Kaieteur News

All key financial data on gas-to-energy project not in public eyes

The way has been cleared for construction to commence on the US$2 billion Gas-to-Energy (GTE) projectevenasGuyaneseremainin the dark regarding key aspects of the controversial initiative, in clear violationofthenation'slaws.

Each application made to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) seeking Environmental AuthorizationoraPermittostartup a project must be shared with the public.

At least this is according to the Constitution, specifically the EnvironmentalProtectionAct.

PartVII of the Law, that speaks directly to 'Investigations, Prosecutions, Civil Proceedings' makes it pellucid at Section 36 (1) that “It shall be the duty of the Agency to maintain, open to the public, registers containing particulars of- (a) each application for an environmental authorization made to the agency, including the name and address of the person making the application, and the location at which any activity is proposed to be or is undertaken pursuant to the environmental authorization.”

There are an additional nine particulars that the EPA must publicise, including each environmental authorization granted, its terms and conditions; each cancellation, revocation, variation or transfer of an environmental authorization and each incident or occurrence causing or threatening serious or material environmental harm that comestotheagency

Section 36(4) adds, “The register must be kept available for inspection by any member of the public during ordinary office hours at the principal office of the Agency.”

At Part III of the Act that deals w i t h ' P o w e r t o G r a n t Environmental Authorization' the legislation highlights the requirements to apply for authorization. Section 17(2) goes ontoexplainthatanapplicationfor environmental authorization shall contain the company or corporate name; proof that the applicant either owns the facility or has a lease or other agreement with the land owner- map showing the location of any existing or proposed intake and discharge structures and location of discharge; a detailed description of the activity generating the dischargeandseveralothers.

Notably, while these facts should be accessible by members of the public, the applications made- that would contain these details-bybothGovernmentandits partner, ExxonMobil for the massive gas project was never publishedbytheregulator

But, in addition to these elements of the project, all

agreements made to date between the two parties have similarly been blanketedorkeptsecret.

Just yesterday it was reported that former Health Minister and Opposition Member of Parliament, Volda Lawrence has tabled several questionsintheNationalAssembly to ascertain the financing arrangementsinplaceforthemultimillion dollar gas-to-energy project.

In the questions posed to Prime Minister, Brigadier (retired) Mark Phillips, Lawrence asked for the nationtobetoldthecostofthegasto-shore pipeline project, and from where or whom the government is sourcingthefinancing.

Lawrence also asked for details on the associated terms and conditionsamongothers.

This newspaper reported last DecemberthatOppositionMember of Parliament (MP), David Patterson had asked Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat in the National Assembly whether any agreements were signed with Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) in connection with the Wales project and if yes, for the MinistertosupplytheHousewitha copyofthesaidagreement.

Bharrat in his response to Patterson said, “There are other agreements on supply, buyer's agreement, field development,

licensing conditions, onshore works, and land matters that are currently being drafted The respective agreements and policy documents will be presented to this Honourable House when they have beenagreeduponandexecuted.All agreements are being done in a timely manner to meet the Final Investment Decision which will allow for the project to be completed by our committed deadlineofDecember2024.”

Since the inception of this

US$2B project, the entire agreement has been shrouded in secrecy

When the Heads ofAgreement was signed, the press was invited but was not allowed to ask questions.

There has been no press conferenceonthemegaprojecttoo, even though there is no updated feasibility study proving the viabilityoftheproject.

Government said the venture will lower electricity costs by 50

percent, however independent analysts have said this may not be possible due to the increased price tagoftheproject.

The Wales GTE project entails three components inclusive of the pipeline, a Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility to treat and separate the gas and a power plant to generate 300 megawatts of electricity Exxon's pipeline so far is expected to cost US$1.3 billion, whiletheothertwoaspectsarenow peggedatUS$759M.

A Section of the Environmental Protection Act which makes it clear that each application for an environmental authorization must be made public. The Law also goes on to spell out the details that must be included in the application to be shared.

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Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456

NIGELWILLIAMS

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

EDITORIAL

TOOFASTWILLTRIPUSUP

WhenthefewoutspokenGuyanesearoundsayit, thePPPCGovernmentanditsloyalistsjumpon

them,andoverwhelmwithawallofnoise. We at this paper have urged slowing down, and giving ourselvestimetogetafullunderstandingoftherichesthat areours,andmaximizethebenefitsofournaturalresource gifts.

LikeanyonewhohasmessagesthatthePPPCGovernment doesnotwanttohear,havenouseforbecausetheycollide with its snaky visions, we have been dismissed. Now, it wouldbeinterestingtoobservetheGovernment’sreaction given it is a well-respect foreign institution that has made thesamerecommendation.

The International Labor Organization (ILO) has cautioned that “Guyana’s oil sector moving too fast for small labor force-ILO -can slowdown economy” (KN January 10). There is no great sophistication in this warning from the ILO since what it tables is simple commonsense, business sense, and the sense that comes from long experience that something is being done the wrongway

Ourworkforce,inadditiontobeingsmall,suffersfrom hugeknowledgeandskillsdeficits,whicharealreadybeing exploited by the foreign companies doing business here, andwithExxonMobilattheheadoftheline.

Because of the local workforce being unable to keep pacewithoilandgasdevelopments,andfallingfartherand fartherback,asthePPPCGovernmentandVicePresident Jagdeo charging ahead in pushing the oil companies to greater speeds of exploration and production. Even a cursory look at our Institutions and people overseeing the oil sector confirms the human resource gap under which Guyanalabors. Adeeperlookisworseinthatourshortages in many areas are highlighted, they leave us naked and vulnerable to the exploits of the oil companies, and those thatsupportthem. Thisissuretoleadtogreatinefficiencies as the gap expands, with severe impacts on the national economy

Whatarewecapableofmonitoringtobevigilantinthe management of our oil wealth? How many bodies do we have available to throw into the offshore oil frontlines? WhatGuyaneseskills,andinwhatnumbers,dowehaveto stand at the side of the skilled operators of ExxonMobil, Hess,andCNOOC,andbeabrakeonanysuspectactivities, any predations, or any dangers to Guyana’s self-interests andexpectations? Tobeblunt,weareintheredineachof theseareas,andthatisforawhiletocome,aswejustdonot have any substantial capacity in the academic and skills pipelinesthatwouldhelptobeinabetterposition.

The ILO studied our education system and its output, andcameupwithwhatisominous. Theorganizationnoted that 80% of our working age population did not advance beyond upper secondary school education. Its analysis thenledtheILOtotheconclusionthatGuyana’sworkforce needswouldbesixtimesmorethanwhatwehave. Thisis notaworkforcegap;itismorelikeanoceanthatseparates whatwewouldneedfromwhatwehaveinourhands. Most indemandwouldbeEngineers,Specialistsinoccupational healthandsafety,andthoseworkingincrewsonthedecks of offshore ships. We are going to need urgently people with technical and vocational degrees, which are rarities locally In addition, our Welders, Riggers, and those learnedinnauticalsystemswouldallneedupgrading.The ILO also pointed out that of all our unemployed, underemployed, and workers who have given up, were to be available for recruitment, the supply of local labor would stillfallfarbehindthedemandforit.Forallthesereasons andmore,itisreasonable,prudent,andwisetoslowdown the oil and gas sector, so that we get a complete handle of our needs, what we have in hand, what we need to do to improvethelaborsituation,andhowlongwillittaketoget ustopar Itissaidthatmorehaste,lessspeed. Itlookslike weareourworstenemieswhenwerushpell-mellintoone project after another without grasping the damage that we couldbedoingtoourselves.

Govt needs to do something quickly about the alleged abuse of women at the Local Government Commission

DEAREDITOR, once she was told that she vulnerable females within vulnerablepeople inoffices Please permit me space was operating slow because the organisation she said it who need support and may to highlight a rather shelacked(intimacy)nother also included the female be ashamed to speak out in troubling encounter I had exact words and that he security guard who is also an attempt to see proactive this week. As I sat alone could provide it. Although quite young. There was also measures put in place to waiting for my colleague to her colleague was saying dialogue of this particular ensure that persons feel join me at a popular cafe in that they should approach individual boasting to them comfortable and are not downtownGeorgetown, the their Chairman, she was that education means hesitant toreachout. conversation between two adamant that she couldn’t nothing and connections In closing I ask that my female employees of The since being a single mom means everything and they letter be published and I do Local Government (her job seemed to be her should be ashamed by that hope that it reaches the eyes Commission startled me everything) wasn’t easy and with their degree- they are and ears of whoever is thoughtheyweretryingtobe sometimes with the burdens still beneath him a man who responsible for the discreet , the silent an of her personal life coupled justhasconnections. Institution before the enclosed cafe afforded me with what she was Editor, I promised particular young lady the opportunity to hear the experiencing at work, she myselftousemykeypad,as choosesdeathasanescapeof plight both young ladies feltthatastrongdozeofpills the voice for those two harassmentintheworkplace. s h a r e d - w i t h o n e would put an end to it. Mr unknown women, not I pray she doesn’t. Today I contemplating suicide as EditorIcouldn’tcontainmy because I am idle and want write for every woman who she is “ fed up of the own tears , within me were to bring their plight to the has been victimized or feel harrassment and afraid that emotionsofpainandanger, public domain but simply victimized. I encourage you itwillbesweptundertherug in a day of so much because I believe that with tostandupandspeakout,no , like all the other advancement, of policies this simple piece, someone person has the authority to complaints“. that support human rights willhighlight totherelevant make you feel inferior, no

One young lady was and women rights , why are authorities that there is one has the authority to literally in tears, describing persons still victimized in something wrong within the disrespect your worth. Even how she is called worthless theworkplace? Institution and a robust among the silent forest of and other demeaning names Who can women reach investigation needs to be absent people a fallen tree byaparticularmalemanager out to if no one seems to launched into the “ still makes a sound, still has and right after told ”that is a listen?Theotheryounglady allegation“. animpact. joke man you too soft” .She mentioned that the abuse Secondly, to appeal to Yoursrespectfully, further went on to state that was not just contained to supportgroupsthatthereare Nameprovided

DEAREDITOR, allowance and it was Director of Health Sciences health care needs of the Asmembersofadistinct purported that we are not Education, Principal Tutors citizens across the diaspora group of healthcare n u r s e s H o w e v e r, and Senior Tutors with ofGuyanaandfartherafield. professionalscalledNursing understand that this position regards to this omission.All Pleasenotethattherolesand Tutors, functioning within cannot be attained without the aforementioned responsibilities of this the various nursing schools firstbeingaregisterednurse, authorities acknowledged seeminglyinvisiblegroupof across Guyana it is with a moreover, you are expected receipt of the petition professionalsarenotlimited broken heart that we say we t o m a i n t a i n y o u r However, to date there has to the mere eight hours per feel unrecognized as license/registration. We are been no official feedback in day work. Rather, we are on “essential Healthcare nurses, performing this regard. Another release call 24 hours per day to workers”. functions within the was made for salary sometimes cater for T h e s e Tr a i n i n g educational arm of the adjustment including others unexpected students’ affairs Institutions are structured NursingProfession.Without members of the health care and additional assignments under the Health Science nursing education, the system who was initially from our superiors. Yet, the Division of the Ministry of profession will cease to omitted on the 28th relevantauthoritieshavenot Health (MOH), equipped exist. Recently, His December, 2022, again with deemed it fitting to with tutorial staffing of Excellency President Dr. the exception of nursing renumerate us justly. various levels (Nursing Irfaan Ali announced tutorsoreducators. Nursing Tutors are Tutor 1, Nursing Tutor 2, salaries adjustments for Mr./Mrs.Editorwewish demoralized by virtue of Senior Tutor, and Principal several categories of Public to highlight that we are key having no professional Tutor), functioning Servants made on the 12th players in the healthcare identity, because the very according to a specific job December, 2022, which I arena,sincenursesconstitute authorities we have description, Hence, our consider to be good and the bulk of the healthcare committed to serve, have positions are legitimate timely, did not include the workforce As Nursing purported that ‘we are not according to Public Service nursing educators/tutors. Tutorsweareresponsiblefor nurses’, neither can we be Commission We are Hence,asagroupwemadea the training of Registered categorize as Teachers. So, aggrieved as NursingTutors petition on December 13, Nurses, Nursing Assistants, under which category does to have been marginalized 2022 to the Honorable Midwives and Staff nurse this small, highly qualified, and sidelined with regard to MinisterofHealth,DrFrank midwives who fill the vital group of public servant receiving fair remuneration Anthony and copied to the various health care levels falls?Belowisacomparison and recognition. During the Permanent Secretary MOH, within and outside of the of salaries between the COVID-19 pandemic The Director of Health country Therefore,ourroles NursingTutors/Educators healthcare workers would Sciences Education, Deputy are pivotal in‘ meeting the (Continuedonpage5) havereceiveda$25,000risk allowance while we were exempted, even though we continued to perform our duties diligently during this period. Inquiriesweremade regarding why we were exempted from the risk

Undervalued, unappreciated, omitted, and in need of urgent and just recognition

Maximum penalty by the law should be applied to gun violence offenders

Undervalued, unappreciated, omitted...

