit to Hess held by the Bank of Guyana themselves while the Corporation. With two more overseas, for onward remaining 85 percent will be payments of US$37.5 transmission to the allocated to national million each expected this Consolidated Fund, which priorities outlined in the year, the Government has will be credited with the LCDS 2030. These include said the sum of US$150 Guyanadollarequivalent. renewable energy, land millionisavailableforusein A c c o r d i n g t o titling, repairing canals, and the2023Budget. Government, the National protecting against climate Vice President Bharrat Assembly, including its change as outlined in Jagdeo in a statement on his Committees, will have Chapter Three, Four and F a c e b o o k p a g e o n oversight of the investment Five respectively of the Wednesday announced that of all national revenues LCDSdocument. the initial payment has been received from forest climate In keeping with the received. marketsandmanagedviathe established budgetary “US$75millionhasbeen Consolidated Fund through process enshrined in law, the paid, and is the first payment the budgetary process, in Minister of Finance shall in an agreement that will be k e e p i n g w i t h t h e request the National development of the country, e m i s s i o n s f r o m will be paying US$15 per worth a minimum of commitments made in the Assembly to approve but in combatting climate deforestation and forest tonne between 2016 and US$750 million up to 2030. Low Carbon Development withdrawals from the changeglobally degradation (REDD), as 2020.Meanwhile,duringthe Two further payments of Strategy (LCDS) 2030 and Consolidated Fund, which

On December 1, 2022, well as restore forests and period2021to2025,Guyana US$37.5millioneachwillbe Resolution No. 45, adopted shall be included in the theArchitecture for REDD+ protectintactforests. will be earning US$20 per made during 2023 – one in bytheNationalAssemblyon AnnualBudgetProposal. Transactions announced the On December 2, 2022, tonne which is expected to January and one in July – August8,2022.

The transactions will be issuance of 33.47 million the Government of Guyana rake in another US$250M bringing the total amount The administration also appropriately tagged with a TREES credit to Guyana for entered into an agreement forthecountry available for appropriation assured, “Every payment unique identifier on the the five-year period from with the Hess Corporation For the period 2025 to in this year’s National and payment source will be Integrated Financial 2016 to 2020 The for the sale of carbon credits 2030 Hess will pay US$25 Budget to US$150 million,” communicated publicly at Management Information Architecture for REDD+ for a minimum of US$750 per tonne amounting to Jagdeosaid. the point of payment, and at System (IFMIS) within the Transactions (ART) is a million. US$312M,bringingthetotal The payments this year the point of transfer into the Ministry of Finance to global initiative that seeks to Based on the agreement to US$750M over the 10 would amount to GYD$30 Consolidated Fund, when enable the execution of incentivize the reducing of with Hess Corporation, it yearperiod. billion. Last year’s Budget thepaymentvalueinGuyana annualaudits. was approved to the tune of Dollars will also be The carbon credits $552 9 billion and was communicated.” received by Guyana are as a hailedthelargestonetodate. A deposit of 15 percent result of the country’s It featured revenue from the will be allocated to continued recognition of the Natural Resource Fund community or village-led important role that Guyana’s (NRF) or oil account, for the programmes for Indigenous forests play not only the

A section of Guyana’s forest (Photo by Guyana Forestry Commission)

More Summary Courts Prosecutors to be trained

The Department of Priority will be given to Laws (LLB), and or third- Ramdhani KC, and and sixty thousand Guyana issueswhicharise. L a w o f t h e persons from Regions 1, 2, yearLL.Bstudents, andhas MagistrateDillonBess. Dollars($160,000)monthly Toward this end, the University of 7, 8, and other Regions with been developed, and “To allow them to Their gross salaries, Attorney General, along

Guyana (UG) is a lower number of structured to equip students prosecute matters in inclusive of allowances will with the Director of Public currentlytakingapplications Prosecutors, since the with in-depth knowledge of Guyana’s Magistrates’ amount to approximately Prosecutions, Shalimar Alifrom persons interested in Attorney General is looking procedural and substantive Courts, the Graduates of the two-hundred and twenty Hack SC, Commissioner of enrolling in the second to bolster the number of law concerning ethics, the Course were inducted into thousand Guyana Dollars Police (ag) Clifton Hicken, Cohort of the Certificate in Summary Court Prosecutors law of evidence, criminal the Guyana Police Force ($220,000). andAssistantCommissioner Advocacy and Evidence for in each of Guyana’s ten (10) practice and procedure, (GPF), and given the rank of This sum was arrived at Calvin Brutus, met with the Summary Courts and Administrative Regions, a fundamental human rights, Sergeant They then throughcollaborativeefforts Prosecutors on January 12, Prosecutor’s Course (the statement from theAttorney and aspects of constitutional underwent an additional between the Attorney 2023tolistento,andaddress Course), officially launched General’sofficesaidFriday a n d l e g i s l a t i v e week of training which was General’s Chambers, the anyissuestheyarehaving. in2022. The UG has already interpretation. aimed at acquainting them Guyana Police Force (GPF) The initiative is the Classes are scheduled to received quite a number of Classes on these topics with the rules, regulations, and the Chambers of the brain-child of the Attorney begin later this month. In applications and will be were delivered last year by and standing orders of the D i r e c t o r o f P u b l i c General of Guyana, and is 2022, seventy-one (71) closing the application esteemed and eminent legal GPF,”theAG’sofficesaid. Prosecutions(DPP). the first of its kind in the persons applied to take the period soon, the statement minds, including: Madame Further, though the Meanwhile, reminding CommonwealthCaribbean. Course. Of the persons who said while noting that the Justice Roxane George SC, students were made police that the ongoing initiative is “As such, it is being have gradated, thirty (30) Course is the product of a Chief Justice of the officers to execute their a pilot project, the Attorney monitored by other States persons are currently collaborative effort between Judiciary of Guyana, prosecutorial duties, they General has also expressed which are interested f u n c t i o n i n g i n t h e The Attorney General’s Madame Justice Jo Ann are not required to carry out his intention to continue implementing similar Magistrates’ Courts of Chambers and Ministry of Barlow, Justice Simone any other duties usually monitoring the project to initiatives,” the statement Regions3,4,56and10. Legal Affairs, UG, SCJSP, Morris-Ramlall, Madame requiredofpoliceofficers. address any and all teething concluded. Attorney General and and the Inter-American Shalimar Ali-Hack SC, The Attorney General Minister of Legal Affairs, Development Bank, which D i r e c t o r o f P u b l i c also sought and obtained Anil Nandlall, SC MP, has funded the Course’s Prosecutions (DPP), permissionfortheSummary said that thirty-five (35) development, and is P r o f e s s o r K e n n e t h Courts Prosecutors to dress scholarships will once again providing additional Benjamin, former Chief in civilian garb, as opposed be made available for fundingthisyear Justice of Belize, Professor topoliceuniforms. persons willing to become The Course, which is Courtney Abel, former These Summary Court Summary Court Prosecutors only open to persons who Justice of the High Court of Prosecutors will take home fortheState. already hold a Bachelors of Belize; Mr Darshan approximately one hundred

GRA warns against use of fraudulent statements/ documents to complete transactions

The Guyana Revenue any transaction or offer to Integrated Regional Tax Authority (GRA) on Friday complete transactions in Offices (IRTOs), and the cautioned citizens against exchangeforgifts.” Guyana Post Office the falsification of The Revenue Authority Corporation (GPOC) documents and/or attempts said that with respect to building. Moreover, GRA at colluding with anyone, obtaining provisional has repeatedly published including GRA Officers, to driver’s licences, applicants alternative payment options defraud the Authority in the must first receive the available through the course of completing a OriginalPassLetterfromthe followingentities:transaction. Traffic Certifying Officer of • Online banking

In a press statement, the the Guyana Police Force services at Republic Bank, Authority said that “persons (GPF). “Any other source or Demerara Bank, Bank of guilty of such unlawful means used to acquire this BarodaandGBTI. actions are liable on document is fraudulent,” the • Mobile Money Guyana summary conviction to fines statementsaid. (MMG) andimprisonmentofuptoas Further, GRA said that • Bill Express (over the much as six months, taxpayers must make all counter) depending on the nature and payments at the cashier The GRA statement severityoftheoffence.” sections and obtain an follows reports that an Further, GRA made it officialGRAreceiptasproof employee was recently Essequibo

clear that “employees are ofpayment. arrested for selling fake

NOT authorised to collect “Cashiers are located at documentation to a 35-year- Kaieteur

monies from taxpayers for GRA’s Headquarters, all old labourer of Bush Lot, reported that the 28-year-old and submitted the fake $50,000. GRAemployee who worked document, an alarm was He claimed that he had a t t h e A u t h o r i t y ’s raisedbyGRAemployeeson gotten the fake document Administrative Department duty from another individual but sold a bogus driver’s The man was then according to police, he has examination pass paper – a detained for questioning been withholding the document needed to apply During that process, he told identityofthatperson for a driver’s licence at GRA Investigators that he had M e a n w h i l e , t h e –tothelabourer purchased the document Authority said that persons K a i e t e u r N e w s from a GRA staff for who suspect that they are the understands that the $100,000, believing that it victims of frauds should labourer wanted to “cheat wasagenuineone. request the name and the system” in obtaining a Detectives from the employee ID of the person driver’s licence and the Criminal Investigations representing the Authority GRA employee assisted Department (CID) at Eve a n d r e p o r t t h e him by forging the Learywereinformedandthe matter(anonymously) to document needed for the GRA employee was GRA’s Special Investigation application arrested. Unit’s (SIU) hotline 225However, when the Kaieteur News has 5051 or via email to labourer arrived at GRA’s confirmedthattheGRAstaff siu@gra.gov.gy.

Coast, Region Headquarters on Camp has admitted to selling the

Two. Street on December 20, document to the Essequibo

News had 2022,toapplyforthelicence resident but only for

GRA’s headquarters Camp Street, Georgetown

GMSA signs MoU with Indian Engine Cooling Systems Manufacturing Firm

T h e G u y a n a plant in the Engine Cooling production of radiator “I anticipate we would Manufacturing and Services (Automotive)Sector condenser and charge air see this value-added Association (GMSA) and The company will c o o l e r m a d e f r o m automotive component NBR Cooling Systems Pvt leverage off NBR’s aluminum,copperandbrass, company establishing a Ltd. (NBR), on Thursday technological advancement, assembling and exporting factorythisyear signed a Memorandum of full range of high-quality various radiator condensers The company currently Understanding (MoU) upon r a w m a t e r i a l s a n d and charge air coolers made produces approximately the close of the Global components, market from aluminum, copper and 1200 radiators per day,” he Investors Summit in New resources and access to brass to all the countries in said. Delhi,India. international compliance Latin America and United Meanwhile, the NBR The agreement was codesandpractices. states ofAmerica, importing Director described the signed by President of the “Duringtheinitialstages all the machinery and raw signing of the MoU as a GMSA, Rafeek Khan, and of establishment, NBR material required for landmark collaboration that Asrif Hussain, Director of committed to injecting an manufacturing of radiator will “provide new growth NBR. Two GMSA board approximate sum of USD condenser and charge air avenues for NBR in South members, Rosh Khan and 1M. The framework for the cooler made from aluminum Americanregion.” Shyam Nokta were present business will incorporate: copperandbrass.” “Since incorporating forthesigning. transfer of skills and President of the GMSA NBR, the Company has

In a statement to the t e c h n o l o g i e s o f said that the collaboration attained such remarkable media, the GMSA said that m a n u f a c t u r i n g a n d with NBR will introduce a progress and is now pleased the Investment Summit has assembling radiator new industry or strengthen to expand its international precipitated pronounced condenser and charge air the automotive cooling manufacturing plan in interest in the expansion of coolerfromIndiatoGuyana, sector in Guyana and the collaboration with GMSA,” Indian private-sector m a n u f a c t u r i n g a n d Caribbean.

