Kaieteur News

…as educators protest violence, urge swift action by Education Ministry Another teacher beaten by parent

The assault of a teacher Graham’s Hall Primary held attached to the Graham’s placards chanting that “the Hall Primary School, East child must remove” and that Coast Demerara on “we need justice.” On their Wednesday on Thursday numerous placards, the triggered countrywide teachers are asking for them protests by the country to be respected and that educators even as another violence against teachers compound which is located frequent where teachers are incidents. He noted that in expectations “We cannot teacher was brutally beaten muststop. o n T h o m a s S t r e e t , being assaulted by parents relation to the incident at beat teachers and then ask byparentsatacityschool. However, while the Georgetown and went and guardians and it is Graham’s Hall, the parent them to teach our children Teachers in regions such teachers were protesting at upstairs in the school where something that has to be was arrested and was later p e a c e f u l c o n f l i c t as Regions Two, Four, Six that school on the violence she launched her attack on addressed so we are going to released on bail, while the resolution,” the Ministry and Nine just to name a few against them, a female theteacher continuetomakeacalltothe parent in the incident at St. stated. wore black on Thursday in educator attached to the St. Other teachers were seen ministry to take decisive Angela’swasincustody The In light of the recent solidarity of Sir Shawn Angela’s Primary School trying to de-escalate the action.” Commander added that they event at the school, the Marshall who was assaulted was beaten at the hand of a situation by parting the fight Lyte also shared that the are currently collecting all Ministryindicatedthatitwill by a parent in the Graham’s female parent. It is unclear between the two women. teacher at St Angela’s evidence in relations to both thereforetakeallappropriate Hall school compound. In a what caused the attack but in Kaieteur News learntthatthe suffered injuries and that matters and when the actions to ensure teachers protest in front the school video footage of the security guard as well as “themedicalpractitionerhas investigation is completed work in a safe learning building on Thursday altercation,theparentisseen other staff members was not pronounced on anything the files will be sent for legal environment. Such actions morning, teachers of barging into the school’s i n j u r e d d u r i n g t h e and we are seeing scars and adviceonawayforward. the Ministry mentioned altercation. her face is swollen, the Addressingtheassaultof includes prohibiting violent

President of the Guyana security guard has been Sir Marshall on Wednesday, parents or guardians from Teacher’s Union (GTU) injured and other staff the Ministry of Education in having access to the school Mark Lyte who visited the members who tried to a statement explained that premises, transferring any school after learning of the intervene, they have injuries schools are considered as a learneroutofaschoolwhose incident told reporters that aswell.” safe space and any act of parents commit acts of therecentattacksonteachers

In relation to the two violence is deemed totally violence on teachers or any is unacceptable and the issue matters, when contacted on unacceptable. According to other sanctions that are needs to be addressed. “The Thursday, Commander of theMinistry,whenparentsor deemed necessary, while Union is here in solidarity Regional Division ‘4’ A, guardians are engaged in encouraging the police or with the teachers of this Simon McBean told this violent acts against teachers, any other institution or school. publication that the police it goes against established authorities to take whatever

This is becoming too are currently engaging both v a l u e s , n o r m s a n d actionthelawprescribes.

Teachers at various schools in solidarity with their affected peers who were abused by a parent.

Teachers of the Graham’s Hall Primary School protesting on Thursday

The female teacher who was assaulted at the St. Angela’s Primary School (Photo Courtesy: Royston Drakes Production)

Accelerated oil development with ad hoc governance, outdated laws could sink Guyana’s

shipping, transport industry - Exxon study

Guyana’s shipping, shareholdingofeachparty transport and harbour It said the old system of industry is expected to face representation of interest increased pressure as groupsinaportboardshould ExxonMobil Corporation be abolished. It also noted ramps up activities to t h a t t h i s w a s a develop resources in the recommendation that was StabroekBlock. outlined since 2014 by the

This forewarning was Central Transport and noted in the Environmental PlanningUnit(CTPU). Impact Assessment (EIA) Further to this, Exxon for Exxon’s fifth project. noted in its EIAthat the lack That development is of a coordinated approach in expected to produce 1 3 the ports has resulted in all billionbarrelsofoilfromthe operators procuring their Uarufield. own equipment and

Exxon’s subsidiary, Esso employing their own Exploration and Production labourers. Exxon said the Guyana Limited (EEPGL) total number of equipment was keen to note that as andlabourersissubstantially activities increase in the oil higher than justified by the sector, the shipping industry total combined cargo will face increased burdens, throughput. This too was especially when one raisedbytheCTPUin2014. considersitsinefficienciesin R e f e r e n c i n g t h e the legislative framework Caribbean Development andoverallgovernance. Bank’s 2016 study, Exxon lack of water depth prohibits

The report notes that said that most terminals in larger vessels from entering there are several bottlenecks Guyana use concrete pile the port, thus severely that have been described structures with wooden restricting operational over the years by credible decks for quay (docks or efficiency and economies of third-party sources and wharves) structures. Exxon scale.” whichremaintothisday said these quays entail

Additionally, Exxon Exxon’s study said the substantial maintenance pointedoutthattheMaritime lack of a new Ports Act has requirements and limit the Administration Department delayed the establishment of use of heavy equipment. (MARAD), part of the NationalandRegionalPorts. Additionally, lack of proper M i n i s t r y o f P u b l i c It said a Port Authority of a maintenance may result in Infrastructure, acts as the National Port should be safetyissues. port’s authority MARAD managed by a Board of Significantly, Exxon was established in 2003 and Directors nominated partly noted that Guyana’s access operates under the mandate by the Central Government channel depth is often of the 1997 Merchant where the concerned port is deteriorated. It said, “The Shipping Act. As there is no located and if applicable, key problem of Georgetown c l e a r s t r u c t u r e f o r partly by the concerned Port Harbouristhelackofregular overseeing City, in proportion to the maintenance dredging. This (Continued on page 16)

Port of Georgetown

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Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456

NIGELWILLIAMS

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

EDITORIAL

IT STARTED IN AMERICA

ThoughalittlelaterinthecalendarthanGuyana’s, the trouble took hold, flourished, and keeps

intensifyinginAmerica. Thankstotherelentless, divisive,andinflammatoryeffortsofoneDonaldJ.Trump,a formerPresidentoftheUnitedStatesnoless,poisonousand passionatechallengestoelectionsresultsarenowthenorm.

America, the so-called bastion of democracy, 50 States dedicated to liberty and a grand way of life, have now deteriorated into the ranks of what prevails in lesser countries.

ComplimentsofMr Trumpandhisdiehardsupportersto the far right, elections results are now not the end of a process, but the beginning of a war, a series of them that reachesintothestreets,andallthewaytothehighestcourts.

Foritspart,andhereinthehomeland,Guyanahasalways known a certain kind of national elections-those that are putrid and polarising and leave all gasping for breath and tractionintheirwash. Guyanahashadthosethatarestripped of the underpinnings of what is fair, factual, accurate, and right.

The PNC has earned the worst of reputations in this regard, and if the allegations are to be accepted as having substance, then the PPP has also helped itself to elections tricks and its own brands of stuffing and counting. This is whathasmadetheroundssinceMarch2020,andhasnotlet up to any degree, or in any lessening of sentiment in any sectionofGuyana.

Onseveraloccasionsintheharshhistoryofelectionsin Guyana,resultshaveelectrifiedparticipantstothepointthat thereisastormingofthebarricades,adismissalofrestraint, civility,andwhatittakestobearealcountry Thesekindsof developments are what is expected in small, poor, undevelopedThirdWorldcountriesbackwardandlimitedin what it is to conduct free and fair elections processes, and then having the graciousness and honesty to step back and admittolosingattheballotbox. Nowadays,thatisathingof the past, and one with which more and more distance is placed.

ReturningtotheUS,therecentmidtermsconfirmedthat thestakesareneverlessthanhighandatfeverpitch,ascanbe attestedtobyreactionsinplaceslikeArizona,andtoalesser extent in other States. Like pit bulls with blood in their nostrils, and flesh in their teeth, there is no letting go, no retreating,untiltheverylastmoment. Itdoesnotmatterwhat thepeopleonthegroundsay,howcleantheprocesswas,or the transparent manner in which the entire exercise in democracytocapturethewillofthepeoplewasmanagedand delivered.

This is what has unfolded right next door in big, boisterousBrazil.ThereitisBolsonaroversusLula,withthe latter alleged to have engaged in rampant election frauds, leading to yet another storming of the gates by those who came up on the short side of the results to register their accumulated wrath. Here, we still have elections petitions beforetheCourt,andthosehavenotlostanysteam,although itisnowovertwoyearssincethelastballotwascounted,the resultsdeclaredfinal.

Taken together, from America to India to Guyana, and nowwithBrazilunsettled,electionsnolongerareaboutwho should govern. Rather, they are the opening salvos for the displayofraw,pulsingenergyacrossthenooksandcorners ofsocieties.

Allaresuckedin,nonearespared,suchistheirresistible magnetism of minds made up of what should be, and of whichthereisnotoleranceforanyotherway Assaidearlier, this is the new norm that has seemingly established a strangleholdonprocessandparticipants.Wehaveelections due in two years, and though nobody knows how that will shape up, and what forms the unfolding, it is almost a guarantee that there will be controversy, and issues about acceptability

Itdoesnottakeaprophetorapalmreadertoarriveatthat conclusionfromnow

And with the presence of oil, there is now that most volatileandincendiaryofelectionsfuels.

Likely poor design caused crumbling of Burma Road

DEAREDITOR,

mentionwasmadeaboutthedesigner’s defect.Ifthatisthecase,thenitislikely PleaserefertoyourissueofJanuary evaluationofthesituationleadingtothe thatthedefectwillre-occur Athorough 11, 2023 and the article on the instructiontocorrectthedefect.Froma scientific assessment should be crumbling of the Burma road. I noted brief preliminary assessment, based performed. that the contractor was instructed to upon the photograph alone, it may be Regards, remedy the defect However, no that the design may have led to the PaulBonar

Roysdale Forde may be the next President of Guyana

DEAREDITOR, There are people who them and the aggrieved Corbin or any politician on I hold to certain have silently destroyed would be none the wiser oursidethatforsomereason principlesinthislifeandwill others causing them to lose Those wicked people look ortheother,feelIsaidthings never compromise them. I opportunities that would liketheyaregettingbynicely publicly to offend them. I would rather to live with the bettertheirlives.Somehave buttheyarewretchedsouls. will not say the same for consequencesofhavingsuch lostfriendsandrelationships Politicians and those in Norton at the moment principles than to be a as a result. Some have made public life that I say things becauseIamnotahypocrite. hypocriteandcoward.Ihave people hate others without aboutopenly,knowthatthey I am currently angry and never and will never smear the victims knowing why are given a fair chance to disappointed in him but someone in secret or use There are people in politics dislike me, to respond, to anger and disappointment peopleinacovertmannerto who get by and get through makemeapermanentenemy are not lasting emotions. I destroy someone’s by bringing and carrying and deny me opportunities however, do believe that reputation. I do not write information to benefit whentheyareinpositionsof Roysdale Forde may be the underadifferentpennameor themselvesinsomewayand power.Iwouldlivewiththat next President of Guyana. I do I have fake profiles. gainthefavourofleadersand asaconsequenceofcallinga do not take anything I say AnythingIsaytomyfriends thoseinpositions.Thereisa spade a spade. I have no ill lightly and can work about people in public life, I name for them, undercover feelings against Sarabo assiduously to make such a can also say it openly and I ‘cochore’. There is a special Halley, Joe Harmon, David reality. am never worried that place in hades for such Granger, Basil Williams, Sincerelyyours, someone is recording me or people because they cause Volda Lawrence, Amanza NormanBrowne willrepeatthecontentsofthe irreparabledamagetoothers Walton, Sherod Duncan, Social and Political discourse. and could associate with Roysdale Forde, Robert Activist

Relevance of the Dutch apology for slavery to Barbados and other CARICOM countries

DEAREDITOR, continues in the lives of · “During the year of considered that the Onthe19thofDecember peopletoday” commemoration, all facets Netherlands had a 2022, Prime Minister Mark · “By 1814, more than of the history of slavery and Reparations case to answer Rutte of the Netherlands, 600,000 enslaved African its effects up to the present forthegenocideofthenative speaking on behalf of the women, men, and children day will be brought to people and for the entire Dutch Government, had been shipped to the light…We will also set up a enslavement of our African issued a formalApology for American continent in fund for social initiatives ancestors, Prime Minister therolethattheGovernment deplorable conditions, by throughouttheKingdomand Rutte was only able to of the Netherlands played in Dutch slave traders. Most in Suriname, so that the manage an expression of the enslavement of African were taken to Suriname, but impact of the history of profound regret for the people and in the so-called othersweresenttoCuracao, slaveryisgiventhevisibility, suffering of innocent people slave trade that supported St Eustatius and other attention and action that is caused by the horrors of that system of human locations. needed.The healing process slavery oppression.