Poor road work at Third Street Industry

DEAREDITOR, own concrete drains (with hundreds of millions of tax I wish to use this media NDC approval) have to see payers dollars are involved to state my dissatisfaction their drains dug up and andseveralcomplaintstothe with an aspect of the Road rebuilt with a faulty design. Ministryareineffective. Repair Project in Third WhatistheFaultyDesign? Thankyou. Street Industry Housing The inner walls of the Taxpayer Scheme, East Coast drains are much lower than Demerara. the outer, at least six inches

Iwasveryhappytolearn and this silly design shall that the street was being lead to considerable erosion repaired after years of oftheland. Ihopesomeone neglectbutwhentheproject very Senior take a detailed started,Irealisedthatthereis look into this project since a serious fault with the design.

This project, in addition to recapping, included concretedrains.

This is where the problemstarted.Thedigging of the drains to build concrete drains has resulted in the weakening of fences for those who have concrete fences More seriously, residents who already spent a lot of money to build their

DEAREDITOR, system should be zero representinga68%decrease not only are a substantial withfirearms(Jake Charles, tobestrictertocommunicate The only reason any toleranceforillegalfirearms. when compared to 1993 portion not reported to the 2022). In many countries the seriousness of the citizenwouldcarryanillegal Further,thelawsofGuyana, (Jake Charles, 2022) In police, but of those that are much of the response by crime/offenceandtoactasa firearminthiscountryorany despite variation in addition, in 2019, for reported to the police, most Legislatures, Prosecutors deterrent In addition, in countryforthatmatterwould interpretations, sets out the example, the rate of non- donotresultinanarrest.The andJudgestoviolentcrimes Guyana, a firearm license be to kill, damage or hurt requirements for concealed fatal firearm violence Federal Bureau of committed with a gun, has canbeacquiredforthe‘right people usually the innocent. carryofahandgun,andwhat victimization (i.e., robbery, Investigation estimated that been based on the cost’, it is alleged by many, Theywouldnotwanttoown constitutes legal versus assault/battery, rape) among in2019lessthanone-thirdof understandable recognition without satisfying the an illegal firearm to earn a illegal possession or Blacks in the USA was 287 all aggravated assaults and that these violent crimes statuary requirements of living, to do a social good, carrying. And while clearly per 100,000 population, robberies with a firearm in pose a significant danger to obtaining such a permit and buttocheat,roborkill. the commission of a violent more than double the rate of the United States were the public, and that those security services, is a name Our laws for illegal crime with a firearm versus 134 per 100,000 among cleared by an arrest (Jake individuals who commit that can be abused at a high firearms are weak, the possession of a firearm whitesandsimilartothe251 Charles, 2022 ). Further, these offenses need to be costindollars. incomprehensible, and b y s o m e o n e n o t per 100,000 rate among when it comes to responses incapacitated, punished, and Giventhelimiteddegree annoying.Threetofiveyears licensed/permitted to do so H i s p a n i c s ( J a k e by the justice system to gun not released until they no towhichtheCriminalJustice imprisonment is ridiculous. are substantively different C h a r l e s , 2 0 2 2 ) violence, much of the focus longer pose such a System is able to apprehend ‘Upon release’ is like behaviors, often the term Unfortunately, data on gun has been on the sanctions significant risk to public and sanction those who begging the criminal to go “gun crimes” conflates the fatality/gun violence that can be imposed on safety However, here in commitviolentcrimeswitha and do the same thing again two criminal offenses. In statistics for Guyana cannot violent crimes committed Guyanathesepenaltiesneed (Continuedonpage6) or recidivism. Ten to fifteen 2019, it is estimated that beeasilyacquiredforalocal yearsofimprisonmentifnot there were more than studyorlettertothemedia. lifeisabetterpenalty. 480,000 violent crimes Despite the seriousness The message in law committed with a firearm in of these violent crimes enforcement and the justice the United States, committed with a firearm,

Bachelor’s Science Degree, Withthissaid,wewishto and the other categories of andaMaster’sPublicHealth state categorically and nurseswhichwilltakeeffect aswellaspossessingyearsof unapologetically that from January, 2023 As post-graduate experience, Nursing Tutors are the Nursing Tutors we are which is a prerequisite cornerstoneofthehealthcare qualified beyond the basic requirementforemployment system with regard to the Nursing diploma (registered as a nursing educator How nursingprofession.Wemust nurse/staff nurse), for fair is it then that we the reiterate that we have the example: specialized in professionals, tasked with requisite job requirement, Midwifery, Pediatric theresponsibilitytotrainthe expertknowledge,andskills Nursing, Sociology, and generationsofnursesreceive to adequately prepare the Psychology, while others farlesswagesthanthenurses nursing workforce. Hence, possess, Diploma in we produce? Additionally, we are more than deserving education, a certificate in how do we attract new ofajustremuneration. nursing education through professionals within this Sincerely, the University of Miami, a category? TutorAnonymous

Frompage4

Aneed for a road traffic department in Guyana

DEAREDITOR, every day and on several cause a traffic build up for secondpoint.

different. Every night you we only have an accident

Please allow me to occasions and several therewasnootherreasonsor I remember when there have ranks driving around department. Ranks of the express my concern in an different ranks hailing up purpose for it. I have seen wasalawagainstloudmusic thebusparkandallowthisto Guyana Police Force who attempt that action will or minibusdriversthatareover busespassingwithoverload, in public transportation, I go on. I hope somebody in are trained to only appear laws will be enforced after loaded- One time there was loudmusicandundertaking figure that law has been Parliamentcanputforwarda and take action when readingthisarticle. even5personsinaseat. while the ranks pull aside abolishsince90%ormoreof motion for a law to be pass accidentshappen. First of all, the over I do not know where I andgivethempass. thepublictransportationhas against the loud music That is, prepare a report, loading of minibuses has should lodge a complain to, No stopping or anything loudmusic. because at the moment, no addanumbertothestatistics, become a norm. No matter so I am hoping that this ofthatsort.Iamsurelikeme, Thisstandstrueformost the law of that sort exist.At and appear before the press what time day or night, the articlecanshedsomelightto many passengers can of the buses, exception is any one time you can pull a tosaytherewasanaccident. minibusesareputting4ina the relevant authority Even testifiedtothis.AtonetimeI givento50buses,Ihavenot random bus and check, you Have you ever heard a rank seat. As a passenger I am if the passenger is willing to even saw a passenger heard any loud music from will most certainly find a sayingtheyarethereasonfor calling on the relative reportthebusdriver,nothing ‘hailingup’arankwithweed those buses. Keep up the hugemusicset. the accident? The ranks are authority to look into this isbeingdone. in his hand. The best thing good job. Buses running the The number of fatalities justasmuchtobeblamedas matter Idonotknowwhois I remember when there they did was come off the areaofAnn’sGrove,Victoria will only continue to thedriver the authority, but it is was a road block at the road and allow the traffic to and along those routes are increase unless a traffic The ranks know what is definitely not the traffic Sparendaam Police Station, flow smoothly Speaking of theworst.BusesrunningThe department is established in happeningandturninga police. They are on the road all that the police did was the music, brings me to my East Bank and Parika are no Guyana. As of the moment

Maximum penalty by the law shouldbe applied to gun violence...

Frompage5 gun (either legally or change there should be atoncethatworkedtogether * I m p l e m e n t i n g indicated that “Laws firearm,duetonotallcrimes illegally)intendtouseitthat major legislation overhaul to overhaul the country’s backgroundchecks. restricting the purchase of being reported to the police way- but these are few in - not just one new law. firearm code, gun-related For example, in South (e.g., background checks) and low clearance rates, the numbers.Itisalsoknownin Lead researcher Julian deaths tended to decrease” Africa in 2000, the Firearm and access to (e.g., safer logical alternative is to find Guyana that there is large Santaella-Tenorio from (Epidemiologic Reviews, Control Act contained all storage) firearms are also those who may be illegally scale rental of firearms to Columbia University in a 2016) Santaella- Tenorio these measures, and saw a associated with lower rates possessing firearms under criminaloperativesinwhich reviewof130studiesonGun and colleagues also 13.6 percent reduction in of intimate partner the view that some of them caseafeeispaid,ortheloot Control; that had been indicated that that these firearm homicides every homicides and firearm may be driving the gun shared. conducted across 10 overhauls generally single year for the next five unintentional deaths in violence problem. Granted, In order to decrease the different countries, included: years (Epidemiologic children, respectively” whilepossessionofafirearm gun violence in Guyana including the US, Australia, *Banning “weapons that Reviews,2016). (Epidemiologic Reviews, is necessary to commit a caused by illegal firearms I Brazil, South Africa, and are actually very powerful”, *A similar overhaul law 2016). In the USA, in 2007, violentcrimewithagun,not wouldliketosuggestthat: Austria; stated that “when for example, automatic was introduced in Australia Missouri got rid of laws all of those who possess a 1. To see significant countries pass several laws weapons. in1996inthewakeofamass requiring people to have a murder,andaccordingtoone permittopurchaseafirearm. of the studies analysed, Following this legislation overall firearm death rates change, one of the analysed decreased by 14 percent the studiesfoundthatMissouri’s following year There also homicide rate increased by hasn’t been another mass 25percent.Nootherchanges shootinginthecountryinthe in legislation appear to be 2 0 y e a r s s i n c e able to explain the change (Epidemiologic Reviews, (Epidemiologic Reviews, 2016). 2016).

2.Restrictiontoaccess 3. Three Strikes Law for togunsandtheirpurchase. Firearms in Guyana. For This includes requiring severaldecades,Ihavebeen permits and licenses for campaigning for a three purchasingguns.Theabove strikeslawwherewhoeveris measure has been proven involve in whatever kind of to be associated with arm robbery using reductions in firearm instruments to kill such as deaths Also, the guns etc. on the committing researchers further of such third offence, they should be sentence to life imprisonment. This would actalsoasastrongdeterrent to persons wanting to rob or physically hurt persons in Guyana Recently, the Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared a stateofemergencyinpartsof the capital Kingston and in some central and western parishes in Jamaica in an attempt to control rising crimelinkedtogunviolence (Reuters, November 15th, 2022). The above provides compelling evidence that gun control really does save lives.And the serious points stressed in this letter or research confirm that the maximumpenaltybythelaw should be applied to gun violenceoffenders.

Sincerely, Haji Dr. Roshan Khan (Snr)

Commonwealth warns Govt. that decommissioning cost can easily move from US-millions to US-billions without monitoring policies

By Renay Sambach

The Commonwealth Secretariat is warning its member countries in the oil and gas industry of the u n c e r t a i n t y o f decommissioning costs, which can result in the price tag to restore the ocean floor, easily moving from USmillionstoUS-billions.

A s a r e s u l t , t h e Commonwealth urged Governments to ensure they implement policies and regulations that would requireoilandgascompanies giving regular estimate on decommissioningcosts.

Kaieteur News had r e p o r t e d t h a t decommissioning is a complexandcostlyprocessat the end of the economic life of an individual oil and gas project. It involves the safe plugging and abandoning of oil wells, removal of structures and restoration of thesurroundingareas.

The Commonwealth Secretariat recently released a new practical guide to help Governments manage costly oil and gas decommissioning activities,whichareexpected to surge as a result of the globalenergytransition.

In its guide titled, “Oil and Gas Decommissioning Toolkit,” the Secretariat highlighted eight key issues of decommissioning and made suggestions for Governments. One of the issues highlighted is the 'Scale and uncertainty of decommissioningcosts.'

It was stated that decommissioning cost, like development cost can vary significantly from project to project and that it can easily amount to billions of USdollars to restore the ocean floor

Added to this, is that decommissioning costs will be of the magnitude of development costs and subject to a large uncertainty range.

The Commonwealth explained that estimating decommissioning cost for a particular project requires taking into account several differentaspectslike:making assumptions on cessations of production (CoP), when decommissioning operations will occur, how each aspect of the operations will be performed (wells, pipelines, platforms etc ), and estimating how much those cost will be in the future, taking into account the

escalating estimates owed to inflation.

Noteworthy, it was stated that, “Credible estimates for decommissioning costs therefore require various technical experts' inputs; this is similar to estimating development costs, but with the added complexity of the uncertainty of timing (several decades into the future).”

According to the Commonwealth Secretariat, while benchmarking is often used in the industry for estimating costs, the availability and access to comparative data – on the g l o b a l s c a l e – f o r decommissioning is relativelysmall.

“The United States (onshore and Gulf of Mexico) and the North Sea are noted areas with a history of decommissioning activity and, as such, tend to be used asbenchmarksforestimating costs,”itwasstated.

However, the Secretariat pointed out that while the aforementioned will be useful, it is important to understand the underlying assumptions that have been used to estimate the costs, as small changes in the assumptions can lead to very large changes in the total cost.

“Different regulatory requirements will also have costimplications.

Regional differences in weather, sea states, water depths and distances from shoreline facilities can also affect decommissioning costs,”itwashighlighted.

Additionally, the Commonwealth Secretariat listed five implications for Governments to take into consideration when dealing with the uncertainty of decommissioning cost which canskyrocket.

TheSecretariatexplained that given the fact that decommissioning cost estimates are uncertain it r e q u i r e s r e g u l a r reassessment during the production phase by Governments.

The body suggested that Governments should u n d e r s t a n d h o w decommissioning costs are calculated and what the underlyingassumptionsare.

According to the guide, the assumptions of future events should be supported by sufficient objective evidence and, “Given its nature, detailed reforecasting

in the first years of production is likely to yield verylittlebenefit.”

To this end, the Secretariat highlighted too that it would be foolhardy to wait until only a few years before cessation of productiontolookatdetailed costestimates.