Hussainsaid. investment in Guyana, for variousindustries.

The Association said that NBR directors are involved in the radiator business for about 20 years and “is a well-established manufacturerofawidearray ofEngineRadiators,radiator cores intercooler and condenser, and engine Coolant.”

“The Company is renownedforitshighquality and standards and serves several industries such as automotive, generator and boring machines. With an aim to expand its business operations and grow from being the second largest market player in cooling systems in India, NBR selected Guyana to execute the same vision globally,” thestatementsaid.

Meanwhile, as part of the MoU, the GMSA said it will identify and engage Guyanese companies or form consortiums to e s t a b l i s h a

Motorcyclist dies after crashing into parked container

A 23-year-old Patentia, and collided into the West Bank Demerara container which was (WBD) resident died on stationary on the western Thursday night after losing grassparapet. controlofhismotorcycleand As a result of the crashing into a parked collision, the driver was container on the Wales flung into the container Public Road Dead is causing him to receive RomanoRamdeen. several injuries about his According to police body. reports, the fatal incident Ramdeen was picked up occurred at about 23:00 hrs by public-spirited persons in on Thursday. The container an unconscious state and Ramdeen crashed into was taken to the West Demerara situated on the western side Regional Hospital where he oftheroad. was pronounced dead on K a i e t e u r N e w s arrival. understands that Ramdeen His body is presently at was proceeding north on the Ezekiel Funeral Parlor western side of the Wales awaiting a post mortem Public Road reportedly at a examination. fast rate of speed when he Investigations are lostcontrolofhismotorcycle ongoing.

The Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) and NBR Cooling Systems Pvt Ltd. (NBR), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) upon the close of the Global Investors Summit in New Delhi, India. President of the GMSA, Rafeek Khan and Asrif Hussain, Director of NBR signed the agreement. Two GMSA board members, Rosh Khan and Shyam Nokta, were present for the signing.

Dead:

Romano Ramdeen

Online classes for displaced Christ Church students - MoE

Teachers of the Christ Manickchand, the Chief Church Secondary School Education Officer (CEO), are to engage their students Mr Saddam Hussain, online while the Ministry of Deputy Chief Education Education decides on their Officer – Administration, finalplacement. Ms. Fazia Baksh, Deputy F i r e c o m p l e t e d Chief Education Officer –destroyed the Christ Church Development, Ms Volika SecondarySchoollocatedon Jaikishun, Assistant Chief Middle and Camp Streets on Education Officer –Thursday afternoon leaving Secondary, Ms Tiffany some 500 students without a Harvey; Principal Education school. Officer, Mr. Emmanuel In a statement issued Bridgewater, Director of the Friday, the Ministry of School Boards Secretariat, accommodated in the said that the ideal preference being sorted, teachers are to classesonMonday Education said that officials Mr Deonarine Hardat, shortest possible time would be to house all the engagetheirstudentsonline. The GFS has since met with the school’s President of the Guyana followingThursday’sfire. studentsinonelocation.

Kaieteur News had confirmed that the science teachersandancillarystaffto Teachers’ Union (GTU) MinisterManickchandin During the meeting, reported that Thursday’s fire laboratory fire last week was discussthewayforward. Mark Lyte, and other acknowledging that the List various options were left some 502 students and caused by “chemical The meeting was held in EducationOfficers. Aschool has performed well explored for the placement 39teachersdisplaced. reactioncombustion”. the boardroom of the The Ministry said it is over the years said that of students and teachers, Itisunclearatthistimeas K a i e t e u r N e w s National Centre for committed to ensuring the decisions taken have to be however, no definite to what might have ignited understands that the highly Educational Resource students, teachers and guided by what is in the best decisionsweremade. t h e m a s s i v e b l a z e flammable chemicals were Development (NCERD) and ancillary staff of the Christ interest of the enrolled The Minister said a However, nine days ago fire removed from the building attended by Minister of Church Secondary School students. meeting with the parents and started in the school’s last week “Everything E d u c a

The Education Minister students will be held to science laboratory but quick [chemicals] was cleared discuss the relocation while action by the Guyana Fire from the building,” a source disclosing that the school’s Service (GFS) prevented the close to the investigation enrollment records, which schoolfrombeinggutted. toldthispublication. were saved digitally, will The school was closed to Investigators are now guidetheprocessforward. facilitate an investigation tryingtodeterminethecause Even as the logistics are and was only reopened for ofThursday’sfire.

Latin America and the will be presented in a virtual intheregionandcountriesto Caribbean currently has the press conference (with addresstherisingnumbersof highest cost of a healthy diet registration) and open hunger, food insecurity, and compared to the rest of the broadcast from FAO’s malnutritioninallitsforms. world, a new report done by regional office in Santiago, The publication presents the United Nations (UN) Chile, starting at 11:30 AM data and analysis of the warns.

( G M T- 3 ) , w i t h t h e effects of the pandemic and

T h e F o o d a n d participation of the other crises on food Agriculture Organization of representatives of the five insecurityandfoodprices,as the United Nations (FAO), UN agencies responsible for well as evidence of national the International Fund for thepublication. policies that have increased Agricultural Development Panorama2022analyzes economic access to (IFAD), the Pan American the cost of healthy diets and nutritiousfoodandimproved Health Organization warns that Latin America foodandnutritionsecurity (PAHO/WHO), the World and the Caribbean currently The UN report shows the Food Programme (WFP), has the highest cost of a linkbetweendietqualityand and the United Nations healthy diet compared to the food security and nutrition, Children’s Fund (UNICEF) restoftheworld. and how lack of economic will present the latest I n a d d i t i o n , t h e access to a healthy diet is Regional Overview of Food publication highlights the related to different forms of Security and Nutrition in challenges to improving its malnutrition such as hunger, Latin America and the affordability, as well as the stunting and overweight in Caribbean on Wednesday, relevance of addressing the children under five, and January 18. The document high cost of this type of diet anemia.

Latin America and the Caribbean has the highest cost of access to a healthy diet compared to the rest of the world

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand on Friday engaging Teachers and staff of Christ Church Secondary School at NCERD.

Teachers and Officials of the Ministry being engaged on a way forward for Christ Church Secondary. (Photo courtesy of Ministry of Education)

y

ExxonMobil exposed for contradicting its own scientists’ data on global warming

teamed up to write this much as independent academicsfromHarvardand report. They were surprised academic and government the University of Potsdam in to discover is the extent and scientistsdid.Arguably,they Germany published a study accuracy of Exxon’s knew all they needed to in the Journal Science on knowledge of climate know.” Thursday providing science.

According to their evidence that ExxonMobil,

“It was startling to plot research, the academics the United States oil and gas all of the company’s found that between 63% and giant, with a current market projections onto one graph 83% of the climate capitalization of $466 and find them all line up so projections Exxon made billion, predicted global tightlyaroundthereal-world were accurate in predicting warming with incredible temperature rise that has future climate change and accuracy in a series of ensued since their reports. global warming Exxon internal reports and

That gave me pause, seeing predicted that climate messages starting in the quantitatively that Exxon change would cause global 1970s. didn’t just know some warming of 0.20° ± 0.04

“Specifically, what’s climate science, they helped degrees Celsius per decade, new here is that we put a advance it,” Supran told which is the same as number on – and paint a CNBC. “They didn’t just academic and governmental picture of – what Exxon vaguely know ‘something’ predictions that came out lawyers,andpoliticians.” research was a viral tweet, E x x o n ’s c l i m a t e ’s knew and when,” said study about global warming between1970and2007.The The phrase and hash tag SuprantoldCNBC. projections hadn’t been co-author Geoffrey Supran, decades ago, they knew as (Continued on page 20) “ExxonKnew” have become Stefan Rahmstorf, a formally studied, and who worked as a research a rallying cry after previous physics professor at the associateatHarvardwhenhe reports from ‘Inside Climate UniversityofPotsdam,sawa didthiswork. News’ and others show that global warming predictive “We now have airtight, Exxon publicly contradicted chart from Exxon Mobil that unimpeachable evidence its own understanding of Supran and Harvard that ExxonMobil accurately climatescience. professor Naomi Oreskes predicted global warming Exxon Mobil says the had previously discovered, years before it turned around “ExxonKnew” movement is andoverlaidactualhistorical and publicly attacked a “coordinated campaign” dataontopofExxon’s. climate science and working to “stigmatize” the “The overlap was scientists.Ourfindingsshow oil company, “creating the startling,” Supran said and that ExxonMobil’s public false appearance that when Rahmstorf blogged denial of climate science E x x o n M o b i l h a s and tweeted about it, the contradicted its own misrepresented its company results got a lot of attention, scientists’data,” Supran told research and investor “by the standards of climate CNBC. “This corroborates disclosures on climate science on Twitter anyway,” and adds statistical precision changetothepublic.” SuprantoldCNBC. to the prior conclusions of It all started with a tweet Thethreeacademicsthen scholars, journalists, The catalyst for the realized that the accuracy of

Guyana records two more COVID-19 deaths

The Ministry of Health on Friday reported that two more men, who contracted the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease, have died taking Guyana’s COVID-19 death toll to 1,293.

According to the Ministry, the latest fatalities arethatofa70-year-oldman from Region Three who died on Tuesday and a 79year-old man from Region Two who died on Thursday, while receiving treatment at amedicalfacility

Meanwhile, 30 new COVID-19 cases have been recorded bringing the total number of confirmed cases to72,638.

Threepatientshavebeen admitted to the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) while 10 persons are in institution isolation, 336 in homeisolation.

Todate,atotalof70,996 recoveries have been recorded.

Climate Activists protest on the first day of the ExxonMobil trial outside the New York State Supreme Court building on October 22, 2019 in New York City. [Angela Weiss | AFP | Getty Images]

ExxonMobil exposed for contradicting...

From page 19

Supreme Court by Judge Barry Ostrager study in Science builds on work done by which did not find the oil and gas company investigative journalists at ‘Inside Climate guilty of fraud in its climate change News’ back in 2015 and Democratic regulationaccounting. lawmakers at the House Committee on “Whattheevidenceattrialrevealedisthat OversightandReform,amongmanyothers. ExxonMobil executives and employees were Exxon continues to deny its wrongdoing. uniformly committed to rigorously

“This issue has come up several times in discharging their duties in the most recent years and, in each case, our answer is comprehensive and meticulous manner the same: those who talk about how ‘Exxon possible,” Ostrager wrote, and Spitler passed Knew’are wrong in their conclusions,” Todd alongtoCNBC.