They were wrenched must start now, and we will A n d s o , w e i n

N o w , p r o p e r l y from their families and writetheprogrammeforthat C A R I C O M s h o u l d understood and interpreted, stripped of their humanity processtogether.” congratulate Mr Rutte and Prime Minister Rutte’s They were transported and · “We cannot change his Administration for the Statement constituted not treated like cattle – often the past, but we can face up admirable progressive only an apology, but also an under the governmental to it. What the government development in their “AdmissionofLiability”for authority of the Dutch West fervently hopes, and what I thinking on this issue over thedamagethatthecenturies IndiaCompany” personallyferventlyhope,is thepastsixyears. of Dutch governmental

· “The Dutch State, in that this moment, this day, CARICOM should also criminality caused to allitsmanifestationsthrough willhelpus–throughoutthe carefully explain to Prime enslaved Africans and to history, bears responsibility Kingdom and together with Minister Rutte that when he t h e i r p r e s e n t - d a y for the terrible suffering Suriname and other commits himself and his descendants. inflicted on enslaved people countries – to fill the empty Government to a process of

Here then are some of andtheirdescendants.Sowe pages that lie ahead with “healing” theinjurythatthe the most critical cannot ignore the effects of dialogue, acknowledgement past criminal actions of the admissionsmadebyPrime thepastonthepresent.” andhealing.”PrimeMinister Dutch Government caused Minister Rutte in his said · ”Today, on behalf of Rutteshouldbecommended to the sons and daughters of statement:- the Dutch government, I for making this historic Africa and to their present-

· “We who live in apologizeforthepastactions Apology / Admission of day descendants, that this today’s world must of the Dutch State : to Liability Indeed,bothheand can only mean a process of acknowledge the evils of enslaved people in the past, thegovernmentthatheleads “ r e p a i r ” o r o f slavery in the clearest everywhere in the world, have come a long way from “Reparations” , along the possibleterms,andcondemn who suffered as a the position that they lines of the demands it as a crime against consequence of those adoptedbackinDecemberof contained in CARICOM’s humanity - as a criminal actions, as well as to their 2016, when, in response to Ten Point Plan for system which caused untold daughtersandsons,andtoall CARICOM’s letter of 25th Reparatory Justice numbers of people untold descendants, up to the January 2016 informing Mr Indeed,therecanbeno suffering - suffering that presentday.” Rutte that CARICOM

Eugene F. Correia InternationalAirport is in full compliance with and meets the standards

AviationAuthority (GCAA)

DEAREDITOR, Airport?”, signed by John OperatorsattheEFCIA. which houses 12 aircraft construction.

RelevanceoftheDutch apologyforslaveryto...

jobispoliticalinnature”.We We respond to an ill- Taylor, whom is known in Amongstotherludicrous operating companies with Mr Taylor picks on the can say with absolute informed letter published in the aviation industry as remarks in his letter, Taylor fully developed and fact that the Airport’s x-ray certaintythatMr Taylorhas the Kaieteur News on Simeon John Taylor, once likens the Airport as “one operating hangar facilities, screening equipment is not spoken with any of the 11thJanuary, 2023, employed by the Guyana step above bush operations” commercial office currently not functioning, management of EFCIA on captioned “Is the Eugene F Civil Aviation Authority in the interior This is an operations and individual but his accusation of eight thismatter Theoperationsof CorreiaInternationalAirport (GCAA)andnowemployed Airport with over 100 terminalsand Exxon’s Head (8) months is inaccurate, thex-raymachinehavebeen Really an International by one of the Aircraft aircraft movements per day, Office headquarters under thenheproceedstodenigrate seriouslyaffectedonandoff the entire operations of the forsometimenowduetothe Airport.Mr Taylorclaimsto frequent fluctuation of havemadeenquirieswiththe power supplied to the Airport’smanagementabout Airport The Airport’s repairs of the x-ray management is currently equipment and makes the working with GPL to ridiculous assertion that “to addressthisproblemsincea hire certain persons for the (Continuedonpage6)

Frompage4 Caribbean. …makingofsugar.” prices fell on the world process of meaningful Letustakethecaseofmy But,ofcourse,itwasnot market, taught the planters healing that is not based on homeland of Barbados – a only Barbados Similar the secrets of cane the Dutch Government - in British colonial possession Dutch involvement, cultivation and sugar consultation with the from1625to1966. influenceandsupportwasto manufacture It was the affected populations and The historian, Matthew be found all over our Dutch who provided the their Governments or Parker, writing in his Caribbean region. Here then necessary supply of political leaders - instituting insightful text titled “The is the more expansive and slaves…” and financing concrete Sugar Barons” gives this general testimony of the Sotherecanbenodoubt developmental initiatives account of the critical role outstanding Caribbean that Holland or the and programmes that are played by the Dutch in the historian, Dr Eric Williams Netherlands was critical to designed to rectify establishment of Barbados (first Prime Minister of establishing and operating a educational, health, as a slavery-based, sugar Trinidad and Tobago) multiplicityofslavery-based technological, human producing British colonial contained in his magisterial sugar plantations in welfare, economic and territory in the first half of “From Columbus To Barbados and in several cultural deficits, and that the17thcentury:- Castro”:- other non-Dutch Caribbean also support a substantive “The earliest accounts of “Seventeenth century territories, and that Holland “repatriation” programme Barbados…are partial and Caribbean history saw a profited immensely from its for relevant African contradictory All agree, perpetual war between involvement in and support descendants who wish to however, that Dutch Holland, England and fortheseessentiallycriminal return to theAfrican mother influence was crucial in the France for Caribbean enterprises. continent that Dutch slave establishment of the sugar commerce The Dutch, It is now up to the traders brutally removed industry on this island in the turning their attention to CARICOM Reparations their ancestors from. All of early 1640s The actual t r a d e r a t h e r t h a n Commission to inform this needs to be made very t e c h n o l o g y w a s plantations, early took the PrimeMinisterRuttethatthe clear to Prime Minister Portuguese…But it was the lead… time has come for a Rutte. Dutch…who were the engine “So successful were the conversation about the role And yet another thing of its transfer, as well as Dutch in their chosen field that his Government must thatneedstobemadeclearto offering to provide labour, that, by the middle of the now play in healing the the Prime Minister is that tools, easy credit, and the century, of a total of 25,000 injuries that still exist not Dutch involvement in and ships to carry away the ships engaged in the only in the Dutch-speaking responsibility for the evil finishedsugar…” maritime trade of Europe, CARICOMmemberstateof c o n s e q u e n c e s o f Indeed, Matthew Parker theDutchowned15,000… Suriname, but also in enslavement and slave actually quotes from an “The Caribbean Sea Guyana (a former Dutch trading is not restricted to historical document of the became virtually a Dutch colonial possession), and in countries or territories that 1660s, which testified to the canal. The new European Barbados and all other were directly colonized by critical role of the Dutch in a n n e x a t i o n s i n t h e relevantCARICOMnations. Holland! Rather, Dutch Barbadosasfollows:- Caribbean, English, French Regards, merchants, bankers, slave “TheHollandersthatare and Danish de jure, were de DavidComissiong traders, sugar technologists, great encouragers of our facto Dutch It was the A m b a s s a d o r t o industrialists and Plantacions, did at the first Dutch who, when tobacco CARICOM government officials played attempt of making sugar, critical roles in establishing, give great Credit to the most financing and otherwise sober Inhabitants They supporting slavery and also furnished the island slavery-based production in withNegroes,Coppers,Stills many non-Dutch territories, and all other things particularly in the appertaining to the

Should Norton resign as Leader of the PNC/R?

DEAREDITOR, of PNC/R’s General News has reached Secretary, Geeta Chandan Guyana that the Florida Edmond,isjustasdamning. Chapter of the PNC/R has The PNC/R is quickly called for the resignation of following in the footsteps of its leader, Mr Aubrey theAFC’shobo-politico,this Norton.Inmanyways,thisis last expression meaning a not surprising. Since taking party that has no real office last December, Mr foundation, migrating as it Nortonhasnotshownaniota were, from one moment of of leadership. Rather, he has opportunism to another The navigated himself and the FloridaPNC/Rgroupclaims PNC/R through a labyrinth that Mr Norton has of missteps, blunders, and “severally tarnished” the downright political party and further, under his tomfoolery The debacle leadership, there has been a with the Mocha squatter “downward spiral” (Guyana relocation is only the latest Chronicle, 12/1/23) USa c t o f d r a m a t i c basedPNC/Rmember incompetence. The ejection (Continuedonpage6)

of both International CivilAviation Organisation (ICAO) and the Guyana Civil

Protecting the rights of property owners in

MochaArcadia

will fight together to restore coalescedandasagroupwill homeless, some have lost here to donate or visit what is theirs and heighten engage in the upcoming their livestock–theirsource IDPADA-G on Facebook to our vigilance to protect n e g o t i a t i o n s w i t h of family income findtheFriendsofIDPADADEAREDITOR, and these horrific injustices African Guyanese property governmentrepresentedbya Community members and Glink. I D PA D A - G h a s confronted.

owners To this end, teamofexpertsorganizedby relatives have generously

Friends of IDPADA-G continued to meet with IDPADA-G member IDPADA-G, has brought all IDPADA-G. Please donate openedtheirhomestoshelter will provide full accounting affected families in Mocha organizations and the wider of the nine affected families to these families through them. Your donation will for all donations and Arcadiasinceourinitialvisit AfricanGuyanesefamilyare together and has identified a Friends of IDPADA-G. We help meet their immediate acknowledgement of receipt to the site, last Wednesday, united in the pain we feel in team of lawyers and other callonallGuyaneseofgood needs for clothing, food, of donations for the purpose January4todetermineapath seeing our brothers and experts to provide the conscience in Guyana and m e d i c i n e , l e g a l oftaxdeductions. forward that ensures this sisters, children and elderly assistance needed in this across the diaspora, to representation and other Regards, inhumane attack on their disrespected and discarded fight for justice. The Mocha support them, as they still expenses. Please contribute O l i v e C a n n i n g s property rights is addressed, with such inhumanity We Arcadia families have suffer the shock of generously

EugeneF.CorreiaInternationalAirport...

Frompage5 moment, have made it The Plan involves the great deal of other highly difficulttoobtainspares. expansion of the domestic technical equipment at the Asaresult,theAirportis and international terminal, Airportcanalsobeaffected. intheprocessofreplacingit introduction of an air cargo In the meantime, with an (American made) terminal, extension and passenger baggage and RAPISCAN Scanner, also upgrading of the existing cargo are subject to 100% usedatCJIA.Asfortherest runways and taxiways, visual inspection, actually of Mr Taylor’s efforts to warehousing, commercial preferred by International minimize the considerable o ff i c e s a n d h o t e l Civil Aviation Organisation development of the Airport, accommodation. Mr Taylor (ICAO), ensuring that since the Lease Agreement is also well aware that the security is not compromised withgovernmentforaPublic Airportisinfullcompliance though, admittedly, time Private Partnership of its withandmeetsthestandards consuming The Airport Management and Operation of both International Civil apologizes to the public for in2001,thegovernmenthas Aviation Organisation theinconveniencecausedby recently approved a major (ICAO) and the Guyana this. Development Plan and Civil Aviation Authority

The x-ray scanner is Programme for its (GCAA) Regulations and made in China and the continuing development as subject to regular inspection supply chain problems, G u y a n a ’s s e c o n d bytheGCAA. which are worldwide at the InternationalAirport.