The Commonwealth also urged Governments to u n d e r s t a n d h o w decommissioning is being treated in oil and gas companies' financial statements, as this could prove a helpful basis for regulators to understand

that the licensees should also be required to update decommissioningcostswhen changes to the operation of the field are likely to materially affect these costs. T h e y a l s o u r g e d Governments to encourage

templates to operators – this could aid in ensuring completeness in costs estimation, consistency and comparability among operators.

The Commonwealth Secretariat's guide to decommissioning comes at a time when American oil giant,ExxonMobil'saffiliate, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL)hasbeentakingout money from Guyana's oil p r o d u c t i o n f o r decommissioning.

Exxon's affiliate is the operator of Guyana's lucrative Stabroek Block which has over 11 billion provenbarrelsofoil.

Under a signed deal – the P r o d u c t i o n S h a r i n g Agreement (PSA) – the oil giant has been taking out money from the first day of production(2019)tosetaside asadecommissioningfee.

abnormality on this front. ExxonMobil and its Partners which include Hess Corporation and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited are able to benefit from a lopsided system that allows t h e m t o k e e p decommissioning funds in theirpockets.

Based on its 2021 financial statements, for 2020 and 2021, ExxonMobil and its partners, Hess Corporation and CNOOC Group, have recovered a whopping US$355.7 million for decommissioning costs which would be incurred in another 18 years for the Liza PhaseOneProject.

During an engagement with the media last June, ExxonMobil Guyana a c k n o w l e d g e d t h a t decommissioning funds are not needed until 20 to 30 yearsdowntheline.

costsonanongoingbasis.

Another key implication is that Governments should have policies and regulations inplacethatrequirelicensees toestimatedecommissioning costs and update them regularly It was stated too

transparency

Additionally,itwasnoted that regulators working togetherwiththeindustrycan develop a standardised approach and definitions for estimating decommissioning costs and to provide

Itshouldbenotedthatthe revenue has to be set aside in a special account, held by the Government to cover these costswhenthetimecomes.

However, the Stabroek PSA jumps off the precipice of international best practice, and into a bottomless pit of

Be that as it may, the company noted that the provisions of the 2016 Stabroek Block deal allow forearlyrecovery.

However, the oil giant assured nonetheless, that when Guyana needs that money for clean-up, the moneywillbehandedover

Woman kills husband during fight over rent money

A 26-year-old man on Wednesday died hours after his reputed wife, 30, stabbed him to the chest with a kitchen knife during a fight over rent money, at their Breda Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetownhome.

The dead man has been identified as Leroy Dey, a labourer

According to the police, Dey's reputed wife inflicted thefatalwoundaround23:30 hrsonTuesday Deywasable to make it to Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC)alive,butreportedly passed away around 09:25hrs on Wednesday,

whilereceivingtreatment.

TheGuyanaPoliceForce reported that the couple had been living together for the p a s t t h r e e y e a r s Investigations have revealed that they would always be involved in arguments that wouldendinfights.

Tuesday night was no different, but, this fight endedwiththedeathofDey Dey had not been home for four days and had arrived there around 23:00hrs that evening.

“They had an argument as to paying the landlord's rent and a scuffle ensued between them,” police

stated.

Detectives were told that Dey had slapped the woman and beat her with a piece of w o o d T h e w o m a n reportedly retaliated by picking up a knife from the kitchen floor and stabbed himtoleftsideofhischest.

A wounded Dey stopped fighting and reportedly left the house heading towards the Stabroek Market Area, but collapsed while walking along Cross Street,Werk-enRust between Hadfield and Leopold Streets. Persons c l o s e b y c a l l e d a n Ambulance to the scene and he was rushed to the hospital

wherehelaterdied.

Police arrested his reputed wife, but had to take her to the hospital for treatmentforinjuriesshehad sustained to her neck, right hand and jaw, from the allegedfight.

She was discharged after receiving treatment and is presently in police custody assisting detectives with theirinvestigation.

An oil rig in the ocean (Commonwealth Secretariat photo)

THE PNCR AND THE NO-CONFIDENCE

MOTION AGAINST ITS LEADER

The person against Region has submitted a therefore a motion of no of Leader becomes vacant Constitution for such a whom a no-confidence motion to the Central confidence is passed against due to death, incapacity, discussion motionispassedisobligated Committee of the PNCR. the Leader of the party, by resignation or other In any event, the to resign forthwith. It does That motion reportedly conventionheisexpectedto circumstance, the Chairman Constitution of the PNCR not require any written law expresses a loss of resign In such a shallassumethefunctionsof announces itself a support of his Executive he orruleforthistohappen.By confidence in the leader of circumstance, the Chairman the Leader for the time democratic party committed shouldresign.BorisJohnson convention, the target of a theparty will act as Leader until being.Thus,theConstitution to freedom of conscience It resigned recently and so did no-confidence motion is There is also a report Congress elects a new makes provision for the wouldbeinconflictwiththe LizTrussafterbothfailedto requiredtostepdown. which suggests that such a Leader The Central possibility of the Leader party’s underlying command the confidence of

The Constitution of motion is of no legal effect Executive Committee does resigning–andnodoubtthis philosophy for the position the majority of their Guyana makes it mandatory since it is only Congress not have the authority to fill has to include resigning tobeadoptedthatthereisno colleague Conservative fortheGovernmenttoresign which can remove the vacanciesofofficersbutthis following a motion of no- place for a no-confidence p a r l i a m e n t a r y should a no-confidence Leader While it is true that does not mean that it cannot confidence. motionagainsttheLeader representatives. But Britain motion be passed against it. Congress elects the Leader also express no-confidence After the national Also, there is within the is a country where But even in the absence of of the party this does not inanyofficer electionsdebacle,therewere party structure, a right to conventionsstillcarrymoral such law, Governments are meanthattheLeadercannot But such an opinion reports in the media which removalofofficers. weight and force, unlike in expected to resign once the be forced to resign or to would not carry the same suggested that Regional The right of removal of Guyana where even when legislature passes a no- demittheLeadership. force as one from the Groupingshaddiscussedthe officers of Groups is the law says you should confidencemotionagainstit. One such way in which General Council which is question of confidence in enshrined in the party’s resign, all manner of Ano-confidencemotionisa the Leader is compelled to responsible for governing thenLeader,DavidGranger Constitution – officers may disingenuous interpretations system of recall outside of resign is if there is a vote of the party in between If this is true then there can beremovedbya2/3majority areadopted. elections. It allows for the no-confidence by the congresses. It is the General hardlybeabasisforclaiming vote. The PNCR leadership (The views expressed in recall of persons or General Council in the Council and not the CEC t h a t t h e r e i s n o therefore should not dismiss this article are those of the governments outside of leader While there is no which has the authority to accommodationfordebating the no-confidence motion author and do not elections.Itisoftentheonly written law mandating this, appoint someone to act as no-confidence motions which is said to have been necessarily reflect the means available to recall there is the standing interim leader in the event within the organs of the submitted to the Central opinions and beliefs of this governments outside of conventionthataleaderwho that the Leader cannot party Thereisprecedentand ExecutiveCommittee. n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s elections. There have been does not enjoy the majority functionviaincapacity thereisnoprohibitioninthe Once a Leader loses the affiliates.) reports circulating in the of support of the General The Constitution of the mediathattheFloridaPNCR Council should resign. If PNCRstatesthatiftheoffice

Aneed for a road traffic department...

Frompage6

accountableaswell. blindeyeornotsayinganything.Ithinkranks A harsher fine should be introduced for shouldbeassignedareasandwhenthereisan overloadandloudmusicnotjustdrinkingand accident, they should be called up to be driving.Thespeedingisanotherissued.ButI question because they need to be held wouldnotdiscussittoday,becausetimewill accountable as well because many times not permit me. I am hoping also that the ranksareawareofspeedingbuses,buseswith mediacanlookintothismatteraswell. loud music and over load and would not do Regards, anything As such ranks should be Tom.HJones

Dem boys seh...

PREZZIE LOSE DEM BOYS IN TRANSLATION

De Prezzie and de Vee Pee gone in translator As far as dem boys know de different directions. But dem end up at de Caribbeanmoredependentontourismthan sameplace. anywhere else but dat nah mek it de most

De Vee Pee bin talk how de world influentialtourismmarketindeworld. movingtowardsrenewablesandthereforeis Prezzie invite India to look at de onlyanarrowwindowwegatfuhexploitwe opportunities in positioning itself as the oil.Sowemustdoitasfastandasmuchas strongest player in providing human possible. resource “ capacity, capability and

DePrezzygonetoIndiaandsehhowoil competence” in servicing industries in de gan deh bout because we say how oil will region. Wow! Dem boys need a translator still play a leading role in de foreseeable fuhdattoo. future. And he end up with de same DemanjumpupandtalkhowGuyanais conclusion as de Vee Pee even though he advancing itself NOT to be player but an contradictdeman.Hesehwegatfuhexploit importantcornerstone. deoiladrapidlyaswecan.

Yuh mean we gan be a cornerstone

Depeopletalkhowdemshouldhavehad without playing? Dem boys get lost in translators fuh translate wah de Prezzie say translationdehtoo! into Hindi.Well dem boys wan a translator

But de Prezzie gat to be a philosopher fuh help understand what talk in India Because he talk how de question as to how because dem boys nah understand de longisdelifecycleofoilisamoralquestion. mumbojumbo.

Dem boys thought was an economic and

DemantalkhowCARICOMisdemost environmentalquestion.Buyyuhdoeslearn influentialtourismmarketindeworld.What everyday! he mean by dat? Dem boys need a Talkhalf.Leffhalf!

AUBREY TO FAAIZ; ET TU BRUTE?

Mr Mursaline statement is factual then the without transparency Mursalinehasrenouncedhis power and did resigned from PNC has committed a attached. It means that the resignation as treasurer and e x p r e s s e d the post of depraved act of financial leader is vulnerable to the PNC has accepted his confidence in the

treasurerfrom skullduggery attacks from the treasurer if return. Both the PNC and PPP (2), what he the PNC and made two The treasurer of an the treasurer is in a faction Mr Mursalinehavetoknow didtothePNCwith damning statements about organization has to know t h a t o p p o s e s t h e that few people will accept his two revelations. thePNCleaderandthePNC why he/she is signing the continuationoftheleader such a comical situation No matter how much party itself, both of which checkandwhatitisfor That Theotherfactoristhatif which will not strengthen PNC leaders laugh has damaged the credibility is basic to the role of a word gets out that that a the image of Messrs with Mursaine, the die cause Guyanese to laugh or and electoral prospects of treasurer party that wants to form the MursalineandNorton. is cast – he will never despisehim. thePNC. It is a problematic government and that

Mr Mursaline’sreversal be emotionally welcomed

He did not have a The first revelation is situation for the treasurer if criticizes the incumbents is ofhisattitudewasnotabout backinthePNC. dialogue with the PNC’s that he was signing blank the party leader presents not engaged in financial a disagreement about a Secondly,Guyanesewill central committee so they checks. him/her with a black check. openness then credibility policy or some random either laugh at Mursaline or persuade him to change his Heisquotedinthepress After all, that is the leader runs into trouble. This is incident. What Mr. hate him. Based on his mind. He did not have a as saying:”I do not know makingtherequest. whatishappeningrightnow Mursaline said was behavior, one cannot see dialogue with a group of what are the amounts of But such a position is tothePNC. extremely damaging and no how Mursaline will be an former party elders who money written on any of fraught with danger for the Thesecondrevelationby return to his post will help asset to politics and what watchoverthePNC. those cheques and I don’t leader Mr Mursaline is that he him with his future ethnicorelectoraladvantage

He changed his mind on know for what reasons the One is the leader is faced racial hostility in the credibility hewillbring.Peoplewillnot Monday when the day money, if any, was spent making a demand on the PNC. Both statements have Infact,itisbestthePNC even entertain a discussion beforehespoketomeonthe on,” treasurer, a high-level damagedthePNCandtoadd letMr MursalinegoandMr withMr Mursalinmuchless phone. If Mr Mursaline executive of the party, gasoline to fire, Mr Mursaline should leave seek to embrace what What caused him to politics There are no political message he has to reverse himself? A meeting alternatives. offer with the PNC leader So First, Mursaline has Always on the frontwhatMr Nortoncouldhave earned the wrath of the burner of their minds is the said to Mursaline to cause Nortoncabal. pappyshowofhimberating himtoreturntothetreasurer That group will barely Nortonforhisaloofstyleof post? tolerate him. Secondly, and leadership, he, Mursaline

The contents of that more importantly, acquiesce to signing black information have no Mursalinewillnevereverbe checks and his accusations relevance anymore Both trusted by the PNC’s ofanti-Indianfeelingsinthe Norton and Mursaline have hierarchy again. If fact, one PNC then running back to lostcredibilityintheeyesof canconcludethatMursaline the PNC. Even if Mursaline PNC supporters and the willbecomeafigureofhate leavesthePNCbecauseheis nation. I think it would be inthePNC’swarroom damaged goods I doubt any best for Mursaline to exit The distrust will run otherpartywouldhavehim. politics. As for Norton, I deeply because (1), Mr It is the circumstance predicted the knives would Mursaline in 2020 thatledtothecancellationof havebeenoutforhim.Ettu welcomed the PPPreturn to his resignation that will Brute?

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsandbeliefsofthis newspaper and its affiliates.)