Spitler, spokesperson for ExxonMobil, told “The testimony of these witnesses CNBC. demonstrated that ExxonMobil has a culture

Spitler pointed to the results of a 2019 ofdisciplinedanalysis,planning,accounting, case heard before the New York State andreporting.”

The Parent who was recorded fighting with a StAngela’s Primary School Teacher on Thursday while accepting that her emotions got the best of her on Friday, said that the Teacher threatened to beat her on thestreets.

On her Facebook page, the Parent, identified as Latoya said, “I was walking away and she telling me Ashelle (referring to herself) how she gone catch me on the road andbeatme...todaywasthedayfah beat me....cause I was not having it”. The woman explained that her nine-year-old son who attends the primary school was beaten on Tuesday by the Teacher The Mother said that it was on Wednesdaythatshenoticedthather child’s hand was trembling and had asplinterlodged.

She asked her son what happened and he told her that the Teacher beat him with a wooden ruler him on Tuesday and Wednesday for talking in the classroom The woman in an interview with social media influencer, Melly Mel, said that she removed the wooden splinter from herson’shandandafterattendingto him, she contacted his Substantive Teacherwhowasawayfromschool due to an illness. Latoya said she wasadvisedtospeakwiththeLevel Supervisor On the day in question,

the mother said she visited the schoolandspokewithTeachersand the Head Teacher and requested an apology Thisshesaidwasgranted.

Latoya said that she told the Head Teacher that she intended to file a report at the police station but waspersuadednotto.

“She [the Head Teacher] was very apologetic. She even showed me a ruler that theTeachers usually have and that was one was also brokenbytheTeacher Mindyouon Tuesday when that Teacher hit my son and broke the ruler in his hand, she went to the Level Head and said, “I just beat one ah dem children girl, and bruk the ruler in he hand and I got to get back Miss

[nameprovided]ruler.”

Latoya related that the Head Teacher even told her that there are a number of things that must be followed before a child is disciplined “I have never received a complaint about my child from that school. I never had to go to the school,” the Mother said. Notwithstanding, she heeded the pleading of the Head Teacher and awaited the apology The Teacher was not at school at the time the Head Teacher sent for her but Latoya was urged to wait until she returned. The Head Teacher received a phone call summoning her to a meeting. As a result, the Parent said she decided to wait in theschool’syard.

While waiting, the woman said the Teacher was pointed out to her at about 10:00am when she arrived at the school. The Parent said that upon seeing her, the Teacher made several facial expressions and then sucked her teeth. “As soon as she see me, is a cut eye and suck teeth” related the woman noting that the Teacher’sbehaviourangeredher Latoya said she snatched the Teacher’s wig off her head. After that happened, she was urged to leave the school’s compound. She complied. “I literally grabbed her wig. Was it wrong? I agree it was wrong, but I tell you my emotions

got a hold of me and when I pulled her wig off, the Teachers that were downstairs came and shouted ‘get outofthiscompoundnow!”

While leaving, the Teacher reportedlytoldherthatshewillbeat her on the road. This angered the Parent further and she rushed into the school where the duo fought. Eyewitnesses captured the assault on camera and the Teacher’s colleagues rushed to save her subsequently LaToyawasreportedlyarrested by police for beating up the Teacher HerattackontheEducator took place while Teachers were protesting nationwide against

violence meted out to them by Parents. Protests erupted after a male Teacher was assaulted on Wednesday at the Graham’s Halls PrimarySchool.

President of the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU), Mark Lyte has since condemned the attacks againstTeachers.

He had stated, “The Union is here in solidarity with the Teachers…this is becoming too frequent where Teachers are being assaultedby Parents and Guardians and it is something that has to be addressed so we are going to continue to make a call to the Ministrytotakedecisiveaction.”

requires all state owned

The Parliamentary O p p o s i t i o n , t h e A

Partnership for National Unity +Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) is insisting that Guyana’s Constitution requires all investment into state assets be submitted to Parliament for scrutiny and consideration.

The Opposition posits that the Government is mandated by law to have a national discussion and follow particular processes beforepurchasingevenbasic items.

With the Government of Guyana signaling its intention to fund the construction of a US$1.3B pipeline which will be built by the ExxonMobil, and eventually owned by the State, the Opposition is adamant that the same checks and balances requiring Parliamentary consideration is required for thepipelineproject.

Economics and Youth Advisor at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, Elson Low on Thursday said

that the pipeline issue is one in which the APNU +AFC wishestoalertGuyanese.

S p e a k i n g a t t h e Opposition Leader’s Press Conference, Low said that the project is the largest in the country’s history and there are already breaches of c o n s t i t u t i o n a l a n d parliamentary requirements that include funding for state owned projects as well as procurement.

Low reasoned that if the pipeline is intended to be Government owned, and a national infrastructure, it mustbefinancedthroughthe nationalbudgetaryprocess.

He said “This process allows the existing oversight bodies to carry out their functions first and foremost, the National Assembly, but also encompassing the Public Procurement Commission, AuditorGeneral’sOfficeand P u b l i c A c c o u n t s Committee.”

Low noted that the G o v e r n m e n t i s constitutionally mandated to

ensure national discussions, public accountability, and transparency on such national infrastructure directlyfundedfromthecost oil arrangement in the Production Sharing Agreement(PSA).

The Economics and Youth Advisor asserted that, “It is vital to draw a distinction between the offshore FPSOs, which ExxonMobil and its partners own, and a Natural Gas P i p e l i n e t h a t t h e Government of Guyana would own If Exxon develops a pipeline that it ownsandthencostsrecovers that pipeline, it is within its rights under the PSA. This is exactly the same process we see currently with the FPSOs.”

On the other hand, Low said if the Government of Guyana seeks to acquire that pipeline from Exxon, whetherinwholeorinpart,it must approach Parliament forfunding.

“Direct cost oil funding opens up the possibility that

under the PSA, Exxon could be empowered to construct a wide variety of governmentowned and operated public infrastructure projects, from roads to wharfs, completely bypassing Guyana’s existing laws and constitution,” he said.

To this end, the Economist said there are a number of pressing issues the Government must a d d r e s s i n c l u d i n g immediately making public the agreement it has made with ExxonMobil for the

pipeline, in whatever form it exists.

He explained that the Government must state what law allows it to bypass the Natural Resources Fund Act and Consolidated Fund in thiswayandtheGovernment must state what procurement proceduresExxonMobilwill useinbuildingthispipeline.

“The Government must state what law empowers Exxon to procure in a way that is not monitored by the Public Procurement Commission, which is also a

constitutionalbody Wehave tabled some of these questions in the National Assembly in the name of our Member of Parliament, Mrs. VoldaLawrence.

Further, Low said the Opposition intends to table a Motion for the National Assembly to call on the Government to release all contracts and agreements on the project and for the Parliamentary Sectoral Committees on Natural ResourcesandEconomic

Economics and Youth Advisor at the office of the Leader of the Opposition, Elson Low (left) is seated with Members of the APNU+AFC including Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton (second right).

The Parent who was caught on camera assaulting the St Angela’s Primary School Teacher.

Teacher being assaulted

West IndiesWomen’s Rising Stars victorious ahead of opening WC match

(CWI) -West Indies Women’s Rising Stars knockedoffthe71-runtarget, setforthembyZimbabwe,in 12.5 overs. This came in the second of two warm-up games, ahead of their first match of the historic ICC Women’s U19 World Cup in SouthAfrica, against Ireland on Sunday (January 15).

After winning the toss anddecidingtobowlfirst,the West Indies Women Rising StarswereabletorestrictZimbabwe to the small total through a focused bowling performance.

While Jahzara Claxton wasthestandout,withfigures of 2-0-4-2, the other bowlers wereeconomical,withJames, St. John and Cumberbatch picking up a wicket a piece.

Only Zamunu (12) and Mavunga(11)wereabletoget to double digit scores for Zimbabwe.

Withasmalltotaltochase, opener Shunelle Sawh (19) looked in good form, as she set the pace for the innings. Naijanni Cumberbatch came to the crease after the fall of thefirstwicketandmadeafiery 22, including three 4’s,

before Djenaba Joseph (7*) andAsabiCallendar(1*)saw it home for the West Indies team. Ndhlovu, Chare and Mayo picked up a wicket each in the innings.

HeadCoachSteveLiburd was happy with the performance and said, “We definitely wanted to assess our game plans, so the focus was on how we wanted to play going into the World Cup. Thebowlersdidatremendous job in executing their skills and putting the balls into the areas we discussed.”

“From a batting perspec-

tive, Naijanni continues to show that she understands her role in this team. Sawh and Joseph supported well foracomprehensiveteamperformance. With a few more days of training ahead of our firstmatch,Iampleasedwith the players’ response.”

The West Indies Rising Stars will begin their World Cup campaign on Sunday, when they take on Ireland.

WIWomenUnder-19Rising Stars Squad: Ashmini Munisar (captain), Asabi Callendar, Jahzara Claxton, Naijanni Cumberbatch, Earnisha Fontaine, Jannillea Glasgow, Realanna Grimmond, Trishan Holder, ZaidaJames,DjenabaJoseph, K D Jazz Mitchell, Shalini Samaroo, Shunelle Sawh, LenaScottandAbiniStJean.

SriLanka,USA

B - England, Pakistan, Rwanda,Zimbabwe

C - Indonesia, Ireland, New Zealand, West Indies D-India,Scotland,South Africa,UAE

SundayJanuary15:vsIreland at NW University, Potchefstroom–4amECT

Tuesday January 17: vs Indonesia at NW University, Potchefstroom–7:45amECT

Saturday January 14, 2023

ARIES (Mar.21–Apr.19)

A heightened level of intuition and understanding of othersmightcatapultyouto the center of attention at a gathering,Aries.Knowledge combined with experience results in wisdom today

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

Communicationwithfriends who have traveled widely couldhaveyouhankeringto makeafuturevisittoadistant place that you've always wantedtoexperience.

GEMINI(May21–June20)

Dreamsorvisionscouldput you in touch with deep feelings that you may not have beenawareofbefore,Gemini. This could enable you to releasetraumasfromyourpast and give you a new sense of lightness.

CANCER(June21–July22)

Relationshipsofallkindsare likely to be strengthened by an increased level of understanding today, Cancer Your thinking is greatly enhanced by your emotional intuitiveness.

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

Today your emotional intuitionintensifiesyourmental abilities, Leo. Friends and familymembersarelikelyto grow closer to you.

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)

Relationships with those closest to you, particularly friends and love partners, should be enhanced by an increased understanding of theiremotionalworld,Virgo.

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

Dealing with the ups and downsofotherfamilymembers could be easier for you today than usual, Libra. You're less inclined to be logicalandmoreapttoidentify with what other people feel.

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov.21)

Todayyourmindisstrongly influenced by feeling and intuition, Scorpio, so you'll be able to communicate especially well with others. You might sense what they need to hear before.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

You generally like to think ofyourselfassomeonewho faces life logically and rationally, Sagittarius, but today your intuitive side could prove a valuable resource.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Yourintuitionisusuallyvery strong, Capricorn, and your level of empathy enhances your relationships. Today, however, a burst of logic could enable you to see many things.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

Yourintuitionisheightened almosttothepointoftelepathy today Aquarius, you may be able to sense what others want and need even before they know it themselves.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20) Getting in touch with your closest friends could bring aboutsomeintensecommunication, with many revealing some of your deepest concerns, Pisces.