Sampson

dislocation and tremendous FriendsofIDPADA-Gis ChiefExecutiveOfficer loss.Inspiteofyearsofhard a non-profit organization International Decade work and saving to build registered in the state of for People of African their homes and businesses, Maryland. Alldonationsare DescentAssembly - Guyana these families are now taxdeductible. Pleaseclick (IDPADA-G)

ShouldNortonresign asLeaderofthePNC/R?

Frompage5 charged with financial PNC/R claiming to have EglandGomesisdemanding skullduggery? Kaieteur beendisenfranchised. that“[a]ninvestigation be News columnist, Peeping Thus,Gomes,oftheUSdone about blank Tom, points out that the no- basedPNC/Rhasalsoraised cheques,” that apparently, confidence motion of the “ concerns that were PNC/R treasurer Faaiz Florida group should trigger brought up last year by Mursalinehadbeenaskedto Mr Norton’s immediate AnnetteFergusonwhowrote sign. resignation. theparty’sCentralExecutive

The MursalineAffair (as According to Tom, “the Committee (CEC) about I would like to call it) is [PNCR] constitution makes alleged irregularities which itself, a comedy of errors, provision for the possibility were observed during the very much resembling the oftheLeaderresigning–and October2[2022]pollsofthe hobo-politics of the AFC. no doubt this has to include party’s Georgetown District Mursalinehadsteppeddown resigningfollowingamotion Elections” (Guyana fromthePNC/R,statingthat of no-confidence” (Kaieteur Chronicle,12/1/23). he was the object of racial News,12/1/23).

Voting irregularities are hostilityintheparty PeepingTomisonstrong perhaps the most immediate

He is the one who grounds here, but given the symbol of the PNC/R, (and revealed the alleged lengthyrecordofthePNC/R nowAPNU-AFC). financial improprieties in to dodge, delay, and divert, Annette Ferguson’s t h e P N C / R noonewouldbesurprisedif concerns about rigging Notwithstandinghisdisgust the no-confidence motion is within the PNC/R were withthingsinthePNC/R,he simplyignored. simply brushed aside. Why has reportedly grovelled Recall that the APNU- then, would anyone believe backtoSophia AFC did this at the national Mr Norton would even

IsuspectthatMr Gomes level. Readers should know respond to Mr Gomes and will insist Mursaline clarify thatthelackofconfidencein the concerns of the Florida hiserraticbehaviour Washe Mr Norton has been PNC/R. pressuredtoreturntoaparty festeringforsometime,with Sincerely, he had just days before many persons within the Dr.RandolphPersaud

Regards, KitNascimento Public Relations Consultant

Eugene F. Correia International

Kwakwani farmers to get land for cattle rearing, key inputs for agro-processing

uring a series of

DSchool. meetings with

“I’m happy to see so farmers from manystudentsinattendance.

Kwakwani last This shows that young Tuesday, Agriculture people are excited about Minister Zulfikar Mustapha agriculture. pledged the government’s

So, to help those writing supporttorestoreagriculture CSEC exams, we’ll donate a inthecommunities. shade house to the school’s

Several farmers who a g r i s c i e n c e engaged the minister department We’ll also indicated that they are donate six piglets to the passionateaboutagriculture school from the GLDA,” he and the government’s added. investments but were in

F a r m e r s s e e k i n g need of assistance to take financial assistance were their production to the next encouraged to submit level applications to the Small One farmer present said Business Bureau so that they that her farm is constantly can access grants to expand under attack byAcoushi ants theirfarms. and cattle that are owned by While responding to and chemicals available to Development Authority crops,”saidMustapha. Minister Mustapha also other farmers in the farmers, Minister Mustapha the community to assist with (GLDA) will work with the He said too that very promised to engage officials community said that a programme has managing the Acoushi ants. community to develop soon, officers from the New from the Demerara Bank to Another farmer told the been implemented where You will also receive properhousingfacilities. G u y a n a M a r k e t i n g see how services can be minister of her interest in farmers from hinterland planting materials to assist “We want to develop the Corporation (New GMC) extendedtothecommunity agro-processing She communities are now able to with expanding your cattle industry but this will visit to do training. He Farmers present at the explained that after selling benefit from free Acoushi cultivation,”hesaid. cannot be to the detriment of saidtheywillalsoassistwith meeting also received seeds, her produce, the surplus is antbait. While addressing theothersectors. finding markets for crops chemicals, gardening tools, often dumped because she “This programme has concerns raised by farmers So, through the GLDA, and agro-processed andotheragriculturalinputs. has no market for them and been in place since I became about roaming cattle in the we’ll identify and develop products. Teams from the various would like to learn how to Minister of Agriculture and community, Minister 100 acres for cattle in the Minister Mustapha also agencies are expected to produce soaps and other you will also benefit. I will Mustapha said that the community said that assistance will be return to deliver on commodities. also make ten bongo pumps G u y a n a L i v e s t o c k We’ll fence it so that the given to the Agricultural commitments made by the cattle cannot go into your Science Department at the minister in the coming farms and destroy your Kwakwani Secondary weeks.

registrations

peaked in 2022

–RegistrarGeneral Overseas birth

…GRO records 2, 132 overseas registrations from UK, US and Caribbean

There has been an increase in the n u m b e r o f

overseas birth applications,Registrarofthe General Register Office (GRO), Raymon Cummings revealedonThursday

Cummings said that more than 2000 overseas registrations were recorded last year and believes this is because of Guyana’s rapid economictransformation.

“Last year, we processed about 2, 132 overseas Cummings believes that platform.Certificateswillbe registrations, which to my the local content legislation available within five days mindifwelookatit,ispretty passed in 2021 is helping followingapplication. high compared to previous persons to understand the “You should not wait years and it is obvious that value of maintaining their longer than five days. We the successes that are being Guyaneseconnections. aim to get everything out achieved in Guyana are “These are children who within a three-to-five-day resonating around the are born to parents who were period for the online world,” Cummings told the born in Guyana. So, if one of applications,” the registrar Department of Public your parents is born in generalemphasised. Information(DPI). Guyana you can get a Meanwhile, GRO issued

He said the majority of Guyanese birth certificate, a 91, 503 birth, 10,021 death, these applications are Guyanese by descent you and 9,307 marriage coming from persons callit,”heexplained. certificatesin2022. residing in the United States, Persons who wish to The GRO falls under the United Kingdom, and apply for a birth certificate purview of the Ministry of countriesintheCaribbean. can utilise the online HomeAffairs.

Registrar General of the General Register Office, Raymon Cummings (Photo courtesy of DPI).

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha handing over key items to farmers

PEOPLE ARE DYING BECAUSE OF LACK OF PROPER HEALTHCARE

Ifyoudonothavemoney whichisabout$3,000.Some to see the doctor, only for remediedbythosewhowork establishing specialty in this country, then you specialistschargeasmuchas him to tell you that you are in the public sector but who hospitals. They are money citizens will continue to die often have to settle for $7,000 just to see you seriouslysickandneedtobe moonlight at private making ventures. There is because they neglect their second class health care in Medicine today is not like hospitalized. Regardless of institutions.Itisnotgoingto only one way to fix things: healthbecauseofthehassles Guyana. Do not bother with longago.Intheolddays,you what the authorities say, the be put right by having thegovernmentmustsetout of dealing with public those who are telling you would tell your doctor your public does not have an persons seen at public to develop a highly efficient healthcare. about improvements at symptoms and he would overall favourable institutions by some doctors publichealthcaresystemand (The views expressed in p u b l i c h e a l t h c a r e make a diagnosis and send impression of the public whothentellthepatientsthat to miniaturize the private this article are those of the institutions What youformedication. health system. And that is they need to come to the healthcaresystem. author and do not improvements? These days, you would why the private doctors and doctors’ private clinics to Unless that happens, the necessarily reflect the For too long, Guyanese tell the doctors your private hospitals and clinics complete treatment. It is not public healthcare system opinions and beliefs of this were led to believe that symptoms and they would are now one of the fastest going to be put right by will always be playing n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s thingswereimprovinginthe form a preliminary growing sectors in the having private interests second fiddle to the private affiliates.) public healthcare system. If assessment of your economy The government involved in building and healthcare providers. And this were the case, then the condition. Then they would has to stop bamboozling the private healthcare system start recommending all public with talk about how shouldhavelongcontracted. manner of tests. They can much money it is spending However,thisisnotthecase. hear you coughing and see on the healthcare system. It The very opposite is yournoserunningandnotice shouldstartensuringthatthe happening and not because thatyouhaveatemperature, system is working for the peoplewanttomassagetheir buttheywouldstillsendyou public. Poor people often egos by showing off to their for a battery of tests face humiliation when they neighbours that they can including one to see if your are forced to go to private afford private healthcare bodyisfightinganinfection. hospitals.Whentheyaretold Even the poor are being They would send you for an about the cost of the forced to go to private x-ray to find out your lungs treatment, many of them are doctors and hospitals areinfectedbadly. forced to take discharge. because they are totally fed And don’t make the Persons with heart with the miserable service mistake of telling the doctor conditionshavehadtogetup and unsatisfactory care thatyouarefeelingweak.He off their beds and take which many public orshewillrecommendblood dischargewhentheyaretold healthcare institutions works.Allthesetestsaddup that the interventions that provide. to tens of thousands of theyneedwillcostmillions.

If things were different dollars which the average And yet come Monday, with the public healthcare citizencannotafford. we will hear again about the systems persons would not Youcangetmostofthese greatstrideswhicharebeing be flocking to private tests for free at the public made in the public doctors and hospitals to the healthcare institutions. But healthcare system But extent that they are doing who wants to sit down for pouringmoremoneyintothe now It is not cheap to seek hourstoseeadoctorandthen public healthcare system is privatehealthcare. Fromthe more hours after you have not going to change momentyoulandatthedoor seenadoctortohavethetests anything The system is of a private hospital, the done, then to have to come broken and needs to be billing starts. You have to back the next day for results remedied. pay a Consultation Fee andhavetowaithoursmore And it is not going to be

Dem boys seh...

GUYANA IS DE SEAT OF CHOKE AND ROB!

DePrezzieinvitedeBoardofControlfor Caribbean. Well before he invite anybody, Cricket in India fuh mek investment in he gat to understand dat dat gan never cricketintheCaribbean.Nowdatsoundreal happen.DePrezzieneedsarealitycheck. stange indeed considering who are de For one cricket in de Caribbean is owners of de Caribbean Premier League insular Dem small island nah gan agree to (CPL)teams. GuyanabecomingnoMecaaofcricket.Not DemboyswantreminddePrezziedayof with de US trading at G$200 to US$1. Not de7teamswahcontestdeCPLin2022,dat withdelevelofcrimeindecountry Notwith fiveofdemareownedbypersonorpersons de traffic situation.And definitely not with from India. Is only de Guyana Amazon one stadium which does host both cricket Warriors and the Jamaican Tallawahs are andfootball. owned by persons who are not from India. IfweganbecomedeMeccaofcricket,it Both of the latter two teams are owned by gat to happen over de next year because if Guyanese. onlythreeCPLfinalsweget.Andonedone So Indian investment already carrying andoneislaterthisyear Sowhoganinvest de CPL… unless Prezzie looking fuh in developing de facilities when de 3 years somebody fuh tek over deWarriors and De neardone. Tallawahs.

DePrezzieisagooddreamer Heshould

De Prezzie also seh how he want mek dreamon! Guyana de Mecca of cricket in de Talkhalf.Leffhalf!