FrederickKissoon

One dead, another critical after motorbike crashes into trailer at Wakenaam

By Shervin Belgrave

A16-year-old boy was killed and h i s f r i e n d

critically injured on Tuesday after the motorcycle they wereon,crashedintoatractor trailer at Wakenaam Island, RegionThree.

Dead is Mohammed Ameer Khan of Belle Plaine, Wakenaam Island and

hospitalised in a critical condition is, 21-year-old Vikash Singh of Hubu, Parika, EastBankEssequibo (EBE) Khan and Singh reportedly crashed around 21:45hrs along Friendship PublicRoad,Wakenaam.

According to Khan's father, Kamal Khan, his son hadspenttheentiredayathis Grandmother's residence and might have been heading

Wheelchair bound man hospitalized after bee attack at Leguan

home when the accident happened.

Police reported that Khan and his pillion rider, Singh, were traveling south along the road while the tractor driven by a 63-year-old man from Free and Easy was heading in the opposite direction.

It is unclear as to what mighthaveoccurredbutafter passing the tractor, Khan somehow lost control of the motorcycle and crashed into the right rear wheel of the tractor'strailer

Eyewitnesses said that the tractor only had one light and speculated that Khan probably took it for another motorbike and accidently swerved into the trailer after passingthelightatafastrate. The end result was a horrific andbloodyscene.

Khan's father recalled being informed about the accident a short while after Hejumpedonhismotorcycle and rode to the scene as quickly as he could but when he arrived at the scene, public-spirited citizens had already rushed the injured boys to the Wakenaam Cottage Hospital Kamal

continued his journey there only to learn that his son and Singhwerecritical.

“I did not know it was so bad, because normally accident in Wakenaan does bealilfalldown”Kamaltold Kaieteur News as recalled thatKhan'slegwasbrokenin three parts and was bleeding fromacrushedskull.

He was still alive and reportedly conscious when his father arrived at the hospital. In attempt to save his life, Doctors at the Wakenaam Hospital decided to quickly transfer him to the West Demerara Regional Hospital for emergency medicalattention.

Doctors permitted his father to travel along with him but unfortunately Khan diedonhisway

His father broke down in tears as he recalled to Kaieteur News his son's last wordstohimwhiletheywere in an ambulance heading from Parika to the West DemeraraHospital.

“He seh, 'daddy ah love yuh!daddyahloveyou!,way mammy deh!' he ask fuh she but he ain't get fuh see she ow”, a crying Kamal told

KaieteurNews.

Ashortwhileaftersaying these words Khan became unresponsive and the EMTs onboardtoldhisfatherthathe

haddied.

The tractor driver is presently assisting police as they continue their investigation.

‘We ain’t doing no crime'

-

weed sellers tell cops

Re

Leguan Island, Essequibo River, R e g i o n T h r e e , o n

Wednesday braved stings to rescue their wheelchair bound neighbour, Bhola Ramoutar, 68, from an Africanized bee attack at his home.

KaieteurNewslearntthat about 10:00hrs the bees attackedandstungRamoutar repeatedly. He remains hospitalizeduptopresstime, with investigators disclosing that he was still on “saline”, as Doctors did their best to assisthiminrecovering.

Investigators related that the Africanized bees had built their hive on a large branch of a silk cotton tree located inside the yard of the St Peter's Anglican Church, some two houses away from Ramoutar'shome.

On Wednesday, the branch reportedly broke off and fell to ground destroying thehive.

With its hive disturbed, the bees instinctively swarmed out in defense and attacked Ramoutar just as he wascomingoutofhishome.

His screams reportedly alerted neighbours and they rushedtoassisthim.

They too were attacked by the bees, but they braved the stings to save Ramoutar andgethimhelp.

Cellphone recorded videos seen by this media house suggested that professionalshadtobecalled toaidintherescue.

Individuals wearing protectiveclothingwereseen warding off the bees from an unconscious Ramoutar with a liquid substance from a spraycan.

Two persons busted by police on Wednesday with weed and cocaine at theirhomeinPouderoyen,WestBank Demerara (WBD), reportedly admitted to selling the drugs, but maintain that they are not committing anycrime.

The suspects were identified as domestic worker, Bibi Zamoon Zamal, 59, and 33-year-old Travis Gilbert,ataxidriver

According to police, ranks searched their home at Swan Street, Squatting Area, Pouderoyen, around 05:00hrs, after receiving information that illegal activities might be taking placethere.

During the search, the cops

observed that there was a black string tiedtoafloorboardinthekitchenarea, leading to a beam underneath the house.

“The ranks pulled up the said string” stated police, and reportedly found “two bulky transparent plastic bags attached to the end. One of the bags contained a quantity of whitish rocklike substance suspected to be cocaine, and the other had several brown paper parcels containing cannabis(weed/ganja/marijuana).

Ranks cautioned them both that they will be arrested for having the illegal drugs in their possession, and according to police, Zamal the domestic worker replied, ''I selling da

cocaine and weed because I sickly and I can't work'', while Gilbert the taxi driveradded"Wehusslinganddon'tdo crime".

This led to the ranks taking possession of some $14,000, Gilbert had in his pants pocket and an additional $589,000 found in a brown handbagonZamal'sbed.

They were taken to the Vreed-enHoop police Station and placed in the lock-ups pending charges.

Investigators weighed the drugs confiscated and they amounted to two grams of marijuana and 73 grams of cocaine.

Investigationsareongoing.

s i d e n t s o f

A wheelchair bound man being rescued from a Bee attack (photo credits: Hans Buer)

Detained for selling narcotics, Bibi Zamoon Zamal

In police custody for selling weed and coke, Travis Gilbert

The weed and coke found in the suspect's Pouderoyen home.

Dead, Ameer Mohammed Khan Critical, Vikash Singh

Scene where the accident took place.

...16-yr-old victim tells dad “I love you” before dying

Exxon hunting companies to analyse its Stabroek

Block oil sales, prepare reports for Govt.

cargoes sold monthly will increase asnewFPSOscomeonline.

Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), on Wednesday issued a Request for Information (RFI) from suitable companies to analyse its oil sales datafromtheStabroekBlock.

EEPGL said it plans to seek a service agreement to collate crude oil sales information, and perform prescribed calculations Expounding on this front, it said companies would be required to compute total sale barrels and revenue per prescribed calculation to derive an average sale price per barrel of crude oil sold The selected firm would also have to reportasummarytotheMinistryof Natural Resources The calculations will be done monthly fortheLizaDestinyandLizaUnity Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels currently operating in Guyana with approximately 10 cargoes being sold. EEPGL said the number of

KaieteurNewsunderstandsthat the agreement seeks to meet the expected growth in demand EEPGL was also keen to note that biddersforthiscontractwouldhave todemonstratehowlocalswouldbe utilizedorintegrated.

During the bid process, it said allprospectiveEEPGLContractors are required to demonstrate awarenessoftheLocalContentAct (2021) and its potential application totheirworkunderthescope.

Bidders are also expected to include in their submission, a preliminary local content strategy outlining how they will deliver on the local content expectations outlined in the Act, and, upon award, implement an acceptable plan. Should the successful bidder be required to submit local content planstotheGovernmentofGuyana undertheLocalContentAct(2021) they will also have to provide a copyofthoseplanstoEEPGL.

EEPGL and its co-venture

The Liza Unity FPSO

partners, Hess Corporation and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, currently have four sanctioned developments on the Stabroek Block. The Liza Phase 1 and Phase 2 developments are currently operating at their combined gross production capacity of more than 360,000 barrels of oil per day The third development at Payara is on track to come online at the end of 2023 utilizing the Prosperity FPSO with

a production capacity of approximately 220,000 gross barrelsofoilperday

The fourth development, Yellowtail, is expected to come online in 2025, utilizing the 'ONE GUYANAFPSO'withaproduction capacity of approximately 250,000 grossbarrelsofoilperday

A Plan of Development for a fifth project at the Uaru field is already being examined by government. It is expected to come

online at the end of 2026 with a gross production capacity of approximately 250,000 barrels of oilperday

The Stabroek Block is 6.6 millionacres.EssoExplorationand Production Guyana Limited is operator and holds 45 percent interestintheStabroekBlock.Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. holds 30 percent interest and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited holds 25percentinterest.

T&T Govt. approves largest solar project in Caribbean

Guyana's closest Caribbean neighbour, Trinidad and Tobago, recently granted the approval of a 112 2 megawatt (MW) solar project, expected to commence constructioninMarchthisyear

The three agreements were signed on January 6 with the country's project partners- BP, Shell and Lightsource BP, for T&T's first grid-scale renewable energy project, the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries said inastatement.

This project will be the largest solar project in the Caribbean upon completion. “The project partners signed an implementation agreement with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, power purchase agreement with the state utility company T&TEC, and a final investment decision,” the Ministryreported.

The cost of the arrangement was not disclosed by the Government. It however reported that construction is estimated to take10months.

The project will be constructed at two sites, one in Brechin Castle, near the Point Lisas industrial estate, and the other will be built in OrangeGrove,nearTrincity

The T&T Government said, “The two sites will have a combined capacity to generate a total of 112 2 MW of solar electricity, more than the total generating capacity of most islands in the Eastern Caribbean. This will be the largest solar project in the Caribbeanwhencomplete.”

Minister of Energy and Energy Industries, Stuart Young, commended all parties in getting these agreements signed The

Ministry started this process in 2017 with the release of the country's first Request For Proposals for renewable energy Since the consortium was awarded preferred bidder status there have beenseveraldelays.

Minister Young indicated that many issues were overcome during thistimeasitwasthefirstprojectof its kind in T&T He expressed that now that these agreements have been signed, future projects will comeonstreamquicker

He also shared his gratitude to the investment to be made by BP and Shell and shared that this project will unlock great potential for T&T to decarbonise and start generating green electrons which could link to the creation of green hydrogen and other green commodities like green ammonia

andgreenmethanol.

InGuyana,theGovernmenthas been chasing the development of gas for electricity generation, even as the World races towards the implementation of renewable sourcesofenergy

T h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s Development Programme (UNDP) inits2022Reporttitled:“Uncertain Times, Unsettled Lives: Shaping our Future in a Transforming World”, has made it clear that power generation through solar has become far cheaper than which is beingreported.

In the document which was released on September 8, the organisation explained, “Contrary totheprojectedaverageannualcost reduction of 2.6 percent between 2010 and 2020, solar photovoltaics costs declined by 15 percent a year

overthesameperiod.”

This means that the price of electricity from solar declined by 89 percent in these 10 years. The report highlighted that solar power generation also proved to be cheaper in comparison to at least two other clean energy options –gas and wind. Despite both wind and gas power also recording a decline in cost to generate, the report maintained solar is the cheapestoption.

For instance, gas dropped from US$83 in 2009 to US$56 in 2019 per MWh. Meanwhile, wind power generation in 2009 also declined fromUS$135toUS$41in2019per MWh.

Despite these strides, the Government of Guyana has decided to pursue a Gas-to-Energy (GTE) project that is likely to cost

thecountryoverUS$2billion.

The GTE project has three components – the pipeline to be constructed by oil major, ExxonMobil, and a Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) plant to treat and separate the gas, paired with a power plant to generate the electricity

So far, Exxon has said that the cost of the pipeline could be US$1.3 billion. The cost for the other two plants is pegged at US$759million.

This venture is expected to generate 300 MW of power to Guyanese once completed However, this project involves several environmental risks and Economists have been questioning its feasibility since the project cost has increased significantly since thefirststudywasconducted.

T&T Minister of Energy and Energy Industries, Stuart Young (second from left in front row) smiles for a photo after signing the agreements with representatives of bp, Shell, and Lightsource bp. Also in the image are other Government officials. (Image: The Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago)

More than 1,200 to be charged for Brazil riot

(BBC NEWS) More than1,200peoplehavebeen formally arrested and are being charged in relation to the riot at Brazil's Congress.

Authorities have five days to charge suspects who have been formally arrested. In total, more than 1,500 people were detained after the riot Concerns about potential further protests have prompted a large securityforcesdeploymentin

Brazil'scapital.

Brazilian Federal Police sources say those being formally charged are being heldattheforce'sacademyin Brasilia - where most of the arrested were taken after the riot - and some have been movedtootherfacilities.The authorities have warned that some of the detainees who have been released may ultimately be arrested amid theongoinginvestigation. And they have expressed

concern that more rallies could be organised by hardlinesupportersofformer Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. According to a m e m o f r o m f e d e r a l prosecutorsseenbytheBBC, pro-Bolsonaro groups have been calling for "mega" demonstrations to take place across Brazilian state capitals.

The document also outlines a number of additional security measures being taken, including the immediate arrest of suspects

blocking roads and "invading" public buildings, aswellasstifffinesof20,000 Brazilian Reais ($3,830, £3,168) an hour for participants.

Companies that provide logistical and financial support to people carrying out these activities are liable for fines of up to 100,000 Brazilian Reais ($19,181, £15,828). The government is also asking that social media platforms take steps to suspend accounts that have been involved in planning

criminal behaviour. On Tu e s d a y, B r a z i l i a n lawmakers approved a federal "intervention" that has seen military forces deployed to carry out police and security duties in Brasilia.

On Wednesday morning, there were dozens of troops from Brazil's Force National on duty near Brazil's presidential palace and Congress.