Groups

A-Australia,Bangladesh,

‘I’ve

From page 31 on. It’s just about assessing working with staff working with the players and coming upwiththerightstrategy,”he added.

The 48-year-old has had a few stints with the senior, first joining the coaching ranks under Otis Gibson and serving spells under Stuart LawandbrieflySimmons. In his estimation, communication will be a crucial part of his plans for success.

“In this case communication is going to be very crucial,soworkingoutwhatthat communication strategy is going to be.” (SportsMax)

President Ali urges...

From page 33 the cricket product. How can we build a product that will bring in the North American market in an environment that is close to the market?

We,asagovernment,arewillingtoinvestintheinfrastructure.We,asagovernment,are willing to invest in the ecosystem to support this, and I extend this invitation to you to do it with us.

We are ready to do it with you.”

Through the lucrative Indian Premier League, Guyanese cricketers have beenabletoearnhandsomely from the game, the likes of Shimron Hetmyer, Keemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford andRomarioShepherd.

(story compliments: Newsroom)

WestIndiesMatchSchedule

Thursday January 19: vs NewZealand,JBMarksOval, Potchefstroom–7:45amECT

never been...

Opposition crafting strategy to bring Exxon bills for parliamentary scrutiny

Given the absence of important recommend having external Government by the oil company It Parliament. information relating to oil sector assistance involved in the process is unsure how these documents are Low opined that failure to spending, the Parliamentary toensuretherequisiteexpertise. being treated or whether they have complete the audits are “very Opposition intends to have the He explained that as a body, the been received and within the stated alarming” as it highlights the PublicAccounts Committee (PAC) P A C c o u l d m a k e a timeframe. country’s ability to manage the play a greater role in monitoring recommendationtohaveadditional

ExaminingtheneedforthePAC financialaspectofitsoilsector He recoverable expenses submitted by assistance in handling financials. in this regard and the role it could said that the cost recovery ExxonMobil.

Hesaidthat“iftheAuditOfficehas play in monitoring these important statements should be reviewed by Opposition Member of made it known that it is not in a documents, is what is currently thePACasthestatementsaremeant Parliament (MP) and PAC position or it does not have the being looked at. Figueira said the to give Guyana insight into the Chairman, Jermaine Figueira told requisite skill set the PAC could public could look out for the recoverable 75 percent cost oil, the Kaieteur News that the recommend, the hiring of external Opposition’s position on the issue before the actual audits take place. Opposition is aware of the section support.” soon. He said the statements give a of the 2016 Production Sharing Further,Figueirasaidifthecost The deliberation on the cost previewofwhatistocomeandthat Agreement (PSA) which speaks to recovery statements were to be recovery document is another is useful information the the submission of quarterly cost placed with the PAC, the attempt by the Opposition to put Parliamentcouldhavebeforehand. recovery statements to the C o m m i t t e e c o u l d m a k e certain mechanisms in place to Low urged citizens to People’s Progressive Party Civic Government by ExxonMobil recommendations to have the right improve their access to oil revenue understand that expenses that are (PPP/C) Government in affiliate, Esso Exploration and team handle the documents since information. The Opposition has incurred in oil development and collaborationwithExxonMobil. Production Guyana Limited the Audit Office itself hires contendedthattheGovernmenthas production need to be monitored as Low told Kaieteur News that (EEPGL), and is currently independentauditorstogetsomeof givennoclearmeansastohowthey closely as expenses that come from financingforthepipelineisanother discussing the need to have the itsworkdone. are protecting oil sector finances. building roads. He said Guyana matter that should be with documentslaidinParliament. He said the Opposition is They say too that there seems to be building auditing capacity is Parliament.

Figueira said that while the “deliberating” on the value of no urgency in getting Guyana to imperative. Not auditing Exxon on He said that the Opposition is Committee mainly interrogates the havingthestatementsinParliament haveitsownin-houseprofessionals time, and then potentially very concerned that no findings of the Auditor General, it and avenues that allow for that to qualified to audit oil company deliveringaflawedaudit,aswellas information, terms and conditions can make requests for the oil happen. expenses,whilereceivingaccurate, failing to build auditing capacity regarding that arrangement has documents. So far international companies relevant and up-to-date are Government failures that been put to Parliament despite the “We can request any document have led the way in auditing oil information. shouldbemadecriminal,Lowsaid. gas to energy US$1.3B pipeline and we can make that request via sector expenses. It is expected that Opposition Economist and Just days ago, former Health which is being built by Exxon Parliament through questions and the audited documents will YouthAdvisor, Elson Low had told Minister and Opposition Member eventually becoming 100 percent motions.We could put a motion for subsequently be placed in the Kaieteur News that in light of of Parliament, Volda Lawrence state owned. Stakeholders say the it to be publicized or to ask Parliament and possibly anotherdelaybytheGovernmentto tabled several questions in the law does not allow Government to questionsonit,”Figueiraclarified. deliberatedon. deliver the overdue audited oil NationalAssembly to ascertain the spend such sums without He said too that when it comes However, the cost recovery company financials, the cost financingarrangementsinplacefor Parliament’s involvement even if to inspecting the financial statements are quarterly statements recovery statements should be the US multi-million-dollar gas-to- theprojectitselfiscateredforinthe documents, the PAC could also to be handed over to the documents available to the energyprojectbeingpursuedbythe PSA.

Woman 52, found dead in home

Police are investigating the death of a 52-year-old womanwhowasfounddead in the upper flat of her twostorey home at Grove Squatting Area, East Bank Demerara(EBD),onFriday, January6,2023.

D e a d i s S e e r a n i

Seepersaud who reportedly lived with her husband According to police Seepersaud was found at around23:00hrsbyherson.

The woman was last seen alive by her son on January 5, 2023 when she visited his home and spent violence were seen on the sometime. woman’sbody Herhusband

The following day, her was not at home at the time son visited her Grove, EBD the son visited. Speaking home and called for her but with Kaieteur News on got no response. The man Friday, Investigators said said that tenants occupy the that they are awaiting an bottom flat of the home but autopsy report to determine when he visited the upper Seepersaud’scauseofdeath. flat, occupied by his mother Investigatorsquestionedher itwasindarkness. Theman husband who arrived saidheforcedhiswayinand subsequently and the found his mother laying tenants. Police said they motionless Marks of cannotconfirmfoulplay

Fake Demerara Gold branded sugar being sold

…GuySuCowarns

The Guyana Sugar the company said while held liable if the use of this An investigation has C o r p o r a t i o n explaining that “It is item causes health or other been launched into the

(GuySuCo) on mimicking almost the same complications.” production, circulation and Friday informed that there is design at the front and back, The company is asking sale of the fake Demerara a fake Demerara Gold bears the GuySuCo’s local resellers of Demerara Gold Goldsugar p a c k a g e d s u g a r i n address, telephone number to be vigilant when The matter was brought circulation, and on the andemailaddress.” purchasing sugar from third to the attention of the sugar s h e l v e s o f s o m e

The package also claims parties and if unsure, reach companyearlierthisweek. supermarketsinGuyana. tobe“AProductofGuyana”. out to the GuySuCo’s Genuine Demerara Gold

The packaging is of a Further, GuySuCo said Marketing Department on sugar is currently available slight variation to the that it cannot guarantee the marketing@guysuco.com or for wholesale at GuySuCo at g e n u i n e G u y S u C o quality of the content, and as telephone number (592) $5800perbale(40lbs). (Demerara Gold) packaging, such, “GuySuCo will not be 220-2891-4,ext.261.

Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) and PAC Chairman, Jermaine Figueira

Dead: Seerani Seepersaud

Bag Snatcher caught on camera arrested

The Regent Street bag snatcher who was caught on camera was on Friday arrested by police in Region Three. Police said that they received a tip that the man was hanging out at a barbershop so they swooped down on the location and arrested him before he made goodhisescape.

CCTV footage captured him earlier this week brazenly robbing a man of his haversack and other belongings along a fairly crowded pavement on RegentStreet,Georgetown.

The bandit dressed in a blue flap hat, a blue jersey andapairofnavybluedenim jeans was seen walking behind his victim before suddenlypouncingonhim.

He grabbed the man and placed him in a vice grip frombehind.Ashesqueezed and wrestled his victim, he yanked the man’s haversack off his shoulder while grabbing cash from the

man’spantspocket.

The bandit then punched the man a few times to the head and body before walking away as if he had

done nothing. As he walked away from his victim, the camera showed that he had a large kitchen knife in his hand.

Gas pipeline between Lithuania and Latvia blows up

Aljazeera - A gas pipeline connecting

Lithuania and Latvia was hit by an explosion in northern Lithuaniawithnoimmediate evidenceofanattack.

A raging fire was later put out at the blast site in the Panevezys county on Friday, Lithuanian gas transmission operatorAmberGridsaid.

“According to the initial assessment, we do not see any malign cause but the investigation will cover all possible options,” Amber

Grid chief executive

Nemunas Biknius told a newsconference.

Thesupplyofgaswascut off at first as the blast damaged one of two parallel pipelines sending gas from LithuaniatoLatvia.

But hours later, the gas supply to Latvia was restored, according to Biknius. Lithuania, like wartorn Ukraine, borders Russia and is situated on the Baltic Sea where the Russia-toGermany Nord Stream gas

pipelines were destroyed by explosionslastyear

Flames initially rose some 50 metres (160 feet) in the air and could be seen at a distance of at least 17km (11 miles).

There were no injuries or fatalities reported, Baltic news agency BNS said Povilas Balciunas, head of public administration in the nearby town of Pasvalys, said flames initially burned like “a big torch of gas” beforecalmingdown.

Oppositioninsistslawrequires...

From page 21 Services to jointly review them in the public’sinterest.

TheEconomistisoftheopinionthatifis not done, it opens the door to hundreds of billions of dollars being continuously borrowed and spent on infrastructure projectswithoutParliamentaryoversight.

Moreover, he said Guyana would be saddled with costly oil bills that severely restrict the size of the Natural Resource Fund(NRF)andthenation’sabilitytospend on health, education, and a wide range of publicservices.

Low explained that this is exactly what Hugo Chavez did in Venezuela, asking

“These programs were awash with corruption, drained the nation’s resources and helped ensure Venezuela’s Sovereign Wealth Fund only had $3 million USD in its accountsasof2021.”

He added, “Guyanese need to recognise that this project is in the hands of Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo who is accused of bribery and corruption and has not been involved in one successful project in his disastrous political career and therefore we are likely to have another failed project with wide-scalecorruption.”

Soledar: Russia claims victory in battle for Ukraine salt mine town

BBC - Russia’s military says it has captured the Ukrainian salt-mine town of Soledar after a long battle, callingitan“important”step foritsoffensive.

The victory would allow Russian troops to push on to the nearby city of Bakhmut, and cut off the Ukrainian forces there, a spokesman said.