MY TWO GUYANESE PERSONALITIES OF 2022

There comes a time Kaepernickstandsoutinthe motiontopass. the press went into last year professional when one person stands out 21stcentury Hekneltwhen Myunshakeablebeliefis that seriously threatened police officers from the multitudeand says the American anthem was that from 2016 the three freedomofexpression. whose conduct is or does something that playedatafootballmatchto parties of PNC, AFC and Professor Randolph exemplary changes history and allows protest against racial WPA planned to stop free Persaud publicly informed I h a d themtorecordthemselvesin discrimination in the US. and fair election and return Guyanese that the Stabroek accompanied the history It is an exemplary Then one of the most tragic topermanentrule.Charran’s News told him that his TC to Thirst Park act of bravery and it instills ironiesevertooccurshowed courage initiated a series of letters will not be carried if because the company in humans the belief that its face. Just when you eventsthateventuallyledus they criticise civil society hadputconesonalong people are unpredictable thought Kaepernick’s to August 2020 when the groups. All media houses stretch of the public officer showed no anger, no and worthy of the most inspirationwouldinspirethe people’s votes were have their likes and dislikes parapet preventing any impatience, no unbecoming courageous acts that US, no team in the US recognised. The other is but for an important form of parking for people demeanour He just preserveswhatisgoodabout wanted him any longer. Dominic Gaskin. I had a independent newspaper to visiting Third Park. I was informed the receptionist life. The names Karl Marx, Today, Kaepernick’s action telephonic chat with Mr. openly admit that it will told there was no parking that he would return. This O liver Cromw ell, is emulated around the Gaskin this week and I was censor opinions is insidethecompany. wasindeedagentlemanwho Mohandas Gandhi, MIkhail world and he has been the elated when he told me that somethingIhaveneverseen Onthepublicparapeton refused to throw his weight Gorbachev, Martin Luther recipientofsomeprominent he has not finished with before in 55 years of social the roadway, more than a around. I know more than a King Jr., Nelson Mandela, awards in the American politics. He said though he activisminmycountry dozen vehicles could have dozen senior police officers Mohamed Ali, are the sports industry, the media would not like to be a Thesecondpersonisthe beenbeaccommodated.SoI that would not have popularuniquepersonalities and American society in parliamentarian or minister Traffic Chief (TC), Dennis asked that the cones be tolerated that contempt. For that readily come to mind general I believe two he still has an interest in Stephen. Over the past 30 removed so I can park me, Mr McDonald and Mr when we talk about Guyanese should be politics. Mr Gaskin, based years, I have come to know becauseIwasvisitingBanks Stephens deserve our phenomenal courage in awarded the Order of on his powerful, persuasive many of the top officers in DIH. I was refused. So the admiration. They are fine human endeavours. But it Democracy that is being statusin2020riskedhislife the Guyana Police Force. I Police Commissioner sent examples of good will not stop with those planned by the Guyana torejectelectionrigging. had taught many of them at the TC. No one attended to Guyanese. names and it has not Government. The award is Here now are my two theUniversityofGuyana.It the TC and his senior rank. (The views expressed in stopped. Since those great for courage in defying Guyanese personalities for is popular pastime for us to He asked to see a senior this article are those of the humans listed above wrote electionrigging of 2020 but 2022. The first is literary knock police officers as employer of Banks DIH. author and do not their names on the face of I feel it was Charrandass icon, Ian McDonald To arrogantandinsensitive.But When the receptionist she necessarily reflect the world history, others have Persaud’sbraverytwoyears date, Mr McDonald is the the sober temperament Mr telephoned inside, they said opinions and beliefs of this continued the journey these before in voting against his only Guyanese and remains Stevens showed in an noonewasavailable. n e w s p a p e r a n d i t s greatpeoplestartedouton. own government that the only Guyanese to incident last year in my After waiting for 20 affiliates.) The name Colin allowed the opposition publicly reject a direction presenceprovesthattheyare minutes, the TC left. This

Judicial Service Commission to be in place in three months

Commission

(JSC) will be fully constituted in three months, Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, SC hasonceagainassured.

This assurance came while he spoke at the inaugural Law Year held in the High Court’s forecourt on Tuesday. Nandlall announced that key support staffforthejudiciarywould be appointed as the PSC wouldsoonbeconstituted. personsonboardtoassistus pleaded.

The AG made the in carrying out our mandate W h i l e s h e announcement moments of providing justice,” the acknowledged that before Chancellor of the Chancellor(ag)said. Parliament could enact how Judiciary (ag) Justice Justice Cummings many volumes of law they Yonette Cummings Edwards said that the wish and the Attorney Edwards indicated that the already limited pool of General’s Chambers could shortageofjudgeswithinthe judges has been further revise laws she said “we JudicialSystemhasresulted depletedwiththeretirement need the judges to interpret in the remaining judges of Justices Franklyn Holder those legislation, we need beingoverworked. andBrassingtonReynoldsin the judges to implement

“We need more judges; September and November those legislation so that we weneedtheJudicialService respectively TheChancellor canhaveanorderlysociety”. Commission to be said another judge is The JSC has not been establishedASAP– as soon expectedtoretiresoon. reconstituted since 2017, aspossible. “We do not need the despite commitments by

We are facing increase rhetoric We need more President Irfaan Ali and case-loads. Judges are now labourers We need the Attorney General Anil overburdened, they are judges. We’ve been hearing Nandlallinrecentmonths. exhausted, they are nearly timeandagainabouttheJSC

Constitutionally,theJSC wornoutand,insomecases, issoontobeestablished.We is composed of the and they are burnt out. We would like to see the Chancellor, Chief Justice, have had psychologist implementation and the Chairman of the Public coming to do psycho-social establishmentoftheJudicial Service Commission (PSC) therapy but that in it cannot Service Commission,” the and such other members as help.We need to have more Chancellor of the Judiciary maybeappointed.

Brief history of Christ Church Secondary

DidyouknowinAugust toformthepresentlyknown Ambrose; Edwy Ross, 1964, Christ Church was a Christ Church Secondary Robert Bobb and Olive Primary School? Prior to School.Thisalsomeantthat Killekenny from St August 1964, some schools the Primary Department of George’s; George Stewart, had both Primary and Christ Church was Ms. McKenzie and Phyllis Secondary Departments. dissolved, and the students Crawford from Christ Some of them were Christ of this Department were Church Primary. These Church Primary, St. transferred to the Primary teachers began the journey Ambrose Anglican, Departments of St. with CCSS and were led by Kingston Methodist and St. Ambrose, Kingston the then Principal, Basil George’sAnglican Schools. Methodist, and St. George’s Armstrong. In reflecting on InSeptember1964,thePPP Anglican Schools, based on CCSS’s history, few headGovernment of Guyana, in their area of residence teachers who are important an effort to promote free Additionally, teachers from to mention are Mr secondaryeducation,hadits those aforementioned McDonald, Mr Kendall firstexperiment. schools who were desirous (Shaft), Mr Vieira, Ms

In this experiment, the of teaching at CCSS were Mason,Mr StewartandMs. Secondary Departments of given the opportunity to do Carr (Extracted from the St George’s Anglican so Some were the late Christ Church Secondary Schools were merged with William(Billy)Braithwaite, School of Guyana, Alumni the Secondary Department Charles Daniels and Association of New York, of Christ Church Anglican, Desmond Saul from St Inc.)

FrederickKissoon

- AG promises again, as Chancellor bemoans shortage of judges

Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Justice Yonette Cummings Edwards Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, SC.

UG, Merundoi receive UNESCO grants

The University of

Guyana (UG) and Merundoi Incorporated on Thursday received grants totalling US$50,822 for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) participating 2022/2023, the Ministry of Education announced.

The grants were handed over by Education Minister Priya Manickchand at the Ministry of Education’s boardroom.

The two projects being funded are the University of Guyana, Faculty of Education and Humanities’ ‘Reintroduction of the PostGraduate Diploma in Translation (Study Grants)’ a n d M e r u n d o i Incorporated’s ‘Youth Slam ClimateChange’.

The University received US$25,000 grant which was countries, and those who Slam addressing problems, Youth in TheArts to express collected by Dean of the speak other languages. A and solutions regarding themselves and build their Faculty of Education and cadre of skilled translators Climate Change in Guyana self-esteem. Humanities, Dr Roslin will be produced to serve the through research and Present during the Khan. needsofthecountry performance. h a n d o v e r w e r e t h e

The objective of the M e a n w h i l e , M s

Using Edutainment and Secretary-General, of the institution’s initiative is to MargaretLawrencereceived the Performing Arts, the G u y a n a N a t i o n a l develop persons with the US$25,822 grant on causesandeffectsofClimate Commission for UNESCO, expertise in translation skills behalf of Merundoi. The Change and the actions to Dr Olato Sam, Confidential to facilitate effective grant will be used to enable mitigate it will be Secretary to the Secretarycommunication between youthbetweentheagesof16 highlighted. In addition, a General, Ms. Sharda Seolall, Guyana, neighbouring and25tocompeteinaPoetry space will be created for and Technical Assistant Ms. TonyaFrance.

All projects are to be completed by the end of 2023.

Truimph woman arrested after found with ganja, ammo. during police raid

ATriumph, East Coast Demerara (ECD) barrel. woman was on Wednesday arrested after At the second property, the ranks found police found her with seven grams of ganja the bullets stashed in a yellow sock inside of and over 417 suspected .22 rounds of the kitchen. “Inside the sock were 417 ammunition and one suspected 12 gauge suspected .22 rounds of ammunition and one cartridgeduringaraid. suspected 12 gauge cartridge’, police stated

The woman was detained after police inapressrelease. searched two properties at Ogle Street, Policesaidthatduringasearchconducted Triumph, ECD between 13:40hrs and in the kitchen, more bullets - four .32 bullets 15:30hrs. and one 9mm ammunition - were found

According to statement by the Guyana insidearedandblackbox. Police Force (GPF), ranks found the The woman was taken to the marijuana inside a shop at the first property BeterverwagtingPoliceStationandplacedin they searched. They also confiscated US$40 thepolicelock-ups. and GY$170,000 they found inside of a Investigationsarecontinuing.

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand presents grant to UG’s Dean of the Faculty of Education and Humanities, Dr. Roslin Khan

Merundoi’s Ms. Margaret Lawrence receives the grant from Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand

The ammunition and drugs found at Triumph, ECD

‘With good management of oil, Guyana and Suriname can jumpstart economies’

– Santokhi tells Global Investment Forum

Surinamese President Chandrikapersad “Chan” Santokhi acknowledging that Guyana and Suriname are blessed with billions of proven oil and gas resources said that with good management both countries willbeabletojumpstarttheir economies to new level of development.

The Surinamese leader was at the time addressing the Inaugural Session of Global Investors Summit 2023, which is being held in MadhyaPradesh,India.

“ T h e D i a s p o r a community must be involved in taking our theoilandgasindustry

Government is adamant that economies to a new level of Guyana and Suriname it will not renegotiate the social responsibility and are neighbouring countries Exxondeal. sustainable development of in South America Both For his part, President of our societies in the future,” countries are now in the Guyana, Irfaan Ali, told the Santokhi said adding that “I limelight owed to the gathering that Guyana is am delighted that the billions of proven barrels of ready to exploit its oil and Caribbean region is oildiscoveredintheirbasins. gas resources “as fast as represented at this event by While Suriname has a possible.” both Guyana and Suriname. more favourable contract In fact, President Ali Our presence here only and will be better able to said, “Our policy is very underlines our commitment benefit from its natural simple, we must exploit this to strengthening the resources – Guyana has resourceasfastaspossiblein synergies between our signed onto a lopsided ensuring that the revenues countries and region to forge Production Sharing that come will build an partnership and build long- Agreement (PSA) with economy that is strong, termcooperation.” American oil giant, resilient and sustainable and Santokhi explained that ExxonMobil. standing on many other Suriname stands on the cusp T h e P e o p l e ’ s pillars in a world 2030 and ofpromisingdevelopmentin Progressive Party (PPP) beyond.”