Their deployment has met the approval of many local residents, who say they

are wary of another riot like the one that happened on 8 January. "This is all necessary,sothatwegetback to work," said Brasília r e s i d e n t A n d e r s o n Rodrigues. "When they attacked [the Congress and presidentialpalace]Ifeltasif I couldn't do anything about it.”

"They should charge everyone involved [in the riot] with a crime," he added. "Not just the people who were here, but the people whofinanceditaswell."

GMSA signs MOU with furniture manufacturing firm in India

Following a recent publication that the newly rehabilitated $97 million Burma Access Road in Mahaicony is breaking away some six months after it was completed, the Ministry of Public Works has indicated t h a t t h e C o n t r a c t o r responsiblefor theworks will correct the defects on the road.

In a release on Tuesday, the Ministry said a recent publication about a section of roadway has garnered its attention.

The Ministry noted that through the competitive bidding process for the

rehabilitation of a section of theBurmaAccessRoadithad engaged Contractor, Premium Asphalt to do the works.

K a i e t e u r N e w s understands that Premium Asphalt was awarded the contract for the road to the tuneof$97,349,910.

AccordingtotheMinistry, works on the road then commenced on April 27, 2022, with a four - month duration. The scope of work comprised of placement and compaction of white sand/sand clay in sections wherebulgingoftheroadway (Continued on page 18)

Officials at the signing ceremony

The Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mehidpurwala Furnishers Pvt. Ltd. (MFP) - India, which will facilitate the expansion of the furniture manufacturing industry in Guyana and allow both countries to access more opportunities for capacity building, transfer of technology and skills, capital,andmarketdevelopment.

The MoU was signed by GMSA President, Rafeek Khan, and Adnan Raja (CEO) of MFP, GMSA said in a press release. According to GMSA, Khan seized the opportunity to establish the alliance during his attendance with the Government of Guyana and other members of the Guyanese private sector at the 17th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (PBD) in Indore at Madhya Pradesh Global InvestorsSummit.

The MoU will facilitate collaboration with development support by companies seeking to form consortiums in order to strengthen the furniture manufacturing sector in Guyanaandtomeetthecountry'srapid growing demand in both domestic and regionalmarkets.

Mehidpurwala Furnishers Pvt. Ltd. is one of several companies which the Association's President has engaged and visited the company's impressive seven story showroom covering 100,000sq.ft.ofspace.

The showroom featured a wide variety of furniture pioneered by the company for every type of consumer, from affordable to luxury furniture whichareutilizedinthehousing,hotel, hospital, educational institution, industrial, warehousing and other infrastructuralindustries.

Mehidpurwala Furnishers Pvt. Ltd is a fourth-generation company with

morethan135yearsofexperience.The furniture products are constructed with materialssuchasIndianTikwood,PreLaminated Engineered board and Steel, some of which will be imported from India and finished in Guyana. Guyanese hardwood species will be used in manufacturing the furniture as well, thereby increasing opportunities within the forestry sector and building indigenous manufacturing capacities within Guyana. Also present from the GMSAwere Chairman of the Services Sub-Sector, Haimwant Persaud, Board Members Shyam Nokta, Rosh Khan and Komal Singh Joining the delegation in India also is David Mahmalji of MHM Holdings Inc. who is also a member of the Association. This MoU is the first signed by a Guyanese Business Support Organisation in the state of Madhya Pradesh during the Global Investors Summit.

Rioters shattered the glass walls of the Brazil Congress

Security forces have been deployed at key locations in Brasilia

courtesy of

No meeting of the all-important Parliamentary watchdog on the oil sector for three years

Th e N a t u r a l

R e s o u r c e

Committee, a Parliamentary Sectoral Committee where members of the Opposition can have some of their concerns for the oil and gas industry raised, has failed to meet for threeyears.

This is according to Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC)

Member of Parliament (MP), David Patterson Patterson noted that during 2015 - 2020, the Committee functionedfully Hesaidthat MPs from the People Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) who were in Opposition at the time were able to summon Exxon to question them about their operations.

He said, “In Parliament, there is a sectoral standing committeecalledtheNatural Resources Committee, it is made up of nine members,

and the Government has five membersandtheOpposition four members. Oil and Gas are considered to be Natural Resourcethatfallsunderthis Committee. The Chairman of the Committee is the Minister of Natural Resources, [Vickram Bharrat]- no meeting can be called unless called by the Chairman.Sadly,theNatural Resources Committee has never met since the PPP returned to office (inAugust 2020).”

According to Patterson, the reason for this has been simply because the PPP Government has been using its one-seat majority in the House, to control various aspects of the parliamentary w o r k S i m i l a r l y ,

APNU+AFC Member of P a r l i a m e n t ( M P ) , S h u r w a y n e H o l d e r, bemoaned the fact that the important committee has not met in three years. He told KaieteurNewsasaresult,he

had made a request to have the oil issues raised at the level of the Economic Services Committee a Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on which he sits and the Opposition has rotationalChairmanship.

“I had made a request when I was Chairman of the E c o n o m i c S e r v i c e s Committee to have oil issues included at the Economics Committee because a lot of the oil issues are economics-

World Bank approves US$100M for Barbados' Green and Resilient Recovery

The World Bank approved on Tuesday US $100 million in financing to support Barbados low c a r b o n e c o n o m i c development and resilience toclimatechange.

“I cannot underscore enough the necessity of support, such as this, to middle income small island developing states,” said The H n o

rable Mia Mottley, Prime MinisterofBarbados “This loan allows Barbados to advance its efforts to achieve climate resilience, including continuing our shift to clean energy

This ultimately allows us to better shield Barbadians from the worst excesses of the climate crisis while creating opportunities for green and blue jobs and investment as we adapt to our new reality.”

TheBarbadosGreenand Resilient Development Policy Loan has two main pillars.

The first focuses on green and blue resilient development, which includes a new law on water reuse, the adoption of a climate change and agriculture policy and the establishment on an Environment Sustainability Fund,allofwhicharecritical since Barbados is a waterscarcecountry.

This pilar also supports the reduction of marine pollution, and

productive sectors. Rising fuel prices also exacerbate the increasing vulnerability of Barbados' economic recovery, adding to existing e n v i r o n m e n t a l vulnerabilities.

“The realities of the Caribbean as one of the world's most vulnerable regions demands that we take strong action,” said Lilia Burunciuc, World Bank's Director for the Caribbean.

basedbutmyrequestwasnot ever addressed,” Holder said.

The concerns were also h i g h l i g h t e d b y t h e Chairperson of the Alliance for Change (AFC), CatherineHughes.

Last November, Hughes told Reporters, “Despite the rancor that permeates the discussions of the House, there continues to be some unresolved deficiencies, and we lament that their mere existence suggests that the Speaker is unwilling to

tacklethesedefects.”

For instance, the former Minister had explained that t h e f u n c t i o n i n g o f Parliamentary Committees is the foundation of facilitating scrutiny of all areas of Government policy and administration. “It is through these Committees that we can guarantee the opportunity for all sides of the House to participate, discuss issues of national importance, facilitate robust discussion, and most importantly strive to achieve consensus on national issues in the best interest of the Country,”sheadded.

Given this laudable expectation, the Party said it finds it “reprehensible and unacceptable” that the Parliamentary Sectoral Committees are comatose or have never seen the light of day more than two years later. Furthermore, the Alliance for Change complained, “the fact that the Speaker has been too busy with his many various

overseas trips to deal with these serious transgressions and get his real work done –is alarming and most unfortunate.”

While the Committees have not been meeting, the Opposition party also pointed out that the 12th Parliament holds the record in Guyana's history for striking out and disallowing key motions of high priority, such as the ones on the high cost of living, massive flooding resulting in loss of income and damage to property, and others Additionally, “Questions to the House continue to be butchered, not edited, and often lack a timely response. All this is in addition to the infrequent sittings which indirectly silence debate on important issues, as for example, private members day –which occurs every fourth sitting when Opposition issues are examined, can take months now to come around,” Hughesnoted.

Scotiabank expands paternity leave from five days to four weeks

...adds three more weeks to maternity leave

Scotiabank Guyana has implemented a n e x p a n d e d parental leave policy, resulting in increases in maternityandpaternityleave foremployees.

pillar facilitates Barbados' low carbon and resilient infrastructure development through the implementation ofnewstandardsforagencylevel disaster management plans, institutional reviews of national emergency management agencies, as well as increased renewable energy capacity and support for climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts.

B a r b a d o s ' h e a v y dependence on imported fossil fuels exposes the countrytointernationalprice fluctuations, thereby i m p a c t i n g t h e c o m p e t i t i v e n e s s o f

s Barbados n for e c o n o m i c a n d environmental resilience, fully acknowledging that the two are inextricably linked”, sheadded.

Last year, the World Bank Group provided over US$26 billion in climate investments to developing countries-includingthosein the Caribbean - and we are on track to exceed that sum during this fiscal year Further, our Climate Action Plan commits 35% of our financing to climate action and our Country Climate Development Reports are innovative, country-focused diagnostics which support countries in achieving low-

The enhanced benefit which was introduced in August 2022 includes the major changes Scotiabank the first local industry introduce these, the banksaidinapress r e l e a s e o n Wednesday

The benefits l i s t e d a r e : M a t e r n i t y L e a v e h a s moved from 13 weeks to 16 weeks while paternity Leave has moved from daysto4weeks.

“Our people are mostimportantasset.

We believe that for our people to bring their very best selves to work, we have an important role to play in supporting employee physical, mental, and financial health–including when employees are growing their families” commentedNafeezaGaffoor – C o u n t r y M a n a g e r,

Scotiabank Guyana. “This change has come about as a result of a new global standard for parental leave across all Scotiabank's markets and provides a consistent vision on how employees should be

its 'LifeSpeak Total Wellbeing' Platform, aimed at providing employees with easily accessible tools to increase the wellbeing support available to both employees and their immediatefamilies.

T h e b a n k s a i d 'LifeSpeak' is a fully virtual platform.

Further, the bank said it also launched its e a d e r s h i p D e v e l o p m e n t t h r o u g h p r o g r a m m e , 'iLEAD'.

T h e programme is S c o t i a b a n k ' s global leadership d e v e l o p m e n t project, helping to enhance the skills of “our people leaders.”

The bank also has a amme geared at advancinggenderequalityin theworkplace.

supported when welcoming a new child, regardless of which country they are located”shecontinued.

Some of the other recent actions Scotiabank Guyana has implemented as part of i t s c o m m i t m e n t t o employees, are the launch of

“We are committed to being an inclusive employer, an advocate for women and to removing barriers to succeedingatwork.

Women make up72% of our employee base and 66%of our leadership team are women,” Scotiabank said.

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat

WANTED

Driver, Salesman & Porters toworkinwarehouse.Must have experience, attractive salary offered. Call: 6964444.

Onemaleable-bodiedClerk. Tel:231-2029,616-5954.

Onemaleandfemaleablebodied Clerk: 225-2313/ 658-8559.

DieselMechanic,Security andCooktoworkinCharity, Essequibo. Contact: 687-5814/ 688-0417.

Security,Drivers/ExpeditersandPorters.Contact: 223-5273/74 or 627-9647.

Driver/Salesman,Bakers, Patry Makers, Puri /Roti Makers & Receptionist. Back to Eden Bakery,85 DavidStSubryanville,6130475/ 613-0385.

Maid to cook and clean, must be child friendly. Excellent salary and working conditions offered. Call/ Whatsapp:653-7776.

Seamstress,Tailor,Block Maker and Carpenter wanted. Call/ Whatsapp: 691-1918.

One Kitchen Assistant and DeliveryBoyneeded.Call: 223-5021/223-1531.

Wanted: workers to work on Cash Crop Farm, $5000 daily and free meals included.Call:695-6139,6797552.

Driver/Porterneeded,ages 35-45 yrs and must have atleast 5 yrs experience along with 2 references. Call:623-0479.

ReliablemaleandfemaleSecurityOfficerneeded!Must have Military background. Contact:603-5140.

TaxiDriversneededatPrincessTaxiService,Ramada Hotel.Call:265-7075/76or 616-5419,690-2242.

One house for rent. Call: 683-8786.

One Domestic Worker/ Maid required to work 2 times per week. For more infoCall:613-7651/649-3783.

Babysitter/ Domestic required to work in Eccles, E.B.D.Call:615-4860.

Watertruckdriverrequired to work on the West Bank of Demerara.Tel:686-9296.

General Domestic required toCookatE.B.D.Call:6008107.

VACANCY

Salesgirl and Porters needed.SendWrittenapplication to Best Buy Food Supplies, Deniss and MiltonStreetC/ville.

Maid required to cook and cleaninEastBankarea.Call: 615-9132.

One General Domestic needed,mustknowtocook. Applywithwrittenapplication at Keyfood, McDoom Village next to the Post Office.

Able-bodied Porter/ Salesmanneeded,musthavecxc maths & english, with neat handwriting. Apply at Keyfood,McDoomVillage orCall:629-7426.

Delivery Clerk, Office Assistant, Sales Clerk & Labourerneeded. Apply@ Lens Hardware, Call: 2271511/645-1613.

Full-time Joiner and Spray man required, must have atleast 10 yrs experience. For more details, call/ whatsapp:600-4927.

Office Clerk and Domestic workerrequired.Live-infacilities available, call: 2237500.

OnemaleWorkerandCanterDriverneeded.Ages2550yrs,Call:231-1408/6429191.