Thiswasaveryconfident and ambitious statement fromMoscow

But Ukrainian officials saidthefightforSoledarwas still going on and accused Russia of “information noise”.

ThebattleforSoledarhas been one of the bloodiest of thewar

The town is relatively small, with a pre-war population of just 10,000, and its strategic significance is debatable. But if it is confirmed that Russian forces have seized control of it, then there will likely be a big sigh of relief in the Kremlin.

Divisions have emerged between regular Russian forces and the notorious R u s s i a n W a g n e r p a r a m i l i t a r y g r o u p throughout the battle, with a jealous turf-war developing over who should take credit fortheadvance.

Barely any walls in Soledar remain standing, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said thisweek.

Describing almost apocalyptic scenes, he spoke of the nearby terrain as scarredbymissilestrikesand littered with Russian corpses.

Speaking during his nightlyaddressfromKyivon Friday, Mr Zelensky said the battleintheregioncontinued to rage, but avoided any reference to Russia’s claims ofcontroloverSoledar

“Althoughtheenemyhas concentrated its greatest forces in this direction, our troops - theArmed Forces of Ukraine, all defence and security forces - are defending the state,” the Ukrainianleadersaid.

His chief of staff,Andriy Yermak, compared the fight for Soledar and Bakhmut to one of the bitterest battles of WorldWarOne,atVerdun.

Regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said on Thursday that 559 civilians including 15 children remained in Soledar and could not be movedout.

The town’s significance for the Russian military is disputed by military analysts because of its relatively small size. The US-based think tank Institute for the Study of War said while it was likely that Russian forces had captured Soledar, it did not believe they would then be able to go on to encircleBakhmut.

Nevertheless, if it becomes clear that Russia has taken it, then that will be seeninMoscowasprogressevenavictory

That is exactly what President Vladimir Putin needs as Russia has failed to capture a single town in Ukraine since July 2022. Since then, Moscow’s forces have suffered a whole series ofembarrassingdefeats.

Ukraine’s successful counter-attack pushed Russia almost completely out of Kharkiv region in the north-east In October, Russia’s Kerch bridge came under attack, with Russian forces retreating from the city of Kherson the followingmonth.

The southern port city had been the only regional capital that Russia had managed to seize since the invasionbegan.

CapturingSoledarwould

be something for Moscow to presentassome“goodnews” totheRussianpeopleandthe troops on the wintry front line.

But Serhiy Cherevatyi, spokesperson for Ukraine’s eastern military command, denied Soledar was in Russian hands: “We won’t give any more details as we do not want to reveal the tactical positions of our fighters.”

D e p u t y D e f e n c e Minister,HannaMalyar,said fighting had been “hot in Soledar overnight” Ukrainian fighters were “bravely trying to hold the defence”, she added, in what was a difficult stage of the war

Western and Ukrainian officials have said much of the fighting in Soledar and Bakhmut is being done by the notoriously brutal Wagnermercenarygroup.

Its leader, 61-year-old Yevgeny Prigozhin, has claimed repeatedly over the past few days that his forces are the only units on the groundinSoledar Hesaidon Tuesday night that his mercenaries had seized the town,onlytobecontradicted by Russia’s defence ministry thenextmorning.

Daily updates from the Russian defence ministry have made no mention whatsoever of Wagner, and Friday’s briefing was no exception. The military said that paratroopers had played a key part in the capture of thetown.

Mr Prigozhin then released a statement saying he was “surprised” to read the defence ministry briefing.

There “wasn’t a single paratrooper” in Soledar, he insisted, warning against “insulting [his] fighters” and “ s t e a l i n g o t h e r s ’ achievements”.

Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A (PDVSA), the state-owned oil company, to fund his “missiones”programs.

A screen grab from a camera footage showing the bag snatcher assaulting the man on the Regent Street pavement.

Ukraine this week cast doubt on a photo claiming to show Yevgeny Prigozhin inside a Soledar salt mine

Eight months after no work, road contract terminated

- Govt.

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, at the site where the road works were slated to be done.

The road which N&S Contracting was slated to complete.

The Government of awardedlastyear beenrolledover G u y a n a o n F r i d a y In a video on the TheMinisterassuredthat terminated a road contract Ministry’s Facebook page, the road works will be could have invested, gone to a w a r d e d t o N & S Edghill said, “This is Friday completed in the interest of Miamiandgonetowherever Contractinglastyear the 13th, 2023, a contractfor those residing in the he wants to go and the Thecontractingfirmwas the continuation of this road community farmers in this community required to construct 1km of gettingintoElDoradowhich “We are not going to be have not benefitted from road from third bridge at is where we are supposed to in a mode of any Contractor this , ” Minister Edghill Eldorado, Moleson Creek, beopeningupfarmlandsand doing a work when he feels said. Upper Corentyne, Region to make life easier for the to do it. When you finish K a i e t e u r N e w s Six. However, after paying people, N&S Contracting something somewhere else understands that the contract t h e C o n t r a c t o r a received that contract and then you gonna come and do a w a r d e d t o N & S mobilisation advance of received a mobilisation this, when you get time, Contracting is valued at $22M, the Contractor failed advance of $22 M and I am when you get money that is $88,134,378. to start works eight months hereatthesite,it’snow8:30, not the way we do it...,”

Meanwhile, Minister after I asked to meet the Ministerdeclared. Edghill visited several other Minister of Public Contractor and he hasn’t Edghill said that when locations including the Works, Juan Edghill, who arrived and none of his Contractorsbidforaproject, SeafortCanalwhereabridge has been in the Region Six workmen is here, there is no despitehavingotherprojects is being constructed to link area since Thursday visiblesignofwork...” to complete on hand, they the Corentyne Highway to checking on road works and A visibly annoyed mustshowthattheyhavethe Canje. e n g a g i n g t h e Edghill subsequently equipment, personnel, the Neighbourhood Democratic instructed his Permanent financial capabilities to Councils (NDC) and Secretary to immediately execute the project awarded residents, found that the terminate the contract. The tothem. worksontheroadthatleadto Ministersaidthatmoniesare “This is eight months, a El Dorado has not started available and Contractors Contractor has received $22 eventhoughthecontractwas engagedsincetheprojecthas M of taxpayers’ money, he

West IndiesWomen’s Rising Stars victorious ahead of opening WC match

(CWI) -West Indies Women’s Rising Stars knockedoffthe71-runtarget, setforthembyZimbabwe,in 12.5 overs. This came in the second of two warm-up games, ahead of their first match of the historic ICC Women’s U19 World Cup in SouthAfrica, against Ireland on Sunday (January 15).

After winning the toss anddecidingtobowlfirst,the West Indies Women Rising StarswereabletorestrictZimbabwe to the small total through a focused bowling performance.

While Jahzara Claxton wasthestandout,withfigures of 2-0-4-2, the other bowlers wereeconomical,withJames, St. John and Cumberbatch picking up a wicket a piece.

Only Zamunu (12) and Mavunga(11)wereabletoget to double digit scores for Zimbabwe.

Withasmalltotaltochase, opener Shunelle Sawh (19) looked in good form, as she set the pace for the innings. Naijanni Cumberbatch came to the crease after the fall of thefirstwicketandmadeafiery 22, including three 4’s,

before Djenaba Joseph (7*) andAsabiCallendar(1*)saw it home for the West Indies team. Ndhlovu, Chare and Mayo picked up a wicket each in the innings.

HeadCoachSteveLiburd was happy with the performance and said, “We definitely wanted to assess our game plans, so the focus was on how we wanted to play going into the World Cup. Thebowlersdidatremendous job in executing their skills and putting the balls into the areas we discussed.”

“From a batting perspec-

tive, Naijanni continues to show that she understands her role in this team. Sawh and Joseph supported well foracomprehensiveteamperformance. With a few more days of training ahead of our firstmatch,Iampleasedwith the players’ response.”

The West Indies Rising Stars will begin their World Cup campaign on Sunday, when they take on Ireland.

WIWomenUnder-19Rising Stars Squad: Ashmini Munisar (captain), Asabi Callendar, Jahzara Claxton, Naijanni Cumberbatch, Earnisha Fontaine, Jannillea Glasgow, Realanna Grimmond, Trishan Holder, ZaidaJames,DjenabaJoseph, K D Jazz Mitchell, Shalini Samaroo, Shunelle Sawh, LenaScottandAbiniStJean.

SriLanka,USA

B - England, Pakistan, Rwanda,Zimbabwe

C - Indonesia, Ireland, New Zealand, West Indies D-India,Scotland,South Africa,UAE

SundayJanuary15:vsIreland at NW University, Potchefstroom–4amECT

Tuesday January 17: vs Indonesia at NW University, Potchefstroom–7:45amECT

Saturday January 14, 2023

ARIES (Mar.21–Apr.19)

A heightened level of intuition and understanding of othersmightcatapultyouto the center of attention at a gathering,Aries.Knowledge combined with experience results in wisdom today

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

Communicationwithfriends who have traveled widely couldhaveyouhankeringto makeafuturevisittoadistant place that you've always wantedtoexperience.

GEMINI(May21–June20)

Dreamsorvisionscouldput you in touch with deep feelings that you may not have beenawareofbefore,Gemini. This could enable you to releasetraumasfromyourpast and give you a new sense of lightness.

CANCER(June21–July22)

Relationshipsofallkindsare likely to be strengthened by an increased level of understanding today, Cancer Your thinking is greatly enhanced by your emotional intuitiveness.

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

Today your emotional intuitionintensifiesyourmental abilities, Leo. Friends and familymembersarelikelyto grow closer to you.

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)

Relationships with those closest to you, particularly friends and love partners, should be enhanced by an increased understanding of theiremotionalworld,Virgo.

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

Dealing with the ups and downsofotherfamilymembers could be easier for you today than usual, Libra. You're less inclined to be logicalandmoreapttoidentify with what other people feel.

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov.21)

Todayyourmindisstrongly influenced by feeling and intuition, Scorpio, so you'll be able to communicate especially well with others. You might sense what they need to hear before.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

You generally like to think ofyourselfassomeonewho faces life logically and rationally, Sagittarius, but today your intuitive side could prove a valuable resource.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Yourintuitionisusuallyvery strong, Capricorn, and your level of empathy enhances your relationships. Today, however, a burst of logic could enable you to see many things.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

Yourintuitionisheightened almosttothepointoftelepathy today Aquarius, you may be able to sense what others want and need even before they know it themselves.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20) Getting in touch with your closest friends could bring aboutsomeintensecommunication, with many revealing some of your deepest concerns, Pisces.

Groups

A-Australia,Bangladesh,

‘I’ve

From page 31 on. It’s just about assessing working with staff working with the players and coming upwiththerightstrategy,”he added.

The 48-year-old has had a few stints with the senior, first joining the coaching ranks under Otis Gibson and serving spells under Stuart LawandbrieflySimmons. In his estimation, communication will be a crucial part of his plans for success.

“In this case communication is going to be very crucial,soworkingoutwhatthat communication strategy is going to be.” (SportsMax)

President Ali urges...

From page 33 the cricket product. How can we build a product that will bring in the North American market in an environment that is close to the market?

We,asagovernment,arewillingtoinvestintheinfrastructure.We,asagovernment,are willing to invest in the ecosystem to support this, and I extend this invitation to you to do it with us.