Govt. will maintain military presence at borders to monitor movements

- Army Chief tells Venezuelan Ambassador

Ar m y C h i e f , presence on the frontier to Bess told the Venezuelan B r i g a d i e r monitor all cross-border AmbassadorthattheGuyana

Godfrey Bess on movements”, GDF stated in government will continue to Tuesday assured that heavy a press release published on provide humanitarian military presence will be itsFacebookpage. assistance to Venezuelan maintainedatallofGuyana’s The government has immigrants. borders with Venezuela to always had some military However, it has been monitor movements presence at its borders with highlightedbythelocalpress betweenthetwocountries. Venezuela but the severe that with the increase of The Guyana Defence economic crisis in the movements at the borders, Force’s(GDF) ChiefofStaff neighbouring country has criminalandillegalactivities was at the time meeting with caused thousands of havebeenincreasingtooand newly appointedVenezuelan Venezuelans to flee this has prompted the Ambassador to Guyana, Hundreds of Venezuelans government to increase its Carlos Amador Pèrez Silva enter Guyana almost every military presence at these during a courtesy call at month and it has caused a locations. GDF’sconferenceroom. massive increase in The “beefing up of “ H e [ B e s s ] movement at the country’s security” at the borders communicated the Force’s borders. beganin2018underthe intention to maintain its During the courtesy call, (Continued on page 15)

Private

submits recommendations for Budget 2023

Officials engaged the

President of the Women private sector and civil recommendations for the

Chamber of Commerce and society for a discussion on National Budget 2023

Industry,Ms.RowenaElliot, Budget2023 Senior Minister within the

Executive Director of the “The PSC welcomes the Ministry of Finance, Dr

PSC, Mr Ian Chung along opportunity to engage the AshniSingh. Secretary, Mr Ramesh with Economists, Mr Government ahead of the During the Budget 2023 Dookhoo, Chairman of the Nayteram Ramnaraine and presentation of the National consultations which were Finance and Economic Sub- Mr GovindraRaghubansi. Budget 2023 and looks held in the Boardroomof the C o m m i t t e e , M r Tuesday’s budget forward to continued Ministry of Finance Matters JagdeshHaripersaud, consultation followed a dialogue and information relating to duty rates on Chairman of the Human recent engagement held at sharing,” a statement from vehicles, export zones, CapitalSub-Committee,Ms. S t a t e H o u s e w h e r e thePSCsaid.

Members of the PSC during budget consultations with Senior Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh

Private

stock exchange, and Luanna Persaud, President President Irfaan Ali, Vice

council were of the Georgetown Chamber President Bharrat Jagdeo,

the of Commerce and Industry, and other Government

President of Suriname, Chandrikapersad “Chan” Santokhi

Guyana’s Army Chief, Brigadier Godfrey Bess and the newly appointed Ambassador, Carlos Amador Pèrez Silva.

Pres. Ali awarded Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy and Management

President Dr Irfaan Ali Meanwhile, President on Thursday received an Ali thanked his lecturers, Honorary Doctorate of who motivated him to P h i l o s o p h y a n d remain committed to his Management Studies from pursuit of education, as well hisalmamater,GuruGobind as colleagues and friends S i n g h I n d r a p r a s t h a met during his tenure at the University in Delhi, India university, for playing major duringaspecialceremony rolesinhisdevelopmentinto According to the thepersonheistoday Department of Public “The Indian education Information (DPI), the systemisnoteasy Itrequires Honorary Doctorate was disciplineandeducation.Itis given to the President for not a system in which you “his hard work, dedication, can operate in the way you ways, ” the president food security, climate PARTNERSHIPIN e d u c a t i o n o f m o r e and responsible approach to think is best. It is a highly explained. security, energy security, a EDUCATION Guyanese. l e a d e r s h i p a n d disciplined environment The Head-of-State said world that is still filled with President Ali also Currently, multiple other development.” But within that highly that his time spent at the inequality and injustice… announced plans for universities in India offer “He was lauded as a role disciplined environment, it Guru Gobind Singh when the world isolated Guyanese students to education to Guyanese modelforthepartnershipshe taught us to be better University also reinforced itself during COVID, and virtually attend the through the Guyana Online has created, his human humans. The education we the need for, and meaning of held on to whatever vaccine University through a Academy of Learning resource management received was not only humility, as well as respect it had, with a large M e m o r a n d u m o f (GOAL). capability, and his academic, it was life- foreldersandeachother population, and the same Understanding that is to be GOAL is an online commitment to continuous changing. It was preparing “We live in a world of challenges the rest of the signedwiththeGuruGobind universityplatformlaunched development,” DPI said on great minds to do great changes, a world that world faced, what did you S i n g h I n d r a p r a s t h a by the government in 2021 itswebsite. things in the humblest of presents many challenges, do? You turned to the spirit University after it completes that connects Guyanese with of humanity and you its facility for conducting universities across the world extended to the world onlineclasses. for equal access to tertiary whatever little you had,” Further, the President education. PresidentAlisaid. announced that 10 low- The government will

T h i s , h e s a i d , income Guyanese students also continue to collaborate demonstrates India’s w i l l b e n e f i t f r o m with India in the fields of developed mindset, mature scholarships to study at the health, engineering, society, and leadership in university, in keeping with petroleum, nursing, medical humanity, and dedication to his commitment to partner technology, and pharmacy, makingadifference. with the school for the amongothers.

‘Secure clean-up money from oil companies’ to avoid taxpayers footing the bill’

-CommonwealthurgesGuyana

By Renay Sambach

and gas project has come to a n e n d i s c a l l e d

The Commonwealth ‘Decommissioning ’ Secretariat is urging its Kaieteur News had reported member countries to secure that decommissioning is a money to restore the ocean’s complex and costly process floor at the end of the at the end of the economic economic life of oil and gas life of an individual oil and projects, in order to avoid gas project. It involves the taxpayers having to foot the s a f e p l u g g i n g a n d bill.

abandoning of oil wells,

The Commonwealth removal of structures and Secretariat recently r e s t o r a t i o n o f t h e published a practical guide surroundingareas.

Secretariat stated that given called, “Oil and Gas This publication had t h e u n c e r t a i n t y o f Decommissioning Toolkit,” h i g h l i g h t e d t h e decommissioning cost, “it is which is aimed at helping its Commonwealth Secretariat critical that there are member countries in the oil cautioning its member of the mechanisms in place to and gas industry to manage u n c e r t a i n t y o f ensure that there are c o s t l y o i l a n d g a s decommissioning costs, sufficient funds available to decommissioningactivities. which can result in the price carryoutthe

The process of restoring tag easily moving from US-

the ocean’s floor when an oil millions to US-billions. The

President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali conferred with a Honorary Doctorate (Newsroom Guyana)

President of Guyana, Irfaan Ali

First Lady donates computers, books to 3 orphanages

…through ‘Adopt-anOrphanage’ initiative

First Lady Arya Ali A total of 88 children will support of Cell Phone Shack orphanages expressed on Thursday benefitfromthedonation. toacquirethecomputers. appreciation on behalf of the d o n a t e d Thethreeorphanagesare “Our partners are just as children, noting that the

computerstothree currently receiving invested as we are in the devices were very much orphanages as part of her sponsorship, through the lives of these children needed. effortstoexpandher‘Adopt- Adopt-an-Orphanage Personally, I want to ensure More than 600 children an-Orphanage’ initiative initiative, from local we prepare them for a better are currently benefitting The initiative, which was businesses. future and that means from the Adopt-anlaunched last year, seeks to “Ensuring children are providing them with the Orphanageinitiative. provide financial and other provided with the tools tools and resources that they support to underfunded which enable them to have needtogetthemthere,”Mrs. orphanages across Guyana greater access to education Aliadded. through assistance from the and information will always She also encouraged the privatesector. be a priority of ours,” the children to use the

The three computers and FirstLadysaid. computers for schoolwork a quantity of exercise books Mrs.Ali said that having and other activities which were handed over to the St. recognized the need for would expand their John’s Bosco Orphanage, someoftheorphanagestobe knowledge or teach them a Bless the Children’s Home, provided with learning skill. and Hope Children’s Centre. resources, she solicited the Theadministratorsofthe

Govt. will maintain military...

From page 13 in the Cuyuni River Region, District, Region One - an A Partnership for National Seven. area located close to the Unity and Alliance For Since then, there have Venezuelan Border of Change (APNU+AFC) been continuous reports of Imataka- after reports Coalition administration Venezuelan criminal gangs surfaced that there was an after reports began targeting Guyanese - alleged invasion by a surfacing that Venezuelan e s p e c i a l l y a t t h e Venezuelangang. g a n g s k n o w n a s Eteringbang border Ranks sent to the area “Sindicatos” have been location - forcing the found no evidence of a gang terrorizing Guyanese government to maintain invasion but have chosen to working intheseareas. heavy military presence in continuously monitor the

The situation had theareas area if the possibility exists become even more tense In December 2022, the that “criminal elements” afterapoliceCorporalofthe Police Force and GDF were fleeing Venezuelan GuyanaPoliceForce(GPF), forced to increase their authorities could cross the QuincyAlexander, was shot presence at Five Star borders to hide out in by one of the gang members Backdam, North West Guyana.

A child uses one of the computers donated by the First Lady through her ‘Adopt-an-Orphanage’ initiative.

WANTED

Driver, Salesman & Porters to work in warehouse. Must have experience, attractive salary offered. Call: 6964444.

Diesel Mechanic, Security and Cook to work in Charity, Essequibo. Contact: 687-5814/ 688-0417.

Security, Drivers/ Expediters and Porters. Contact: 223-5273/74 or 627-9647.

Driver/ Salesman, Bakers, Patry Makers, Puri /Roti Makers & Receptionist. Back to Eden Bakery,85 David St Subryanville, 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 Delivery Boy needed. Call: 223-5021/ 223-1531.

Taxi Drivers needed at Princess Taxi Service, Ramada Hotel. Call: 265-7075/ 76 or 616-5419, 690-2242.

One house for rent. Call: 683-8786.

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

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

Water truck driver required to work on the West Bank of Demerara.Tel: 686-9296.

General Domestic required to Cook at E.B.D. Call: 6008107.

One Puri/ Roti Maker and two Kitchen assistant. Call: 648-8279/ 231-6591.

Linesman required to work in Georgetown. Experience will be an asset. Call: 2332475/6 or 641-1386.

Urgently need one female Cook to work in a fast food shop. Call Miss Johnson: 698-5526.

ACCOMMODATIONS

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

VACANCY

Vacancy exists for Salesgirl and Porters at Best Buy Food Supplies, Lot 1 ‘E’ Deniss and Middleton Street C/ville. Apply in person with Send Written application.

Maid required to cook and clean in East Bank area. Call: 615-9132.

One General Domestic needed, must know to cook. Apply with written application at Keyfood, McDoom Village next to the Post Office.

Able-bodied Porter/ Salesman needed, must have cxc maths & english, with neat handwriting. Apply at Keyfood, McDoom Village or Call: 629-7426.

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

Office Clerk and Domestic worker required. Live-in facilities available, call: 2237500.

One male Worker and Canter Driver needed. Ages 2550 yrs, 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/ puri Cook. Apply @ Hack's Restaurant 5 Commerce St.

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

Driver required, ages 23-50 yrs. Must be able to assist in Workshop at Eccles and must have car and van licence. Call: 645-8443/ 6429823.

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

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

Experienced Child Care/ Nanny needed for 1 month old baby @ La Bonne Intention, ECD. Must speak English and required to work Mon-Fri, 7:30am4:30pm. Call: 592-688-0867.

VACANCY

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

Expirenced Barber, Hair stylist, Colourist, Nail technacian and Domestic Helper required. Call: 6495005/ 226-6705.

Vacancy Exist for one Nanny. Must be 40 years and older Call: 639-7980.

Manufacturing Company is now hiring. No experience needed, attractive compensation and incentives offered, Mon - Fri, 8am -5pm. Call: 226-2621.