Carpenters, Labourers, Masons & Skilled men needed, wages $7,000$10,000 per day & Labourer, 5-6 K per day Call:650-1394,692-7110.

Experienced Cashiers, Kitchen Assistant & roti/ puriCook.Apply@Hack's Restaurant5CommerceSt.

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

Driver required, ages 2350 yrs. Must be able to assist in Workshop at Eccles and must have car andvanlicence.Call:6458443/642-9823.

Kitchen Assistant required @ Soup House Restaurant. Mon-Sat, 8am-3pm, great salary along with flexible hours.Call:697-2014.

Experienced Child Care/ Nannyneededfor1month old baby @ La Bonne Intention, ECD. Must speak English and required to work Mon-Fri, 7:30am4:30pm.Call:592-688-0867.

VACANCY

Skilled Builder required to build Panel Door. Contact: 220-2736/220-3833.

Vacancy: Male Factory Workers(7am-4pm)$3500 per day, Female Factory Workers(2pm-10pm)$3500 &(10pm-6am)$3900.Call/ Whatsapp:611-7839.

Public Works Ministry seeking supplier for second-hand pilot boat

During the opening of tenders on Tuesday at the National Procurement and TenderAdministrationBoard (NPTAB) office, it was revealed that the Ministry of Public Works is looking to purchaseasecond-handpilot boat.

At the reading of the minutes,itwasdisclosedthat two companies have bid for the contract.

The companies are GopieInvestmentInc. whobid$262millionand Farm Supplies Limited who bid$157million.

Below are the companiesandtheirbids:

MinistryofPublicWorks

Procurement and delivery of one second-hand pilot boat.

MinistryofHealth Supply and delivery of dietary supplies.

FORRENT

Three bedroom Apt upstairs unfurnished in Vreed-en-hoop and 2 and 3 bedrooms furnished in Providence and Diamond. Call/Whatsapp:604-6664, 682-6238,216-2299.

Three bedrooms upstairs Apt for rent @ Diamond E.B.D.Preferablecoupleor single person. Call: 6282412.

2 and 3 Bedroom fully furnished luxury apartments forrent,shorttermandlong term.Tel:# 682-2585, 6911432.

1 8000 sq feet warehouse in a prime location on the E.B.D, US $10,000 per month. Call: 500-1527 or 233-3512.

ENTERTAINMENT

Swimmingpool,familyfun, crystal clear pool, kids and adults sections at Aracari Resort,Call:264-2946-9.

Supply and delivery of long-lasting insecticide nets.

SERVICES

Visa Application: Canada andUK&U.S.A.Graphics design & advertisements. Wedding decorations & elderlygrooming:hair,nail etc.Call:626-7040.

Supply and delivery of janitorial supplies for program.

VEHICLESFORSALE

FORSALE

Houses for sale in Haslington, Tushen, Providence & Diamond / Little Diamond.CallPacificDevelopment Inc: 673-6210/ 227-8274 or 917-7715202.

Household items for sale: freezers, chair set, tools, wares,etc.Call:689-4143/ 650-5100.

US steel for sale in bulk, delivery offered to Georgetown.ContactThe Canje Group: sales@ canjegroup.com or Call: +(592)626-8671.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Aracari hotel located at WBD(Versailles,Vreed-enHoop)- A/C, all amenities and breakfast included, from$63US.Call:264-29469.

OneHondaCRV,fullyloaded immaculate condition, low mileage 3.3M negotiable. Contact:649-0956.

2012NissanFrontier42,000 Miles,Goodworkingcondition $3.5 Negotiable. Call: 225-3739

EDUCATION

FirstAid/CPR/AED:Home Nursing courses and First AidRefreshercoursestarting soon. Call St.John Association:225-9082oremail: stjohnguyana@yahoo.com

CSEC online maths classes are provided by qualified Teacher for January 2024 exams$10,000monthly.Call: 603-9085

Rose Hall man dies after hit by garbage truck

Deceased, Victor Alert

Alabourer is now dead following an accident on the Rose Hall Town Public RoadTuesdaynight. Deadis Victor Alert also of Rose Hall. Kaieteur News was informed that at about 21:00 hrs, a Cevon’s Waste Management truck bearing license plate number, GZZ 4248, was proceeding west along the southern drive lane atafastafastratewhenAlert reportedly dashed across the roadfromnorthtosouth,into thepathofthetruck.

He was hit in front of the Rose Hall Town

Primary School Eon Hooper, the cousin of the dead man, disclosed that he

was standing on the public roadwhenhesawtwoCevon trucks heading in the directionofNewAmsterdam at a fast rate. He said shortly after he heard a loud noise and on closer look, he recognized that it was his cousin who was struck down

“I go and ask who is the driver for the truck and the driver identified himself and the next one (other Cevon driver) tell him go in back in the truck,” he mentioned Alert was picked up and taken to the Port Mourant Public

Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival Policeareinvestigating

PublicWorksMinistry...

From page 16

Guyana Marketing Corporation Procurement of security services, lost 1 to 7.

Bidder Amount Tendered

Castle Security Services Inc.

Lot1 $43,521,005

Lot2 $43,521,005

Lot3 $43,521,005

Lot4 $43,521,005

Lot5 $43,521,005

Lot6 $43,521,005

Lot7 $43,521,005

I-Secure Security Service Inc.

Lot1 $5,139,120

Lot2 $5,139,120

Lot3 $5,139,120

Lot4 $4,614,720

Lot5 $4,509,840

Lot6 $4,509,840

Lot7 $4,509,840

Hoosein Security Service Lot1 $7,241,098

Lot2 $7,241,098

Lot3 $7,241,098

Lot4 $6,967,799

Lot5 $6,967,799

Lot6 $6,967,799

Lot7 $6,967,799

Lot1 $6,858,085

Court to rule on March 7 in case calling for swift appointment of top judicial officers

Ju s t i c e D a m o n

Younge has set March 7, 2023 to hand down a decision in the caseofwhichViceChairman of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R), Vinceroy Jordan, is seeking an order to compel the President to initiate and expedite the process to appoint a substantive Chief JusticeandChancellorofthe Judiciary

TheJudgeannouncedthe date after Lawyers in the case presented their oral arguments in the matter Senior Counsel, Roysdale Forde representing the Applicant and Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC for the State relied on their writtensubmissions.

Forde said that the lack o f a s u b s t a n t i v e appointment is a clear case of refusal by the President to comply with the p r o v i s i o n s i n t h e Constitution that govern the appointment of the top JudicialOfficers.

“There is a failure to initiate the process based on the requirements of the Constitution,”Fordesaid I n h i s r e s p o n s e , A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l , Nandlall, among other things challenged Jordan’s application, noting that the orders prayed for are in direct conflict with the Doctrine of Separation of Powers

He noted that the President has immunity by the reason of the Doctrine of theSeparationofPowers.

“Nowhere has a Head of State of a country can be directed by a Judge. I have never heard of it,” Nandlall said.

He stressed too that a number of matters has

preventedthePresidentfrom moving forward with the appointment.

According to the Attorney General, there are other appointments that must be made before the President can move f o r ward with these appointments.

“There is a human element in this matter

The law must be interpreted in a sterile manner and devoid of the circumstances in which the issues arose,” he said

The case brought by Jordan seeks inter alia an order directed to the President through the A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l compelling the Head of State to initiate the p r o c e s s f o r t h w i t h contemplated by Article 127 of the Constitution to m a k e p e r m a n e n t appointments to the two offices

A s p a r t o f h i s application, the PNCR Vice Chairman and Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), also seeks a declaration from t h e C o u rt that the

President has no valid reason not to initiate the p r o c e s s t o a p p o i n t permanent holders to the Office of the Chief Justice and Chancellor

He also wants the court to order the President to consult with the Opposition

L e a d e r o n h a v i n g permanently appointed Judicial Officers In a document to support his application, Jordan pointed to reports in which he said that the President, Irfaan Ali has refused to initiate any p r o c e s s t o a p p o i n t permanent office holders to thetopjudicialposts.

The applicant alluded to the list of excuses given by the President as basis of not initiating the process to appointthepersons

Among them, he noted that Ali had said that then Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon and the O p p o s i t i o n , m u s t recognise him and his Government as a legitimate Government before he consults with him on the appointment. In addition, Jordan noted the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), through its Presidents have repeatedly called for permanent appointments to bemade.

Further, the Opposition M P p o i n t e d t o correspondence between the President and the current Leader of the Opposition, AubreyNorton.

He explained that based on the correspondence, Norton had expressed a readiness to start the process to appoint the C h i e f J u s t i c e a n d Chancellor, but it was the President who has been holding off on the appointments.

Graham’s Hall Teacher assaulted by parent

…Ministrypromisestotakeaction toensureeducators’safety

In light of the recentassault of aTeacher at the Graham’s Hall Primary School, the Ministry of Education said it will be taking actions to ensure that all Teachers continue toworkinasafeandsecureenvironment.

The Ministry in a statement on Wednesday stated that with grave concern thephysicalassaultofSirShawnMarshall,a GraduateTeacherattachedtotheschoolbya parent of the school is a reprehensive and ghastly act. “It is unacceptable and will not be condoned in the least,” the Ministry noted.

In its statement, the Education Ministry explained that schools are considered as a safespaceandanyactofviolenceisdeemed totallyunacceptable.

AccordingtotheMinistry,whenParents or Guardians are engaged in violent acts againstTeachers, it goes against established values,normsandexpectations.“Wecannot beatTeachersandthenaskthemtoteachour children peaceful conflict resolution,” the Ministrystated.

In light of the recent event at the school, the Ministry indicated that it will therefore take all appropriate actions to ensure Teachers work in a safe learning environment.

Such actions the Ministry mentioned includes prohibiting violent Parents or Guardians from having access to the school premises, transferring any learner out of a school whose Parents commit acts of violence on Teachers or any other sanctions that are deemed necessary, while encouraging the police or any other institution or authorities to take whatever actionthelawprescribes.

The Ministry concluded that “Parents or

From page 14 had existed; placement and compaction of 200mmthickcrushedaggregatesand50mm asphaltic concrete surface, along with the construction of the road shoulders and marking of the finished asphaltic road surface.

TheMinistryfurthernotedthattheroad works, inclusive of paving were substantially completed on August 16, 2022, with overall completion of the project on November 10, 2022, due to delays attributed to the unfavorable weatherpattern

This road project's Defects Liability

period, the Ministry explained will come to an end on November 9, 2023. “Please also beadvisedthattheMinistryhasengagedthe Contractor on correcting the existing defects, and the remedying of the defect is scheduled to commence on January 14, 2022,”thestatementadded.

This publication understands that works on Burma Road has been ongoing for some time and that Premium Asphalt was completingphasethreeoftheworks.

The rehabilitation of the road was initiated to improve better access for residents who reside in the farming communityofBurma.

Guardians are reminded that in any instance whereanincidentoccurswithaTeacher,the mattermustbebroughttotheattentionofthe Head Teacher or Teacher in charge of the schoolorInstitution.”

Injured Teacher, Shawn Marshall

Vice -Chairman of the PNCR,Vinceroy Jordan.

Govt. to relocate squatters from East Bank Sea dam in six months

Go v e r n m e n t

Officials from the Ministry of Housing and Water on Wednesday engaged squattersalongtheEastBank Demerara Sea Dam about their plan to relocate them withinsixmonths.

Those engaged by the Ministry were individuals squatting along the Sea Defence Reserve at Grove, Little and Great Diamond, Farm, Herstelling and

Covent Garden on the East BankofDemerara(EBD).

A meeting was held with t h e m a t t h e L i t t l e Diamond/Herstelling Neighbourhood Democratic Council's (NDC) compound by the Minister of Housing andWater,CollinCroal.Also presentwereChiefExecutive Officer (CEO) of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), Sherwyn Greaves, Chairman of the Sea and River Defence

Board, Gary Beaton, and Community Development Director,GladwinCharles.

According to a statement sent out by the Ministry, Croal informed the squatters thatanareaatGreatDiamond hasalreadybeenidentifiedto relocatethem.

He notified the squatters thathisGovernmentwantsto complete the relocation process in a six-monthstimeline while adding that the “Ministry is working

closely with financial institutions to aid families willingtoengage”.

“Meanwhile”, stated the Ministry, “Greaves (CEO of CH&PA) committed to working with each person to find the best possible solutionfortherelocation”.

He advised that CH&PA “will be meeting persons according to their specific needs, including making a built unit or a serviced lot available”.

Prime Suspect in Dj's murder

captured - Claims he was only defending himself

Police have been able to capture the prime suspect in the murder of localDJ,BrianPitam.

Pitam, a 28-year-old father of twochildren,a2-year-oldboyand8 montholdbabygirl, wasreportedly killed on Sunday last by three uninvited guests who allegedly crashed a birthday party he was attending at Laluni Village, Soesdyke-LindenHighway.

Investigators had captured one of the suspects but were on the hunt for two others. Kaieteur News understands that the prime suspect waslaterhandedoverbyrelativesto police after he confessed to them that he had chopped the former KaieteurRadioemployee.

He is claiming that he had chopped the Dj just to defend himself. The suspect alleged that Pitam's father-in-law had slapped one of his friends first and they

ended up in a scuffle which led to a “bigfight”involvingalotofpersons. During the fight, the suspect alleged that he saw Pitam running towards himwithawoodandheretaliatedby chopping him with a cutlass he had reportedlyfoundnearby

According to reports Pitam was attacked while trying to defend his father-in-law from being brutalised bythethreemen.