We are ready to do it with you.”

Through the lucrative Indian Premier League, Guyanese cricketers have beenabletoearnhandsomely from the game, the likes of Shimron Hetmyer, Keemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford andRomarioShepherd.

(story compliments: Newsroom)

WestIndiesMatchSchedule

Thursday January 19: vs NewZealand,JBMarksOval, Potchefstroom–7:45amECT

never been...

Iranianchessrefereesparswithgoverningbodyoverwomen’ssolidarity

GENEVA, (Reuters)Iranian chess referee ShohrehBayatsaysagesture of solidarity with female compatriots at a tournament in Iceland has caused a feud with the game’s global body and seen her kicked off a commission.

Bayat wore a “Women, Life, Freedom” T-shirt at a prestigious tournament in October, soon after protests began in Iran over the death of 22-year-old MahsaAmini whileincustodyforbreaking strictIslamicdresscode.

“I don’t think it’s normal to stay quiet about this,” Bayat, 35, told Reuters in a video interview She is among a string of sports figures to clash with authorities over the hijab policy and express solidarity with anti-government demonstrators.

“This is a big human rights matter I think if we stayquietaboutthesethings, w e c a n n o t f o r g i v e

ourselves,”sheadded.

Bayat, who was also accused by Iran of violating hijab practice at a tournament in 2020, said the International Chess Federation (FIDE) had removed her from its arbiters’ commission after she angered its President ArkadyDvorkovich.

The Iranian said Dvorkovich asked her to change her attire in Iceland, after another chess official had raised the issue. She reappearedatthetournament in a yellow suit and blue blouse: the colours of the Ukrainianflag.

F I D E c o n f i r m e d Dvorkovich had requested she not wear the shirt about women’s rights The federation said it respected Bayat’s political activities but that she “disregarded direct instructions given to her to stop wearing slogans ormottos.”

“No matter how noble or

uncontroversial the cause is, doingactivismfromthatrole is inappropriate and unprofessional,” it said in a statementtoReuters.

Tehran casts the protesters as pawns of a Western-led push to overthrowthegovernment.

‘ B E A U T I F U L MESSAGE’

B a y a t a c c u s e d Dvorkovich, a Russian deputy prime minister from 2012to2018,ofsuccumbing to geopolitics. “Iran and Russia are very united in the

Messi, Mbappe and Neymar set

war against Ukraine,” she said. “When I was told by DvorkovichtotakeoffmyTshirt, that was the reason probably

“My T-shirt was not political at all It’s one of the most beautiful women’s rights messages in the world.”

According to a message seen by Reuters, a senior FIDE official told Bayat she had been removed from the commission because Dvorkovich was “furious” withher Dvorkovichdidnot respond to a request for comment. FIDE said it had n o t d i s c u s s e d a n y disciplinary action against Bayat and values her as an arbiter

Bayat lives in London, fearing for her safety after photos of her at the 2020 tournament in Russia brought criticism in Iranian statemedia.Bayatsaidatthe time that she does not agree with the hijab, but that she

had been wearing a headscarf during the championship’s first matches, although it had been loose and was not visible from some angles in photographs.

Since Iran’s Islamic Revolution, all women are required to wear a hijab in p u b l i c , i n c l u d i n g sportswomen abroad Women who break the dress

codecanbepubliclyberated, finedorarrested.

Bayat was awarded the International Women of Courage Award by the United States in 2021 and has since used her platform to advocate for Iranian women.

“When I can, when there is an opportunity, I have to raise the voice of Iranian people,”shesaid.

to

join forces for first time since World Cup

AFP - Paris SaintGermain’s trip to Rennes on Sunday is set to be the first time their superstar front three of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar have all played together sincetheWorldCup.

Mbappe returned to training on Thursday having been given 10 days off after coming back from Qatar and playing in PSG’s first two games following the tournament

He jetted off to New York for a break and was nowhere to be seen as M e s s i m a d e h i s comeback, and scored, in a 2-0 victory for the Ligue 1 leaders againstAngers on Wednesday

The World Cup was a clear motivating factor in the trio’s outstanding form during the early months of the campaign, and how they play together will be crucial in determining how the remainder of the season goesforPSG.

They are six points clear of Lens before completing the first half of the season in Rennes, but the Champions League is theirmainobjective.

After failing to come top of their group, Christophe Galtier’s side were drawn to play Bayern Munich in the

last 16, with the first leg at homesetforFebruary14.

Galtierdescribedthe35year-old Messi as “relaxed and in great shape physically” after his first match since captaining Argentina to a penalty shoot-out victory over Mbappe’s France in an epic WorldCupfinallastmonth.

The question now is how much motivation the former Barcelona star has after that career-defining triumph

PSG are keen to extend his contract in the French capital into a third season and Messi’s biggest goal now will be to win the Champions League for the firsttimesince2015.

Fuelled by losing the World Cup final despite scoring a hat-trick, 2018 world champion Mbappe

will be desperate to get his hands on the Champions League trophy for the first time.

Neymar, meanwhile, appears a little like the odd man out he left the World Cup in tears as Brazil lost on penalties in the quarter-finals, aware his chance of winning that trophy may have gone forever

He was then sent off in PSG’s first game p o s t - Q a t a r a g a i n s t Strasbourg, completing a miserable end to 2022 But for PSG it is not just about those three

They look light in defence, where they appear overly reliant on an ageing Sergio Ramos, and short of muscle in midfield, an area where a fragile Marco Verrattiis theirkeyplayer

RUSADA rules figure skater

Valieva did not commit doping offence – WADA

(Reuters) - The Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) investigation into figure skater Kamila Valieva’s failed drug test has ruled that the teenager was not guilty of any doping infraction, the World AntiDoping Agency (WADA) saidyesterday

WADA said in a statement that RUSADA had determined that although Valieva had committed an anti-doping rule violation, she bore “no faultornegligence”forit

As such, the tribunal imposed no sanction e x c e p t f o r t h e disqualification of her results on the date of the sample collection on Dec 25, 2021 before the then 15-year-old competed at theBeijingOlympics.

WA D A h a d b e e n seeking a four-year ban and said in a statement that it was “concerned” by the finding and will not hesitate to exercise its right of appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)

Valieva tested positive for the banned substance

trimetazidine at the R u s s i a n n a t i o n a l c h a m p i o n s h i p s i n December 2021 but the result was only made known on Feb. 8, a day after she helped her team win a gold medal at the Beijing Olympics.

I n h e r d e f e n c e , Valieva said the positive test was the result of a m i x - u p w i t h h e r g r a n d f a t h e r ’s heart medication CAS had cleared Valieva to continue competing at the Beijing Games in February, upholding an earlier

decision by RUSADAto lift abanontheskater

CAS had cited the fact that Valieva was a “protected person” under WADA rules as one of the “ e x c e p t i o n a l c i r c u m s t a n c e s ” underpinning its decision The CAS ruling did not address the merits of Valieva’sdrugcase.

At the time, WADA president Witold Banka had e x p r e s s e d h i s disappointment with the decision, saying that the “doping of children is evil andunforgivable”

Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar are set to join forces for Sunday’s game.

Kamila Valieva of the Russian Olympic Committee in action. (REUTERS/Aleksandra Szmigiel)

Sara Khadem

Shohreh Bayat

-

Australia defend scrapping Afghanistan cricket series

Footballer Benjamin Mendy cleared of six counts of rape

AFP - A jury in the UK y e s t e r d a y c l e a r e d Manchester City and France footballer Benjamin Mendy of six counts of rape and one ofsexualassaultagainstfour women, following a sixmonthtrial.

The seven men and four women on the panel failed to reach verdicts on a seventh charge of rape and one of attemptedrape.

P r o s e c u t o r s s a i d afterwardstheywouldseeka retrialonthosecounts.

A F P - A u s t r a l i a yesterday defended their hotly contested decision to pull out of a cricket series against Afghanistan following a Taliban crackdown on women’s “basichumanrights”.

“Basic human rights is not politics,” Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley said in a statement sent to AFP after Afghanistan’s cricket board lashed the cancellation as “pathetic”.

The Australian men’s team had been due to face theirAfghancounterpartsfor three one-day internationals in the United Arab Emirates inMarch,followingatourof India.

“It is clearly a very challenging and sad situation. We did not take

this decision lightly,” Hockleysaid.

Cricket Australia had been hopeful of playing Afghanistan and was in regular contact with the Afghanistan Cricket Board, headded.

“ H o w e v e r announcements by the Taliban in late November a n d l a t e D e c e m b e r signalling the deterioration of basic human rights for women inAfghanistanledto our decision to withdraw fromthesegames,”hesaid.

Hockley said the Australian cricket authority c o n s u l t e d w i t h t h e Australian government and others before scrapping the games.

He also responded to Afghanistan’s best-known international cricketer and

leg-spinner Rashid Khan, who had criticised the cancellation and warned he would be “strongly considering” his future in Australia’s Big Bash League.

“We acknowledge and applaud Rashid Khan’s and otherAfghanistancricketers’ comments at the time condemning the Taliban’s decision to ban women from universities Rashid will always be welcome in the BBL,”Hockleysaid.

Australia was committed to growing the game for women and men, the cricket chief said, adding that he hoped better conditions for women and girls in Afghanistan would allow cricket between the countries to resume “in the nottoodistantfuture”.

FIFA penalises Mexico for offensive chants by fans during World Cup matches

MEXICOCITY,(Reuters)

FIFAsanctionedtheMexican FootballFederation(FMF)for the offensive chants the country’s fans made during their matches at last year’s World Cup by ordering it to play a game behind closed doors and fined it 100,000 Swissfrancs($108,000).

“The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has fined FMF with a fine of CHF 100,000 and one match to be played behind closed doors in light of chants by Mexican supporters during the Mexicov Poland and Saudi Arabia v Mexico World Cup matches,” FIFAsaid in astatementyesterday

“This sanction will apply on the next official

match played by their senior men’s national team inaFIFAcompetition.”

The FMF has been sanctioned on several occasions because of a shout Mexican fans make before the rival goalkeeper

clearstheball. Mexico will play Jamaica behind closed doors on March 25 in the CONCACAF Nations League ($1 = 0 9260 Swiss francs)

“We have made a decision today, which is to proceed on these counts in two separate trials, ” prosecutor Matthew Conway told Chester Crown Court.

Mendy, 28, who denied all nine counts involving six women, covered his face with both hands, gently rockingbackandforth,asthe verdictsweredelivered.

Jenny Wiltshire, of Mendy’s lawyers Hickman & Rose, said the footballer was “delighted that he has b e e n u n a n i m o u s l y acquitted” of most of the chargeshefaced.

“He looks forward to clearing his name in relation totheothertwochargessohe can start rebuilding his life,” sheadded.

Judge Steven Everett immediately set a new trial start date of June 26 for the two counts on which the jury didnotreturnaverdict.

“It is not unusual that jurorsdon’treachverdictson somecounts.

You have to be true to yourduty,”Everettsaidashe thanked them and excused them from any future jury serviceforsevenyears.

The jury, which began hearing the case lastAugust, had been deliberating since

early December, with an extended break over the Christmas and new year holidayperiod.