Room attendant and Receptionist 25-50 years old. 233 South Road Lacytown, Call: 225-0198.

$9M estimated to repair Berbice High Court roof and ceiling

Four contractors have submitted bids to repair the Berbice High Court’s roof and ceiling which is estimated to cost $9.3M.

This was revealed on Thursday during the opening of tenders at the National Procurement and Tender

Administration Board (NPTAB) office. The procuring entity for the project is the Supreme Court of Judicature.

In the 2022 National Budget, the government had allocated some $3B for the

judiciary to expend on a number of projects.

Below are the companies and their bids:

Supreme Court of Judicature

Rehabilitation of roof and ceiling at Berbice High Court.

FOR RENT

2 and 3 Bedroom fully furnished luxury apartments for rent, short term and long term. Tel:# 682-2585, 691-1432.

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.

Georgetown three bedrooms dwelling home. Business: Brickdam properties 900 sq ft and 8000 sq ft. Contact: Ray's Realty: 6279685.

Accelerated oil development with ad...

From page 3 and regulating the operations, Exxon said the individual public/private operators have substantial autonomy in developing their independent terminals.

PORTS

There are three key ports of Guyana namely: Port Georgetown, Port New Amsterdam, and Port of Essequibo River. At these ports, containerized cargo for import such as foodstuff, clothing and textiles, petroleum, heavy-duty machinery, etc. and exports including sugar, rice, bauxite, rum, etc. are traded.

also has several independent pier operators from both privately owned and public corporations.

The larger operators include John Fernandes Ltd; Muneshwers Ltd; Guyana National Shipping Corporation Ltd (GNSC), Guyana National Industrial Company Inc. (GNIC); Demerara Shipping Company Ltd; Demerara Sugar Terminals Ltd; and Deo’s International Distribution Company Ltd (DIDCO).

FOR SALE

Houses for sale in Haslington, Tushen, Providence & Diamond / Little Diamond. Call Pacific Development 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 customers in Georgetown. Contact The Canje Group: sales@ canjegroup.com or Call: +(592) 626-8671.

Six Balck & Tan German Shepherd pups, fully vaccinated. Tel# 650-9998/ 6260953.

SERVICES

Visa Application: Canada and UK & U.S.A. Graphics design & advertisements. Wedding decorations & elderly grooming: hair, nail etc. Call: 626-7040.

The Port of Georgetown is situated on the north coast of Guyana, along the East Bank of the Demerara River.

The southward boundary of the port is a line across the Demerara River, which stretches from the southern end of Plantation La Penitence on the East Bank of Demerara to the southern boundary of Plantation Klein Pouderoyen on the West Bank of the Demerara River.

ENTERTAINMENT

Swimming

It is important to note that the Port of Georgetown is the main access port of entry stretching 16 km inward from the river estuary, with an average depth of 4.5 metres at low tide.

This port handles approximately 90 percent of cargo.

The Port of Georgetown

Additionally, the Guyana Sugar Corporation and Caribbean Molasses Company Ltd operate bulk handling facilities for sugar and molasses, respectively. No operators provide fully dedicated container handling facilities; however, some of the operators do handle containers. Of these container cargo operators, Demerara Shipping, GNIC, GNSC, John Fernandes, and Muneshwers constitute the largest parties in terms of container throughput. As for Port of New Amsterdam, it is situated on the North Coast of the Berbice River.

The Port of Essequibo River is located on the Essequibo River, the largest river in Guyana, often navigable by small ocean vessels. Together, the New Amsterdam and Essequibo ports handle approximately 10 percent of Guyana’s cargo.

EDUCATION

VEHICLES FOR SALE

One CRV Honda, fully loaded immaculate condition, low mileage 3.3M negotiable. Contact:6490956.

2012 Nissan Frontier 42,000 Miles, Good working condition $3.5 Negotiable. Call: 225-3739

First Aid/ CPR/ AED: Home Nursing courses and First Aid Refresher course starting soon. Call St.John Association:225-9082 or email: stjohnguyana@yahoo.com

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

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

Ituni farmers engage Agri. Minister on land leases, hemp cultivation

Farmers from Ituni, a village located in the interiorpartofRegion Ten (Upper DemeraraBerbice),onTuesday,sought the government’s assistance with expanding their cultivation.

While some own and operate small farms to sustain their families, many persons in the village are now engaged in the largescale production of a variety offruitsandvegetables.

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha visited the village to meet farmers and discuss how the government can assist with rampingupproduction.

This is in keeping with the government’s and CARICOM’s efforts to reduce the regional import bill by 25 percent by the end of2025.

Minister Mustapha told farmers present that the time for subsistent farming has passed and that the government was serious about agriculture as it is the only sector that can guaranteefoodsecurity

Referencing the impacts that the closure of the bauxite industry has had on the economic status of many persons in the region, the minister said building resilience in sectors like the agriculture sector remains a priority for the President IrfaanAli-ledgovernment.

“We’ve seen what happened to the economy in these parts when the bauxite industry closed. This is why we have to develop the

agriculture sector Although we are now an oil and gas producer, we have to continue to develop the sector We have to use the earningsfromtheoilandgas sector to develop the productive sectors like the agriculturesector,”henoted.

Farmers said that they have taken note of the government’s efforts to transform the sector so far While explaining that they too are passionate about agriculture, several farmers indicated that access to farmlands to expand cultivation continues to be a hindrance.

One farmer said the believes in the president’s vision for the sector but needed land so that he can expand. While expressing his optimism that under this

governmenthewillbeissued aleaseforagriculturallands, the farmer said that he was fully into agriculture and would like to leave a legacy forgenerationstocomefrom thesector

Additionally, farmers present expressed their interest in getting involved in the cultivation of hemp.

Citing the industry’s profitability, several farmers sought clarity on how they can be given access to the necessary permits to cultivateindustrialhemp.

Minister Mustapha told farmers that although the Ministry of Agriculture is not responsible for issuing farmlands,theministryoften engages the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission on issues relating to leases for farming.

Jamaica Gleaner - A probe has been launched into millionsofdollarsreportedly missing from an account belonging to sprint legend Usain Bolt at Jamaican investment firm Stocks and SecuritiesLimited(SSL),the sport star's manager Nugent Walkerconfirms.

SSLhasreportedlycalled inthepolice.

Walker told The Gleaner that the former athlete became aware of the discrepancies with his accountsonWednesday.

"All the relevant steps have been taken to come to thebottomofthis,"hestated, informing The Gleaner that the Financial Investigations Division and Financial Services Commission are among the entities to which

reportshavebeenmade.

N o t i n g t h a t t h e investigationisstillgoingon, Walker said he was unable to disclosethesumsinvolvedor

the time period covered by theinvestigation.

"He's been with this entity over 10 years...His entire portfolio is being reviewed,"Walkersaid.

The Gleaner has learnt that a former employee at SSLhas been implicated in a massive fraud at the entity, including the missing sums fromBolt'saccounts.

Attorney-at-law Tamika Harris, who is representing a former employee at SSL would say very little about the matters involving her client.

"My client is in discussion with SSL and the lawyers representing SSL," shetoldTheGleaner

S h e s a i d t h e s e discussionsstartedabouttwo weeksago.

Wh ile an s w er in g questions about hemp cultivation, Minister Mustapha said that the process to develop the regulatory body to guide the industryhascommenced.

“We recently passed legislation to legalize the cultivation of industrial hempinGuyana.

The legislation stipulates that a regulatory body has to be in place and we’ve commenced the process of having that body developed. Two regions were identified

for the initial cultivation of hemp; Regions Six and Ten. So, when the regulatory body is in place you will be able to apply for licenses to cultivate industrial hemp. I want to assure you that small-holding farmers will benefit.

This project will target farmers who have small acreages, maybe one or two acres,”heexplained.

Minister Mustapha, while encouraging persons to develop farmers’ groups, committed to assisting the

He also committed to supplying several bongo pumps and Acoushi ant bait to assist farmers who are constantly affected by the pests.

Officers from the ministry are expected to return to the village soon to deliver on commitments made by the minister in the comingweeks.

‘Secure clean-up money from...

From page 14 d e c o m m i s s i o n i n g activities.”

It was highlighted too that in the instance of an oil company failing to clean-up the ocean’s floor, “If such a s i t u a t i o n a r i s e s , governments will likely have to undertake and pay for decommissioning, because it is in the public interest and/or because it is required to meet the country’s international obligations.”

Inthisregard,theSecretariat urged Governments to secure financial assurance and implement appropriate assurance mechanisms to avoid taxpayers having to f o o t t h e b i l l f o r

decommissioning costs

There are different types of financial assurance mechanisms, which range from letters of credit, insurance and bonds to cash being held as dedicated funds for decommissioning purposes, it was highlighted. Notably, Guyana has been a m e m b e r o f t h e Commonwealthsince1970. In Guyana’s instance,

American oil giant, ExxonMobil’saffiliate,Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) has been taking out money f r o m G u y a n a ’s o i l p r o d u c t i o n f o r decommissioning which is being kept in their pocket. Under a signed deal – the Production Sharing Agreement(PSA)–Exxonis allowedtotakeoutmoneyto s e t a s i d e a s a decommissioningfee.While the revenue should be set aside in a special account, and held by the Government – the Exxon PSA jumps off theprecipiceofinternational best practice, and into a b o t t o m l e s s p i t o f 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.

As such, Guyana must now hope, pray, and trust that whenthetimecomes,Exxon will hand over the sums

needed.

M o r e o v e r , t h e Commonwealth explained that Governments should h a v e p o l i c i e s a n d regulations in place that require oil and gas companies to estimate decommissioning costs and updatethemregularly.

AccordingtotheSecretariat, the decommissioning toolkit was developed as part of the C o m m o n w e a l t h Secretariat’s Natural Resources Programme, which aims to support governments in managing t h e r i s k s f r o m d e c o m m i s s i o n i n g , containing several key elements like: an overview of the key issues and i m p l i c a t i o n s f o r governments; practical recommendations to effectivel y m a n a g e decommissioning; a checklist to identify areas for strengthening the existing legal requirements a n d m o d e l d e c o m m i s s i o n i n g provisions that can be adapted to countries circumstances.

Ituni Superfem Women’s Group with Black Giant chicks as they look to develop the poultry sector in thevillage.

Usain Bolt

Millions missing from Usain Bolt's account at investment firm SSL

Minister Zulfikar Mustapha while handing over agricultural items to farmers from Ituni

Fire destroys Christ Church Secondary

- second blaze in 8 days, 502 students affected

Belgrave recalled seeing thick smoke containthefirebut,butcould for education generally, for emanating from the western not save the school. Up to those children in particular First time lucky, second end of the building. Some press time last evening, andtheirfamilies”. time not, this is the story of small explosions were firefighters were still on the Itisunclearatthistimeas theChristChurchSecondary reportedly heard before scene containing the flames to what might have ignited School located on Middle flames were seen When thatremained.

t h e m a s s i v e b l a z e and Camp Streets that was Kaieteur News arrived at the Minister of Education, However, eight days ago destroyed by a massive fire scene, firefighters were Priya Manickchand was when the first fire erupted onThursdayafternoon. already there but the entire presentatthescene.Shetold there, it was reported that it It was only last building was engulfed in Kaieteur News that the fire started in the school’s Wednesday that “quick flames. has displaced some 502 science laboratory The response and diligent work” The blaze was so intense students who were attending school was closed to by the Guyana Fire Service thatonlookersscamperedfor classes there. “The loss of facilitate an investigation News understands that the the investigation told this (GFS) reportedly saved the cover to avoid the heat. this school will see 502 and was only reopened for highly flammable chemicals publication. school from being burnt Multiple explosions were children, 39 teachers not classeslastMonday were removed from the Investigators are now down but this week heard as the burning wood having a place to turn up to The GFS has confirmed building last week tryingtodeterminethecause firefighters could not continued to fall from the educate and be educated”, that the science lab fire last “Everything [chemicals] of Thursday’s fire which has prevent it. Yesterday’s fire building. Manickchand said while week was caused by a was cleared from the displaced hundreds of reportedly erupted close to Firefighters braved the adding “any school “ c h e m i c a l r e a c t i o n building,” a source close to students.