He sustained a huge chop wound to the back of his neck, right wrist and some of his fingers were severed.

Pitam's wife, Aliyah Pitam, recalled that her husband died in her armswhiletheywereontheirwayto a city hospital. He reportedly told her that he loves her and their children very much and asked her to rubhisfeetbecausehecouldnotfeel t h e m b e f o r e b e c o m i n g unresponsive.

In making their case for removing the squatters from the East Bank Sea Dam, Beaton the Chairman of the RiverandSeaDefenceBoard explained at the meeting that the “dams” are very critical pieces of infrastructure to Guyana.

He reportedly said, “It's no secret that we are below sea level, they serve two purposes, protect us from seawaterandithelpsustoget tocriticalareasquickly”.

According to the Ministry, an investigation carriedoutbyitsCommunity Development Department, revealed a total of 317 illegal structures were found along theSeaDam.

Some 283 of these structures are occupied by families while 34 were

empty

Fifteen of these illegal structures were found at LittleDiamond,another49at Great Diamond while 96 were discovered at Grove. Fourteen were located at Farm and Covent Garden while 86 were found at Herstelling.

Squatting along the East Bank Sea Dam has increased in recent years following an e c o n o m i c c r i s i s i n nieghbouring Venezuela. Many Migrants and remigrants had fled country to seekrefugeinGuyana.

In 2019 Kaieteur News had found out that Scores of Venezuelan migrants had begun squatting along the Grove Sea Dam on the East Bank of Demerara alongside localsquatters.

Drone shot taken in 2019 of some of the illegal structures along Grove Sea Dam, EBD.

Minister of Housing and Water, Colin Croal, speaking with Squatters on Wednesday

Murdered, Brian Pitam

Naomi Osaka to take year out after announcing pregnancy

SportsMax - Four-time grand slam champion Naomi Osaka has announced she is pregnantandisnotexpecting toplaytennisagainuntilnext year

The25-year-oldhasnot been in action since September and withdrew from the upcoming Australian Open on Sunday,butnoreasonwas given for her prolonged absence.

However, Osaka revealed on her personal social media accounts on Wednesday that she is expectingherfirstchildand will take a year out.

“Can’twaittogetbackon thecourt,buthere’salittlelife update for 2023,” she wrote alongside an image of an

ultrasound.

“The past few years have been interesting to say the least, but I find that it’s the mostchallengingtimesinlife that may be the most fun.

“These few months away from the sport have really given me a new love and appreciationforthegameI’ve dedicatedmylifeto.

“I realise that life is so short and I don’t take any moments for granted, everydayisanewblessing and adventure.

“I know that I have so muchtolookforwardtoin the future, one thing I’m lookingforwardtoisformy kid to watch one of my matches and tell someone, ‘that’s my mom,’haha.

“2023willbeayearthat’ll

be full of lessons for me, and IhopeI’llseeyouguysatthe start of the next one ‘cause I’ll be atAus 2024. Love you allinfinitely.”

The Japanese former world number one won the Australian Open in 2019 and 2021, while also winning the USOpenin2018and2020.

Osakaiscurrentlyranked 42nd in the world and has been replaced by Dayana Yastremska in the main draw fortheopeninggrandslamof the year

“I don’t think there’s a perfectly correct path to take in life,” Osaka added in her post.

“But I always felt if you move forward with good intentions you’ll find your way eventually.”

Brian Ramphal recommits to Berbice...

From page 25 majorityofcricketersforthe national teams at all levels, organiseddozensofdevelopmentalprogrammeswhilethe numberofactivecricketclubs and players have returned to the 2015 all time high after a three years decline.

Foster noted that with Ramphal’s sponsorship, the BCBwasabletohostseveral crickettournamentsincluding adoublewicketfirstdivision forthecounty’seleventeams and an under 19 tournament inWest Berbice.

The popular businessman support was also used to publish the historic BCB Coaching manual, organise numerouscoachingsessions, fund the hosting of trial matchestoselectintercounty teams at the junior levels and publishinformationalposters and the BCBYouth InformationBooklet.

Additionally, the businessman is also the major sponsoroftheboard’sannual award ceremony, Mother of

Thursday January 12, 2023

ARIES (Mar.21–Apr.19)

Get-togetherswithfriendsor meetingswithasmallgroup, if possible, should prove informative and enlightening today,Aries, although some ofitmaybeabitperplexing.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

Todaythingscouldberather hecticatwork,Taurus.You'll probably be very busy and happy with whatever results you produce. You could tire yourself out,

GEMINI(May21–June20)

Somenewinformationabout an interesting field could have you browsing the web and looking through books to learn more, Gemini. This could involve law, philosophy,

CANCER(June21–July22)

Todayyoumightlearnabout new and creative ways to increase your income, Cancer, possibly involving technology in some way. So muchnewinformationcould comeyourway

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

Social events could put you in touch with interesting people in intriguing professions, Leo. You might get involvedinsomefascinating conversations that provide you with a lot of useful information.

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)

A friend or colleague could recommendsomebooksthat youwanttoreadrightaway, Virgo. Be sure you take breaks and rest your eyes from time to time to avoid eyestrain and headaches today

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

Today your mind will be quick, insightful, and inspired, Libra. Your creative impulses should go a thousandmilesanhourandideas should pop in and out of yourheadlikecrazy

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov.21) If visitors are able to pop in andoutduringtheday,Scorpio, you'll be in the right frame of mind to enjoy their company.Expectinteresting news and stimulating conversation.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Don't be surprised if your inboxfillswithemailoryour phone rings off the hook, Sagittarius. Friends, relatives, and colleagues could have great news and usefulinformation.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)=It Inspiration is the word for today, Capricorn. Your creative talent should blossomandmotivateyouto work on wonderful ideas. This could involve music, painting, decorating,

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Today your physical and mental energy should be operatingataveryhighlevel, Aquarius. You probably won't spend much time inside if you can avoid it. Expect get-togethers

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20) Your intuition is likely to be verykeentoday,Pisces.Accurate psychic insights couldcometoyouthickand fast.Yourimaginationisalso strong, and you might come up with ideas to enrich your home,

the Year and Father of the YearAwards.

With funding from Ramphal, the BCB also assisted several youth cricketers with needed gear

PlayerslikeWestindies playersShimronHetmyer, Veersammy Permaul, Romario Shepherd and ShemaineCampbellewere honored for making Berbiceproud,whileyoung talent like Jonathan Rampersaud, Isai Thorne, Rampertab Ramnauth, Ashmini Munisar and AshleyRamnauthhaveall emerged from the coaching sessions. The BCB President has hailed Ramphal as a hero of the county cricket and one of the main reasons why Berbice cricket was able to rise to the top.

The businessman who has employed several young Guyanese in his business has committed to renewing his sponsoringin2023atthecost of five hundred thousand

dollars.

The sponsorship would coverthehostingofahistoric two days tournament at the under21level,the2023Award Ceremony and the annual MotherandFatheroftheYear Awards.

Foster noted that he was confident that with the support of Ramphal, Berbice cricket would continue to move forward at a very rapid rate.

He disclosed that the two days under17 tournament is partoftheBCB’sefforttoget their youth players involved in playing the longer version of the game in a comprehensive developmental plan.

An elite squad of twenty four players would be selected for a special coaching programme and possible selectiontotheBerbiceunder17 team. RBSTechCenterIncis aTechnology,CallCentreand BPO Services company with employees in Georgetown and can be contacted via email-brian@ramphal.com.

From page 23

GYMMAFplansforthesport locally

Hosted by the Serbian MMAFederation,thetournaments will take place at the ŠtarkArena in Novi Beograd (Belgrade).

The Championships will hold six weight divisions for female athletes, from Atomweight to Lightweight, andtenformaleathletes,from StrawweighttoSuperHeavyweight.

TherewillbeboththeSenior and Junior categories. TheGYMMAFwillhaveuntilJanuary13toconfirmtheir representatives.

The2022WorldChampionships will be the first editionofthecompetitiontotake placefollowingtheintroduction of closed continental championships.

This year’s continental championship saw new stars emerge along with some familiar faces cementing their place amongst the elite.

From page 23 right now we know it’s achievable,it’sdoable.We’re working with the coaches to see how we can improve the regimen so that they can achieve what we want to achieve between now and thattime.”

Scott disclosed that Leon Seaton Jr is currently still training at the High PerformanceTrainingFacilityonhis FINAscholarshipandtheassociation is working closely withthecoachtoassistinany way they can. The association also hopes FINA can assist with Persaud’s development as they plan a few additional camps for her to reach that competitive Olympian level.

MMA team in...

Danns still committed to the Golden Jaguars

By Rawle Toney

Neil Danns, the recentlyappointed Macclesfield Football Club Head Coach, is still committed to Guyana’s senior National Men’steamprogramme.

Speaking exclusively to Kaieteur News yesterday, Danns said his recent appointment at the Northern Premier League club can only be seen as a step to help in the further advancement oftheGoldenJaguars.

D a n n s s a i d h i s commitment remains the same as it has been since his debut for the Golden Jaguars in 2015 at the Guyana National Stadium, where he assistedonbothgoalsscored by Pernell Schultz in Guyana’s 2 – 0 win over Grenada.

The former Crystal Palace and Leicester City midfieldacehadfeaturedfor Jamaal Shabazz’s side in all of their League B matches in this edition of the Nations Leagueandsaidhe’slooking to once again be in the squad when they resume campaign on March 25 against Bermuda in Hamilton and Montserrat on March 28 at the National Track and Field Centre.

“Of course, it has always been a pleasure representing Guyana, and I already spoke with the gaffer (Coach Shabazz) about my role in the team going forward,” Danns said. He added that though he’s now the fulltime head coach for the team owned by Robert Smethurst, he has spoken to Shabazz about his intended role with theNationalteam.

“I had a conversation with the gaffer (Coach Shabazz) about my role with the team. Hopefully, by the time the Nations League, the club is in a position where I can leave and join the lads and try to get Guyana to the Golden Cup again,” Danns stated.

Danns was pivotal in Guyana’squalificationtothe GoldCupin2019,scoringin the must-win game against Belize to see the country b o o k t h e i r s p o t i n CONCACAF’s showpiece forthefirsttimeinitshistory

While at the Gold Cup, Danns scored all three of the Golden Jaguars’goals in the tournament, which included adoubleagainstPanamaand

Neil

Cup

the lone goal in their 1 – 1 tie againstTrinidadandTobago.

“I’vealwaysgivenmyall whenever I’m called upon to represent Guyana. And this timewillbenodifferent.The gaffer already told me what he wants from me at this stage of the programme and I’m always ready to come in andplaymyrole,”theformer Blackburn Rover talisman said.

Meanwhile, when contacted, Shabazz said Danns is an important component of the Golden Jaguars, especially during the Nations League campaign.

According to Shabazz, “What a player like Danns brings to a programme like Guyanacannotbemeasured. It would be good for him to be there for the experience, to show our youngsters what is commitment to the game, and how he takes care of his body because to be able to play at a high level at age 40 t a k e s t r e m e n d o u s discipline.”

“Hewillalsobethereasa coach as well because that’s his job now So he will help us out in that department as well, but Danns an invaluable to us (Guyana) andI’llbehappytohavehim in the squad,” Shabazz noted.

Danns has scored 11 timessincehisdebutin2015, with most of his goals being critical to the Golden Jaguars.

He has also assisted in

most of the goals scored during his 21 outings for the Golden Jaguars, telling KaieteurNews,“Ialwaystry to give my best, just like Walter Moore, Gregory Richardson and those great players before me. I look at what they would’ve done and given to Guyana and it’s only right that every time I play,Idothesame.”

Danns holds several Coaching certifications and is currently a UEFA A LicencesCoach,“TheUEFA Pro License is really for the Premier League and National team, which I will be pursuing as well. As you know, I was coaching at Liverpool for some time so I hadmyexperiencethere.”

T h e E n g l i s h Championship winner with Birmingham City said he plans to hang up his cleats in June, but until then, he’s focused on promoting Macclesfield Football Club and playing a role in guiding Guyana to their second a p p e a r a n c e a t t h e CONCACAFGoldCup.

Macclesfield F C currentlysitsatthetopofthe tableintheNorthernPremier League Division One West with 52 points from their 22 gamesplayed.

Behind Danns, the club won 17 games, had four lossesandpickingupadraw They’ve won their last five games.

Danns has been with the club since 2021, scoring 24 goalsin45appearances.

-Looking forward to guiding Guyana to Gold

Danns says he’s still committed to the Golden Jaguars

Entire GMR&SC exec returned unopposed

Mahendra‘Raj’BoodhoowasonTuesday evening returned as President of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) following the body’s Annual General Meeting(AGM).

Held at the GT Motorsports Hall, Boodhoo, commonly known as Raj will start hissecondtermwithanunchangedteam.

The other returning Executives are Mohamad Shairaz Roshandin (VicePresident),Azim Jaffar (Secretary), Chetram Singh (Treasurer), Azaad Hassan (Assistant Secretary/Treasurer), Rameez Mohamed (Club Captain), Joel Evans (Technical Advisor) along with Committee Members:

During his remarks, the GMR&SC president said their work done in 2022 was just a fraction of what is to come for motorsport, pointing to the recently extended andrepavedSouthDakotacircuit.