-ClubrespondsMendy was accused alongside Louis Saha Matturie, 41, an alleged “fixer”, who was found not guilty by the jury of three countsofraperelatingtotwo teenagers.

Jurorsalsofailedtoreach verdicts on three counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault against Matturie by five other women.

The prosecution had alleged that Mendy was a sexual “predator” who raped or sexually assaulted young women procured by Matturie, at parties at his luxuryhome.

Mendy denied ever forcing any woman into sex and both said any sexual activity they had with womenwasconsensual.

Giving evidence, he told the court that he enjoyed “having sex with a lot of women”.

But, he said, if a woman

said “no” he would “be fine, I’dacceptitandI’dstop”.

He said he had seen it as “normal” to sleep with several women in one night and “didn’t worry” about using contraception, acknowledging he could be “disrespectful” in talking aboutwomen.

A statement from Mendy’s club Manchester City said: “Given there are open matters related to this case, the club is not in a position to comment further atthistime.”

M e n d y j o i n e d Manchester City from French club Monaco in 2017.

He has played 75 times for City, but his playing time was limited by injuries and a lossofform.

He has not played since August 15 2021, days before he was hit with an initial charge of four counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.

Thelastofhis10capsfor France came in November 2019, after the defender won theWorldCupin2018.

Benjamin Mendy

A long exposure shows FIFA’s logo near its headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland February 27, 2022. (REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann)

Australia on Friday defended their hotly contested decision to pull out of a cricket series against Afghanistan.

ICCWomen’sU19WorldCup…

Chanderpaul’sUSATeamcommencecampaigntoday

United States of America (USA) women’s U19 team, currently being coached by Guyanese and West Indies batting legend, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, will commence their campaign in the inaugural ICC U19 T20 Cricket World Cup in South Africa today They play Sri Lanka in their opening game from 7:45am ETC.

On Sunday, January 16, they oppose Australia then play their final Group A match against Bangladesh onTuesday,January18.

USA, champions of the 2022 West Indies Women’s Under-19 Championships, lost to Scotland in their opening warm-up match by 45 runs but returned with a

confidence boosting 31-run win against United Arab Emirates (UAE) in their secondwarm-upmatch.

Batting first, USA posted 122-7 then restricted UAE to 91-6 when their 20 overs expired

Laasya Mulapudi (33), Anika Kolan (31*) and Snigdha Paul (20) were the main contributors with the batfortheeventualvictors.

Samaira Dharnidharka was infineformwiththeballaheadof theGroupstagesassheproduced 4 – 17 from three overs, which included a maiden Theertha SatishledUAE’sreplywitha quick fire 32 while Dharnidharka contributed 22 with the bat, the second highestscorer Opener Lavanya Keny, who was left unbeaten on 14,

Phillips snatches ODI win in Pakistan, NZ takes series 2-1

KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) Glenn Phillips smoked an unbeaten 63 runs from 42 balls to seize for NewZealandathrillingtwowicket win over Pakistan in the series-deciding one-day internationalyesterday.

Phillips counterattacked after a collapse and carried New Zealand over the line with11ballstospare.

They rounded off their tour with a 2-1 victory, their first ODI series win on the subcontinentin15years New Zealand reached 281-8 in reply to Pakistan’s 280-9 Phillips upstaged

Fakhar Zaman’s brilliant 101 his eighth ODI century and Mohammad Rizwan’s better-than-a-run-

a-ball77

“We were in the game at the halfway stage but made a few errors,” New Zealand captain Kane Williamson said.

“Glenn was just playing how he plays.

I don’t think he wanted to run too much; he was a bit under the weather.

He just grabbed it (the game) ”

Fakhar and Rizwan combined in a 154-run third-wicket stand after v i c e - c a p t a i n S h a n Masood, playing his first game of the series, was out for zero and captain Babar Azam was stumped for the thirdtimeintheserieson4.

Fakhar adjusted well on the slow pitch and raised

his 100 off 120 balls with 10fours andasix.

New Zealand clawed its way back into the game by claiming seven wickets for105runs.

Ish Sodhi broke the threatening stand by having Rizwan clean bowled off a sharp googly, while substitute fielder Henry Nicholls brilliantly ran out Fakhar and Haris Sohail off directthrows.

Agha Salman made 45 off 43 balls, but New Zealand kept striking at regularintervals

Tim Southee claimed 3-56 and Lockie Ferguson chipped in with 2-63 in his 50thODI

Williamson (53), Devon Conway (52) and Daryl Mitchell (31) all made good starts before Pakistan squeezed the Black Caps in the middle overs

Conway sliced a catch to point off Salman and Mitchell reverse swept the offspinner to short third man

Williamson was run out comfortably while going for a quick singlein the34thover

Tom Latham dragged Mohammad Wasim back onto his stumps while attempting a pull shot

against the fast bowler and New Zealand slipped to 205-6 in the 39th over

But Phillips took the game away from Pakistan He hit four massive sixes and four boundaries in a blistering 64-run stand with Mitchell Santner (15) off just 44 balls

“When Rizwan and Fakhar played, it looked like we’d touch 300,” Babar said “There were

lots of soft dismissals and wewere20-30runs short

There wasn’t much turn for our spinners and we couldn’t quite execute in the last 10 overs with the ball ”

New Zealand drew the two-test series 0-0 on its first test tour to Pakistan in 20 years

N e w Z e a l a n d dominated in both tests before Pakistan escaped

with draws

New Zealand moves on to India to play three O D I s a n d t h r e e Twenty20s from next week

Scores: New Zealand 281 for 8 (Phillips 63*, Williamson 53, Conway 52, Salman 2-42) beat Pakistan 280 for 9 (Fakhar 101, Rizwan 77, Southee 3-56) by two wickets

was the only other batter to reach doubles figures USA also had a disciplined effort

with the ball to help secure the victory Chanderpaul, who has been widely tipped

in the past month to be the next West Indies men’s head coach, leaves the USA

women’scoachroleafterthe ICC Women’s U19 T20 WorldCupconcludes.

The USA Women’s U19 Team has been drawn in Group A with Australia, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. (Photo: ICC)

New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips, center, Tim Southee, second right, shake hands with Pakistani players after winning the 3rd one-day international cricket match against Pakistan, in Karachi, Pakistan, Friday, Jan. 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman, left, celebrates after scoring 100 runs during the 3rd one-day international cricket match between (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

GOA elections unlikely before latter part of February – Yassin

-Awaitingauditedfinancialstatements

By Rawle Toney

Kalam Juman-Yassin, the long-serving president of the Guyana Olympic Association(GOA),believes that the highly anticipated Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Elections are unlikely before the end of February.

Yassin, who will be stepping down after almost three decades at the helm of one of the most important sports institutions in Guyana was at the time speaking to state-owned media, the National Communications Network(NCN).

YassinexplainedtoNCN that the elections would not be held until the completion andsubmissionoftheGOA’s audited financial statements, “We have been waiting on the audited statements, and as a result Elections could not have been held and will not be held until it is received.”

“This is unfortunate, as these statements should’ve been ready a long time ago. But they have not, and

there’s nothing more that we cando.“Ireallywouldliketo have elections as early as possible so that the new executives can determine and implement any new initiatives that they may seem or seek to do,” Yassin said.

Unsure about which period of the current Executive Committee’s tenure will be under review by the auditors, Yassin added, “I would expect that we should have an audited statement up to December 2022,oratleastbytheendof November 2022 because the executives have been operating from 2016 to

now.” “We have to have the audited statement, and the termranfrom2016tothelast Olympics,andIhopethatwe c a n h a v e t h e s e documentations so that the GOA can move forward,” the long-serving sports administratorsaid.

Yassin stressed his support to the incoming president of the GOA, pointing out that “I would wish the new president and executive all the best, and whatever I could do and continue to do, I would so do.”

The 75-year-old was seeking another term at the helm of the GOA despite serving in the capacity since 1996.

The former Chief Magistrate turned AttorneyAt-Law had his hopes shattered when the GOA hosted a Special General M e e t i n g r e g a r d i n g ratification of its new constitution.

A p a r t f r o m t h e implementation of a m a x i m u m o f t h r e e

‘I’ve never been one to back away from a challenge’

-ColeylookingforwardtoWindiesinterimstint

Interim West Indies coachAndreColeyinsistshe is eager to embrace the challenge of coaching the regional cricket team, despite the numerous challenges associated with it.

Former all-rounder Phil Simmons became the latest casualty in a long line of coaches tasked with pushing the Caribbean team back among global cricket’s elites and failing to achieve that elusivetarget.

Coley,whohashadstints with the region’s HighPerformance Centre, women’s team and also served as an assistant coach for the men’s team, was appointed to fill the role, while Cricket West Indies (CWI) contemplates its next moves.

CWI announced that Coley would oversee the two-Test tour of Zimbabwe from the 28th January to 16th February, as well as the multi-format tour of South Africa, which includes two Tests, three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and

three T20 Internationals (T20Is) from the 21rd Februaryto28thMarch.

Despite finding himself p l a c e d u n d e r t h e microscope, in light of some of the team’s recent poor performances, he remains motivated and enthused to

takeuptherole.

“ E v e r y c o a c h i n g opportunity bring a different challenge and I have never been one to back away from a challenge,” Coley told the SportsMax Zone. “If offered generallyIlooktotakethem

consecutive four-year terms forthepresidentoftheGOA, the association’s new constitution, based on a recommendation from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has a clause that disallows anyone seeking to serve on the G O A’ s E x e c u t i v e

Committee from doing so if he/sheisolderthan70years.

The GOA’s general council, on June 16, 2022, after much deliberation, voted 29 – 13 to include the 70-year age limit for Executive Committee members. Yassin currently serves with Charles Corbin,

Dr Karen Pilgrim and GodfreyMunroeashisVicepresidents along with Hector Edwards as Secretary General and Assistant SecretaryDeionNurse.

Garfield Wiltshire is the GOA’s Treasurer, while Tricia Fiedtkou is the AssistantTreasurer

The Executive Committee of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA)

GOA president, Kalam Juman-Yassin

Interim West Indies coach, Andre Coley (Photo: Jamaica Observer)

CWIMA REVIEW OF 2022...

Sudesh Dhaniram in action

1. O60s World CupQueensland, AustraliaSeptember,2022

Our O60s ventured into the Sunshine State of Queensland, Australia to compete in the inaugural O60s World Cup under quite different conditions The weather wreaked havoc with this tournament and the schedule was hastily adjusted by the World Cup Committeethatresultedinus playing 7 matches in 9 days. Thatwasarecipefordisaster that would test even the fittest of teams much less an O60s team not yet attuned to a p r o p e r f i t n e s s regimentation Starting a World Cup having to play 3 back-to-back matches will never do justice for any team that does not play cricket regularly and not having any established leagues for that age group level followed by a solitary rest day then 2 other back-to- back matches and a rest day in between 2 othersimilarmatches.