17:00 hrs Eyewitnesses heat and did their best to destroyed is really a sad fate combustion” Kaieteur

By Shervin

Lawmen, other officials scurryingto get the fire under control.

Photo taken of the building some two hours after the fire started.

Education Minister, Priya Manickchand at the scene.

Messi and Mbappe among nominees for FIFA Best award

AFP - Fresh from their brilliant performances at the World Cup, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe are among the nominees for FIFA's The Best award for last year, world football's governing body announced yesterday

Messi, who has won the prize once before, captained Argentina to victory in Qatar, a career-defining triumph that has boosted his chancesofwinninganeighth Ballon d'Or but may also make him favourite for this prize.

As well as Mbappe, who netted a hat-trick in the WorldCupfinal,anothertwo

Paris Saint-Germain players are nominated in Neymar andAchrafHakimi.

Karim Benzema, who won last year's Ballon d'Or for his performances with Real Madrid, is also nominated, as is Robert Lewandowski, winner of the FIFA prize in the last two years.

The list of nominees is completed by Manchester City's Julian Alvarez, Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland; the Real Madrid pair of Luka Modric and Vinicius Junior; Mohamed Salah, Sadio ManeandJudeBellingham.

Alexia Putellas is

nominated for the women's award despite being out for the last six months due to injury The Barcelona and Spain midfielder won the award last year and retained theBallond'OrinOctober Arsenal striker Beth Mead, runner-up to Putellas for the Ballon d'Or, is also nominated, as are two other members of the England team that won the European Championship on home soil in Leah Williamson and KeiraWalsh.

There are also prizes for the best male and female coach, the best goalkeeper, andthePuskasAwardforthe bestgoalof2022.

Friday January 13, 2023

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19

Unfounded worries about money could plague you today, Aries. Someone close may have given you some incorrect information, perhaps about your financial situation

You don't worry too much, Taurus, but today might be different. Insecurity m a y a r i s e a b o u t a partnership. This might be a current or potential romantic relationship.

Worries about health and work might be on your mind today, Gemini. You could be stressed out over whatever you're doing, and this might have you feeling less energeticthanusual.

Today you may want to set aside some time to spend with close friends or a love partner,Cancer

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

Today you might concentrate on projects These could be related to your personal relationships. Whatever the nature of your tasks.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22)

Virgo, making or receiving an important letter orcallregardingmoneymight be on your agenda today, but circumstances beyond your controlcoulddelayit.

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

Worries about money might plague you today, Libra.They might have little, if any, basis in fact, as you're probably fretting over possibilities that aren't likely toevermanifest.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21)

Today you could look in the mirror and be appalled by what you see, activating your insecurity about the way you look. This could send you looking for various treatments.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

Artistic or spiritual inspiration could come your way today, Sagittarius, althoughitmightbemuddled and you could be perplexed about how to deal with it.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

Today you may spend some time by yourself working on your own projects,Capricorn.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18)

Various personal issues mightbeonyourmindtoday, Aquarius. You could want to work them all out without distractions, so you may decide to spend part of the dayalone.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)

You could be expecting an important letter, call, or emailtoday,Pisces,andsiton theedgeofyourchairwaiting for it. This might be from a friendorlover

Joao Felix sent off...

From page 22 and the Brazil midfielder, a two-time Premier League winner during a seven-year spell at Chelsea, saw his striketakeabigdeflectionoff C h a l o b a h t o g i v e Arrizabalaga no chance Willian did not celebrate againsthisformerteam.

But Chelsea equalised within two minutes of the second half as Koulibaly reacted quickest to force the ball over the line from close range after Mason Mount's free-kick had bounced off the left-handpost.

Joao Felix had been the visitors'bestplayerbeforehis dismissal left his side on the back foot, with Vinicius scoringthewinner

Chelsea have now only wontwicein10matchesinall competitions.

Citing Taliban...

From page 25 gyms and parks a month earlier

Women are also banned from attending school beyond the sixth grade and working most jobs outside of their homes.

In November 2021, the ICC formed a working group aiming to support and review women's and men's cricket in Afghanistan but more than a yearlater,thecountryremains the only full member of the ICC without a fully operational women's team Afghanistan is also the only full member not represented at the Under-19Women'sT20 World Cup in South Africa startingthisweek.

Apublic vote, open until February 3, will decide the three finalists in each

category The winner is then voted for by a jury made up of

national team coaches and captains as well as journalistsandfans.

Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe are among the nominees for FIFA's The Best award for last year.

Sports Minister leads team to inspect Sports Hall renovations

Homestretch Avenue,

Georgetown, is currently undergoing rehabilitation

works; at a project cost estimated to be 103 million. Uponcompletion,thefacility

is expected to become a fully air-conditioned venue, outfitted with attractive bucket seats, as well as modernamenities.

This modernisation process is closely monitored under the watchful eyes of the National Sports Commission and Ministry of Culture,YouthandSports.

Director of Sports, Steve Ninvalle and his team; Assistant Director of Sports, Frankie Wilson and Melissa Richardson also the engineer attached to the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports, S h e r w i n M o o r e accompaniedSportsMinister CharlesRamsonJnronavisit to site early yesterday morningtoascertainthelevel of progress made to Cliff Anderson Sports Hall u p g r a d i n g p r o c e s s

According to Director of Sports, Ninvalle, “They spoke with contractors assigned to the project ” Kaieteur News understands that rehabilitation works on the indoor facility is coming alongnicely

The Cliff Anderson Sports Hall was named after boxer Clifford Mathew Anderson, a Guyana-born featherweightboxerwhowas bornon22ndOctober,1921.

His father, a stevedore, saw his (Cliff) potential and

pushed him into the sport from a very young age. Cliff started boxing in New Amsterdam Berbice, it was then that he found out that he packedameanwallopandby thetimehebecame18-yearsold, he had some 20 fights in theclub.

His first bout was an exhibition match organized by the Red Cross. Cliff later fought his way out of the amateur ranks to become a leadingprofessionalboxer

He then migrated to Englandinsearchofaboxing career; he subsequently joined Bill Cline's boxing gym in London's West End. Therehemet`TootieGreen'a Guyanese, when Green once brought a British boxer, Tommy Martin to Guyana to fight`Young'JackJohnsonin 1939.

Cliff, first found the spotlight after BBC's commentator Raymond Glendenning described his victory over Jackie Patterson inglowingterms.

He was then labeled as the `Black Panther'. Cliff went on to fight men like 'Aldgate Tiger' Al Phillips, Billy Worthington, Phil Freeman, Mickey Colbert, Red Tap Davis, Gus Foran andmanyothers.

Cliff had claimed nine British Empire, European

and World Champions by knockout wins but never had aBritishnationaltitle.

It was for this reason he wentontoserveintheBritish Merchant Navy until the cessation of hostilities in 1945.

This outstanding pugilist later retired from boxing in 1954, after spending nearly fourteen years working and boxing in England. In 1976, upon his return to Guyana he formed the Cliff Anderson Boxing gym which produced fighters like Michael Benjamin, Anthony 'the Pearl' Andrews, Dillon and Gordon Carew: the only two Guyanese boxers to compete attheOlympics.

n d Cliff died on 2 December, 1998 at the Davis Memorial Hospital, he was 77yearsold.

The Cliff Anderson Sports Hall was initially constructed as the premier indoor facility for multisports practice and competition.

Over the years, this facilityservedsportssuchas; Basketball, Hockey, Badminton, Table tennis, Volleyballamongothers.

Themodernisationofthe iconic Cliff Anderson Sports Hall will definitely be a booster to the sports fraternityaswellasathletes.

Joao Felix sent off on debut as Chelsea lose at Fulham

BBC Sport - Joao Felix was sent off on his Chelsea debut as his new side lost a west London derby at Fulham 2-1 to increase the pressure on Blues boss GrahamPotter

Joao Felix, who only j o i n e d C h e l s e a o n Wednesday in a £9.7m loan deal until the end of the season from Atletico Madrid,wasshownastraight red card for a horrible lunge ondefenderKennyTeteafter

58 minutes.It was 1-1 at the time,withWillianputtingthe hosts ahead against his former side in the first half, before Kalidou Koulibaly equalisedearlyinthesecond.

But the 10 men of Chelsea could not hang on to a point as Carlos Vinicius headed in a 72nd-minute winner.Potter's Blues side started brightly, but the hosts nearly took the lead when Chelsea lost possession and CarlosViniciusplayedapass

through to Bobby de Cordova-Reid, who fired against the crossbar with KepaArrizabalagabeaten.

But Chelsea fell behind two minutes later in the 25th minute.

It was poor defending from the visitors as teenage left-backLewisHallfailedto clear, before Trevoh Chalobah should have done betterwithhisclearance.

TheballfelltoWillian

The Cliff Anderson S p o r t s H a l l located along

Joao Felix (left) became the 22nd player to be sent off on their Premier League debut.

(Getty Images)

Rahul helps India beat Sri Lanka to clinch ODI series

unbeaten 64 helped India down Sri Lanka by four wickets to clinch a series victoryinthesecondone-day international in Kolkata yesterday

Wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav and fast bowler MohammedSirajearliertook three wickets each as India bowled out Sri Lanka for 215 in 39 4 overs at Eden Gardens.

India were in trouble at 86-4, with skipper Rohit Sharma and star batter Virat Kohli back in the pavilion, but Rahul anchored the chase as the hosts got home in 43.2 overs.

The hosts took an unassailable 2-0 series lead, with the third match to be played on Sunday in Thiruvananthapuram.

Debutant Nuwanidu Fernando stood out for Sri Lanka with his 50 but they lost wickets regularly after electingtobatfirst.

Siraj struck first as he bowledAvishkaFernandofor 20 with an in-swinging delivery that took the inside edge of the bat to crash againstmiddlestump.

Nuwanidu put on 73 runs for the second wicket with Kusal Mendis before K u l d e e p , r e p l a c i n g YuzvendraChahalastheonly change in the team, broke through.

Kuldeep trapped Mendis lbw for 34 with the final delivery of his opening over and two balls later left-arm spinner Axar Patel bowled Dhananjaya de Silva for a duck.

Nuwanidu raised his 50 but was soon run out after his

63-ballknock.

Kuldeep struck twice in two overs, including captain and previous match centurion Dasun Shanaka, bowledfortwo.

Sri Lanka slipped to 1527 when tearaway quick Umran Malik cut short Wanindu Hasaranga's breezy knockon21.

Number eight Dunith Wellalage made 32 and resisted along with the other lower-order batters to take thetotalpast200beforeSiraj struck twice in three balls to wrapuptheinnings.

In reply, India lost Rohit for 17 off Chamika Karunaratne after a brisk start and fellow opener Shubman Gill, who hit 21 off 12 balls, soon followed his captainthreeballslater

Fast bowler Lahiru Kumara bowled Kohli, who

scored a match-winning 113 in the opening ODI, for four and the home side were wobbling when Shreyas Iyer departedon28.

Rahul, who hit just six boundaries in his 103-ball stay, put on 75 with Hardik Pandya to steady the innings inawatchfulpartnership.

Karunaratne broke through with the wicket of Hardik, for 36, andAxar was dismissed for 21 to increase thetension.

But Rahul stood firm with Kuldeep, 10 not out, for company to steer the team home.

Scores: India 219 for 6 (Rahul 64*, Hardik 36, Karunaratne 2-51, Kumara 2-64) beat Sri Lanka 215 (Nuwanidu 50, Mendis 34, Wellalage 32, Siraj 3-30, Kuldeep 3-51) by four wickets.

Courts Pee-Wee Under-11 Tournament…

Champions receive final part of their prize

Enterprise Primary School-thecurrentholderof the Courts Pee Wee Under11 Football Title, received the final part of their accolades for securing the ninth championship, when Petra along with the sponsor personally delivered the items to the winners, yesterday.