Headdedthatduringtheirshortstint,they have managed to change the dynamics of the circuit and they plan to continue enhancing thesportthroughoutthe2023year

A motion was moved to have Parmesar Accountantsastheclub’sauditors.

Kit Nascimento served as the Returning Officer

GuyanaAmateurSwimmingAssociation2023…

Body plans to strengthen athletes’ performances, local and regional relationships

The Guyana Amateur Swimming Association’s ( G A S A ) r e - e l e c t e d President, Dwayne Scott, has revealed that the body has several goals they intend to pursue in 2023, now that thereisnowafullyearahead since the resumption from thepandemic.

“The goal this year is to strengthen our relationship with the Regional Body from an administrative side, strengthen our local r e l a t i o n s h i p a n d partnerships and then we try tomakesurethatourathletes c a n s h o w b e t t e r performances in regional and international outings,” hestated.

“One of the challenges we had last year, of course, had to be with our performance at the CARIFTA Games, our performance at the South American Games; whilst they were decent outings for us, we came back emptyhanded. So we’re driving a programme this year to ensure that we can bring back something tangible to

Guyana from at least the CARIFTA Games and also the Goodwill, that happens laterdownintheyear.”

It was a tough year for GASA in early stages of 2022 with the COVID restrictions still in place; Guyana’s ten-member team was not able to secure a podium finish at CARIFTA Swimming Championships.

Prior, Guyana finished with five medals – three gold and two bronze, all of which were won by Olympian Aleka Persaud in the 2019 CARIFTA Swimming Championships.

Competing in the Girls 11–12 category, Persaud won gold in the 100M fly and 50m free and 100m free events, while claiming bronzeinthe200Mand50M flyevents.

“We already have in place the key talent that we know can do outstanding performances. But the goal now is to build a more formidable team that can allow us to perform better out there,” the GASA head stated.

“We have a list of 29 athletes that we would have long listed as a part of our development plan They come in different tiers and categories of performances. Now the goal is to harness that based on the top performers and build them because,youknow,afterthis phase, the Olympics coming up in 2026, we have to start working on creating new talent.”

“We know that (Leon) Seatonisstillthere,weknow that, Aleka is still there, but now we have to build a formidable team around them so that we can actually put forward a relay team within the region, but also worktoensurethattheyhave training partners locally that candrivethem.”

The President believes thatGASAathletesareafew seconds off of Olympic qualification but the feat is achievable.

“They’re a few seconds off,butafewsecondstakesa lot. It’s achievable. With the performanceswe’reseeing

MMA team in need of sponsorship for World Championships in Serbia

By Rawle Toney

There’s a cloud of doubt over Guyana’s participation at the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation ( I M M A F ) W o r l d Championships since the Guyana Mixed Martial Arts Federation (GYMMA) is struggling to find the necessaryfinancialsupport.

The GYMMAF is hoping to send a five-man team to the prestigious championships in Belgrade, Serbia, February 12 – 18, but according to president GavinSingh,they’rehaving an up-hill task in securing sponsorship.

Fighters,TrevlonClarke (Welterweight), Ijaz Cave (Middleweight) and Carl Ramsay (Heavyweight), alongwithcoachTroyBobb and officials Dr Sawan Jagnarain and Roland Fanfair, are earmarked to represent Guyana at the I M M A F W o r l d Championships.

It would be Guyana’s second appearance at the I M M A F W o r l d Championships following its debut last year in Abu Dhabi.

S i n g h s a i d t h e GYMMAF would’ve

dispatched letters of sponsorship to several corporateentities,including their usual partners, but to date,theyareyettoreceivea response.

T h e G Y M M A F president noted that similarly, they’ve written to the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, as well as the National Sports CommissionNSC).

Guyana made their international debut at the IMMAF Amateur World Championship in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab EmiratesinJanuary2022.

Team Guyana, which included Ijaz Cave and

Corwin D’Anjou, incurred lossesattheirfirsthurdle.

G u y a n a a l s o participated, for the first time, at the IMMAF’s Pan Am Championship in Monterrey, Mexico, in June 2022, where they claimed two silver medals behind Ramsayandthelonefemale fighter,SheneseBobb.

Meanwhile, Singh said theirattendanceinBelgrade to also participate at the IMMAF Congress, where key areas of development are deliberated and decided on.

He said Guyana’s involvementiscriticaltothe (Continued on page 21)

MarkVieira,GavinGuyadin,RoshanAliand JohnChin.

Heavyweight Carl Ramsay won silver at the IMMAF Pan Am Championship in Mexico in 2022. (Rawle Toney photo)

The executive members of the GMR&SC following their elections on January 10, 2023.

Play set to resume this Sunday in ESCL’s tournament

Play is set to resume this Sunday in the Essequibo Softball Cricket League’s (ESCL) Over-40, 20-overs competition with three matchesatvenuesyettobenamed.

According to Chairman of the League Wakeel Layne, four rounds completed last year,buttheyhadtoputahalttoseasondueto theChristmasandNewYear’sHolidays.

Layne also stated that in 2022, there was great excitement and is highly anticipating the same level of fascinating cricket from the veteransoftballplayers.

He informed due to the inclement weather, they could not have finalized the match venues but have Zorg Beach as the alternativefacility ForthisSunday,Sunrisers Masters will collide with Devonshire Castle Sports Club while defending champions CaribbeanCricketClub2willtakeonformer

Patrick Rooplall

championInvadersMastersandQueenstown Tigers are slated to compete with Hibernia Strikers. Meanwhile, cash incentives and trophies are at stake while several outstanding, individual performances will receiveprizesaswell.

The winning team will pocket $100,000 and a trophy when the championship fixture likely to take place in mid-March. For this edition, the tournament is being played in memory of Dave Tajeshwar who was a very ardent supporter of softball cricket. His brother Vo Tajeshwar continues to be one of themainsponsors.

Meanwhile, 2022 was a memorable year for Caribbean Cricket Club 2 pugnacious openingbatsmanPatrickRooplallwhostruck two double-centuries. The prominent righthanded softball player Rooplall hit 206 and 201 not out. Apart from Rooplall, another seasoned softball campaigner and the vastly experienced Ramesh Narine will be in action in representation for Invaders Masters. Few weeks ago, the destructive Narine scored a belligerent113.

BCB clinches another major sponsorship for 2023

-RLContractingsponsors under15InterClubTournament

Th e B e r b i c e Cricket Board ( B C B ) h a s predicted that its 2023 cricket season on the field would be the bust in its eighty three years history with planned tournaments at the under 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, female, primary school, secondary school, intermediate, internal zones, second division and first divisionlevels.TheBoardon Tuesday unveiled the sponsor of the 2023 under15 inter club tournament with contractor Rondhall Lewis ofRLContractingcomingon board.

BCB President Hilbert Foster hailed the launching of the sponsorship of the tournament as another ‘red letter day’ in the remarkable progress taking place in the county cricket. The under15 tournament would involve players born on or after the 1st of September 2008 and about eighteen teams are expected to play The teams would be divided into four zones and play round robin with the top two teams from each zones advancing to the quarterfinals.

The BCB selection committee headed by Balram Samaroo would use the tournament to not only select the inter county

under15 team but to identify promising players for the b o a r d ’ s c o a c h i n g programmes Among the clubs expected to play are Rose Hall Farfan and Mendes, Albion, Port Mourant, Rose Hall Canje, CottonTree,TucberPark,Mt Sinai, Achievers and Bush LotUnited.

F o s t e r , w h o i s spearheading a massive marketing campaign for the cricket board, disclosed that over eighty percent of the planned tournaments have alreadyreceivesponsorships orcommitments.

Heexpressedgratitudeto MrLewisforhissupportand reassured the sponsor that the tournament would be a success. The BCB President who is in the final year of his third term since his election in 2018, stated that the highlight of 2023 would be

the return of cricket in schools at both the primary and secondary levels, an expansion of the countywide coaching programme, an overseas tour by a Berbice under21 team, acquiring several vital equipment such as bowling machines and the introduction of two days cricketatthejuniorlevel. Lewis in brief remarks stated that he was delighted to play a part in the development of young talents in the county and h a i l e d t h e c u r r e n t development in the county cricket He expressed confidence that several future stars for the county would emerge from the tournament and that the legacy of Rohan Kanhai, Basil Butcher, Alvin Kallicharran and Roy Frederickswouldcontinueto shine.

GHE first practice match postponed

Rescheduled to commence from Saturday

The first Guyana Harpy Eagles (GHE) Four-Day Practice match scheduled to commence today Thursday, January 12, 2023 has been postponed. The first of two matches will now begin at the Guyana National Stadium (GNS), Providence on Saturday, January 14, 2023 and conclude on Tuesday, January 17, 2023. The second match has been rescheduled to begin Thursday, January 19, 2023, and conclude on Sunday, January 22, 2023 The matches are scheduled from 09:30 hours to 16:30 hours each day The Guyana Harpy Eagles will play their f i r s t We s t I n d i e s Championship (WIC) match

againstBarbadosPrideatthe Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua from February 1, 2023toFebruary4,2023.On completion of the WIC first round match, GHE will travel to Grenada to engage Windward Island Volcanoes from February 8, 2023 to February 11, 2023 at the NationalStadium.

The GCB’s Senior N a t i o n a l S e l e c t i o n Committee under the C h a i r m a n s h i p o f Ravindranauth Seeram has selected the following teams to participate in the first practice match These playersareasfollows:

Veerasammy Permaul XI 1. Veerasammy Permaul 2. Mathew Nandu 3. Tevin

Imlach 4. KevlonAnderson 5.Akshaya Persaud 6. Rampertab Ramnauth 7. Shemar Yearwood 8. Junior Sinclair 9.Ashmead Nedd 10. Ronsford Beaton 11. Isai Thorne 12. Nial smith 13. Richie Loonauth 14. Garfield Bengimen

Tagenarine Chanderpaul XI 1. Tagenarine Chanderpaul 2. Kemol savory 3. Chandrapaul Hemraj 4. Mavindra Dindyal 5.Anthony Bramble 6. Kevin Sinclair 7.Alvin Mohabir 8. Gudakesh Motie 9.Anthony Adams 10. Shemar Joseph 11. Sylus Tyndall 12. Demeter Cameron 13. Jonathan Rampersaud 14. Zynul Ramsammy

RL Contracting CEO Rondhall Lewis hands over sponsorship to BCB President Hilbert Foster.

Wakeel Layne

Brian Ramphal recommits to Berbice Cricket for sixth successive year

When the Hilbert Foster led executives took control of the Berbice Cricket Board in early 2018, Berbice cricket was in total decline due to local cricket politics. Very few if any cricket tournaments were played andclubswereclosingdown at a very fast rate while youths were looking at other sports as alternatives. No developmental programme was in place to assist youths to fulfill their potential on or offthecricketfield.

On the first day of his presidency, Foster contacted former Secretary of the BerbiceCricketBoardOscar Ramjeet for assistance in getting some business persons on board as sponsors. The USA based Attorney at Law readily agreed to assist and introducedthenewpresident to several persons. Among

them were Founder and Chief Executive Officer of RBS Tech Center Inc , located in GeorgetownBrian Ramphal. A strong cricketfanandafterabrief discussion with the new executives agreed to come

‘Shiv would be solid pick for coach’

SportsMax-Former We s t I n d i e s batting coach, Toby Radford, is confident world-class former batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul wouldmakea‘solid’pickfor the role of Windies head coach.

the quality he would be able tobringtotherole.

on board as a major sponsor ofBerbicecricketdonatinga million dollars and has continued his assistance every year since with an annual contribution of five hundred thousand dollars. His support over the last five years has been one of the main reasons why Berbice cricket is now widely considered the most active

progressive in Guyana and theCaribbean.

AlongwithDrTulsiDyal SinghandWestIndiesplayer Shimron Hetmyer, Ramphal is among the top three individual sponsors of Berbice Cricket. Over the last five years, Berbice has dominatedcricketattheinter countylevel,producedthe (Continued on page 21)

The addition of the name of the former legendary batsman to the speculative list of potential replacement for Phil Simmons has garnered mixed reactions. In opposition, some have pointed to Chanderpaul’s relative lack of experience, while others believe he would be more suited to a roleinadministration.

For Radford, who is well acquainted with the former player, there is no doubting

“I’m a big fan, I’ve often talked about Shiv and what he brought to the game as a player He was a very hard worker and meticulous in preparation, a lot of the things I think he would instil as coach for the younger players,” Radford told the MasonandGuestshow

“He has been there and done it. He was number one in the world for a period of time, a top Test player in the world. He has played all round the world. I think he would bring a huge amount toit,”headded.

“He is new to coaching and still finding his feet but he is having relative success and I think he would bring a

lot to it,” he added. Radford, however,believestheformer batsman would have to be supported by a very capable team, which is always the case for head coaches as opposed to specialist coaches. Chanderpaul, who retired from the sport six years ago, has already experienced some success as a coach, having led the Jamaica Tallawahs to the Caribbean Premier League (CPL)titlelastyear.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul

Brian Ramphal

MMA team in need of sponsorship for World Championships in Serbia Sports

Neil Danns has been Macclesfield FC best player since joining the club.

Ijaz Cave could me his second appearance at the IMMAF World Championship if Guyana attends the event in Serbia.

Leon Seaton Jr

Aleka Persaud (Photo: Gtmemoirs)