From the inception, our full complement of 17 players could not have been metwhenformerTestplayer, Alvin Kallicharran, broke his finger and had to pull out from the tour at the last

minute. This was further exacerbated when our vicecaptainandopeningbatsman Kris Ramdat ruptured his ankle tendon and had to return the TT for emergency surgery Off spinner Gerald Singh was also nursing a rotator cuff injury to his bowling arm that caused us to lose a major bowler from the get go. Walter Persaud was also struggling with a knee injury after the practice match against India but was forced to play in all of the matches. Our top batsman, Sunderdat Sookram, pulled up with a knee injury after the first match which ruled him out of most of the Cup matches. Our star player, RichardSieuchanalsopulled up with a groin injury midway through the tournament that severely crippled his performance even though he participated inallthematches.Oneofour main all-rounders, Hafiz Mohamed,cametoAustralia a bit under the weather and had to be carefully managed. Our liaison officer, George Downes, of Barbados roots was convinced to join us eventhoughhewassuffering from a knee injury also. He was also able to assist us in recruiting the De Silva brothers, Richard & Roger,

Tiger Rentals under-13 football... Four matches at Providence this morning

from TT who were residing inAustraliaandwerewilling to take the time off to be a part of our squad for the tournament.

Richard Sieuchan was out top batter with 212 runs and a highest score of 60 not out and an average of 35.33. He was followed by captain Roy Singh with 198 runs at an average of 28.29. No other batter passed 100 runs in aggregate. Prem Singh was the pick of our bowlers finishing with 16 wickets at an economy rate of 4.51 followedbyHafizMohamed with 12 wickets at an economyrateof4.96.

West Indies won their final encounter against Zimbabwe in the playoffs to finish at number 11 but lost all the other games by fairly closemargins.

2. B I G M A N C R I C K E T O 5 0 s C A R I B B E A N C U PBarbados-November,2022 CWIMA in its first attempt at hosting a tournament pulled off a major coup when it hosted a mini world cup with its 8 team BMC O50s Caribbean Cup. This tournament was announced at the closing ceremony of the Texas tournament and was hugely successful barring the

inclement weather that affected some of the matches. The countries that participated were: Canada, England, India, UAE, USA, Wales, West Indies and West IndiesA.

Preliminary matches were played at the BNOC, Pickwick, Windward, St Catherine and Police grounds. USAdefeatedWest Indies in the final which was played at the historic Kensington Oval on Friday, November 11th 2022 Followingthefinal,CWIMA h o s t e d a g a l a Closing/Presentation Dinner Awards Ceremony at the Golden Sands Hotel. USA carted off the beautifulBMC O50s Caribbean Cup whilst West Indies had to settle for the Runners up trophy However, as a consolation, West Indies players copped three of the four individual awards presented that evening:

Ø PLAYER OF THE SERIES- ZAMIN AMIN (WI)

Ø BEST FIELDERANTHONY SAHADEO (WI)

Ø BEST BOWLERZAMINAMIN(WI)

Ø BEST BATSMANJONATHAN WILEMAN (England)

This was our very first fullyearofcricketeversince our formation and we have achieved quite a lot and have had a very steep learning curve in administering tours and the like. One thing that standsoutisthenecessityfor our players to adopt a consistent training and fitness regimentation as it has been proven that it is easier to sustain injuries when you are unfit. We trust thatthoseplayerswhointend to take masters cricket seriously will make this commitment for themselves, their families and West Indiescricketingeneral.

March 2022 in Texas marked a very significant milestone in our history

whenCWIMAwasofficially constituted as a legal body and held its first elections of officers The following persons were elected as directorstoserve:

RajSingh-Chairman Dave Narine- ViceChairman

RoySingh-Secretary

Kenny GirdharryTreasurer

Oral Bedessie- Asst Secretary/Treasurer

ZaminAmin-Director

A n t h o n y M o r r i sDirector

ImtiazAli-Director JulianCharles-Director CWIMA wishes to extend best wishes to everyone for a bright and prosperous2023.

This will be match day two of the nation-wide competitionthathaswillsee club teams and Academy Training Centers (ATC) going head to head for top hours in this first for Guyana’s football The fixtures for today will see East Bank matching skills with Bartica in the first match which will be played simultaneously with West Demerara versus West Berbice The other two simultaneous matches will see Georgetown playing against East Coast while Upper Demerara will be pittedagainstEastBerbice.

East Berbice had trampled Diamond United 6-1 on match day one and they will surely be looking to continue their good form. The other winners from the opening round included Fruta Conquerors; coached by Golden Jaguar Jeremy Garrett, which defeated TimehriPanthers5-2.

Meanwhile, Upper Demerara had defeated We s t B e r b i c e 2 - 0 , Georgetown ATC edged Region Six ATC 2-1, while West Demerara ATC triumphed over East Bank ATC 3-1. Last Saturday, the East Bank Football Association (EBFA) kicked off their inter-association tournament with two matches at the NTC Diamond United beat Agricola Red triangle 4-3 while Timehri A team beat HerstellingRaiders8-0.

WI Captain gives an insight into her goals for the tournament

“I can’t explain the exact feeling, but the word overwhelming comes to mind, of the emotions that I felt when I got the selection call to the West Indies Women’sU19team.”

Those were the words of the now captain of the team AshminiMunisar

A very humbled and focused young lady from Guyana, Ashmini got her start playing cricket after her neighbour who played for Guyana’s U19 boys’ team would include her to “take a knock” in their yard Ashmini credits him for introducing her early to the technical aspect of the game, thereby setting her early on the road to becoming k n o w l e d g e a b l e a n d

understandingofthegame.

A s h m i n i w a s n ’ t expecting to be appointed as captain of the team, saying, “I honestly wasn’t expecting it, but I guess the selectors saw the ability and leadership qualities I had when they selected me for the role. When I met up with therestofmyteammatesand Igottoknowthembetter,we all gelled well, and everythingfellintoplace.”

A very analytical personality in setting goals for herself, one of the things she says that keeps her motivated to be a successful cricketer, “I set goals and work towards them but the biggest motivational factor for me is my family and coaches, knowing the

amount of sacrifices and effortstheyhaveputintome, I just want to make them proud.”

The diminutive, friedrice loving teenager from Berbice hopes to make it to the West Indies Women’s senior team in the future but she is heeding the advice of one of her coaches back home in Guyana, who she saidtoldherto,“focusonthe taskathandwithplayingand captaining the U19 squad, to getthebestoutofherplayers and lead the team as far as possibleintothefinalrounds of the ICC Women’s U19 World Cup and everything elsewillfallintoplace.”

Ashmini has indicated that the team has adapted very quickly to the time

difference and conditions in South Africa, “We adapted better than we did during our lasttourtoIndia.Thepitches herehavemuchmorebounce and are quicker than what we’re accustomed too I want to use my skills as one of the main bowlers to put myteamina positiontowin. We want to perform as best aswecan,andourfocusisto finish in the top two in our group and then refocus on the knockout stages.” The West IndiesWomen’s Rising Stars under the leadership of Ashminihavetheirsightsset o n s h a k i n g u p t h e competition and jetting back to the Caribbean with the title-Atitlethatwouldaddto the list of World Cup championships.(CWI)

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF)/Tiger Rentals under-13 football tournament continues this morning from 10:30hrs at the National Training Center, Providence, with fourmatches.

GASA’s Republic Meet to start their 2023 calendar

In their efforts to progress back to s o m e f o r m o f normalcy months after the pandemic restrictions were completely lifted, the GuyanaAmateur Swimming Association (GASA) has identified their Republic Meet as the first National eventfor2023.

This Championship was last contested in March 2019, just under two weeks b e f o r e C O V I D - 1 9 restrictions came into effect. Dorado Speed Swim Club amassed 2374 points over the 56 events at the National Aquatic Centre to claim the titleaheadofDolphin(1974) and Sea Otter Swim Academy (1221). February 16 – 19, 2023 has been earmarked as the period that the Meet is set to unfold at the same venue. It will serve as the catalyst from which GASA’s team for the 2023 C A R I F TA A q u a t i c s Championshipisselected.

This year’s CARIFTA Aquatics Championship is billed for April 8 – 11 in Curaçao; it was initially scheduled for St. Lucia but the CARIFTACongress was not satisfied that St. Lucia’s facilities would be ready in

timeforthemeet.

GASA President, who recently disclosed the dates for the National Meet, said, “Well, we’ve had that discussion with the clubs. I think they’ve all committed to doing that this year We will start off, of course, with the Republic Meet and right after that we hope to have Doradohavingtheirmeet.”

“Of course Dolphin had theirs; they will schedule to have theirs around the same time. Sea Otters again, right afterthesummerandwewill go back to Linden for the Open Water Programme that they would have had last year.” He added, “Silver Sharks and Orca are hoping todotheirssometimearound

Easter Inadditiontothat,we have a few clinics that we had planned to do last year; we didn’t get to pull it out. But the plan is to pull off those clinics so we can work on administrative and coaches’ development withinthisyear.”

The championships will also be used to select Guyana’s GoodwillTraining Squad for the 26th edition of theeventinSuriname.

At the conclusion of the 25th Goodwill Swim Meet, Guyana walked away with a tally of 43 medals, 23 of whichcameintheindividual categories with 20 coming from the relay teams. Their catch included six gold, five silver and 12 bronze in the individual categories while the relay teams secured two first, one second and two thirdplacefinishes.

Following the Republic Meet, GASA has a challenging list of International engagements which include the CARIFTA Aquatics Championship, PANAM Aquatics Open Water Swim Series, XXIV CAC Games, FINA World Championships and the Commonwealth Youth Games,tonameafew

President Ali urges Indian cricket stakeholders to make Guyana their next investment destination

By Avenash Ramzan in Madhya Pradesh, Indore

PresidentIrfaanAli,who is currently on an official state visit to India, has urged cricket stakeholders there to make Guyana their next investmentdestinationwhen it comes to cricket as he hopes to make the country the premier destination for the sport within the Caribbean and North Americanregion.

The Head-of-State drew reference to Guyana’s hosting of the Hero Caribbean Premier League finals for three consecutive years, and the possibilities that exist through strategic partnerships.

Speaking at the Invest Madhya Pradesh Global Investors Summit in Indore on Wednesday, Dr Ali told a packed auditorium in the cricket-crazy nation, “We’re working on a plan now to position Guyana as a major destination for world cricket.”

“I recently brought in Sir Clive Lloyd and I’m working now (and) negotiating with a major Indian cricketer to position Guyana as a Mecca of cricket in the geographic location we’re in- close to NorthAmerica.”

The Indian Premier League is the largest domestic T20 league in the world, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India has significant influence at the top-level of global administrationofthesport.

“Not so long ago there were other powers- the big

players and movers of cricket- but because of innovation and forward planningyou’vebeenableto take that position in global cricket,” Dr Ali told the gathering.

However, the President continued, “One of the mistakes these powers of cricketmadewastohavetoo much inward looking policies, trying to capture onlyasegment.”

“I offer you the opportunity to make Guyana your next investment destinationinbuildingout (Continued

From left: Vladimir Woodroffe, Jaleel Anderson, Stephen Ramkhelawan and Elliott Gonsalves were a part of Guyana’s Goodwill Team in 2019.

GASA President, Dwayne Scott

President Irfaan Ali addressing the Summit on Wednesday (Photo: News Room/ January 11, 2023)

Ashmini Munisar (Photo: CWI)