Impressed with the impact the tournament had whenitwasbeingcontested, Courts disclosed that they will be presenting 16 handheld devices to the

victorious team, and have madegoodontheirpromise.

This was done in the presence of Courts'

Marketing Manager, Christel Van Sluytman, principal of the School, Ms. Emily Lynch-Duff, and Petra Co-Director, Troy Mendonca.

Lynch-Duff, stated that she was very proud of the team's achievement and also commended the sponsor and organisers for staging such a well-executedtournament.

Enterprise prevailed 2 –

1againstSt.Piusinthefinale of the Courts Pee Wee Championship at the Ministry of Education Ground on November 19, 2022.Theyreceivedmedals, trophies and flat screen televisions for their performance.

In their triumph, Jashan Haynes was named as the Most Valuable Player and also carted off the Highest Goal Scorer award. He also carted off a bounty off accolades, including a new laptop.

Ronaldinho's son on trial with Barca youth academy – reports

The 17-year-old, who terminated his contract with Brazilian Serie B club Cruzeiro, could join Barcelona'syouthacademyinamovewhichisbeing handled personally by club president Joan Laporta, Spain'sSportreported.

Ronaldinho, who now works as a club ambassador, spent five years at the Camp Nou as a player from 2003-08.He played over 200 matches for Barcelona and scored nearly 100 goals, helping them win the Champions League and two LaLiga titles. He was in the Brazil team who won the 2002 WorldCup.

Kuldeep Yadav accepts a return catch. (BCCI) Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul added 75 for the fifth wicket. (BCCI)

(Reuters) - Joao Mendes, son of former Brazil and Barcelona forward Ronaldinho, is undergoing trials with Barca's youth team, Spanish media reportedyesterday

Joao Mendes

CWIMAREVIEW OF 2022 Cricket West Indies Masters Association enjoy successful 2022

2022 has been quite a hecticandsuccessfulyearfor Cricket West Indies Masters Association (CWIMA) on severalfronts,bothonandoff the field and masters' cricket ingeneral.

Structured masters cricket only got started in 2018 with the administration of O50s cricket since there may have been some grey area on the intention of cricketers over 40 years of age whether they would still be playing ICC international cricket or if they would have wanted a rest from cricket in general.Attempts were being made in 2021 to have the O60s World Cup but COVID ensured that did not materialize.

CWIMA was being actively encouraged to enter a team for the O60s World Cup but was always hesitant to attempt to do so since they were cognizant of the additional work that it entailed plus the uncertainty of attracting quality players inthatagegroup.

Be that as it may, we decided to have a go at it in late 2021 when we commenced planning an Over 60s tour to Thailand. The main focus of this Thailand tour was to have some games for our O60s potentials in a fairly competitive environment coupled with the opportunity to have a vacation in an attractive tourist destination which was open for business atthattime.

The interest generated by this tour was amazing and plans were well advanced for same with an itinerary already worked out along with tour fees collected from a group of players rearing to go after such an extended periodofhibernationwiththe dreaded COVID virus. This was all effectively scuttled in late December 2021/early January 2022 when USA announced plans for a joint O50s and O60s Champions Tr o p h y t o u r n a m e n t scheduled to be held in March/April2022.

1. O50s & O60s Champions TrophyHouston, TexasMarch/April 2022

Our teams had mixed results in this joint tournament that featured 4 teams in each age groupHosts USA, Canada, West Indies&USAA Bothofour

teams were severely crippled by a shortage of players and injuries.

Our O50s team came out as Runners up in this tournament having lost to USAinthefinal.

T h e r e w e r e commendable batting performances in the tournamentbyIshwarMaraj157 runs with a highest score of 55; William Lashley-116 runs with a top score of 37 runs; and Fareed Hosein-102 runs with a top score of 44. CongratstoKennyGirdharry

score of 41. PrameshSeheult took8wicketsataneconomy rateof4.42followedbyPrem Singh with 7 wickets at a miserly rate of 3.44. Keith Lawrence impressed with 5 wicketsat4.17.

2. O50s Marlborough Cup- London, EnglandJuly 2022

who was the pick of the bowlers for the WI and the entire tournament with 9 wickets with an economy rate of 3.36 followed closely by Zamin Amin with 8 wickets and an economy rate of 4 35 Fareed Hosein capped a good all-round performance in the tournament with 7 wickets at aneconomyof3.98followed by VejaiSeonarine with 6 wicketsat4.77.

The O60s team at their rd first outing finished 3 in the rankings having won a solitary match. Captain Roy Singh top scored with 210 runs with 2 @ 50s and a highest score of 97 followed by Monty Venkersammy with 147 runs and a top score of54.

Kris Ramdat contributed with 105 runs and a top score of 53 whilst Hafiz Mohamed alsomade105runswithatop

Our O50s side had to be disappointed with their performance after such a massive performance in the Americas Cup in Canada a mere7monthsprior Without trying to make any excuses WI were without some of its key players in this tournament and will have to focus more on their fitness levels continuously in order tocompeteatthislevel.

Our O60s team was also hampered by an inadequate squad size and injuries with WI legend Colin Croft pulling up with double hamstrings in the very first match but commentated throughout the tournament. Crofty braved it all along with a few others suffering from injuries to turn out in our final match and bowled hisfullspellof9overs.

This was the very first timethattheO60splayedasa team together and it was fairlycommendableforthem with some impressive individual performances by someoftheplayers.

They need to work much harder on their fitness levels also and gel a bit more with their colleagues to play as a cohesiveunit.

This tournament was most demanding with new conditions and different oppositions. In hindsight, we have learned quite a lot from this tour in terms of planning practice games and general tour schedules with the amount of travel envisioned taking into consideration the proximity of venues and back-to-backgames.

West Indies lost all 4 of their practice games against Wales (2), India (1) and England (1) but turned the tables against Wales and India in the Marlborough Cup games and lost to England in the Marlborough Cupfinal.

WI had quite a few positives to come away from this tour Two of our premier batsmen, Sudesh Dhaniram and Ishwar Maraj, registered their maiden centuries 108 against India and 113 against Wales respectively Congrats toSudeshDhaniramwhohad his best tour by topping the aggregate scores in only 5 matches with 215 runs for an average of 53 75 and a century and a half-century IshwarMarajalsoplayedin5 matches to follow with 183 runs at an average of 61.00. Sunil Dhaniram made 179 in 6 matches with a top score of 83. Daniel Sadeo made 163 in 7 matches with a solitary

Prem Singh Top wicket-taker at O60s WC

half century (57). Fareed

Hosein continued with his impressive bowling topping the bowling with 10 wickets but was a bit expensive at a 5.30 economy rate. Sunil Dhaniram copped 8 wickets at an economy rate of 4.52 with Zamin Amin taking 7 wickets at an unusually high economyrateof5.47.

This was a very grueling

tour with too much travelling and too many back-to-back games for such a major tournament.

Our guys played well in the circumstances but here again we were crippled with an inadequate squad size and injuries.Oursquadwasmade up of just 11 @O50s and 4 @O60s.

Centurion Ishwar Maraj

Zamin receiving Player of the series BMC

Roach to return to Surrey for start of 2023 LV=County Championship season

SportsMax - West Indies fast bowler Kemar Roach will be returning to Surrey for the first six games of the LV=Insurance County Championshipseason.

Roach,34,isreturningtotheclub for a third season after successful spells in 2021 and in the titlewinning2022season.

InhistimeatSurreysofar,hehas taken 47 wickets at 23.57, including best figures of 8 for 40 against Hampshire in 2021.Twenty-five of Roach's wickets came in seven matches in last year's Championship triumph, including a second-innings five-for against Warwickshire at the Kia Oval in July, to set up a sixwicket victory.Roach - who last year became the sixth West Indian to reach 250 Test wickets - will join up withthesquadaheadofSurrey'sfirst fixture, away at Emirates Old Trafford against Lancashire, and his first game back at The Oval will be

against Hampshire (1316 April).Roach will thenbeavailableforthe trips to Edgbaston and Chelmsford before finishing his spell with two home derbies against Middlesex (1114 May) and Kent (1821May).

"I really enjoy playing for Surrey and winning the title last year was incredible to be a part of," Roach said.

"It's such a talented and exciting group of players and I can't wait to get back out on the pitch representingtheclub."

Gareth Batty, Head Coach at Surrey, added: "We're looking forward to welcoming Kemar back to Surrey He brings great ability and

work ethic, and his experience plays an important role in the dressing room.“Kemarhasalreadyshownwhat he can do in his time at the club so far and we're excited to have him joining usagainthisyear."

CitingTaliban,AustralianixesAfghanistancricketseries

M E L B O U R N E , A u s t r a l i a ( A P )

Afghanistan cricket officials blasted Australia's decision yesterday to cancel their men's one-day internationalcricketseries.

Cricket Australia cited recent heavier restrictions on women's rights in Afghanistan by the Taliban government for axing the three ODIs in March in the UnitedArabEmirates.

TheAfghanistanCricket B o a r d s a i d i t w a s “extremely disappointed and saddened by the pathetic statement” from Cricket Australia and it would complain to the International Cricket Council.It accused CA of prioritizing political interests over fair play and s p o r t s m a n s h i p , underminingtheintegrityof the game, and damaging the relationship between the twocountries.

“Cricket has played a significant role in promoting unity and n a t i o n a l p r i d e i n Afghanistan,” the board said.“Afteryearsofwarand conflict, cricket has helped to bring people together and provide a sense of normalcy tothecountry

It has also been an important source of hope

Afghan girls who practice wushu, a Chinese martial art, pose for a photo in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

and inspiration for all Afghans,particularlyyoung people.”

It said it would rethink the participation of Afghan players in the Big Bash League if the decision was notreversed.

Afghan fast bowler NaveenulHaqMuridcalled scrapping the series “childish” and accused Australia of taking away Afghans' only reason for happiness instead of being supportive.

When Kabul fell to the Taliban in 2021, women were banned from playing

sports on the grounds that doing so would contravene Islamic laws requiring their hairandskintobecovered.

R e c e n t Ta l i b a n restrictions on women's and g i r l s ' e d u c a t i o n , employment opportunities and their ability to access parks and gyms were cited by Cricket Australia for dropping the men's ODIs following consultation with the Australian government andothergroups.

“CA is committed to supporting growing the game for women and men around the world, including

in Afghanistan, and will continue to engage with the Afghanistan Cricket Board in anticipation of improved conditions for women and girls in the country,” CA said.

Australia gave similar reasons for axing a one-off test match against Afghanistan in Hobart, Australia, in November 2021.

In December, the Taliban banned women from completing higher e d u c a t i o n , h a v i n g prohibitedattendanceat

Wiltshire birth anniversary dominoes set for Sunday

Senior Organising Secretary of the G e o r g e t o w n Dominoes Association Mark Wiltshire will be hosting his birth anniversary dominoes competition on Sunday at Transport Sports Club at 14:30hrs.

Entrance fee is $15,000. The winning team will take home a trophy and $200,000,

runner up a trophy and $100,000, third place a trophy and $50,000 and fourthplace$20,000.

The MVPin the final will takehome$10,000.

Meanwhile, All Season Racing Service and Gold is Money has supported the competition with both handing over cheques to Wiltshire.

Mark Wiltshire collects the cheque from Romesh Ramcharran of Gold is Money

West Indies fast bowler Kemar Roach

Mark Wiltshire accepts the cheque from Tiffany Johnson of All Season Racing Service.

Sports Minister leads team to inspect Sports Hall renovations

Courts' Marketing Manager, Christel Van Sluytman, hands over one of the tablets to the captain of the Enterprise Primary Football Team during the simple ceremony Manager,

Minister Charles Ramson Jnr (2nd left) along with Director of Sports Steve Ninvalle (3rd right) and team listen attentively to a rep of the contracting firm on the progress of the work done at the Sports Hall.